Communication method, electronic apparatus, and computer program product

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, an electronic apparatus, and a computer program product. The method comprises: an AIoT reader receives inventory indication information from a network side, and on the basis of the inventory indication information, performs inventorying on an AIoT terminal device; and the AIoT reader performs data transmission with the inventoried AIoT terminal device.

Description

Communication method, electronic device, and computer program product

[0001] Cross-reference to Related Applications

[0002] The present disclosure is based on Chinese Patent Application No. CN202411059030.X entitled “Communication method, electronic device, and computer program product” filed on August 2, 2024, and claims priority to the same, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the field of communication, in particular to a communication method, an electronic device, and a computer program product. BACKGROUND

[0004] Internet of Things (IoT) technology has been widely used around the world. The reduction in size, complexity, and power consumption of IoT devices is crucial to user experience and the development of the industry chain. Due to factors such as use environment and maintenance cost, IoT devices in some scenarios (such as low-cost electronic tags, etc.) cannot replace batteries, cannot be charged in time, and other factors, and need to study a device that does not require a power supply, that is, a passive IoT device. Such a device has no energy storage function or only a small amount of energy storage function, and initiates a service by utilizing energy in the environment (such as radio waves, light, motion, heat, etc.) to drive the device, achieving low-cost, low-power, and efficient wireless communication. Such a device generally initiates a service triggered by the network side when initiating a service, and provides energy to the terminal at the same time; the terminal feeds back uplink information after receiving the energy and service instruction, that is, Ambient Internet of Things (AIoT).

[0005] In related technologies, the data transmission process of AIoT still has the problems of low accuracy and low resource utilization. SUMMARY

[0006] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, an electronic device, and a computer program product to at least solve the problems of low accuracy and low resource utilization of the data transmission process of AIoT in related technologies.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication method is provided, including: an Ambient Internet of Things (AIoT) reader receiving inventory instruction information from a network side, and performing inventory on an AIoT terminal device according to the inventory instruction information; and the AIoT reader performing data transmission with the AIoT terminal device after the inventory.

[0008] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication method is provided, comprising: an AIoT terminal device receiving a first instruction from an AIoT reader, wherein the first instruction comprises inventory instruction information; and the AIoT terminal device sending second feedback information to the AIoT reader according to the first instruction, wherein the second feedback information is used to feed back inventory confirmation of the AIoT terminal device.

[0009] According to still another embodiment of the present disclosure, an electronic device is also provided, comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program, and the processor is configured to execute the computer program to perform the steps in any of the above method embodiments.

[0010] According to still another embodiment of the present disclosure, a computer program product is also provided, comprising a computer program, wherein the computer program is executed by a processor to implement the steps in any of the above method embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of AIoT communication principle in related art, wherein a base station is an AIoT reader;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of AIoT communication principle in related art, wherein an NR UE is an AIoT reader;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a hardware structure block diagram of a computer terminal of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0015] FIG. 5 is another flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and in conjunction with embodiments.

[0017] It should be noted that the terms “first”, “second”, etc. in the specification and claims of the present disclosure and the above-mentioned drawings are used to distinguish similar objects, and do not necessarily describe a specific order or sequence.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of AIoT communication principle in related art, wherein a base station is an AIoT reader, as shown in FIG. 1, in the case of a base station as an AIoT reader, the AIoT reader is directly connected with an AIoT core network (such as an AIoT controller or an AIoT management function entity), wherein the AIoT device can be an AIoT terminal device.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an AIoT communication principle in the related art in which an NR UE is an AIoT reader. As shown in FIG. 2, in the case where a new radio user equipment (NR UE) is an AIoT reader, the AIoT reader is connected to an AIoT core network through an NR base station, and an AIoT device can be an AIoT terminal device.

[0020] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, solutions are provided for the access process of an environmental Internet of Things (AIoT), especially the problems involved in the wireless access process of the AIoT, such as low accuracy and low resource utilization.

[0021] The method embodiments provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure can be executed in a mobile terminal, a computer terminal, or a similar computing device. Taking the case of running on a computer terminal as an example, FIG. 3 is a hardware structure block diagram of a computer terminal of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 3, the computer terminal can include one or more (only one is shown in FIG. 3) processors 302 (the processor 302 can include, but is not limited to, a processing device such as a microprocessor MCU or a programmable logic device FPGA) and a memory 304 for storing data. The computer terminal can further include a transmission device 106 for communication functions and an input and output device 308. Those skilled in the art can understand that the structure shown in FIG. 3 is only schematic, and does not limit the structure of the computer terminal. For example, the computer terminal can include more or fewer components than those shown in FIG. 3, or have a different configuration from that shown in FIG. 3.

[0022] The memory 304 can be used to store computer programs, such as software programs of application software and modules, such as a computer program corresponding to the communication method in the embodiments of the present disclosure. The processor 302 executes various function applications and data processing by running the computer program stored in the memory 304, that is, implements the above method. The memory 304 can include a high-speed random access memory, and can further include a non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic storage devices, flash memories, or other non-volatile solid-state memories. In some examples, the memory 304 can further include a memory remotely arranged with respect to the processor 302, which can be connected to the computer terminal through a network. Examples of the network include, but are not limited to, the Internet, an intranet, a local area network, a mobile communication network, and a combination thereof.

[0023] The transmission device 306 is configured to receive or send data via a network. The network can include a wireless network provided by a communication provider of a computer terminal. In an example, the transmission device 306 includes a network interface controller (NIC) configured to connect to other network devices via a base station to communicate with the Internet. In an example, the transmission device 306 can be a radio frequency (RF) module configured to communicate with the Internet via a wireless manner.

[0024] The embodiment of the disclosure provides a communication method, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the communication method of the embodiment of the disclosure, as shown in FIG. 4, the flowchart includes the following steps:

[0025] In step S402, the AIoT reader receives inventory instruction information from the network side, and performs inventory on the AIoT terminal device according to the inventory instruction information.

[0026] In the embodiment of the disclosure, the network side at least includes an AIoT core network and / or an application server (application layer).

[0027] In an example embodiment, the AIoT reader performs inventory on the AIoT terminal device, including: the AIoT reader performs addressing inventory and / or application requirement inventory on the AIoT terminal device.

[0028] In the embodiment of the disclosure, there are two types of triggering reasons for the inventory of the AIoT terminal device: one type is addressing of the AIoT terminal device, which is used for the AIoT reader, the core network or the application server to know and / or maintain which AIoT reader or which AIoT readers the AIoT terminal device is in the coverage range of. The other type is the core network or the application layer to perform inventory on the AIoT terminal device based on application requirements, to know the state information of the AIoT terminal device, such as whether the AIoT terminal device is online, whether it works normally, inventory information, production date, validity period, etc.

[0029] In an example embodiment, the AIoT reader receives inventory instruction information from the network side, and performs inventory on the AIoT terminal device according to the inventory instruction information, including: the AIoT reader receives inventory instruction information from the network side, and the inventory instruction information is used to trigger the AIoT reader to perform inventory on the AIoT terminal device; or the AIoT reader receives a first inventory period from the network side, and the AIoT reader performs inventory on the AIoT terminal device according to the first inventory period; wherein the inventory instruction information includes the inventory instruction information or the first inventory period.

[0030] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the inventory cycle can also be provided by the core network or the application server. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the inventory cycle provided by the core network or the application server is referred to as a first inventory cycle.

[0031] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the manner in which the core network or the application server provides the first inventory cycle includes that the core network or the application server sends a paging or inventory instruction to the AIoT reader, wherein the first inventory cycle is carried in the paging or inventory instruction. The AIoT reader initiates paging or inventory according to the first inventory cycle. That is, the paging or inventory instruction sent by the core network or the application server to the AIoT reader triggers multiple paging or inventory instructions of the AIoT reader.

[0032] In one example embodiment, in the case that the AIoT reader receives the first inventory cycle from the network side, the inventory indication information carries at least one of the following: the maximum number of inventory; the duration of inventory; the termination indication of inventory; the type indication of inventory.

[0033] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the maximum number of inventory can be used to indicate that the AIoT reader automatically stops inventory after the number of inventory sent by the AIoT reader according to the first inventory cycle reaches the maximum number. The duration of inventory can be used to indicate that the AIoT reader only performs inventory within this time period. In an embodiment, when the AIoT reader receives the paging or inventory instruction with the first inventory cycle and the duration of inventory, a timer is started, and the paging or inventory instruction is sent according to the first inventory cycle. When the timer reaches the duration of inventory, the inventory is stopped.

[0034] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the termination indication of inventory can be used to indicate that the AIoT reader receives the paging or inventory instruction with the first inventory cycle, and then sends the paging or inventory instruction according to the first inventory cycle. When the termination indication of inventory is received from the core network or the application server, the periodic inventory is stopped.

[0035] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the type indication of inventory can be used to indicate one of the following types: the inventory is an addressing type inventory, the inventory is an inventory based on application requirements, and whether the information content reported by the AIoT terminal device is encrypted. For the addressing type inventory, encryption is not required, and only the non-access stratum identifier (such as: the identifier of the AIoT terminal device in the core network, or the identifier of the AIoT terminal device in the application layer) of the AIoT terminal device needs to be reported. For the service requirement type inventory, the non-access stratum identifier (such as: the identifier of the AIoT terminal device in the core network, or the identifier of the AIoT terminal device in the application layer) of the AIoT terminal device and its state information need to be reported. The state information may need to be sent in an encrypted manner or its content may not be visible to the AIoT reader (such as being included in a NAS PDU).

[0036] In an example embodiment, the AIoT reader inventories the AIoT terminal device, comprising: the AIoT reader inventories the AIoT terminal device according to a second inventory period, wherein the second inventory period is determined by the AIoT reader according to its implementation strategy.

[0037] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, for the addressing type of inventory, it can be triggered by the core network or the application server, or triggered by the AIoT reader, such as periodic triggering, and the period can be determined based on the AIoT reader implementation strategy (such as pre-defined or based on parameter configuration), that is, the second inventory period in the above embodiment can be determined based on the AIoT reader implementation strategy.

[0038] In an example embodiment, the AIoT reader further receives a non-access layer identifier from the AIoT terminal device, and the non-access layer identifier is used to associate user data and the AIoT terminal device.

[0039] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the non-access layer identifier can be an identifier of the AIoT terminal device in the core network or an identifier of the AIoT terminal device in the application layer.

[0040] In an example embodiment, after the AIoT reader inventories the AIoT terminal device, the AIoT reader further sends data transmission maximum size information to the AIoT terminal device, and the data transmission maximum size information is used to indicate whether the AIoT terminal device determines data transmission segmentation and the size of the segmentation.

[0041] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, after the AIoT reader inventories the AIoT terminal device, data transmission can be performed, and before the data transmission, the AIoT reader sends data transmission maximum size information to the AIoT terminal device.

[0042] In an example embodiment, after the AIoT reader inventories the AIoT terminal device, the sending end further sends fifth indication information to the receiving end, wherein the fifth indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: whether the data transmission is ended; whether the data transmission contains data block segmentation; whether the data transmission is the last segment of the data segmentation; and the receiving end sends an acknowledgement indication (ACK / NACK) to the sending end when receiving data from the sending end, so that the receiving end decides to take at least one of the following operations: retransmitting the data, transmitting the next segment of data, and ending the transmission.

[0043] In an example embodiment, the AIoT reader sends fifth indication information to the AIoT terminal device, wherein the fifth indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: whether the data transmission is ended; whether the data transmission contains data block segmentation; whether the data transmission is the last segment of the data segmentation; and whether the AIoT reader successfully receives the user data of the AIoT terminal device.

[0044] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, when the AIoT reader sends the fifth indication information to the AIoT terminal device, the AIoT reader is the sending end and the AIoT terminal device is the receiving end; and when the AIoT terminal device sends the fifth indication information to the AIoT reader, the AIoT terminal device is the sending end and the AIoT reader is the receiving end.

[0045] In step S404, the AIoT reader performs data transmission with the AIoT terminal device after the inventory.

[0046] In an example embodiment, the AIoT reader further sends first instructions to the AIoT terminal device, wherein the first instructions include at least one of the following: paging instruction information; inventory instruction information; application layer command information; read command information; write command information; AIoT terminal device inactivation instruction information; and access instruction information.

[0047] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the inventory instruction information and the inventory indication information are different, the inventory indication information includes the inventory instruction information and the inventory period, and the inventory instruction information is instruction information indicating that the inventory action is started.

[0048] In an example embodiment, the first instructions further include first indication information, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the inventory category of the AIoT reader; the content of the reporting information of the AIoT terminal device; and whether the reporting information of the AIoT terminal device is encrypted.

[0049] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, in order for the AIoT terminal device to identify the inventory category, the core network and / or the AIoT reader needs to carry the first indication information in the first instructions in the paging or inventory instructions (i.e., the first instructions in the above embodiments).

[0050] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the inventory category of the AIoT reader can be set to indicate the addressing inventory of the AIoT terminal device and the service state query type judgment triggered by the application layer. The content of the reporting information of the AIoT terminal device can be the reporting of the non-access layer identifier, the reporting of the non-access layer identifier and the state information of the AIoT terminal device.

[0051] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, in the case of only one inventory type, it is determined to trigger only the AIoT terminal device to report the non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device. The state information of the AIoT terminal device is reported through a read command. Encryption is only performed on the high-layer user data in the read command or the write command of the AIoT terminal device, and the non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device is not encrypted.

[0052] In an example embodiment, the first instruction further includes second indication information, wherein the second indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: a generation manner of the access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device; a length of the access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device; and a size of the access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device.

[0053] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the generation manner of the AS layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device can adopt the following manners: generating a random number, generating an identifier based on part of bits or numbers of the AIoT terminal device identifier, generating based on which bits or numbers of the AIoT terminal device identifier, using a specified number of bits of the non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device, a specified number of bit values and / or a specified position, a number value, and the like.

[0054] In an example embodiment, the indication manner of the length or size of the access layer identifier includes at least one of the following: the length or size of the access layer identifier is indicated by a display information element; or the length or size of the access layer identifier is calculated according to a predefined rule based on metadata of the AIoT reader.

[0055] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the length or size of the AS layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device can be indicated by a display information element, or calculated according to a predefined rule based on metadata (for example, the number of terminal devices included in the AIoT terminal device group to be paged, or the number of AIoT terminal devices that have sent a paging / inventory response to the AIoT reader) provided by the network side (such as the AIoT reader).

[0056] In an example embodiment, the first instruction further includes third indication information, wherein the third indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: a random access type used by the AIoT terminal device; a contention-based random access process of the AIoT terminal device; a contention-free random access process of the AIoT terminal device; and whether the access layer identifier is carried in the random access process of the AIoT terminal device.

[0057] In an example embodiment, the first instruction further comprises fourth indication information, wherein the fourth indication information is used to indicate at least one of: frequency domain resources used by the AIoT terminal device; code domain resources used by the AIoT terminal device; time domain resources used by the AIoT terminal device; and Msg1 or MsgA resources reserved by the AIoT terminal device.

[0058] In an example embodiment, after the AIoT reader sends the first instruction to the AIoT terminal device, the method further comprises: receiving, by the AIoT reader, first feedback information from the AIoT terminal device, wherein the first feedback information is used to feed back that the AIoT terminal device confirms to receive the first instruction.

[0059] In an example embodiment, in the case where the first instruction only contains an AIoT terminal device identifier, the first feedback information comprises at least one of: access layer identifier and user data of the AIoT terminal device; confirmation indication of the AIoT terminal device confirming to receive the first instruction; non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device; access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device; inventory category or paging category confirmed by the AIoT terminal device; and access category of the AIoT terminal device.

[0060] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, for paging or inventory of a single AIoT terminal device, the AIoT terminal device can not carry the non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device in the feedback or subsequent process.

[0061] In an example embodiment, in the case where the first instruction contains multiple AIoT terminal device identifiers, the first feedback information comprises at least one of: access layer identifier and non-access layer identifier and user data of the AIoT terminal device; access layer identifier and non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device; access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device; non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device; inventory category or paging category confirmed by the AIoT terminal device; and access category of the AIoT terminal device.

[0062] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, for paging or inventory of multiple AIoT terminal devices, the AIoT terminal device must report the non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device in the feedback or subsequent process.

[0063] In an example embodiment, the method further comprises: receiving, by the AIoT reader, energy state information from the AIoT terminal device; and sending, by the AIoT reader, energy collection indication information to the AIoT terminal device based on the energy state information.

[0064] In an example embodiment, the energy status information includes at least one of the following: whether the AIoT terminal device has sufficient energy for data transmission and reception; the number of times of data transmission and / or reception by the AIoT terminal device; the maximum packet size of data packet transmission and / or reception by the AIoT terminal device; whether the AIoT terminal device enters an energy harvesting state; the energy harvesting duration required by the AIoT terminal device; the time interval of data transmission and reception by the AIoT terminal device; the duration of data transmission and reception supported by one energy harvesting of the AIoT terminal device; the size of the amount of data transmission and / or reception supported by one energy harvesting of the AIoT terminal device; the listening period of the AIoT terminal device; and the number of times of data transmission and reception supported by one energy harvesting of the AIoT terminal device.

[0065] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the AIoT terminal device needs to report the charging status to the AIoT reader.

[0066] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the AIoT terminal device needs to collect energy (such as radio waves, light, motion, heat, etc.) in the environment to drive communication. When performing uplink and downlink transmission, sufficient energy is required, and even intermittent energy collection or indication of the AIoT reader to provide energy is required. For this purpose, the AIoT terminal device needs to report the energy status information as described above to the AIoT reader.

[0067] In an example embodiment, the energy harvesting indication information includes at least one of the following: the energy harvesting time period of the AIoT terminal device; the time domain position of signaling or data transmission and reception of the AIoT terminal device; the sequence of time domain positions of signaling or data transmission and reception of the AIoT terminal device; and the energy harvesting timer of the AIoT terminal device for energy harvesting.

[0068] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the AIoT reader sends the energy harvesting indication information to the AIoT terminal device based on the energy status information, and performs data transmission and reception or triggers paging or inventory.

[0069] In an example embodiment, the AIoT reader configures the time domain information for energy collection for the AIoT terminal device based on the above energy state information, including at least one of the following: configuring an energy collection time period, a time domain position or a time domain position sequence of AIoT signaling / data transmission, an energy collection timer, a time domain position of receiving a downlink access indication, a time domain position sequence or a time domain position pattern; after the AIoT terminal device receives the configuration information, the AIoT terminal device performs energy collection in the energy collection time period, enters the AIoT signaling / data transmission mode at the time domain position of AIoT signaling / data transmission, such as monitoring the AIoT paging or inventory instruction, performing AIoT signaling / data transmission, and receiving the access indication. In particular, if the AIoT terminal device is configured with an energy collection timer, after the AIoT terminal device receives the configuration information, the AIoT terminal device starts the timer and performs energy collection; after the timer expires, the AIoT terminal device enters the AIoT signaling / data transmission mode, such as monitoring the AIoT paging or inventory instruction, performing AIoT signaling / data transmission.

[0070] The embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method, and FIG. 5 is another flowchart of the communication method of the embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 5, the flowchart includes the following steps:

[0071] In step S502, the AIoT terminal device receives a first instruction from the AIoT reader, wherein the first instruction includes inventory instruction information.

[0072] In an example embodiment, the first instruction includes at least one of the following: paging instruction information; inventory instruction information; read command information; and access instruction information.

[0073] In an example embodiment, after the AIoT terminal device receives the first instruction from the AIoT reader, the AIoT terminal device further sends first feedback information to the AIoT reader, and the first feedback information is used to feed back that the AIoT terminal device confirms receiving the first instruction.

[0074] In an example embodiment, in the case where the first instruction only includes an AIoT terminal device identifier, the first feedback information includes at least one of the following: access layer identifier and user data of the AIoT terminal device; confirmation indication of the AIoT terminal device confirming receiving the first instruction; non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device; access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device; inventory category or paging category confirmed by the AIoT terminal device; and access category of the AIoT terminal device.

[0075] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, for paging or inventory of a single AIoT terminal device, the AIoT terminal device can not carry the non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device in the feedback or subsequent process.

[0076] In an example embodiment, in the case that the first instruction contains a plurality of AIoT terminal device identities, the first feedback information comprises at least one of the following: access layer identity and non-access layer identity of the AIoT terminal device and user data; access layer identity and non-access layer identity of the AIoT terminal device; access layer identity of the AIoT terminal device; non-access layer identity of the AIoT terminal device; inventory category or paging category confirmed by the AIoT terminal device; access category of the AIoT terminal device.

[0077] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, for paging or inventory of multiple AIoT terminal devices, the AIoT terminal device must report the non-access layer identity of the AIoT terminal device in the feedback or subsequent process.

[0078] In step S504, the AIoT terminal device sends second feedback information to the AIoT reader according to the first instruction, and the second feedback information is used to feed back the inventory confirmation of the AIoT terminal device.

[0079] In an example embodiment, it further comprises that the AIoT terminal device determines the access layer identity determination manner of the AIoT terminal device according to the inventory category or the paging category or the access category.

[0080] In an example embodiment, the AIoT terminal device determines the access layer identity determination manner of the AIoT terminal device according to the inventory category or the paging category or the access category, comprising: in the case that the inventory category is group inventory, or the paging category is group paging, or the access category is 4-step access, the access layer identity of the AIoT terminal device is a random number; in the case that the inventory category is single inventory, or the paging category is single paging, or the access category is 2-step access, the AIoT terminal device determines the access layer identity based on the non-access layer identity.

[0081] In an example embodiment, it further comprises that after the AIoT terminal device succeeds in random access contention resolution, the non-access layer identity of the AIoT terminal device is carried in the uplink and / or downlink message between the AIoT terminal device and the network side, wherein the non-access layer identity is used to identify the association between the uplink and / or downlink message and the AIoT terminal device.

[0082] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, after the AIoT terminal device succeeds in random access contention resolution, the non-access layer identity of the AIoT terminal device is carried in the uplink and / or downlink message of each session between the AIoT terminal device and the network side, all or part of the non-access layer identity of the AIoT terminal device.

[0083] In an example embodiment, the AIoT terminal device receives a random access response message from the AIoT reader, the random access response message carrying the non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device and the access identifier of the AIoT terminal device, and the access identifier of the AIoT terminal device is carried in subsequent uplink and / or downlink messages between the AIoT terminal device and the AIoT reader.

[0084] In an example embodiment, the data transmission between the AIoT terminal device and the core network or application server on the network side adopts key encryption transmission.

[0085] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, after the contention resolution is successful, the data between the AIoT terminal device and the core network / application layer is sent in an encrypted manner, and whether the data is for the AIoT terminal device is identified according to whether the data is successfully decoded by matching the keys between the AIoT terminal device and the core network / application layer. If the AIoT terminal device and the core network / application layer find that the keys do not match and / or the data decoding fails, a failure indication (NACK) is fed back to the opposite end, triggering the sending end to retransmit the data of the AIoT terminal device or triggering the AIoT terminal device to reinitiate the access process.

[0086] In an example embodiment, after the AIoT terminal device sends the second feedback information to the AIoT reader according to the first instruction, the AIoT terminal device further starts a timer, and the AIoT terminal device does not respond to the same instruction as the first instruction before the timer expires.

[0087] In an example embodiment, after the AIoT terminal device sends the second feedback information to the AIoT reader according to the first instruction, the AIoT terminal device further starts a counter, the counter is incremented by 1 after receiving the same first instruction, and the AIoT terminal device does not respond to the same instruction as the first instruction before the timer reaches a maximum count threshold.

[0088] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, to avoid the AIoT terminal device repeatedly responding to group paging or group inventory commands, the AIoT terminal device starts a timer and / or a counter (with a default value of 0) when responding to a group paging or group inventory command. In the case where the counter is started, the counter is incremented by 1 each time a group paging or group inventory command identical to the responded paging or group inventory command is received. The counter stops counting and returns to the default value of 0 when the timer expires or when the count value reaches a maximum value. The AIoT terminal device does not respond to a group paging or group inventory command identical to the already responded paging or group inventory command before the timer expires or the count value of the counter reaches a maximum value (or a maximum count threshold).

[0089] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the maximum counting threshold of the counter or the threshold of the timer is indicated by signaling in a paging message or an inventory message or an access message or a dedicated message, or is configured in a predefined manner.

[0090] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, whether the paging or group inventory command is the same can be determined based on at least one of the following information: whether the session ID, the message ID or the transaction ID contained in the paging or group inventory command is the same; or whether the reader ID contained in the paging or group inventory command is the same; or whether the AIoT terminal device identifier or the AIoT terminal device group identifier contained in the paging or group inventory command is consistent; or whether the cause value carried in the paging or group inventory command is consistent; or whether the content contained in the paging or group inventory command is completely consistent.

[0091] In one exemplary embodiment, further comprising: the AIoT terminal device sending energy state information to the AIoT reader; and the AIoT terminal device receiving energy collection indication information from the AIoT reader.

[0092] Through the embodiments of the present disclosure, a communication method is provided, in which the AIoT reader receives inventory indication information from the network side, and performs inventory on the AIoT terminal device according to the inventory indication information; and the AIoT reader performs data transmission with the inventoried AIoT terminal device. The above solves the problems of low accuracy and low resource utilization rate of the data transmission process of AIoT in the related art, and achieves the effect of improving the accuracy and resource utilization rate of the data transmission process of AIoT.

[0093] Through the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that the method according to the above embodiments can be implemented by means of software and the necessary general hardware platform, of course, it can also be implemented by hardware, but in many cases the former is a better implementation. Based on such understanding, the technical solutions of the present disclosure can be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium (such as a ROM / RAM, a magnetic disk, an optical disk), and includes a plurality of instructions for causing an end device (which can be a mobile phone, a computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute the method described in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0094] In the embodiments, a communication apparatus is also provided, which is configured to implement the above-described embodiments and preferred embodiments, and details thereof will not be repeated. As used in the following, the term "module" can be a combination of software and / or hardware that implements a predetermined function. Although the apparatus described in the following embodiments is preferably implemented in software, implementation in hardware, or a combination of software and hardware, is also possible and contemplated.

[0095] The communication apparatus provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure can be arranged in an AIoT reader, which comprises a first receiving module and a data transmission module. The first receiving module is configured to receive inventory instruction information from a network side, and perform inventory on an AIoT terminal device according to the inventory instruction information. The data transmission module is configured to perform data transmission with the AIoT terminal device after the inventory.

[0096] The communication apparatus provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure can be arranged in an AIoT terminal device, which comprises a second receiving module and a feedback module. The second receiving module is configured to receive a first instruction from an AIoT reader, wherein the first instruction comprises inventory instruction information. The feedback module is configured to send second feedback information to the AIoT reader according to the first instruction, wherein the second feedback information is used to feed back inventory confirmation of the AIoT terminal device.

[0097] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the communication apparatus described above can further comprise different modules, and the naming and function division of the modules can also be selected in different ways according to actual conditions, which are not specifically limited here.

[0098] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the communication apparatus described above can be arranged in a base station and the like, in addition to other devices such as the AIoT reader and the AIoT terminal device. It can also be arranged in a platform, a system and the like of the AIoT reader and the AIoT terminal device, or independent of the platform, the system and the like of the AIoT reader and the AIoT terminal device.

[0099] It should be noted that the above-described modules can be implemented by software or hardware, and for the latter, the following implementation manners can be used, but are not limited thereto: all the modules are located in the same processor; or the modules are located in different processors in any combination.

[0100] The embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program. When the computer program is executed, the steps in any of the method embodiments described above are performed.

[0101] In an example embodiment, the computer readable storage medium described above can include, but is not limited to, a U disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a mobile hard disk, a magnetic disk or an optical disk, and various media that can store computer programs.

[0102] Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide an electronic device including a memory and a processor, the memory storing a computer program, and the processor being configured to execute the computer program to perform the steps in any of the method embodiments described above.

[0103] In an example embodiment, the electronic device described above can further include a transmission device connected to the processor and an input / output device connected to the processor.

[0104] Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a computer program product including a computer program, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps in any of the method embodiments described above.

[0105] In an example embodiment, the computer program product described above includes a non-volatile computer readable storage medium storing a computer program, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the method described in various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0106] The specific examples in the present embodiment can refer to the examples described in the above embodiments and example implementations, which will not be described here again.

[0107] Obviously, those skilled in the art should understand that each module or step of the embodiments of the present disclosure described above can be realized by a general computing device, which can be concentrated on a single computing device or distributed on a network composed of multiple computing devices, and can be realized by program codes executable by a computing device, so that they can be stored in a storage device and executed by a computing device, and in some cases, the steps shown or described can be executed in different order, or they can be manufactured into individual integrated circuit modules, or multiple modules or steps can be manufactured into a single integrated circuit module. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited to any specific hardware and software combination.

[0108] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions of the present disclosure, different embodiments are described below.

[0109] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the first message, the second message, the third message, etc. are all generic messages transmitted in the access process or communication process of AIoT.

[0110] Embodiment one

[0111] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, in the access process of AIoT, the AIoT terminal device sends a first message to the AIoT reader, wherein the first message uses or carries random access property content, and the random access property content includes the following: randomly selecting a frequency domain, a code domain, a time domain, and / or a random number for reducing the collision probability between AIoT terminal devices. Alternatively, the AIoT terminal device receives a response message (second message) from the AIoT reader, and considers that the contention resolution is successful. The AIoT terminal device can subsequently use the resource information with random access property in the first message to perform communication between the AIoT terminal device and the AIoT reader and AIoT terminal device identification. Alternatively, the AIoT terminal device and the AIoT reader use the frequency domain and / or code domain resource used in the first message, and carry the random access number as the identification of the AIoT terminal device. Alternatively, the AIoT terminal device and the AIoT reader use the frequency domain and / or code domain resource used in the first message, and carry the random access number to jointly generate a new identification, and the new identification is used as the identification of the AIoT terminal device.

[0112] In the above process, in the case where multiple AIoT terminal devices use or carry the same message with random access property content when sending the first message, for example, multiple AIoT terminal devices select the same frequency domain, the same code domain (if there is a code domain), and the same random number for reducing the collision probability between UEs, the subsequent communication between the AIoT reader and the AIoT terminal device can cause AIoT terminal device identification error, for example, the AIoT terminal device receives data sent to another AIoT terminal device, which is a serious error for the AIoT terminal device level read-write task.

[0113] Therefore, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, different AIoT terminal devices are distinguished by non-access layer identification. Specifically as follows:

[0114] Way one: all or part of the non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device, wherein the non-access layer identifier can include the identifier of the AIoT terminal device in the core network or the identifier of the AIoT terminal device in the application layer. The non-access layer identifier is carried in each uplink and / or downlink message after the successful contention resolution (i.e. the second message described above), and the AIoT terminal device and the core network / application layer identify whether the uplink and / or downlink message is for the AIoT terminal device through the non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device. The non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device can be perceived by the AIoT reader and / or the base station (when the UE is an AIoT reader), or included in the user data and not perceived by the AIoT reader and / or the base station.

[0115] Way two: the AIoT terminal device sends all or part of the non-access layer identifier to the AIoT reader, wherein the non-access layer identifier can include the identifier of the AIoT terminal device in the core network and / or the identifier of the AIoT terminal device in the application layer. The AIoT reader sends a response message to the AIoT terminal device, wherein the response message carries the non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device and carries the access identifier of the AIoT terminal device, and the access identifier is carried in each subsequent uplink and / or downlink message.

[0116] Way three: after the successful contention resolution (i.e. the second message described above), the data between the AIoT terminal device and the core network / application layer is sent in an encrypted manner, and the AIoT terminal device and the core network / application layer identify whether the data is for the AIoT terminal device through whether the keys match and whether the data is successfully decoded. If the AIoT terminal device and the core network / application layer find that the keys do not match and / or the data decoding fails, a failure indication (NACK) is fed back to the opposite end, triggering the sending end to retransmit the data of the AIoT terminal device, or triggering the AIoT terminal device to reinitiate the access process.

[0117] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, for group paging or group inventory, the non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device is contained in the user data. In the case that the AIoT reader cannot see the non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device, the AIoT reader cannot determine which AIoT terminal devices respond to the group paging or group inventory (that is, cannot determine which AIoT terminal devices send the response message and are successfully inventoried), but the AIoT reader can determine the number of AIoT terminal devices that respond to the group paging or group inventory. When the number of AIoT terminal devices that respond to the group paging or group inventory is less than the number of AIoT terminal devices in the terminal device group to be paged or inventoried due to random access conflict or other reasons, the AIoT reader can initiate an incremental inventory to trigger the terminal devices that do not respond to the group paging or group inventory to perform inventory. Since the AIoT reader does not know which terminal devices do not respond to the last group paging or group inventory, one possible method is that the AIoT reader re-sends the original group paging or group inventory command (using the last terminal device group identifier), but only the terminal devices that do not respond to the group paging or group inventory need to respond to the re-initiated group paging or group inventory command.

[0118] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, to avoid the AIoT terminal device repeatedly responding to the group paging or group inventory command, the AIoT terminal device starts a timer and / or a counter (default value is 0) when responding to a group paging or group inventory command. In the case that the counter is started, then every time a group paging or group inventory command same as the responded paging or group inventory command is received, the counter is incremented by 1. The counter stops counting and returns to the default value 0 when the timer expires or when the count value reaches the maximum value. Before the timer expires or the count value of the counter reaches the maximum value (or threshold), the AIoT terminal device does not respond to the group paging or group inventory command same as the already responded paging or group inventory command.

[0119] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the maximum value of the above-mentioned counter or the threshold of the timer is indicated by signaling in the paging message or inventory message or access message or dedicated message, or is configured by a predefined manner.

[0120] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, whether the paging or group inventory command is same can be determined based on at least one of the following information: whether the session identifier (session ID), message identifier (Message ID) or transaction identifier (transaction ID) contained in the paging or group inventory command is same; or whether the reader ID contained in the paging or group inventory command is same; or whether the AIoT terminal device identifier or AIoT terminal device group identifier contained in the paging or group inventory command is consistent; or whether the cause value carried in the paging or group inventory command is consistent; or whether the content contained in the paging or group inventory command is completely same.

[0121] Embodiment Two

[0122] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the AIoT terminal device needs to report the charging state to the AIoT reader.

[0123] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the AIoT terminal device needs to collect energy (such as radio waves, light, motion, heat, etc.) in the environment to drive when communicating. When performing uplink and downlink transmission, sufficient energy is needed, or energy collection is performed intermittently or the AIoT reader is instructed to provide energy. Therefore, the AIoT terminal device needs to report at least one of the following energy state information to the AIoT reader: whether there is enough energy for data transmission and reception, how many times of data transmission and / or reception can be performed, the maximum data packet size of data packet transmission and / or reception, whether to enter the energy collection (charging) state, the duration of energy collection (charging), how long can the data transmission and reception be performed again, how long can the data transmission and / or reception be performed after energy collection (charging) for several times, the data amount that can be transmitted and / or received after energy collection (charging) for one time, the AIoT terminal device listening period, and the number of times of data transmission and / or reception after energy collection (charging) for one time.

[0124] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the above-mentioned energy state information can be carried by a dedicated media access control element (Media Access Control Element, MAC CE), carried by a predefined bit field in a media access control protocol data unit (MAC Protocol Data Unit, MAC PDU), carried by a MAC subheader, carried by a MAC PDU, or transmitted together with user data in the same MAC PDU. The above-mentioned energy state information can be transmitted in the first message of access, or transmitted in the third message of access, or transmitted together with user data, or transmitted separately, or transmitted when registering into the network.

[0125] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the third message can be the first feedback information and the second feedback information in the above-mentioned embodiments, and can also be other information in the AIoT communication process.

[0126] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the AIoT reader sends energy collection indication information based on the energy state information, and performs data transmission and reception or triggers paging or inventory.

[0127] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the energy collection indication information includes at least one of the following: a configured energy collection time period, a time domain position or a time domain position sequence of AIoT signaling / data transmission and reception, and an energy collection periodicity.

[0128] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, after receiving the energy collection indication information, the AIoT terminal device performs energy collection in the energy collection time period, and enters the AIoT signaling / data transceiving mode at the time domain location of AIoT signaling / data transceiving, for example, monitoring AIoT paging or inventory instruction, and performing AIoT signaling / data transceiving. In an embodiment, in the case that the AIoT terminal device is configured with an energy collection timer, after receiving the configuration information, the AIoT terminal device starts the timer and performs energy collection. After the timer expires, the AIoT terminal device enters the AIoT signaling / data transceiving mode, for example, monitors AIoT paging or inventory instruction, and performs AIoT signaling / data transceiving.

[0129] Embodiment Three

[0130] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, there are two types of triggers for the inventory of the AIoT terminal device: one type is addressing of the AIoT terminal device, which is used for the AIoT reader, the core network or the application server to know and / or maintain which AIoT reader or which AIoT readers the AIoT terminal device is in the coverage of. The other type is the inventory of the AIoT terminal device based on the application requirement of the core network or the application layer, which is used for the core network or the application layer to know the state information of the AIoT terminal device, such as whether the AIoT terminal device is online, whether it is working properly, inventory information, production date, validity period, etc.

[0131] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, for the addressing type inventory, no encryption is required, and only the non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device needs to be reported, wherein the non-access layer identifier can be the identifier of the AIoT terminal device in the core network or the identifier of the AIoT terminal device in the application layer.

[0132] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, for the business requirement inventory, the AIoT terminal device needs to report its non-access layer identifier and its state information, wherein the state information may need to be encrypted.

[0133] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, for the addressing type inventory, it can be triggered by the core network or the application server, or it can be triggered by the AIoT reader, such as periodic triggering, and the period can be determined based on the AIoT reader implementation strategy (such as predefinition or based on parameter configuration), that is, the second inventory period in the above embodiment can be determined based on the AIoT reader implementation strategy.

[0134] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the inventory period can also be provided by the core network or the application server. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the inventory period provided by the core network or the application server is referred to as the first inventory period.

[0135] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the core network or the application server provides the first inventory cycle in the following manner: for example, the core network or the application server sends a paging or inventory instruction to the AIoT reader, wherein the first inventory cycle is carried. The AIoT reader initiates paging or inventory according to the first inventory cycle. That is, the core network or the application server sends a paging or inventory instruction to the AIoT reader, which triggers multiple paging or inventory instructions of the AIoT reader.

[0136] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, when the core network or the application server carries the first inventory cycle to the AIoT reader, one of the following information can also be provided:

[0137] 1) Maximum number of inventories: for example, the AIoT reader automatically stops inventorying after the number of inventories sent according to the first inventory cycle reaches the maximum number.

[0138] 2) Inventory duration: for example, the AIoT reader only inventories within this time period.

[0139] In an embodiment, when the AIoT reader receives a paging or inventory instruction with the first inventory cycle and the inventory duration, a timer is started, and the paging or inventory instruction is sent according to the first inventory cycle. When the timer reaches the inventory duration, the inventorying is stopped.

[0140] 3) Inventory termination indication: for example, when the AIoT reader receives a paging or inventory instruction with the first inventory cycle, the paging or inventory instruction is sent according to the first inventory cycle. When the end of inventory indication from the core network or the application server is received, the periodic inventorying is stopped.

[0141] 4) Inventory type indication: whether the information content reported by the AIoT terminal device is encrypted; for encrypted type inventory, a special interaction process is performed between the reader and the device, and for non-encrypted type inventory, a regular inventory interaction process is performed between the reader and the device.

[0142] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, in order for the AIoT terminal device to identify the inventory category, the core network and / or the AIoT reader needs to carry first indication information in the first instruction in the paging or inventory instruction (i.e., the first instruction in the above embodiment), wherein the first indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: the inventory category of the AIoT reader; the content of the reported information of the AIoT terminal device; and whether the reported information of the AIoT terminal device is encrypted.

[0143] Inventory category: addressing inventory of the AIoT terminal device, and service state query type judgment triggered by the application layer.

[0144] Indication of the information content reported by the AIoT terminal device: for example, reporting a non-access layer identifier, or reporting a non-access layer identifier and state information of the AIoT terminal device.

[0145] Whether the reported information of the AIoT terminal device is encrypted: indicating whether the information content reported by the AIoT terminal device needs to be encrypted.

[0146] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, in the case of only one inventory type, it is determined to trigger only the AIoT terminal device to report its non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device. The state information of the AIoT terminal device is reported through a read command. Encryption is only performed on the high-layer user data in the read command or the write command of the AIoT terminal device, and the non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device is not encrypted.

[0147] Embodiment four

[0148] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, in the access process of the AIoT terminal device, the AIoT terminal device can provide a random number or an identifier generated by part of bits of the AIoT terminal device identifier as the access layer (AS layer) identifier of the AIoT terminal device, which is used for subsequent AIoT terminal device identification between the AIoT terminal device and the AIoT reader. Wherein, whether to use a random number or an identifier generated by part of bits of the AIoT terminal device identifier is related to the characteristics of the AIoT terminal device identifier, for example, whether the AIoT terminal device identifier in the AIoT terminal device group has continuity, etc. In an embodiment, the larger the number of bits of the random access number or the part of bits of the AIoT terminal device identifier, the smaller the collision probability between the AIoT terminal devices, because the probability of multiple AIoT terminal devices selecting the same identifier is smaller, but the air interface (the interface between the AIoT terminal device and the AIoT reader) resource consumed by transmitting the identifier is more. In order to balance the collision probability between the AIoT terminal device and the AIoT reader and the air interface resource overhead, the AIoT reader also carries second indication information when sending a paging, command or inventory instruction (i.e. the first instruction in the above embodiment), wherein the second indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: a generation method of the access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device; the length of the access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device; the size of the access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device.

[0149] Generation method of the access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device:

[0150] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the generation manner of the AS layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device can adopt the following manners: generating a random number, generating an identifier based on part of bits or numbers of the AIoT terminal device identifier, generating based on which bits or numbers of the AIoT terminal device identifier, using a specified number of bits of the non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device, specifying a bit value of a digital bit and / or a specified position, a digital value, and the like.

[0151] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, when the AIoT reader sends a paging, command or inventory instruction, the device group identifier contained in the AIoT terminal device group identifier carried by the AIoT reader is [1001234567800, 1001234567801,... 1001234567899] for a total of 100 devices, that is, only the last two digits of the identifier of the device to be inventoried are different. The AS layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device can adopt the value of the last two digits of the identifier of the device to be inventoried (the length is 7 bits, and the value is the value of the last two digits of the identifier of the device to be inventoried converted into binary).

[0152] The length of the access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device and the size of the access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device:

[0153] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the length of the AS layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device can be the number of bits.

[0154] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the length or size of the AS layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device can be indicated by an explicit information element, or calculated according to a predefined rule based on the metadata provided by the network side (such as the AIoT reader) (for example, the number of terminal devices contained in the AIoT terminal device group to be paged, or the number of AIoT terminal devices that have sent a paging / inventory response to the AIoT reader), wherein the predefined rule can include one of the following:

[0155] 1) The length of the AS layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device =loor(Log2(metadata)) or ceil(Log2(metadata)); floor(x) represents the floor of x; ceil(x) represents the ceiling of x.

[0156] 2) The length of the AS layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device =2^(metadata).

[0157] Embodiment five

[0158] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, in the access process of the AIoT terminal device, a 2-step random access process or a 4-step random access process can be used.

[0159] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the general flow of the 4-step random access process is as follows:

[0160] AIoT Msg 1: AIoT terminal device sends AS identity of AIoT terminal device to AIoT reader; AS identity is random access number or identity generated by part of bits of AIoT terminal device identity.

[0161] AIoT Msg 2: AIoT reader sends AS identity of AIoT terminal device to AIoT terminal device in response to A-IoT Msg 1.

[0162] AIoT Msg 3: AIoT terminal device sends non-access stratum identity, application layer identity, and / or higher layer data of AIoT terminal device to AIoT reader.

[0163] AIoT Msg 4: AIoT reader sends confirmation indication or downlink higher layer data to AIoT terminal device.

[0164] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the general flow of 2-step random access procedure is the combination of the above 4-step random access procedure:

[0165] AIoT Msg A: AIoT terminal device sends the content of AIoT Msg 1 and AIoT Msg 3 to AIoT reader, that is, sends AS identity of AIoT terminal device and non-access stratum identity, application layer identity, and / or higher layer data of AIoT terminal device to AIoT reader.

[0166] AIoT Msg B: AIoT reader sends the content of AIoT Msg 2 and AIoT Msg 4 to AIoT terminal device in response to A-IoT Msg A, that is, sends AS identity of AIoT terminal device and confirmation indication or downlink higher layer data to AIoT reader.

[0167] The above 2-step random access procedure and 4-step random access procedure each has advantages and disadvantages: when the AS identifier of the AIoT terminal device of the plurality of AIoT terminal devices conflicts, etc., resulting in random access failure, the 4-step random access procedure wastes fewer resources and less AIoT terminal device power consumption, because the content transmitted in Msg1 is less. When the random access procedure is successful, the 2-step random access procedure is more efficient and has shorter latency, because fewer RA steps are involved. When no AIoT terminal device initiates access at a certain access occasion, the 4-step random access procedure wastes fewer time domain resources, because the content transmitted in Msg1 is less and occupies less time domain resource; the base station only needs to decode the time domain position occupied by the preamble and / or AS identifier. If not detected, the next AIoT terminal device can be instructed to initiate access immediately. If it is a 2-step random access procedure, even if the preamble and / or AS identifier is not detected, the AIoT reader needs to wait until the time domain position occupied by the "non-access stratum identifier of the AIoT terminal device, application layer identifier, and / or high layer data" ends before instructing the next AIoT terminal device to initiate access, in order to avoid signal interference between AIoT terminal devices.

[0168] Therefore, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the AIoT reader sends a first instruction (for example, a paging, inventory instruction, or access indication) to the AIoT terminal device, and the first instruction further includes third indication information, wherein the third indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: a random access type used by the AIoT terminal device; a contention-based random access procedure of the AIoT terminal device; a contention-free random access procedure of the AIoT terminal device; whether to carry an access layer identifier in the random access procedure of the AIoT terminal device. The random access type includes at least one of the following: a 2-step random access procedure; a 4-step random access procedure. The contention-based random access procedure of the AIoT terminal device and / or the contention-free random access procedure of the AIoT terminal device can be indicated by an explicit information element, or implicitly indicated by the number of AIoT terminal devices and / or the number of resources in the first instruction, such as: if the number of AIoT terminal devices contained in the first instruction is only one, and / or there is a one-to-one mapping relationship between the AIoT terminal device and the random access resource in the first instruction, the contention-free random access procedure is adopted; otherwise, the contention-based random access procedure is adopted. If there is a one-to-many mapping relationship between the AIoT terminal device and the random access resource in the first instruction, the AIoT terminal device randomly selects one of the plurality of random access resources to initiate a random access procedure.

[0169] In an embodiment, the AIoT reader sends a first instruction (e.g., a paging instruction, an inventory instruction, or an access indication) to the AIoT terminal device, and the first instruction further includes fourth indication information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: frequency domain resources used by the AIoT terminal device; code domain resources used by the AIoT terminal device; time domain resources used by the AIoT terminal device; or Msg1 or MsgA resources reserved by the AIoT terminal device.

[0170] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, in the case where only one AIoT terminal device identifier is carried in the paging or inventory instruction sent by the AIoT reader, the AIoT terminal device is implicitly instructed to initiate a contention-free random access procedure, or the AIoT reader explicitly instructs the AIoT terminal device to initiate a contention-free random access procedure. In the contention-free random access procedure, the AIoT terminal device can not send the identifier of the AIoT terminal device, but only send uplink and / or downlink commands and / or an acknowledgement indication. The identifier of the AIoT terminal device can include an AS identifier, a non-access stratum identifier, a core network identifier, and / or an application layer identifier. Alternatively, the AIoT reader explicitly instructs the AIoT terminal device whether to provide the identifier of the AIoT terminal device in the contention-free random access procedure. This process is equivalent to: in a 4-step random access procedure, there is no Msg1 / Msg2, and subsequent Msgs do not carry the identifier of the AIoT terminal device; or equivalent to: in a 2-step random access procedure, all Msgs do not carry the identifier of the AIoT terminal device. In an embodiment, when only one AIoT terminal device identifier is carried in the paging or inventory instruction sent by the AIoT reader, and the purpose is simply inventory (single-user inventory) rather than sending read / write commands (involving application layer data), a contention-free random access procedure can be used, and the AIoT terminal device only feeds back an acknowledgement indication when receiving the paging or inventory instruction, and the process ends.

[0171] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the AIoT reader receives first feedback information from the AIoT terminal device, where the first feedback information is used to feed back that the AIoT terminal device confirms receiving the first instruction.

[0172] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, for paging or inventory of a single AIoT terminal device, the AIoT terminal device can not carry a non-access stratum identifier of the AIoT terminal device in the feedback or subsequent process. In the case where only one AIoT terminal device identifier is included in the first instruction, the first feedback information includes at least one of the following: an access stratum identifier and user data of the AIoT terminal device; an acknowledgement indication that the AIoT terminal device confirms receiving the first instruction; a non-access stratum identifier of the AIoT terminal device; an access stratum identifier of the AIoT terminal device; an inventory category or paging category confirmed by the AIoT terminal device; and an access category of the AIoT terminal device.

[0173] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, for paging or inventory of multiple AIoT terminal devices, the AIoT terminal device must report the non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device in the feedback or subsequent process. In the case that multiple AIoT terminal device identifiers are included in the first instruction, the first feedback information includes at least one of the following: the access layer identifier and the non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device and user data; the access layer identifier and the non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device; the access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device; the non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device; the inventory category or paging category confirmed by the AIoT terminal device; the access category of the AIoT terminal device.

[0174] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the AIoT terminal device determines the generation mode of the access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device according to the inventory or paging category and / or the access category: the access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device adopts a random number of N1 long in group inventory or group paging; the access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device adopts a random number of N2 long in single-device inventory or single-device paging. Wherein, N2

[0175] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device adopts a random number in group inventory or group paging; the access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device is obtained based on the non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device in single-device inventory or single-device paging; the access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device adopts a random number in 4-step access; and the access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device is obtained based on the non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device in 2-step access.

[0176] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, considering the energy factor of the AIoT terminal device (such as: the energy of the AIoT terminal device is only enough to transmit a small data block) and the transmission efficiency (such as: if a large data block is transmitted with an error, the entire data block needs to be retransmitted, wasting air interface resources), the AIoT terminal device and the AIoT reader may need to be segmented when transmitting a large data block. In the scenario supporting segmentation, at least one of the following operations may be required:

[0177] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, before data transmission, the AIoT reader sends data transmission maximum size information to the AIoT terminal device, which is used to indicate the AIoT terminal device to determine whether the data transmission is segmented and the size of the segmentation. Between multiple data transmissions, the AIoT reader can update the maximum transmission block size to the AIoT terminal device.

[0178] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, when the sending end sends data to the receiving end, the AIoT reader sends fifth indication information to the AIoT terminal device, wherein the fifth indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: whether the data transmission is ended; whether the data transmission contains data block segmentation; whether the data transmission is the last segment of data segmentation; and whether the AIoT reader successfully receives the user data of the AIoT terminal device.

[0179] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, when the receiving end receives the data of the sending end, a determination indication (ACK / NACK) is sent to the sending end, so that the receiving end decides to take at least one of the following operations: retransmission of the data, transmission of the next segment of data, and end of transmission.

[0180] The above only describes the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and is not intended to limit the present disclosure. For those skilled in the art, the present disclosure can have various modifications and changes. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. within the principles of the present disclosure shall be included in the protection scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A communication method, comprising: an AIoT reader receiving inventory instruction information from a network side, and performing inventory on an AIoT terminal device according to the inventory instruction information; the AIoT reader performing data transmission with the AIoT terminal device after the inventory.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, the AIoT reader performing inventory on the AIoT terminal device, comprising: the AIoT reader performing addressing inventory and / or application requirement inventory on the AIoT terminal device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, the AIoT reader receiving inventory instruction information from a network side, and performing inventory on an AIoT terminal device according to the inventory instruction information, comprising: the AIoT reader receiving inventory instruction information from the network side, the inventory instruction information being used to trigger the AIoT reader to perform inventory on the AIoT terminal device; or, the AIoT reader receiving a first inventory period from the network side, and performing inventory on the AIoT terminal device according to the first inventory period; wherein the inventory instruction information comprises the inventory instruction information or the first inventory period.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, in the case that the AIoT reader receives a first inventory period from the network side, the inventory instruction information carries at least one of the following: a maximum number of inventories; a time length of inventory; a termination indication of inventory; a type indication of inventory.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: the AIoT reader sending a first instruction to the AIoT terminal device, wherein the first instruction comprises at least one of the following: paging instruction information; inventory instruction information; application layer command information; read command information; write command information; AIoT terminal device deactivation instruction information; access instruction information.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, the first instruction further comprises first indication information, wherein the first indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: an inventory category of the AIoT reader; content of report information of the AIoT terminal device; whether the report information of the AIoT terminal device is encrypted.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein, the first instruction further comprises second indication information, wherein the second indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: a generation mode of an access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device; a length of the access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device; a size of the access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, the indication mode of the length or size of the access layer identifier comprises at least one of the following: the length or size of the access layer identifier is indicated by a display information element; or, the length or size of the access layer identifier is calculated according to metadata of the AIoT reader according to a predefined rule.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein, the first instruction further comprises third indication information, wherein the third indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: a random access type used by the AIoT terminal device; a contention-based random access process of the AIoT terminal device; a contention-free random access process of the AIoT terminal device; whether the access layer identifier is carried in the random access process of the AIoT terminal device.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein, The first instruction further includes fourth indication information, wherein the fourth indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: Frequency domain resources used by the AIoT terminal device; code domain resources used by the AIoT terminal device; time domain resources used by the AIoT terminal device; Msg1 or MsgA resources reserved by the AIoT terminal device.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein, After the AIoT reader sends the first instruction to the AIoT terminal device, the method further includes: The AIoT reader receives first feedback information from the AIoT terminal device, and the first feedback information is used to feed back that the AIoT terminal device confirms to receive the first instruction.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, In the case where the first instruction only contains one AIoT terminal device identifier, the first feedback information includes at least one of the following: Access layer identifier and user data of the AIoT terminal device; confirmation indication of the AIoT terminal device confirming to receive the first instruction; non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device; access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device; inventory category or paging category confirmed by the AIoT terminal device; access category of the AIoT terminal device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein, In the case where the first instruction contains multiple AIoT terminal device identifiers, the first feedback information includes at least one of the following: Access layer identifier and non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device and user data; access layer identifier and non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device; access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device; non-access layer identifier of the AIoT terminal device; inventory category or paging category confirmed by the AIoT terminal device; access category of the AIoT terminal device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein, The AIoT reader inventories the AIoT terminal device, including: The AIoT reader inventories the AIoT terminal device according to a second inventory period, wherein the second inventory period is determined by the AIoT reader according to its own implementation strategy.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising: The AIoT reader receives a non-access layer identifier from the AIoT terminal device, and the non-access layer identifier is used to associate user data and the AIoT terminal device.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising: The AIoT reader receives energy state information from the AIoT terminal device; The AIoT reader sends energy collection indication information to the AIoT terminal device based on the energy state information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein, The energy state information includes at least one of the following: whether the AIoT terminal device has enough energy for data transmission and reception, the number of times of data transmission and reception by the AIoT terminal device, the size of the maximum data packet transmitted and / or received by the AIoT terminal device, whether the AIoT terminal device enters an energy collection state, the energy collection duration required by the AIoT terminal device, the time interval of data transmission and reception of the AIoT terminal device, the duration of data transmission and reception supported by one energy collection of the AIoT terminal device, the size of the amount of data transmitted and / or received supported by one energy collection of the AIoT terminal device, the listening period of the AIoT terminal device, and the number of times of data transmission and reception supported by one energy collection of the AIoT terminal device.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein, The energy collection indication information includes at least one of the following: an energy collection time period of the AIoT terminal device, a time domain position of signaling or data transmission and reception of the AIoT terminal device, a sequence of time domain positions of signaling or data transmission and reception of the AIoT terminal device, and an energy collection timer for energy collection of the AIoT terminal device.

19. The method of claim 1, after the AIoT reader inventories the AIoT terminal device, the method further comprises: The AIoT reader sends data transmission maximum size information to the AIoT terminal device, and the data transmission maximum size information is used to indicate whether the AIoT terminal device determines data transmission segmentation and the size of the segmentation.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein, After the AIoT reader inventories the AIoT terminal device, the method further comprises: The AIoT reader sends fifth indication information to the AIoT terminal device, wherein the fifth indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: whether the data transmission is ended, whether the data transmission contains data block segmentation, whether the data transmission is the last segment of data segmentation, and whether the AIoT reader successfully receives user data of the AIoT terminal device.

21. A communication method, comprising: An environmental Internet of Things (AIoT) terminal device receives first instructions from an AIoT reader, wherein the first instructions include inventory instruction information. The AIoT terminal device sends second feedback information to the AIoT reader according to the first instructions, and the second feedback information is used to feed back inventory confirmation of the AIoT terminal device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein, The first instructions include at least one of the following: paging instruction information, inventory instruction information, read command information, and access instruction information.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein, After the AIoT terminal device receives first instructions from an AIoT reader, the method further comprises: The AIoT terminal device sends first feedback information to the AIoT reader, and the first feedback information is used to feed back that the AIoT terminal device confirms receiving the first instructions.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein, In the case where the first instructions only contain one AIoT terminal device identifier, the first feedback information includes at least one of the following: an access stratum identity of the AIoT terminal device and user data; an access stratum identity of the AIoT terminal device; a confirmation indication of the AIoT terminal device confirming reception of the first instruction; a non-access stratum identity of the AIoT terminal device; a confirmation of the AIoT terminal device of an inventory category or a paging category; and an access category of the AIoT terminal device.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein, In a case where the first instruction contains a plurality of AIoT terminal device identities, the first feedback information includes at least one of: an access stratum identity and a non-access stratum identity of the AIoT terminal device and user data; an access stratum identity and a non-access stratum identity of the AIoT terminal device; an access stratum identity of the AIoT terminal device; a non-access stratum identity of the AIoT terminal device; a confirmation of the AIoT terminal device of an inventory category or a paging category; and an access category of the AIoT terminal device.

26. The method of any of claims 24-25, further comprising: determining, by the AIoT terminal device, an access stratum identity determination manner of the AIoT terminal device according to the inventory category or the paging category or the access category.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein, determining, by the AIoT terminal device, an access stratum identity determination manner of the AIoT terminal device according to the inventory category or the paging category or the access category, including: in a case where the inventory category is group inventory or the paging category is group paging or the access category is 4-step access, the access stratum identity of the AIoT terminal device is a random number; in a case where the inventory category is single inventory or the paging category is single paging or the access category is 2-step access, the AIoT terminal device determines the access stratum identity based on a non-access stratum identity.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising: after the AIoT terminal device succeeds in random access contention resolution, carrying a non-access stratum identity of the AIoT terminal device in uplink and / or downlink messages between the AIoT terminal device and a network side, wherein the non-access stratum identity is used to identify an association between the uplink and / or downlink messages and the AIoT terminal device.

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising: receiving, by the AIoT terminal device, a random access response message from the AIoT reader, the random access response message carrying a non-access stratum identity of the AIoT terminal device and an access identity of the AIoT terminal device, and the access identity of the AIoT terminal device is carried in subsequent uplink and / or downlink messages between the AIoT terminal device and the AIoT reader.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein: data transmission between the AIoT terminal device and a core network or an application server of the network side adopts key encryption transmission.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein, after the AIoT terminal device transmits second feedback information to the AIoT reader according to the first instruction, the method further comprises: The AIoT terminal device starts a timer, and the AIoT terminal device does not respond to the same instruction as the first instruction before the timer expires.

32. The method of claim 21, wherein, After the AIoT terminal device sends second feedback information to the AIoT reader according to the first instruction, the method further comprises: The AIoT terminal device starts a counter, and the counter is incremented by 1 after receiving the same first instruction. The AIoT terminal device does not respond to the same instruction as the first instruction before the timer reaches a maximum count threshold.

33. The method of claim 21, further comprising: The AIoT terminal device sends energy state information to the AIoT reader; The AIoT terminal device receives energy collection indication information from the AIoT reader.

34. An electronic device comprising a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored on the memory and executable on the processor, the processor implementing the method recited in any of claims 1 to 33 when executing the computer program.

35. A computer program product comprising a computer program, the computer program implementing the method recited in any of claims 1 to 33 when executed by a processor.

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