Communication method and related device

Abstract

Provided in the present application is a communication method. The method comprises: a terminal receives at least one offset from a network device, and then receives a wake-up signal by means of a low power consumption receiver on at least one monitoring occasion amongst receiving occasions of the terminal, wherein the receiving occasions of the terminal are determined on the basis of reference paging occasions of the terminal, the at least one offset, and the relationship type between paging occasions and receiving occasions configured by the network device for a plurality of terminals, and the monitoring occasion is related to a wake-up delay of the terminal. In the method, the terminal determines receiving occasions or monitoring occasions on the basis of at least one offset configured by a network device and the relationship type between paging occasions and receiving occasions. Terminals with different performance can receive wake-up signals on corresponding monitoring occasions amongst receiving occasions according to the respective wake-up delays of the terminals, such that terminals with different performance can all be woken up on appropriate wake-up occasions, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption.

Description

Communication method and related device

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese Patent Application No. 202411391883.3, filed on September 30, 2024, entitled “A terminal wake-up method and related device”, and to the Chinese Patent Application No. 202411934835.4, filed on December 25, 2024, entitled “A communication method and related device”, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method, a network device, a terminal, a computer readable storage medium, and a computer program product. BACKGROUND

[0003] With the continuous development of communication technology, the power consumption control requirement for terminals is getting higher and higher. Taking a user equipment (UE) as an example, in order to reduce the power consumption of the UE and achieve the purpose of power saving, a discontinuous reception (DRX) mechanism can be enabled. The DRX is specifically to make the UE enter a sleep state periodically, and not to listen to a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) subframe. If it needs to be listened to, the UE is woken up from the sleep state. Wherein, when the UE does not establish a connection with the network device, the DRX in an idle state can be enabled.

[0004] The UE can perform state switching by listening to a low power wake up signal (LP-WUS). The LP-WUS is a low power wake up signal designed for small devices with low power consumption, static, limited action, and low speed movement. The UE receives the LP-WUS by adding a low power wake up receiver (LP-WUR).

[0005] When the UE listens using the LP-WUR, a main receiver (MR) can be in a sleep state. If the UE listens to the LP-WUS, the state of the MR is switched, for example, from a sleep state to an active state, and thereby starts to listen to the PDCCH. If the UE does not listen to the LP-WUS, the MR is still in the sleep state, and the UE does not start to listen to the PDCCH.

[0006] However, the working performance of each UE is different, resulting in different wake up delays from listening to the LP-WUS to waking up the MR of each UE, so that the appropriate wake up time of each UE is different. Therefore, it is necessary to select a suitable low-power wake up mode, so that UEs with different performance can be awakened at an appropriate wake up time, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption. SUMMARY

[0007] The present application provides a communication method and related equipment, which aims to make terminals with different performance can be awakened at an appropriate wake up time, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption. It should be noted that hereinafter the first device is usually a network device, and the second device is usually a terminal, which will not be described hereinafter.

[0008] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present application provides the following technical solutions:

[0009] The first aspect of the present application provides a communication method, which is executed by a terminal, and the method comprises:

[0010] The terminal receives at least one offset from the network device, the at least one offset is used to determine the receiving time or the listening time of the terminal. Then, the terminal receives a wake up signal through the first receiver of the terminal at at least one listening time in the receiving time of the terminal. Wherein, the wake up signal is used to wake up the second receiver of the terminal, the power consumption of the first receiver is lower than that of the second receiver, the receiving time of the terminal is determined according to the reference paging time for the terminal, the at least one offset, and the relationship type of the paging time and the receiving time configured by the network device for a plurality of terminals, the at least one listening time is related to the wake up delay of the terminal, the wake up delay of the terminal is used to indicate the time delay from receiving the wake up signal by the first receiver of the terminal to waking up the second receiver of the terminal, and the at least one listening time is located within the receiving time in the time domain.

[0011] In this way, the terminal can determine the receiving time or the listening time based on the at least one offset configured by the network device and the relationship type of the paging time and the receiving time. Different performance terminals can receive the wake up signal at the corresponding listening time within the receiving time according to the respective wake up delay, so that different performance terminals can be awakened at an appropriate wake up time, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption.

[0012] In some possible implementation manners, the at least one offset is determined by the network device according to the wake-up time delay sent by the plurality of terminals. In this method, the network device can learn the capability or preference setting of the plurality of terminals in the wake-up time delay, and the network device can configure a suitable offset according to the capability or preference setting of the plurality of terminals in the wake-up time delay, so that terminals with different performance or different capability can determine a suitable receiving time or listening time according to the offset, and are woken up at a suitable time. In this way, the problem of resource waste caused by the plurality of terminals being woken up at the same time period, or the problem of affecting normal operation of a service caused by part of the terminals failing to be woken up in time in the related art is solved.

[0013] In some possible implementation manners, the at least one offset can include a first offset set, and the first offset set can include one offset or a plurality of offsets. Correspondingly, the receiving time of the terminal can be determined according to a difference between the reference paging time of the terminal and the at least one offset in the first offset set. In this way, the terminal can take the reference paging time as a reference point, and accurately deduce the receiving time by combining the at least one offset in the first offset set, so that each terminal can be woken up at a suitable time.

[0014] In some possible implementation manners, the at least one offset can further include a second offset set, and the second offset set can include time intervals between a plurality of listening times. An (i+1)th listening time in the plurality of listening times can be determined according to a time interval between an ith listening time and the (i+1)th listening time and the ith listening time. Wherein, i is greater than or equal to 1, and i is a positive integer. In this way, the terminal can determine a plurality of listening times, and receive a wake-up signal at a suitable listening time, and then perform paging detection.

[0015] Wherein, a start time of a first listening time in the plurality of listening times can be equal to a start time of the receiving time, or the first listening time in the plurality of listening times can be configured by the network device. In this way, after determining the start time of the first listening time, the terminal can determine other listening times in turn according to the time intervals between the plurality of listening times.

[0016] The method not only determines the receiving time, but also accurately determines the listening time based on the at least one offset in the second offset set, to achieve fine-grained wake-up. Moreover, the configuration of the plurality of listening times is conducive to improving the wake-up success rate.

[0017] In some possible implementation manners, the at least one offset further includes a second offset set, and the second offset set can also include time intervals between the plurality of listening times and the receiving time. Correspondingly, the plurality of listening times can be determined according to the time intervals between the plurality of listening times and the receiving time and the receiving time.

[0018] In the method, the terminal can take the receiving occasion as a reference point, determine a plurality of monitoring occasions based on a time interval between the receiving occasion and the offset, and ensure the accuracy of the receiving occasion and the accuracy of the monitoring occasion.

[0019] In some possible implementation manners, the at least one offset can include an offset between the monitoring occasion of the terminal and the reference paging occasion for the terminal. Accordingly, the at least one monitoring occasion of the terminal can be determined according to the reference paging occasion for the terminal and the at least one offset. In this case, the starting time of the receiving occasion of the terminal is equal to the starting time of the first monitoring occasion in the at least one monitoring occasion. In this way, the terminal can directly determine the at least one monitoring occasion according to the reference paging occasion and the at least one offset, and determine the receiving occasion based on the monitoring occasion, so that terminals with different performance or different capability can be woken up at appropriate time, and unnecessary resource consumption is reduced.

[0020] In some possible implementation manners, the terminal can further receive, from the network device, configuration information about the dynamic paging occasion, and detect the paging indication at the dynamic paging occasion, where the starting time of the dynamic paging occasion is a sum of the starting time of the receiving occasion of the terminal and the wake-up delay of the terminal.

[0021] The method can flexibly wake up terminals with different wake-up delays at the dynamic paging occasion, so that the terminal can respond to the paging in time and meet the service requirement.

[0022] In some possible implementation manners, when the terminal receives the wake-up signal through the first receiver, if the offset for determining the receiving occasion in the at least one offset is greater than or equal to the wake-up delay of the terminal, it indicates that the terminal has the capability to wake up in the remaining time, and the terminal can receive the wake-up signal through the first receiver at the at least one monitoring occasion in the receiving occasion of the terminal. In this way, the terminal can wake up in time in the current paging cycle and start the paging indication detection.

[0023] In another possible implementation manner, if the offset for determining the receiving occasion in the at least one offset is less than the wake-up delay of the terminal, it indicates that the terminal is difficult to receive the wake-up signal and detect the paging indication in the current paging cycle, and accordingly, the terminal will receive the wake-up signal and detect the paging indication in the next paging cycle of the terminal. In this way, resource consumption caused by the wake-up and paging detection of the terminal at the current paging occasion can be avoided.

[0024] In some possible implementation manners, the at least one offset includes multiple offsets, and the terminal can further determine a target offset from the multiple offsets, and determine the receiving occasion of the terminal based on the target offset. For example, the terminal can determine the target offset from the multiple offsets, from offsets greater than or equal to the wake-up delay, and then determine the receiving occasion of the terminal according to the target offset and the reference paging occasion for the terminal. This method determines the target offset from offsets greater than or equal to the wake-up delay from the multiple offsets, and guarantees that the terminal can wake up in the current paging cycle and detect the paging indication, meeting the service requirement.

[0025] In some possible implementation manners, if the sleep state of the second receiver of the terminal is deep sleep or super deep sleep, the terminal can determine a first offset from the multiple offsets as the target offset, and if the sleep state of the second receiver of the terminal is light sleep or shallow sleep, the terminal can determine a second offset from the multiple offsets as the target offset. The first offset is greater than the second offset. In other words, if the sleep state of the second receiver of the terminal is deep sleep or super deep sleep, the terminal can determine a larger offset as the target offset, and if the sleep state of the second receiver of the terminal is light sleep or shallow sleep, the terminal can determine a smaller offset as the target offset.

[0026] In this method, the terminal can determine a suitable target offset according to the sleep state, and thus determine a suitable receiving occasion, providing a reference for terminal wake-up and paging detection.

[0027] In some possible implementation manners, the terminal can determine the target offset from the multiple offsets according to the correspondence between the subgroups and the offsets and the paging subgroup to which the terminal belongs. Then, the terminal can determine the receiving occasion of the terminal according to the target offset and the reference paging occasion for the terminal. The correspondence between the subgroups and the offsets can be determined in advance. In this way, the terminal can more accurately and conveniently determine the target offset according to the correspondence, and thus improve the efficiency of terminal wake-up and detection of the paging indication.

[0028] In some possible implementation manners, the terminal can further receive configuration information about an actual paging occasion from the network device, the actual paging occasion being used to indicate the occasion at which the terminal detects the paging indication, so as to detect the paging indication at the actual paging occasion. In this way, the terminal can detect the paging indication at the actual paging occasion, improving the success rate of detection of the paging indication.

[0029] In some possible implementation manners, if the paging cycle is less than or equal to the length threshold, or the number of paging occasions in the paging cycle is greater than or equal to the number threshold, the terminal can determine the actual paging occasion according to the at least one offset. If the paging cycle is greater than the length threshold, or the number of paging occasions in the paging cycle is less than the number threshold, the terminal can determine the actual paging occasion according to the wake-up delay of the terminal. In this way, the terminal can more accurately select the offset or the wake-up delay to determine the actual paging occasion according to the characteristics of the paging cycle, and thus improve the success rate of detecting the paging indication.

[0030] In some possible implementation manners, the relationship type between the paging occasion and the receiving occasion received by the terminal from the network device is a first type, a second type or a third type, where the first type is used to indicate that one paging occasion corresponds to one receiving occasion, the second type is used to indicate that multiple paging occasions correspond to one receiving occasion, and the third type is used to indicate that one paging occasion corresponds to multiple receiving occasions.

[0031] In this method, the terminal can accurately determine the receiving occasion in a manner corresponding to the relationship type between the paging occasion and the receiving occasion, and thus provide assistance for the terminal to wake up and detect the paging indication.

[0032] The second aspect of the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a network device, and the method comprises the following steps:

[0033] The network device sends at least one offset and a relationship type between a paging occasion and a receiving occasion to a terminal, and the at least one offset is used to determine a receiving occasion or a listening occasion of the terminal. In this way, the terminal can receive a wake-up signal at a suitable receiving occasion or listening occasion according to a wake-up delay, and thus reduce power consumption.

[0034] In some possible implementation manners, the network device can further receive a wake-up delay sent by a plurality of terminals, and the wake-up delay of each terminal is used to indicate a time delay from when a first receiver of the terminal receives a wake-up signal to when a second receiver of the terminal is woken up, and the power consumption of the first receiver is lower than that of the second receiver. In this way, the at least one offset sent by the network device to the terminal is determined according to the wake-up delay of the terminal, and the terminal can determine a suitable receiving occasion and listening occasion according to the wake-up delay, and thus reduce power consumption.

[0035] In some possible implementation manners, the relationship type between the paging occasion and the receiving occasion sent by the network device to the terminal is a first type, a second type or a third type, where the first type is used to indicate that one paging occasion corresponds to one receiving occasion, the second type is used to indicate that multiple paging occasions correspond to one receiving occasion, and the third type is used to indicate that one paging occasion corresponds to multiple receiving occasions.

[0036] In some possible implementation manners, if the number of bits in the payload of the wake-up signal is greater than the first threshold or the number of paging subgroups is greater than the second threshold, the relationship type of the paging occasion and the receiving occasion sent by the network device to the terminal is the third type. In this way, the relationship type of the paging occasion and the receiving occasion can be determined more accurately, and the efficiency of paging can be improved.

[0037] The at least one offset sent by the network device to the terminal can include a plurality of offsets, and each offset of the plurality of offsets corresponds to one paging subgroup. In this way, the terminal can more accurately and conveniently determine the receiving occasion or the monitoring occasion according to the correspondence, and the efficiency of detecting the paging indication can be improved.

[0038] In some possible implementation manners, the network device can send configuration information about an actual paging occasion to the terminal, and the actual paging occasion is used to indicate the occasion at which the terminal detects the paging indication. In this way, the terminal can detect the paging indication at the actual paging occasion, and the success rate of detecting the paging indication can be improved.

[0039] In some possible implementation manners, the network device can also send configuration information about a dynamic paging occasion to the terminal, and the dynamic paging occasion is used for the terminal to detect the paging indication. In this way, terminals with different wake-up delays can flexibly detect the paging indication at the dynamic paging occasion.

[0040] The third aspect of the present application provides an electronic device, which can be a terminal. The terminal includes a memory and at least one processor. The memory is configured to store a program, and the at least one processor is configured to execute the program, so that the terminal implements the communication method provided in the first aspect of the present application.

[0041] The fourth aspect of the present application provides an electronic device, which can be a network device, such as a base station. The network device includes a memory and at least one processor. The memory is configured to store a program, and the at least one processor is configured to execute the program, so that the network device implements the communication method provided in the second aspect of the present application.

[0042] The fifth aspect of the present application provides a communication system, including a network device and a terminal. The terminal is configured to execute the communication method provided in the first aspect of the present application, and the network device is configured to cooperate with the terminal to execute the communication method provided in the second aspect of the present application.

[0043] The fifth aspect of the present application provides a computer storage medium, configured to store a computer program. When the computer program is executed, the communication method provided in the first aspect or the second aspect of the present application is implemented. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0044] FIG. 1 is an example diagram of a communication system architecture disclosed in an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a terminal receiving a wake-up signal through a low-power receiver according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] FIGS. 4A to 4C are schematic diagrams of a method for determining a receiving occasion by a group of terminals according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] FIGS. 5A to 5D are schematic diagrams of another method for determining a receiving occasion by a group of terminals according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0049] FIGS. 6A to 6D are schematic diagrams of still another method for determining a receiving occasion by a group of terminals according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0050] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0051] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a network device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0052] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a terminal according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. The terms used in the following embodiments are only for the purpose of describing the specific embodiments and are not intended to be limiting to the present application. As used in the specification and the appended claims of the present application, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that “one or more” as used in the embodiments of the present application means one, two, or more than two; “and / or” describes the associating relationship of the associated objects, indicating that there can be three kinds of relationships; for example, A and / or B can represent the following three cases: A exists alone, A and B exist together, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character “ / ” generally represents an “or” relationship between the associated objects.

[0054] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the application. Thus, the appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" or "in a various embodiment" or "in some embodiments" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but can refer to different embodiments. The terms "including," "comprising," "having" and variations thereof are meant to encompass the item listed thereafter and

[0055] The plurality of embodiments of the present application refers to greater than or equal to two. It should be noted that in the description of the embodiments of the present application, the terms "first", "second", etc. are only used for the purpose of distinguishing the description, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance, nor can it be understood as indicating or implying order.

[0056] The embodiments of the present application are applied to a communication system, which can be a second generation (2G) communication system, or a third generation (3G) communication system, or can be a fourth generation (4G) communication system (such as an LTE / LTE-A system), or can be a fifth generation (5G) communication system (such as an NR system), or can be a hybrid architecture of LTE and 5G, or can be a sixth generation (6G) communication system, or a communication system that appears in future communication development, etc.

[0057] The communication system includes a network device and a terminal. The network device is a device used to provide network communication function on the network side, and is also called a network element in some cases. The network device can usually be a base station, or a functional unit of a base station, or a combination of functional units of a base station. An example of a communication system is shown in FIG. 1, which includes a base station 1 and a terminal 2.

[0058] In the embodiments provided in the present application, the base station can be any kind of device with wireless transceiving function, including but not limited to: an evolved Node B (eNB or e-NodeB) in long term evolution (LTE), a base station (gNodeB or gNB) or transmission receiving point (TRP) in new radio (NR), a base station in subsequent evolution of 3GPP, an access node in a Wi-Fi system, a wireless relay node, a wireless backhaul node, etc. The base station can be: a macro base station, a micro base station, a pico base station, a small station, a relay station, or a balloon station, etc. The base station can include one or more co-sited or non-co-sited transmission points (TRPs). The base station can also be a radio controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario, a centralized unit (CU), and / or a distributed unit (DU). The base station can communicate with the terminal, or communicate with the terminal through the relay station. The terminal can communicate with multiple base stations of different technologies, for example, the terminal can communicate with a base station supporting an LTE network, and can also communicate with a base station supporting a 5G network, and can also communicate with a base station supporting an LTE network and a base station supporting a 5G network in dual connectivity.

[0059] In the embodiments provided by the present application, the terminal can be various forms, for example, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a vehicle-mounted terminal device, a wireless terminal in self driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical, a wireless terminal in smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in smart city, a wireless terminal in smart home, a wearable terminal device, etc. The terminal can also be referred to as a terminal device, a user equipment (UE), an access terminal device, a vehicle-mounted terminal, an industrial control terminal, a UE unit, a UE station, a mobile station, a mobile station, a remote station, a remote terminal device, a mobile device, a UE terminal device, a terminal device, a wireless communication device, a UE agent or a UE apparatus, etc. The terminal can also be a fixed terminal or a mobile terminal.

[0060] FIG. 1 is an example of a communication system architecture suitable for embodiments of the present application. The names of the various network elements included in FIG. 1 are only one name, and the name does not constitute a limitation on the function of the network element itself. In 5G networks and future other networks, the above-mentioned various network elements can also be other names, and the embodiments of the present application do not make specific limitations thereon. For example, in a 6G network, part or all of the above-mentioned various network elements can continue to use the terminology in 5G, or can be other names, etc., which are uniformly described here, and the following will not be repeated.

[0061] In order to achieve the purpose of power saving, the terminal such as UE can enable the discontinuous reception (DRX) mechanism. DRX can make the UE enter the sleep mode periodically, in the sleep mode, the UE does not listen to the PDCCH subframe, when it is needed to listen, it is woken up from the sleep state. Among them, when the UE does not establish a connection with the network device, the DRX in the idle state can be enabled.

[0062] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a terminal listening to a wake-up signal through a low-power receiver. As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal can include a main receiver (MR) and a low-power receiver (LR). The low-power receiver, also referred to as a low-power wake-up receiver (LP-WUR), is dedicated to waking up the main receiver so that the main receiver can work in time. In some scenarios, for the sake of convenience of description, the low-power receiver can also be referred to as a first receiver, and the main receiver can be referred to as a second receiver, and the power consumption of the first receiver is lower than that of the second receiver.

[0063] The terminal receives a low-power wake-up signal (LP-WUS) by adding an LP-WUR. The LP-WUS is a low-power wake-up signal designed for small devices (such as UEs or Internet of Things devices) that are power-sensitive, static, action-limited, and low-speed mobile. Since the power consumption of the LP-WUR is much lower than that of the main receiver, the LP-WUR listens to the LP-WUS and wakes up the MR when the LP-WUS is detected, and the MR listens to the PDCCH subframe, which can greatly reduce the power consumption of the terminal and achieve the purpose of power saving.

[0064] For the sake of convenience of understanding, the process of terminal wake-up and paging is described in detail below.

[0065] In an idle state, the terminal usually does not perform data transmission and reception. In this case, the terminal can configure the main receiver MR to be in a sleep state, and use the LP-WUR to listen to the low-power wake-up signal LP-WUS to save power consumption. The sleep state of the main receiver can include one or more of an ultra-deep sleep, a deep sleep, a light sleep, or a micro sleep. During this period, the terminal periodically detects a paging indication that can indicate an incoming data or call.

[0066] When the terminal has a call, a short message, or a data reception request, paging is triggered. Paging is usually initiated by the network side to notify the terminal in an idle state. The terminal can detect a paging indication at a paging occasion (PO). The paging indication can be carried in a paging message. The PO is a scheduled time for the terminal device to listen to the paging message.

[0067] Specifically, if the terminal monitors the LP-WUS, the terminal triggers the MR to switch the state, for example, to switch the MR from the sleep state to the active state, and start the MR to monitor the PDCCH or receive the paging message. If the terminal does not monitor the LP-WUS, the MR remains in the sleep state, the terminal does not start the MR to monitor the PDCCH, and the MR does not receive the paging message. However, the working performance of each terminal is different, resulting in different wake-up delays of each terminal from monitoring the LP-WUS to waking up the MR, thereby resulting in different suitable wake-up opportunities of each terminal. For example, if the wake-up delays of the terminals are 40ms, 80ms, and 120ms respectively, if the terminal is woken up 40ms before the PO, it may not be possible for the terminals with wake-up delays of 80ms and 120ms to wake up in the current paging cycle, that is, the terminal with a wake-up delay of 40ms and the terminals with wake-up delays of 80ms and 120ms cannot be woken up in the same paging cycle; if the terminal is woken up 120ms before the PO, it may cause the MR of the terminals with wake-up delays of 40ms and 80ms to be woken up in advance, resulting in unnecessary power consumption. Therefore, it is necessary to select a suitable low-power wake-up mode so that terminals with different performances can be woken up at suitable wake-up opportunities, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption.

[0068] Therefore, the present application provides a communication method. In the method, a terminal receives at least one offset sent by a network device, and then receives a wake-up signal through a low-power receiver at at least one monitoring occasion in a receiving occasion of the terminal, wherein the receiving occasion of the terminal is determined according to a reference paging occasion of the terminal, the at least one offset, and a relationship type of a paging occasion and a receiving occasion configured by the network device for a plurality of terminals, and the monitoring occasion is related to a wake-up delay of the terminal.

[0069] In the method, the terminal determines the receiving occasion by receiving at least one offset configured by the network device and the relationship type of the paging occasion and the receiving occasion. Terminals with different performances can receive the wake-up signal at respective monitoring occasions in the receiving occasion according to respective wake-up delays, so that terminals with different performances can be woken up at suitable wake-up opportunities, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption.

[0070] In order to make the technical solutions of the present application clearer and easier to understand, the communication method of the present application will be introduced from the perspective of a terminal.

[0071] Referring to a flowchart of a communication method shown in FIG. 3, the method includes the following steps:

[0072] S302: The terminal receives at least one offset from a network device.

[0073] Since the performance and capability of each terminal are different, the wake-up latency of each terminal is also different, thereby causing the suitable wake-up occasion of each terminal to be different. The wake-up latency is used to indicate the latency from the low-power receiver of the terminal receiving the wake-up signal to the main receiver of the terminal being woken up. Generally, the smaller the wake-up latency, the stronger the performance or capability of the terminal; the larger the wake-up latency, the weaker the performance or capability of the terminal.

[0074] Based on this, the terminal can actively send the wake-up latency to the network device, so that the network device determines at least one offset according to the wake-up latency sent by the plurality of terminals. Specifically, the terminal can send the wake-up latency of the terminal when sending the terminal capability information. For example, the terminal can carry the wake-up latency in the terminal capability information, thereby achieving sending the wake-up latency of the terminal to the network device when sending the terminal capability information. It should be noted that when sending the terminal capability information, the terminal can send a value as the wake-up latency from X candidate values. Specifically, the network device can define X different wake-up delay options in advance, and the terminal can select a suitable wake-up delay from the plurality of candidate values according to the characteristics or running situation of the terminal, such as the hardware performance, software configuration of the terminal itself, or the current power of the terminal, and inform the network device through the capability reporting mechanism. For example, X can be equal to 3, and the candidate values can be 10 ms, 20 ms and 30 ms. The terminal can select 20 ms as the wake-up latency according to the current power, and inform the network device. In this way, the network device can understand the capability or preference setting of the terminal in terms of wake-up latency, so that the network device considers the above factors in subsequent communication management (such as scheduling resources, energy saving strategies, etc.).

[0075] The at least one offset can be configured by the network device according to the wake-up latency sent by the plurality of terminals. For example, the network device can configure Y offsets according to all received wake-up latencies. Wherein, Y is greater than or equal to 1. In different scenarios, the Y offsets can represent different meanings. For example, the Y offsets can be used to determine the reception occasion. For another example, the Y offsets can include an offset for determining the reception occasion and an offset for determining the listening occasion. Details will be described below.

[0076] S304: The terminal receives the wake-up signal through the low-power receiver in at least one listening occasion in the reception occasion, and the reception occasion of the terminal is determined according to the reference paging occasion of the terminal, the at least one offset, and the relationship type of the paging occasion and the reception occasion configured by the network device for the plurality of terminals, wherein the listening occasion is related to the wake-up latency of the terminal.

[0077] The receiving occasion, also referred to as a low power wake up signal receiving occasion (LP-WUR receiving occasion, LO), is a time window in which the terminal receives the LP-WUS using the LP-WUR. In the time period in which the LO is located, the terminal can receive the LP-WUS using the LP-WUR and start the process of waking up the MR. Specifically, the terminal can receive the LP-WUS in a monitoring occasion (MO) in the LO. For example, the network device can configure the first MO at the start time of the LO, that is, the start time of the first MO is the same as the start time of the LO, and the terminal can determine the LO and monitor the wake-up signal at the start time of the LO to attempt to receive the wake-up signal in the first MO. The network device can also configure the start time of the first MO to be different from the start time of the LO, and the terminal will start monitoring the wake-up signal at the start time of the first MO to attempt to receive the wake-up signal in the first MO.

[0078] The paging occasion (PO) is a scheduled time in which the terminal monitors a paging message. At this time, the terminal can monitor a PDCCH subframe to detect whether there is a paging message, and can then enter a radio resource control (RRC) connected state to process services.

[0079] The PO can include a reference PO and an actual PO. The reference PO, also referred to as a PO reference point, can generally be set based on experience. The actual PO refers to a PO in which paging indication or paging message detection is actually performed. When the network device side does not configure a determined PO, for example, a determined PO based on a wake-up delay is not configured, the paging indication or paging message can be detected at the reference PO. In this case, the actual PO is the same as the reference PO in the time domain. When the network device configures a determined PO, for example, a determined PO based on a wake-up delay is configured, the terminal can determine the actual PO based on the wake-up delay. In this case, the actual PO can be different from the reference PO in the time domain.

[0080] Further, the POs can also include dynamic POs. The dynamic POs refer to the POs newly added on the basis of the original POs (e.g., the reference POs). In other words, the paging cycle includes not only the original POs but also the dynamic POs. The starting time of the dynamic POs can be earlier than the starting time of the original POs. The terminal can detect the paging indication in the newly added dynamic PO. If the paging indication is detected in the dynamic PO, the terminal can monitor the PDCCH. If the paging indication is not detected in the dynamic PO, the terminal can continue to detect the paging indication in the original PO. In addition, the POs can also include POs when the LPWUS is invalid, also known as legacy paging occasions (legacy POs). For example, the legacy POs can be the reference POs corresponding to the traditional or non-low-power wake-up signals. If the LPWUS is invalid, the terminal can fall back to the legacy POs for detection of the paging indication or the paging message.

[0081] In a specific implementation, the terminal can determine the reception occasion (LO) according to the reference paging occasion (i.e., the reference PO) of the terminal sent by the network device, at least one offset, and the relationship type of the paging occasion and the reception occasion. The relationship type of the PO and the LO can include a first type, a second type, or a third type, where the first type is used to indicate that one PO corresponds to one LO, the second type is used to indicate that multiple POs correspond to one LO, and the third type is used to indicate that one PO corresponds to multiple LOs. The above relationship types can be configured by the network device. For example, the network device can determine the relationship type of the PO and the LO according to the performance and functions of the terminal and send it to the terminal. For ease of description, the above first type can also be referred to as one-to-one in some scenarios, the above second type can also be referred to as many-to-one in some scenarios, and the above third type can also be referred to as one-to-many in some scenarios.

[0082] If the relationship type of the PO and the LO is the first type (e.g., one-to-one) or the second type (e.g., many-to-one), the offset used to determine the LO can be one, and the terminal can determine one LO according to the offset. If the relationship type of the PO and the LO is the third type (e.g., one-to-many), the offset used to determine the LO can be multiple, and the terminal can determine one LO according to each offset in the multiple offsets used to determine the LO, respectively. In other words, the at least one offset includes a first offset set, and the LO of the terminal can be determined according to the difference between the reference PO of the terminal and at least one offset in the first offset set. The following will be described in detail.

[0083] If the relationship type of the PO and the LO is the first type, the terminal can determine the LO according to the reference PO and the offset used to determine the LO. For example, the start time of the LO can be the difference between the start time of the reference PO and the at least one offset used to determine the LO. In this case, the network device can also configure at least one MO for the terminal to monitor the wake-up signal. For example, the network device can configure multiple MOs for each wake-up latency for the terminal to detect. Then, the terminal can also detect the paging indication based on the corresponding wake-up latency when the wake-up signal is monitored. The MO configured by the network device is related to the wake-up latency of the terminal.

[0084] It should be noted that, in the case of the first type of relationship between the PO and the LO, if the network device configures one offset, the terminal determines the LO according to the offset; if the network device configures multiple offsets, the terminal can determine a target offset from the multiple offsets, and then determine the LO according to the target offset. Specifically, the terminal can determine a target offset from the multiple offsets according to the wake-up latency of the terminal, the sleep state of the MR, or the paging subgroup to which the terminal belongs. Then the terminal can determine the LO of the terminal according to the target offset and the reference PO of the terminal. The start time of the LO can be the difference between the start time of the reference PO and the target offset.

[0085] The specific implementation of determining the target offset from the multiple offsets is described below.

[0086] In a first possible implementation, the terminal can determine a target offset from the multiple offsets, from offsets greater than or equal to the wake-up latency. For example, when the maximum value of the multiple offsets is greater than the wake-up latency, the terminal can determine the maximum value of the multiple offsets as the target offset. For another example, when the multiple offsets include offsets greater than or equal to the wake-up latency, the terminal can determine the offset closest to the wake-up latency from the offsets greater than or equal to the wake-up latency as the target offset.

[0087] In a second possible implementation, if the sleep state of the MR is deep sleep or super deep sleep, the terminal determines a first offset of the multiple offsets as the target offset, and if the sleep state of the MR is light sleep or shallow sleep, the terminal determines a second offset of the multiple offsets as the target offset. The first offset is greater than the second offset. In other words, if the sleep state of the MR is deep sleep or super deep sleep, the terminal can select the first offset with a larger offset as the target offset, and if the sleep state of the MR is light sleep or shallow sleep, the terminal can select the first offset with a smaller offset as the target offset.

[0088] In a third possible implementation, the terminal can determine the target offset from the correspondence between the subgroups and the offsets and the paging subgroup to which the terminal belongs. For example, paging subgroup 1 corresponds to offset 1, and paging subgroup 2 corresponds to offset 2. If the terminal belongs to paging subgroup 1, the terminal can determine offset 1 as the target offset.

[0089] Further, the terminal can also compare the size of the offset and the wake-up latency. In one possible case, if the offset used to determine the receiving occasion in at least one offset is greater than or equal to the wake-up latency of the terminal, the terminal can receive the wake-up signal through the low-power receiver in at least one listening occasion in the receiving occasion of the terminal. If the offset used to determine the receiving occasion in at least one offset is less than the wake-up latency of the terminal, it means that the terminal can not wake up the main receiver in time, and the terminal can receive the wake-up signal in the next paging cycle of the terminal. In another possible case, if the offset used to determine the receiving occasion in at least one offset is greater than the wake-up latency of the terminal, the terminal can receive the wake-up signal through the low-power receiver in at least one listening occasion in the receiving occasion of the current paging cycle. If the offset used to determine the receiving occasion in at least one offset is less than or equal to the wake-up latency of the terminal, it means that even if the terminal starts the wake-up process at the start time of the receiving occasion, it is difficult to wake up the MR at the reference PO, and it is even more difficult to detect the paging indication. At this time, the terminal cannot receive the low-power wake-up signal in the receiving occasion of the current paging cycle, and correspondingly, the terminal can receive the low-power wake-up signal in the next paging cycle.

[0090] In some possible implementations, the terminal can also determine the actual PO in which the paging indication is detected. In a specific implementation, if the paging cycle is less than or equal to a length threshold, or the number of paging occasions in the paging cycle is greater than or equal to a number threshold, the terminal can determine the actual PO according to the target offset. If the paging cycle is greater than the length threshold, or the number of paging occasions in the paging cycle is less than the number threshold, the terminal can determine the actual PO according to the wake-up latency of the terminal. For example, the start time of the actual PO can be the sum of the start time of the MO and the wake-up latency of the terminal. Alternatively, in another possible case, if the paging cycle is less than the length threshold, or the number of paging occasions in the paging cycle is greater than the number threshold, the terminal can also determine the actual PO according to the target offset; if the paging cycle is greater than or equal to the length threshold, or the number of paging occasions in the paging cycle is less than or equal to the number threshold, the terminal can also determine the actual PO according to the wake-up latency of the terminal.

[0091] It should be noted that if the network device configures the actual PO for the terminal, for example, sends configuration information about the actual PO to the terminal, the terminal can determine the actual PO according to the target offset or the wake-up latency of the terminal. The actual PO is used to indicate the occasion in which the paging indication is detected.

[0092] If the network device configures a dynamic PO for the terminal, for example, sends configuration information about actual paging occasions to the terminal, wherein the actual paging occasions are used to indicate the occasions of detecting the paging indication, the terminal can also detect the paging indication in the dynamic PO. The starting time of the dynamic PO can be the sum of the starting time of the LO of the terminal and the wake-up delay of the terminal.

[0093] If the relationship type of the PO and the LO is the second type (e.g., many-to-one), the network device can configure multiple offsets. In some examples, one offset in the multiple offsets is used to determine the LO, and the remaining offsets are used to determine the MO. In other examples, the multiple offsets are all used to determine the MO, and the starting time of the first MO can be used as the starting time of the LO. The offsets used to determine the MO are determined according to the wake-up delays sent by multiple terminals, based on which the MO is related to the wake-up delay of the terminal.

[0094] Specifically, the offsets configured by the network device can include a first offset set. The first offset set is used to determine the LO. For example, the LO of the terminal is determined according to the difference between the reference paging occasion for the terminal and at least one offset in the first offset set. In the case where the relationship type of the PO and the LO is the second type, the first offset set can include one offset used to determine the LO. In the case where the relationship type of the PO and the LO is the third type, the first offset set can include multiple offsets used to determine the LO. Further, the offsets configured by the network device (e.g., the offsets received by the terminal from the network device) can also include a second offset set. The second offset set is used to determine the MO of the wake-up signal. Accordingly, the second offset set includes at least one set of offsets, and each set of offsets corresponds to one LO.

[0095] In some possible implementation manners, the second offset set can include the time intervals between multiple MOs, so that the i+1th MO in the multiple MOs can be determined according to the time interval between the i th MO and the i+1th MO, and the i th MO, where i is a positive integer. The starting time of the first MO can be equal to the starting time of the LO. Alternatively, the starting time of the first MO is offset from the starting time of the LO, in which case the network device can additionally configure an offset used to determine the first MO, or the network device can configure the first listening occasion in the multiple listening occasions.

[0096] In other possible implementation manners, the second offset set includes the time intervals between multiple MOs and the LO, for example, the time interval between MO1 and the LO, the time interval between MO2 and the LO, and the time interval between MO3 and the LO. The terminal can determine the starting time of each MO according to the starting time of the LO and the time interval between each MO and the LO.

[0097] It should be noted that in the case that the relationship type of the PO and the LO is the second type, the network device can also configure multiple offsets for determining the LO. For example, the first offset set can include multiple offsets. Accordingly, the terminal can determine a target offset from the multiple offsets included in the first offset set according to the wake-up delay of the terminal, the sleep state of the MR, or the paging subgroup to which the terminal belongs, and determine the LO according to the target offset and the reference PO. In addition, if the paging cycle is less than or equal to the length threshold, or the number of paging occasions in the paging cycle is greater than or equal to the number threshold, the terminal can also determine the actual PO according to the target offset; if the paging cycle is greater than the length threshold, or the number of paging occasions in the paging cycle is less than the number threshold, the terminal can also determine the actual PO according to the wake-up delay of the terminal. The terminal can detect the paging indication at the actual PO of the terminal. In addition, the network device can also configure a dynamic PO for the terminal, and the terminal can detect the paging indication at the dynamic PO. The starting time of the dynamic PO can be the sum of the starting time of the LO and the wake-up delay of the terminal.

[0098] It should be noted that the at least one offset configured by the network device (such as the at least one offset received by the terminal from the network device) can also be used to determine the MO. For example, the at least one offset can include the offset of the listening occasion of the terminal from the reference paging occasion for the terminal. The terminal can also determine at least one MO of the terminal according to the at least one offset and the reference PO, and then determine the LO according to the at least one MO. For example, the starting time of the LO can be equal to the starting time of the first MO in the at least one MO.

[0099] The above method for determining the MO can also be applicable to the case that the relationship type of the PO and the LO is the first type (one-to-one) or the third type (one-to-many), and the present application does not limit this. If the relationship type of the PO and the LO is the third type (such as one-to-many), the network device can configure multiple offsets. In some examples, part of the multiple offsets are used to determine multiple LOs, and another part of the multiple offsets are used to determine MOs. In other examples, all of the multiple offsets are used to determine multiple LOs, and the network device configures at least one MO for each LO. The MO configured by the network device is related to the wake-up delay of the terminal.

[0100] In the case that the relationship type between the PO and the LO is the third type (e.g., one-to-many), the first set of offsets configured by the network device can include a set of offsets for determining each LO, can include one offset for determining each LO, or can include multiple offsets for determining each LO. If the set of offsets for determining each LO includes one offset, the terminal can determine each LO according to each reference PO and the offset. For example, the start time of each LO can be the difference between the start time of each reference PO and the offset. If the set of offsets for determining each LO includes multiple offsets, the terminal can determine a target offset for each set of offsets respectively, and then determine each LO according to the target offset and the reference PO.

[0101] The following is an example of one set of offsets. The terminal can determine a target offset from the set of offsets according to the wake-up delay of the terminal, the sleep state of the MR, or the paging subgroup to which the terminal belongs, and then determine the LO corresponding to the set of offsets according to the target offset and the reference PO corresponding to the set of offsets. The determination process of the LO corresponding to other sets of offsets can be referred to, and will not be described here.

[0102] Similarly, in the case that the relationship type between the PO and the LO is the third type, the terminal can also determine the actual PO at which the paging indication is detected. Specifically, in some possible cases, if the paging cycle is less than or equal to the length threshold, or the number of paging occasions in the paging cycle is greater than or equal to the number threshold, the terminal can also determine the actual PO according to the target offset; if the paging cycle is greater than the length threshold, or the number of paging occasions in the paging cycle is less than the number threshold, the terminal can also determine the actual PO according to the wake-up delay of the terminal. Alternatively, in other possible cases, if the paging cycle is less than the length threshold, or the number of paging occasions in the paging cycle is greater than the number threshold, the terminal can also determine the actual PO according to the target offset; if the paging cycle is greater than or equal to the length threshold, or the number of paging occasions in the paging cycle is less than or equal to the number threshold, the terminal can also determine the actual PO according to the wake-up delay of the terminal. In addition, the network device can also configure a dynamic PO for the terminal, and the terminal can detect the paging indication at the dynamic PO. The start time of the dynamic PO can be the sum of the start time of the LO and the wake-up delay of the terminal.

[0103] The offset configured by the network device can also include a second set of offsets. The second set of offsets includes multiple offsets, and the multiple offsets are used to determine one or more MOs for each LO. Based on this, the second set of offsets can include at least one set of offsets, and each set of offsets is used to determine one or more MOs for one LO.

[0104] For example, the set of offsets includes one offset for determining one MO from one LO. It is noted that the start time of the first MO is different from the start time of the LO, and the offset can be used to determine one MO. If the start time of the first MO is the same as the start time of the LO, the offset can be used to determine the second MO from the LO.

[0105] For another example, the set of offsets includes a plurality of offsets for determining a plurality of MOs from one LO. In this case, the set of offsets can include time intervals between the plurality of MOs, so that the (i+1)th MO from the plurality of MOs can be determined according to the time interval between the ith MO and the (i+1)th MO, and the ith MO, where i is a positive integer. Alternatively, the set of offsets can include time intervals between the plurality of MOs and the LO. Accordingly, the terminal can determine the start time of the first MO, and then determine the start time of the remaining MOs according to the start time of the first MO and the time intervals between the plurality of MOs. In this case, the start time of the first MO can be equal to the start time of the LO. Alternatively, the start time of the first MO is offset from the start time of the LO, in which case the network device can additionally configure an offset for determining the first MO, or the network device can configure the first MO from the plurality of MOs.

[0106] In some cases, the set of offsets can include time intervals between the plurality of MOs and the LO. Accordingly, the terminal can determine the start time of each MO according to the start time of the LO and the time interval between each MO and the LO.

[0107] Based on the above description, in the communication method of the present application, the terminal determines the reception time by receiving at least one offset configured by the network device and the relationship type of the paging occasion and the reception time, so that the terminal of different performance can receive the wake-up signal in the corresponding monitoring time within the reception time according to the respective wake-up time delay, so that the terminal of different performance can be woken up at the appropriate wake-up time, and unnecessary power consumption is reduced.

[0108] Next, the method for the terminal to determine the LO and the MO will be described in detail from the perspective of the relationship type of the PO and the LO being the above three types.

[0109] Referring to the schematic diagrams of a set of methods for the terminal to determine the reception time shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C. In this example, the network device configures one PO to correspond to one LO. In this way, all terminals with the same reference PO can trigger monitoring within a time period, and start the MR at the same time.

[0110] FIG. 4A shows a manner in which the terminal determines the LO to receive the wake-up signal when one PO corresponds to one LO. In this case, the network device configures an offset for the reference PO, and the offset is determined according to the wake-up time delay of the terminal, and is used to indicate the start time of the LO. Specifically, the start time of the LO can be the difference between the start time of the reference PO and the offset. In this case, the network device can also configure an MO for the terminal to monitor the wake-up signal. For example, the network device can configure an MO whose start time is the same as the start time of the LO in the time domain.

[0111] Alternatively, the terminal can also determine the MO according to the offset received from the network side and the reference PO, and then determine the LO according to the MO. For example, the start time of the LO can be equal to the start time of the MO.

[0112] In some possible implementation manners, the network device can configure an offset for the terminal according to the maximum wake-up time delay received, and the offset will also indicate the start time of the LO of the terminal.

[0113] In another possible implementation manner, the network device can also calculate an average value according to the multiple wake-up time delays received, as the configured offset. It should be noted that the network device can select all or part of the multiple wake-up time delays to calculate, and the weights of the selected wake-up time delays in the average value calculation can be the same or different.

[0114] Taking the start time of the reference PO of the terminal as the first time, the difference between the first time and the offset can be calculated to obtain the start time of the LO of the terminal. In this way, the terminal can determine the start time of the LO according to the offset value and the reference PO, and receive the low-power wake-up signal to wake up the main receiver. For example, if the terminal receives an offset of 120 ms, the terminal will determine 120 ms before the start time of the reference PO as the start time of the LO, and receive the low-power wake-up signal at this time to start the process of waking up the main receiver.

[0115] If the offset received by the terminal is greater than or equal to the wake-up time delay of the terminal itself, the terminal can receive the wake-up signal at the receiving occasion of the current paging cycle through the low-power receiver. If the offset received by the terminal is less than the wake-up time delay of the terminal itself, it is difficult for the terminal to wake up at the reference PO even if the terminal starts the wake-up process at the start time of the receiving occasion, and it is more difficult to detect the paging indication. At this time, the terminal cannot receive the low-power wake-up signal at the receiving occasion of the current paging cycle, and correspondingly, the terminal will receive the low-power wake-up signal in the next paging cycle. Alternatively, in another possible case, if the offset received by the terminal is greater than the wake-up time delay of the terminal itself, the terminal can receive the wake-up signal at the receiving occasion of the current paging cycle through the low-power receiver. If the offset received by the terminal is less than or equal to the wake-up time delay of the terminal itself, it is difficult for the terminal to wake up at the reference PO even if the terminal starts the wake-up process at the start time of the receiving occasion, and it is more difficult to detect the paging indication. At this time, the terminal cannot receive the low-power wake-up signal at the receiving occasion of the current paging cycle, and correspondingly, the terminal will receive the low-power wake-up signal in the next paging cycle.

[0116] In some possible implementation manners, at least one monitoring occasion (MO) can be configured in the LO. As shown in FIG. 4B, which is a schematic diagram of a method for determining a receiving occasion by a terminal, the terminal first determines the start time of the LO based on the reference PO and the offset. If the network device configures a mechanism for determining the PO, for example, a mechanism for determining the PO based on the wake-up time delay, the terminal can detect the paging indication at the actual PO, where the start time of the actual PO is the sum of the start time of the MO and the wake-up time delay of the terminal. It should be noted that the actual PO can be the same as the reference PO, or can be different from the reference PO. If the network device does not configure the mechanism for determining the PO, the terminal can perform paging at the reference PO. At this time, the network device can configure the terminal with an MO whose start time is the same as the start time of the LO in the time domain, for receiving the wake-up signal.

[0117] If the actual POs of the plurality of terminals are all the same as the reference PO, the terminal can trigger the wake-up at different MOs and then start the MR at the same PO. For example, in a monitoring system composed of a plurality of sensors, the plurality of sensors are distributed at different geographical positions and are used to monitor environmental parameters (such as temperature, humidity, pressure, etc.). The system requires all the sensors to wake up at the same time at a specific time point, collect data, and then aggregate the data to a central processing unit for analysis. Through the network device configuring the mechanism for determining the PO based on the wake-up time delay, the above monitoring system can overcome the problem that the physical distances between the sensors and the central processing unit are different and the signal propagation time delays are different, and can realize the system function.

[0118] In some possible implementation, if one PO corresponds to one LO, the network device can further configure multiple offsets. At this time, the terminal needs to determine a target offset from the multiple offsets to determine the LO. For example, the terminal can determine the target offset from the multiple offsets according to the wake-up time delay of the terminal, the sleep state of the MR, or the paging subgroup to which the terminal belongs, and then determine the LO according to the target offset and the reference PO. In this way, the terminal can determine the target offset according to the state of the terminal, so as to receive the low-power wake-up signal at a suitable time.

[0119] For example, in the first possible implementation, the terminal can compare the multiple received offsets with the wake-up time delay of the terminal, and if the received offsets include an offset greater than or equal to the wake-up time delay of the terminal, the terminal can determine the target offset from the offset greater than or equal to the wake-up time delay of the terminal. For example, the terminal can select the maximum value in the multiple offsets as the target offset, or the terminal can also calculate the average value of the multiple received offsets as the target offset. It should be noted that the terminal can select all or part of the multiple offsets for calculation, and the weights of the selected offsets in the average value calculation can be the same or different.

[0120] If the target offset is greater than or equal to the wake-up time delay of the terminal, the terminal can receive the low-power wake-up signal through the low-power receiver at the receiving time of the current paging cycle. If the multiple offsets received by the terminal are less than the wake-up time delay of the terminal, the target offset selected from the multiple offsets is less than the wake-up time delay of the terminal, and even if the terminal starts the wake-up process at the start time of the receiving time, it is also difficult to wake up the MR at the reference PO, and it is more difficult to detect the paging. At this time, the terminal is difficult to receive the low-power wake-up signal at the receiving time of the current paging cycle, and therefore the terminal can directly receive the low-power wake-up signal in the next paging cycle. Alternatively, in another possible case, if the offset received by the terminal is greater than the wake-up time delay of the terminal, the terminal can receive the wake-up signal through the low-power receiver at the receiving time of the current paging cycle. If the offset received by the terminal is less than or equal to the wake-up time delay of the terminal, it indicates that even if the terminal starts the wake-up process at the start time of the receiving time, it is also difficult to wake up the MR at the reference PO, and it is more difficult to detect the paging indication. At this time, the terminal cannot receive the low-power wake-up signal at the receiving time of the current paging cycle, and correspondingly, the terminal will receive the low-power wake-up signal in the next paging cycle.

[0121] For example, in the second possible implementation, the terminal can also determine the selected target offset according to its own sleep state. If the sleep state of the MR is deep sleep or super deep sleep, the terminal can determine a first offset in the plurality of offsets as the target offset, and the first offset can be the offset with a larger value in the plurality of offsets. If the sleep state of the MR is light sleep or shallow sleep, the terminal can determine a second offset in the plurality of offsets as the target offset, and the second offset can be the offset with a smaller value in the plurality of offsets. The first offset is greater than the second offset.

[0122] For example, in the third possible implementation, the terminal can also determine the target offset from the plurality of offsets according to the paging subgroup to which the terminal belongs and the correspondence between the subgroups and the offsets. The correspondence between the paging subgroup to which the terminal belongs and the offsets is pre-configured. For example, the offset information received by the terminal can be issued in the following form:

[0123] offset information {

[0124] paging subgroup sequence {paging subgroup identifier 1, paging subgroup identifier 2}

[0125] offset sequence {offset 1, offset 2}

[0126] }

[0127] Or it can also be issued in the following form:

[0128] offset information {

[0129] offset sequence {(paging subgroup identifier 1 offset 1), (paging subgroup identifier 2 offset 2)}

[0130] }

[0131] The sequence indicates an array, offset 1 corresponds to paging subgroup 1, and offset 2 corresponds to paging subgroup 2. The terminal needs to determine the target offset according to the paging subgroup to which it belongs.

[0132] In some possible manners, in addition to determining the target offset from the plurality of offsets and then determining the LO, the terminal can also determine a plurality of MOs according to the plurality of offsets and then determine the LO. Specifically, the terminal can determine a plurality of MOs according to the plurality of offsets, and the plurality of MOs correspond to the plurality of offsets one by one. Then, the terminal can determine the LO of the terminal according to a first MO in the plurality of MOs. For example, the start time of the LO can be the earliest start time in the plurality of MOs, that is, the start time of the LO is the same as the start time of the first MO in the time domain.

[0133] Further, the plurality of offsets can further include time intervals between the plurality of MOs, so that the i+1th MO in the plurality of MOs can be determined according to the time interval between the ith MO and the i+1th MO, and the ith MO, where i is a positive integer. The start time of the first MO can be equal to the start time of the LO, as shown in FIG. 4A. Alternatively, the start time of the first MO is offset from the start time of the LO, as shown in FIG. 4B, in which case the network device can additionally configure an offset for determining the first MO, or the network device can configure the first MO in the plurality of MOs.

[0134] In some possible implementations, the plurality of offsets includes time intervals between the plurality of MOs and the LO, such as a time interval between MO1 and the LO, a time interval between MO2 and the LO, and a time interval between MO3 and the LO. The terminal can determine the start time of each MO according to the start time of the LO and the time interval between each MO and the LO.

[0135] It should be noted that the one-to-one relationship between the PO and the LO does not mean that there is only one reference PO in one paging cycle. After determining the LO, the terminal can also determine the actual PO according to the length of the paging cycle or the number of POs in the paging cycle. For example, if the paging cycle is less than or equal to a length threshold, or the number of POs in the paging cycle is greater than or equal to a number threshold, the terminal can determine the actual PO according to the target offset; if the paging cycle is greater than the length threshold, or the number of POs in the paging cycle is less than the number threshold, the terminal can determine the actual PO according to the wake-up delay. Alternatively, in some other possible cases, if the paging cycle is less than the length threshold, or the number of paging occasions in the paging cycle is greater than the number threshold, the terminal can also determine the actual PO according to the target offset; if the paging cycle is greater than or equal to the length threshold, or the number of paging occasions in the paging cycle is less than or equal to the number threshold, the terminal can also determine the actual PO according to the wake-up delay of the terminal.

[0136] Further, in addition to configuring the actual PO mechanism, the network device can also support configuring the terminal with a dynamic PO. As shown in FIG. 4C, which is a schematic diagram of a method for a terminal to determine a receiving opportunity, the terminal can detect the paging indication in the dynamic PO. In this case, the starting time of the dynamic PO is determined by the sum of the starting time of the LO and the wake-up delay of the terminal. For example, if the wake-up delay of the terminal is 40 ms, 80 ms, and 120 ms, respectively, and the number of terminals with a wake-up delay of 40 ms is small, the network device can configure a dynamic PO at 40 ms of the starting time of the LO. In this way, a small number of terminals with a small wake-up delay can detect the paging indication in advance, while other terminals still detect the paging indication at the same time, such as detecting the paging indication in the reference PO, taking into account the overall and low power consumption. It should be noted that the terminal only speculates a dynamic PO position by the starting time of the LO and the wake-up delay of the terminal itself, and the actual dynamic PO needs to be arranged by the network device at this position, so as to trigger the subsequent paging or PDCCH subframe listening process.

[0137] The above describes various implementation manners when one PO corresponds to one LO. Next, implementation manners when the network device configures other quantity relationships between PO and LO are described.

[0138] Since terminals with different wake-up delays usually have different functions, their working times are also usually different. When the network device, such as a base station, configures the LP-WUS, different POs can be determined for different terminals. As shown in FIGS. 5A to 5D, which are a set of schematic diagrams of a method for a terminal to determine a receiving opportunity, in one paging cycle, the network device can configure a plurality of POs corresponding to one LO. In this way, all terminals can trigger listening in a time period, but start MR at different times.

[0139] As shown in FIG. 5A, which is a schematic diagram of a method for a terminal to determine a receiving opportunity, in some possible implementation manners, the network device configures a plurality of POs corresponding to one LO. In this case, the network device can configure a plurality of offsets for the terminal according to the wake-up delay of the terminal.

[0140] In some possible implementation manners, the terminal can determine a candidate LO according to the offset corresponding to the first reference PO and the first reference PO, and determine a candidate LO according to the offset corresponding to the second reference PO and the second reference PO. Assuming that the first reference PO is earlier than the second reference PO, the terminal can usually select the candidate LO that is farther away from the first reference PO in the time domain as the LO of the terminal. In this case, the network device can also configure an MO for each offset for the terminal to listen to the wake-up signal.

[0141] In some possible implementation, the terminal can determine a plurality of MOs according to a plurality of offsets, where the plurality of MOs correspond to the plurality of offsets one by one. Then, the terminal can determine the LO of the terminal according to the plurality of MOs. The starting time of the LO can be the earliest starting time in the plurality of MOs. For example, the offset information received by the terminal can be issued in the following form:

[0142] offset information {

[0143] offset sequence {offset 1, offset 2}

[0144] MO sequence {MO 1, MO 2}

[0145] }

[0146] Or it can also be issued in the following form:

[0147] offset information {

[0148] offset sequence {(offset 1, MO 1), (offset 2, MO 2)}

[0149] }

[0150] Where sequence represents an array, offset 1 corresponds to MO 1, and offset 2 corresponds to MO 2. The terminal can determine the starting time of the LO according to MO 1 or MO 2, and select the corresponding MO according to the relationship between the offset and the wake-up time delay of the terminal.

[0151] In this case, the terminal can also determine the number of associated POs according to the number of offsets. For example, the number of POs can be equal to the number of offsets.

[0152] Referring to a schematic diagram of a method for a terminal to determine a receiving occasion shown in FIG. 5B, in some possible implementation manners, if the network device configures one PO to correspond to one MO, or the POs correspond to the MOs one by one, or the relationship type between the POs and the MOs is one-to-one, the terminal can also determine an LO according to one target offset in multiple offsets, determine a first MO according to a first offset in remaining offsets and a first reference PO, and determine a second MO according to a second offset in the remaining offsets and a second reference PO. For example, a smart phone or a smart watch can usually respond to a user's click or key operation, quickly switch from a standby state to a working state, and has a small wake-up delay; a smart water meter or a smart electricity meter is in a sleep state for a long time, and has no urgency when responding to a user's start operation, and has a large wake-up delay. Therefore, the first reference PO can be allocated to the smart phone or the smart watch and the like with a small delay, and the first offset and the first MO are configured, and the second reference PO is allocated to the smart water meter or the smart electricity meter and the like with a large delay, and the second offset and the second MO are configured, where the first PO is smaller than the second PO. In this way, multiple terminals can detect a paging indication at the first reference PO or the second reference PO respectively, thereby reducing the pressure of network load and reducing possible signal interference between the multiple terminals.

[0153] In the manner shown in FIG. 5B, the MOs correspond to the POs one by one, that is, one PO corresponds to one MO or one offset in the remaining offsets. In some possible implementation manners, a paging subgroup to which a terminal belongs can have a corresponding relationship with an offset or an MO, so that the terminal can directly determine the corresponding offset or MO according to the subgroup to which the terminal belongs. For example, the offset information received by the terminal can be issued in the following form:

[0154] offset information {

[0155] paging subgroup sequence {paging subgroup identifier 1, paging subgroup identifier 2}

[0156] offset sequence {offset 1, offset 2}

[0157] MO sequence {MO1, MO2}

[0158] }

[0159] Or it can also be issued in the following form:

[0160] offset information {

[0161] offset sequence {(paging subgroup 1 offset 1 MO1), (paging subgroup 2 offset 2 MO2)}

[0162] }

[0163] Wherein, sequence represents an array, offset 1 corresponds to paging subgroup 1, and offset 2 corresponds to paging subgroup 2; offset 1 corresponds to MO1, and offset 2 corresponds to MO2. It should be noted that there is a corresponding relationship between the offset and the MO, and the network device can only send offset-related information, and the terminal needs to determine the corresponding offset or MO according to the paging subgroup to which the terminal belongs.

[0164] In some other implementations, referring to a schematic diagram of a method for determining a receiving occasion by a terminal shown in FIG. 5C, the terminal can also determine an LO according to a target offset in multiple offsets, determine at least one MO of the terminal according to a first offset group in the remaining offsets and a first reference PO, and determine at least one MO of the terminal according to a second offset group in the remaining offsets and a second reference PO. Wherein, the first offset group includes at least one offset, and the second offset group includes at least one offset. The MO and the PO are not in a one-to-one corresponding relationship. For example, the offset information received by the terminal can be issued in the following form:

[0165] Offset information {

[0166] Offset group sequence {offset group 1, offset group 2}

[0167] }

[0168] Wherein, sequence represents an array, and the terminal can select a target offset from offset group 1 or offset group 2. The terminal selects the target offset in the following manner.

[0169] In a first possible implementation, the terminal can compare multiple offsets received with its own wake-up delay, and if the received offsets include an offset greater than or equal to its own wake-up delay, the terminal can determine the target offset from the offset greater than or equal to its own wake-up delay. For example, the terminal can select the maximum value in multiple offsets as the target offset, or the terminal can calculate the average value according to multiple offsets received as the target offset. It should be noted that the terminal can select all or part of multiple offsets for calculation, and the weight of each selected offset in the average value calculation can be the same or different.

[0170] If the target offset is greater than or equal to the wake-up time delay of the terminal itself, the terminal can receive the low-power wake-up signal at the receiving time of the current paging cycle through the low-power receiver. If the multiple offsets received by the terminal are less than the wake-up time delay of the terminal itself, the target offset selected from the multiple offsets is also less than the wake-up time delay of the terminal itself. Even if the terminal starts the wake-up process at the start time of the receiving time, it is difficult to wake up the MR at the reference PO, and it is more difficult to detect the paging indication. At this time, the terminal cannot receive the low-power wake-up signal at the receiving time of the current paging cycle, and correspondingly, the terminal will receive the low-power wake-up signal at the next paging cycle. Alternatively, in another possible case, if the offset received by the terminal is greater than the wake-up time delay of the terminal itself, the terminal can receive the wake-up signal at the receiving time of the current paging cycle through the low-power receiver. If the offset received by the terminal is less than or equal to the wake-up time delay of the terminal itself, it means that even if the terminal starts the wake-up process at the start time of the receiving time, it is difficult to wake up the MR at the reference PO, and it is more difficult to detect the paging indication. At this time, the terminal cannot receive the low-power wake-up signal at the receiving time of the current paging cycle, and correspondingly, the terminal will receive the low-power wake-up signal at the next paging cycle.

[0171] In a second possible implementation, the terminal can also determine the target offset according to the sleep state of the terminal itself. If the sleep state of the MR is deep sleep or super deep sleep, the terminal can determine a first offset in the multiple offsets as the target offset, and the first offset can be the offset with a larger value in the multiple offsets. If the sleep state of the MR is light sleep or shallow sleep, the terminal can determine a second offset in the multiple offsets as the target offset, and the second offset can be the offset with a smaller value in the multiple offsets. The first offset is greater than the second offset.

[0172] In a third possible implementation, the terminal can also determine the target offset from the multiple offsets according to the paging subgroup to which the terminal belongs and the correspondence between the subgroup and the offset. The target offset can be the offset corresponding to the paging subgroup to which the terminal belongs. The correspondence between the paging subgroup to which the terminal belongs and the offset can be pre-set.

[0173] It should be noted that the terminal can select the target offset from the offset group 1, or select the target offset from the offset group 2, that is, the terminal can determine a candidate LO according to the target offset corresponding to the first reference PO and the first reference PO offset, or determine a candidate LO according to the target offset corresponding to the second reference PO and the second reference PO. Assuming that the first reference PO is earlier than the second reference PO, generally, the terminal can select the candidate LO farther from the first reference PO in the time domain as the LO of the terminal.

[0174] In some possible implementation manners, the residual offsets can include time intervals between the plurality of MOs, so that the i+1th MO in the plurality of MOs can be determined according to a time interval between the ith MO and the i+1th MO, and the ith MO, where i is a positive integer. Taking FIG. 5C as an example, the terminal can determine the plurality of MOs according to the first offset group in the residual offsets. The starting time of the first MO can be equal to the starting time of the LO. Alternatively, the starting time of the first MO is offset from the starting time of the LO, in which case the network device can additionally configure an offset for determining the first MO, or the network device can configure the first MO in the plurality of MOs.

[0175] In some possible implementation manners, the residual offsets can include time intervals between the plurality of MOs, so that the i+1th MO in the plurality of MOs can be determined according to a time interval between the ith MO and the i+1th MO, and the ith MO, where i is a positive integer. Taking FIG. 5C as an example, the terminal can determine the plurality of MOs according to the first offset group in the residual offsets. The starting time of the first MO can be equal to the starting time of the LO. Alternatively, the starting time of the first MO is offset from the starting time of the LO, in which case the network device can additionally configure an offset for determining the first MO, or the network device can configure the first MO in the plurality of MOs.

[0176] The terminal can also determine an actual PO at which the paging indication is detected. Taking FIG. 5C as an example, the first reference PO corresponds to a plurality of offsets, and after the LO is determined, the terminal can determine the actual PO according to a length of the paging cycle or a number of POs in the paging cycle. For example, if the paging cycle is less than or equal to a length threshold, or the number of POs in the paging cycle is greater than or equal to a number threshold, the terminal can determine the actual PO according to the target offset, so as to reduce the latency; if the paging cycle is greater than the length threshold, or the number of POs in the paging cycle is less than the number threshold, the terminal can determine the actual PO according to the wake-up latency. Alternatively, in some possible cases, if the paging cycle is less than the length threshold, or the number of paging occasions in the paging cycle is greater than the number threshold, the terminal can determine the actual PO according to the target offset; if the paging cycle is greater than or equal to the length threshold, or the number of paging occasions in the paging cycle is less than or equal to the number threshold, the terminal can determine the actual PO according to the wake-up latency of the terminal.

[0177] In addition, the network device can also configure a dynamic PO for the terminal, and the terminal can detect the paging indication at the dynamic PO.

[0178] Of course, the second reference PO can also correspond to a plurality of offsets, and the method for determining the MO can also be performed according to the above process.

[0179] Referring to a schematic diagram of a method for a terminal to determine a receiving occasion shown in FIG. 5D, in some possible implementation manners, the network device can also configure a dynamic PO for the terminal to detect the paging indication in the dynamic PO, and the starting time of the dynamic PO is determined according to the starting time of the LO and the wake-up delay of the terminal. The related method is similar to the case in FIG. 4C, and details are not described herein again.

[0180] The above describes multiple manners in which multiple POs correspond to one LO in one paging cycle, so that all terminals trigger listening in one time period but start MR at different times. In some possible implementation manners, referring to a set of schematic diagrams of methods for terminals to determine receiving occasions shown in FIGS. 6A to 6D, the relationship between the PO and the LO in one paging cycle can also be one-to-many, so that all terminals trigger listening in different time periods but start MR at the same time. For example, the network device can configure in this manner when the bit value in the load of the LP-WUS is greater than a first threshold value, or the number of paging subgroups obtained by classifying the terminal is greater than a second threshold value.

[0181] wherein the payload carried by the LP-WUS indicates a group to which the terminal belongs, for example, the group to which the terminal belongs is group 03, and the payload of the low-power wake-up signal is “00100000”, which indicates that group 03 is woken up, and the terminal can switch from the sleep state to the wake-up state. Each bit in the payload corresponds to one group, and generally the LP-WUS supports at most 8 groups. For example, the first bit corresponds to the first group, and is set to 1 to indicate that the first group is woken up, and the eighth bit corresponds to the eighth group, and is set to 1 to indicate that the eighth group is woken up.

[0182] Referring to a schematic diagram of a method for a terminal to determine a receiving occasion shown in FIG. 6A, in some possible implementation manners, if one PO corresponds to multiple LOs, the network device configures multiple offsets, and each offset in the multiple offsets can correspond to one paging subgroup. For example, the offset information received by the terminal can be issued in the following form:

[0183] offset information {

[0184] paging subgroup sequence {paging subgroup identifier 1, paging subgroup identifier 2}

[0185] offset sequence {offset 1, offset 2}

[0186] }

[0187] or can also be issued in the following form:

[0188] offset information {

[0189] Offset sequence {(paging subgroup identifier 1 offset 1), (paging subgroup identifier 2 offset 2)}

[0190] }

[0191] Wherein, sequence represents an array, identifier corresponding to different paging subgroups, offset 1 corresponds to paging subgroup 1, offset 2 corresponds to paging subgroup 2. The terminal needs to determine the corresponding offset according to the paging subgroup to which it belongs.

[0192] In this way, the terminal can determine multiple LOs according to the reference PO and multiple offsets. Wherein, the multiple LOs correspond to the multiple offsets one by one, and each LO in the multiple LOs is used to detect a paging subgroup, and a paging subgroup includes at least one terminal. For example, different kinds of terminals that cooperate to achieve the same function can be divided into different subgroups, and each subgroup corresponds to an LO or MO. The network device configures an offset for each subgroup, and uniquely corresponds to an LO or MO. For example, each LO includes a MO whose starting time is the same as the starting time of the LO, and the terminal can receive the wake-up signal at the MO. In this way, different kinds of terminals or modules that cooperate to achieve the same function can be isolated, reducing interference between each other without affecting the implementation of the common function. It should be noted that the embodiments of the present application do not limit how to classify terminals to obtain different subgroups.

[0193] In some possible implementation manners, as shown in FIG. 6B, a schematic diagram of a method for determining a receiving opportunity of a terminal, the terminal can determine an LO and multiple MOs according to a group of offsets in multiple groups of offsets. In this way, the terminal can determine multiple LOs and multiple MOs in each LO.

[0194] Specifically, the terminal determines multiple MOs according to a group of offsets, and then determines an LO according to the multiple MOs, wherein the starting time of the LO is determined according to the earliest starting time in the multiple MOs. For example, the offset information received by the terminal can be issued in the following form:

[0195] Offset information {

[0196] Offset group 1 sequence {offset 1, offset 2}

[0197] Offset group 2 sequence {offset a, offset b}

[0198] MO sequence {MO1, MO2}

[0199] }

[0200] Wherein, sequence represents an array, at least one offset is included in an offset group, MO1 corresponds to offset 1 in offset group 1, and MO2 corresponds to offset 2 in offset group 1; or, MO1 corresponds to offset a in offset group 2, and MO2 corresponds to offset b in offset group 2. It should be noted that the network device can also only send the related information of the offset group, and the terminal can select one group of offsets in offset group 1 or offset group 2 to determine multiple MOs, and then determine an LO according to the earliest MO in the multiple MOs.

[0201] The terminal can also determine the LO and the multiple MOs according to one group of offsets in the following manner: the terminal determines an LO according to one offset in the group of offsets, and determines multiple MOs according to the remaining offsets in the group of offsets. For example, the group of offsets can include time intervals between the multiple MOs, so that the (i+1)th MO in the multiple MOs can be determined according to the time interval between the ith MO and the (i+1)th MO, and the ith MO, where i is a positive integer. Alternatively, the group of offsets can include time intervals between the multiple MOs and the LO. Accordingly, the terminal can determine the start time of the first MO, and then determine the start times of the remaining MOs in sequence according to the start time of the first MO and the time intervals between the multiple MOs. Wherein, the start time of the first MO can be equal to the start time of the LO. Alternatively, the start time of the first MO is offset from the start time of the LO, in which case the network device can additionally configure an offset for determining the first MO, or the network device can configure the first MO in the multiple MOs.

[0202] In some possible implementation manners, the terminal can determine the start time of each MO according to the start time of the LO and the time interval between each MO and the LO, such as the time interval between MO1 and the LO, the time interval between MO2 and the LO, and the time interval between MO3 and the LO.

[0203] It should be noted that the terminal can receive multiple groups of offsets, wherein each group of offsets is used to determine an LO. As shown in FIG. 6B, which is a schematic diagram of a method for determining a receiving opportunity by a terminal, the second group of offsets includes at least two offsets, corresponding to a second LO, wherein the start time of the second LO is determined according to the first MO; and the first group of offsets corresponds to a first LO.

[0204] In some possible implementation manners, as shown in FIG. 6C, which is a schematic diagram of a method for determining a receiving opportunity by a terminal, the second group of offsets includes at least two offsets, and the terminal can determine the second LO according to a target offset in the second group of offsets. Details are described below.

[0205] In a first possible implementation, the terminal can compare the multiple offsets in the received second set of offsets with its own wake-up latency, and if the received offsets include an offset greater than or equal to its own wake-up latency, the terminal can determine the target offset from the offset greater than or equal to its own wake-up latency. For example, the terminal can select the maximum value of the multiple offsets as the target offset, or the terminal can also calculate an average value from the received multiple offsets as the target offset. It should be noted that the terminal can select all or part of the multiple offsets for calculation, and the weights of the selected offsets in the average calculation can be the same or different.

[0206] If the target offset is greater than or equal to the terminal's own wake-up latency, the terminal can receive the low-power wake-up signal at the second LO of the current paging cycle through the low-power receiver. If the multiple offsets received by the terminal are less than its own wake-up latency, the target offset selected from the multiple offsets is also less than its own wake-up latency, and even if the terminal starts the wake-up process at the start time of the second LO, it is difficult to wake up the MR at the reference PO, and it is more difficult to detect the paging. At this time, the terminal is difficult to receive the low-power wake-up signal at the second LO of the current paging cycle, and therefore the terminal can directly receive the low-power wake-up signal in the next paging cycle. Alternatively, in another possible case, if the offset received by the terminal is greater than the terminal's own wake-up latency, the terminal can receive the wake-up signal at the receiving time of the current paging cycle through the low-power receiver. If the offset received by the terminal is less than or equal to its own wake-up latency, it means that even if the terminal starts the wake-up process at the start time of the receiving time, it is difficult to wake up the MR at the reference PO, and it is more difficult to detect the paging indication. At this time, the terminal cannot receive the low-power wake-up signal at the receiving time of the current paging cycle, and correspondingly, the terminal will receive the low-power wake-up signal in the next paging cycle.

[0207] In a second possible implementation, the terminal can also determine the selected target offset according to its own sleep state. If the sleep state of the MR is deep sleep or super deep sleep, the terminal can determine a first offset in the multiple offsets as the target offset, and the first offset can be the offset with a larger value in the multiple offsets. If the sleep state of the MR is light sleep or shallow sleep, the terminal can determine a second offset in the multiple offsets as the target offset, and the second offset can be the offset with a smaller value in the multiple offsets. The first offset is greater than the second offset.

[0208] In a third possible implementation, the terminal can also determine the target offset from the multiple offsets according to the correspondence between the subgroups and the offsets, and the paging subgroup to which the terminal belongs. The paging subgroup to which the terminal belongs can be configured by the network device, for example, according to the wake-up latency of each terminal.

[0209] After determining the second LO, if the network device configures an actual PO determination mechanism, the terminal can also determine the actual PO according to the length of the paging cycle or the number of POs in the paging cycle. For example, if the paging cycle is less than or equal to a length threshold, or the number of POs in the paging cycle is greater than or equal to a number threshold, the terminal can determine the actual PO according to the target offset, so as to reduce the latency; if the paging cycle is greater than the length threshold, or the number of POs in the paging cycle is less than the number threshold, the terminal can determine the actual PO according to the wake-up latency. Alternatively, in some possible cases, if the paging cycle is less than the length threshold, or the number of paging occasions in the paging cycle is greater than the number threshold, the terminal can determine the actual PO according to the target offset; if the paging cycle is greater than or equal to the length threshold, or the number of paging occasions in the paging cycle is less than or equal to the number threshold, the terminal can determine the actual PO according to the wake-up latency of the terminal.

[0210] In addition, the network device can also configure a dynamic PO for the terminal, and the terminal can detect the paging indication in the dynamic PO. The starting time of the dynamic PO can be the sum of the starting time of the LO and the wake-up latency of the terminal.

[0211] It should be noted that the first set of offsets can also include at least two offsets, and the terminal can also determine the first LO according to the first set of offsets.

[0212] In some possible implementation manners, if the first set of offsets corresponds to multiple MOs, the terminal can determine the starting time of the first MO as the starting time of the first LO.

[0213] Alternatively, the first set of offsets can also include time intervals between multiple MOs, so that the terminal can determine the i+1th MO in the multiple MOs according to the time interval between the i th MO and the i+1th MO, and the i th MO, where i is a positive integer. The starting time of the first MO can be equal to the starting time of the first LO. Alternatively, the starting time of the first MO is offset from the starting time of the first LO, in which case the network device can additionally configure an offset for determining the first MO, or the network device can configure the first MO in the multiple MOs.

[0214] Alternatively, the first set of offsets includes time intervals between multiple MOs and the first LO. The terminal can determine the starting time of each MO corresponding to the first set of offsets according to the starting time of the first LO and the time interval between each MO and the first LO.

[0215] In another possible implementation, the first set of offsets comprises a time interval between the first MO and the first LO and time intervals between the plurality of MOs. Accordingly, the terminal can determine the start time of the first MO according to the start time of the first LO and the time interval between the first MO and the first LO, and determine the start times of the remaining MOs in sequence according to the start time of the first MO and the time intervals between the plurality of MOs.

[0216] In some possible implementation, as shown in FIG. 6D, a schematic diagram of a method for determining a receiving occasion by a terminal, the terminal can further determine the first LO according to a target offset in the first set of offsets.

[0217] In the first possible implementation, the terminal can determine the target offset according to an offset in the received first set of offsets that is greater than or equal to the wake-up time delay of the terminal itself. For example, the terminal can select the maximum value in the plurality of offsets as the target offset, or the terminal can calculate an average value according to the plurality of received offsets as the target offset. It should be noted that the terminal can select all or part of the plurality of offsets for calculation, and the weights of the selected offsets in the average value calculation can be the same or different, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0218] If the target offset is greater than or equal to the wake-up time delay of the terminal itself, the terminal can receive the low-power wake-up signal at the first LO of the current paging cycle through the low-power receiver. If the plurality of offsets received by the terminal are less than the wake-up time delay of the terminal itself, it indicates that the terminal is difficult to receive the low-power wake-up signal at the first LO of the current paging cycle, and the terminal can receive the low-power wake-up signal in the next paging cycle. Alternatively, in another possible case, if the offset received by the terminal is greater than the wake-up time delay of the terminal itself, the terminal can receive the wake-up signal at the receiving occasion of the current paging cycle through the low-power receiver. If the offset received by the terminal is less than or equal to the wake-up time delay of the terminal itself, it indicates that even if the terminal starts the wake-up process at the start time of the receiving occasion, it is also difficult to wake up the MR at the reference PO, and it is even more difficult to detect the paging indication. At this time, the terminal cannot receive the low-power wake-up signal at the receiving occasion of the current paging cycle, and accordingly, the terminal will receive the low-power wake-up signal in the next paging cycle.

[0219] In the second possible implementation, the terminal can further determine the selected target offset according to the sleep state of the terminal itself. For example, if the sleep state of the terminal is deep sleep or super deep sleep, the terminal can determine the offset with a larger value in the plurality of offsets as the target offset; if the sleep state of the terminal is light sleep or shallow sleep, the terminal can determine the offset with a smaller value in the plurality of offsets as the target offset.

[0220] In a third possible implementation, the terminal can further determine the target offset from the correspondence between the sub-group and the offset, and the paging sub-group to which the terminal belongs. The paging sub-group to which the terminal belongs can be configured by the network device, for example, according to the wake-up time delay of each terminal. For example, the offset information received by the terminal can be issued in the following form:

[0221] offset information {

[0222] paging sub-group sequence {paging sub-group identifier 1, paging sub-group identifier 2}

[0223] offset sequence {offset 1, offset 2, offset 3, offset 4}

[0224] Or it can also be issued in the following form:

[0225] offset {

[0226] offset sequence {(paging sub-group identifier 1 offset 1 offset 3), (paging sub-group identifier 2 offset 2 offset 4)}

[0227] }

[0228] Wherein, sequence represents an array, and the identifiers correspond to different paging sub-groups, respectively. Offset 1 and offset 2 indicate the LO corresponding to the terminal, for example, offset 1 corresponds to the first LO, and offset 2 corresponds to the second LO. Offset 3 and offset 4 correspond to different paging sub-groups, for example, offset 3 corresponds to the paging sub-group 1, and offset 4 corresponds to the paging sub-group 2. The terminal can determine the corresponding offset and LO according to the paging sub-group to which it belongs.

[0229] After determining the first LO or the second LO according to the target offset, the terminal can further determine the remaining MOs in the first LO or the second LO according to the first LO and the remaining offsets in the first group of offsets, or the starting time of the second LO and the remaining offsets in the second group of offsets. That is, the terminal can obtain the offset between the MOs according to the difference of the offsets, and thus determine the remaining MOs in sequence.

[0230] After determining the first LO or the second LO according to the target offset, if the network device configures the mechanism for determining the PO, the terminal can further determine the actual PO and detect the paging indication at the actual PO. It should be noted that the actual PO can be the same as the reference PO, or can be different from the reference PO.

[0231] Based on this, the terminal can also determine the actual PO according to the length of the paging cycle or the number of POs in the paging cycle. For example, if the paging cycle is less than or equal to the length threshold, or the number of POs in the paging cycle is greater than or equal to the number threshold, the terminal can determine the actual PO according to the target offset; if the paging cycle is greater than the length threshold, or the number of POs in the paging cycle is less than the number threshold, the terminal can determine the actual PO according to the wake-up delay, and specifically, the start time of the actual PO is the sum of the start time of the MO and the wake-up delay of the terminal. Alternatively, in other possible cases, if the paging cycle is less than the length threshold, or the number of paging occasions in the paging cycle is greater than the number threshold, the terminal can also determine the actual PO according to the target offset; if the paging cycle is greater than or equal to the length threshold, or the number of paging occasions in the paging cycle is less than or equal to the number threshold, the terminal can also determine the actual PO according to the wake-up delay of the terminal.

[0232] Further, the network device can also support configuring a dynamic PO for the terminal, so that the terminal detects the paging indication in the dynamic PO, and the start time of the dynamic PO is determined according to the start time of the LO and the wake-up delay of the terminal. The related method is similar to the case in FIG. 4C, and will not be described here.

[0233] Based on the above description, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, in which the terminal receives at least one offset configured by the network device for each terminal, and the relationship type of the paging occasion and the receiving occasion, and receives the low-power wake-up signal in the receiving occasion, so that terminals with different performances can be woken up at appropriate wake-up occasions, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption.

[0234] The above describes the communication method provided by the present application from the perspective of the terminal. The method of the present application will be described in detail from the perspective of the network device.

[0235] Referring to a flowchart of a communication method shown in FIG. 7, the method is applied to a network device, and includes the following steps:

[0236] S702: determining at least one offset according to the wake-up delay sent by the terminal, and determining the relationship type of the paging occasion and the receiving occasion.

[0237] The relationship type of the paging occasion and the receiving occasion can be the first type, the second type or the third type, wherein the first type is used to indicate that one PO corresponds to one LO, the second type is used to indicate that multiple POs correspond to one LO, and the third type is used to indicate that one PO corresponds to multiple LOs. If one PO corresponds to one LO, the network device can determine and configure one offset or multiple offsets for the terminal. If multiple POs correspond to one LO or one PO corresponds to multiple LOs, the network device will determine and configure multiple offsets for the terminal.

[0238] The network device can receive the wake-up delay sent by the terminal, for example, the terminal can send the wake-up delay when sending the terminal capability information. Thus, the network device can obtain the information related to the terminal wake-up function before the start of the wake-up process, which is conducive to determining the wake-up strategy for different terminals. The network device can store the wake-up delay of the terminal, for example, according to the identification of different terminals to correspondingly store the wake-up delay of the terminal. In this way, the network device only needs to receive the wake-up delay of the terminal once in multiple wake-up cycles, thereby saving the power consumption of sending and receiving information.

[0239] After receiving the information sent by the terminal, the network device can determine at least one offset according to the wake-up delay sent by the terminal. The wake-up delay specifically refers to the time experienced by the terminal from receiving the LP-WUS by the LP-WUR to waking up the MR of the terminal. Since the performance and capability of each terminal are different, the wake-up delay of each terminal also differs, thereby causing the suitable wake-up time of each terminal to be different. For example, if the wake-up delays of multiple terminals are 40 ms, 80 ms, and 120 ms respectively, if the terminal is woken up 40 ms before the PO, it can cause the terminals with wake-up delays of 80 ms and 120 ms to be unable to wake up in the current paging cycle, that is, the terminal with a wake-up delay of 40 ms and the terminals with wake-up delays of 80 ms and 120 ms cannot be woken up in the same paging cycle. If the terminal is woken up 120 ms before the PO, it can cause the MRs of the terminals with wake-up delays of 40 ms and 80 ms to be woken up in advance, causing unnecessary power consumption. Therefore, the offset is configured according to the wake-up delay, and the terminal determines the reception time according to the offset, and then receives the LP-WUS in the appropriate listening time in the reception time, and detects the paging indication in the predetermined paging time, which can save the power consumption of the terminal.

[0240] In some possible implementation manners, if one PO corresponds to one LO, the network device can select the maximum wake-up delay received by the terminal as an offset configured for the terminal, and the offset will also indicate the start time of the reception time of the terminal. For example, when the network device receives the wake-up delays of the terminals as 40 ms, 80 ms, and 120 ms, the offset can be configured as 120 ms. At this time, the terminals with wake-up delays of 40 ms and 80 ms will be woken up in advance and remain in this state until 120 ms, thereby causing unnecessary power loss.

[0241] In some possible implementation, the network device can also calculate an average value according to the received multiple wake-up time delays as the configured offset. It should be noted that the network device can select all or part of the multiple wake-up time delays for calculation, and the weight of each selected wake-up time delay can be the same or different when calculating the average value. For example, for the wake-up time delays of 40 ms, 80 ms and 120 ms respectively, the network device can configure the offset as 80 ms. At this time, the terminal with a wake-up time delay of 40 ms will be woken up in advance, and the terminal with a wake-up time delay of 120 ms will not be woken up at the same time, resulting in lower communication efficiency and poorer effect.

[0242] Therefore, in some possible implementation, the network device can increase the configuration of dynamic PO while keeping the configuration of an offset unchanged, so that the terminal with a smaller wake-up time delay in the foregoing method can be woken up in advance. For example, if the wake-up time delays of the terminals are 40 ms, 80 ms and 120 ms respectively, and the number of terminals with a wake-up time delay of 40 ms is small, the network device can configure a dynamic PO at 40 ms from the start position of the LO. In this way, the dynamic PO can be configured for a small number of terminals with a smaller wake-up time delay, so as to realize the early paging of the MR, and other terminals still complete the start of the MR at the same time, which takes into account the overall performance and low power consumption.

[0243] In some possible implementation, the network device can also configure a mechanism for determining the actual PO, and configure at least one MO in the receiving occasion, so that the terminal can determine the actual PO according to the MO and the wake-up time delay. The MO can be configured according to the received multiple wake-up time delays. It should be noted that the actual PO can be the same as the reference PO, or can be different from the reference PO. Specifically, if the paging cycle is less than or equal to the length threshold, or the number of paging occasions in the paging cycle is greater than or equal to the number threshold, the terminal can determine the actual PO according to the target offset. If the paging cycle is greater than the length threshold, or the number of paging occasions in the paging cycle is less than the number threshold, the terminal can determine the actual PO according to the wake-up time delay of the terminal. For example, the start time of the actual PO can be the sum of the start time of the MO and the wake-up time delay of the terminal. Alternatively, in some possible cases, if the paging cycle is less than the length threshold, or the number of paging occasions in the paging cycle is greater than the number threshold, the terminal can also determine the actual PO according to the target offset; if the paging cycle is greater than or equal to the length threshold, or the number of paging occasions in the paging cycle is less than or equal to the number threshold, the terminal can also determine the actual PO according to the wake-up time delay of the terminal.

[0244] If the network device configures a dynamic PO for the terminal, the terminal can also detect the paging indication in the dynamic PO. The start time of the dynamic PO can be the sum of the start time of the LO of the terminal and the wake-up time delay of the terminal.

[0245] In some possible implementation manners, the network device can further configure multiple offsets according to the received wake-up time delay. A maximum value of the multiple offsets can be used to indicate the starting time of the LO of the terminal together with the reference PO, or each offset of the multiple offsets has a preset corresponding relationship with a different paging subgroup to which the terminal belongs. The terminal can select a target offset according to the corresponding relationship, and determine the LO according to the target offset and the reference PO.

[0246] It should be noted that if the network device configures multiple offsets, the network device can also increase the configuration of a dynamic PO, wherein the starting time of the dynamic PO is equal to the sum of the starting time of the LO and the wake-up time delay of the terminal.

[0247] In some possible implementation manners, if the number of bits in the payload of the low-power wake-up signal is greater than a first threshold, or the number of paging subgroups is greater than a second threshold, the network device can configure multiple offsets, and configure one PO corresponding to multiple LOs for multiple terminals, wherein each offset of the multiple offsets corresponds to a paging subgroup. In this way, different types of terminals or modules that cooperatively implement the same function can be isolated, and wake-up and paging can be completed at the same time, thereby reducing interference between each other without affecting the implementation of the common function.

[0248] S704: sending at least one offset and a relationship type of the paging occasion and the receiving occasion to the terminal.

[0249] After the configuration is completed, the network device can send at least one offset and a relationship type of the paging occasion and the receiving occasion to the terminal, so that the terminal can determine the LO according to the offset, the reference PO, and the relationship type of the PO and the LO, and then receive the low-power wake-up signal. It should be noted that the relationship type of the PO and the LO can be determined in advance by the terminal and the network device, or can be sent by the network device to the terminal together with the at least one offset. The embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0250] In some possible implementation manners, the network device can further send a wake-up signal to the terminal. Specifically, the wake-up signal is a low-power wake-up signal (LP-WUS) received by a low-power wake-up receiver (LP-WUR) of the terminal, and is used to instruct the terminal to start waking up a main receiver. The low-power wake-up signal adopts a multi-carrier on-off keying (OOK) modulation mode and is generated by multiplexing an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal generation structure. In the OOK, the turning on and turning off of a carrier represent "1" and "0" in binary information respectively, and the OOK modulation mode can be used to effectively convert digital information into a signal suitable for transmission. For example, the LP-WUS can be composed of a payload, and the payload is used to carry relevant information of the terminal. The terminal can receive one or more subcarriers of the LP-WUS in a frequency band dedicated to the LP-WUS, so that the terminal demodulates the LP-WUS according to the one or more subcarriers, and determines whether to wake up the terminal according to the payload of the LP-WUS. The LP-WUS can generally carry an 8-bit payload, and the transmission of the wake-up signal is implemented by transmitting less data, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the device.

[0251] In some possible implementation manners, the network device can further broadcast system information, for example, a master information block (MIB) or a system information block (SIB), to the plurality of terminals, so as to provide main information of the access network, to facilitate the terminals to establish a wireless connection.

[0252] Based on the above description, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication method. In the method, a network device is configured with at least one offset, and a relationship type of a paging occasion and a receiving occasion. The network device can send the configured offset to a terminal, so that terminals with different performances receive low-power wake-up signals at respective receiving occasions, and then wake up a main receiver, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption.

[0253] FIG. 8 is an example of a structure of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present application. The electronic device can be a network device, including but not limited to a base station, a core network unit. FIG. 8 shows a simplified structure of a base station. The base station includes a part 810, a part 820, and a part 830. The part 810 is mainly used for baseband processing, controlling the base station, etc. The part 810 is usually the control center of the base station, which can be referred to as a processor, and is configured to control the base station to perform the processing operations of the network device side in the above method embodiments. The part 820 is mainly used for storing computer program codes and data. The part 830 is mainly used for transceiving radio frequency signals and converting radio frequency signals and baseband signals. The part 830 can be referred to as a transceiver module, a transceiver, a transceiving circuit, or a transceiver circuit, etc. The transceiver module of the part 830, which can also be referred to as a transceiver or a transceiver circuit, includes an antenna 833 and a radio frequency circuit (not shown in the figure), where the radio frequency circuit is mainly used for radio frequency processing. Optionally, the devices in the part 830 for realizing the receiving function can be regarded as a receiver, and the devices for realizing the transmitting function can be regarded as a transmitter, i.e., the part 830 includes a receiver 832 and a transmitter 831. The receiver can also be referred to as a receiving module, a receiver, or a receiving circuit, etc., and the transmitter can be referred to as a transmitting module, a transmitter, or a transmitting circuit, etc.

[0254] The part 810 and the part 820 can include one or more single boards, and each single board can include one or more processors and one or more memories. The processors are configured to read and execute the programs in the memories to realize the baseband processing functions and control the base station. If there are multiple single boards, the single boards can be interconnected to enhance the processing capability. As an optional implementation, the multiple single boards can share one or more processors, or share one or more memories, or share one or more processors and one or more memories at the same time.

[0255] For example, in an implementation, the transceiver module of the part 830 is configured to perform the transceiving-related processes performed by the base station (network device) in the above method embodiments. The processor of the part 810 is configured to perform the processing-related processes performed by the base station in the above method embodiments.

[0256] It should be understood that FIG. 8 is merely an example and not limiting, and the above network device including a processor, a memory, and a transceiver can not depend on the structure shown in FIG. 8.

[0257] FIG. 9 is an example of a structure of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present application. The electronic device can be a terminal, including but not limited to a mobile phone, a smart wearable device (e.g., a smart watch), and the like. Hereinafter, the electronic device will be described by taking a mobile phone as an example. The electronic device can include a processor 910, an external memory interface 920, an internal memory 921, a display 930, a camera 940, an antenna 1, an antenna 2, a mobile communication module 950, a wireless communication module 960, and the like.

[0258] It can be understood that the structure illustrated in the embodiment is not a specific limitation on the electronic device. In other embodiments, the electronic device can include more or fewer components than those illustrated, or combine certain components, or split certain components, or different arrangement of components. The illustrated components can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0259] The processor 910 can include one or more processing units. For example, the processor 910 can include an application processor (AP), a modem processor, a graphics processing unit (GPU), an image signal processor (ISP), a controller, a video codec, a digital signal processor (DSP), a baseband processor, and / or a neural-network processing unit (NPU), etc. Different processing units can be independent devices or integrated in one or more processors.

[0260] It can be understood that the interface connection relationship between the modules illustrated in the embodiment is only illustrative and does not constitute a structural limitation on the electronic device. In other embodiments of the present application, the electronic device can also use different interface connection manners or a combination of multiple interface connection manners.

[0261] The external memory interface 920 can be used to connect an external memory card, such as a Micro SD card, to expand the storage capacity of the electronic device. The external memory card communicates with the processor 910 through the external memory interface 920 to realize a data storage function. For example, files such as music and videos are saved in the external memory card.

[0262] The internal memory 921 can be used to store computer executable program codes including instructions. The processor 910 performs various functional applications and data processing of the electronic device by executing the instructions stored in the internal memory 921. The internal memory 921 can include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area can store an operating system, at least one application program (e.g., a sound play function, an image play function, etc.) required for at least one function, etc. The data storage area can store data (e.g., audio data, a phone book, etc.) created during the use of the electronic device, etc. In addition, the internal memory 921 can include a high-speed random access memory, and can further include a non-volatile memory such as at least one magnetic disk storage device, a flash memory device, a universal flash storage (UFS), etc. The processor 910 performs various functional applications and data processing of the electronic device by executing the instructions stored in the internal memory 921 and / or the instructions stored in the memory disposed in the processor.

[0263] The wireless communication function of the electronic device can be implemented through the antenna 1, the antenna 2, the mobile communication module 950, the wireless communication module 960, a modem processor, and a baseband processor, etc.

[0264] The antenna 1 and the antenna 2 are used to transmit and receive electromagnetic wave signals. Each antenna in the electronic device can be used to cover a single or multiple communication frequency bands. Different antennas can also be multiplexed to improve the utilization rate of the antennas. For example, the antenna 1 can be multiplexed as a diversity antenna for a wireless local area network. In some other embodiments, the antennas can be used in combination with a tuning switch.

[0265] The mobile communication module 950 can provide a solution including 2G / 3G / 4G / 5G wireless communication applied to the electronic device. The mobile communication module 950 can include at least one filter, a switch, a power amplifier, a low noise amplifier (LNA), etc. The mobile communication module 350 can receive electromagnetic waves by the antenna 1, and perform filtering, amplification, etc. on the received electromagnetic waves, and transfer the processed electromagnetic waves to the modem processor for demodulation. The mobile communication module 950 can also amplify the signals modulated by the modem processor, and convert the signals into electromagnetic waves to be radiated out through the antenna 1. In some embodiments, at least part of the functional modules of the mobile communication module 950 can be disposed in the processor 910. In some embodiments, at least part of the functional modules of the mobile communication module 950 and at least part of the modules of the processor 910 can be disposed in the same device.

[0266] In some embodiments, the electronic device initiates or receives a call request through the mobile communication module 950 and the antenna 1.

[0267] In addition, an operating system runs on the components. For example, an iOS operating system, an Android operating system, a Windows operating system, and the like. An application program can be installed and run on the operating system. It can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the explanation and beneficial effects of the related content in any of the above electronic devices can refer to the corresponding method embodiments provided above, and will not be repeated here.

[0268] The present application also provides a communication system, which can include a network device (such as a base station) as shown in FIG. 8 and a terminal (such as a mobile phone) as shown in FIG. 9.

[0269] In the present application, the terminal or the network device can include a hardware layer, an operating system layer running on the hardware layer, and an application layer running on the operating system layer. The hardware layer can include a central processing unit (CPU), a memory management module (MMU), a memory (also known as main memory), and the like. The operating system of the operating system layer can be any one or more computer operating systems that implement business processing through processes, such as a Linux operating system, a Unix operating system, an Android operating system, an iOS operating system, or a Windows operating system. The application layer can include a browser, an address book, a word processing software, an instant messaging software, and the like.

[0270] It can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the above-described system, device and module can refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0271] In several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, device and method can be implemented in other ways. For example, the above-described device embodiments are only schematic, for example, the division of the modules is only a logical function division, and actual implementation can have another division manner, for example, a plurality of modules or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection between the shown or discussed mutual ones can be indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or modules, and can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0272] The modules described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as modules may or may not be physical modules, i.e., may be located in one place, or may be distributed to multiple network modules. Part or all of the modules can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the embodiment scheme.

[0273] In addition, the functional modules in each embodiment of the present application can be integrated into one processing module, or each module can exist physically alone, or two or more modules can be integrated into one module. The integrated module can be realized in the form of hardware or in the form of a software functional module.

[0274] The integrated module, if realized in the form of a software functional module and sold or used as an independent product, can be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the part essentially contributing to the technical solutions of the present application or the whole or part of the technical solutions can be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes a plurality of instructions for causing a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the processes of the methods described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: a U disk, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory, a random access memory, a magnetic disk or an optical disk, and various program code storage media.

[0275] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, and not to limit them; although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that the technical solutions recorded in the foregoing embodiments can be modified, or some technical features can be replaced by equivalents; and these modifications or replacements do not make the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A communication method performed by a terminal, the method comprising: The method comprises: receiving at least one offset from a network device, the at least one offset being used to determine a receiving occasion or a listening occasion of the terminal; receiving, by a first receiver of the terminal, a wake-up signal in at least one listening occasion in the receiving occasion of the terminal, the wake-up signal being used to wake up a second receiver of the terminal, power consumption of the first receiver being lower than that of the second receiver, the receiving occasion of the terminal being determined according to a reference paging occasion for the terminal, the at least one offset, and a relationship type of paging occasions and receiving occasions configured by the network device for a plurality of terminals, the at least one listening occasion being related to a wake-up latency of the terminal, the wake-up latency of the terminal being used to indicate a time delay from receiving the wake-up signal by the first receiver of the terminal to waking up the second receiver of the terminal, the at least one listening occasion being located within the receiving occasion in a time domain.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The at least one offset is determined by the network device according to wake-up latencies sent by a plurality of terminals.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The at least one offset comprises a first offset set, and the receiving occasion of the terminal is determined according to a difference between the reference paging occasion for the terminal and at least one offset in the first offset set.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, The at least one offset further comprises a second offset set, the second offset set comprising time intervals between a plurality of listening occasions, an i+1th listening occasion in the plurality of listening occasions being determined according to a time interval between an ith listening occasion and the i+1th listening occasion and the ith listening occasion, the i being greater than or equal to 1, the i being a positive integer.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, A start time of a first listening occasion in the plurality of listening occasions is equal to a start time of the receiving occasion, or the first listening occasion in the plurality of listening occasions is configured by the network device.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein, The at least one offset further comprises a second offset set, the second offset set comprising time intervals between a plurality of listening occasions and the receiving occasion, the plurality of listening occasions being determined according to the time intervals between the plurality of listening occasions and the receiving occasion and the receiving occasion.

7. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The at least one offset comprises an offset between a listening occasion of the terminal and a reference paging occasion for the terminal, at least one listening occasion of the terminal being determined according to the reference paging occasion for the terminal and the at least one offset, and a start time of the receiving occasion of the terminal being equal to a start time of a first listening occasion in the at least one listening occasion.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The method further comprises: receiving configuration information about a dynamic paging occasion from the network device; detecting a paging indication at the dynamic paging occasion, a start time of the dynamic paging occasion being a sum of a start time of the receiving occasion of the terminal and a wake-up latency of the terminal.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The receiving, by the first receiver of the terminal, the wake-up signal in the at least one listening occasion in the receiving occasion of the terminal comprises: If an offset used to determine the receiving occasion among the at least one offset is greater than or equal to the wake-up latency of the terminal, the wake-up signal is received at at least one listening occasion of the receiving occasion of the terminal by the first receiver.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein, The method further includes: If an offset used to determine the receiving occasion among the at least one offset is less than the wake-up latency of the terminal, the wake-up signal is received at a next paging cycle of the terminal.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that, The at least one offset includes a plurality of offsets, and the method further includes: For the plurality of offsets, a target offset is determined from offsets greater than or equal to the wake-up latency; The receiving occasion of the terminal is determined according to the target offset and a reference paging occasion for the terminal.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that, The at least one offset includes a plurality of offsets, and the method further includes: If a sleep state of a second receiver of the terminal is deep sleep or super deep sleep, a first offset among the plurality of offsets is determined as a target offset, and if the sleep state of the second receiver of the terminal is light sleep or shallow sleep, a second offset among the plurality of offsets is determined as the target offset, the first offset being greater than the second offset; The receiving occasion of the terminal is determined according to the target offset and a reference paging occasion for the terminal.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that, The at least one offset includes a plurality of offsets, and the method further includes: A target offset is determined from the plurality of offsets according to a correspondence between a subgroup and an offset and a paging subgroup to which the terminal belongs; The receiving occasion of the terminal is determined according to the target offset and a reference paging occasion for the terminal.

14. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receiving, from the network device, configuration information about an actual paging occasion, the actual paging occasion being used to indicate an occasion at which the terminal detects a paging indication; Detecting the paging indication at the actual paging occasion.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, The method further includes: If a paging cycle is less than or equal to a length threshold or a number of paging occasions in the paging cycle is greater than or equal to a number threshold, an actual paging occasion is determined according to the at least one offset; If the paging cycle is greater than the length threshold or the number of paging occasions in the paging cycle is less than the number threshold, an actual paging occasion is determined according to a wake-up latency of the terminal.

16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that, The relationship type between the paging occasion and the receiving occasion is a first type, a second type or a third type, the first type being used to indicate that one paging occasion corresponds to one receiving occasion, the second type being used to indicate that a plurality of paging occasions correspond to one receiving occasion, and the third type being used to indicate that one paging occasion corresponds to a plurality of receiving occasions.

17. A method of communication, comprising: The method is performed by a network device, and the method includes: Sending, to a terminal, at least one offset and a relationship type between a paging occasion and a receiving occasion, the at least one offset being used to determine a receiving occasion or a listening occasion of the terminal.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein, The method further includes: Receiving wake-up latencies sent by a plurality of terminals, each wake-up latency of a terminal being used to indicate a time delay from when a first receiver of the terminal receives a wake-up signal to when a second receiver of the terminal is woken up, the first receiver having a lower power consumption than the second receiver; The at least one offset is determined according to the wake-up latency of the terminal.

19. The method of claim 17 or 18, wherein, The relationship type of the paging occasion and the receiving occasion is a first type, a second type or a third type, the first type is used to indicate that one paging occasion corresponds to one receiving occasion, the second type is used to indicate that multiple paging occasions correspond to one receiving occasion, and the third type is used to indicate that one paging occasion corresponds to multiple receiving occasions.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein, If the number of bits in the payload of the wake-up signal is greater than a first threshold, or the number of paging subgroups is greater than a second threshold, the network device sends the terminal the relationship type of the paging occasion and the receiving occasion in a third type.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein, The method further includes: The method further includes:

22. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 21, characterized in that, The method further includes: The method further includes:

23. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 22, characterized in that, The method further includes: The terminal includes:

24. A terminal, characterized by a memory for storing computer programs or computer instructions; a processor for executing the computer programs or computer instructions stored in the memory, so that the terminal executes the method according to any one of claims 1 to 16. The network device includes:

25. A network device, comprising: a memory for storing computer programs or computer instructions; a processor for executing the computer programs or computer instructions stored in the memory, so that the network device executes the method according to any one of claims 17 to 23. ​

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