Signal transmission method, communication apparatus, and communication system

Abstract

The present application provides a signal transmission method, a communication apparatus, and a communication system. The method comprises: a first communication apparatus receives a first low power consumption signal, the first low power consumption signal being used for indicating whether to switch a detection state on at least one carrier or not; and the first communication apparatus determines the detection state on the at least one carrier on the basis of the first low power consumption signal. The energy consumption of terminals can be reduced.

Description

Signal transmission method, communication apparatus, and communication system

[0001] The present application claims priority to the Chinese patent application No. 202411097976.5, filed on August 9, 2024, and entitled "Signal transmission method, communication apparatus, and communication system", the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication, and more particularly, to a signal transmission method, a communication apparatus, and a communication system. BACKGROUND

[0003] In a mobile communication system, an access network node can configure a terminal with multiple carriers, and the terminal communicates with the access network node through the multiple carriers, which can improve the transmission rate.

[0004] However, the data transmission amount of the terminal varies with the service demand of the user, and for the terminal maintaining multiple carriers, how to avoid unnecessary power consumption is a problem to be solved at present. SUMMARY

[0005] Embodiments of the present application provide a signal transmission method, a communication apparatus, and a communication system, which can reduce the energy consumption of the terminal.

[0006] In a first aspect, a signal transmission method is provided, which can be executed by a first communication apparatus, which can be a terminal or a module (such as a chip or a chip system) configured to (or for) the terminal. Hereinafter, the first communication apparatus is taken as an example of a terminal.

[0007] The method comprises: receiving, by the terminal, a first low-power consumption signal, the first low-power consumption signal being used to indicate whether to switch or not to switch a detection state on at least one carrier. The terminal determines the detection state on the at least one carrier according to the first low-power consumption signal.

[0008] According to the above scheme, the access network node can determine whether the at least one carrier needs to participate in the service transmission of the terminal according to the service transmission demand of the terminal, so as to notify the terminal of the detection state on the at least one carrier through the first low-power consumption signal. Thus, the terminal can not detect or detect part of the signals (such as a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH)) on the corresponding carrier when the service transmission amount is small, so as to reduce the energy consumption of the terminal. When the service transmission amount is large, the terminal detects the signals on the carrier, so as to realize timely service transmission and ensure the communication reliability. However, the present application is not limited thereto, and the scheme of the present application can also be applied to other scenarios to reduce the energy consumption of the terminal.

[0009] With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the detection state on the carrier comprises at least one of the following ways of detecting a downlink control channel on the carrier:

[0010] detecting no downlink control channel, detecting a downlink control channel in a detection opportunity, detecting part or all of a downlink control channel in a period of time, skipping part or all of a detection opportunity of a downlink control channel in a period of time, or releasing part or all of a detection opportunity of a downlink control channel in a period of time.

[0011] With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, before receiving the first low-power consumption signal, the method further comprises: receiving, by the terminal, first information, the first information being used for configuring the detection state on the plurality of carriers.

[0012] Exemplarily, the first information can be high-layer information such as radio resource control (RRC) information, or can be predefined by the base station.

[0013] According to the above scheme, the access network node can configure the detection state of the plurality of carriers for the terminal, so that the access network node can flexibly switch the detection state of the plurality of carriers through the low-power consumption signal. The flexibility of communication is improved and unnecessary terminal energy consumption is reduced.

[0014] In one implementation, the first information configures one detection state, and the detection state on the plurality of carriers is the same.

[0015] In another implementation, the first information configures a plurality of detection states, and the plurality of detection states comprise the detection state on each carrier of the plurality of carriers.

[0016] With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first low-power consumption signal is used to indicate switching or not switching the detection state on at least one carrier group, the at least one carrier belonging to the at least one carrier group.

[0017] With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further comprises: receiving, by the terminal, second information, the second information being used for configuring a detection opportunity of a low-power consumption signal, the first low-power consumption signal being a low-power consumption signal detected in the detection opportunity configured by the second information.

[0018] Exemplarily, the second information can be high-layer information such as RRC information, or can be predefined by the base station.

[0019] In some implementations of the first aspect, the second information configures a plurality of detection opportunities, the plurality of detection opportunities corresponding to a plurality of carriers, in one of the plurality of detection opportunities, if the low-power signal is detected, it indicates switching the detection state on the carrier corresponding to the one of the plurality of detection opportunities; if the low-power signal is not detected, it indicates not switching the detection state on the carrier corresponding to the one of the plurality of detection opportunities; or, if the low-power signal is detected, it indicates not switching the detection state on the carrier corresponding to the one of the plurality of detection opportunities; if the low-power signal is not detected, it indicates switching the detection state on the carrier corresponding to the one of the plurality of detection opportunities.

[0020] According to the above scheme, the access network node can configure a terminal with a plurality of detection opportunities corresponding to a plurality of carriers, and the terminal can determine whether to switch or not to switch the detection state of the carrier corresponding to the detection opportunity according to whether the low-power signal is detected on the detection opportunity. The access network node can notify the terminal whether to switch the monitoring state of the carrier based on the correspondence between the detection opportunity and the carrier and whether the low-power signal is sent. There is no need to indicate the carrier corresponding to the low-power signal each time the low-power signal is sent, which can reduce the implementation complexity and signaling overhead.

[0021] In some implementations of the first aspect, the second information configures a plurality of detection opportunities, the plurality of detection opportunities corresponding to a plurality of carriers, wherein a first detection opportunity of the plurality of detection opportunities corresponds to the at least one carrier, the first low-power signal is detected in the first detection opportunity, the first low-power signal carries first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate switching or not switching the detection state on the at least one carrier.

[0022] In one example, the first indication information includes one bit, the one bit being in a first state to indicate switching the detection state on the at least one carrier. The one bit being in a second state to indicate not switching the detection state on the at least one carrier.

[0023] In some implementations of the first aspect, the second information configures one detection opportunity, the detection opportunity corresponding to the at least one carrier, the first low-power signal is detected in the detection opportunity, the first low-power signal carries second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether to switch the detection state on each carrier of the at least one carrier.

[0024] In one example, the second indication information includes at least one bit corresponding to the at least one carrier, if one bit of the at least one bit is in a first state, it indicates switching the detection state on the carrier corresponding to the one bit. If one bit of the at least one bit is in a second state, it indicates not switching the detection state on the carrier corresponding to the one bit.

[0025] According to the scheme, the access network node can configure one detection opportunity for the terminal corresponding to multiple carriers, and a low-power signal on the detection opportunity carries second indication information to inform the terminal whether to switch the detection state on each carrier. Resource overhead can be reduced, and indication efficiency can be improved.

[0026] With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: receiving, by the terminal, third information, the third information being used for configuring a detection opportunity of a low-power signal, the third information being different from the detection opportunity configured by the second information.

[0027] For example, the third information can be high-layer information, such as RRC information, and can be predefined by the base station.

[0028] According to the scheme, multiple sets of detection opportunities of low-power signals are configured, which can avoid the situation that the terminal misses signals or cannot wake up the terminal to detect signals when the carrier of the terminal is in a non-detection PDCCH state for a long time.

[0029] With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, in a case where at least one of the configured carriers is not in a non-detection control channel detection state, the terminal detects the low-power signal in the detection opportunity configured by the third information and the second information; and in a case where all of the configured carriers are in the non-detection control channel detection state, the terminal detects the low-power signal in the detection opportunity configured by the third information.

[0030] With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, in a case where at least one of the configured carriers is not in a non-detection control channel detection state, the terminal detects the low-power signal in the detection opportunity configured by the second information; and in a case where all of the configured carriers are in the non-detection control channel detection state, the terminal detects the low-power signal in the detection opportunity configured by the third information.

[0031] With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, in a case where the detection opportunity configured by the third information is not activated, the terminal detects the low-power signal in the detection opportunity configured by the second information; and in a case where the detection opportunity configured by the third information is activated, the terminal detects the low-power signal in the detection opportunity configured by the third information.

[0032] With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first low-power signal is an on-off keying (OOK) signal, a Chirp signal, or a low-power synchronization signal (LP-SS).

[0033] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the terminal comprises a main module and a low-power module. The terminal receives the first low-power signal by using the low-power module. The terminal determines the detection state on the at least one carrier according to the first low-power signal by using the low-power module. In the case that the low-power module determines to switch the detection state on the first carrier, the terminal detects or does not detect the control channel on the first carrier according to the switched detection state on the first carrier by using the main module. The at least one carrier comprises the first carrier.

[0034] In the second aspect, a data transmission method is provided. The method can be performed by a second communication device, which can be an access network node or a module (e.g., a chip or a chip system) configured to (or used for) the access network node. Hereinafter, the second communication device is taken as an example of the access network node.

[0035] The method comprises: determining, by the access network node, a detection state on at least one carrier. The access network node transmits a first low-power signal, which is used to indicate whether to switch or not to switch the detection state on the at least one carrier.

[0036] In some embodiments of the second aspect, the detection state on the carrier comprises at least one of the following ways of detecting a downlink control channel on the carrier:

[0037] not detecting the downlink control channel, detecting the downlink control channel in a detection opportunity, or detecting part or all of the downlink control channel in a period of time.

[0038] In some embodiments of the second aspect, the method further comprises: transmitting, by the access network node, first information, which is used to configure the detection state on a plurality of carriers.

[0039] In an embodiment, the first information configures one detection state, and the detection state on the plurality of carriers is the same.

[0040] In another embodiment, the first information configures a plurality of detection states, and the plurality of detection states comprise the detection state on each carrier of the plurality of carriers.

[0041] In some embodiments of the second aspect, the first low-power signal is used to indicate whether to switch or not to switch the detection state on at least one carrier group, and the at least one carrier belongs to the at least one carrier group.

[0042] With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: sending, by the access network node, second information, the second information being used to configure a detection opportunity of the low power consumption signal, the first low power consumption signal being sent in the detection opportunity configured by the second information.

[0043] With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the second information configures a plurality of detection opportunities, the plurality of detection opportunities corresponding to a plurality of carriers, wherein a first detection opportunity in the plurality of detection opportunities corresponds to the at least one carrier, and the sending, by the access network node, of the first low power consumption signal includes: sending, by the access network node, the first low power consumption signal in the first detection opportunity in a case where it is determined to switch the detection state on the at least one carrier; or sending, by the access network node, the first low power consumption signal in the first detection opportunity in a case where it is determined not to switch the detection state on the at least one carrier.

[0044] With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the second information configures a plurality of detection opportunities, the plurality of detection opportunities corresponding to a plurality of carriers, wherein a first detection opportunity in the plurality of detection opportunities corresponds to the at least one carrier, and the first low power consumption signal is a low power consumption signal sent in the first detection opportunity, the first low power consumption signal carrying first indication information, the first indication information being used to indicate whether to switch the detection state on the at least one carrier.

[0045] In one example, the first indication information includes one bit, the one bit being in a first state to indicate to switch the detection state on the at least one carrier, and the one bit being in a second state to indicate not to switch the detection state on the at least one carrier.

[0046] With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the second information configures one detection opportunity, the detection opportunity corresponding to the at least one carrier, the first low power consumption signal being sent in the detection opportunity, and the first low power consumption signal carrying second indication information, the second indication information being used to indicate whether to switch the detection state on each carrier in the at least one carrier.

[0047] In one example, the second indication information includes at least one bit corresponding to the at least one carrier, one bit in the at least one bit being in a first state to indicate to switch the detection state on the carrier corresponding to the one bit, and the one bit in the at least one bit being in a second state to indicate not to switch the detection state on the carrier corresponding to the one bit.

[0048] With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: sending, by the access network node, third information, the third information being used to configure a detection opportunity of the low power consumption signal, the third information being different from the detection opportunity configured by the second information.

[0049] With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the first low power signal is an on-off keying (OOK) signal, a Chirp signal, or a low power synchronization signal (LP-SS).

[0050] In a third aspect, a communication apparatus is provided. In one design, the apparatus can include a module corresponding to each of the methods / applications / steps / actions described in the first aspect or any of the implementations of the first aspect. The module can be hardware circuitry, software, or a combination of hardware circuitry and software. In one design, the apparatus includes a transceiver configured to receive a first low power signal, the first low power signal being configured to indicate whether to switch or not to switch a detection state on at least one carrier. The apparatus also includes a processing unit configured to determine the detection state on the at least one carrier based on the first low power signal.

[0051] In a fourth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided. In one design, the apparatus can include a module corresponding to each of the methods / applications / steps / actions described in the second aspect or any of the implementations of the second aspect. The module can be hardware circuitry, software, or a combination of hardware circuitry and software. In one design, the apparatus includes a processing unit configured to determine a detection state on at least one carrier. The apparatus also includes a transceiver configured to transmit a first low power signal, the first low power signal being configured to indicate whether to switch or not to switch the detection state on the at least one carrier.

[0052] In a fifth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided. The communication apparatus includes a processor. The processor can implement the methods in the first aspect through the second aspect and any of the implementations of the first aspect through the second aspect.

[0053] Optionally, the communication apparatus further includes a memory coupled to the processor. The processor can be configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to implement the methods in the first aspect through the second aspect and any of the implementations of the first aspect through the second aspect.

[0054] Optionally, the communication apparatus further includes a communication interface coupled to the processor. In an embodiment, the communication interface can be a transceiver, a pin, a circuit, a bus, a module, or any other type of communication interface.

[0055] In one implementation, the communication apparatus is a communication device (e.g., a terminal or an access network device). When the communication apparatus is a communication device, the communication interface can be a transceiver, or an input / output interface.

[0056] In another implementation, the communication apparatus is a chip configured in a communication device. When the communication apparatus is a chip configured in a communication device, the communication interface can be an input / output interface.

[0057] Optionally, the transceiver can be a transceiver circuit. Optionally, the input / output interface can be an input / output circuit.

[0058] In a sixth aspect, a processor is provided, comprising: an input circuit, an output circuit, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive a signal through the input circuit and transmit a signal through the output circuit, so that the processor performs the method in the first aspect to the second aspect and any possible implementation of the first aspect to the second aspect.

[0059] In a specific implementation process, the processor can be one or more chips, the input circuit can be an input pin, the output circuit can be an output pin, and the processing circuit can be a transistor, a gate circuit, a flip-flop, and various logic circuits, etc. The input signal received by the input circuit can be received and input by, for example but not limited to, a receiver, the output signal output by the output circuit can be output to and transmitted by, for example but not limited to, a transmitter, and the input circuit and the output circuit can be the same circuit, which is used as the input circuit and the output circuit at different times, respectively. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific implementation of the processor and various circuits.

[0060] In a seventh aspect, a computer program product is provided, which comprises a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions), which, when executed, causes a computer to perform the method in the first aspect to the second aspect and any possible implementation of the first aspect to the second aspect.

[0061] In an eighth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which stores a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions), which, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method in the first aspect to the second aspect and any possible implementation of the first aspect to the second aspect.

[0062] In a ninth aspect, a communication system is provided, comprising at least one first communication device as described above and at least one second communication device as described above.

[0063] It should be understood that the beneficial effects of the features corresponding to the first aspect in the second aspect to the ninth aspect can be referred to the related description of the first aspect, which will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0064] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system architecture provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0065] FIG. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a terminal provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0066] FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of an information transmission method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0067] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a low-power signal opportunity according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0068] FIGS. 5-10 are different schematic diagrams of an information transmission method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0069] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a time when a state is effective according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0070] FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of an example of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0071] FIG. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of another example of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0072] The technical solutions in the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0073] In the embodiments of the present application, " / " can represent that the objects before and after the " / " are in an "or" relationship, for example, A / B can represent A or B; "and / or" can be used to describe three relationships of associated objects, for example, A and / or B, which can represent three cases of A existing alone, A and B existing together, and B existing alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. In order to facilitate the description of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, "first", "second", etc. can be used for distinction in the embodiments of the present application. The "first", "second", etc. do not limit the quantity and execution order, and the "first", "second", etc. also do not limit being different. In the embodiments of the present application, the words "exemplary" or "for example" are used to represent examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design scheme described as "exemplary" or "for example" should not be interpreted as more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or design schemes. The words "exemplary" or "for example" are used to present the relevant concepts in a specific manner, and facilitate understanding. In the embodiments of the present application, at least one (kind) can also be described as one (kind) or more (kind), and the more (kind) can be two (kind), three (kind), four (kind) or more (kind), which is not limited by the present application.

[0074] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, for example: a long term evolution (LTE) system, a 5th generation (5G) communication system, a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system, and the communication method provided in the present application can also be applied to a 6th generation (6G) communication system and other communication systems evolved after the 5G, a future communication system or other communication systems. The present application does not limit this.

[0075] FIG. 1 shows a possible, non-limiting system diagram. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 10 includes a radio access network (RAN) 100 and a core network (CN) 200. The RAN 100 includes at least one RAN node (e.g., 110a and 110b in FIG. 1, collectively referred to as 110) and at least one terminal (e.g., 120a-120j in FIG. 1, collectively referred to as 120). Other RAN nodes, such as wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices (not shown in FIG. 1), etc., can also be included in the RAN 100. The terminal 120 is connected to the RAN node 110 in a wireless manner. The access network node (or RAN node) 110 is connected to the core network 200 in a wireless or wired manner. The core network device in the core network 200 and the access network node 110 in the RAN 100 can be different physical devices respectively, or can be the same physical device integrated with the core network logic function and the wireless access network logic function.

[0076] The RAN 100 can be a 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) related cellular system, for example, a 4G, 5G mobile communication system, or a future-oriented evolution system (e.g., a 6G mobile communication system). The RAN 100 can also be an open access network (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system. The RAN 100 can also be a communication system in which two or more of the above systems are fused.

[0077] The access network node 110, which can also be referred to as an access network device, a RAN entity, or an access node, etc., forms part of the communication system and is configured to enable communication of the terminal. The access network nodes 110 in the communication system 10 can be of the same type or can be of different types. In some scenarios, the roles of the access network nodes 110 and the terminals 120 are relative, e.g., the network element 120i in Figure 1 can be a helicopter or a drone, which can be configured to be a mobile base station, for a terminal 120j accessing the RAN 100 via the network element 120i, the network element 120i is a base station; but for the base station 110a, the network element 120i is a terminal. The access network nodes 110 and the terminals 120 are sometimes referred to as communication apparatuses, e.g., the network elements 110a and 110b in Figure 1 can be understood as communication apparatuses with base station functionalities, and the network elements 120a-120j can be understood as communication apparatuses with terminal functionalities.

[0078] In a possible scenario, the access network node can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a next generation base station in a 6th generation (6G) mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system, etc. The access network node can be a macro base station (e.g., 110a in Figure 1), a micro base station or an indoor station (e.g., 110b in Figure 1), a relay node or a donor node, or a wireless controller in a CRAN scenario. Optionally, the access network node can also be a server, a wearable device, a vehicle or a vehicle-mounted device, etc. For example, the access network device in a vehicle to everything (V2X) technology can be a road side unit (RSU). All or part of the functions of the access network node in this application can also be implemented by software functions running on hardware, or by virtualized functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). The access network node in this application can also be a logical node, a logical module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the access network node.

[0079] In another possible scenario, a terminal is assisted by multiple access network nodes to implement wireless access, and different access network nodes respectively implement part of functions of a base station. For example, an access network node can be a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU), etc. The CU and the DU can be separately arranged, or can be included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in a radio frequency device or a radio frequency unit, such as a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH).

[0080] A terminal can also be referred to as a terminal device, user equipment (UE), a mobile station, a mobile terminal, etc. The terminal can be widely applied to various scenarios for communication. The scenarios include, for example, but are not limited to, at least one of the following: enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC), massive machine-type communications (mMTC), D2D, V2X, machine-type communication (MTC), internet of things (IOT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, automatic driving, remote medical treatment, smart power grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wear, smart transportation, sensing terminal, terminal integrated with communication and sensing, or smart city, etc. The terminal can be a mobile phone (such as 120a, 120j, and 120e in FIG. 1), a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function (such as 120g in FIG. 1), customer-premises equipment (CPE), a smart point of sale (POS) machine, a wearable device, a vehicle (such as 120b in FIG. 1), a drone, a helicopter, an airplane (such as 120i in FIG. 1), a ship, a robot, a mechanical arm, a sensor, a perceiver, or a smart home device (such as 120h in FIG. 1), etc.

[0081] The related technologies and terms involved in the embodiments of the present application are introduced as follows.

[0082] To reduce the power consumption of the terminal, a terminal equipped with a main module and a low-power module is proposed, as shown in FIG. 2. Compared with the main radio (MR) module, the low-power radio (LP-R or LR) module has lower energy consumption, and can not only undertake some signal reception work for the MR module, but also can exchange information with the MR module. For example, in the case where the terminal has no service transmission, the MR module can be in a sleep state, and the LR module can detect a low-power wake-up signal (LP-WUS) to determine whether to wake up the MR module, so as to achieve the purpose of reducing the power consumption of the terminal.

[0083] The MR module can also be referred to as a main radio, a main receiver, a communication main module, or a main circuit, etc. The MR can be used to receive or send signaling, data, measurement signals, etc. The name of the MR module is not limited in the present application.

[0084] The LR module can also be referred to as a low-power radio, a wake-up receiver (WUR), a low-power WUR (LP-WUR), a wake-up circuit, a communication auxiliary module, or an auxiliary circuit, etc. The working power consumption of the LR is much lower than that of the MR. The LR is used to receive or send low-power signals (such as a low-power wake-up signal, a low-power synchronization signal, a low-power measurement signal, etc.). The name of the LR module is not limited in the present application.

[0085] In an optional embodiment of the present application, the terminal detecting the downlink control channel can specifically be that the terminal detects the downlink control channel through the MR module. The terminal receiving / detecting the low-power signal can specifically be that the terminal receives / detects the low-power signal through the LR module.

[0086] Low-power signal

[0087] The low-power consumption signal can be one or more of a Chirp signal, an on-off keying (OOK) signal (such as OOK-1, OOK-2, OOK-3, OOK-4, etc.), a low-power consumption sequence signal (such as a Gold sequence signal, an M sequence signal, a ZC sequence signal, a Chirp sequence signal, a Walsh sequence signal, a Golay sequence signal, a Kasami sequence signal, a low density sequence signal, a discrete fourier transform (DFT) sequence signal, a fast fourier transform (FFT) sequence signal, a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) signal, a symbol-based sequence signal, etc.), an amplitude shift keying (ASK) signal, a frequency shift keying (FSK) signal, an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal, etc., or can be an optimized signal of the above signals, etc., and the application is not limited in this regard.

[0088] Carrier and carrier group

[0089] In the present application, the carrier can be divided into a primary component carrier (PCC) and a secondary component carrier (SCC). The cell corresponding to the PCC is called a primary cell (PCell), and the cell corresponding to the SCC is called a secondary cell (SCell). The carrier group can be a primary carrier group or a secondary carrier group, or a carrier group of a primary cell or a carrier group of a secondary cell. Among them, the carrier can be replaced by a primary carrier, a secondary carrier, a carrier of a primary cell, a carrier of a secondary cell, a carrier of a cell, a cell, a primary cell or a secondary cell. The carrier group can be replaced by a primary carrier group, a secondary carrier group, a carrier group of a primary cell, a carrier group of a secondary cell, a carrier group of a cell, a cell group, a primary cell group or a secondary cell group. However, the application is not limited in this regard, and the concept of carrier can be decoupled from the concept of cell, and the carrier is not distinguished between the primary carrier and the secondary carrier.

[0090] When a terminal communicates with an access network node through multiple carriers, the data transmission amount of the terminal varies with the service demand of the user. How to avoid unnecessary power consumption for the terminal maintaining multiple carriers is a problem to be solved.

[0091] To solve the above problem, the application proposes that the access network node can notify the terminal whether to switch the detection state on the carrier through a low-power signal. Correspondingly, the terminal can determine whether to switch the detection state on the carrier by detecting the low-power signal, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the terminal.

[0092] FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of a signal transmission method according to an embodiment of the application. The method includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0093] S301, the access network node sends a first low-power signal to the terminal, and the first low-power signal is used to indicate whether to switch the detection state on at least one carrier.

[0094] Correspondingly, the terminal receives the first low-power signal from the access network node. The terminal can communicate with the access network node through one or more carriers, and the access network node can notify the terminal whether to switch the detection state on at least one carrier through the first low-power signal.

[0095] Exemplarily, the detection state on the carrier includes the state of detecting the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) on the carrier, which can include but is not limited to the following PDCCH detection modes:

[0096] not detecting the PDCCH; or,

[0097] detecting the PDCCH on the detection opportunity; or,

[0098] detecting part or all of the PDCCH in a period of time; or,

[0099] skipping part or all of the detection opportunity of the PDCCH in a period of time; or,

[0100] releasing part or all of the detection opportunity of the downlink control channel in a period of time.

[0101] It should be noted that in the present application, the detection state on the carrier is taken as the PDCCH detection state for example, and the detection state on the carrier can be the detection state of other signals, or can also include the detection state of other signals, such as the detection state of the downlink reference signal, which is not limited in the present application.

[0102] S302, the terminal determines the detection state on the at least one carrier according to the first low-power signal.

[0103] If the terminal receives the first low-power consumption signal in S301, the terminal determines the detection state on at least one carrier indicated by the first low-power consumption signal according to the first low-power consumption signal. For example, if the access network node informs the terminal to switch the detection state on one of the at least one carrier through the first low-power consumption signal, the terminal switches the detection state on the carrier. For example, the carrier is marked as carrier 1, before receiving the first low-power consumption signal, the detection state on carrier 1 is detection state 1, and the terminal determines to switch the detection state on carrier 1 from detection state 1 to detection state 2. If the access network node informs the terminal not to switch the detection state on one of the at least one carrier through the first low-power consumption signal, the terminal can maintain the detection state on the carrier.

[0104] It should be understood that the present application is not limited to the specific expression, and "switching" can be replaced by "activating" or "deactivating", and "not switching" can be replaced by "not activating". For example, for carrier 1 in the above example, it can be considered that the first low-power consumption signal indicates switching the detection state on carrier 1, or it can be considered that the first low-power consumption signal indicates activating the detection state 2 on carrier 1, or it can be considered that the first low-power consumption signal indicates deactivating the detection state 1 on carrier 1, and the terminal determines the detection state on carrier 1 as detection state 2. Or, for example, the first low-power consumption signal indicates not switching the detection state on carrier 1, and before receiving the first low-power consumption signal, the detection state on carrier 1 is detection state 1, and it can also be considered that the first low-power consumption signal indicates not activating the detection state 2 on carrier 1, and the terminal determines the detection state on carrier 1 as detection state 1, i.e., maintains the detection state on carrier 1.

[0105] For example, the access network node can determine whether the at least one carrier needs to participate in the service transmission of the terminal according to the service transmission requirement of the terminal, so as to inform the terminal of the detection state on the at least one carrier through the first low-power consumption signal. Thus, the terminal can not detect or detect part of the PDCCH on the corresponding carrier when the service transmission amount is small, so as to reduce the energy consumption of the terminal. When the service transmission amount is large, the terminal detects the PDCCH on the carrier, so as to realize timely service transmission and ensure communication reliability. However, the present application is not limited thereto, and the scheme of the present application can also be applied in other scenarios to reduce the energy consumption of the terminal.

[0106] In an implementation, the terminal comprises an MR module and an LR module, the LR module is configured to detect the low-power signal, and the MR module is configured to implement the service data transmission with the access network node, wherein the PDCCH is detected by the MR module, and the uplink / downlink data transmission is implemented based on the scheduling of the downlink control information in the PDCCH. Specifically, the terminal detects the low-power signal through the LR module, and determines the detection state of at least one carrier indicated by the first low-power signal according to the detected first low-power signal, thereby controlling the MR module to detect the PDCCH according to the detection state of the at least one carrier through the MR module.

[0107] Firstly, the detection of the first low-power signal by the terminal is described in detail below, and then the determination of the PDCCH detection state on the carrier by the terminal is described in detail.

[0108] The terminal can specifically detect the first low-power signal in a monitoring occasion (MO) for detecting the first low-power signal. The monitoring occasion can be protocol-defined or network-preconfigured.

[0109] Optionally, before S301, the access network node sends second information to the terminal, and the second information is configured to configure the monitoring occasion of the low-power signal. The terminal detects the low-power signal in the monitoring occasion configured by the second information. For example, the terminal detects the first low-power signal in the monitoring occasion configured by the second information.

[0110] The second information can configure one or more of the following information:

[0111] The time domain resource of the monitoring occasion, the frequency domain resource of the monitoring occasion, the correspondence between the monitoring occasion and the carrier, the indication format of the low-power signal, or the indication mode of the low-power signal.

[0112] Exemplarily, the configuration mode of the second information can include but is not limited to the following modes 1 to 3.

[0113] Mode 1: The second information configures multiple monitoring occasions, and the multiple monitoring occasions correspond to multiple carriers. In one of the multiple monitoring occasions, if the terminal detects the low-power signal, it indicates to switch the detection state on the carrier corresponding to the monitoring occasion; if the terminal does not detect the low-power signal, it indicates not to switch the detection state of the carrier corresponding to the monitoring occasion. Or vice versa, in one of the multiple monitoring occasions, if the terminal detects the low-power signal, it indicates not to switch the detection state on the carrier corresponding to the monitoring occasion; if the terminal does not detect the low-power signal, it indicates to switch the detection state of the carrier corresponding to the monitoring occasion.

[0114] The resource positions of different monitoring occasions in the multiple monitoring occasions are different, such as the time domain resources and / or frequency domain resources of different monitoring occasions are different. The resource positions of different monitoring occasions in the multiple monitoring occasions are different, such as the time domain resources and / or frequency domain resources of different monitoring occasions are different.

[0115] Multiple detection opportunities can correspond one-to-one with multiple carriers, or one of the multiple detection opportunities can correspond to one or more carriers.

[0116] In one example, multiple detection opportunities correspond one-to-one with multiple carriers. The second information can configure multiple detection opportunities and a carrier corresponding to each detection opportunity. Taking the case where the terminal detects a low-power signal, indicating a switch in detection state, and does not detect a low-power signal, indicating no switch in detection state, as an example: If the multiple detection opportunities include detection opportunity 1, and the second information configures detection opportunity 1 to correspond to carrier 1, the terminal detects a low-power signal on detection opportunity 1. If a low-power signal (an example of a first low-power signal) is detected on detection opportunity 1, the terminal determines to switch to the PDCCH detection state on carrier 1. If no low-power signal is detected on detection opportunity 1, the terminal determines not to switch to the PDCCH detection state on carrier 1. If the second information also configures detection opportunity 2 among the multiple detection opportunities to correspond to carrier 2, the terminal detects a low-power signal on detection opportunity 2 and determines whether to switch to the PDCCH detection state on carrier 2 based on whether a low-power signal is detected.

[0117] In another example, one of the multiple detection opportunities corresponds to one or more carriers. The number of carriers corresponding to one detection opportunity can be determined according to the specific configuration of the second information. For example, the multiple detection opportunities configured in the second information include detection opportunity 1 and detection opportunity 2. The second information configures one corresponding carrier for detection opportunity 1 and two corresponding carriers for detection opportunity 2. For example, detection opportunity 1 corresponds to carrier 1, and the two carriers corresponding to detection opportunity 2 are carrier 2 and carrier 3. The terminal can determine whether to switch or not switch the PDCCH detection state on carrier 1 based on whether a low-power signal (an example of a first low-power signal) is detected on detection opportunity 1. And if the terminal detects a low-power signal on detection opportunity 2, it determines to switch the PDCCH detection state on carrier 2 and carrier 3 if the low-power signal is detected, and determines not to switch the PDCCH detection state on carrier 2 and carrier 3 if the low-power signal is not detected.

[0118] In one implementation of this example, a detection opportunity can be considered to correspond to a carrier group, and a carrier group includes one or more carriers. For example, detection opportunity 1 corresponds to carrier group 1, which includes one carrier, namely carrier 1. Detection opportunity 2 corresponds to carrier group 2, which includes two carriers, namely carrier 2 and carrier 3. Optionally, the carrier group may be specifically configured with second information, or the carrier group may be pre-configured by the access network node for the terminal before receiving the second information. The second information can configure the carrier group corresponding to a detection opportunity by indicating the identifier of the carrier group.

[0119] In the manner 2, the second information configures a plurality of detection opportunities, the plurality of detection opportunities correspond to a plurality of carriers, the low-power consumption signal carries first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate switching or not switching a PDCCH detection state on a corresponding carrier.

[0120] In the manner 2, the detection opportunity and the carrier can be one-to-one correspondence, or one detection opportunity corresponds to one or more carriers. The specific implementation manner can refer to the description in the manner 1, and details are not described herein.

[0121] For example, the terminal detects a low-power consumption signal 1 (an example of the first low-power consumption signal) in a detection opportunity 1 in the plurality of detection opportunities, the detection opportunity 1 corresponds to a carrier 1, the low-power consumption signal 1 carries first indication information, if the first indication information indicates switching, the terminal determines to switch the PDCCH detection state on the carrier 1, and if the first indication information indicates not switching, the terminal determines not to switch the PDCCH detection state on the carrier 1.

[0122] For another example, the terminal detects a low-power consumption signal 2 (an example of the first low-power consumption signal) in a detection opportunity 2 in the plurality of detection opportunities, the detection opportunity 2 corresponds to a carrier 2 and a carrier 3, if the low-power consumption signal 2 carries first indication information indicating switching, the terminal determines to switch the PDCCH detection state on the carrier 2 and the carrier 3, and if the first indication information indicates not switching, the terminal determines not to switch the PDCCH detection state on the carrier 2 and the carrier 3.

[0123] For example, the first indication information can include one bit, the one bit is a first state, indicating switching the PDCCH detection state, and the one bit is a second state, indicating not switching the PDCCH detection state. For example, the first low-power consumption signal is detected in a first detection opportunity, the first detection opportunity corresponds to a first carrier, if the one bit in the first indication information carried by the first low-power consumption signal is 1 (an example of the first state), indicating switching the PDCCH detection state on the first carrier, and if the one bit is 0 (an example of the second state), indicating not switching the PDCCH detection state on the first carrier. However, the application is not limited to this, the first state of the one bit in the first indication information can be 0, and the second state can be 1.

[0124] In the manner 3, the second information configures one detection opportunity, the detection opportunity corresponds to at least one carrier, the first low-power consumption signal is detected in the detection opportunity, the first low-power consumption signal carries second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether to switch a detection state of each carrier in the at least one carrier.

[0125] The second information configures one detection opportunity for the terminal to detect the low-power consumption signal. The second information further configures at least one carrier corresponding to the detection opportunity. For example, the detection opportunity can correspond to one carrier or multiple carriers, or the detection opportunity can correspond to one carrier group or multiple carrier groups.

[0126] For example, the second indication information carried by the first low-power consumption signal can include at least one bit, and the at least one bit corresponds to at least one carrier. If one bit of the at least one bit is in a first state, it indicates switching the PDCCH detection state on the carrier corresponding to the bit. If one bit of the at least one bit is in a second state, it indicates not switching the PDCCH detection state on the carrier corresponding to the bit. For example, the first state is 1 and the second state is 0. In actual implementation, the first state can be 0 and the second state can be 1, which is not limited in the present application.

[0127] For example, the second information configures one detection opportunity corresponding to four carriers, and the second indication information includes four bits corresponding to the four carriers one by one, such as the four bits correspond to carrier 1, carrier 2, carrier 3 and carrier 4 in turn. After detecting the first low-power consumption signal, the terminal determines that the four bits in the second indication information carried by the first low-power consumption signal are 1001. The first bit and the fourth bit are 1 (an example of the first state), which respectively indicates switching the PDCCH detection state on carrier 1 and carrier 4. The second bit and the third bit are 0 (an example of the second state), which respectively indicates not switching the PDCCH detection state on carrier 2 and carrier 3.

[0128] For example, one bit in the second indication information can correspond to one or more carriers. For example, each bit can correspond to one carrier group, and one carrier group can include at least one carrier. The second information configures one detection opportunity corresponding to four carrier groups, and the second indication information includes four bits corresponding to the four carrier groups one by one, such as the four bits correspond to carrier group 1, carrier group 2, carrier group 3 and carrier group 4 in turn. For example, carrier group 1 includes carrier 1 and carrier 4, carrier group 2 includes carrier 2, carrier group 3 includes carrier 3 and carrier 5, and carrier group 4 includes carrier 6, carrier 7 and carrier 8. If the four bits in the second indication information are 1001, the terminal can determine, according to the first bit being 1, to switch the PDCCH detection state on carrier group 1, i.e., to switch the PDCCH detection state on carrier 1 and carrier 4. The terminal can determine, according to the second bit being 0, not to switch the PDCCH detection state on carrier group 2, i.e., not to switch the PDCCH detection state on carrier 2. And the terminal can determine, according to the last two bits, not to switch the PDCCH detection state on carrier group 3 (i.e., carrier 3 and carrier 5), and to switch the PDCCH detection state on carrier group 4 (i.e., carrier 6, carrier 7 and carrier 8).

[0129] The detection opportunity of the low power consumption signal can occur periodically, and the second information can further configure a period of the detection opportunity.

[0130] Alternatively, the second information can configure a low power consumption signal opportunity, one low power consumption signal opportunity includes one or more detection opportunities, the second information can configure a period of the low power consumption signal opportunity, and the terminal can determine that the low power consumption signal opportunity occurs periodically. The resource positions of the detection opportunities included in the low power consumption signal opportunity in each period are the same.

[0131] For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the second information configures one low power consumption signal opportunity including two detection opportunities, and a period of the low power consumption signal opportunity is N time units, the low power consumption signal opportunity occurs once every N time units, and the low power consumption signal opportunity in each period includes two detection opportunities. The terminal detects the low power consumption signal in the detection opportunity in the low power consumption signal opportunity in each period according to the configuration of the second information.

[0132] For example, the time unit can be a time domain symbol (such as an OFDM symbol), a group of time domain symbols, a time slot, a mini-slot, a group of time slots, an absolute time (such as ms, ns, etc.), or a relative time, etc., which are not limited in the present application.

[0133] In one example, the period of the low power consumption signal opportunity configured by the second information can be independent of a subcarrier spacing (SCS) used by a carrier, for example, the second information can indicate N, and the terminal can determine the period of the low power consumption signal opportunity according to the number N of time units.

[0134] In another example, the period of the low power consumption signal opportunity configured by the second information can be related to a subcarrier spacing (SCS) used by a carrier, for example, the second information can indicate the number N of time units corresponding to an SCS of 15 kHz 15kHz , and the terminal can determine the number N of time units corresponding to the SCS according to the SCS used by the carrier where the MO is located. Wherein, SCS=15 kHz*2 n , n is an integer greater than or equal to 0, and the number of time units satisfies:

[0135] N=N 15kHz *2 n , for example, the second information indicates N 15kHz =1, if the SCS used by the carrier where the MO is located is 30 kHz, then n=1, and the terminal can determine the number N of time units =1*2 1= 2, and the terminal can determine that the periodic duration of the low-power signal opportunity is 4 time units on the carrier where the MO is located. Similarly, if the SCS used by the carrier where the MO is located is 60 kHz, then n = 2, and N = 1 * 2 2 = 4.

[0136] The access network node can specifically configure the PDCCH detection state on the carrier for the terminal. The PDCCH detection state on the carrier can be switched by the low-power signal.

[0137] Optionally, before S301, the access network node can send first information to the terminal, the first information being used to configure the detection state on multiple carriers. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the first information from the access network node, and determines the detection state configured on the multiple carriers according to the first information.

[0138] In an implementation, the first information configures one detection state, and the detection states on the multiple carriers are the same.

[0139] The access network node can be considered to configure a unified detection state on the multiple carriers for the terminal. The access network node can indicate whether to switch to the detection state configured by the first information or not.

[0140] Exemplarily, the first information can include one or more of the following configuration information of the detection state:

[0141] The duration of the detection state, the PDCCH detection machine that needs to be detected within the duration of the detection state, or the PDCCH detection machine that does not need to be detected within the duration of the detection state.

[0142] For example, the first information configures one detection state, and the first information specifically configures that the detection state lasts for M time units, and the PDCCH detection opportunity in the M time units does not detect PDCCH. Exemplarily, the time unit can be a time domain symbol (such as an OFDM symbol), a group of time domain symbols, a slot, a mini-slot, a group of slots, an absolute time, or a relative time, etc., which are not limited in the present application.

[0143] The duration of the detection state configured by the first information can be independent of the subcarrier spacing, such as the first information can indicate M, or the detection state can be related to the subcarrier spacing, and the first information can indicate the number M of time units corresponding to the SCS of 15 kHz 15kHz The terminal determines the number M of time units on the carrier according to the SCS used by the carrier where PDCCH is detected 15kHz * 2 nThe specific implementation can refer to the manner of determining the number N of time units of the period length of the low-power signal opportunity by the terminal, which will not be described here again.

[0144] Example 1, as shown in FIG. 5, the access network node adopts the above-mentioned manner 1, and configures 2 detection opportunities through the second information, for example, the 2 detection opportunities correspond to the carrier group 1 and the carrier group 2 one by one. For example, the carrier group 1 includes the carrier 1, and the carrier group 2 includes the carrier 2 and the carrier 3. The access network node configures a detection state through the first information, for example, the first information configures the duration of the detection state as 3 time units, and configures the detection state as not detecting PDCCH. The terminal can determine that the detection state is not detecting PDCCH in 3 time units. For example, it can also be defined that when not switching to the detection state, the terminal considers the detection state of the carrier as a default detection state. The default detection state can be detecting PDCCH in each PDCCH detection opportunity. The default detection state can be predefined or configured by the access network node. The default detection state can also be detecting part of the PDCCH detection opportunity. The present application does not limit this.

[0145] The terminal can first detect the low-power signal in the 2 detection opportunities of the low-power signal according to the second information. The terminal does not detect the low-power signal in the detection opportunity 1, which indicates not switching the detection state of the carrier in the carrier group 1 corresponding to the detection opportunity 1. The terminal determines that the carrier 1 in the carrier group 1 keeps the default detection state, that is, detecting PDCCH in each PDCCH detection opportunity. The terminal detects the low-power signal in the detection opportunity 2, which indicates switching the detection state of the carrier in the carrier group 2 corresponding to the detection opportunity 2. The terminal determines to switch the detection state of the carrier 2 and the carrier 3 in the carrier group 2, and does not detect PDCCH in 3 time units. After 3 time units, the terminal can restore the default detection state of the carrier 2 and the carrier 3, that is, the terminal detects PDCCH in each PDCCH detection opportunity on the 3 carriers after 3 time units.

[0146] Example 2, as shown in FIG. 6, the access network node adopts the above-mentioned manner 2, and configures 2 detection opportunities through the second information, the 2 detection opportunities correspond to carrier group 1 (containing carrier 1) and carrier group 2 (containing carrier 2 and carrier 3) one by one, and the low-power consumption signal in the two detection opportunities carries first indication information, one bit in the first indication information indicates switching or not switching the detection state. The terminal determines not to switch the detection state of the carrier in carrier group 1, that is, detects each PDCCH detection opportunity on carrier 1, when the low-power consumption signal detected by the terminal on the detection opportunity 1 carries the first indication information with one bit indicating 0. The terminal determines to switch the detection state of the carrier in carrier group 2, that is, does not detect the PDCCH detection opportunity on carrier 2 and carrier 3 for 3 time units, when the low-power consumption signal detected by the terminal on the detection opportunity 2 carries the first indication information with one bit indicating 1.

[0147] Example 3, as shown in FIG. 7, the access network node adopts the above-mentioned manner 3, and configures 1 detection opportunity through the second information, the low-power consumption signal on the detection opportunity carries second indication information, the second indication information includes 2 bits, and the 2 bits correspond to carrier group 1 and carrier group 2 one by one. After the terminal detects the low-power consumption signal on the detection opportunity, the terminal acquires the second indication information carried by the detection opportunity, and the 2 bits of the second indication information are 01. The first bit is 0, which indicates not switching the detection state of the carrier in carrier group 1. The terminal determines that carrier 1 remains in the default detection state, and detects PDCCH in each PDCCH detection opportunity. The second bit is 1, which indicates switching the detection state of the carrier in carrier group 2. The terminal determines not to detect the PDCCH detection opportunity on carrier 2 and carrier 3 for 3 time units.

[0148] In Example 4, as shown in FIG. 8, the access network node configures one detection state through the first information, such as configuring the detection state to last for 3 time units and configuring the detection state as a partial PDCCH detection opportunity, such as configuring to detect the PDCCH detection opportunity in the second time unit of the 3 time units and not to detect the PDCCH detection opportunity in the first time unit and the third time unit. Take the access network node configuring the detection opportunity in the above-described manner 3 as an example. The low-power consumption signal carries second indication information, which includes 2 bits corresponding to carrier group 1 (including carrier 1) and carrier group 2 (including carrier 2 and carrier 3). The terminal acquires the low-power consumption signal detected in the detection opportunity and determines that the 2 bits in the second indication information are 10, and then the terminal determines to switch the detection state of the carriers in carrier group 1, that is, to detect only the PDCCH detection opportunity in the second time unit and not to detect the PDCCH detection opportunity in the first time unit and the third time unit in the 3 time units. In addition, the terminal determines not to switch the detection state of the carriers in carrier group 2, that is, to maintain the default detection state on carrier 2 and carrier 3, that is, to detect PDCCH in each PDCCH detection opportunity.

[0149] It should be understood that the diagrams of the examples of the present application are only schematic diagrams, and the resource positions and / or occurrence periods of the PDCCH detection opportunities on different carriers can be different.

[0150] In another implementation, the first information configures a plurality of detection states, and the plurality of detection states include the detection state of each carrier in the plurality of carriers.

[0151] The access network node can configure the detection state of each carrier in the plurality of carriers for the terminal through the first information, and the specific configuration granularity of the first information can be a carrier or a carrier group. Take the configuration granularity as a carrier group as an example for description. The access network node can configure a corresponding detection state for each carrier group in the plurality of carrier groups through the first information. That is, the access network node configures the detection state for the carrier groups respectively, and the detection states on different carrier groups can be different or the same. For example, the detection states of different carrier groups can have different durations, or the PDCCH detection opportunities that need to be detected in the duration can be different. The flexibility of configuration can be improved.

[0152] Example 5, as shown in FIG. 9, taking the access network node in the above manner 1 as an example, the access network node configures 2 low-power signal detection opportunities corresponding to carrier group 1 (including carrier 1) and carrier group 2 (including carrier 2 and carrier 3) through the second information. The access network node configures the detection state of the terminal on the carrier group 1 (including carrier 1) as 3 time units of no PDCCH detection opportunity, configures the detection state on the carrier group 2 as 4 time units, and detects the PDCCH detection opportunity in the first time unit of the 4 time units and does not detect the PDCCH detection opportunity in the other time units. If the terminal does not detect the low-power signal on the detection opportunity 1 in a period, the terminal can determine not to switch the detection state of the carrier in the carrier group 1 corresponding to the detection opportunity 1, and maintain the default detection state on the carrier 1, that is, detect every PDCCH detection opportunity. The terminal detects the low-power signal on the detection opportunity 2 in the period, and the terminal can determine to switch the detection state of the carrier in the carrier group 2 corresponding to the detection opportunity 2. That is, detect the PDCCH detection opportunity in the first time unit of the 4 time units, and do not detect the PDCCH detection opportunity in the time units other than the first time unit of the 4 time units. After the 4 time units, the terminal detects the PDCCH on every PDCCH detection opportunity on the carrier 2 and the carrier 3. In the next period, the terminal detects the low-power signal on the detection opportunity 1, determines to switch the detection state of the carrier in the carrier group 1, that is, does not detect the PDCCH detection opportunity in the consecutive 3 time units on the carrier 1, and the terminal also detects the low-power signal on the detection opportunity 2, determines to switch the detection state of the carrier in the carrier group 2, and detects the PDCCH detection opportunity in the first time unit of the consecutive 4 time units on the carrier 2 and the carrier 3, and does not detect the PDCCH detection opportunity in the other time units.

[0153] Optionally, the access network node can configure the detection state in the granularity of the carrier, and indicate not to switch the detection state after switching in the granularity of the carrier group through the low-power detection signal.

[0154] Example 6, as shown in FIG. 10, taking the access network node in the above manner 3 as an example, 1 detection opportunity is configured through the second information, and the second indication information carried by the low-power signal includes 2 bits, which correspond to the carrier group 1 (including carrier 1) and the carrier group 2 (including carrier 2 and carrier 3). The access network node configures the detection state corresponding to each carrier in the plurality of carriers for the terminal through the first information, such as the detection state of the carrier 1 being 3 consecutive time units of no PDCCH detection opportunity, the detection state of the carrier 2 being 2 consecutive time units of no PDCCH detection opportunity, and the detection state of the carrier 3 being the second time unit of the consecutive 4 time units of PDCCH detection opportunity and the other time units of no PDCCH detection opportunity.

[0155] The terminal detects the low-power consumption signal in a detection opportunity of a cycle, and the two bits in the detected low-power consumption signal are 01. The terminal determines, according to the first bit being 0, not to switch the detection state of the carrier in the carrier group 1, that is, to detect each PDCCH detection opportunity on the carrier 1. The terminal determines, according to the second bit being 1, to switch the detection state of the carrier in the carrier group 2. The terminal can determine, according to the configuration of the first information, not to detect the PDCCH detection opportunity in the two continuous time units on the carrier 2, and after the two time units end, the terminal restores the default detection state of the carrier 2, that is, detects the PDCCH in each PDCCH detection opportunity. The terminal detects the PDCCH detection opportunity in the second time unit of the four continuous time units on the carrier 3, and does not detect the PDCCH detection opportunity in the other time units of the four time units. In the detection opportunity of the next cycle, the two bits in the low-power consumption signal detected by the terminal are 11, and the terminal determines to switch the detection state of the carrier in the carrier group 1 and the carrier group 2, that is, not to detect the PDCCH detection opportunity in the three continuous time units on the carrier 1. The specific implementation manner of the carrier group 2 is the same as that of the last cycle, and will not be described herein.

[0156] Optionally, the effective time of the detection state indicated by the low-power consumption signal can be protocol predefined or can be preconfigured for the terminal by the access network node.

[0157] In one example, the effective time of the detection state can be determined with reference to the starting time point of the low-power consumption signal opportunity, for example, the starting time of the first time unit of the detection state can be predefined or preconfigured to have a time offset from the starting time of the low-power consumption signal opportunity.

[0158] For example, the time granularity of the time offset can be a time domain symbol (such as an OFDM symbol), a time domain symbol group, a slot, a mini-slot, or a slot group, which is not limited in the present application. The time offset and the time granularity of the time unit can be the same or different.

[0159] For example, the time offset is a time unit, for example, the access network node configures the time offset to be K time units for the terminal, for example, K = 1, as shown in FIG. 11, the terminal can determine that the effective time (or the starting time) of the detection state of the carrier is 1 time unit after the starting time of the low-power consumption signal opportunity. K can also be 0 or other values, or the time offset can also have a time granularity of OFDM symbol, which is not limited in the present application.

[0160] The effective time of the detection state can also take the starting time of the detection opportunity of the low-power signal as the reference time point, or other time as the reference time point, which is not limited in the present application. The effective time of the detection state is predefined by the protocol or configured by the access network node for the terminal, so that the access network node and the terminal can reach a consensus on the effective time of the detection state, and reduce the probability of transmission error caused by not reaching a consensus.

[0161] It should be noted that the present application does not limit the carrier of the low-power signal detected by the terminal, and the access network node can configure the carrier of the detection opportunity of the low-power signal for the terminal, such as through the second information or other information configuration. The terminal detects the low-power signal on the carrier configured with the detection opportunity of the low-power signal. The low-power signal can indicate or not indicate whether to switch the detection state of the carrier of the detection opportunity, which is not limited in the present application. For example, in the foregoing examples of FIG. 5 to FIG. 11, the detection opportunity of the low-power signal can be on a carrier other than carrier 1 to carrier 3, or the detection opportunity of the low-power signal can be on one of carrier 1 to carrier 3.

[0162] According to the scheme provided in the present application, the access network node can indicate the terminal to switch or not to switch the detection state of at least one carrier of the terminal through the low-power signal as needed, which can reduce the energy consumption of the terminal.

[0163] In an optional implementation, the access network node can configure two sets of detection opportunities for the terminal, such as the access network node configuring a set of detection opportunities of the low-power signal for the terminal through the second information, and the access network node can also send third information to the terminal, which is used to configure the detection opportunity of the low-power signal, and the third information is different from the detection opportunity of the low-power signal configured by the second information.

[0164] In one example, if at least one of the carriers of the terminal is not in the detection state of not detecting PDCCH, the terminal detects the low-power signal in the detection opportunity configured by the third information and the second information. If all the carriers of the terminal are in the detection state of not detecting PDCCH, the terminal detects the low-power signal in the detection opportunity configured by the third information. This can avoid the situation that the access network node cannot communicate with the terminal because the terminal does not detect the signal on all the carriers.

[0165] In another example, if at least one of the carriers of the terminal is not in the detection state of not detecting the control channel, the terminal detects the low-power signal in the detection opportunity configured by the second information. If all the carriers of the terminal are in the detection state of not detecting the control channel, the terminal detects the low-power signal in the detection opportunity configured by the third information. This can avoid the situation that the access network node cannot communicate with the terminal because the terminal does not detect the signal on all the carriers.

[0166] In another example, if the detection opportunity configured by the third information is not activated, the low-power signal is detected in the detection opportunity configured by the second information. If the detection opportunity configured by the third information is activated, the low-power signal is detected in the detection opportunity configured by the third information, and the low-power signal is not detected in the detection opportunity configured by the second information. The situation that the terminal does not detect the signal in all carriers and the access network node cannot communicate with the terminal can be avoided.

[0167] For example, in the case that the detection state of all carriers of the terminal is not to detect the PDCCH detection opportunity, the detection opportunity of the low-power signal configured by the third information is activated. Or, in the case that the detection state of all carriers is not to detect the PDCCH detection opportunity, the terminal starts a timer, and after the timer expires, the detection opportunity of the low-power signal configured by the third information is activated. Or, the detection opportunity of the low-power signal configured by the third information can be activated by the low-power signal, for example, the low-power signal detected by the terminal in the detection opportunity configured by the second information indicates that the detection opportunity configured by the third information is activated.

[0168] It can be understood that, in order to implement the functions in the above examples, the access network node and the terminal include the corresponding hardware structure and / or software module for implementing each function. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that, in combination with the units and method steps of the examples described in the embodiments disclosed in the present application, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a certain function is implemented in hardware or computer software driven hardware depends on the specific application scenario and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0169] FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are structural schematic diagrams of possible communication apparatuses provided by the embodiments of the present application. The communication apparatuses can be used to implement the functions of the terminal or the access network node in the above method embodiments, and thus can also achieve the beneficial effects possessed by the above method embodiments. In the embodiments of the present application, the communication apparatus can be one of the terminals 120a-120j as shown in FIG. 1, or the access network node 110a or 110b as shown in FIG. 1, or a module (such as a chip or a chip system) applied to the terminal or the access network node.

[0170] The communication apparatus 1200 includes a transceiver unit 1220, which can be used to receive or send information, and the communication apparatus 1200 can also include a processing unit 1210, which can be used to process instructions or data to implement corresponding operations.

[0171] It should be appreciated that, when the communication apparatus 1200 is a chip configured in (or used for) a communication device, the transceiver unit 1220 in the communication apparatus 1200 can be an input / output interface or circuit of the chip, and the processing unit 1210 in the communication apparatus 1200 can be a processor in the chip.

[0172] Optionally, the communication apparatus 1200 can further include a storage unit 1230, which can be used to store instructions or data. The processing unit 1210 can execute the instructions or data stored in the storage unit 1230, so as to enable the communication apparatus to implement corresponding operations.

[0173] The communication apparatus 1200 can be used to implement the functions of the terminal or the network device in the method embodiments shown in FIG. 3.

[0174] When the communication apparatus 1200 is used to implement the functions of the terminal in the method embodiments shown in FIG. 3: the transceiver unit 1220 is configured to receive a first low-power consumption signal, the first low-power consumption signal being used to indicate whether to switch or not to switch a detection state on at least one carrier. The processing unit 1210 is configured to determine the detection state on the at least one carrier according to the first low-power consumption signal.

[0175] When the communication apparatus 1200 is used to implement the functions of the access network node in the method embodiments shown in FIG. 3: the processing unit 1210 is configured to determine a detection state on at least one carrier. The transceiver unit 1220 is configured to send a first low-power consumption signal, the first low-power consumption signal being used to indicate whether to switch or not to switch the detection state on the at least one carrier.

[0176] For more detailed description of the processing unit 1210 and the transceiver unit 1220, reference can be made to the related description in the method embodiments shown in FIG. 3.

[0177] It should be appreciated that the transceiver unit 1220 in the communication apparatus 1200 can be implemented by a communication interface (such as a transceiver, a transceiving circuit, an input / output interface, or a pin, etc.). When the communication interface is a transceiver, the transceiver can be composed of a receiver and / or a transmitter. The processing unit 1210 in the communication apparatus 1200 can be implemented by at least one processor, and the processing unit 1210 in the communication apparatus 1200 can also be implemented by at least one logic circuit. Optionally, the communication apparatus 1200 further includes a storage unit, which can be implemented by a memory.

[0178] As shown in FIG. 13, the communication apparatus 1300 includes a processor 1310 and an interface circuit 1320. The processor 1310 and the interface circuit 1320 are coupled to each other. It can be understood that the interface circuit 1320 can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, the communication apparatus 1300 can further include a memory 1330 for storing instructions executed by the processor 1310 or storing input data required by the processor 1310 to execute instructions or storing data generated after the processor 1310 executes instructions.

[0179] In an implementation manner, the memory 1330 can also be integrated in the processor 1310 or independent of the processor 1310.

[0180] When the communication apparatus 1300 is used to implement the method shown in FIG. 3, the processor 1310 is configured to implement the functions of the processing unit 1210, and the interface circuit 1320 is configured to implement the functions of the transceiver unit 1220.

[0181] When the communication apparatus is a terminal device chip, the terminal device chip can implement the functions of the terminal in the method embodiments. The terminal device chip receives information from other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) in the terminal device, and the information is sent by a network device to the terminal device; or the terminal device chip sends information to other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) in the terminal device, and the information is sent by the terminal device to the network device.

[0182] When the communication apparatus is a network device module, the network device module can implement the functions of the network device in the method embodiments. The network device module receives information from other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) in the network device, and the information is sent by a terminal device to the network device; or the network device module sends information to other modules (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna) in the network device, and the information is sent by the network device to the terminal device. The network device module can be a baseband chip of the network device, or a DU or other module. The DU can be a DU under an open radio access network (O-RAN) architecture.

[0183] It can be understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application can be a central processing unit (CPU), and can also be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor, or any conventional processor.

[0184] The method steps in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in hardware, or in software instructions executable by a processor. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, which can be stored in a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an erasable programmable read-only memory, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, a register, a hard disk, a mobile hard disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium well known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor, so that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. The storage medium can also be a component of the processor. The processor and the storage medium can be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC can be located in an access network device or a terminal device. The processor and the storage medium can also exist as discrete components in the access network device or the terminal device.

[0185] According to the method provided by the embodiments of the present application, the embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program product, which comprises computer program codes, and when the computer program codes are executed by one or more processors, the device comprising the processors executes the method shown in FIG. 3.

[0186] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product comprises one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer programs or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are executed. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user equipment, or other programmable apparatus.

[0187] According to the method provided by the embodiments of the present application, the embodiments of the present application further provide a computer readable storage medium storing the computer program or instructions, which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus including the processors to perform the method shown in FIG. 3.

[0188] The computer program or instructions can be stored in the computer readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer readable storage medium to another computer readable storage medium, for example, the computer program or instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server or data center to another website, computer, server or data center through wired or wireless manner. The computer readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server, data center and the like integrated with one or more available media. The available media can be a magnetic medium, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape; or an optical medium, for example, a digital video disc; or a semiconductor medium, for example, a solid state disk. The computer readable storage medium can be a volatile or non-volatile storage medium, or can include both volatile and non-volatile storage media.

[0189] According to the method provided by the embodiments of the present application, the embodiments of the present application further provide a communication system, including one or more terminals as described above. The system can further include one or more access network nodes as described above.

[0190] In several of the embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, device and method can be implemented in other ways. For example, the above-described device is only schematic, for example, the division of the units is only a logical function division, and actual implementation can have another division manner, for example, a plurality of units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection between the displayed or discussed units can be indirect coupling or communication connection through some interface, device or unit, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0191] The units described as separate components can or can not be physically separated, and the components displayed as units can or can not be physical units, that is, they can be located in one place, or can be distributed on a plurality of network units. Some or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the present application.

[0192] In various embodiments of the present application, the terms and / or descriptions among different embodiments are consistent and can be referred to each other if there is no special description and logical conflict, and the technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

[0193] The above merely illustrates the specific embodiments of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto, any person skilled in the art can easily think of the changes or replacements within the technical scope disclosed by the present application, which should be covered in the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

A communication method characterized by comprising: The application is applied to a first communication device, comprising: receiving a first low-power signal, the first low-power signal being used to indicate switching or not switching a detection state on at least one carrier; determining the detection state on the at least one carrier according to the first low-power signal. The method of claim 1, wherein The detection state on the carrier comprises at least one of the following ways of detecting a downlink control channel on the carrier: not detecting the downlink control channel, detecting the downlink control channel in a detection opportunity, detecting part or all of the downlink control channel in a period of time, skipping part or all of the detection opportunity of the downlink control channel in a period of time, or releasing part or all of the detection opportunity of the downlink control channel in a period of time. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that Before receiving the first low-power signal, the method further comprises: receiving first information, the first information being used to configure the detection state on a plurality of carriers, wherein the first information configures one detection state, and the detection state on the plurality of carriers is the same; or the first information configures a plurality of detection states, and the plurality of detection states comprise the detection state on each carrier in the plurality of carriers. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The first low-power signal is used to indicate switching or not switching the detection state on at least one carrier group, and the at least one carrier belongs to the at least one carrier group. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The method further comprises: receiving second information, the second information being used to configure a detection opportunity of a low-power signal, and the first low-power signal is a low-power signal detected in the detection opportunity configured by the second information. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The second information configures a plurality of detection opportunities, the plurality of detection opportunities correspond to a plurality of carriers, in one detection opportunity in the plurality of detection opportunities, if a low-power signal is detected, it indicates switching the detection state on the carrier corresponding to the one detection opportunity; if no low-power signal is detected, it indicates not switching the detection state on the carrier corresponding to the one detection opportunity; or if a low-power signal is detected, it indicates not switching the detection state on the carrier corresponding to the one detection opportunity; if no low-power signal is detected, it indicates switching the detection state on the carrier corresponding to the one detection opportunity. The second information configures a plurality of detection opportunities, the plurality of detection opportunities correspond to a plurality of carriers, wherein a first detection opportunity in the plurality of detection opportunities corresponds to the at least one carrier, the first low-power signal is detected in the first detection opportunity, the first low-power signal carries first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate switching or not switching the detection state on the at least one carrier. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The first indication information comprises one bit, The method of claim 7, wherein the one bit is in a first state, indicating switching the detection state on the at least one carrier; the one bit is in a second state, indicating not switching the detection state on the at least one carrier. The second information configures one detection opportunity, the detection opportunity corresponds to the at least one carrier, the first low-power signal is detected in the detection opportunity, the first low-power signal carries second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate whether to switch the detection state on each carrier in the at least one carrier. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that ​ The method of claim 9, wherein The second indication information includes at least one bit corresponding to the at least one carrier, If one bit in the at least one bit is in a first state, it indicates switching the detection state on the carrier corresponding to the bit. If one bit in the at least one bit is in a second state, it indicates not switching the detection state on the carrier corresponding to the bit. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that The method further includes: Receiving third information, the third information being used for configuring a detection opportunity of a low-power signal, and the third information being different from the detection opportunity configured by the second information. The method of claim 11, wherein The method further includes: In a case where at least one carrier in the configured carriers is not in the detection state of not detecting the control channel, detecting the low-power signal in the detection opportunity configured by the third information and the second information; in a case where all the configured carriers are in the detection state of not detecting the control channel, detecting the low-power signal in the detection opportunity configured by the third information; or, In a case where at least one carrier in the configured carriers is not in the detection state of not detecting the control channel, detecting the low-power signal in the detection opportunity configured by the second information; in a case where all the configured carriers are in the detection state of not detecting the control channel, detecting the low-power signal in the detection opportunity configured by the third information; or, In a case where the detection opportunity configured by the third information is not activated, detecting the low-power signal in the detection opportunity configured by the second information; in a case where the detection opportunity configured by the third information is activated, detecting the low-power signal in the detection opportunity configured by the third information. A communication method characterized by comprising: Applied to a second communication device, including: Determining the detection state on at least one carrier; Sending a first low-power signal, the first low-power signal being used for indicating switching or not switching the detection state on at least one carrier. A communication device characterized by comprising: Including at least one processor, the processor being used for causing the communication device to perform the method in any one of claims 1 to 13. The communication apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that Further including a memory; the memory being used for storing a computer program, and the processor being used for executing the computer program stored in the memory to cause the communication device to perform the method in any one of claims 1 to 13. A computer program product, characterized in that Including instructions, when the instructions are run on a computer, causing the computer to perform the method in any one of claims 1 to 13. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized by Storing instructions, when the instructions are run on a computer, causing the computer to perform the method in any one of claims 1 to 13.

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