Communication method and communication apparatus

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method and a communication apparatus. The method comprises: transmitting a first signal and a second signal, the first signal being used for radio frequency energy harvesting, and the second signal being used for service signal transmission, wherein the transmission power of the first signal is a first power, the transmission power of the second signal is a second power, and the first power is higher than the second power. By means of the technical solution provided in the present application, the coverage capability of radio frequency energy harvesting signals can be enhanced.

Description

A communication method and communication device

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411209473.2, filed on August 29, 2024, entitled "A Communication Method and Communication Device", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

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

[0003] Passive Internet of Things (PIOT) technology has gradually become a research hotspot in the Internet of Things (IoT) field in recent years. A significant characteristic of passive IoT devices is that their terminal devices do not require built-in batteries or other forms of pre-stored power. Instead, they obtain energy from the surrounding environment to maintain their operation. For example, radio frequency energy harvesting (RFEH) can provide power to passive IoT devices. Specifically, the reader / writer can send wireless radio frequency signals to the terminal device, which receives and converts these signals into electrical energy to obtain the power required for operation. Simultaneously, the terminal device can transmit service signals with the reader / writer by reflecting or modulating the radio frequency signals.

[0004] However, while the transmission power of the RF power supply signal and the service signal are generally the same, there are significant differences in the energy storage level (the starting operating level for converting the RF signal into electrical energy) and demodulation level (the sensitivity level for the terminal device to demodulate the service signal). For example, the terminal's energy storage level might be -24dBm, meaning the received wireless signal must reach this strength to effectively initiate the energy storage process. Conversely, the service signal's demodulation level might be -30dBm, meaning the service signal can be demodulated and processed at a lower strength. This level difference results in the service signal's coverage being higher than that of the RF power supply signal, thus limiting the effective operating range of the terminal device and affecting the overall coverage capability of the passive IoT system. Therefore, how to increase the coverage range of the RF power supply signal to achieve a balance between the coverage of the RF power supply signal and the service signal is a pressing technical problem that needs to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a communication method and a communication device that can increase the coverage of radio frequency power signals.

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication method. This method can be executed by a read / write device, by a module applied to the read / write device (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system), or by a logic node, logic module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the read / write device. The method may include: transmitting a first signal and a second signal, wherein the first signal is used for radio frequency power supply, and the second signal is used for service signal transmission; the transmission power of the first signal is a first power, the transmission power of the second signal is a second power, and the first power is higher than the second power.

[0007] Unlike the situation where the transmission power of the RF power signal and the service signal are the same, the energy storage level and demodulation level of the terminal device differ significantly, limiting the effective operating range of the terminal device and affecting the overall coverage capability of the passive IoT system. In this embodiment, the transmission power of the first signal (such as the RF power signal) is increased to be higher than that of the second signal (such as the service signal). With the increase in signal transmission power, the propagation distance of the signal also increases accordingly. Therefore, the coverage range of the RF power signal can be wider, reducing the difference between the energy storage level and demodulation level of the terminal device. This meets the energy requirements of the terminal device at different distances, increases the effective operating range of the terminal device, helps the terminal device to continuously receive and process service signals, and further increases the overall coverage capability of the passive IoT system.

[0008] In one possible implementation, the first signal is transmitted using a first modulation scheme, and the second signal is transmitted using a second modulation scheme; the peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) corresponding to the first modulation scheme is lower than the PAPR corresponding to the second modulation scheme, and / or the back-off (BO) value corresponding to the first modulation scheme is lower than the back-off value corresponding to the second modulation scheme.

[0009] In this embodiment, the PAPR corresponding to the first modulation method is lower than that corresponding to the second modulation method, and / or the backoff value corresponding to the first modulation method is lower than that corresponding to the second modulation method. As a result, the peak-to-average power ratio and / or backoff value of the transmitted RF power signal are lower than those of the transmitted service signal, thereby increasing the transmission power and improving the safety of the power amplifier.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the first modulation scheme is Gaussian minimum shift keying (GMSK) modulation or single-tone (SC) modulation.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the second modulation scheme is orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation, quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) modulation, or binary phase shift keying (BPSK) modulation.

[0012] In this embodiment, different modulation schemes are used to transmit the first and second signals. Specifically, a first modulation scheme with a lower PAPR, such as GMSK or SC modulation, is used to transmit the first signal, i.e., the RF power signal. This reduces the power back-off amplitude and helps to improve the transmission power and coverage of the RF power signal. This optimization enhances the terminal device's ability to receive the RF power signal at different distances, enabling the terminal device to obtain sufficient energy reserves. On the other hand, a second modulation scheme with a higher PAPR, such as OFDM, QPSK, or BPSK modulation, is used to transmit the second signal, i.e., the service signal. This effectively utilizes bandwidth and improves data transmission efficiency and communication reliability. This selection and combination of modulation schemes allows the system to balance the coverage of the RF power signal and the transmission efficiency of the service signal.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the transmission time interval between the first signal and the second signal is greater than or equal to a first threshold, and / or the transmission time interval between the first signal and the second signal is less than or equal to a second threshold.

[0014] In this embodiment, the transmission time interval can be understood as the idle time. By reserving idle time between signals, the thermal load of the read and write device can be reduced, the risk of the power amplifier overheating due to long-term high-power output can be reduced, thereby extending the service life of the read and write device.

[0015] In one possible implementation, the first threshold and / or the second threshold are determined based on the transmission duration of the first signal. This embodiment, through dynamically adjusted idle time, helps the read / write device to cool sufficiently after high-load operation, further improving the safety of the read / write device during operation.

[0016] In one possible implementation, the first threshold increases as the transmission duration of the first signal increases.

[0017] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device for executing the method in the first aspect and its possible implementations. The communication device includes units that execute the method in the first aspect and its possible implementations. The modules in the second aspect can also be replaced by modules or means, etc. The aforementioned modules can be implemented in software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0018] Thirdly, a communication device is provided, which can be a read / write device or a component within a read / write device (e.g., a chip, a chip system, or a circuit). The device may include a processor, a memory, an input interface, and an output interface. The input interface is used to receive information from other communication devices outside the device, and the output interface is used to output information to other communication devices outside the device. The processor invokes a computer program stored in the memory to execute a method for requesting system messages provided in the first aspect or any embodiment of the first aspect.

[0019] Fourthly, this application provides a communication system including at least one terminal device and at least one read / write device, wherein when at least one of the aforementioned read / write devices is running in the system, it is used to execute any of the communication methods described in the first aspect above.

[0020] Fifthly, this application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions that, when the computer program or computer instructions are executed, cause the methods described in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof to be performed.

[0021] In a sixth aspect, this application provides a computer program product including executable instructions that, when the computer program product is run on a communication device, cause the methods described in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof to be executed.

[0022] In a seventh aspect, this application provides a communication device, which includes a processor and may further include a memory for implementing the methods described in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof. The device may be a chip system, which may be composed of chips or may include chips and other discrete devices. Attached Figure Description

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the background art, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments of this application or the background art will be described below.

[0024] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the characteristic curve of a power amplifier provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0025] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0026] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the signal transmission power level of a read / write device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0027] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0028] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the signal transmission power level of another read / write device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0029] Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating another method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0030] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of an idle time provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0031] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0032] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The specific embodiments of this application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034] The terms "first" and "second," etc., used in the specification, claims, and drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products, or apparatuses.

[0035] In this document, the term "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0036] In this application, "at least one (item)" means one or more, "more than" means two or more, and "and / or" is used to describe the relationship between related objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, "A and / or B" can represent three cases: only A exists, only B exists, and both A and B exist simultaneously, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the related objects before and after it are in an "or" relationship.

[0037] To better understand the embodiments of this application, the technical terms involved in the embodiments of this application will be introduced below:

[0038] Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems are a technology that uses radio waves for contactless automatic identification and data transmission. An RFID system typically consists of terminal devices, readers, and antennas. The terminal devices are attached to objects and store relevant information. The readers activate the terminal devices by sending signals through the antennas and read their data. RFID technology is widely used in supply chain management, access control, and electronic payments, offering advantages such as contactless operation, long-range communication, and simultaneous reading by multiple terminals. However, it also faces challenges related to cost and privacy protection.

[0039] Near-field communication (NFC) is a short-range wireless communication technology that allows two electronic devices to exchange data bidirectionally within a range of a few centimeters. Based on RFID technology and operating at a frequency of 13.56MHz, NFC is widely used in scenarios such as mobile payments, access control, device pairing, and data sharing. NFC is characterized by its ease of operation, short communication distance, low power consumption, and high security, making it particularly suitable for applications requiring fast and secure communication.

[0040] GMSK modulation is a digital modulation technique, an improvement on minimum frequency shift keying. GMSK smooths the signal by applying Gaussian filtering before modulation, thereby reducing spectral bandwidth and out-of-band radiation. This modulation method offers good bandwidth efficiency and interference immunity, and is therefore widely used in wireless communication systems, especially in global mobile communication systems. The main advantages of GMSK include narrow bandwidth, low power consumption, and good spectral efficiency, making it ideal for applications such as mobile communications.

[0041] PAPR is an important parameter for measuring signal characteristics, representing the ratio of peak power to average power of a signal.

[0042] Back-off, in power amplifiers, is an operation that appropriately reduces the input or output power to prevent signals from entering the nonlinear region and causing distortion. Back-off ensures the amplifier operates within its linear operating range, maintaining signal quality. It is typically used for signals with high PAPR (Power Amplitude Ratio) to prevent power amplifier overload and distortion.

[0043] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the power amplifier's characteristic curves. As shown in Figure 1, the horizontal axis represents the input power (in dBm), and the vertical axis represents the output power (in dBm). The coordinates in Figure 1 are for illustrative purposes only, showing the power amplifier's operating characteristics at different power levels, and do not represent actual power values ​​or the true performance of a specific device. These coordinates are used to help understand the relative positions and roles of the saturation critical point, linear critical point, and backoff critical point during the power amplifier's operation.

[0044] The saturation critical point is the point at which the output power of a power amplifier reaches its maximum value. After this point, even if the input signal power continues to increase, the output power will not increase further, but will remain at a saturation level. In Figure 1, the saturation point is located at the very top of the curve and is labeled "saturation critical point".

[0045] The linear critical point is the last point where the output power of a power amplifier continues to amplify linearly. Before this point, the relationship between the input and output signals is linear, and the signals are not distorted. Beyond this point, the power amplifier begins to enter the nonlinear region, which may cause distortion in the output signal. In Figure 1, the linear critical point is located on the curve before the saturation point, shown as the position where the curve begins to bend, and is labeled "linear critical point".

[0046] The back-off critical point refers to the power point at which a power amplifier, after considering signal peak fluctuations, backs off to avoid entering the nonlinear region. In Figure 1, this point is located within the linear region. After back-off, the peak power of the signal remains within a safe linear operating range, avoiding distortion. This point is marked as the "back-off critical point".

[0047] To better understand the embodiments of this application, the system architecture involved in the embodiments of this application is described below:

[0048] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application. This system architecture can be applied to passive IoT systems, including but not limited to: radio frequency identification systems, near field communication systems, etc. The system architecture includes, but is not limited to, the following components: a reader and a tag. The reader provides power to the tag and transmits information by sending power signals / downlink signals / excitation signals to the tag. The tag receives the information sent by the reader and sends uplink signals / response signals to the reader. In this way, the reader can identify the tag's information and perform read and write operations on the tag.

[0049] The reader and tag involved in this system architecture will be explained in detail below.

[0050] I. Reader / Writer

[0051] The reader is responsible for sending two types of radio frequency (RF) signals: the first is the RF power signal, and the second is the service signal. The RF power signal is used to provide RF energy to the tag, and the service signal is used to transmit information from the reader to the terminal.

[0052] Readers can be fixed base stations or mobile devices. For example, handheld RFID readers are common mobile readers and can be used in warehouses, factory workshops, logistics centers, and other scenarios. Fixed base stations can be deployed in warehouses, retail stores, production lines, and other locations for real-time management of the movement and status of goods. Readers can also be used in various application scenarios, including warehouse management, logistics management, asset management, smart manufacturing, and smart retail.

[0053] This application does not limit the form of the reader / writer. The device used to implement the reader / writer function can be a reader / writer itself; it can also be a device that supports the reader / writer in implementing this function, such as a chip system. This device can be installed in the reader / writer or used in conjunction with the reader / writer. In the embodiments of this application, the chip system can be composed of chips, or it can include chips and other discrete components.

[0054] II. Tags

[0055] Tags are passive terminal devices, which do not require built-in batteries and operate by receiving radio frequency energy from the reader.

[0056] Tags can be various forms of RFID terminal devices or other devices with RFID functionality. These devices can be handheld devices, wearable devices, industrial equipment, etc. For example, tags can be smartwatches, smart bracelets, pedometers, as well as smart home devices (such as refrigerators, televisions, air conditioners, electricity meters, etc.), smart robots, robotic arms, workshop equipment, wireless terminals in autonomous driving, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart cities, wireless terminals in smart homes, and flying equipment (such as drones, hot air balloons, airplanes), etc.

[0057] This application does not limit the form of the tag. The device used to implement the tag's function can be the tag itself, or it can be a device that supports the tag in implementing this function, such as a chip system. The device can be installed in the tag or used in conjunction with the tag. In the embodiments of this application, the chip system can be composed of chips, or it can include chips and other discrete components.

[0058] To facilitate the understanding of the embodiments of the present application, the technical problems specifically to be solved by the present application are further analyzed and presented.

[0059] In the current passive IoT system, usually the transmission power P1 of the RF power supply signal sent by the reading and writing device and the transmission power P2 of the service signal are the same (specifically, as shown in Figure 3, Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the signal transmission power level of a reading and writing device provided by an embodiment of the present application, where P1 = P2 in the figure). However, there are differences in the energy levels required by the terminal device when receiving these two types of signals. Specifically, the startup level A at which the terminal device converts the RF power supply signal into electrical energy is usually higher than the sensitivity level B for demodulating the service signal. For example, A = -30 and B = -45, and at this time A > B. When the transmission powers of the RF power supply signal and the service signal are the same, their propagation distances are also the same, and the coverage levels of the two can be expressed as P1 - A and P2 - B respectively. This means that although the service signal can be demodulated and used by the terminal device at a lower transmission power, due to A > B, the coverage range of the RF power supply signal will be limited. At this time, P1 - A < P2 - B, and it is very likely that it cannot be acquired by the terminal device at the same transmission power and cannot provide sufficient energy for the terminal device. This signal coverage imbalance causes the terminal device to possibly not work properly or receive signals at a relatively long distance. Therefore, how to increase the coverage range of the RF power supply signal so as to achieve the coverage balance between the RF power supply signal and the service signal is a technical problem to be solved urgently.

[0060] The technical problem to be solved by the embodiments of the present application is: how to increase the coverage range of the RF power supply signal so as to achieve the coverage balance between the RF power supply signal and the service signal.

[0061] Based on the above, the present application proposes a communication method, which will be described separately through the following respective embodiments. It should be understood that these methods can be used in combination with each other. The technical solutions provided by the present application are not limited to the processes described below. Further, the description of the scenarios in the embodiments of the present application is only for example, and does not limit that the solutions of the embodiments of the present application can only be applied to the described scenarios. The same also applies to scenarios with similar problems, etc.

[0062] The terminal device in the embodiments of the present application (such as the corresponding embodiments described below) can be the tag shown in Figure 2, and the functions executed by the terminal device in this embodiment can also be executed by a device in the terminal device (such as a chip, or a chip system, or a circuit). The reading and writing device in this embodiment can be the reader shown in Figure 2, and the functions executed by the reading and writing device in this embodiment can also be executed by a device in the reading and writing device (such as a chip, or a chip system, or a circuit). This is uniformly explained in the embodiments of the present application and will not be repeated hereinafter.

[0063] Please refer to Figure 4, which is a flowchart illustrating a method provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 4:

[0064] Step S401: The read / write device sends a first signal to the terminal device using the first power.

[0065] The first signal is a radio frequency power supply signal, which can be used to provide the necessary energy (such as electrical energy) to terminal devices. The first signal can also be called a power supply signal, energy signal, etc., and there is no limitation on the name of the first signal.

[0066] The first power is the transmission power of the first signal.

[0067] The reading and writing device can send the first signal to the terminal device through methods such as base station transmission, antenna broadcasting, multi-hop communication, or point-to-point transmission via a mobile reading and writing device. This application does not specifically limit the transmission method; it is understood that in practical applications, other suitable transmission methods for the first signal can also be selected.

[0068] Step S402: The read / write device sends a second signal to the terminal device using the second power, where the first power is greater than the second power.

[0069] The second signal is a service signal, which can be used to carry information instructed by the reading / writing device to the terminal device. The second signal can also be called a communication signal, data signal, etc., and there is no limitation on the name of the second signal.

[0070] The second power is the transmission power of the second signal.

[0071] The second signal can be transmitted from the reading / writing device to the terminal device via base station transmission, antenna broadcasting, multi-hop communication, or point-to-point transmission via a mobile reading / writing device. This application does not specifically limit the transmission method; it is understood that other suitable transmission methods for the second signal can be selected in practical applications.

[0072] The specific implementation of the first power being greater than the second power is shown in Figure 5. Figure 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of the signal transmission power levels of another read / write device. In the figure, the vertical axis represents transmission power, and the horizontal axis represents time. The area marked "Power Supply" shows the power variation of the RF power supply signal. This power exhibits a periodically changing pulse waveform, meaning the RF power supply signal is transmitted in pulse form, with the peak power of each pulse higher than the transmission power of the subsequent "Service" signal. The area marked "Service" shows the transmission power of the service signal. Here, the power remains at a relatively stable level, indicating that the average power of the service signal remains constant during continuous transmission. Overall, although the RF power supply signal is transmitted in pulses, while the service signal is transmitted continuously and stably, the transmission power of the RF power supply signal is greater than that of the service signal. The portion marked "Difference" in Figure 5 represents the difference in transmission power between the two signals.

[0073] As shown in Figure 4, by having the first power greater than the second power, the coverage range of the first signal, i.e., the radio frequency power signal, can be increased, which makes up for the deficiency of the radio frequency power signal coverage range and achieves a coverage balance between the two signals. This satisfies the energy requirements of the terminal device at different distances and helps the terminal device to continuously receive and process service signals.

[0074] Furthermore, please refer to Figure 6, which is a flowchart illustrating another method provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 6:

[0075] Step S601: The read / write device sends a first signal to the terminal device using the first power.

[0076] Step S602: The read / write device sends a second signal to the terminal device using a second power, where the first power is greater than the second power.

[0077] The descriptions of steps S601 and S602 can be found in steps S401 and S402 above.

[0078] Step S603: The reading / writing device sends a first signal to the terminal device using the first modulation method.

[0079] The first modulation method can be, for example, GMSK modulation or single-carrier modulation, or other modulation methods. The embodiments of this application do not limit the type of the first modulation method.

[0080] Step S604: The read / write device sends a second signal to the terminal device using the second modulation method, wherein the PAPR corresponding to the first modulation method is lower than the PAPR corresponding to the second modulation method, and / or the backoff value corresponding to the first modulation method is lower than the backoff value corresponding to the second modulation method.

[0081] The relationship between the first modulation method and the second modulation method can satisfy one or more of the following:

[0082] In one possible implementation, the PAPR corresponding to the first modulation scheme is lower than the PAPR corresponding to the second modulation scheme.

[0083] In one possible implementation, the backoff value corresponding to the first modulation scheme is lower than the backoff value corresponding to the second modulation scheme.

[0084] In one possible implementation, the PAPR corresponding to the first modulation scheme is lower than the PAPR corresponding to the second modulation scheme, and the backoff value corresponding to the first modulation scheme is lower than the backoff value corresponding to the second modulation scheme.

[0085] Generally, for read / write devices, a higher PAPR value corresponds to a larger backoff value, which can be lower than or equal to the PAPR value. Furthermore, the transmit power of the RF power supply signal must be increased, but not exceed the saturation and linearity thresholds; otherwise, nonlinear factors may be introduced, causing interference in adjacent channels and leading to unnecessary problems. Considering these factors, the PAPR value can be reduced by designing the RF power supply signal waveform (i.e., changing the modulation method) while keeping the transmit power below the threshold, thereby reducing the power backoff value and increasing the transmit power. For example, in a read / write device, the linearity threshold of the power amplifier is 46dBm. After amplification, both the service signal and the RF power supply signal reach their linearity thresholds. At this point, the backoff value for the service signal is 6dB, and its transmit power is 40dBm. To achieve the linear threshold of 46dBm for the transmission power of the RF power signal, a modulation method can be used to reduce the PAPR of the RF power signal to 0. The corresponding backoff value for this PAPR is also 0, meaning the transmission power of the RF power signal does not need to be backoffed and can be transmitted at 46dBm, which is significantly higher than the 40dBm transmission power of the service signal, thus achieving the goal of increasing transmission power.

[0086] This can be understood as the first modulation method being a low PAPR modulation method. For example, common low PAPR modulation methods include GMSK modulation or single-carrier modulation, which typically correspond to low PAPR characteristics. Compared to the first modulation method, the second modulation method can employ a higher PAPR modulation method, such as OFDM modulation, QPSK modulation, or BPSK modulation, or other modulation methods. This application embodiment does not limit the type of the second modulation method. It should be noted that the modulation methods mentioned here are "non-limiting," and the specific modulation method can be selected and adjusted according to the needs of the first and second signals. That is to say, this application embodiment does not specifically limit the modulation methods of the first and second signals. In practical applications, other low PAPR modulation methods suitable for the first signal and high PAPR modulation methods for the second signal can also be selected.

[0087] Based on step S604, since the PAPR corresponding to the first modulation method is lower than that corresponding to the second modulation method, and / or the backoff value corresponding to the first modulation method is lower than that corresponding to the second modulation method, the peak-to-average power ratio and / or backoff value of the transmitted RF power signal are lower than those of the transmitted service signal, thereby increasing the transmission power and improving the safety of the power amplifier.

[0088] As shown in Figure 6, based on the premise that the first power is greater than the second power, changing the first modulation method results in a lower PAPR for the first signal. Correspondingly, the backoff value of this PAPR is reduced, meaning the power backoff of the first signal is lowered. This increases the coverage range of the first signal (i.e., the RF power supply signal), compensating for the insufficient coverage of the RF power supply signal. During long-distance transmission, higher transmission power can be maintained, thereby increasing its coverage range and achieving a balance with the coverage of the service signal. This allows the terminal device to obtain sufficient energy reserves by receiving the RF power supply signal without a built-in battery, supporting subsequent service signal transmission. Furthermore, if the PAPR corresponding to the first modulation method is lower than that corresponding to the second modulation method, and / or the backoff value corresponding to the first modulation method is lower than that corresponding to the second modulation method, the transmission power can be further increased, improving the power amplifier's safety.

[0089] Furthermore, in conjunction with the method embodiments shown in Figure 4 or Figure 6 above, the transmission time interval between the first signal and the second signal is greater than or equal to the first threshold, and / or the transmission time interval between the first signal and the second signal is less than or equal to the second threshold.

[0090] The transmission interval can be understood as the idle time. The idle time can help the power amplifier dissipate heat and prevent insufficient heat dissipation.

[0091] The first threshold and / or the second threshold are determined based on the transmission duration of the first signal; the first threshold increases as the transmission duration of the first signal increases.

[0092] The first threshold and the second threshold change with the transmission duration of the first signal. That is, the length of the idle time is dynamically adjusted with the transmission duration of the first signal. The dynamically adjusted idle time allows the power amplifier to have sufficient cooling time.

[0093] For example, as shown in Figure 7, which is a schematic diagram of idle time provided in an embodiment of this application, the vertical axis represents transmission power and the horizontal axis represents time. The area marked "first signal" shows the transmission power of the first signal, and the area marked "second signal" shows the transmission power of the second signal. The part between the first signal and the second signal in the figure is the idle time, which refers to the period of time during which the reading and writing device temporarily stops transmitting signals between the transmission of these two signals. As can be seen from Figure 7, the existence of idle time helps to reduce the thermal load of the power amplifier, prevent overheating caused by prolonged high-power signal transmission, and thus extend the service life of the reading and writing device. In addition, the length of idle time can be dynamically adjusted according to the transmission duration of the first signal. Specifically, as the transmission duration of the first signal increases, the idle time also increases accordingly. This design allows the power amplifier to obtain sufficient cooling time after high-load operation, thereby maintaining the stable operation of the reading and writing device. Of course, idle time is not a necessary component of the embodiments of this application, but an optional optimization measure. Depending on the specific system design requirements and application scenarios, idle time can be flexibly adjusted or omitted.

[0094] Optionally, the aforementioned idle time can be relative to the time between the first signal and the second signal. Similarly, the idle time can also be relative to any two consecutively transmitted signals. In this case, the two consecutively transmitted signals can both be the first signal (e.g., both are RF power signals), both be the second signal (e.g., both are service signals), or they can be signals of different types (e.g., RF power signals and service signals).

[0095] It is understood that the first signal and the second signal sent above may each include one or more signals, and the embodiments of this application do not limit the number of the first signal and the second signal.

[0096] In this embodiment, by making the first power greater than the second power, the coverage of the first signal is increased; by changing the modulation method of the first signal, the power back-off of the first signal is reduced, so that the first signal can be transmitted at a higher power; based on the above two, the idle time between the two continuously transmitted signals maintains the stable operation of the read and write device.

[0097] It is understood that, in order to achieve the functions in the above embodiments, the read / write device and the terminal device include hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the execution of each function. Those skilled in the art should readily recognize that, based on the units and method steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed in this application, this application can be implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in hardware or by computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application scenario and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0098] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. These communication devices can be used to implement the functions of the read / write devices in the above method embodiments, and thus can also achieve the beneficial effects of the above method embodiments.

[0099] As shown in Figure 8, the communication device 800 includes a transceiver unit 801 and a processing unit 802. The communication device 800 is used to implement the functions of the read / write device in the method embodiments shown in Figures 4-7. Wherein:

[0100] The transceiver unit 801 is used to transmit a first signal and a second signal. The first signal is used for radio frequency power supply, and the second signal is used for service signal transmission. The transmission power of the first signal is a first power, and the transmission power of the second signal is a second power, and the first power is higher than the second power.

[0101] In one possible implementation, the transceiver unit 801 is further configured to transmit the first signal using a first modulation scheme and transmit the second signal using a second modulation scheme; the PAPR corresponding to the first modulation scheme is lower than the PAPR corresponding to the second modulation scheme, or the PAPR corresponding to the first modulation scheme is lower than the backoff value corresponding to the second modulation scheme.

[0102] In one possible implementation, the first modulation method is GMSK modulation or single-carrier modulation.

[0103] In one possible implementation, the second modulation method is OFDM modulation, QPSK modulation, or BPSK modulation.

[0104] In one possible implementation, the transmission time interval between the first signal and the second signal is greater than or equal to a first threshold, and / or the transmission time interval between the first signal and the second signal is less than or equal to a second threshold.

[0105] In one possible implementation, the first threshold and / or the second threshold are determined based on the transmission duration of the first signal.

[0106] In one possible implementation, the first threshold increases as the transmission duration of the first signal increases.

[0107] For a more detailed description of the transceiver unit 801 and the processing unit 802, please refer to the relevant descriptions in the method embodiments shown in Figures 4-7.

[0108] Please refer to Figure 9, which is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. The device 901 is used to implement the functions of the network element of this application; for example, the network element can be a terminal device or a read / write device. The device 901 can be the network element, or a device that can be installed in the network element, or a device that can be used in conjunction with the network element; there are no limitations. For example, the device can be a chip or a chip system. As shown in Figure 3, the device 901 includes an interface 902 and a processor 903. Optionally, the processor 903 is used to execute program 905. The processor 903 can store program 905, or obtain program 905 from other devices or other equipment (e.g., from memory 904 or downloaded from a third-party website). Optionally, the device 901 includes memory 904. Memory 904 is used to store program 906. Program 906 can be pre-stored or loaded subsequently. Optionally, memory 904 can also be used to store necessary data. These components work together to provide the various functions described in this application.

[0109] Processor 903 may include one or more processors as a combination of computing devices. Processor 903 may include one or more of the following: microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP), digital signal processing device (DSPD), application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), programmable logic device (PLD), gated logic, transistor logic, discrete hardware circuitry, processing circuitry, or other suitable hardware, firmware, and / or combinations of hardware and software configured to perform the various functions described in this application. Processor 903 may be a general-purpose processor or a special-purpose processor. For example, processor 903 may be a baseband processor or a central processing unit (CPU). A baseband processor may be used to process communication protocols and communication data. A CPU may be used to execute software programs and process data within those software programs.

[0110] Interface 902 may include any suitable hardware or software for enabling communication with one or more computer devices (such as the network elements of this application). For example, in some embodiments, interface 902 may include wires for coupling wired connections or terminals and / or pins for coupling wireless connections with wireless transceivers. In some embodiments, interface 902 may include a transmitter, a receiver, a transceiver, and / or an antenna. This interface may be configured to enable communication between computer devices (such as the network elements of this application) using any available protocol (such as 3GPP standard protocols).

[0111] In this application, "program" refers to software in a broad sense. The software can be program code, a program, a subroutine, an instruction set, code, a code segment, a software module, an application program, a software application, etc. The program can run on a processor and / or computer to perform the various functions and / or processes described in this application.

[0112] Memory 904 may store necessary data required by processor 903 when executing software. Memory 904 may be implemented using any suitable storage technology. For example, memory 904 may be any available storage medium accessible to the processor and / or computer. Non-limiting examples of storage media include: random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), removable media, optical disc storage, magnetic disk storage media, magnetic storage devices, flash memory, registers, state memory, remote mounting memory, local or remote memory components, or any other medium that can carry or store software, data, or information and is accessible to the processor / computer.

[0113] The memory 904 and processor 903 can be configured separately or integrated together. The processor 903 can read information from, store, and / or write information to the memory 904. The memory 904 can be integrated into the processor 903. The processor 903 and memory 904 can be housed in an integrated circuit (e.g., an application-specific integrated circuit, ASIC). This integrated circuit can be housed in the network element of this disclosure or other network nodes.

[0114] Optionally, the apparatus 901 in the embodiments of this application can be used to perform the methods described in the embodiments of this application.

[0115] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program thereon, which, when executed by a processor, can implement the processes related to the terminal device and the read / write device in the communication method provided in the above method embodiments.

[0116] This application also provides a computer program product that, when run on a computer or processor, causes the computer or processor to execute one or more steps of any of the above-described communication methods. If the constituent modules of the aforementioned devices are implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in the computer-readable storage medium.

[0117] This application also provides a chip system including at least one processor and a communication interface. The communication interface and the at least one processor are interconnected via a circuit. The at least one processor is used to run computer programs or instructions to perform some or all of the steps described in any of the corresponding method embodiments above. This chip system may be composed of chips or may include chips and other discrete devices.

[0118] This application also provides a communication system, which includes a terminal device and a read / write device, and the specific description can be found in the method described above.

[0119] It should be understood that the memory mentioned in the embodiments of this application can be volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memory. Non-volatile memory can be a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid-state drive (SSD), read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory can be random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example, but not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchronous linked dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM). Memory is any other medium capable of carrying or storing desired program code having an instruction or data structure form and accessible by a computer, but is not limited thereto. The memory in the embodiments of this application may also be circuitry or any other means capable of implementing storage functions for storing program instructions and / or data.

[0120] It should also be understood that the processor mentioned in the embodiments of this application can be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. A general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0121] It should be noted that when the processor is a general-purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, FPGA, or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, or discrete hardware component, the memory (storage module) is integrated into the processor.

[0122] It should be noted that the memories described herein are intended to include, but are not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memories.

[0123] It should be understood that in the various embodiments of this application, the order of the above-mentioned processes does not imply the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this application.

[0124] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments provided herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0125] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0126] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0127] 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.

[0128] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0129] If the aforementioned functions are implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the technology, or a portion of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a read / write 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.

[0130] The steps in the method of this application embodiment can be adjusted, combined, or deleted according to actual needs.

[0131] The modules / units in the device of this application embodiment can be merged, divided, and deleted according to actual needs.

[0132] 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

A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: A first signal and a second signal are transmitted, wherein the first signal is used for radio frequency power supply and the second signal is used for service signal transmission; the transmission power of the first signal is a first power and the transmission power of the second signal is a second power, wherein the first power is higher than the second power. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transmission of the first signal and the second signal includes: The first signal is transmitted using a first modulation scheme, and the second signal is transmitted using a second modulation scheme; The peak-to-average power ratio corresponding to the first modulation method is lower than that corresponding to the second modulation method, and / or the backoff value corresponding to the first modulation method is lower than that corresponding to the second modulation method. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first modulation method is Gaussian minimum frequency shift keying modulation or single-carrier modulation. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The second modulation method is orthogonal frequency division multiplexing modulation, or orthogonal phase shift keying modulation, or binary phase shift keying modulation. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The transmission time interval between the first signal and the second signal is greater than or equal to a first threshold, and / or the transmission time interval between the first signal and the second signal is less than or equal to a second threshold. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first threshold and / or the second threshold are determined based on the transmission duration of the first signal. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first threshold increases as the transmission duration of the first signal increases. A communication device, characterized in that, include: The transceiver unit is used to transmit a first signal and a second signal. The first signal is used for radio frequency power supply, and the second signal is used for service signal transmission. The transmission power of the first signal is a first power, and the transmission power of the second signal is a second power. The first power is higher than the second power. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that, The transceiver unit transmits a first signal and a second signal, specifically for: The first signal is transmitted using a first modulation scheme, and the second signal is transmitted using a second modulation scheme; The peak-to-average power ratio corresponding to the first modulation method is lower than that of the Gaussian minimum frequency shift keying corresponding to the second modulation method, and / or the backoff value corresponding to the first modulation method is lower than that corresponding to the second modulation method. The apparatus according to claim 9 is characterized in that, The first modulation method is Gaussian minimum frequency shift keying modulation or single-carrier modulation. The apparatus according to claim 9 or 10 is characterized in that, The second modulation method is orthogonal frequency division multiplexing modulation, or orthogonal phase shift keying modulation, or binary phase shift keying modulation. The apparatus according to any one of claims 8-11 is characterized in that, The transmission time interval between the first signal and the second signal is greater than or equal to a first threshold, and / or the transmission time interval between the first signal and the second signal is less than or equal to a second threshold. The apparatus according to claim 12 is characterized in that, The first threshold and / or the second threshold are determined based on the transmission duration of the first signal. The apparatus according to claim 13 is characterized in that, The first threshold increases as the transmission duration of the first signal increases. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device includes a processor and a storage medium, the storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the method described in any one of claims 1-7 to be implemented. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium includes instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the method described in any one of claims 1-7 to be implemented. A communication system, characterized in that, It includes a read / write device, which is used to implement the method as described in any one of claims 1-7. A computer program product, characterized in that, The computer program product includes instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the method as described in any one of claims 1-7 to be implemented.

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