Communication method and related apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and a related apparatus. In the method, first information acquired by a first communication apparatus is used for determining a first moment at which a first cell is switched from a first mode to a second mode; and if the first cell currently operates in the first mode, then after the first moment, the first communication apparatus initiates a NAS procedure by means of the first cell. Thus, when the first cell to which the first communication apparatus is connected is in the first mode, the first communication apparatus may wait until or after the first moment at which the first cell is switched from the first mode to the second mode, and then initiate the NAS procedure by means of the first cell. In this way, a terminal device can, as much as possible, initiate a NAS procedure with lower latency and lower power consumption by means of a cell in the second mode, so as to avoid or reduce higher latency and power consumption caused when the terminal device initiates a NAS procedure by means of a cell in the first mode, thus reducing communication latency and reducing power consumption of devices.

Description

Communication method and related apparatus

[0001] The present application claims priority to the Chinese patent application No. 202411397722.5, filed on September 30, 2024, and entitled "A communication method and related apparatus", the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular, to a communication method and related apparatus. BACKGROUND

[0003] Wireless communication can be transmission communication between two or more communication devices through electromagnetic wave propagation. The communication devices generally include network devices and terminal devices. Traditional network devices can be devices fixed on the ground, such as ground base stations and / or core network devices of terrestrial network (TN) cells.

[0004] With the development of communication technology, network devices can not be fixed on the ground. For example, the network devices can be high-speed mobile devices, including but not limited to satellite devices such as low-orbit satellites, medium-orbit satellites, and high-orbit satellites, which belong to non-terrestrial network (NTN) cells.

[0005] However, in the above process, how to reduce the communication delay is a technical problem to be solved. SUMMARY

[0006] The present application provides a communication method and related apparatus for reducing communication delay.

[0007] The first aspect of the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a first communication apparatus, for example, the method is executed by the first communication apparatus. The first communication apparatus can be a communication device (such as a terminal device), or the first communication apparatus can be a part of the communication device (such as a circuit or a chip responsible for communication functions (such as a Modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a system on chip (SoC) chip or a system in package (SIP) chip containing a modem core)), or the first communication apparatus can also be a logic module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the communication device.

[0008] In the method, the first communication device acquires first information used to determine a first time point, the first time point being a time point at which the first cell switches from a first mode to a second mode; the first mode is a store and forward (S&F) mode, and when the first cell operates in the second mode, both the feeder link and the service link are available; if the first cell currently operates in the first mode, the first communication device initiates a non-access stratum (NAS) procedure through the first cell after (or at) the first time point.

[0009] Based on the above scheme, the first mode is a store and forward mode, and when any cell operates in the first mode, at least one of the feeder link and the service link is unavailable; and when any cell operates in the second mode, both the feeder link and the service link are available, which makes the latency and power consumption of the terminal device in initiating the NAS procedure through the cell in the first mode greater than those of the terminal device in initiating the NAS procedure through the cell in the first mode. In the above scheme, the first information acquired by the first communication device is used to determine the first time point at which the first cell switches from the first mode to the second mode, and if the first cell currently operates in the first mode, the first communication device initiates the NAS procedure through the first cell after the first time point. Thus, when the first cell connected by the first communication device (for example, the first communication device camps on or selects or reselects a cell) is in the first mode, the first communication device can wait until the first time point at which the first cell switches from the first mode to the second mode or after the first time point, and then initiates the NAS procedure through the first cell. In this way, the terminal device can initiate the NAS procedure with lower latency and lower power consumption through the cell in the second mode as much as possible, can avoid or reduce the higher latency and power consumption caused by initiating the NAS procedure through the cell in the first mode, and can reduce the communication latency and the device power consumption.

[0010] Optionally, in the above process, even if the first communication device triggers the NAS procedure, the first communication device can temporarily not initiate the NAS procedure, but wait until the first time point at which the first cell switches from the first mode to the second mode or after the first time point, and then initiate the NAS procedure through the first cell, or if the NAS procedure has not been triggered, wait until after the first time point, and then trigger the NAS procedure. In this way, the terminal device can initiate the NAS procedure with lower latency and lower power consumption through the cell in the second mode as much as possible, to reduce the communication latency and the device power consumption.

[0011] It should be noted that the link between the first network device and the terminal device can be a service link or other link defined by a future network, and here only the service link is taken as an example for description. Similarly, the link between the first network device and the second network device can be a feeder circuit, and here only the feeder link is taken as an example for description. For example, the first network device can be a satellite or a satellite payload, and the satellite can include an access network device and / or a core network device, and the satellite payload can also include an access network device and / or a core network device.

[0012] As an example, the first network device can be a network device to which the NTN cell belongs, a satellite network device, a satellite device, a satellite base station or other device with access network function. Optionally, the first network device is not a device fixed on the ground.

[0013] As an example, the second network device can be a gateway, a gateway station, a ground device or other device with part or all of the core network function. Optionally, the second network device can be a device fixed on the ground.

[0014] Optionally, the second network device can not be a device fixed on the ground, for example, the second network device is a satellite device, in which case the feeder link described above can be understood as an inter-satellite link between different satellite devices.

[0015] It should be understood that at least one of the feeder link and the service link is unavailable (for example, the feeder link is unavailable and the service link is available, for example, the feeder link is available and the service link is unavailable, for example, the feeder link is unavailable and the service link is unavailable) when any cell works in the first mode. Wherein, the first mode can be a store-and-forward mode, or the first mode can be other mode defined by a future network, which is not limited here.

[0016] Optionally, one link is available, which can be understood as that the link is in an available state, or the link can be used by a communication device, or the link can be used for transmitting communication signals, or the sending end can currently communicate with the receiving end through the link.

[0017] It should be understood that the feeder link and the service link are available at the same time when any cell works in the second mode, which can be understood as that the feeder link and the service link of any cell are available when the cell works in the second mode; or the feeder link and the service link of any cell are available in at least one time unit (for example, symbol, time slot, subframe, frame, millisecond, second, minute, etc.) when the cell works in the second mode.

[0018] Optionally, if the first cell is currently operating in the first mode, the first communication device determines not to initiate the NAS procedure via the first cell between the current time and the first time, which can avoid high latency and power consumption caused by initiating the NAS procedure via the cell operating in the first mode.

[0019] It should be noted that the NAS procedure can include an attach procedure, a tracking area update procedure, or other NAS procedures, which are not limited herein.

[0020] As an example, in the case that the NAS procedure is an attach procedure, the first communication device initiating the NAS procedure via the first cell can be understood as that the first communication device sends an attach request (ATTACH REQUEST) message. It should be understood that in the attach procedure, other message interactions can also be involved, such as an attach accept (ATTACH ACCEPT) message, an attach reject (ATTACH REJECT) message, or other messages.

[0021] As another example, in the case that the NAS procedure is a tracking area update (TAU) procedure, the first communication device initiating the NAS procedure via the first cell can be understood as that the first communication device sends a tracking area update request (TAU REQUEST) message. It should be understood that in the tracking area update procedure, other message interactions can also be involved, such as a tracking area update accept (TAU ACCEPT) message, a tracking area update reject (TAU REJECT) message, a tracking area update complete (TAU Complete) message, or other messages.

[0022] It should be noted that the first communication device can determine the first time in various ways.

[0023] For example, the process of determining the first time by the first communication device includes that the first communication device receives first information. Thus, the first communication device can determine the first time at which the first cell switches from the first mode to the second mode based on the first information sent by other devices (e.g., the second communication device), so as to reduce the implementation complexity of the first communication device.

[0024] For another example, the process of determining the first time by the first communication device includes that the first communication device determines the first time at which the first cell switches from the first mode to the second mode based on ephemeris information of one or more network devices, so as to reduce transmission overhead. The one or more network devices include a network device corresponding to the first cell. Optionally, in the process of determining the first time, the first communication device can also determine the first time in combination with its own position.

[0025] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the first information comprises any of: first indication information indicating the first time point; or second indication information indicating a remaining time length during which the first cell operates in the first mode, the remaining time length being used to determine the first time point.

[0026] Based on the above scheme, the first information used to determine the first time point can be implemented in various ways to improve the flexibility of the scheme implementation.

[0027] As an example, the first indication information can indicate an absolute time position of the first time point, or can indicate a relative time position of the first time point, such as one or more of a system frame number, a subframe number, a symbol, or can be indicated in other ways.

[0028] As an example, the second indication information indicates a remaining time length, which can be used together with another time point to determine the first time point. For example, the first communication apparatus can take the other time point as a starting time point, take the remaining time length as a continuous time length after the starting time point, and determine a termination time point of the continuous time length as the first time point. For example, the other time point can be a current time point. For another example, the other time point can be a time point of reception of the first information. For another example, the other time point can be a time point of transmission of the first information, or the other time point can be a time point corresponding to a synchronization reference point.

[0029] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the method further comprises: receiving, by the first communication apparatus, second information indicating that the NAS procedure is initiated after the cell is switched from the first mode to the second mode.

[0030] Based on the above scheme, the first communication apparatus can determine, based on the indication of the second information, that the NAS procedure is initiated after the cell is switched from the first mode to the second mode. Thus, the first communication apparatus can initiate a NAS procedure with lower latency and lower power consumption based on the indication of the sender of the second information.

[0031] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the first communication apparatus initiates the NAS procedure through the first cell, comprising: in a case where a first time length during which the terminal device initiates and completes the NAS procedure in the cell operating in the first mode is less than or equal to a second time length, the first communication apparatus initiates the NAS procedure through the first cell; wherein the second time length is a sum of a time length between a current time point and the first time point and a time length during which the terminal device initiates and completes the NAS procedure in the cell operating in the second mode.

[0032] Based on the above scheme, in a case that the first time length is less than or equal to the second time length, the first communication apparatus can determine that the time delay of initiating the NAS procedure through the first cell after the first time point is lower, and initiate the NAS procedure through the first cell in the case to reduce the time delay and power consumption of the NAS procedure.

[0033] The second aspect of the present application provides a communication method applied to a second communication apparatus, such as executed by the second communication apparatus. The second communication apparatus can be a communication device (e.g., a network device or a satellite network device, etc.), or the second communication apparatus can be a part of the communication device (e.g., a circuit or a chip responsible for communication functions (e.g., a Modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a SoC chip or a SIP chip containing a modem core, etc.), or the second communication apparatus can also be a logic module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the communication device.

[0034] In the method, the second communication apparatus determines first information, the first information being used to determine a first time point, the first time point being a time point at which a first cell switches from a first mode to a second mode; the first mode being a store-and-forward mode; when the first cell works in the second mode, a feeder link and a service link are available at the same time; and the second communication apparatus sends the first information.

[0035] Based on the above scheme, the first mode is a store-and-forward mode, and when any cell works in the first mode, at least one of the feeder link and the service link is unavailable; and when any cell works in the second mode, the feeder link and the service link are available at the same time, which makes the time delay and power consumption of the terminal device to complete the NAS procedure through the cell in the first mode greater than the time delay and power consumption of the terminal device to complete the NAS procedure through the cell in the first mode. In the above scheme, the first information sent by the second communication apparatus to the first communication apparatus is used to determine the first time point at which the first cell switches from the first mode to the second mode, and if the first cell currently works in the first mode, the first communication apparatus initiates the NAS procedure through the first cell after the first time point. Therefore, in a case that the first cell connected by the first communication apparatus (e.g., the first communication apparatus camps or cell selection or cell reselection) is in the first mode, the first communication apparatus can wait until the first time point at which the first cell switches from the first mode to the second mode or after the first time point, and then initiate the NAS procedure through the first cell. In this way, the terminal device can initiate the NAS procedure with lower time delay and lower power consumption through the cell in the second mode as much as possible, can avoid or reduce the higher time delay and power consumption generated by the terminal device initiating the NAS procedure through the cell in the first mode, and can reduce the communication time delay and the device power consumption.

[0036] It should be noted that there can be multiple association relationships between the first cell and the second communication apparatus. For example, the signal of the first cell is transmitted through the second communication apparatus, in which case the second communication apparatus can indicate the time information of the cell of the network device to which the second communication apparatus belongs through the first time indicated by the first information. For another example, the signal of the first cell is transmitted through another communication apparatus (which is different from the second communication apparatus), in which case the second communication apparatus can indicate the time information of the cell of another network device (for example, the cell of a neighboring network device, or a neighboring cell, etc.) other than the network device to which the second communication apparatus belongs through the first time indicated by the first information.

[0037] In a possible implementation of the second aspect, the first information includes any of the following: first indication information used to indicate the first time; or second indication information used to indicate a remaining duration in which the first cell operates in the first mode, the remaining duration being used to determine the first time.

[0038] Based on the above scheme, the first information used to determine the first time can be implemented in the above-mentioned multiple ways, so as to improve the flexibility of the implementation of the scheme.

[0039] As an example, the first indication information can indicate the absolute time position of the first time, or can indicate the relative time position of the first time, for example, one or more of the system frame number, the subframe number, and the symbol, or can indicate the first time in other ways.

[0040] As an example, the second indication information indicates a remaining duration and another time used to determine the first time. For example, the first communication apparatus can take the other time as a starting time, take the remaining duration as a continuous duration after the starting time, and determine the termination time of the continuous duration as the first time. For example, the other time can be the current time. For another example, the other time can be the time of receiving the first information. For another example, the other time can be the time of sending the first information, or the other time can be the time corresponding to a synchronization reference point.

[0041] In a possible implementation of the second aspect, the method further includes: receiving, by the second communication apparatus, second information used to indicate that the NAS procedure is initiated after the cell is switched from the first mode to the second mode.

[0042] Based on the above scheme, the second communication apparatus can further send the second information to the first communication apparatus, so that the first communication apparatus can determine, according to the indication of the second information, that the NAS procedure is initiated after the cell is switched from the first mode to the second mode. Thus, the first communication apparatus can initiate the NAS procedure with lower latency and lower power consumption based on the indication of the second communication apparatus.

[0043] The third aspect of the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a first communication device, such as being executed by the first communication device. The first communication device can be a communication device (e.g., a terminal device), or the first communication device can be a part of the communication device (e.g., a circuit or a chip responsible for communication functions (e.g., a Modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a SoC chip or a SIP chip containing a modem core, etc.), or the first communication device can also be a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the communication device.

[0044] In the method, the first communication device obtains third information, which is used to determine a second time, the second time being a time when the terminal device reselects from a first cell to a second cell; at the second time, the first cell works in a first mode, and the second cell works in a second mode; the first mode is a store-and-forward mode; when the second cell works in the second mode, the feeder link and the service link are available at the same time; after the second time, the first communication device initiates a non-access stratum (NAS) procedure through the second cell. For example, the NAS procedure is an attach procedure or a tracking area update procedure.

[0045] Based on the above scheme, the first mode is a store-and-forward mode, and when any cell works in the first mode, at least one of the feeder link and the service link is unavailable; and when any cell works in the second mode, the feeder link and the service link are available at the same time, which makes the latency and power consumption of the terminal device when completing the NAS procedure through the cell in the first mode greater than that when completing the NAS procedure through the cell in the first mode. In the above scheme, the third information obtained by the first communication device is used to determine the second time when the terminal device reselects from the first cell to the second cell; at the second time, the first cell works in the first mode, and the second cell works in the second mode; the first mode is a store-and-forward mode; when the second cell works in the second mode, the feeder link and the service link are available at the same time. After the second time, the first communication device initiates a non-access stratum (NAS) procedure through the second cell. Thus, after the first communication device reselects from the first cell working in the first mode to the second cell working in the second mode at the second time, the first communication device can initiate the NAS procedure through the second cell. In this way, the terminal device can initiate the NAS procedure with lower latency and lower power consumption through the cell in the second mode as much as possible, can avoid or reduce the higher latency and power consumption generated when the terminal device initiates the NAS procedure through the cell in the first mode, and can reduce the communication latency and the device power consumption.

[0046] Optionally, in the above process, even if the first communication apparatus triggers a NAS procedure through a cell in the first mode (for example, the first cell), the first communication apparatus can temporarily not initiate the NAS procedure, but wait until the second time or after the second time to initiate the NAS procedure through the second cell. Alternatively, if the NAS procedure has not been triggered, the first communication apparatus can wait until after the second time to trigger the NAS procedure. In this way, the terminal device can initiate the NAS procedure with lower latency and lower power consumption through the cell in the second mode as much as possible, so as to reduce the communication latency and reduce the device power consumption.

[0047] Optionally, after the second time, the first communication apparatus does not initiate (or determines not to initiate) a non-access stratum (NAS) procedure through the first cell, which can avoid the higher latency and power consumption caused by the terminal device initiating the NAS procedure through the cell in the first mode.

[0048] In a possible implementation of the third aspect, the third information includes any of the following: third indication information indicating the second time; or fourth indication information indicating a remaining time length during which the second cell works in the first mode, the remaining time length being used to determine the second time.

[0049] Based on the above scheme, the third information used to determine the second time can be implemented in the above-mentioned various ways, so as to improve the flexibility of the implementation of the scheme.

[0050] As an example, the third indication information can indicate an absolute time position of the second time, or can indicate a relative time position of the second time, for example, one or more of a system frame number, a subframe number, a symbol, or can indicate the second time in other ways.

[0051] As an example, the fourth indication information indicates a remaining time length, and the remaining time length and another time are used to determine the second time. For example, the first communication apparatus can take the other time as a starting time, take the remaining time length as a continuous time length after the starting time, and determine a termination time of the continuous time length as the second time. For example, the other time can be a current time. For another example, the other time can be a determination time of the third information.

[0052] In a possible implementation of the third aspect, the first communication apparatus initiates the NAS procedure through the second cell, including: in a case where a first time length is less than or equal to a second time length, the first communication apparatus initiates the NAS procedure through the second cell; wherein the first time length is a time length of the terminal device from initiating to completing the NAS procedure in the cell working in the first mode, and the second time length is a sum of a time length between a current time and the first time and a time length of the terminal device from initiating to completing the NAS procedure in the cell working in the second mode.

[0053] Based on the above scheme, in a case that the first time duration is less than or equal to the second time duration, the first communication apparatus can determine that the time delay of initiating the NAS procedure through the second cell after the second time is lower, and initiate the NAS procedure through the second cell in the case to reduce the time delay and power consumption of the NAS procedure.

[0054] The fourth aspect of the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a first communication apparatus, such as being executed by the first communication apparatus. The first communication apparatus can be a communication device (e.g., a terminal device), or the first communication apparatus can be a part of the communication device (e.g., a circuit or a chip responsible for communication functions (e.g., a Modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a SoC chip or a SIP chip containing a modem core, etc.), or the first communication apparatus can also be a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the communication device.

[0055] In the method, the first communication apparatus acquires fourth information, which is used to indicate that the frequency priority corresponding to a cell working in a second mode is higher than the frequency priority corresponding to a cell working in a first mode; wherein the first mode is a store-and-forward mode; when any cell works in the second mode, the feeder link and the service link are simultaneously available; and the second communication apparatus performs cell reselection based on the fourth information (or the second communication apparatus selects a cell to camp on based on the fourth information).

[0056] Based on the above scheme, the first mode is a store-and-forward mode, and when any cell works in the first mode, at least one of the feeder link and the service link is unavailable; and when any cell works in the second mode, the feeder link and the service link are simultaneously available, which makes the time delay and power consumption of the terminal device through the cell in the first mode greater than the time delay and power consumption of the terminal device through the cell in the first mode. The fourth information acquired by the first communication apparatus is used to indicate that the frequency priority corresponding to the cell working in the second mode is higher than the frequency priority corresponding to the cell working in the first mode, and the first communication apparatus performs cell reselection based on the fourth information. In other words, compared with the cell in the second mode, the first communication apparatus will preferentially reselect or camp on the cell in the second mode based on the priority order indicated by the fourth information. Therefore, the terminal device can reselect or camp on the cell in the first mode as much as possible, and can avoid or reduce the time delay and power consumption caused by reselecting or camping on the cell in the second mode to communicate, thereby reducing the communication time delay and reducing the device power consumption.

[0057] Optionally, the fourth information can also indicate the priority in other manners. For example, the fourth information used to indicate that the frequency priority of the cell working in the second mode is higher than the frequency priority of the cell working in the first mode can be replaced by the fourth information used to indicate that the priority of the cell working in the second mode is higher than the priority of the cell working in the first mode, or the fourth information used to indicate that the priority of the cell working in the second mode is higher than the priority of the cell working in the first mode.

[0058] In this application, the priority includes but is not limited to the reselection priority and the frequency priority. For example, the priority can also include the access priority, the handover priority, or other priorities defined by future networks. In other words, the frequency priority can be replaced by the reselection priority, the access priority, the handover priority, or other priorities defined by future networks; the reselection priority can be replaced by the frequency priority, the access priority, the handover priority, or other priorities defined by future networks.

[0059] In a possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the first communication apparatus acquires the fourth information, including that the first communication apparatus receives the fourth information.

[0060] Based on the above scheme, the first communication apparatus can acquire the fourth information by receiving the fourth information, so that the first communication apparatus can reselect or camp on the cell working in the second mode based on the indication of the sender of the fourth information.

[0061] In a possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the frequency priority of the cell working in the second mode is higher than the frequency priority of the cell working in the first mode in the case that any of the following conditions is met, including that the current serving cell of the terminal device only works in the first mode; or, the current serving cell of the terminal device switches from the first mode to the second mode at the first time, and the third time length is less than or equal to the fourth time length, the third time length being the time length for the terminal device to reselect the cell working in the second mode from the current serving cell, and the fourth time length being the time length from the current time to the first time.

[0062] Based on the above scheme, in the case that any of the above conditions is met, the first communication apparatus can determine that the time delay of communication through the current serving cell is high. Therefore, in this case, the first communication apparatus can determine that the frequency priority of the cell working in the second mode is higher than the frequency priority of the cell working in the first mode, so as to reduce the time delay and the power consumption caused by reselecting or camping on the cell working in the first mode to communicate, thereby reducing the communication time delay and the power consumption.

[0063] The fifth aspect of the present application provides a communication method applied to a second communication device, such as being executed by the second communication device, which can be a communication device (e.g., a network device or a satellite network device, etc.), or a part of the communication device (e.g., a circuit or a chip responsible for communication functions (e.g., a Modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a SoC chip or a SIP chip containing a modem core, etc.), or a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the communication device.

[0064] In the method, the second communication device determines fourth information, which is used to indicate that the frequency priority corresponding to a cell operating in a second mode is higher than the frequency priority corresponding to a cell operating in a first mode; the first mode is a store-and-forward mode; when any cell operates in the second mode, the feeder link and the service link are available at the same time; the fourth information is used for cell reselection; and the second communication device sends the fourth information.

[0065] Based on the above scheme, the first mode is a store-and-forward mode, and at least one of the feeder link and the service link is unavailable when any cell operates in the first mode; while the feeder link and the service link are available at the same time when any cell operates in the second mode, which makes the communication delay and power consumption of the terminal device through the cell in the first mode greater than the communication delay and power consumption of the terminal device through the cell in the first mode. The fourth information sent by the second communication device to the first communication device is used to indicate that the frequency priority corresponding to the cell operating in the second mode is higher than the frequency priority corresponding to the cell operating in the first mode, and the first communication device performs cell reselection based on the fourth information. In other words, compared with the cell in the second mode, the first communication device will preferentially reselect or camp on the cell in the first mode based on the priority order indicated by the fourth information. Therefore, the terminal device can reselect or camp on the cell in the second mode as much as possible, and can avoid or reduce the delay and power consumption caused by reselecting or camping on the cell in the first mode for communication, thereby reducing the communication delay and reducing the device power consumption.

[0066] In a possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the frequency priority corresponding to the cell operating in the second mode is higher than the frequency priority corresponding to the cell operating in the first mode in the case that any of the following conditions is met, including: the current serving cell of the terminal device only operates in the first mode; or, the current serving cell of the terminal device switches from the first mode to the second mode at a first time, and a third time length is less than or equal to a fourth time length, the third time length being a time length for the terminal device to reselect a cell operating in the second mode from the current serving cell, and the fourth time length being a time length from a current time to the first time.

[0067] Based on the above scheme, in the case of meeting any of the above conditions, the first communication device can determine that the latency of communication through the current serving cell is high, and therefore, in this case, the first communication device can determine that the frequency priority of the cell operating in the second mode is higher than the frequency priority of the cell operating in the first mode, which can reduce the latency and power consumption caused by reselecting or camping on the cell in the first mode for communication, thereby reducing the communication latency and power consumption.

[0068] The sixth aspect of the present application provides a communication method applied to a first communication device, such as executed by the first communication device, which can be a communication device (e.g., a terminal device that does not support communication through the first mode), or a part of the communication device (e.g., a circuit or chip responsible for communication function (e.g., a Modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a SoC chip or SIP chip containing a modem core, etc.), or a logic module or software that can realize all or part of the communication device function.

[0069] In the method, the first communication device receives fifth information, the fifth information being used to indicate that the operating mode of the first cell is the first mode or the second mode, wherein the first mode is a store-and-forward mode, and when the first cell operates in the second mode, the feeder link and the service link are simultaneously available; in the case of the operating mode of the first cell being the first mode, the first communication device determines that the first cell is in an allowed camping state; or in the case of the operating mode of the first cell being the second mode, the first communication device determines that the first cell is in a prohibited camping state.

[0070] Based on the above scheme, the first mode is a store-and-forward mode, and when any cell operates in the first mode, at least one of the feeder link and the service link is unavailable; and when any cell operates in the second mode, the feeder link and the service link are simultaneously available, which makes the communication latency and power consumption of the terminal device through the cell in the first mode greater than the communication latency and power consumption of the terminal device through the cell in the first mode. For the terminal device that does not support communication through the first mode (e.g., supporting release 19 (R19)), the terminal device can determine that the cell operating in the first mode is in an allowed camping state, and / or the terminal device can determine that the cell operating in the second mode is in a prohibited camping state. In other words, compared with the cell in the second mode, the first communication device will preferentially camp on the cell in the first mode. Therefore, the terminal device can reselect or camp on the cell in the second mode as much as possible, and can avoid or reduce the latency and power consumption caused by reselecting or camping on the cell in the first mode for communication, thereby reducing the communication latency and device power consumption.

[0071] In addition, the terminal device can reselect or camp on the cell in the second mode as much as possible, and the situation that the terminal device not supporting communication through the first mode camps on the cell in the first mode can be avoided or reduced, and the situation of communication failure can be avoided or reduced.

[0072] In a possible implementation of the sixth aspect, the method further includes: receiving, by the first communication device, sixth information indicating that, for the terminal device not supporting communication through the first mode, the cell in the first mode is in an allowed-camping state, and / or the cell in the second mode is in a forbidden-camping state.

[0073] Based on the above scheme, the first communication device can receive the sixth information and determine, based on the sixth information, that the cell is in the allowed-camping state or the forbidden-camping state, so that the first communication device can reselect or camp on the cell in the second mode as much as possible based on the indication of the sixth information, and can avoid or reduce the time delay and power consumption caused by reselecting or camping on the cell in the first mode for communication, and thus can reduce the communication time delay and reduce the device power consumption.

[0074] In a possible implementation of the sixth aspect, the method further includes: obtaining, by the first communication device, seventh information used to determine a third time point, the third time point being a time point at which the first cell switches from the first mode to the second mode; and determining, by the first communication device, that the first cell is in the allowed-camping state includes: determining, by the first communication device, that the first cell is in the allowed-camping state after the first time point.

[0075] Based on the above scheme, the first communication device can determine the third time point at which the first cell switches from the first mode to the second mode through the seventh information, and determine that the first cell is in the allowed-camping state after the first time point. Thus, the first communication device can camp on the cell in the second mode after the third time point, so as to avoid or reduce the situation that the terminal device not supporting communication through the first mode camps on the cell in the first mode, and thus avoid or reduce the situation of communication failure.

[0076] The seventh aspect of the present application provides a communication method applied to a second communication device, which can be executed by the second communication device. The second communication device can be a communication device (such as a network device or a satellite network device), or the second communication device can be a part of the communication device (for example, a circuit or a chip responsible for communication functions (such as a Modem chip, also known as a baseband chip, or a SoC chip or a SIP chip containing a modem core, etc.), or the second communication device can also be a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the communication device.

[0077] In the method, the second communication device determines sixth information, the sixth information indicating that, for a terminal device not supporting communication through the first mode, a cell operating in the first mode is in an allowed camped state and / or a cell operating in the second mode is in a forbidden camped state; and the second communication device sends the sixth information.

[0078] Based on the above scheme, the first mode is a store-and-forward mode, and at least one of the feeder link and the service link is unavailable when any cell operates in the first mode; and the feeder link and the service link are simultaneously available when any cell operates in the second mode, which makes the communication delay and power consumption of the terminal device through the cell operating in the first mode greater than the communication delay and power consumption of the terminal device through the cell operating in the first mode. For the terminal device not supporting communication through the first mode (for example, supporting 3GPP 5G version 19 (release 19, R19)), the terminal device can determine, based on the sixth information sent by the second communication device, that the cell operating in the first mode is in the allowed camped state and / or the cell operating in the second mode is in the forbidden camped state. In other words, compared with the cell operating in the second mode, the first communication device will preferentially camp on the cell operating in the first mode. Therefore, the terminal device can reselect or camp on the cell operating in the second mode as much as possible, and can avoid or reduce the communication delay and power consumption caused by reselecting or camping on the cell operating in the first mode, thereby reducing the communication delay and reducing the device power consumption.

[0079] In addition, the terminal device can reselect or camp on the cell operating in the second mode as much as possible, and can avoid or reduce the case that the terminal device not supporting communication through the first mode camps on the cell operating in the first mode, thereby avoiding or reducing the case of communication failure.

[0080] In a possible implementation form of the seventh aspect, the method further includes: the second communication device sending seventh information, the seventh information being used to determine a third time, the third time being a time when the first cell switches from the first mode to the second mode; and for a terminal device not supporting communication through the first mode, the first cell operating in the first mode is in the allowed camped state after the third time.

[0081] Based on the above scheme, the second communication device can send the seventh information to the first communication device, so that the first communication device can determine the third time when the first cell switches from the first mode to the second mode through the seventh information, and determine that the first cell is in the allowed camping state after the first time. Thus, the first communication device can camp on the cell in the second mode after the third time, so as to avoid or reduce the occurrence of the case that the terminal device which does not support communication through the first mode camps on the cell whose working mode is the first mode, and further avoid or reduce the occurrence of the communication failure case.

[0082] The eighth aspect of the present application provides a communication device, which comprises a transceiver unit and a processing unit; the processing unit is configured to obtain first information, the first information being used to determine a first time, the first time being a time when a first cell switches from a first mode to a second mode; wherein the first mode is a store-and-forward mode, and when the first cell works in the second mode, a feeder link and a service link are available at the same time; if the first cell currently works in the first mode, the transceiver unit initiates a NAS procedure through the first cell after (or at) the first time.

[0083] In the eighth aspect of the present application, the constituent modules of the communication device can also be configured to perform the steps performed in the various possible implementation manners of the first aspect, and achieve the corresponding technical effects, which can be referred to the first aspect for details, and will not be described here.

[0084] The ninth aspect of the present application provides a communication device, which comprises a transceiver unit and a processing unit; the processing unit is configured to determine first information, the first information being used to determine a first time, the first time being a time when a first cell switches from a first mode to a second mode; wherein the first mode is a store-and-forward mode; when the first cell works in the second mode, a feeder link and a service link are available at the same time; and the transceiver unit is configured to send the first information.

[0085] In the ninth aspect of the present application, the constituent modules of the communication device can also be configured to perform the steps performed in the various possible implementation manners of the second aspect, and achieve the corresponding technical effects, which can be referred to the second aspect for details, and will not be described here.

[0086] The tenth aspect of the present application provides a communication apparatus, comprising a transceiver unit and a processing unit; the processing unit is configured to obtain third information, the third information being used to determine a second time point, the second time point being a time point when a terminal device reselects from a first cell to a second cell; at the second time point, the first cell works in a first mode, and the second cell works in a second mode; the first mode is a store-and-forward mode; when the second cell works in the second mode, a feeder link and a service link are available simultaneously; after the second time point, the transceiver unit is configured to initiate a non-access stratum (NAS) procedure through the second cell. For example, the NAS procedure is an attach procedure or a tracking area update procedure.

[0087] In the tenth aspect of the present application, the constituent modules of the communication apparatus can also be configured to perform the steps performed in the various possible implementation manners of the third aspect and achieve the corresponding technical effects, which can be known in detail by referring to the third aspect and will not be described here.

[0088] The eleventh aspect of the present application provides a communication apparatus, comprising a processing unit; the processing unit is configured to obtain fourth information, the fourth information being used to indicate that a frequency priority corresponding to a cell working in a second mode is higher than a frequency priority corresponding to a cell working in a first mode; the first mode is a store-and-forward mode; when any cell works in the second mode, a feeder link and a service link are available simultaneously; the processing unit is further configured to perform cell reselection based on the fourth information (or the second communication apparatus selects a cell to reside based on the fourth information).

[0089] In the eleventh aspect of the present application, the constituent modules of the communication apparatus can also be configured to perform the steps performed in the various possible implementation manners of the fourth aspect and achieve the corresponding technical effects, which can be known in detail by referring to the fourth aspect and will not be described here.

[0090] The twelfth aspect of the present application provides a communication apparatus, comprising a processing unit and a transceiver unit; the processing unit is configured to determine fourth information, the fourth information being used to indicate that a frequency priority corresponding to a cell working in a second mode is higher than a frequency priority corresponding to a cell working in a first mode; the first mode is a store-and-forward mode; when any cell works in the second mode, a feeder link and a service link are available simultaneously; the fourth information is used for cell reselection; and the transceiver unit is configured to send the fourth information.

[0091] In the twelfth aspect of the present application, the constituent modules of the communication apparatus can also be configured to perform the steps performed in the various possible implementation manners of the fifth aspect and achieve the corresponding technical effects, which can be known in detail by referring to the fifth aspect and will not be described here.

[0092] The thirteenth aspect of the present application provides a communication device, comprising a processing unit and a transceiver unit; the transceiver unit is configured to receive fifth information, the fifth information is used to indicate that the working mode of a first cell is a first mode or a second mode, wherein the first mode is a store-and-forward mode, and when the first cell works in the second mode, a feeder link and a service link are available at the same time; when the working mode of the first cell is the first mode, the processing unit determines that the first cell is in an allowed camping state; or when the working mode of the first cell is the second mode, the processing unit determines that the first cell is in a forbidden camping state.

[0093] In the thirteenth aspect of the present application, the constituent modules of the communication device can also be configured to perform the steps performed in each possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect and achieve the corresponding technical effects, which can be referred to the sixth aspect and will not be described here in detail.

[0094] The fourteenth aspect of the present application provides a communication device, comprising a processing unit and a transceiver unit; the processing unit is configured to determine sixth information, the sixth information indicates that, for a terminal device that does not support communication through a first mode, a cell with the first mode as the working mode is in an allowed camping state, and / or a cell with a second mode as the working mode is in a forbidden camping state; wherein the first mode is a store-and-forward mode, and when the first cell works in the second mode, a feeder link and a service link are available at the same time; and the transceiver unit is configured to send the sixth information.

[0095] In the fourteenth aspect of the present application, the constituent modules of the communication device can also be configured to perform the steps performed in each possible implementation manner of the seventh aspect and achieve the corresponding technical effects, which can be referred to the seventh aspect and will not be described here in detail.

[0096] The fifteenth aspect of the present application provides a communication device, comprising at least one processor, the at least one processor is configured to execute computer programs or instructions to enable the device to implement the method in any one of the first aspect to the seventh aspect and any one of the possible implementation manners thereof.

[0097] Optionally, the at least one memory is coupled with the memory, and the memory is configured to store the computer programs or instructions.

[0098] Optionally, the communication device comprises the memory.

[0099] The sixteenth aspect of the present application provides a communication device, comprising at least one logic circuit and an input-output interface; the logic circuit is configured to execute the method in any one of the possible implementation manners of any one of the first aspect to the seventh aspect.

[0100] The seventeenth aspect of the present application provides a communication system, which comprises the first communication device.

[0101] The eighteenth aspect of the present application provides a computer readable storage medium, which is configured to store one or more computer-executable instructions, and when the computer-executable instructions are executed by a processor, the processor performs the method in any possible implementation manner of any one of the first aspect to the seventh aspect.

[0102] The nineteenth aspect of the present application provides a computer program product (or computer program), and when a computer program in the computer program product is executed by a processor, the processor performs the method in any possible implementation manner of any one of the first aspect to the seventh aspect.

[0103] The twentieth aspect of the present application provides a chip or chip system, which comprises at least one processor configured to support a communication device to perform the method in any possible implementation manner of any one of the first aspect to the seventh aspect. For example, the chip can be a baseband chip, a modem chip, a system on chip (SoC) chip containing a modem core, a system in package (SIP) chip, or a communication module, etc.

[0104] In a possible design, the chip or chip system can further comprise a memory configured to store necessary program instructions and data of the communication device. The chip system can be composed of a chip, or can contain a chip and other discrete devices. Optionally, the chip system further comprises an interface circuit configured to provide program instructions and / or data for the at least one processor.

[0105] The technical effects brought by the eighth aspect to the twentieth aspect can be referred to the technical effects brought by the first aspect to the seventh aspect, which will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0106] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided by the present application;

[0107] FIGS. 2a and 2b are schematic diagrams of a network device provided by the present application;

[0108] FIGS. 3a to 3f are schematic diagrams of a satellite communication process provided by the present application;

[0109] FIGS. 4 to 7 are schematic diagrams of a communication method provided by the present application;

[0110] FIGS. 8 to 11 are some schematic diagrams of the communication apparatus provided in the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0111] First, some terms in the embodiments of the present application are explained to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0112] (1) Terminal device: can be a wireless terminal device capable of receiving network device scheduling and indication information, the wireless terminal device can be a device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to a user, or a handheld device with wireless connection function, or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem.

[0113] The terminal device can be various communication kits (a kit can include, for example, an antenna, a power supply template, a cable, and a Wi-Fi module, etc.) with wireless communication functions, and can also be a communication module with satellite communication functions, a satellite phone or its components, a very small aperture terminal (VSAT), etc. The terminal device can be a mobile terminal device, such as a mobile phone (or called "cellular" phone, mobile phone), a computer, and a data card, for example, a portable, pocket-sized, handheld, computer-built-in, or vehicle-mounted mobile device that exchanges voice and / or data with a wireless access network. For example, a personal communication service (PCS) phone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet computer (Pad), a computer with wireless transceiver function, etc. The wireless terminal device can also be called a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a mobile station (MS), a remote station, an access point (AP), a remote terminal, an access terminal, a user terminal, a user agent, a subscriber station (SS), customer premises equipment (CPE), a terminal, user equipment (UE), a mobile terminal (MT), a drone, etc. The terminal device can also be a wearable device and a next-generation communication system, for example, a terminal device in a future communication system or a terminal device in a future evolved public land mobile network (PLMN), etc. Of course, the terminal device in this application can also refer to a chip, a modem, a system on a chip (SoC) mainly responsible for the relevant communication function in the device, or a communication platform that can include a radio frequency (RF) part, etc.

[0114] (2) Network device: can be a device in a wireless network, for example, the network device can be a RAN node (or device) for accessing a terminal device to a wireless network, which can also be referred to as a base station. At present, some examples of RAN devices are: base station (base station), evolved NodeB (eNodeB), base station gNB (gNodeB) in 5G communication system, transmission reception point (transmission reception point, TRP), evolved Node B (eNB), radio network controller (radio network controller, RNC), Node B (Node B, NB), home base station (for example, home evolved Node B, or home Node B, HNB), baseband unit (baseband unit, BBU), or wireless fidelity (wireless fidelity, Wi-Fi) access point AP, etc. In addition, in a network structure, the network device can include a centralized unit (centralized unit, CU) node, or a distributed unit (distributed unit, DU) node, or a RAN device including a CU node and a DU node.

[0115] Optionally, the RAN node can also be a macro base station, a micro base station or an indoor station, a relay node or a donor node, or a wireless controller in a cloud radio access network (cloud radio access network, CRAN) scenario. The RAN node can also be a server, a wearable device, a vehicle or a vehicle-mounted device, etc. For example, the access network device in vehicle to everything (vehicle to everything, V2X) technology can be a road side unit (road side unit, RSU).

[0116] In another possible scenario, a terminal is assisted by multiple RAN nodes to implement wireless access, and different RAN nodes respectively implement part of functions of a base station. For example, a RAN node can be a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU), etc. The CU and the DU can be separately arranged, or can also be included in the same network element, for example, in a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in a radio frequency device or a radio frequency unit, for example, included in a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH).

[0117] In different systems, the CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU or RU can also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in an open RAN (O-RAN or ORAN) system, the CU can also be referred to as an O-CU (open CU), the DU can also be referred to as an O-DU, the CU-CP can also be referred to as an O-CU-CP, the CU-UP can also be referred to as an O-CU-UP, and the RU can also be referred to as an O-RU. For the convenience of description, the CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU and RU are taken as examples for description in this application. Any one of the CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU and RU in this application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0118] The communication between the access network device and the terminal device follows a certain protocol layer structure. The protocol layer can include a control plane protocol layer and a user plane protocol layer. The control plane protocol layer can include at least one of a radio resource control (RRC) layer, a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, a radio link control (RLC) layer, a media access control (MAC) layer, or a physical (PHY) layer, etc. The user plane protocol layer can include at least one of a service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer, a PDCP layer, an RLC layer, a MAC layer, or a physical layer, etc.

[0119] For the correspondence between the network elements in the ORAN system and the protocol layer functions that can be implemented by the network elements, refer to Table 1 below.

[0120] Table 1

[0121] The network device can be another device that provides a wireless communication function for the terminal device. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the network device. For the convenience of description, the embodiments of the present application do not limit.

[0122] The network device can also include a core network device, which can include, for example, a mobility management entity (MME), a home subscriber server (HSS), a serving gateway (S-GW), a policy and charging rules function (PCRF), a public data network gateway (P-GW) in a fourth generation (4G) network, an access and mobility management function (AMF), a user plane function (UPF), or a session management function (SMF) in a 5G network, and other network elements. In addition, the core network device can also include other core network devices in a 5G network and a next-generation network of the 5G network.

[0123] In the embodiments of the present application, the network device can also be a network node with artificial intelligence (AI) capability, which can provide AI services for terminals or other network devices, for example, AI nodes, computing power nodes, AI-capable RAN nodes, AI-capable core network elements, etc. on the network side (access network or core network).

[0124] In the embodiments of the present application, the device for implementing the function of the network device can be a network device or a device capable of supporting the network device to implement the function, such as a chip system, which can be installed in the network device. In the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application, the device for implementing the function of the network device is taken as an example to describe the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application.

[0125] (3) Configuration and pre-configuration: In the present application, configuration and pre-configuration will be used simultaneously. Configuration refers to that the network device sends some parameter configuration information or parameter values to the terminal device through messages or signaling, so that the terminal device determines the communication parameters or transmission resources according to the values or information. Pre-configuration is similar to configuration, which can be parameter information or parameter values agreed by the network device and the terminal device in advance, or parameter information or parameter values adopted by the network device or the terminal device according to the standard protocol, or parameter information or parameter values pre-stored in the network device or the terminal device. The present application does not make any limitation.

[0126] Further, these values and parameters can be changed or updated.

[0127] (4) The terms "system" and "network" in the embodiments of the present application can be used interchangeably. "At least one" means one or more, and "multiple" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of the associated objects, which means that there can be three relationships, for example, A and / or B, which means that A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally represents an "or" relationship between the associated objects. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions means any combination of these items, including any combination of single item or multiple items. For example, "at least one of A, B and C" includes A, B, C, AB, AC, BC or ABC. In addition, unless otherwise specified, the ordinal numbers "first", "second", etc. mentioned in the embodiments of the present application are used to distinguish multiple objects, and are not used to limit the order, time sequence, priority or importance of the multiple objects.

[0128] (5) In embodiments of the present application, "sending" and "receiving" represent the direction of signal transmission. For example, "sending information to XX" can be understood as that the destination of the information is XX, which can include direct sending through the air interface, or indirect sending through the air interface by other units or modules. "Receiving information from YY" can be understood as that the source of the information is YY, which can include direct receiving from YY through the air interface, or indirect receiving from YY through the air interface by other units or modules. "Sending" can also be understood as "output" of a chip interface, and "receiving" can also be understood as "input" of a chip interface.

[0129] In other words, sending and receiving can be between devices, such as between network devices and terminal devices, or within a device, such as between components, modules, chips, software modules or hardware modules within a device through a bus, wire or interface.

[0130] It can be understood that the information can be processed as necessary between the source and the destination of the information transmission, such as encoding and modulation, but the destination can understand the valid information from the source. Similar expressions in the present application can be similarly understood and will not be repeated here.

[0131] (6) In embodiments of the present application, "indication" can include direct indication and indirect indication, and can also include explicit indication and implicit indication. The information indicated by a certain information (indication information as described below) is referred to as to-be-indicated information. In the implementation process, there are many ways to indicate the to-be-indicated information, for example but not limited to, the to-be-indicated information can be directly indicated, such as the to-be-indicated information itself or an index of the to-be-indicated information. The to-be-indicated information can also be indirectly indicated by indicating other information, where the other information and the to-be-indicated information have an association relationship. The to-be-indicated information can also be indicated only by a part, and the other part of the to-be-indicated information is known or agreed in advance, for example, the indication of a specific information can be achieved by means of the arrangement order of each information agreed in advance (for example, protocol predefined), thereby reducing the indication overhead to a certain extent. The present application does not limit the specific manner of indication. It can be understood that for the sender of the indication information, the indication information can be used to indicate the to-be-indicated information, and for the receiver of the indication information, the indication information can be used to determine the to-be-indicated information.

[0132] (7) NAS procedure.

[0133] The terminal device can obtain network services provided by the core network through the NAS procedure. For example, the NAS procedure can include an attachment procedure, a tracking area update procedure or other NAS procedures, which are not limited here.

[0134] Take the terminal device as UE, and take the NAS procedure as the attachment procedure as an example for description. Generally, the UE needs to register in the core network first before data service. The procedure of the UE registering the network after starting up includes the attachment procedure, and the main steps of the attachment procedure are briefly introduced as follows.

[0135] 1. The UE sends an attachment request (ATTACH REQUEST) message to the core network.

[0136] 2. The core network authenticates the UE.

[0137] 3. If the authentication is passed, the core network sends an attachment acceptance (ATTACH ACCEPT) to the UE; if the authentication is not passed, the core network sends an attachment rejection (ATTACH REJECT) message to the UE.

[0138] 4. After receiving the ATTACH ACCEPT message, the UE replies to the network with an attachment completion (ATTACH COMPLETE), and the whole ATTACH procedure is completed.

[0139] 5. After receiving the ATTACH REJECT message, the UE considers that the ATTACH fails, and then re-performs the ATTACH attempt.

[0140] In the present application, the same or similar parts among various embodiments can be mutually referred to, unless otherwise specified. In the present application, the terms and / or descriptions among different embodiments, and among various methods / designs / implementation manners in each embodiment have consistency and can be mutually referred to, unless otherwise specified and there is no logical conflict. The technical features in different embodiments, and among various methods / designs / implementation manners in each embodiment can be combined to form new embodiments, methods, or implementation manners according to their inherent logical relationship. The implementation manners of the present application described below do not constitute a limitation on the protection scope of the present application.

[0141] The present application can be applied to a long term evolution (LTE) system, a new radio (NR) system, or a new radio vehicle to everything (NR V2X) system; can also be applied to a system in which LTE and 5G are hybrid networked; or a device-to-device (D2D) communication system, a machine to machine (M2M) communication system, an Internet of Things (IoT), or a drone communication system; or a communication system supporting multiple wireless technologies, such as a communication system supporting LTE technology and NR technology; or a non-ground communication system, such as a satellite communication system, a high-altitude communication platform, etc. In addition, the communication system can also be applied to a narrow band-internet of things (NB-IoT) system or other communication systems, wherein the communication system includes a network device and a terminal device, the network device as a configuration information sending entity, and the terminal device as a configuration information receiving entity. Specifically, there are entities in the communication system that send configuration information to another entity, and send data to another entity or receive data sent by another entity; another entity receives configuration information and sends data to the configuration information sending entity or receives data sent by the configuration information sending entity according to the configuration information. Wherein, the present application can be applied to a terminal device in a connected state or an active state, and can also be applied to a terminal device in an inactive state or an idle state.

[0142] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic diagram of an architecture of a communication system 10 to which embodiments of the present application are applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system includes a radio access network (RAN) 100 and a core network 200. Optionally, the communication system 10 can further include an Internet 300. The RAN 100 includes at least one RAN node (e.g., 110a and 110b in FIG. 1, collectively referred to as 110) and at least one terminal (e.g., 120a-120j in FIG. 1, collectively referred to as 120). The RAN 100 can further include other RAN nodes, such as a wireless relay device and / or a wireless backhaul device (not shown in FIG. 1). The terminals 120 are wirelessly connected to the RAN nodes 110, and the RAN nodes 110 are connected to the core network 200 wirelessly or wiredly. The core network devices in the core network 200 and the RAN nodes 110 in the RAN 100 can be independent and different physical devices, or can be the same physical device integrated with the logical functions of the core network devices and the logical functions of the RAN nodes. The terminals and the terminals, and the RAN nodes and the RAN nodes can be connected to each other by wire or wirelessly.

[0143] As an implementation example, as shown in FIG. 2a, the access network device can include at least one CU and at least one DU. This design can be referred to as CU and DU separation. One CU can be connected to one or more DUs. The CU and the DU can be divided according to the protocol layers of the wireless network: for example, the functions of the PDCP layer and above protocol layers (such as the RRC layer and the SDAP layer, etc.) are arranged in the CU, and the functions of the protocol layers below the PDCP layer (such as the RLC layer, the MAC layer, and the PHY layer, etc.) are arranged in the DU; for another example, the functions of the protocol layers above the PDCP layer are arranged in the CU, and the functions of the protocol layers at and below the PDCP layer are arranged in the DU, which is not limited. When the CU includes a CU-CP and a CU-UP, the CU-CP is used to implement the control plane function of the CU, and the CU-UP is used to implement the user plane function of the CU. For example, when the CU is configured to implement the functions of the PDCP layer, the RRC layer, and the SDAP layer, the CU-CP is used to implement the RRC layer function and the control plane function of the PDCP layer, and the CU-UP is used to implement the SDAP layer function and the user plane function of the PDCP layer. The name of the CU and the DU is not limited in the present application, for example, the CU can be referred to as a first access network element, and the DU can be referred to as a second access network element, etc.

[0144] The above-mentioned processing functions of the CU and the DU are merely examples according to the protocol layer division, and can be divided in other manners. For example, the CU or the DU can be divided into more protocol layers, or the CU or the DU can be divided into partial processing functions of the protocol layers. For example, partial functions of the RLC layer and functions of the protocol layers above the RLC layer are arranged in the CU, and the remaining functions of the RLC layer and functions of the protocol layers below the RLC layer are arranged in the DU. For another example, the functions of the CU or the DU can be divided according to service types or other system requirements, for example, according to time delay. Functions that require a shorter time delay can be arranged in the DU, and functions that do not require the time delay can be arranged in the CU.

[0145] The CU can be connected to a core network. Optionally, the CU can have partial functions of the core network.

[0146] Further, partial functions of the DU can be arranged separately. As shown in FIG. 2a, the partial functions can be implemented by a radio unit (RU). The RU can have a radio frequency function. The name of the RU is not limited in the present application, for example, the RU can be referred to as a third access network element, etc. The DU and the RU can be split or separated at the PHY layer. For example, the DU can implement high-layer functions in the PHY layer, and the RU can implement low-layer functions in the PHY layer or implement the low-layer functions and the radio frequency functions. The high-layer functions in the PHY layer include functions closer to the MAC layer, and the low-layer functions in the PHY layer include functions closer to the radio frequency. For example, the high-layer functions in the PHY layer include one or more of the following: forward error correction (FEC) encoding / decoding, scrambling, or modulation / demodulation. The low-layer functions in the PHY layer include one or more of the following: fast Fourier transform (FFT) transform / inverse fast Fourier transform (iFFT) transform, beamforming, or extraction and filtering of a physical random access channel (PRACH), etc. The RU can perform radio frequency signal communication with the terminal device through an air interface. The precoding function in the PHY layer can be located in the DU or in the RU. The split manner between the DU and the RU can be various possible manners, which are not limited.

[0147] There is an interface between the DU and the RU. For example, according to different splitting manners, the interface between the DU and the RU can be a common public radio interface (CPRI) interface or an enhanced common public radio interface (eCPRI) interface.

[0148] As shown in FIG. 2b, an architecture of an access network device is shown. The access network device includes one or more functional modules to implement processing of signals. As shown in FIG. 2b, taking a physical layer function as an example, the access network device includes one or more of the following functions: encoding, rate matching, scrambling, modulation, layer mapping, precoding, resource element (RE) mapping, digital beamforming (BF), inverse fast Fourier transformation (IFFT) / adding a cyclic prefix (CP), decoding, de-rate matching, descrambling, demodulation, inverse discrete Fourier transformation (IDFT), channel equalization (or channel estimation), de-RE mapping, digital BF, fast Fourier transform (FFT) / CP removal, digital to analog (DA) conversion, analog BF, analog to digital (AD) conversion, or analog BF.

[0149] The one or more functional modules can be implemented by software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. They can be discrete or integrated. It can be understood that the functional modules are only examples, and the access network device can include more other modules (such as a scheduling module, a power control module, a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) module, a flow control module, a mobility management module, or an artificial intelligence (AI) module, etc.) or not include some functional modules (such as not including a digital BF module) according to design. The access network device further includes a fronthaul interface between the DU and the RU, for realizing communication between the DU and the RU. The fronthaul interface includes but is not limited to CPRI or eCPRI. In a possible implementation, the DU is located in a BBU, and the RU is located in a RRU / AAU / RRH. The interface between the BBU and the RRU / AAU / RRH can also be referred to as a fronthaul interface. To realize the fronthaul interface, the BBU and the RRU / AAU / RRH can be connected through a fronthaul network, or the DU and the RU can be connected through a fronthaul network. For example, the fronthaul network includes but is not limited to a fiber direct connection or a wavelength division network.

[0150] The access network device can support one or more types of fronthaul interfaces, and different fronthaul interfaces correspond to DUs and RUs with different functions. As shown in FIG. 2b, if the fronthaul interface between the DU and the RU is CPRI, the DU is configured to implement one or more of baseband functions, and the RU is configured to implement one or more of radio frequency functions. If the fronthaul interface between the DU and the RU is eCPRI, part of the baseband functions of the downlink and / or uplink are moved from the DU to the RU for implementation, compared with CPRI. The splitting manner between the DU and the RU is different, corresponding to different types (Cat) of eCPRI. FIG. 2b gives six examples of eCPRI, denoted as Cat A, B, C, D, E, and F (which can also be denoted as Option A to F, or Option 1 to 6, or other manners). It can be understood that there can be other splitting manners between the DU and the RU, that is, there can be other types of eCPRI.

[0151] For eCPRI Cat A, for downlink transmission, the DU is configured to implement layer mapping and one or more functions before layer mapping (i.e., one or more of encoding, rate matching, scrambling, modulation, layer mapping), while other functions after layer mapping (e.g., one or more of RE mapping, digital BF, or IFFT / add CP) are implemented in the RU. For uplink transmission, the DU is configured to implement de-mapping and one or more functions before de-mapping (i.e., one or more of decoding, de-rate matching, de-scrambling, de-modulation, IDFT, channel equalization, de-RE mapping), while other functions after de-mapping (e.g., one or more of digital BF or FFT / CP removal) are implemented in the RU.

[0152] Similarly, for eCPRI Cat B, Cat C, Cat D, Cat E, Cat F, different DUs and RUs are configured for different splitting manners. The splitting points and the functions before the splitting points are implemented by the DUs, while the functions after the splitting points are implemented by the RUs. The splitting points of different types of eCPRI are shown in FIG. 2b, and will not be described one by one. For example, for eCPRI Cat B, RE mapping is used as the splitting point for downlink transmission, and de-RE mapping is used as the splitting point for uplink transmission. For uplink transmission, RE mapping and the functions before RE mapping are implemented by the DU, while the functions after RE mapping and the radio frequency functions are implemented by the RU. For downlink transmission, de-RE mapping and the functions before de-RE mapping are implemented by the DU, while the functions after de-RE mapping and the radio frequency functions are implemented by the RU.

[0153] The splitting manners of eCPRI can be symmetric for uplink and downlink, such as eCPRI Cat B and Cat C shown in FIG. 2b, or asymmetric for uplink and downlink, such as eCPRI Cat A, Cat D, Cat E and Cat F shown in FIG. 2b, without limitation. Optionally, for uplink and / or downlink, different splitting manners can be configured for different channels or different channel groups, i.e., different types of eCPRI are configured. One or more channels can be included in a channel group.

[0154] In a possible design, the DU is located in the BBU, and the RU is located in the RRU / AAU / RRH. The processing module in the BBU for implementing baseband functions is referred to as a base band high (BBH) unit, and the processing module in the RRU / AAU / RRH for implementing baseband functions is referred to as a base band low (BBL) unit.

[0155] It should be noted that the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application are applicable to a ground communication system. Alternatively, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application are applicable to a communication system integrating ground communication and satellite communication, which can also be referred to as a non-terrestrial network (NTN) communication system. For example, the RAN 100 in FIG. 1 can include a ground base station, where the ground base station can include a TN cell (i.e., signals of the TN cell can be transmitted and received by the ground base station); and the RAN 100 in FIG. 1 can also include a non-ground base station, for example, a satellite, which can include an NTN cell (i.e., signals of the NTN cell can be transmitted and received by the satellite). The ground communication system can be, for example, a long term evolution (LTE) system, a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), a 5G communication system, a new radio (NR) system, or a next-generation communication system of the 5G communication system, without limitation.

[0156] The satellite communication has a wider coverage range than the traditional mobile communication system, the communication cost is independent of the transmission distance, and can overcome natural geographical obstacles such as oceans, deserts, and mountains. In order to overcome the shortcomings of the traditional communication network, the satellite communication can be an effective supplement to the traditional network. It is generally believed that the non-terrestrial network communication has different channel characteristics compared with the ground network communication, such as large transmission delay and large Doppler frequency offset. For example, the round-trip delay of GEO satellite communication is 238-270 milliseconds (ms). The round-trip delay of LEO satellite communication is 8-20 ms. According to the orbital height, the satellite communication system can be divided into three types: a high-orbit (geostationary earth orbit, GEO) satellite communication system, also known as a synchronous orbit satellite system; a medium-orbit (medium earth orbit, MEO) satellite communication system; and a low-orbit (low earth orbit, LEO) satellite communication system.

[0157] Among them, GEO satellite is also commonly known as geostationary orbit satellite, and the orbit height can be 35786 kilometers (km). The main advantage is that it is relatively stationary on the ground and provides a large coverage area. However, the disadvantages of GEO satellite orbit satellite are also relatively prominent: such as the distance from the earth is too large, a larger diameter antenna is required; its transmission delay is larger, about 0.5 seconds, which cannot meet the demand of real-time service; at the same time, its orbit resource is relatively scarce, the launch cost is high and it cannot provide coverage for the two polar regions. MEO satellite, the orbit height is between 2000-35786km, has a relatively small number of satellites to achieve global coverage, but its transmission delay is higher than that of LEO satellite, and it is mainly used for positioning and navigation. In addition, the orbit height is between 300-2000km, which is called low earth orbit (LEO) satellite. LEO satellite has lower orbit height than MEO and GEO, smaller data propagation delay, less power loss, and relatively lower launch cost. Therefore, LEO satellite communication network has made great progress in recent years and has attracted attention.

[0158] In a possible implementation, the satellite device can be divided into transparent mode and regenerative mode according to the working mode.

[0159] The two modes will be exemplarily illustrated by the implementation modes shown in FIG. 3a, FIG. 3b, FIG. 3c and FIG. 3d.

[0160] As shown in the implementation mode of the transparent mode in FIG. 3a, the satellite and the gateway (i.e. NTN Gateway in FIG. 3a) act as a relay, that is, the radio remote unit (Remote Radio Unit) shown in FIG. 3a, and the terminal device and the gNB need to realize communication through the relay process. In other words, in the transparent mode, the satellite has the function of relay forwarding.

[0161] For example, in the implementation mode of the transparent mode shown in FIG. 3b, when the satellite (including GEO satellite, MEO satellite, LEO satellite, etc.) works in the transparent mode, the satellite has the function of relay forwarding. The gateway (or gateway station) has the function of the base station or part of the base station function, at this time, the gateway can be regarded as the base station. Alternatively, the base station can be deployed separately from the gateway, and then the time delay of the feeder link includes the time delay of the satellite to the gateway and the time delay of the gateway to the gNB.

[0162] Optionally, the transparent mode can be taken as an example that the gateway and the gNB are together or close to each other. For the case that the gateway is far away from the gNB, the time delay of the feeder link can be obtained by adding the time delay of the satellite to the gateway and the time delay of the gateway to the gNB.

[0163] As shown in the implementation mode of the regenerative mode in FIG. 3c, the satellite and the gateway (i.e., NTN Gateway in FIG. 3c) can communicate with the terminal device as a gNB. In other words, in the regenerative mode, the satellite has the function of a base station or part of the function of a base station, and at this time, the satellite can be regarded as a base station.

[0164] For example, in the implementation mode of the regenerative mode shown in FIG. 3d, the satellite (including GEO satellite, MEO satellite, LEO satellite, etc.) works in the regenerative mode, and compared with the implementation mode shown in FIG. 3b, the satellite has the function of a base station or part of the function of a base station, and at this time, the satellite can be regarded as a base station (i.e., an air base station).

[0165] Optionally, in FIG. 3b and / or FIG. 3d, the satellite can be implemented in other ways, such as a drone or a high-altitude platform in the figure.

[0166] It should be noted that the base stations of the NTN and the ground network can be interconnected through a common core network. Higher timeliness assistance and interconnection can also be achieved through interfaces defined between base stations. In NR, the interface between base stations is called Xn interface, and the interface between the base station and the core network is called NG interface. In the fusion network, the NTN node and the ground node can realize interworking and cooperation through the foregoing interfaces.

[0167] In addition, the satellite as a network device can send ephemeris information, so that the receiver (such as a terminal device or a ground base station or other satellites, etc.) of the ephemeris information can determine the related information of the running track of the satellite based on the ephemeris information.

[0168] It should be noted that the present application can be applied to a long term evolution (LTE) system, a new radio (NR) system, or a future communication network / system.

[0169] Taking 5G as an example, a 5G satellite communication system architecture is shown in FIG. 3e. The ground terminal device accesses the network through the 5G new air interface, and the 5G base station is deployed on the satellite and connected to the ground core network through a wireless link. At the same time, there is a wireless link between the satellites to complete the signaling interaction and user data transmission between base stations. The devices and interfaces in FIG. 3e are described as follows:

[0170] 5G core network: user access control, mobility management, session management, user security authentication, billing and other services. It is composed of multiple functional units and can be divided into control plane and data plane functional entities. The access and mobility management unit (AMF) is responsible for user access management, security authentication, and mobility management. The user plane unit (UPF) is responsible for managing user plane data transmission, traffic statistics, and other functions. The session management function (SMF) is mainly used for session management in mobile networks, such as session establishment, modification, and release.

[0171] Ground station: responsible for forwarding signaling and service data between satellite base station and 5G core network.

[0172] 5G new radio: wireless link between terminal and base station.

[0173] Xn interface: interface between 5G base stations, mainly used for signaling interaction such as handover.

[0174] NG interface: interface between 5G base station and 5G core network, mainly interacting with core network non-access layer (NAS) signaling, etc., and user service data.

[0175] In addition, the network devices in the ground network communication system and the satellites in the NTN communication system can be unified as network devices. The device for implementing the function of the network device can be a network device; it can also be a device capable of supporting the network device to implement the function, such as a chip system, which can be installed in the network device. When describing the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application, the device for implementing the function of the network device is taken as an example, and the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application are described. It can be understood that when the method provided by the embodiments of the present application is applied to the ground network communication system, the actions performed by the satellite can be applied to the base station or the network device to perform.

[0176] In the embodiments of the present application, the device for implementing the function of the terminal device can be a terminal device; it can also be a device capable of supporting the terminal device to implement the function, such as a chip system, which can be installed in the terminal device. In the embodiments of the present application, the chip system can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices. In the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application, the device for implementing the function of the terminal device is taken as an example, and the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application are described.

[0177] In addition, the satellite described above can be a stationary satellite, a non-stationary satellite, an artificial satellite, a low-orbit satellite, a medium-orbit satellite, and a high-orbit satellite, and the like, which are not specifically limited herein.

[0178] The above describes various scenarios of wireless communication involved in the present application. It should be understood that the above merely exemplarily describes scenarios in which the present application can be applied, and the present application can also be applied to other application scenarios, which are not limited herein. The wireless communication process involved in the present application will be described below.

[0179] In a communication system (such as the communication system shown in FIG. 1 / FIG. 3a / FIG. 3b / FIG. 3c / FIG. 3d / FIG. 3e), different communication devices can obtain communication services through signal transmission. With the development of communication technology, network devices can not be fixed on the ground, for example, the network device can be a high-speed mobile device belonging to a non-terrestrial network (NTN) cell, including but not limited to satellite devices such as low-orbit satellites, medium-orbit satellites, and high-orbit satellites.

[0180] In the NTN communication scenario, in the case that the number of satellites and / or the number of ground gateway stations is small, it can be impossible to achieve the connection of the ground gateway station and the satellite through the feeder link at each moment. For example, when the satellite covers some terminal devices (i.e., there is a service link), the satellite can not be connected with the gateway station (i.e., there is no feeder link), and ground backhaul cannot be achieved. For another example, when the satellite can be connected with the gateway station (i.e., there is a feeder link), the satellite cannot cover these terminal devices (i.e., there is no service link). In these scenarios, the feeder link and / or the service link are unavailable, and this communication mode can be referred to as a store and forward (S&F) mode (i.e., the first mode described below). Alternatively, in the case that the feeder link and / or the service link of a cell and / or a satellite network device is unavailable, the cell and / or the satellite network device is in the store and forward mode.

[0181] Generally, in the store and forward mode, real-time services can not be completed, and for some non-real-time IoT services (such as sensor data reporting), communication between the satellite and the terminal device can be performed when the satellite covers the terminal device, and communication between the satellite and the core network can be performed when the satellite covers the gateway station, in a relay manner, which is the S&F scenario that R19 needs to study. This requires the satellite payload (on-board base station or core network device) to have a certain storage and processing capability to buffer the uplink data from the terminal device or the downlink data from the feeder link, and then forward the data when the corresponding link is available. Optionally, in the S&F, inter-satellite links can be established between satellites.

[0182] Fig. 3f is a schematic diagram of a store-and-forward scenario.

[0183] For a satellite radio access network (SAT-RAN) 1, there can be no feeder link available or no service link available (or, only feeder link available or service link available), accordingly, the SAT-RAN 1 is in a store-and-forward mode.

[0184] For a SAT-RAN 2, both feeder link and service link are available, accordingly, the SAT-RAN 2 is not in a store-and-forward mode, for example, the SAT-RAN 2 is in a normal mode (or a second mode described later).

[0185] As can be known from the above process, when a cell works in a store-and-forward mode, since the service link and the feeder link cannot be available at the same time, the NAS procedure of a terminal device needs to be divided into two stages to be completed (both stages are taken as an example of an attach procedure, and a tracking area update (TAU) procedure is similar).

[0186] In the first stage, when the service link is available, the terminal device sends a first ATTACH request message to a core network device (for example, an MME or other device) on a satellite, and the core network device receives the ATTACH request message. Since the feeder link is not available at present and the information for authenticating the terminal device is in a ground device, the core network device cannot authenticate the terminal device, and therefore needs to send an ATTACH REJECT message to the terminal device, which contains indication information to tell the terminal device that the reason why the ATTACH cannot be completed at present is the store-and-forward mode and the terminal device can try to initiate the ATTACH request again when the next available satellite comes. Optionally, the ATTACH REJECT message can further contain the time for which the terminal device needs to wait before initiating the next ATTACH and a list of satellite identities for which the terminal device can initiate the ATTACH.

[0187] In the second stage, the terminal device sends a second ATTACH request to the next available satellite according to the information in the first-stage ATTACH REJECT message, and the core network device on the next available satellite has obtained and saved the information required for authenticating the terminal device from the ground, so that the core network device can authenticate the terminal device after receiving the second ATTACH request. If the authentication is passed, the core network device sends an ATTACH ACCEPT message to the terminal device, and the terminal device sends an ATTACH COMPLETE message to complete the entire ATTACH procedure.

[0188] However, for the terminal device, in the implementation of the above NAS procedure, the terminal device needs to complete the NAS procedure through two stages. And the terminal device needs to perform signal transceiving in the two stages, which will inevitably lead to an increase in communication delay and an increase in power consumption of the terminal device.

[0189] To solve the above problems, the present application provides a communication method and related devices, which will be described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0190] Please refer to FIG. 4, which is an implementation schematic diagram of the communication method provided by the present application, and the method comprises the following steps.

[0191] It should be understood that in the following, the first communication device and the second communication device are taken as an example of the execution subject of the interaction schematic in any of FIGS. 4 to 7 to illustrate the method, but the present application does not limit the execution subject of the interaction schematic. For example, the communication device can be a communication device, or a chip, a baseband chip, a modem chip, a system on chip (SoC) chip containing a modem core, a system in package (SIP) chip, a communication module, a chip system, a processor, a logic module or software in the communication device, etc.

[0192] It should be noted that any two different implementation processes in FIGS. 4 to 7 can be mutually referenced, including but not limited to the definition and examples of various parameters and information.

[0193] S401. The first communication device obtains first information. The first information is used to determine a first time point, which is the time point when the first cell switches from a first mode to a second mode; the first mode is a store-and-forward mode, and when the first cell works in the second mode, the feeder link and the service link are available at the same time.

[0194] Optionally, in step S401, the second communication device sends the first information, and correspondingly, the first communication device receives the first information.

[0195] S402. If the first cell currently works in the first mode, the first communication device initiates a NAS procedure through the first cell after (or at) the first time point.

[0196] It should be noted that the link between the first network device and the terminal device can be a service link or other link defined by a future network, and here only the service link is taken as an example for description. Similarly, the link between the first network device and the second network device can be a feeder circuit, and here only the feeder link is taken as an example for description. For example, the first network device can be a satellite or a satellite payload, and the satellite can include an access network device and / or a core network device, and the satellite payload can also include an access network device and / or a core network device.

[0197] As an example, the first network device can be a network device to which the NTN cell belongs, a satellite network device, a satellite device, a satellite base station or other device with access network function. Optionally, the first network device is not a device fixed on the ground.

[0198] As an example, the second network device can be a gateway, a gateway station, a ground device or other device with part or all of the core network function. Optionally, the second network device can be a device fixed on the ground.

[0199] Optionally, the second network device can not be a device fixed on the ground, for example, the second network device is a satellite device, in which case the feeder link described above can be understood as an inter-satellite link between different satellite devices.

[0200] It should be understood that at least one of the feeder link and the service link is unavailable (for example, the feeder link is unavailable and the service link is available, for example, the feeder link is available and the service link is unavailable, for example, the feeder link is unavailable and the service link is unavailable) when any cell works in the first mode. Wherein, the first mode can be a store-and-forward mode, or the first mode can be other mode defined by a future network, which is not limited here.

[0201] Optionally, one link is available, which can be understood as that the link is in an available state, or the link can be used by a communication device, or the link can be used for transmitting communication signals, or the sending end can currently communicate with the receiving end through the link.

[0202] It should be understood that the feeder link and the service link are available at the same time when any cell works in the second mode, which can be understood as that the feeder link and the service link of any cell are available when the cell works in the second mode; or the feeder link and the service link of any cell are available in at least one time unit (for example, symbol, time slot, subframe, frame, millisecond, second, minute, etc.) when the cell works in the second mode.

[0203] Optionally, if the first cell currently operates in the first mode, the first communication device determines not to initiate the NAS procedure via the first cell between the current time and the first time, which can avoid high latency and power consumption caused by initiating the NAS procedure via the cell in the first mode.

[0204] It should be noted that the NAS procedure can include an attach procedure, a tracking area update procedure, or other NAS procedures, which are not limited herein.

[0205] As an example, in the case that the NAS procedure is an attach procedure, the first communication device initiating the NAS procedure via the first cell can be understood as that the first communication device sends an attach request (ATTACH REQUEST) message. It should be understood that in the attach procedure, other message interactions can also be involved, such as an attach accept (ATTACH ACCEPT) message, an attach reject (ATTACH REJECT) message, or other messages.

[0206] As another example, in the case that the NAS procedure is a tracking area update (TAU) procedure, the first communication device initiating the NAS procedure via the first cell can be understood as that the first communication device sends a tracking area update request (TAU REQUEST) message. It should be understood that in the tracking area update procedure, other message interactions can also be involved, such as a tracking area update accept (TAU ACCEPT) message, a tracking area update reject (TAU REJECT) message, a tracking area update complete (TAU Complete) message, or other messages.

[0207] It should be noted that the first communication device can determine the first time in various ways.

[0208] For example, the process of the first communication device determining the first time includes that the first communication device receives first information. Thus, the first communication device can determine the first time at which the first cell switches from the first mode to the second mode based on the first information sent by another device (e.g., the second communication device), so as to reduce the implementation complexity of the first communication device. Optionally, the second communication device can be an access network device, for example, the second communication device can include a part of components (e.g., an O-CU and / or an O-DU, etc.) that determine the first information, and / or the second communication device can include a part of components (e.g., an O-DU and / or an O-RU, etc.) that send the first information.

[0209] For example, the process of determining the first time point by the first communication device includes: determining, by the first communication device, the first time point at which the first cell switches from the first mode to the second mode based on ephemeris information of one or more network devices, so as to reduce transmission overhead. The one or more network devices include a network device corresponding to the first cell. Optionally, in the process of determining the first time point, the first communication device can also determine the first time point in combination with its own position.

[0210] Based on the scheme shown in FIG. 4, the first mode is a store-and-forward mode, and at least one of the feeder link and the service link is unavailable when any cell works in the first mode; and both the feeder link and the service link are available when any cell works in the second mode, which makes the latency and power consumption of the terminal device in completing the NAS procedure through the cell in the first mode greater than those of the terminal device in completing the NAS procedure through the cell in the first mode. In the above scheme, the first information obtained by the first communication device in step S401 is used to determine the first time point at which the first cell switches from the first mode to the second mode, and if the first cell currently works in the first mode, the first communication device initiates the NAS procedure through the first cell after the first time point. Thus, in the case where the first cell connected (for example, camped on or selected or reselected) by the first communication device is in the first mode, the first communication device can wait until the first time point at which the first cell switches from the first mode to the second mode or after the first time point, and then initiate the NAS procedure through the first cell. In this way, the terminal device can initiate the NAS procedure with lower latency and lower power consumption through the cell in the second mode as much as possible, can avoid or reduce the higher latency and power consumption generated by initiating the NAS procedure through the cell in the first mode, and can reduce the communication latency and the device power consumption.

[0211] Optionally, in the above process, even if the first communication device triggers the NAS procedure, the first communication device can temporarily not initiate the NAS procedure, but wait until the first time point at which the first cell switches from the first mode to the second mode or after the first time point, and then initiate the NAS procedure through the first cell, or if the NAS procedure has not been triggered, wait until after the first time point, and then trigger the NAS procedure. In this way, the terminal device can initiate the NAS procedure with lower latency and lower power consumption through the cell in the second mode as much as possible, so as to reduce the communication latency and the device power consumption.

[0212] In a possible implementation, the first information received by the first communication apparatus in step S401 includes any one of: first indication information indicating the first time point; or second indication information indicating a remaining time duration for which the first cell operates in the first mode, the remaining time duration being used to determine the first time point. Thus, the first information used to determine the first time point can be implemented in various manners, so as to improve the flexibility of the scheme implementation.

[0213] As an example, the first indication information can indicate an absolute time position of the first time point, or can indicate a relative time position of the first time point, for example, one or more of a system frame number, a subframe number, a symbol, or can be indicated in other manners.

[0214] As an example, the second indication information indicates a remaining time duration, and another time point is used to determine the first time point. For example, the first communication apparatus can take the another time point as a starting time point, take the remaining time duration as a continuous time duration after the starting time point, and determine a termination time point of the continuous time duration as the first time point. For example, the another time point can be a current time point. For another example, the another time point can be a time point of receiving the first information. For another example, the another time point can be a time point of sending the first information, or the another time point can be a time point corresponding to a synchronization reference point.

[0215] In a possible implementation, the method shown in FIG. 4 can further include: the first communication apparatus receives second information, the second information being used to indicate that the NAS procedure is initiated after the cell is switched from the first mode to the second mode. In other words, the first communication apparatus can determine, according to the indication of the second information, that the NAS procedure is initiated after the cell is switched from the first mode to the second mode. Thus, the first communication apparatus can initiate the NAS procedure with lower latency and lower power consumption based on the indication of the sender of the second information. Optionally, the second communication apparatus can be an access network device, for example, the second communication apparatus can include a part of components (for example, O-CU and / or O-DU, etc.) used to determine the second information, and / or the second communication apparatus can include a part of components (for example, O-DU and / or O-RU, etc.) used to send the second information.

[0216] In a possible implementation, in step S402, the first communication apparatus initiates the NAS procedure through the first cell, including: initiating the NAS procedure through the first cell in a case that a first time length is less than or equal to a second time length, wherein the first time length is a time length of the terminal device from initiating to completing the NAS procedure in the cell working in the first mode, and the second time length is a sum of a time length between a current time and the first time and a time length of the terminal device from initiating to completing the NAS procedure in the cell working in the second mode. Specifically, in the case that the first time length is less than or equal to the second time length, the first communication apparatus can determine that the delay of initiating the NAS procedure through the first cell after the first time is lower, and initiates the NAS procedure through the first cell in the case, so as to reduce the delay and power consumption of the NAS procedure.

[0217] Referring to FIG. 5, another implementation of the communication method provided in the present application is shown, and the method includes the following steps.

[0218] S501. The first communication apparatus acquires third information. The third information is used to determine a second time, the second time being a time of reselecting from the first cell to the second cell by the terminal device; at the second time, the first cell works in the first mode, and the second cell works in the second mode; the first mode is a store-and-forward mode; and when the second cell works in the second mode, the feeder link and the service link are available at the same time.

[0219] Optionally, in step S501, the second communication apparatus sends first information, and correspondingly, the first communication apparatus receives the first information.

[0220] S502. After the second time, the first communication apparatus is configured to initiate a non-access stratum (NAS) procedure through the second cell. For example, the NAS procedure is an attach procedure or a tracking area update procedure.

[0221] Based on the scheme shown in FIG. 5, the first mode is a store-and-forward mode, and at least one of the feeder link and the service link is unavailable when any cell works in the first mode; and both the feeder link and the service link are available when any cell works in the second mode, which makes the latency and power consumption of the terminal device in completing the NAS procedure through the cell in the first mode greater than that of the terminal device in completing the NAS procedure through the cell in the first mode. In the above scheme, the third information acquired by the first communication device is used to determine a second time at which the terminal device reselects from the first cell to the second cell; at the second time, the first cell works in the first mode, and the second cell works in the second mode; the first mode is a store-and-forward mode; and when the second cell works in the second mode, both the feeder link and the service link are available. After the second time, the first communication device initiates a non-access stratum (NAS) procedure through the second cell. Thus, after the first communication device reselects from the first cell working in the first mode to the second cell working in the second mode at the second time, the first communication device can initiate the NAS procedure through the second cell. In this way, the terminal device can initiate the NAS procedure with lower latency and lower power consumption through the cell in the second mode as much as possible, can avoid or reduce the higher latency and power consumption caused by initiating the NAS procedure through the cell in the first mode, and can reduce the communication latency and the device power consumption.

[0222] Optionally, in the above process, even if the first communication device triggers the NAS procedure through the cell (for example, the first cell) in the first mode, the first communication device can temporarily not initiate the NAS procedure, but wait until the second time or after the second time to initiate the NAS procedure through the second cell. Alternatively, if the NAS procedure has not been triggered, the first communication device can wait until after the second time to trigger the NAS procedure. In this way, the terminal device can initiate the NAS procedure with lower latency and lower power consumption through the cell in the second mode as much as possible, to reduce the communication latency and the device power consumption.

[0223] Optionally, after the second time, the first communication device does not initiate (or determines not to initiate) the non-access stratum (NAS) procedure through the first cell, which can avoid the higher latency and power consumption caused by initiating the NAS procedure through the cell in the first mode.

[0224] Optionally, the second time can be an estimated or predicted time of the first communication device. Alternatively, the second time can be a time indicated by the network device to the first communication device.

[0225] In a possible implementation, the third information acquired by the first communication apparatus in step S501 includes any of the following: third indication information indicating the second time; or fourth indication information indicating a remaining time length during which the second cell works in the first mode, the remaining time length being used to determine the second time. Thus, the third information used to determine the second time can be implemented in various manners to improve the flexibility of the scheme.

[0226] As an example, the third indication information can indicate an absolute time position of the second time, or a relative time position of the second time, such as one or more of a system frame number, a subframe number, a symbol, or the like, or can be indicated in other manners.

[0227] As an example, the fourth indication information indicates a remaining time length, which can be used to determine the second time together with another time. For example, the first communication apparatus can take the another time as a starting time, take the remaining time length as a continuous time length after the starting time, and determine a termination time of the continuous time length as the second time. For example, the another time can be a current time. For another example, the another time can be a determination time of the third information.

[0228] In a possible implementation, in step S502, the first communication apparatus initiates the NAS procedure through the second cell, including: in a case where a first time length is less than or equal to a second time length, the first communication apparatus initiates the NAS procedure through the second cell; wherein the first time length is a time length during which the terminal device initiates and completes the NAS procedure in a cell working in the first mode, and the second time length is a sum of a time length between a current time and the first time and a time length during which the terminal device initiates and completes the NAS procedure in a cell working in the second mode. Thus, in a case where the first time length is less than or equal to the second time length, the first communication apparatus can determine that the delay of initiating the NAS procedure through the second cell after the second time is relatively low, and initiates the NAS procedure through the second cell in the case to reduce the delay and power consumption of the NAS procedure.

[0229] As described above in relation to FIG. 3f, in a conventional implementation, when a cell works in the store-and-forward mode, a terminal device needs to go through two stages to complete a NAS procedure (for example, an ATTACH / TAU procedure), and the signaling transmission delay of the two stages is relatively long, and the terminal device needs to wait for a next satellite during the two stages, which also takes a long time, so that the terminal device needs a relatively long time to complete the NAS procedure in the store-and-forward mode.

[0230] In order to enable the terminal device to reduce the latency as much as possible required for completing the NAS procedure, the method shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 can enable the terminal device to initiate the NAS procedure in the cell operating in the second mode as much as possible.

[0231] For example, based on the method shown in FIG. 4, if the terminal device learns that the cell will be switched to the second mode at a time (i.e., the first time in step S401) after the terminal device is powered on and learns the cell, the terminal device can wait until the cell is switched to the second mode and then initiate the NAS procedure. Alternatively, based on the method shown in FIG. 5, if the terminal device learns that it will be reselected to a cell operating in the second mode at a time (i.e., the second time in step S501) after the terminal device is powered on, the terminal device can wait until the terminal device is reselected to a cell operating in the second mode and then initiate the NAS procedure. In this way, the initiation of the NAS procedure can be successful once, and there is no need to perform the two-stage NAS procedure.

[0232] Alternatively, the terminal device can learn that the cell will be switched to the second mode at a time in the future in a manner of determining according to indication information sent by the network, such as indication information carried in a system message, or inferring by the terminal device according to ephemeris information. The indication information can be an absolute time point or a remaining time of the current operating mode. For the latter, when the remaining time is 0, it is the switching time.

[0233] Alternatively, in the process of the foregoing two stages, assuming that the terminal device has completed the first NAS procedure request sending in the first stage and the terminal device is preparing to send the second NAS procedure in the current cell, even if the cell operating in the store-and-forward mode will be switched to the second mode later, the terminal device does not need to wait and can send the second NAS procedure. Because after the foregoing first stage is performed, the network side can have already had the information required for authentication, and this manner can also reduce the latency.

[0234] Alternatively, in the foregoing process, the network device (e.g., the second communication apparatus) can determine how to process the NAS procedure request message of the terminal device according to the time of the mode switching of the cell. For example, assuming that the terminal device initiates the NAS procedure request in the cell operating in the store-and-forward mode, and the network device knows that the cell mode will be switched to the second mode later, the network device can first reject the NAS procedure initiated by the terminal device. Alternatively, the network device can instruct the terminal device to initiate the NAS procedure request again after the cell mode is switched to the second mode. Alternatively, the network device can compare the first time duration and the second time duration as in the foregoing terminal device scheme and then determine whether to enable the terminal device to continue to perform the two-stage NAS procedure in the store-and-forward mode or to enable the terminal device to initiate the NAS procedure request again after the cell mode is switched to the second mode.

[0235] Referring to FIG. 6, another implementation of the communication method provided by the present application is shown, which comprises the following steps.

[0236] S601. The first communication device acquires fourth information, which is used to indicate that the frequency priority corresponding to the cell working in the second mode is higher than the frequency priority corresponding to the cell working in the first mode; wherein the first mode is the store-and-forward mode; when any cell works in the second mode, the feeder link and the service link are simultaneously available.

[0237] S602. The first communication device performs cell reselection based on the fourth information (or selects the cell to camp based on the fourth information).

[0238] Based on the scheme shown in FIG. 6, the first mode is the store-and-forward mode, and when any cell works in the first mode, at least one of the feeder link and the service link is unavailable; and when any cell works in the second mode, the feeder link and the service link are simultaneously available, which makes the communication delay and power consumption of the terminal device through the cell in the first mode greater than the communication delay and power consumption of the terminal device through the cell in the first mode. The fourth information acquired by the first communication device in step S601 is used to indicate that the frequency priority corresponding to the cell working in the second mode is higher than the frequency priority corresponding to the cell working in the first mode, and in step S602, the first communication device performs cell reselection based on the fourth information. In other words, compared with the cell in the second mode, the first communication device will preferentially reselect or camp to the cell in the second mode based on the priority order indicated by the fourth information. Therefore, the terminal device can reselect or camp to the cell in the first mode as much as possible, and can avoid or reduce the delay and power consumption caused by reselecting or camping to the cell in the second mode to communicate, thereby reducing the communication delay and reducing the device power consumption.

[0239] Optionally, the fourth information can also indicate the priority in other ways. For example, the fourth information used to indicate that the frequency priority corresponding to the cell working in the second mode is higher than the frequency priority corresponding to the cell working in the first mode can be replaced by the fourth information used to indicate that the priority of the cell working in the second mode is higher than the priority of the cell working in the first mode, or the fourth information used to indicate that the priority of the cell working in the second mode is higher than the priority of the cell working in the first mode.

[0240] In the present application, the priority includes but is not limited to a reselection priority, a frequency priority, for example, the priority can also include an access priority, a handover priority, or other priorities defined by future networks. In other words, the frequency priority described above can be replaced by a reselection priority, an access priority, a handover priority, or other priorities defined by future networks; the reselection priority described above can be replaced by a frequency priority, an access priority, a handover priority, or other priorities defined by future networks.

[0241] In a possible implementation, in the step S601, the first communication apparatus acquires the fourth information, including: the first communication apparatus receives the fourth information from the second communication apparatus. Thus, the first communication apparatus can acquire the fourth information by receiving the fourth information, so that the first communication apparatus can be instructed by the sender (for example, the second communication apparatus) of the fourth information to reselect or camp to the cell in the second mode. Optionally, the second communication apparatus can be an access network device, for example, the second communication apparatus can include part of components (for example, O-CU and / or O-DU, etc.) that determine the fourth information, and / or the second communication apparatus can include part of components (for example, O-DU and / or O-RU, etc.) that send the fourth information.

[0242] Optionally, the fourth information can be determined by the first communication apparatus in a preconfigured manner according to a standard / protocol.

[0243] In a possible implementation, the frequency priority corresponding to the cell working in the second mode is higher than the frequency priority corresponding to the cell working in the first mode in the case that any of the following conditions is met, including: the current serving cell of the terminal device only works in the first mode; or, the current serving cell of the terminal device switches from the first mode to the second mode at a first time, and a third time length is less than or equal to a fourth time length, the third time length being a time length for the terminal device to reselect a cell working in the second mode from the current serving cell, and the fourth time length being a time length from a current time to the first time. Thus, in the case that any of the above conditions is met, the first communication apparatus can determine that the time delay for communication through the current serving cell is high, and therefore, in this case, the first communication apparatus can determine that the frequency priority corresponding to the cell working in the second mode is higher than the frequency priority corresponding to the cell working in the first mode, so as to reduce the time delay and power consumption caused by reselecting or camping to the cell in the first mode for communication, thereby reducing the communication time delay and power consumption.

[0244] As can be known from the description of Fig. 3f, in the conventional implementation process, the terminal device generally needs two stages to complete the initiation of some processes in the store-and-forward cell, and when performing normal services, there will be additional time delay due to the fact that the service link and the feeder link cannot be available at the same time, so it is beneficial to let the terminal device stay in the cell in the second mode as much as possible.

[0245] In the method shown in Fig. 6, the frequency priority of the cell working in the second mode is increased by network configuration (i.e., the first communication device receives the fourth information) or the terminal device itself sets the frequency priority of the cell working in the second mode to high priority or the highest priority (i.e., the first communication device determines the fourth information by itself), so as to ensure that the terminal device can preferentially select the second mode cell when the cell is reselected.

[0246] For example, the network device (e.g., the second communication device) can indicate in the system information or the RRC dedicated signaling (e.g., the RRC reconfiguration message or the RRC release message) which cells or which frequencies are working in the second mode or which frequencies are working in the store-and-forward mode. Alternatively, the network device can obtain which cells or which frequencies are working in the second mode or which frequencies are working in the store-and-forward mode from OAM or from other base stations through the Xn interface, and then indicate to the terminal device.

[0247] Referring to Fig. 7, another implementation schematic diagram of the communication method provided by the present application is shown, and the method comprises the following steps.

[0248] S701. The second communication device sends fifth information, and correspondingly, the first communication device receives the fifth information, the fifth information being used to indicate the working mode of the first cell as the first mode or the second mode. The first mode is the store-and-forward mode, and when the first cell works in the second mode, the feeder link and the service link are available at the same time.

[0249] Optionally, the second communication device can be an access network device, for example, the second communication device can comprise part of components (e.g., O-CU and / or O-DU, etc.) for determining the fifth information, and / or the second communication device can comprise part of components (e.g., O-DU and / or O-RU, etc.) for sending the fifth information.

[0250] S702. In the case where the working mode of the first cell is the first mode, the first communication device determines that the first cell is in the allowed camping state; or in the case where the working mode of the first cell is the second mode, the first communication device determines that the first cell is in the prohibited camping state.

[0251] Based on the scheme shown in FIG. 7, the first mode is a store-and-forward mode, and at least one of the feeder link and the service link is unavailable when any cell works in the first mode; and both the feeder link and the service link are available when any cell works in the second mode, which makes the communication delay and power consumption of the terminal device through the cell in the first mode greater than the communication delay and power consumption of the terminal device through the cell in the first mode. For the terminal device that does not support communication through the first mode (for example, supports 3GPP 5G version 19 (release 19, R19)), the terminal device can determine that the cell in the first mode is in the allowed camping state in step S702, and / or the terminal device can determine that the cell in the second mode is in the prohibited camping state. In other words, compared with the cell in the second mode, the first communication device will preferentially camp on the cell in the first mode. Therefore, the terminal device can reselect or camp on the cell in the second mode as much as possible, and can avoid or reduce the delay and power consumption caused by reselecting or camping on the cell in the first mode for communication, thereby reducing the communication delay and reducing the device power consumption.

[0252] In addition, the terminal device can reselect or camp on the cell in the second mode as much as possible, and can avoid or reduce the situation that the terminal device that does not support communication through the first mode camps on the cell in the first mode, thereby avoiding or reducing the situation of communication failure.

[0253] Optionally, the prohibited camping state can be replaced by other descriptions, for example, a first state in which normal services cannot be initiated, for example, a state in which the terminal device considers the cell in the first state as an acceptable cell.

[0254] In a possible implementation, the method shown in FIG. 7 can further include that the first communication device receives sixth information, the sixth information indicating that, for the terminal device that does not support communication through the first mode, the cell in the first mode is in the allowed camping state, and / or the cell in the second mode is in the prohibited camping state. Therefore, the first communication device can receive the sixth information, and determine that the above-mentioned cell is in the allowed camping state or the prohibited camping state based on the sixth information, so that the first communication device can reselect or camp on the cell in the second mode as much as possible based on the indication of the sixth information, and can avoid or reduce the delay and power consumption caused by reselecting or camping on the cell in the first mode for communication, thereby reducing the communication delay and reducing the device power consumption.

[0255] In a possible implementation, the method shown in Fig. 7 can further include: the first communication device obtaining seventh information, the seventh information being used to determine a third time, the third time being a time when the first cell switches from the first mode to the second mode; and the first communication device determining that the first cell is in the allowed camping state, including: the first communication device determining that the first cell is in the allowed camping state after the first time. In other words, the first communication device can determine the third time when the first cell switches from the first mode to the second mode through the seventh information, and determine that the first cell is in the allowed camping state after the first time. Thus, the first communication device can camp on the cell in the second mode after the third time, so as to avoid or reduce the situation that the terminal device not supporting communication in the first mode camps on the cell in the first mode, and thus avoid or reduce the situation of communication failure.

[0256] As described above in relation to Fig. 3f, in a conventional implementation, the terminal device generally needs two stages to complete when initiating some processes in the store-and-forward cell, and when performing normal services, there is an additional delay because the service link and the feeder link cannot be available at the same time, so it is beneficial to let the terminal device camp in the cell in the second mode as much as possible. In the method shown in Fig. 7, when the cell works in the store-and-forward mode, the terminal device not supporting store-and-forward will consider that the cell is in the barred state, and thus will not camp on the cell, or the terminal device not supporting store-and-forward camps on the cell in a special state in which normal services cannot be initiated (for example, the state of considering that the cell is an acceptable cell).

[0257] Optionally, the terminal device can determine when the cell can be camped on through the mode switching indication information sent by the network, for example, information about when to switch to the second mode, so as to consider that the cell is out of the barring state; for example, at time T, the cell switches to the second mode, and the terminal device can normally camp on or reselect to the cell at or after time T.

[0258] Alternatively, the network indicates, through explicit indication information, whether the current cell is in the barring state for the terminal device not supporting store-and-forward, and the terminal device needs to read the explicit indication information near the time of switching to determine whether the network is out of the barring state. For example, at time T, the cell switches to the second mode, and the terminal device can read the explicit indication information again at time T to determine whether the network is out of the barring state. In this way, the terminal device can know in time that the cell is in the second mode, and thus camp on or reselect to the cell.

[0259] Referring to FIG. 8, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus 800, which comprises a transceiver unit 802 and a processing unit 801.

[0260] It should be understood that the communication apparatus 800 can realize the functions of any of the communication apparatuses (such as a terminal device or a network device) in the above method embodiments, and thus can also realize the beneficial effects possessed by the above method embodiments. In an embodiment of the present application, the communication apparatus 800 can be any of the communication apparatuses in the above method embodiments, or can be an integrated circuit or an element etc. inside any of the communication apparatuses in the above method embodiments, such as a chip.

[0261] In a possible implementation, when the apparatus 800 is configured to perform the method performed by the first communication apparatus in the above method embodiment of FIG. 4 and related embodiments, the processing unit 801 is configured to acquire first information, the first information being used to determine a first time point, the first time point being a time point at which a first cell switches from a first mode to a second mode; the first mode is a store-and-forward mode; when the first cell works in the second mode, a feeder link and a service link are available at the same time; and if the first cell currently works in the first mode, the transceiver unit 802 initiates a NAS procedure through the first cell at or after the first time point.

[0262] In another possible implementation, when the apparatus 800 is configured to perform the method performed by the second communication apparatus in the above method embodiment of FIG. 4 and related embodiments, the processing unit 801 is configured to determine first information, the first information being used to determine a first time point, the first time point being a time point at which a first cell switches from a first mode to a second mode; the first mode is a store-and-forward mode; when the first cell works in the second mode, a feeder link and a service link are available at the same time; and the transceiver unit 802 is configured to send the first information.

[0263] In another possible implementation, when the apparatus 800 is configured to perform the method performed by the first communication apparatus in the above method embodiment of FIG. 5 and related embodiments, the processing unit 801 is configured to acquire third information, the third information being used to determine a second time point, the second time point being a time point at which a terminal device reselects from a first cell to a second cell; at the second time point, the first cell works in a first mode and the second cell works in a second mode; the first mode is a store-and-forward mode; when the second cell works in the second mode, a feeder link and a service link are available at the same time; and the transceiver unit 802 is configured to initiate a non-access stratum (NAS) procedure through the second cell at or after the second time point. For example, the NAS procedure is an attach procedure or a tracking area update procedure.

[0264] In another possible implementation, when the apparatus 800 is configured to perform the method performed by the first communication apparatus in the preceding embodiment of FIG. 6, the processing unit 801 is configured to obtain fourth information, the fourth information being used to indicate that the frequency priority corresponding to a cell operating in a second mode is higher than the frequency priority corresponding to a cell operating in a first mode; the first mode is a store-and-forward mode; when any cell operates in the second mode, the feeder link and the service link are available at the same time; and the processing unit 801 is further configured to perform cell reselection based on the fourth information (or the processing unit 801 selects a cell to camp on based on the fourth information).

[0265] In another possible implementation, when the apparatus 800 is configured to perform the method performed by the second communication apparatus in the preceding embodiment of FIG. 6, the processing unit 801 is configured to determine fourth information, the fourth information being used to indicate that the frequency priority corresponding to a cell operating in a second mode is higher than the frequency priority corresponding to a cell operating in a first mode; the first mode is a store-and-forward mode; when any cell operates in the second mode, the feeder link and the service link are available at the same time; and the fourth information is used for cell reselection; and the transceiver 802 is configured to send the fourth information.

[0266] In another possible implementation, when the apparatus 800 is configured to perform the method performed by the first communication apparatus in the preceding embodiment of FIG. 7, the transceiver 802 is configured to receive fifth information, the fifth information being used to indicate that the operating mode of a first cell is a first mode or a second mode, the first mode is a store-and-forward mode, and when the first cell operates in the second mode, the feeder link and the service link are available at the same time; in the case where the operating mode of the first cell is the first mode, the processing unit 801 determines that the first cell is in an allowed-camping state; or in the case where the operating mode of the first cell is the second mode, the processing unit 801 determines that the first cell is in a forbidden-camping state.

[0267] In another possible implementation, when the apparatus 800 is configured to perform the method performed by the second communication apparatus in the preceding embodiment of FIG. 7, the processing unit 801 is configured to determine sixth information, the sixth information indicating that, for a terminal device that does not support communication through a first mode, a cell operating in the first mode is in an allowed-camping state, and / or a cell operating in a second mode is in a forbidden-camping state; the first mode is a store-and-forward mode, and when the first cell operates in the second mode, the feeder link and the service link are available at the same time; and the transceiver 802 is configured to send the sixth information.

[0268] It should be noted that the information execution process and corresponding technical effects of the units of the communication apparatus 800 described above can be specifically referred to the descriptions in the method embodiments of the present application, and will not be described here.

[0269] Referring to FIG. 9, another schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus 900 provided by the present application is shown, which at least includes an input / output interface 901. The communication apparatus 900 can be a chip or an integrated circuit.

[0270] Optionally, the communication apparatus further includes a logic circuit 902.

[0271] The transceiving unit 802 shown in FIG. 8 can be a communication interface, which can be the input / output interface 901 in FIG. 9, and the input / output interface 901 can include an input interface and an output interface. Alternatively, the communication interface can also be a transceiving circuit, which can include an input interface circuit and an output interface circuit.

[0272] In a possible implementation, the logic circuit 902 is configured to obtain first information, the first information being used to determine a first time point, the first time point being a time point at which the first cell switches from a first mode to a second mode; the first mode is a store-and-forward mode; when the first cell works in the second mode, a feeder link and a service link are available at the same time; and the input / output interface 901 is configured to initiate a NAS procedure through the first cell after (or at) the first time point, if the first cell currently works in the first mode.

[0273] In another possible implementation, the logic circuit 902 is configured to determine first information, the first information being used to determine a first time point, the first time point being a time point at which the first cell switches from a first mode to a second mode; the first mode is a store-and-forward mode; when the first cell works in the second mode, a feeder link and a service link are available at the same time; and the input / output interface 901 is configured to send the first information.

[0274] In another possible implementation, the logic circuit 902 is configured to obtain third information, the third information being used to determine a second time point, the second time point being a time point at which the terminal device reselects from the first cell to a second cell; at the second time point, the first cell works in a first mode, and the second cell works in a second mode; the first mode is a store-and-forward mode; when the second cell works in the second mode, a feeder link and a service link are available at the same time; and the input / output interface 901 is configured to initiate a non-access stratum (NAS) procedure through the second cell after the second time point. For example, the NAS procedure is an attach procedure or a tracking area update procedure.

[0275] In another possible implementation, the logic circuit 902 is configured to obtain fourth information, the fourth information being used to indicate that the frequency priority corresponding to the cell operating in the second mode is higher than the frequency priority corresponding to the cell operating in the first mode; the first mode is the store-and-forward mode; the feeder link and the service link are available simultaneously when any cell operates in the second mode; and the logic circuit 902 is further configured to perform cell reselection based on the fourth information (or the logic circuit 902 is further configured to select a cell to camp on based on the fourth information).

[0276] In another possible implementation, the logic circuit 902 is configured to determine fourth information, the fourth information being used to indicate that the frequency priority corresponding to the cell operating in the second mode is higher than the frequency priority corresponding to the cell operating in the first mode; the first mode is the store-and-forward mode; the feeder link and the service link are available simultaneously when any cell operates in the second mode; and the fourth information is used for cell reselection; and the input and output interface 901 is configured to send the fourth information.

[0277] In another possible implementation, the input and output interface 901 is configured to receive fifth information, the fifth information being used to indicate that the operating mode of the first cell is the first mode or the second mode, the first mode is the store-and-forward mode, and the feeder link and the service link are available simultaneously when the first cell operates in the second mode; in the case where the operating mode of the first cell is the first mode, the logic circuit 902 determines that the first cell is in the allowed camp state; or in the case where the operating mode of the first cell is the second mode, the logic circuit 902 determines that the first cell is in the forbidden camp state.

[0278] In another possible implementation, the logic circuit 902 is configured to determine sixth information, the sixth information indicating that, for a terminal device that does not support communication through the first mode, the cell operating in the first mode is in the allowed camp state, and / or the cell operating in the second mode is in the forbidden camp state; the first mode is the store-and-forward mode, and the feeder link and the service link are available simultaneously when the first cell operates in the second mode; and the input and output interface 901 is configured to send the sixth information.

[0279] The logic circuit 902 and the input and output interface 901 can perform the method performed by any communication apparatus (for example, a terminal device or a network device) in the foregoing method embodiments and achieve the corresponding beneficial effects, which will not be described here.

[0280] In a possible implementation, the processing unit 801 shown in FIG. 8 can be the logic circuit 902 in FIG. 9.

[0281] Optionally, the logic circuit 902 can be a processing device, and the functions of the processing device can be partially or entirely implemented by software.

[0282] Optionally, the processing device can include a memory and a processor, wherein the memory is configured to store a computer program, and the processor is configured to read and execute the computer program stored in the memory to perform the corresponding processing and / or steps in any one of the method embodiments.

[0283] Optionally, the processing device can only include the processor. The memory for storing the computer program is located outside the processing device, and the processor is connected with the memory through a circuit / wire to read and execute the computer program stored in the memory. The memory and the processor can be integrated together, or can be physically independent of each other.

[0284] Optionally, the processing device can be one or more chips, or one or more integrated circuits. For example, the processing device can be one or more field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), system on chips (SoC), central processor units (CPU), network processors (NP), digital signal processors (DSP), micro controller units (MCU), programmable logic devices (PLD) or other integrated chips, or any combination of the above chips or processors, etc.

[0285] Please refer to FIG. 10, the communication device 1000 involved in the above embodiments provided by the embodiments of the present application, and the communication device 1000 can be specifically the communication device as the terminal device in the above embodiments.

[0286] Optionally, the communication device 1000 can include but is not limited to at least one processor 1001 and a communication interface 1002.

[0287] Further optionally, the device can further include at least one of a memory 1003 and a bus 1004, and in the embodiments of the present application, the at least one processor 1001 is configured to control and process the actions of the communication device 1000.

[0288] Further, the processor 1001 can be a central processing unit, a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array, or other programmable logic device, transistor logic, hardware component, or any combination thereof. It can implement or execute various example logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the disclosure. The processor can also be a combination of computing functionality, such as a combination of one or more microprocessors, a combination of a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, or the like. For the sake of brevity and clarity, the detailed description of the operation of the system, apparatus, and units described above can be made with reference to the corresponding processes in the method embodiments described above, and will not be repeated here.

[0289] It should be noted that the communication apparatus 1000 shown in FIG. 10 can be specifically used to implement the steps implemented by the terminal device in the foregoing method embodiments, and achieve the corresponding technical effects of the terminal device. The specific implementation of the communication apparatus shown in FIG. 10 can be made with reference to the description in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0290] Please refer to FIG. 11, which is a structural schematic diagram of a communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application and involved in the foregoing embodiments. The communication apparatus can be specifically the network device in the foregoing embodiments, and the structure of the communication apparatus can refer to the structure shown in FIG. 11.

[0291] The communication apparatus 1100 includes at least one processor 1111 and at least one network interface 1114.

[0292] Optionally, the communication apparatus further includes at least one memory 1112, at least one transceiver 1113, and one or more antennas 1115. The processor 1111, the memory 1112, the transceiver 1113, and the network interface 1114 are connected, for example, through a bus. In the embodiments of the present application, the connection can include various interfaces, transmission lines, or buses, etc., and the present embodiment does not limit them. The antenna 1115 is connected to the transceiver 1113. The network interface 1114 is configured to enable the communication apparatus to communicate with other communication devices through a communication link. For example, the network interface 1114 can include a network interface between the communication apparatus and a core network device, such as an S1 interface. The network interface can include a network interface between the communication apparatus and other communication apparatuses (such as other network devices or core network devices), such as an X2 or Xn interface.

[0293] The processor 1111 is mainly used for processing communication protocols and communication data, and controlling the whole communication device, executing software programs, processing data of the software programs, for example, for supporting the communication device to perform the actions described in the embodiments. The communication device can include a baseband processor mainly used for processing communication protocols and communication data, and a central processor mainly used for controlling the whole terminal device, executing software programs, and processing data of the software programs. The processor 1111 in FIG. 11 can integrate the functions of the baseband processor and the central processor, and those skilled in the art can understand that the baseband processor and the central processor can also be independent processors interconnected by a bus or the like. Those skilled in the art can understand that the terminal device can include multiple baseband processors to adapt to different network modes, and the terminal device can include multiple central processors to enhance its processing capability, and various components of the terminal device can be connected by various buses. The baseband processor can also be referred to as a baseband processing circuit or a baseband processing chip. The central processor can also be referred to as a central processing circuit or a central processing chip. The function of processing communication protocols and communication data can be built into the processor, or stored in the memory in the form of a software program, and the processor executes the software program to realize the baseband processing function.

[0294] The memory is mainly used for storing software programs and data. The memory 1112 can exist independently and be connected with the processor 1111. Alternatively, the memory 1112 can be integrated with the processor 1111, for example, integrated in a chip. The memory 1112 can store program codes for executing the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and the processor 1111 controls the execution. Various computer programs executed can also be regarded as a driver of the processor 1111.

[0295] FIG. 11 only shows one memory and one processor. In actual terminal devices, there can be multiple processors and multiple memories. The memory can also be referred to as a storage medium or a storage device, etc. The memory can be a storage element on the same chip as the processor, that is, an on-chip storage element, or an independent storage element, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0296] The transceiver 1113 can be configured to support the receiving or transmitting of radio frequency signals between the communication device and a terminal. The transceiver 1113 can be connected to the antenna 1115. The transceiver 1113 includes a transmitter Tx and a receiver Rx. Specifically, the one or more antennas 1115 can receive radio frequency signals, the receiver Rx of the transceiver 1113 is configured to receive the radio frequency signals from the antenna and convert the radio frequency signals into digital baseband signals or digital intermediate frequency signals, and provide the digital baseband signals or the digital intermediate frequency signals to the processor 1111 for further processing, such as demodulation processing and decoding processing, of the digital baseband signals or the digital intermediate frequency signals by the processor 1111. In addition, the transmitter Tx in the transceiver 1113 is also configured to receive modulated digital baseband signals or digital intermediate frequency signals from the processor 1111, and convert the modulated digital baseband signals or the digital intermediate frequency signals into radio frequency signals, and transmit the radio frequency signals through the one or more antennas 1115. Specifically, the receiver Rx can selectively perform one or more levels of down-mixing and analog-to-digital conversion to obtain the digital baseband signals or the digital intermediate frequency signals, and the order of the down-mixing and the analog-to-digital conversion can be adjustable. The transmitter Tx can selectively perform one or more levels of up-mixing and digital-to-analog conversion to obtain the radio frequency signals, and the order of the up-mixing and the digital-to-analog conversion can be adjustable. The digital baseband signals and the digital intermediate frequency signals can be collectively referred to as digital signals.

[0297] The transceiver 1113 can also be referred to as an interface unit, a transceiving unit, a transceiver, a transceiving device, an interface module, etc. Optionally, the devices in the interface unit for implementing the receiving function can be regarded as a receiving unit, and the devices in the interface unit for implementing the transmitting function can be regarded as a transmitting unit, that is, the interface unit includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. The receiving unit can also be referred to as a receiver, an input port, a receiving circuit, etc., and the transmitting unit can be referred to as a transmitter, a transmitter, or a transmitting circuit, etc.

[0298] It should be noted that the communication device shown in FIG. 11 can be specifically configured to implement the steps implemented by the network device in the foregoing method embodiments, and achieve the corresponding technical effects of the network device. The specific implementation mode of the communication device shown in FIG. 11 can be referred to the description in the foregoing method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0299] The embodiments of the present application also provide a computer readable storage medium for storing one or more computer execution instructions, when the computer execution instructions are executed by a computer, the processor executes the method described in any of the possible implementation manners of the communication device (such as a terminal device or a network device) in the foregoing method embodiments.

[0300] The embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product (or computer program), including instructions, when the instructions in the computer program product are executed by a processor, the processor executes the method of any possible implementation manner of the communication device (for example, the first communication device or the second communication device) in the above method embodiment.

[0301] The embodiment of the present application further provides a chip system, including at least one processor, used for implementing the functions involved in the possible implementation manner of the communication device (for example, the terminal device or the network device) in any of the above method embodiments.

[0302] Optionally, the chip system further includes an interface circuit, which provides program instructions and / or data for the at least one processor. In a possible design, the chip system can further include a memory, used for storing necessary program instructions and data of the terminal device. The chip system can be composed of a chip, or can include the chip and other discrete devices.

[0303] In a possible design, the chip system can further include a memory, used for storing necessary program instructions and data of the communication device in any of the above method embodiments. The chip system can be composed of a chip, or can include the chip and other discrete devices.

[0304] The embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, including the first communication device in any of the above embodiments. Optionally, the communication system further includes a second communication device.

[0305] In several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, device and method can be implemented by other means. For example, the above-described device embodiments are illustrative, for example, the division of the units is a logical function division, and actual implementation can have another division manner, for example, a plurality of units 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 displayed or discussed units can be indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0306] The units described as separate components can or can not be physically separate, and the components displayed as units can or can not be physical units, that is, they can be located in one place, or can be distributed on a plurality of network units. According to actual needs, part or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of the embodiment scheme.

[0307] In addition, each function unit in each embodiment of the present application can be integrated in one processing module, or each unit can be physically present separately, or two or more units can be integrated in one unit. The integrated unit can be realized in the form of hardware or in the form of a software function unit. When the integrated unit is realized in the form of a software function unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solutions of the present application essentially contribute to or the whole or part of the technical solutions can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes a number 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 steps of the methods described in each embodiment of the present application. The foregoing storage medium includes: a U disk, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM, Read-Only Memory), a random access memory (RAM, Random Access Memory), a magnetic disk or an optical disk, and various media that can store program codes.

[0308] The above is only a specific implementation of the embodiments of the present application, but the protection scope of the embodiments of the present application is not limited to this. Any person skilled in the art can easily think of changes or replacements within the technical range disclosed by the embodiments of the present application, which should be covered within the protection scope of the embodiments of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the embodiments of the present application should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method comprises: obtaining first information used to determine a first time point, the first time point being a time point at which a first cell switches from a first mode to a second mode; wherein the first mode is a store-and-forward mode, and when the first cell works in the second mode, a feeder link and a service link are available at the same time; if the first cell currently works in the first mode, initiating a non-access stratum (NAS) procedure through the first cell after the first time point, the NAS procedure being an attach procedure or a tracking area update procedure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The first information comprises any one of the following: first indication information used to indicate the first time point; or second indication information used to indicate a remaining time length during which the first cell works in the first mode, the remaining time length being used to determine the first time point.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The method further comprises: receiving second information used to indicate that the NAS procedure is initiated after the cell switches from the first mode to the second mode.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The step of initiating the NAS procedure through the first cell comprises: if a first time length is less than or equal to a second time length, initiating the NAS procedure through the first cell; wherein the first time length is a time length during which a terminal device initiates and completes the NAS procedure in the cell working in the first mode, and the second time length is a sum of a time length between a current time point and the first time point and a time length during which the terminal device initiates and completes the NAS procedure in the cell working in the second mode. The method comprises:

5. A communication method characterized by comprising: determining first information used to determine a first time point, the first time point being a time point at which a first cell switches from a first mode to a second mode; wherein the first mode is a store-and-forward mode, and when the first cell works in the second mode, a feeder link and a service link are available at the same time; sending the first information. The first information comprises any one of the following:

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, first indication information used to indicate the first time point; or second indication information used to indicate a remaining time length during which the first cell works in the first mode, the remaining time length being used to determine the first time point. The method further comprises:

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, receiving second information used to indicate that the NAS procedure is initiated after the cell switches from the first mode to the second mode. The method comprises:

8. A communication method characterized by comprising: obtaining third information used to determine a second time point, the second time point being a time point at which a terminal device reselects from a first cell to a second cell; at the second time point, the first cell works in a first mode, and the second cell works in a second mode; wherein the first mode is a store-and-forward mode, and when the second cell works in the second mode, a feeder link and a service link are available at the same time; initiating a non-access stratum (NAS) procedure through the second cell after the second time point, the NAS procedure being an attach procedure or a tracking area update procedure. The third information comprises any one of the following:

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, third indication information used to indicate the second time point; or fourth indication information used to indicate a remaining time length during which the second cell works in the first mode, the remaining time length being used to determine the second time point. ​ 10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that, The initiating the NAS procedure through the second cell comprises: In a case where a first time length is less than or equal to a second time length, initiating the NAS procedure through the second cell; The first time length is a time length of the terminal device from initiating to completing the NAS procedure in the cell operating in the first mode, and the second time length is a sum of a time length between a current time and a first time and a time length of the terminal device from initiating to completing the NAS procedure in the cell operating in the second mode.

11. A communication method, comprising: Comprise: Obtaining fourth information, the fourth information is used to indicate that the frequency priority corresponding to the cell operating in the second mode is higher than the frequency priority corresponding to the cell operating in the first mode; wherein, the first mode is a store-and-forward mode; when any cell operates in the second mode, the feeder link and the service link are simultaneously available; Performing cell reselection based on the fourth information.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, The obtaining fourth information comprises: Receiving the fourth information.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that, In a case where any one of the following conditions is met, the frequency priority corresponding to the cell operating in the second mode is higher than the frequency priority corresponding to the cell operating in the first mode, comprising: The current serving cell of the terminal device will only operate in the first mode; or The current serving cell of the terminal device is switched from the first mode to the second mode at a first time, and a third time length is less than or equal to a fourth time length, the third time length is a time length of the terminal device from reselecting the current serving cell to the cell operating in the second mode, and the fourth time length is a time length between a current time and the first time.

14. A communication method, comprising: Comprise: Determining fourth information, the fourth information is used to indicate that the frequency priority corresponding to the cell operating in the second mode is higher than the frequency priority corresponding to the cell operating in the first mode; wherein, the first mode is a store-and-forward mode; when any cell operates in the second mode, the feeder link and the service link are simultaneously available; wherein, the fourth information is used for cell reselection; Sending the fourth information.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, In a case where any one of the following conditions is met, the frequency priority corresponding to the cell operating in the second mode is higher than the frequency priority corresponding to the cell operating in the first mode, comprising: The current serving cell of the terminal device will only operate in the first mode; or The current serving cell of the terminal device is switched from the first mode to the second mode at a first time, and a third time length is less than or equal to a fourth time length, the third time length is a time length of the terminal device from reselecting the current serving cell to the cell operating in the second mode, and the fourth time length is a time length between a current time and the first time.

16. A method of communication, comprising: The method is applied to a terminal device that does not support communication through the first mode, and the method comprises: Receiving fifth information, the fifth information is used to indicate that the operating mode of the first cell is the first mode or the second mode, wherein, the first mode is a store-and-forward mode, and the feeder link and the service link are simultaneously available when the first cell operates in the second mode; In a case where the operation mode of the first cell is the first mode, it is determined that the first cell is in an allowed camped state; or in a case where the operation mode of the first cell is the second mode, it is determined that the first cell is in a forbidden camped state.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving sixth information, the sixth information indicating that, for a terminal device not supporting communication through the first mode, a cell in the first mode is in an allowed camped state, and / or a cell in the second mode is in a forbidden camped state.

18. The method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that, The method further comprises: obtaining seventh information, the seventh information being used to determine a third time point, the third time point being a time point at which the first cell switches from the first mode to the second mode; The determination that the first cell is in the allowed camped state comprises: determining that the first cell is in the allowed camped state after the first time point.

19. A method of communication, comprising: comprising: determining sixth information, the sixth information indicating that, for a terminal device not supporting communication through the first mode, a cell in the first mode is in an allowed camped state, and / or a cell in the second mode is in a forbidden camped state; wherein the first mode is a store-and-forward mode, and when the first cell operates in the second mode, a feeder link and a service link are simultaneously available; sending the sixth information.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein, The method further comprises: sending seventh information, the seventh information being used to determine a third time point, the third time point being a time point at which the first cell switches from the first mode to the second mode; wherein, for a terminal device not supporting communication through the first mode, the first cell in the first mode is in an allowed camped state after the third time point.

21. A communications device, characterized by comprising a module for performing the method of any one of claims 1 to 20.

22. A communications device, characterized by comprising at least one processor configured to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 20.

23. The communication apparatus according to claim 22, wherein, The communication device is a chip or a chip system.

24. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer readable storage medium stores a computer program or instructions, which, when executed by the communication device, implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 20.

25. A computer program product, characterised in that, comprising a computer program or instructions, which, when executed by a computer, implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 20.

Images