Communication method, and terminal device, network device and core network device

Abstract

Provided are a communication method, and a terminal device, a network device and a core network device. The communication method comprises: a terminal device sending a first request message to a first network device, wherein the first request message is used for instructing the first network device to configure a first time interval, the terminal device comprises an LR and an MR, the LR is used for monitoring a paging notification sent by a second network device, the paging notification is used for indicating that there is a paging message sent by the second network device on a subsequent PO, and the MR is used for receiving the paging message within the first time interval. On the basis of the cooperative operation of an LR and an MR, a paging notification is monitored by means of the LR, and when it is monitored that there is a paging message, the paging message is received by means of the MR, thereby reducing the power consumption of a terminal device, increasing the duration of data transmission between the terminal device and a first network device by means of the MR, reducing the influence on the data transmission between the terminal device and the first network device, increasing the amount of data transmission, and improving the throughput.

Description

Communication methods, terminal equipment, network equipment, and core network equipment Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and more specifically, to a communication method, terminal equipment, network equipment, and core network equipment. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of communication technology, terminal devices have increasingly higher requirements for energy efficiency, leading to the development of various energy-saving solutions. However, these solutions may impact the structural composition of terminal devices. How to optimize existing processes using new energy-efficient terminal structures to reduce communication interruption time and improve data transmission efficiency over the air interface has become an urgent problem to be solved.

[0003] Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a communication method, a terminal device, a network device, and a core network device. The various aspects covered in this application are described below.

[0005] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided, comprising: a terminal device sending a first request message to a first network device, the first request message being used to instruct the first network device to configure a first time interval; wherein the terminal device includes an LR and a MR, the LR being used to listen for paging notifications sent by a second network device, the paging notification being used to indicate that there is a paging message sent by the second network device on a subsequent PO, and the MR being used to receive the paging message within the first time interval.

[0006] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided, comprising: a first network device receiving a first request message sent by a terminal device, the first request message being used to instruct the first network device to configure a first time interval; wherein the terminal device includes an LR and a MR, the LR being used to listen for paging notifications sent by a second network device, the paging notification being used to indicate that there is a paging message sent by the second network device on a subsequent PO, and the MR being used to receive the paging message within the first time interval.

[0007] Thirdly, a communication method is provided, comprising: a second network device receiving capability information of the terminal device sent by a terminal device, and sending the capability information to a core network device, wherein the capability information is used by the core network device to configure identification information of the terminal device, and the identification information is used to determine a second time interval between a paging notification sent by the second network device and the PO indicated thereon; wherein the terminal device includes an LR and a MR, the LR is used to listen to the paging notification, the paging notification is used to indicate that there is a paging message sent by the second network device on the PO, the MR is used to receive the paging message within a first time interval configured by the first network device, and the identification information is configured such that the second time interval satisfies the requirements of the first time interval.

[0008] Fourthly, a communication method is provided, comprising: a core network device receiving capability information of a terminal device sent by a second network device, the capability information being used to configure identification information of the terminal device, the identification information being used to determine a second time interval between a paging notification sent by the second network device and the PO indicated thereon; wherein the terminal device includes a primary receiver (LR) and a primary mobile receiver (MR), the LR being used to listen to the paging notification, the paging notification being used to indicate that a paging message sent by the second network device is present on the PO, the MR being used to receive the paging message within a first time interval configured by the first network device, and the identification information being configured such that the second time interval satisfies the requirements of the first time interval.

[0009] Fifthly, a terminal device is provided, comprising: a transceiver unit, configured to send a first request message to a first network device, the first request message being configured to instruct the first network device to configure a first time interval; wherein the terminal device includes an LR and an MR, the LR being configured to listen for paging notifications sent by a second network device, the paging notifications being configured to indicate that a paging message sent by the second network device is present on a subsequent PO, and the MR being configured to receive the paging message within the first time interval.

[0010] In a sixth aspect, a network device is provided, the network device being a first network device, comprising: a transceiver unit, configured to receive a first request message sent by a terminal device, the first request message being configured to instruct the first network device to configure a first time interval; wherein the terminal device includes an LR and an MR, the LR being configured to listen for paging notifications sent by a second network device, the paging notifications being configured to indicate that a paging message sent by the second network device is present on a subsequent PO, and the MR being configured to receive the paging message within the first time interval.

[0011] In a seventh aspect, a network device is provided, the network device being a second network device, comprising: a transceiver unit, configured to receive capability information of the terminal device sent by a terminal device, and to send the capability information to a core network device, the capability information being used by the core network device to configure identification information of the terminal device, the identification information being used to determine a second time interval between a paging notification sent by the second network device and the PO indicated therein; wherein the terminal device includes a LR and a MR, the LR being configured to listen to the paging notification, the paging notification being configured to indicate that a paging message sent by the second network device is present on the PO, the MR being configured to receive the paging message within a first time interval configured by the first network device, and the identification information being configured such that the second time interval satisfies the requirements of the first time interval.

[0012] Eighthly, a core network device is provided, comprising: a transceiver unit, configured to receive capability information of a terminal device sent by a second network device, the capability information being configured to configure identification information of the terminal device, the identification information being configured to determine a second time interval between a paging notification sent by the second network device and the PO indicated thereon; wherein the terminal device includes a primary receiver (LR) and a primary mobile receiver (MR), the LR being configured to listen to the paging notification, the paging notification being configured to indicate that a paging message sent by the second network device is present on the PO, the MR being configured to receive the paging message within a first time interval configured by the first network device, and the identification information being configured such that the second time interval satisfies the requirements of the first time interval.

[0013] A ninth aspect provides a terminal device, including a processor, a memory, and a transceiver, wherein the memory is used to store one or more computer programs, the processor is used to invoke the computer programs in the memory, and control the transceiver to receive or send signals, causing the terminal device to perform some or all of the steps in the method of the first aspect.

[0014] In a tenth aspect, a network device is provided, including a processor, a memory, and a transceiver, wherein the memory is used to store one or more computer programs, the processor is used to invoke the computer programs in the memory, and control the transceiver to receive or transmit signals, causing the network device to perform some or all of the steps in the method of the second aspect.

[0015] Eleventhly, a network device is provided, including a processor, a memory, and a transceiver, wherein the memory is used to store one or more computer programs, the processor is used to invoke the computer programs in the memory, and control the transceiver to receive or send signals, causing the network device to perform some or all of the steps in the method of the third aspect.

[0016] In a twelfth aspect, a core network device is provided, including a processor, a memory, and a transceiver. The memory is used to store one or more computer programs, and the processor is used to invoke the computer programs in the memory and control the transceiver to receive or transmit signals, causing the core network device to perform some or all of the steps in the method of the fourth aspect.

[0017] In a thirteenth aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication system, which includes one or more of the terminal device, network device, and core network device described above. Optionally, the communication system further includes other devices that interact with the terminal device, network device, or core network device.

[0018] In a fourteenth aspect, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that causes a terminal device, a network device, or a core network device to perform some or all of the steps in the methods described above.

[0019] In a fifteenth aspect, embodiments of this application provide a computer program product, the computer program product including a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, the computer program being operable to cause a terminal device, network device, or core network device to perform some or all of the steps of the methods described in the foregoing aspects. Optionally, the computer program product may be a software installation package.

[0020] In a sixteenth aspect, embodiments of this application provide a chip including a memory and a processor, the processor being configured to call and run a computer program from the memory to implement some or all of the steps described in the methods of the foregoing aspects.

[0021] In this embodiment, the terminal device includes a MapReduce (MR) and a Receiver (LR) and supports dual SIM cards. The terminal device can request a first time interval configuration from the first network device. Thus, the terminal device listens for paging notifications sent by the second network device based on the LR. When it detects a paging notification indicating a subsequent Page Out (PO) where the second network device is sending a paging message to the terminal device, it stops data transmission with the first network device within the first time interval and uses the MR to receive the paging message sent by the second network device. Based on the collaborative work of the LR and MR, by listening for paging notifications through the LR and receiving the paging message through the MR when a paging message is detected, the power consumption of the terminal device is reduced, and the duration of data transmission between the terminal device and the first network device via the MR is increased. This reduces the impact on data transmission between the terminal device and the first network device, increases the data transmission volume, and improves throughput. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system that may be applied in the embodiments of this application.

[0023] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the workflow of a terminal device in a dual-SIM scenario.

[0024] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the working modes of LR and MR of the terminal device.

[0025] Figure 4 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of this application.

[0026] Figure 5 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to another embodiment of this application.

[0027] Figure 6 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to another embodiment of this application.

[0028] Figure 7 is a schematic block diagram of a terminal device according to an embodiment of this application.

[0029] Figure 8 is a schematic block diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of this application.

[0030] Figure 9 is a schematic block diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of this application.

[0031] Figure 10 is a schematic block diagram of the core network equipment according to an embodiment of this application.

[0032] Figure 11 is a schematic block diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The technical solutions in this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034] The technical solutions of this application can be applied to various communication systems, such as 5th generation (5G) systems, new radio (NR) systems, long term evolution (LTE) systems, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) systems, and LTE time division duplex (TDD) systems. The technical solutions of this application can also be applied to future communication systems, such as 6th generation (6G) mobile communication systems and satellite communication systems.

[0035] Figure 1 illustrates a wireless communication system 100 used in an embodiment of this application. The wireless communication system 100 may include a network device 110 and a terminal device 120. The network device 110 can provide communication coverage for a specific geographical area and can communicate with the terminal device 120 located within that coverage area.

[0036] For example, Figure 1 illustrates a network device 110 and two terminal devices 120. Optionally, the wireless communication system 100 may include multiple network devices 100, and the coverage area of ​​each network device 100 may include other numbers of terminal devices 110. In addition, the wireless communication system 100 may also include other network entities such as a network controller and a mobility management entity.

[0037] In this application embodiment, the terminal device may also be referred to as user equipment (UE), access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal equipment, wireless communication equipment, user agent, or user device. For example, a terminal device can be a device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to a user, and can be used to connect people, objects, and machines, such as home appliances, sensors, electronic tags, etc., with wireless connectivity. The terminal device can also be a wireless terminal in a smart home, a wireless terminal in an IWSN (Internet Wireless Network), a wireless terminal in smart logistics and smart warehousing, a wireless terminal in self-driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, etc.

[0038] A network device can be a device used to communicate with a terminal device. A network device can also be an access network device or a radio access network device; for example, a network device can be a base station. In the embodiments of this application, the network device can refer to a radio access network (RAN) node or device that connects a terminal device to a wireless network. A base station can broadly encompass various names listed below, or can be replaced by names such as: NodeB, evolved NodeB (eNB), next-generation NodeB (gNB), relay station, access point, transmitting and receiving point (TRP), transmitting point (TP), master station (MeNB), secondary station (SeNB), multi-mode radio (MSR) node, home base station, network controller, access node, wireless node, access point (AP), transmission node, transceiver node, baseband unit (BBU), remote radio unit (RRU), active antenna unit (AAU), remote radio head (RRH), centralized unit (CU), distributed unit (DU), positioning node, etc. A base station can be a macro base station, micro base station, relay node, donor node, or similar entities, or combinations thereof. A base station can also refer to a communication module, modem, or chip installed within the aforementioned equipment or apparatus. A base station can also be a mobile switching center, or a device that performs base station functions in device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), and machine-to-machine (M2M) communications, a network-side device in a 6G network, or a device performing base station functions in future communication systems. Base stations can support networks using the same or different access technologies. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technologies or device forms used in the network equipment.

[0039] Base stations can be fixed or mobile. For example, a helicopter or drone can be configured to act as a mobile base station, and one or more cells can move depending on the location of the mobile base station. In other examples, a helicopter or drone can be configured as a device to communicate with another base station.

[0040] In some deployments, network devices may refer to either a CU or a DU; alternatively, network devices may include both a CU and a DU. Optionally, a gNB may include an AAU.

[0041] Network devices and terminal devices can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; they can also be deployed on water; and they can also be deployed in the air on airplanes, balloons, and satellites. This application does not limit the scenario in which the network devices and terminal devices are located.

[0042] In 3GPP Release 17 (R17), multi-SIM technology was introduced, allowing a single terminal device to install two Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards, enabling it to operate on two networks without any interaction between them. Due to the limited hardware capabilities of the terminal device, it can only operate on one network at a time. For example, a terminal device can operate on the networks provided by a first network device and a second network device. At any given time, the terminal device can only operate on either the first network device's network or the second network device's network, not both simultaneously. In other words, the terminal device can transmit data with either the first or second network device at any given time, but cannot transmit data with both simultaneously. In this embodiment, the first and second network devices are from different operators, and there is no interface between them.

[0043] Suppose that a terminal device is in Radio Resource Control (RRC) Connected state in the network provided by the first network device, and in RRC Idle or Inactive state in the network provided by the second network device. In this case, the terminal device needs to periodically receive paging messages from the second network device. Therefore, the first network device needs to configure a time interval (GAP) for the terminal device to receive paging messages from the second network device. During the GAP, the first network device does not transmit data with the terminal device. However, only the terminal device and the second network device know the specific time of the paging occasion (PO) for transmitting paging messages between the terminal device and the second network device; the first network device does not know it. Therefore, the terminal device needs to inform the first network device of the GAP information, and then the first network device configures the corresponding GAP for the terminal device.

[0044] GAPs can be categorized into two types: periodic GAPs and aperiodic GAPs. Periodic GAPs occur periodically; aperiodic GAPs occur only once, with their start time requested by the terminal device and configured by the first network device, and their end time not configured. The terminal device completes its task in the second network and then returns to the first network to establish an RRC connection. Since POs occur periodically, the first network device typically configures periodic GAPs so that the terminal device can listen for paging messages sent by the second network device.

[0045] As an example, the workflow of a terminal device in a dual-SIM scenario is shown in Figure 2, wherein in step 110, the terminal device transmits data with the first network device.

[0046] In step 120, the terminal device sends a GAP request to the first network device.

[0047] In step 130, the first network device configures GAP for the terminal device.

[0048] If the first network device configures a periodic gap for the terminal device, then steps 140 to 160 are executed; if the first network device configures a non-periodic gap for the terminal device, then step 170 is executed.

[0049] In step 140, the terminal device listens for paging messages based on periodic GAP.

[0050] It is understandable that periodic gaps may serve other purposes besides listening to paging messages, such as measuring inter-frequency cells.

[0051] In step 150, data transmission occurs between the terminal device and the first network device.

[0052] In step 160, the terminal device listens for paging messages based on periodic GAP.

[0053] In step 170, the terminal device listens for paging messages based on aperiodic GAP.

[0054] Alternatively, when the second network device needs to send service data, the terminal device can receive the service data based on the non-periodic GAP.

[0055] In 3GPP Release 19 (R19), a power-saving mode terminal device was introduced. This terminal device has two independent receivers: a main receiver (MR) and a low-power receiver (LR). The LR can operate when the radio signal is above a threshold, and its operating power is low. The MR corresponds to the original receiver, and its operating power is higher than that of the LR. It can operate when the radio signal is below the threshold. The operating modes of this type of terminal device in IDLE and INACTIVE states can be seen in Figure 3.

[0056] As an example, as shown in Figure 3, if the terminal device is located in the edge area of ​​the cell (the gray area shown in Figure 3), and its wireless signal strength or quality is lower than the second threshold, the terminal device listens for paging messages on the PO via MR, as shown in Figure 3(a). If the terminal device is located in the center area of ​​the cell (the white area shown in Figure 3), and its wireless signal strength or quality is higher than the first threshold, the terminal device can listen for paging notifications at the time location before the PO via LR. This paging notification indicates that there are paging messages for the terminal device on subsequent POs. If a paging message is about to be transmitted, the network device will issue a paging notification during the LR's working time. If the terminal device receives the paging notification through LR, it will listen for paging messages on subsequent POs via MR; otherwise, the terminal device will not initiate MR, as shown in Figure 3(b). Since there are no paging messages for the terminal device on most POs (e.g., approximately 98%), the terminal device can reduce the number of MR initiations using the method shown in Figure 3, thereby saving power consumption.

[0057] In current multi-SIM scenarios, only terminal devices configured with MapReduce (MR) are considered, while those configured with Receiver (LR) in power-saving mode are not. If a terminal device with LR in power-saving mode operates in a multi-SIM scenario, it will request a gap (GAP) from the first network device to listen for paging messages from the second network device, and periodically listen for paging messages sent by the second network device via MR. However, the probability of not receiving paging messages from the second network device is relatively high, which is unnecessary. Therefore, in this embodiment, in some cases, such as when the terminal device is located in the central area of ​​the cell in the second network provided by the second network device, and its signal strength or quality is higher than a first threshold, this type of terminal device can use LR to listen for paging notifications sent by the second network device before the Point of Attachment (PO), and transmit data with the first network device via MR. It only receives the paging message via MR when the paging notification is detected via LR, thereby greatly reducing the GAP duration of data transmission interruption between the terminal device and the first network device and increasing the data transmission rate between the terminal device and the first network device per unit time.

[0058] Figure 4 shows a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of this application. The method 200 shown in Figure 4 can be a terminal device and a first network device. The terminal device supports dual SIM cards, enabling it to operate in two different operator networks, such as networks provided by a first network device and a second network device from different operators.

[0059] As shown in Figure 4, method 200 may include some or all of the following steps.

[0060] In step 210, the terminal device sends a first request message to the first network device.

[0061] Accordingly, in step 220, the first network device receives the first request message sent by the terminal device.

[0062] The first request message is used to request the first network device to configure a first time interval, or in other words, to apply to the first network device for a first time interval. The first request message may be carried in RRC signaling, for example, in UE assistance information.

[0063] In this embodiment of the application, the terminal device includes LR and MR. LR is used to listen for paging notifications sent by the second network device. The paging notification is used to indicate that there is a paging message sent by the second network device on the subsequent PO. MR is used to receive the paging message within a first time interval.

[0064] When a terminal device includes both MR and LR and supports dual SIM cards, the terminal device can request a first time interval configuration from the first network device. In this configuration, the terminal device listens for paging notifications from the second network device based on the LR. Upon detecting a paging notification indicating a subsequent POP (Position Point) where the second network device is sending a paging message to the terminal device, the terminal device stops data transmission with the first network device within the first time interval and uses the MR to receive the paging message from the second network device. Based on the collaborative operation of LR and MR, by listening for paging notifications through LR and receiving paging messages through MR when detected, the power consumption of the terminal device is reduced, and the duration of data transmission between the terminal device and the first network device via MR is increased. This reduces the impact on data transmission between the terminal device and the first network device, increases data transmission volume, and improves throughput.

[0065] The terminal device can send a first request message to the first network device at any time to instruct the first network device to configure a first time interval. For example, it can request the first network device to configure a first time interval during initial access, so that when a paging notification is subsequently detected through LR, the terminal device can receive the paging message through MR within the first time interval.

[0066] Optionally, the first request message may include time-related information about the paging message to enable the first network device to receive the paging message within a first time interval configured therein. For example, the time-related information about the paging message may include one or more of the following: the system frame number (SFN) corresponding to the paging message, the offset value corresponding to the paging message, and the duration corresponding to the paging message.

[0067] As an example, assuming there are paging messages at positions such as SFN=0, 128, and 256, the first request message can carry information for SFN=0, SFN=128, and SFN=256; assuming there are paging messages at positions such as SFN=1, SFN=129, and SFN=257, the first request message can also carry information with an offset value of 1; assuming it takes 5ms to measure the wireless signal of the second network device and to listen for paging messages, the first request message can also carry information for 5ms.

[0068] Optionally, the first request message may also include the reason why the terminal device requests to configure the first time interval. Since the terminal device can request to configure the time interval from the first device for various reasons, including the reason for requesting to configure the first time interval in the first request message helps the network device determine how to configure an appropriate time interval for the terminal device. The reason for the terminal device requesting to configure the first time interval may include, for example, the terminal device's capability information, such as whether the terminal device supports MR and LR and supports dual SIM cards.

[0069] In some implementations, method 200 may further include the terminal device receiving configuration completion information for a first time interval sent by the first network device. Accordingly, the configuration completion information may also include the reason why the first network device configures the first time interval. This reason may include, for example, the terminal device's capability information, such as whether the terminal device supports MR and LR and supports dual SIM cards.

[0070] In some implementations, the first time interval is a semi-static time interval. That is, after the first time interval is configured, activation is based on the request of the terminal device; this activation can also be called startup or activation. In this case, when the LR listens for a paging notification, as shown in Figure 5, method 200 may also include steps 230 and 240.

[0071] In step 230, the terminal device sends a second request message to the first network device.

[0072] Accordingly, in step 240, the first network device receives the second request message sent by the terminal device.

[0073] The second request message is used to instruct the first network device to activate the first time interval, and the MR is used to receive the paging message sent by the second network device within the activated first time interval.

[0074] The second request message may be carried, for example, in a media access control element (MAC CE) or in a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), such as in a specific notification on the PUCCH.

[0075] If the first time interval is a semi-static time interval, assuming the current terminal device is in an idle or inactive state in the network provided by the second network device, and in a connected state in the network provided by the first network device, then the terminal device interacts with the first network device via MR and listens for paging notifications sent by the second network device via LR. When the terminal device detects that the paging notification indicates that there is a paging message sent by the second network device for the terminal device on the corresponding PO, it sends a second request message to the first network device to instruct the first network device to activate the first time interval, thereby receiving the paging message via MR within the activated first time interval.

[0076] In related technologies, when a terminal device requests configuration of a periodic or non-periodic GAP from a first network device via RRC signaling, the configuration takes effect immediately without activation or deactivation. In this embodiment, if the terminal device's LR receives a paging notification from a second network device and then requests a non-periodic GAP from the first network device via RRC message, and the first network device then configures the non-periodic GAP for the terminal device via RRC signaling, this process takes a considerable amount of time and may not meet the time interval requirement between the paging notification sent by the second network device and its indicated PO, thus preventing the terminal device from receiving the paging message in time. If the terminal device requests a periodic GAP from the first network device via RRC signaling, and the first network device configures the periodic GAP for the terminal device via RRC signaling, and the periodic GAP takes effect immediately—meaning that the periodic GAP between the terminal device and the first network device is effective regardless of whether the terminal device's LR receives a paging notification from the second network device—this is clearly unreasonable, as the probability of the terminal device's LR receiving a paging notification is not high.

[0077] In this embodiment, the terminal device requests the first network device to configure a semi-static first time interval, and when the terminal device's LR detects a paging notification, it requests to activate the first time interval through a second request message carried on MAC CE or PUCCH, thereby enabling the first time interval to be used more quickly to receive paging messages through MR.

[0078] Regarding the timing of paging notification listening, if the terminal device's LR does not detect a paging notification within the listening time, the terminal device will not notify the first network device, i.e., it will not send a second request message. The first network device and the terminal device can then transmit data within the first time interval. If the terminal device's LR detects a paging notification within the listening time, the terminal device will notify the first network device and send a second request message to the first network device, requesting activation of the first time interval. Upon receiving the second request message, the first network device may refrain from transmitting data with the terminal device within the first time interval after the activation time. The terminal device will then receive the paging message sent by the second network device via MR within the first time interval.

[0079] In this scenario, when configuring the first time interval, the first request message may also carry indication information indicating that the first time interval is semi-static. This allows the first network device to assume that the first time interval will not take effect immediately after configuration, but will only become effective when required by the terminal device.

[0080] In some implementations, the first time interval is a periodically configured time interval, that is, the first time interval includes multiple periodic time windows, wherein the second request message is used to activate some or all of the time windows in the first time interval.

[0081] The time window activated in the first time interval can be determined based on one or more of the following: the position of the first activated time window; the number of activated time windows.

[0082] The position of the time window in the first time interval corresponds to the position of the PO. Since the paging notification can indicate whether there is a paging message on the first PO after it, or whether there is a paging message on the Nth PO after it, where N is a positive integer greater than 1, the position of the first activated time window in the first time interval can be the first time window or the Nth time window after the first network device receives the second request message. N can be agreed upon by the protocol or configured by the network.

[0083] Specifically, the first network device may refrain from data transmission with the terminal device within the next time window after receiving the second request message, so that the terminal device can receive the paging message sent by the second network device via MR within the next time window; or, the first network device may also refrain from data transmission with the terminal device within the Nth time window after receiving the first request message, so that the terminal device can receive the paging message sent by the second network device via MR within the Nth time window.

[0084] The terminal device can activate one or more time windows in the first time interval through the second request message. If the terminal device's MR successfully receives the paging message from the second network device in one go, it can activate only one time window, that is, request the first network device not to transmit data to it within a time window. In this case, if the MR fails to successfully receive the paging message sent by the second network device in one go, it can request the first network device to activate the first time interval again.

[0085] Typically, network devices can send paging messages across multiple consecutive Pagers (POs). Therefore, a terminal device can request the first network device to refrain from transmitting data with it for M time windows, where M > 1. In this way, the terminal device can avoid data transmission with the first network device for M consecutive time windows and instead listen for paging messages sent by the second network device. M can be determined by the protocol or configured by the network.

[0086] Optionally, information about the time windows activated in the first time interval, such as the location of the first activated time window and the number of activated time windows, can be carried in the second request information and / or indicated by the first network device.

[0087] In other implementations, the second request message may not carry the number of activated time windows. In this case, the terminal device can send a deactivation request to the first network device after correctly receiving the paging message from the second network device, instructing the first network device to deactivate the first time interval, thereby resuming data transmission with the terminal device. That is, the number of activated time windows in the first time interval is determined by the activation and deactivation instructions from the terminal device.

[0088] In this embodiment, the activation of the first time interval can be determined based on the quality of the wireless signal from the second network device. The quality of the wireless signal described below can also be replaced by parameters such as the strength of the wireless signal.

[0089] For example, if the quality of the wireless signal from the second network device is higher than a first threshold, the terminal device listens for paging notifications via LR and, upon receiving a paging notification, sends a second request message to the first network device to activate a first time interval. During this activated first time interval, the terminal device does not transmit data with the first network device but instead listens for paging messages sent by the second network device. The first threshold is, for example, notified to the terminal device by the second network device, or perhaps carried in the second network device's system information. In this case, a portion of the time window within the first time interval can be activated using the aforementioned methods.

[0090] For example, if the quality of the wireless signal from the second network device is lower than a second threshold, the terminal device cannot listen for paging notifications via LR (Local Level). That is, it no longer uses the "LR listening for paging notifications + MR receiving paging messages" working mode, but instead listens for paging messages on each PO (Position Point) via MR. The second threshold is, for example, notified to the terminal device by the second network device, perhaps carried in the second network device's system information. In this case, optionally, the terminal device can send a second request message to the first network device, requesting continuous enabling of the first time interval, or instruct the first network device to reconfigure the first time interval to a semi-static time interval via another request message, such as a third request message. After receiving the second request message, the first network device considers the working mode of the first time interval to be equivalent to the periodic GAP in related technologies, that is, the first network device does not transmit data with the terminal device within each time window of the first time interval, and the terminal device listens for paging messages sent by the second network device on the PO via MR within each time window of the first time interval.

[0091] If the wireless signal quality of the second network device subsequently reaches or exceeds the first threshold, the "LR listening to paging notification + MR receiving paging message" working mode can be used again. The terminal device can instruct the first network device to resume the semi-static working mode of the first time interval through corresponding indication information. After receiving this indication information, the first network device assumes that the terminal device will not use MR to receive paging messages sent by the second network device in the first time interval. As long as the terminal device does not notify the first network device to activate the first time interval through the second request message, the first network device can transmit data with the terminal device in the first time interval.

[0092] Terminal devices can notify the first network device to continuously enable the first time interval, for example, through specific notifications on MAC CE or PUCCH; or they can notify the first network device to continuously enable the first time interval through RRC signaling, such as auxiliary information.

[0093] In other implementations, the first time interval can be one of multiple time intervals configured by the first network device for the terminal device. These multiple time intervals can have different identifiers, such as a GAP ID.

[0094] If a terminal device requests configuration of a time interval, i.e., a first time interval, from a first network device, the first network device can configure only the first time interval for the terminal device. In this way, the terminal device only needs to send a second request message to the first network device to instruct it to activate the first time interval.

[0095] If a terminal device requests configuration of multiple time intervals from a first network device, the first network device can configure multiple time intervals for the terminal device. In this case, the second request message sent by the terminal device to the first network device needs to carry identification information to indicate which time interval to activate. Furthermore, if multiple semi-static time intervals are configured, and continuous enabling of time intervals is required, the second request message also needs to carry identification information to notify the first network device which time interval to continuously enable.

[0096] When the first network device is configured with two or more time intervals, the types of these multiple time intervals can be the same, such as semi-static time intervals, or the types of these multiple time intervals can be different, such as configuring semi-static time intervals and periodic gaps configured statically in related technologies.

[0097] For example, the first network device configures two time intervals for the terminal device: a first time interval and a second time interval. The first time interval is semi-static, meaning the terminal device determines whether to activate it based on whether the LR (Local Level Receiver) detects paging notifications. The second time interval is a periodic gap (GAP) in related technologies, where the terminal device periodically listens for paging messages on the PO (Position Point) via MR (Mobile Level Receiver) or performs other operations such as inter-frequency cell measurements. In this case, the activation time interval can be determined based on the quality of the second network device's wireless signal. If the current wireless signal quality of the second network device is greater than a first threshold (e.g., the terminal device is currently in the center of the cell), the terminal device can instruct the first network device to activate the first time interval. If the current wireless signal quality of the second network device is less than a second threshold (e.g., the terminal device is currently in the edge of the cell), the terminal device can no longer use the LR to listen for paging notifications and must instead listen for paging messages via MR. In this case, the terminal device can instruct the first network device to activate the second time interval, thereby listening for paging messages via MR within each time window of the second time interval.

[0098] Optionally, the quality of the wireless signal of the second network device can be obtained through one or more of the following methods: measurement by the terminal device; prediction by the terminal device based on artificial intelligence (AI).

[0099] As mentioned earlier, after the LR of the terminal device hears the paging notification, it needs to send a second request message to the first network device to activate the first time interval. Therefore, the second time interval between the paging notification and its corresponding PO cannot be too small, otherwise the paging message transmitted on the PO may be missed because the first time interval cannot be activated in time.

[0100] Therefore, this application embodiment also provides a configuration scheme for a terminal device, which enables the terminal device to achieve the above-mentioned "LR listening to paging notification + MR receiving paging message" working mode by configuring the identification information of the terminal device.

[0101] For example, as shown in Figure 6, before the aforementioned steps 210 to 240, method 200 may also include steps 251 to 256.

[0102] In step 251, the terminal device sends its capability information to the second network device.

[0103] Accordingly, the second network device receives the capability information of the terminal device sent by the terminal device.

[0104] In step 252, the second network device sends the terminal device's capability information to the core network device.

[0105] Accordingly, the core network equipment receives capability information sent by the second network equipment.

[0106] Among them, the capability information of the terminal device is used by the core network device to configure identification information for the terminal device. This identification information is used to determine the second time interval between the paging notification sent by the second network device and the PO indicated by it.

[0107] In this embodiment, the capability information of the terminal device is associated with the information of the receiver and SIM card supported by the terminal device. For example, the capability information of the terminal device includes one or more of the following: the terminal device supports MR and LR and supports communication with different networks; the terminal device supports MR and LR and supports MR and LR working on different networks at the same time, for example, MR working on another network while listening for paging notifications on one network via LR; the terminal device supports MR and LR, and the activation time information of the first time interval.

[0108] The activation time information of the first time interval of the terminal device may include one or more of the following: the threshold of the activation time of the first time interval; the type of the terminal device.

[0109] The activation time threshold for the first time interval could be, for example, the lower limit of the activation time for the first time interval, i.e., the minimum time required for the terminal device to activate the first time interval, such as 10ms. The type of terminal device is associated with the activation time of the first time interval. For example, for a certain type of terminal device, it must prepare in advance to obtain the first time interval to receive paging messages from the second network device. Therefore, the activation time of the first time interval also needs to consider the preparation time for this type of terminal device. In this case, the core network device can determine the corresponding activation time based on the type of terminal device, and thus configure appropriate identification information for it.

[0110] The terminal device's identification information should be configured such that the second time interval satisfies the conditions set by the first network device for configuring the first time interval; for example, the second time interval is greater than or equal to the activation time of the first time interval. In this way, after the terminal device's LR detects the paging notification, it has sufficient time to activate the first time interval and, after activation, promptly receive the paging message sent by the second network device via MR.

[0111] The activation time of the first time interval can be, for example, the time from when the LR of the terminal device listens for the paging notification until the first time interval is activated, that is, the moment when it can be used by the MR to receive paging messages, or it can be the time from when the terminal device sends the second request message until the moment when the first time interval is activated.

[0112] In some implementations, the identification information of the terminal device includes the device identifier (UE ID) and the group identifier (UE group ID) of the terminal device. The device identifier is used to determine the PO, and the group identifier is used to determine the listening location of the paging notification.

[0113] The identification information of terminal devices is assigned by the core network equipment. For example, the Page Object (PO) is calculated based on the device identifier of the terminal device assigned by the core network equipment. Similarly, the timing of paging notification listening is calculated based on the group identifier of the terminal device assigned by the core network equipment. Typically, a network device can page multiple terminal devices on a single PO. Therefore, the paging list of the paging message sent on that PO can carry the device identifiers of the multiple paged terminal devices, with a maximum of, for example, 32 terminal devices. A group of terminal devices with the same group identifier can listen for paging notifications and determine which terminal devices within the group will be paged in subsequent POs.

[0114] When assigning device identifiers and group identifiers to terminal devices, core network equipment is unaware of the location of the listening time for the PO and paging notification calculated based on the terminal device's device identifier and group identifier. Therefore, these calculations need to be performed by a second network device and / or the terminal device.

[0115] For example, as shown in Figure 6, method 200 may also include steps 253 to 255.

[0116] In step 253, the core network device sends the identification information it has configured for the terminal device.

[0117] In step 254, the second network device determines the second time interval.

[0118] The second network device receives the terminal device identification information sent by the core network and calculates the second time interval based on the identification information. If the second time interval is greater than or equal to the activation time of the first time interval, step 255 is executed.

[0119] In step 255, the second network device sends confirmation information of the identification information to the core network device.

[0120] This confirmation information indicates that the identification information configured for the terminal device meets the activation time requirement of the first time interval. Otherwise, if the second time interval is less than the activation time of the first time interval, the second network device sends an update message for the identification information to the core network device. This update message instructs the core network device to reconfigure the identification information of the terminal device so that the second time interval is greater than or equal to the activation time of the first time interval.

[0121] After receiving the confirmation information from the second network device, the core network device considers that the identification information configured for the terminal device meets the activation time requirement of the first time interval. After receiving the update information from the second network device, if the core network device considers that the identification information configured for the terminal device does not meet the activation time requirement of the first time interval, it will reassign the device identifier and / or group identifier to the terminal device to extend the second time interval.

[0122] Alternatively, the core network device may also transmit its configured identification information to the terminal device via, for example, non-access stratum (NAS) messages. In this case, the terminal device executes step 256.

[0123] In step 256, the terminal device calculates the second time interval.

[0124] If the terminal device calculates that the activation time of the second interval is less than that of the first interval, it will not request the first network device to configure the first interval, because the second interval is insufficient for the terminal device to activate the first interval. When the LR hears the paging notification, there is not enough time to use the first interval to receive the paging message on the corresponding PO. If the terminal device calculates that the second interval is greater than or equal to the activation time of the first interval, it indicates that it has the conditions to configure the first interval, and it can execute the subsequent step 210 to request the first network device to configure the first interval.

[0125] Of course, step 256 can also be omitted. That is, the terminal device does not need to calculate the second time interval itself, but instead notifies the terminal device through the second network device that the activation time requirement of the first time interval is not met. In this case, the terminal device will not request the first time interval from the first network device; otherwise, the terminal device can request the time interval from the first network device.

[0126] In other implementations, if the terminal device's capability information does not include the activation time of the first time interval, then the terminal device's capability information can be associated with the activation time of the first time interval. For example, if the terminal device's capability information includes that the terminal device supports MR and LR and supports communication with multiple networks, then based on this capability of the terminal device, the activation time of the corresponding first time interval can be determined through this association, thereby determining whether the second time interval meets the activation time requirement of the first time interval.

[0127] The method embodiments of this application have been described in detail above with reference to Figures 4 to 6. The apparatus embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 7 to 11. It should be understood that the descriptions of the method embodiments correspond to the descriptions of the apparatus embodiments; therefore, any parts not described in detail can be referred to the foregoing method embodiments.

[0128] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a terminal device according to an embodiment of this application. The terminal device 300 shown in Figure 7 may include a transceiver unit 310. The transceiver unit 310 is configured to send a first request message to a first network device, the first request message being used to request the first network device to configure a first time interval. The terminal device includes an LR and a MR, the LR being configured to listen for paging notifications sent by a second network device, the paging notification being used to indicate that a paging message sent by the second network device has appeared on a subsequent PO, and the MR being configured to receive the paging message within the first time interval.

[0129] In some implementations, the transceiver unit 310 is further configured to: send a second request message to the first network device when the LR detects the paging notification, the second request message being used to instruct the first network device to activate the first time interval, and the MR being used to receive the paging message within the activated first time interval.

[0130] In some implementations, the first time interval includes multiple periodic time windows, and the second request message is used to activate some or all of the time windows in the first time interval.

[0131] In some implementations, the time window activated in the first time interval is determined based on one or more of the following: the position of the first activated time window; the number of activated time windows.

[0132] In some implementations, information about the time window activated during the first time interval is carried in the second request information and / or indicated by the first network device.

[0133] In some implementations, the quality of the wireless signal of the second network device is higher than a first threshold, and the second request message is used to activate a portion of the time window in the first time interval; or, the quality of the wireless signal of the second network device is lower than a second threshold, and the second request message is used to activate the entire time window in the first time interval.

[0134] In some implementations, the quality or strength of the wireless signal of the second network device is obtained by one or more of the following methods: measurement by the terminal device; prediction by the terminal device based on AI.

[0135] In some implementations, the second request message is carried on MAC CE or PUCCH.

[0136] In some implementations, the terminal device is in an idle or inactive state in the network of the second network device, and the terminal device is in a connected state in the network of the first network device.

[0137] In some implementations, the first request message is also used to indicate that the first time interval is a semi-static time interval.

[0138] In some implementations, the first request message includes one or more of the following: time-related information of the paging message; the reason why the terminal device requests to configure the first time interval.

[0139] In some implementations, the time-related information of the paging message includes one or more of the following: the system frame number corresponding to the paging message; the offset value corresponding to the paging message; the duration of the paging message; and the reason why the terminal device requests to configure the first time interval includes the capability information of the terminal device.

[0140] In some implementations, the first time interval is one of multiple time intervals configured by the first network device for the terminal device.

[0141] In some implementations, the multiple time intervals have different identifiers.

[0142] In some implementations, the transceiver unit 310 is further configured to: receive configuration completion information of the first time interval sent by the first network device, wherein the configuration completion information includes the reason why the first network device configures the first time interval.

[0143] In some implementations, the reason for the first network device configuring the first time interval includes the capability information of the terminal device.

[0144] In some implementations, the transceiver unit 310 is further configured to: send capability information of the terminal device to the second network device, the capability information being used by the core network device to configure the identification information of the terminal device, the identification information being used to determine a second time interval between the paging notification sent by the second network device and the PO indicated therein, the second time interval satisfying the condition for the first network device to configure a first time interval.

[0145] In some implementations, the second time interval is greater than or equal to the activation time of the first time interval.

[0146] In some implementations, the identification information includes the device identifier of the terminal device and the group identifier of the terminal device, wherein the device identifier is used to determine the PO and the group identifier is used to determine the listening location of the paging notification.

[0147] In some implementations, the capability information is associated with information about the receivers and SIM cards supported by the terminal device.

[0148] In some implementations, the capability information includes one or more of the following: the terminal device supports MR and LR and supports communication with different networks; the terminal device supports MR and LR and supports MR and LR operating on different networks at the same time; the terminal device supports MR and LR, and the activation time information of the first time interval.

[0149] In some implementations, the activation time information of the first time interval includes one or more of the following: a threshold for the activation time of the first time interval; the type of the terminal device, wherein the type of the terminal device is associated with the activation time of the first time interval of the terminal device.

[0150] In some implementations, the first network device and the second network device are network devices from different operators.

[0151] It is understood that the transceiver unit 310 may be, for example, a transceiver 730. Alternatively, the terminal device 300 may also include a processor 710 and a memory 720, as shown in Figure 11.

[0152] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of this application. The network device 400 shown in Figure 8 is a first network device, including a transceiver unit 410. The transceiver unit 410 is used to receive a first request message sent by a terminal device, the first request message being used to request the first network device to configure a first time interval; wherein the terminal device includes an LR and a MR, the LR being used to listen for paging notifications sent by a second network device, the paging notification being used to indicate that there is a paging message sent by the second network device on a subsequent PO, and the MR being used to receive the paging message within the first time interval.

[0153] In some implementations, the first time interval is a semi-static time interval, and the transceiver unit 410 is further configured to: receive a second request message sent by the terminal device when the LR detects the paging notification, the second request message being used to request activation of the first time interval, and the MR being used to receive the paging message within the activated first time interval.

[0154] In some implementations, the first time interval includes multiple periodic time windows, and the second request message is used to activate some or all of the time windows in the first time interval.

[0155] In some implementations, the time window activated in the first time interval is determined based on one or more of the following: the position of the first activated time window; the number of activated time windows.

[0156] In some implementations, information about the time window activated during the first time interval is carried in the second request information and / or indicated by the first network device.

[0157] In some implementations, the quality of the wireless signal of the second network device is higher than a first threshold, and the second request message is used to activate a portion of the time window in the first time interval; or, the quality of the wireless signal of the second network device is lower than a second threshold, and the second request message is used to activate the entire time window in the first time interval.

[0158] In some implementations, the quality or strength of the wireless signal of the second network device is obtained by one or more of the following methods: measurement by the terminal device; prediction by the terminal device based on AI.

[0159] In some implementations, the second request message is carried on MAC CE or PUCCH.

[0160] In some implementations, the terminal device is in an idle or inactive state in the network of the second network device, and the terminal device is in a connected state in the network of the first network device.

[0161] In some implementations, the first request message is also used to indicate that the first time interval is a semi-static time interval.

[0162] In some implementations, the first request message includes one or more of the following: time-related information of the paging message; the reason why the terminal device requests to configure the first time interval.

[0163] In some implementations, the time-related information of the paging message includes one or more of the following: the system frame number corresponding to the paging message; the offset value corresponding to the paging message; the duration of the paging message; and the reason why the terminal device requests to configure the first time interval includes the capability information of the terminal device.

[0164] In some implementations, the first time interval is one of multiple time intervals configured by the first network device for the terminal device.

[0165] In some implementations, the multiple time intervals have different identifiers.

[0166] In some implementations, the transceiver unit 410 is further configured to: send configuration completion information of the first time interval to the terminal device, the configuration completion information including the reason why the first network device configured the first time interval.

[0167] In some implementations, the reason for the first network device configuring the first time interval includes the capability information of the terminal device.

[0168] In some implementations, the capability information includes one or more of the following: the terminal device supports MR and LR, and supports communication with multiple networks; the terminal device supports MR and LR, and supports MR communication on other networks while LR is listening for paging notifications; the terminal device supports MR and LR, and the activation time information of the first time interval.

[0169] In some implementations, the activation time information of the first time interval includes one or more of the following: a threshold for the activation time of the first time interval; the type of the terminal device, wherein the type of the terminal device is associated with the activation time of the first time interval of the terminal device.

[0170] In some implementations, the first network device and the second network device are network devices from different operators.

[0171] It is understood that the transceiver unit 410 may be, for example, a transceiver 730. Additionally, the network device 400 may optionally include a processor 710 and a memory 720, as detailed in Figure 11.

[0172] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of this application. The network device 500 shown in Figure 9 includes a transceiver unit 510. The transceiver unit 510 is used to receive capability information of a terminal device sent by a terminal device, and to send the capability information to a core network device. The capability information is used by the core network device to configure identification information of the terminal device. The identification information is used to determine a second time interval between a paging notification sent by a second network device and the indicated PO. The second time interval satisfies the condition of the first network device configuring a first time interval. The terminal device includes a listener (LR) and a receiver (MR). The LR is used to listen to the paging notification, which indicates that a paging message sent by the second network device is present on the PO. The MR is used to receive the paging message within the first time interval.

[0173] In some implementations, the identification information includes the device identifier of the terminal device and the group identifier of the terminal device, wherein the device identifier is used to determine the PO and the group identifier is used to determine the listening location of the paging notification.

[0174] In some implementations, the first time interval is a semi-static time interval, which is activated when the LR detects the paging notification, and the MR is used to receive the paging message within the activated first time interval, wherein the second time interval is greater than or equal to the activation time of the first time interval.

[0175] In some implementations, the transceiver unit 510 is further configured to: send confirmation information of the identification information to the core network device when the second time interval is greater than or equal to the activation time of the first time interval; or, send update information of the identification information to the core network device when the second time interval is less than the activation time of the first time interval, wherein the update information is used to instruct the core network device to reconfigure the identification information of the terminal device.

[0176] In some implementations, the capability information is associated with information about the receivers and SIM cards supported by the terminal device.

[0177] In some implementations, the capability information includes one or more of the following: the terminal device supports MR and LR and supports communication with different networks; the terminal device supports MR and LR and supports MR and LR operating on different networks at the same time; the terminal device supports MR and LR, and the activation time information of the first time interval.

[0178] In some implementations, the activation time information of the first time interval includes one or more of the following: a threshold for the activation time of the first time interval; the type of the terminal device, wherein the type of the terminal device is associated with the activation time of the first time interval of the terminal device.

[0179] In some implementations, the first network device and the second network device are network devices from different operators.

[0180] It is understood that the transceiver unit 510 may be, for example, a transceiver 730. Alternatively, the network device 500 may also include a processor 710 and a memory 720, as shown in Figure 11.

[0181] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of this application. The network device 600 shown in Figure 10 includes a transceiver unit 610. The transceiver unit 610 is used to receive capability information of the terminal device sent by a second network device. The capability information is used to configure identification information of the terminal device. The identification information is used to determine a second time interval between a paging notification sent by the second network device and the indicated PO. The second time interval satisfies the condition of the first network device configuring a first time interval. The terminal device includes a listener (LR) and a receiver (MR). The LR is used to listen to the paging notification, which indicates that a paging message sent by the second network device is present on the PO. The MR is used to receive the paging message within the first time interval.

[0182] In some implementations, the identification information includes the device identifier of the terminal device and the group identifier of the terminal device, wherein the device identifier is used to determine the PO and the group identifier is used to determine the listening location of the paging notification.

[0183] In some implementations, the first time interval is a semi-static time interval, which is activated when the LR detects the paging notification, and the MR is used to receive the paging message within the activated first time interval, wherein the second time interval is greater than or equal to the activation time of the first time interval.

[0184] In some implementations, the transceiver unit 5610 is further configured to: send confirmation information of the identification information to the core network device when the second time interval is greater than or equal to the activation time of the first time interval; or, send update information of the identification information to the core network device when the second time interval is less than the activation time of the first time interval, wherein the update information is used to instruct the core network device to reconfigure the identification information of the terminal device.

[0185] In some implementations, the capability information is associated with information about the receivers and SIM cards supported by the terminal device.

[0186] In some implementations, the capability information includes one or more of the following: the terminal device supports MR and LR and supports communication with different networks; the terminal device supports MR and LR and supports MR and LR operating on different networks at the same time; the terminal device supports MR and LR, and the activation time information of the first time interval.

[0187] In some implementations, the activation time information of the first time interval includes one or more of the following: a threshold for the activation time of the first time interval; the type of the terminal device, wherein the type of the terminal device is associated with the activation time of the first time interval of the terminal device.

[0188] In some implementations, the first network device and the second network device are network devices from different operators.

[0189] It is understood that the transceiver unit 610 may be, for example, a transceiver 730. Additionally, the network device 600 may optionally include a processor 710 and a memory 720, as detailed in Figure 11.

[0190] Figure 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of this application. The dashed lines in Figure 11 indicate that the unit or module is optional. This apparatus can be used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments. The apparatus may be, for example, a chip, a terminal device, a network device, or a network device in general.

[0191] As shown in Figure 11, the device 700 may include one or more processors 710. The processors 710 can support the device 700 in implementing the methods described in the above-described method embodiments. The processor 710 can be a general-purpose processor or a special-purpose processor. For example, the processor 710 can be a central processing unit (CPU). Alternatively, the processor 710 can also be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0192] The apparatus 700 may further include one or more memories 720. The memories 720 store a program that can be executed by the processor 710, causing the processor 710 to perform the methods described in the foregoing method embodiments. The memories 720 may be independent of the processor 710 or integrated within the processor 710.

[0193] The device 700 may also include a transceiver 730. The processor 710 can communicate with other devices or chips via the transceiver 730. For example, the processor 710 can send and receive data with other devices or chips via the transceiver 730.

[0194] This application also provides a communication system. The system includes one or more of the terminal device, network device, and core network device described above. In some implementations, the system further includes other devices that interact with the terminal device, network device, or core network device.

[0195] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing a program. This computer-readable storage medium can be applied to a terminal device, network device, or core network device provided in this application embodiment, and the program causes a computer to execute the methods performed by the terminal device, network device, or core network device in various embodiments of this application.

[0196] This application also provides a computer program product. The computer program product includes a program. This computer program product can be applied to the terminal device, network device, or core network device provided in the embodiments of this application, and the program causes a computer to execute the methods performed by the terminal device, network device, or core network device in the various embodiments of this application.

[0197] This application also provides a computer program. This computer program can be applied to the terminal device, network device, or core network device provided in this application, and causes the computer to execute the methods performed by the terminal device, network device, or core network device in various embodiments of this application.

[0198] It should be understood that the terms "system" and "network" in this application can be used interchangeably. Furthermore, the terminology used in this application is only for explaining specific embodiments of the application and is not intended to limit the application. The terms "first," "second," "third," and "fourth," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order. In addition, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0199] In the embodiments of this application, the term "instruction" can be a direct instruction, an indirect instruction, or an indication of a relationship. For example, A instructing B can mean that A directly instructs B, such as B being able to obtain information through A; it can also mean that A indirectly instructs B, such as A instructing C, so B can obtain information through C; or it can mean that there is a relationship between A and B.

[0200] In the embodiments of this application, "B corresponding to A" means that B is associated with A, and B can be determined based on A. However, it should also be understood that determining B based on A does not mean that B is determined solely based on A; B can also be determined based on A and / or other information.

[0201] In the embodiments of this application, the term "correspondence" can indicate a direct or indirect correspondence between two things, or an association between two things, or a relationship of instruction and being instructed, configuration and being configured, etc.

[0202] In this application embodiment, "predefined" or "preconfigured" can be implemented by pre-storing corresponding codes, tables, or other means that can be used to indicate relevant information in the device, such as a terminal device, network device, or network device. This application does not limit the specific implementation method. For example, predefined can refer to what is defined in the protocol.

[0203] In the embodiments of this application, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0204] In the embodiments of this application, "comprising" can refer to direct inclusion or indirect inclusion. Optionally, "comprising" mentioned in the embodiments of this application can be replaced with "indicating" or "used to determine". For example, "A includes B" can be replaced with "A indicates B" or "A is used to determine B".

[0205] In the various embodiments of this application, the order of the above-mentioned processes does not imply 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 this application.

[0206] In the embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between devices or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0207] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. 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 the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0208] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0209] In the above embodiments, implementation can be achieved entirely or partially through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented entirely or partially in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can read or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available media can be magnetic media such as floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes, etc., or optical media such as digital video discs (DVDs) or semiconductor media such as solid-state disks (SSDs).

[0210] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: The terminal device sends a first request message to the first network device, the first request message being used to request the first network device to configure a first time interval; The terminal device includes a low-power transceiver (LR) and a main transceiver (MR). The LR is used to listen for paging notifications sent by the second network device. The paging notification is used to indicate that there is a paging message sent by the second network device at a subsequent paging time (PO). The MR is used to receive the paging message within the first time interval.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first time interval is a semi-static time interval, and the method further includes: When the LR detects the paging notification, the terminal device sends a second request message to the first network device. The second request message is used to instruct the first network device to activate the first time interval, wherein the MR is used to receive the paging message within the activated first time interval.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first time interval includes multiple periodic time windows, and the second request message is used to activate some or all of the time windows in the first time interval.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The time window activated in the first time interval is determined based on one or more of the following: the position of the first activated time window; the number of activated time windows.

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, Information about the time window activated during the first time interval is carried in the second request information and / or indicated by the first network device.

6. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that, The quality of the wireless signal from the second network device is higher than the first threshold, and the second request message is used to activate a portion of the time window within the first time interval; or, If the quality of the wireless signal of the second network device is lower than the second threshold, the second request message is used to activate the entire time window in the first time interval.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The quality or strength of the wireless signal of the second network device is obtained through one or more of the following methods: The terminal device measures; The terminal device is based on artificial intelligence (AI) prediction.

8. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that, The second request message is carried on the Medium Access Control Element (MAC CE) or the Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH).

9. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that, The terminal device is in an idle or inactive state in the network of the second network device, and the terminal device is in a connected state in the network of the first network device.

10. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that, The first request message is also used to indicate that the first time interval is a semi-static time interval.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that, The first request message includes one or more of the following: time-related information of the paging message; the reason why the terminal device requests to configure the first time interval.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The time-related information of the paging message includes one or more of the following: the system frame number corresponding to the paging message; the offset value corresponding to the paging message; and the duration of the paging message. The reason why the terminal device requests to configure the first time interval includes the capability information of the terminal device.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that, The first time interval is one of multiple time intervals configured by the first network device for the terminal device.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, The multiple time intervals have different identifiers.

15. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that, The method further includes: The terminal device receives configuration completion information for the first time interval sent by the first network device, the configuration completion information including the reason why the first network device configured the first time interval.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, The reason for configuring the first time interval by the first network device includes the capability information of the terminal device.

17. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that, The method further includes: The terminal device sends its capability information to the second network device. The capability information is used by the core network device to configure the identification information of the terminal device. The identification information is used to determine a second time interval between the paging notification sent by the second network device and the PO indicated therein. The second time interval satisfies the condition for the first network device to configure a first time interval.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that, The condition includes the activation time when the second time interval is greater than or equal to the first time interval.

19. The method according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that, The identification information includes the device identifier of the terminal device and the group identifier of the terminal device. The device identifier is used to determine the PO, and the group identifier is used to determine the listening location of the paging notification.

20. The method according to any one of claims 12, 16, and 17, characterized in that, The capability information is associated with the information of the receiver and SIM card supported by the terminal device.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that, The capability information includes one or more of the following: The terminal device supports MR and LR, and supports communication with different networks; The terminal device supports MR and LR, and supports MR and LR operating on different networks at the same time; The terminal device supports MR and LR, as well as activation time information for the first time interval.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that, The activation time information of the first time interval includes one or more of the following: The threshold for the activation time of the first time interval; The type of the terminal device, wherein the type of the terminal device is associated with the activation time of the first time interval of the terminal device.

23. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that, The first network device and the second network device are network devices from different operators.

24. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: The first network device receives a first request message sent by the terminal device, the first request message being used to request the first network device to configure a first time interval; The terminal device includes a low-power transceiver (LR) and a main transceiver (MR). The LR is used to listen for paging notifications sent by the second network device. The paging notification is used to indicate that there is a paging message sent by the second network device at a subsequent paging time (PO). The MR is used to receive the paging message within the first time interval.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that, The first time interval is a semi-static time interval, and the method further includes: When the LR detects the paging notification, the first network device receives a second request message sent by the terminal device. The second request message is used to request activation of the first time interval, and the MR is used to receive the paging message within the activated first time interval.

26. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that, The first time interval includes multiple periodic time windows, and the second request message is used to activate some or all of the time windows in the first time interval.

27. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that, The time window activated in the first time interval is determined based on one or more of the following: the position of the first activated time window; the number of activated time windows.

28. The method according to claim 25 or 26, characterized in that, Information about the time window activated during the first time interval is carried in the second request information and / or indicated by the first network device.

29. The method according to any one of claims 26 to 28, characterized in that, The quality of the wireless signal from the second network device is higher than the first threshold, and the second request message is used to activate a portion of the time window within the first time interval; or, If the quality of the wireless signal of the second network device is lower than the second threshold, the second request message is used to activate the entire time window in the first time interval.

30. The method according to claim 29, characterized in that, The quality or strength of the wireless signal of the second network device is obtained through one or more of the following methods: The terminal device measures; The terminal device is based on artificial intelligence (AI) prediction.

31. The method according to any one of claims 25 to 30, characterized in that, The second request message is carried on the Medium Access Control Element (MAC CE) or the Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH).

32. The method according to any one of claims 25 to 31, characterized in that, The terminal device is in an idle or inactive state in the network of the second network device, and the terminal device is in a connected state in the network of the first network device.

33. The method according to any one of claims 25 to 31, characterized in that, The first request message is also used to indicate that the first time interval is a semi-static time interval.

34. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 33, characterized in that, The first request message includes one or more of the following: time-related information of the paging message; the reason why the terminal device requests to configure the first time interval.

35. The method according to claim 34, characterized in that, The time-related information of the paging message includes one or more of the following: the system frame number corresponding to the paging message; the time-related information of the paging message. The offset value corresponding to the paging message; the duration of the paging message; The reason why the terminal device requests to configure the first time interval includes the capability information of the terminal device.

36. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 35, characterized in that, The first time interval is one of multiple time intervals configured by the first network device for the terminal device.

37. The method according to claim 36, characterized in that, The multiple time intervals have different identifiers.

38. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 37, characterized in that, The method further includes: The first network device sends configuration completion information for the first time interval to the terminal device, the configuration completion information including the reason why the first network device configured the first time interval.

39. The method according to claim 38, characterized in that, The reason for configuring the first time interval by the first network device includes the capability information of the terminal device.

40. The method according to claim 35 or 39, characterized in that, The capability information includes one or more of the following: The terminal device supports MR and LR, and supports communication with multiple networks; The terminal device supports MR and LR, and supports MR communicating on other networks while LR is listening to paging notifications; The terminal device supports MR and LR, as well as activation time information for the first time interval.

41. The method according to claim 40, characterized in that, The activation time information of the first time interval includes one or more of the following: The threshold for the activation time of the first time interval; The type of the terminal device, wherein the type of the terminal device is associated with the activation time of the first time interval of the terminal device.

42. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 41, characterized in that, The first network device and the second network device are network devices from different operators.

43. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: The second network device receives the capability information of the terminal device sent by the terminal device and sends the capability information to the core network device. The capability information is used by the core network device to configure the identification information of the terminal device. The identification information is used to determine the second time interval between the paging notification sent by the second network device and the paging timing PO indicated by it. The second time interval satisfies the condition of the first network device configuring the first time interval. The terminal device includes a low-power transceiver (LR) and a main transceiver (MR). The LR is used to listen for the paging notification, which indicates that the PO has a paging message sent by the second network device. The MR is used to receive the paging message within the first time interval.

44. The method according to claim 43, characterized in that, The identification information includes the device identifier of the terminal device and the group identifier of the terminal device. The device identifier is used to determine the PO, and the group identifier is used to determine the listening location of the paging notification.

45. The method according to claim 43 or 44, characterized in that, The first time interval is a semi-static time interval, which is activated when the LR detects the paging notification. The MR is used to receive the paging message within the activated first time interval. The second time interval is greater than or equal to the activation time of the first time interval.

46. ​​The method according to claim 45, characterized in that, The method further includes: If the second time interval is greater than or equal to the activation time of the first time interval, the second network device sends a confirmation message of the identification information to the core network device; or, If the second time interval is less than the activation time of the first time interval, the second network device sends the updated identification information to the core network device, the updated information being used to instruct the core network device to reconfigure the identification information of the terminal device.

47. The method according to any one of claims 43 to 46, characterized in that, The capability information is associated with the information of the receiver and SIM card supported by the terminal device.

48. The method according to claim 47, characterized in that, The capability information includes one or more of the following: The terminal device supports MR and LR, and supports communication with different networks; The terminal device supports MR and LR, and supports MR and LR operating on different networks at the same time; The terminal device supports MR and LR, as well as activation time information for the first time interval.

49. The method according to claim 48, characterized in that, The activation time information of the first time interval includes one or more of the following: The threshold for the activation time of the first time interval; The type of the terminal device, wherein the type of the terminal device is associated with the activation time of the first time interval of the terminal device.

50. The method according to any one of claims 43 to 49, characterized in that, The first network device and the second network device are network devices from different operators.

51. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: The core network device receives the capability information of the terminal device sent by the second network device. The capability information is used to configure the identification information of the terminal device. The identification information is used to determine the second time interval between the paging notification sent by the second network device and the paging timing PO indicated by it. The second time interval satisfies the condition for the first network device to configure the first time interval. The terminal device includes a low-power transceiver (LR) and a main transceiver (MR). The LR is used to listen for the paging notification, which indicates that the PO has a paging message sent by the second network device. The MR is used to receive the paging message within the first time interval.

52. The method according to claim 51, characterized in that, The identification information includes the device identifier of the terminal device and the group identifier of the terminal device. The device identifier is used to determine the PO, and the group identifier is used to determine the listening location of the paging notification.

53. The method according to claim 51 or 52, characterized in that, The first time interval is a semi-static time interval, which is activated when the LR detects the paging notification. The MR is used to receive the paging message within the activated first time interval. The second time interval is greater than or equal to the activation time of the first time interval.

54. The method according to claim 53, characterized in that, The method further includes: The core network device receives confirmation information regarding the identification information sent by the second network device; or, The core network receives update information of the identification information sent by the second network device, and the update information is used to instruct the core network device to reconfigure the identification information of the terminal device.

55. The method according to any one of claims 51 to 54, characterized in that, The capability information is associated with the information of the receiver and SIM card supported by the terminal device.

56. The method according to claim 55, characterized in that, The capability information includes one or more of the following: The terminal device supports MR and LR, and supports communication with different networks; The terminal device supports MR and LR, and supports MR and LR operating on different networks at the same time; The terminal device supports MR and LR, as well as activation time information for the first time interval.

57. The method according to claim 56, characterized in that, The activation time information of the first time interval includes one or more of the following: The threshold for the activation time of the first time interval; The type of the terminal device, wherein the type of the terminal device is associated with the activation time of the first time interval of the terminal device.

58. The method according to any one of claims 51 to 57, characterized in that, The first network device and the second network device are network devices from different operators.

59. A terminal device, characterized in that, The terminal device includes: A transceiver unit is configured to send a first request message to a first network device, the first request message being used to request the first network device to configure a first time interval; The terminal device includes a low-power transceiver (LR) and a main transceiver (MR). The LR is used to listen for paging notifications sent by the second network device. The paging notification is used to indicate that there is a paging message sent by the second network device at a subsequent paging time (PO). The MR is used to receive the paging message within the first time interval.

60. The terminal device according to claim 59, characterized in that, The first time interval is a semi-static time interval, and the transceiver unit is further configured to: When the LR detects the paging notification, it sends a second request message to the first network device. The second request message is used to instruct the first network device to activate the first time interval, wherein the MR is used to receive the paging message within the activated first time interval.

61. The terminal device according to claim 60, characterized in that, The first time interval includes multiple periodic time windows, and the second request message is used to activate some or all of the time windows in the first time interval.

62. The terminal device according to claim 61, characterized in that, The time window activated in the first time interval is determined based on one or more of the following: the position of the first activated time window; the number of activated time windows.

63. The terminal device according to claim 61 or 62, characterized in that, Information about the time window activated during the first time interval is carried in the second request information and / or indicated by the first network device.

64. The terminal device according to any one of claims 61 to 63, characterized in that, The quality of the wireless signal from the second network device is higher than the first threshold, and the second request message is used to activate a portion of the time window within the first time interval; or, If the quality of the wireless signal of the second network device is lower than the second threshold, the second request message is used to activate the entire time window in the first time interval.

65. The terminal device according to claim 64, characterized in that, The quality or strength of the wireless signal of the second network device is obtained through one or more of the following methods: The terminal device measures; The terminal device is based on artificial intelligence (AI) prediction.

66. The terminal device according to any one of claims 60 to 65, characterized in that, The second request message is carried on the Medium Access Control Element (MAC CE) or the Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH).

67. The terminal device according to any one of claims 60 to 66, characterized in that, The terminal device is in an idle or inactive state in the network of the second network device, and the terminal device is in a connected state in the network of the first network device.

68. The terminal device according to any one of claims 60 to 67, characterized in that, The first request message is also used to indicate that the first time interval is a semi-static time interval.

69. The terminal device according to any one of claims 59 to 68, characterized in that, The first request message includes one or more of the following: time-related information of the paging message; The terminal device requests the reason for configuring the first time interval.

70. The terminal device according to claim 69, characterized in that, The time-related information of the paging message includes one or more of the following: the system frame number corresponding to the paging message; the offset value corresponding to the paging message; and the duration of the paging message. The reason why the terminal device requests to configure the first time interval includes the capability information of the terminal device.

71. The terminal device according to any one of claims 59 to 70, characterized in that, The first time interval is one of multiple time intervals configured by the first network device for the terminal device.

72. The terminal device according to claim 71, characterized in that, The multiple time intervals have different identifiers.

73. The terminal device according to any one of claims 59 to 72, characterized in that, The transceiver unit is also used for: The system receives configuration completion information for the first time interval sent by the first network device, the configuration completion information including the reason why the first network device configured the first time interval.

74. The terminal device according to claim 73, characterized in that, The reason for configuring the first time interval by the first network device includes the capability information of the terminal device.

75. The terminal device according to any one of claims 59 to 74, characterized in that, The transceiver unit is also used for: The capability information of the terminal device is sent to the second network device. The capability information is used by the core network device to configure the identification information of the terminal device. The identification information is used to determine a second time interval between the paging notification sent by the second network device and the PO indicated therein. The second time interval satisfies the condition of the first network device configuring a first time interval.

76. The terminal device according to claim 75, characterized in that, The second time interval is greater than or equal to the activation time of the first time interval.

77. The terminal device according to claim 75 or 76, characterized in that, The identification information includes the device identifier of the terminal device and the group identifier of the terminal device. The device identifier is used to determine the PO, and the group identifier is used to determine the listening location of the paging notification.

78. The terminal device according to any one of claims 70, 74, and 75, characterized in that, The capability information is associated with the information of the receiver and SIM card supported by the terminal device.

79. The terminal device according to claim 78, characterized in that, The capability information includes one or more of the following: The terminal device supports MR and LR, and supports communication with different networks; The terminal device supports MR and LR, and supports MR and LR operating on different networks at the same time; The terminal device supports MR and LR, as well as activation time information for the first time interval.

80. The terminal device according to claim 79, characterized in that, The activation time information of the first time interval includes one or more of the following: The threshold for the activation time of the first time interval; The type of the terminal device, wherein the type of the terminal device is associated with the activation time of the first time interval of the terminal device.

81. The terminal device according to any one of claims 59 to 80, characterized in that, The first network device and the second network device are network devices from different operators.

82. A network device, characterized in that, The network device is a first network device, including: A transceiver unit is configured to receive a first request message sent by a terminal device, wherein the first request message is used to request the first network device to configure a first time interval. The terminal device includes a low-power transceiver (LR) and a main transceiver (MR). The LR is used to listen for paging notifications sent by the second network device. The paging notification is used to indicate that there is a paging message sent by the second network device at a subsequent paging time (PO). The MR is used to receive the paging message within the first time interval.

83. The network device according to claim 82, characterized in that, The first time interval is a semi-static time interval, and the transceiver unit is further configured to: When the LR detects the paging notification, it receives a second request message sent by the terminal device. The second request message is used to request activation of the first time interval, and the MR is used to receive the paging message within the activated first time interval.

84. The network device according to claim 83, characterized in that, The first time interval includes multiple periodic time windows, and the second request message is used to activate some or all of the time windows in the first time interval.

85. The network device according to claim 84, characterized in that, The time window activated in the first time interval is determined based on one or more of the following: the position of the first activated time window; the number of activated time windows.

86. The network device according to claim 84 or 85, characterized in that, Information about the time window activated during the first time interval is carried in the second request information and / or indicated by the first network device.

87. The network device according to any one of claims 84 to 86, characterized in that, The quality of the wireless signal from the second network device is higher than the first threshold, and the second request message is used to activate a portion of the time window within the first time interval; or, If the quality of the wireless signal of the second network device is lower than the second threshold, the second request message is used to activate the entire time window in the first time interval.

88. The network device according to claim 87, characterized in that, The quality or strength of the wireless signal of the second network device is obtained through one or more of the following methods: The terminal device measures; The terminal device is based on artificial intelligence (AI) prediction.

89. The network device according to any one of claims 83 to 88, characterized in that, The second request message is carried on the Medium Access Control Element (MAC CE) or the Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH).

90. The network device according to any one of claims 83 to 89, characterized in that, The terminal device is in an idle or inactive state in the network of the second network device, and the terminal device is in a connected state in the network of the first network device.

91. The network device according to any one of claims 83 to 89, characterized in that, The first request message is also used to indicate that the first time interval is a semi-static time interval.

92. The network device according to any one of claims 82 to 91, characterized in that, The first request message includes one or more of the following: time-related information of the paging message; The terminal device requests the reason for configuring the first time interval.

93. The network device according to claim 92, characterized in that, The time-related information of the paging message includes one or more of the following: the system frame number corresponding to the paging message; the offset value corresponding to the paging message; and the duration of the paging message. The reason why the terminal device requests to configure the first time interval includes the capability information of the terminal device.

94. The network device according to any one of claims 82 to 93, characterized in that, The first time interval is one of multiple time intervals configured by the first network device for the terminal device.

95. The network device according to claim 94, characterized in that, The multiple time intervals have different identifiers.

96. The network device according to any one of claims 82 to 95, characterized in that, The transceiver unit is also used for: The configuration completion information for the first time interval is sent to the terminal device, and the configuration completion information includes the reason why the first network device configured the first time interval.

97. The network device according to claim 96, characterized in that, The reason for configuring the first time interval by the first network device includes the capability information of the terminal device.

98. The network device according to claim 93 or 97, characterized in that, The capability information includes one or more of the following: The terminal device supports MR and LR, and supports communication with multiple networks; The terminal device supports MR and LR, and supports MR communicating on other networks while LR is listening to paging notifications; The terminal device supports MR and LR, as well as activation time information for the first time interval.

99. The network device according to claim 98, characterized in that, The activation time information of the first time interval includes one or more of the following: The threshold for the activation time of the first time interval; The type of the terminal device, wherein the type of the terminal device is associated with the activation time of the first time interval of the terminal device.

100. The network device according to any one of claims 82 to 99, characterized in that, The first network device and the second network device are network devices from different operators.

101. A network device, characterized in that, The network device is a second network device, including: The transceiver unit is used to receive the capability information of the terminal device sent by the terminal device, and to send the capability information to the core network device. The capability information is used by the core network device to configure the identification information of the terminal device. The identification information is used to determine the second time interval between the paging notification sent by the second network device and the paging timing PO indicated by it. The second time interval satisfies the condition for the first network device to configure the first time interval. The terminal device includes a low-power transceiver (LR) and a main transceiver (MR). The LR is used to listen for the paging notification, which indicates that the PO has a paging message sent by the second network device. The MR is used to receive the paging message within the first time interval.

102. The network device according to claim 101, characterized in that, The identification information includes the device identifier of the terminal device and the group identifier of the terminal device. The device identifier is used to determine the PO, and the group identifier is used to determine the listening location of the paging notification.

103. The network device according to claim 101 or 102, characterized in that, The first time interval is a semi-static time interval, which is activated when the LR detects the paging notification. The MR is used to receive the paging message within the activated first time interval. The second time interval is greater than or equal to the activation time of the first time interval.

104. The network device according to claim 103, characterized in that, The transceiver unit is also used for: If the second time interval is greater than or equal to the activation time of the first time interval, a confirmation message for the identification information is sent to the core network device; or, If the second time interval is less than the activation time of the first time interval, update information of the identification information is sent to the core network device, and the update information is used to instruct the core network device to reconfigure the identification information of the terminal device.

105. The network device according to any one of claims 101 to 104, characterized in that, The capability information is associated with the information of the receiver and SIM card supported by the terminal device.

106. The network device according to claim 105, characterized in that, The capability information includes one or more of the following: The terminal device supports MR and LR, and supports communication with different networks; The terminal device supports MR and LR, and supports MR and LR operating on different networks at the same time; The terminal device supports MR and LR, as well as activation time information for the first time interval.

107. The network device according to claim 106, characterized in that, The activation time information of the first time interval includes one or more of the following: The threshold for the activation time of the first time interval; The type of the terminal device, wherein the type of the terminal device is associated with the activation time of the first time interval of the terminal device.

108. The network device according to any one of claims 101 to 107, characterized in that, The first network device and the second network device are network devices from different operators.

109. A core network device, characterized in that, include: The transceiver unit is used to receive capability information of a terminal device sent by a second network device. The capability information is used to configure the identification information of the terminal device. The identification information is used to determine a second time interval between a paging notification sent by the second network device and its indicated paging time PO. The second time interval satisfies the condition for the first network device to configure a first time interval. The terminal device includes a low-power transceiver (LR) and a main transceiver (MR). The LR is used to listen for the paging notification, which indicates that the PO has a paging message sent by the second network device. The MR is used to receive the paging message within the first time interval.

110. The core network equipment according to claim 109, characterized in that, The identification information includes the device identifier of the terminal device and the group identifier of the terminal device. The device identifier is used to determine the PO, and the group identifier is used to determine the listening location of the paging notification.

111. The core network equipment according to claim 109 or 110, characterized in that, The first time interval is a semi-static time interval, which is activated when the LR detects the paging notification. The MR is used to receive the paging message within the activated first time interval. The second time interval is greater than or equal to the activation time of the first time interval.

112. The core network equipment according to claim 111, characterized in that, The transceiver unit is also used for: Receive confirmation information of the identification information sent by the second network device; or, The core network device receives update information of the identification information sent by the second network device, the update information being used to instruct the core network device to reconfigure the identification information of the terminal device.

113. The core network equipment according to any one of claims 109 to 112, characterized in that, The capability information is associated with the information of the receiver and SIM card supported by the terminal device.

114. The core network equipment according to claim 113, characterized in that, The capability information includes one or more of the following: The terminal device supports MR and LR, and supports communication with different networks; The terminal device supports MR and LR, and supports MR and LR operating on different networks at the same time; The terminal device supports MR and LR, as well as activation time information for the first time interval.

115. The core network equipment according to claim 114, characterized in that, The activation time information of the first time interval includes one or more of the following: The threshold for the activation time of the first time interval; The type of the terminal device, wherein the type of the terminal device is associated with the activation time of the first time interval of the terminal device.

116. The core network equipment according to any one of claims 109 to 115, characterized in that, The first network device and the second network device are network devices from different operators.

117. A terminal device, characterized in that, The device includes a transceiver, a memory, and a processor. The memory stores a program, and the processor invokes the program in the memory and controls the transceiver to receive or send signals so that the terminal device performs the method according to any one of claims 1 to 23.

118. A network device, characterized in that, The device includes a transceiver, a memory, and a processor. The memory stores a program, and the processor invokes the program in the memory and controls the transceiver to receive or transmit signals so that the network device performs the method according to any one of claims 24 to 42.

119. A network device, characterized in that, The device includes a transceiver, a memory, and a processor. The memory stores a program, and the processor invokes the program in the memory and controls the transceiver to receive or transmit signals so that the network device performs the method according to any one of claims 43 to 50.

120. A network device, characterized in that, The device includes a transceiver, a memory, and a processor. The memory stores a program, and the processor invokes the program in the memory and controls the transceiver to receive or send signals so that the network device performs the method according to any one of claims 51 to 58.

121. An apparatus, characterized in that, Includes a processor for calling a program from memory to cause the apparatus to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 23, or the method according to any one of claims 24 to 42, or the method according to any one of claims 43 to 50, or the method according to any one of claims 51 to 58.

122. A chip, characterized in that, Includes a processor for calling a program from memory to cause the chip to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 23, or the method according to any one of claims 24 to 42, or the method according to any one of claims 43 to 50, or the method according to any one of claims 51 to 58.

123. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, It contains a program that causes a computer to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 23, or the method according to any one of claims 24 to 42, or the method according to any one of claims 43 to 50, or the method according to any one of claims 51 to 58.

124. A computer program product, characterized in that, The method includes a program that causes a computer to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 23, or the method according to any one of claims 24 to 42, or the method according to any one of claims 43 to 50, or the method according to any one of claims 51 to 58.

125. A computer program, characterized in that, The computer program causes the computer to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 23, or the method according to any one of claims 24 to 42, or the method according to any one of claims 43 to 50, or the method according to any one of claims 51 to 58.

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