Communication method and related apparatus

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method and a related apparatus. An A-IoT CN device may send a command to an A-IoT device by means of a base station or a terminal, and may add information visible to the base station or the terminal in a message carrying the command, wherein the information is used for determining whether the command corresponds to feedback. In this way, the base station or the terminal may determine, on the basis of the newly added information, whether to reserve a resource for receiving the feedback, thereby saving resources of the base station or the terminal while completing a task of command transmission.

Description

A communication method and related apparatus

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. CN202411194996.4, filed on August 28, 2024, entitled "A Communication Method and Related Device", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of Internet of Things (IoT) technology, specifically to a communication method and related apparatus. Background Technology

[0003] With the development of communication technology, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) defined the Ambient Internet of Things (A-IoT) technology. In A-IoT and other related technologies, the communication system can include readers and tags. Readers can be implemented by network devices (such as base stations) or terminals, while tags can be IoT terminals, such as passive / semi-passive / active tags. A-IoT technology is mainly used to achieve the following services: inventory management, positioning, sensing, and command processing. Typical application scenarios for A-IoT technology include logistics, warehousing, industrial manufacturing, identity recognition, and environmental monitoring.

[0004] However, with the development of A-IoT, saving network equipment or terminal resources has become an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Analysis of different commands executed by A-IoT devices reveals that some commands (e.g., write or read commands) have corresponding feedback. In these cases, the access network device or terminal needs to transmit the command to the device and the feedback to the A-IoT core network (CN) device to complete the command transmission task. Other commands (e.g., disable or lock commands) do not have corresponding feedback; in these cases, the access network device or terminal transmits the command to the device to complete the transmission task. Because higher-level information between the A-IoT CN device and the A-IoT device is not visible or transparent to the devices between them (e.g., access network devices or access network devices and terminals), the access network device or terminal cannot see the content of the higher-level information. After forwarding the command, it is impossible to determine whether the A-IoT device will send feedback. To successfully complete the command transmission task, the access network device or terminal needs to reserve a fixed amount of resources for receiving this feedback. However, when the forwarded command does not have corresponding feedback, reserving resources will lead to resource waste.

[0006] To this end, this application provides a communication method and related apparatus. The A-IoT CN device can add new information visible to the first communication device to the message carrying the command. The new information is used to determine whether the command corresponds to feedback. In this way, the first communication device can determine whether to reserve resources based on the new information, thereby saving the resources of the first communication device for receiving information while ensuring the completion of the task of transmitting the command.

[0007] The communication method provided in the first aspect of this application is described below.

[0008] The method provided in the first aspect of this application can be executed by a first communication device. The first communication device can be a device or apparatus with a chip, or a device or apparatus with integrated circuitry, or a chip, chip system, circuit, functional module, or control unit within the aforementioned device or apparatus; specific details are not limited in this application. The chip can be a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a system-on-chip (SoC) chip containing a modem core, or a system-in-package (SIP) chip.

[0009] As an example, the first communication device can be an access network device or a terminal. The access network device can support a reader, or it can support communication with a terminal acting as a reader. The terminal can also support a reader. The meanings of access network devices and terminals will be explained later and will not be elaborated upon here.

[0010] It should be noted that, in this application, when referring to an access network device executing a certain method process, it can refer to the access network device itself executing the method process, or it can refer to a chip, chip system, circuit, functional module, or control unit within the access network device executing the method process. Similarly, in this application, when referring to a terminal executing a certain method process, it can refer to the terminal itself executing the method process, or it can refer to a chip, chip system, circuit, functional module, or control unit within the terminal executing the method process.

[0011] In the method provided in the first aspect of this application, a first communication device can receive a first message. The first message includes first information. The first message also includes second information or third information. The second information indicates whether first feedback exists, and the first feedback corresponds to a first command. The third information indicates the type of the first command, which is used to determine whether first feedback exists, and the first feedback corresponds to the first command. This application refers to the resources used by the first communication device to receive first feedback from a second communication device as first resources. The first communication device can determine whether to reserve the first resources based on the second information or the third information. Furthermore, after receiving the first message, the first communication device can send a second message to the second communication device, and the second message includes the first information.

[0012] In the method provided in the first aspect of this application, after receiving a first message, the first communication device can not only forward the first information in the first message to the second communication device, but also determine, based on the second or third information in the first message, whether the second communication device will send the first feedback corresponding to the first command after receiving the second message. The first communication device determines whether to reserve first resources based on the second or third information. For example, when the first communication device determines that there is first feedback based on the second or third information, the first communication device can reserve first resources; when the first communication device determines that there is no first feedback based on the second or third information, the first communication device can choose not to reserve first resources. This is beneficial for saving first resources while ensuring the completion of the transmission task of the first command.

[0013] In this application, the resource used by the first communication device to send a second message to the second communication device is referred to as the second resource. After receiving the first message, the first communication device can reserve the second resource and send the second message to the second communication device on the second resource.

[0014] This application does not limit the order in which the first communication device determines whether to reserve the first resource and the first communication device sends the second message to the second communication device.

[0015] The second communication device can be an ambient Internet of Things (A-IoT) device or a chip within an A-IoT device. Optionally, the A-IoT device refers to the first type of A-IoT device. A-IoT devices and the first type of device will be discussed later; they will not be elaborated upon here.

[0016] In one possible implementation of the first aspect of this application, the first message is sent by a third communication device. The third communication device is an A-IoT CN device. The meaning of an A-IoT CN device will be explained later and will not be elaborated here. The information in the first message may be generated by the third communication device, or all or part of the information in the first message may be generated by a device other than the third communication device. For example, the first information in the first message may be generated by a service requester (e.g., a server). The service requester will be introduced later and will not be elaborated here.

[0017] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the first information indicating the first command can be understood as the first information carrying the first command, or directly indicating the first command, or indirectly indicating the first command. In this application, a command can be understood as a command message, command data, or command information, and feedback can be understood as a feedback message, feedback data, or feedback information.

[0018] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the first information is carried in a first message. For example, the first message is a message that the first communication device does not parse or decode; for instance, the first message is a non-access stratum (NAS) message between the third and second communication devices, or an application (APP) layer message between the service requester and the second communication device. After receiving the first message, the second communication device can parse the first information from the first message and determine the information or content of the first command based on the first information. The information or content of the first command may include the type of the first command. In another possible implementation of the first aspect, if the first communication device does not parse the first information, or does not parse the first information from the first message, the first communication device cannot determine the information or content of the first command based on the first information, let alone determine the type of the first command, and cannot determine whether there is a first feedback corresponding to the first command.

[0019] Optionally, the first information is encoded information; correspondingly, the first information indicating the first command can be understood as the decoded first information indicating the first command. After receiving the first information, the second communication device can decode the first information, and the second communication device can determine the information or content of the first command based on the decoded first information. The information or content of the first command may include the type of the first command. In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the first communication device does not decode the first information; the first communication device cannot determine the information or content of the first command based on the first information, let alone determine the type of the first command, and cannot determine whether there is a first feedback corresponding to the first command.

[0020] Optionally, after receiving the first message, the first communication device can determine that the first information indicates a first command. There are various methods for the first communication device to determine that the first information in the first message indicates a first command, and no limitation is made here. In some examples, the first message may carry one or more information units, and the first communication device can determine that the first information in the first message indicates a first command based on these one or more information units. Optionally, these one or more information units may indicate that the first information indicates a first command. Alternatively, optionally, these one or more information units may indicate the type of the first message, and the first communication device determines that the first information indicates a first command based on the type of the first message. For example, these one or more information units may indicate that the first message is a command transmission message.

[0021] In this application, the first command may instruct the second communication device to perform one or more operations (referred to as the first operation), or instruct the second communication device to change the state of the second communication device. The operations instructed by the first command will be described later, and will not be elaborated here.

[0022] In this application, the first feedback corresponds to the first command. It can be understood as the first feedback being the information sent by the second communication device after receiving the first information, or the first feedback indicating the result of the first operation or the first state. The first state can be the state (or current state) that the second communication device is in after changing its state according to the first command.

[0023] In this application, the existence of first feedback can be understood as whether the first communication device will send first feedback or whether it needs to send first feedback after receiving the first information indicating the first command. The existence of first feedback means that the first communication device will send first feedback or needs to send first feedback after receiving the first information. The absence of first feedback means that the first communication device will not send first feedback or does not need to send first feedback after receiving the first information.

[0024] The first communication device and the second communication device can communicate wirelessly using resources. The first resource for receiving the first feedback may include first time-domain resources and / or first frequency-domain resources and / or first processing resources. The first processing resource may be the processing resources of the first communication device used by the first communication device to listen for the first feedback. For example, the first processing resource may be the resources of the receiver of the first communication device.

[0025] In this application, reserving the first resource can be understood as scheduling or retaining the first resource. Not reserving the first resource can be understood as not scheduling or releasing the first resource. The first communication device scheduling or retaining the first processing resource can be understood as the first communication device listening to the first feedback. The first communication device not scheduling or releasing the first processing resource can be understood as the first communication device not listening to the first feedback. In this application, "scheduling" can also be replaced by "allocating," and "not scheduling" can also be replaced by "not allocating."

[0026] The first communication device can save transmission resources by not scheduling or releasing the first time domain resources, and by not scheduling or releasing the first frequency domain resources. The first communication device can also reduce its energy consumption by not listening to the first feedback.

[0027] It should be noted that when the first communication device is a terminal, the terminal scheduling or reserving the first resource can be understood as the terminal requesting the access network device to schedule or reserve the first resource.

[0028] There can be multiple communication methods between the first communication device and the second communication device, which are not limited here.

[0029] In some examples, the first communication device communicates directly with the second communication device. Accordingly, the first time-domain resource for the first communication device to receive the first feedback can be the time-domain resource for the second communication device to send the first feedback, and the first frequency-domain resource for the first communication device to receive the first feedback can be the frequency-domain resource for the second communication device to send the first feedback.

[0030] In some examples, the first communication device can communicate indirectly with the second communication device. For example, the first and second communication devices communicate through one or more other communication devices. Accordingly, at least two wireless communication links exist between the first and second communication devices. The first time-domain resources for the first communication device to receive the first feedback may include the time-domain resources of all or part of the at least two wireless communication links. The first frequency-domain resources for the first communication device to receive the first feedback may include the frequency-domain resources of all or part of the at least two wireless communication links. For example, when the first communication device is an access network device, and the first and second communication devices communicate through a terminal, the first time-domain resources for the first communication device to receive the first feedback may include time-domain resources for the second communication device to send the first feedback to the terminal, and / or time-domain resources for the terminal to send the first feedback to the first communication device. The first frequency-domain resources for the first communication device to receive the first feedback may include frequency-domain resources for the second communication device to send the first feedback to the terminal, and / or frequency-domain resources for the terminal to send the first feedback to the first communication device.

[0031] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the first command is a single command, such as a read command, write command, lock command, or disable command. The read command indicates a read operation; therefore, it can also be called a read operation command. Similarly, the write command, lock command, and disable command can be called write operation command, lock operation command, and disable operation command, respectively. The meaning of each command will be explained later; it will not be elaborated upon here.

[0032] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the first command is a subset of commands in a command combination, which may include at least one command. The command combination can be understood as multiple commands or a sequence of commands, where all commands in the command combination are commands executed by the second communication device. Optionally, the command combination may include multiple commands of the same type; for example, the command combination may be a continuous write command or a continuous read command. Correspondingly, the first command and other commands in the command combination may all be write commands, or all be read commands. Optionally, the command combination may include commands of different types; for example, the command combination may be a read-then-write command or a write-then-read command. Correspondingly, the first command and other commands in the command combination may be read commands and write commands, or write commands and read commands, respectively. Optionally, the command combination may include commands of the same type and commands of different types; for example, the command combination may include at least two read commands and at least two write commands, or at least two read commands and one write command, or one read command and at least two write commands.

[0033] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the first message further includes fifth information indicating whether the first command has subsequent commands. The first command having subsequent commands can be understood as the first command being part of a command combination, and the command combination also including a second command executed later than the first command. For example, after receiving the first message, the first communication device may also receive a third message, the third message including information indicating the second command. The first command not having subsequent commands can be understood as the first command being a single command, or the first command being the last command executed in a command combination.

[0034] The first message includes a fifth piece of information. When the first communication device determines, based on the fifth piece of information, that the first command has a follow-up command, it can reserve the second resource after sending the second message. In this way, after receiving the third message, the first communication device can send information instructing the second command to the second communication device using the reserved second resource, improving the transmission efficiency of the second command and thus enhancing the transmission efficiency of command combinations. When the first communication device determines, based on the fifth piece of information, that the first command does not have a follow-up command, it can release the second resource after sending the second message. This helps conserve the resources available for receiving information on the first communication device.

[0035] In this application, the end of the first command can be understood as the end of the transmission of the first command. When there is a corresponding first feedback for the first command, the end of the transmission of the first command may include the first communication device sending the first command to the second communication device, and the second communication device receiving and forwarding the first feedback.

[0036] The first communication device can determine the end of the first command in various ways, and no limitation is made here. In some examples, when the first communication device determines the existence of the first feedback based on the second or third information, the first communication device can determine the end of the first command after receiving and forwarding the first feedback. In some examples, when the first communication device determines the absence of the first feedback based on the second or third information, the first communication device can determine the end of the first command after sending a second message to the second communication device.

[0037] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the first message further includes fourth information indicating information about a timer, which is used to determine whether the timer has timed out. The first communication device may also resend the first message based on whether the timer has timed out or not.

[0038] Optionally, when the first communication device determines that the timer has expired based on the fourth information, the first communication device may retransmit the first information; when the first communication device determines that the timer has not expired based on the fourth information, the first communication device may not retransmit the first information.

[0039] Alternatively, when the first communication device determines that the timer has not expired based on the fourth information, the first communication device may retransmit the first information; when the first communication device determines that the timer has expired based on the fourth information, the first communication device may not retransmit the first information. It should be noted that when the timer has not expired, the first communication device may retransmit the first information once or multiple times.

[0040] Optionally, the first communication device determines the state of a timer based on the fourth information every first time interval. The state of the timer can be either timed out or not timed out. The first time interval can be a preset or predefined duration in the first communication device, or it can be indicated by the fourth information.

[0041] In this application, the retransmission of the first information by the first communication device can be understood as retransmitting the second message, or sending a third message different from the second message, wherein the third message includes the first information. Optionally, in addition to including the first information, the third message may also include retransmission indication information, which is used to indicate that the first information in the third message is retransmitted information.

[0042] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the timer information includes at least one of the following: the timer start time, the timer duration, the timer end time, an indication to start the timer, or an indication to end the timer.

[0043] The communication method provided in the second aspect of this application is described below.

[0044] The method provided in the second aspect of this application can be executed by a third communication device. The third communication device can be a device or apparatus with a chip, or a device or apparatus with integrated circuitry, or a chip, chip system, circuit, functional module, or control unit within the aforementioned device or apparatus; specific details are not limited in this application. The chip can be a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a system-on-chip (SoC) chip containing a modem core, or a system-in-package (SIP) chip.

[0045] As an example, the third communication device can be an A-IoT CN device. A-IoT CN devices will be introduced later, and will not be discussed in detail here.

[0046] It should be noted that, in this application, when referring to an IoT functional entity executing a certain method process, it can refer to either the IoT functional entity itself executing the method process, or to a chip, chip system, circuit, functional module, or control unit within the IoT functional entity executing the method process. Similarly, in this application, when referring to an A-IoT CN device executing a certain method process, it can refer to either the A-IoT CN device itself executing the method process, or to a chip, chip system, circuit, functional module, or control unit within the A-IoT CN device executing the method process.

[0047] In the method provided in the second aspect of this application, a third communication device can determine a first message and then send the first message to a first communication device. The first message includes first information indicating a first command, and the first message also includes second or third information. The second information indicates whether first feedback exists, and the first feedback corresponds to the first command. The third information indicates the type of the first command, and the type of the first command is used to determine whether first feedback exists, and the first feedback corresponds to the first command. Thus, after receiving the first message, the first communication device can not only send the first information to the second communication device, but also determine whether to reserve first resources based on the second or third information. For example, when the first communication device determines that first feedback exists based on the second or third information, the first communication device can reserve first resources; when the first communication device determines that first feedback does not exist based on the second or third information, the first communication device can not reserve first resources, thereby saving first resources while ensuring the completion of the transmission task of the first command.

[0048] The first communication device and the second communication device can be understood by referring to the relevant content introduced above. For example, the first communication device can be an access network device or a terminal, and the second communication device can be an A-IoT device.

[0049] In the possible implementations of the second aspect, the content related to the first message, first information, second information, third information, first command, first feedback and first resource can be referred to the relevant descriptions in the possible implementations of the first aspect, and the communication method between the first communication device and the second communication device can be referred to the relevant content above, which will not be repeated here.

[0050] In a possible implementation of the second aspect, the first message may also include a fourth and / or a fifth message. The fourth and fifth messages can be referred to in the preceding text for details, and will not be repeated here.

[0051] A third aspect of this application provides a communication device, which can be the first communication device in the communication method of the first aspect. The communication device provided in the third aspect may include a receiving module, a processing module, and a sending module. The receiving module is used to receive a first message, which includes first information and further includes second or third information. The second information indicates whether first feedback exists, and the first feedback corresponds to a first command. The third information indicates the type of the first command, and the type of the first command is used to determine whether first feedback exists, and the first feedback corresponds to the first command. The processing module is used to determine whether to reserve first resources based on the second or third information. The sending module is used to send a second message to a second communication device.

[0052] In one possible implementation of the third aspect, the receiving module is used to receive the first message sent by the third communication device. The second and third communication devices can be understood by referring to the relevant content described above.

[0053] In the possible implementations of the third aspect, the content related to the first message, first information, second information, third information, first command, first feedback and first resource can be referred to the relevant descriptions in the possible implementations of the first aspect, and the communication method between the first communication device and the second communication device can be referred to the relevant content above, which will not be repeated here.

[0054] In a possible implementation of the third aspect, the first message may also include a fourth and / or fifth message. The fourth and fifth messages can be found in the preceding text and will not be elaborated upon here.

[0055] In one possible implementation of the third aspect, the processing module is further configured to determine whether the timer has timed out based on the fourth information, and then resend the first information based on whether the timer has timed out or not. The method by which the processing module resends the first information can be understood by referring to the relevant content in the possible implementations of the first aspect, and will not be elaborated here.

[0056] The modules in the communication device provided in the third aspect can be implemented in hardware, or they can be implemented by executing corresponding computer programs or instructions in hardware.

[0057] This application provides a fourth aspect of a communication device, which can be a third communication device in the communication method of the second aspect. The communication device provided in the fourth aspect may include a processing module and a sending module. The processing module is used to determine a first message, the first message including first information indicating a first command, and the first message further including second information or third information. The second information indicates whether there is first feedback, which corresponds to the first command. The third information indicates the type of the first command, the type of which is used to determine whether there is first feedback, which corresponds to the first command. The sending module is used to send the first message to a first communication device.

[0058] In this way, after receiving the first message, the first communication device can not only send the first information to the second communication device, but also determine whether to reserve the first resource based on the second or third information. For example, when the first communication device determines that there is a first feedback based on the second or third information, the first communication device can reserve the first resource. When the first communication device determines that there is no first feedback based on the second or third information, the first communication device can choose not to reserve the first resource, thereby saving the first resource while ensuring the completion of the transmission task of the first command.

[0059] The first and second communication devices can be understood by referring to the relevant content introduced above.

[0060] In the possible implementations of the fourth aspect, the content related to the first message, first information, second information, third information, first command, first feedback and first resource can be referred to the relevant descriptions in the possible implementations of the first aspect, and the communication method between the first communication device and the second communication device can be referred to the relevant content above, which will not be repeated here.

[0061] In a possible implementation of the fourth aspect, the first message may also include a fourth message and / or a fifth message. The fourth and fifth messages can be found in the preceding text and will not be elaborated upon here.

[0062] The modules in the communication device provided in the fourth aspect can be implemented in hardware, or they can be implemented by executing corresponding computer programs or instructions in hardware.

[0063] A fifth aspect of this application provides a communication device including at least one processor coupled to a memory. The memory stores computer programs or computer instructions. The at least one processor is configured to invoke and execute the computer programs or computer instructions stored in the memory to implement a method as described in the first aspect or any possible implementation thereof, or to implement a method as described in the second aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

[0064] Optionally, the communication device may also include the memory.

[0065] Optionally, the communication device also includes a transceiver, and the processor controls the transceiver to send and receive messages or information.

[0066] The sixth aspect of this application provides a communication device including a processor and an interface circuit. The processor is configured to communicate with other devices through the interface circuit and execute a method as described in the first aspect or any possible implementation thereof, or to execute a method as described in the second aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

[0067] A seventh aspect of this application provides a chip including a processor for calling a computer program or computer instructions in memory to cause the processor to perform a method as described in the first aspect or any possible implementation thereof, or to perform a method as described in the second aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

[0068] Optionally, the chip may also include a memory for storing necessary program instructions and data.

[0069] Optionally, the chip is a chip system, which may include multiple chips or one or more chips and other discrete devices.

[0070] The eighth aspect of this application provides a computer program product that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform a method as described in the first aspect or any possible implementation thereof, or to perform a method as described in the second aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

[0071] A ninth aspect of this application provides a computer-readable storage medium including computer instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform a method as described in the first aspect or any possible implementation thereof, or to perform a method as described in the second aspect or any possible implementation thereof.

[0072] The tenth aspect of this application provides a communication system, which includes at least one of a first communication device, a second communication device, or a third communication device. The first communication device, the second communication device, and the third communication device can be referred to the relevant descriptions above, and will not be repeated here.

[0073] The technical effects of any one of the second to tenth aspects or any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect or the related possible implementations of the first aspect can be referred to, and will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description

[0074] Figure 1-1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system in this application;

[0075] Figure 1-2 is a schematic diagram of the application framework involving the RIC module under the O-RAN architecture;

[0076] Figure 1-3 shows an example diagram of an O-RAN system;

[0077] Figure 1-4 schematically illustrates the structure of a communication system supporting A-IoT business scenarios;

[0078] Figures 2-1 to 2-5 schematically illustrate different topologies of the A-IoT scenario;

[0079] Figure 3-1 schematically illustrates how A-IoT service-related information is transmitted in Topology 1;

[0080] Figures 3-2 and 3-3 schematically illustrate how A-IoT service-related information is transmitted in Topology 2;

[0081] Figures 4 to 9 schematically illustrate the possible flow of the communication method of this application;

[0082] Figures 10 and 11 schematically illustrate possible structures of the communication device provided in this application. Detailed Implementation

[0083] First, some terms used in the embodiments of this application will be explained to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0084] (1) In the embodiments of this application, "send" and "receive" indicate the direction of signal transmission. For example, "send information to XX" can be understood as the destination of the information being XX, which may include sending directly through the air interface or sending indirectly through the air interface by other units or modules. "Receive information from YY" or "receive information sent by YY" may include receiving directly from YY through the air interface or receiving indirectly from YY through the air interface by other units or modules. The information may be generated by YY, or the information may be generated by other devices besides YY, and YY is responsible for sending the information. "Send" can also be understood as the "output" of the chip interface, and "receive" can also be understood as the "input" of the chip interface.

[0085] In other words, sending and receiving can occur between devices, such as between network devices and terminal devices, or within a device, such as between components, modules, chips, software modules, or hardware modules within the device via buses, wiring, or interfaces.

[0086] It is understandable that information may undergo necessary processing, such as encoding and modulation, between the source and destination, but the destination can understand the valid information from the source. Similar statements in this application can be interpreted in a similar way and will not be elaborated further.

[0087] (2) In the embodiments of this application, "instruction" may include direct instruction and indirect instruction, as well as explicit instruction and implicit instruction. The information indicated by a certain piece of information (hereinafter referred to as instruction information) is called the information to be instructed. In the specific implementation process, there are many ways to indicate the information to be instructed, such as, but not limited to, directly indicating the information to be instructed, such as the information to be instructed itself or its index. It can also indirectly indicate the information to be instructed by indicating other information, where there is an association between the other information and the information to be instructed; or it can only indicate a part of the information to be instructed, while the other parts of the information to be instructed are known or pre-agreed upon. For example, the instruction of specific information can be achieved by using a pre-agreed (e.g., protocol predefined) arrangement order of various information, thereby reducing the instruction overhead to a certain extent. This application does not limit the specific method of instruction. It is understood that for the sender of the instruction information, the instruction information can be used to indicate the information to be instructed, and for the receiver of the instruction information, the instruction information can be used to determine the information to be instructed.

[0088] (3) Access network equipment is a device deployed in a wireless access network to provide wireless communication functions for terminal devices. Access network equipment can connect terminal devices to the RAN node of the wireless network, and can also be called wireless access equipment, access network equipment, RAN entity, access node, network node, or communication device, etc.

[0089] Specifically, the access network equipment can be an access network device for a 3GPP-related cellular system, such as a 4G communication system or a 5G communication system. The access network equipment can also be an access network device in an open RAN (O-RAN or ORAN) or a cloud radio access network (CRAN). Alternatively, the access network equipment can also be an access network device in a communication system formed by the integration of two or more of the above communication systems.

[0090] Access network equipment includes, but is not limited to: next generation node B (gNB), evolved node B (eNB), RNC, node B (NB), base station controller (BSC), base transceiver station (BTS), home base station (e.g., home evolved Node B, or home Node B (HNB), baseband unit (BBU), access point (AP) in wireless fidelity (WIFI) system, macro base station, micro base station, wireless relay node, donor node, radio controller in CRAN scenario, wireless backhaul node, transmission point (TP) or transmission and reception point (TRP), etc., and can also be access network equipment in 5G mobile communication system. For example, a next-generation NodeB (gNB), TRP, or TP in an NR system; or one or a group of antenna panels (including multiple antenna panels) in a base station in a 5G mobile communication system; or, access network equipment can also be network nodes constituting a gNB or transmission point. Examples include centralized units (CU), distributed units (DU), centralized unit control planes (CU-CP), centralized unit user planes (CU-UP), or radio units (RU), etc. CUs and DUs can be separate or included in the same network element, such as a BBU. RUs can be included in radio equipment or radio units, such as in a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH). Alternatively, access network equipment can also be servers, wearable devices, vehicles, or in-vehicle equipment, etc. For example, the access network equipment in V2X technology can be a roadside unit (RSU). It should be understood that the aforementioned TRP can be a device or module located on the network side of the communication system and possessing corresponding communication functions. The TRP typically contains communication modules, circuits, or chips that perform the corresponding communication functions.The TRP can also be configured with program instructions for the corresponding communication functions.

[0091] It should be noted that CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU may have different names in different systems, but those skilled in the art will understand their meaning. For example, in an open radio access network (ORAN) system, CU can also be called an open centralized unit (O-CU) or an open CU, DU can also be called an open distributed unit (O-DU), CU-CP can also be called an open centralized unit control plane (O-CU-CP), CU-UP can also be called an open centralized unit user plane (O-CU-UP), and RU can also be called an open radio unit (O-RU). This application does not impose any specific limitations on these details. Any of the units CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and RU in this application can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software and hardware modules.

[0092] Optionally, for network elements in the ORAN system, each network element can implement the protocol layer functions shown in Table 1 below.

[0093] Table 1

[0094] It should be noted that in the ORAN system, the access network equipment in this application can be one or more network elements listed in Table 1 above.

[0095] The architecture of the CU and DU of the access network equipment is described below. An access network equipment includes at least one CU and at least one DU. Optionally, the access network equipment may also include at least one RU.

[0096] The following example uses an access network device consisting of one CU and one DU. The CU has some core network functions and can include CU-CP and CU-UP. The CU and DU can be configured according to the protocol layer functions of the wireless network they implement. For example, the CU may be configured to implement the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer and above (e.g., RRC and / or SDAP layers). The DU may be configured to implement protocol layers below the PDCP layer (e.g., RLC, MAC, and / or physical (PHY) layers). Alternatively, the CU may be configured to implement protocol layers above the PDCP layer (e.g., RRC and / or SDAP layers), and the DU may be configured to implement protocol layers below the PDCP layer (e.g., RLC, MAC, and / or PHY layers).

[0097] When a CU includes CU-CP and CU-UP, CU-CP is used to implement the control plane functions of the CU, and CU-UP is used to implement the user plane functions of the CU. For example, when a CU is configured to implement the functions of the PDCP layer, RRC layer, and SDAP layer, CU-CP is used to implement the RRC layer functions and the control plane functions of the PDCP layer, and CU-UP is used to implement the SDAP layer functions and the user plane functions of the PDCP layer.

[0098] The CU-CP can interact with network elements in the core network used to implement control plane functions. These network elements can be access and mobility function (AMF) network elements, such as the AMF in a 5G system. The AMF is responsible for mobility management in the mobile network, such as terminal location updates, terminal registration with the network, and terminal handover.

[0099] CU-UP can interact with network elements in the core network used to implement user plane functions. These network elements, such as the user plane function (UPF) in a 5G system, are responsible for forwarding and receiving data in the terminal.

[0100] The above CU and DU configurations are merely examples; the functions of the CU and DU can be configured as needed. For instance, the CU or DU can be configured to have more protocol layer functions, or only some protocol layer processing functions. For example, some RLC layer functions and protocol layer functions above the RLC layer can be placed in the CU, while the remaining RLC layer functions and protocol layer functions below the RLC layer can be placed in the DU. Furthermore, the functions of the CU or DU can be divided according to service type or other system requirements. For example, based on latency, functions that require low latency can be placed in the DU, while functions that do not require low latency can be placed in the CU.

[0101] DU and RU can cooperate to implement the functions of the PHY layer. A DU can be connected to one or more RUs. The functions of DU and RU can be configured in various ways depending on the design. For example, a DU can be configured to implement baseband functions, and an RU can be configured to implement mid-RF functions. Another example is that a DU can be configured to implement higher-level functions in the PHY layer, and an RU can be configured to implement lower-level functions in the PHY layer, or to implement both lower-level and RF functions. Higher-level functions in the physical layer can include a portion of the physical layer's functions that are closer to the MAC layer, while lower-level functions in the physical layer can include another portion of the physical layer's functions that are closer to the mid-RF side.

[0102] (4) Terminals, also known as user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), fixed wireless access (FWA), customer premises equipment (CPE), or terminal equipment, etc. Terminals can be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearables, smart transportation, smart cities, etc.

[0103] Terminal devices can include mobile phones, tablets, laptops, PDAs, mobile internet devices (MIDs), wearable devices, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self-driving (e.g., drones, vehicles), wireless terminals in remote medical surgery, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart cities, IoT terminals or wireless terminals in smart homes, repeaters, or integrated access and backhaul (IAB) nodes, etc. For example, wireless terminals in self-driving can be drones, helicopters, or airplanes. For example, wireless terminals in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) can be in-vehicle equipment, vehicle equipment, in-vehicle modules, vehicles, or ships, etc. Wireless terminals in industrial control can be cameras, robots, or robotic arms, etc. Wireless terminals in a smart home can be televisions, air conditioners, robot vacuums, speakers, or set-top boxes, etc. Terminal devices can also be devices or modules that connect to the communication systems shown above and have corresponding communication functions. Terminal devices typically contain communication modules, circuits, or chips that perform the corresponding communication functions, and they also contain program instructions for performing these functions. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology or device form used in the terminal.

[0104] (5) Ambient Internet of Things (A-IoT), also known as ambient power-enabled IoT or passive IoT (P-IoT). A-IoT includes nodes that may be passive. These passive nodes do not have their own power source (batteries or other power devices) but instead obtain energy from the environment to support data sensing, transmission, and distributed computing. The method by which passive nodes obtain energy is not limited here; for example, they can obtain energy from solar, radio frequency, wind, hydro, or tidal sources. Furthermore, passive nodes can store the obtained energy. An A-IoT system typically includes A-IoT devices and readers.

[0105] (6) A-IoT devices can be implemented by terminal devices in cellular networks, such as ultra-low power, ultra-low complexity IoT terminals (e.g., the first type of device). The first type of device in the A-IoT scenario can be a device with the functions of an A-IoT device. In this application, the A-IoT device can also be replaced by the first type of device. The A-IoT device can be in the form of a sensor, a tag, or any other terminal device, without any limitation. In the following text, the IoT terminal can be replaced by a tag or an A-IoT device, the tag can be replaced by an IoT terminal or an A-IoT device, and the A-IoT device can be replaced by an IoT terminal or a tag.

[0106] A-IoT devices can be radio frequency identification (RFID) A-IoT devices. Optionally, terminal devices in A-IoT can include device A, device B, and device C. Device A (similar to a passive tag) has no energy storage and no independent signal generation / amplification; it transmits signals via backscatter. Device B (similar to a semi-passive tag) has energy storage capabilities but no independent signal generation capability; it also transmits signals via backscatter. Its stored energy can be used to amplify the reflected signal. Device C (similar to an active tag) has energy storage, can independently generate signals, and has active radio frequency components for transmission. Device A (e.g., a passive tag or device) and device B (e.g., a semi-passive tag or device) require external carrier signals for backscatter communication, while device C (e.g., an active tag or device) can actively generate carrier signals, thus enabling active communication without relying on external devices / nodes.

[0107] In addition, the RAN1#116 meeting further defined the following three categories of AIoT devices: Device 1, Device 2a, and Device 2b. Device 1 has a peak power consumption of approximately 1μW, energy storage capabilities, and an initial sampling frequency offset (SFO) of 10. X The power consumption is ppm, which is insufficient for DL ​​and UL signal amplification. An external carrier signal is required for backscatter communication to enable uplink transmission. Device 2a has a peak power consumption of less than or equal to several hundred μW, possesses energy storage capabilities, and has an initial sampling frequency offset (SFO) of 10. Xppm, capable of DL and / or UL signal amplification. Requires an external carrier signal for backscatter communication for uplink transmission. Device 2b has a peak power consumption of less than or equal to several hundred μW, possesses energy storage capabilities, and has an initial sampling frequency offset (SFO) of 10. X The device can amplify DL and / or UL signals at ppm. It can perform uplink transmission without relying on an externally provided carrier. Devices 1 and 2a require external carrier signals for backscatter communication, while device 2b can actively generate its own carrier, thus enabling active communication without relying on external devices / nodes.

[0108] (7) The reader can be named a reader-writer or other names. The reader has the function of performing business operations on A-IoT devices, obtaining billing-related information and / or billing information, and sending billing information to the converged charging function (CHF). The business operations performed by the reader on A-IoT devices include one or more of the following: obtaining A-IoT device information, inventory operations, read operations, write operations, invalidation operations, locking operations, message interaction operations with A-IoT devices, and sending payloads or location information to A-IoT devices. The meaning of each operation will be explained later and will not be elaborated here.

[0109] The reader can communicate with A-IoT devices without contact, thereby reading information from the A-IoT devices and / or writing information that needs to be stored into the A-IoT devices. The reader can interact with A-IoT devices via radio frequency signals (or wireless signals). The reader can take many forms; for example, it can be a terminal device or an access network device. This application does not limit the form of the reader.

[0110] The reader can operate in two ways: one is that when the tag enters the reader's effective identification range, it receives the radio frequency signal emitted by the reader and uses the energy obtained by the induced current to emit the information stored in the chip (corresponding to passive tags, or to passive communication / backscatter communication methods); the other is that the tag can store some electrical energy through solar energy or other means, enabling it to actively transmit a signal of a certain frequency (this type of tag can be called a semi-passive or semi-active tag). After the reader receives and decodes the information, it sends it to the central information system for relevant data processing.

[0111] Readers and A-IoT devices can be widely used in various application fields. For example, they can be used for the management of warehouses, transportation, and the collection and query of materials in logistics processes. They can also be used for the management of fixed assets in application scenarios with large assets or valuable items, such as libraries and museums. This application does not limit the specific application fields of readers and A-IoT devices.

[0112] (8) Inventory Operation: Also known as inventory check. When an inventory operation is instructed to be performed, the reader obtains the identification information of the A-IoT devices; this identification information can be a unique identifier for the A-IoT device or a temporary identifier for the A-IoT device. Furthermore, in some examples, the inventory operation may also include an inventory operation for all A-IoT devices, i.e., obtaining the identifiers of A-IoT devices within the reader's coverage area. It is understood that specific naming can be used to distinguish the above inventory operation, such as calling it an inventory operation for all A-IoT devices or an unrestricted inventory operation; or, when the scope of A-IoT device identifiers in the above inventory operation is not limited, it can be understood that the inventory operation is to obtain the identifiers of A-IoT devices within the reader's coverage area.

[0113] (9) Read Operation: This involves reading data from an A-IoT device. The A-IoT device may have storage capabilities, and its storage space can store data. If a service requester requests a read operation on the A-IoT device, it can send a read operation command (or read command) to the reader via the network. The reader then sends the read operation command to the A-IoT device. Optionally, it also receives a read feedback message from the A-IoT device (e.g., including the data requested to be read from the storage space by the read operation command) and sends this read feedback message to the service requester via the network. This network may include at least one of the Internet, a core network, or an access network.

[0114] (10) Write operation: Data is written to the A-IoT device. The service requester can send a write operation command to the reader via the network. The reader sends the write operation command to the A-IoT device. The A-IoT device writes the data indicated by the write operation command into its own storage space. Optionally, the A-IoT device then sends a write feedback message (e.g., indicating the write result) to the reader. The reader sends the write feedback message to the service requester via the network. The network may include at least one of the Internet, core network, or access network. In this application, the feedback message may also be referred to as feedback, response, or response message.

[0115] (11) Disable Operation: This disables the A-IoT device. The service requester can send a disable operation command (or disable command) to the reader via the network. The reader forwards the disable operation command to the A-IoT device, and the A-IoT device executes the disable operation. The A-IoT device will then become disabled and cannot be inventoried or subjected to other operations. The disable operation can also be called a kill operation.

[0116] (12) Lock operation, which can lock the information of the tag. The service requester can send a lock operation command (or lock command) to the reader through the network. The reader forwards the lock operation command to the A-IoT device. The A-IoT device executes the lock operation. The A-IoT device can lock or unlock all or specified storage areas of the A-IoT device, and can prevent or allow read or write operations on the corresponding storage areas.

[0117] (13) Obtaining A-IoT device information means that the reader obtains or receives A-IoT device information sent by the A-IoT device. The reader sends the A-IoT device information to the service requester or the A-IoT CN device. Alternatively, before obtaining the A-IoT device information sent by the A-IoT device, the reader may receive a service instruction and send the service instruction to the A-IoT device; the service instruction may come from the service requester or from the A-IoT CN device, and this application does not impose any restrictions. For example, the A-IoT device information may include A-IoT device identification information and / or information stored by the A-IoT device.

[0118] (14) Message interaction with A-IoT devices. In one possible implementation, the reader sends a message from the service requester to the A-IoT device. In another possible implementation, the reader receives a message from the A-IoT device and sends a message from the A-IoT device to the service requester. In yet another possible implementation, the reader can interact with the A-IoT device by exchanging messages, such as exchanging random numbers, before receiving a message from the A-IoT device.

[0119] (15) Sending payload to the A-IoT device. In one possible implementation, the service requester can send the payload to the A-IoT device through a reader. After receiving the payload from the service requester, the reader sends the payload to the A-IoT device. In another possible implementation, the A-IoT CN device can send the payload to the A-IoT device through a reader. After receiving the payload from the A-IoT CN device, the reader sends the payload to the A-IoT device. For example, the payload can be an instruction sent by the A-IoT CN device or the service requester to the A-IoT device, data written by the A-IoT CN device or the service requester to the A-IoT device, application layer information sent by the A-IoT CN device or the service requester to the A-IoT device, etc., or the payload can be other information related to the A-IoT device, which is not limited in this application.

[0120] (16) Positioning Operation: Positioning the A-IoT device or acquiring its location information. In one possible implementation, the acquired location information may include one or more of the following: coordinates, latitude and longitude, cell identifier, tracking area identifier, network identifier, etc. In another possible implementation, the positioning operation may include the A-IoT device sending a signal for performing positioning, the reader receiving the signal to perform positioning, or receiving the signal and sending it to a location calculation function (e.g., a location management function, LMF) to perform location calculation.

[0121] (17) The service requester can also be referred to as the operation requester or third party in A-IoT. In this embodiment, the service requester can be understood as a device that sends a service request to request the execution of a service operation. For example, the service requester can be a server, a passive IoT server (P-IoT server), an application function, or a device requesting a service. The service requester can correspond to a designated user. For example, the designated user can include an enterprise, tenant, third party, or company, without limitation. Wherein, the service requester corresponding to a designated user can be understood as the service requester belonging to the designated user and being managed by the designated user.

[0122] (18) The first (core network, CN) device can be an IoT functional entity. An IoT functional entity is a type of core network device and can be considered an entity responsible for IoT management functions or environmental IoT management functions. The IoT functional entity can have the ability to process service requests from service requesters and the function of authorizing service requests. For example, an IoT functional entity can have one or more of the following capabilities: transmission of service data from A-IoT devices, management of A-IoT devices, security procedures for A-IoT devices, service operations according to the instructions of the service requester, and instructing readers to perform IoT service operations, etc. The name of the IoT functional entity can take many forms. For example, the IoT functional entity can be an Ambient IoT Function (A-IoTF), an Ambient IoT Management Function (A-IoTMF), an IoT device management function (IDMF), an IoT management function (IMF), a tag management function (TMF), or an Ambient IoT aware CN, etc. This application does not limit the naming of the IoT functional entity; other names are acceptable.

[0123] In this application, the equipment may also be referred to as a network element, device, or node, etc.

[0124] (19) A second CN device, for example, includes at least one of the following network elements: access and mobility management function (AMF), mobility management entity (MME) in a 4th generation (4G) network, home subscriber server (HSS), serving gateway (S-GW), policy and charging rules function (PCRF), public data network gateway (PDN gateway or P-GW), user plane function (UPF), unified data management (UDM), or session management function (SMF). Furthermore, the second CN device may include one or more existing or subsequently developed network elements, which will not be listed individually in this application.

[0125] (20) An A-IoT CN device is a CN device that supports or enables A-IoT. For example, an A-IoT CN device may be a first CN device or an enhanced second CN device. An enhanced second CN device can be understood as a second CN device that includes the functions of a first CN device. This application does not limit the name of the A-IoT CN device.

[0126] Optionally, the interface between the A-IoT CN device and the access network device (referred to as the first interface) is a new generation (NG) interface / xx interface. For example, when the A-IoT CN device is an AMF, the first interface can be an NG interface. The radio network layer protocol of the first interface, or the application protocol providing signaling services between the access network device and the A-IoT CN device, can be the NG application protocol (NGAP) or a simplified version of NGAP. When the A-IoT CN device is another CN device that supports A-IoT (such as TMF / AIoTF / AIoTMF / AIoT-aware CN, or other CN devices that support / enable A-IoT), the first interface can be an xx interface. The xx interface is the interface defined for the interface between the access network device and the A-IoT CN device; correspondingly, the radio network layer protocol on this xx interface, or the application protocol providing signaling services between the access network device and the A-IoT CN device, can be the xx application protocol (xxAP) or a simplified version of xxAP.

[0127] (21) AMF, also known as AMF device, AMF entity, AMF network element, mobility management device, mobility management network element, or mobility management entity, is a type of core network equipment. AMF can be used to manage terminal access control and mobility. In practical applications, AMF can include the AMF within the mobility management entity (MME) in the Long Term Evolution (LTE) network framework, and also incorporates access management functions. Specifically, it can be responsible for terminal registration, mobility management, tracking area update procedures, reachability detection, selection of session management network elements, and mobility state transition management. For example, in 5G networks, the access and mobility management function network element can be an AMF network element. The AMF network element can provide Namf services, which can include the transmission of N1 and / or N2 information through the AMF, and can also include subscribing to AMF state change notifications. In future communications, such as 6G, the access and mobility management function network element can still be an AMF network element, or may have other names. In this application, for ease of description, the Access and Mobility Management Function is referred to as AMF. In other communication systems, the Access and Mobility Management Function may also have other names, and this application does not limit it.

[0128] (22) UDM, also known as UDM device, UDM network element, data management device, UDM entity, etc., is used to process one or more functions such as terminal identification, access authentication, registration, and mobility management. In 5G communication systems, unified data management can be either unified data management (UDM) or a UDM device. In future communication systems, UDM may have other names. For ease of description in this application embodiment, unified data management is referred to as UDM. In other communication systems, unified data management may have other names, and this application embodiment does not limit this. UDM can be a core network device. UDM can be a control plane device.

[0129] This application can be applied to communication systems, which may include a radio access network (RAN), and the RAN includes at least one access network device and at least one terminal device. This application does not limit the number or type of access network devices and terminal devices in the communication system.

[0130] Figure 1-1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system according to this application. In Figure 1-1, the communication system may include RAN 100, which includes access network equipment 101 and terminal equipment 102 to 107. In the example shown in Figure 1-1, terminal equipment 102 is a vehicle, terminal equipment 103 is a smart air conditioner, terminal equipment 104 is a smart fuel dispenser, terminal equipment 105 is a mobile phone, terminal equipment 106 is a smart teacup, and terminal equipment 107 is a printer.

[0131] As shown in Figure 1-1, the communication system may also include a CN 200. The access network device 101 in the RAN 100 can be connected to the CN 200 wirelessly or via a wired connection. The core network 200 may include one or more core network devices. The core network device in the CN 200 and the access network device 101 in the RAN 100 may be independent and different physical devices, or they may be the same physical device that integrates the logical functions of the core network device and the logical functions of the access network device.

[0132] As shown in Figure 1-1, the communication system may further include an Internet 300, which can be connected to the CN 200 via wired or wireless means, and / or, the Internet 300 can be connected to the access network device 101 in the RAN 100 via wired or wireless means. Optionally, the service requester can connect to the CN 200 and / or the RAN 100 via the Internet 300.

[0133] Figure 1-2 is a schematic diagram of the application framework involving the RIC module under the O-RAN architecture. As shown in Figure 1-2, the communication system includes a RAN intelligent controller (RIC). RICs include near-real-time RICs (near-RT RICs) and non-real-time RICs (non-RT RICs).

[0134] As an example, the near real-time RIC in Figure 1-2 is used for model training and inference. For instance, it can be used to train an AI model, which is then used for inference. The near real-time RIC can obtain network-side and / or terminal-side information from RAN nodes (e.g., CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and / or RU) and / or terminals. This information can be used as training data or inference data. Optionally, the near real-time RIC can deliver the inference results to the RAN nodes and / or terminals. Optionally, inference results can be exchanged between CU and DU, and / or between DU and RU. For example, the near real-time RIC delivers the inference results to the DU, and the DU sends them to the RU.

[0135] As another example, the non-real-time RIC in Figure 1-2 is used for model training and inference. For example, it can be used to train an AI model and then use that AI model for inference. The non-real-time RIC can obtain network-side and / or terminal-side information from RAN nodes (e.g., CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and / or RU) and / or terminals. This information can be used as training data or inference data, and the inference results can be delivered to the RAN nodes and / or terminals. Optionally, inference results can be exchanged between CU and DU, and / or between DU and RU; for example, the non-real-time RIC delivers the inference results to the DU, which then forwards them to the RU.

[0136] As another example, the near real-time RIC and non-real-time RIC in Figure 1-2 can also be configured as separate network elements. Optionally, the near real-time RIC and non-real-time RIC can also be part of other devices. For example, the near real-time RIC can be set in the RAN node (e.g., in the CU or DU), while the non-real-time RIC can be set in the operation, administration and maintenance (OAM) system, cloud server, core network device, or other network device.

[0137] Figure 1-3 illustrates an example of an O-RAN system. As shown in Figure 1-3, access network devices communicate with the core network via a backhaul link and with terminal devices via an air interface. An O-RAN system may include components other than those shown in Figure 1-3. Figure 1-3 uses the example of CU and DU included in the BBU; in some examples, CU and DU can be configured separately.

[0138] This application does not limit the type of communication system. In one possible implementation, this application can be applied to LTE wireless communication systems, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) systems, CDMA systems, wireless local area networks (WLANs), or future 5G (the fifth generation) wireless communication systems, NR wireless communication systems, or future evolved NR wireless communication systems. The business scenarios involved in this application can include backscatter communication, passive IoT communication, and ambient Internet of Things (A-IoT) scenarios in NR communication systems (or next-generation NR communication systems).

[0139] Figure 1-4 schematically illustrates the structure of a communication system supporting A-IoT service scenarios. In the communication system shown in Figure 1-4, IoT functional entities can receive service requests from service requesters through network exposure functions (NEFs).

[0140] There are several ways for the requesting party to send service requests to the IoT functional entity, which are not limited here. In some examples, the requesting party can send service requests to the IoT functional entity through control plane devices other than the NEF. For example, this control plane device can be a session management function (SMF), a policy control function (PCF), a unified data management (UDM) device, a network slice-specific and SNPN authentication and authorization function (NSSAAF). In other examples, the requesting party can send service requests directly to the IoT functional entity. Furthermore, in still other examples, the requesting party can also send service requests to the IoT functional entity through user plane channels. For example, the requesting party can send service requests to the IoT functional entity through a user plane function (UPF) or an SMF.

[0141] After receiving a service request, an IoT functional entity can send the request to the reader. Depending on the different forms of readers in real-world applications, the way the IoT functional entity sends the service request can vary; that is, different forms of readers correspond to different communication system architectures.

[0142] In the example shown in Figure 1-4, when gNB 1 acts as a reader, the IoT functional entity can have a direct communication interface with gNB 1. For example, this communication interface can be an NG interface / xx interface, and the protocol of this communication interface can be NGAP / xxAP. Thus, after the IoT functional entity obtains a service request (e.g., an inventory request) from the service requester through NEF, it can select the gNB 1 corresponding to the service request based on the interaction with the UDM, and then send a service instruction to gNB 1 acting as a reader to instruct gNB 1 to perform service operations on A-IoT device 1.

[0143] As shown in the example in Figure 1-4, when the terminal acts as a reader, to ensure compatibility with both scenarios where the reader is both a terminal and a gNB, the IoT functional entity can send service requests to the terminal acting as a reader in two possible ways. One way is for the IoT functional entity to issue the corresponding service instruction through the AMF of the service terminal. For example, the IoT functional entity sends a service instruction to the AMF of the service terminal, and the AMF then sends the service instruction to the terminal via the terminal's NAS message. The other way is for the IoT functional entity to directly issue the service instruction through the gNB 2 of the service terminal. For example, the IoT functional entity sends a service instruction to the gNB 2 of the service terminal, and the gNB 2 then sends the service instruction to the terminal, instructing the terminal to perform service operations on A-IoT device 2 as a reader.

[0144] Figure 1-4 illustrates only one exemplary communication system. Other possible scenarios may include communication systems with different devices than those shown in Figure 1-4, and may include more or fewer devices than those shown in Figure 1-4. For example, the gNB shown in Figure 1-4 can be replaced with other types of access network devices, the AMF can be replaced with other types of core network devices, or the AMF can include the functionality of IoT functional entities as an enhanced AMF.

[0145] The communication process in an A-IoT scenario will be described below with reference to more accompanying figures.

[0146] The example shown in Figure 2-1 illustrates a communication topology for an A-IoT scenario (denoted as Topology 1). In Topology 1, A-IoT devices communicate directly and bidirectionally with the gNB. Communication between the gNB and A-IoT devices includes A-IoT data and / or signaling.

[0147] The example shown in Figure 2-2 illustrates a communication topology for an A-IoT scenario (denoted as Topology 2). In Topology 2, bidirectional communication occurs between the A-IoT device and the gNB (gNB). The intermediate node transmits A-IoT data and / or signaling between the gNB and the A-IoT device. In Topology 2, the intermediate node can be a repeater, IAB (Integrated Device Architecture), or a terminal, etc.

[0148] The examples shown in Figures 2-3 and 2-4 illustrate one possible communication topology for an A-IoT scenario (denoted as Topology 3). In Topology 3, as shown in Figure 2-3, the A-IoT device sends data / signaling to the gNB and receives data / signaling from the assisting node; or, as shown in Figure 2-4, the A-IoT device receives data / signaling from the gNB and sends data / signaling to the assisting node. In Topology 3, the assisting node can be a repeater, IAB (Internet Access Module), terminal, etc., and these devices enable the Internet of Things (IoT).

[0149] The example shown in Figure 2-5 illustrates a communication topology for an A-IoT scenario (denoted as Topology 4). In Topology 4, A-IoT devices and terminals communicate bidirectionally. The communication between the terminal and the A-IoT device includes A-IoT data and / or signaling.

[0150] It should be noted that in the examples shown in Figures 2-1 to 2-5, the gNB can be replaced with other types of access network devices.

[0151] According to SA2 TR 23.700-13, under the Topology 2 architecture, there are currently three ways to transmit messages / data / signaling related to A-IoT services.

[0152] Method 1 is a data transmission scheme based on RRC connection of a terminal (reader). In this application, the terminal (reader) refers to a terminal that acts as a reader or supports reader functions; the terminal (reader) can also be called a UE (reader). As shown in Figure 3-1, the gNB and the terminal (reader) transmit relevant messages / data / signaling for A-IoT services through NR Uu RRC messages. Specifically, when the gNB receives relevant messages / data / signaling for A-IoT services sent by the A-IoT CN device via NGAP, the gNB forwards the relevant information to the terminal (reader) via NR Uu RRC. When the gNB receives relevant messages / data / signaling for A-IoT services sent by the terminal (reader) via NR Uu RRC, the gNB further transmits the relevant information to the A-IoT CN device via NGAP. When the gNB is replaced with other types of access network equipment, the NG interface can be replaced with other types of interfaces, such as the xx interface, and the NGAP on this communication interface can be replaced with xxAP, and NG-C can be replaced with xx-C.

[0153] Method 2 is a data transmission scheme for NAS based on the terminal (reader). As shown in Figure 3-2, the relevant messages / data / signaling of A-IoT services between the A-IoT CN device and the terminal (reader) are transmitted on NAS packets between the A-IoT CN device and the terminal (reader) (i.e., transparent transmission to the gNB). The gNB processes the NAS packets of the terminal (reader) on the NGAP using existing downlink NAS transport messages (DL NAS transport message) and uplink NAS transport messages (UL NAS transport message). In Figure 3-2, the information transmitted between the gNB and the terminal (reader) can be carried in 5G-AN protocol layer messages. In this application, messages can be replaced with packets, data packets, or datagrams, and packets can be replaced with messages, data packets, or datagrams. When the gNB is replaced with other types of access network devices, the NG interface can be replaced with other types of interfaces (e.g., the xx interface), the NGAP on this communication interface can be replaced with other types of wireless network layer protocols (e.g., xxAP), and NG-C can be replaced with xx-C.

[0154] Method 3 is a data transmission scheme based on the PDU session of the terminal (reader). As shown in Figure 3-3, the relevant messages / data / signaling of A-IoT services between the A-IoT CN device and the terminal (reader) are transmitted on the PDU session of the terminal (reader) (i.e., transparent transmission to the gNB). The gNB processes the user plane data of the terminal (reader) through the NG-U GTP-U channel. When the gNB is replaced with other types of access network devices, the NG interface can be replaced with other types of interfaces, the NGAP on this communication interface can be replaced with other types of wireless network layer protocols (such as xxAP), and NG-U can be replaced with xx-U.

[0155] In Figures 3-1 to 3-3, the gNB can be replaced with other types of access network devices. As shown in Figures 3-1 to 3-3, the communication interface between the A-IoT device and the reader can be an A-IoT wireless (radio) interface.

[0156] The preceding text introduced various business operations that the reader performs on A-IoT devices. These operations can include command operations (or command services), such as one or more of the following: read, write, disable, or lock operations. As described earlier, the service requester can send a command to the reader via the network, and then the reader sends the command to the A-IoT device. When the command is a disable or lock command, the A-IoT device does not need to send feedback after executing the corresponding command. Therefore, the reader completes the command transmission task by forwarding the command to the A-IoT device. When the command is a read or write command, the A-IoT device also sends feedback to the reader after executing the corresponding command. Therefore, the reader needs to forward this feedback to the service requester after sending the command to the A-IoT device to complete the command transmission task.

[0157] Because commands are typically carried in upper-layer information between A-IoT CN devices and A-IoT devices—such as the NAS layer between A-IoT CN devices and A-IoT devices, or the APP layer between A-IoT devices and servers—commands are invisible or not transparent to the devices between A-IoT CN devices and A-IoT devices (e.g., access network devices or access network devices and terminals). After receiving the upper-layer information from the A-IoT CN device, the access network device or terminal cannot determine the content of the upper-layer information; for example, it cannot determine whether the upper-layer information carries a command, or the type of command in the upper-layer information. Consequently, after the access network device or terminal forwards the upper-layer information to the A-IoT device, it cannot determine whether the A-IoT device will send feedback after receiving the upper-layer information. To ensure successful command transmission, the access network device or terminal needs to reserve a fixed amount of resources for receiving feedback after receiving the upper-layer information. However, when the A-IoT device does not need to send feedback after receiving the upper-layer information, the resources reserved for receiving feedback by the access network device or terminal will be wasted.

[0158] To this end, this application provides a communication method in which, in addition to higher-level information between the A-IoT CN device and the A-IoT device, the message sent by the A-IoT CN device to the access network device or terminal may also include information visible or resolvable by the access network device or terminal (referred to as new information). The new information is used to determine whether the higher-level information corresponds to feedback. In this way, the access network device or terminal can determine whether to reserve resources for receiving feedback based on the new information, thereby saving resources for receiving information while ensuring the completion of the transmission command task.

[0159] Below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, several possible method examples based on this inventive concept are described.

[0160] Figure 4 schematically illustrates one possible flow of the method of this application. This flow can be based on Topology 1 described above. In Figure 4, the A-IoT access network device can be an access network device supporting reader functionality or an access network device supporting A-IoT technology. An A-IoT access network device can include multiple readers; for example, each TRP, antenna, or beam may be a reader. In one possible example, the first communication device described above can be the A-IoT access network device shown in Figure 4, the second communication device described above can be the A-IoT device shown in Figure 4, and the third communication device described above can be the A-IoT CN device shown in Figure 4.

[0161] As shown in Figure 4, the method may include S401 to S413.

[0162] S401, the A-IoT CN device sends information 4-1 to the A-IoT access network device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT access network device receives information 4-1 sent by the A-IoT CN device;

[0163] Message 4-1 can be a business request, optionally an inventory request, which instructs the execution of an inventory operation. Message 4-1 may carry a command indication and an A-IoT device identifier. The A-IoT device identifier is used to select one A-IoT device, a group of A-IoT devices, or all A-IoT devices.

[0164] S402, the A-IoT access network device sends information 4-2 to the A-IoT CN device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT CN device receives information 4-2 sent by the A-IoT access network device;

[0165] Information 4-2 can be a service response; optionally, the service response is an inventory response. After receiving the inventory request, the A-IoT access network device can reply with an inventory response to the A-IoT CN device. Step S402 is optional; in some examples, the A-IoT access network device may not reply with an inventory response to the A-IoT CN device after receiving the inventory request.

[0166] S403, the A-IoT access network device sends information 4-3 to the A-IoT device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT device receives information 4-3 sent by the A-IoT access network device;

[0167] After receiving information 4-1, the A-IoT access network device can send information 4-3 to the A-IoT device. Information 4-3 can be a paging message or a select message. Information 4-3 can carry the A-IoT device identifier to select one A-IoT device, a group of A-IoT devices, or all A-IoT devices.

[0168] S404, A-IoT access network equipment and A-IoT equipment establish connection;

[0169] After receiving information 4-3, the A-IoT device can execute a random access procedure to establish a wireless connection between the A-IoT access network device and the A-IoT device.

[0170] This application does not limit the specific method of the random access procedure. For example, an A-IoT access network device sends a query message, which may carry a Q value, a session, and a flag. Assuming the session is S0 and the flag is A, when the A-IoT device's session and flag match, a random number between 0 and 2^Q-1 is randomly generated based on the Q value as the initial value of the counter. If no A-IoT device sends a response, the A-IoT access network device continues to send query feedback (queryRep). Upon receiving the query feedback, the A-IoT device decrements the counter by 1. If the counter generated by the A-IoT device is 0, the A-IoT device responds with RN16; otherwise, it does not respond. RN16 is a 16-bit random number (it can be 16 bits or 8 bits) used for contention resolution. If the base station does not receive RN16 (a 16-bit random number), it sends a query response. If the A-IoT device receives (possibly multiple) query responses (the query responses do not need to carry content and do not include Q, partition, or flag bits), the counter is decremented to 0, and the A-IoT device responds with RN16; otherwise, it does not respond. For example, each query response corresponds to the start or end of an access time slot. Each query response received by the A-IoT device signifies the end of the previous time slot and the start of the next. The A-IoT device can randomly select an access time slot to initiate access, send uplink data (EPC), or receive downlink data.

[0171] Step S404 is optional. For example, the A-IoT device and the A-IoT access network device may have already established a connection before step S403.

[0172] S405, the A-IoT device sends information 4-5 to the A-IoT access network device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT access network device receives information 4-5 sent by the A-IoT device;

[0173] After receiving information 4-3, the A-IoT device can send information 4-5 to the A-IoT access network device. Information 4-5 can carry the device ID of the A-IoT device.

[0174] S406, the A-IoT access network device sends information 4-6 to the A-IoT CN device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT CN device receives information 4-6 sent by the A-IoT access network device;

[0175] Information 4-6 may include the device ID of the A-IoT device.

[0176] If the A-IoT access network device (AIoT RAN node) carries the RAN device xxAP ID assigned to the A-IoT device in the information reported in inventory 4-6, then the AIoT CN device can carry the assigned CN device xxAP ID in the xxAP message sent to the A-IoT access network device after receiving information 4-6, thus forming a pair of RAN / CN Device xxAP IDs (hereinafter referred to as ID pairs). The RAN device xxAP ID is used by the A-IoT access network device to uniquely identify an A-IoT device on the xx interface between the RAN and CN, and the CN device xxAP ID is used to uniquely identify an A-IoT device on the xx interface. "xx" represents the interface between the A-IoT CN device and the A-IoT access network device.

[0177] S407, A-IoT CN devices authenticate A-IoT devices;

[0178] After receiving information 4-6, the A-IoT CN device can perform security operations such as authentication and / or validation on the device ID(s) in information 4-6.

[0179] S407 is an optional step. In some examples, after the A-IoT CN device receives information 4-6, authentication of the A-IoT device may not be performed.

[0180] S408, the A-IoT CN device sends information 4-8 to the A-IoT access network device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT access network device receives information 4-8 sent by the A-IoT CN device;

[0181] Information 4-8 can be understood with reference to the first message described above. Information 4-8 may include information element (IE) 1, which can be higher-level information between the A-IoT CN device and the A-IoT device (such as the first information described above). For example, IE 1 is a NAS message between the A-IoT CN device and the A-IoT terminal device. Furthermore, information 4-8 may also include IE 2 or IE 3, which may be, for example, the confidence enhancement information described above. IE 2 and IE 3 can be the second and third information described above, respectively. That is, IE 2 indicates whether a first feedback exists, where the first feedback corresponds to a first command. IE 3 indicates the type of the first command, which is used to determine whether a first feedback exists, where the first feedback corresponds to a first command. The first command is either a command sent by the A-IoT CN device to the A-IoT device or a command carried in IE 1.

[0182] As mentioned earlier, the first feedback can correspond to the first command. It can be understood as the information sent by the A-IoT device after receiving IE 1, or as an indication of the result or state of the first operation. The first operation is the operation indicated by the first command in IE 1 (e.g., a write or read operation), and the first state can be the state (or current state) of the A-IoT device after changing its state according to the first command (e.g., a disable or lock operation).

[0183] Optionally, IE 1 carries a first command sent from the A-IoT CN device to the A-IoT device. The first command may include at least one of the commands described above, such as at least one of the commands selected from read, write, disable, or lock commands. For write commands, IE 1 also includes data to be written to the A-IoT device's storage space.

[0184] In some examples, after receiving information 4-8, the A-IoT access network device can determine that the higher-layer information indicates the first command. There are various methods for the A-IoT access network device to determine that the higher-layer information in information 4-8 indicates the first command, which are not limited here. In some examples, information 4-8 may also carry one or more information elements, and the A-IoT access network device can determine that the higher-layer information in information 4-8 indicates the first command based on these one or more information elements. For example, information 4-8 may also carry a message type information element (IE), which can indicate that information 4-8 is a DL command transmission message. The A-IoT access network device can determine that the higher-layer information in information 4-8 includes or indicates the first command based on the message type IE.

[0185] Optionally, IE 1 may also include the device ID of the A-IoT device obtained by the A-IoT device in information 4-6.

[0186] Optionally, information 4-8 can be carried in the interface message between the A-IoT CN device and the A-IoT access network device. For example, taking the A-IoT access network device as a gNB, information 4-8 can be carried in the NGAP / xxAP message.

[0187] Optionally, in addition to including IE 1 and IE 2, or IE 1 and IE 3, information 4-8 may also include the ID pair described above. The ID pair may include the RAN device xxAP ID and the CN device xxAP ID. Based on the inclusion of this ID pair in information 4-8, the A-IoT access network device may forward IE 1 to the A-IoT device indicated by the ID pair.

[0188] S409, A-IoT access network devices determine whether to reserve resource 1 based on information 4-8;

[0189] After receiving information 4-8, although the higher-layer information in information 4-8 is either transparent to the A-IoT access network device or not visible to it, and the A-IoT access network device does not parse this higher-layer information, the newly added information in information 4-8 is visible to the A-IoT access network device. The A-IoT access network device can parse this newly added information and determine whether the first feedback exists or does not exist based on the second or third information within the newly added information. For example, the A-IoT access network device determines whether the first feedback exists or does not exist based on the second information, or the A-IoT access network device determines the type of the first command based on the third information, and then determines whether the first feedback exists or does not exist based on the type of the first command.

[0190] After determining whether the first feedback exists or not, the A-IoT access network device can determine whether to reserve resource 1. Resource 1 refers to the resources used by the A-IoT access network device to receive the first feedback. Resource 1 can be understood with reference to the first resource described earlier. For example, A-IoT access network devices and A-IoT devices can communicate via wireless resources. Resource 1 may include first time-domain resources and / or first frequency-domain resources and / or first processing resources used by the A-IoT access network device to receive the first feedback. The first processing resource can be the processing resources of the A-IoT access network device used to listen for the first feedback. For example, the first processing resource can be the resources of the receiver of the A-IoT access network device.

[0191] When an A-IoT access network device determines that a first feedback exists based on the second or third information, the A-IoT access network device can determine to reserve resource 1, and subsequently reserve resource 1 accordingly. When an A-IoT access network device determines that a first feedback does not exist based on the second or third information, the A-IoT access network device can determine not to reserve resource 1, and subsequently not reserve resource 1 accordingly.

[0192] Reserved resource 1 can be understood as scheduling resource 1 or retaining resource 1. In this application, not reserving resource 1 can be understood as not scheduling resource 1 or releasing resource 1. The A-IoT access network device scheduling or retaining the first processing resource can be understood as the A-IoT access network device listening to the first feedback. The A-IoT access network device not scheduling or releasing the first processing resource can be understood as the A-IoT access network device not listening to the first feedback. The A-IoT access network device not scheduling or releasing the first time domain resource and not scheduling or releasing the first frequency domain resource can save the transmission resources of the A-IoT access network device.

[0193] S410, the A-IoT access network device sends information 4-10 to the A-IoT device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT device receives information 4-10 sent by the A-IoT access network device;

[0194] After receiving information 4-8, the A-IoT access network device can send information 4-10 to the A-IoT device. Information 4-10 may include IE 1 from information 4-8.

[0195] S411, the A-IoT access network device sends information 4-11 to the A-IoT CN device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT CN device receives information 4-11 sent by the A-IoT access network device;

[0196] Based on the A-IoT access network device determining the absence of first feedback according to IE 2 or IE 3 in information 4-8, after sending information 4-10, the A-IoT access network device can send information 4-11 to the A-IoT CN device. Information 4-11 may include IE 4, which indicates the end of the task of transmitting the first command or the end of the transmission of the first command. After receiving IE 4, the A-IoT CN device can terminate the first command and begin executing other services.

[0197] Optionally, the additional information in information 4-8 may also include IE 5, which indicates whether the first command has subsequent commands. If the first command has subsequent commands, it can be understood that the first command is part of a command combination, and the command combination also includes a second command executed later than the first command. For example, after receiving information 4-8, the A-IoT access network device may also receive other information including indications of the second command. If the first command does not have subsequent commands, it can be understood that the first command is a single command, or that the first command is the last command executed in the command combination.

[0198] A single command can be a read command, write command, lock command, or disable command, etc. A command combination can be understood as multiple commands or a sequence of commands, where all commands in the combination are commands executed by the A-IoT device. Optionally, a command combination may include multiple commands of the same type; for example, a command combination may be a continuous write command or a continuous read command, and correspondingly, the first command and the second command may both be write commands, or both be read commands. Optionally, a command combination may include commands of different types; for example, a command combination may be a read-then-write command or a write-then-read command, and correspondingly, the first command and the second command may be a read command and a write command, or a write command and a read command, respectively. Optionally, a command combination may include commands of the same type and commands of different types; for example, a command combination may include at least two read commands and at least two write commands, or at least two read commands and one write command, or one read command and at least two write commands.

[0199] Based on the fact that information 4-8 also includes IE 5, and IE 5 indicates that the first command has a follow-up command, the A-IoT access network device can continue to reserve resource 2 after sending information 4-10. Resource 2 is used by the A-IoT access network device to send a second command to the A-IoT device. Based on the fact that information 4-8 also includes IE 5, and IE 5 indicates that the first command does not have a follow-up command, the A-IoT access network device can also carry IE 6 in information 4-11 after sending information 4-10. IE 6 indicates that other services can be performed with other A-IoT devices besides this A-IoT device. After receiving IE 6, the A-IoT CN device can begin performing services with other A-IoT devices.

[0200] S412, the A-IoT device sends information 4-12 to the A-IoT access network device, and the corresponding A-IoT access network device receives information 4-12 sent by the A-IoT device;

[0201] Based on IE 1 in information 4-10 carrying a first command, and the first command corresponding to a first feedback, after the A-IoT device executes the first command, it can send information 4-12 to the A-IoT access network device. Information 4-12 carries IE 7, and IE 7 includes the first feedback. For example, when the first command is a write command, the first feedback can indicate the result of the A-IoT executing the write command (e.g., write success or write failure). For example, when the first command is a read command, the first feedback can include the data to be read as indicated by the read command.

[0202] IE 7 can carry high-level information between A-IoT devices and A-IoT CN devices. For example, IE 7 can be carried in NAS messages between A-IoT devices and A-IoT CN devices. Correspondingly, after receiving information 4-12, the A-IoT access network device may not need to parse the content of IE 7. In other words, IE 7 may be transparent to the A-IoT access network device or invisible to it.

[0203] Optionally, IE 7 also includes the device ID for A-IoT devices.

[0204] S413, the A-IoT access network device sends information 4-13 to the A-IoT CN device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT CN device receives information 4-13 sent by the A-IoT access network device.

[0205] After receiving information 4-12, the A-IoT access network device can send information 4-13 to the A-IoT CN device. Information 4-13 includes IE 7, and IE 7 includes the first feedback.

[0206] The A-IoT access network device determines whether to reserve resource 1 based on IE 2 or IE 3. For example, when there is first feedback, the A-IoT access network device can reserve resource 1; when there is no first feedback, the A-IoT access network device can choose not to reserve resource 1. This helps to save the resources of the A-IoT access network device in receiving information while ensuring the completion of the transmission task of the first command.

[0207] In the flowchart shown in Figure 4, S401–S406 represent one possible flow for inventory management, and S408–S413 represent one possible flow for command management. This application does not limit the specific flow of inventory management. In some examples, the method provided in this application may not include the inventory management flow.

[0208] Figure 5 schematically illustrates one possible flow of the method of this application. In Figure 5, the A-IoT access network device can be an access network device supporting reader functionality or an access network device supporting A-IoT technology. An A-IoT access network device may include multiple readers; for example, each TRP, antenna, or beam may be a reader. In one possible example, the first communication device described above can be the A-IoT access network device shown in Figure 5, the second communication device described above can be the A-IoT device shown in Figure 5, and the third communication device described above can be the A-IoT CN device shown in Figure 5.

[0209] As shown in Figure 5, the method may include S501 to S506.

[0210] S501, the A-IoT CN device sends information 5-1 to the A-IoT access network device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT access network device receives information 5-1 sent by the A-IoT CN device;

[0211] Information 5-1 can be understood with reference to Information 4-8 introduced earlier. For example, Information 5-1 may include IE 1 and IE 2, or IE 1 and IE 3. The difference is that Information 4-8 may also include ID pairs determined in the inventory process, while Information 5-1 does not include such ID pairs. Optionally, IE 1 may include the device ID of the A-IoT device.

[0212] S502, A-IoT access network devices determine whether to reserve resource 1 based on information 5-1;

[0213] S502 can be understood by referring to S409.

[0214] S503, the A-IoT access network device sends information 5-3 to the A-IoT device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT device receives information 5-3 sent by the A-IoT access network device;

[0215] Information 5-3 can be understood with reference to information 4-10 introduced earlier. For example, information 4-10 may include IE 1. The difference is that, since information 4-8 does not include an ID pair, and IE 1 is not visible to the A-IoT access network device, the A-IoT access network device cannot forward IE 1 to that A-IoT device. Instead, it can forward IE 1 to the A-IoT device via broadcast. For example, information 5-3 can be carried in a paging message sent by the A-IoT access network device.

[0216] S504, the A-IoT access network device sends information 5-4 to the A-IoT CN device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT CN device receives information 5-4 sent by the A-IoT access network device;

[0217] S505, the A-IoT device sends information 5-5 to the A-IoT access network device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT access network device receives information 5-5 sent by the A-IoT device;

[0218] S506, the A-IoT access network device sends information 5-6 to the A-IoT CN device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT CN device receives information 5-6 sent by the A-IoT access network device.

[0219] S504 can be understood by referring to S411, S505 can be understood by referring to S412, and S506 can be understood by referring to S413. They will not be elaborated here.

[0220] Figure 6 schematically illustrates one possible flow of the method of this application. The flow shown in Figure 6 can be based on the topology 2 described above and the method of transmitting A-IoT services shown in Figure 3-1. In Figure 6, the A-IoT access network device can be an access network device or an access network device supporting A-IoT technology, and the terminal (reader) can be a terminal supporting reader functionality. A terminal can include multiple readers; for example, each TRP, antenna, or beam may be a reader. In one possible example, the first communication device described above can be the A-IoT access network device shown in Figure 6, the second communication device described above can be the A-IoT device shown in Figure 6, and the third communication device described above can be the A-IoT CN device shown in Figure 6. As shown in Figure 6, the method can include steps S601 to S617.

[0221] S601, the A-IoT CN device sends information 6-1 to the A-IoT access network device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT access network device receives information 6-1 sent by the A-IoT CN device;

[0222] S602, the A-IoT access network device sends information 6-2 to the A-IoT CN device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT CN device receives information 6-2 sent by the A-IoT access network device;

[0223] S601 and S602 can be understood by referring to S401 and S402 introduced earlier, and will not be repeated here.

[0224] S603, the A-IoT access network device sends information 6-3 to the terminal (reader), and the terminal (reader) receives information 6-3 sent by the A-IoT access network device accordingly;

[0225] Information 6-3 can be understood with reference to information 4-3. The difference is that information 6-3 can be carried on the interface message between the A-IoT access network device and the terminal (reader). For example, taking the A-IoT access network device as a gNB, information 6-3 can be carried on the NR Uu RRC message.

[0226] S604, The terminal (reader) sends information 6-4 to the A-IoT device, and the A-IoT device receives information 6-4 sent by the terminal (reader);

[0227] After receiving message 6-3, the terminal (reader) can send message 6-4 to the A-IoT device. Message 6-4 can be a paging message or a select message. Message 4-3 can carry the A-IoT device identifier to select one A-IoT device, a group of A-IoT devices, or all A-IoT devices.

[0228] S605, terminal (reader) and A-IoT device establish connection;

[0229] S605 can be understood by referring to S404, and will not be elaborated here.

[0230] S606, the A-IoT device sends information 6-6 to the terminal (reader), and correspondingly, the terminal (reader) receives information 6-6 sent by the A-IoT device;

[0231] S607, The terminal (reader) sends information 6-7 to the A-IoT access network device, and the A-IoT access network device receives information 6-7 sent by the terminal (reader);

[0232] Information 6-6 and information 6-7 can be understood with reference to information 4-5. The difference is that information 6-6 is carried in A-IoT radio protocol layer messages, while information 6-7 can be carried in RRC messages.

[0233] S608, the A-IoT access network device sends information 6-8 to the A-IoT CN device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT CN device receives information 6-8 sent by the A-IoT access network device;

[0234] S609, A-IoT CN device authenticates A-IoT device;

[0235] After receiving information 6-8, the A-IoT CN device can perform security operations such as authentication and / or validation on the device ID(s) in information 6-8.

[0236] S610, the A-IoT CN device sends information 6-10 to the A-IoT access network device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT access network device receives information 6-10 sent by the A-IoT CN device;

[0237] S608 to S610 can be understood by referring to S406 to S408, and will not be elaborated here.

[0238] S611, A-IoT access network devices determine whether to reserve resource 3 and / or resource 4 based on information 6-10;

[0239] S611 can be understood with reference to S409, the difference being that the A-IoT access network device determines whether to reserve resources 3 and / or resource 4 based on information 6-10. Resource 3 is the resource for the terminal (reader) to receive the first feedback sent by the A-IoT device, and resource 4 is the resource for the A-IoT access network device to receive the first feedback sent by the terminal (reader).

[0240] S612, the A-IoT access network device sends information 6-12 to the terminal (reader), and correspondingly, the terminal (reader) receives information 6-12 sent by the A-IoT access network device;

[0241] S613, The terminal (reader) sends information 6-13 to the A-IoT device, and the A-IoT device receives information 6-13 sent by the terminal (reader);

[0242] Information 6-12 and information 6-13 can be understood with reference to information 4-10. The difference is that information 6-12 is carried on an RRC message, while information 6-13 is carried on an A-IoT wireless protocol layer message.

[0243] S614, the A-IoT access network device sends information 6-14 to the A-IoT CN device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT CN device receives information 6-14 sent by the A-IoT access network device;

[0244] S614 can be understood by referring to S411, and will not be elaborated here.

[0245] S615, the A-IoT device sends information 6-15 to the terminal (reader), and the terminal (reader) receives information 6-15 sent by the A-IoT device accordingly;

[0246] S616, The terminal (reader) sends information 6-16 to the A-IoT access network device, and the A-IoT access network device receives information 6-16 sent by the terminal (reader);

[0247] Information 6-15 and information 6-16 can be understood with reference to information 4-12. The difference is that information 6-15 is carried in the A-IoT wireless protocol layer message, while information 6-16 can be carried in the RRC message.

[0248] S617, the A-IoT access network device sends information 6-17 to the A-IoT CN device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT CN device receives information 6-17 sent by the A-IoT access network device.

[0249] S617 can be understood by referring to S413, and will not be elaborated here.

[0250] Extending to the above, based on topology 2 and the A-IoT service transmission method shown in Figure 3-1, optionally, after receiving information 6-10, the A-IoT access network device can carry additional information from information 6-10, such as IE 2 or IE 3, and / or IE 5, in information 6-12 sent to the terminal (reader). Alternatively, when information 6-10 includes IE 3, the A-IoT access network device can determine whether there is a first feedback based on IE 3, and carry IE 2 in information 6-12 to indicate whether there is a first feedback. The A-IoT access network device may not execute S611; instead, the terminal (reader) can determine whether to reserve resource 3 based on information 6-12 after receiving it. Accordingly, the first communication device described above can be the terminal (reader). Optionally, the terminal (reader) can also send IE 4 and / or IE 6 to the A-IoT access network device based on information 6-12. Afterward, the A-IoT access network device executes S614 based on receiving IE 4 and / or IE 6.

[0251] Figure 7 schematically illustrates one possible flow of the method of this application. The flow shown in Figure 7 can be based on the topology 2 described above and the method of transmitting A-IoT services shown in Figure 3-2 or Figure 3-3. In Figure 7, the A-IoT access network device can be an access network device or an access network device supporting A-IoT technology, and the terminal (reader) can be a terminal supporting reader functionality. A terminal can include multiple readers; for example, each TRP, antenna, or beam may be a reader. In one possible example, the first communication device described above can be the terminal (reader) shown in Figure 7, the second communication device described above can be the A-IoT device shown in Figure 7, and the third communication device described above can be the A-IoT CN device shown in Figure 7.

[0252] As shown in Figure 7, the method may include S701 to S713.

[0253] S701, the A-IoT CN device sends information 7-1 to the terminal (reader), and the terminal (reader) receives information 7-1 sent by the A-IoT CN device accordingly;

[0254] S702, The terminal (reader) sends information 7-2 to the A-IoT CN device, and the A-IoT CN device receives information 7-2 sent by the terminal (reader);

[0255] Information 7-1 and Information 7-2 can be referenced from Information 4-1 and Information 4-2 respectively. The difference is that Information 7-1 and Information 7-2 are carried in NAS messages between A-IoT CN devices and terminals (readers) or PDU messages between UPF and terminals (readers) respectively.

[0256] S703, The terminal (reader) sends information 7-3 to the A-IoT device, and the A-IoT device receives information 0-3 sent by the terminal (reader);

[0257] S704, the terminal (reader) and A-IoT device establish a connection;

[0258] S705, the A-IoT device sends information 7-5 to the terminal (reader), and the terminal (reader) receives information 7-5 sent by the A-IoT device accordingly;

[0259] S703 to S705 can be understood by referring to S604 to S606 respectively, and will not be elaborated here.

[0260] S706, The terminal (reader) sends information 7-6 to the A-IoT CN device, and the A-IoT CN device receives information 7-6 sent by the terminal (reader);

[0261] Information 7-6 can be understood with reference to information 4-6. The difference is that information 7-6 is carried in NAS messages between A-IoT CN devices and terminals (readers) or PDU messages between UPF and terminals (readers).

[0262] S707 and A-IoT CN devices authenticate A-IoT devices;

[0263] After receiving information 7-6, the A-IoT CN device can perform security operations such as authentication and / or validation on the device ID(s) in information 7-6.

[0264] S707 can be understood by referring to S407, and will not be elaborated here.

[0265] The S708 and A-IoT CN devices send information 7-8 to the terminal (reader), and the terminal (reader) receives information 7-8 sent by the A-IoT CN devices accordingly.

[0266] Information 7-8 can be understood with reference to information 4-8. The difference is that information 4-8 can be carried in NAS messages between A-IoT CN devices and terminals (readers) or PDU messages between UPF and terminals (readers).

[0267] S709, The terminal (reader) determines whether to reserve resource 3 based on information 7-8;

[0268] S709 can be understood with reference to S409. The difference is that the terminal (reader) determines whether to reserve resources, and the resource to be reserved is resource 3, that is, resource 3 is the resource for the terminal (reader) to receive the first feedback sent by the A-IoT device.

[0269] S710, the terminal (reader) sends information 7-10 to the A-IoT device, and the A-IoT device receives information 7-10 sent by the terminal (reader);

[0270] S710 can be understood by referring to S613.

[0271] S711, The terminal (reader) sends information 7-11 to the A-IoT CN device, and the A-IoT CN device receives information 7-11 sent by the terminal (reader);

[0272] Information 7-11 can be understood with reference to information 4-11. The difference is that information 7-11 can be carried in NAS messages between A-IoT CN devices and terminals (readers) or PDU messages between UPF and terminals (readers).

[0273] S712, the A-IoT device sends information 7-12 to the A-IoT access network device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT access network device receives information 7-12 sent by the A-IoT device;

[0274] S712 can be understood by referring to S615.

[0275] S713, the A-IoT access network device sends information 7-13 to the A-IoT CN device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT CN device receives information 7-13 sent by the A-IoT access network device.

[0276] Information 7-13 can be understood with reference to information 4-13. The difference is that information 7-13 can be carried in NAS messages between A-IoT CN devices and terminals (readers) or PDU messages between UPF and terminals (readers).

[0277] As an extension, in the method shown in Figure 4 or Figure 5, when the A-IoT access network device adopts a CU-DU architecture, taking the access network device as a gNB as an example, the F1AP message sent by the gNB-CU to the gNB-DU may include IE 1, and the gNB-CU may execute S409 or S502. The first communication device described above can be the CU. Optionally, in the method shown in Figure 4, the message may also include the CU device F1AP ID and / or the DU device F1AP ID. Optionally, the message may also add new information, for example, it may also include IE 2 or IE 3, and the gNB-DU may execute S409 or S502. The first communication device described above can be the DU. Optionally, the message may also include IE 5, and the gNB-DU may execute S411 or S504. Alternatively, when information 6-10 or information 5-1 includes IE 3, the CU can determine whether there is a first feedback based on IE 3 and carry IE 2 in the F1AP message to indicate whether there is a first feedback.

[0278] Figure 8 schematically illustrates one possible flow of the method of this application. This flow can be based on Topology 1 described above. The difference from the flow shown in Figure 4 is that the A-IoT access network device adopts a CU-DU architecture. In one possible example, the first communication device described above can be the DU shown in Figure 4, the second communication device described above can be the A-IoT device shown in Figure 4, and the third communication device described above can be the A-IoT CN device shown in Figure 4.

[0279] As shown in Figure 8, the method may include S801 to S818.

[0280] S801, the A-IoT CN device sends information 8-1 to the CU, and the CU receives information 8-1 sent by the A-IoT CN device accordingly;

[0281] S802, CU sends information 8-2 to the A-IoT CN device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT CN device receives information 8-2 sent by CU;

[0282] S803, CU sends information 8-3 to DU, and DU receives information 8-3 sent by CU accordingly;

[0283] S804, DU sends information 8-4 to the A-IoT device, and the A-IoT device receives information 8-4 sent by DU accordingly;

[0284] Establish connection between S805, DU and A-IoT devices;

[0285] S806, the A-IoT device sends information 8-6 to the DU, and the DU receives information 8-6 sent by the A-IoT device accordingly;

[0286] S807, DU sends information 8-7 to CU, and CU receives information 8-7 sent by DU accordingly;

[0287] S808 and CU send information 8-8 to the A-IoT CN device, and the A-IoT CN device receives information 8-8 sent by CU accordingly.

[0288] S801 to S808 are the inventory operation processes, which can be understood by referring to the corresponding processes introduced earlier (such as S401 to S406).

[0289] S809, A-IoT CN device authenticates A-IoT device;

[0290] After receiving information 8-8, the A-IoT CN device can perform security operations such as authentication and / or validation on the device ID(s) in information 8-8.

[0291] S809 can be understood by referring to S407.

[0292] The S810 and A-IoT CN devices send information 8-10 to the CU, and the CU receives information 8-10 sent by the A-IoT CN devices accordingly.

[0293] S811, CU sends information 8-11 to DU, and DU receives information 8-11 sent by CU accordingly;

[0294] Messages 8-10 and 8-11 can be referenced from Message 4-8, respectively. The difference is that Message 8-11 is carried in the message of the interface between CU and DU. When Message 8-10 includes IE 3, CU can determine whether the first feedback exists based on IE 3, and carry IE 2 in Message 8-11 to indicate whether the first feedback exists.

[0295] S812 and DU determine whether to reserve resource 5 based on information 8-11;

[0296] S812 can be understood with reference to S409. The difference is that it determines whether the reserved resources are the resources for DU to receive the first feedback sent by the A-IoT device.

[0297] S813, DU sends information 8-13 to the A-IoT device, and the A-IoT device receives information 8-13 sent by DU accordingly;

[0298] S813 can be understood by referring to S410.

[0299] S814, DU sends information 8-14 to CU, and CU receives information 8-14 sent by DU accordingly;

[0300] S815, CU sends information 8-15 to the A-IoT CN device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT CN device receives information 8-15 sent by CU;

[0301] Information 8-14 and 8-15 can be understood by referring to information 4-11.

[0302] S816, the A-IoT device sends information 8-16 to the DU, and the DU receives information 8-16 sent by the A-IoT device accordingly;

[0303] S816 can be understood by referring to S412.

[0304] S817, DU sends information 8-17 to CU, and CU receives information 8-17 sent by DU accordingly;

[0305] S818, CU sends information 8-18 to the A-IoT CN device, and the A-IoT CN device receives information 8-18 sent by CU accordingly.

[0306] Information 8-17 and 8-18 can be understood by referring to information 4-13.

[0307] Figure 9 schematically illustrates one possible flow of the method of this application. This flow can be based on Topology 1 described above. In Figure 9, the A-IoT access network device can be an access network device supporting reader functionality or an access network device supporting A-IoT technology. An A-IoT access network device can include multiple readers; for example, each TRP, antenna, or beam may be a reader. In one possible example, the first communication device described above can be the A-IoT access network device shown in Figure 9, the second communication device described above can be the A-IoT device shown in Figure 9, and the third communication device described above can be the A-IoT CN device shown in Figure 9.

[0308] As shown in Figure 9, the method may include S901 to S916.

[0309] S901, the A-IoT CN device sends information 9-1 to the A-IoT access network device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT access network device receives information 9-1 sent by the A-IoT CN device;

[0310] S902, the A-IoT access network device sends information 9-2 to the A-IoT CN device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT CN device receives information 9-2 sent by the A-IoT access network device;

[0311] S903, the A-IoT access network device sends information 9-3 to the A-IoT device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT device receives information 9-3 sent by the A-IoT access network device;

[0312] S904, A-IoT access network equipment and A-IoT equipment establish connection;

[0313] S905, the A-IoT device sends information 9-5 to the A-IoT access network device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT access network device receives information 9-5 sent by the A-IoT device;

[0314] S906, the A-IoT access network device sends information 9-6 to the A-IoT CN device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT CN device receives information 9-6 sent by the A-IoT access network device;

[0315] S901 to S906 are the inventory operation processes, which can be understood by referring to the corresponding processes introduced earlier (such as S401 to S406).

[0316] S907, A-IoT CN devices authenticate A-IoT devices;

[0317] After receiving information 9-6, the A-IoT CN device can perform security operations such as authentication and / or validation on the device ID(s) in information 9-6.

[0318] S907 can be understood by referring to S407.

[0319] S908, the A-IoT CN device sends information 9-8 to the A-IoT access network device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT access network device receives information 9-8 sent by the A-IoT CN device;

[0320] Information 9-8 can be understood with reference to Information 4-8, the difference being that Information 9-8, in addition to IE 1 mentioned earlier, may also include IE 8. IE 8 indicates timer information, which is used to determine whether the timer has timed out. Timer information may include at least one of the following: timer start time, timer duration, timer end time, indication information for starting the timer, or indication information for ending the timer, etc.

[0321] Similar to information 4-8, information 9-8 may also include ID pairs.

[0322] S909 and A-IoT access network devices determine whether to reserve resource 1 based on information 9-8;

[0323] Optionally, information 9-8 may also include IE 2 or IE 3. Correspondingly, optionally, the A-IoT access network device determines whether to reserve resource 1 based on IE 2 or IE 3 in information 9-8. S909 can refer to S409.

[0324] S910, the A-IoT access network device sends information 9-10 to the A-IoT device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT device receives information 9-10 sent by the A-IoT access network device;

[0325] The S910 can be referenced from the S410.

[0326] S911, the A-IoT access network device sends information 9-11 to the A-IoT CN device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT CN device receives information 9-11 sent by the A-IoT access network device;

[0327] The S911 can be referenced from the S411.

[0328] S912, the A-IoT device sends information 9-12 to the A-IoT access network device, but the A-IoT access network device does not receive information 9-12 sent by the A-IoT device;

[0329] When IE 1 includes a first command, and the first command corresponds to a first feedback, the A-IoT device sends information 9-12 to the A-IoT access network device. S912 can be referenced from S412, but unlike S412, after the A-IoT device sends information 9-12 to the A-IoT access network device, the A-IoT access network device does not receive information 9-12 sent by the A-IoT device.

[0330] S913 and A-IoT access network devices determine the timer status based on information 9-8;

[0331] As mentioned earlier, Information 9-8 can include IE 8. A-IoT access network devices can determine the timer status based on IE 8 in Information 9-8. The timer status can indicate whether the timer has timed out or not.

[0332] A-IoT access network devices can determine the state of a timer according to IE 8 at first intervals. The first interval can be a preset or predefined interval in the A-IoT access network device, or it can be indicated by IE 8.

[0333] When the A-IoT access network device determines that the timer has expired based on IE 8, the A-IoT access network device may retransmit IE 1. When the A-IoT access network device determines that the timer has not expired based on IE 8, the A-IoT access network device may not retransmit IE 1.

[0334] Alternatively, if the A-IoT access network device determines that the timer has not expired based on IE 8, it may retransmit IE 1. If the A-IoT access network device determines that the timer has expired based on IE 8, it may not retransmit IE 1. It should be noted that if the timer has not expired, the A-IoT access network device may retransmit IE 1 once or multiple times.

[0335] S914, the A-IoT access network device sends information 9-14 to the A-IoT device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT device receives information 9-14 sent by the A-IoT access network device;

[0336] The A-IoT access network device can send information 9-14 to the A-IoT device according to the state of the timer. Information 9-14 can be information 9-10, or, in addition to including IE 1, information 9-14 can also include retransmission indication information, which is used to indicate that IE 1 in information 9-14 is retransmission information.

[0337] S915, the A-IoT device sends information 9-15 to the A-IoT access network device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT access network device receives information 9-15 sent by the A-IoT device;

[0338] S916, the A-IoT access network device sends information 9-16 to the A-IoT CN device, and correspondingly, the A-IoT CN device receives information 9-16 sent by the A-IoT access network device.

[0339] S915 and S916 can refer to S412 and S413 respectively.

[0340] As an extension, the method shown in Figure 9 can be applied to topology 2, and the methods for transmitting A-IoT services shown in Figure 3-1, 3-2, or 3-3. The methods provided in this application can also be applied to topology 3 or topology 4 as described above.

[0341] This application does not limit the number of network elements involved in the communication system in each method example. For example, the communication system may include more or fewer network elements. In at least one method example, one or more network elements of the communication system may be replaced with other network elements. This application does not limit the function of each network element in the communication system in each method example; the name and / or function of the network elements may change as the communication system evolves.

[0342] The preceding text introduced the communication apparatus provided in the third aspect of this application. This communication apparatus may include a receiving module, a processing module, and a transmitting module. This communication apparatus can be used to execute the steps performed by the A-IoT access network device in the examples shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, or 9; or, to execute the steps performed by the terminal (reader) in Figure 7; or, to execute the steps performed by the DU in the example shown in Figure 8. The transmitting module can be used to execute the transmitting steps or actions performed by the corresponding executing entity; the receiving module can be used to execute the receiving steps performed by the corresponding executing entity; and the processing module can be used to execute the internal operations or actions performed by the corresponding executing entity. For example, the transmitting module can be used to execute S503, the receiving module can be used to execute S501, and the processing module can be used to execute S502. For details, please refer to the relevant descriptions in the foregoing method examples.

[0343] The preceding text also introduced the communication apparatus provided in the fourth aspect of this application. This communication apparatus may include a processing module and a transmitting module. Optionally, the communication apparatus may further include a receiving module. This communication apparatus can be used to execute the steps performed by the A-IoT CN device in the examples shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9. The transmitting module can be used to execute the transmitting steps or actions performed by the A-IoT CN device, the receiving module can be used to execute the receiving steps performed by the A-IoT CN device, and the processing module is used to execute the internal operations or actions performed by the A-IoT CN device. For example, the receiving module can be used to execute S506, the transmitting module can be used to execute S501, and the processing module can be used to execute the action of determining information 5-1. For details, please refer to the relevant descriptions in the foregoing method examples.

[0344] In this application, the internal operation or action can be other operations besides the sending and receiving operations in the flowchart of the communication method, such as the steps described within the rectangles of the flowchart.

[0345] The preceding text also describes a communication device provided in the fifth aspect of this application. This communication device includes at least one processor and may further include a memory. The memory stores computer programs or computer instructions, and the processor is used to call and execute the computer programs or computer instructions stored in the memory, causing the processor to perform the steps executed by the A-IoT CN device in the examples shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9; or, to perform the steps executed by the A-IoT access network device in the examples shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, or 9; or, to execute the steps executed by the terminal (reader) in Figure 7; or, to execute the steps executed by the DU in the example shown in Figure 8.

[0346] The preceding text also introduced the communication device provided in the sixth aspect of this application, which includes a processor and an interface circuit. The processor is used to communicate with other devices through the interface circuit and to execute the steps performed by the A-IoT CN device in the example shown in FIG4, FIG5, FIG6, FIG7, FIG8 or FIG9, or to implement the steps performed by the A-IoT access network device in the example shown in FIG4, FIG5, FIG6 or FIG9, or to execute the steps performed by the terminal (reader) in FIG7, or to execute the steps performed by the DU in the example shown in FIG8.

[0347] The preceding text also describes a communication device provided in the seventh aspect of this application, comprising a processor for connection to a memory, for calling a program stored in the memory to execute steps performed by an A-IoT CN device in the examples shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9; or to implement steps performed by an A-IoT access network device in the examples shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, or 9; or to execute steps performed by a terminal (reader) in Figure 7; or to execute steps performed by a DU in the example shown in Figure 8. The memory may be located within or outside the communication device. The processor may include one or more processors.

[0348] The preceding text also describes a computer program product including computer instructions provided in the eighth aspect of this application, which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the steps performed by the A-IoT CN device in the examples shown in Figure 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, or to implement the steps performed by the A-IoT access network device in the examples shown in Figure 4, 5, 6, or 9, or to perform the steps performed by the terminal (reader) in Figure 7, or to perform the steps performed by the DU in the example shown in Figure 8.

[0349] The preceding text also describes a computer-readable storage medium provided in the ninth aspect of this application, the storage medium including computer instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the steps performed by the A-IoT CN device in the examples shown in Figure 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, or to implement the steps performed by the A-IoT access network device in the examples shown in Figure 4, 5, 6, or 9, or to perform the steps performed by the terminal (reader) in Figure 7, or to perform the steps performed by the DU in the example shown in Figure 8.

[0350] In this application, the processor mentioned anywhere may be a general-purpose central processing unit, a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of a program that controls the methods provided in any of the above embodiments. The memory mentioned anywhere above may be read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices capable of storing static information and instructions, such as random access memory (RAM).

[0351] The preceding text also describes a communication system provided in aspect ten of this application, which includes all or some of the network elements shown in the examples of Figures 4 to 9. For example, in the example shown in Figure 4, the communication system may include at least one network element selected from an A-IoT device, an A-IoT access network device, or an A-IoT CN device.

[0352] In this application, the processing module can be implemented by at least one processor or processor-related circuitry. Specifically, the processor may include a modem chip, or a SoC chip or SIP chip containing a modem core. The transmitting module and / or receiving module can be implemented by a transceiver or transceiver-related circuitry. The transmitting module and / or receiving module may also be referred to as a communication module or communication interface. The storage module can be implemented by at least one memory.

[0353] Optionally, in this application, when the communication device is a circuit or chip responsible for communication functions, such as a modem chip or a SoC chip or SIP chip containing a modem core, the function of the processing module can be implemented by a circuit system in the aforementioned chip that includes one or more processors or processing cores. The functions of the transmitting module and / or receiving module can be implemented by the interface circuit or data transceiver circuit on the aforementioned chip.

[0354] In this application, when the communication device is a terminal, Figure 10 shows a simplified schematic diagram of the terminal structure. As shown in Figure 10, the terminal includes a processor, a memory, and a transceiver. The memory can store computer program code, and the transceiver includes a transmitter 1031, a receiver 1032, a radio frequency circuit (not shown in the figure), an antenna 1033, and input / output devices (not shown in the figure).

[0355] The processor is primarily used for processing communication protocols and data; controlling the terminal; executing software programs; and processing data from those programs. The memory is primarily used for storing software programs and data. The radio frequency (RF) circuitry is primarily used for converting baseband signals to RF signals and processing RF signals. The antenna is primarily used for transmitting and receiving RF signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. Input / output devices may include touchscreens, displays, or keyboards. These devices are primarily used for receiving user input and outputting data to the user. It should be noted that some types of terminals may not have input / output devices.

[0356] When data needs to be transmitted, the processor performs baseband processing on the data to be transmitted and outputs a baseband signal to the radio frequency (RF) circuit. The RF circuit then processes the baseband signal and transmits it outwards as electromagnetic waves via an antenna. When data is sent to the terminal, the RF circuit receives the RF signal through the antenna. The RF circuit converts the RF signal back into a baseband signal and outputs it to the processor. The processor converts the baseband signal back into data and processes that data. For ease of explanation, Figure 10 only shows one memory, processor, and transceiver. In actual terminal products, there may be one or more processors and one or more memories. Memory can also be called storage medium or storage device, etc. Memory can be independent of the processor or integrated with it; this embodiment does not limit this.

[0357] In the embodiments of this application, the antenna and radio frequency circuit with transceiver function can be regarded as the transceiver module of the terminal, and the processor with processing function can be regarded as the processing module of the terminal.

[0358] As shown in Figure 10, the terminal includes a processor 1010, a memory 1020, and a transceiver 1030. The processor 1010 can also be referred to as a processing unit, processing board, processing module, or processing device, etc. The transceiver 1030 can also be referred to as a transceiver unit, transceiver, or transceiver device, etc.

[0359] Optionally, the device in transceiver 1030 used to implement the receiving function can be considered a receiving module, and the device in transceiver 1030 used to implement the transmitting function can be considered a transmitting module. That is, transceiver 1030 includes a receiver and a transmitter. A transceiver may also be called a transceiver unit, transceiver module, or transceiver circuit, etc. A receiver may also be called a receiver unit, receiving module, or receiving circuit, etc. A transmitter may also be called a transmitter, transmitting module, or transmitting circuit, etc.

[0360] The processor 1010 is used to perform the internal operations performed by the terminal (reader) in the example shown in Figure 6 or Figure 7. The transceiver 1030 is used to perform the send and receive operations of the terminal (reader) in the example shown in Figure 6 or Figure 7.

[0361] It should be understood that Figure 10 is merely an example and not a limitation, and the terminal described above, including the transceiver module and the processing module, may not depend on the structure shown in Figure 10.

[0362] When the communication device 1000 is a chip, the chip includes a processor, a memory, and a transceiver. The transceiver can be an input / output circuit or a communication interface. The processor can be a processing module integrated on the chip, a microprocessor, or an integrated circuit. In the above method embodiments, the sending operation of the terminal (reader) can be understood as the output of the chip, and the receiving operation of the terminal (reader) in the above method embodiments can be understood as the input of the chip.

[0363] In this application, when the communication device is an access network device or a CN device, Figure 11 shows a simplified structural diagram. The communication device 1100 includes part 1110, part 1120, and part 1130.

[0364] The 1110 section is mainly used for baseband processing and base station control; the 1110 section is usually the control center of the base station, which can be called the processor, and is used to control the base station to perform the processing operations on the access network equipment side in the above method embodiments.

[0365] Section 1120 is primarily used to store computer program code and data.

[0366] Section 1130 is primarily used for transmitting and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals, as well as converting RF signals to baseband signals. Section 1130 is commonly referred to as a transceiver module, transceiver, transceiver circuit, or transceiver unit. The transceiver module of section 1130, also known as a transceiver or transceiver unit, includes antenna 1133 and RF circuitry (not shown in the figure), where the RF circuitry is mainly used for RF processing. Optionally, the device in section 1130 that performs the receiving function can be considered a receiver, and the device that performs the transmitting function can be considered a transmitter; that is, section 1130 includes receiver 1132 and transmitter 1131. The receiver can also be called a receiving module, receiver circuit, or receiving circuit, and the transmitter can be called a transmitting module, transmitter unit, or transmitting circuit.

[0367] Sections 1110 and 1120 may include one or more circuit boards, each of which may include one or more processors and one or more memories. The processors are used to read and execute programs from the memories to implement baseband processing functions and control the base station. If multiple circuit boards exist, they can be interconnected to enhance processing capabilities. As an optional implementation, multiple circuit boards may share one or more processors, multiple circuit boards may share one or more memories, or multiple circuit boards may simultaneously share one or more processors.

[0368] For example, in one implementation, the transceiver module of section 1130 is used to execute the transceiver-related processes performed by the A-IoT access network device in the examples shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, or 9; or, to execute the method-related steps performed by the DU in the example shown in Figure 8; or, to execute the transceiver-related steps performed by the A-IoT CN device in the examples shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9. The processor of section 1110 is used to execute the internal operations performed by the A-IoT access network device in the examples shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, or 9; or, to execute the internal operations performed by the DU in the example shown in Figure 8; or, to execute the internal operations performed by the A-IoT CN device in the examples shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9.

[0369] It should be understood that Figure 11 is merely an example and not a limitation, and the network devices described above, including processors, memory, and transceivers, may not depend on the structure shown in Figure 11.

[0370] When the communication device 1100 is a chip, the chip includes a transceiver, a memory, and a processor. The transceiver can be an input / output circuit or a communication interface; the processor can be an integrated processor, a microprocessor, or an integrated circuit on the chip. In the above method embodiments, the transmitting operation of the A-IoT access network device can be understood as the chip's output, and the receiving operation of the A-IoT access network device in the above method embodiments can be understood as the chip's input.

[0371] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the explanations and beneficial effects of the relevant contents in any of the above-mentioned devices can be referred to the corresponding method embodiments provided above, and will not be repeated here.

[0372] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be an indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units through some interfaces, and may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0373] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0374] Furthermore, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The integrated unit can be implemented in hardware or as a software functional unit.

[0375] If the integrated unit is implemented as a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the essential contribution of the technical solution of this application, or all or part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, ROM, RAM, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0376] In this application, the terms "system" and "network" are used interchangeably. "Multiple" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, "at least one of A, B, and C" includes A, B, C, AB, AC, BC, or ABC. And, unless otherwise specified, the ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" mentioned in this application are used to distinguish multiple objects and are not used to limit the order, sequence, priority, or importance of multiple objects.

[0377] The above-described embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit it. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A communication method applied to a first communication device, characterized in that, The method includes: Receive a first message, the first message including first information, the first message further including second information or third information; wherein, the second information indicates whether there is a first feedback, the first feedback corresponding to the first command; the third information indicates the type of the first command, the type of the first command being used to determine whether there is a first feedback, the first feedback corresponding to the first command; Based on the second information or the third information, determine whether to reserve the first resource, the first resource being used to receive the first feedback from the second communication device; Send a second message to the second communication device, the second message including the first information.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first communication device does not parse the first information.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first information is carried in the non-access stratum (NAS) message.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The first command may include one or more commands, and the multiple commands may include one or more commands.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The command is one of the following: a read command, a write command, a lock command, or a disable command; or, The various commands include at least one of the following: read command, write command, lock command, or disable command.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The first message further includes fourth information, the fourth information indicating timer information, the timer information being used to determine whether the timer has timed out, and the method further includes: The first information is resent based on whether the timer times out or not.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The information of the timer includes at least one of the following: The timer's start time, duration, end time, and indication information for starting or ending the timer.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The first communication device includes user equipment or a chip in user equipment or access network equipment or a chip in access network equipment.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The second communication device is an environmental Internet of Things (IoT) terminal device.

10. A communication device, characterized in that, Includes modules for implementing the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. A communication device, characterized in that, It includes at least one processor coupled to a memory; the at least one processor is used to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

12. A readable storage medium, characterized in that, The storage medium stores a computer program or instructions that, when executed, cause the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 9 to be implemented.

13. A computer program product, characterized in that, When the computer program in the computer program product is executed, the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 9 is implemented.

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