Scheduling-free transmission method and apparatus, and storage medium

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application disclose a scheduling-free transmission method and apparatus, and a storage medium. The method in the embodiments of the present application comprises: a terminal device acquires a process occupancy status of a HARQ process, and sends timer indication information. The timer indication information is used for indicating whether a timer corresponding to the HARQ process is active, and the timer indication information is associated with the process occupancy status of the HARQ process. Thus, in scheduling-free transmission, in combination with the acquired process occupancy status of the HARQ process, the terminal device sends, to a network device, the timer indication information used for indicating whether the timer corresponding to the HARQ process is active, so that after the HARQ process of the terminal device is occupied, the corresponding timer does not need to be started, and DCI sent by the network device can also be received in an appropriate time period, thereby preventing the terminal device from being frequently woken up, and improving the energy-saving effect of the terminal device.

Description

A method, apparatus and storage medium for grant-free transmission

[0001] The present application claims priority from the Chinese patent application No. 202411297320.8 filed with the State Intellectual Property Office on September 14, 2024 and entitled "A method, apparatus and storage medium for grant-free transmission", the whole content of which is incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, in particular to a method, apparatus and storage medium for grant-free transmission. BACKGROUND

[0003] Discontinuous Reception (DRX) is a technology for saving power consumption of a terminal device in a wireless communication system. A network device configures a DRX cycle for the terminal device, and in the DRX cycle, the terminal device only activates a receiver to listen to feedback of the network device in an active period, and deactivates the receiver in a sleep period. This will cause adverse effects on data transmission. In order to avoid adverse effects on data transmission, multiple timers are introduced in the DRX to listen to the feedback of the network device.

[0004] Currently, in grant-free transmission, the network device cannot determine the occupation of a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process, and sends downlink control information (DCI) in a retransmission window corresponding to the HARQ process. Therefore, after the HARQ process of the terminal device is occupied, the corresponding timer is started to listen to a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), so that the terminal device can receive the DCI sent by the network device. However, the terminal device is frequently woken up, which leads to poor energy saving effect of the terminal device. SUMMARY

[0005] Embodiments of the present application provide a method, apparatus and storage medium for grant-free transmission, which avoid frequent wake-up of the terminal device and improve the energy saving effect of the terminal device.

[0006] Therefore, in a first aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a method for grant-free transmission, which can be performed by a terminal device. The terminal device can be a terminal device itself, a component (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a chip system) in the terminal device, or a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the terminal device. The method comprises: obtaining a process occupation of a HARQ process by the terminal device, and sending timer indication information. The timer indication information is used to indicate whether a timer corresponding to the HARQ process is effective, and the timer indication information is associated with the process occupation of the HARQ process.

[0007] In the method provided by the embodiments of the present application, in the grant-free transmission, the terminal device sends the timer indication information to the network device to indicate whether the timer corresponding to the HARQ process is effective in combination with the obtained process occupation of the HARQ process. In this way, the network device can obtain the effectiveness of the timer, and send the DCI corresponding to the HARQ process in a suitable time period in combination with the effectiveness of the timer, so that the terminal device can receive the DCI issued by the network device in a suitable time period without starting the corresponding timer after the HARQ process of the terminal device is occupied, thereby avoiding the terminal device from being frequently woken up and improving the energy saving effect of the terminal device.

[0008] In combination with the first aspect, in a possible implementation of the first aspect, the timer indication information is used to indicate whether M timers corresponding to M HARQ processes are effective, M is a positive integer; the timer indication information is associated with the process occupation, including: whether a timer corresponding to an nth HARQ process in the M HARQ processes is effective is associated with a process occupation of the nth HARQ process, n is a positive integer within 1 to M; or whether the timer corresponding to the nth HARQ process in the M HARQ processes is effective is associated with M process occupations of the M HARQ processes. In this way, whether the timer corresponding to the HARQ process is effective can be determined based on the process occupation of the HARQ process itself, or whether the timer corresponding to the HARQ process is effective can be determined based on the process occupation of the adjacent HARQ process and the process occupation of the HARQ process itself, thereby more flexibly and accurately determining whether the timer is effective based on the actual situation.

[0009] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the timer indication information is used to indicate whether M timers corresponding to M continuous HARQ processes are valid; or, the timer indication information is used to indicate whether M timers corresponding to M continuous occupied HARQ processes are valid. In this way, the validity of the M timers corresponding to the M continuous HARQ processes can be periodically reported according to the requirement, or the validity of the M timers corresponding to the M continuous occupied HARQ processes can be dynamically reported, so that the transmission of the validity of the timers can be flexibly implemented according to the actual situation. Moreover, the validity of multiple timers can be transmitted at a time, thereby saving transmission resources.

[0010] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the method further includes: transmitting the timer indication information includes transmitting uplink control information (UCI), and the UCI carries the timer indication information. In this way, the timer indication information is carried by the existing UCI, which facilitates the reporting of the timer indication information, and does not need to additionally design new reporting information to separately report the timer indication information, thereby reducing the power consumption caused by the reporting of the timer indication information to a certain extent.

[0011] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the method further includes: transmitting the timer indication information includes transmitting an uplink wake-up signal (UL WUS), and the UL WUS carries the timer indication information. In this way, the timer indication information is carried by the existing UL WUS, which facilitates the reporting of the timer indication information, and does not need to additionally design new reporting information to separately report the timer indication information, thereby reducing the power consumption caused by the reporting of the timer indication information to a certain extent.

[0012] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the method further includes: transmitting capability indication information, and the capability indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device supports the reporting of the timer indication information. In this way, the terminal device actively transmits the capability indication information, which facilitates the subsequent network device to issue the corresponding first configuration based on the capability indication information, and the terminal device to implement the transmission of the corresponding timer indication information.

[0013] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the method further includes: obtaining a first configuration, and the first configuration is used to configure the reporting manner of the timer indication information. In this way, the terminal device can correspondingly configure the reporting manner of the timer indication information through the first configuration, so as to ensure that the terminal device can correctly report the timer indication information, and the network device can correctly analyze the validity of the corresponding timer.

[0014] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the first configuration comprises at least one of the following: a number of reported HARQ processes, a reporting type, a reporting format, or a reporting trigger condition; the number of reported HARQ processes is M, where M is a positive integer; the reporting type is any one of the following: periodic reporting or dynamic reporting; the reporting format is any one of the following: UCI or UL WUS; the reporting trigger condition is at least one of the following: r HARQ processes in the M HARQ processes are occupied, or at least one HARQ process in the M HARQ processes is a delay-sensitive service, where r is a positive integer. In this way, the terminal device can correctly report the timer indication information, and the network device can correctly analyze the validity of the corresponding timer by using the specific number of reported HARQ processes, the reporting type, the reporting format, or the reporting trigger condition.

[0015] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, if the reporting format is UCI, the first configuration further comprises at least one of the following: a bearing channel of the UCI or resource configuration information of the bearing channel. In this way, the timer indication information can be transmitted through the UCI by adapting the configuration to the reporting format being UCI.

[0016] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, if the reporting format is UL WUS, the first configuration further comprises at least one of the following: a bearing mode of the UL WUS or generation parameters of the UL WUS; the bearing mode of the UL WUS is any one of the following: using M UL WUS to bear the timer indication information, or using one of the two UL WUS to bear the timer indication information. In this way, the timer indication information can be transmitted through the UL WUS by adapting the configuration to the reporting format being UL WUS. M In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the first configuration further comprises at least one of the following: a bearing channel of the UCI or resource configuration information of the bearing channel. In this way, the timer indication information can be transmitted through the UCI by adapting the configuration to the reporting format being UCI.

[0017] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the sending of the timer indication information comprises: sending Unused Transmission Opportunity-Uplink Control Information (UTO-UCI), where the UTO-UCI carries a first bit and a second bit, the first bit is used to represent whether a HARQ process is occupied, and the second bit is the timer indication information. In this way, the existing UTO-UCI is adjusted to carry an additional second bit to carry the timer indication information, which facilitates the reporting of the timer indication information and reduces the power consumption caused by the reporting of the timer indication information.

[0018] With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation of the first aspect, the second bit includes M bits, the M bits being used to indicate whether M timers corresponding to M HARQ processes are effective, the M bits corresponding to M configured grant-physical uplink shared channel transmission opportunities (CG-PUSCH TOs), and M is a positive integer. In this way, by adjusting the existing UTO-UCI reporting to report two bits of information for each transmission opportunity (TO), the effectiveness of a timer corresponding to each TO is reported, so that the timer indication information is carried in the UTO-UCI.

[0019] With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation of the first aspect, the method further includes: receiving confirmation information corresponding to the timer indication information, and setting the timer based on the timer indication information, the confirmation information being used to indicate that the timer is set based on the timer indication information; or in a case where the confirmation information corresponding to the timer indication information is not received, setting the timer based on a default setting mode. In this way, the timer is set in combination with whether the confirmation information is actually received, so that the effectiveness of the timer known by the terminal device and the network device is consistent, and the case where the terminal device cannot receive the DCI issued by the network device is avoided.

[0020] With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation of the first aspect, the timer is a retransmission timer or a round-trip delay timer. In this way, the present scheme can be implemented by sending the timer indication information corresponding to at least one timer, and the feasibility of the scheme is increased.

[0021] The second aspect provides a grant-free transmission method, which can be executed by a network device. In the case where no special description is made, the network device of the present application can refer to the terminal device itself, a component (for example, a processor, a chip, or a chip system) in the network device, or a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the network device functions. The method includes: listening to timer indication information, the timer indication information being used to indicate whether a timer corresponding to a HARQ process is effective, and sending DCI corresponding to the HARQ process. The sending time of the DCI is associated with the timer indication information.

[0022] With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation of the second aspect, the grant-free transmission method is applied to a network device.

[0023] The method provided by the embodiments of the present application can be executed by a network device. In the grant-free transmission, the network device can listen to the validity of the timer of the terminal device, and send the DCI corresponding to the HARQ process at a suitable time period in combination with the validity of the timer. In this way, after the HARQ process of the terminal device is occupied, the corresponding timer does not need to be started, and the DCI issued by the network device can also be received, so that the terminal device can be prevented from being frequently woken up, and the energy saving effect of the terminal device is improved.

[0024] In combination with the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the DCI issuing time is associated with the timer indication information, including: if the timer indication information includes at least one valid timer, the DCI issuing time is the retransmission window corresponding to the at least one valid timer. In this way, the DCI is issued in the retransmission window corresponding to the valid timer, and it is ensured that the terminal device can receive the DCI.

[0025] In combination with the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the method further includes: receiving capability indication information, the capability indication information being used to indicate that the terminal device supports reporting the timer indication information; and sending a first configuration based on the capability indication information, the first configuration being used to configure the reporting manner of the timer indication information. In this way, by sending the corresponding first configuration to the terminal device, it is ensured that the terminal device can correctly report the timer indication information, and the network device can correctly analyze the validity of the corresponding timer.

[0026] In combination with the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the method further includes: sending confirmation information corresponding to the timer indication information, the confirmation information being used to indicate that the timer is set based on the timer indication information. In this way, the terminal device can set the timer correspondingly, and it is ensured that the validity of the timer known by the terminal device and the network device is consistent, and the situation that the terminal device cannot receive the DCI issued by the network device is avoided.

[0027] In a third aspect, the present application provides a scheduling-free transmission apparatus, which can be applied to a terminal device. In the absence of special description, the "terminal device" of the present application can refer to the terminal device itself, a component (for example, a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) in the terminal device, or a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the terminal device functions. Alternatively, the apparatus can be applied to a network device. In the absence of special description, the "network device" of the present application can refer to the network device itself, a component (for example, a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) in the network device, or a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the network device functions. The apparatus is used to execute the scheduling-free transmission method in the first aspect or any of the optional implementation manners of the first aspect, or execute the scheduling-free transmission method in the second aspect or any of the optional implementation manners of the second aspect.

[0028] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a scheduling-free transmission apparatus, which can be applied to a terminal device or a circuit, a chip, a chip system, etc. inside the terminal device, or can be applied to a network device or a circuit, a chip, a chip system, etc. inside the network device. The apparatus can include at least one processor, which is used to call computer instructions in a memory, so as to make the scheduling-free transmission apparatus execute the scheduling-free transmission method in the first aspect or any of the optional implementation manners of the first aspect, or execute the scheduling-free transmission method in the second aspect or any of the optional implementation manners of the second aspect.

[0029] In combination with the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the scheduling-free transmission apparatus can further include a memory.

[0030] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which can include instructions, when the instructions are executed on a computer, so as to make the computer execute the scheduling-free transmission method in the first aspect or any of the optional implementation manners of the first aspect, or execute the scheduling-free transmission method in the second aspect or any of the optional implementation manners of the second aspect.

[0031] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product including instructions, when the instructions are executed on a computer, so as to make the computer execute the scheduling-free transmission method in the first aspect or any of the optional implementation manners of the first aspect, or execute the scheduling-free transmission method in the second aspect or any of the optional implementation manners of the second aspect.

[0032] In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a chip system, which comprises a processor for supporting the device to implement the functions involved in the above aspects, such as transmitting or processing the data and / or information involved in the above methods. In a possible design, the chip system further comprises a memory for storing the program instructions and data necessary for the device. The chip system can be composed of a chip, or can comprise a chip and other discrete devices.

[0033] In an eighth aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide a chip, which comprises one or more interface circuits and one or more processors; the interface circuit is configured to receive a signal from a memory of an electronic device and transmit the signal to the processor, the signal comprising computer instructions stored in the memory; when the processor executes the computer instructions, the electronic device is caused to perform the scheduling-free transmission method in the first aspect or any of the optional implementation forms of the first aspect, or perform the scheduling-free transmission method in the second aspect or any of the optional implementation forms of the second aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0034] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0035] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0036] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0037] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a scenario of scheduling-free transmission according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0038] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a flow of a scheduling-free transmission method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0039] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a flow of another scheduling-free transmission method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0040] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of another scenario of scheduling-free transmission according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of another scenario of scheduling-free transmission according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0042] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of another scenario of scheduling-free transmission according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a flow of another scheduling-free transmission method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a scheduling-free transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] FIG. 12 is a structural schematic diagram of another data transmission apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] FIG. 13 is a structural schematic diagram of still another data transmission apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] The embodiments of the present application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that with the development of technology and the emergence of new scenarios, the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0048] The terms “first”, “second”, and the like in the specification and claims of the present application and the above-described drawings are used to distinguish similar objects, and do not necessarily have to be used to describe a specific order or sequence. The term “at least one” should be understood as one or more, and the term “at least one” should be understood as one or more. It should be understood that the terms used in this way can be interchanged under appropriate circumstances, and this is only a way of distinguishing the objects of the same attribute used in the description of the embodiments of the present application. In addition, the terms “include” and “have” and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that the process, method, system, product or equipment containing a series of units does not have to be limited to those units, but can include other units not clearly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products or equipment.

[0049] The embodiments of the present application are applied to a communication system, which can be a second generation (2th generation, 2G) communication system, a third generation (3th generation, 3G) communication system, which can be a long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE) system, or a fifth generation (5th generation, 5G) communication system, or a new radio (5G New Radio, 5G NR) system, or a new communication system in future communication development. Among them, there is a first entity sending configuration information to a second entity, and sending data to the second entity or receiving data sent by the second entity; and there is a second entity receiving configuration information, and sending data to the first entity or receiving data sent by the first entity according to the configuration information.

[0050] The communication system includes a first device and a second device. The first device can be a device for providing network communication function on the network side, also known as network device, network element in some cases, which can be a base station (including functional units of the base station or a combination of functional units of the base station) or a core network unit, which can be a functional unit in the core network, including but not limited to an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) unit or a Session Management Function (SMF) unit. The second device can be a device accessing the network, which can be a terminal in general. An example of the communication system is shown in FIG. 1, which includes a base station 1 and a terminal 2. Another example of the communication system is shown in FIG. 2, which includes a base station (Base Station, BS), a user equipment (user equipment, UE) 1, a UE 2, a UE 3, a UE 4, a UE 5 and a UE 6. The UEs 1 to 6 can send uplink data to the base station, and the base station receives the uplink data sent by the UEs 1 to 6. The base station can send configuration information to the UEs 1 to 6, and the UEs 1 to 6 receive the configuration information. Among them, the UEs 4 to 6 can also constitute a communication system, and the configuration information sending entity and the configuration information receiving entity can be UEs, for example, in a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) system, the UE 5 sends configuration information to the UE 4 and receives data sent by the UE 4; and the UE 4 receives the configuration information sent by the UE 5 and sends data to the UE 5. Another example of the communication system is shown in FIG. 3, which can be a single-hop or multi-hop relay system with relay nodes, and the relay nodes can be in the form of a small station, an integrated access backhaul (IAB) node, a distributed unit (DU), a terminal, a transmitter and receiver point (TRP), etc.

[0051] In embodiments provided in the present application, the base station can be any kind of device with wireless transceiver function, including but not limited to: evolved Node B (eNB or e-NodeB) in LTE, base station (gNodeB or gNB) or transmission receiving point (TRP) in new radio (NR), base station in subsequent evolution of 3GPP, access node in Wi-Fi system, wireless relay node, wireless backhaul node, etc. The base station can be: macro base station, micro base station, pico base station, micro station, relay station, balloon station, etc. The base station can include one or more co-sited or non-co-sited transmission points (TRPs). The base station can also be a wireless controller, centralized unit (CU), and / or distributed unit (DU) in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario. The base station can communicate with the terminal, or communicate with the terminal through the relay station. The terminal can communicate with multiple base stations of different technologies, for example, the terminal can communicate with a base station supporting LTE network, and can also communicate with a base station supporting 5G network, and can also communicate with a base station supporting LTE network and a base station supporting 5G network in dual connectivity.

[0052] In the embodiments provided in the present application, the terminal can be various forms, for example, a mobile phone, a tablet computer (Pad), a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a vehicle-mounted terminal device, a wireless terminal in self driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical, a wireless terminal in smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in smart city, a wireless terminal in smart home, a wearable terminal device, and the like. The terminal can also be referred to as a terminal device, a user equipment (UE), an access terminal device, a vehicle-mounted terminal, an industrial control terminal, a UE unit, a UE station, a mobile station, a mobile station, a remote station, a remote terminal device, a mobile device, a UE terminal device, a terminal device, a wireless communication device, a UE agent, or a UE apparatus, and the like. The terminal can also be a fixed terminal or a mobile terminal.

[0053] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the related concepts involved in the embodiments of the present application are explained as follows.

[0054] (1) Dynamic grant (GB) transmission, which can also be referred to as dynamic grant-based uplink transmission, refers to a technology in which a terminal device performs uplink transmission according to a DCI issued by a network device, dynamic grant, or dynamic scheduling, or dynamic configuration of resources, and performs uplink transmission according to the dynamically granted, or dynamically scheduled, or dynamically configured resources.

[0055] (2) Grant-free transmission, i.e., grant-free (GF) transmission, refers to a technology that a terminal device performs uplink transmission without a network device issuing a DCI for dynamic authorization, or dynamic scheduling, or dynamic configuration of resources. The grant-free transmission includes one or more of the following: random access (RA) based transmission, 5G new radio system configured grant (CG) resource based transmission, LTE system preconfigured uplink resource (PUR) based transmission, LTE system semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) resource based transmission, semi-static channel state information (SP-CSI) based transmission, small data packet transmission (SDT), or other technologies for transmitting data in a grant-free manner. Among them, the RA includes two-step random access (2-step RA) and four-step random access (4-step RA). It should be noted that the grant-free transmission can also be referred to as grant-free transmission.

[0056] When the terminal device performs grant-free transmission, one or more of the following can be transmitted: a data channel (such as a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) and the like), a control channel (such as a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and the like), a physical random access channel (PRACH), a physical layer signal (such as a reference signal and the like). Among them, the channel or signal transmitted in the grant-free transmission is related to the scenario of the grant-free transmission or the technology adopted by the grant-free transmission. For example, the grant-free transmission based on two-step random access can transmit PRACH and / or PUSCH. For another example, the grant-free transmission based on PUR, or semi-persistent scheduling (SPS), or CG can transmit PUSCH.

[0057] The grant-free resource refers to a resource agreed by a protocol or configured by a network device for grant-free transmission. For example, the grant-free resource can include one or more of the following: a time domain resource, a frequency domain resource, a space domain resource, a beam domain resource, a code domain resource, a sequence resource, and a power domain resource. The code domain resource can include a signature of non-orthogonal multiple access. The sequence resource (also referred to as a pilot resource) can include one or more of the following: a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) sequence, a preamble sequence, or a sequence used by other reference signals (RS).

[0058] For example, the grant-free resource can be configured in one or more of the following ways: radio resource control (RRC) signaling, media access control (MAC) control elements (CEs), or DCI. In the DCI configuration of the grant-free resource, the semi-static configuration method or the static configuration method can be included. In addition, when the grant-free resource is agreed by the protocol or configured by the network device, a transmission parameter for grant-free transmission can also be agreed or configured. The transmission parameter can include one or more of the following parameters: a period of a time domain resource, an open-loop power control related parameter, a waveform, a redundancy version sequence, a repetition number, a frequency hopping mode, a resource allocation type, a HARQ process number, a DMRS related parameter, a modulation and coding scheme table, a resource block group (RBG) size, a time domain resource, a frequency domain resource, or a modulation and coding scheme (MCS). It can be understood that the grant-free resource can be periodic.

[0059] After the terminal device transmits data to the network device using the grant-free resource, a timer is started, and the network device listens to the feedback of the data packet during the running of the timer, such as listening to the DCI for the network device to authorize the terminal device to retransmit the data packet, or listening to the acknowledgement (ACK) feedback of the network device to the data packet. The duration of the timer can be configured by the network device through high-layer signaling such as RRC signaling, or predetermined between the terminal device and the network device in advance.

[0060] During the running of the timer, the grant-free resource associated with the same HARQ process is unavailable, that is, after the terminal device sends data on the grant-free resource using a certain HARQ process and starts the timer, the terminal device cannot send a new data packet using the grant-free resource associated with the same HARQ process during the running of the timer.

[0061] Taking CG transmission in the NR protocol as an example, after sending a PUSCH (denoted as CG PUSCH) on a HARQ process with a HARQ process number (HPN) of 2 of the grant-free resource, a timer defined in the configured grant (CGT) is started, and during the running of the CGT, the terminal device cannot send a new data packet using the grant-free resource associated with HPN: 2.

[0062] (3) Discontinuous Reception (DRX) is a technique used in wireless communication systems to save battery power of terminal devices (such as mobile phones, UEs, etc.). This technique allows the terminal to periodically enter a sleep mode at certain times and not listen to the PDCCH, and when it needs to listen, it wakes up from the sleep state. This allows the terminal to achieve the purpose of power saving. In 5G and other mobile communication standards, DRX allows terminal devices to enter a sleep state when there is no data transmission requirement to reduce the power consumption of the receiving circuit. The working principle of DRX is based on a pre-configured periodic listening mechanism. The terminal device and the network device will negotiate a DRX cycle, and within this cycle, the terminal device only activates the receiver at specific time points (called ON period or active period) to listen to the control channel (such as PDCCH, etc.), and closes the receiver in the remaining time (called OFF period or sleep period) to save power. In this way, the terminal device can receive downlink control information and data in discontinuous time periods, and turn off the receiver during periods when data is not needed, thereby achieving energy saving. Among them, the DRX configuration usually includes the following parameters:

[0063] DRX cycle: the total time of the ON period and the OFF period of the terminal device within the DRX cycle.

[0064] ON period: the period in which the terminal device activates the receiver to listen to the PDCCH.

[0065] Short cycle: in some cases, the terminal device may need to listen to the PDCCH more frequently, in which case a shorter DRX cycle is used.

[0066] Long cycle: when the data transmission demand is low, the terminal can use a longer DRX cycle to further save power.

[0067] Wherein, the specific long cycle and short cycle time length will be different according to different network deployment and terminal device capability, the short cycle time length is usually shorter than the long cycle, and the short cycle can be set to, for example, 20 ms, etc.

[0068] In the DRX, the terminal device enters the sleep state, which may affect the data transmission feedback. In order to ensure the continuity of data transmission, the terminal device will start the drx-retransmission timer after receiving the network device scheduling information to wake up the terminal device, so as to ensure that the terminal device will not miss the feedback of the network device. Taking the NR uplink transmission as an example, the terminal device sends a data packet at time t, and it will start the uplink drx-retransmission timer at the time node of t+uplink drx-HARQ-round trip time timer (drx-HARQ-RTT-TimerUL) and wake up the terminal device. At this time, whether the terminal device is in sleep state or not, after starting the drx-retransmission timer, the terminal device is always in the DRX-ON period until the drx-retransmission timer is closed.

[0069] In the current DRX receiving mechanism, the Round Trip Time timer (RTT-timer) is started after the signal is sent. When the RTT-timer is effective, the terminal device can enter the sleep state. However, if the terminal device is in the ON period or other PDCCH listening timer is effective at this time, such as the retransmission timer or the Inactive timer is effective, the terminal device will be in the active state until the state of "being in the ON period or other PDCCH listening timer is effective" ends. If the RTT-timer is invalidated before the above-mentioned "being in the ON period or other PDCCH listening timer is effective" state, the terminal device will not enter the sleep state. After the RTT-timer is invalidated, the terminal device will automatically start the retransmission timer and wake up the terminal device.

[0070] (4) Wake-up signal (WUS), which can be divided into uplink wake-up signal (UL WUS) and downlink wake-up signal (DL WUS). Among them, DL WUS is a signal used to wake up the terminal device, so that the terminal device can recover from the sleep state and start receiving data. Terminal devices in the network usually enter a sleep state to save battery life. Therefore, when the terminal device needs to receive data, the DL WUS can be used to wake up the terminal device to facilitate the terminal device to receive data. The DL WUS is a short message, a special signal format or a special signal waveform, which is usually sent by the base station in the network. When the terminal receives the DL WUS, it will recover from the sleep state and start receiving data. The length of WUS in NR is very short, usually only a few milliseconds, so that the device can wake up quickly and start receiving data, while saving battery life. The counterpart of the DL WUS is the UL WUS signal, which is used to wake up the network device in the sleep state. When the terminal device has data to send to the network device, the terminal device will send the UL WUS signal to wake up the target network device.

[0071] (5) Low power wake-up signal (LP-WUS) can further reduce device power consumption. Two sets of receiving modules can also be introduced, one of which is a main communication receiving module (main receiver) responsible for receiving regular signals, and the other is a low-power wake-up signal receiving module (LP WUS Receiver, LP-WUR). The main communication module is in a sleep state for a long time, and the device uses a low-power module to listen to the low-power wake-up signal. If the LP-WUS signal is detected, the main communication receiving module is awakened. The above modules can be deployed on the base station side or the terminal side. When deployed on the base station side, it belongs to uplink LP-WUS (uplink LP-WUS, UL LP-WUS), at this time the main communication receiving module receives the regular uplink signal / channels sent by the UE, such as PRACH, PUCCH, PUSCH, etc., and the LP-WUR receives the low-power signal LP-WUS sent by the terminal; when deployed on the terminal side, it belongs to downlink LP-WUS (downlink LP-WUS, DL LP-WUS), at this time the main communication receiving module receives the regular uplink signal / channels sent by the base station, such as synchronization signal block (synchronization signal block, SSB), channel state information reference signal (channel state information reference signal, CSI-RS), PDCCH, Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH), etc., and the LP-WUR receives the low-power signal LP-WUS sent by the base station. In the discussion of NR R18 version, various alternative LP-WUS waveforms are proposed, including low-power signals based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, OFDM) modulation, frequency-shift keying (frequency-shift keying, FSK) modulation signal and on-off keying (on-off keying, OOK) modulation signal, etc. The above signals can significantly reduce the receiving power consumption of the LP WUR, which is significantly lower than the power consumption of the main communication receiving module.

[0072] (6) UCI piggybacking is a way of multiplexing and transmitting uplink control information and data channel (e.g. PUSCH) in the same transmission opportunity (TO) in a communication system. This approach allows the UE to embed necessary control information such as ACK / NACK feedback, channel state information (CSI), scheduling request (SR) into the data channel while transmitting data without the need for additional allocation of dedicated control channel resources. The main advantages of UCI piggybacking are improved spectral efficiency and reduced control channel resource overhead. In 5G NR, UCI can be multiplexed on PUSCH, which is particularly effective in scenarios where the amount of data transmission is large and the amount of control information is relatively small. In this way, the terminal device can more efficiently utilize the uplink resources, while ensuring timely feedback of downlink data reception status and channel quality information to support network adaptive scheduling.

[0073] The implementation of UCI piggybacking needs to consider the following key factors:

[0074] 1) Multiplexing method: the multiplexing method of UCI and PUSCH data in frequency and time domain, including frequency division multiplexing (FDM) and time division multiplexing (TDM).

[0075] 2) UCI encoding: the encoding method of UCI information to ensure that UCI information can be reliably decoded when multiplexed with data channel.

[0076] 3) Resource allocation: the network needs to allocate appropriate resources for UCI and PUSCH data to ensure that both can be successfully transmitted.

[0077] 4) Demodulation reference signal (DMRS): the configuration of DMR to support joint demodulation of PUSCH data and UCI.

[0078] 5) Performance requirements: including the block error rate (BLER) requirements of UCI to ensure the reliability of UCI information.

[0079] In 5G NR, the use of UCI piggybacking is dynamically determined according to the specific business needs of the terminal device and network configuration. The network can configure the multiplexing method and resource allocation of UCI for the terminal device through RRC signaling to adapt to different business scenarios and network conditions.

[0080] (7) HARQ, is a combination of forward error correction coding (Forward Error Correction, FEC) and automatic repeat request (Automatic Repeat reQuest, ARQ) to form a technology, aims to improve the reliability and efficiency of data transmission.

[0081] HARQ process is a core concept in the HARQ mechanism, each HARQ process has a process number, used to identify the HARQ process. The HARQ process uses the stop-and-wait protocol to send data, while waiting for an acknowledgment message in a HARQ process, the sender can continue to send data using another HARQ process. Among them, the HARQ process has three states: idle state, retransmission state and waiting state.

[0082] Please refer to Figure 4, a kind of scheduling-free transmission scenario provided by the embodiment of the application. Figure 4 includes HPN1, HPN2 and HPN3, three HARQ processes, after the RTT-timer expires, the terminal device will automatically start the retransmission timer and wake up the terminal device. Among them, when detecting that the terminal device sends data, the network device is allowed to issue DCI in the terminal device wake-up state after the retransmission timer starts, such as issuing DCI-1 in the retransmission window 1 of the retransmission timer 1 corresponding to HPN1, issuing DCI-2 in the retransmission window 2 of the retransmission timer 2 corresponding to HPN2, and issuing DCI-3 in the retransmission window 3 of the retransmission timer 3 corresponding to HPN3, after the corresponding HPN1, HPN2 and HPN3 of the terminal device are occupied, the corresponding timer 1, timer 2 and timer 3 are started to listen to PDCCH, so that the terminal device can receive DCI-1, DCI-2 and DCI-3 issued by the network device. However, the terminal device will be frequently woken up, resulting in poor energy saving effect of the terminal device.

[0083] Therefore, the embodiment of the application discloses a scheduling-free transmission method and device and storage medium, the terminal device sends timer indication information to the network device, so that the network device can obtain the validity of the timer, and sends the DCI corresponding to the HARQ process in the appropriate time period combined with the validity of the timer, so that the HARQ process of the terminal device is occupied, without starting the corresponding timer, it can also receive the DCI issued by the network device in the appropriate time period, so as to avoid the terminal device being frequently woken up, and improve the energy saving effect of the terminal device.

[0084] Specifically, refer to FIG. 5, which is a flow block diagram of a scheduling-free transmission method provided by the embodiments of the present application, which can be executed by a communication system, which can include a first device and a second device. The embodiments of the present application take the first device as a network device and the second device as a terminal device as an example for illustration, and the method can be executed by the terminal device and the network device. In the case of no special illustration, the "terminal device" of the present application can refer to the terminal device itself, a component (for example, a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) in the terminal device, or a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the terminal device function, and the "network device" of the present application can refer to the network device itself, a component (for example, a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) in the network device, or a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the network device function. The scheduling-free transmission method provided by the embodiments of the present application can include the following steps:

[0085] S501, the terminal device acquires the process occupation situation of the HARQ process.

[0086] The process occupation situation of the HARQ process can be any one of the following: the HARQ process is occupied, and the HARQ process is not occupied.

[0087] In the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device can acquire the process occupation situation of at least one HARQ process after t time at t time point, t represents the time point at which the terminal device acquires the process occupation situation, and the time point at which the terminal device acquires the process occupation situation is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0088] S502, the terminal device sends timer indication information.

[0089] The timer indication information is used to indicate whether the timer corresponding to the HARQ process is effective, and the timer indication information is associated with the process occupation situation of the HARQ process.

[0090] In the embodiments of the present application, the corresponding timer indication information can be obtained in the form of a bitmap, and each bit in the timer indication information represents a timer corresponding to a HARQ process. For example, "0" represents that the timer is not effective, and "1" represents that the timer is effective. If the timer indication information is "011", it means that the timer corresponding to the first HARQ process is not effective, the timer corresponding to the second HARQ process is effective, and the timer corresponding to the third HARQ process is effective. It can be understood that the above is only an exemplary illustration, and should not be understood as a limitation on the embodiments of the present application. The embodiments of the present application can also obtain the corresponding timer indication information in other ways other than bitmap.

[0091] The timer indication information in the embodiments of the present application is associated with the process occupation of the HARQ process, which can be understood as that the determination of the timer indication information is related to the process occupation of the HARQ process. In the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device can determine the timer indication information based on the process occupation. For example, if the last one of the three consecutive HARQ processes is occupied, it can be determined that the timer corresponding to the last one of the three consecutive HARQ processes is effective, and the control information corresponding to the three consecutive HARQ processes can be transmitted through the retransmission window of the timer corresponding to the last one of the three consecutive HARQ processes. Or, the HARQ process is occupied, and is a delay-insensitive service, and it can be determined that the corresponding timer is not effective, and the like. It can be understood that the above is only an exemplary description, and should not be understood as a limitation on the embodiments of the present application. The embodiments of the present application do not limit how to determine the timer indication information based on the process occupation, as long as the timer corresponding to the occupied HARQ process is not all effective.

[0092] It should be noted that one HARQ process corresponds to one timer, and after the timer is effective at a predefined time, the terminal device can receive the control information transmitted by the network device within the corresponding time window. The time window refers to the time period corresponding to the time when the timer starts to be effective and the time when the timer is invalid. The time window is predefined, and the network device and the terminal device are clear about the time window of the timer corresponding to each HARQ process. Therefore, if the network device is clear about whether the timer is effective, it can be determined that the control information can be transmitted in which time period.

[0093] In the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device can directly transmit the timer indication information to the network device; the terminal device can also transmit the timer indication information to other devices, such as another terminal device or a relay device, and the like, and the other devices can forward the timer indication information to the network device, and the like. As long as the timer indication information is transmitted by the terminal device and can be finally listened to by the network device, the present scheme can be implemented. The specific transmission process is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0094] S503, the network device listens to the timer indication information.

[0095] It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present application, the network device can listen to the timer indication information, or can not listen to the timer indication information. For example, if the channel condition is poor, the network device can not listen to the timer indication information.

[0096] The transmission of the timer indication information will occupy corresponding resources, such as channel resources, time domain resources, frequency domain resources, and the like. The network device can listen to the timer indication information on these resources.

[0097] S504, the network device sends the DCI corresponding to the HARQ process to the terminal device.

[0098] The DCI is associated with the timer indication information in terms of time of issuance.

[0099] In the embodiment of the present application, the time of issuance of the DCI is associated with the timer indication information, which can be understood as that the determination of the time of issuance of the DCI is related to the timer indication information. In the embodiment of the present application, the network device can determine the time of issuance of the DCI based on the timer indication information. The time of issuance of the DCI can remain unchanged or can be postponed. For example, the timer indication information is “0010”, the network device can determine that the DCI corresponding to the first three HARQ processes is issued in the retransmission window of the timer corresponding to the third HARQ process, and the DCI corresponding to the fourth HARQ process is issued in the ON period of the DRX cycle, that is, the time of issuance of the DCI corresponding to the first, second and fourth HARQ processes is postponed, and the time of issuance of the DCI corresponding to the third HARQ process remains unchanged. It can be understood that the above is only an exemplary description and should not be understood as a limitation on the embodiments of the present application.

[0100] It can be seen that in the grant-free transmission, the terminal device will send the timer indication information for indicating whether the timer corresponding to the HARQ process is effective to the network device in combination with the process occupation of the acquired HARQ process, the network device can obtain the effectiveness of the timer, and send the DCI corresponding to the HARQ process in the appropriate time period, such as the retransmission window corresponding to the timer and / or the ON period of the DRX cycle, in combination with the effectiveness of the timer, so that the terminal device does not need to start the corresponding timer after the HARQ process is occupied, and can also receive the DCI issued by the network device in the appropriate time period, thereby avoiding the terminal device from being frequently woken up and improving the energy saving effect of the terminal device.

[0101] Please refer to FIG. 6, which is a flow block diagram of another method for providing a grant-free transmission according to the present application. FIG. 6 provides a more detailed description of the grant-free transmission method provided in FIG. 5. The grant-free transmission method of FIG. 6 can be performed by a communication system, which can include a first device and a second device. The present application takes the first device as a network device and the second device as a terminal device as an example for description. The method can be performed by a terminal device and a network device. In the absence of special description, the "terminal device" of the present application can refer to the terminal device itself, a component (for example, a processor, a chip, or a chip system) in the terminal device, or a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the terminal device. The "network device" of the present application can refer to the network device itself, a component (for example, a processor, a chip, or a chip system) in the network device, or a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the network device. The grant-free transmission method provided by the present application can include the following steps.

[0102] S601. The terminal device sends capability indication information.

[0103] The capability indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device supports reporting timer indication information.

[0104] It can be understood that the terminal device needs to have the capability of supporting the reporting of the timer indication information, so that the terminal device can be configured accordingly and subsequently send the timer indication information.

[0105] In the present application, the terminal device can directly send the capability indication information to the network device, or the terminal device can send the capability indication information to other devices, such as another terminal device or a relay device, and the like, and the other devices send the capability indication information to the network device, and the like.

[0106] S602. The network device receives the capability indication information.

[0107] S603. The network device sends a first configuration based on the capability indication information.

[0108] In the present application, after the network device receives the capability indication information, it can be determined that the terminal device supports the reporting of the timer indication information, and the corresponding first configuration can be sent to the terminal device.

[0109] The first configuration includes at least one of the following: a number of reported HARQ processes, a reporting type, a reporting format, or a reporting trigger condition. The number of reported HARQ processes is M, where M is a positive integer; the reporting type is any one of the following: periodic reporting or dynamic reporting; the reporting format is any one of the following: UCI or UL WUS; and the reporting trigger condition is at least one of the following: r HARQ processes in the M HARQ processes are occupied, or at least one HARQ process in the M HARQ processes is a delay-sensitive service, where r is a positive integer. In this way, by using the specific number of reported HARQ processes, the reporting type, the reporting format, or the reporting trigger condition, the terminal device can correctly report the timer indication information, and the network device can correctly analyze the validity of the corresponding timer.

[0110] It should be noted that the number of reported HARQ processes is M, which means that the terminal device reports whether M HARQ processes corresponding to M timers are valid at a time. The periodic reporting is reporting whether M consecutive HARQ processes corresponding to M timers are valid, and the dynamic reporting is reporting whether M consecutive occupied HARQ processes corresponding to M timers are valid. It can be understood that the values of M corresponding to the periodic reporting and the dynamic reporting can be the same or different. For example, the number of reported HARQ processes corresponding to the periodic reporting can be 3, 4, or 5, and the number of reported HARQ processes corresponding to the dynamic reporting can be 2 or 3. The above is only an example and should not be understood as a limitation on the embodiments of the present application.

[0111] The first configuration in the embodiments of the present application can further include at least one of the following: an associated grant-free resource, an indication method of timer switching information, a default setting method, or a terminal device information carrying method, and the like.

[0112] The associated grant-free resource in the embodiments of the present application can include at least one of the following: an associated grant configuration index of the grant-free resource or an associated process start position of the grant-free resource, and the like. When the grant-free resource is a CG resource, the configured grant configuration index can be, for example, in the form of an associated CG resource subscript, and the associated process start position of the CG resource can be a starting process number HPN:Start, or the associated process start position of the CG resource can be a group number.

[0113] The indication method of the timer switching information in the embodiments of the present application can be in the form of a bitmap, where one bit represents the validity of one timer. For example, "0" represents that the timer is not valid, and "1" represents that the timer is valid, or "0" represents that the timer is valid, and "1" represents that the timer is not valid.

[0114] In the embodiments of the present application, if the terminal device sends the timer indication information to the network device, and the network device feeds back the confirmation information corresponding to the timer indication information to the terminal device, the terminal device and the network device know the validity of the timer according to the timer indication information, and in this case, the information of the terminal device and the network device is symmetrical. However, in the case of the terminal device not reporting the timer indication information, the terminal device reporting the timer indication information being misdetected or missed, or the network device rejecting the timer indication information, the terminal device and the network device know the validity of the timer with deviation, and in this case, the information of the terminal device and the network device is asymmetrical. In the case of the information of the terminal device and the network device being asymmetrical, a corresponding solution needs to be set to align the information of the terminal device and the network device, so that the terminal device and the network device know the validity of the timer to be consistent. Therefore, in the embodiments of the present application, the default setting mode can be included in the first configuration, which is used to align the validity of the timer of the terminal device and the network device in the information asymmetrical scenario. The default setting mode can be any of the following: M timers corresponding to M HARQ processes are uniformly valid, M timers corresponding to M HARQ processes are uniformly invalid, the last reported and confirmed timer setting mode is followed, all corresponding timers are uniformly valid, all corresponding timers are uniformly invalid, and the like. The network device can select one setting mode from the above to inform the terminal device, so that the terminal device can determine the setting mode of the timer corresponding to the HARQ process when not triggering the report or not receiving the confirmation information.

[0115] In the embodiments of the present application, the reporting configuration is associated with the grant-free resource. When the grant-free resource is shared by multiple users, this is a group-specific multicast scenario, and the associated grant-free resource is reported by each terminal device. In order to distinguish different terminal devices, the terminal device information needs to be reported. Therefore, at this time, the first configuration will also include the terminal device information carrying mode. The terminal device information can be a user equipment identifier (UE-ID), and if the reporting format is UCI, the terminal device information carrying mode is to add the UE-ID in the UCI, and if the reporting format is UL WUS, the terminal device information carrying mode is to carry the UE-ID through the generation parameter of the UL WUS.

[0116] There is also a group-specific forwarding scenario, that is, the validity of the timers of multiple terminal devices is uniformly forwarded to the network device by one device. In order to distinguish the validity of the timers of multiple terminal devices, the terminal device information corresponding to multiple terminal devices needs to be reported. Therefore, at this time, the first configuration will also include the terminal device information carrying mode. The terminal device information can be a UE-ID, and the terminal device information carrying mode can be to carry the UE-ID in the UCI.

[0117] If the reporting format is UCI in the embodiments of the present application, the first configuration can further include at least one of the following: a bearing channel of the UCI, resource configuration information of the bearing channel, a coding and modulation mode of the UCI, a multiplexing mode of the UCI, or a resource allocation scheme of the UCI, and the like. The bearing channel of the UCI can be any one of the following: PUCCH, PUSCH piggyback. It should be noted that CG PUSCH piggyback is a special term in NR, which means that the UCI information is carried on the PUSCH channel using CG resources. The resource configuration information of the bearing channel can include at least one of the following: time-frequency configuration, MCS configuration, precoding configuration, or power configuration, and the like. In this way, by adapting the configuration of the reporting format as UCI, it is ensured that the timer indication information can be sent through UCI.

[0118] If the reporting format is UL WUS in the embodiments of the present application, the first configuration can further include at least one of the following: a bearing mode of the UL WUS or a generation parameter of the UL WUS, and the like. The bearing mode of the UL WUS is any one of the following: using M UL WUS to bear the timer indication information, using one of the 2 M UL WUS to bear the timer indication information. The generation parameter of the UL WUS can include at least one of the following: periodicity, duration, repetition number, subcarrier spacing, resource location, sequence, power control, or waveform, and the like. In this way, by adapting the configuration of the reporting format as UL WUS, it is ensured that the timer indication information can be sent through UL WUS.

[0119] The use of M UL WUS to bear the timer indication information is a bearing mode in which one UL WUS corresponds to one timer, the timer indication information is composed of M bits, and M bits are sent through M UL WUS. For example, the timer indication information is "100", "1" is carried by UL WUS1, "0" is carried by UL WUS2, and "0" is carried by UL WUS3. It can be understood that the above is only an exemplary description and should not be understood as a limitation on the embodiments of the present application.

[0120] The use of one of the 2 M UL WUS to bear the timer indication information is a bearing mode in which one UL WUS corresponds to multiple timers. A group of UL WUS has a total of 2 M UL WUS, one UL WUS numbered as a decimal corresponding to the timer indication information is selected from the 2 M UL WUS, and the UL WUS is sent. For example: M is 3, a group of UL WUS has a total of 2 3= 8 UL WUSs, numbered as {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7} respectively. The timer indication information is "100", and the decimal corresponding to "100" is 4, so the UL WUS numbered as 4 is selected and sent. It can be understood that the above is only an exemplary description and should not be understood as a limitation on the embodiments of the present application.

[0121] Please refer to FIG. 7, which is a schematic diagram of another scenario of grant-free transmission provided by the embodiments of the present application. In FIG. 7, CG HARQ Group1 includes three HARQ processes HPN1, HPN2 and HPN3, and CG HARQ Group2 includes three HARQ processes HPN4, HPN5 and HPN6. The minimum handling time in FIG. 7 refers to the time from receiving the timer indication information to starting the corresponding HARQ process, and specifically, the minimum handling time includes the time of receiving the timer indication information by the network device, the time of processing the timer indication information by the network device, the time of sending the confirmation information corresponding to the timer indication information by the network device, the time of receiving the confirmation information by the terminal device, the time of confirming the timer setting mode according to the confirmation information by the terminal device, and the time of sending the signal on the HARQ process by the terminal device, so the minimum handling time is sent to the terminal device to make the terminal device determine the time after which the timer indication information cannot be reported. In FIG. 7, the minimum handling time is the time period from the time point after HPN2 and before HPN3 to the time point of sending HPN4, and HPN3 is in the minimum handling time, so HPN1 and HPN2 can report the timer indication information corresponding to HPN4, HPN5 and HPN6, and HPN3 cannot report the timer indication information corresponding to HPN4, HPN5 and HPN6. The configuration of the minimum handling time can be absolute time configuration or relative time configuration, for example, the minimum handling time of HARQ process a indicates that it is reported before a-b HARQ process, and b is configured, etc. It can be understood that the above is only an exemplary description and should not be understood as a limitation on the embodiments of the present application.

[0122] In the figure 7, the corresponding periodical reporting, M=3 HARQ processes for a group, the i group HARQ processes cover (i-1) x M+1 to i x M total M HARQ processes, i is a positive integer. The timer indication information of the 2nd group HARQ processes in the figure 7 is “010”, which needs to be sent within the transmission time before the start of the 2nd group HARQ processes. Considering the interaction time, the resource of HPN3 will be discarded, and the terminal device can send the timer indication information “010” on HPN1 or HPN2. The network device can specify HPN1 or HPN2 to send the timer indication information “010”, or the terminal device can select any one of HPN1 or HPN2 to send the timer indication information “010”.

[0123] In combination with the figure 7, if the reporting format is the piggyback UCI, the corresponding first configuration can be as follows:

[0124] ① Associated with the unscheduled resource index: X;

[0125] ② Associated with the unscheduled resource process start position: HPN4, or the group number 2nd group;

[0126] ③ Reporting type: periodical reporting;

[0127] ④ The number of reported HARQ processes: M=3;

[0128] ⑤ Reporting format: UCI;

[0129] ⑥ UCI bearing channel: piggyback PUSCH;

[0130] ⑦ Reporting resource configuration.

[0131] The reporting resource configuration can include: resource configuration information of the bearing channel, configuration of UCI in the resource configuration of the bearing channel, some constraints of the terminal device calling the bearing channel resource to carry the timer indication information corresponding to HPN4 to HPN6.

[0132] In which, the resource configuration information of the bearing channel: Y;

[0133] The configuration of UCI in Y configuration: the encoding and modulation mode of UCI, the multiplexing mode of UCI;

[0134] The constraints of the terminal device calling Y to carry the timer indication information corresponding to HPN4 to HPN6: time constraints.

[0135] It should be noted that the UCI can be carried using the CG-PUSCH resource, the occupied CG-PUSCH resource is defined as Y, Y can be X, when X=Y, the time constraint can be embodied as a process constraint, at this time the terminal device reports on the CG resource that meets the time constraint before HPN4. Taking FIG. 7 as an example, HPN resources that meet the time constraint are all available, and the terminal device can carry the UCI containing the timer indication information in any one of CG resources of HPN1 and HPN2. HPN3 cannot be used for carrying because it does not meet the processing time requirement. At this time, other CG resources can also be used for reporting, but at this time the requirement of meeting the time constraint still needs to be met, that is, the time interval of the reporting resource Y to the process HPN4 of the indicated resource X needs to meet the time constraint.

[0136] It can be understood that the above specific first configuration is only illustrative and should not be construed as a limitation of the embodiments of the present application.

[0137] In combination with FIG. 7 again, if the reporting format is UL WUS, the corresponding first configuration can be as follows:

[0138] ① Associated with the index of the scheduling-free resource: X;

[0139] ② Associated with the process start position of the scheduling-free resource: HPN4, or group number group 2;

[0140] ③ Reporting type: periodic reporting;

[0141] ④ Number of reported HARQ processes: M=3;

[0142] ⑤ Reporting format: UL WUS;

[0143] ⑥ UL WUS resource configuration.

[0144] The UL WUS resource configuration can include: UL WUS generation parameter configuration and available UL WUS constraint.

[0145] It should be noted that the available UL WUS constraint can be, for example, a time constraint. It can be understood that the UL WUS constraint here is the same as the constraint of the timer indication information corresponding to HPN4-HPN6 in the foregoing, and therefore will not be described again.

[0146] It should be noted that, in order to carry the timer indication information using the UL WUS, the minimum processing time requirement needs to be considered, and the UL WUS that does not meet the requirement is excluded, and the timer indication information is carried in one or more UL WUS that meet the requirement.

[0147] It can be understood that the above specific first configuration is only illustrative and should not be construed as a limitation of the embodiments of the present application.

[0148] The embodiment of the present application describes the configuration of the reporting mode of the timer indication information, and the network device can realize the low-power timer indication information uploading by the configuration combination of multiple different schemes, thereby saving the transmission power consumption of the terminal device.

[0149] S604, the terminal device acquires the first configuration.

[0150] In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device can directly receive the first configuration sent by the network device to acquire the first configuration, or can receive the first configuration forwarded by other devices to acquire the first configuration, and the like.

[0151] S605, the terminal device configures the reporting mode of the timer indication information based on the first configuration.

[0152] In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device can configure the reporting mode of the timer indication information based on the specific first configuration, and then the terminal device can send the timer indication information according to the configured reporting mode, so as to ensure that the terminal device can correctly report the timer indication information and the network device can correctly analyze the validity of the corresponding timer.

[0153] In a possible implementation, the network device can change the first configuration to obtain the second configuration, send the second configuration, and the terminal device modifies the reporting mode of the timer indication information after acquiring the second configuration. In this way, the dynamic configuration of the timer indication information can be realized, and the reporting mode of the timer indication information can be adaptively modified according to the actual demand. For example, the number of reported HARQ processes in the first configuration is 2, and the terminal device sends the timer indication information such as “01”. If the terminal device wants to report the validity of more timers at one time to save the reporting overhead, the network device can change the first configuration to obtain the second configuration with the number of reported HARQ processes being 4, send the second configuration to the terminal device, and then the terminal device sends the timer indication information such as “1001”. It can be understood that the above is only an exemplary description, and should not be understood as a limitation on the embodiment of the present application.

[0154] In a possible implementation, the network device in the embodiment of the present application can send the first configuration or the second configuration to the terminal device through RRC reconfiguration signaling or dynamic signaling.

[0155] S606, the terminal device acquires the process occupation of the HARQ process.

[0156] It can be understood that S606 in the embodiment of the present application is the same as S501 in the above embodiment, and therefore will not be described again.

[0157] It should be noted that the process occupancy of the HARQ process in the grant-free transmission and the service characteristics are only known by the terminal device, and unknown by the network device.

[0158] S607. The terminal device sends the timer indication information.

[0159] It can be understood that S607 in the embodiments of the present application is similar to S502 in the above embodiments, and the similar parts will not be described here.

[0160] The timer indication information in the embodiments of the present application can be used to indicate whether M timers corresponding to M HARQ processes are effective, and M is a positive integer. It can be understood that the number of reported HARQ processes in the first configuration or the second configuration is M, and the terminal device will report the effectiveness of M timers corresponding to M HARQ processes at a time, and the timer indication information can be used to indicate whether M timers corresponding to M HARQ processes are effective.

[0161] The timer in the embodiments of the present application can be a retransmission timer or a round trip delay timer. It should be noted that the retransmission timer is a DRX state related timer of the terminal device, and is not a CG timer of the CG transmission. The retransmission timer is used to listen to the feedback of the CG transmission, and the CG timer is a time timer when the process is not occupied on the CG resource. Among them, when the retransmission timer is effective but the CG timer is not effective, all the DCIs about CG received by the terminal device are invalid; or when the CG timer is started, the terminal device is not in the DRX-on state, then the terminal device also cannot receive the DCI of the CG.

[0162] The reporting type included in the first configuration or the second configuration in the embodiments of the present application is periodic reporting, and the timer indication information is used to indicate whether M timers corresponding to M continuous HARQ processes are effective; the reporting type included in the first configuration or the second configuration is dynamic reporting, and the timer indication information is used to indicate whether M timers corresponding to M continuous occupied HARQ processes are effective. In this way, the effectiveness of the M timers corresponding to the M continuous HARQ processes can be flexibly set according to the demand, or the effectiveness of the M timers corresponding to the M continuous occupied HARQ processes can be dynamically reported, so that the transmission of the effectiveness of the timers can be flexibly realized according to the actual situation. Moreover, the effectiveness of multiple timers can be transmitted at a time, thereby saving transmission resources. For example, the terminal device has six HARQ processes of HPN1, HPN2, HPN3, HPN4, HPN5 and HPN6, HPN1, HPN2 and HPN5 are not occupied, HPN3, HPN4 and HPN6 are occupied, and M=3. If the reporting type included in the first configuration or the second configuration is periodic reporting, timer indication information 1 used to indicate whether 3 timers corresponding to HPN1, HPN2 and HPN3 are effective, and timer indication information 2 used to indicate whether 3 timers corresponding to HPN4, HPN5 and HPN6 are effective will be obtained. If the reporting type included in the first configuration or the second configuration is dynamic reporting, timer indication information used to indicate whether 3 timers corresponding to HPN3, HPN4 and HPN6 are effective will be obtained. It can be understood that the above is only an exemplary description and should not be understood as a limitation on the embodiments of the present application.

[0163] The association of the timer indication information with the process occupation situation in the embodiments of the present application can include: whether a timer corresponding to an nth HARQ process in the M HARQ processes is effective, in association with the process occupation situation of the nth HARQ process; or whether a timer corresponding to an nth HARQ process in the M HARQ processes is effective, in association with the M process occupation situations of the M HARQ processes. Wherein, n is a positive integer within 1 to M. It should be noted that the positive integer within 1 to M will include 1 and M. In this way, whether the timer corresponding to the HARQ process is effective can be determined based on the process occupation situation of the HARQ process itself, or whether the timer corresponding to the HARQ process is effective can be determined based on the process occupation situation of the adjacent HARQ process and the process occupation situation of the HARQ process itself, so that whether the timer is effective can be more flexibly and accurately determined based on the actual situation.

[0164] The timer indication information in the embodiments of the present application can also be associated with the service characteristics of the HARQ process, the DRX configuration and the like.

[0165] In a possible implementation, if the HARQ process is occupied and the service characteristic is a delay-insensitive service, it is determined that the timer corresponding to the HARQ process is not effective; if the HARQ process is occupied and the service characteristic is a delay-sensitive service, it is determined that the timer corresponding to the HARQ process is effective. In this way, the timer corresponding to the HARQ process of the delay-insensitive service can be selected not to be effective, and the time of issuing the DCI is postponed, which will not significantly affect the retransmission delay, and is beneficial to the energy saving of the terminal device.

[0166] In a possible implementation, if the HARQ process is occupied, the service characteristic is a delay-sensitive service, and the retransmission window corresponding to the HARQ process overlaps with the on period of the DRX cycle, it is determined that the timer corresponding to the HARQ process is not effective; if the HARQ process is occupied, the service characteristic is a delay-sensitive service, and the retransmission window corresponding to the HARQ process does not overlap with the on period of the DRX cycle, it is determined that the timer corresponding to the HARQ process is not effective, and the like. In this way, the timer that overlaps with the on period can be selected not to be effective, which further reduces the frequency of waking up the terminal device, and is beneficial to the energy saving of the terminal device.

[0167] In a possible implementation, if the n th HARQ process to the n+m th HARQ process in the M HARQ processes are occupied, it is determined that the m timers corresponding to the n th HARQ process to the n+m-1 th HARQ process are not effective, and the timer corresponding to the n+m th HARQ process is effective. Wherein, n is a positive integer, and m is a positive integer. In this way, for the case that multiple retransmission windows corresponding to multiple occupied HARQ processes overlap with each other or have very close boundaries, the last timer can be selected to be effective, so that the DCI can be issued in the adjacent retransmission window, which will not significantly affect the retransmission delay, and is beneficial to the energy saving of the terminal device.

[0168] In a possible implementation, if the n th HARQ process in the M HARQ processes is occupied, and the service characteristic of the n th HARQ process is a delay-insensitive service, it is determined that the timer corresponding to the n th HARQ process is not effective; if the q HARQ processes after the n th HARQ process are not occupied, it is determined that the q-1 timers corresponding to the n+1 th HARQ process to the n+q-1 th HARQ process are not effective, and the timer corresponding to the n+q th HARQ process is effective. Wherein, n is a positive integer, and q is a positive integer. In this way, it is ensured that the DCI corresponding to the occupied HARQ process will not be issued for too long, which will not significantly affect the retransmission delay. Moreover, the effectiveness of the timer is not bound to the occupation of the HARQ process, that is, the terminal device can also wake up the timer to receive the DCI of the previous HARQ process when the HARQ process is not occupied, so that the wake-up time of the terminal device can be adjusted more flexibly.

[0169] It can be understood that the application embodiments can set corresponding multiple judgment logics to determine whether the timer corresponding to the HARQ process is effective, and are not limited to the above-mentioned judgment logics. The multiple judgment logics mentioned above can also be used in combination according to actual conditions. In the application embodiments, the terminal device dynamically determines the validity of the timer in combination with the process occupation, service characteristics, DRX configuration and other information, which is beneficial to the energy saving of the terminal device.

[0170] In the application embodiments, if the reporting format included in the first configuration or the second configuration is UCI, the S607 can include: sending UCI, which carries the timer indication information. In this way, the existing UCI carries the timer indication information, which is convenient for reporting the timer indication information, and can reduce the power consumption generated by reporting the timer indication information. It can be understood that the subsequent network device corresponds to monitoring UCI to realize monitoring of the timer indication information.

[0171] In the application embodiments, if the reporting format included in the first configuration or the second configuration is UL WUS, the S607 can include: sending UL WUS, which carries the timer indication information. In this way, the existing UL WUS carries the timer indication information, which is convenient for reporting the timer indication information, and can reduce the power consumption generated by reporting the timer indication information. It can be understood that the subsequent network device corresponds to monitoring UL WUS to realize monitoring of the timer indication information.

[0172] It should be noted that UCI can carry more bits, and is more suitable for periodic reporting scenarios. UL WUS carries fewer bits, but is flexible, and is more suitable for dynamic reporting scenarios. It can be understood that the periodic reporting scenario can also use UL WUS to carry the timer indication information, and the dynamic reporting scenario can also use UCI to carry the timer indication information.

[0173] S608, the network device monitors the timer indication information.

[0174] It can be understood that S608 in the application embodiments is similar to S503 in the above-mentioned embodiments. As for the similar parts, they will not be described here.

[0175] S609, the network device sends confirmation information corresponding to the timer indication information.

[0176] The confirmation information is used to indicate that the timer is set based on the timer indication information.

[0177] S610, the terminal device receives the confirmation information and sets the timer based on the timer indication information.

[0178] After receiving the confirmation information, the terminal device in the embodiment of the present application can determine that the validity of the timer known by the network device is consistent with the timer indication information, the terminal device and the network device information are aligned, the terminal device can perform transmission of M HARQ processes, and set the timer at a specified time based on the timer indication information to make the timer valid and listen to the feedback of the network device.

[0179] It should be noted that if the network device listens to the timer indication information, S609-S610 will be performed; if the network device does not listen to the timer indication information, the network device will not send the confirmation information to the terminal device, the network device will determine the DCI downlink time corresponding to the HARQ process in combination with the default setting mode, the terminal device will set the timer based on the default setting mode in the first configuration or the second configuration in the case of not receiving the confirmation information; or the network device rejects the timer indication information, then the network device can not send the confirmation information to the terminal device, the network device will determine the DCI downlink time corresponding to the HARQ process in combination with the default setting mode, the terminal device will set the timer based on the default setting mode in the first configuration or the second configuration in the case of not receiving the confirmation information. In this way, the handshake mechanism and the default setting mode are introduced, the terminal device can set the timer corresponding to the actual reception of the confirmation information, in the case that the terminal device does not send the timer indication information and the network device does not listen to the timer indication information, it is ensured that the validity of the timer known by the terminal device and the network device is consistent, the terminal device and the network device information are aligned, and the situation that the terminal device cannot receive the DCI downlink by the network device is avoided.

[0180] In a possible implementation, in the application implementation, if the reporting type included in the first configuration or the second configuration is periodic reporting, the corresponding reporting trigger condition can be that 1 HARQ process is occupied in M HARQ processes, and the default setting mode can be that M timers corresponding to M HARQ processes are uniformly not effective. The terminal device can send timer indication information corresponding to M HARQ processes in the i+1 period at any time in the i period. When a HARQ process is occupied in the i+1 period, the timer indication information can be sent; when no HARQ process is occupied in the i+1 period, the timer indication information is not sent. Wherein, i is a positive integer. If the network device listens to the timer indication information in the i period, the network device determines the earliest DCI issuing time of the corresponding HARQ process according to the timer indication information. It should be noted that the network device only determines the earliest time, not the real issuing time, and the DCI can be issued at any time when the timer is effective. If the network device does not listen to the timer indication information in the i period, the network device can default that the timers corresponding to M HARQ processes in the i+1 period are not effective, and the earliest DCI issuing time of the corresponding HARQ process can be the nearest ON period after the i+1 period.

[0181] In a possible implementation, in the application implementation, if the reporting type included in the first configuration or the second configuration is dynamic reporting, the corresponding default setting mode can be that all corresponding timers are uniformly effective. The timer indication information is sent when M consecutive occupied HARQ processes are found, otherwise the timer indication information is not sent. In the case that the terminal device does not send the timer indication information, the processing mode of the network device will be different from that of the network device in the periodic reporting, and if the network device does not listen to the timer indication information, the network device confirms the timer effective mode according to the default setting mode, that is, the corresponding all timers are effective by default, to ensure the data delay.

[0182] S611, the network device sends the DCI corresponding to the HARQ process.

[0183] It can be understood that S611 in the application embodiment is similar to S504 in the above embodiment, and the similar parts will not be described here.

[0184] The DCI is associated with the timer indication information in terms of time of issuance. In the embodiment of the application, the DCI is associated with the timer indication information in terms of time of issuance, which can include: if the timer indication information indicates that at least one timer is effective, the time of issuance of the DCI is a retransmission window corresponding to the at least one effective timer; and if the timer indication information indicates that at least one timer is not effective, the DCI is not issued in a retransmission window corresponding to the at least one ineffective timer. In this way, the DCI is issued in the retransmission window corresponding to the effective timer, ensuring that the terminal device can receive the DCI.

[0185] In the embodiment of the application, the time of issuance of the DCI can also be associated with DRX configuration and the like. The network device can detect the transmission of the M HARQ processes and issue the DCI within the time of issuance of the adjusted DCI according to the actual reception result.

[0186] An application scenario of the embodiment of the application is described below in combination with FIG. 4 and FIG. 8. In FIG. 4, the transmission areas of the three HARQ processes HPN1, HPN2 and HPN3 are all in the off period, and the three HARQ processes are all occupied. The retransmission timer 1, the retransmission timer 2 and the retransmission timer 3 are all effective in the prior art. The network device issues the DCI-1 in the retransmission window 1 of the retransmission timer 1, issues the DCI-2 in the retransmission window 2 of the retransmission timer 2, and issues the DCI-3 in the retransmission window 3 of the retransmission timer 3. In FIG. 8, the transmission areas of the three HARQ processes HPN1, HPN2 and HPN3 are also all in the off period. In the embodiment of the application, the terminal device acquires the process occupation of the HARQ processes as the three HARQ processes HPN1, HPN2 and HPN3 are all occupied, and determines the timer indication information as “000” in combination with the service characteristics of HPN1, HPN2 and HPN3, i.e., the retransmission timer 1, the retransmission timer 2 and the retransmission timer 3 are all ineffective. Then, the terminal device sends the timer indication information “000” to the network device, and the network device determines that the DCI-1 to DCI-3 can be issued to the terminal device only in the on period in combination with the DRX configuration.

[0187] Another application scenario of the embodiment of the present application is described below in combination with FIG. 4 and FIG. 9. FIG. 4 is the same as the description in the above application scenario, and thus is not described again. In FIG. 9, the sending areas of the three HARQ processes HPN1, HPN2 and HPN3 are also in the off period. In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device acquires the process occupation of the HARQ processes, and the three HARQ processes HPN1, HPN2 and HPN3 are all occupied. In combination with the service characteristics of HPN1 and HPN3, which are not sensitive to time delay, and the service characteristic of HPN2, which is sensitive to time delay, it is determined that the timer indication information is "010", that is, the retransmission timer 1 and the retransmission timer 3 are not effective, and the retransmission timer 2 is effective, and the terminal device will wake up and listen to the PDCCH in the retransmission window 2. Then the terminal device sends the timer indication information "010" to the network device, and the network device determines the sending time of DCI-1 and DCI-2 as the retransmission window 2 and the sending time of DCI-3 as the on period in combination with the DRX configuration.

[0188] It can be seen that in the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device can dynamically determine whether the timers corresponding to the multiple HARQ processes are effective according to the service characteristics, the process occupation and / or the DRX configuration and the like. The timers are no longer uniformly effective, which reduces the time of the terminal device listening to the PDCCH and is beneficial to the energy saving of the terminal device. Meanwhile, since the timer indication information is determined according to the real process occupation of the terminal device, it can well match the requirements of the service characteristics. Moreover, the reporting mode of the timer indication information is described, and the network device can send the timer indication information by the configuration combination of multiple different schemes, thereby saving the transmission power consumption of the terminal device.

[0189] Please refer to FIG. 10, which is a flow block diagram of another grant-free transmission method provided by the embodiment of the present application. FIG. 10 further describes the grant-free transmission method provided in FIG. 5 in more detail. The grant-free transmission method can be executed by a communication system, which can include a first device and a second device. The embodiment of the present application takes the first device as the network device and the second device as the terminal device as an example to describe the method, which can be executed by the terminal device and the network device. In the case of no special description, the "terminal device" of the present application can refer to the terminal device itself, a component (for example, a processor, a chip or a chip system) in the terminal device, or a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the terminal device. The "network device" of the present application can refer to the network device itself, a component (for example, a processor, a chip or a chip system) in the network device, or a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the network device. The grant-free transmission method provided by the embodiment of the present application can include the following steps.

[0190] S1001, the terminal device acquires process occupation of a HARQ process.

[0191] It can be understood that S1001 in the embodiment of the present application is the same as S501 and S606 in the above-mentioned embodiments, and thus will not be described again.

[0192] S1002, the terminal device sends UTO-UCI.

[0193] The UTO-UCI carries a first bit and a second bit, the first bit is used to represent whether the HARQ process is occupied, and the second bit is timer indication information, the timer indication information is used to indicate whether the timer corresponding to the HARQ process is effective, and the timer indication information is associated with the process occupation. In this way, in combination with the existing UTO-UCI of NR, the existing UTO-UCI is adjusted to carry an additional second bit to carry the timer indication information, so as to facilitate the reporting of the timer indication information, and to reduce the power consumption generated by reporting the timer indication information.

[0194] In the existing NR protocol, the terminal device reports the occupation of the subsequent CG transmission resource through UTO-UCI, that is, reports the occupation of the HARQ process, assuming that there are M CG-PUSCH TOs after time t, the terminal device can report M bits of information to represent whether it occupies the M CG-PUSCH TOs. Correspondingly, in a possible implementation manner, the second bit includes M bits, the M bits are used to indicate whether the M timers corresponding to the M HARQ processes are effective, the M bits correspond to the M CG-PUSCH TOs, and M is a positive integer. In this way, by adjusting the existing UTO-UCI reporting to report two bits of information for each TO, the effectiveness of a timer corresponding to each TO is reported, so that the timer indication information is carried in the UTO-UCI.

[0195] It should be noted that "0" in the first bit indicates that the terminal device can transmit CG-PUSCH, that is, the HARQ process is occupied; "1" indicates that the terminal device will not occupy the corresponding CG-PUSCH TO, that is, the HARQ process is definitely not occupied. The 2-bit information reported on each TO is explained in combination with Table 1 below. In the embodiments of the present application, the validity of the timer can be bound to the occupation of the HARQ process, or can not be bound to the occupation of the HARQ process. Among them, in the case of binding the validity of the timer to the occupation of the HARQ process, "10" indicates that the HARQ process is not occupied and the timer corresponding to the HARQ process is not valid, "00" indicates that the HARQ process is occupied and the timer corresponding to the HARQ process is not valid, "01" indicates that the HARQ process is occupied and the timer corresponding to the HARQ process is valid. In this case, there is no "11", that is, "11" is invalid. In the case of not binding the validity of the timer to the occupation of the HARQ process, "10", "00" and "01" have the same meaning as "10", "00" and "01" in the case of binding the validity of the timer to the occupation of the HARQ process. However, in this case, "11" is possible, indicating that the HARQ process is not occupied and the timer corresponding to the HARQ process is valid.

[0196] Table 1 2-bit information schematic table

[0197] It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present application, since the UTO-UCI carries the timer indication information, the resource configuration of the NR UTO-UCI can be used for transmission of the timer indication information, but the encoding scheme, resource configuration and other parameters of the UTO-UCI need to be modified to reduce the impact of the variable-length UTO-UCI on performance. However, unlike the existing UTO, since there is feedback of the timer indication information by the network device, the resource selection also needs to consider the constraint of the minimum processing time, and the resources that meet the constraint requirements are selected from the resources occupied by the existing UTO-UCI for transmission.

[0198] It can be understood that the way of determining whether the timer corresponding to the HARQ process is valid in the embodiments of the present application is similar to the way of determining whether the timer corresponding to the HARQ process is valid described in S607 in the above embodiments. As for the same part, it will not be repeated here.

[0199] Taking M=3 as an example, the timer indication information carried by the UTO-UCI is described. For example, the HARQ process at t+Δt is occupied, but it is determined that the corresponding timer is not effective, the HARQ process at t+2Δt is not occupied, it is determined that the corresponding timer is not effective, and the HARQ process at t+3Δt is not occupied, but it is determined that the corresponding timer is effective. Thus, the first bit is "011", the second bit is "001", and the terminal device will send the 6-bit UCI "001011" at the t moment. Therefore, the earliest feedback moment of the HARQ process corresponding to the DCI at t+Δt is the retransmission window corresponding to the timer of the HARQ process at t+3Δt. It can be understood that the above embodiment is only an example and should not be understood as a limitation of the embodiments of the present application. In this embodiment, the effectiveness of the timer is not bound to the occupation of the HARQ process, that is, the terminal device can also wake up the timer to receive the DCI of the previous HARQ process at the time when the HARQ process is not occupied, and the wake-up time of the terminal device can be more flexibly adjusted.

[0200] S1003, the network device listens to the UTO-UCI.

[0201] In the embodiments of the present application, the network device listens to the UTO-UCI to realize the listening to the timer indication information.

[0202] S1004, the network device sends the DCI corresponding to the HARQ process.

[0203] It can be understood that S1004 in the embodiments of the present application is the same as S504 and S611 in the above embodiments, and thus will not be described again.

[0204] It can be seen that in the present embodiment, the sending of the timer indication information is combined with the UTO-UCI, and the combined UTO-UCI can not only report whether the HARQ process is occupied for transmission, but also indicate whether the timer corresponding to the HARQ process is effective. Moreover, the effectiveness of the timer can not be bound to the occupation of the HARQ process, that is, the terminal device can also wake up the timer to receive the DCI of the previous HARQ process at the time when the HARQ process is not occupied, so that the wake-up time of the terminal device can be more flexibly adjusted.

[0205] It should be noted that the retransmission timer is mainly exemplarily described in the above embodiments, but can be modified as the round trip time timer. The corresponding modification can be that the round trip time timer is prohibited from taking effect. Because in the current DRX receiving mechanism, the terminal device is forced to enter the sleep state after the signal is sent, and then the round trip time timer is enabled, and after the round trip time timer is disabled, the terminal device automatically starts the retransmission timer and wakes up the timer. Therefore, the terminal device is forced to enter the sleep state, but the round trip time timer is prohibited from taking effect, and the retransmission timer also cannot take effect, and the retransmission monitoring effect required by the embodiments of the present application can also be achieved.

[0206] It should be noted that, for each of the above method embodiments, in order to simply describe, each is described as a combination of a series of actions, but those skilled in the art should know that the present application is not limited by the order of the described actions, because according to the present application, certain steps can be performed in other orders or simultaneously. Secondly, those skilled in the art should know that the embodiments described in the specification are all preferred embodiments, and the actions and modules involved are not necessarily required by the present application.

[0207] In order to better implement the above scheme of the embodiments of the present application, the related device for implementing the above scheme is also provided below.

[0208] Please refer to FIG. 11, which is a structural schematic diagram of a scheduling-free transmission device provided by the embodiments of the present application. The scheduling-free transmission device 1100 includes a processing unit 1101 and a transceiver unit 1102.

[0209] The processing unit 1101 and the transceiver unit 1102 are configured to enable the scheduling-free transmission device 1100 to implement the functions of the terminal device in the above method embodiments, or to enable the scheduling-free transmission device 1100 to implement the functions of the network device in the above method embodiments.

[0210] In some possible implementation manners, the scheduling-free transmission device provided in the embodiments of the present application further includes a storage unit configured to store any data, computer instructions and / or computer programs that can be involved in the embodiments of the present application.

[0211] In some possible implementation manners, the apparatus for grant-free transmission provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to a terminal device. In the absence of special description, the "terminal device" of the present application can refer to the terminal device itself, a component (for example, a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) in the terminal device, or a logical module or software capable of realizing all or part of the terminal device functions. Alternatively, the apparatus can be applied to a network device. In the absence of special description, the "network device" of the present application can refer to the network device itself, a component (for example, a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) in the network device, or a logical module or software capable of realizing all or part of the network device functions.

[0212] In some possible implementation manners, in the apparatus for grant-free transmission provided in the embodiments of the present application, the processing unit 1101 is configured to acquire process occupation of a HARQ process.

[0213] The transceiver unit 1102 is configured to send timer indication information, where the timer indication information is used to indicate whether a timer corresponding to the HARQ process is effective, and the timer indication information is associated with the process occupation.

[0214] In some possible implementation manners, in the apparatus for grant-free transmission provided in the embodiments of the present application, the timer indication information is used to indicate whether M timers corresponding to M HARQ processes are effective, where M is a positive integer; the timer indication information is associated with the process occupation, including: whether a timer corresponding to an n th HARQ process in the M HARQ processes is effective, which is associated with process occupation of the n th HARQ process, where n is a positive integer; or whether a timer corresponding to an n th HARQ process in the M HARQ processes is effective, which is associated with M process occupations of the M HARQ processes.

[0215] In some possible implementation manners, in the apparatus for grant-free transmission provided in the embodiments of the present application, the timer indication information is used to indicate whether M timers corresponding to M continuous HARQ processes are effective; or the timer indication information is used to indicate whether M timers corresponding to M continuous occupied HARQ processes are effective.

[0216] In some possible implementation manners, in the apparatus for grant-free transmission provided in the embodiments of the present application, the transceiver unit 1102 is specifically configured to send UCI, where the UCI carries the timer indication information.

[0217] In some possible implementation manners, in the apparatus for grant-free transmission provided in the embodiments of the present application, the transceiver unit 1102 is specifically configured to send an UL WUS, where the UL WUS carries the timer indication information.

[0218] In some possible implementation manners, in the apparatus for grant-free transmission provided in the embodiments of the present application, the processing unit 1101 is further configured to obtain a first configuration, the first configuration being used for configuring a reporting manner of the timer indication information.

[0219] In some possible implementation manners, in the apparatus for grant-free transmission provided in the embodiments of the present application, the first configuration comprises at least one of the following: a number of reported HARQ processes, a reporting type, a reporting format or a reporting trigger condition; the number of reported HARQ processes is M, M being a positive integer; the reporting type is any one of the following: periodic reporting or dynamic reporting; the reporting format is any one of the following: UCI or UL WUS; the reporting trigger condition is at least one of the following: r HARQ processes in the M HARQ processes are occupied, or at least one HARQ process in the M HARQ processes is a delay-sensitive service, r being a positive integer.

[0220] In some possible implementation manners, in the apparatus for grant-free transmission provided in the embodiments of the present application, if the reporting format is UCI, the first configuration further comprises: a bearing channel of the UCI and resource configuration information of the bearing channel.

[0221] In some possible implementation manners, in the apparatus for grant-free transmission provided in the embodiments of the present application, if the reporting format is UL WUS, the first configuration further comprises: a bearing manner of the UL WUS and generation configuration parameters of the UL WUS; the bearing manner of the UL WUS is any one of the following: using M UL WUS to bear the timer indication information, using one of 2 M UL WUS to bear the timer indication information.

[0222] In some possible implementation manners, in the apparatus for grant-free transmission provided in the embodiments of the present application, the transceiver 1102 is specifically configured to send UTO-UCI, the UTO-UCI carrying a first bit and a second bit, the first bit being used to represent whether a HARQ process is occupied, and the second bit being the timer indication information.

[0223] In some possible implementation manners, in the apparatus for grant-free transmission provided in the embodiments of the present application, the second bit comprises M bits, the M bits being used to indicate whether M timers corresponding to M HARQ processes are effective, the M bits corresponding to M CG-PUSCH TOs, M being a positive integer.

[0224] In some possible implementation manners, in the apparatus for grant-free transmission provided in the embodiments of the present application, the transceiver 1102 is further configured to receive confirmation information corresponding to the timer indication information, the confirmation information being used to indicate that the timer is set based on the timer indication information.

[0225] The processing unit 1101 is further configured to set the timer based on the timer indication information.

[0226] The processing unit 1101 is further configured to set the timer based on a default setting mode in a case where the confirmation information corresponding to the timer indication information is not received.

[0227] In some possible implementation manners, in the scheduling-free transmission apparatus provided in the embodiment of the present application, the transceiver 1102 is further configured to listen to the timer indication information, and the timer indication information is used to indicate whether the timer corresponding to the HARQ process is effective.

[0228] The transceiver 1102 is configured to send the DCI corresponding to the HARQ process, and the sending time of the DCI is associated with the timer indication information.

[0229] In some possible implementation manners, in the scheduling-free transmission apparatus provided in the embodiment of the present application, the sending time of the DCI is associated with the timer indication information, including: if the timer state information includes at least one effective timer, the sending time of the DCI is a retransmission window corresponding to the at least one effective timer.

[0230] In some possible implementation manners, in the scheduling-free transmission apparatus provided in the embodiment of the present application, the transceiver 1102 is further configured to receive the capability indication information, and the capability indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device supports reporting the timer indication information.

[0231] The transceiver 1102 is further configured to send the first configuration based on the capability indication information, and the first configuration is used to configure the reporting mode of the timer indication information.

[0232] In some possible implementation manners, in the scheduling-free transmission apparatus provided in the embodiment of the present application, the transceiver 1102 is further configured to send the confirmation information corresponding to the timer indication information, and the confirmation information is used to indicate that the timer is set based on the timer indication information.

[0233] It should be noted that the information interaction and execution process between the units of the above apparatus, since the same concept as the method embodiments of the present application, the same technical effect as the method embodiments of the present application, and the specific content can be referred to the description of the method embodiments of the present application, which will not be repeated here.

[0234] FIG. 12 is an example of a structure of a device for implementing the method according to the embodiments of the present application. The device 1200 can be a first device, including but not limited to a base station, a core network unit. FIG. 12 shows a simplified structure of a base station. The base station includes a 1210 part, a 1220 part, and a 1230 part. The 1210 part is mainly used for baseband processing, controlling the base station, etc. The 1210 part is usually the control center of the base station, which can be referred to as a processor, and is used to control the base station to perform the processing operations of the first device side in the above method embodiments. The 1220 part is mainly used for storing computer program codes and data. The 1230 part is mainly used for transceiving radio frequency signals and converting radio frequency signals and baseband signals. The 1230 part can be referred to as a transceiver module, a transceiver, a transceiving circuit, or a transceiver, etc. The transceiver module of the 1230 part, which can also be referred to as a transceiver or a transceiver, includes an antenna 1233 and a radio frequency circuit (not shown in FIG. 12), wherein the radio frequency circuit is mainly used for radio frequency processing. Optionally, the devices in the 1230 part for realizing the receiving function can be regarded as a receiver, and the devices for realizing the transmitting function can be regarded as a transmitter, i.e., the 1230 part includes a receiver 1232 and a transmitter 1231. The receiver can also be referred to as a receiving module, a receiver, or a receiving circuit, etc., and the transmitter can be referred to as a transmitting module, a transmitter, or a transmitting circuit, etc.

[0235] The 1210 part and the 1220 part can include one or more single boards, and each single board can include one or more processors and one or more memories. The processors are used to read and execute the programs in the memories to realize the baseband processing functions and control the base station. If there are multiple single boards, the single boards can be interconnected to enhance the processing capability. As an optional implementation, the multiple single boards can share one or more processors, or share one or more memories, or share one or more processors and one or more memories at the same time.

[0236] For example, in an implementation, the transceiver module of the 1230 part is configured to perform the transceiving-related processes performed by the base station (the first device) in the above method embodiments. The processor of the 1210 part is configured to perform the processing-related processes performed by the base station in the above method embodiments.

[0237] It should be understood that FIG. 12 is merely an example and is not limiting. The network device described above including the processor, the memory, and the transceiver can not depend on the structure shown in FIG. 12.

[0238] FIG. 13 is an example of a structure of a device for grant-free transmission according to an embodiment of the present application. The device for grant-free transmission can be a second device, which includes but is not limited to a mobile phone, a smart wearable device (e.g., a smart watch), and the like. Hereinafter, the device for grant-free transmission is exemplified by a mobile phone, which can include a processor 310, an external memory interface 320, an internal memory 321, a display screen 330, a camera 340, an antenna 100, an antenna 200, a cellular communication module 350, and a short-range communication module 360, and the like.

[0239] It can be understood that the structure exemplified in the embodiment does not constitute a specific limitation on the device for grant-free transmission. In other embodiments, the device for grant-free transmission can include more or fewer components than those illustrated, or combine certain components, or split certain components, or different arrangement of components. The illustrated components can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0240] The processor 310 can include one or more processing units, for example: the processor 310 can include an application processor (AP), a modem processor, a graphics processing unit (GPU), an image signal processor (ISP), a controller, a video codec, a digital signal processor (DSP), a baseband processor, and / or a neural-network processing unit (NPU), and the like. Different processing units can be independent devices or integrated in one or more processors.

[0241] It can be understood that the interface connection relationship between the modules exemplified in the embodiment is only illustrative and does not constitute a structural limitation on the device for grant-free transmission. In other embodiments of the present application, the device for grant-free transmission can also use different interface connection manners or a combination of multiple interface connection manners in the above embodiments.

[0242] The external memory interface 320 can be used to connect an external memory card, such as a Micro SD card, to expand the storage capacity of the device for grant-free transmission. The external memory card communicates with the processor 310 through the external memory interface 320 to realize the data storage function. For example, files such as music and videos are saved in the external memory card.

[0243] The internal memory 321 can be used to store computer executable program codes, which include instructions. The processor 310 performs various functional applications and data processing of the dispatch-free transmission device by running the instructions stored in the internal memory 321, and implements the dispatch-free transmission method in the above embodiments. The internal memory 321 can include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area can store an operating system, application programs required by at least one function (such as a sound playing function, an image playing function, etc.), and the like. The data storage area can store data (such as audio data, a phone book, etc.) created during the use of the dispatch-free transmission device, and the like. In addition, the internal memory 321 can include a high-speed random access memory, and can further include a non-volatile memory, such as at least one magnetic disk storage device, a flash memory device, a universal flash storage (UFS), and the like. The processor 310 performs various functional applications and data processing of the dispatch-free transmission device by running the instructions stored in the internal memory 321 and / or the instructions stored in the memory arranged in the processor.

[0244] The wireless communication function of the dispatch-free transmission device can be implemented by the antenna 100, the antenna 200, the cellular communication module 350, the short-range communication module 360, a modem processor, and a baseband processor, and the like.

[0245] The antenna 100 and the antenna 200 are used to transmit and receive electromagnetic wave signals. Each antenna in the dispatch-free transmission device can be used to cover a single or multiple communication frequency bands. Different antennas can also be multiplexed to improve the utilization of the antennas. For example, the antenna 100 can be multiplexed as a diversity antenna of a wireless local area network. In some other embodiments, the antennas can be used in combination with a tuning switch.

[0246] The cellular communication module 350 can provide a solution including 2G / 3G / 4G / 5G wireless communication applied to the dispatch-free transmission device. The cellular communication module 350 can include at least one filter, a switch, a power amplifier, a low noise amplifier (LNA), and the like. The cellular communication module 350 can receive electromagnetic waves by the antenna 100, and perform filtering, amplification, and the like on the received electromagnetic waves, and transmit the processed electromagnetic waves to the modem processor for demodulation. The cellular communication module 350 can also amplify the signals modulated by the modem processor, and convert the signals into electromagnetic waves radiated by the antenna 100. In some embodiments, at least part of the functional modules of the cellular communication module 350 can be arranged in the processor 310. In some embodiments, at least part of the functional modules of the cellular communication module 350 and at least part of the modules of the processor 310 can be arranged in the same device.

[0247] In some embodiments, the grant-free transmission apparatus initiates or receives a call request through the cellular communication module 350 and the antenna 100.

[0248] In addition, on the above components, an operating system runs. For example, an iOS operating system, an Android operating system, a Windows operating system, and the like. Application programs can be installed and run on the operating system. Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the explanation and beneficial effects of the above-mentioned related contents in any of the grant-free transmission apparatuses can refer to the corresponding method embodiments provided above, and will not be repeated here.

[0249] In several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, device and method can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are only schematic. For example, the division of the modules is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, another division mode can be used. For example, a plurality of modules or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection between the modules or components shown or discussed can be indirect coupling or communication connection through some interface, device or module, and can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0250] The modules described as separate components can or can not be physically separated, and the components shown as modules can or can not be physical modules, that is, they can be located in one place, or they can be distributed on a plurality of network modules. Some or all of the modules can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the present embodiment.

[0251] In addition, each functional module in each embodiment of the present application can be integrated into a processing module, or each module can exist physically alone, or two or more modules can be integrated into one module. The above integrated module can be realized in the form of hardware or in the form of a software functional module.

[0252] The integrated module, if implemented in the form of a software function module and sold or used as an independent product, can be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on such an understanding, the part of the technical solutions of the present application that essentially makes a contribution or the whole or part of the technical solutions can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes a plurality of instructions for causing a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the processes of the methods described in the various embodiments of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media that can store program codes, such as a U disk, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory, a random access memory, a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

[0253] The above description and the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, but not to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions recorded in the foregoing embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some technical features. Such modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A method of grant-free transmission, the method comprising: The method is applied to a terminal device, and the method comprises: obtaining a process occupation of a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process; sending timer indication information, the timer indication information being used for indicating whether a timer corresponding to the HARQ process is effective, and the timer indication information being associated with the process occupation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The timer indication information is used for indicating whether M timers corresponding to M HARQ processes are effective, M being a positive integer; The timer indication information is associated with the process occupation, comprising: whether a timer corresponding to an nth HARQ process in the M HARQ processes is effective is associated with a process occupation of the nth HARQ process, n being a positive integer within 1 to M; or, whether a timer corresponding to an nth HARQ process in the M HARQ processes is effective is associated with M process occupations of the M HARQ processes.

3. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that, The timer indication information is used for indicating whether M timers corresponding to M continuous HARQ processes are effective; or, the timer indication information is used for indicating whether M timers corresponding to M continuous occupied HARQ processes are effective.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The sending of the timer indication information comprises: sending uplink control information (UCI), the UCI carrying the timer indication information.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The sending of the timer indication information comprises: sending an uplink wake-up signal (UL WUS), the UL WUS carrying the timer indication information.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The method further comprises: obtaining a first configuration, the first configuration being used for configuring a reporting mode of the timer indication information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, The first configuration comprises at least one of the following: a number of reported HARQ processes, a reporting type, a reporting format, or a reporting trigger condition; The number of reported HARQ processes is M, M being a positive integer; The reporting type is any one of the following: periodic reporting or dynamic reporting; The reporting format is any one of the following: UCI or UL WUS; The reporting trigger condition is at least one of the following: r HARQ processes in M HARQ processes are occupied, or at least one HARQ process in M HARQ processes is a time-sensitive service, r being a positive integer.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, If the reporting format is UCI, the first configuration further comprises at least one of the following: a carrying channel of the UCI or resource configuration information of the carrying channel.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein, If the reporting format is UL WUS, the first configuration further comprises at least one of the following: a carrying mode of the UL WUS or generation parameters of the UL WUS; The carrying manner of the UL WUS is any one of the following: carrying the timer indication information by using M UL WUS, carrying the timer indication information by using one of 2 M UL WUS.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that, The sending of the timer indication information comprises: sending uplink control information (UCI) of an unused transmission opportunity (UTO), the UTO-UCI carrying a first bit and a second bit, the first bit being used for representing whether the HARQ process is occupied, and the second bit being the timer indication information.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein, The second bit includes M bits, the M bits are used to indicate whether M timers corresponding to M HARQ processes are valid, the M bits correspond to M pre-scheduled physical uplink shared channel transmission opportunities CG-PUSCH TO, and M is a positive integer.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that, The method further includes: receiving confirmation information corresponding to the timer indication information, and setting the timer based on the timer indication information, the confirmation information being used to indicate that the timer is set based on the timer indication information; or in a case where the confirmation information corresponding to the timer indication information is not received, setting the timer based on a default setting mode.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that, The timer is a retransmission timer or a round-trip delay timer.

14. A method of grant-free transmission, the method comprising: The method is applied to a network device, and the method includes: monitoring timer indication information, the timer indication information being used to indicate whether a timer corresponding to a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process is valid; and sending downlink control information (DCI) corresponding to the HARQ process, a time of sending the DCI being associated with the timer indication information.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, The time of sending the DCI is associated with the timer indication information, including: if the timer indication information indicates that at least one timer is valid, the time of sending the DCI is a retransmission window corresponding to the at least one timer.

16. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 15, characterized in that, The method further includes: receiving capability indication information, the capability indication information being used to indicate that a terminal device supports reporting the timer indication information; and sending a first configuration based on the capability indication information, the first configuration being used to configure a reporting mode of the timer indication information.

17. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that, The method further includes: sending confirmation information corresponding to the timer indication information, the confirmation information being used to indicate that the timer is set based on the timer indication information.

18. A scheduling-free transmission device, characterized in that, The apparatus is configured to perform the grant-free transmission method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, or to perform the grant-free transmission method according to any one of claims 14 to 17. 19.A grant-free transmission apparatus, comprising at least one processor configured to invoke computer instructions in a memory to cause the grant-free transmission apparatus to perform the grant-free transmission method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, or to perform the grant-free transmission method according to any one of claims 14 to 17.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein, The apparatus further includes the memory configured to store the computer instructions.

21. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer program product includes instructions which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the grant-free transmission method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, or to perform the grant-free transmission method according to any one of claims 14 to 17.

22. A computer program product comprising instructions, characterized in that, The computer program product includes instructions which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the grant-free transmission method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, or to perform the grant-free transmission method according to any one of claims 14 to 17.

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