Communication method and apparatus, and storage medium

Abstract

Provided in the present application are a communication method and apparatus, and a storage medium, which can increase the probability of a network paging a terminal device. The method comprises: a first communication apparatus determining that at least one of the following conditions is satisfied: a terminal device accessing a non-terrestrial network, the battery level of the terminal device being greater than a first preset value, the battery level of the terminal device being less than a second preset value, the terminal device being located in a first area, the terminal device moving to the first area after a period of time, and the signal quality of the first area being less than or equal to a third preset value; and the first communication apparatus sending a first message to a first core network device, wherein the first message is used for requesting the activation of first paging.

Description

Communication methods, devices and storage media

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411062711.1, filed on August 2, 2024, entitled "Communication Method, Apparatus and Storage Medium", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method, apparatus and storage medium. Background Technology

[0003] In communication systems, network devices can use paging to notify terminal devices in the radio resource control (RRC) idle or inactive state to receive paging messages. However, in situations with very poor signal-to-noise ratios, terminal devices may be unable to receive normal paging messages, resulting in the network being unable to page the terminal devices. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a communication method, apparatus, and storage medium to increase the probability that a terminal device can be paged.

[0005] Firstly, this application provides a communication method that can be applied to a first communication device. For example, the first communication device may be a terminal device or an application function (AF) network element, or it may be a component (such as a chip, chip system, etc.) configured in the terminal device or AF, or it may be a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the terminal device or AF. This application does not limit the scope of the application.

[0006] For example, the method includes: determining that at least one of the following conditions is met: the terminal device accesses a non-terrestrial network, the terminal device's battery level is greater than a first preset value, the terminal device is located in a first area, or the terminal device moves to the first area after a period of time, and the signal quality of the terminal device in the first area is less than or equal to a second preset value; and sending a first message to a first core network device, the first message being used to request activation of a first paging.

[0007] Activating the first paging means that the network initiates the first paging when it cannot reach the terminal device via the second paging. The inability to reach the terminal device via the second paging means that, under the existing paging policy, no terminal device was reached.

[0008] Based on this technical solution, the terminal device can send a message to the first core network device requesting activation of the first paging when at least one condition is met, thereby enabling the first core network device to activate the first paging upon receiving the first message. Since activating the first paging can be initiated when the network fails to page the terminal device using the second paging method (i.e., even under poor channel conditions, the network can still page the terminal device via the second paging method), the method provided in this application can increase the probability of the network paged the terminal device. Furthermore, since the terminal device's power consumption is included in the aforementioned at least one condition, it can also effectively save the terminal device's energy consumption.

[0009] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first message is used to request activation of the first paging, including: the first message is used to request activation of the first paging in the at least one area, the at least one area including the first area.

[0010] Based on this, activating the first paging in at least one area can increase the probability of the network paging the terminal device in at least one area.

[0011] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: activating the first paging.

[0012] Therefore, activating the first paging function on the terminal device can increase the probability of the network paging the terminal device.

[0013] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, activating the first paging includes: receiving a second message from the first core network device, the second message indicating activation of the first paging; and activating the first paging based on the second message.

[0014] Optionally, the second message may be carried in the NAS receive message and / or the N2 message; or, the second message may be sent separately. This application does not limit this.

[0015] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, activating the first paging includes: activating the first paging in the absence of receiving second information from the first core network device, wherein the second information is used to indicate that the activation of the first paging is refused.

[0016] In other words, the terminal device can activate the first paging without being aware of whether it has been activated. Or, the terminal device can actively activate the first paging after a preset period of time following the sending of the first message.

[0017] In conjunction with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, after activating the first paging, the method further includes: sending a third message to the first core network device when at least one of the following conditions is met, the third message being used to request deactivation of the first paging and / or the second paging: the terminal device is connected to the terrestrial network, the battery power of the terminal device is less than or equal to the first preset value, or the terminal device is not in at least one area, the at least one area including the first area.

[0018] This method of activating the first paging on demand can effectively avoid the increased energy consumption of the terminal device caused by constantly activating the first paging.

[0019] Optionally, activating the first paging includes: activating the first paging in the at least one area if no third information is received, the third information being used to indicate that the first paging should not be activated in the at least one area.

[0020] Optionally, the third message is used to request deactivation of the first paging and / or the second paging, including: the third message is used to request deactivation of the first paging and / or the second paging in one or more areas, the one or more areas being areas indicated by the network side for activating the first paging.

[0021] It is understood that the first or more regions may include at least one region, or at least one region may include one or more regions.

[0022] Optionally, the terminal device may deactivate the first paging or the second paging when at least one of the following conditions is met.

[0023] Optionally, the first communication device is AF, and before determining that at least one of the following conditions is met, the method further includes: obtaining the at least one condition.

[0024] Secondly, this application provides a communication method that can be applied to a first core network device, or to a component (such as a chip, chip system, etc.) configured in the first core network device, or to a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the first core network device. This application does not limit the method in this regard.

[0025] For example, the method includes: receiving a first message from a first communication device, the first message being used to request activation of a first paging; activating the first paging when one or more of the following conditions are met: allowing a terminal device to activate the first paging, the network slice requested by the terminal device belonging to a first type of network slice, the data network DN requested by the terminal device belonging to a first type of DN, or the access technology used by the terminal device belonging to a first type of access technology, or the terminal device being located in one or more areas.

[0026] Among them, one or more of the conditions may be obtained by the first core network device from UDM and / or PCF and / or local configuration; the first type of network slice is one or more predefined allowed / authorized network slices; the first type of DN is one or more predefined allowed / authorized DNs; and the first type of access technology is one or more predefined allowed / authorized access technologies.

[0027] For a description of activating the first paging, please refer to the description in the first aspect; it will not be repeated here.

[0028] Based on this technical solution, the first core network device can activate the first paging by receiving a message from the first communication device requesting activation of the first paging. Since activating the first paging can be initiated when the network fails to page the terminal device using the second paging (i.e., even under poor channel conditions, the network can still page the terminal device via the second paging), the method provided in this application can increase the probability of the network paged the terminal device; and since at least one of the above conditions includes the terminal device's power consumption, it can also effectively save the terminal device's energy consumption.

[0029] Optionally, activating the first paging includes: initiating the first paging if the terminal device cannot be paged via the second paging.

[0030] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: sending a second message to the terminal device, the second message being used to indicate activation of the first paging.

[0031] The description of the second message can be found in the description in the first aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0032] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the first message is used to request activation of the first paging, including: the first message is used to request activation of the first paging in at least one area.

[0033] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: sending a second message to the terminal device, wherein the fourth message is used to indicate activation of the first paging.

[0034] Optionally, the fourth message is used to indicate activation of the first paging, including: the fourth message is used to indicate activation of the first paging in one or more areas.

[0035] In conjunction with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: receiving a third message from the first communication device, the third message being used to request deactivation of the first paging and / or the second paging.

[0036] Optionally, the method further includes: deactivating the first paging based on the third message.

[0037] Optionally, the third message is used to request deactivation of the first paging and / or the second paging, including: the third message is used to request deactivation of the first paging and / or the second paging in one or more areas.

[0038] Optionally, the method further includes: deactivating a first paging and / or a second paging in one or more areas based on a third message.

[0039] Thirdly, this application provides a communication device, including modules or units for implementing the methods of any of the above aspects and any possible implementations of any of the above aspects. It should be understood that each module or unit can implement its corresponding function by executing a computer program.

[0040] Fourthly, this application provides a communication device including a processor, the processor being configured to perform the methods described in any of the above aspects and any possible implementations of any of the above aspects.

[0041] The apparatus may further include a memory for storing instructions and data. The memory is coupled to the processor, which, when executing the instructions stored in the memory, can implement the methods described in the foregoing aspects.

[0042] The device may also include a communication interface for communicating with other devices. For example, the communication interface may be a transceiver, circuit, bus, module or other type of communication interface.

[0043] Fifthly, this application provides a chip system including at least one processor for supporting the implementation of the functions involved in any of the above aspects and any possible implementations of any of the above aspects, such as receiving or processing data and / or information involved in the above methods.

[0044] In one possible design, the chip system also includes a memory for storing program instructions and data, which may be located within or outside the processor.

[0045] The chip system can consist of chips or include chips and other discrete components.

[0046] Sixthly, this application provides a computer-readable storage medium including a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to implement the methods in any of the above aspects and any possible implementations of any of the above aspects.

[0047] In a seventh aspect, this application provides a computer program product comprising: a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions) that, when run, causes a computer to perform the methods described in any of the above aspects and any possible implementations of any of the above aspects.

[0048] Eighthly, this application provides a communication system including the aforementioned first communication device and first core network device. The first communication device is used to execute the methods described in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof; the first core network device is used to execute the methods described in the second aspect and any possible implementation thereof.

[0049] It should be understood that the third to eighth aspects of this application correspond to the technical solutions of the first or second aspects of this application, and the beneficial effects achieved by each aspect and the corresponding feasible implementation are similar, and will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description

[0050] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the network architecture of the service-based architecture (SBA) in the fifth-generation (5G) network provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0051] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a transparent transmission architecture;

[0052] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a regenerative architecture;

[0053] Figures 4 to 7 are schematic flowcharts of the communication method provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0054] Figure 8 is a schematic block diagram of the device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0055] Figure 9 is another schematic block diagram of the device provided in the embodiments of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0056] The technical solutions in this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0057] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of this application, the following points are explained first:

[0058] First, in the embodiments of this application, the use of prefixes such as "first" and "second" is merely for the purpose of distinguishing and describing different things belonging to the same name category, and does not constrain the order, size, or quantity of things. For example, "first core network equipment" and "second core network equipment" are simply different devices, and do not limit the number of devices or their priority relationship; similarly, "second message" and "fourth message" are simply different messages, and there is no temporal sequence, size, or priority relationship between them.

[0059] Second, in the embodiments of this application, "send" and "receive" indicate the direction of signal transmission. For example, "send a first message to the first core network device" can be understood as the destination of the first message being the first core network device, which may include sending directly through the air interface or sending indirectly through the air interface by other units or modules. "Receive a third message from a terminal device" can be understood as the source of the third message being the terminal device, which may include receiving directly from the terminal device through the air interface or receiving indirectly from the terminal device through the air interface by other units or modules. "Send" can also be understood as the "output" of the chip interface, and "receive" can also be understood as the "input" of the chip interface.

[0060] In other words, sending and receiving can occur between devices, such as between a terminal device and a first and core network device; or they can occur within a device, such as between components, modules, chips, software modules, or hardware modules within the device via a bus, wiring, or interface.

[0061] It is understandable that information may undergo necessary processing, such as encoding and modulation, before being sent from the source to the destination. Similarly, the destination, upon receiving information from the source, can also perform corresponding processing, such as decoding and demodulation, to interpret the valid information from the source. Similar expressions in this application can be understood in a similar way and will not be elaborated further.

[0062] Third, in the embodiments of this application, "at least one" refers to one or more, and "more than one" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates an "or" relationship between the preceding and following related objects, but it does not exclude the possibility of indicating an "and" relationship. The specific meaning can be understood in conjunction with the context. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c; a and b; a and c; b and c; or a and b and c. Here, a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0063] Fourth, in the embodiments of this application, "instruction" can include direct instruction and indirect instruction, as well as explicit instruction and implicit instruction. The information indicated by a certain piece of information is called the information to be instructed. In the specific implementation process, there are many ways to instruct the information to be instructed, such as, but not limited to, directly instructing the information to be instructed, such as the information to be instructed itself or its index. It can also indirectly instruct the information to be instructed by instructing other information, where there is a relationship between the other information and the information to be instructed; or it can only instruct a part of the information to be instructed, while the other parts of the information to be instructed are known or pre-agreed upon. For example, the instruction of specific information can be achieved by using a pre-agreed (e.g., protocol predefined) arrangement order of various pieces of information, thereby reducing instruction overhead to a certain extent. This application does not limit the specific method of instruction.

[0064] It is understandable that, for the sender of the instruction information, the instruction information can be used to indicate the information to be indicated, and for the receiver of the instruction information, the instruction information can be used to determine the information to be indicated.

[0065] Fifth, in the embodiments of this application, descriptions such as "when," "under the circumstances," "if," and "if" all refer to the fact that the device (e.g., the terminal device or the first core network device) will make corresponding processing under certain objective circumstances. They are not time limits, nor do they require the device (e.g., the terminal device or the first core network device) to make a judgment action when implementing it, nor do they mean that there are other limitations.

[0066] Sixth, the predefined terms in this application can be understood as: definition, pre-defined, storage, pre-storage, pre-negotiation, pre-configuration, solidification, or pre-firing.

[0067] The technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) systems, LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD) systems, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) communication systems, 5th Generation (5G) mobile communication systems or new radio access technology (NR), satellite communication systems, etc. Among them, 5G mobile communication systems can include non-standalone (NSA) and / or standalone (SA) networking.

[0068] The technical solution provided in this application can also be applied to future communication networks.

[0069] For ease of understanding, the network architecture applicable to the methods provided in the embodiments of this application will be described first with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0070] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the SBA network architecture in a 5G network provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 1, the 5G network architecture can include three parts: the terminal, the data network (DN), and the operator network.

[0071] The following is a brief explanation of the network elements involved in Figure 1.

[0072] 1. Terminal equipment, also known as user equipment (UE), access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication equipment, user agent, or user device.

[0073] A terminal device is a device with wireless transceiver capabilities. A terminal device can communicate with one or more core network (CN) devices (or core equipment) via access network equipment (or access devices) in a wireless access network. Terminal devices can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; they can also be deployed on water (such as on ships); and they can also be deployed in the air (e.g., on airplanes, balloons, and satellites).

[0074] Terminal devices can also be terminals in an Internet of Things (IoT) system, also known as IoT nodes. IoT is an important component of future information technology development. Its main technical characteristic is connecting objects to networks via communication technologies, thereby realizing an intelligent network that enables human-machine interaction and machine-to-machine interaction. Connections can be made through broadband or narrowband (NB) technologies. IoT technology, for example, can achieve massive connectivity, deep coverage, and low power consumption at the terminal level through narrowband technology.

[0075] The terminal device in this application can be a hardware device, a software function running on dedicated hardware, or a software function running on general-purpose hardware. It can also be a virtualized device, for example, implemented through general-purpose hardware and instantiated virtualization functions, or dedicated hardware and instantiated virtualization functions. Among them, the general-purpose hardware can be a server, such as a cloud server.

[0076] 2. An operator's network may include one or more of the following network elements: network slice selection function (NSSF) network elements, network exposure function (NEF) network elements, network repository function (NRF) network elements, policy control function (PCF) network elements, unified data management (UDM) network elements, application function (AF) network elements, authentication server function (AUSF) network elements, access and mobility management function (AMF) network elements, session management function (SMF) network elements, user plane function (UPF) network elements, and access network (AN) (such as RAN network elements), etc. The portion of the operator's network other than the AN network elements can be referred to as the core network portion. For ease of explanation, the term "network element" will be omitted below; for example, AMF network elements will be abbreviated as AMF, SMF network elements as SMF, UPF network elements as UPF, etc.

[0077] The RAN (Radio Access Registry) is a network composed of one or more RAN nodes, used to implement radio physical layer functions, resource scheduling and radio resource management, radio access control, and mobility management functions. 5G-RAN connects to the user plane function (UPF) via the user plane interface N3 to transmit terminal data; it also establishes a control plane signaling connection with the access and mobility management function (AMF) via the control plane interface N2 to implement functions such as radio access bearer control.

[0078] RAN nodes provide wireless communication services, enabling terminal devices to connect to the wireless network. RAN nodes can also be called RAN devices or access network devices, etc.

[0079] In one possible scenario, a RAN node can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB), or a base station in a future mobile communication system. A RAN node can be a macro base station, a micro base station, an indoor station, a relay node, a donor node, or a radio controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario, or a node in an open radio access network (O-RAN or ORAN) scenario. A RAN node can also be a RAN node in a non-terrestrial network (NTN), meaning the RAN node can be deployed on a high-altitude platform or a satellite. Optionally, a RAN node can also be a server.

[0080] In another possible scenario, multiple RAN nodes collaborate to assist the terminal in achieving wireless access, with each RAN node performing a portion of the base station's functions. For example, RAN nodes can be central units (CUs), distributed units (DUs), CU-control plane (CPs), CU-user plane (UPs), or radio units (RUs), etc. CUs and DUs can be separate entities or included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). RUs can be included in radio frequency equipment or radio frequency units, such as remote radio units (RRUs), active antenna units (AAUs), or remote radio heads (RRHs).

[0081] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU may have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meaning. For example, in an open access network (open RAN, O-RAN, or ORAN) system, CU can also be called an open CU (O-CU), DU can also be called an O-DU, CU-CP can also be called an O-CU-CP, CU-UP can also be called an O-CU-UP, and RU can also be called an O-RU. Any of the units among CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software and hardware modules.

[0082] The AMF is primarily responsible for terminal authentication, terminal mobility management (MM), network slice selection, and SMF selection; it serves as the anchor point for N1 and N2 signaling connections and provides routing for N1 / N2 session management (SM) messages to the SMF; and it maintains and manages the terminal's state information.

[0083] SMF is primarily responsible for all control plane functions of terminal session management, including UPF selection, Internet Protocol (IP) address allocation, session quality of service (QoS) management, and obtaining PCC (policy and charging control) policies (from PCF).

[0084] UPF serves as the anchor point for protocol data unit (PDU) session connections, and is responsible for filtering terminal data packets, data transmission / forwarding, rate control, and generating billing information.

[0085] UDR is primarily used to store user data, including subscription data invoked by UDM, policy information invoked by PCF, structured data used for capability exposure, and application data invoked by NEF.

[0086] UDM is mainly used to manage user data, such as the management of subscription information, including obtaining subscription information from UDR and providing it to other network elements (such as AMF); generating authentication credentials for the terminal for the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP); and registering and maintaining the network elements currently serving the terminal (for example, the AMF represented by AMF ID1 is the current serving AMF of the terminal).

[0087] The NEF is used to connect other internal network elements of the core network with the application function (AF) network elements corresponding to the external application server (AS) of the core network, so as to provide network open capabilities to the AF, or provide information provided by the AF to the core network elements.

[0088] The AUSF authentication server function is used to perform security authentication on terminals when they access the network.

[0089] PCF primarily controls Quality of Service (QoS) policies and charging policies. It provides configuration policy information to terminals and management policy information to network control plane elements (such as AMF and SMF) for managing terminals.

[0090] The Application Provider (AF) primarily relays application-side requests to the network side and can be viewed as an application server or its proxy. The AF can interact with core network elements to provide services; for example, it can interact with the Process Control Function (PCF) for service policy control, with the Network Provider Function (NEF) to obtain network capability information or provide application information to the network, and provide data network access point information to the PCF to generate corresponding data service routing information. Its main function is to interact with the 3GPP core network to provide services, influencing service flow routing, access network capability exposure, and policy control.

[0091] DN primarily provides business services to users, such as carrier services, internet access, or third-party services.

[0092] Network elements communicate with each other through interfaces. For example, the interface between the terminal and the AMF is interface N1, the interface between the AN and the AMF is interface N2, the interface between the AN and the UPF is interface N3, the interface between the SMF and the UPF is interface N4, and the interface between the UPF and the DN is interface N6. Some network elements can communicate based on service-oriented interfaces. Among them, Nnssf, Nnef, Nnrf, Npcf, Nudm, Naf, Nausf, Namf, and Nsmf in Figure 1 are service-oriented interfaces based on services.

[0093] The above description of the various network elements in the core network and the interfaces between them is merely illustrative and should not constitute any limitation on this application. Furthermore, the various network elements shown in Figure 1 can be understood as network elements in the core network used to implement different functions. These core network elements can be independent devices or integrated into the same device to implement different functions. This application does not limit the specific form of the aforementioned network elements.

[0094] It is understood that the network elements used in future communication systems may be any of the aforementioned network elements, or network elements with the same or similar functions under other names; this application does not limit this.

[0095] Satellite communication is a type of non-terrestrial network (NTN) communication. It can be used in areas not covered by cellular networks to assist terminal devices in communication. For example, satellites can be categorized by orbital altitude into geostationary earth orbit (GEO), medium earth orbit (MEO), and low earth orbit (LEO). Understandably, even within LEO / MEO / GEO, there are satellites at different altitudes. For instance, in LEO, some satellites are deployed at an altitude of 600 kilometers (km), while others are deployed at an altitude of 1200 kilometers.

[0096] Different satellites can be connected via inter-satellite links (ISLs). Typically, several satellites connected by ISLs can be referred to as a constellation. The orbits of satellites are predetermined and are characterized in 3GPP by "ephemeris information." Ephemeris information includes the satellite's orbital altitude, angle with the equatorial plane, etc. Based on the ephemeris information, the current spatial location of the satellite can be determined.

[0097] For non-terrestrial network (NTN) systems, 3GPP defines the transparent transmission architecture and the regenerative forwarding architecture.

[0098] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a transparent transmission architecture. As shown in Figure 2, the terminal device accesses the core network via satellite, where the satellite is a TLN (transport layer node), which only acts as a transmission node and does not process the data; therefore, it can be called a transparent satellite. In this architecture, the satellite is located in the fronthaul part, used to connect the terminal device and the base station. The NTN gateway is a gateway station, which is another transport layer node connecting the satellite and the ground.

[0099] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a regenerative architecture. As shown in Figure 3, the terminal device accesses the core network via satellite, where the satellite acts as a base station; in other words, the base station is located on the satellite. The terminal device connects to the terrestrial core network via the satellite base station and the NTN gateway. It can be understood that in the regenerative architecture, the satellite function, in addition to being a base station, can also possess other functions, such as some or all of the core network's functions.

[0100] In a communication system, network devices (including access network devices and / or core network devices) can use paging to notify terminal devices in the radio resource control (RRC) idle state or RRC inactive state to receive paging messages. However, in situations with a very poor signal-to-noise ratio, the terminal device may be unable to receive the paging message, resulting in the network being unable to page the terminal device.

[0101] 3GPP specifies that a terminal device still needs to receive paging messages even in environments with poor signal conditions. In other words, when the network cannot page the terminal device, the RAN or core network equipment can trigger a paging alert to page the terminal device. This paging alert can be called high-reliability paging or resilient notification. That is, the network can still page the terminal device even in environments with poor signal.

[0102] In view of this, embodiments of this application provide a communication method, apparatus, and storage medium that can effectively increase the probability of a terminal device being paged by the network.

[0103] The communication method provided in the embodiments of this application is described in detail below with reference to Figure 4. The method provided in this application can be applied to the system architecture shown in Figures 1 to 3, but the embodiments of this application are not limited thereto.

[0104] Figure 4 is a schematic flowchart of the communication method 400 provided in an embodiment of this application. The flowchart in Figure 4 illustrates the method from the perspective of the interaction between the terminal device and the first core network device, but this application does not limit the subject executing the method. For example, the terminal device in Figure 4 can be replaced by a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the implementation of the method on the terminal device, or it can be a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the terminal device. Similarly, the first core network device in Figure 4 can be replaced by a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the implementation of the method on the first core network device, or it can be a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the first core network device. It should be understood that the first core network device can be an AMF (Advanced Feature Module).

[0105] As shown in Figure 4, method 400 may include steps S401 to S403. The steps in method 400 are described in detail below.

[0106] S401, the terminal device determines that it meets at least one of the following conditions: the terminal device is connected to a non-terrestrial network, the terminal device's battery level is greater than a first preset value, the terminal device is located in a first area, or the terminal device moves to the first area after a period of time. This application does not limit the duration of the period of time.

[0107] The signal quality of the terminal device in the first area is less than or equal to a second preset value. The second preset value may be a parameter related to signal strength, such as reference signal receiving power (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), received signal strength indication (RSSI), and signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR).

[0108] The first preset value is a parameter related to the terminal device's battery level. For example, the first preset value could be 70% of the terminal device's full battery level.

[0109] The non-terrestrial network in this application can be any network other than the terrestrial network deployed by a mobile operator, such as a satellite network or a network deployed on a non-fixed platform. Examples of non-fixed platform networks include isolated operation for public safety (IOPS) networks, networks deployed in vehicles, networks deployed on low-altitude platforms, or networks deployed on ships. For example, when the non-terrestrial network is a satellite, the access network equipment can be deployed on the satellite; it can also be deployed on the ground, meaning that the satellite and the ground-based access network equipment jointly provide access management services to the terminal equipment. As another example, when the non-terrestrial network is an IOPS network, the access management equipment is deployed within the IOPS network.

[0110] Alternatively, the terminal device determining to activate the first paging may be replaced by the terminal device determining that at least one of the following conditions is met. Or, the terminal device determines to activate the first paging if at least one of the following conditions is met.

[0111] In step S402, the terminal device sends a first message to the first core network device, which requests activation of the first paging. Correspondingly, the first core network device receives the first message from the terminal device.

[0112] Optionally, the first message can be carried in an AN message, a non-access stratum (NAS) message, or a message sent separately by the terminal device. This application does not limit this. The NAS message can be a registration request message, a mobility registration update request message, a periodic registration update request message, a service request message, etc. It is understood that the NAS message here can also be called a NAS request message.

[0113] It is understood that NAS messages can be carried within AN messages. The phrase "the first message can be carried within the AN message" means that the AN message includes both the NAS message and the first message, but the first message is not carried within the NAS message. It should be noted that the first message in this application can also be first instruction information.

[0114] Optionally, the terminal device sends a first message to the first core network device, including: the terminal device sending a first message to the first core network device through the access network device.

[0115] For example, when the first message is forwarded through the access network device, the access network device does not parse the first message. For instance, the first message may be carried within a NAS message. In this case, the access network device cannot obtain a request from the terminal device to activate the first paging.

[0116] Alternatively, when the first message is forwarded through the access network device, the access network device parses the first message. For example, the first message sent by the terminal device to the access network device is carried in the AN message, and the first message sent by the access network device to the first core network device is carried in the N2 message. In this case, the access network device can also receive the terminal device's request to activate the first paging.

[0117] The first paging in this application may also be called paging alarm, high-reliability paging, or resilient notification, etc., and this application does not limit it to any other name.

[0118] In this application, "activating the first paging" means that the RAN initiates the first paging when it cannot page the terminal device via the second paging. "Unable to page the terminal device via the second paging" means that, under the existing paging policy, no terminal device is paged.

[0119] For a description of the second paging and existing paging strategies, please refer to the description in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) technical specification (TS) 23.501-5.4.3, which will not be repeated here.

[0120] S403, the first core network device activates the first paging.

[0121] Optionally, the first core network device may activate the first paging when one or more of the following conditions are met: the terminal device is allowed / authorized to activate the first paging, the network slice requested by the terminal device belongs to the first type of network slice, the data network DN requested by the terminal device belongs to the first type of DN, the access technology used by the terminal device belongs to the first type of access technology, or the terminal device is located in one or more areas.

[0122] One or more of these conditions may be obtained by the first core network device from the UDM and / or PCF and / or local configuration.

[0123] Optionally, the access technology used by the terminal device may include 4G access technology, 4G low-Earth orbit access technology, 4G high-Earth orbit access technology, 4G mid-Earth orbit access technology, 5G access technology, 5G low-Earth orbit access technology, 5G high-Earth orbit access technology, 5G mid-Earth orbit access technology, or other access technologies. This application does not limit this.

[0124] The first type of network slice in this application refers to one or more permitted / authorized network slices. For example, assume that the first type of network slice includes network slice 1, network slice 2, and network slice 3. If the network slice requested by the terminal device is network slice 2, the first core network device activates the first paging; if the network slice requested by the terminal device is network slice 4, the first core network device refuses to activate the first paging.

[0125] In this application, the first type of DN refers to one or more permitted / authorized DNs. For example, it is assumed that the first type of DN includes DN1, DN2, and DN3. If the data network requested by the terminal device is DN2, the first core network device activates the first paging; if the data network requested by the terminal device is DN4, the first core network device refuses to activate the first paging. It is understood that the data network DN requested by the terminal device can be represented using a data network name (DNN).

[0126] The first type of access technology in this application refers to one or more permitted / authorized access technologies. For example, it is assumed that the first type of access technology includes 4G access technology and 5G LEO access technology. If the terminal device uses 5G LEO access technology, the first core network device activates the first paging; if the terminal device uses 5G OEO access technology, the first core network device refuses to activate the first paging.

[0127] In this application, one or more regions are permitted / authorized regions. For example, assume that one or more regions include region 1, region 2, and region 3. If the terminal device is currently located in region 2, the first core network device activates the first paging; if the terminal device is currently located in region 4, the first core network device refuses to activate the first paging.

[0128] It is understandable that Type I network slices, Type I DNs, Type I access technologies, and one or more zones can be predefined. For example, they are predefined in the user's subscription data or policy when a terminal device is activated.

[0129] In this embodiment, the terminal device can send a message to the first core network device requesting activation of the first paging when at least one condition is met, thereby enabling the first core network device to activate the first paging upon receiving the first message. Since activating the first paging can initiate the first paging even when the network cannot page the terminal device via the second paging (i.e., even under poor channel conditions, the network can still page the terminal device via the first paging), the method provided in this application can increase the probability of the network paged the terminal device. It can also effectively save the terminal device's power consumption and unnecessary signaling overhead. For example, the terminal device's battery level is included in the above-mentioned at least one condition; the first paging is activated only when the terminal device has sufficient power, avoiding additional paging signaling.

[0130] Optionally, after S402, the method 400 further includes: the terminal device activating the first paging.

[0131] In a first possible implementation, the terminal device activates the first paging by: the terminal device activating the first paging based on a second message, the second message being used to indicate the activation of the first paging.

[0132] Optionally, after S403, method 400 further includes: the first core network device sending a second message to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the second message from the first core network device.

[0133] The second message may be carried in the NAS message and / or the N2 message; or it may be a message sent separately by the first core network device. This application does not limit this. The NAS message here may also be called a NAS acceptance message, such as a registration acceptance message, a mobility registration update acceptance message, a periodic registration update acceptance message, a service acceptance message, etc.

[0134] It is understood that NAS messages can be carried within N2 messages. The description here of "a second message can be carried within an N2 message" means that the N2 message includes both the NAS message and the second message, but the second message is not carried within the NAS message. It should be noted that the second message in this application can also be second instruction information.

[0135] Optionally, the first core network device sends a second message to the terminal device, including: the first core network device sends a second message to the terminal device through the access network device.

[0136] For example, when the second message is forwarded through the access network device, the access network device does not parse the second message. For instance, the first message is carried within a NAS message. In this case, the access network device cannot obtain the content indicated by the second message. That is, the access network device cannot activate / enable the first paging based on the received second message.

[0137] Alternatively, when the second message is forwarded by the access network device, the access network device can parse the second message. For example, the second message may be carried in the N2 message. In this case, the access network device can obtain the content indicated by the second message. That is, the access network device can activate / enable the first paging based on the received second message.

[0138] Optionally, the second message used to indicate activation of the first paging may include: the second message indicating activation of the first paging in one or more areas. In this case, the terminal device may activate the first paging in the one or more areas indicated by the second message.

[0139] One or more regions may include, or may not include, the first region described in S401.

[0140] It is understood that when the second message is used to indicate the activation of the first paging in one or more areas, the second message may include an indication field for one or more areas, as well as an indication field for activating the first paging.

[0141] Optionally, if the second message is used to indicate that the first paging is activated in one or more areas, the method 400 further includes: the first core network device determining one or more areas.

[0142] For example, the first core network device may determine / allow activation of the first paging in one or more areas based on one or more of local configuration, subscription information, or policy information.

[0143] The second possible implementation involves the terminal device activating the first paging, which includes: the terminal device activating the first paging if it does not receive a second message from the first core network device (or, in other words, the second message is not included in the NAS message or AN message from the first core network device); or, in other words, the terminal device activating the first paging if it does not receive a message rejecting the activation of the first paging.

[0144] In other words, after the first core network device activates / enables the first paging, the first core network device does not need to send a second message to the terminal device. That is, the terminal device does not need to be aware of whether the first core network device has activated the first paging.

[0145] Alternatively, the terminal device may choose not to activate the first paging if it does not receive a message rejecting the activation of the first paging.

[0146] In other words, if the terminal device does not receive a message rejecting the activation of the first paging, it may or may not activate the first paging. However, it should be noted that whether the terminal device activates or does not activate the first paging when it has not received a message rejecting the activation of the first paging can be determined according to the terminal device's preset processing logic.

[0147] The third possible implementation is that the terminal device activates the first paging, including: the terminal device directly activates the first paging after sending the first message.

[0148] The difference between the second possible implementation and the third possible implementation is that, in the second possible implementation, after the terminal device sends the first message, it needs to determine within a preset time period whether it has received the second message or has not received a message rejecting the activation of the first paging, in order to activate the first paging; while in the third possible implementation, after the terminal device sends the first message, it does not wait for feedback on the first message, but directly activates the first paging.

[0149] Optionally, after the terminal device activates the first paging, the first paging can be deactivated without sending a third message to the first core network device if at least one of the following conditions is not met (or, the third message is not included in the NAS message and N2 message sent to the first core network device); or, a third message can be sent to the first core network device: the terminal device is connected to the terrestrial network, the terminal device's battery level is less than or equal to the first preset value, or the terminal device is not in at least one area, the at least one area including the first area.

[0150] The third message is used to request deactivation / de-enable of the first paging and / or the second paging. In one implementation, deactivation / de-enablement of the first paging and / or the second paging refers to deactivating / de-enableing the second paging, with optional deactivation of the first paging.

[0151] It is understandable that if a terminal device activates the first paging in one or more areas, the condition that the terminal device is not in at least one area can be replaced with the condition that the terminal device is not in one or more areas.

[0152] Similar to the first message, this third message can be carried within an AN message, a NAS message, or a message sent separately by the terminal device. This application does not limit this. For a description of NAS messages and AN messages, please refer to S402; it will not be repeated here.

[0153] It is understood that NAS messages can be carried within AN messages. The description here of "a third message can be carried within an AN message" means that the AN message includes both NAS messages and the third message, but the third message is not carried within the NAS message. It should be noted that the third message in this application can also be third instruction information.

[0154] Optionally, the terminal device sends a third message to the first core network device, including: the terminal device sending a third message to the first core network device through the access network device.

[0155] For example, when a third message is forwarded through an access network device, the access network device does not parse the third message. For instance, the third message might be carried within a NAS message. In this case, the access network device cannot obtain a request from the terminal device to deactivate the first paging and / or the second paging.

[0156] Alternatively, when a third message is forwarded through an access network device, the access network device parses the third message. For example, a third message sent by a terminal device to an access network device may be carried in an AN message, while a third message sent by an access network device to a first core network device may be carried in an N2 message. In this case, the access network device may also receive a request from the terminal device to activate the first paging and / or the second paging.

[0157] When deactivating the first paging and / or the second paging, the terminal device can use a mobile-initiated connection-only mode (MICO) indication, as in existing technologies, to indicate that the terminal device is in MICO mode, meaning that the terminal device is not listening for paging messages, including the paging message corresponding to the first paging and the paging message corresponding to the second paging. In other words, the MICO indication can be used to indicate the deactivation of the first and second paging.

[0158] In this MICO mode, the terminal device does not listen to the paging channel and cannot receive paging messages when in the CM-idle state; communication can only be initiated by the terminal device itself.

[0159] This application's method of enabling the first paging function on demand can effectively avoid the increased terminal power consumption caused by continuously enabling the first paging function.

[0160] Optionally, the first message mentioned above is used to request activation of the first paging, including: the first message is used to request activation of the first paging in at least one area.

[0161] For a description of the first message, please refer to the description in S402, which will not be repeated here.

[0162] It is understood that the at least one area may or may not include the first area in S401. Alternatively, the at least one area may or may not include area #5, which is the area where the terminal device is located when sending the first message.

[0163] It can also be understood that, in the case where the first message is used to request activation of the first paging in at least one area, if the first core network device sends a second message to the terminal device indicating activation of the first paging in one or more areas, then the one or more areas may include the at least one area, or the at least one area may include the one or more areas.

[0164] Optionally, after the first core network device activates the first paging, the method 400 further includes: the first core network device deactivating / disabling the first paging.

[0165] Optionally, the first core network equipment deactivates / deactivates the first paging, including deactivating / deactivating the first paging and / or second paging in one or more areas.

[0166] One possible implementation is that the first core network device deactivates or enables the first paging and / or the second paging based on the received third information.

[0167] Another possible implementation is that the first core network device actively activates the first paging and / or the second paging.

[0168] For example, if no third message is received from the terminal device, the first core network device actively deactivates the first paging and / or the second paging.

[0169] Optionally, after the terminal device activates the first paging, the method 400 further includes: the terminal device deactivating the first paging and / or the second paging.

[0170] Optionally, the terminal device deactivates the first paging, including: the terminal device deactivates the first paging and / or the second paging in one or more areas.

[0171] Example 1: A terminal device deactivates a first paging and / or a second paging, including: the terminal device deactivates the first paging based on a fourth message, the fourth message being used to indicate deactivation of the first paging, or the fourth message being used to indicate deactivation of the first paging in one or more areas.

[0172] Similar to the second message, this fourth message can be carried within the NAS message and / or the N2 message; or, the second message can be sent separately. This application does not limit this. For a description of the N2 message and the NAS request message, please refer to the relevant descriptions above, which will not be repeated here. It is understood that this fourth message can be a fourth instruction message.

[0173] Optionally, the method 400 further includes: the first core network device sending a fourth message to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the fourth message from the first core network device.

[0174] Example 2: The terminal device deactivates the first paging and / or the second paging, including: deactivating the first paging and / or the second paging if a fourth message is not received (or, in other words, the received AN message and NAS message do not carry a fourth message). Alternatively, the terminal device deactivates the first paging and / or the second paging if no instruction to refuse deactivation of the first paging and / or the second paging is received.

[0175] In other words, after the first core network device deactivates / deactivates the first paging and / or the second paging, the first core network device may not send a fourth message to the terminal device. That is, the terminal device may not be aware of whether the first core network device has deactivated the first paging and / or the second paging.

[0176] Example 3: After sending the third message, the terminal device can directly activate the first paging and / or the second paging.

[0177] The difference from Example 2 is that, in Example 2, after the terminal device sends the third message, it needs to determine within a preset time period whether it has received the fourth message, or whether it has not received a message to activate the first paging and / or the second paging in the rejection zone, in order to activate the first paging and / or the second paging; while in Example 3, after the terminal device sends the third message, it does not wait for feedback on the fourth message, but directly activates the first paging and / or the second paging.

[0178] Optionally, the above S401 and S402 can also be executed by a second core network device (the second core network device may be, for example, AF), namely, S4012, the second core network device determines that at least one of the following conditions is met; S402, the second core network device sends a first message to the first core network device.

[0179] Optionally, the second core network device can send a first message to the first core network device via NEF or UDM. Specifically, the second core network device can call the NEF service: Nnef_ParameterProvision_Create, Nnef_ParameterProvision_Update, or nef_ParameterProvision_Delete, carrying the first message; then, NEF calls the UDM service: Nudm_ParameterProvision_Create, Nudm_ParameterProvision_Update, or Nudm_ParameterProvision_Delete Request, carrying the first message.

[0180] Optionally, when S401 and S402 are executed by the second core network device, the method 400 further includes: the second core network device obtaining at least one of the conditions described in S401 above.

[0181] For example, the second core network device can obtain the terminal device's power level and the terminal device's connection to a non-terrestrial network from the terminal device; the second core network device can obtain the terminal device's location information from the network side or the terminal device.

[0182] Optionally, when S401 and S402 are executed by the second core network device, the aforementioned third and fifth messages may be sent from the second core network device to the first core network device. That is, the second core network device sends the third message to the first core network device when at least one of the following conditions is not met; or, the second core network device sends the fifth message to the first core network device when at least one of the following conditions is met: the terminal device is connected to the terrestrial network, the terminal device's battery level is less than or equal to the second preset value, the terminal device's battery level is greater than or equal to the third preset value, or the terminal device is not in one or more of the areas.

[0183] This application also provides a communication method. The method may include the following steps one through four:

[0184] Step 1: The first core network device receives downlink data or downlink signaling.

[0185] Specifically, the first core network device that receives downlink data can be a UPF, and the first core network device that receives downlink signaling can be an AMF or an SMF.

[0186] Optionally, before the first core network device receives downlink data, the method 800 further includes: the first core network receiving a notification message from the UPF, which is used to notify that downlink data has arrived. In this case, the first core network device may be an SMF.

[0187] Step 2: The first core network device determines whether to activate the first paging based on downlink data or downlink signaling information, and at least one of the following: local configuration, policy from PCF, or subscription from UDM.

[0188] For example, when the SMF receives downlink data or downlink signaling information, it can send an N11 message to the AMF, carrying the information corresponding to the downlink data or signaling. Correspondingly, the AMF receives the information corresponding to the downlink data or signaling; and based on the downlink data or downlink signaling information, and at least one of the following, determines whether to activate the first paging: local configuration, policy from the PCF, or subscription from the UDM.

[0189] Understandably, the AMF determining to activate the first paging can be replaced by the AMF sending the first paging to the terminal device.

[0190] For a description of the first paging, please refer to the relevant description in Method 400, which will not be repeated here.

[0191] Optionally, the information corresponding to the downlink data or signaling includes one or more of the following: the DNN, or slice, or source Internet Protocol (IP), or application identifier corresponding to the downlink data or signaling.

[0192] For example, the first core device may activate the first paging when one or more of the following conditions are met: the network slice corresponding to the downlink data or downlink signaling belongs to the first type of network slice, the data network DN corresponding to the downlink data or downlink signaling belongs to the first type of DN, or the source IP of the downlink data or downlink signaling belongs to the first type of IP, and the application identifier corresponding to the downlink data or downlink signaling belongs to the first type of application identifier.

[0193] For a description of the first type of network slice and the first type of DN, please refer to the relevant description in method 400, which will not be repeated here.

[0194] Here, the first category of IPs consists of one or more allowed / authorized IPs, and the first category of application identifiers consists of one or more allowed / authorized application identifiers. It is understood that the first category of IPs and the first category of application identifiers can be predefined.

[0195] One possible implementation, if the first core device is an SMF and it is determined that the first paging is activated, then the method further includes: Step three, the SMF sends an indication message to the AMF to indicate the activation of the first paging. Correspondingly, the AMF activates the first paging; if the second paging fails, it sends the first paging to the terminal device.

[0196] Another possible implementation, if the first core network device is an AMF and it is determined that the first paging is activated, then the method further includes: step four, in the event that the second paging fails, the AMF sends the first paging to the terminal device.

[0197] The method provided in this application can increase the probability of network paging reaching terminal devices.

[0198] The method provided by the embodiments of this application is described in detail below based on the embodiment shown in Figure 4, in conjunction with Figures 5 to 7. In Figures 5 to 7, the AMF is used as an example of the first core network device, and the AF is used as an example of the second core network device. The AMF sends a message to the terminal device to activate the first paging, and the terminal device sends a message instructing to deactivate, as examples for illustration. It should be noted that in the embodiments shown in Figures 5 to 7, the same or similar steps as in the embodiment shown in Figure 4 can be referred to the relevant description of method 400 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0199] Figure 5 is another schematic flowchart of the communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 5, the method 500 includes steps S501 to S514. The steps in method 500 are described in detail below.

[0200] S501, the terminal device confirms activation of the first paging.

[0201] Alternatively, the terminal device determines that at least one of the following conditions is met: the terminal device is connected to a non-terrestrial network, the terminal device's battery level is greater than a first preset value, the terminal device is located in a first area, or the terminal device moves to the first area after a period of time. In other words, if at least one of these conditions is met, the first paging is activated.

[0202] In step S502, the terminal device sends a first message to the RAN, which requests activation of the first paging. Correspondingly, the RAN receives the first message from the terminal device.

[0203] For example, the first message sent by the terminal device to the RAN can be carried in the NAS request message, and the NAS request message can be carried in the AN message. Alternatively, the first message sent by the terminal device to the RAN can be carried in the AN message, that is, the AN message includes both the first message and the NAS request message.

[0204] S503, the RAN sends the first message to the AMF. Correspondingly, the AMF receives the first message from the RAN.

[0205] For example, the first message sent by the RAN to the AMF can be carried in the NAS request message, and the NAS request message can be carried in the N2 message. Alternatively, the first message sent by the RAN to the AMF can be carried in the N2 message, that is, the N2 message includes both the first message and the NAS request message.

[0206] S504, AMF activates first paging.

[0207] This process can be referred to in S403, and will not be repeated here.

[0208] In step S505, the AMF sends a second message to the RAN to instruct the activation of the first paging. Correspondingly, the RAN receives the second message from the AMF.

[0209] For example, the second message sent by the AMF to the RAN can be carried in the NAS accept message, and the NAS accept message can be carried in the N2 message. The N2 message can also carry the second message.

[0210] Alternatively, the second message sent by the AMF to the RAN can be carried within the N2 message. That is, the N2 message can include both the second message and the NAS accept message.

[0211] S506, the RAN sends a second message to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the second message from the RAN.

[0212] For example, the second message sent by the RAN to the terminal device can be carried in the NAS accept message.

[0213] S507, the terminal device activates the first paging based on the second message.

[0214] Optionally, if the terminal device determines to deactivate / disable the first paging, S508 to S514 can continue to be executed. It is understood that S508 to S514 can be obtained by replacing "activate" with "deactivate" in S501 to S507.

[0215] S508, the terminal device determines to deactivate the first paging. Alternatively, the terminal device determines that at least one of the following conditions is not met: the terminal device is connected to a terrestrial network, the terminal device's battery level is less than or equal to a first preset value, or the terminal device is not in at least one area; or, if at least one of the following conditions is not met, the first paging is deactivated: the terminal device is connected to a terrestrial network, the terminal device's battery level is less than or equal to the first preset value, or the terminal device is not in at least one area.

[0216] In step S509, the terminal device sends a third message to the RAN, which requests the deactivation of the first paging. Correspondingly, the RAN receives the third message from the terminal device.

[0217] For example, a third message sent by the terminal device to the RAN can be carried in a NAS request message, and the NAS request message can be carried in an AN message.

[0218] S510, the RAN sends a third message to the AMF. Correspondingly, the AMF receives the third message from the RAN.

[0219] For example, the RAN can send a third message to the AMF in a NAS request message, which can be carried in an N2 message.

[0220] Alternatively, S508 to S510 can be replaced by: the AF determining to deactivate the first paging; sending a third message to the AMF. For example, the AF can send the third message to the AMF via the NEF or UDM.

[0221] Alternatively, AF determines that one or more of the following conditions are not met: the terminal device is connected to the terrestrial network, the terminal device's battery level is less than or equal to the first preset value, or the terminal device is not in at least one area; or, if one or more of the following conditions are not met, it determines to deactivate the first paging: the terminal device is connected to the terrestrial network, the terminal device's battery level is less than or equal to the first preset value, or the terminal device is not in at least one area.

[0222] S511, AMF deactivates the first paging.

[0223] In step S512, the AMF sends a fourth message to the RAN, which instructs the deactivation of the first paging. Correspondingly, the RAN receives the fourth message from the AMF.

[0224] The fourth message sent by AMF to RAN can be carried in the NAS accept message, and the NAS accept message can be carried in the N2 message. The N2 message can also carry the fourth message.

[0225] S513, the RAN sends a fourth message to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the fourth message from the RAN.

[0226] The fourth message sent by the RAN to the terminal device can be carried in the NAS receive message.

[0227] S514, the terminal device deactivates the first paging based on the fourth message.

[0228] In this embodiment, the terminal device can send a message to the first core network device requesting activation of the first paging when at least one condition is met, thereby enabling the first core network device to activate the first paging upon receiving the first message. Since activating the first paging can initiate the first paging even when the network cannot page the terminal device via the second paging (i.e., even under poor channel conditions, the network can still page the terminal device via the first paging), the method provided in this application can increase the probability of the network paged the terminal device. It can also effectively save the terminal device's power consumption and unnecessary signaling overhead. For example, the terminal device's battery level is included in the above-mentioned at least one condition; the first paging is activated only when the terminal device has sufficient power, avoiding additional paging signaling.

[0229] Figure 6 is another schematic flowchart of the communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 6, the method 600 includes steps S601 to S613. The steps in method 600 are described in detail below.

[0230] S601, AF obtains at least one of the following conditions: the terminal device is connected to a non-terrestrial network, the terminal device's battery level is greater than a first preset value, the terminal device is located in a first area, or the terminal device moves to the first area after a period of time.

[0231] S602, AF confirms activation of the first paging.

[0232] Alternatively, the AF determines that at least one of the following conditions is met: the terminal device is connected to a non-terrestrial network, the terminal device's battery level is greater than a first preset value, the terminal device is located in a first area, or the terminal device moves to the first area after a period of time. In other words, if at least one of these conditions is met, the AF determines to activate the first paging.

[0233] In step S603, the AF sends a first message to the AMF, which requests activation of the first paging. Correspondingly, the RAN receives the first message from the AF.

[0234] For example, AF can send the first message to AMF via NEF or UDM.

[0235] S604, AMF activates first paging.

[0236] This process can be referred to in S403, and will not be repeated here.

[0237] S605, the AMF sends a second message to the RAN, which instructs the activation of the first paging. Correspondingly, the RAN receives the second message from the AMF.

[0238] For example, the second message sent by the AMF to the RAN can be carried in the NAS accept message, and the NAS accept message can be carried in the N2 message. The N2 message can also carry the second message.

[0239] Alternatively, the second message sent by the AMF to the RAN can be carried within the N2 message. That is, the N2 message can include both the second message and the NAS accept message.

[0240] S606, the RAN sends a second message to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the second message from the RAN.

[0241] For example, the second message sent by the RAN to the terminal device can be carried in the NAS accept message.

[0242] S607, the terminal device activates the first paging based on the second message.

[0243] Optionally, if the terminal device determines to deactivate / disable the first paging, S608 to S614 can continue to be executed. It is understood that S608 to S614 can be obtained by replacing "activate" with "deactivate" in S601 to S607.

[0244] S608, AF determines to deactivate the first paging. Alternatively, AF determines that one or more of the following conditions are not met: the terminal device is connected to the terrestrial network, the terminal device's battery level is less than or equal to the first preset value, or the terminal device is not in at least one area; or, if one or more of the following conditions are not met, AF determines to deactivate the first paging: the terminal device is connected to the terrestrial network, the terminal device's battery level is less than or equal to the first preset value, or the terminal device is not in at least one area.

[0245] S609, the AF sends a third message to the AMF, which requests the deactivation of the first paging. Correspondingly, the AMF receives the third message from the AF.

[0246] For example, AF can send a third message to AMF via NEF or UDM.

[0247] S610, AMF deactivates the first paging.

[0248] Alternatively, S609 and S610 can be replaced by: the terminal device sending a third message to the AMF; the AMF activating the first paging based on the third message.

[0249] S611, the AMF sends a fourth message to the RAN, which instructs the deactivation of the first paging. Correspondingly, the RAN receives the fourth message from the AMF.

[0250] For example, the third message sent by the RAN to the AMF can be carried in the NAS request message, and the NAS request message can be carried in the N2 message. The fourth message sent by the AMF to the RAN can be carried in the NAS accept message, and the NAS accept message can be carried in the N2 message. The N2 message can also carry other messages.

[0251] S612, the RAN sends a fourth message to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the fourth message from the RAN.

[0252] The fifth message sent by the RAN to the terminal device can be carried in the NAS receive message.

[0253] S613, the terminal device deactivates the first paging based on the fourth message.

[0254] In this embodiment, the terminal device can send a message to the first core network device requesting activation of the first paging when at least one condition is met, thereby enabling the first core network device to activate the first paging upon receiving the first message. Since activating the first paging can initiate the first paging even when the network cannot page the terminal device via the second paging (i.e., even under poor channel conditions, the network can still page the terminal device via the first paging), the method provided in this application can increase the probability of the network paged the terminal device. It can also effectively save the terminal device's power consumption and unnecessary signaling overhead. For example, the terminal device's battery level is included in the above-mentioned at least one condition; the first paging is activated only when the terminal device has sufficient power, avoiding additional paging signaling.

[0255] Figure 7 is another schematic flowchart of the communication method provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 7, the method 700 includes steps S701 to S714. The steps in method 700 are described in detail below.

[0256] S701, the terminal device confirms activation of the first paging.

[0257] Alternatively, the terminal device determines that at least one of the following conditions is met: the terminal device is connected to a non-terrestrial network, the terminal device's battery level is greater than a first preset value, the terminal device is located in a first area, or the terminal device moves to the first area after a period of time. In other words, if at least one of these conditions is met, the first paging is activated.

[0258] S702, the terminal device sends a first message to the RAN, which requests activation of a first paging in at least one area. Correspondingly, the RAN receives the first message from the terminal device.

[0259] For example, the first message sent by the terminal device to the RAN can be carried in the NAS request message, and the NAS request message can be carried in the AN message. Alternatively, the first message sent by the terminal device to the RAN can be carried in the AN message, that is, the AN message includes both the first message and the NAS request message.

[0260] S703, the RAN sends the first message to the AMF. Correspondingly, the AMF receives the first message from the RAN.

[0261] For example, the first message sent by the RAN to the AMF can be carried in the NAS request message, and the NAS request message can be carried in the N2 message. Alternatively, the first message sent by the RAN to the AMF can be carried in the N2 message, that is, the N2 message includes both the first message and the NAS request message.

[0262] S704, AMF activates first paging.

[0263] This process can be referred to in S403, and will not be repeated here.

[0264] S705, the AMF sends a second message to the RAN, which instructs the activation of the first paging in one or more areas. Correspondingly, the RAN receives the second message from the AMF.

[0265] For example, the second message sent by the AMF to the RAN can be carried in the NAS accept message, and the NAS accept message can be carried in the N2 message. The N2 message can also carry the second message.

[0266] Alternatively, the second message sent by the AMF to the RAN can be carried within the N2 message. That is, the N2 message can include both the second message and the NAS accept message.

[0267] S706, the RAN sends a second message to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the second message from the RAN.

[0268] For example, the second message sent by the RAN to the terminal device can be carried in the NAS accept message.

[0269] S707: The terminal device activates the first paging based on the second message.

[0270] Optionally, if the terminal device determines to deactivate / disable the first paging, S708 to S714 can continue to be executed. It is understood that S708 to S714 can be obtained by replacing "activate" with "deactivate" in S701 to S707.

[0271] S708, the terminal device determines to deactivate the first paging. Alternatively, the terminal device determines that at least one of the following conditions is not met: the terminal device is connected to a terrestrial network, the terminal device's battery level is less than or equal to a first preset value, or the terminal device is not in at least one area; or, in other words, the first paging is deactivated if one or more of the following conditions are not met: the terminal device is connected to a terrestrial network, the terminal device's battery level is less than or equal to a first preset value, or the terminal device is not in at least one area.

[0272] S709, the terminal device sends a third message to the RAN, which requests the deactivation of the first paging. Correspondingly, the RAN receives the third message from the terminal device.

[0273] For example, a third message sent by the terminal device to the RAN can be carried in a NAS request message, and the NAS request message can be carried in an AN message.

[0274] S710, the RAN sends a third message to the AMF. Correspondingly, the AMF receives the third message from the RAN.

[0275] For example, the RAN can send a third message to the AMF in a NAS request message, which can be carried in an N2 message.

[0276] Alternatively, S708 to S710 can be replaced by: the AF determining to deactivate the first paging; sending a third message to the AMF. For example, the AF can send the third message to the AMF via the NEF or UDM.

[0277] Alternatively, AF determines that one or more of the following conditions are not met: the terminal device is connected to the terrestrial network, the terminal device's battery level is less than or equal to the first preset value, or the terminal device is not in at least one area; or, if one or more of the following conditions are not met, it determines to deactivate the first paging: the terminal device is connected to the terrestrial network, the terminal device's battery level is less than or equal to the first preset value, or the terminal device is not in at least one area.

[0278] S711, AMF deactivates first paging.

[0279] S712, the AMF sends a fourth message to the RAN, which instructs the deactivation of the first paging. Correspondingly, the RAN receives the fourth message from the AMF.

[0280] The fourth message sent by AMF to RAN can be carried in the NAS accept message, and the NAS accept message can be carried in the N2 message. The N2 message can also carry the fourth message.

[0281] S713, the RAN sends a fourth message to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the fourth message from the RAN.

[0282] The fourth message sent by the RAN to the terminal device can be carried in the NAS receive message.

[0283] S714, the terminal device deactivates the first paging based on the fourth message.

[0284] In this embodiment, the terminal device can send a message to the first core network device requesting the activation of a first paging in at least one area when at least one condition is met. This allows the first core network device to activate the first paging in one or more areas upon receiving the first message. Since activating the first paging can be initiated when the network cannot page the terminal device via the second paging (i.e., even under poor channel conditions, the network can still page the terminal device via the first paging), the method provided in this application can increase the probability of the network paging the terminal device. It can also effectively save the terminal device's power consumption and unnecessary signaling overhead. For example, the terminal device's battery level is included in the above-mentioned at least one condition; the first paging is activated only when the terminal device has sufficient power, avoiding additional paging signaling.

[0285] The method provided by the embodiments of this application has been described in detail above with reference to Figures 1 to 7. The apparatus provided by the implementation of this application will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 8 and 9.

[0286] Figures 8 and 9 are schematic diagrams of possible apparatuses provided in embodiments of this application. These apparatuses can be used to implement the functions of terminal devices or network devices in the above method embodiments, and thus can also achieve the beneficial effects of the above method embodiments.

[0287] Figure 8 is a schematic block diagram of the apparatus provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 8, the apparatus 800 includes a processing module 810 and a transceiver module 820.

[0288] One possible design is that the device 800 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device in the method embodiments shown in Figures 4 to 7 above.

[0289] For example, the processing module 810 is configured to: determine that at least one of the following conditions is met: the terminal device accesses a non-terrestrial network, the terminal device's battery level is greater than a first preset value, the terminal device is located in a first area, or the terminal device moves to the first area after a period of time, and the signal quality of the terminal device in the first area is less than or equal to a second preset value; the transceiver module 820 is configured to: send a first message to a first core network device, the first message being used to request activation of a first paging.

[0290] Optionally, the processing module 810 is specifically configured to: initiate the first paging process if the terminal device cannot be paged via the second paging process.

[0291] Optionally, the processing module 810 is further configured to: activate the first paging.

[0292] Optionally, the transceiver module 820 is further configured to: receive a second message from the first core network device, the second message being used to indicate activation of the first paging; the processing module 810 is specifically configured to: activate the first paging based on the second message.

[0293] Optionally, the transceiver module 820 is further configured to: send a third message to the first core network device when at least one of the following conditions is met, the third message being used to request deactivation of the first paging and / or the second paging: the terminal device is connected to the terrestrial network, the battery power of the terminal device is less than or equal to the first preset value, or the terminal device is not in at least one area.

[0294] Optionally, the transceiver module 820 is further configured to: acquire the at least one of the conditions.

[0295] A more detailed description of the transceiver module 820 and the processing module 810 can be obtained directly from the relevant descriptions in the embodiments shown in Figures 4 to 7, and will not be repeated here.

[0296] Another possible design is that the device 800 is used to implement the functions of the first core network device in the method embodiments shown in Figures 4 to 7 above.

[0297] For example, the transceiver module 820 is configured to: receive a first message from a first communication device, the first message being used to request activation of a first paging; the processing module 810 is configured to: activate the first paging when one or more of the following conditions are met: the terminal device is allowed to activate the first paging, the network slice requested by the terminal device belongs to a first type of network slice, the data network DN requested by the terminal device belongs to a first type of DN, or the access technology used by the terminal device belongs to a first type of access technology, or the terminal device is located in one or more areas.

[0298] Optionally, the processing module 810 is further configured to: initiate the first paging process if the terminal device cannot be paged via the second paging process.

[0299] Optionally, the transceiver module 820 is further configured to: send a second message to the terminal device, the second message being used to indicate activation of the first paging.

[0300] Optionally, the transceiver module 820 is further configured to: receive a third message from the first communication device, the third message being used to request deactivation of the first paging and / or the second paging.

[0301] A more detailed description of the transceiver module 820 and the processing module 810 can be obtained directly from the relevant descriptions in the embodiments shown in Figures 4 to 7, and will not be repeated here.

[0302] It should be noted that device 800 may include a transmitting module but not a receiving module. Alternatively, device 800 may include a receiving module but not a transmitting module. Specifically, it depends on whether the above-described scheme executed by device 800 includes both transmitting and receiving actions. It is understood that because device 800 has communication capabilities, it can also be called a communication device.

[0303] Figure 9 is another schematic block diagram of the device provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 9, the device 900 includes one or more processors 910. The processor 910 may be a general-purpose processor or a special-purpose processor, etc. For example, it may be a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit can be used to control the device (e.g., terminal equipment, access network equipment, core network equipment or chip, etc.), execute software programs, and process data of the software programs.

[0304] Optionally, in one design, the processor 910 may include a program (also referred to as code or instructions) that can be executed on the processor 910, causing the device 900 to perform the methods executed by the terminal device, access network device, first core device, or second core network device in the above method embodiments. In yet another possible design, the device 900 includes circuitry (not shown in FIG9) for implementing the functions of the terminal device, access network device, first core device, or second core network device in the above method embodiments.

[0305] For example, the processor 910 can be used to execute computer programs or instructions in memory to implement the steps performed by the terminal device, access network device, first core device or second core network device in any of the embodiments shown in FIG4 to FIG7.

[0306] Optionally, the device 900 may include one or more memories 920 storing programs (sometimes referred to as code or instructions) that can be run on the processor 910, causing the device 900 to perform the methods executed by the terminal device, access network device, first core device, or second core network device in the above embodiments.

[0307] Optionally, the processor 910 and / or memory 920 may also store data. The processor and memory may be configured separately or integrated together.

[0308] Optionally, the device 900 may further include a communication interface 930. The processor 910, sometimes referred to as a processing unit, controls the device (e.g., a terminal device, access network device, first core device, or second core network device). The communication interface 930, sometimes referred to as a transceiver unit, transceiver, transceiver circuit, or transceiver, is used to implement the transceiver function of the device.

[0309] Optionally, the device 900 also includes a communication interface 930. The processor 910 and the communication interface 930 are coupled to each other. It is understood that the communication interface 930 can be a transceiver or an input / output interface.

[0310] It is understandable that since device 900 has communication capabilities, it can also be called a communication device.

[0311] When device 900 is used to implement the methods of Figures 4 to 7, processor 910 is used to execute the functions of the aforementioned processing unit, and communication interface 930 is used to execute the functions of the aforementioned transceiver module. Whether communication interface 930 is used for sending or receiving depends on whether the scheme executed by device 900 is used to perform a sending or receiving action.

[0312] It is understood that when the device 900 is a terminal device, access network device, first core device, or second core network device, the communication interface 930 can be a transceiver, specifically including a transmitter and a receiver, with the transmitter used to send signals and the receiver used to receive signals. When the device 900 is a chip applied to a terminal device or network device, the communication interface 930 can be an input / output circuit, wherein the input circuit can be used for receiving and the output interface can be used for sending.

[0313] It should be noted that the above method embodiments can be applied to a processor, or implemented by a processor. A processor may be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. During implementation, each step of the above method embodiments can be completed by integrated logic circuits in the processor's hardware or by software instructions.

[0314] The aforementioned processor can be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof. A general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0315] The steps of the method disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be directly manifested as being executed by a hardware decoding processor, or executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software modules can reside in mature storage media in the art, such as random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, or registers. This storage medium is located in memory, and the processor reads information from the memory and, in conjunction with its hardware, completes the steps of the above method.

[0316] The memory in the embodiments of this application can be volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory can be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. The volatile memory can be random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example, but not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchronous linked dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM). It should be noted that the memory used in the systems and methods described herein is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0317] The methods provided in the above embodiments can be implemented, in whole or in part, by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, they can be implemented, in whole or in part, in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product may include one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are generated. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions may be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic disk), an optical medium (e.g., DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., solid-state disk (SSD)).

[0318] This application also provides a computer program product that, when run on a processor, can implement the methods shown in the above method embodiments.

[0319] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium containing computer instructions that, when executed on a processor, can implement the methods shown in the above-described method embodiments.

[0320] This application also provides a communication system, including the aforementioned terminal equipment and first core network equipment.

[0321] Optionally, the communication system may also include the aforementioned second core network equipment and / or access network equipment.

[0322] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0323] Those skilled in the art will understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0324] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0325] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0326] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0327] If the aforementioned functions are implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a portion of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory, random access memory, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0328] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, include: The terminal device is determined to meet at least one of the following conditions: the terminal device is connected to a non-terrestrial network, the terminal device's battery power is greater than a first preset value, the terminal device is located in a first area, or the terminal device moves to the first area after a period of time, and the signal quality of the terminal device in the first area is less than or equal to a second preset value. Send a first message to the first core network device, the first message being used to request activation of the first paging.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Activating the first paging includes: If the terminal device cannot be paged via the second paging method, the first paging method is initiated.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first message is used to request activation of the first paging, including: The first message is used to request activation of the first paging in at least one area, the at least one area including the first area.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The method further includes: Activate the first paging.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, Activating the first paging includes: Receive a second message from the first core network device, the second message being used to indicate activation of the first paging; Based on the second message, the first paging is activated.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The second message is used to instruct the activation of the first paging, including: The second message is used to instruct the activation of a first paging in one or more areas, the one or more areas including the first area.

7. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that, The method further includes: A third message is sent to the first core network device when at least one of the following conditions is met, the third message being used to request deactivation of the first paging and / or the second paging: the terminal device is connected to the terrestrial network, the terminal device's battery level is less than or equal to the first preset value, or the terminal device is not in at least one area, the at least one area including the first area.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The method further includes: Obtain at least one of the conditions.

9. A communication method, characterized in that, include: Receive a first message from a first communication device, the first message being used to request activation of a first paging; The first paging is activated when one or more of the following conditions are met: the terminal device is allowed to activate the first paging, the network slice requested by the terminal device belongs to the first type of network slice, the data network DN requested by the terminal device belongs to the first type of DN, or the access technology used by the terminal device belongs to the first type of access technology, or the terminal device is located in one or more areas.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, Activating the first paging includes: If the terminal device cannot be paged via the second paging method, the first paging method is initiated.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that, The first message is used to request activation of the first paging, including: the first message is used to request activation of the first paging in at least one area; the at least one area includes one or more areas, or the one or more areas include the at least one area.

12. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that, The method further includes: A second message is sent to the terminal device, the second message being used to instruct the activation of the first paging.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The second message is used to instruct the activation of the first paging, including: The second message is used to instruct the activation of the first paging in the one or more areas.

14. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that, The method further includes: A third message is received from the first communication device, the third message being used to request deactivation of the first paging and / or the second paging.

15. A communication device, characterized in that, It includes modules for implementing the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 8; or it includes modules for implementing the method as described in any one of claims 9 to 14.

16. A communication device, characterized in that, Includes a processor for causing the communication device to implement the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 8 by executing a computer program and / or by logic circuitry; or a module for implementing the method as described in any one of claims 9 to 14.

17. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that, When the computer program is executed by a processor, the method of any one of claims 1 to 8 is executed; or, the method of any one of claims 9 to 14 is executed.

18. A computer program product, characterized in that, It includes a computer program, which, when run, executes the method of any one of claims 1 to 8; or, executes the method of any one of claims 9 to 14.

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