Time synchronization method and apparatus, and device, chip and storage medium

Abstract

Provided in the embodiments of the present application is a time synchronization method, which is applied to a first AMP device. The method comprises: receiving first information, wherein the first information is used by a first AMP device to synchronize with a network device; the first information is carried in a target frame or a target channel from the network device or a second AMP device; and the sending of the target frame and the target channel is related to the network device triggering the first AMP device and / or second AMP device to send or receive data. In the method, when a network device triggers a first AMP device and / or second AMP device to send or receive data, the network device or the second AMP device may provide first information to the first AMP device, such that the first AMP device synchronizes with the network device, and thus the first AMP device does not need to constantly maintain time synchronization with the network device, thereby facilitating a reduction in the power consumption of the first AMP device.

Description

A time synchronization method, device, equipment, chip and storage medium Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of the present application relate to the field of communication technology, and specifically to a time synchronization method, apparatus, device, chip, and storage medium. Background Art

[0002] Ambient Powered Internet of Things (AMP IoT) devices operate by harvesting ambient energy, which can be, for example, radio frequency energy, solar energy, thermal energy, mechanical energy, etc.

[0003] For the time synchronization function, since the local oscillator of the AMP IoT device is not very accurate, in order to maintain synchronization with the network, it is necessary to periodically receive time information to adjust the local time. For example, when the AMP IoT device is used in a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) system, it is necessary to periodically receive beacon frames to obtain timestamp information for updating the local Timing Synchronization Function (TSF) timer; when the AMP IoT device is used in a cellular system, it is necessary to periodically receive synchronization signals to synchronize with the network. This will continuously consume the energy storage of the AMP IoT device, which may affect the communication process of the AMP IoT device.

[0004] Summary of the Invention

[0005] Embodiments of the present application provide a time synchronization method, apparatus, device, chip, and storage medium.

[0006] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a time synchronization method, applied to a first AMP device, the method comprising: receiving first information, the first information being used to synchronize the first AMP device with a network device; the first information being carried in a target frame or target channel from the network device or a second AMP device; the sending of the target frame and the target channel being related to the network device triggering the first AMP device and / or the second AMP device to send or receive data.

[0007] In the second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a time synchronization method, which is applied to a network device, and the method includes: sending first information, the first information is used to synchronize a first environment energy AMP device with the network device; the first information is carried in a target frame or a target channel; the sending of the target frame and the target channel is related to the network device triggering the first AMP device and / or the second AMP device to send or receive data.

[0008] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a time synchronization method, which is applied to a second AMP device, and the method includes: sending first information, the first information is used to synchronize the first AMP device with the network device; the first information is carried in a target frame or a target channel; the sending of the target frame and the target channel is related to the network device triggering the second AMP device to send or receive data.

[0009] In fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a time synchronization device, which includes: a first communication unit, configured to receive first information, the first information being used to synchronize the device with a network device; the first information being carried in a target frame or target channel from the network device or a second AMP device; the sending of the target frame and the target channel is related to the network device triggering the device and / or the second AMP device to send or receive data.

[0010] In the fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a time synchronization device, which includes: a second communication unit, configured to send first information, the first information being used for synchronizing a first environment energy AMP device with the device; the first information being carried in a target frame or a target channel; the sending of the target frame and the target channel is related to the device triggering the first AMP device and / or the second AMP device to send or receive data.

[0011] In the sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a time synchronization device, which includes: a third communication unit, configured to send first information, the first information is used to synchronize the first AMP device with the network device; the first information is carried in a target frame or a target channel; the sending of the target frame and the target channel is related to the network device triggering the device to send or receive data.

[0012] In the seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, comprising: a memory for storing a computer program; a processor connected to the memory, for calling and running the computer program from the memory, to implement the method described in any one of the first to third aspects; and a transceiver for receiving and sending information during the process of sending and receiving information between other devices.

[0013] In an eighth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a chip. The chip includes: a processor configured to load and execute a computer program from a memory, causing a device equipped with the chip to execute the method described in any one of aspects 1 to 3; and a transceiver configured to transmit and receive information during the process of transmitting and receiving information to and from the device or chip.

[0014] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program, which enables a computer to execute the method described in any one of the first to third aspects.

[0015] According to the method of the embodiment of the present application, the first AMP device can synchronize with the network device through the first information, wherein the first information is carried in a target frame or target channel from the network device or the second AMP device, and the sending of the target frame and the target channel is related to the network device triggering the first AMP device and / or the second AMP device to send or receive data. In other words, the network device or the second AMP device can provide the first information to the first AMP device when the network device triggers the first AMP device and / or the second AMP device to send or receive data, so as to synchronize the first AMP device with the network device, thereby avoiding the first AMP device from synchronizing with the network by continuously detecting periodic synchronization signals, or in other words, the first AMP device does not need to maintain time synchronization with the network device all the time, which is beneficial to reducing the power consumption of the first AMP device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The drawings described herein are used to provide a further understanding of the present application and constitute a part of the present application. The illustrative embodiments of the present application and their descriptions are used to explain the present application and do not constitute an improper limitation on the present application. In the drawings:

[0017] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario of an embodiment of the present application;

[0018] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of a time synchronization method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0019] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a communication process in which time information is carried by a trigger frame according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0020] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the frame format of an existing ACK frame;

[0021] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a frame format of an ACK frame provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0022] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of a trigger frame triggering multiple transmitting AMP STAs to perform data transmission according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0023] 7 is a second schematic diagram of a trigger frame triggering multiple AMP STAs to transmit data according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0024] FIG8 is a third schematic diagram of a trigger frame triggering multiple AMP STAs to perform data transmission according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0025] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of the first structure of a time synchronization device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0026] FIG10 is a second schematic diagram of the structure of the time synchronization device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0027] FIG11 is a third schematic diagram of the structure of the time synchronization device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0028] FIG12 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0029] FIG13 is a schematic structural diagram of a chip according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0030] FIG14 is a schematic block diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The following will describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of this application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0032] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario of an embodiment of the present application.

[0033] As shown in Figure 1, a communication system 100 may include a terminal device 110 and a network device 120. The network device 120 may communicate with the terminal device 110 via an air interface. The terminal device 110 and the network device 120 support multi-service transmission.

[0034] It should be understood that the embodiments of the present application are only illustrative of the communication system 100, but the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. That is, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD), Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), Internet of Things (IoT) system, Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) system, enhanced Machine-Type Communications (eMTC) system, 5G communication system (also known as New Radio (NR) communication system), 6G communication system, or future communication systems.

[0035] In the communication system 100 shown in Figure 1, the network device 120 may be an access network device that communicates with the terminal device 110. The access network device may provide communication coverage for a specific geographical area and may communicate with the terminal device 110 (eg, UE) located within the coverage area.

[0036] The network device 120 can be an evolved base station (eNB or eNodeB) in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, or a Next Generation Radio Access Network (NG RAN) device, or a base station (gNB) in an NR system, or a base station in a 6G system, or a wireless controller in a Cloud Radio Access Network (CRAN), or the network device 120 can be a relay station, an access point, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a hub, a switch, a bridge, a router, or a network device in a future evolved Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), etc.

[0037] The terminal device 110 may be any terminal device, including but not limited to a terminal device connected to the network device 120 or other terminal devices by wire or wireless connection.

[0038] For example, the terminal device 110 may refer to an access terminal, user equipment (UE), a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a mobile station, a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a terminal, a wireless communication device, a user agent, or a user apparatus. The access terminal may be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, an IoT device, a satellite handheld terminal, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, a terminal device in a 5G network, a terminal device in a 6G network, or a terminal device in a future evolution network, etc.

[0039] The terminal device 110 can be used for device-to-device (D2D) communication.

[0040] The communication system 100 may also include a core network device 130 that communicates with the network device 120. The core network device 130 may be a 5G core network (5G Core, 5GC) device, such as an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), an Authentication Server Function (AUSF), a User Plane Function (UPF), or a Session Management Function (SMF). In some embodiments, the core network device 130 may also be an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) device of an LTE network, such as a Session Management Function + Core Packet Gateway (SMF+PGW-C) device. It should be understood that SMF+PGW-C can simultaneously implement the functions that can be implemented by SMF and PGW-C. During the network evolution process, the above-mentioned core network device may also be called other names, or a new network entity may be formed by dividing the functions of the core network, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0041] The functional units in the communication system 100 may also establish connections and implement communication via next generation (NG) network interfaces.

[0042] For example, the terminal device establishes an air interface connection with the access network device through the NR interface for transmitting user plane data and control plane signaling; the terminal device can establish a control plane signaling connection with the AMF through the NG interface 1 (referred to as N1); the access network device, such as the next generation wireless access base station (gNB), can establish a user plane data connection with the UPF through the NG interface 3 (referred to as N3); the access network device can establish a control plane signaling connection with the AMF through the NG interface 2 (referred to as N2); the UPF can establish a control plane signaling connection with the SMF through the NG interface 4 (referred to as N4); the UPF can exchange user plane data with the data network through the NG interface 6 (referred to as N6); the AMF can establish a control plane signaling connection with the SMF through the NG interface 11 (referred to as N11); the SMF can establish a control plane signaling connection with the PCF through the NG interface 7 (referred to as N7).

[0043] Figure 1 exemplarily shows a network device, a core network device and two terminal devices. Optionally, the communication system 100 may include multiple network devices and the coverage area of ​​each network device may include other numbers of terminal devices, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0044] It should be noted that Figure 1 is merely an example of a system applicable to this application. Of course, the methods described in the embodiments of this application can also be applied to other systems. Furthermore, the terms "system" and "network" are often used interchangeably herein. The term "and / or" herein simply describes an association relationship between associated objects, indicating that three possible relationships exist. For example, "A and / or B" can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, or B exists alone. Furthermore, the character " / " generally indicates that the associated objects are in an "or" relationship. It should also be understood that the "indication" mentioned in the embodiments of this application can be a direct indication, an indirect indication, or an indication of an association relationship. For example, "A indicates B" can mean that A directly indicates B, for example, B can obtain information through A; it can also mean that A indirectly indicates B, for example, A indicates C, and B can obtain information through C; or it can mean that A and B have an association relationship. It should also be understood that the "correspondence" mentioned in the embodiments of this application can mean that there is a direct or indirect correspondence between two objects, or that there is an association relationship between the two objects, or a relationship between an indicator and the indicated, a configuration and the configured, and so on. It should also be understood that the “predefined” or “predefined rules” mentioned in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by pre-saving corresponding codes, tables or other methods that can be used to indicate relevant information in devices (for example, including terminal devices and network devices), and the present application does not limit its specific implementation method. For example, predefined can refer to what is defined in the protocol. It should also be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, the “protocol” may refer to a standard protocol in the field of communications, such as LTE protocols, NR protocols, and related protocols used in future communication systems, and the present application does not limit this.

[0045] To facilitate understanding of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the relevant technologies of the embodiments of the present application are described below. The following relevant technologies can be arbitrarily combined with the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application as optional solutions, and they all fall within the protection scope of the embodiments of the present application.

[0046] 1. Cellular Passive IoT

[0047] As 5G industry applications expand, the types of connected objects and application scenarios will increase, placing higher demands on the price and power consumption of communication terminals. The application of battery-free, low-cost passive IoT devices has become a key technology for cellular IoT, expanding the types and number of terminals connected to 5G networks and truly realizing the Internet of Everything. Passive IoT devices can be based on existing zero-power technologies, such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), and can be extended to suit cellular IoT.

[0048] 2. Classification of Zero-Power Terminals

[0049] Based on the energy source and usage of zero-power terminals, they can be divided into the following types:

[0050] 1) Passive zero-power terminal

[0051] Zero-power terminals do not require internal batteries. When they approach network devices (such as RFID readers), they are within the near-field radiation generated by the network device's antenna. Consequently, the zero-power terminal's antenna generates an induced current through electromagnetic induction. This induced current drives the low-power chip circuitry in the zero-power terminal, enabling forward link signal demodulation and backward link signal modulation. For backscatter links, the zero-power terminal uses backscattering to transmit signals.

[0052] It can be seen that the passive zero-power terminal does not require a built-in battery to drive either the forward link or the reverse link, and is a true zero-power terminal.

[0053] Passive zero-power terminals do not require batteries, and their RF circuits and baseband circuits are very simple. For example, they do not require low-noise amplifiers (LNAs), power amplifiers (PAs), crystal oscillators, analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), and other devices. Therefore, they have many advantages such as small size, light weight, very low price, and long service life.

[0054] 2) Semi-passive zero-power terminal

[0055] Semi-passive zero-power terminals do not have conventional batteries themselves, but instead use energy harvesting modules to collect ambient energy, such as radio frequency signal energy, and store this energy in an energy storage unit (such as a capacitor). This energy storage unit then drives the zero-power terminal's low-power chip circuits to perform tasks such as demodulating forward link signals and modulating backward link signals. For backscatter links, the zero-power terminal can transmit signals using either backscatter or active transmission.

[0056] It can be seen that the semi-passive zero-power terminal does not require a built-in battery to drive either the forward link or the reverse link. Although energy stored in capacitors is used during operation, the energy comes from the ambient energy collected by the energy harvesting module. Therefore, it is also a true zero-power terminal.

[0057] Semi-passive zero-power consumption terminals inherit many advantages of passive zero-power consumption terminals, so they have many advantages such as small size, light weight, very low price, and long service life.

[0058] 3) Active zero-power terminal

[0059] In some scenarios, zero-power terminals can also be active zero-power terminals, which can have built-in batteries. The battery drives the low-power chip circuitry in the zero-power terminal, enabling forward link signal demodulation and backward link signal modulation. However, for backscatter links, the zero-power terminal uses backscatter or active transmission to transmit signals. Although equipped with a built-in battery, this type of active zero-power terminal has extremely low power consumption and complexity, allowing for smaller batteries, resulting in lower cost and size. The built-in battery can also serve as an energy storage unit, allowing the energy harvesting module to store collected ambient energy, thereby achieving a longer maintenance cycle or even no maintenance required.

[0060] Active zero-power terminals are powered by built-in batteries to extend their communication range and improve communication reliability. Therefore, they are used in scenarios with relatively high requirements for communication distance and read latency.

[0061] 3. Devices based on ambient energy

[0062] In NR and Wi-Fi systems, the battery-free nature and low cost of devices enable low-cost, large-scale deployment and maintenance-free Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Currently, research is underway to support ambient energy-based IoT devices in NR and Wi-Fi systems. These devices, known as ambient IoT devices or AMP IoT devices, operate by harvesting ambient energy from sources such as wireless signals, solar energy, and thermal energy. These devices are similar to passive or semi-passive devices in zero-power communications.

[0063] A research project on ambient IoT devices has been carried out in the 3GPP RAN. These devices are roughly divided into three types: Device A, Device B, and Device C, each with corresponding complexity and communication capabilities.

[0064] Device A: It lacks energy storage capabilities and cannot transmit independent signals, so it uses backscatter transmission.

[0065] Device B: It has energy storage capabilities but cannot send independent signals. Instead, it uses backscattering transmission and can use the stored energy to amplify the backscattered signal.

[0066] Device C: It has energy storage capabilities and can send independent signals, that is, it has active transmission capabilities.

[0067] Device A has the lowest complexity and power consumption, reaching as low as 1 μW. However, its communication range is limited, typically only a few meters. Device A requires a network device to provide a carrier signal for backscattering transmission. Device C typically has a large capacitor to store energy from the environment, consumes several hundred μW, and can support active signal transmission, thus providing a longer communication range. Because device C can perform active transmission, it does not require a network device to provide a carrier signal. Device B's complexity and power consumption are between those of devices A and C.

[0068] In addition, zero-power terminals can also support various types of environmental energy harvesting, such as radio frequency, solar energy, thermal energy, mechanical energy, etc. Among them, zero-power terminals based on radio frequency energy harvesting may require the network to provide radio frequency power signals.

[0069] Based on the current discussion of the application scenarios of ambient IoT devices, ambient IoT devices can be used in at least the following four scenarios:

[0070] Scenario 1: Object recognition, such as logistics, production line product management, and supply chain management;

[0071] Scenario 2: Environmental monitoring, such as temperature, humidity, and harmful gas monitoring in working and natural environments;

[0072] Scenario 3: Positioning, such as indoor positioning, intelligent object search, and production line item positioning;

[0073] Scenario 4: Intelligent control, such as intelligent control of various electrical appliances in smart homes (turning on and off air conditioners, adjusting temperature), and intelligent control of various facilities in agricultural greenhouses (automatic irrigation and fertilization).

[0074] 4. Time synchronization mechanism in WiFi system

[0075] In a WiFi system, in addition to the internal timing of the workstation, each workstation in the basic service set must maintain a timer for the Timing Synchronization Function (TSF). This TSF timer is an internal timer that is synchronized with the TSFs of all other workstations (STAs) in the basic service set. The TSF timer counts in microseconds. In order to synchronize the time of each workstation in the basic service set, the access point (AP) indicates the number of microseconds that have passed since the network started working through the timestamp field in the beacon frame. The timestamp field consists of 8 bytes, 64 bits, and the workstations in the basic service set use this timestamp to adjust their local TSF timers. The STA achieves time synchronization with the AP and other STAs through the TSF aligned with the AP.

[0076] 5. Time synchronization mechanism in cellular systems

[0077] In the NR system, the UE synchronizes with the network through the synchronization signal block (SS / PBCH block, SSB). An SS / PBCH block is used to carry the synchronization signal and broadcast channel of a beam. An SS / PBCH block consists of 4 symbols in the time domain, including the primary synchronization signal (PSS), the secondary synchronization signal (SSS), and the physical broadcast channel (PBCH). The UE obtains the index of the SSB from the received SSB. The SSB index corresponds to the relative position of the SSB within the 5ms time window. The UE obtains frame synchronization based on this information and the half-frame indication carried by the PBCH. The SSB index is indicated by the demodulation reference signal (DMRS) of the PBCH or the information carried by the PBCH. At the same time, the PBCH carries the system frame number (SFN) information. On the basis of achieving frame synchronization, the UE determines the number of the current system frame (or radio frame) through the SFN, thereby achieving time synchronization with the network.

[0078] The above briefly explains the relevant technologies / terms involved in this application, which will not be repeated in the following embodiments.

[0079] AMP IoT devices operate by harvesting ambient energy, such as radio frequency energy, solar energy, thermal energy, and mechanical energy. The stability of ambient energy harvesting poses a challenge to ensuring reliable communication. For time synchronization, AMP IoT devices need to receive time information sent by the network to maintain time synchronization. Due to the limited accuracy of the local oscillator in AMP IoT devices, they must regularly receive time information to adjust their local time to maintain synchronization with the network. This requires a stable energy source to support continuous time synchronization. For example, when AMP IoT devices are used in WiFi systems, they need to periodically receive beacon frames to obtain timestamp information for updating the local TSF timer. When used in cellular systems, AMP IoT devices need to periodically receive synchronization signals to synchronize with the network. Furthermore, since AMP IoT devices are powered by the environment, they may experience power outages, resulting in loss of synchronization with the network. Therefore, they need to frequently detect synchronization signals to maintain synchronization with the network.

[0080] However, the working time of AMP IoT devices is often very short, and the way to communicate with the network is mainly through network triggering. During the period without communication with the network, AMP IoT devices continuously detect periodic synchronization signals to synchronize with the network, which will continuously consume the energy storage of AMP IoT devices, which may affect the communication process of AMP IoT devices.

[0081] In view of this, the present application provides a time synchronization method, apparatus, device, chip, and storage medium. In this method, a first AMP device can synchronize with a network device via first information, wherein the first information is carried in a target frame or target channel from the network device or a second AMP device, and the sending of the target frame and target channel is related to the network device triggering the first AMP device and / or the second AMP device to send or receive data.

[0082] That is to say, when the network device triggers the first AMP device and / or the second AMP device to send or receive data, the network device or the second AMP device may provide the first information to the first AMP device for synchronization with the network device, thereby avoiding the first AMP device from synchronizing with the network by continuously detecting periodic synchronization signals. In other words, the first AMP device does not need to maintain time synchronization with the network device all the time, which is beneficial to reducing the power consumption of the first AMP device.

[0083] It should be noted that the AMP device in the embodiments of the present application can be any device that operates based on ambient energy, such as an AMP IoT device. Ambient energy can include, for example, radio frequency energy, solar energy, thermal energy, mechanical energy, and the like. For example, the AMP device can be used in a WiFi system or a cellular system.

[0084] In the embodiments of the present application, the network device can be a device that communicates with an AMP device. In some scenarios, the network device can also provide wireless power to the AMP device. For example, the network device can be an AP in a WiFi network or a base station in a cellular network. In a WiFi system, the network device can be an AP, and the AMP device can be called an AMP STA. In a cellular system, the network device can be a base station, and the AMP device can be called an AMP terminal.

[0085] To facilitate understanding of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the technical solutions of the present application are described in detail below through specific embodiments. The above related technologies can be combined arbitrarily with the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application as optional solutions, and all of them fall within the scope of protection of the embodiments of the present application. The embodiments of the present application include at least part of the following contents.

[0086] FIG2 is a flow chart of a time synchronization method provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG2 , the method may include the following steps:

[0087] S201, the first AMP device receives first information, and the first information is used to synchronize the first AMP device with the network device; the first information is carried in a target frame or target channel from the network device or the second AMP device; the sending of the target frame and the target channel is related to the network device triggering the first AMP device and / or the second AMP device to send or receive data.

[0088] In this embodiment, the network device or the second AMP device may send the first information, and accordingly, the first AMP device may receive the first information from the network device or the second AMP device. The first information may, for example, be carried in a target frame or a target channel from the network device or the second AMP device. The sending of the target frame and the target channel may be related to the network device triggering the first AMP device and / or the second AMP device to send or receive data.

[0089] Among them, the sending of the target frame and the target channel is related to the network device triggering the first AMP device and / or the second AMP device to send or receive data. For example, it can also be understood that the target frame and the target channel are sent when (or under the premise that) the network device triggers the first AMP device and / or the second AMP device to send or receive data, or it can also be understood that the target frame and the target channel are sent in the process of the network device triggering the first AMP device and / or the second AMP device to send or receive data.

[0090] In one example, the network device may transmit a target frame or a target channel carrying first information, so that the first AMP device can synchronize with the network device using the first information from the network device. Transmission of the target frame and the target channel may, for example, be related to the network device triggering the first AMP device and / or the second AMP device to send or receive data.

[0091] In another example, the second AMP device may transmit a target frame or a target channel carrying the first information, thereby enabling the first AMP device to synchronize with the network device using the first information from the second AMP device. Transmission of the target frame and the target channel may, for example, be related to the network device triggering the second AMP device to send or receive data.

[0092] According to the method of this embodiment, the network device or the second AMP device may provide the first information to the first AMP device when the network device triggers the first AMP device and / or the second AMP device to send or receive data, so that the first AMP device can be synchronized with the network. This can avoid the first AMP device from synchronizing with the network by continuously detecting periodic synchronization signals. In other words, the first AMP device does not need to maintain time synchronization with the network device all the time, which is beneficial to reducing the power consumption of the first AMP device.

[0093] In some embodiments, the first information may be carried in a target frame from a network device, which may be used to: trigger at least one AMP device to send data to the network device, or trigger at least one AMP device to receive data from the network device, and the at least one AMP device may include a first AMP device and / or a second AMP device.

[0094] In this case, the target frame may be, for example, a trigger frame.

[0095] In one example, the target frame can be used to trigger at least one AMP device to send data to a network device. Upon receiving the target frame, the at least one AMP device can send data to the network device in response to the triggering of the target frame. In some embodiments, the target frame can also indicate one or more of the following information: time domain resources, frequency domain resources, code domain resources, modulation or coding scheme, and data rate used by the at least one AMP device to transmit data.

[0096] In another example, the target frame may be used to trigger at least one AMP device to receive data from a network device. Upon receiving the target frame, the at least one AMP device may receive data from the network device in response to the triggering of the target frame. In some embodiments, the target frame may also indicate one or more of the following: time domain resources (such as downlink transmission time (DTT)), frequency domain resources, and code domain resources used by the at least one AMP device to receive data.

[0097] In some embodiments, the at least one AMP device may include a first AMP device. Specifically, the network device may provide the first information to the first AMP device while triggering the first AMP device to send or receive data. This eliminates the need for the first AMP device to maintain time synchronization with the network device. Instead, when data needs to be transmitted or received with the network device, the first AMP device synchronizes with the network device using the first information carried in the target frame, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption.

[0098] In some embodiments, the at least one AMP device may not include the first AMP device, that is, the network device may provide the first information to the first AMP device while triggering other AMP devices (such as the second AMP device) to send / receive data, thereby increasing the probability of the first AMP device detecting the first information.

[0099] In some embodiments, the first information may be used to indicate time information of the network device, which can be used to synchronize the first AMP device with the network device. For example, the time information of the network device may indicate the current time of the network device (i.e., the time when the network device sends the first information), such as the current timestamp of the network device. This time information can be used by the first AMP device to update a local timer, thereby achieving time synchronization with the network device.

[0100] In some embodiments, the first information can also be used by the first AMP device to determine a target monitoring time, which can be used by the first AMP device to monitor target frames from the network device (such as target frames sent by the network device one or several times subsequently).

[0101] For example, assuming that the target frame currently sent by the network device is target frame #1, then the first information carried in target frame #1 can be used by the first AMP device to determine the monitoring time of target frame #2, where target frame #2 can be the target frame sent by the network device at a subsequent time.

[0102] According to the method of this embodiment, the first AMP device can determine a target monitoring time based on the first information. Thus, the first AMP device can monitor target frames from the network device when the target monitoring time arrives, and then synchronize with the network device using the monitored target frames. Before the target monitoring time arrives, the first AMP device can enter sleep mode to reduce power consumption, or can perform energy harvesting.

[0103] In some embodiments, the first information may further include one or more of the following items a1) to a4):

[0104] a1) The time interval between the time indicated by the time information of the network device and the target monitoring time.

[0105] Based on the time interval and the time indicated by the time information of the network device, the first AMP device can determine the target monitoring time, so that it can monitor the target frame from the network device when the target monitoring time arrives, and can sleep or harvest energy before the target monitoring time arrives.

[0106] a2) The period at which the network device sends the target frame.

[0107] For example, if the first AMP device knows the time information of the network device and the period at which the network device sends the target frame, the first AMP device can determine the time when the network device will subsequently send the target frame, that is, it can know the target monitoring time. Therefore, the first AMP device can monitor the target frame from the network device when the target monitoring time arrives and can sleep or harvest energy before the target monitoring time arrives.

[0108] a3) An identification (ID) associated with at least one AMP device.

[0109] Among them, the identifier associated with the at least one AMP device can be, for example, the respective identifier of the at least one AMP device, or, when the at least one AMP device belongs to the same AMP device group, the identifier associated with the at least one AMP device can also be the group identifier corresponding to the at least one AMP device.

[0110] Based on the identifier associated with at least one AMP device, the first AMP device can determine at least one AMP device that sends / receives data triggered by the current target frame. Furthermore, the first AMP device can determine the target monitoring time corresponding to the first AMP device in combination with the rules for sending target frames by the network device.

[0111] For example, assume that the at least one AMP device belongs to the same AMP device group with group ID "1." The network device's rule for sending target frames is, for example, to sequentially trigger the N AMP device groups to send / receive data, in order of group IDs from "1" to "N." In this case, if the first information includes group ID "1," the first AMP device will know that the target frame triggers the AMP device with group ID "1" to send / receive data.

[0112] Further, if the at least one AMP device includes a first AMP device, that is, the group ID of the first AMP device is "1", then the first AMP device can send / receive data in response to the triggering of the target frame, and can also determine the time (target monitoring time) at which the network device subsequently triggers the AMP device with group ID "1" to send / receive data through the target frame based on the above rules and the cycle / time interval of the network device sending the target frame.

[0113] Accordingly, if the at least one AMP device does not include the first AMP device, that is, the group ID of the first AMP device is not "1", then the first AMP device can determine the time (target monitoring time) when the network device triggers the AMP device group to which the first AMP device belongs to send / receive data through the target frame based on the above rules and the period / time interval of the network device sending the target frame. For example, assuming that the first AMP device belongs to the AMP device group with a group ID of "2", then the first AMP device can know that the target frame sent by the network device next is the target frame that triggers the first AMP device to send / receive data. Therefore, the first AMP device can determine the time (target monitoring time) when the network device sends the target frame next based on the period / time interval of the network device sending the target frame, and can then monitor the target frame from the network device when the target monitoring time arrives.

[0114] The rule for the network device to send the target frame may be predefined, preconfigured, or configured by the network device. The period / time interval for the network device to send the target frame may be predefined or preconfigured, or may be carried in the target frame sent by the network device.

[0115] a4) Information related to a service period (SP), where the SP can be used for communication between the network device and the at least one AMP device, and the target monitoring time is after the end of the SP.

[0116] When the target frame triggers at least one AMP device to send / receive data, it can trigger an SP for the network device to communicate with the at least one AMP device. The network device can carry information related to the SP in the target frame.

[0117] Exemplarily, the information related to the SP may be the length information of the SP, so that the first AMP device may determine the end time of the SP according to the length information of the SP, and further monitor subsequent target frames after the end time of the SP.

[0118] In some embodiments, the first information may be carried in a target frame from the network device, and the target frame may carry first data sent to the first AMP device or the second AMP device.

[0119] In this case, the target frame may be, for example, a data frame.

[0120] For example, the network device may trigger a first AMP device or a second AMP device to receive first data from the network device. Accordingly, the network device may transmit a target frame carrying the first data to the first AMP device or the second AMP device. Furthermore, the network device may also include first information in the target frame to increase the probability that the first AMP device will detect the first information.

[0121] In some embodiments, the first information may be used to indicate: time information of the network device, which may be used to synchronize the first AMP device with the network device; and / or second information, which may be used by the first AMP device to determine a monitoring time for monitoring a trigger frame from the network device, which may carry the time information of the network device. In some scenarios, the trigger frame may also be used to trigger at least one AMP device to receive data from the network device.

[0122] The time information of the network device may, for example, indicate the current time of the network device, such as the current timestamp of the network device, which is used by the first AMP device to update the local timer, thereby obtaining time synchronized with the network device.

[0123] In one example, the first information may be used to indicate time information of the network device. In this case, the first AMP device may be synchronized with the network device based on the time information of the network device.

[0124] In another example, the first information may be used to indicate the second information. The second information can be used by the first AMP device to determine a monitoring time for a trigger frame from a network device. The trigger frame may carry time information about the network device. In this case, the first AMP device can determine the monitoring time for the trigger frame based on the second information. When the monitoring time arrives, the first AMP device can monitor the trigger frame from the network device and synchronize with the network device based on the time information carried in the trigger frame. Before the monitoring time arrives, the first AMP device can enter sleep mode to reduce power consumption or perform energy harvesting.

[0125] In another example, the first information may also indicate the time information and the second information of the network device at the same time.

[0126] In some embodiments, the second information may include: the time interval between the end time of the SP where the target frame is located and the target frame, and the monitoring time (the monitoring time of the triggering frame) is after the end time of the SP.

[0127] The SP may be triggered by a network device through a trigger frame (ie, a trigger frame that triggers the target frame), and the SP may be used for communication between the network device and at least one AMP device.

[0128] Based on the time interval between the end time of the SP where the target frame is located and the target frame, the first AMP device can determine the end time of the SP, and thus monitor the trigger frame from the network device after the end time of the SP to achieve time synchronization with the network device.

[0129] In some embodiments, the target frame may carry the first data to be sent to the second AMP device. In this case, the target frame may also carry the identifier (or number) of the DTT where the first data is located. This identifier can be used by the first AMP device to determine the target DTT, which is used by the first AMP device to receive the second data from the network device. The target DTT and the DTT where the first data is located are located in the same SP, and the target DTT is located after the DTT where the first data is located.

[0130] For example, assuming that the first AMP device knows that the target DTT is the Nth DTT in the SP according to configuration, pre-configuration or predefined rules, then when the first AMP device knows the identifier of the DTT where the first data is located, or when it knows which DTT in the SP the first data is located, it can determine the time domain position of the Nth DTT (target DTT), and thus can receive the second data from the network device at the target DTT.

[0131] In some embodiments, the first information may be carried in a target frame from the network device, the target frame may carry feedback information for the first data, and the first data may be sent to the network device by the first AMP device or the second AMP device.

[0132] In this case, the target frame may be, for example, an Acknowledgement (ACK) frame.

[0133] For example, the network device may trigger the first AMP device or the second AMP device to send first data to the network device. Accordingly, the first AMP device or the second AMP device may send the first data to the network device in response to the triggering of the network device. After receiving the first data, the network device may send a target frame carrying feedback information regarding the first data. The network device may also carry the first information in the target frame to increase the probability that the first AMP device will detect the first information.

[0134] In some embodiments, the first information may be used to indicate: time information of the network device, which may be used to synchronize the first AMP device with the network device; and / or third information, which may be used by the first AMP device to determine a monitoring time for monitoring a first trigger frame from the network device, which may carry the time information of the network device. In some scenarios, the first trigger frame may also be used to trigger at least one AMP device to send data to the network device.

[0135] The time information of the network device may, for example, indicate the current time of the network device, such as the current timestamp of the network device, which is used by the first AMP device to update the local timer, thereby obtaining time synchronized with the network device.

[0136] In one example, the first information may be used to indicate time information of the network device. In this case, the first AMP device may be synchronized with the network device based on the time information of the network device.

[0137] In another example, the first information may be used to indicate third information. The third information may be used by the first AMP device to determine a monitoring time for a first trigger frame from a network device. The first trigger frame may carry time information about the network device. In this case, the first AMP device may determine the monitoring time for the first trigger frame based on the third information. Therefore, the first AMP device may monitor the first trigger frame from the network device when the monitoring time arrives, and may synchronize with the network device based on the time information of the network device carried in the first trigger frame. Before the monitoring time arrives, the first AMP device may enter sleep mode to reduce power consumption, or may perform energy harvesting.

[0138] In another example, the first information may also indicate the time information and the third information of the network device at the same time.

[0139] In some embodiments, the third information may include one or more of the following items b1) to b4):

[0140] b1) The time interval between the target frame and the first trigger frame.

[0141] According to the time interval between the target frame and the first trigger frame, the first AMP device can determine the transmission time of the first trigger frame. The transmission time of the first trigger frame is the monitoring time of the first AMP device monitoring the first trigger frame from the network device.

[0142] b2) a time interval between the target frame and a second trigger frame, where the second trigger frame is used to trigger at least one AMP device to send data to the network device, where the data sent by the at least one AMP device to the network device includes the first data.

[0143] Based on the time interval between the target frame and the second trigger frame, the first AMP device can determine the transmission time of the second trigger frame. Furthermore, if the first AMP device knows the period / time interval at which the network device sends trigger frames, or in other words, the time interval between the first trigger frame and the second trigger frame, the first AMP device can determine the transmission time of the first trigger frame based on the transmission time of the second trigger frame. The transmission time of the first trigger frame is the monitoring time of the first AMP device monitoring the first trigger frame from the network device.

[0144] b3) an identification (ID) associated with the at least one AMP device.

[0145] The identifier associated with the at least one AMP device may be, for example, the identifier of each of the at least one AMP device, or, if the at least one AMP device belongs to the same AMP device group, the identifier associated with the at least one AMP device may also be the group identifier corresponding to the at least one AMP device.

[0146] Based on the identifier associated with the at least one AMP device, the first AMP device can determine at least one AMP device that is triggered by the second trigger frame to send data. Furthermore, the first AMP device can determine the transmission time of the first trigger frame in combination with the rules for sending trigger frames by the network device.

[0147] For example, assume that the at least one AMP device belongs to the same AMP device group with a group ID of "1". The rule for the network device to send a trigger frame is, for example: trigger the N AMP device groups to send data in sequence according to the group IDs from "1" to "N". In this case, if the third information includes the group ID "1", the first AMP device can know that the second trigger frame is used to trigger the AMP device with the group ID "1" to send data. Furthermore, the first AMP device can determine the time when the network device triggers the AMP device group to which the first AMP device belongs to send data through a trigger frame (first trigger frame) based on the above rules. This time is the monitoring time of the first AMP device monitoring the first trigger frame from the network device.

[0148] For example, assuming that the first AMP device belongs to the AMP device group with group ID "2", then the first AMP device can know that the next trigger frame sent by the network device is the trigger frame (first trigger frame) that triggers the first AMP device to send data. Therefore, the first AMP device can determine the time when the network device sends the trigger frame next time (for example, it can be determined based on the cycle / time interval of the network device sending the trigger frame). This time is the monitoring time of the first AMP device monitoring the first trigger frame from the network device.

[0149] b4) The fourth information can be used to determine the end time of the target frame, and the monitoring time (the monitoring time of the first trigger frame) is after the end time of the target frame, or the fourth information can be used to determine the end time of the SP where the target frame is located, and the monitoring time is after the end time of the SP.

[0150] In one example, the fourth information may be used to determine the end time of the target frame, and the monitoring time is after the end time of the target frame. In this case, the first AMP device may determine the end time of the target frame based on the fourth information, and thereby monitor the first trigger frame from the network device after the end time of the target frame.

[0151] In another example, the fourth information can be used to determine the end time of the SP containing the target frame, and the monitoring time is after the end time of the SP. In this case, the first AMP device can determine the end time of the SP containing the target frame based on the fourth information, and thus monitor the first trigger frame from the network device after the end time of the SP. The SP can, for example, be triggered by the network device via the second trigger frame (i.e., the trigger frame that triggers the first data).

[0152] In some embodiments, the first data may be sent by the second AMP device to the network device. In this case, the first information also includes: information about a first time slot, the first time slot being related to the time slot in which the target frame is located; the first time slot information is used by the first AMP device to determine a target time slot, which is used by the first AMP device to send the second data to the network device; the target time slot and the time slot in which the target frame is located are in the same SP, and the target time slot is located after the time slot in which the target frame is located.

[0153] The first time slot may be, for example, the time slot where the target frame is located, or may be the next time slot of the time slot where the target frame is located.

[0154] For example, assuming that the first AMP device knows that the target time slot is the Nth time slot in the SP according to configuration, pre-configuration or predefined rules, then when the first AMP device knows the information of the first time slot, for example, when it knows that the first time slot is the nth time slot in the SP, it can determine the time domain position of the Nth time slot (target time slot), and thus can send the second data to the network device in the target time slot.

[0155] In some embodiments, the first information may be carried in a target channel from the network device, where the target channel may be used for any of the following:

[0156] Trigger at least one AMP device to send data to the network device;

[0157] triggering at least one AMP device to receive data from the network device;

[0158] Carrying data sent to the first AMP device or the second AMP device;

[0159] Carrying feedback information for the first data;

[0160] The at least one AMP device includes a first AMP device and / or a second AMP device, and the first data is sent to the network device by the first AMP device or the second AMP device.

[0161] In one possible scenario, the target channel may be used to trigger at least one AMP device to send data to the network device, or may be used to trigger at least one AMP device to receive data from the network device. In this case, the target channel may be, for example, a scheduling channel.

[0162] In some embodiments, the at least one AMP device may include a first AMP device. Specifically, the network device may provide the first information to the first AMP device while triggering the first AMP device to send or receive data. This eliminates the need for the first AMP device to maintain time synchronization with the network device. Instead, the first AMP device may synchronize with the network device using the first information carried in the target channel when data transmission or reception with the network device is required, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption.

[0163] In some embodiments, the at least one AMP device may not include the first AMP device, that is, the network device may provide the first information to the first AMP device while triggering other AMP devices (such as the second AMP device) to send / receive data, thereby increasing the probability of the first AMP device detecting the first information.

[0164] In another possible case, the target channel may be used to carry data sent to the first AMP device or the second AMP device. In this case, the target channel may be, for example, a data channel.

[0165] For example, the network device may trigger a first AMP device or a second AMP device to receive data from the network device. Accordingly, the network device may transmit a target channel containing the data to be transmitted to the first AMP device or the second AMP device. Furthermore, the network device may also transmit the first information in the target channel to increase the probability that the first AMP device will detect the first information.

[0166] In another possible scenario, the target channel may be used to carry feedback information for first data, and the first data is sent by the first AMP device or the second AMP device to the network device. In this case, the target channel may be, for example, a feedback channel.

[0167] For example, the network device may trigger the first AMP device or the second AMP device to send first data to the network device. Accordingly, the first AMP device or the second AMP device may send the first data to the network device in response to the triggering of the network device. After receiving the first data, the network device may transmit a target channel carrying feedback information regarding the first data. The network device may also carry the first information in the target channel to increase the probability that the first AMP device will detect the first information.

[0168] In some embodiments, the first information may be carried in a target channel from the network device or the second AMP device, and the first information may be represented by a sequence of signals in the target channel, which signal may, for example, include one or more of the following: a preamble, a midamble, and a postamble.

[0169] For example, signals in different target channels may use different sequences, thereby representing different information content through different sequences. For example, the sequence used by the signal in the target channel sent by the network device / second AMP device at time T1 is sequence 1, and the sequence used by the signal in the target channel sent at time T2 is sequence 2. Sequence 1 may represent the time information of the network device / second AMP device at time T1 (such as the SFN, subframe, time slot, or symbol at time T1), and sequence 2 may represent the time information of the network device / second AMP device at time T2 (such as the SFN, subframe, time slot, or symbol at time T2).

[0170] In some embodiments, the first information may be used to indicate time information of the network device or the second AMP device, and the time information may be used to synchronize the first AMP device with the network device.

[0171] Among them, the time information of the network device or the second AMP device can be, for example, the current time of the network device or the second AMP device (that is, the time when the network device or the second AMP device sends the first information), such as the current SFN, subframe, time slot or symbol of the network device or the second AMP device.

[0172] In one example, the first information may be carried in a target channel from the network device. In this case, the first information may indicate time information of the network device, such as the network device's current SFN, subframe, time slot, or symbol. Thus, the first AMP device may synchronize with the network device based on the network device's time information.

[0173] In another example, the first information may be carried in a target channel from a second AMP device. In this case, the first information may indicate time information of the second AMP device, such as the second AMP device's current SFN, subframe, time slot, or symbol. The time information of the second AMP device may be used to synchronize the first AMP device with the network device. For example, if the second AMP device is already synchronized with the network device, the first AMP device may synchronize with the network device by synchronizing with the second AMP device.

[0174] In some embodiments, the first information may be used to indicate time information of the network device or the second AMP device, and may also be used by the first AMP device to determine a target monitoring time. The target monitoring time may be used by the first AMP device to monitor a scheduling channel from the network device, which may carry the time information of the network device. In some scenarios, the scheduling channel may also be used to trigger at least one AMP device to send / receive data.

[0175] In this case, the first AMP device can determine a monitoring time for the scheduling channel based on the first information. Thus, when the monitoring time arrives, the first AMP device can monitor the scheduling channel from the network device and synchronize with the network device based on the network device's time information carried in the scheduling channel. Before the monitoring time arrives, the first AMP device can enter sleep mode to reduce power consumption or perform energy harvesting.

[0176] In some embodiments, when the first information is used to indicate time information of a network device, a time range of the time information that can be indicated by the first information is related to a sending period of a target frame or a target channel.

[0177] The time range of the time information can also be understood as the time range to which the time indicated by the time information belongs. In some embodiments, the time information can be indicated by the first field in the first information. In this case, the time range of the time information that can be indicated by the first information is also the time range that can be indicated by the first field.

[0178] In one example, the first information is carried in a target frame from the network device. The time range of the time information indicated by the first information may be related to the target frame's transmission period. For example, the time range of the time information indicated by the first information may be the transmission period of several target frames, such that within this time range, the network device can provide the first information to the first AMP device by sending the target frame, thereby synchronizing the first AMP device with the network device.

[0179] In another example, if the first information is carried in a target channel from the network device, the time range of the time information that can be indicated by the first information can be related to the transmission period of the target channel. For example, the time range of the time information that can be indicated by the first information can be the transmission period of several target channels, so that within this time range, the network device can provide the first information to the first AMP device via the target channel for synchronization between the first AMP device and the network device.

[0180] In some embodiments, considering that the working time of the AMP device is usually short, the time range of the time information that can be indicated by the first information can be relatively short. For example, in existing WiFi systems, 64 bits are usually used to indicate the current timestamp of the network device. In an embodiment of the present application, a smaller number of bits (for example, the number of bits is less than 64) can be used to indicate the current timestamp of the network device, thereby reducing overhead. For another example, in existing cellular systems, 10 bits are usually used to indicate the current SFN of the network device. In an embodiment of the present application, a smaller number of bits (for example, the number of bits is less than 10) can be used to indicate the current SFN of the network device, thereby reducing overhead.

[0181] In some embodiments, the first information may be carried in a target frame from the second AMP device, and the target frame may carry the first data sent to the network device.

[0182] In this case, the target frame may be, for example, a data frame.

[0183] For example, the network device may trigger the second AMP device to send first data to the network device. In response to the triggering by the network device, the second AMP device may send a target frame to the network device, carrying the first data. The second AMP device may also include the first information in the target frame to increase the probability that the first AMP device will detect the first information.

[0184] In some embodiments, the first information can be used to indicate: fifth information, the fifth information is used by the first AMP device to determine the monitoring time of the first trigger frame from the network device, the first trigger frame can carry the time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device can be used to synchronize the first AMP device with the network device.

[0185] The time information of the network device may, for example, indicate the current time of the network device, such as the current timestamp of the network device, which is used by the first AMP device to update a local timer to synchronize time with the network device. In some scenarios, the first trigger frame may also be used to trigger at least one AMP device to send data to the network device.

[0186] In this case, the first AMP device can determine a monitoring time for the first trigger frame based on the fifth information. Thus, when the monitoring time arrives, it can monitor the first trigger frame from the network device and synchronize with the network device based on the network device's time information carried in the first trigger frame. Before the monitoring time arrives, the first AMP device can enter sleep mode to reduce power consumption or perform energy harvesting.

[0187] In some embodiments, the fifth information may include one or more of the following items c1) to c3):

[0188] c1) The time interval between the target frame and the first trigger frame.

[0189] According to the time interval between the target frame and the first trigger frame, the first AMP device can determine the transmission time of the first trigger frame. The transmission time of the first trigger frame is the monitoring time of the first AMP device monitoring the first trigger frame from the network device.

[0190] c2) a time interval between the target frame and a second trigger frame, where the second trigger frame is used to trigger the second AMP device to send the first data.

[0191] Based on the time interval between the target frame and the second trigger frame, the first AMP device can determine the transmission time of the second trigger frame. Furthermore, if the first AMP device knows the period / time interval at which the network device sends trigger frames, or in other words, the time interval between the first trigger frame and the second trigger frame, the first AMP device can determine the transmission time of the first trigger frame based on the transmission time of the second trigger frame. The transmission time of the first trigger frame is the monitoring time of the first AMP device monitoring the first trigger frame from the network device.

[0192] c3) The time interval between the end time of the SP where the target frame is located and the target frame, and the monitoring time (the monitoring time of the first trigger frame) is after the end time of the SP.

[0193] Based on the time interval between the end time of the SP containing the target frame and the target frame, the first AMP device can determine the end time of the SP and thereby monitor for a first trigger frame from the network device after the end time of the SP. The SP can, for example, be triggered by the network device via a second trigger frame (i.e., a trigger frame that triggers the second AMP device to send the first data), and can be used, for example, for communication between the network device and at least one AMP device.

[0194] In some embodiments, the first information may be carried in a target frame from the second AMP device, the target frame may carry feedback information for the first data, and the first data may be sent by the network device to the second AMP device.

[0195] In this case, the target frame may be, for example, an ACK frame.

[0196] For example, the network device may trigger a second AMP device to receive first data from the network device. In response, the network device may send the first data to the second AMP device. After receiving the first data, the second AMP device may send a target frame containing feedback information regarding the first data. The second AMP device may also include the first information in the target frame to increase the probability that the first AMP device will detect the first information.

[0197] In some embodiments, the first information can be used to indicate: sixth information, the sixth information can be used by the first AMP device to determine the monitoring time of the first trigger frame from the network device, the first trigger frame can carry the time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device can be used to synchronize the first AMP device with the network device.

[0198] The time information of the network device may, for example, indicate the current time of the network device, such as the current timestamp of the network device, which is used by the first AMP device to update a local timer to synchronize time with the network device. In some scenarios, the first trigger frame may also be used to trigger at least one AMP device to receive data from the network device.

[0199] In this case, the first AMP device can determine a monitoring time for the first trigger frame based on the sixth information. Thus, when the monitoring time arrives, it can monitor the first trigger frame from the network device and synchronize with the network device based on the network device's time information carried in the first trigger frame. Before the monitoring time arrives, the first AMP device can enter sleep mode to reduce power consumption or perform energy harvesting.

[0200] In some embodiments, the sixth information may include one or more of the following items d1) to d3):

[0201] d1) The time interval between the target frame and the first trigger frame.

[0202] According to the time interval between the target frame and the first trigger frame, the first AMP device can determine the transmission time of the first trigger frame. The transmission time of the first trigger frame is the monitoring time of the first AMP device monitoring the first trigger frame from the network device.

[0203] d2) a time interval between the target frame and a second trigger frame, where the second trigger frame is used to trigger the second AMP device to receive the first data.

[0204] Based on the time interval between the target frame and the second trigger frame, the first AMP device can determine the transmission time of the second trigger frame. Furthermore, if the first AMP device knows the period / time interval at which the network device sends trigger frames, or in other words, the time interval between the first trigger frame and the second trigger frame, the first AMP device can determine the transmission time of the first trigger frame based on the transmission time of the second trigger frame. The transmission time of the first trigger frame is the monitoring time of the first AMP device monitoring the first trigger frame from the network device.

[0205] d3) The time interval between the end time of the SP where the target frame is located and the target frame, and the monitoring time (the monitoring time of the first trigger frame) is after the end time of the SP.

[0206] Based on the time interval between the end time of the SP containing the target frame and the target frame, the first AMP device can determine the end time of the SP and thereby monitor for a first trigger frame from the network device after the end time of the SP. The SP can, for example, be triggered by the network device via a second trigger frame (i.e., a trigger frame that triggers the second AMP device to receive the first data). The SP can, for example, be used for communication between the network device and at least one AMP device.

[0207] In some embodiments, the first information further includes an identifier (or number) of the DTT where the first data is located. This identifier can be used by the first AMP device to determine a target DTT, which can be used by the first AMP device to receive the second data from the network device. The target DTT and the DTT where the first data is located are located in the same SP, and the target DTT is located after the DTT where the first data is located.

[0208] For example, assuming that the first AMP device knows that the target DTT is the Nth DTT in the SP according to configuration, pre-configuration or predefined rules, then when the first AMP device knows the identifier of the DTT where the first data is located, or when it knows which DTT in the SP the first data is located, it can determine the time domain position of the Nth DTT (target DTT), and thus can receive the second data from the network device at the target DTT.

[0209] In some embodiments, the first information may be carried in a target channel from the second AMP device, where the target channel carries first data sent by the second AMP device to the network device.

[0210] In this case, the target channel may be, for example, a data channel.

[0211] For example, a network device may trigger a second AMP device to send first data to the network device. In response to the triggering, the second AMP device may send a target channel carrying the first data to the network device. The second AMP device may also carry the first information in the target channel to increase the probability that the first AMP device will detect the first information.

[0212] In some embodiments, the first information can be used to indicate: the seventh information, the seventh information can be used by the first AMP device to determine the monitoring time of the first scheduling channel from the network device, the first scheduling channel can carry the time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device can be used to synchronize the first AMP device with the network device.

[0213] The time information of the network device may, for example, indicate the current time of the network device, such as the current SFN, subframe, time slot, or symbol of the network device. In some scenarios, the first scheduling channel may also be used to trigger at least one AMP device to send data to the network device.

[0214] In this case, the first AMP device can determine a monitoring time for the first scheduling channel based on the seventh information. Thus, when the monitoring time arrives, it can monitor the first scheduling channel from the network device and synchronize with the network device based on the network device's time information carried in the first scheduling channel. Before the monitoring time arrives, the first AMP device can enter sleep mode to reduce power consumption or perform energy harvesting.

[0215] In some embodiments, the seventh information may include: a time interval between the target channel and the first scheduling channel.

[0216] According to the time interval between the target channel and the first scheduling channel, the first AMP device can determine the transmission time of the first scheduling channel. The transmission time of the first scheduling channel is the monitoring time of the first AMP device monitoring the first scheduling channel from the network device.

[0217] In some embodiments, the seventh information may include: a time interval between the target channel and the second scheduling channel, and the second scheduling information is used to trigger the second AMP device to send the first data.

[0218] Based on the time interval between the target channel and the second scheduling channel, the first AMP device can determine the transmission time of the second scheduling channel. Furthermore, if the first AMP device knows the period / time interval at which the network device transmits the scheduling channel, or in other words, the time interval between the first scheduling channel and the second scheduling channel, the first AMP device can determine the transmission time of the first scheduling channel based on the transmission time of the second scheduling channel. The transmission time of the first scheduling channel is the monitoring time of the first AMP device monitoring the first scheduling channel from the network device.

[0219] In some embodiments, the first information may be carried in a target channel from the second AMP device, the target channel may carry feedback information for the first data, and the first data may be sent by the network device to the second AMP device.

[0220] In this case, the target channel may be, for example, a feedback channel.

[0221] For example, a network device may trigger a second AMP device to receive first data from the network device. In response, the network device may send the first data to the second AMP device. After receiving the first data, the second AMP device may transmit a target channel containing feedback information regarding the first data. The second AMP device may also include the first information in the target channel to increase the probability of the first AMP device detecting the first information.

[0222] In some embodiments, the first information can be used to indicate: the eighth information, the eighth information can be used by the first AMP device to determine the monitoring time of the first scheduling channel from the network device, the first scheduling channel can carry the time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device can be used to synchronize the first AMP device with the network device.

[0223] The time information of the network device may, for example, indicate the current time of the network device, such as the current SFN, subframe, time slot, or symbol of the network device. In some scenarios, the first scheduling channel may also be used to trigger at least one AMP device to receive data from the network device.

[0224] In this case, the first AMP device can determine a monitoring time for the first scheduling channel based on the eighth information. Thus, when the monitoring time arrives, the first AMP device can monitor the first scheduling channel from the network device and synchronize with the network device based on the network device's time information carried in the first scheduling channel. Before the monitoring time arrives, the first AMP device can enter sleep mode to reduce power consumption or perform energy harvesting.

[0225] In some embodiments, the eighth information may include: a time interval between the target channel and the first scheduling channel.

[0226] According to the time interval between the target channel and the first scheduling channel, the first AMP device can determine the transmission time of the first scheduling channel. The transmission time of the first scheduling channel is the monitoring time of the first AMP device monitoring the first scheduling channel from the network device.

[0227] In some embodiments, the eighth information may include: a time interval between the target channel and a second scheduling channel, where the second scheduling channel is used to trigger the second AMP device to receive the first data.

[0228] Based on the time interval between the target frame and the second scheduling channel, the first AMP device can determine the transmission time of the second scheduling channel. Furthermore, if the first AMP device knows the period / time interval at which the network device transmits the scheduling channel, or in other words, the time interval between the first scheduling channel and the second scheduling channel, the first AMP device can determine the transmission time of the first scheduling channel based on the transmission time of the second scheduling channel. The transmission time of the first scheduling channel is the monitoring time of the first AMP device monitoring the first scheduling channel from the network device.

[0229] In some embodiments, the method may further include: the network device sends a synchronization signal, and accordingly, the first AMP device receives the synchronization signal from the network device, the sequence of the synchronization signal can be used to indicate the time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device can be used to synchronize the first AMP device with the network device.

[0230] The time information of the network device may, for example, indicate the current time of the network device, such as the current SFN, subframe, time slot or symbol of the network device.

[0231] Illustratively, different synchronization signals may use different sequences, thereby representing different information content. For example, the sequence used by the synchronization signal sent by the network device at time T1 is sequence 1, and the sequence used by the synchronization signal sent at time T2 is sequence 2. Sequence 1 may represent the time information of the network device at time T1 (such as the SFN, subframe, time slot, or symbol at time T1), and sequence 2 may represent the time information of the network device at time T2 (such as the SFN, subframe, time slot, or symbol at time T2).

[0232] It should be noted that the scheme in which the network device provides the first information to the first AMP device by sending a synchronization signal can also be implemented separately. That is, the present application also provides a time synchronization method, which may include: the network device sending a synchronization signal, and the first AMP device correspondingly receiving the synchronization signal from the network device. The sequence of the synchronization signal can be used to indicate the time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device can be used to synchronize the first AMP device with the network device. In this way, the first AMP device can obtain time synchronized with the network device by detecting the synchronization signal sent by the network device.

[0233] It should also be noted that in some scenarios, the first information may also be sent by another device (e.g., denoted as the first device) in addition to the network device and the second AMP device. Accordingly, the first AMP device can obtain the first information through the first device and then synchronize with the network device based on the first information. As an example, the first device may be an intermediate node or a relay node, and the intermediate node or relay node may be a terminal device.

[0234] The above describes the time synchronization method provided by the embodiment of the present application. To facilitate understanding of the embodiment of the present application, the following describes possible implementation schemes of the time synchronization method applicable to the embodiment of the present application.

[0235] Due to energy harvesting, AMP devices operate intermittently, and maintaining synchronization over a long period of time requires additional power consumption. To this end, an embodiment of the present application provides a time synchronization method in which AMP devices can synchronize with network devices without relying on periodic synchronization signals.

[0236] The following uses a WiFi system as an example to describe how an AMP device (AMP STA) synchronizes with a network device (AP) during two typical data transmission processes.

[0237] Data Transfer Process #1

[0238] In data transmission process #1, the AP can trigger the AMP STA to send data. For example, the AP can send a trigger frame to the AMP STA to trigger the AMP STA to send a data frame. The AMP STA sends a data frame carrying data to the AP based on the trigger information in the trigger frame. After receiving the data frame, the AP can send an ACK frame back to the AMP STA.

[0239] In the data transmission process #1, one or more of the trigger frame, the data frame, and the ACK frame may carry time information (corresponding to the first information in the aforementioned embodiment).

[0240] Currently, AMP devices are limited by power consumption and complexity. For example, the receiver only supports simple modulation and demodulation methods such as amplitude-shift keying (ASK), frequency-shift keying (FSK), and phase-shift keying (PSK), but does not support orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM).

[0241] To ensure fair channel usage for existing unlicensed spectrum, AMP devices must perform Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) to determine if the channel is clear if they need to occupy a channel for data transmission. They must also support the Carrier-Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA / CA) mechanism for compatibility and coexistence with existing devices. Taking WiFi systems as an example, AMP devices' channel occupancy requires support for the Distributed Coordination Function (DCF) protocol. This requires AMP devices to detect existing OFDM-based Physical Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) frames to satisfy physical and virtual carrier sensing and support the Request to Send / Clear to Send (RTS / CTS) mechanism. However, these functions are currently unavailable to AMP devices. Therefore, data transmission by AMP STAs must be triggered by the AP, which indicates the channel resources available for data transmission. The channel resources are a portion of the channel occupancy obtained by the AP through CCA.

[0242] In a first possible implementation of data transmission process #1 (denoted as implementation #11), the trigger frame may carry time information.

[0243] Before sending a trigger frame, the AP may obtain channel access through CCA. The trigger frame sent may indicate one or more of the following information a) to c):

[0244] a) AMP STA ID information or group ID information.

[0245] For example, the ID information may include, but is not limited to, a Media Access Control (MAC) address, an Association Identifier (AID), a partial AID, etc. The group ID information may be an ID corresponding to a group of multiple AMP STAs.

[0246] In some embodiments, the ID information indicated in the trigger frame may not correspond to a specific AMP STA. For example, a trigger frame can carry a specific ID to trigger a category of AMP STAs to report data. For example, in a logistics scenario, an AP can use a specific ID carried in a trigger frame to trigger surrounding AMP STAs to report their ID information for cargo identification and inventory.

[0247] b) One or more of the time domain resources, frequency domain resources, code domain resources, modulation or coding method, data rate, etc. used by the AMP STA.

[0248] For example, an AP can perform CCA on multiple channels. After determining channel occupancy, it can use trigger frames to indicate resources on multiple channels for AMP STA data transmission. Data transmission from multiple AMP STAs can also be multiplexed on the same channel using time division or code division.

[0249] c) Time information.

[0250] In some embodiments, the time information may include the AP's current timestamp information, which the AMP STA uses to update its local timer. The AMP STA uses this timestamp information to synchronize time with the AP. Furthermore, the AMP STA can determine the time to receive subsequent trigger frames based on the timestamp information. For example, if the AMP STA knows the AP's trigger frame transmission period, the AMP STA can determine the AP's subsequent trigger frame transmission time based on this timestamp information and the trigger frame transmission period, and receive the trigger frame at that time. This allows the AMP STA to sleep when it does not need to receive trigger frames, saving power.

[0251] According to the method of this embodiment, the AMP STA can obtain timestamp information through the monitored trigger frame, that is, the timestamp information may not be sent through the traditional periodic beacon frame. The AMP STA can obtain the timestamp information by monitoring the trigger frame in the air interface only when there is sufficient energy storage.

[0252] In some embodiments, this timestamp information can be a simplified timestamp. Compared to existing 64-bit timestamps, simplified timestamp information can contain fewer bits. By using fewer bits to indicate timestamp information, the timing range can be significantly reduced, making it more adaptable to the intermittent operation characteristics of AMP STAs. When the AMP STA obtains sufficient energy storage through energy harvesting, it can operate for a corresponding period of time. During this period, the AMP STA can complete transmissions to and from the network according to the timing synchronized with the network.

[0253] In some embodiments, the condensed timestamp information may correspond to a predefined time length, or in other words, the time length (time range) that can be indicated by the number of bits used to indicate the condensed timestamp information may be predefined. As an example, the time length may be associated with the transmission period of a certain type of frame. For example, the time length may be the transmission period of several trigger frames or several beacon frames, ensuring that within this time length, the AMP STA can determine the monitoring time for the trigger frame based on the timer.

[0254] In some embodiments, the time information may include information of the trigger frame monitoring time.

[0255] For example, the trigger frame may indicate the monitoring time for the target trigger frame (e.g., the next trigger frame or the next few trigger frames sent by the AP). For example, a time interval (e.g., the time interval between the next trigger frame or the next few trigger frames sent by the AP and the current timestamp) may be indicated, so that the AMP STA wakes up at the trigger frame monitoring time to monitor the trigger frame. Before the trigger frame arrives, the AMP STA can sleep to save power and avoid continuously monitoring the trigger frame when no trigger frame is transmitted.

[0256] In some embodiments, the trigger frame may indicate monitoring time information of a target trigger frame for a specific AMP STA group.

[0257] In this embodiment, the trigger frame may be used to trigger the AMP STA to transmit data. Since the number of AMP STAs may be relatively large, one trigger frame may only trigger a part of the AMP STAs to transmit data.

[0258] For example, AMP STAs can be grouped according to certain rules. For example, the AMP STA ID can be modulo a grouping parameter, and the result of the modulo calculation can be used as the AMP STA group ID. In this way, a trigger frame can trigger a group of AMP STA devices to send data by indicating the group ID.

[0259] In some embodiments, the AP may predefine or configure the rules for sending trigger frames to the AMP STA, so that the AMP STA can calculate the monitoring time of the trigger frame of the AMP STA group to which it belongs based on the currently received trigger frame, and then can sleep before the monitoring time arrives.

[0260] For example, there are N AMP STA groups, and the AP triggers each AMP STA group to send data, sequentially from group 1 to group N. The interval for sending trigger frames can be indicated by the AP in the trigger frame, or it can be pre-agreed with the AMP STAs. In this case, when the AMP STA receives the trigger frame, it can obtain the group ID of the currently triggered AMP STA group (assuming group ID is 1) based on the group ID indicated in the trigger frame. Then, the AMP STAs in AMP STA groups with group IDs 2 to N can each determine the monitoring time for their corresponding trigger frames.

[0261] In some embodiments, the time information may include the length of the SP triggered by the trigger frame for transmission between the AMP STA and the AP. An SP triggered by the trigger frame includes the data transmission time of the AMP STA and the feedback time of the AP feedback ACK frame, as well as the interframe interval between the data transmission time and the feedback time. In some embodiments, the length of the SP can be determined by the Duration field in the trigger frame. The time length indicated by the Duration field can cover (include) the length of the SP, thereby updating the Network Allocation Vector (NAV) of other STAs, thereby protecting the channel within the SP to prevent other STAs from accessing the channel during this period.

[0262] By using the length of the SP, other AMP STAs can determine the end time of the current SP, and thus can monitor subsequent trigger frames after the end of the SP.

[0263] In implementation #1, the AMP STA can harvest energy. Once sufficient energy is harvested, the AMP STA can perform communication procedures, such as monitoring downlink frames. When the AMP STA is out of power, it is typically unable to maintain time synchronization. Once the AMP STA harvests sufficient energy from the environment, it can turn on the receiver. Before the AMP STA has accurate local time synchronization, the AMP STA is unaware of the monitoring window for target frames, such as periodic beacon frames or the trigger frames described in this invention. In this case, the AMP STA can only continuously monitor frames on the channel.

[0264] When the AMP STA detects a trigger frame, it can synchronize time with the network using the time information carried in the trigger frame.

[0265] For example, if the trigger frame detected by the AMP STA is used to trigger the AMP STA to transmit data, then the AMP STA can achieve time synchronization based on the time information in the trigger frame and then transmit the data frame at the target time. If the trigger frame detected by the AMP STA is not used to trigger the AMP STA to transmit data, then the AMP STA can achieve time synchronization based on the time information in the trigger frame and can also determine the monitoring window for the trigger frame corresponding to the AMP STA based on this time information. In other words, after detecting the trigger frame, the AMP STA can achieve time synchronization with the AP using the time information carried in the trigger frame and can determine the monitoring time for subsequent detection trigger frames based on this time information. In this way, the AMP STA does not need to perform detection at other times and can sleep or harvest energy.

[0266] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a communication process in which time information is carried by a trigger frame according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 3, after AMP STA#1 to AMP STA#3 obtain energy reserves through energy harvesting, they can monitor the trigger frame in the air interface. For example, AMP STA#1 to AMP STA#3 can detect the trigger frame in monitoring window #1. Assuming that AMP STA#1 to AMP STA#3 detect trigger frame #1 in monitoring window #1, then AMP STA#1 to AMP STA#3 can obtain time information from trigger frame #1, which can indicate the current time (current timestamp) and can further indicate the monitoring time information of subsequent trigger frames. In Figure 3, assuming that AMP STA#1 detects that trigger frame #1 triggers it to send data, then AMP STA#1 can enter a sleep state after sending the data and receiving an ACK. For AMP STA#2 and AMP STA#3, time synchronization with the AP can be obtained through trigger frame #1, and the monitoring time of each corresponding trigger frame can be further determined based on the time information. For example, AMP STA#2 can determine the monitoring time of the trigger frame corresponding to AMP STA#2 as monitoring window #2 based on the time information, so that AMP STA#2 can sleep or collect energy before monitoring window #2, and can detect the trigger frame in monitoring window #2; for another example, AMP STA#3 can determine the monitoring time of the trigger frame corresponding to AMP STA#3 as monitoring window #3 based on the time information, so that AMP STA#3 can sleep or collect energy before monitoring window #3, and can detect the trigger frame in monitoring window #3.

[0267] In traditional time synchronization, STAs maintain time synchronization through periodic beacon frames, using locally maintained timers to determine target time windows for transmission and reception. With this technical solution, time information can be carried in trigger frames. This allows AMP STAs to synchronize with the AP upon detecting a trigger frame and obtain monitoring time information for subsequent trigger frames. This eliminates the need for AMP STAs to constantly maintain time synchronization with the AP. Instead, they obtain time information simultaneously with trigger frame reception, thus avoiding the power consumption associated with periodic frame synchronization.

[0268] In some embodiments, the above technical solution can also be applied to downlink data transmission. Specifically, the AP can trigger an AMP STA to receive downlink data using a trigger frame. In this case, the AMP STA or AMP STA group triggered by the trigger frame can receive data on the target time domain, frequency domain, or code domain resources. Using the time information carried in the trigger frame, the AMP STA can achieve time synchronization with the AP and obtain the time when the downlink data was received.

[0269] In a second possible implementation of data transmission process #1 (denoted as implementation #12), the ACK frame may carry time information.

[0270] After receiving the data frame from the AMP STA, the AP can return an ACK frame. Figure 4 shows the existing ACK frame format. The Duration field indicates the length of the Duration field in the data frame to which the ACK frame corresponds, minus the duration of the ACK frame and the length of the Short Interframe Space (SIFS). The Receive Address (RA) field indicates the Transmitting Address (TA) field in the data frame to which the ACK frame corresponds.

[0271] For the AP, in order to indicate time information as much as possible through the frames sent, time information can be carried in the ACK frame. To this end, a new ACK frame format can be defined to carry time information. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the frame format of an ACK frame provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 5, a time field is added to the MAC header to indicate time information.

[0272] In some embodiments, the time information may indicate the current timestamp information of the AP, which is used by the AMP STA to update a local timer. The AMP STA can obtain the time synchronized with the AP through the timestamp information.

[0273] In some embodiments, the time information may indicate a time interval for the AMP STA to determine the monitoring time for the next trigger frame. For example, the time information may indicate the time interval between the ACK frame and the next trigger frame, so that the AMP STA can determine the monitoring time for the next trigger frame.

[0274] In some embodiments, the time information may indicate a time interval between the ACK frame and a trigger frame, wherein the trigger frame is used to trigger a data frame corresponding to the ACK frame.

[0275] In some embodiments, the time information may indicate the information indicated by the Duration field, which is used by other AMP STAs to determine the end time of the ACK frame, so as to monitor subsequent trigger frames after the ACK frame ends.

[0276] In some embodiments, the ACK frame may also indicate the AMP STA group ID indicated by the trigger frame (i.e., the trigger frame used to trigger the data frame corresponding to the ACK frame). Based on the group ID in the ACK frame, the AMP STA that detects the ACK frame can determine the monitoring time for the trigger frame corresponding to the AMP STA. As previously described, the AP can predefine or configure the rules for sending trigger frames. Thus, the AMP STA can calculate the monitoring time for the trigger frame corresponding to the AMP STA group to which it belongs based on the group ID information carried in the currently received ACK frame, and can then go into sleep mode before the monitoring time expires.

[0277] In some embodiments, during data transmission process #1, the AP can trigger uplink transmissions by multiple AMP STAs or multiple AMP STA groups using a trigger frame. Different AMP STAs or AMP STA groups can use the channel at least in a time-division manner. For example, the channel occupied by the trigger frame represents a single service (SP), and different AMP STAs or AMP STA groups can perform data transmissions in different time slots within the SP. In this case, the trigger frame can indicate the ID information or ID group information of the multiple AMP STAs, as well as resource information used by the multiple AMP STAs.

[0278] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a trigger frame triggering multiple transmitting AMP STAs to transmit data, as provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 6, the trigger frame can trigger AMP STA #1 through AMP STA #3 to transmit data at different times within the SP. Different AMP STAs are triggered to transmit in different time slots within the SP, and the AP can provide ACK feedback for each data frame.

[0279] Exemplarily, the time information indicated in the trigger frame may include one or more of the following:

[0280] Current timestamp information; information about the monitoring time of the target trigger frame; and time information indicated by the Duration field.

[0281] The time information indicated by the Duration field can be used by the AMP STA to determine the end time of the current SP, thereby determining the monitoring time of subsequent trigger frames.

[0282] In some embodiments, the time information indicated in the ACK frame may also include information about the current time slot or the next time slot, which can be used by the AMP STA in the AMP STA group triggered by the trigger frame to determine its target time slot (i.e., the time slot for data transmission).

[0283] For an AMP STA, if the AMP STA group triggered by the trigger frame does not include the AMP STA, the AMP STA can determine the monitoring time of the target trigger frame through time information (such as the time information carried in the trigger frame and / or ACK frame); if the AMP STA group triggered by the trigger frame includes the AMP STA, the AMP STA can determine the target time slot in the SP triggered by the trigger frame, thereby sending data in the target time slot. As an example, the AMP STA can determine the corresponding target time slot according to certain preset rules. For example, the target time slot can be determined by taking the value obtained by modulo the number of time slots in the SP according to the ID of the AMP STA. Furthermore, the AMP STA can determine the specific time to send data based on the information of the current time slot or the next time slot indicated in the ACK frame.

[0284] Figure 7 is a second schematic diagram illustrating a trigger frame triggering data transmission by multiple transmitting AMP STAs, as provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 7 , trigger frame #1 triggers data transmission from AMP STA #1 to AMP STA #3 within an SP. AMP STA #4 detects trigger frame #1 during monitoring window #1, but trigger frame #1 does not trigger data transmission from AMP STA #4. Therefore, AMP STA #4 can determine the monitoring time (monitoring window #2) for the target trigger frame (trigger frame #2) based on the time information indicated by the trigger frame.

[0285] In a third possible implementation of data transmission process #1 (denoted as implementation #13), the data frame may carry time information.

[0286] In data transmission process #1, since the data frame is sent by the AMP STA, it may not indicate the exact timestamp information like the AP. However, the data frame can indicate one or more of the following information:

[0287] The time interval between the data frame and the corresponding trigger frame (i.e., the trigger frame that triggers the data frame);

[0288] The time interval between the data frame and the next trigger frame;

[0289] The time interval between this data frame and the SP end time.

[0290] Data Transfer Process #2

[0291] In data transmission process #2, the AP can trigger the AMP STA to receive data. For example, the AP can send a trigger frame to the AMP STA to trigger the AMP STA to receive the data frame. The AMP STA receives the data frame from the AP based on the trigger information in the trigger frame. After receiving the data frame, the AMP STA can send an ACK frame back to the AP.

[0292] FIG8 is a third schematic diagram of a trigger frame triggering multiple transmitting AMP STAs to transmit data provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG8 , the AP can trigger the DTT of AMP STA#1 to AMP STA#3 through a trigger frame.

[0293] In a first possible implementation of data transmission process #2 (denoted as implementation #21), the trigger frame may carry time information.

[0294] In some embodiments, the trigger frame may indicate one or more of the following information d) to f):

[0295] d) AMP STA ID information or group ID information;

[0296] e) Time domain resources (such as DTT information), frequency domain resources, or code domain resources used by AMP STAs to receive downlink data;

[0297] f) Time information.

[0298] Exemplarily, the time information may include timestamp information and / or information of the trigger frame monitoring time.

[0299] The timestamp information can be used by the AMP STA to update its local timer. The trigger frame monitoring time information may include, for example, one or more of the following: information indicating the monitoring time of the target trigger frame; information indicating the monitoring time of the target trigger frame for a specific AMP STA group. The time information indicated by the Duration field (e.g., the length of the SP triggered by the trigger frame for transmission to and from the AMP STA) is used by the AMP STA to determine the end time of the current SP, thereby determining the monitoring time of subsequent trigger frames.

[0300] For a detailed introduction to the time information in f), please refer to the description of the time information in c) above, which will not be repeated here.

[0301] In a second possible implementation of data transmission process #2 (denoted as implementation #22), the data frame may carry time information.

[0302] During a DTT, the AP may send a data frame to a specific AMP STA or AMP STA group. The data frame may include time information. For example, the time information may include one or more of the following information:

[0303] g) current timestamp information or simplified timestamp information;

[0304] h) DTT identification information;

[0305] For example, if an AP triggers multiple DTTs using a trigger frame, the data frame sent on that DTT can include the number of the current DTT. This allows another AMP STA, upon receiving the data frame, to determine the identifier of the DTT corresponding to the data frame. Based on this identifier, the AMP STA can then determine the time of its own DTT, allowing it to receive data on that DTT.

[0306] i) The time interval between the data frame and the SP end time.

[0307] The time interval between the data frame and the SP end time can be determined by the time information indicated by the Duration field, for example. This time interval can be used by the AMP STA to determine the end time of the current SP, thereby determining the monitoring time of subsequent trigger frames.

[0308] In a third possible implementation of data transmission process #2 (denoted as implementation #23), the ACK frame may carry time information.

[0309] In data transmission process #2, since the ACK frame is sent by the AMP STA after receiving the data, it may not indicate the exact timestamp information like the AP. However, the ACK frame can indicate one or more of the following information:

[0310] The DTT identification information of the data frame corresponding to the ACK frame is used by other AMP STAs to determine the time information of their corresponding DTT;

[0311] The time interval between an ACK frame and the data frame corresponding to the ACK frame;

[0312] The time interval between the ACK frame and the trigger frame (used to trigger the data frame corresponding to the ACK frame);

[0313] The time interval between the ACK frame and the next trigger frame;

[0314] The time interval between the ACK frame and the SP end time.

[0315] The above describes two data transmission processes in the WiFi system. The characteristics of these two data transmission processes are that AMP STA cannot spontaneously use channels for data transmission and need to be triggered by the AP to complete the process.

[0316] For cellular systems, the uplink transmission of AMP terminals is based on the scheduling authorization of the base station or the pre-configured authorized resources. In cellular systems, such as NR systems, traditional terminals obtain synchronization and SFN through SSB. Since traditional terminals have high-precision crystal oscillators and are not restricted by energy sources, they do not need to frequently obtain time information such as SFN. When the cellular network supports AMP terminals, the transmission and reception of AMP terminals may still be based on network triggering. The triggering process can be a dynamic scheduling process or a process of triggering the AMP terminal to use pre-configured authorized resources for transmission.

[0317] In some scenarios, the time synchronization method of the embodiment of the present application may also be applied to the data transmission process of a cellular system, so as to avoid the AMP terminal performing time synchronization with the network by periodically receiving a channel carrying SFN information.

[0318] In some embodiments, the control channel may carry time information.

[0319] In one example, time information can be carried on a control channel that also carries scheduling information. This control channel can serve as a scheduling channel, similar to the trigger frame in a WiFi system, for scheduling AMP terminals for uplink transmission or downlink reception. After the AMP terminal is powered up through energy harvesting, it can monitor the scheduling channel over the air interface, obtain the time information carried therein, and achieve time synchronization with the network (base station).

[0320] Another example is that time information can be carried via a feedback channel sent by the base station. This feedback channel is used to send back Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) information for uplink data. The function of the feedback channel is similar to the ACK frame in a WiFi system. After the AMP terminal is powered up through energy harvesting, it can monitor the feedback channel over the air interface to obtain the time information carried therein, achieving time synchronization with the network.

[0321] In another example, a feedback channel sent by an AMP terminal may carry time information. The AMP terminal may provide HARQ-ACK information for downlink data reception, and carry the time information in the feedback channel. In some embodiments, the time information may be time information associated with the time of downlink data transmission, for example, the time interval between the time of downlink data transmission and the transmission time of the feedback channel. In some embodiments, the time information may be time information associated with the time of a scheduling channel for scheduling downlink data transmission, for example, the time interval between the transmission time of the scheduling channel and the transmission time of the feedback channel.

[0322] In some embodiments, time information may be carried in the data channel.

[0323] In one example, the data channel sent by the base station can carry time information. For downlink data transmission, the data channel can not only carry data sent to the AMP terminal, but also contain time information for the AMP terminal in the network to obtain time information.

[0324] In another example, a data channel sent by an AMP terminal can carry time information. For uplink data transmission, the data channel can not only carry data sent to the base station but also contain time information. This time information can be time information associated with the time of the scheduling channel that schedules the uplink data transmission, for example, the time interval between the transmission time of the scheduling channel and the transmission time of the data channel.

[0325] In some embodiments, time information may be carried by the signal.

[0326] In one example, time information can be carried by a synchronization signal. For example, time information can be carried by a sequence used by the synchronization signal. The sequence used by the synchronization signal can correspond to the transmission time of the synchronization signal. For example, at transmission times T1 and T2, sequence 1 and sequence 2 can be used as the synchronization signal sequence, respectively.

[0327] For another example, the time information may be carried by one or more of the channel's preamble, midamble, and postamble.

[0328] To facilitate AMP terminals' detection of downlink channels, downlink channels include a preamble, which can be used for AMP terminal synchronization. For example, the sequence used in the preamble can carry time information, with different preamble sequences representing different time information. Uplink channels sent by AMP terminals can also include a preamble, and the preamble of the uplink channel can use a similar method to represent time information. In some scenarios, uplink / downlink channels can also include a midamble and / or postamble, which can also use a similar method to represent time information.

[0329] In some embodiments, in a cellular system, the time information carried by the downlink channel or signal may be a current SFN, a subframe number, a time slot number, a symbol number, and the like.

[0330] In some embodiments, the time range (time length) that the time information can indicate, if measured in radio frames (SFNs), can be 1024 radio frames, indicated by 10 bits. Alternatively, a shorter time range can be indicated to reduce overhead. For example, the number of a radio frame within 64 radio frames can be indicated by 6 bits. If measured in subframes, the number of a subframe within 64 subframes can be indicated by 6 bits. If measured in slots or symbols, the same applies.

[0331] In some embodiments, the time range indicated by the time information may also be associated with the monitoring period of a certain type of channel. For example, the time range may be the monitoring period of several scheduling channels, or may be the sending period of several synchronization signals, to ensure that within this time range, the AMP terminal can determine the monitoring time of the target channel according to the timer.

[0332] It should be noted that the trigger frame or scheduling channel mentioned in the embodiments of the present application can also be replaced by a trigger (Trigger), polling (Polling), authorization (Grant), query (Query), paging (Paging) frame or channel, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this.

[0333] Embodiments of the present application provide a time synchronization method. When an AMP device is powered on, it can obtain time information through target frames (such as one or more of trigger frames, ACK frames, and data frames), target channels (such as one or more of scheduling channels, feedback channels, and data channels), or signals (such as synchronization signals) in the air interface to achieve time synchronization with the network. This method avoids the AMP device from constantly detecting time information periodically transmitted by the network, thereby reducing power consumption when the AMP device is not communicating with the network.

[0334] The preferred embodiments of the present application are described in detail above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present application is not limited to the specific details in the above embodiments. Within the technical concept of the present application, the technical solution of the present application can be subjected to a variety of simple modifications, and these simple modifications all fall within the scope of protection of the present application. For example, the various specific technical features described in the above specific embodiments can be combined in any suitable manner without contradiction. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, the present application will no longer describe the various possible combinations separately. For another example, the various different embodiments of the present application can also be arbitrarily combined, as long as they do not violate the idea of ​​the present application, they should also be regarded as the contents disclosed in the present application. For another example, under the premise of no conflict, the various embodiments and / or the technical features in each embodiment described in the present application can be arbitrarily combined with the prior art, and the technical solution obtained after the combination should also fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0335] It should also be understood that in the various method embodiments of the present application, the sequence numbers of the above-mentioned processes do not imply a precedence in the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application. In addition, in the embodiments of the present application, the terms "downlink," "uplink," and "sidelink" are used to indicate the transmission direction of signals or data, where "downlink" is used to indicate the first direction of transmission of signals or data from a site to a user equipment in a cell, "uplink" is used to indicate the second direction of transmission of signals or data from a user equipment in a cell to a site, and "sidelink" is used to indicate the third direction of transmission of signals or data from user equipment 1 to user equipment 2. For example, "downlink signal" indicates that the transmission direction of the signal is the first direction. In addition, in the embodiments of the present application, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the association relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. Specifically, A and / or B can represent three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the associated objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0336] Based on the aforementioned embodiments, the embodiments of the present application provide corresponding time synchronization devices.

[0337] FIG9 is a first schematic diagram of the structure of a time synchronization device provided in an embodiment of the present application, which is applied to a first AMP device. As shown in FIG9 , a time synchronization device 900 (hereinafter referred to as device 900 ) includes:

[0338] The first communication unit 901 is configured to receive first information, which is used to synchronize the device 900 with the network device; the first information is carried in a target frame or target channel from the network device or the second AMP device; the sending of the target frame and the target channel is related to the network device triggering the device 900 and / or the second AMP device to send or receive data.

[0339] In some embodiments, the first information is carried in a target frame from a network device, and the target frame is used to: trigger at least one AMP device to send data to the network device, or trigger at least one AMP device to receive data from the network device, and the at least one AMP device includes device 900 and / or a second AMP device.

[0340] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate: time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device is used for synchronization between the apparatus 900 and the network device.

[0341] In some embodiments, the first information is further used by the apparatus 900 to determine a target monitoring time, where the target monitoring time is used by the apparatus 900 to monitor a target frame from a network device.

[0342] In some embodiments, the first information also includes one or more of the following: the time interval between the time indicated by the time information of the network device and the target monitoring time; the period for the network device to send the target frame; an identifier associated with at least one AMP device; information related to the service period SP, SP is used for the network device to communicate with at least one AMP device, and the target monitoring time is after the end of SP.

[0343] In some embodiments, the first information is carried in a target frame from the network device, and the target frame carries first data sent to the apparatus 900 or the second AMP device.

[0344] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate: time information of the network device, the time information of the network device is used to synchronize the device 900 with the network device; and / or, second information, the second information is used by the device 900 to determine the monitoring time of monitoring the trigger frame from the network device, and the trigger frame carries the time information of the network device.

[0345] In some embodiments, the second information includes: an end time of the SP where the target frame is located and a time interval between the target frame, and the monitoring time is after the end time of the SP.

[0346] In some embodiments, the target frame carries the first data sent to the second AMP device, and the target frame also carries: an identifier of the downlink transmission time DTT where the first data is located, the identifier is used by the device 900 to determine the target DTT, and the target DTT is used by the device 900 to receive the second data from the network device; the target DTT and the DTT where the first data is located are located in the same SP, and the target DTT is located after the DTT where the first data is located.

[0347] In some embodiments, the first information is carried in a target frame from the network device, the target frame carries feedback information for the first data, and the first data is sent to the network device by the apparatus 900 or the second AMP device.

[0348] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate: time information of the network device, the time information of the network device is used to synchronize the device 900 with the network device; and / or, third information, the third information is used by the device 900 to determine the monitoring time of monitoring the first trigger frame from the network device, and the first trigger frame carries the time information of the network device.

[0349] In some embodiments, the third information includes one or more of the following: the time interval between the target frame and the first trigger frame; the time interval between the target frame and the second trigger frame, the second trigger frame is used to trigger at least one AMP device to send data to the network device, and the data sent by at least one AMP device to the network device includes the first data; an identifier associated with at least one AMP device; fourth information, the fourth information is used to determine the end time of the target frame, and the monitoring time is after the end time of the target frame, or the fourth information is used to determine the end time of the SP where the target frame is located, and the monitoring time is after the end time of the SP.

[0350] In some embodiments, the first data is sent by the second AMP device to the network device, and the first information also includes: information of the first time slot, the first time slot is related to the time slot where the target frame is located; the information of the first time slot is used by the device 900 to determine the target time slot, and the target time slot is used by the device 900 to send the second data to the network device; the target time slot and the time slot where the target frame is located are located in the same SP, and the target time slot is located after the time slot where the target frame is located.

[0351] In some embodiments, the first information is carried in a target channel from the network device, and the target channel is used for any of the following: triggering at least one AMP device to send data to the network device; triggering at least one AMP device to receive data from the network device; carrying data sent to the device 900 or the second AMP device; carrying feedback information for the first data; wherein, at least one AMP device includes the device 900 and / or the second AMP device, and the first data is sent to the network device by the device 900 or the second AMP device.

[0352] In some embodiments, the first information is carried in a target channel from the network device or the second AMP device, and the first information is represented by a sequence of signals in the target channel, the signals including one or more of the following: a preamble, a midamble, and a postamble.

[0353] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate the time information of the network device or the second AMP device, and the time information is used to synchronize the device 900 with the network device; or, the first information is used to indicate the time information of the network device or the second AMP device, and is also used by the device 900 to determine the target monitoring time, and the target monitoring time is used by the device 900 to monitor the scheduling channel from the network device, and the scheduling channel carries the time information of the network device.

[0354] In some embodiments, the first information is carried in a target frame from the second AMP device, and the target frame carries the first data sent to the network device.

[0355] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate: the fifth information, the fifth information is used by the device 900 to determine the monitoring time of the first trigger frame from the network device, the first trigger frame carries the time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device is used for the device 900 to synchronize with the network device.

[0356] In some embodiments, the fifth information includes one or more of the following: the time interval between the target frame and the first trigger frame; the time interval between the target frame and the second trigger frame, the second trigger frame is used to trigger the second AMP device to send the first data; the time interval between the end time of the SP where the target frame is located and the target frame, and the monitoring time is after the end time of the SP.

[0357] In some embodiments, the first information is carried in a target frame from the second AMP device, the target frame carries feedback information for the first data, and the first data is sent by the network device to the second AMP device.

[0358] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate: the sixth information, the sixth information is used by the device 900 to determine the monitoring time of the first trigger frame from the network device, the first trigger frame carries the time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device is used for the device 900 to synchronize with the network device.

[0359] In some embodiments, the sixth information includes one or more of the following: the time interval between the target frame and the first trigger frame; the time interval between the target frame and the second trigger frame, the second trigger frame is used to trigger the second AMP device to receive the first data; the time interval between the end time of the SP where the target frame is located and the target frame, and the monitoring time is after the end time of the SP.

[0360] In some embodiments, the first information also includes: an identifier of the DTT where the first data is located, the identifier is used by the device 900 to determine the target DTT, and the target DTT is used by the device 900 to receive the second data from the network device; the target DTT and the DTT where the first data is located are located in the same SP, and the target DTT is located after the DTT where the first data is located.

[0361] In some embodiments, the first information is carried in a target channel from the second AMP device, and the target channel carries first data sent by the second AMP device to the network device.

[0362] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate: the seventh information, the seventh information is used by the device 900 to determine the monitoring time of the first scheduling channel from the network device, the first scheduling channel carries the time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device is used for the device 900 to synchronize with the network device.

[0363] In some embodiments, the seventh information includes: the time interval between the target channel and the first scheduling channel; and / or the time interval between the target channel and the second scheduling channel, and the second scheduling information is used to trigger the second AMP device to send the first data.

[0364] In some embodiments, the first information is carried in a target channel from the second AMP device, the target channel carries feedback information for the first data, and the first data is sent by the network device to the second AMP device.

[0365] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate: the eighth information, the eighth information is used by the device 900 to determine the monitoring time of the first scheduling channel from the network device, the first scheduling channel carries the time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device is used for the device 900 to synchronize with the network device.

[0366] In some embodiments, the eighth information includes: a time interval between the target channel and a first scheduling channel; and / or a time interval between the target channel and a second scheduling channel, the second scheduling channel being used to trigger the second AMP device to receive the first data.

[0367] In some embodiments, when the first information is used to indicate time information of a network device, a time range of the time information that can be indicated by the first information is related to a sending period of a target frame or a target channel.

[0368] In some embodiments, the first communication unit 901 is further used to: receive a synchronization signal from a network device, the sequence of the synchronization signal is used to indicate time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device is used to synchronize the apparatus 900 with the network device.

[0369] FIG10 is a second schematic diagram of the structure of a time synchronization device provided in an embodiment of the present application, which is applied to a network device. As shown in FIG10 , a time synchronization device 1000 (hereinafter referred to as device 1000 ) includes:

[0370] The second communication unit 1001 is configured to send first information, and the first information is used to synchronize the first environment energy AMP device with the device 1000; the first information is carried in a target frame or a target channel; the sending of the target frame and the target channel is related to the device 1000 triggering the first AMP device and / or the second AMP device to send or receive data.

[0371] In some embodiments, the first information is carried in a target frame, which is used to: trigger at least one AMP device to send data to the device 1000, or trigger at least one AMP device to receive data from the device 1000, and the at least one AMP device includes a first AMP device and / or a second AMP device.

[0372] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate: time information of the apparatus 1000 , and the time information of the apparatus 1000 is used for synchronization between the first AMP device and the apparatus 1000 .

[0373] In some embodiments, the first information is further used by the first AMP device to determine a target monitoring time, where the target monitoring time is used by the first AMP device to monitor a target frame from the apparatus 1000 .

[0374] In some embodiments, the first information also includes one or more of the following: the time interval between the time indicated by the time information of the device 1000 and the target monitoring time; the period for the device 1000 to send the target frame; an identifier associated with at least one AMP device; information related to the service period SP, the SP is used for the device 1000 to communicate with at least one AMP device, and the target monitoring time is after the SP ends.

[0375] In some embodiments, the first information is carried in a target frame, and the target frame carries first data sent to the first AMP device or the second AMP device.

[0376] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate: time information of device 1000, which is used to synchronize the first AMP device with device 1000; and / or, second information, which is used by the first AMP device to determine the monitoring time of monitoring the trigger frame from device 1000, which carries the time information of device 1000.

[0377] In some embodiments, the second information includes: an end time of the SP where the target frame is located and a time interval between the target frame, and the monitoring time is after the end time of the SP.

[0378] In some embodiments, the target frame carries the first data sent to the second AMP device, and the target frame also carries: an identifier of the downlink transmission time DTT where the first data is located, the identifier is used by the first AMP device to determine the target DTT, and the target DTT is used by the first AMP device to receive the second data from the device 1000; the target DTT and the DTT where the first data is located are located in the same SP, and the target DTT is located after the DTT where the first data is located.

[0379] In some embodiments, the first information is carried in a target frame, the target frame carries feedback information for the first data, and the first data is sent to the apparatus 1000 by the first AMP device or the second AMP device.

[0380] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate: time information of device 1000, which is used for synchronizing the first AMP device with device 1000; and / or, third information, which is used by the first AMP device to determine the monitoring time of the first trigger frame from device 1000, which carries the time information of device 1000.

[0381] In some embodiments, the third information includes one or more of the following: the time interval between the target frame and the first trigger frame; the time interval between the target frame and the second trigger frame, the second trigger frame is used to trigger at least one AMP device to send data to the device 1000, and the data sent by at least one AMP device to the device 1000 includes the first data; an identifier associated with at least one AMP device; fourth information, the fourth information is used to determine the end time of the target frame, and the monitoring time is after the end time of the target frame, or the fourth information is used to determine the end time of the SP where the target frame is located, and the monitoring time is after the end time of the SP.

[0382] In some embodiments, the first data is sent by the second AMP device to the apparatus 1000, and the first information also includes: information of the first time slot, the first time slot is related to the time slot where the target frame is located; the information of the first time slot is used by the first AMP device to determine the target time slot, and the target time slot is used by the first AMP device to send the second data to the apparatus 1000; the target time slot and the time slot where the target frame is located are located in the same SP, and the target time slot is located after the time slot where the target frame is located.

[0383] In some embodiments, the first information is carried in a target channel, and the target channel is used for any of the following: triggering at least one AMP device to send data to the apparatus 1000; triggering at least one AMP device to receive data from the apparatus 1000; carrying data sent to the first AMP device or the second AMP device; carrying feedback information for the first data; wherein, at least one AMP device includes a first AMP device and / or a second AMP device, and the first data is sent by the first AMP device or the second AMP device to the apparatus 1000.

[0384] In some embodiments, the first information is carried in a target channel, and the first information is represented by a sequence of signals in the target channel, where the signals include one or more of the following: a preamble, a midamble, and a postamble.

[0385] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate the time information of device 1000, and the time information of device 1000 is used to synchronize the first AMP device with device 1000; or, the first information is used to indicate the time information of device 1000, and is also used by the first AMP device to determine the target monitoring time, and the target monitoring time is used by the first AMP device to monitor the scheduling channel from device 1000, and the scheduling channel carries the time information of device 1000.

[0386] In some embodiments, when the first information is used to indicate time information of the apparatus 1000 , a time range of the time information that can be indicated by the first information is related to a transmission period of a target frame or a target channel.

[0387] In some embodiments, the second communication unit 1001 is further used to: send a synchronization signal, the sequence of the synchronization signal is used to indicate the time information of the apparatus 1000, and the time information of the apparatus 1000 is used to synchronize the first AMP device with the apparatus 1000.

[0388] FIG11 is a third schematic diagram of the structure of a time synchronization device provided in an embodiment of the present application, which is applied to a second AMP device. As shown in FIG11 , a time synchronization device 1100 (hereinafter referred to as device 1100 ) includes:

[0389] The third communication unit 1101 is configured to send first information, which is used to synchronize the first AMP device with the network device; the first information is carried in a target frame or a target channel; the sending of the target frame and the target channel is related to the network device triggering device 1100 sending or receiving data.

[0390] In some embodiments, the first information is carried in a target frame, and the target frame carries first data sent to the network device.

[0391] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate: the fifth information, the fifth information is used by the first AMP device to determine the monitoring time of the first trigger frame from the network device, the first trigger frame carries the time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device is used to synchronize the first AMP device with the network device.

[0392] In some embodiments, the fifth information includes one or more of the following: the time interval between the target frame and the first trigger frame; the time interval between the target frame and the second trigger frame, the second trigger frame is used to trigger the device 1100 to send the first data; the time interval between the end time of the SP where the target frame is located and the target frame, and the monitoring time is after the end time of the SP.

[0393] In some embodiments, the first information is carried in a target frame, the target frame carries feedback information for the first data, and the first data is sent to the apparatus 1100 by the network device.

[0394] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate: the sixth information, the sixth information is used by the first AMP device to determine the monitoring time of the first trigger frame from the network device, the first trigger frame carries the time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device is used to synchronize the first AMP device with the network device.

[0395] In some embodiments, the sixth information includes one or more of the following: the time interval between the target frame and the first trigger frame; the time interval between the target frame and the second trigger frame, the second trigger frame is used to trigger the device 1100 to receive the first data; the time interval between the end time of the SP where the target frame is located and the target frame, and the monitoring time is after the end time of the SP.

[0396] In some embodiments, the first information also includes: an identifier of the DTT where the first data is located, the identifier is used by the first AMP device to determine the target DTT, and the target DTT is used by the first AMP device to receive the second data from the network device; the target DTT and the DTT where the first data is located are located in the same SP, and the target DTT is located after the DTT where the first data is located.

[0397] In some embodiments, the first information is carried in a target channel, and the target channel carries first data sent by the apparatus 1100 to the network device.

[0398] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate: the seventh information, the seventh information is used by the first AMP device to determine the monitoring time of the first scheduling channel from the network device, the first scheduling channel carries the time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device is used to synchronize the first AMP device with the network device.

[0399] In some embodiments, the seventh information includes: the time interval between the target channel and the first scheduling channel; and / or the time interval between the target channel and the second scheduling channel, and the second scheduling information is used to trigger the device 1100 to send the first data.

[0400] In some embodiments, the first information is carried in a target channel, the target channel carries feedback information for the first data, and the first data is sent by the network device to the apparatus 1100 .

[0401] In some embodiments, the first information is used to indicate: the eighth information, the eighth information is used by the first AMP device to determine the monitoring time of the first scheduling channel from the network device, the first scheduling channel carries the time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device is used to synchronize the first AMP device with the network device.

[0402] In some embodiments, the eighth information includes: a time interval between the target channel and a first scheduling channel; and / or a time interval between the target channel and a second scheduling channel, the second scheduling channel being used to trigger the apparatus 1100 to receive the first data.

[0403] In some embodiments, the first information is carried in the target channel, and the first information is represented by a sequence of signals in the target channel, and the signals include one or more of the following: a preamble, a midamble, and a postamble; the first information is used to indicate the time information of the device 1100, and the time information of the device 1100 is used to synchronize the first AMP device with the network device.

[0404] Those skilled in the art should understand that the relevant description of the above-mentioned time synchronization device in the embodiment of the present application can be understood with reference to the relevant description of the time synchronization method in the embodiment of the present application.

[0405] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of a communication device 1200 provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device can be an AMP device (e.g., a first AMP device; or a second AMP device) or a network device. The communication device 1200 shown in Figure 12 includes a processor 1210, which can call and execute a computer program from a memory to implement the method in the embodiment of the present application.

[0406] Optionally, as shown in FIG12 , the communication device 1200 may further include a memory 1220. The processor 1210 may call and execute a computer program from the memory 1220 to implement the method in the embodiment of the present application.

[0407] The memory 1220 may be a separate device independent of the processor 1210 , or may be integrated into the processor 1210 .

[0408] Optionally, as shown in FIG12 , the communication device 1200 may further include a transceiver 1230 , and the processor 1210 may control the transceiver 1230 to communicate with other devices, specifically, to send information or data to other devices, or to receive information or data sent by other devices.

[0409] The transceiver 1230 may include a transmitter and a receiver. The transceiver 1230 may further include an antenna, and the number of antennas may be one or more.

[0410] Optionally, the communication device 1200 may specifically be the first AMP device of the embodiment of the present application, and the communication device 1200 may implement the corresponding processes implemented by the first AMP device in each method of the embodiment of the present application. For the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0411] Optionally, the communication device 1200 may specifically be a network device in an embodiment of the present application, and the communication device 1200 may implement the corresponding processes implemented by the network device in each method in the embodiment of the present application. For the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0412] Optionally, the communication device 1200 may specifically be the second AMP device of the embodiment of the present application, and the communication device 1200 may implement the corresponding processes implemented by the second AMP device in each method of the embodiment of the present application. For the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0413] Figure 13 is a schematic structural diagram of a chip according to an embodiment of the present application. The chip 1300 shown in Figure 13 includes a processor 1310, which can call and run a computer program from a memory to implement the method according to the embodiment of the present application.

[0414] Optionally, as shown in FIG13 , the chip 1300 may further include a memory 1320. The processor 1310 may call and execute a computer program from the memory 1320 to implement the method in the embodiment of the present application.

[0415] The memory 1320 may be a separate device independent of the processor 1310 , or may be integrated into the processor 1310 .

[0416] Optionally, the chip 1300 may further include an input interface 1330. The processor 1310 may control the input interface 1330 to communicate with other devices or chips, and specifically, may obtain information or data sent by other devices or chips.

[0417] Optionally, the chip 1300 may further include an output interface 1340. The processor 1310 may control the output interface 1340 to communicate with other devices or chips, and specifically, may output information or data to other devices or chips.

[0418] Optionally, the chip can be applied to the first AMP device in the embodiment of the present application, and the chip can implement the corresponding processes implemented by the first AMP device in each method of the embodiment of the present application. For the sake of brevity, it will not be repeated here.

[0419] Optionally, the chip can be applied to the network device in the embodiments of the present application, and the chip can implement the corresponding processes implemented by the network device in each method of the embodiments of the present application. For the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0420] It should be understood that the chip mentioned in the embodiments of the present application can also be called a system-level chip, a system chip, a chip system or a system-on-chip chip, etc.

[0421] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer storage medium, which stores one or more programs. The one or more programs can be executed by one or more processors to implement the method in the embodiment of the present application.

[0422] FIG14 is a schematic block diagram of a communication system 1400 provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG14 , the communication system 1400 includes a first AMP device 1410 , a network device 1420 , and a second AMP device 1430 .

[0423] Among them, the first AMP device 1410 can be used to implement the corresponding functions implemented by the first AMP device in the above method, the network device 1420 can be used to implement the corresponding functions implemented by the network device in the above method, and the second AMP device 1430 can be used to implement the corresponding functions implemented by the second AMP device in the above method. For the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0424] It should be understood that the processor of the embodiments of the present application may be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. During implementation, each step of the above method embodiment can be completed by hardware integrated logic circuits in the processor or software instructions. The above processor can be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, or discrete hardware components. The various methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented or executed. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The steps of the method disclosed in the embodiments of the present application can be directly embodied as being executed by a hardware decoding processor, or can be executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software module can be located in a storage medium mature in the art, such as random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, registers, etc. The storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory and completes the steps of the above method in combination with its hardware.

[0425] It is understood that the memory in the embodiments of the present application may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memories. Among them, the non-volatile memory may be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be a random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example and not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchronous link dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct RAM bus random access memory (DR RAM). It should be noted that the memory of the systems and methods described herein is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0426] It should be understood that the above-mentioned memories are exemplary but not restrictive. For example, the memories in the embodiments of the present application may also be static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchronous link dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct RAM RAM (DR RAM), etc. In other words, the memories in the embodiments of the present application are intended to include, but are not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memories.

[0427] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program.

[0428] Optionally, the computer-readable storage medium can be applied to the first AMP device in the embodiment of the present application, and the computer program enables the computer to execute the corresponding processes implemented by the first AMP device in the various methods of the embodiment of the present application. For the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0429] Optionally, the computer-readable storage medium can be applied to the network device in the embodiments of the present application, and the computer program enables the computer to execute the corresponding processes implemented by the network device in the various methods of the embodiments of the present application. For the sake of brevity, they are not repeated here.

[0430] Optionally, the computer-readable storage medium can be applied to the second AMP device in the embodiment of the present application, and the computer program enables the computer to execute the corresponding processes implemented by the second AMP device in the various methods of the embodiment of the present application. For the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0431] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program product, including computer program instructions.

[0432] Optionally, the computer program product can be applied to the first AMP device in the embodiment of the present application, and the computer program instructions enable the computer to execute the corresponding processes implemented by the first AMP device in the various methods of the embodiment of the present application. For the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0433] Optionally, the computer program product can be applied to the network device in the embodiments of the present application, and the computer program instructions enable the computer to execute the corresponding processes implemented by the network device in the various methods of the embodiments of the present application. For the sake of brevity, they are not repeated here.

[0434] Optionally, the computer program product can be applied to the second AMP device in the embodiment of the present application, and the computer program instructions enable the computer to execute the corresponding processes implemented by the second AMP device in the various methods of the embodiment of the present application. For the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0435] The embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program.

[0436] Optionally, the computer program can be applied to the first AMP device in the embodiment of the present application. When the computer program runs on a computer, the computer executes the corresponding processes implemented by the first AMP device in the various methods of the embodiment of the present application. For the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0437] Optionally, the computer program can be applied to the network device in the embodiments of the present application. When the computer program runs on a computer, the computer executes the corresponding processes implemented by the network device in the various methods of the embodiments of the present application. For the sake of brevity, they are not described here.

[0438] Optionally, the computer program can be applied to the second AMP device in the embodiment of the present application. When the computer program runs on a computer, the computer executes the corresponding processes implemented by the second AMP device in the various methods of the embodiment of the present application. For the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0439] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0440] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0441] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely schematic. For example, the division of the units is merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0442] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of these units may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0443] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0444] If the functions are implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or the part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. 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.

[0445] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included in the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A time synchronization method, applied to a first environment energy AMP device, the method comprising: receiving first information, where the first information is used to synchronize the first AMP device with a network device; The first information is carried in a target frame or target channel from the network device or the second AMP device; the sending of the target frame and the target channel is related to the network device triggering the first AMP device and / or the second AMP device to send or receive data.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first information is carried in a target frame from the network device, and the target frame is used to: trigger at least one AMP device to send data to the network device, or trigger at least one AMP device to receive data from the network device, and the at least one AMP device includes the first AMP device and / or the second AMP device.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein: The first information is used to indicate: time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device is used for synchronization between the first AMP device and the network device.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein: The first information is further used by the first AMP device to determine a target monitoring time, where the target monitoring time is used by the first AMP device to monitor a target frame from the network device.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein The first information also includes one or more of the following: The time interval between the time indicated by the time information of the network device and the target monitoring time; The period during which the network device sends the target frame; an identifier associated with the at least one AMP device; Information related to a service period SP, the SP is used for the network device to communicate with the at least one AMP device, and the target monitoring time is after the end of the SP.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first information is carried in a target frame from the network device, and the target frame carries first data sent to the first AMP device or the second AMP device.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein: The first information is used to indicate: Time information of the network device, wherein the time information of the network device is used for synchronizing the first AMP device with the network device; and / or, The second information is used by the first AMP device to determine a monitoring time for monitoring a trigger frame from the network device, where the trigger frame carries time information of the network device.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein: The second information includes: a time interval between an end time of the SP where the target frame is located and the target frame, and the monitoring time is after the end time of the SP.

9. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein The target frame carries the first data sent to the second AMP device, and the target frame also carries: An identifier of the downlink transmission time DTT where the first data is located, wherein the identifier is used by the first AMP device to determine a target DTT, and the target DTT is used by the first AMP device to receive second data from the network device; the target DTT and the DTT where the first data is located are located in the same SP, and the target DTT is located after the DTT where the first data is located.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first information is carried in a target frame from the network device, the target frame carries feedback information for first data, and the first data is sent to the network device by the first AMP device or the second AMP device.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein: The first information is used to indicate: Time information of the network device, wherein the time information of the network device is used for synchronizing the first AMP device with the network device; and / or, The third information is used by the first AMP device to determine a monitoring time for monitoring a first trigger frame from the network device, where the first trigger frame carries time information of the network device.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein The third information includes one or more of the following: a time interval between the target frame and the first trigger frame; a time interval between the target frame and a second trigger frame, the second trigger frame being used to trigger at least one AMP device to send data to the network device, the data sent by the at least one AMP device to the network device including the first data; an identifier associated with the at least one AMP device; The fourth information is used to determine the end time of the target frame, and the monitoring time is after the end time of the target frame, or the fourth information is used to determine the end time of the SP where the target frame is located, and the monitoring time is after the end time of the SP.

13. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein The first data is sent by the second AMP device to the network device, and the first information further includes: information of a first time slot, where the first time slot is related to the time slot where the target frame is located; The information of the first time slot is used by the first AMP device to determine the target time slot, and the target time slot is used by the first AMP device to send the second data to the network device; the target time slot and the time slot where the target frame is located are located in the same SP, and the target time slot is located after the time slot where the target frame is located.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first information is carried in a target channel from the network device, where the target channel is used for any of the following: triggering at least one AMP device to send data to the network device; triggering at least one AMP device to receive data from the network device; Carrying data sent to the first AMP device or the second AMP device; Carrying feedback information for the first data; The at least one AMP device includes the first AMP device and / or the second AMP device, and the first data is sent to the network device by the first AMP device or the second AMP device.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first information is carried in a target channel from the network device or the second AMP device, and the first information is represented by a sequence of signals in the target channel, wherein the signals include one or more of the following: a preamble, a midamble, and a postamble.

16. The method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein: The first information is used to indicate time information of the network device or the second AMP device, and the time information is used for synchronizing the first AMP device with the network device; or The first information is used to indicate the time information of the network device or the second AMP device, and is also used by the first AMP device to determine a target monitoring time. The target monitoring time is used by the first AMP device to monitor a scheduling channel from the network device, and the scheduling channel carries the time information of the network device.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first information is carried in a target frame from the second AMP device, and the target frame carries first data sent to the network device.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein The first information is used to indicate: The fifth information is used by the first AMP device to determine the monitoring time of the first trigger frame from the network device, the first trigger frame carries the time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device is used for the first AMP device to synchronize with the network device.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein The fifth information includes one or more of the following: a time interval between the target frame and the first trigger frame; a time interval between the target frame and a second trigger frame, the second trigger frame being used to trigger the second AMP device to send the first data; The time interval between the end time of the SP where the target frame is located and the target frame, and the monitoring time is after the end time of the SP.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first information is carried in a target frame from the second AMP device, the target frame carries feedback information for the first data, and the first data is sent from the network device to the second AMP device.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein The first information is used to indicate: The sixth information is used by the first AMP device to determine the monitoring of the first trigger frame from the network device. Time: the first trigger frame carries the time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device is used for synchronization between the first AMP device and the network device.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein The sixth information includes one or more of the following: a time interval between the target frame and the first trigger frame; a time interval between the target frame and a second trigger frame, the second trigger frame being used to trigger the second AMP device to receive the first data; The time interval between the end time of the SP where the target frame is located and the target frame, and the monitoring time is after the end time of the SP.

23. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 22, wherein The first information also includes: an identifier of the DTT where the first data is located, the identifier is used by the first AMP device to determine the target DTT, and the target DTT is used by the first AMP device to receive the second data from the network device; the target DTT and the DTT where the first data is located are located in the same SP, and the target DTT is located after the DTT where the first data is located.

24. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first information is carried in a target channel from the second AMP device, and the target channel carries first data sent by the second AMP device to the network device.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein The first information is used to indicate: The seventh information is used by the first AMP device to determine the monitoring time of the first scheduling channel from the network device, the first scheduling channel carries the time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device is used for the first AMP device to synchronize with the network device.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein The seventh information includes: The time interval between the target channel and the first scheduling channel; and / or, The time interval between the target channel and the second scheduling channel, the second scheduling information is used to trigger the second AMP device to send the first data.

27. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first information is carried in a target channel from the second AMP device, the target channel carries feedback information for first data, and the first data is sent from the network device to the second AMP device.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein The first information is used to indicate: The eighth information is used by the first AMP device to determine the monitoring time of the first scheduling channel from the network device, the first scheduling channel carries the time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device is used for the first AMP device to synchronize with the network device.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein The eighth information includes: The time interval between the target channel and the first scheduling channel; and / or, The time interval between the target channel and the second scheduling channel, where the second scheduling channel is used to trigger the second AMP device to receive the first data.

30. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein In the case where the first information is used to indicate time information of the network device, a time range of the time information that can be indicated by the first information is related to a sending period of a target frame or a target channel.

31. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 30, wherein The method further comprises: A synchronization signal is received from the network device, where a sequence of the synchronization signal is used to indicate time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device is used for synchronizing the first AMP device with the network device.

32. A time synchronization method, applied to a network device, comprising: Sending first information, where the first information is used to synchronize a first environment AMP device with the network device; The first information is carried in a target frame or a target channel; The sending of the target frame and the target channel is related to the network device triggering the first AMP device and / or the second AMP device to send or receive data.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein The first information is carried in the target frame, and the target frame is used to: trigger at least one AMP device to send data to the network device, or trigger at least one AMP device to receive data from the network device, and the at least one AMP device includes The first AMP device and / or the second AMP device.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein The first information is used to indicate: time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device is used for synchronization between the first AMP device and the network device.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein The first information is further used by the first AMP device to determine a target monitoring time, where the target monitoring time is used by the first AMP device to monitor a target frame from the network device.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein The first information also includes one or more of the following: The time interval between the time indicated by the time information of the network device and the target monitoring time; The period during which the network device sends the target frame; an identifier associated with the at least one AMP device; Information related to a service period SP, the SP is used for the network device to communicate with the at least one AMP device, and the target monitoring time is after the end of the SP.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein: The first information is carried in the target frame, and the target frame carries first data sent to the first AMP device or the second AMP device.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein: The first information is used to indicate: Time information of the network device, wherein the time information of the network device is used for synchronizing the first AMP device with the network device; and / or, The second information is used by the first AMP device to determine a monitoring time for monitoring a trigger frame from the network device, where the trigger frame carries time information of the network device.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein The second information includes: a time interval between an end time of the SP where the target frame is located and the target frame, and the monitoring time is after the end time of the SP.

40. The method according to any one of claims 37 to 39, wherein The target frame carries the first data sent to the second AMP device, and the target frame also carries: An identifier of the downlink transmission time DTT where the first data is located, wherein the identifier is used by the first AMP device to determine a target DTT, and the target DTT is used by the first AMP device to receive second data from the network device; the target DTT and the DTT where the first data is located are located in the same SP, and the target DTT is located after the DTT where the first data is located.

41. The method of claim 32, wherein: The first information is carried in the target frame, and the target frame carries feedback information for first data. The first data is sent to the network device by the first AMP device or the second AMP device.

42. The method according to claim 41, wherein The first information is used to indicate: Time information of the network device, wherein the time information of the network device is used for synchronizing the first AMP device with the network device; and / or, The third information is used by the first AMP device to determine a monitoring time for monitoring a first trigger frame from the network device, where the first trigger frame carries time information of the network device.

43. The method according to claim 42, wherein The third information includes one or more of the following: a time interval between the target frame and the first trigger frame; a time interval between the target frame and a second trigger frame, the second trigger frame being used to trigger at least one AMP device to send data to the network device, the data sent by the at least one AMP device to the network device including the first data; an identifier associated with the at least one AMP device; The fourth information is used to determine the end time of the target frame, and the monitoring time is after the end time of the target frame, or the fourth information is used to determine the end time of the SP where the target frame is located, and the monitoring time is after the end time of the SP.

44. The method according to any one of claims 41 to 43, wherein The first data is sent by the second AMP device to the network device, and the first information further includes: information of a first time slot, where the first time slot is related to the time slot where the target frame is located; The information of the first time slot is used by the first AMP device to determine the target time slot, and the target time slot is used by the first AMP device to send the second data to the network device; the target time slot and the time slot where the target frame is located are located in the same SP, and the target time slot is located after the time slot where the target frame is located.

45. The method of claim 32, wherein The first information is carried in the target channel, and the target channel is used for any one of the following: triggering at least one AMP device to send data to the network device; triggering at least one AMP device to receive data from the network device; Carrying data sent to the first AMP device or the second AMP device; Carrying feedback information for the first data; The at least one AMP device includes the first AMP device and / or the second AMP device, and the first data is sent to the network device by the first AMP device or the second AMP device.

46. ​​The method of claim 32, wherein: The first information is carried in the target channel, and the first information is represented by a sequence of signals in the target channel, where the signals include one or more of the following: a preamble, a midamble, and a postamble.

47. The method according to claim 45 or 46, wherein The first information is used to indicate time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device is used to synchronize the first AMP device with the network device; or The first information is used to indicate the time information of the network device and is also used by the first AMP device to determine a target monitoring time. The target monitoring time is used by the first AMP device to monitor a scheduling channel from the network device, and the scheduling channel carries the time information of the network device.

48. The method according to any one of claims 32 to 47, wherein In the case where the first information is used to indicate time information of the network device, a range of the time information that can be indicated by the first information is related to a sending period of a target frame or a target channel.

49. The method according to any one of claims 32 to 48, wherein The method further comprises: A synchronization signal is sent, where a sequence of the synchronization signal is used to indicate time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device is used for synchronizing the first AMP device with the network device.

50. A time synchronization method, applied to a second environment AMP device, the method comprising: Sending first information, where the first information is used to synchronize the first AMP device with the network device; The first information is carried in a target frame or a target channel; The sending of the target frame and the target channel is related to the network device triggering the second AMP device to send or receive data.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein: The first information is carried in the target frame, and the target frame carries first data to be sent to the network device.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein The first information is used to indicate: The fifth information is used by the first AMP device to determine the monitoring time of the first trigger frame from the network device, the first trigger frame carries the time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device is used for the first AMP device to synchronize with the network device.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein: The fifth information includes one or more of the following: a time interval between the target frame and the first trigger frame; a time interval between the target frame and a second trigger frame, the second trigger frame being used to trigger the second AMP device to send the first data; The time interval between the end time of the SP where the target frame is located and the target frame, and the monitoring time is after the end time of the SP.

54. The method of claim 50, wherein: The first information is carried in the target frame, and the target frame carries feedback information for the first data. The first data is sent from the network device to the second AMP device.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein The first information is used to indicate: The sixth information is used by the first AMP device to determine the monitoring time of the first trigger frame from the network device, the first trigger frame carries the time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device is used for the first AMP device to synchronize with the network device.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein: The sixth information includes one or more of the following: a time interval between the target frame and the first trigger frame; a time interval between the target frame and a second trigger frame, the second trigger frame being used to trigger the second AMP device to receive the first data; The time interval between the end time of the SP where the target frame is located and the target frame, and the monitoring time is after the end time of the SP.

57. The method according to any one of claims 54 to 56, wherein The first information also includes: an identifier of the DTT where the first data is located, the identifier is used by the first AMP device to determine the target DTT, and the target DTT is used by the first AMP device to receive the second data from the network device; the target DTT and the DTT where the first data is located are located in the same SP, and the target DTT is located after the DTT where the first data is located.

58. The method of claim 50, wherein: The first information is carried in the target channel, and the target channel carries first data sent by the second AMP device to the network device.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein The first information is used to indicate: The seventh information is used by the first AMP device to determine the monitoring time of the first scheduling channel from the network device, the first scheduling channel carries the time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device is used for the first AMP device to synchronize with the network device.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein The seventh information includes: The time interval between the target channel and the first scheduling channel; and / or, The time interval between the target channel and the second scheduling channel, the second scheduling information is used to trigger the second AMP device to send the first data.

61. The method of claim 50, wherein: The first information is carried in the target channel, and the target channel carries feedback information for first data, and the first data is sent from the network device to the second AMP device.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein The first information is used to indicate: The eighth information is used by the first AMP device to determine the monitoring time of the first scheduling channel from the network device, the first scheduling channel carries the time information of the network device, and the time information of the network device is used for the first AMP device to synchronize with the network device.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein: The eighth information includes: The time interval between the target channel and the first scheduling channel; and / or, The time interval between the target channel and the second scheduling channel, where the second scheduling channel is used to trigger the second AMP device to receive the first data.

64. The method of claim 50, wherein: The first information is carried in the target channel, and the first information is represented by a sequence of signals in the target channel, the signals including one or more of the following: a preamble, a midamble, and a postamble; The first information is used to indicate time information of the second AMP device, and the time information of the second AMP device is used to synchronize the first AMP device with the network device.

65. A time synchronization device, comprising: a first communication unit configured to receive first information, wherein the first information is used for synchronizing the apparatus with a network device; The first information is carried in a target frame or target channel from the network device or the second AMP device; the sending of the target frame and the target channel is related to the network device triggering the device and / or the second AMP device to send or receive data.

66. A time synchronization device, comprising: a second communication unit configured to send first information, wherein the first information is used to synchronize a first environment energy AMP device with the apparatus; The first information is carried in a target frame or a target channel; the sending of the target frame and the target channel is related to the apparatus triggering the first AMP device and / or the second AMP device to send or receive data.

67. A time synchronization device, comprising: a third communication unit configured to send first information for synchronizing the first AMP device with the network device; The first information is carried in a target frame or a target channel; the sending of the target frame and the target channel is related to the network device triggering the apparatus to send or receive data.

68. A communication device, comprising: memory for storing computer programs; a processor, connected to the memory, configured to call and execute the computer program from the memory to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 31, or the method according to any one of claims 32 to 49, or the method according to any one of claims 50 to 64; A transceiver is used to send and receive information between devices.

69. A chip, comprising: A processor, configured to call and run a computer program from a memory, so that a device equipped with the chip performs the method according to any one of claims 1 to 31, or the method according to any one of claims 32 to 49, or the method according to any one of claims 50 to 64; A transceiver is used to send and receive information between a device or chip.

70. A computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program, wherein the computer program causes a computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 31, or the method according to any one of claims 32 to 49, or the method according to any one of claims 50 to 64.

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