Communication method, communication device, and storage medium

Abstract

The present invention provides a communication method, a communication device, and a storage medium. The communication method performed by a UE may comprise: using a first receiver to monitor a first signal sent by a network device, the first signal being used for waking up a second receiver; and on the basis of whether there is a running first timer when the first signal is detected, determining a search space set group (SSSG) monitored by the UE.

Description

Communication method, communication device, and storage medium TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of communication, and in particular to a communication method, a communication device, and a storage medium. BACKGROUND

[0002] In a low power wake up signal (LP WUS) research project, a base station sends a low power wake up signal to a user equipment (UE) to wake up the UE. The UE can keep a main radio (MR) asleep, use a separate low power wake radio (LR) receiver to receive the LP WUS, and after receiving the LP WUS, wake up the main receiver of the UE to perform data transmission and reception operations, etc., that is, the MR is woken up from a sleep state to an active state.

[0003] SUMMARY

[0004] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, a communication device, and a storage medium.

[0005] According to a first aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure, a communication method is provided, wherein the method is performed by a UE, the UE comprising a first receiver and a second receiver, and the method comprises:

[0006] listening to a first signal transmitted by a network device using the first receiver, the first signal being used to wake up the second receiver;

[0007] determining a search space set group (SSSG) listened to by the UE according to whether there is a first timer running when the first signal is listened to.

[0008] According to a second aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure, a communication method is provided, wherein the method is performed by a network device, and the method comprises:

[0009] sending configuration information to a user equipment (UE), the configuration information comprising at least one of:

[0010] first information used to indicate a first search space set group (SSSG) associated with a first type of activation time;

[0011] second information used to indicate a third SSSG associated with a second type of activation time.

[0012] According to a third aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure, a user equipment (UE) is provided, wherein the UE comprises:

[0013] receive a first signal transmitted by the network device using a first receiver, the first signal being used to wake up a second receiver;

[0014] determine, by the processing module, a search space set group (SSSG) to be monitored by the UE according to whether there is a running first timer when the first signal is monitored.

[0015] According to a fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a network device is provided, and the network device comprises: a sending module configured to send configuration information to a user equipment (UE), the configuration information comprising at least one of: first information used to indicate a first search space set group (SSSG) associated with a first type of activation time; and second information used to indicate a third SSSG associated with a second type of activation time.

[0016] According to a fifth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a communication system is provided, and the communication system comprises: a UE configured to perform the method described in any of the technical solutions of the first aspect; and a network device configured to perform the method described in any of the technical solutions of the second aspect.

[0017] According to a sixth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided, and the communication device comprises: one or more processors; and wherein the processor is configured to invoke instructions to cause the communication device to perform the method provided in any of the technical solutions of the first aspect to the second aspect.

[0018] According to a seventh aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a storage medium is provided, and the storage medium stores instructions, when the instructions are run on a communication device, causing the communication device to perform the method provided in any of the technical solutions of the first aspect to the second aspect.

[0019] According to an eighth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a program product is provided, and the program product comprises a computer program, when the computer program is executed by a communication device, causing the communication device to be able to implement the method provided in any of the technical solutions of the first aspect to the second aspect.

[0020] The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure are that, when the UE monitors the first signal, the UE determines the SSSG to be monitored next according to whether there is a running first timer when the first signal is monitored, instead of directly monitoring a second type of SSSG associated with the first type of activation time after entering the first type of activation time associated with the first signal, thereby standardizing the monitoring behavior of the SSSG when the timing time of the first timer and the first type of activation time overlap (conflict), and solving the monitoring conflict.

[0021] It should be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are only exemplary and explanatory, and cannot limit the embodiments of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate implementations of the present disclosure and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an architecture of a communication system according to an example embodiment;

[0024] FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of a flow of a communication method according to an example embodiment;

[0025] FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of a time-domain relationship between a first signal and SSSGs monitored by a UE according to an example embodiment;

[0026] FIG. 2C is a schematic diagram of a time-domain relationship between a first signal and SSSGs monitored by a UE according to an example embodiment;

[0027] FIG. 2D is a schematic diagram of a time-domain relationship between a first signal and SSSGs monitored by a UE according to an example embodiment;

[0028] FIG. 2E is a schematic diagram of a time-domain relationship between a first signal and SSSGs monitored by a UE according to an example embodiment;

[0029] FIG. 2F is a schematic diagram of a time-domain relationship between a first signal and SSSGs monitored by a UE according to an example embodiment;

[0030] FIG. 2G is a schematic diagram of a time-domain relationship between a first signal and SSSGs monitored by a UE according to an example embodiment;

[0031] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a flow of a communication method according to an example embodiment;

[0032] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a flow of a communication method according to an example embodiment;

[0033] FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of a structure of a user equipment (UE) according to an example embodiment;

[0034] FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram of a structure of a network device according to an example embodiment;

[0035] FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram of a structure of a communication device according to an example embodiment;

[0036] FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram of a structure of a chip according to an example embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, a communication device, a communication system, and a storage medium.

[0038] The first aspect provides a communication method, wherein the method is performed by a user equipment (UE), the UE comprises a first receiver and a second receiver, and the method comprises: listening to a first signal transmitted by a network device using the first receiver, the first signal being used to wake up the second receiver; and determining a search space set group (SSSG) to be listened to by the UE according to whether there is a first timer running when the first signal is listened to.

[0039] Based on the above scheme, when the first signal is listened to, the UE determines the SSSG to be listened to next according to whether there is a first timer running when the first signal is listened to, instead of directly listening to a second type of SSSG associated with the first type of active time after entering the first type of active time associated with the first signal, thereby standardizing the listening behavior of the UE when the timing time of the first timer and the first type of active time overlap (conflict), and solving the listening conflict.

[0040] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the determination of the SSSG to be listened to by the UE according to whether there is a first timer running when the first signal is listened to comprises: when there is a first timer running when the first signal is listened to, determining that the UE listens to a first type of SSSG; and the first type of SSSG is associated with the first timer.

[0041] Based on the above scheme, when it is listened that there is a first timer running, the UE directly listens to the first type of SSSG associated with the first timer, instead of listening to the second type of SSSG related to the first type of active time, thereby ensuring that the first type of SSSG to be listened to is successfully completed.

[0042] In some embodiments of the first aspect, when there is a first timer running when the first signal is listened to, the determination of the first type of SSSG to be listened to comprises: when there is a first timer running when the first signal is listened to, restarting the first timer; and after the first timer is restarted, determining that the UE listens to the first type of SSSG.

[0043] Based on the above scheme, when there is a first timer running when the first signal is listened to, the first timer is restarted, thereby ensuring the listening duration and success rate of the first type of SSSG by restarting the first timer.

[0044] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the method further comprises at least one of the following: determining a restart time of the first timer according to a first time, the first time being a time at which the UE receives the first signal; determining the restart time of the first timer according to a wake-up delay, the wake-up delay being a delay for the UE to wake up the second receiver; and determining the restart time of the first timer according to a DCI listened to within a first type of active time, the first type of active time being an active time associated with the first signal.

[0045] Based on the above scheme, when the first timer needs to be restarted, the restarting moment needs to be determined to facilitate accurate control of the restarting of the first timer.

[0046] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the wake-up delay is at least one of: an interval between the sending moment of the first signal and a PDCCH monitoring moment; an interval between the sending moment of the first signal and a first-type activation time associated with the first signal; the first-type activation time is an activation time associated with the first signal.

[0047] Based on the above scheme, the determination manner and basis of the wake-up delay are given. Using the above manner can make the running time of the first timer as much as possible within the time when the second receiver is woken up, thereby ensuring that the PDCCH monitoring occasion in the corresponding first-type SSSG is successfully monitored.

[0048] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the restarting moment is determined according to the downlink control information (DCI) monitored according to the first-type activation time, including: when the monitored DCI indicates monitoring of the first-type SSSG, the moment when the DCI is monitored is determined as the restarting moment.

[0049] Based on the above scheme, when the DCI indicating that the UE monitors the first-type SSSG is monitored, the moment when the DCI is monitored is directly determined as the restarting moment, because at this time the UE has received the DCI indicating that the second receiver of the UE has been woken up, and thus the moment when the DCI is monitored can be directly determined as the restarting moment, which can realize starting the first timer for monitoring the second-type SSSG as soon as possible.

[0050] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the method further includes: before restarting the first timer, continuing the running first timer until the restarting moment is reached or the first timer times out. Based on the above scheme, the UE behavior of the running first timer is limited, reducing the running time conflict between the current first timer and the restarted first timer.

[0051] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the search space set group (SSSG) monitored by the UE is determined according to whether there is a running first timer when the first signal is monitored, including: when the first signal is monitored, there is no running first timer, and the second-type SSSG is monitored within the first-type activation time; the first-type activation time is an activation time associated with the first signal, and the second-type SSSG is associated with the first-type activation time.

[0052] Based on the above scheme, if the first timer is not running when the first signal is monitored, the UE monitors the second type of SSSG associated with the first type of activation time, thereby regulating the UE's monitoring of the SSSG and reducing the confusion of the UE in monitoring the SSSG.

[0053] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the second type of SSSG includes: a first SSSG associated with the first type of activation time.

[0054] Based on the above scheme, the second type of SSSG can include but is not limited to the first SSSG configured by the network device, and can also be a second SSSG agreed by the protocol, so that the determination of the second type of SSSG in different scenarios can be met. Exemplarily, even if the UE is not configured with the first SSSG, the UE can use the second SSSG agreed by the protocol as the second type of SSSG of the first type of activation time.

[0055] In some embodiments of the first aspect, according to whether the first timer is running when the first signal is monitored, the determination of the search space set group SSSG monitored by the UE includes: according to whether the first timer is running, determining the SSSG monitored by the UE in the time domain overlapping position, the time domain overlapping position including a part of the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time overlapping in the time domain, the first type of activation time being an activation time associated with the first signal, and the second type of activation time being an activation time related to the discontinuous reception of the UE.

[0056] The above scheme also solves the behavior of the SSSG monitored by the UE when the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time have a time domain overlapping position, and again reduces the phenomenon of confusion of the UE in monitoring the SSSG caused by the overlap of the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time.

[0057] In some embodiments of the first aspect, according to whether the first timer is running, the determination of the SSSG monitored by the UE in the time domain overlapping position includes: when the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time have a time domain overlapping position and the first timer is running, determining that the UE monitors the first type of SSSG in the time domain overlapping position, the first type of SSSG being associated with the first timer.

[0058] The above scheme limits that when the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time have a time domain overlapping position and the first timer is running, the first type of SSSG associated with the first timer is monitored in the time domain overlapping position, instead of monitoring the second type of SSSG associated with the first type of activation time and / or the second type of activation time, thereby solving the monitoring conflict of the SSSG in this case.

[0059] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the SSSG that the UE listens to at the time-domain overlapping location is determined according to whether there is a running first timer, including one of the following: when there is no running first timer at the time-domain overlapping location between the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time, determining that the UE listens to the first SSSG at the time-domain overlapping location; when there is no running first timer at the time-domain overlapping location between the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time, determining that the UE listens to the first SSSG and the third SSSG at the time-domain overlapping location, the third SSSG being associated with the second type of activation time; and the first SSSG being associated with the first type of activation time.

[0060] Based on the above scheme, when there is no running first timer at the time-domain overlapping location between the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time, the UE listens to the SSSG associated with the first type of activation time and / or the second type of activation time, instead of other SSSGs, so that the UE does not miss the SSSG that needs to be listened to.

[0061] In some embodiments of the first aspect, there is a second timer in the first type of activation time, and the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time have a time-domain overlapping location; and the second timer is associated with the first type of activation time.

[0062] Based on the above scheme, an example of the time-domain overlapping location between the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time is given, and the implementation is not limited to the above example.

[0063] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the method further includes: listening to the first type of SSSG according to a first instruction in the first type of activation time associated with the first signal, the first instruction being carried by the first signal or a DCI listened to in the first type of activation time.

[0064] Based on the above scheme, in the first type of activation time associated with the first signal, the UE listens to the first type of SSSG according to the first instruction. That is, in the first type of activation time, the UE listens to the first type of SSSG according to the first instruction first, so that the UE listens to the most important SSSG, reduces the missed SSSG indicated by the network device through the first instruction, and improves the listening success rate.

[0065] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the method further includes: restarting the first timer before listening to the first type of SSSG, the first type of SSSG being associated with the first timer; and starting the first timer before listening to the first type of SSSG, there being no running first timer.

[0066] Based on the above scheme, the first type of SSSG indicated by the first instruction needs to determine the time period of listening through the first timer, and therefore, in order to ensure successful listening of the first type of SSSG indicated by the first instruction, it is determined whether to restart or start the first timer according to whether there is a running first timer at present.

[0067] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the first instruction is a first signal, and the method further comprises: determining the starting time or restarting time of the first timer according to the receiving time of the first signal and the starting delay.

[0068] Based on the above scheme, in order to accurately control the starting of the first timer, the starting time and the restarting time are accurately determined according to the receiving time of the first signal and the starting delay.

[0069] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the starting delay is related to at least one of the wake-up delay of the second receiver and the different SSSG listening switching delay.

[0070] Based on the above scheme, the starting delay is related to one or more of the wake-up delay of the second receiver and the SSSG listening switching delay, and the starting delay determined in this way can make the running time after the starting and restarting of the first timer be as possible as in the wake-up time of the second receiver, thereby ensuring the listening effect of the first type of SSSG to be listened to.

[0071] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the method further comprises: receiving configuration information sent by the network device, and the configuration information comprises at least one of the following: first information for indicating the first type of SSSG associated with the first type of activation time; and second information for indicating the third SSSG associated with the second type of activation time. Based on the above scheme, the UE knows the first type of activation time and / or the second type of SSSG associated with the second type of activation time configured by the network device for the UE through the reception of the configuration information sent by the network device, thereby facilitating the UE to accurately listen to the SSSG to be listened to according to the configuration information of the network device.

[0072] The second aspect provides a communication method, wherein the method is performed by a network device, and the method comprises: sending configuration information to a user equipment (UE), and the configuration information comprises at least one of the following: first information for indicating the first type of search space set group (SSSG) associated with the first type of activation time; and second information for indicating the third SSSG associated with the second type of activation time.

[0073] Based on the above scheme, the network device can make the UE know the SSSG associated with the first type of activation time and / or the second type of activation time through the sending of the configuration information, thereby ensuring the accurate listening of the UE to the SSSG.

[0074] The third aspect provides a user equipment (UE), wherein the UE comprises: a receiving module configured to listen to a first signal transmitted by a network device using a first receiver, the first signal being used to wake up a second receiver; and a processing module configured to determine a search space set group (SSSG) listened to by the UE according to whether there is a running first timer when the first signal is listened to.

[0075] The fourth aspect provides a network device, wherein the network device comprises: a sending module configured to send configuration information to a user equipment (UE), the configuration information comprising at least one of: first information used to indicate a first search space set group (SSSG) associated with a first type of activation time; and second information used to indicate a third SSSG associated with a second type of activation time.

[0076] The fifth aspect provides a communication system, wherein the communication system comprises: a UE configured to perform the method provided in any of the technical solutions of the first aspect; and a network device configured to perform the method provided in any of the technical solutions of the second aspect.

[0077] The sixth aspect provides a program product, wherein the program product comprises a computer program, and the computer program, when executed by a communication device, enables the communication device to implement a method described in the optional implementation manners of the first aspect to the second aspect.

[0078] The seventh aspect provides a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to perform a communication method described in the optional implementation manners of the first aspect to the second aspect.

[0079] It can be understood that the first device, the network device, the communication system, the program product, and the computer program are all used to perform the method provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Therefore, the beneficial effects that can be achieved by them can refer to the beneficial effects in the corresponding method, which will not be described here again.

[0080] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, a communication device, a communication system, and a storage medium. The embodiments of the present disclosure are not exhaustive, but only illustrate some embodiments, and are not specific limitations on the protection scope of the present disclosure. In the case of no contradiction, each step in an embodiment can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the steps can be combined arbitrarily, for example, the mode after removing some steps in an embodiment can also be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the order of the steps in an embodiment can be exchanged arbitrarily, in addition, the optional implementation manners in an embodiment can be combined arbitrarily; in addition, the embodiments can be combined arbitrarily, for example, the steps of different embodiments or parts or all of the steps of different embodiments can be combined arbitrarily, an embodiment can be combined with the optional implementation manners of other embodiments.

[0081] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the terms and / or descriptions among the embodiments are consistent and can be referred to each other if there is no special description and logical conflict, and the technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationship.

[0082] The terms used in the embodiments of the present disclosure are only for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and are not used as limitations of the present disclosure.

[0083] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified, the elements expressed in singular form, such as "one", "a", "the", "above", "preceding", "this", etc., can represent "one and only one", or "one or more", "at least one", etc. For example, in the case of using articles such as "a", "an", "the" in English, the noun after the article can be understood as singular expression, or as plural expression.

[0084] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, "plurality" refers to two or more.

[0085] In some embodiments, the terms "at least one of", "one or more", "a plurality of", "multiple", and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0086] In some embodiments, the writing methods such as "at least one of A, B", "A and / or B", "A in one case, B in another case", "one case A, another case B", and the like can include the following technical methods according to the case: in some embodiments, A (A is executed regardless of B); in some embodiments, B (B is executed regardless of A); in some embodiments, A and B are selected to be executed (A and B are selectively executed); in some embodiments, A and B (A and B are both executed). When there are more branches such as A, B, C, etc., it is similar to the above.

[0087] In some embodiments, the writing methods such as "A or B" and the like can include the following technical methods according to the case: in some embodiments, A (A is executed regardless of B); in some embodiments, B (B is executed regardless of A); in some embodiments, A and B are selected to be executed (A and B are selectively executed). When there are more branches such as A, B, C, etc., it is similar to the above.

[0088] The prefix words of "first", "second" and the like in the embodiments of the present disclosure are merely used to distinguish different description objects, and do not constitute limitation on the position, order, priority, quantity or content of the description objects. The description objects are described in the claims or embodiments in the context, and should not be construed as redundant limitation because of the use of the prefix words. For example, the ordinal words in front of the description objects "field" in "first field" and "second field" do not limit the position or order between the "fields", and "first" and "second" do not limit whether the "fields" modified thereby are in the same message or not, nor limit the order of "first field" and "second field". For another example, the ordinal words in front of the description objects "level" in "first level" and "second level" do not limit the priority between the "levels". For another example, the quantity of the description objects is not limited by the ordinal words, and can be one or more. For example, "first device", wherein the quantity of "device" can be one or more. In addition, the objects modified by different prefix words can be the same or different, for example, the description objects are "device", and "first device" and "second device" can be the same device or different devices, and the types thereof can be the same or different; for another example, the description objects are "information", and "first type of information" and "second type of information" can be the same information or different information, and the contents thereof can be the same or different.

[0089] In some embodiments, "including A", "containing A", "for indicating A", "carrying A" can be interpreted as directly carrying A, or indirectly indicating A.

[0090] In some embodiments, the terms of "…", "determining …", "in the case of …", "when …", "when …", "if …", "if …" and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0091] In some embodiments, the terms of "greater than", "greater than or equal to", "not less than", "more than", "more than or equal to", "not less than", "higher than", "higher than or equal to", "not lower than", "above" and the like can be replaced with each other, and the terms of "less than", "less than or equal to", "not greater than", "less than", "less than or equal to", "not more than", "lower than", "lower than or equal to", "not higher than", "below" and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0092] In some embodiments, the apparatus and the like can be interpreted as physical or virtual, and the name thereof is not limited to the name recorded in the embodiments. The terms of "apparatus", "equipment", "device", "circuit", "network element", "node", "function", "unit", "section", "system", "network", "chip", "chip system", "entity", "subject" and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0093] In some embodiments, “network” can be interpreted as including, in the network, network-side devices or network functions such as access network devices, core network devices, and the like.

[0094] In some embodiments, the terms “access network device (AN device)”, “radio access network device (RAN device)”, “base station (BS)”, “radio base station”, “fixed station”, “node”, “access point”, “transmission point (TP)”, “reception point (RP)”, “transmission / reception point (TRP)”, “panel”, “antenna panel”, “antenna array”, “cell”, “macro cell”, “small cell”, “femto cell”, “pico cell”, “sector”, “cell group”, “serving node”, “node carrier”, “component node”, “bandwidth part (BWP)”, and the like can be replaced with each other.

[0095] In some embodiments, the terms "terminal," "terminal device," "user equipment (UE)," "user terminal," "mobile station (MS)," "mobile terminal (MT)," "subscriber station," "mobile unit," "subscriber unit," "wireless unit," "remote unit," "mobile device," "wireless device," "wireless communication device," "remote device," "mobile subscriber station," "access terminal," "mobile terminal," "wireless terminal," "remote terminal," "handset," "user agent," "mobile client," "client," and so on can be replaced with each other.

[0096] In some embodiments, the access network device, the core network device, or the network device can be replaced with the UE. For example, the structure in which the communication between the access network device, the core network device, or the network device and the UE is replaced with the communication between a plurality of UEs (e.g., device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), and so on) can also apply the embodiments of the present disclosure. In this case, the structure in which the UE has all or part of the functions of the access network device can also be provided. Further, the terms "uplink," "downlink," and so on can also be replaced with the terms corresponding to the inter-UE communication (e.g., "side"). For example, the uplink channel, the downlink channel, and so on can be replaced with the side channel, and the uplink, the downlink, and so on can be replaced with the sidelink.

[0097] In some embodiments, the UE can be replaced with the access network device, the core network device, or the network device. In this case, the structure in which the access network device, the core network device, or the network device has all or part of the functions of the UE can also be provided.

[0098] In some embodiments, the acquisition of data, information, and so on can comply with the laws and regulations of the country where the location is.

[0099] In some embodiments, data, information, etc. can be acquired after obtaining user consent.

[0100] In addition, each element, each row, or each column in the table of the embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and any combination of any element, any row, or any column can also be implemented as an independent embodiment.

[0101] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an architecture of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0102] As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 100 includes a terminal 101 and a network device 102. The network device 102 can include an access network device and / or a core network device. The terminal can also be referred to as a UE.

[0103] In some embodiments, the terminal 101 includes at least one of a mobile phone, a wearable device, an Internet of Things device, a car with communication function, a smart car, a Pad, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) UE device, an augmented reality (AR) UE device, a wireless UE device in industrial control, a wireless UE device in self-driving, a wireless UE device in remote medical surgery, a wireless UE device in smart grid, a wireless UE device in transportation safety, a wireless UE device in smart city, a wireless UE device in smart home, etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0104] In some embodiments, the UE is also referred to as a User Equipment (UE).

[0105] In some embodiments, the access network device may, for example, be at least one of a node or a device that accesses a UE to a wireless network, and the access network device may, for example, include at least one of an evolved NodeB (eNB) in a 5G communication system, a next generation eNB (ng-eNB), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a node B (NB), a home node B (HNB), a home evolved node B (HeNB), a wireless backhaul device, a radio network controller (RNC), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a base band unit (BBU), a mobile switching center, a base station in a 6G communication system, an Open RAN, a Cloud RAN, a base station in other communication systems, an access node in a Wi-Fi system, but is not limited thereto.

[0106] In some embodiments, the technical means of the present disclosure can be applicable to an Open RAN architecture, in which case the interfaces between or within the access network devices involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure can become internal interfaces of the Open RAN, and the processes and information interactions between these internal interfaces can be implemented through software or programs.

[0107] In some embodiments, the access network device can be composed of a central unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU), where the CU can also be referred to as a control unit. The CU-DU structure can split the protocol layers of the access network device, and some of the protocol layers can be controlled by the CU, while the rest or all of the protocol layers can be distributed in the DU and controlled by the CU, but is not limited thereto.

[0108] In some embodiments, the core network device can be one device including the first network element, or can be multiple devices or device groups each including the first network element. The network element can be virtual or physical. The core network may, for example, include at least one of an evolved packet core (EPC), a 5G core network (5GCN), and a next generation core (NGC).

[0109] It can be understood that the communication system described in the embodiments of the present disclosure is for more clearly illustrating the technical means of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical means provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure. It can be known by those skilled in the art that, as the system architecture evolves and new service scenarios appear, the technical means provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0110] The following embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to the communication system 100 shown in FIG. 1 or part of the subject, but are not limited thereto. The subjects shown in FIG. 1 are exemplary, and the communication system can include all or part of the subjects in FIG. 1, or other subjects other than FIG. 1. The number and form of each subject is arbitrary, and the connection relationship between the subjects is exemplary. The subjects can be connected or not connected, and the connection can be in any way, can be direct connection or indirect connection, can be wired connection or wireless connection.

[0111] Embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), LTE-Beyond (LTE-B), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4th generation mobile communication system (4G), 5th generation mobile communication system (5G), 5G new radio (NR), Future Radio Access (FRA), New-Radio Access Technology (RAT), New Radio (NR), New radio access (NX), Future generation radio access (FX), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM (registered trademark)), CDMA2000, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.20, Ultra-WideBand (UWB), Bluetooth (Bluetooth (registered trademark)), Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) network, device-to-device (D2D) system, Machine to Machine (M2M) system, Internet of Things (IoT) system, Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X), system using other resources, next-generation system extended based thereon, and the like. Further, a plurality of systems can be combined (for example, LTE and NR can be combined).

[0112] The main transceiver of the UE can have different degrees of sleep state, for example, can be divided into deep sleep, light sleep, micro sleep. The energy consumption level of different degrees of sleep state is different, and the state transition time (also called wake-up delay) required from the sleep state to the normal working state is also different. The deeper the sleep degree, the lower the energy consumption level and the more energy-saving, but the corresponding wake-up delay is longer. For example, the wake-up time of deep sleep is 10ms, the wake-up time of light sleep is 3ms, and the wake-up time of micro sleep can be considered as immediately waking up, which is 0ms.

[0113] If the UE service reaches very sparse, for example, a service package reaches every few hundred milliseconds, it is suitable to use deeper sleep, and if the service reaches very dense, it is suitable to use very shallow sleep or even no sleep.

[0114] In some embodiments, the UE can enter the sleep state from the working state in the following ways: 1) the base station instructs the UE to enter the sleep state through an indication signaling; 2) the UE enters the sleep state after a specific timer expires. The specific timer can be a first timer that is restarted / started every time the UE receives a DCI for scheduling uplink / downlink transmission. When the first timer expires (which means that the UE has not received a DCI within the running time of the timer), the UE enters the sleep state. 3) The UE enters the sleep state by itself and sends an indication information to the base station, which indicates that the UE enters the sleep state.

[0115] In some embodiments, search space group switching is introduced for UE energy saving. The base station configures multiple sets of search space groups for the UE, one search space group can contain one or more search spaces, and dynamically indicates the switching of the search space. Different search space sets can have different configurations such as period, frequency domain width, PDCCH candidate number, and DCI format to be monitored. Thus, the UE has different energy consumption when monitoring different search space sets. For example, when the data transmission demand is small, the UE switches to a search space set with a longer period, and between two period points, the UE can enter a sleep state, so that UE side energy saving can be achieved. The base station can also configure a SSSG switching timer, for example, when the UE monitors PDCCH on SSSG 1 or SSSG 2, the UE will continue to monitor SSSG 1 or SSSG 2 before the SSSG switching timer expires, and when the UE monitors PDCCH, the corresponding SSSG switching timer will be restarted. When the SSSG switching timer expires, the UE will monitor the default SSSG, i.e. SSSG 0.

[0116] In some embodiments, the application of the LP WUS in the RRC connected mode needs to be combined with the C-DRX mechanism in the existing protocol. The application manner can be as follows: (1) the second type of active time, which is the running time of a second timer. The second timer can be a timer in the C-DRX mechanism. Illustratively, when the drx-InactivityTimer, drx-RetransmissionTimerDL, drx-RetransmissionTimerUL, and drx-onDurationTimer are running, the UE is in the active time of the connected mode C-DRX mechanism, that is, the "legacy active time". (2) The first type of active time, which can be another active time introduced in addition to the second type of active time. Illustratively, the UE listens to the LP WUS in the second active time. If the corresponding LP WUS is listened to, the temporary wake-up period is started, that is, the "additional active time".

[0117] As shown in FIG. 2A, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, which is performed by the communication system shown in FIG. 1. The method can include:

[0118] S2101: The network device sends configuration information to the UE.

[0119] In some embodiments, the network device can be an access network device, for example, various types of base stations.

[0120] In some embodiments, the UE can be various types of terminals, for example, mobile phones, tablets, vehicle-mounted devices, or flight devices, etc.

[0121] In some embodiments, the network device sends an RRC message or a MAC message to the UE. The RRC message or the MAC message includes the configuration information.

[0122] In some embodiments, the network device broadcasts, multicasts, or unicasts the configuration information to the UE.

[0123] In some embodiments, the configuration information includes at least one of the following: first information for indicating a first SSSG associated with the first type of active time; and second information for indicating a third SSSG associated with the second type of active time.

[0124] In some embodiments, the configuration information can be used by the UE to determine a second type of SSSG associated with an activation time. Illustratively, the second type of SSSG is a default SSSG. Illustratively, the first information can be identification information or a number associated with the first type of SSSG associated with a first type of activation time. Illustratively, the second information can be identification information or a number associated with the third SSSG associated with a second type of activation time.

[0125] In some embodiments, the first information can also be used to indicate whether the first SSSG associated with the first type of activation time is SSSG0. Illustratively, the first type of activation time is an activation time associated with the first signal.

[0126] In some embodiments, the second information can also be used to indicate whether the third SSSG associated with the second type of activation time is SSSG0.

[0127] In some embodiments, the first type of activation time can be an activation time that the UE turns on based on monitoring the first signal. Illustratively, the first type of activation time can be referred to as a temporary wake-up time or an additional active time. For example, after the UE receives the first signal, the UE enters into the first type of wake-up time. During the first type of wake-up time, the UE wakes up a second receiver and monitors the PDCCH through the second receiver.

[0128] In some embodiments, the first signal can be an LP WUS received by a first receiver of the UE. Illustratively, the power consumption of the first receiver is less than the power consumption of the second receiver. Illustratively, the receiving capability of the first receiver is weaker than the capability of the second receiver. In some embodiments, the first receiver has a receiving capability and does not have a transmitting capability. The second receiver has a receiving capability and has a transmitting capability.

[0129] In some embodiments, the second receiver can be an MR.

[0130] In some embodiments, the second type of activation time can be a discontinuous reception (DRX). In some embodiments, the second type of activation time is also referred to as an additional active time. Illustratively, the discontinuous reception can be a C-DRX for the UE in a connected state.

[0131] In some embodiments, the DRX involves one or more second timers. The running time of the second timers is the second type of active time. Exemplarily, the second timers include, but are not limited to, at least one of the following: a DRX inactivity timer (drx-InactivityTimer); a DRX downlink retransmission timer (drx-RetransmissionTimerDL); a DRX uplink retransmission timer (drx-RetransmissionTimerUL); a DRX on duration timer (drx-onDurationTimer).

[0132] Exemplarily, the drx-onDurationTimer is started at the beginning of each C-DRX cycle regardless of whether there is traffic to be transmitted, and the PDCCH is blindly detected during the running time of the drx-onDurationTimer.

[0133] Exemplarily, the UE has uplink transmission to be performed, and the drx-RetransmissionTimerUL is started for each UL HARQ process, and the PDCCH is blindly detected during the running time of the drx-RetransmissionTimerUL.

[0134] Exemplarily, the UE receives DCI scheduling new transmission, and the drx-InactivityTimer is started, and the PDCCH is blindly detected during the running time of the drx-InactivityTimer.

[0135] During the second type of active time, the MR of the UE is kept in the wake-up state, so that the UE can perform uplink transmission and / or downlink transmission based on the MR.

[0136] In summary, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the first type of wake-up time and the second type of wake-up time can be collectively referred to as wake-up time, during which the MR of the UE is kept in the wake-up state. Outside the wake-up time, the MR of the UE exits the wake-up state and enters the sleep state. For example, the UE can enter a deep sleep state, a light sleep state, or a shallow sleep state, etc., to save the power consumption of the UE.

[0137] In some embodiments, the second type of SSSG associated with the first type of wake-up time and the second type of wake-up time can be the same or different. Exemplarily, the second type of SSSG associated with the first type of wake-up time and the second type of wake-up time can both be SSSG0.

[0138] In some embodiments, the first type of wake-up time and the second type of wake-up time can be configured with the same second type of SSSG, or can be configured with different SSSGs. Exemplarily, the second type of SSSG associated with the second type of wake-up time can be SSSG0, and the second type of SSSG associated with the first type of wake-up time can be SSSG1.

[0139] Preferably, the first type of wakeup time and the second type of wakeup time configure different second type of SSSG. Illustratively, the reason for distinguishing the two types of active time is:

[0140] If the LP WUS is for a single UE, the motivation of the network side using the LP WUS to trigger an additional active time is generally to immediately schedule uplink and downlink transmission of the UE, so that the PDCCH monitoring occasion in the search space of the PDCCH needs to be configured intensively to ensure that the network can timely schedule in a short time. The start of the original active time of the C-DRX does not always mean that there is uplink and downlink traffic to be scheduled for the UE. Therefore, the PDCCH monitoring occasion configured in the SSSG in the original active time is more sparse than the PDCCH monitoring occasion based on the additional active time triggered by the LP WUS.

[0141] If the LP WUS is for a UE group, the UE group can include one or more UEs. Thus, the network device needs to wake up all UEs in the UE group, and also sends an LP WUS that can wake up the entire UE group, but all UEs in the UE group have a wakeup requirement, so the first type of active time triggered by the LP WUS does not need to configure intensive PDCCH monitoring occasions. The C-DRX is generally configured to match the characteristics of the traffic, so the PDCCH monitoring occasion configured in the first type of active time does not need to be as intensive as the PDCCH monitoring occasion configured in the second type of active time.

[0142] Therefore, the second type of SSSG is configured respectively for the first type of active time and the second type of active time, so that the same or different PDCCH monitoring occasions can be configured for the first type of active time and the second type of active time as needed. One or more PDCCH monitoring occasions can be included in one SSSG.

[0143] It is worth noting that S2101 can be an optional step. For example, the second type of SSSG associated with the first type of active time and the second type of active time can be agreed by the protocol, and the network device does not need to temporarily configure it, so the network device does not need to send configuration information to the UE.

[0144] S2102: The network device sends a first signal to the UE.

[0145] In some embodiments, the first signal can be the aforementioned LP WUS.

[0146] In some embodiments, the network device sends the first signal to the UE in a sleep state.

[0147] S2103: The UE listens to the first signal sent by the network device using the first receiver.

[0148] In some embodiments, the first signal is used to wake up the second receiver.

[0149] S2104: The UE determines a search space set group (SSSG) to listen to.

[0150] In some embodiments, the UE determines the SSSG to listen to according to whether there is a running first timer when the first signal is listened to.

[0151] In some embodiments, the first timer is a timer associated with a first type of SSSG. Illustratively, the UE listens to a second type of SSSG when the first timer is running. The second type of SSSG is different from the first type of SSSG. Illustratively, the second type of SSSG is not associated with an active time of the UE. The second type of SSSG can include one or more. The first timer can include, but is not limited to, a SSSG switching timer.

[0152] There are multiple optional manners for S2104, some of which are provided below:

[0153] Optional manner 1:

[0154] When there is a running first timer when the first signal is listened to, it is determined that the UE listens to a first type of SSSG; the first type of SSSG is associated with the first timer.

[0155] If there is a running first timer when the first signal is listened to, although the UE enters a first type of active time, due to the running first timer, the UE will continue to listen to the first type of SSSG associated with the first timer, instead of listening to a second type of SSSG associated with the first type of active time. Illustratively, when there is a running first timer when the first signal is listened to, the first timer is restarted; after the first timer is restarted, it is determined that the UE listens to the first type of SSSG.

[0156] In some embodiments, by restarting the first timer, the listening duration of the first type of SSSG can be lengthened, and the UE can successfully listen to PDCCH information sent on a PDCCH listening occasion in the first type of SSSG.

[0157] In some embodiments, a restart time of the first timer is determined; the first timer is restarted at the restart time.

[0158] There are various ways to determine the restart time, for example, the restart time is determined according to the first time, the wake-up delay, and the DCI monitored in the first type of activation time. For example, the restart time of the first timer is determined, and the first time is the time when the UE receives the first signal. For another example, the restart time of the first timer is determined according to the wake-up delay, and the wake-up delay is the time delay of the UE waking up the second receiver. For another example, the restart time of the first timer is determined according to the DCI monitored in the first type of activation time, and the first type of activation time is the activation time associated with the first signal.

[0159] In some embodiments, the first timer can be restarted immediately, and at this time, the restart time is the time when the UE receives the first signal.

[0160] In other embodiments, the restart time of the first timer is determined according to the wake-up delay. The wake-up delay is the time delay of the UE waking up the second receiver.

[0161] For example, the first timer is a monitoring timer of the first type of SSSG, and when monitoring the PDCCH monitoring occasion in the SSSG, the time required for the UE to wake up the second receiver to monitor the PDCCH needs to be considered. Therefore, in this embodiment, the restart time is determined according to the wake-up delay.

[0162] For another example, the restart time of the first timer is determined according to the wake-up delay of the second receiver, including one of the following: determining the restart time as the first time, wherein the first time is the time when the UE receives the first signal; determining the restart time as the second time according to the first time and the wake-up delay.

[0163] In some embodiments, the timing duration of the first timer is greater than the wake-up delay, including: the timing duration of the first timer is greater than the wake-up delay, and the timing duration of the first timer is greater than the wake-up delay.

[0164] In this case, since the timing duration of the first timer is greater than the wake-up delay, the first time is determined as the restart time, and the running period of the first timer after the restart will at least last until after the second receiver is woken up, thereby ensuring that the UE can monitor the first type of SSSG through the second receiver after the wake-up during the running period of the first timer.

[0165] For example, the first signal is received at the first time T1, and the wake-up delay is T0, and the time T1+T0 is determined as the restart time. At this time, regardless of the size relationship between the timing duration of the first timer and T0, the second receiver of the UE is in a wake-up state during the running period of the restarted first timer, and can monitor the PDCCH.

[0166] Of course, this is only an example of determining the restart time, and the actual implementation is not limited to this example.

[0167] In some embodiments, the wake-up latency is at least one of: an interval between a sending time of the first signal and a PDCCH monitoring time; an interval between the sending time of the first signal and a first-type activation time associated with the first signal; and the first-type activation time is an activation time for the UE to monitor the first signal.

[0168] Since wireless communication uses wireless waves for signal transmission, generally, the time when the network device sends the first signal and the time when the UE receives the first signal.

[0169] In some embodiments, the sending time of the first signal is pre-configured, so the UE can determine the receiving time of the first signal according to the pre-configuration.

[0170] In other embodiments, the wake-up latency can be configured by the network device, for example, the latency configured by the network device according to the wake-up capability of the UE, the type of the UE, or the historical wake-up latency of the UE, and the like.

[0171] In still other embodiments, the wake-up latency can be a protocol-agreed latency.

[0172] In other embodiments, the restart time is determined according to the downlink control information (DCI) monitored in the first-type activation time; and the first-type activation time is an activation time associated with the first signal.

[0173] In other embodiments, the network device sends the first signal to the UE with the intention of triggering the UE to monitor the PDCCH. The PDCCH is used to send the downlink control information (DCI). At this time, the DCI triggers the UE to monitor the corresponding SSSG. If the DCI triggers the UE to monitor the first-type SSSG, the UE will restart the first timer. That is, in some embodiments, the restart time is determined according to the downlink control information (DCI) monitored in the first-type activation time.

[0174] Exemplarily, if the monitored DCI indicates monitoring the first-type SSSG, the time when the DCI is monitored is determined as the restart time. If the monitored DCI indicates monitoring the second-type SSSG, since the monitoring of the second-type SSSG does not need to start the first timer, the UE will not determine the restart time according to the receiving time of such DCI.

[0175] Of course, in some embodiments, the UE can or can not monitor the DCI in the first-type activation time, or only monitor the DCI that makes the UE monitor the second-type SSSG, in which case the UE can also not restart the first timer.

[0176] In some embodiments, how the UE will monitor the first type of SSSG can include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: having a first timer running upon listening to the first signal, restarting the first timer, and monitoring the first type of SSSG during the running time of the restarted first timer.

[0177] having a first timer running upon listening to the first signal, continuing running the first timer and monitoring the first type of SSSG during the continued running of the first timer.

[0178] In some embodiments, the restarting of the first timer can be determined in an optional way 1. For the currently running first timer, it can be understood as being terminated. It can also be continued running. Illustratively, before the restarting of the first timer, the currently running first timer is continued running until the restarting time is reached or the first timer expires.

[0179] For example, the running first timer still has a certain remaining time duration, which can be greater than the wake-up delay, etc., such that if the first timer continues running until the remaining time duration is 0, the running time of the currently running first timer will exceed the restarting time. In this case, the currently running first timer will run until the restarting time.

[0180] For another example, the running first timer still has a certain remaining time duration, but the remaining time duration is too short to be sufficient for the running first timer to run to the restarting time. In this case, the running first timer expires and stops running.

[0181] No matter which way is adopted, the UE can well control the running of the first timer.

[0182] As shown in FIG. 2B, the UE has a running first timer upon receiving the first signal. The UE does not need to wait until the currently running first timer ends, but can restart the first timer at the restarting time and monitor the first type of SSSG during the running time of the first timer (i.e., during the running time).

[0183] Optional way 2:

[0184] having no running first timer upon listening to the first signal, and monitoring the second type of search space set group SSSG during the first type of activation time.

[0185] In some embodiments, the second type of SSSG is associated with the first type of activation time.

[0186] In some embodiments, the first type of activation time is an activation time associated with the first signal. Illustratively, the first type of activation time can be an activation time for the UE to monitor PDCCH corresponding to the first signal.

[0187] Since the first signal is detected, the UE will enter the first type of activation time, and since there is no running first timer, the UE monitors the second type of SSSG associated with the first type of activation time, rather than the first type of SSSG.

[0188] As shown in FIG. 2C, after the UE receives the first signal, the UE monitors the second type of SSSG in the first type of activation time. For example, the UE monitors the first SSSG associated with the first type of activation time.

[0189] Therefore, based on the above optional mode 1 and optional mode 2, after the first signal is detected, the SSSG monitored by the UE can be determined simply and quickly according to whether the first timer is running, thereby solving the conflict between the first type of activation time and the first timer regarding the SSSG monitored by the UE.

[0190] In some embodiments, the second type of SSSG includes one of the following: the first SSSG associated with the first type of activation time; and a second SSSG agreed by a protocol.

[0191] For example, the first SSSG associated with the first type of activation time can be an SSSG configured by the network device, and the second SSSG can be an SSSG agreed by a protocol. In this case, the first SSSG and the second SSSG are both the second type of SSSG associated with the first type of activation time.

[0192] For example, the first SSSG can be SSSG0 or SSSG1.

[0193] In some embodiments, the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time do not overlap in time domain, and the SSSG monitored by the UE can be determined using the optional mode 1 and / or the optional mode 2.

[0194] In other embodiments, even if the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time overlap in time domain, the overlap in time domain of the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time can be ignored, and the SSSG monitored by the UE can still be determined according to the optional mode 2 or the optional mode 2.

[0195] In other embodiments, after the UE receives the first signal, the first type of activation time is triggered, and at this time, there can be a triggered second type of activation time. Or the second type of activation time is triggered in the first type of activation time, and there can be an overlap in time domain of the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time. Therefore, in this case, the SSSG monitored in the overlapping time domain of the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time is also one of the conflicts to be solved. In view of this, the optional mode 3 of S2104 is proposed.

[0196] Option 3: When the first type of activation time associated with the first signal and the second type of activation time have a time domain overlapping position, determine the SSSG that the UE monitors at the time domain overlapping position according to whether there is a running first timer.

[0197] In some embodiments, the time domain overlapping position comprises a part where the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time overlap in time domain.

[0198] In some other embodiments, the time domain overlapping position is a part where the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time overlap in time domain.

[0199] Exemplarily, the running first timer at this time can be a first timer that has been started before the time domain overlapping position, or the running first timer at this time can be a first timer that is started at the beginning of the time domain overlapping position.

[0200] In some embodiments, when the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time have a time domain overlapping position and there is a running first timer when the first signal is received, it is determined that the UE monitors the first type of SSSG at the time domain overlapping position, the first type of SSSG being associated with the first timer.

[0201] As shown in FIG. 2D, there is a running first timer at the time domain overlapping position of the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time, and the UE monitors the monitoring occasion of the PDCCH contained in the first type of SSSG associated with the first timer.

[0202] In some other embodiments, when the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time have a time domain overlapping position and there is no running first timer, it is determined that the UE monitors the first SSSG and / or the third SSSG at the time domain overlapping position; the first SSSG being associated with the first type of activation time; the third SSSG being associated with the second type of activation time.

[0203] In some embodiments, when the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time have a time domain overlapping position and there is no running first timer, it is determined that the UE monitors the first SSSG at the time domain overlapping position; or, when the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time have a time domain overlapping position and there is no running first timer, it is determined that the UE monitors the first SSSG and the third SSSG at the time domain overlapping position, the third SSSG being associated with the second type of activation time; the first SSSG being associated with the first type of activation time.

[0204] If there is no pre-started first timer at the time domain overlapping position of the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time, the UE monitors the second type of SSSG. The second type of SSSG can be the SSSG associated with the first type of activation time and / or the second type of SSSG associated with the second type of activation time.

[0205] In some embodiments, there is a second timer started in the first type of activation time, and the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time have a time domain overlapping position; the second timer is associated with the first type of activation time.

[0206] For example, when the starting time of drx-onDurationTimer is reached in the first type of activation time, drx-onDurationTimer is started, and the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time overlap in time domain.

[0207] For another example, when the UE performs PUCCH and / or PUSCH transmission in the first type of activation time, drx-RetransmissionTimerUL is started. Because of the starting of drx-RetransmissionTimerUL, the second type of activation time is triggered, so the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time have time domain overlapping.

[0208] In summary, there are various time domain overlapping manners between the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time, which are not limited to the above examples.

[0209] In some embodiments, when the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time have time domain overlapping, there is no running first timer, and it is determined that the UE monitors the first SSSG and / or the third SSSG at the time domain overlapping position; the first SSSG is associated with the first type of activation time; and the third SSSG is associated with the second type of activation time.

[0210] If there is no pre-started first timer at the time domain overlapping position of the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time, the UE monitors the second type of SSSG. The second type of SSSG can be the SSSG associated with the first type of activation time and / or the second type of SSSG associated with the second type of activation time.

[0211] In some embodiments, there is a second timer started in the first type of activation time, and the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time have a time domain overlapping position; the second timer is associated with the first type of activation time.

[0212] For example, when the starting time of drx-onDurationTimer is reached in the first type of activation time, drx-onDurationTimer is started, and the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time overlap in time domain.

[0213] For example, the UE performs PUCCH and / or PUSCH transmission in the first type of active time, and then drx-RetransmissionTimerUL is started. The second type of active time is triggered due to the starting of drx-RetransmissionTimerUL, so the first type of active time and the second type of active time have time domain overlap.

[0214] As shown in FIG. 2E, the first SSSG is monitored at the time domain overlap position of the first type of active time and the second type of active time.

[0215] As shown in FIG. 2F, the first SSSG and the third SSSG are monitored at the time domain overlap position of the first type of active time and the second type of active time.

[0216] In summary, there are various time domain overlaps between the first type of active time and the second type of active time, which are not limited to the above examples.

[0217] In some embodiments, the SSSG monitored by the UE in the first type of active time triggered by the first signal can be indicated by the network device. Therefore, S2104 can further include optional mode 4.

[0218] Optional mode 4:

[0219] In the first type of active time associated with the first signal, the first type of SSSG is monitored according to the first instruction, and the first instruction is carried by the first signal or DCI monitored in the first type of active time.

[0220] For example, the first signal can carry indication information, which can indicate to the UE the first type of SSSG that needs to be monitored. In this case, after entering the first type of active time based on the first signal, the second type of SSSG associated with the first type of active time is not monitored, but the first type of SSSG is directly monitored.

[0221] As shown in FIG. 2G, DCI is monitored in the first type of active time corresponding to the first signal, a first timer is started when DCI indicating monitoring of the first type of SSSG is monitored, and the corresponding first type of SSSG is monitored in the first timer.

[0222] In some embodiments, the UE can determine the SSSG to monitor according to optional way 1, optional way 2 and / or optional way 3 in the first type of activation time, but when receiving the DCI indicating to monitor the first type of SSSG, the UE needs to start monitoring the first type of SSSG. Illustratively, there can be one or more first type of SSSG, and the DCI can be used to specifically indicate which of the first type of SSSG to monitor. Illustratively, the DCI can include a bitmap, and different bits in the bitmap can be used to indicate different first type of SSSG. In this way, the UE can determine which of the first type of SSSG to monitor according to the DCI or the first signal.

[0223] In some embodiments, the method further comprises: before monitoring the first type of SSSG, there is a running first timer, and restarting the first timer. Here, restarting the first timer includes: stopping the running first timer and restarting the first timer after stopping the current first timer.

[0224] In some embodiments, the method further comprises: before monitoring the first type of SSSG, there is no running first timer, and starting the first timer.

[0225] The UE monitors the first type of SSSG indicated by the first instruction during the running of the started or restarted first timer.

[0226] In some embodiments, the first signal is the first instruction, and the starting time of the first timer is determined according to the receiving time of the first signal and the starting delay.

[0227] In some embodiments, the starting delay is related to at least one of the wake-up delay of the second receiver and the different SSSG monitoring switching delay.

[0228] Illustratively, the starting delay is equal to the wake-up delay.

[0229] Illustratively, the starting delay is equal to the different SSSG monitoring switching delay.

[0230] Further illustratively, the starting delay is equal to the smaller one of the wake-up delay and the different SSSG monitoring switching delay.

[0231] Further illustratively, the starting delay is equal to the larger one of the wake-up delay and the different SSSG monitoring switching delay.

[0232] In some embodiments, the term "information" may be used interchangeably with terms such as "message," "signal," "signaling," "report," "configuration," "indication," "instruction," "command," "channel," "parameter," "field," and "data."

[0233] In some embodiments, the terms "acquire," "get," "obtain," "receive," "transmit," "bidirectional transmission," and "send and / or receive" can be used interchangeably and can be interpreted as receiving from other entities, acquiring from protocols, acquiring from higher layers, obtaining through self-processing, or autonomous implementation. Protocols include, for example, at least one of 3GPP protocols, Wi-Fi protocols, and audio and / or video protocols. In some embodiments, the term "send" can be used interchangeably with terms such as "transmit," "report," and "transfer."

[0234] In some embodiments, steps S2101 to S2104 of this embodiment can be implemented independently, or their order can be arbitrarily changed and combined without contradiction. For example, S2101 is an optional step; if the activation time-related second type SSSG is agreed upon by the protocol, then it is not necessary to receive configuration information sent by the network device. In other embodiments, the UE performs the reception of the first signal, but it is also possible that the first signal is not received. For example, when the UE is in sleep mode, the network device does not have a need to wake up the UE's second receiver, and therefore may not send the first signal. Therefore, if the UE does not receive the first signal, the UE does not need to perform S2103 to S2104.

[0235] As shown in Figure 3, this embodiment of the present disclosure provides a communication method, wherein the method is executed by a user equipment (UE), the UE including a first receiver and a second receiver, and the method includes:

[0236] S3101: Receive configuration information.

[0237] In some embodiments, configuration information sent by a network device is received.

[0238] In some embodiments, the configuration information includes at least one of the following: first information for indicating a first search space set group (SSSG) associated with a first type of activation time; and second information for indicating a third SSSG associated with a second type of activation time.

[0239] Exemplarily, the specific content of the configuration information, the sending manner, the network device, and the related description of any one of the first SSSG and the third SSSG can be referred to the corresponding embodiments of FIG. 2A, which will not be repeated here.

[0240] S3102: receiving, by the UE, the first signal using the first receiver.

[0241] In some embodiments, the UE listens to the first signal sent by the network device using the first receiver.

[0242] In some embodiments, the first signal is used to wake up the second receiver of the UE.

[0243] In some embodiments, the related description of the first receiver, the second receiver, and / or the first signal can be referred to the embodiments shown in FIG. 2A, which will not be repeated here.

[0244] After the UE receives the first signal, the UE enters the first type of active time.

[0245] S3103: determining the SSSG listened to by the UE.

[0246] In some embodiments, the UE determines the search space set group (SSSG) listened to by the UE according to whether there is a running first timer when the first signal is listened to.

[0247] In some embodiments, the optional implementation of the UE determining the SSSG listened to can be referred to one or more of the optional manner 1 to the optional manner 4 of the corresponding embodiments of FIG. 2A, which will not be repeated here.

[0248] S3104: listening to the DCI in the first type of active time.

[0249] S3105: listening to the SSSG according to the DCI listened to.

[0250] In some embodiments, the UE listens to the first type of SSSG or the second type of SSSG according to the DCI listened to. Generally, the second type of SSSG is the SSSG associated with the current active time of the UE, and the listening of the first type of SSSG is usually indicated by the DCI. However, it is worth noting that S3105 is an optional step, the UE listens to the DCI in the first type of active time, but the DCI is not used to indicate the UE to listen to the SSSG, so S3105 is not necessarily executed.

[0251] In some embodiments, the steps in the embodiments S3101 to S3105 can be implemented independently, or can be combined and implemented in any order without contradiction. For example, S3101 is an optional step. If the second type of SSSG associated with the activation time is agreed by the protocol, the UE does not need to receive the configuration information sent by the network device. In some embodiments, the UE performs the reception of the first signal, but it is also possible that the first signal is not received. For example, when the UE is in a sleep state, the network device has no need to wake up the second receiver of the UE, and thus the first signal can not be sent. Therefore, the UE does not need to perform S3103 to S3104 in the case that the first signal is not received. For another example, the UE listens to the first signal and listens to the DCI in the first type of activation time, but it is possible that the DCI is not listened to or the DCI indicating that the UE listens to the SSSG is not listened to, and thus S3105 is also an optional step.

[0252] As shown in FIG. 4, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication method, which is performed by a network device, and the method comprises:

[0253] S4101: sending configuration information.

[0254] In some embodiments, the network device sends the configuration information to the UE.

[0255] In some embodiments, the configuration information comprises at least one of the following: first information for indicating a first search space set group SSSG associated with the first type of activation time; and second information for indicating a third SSSG associated with the second type of activation time.

[0256] In some embodiments, the related content of the configuration information can be referred to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, which is not repeated here.

[0257] S4102: sending a first signal.

[0258] In some embodiments, the network device sends the first signal to the UE. For example, the related description of the first signal can be referred to the corresponding embodiment of FIG. 2A, which is not repeated here.

[0259] In some embodiments, the steps in the embodiments S4101 to S4102 can be implemented independently, or can be combined and implemented in any order without contradiction. For example, S4101 is an optional step. If the second type of SSSG associated with the activation time is agreed by the protocol, the UE does not need to receive the configuration information sent by the network device. When the network device has no need to wake up the UE in a sleep state, the network device also has no need to send the first signal.

[0260] The embodiments of the present disclosure propose a method for a UE to determine whether an SSSG switching timer is running in a scenario where C-DRX and LP WUS are applied, and a method for the UE to determine SSSG monitoring after re-awakening.

[0261] Exemplarily, the SSSG switching timer is one of the aforementioned first timers.

[0262] In some embodiments, if the UE is running an SSSG timer, when the UE enters a sleep state, the SSSG timer is terminated. After the UE wakes up, the UE monitors a specified SSSG. The specified SSSG can be the SSSG before sleep or pre-configured by the network, or agreed by protocol, such as SSSG0.

[0263] In other embodiments, if the UE is running an SSSG timer, when the UE enters a sleep state, the SSSG timer is suspended. After the UE wakes up, the SSSG timer resumes running, i.e., continues to monitor the SSSG before sleep.

[0264] In some embodiments, after the UE wakes up, whether to perform BWP switching can be determined according to the indication of the network side. In some cases, the UE can perform BWP switching according to the LP-WUS sent by the network side. The indication for the UE to perform BWP switching can be an LP WUS indication, or can be through other indications.

[0265] In some embodiments, if the UE performs BWP switching after waking up, the original SSSG timer is terminated. The UE will monitor a specified SSSG on the new BWP. The specified SSSG can be pre-configured by the network, or agreed by protocol, such as SSSG0.

[0266] In some embodiments, if the UE is running an SSSG timer, when the UE enters a sleep state, the SSSG timer continues to count. If the UE performs BWP switching after waking up, if the original SSSG timer is still running, the original SSSG timer is terminated. The UE will monitor a specified SSSG on the new BWP. The specified SSSG can be pre-configured by the network, or agreed by protocol, such as SSSG0.

[0267] In some embodiments, if the UE is running an SSSG timer, when the UE enters a sleep state, whether to terminate, continue running or suspend the SSSG timer can be determined according to different situations of the sleep state.

[0268] For example, if the UE enters a light sleep state, the SSSG timer can continue to run.

[0269] If the UE enters a light sleep state, the SSSG timer can be suspended.

[0270] If the UE enters a deep sleep state, the SSSG timer can be terminated.

[0271] The above sleep states can be equivalently replaced by a wake-up latency. For example, generally, the deeper the sleep state, the larger the wake-up latency.

[0272] In view of this, the network device can configure a default SSSG during the running of the second type of active timer and a default SSSG during the running of the first type of active timer, respectively. For example, when the second type of active timer is running, its default SSSG is SSSG0, and when the first type of active timer is running, its default SSSG is SSSG1. The time corresponding to the running period of the second type of active timer is also referred to as the first type of activation time, also referred to as the original activation time. Exemplarily, the second type of active timer is also referred to as the second timer.

[0273] The second type of active timer can be a C-DRX legacy active timer, and the first type of active timer can be an additional active timer. The additional active timer can be used to monitor the LP-WUS. The time corresponding to the running period of the first type of active timer is also referred to as the second type of activation time, also referred to as the additional activation time.

[0274] In some embodiments, the reason for distinguishing the first type and the first type of active timer can include the following examples, but is not limited to the following examples:

[0275] Example 1: If the wake-up information of LP WUS can be accurate to single UE granularity: The motivation of network side using LP WUS to trigger additional active time is generally to immediately schedule the uplink and downlink transmission of the UE, so it generally needs to configure the PDCCH monitoring occasion in the search space of PDCCH densely to ensure that the network can schedule in time in a short time. The start of the original active time of C-DRX does not always mean that there is uplink and downlink service to be scheduled for the UE, for example, for drx-onDurationTimer, whether there is service to be transmitted, each C-DRX cycle will be periodically started and PDCCH will be blindly monitored in this timer. For drx-RetransmissionTimerUL, whether the uplink process is transmitted correctly, each UL HARQ process will be started and PDCCH will be blindly monitored in this timer. For drx-InactivityTimer, as long as a DCI scheduling new transmission is received, it will be started and PDCCH will be blindly monitored in this timer. Therefore, the default SSSG of these original active timers does not need to configure dense PDCCH monitoring occasion.

[0276] If the wake-up information of LP WUS is a UE group as the minimum granularity: Since a LP WUS indication needs to wake up, it may only be one or part of the UE in the UE group that actually needs to wake up, rather than all the UE. Therefore, the first type of active timer triggered by LP WUS does not need to configure dense PDCCH monitoring occasion. C-DRX is generally configured to match the characteristics of the service, so the PDCCH monitoring occasion of the first type of active timer does not need to be as dense as the second type of active timer.

[0277] If the UE receives LP WUS, there is a running SSSG switch timer, and the original active time may have ended at this time, but the SSSG switch timer started in it has not ended, which can be operated as follows:

[0278] First, restart the SSSG switch timer based on the LP WUS. That is, continue to monitor the SSSG corresponding to the SSSG switch timer in the additional active time started by the LP WUS.

[0279] One way in this scenario is that the SSSG switch timer should be generally required to be longer than the UE's wake-up latency (i.e. the time duration needed from receiving the LP WUS to wake up to a working state). Assuming that the LP WUS is received at time t1, the SSSG switch timer restarted by the LP WUS starts counting from t1.

[0280] Another way in this scenario is that the SSSG switch timer restarted by the LP WUS starts counting from the time after the UE wakes up. For example, assuming that the LP WUS is received at time t1 and the wake-up latency is T0, the SSSG switch timer restarted by the LP WUS starts counting from t1+T0. The wake-up latency can also be the interval between the network configured LP WUS and the start of PDCCH monitoring, or the interval between the network configured LP WUS and the start of the additional active time triggered by the LP WUS.

[0281] Second, the additional active time triggered by the LP WUS, the SSSG switch timer is restarted after receiving the DCI in the additional active time. The DCI can be the DCI for scheduling data transmission.

[0282] In some embodiments, if the UE receives the LP WUS without a running SSSG switch timer, the UE will monitor the default SSSG in the additional active time triggered by the LP WUS. The description of the default SSSG is as described above. Exemplarily, the network device can configure the default SSSG during the running of the second type of active timer and the default SSSG during the running of the first type of active timer, respectively. For example, when the second type of active timer is running, the default SSSG is SSSG0, and when the first type of active timer is running, the default SSSG is SSSG1. If no default SSSG is configured to be monitored in the additional active time, the default SSSG is SSSG0.

[0283] In some cases, there is overlap in time between the first type of active timer and the second type of active timer. This overlap can occur in the following scenarios:

[0284] (1) The UE receives the LP WUS outside of the legacy active time, which triggers an additional active time. After the PDCCH scheduling instruction is sent in the additional active time, the drx-InactivityTimer, drx-RetransmissionTimerUL, drx-RetransmissionTimerDL, etc. are started, so there can be overlap in time.

[0285] (2) The UE receives the LP WUS outside of the legacy active time, which triggers an additional active time. Since the timer duration corresponding to the additional active time is configured to be relatively long, the running period of the additional active timer overlaps with the running period of the drx-onDurationTimer of the next C-DRX cycle.

[0286] In this case of overlap, the UE behavior can be one of the following:

[0287] If there is an SSSG switch timer running, the UE monitors the SSSG corresponding to the SSSG switch timer;

[0288] If there is no SSSG switch timer running, the UE performs one of the following:

[0289] 1) The UE only monitors the default SSSG during the running period of the first type of active timer;

[0290] 2) The UE only monitors the default SSSG during the running period of the second type of active timer, or

[0291] 3) The UE monitors the default SSSG during the running period of the second type of active timer and the default SSSG during the running period of the first type of active timer.

[0292] If the LP WUS triggers an additional active time, and the UE is triggered to monitor a non-default SSSG in the additional active time, the UE can perform one of the following:

[0293] The UE will monitor the non-default SSSG;

[0294] If there is a prior running SSSG switching timer when the non-default SSSG is triggered, the SSSG switching timer is terminated.

[0295] Here the UE can be triggered by the LP WUS DCI to monitor a non-default SSSG.

[0296] If the LP WUS triggers an additional active time, and the LP WUS triggers the UE to monitor a non-default SSSG, the LP WUS will trigger the SSSG switching timer corresponding to the non-default SSSG. Assume that the LP WUS is detected at time t1, the starting time of the SSSG switching timer is t1+T0.

[0297] In one embodiment, the value of T0 is related to the wake-up latency of the UE. The wake-up latency can be defined by the protocol, configured by the base station, or dynamically indicated by the base station. The wake-up latency can also be the interval between the network-configured LP WUS and the starting position of PDCCH monitoring, or the interval between the network-configured LP WUS and the starting position of the additional active time triggered by the LP WUS.

[0298] In another embodiment, the value of T0 is also related to the SSSG switching delay configured by the base station or the minimum SSSG switching delay defined in the existing protocol.

[0299] In still some embodiments, T0 = max(wake-up latency, SSSG switching delay).

[0300] Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a device for implementing any of the above methods, for example, a device is provided, which includes units or modules for implementing the steps performed by the UE in any of the above methods. For another example, another device is provided, which includes units or modules for implementing the steps performed by the network device (for example, an access network device, or a core network device, etc.) in any of the above methods.

[0301] It should be understood that the division of each unit or module in the above apparatus is only a logical function division, and all or part of them can be integrated into a physical entity or physically separated in actual implementation. In addition, the units or modules in the apparatus can be implemented in the form of processor calling software: for example, the apparatus includes a processor connected with a memory, the memory stores instructions, and the processor calls the instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the above methods or realize the functions of the units or modules of the above apparatus, wherein the processor is a general processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a microprocessor, and the memory is an internal memory or an external memory of the apparatus. Alternatively, the units or modules in the apparatus can be implemented in the form of hardware circuit, and the functions of part or all of the units or modules can be realized by the design of the hardware circuit. The above hardware circuit can be understood as one or more processors; for example, in one implementation, the above hardware circuit is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and the functions of part or all of the units or modules are realized by the design of the logical relationship between the elements in the circuit; for another example, in another implementation, the above hardware circuit is a programmable logic device (PLD), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA) is taken as an example, which can include a large number of logic gate circuits, and the connection relationship between the logic gate circuits is configured by a configuration file, so as to realize the functions of part or all of the units or modules. All units or modules of the above apparatus can be implemented in the form of processor calling software, or all units or modules can be implemented in the form of hardware circuit, or part of the units or modules are implemented in the form of processor calling software, and the remaining part is implemented in the form of hardware circuit.

[0302] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor is a circuit with signal processing capability. In one implementation, the processor can be a circuit with instruction reading and running capability, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a graphics processing unit (GPU) (which can be understood as a microprocessor), a digital signal processor (DSP), and the like. In another implementation, the processor can implement certain functions through a logical relationship of a hardware circuit, and the logical relationship of the hardware circuit is fixed or reconfigurable. For example, the processor is a hardware circuit implemented by an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a programmable logic device (PLD), such as an FPGA. In the reconfigurable hardware circuit, the processor loads a configuration document to implement the configuration of the hardware circuit. It can be understood that the processor loads an instruction to implement the functions of the above part or all units or modules. In addition, the hardware circuit can also be designed for artificial intelligence, which can be understood as an ASIC, such as a neural network processing unit (NPU), a tensor processing unit (TPU), a deep learning processing unit (DPU), and the like.

[0303] As shown in FIG. 5A, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a UE, wherein the UE comprises:

[0304] The receiving module 5101 is configured to listen to a first signal transmitted by the network device using the first receiver, and the first signal is used to wake up the second receiver.

[0305] The processing module 5102 is configured to determine a search space set group (SSSG) listened to by the UE according to whether there is a running first timer when the first signal is listened to.

[0306] In some embodiments, the network device further comprises a processing module.

[0307] In some embodiments, the sending module and / or the receiving module can correspond to a network interface and / or a transceiving antenna of the network device.

[0308] In some embodiments, the processing module can be used by the network device to perform steps related to information processing in any one of the communication methods.

[0309] In some embodiments, the sending module can be configured to enable the network device to perform the steps related to information sending in any one of the communication methods.

[0310] In some embodiments, the receiving module can be configured to enable the network device to perform the steps related to information sending in any one of the communication methods.

[0311] In some embodiments, the processing module is configured to determine, when the first signal is monitored, that the UE monitors the first type of SSSG if a first timer is running; the first type of SSSG is associated with the first timer.

[0312] In some embodiments, the processing module is configured to restart the first timer when the first signal is monitored; and determine, after the first timer is restarted, that the UE monitors the first type of SSSG.

[0313] In some embodiments, the processing module is configured to determine a restart time of the first timer; and restart the first timer at the restart time.

[0314] In some embodiments, the processing module is configured to determine the restart time of the first timer according to a wake-up delay; the wake-up delay is a delay for the UE to wake up a second receiver; and determine the restart time according to a DCI monitored at a first type of activation time; the first type of activation time is an activation time associated with the first signal.

[0315] In some embodiments, the processing module is configured to perform one of the following: determine the restart time of the first timer according to a first time; the first time is a time at which the UE receives the first signal; determine the restart time of the first timer according to a wake-up delay; the wake-up delay is a delay for the UE to wake up a second receiver; and determine the restart time of the first timer according to a DCI monitored at a first type of activation time; the first type of activation time is an activation time associated with the first signal.

[0316] In some embodiments, the wake-up delay is at least one of the following: an interval between a sending time of the first signal and a PDCCH monitoring time; an interval between the sending time of the first signal and a first type of activation time associated with the first signal; the first type of activation time is an activation time associated with the first signal.

[0317] In some embodiments, the processing module is configured to determine, as the restart time, a time at which the DCI is monitored, if the DCI indicates that the first type of SSSG is monitored.

[0318] In some embodiments, the processing module is configured to, before the first timer is restarted, continue the first timer that is running until the restart time is reached or the first timer expires.

[0319] In some embodiments, the processing module is configured to listen to the second type of search space set group (SSSG) in a first type of activation time when there is no running first timer, the first type of activation time being an activation time associated with the first signal, and the second type of SSSG being associated with the first type of activation time.

[0320] In some embodiments, the second type of SSSG comprises a first SSSG associated with the first type of activation time.

[0321] In some embodiments, the processing module is configured to determine, according to whether there is a running first timer, a SSSG that the UE listens to at a time domain overlap location, the time domain overlap location comprising a portion where the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time overlap in time domain, the first type of activation time being an activation time associated with the first signal, and the second type of activation time being an activation time related to discontinuous reception of the UE.

[0322] In some embodiments, the processing module is configured to determine, when there is no running first timer and the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time have a time domain overlap location, a first SSSG that the UE listens to at the time domain overlap location; and determine, according to whether there is a running first timer, a first SSSG and a third SSSG that the UE listens to at the time domain overlap location, the third SSSG being associated with the second type of activation time, the first SSSG being associated with the first type of activation time.

[0323] In some embodiments, there is a second timer started in the first type of activation time, and the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time have a time domain overlap location; the second timer being associated with the first type of activation time.

[0324] In some embodiments, the processing module is configured to perform one of: determining, when there is no running first timer and the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time have a time domain overlap location, a first SSSG that the UE listens to at the time domain overlap location; and determining, when there is no running first timer and the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time have a time domain overlap location, a first SSSG and a third SSSG that the UE listens to at the time domain overlap location, the third SSSG being associated with the second type of activation time, the first SSSG being associated with the first type of activation time.

[0325] In some embodiments, there is a second timer started in the first type of activation time, and the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time have a time domain overlap location; the second timer being associated with the first type of activation time.

[0326] In some embodiments, the receiving module is configured to listen to a first type of SSSG in a first type of activation time associated with the first signal according to a first instruction, the first instruction being carried by the first signal or a DCI listened to in the first type of activation time.

[0327] In some embodiments, the receiving module is configured to restart the first timer before listening to the first type of SSSG, the first type of SSSG being associated with the first timer; and start the first timer before listening to the first type of SSSG, there being no first timer running.

[0328] In some embodiments, the first instruction is a first signal, and the processing module is configured to determine the starting time or the restarting time of the first timer according to the receiving time of the first signal and the starting delay.

[0329] In some embodiments, the starting delay is related to at least one of the wake-up delay of the second receiver and the different-SSSG-listening-switching delay.

[0330] In some embodiments, the receiving module is configured to receive configuration information sent by the network device, the configuration information including at least one of: first information for indicating the first type of activation time associated first SSSG; and second information for indicating the second type of activation time associated third SSSG.

[0331] As shown in FIG. 5B, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a network device, wherein the network device includes:

[0332] The sending module 5201 is configured to send configuration information to a user equipment (UE), the configuration information including at least one of: first information for indicating the first type of activation time associated first search space set group (SSSG); and second information for indicating the second type of activation time associated third SSSG.

[0333] In some embodiments, the network device can further include a processing module and / or a receiving module. In some embodiments, the sending module and / or the receiving module can correspond to a network interface and / or a transceiving antenna of the network device. In some embodiments, the processing module can be used by the network device to perform steps related to information processing in any one of the communication methods. In some embodiments, the sending module can be used by the network device to perform steps related to information sending in any one of the communication methods. In some embodiments, the receiving module can be used by the network device to perform steps related to information sending in any one of the communication methods.

[0334] The embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a communication device, which can include: one or more processors; wherein the processor is used to invoke instructions to cause the communication device to perform the communication method and / or the communication method implemented by any one of the preceding embodiments.

[0335] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6A and / or FIG. 6B, the communication device 8100 further includes one or more memories 8102 for storing instructions. Optionally, all or part of the memories 8102 can also be outside the communication device 8100.

[0336] The communication device can be the aforementioned UE and network device. In some embodiments, the network device can be a master node and / or a secondary node.

[0337] In some embodiments, the communication device 8100 further includes one or more transceivers 8103. When the communication device 8100 includes one or more transceivers 8103, the communication steps in the above methods, such as sending and receiving, are performed by the transceiver 8103, and other steps are performed by the processor 8101.

[0338] In some embodiments, the transceiver can include a receiver and a transmitter, which can be separate or integrated together. Optionally, the terms transceiver, transceiving unit, transceiver, transceiving circuit, etc. can be replaced by each other, the terms transmitter, transmitting unit, transmitter, transmitting circuit, etc. can be replaced by each other, and the terms receiver, receiving unit, receiver, receiving circuit, etc. can be replaced by each other.

[0339] Optionally, the communication device 8100 further includes one or more interface circuits 8104, which are connected with the memory 8102, and can be used to receive signals from the memory 8102 or other devices, and can be used to send signals to the memory 8102 or other devices. For example, the interface circuit 8104 can read the instructions stored in the memory 8102 and send the instructions to the processor 8101.

[0340] The communication device 8100 described in the above embodiments can be a network device or a UE, but the scope of the communication device 8100 described in the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the structure of the communication device 8100 can not be limited by FIG. 6A. The communication device can be a standalone device or can be part of a larger device. For example, the communication device can be: (1) a standalone integrated circuit (IC), or a chip, or a chip system or subsystem; (2) a set of one or more ICs, optionally, the above-mentioned IC set can also include a storage component for storing data, programs; (3) an ASIC, such as a modem; (4) a module that can be embedded in other devices; (5) a receiver, UE device, smart UE device, cellular phone, wireless device, handset, mobile unit, vehicle-mounted device, network device, cloud device, artificial intelligence device, etc.; (6) others, etc.

[0341] FIG. 6B is a structural schematic diagram of the chip 8200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For the case that the communication device 8100 can be a chip or a chip system, the structural schematic diagram of the chip 8200 shown in FIG. 6B can be referred to, but is not limited thereto.

[0342] The chip 8200 comprises one or more processors 8201 configured to invoke instructions to cause the chip 8200 to perform any of the above communication methods.

[0343] In some embodiments, the chip 8200 further comprises one or more interface circuits 8202 connected with the memory 8203, which can be configured to receive signals from the memory 8203 or other devices, and can be configured to send signals to the memory 8203 or other devices. For example, the interface circuit 8202 can read instructions stored in the memory 8203 and send the instructions to the processor 8201. Alternatively, the terms of interface circuit, interface, transceiver pin, transceiver, etc. can be replaced with each other.

[0344] In some embodiments, the chip 8200 further comprises one or more memories 8203 configured to store instructions. Alternatively, all or part of the memory 8203 can be outside the chip 8200.

[0345] The present disclosure further provides a storage medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed on the communication device 8100, cause the communication device 8100 to perform any of the above methods. Alternatively, the storage medium is an electronic storage medium. Alternatively, the storage medium is a computer-readable storage medium, but can also be a storage medium readable by other devices. Alternatively, the storage medium can be a non-transitory storage medium, but can also be a transitory storage medium.

[0346] The present disclosure further provides a program product, which, when executed by the communication device 8100, causes the communication device 8100 to perform any of the above communication methods. Alternatively, the program product is a computer program product.

[0347] The present disclosure further provides a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform any of the above communication methods.

[0348] Other embodiments of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the features disclosed herein. It is intended that the present disclosure cover any and all variations of the embodiments of the disclosure described herein including those variations that are now known or become known in the future as equivalents of the features described herein. The specification and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting. The true scope and spirit of the present disclosure should be indicated by the following claims.

[0349] It should be understood that the present embodiments are not limited to the precise structures as herein described and illustrated in the drawings, and that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope thereof. The scope of the present embodiments should be indicated by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, wherein, A method performed by a user equipment (UE) including a first receiver and a second receiver, the method comprising: listening, using the first receiver, for a first signal transmitted by a network device, the first signal being for waking up the second receiver; determining, according to whether there is a first timer running when the first signal is listened to, a search space set group (SSSG) for the UE to listen to.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The determining, according to whether there is a first timer running when the first signal is listened to, a search space set group (SSSG) for the UE to listen to, comprises: when there is the first timer running when the first signal is listened to, determining that the UE is to listen to a first type of SSSG; the first type of SSSG being associated with the first timer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein, The determining, when there is the first timer running when the first signal is listened to, that the UE is to listen to a first type of SSSG, comprises: when there is the first timer running when the first signal is listened to, restarting the first timer. The determining, after the first timer is restarted, that the UE is to listen to the first type of SSSG.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, The method comprises at least one of: determining a restart time of the first timer according to a first time; the first time being a time at which the first signal is received by the UE; determining the restart time of the first timer according to a wake-up latency; the wake-up latency being a latency for the UE to wake up the second receiver; determining the restart time of the first timer according to a DCI listened to within a first type of activation time; the first type of activation time being an activation time associated with the first signal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, The wake-up latency is at least one of: an interval between a time of transmission of the first signal and a time of listening for a physical control channel (PDCCH); an interval between a time of transmission of the first signal and a first type of activation time associated with the first signal.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein, The determining the restart time according to a downlink control information (DCI) listened to within a first type of activation time, comprises: when the listened-to DCI indicates that the first type of SSSG is to be listened to, determining a time at which the DCI is listened to as the restart time.

7. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein, The method further comprises: before the first timer is restarted, continuing the first timer to run until the restart time is reached or the first timer times out.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, The determining, according to whether there is a first timer running when the first signal is listened to, a search space set group (SSSG) for the UE to listen to, comprises: when there is no first timer running when the first signal is listened to, listening for a second type of search space set group (SSSG) within a first type of activation time; the first type of activation time being an activation time associated with the first signal, the second type of SSSG being associated with the first type of activation time.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, The second type of SSSG comprises a first SSSG associated with the first type of activation time.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein, The determining, according to whether there is a first timer running when the first signal is listened to, a search space set group (SSSG) for the UE to listen to, comprises: determining, according to whether the first timer is running, a SSSG for the UE to monitor at a time domain overlap location, the time domain overlap location comprising a portion where the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time overlap in time domain, the first type of activation time being an activation time associated with the first signal, and the second type of activation time being an activation time related to a discontinuous reception of the UE.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein, The determining, according to whether the first timer is running, a SSSG for the UE to monitor at a time domain overlap location, comprises: when the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time overlap in time domain and the first timer is running, determining that the UE monitors a first type of SSSG at the time domain overlap location, the first type of SSSG being associated with the first timer.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein, The determining, according to whether the first timer is running, a SSSG for the UE to monitor at a time domain overlap location, comprises one of: when the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time overlap in time domain and the first timer is not running, determining that the UE monitors a first SSSG at the time domain overlap location; when the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time overlap in time domain and the first timer is not running, determining that the UE monitors a first SSSG and a third SSSG at the time domain overlap location, the third SSSG being associated with the second type of activation time; the first SSSG being associated with the first type of activation time.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein, a second timer is started within the first type of activation time, the first type of activation time and the second type of activation time overlap in time domain at a location, and the second timer is associated with the first type of activation time.

14. The method of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein, The method further comprises: monitoring a first type of SSSG according to a first instruction within the first type of activation time associated with the first signal, the first instruction being carried by the first signal or a DCI monitored within the first type of activation time.

15. The method of claim 14, the method further comprising: restarting the first timer when the first timer is running before monitoring the first type of SSSG; the first type of SSSG being associated with the first timer; starting the first timer when the first timer is not running before monitoring the first type of SSSG.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein, The first instruction being the first signal, the method further comprises: determining a starting time or a restarting time of the first timer according to a receiving time of the first signal and a starting delay.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein, The starting delay being related to at least one of a wake-up delay of the second receiver and a different SSSG monitoring switching delay.

18. The method of any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving configuration information sent by a network device, the configuration information comprising at least one of: first information indicating a first SSSG associated with a first type of activation time; second information indicating a third SSSG associated with a second type of activation time.

19. A communication method, wherein, The method is performed by a network device, the method comprising: The configuration information comprises at least one of the following: First information used for indicating a first search space set group (SSSG) of a first type of activation time association; Second information used for indicating a third SSSG of a second type of activation time association.

20. A user equipment (UE), comprising: The UE comprises: A receiving module configured to listen to a first signal transmitted by the network device using a first receiver, the first signal being used to wake up a second receiver; A processing module configured to determine a search space set group (SSSG) listened to by the UE according to whether there is a first timer running when the first signal is listened to.

21. A network device, wherein, The network device comprises: A sending module configured to send configuration information to a user equipment (UE), the configuration information comprising at least one of the following: First information used for indicating a first search space set group (SSSG) of a first type of activation time association; Second information used for indicating a third SSSG of a second type of activation time association.

22. A communication system, wherein, The communication system comprises: A user equipment (UE) configured to perform the communication method of any one of claims 1 to 18; A network device configured to perform the communication method of claim 19.

23. A communications device, comprising: The communication device comprises: One or more processors; The processor is used to invoke instructions to enable the communication device to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 18 or 19.

24. A storage medium, wherein, The storage medium stores instructions, when the instructions are executed on the communication device, enabling the communication device to perform the communication method of any one of claims 1 to 18 or 19.

25. A program product, wherein, The program product comprises a computer program, when the computer program is executed by the communication device, enabling the communication device to implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 18 or 19.

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