Method executed by user equipment, and user equipment

Abstract

The present invention provides a method executed by a user equipment (UE) and a UE. The method comprises the following steps: establishing an RRC connection with a base station; receiving instruction information from the base station, wherein the instruction information instructs the UE to perform a read operation on an Internet of Things (IoT) device; and in the process of performing the read operation on the IoT device, reporting a result of the read operation to the base station.

Description

Method performed by user equipment and user equipment Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of wireless communications, and in particular to a method executed by a user equipment and the user equipment. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, the automation and digitalization of various industries have opened up many new markets, and new IoT technologies are urgently needed to support devices with lower complexity and / or power consumption (for example, one or more orders of magnitude lower than existing 3GPP LPWA (low power, wide area) technologies, such as eMTC and / or NB-IoT). For example, this can include devices with very limited energy storage capacity and are not equipped with any rechargeable or manually replaceable batteries. In addition, new IoT technologies need to support a higher number of connections and / or device density (for example, one or more orders of magnitude higher than existing 3GPP LPWA technologies, such as eMTC and / or NB-IoT). To this end, 3GPP launched a study item called "Study on solutions for Ambient IoT (Internet of Things) in NR" in Rel-19 to evaluate this so-called "ambiently powered IoT".

[0003] The feasibility of new IoT technologies (such as corresponding wireless access technologies) for Ambient Power-enabled IoT (or "Ambient Internet of Things", Ambient IoT, or A-IoT, or AIoT for short).

[0004] In addition to interacting directly with base stations, these A-IoT devices can also interact indirectly with base stations through intermediate nodes. These intermediate nodes can be user equipment (UE) or other devices. Therefore, how can user equipment support the connection between A-IoT devices and base stations? This is a problem that needs to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a method executed by a user equipment and a user equipment, which can effectively support the connection between an A-IoT device and a base station.

[0006] According to the present invention, a method performed by a user equipment (UE) is proposed, comprising the following steps: establishing an RRC connection with a base station; receiving indication information from the base station, wherein the indication information instructs the UE to perform a read operation on an Internet of Things (IoT) device; and during the process of performing the read operation on the IoT device, reporting the result of the read operation to the base station.

[0007] Preferably, the indication information is explicit indication information, and the indication information includes: a read instruction, and identification information of an IoT device to which the read operation is applied.

[0008] Preferably, the indication information is implicit indication information, and the indication information includes identification information of the IoT device that needs to be read.

[0009] Preferably, the step of reporting the result of the reading operation to the base station includes: for one or more IoT devices that are successfully read, reporting the identification information of the one or more IoT devices and other information that needs to be obtained from the one or more IoT devices to the base station; and for one or more IoT devices that fail to read, reporting the identification information of the one or more IoT devices to the base station.

[0010] Preferably, the method further includes: during the ongoing reading operation for the IoT device, if it is detected that a wireless link failure occurs in the wireless link between the IoT device and the base station, stopping the ongoing reading process for the IoT device.

[0011] Preferably, the method also includes: stopping the ongoing reading process for the IoT device when one or more of the following events occurs: - starting the main cell group MCG failure information process; - starting the RRC reconstruction process; and - entering the RRC idle state.

[0012] Preferably, stopping the ongoing reading process for the IoT device includes at least one of the following operations: - pausing transmission on the IoT interface; - abandoning the IoT reading process; and - considering that the reading process of the IoT interface is completed or considering that the reading process for the IoT device is completed.

[0013] In addition, according to the present invention, a user equipment is proposed, comprising: a processor; and a memory storing instructions, wherein the instructions execute the above method when executed by the processor.

[0014] Effects of the Invention

[0015] According to the present invention, it is possible to effectively support the connection between A-IoT devices and base stations BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The above and other features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an A-IoT topology 1 supported by A-IoT.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing an A-IoT topology 2 supported by the A-IoT.

[0019] FIG3 is a flowchart showing a method executed by a user equipment UE according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0020] FIG4 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a user equipment involved in the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described below. In addition, for the sake of simplicity, detailed descriptions of known technologies that are not directly related to the present invention are omitted to prevent confusion in understanding the present invention.

[0022] Before the detailed description, the following explanations are given for several terms mentioned in the present invention. Unless otherwise specified, the terms involved in the present invention have the following meanings.

[0023] UE User Equipment

[0024] RLF Radio Link Failure

[0025] NR New Radio Next Generation Wireless Technology

[0026] LTE Long Term Evolution

[0027] eLTE Enhaced Long Term Evolution

[0028] RRC Radio Resource Control (layer)

[0029] MAC Medium Access Control (layer)

[0030] MAC CE MAC Control Element MAC Control Element

[0031] PHY physical layer

[0032] PDCCH Physical Downlink Control Channel

[0033] RA Random Access

[0034] MCG Master Cell Group

[0035] In some aspects, A-IoT can support DT (Device-terminated) services.

[0036] In some aspects, A-IoT can support DO (Device-originated) services, where DO services can include DO-A (DO autonomous) services and DO-DTT (DO device-terminated triggered) services.

[0037] In some aspects, in a topology supported by A-IoT (e.g., FIG. 1 , referred to as “A-IoT topology 1”), an A-IoT device can directly communicate bidirectionally with a base station(s) (e.g., via A-IoT wireless access technology), where:

[0038] The two-way communication may include the transmission of data and / or signaling.

[0039] For the A-IoT device, “uplink transmission” may refer to transmission from the A-IoT device to a base station, and “downlink transmission” may refer to transmission from a base station to the UE.

[0040] For the A-IoT device, the base station performing downlink transmission and the base station performing uplink reception may be the same base station or different base stations.

[0041] In some aspects, in a topology supported by A-IoT (e.g., FIG. 2 , referred to as “A-IoT topology 2”), an A-IoT device communicates bidirectionally with an intermediate node(s) (e.g., via A-IoT wireless access technology), and the intermediate node(s) transfers data and / or signaling between a base station(s) and the A-IoT device, wherein:

[0042] The two-way communication may include the transmission of data and / or signaling.

[0043] The intermediate node may bidirectionally communicate with the base station via a Uu interface (e.g., an NR Uu interface; or an LTE Uu interface). In this sense, in some aspects, the intermediate node may be considered a UE (e.g., an NR UE; or an LTE UE). Accordingly, for bidirectional communication between the intermediate node and the base station, "uplink transmission" may refer to transmission from the intermediate node to the base station, and "downlink transmission" may refer to transmission from the base station to the intermediate node.

[0044] For the A-IoT device, “uplink transmission” may refer to transmission from the UE to the intermediate node, and “downlink transmission” may refer to transmission from the intermediate node to the UE.

[0045] For the A-IoT device, the intermediate node performing downlink transmission and the intermediate node performing uplink reception may be the same node or different nodes.

[0046] For convenience, in A-IoT, a node (e.g., a base station in A-IoT topology 1) that directly communicates (e.g., bidirectionally) with an A-IoT device via A-IoT wireless access technology may be referred to as an "A-IoT base station" (e.g., A-BS for short), and an intermediate node UE in A-IoT topology 2 may be referred to as an "A-IoT UE" (e.g., A-UE for short). Both A-IoT base stations and A-IoT UEs manage A-IoT devices by reading their information, so they can also be referred to as A-IoT readers.

[0047] In A-IoT, “uplink transmission” may include transmission performed by an A-IoT device (e.g., transmission from the A-IoT device to an A-BS / A-UE), and “downlink transmission” may include transmission performed by an A-BS / A-UE (e.g., transmission from the A-BS / A-UE to an A-IoT device).

[0048] In A-IoT, the communication interface between a base station and an A-IoT device can be referred to as the A-interface or the IoT interface. The communication interface between an intermediate node and an A-IoT device can also be referred to as the A-interface or the IoT interface. Alternatively, the communication interface between the intermediate node and the A-IoT device can be referred to as the Abis interface or the IoTbis interface, distinguishing it from the A-interface or the IoT interface. In this document, an A-IoT device or IoT device can be defined as a device that supports the A-interface (or IoT interface).

[0049] A-IoT Reading

[0050] The A-IoT reader can obtain information on the A-IoT device through the reading process. This information includes but is not limited to the following:

[0051] -Device identity (device ID)

[0052] -Positioning information

[0053] -Factory number

[0054] -Date of production

[0055] - Usage status, etc.

[0056] Such a reading process is performed between the A-BS and the A-IoT device, and can also be performed between the A-UE and the A-IoT device.

[0057] Here, the data or signaling exchange process between the A-IoT reader and the A-IoT device can be defined as the A-IoT reading process. This A-IoT reading process can also be further subdivided into:

[0058] A-IoT access process, during which the A-IoT device provides identification information to the A-IoT reader, and the A-IoT reader confirms the correctness or reliability of the identification information;

[0059] A-IoT data transmission process: This process can be one-way or two-way transmission. It can be that the A-IoT device sends stored data information to the A-IoT reader, or the A-IoT reader sends data to the A-IoT device, and the A-IoT device receives and saves it, or overwrites previously saved information, etc.

[0060] Other signaling or data interaction processes: For example, the synchronization of time information between the A-IoT device and the A-IoT reader, the sending of positioning information by the A-IoT device to the A-IoT reader, etc. Such information can be transmitted in the form of signaling or data.

[0061] In this article, unless otherwise specified, the A-IoT reading process may also refer to but is not limited to the A-IoT access process, the A-IoT data transmission process, etc.

[0062] Hereinafter, several embodiments of the present invention are described in detail.

[0063] Example 1

[0064] FIG3 is a flowchart showing a method executed by a user equipment UE according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0065] As shown in FIG3 , the method includes the following steps:

[0066] In step 301: A-UE establishes an RRC connection with a base station, and A-UE is in an RRC connected state (RRC_Connected). A-UE enters the RRC connected state by establishing an RRC connection, so it can be considered that the A-UE in the RRC connected state has performed the RRC connection establishment process.

[0067] In step 302: the A-UE receives indication information from the base station, wherein the indication information instructs the A-UE to perform a read operation for the A-IoT device, or instructs the A-UE to execute a read process for the A-IoT device. Such indication information may also be information / messages received by the A-UE from a server related to the A-IoT via the base station in the non-access stratum (Non-Access Stratum) and sent to the A-UE, wherein the information carries the aforementioned indication information. The non-access stratum here may be the application layer of the A-IoT service or the upper layers above the RRC layer of the UE, etc.

[0068] The specific implementation method can be:

[0069] The base station carries explicit indication information in the downlink message sent to the A-UE, such as using specific bit information or the value of the indicator to instruct the A-UE to perform / execute A-IoT reading, and optionally, the downlink message also includes the identification information of the A-IoT device to which the reading operation is applied, such as the device identification (Identity, ID) of at least one A-IoT device, or identification information representing a group of A-IoT devices.

[0070] In one case, if the message sent by the base station to the A-UE contains a read indication and, optionally, partial identification information for identifying at least one group of A-IoT devices (i.e., identification information for identifying multiple A-IoT devices), then the A-UE can send the complete identification information (identification information that can identify a single A-IoT device) sent from the A-IoT device to the base station after receiving it, and can record the identification information of the received A-IoT devices in the form of a list.

[0071] The specific implementation method can also be:

[0072] The base station carries implicit indication information in the downlink message sent to the A-UE. For example, the downlink message includes the identification information of the A-IoT device on which the read operation needs to be performed, such as the device ID. Based on this information, the A-UE can initiate a read operation on the corresponding A-IoT device.

[0073] In step 303: During or after the reading operation for the A-IoT device, the result of the reading operation may be reported to the base station or corresponding operations may be performed according to the wireless link status. Specifically, the A-UE may perform the following corresponding operations:

[0074] In one case, the A-UE successfully reads the information of the A-IoT device. Here, "successful reading" may mean that the A-IoT device feeds back some or all of its identification information to the A-UE, and the fed-back information partially or completely matches the device identification information provided by the base station to the A-UE, and may be completely identical or equivalent. In addition, the A-IoT device may not only feed back the matching identification information to the A-UE, but also correctly feed back other information that needs to be obtained, in addition to the identification. In this way, the type of information that needs to be obtained may be the type indicated to the A-UE by the base station.

[0075] For successfully read A-IoT devices, the A-UE can report the identification information of the device or devices to the base station, as well as the required information read from the A-IoT device. In the case of multiple A-IoT devices, the information can be reported to the base station in a list format.

[0076] The above-mentioned “successfully read A-IoT device” may also be an A-IoT device that is called “successfully completed the A-IoT access process”.

[0077] In one case, during the reading operation on the A-IoT device, the A-UE did not successfully read the information of the A-IoT device, or failed to read the information. Here, "failed to read" may mean that for a certain device identification information, the A-UE did not obtain the matching identification information from the feedback of the A-IoT device. It can also be that after obtaining the correct feedback of the identification, the A-UE did not obtain the other information required except the identification. This or these A-IoT devices can be regarded as A-IoT devices that were not successfully read or failed to read. For these A-IoT devices, the A-UE can at least report the identification information of this or these devices to the base station. In the case of multiple A-IoT devices, the information can be reported to the base station in the form of a list.

[0078] The above-mentioned “A-IoT device that failed to read” may also be an A-IoT device that is called “not successfully completing the A-IoT access process”.

[0079] In one case, while the A-UE is performing a reading operation on the A-IoT device, if the A-UE detects that a radio link failure (RLF) occurs in the radio link (e.g., Uu interface) between it and the base station, for example:

[0080] -Receive a random access problem indication from the MAC layer

[0081] -Receive an indication from the RLC layer that the maximum number of retransmissions has been reached

[0082] - Timer T310 has timed out. Timer T310 is started when physical layer problems are detected.

[0083] When one or more of the above situations occur, the A-UE may consider that an RLF (consider radio link failure to be detected) has occurred, and the A-UE may stop (stop / halt) the ongoing reading process for the A-IoT device.

[0084] Another implementation method may be:

[0085] When one or more of the following abnormal situations occur in the A-UE, the A-UE may stop or halt the ongoing reading process for the A-IoT device:

[0086] -Receive a random access problem indication from the MAC layer

[0087] -Receive an indication from the RLC layer that the maximum number of retransmissions has been reached

[0088] - Timer T310 has timed out. Timer T310 is started when physical layer problems are detected.

[0089] - RLF (consider radio link failure to be detected)

[0090] -Initiate the MCG failure information procedure

[0091] -Start the RRC reestablishment procedure

[0092] -Enter RRC IDLE

[0093] Example 2

[0094] The “stopping (halting) the ongoing reading process for the A-IoT device” in Example 1 may include at least one of the following operations:

[0095] -Suspend transmission on the A-IoT interface. For example, if the A-IoT interface is in the process of accessing, the A-UE may suspend the process. Specifically, the A-UE may stop sending signals to the A-IoT device.

[0096] -Discard the A-IoT reading process. The A-UE can discard the configuration information related to the A-IoT, such as the frequency or time used for A-IoT transmission, and thus no longer interact with the A-IoT device. It can also discard the data that has been received from the A-IoT device. Here, it can be the data received by the A-UE from the A-IoT device. Such data is cached on the A-UE side and has not been sent to the base station. In this case, the A-UE can discard this data.

[0097] The A-IoT interface reading process is considered to be completed, or the A-IoT device reading process is considered to be completed. For example, the ongoing A-IoT access process can be considered to be completed; the ongoing A-IoT data transmission process can also be considered to be completed.

[0098] -Reset the protocol layer related to the A interface, for example, the MAC layer on the A interface can be reset to clear the cached data.

[0099] Example 3

[0100] In Example 1, when an abnormal situation such as RLF occurs in the A-UE, the A-UE performs at least one of the operations of "stopping (stop / halt) the ongoing reading process for the A-IoT device" as described in Example 2.

[0101] In order to handle the above situation more flexibly, the A-UE may also be configured with indication information to indicate whether the ongoing reading process for the A-IoT device can continue when the following situation occurs, or whether the ongoing reading process for the A-IoT device needs to be stopped.

[0102] A specific implementation method may be that the message received by the A-UE from the base station includes indication information, such as an indication to continue execution. Based on the indication, the A-UE may consider that the reading process for the A-IoT device can be continued (or does not need to be stopped) when the aforementioned abnormal situation occurs;

[0103] It may also include an information element. When the value of the information element is true or when the information element appears in the message received by the A-UE from the base station, the A-UE may consider that the aforementioned abnormal situation has occurred and may continue to execute (or does not need to stop executing) the reading process for the A-IoT device;

[0104] Alternatively, the indication information instructs the A-UE to stop executing the reading process for the A-IoT device. For example, a signal element is included in the message from the base station. When the value of the signal element is true or when the signal element appears in the message received by the A-UE from the base station, the A-UE can consider that the aforementioned abnormal situation has occurred and can stop executing the reading process for the A-IoT device.

[0105] [Modification]

[0106] FIG4 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a user equipment involved in the present invention.

[0107] As shown in Figure 4, the user equipment 400 includes at least a processor 401 and a memory 402. The processor 401 may include, for example, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, an embedded processor, etc. The memory 402 may include, for example, a volatile memory (such as a random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive (HDD), a non-volatile memory (such as a flash memory), or other memory systems. The memory 402 stores program instructions. When executed by the processor 401, the instructions may perform one or more steps of the UE processing method disclosed herein.

[0108] The program running on the device according to the present invention can be a program that controls the central processing unit (CPU) to enable the computer to implement the functions of the embodiments of the present invention. The program or the information processed by the program can be temporarily stored in a volatile memory (such as a random access memory RAM), a hard disk drive (HDD), a non-volatile memory (such as a flash memory), or other memory systems.

[0109] The program for realizing each embodiment of the present invention function can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Can realize corresponding function by making a computer system read the program recorded on the recording medium and executing these programs. So-called "computer system" herein can be the computer system embedded in the device, can include operating system or hardware (such as peripheral device). "Computer-readable recording medium" can be a semiconductor recording medium, an optical recording medium, a magnetic recording medium, a short-term dynamic storage program recording medium or any other recording medium that is computer-readable.

[0110] The various features or functional modules of the devices used in the above embodiments can be implemented or executed by circuits (e.g., single-chip or multi-chip integrated circuits). The circuits designed to perform the functions described in this specification may include 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, discrete hardware components, or any combination of the above devices. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or any existing processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The above circuits may be digital circuits or analog circuits. In the event that new integrated circuit technologies have emerged to replace existing integrated circuits due to advances in semiconductor technology, one or more embodiments of the present invention may also be implemented using these new integrated circuit technologies.

[0111] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Although various examples of the embodiments have been described, the present invention is not limited thereto. Fixed or non-mobile electronic devices installed indoors or outdoors can be used as UE devices or communication devices, such as AV equipment, kitchen equipment, cleaning equipment, air conditioners, office equipment, vending machines, and other household appliances.

[0112] As described above, embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the specific structure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the present invention also includes any design changes that do not deviate from the main purpose of the present invention. In addition, various modifications can be made to the present invention within the scope of the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, components with the same effect described in the above embodiments can be replaced with each other.

Claims

1. A method performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising the following steps: Establish an RRC connection with the base station; Receiving instruction information from a base station, wherein the instruction information instructs the UE to perform a read operation on an Internet of Things (IoT) device; as well as During the reading operation on the IoT device, the result of the reading operation is reported to the base station.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The instruction information is explicit instruction information, The instruction information includes: a read instruction and identification information of the IoT device to which the read operation is applied.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein The indication information is implicit indication information, The indication information includes identification information of the IoT device that needs to be read.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein The step of reporting the result of the reading operation to the base station comprises: For one or more IoT devices that are successfully read, report the identification information of the one or more IoT devices and other information required to be obtained from the one or more IoT devices to the base station; and For one or more IoT devices that fail to be read, identification information of the one or more IoT devices is reported to the base station.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: During the ongoing reading operation for the IoT device, if it is detected that a wireless link failure occurs in the wireless link between the IoT device and the base station, the ongoing reading process for the IoT device is stopped.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: When one or more of the following events occurs, the ongoing reading process for the IoT device is stopped: -Start the master cell group MCG failure information process; -Start the RRC re-establishment process; as well as -Enter RRC idle state.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein: Stopping the ongoing reading process for the IoT device includes at least one of the following operations: - Pause transmission on IoT interface; - Abandon the IoT reading process; and - The reading process of the IoT interface is considered to be completed or the reading process for the IoT device is considered to be completed.

8. A user equipment comprising: processor; as well as Memory, which stores instructions, The instructions, when executed by the processor, perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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