Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and an apparatus, which are used for determining which types of terminal devices are present so as to manage the different types of terminal devices. The method comprises: sending a first message, the first message being used for instructing a first type of terminal device to send a first signal; receiving the first signal at a first preset position; if the first signal is received at the first preset position, determining that there is a first type of terminal device; and, if the first signal is not received at the first preset position, determining that there is no first type of terminal device. In the communication method, by means of a plurality of first messages, an access network device can separately determine whether there are corresponding types of terminal devices among different types of terminal devices, and determine which types of terminal devices are in the coverage range of the current access network device, so as to manage the different types of terminal devices.

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 March 13, 2024, with application number 202410292355.6 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] A radio frequency identification (RFID) system consists of a reader and a tag. When a tag is within the coverage area of ​​a reader, it receives the radio frequency signal from the reader and uses the energy obtained from the induced current to drive the tag itself to operate. The reader reads the information in the tag or writes the information that the tag needs to store into the tag.

[0005] With the development of communication technology, it is proposed to introduce RFID technology into cellular networks to realize the Internet of Things (IoT). That is, the base station can integrate the capabilities of readers and writers, and the terminal devices are IoT terminal devices that support RFID technology.

[0006] In typical communication systems, baseband signals are modulated onto radio frequencies and transmitted. This is achieved by multiplying the baseband signal with a high-frequency sine wave (e.g., a sine wave of several hundred megahertz (MHz) or several gigahertz (GHz)). This high-frequency sine wave is known as the carrier wave (CW). Due to the varying capabilities of IoT devices, some may require external CW, while others may not. This means that IoT devices have varying CW requirements. Consequently, managing IoT devices with varying capabilities has become a pressing issue. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and apparatus for clarifying the types of terminal devices that exist, so as to implement management of different types of terminal devices.

[0008] In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a communication device, which can be an access network device, or can be a processor, chip, chip system, circuit, or functional module in the access network device. The method can include: sending a first message, the first message being used to instruct a terminal device of a first type to send a first signal; receiving the first signal at a first preset location; if the first signal is received at the first preset location, determining that a terminal device of the first type exists; if the first signal is not received at the first preset location, determining that a terminal device of the first type does not exist.

[0009] Through the above-mentioned communication method, the access network device can determine whether there are corresponding types of terminal devices for different types of terminal devices through multiple first messages, and can clearly determine which types of terminal devices exist within the coverage of the current access network device, thereby realizing the management of different types of terminal devices.

[0010] In one possible design, the first message may also be used to indicate that the first cycle includes only one time unit, and the first message is further used to indicate that the first type of terminal device initiates access within the one time unit. In this way, it is possible to determine whether the first type of terminal device exists by starting a cycle that includes only one time unit.

[0011] In one possible design, the first signal is used to access an access network device, the first signal includes a first identifier, the first identifier is generated by a terminal device initiating access, the terminal device initiating access belongs to the first type of terminal device, and the first identifier is used to identify the terminal device initiating access within the one time unit. In this way, the access network device can determine whether a terminal device of the first type exists by determining whether a signal accessing the access network device is received.

[0012] In one possible design, the first signal is used to indicate the presence of the first type of terminal device. In this way, the presence of the first type of terminal device can be clearly determined by the first signal.

[0013] In one possible design, after determining the presence of the first type of terminal device, a second message is sent, where the second message is used to instruct the first type of terminal device to initiate access within a second period. In this way, after determining the presence of the first type of terminal device, the first type of terminal device can be managed.

[0014] In one possible design, the second message is further used to indicate that the second period includes N time units, where N is a positive integer. This allows the first type of terminal device to select a specific time unit within the N time units for access.

[0015] In one possible design, there is a first time interval between the first preset location and the location where the first message is sent.

[0016] In one possible design, the first type of terminal device is a terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier, or a terminal device that requires an external device to provide an uplink frequency resource carrier, or a terminal device that can generate a carrier. In this way, it can be made clear which type of terminal device exists.

[0017] In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method that can be applied to a communication device, which can be a terminal device (such as a first type of terminal device), or can be a processor, chip, chip system, circuit, or functional module in a terminal device (such as a first type of terminal device). The method can include: receiving a first message, the first message being used to instruct the first type of terminal device to send a first signal; and sending the first signal at a first preset location.

[0018] Through the above-mentioned communication method, the access network device can determine whether there are corresponding types of terminal devices for different types of terminal devices through multiple first messages, and can clearly determine which types of terminal devices exist within the coverage of the current access network device, thereby realizing the management of different types of terminal devices.

[0019] In one possible design, the first message is further used to indicate that the first cycle includes only one time unit, and the first message is further used to indicate that the first type of terminal device initiates access within the one time unit. In this way, it is possible to determine whether the first type of terminal device exists by opening a cycle that includes only one time unit.

[0020] In one possible design, the first signal is used to access an access network device, the first signal includes a first identifier, the first identifier is generated by a terminal device initiating access, the terminal device initiating access belongs to the first type of terminal device, and the first identifier is used to identify the terminal device initiating access within the one time unit. In this way, the access network device can determine whether a terminal device of the first type exists by determining whether a signal accessing the access network device is received.

[0021] In one possible design, the first signal is used to indicate the presence of the first type of terminal device. In this way, the presence of the first type of terminal device can be clearly determined by the first signal.

[0022] In one possible design, a second message is received, where the second message is used to instruct the first type of terminal device to initiate access within a second period. This allows management of the first type of terminal device.

[0023] In one possible design, the second message is further used to indicate that the second period includes N time units, where N is a positive integer. This allows the first type of terminal device to select a specific time unit within the N time units for access.

[0024] In one possible design, there is a first time interval between the first preset position and the position where the first message is received.

[0025] In one possible design, the first type of terminal device is a terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier, or a terminal device that requires an external device to provide an uplink frequency resource carrier, or a terminal device that can generate a carrier. In this way, it can be made clear which type of terminal device exists.

[0026] In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a communication device, which can be an access network device, or can be a processor, chip, chip system, circuit, or a functional module in the access network device. The method can include: sending a first message, the first message being used to instruct M types of terminal devices to respectively send a first signal, where M is a positive integer; receiving the first signal at M preset locations, where the M preset locations correspond one-to-one to the M types; if the first signal is received at the i-th preset location among the M preset locations, determining that a terminal device of the type corresponding to the i-th preset location exists; if the first signal is not received at the i-th preset location, determining that a terminal device of the type corresponding to the i-th preset location does not exist, where i is a positive integer less than or equal to M.

[0027] Through the above communication method, the access network device can instruct different types of terminal devices to send a first signal through a first message to determine which types of terminal devices are present. This can clarify which types of terminal devices are within the current access network device coverage, thereby enabling management of different types of terminal devices. Furthermore, using a single first message to trigger different types of terminal devices to send a first signal can reduce system latency.

[0028] In one possible design, the first signal of the i-th preset position is used to indicate the presence of a terminal device of a type corresponding to the i-th preset position. In this way, it can be made clear through the first signal whether a terminal device of the corresponding type exists.

[0029] In one possible design, after determining that a terminal device of the type corresponding to the i-th preset location exists, a second message may be sent, wherein the second message is used to instruct the terminal device of the type corresponding to the i-th preset location to initiate access within a second period. In this way, after determining that a certain type of terminal device exists, terminal devices of that type can be managed.

[0030] In one possible design, the second message is also used to indicate that the second period includes N time units, where N is a positive integer. This allows the terminal device of the type corresponding to the i-th preset position to select a specific time unit within the N time units for access.

[0031] In a possible design, any two of the M preset positions do not overlap, so that it can be accurately determined whether a terminal device of a corresponding type exists at a certain preset position.

[0032] In one possible design, a first time duration is provided between a first preset position among the M preset positions and the position from which the first message is sent, and a second time duration is provided between each adjacent two preset positions among the M preset positions. This allows accurate determination of whether a terminal device of a corresponding type exists at a preset position.

[0033] In one possible design, a carrier exists in a downlink frequency resource in a first preset position, where the first preset position is one of the M preset positions; and a carrier exists in an uplink frequency resource in a second preset position, where the second preset position is one of the M preset positions other than the first preset position. In this way, carriers can be provided for terminal devices with different requirements, so that corresponding first signals can be successfully transmitted by terminal devices of corresponding types.

[0034] In one possible design, the M types of terminal devices include at least one of the following: a terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier, a terminal device that requires an external device to provide an uplink frequency resource carrier, or a terminal device that can generate a carrier. This makes it clear what types of terminal devices exist.

[0035] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication method that can be applied to a communication device, which can be a terminal device (such as a terminal device of the first type), or can be a processor, chip, chip system, circuit, or a functional module in a terminal device (such as a terminal device of the first type). The method may include: receiving a first message, the first message being used to instruct M types of terminal devices to respectively send a first signal, where M is a positive integer; and sending the first signal at at least one of M preset positions, where the M preset positions correspond one-to-one to the M types. In one possible design, the first signal at any preset position is used to indicate the presence of a terminal device of the first type.

[0036] Through the above communication method, the access network device can instruct different types of terminal devices to send a first signal through a first message to determine which types of terminal devices are present. This can clarify which types of terminal devices are within the current access network device coverage, thereby enabling management of different types of terminal devices. Furthermore, using a single first message to trigger different types of terminal devices to send a first signal can reduce system latency.

[0037] In one possible design, the first signal at any preset position is used to indicate the presence of the first type of terminal device. In this way, the presence of the corresponding type of terminal device can be clearly determined by the first signal.

[0038] In one possible design, a second message is received, where the second message is used to instruct the first type of terminal device to initiate access within a second period. This allows management of the first type of terminal device.

[0039] In one possible design, the second message is further used to indicate that the second period includes N time units, where N is a positive integer. This allows the first type of terminal device to select a specific time unit within the N time units for access.

[0040] In a possible design, any two of the M preset positions do not overlap, so that it can be accurately determined whether a terminal device of a corresponding type exists at a certain preset position.

[0041] In one possible design, a first time duration is provided between a first preset position among the M preset positions and the position from which the first message is sent, and a second time duration is provided between each adjacent two preset positions among the M preset positions. This allows accurate determination of whether a terminal device of a corresponding type exists at a preset position.

[0042] In one possible design, when the first type of terminal device is a terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier, or when the first type of terminal device is a terminal device that requires an external device to provide an uplink frequency resource carrier, a first signal is sent at at least one of the M preset positions, including: sending the first signal at all of the M preset positions. In this way, whether the first signal is received can be determined only by the access network device, without the need for the terminal devices to identify their respective corresponding preset positions.

[0043] In one possible design, the M preset positions include three preset positions; when the first type of terminal device is a terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier, the first signal is sent at at least one preset position in the M preset positions, including: sending the first signal at a first preset position based on the downlink frequency resource carrier; the first preset position is one of the three preset positions; when the first type of terminal device is a terminal device that requires an external device to provide an uplink frequency resource carrier, the first signal is sent at at least one preset position in the M preset positions, including: sending the first signal at a second preset position based on the uplink frequency resource carrier; the second preset position is a preset position other than the first preset position in the three preset positions; when the first type of terminal device is a terminal device that can generate a carrier, the first signal is sent at at least one preset position in the M preset positions, including: sending the first signal at a preset position other than the first preset position and the second preset position in the three preset positions. In this way, different types of terminal devices can successfully send the first signal.

[0044] In a fifth aspect, the present application further provides a communication device, which may be an access network device, or may be a processor, chip, chip system, circuit, or a functional module in the access network device. The communication device has the function of implementing the method in the above-mentioned first aspect or each possible design example of the first aspect, or the above-mentioned third aspect or each possible design example of the third aspect. The function can be implemented by hardware, or can be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above-mentioned functions.

[0045] In one possible design, the structure of the communication device may include a processing unit, and optionally may also include a transceiver unit. These units can perform the functions of the method in the above-mentioned first aspect or each possible design example of the first aspect, or the above-mentioned third aspect or each possible design example of the third aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0046] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processor and, optionally, a memory and / or a transceiver. The transceiver is used to transmit and receive data, messages, or information, and to communicate and interact with other devices in the communication system. The processor is configured to support the communication device in performing the corresponding functions of the first aspect or each possible design example of the first aspect, or the third aspect or each possible design example of the third aspect. The memory is coupled to the processor and stores program instructions and data necessary for the communication device.

[0047] In a sixth aspect, the present application further provides a communication device, which may be a terminal device (such as a terminal device of the first type), or may be a processor, chip, chip system, circuit, or a functional module in a terminal device (such as a terminal device of the first type). The communication device has the function of implementing the method in the above-mentioned second aspect or each possible design example of the second aspect, or the above-mentioned fourth aspect or each possible design example of the fourth aspect. The function can be implemented by hardware, or the corresponding software can be implemented by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above-mentioned functions.

[0048] In one possible design, the structure of the communication device may include a processing unit, and optionally may also include a transceiver unit. These units can perform the functions of the method in the above-mentioned second aspect or each possible design example of the second aspect, or the above-mentioned fourth aspect or each possible design example of the fourth aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0049] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processor and, optionally, a memory and / or a transceiver. The transceiver is used to transmit and receive data, messages, or information, and to communicate and interact with other devices in the communication system. The processor is configured to support the communication device in performing the corresponding functions of the second aspect or each possible design example of the second aspect, or the fourth aspect or each possible design example of the fourth aspect. The memory is coupled to the processor and stores program instructions and data necessary for the communication device.

[0050] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, which may include a terminal device (such as a first type of terminal device, etc.) and an access network device. The terminal device is used to implement the method in the first aspect or each possible design example of the first aspect, or the third aspect or each possible design example of the third aspect. The access network device is used to implement the method in the second aspect or each possible design example of the second aspect, or the fourth aspect or each possible design example of the fourth aspect.

[0051] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores program instructions. When the program instructions are run on a computer, the computer executes the method described in the first aspect of the embodiment of the present application and any possible design thereof, or the second aspect and any possible design thereof, or the third aspect and any possible design thereof, or the fourth aspect and any possible design thereof. Exemplarily, the computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer. Taking this as an example but not limited to: the computer-readable medium can include non-transitory computer-readable media, random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, 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.

[0052] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product comprising instructions, which, when executed on a computer, causes the method described in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, or the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect, or the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect, or the fourth aspect or any possible design of the fourth aspect to be executed.

[0053] In the tenth aspect, the present application also provides a chip, including a processor, which is coupled to a memory and is used to read and execute program instructions stored in the memory, so that the chip implements the method described in the above-mentioned first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, or the above-mentioned second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect, or the above-mentioned third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect, or the above-mentioned fourth aspect or any possible design of the fourth aspect.

[0054] For each of the above-mentioned aspects from the fifth to the tenth aspect and the technical effects that may be achieved by each of the aspects, please refer to the above-mentioned description of the technical effects that can be achieved for the first aspect or the various possible solutions in the first aspect, or the above-mentioned second aspect or the various possible solutions in the second aspect, or the above-mentioned third aspect or the various possible solutions in the third aspect, or the above-mentioned fourth aspect or the various possible solutions in the fourth aspect, and no further details will be given here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided by the present application;

[0056] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a basic RFID workflow provided by this application;

[0057] FIG3 is a flow chart of a communication method provided by the present application;

[0058] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a terminal device of a different type sending a first signal provided by the present application;

[0059] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of another different type of terminal device sending a first signal provided by the present application;

[0060] FIG6 is a flow chart of another communication method provided by the present application;

[0061] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of another different type of terminal device sending a first signal provided by the present application;

[0062] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of another different type of terminal device sending a first signal provided by the present application;

[0063] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of a terminal device of a different type providing in the present application sending a first signal and communicating with an access network device;

[0064] FIG10 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by the present application;

[0065] FIG11 is a structural diagram of a communication device provided in this application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0066] The embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and apparatus for determining the type of terminal device to manage different types of terminal devices. The method and apparatus described in this application are based on the same technical concept. Since the method and apparatus solve similar problems, the implementation of the apparatus and method can refer to each other, and any repetitions will not be repeated.

[0067] In the description of this application, words such as "first" and "second" are only used for the purpose of distinguishing the description and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or order.

[0068] In the description of this application, "at least one (kind)" refers to one (kind) or more (kinds), and more (kinds) refers to two (kinds) or more than two (kinds). "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b and (or) c can represent one of the following situations: a exists alone, b exists alone, c exists alone, a and b exist at the same time, a and c exist at the same time, b and c exist at the same time, and a, b and c exist at the same time, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0069] In the description of this application, "and / or" describes the relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, "A and / or B" can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. A and B can be singular or plural. " / " means "or", for example, a / b means a or b.

[0070] In order to more clearly describe the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the communication method and device provided by the embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0071] For example, Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the architecture of a possible communication system applicable to the embodiments of the present application. As shown in Figure 1, the communication system may include access network equipment and terminal equipment.

[0072] The access network device may be an access network device in a cellular system related to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), for example, an access network device in a 4G or 5G mobile communication system, or an access network device in a future-oriented evolution system (for example, a 6G mobile communication system). The access network device may also be an access network device in an open access network (open RAN, O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or a WiFi system. The access network device may also be an access network device in a communication system in which two or more of the above systems are integrated.

[0073] In one possible scenario, the access network device may be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a next generation base station in a 6G mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system, etc. The access network device may be a macro base station, a micro base station or an indoor station, a relay node or a donor node, or a wireless controller in a CRAN scenario. Optionally, the access network device may also be a server, a wearable device, a vehicle or an on-board device, etc. For example, the access network device in the vehicle to everything (V2X) technology may be a road side unit (RSU). Optionally, the access network device may also be a reader. All or part of the functions of the access network device in this application may also be implemented by software functions running on hardware, or by virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (such as a cloud platform). The access network device in this application may also be a logical node, a logical module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the access network device.

[0074] In another possible scenario, multiple access network devices collaborate to assist terminal devices in achieving wireless access, and different access network devices respectively implement part of the functions of the base station. For example, the access network device can be a centralized unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU). The CU and DU can be set separately, or they can be included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in a radio frequency device or radio frequency unit, such as a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH).

[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 the ORAN system, CU may also be called open CU (open CU, O-CU), DU may also be called open DU (open DU, O-DU), CU-CP may also be called open CU-CP (open CU-CP, O-CU-CP), CU-UP may also be called open CU-UP (open CU-UP, O-CU-UP), and RU may also be called open RU (open RU, O-RU). Any unit of CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU and RU in this application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0076] Among them, the terminal device can also be referred to as a terminal, user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), etc. The terminal device can be widely used in various scenarios, for example, device-to-device (D2D), vehicle to everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), ambient IoT, virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearable, smart transportation, smart city, etc. For example, the terminal device can be a passive terminal device or a semi-passive terminal device, which can be referred to as a passive terminal device. For another example, the terminal device can be an active terminal device, which can be referred to as an active terminal device. For example, the terminal device can be a tag, etc. The terminal device of the embodiment of the present application can also be referred to as an ambient IoT terminal device, an IoT terminal device, an ambient IoT device, or an IoT device, etc.

[0077] It should be understood that the communication system shown in FIG1 is only an example, and the communication system may also include more devices, such as core network devices, etc. The names of the various devices used in the embodiments of the present application may retain the same functions in future communication systems, but the names may be changed.

[0078] The following first explains the relevant terms or technologies involved in the embodiments of this application. It should be noted that these explanations are intended to make the embodiments of this application easier to understand and should not be regarded as limiting the scope of protection claimed by this application.

[0079] 1) Radio frequency identification (RFID)

[0080] Radio frequency identification, also known as electronic tag or wireless radio frequency identification, is a communication technology that uses radio signals to identify specific targets and read and write related data without establishing mechanical or optical contact between the identification system and the specific target. An RFID system consists of a reader and a tag (also called a device). The basic principle of RFID technology is that when a tag is within the reader's coverage area, it receives the radio frequency signal emitted by the reader and uses the energy obtained from the induced current to transmit the product information stored in the chip (corresponding to a passive tag), or the tag actively transmits a signal of a certain frequency (corresponding to an active tag). The reader reads and decodes the information and sends it to the central information system for relevant data processing.

[0081] RFID technology is a short-range communication technology, and the reader is usually only a few dozen centimeters away from the tag.

[0082] Optionally, the reader may include an interrogator, etc.

[0083] 2) Basic workflow of RFID

[0084] In the RFID standard, the communication between the reader and the tag can include the following processes:

[0085] Selection process: The reader can set certain flags of tags that meet specific conditions to specific values ​​through one or more "broadcast" signals (i.e., Select signals). This can be understood as selecting a tag subpopulation from the tag population.

[0086] Inventory process: It can also be called inventory process or query process. For example, as shown in Figure 2, the inventory process may include the following steps:

[0087] Step 201a: The reader sends a Query command.

[0088] Step 201b: The reader sends a query repetition (QueryRep) command or a query adjustment (QueryAdjust) command.

[0089] The Query command will start a query round, and multiple tags can be communicated with in sequence within a query round. The Query command can contain a parameter Q, indicating that the current query round contains 2 Q Each tag will randomly select a slot n (slot n is from slot 0 to slot 2 Q -1) attempts to initiate access. If the access is successful, the tag may have further communication with the reader, that is, enter the subsequent access process.

[0090] It's important to note that the concept of slots in RFID differs from that in cellular networks. In cellular networks, a slot is a fixed duration, such as 0.5 milliseconds (ms) or 1 ms. In RFID, however, the start and end of a slot are triggered by signaling. Each time a tag receives a Query Repetition (QueryRep) command, it considers the current slot to have ended and the next one to have begun.

[0091] Step 202: If a tag determines the slot n selected by the tag according to the received QueryRep, the tag sends a random number (random number 16, RN16). RN16 carries a 16-bit random number.

[0092] Step 203: After receiving RN16, the reader will feedback an acknowledgment (ACK) signaling to the tag. The ACK signaling includes a received RN16, which is used to notify the tag that the RN16 of the tag has been received and to indicate that the ACK is a feedback for the RN16.

[0093] In some scenarios, because tags select slot n randomly, two tags may select the same slot n and each send an RN16. For example, tag-1 and tag-2 send RN16-1 and RN16-2, respectively. In this case, after receiving both RN16s, the reader can choose to reply with an ACK for only one RN16. For example, if the ACK sent by the reader carries RN16-1, tag-1 will assume that tag-1 has successfully accessed, while tag-2 will assume that tag-2 has failed to access. Tag-2 will then try to access again.

[0094] Step 204: The tag that has successfully connected sends an electronic product code (EPC) to the reader. The EPC is a globally unique tag identification (ID) and is usually tens or hundreds of bits long.

[0095] The above steps complete the inventory of a tag. Each slot only inventories a single tag at most. A reader can inventory multiple tags (in different slots) in a single query round. A reader may complete the inventory of all target tags over multiple query rounds.

[0096] Access process: This can also be understood as the unicast transmission process after a tag accesses the reader. Within a slot, after a tag completes access, the reader can further perform unicast data transmission (such as read, write, etc.) on it. For example, as shown in Figure 2, the access process may include the following steps:

[0097] Step 205: After receiving the EPC, the reader sends a random number request (Req_RN) command to the tag. The Req_RN command carries the RN16 used by the tag to access the target tag, to identify the target tag.

[0098] Step 206: The tag sends a handle to the reader, where the handle is a 16-bit random number generated by the tag.

[0099] Step 207: In the subsequent communication process, each command (such as read or write memory) sent by the reader to the tag will carry the handle as the tag identifier. That is, in the subsequent unicast transmission process, the handle replaces the function of the RN16 mentioned above.

[0100] It should be noted that the RFID standard defines several flags within tags, one of which is the inventoried flag. The inventoried flag takes a value of either A or B. When a tag receives a Query, QueryRep, or QueryAdjust, if the tag has already been inventoried (that is, it is in the acknowledged state), the tag can flip the inventoried flag (marking the tag as inventoried); otherwise, the tag maintains the original value of the inventoried flag (marking the tag as uninventoried).

[0101] 3) Ambient IoT

[0102] Ambient IoT refers to technology that allows IoT devices to harvest energy from their surroundings (e.g., radio waves, solar energy, wind, vibration, heat, etc.) to meet their operational needs. IoT devices can operate without batteries or limited storage. In this application, the term "environment" can also refer to the surroundings, meaning that the ambient IoT can also refer to the ambient IoT.

[0103] In some scenarios, ambient IoT is also referred to as passive IoT. A source is a power source or energy source, while passive refers to the absence of an external energy source (e.g., a battery). Passive IoT refers to the passive nature of IoT devices. This doesn't mean they don't use energy (e.g., electricity), but rather that they use a different method to obtain energy.

[0104] In some embodiments, in an IoT environment, communication from reader to tag may be referred to as reader to device (R2D) communication, and communication from tag to reader may be referred to as device to reader (D2R) communication.

[0105] 4) Type of terminal device

[0106] Typically, in general communication systems, baseband signals are modulated to radio frequencies and transmitted. This is achieved by multiplying the baseband signal with a high-frequency sine wave (e.g., a sine wave of several hundred MHz or several GHz). This high-frequency sine wave is called a CW wave.

[0107] Because tags are extremely low-cost, some may not have a crystal oscillator built into them, and therefore may not be able to generate CW. In these cases, a CW may need to be provided externally. For example, in an RFID system, a reader can provide the tag with CW. The tag receives the CW, modulates the signal directly on top of the CW, and then transmits it. This process is called backscatter. When a tag transmits an uplink signal, it uses uplink frequency resources. In an RFID system, the reader transmits a CW on the uplink frequency resource, which the tag directly reflects.

[0108] In an Ambient IoT system, there may be different types of terminal devices. For example, the types of terminal devices may include the following:

[0109] Type 1: Type 1 terminals do not have independent CW generation capabilities. Instead, they can directly reflect signals. This means that if a CW is available in the uplink frequency resources, the terminal directly modulates the signal on that CW to achieve reflection. Type 1 terminals are relatively low-cost but have relatively low capabilities.

[0110] Type 2: Type 2 terminals do not have independent CW generation capabilities. Instead, they perform frequency shifting and reflection. Specifically, if a CW exists on the downlink frequency resource, the Type 2 terminal first shifts the CW spectrum and then modulates the signal on the shifted CW to achieve reflection.

[0111] Type 2 terminal devices require an oscillator, but the oscillator frequency can be as low as tens of MHz, rather than hundreds of MHz or even GHz. This allows for lower power consumption and lower precision requirements. Type 2 terminal devices have higher costs and capabilities than Type 1 devices.

[0112] Type 3: Type 3 terminal devices have the ability to independently generate CW. Specifically, they use their own oscillator to generate CW and then modulate the signal. The oscillator frequency of a Type 3 terminal device must support frequencies of several hundred MHz or several GHz, resulting in relatively high oscillator power consumption and high accuracy requirements. Therefore, the cost and capabilities of Type 3 terminal devices are higher than those of Type 1 and Type 2 devices.

[0113] Based on the different requirements for CW, the following can be understood for Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 terminal devices:

[0114] Type 1 terminal equipment: a terminal equipment that requires external equipment to provide uplink frequency resource carriers;

[0115] Type 2 terminal equipment: terminal equipment that requires external equipment to provide downlink frequency resource carriers;

[0116] Type 3 terminal equipment: a terminal equipment capable of generating a carrier wave.

[0117] In some embodiments, different types of terminal devices can also be understood as terminal devices with different structures, that is, the type of terminal device can also be called the structure of the terminal device, or there can be many other descriptions, which are not limited in this application.

[0118] In this application, the device that provides CW to the terminal device may be an access network device or a node other than the access network device and the terminal device, and this application does not limit this.

[0119] In this application, CW can be a single-frequency signal (such as a single-frequency sine wave, which can be called single tone CW), or CW can be a composite signal composed of multiple single-frequency signals (such as multiple single-frequency sine waves, which can be called multiple tone CW).

[0120] For different types of tags, they can be made to work in a time division multiplexing (TDM) manner, that is, the access network device communicates with different types of terminal devices at different times. In this way, CW can be provided or not provided in a targeted manner, or CW can be provided on specific frequency resources, thereby avoiding long periods of invalid CW provision, and thus reducing the power consumption of the node providing CW (the node providing CW can be a reader, or other auxiliary nodes other than the reader and tag). To achieve the above, it is necessary to clarify the type of terminal device currently being managed. However, the current terminal device cannot support capability reporting, that is, it cannot report its own type, resulting in the access network device being unable to determine which type of terminal device needs to be managed. Based on this, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method that can clarify what type of terminal device exists, thereby achieving management of different types of terminal devices.

[0121] In the following embodiments, the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application is described in detail using an access network device and a terminal device (such as a first terminal device or a second terminal device, etc.) as examples. It should be understood that the operations performed by the access network device can also be implemented by a processor, a chip, a chip system, or a functional module in the access network device, and the operations performed by the terminal device can also be implemented by a processor, a chip, a chip system, or a functional module in the terminal device, and this application does not limit this.

[0122] Based on the above description, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, as shown in FIG3 . The process of the method may include:

[0123] Step 301: The access network device sends a first message, where the first message is used to instruct a first type of terminal device to send a first signal. Correspondingly, the first type of terminal device receives the first message.

[0124] In an optional implementation, the first message may include first indication information, where the first indication information is used to instruct a first type of terminal device to send a first signal. Exemplarily, the first indication information may be referred to as structure type indication information, etc.

[0125] Exemplarily, the first type of terminal device is a terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier, or a terminal device that requires an external device to provide an uplink frequency resource carrier, or a terminal device that can generate a carrier.

[0126] It should be understood that one or more types of terminal devices under the coverage of the access network device will receive the first message, but since the first message instructs the first type of terminal device to send the first signal, other types of terminal devices other than the first type will not send the first signal even if they receive the first message.

[0127] It should be understood that the first type of terminal device includes one or more terminal devices.

[0128] Step 302: The access network device receives a first signal at a first preset location.

[0129] The access network device receiving the first signal at the first preset position can also be understood as the access network device detecting the first signal at the first preset position, or can also be understood as the access network device performing energy detection at the first preset position.

[0130] In an optional embodiment, when the first type of terminal device is a terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier, there is a carrier in the downlink frequency resource in the first preset position, which can also be understood as the access network device or other node providing a carrier in the downlink frequency resource at the first preset position; when the first type of terminal device is a terminal device that requires an external device to provide an uplink frequency resource carrier, there is a carrier in the uplink frequency resource in the first preset position, which can also be understood as the access network device or other node providing a carrier in the uplink frequency resource at the first preset position; when the first type of terminal device is a terminal device that can generate a carrier, there is no carrier in the first preset position, which can also be understood as the access network device or other node not providing a carrier at the first preset position.

[0131] Step 303: If the access network device receives the first signal at the first preset location, it determines that the first type of terminal device exists; if the access network device does not receive the first signal at the first preset location, it determines that the first type of terminal device does not exist.

[0132] The access network device receives the first signal at the first preset position, which can also be understood as the access network device detects the first signal at the first preset position; the access network device does not receive the first signal at the first preset position, which can also be understood as the access network device does not detect the first signal at the first preset position.

[0133] If the access network device receives the first signal at the first preset position, the first type of terminal device will correspondingly send the first signal at the first preset position.

[0134] Exemplarily, whether the access network device receives the first signal at the first preset location can be determined by the access network device determining whether the received signal power is greater than or equal to a power threshold. If the signal power received at the first preset location is greater than or equal to the first power threshold, the access network device determines that the first signal is received. If the signal power received at the first preset location is less than a second power threshold, the access network device determines that the first signal is not received. The first power threshold and the second power threshold can be the same or different.

[0135] It should be understood that when the received signal power is equal to the power threshold, it is determined that the first signal is received. This situation is only an example. Optionally, equal to the power threshold can also be used as a determination that the first signal is not received. This application does not limit this.

[0136] It should be understood that the access network device can send corresponding first messages to different types of terminal devices respectively to instruct the corresponding type of terminal device to send a first signal, thereby determining whether the corresponding type of terminal device exists based on receiving the first signal from the corresponding type of terminal device.

[0137] In a possible manner a1, the first message may also be used to indicate that the first cycle only includes one time unit, and the first message may also be used to indicate that the first type of terminal device initiates access within one time unit.

[0138] Among them, the time unit can also be called a time interval, a time period or a time slot, etc., which is not limited in this application.

[0139] Exemplarily, the first message may be a query signaling, or a signal or message containing a query signaling. Query signaling can be described above and will not be further elaborated here. Accordingly, the first cycle can be understood as a query round initiated by the query signaling and consisting of only one time unit, i.e., one round of inventory taking. In this case, the parameter Q included in the query signaling is equal to 0, so that the first cycle consists of only one time unit.

[0140] In this application, signaling and message are equivalent concepts and can be described interchangeably.

[0141] In some examples, the first message is used to indicate that the first period includes only one time unit, which can also be understood as the first message being used to trigger the start of the first period.

[0142] In mode a1, the first signal is used to access the access network device. The first signal includes a first identifier. The first identifier is generated by the terminal device that initiates the access. The terminal device that initiates the access belongs to the first type of terminal device. The first identifier is used to identify the terminal device that initiates the access within the one time unit, or in other words, the first identifier is used to identify the terminal device that initiates the access during the access process within the one time unit.

[0143] Optionally, the first signal may be RN16. The first identifier may be a 16-bit random number included in RN16. The first identifier is generated by the terminal device initiating access, and may also be understood as being determined by the terminal device initiating access.

[0144] For example, after the query signaling starts a query round that only includes one time unit, all terminal devices of the first type will send RN16 within the one time unit. Since the first identifier (i.e., RN16) is randomly generated by the terminal device, the RN16 values ​​sent by different terminal devices of the first type may be the same or different.

[0145] In mode a1, the access network device does not feedback ACK to any terminal device within this time unit, then all terminal devices of the first type will believe that they have not successfully accessed, so the terminal devices of the first type will not flip a specific flag bit (such as the inventoried flag), so in the subsequent Query process, the terminal devices of the first type will still try to access the access network device.

[0146] In some embodiments, the access network device sends corresponding first messages to different types of terminal devices respectively to instruct the corresponding type of terminal device to send a first signal. Taking three types of terminal devices such as the first type of terminal device, the second type of terminal device and the third type of terminal device as an example, as shown in Figure 4, it is assumed that the access network device instructs the first type of terminal device to send the first signal through Query-1, instructs the second type of terminal device to send the first signal through Query-2, and instructs the third type of terminal device to send the first signal through Query-3. The first type of terminal device, the second type of terminal device and the third type of terminal device can respectively send RN16 within the corresponding time unit.

[0147] It should be understood that the second type of terminal device and the third type of terminal device can respectively be two types of terminal devices among the following types of terminal devices other than the first type of terminal device: terminal devices that require external devices to provide downlink frequency resource carriers, terminal devices that require external devices to provide uplink frequency resource carriers, and terminal devices that can generate carriers.

[0148] In this mode a1, after the access network device determines that there is a first type of terminal device, it can send a second message, where the second message is used to instruct the first type of terminal device to initiate access within a second period.

[0149] It should be understood that all types of terminal devices within the coverage of the access network device will receive the second message, and only the first type of terminal devices initiate access within the second period.

[0150] The second message may also be used to indicate that the second cycle includes N time units, where N is a positive integer.

[0151] The length of the time unit is not fixed. For example, N time units may correspond to N different time lengths.

[0152] In an optional implementation, any terminal device of the first type may select a time unit from the N time units and initiate access within the selected time unit.

[0153] For example, the second message may be a query signaling, or the second message may be a signal or message containing a query signaling. The query signaling can be referred to in the above description and will not be described in detail here. Accordingly, the second cycle can be understood as a query round initiated by the query signaling, i.e., a round of inventory process. Further, N time units may be 2 Q Wherein, Q is a parameter carried by the second message, used to indicate the number of time units in the second cycle, and Q is an integer greater than or equal to 0.

[0154] It should be understood that in this method a1, the second message is the second Query signaling sent by the access network device (the first Query signaling is the first message), and the second cycle is the second cycle for the first type of terminal device to initiate access (the first cycle for the first type of terminal device to initiate access is the first cycle).

[0155] In an optional embodiment, any terminal device of the first type may select a time unit within the N time units and send RN16 to the access network device within the selected time unit. Subsequently, the communication process between the access network device and the first type of terminal device within the selected time unit can be referred to the process shown in Figure 2 above, and will not be described here one by one.

[0156] In a possible approach a2, the first message may be a newly defined message. For example, the first message may be named an ask message. Of course, the first message may also have other names, which are not limited in this application.

[0157] In the manner a2, the first signal may be used to indicate the presence of a first type of terminal device.

[0158] Optionally, the first signal may be named a reply (Re) signal. Of course, the first signal may also have other names, which are not limited in this application.

[0159] In some examples, the first signal may include second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate the presence of a terminal device of the first type. Alternatively, the sending or transmission of the first signal itself is used to indicate the presence of a terminal device of the first type, such as the first signal may be a pulse signal.

[0160] In some examples, the first signal may be a specified signal. For example, when the uplink adopts binary phase shift keying (BPSK) modulation, the first signal may be a specific BPSK sequence, and the access network device may perform sequence detection.

[0161] The first signal may also be any signal sent by a first-type terminal device. The access network device performs energy detection at a first preset location. For example, if the energy detected at the first preset location is greater than or equal to a first energy threshold, the access network device determines that the first signal has been received. If the energy detected at the first preset location is less than a second energy threshold, the access network device determines that the first signal has not been received. The first energy threshold and the second energy threshold may be the same or different.

[0162] In the various embodiments of this application, "greater than or equal to" and "greater than" are interchangeable, and "less than or equal to" and "less than" are interchangeable. For example, it should be understood that the aforementioned determination that the first signal is received is equal to an energy threshold. This is merely an example. Optionally, the determination that the first signal is not received can also be equal to an energy threshold, and this application does not limit this. Similar descriptions in the following embodiments of this application are similar and will not be explained one by one.

[0163] In some embodiments, the access network device sends corresponding first messages to different types of terminal devices respectively to instruct the corresponding type of terminal device to send a first signal. The three types of terminal devices, such as the first type of terminal device, the second type of terminal device and the third type of terminal device, are still taken as an example for illustration. For example, as shown in Figure 5, it is assumed that the access network device instructs the first type of terminal device to send the first signal through ask-1, instructs the second type of terminal device to send the first signal through ask-2, and instructs the third type of terminal device to send the first signal through ask-3. The first type of terminal device, the second type of terminal device and the third type of terminal device can respectively send Re signals at corresponding positions.

[0164] In this mode a2, optionally, after the access network device determines that there is a first type of terminal device, a second message may be sent, where the second message is used to instruct the first type of terminal device to initiate access within a second period.

[0165] It should be understood that all types of terminal devices within the coverage of the access network device will receive the second message, and only the first type of terminal devices initiate access within the second period.

[0166] The second message may also be used to indicate that the second cycle includes N time units, where N is a positive integer.

[0167] The length of the time unit is not fixed. For example, N time units may correspond to N different time lengths.

[0168] In an optional implementation, any terminal device of the first type may select a time unit from the N time units and initiate access within the selected time unit.

[0169] For example, the second message may be a query signaling, or the second message may be a signal or message containing a query signaling. The query signaling can be referred to in the above description and will not be described in detail here. Accordingly, the second cycle can be understood as a query round initiated by the query signaling, i.e., a round of inventory process. Further, N time units may be 2 Q Wherein, Q is a parameter carried by the second message, used to indicate the number of time units in the second cycle, and Q is an integer greater than or equal to 0.

[0170] It should be understood that in mode a2, the second message is the first Query signaling sent by the access network device, and the second cycle is the first cycle in which the first type of terminal device initiates access.

[0171] In an optional embodiment, any terminal device of the first type may select a time unit within the N time units and send RN16 to the access network device within the selected time unit. Subsequently, the communication process between the access network device and the first type of terminal device within the selected time unit can be referred to the process shown in Figure 2 above, and will not be described here one by one.

[0172] For example, taking the existence of a first type of terminal device as an example, FIG5 shows that the access network device sends Query-1 (ie, the second message) to the first type of terminal device, and the first type of terminal device sends RN16 to the access network device.

[0173] Among them, Figure 5 shows that the access network device first sends the ask corresponding to different types of terminal devices, and then performs the subsequent Query process. It should be understood that Figure 5 is only an example. Optionally, the access network device can also send an ask for a type of terminal device, and if this type of terminal device exists, it will perform the Query process for this type of terminal device. For example, still taking three types of terminal devices as an example, the access network device can send messages in the order of ask-1, Query-1, ask-2, Query-2, ask-3, and Query-3. This situation is no longer illustrated in the figure. It should be understood that Query-2 can be understood as the second message sent by the access network device after determining that the second type of terminal device exists, and Query-3 can be understood as the second message sent by the access network device after determining that the third type of terminal device exists.

[0174] By adopting the above-mentioned method a2, the length of the first signal can be shorter than that of method a1. For example, in method a1, the first signal (such as RN16) occupies 16 symbols, and in method a2, the first signal can only use 1 symbol (for example, when the first signal is a pulse signal).

[0175] In an optional embodiment, a first time interval may be set between the first preset location and the location where the first message is sent. For example, a first time interval (denoted as t1) may be set between the start time of the first preset location and the end time of the location where the first message is sent, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

[0176] Through the communication method shown in Figure 3, the access network device can determine whether there are corresponding types of terminal devices for different types of terminal devices through multiple first messages, and can clearly determine which types of terminal devices exist within the coverage of the current access network device, thereby realizing the management of different types of terminal devices.

[0177] In order to clarify what type of terminal device exists within the coverage range of the current access network device, the embodiment of the present application also provides another communication method, as shown in FIG6 , the process of this method may include:

[0178] Step 601: The access network device sends a first message, where the first message is used to instruct M types of terminal devices to send first signals respectively, where M is a positive integer.

[0179] Accordingly, the M types of terminal devices receive the first message. In Figure 6, step 601 is illustrated by taking the first type of terminal device receiving the first message as an example. The first type of terminal device can be any type of terminal device among the M types of terminal devices.

[0180] It should be understood that any type of terminal device includes one or more terminal devices.

[0181] Exemplarily, the M types of terminal devices include at least one of the following: a terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier, a terminal device that requires an external device to provide an uplink frequency resource carrier, or a terminal device that can generate a carrier.

[0182] In an optional embodiment, the first message may be a newly defined message. For example, the first message may be named an ask message. Of course, the first message may also have other names, which are not limited in this application.

[0183] Step 602: The access network device receives a first signal at M preset locations, where the M preset locations correspond one-to-one to M types.

[0184] The access network device receiving the first signal at any preset location can also be understood as the access network device detecting the first signal at any preset location, or can also be understood as the access network device performing energy detection at any preset location.

[0185] In one example, any two of the M preset positions do not overlap. Alternatively, the intervals between the M preset positions and the position where the first message was sent may be different. For example, the intervals between the start time of the M preset positions and the end time of the position where the first message was sent may be different, for example, denoted as t1, t2, ..., tM, respectively.

[0186] Optionally, a first time duration may be provided between a first preset position among the M preset positions and the position at which the first message is sent, and a second time duration may be provided between each adjacent two preset positions among the M preset positions. For example, the first time duration may be provided between the start time of the first preset position and the end time of the position at which the first message is sent, and the second time duration may be provided between the end time of the first preset position and the start time of the next preset position among each adjacent two preset positions.

[0187] Optionally, the first duration and the second duration may be the same or different, and this application does not limit this.

[0188] Step 603: If the access network device receives the first signal at the i-th preset position among M preset positions, it determines that there is a terminal device of the type corresponding to the i-th preset position; if the access network device does not receive the first signal at the i-th preset position, it determines that there is no terminal device of the type corresponding to the i-th preset position, where i is a positive integer less than or equal to M.

[0189] The access network device receives the first signal at the i-th preset position, which can also be understood as the access network device detecting the first signal at the i-th preset position; the access network device does not receive the first signal at the i-th preset position, which can also be understood as the access network device not detecting the first signal at the i-th preset position.

[0190] Exemplarily, whether the access network device receives the first signal at the i-th preset position can be determined by the access network device judging whether the received signal power is greater than or equal to the power threshold. If the signal power received by the access network device at the i-th preset position is greater than or equal to the power threshold, it is determined that the first signal is received. If the signal power received by the access network device at the i-th preset position is less than the power threshold, it is determined that the first signal is not received.

[0191] It should be understood that when the received signal power is equal to the power threshold, it is determined that the first signal is received. This situation is only an example. Optionally, equal to the power threshold can also be used as a determination that the first signal is not received. This application does not limit this.

[0192] Exemplarily, the first signal at the i-th preset position may be used to indicate the presence of a terminal device of a type corresponding to the i-th preset position.

[0193] Accordingly, any one of the M types of terminal devices sends a first signal at at least one of the M preset positions. This application only takes the example of a first type of terminal device sending a first signal at at least one of the M preset positions.

[0194] Optionally, the first signal sent by the first type of terminal device at at least one preset position among the M preset positions is used to indicate the presence of the first type of terminal device.

[0195] Optionally, the first signal may be named a reply (Re) signal. Of course, the first signal may also have other names, which are not limited in this application.

[0196] In some examples, the first signal may include third indication information, where the third indication information is used to indicate the presence of a terminal device of the corresponding type. Alternatively, the sending or transmission of the first signal itself is used to indicate the presence of a terminal device of the corresponding type, such as the first signal may be a pulse signal.

[0197] In some examples, the first signal may be a specified signal. For example, when the uplink adopts binary phase shift keying (BPSK) modulation, the first signal may be a specific BPSK sequence, and the access network device may perform sequence detection.

[0198] The first signal may also be any signal sent by any type of terminal device, and the access network device performs energy detection at the corresponding preset position.

[0199] In an optional implementation b1, a carrier exists in a downlink frequency resource at a first preset location, where the first preset location is one of the M preset locations; and a carrier exists in an uplink frequency resource at a second preset location, where the second preset location is one of the M preset locations other than the first preset location. This can also be understood as the access network device or other node providing a carrier in the downlink frequency resource at the first preset location and providing a carrier in the uplink frequency resource at the second preset location.

[0200] There is no carrier at the third preset position, which is a preset position other than the first preset position and the second preset position among the M preset positions. It can also be understood that the access network device or other node does not provide a carrier at the third preset position.

[0201] In this implementation b1, a terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier and a terminal device that requires an external device to provide an uplink frequency resource carrier both transmit the first signal at M preset positions, i.e., transmit the first signal M times. A terminal device capable of generating a carrier transmits the first signal at one of the M preset positions, i.e., transmits the first signal once.

[0202] Among them, when a terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier sends a first signal, it can rely on the externally provided downlink frequency resource carrier to successfully send the first signal at the first preset position. At other preset positions, the first signal cannot be successfully sent due to the lack of a suitable external carrier (or there is no carrier, or the external uplink frequency resource carrier will be moved outside the target transmission frequency band through spectrum shifting). In this way, this type of terminal device can only successfully send the first signal at the first preset position. Further, the access network device can only receive the first signal sent by the terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier at the first preset position, and cannot receive the first signal sent by the terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier at other preset positions.

[0203] When a terminal device that requires an external device to provide an uplink frequency resource carrier sends a first signal, it can successfully send the first signal at the second preset position by relying on the externally provided uplink frequency resource carrier. At other preset positions, the first signal cannot be successfully sent due to the lack of a suitable external carrier (or there is no carrier, or the external downlink frequency resource carrier cannot modulate the first signal into the target transmission frequency band). In this way, this type of terminal device can only successfully send the first signal at the second preset position. Further, the access network device can only receive the first signal sent by the terminal device that requires an external device to provide an uplink frequency resource carrier at the second preset position, and cannot receive the first signal sent by the terminal device that requires an external device to provide an uplink frequency resource carrier at other preset positions.

[0204] When transmitting a first signal, the terminal device capable of generating a carrier wave directly transmits the first signal only at the third preset location, and the transmission is successful. Thus, the access network device can only receive the first signal transmitted by the terminal device capable of generating a carrier wave at the third preset location, and cannot receive the first signal transmitted by the terminal device capable of generating a carrier wave at other preset locations.

[0205] That is to say, the access network device can only receive the first signal at the corresponding preset location for a type of terminal device.

[0206] For example, take M preset positions as three preset positions (i.e., a first preset position, a second preset position, and a third preset position) as an example, take the first message as an ask message as an example, and take the first signal as Re as an example. As shown in Figure 7, the access network device provides a carrier in the downlink frequency resource at the first preset position, provides a carrier in the uplink frequency resource at the second preset position, and does not provide a carrier at the third preset position. The terminal device that can generate a carrier sends a Re signal once at the third preset position after receiving the ask message. The terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier sends a Re signal once at the three preset positions after receiving the ask message, that is, sends the Re signal three times in a row, but the terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier only successfully sends the Re signal at the first preset position. The terminal device that requires an external device to provide an uplink frequency resource carrier sends a Re signal once at the three preset positions after receiving the ask message, that is, sends the Re signal three times in a row, but the terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier only successfully sends the Re signal at the second preset position. The Re shown by the dotted line in Figure 7 represents the Re signal that was sent but not successfully sent.

[0207] It should be understood that the arrangement order of the three preset positions in FIG. 7 is merely an example and is not intended to limit the present application.

[0208] Optionally, in Figure 7, the starting moment of the third preset position and the ending moment of the position where the first message is sent may be separated by a first time duration, the ending moment of the third preset position and the starting moment of the first preset position may be separated by a second time duration, and the ending moment of the first preset position and the starting moment of the second preset position may be separated by a second time duration.

[0209] In an optional implementation b2, M types of terminal devices each transmit a first signal at a corresponding preset location. Alternatively, one type of terminal device among the M types transmits the first signal once at one of the M preset locations, and different types of terminal devices transmit the first signal at different preset locations.

[0210] Optionally, in implementation b2, different types of terminal devices send the first signal after different delays after receiving the first message.

[0211] For example, still taking M preset positions as three preset positions, the starting moments of the three preset positions are respectively spaced t1, t2, and t3 from the end moment of the position where the first message is sent as an example, taking the first message as an ask message as an example, and taking the first signal as Re as an example. As shown in Figure 8, after receiving the ask message, the terminal device that can generate the carrier sends a Re signal once at a position (here exemplarily recorded as the third preset position) that is spaced t1 from the end moment of the position where the first message is sent. After receiving the ask message, the terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier sends a Re signal once at a position (here exemplarily recorded as the first preset position) that is spaced t2 from the end moment of the position where the first message is sent. After receiving the ask message, the terminal device that requires an external device to provide an uplink frequency resource carrier sends a Re signal once at a position (here exemplarily recorded as the second preset position) that is spaced t3 from the end moment of the position where the first message is sent. Among them, t1, t2, and t3 are three different time delays. It can be understood that there is a carrier in the downlink frequency resource in the first preset position, which can also be understood as the access network device or other node providing a carrier in the downlink frequency resource at the first preset position; there is a carrier in the uplink frequency resource in the second preset position, which can also be understood as the access network device or other node providing a carrier in the uplink frequency resource at the second preset position; there is no carrier in the third preset position, which can also be understood as the access network device or other node not providing a carrier at the third preset position.

[0212] It should be understood that the correspondence between the three types of terminal devices and the preset positions in Figure 8 is only an example and is not a limitation to this application.

[0213] In some embodiments, the processing time of the first message can be prolonged by allowing the terminal device to idle for a period of time, so as to achieve the goal of sending the first signal within a preset delay.

[0214] In some other embodiments, a simple clock may be configured inside the terminal device to achieve timing in a short time, so as to send the first signal within a preset time delay.

[0215] In an optional embodiment, after determining that there is a terminal device of the type corresponding to the i-th preset position, the access network device may send a second message, where the second message is used to instruct the terminal device of the type corresponding to the i-th preset position to initiate access within a second period.

[0216] It should be understood that all types of terminal devices within the coverage area of ​​the access network device will receive the second message, and only the terminal device of the type corresponding to the i-th preset location will initiate access within the second period. For example, a terminal device of the first type receives the second message and initiates access within the second period. The following description uses the example of a terminal device of the first type corresponding to the i-th preset location.

[0217] The second message is further used to indicate that the second cycle includes N time units, where N is a positive integer.

[0218] The length of the time unit is not fixed. For example, N time units may correspond to N different time lengths.

[0219] In an optional implementation, any terminal device of the first type may select a time unit from the N time units and initiate access within the selected time unit.

[0220] For example, the second message may be a query signaling, or the second message may be a signal or message containing a query signaling. The query signaling can be referred to in the above description and will not be described in detail here. Accordingly, the second cycle can be understood as a query round initiated by the query signaling, i.e., a round of inventory process. Further, N time units may be 2 Q Wherein, Q is a parameter carried by the second message, used to indicate the number of time units in the second cycle, and Q is an integer greater than or equal to 0.

[0221] It should be understood that the second message is the first Query signaling sent by the access network device, and the second cycle is the first cycle in which the terminal device of the type corresponding to the i-th preset position (such as the first type of terminal device) initiates access.

[0222] In an optional embodiment, any terminal device of the first type may select a time unit within the N time units and send RN16 to the access network device within the selected time unit. Subsequently, the communication process between the access network device and the first type of terminal device within the selected time unit can be referred to the process shown in Figure 2 above, and will not be described here one by one.

[0223] For example, taking the example of a terminal device that can generate a carrier and a terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier, Figure 9 shows that the access network device sends Query-1 (i.e., the second message) to the terminal device that can generate a carrier, and the terminal device that can generate a carrier sends RN16 to the access network device; and the access network device sends Query-2 (i.e., the second message) to the terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier, and the terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier sends RN16 to the access network device.

[0224] Through the communication method shown in Figure 6, the access network device can instruct different types of terminal devices to send a first signal through a first message to determine the types of terminal devices present. This can clarify which types of terminal devices are within the current access network device coverage area, thereby enabling management of different types of terminal devices. Using a single first message to trigger different types of terminal devices to send a first signal can also reduce system latency.

[0225] Based on the above embodiments, the embodiments of the present application further provide a communication device. Referring to FIG10 , the communication device 1000 may include a transceiver unit 1001 and a processing unit 1002. The transceiver unit 1001 is used for the communication device 1000 to communicate, such as receiving information (messages or data) or sending information (messages or data), and the processing unit 1002 is used to control and manage the actions of the communication device 1000. The processing unit 1002 may also control the steps performed by the transceiver unit 1001.

[0226] Exemplarily, the communication device 1000 may specifically be the terminal device (such as the first type of terminal device) in the above embodiment, a processor of the terminal device (such as the first type of terminal device), or a chip, or a chip system, or a functional module, etc. Alternatively, the communication device 1000 may specifically be the access network device in the above embodiment, a processor, or a chip, or a chip system, or a functional module, etc. in the access network device.

[0227] In one embodiment, when the communication device 1000 is used to implement the function of the access network device in the embodiment shown in Figure 3 above, the transceiver unit 1001 can be used to: send a first message, where the first message is used to instruct a first type of terminal device to send a first signal; receive the first signal at a first preset position; the processing unit 1002 can be used to: if the transceiver unit 1001 receives the first signal at the first preset position, determine that the first type of terminal device exists; if the transceiver unit 1001 does not receive the first signal at the first preset position, determine that the first type of terminal device does not exist.

[0228] In an optional embodiment, the first message is further used to indicate that the first cycle only includes one time unit, and the first message is further used to indicate that the first type of terminal device initiates access within the one time unit.

[0229] In one example, the first signal can be used to access an access network device, the first signal includes a first identifier, the first identifier is generated by a terminal device that initiates access, the terminal device that initiates access belongs to the first type of terminal device, and the first identifier is used to identify the terminal device that initiates access within the one time unit.

[0230] In another example, the first signal may be used to indicate the presence of the first type of terminal device.

[0231] In some embodiments, the transceiver unit 1001 may also be used to: after the processing unit 1002 determines that the first type of terminal device exists, send a second message, where the second message is used to instruct the first type of terminal device to initiate access within a second period.

[0232] The second message may also be used to indicate that the second period includes N time units, where N is a positive integer.

[0233] Optionally, there is a first time interval between the first preset position and the position where the first message is sent.

[0234] Exemplarily, the first type of terminal device is a terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier, or a terminal device that requires an external device to provide an uplink frequency resource carrier, or a terminal device that can generate a carrier.

[0235] In another embodiment, when the communication device 1000 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device (e.g., the first type of terminal device) in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 , the transceiver unit 1001 may be configured to: receive a first message instructing the first type of terminal device to send a first signal; and send the first signal at a first preset location. The processing unit 1002 may be configured to control the transceiver unit 1001's transceiver operations.

[0236] In an optional implementation, the first message may also be used to indicate that the first cycle includes only one time unit, and the first message is further used to indicate that the first type of terminal device initiates access within the one time unit.

[0237] In one example, the first signal can be used to access an access network device, the first signal includes a first identifier, the first identifier is generated by a terminal device that initiates access, the terminal device that initiates access belongs to the first type of terminal device, and the first identifier is used to identify the terminal device that initiates access within the one time unit.

[0238] In another example, the first signal can be used to indicate the presence of the first type of terminal device.

[0239] In some embodiments, the transceiver unit 1001 may also be used to: receive a second message, where the second message is used to instruct the terminal device of the first type to initiate access within a second period.

[0240] The second message may also be used to indicate that the second period includes N time units, where N is a positive integer.

[0241] Optionally, there is a first time interval between the first preset position and the position where the first message is received.

[0242] Exemplarily, the first type of terminal device is a terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier, or a terminal device that requires an external device to provide an uplink frequency resource carrier, or a terminal device that can generate a carrier.

[0243] In another embodiment, when the communication device 1000 is used to implement the function of the access network device in the embodiment shown in Figure 6 above, the transceiver unit 1001 can be used to: send a first message, the first message is used to instruct M types of terminal devices to send a first signal respectively, and M is a positive integer; receive the first signal at M preset positions, and the M preset positions correspond one-to-one to the M types; the processing unit 1002 can be used to: if the transceiver unit 1001 receives the first signal at the i-th preset position among the M preset positions, it is determined that there is a terminal device of the type corresponding to the i-th preset position; if the transceiver unit 1001 does not receive the first signal at the i-th preset position, it is determined that there is no terminal device of the type corresponding to the i-th preset position, and i is a positive integer less than or equal to M.

[0244] In an optional embodiment, the first signal of the i-th preset position is used to indicate the existence of a terminal device of a type corresponding to the i-th preset position.

[0245] In some embodiments, the transceiver unit 1001 can also be used to: after the processing unit 1002 determines that there is a terminal device of the type corresponding to the i-th preset position, send a second message, wherein the second message is used to indicate that the terminal device of the type corresponding to the i-th preset position initiates access within a second period.

[0246] The second message may also be used to indicate that the second period includes N time units, where N is a positive integer.

[0247] In one example, any two preset positions among the M preset positions do not overlap.

[0248] In another example, a first preset position among the M preset positions is separated from the position where the first message is sent by a first time length, and a second time length is separated between every two adjacent preset positions among the M preset positions.

[0249] In one possible embodiment, there is a carrier in the downlink frequency resource in a first preset position, and the first preset position is one of the M preset positions; there is a carrier in the uplink frequency resource in a second preset position, and the second preset position is one of the M preset positions other than the first preset position.

[0250] Exemplarily, the M types of terminal devices include at least one of the following: a terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier, a terminal device that requires an external device to provide an uplink frequency resource carrier, or a terminal device that can generate a carrier.

[0251] In another embodiment, when the communication device 1000 is used to implement the function of the terminal device (such as the first type of terminal device) in the embodiment shown in Figure 3 above, the transceiver unit 1001 can be used to: receive a first message, the first message is used to instruct M types of terminal devices to send a first signal respectively, and M is a positive integer; send a first signal at at least one preset position among M preset positions, and the M preset positions correspond one-to-one to the M types.

[0252] Optionally, the first signal at any preset location is used to indicate the presence of the first type of terminal device.

[0253] In an optional implementation, the transceiver unit 1001 may also be configured to receive a second message, where the second message is configured to instruct the terminal device of the first type to initiate access within a second period.

[0254] The second message may also be used to indicate that the second period includes N time units, where N is a positive integer.

[0255] In one example, any two preset positions among the M preset positions do not overlap.

[0256] In another example, a first preset position among the M preset positions is separated from the position where the first message is sent by a first time length, and a second time length is separated from every two adjacent preset positions among the M preset positions.

[0257] In some embodiments, when the first type of terminal device is a terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier, or when the first type of terminal device is a terminal device that requires an external device to provide an uplink frequency resource carrier, when the transceiver unit 1001 sends the first signal at at least one of the M preset positions, it can be used to: send the first signal at all of the M preset positions.

[0258] In one possible manner, the M preset positions include three preset positions; when the first type of terminal device is a terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier, when the transceiver unit 1001 sends the first signal at at least one preset position in the M preset positions, it can be used to: send the first signal at the first preset position based on the downlink frequency resource carrier; the first preset position is one of the three preset positions;

[0259] When the first type of terminal device is a terminal device that requires an external device to provide an uplink frequency resource carrier, the transceiver unit 1001, when sending the first signal at at least one preset position among the M preset positions, can be used to: send the first signal at a second preset position based on the uplink frequency resource carrier; the second preset position is a preset position among the three preset positions other than the first preset position;

[0260] When the first type of terminal device is a terminal device capable of generating a carrier, when the transceiver unit 1001 sends the first signal at at least one preset position among the M preset positions, it can be used to: send the first signal at a preset position among the three preset positions except the first preset position and the second preset position.

[0261] It should be noted that the division of units in the embodiments of the present application is schematic and is merely a logical functional division. In actual implementation, other division methods may be used. The functional units in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into a single processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into a single unit. The aforementioned integrated units may be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional units.

[0262] If the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application is essentially or the part that contributes to the prior art or all or part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, and the computer software product is stored in a storage medium, including a number of instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) or a processor to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

[0263] Based on the above embodiments, embodiments of the present application further provide a communication device. Referring to FIG. 11 , a communication device 1100 may include a processor 1102. Optionally, the communication device 1100 may further include a transceiver 1101. Optionally, the communication device 1100 may further include a memory 1103. The memory 1103 may be disposed within or outside the communication device 1100. The processor 1102 may control the transceiver 1101 to receive and transmit information, messages, or data.

[0264] Specifically, the processor 1102 may be a central processing unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), or a combination of a CPU and an NP. The processor 1102 may further include a hardware chip. The hardware chip may be an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a combination thereof. The PLD may be a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a generic array logic (GAL), or any combination thereof.

[0265] The transceiver 1101, the processor 1102, and the memory 1103 are interconnected. Optionally, the transceiver 1101, the processor 1102, and the memory 1103 are interconnected via a bus 1104; the bus 1104 may be a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus or an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus. The bus may be classified as an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of illustration, FIG11 shows only one thick line, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0266] In an optional embodiment, the memory 1103 is used to store programs, etc. Specifically, the programs may include program code, which includes computer operating instructions. The memory 1103 may include RAM, or may also include non-volatile memory (non-volatile memory), such as one or more disk storage devices. The processor 1102 executes the application stored in the memory 1103 to implement the above functions, thereby realizing the functions of the communication device 1100.

[0267] In one embodiment, when the communication device 1100 implements the functions of the terminal device (e.g., the first type of terminal device) in the aforementioned method embodiment, the transceiver 1101 can implement the transceiver operations performed by the terminal device (e.g., the first type of terminal device) in the aforementioned method embodiment; and the processor 1102 can implement other operations other than the transceiver operations performed by the terminal device (e.g., the first type of terminal device) in the aforementioned method embodiment. Specific related descriptions can be found in the relevant descriptions of the aforementioned method embodiment and will not be described in detail here.

[0268] In another embodiment, when the communication device 1100 implements the functions of the access network device in the aforementioned method embodiment, the transceiver 1101 may implement the transceiver operations performed by the access network device in the aforementioned method embodiment; and the processor 1102 may implement other operations performed by the access network device in the aforementioned method embodiment in addition to the transceiver operations. For specific details, please refer to the relevant descriptions in the aforementioned method embodiment and will not be described in detail here.

[0269] Based on the above embodiments, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, which may include the terminal device involved in the above embodiments (such as the first type of terminal device, etc.) and access network equipment, etc.

[0270] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, which is used to store a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer can implement the communication method provided by the above method embodiment.

[0271] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, which is used to store a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer can implement the communication method provided by the above method embodiment.

[0272] An embodiment of the present application also provides a chip, including a processor, which is coupled to a memory and is used to call a program in the memory so that the chip implements the communication method provided by the above method embodiment.

[0273] An embodiment of the present application further provides a chip, which is coupled to a memory and is used to implement the communication method provided in the above method embodiment.

[0274] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments of the present application can be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, the present application can adopt the form of a complete hardware embodiment, a complete software embodiment, or an embodiment in combination with software and hardware. Moreover, the present application can adopt the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to magnetic disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) that contain computer-usable program code.

[0275] The present application is described with reference to the flowcharts and / or block diagrams of the methods, devices (systems), and computer program products according to the present application. It should be understood that each flow and / or box in the flow chart and / or block diagram, as well as the combination of the flow chart and / or box in the flow chart and / or block diagram, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processor, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device produce a device for implementing the functions specified in one or more flow charts and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

[0276] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to operate in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce a product including an instruction device that implements the functions specified in one or more processes in the flowchart and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

[0277] 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.

[0278] Obviously, those skilled in the art may make various changes and modifications to the present application without departing from the scope of the present application. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents, the present application is intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: include: Sending a first message, where the first message is used to instruct a first type of terminal device to send a first signal; receiving the first signal at a first preset position; If the first signal is received at the first preset location, it is determined that the first type of terminal device exists; If the first signal is not received at the first preset location, it is determined that the first type of terminal device does not exist.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein After determining that the first type of terminal device exists, the method further includes: Send a second message, where the second message is used to instruct the terminal device of the first type to initiate access within a second period.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The first preset position is separated from the position where the first message is sent by a first time length.

4. A communication method, characterized in that: include: receiving a first message, where the first message is used to instruct a first type of terminal device to send a first signal; The first signal is sent at a first preset position.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein The method further comprises: Receive a second message, where the second message is used to instruct the terminal device of the first type to initiate access within a second period.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that The first preset position is separated from the position where the first message is received by a first time length.

7. The method according to claim 1 or 4, wherein: The first message is further used to indicate that the first cycle includes only one time unit, and the first message is further used to indicate that the first type of terminal device initiates access within the one time unit.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein The first signal is used to access the access network device. The first signal includes a first identifier. The first identifier is generated by the terminal device that initiates the access. The terminal device that initiates the access belongs to the first type of terminal device. The first identifier is used to identify the terminal device that initiates the access within the one time unit.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1-2, 4-5, characterized in that The first signal is used to indicate the presence of the first type of terminal device.

10. The method according to claim 2 or 5, characterized in that The second message is further used to indicate that the second period includes N time units, where N is a positive integer.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein: The first type of terminal device is a terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier, or a terminal device that requires an external device to provide an uplink frequency resource carrier, or a terminal device that can generate a carrier.

12. A communication method, characterized in that: include: Sending a first message, where the first message is used to instruct M types of terminal devices to respectively send a first signal, where M is a positive integer; receiving the first signal at M preset positions, where the M preset positions correspond one-to-one to the M types; If the first signal is received at the i-th preset position among the M preset positions, it is determined that there is a terminal device of a type corresponding to the i-th preset position; If the first signal is not received at the i-th preset position, it is determined that there is no terminal device of the type corresponding to the i-th preset position, where i is a positive integer less than or equal to M.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein: The first signal of the i-th preset position is used to indicate the existence of a terminal device of a type corresponding to the i-th preset position.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein: After determining that there is a terminal device of a type corresponding to the i-th preset position, the method further includes: A second message is sent, where the second message is used to instruct the terminal device of the type corresponding to the i-th preset location to initiate access within a second period.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein: The method further comprises: There is a carrier in the downlink frequency resource in a first preset position, where the first preset position is one of the M preset positions; There is a carrier in the uplink frequency resource in the second preset position, and the second preset position is a preset position among the M preset positions except the first preset position.

16. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein: The M types of terminal devices include at least one of the following: a terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier, a terminal device that requires an external device to provide an uplink frequency resource carrier, or a terminal device that can generate a carrier.

17. A communication method, characterized in that: Applicable to the first type of terminal equipment, including: Receive a first message, where the first message is used to instruct M types of terminal devices to respectively send a first signal, where M is a positive integer; The first signal is sent at at least one preset position among M preset positions, and the M preset positions correspond one-to-one to the M types.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein The first signal at any preset location is used to indicate the presence of the first type of terminal device.

19. The method according to claim 17 or 18, wherein: The method further comprises: Receive a second message, where the second message is used to instruct the terminal device of the first type to initiate access within a second period.

20. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein: When the first type of terminal device is a terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier, or when the first type of terminal device is a terminal device that requires an external device to provide an uplink frequency resource carrier, sending a first signal at at least one preset position among the M preset positions includes: The first signal is sent at each of the M preset positions.

21. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein: The M preset positions include three preset positions; When the first type of terminal device is a terminal device that requires an external device to provide a downlink frequency resource carrier, sending the first signal at at least one preset position among the M preset positions includes: sending the first signal at a first preset position based on the downlink frequency resource carrier; the first preset position is one of the three preset positions; When the first type of terminal device is a terminal device that requires an external device to provide an uplink frequency resource carrier, sending the first signal at at least one preset position among the M preset positions includes: sending the first signal at a second preset position based on the uplink frequency resource carrier; the second preset position is a preset position among the three preset positions other than the first preset position; When the first type of terminal device is a terminal device capable of generating a carrier, sending the first signal at at least one preset position among the M preset positions includes: sending the first signal at a preset position other than the first preset position and the second preset position among the three preset positions.

22. The method according to claim 14 or 19, wherein: The second message is further used to indicate that the second period includes N time units, where N is a positive integer.

23. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 22, wherein: Any two preset positions among the M preset positions do not overlap.

24. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 23, wherein: There is a first time interval between a first preset position among the M preset positions and the position where the first message is sent, and there is a second time interval between every two adjacent preset positions among the M preset positions.

25. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a module or unit for executing the method described in any one of claims 1 to 3 and 7 to 11, or a module or unit for executing the method described in any one of claims 4 to 11, or a module or unit for executing the method described in any one of claims 12 to 16 and 22 to 24, or a module or unit for executing the method described in any one of claims 17 to 24.

26. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a processor configured to cause the communication device to perform the method according to any one of claims 1-3, 7-11, or the method according to any one of claims 4-11, or the method according to any one of claims 12-16, 22-24, or the method according to any one of claims 17-24.

27. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that The computer-readable storage medium stores computer-executable instructions, which, when called by the computer, execute the method as described in any one of claims 1-3, 7-11, or the method as described in any one of claims 4-11, or the method as described in any one of claims 12-16, 22-24, or the method as described in any one of claims 17-24.

28. A computer program product, characterized in that The method comprises instructions which, when executed on a computer, cause the method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 7 to 11, or the method according to any one of claims 4 to 11 to be executed, or the method according to any one of claims 12 to 16, 22 to 24 to be executed, or the method according to any one of claims 17 to 24 to be executed.

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