Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and apparatus. The communication method comprises: sending a random access request message; and determining a second discontinuous transmission duration, wherein the second discontinuous transmission duration comprises at least one of the following: a second discontinuous receiving duration used for data sending, and a second discontinuous sending duration used for data receiving.

Description

Communication methods and devices

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This disclosure claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411611929.8, filed on November 12, 2024, entitled "Communication Method and Apparatus, Computer Program Product, Readable Storage Medium", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This disclosure relates to the field of wireless communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and apparatus, a computer program product, and a readable storage medium. Background Technology

[0004] Discontinuous coverage technology is an effective way to improve network coverage efficiency. For example, in satellite communication systems, the coverage area of ​​a satellite can consist of multiple beams, with the diameter of the coverage area of ​​a single beam reaching tens of kilometers. For each beam, coverage and service can be provided through a single beam. Considering the limitations of satellite power and antenna configuration, satellites typically cannot provide a large number of beams simultaneously to cover every beam. Usually, the satellite needs to use time division multiplexing (TDM) to achieve beam coverage for each beam, resulting in discontinuous beam coverage of each cell within the satellite's coverage area. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this disclosure is at least to provide a communication method that can reduce the latency of terminal devices accessing the network.

[0006] In a first aspect, this disclosure provides a communication method, comprising: sending a random access request message; and transmitting data based on a second discontinuous transmission duration, the second discontinuous transmission duration comprising at least one of the following: a second discontinuous reception duration for data transmission, and a second discontinuous transmission duration for data reception; the second discontinuous transmission duration being different from a pre-configured first discontinuous transmission duration.

[0007] The terminal device determines a second discontinuous transmission duration, which differs from the pre-configured first discontinuous transmission duration. By using a second discontinuous transmission duration that is longer than the pre-configured first discontinuous transmission duration, the terminal device can transmit data over a longer discontinuous transmission duration, thereby completing the random access process within one discontinuous transmission cycle and reducing the latency of the terminal device accessing the network.

[0008] Optionally, the first discontinuous transmission duration includes at least one of the following: a first discontinuous transmission duration and a first discontinuous reception duration; wherein: the first discontinuous transmission duration includes: a pre-configured discontinuous transmission duration in which the random access response message is located; the random access response message is in response to the random access request message; the first discontinuous reception duration includes: a pre-configured discontinuous reception duration that at least partially overlaps with the first discontinuous transmission duration in the time domain; or, a first pre-configured discontinuous reception duration that is located in the time domain after the first discontinuous transmission duration.

[0009] Optionally, the second discontinuous transmission duration is determined based on the first discontinuous transmission duration and the first duration; the first duration is carried by the first indication information.

[0010] The network device can indicate a first duration through the first indication information. The terminal device determines the first duration based on the first indication information, and then obtains the second discontinuous transmission duration based on the first discontinuous transmission duration and the first duration.

[0011] Optionally, the second discontinuous transmission duration is: the discontinuous transmission duration formed by extending the first discontinuous transmission duration by the first duration.

[0012] The terminal device can directly extend the first discontinuous transmission duration by a first duration to obtain a second discontinuous transmission duration.

[0013] Optionally, the first indication information is further used to indicate the first time domain start position; the second discontinuous transmission duration includes: the first discontinuous transmission duration and an extended time window; the time domain start position of the extended time window is the first time domain start position, and the duration of the extended time window is the first duration.

[0014] The network device indicates a first duration and a first time domain start position through first indication information. Based on the first indication information, the terminal device can determine an extended time window. The terminal device can perform discontinuous data transmission within the extended time window. Because an extended time window is additionally configured for the terminal device, the duration of discontinuous data transmission by the terminal device is extended, reducing the latency of the terminal device accessing the network.

[0015] Optionally, the first indication information includes a first offset duration, the time interval between the first time domain start position and the first time domain end position is the first offset duration; the first time domain end position includes any of the following: the time domain end position of the first discontinuous transmission duration; the time domain end position of receiving a random access response message; the time domain end position of the random access response message receiving window, the random access response message receiving window being used to receive the random access response message.

[0016] Optionally, the first indication information includes first identification information, which is used to indicate the first duration.

[0017] Network devices can pre-configure a candidate duration list for terminal devices and send the candidate duration list to the terminal devices. Network devices can indicate the first duration through the first identification information without needing to carry the specific value of the first duration in the first indication information, which can reduce downlink overhead.

[0018] Optionally, the first indication information includes an indication field; in response to the value of the indication field being a first value, the second discontinuous transmission duration is determined to be associated with the first discontinuous transmission duration and the first duration.

[0019] The first indication information includes an indication field, the value of which indicates whether to extend the pre-configured discontinuous transmission duration by a first duration. Therefore, the network device only needs to configure the value of the indication field to instruct the terminal device to extend the pre-configured discontinuous transmission duration by a first duration.

[0020] Optionally, the first indication information is carried by the random access response message.

[0021] Network devices can carry the first indication information through the random access response message. Therefore, network devices do not need to send the first indication information to the terminal device via additional signaling. This maintains compatibility with existing random access procedures without introducing significant downlink overhead.

[0022] Optionally, the second discontinuous transmission duration includes: the first discontinuous transmission duration and the runtime of the discontinuous transmission duration timer; the runtime of the discontinuous transmission duration timer is located after the first discontinuous transmission duration.

[0023] Optionally, the discontinuous transmission duration timer includes a first timer and / or a second timer. The terminal device performs discontinuous data reception during the duration of the first timer and discontinuous data transmission during the duration of the second timer.

[0024] When initiating a random access procedure, the terminal device starts a first timer and / or a second timer to extend the pre-configured first discontinuous transmission duration and / or first discontinuous reception duration.

[0025] Optionally, the time-domain start position of the first timer includes any of the following: the time-domain end position of the time-frequency resources used for transmitting the random access request message; a time-domain position located after the time-domain end position of the time-frequency resources used for transmitting the random access request message, and differing from the time-domain end position of the time-frequency resources used for transmitting the random access request message by a second offset duration; or a time-domain position located after the time-domain end position of the first discontinuous transmission duration, and differing from the time-domain end position of the first discontinuous transmission duration by a third offset duration.

[0026] Optionally, the time-domain start position of the second timer includes: the time-domain end position of the first discontinuous reception duration.

[0027] Optionally, the runtime of the discontinuous transmission duration timer is pre-configured.

[0028] Optionally, sending the random access request message includes: sending the random access request message using a first physical random access channel resource.

[0029] The terminal device can send a random access request message using the first physical random access channel resource. Upon receiving the random access request message and determining that it is carried by the first physical random access channel resource, the network device can instruct the terminal device to determine a second discontinuous transmission duration based on a pre-configured first discontinuous transmission duration.

[0030] Secondly, this disclosure also provides another communication method, including: in response to receiving a random access request message, indicating a second discontinuous transmission duration, the second discontinuous transmission duration including at least one of the following: a second discontinuous reception duration for data transmission by the terminal device, and a second discontinuous transmission duration for data reception by the terminal device; the second discontinuous transmission duration is different from a first discontinuous transmission time pre-configured by the terminal device.

[0031] Optionally, the network device may send a first indication information to the terminal device, the first indication information being used to indicate a first duration; the second discontinuous transmission duration is associated with the first discontinuous transmission duration and the first duration.

[0032] Optionally, the first indication information sent by the network device to the terminal device may further include a first time domain start position, wherein the first time domain start position is the time domain start position of the extended time window, and the duration of the extended time window is the first duration.

[0033] Optionally, the first indication information is carried by a random access response message, which is in response to the random access request message.

[0034] Optionally, the network device may, in response to detecting that the random access request message is sent by a first physical random access channel resource, indicate the duration of the second discontinuous transmission.

[0035] Thirdly, this disclosure provides a communication apparatus, comprising: a sending unit for sending a random access request message; and a processing unit for transmitting data based on a second discontinuous transmission duration, wherein the second discontinuous transmission duration includes at least one of the following: a second discontinuous reception duration for data transmission and a second discontinuous transmission duration for data reception; wherein the second discontinuous transmission duration is different from a pre-configured first discontinuous transmission duration.

[0036] Optionally, the first discontinuous transmission duration includes at least one of the following: a first discontinuous transmission duration and a first discontinuous reception duration; wherein: the first discontinuous transmission duration includes: a pre-configured discontinuous transmission duration in which the random access response message is located; the random access response message is in response to the random access request message; the first discontinuous reception duration includes: a pre-configured discontinuous reception duration that at least partially overlaps with the first discontinuous transmission duration in the time domain; or, a first pre-configured discontinuous reception duration that is located in the time domain after the first discontinuous transmission duration.

[0037] Optionally, the second discontinuous transmission duration is determined based on the first discontinuous transmission duration and the first duration; the first duration is carried by the first indication information.

[0038] Optionally, the second discontinuous transmission duration is: the discontinuous transmission duration formed by extending the first discontinuous transmission duration by the first duration.

[0039] Optionally, the first indication information is further used to indicate the first time domain start position; the second discontinuous transmission duration includes: the first discontinuous transmission duration and an extended time window; the time domain start position of the extended time window is the first time domain start position, and the duration of the extended time window is the first duration.

[0040] Optionally, the first indication information includes a first offset duration, the time interval between the first time domain start position and the first time domain end position is the first offset duration; the first time domain end position includes any of the following: the time domain end position of the first discontinuous transmission duration; the time domain end position of receiving a random access response message; the time domain end position of the random access response message receiving window, the random access response message receiving window being used to receive the random access response message.

[0041] Optionally, the first indication information includes first identification information, which is used to indicate the first duration.

[0042] Optionally, the first indication information includes an indication field; in response to the value of the indication field being a first value, the second discontinuous transmission duration is determined to be associated with the first discontinuous transmission duration and the first duration.

[0043] Optionally, the first indication information is carried by the random access response message.

[0044] Optionally, the second discontinuous transmission duration includes: the first discontinuous transmission duration and the runtime of the discontinuous transmission duration timer; the runtime of the discontinuous transmission duration timer is located after the first discontinuous transmission duration.

[0045] Optionally, the discontinuous transmission duration timer includes: a first timer and / or a second timer; discontinuous data reception is performed during the runtime of the first timer, and discontinuous transmission is performed during the runtime of the second timer.

[0046] Optionally, the time-domain start position of the first timer includes any of the following: the time-domain end position of the time-frequency resources used for transmitting the random access request message; a time-domain position located after the time-domain end position of the time-frequency resources used for transmitting the random access request message, and differing from the time-domain end position of the time-frequency resources used for transmitting the random access request message by a second offset duration; or a time-domain position located after the time-domain end position of the first discontinuous transmission duration, and differing from the time-domain end position of the first discontinuous transmission duration by a third offset duration.

[0047] Optionally, the time-domain start position of the second timer includes: the time-domain end position of the first discontinuous reception duration.

[0048] Optionally, the runtime of the discontinuous transmission duration timer is pre-configured.

[0049] Optionally, the sending unit is configured to send the random access request message using the first physical random access channel resource.

[0050] Fourthly, this disclosure provides another communication apparatus, comprising: a transmitting unit, configured to, in response to receiving a random access request message, indicate a second discontinuous transmission duration, the second discontinuous transmission duration including at least one of the following: a second discontinuous reception duration for data transmission by a terminal device, and a second discontinuous transmission duration for data reception by a terminal device; the second discontinuous transmission duration is different from a first discontinuous transmission time pre-configured by the terminal device.

[0051] Optionally, the aforementioned sending unit can be specifically used to send first indication information to the terminal device, the first indication information being used to indicate a first duration; the second discontinuous transmission duration is associated with the first discontinuous transmission duration and the first duration.

[0052] Optionally, the first indication information is further used to indicate a first time domain start position, wherein the first time domain start position is the time domain start position of an extended time window, and the duration of the extended time window is the first duration.

[0053] Optionally, the first indication information is carried by a random access response message, which is in response to the random access request message.

[0054] Optionally, the network device may, in response to detecting that the random access request message is sent by a first physical random access channel resource, indicate the duration of the second discontinuous transmission.

[0055] Fifthly, this disclosure also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which is a non-volatile or non-transient storage medium, on which a computer program is stored, wherein the computer program, when executed by a processor, performs the steps of any of the above-described communication methods.

[0056] Sixthly, this disclosure also provides a computer program product, including a computer program / instructions, wherein when the computer program / instructions are run by a computer, the steps of the above-described communication method are executed.

[0057] In a seventh aspect, this disclosure also provides a chip that stores a computer program, which, when executed by the chip, implements the steps of the communication method described above.

[0058] Eighthly, this disclosure also provides a communication system, including a network device and a terminal device for performing the above-described communication method.

[0059] Ninthly, this disclosure also provides another communication device, including a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program executable on the processor, and the processor executes the steps of any of the communication methods described above when running the computer program. Attached Figure Description

[0060] Figure 1 is a flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0061] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a discontinuous transmission pattern;

[0062] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a discontinuous reception pattern;

[0063] Figures 4 to 20 are schematic diagrams of different application scenarios in the embodiments of this disclosure;

[0064] Figure 21 is a flowchart of another communication method in an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0065] Figure 22 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0066] Figure 23 is a schematic diagram of another communication device in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0067] Figure 24 is a schematic diagram of the structure of another communication device according to an embodiment of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0068] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features and beneficial effects of this disclosure more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0069] The terminal device described in this disclosure is a device with wireless communication capabilities, and may also be referred to as a terminal, mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), access terminal device, vehicle-mounted terminal device, industrial control terminal device, user equipment (UE) unit, UE station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal device, mobile device, wireless communication device, UE agent, or UE device, etc. The UE can be fixed or mobile. It should be noted that the UE can support at least one wireless communication technology, such as LTE, NR, etc. For example, a UE can be a mobile phone, tablet, desktop computer, laptop computer, all-in-one computer, vehicle terminal, virtual reality (VR) UE, augmented reality (AR) UE, wireless terminal in industrial control, wireless terminal in self-driving, wireless terminal in remote medical surgery, wireless terminal in smart grid, wireless terminal in transportation safety, wireless terminal in smart city, wireless terminal in smart home, cellular phone, cordless phone, session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, wireless local loop (WLL) station, personal digital assistant (PDA), handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, wearable device, UE in future mobile communication networks, or UE in future evolved public land mobile network (PLMN), etc. In some embodiments of this disclosure, the UE may also be a device with transceiver functionality, such as a chip system. The chip system may include a chip, and may also include other discrete devices.

[0070] In this disclosure, the network device is a device that provides wireless communication functions for terminal devices, and may also be referred to as a radio access network (RAN) device, access network element, access network equipment, etc. The network device can support at least one wireless communication technology, such as LTE, NR, etc. Examples of network devices include, but are not limited to: next-generation node B (gNB), evolved node B (eNB), radio network controller (RNC), node B (NB), base station controller (BSC), base transceiver station (BTS), home base station (e.g., home evolved node B, or home node B (HNB)), baseband unit (BBU), transmitting and receiving point (TRP), transmitting point (TP), mobile switching center, etc. Network devices can also be wireless controllers, centralized units (CUs), and / or distributed units (DUs) in cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenarios, or they can be relay stations, access points, vehicle-mounted devices, terminal devices, wearable devices, and network devices in future mobile communications or future evolved PLMNs. In some embodiments, network devices can also be means for providing wireless communication capabilities to terminal devices, such as chip systems. For example, a chip system may include chips, and may also include other discrete devices.

[0071] In some embodiments, the network device can also communicate with Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the Internet, private IP networks, or other data networks.

[0072] This disclosure provides a communication method. Referring to FIG1, the following detailed steps will be described in detail.

[0073] The communication method provided in this disclosure can be applied to discontinuous coverage scenarios. In discontinuous coverage scenarios, the terminal device is not always within the coverage area of ​​the network device, but rather periodically within the coverage area of ​​the network device.

[0074] In other words, the terminal device can communicate with the network device for a period of time, but cannot communicate with the network device for another period of time.

[0075] Taking a satellite communication scenario with discontinuous coverage as an example. In a satellite communication system, the time during which each cell in the satellite coverage area is covered by the beam is discontinuous. That is, for a certain cell, it may be covered by the beam for a period of time, but not for another period of time.

[0076] In discontinuous coverage scenarios, network devices can pre-configure discontinuous transmission pattern configuration parameters for terminal devices. The terminal devices determine the discontinuous transmission pattern based on the discontinuous transmission pattern configuration parameters, and then conduct discontinuous communication with the network devices based on the discontinuous transmission pattern.

[0077] Discontinuous transmission patterns can include discontinuous transmission (DTX) patterns and discontinuous reception (DRX) patterns. Correspondingly, discontinuous transmission pattern configuration parameters can include discontinuous transmission pattern configuration parameters and discontinuous reception pattern configuration parameters. Discontinuous transmission pattern configuration parameters can include: the time-domain start position of the discontinuous transmission duration, the period of the discontinuous transmission duration, and the length of the discontinuous transmission duration. Discontinuous reception pattern configuration parameters can include: the time-domain start position of the discontinuous reception duration, the period of the discontinuous reception duration, and the length of the discontinuous reception duration.

[0078] Therefore, based on the discontinuous transmission pattern configuration parameters, the terminal device can determine the time-domain start position, the period, and the length of the discontinuous transmission duration. Similarly, based on the discontinuous reception pattern configuration parameters, the terminal device can determine the time-domain start position, the period, and the length of the discontinuous reception duration.

[0079] Figure 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of a discontinuous transmission pattern. In Figure 2, a discontinuous transmission period T includes a discontinuous transmission duration 201; the length of the discontinuous transmission duration 201 is t1. The time-domain start position of the first discontinuous transmission duration is T0.

[0080] Figure 3 illustrates a discontinuous reception pattern. In Figure 3, a discontinuous reception period T includes a discontinuous reception duration 301; the length of the discontinuous reception duration 301 is t2. The time-domain start position of the first discontinuous reception duration is T1.

[0081] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the discontinuous transmission and discontinuous reception described above are based on network devices.

[0082] Optionally, the network device may send data to the terminal device during the discontinuous transmission period. Correspondingly, the terminal device may receive data sent by the network device during the discontinuous transmission period. During the time period within the discontinuous transmission cycle excluding the discontinuous transmission duration, the terminal device may enter a sleep state and not receive data sent by the network device.

[0083] Network devices can receive data sent by terminal devices during discontinuous reception periods. Correspondingly, terminal devices can send data to network devices during discontinuous reception periods. During the period excluding the discontinuous reception duration within the discontinuous reception cycle, terminal devices can enter a sleep state and do not need to send data to the network device.

[0084] In some embodiments, the communication method provided in steps 101 to 102 below can be executed by a chip with data processing capabilities (such as a baseband chip), or by a chip module with data processing capabilities (such as a baseband chip module), or by the terminal device itself. The following description uses the terminal device executing the communication method provided in steps 101 to 102 as an example.

[0085] Step 101: Send a random access request message.

[0086] In some embodiments, a terminal device needs to access a network device before communicating with it. This process of a terminal device accessing a network device is also known as a random access process.

[0087] In some embodiments, the random access procedure initiated by the terminal device may include the following four steps: Step 1) The terminal device sends a random access request message to the network device; Step 2) The network device sends a random access response message to the terminal device; Step 3) The terminal device sends a radio resource control connection request to the network device; Step 4) The network device sends a conflict resolution message to the terminal device.

[0088] In step 1) of the above random access process, the random access request message sent by the terminal device to the network device is also called Msg1, which includes a random access preamble. In step 2), if the network device correctly receives the random access response message sent by the terminal device, it can send a random access response message to the terminal device, which can also be called Msg2. In step 3), the terminal device sends a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection request to the network device. In step 4), the network device sends a contention resolution message to the terminal device.

[0089] It should be noted that the specific execution steps of the random access process initiated by the aforementioned terminal device can be referenced to existing communication protocols. The specific functions and contents of the random access request message and random access response message in this embodiment can also be referenced to existing communication protocols, and will not be elaborated upon here.

[0090] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the terminal device may send a random access request message to the network device during a pre-configured discontinuous reception duration. Correspondingly, the network device may receive the random access request message sent by the terminal device during the pre-configured discontinuous reception duration.

[0091] Upon successfully receiving a random access request message, the network device can send a random access response message to the terminal device within a pre-configured discontinuous transmission duration. Correspondingly, the terminal device can receive the random access response message sent by the network device within the pre-configured discontinuous transmission duration. This random access response information corresponds to the random access request message and is used to respond to it.

[0092] Step 102: Data transmission is performed based on the second discontinuous transmission duration.

[0093] In some embodiments, the second discontinuous transmission duration may include any one or both of the second discontinuous reception duration and the second discontinuous transmission duration.

[0094] During the second discontinuous transmission duration, the terminal device can receive downlink data sent by the network device; during the second discontinuous reception duration, the terminal device can send uplink data to the network device.

[0095] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the second discontinuous transmission duration determined by the terminal device may differ from the pre-configured discontinuous transmission duration. The aforementioned pre-configured discontinuous transmission duration is either a discontinuous transmission duration predefined in an existing protocol or a discontinuous transmission duration pre-configured by the network device for the terminal device in the prior art.

[0096] In other words, the pre-configured discontinuous transmission duration can be understood as the predefined discontinuous transmission duration described in the prior art.

[0097] In some embodiments, the network device may pre-configure multiple discontinuous transmission durations for the terminal device, and the terminal device may use at least a portion of these discontinuous transmission durations for a random access procedure.

[0098] In the following embodiments, the pre-configured discontinuous transmission duration used by the terminal device during the random access procedure may be simply referred to as the first discontinuous transmission duration. The first discontinuous transmission duration may include a first discontinuous transmission duration and / or a first discontinuous reception duration.

[0099] In embodiments of this disclosure, the second discontinuous transmission duration may be greater than the first discontinuous transmission duration. Optionally, if the second discontinuous transmission duration includes a second discontinuous transmission duration and the first discontinuous transmission duration includes a first discontinuous transmission duration, then the second discontinuous transmission duration is greater than the first discontinuous transmission duration. If the second discontinuous transmission duration includes a second discontinuous reception duration and the first discontinuous transmission duration includes a first discontinuous reception duration, then the second discontinuous reception duration is greater than the first discontinuous reception duration.

[0100] In some embodiments, the second discontinuous transmission duration may be associated with the first discontinuous transmission duration. Alternatively, the second discontinuous transmission duration is obtained by extending the first discontinuous transmission duration.

[0101] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the first discontinuous transmission duration may include a first discontinuous transmission duration and / or a first discontinuous reception duration, wherein:

[0102] The first discontinuous transmission duration includes: the pre-configured discontinuous transmission duration in which the random access response message is located, and the aforementioned random access response message responds to the random access request message in step 101; in other words, the network device receives the random access request message and sends a corresponding random access response message to the terminal device.

[0103] The first discontinuous reception duration includes: a pre-configured discontinuous reception duration that at least partially overlaps with the first discontinuous transmission duration in the time domain; or, a first pre-configured discontinuous reception duration that is located after the first discontinuous transmission duration in the time domain. During the first discontinuous reception duration, the terminal device transmits a random access request message.

[0104] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the network device can send first indication information to the terminal device, indicating a first duration through the first indication information. The first duration can be characterized by specific time values ​​(such as 10ms, 20ms, 40ms, etc.), or by the number of symbols, the number of time slots, the number of subframes, etc.

[0105] In some embodiments, the first indication information described above may be carried by a random access response message. That is, the random access response message includes the first indication information.

[0106] Alternatively, network devices may use new signaling to carry the first indication information, which is different from the random access response message.

[0107] In some embodiments, the first indication information may include a value for a first duration.

[0108] For example, the first indication information includes a first duration of 20ms.

[0109] In other embodiments, the network device may pre-configure a candidate duration list for the terminal device, the candidate duration list including at least one candidate duration. The network device may send the candidate duration list to the terminal device in advance via system information. The terminal device may store the received candidate duration list. The network device sends first indication information to the terminal device, the first indication information including first identification information. Based on the first identification information, the terminal device selects the candidate duration corresponding to the first identification information from the candidate duration list; the selected candidate duration is the first duration.

[0110] For example, in the candidate duration list, the candidate duration corresponding to the identifier "00" is 10ms, the candidate duration corresponding to the identifier "01" is 20ms, the candidate duration corresponding to the identifier "10" is 30ms, and the candidate duration corresponding to the identifier "11" is 40ms. If the first identifier information included in the first indication information is "01", then the terminal device determines the first duration to be 20ms.

[0111] In some other embodiments, a first duration can be pre-configured. For example, the value of the first duration can be pre-defined in the communication protocol. In the first indication information, an indication field can be set. When the value of the indication field is a first value, it indicates that the duration of the first discontinuous transmission needs to be extended, and the extended duration is the first duration. When the value of the indication field is another value, it indicates that the duration of the first discontinuous transmission does not need to be extended, that is, data transmission continues for the duration of the first discontinuous transmission.

[0112] For example, the length of the indication field is 1 bit, and the protocol defines the first duration as 20ms. If the terminal device receives the first indication information and the value of the indication field in the first indication information is 1, it determines to extend the first discontinuous transmission duration by 20ms. If the terminal device receives the first indication information and the value of the indication field in the first indication information is 0, it does not adjust the first discontinuous transmission duration.

[0113] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the second discontinuous transmission duration can be: the discontinuous transmission duration obtained by extending the first discontinuous transmission duration by a first duration.

[0114] In some embodiments, extending the duration of the first discontinuous transmission by a first duration may mean: extending the duration of the first discontinuous transmission by a first duration; or, extending the duration of the first discontinuous reception by a first duration; or, extending both the duration of the first discontinuous transmission and the duration of the first discontinuous reception by a first duration.

[0115] The first instruction information may also indicate whether to extend the first discontinuous transmission duration by a first duration, or to extend the first discontinuous reception duration by a first duration, or to extend both the first discontinuous transmission duration and the first discontinuous reception duration by a first duration.

[0116] In some embodiments, the first indication information may be used by default only to indicate that the duration of the first discontinuous transmission is extended by a first duration; or, the first indication information may be used by default only to indicate that the duration of the first discontinuous reception is extended by a first duration; or, the first indication information may be used by default to indicate that both the duration of the first discontinuous transmission and the duration of the first discontinuous reception are extended by a first duration.

[0117] In other embodiments, the first indication information may indicate whether the first discontinuous transmission duration is extended by a first duration, the first discontinuous reception duration is extended by a first duration, or both the first discontinuous transmission duration and the first discontinuous reception duration are extended by a first duration.

[0118] Optionally, the network device may set a second indication field in the first indication information, and determine the extension of the first discontinuous reception duration and / or the first discontinuous transmission duration by a first duration through the value of the second indication field.

[0119] For example, in the first indication information, the length of the second indication field is 2 bits. When the value of the second indication field is 01, the duration of the first discontinuous transmission is extended by a first duration; when the value of the second indication field is 10, the duration of the first discontinuous reception is extended by a first duration; when the value of the second indication field is 11, both the duration of the first discontinuous transmission and the duration of the first discontinuous reception are extended by a first duration.

[0120] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the first indication information may further indicate a second duration, which may be different from the first duration. The terminal device may, based on the first indication information, determine to extend the first discontinuous reception duration by the first duration to obtain a second discontinuous reception duration, and extend the first discontinuous transmission duration by the second duration to obtain a second discontinuous transmission duration. Alternatively, the terminal device may, based on the first indication information, determine to extend the first discontinuous reception duration by the second duration to obtain a second discontinuous reception duration, and extend the first discontinuous transmission duration by the first duration to obtain a second discontinuous transmission duration.

[0121] Optionally, a third indication field can be set in the first indication information. The value of the third indication field indicates whether the first discontinuous reception duration is extended by the first duration or the first discontinuous transmission duration is extended by the first duration.

[0122] For example, in the first indication information, the length of the third indication field is 2 bits. When the value of the second indication field is 01, the duration of the first discontinuous transmission is extended by a first duration, and the duration of the first discontinuous reception is extended by a second duration; when the value of the second indication field is 10, the duration of the first discontinuous reception is extended by a first duration, and the duration of the first discontinuous transmission is extended by a second duration. When the value of the second indication field is 00, the duration of the first discontinuous reception is extended by a second duration, and the duration of the first discontinuous transmission is extended by a second duration; when the value of the second indication field is 11, the duration of the first discontinuous reception is extended by a first duration, and the duration of the first discontinuous transmission is extended by a first duration.

[0123] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the network device may also directly instruct, through the first indication information, to extend the duration of the first discontinuous transmission to a certain fixed duration (such as a third duration).

[0124] Optionally, the network device may set a fourth indication field in the first indication information, and use the value of the fourth indication field to indicate the third duration.

[0125] For example, the network device may use the fourth indication field to indicate that the duration of the first discontinuous transmission is extended to 40 ms. Alternatively, the network device may use the fourth indication field to indicate that both the duration of the first discontinuous transmission and the duration of the first discontinuous reception are extended to 40 ms.

[0126] The following explanation is illustrated with examples.

[0127] Referring to Figure 4, an application scenario diagram of an embodiment of this disclosure is given. In Figure 4, the terminal device receives a random access response message during the first discontinuous transmission duration 401. The duration of the first discontinuous transmission duration 401 is 20ms. In Figure 4, the discontinuous transmission duration 402 is the discontinuous transmission duration of the next discontinuous transmission cycle.

[0128] The random access response message includes first indication information, which indicates that the first discontinuous transmission duration 401 be extended by a first duration T1, and the first duration T1 is 20ms. Then, the terminal device determines that the second discontinuous transmission duration is 40ms. Thus, the first discontinuous transmission duration is extended, that is, the first discontinuous transmission duration is extended.

[0129] Referring to Figure 5, another application scenario diagram of this disclosure embodiment is shown. In Figure 5, the terminal device receives a random access response message during the first discontinuous transmission duration 501. The terminal device is configured to send a random access request message during the discontinuous reception duration 502. The terminal device determines the discontinuous reception duration 502 as the first discontinuous reception duration. The duration of the discontinuous reception duration 502 is 20ms.

[0130] The network device instructs, via first indication information, to extend the first discontinuous reception duration by a first duration T1, where the first duration T1 is 20ms. The discontinuous transmission duration 503 is located in the next discontinuous transmission cycle, and the discontinuous reception duration 504 is located in the next discontinuous reception cycle.

[0131] The terminal device receives the first indication information and determines that the second discontinuous reception duration is 40ms. This extends the first discontinuous reception duration.

[0132] Referring to Figure 6, another application scenario diagram of this disclosure embodiment is shown. In Figure 6, the terminal device receives a random access response message during the first discontinuous transmission duration 501. The terminal device is configured to send a random access request message during the discontinuous reception duration 504. The terminal device determines the discontinuous reception duration 504 as the first discontinuous reception duration. The duration of the discontinuous reception duration 504 is 20ms. The network device instructs, through a first indication information, to extend the first discontinuous reception duration by a first duration T1, where the first duration T1 is 20ms. Upon receiving the first indication information, the terminal device extends the discontinuous reception duration 504 to 40ms, obtaining the second discontinuous reception duration. Thus, the terminal device extends the first discontinuous reception duration.

[0133] Referring again to Figure 6, the network device, in the first indication information, indicates that the first discontinuous reception duration will be extended to 40ms. If the terminal device determines that the discontinuous reception duration 504 is the first discontinuous reception duration, it will extend the discontinuous reception duration 504 from 20ms to 40ms.

[0134] As shown in Figure 6, the first duration is indicated by the first indication information, which extends the first discontinuous transmission duration and the first discontinuous reception duration. Therefore, the terminal device can complete a random access process within a discontinuous transmission cycle (including a second discontinuous reception duration and a second discontinuous transmission duration).

[0135] In existing technologies, if the duration of a random access procedure completed by a terminal device is longer than the pre-configured first discontinuous transmission duration, the terminal device needs at least two discontinuous transmission cycles to complete a random access procedure.

[0136] Therefore, the communication method provided in this embodiment can reduce the latency of terminal devices accessing network devices.

[0137] Referring to Figure 7, another application scenario diagram of this disclosure embodiment is shown. Unlike Figure 5, in Figure 7, the first indication information indicates that both the first discontinuous transmission duration 501 and the first discontinuous reception duration 502 be extended by 20 ms. Based on receiving the first indication information, the terminal device extends both the first discontinuous transmission duration 501 and the first discontinuous reception duration 502 by 20 ms. Therefore, the resulting second discontinuous transmission duration and second discontinuous reception duration are both 40 ms.

[0138] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the first indication information can also be used to indicate the first time domain start position. The first time domain start position can be a specific time point, or a start time slot, or a start symbol, or a start subframe, etc.

[0139] Upon receiving the first indication information, the terminal device determines an extended time window based on the first time domain start position and the first duration. Based on this, the second discontinuous transmission duration is determined, including the first discontinuous transmission duration and the extended time window.

[0140] In some embodiments, the time domain start position of the extended time window can be determined by a first time domain start position, and the duration of the extended time window is a first duration.

[0141] In some embodiments, the first indication information may include a first offset duration. The first offset duration may be the offset duration between the first time domain start position and the first time domain end position. Alternatively, the time interval between the first time domain start position and the first time domain end position is the first offset duration.

[0142] Therefore, based on the first indication information, the terminal device can determine the specific location of the extended time window within the discontinuous transmission period. The extended time window may be located within the discontinuous transmission period; or, the extended time window may be located within the discontinuous reception period; or, the extended time window may be located within both the discontinuous transmission period and the discontinuous reception period.

[0143] In some embodiments, the first time-domain end position can be: the time-domain end position of the first discontinuous transmission duration. Alternatively, the first time-domain end position can be: the time-domain end position of receiving the random access response message within the first discontinuous transmission duration; or, the first time-domain end position can be: the time-domain end position of the random access response message receiving window within the first discontinuous transmission duration. The terminal device receives the random access response message within the random access response message receiving window, which can be pre-configured by the network device.

[0144] It is understandable that the first time domain end position can also be other time domain positions. For example, the first time domain end position could be the start position of the random access response message receiving window in the time domain. Or, the first time domain end position could be the middle position of the random access response message receiving window in the time domain, etc.

[0145] Optionally, after detecting the completion of receiving the random access response message, the terminal device may use the time-domain position of the completion of receiving the random access response message as the time-domain end position of receiving the random access response message.

[0146] The following example illustrates the situation where the extended time window is located in a discontinuous transmission period.

[0147] Referring to Figure 8, another application scenario diagram of this disclosure embodiment is shown. In Figure 8, the extended time window 802 is located after the first discontinuous transmission duration 801, and the time domain start position of the extended time window 802 is separated from the time domain end position of the first discontinuous transmission duration 801 by a first offset duration Δ1. The discontinuous transmission duration 803 is the discontinuous transmission duration of the next discontinuous transmission cycle.

[0148] Referring to Figure 9, another application scenario diagram of the present disclosure is given. In Figure 9, the extended time window 802 is located after the first discontinuous transmission duration 801, and the time domain start position of the extended time window 802 is separated from the time domain position t0 by a first offset time length △1. The time domain position t0 is the time domain end position where the terminal device receives the random access response message.

[0149] Referring to Figure 10, another application scenario diagram of this disclosure embodiment is shown. In Figure 10, the extended time window 802 is located after the first discontinuous transmission duration 801, and the time domain start position of the extended time window 802 is separated from the time domain end position of the random access response message receiving window 1001 by a first offset time duration Δ1. The terminal device receives the random access response message within the random access response message receiving window 1001.

[0150] The following example illustrates the situation where the extended time window is located in a discontinuous reception period.

[0151] Referring to Figure 11, another application scenario diagram of this disclosure embodiment is shown. In Figure 11, the extended time window 1102 is located after the first discontinuous reception duration 1101, and the time domain start position of the extended time window 1102 is spaced apart from the time domain end position of the first discontinuous transmission duration 1103 by a first offset duration Δ1. The discontinuous reception duration 1104 is the discontinuous reception duration of the next discontinuous reception cycle, and the discontinuous transmission duration 1105 is the discontinuous transmission duration of the next discontinuous transmission cycle.

[0152] Referring to Figure 12, another application scenario diagram of the present disclosure is given. In Figure 12, the extended time window 1102 is located after the first discontinuous reception duration 1101, and the time domain start position of the extended time window 1102 is separated from the time domain position t0 by a first offset duration Δ1. The time domain position t0 is the time domain end position where the terminal device receives the random access response message.

[0153] Referring to Figure 13, another application scenario diagram of the present disclosure is given. In Figure 13, the extended time window 1102 is located after the first discontinuous reception duration 1101, and the time domain start position of the extended time window 1102 is separated from the time domain end position of the random access response message receiving window 1301 by a first offset time length Δ1; the terminal device receives the random access response message within the random access response message receiving window 1301.

[0154] In some embodiments, the extended time window may also be located within both discontinuous transmission and discontinuous reception periods. Optionally, the examples in Figures 8-10 where the extended time window is located within a discontinuous transmission period can be combined with the examples in Figures 11-13 where the extended time window is located within a discontinuous reception period.

[0155] Figure 14 shows another application scenario diagram of this disclosure embodiment. The extended time window 1102 is located after the first discontinuous reception duration 1101, and the time domain start position of the extended time window 1102 is separated from the time domain position t0 by a first offset duration △1. The time domain start position of the extended time window 1106 is separated from the time domain end position of the first discontinuous transmission duration 1103 by a first offset duration △1.

[0156] It is understandable that the aforementioned first time-domain end position can also be determined by other time-domain positions associated with the first discontinuous transmission duration.

[0157] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the terminal device may use a specific physical random access channel resource (hereinafter referred to as the first physical random access channel resource) to send a random access request message to the network device. The aforementioned first physical random access channel resource may be a portion of the physical random access channel resources pre-configured by the network device for the terminal device. Alternatively, the aforementioned first physical random access channel resource may be all of the physical random access channel resources pre-configured by the network device for the terminal device.

[0158] When a terminal device uses the first physical random access channel resource to send a random access request message, it indicates that the terminal device currently has a high latency requirement. When a terminal device uses other physical random access channel resources to send a random access request message, it indicates that the terminal device currently has a low latency requirement.

[0159] When a network device receives a random access request message from a terminal device using the first physical random access channel resource, it can instruct the terminal device to extend the first discontinuous transmission duration. When a network device receives a random access request message from a terminal device using other physical random access channel resources, it may not instruct the terminal device to extend the pre-configured discontinuous transmission duration.

[0160] In some embodiments, the first physical random access channel resource described above may correspond to scenarios where the terminal device has high latency requirements for accessing the network; correspondingly, the other physical random access channel resources described above may correspond to scenarios where the terminal device has low latency requirements for accessing the network.

[0161] In this embodiment of the disclosure, when the terminal device sends a random access request message, a discontinuous transmission duration timer can be started by default to obtain a second discontinuous transmission duration.

[0162] In some embodiments, the discontinuous transmission duration timer may include at least one of the following: a first timer for extending the first discontinuous transmission duration, and a second timer for extending the first discontinuous reception duration.

[0163] In this embodiment of the disclosure, when the terminal device sends a random access request message, a first timer and a second timer are started by default. The runtime of the first timer can be either the first duration or the second duration described above. The runtime of the second timer can also be either the first duration or the second duration described above.

[0164] In some embodiments, the runtime of the first timer can be predefined in the communication protocol; or, the runtime of the first timer can be configured by the network device and indicated by the network device through system information.

[0165] Similarly, the runtime of the second timer can be predefined in the communication protocol; or, the runtime of the second timer can be configured by the network device and indicated by the network device through system information.

[0166] In some embodiments, the runtime of the first timer is equal to the runtime of the second timer, and both are predefined in the communication protocol. In other embodiments, the network device sends system information to the terminal device, the system information carrying the runtimes of the first and second timers, and the runtimes of the first and second timers are not equal.

[0167] When the terminal device simultaneously starts the first timer and the second timer, the time-domain start position of the first timer can be: the time-domain end position of the time-frequency resources used for sending the random access request message (hereinafter referred to as the second time-domain end position). Alternatively, the time-domain start position of the first timer can be: a time-domain position located after the second time-domain end position and separated from the second time-domain end position by a second offset time period. Alternatively, the time-domain start position of the first timer can be: the time-domain end position of the first discontinuous transmission duration.

[0168] When the terminal device starts the first timer and the second timer at the same time, the starting position of the second timer in the time domain can be the ending position in the time domain of the first discontinuous reception duration.

[0169] In some embodiments, the second offset duration described above can be predefined in the communication protocol, or indicated to the terminal device in advance by the network device through system information, etc.

[0170] Referring to Figures 15-17, schematic diagrams of three application scenarios in embodiments of this disclosure are given. In Figures 15-17, the runtime of the first timer is characterized by time window 152; the runtime of the second timer is characterized by time window 154. Time domain position t1 is the time domain end position of the time-frequency resources used to send the random access request message. The time domain start position of time window 154 is the time domain end position of the first discontinuous reception duration 153.

[0171] In some embodiments, the network device can configure time-frequency resources for the terminal device to send random access request messages. The terminal device can determine the time-domain end position of the time-frequency resources used to send random access request messages based on the time-frequency resources used to send random access request messages.

[0172] In Figure 15, time window 152 is located after the first discontinuous transmission duration 151, and the time domain starting position of time window 152 is the time domain position t1 in the first discontinuous reception duration 153. Discontinuous reception duration 155 is the discontinuous reception duration of the next discontinuous transmission cycle, and discontinuous transmission duration 156 is the discontinuous transmission duration of the next discontinuous reception cycle.

[0173] In Figure 16, time window 152 is located after the first discontinuous transmission duration 151, and the time interval between the start position of time window 152 in the time domain and t1 is the second offset duration △2.

[0174] In Figure 17, time window 152 is located after the first discontinuous transmission duration 151, and the time domain start position of time window 152 is the time domain end position of the first discontinuous transmission duration 151.

[0175] In this embodiment of the disclosure, when the terminal device sends a random access request message, it may start only the second timer.

[0176] When the terminal device only starts the second timer, the time domain start position of the second timer can be: the time domain end position of the first discontinuous reception duration.

[0177] Referring to Figure 18, another application scenario diagram of this disclosure embodiment is shown. In Figure 18, the time window 182 corresponding to the first timer is located after the first discontinuous reception duration 181, and the time domain start position of the time window 182 is the time domain end position of the first discontinuous reception duration 181. The terminal device sends a random access request message during the first discontinuous reception duration 181. The terminal device receives a random access response message during the first discontinuous transmission duration 183. The discontinuous reception duration 184 is the discontinuous reception duration of the next discontinuous reception cycle, and the discontinuous transmission duration 185 is the discontinuous transmission duration of the next discontinuous transmission cycle.

[0178] In this embodiment of the disclosure, when the terminal device receives a random access response message, it can start a first timer by default. When the terminal device only starts the first timer, the time domain start position of the first timer can be: the time domain end position of the first discontinuous transmission duration; or, a time domain position located after the time domain end position of the first discontinuous transmission duration, differing from the time domain end position of the first discontinuous transmission duration by a third offset duration. The aforementioned third offset duration can be predefined in the communication protocol, or indicated to the terminal device in advance by the network device through system information, etc.

[0179] Referring to Figure 19, another application scenario diagram of this disclosure embodiment is shown. In Figure 19, the time domain start position of the time window 192 corresponding to the first timer is the time domain end position of the first discontinuous transmission duration 191. The terminal device receives a random access response message during the first discontinuous transmission duration 191 and sends a random access request message during the first discontinuous reception duration 193. The discontinuous reception duration 194 is the discontinuous reception duration of the next discontinuous reception cycle, and the discontinuous transmission duration 195 is the discontinuous transmission duration of the next discontinuous transmission cycle.

[0180] Referring to Figure 20, another application scenario diagram of this disclosure embodiment is given. In Figure 20, the time window 192 corresponding to the first timer is located after the first discontinuous transmission duration 191, and the time interval between the start position of the time window 192 in the time domain and the end position of the first discontinuous transmission duration 191 in the time domain is the third offset duration △3.

[0181] Referring to FIG21, another communication method in an embodiment of the present disclosure is given, which will be described in detail below.

[0182] The communication methods provided in steps 211 to 212 below can be executed by a chip with data processing capabilities in the network device, or by a chip module with data processing capabilities in the network device, or by the network device itself. The following explanation uses the execution of the communication methods provided in steps 211 to 212 by the network device as an example.

[0183] Step 211: Receive a random access request message. This random access request message may be the random access request message sent by the terminal device in step 101.

[0184] In some embodiments, step 211 described above is optional. That is, when the network device performs step 212, it may not need to be associated with step 211.

[0185] Step 212: Indicate the duration of the second discontinuous transmission. Optionally, the network device may indicate the duration of the second discontinuous transmission to the terminal device.

[0186] In some embodiments, the network device receives a random access request message sent by a terminal device. If the terminal device sends the random access request message using a first physical random access channel resource, the network device may indicate a second discontinuous transmission duration to the terminal device.

[0187] In some embodiments, if the terminal device does not use the first physical random access channel resource to send a random access request message, the network device may not need to perform step 212.

[0188] In some embodiments, the network device may send first indication information to the terminal device, the first indication information being used to indicate a first duration.

[0189] In some embodiments, the first indication information described above may be carried by a random access response message. The first indication information may also include a first time-domain start position.

[0190] In some embodiments, the operations performed by the network device may correspond to the descriptions in steps 101 to 102, which will not be repeated here.

[0191] Referring to FIG22, a communication device 220 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown, including: a transmitting unit 221 and a processing unit 222, wherein:

[0192] Sending unit 221 is used to send a random access request message;

[0193] Processing unit 222 is configured to perform data transmission based on a second discontinuous transmission duration, the second discontinuous transmission duration including at least one of the following: a second discontinuous reception duration for data transmission, and a second discontinuous transmission duration for data reception; the second discontinuous transmission duration is different from a pre-configured first discontinuous transmission duration.

[0194] In some embodiments, the specific execution process of the sending unit 221 and the processing unit 222 can be referred to steps 101 to 102, which will not be repeated here.

[0195] In some embodiments, the communication device 220 described above may correspond to a chip with data processing function in a terminal device, or to a chip module with data processing function in a terminal device, or to a terminal device.

[0196] Referring to FIG23, a communication device 230 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown, including: a receiving unit 231 and a transmitting unit 232, wherein:

[0197] Receiving unit 231 is used to receive random access request messages;

[0198] The sending unit 232 is configured to, in response to receiving a random access request message, indicate a second discontinuous transmission duration, the second discontinuous transmission duration including at least one of the following: a second discontinuous reception duration for data transmission by the terminal device, and a second discontinuous transmission duration for data reception by the terminal device; the second discontinuous transmission duration is different from the first discontinuous transmission time pre-configured by the terminal device.

[0199] In some embodiments, the specific execution process of the receiving unit 231 and the sending unit 232 can be referred to steps 211 to 212, which will not be repeated here.

[0200] In some embodiments, the communication device 230 described above may correspond to a chip with data processing function in a network device, or to a chip module with data processing function in a network device, or to a network device.

[0201] In some embodiments, the modules / units included in the various devices and products described in the above embodiments may be software modules / units, hardware modules / units, or may be partly software modules / units and partly hardware modules / units.

[0202] For example, for various devices and products applied to or integrated into a chip, each module / unit can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits, or at least some modules / units can be implemented using software programs that run on a processor integrated within the chip, while the remaining (if any) modules / units can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits; for various devices and products applied to or integrated into a chip module, each module / unit can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits, and different modules / units can be located in the same component (e.g., chip, circuit module, etc.) or different components of the chip module, or at least some modules / units can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits. The components can be implemented using software programs that run on the processor integrated within the chip module. The remaining (if any) modules / units can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits. For various devices and products applied to or integrated into the terminal, each of its components / units can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits. Different modules / units can be located in the same component (e.g., chip, circuit module, etc.) or in different components within the terminal. Alternatively, at least some modules / units can be implemented using software programs that run on the processor integrated within the terminal, while the remaining (if any) modules / units can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits.

[0203] This disclosure also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which is a non-volatile or non-transient storage medium, storing a computer program thereon. When the computer program is run by a processor, it executes the steps of the communication method provided in any of the above embodiments.

[0204] This disclosure also provides another communication device, including a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program that can run on the processor, and the processor executes the steps of the communication method provided in any of the above embodiments when running the computer program.

[0205] This disclosure also provides a computer program product, including a computer program / instructions, which, when executed by a processor, implement the steps of the communication method provided in any of the above embodiments.

[0206] Figure 24 is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0207] Optionally, referring to FIG24, the communication device may include a processor 241, which is coupled to a memory 242. The memory 242 may be located inside or outside the communication device. Optionally, the communication device may also include a transceiver 243. The memory 242, the processor 241, and the transceiver 243 may be connected via a communication bus. The memory 242 stores a computer program that can run on the processor 241. When the processor 241 runs the computer program, it executes the steps in the communication transmission method provided in any of the above embodiments. The transceiver 243 may perform the sending and / or receiving actions described above under the control of the processor 241. This communication device may be the aforementioned terminal device or the aforementioned network device.

[0208] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the memory 242 includes non-volatile memory or non-transitory memory, and may also include optical disk, hard disk drive, solid-state drive, etc.

[0209] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the processor 241 can be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), or it can be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0210] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps in the various methods of the above embodiments can be performed by a program instructing related hardware. The program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, which may include ROM, RAM, disk, or optical disk, etc.

[0211] All embodiments disclosed herein can be executed individually or in combination with other embodiments, and are all considered to be within the scope of protection claimed by this disclosure.

[0212] While the above disclosure is provided, it is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art may make various alterations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure; therefore, the scope of protection of this disclosure shall be determined by the scope defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, include: Send a random access request message; Data transmission is performed based on a second discontinuous transmission duration, which includes at least one of the following: a second discontinuous reception duration for data transmission and a second discontinuous transmission duration for data reception; the second discontinuous transmission duration is different from a pre-configured first discontinuous transmission duration.

2. The communication method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first discontinuous transmission time includes at least one of the following: a first discontinuous transmission duration, and a first discontinuous reception duration; wherein: The first discontinuous transmission duration includes: the pre-configured discontinuous transmission duration in which the random access response message is located, wherein the random access response message is in response to the random access request message; The first discontinuous reception duration includes: a pre-configured discontinuous reception duration that at least partially overlaps with the first discontinuous transmission duration in the time domain; or, a first pre-configured discontinuous reception duration that is located after the first discontinuous transmission duration in the time domain.

3. The communication method as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The second discontinuous transmission duration is determined based on the first discontinuous transmission duration and the first duration; the first duration is carried by the first indication information.

4. The communication method as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The second discontinuous transmission duration is: the discontinuous transmission duration formed by extending the first discontinuous transmission duration by the first duration.

5. The communication method as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The first indication information is also used to indicate the first time domain start position; The second discontinuous transmission duration includes: the first discontinuous transmission duration and an extended time window; the time domain start position of the extended time window is the first time domain start position, and the duration of the extended time window is the first duration.

6. The communication method as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The first indication information includes a first offset duration, wherein the time interval between the first time domain start position and the first time domain end position is the first offset duration; The first time-domain end position includes any of the following: the time-domain end position of the first discontinuous transmission duration; the time-domain end position of receiving the random access response message; the time-domain end position of the random access response message receiving window, wherein the random access response message receiving window is used to receive the random access response message.

7. The communication method according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that, The first indication information includes first identification information, which is used to indicate the first duration.

8. The communication method according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that, The first indication information includes an indication field; in response to the value of the indication field being a first value, the second discontinuous transmission duration is determined to be associated with the first discontinuous transmission duration and the first duration.

9. The communication method as described in claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, The first indication information is carried by the random access response message.

10. The communication method as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The second discontinuous transmission duration includes: the first discontinuous transmission duration and the runtime of the discontinuous transmission duration timer; the runtime of the discontinuous transmission duration timer is located after the first discontinuous transmission duration.

11. The communication method as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The discontinuous transmission duration timer includes: A first timer and / or a second timer; discontinuous data reception is performed during the runtime of the first timer, and discontinuous data transmission is performed during the runtime of the second timer.

12. The communication method as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The time-domain start position of the first timer includes any of the following: The time-domain end position of the time-frequency resources used for sending the random access request message; In the time domain, it is located after the end position of the time domain of the time-frequency resources used to send the random access request message, and is a time domain position that differs from the end position of the time domain of the time-frequency resources used to send the random access request message by a second offset time. The time-domain end position of the first discontinuous transmission duration; The time domain position located after the time domain end position of the first discontinuous transmission duration, and differing from the time domain end position of the first discontinuous transmission duration by a third offset time.

13. The communication method as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The time-domain start position of the second timer includes: the time-domain end position of the first discontinuous reception duration.

14. The communication method as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The runtime of the discontinuous transmission duration timer is pre-configured.

15. The communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that, Sending the random access request message includes: The random access request message is sent using the first physical random access channel resource.

16. A communication method, characterized in that, include: In response to receiving a random access request message, a second discontinuous transmission duration is indicated, the second discontinuous transmission duration including at least one of the following: a second discontinuous reception duration for data transmission by the terminal device, and a second discontinuous transmission duration for data reception by the terminal device; the second discontinuous transmission duration is different from the first discontinuous transmission time pre-configured by the terminal device.

17. The communication method as described in claim 16, characterized in that, The indication of the duration of the second discontinuous transmission includes: Send a first indication message, which is used to indicate a first duration; the second discontinuous transmission duration is associated with the first discontinuous transmission duration and the first duration.

18. The communication method as described in claim 17, characterized in that, The first indication information is also used to indicate a first time domain start position, which is the time domain start position of an extended time window, and the duration of the extended time window is the first duration.

19. The communication method as described in claim 17 or 18, characterized in that, The first indication information is carried by a random access response message, which is in response to the random access request message.

20. The communication method according to any one of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that, The indication of the duration of the second discontinuous transmission includes: In response to the detection that the random access request message was sent by the first physical random access channel resource, the duration of the second discontinuous transmission is indicated.

21. A communication device, characterized in that, include: The sending unit is used to send random access request messages; The processing unit is configured to perform data transmission based on a second discontinuous transmission duration, the second discontinuous transmission duration including at least one of the following: a second discontinuous reception duration for data transmission, and a second discontinuous transmission duration for data reception; the second discontinuous transmission duration is different from a pre-configured first discontinuous transmission duration.

22. A communication device, characterized in that, include: The sending unit is configured to, in response to receiving a random access request message, indicate a second discontinuous transmission duration, the second discontinuous transmission duration including at least one of the following: a second discontinuous reception duration for data transmission by the terminal device, and a second discontinuous transmission duration for data reception by the terminal device; the second discontinuous transmission duration is different from the first discontinuous transmission time pre-configured by the terminal device.

23. A computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer-readable storage medium is a non-volatile storage medium or a non-transient storage medium, and a computer program is stored thereon, characterized in that, The computer program is executed by a computer using the communication method described in any one of claims 1 to 20.

24. A computer program product comprising a computer program / instructions, characterized in that, When the computer program / instructions are executed by a computer, the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 20 is executed.

25. A communication device comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program executable on the processor, characterized in that, When the processor runs the computer program, the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 20 is executed.

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