Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

Provided in the present application are a communication method and apparatus, which can implement downlink synchronization, so as to receive a paging message. The method includes: a second communication apparatus periodically sending at least one first signal on the basis of first configuration information, wherein the at least one first signal respectively occupies different time units; a first communication apparatus receiving the first signal from the second communication apparatus on the basis of the first configuration information, wherein the first signal indicates downlink synchronization information, and second configuration information of a second signal, which second signal indicates third configuration information of a paging message; and the first communication apparatus implementing downlink synchronization with the second communication apparatus on the basis of the downlink synchronization information indicated by the first signal.

Description

Method and apparatus for communication

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese Patent Application No. 202411131571.9, filed on August 16, 2024, and entitled "Method and apparatus for communication", 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 method and apparatus for communication. BACKGROUND

[0003] In new radio (NR), the states of a terminal device include three states, i.e., a radio resource control idle (RRC_IDLE) state, an RRC inactive (RRC_INACTIVE) state and an RRC connected (RRC_CONNECTED) state. There is no RRC connection between the terminal device in the RRC_IDLE state and the network. For the terminal device in the RRC_INACTIVE state, although an RRC connection is established with the network, the connection is suspended. When the network has downlink data to be sent to the terminal device in the RRC_IDLE or RRC_INACTIVE state, the network needs to page the terminal device through a paging procedure first to notify the terminal device to establish or resume the RRC connection, and then data transmission can be performed.

[0004] The premise for the terminal device in the RRC_IDLE state or the RRC_INACTIVE state to wake up to receive downlink information such as a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) is to achieve downlink synchronization according to the acquired downlink synchronization information. At present, the terminal device acquires the downlink synchronization information by detecting a synchronization signal and a physical layer broadcast channel block (SSB) signal. However, in the scenario where the terminal device is in a remote mountainous area or is blocked by buildings / human bodies, the terminal device is difficult to detect the SSB, and thus is difficult to achieve downlink synchronization, and also cannot receive the subsequent paging message carried on the PDSCH. SUMMARY

[0005] The present application provides a method and apparatus for communication, which can achieve downlink synchronization, so that the paging message can be received.

[0006] In a first aspect, a method of communication is provided that can be performed by a first communication apparatus, which can be a terminal device or a module (e.g., a circuit, a chip, a chip system, or a processor) in a terminal device, and can also be a logic node, a logic module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of a terminal device.

[0007] The method includes: receiving, by the first communication apparatus, a first signal from a second communication apparatus according to first configuration information, the first signal indicating downlink synchronization information and second configuration information of a second signal, the first signal being periodically transmitted by the second communication apparatus, the second signal indicating third configuration information of a paging message; and implementing, by the first communication apparatus, downlink synchronization with the second communication apparatus according to the downlink synchronization information.

[0008] Based on the above technical solution, the second communication apparatus periodically transmits the first signal according to the first configuration information, and correspondingly, the first communication apparatus receives the first signal from the second communication apparatus according to the first configuration information, the first signal indicating the downlink synchronization information and the second configuration information of the second signal, the second signal indicating the third configuration information of the paging message; the first communication apparatus can implement downlink synchronization with the second communication apparatus according to the downlink synchronization information indicated by the first signal. Compared with the scheme of implementing downlink synchronization by blindly detecting SSB, the scheme provided in the embodiments of the present application can avoid failing to obtain downlink synchronization information, can implement downlink synchronization, and thus can receive subsequent paging messages.

[0009] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: receiving, by the first communication apparatus, the second signal from the second communication apparatus according to the second configuration information; and receiving, by the first communication apparatus, the paging message according to the third configuration information. The first configuration information can be semi-statically configured through a radio resource control (RRC) message, and the second configuration information can be dynamically configured through the first signal. Alternatively, the second configuration information can also be semi-statically configured through an RRC message or be configured by a protocol to be transmitted at a certain time-frequency position after the first signal is transmitted.

[0010] In some implementations of the first aspect, the first communication device receives the first signal from the second communication device according to the first configuration information, including: the first communication device receives the first signal from the second communication device according to the identification information of the first communication device and the first configuration information, the first signal being a signal of at least one first signal periodically transmitted by the second communication device, the time units occupied by the at least one first signal being different.

[0011] Optionally, the plurality of first signals in a period correspond to different first communication devices respectively. For example, the plurality of first signals periodically transmitted by the second communication device correspond to different second signals respectively, and the plurality of second signals respectively indicate different PDSCH time-frequency resources of the paging message. Since different first signals in the plurality of first signals correspond to different first communication devices, different first communication devices correspond to different PDSCH time-frequency resources of the paging message respectively. Making the paging message corresponding to different first communication devices carried on different PDSCHs can reduce the load of the PDSCH.

[0012] In some implementations of the first aspect, the first signal or the second signal further indicates that a communication device belonging to a first communication device set needs to detect the paging message, and the first communication device belongs to the first communication device set.

[0013] Optionally, the first signal or the second signal can also indicate whether a communication device belonging to a first communication device set needs to detect the paging message. In the case where the first signal indicates that the communication device belonging to the first communication device set does not need to detect the paging message, the communication device belonging to the first communication device set does not need to detect the second signal and the paging message transmitted subsequently, thereby saving power consumption. In the case where the second signal indicates that the communication device belonging to the first communication device set does not need to detect the paging message, the communication device belonging to the first communication device set does not need to detect the paging message transmitted subsequently, thereby saving power consumption.

[0014] In some implementations of the first aspect, the first signal or the second signal further indicates common alarm information.

[0015] In some implementations of the first aspect, the time units occupied by the at least one first signal and the time units occupied by the second signal are continuous; or the time units occupied by the at least one first signal and the time units occupied by the second signal are discontinuous.

[0016] With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: receiving, by the first communication device, the first configuration information from the second communication device. Alternatively, the first configuration information can also be predefined.

[0017] The second aspect provides a method of communication, which can be performed by a second communication device. The second communication device can be a network device or a module (e.g., a circuit, a chip, a chip system, or a processor) in the network device. The second communication device can also be a logic node, a logic module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the network device.

[0018] The method includes: periodically transmitting, by the second communication device, at least one first signal according to the first configuration information, the first signal indicating downlink synchronization information and second configuration information of a second signal, the second signal indicating third configuration information of a paging message, and the at least one first signal occupying different time units respectively.

[0019] The method provided by the second aspect is a method on the second communication device side corresponding to the first aspect. The beneficial effects can be referred to the first aspect.

[0020] With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: transmitting, by the second communication device, the second signal according to the second configuration information; and transmitting, by the second communication device, the paging message according to the third configuration information.

[0021] With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the first signal or the second signal further indicates that a communication device belonging to a first communication device set needs to detect the paging message.

[0022] With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the first signal or the second signal further indicates public alarm information.

[0023] With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the time unit occupied by the at least one first signal and the time unit occupied by the second signal are continuous; or the time unit occupied by the at least one first signal and the time unit occupied by the second signal are discontinuous.

[0024] With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: transmitting, by the second communication device, the first configuration information to the first communication device.

[0025] In a third aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which can be the first communication apparatus of the first aspect. The communication apparatus comprises: a transceiver configured to receive, from a second communication apparatus, a first signal according to first configuration information, the first signal indicating downlink synchronization information and second configuration information of a second signal, the first signal being periodically transmitted by the second communication apparatus, the second signal indicating third configuration information of a paging message; and a processor configured to perform downlink synchronization with the second communication apparatus according to the downlink synchronization information.

[0026] In some embodiments of the third aspect, the transceiver is further configured to receive, from the second communication apparatus, the second signal according to the second configuration information, and receive the paging message according to the third configuration information.

[0027] In some embodiments of the third aspect, the transceiver is specifically configured to receive, from the second communication apparatus, the first signal according to the first configuration information and identification information of the first communication apparatus, the first signal being one of at least one first signal periodically transmitted by the second communication apparatus, the at least one first signal occupying different time units respectively.

[0028] In some embodiments of the third aspect, the first signal or the second signal further indicates that a communication apparatus belonging to a first communication apparatus set needs to detect the paging message, the first communication apparatus belonging to the first communication apparatus set.

[0029] In some embodiments of the third aspect, the first signal or the second signal further indicates common alarm information.

[0030] In some embodiments of the third aspect, the time unit occupied by the at least one first signal and the time unit occupied by the second signal are continuous; or the time unit occupied by the at least one first signal and the time unit occupied by the second signal are discontinuous.

[0031] In some embodiments of the third aspect, the transceiver is further configured to receive, from the second communication apparatus, the first configuration information.

[0032] In a fourth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, which can be the second communication apparatus of the second aspect. The communication apparatus comprises: a transceiver configured to periodically transmit at least one first signal according to first configuration information, the first signal indicating downlink synchronization information and second configuration information of a second signal, the second signal indicating third configuration information of a paging message, and the at least one first signal occupying different time units respectively.

[0033] With reference to the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the transceiver is further configured to: transmit the second signal according to the second configuration information; and transmit the paging message according to the third configuration information.

[0034] With reference to the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the first signal or the second signal further indicates that a communication apparatus belonging to a first set of communication apparatuses needs to detect the paging message.

[0035] With reference to the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the first signal or the second signal further indicates common alarm information.

[0036] With reference to the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the time unit occupied by the at least one first signal and the time unit occupied by the second signal are continuous; or the time unit occupied by the at least one first signal and the time unit occupied by the second signal are discontinuous.

[0037] With reference to the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the transceiver is further configured to transmit the first configuration information to the first communication apparatus.

[0038] In a fifth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, comprising: a processor configured to implement a method according to the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect. Optionally, the communication apparatus further comprises an interface circuitry configured to receive a signal from another communication apparatus and transmit it to the processor or send a signal from the processor to another communication apparatus.

[0039] In a sixth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, comprising: a processor configured to implement a method according to the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect. Optionally, the communication apparatus further comprises an interface circuitry configured to receive a signal from another communication apparatus and transmit it to the processor or send a signal from the processor to another communication apparatus.

[0040] In a seventh aspect, a communication system is provided, comprising a first communication apparatus configured to implement the method according to the first aspect, and a second communication apparatus configured to implement the method according to the second aspect.

[0041] In an eighth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, and the computer-readable medium stores a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a processor, the method in the first aspect and the second aspect and any possible implementation manner of the first aspect and the second aspect is performed.

[0042] In a ninth aspect, a computer program product is provided, and the computer program product comprises a computer program which, when executed, causes the method in the first aspect and the second aspect and any possible implementation manner of the first aspect and the second aspect to be performed.

[0043] The solutions provided in the third aspect to the ninth aspect are used to implement or assist in implementing the method provided in the first aspect or the second aspect, and thus can achieve the same or corresponding beneficial effects as the first aspect or the second aspect. Therefore, no further description is given here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0044] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture to which embodiments of the present application are applicable.

[0045] FIG. 2 is a schematic flow interaction diagram of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0046] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of time-frequency resources for transmitting a first signal, a second signal, and a PDSCH carrying a paging message.

[0047] FIG. 4 is another schematic diagram of time-frequency resources for transmitting a first signal, a second signal, and a PDSCH carrying a paging message.

[0048] FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0049] FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of another communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0050] FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of another communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] The technical solutions provided by the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0052] The embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as a wireless local area network (WLAN), a narrow band-internet of things (NB-IoT), a global system for mobile communications (GSM), an enhanced data rate for gsm evolution (EDGE), a wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), a code division multiple access 2000 (CDMA2000), a time division-synchronization code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA), a long term evolution (LTE) system, a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication system, a satellite communication system, a 5th generation (5G) communication system, a 6th-generation (6G) communication system, or a new communication system to be developed in the future.

[0053] The terminal device involved in the embodiments of the present application can be a device with wireless transceiving function, and can specifically refer to a subscriber unit, a user equipment (UE), an access terminal, a cellular phone, a user station, a mobile station (MS), a customer-premises equipment (CPE), a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a wireless communication device, a user agent or a user apparatus. The terminal device can also be a satellite phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a wireless data card, a personal digital assistant (PDA) computer, a tablet computer, a wireless modulator demodulator (modem), a laptop computer, a machine type communication (MTC) device and a wireless terminal in self-driving, etc. The terminal device can also be a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication function, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, a communication device carried on an airship, a drone, a robot, a smart point of sale (POS) machine, a terminal in device-to-device (D2D) communication, a terminal in vehicle to everything (V2X) communication, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self-driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical, a wireless terminal in smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in smart city, a wireless terminal in smart home or a terminal device in future communication network, etc. The user equipment includes a vehicle user equipment.With the rise of the internet of things (IoT) technology, more and more devices that were previously not equipped with communication functions, such as but not limited to household appliances, vehicles, tool devices, service devices, and service facilities, start to obtain wireless communication functions by configuring wireless communication units, so as to access wireless communication networks and accept remote control. Such devices are equipped with wireless communication functions due to the configuration of wireless communication units, and thus also belong to the category of wireless communication devices. This application is not limited.

[0054] In the embodiments of the present application, the device for implementing the function of the terminal device can be a terminal device; or can be a device capable of supporting the terminal device to implement the function, such as a chip system. The device can be installed in the terminal device or used in matching with the terminal device. In the embodiments of the present application, the chip system can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0055] The network device involved in the embodiments of the present application is a device in a wireless network, for example, a radio access network (RAN) node for accessing a terminal device to a wireless network. The network device can be a node in a radio access network, also can be called a base station, and also can be called a radio access network (RAN) node (or device). The network device can be a base transceiver station (BTS) in a GSM or CDMA network, a Node B (NB) in a WCDMA network, an evolved Node B (eNB or eNodeB) in an LTE network, or a next generation Node B (gNB) in a 5G network; the network device can be a base station in a future evolved public land mobile network (PLMN), or an access device in the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP); the network device can also be a wireless controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario.Optionally, the network device in the embodiments of the present application can include various forms of base stations, such as a relay station, an access point, a device implementing the function of a base station in a 5G or later evolved communication system, a mobile switching center, a home base station (home evolved NodeB or home Node B, HNB), a baseband unit (BBU), a device assuming the function of a base station in device-to-device (D2D) communication, an access point (AP) in a wireless fidelity (WIFI) system, a wireless relay node, a wireless backhaul node, a transmission point (TP), or a transmission and reception point (TRP), and the like, a device assuming the function of a base station in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) or machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, and the like, and can also include a centralized unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU) in a cloud radio access network (C-RAN) system, a network device in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) communication system, i.e., a network device deployed on a high-altitude platform or a satellite. It can also be a gNB or a transmission point in NR, one or a group (including multiple) of antenna panels of a base station in NR, or a network node constituting a gNB or a transmission point, or the network device can also be a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, and a network device in a 6G network, or a network device in a future evolved PLMN network, and the like, or a network device deployed on a satellite, and the present application embodiments are not limited in this regard. In addition, according to the size of the service coverage area provided, the base station can be divided into a macro base station for providing a macro cell, a micro base station for providing a micro cell, and a femto base station for providing a femto cell. With the continuous evolution of wireless communication technology, future base stations can also be referred to by other names.

[0056] In the embodiments of the present application, the device for implementing the function of the network device can be a network device; or can be a device capable of supporting the network device to implement the function, such as a chip system. The device can be installed in the network device or used in matching with the network device.

[0057] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture to which embodiments of the present application are applicable. The system includes terminal devices, base stations, satellites, ground stations, and core network devices, etc. The base stations can be deployed on the satellites, as shown in Figure 1(b); or the base stations can be deployed on the ground, as shown in Figure 1(a). The satellites are connected to the ground stations via wireless links, and the ground stations are connected to the base stations or core network devices on the ground via wired or wireless links. In the case where the base stations are deployed on the ground, the base stations communicate with the terminal devices via the satellites, and the satellites act as signal repeaters. There can be wireless links between the satellites, as shown in Figure 1(c), and the satellites have the function of transparent forwarding. The various network elements in Figure 1 and the interfaces between different network elements are described as follows.

[0058] Terminal device: includes new radio access supported mobile devices, typically mobile devices such as mobile phones, pads, etc. The terminal devices can access the satellite network via the air interface and initiate calls, access the Internet, and other services.

[0059] Base station: mainly provides wireless access services, schedules wireless resources for accessing terminal devices, and provides reliable wireless transmission protocols and data encryption protocols for terminal devices, etc.

[0060] Core network device: responsible for user access control, mobility management, session management, user authentication, and charging, etc. It is composed of multiple functional units, including control plane functional entities and data plane functional entities. The access and mobility management unit (AMF) is responsible for user access management, authentication, and mobility management. The user plane function (UPF) is responsible for managing the transmission of user plane data, traffic statistics, and other functions.

[0061] Ground station: responsible for forwarding signaling and service data between the satellite and the base station, or between the satellite and the core network device.

[0062] Air interface: wireless link between the terminal device and the base station, and wireless link between the satellite and the ground station.

[0063] Xn interface: interface between base stations, mainly used for interaction of signaling such as handover.

[0064] NG interface: interface between the base station deployed on the satellite and the ground station, and interface between the ground station and the core network device, mainly used for interaction of non-access-stratum (NAS) signaling of the core network device and service data of the user.

[0065] It should be noted that the embodiments of the present application can be applied to 4G and 5G communication systems, and if applied to a 4G communication system, the Xn interface in Figure 1 is an X2 interface, and the NG interface is an S1 interface.

[0066] In order to facilitate the understanding of the embodiments of the present application, the technologies related to the embodiments of the present application are briefly introduced as follows.

[0067] In NR, the state of the terminal device includes three states, RRC_IDLE state, RRC_INACTIVE state and RRC_CONNECTED state. The RRC_IDLE state, which can also be referred to as an idle state, when the terminal device is in the idle state, the air interface connection between the terminal device and the base station is disconnected, and the context information is no longer saved, and the terminal device can only receive the broadcast information sent by the base station; the RRC_INACTIVE state, which can also be referred to as an inactive state, when the terminal device is in the inactive state, the air interface connection between the terminal device and the base station is disconnected, but the context information is continued to be saved, and when the terminal device enters the connected state from the inactive state, based on the saved context information, the terminal device can quickly recover to the connected state; the RRC_CONNECTED state, which can also be referred to as a connected state, when the terminal device is in the connected state, the air interface connection with the network device is established, and the terminal device communicates with the network device according to the air interface connection.

[0068] There is no RRC connection between the terminal device in the RRC_IDLE state and the network. For the terminal device in the RRC_INACTIVE state, although an RRC connection is established with the network, the connection is suspended. When the network has downlink data to be sent to the terminal device in the RRC_IDLE or RRC_INACTIVE state, the network needs to first page the terminal device through a paging process to notify the terminal device to establish or resume the RRC connection, and then data transmission can be performed.

[0069] The non-terrestrial network (NTN) includes a satellite communication network or an unmanned aerial system (UAS) communication network. Among them, the UAS includes at least one of a tethered UAS (TUA), a lighter than air (LTA), a heavier than air UAS (HTA) or a high altitude platform station (HAPS). The NTN communication has the advantages of wide coverage, long communication distance, high reliability, great flexibility and high throughput, and is not affected by geographical environment, climate conditions and natural disasters, and has been widely applied in fields such as aviation communication, maritime communication and military communication.

[0070] In a scenario where terminal devices are connected to network devices deployed on satellites, when terminal devices are blocked due to being put into bags or being in remote mountainous areas, etc., when a paging message arrives for these terminal devices, these terminal devices may miss or not receive the paging message due to poor signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the received signal. RAN1 plans to introduce an alert channel to enhance paging to notify terminal devices to move to a better coverage location to receive the paging message.

[0071] In NR, a prerequisite for a terminal device in an RRC_IDLE state or an RRC_INACTIVE state to wake up to receive downlink information such as PDCCH or PDSCH is to achieve downlink synchronization according to acquired downlink synchronization information. The terminal device acquires downlink synchronization information by detecting an SSB signal. However, in a deep fading scenario, the terminal device is difficult to detect the SSB and thus difficult to achieve downlink synchronization, and also cannot receive subsequent paging messages carried on PDSCH. The deep fading scenario can be understood as a scenario where the terminal device is in a remote mountainous area or is blocked by buildings / human bodies, etc.

[0072] To this end, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, and a terminal device can achieve downlink synchronization and thus can receive a paging message.

[0073] FIG. 2 is a schematic flow interaction diagram of a communication method 200 provided by an embodiment of the present application. A first communication device in the present application can be a terminal device or a module (such as a circuit, a chip, a chip system, or a processor) in the terminal device, and can also be a logical node, a logical module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the terminal device. A second communication device in the present application can be a network device or a module (such as a circuit, a chip, a chip system, or a processor) in the network device, and can also be a logical node, a logical module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the network device. The chip can be a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip; or can be a system on chip (SoC) chip containing a modem core; or can be a system in package (SIP) chip.

[0074] S210, the second communication device periodically transmits at least one first signal according to the first configuration information, the first signal indicating downlink synchronization information and second configuration information of a second signal, the second signal indicating third configuration information of a paging message, and time units occupied by the at least one first signal are different respectively. Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the first signal from the second communication device according to the first configuration information, the first signal being a signal in the at least one first signal periodically transmitted by the second communication device. It should be noted that periodically transmitting the at least one first signal can be understood as transmitting the at least one first signal in each period.

[0075] Exemplarily, the first configuration information indicates time-frequency resources and a period for transmitting the first signal, the second configuration information indicates time-frequency resources for transmitting the second signal, and the third configuration information indicates time-frequency resources (time-frequency resources of a PDSCH for carrying the paging message) for transmitting the paging message and decoding information of the PDSCH, such as a modulation and coding scheme (MCS). Different index values can be configured for different time-frequency resources, and the first configuration information / second configuration information / third configuration information can indicate corresponding time-frequency resources by indicating the index values. The decoding information of the PDSCH can also be configured with corresponding index values, and the third configuration information can indicate the decoding information of the PDSCH by indicating the index values.

[0076] Optionally, the second communication device periodically transmits a first signal according to the first configuration information; correspondingly, the first communication device receives the first signal from the second communication device according to the first configuration information. In this optional scheme, the first signal transmitted by the second communication device is transmitted to the same first communication device.

[0077] Optionally, the second communication device periodically transmits a plurality of first signals according to the first configuration information. It should be noted that periodically transmitting the plurality of first signals can be understood as transmitting the plurality of first signals in each period. The plurality of first signals occupy different time units in one period, for example, a first first signal is transmitted in a first subframe in one period, a second first signal is transmitted in a second subframe in one period, and an nth first signal is transmitted in an nth subframe in one period. Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the first signal from the second communication device according to the first configuration information, the first signal being a signal in the plurality of first signals periodically transmitted by the second communication device. In this optional scheme, the plurality of first signals transmitted by the second communication device can be transmitted to different first communication devices.

[0078] In the case of the plurality of first signals transmitted by the second communication device, the specific implementation of enabling the first communication device to receive the first signal includes the following.

[0079] In an implementation, the first communication device receives the first signal from the second communication device according to the identification information of the first communication device and the first configuration information. The identification information of the first communication device includes an identity (ID) of the first communication device, and the identification information of the first communication device can be configured by the second communication device to the first communication device.

[0080] For example, the second communication device periodically transmits n first signals according to the first configuration information, and the first communication device determines to wake up to receive the nth+1 first signal when the nth+1 first signal arrives in a period according to the ID of the first communication device and the first configuration information by the following formula (1): n1=ID mod n (1)

[0081] Wherein, n≥1, n1≥0.

[0082] In another implementation, the sequence of the generated first signals can implicitly indicate that the first communication device needs to wake up to receive the first signal when the first signal arrives in a period. For example, the first communication device wakes up to receive the third first signal in the first period when the third first signal arrives, the third first signal indicates that the first communication device needs to wake up to receive the second first signal when the second first signal arrives in a period, and the third first signal is sent to other first communication devices. Then, the first communication device wakes up to receive the second first signal in the second period when the second first signal arrives.

[0083] Optionally, the plurality of first signals in a period correspond to different first communication devices respectively, and the first signal received by the first communication device is the first signal corresponding to the first communication device or the first signal sent by the second communication device to the first communication device. For example, the plurality of first signals periodically transmitted by the second communication device correspond to different second signals respectively, and the plurality of second signals respectively indicate different PDSCH time-frequency resources of the paging message. Since the plurality of first signals correspond to different first communication devices respectively, the different first communication devices correspond to different PDSCH time-frequency resources of the paging message respectively. Making the paging message corresponding to different first communication devices carried on different PDSCHs can reduce the load of the PDSCH.

[0084] Optionally, before the second communication device transmits the first signal, the second communication device transmits the first configuration information to the first communication device, and correspondingly, the first communication device receives the first configuration information from the second communication device. Optionally, the first configuration information can also be predefined, which is not limited in the present application.

[0085] Exemplarily, the first configuration information of the first communication device is the same / unchanged in the whole tracking area (TA), which can enable the first communication device to achieve downlink synchronization even in different cells in the TA.

[0086] The first configuration information can be semi-statically configured by an RRC message, and the second configuration information is dynamically configured by the first signal. Alternatively, the second configuration information can also be semi-statically configured by an RRC message or be specified by a protocol to be transmitted at a certain time-frequency position after the first signal is transmitted; in the case of semi-static configuration of the second configuration information, the second configuration information of the second signal can be the same in the whole TA, which can enable the first communication device to receive the second signal even in different cells in the TA.

[0087] The second configuration information indicates the manner of time-frequency resource used for transmitting the second signal in multiple ways. Exemplarily, the second configuration information indicates the starting position of time-frequency resource used for transmitting the second signal and the repetition number of the second signal. The time-frequency resource used for transmitting the second signal occupies one time unit once, and then the first communication device can determine the time-frequency resource used for transmitting the second signal according to the starting position of time-frequency resource used for transmitting the second signal and the repetition number of the second signal. For example, the time-frequency resource used for transmitting the second signal occupies 1 subframe once, and the repetition number of the second signal is 5, then the time-frequency resource used for transmitting the second signal occupies 5 subframes. Exemplarily, the second configuration information directly indicates the time-frequency resource used for transmitting the second signal.

[0088] The third configuration information indicates the manner of time-frequency resource used for transmitting the paging message in multiple ways. Exemplarily, the third configuration information indicates the starting position of time-frequency resource used for transmitting the paging message and the repetition number of the paging message. The time-frequency resource used for transmitting the paging message occupies one time unit once, and then the first communication device can determine the time-frequency resource used for transmitting the paging message according to the starting position of time-frequency resource used for transmitting the paging message and the repetition number of the paging message. For example, the time-frequency resource used for transmitting the paging message occupies 2 subframes once, and the repetition number of the paging message is 2, then the time-frequency resource used for transmitting the paging message occupies 4 subframes. Exemplarily, the third configuration information can directly indicate the time-frequency resource used for transmitting the paging message.

[0089] Exemplarily, the first signal and the second signal are synchronous signals (SSs); for example, the first signal is SS1 and the second signal is SS2.

[0090] Optionally, the time unit occupied by the at least one first signal is discontinuous with the time unit occupied by the second signal. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of time-frequency resources for transmitting the first signal, the second signal, and the PDSCH carrying the paging message. Taking the first signal as SS1 and the second signal as SS2 as an example, SS1 indicates downlink synchronization information and time-frequency resources for transmitting SS2, and SS2 indicates time-frequency resources of the PDSCH carrying the paging message; in one period, the time-frequency resources for transmitting SS1 occupy x subframes, the time-frequency resources for transmitting SS2 occupy y subframes, and the time-frequency resources of the PDSCH carrying the paging message occupy z subframes.

[0091] Optionally, the time unit occupied by the at least one first signal is continuous with the time unit occupied by the second signal. FIG. 4 is another schematic diagram of time-frequency resources for transmitting the first signal, the second signal, and the PDSCH carrying the paging message. In the case that the time unit occupied by the at least one first signal is continuous with the time unit occupied by the second signal, the second configuration information can only indicate the repetition number of the second signal.

[0092] S220, the first communication device implements downlink synchronization with the second communication device according to the downlink synchronization information indicated by the first signal.

[0093] In the technical scheme provided in the embodiments of the present application, the second communication device periodically transmits the first signal according to the first configuration information, and correspondingly, the first communication device receives the first signal from the second communication device according to the first configuration information, the first signal indicating downlink synchronization information and second configuration information of the second signal, the second signal indicating third configuration information of the paging message; the first communication device can implement downlink synchronization with the second communication device according to the downlink synchronization information indicated by the first signal. Compared with the scheme of implementing downlink synchronization by blindly detecting SSB, the scheme provided in the embodiments of the present application can avoid failing to obtain downlink synchronization information and can be able to implement downlink synchronization, so as to be able to receive subsequent paging messages.

[0094] Optionally, S230, the second communication device transmits the second signal according to the second configuration information, and the first communication device receives the second signal from the second communication device according to the second configuration information indicated by the first signal. Specifically, the second communication device transmits the second signal on the time-frequency resources indicated by the second configuration information, and the first communication device receives the second signal from the second communication device on the time-frequency resources indicated by the second configuration information. The second signal can be understood as a signal for scheduling the paging message.

[0095] Optionally, in step S240, the second communication device sends a paging message according to the third configuration information; correspondingly, the first communication device receives the paging message from the second communication device according to the third configuration information indicated by the second signal. Specifically, the second communication device sends the paging message on the time-frequency resources indicated by the third configuration information, and the first communication device receives the paging message from the second communication device on the time-frequency resources indicated by the third configuration information.

[0096] Optionally, the first or second signal may also indicate a public warning message indicating that an emergency paging message is imminent, including earthquake and tsunami warnings and commercial mobile warnings; the public warning message is sent by the second communication device to all first communication devices within the paging area, and the public warning message does not carry identification information of the first communication devices.

[0097] Optionally, the first signal or the second signal may further indicate that communication devices belonging to the first set of communication devices need to detect paging messages, wherein the first communication devices belong to the first set of communication devices. In this application, a set of communication devices can be understood as a group of communication devices. For example, the first signal indicates that a group of communication devices needs to detect paging messages. For instance, multiple first communication devices may be grouped into n groups. group Each group consists of a set of communication devices, and each set of communication devices corresponds to a group number. Each communication device can calculate its own group number based on its own identification information. After receiving the first signal, it can determine whether the communication devices in its own group / set of communication devices have been paged. For example, the first communication device can calculate its own group number n2 according to the following formula (2):

[0098] Optionally, the first signal or the second signal may also indicate whether communication devices belonging to the first set of communication devices need to detect paging messages. If the first signal indicates that communication devices belonging to the first set of communication devices do not need to detect paging messages, then the communication devices belonging to the first set of communication devices do not need to detect the subsequently transmitted second signal and paging message, thereby saving power consumption. If the second signal indicates that communication devices belonging to the first set of communication devices do not need to detect paging messages, then the communication devices belonging to the first set of communication devices do not need to detect the subsequently transmitted paging message, thereby saving power consumption.

[0099] Exemplarily, the first signal is an m-sequence, a Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequence, a gold sequence, or an orthogonal sequence. For example, the first signal is an m-sequence, which carries downlink synchronization information, second configuration information, and common alarm information / information indicating whether a communication device belonging to the first set of communication devices needs to detect a paging message by means of different base sequences and cyclic shifts of the sequence. Specifically, the information indicating whether a communication device belonging to the first set of communication devices needs to detect a paging message can be carried by means of multiplication by a frequency-domain orthogonal cover code, for example, when the first communication device detects the first signal, it only needs to detect the sequence with the orthogonal cover code (OCC) bit of the group to which the first communication device belongs being 1 to know whether the group to which the first communication device belongs is paged.

[0100] Exemplarily, the second signal is a gold sequence or an m-sequence. For example, the second signal is a gold sequence, which is synthesized by adding two m-sequences, and the two m-sequences and their cyclic shifts can carry third configuration information. For another example, the second signal is an m-sequence, which carries third configuration information by means of base sequence change and cyclic shift. The m-sequence needs to be scrambled by means of multiplication by a binary scrambling sequence to avoid causing false detection of the first communication device due to the same sequence as the first signal, and the scrambling sequence can be fixed.

[0101] The above introduces the method for communication provided by the embodiments of the present application, and below will introduce an execution subject for executing the method for communication.

[0102] FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 500 provided by an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 500 can be the first communication device in the method embodiment of FIG. 2. The communication device 500 includes:

[0103] The transceiver module 510 is configured to receive, according to first configuration information, a first signal from a second communication device, the first signal indicating downlink synchronization information and second configuration information of a second signal, the first signal being periodically transmitted by the second communication device, and the second signal indicating third configuration information of a paging message.

[0104] The processing module 520 is configured to implement downlink synchronization with the second communication device according to the downlink synchronization information.

[0105] Optionally, the transceiver module 510 is further configured to receive, according to the second configuration information, the second signal from the second communication device, and receive, according to the third configuration information, the paging message.

[0106] Optionally, the transceiver 510 is specifically configured to receive the first signal from the second communication device according to the identification information of the first communication device and the first configuration information, the first signal being a signal of at least one first signal periodically transmitted by the second communication device, and time units occupied by the at least one first signal being different respectively.

[0107] Optionally, the first signal or the second signal further indicates that a communication device belonging to a first communication device set needs to detect the paging message, and the first communication device belongs to the first communication device set.

[0108] Optionally, the first signal or the second signal further indicates public alarm information.

[0109] Optionally, time units occupied by the at least one first signal and time units occupied by the second signal are continuous; or, time units occupied by the at least one first signal and time units occupied by the second signal are discontinuous.

[0110] Optionally, the transceiver 510 is further configured to receive the first configuration information from the second communication device.

[0111] FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 600 provided by an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 600 can be the second communication device in the method embodiment of FIG. 2. The communication device 600 comprises:

[0112] a transceiver 610, configured to periodically transmit at least one first signal according to first configuration information, the first signal indicating downlink synchronization information and second configuration information of a second signal, the second signal indicating third configuration information of a paging message, and time units occupied by the at least one first signal being different respectively.

[0113] Optionally, the transceiver 610 is further configured to: transmit the second signal according to the second configuration information; and transmit the paging message according to the third configuration information.

[0114] Optionally, the first signal or the second signal further indicates that a communication device belonging to a first communication device set needs to detect the paging message.

[0115] Optionally, the first signal or the second signal further indicates public alarm information.

[0116] Optionally, time units occupied by the at least one first signal and time units occupied by the second signal are continuous; or, time units occupied by the at least one first signal and time units occupied by the second signal are discontinuous.

[0117] Optionally, the transceiver 610 is further configured to send the first configuration information to the first communication device.

[0118] Fig. 7 is a schematic block diagram of another communication device 700 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 700 can be the first communication device or the second communication device. The communication device 700 comprises a processor 710, which is configured to implement the method of communication according to an embodiment of the present application by means of logic circuits or by executing code instructions. Optionally, the communication device 700 further comprises an interface circuit 720. The processor 710 and the interface circuit 720 are coupled to each other. It can be understood that the interface circuit 720 can be a transceiver or an input / output interface.

[0119] Optionally, the communication device 700 further comprises a memory 730, which is configured to store instructions executed by the processor 710 or store input data required by the processor 710 to execute instructions or store data generated by the processor 710 after executing instructions.

[0120] The processor 710 described above can be an integrated circuit chip with a signal processing capability. In the implementation process, each step of the method embodiments described above can be completed by an integrated logic circuit of hardware in the processor or by instructions in the form of software. The processor described above can be a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gates or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components. Each method, step and logic block diagram disclosed in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented or executed. The general purpose processor can be a microprocessor or the processor can also be any conventional processor. The steps of the method disclosed in conjunction with the embodiments of the present application can be directly embodied as a hardware code processor to execute, or be executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the code processor. The software module can be located in a random access memory, a flash memory, a read only memory, a programmable read only memory or an electrically erasable programmable memory, a register, or other mature storage media in the art. The storage media is located in the storage memory, and the processor reads information in the storage memory and combines the hardware to complete the steps of the above method.

[0121] The embodiments of the present application further provide a communication system, which comprises the first communication device in the method of communication according to the embodiments of the present application and other communication devices in communication with the first communication device, the second communication device and other communication devices in communication with the second communication device.

[0122] The embodiment of the present application further provides a computer readable storage medium, which has stored a computer program for implementing the method in the above method embodiments. When the computer program runs on a computer, the computer can implement the method in the above method embodiments.

[0123] The embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, which comprises a computer program. When the computer program runs on a computer, the method in the above method embodiments is executed.

[0124] The embodiment of the present application further provides a chip, which comprises a processor and a memory. The memory is used for storing a computer program. The processor is used for executing the computer program stored in the memory, so that the chip executes the method in the above method embodiments.

[0125] It should be understood that, in the embodiments of the present application, for a technical feature, the technical features are distinguished by "first", "second" and "third" and the like, and there is no order or size order between the technical features described by "first", "second" and "third".

[0126] In addition, the term "and / or" in the present application is only to describe the association relationship of the associated objects, which means that there can be three relationships, for example, A and / or B can mean that there are three cases of A alone, A and B together, and B alone. In addition, the character " / " in this paper generally represents that the front and rear associated objects are a "or" relationship; the term "at least one" in the present application can represent "one" and "two or more", for example, A, B and C can mean that there are seven cases of A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, C and B together, and A, B and C together.

[0127] Those of ordinary skill in the art can realize that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in combination with the embodiments disclosed herein can be realized by electronic hardware or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether the functions are realized in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the present application.

[0128] Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working process of the above-described system, device and unit can refer to the corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments, which will not be described here.

[0129] In several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, device and method can be implemented in other manners. For example, the described device embodiments are merely schematic. The division of the units is merely logical function division. There can be other division manners in actual implementation. 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 displayed or discussed mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections can be indirect couplings or communication connections through some interfaces, devices or units, and can be in electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0130] The units described as separate components can or can not be physically separate, and the components shown as units can or can not be physical units, i.e., 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 embodiment.

[0131] In addition, each functional unit in the various embodiments of the present application can be integrated into a processing unit, or each unit can be a physically separate unit, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0132] If the functions are realized in the form of software function units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solutions of the present application can be embodied in the form of a software product, and the computer software product is stored in a storage medium, and includes a number of instructions for causing a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: a U disk, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk, and various program code storage media.

[0133] The above is merely specific implementation 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 changes or replacements within the technical scope disclosed in the present application, which should be covered within 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

1. A method of communication, comprising: The method applied to a first communication device comprises: receiving a first signal from a second communication device according to first configuration information, the first signal indicating downlink synchronization information and second configuration information of a second signal, the first signal being periodically transmitted by the second communication device, the second signal indicating third configuration information of a paging message; implementing downlink synchronization with the second communication device according to the downlink synchronization information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving the second signal from the second communication device according to the second configuration information; receiving the paging message according to the third configuration information.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The receiving a first signal from a second communication device according to first configuration information comprises: receiving the first signal from the second communication device according to the first configuration information and identification information of the first communication device, the first signal being a signal in at least one first signal periodically transmitted by the second communication device, time units occupied by the at least one first signal being different.

4. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: the first signal or the second signal further indicates that a communication device belonging to a first communication device set needs to detect the paging message, the first communication device belonging to the first communication device set.

5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: the first signal or the second signal further indicates public alarm information.

6. The method of any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein: time units occupied by the at least one first signal and time units occupied by the second signal are continuous; or time units occupied by the at least one first signal and time units occupied by the second signal are discontinuous.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The method further comprises: receiving the first configuration information from the second communication device.

8. A method of communication, comprising: The method applied to a second communication device comprises: periodically transmitting at least one first signal according to first configuration information, the first signal indicating downlink synchronization information and second configuration information of a second signal, the second signal indicating third configuration information of a paging message, time units occupied by the at least one first signal being different.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, The method further comprises: transmitting the second signal according to the second configuration information; transmitting the paging message according to the third configuration information.

10. The method of claim 8 or 9, wherein: the first signal or the second signal further indicates that a communication device belonging to a first communication device set needs to detect the paging message.

11. The method of claim 8 or 9, wherein: the first signal or the second signal further indicates public alarm information.

12. The method of any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein: time units occupied by the at least one first signal and time units occupied by the second signal are continuous; or time units occupied by the at least one first signal and time units occupied by the second signal are discontinuous.

13. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that, The method further comprises: sending the first configuration information to the first communication device.

14. A communications device, characterized by comprising means for performing the method of any of claims 1 to 7.

15. A communications device, characterized by comprising means for performing the method of any of claims 8 to 13.

16. A communications device, characterized by comprising a processor configured to implement a method recited in any of claims 1 to 7.

17. A communications device, characterized by comprising a processor configured to implement a method recited in any of claims 8 to 13.

18. A communication system, characterized by comprising a first communication device configured to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 7 and a second communication device configured to perform the method of any of claims 8 to 13.

19. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, comprising: the computer readable medium stores a computer program; the computer program, when executed by the processor, causes the method recited in any of claims 1 to 13 to be performed.

20. A computer program product, characterised in that, comprising a computer program that, when executed, causes the method recited in any of claims 1 to 13 to be performed.

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