Network search method, communication apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-06-12
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-13
Smart Images
Figure CN2025100772_13082026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
A method for searching a network, a communication device, and a computer-readable storage medium.
[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 2025101478697, filed on February 10, 2025, entitled "A Method for Searching a Network, a Communication Device and a Computer-Readable Storage Medium", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field
[0002] This invention relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a network searching method, a communication device, and a computer-readable storage medium. Background Technology
[0003] Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) technology is a low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) technology based on cellular networks, specifically designed for IoT applications to meet the requirements of low power consumption, wide coverage, and large connection capacity. NB-IoT technology supports operation within a narrow bandwidth of 180kHz and supports three deployment modes: in-band, stand-alone, and guard-band.
[0004] Currently, NB-IoT devices typically follow the network search strategy defined in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) 36304 specification: 1) First, search for previously hosted frequencies. 2) If the search for previously hosted frequencies fails or the previously hosted frequencies are not saved, then a full-band search is triggered. This approach suffers from very low network search efficiency for devices in NB-IoT networks.
[0005] Therefore, there is an urgent need to study a network search method to improve the network search efficiency of NB-IoT devices. Summary of the Invention
[0006] This invention provides a network search method, a communication device, and a computer-readable storage medium, which can solve the problem of low network search efficiency of NB-IoT devices.
[0007] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a network search method, which can be applied to a first device (i.e., a terminal-side device), such as an NB-IoT device, and the method includes:
[0008] Search for a pilot cell, obtain a first broadcast message from the pilot cell, the first broadcast message carrying a valid frequency point for deploying narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) signals, the pilot cell being a cell corresponding to a frequency point agreed upon by the first device and the second device; search for a target cell among the cells corresponding to the valid frequency point; and camp on the target cell.
[0009] In one possible implementation, the frequency points agreed upon by the first device and the second device include at least one of the frequency points at the two ends of the frequency band and the center frequency point, wherein the frequency band is a frequency range supported by the first device.
[0010] In other words, the frequency point corresponding to the pilot cell must include at least one of the three frequency points: the frequency points at both ends of the frequency band and the center frequency point, and these three frequency points are agreed upon by the first and second devices. Optionally, the above three frequency points may correspond to the same or different pilot cells.
[0011] Optionally, if the first device fails to search for the target cell, the target cell is searched among all cells corresponding to all frequency points in the above frequency band.
[0012] In one possible implementation, a second broadcast message is obtained in the pilot cell; the second broadcast message carries first information indicating that the pilot cell supports the first device camping; or, the second broadcast message carries second information indicating that the pilot cell does not support the first device camping.
[0013] Optionally, the second broadcast message and the first broadcast message belong to the same type of message, such as a system information block (SIB). For example, the second broadcast message is an SIB1 message, used to broadcast key parameters and configuration information required for the first device to perform cell selection, cell reselection, and network access. The first broadcast message is either an SIB4 message or an SIB5 message. Optionally, the SIB4 message contains information about co-frequency cells guiding the cell, and the SIB5 message contains information about inter-frequency cells guiding the cell.
[0014] In one possible implementation, before the search for the guiding cell, the method further includes: searching for a target cell in the cells corresponding to the reserved frequency points, wherein the reserved frequency points are the frequency points corresponding to the cells where the first device has previously camped; if the search for the target cell in the cells corresponding to the reserved frequency points fails, then the step of searching for the guiding cell is performed.
[0015] Secondly, embodiments of the present invention provide a network search method, which can be applied to a second device (i.e., a network-side device), such as a base station, and the method includes:
[0016] The pilot cell sends a first broadcast message, which carries a valid frequency point for deploying narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) signals. The pilot cell is the cell corresponding to the frequency point agreed upon by the first device and the second device.
[0017] In one possible implementation, the frequency points agreed upon by the first device and the second device include at least one of the frequency points at the two ends of the frequency band and the center frequency point, wherein the frequency band is a frequency range supported by the first device.
[0018] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: sending a second broadcast message in the pilot cell; the second broadcast message carrying first information indicating that the pilot cell supports the first device camping; or, the second broadcast message carrying second information indicating that the pilot cell does not support the first device camping.
[0019] In conjunction with the first or second aspect, in one possible implementation, the effective frequency point includes at least one of the following: the frequency point corresponding to the pilot cell, and at least one frequency point different from the frequency point corresponding to the pilot cell.
[0020] The details of the second aspect are similar to those of the first aspect. For an explanation of the second aspect, please refer to the first aspect. It will not be elaborated here.
[0021] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device, which includes a transceiver, a processor, and a memory. The transceiver is used to receive and transmit signals, and the memory is used to store a computer program. The computer program includes program instructions, and when the processor is configured to invoke the program instructions, the processor executes some or all of the steps described in the first aspect or the second method of this embodiment.
[0022] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide a chip, the chip including logic circuitry and an interface, the logic circuitry being coupled to the interface, the logic circuitry being configured to cause the chip to perform some or all of the steps described in the first aspect or the second method of this embodiment.
[0023] Fifthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, the computer program including program instructions, which, when executed by an application processor, cause the application processor to perform some or all of the method steps described in the first aspect or the second method of this embodiment. Attached Figure Description
[0024] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the background art, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments of the present invention or the background art will be described below.
[0025] Figure 1 is a flowchart illustrating a network searching method provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0026] Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating another network searching method provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0027] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a frequency band provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0028] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0029] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0030] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the chip structure provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation
[0031] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.
[0032] The terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products, or apparatuses.
[0033] In this application, the reference to "embodiment" means that a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a mutually exclusive, independent, or alternative embodiment. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described in this application can be combined with other embodiments.
[0034] In this application, "at least one (item)" refers to one or more, "more than one" refers to two or more, "at least two (items)" refers to two or three or more, and "and / or" is used to describe the relationship between related objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, "A and / or B" can mean: only A exists, only B exists, and both A and B exist simultaneously, where A and B can be singular or plural. "Or" indicates that there can be two relationships, such as only A exists and only B exists; when A and B are not mutually exclusive, it can also mean that there are three relationships, such as only A exists, only B exists, and both A and B exist simultaneously. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one (item) of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items. For example, at least one (item) of a, b, or c can mean: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c".
[0035] In this application, "instruction" can include direct instruction, indirect instruction, explicit instruction, and implicit instruction. When describing a certain instruction information for the purpose of instructing A, it can be understood that the instruction information carries A, directly instructs A, or indirectly instructs A.
[0036] In this application, "send" and "receive" indicate the direction of signal transmission. For example, "send information to XX" can be understood as the destination of the information being XX, which can include direct transmission via the air interface or indirect transmission via the air interface from other units or modules. "Receive information from YY" can be understood as the source of the information being YY, which can include direct reception from YY via the air interface or indirect reception from YY via the air interface from other units or modules. "Send" can also be understood as the "output" of a chip interface, and "receive" can also be understood as the "input" of a chip interface. In other words, sending and receiving can occur 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 the device via buses, traces, or interfaces.
[0037] The technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to narrowband internet of things (NB-IoT) systems, but are not limited to NB-IoT systems. NB-IoT technology is a low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) technology based on cellular networks, specifically designed for IoT applications to meet the requirements of low power consumption, wide coverage, and large connection numbers. NB-IoT technology supports operation within a narrow bandwidth of 180kHz and supports three deployment modes: in-band, stand-alone, and guard-band. 1) In-band deployment mode: NB-IoT signals share the same spectrum resources as Long Term Evolution (LTE) signals, meaning NB-IoT signals are transmitted within the LTE signal spectrum. In this mode, NB-IoT devices can directly utilize existing LTE infrastructure, reducing deployment costs, but may have some impact on LTE network performance. This mode is suitable for scenarios with good LTE network coverage and a small number of NB-IoT devices. 2) Stand-alone deployment mode: NB-IoT signals are transmitted on independent spectrum resources and do not share spectrum with LTE signals. In this mode, NB-IoT devices can achieve better coverage and performance, but require additional spectrum resources. This mode is suitable for scenarios that require independent spectrum resources, such as remote areas or areas with insufficient LTE network coverage. 3) Guardband Deployment Mode: NB-IoT signals are transmitted within the guard band of the LTE network. In this mode, NB-IoT devices can utilize the edge band resources of the LTE network while reducing the impact on LTE network performance. This mode is suitable for scenarios that require the deployment of NB-IoT devices at the edge of the LTE network to minimize the impact on the LTE network.
[0038] When searching for a network, NB-IoT devices typically follow the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) 36304 specification definition: 1) First, they search for previously hosted frequencies. 2) If the search for previously hosted frequencies fails or the previously hosted frequencies are not saved, a full-band search is triggered. Because NB-IoT network signals are deployed in various ways (i.e., there are many ways to allocate frequency band resources to NB-IoT network signals) and have narrow bandwidth (a single frequency band can have a code bandwidth of tens or even hundreds of MHz, containing hundreds or even thousands of legitimate frequencies), when an NB-IoT device searches for a network, if the search for previously hosted frequencies fails or the previously hosted frequencies are not saved, the NB-IoT device directly performs a full-band search. At this time, the efficiency of the NB-IoT device's network search is very low; searching a single frequency band can take more than 100 seconds, and a full-band search for a device supporting multiple frequency bands can even take more than 30 minutes.
[0039] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides a network search method that can improve the network search efficiency of NB-IoT devices. The method provided in this application will be described in detail below.
[0040] The first device (i.e., the terminal-side device) involved in the technical solution provided in this application embodiment can be an NB-IoT device. An NB-IoT device is a low-power, narrow-bandwidth wireless communication device specifically designed for communication of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. It is an IoT device with characteristics of low power consumption, low cost, wide coverage, and a large number of connections, such as smart meters, water meters, gas meters, smart city devices, smart wearable devices, etc., which will not be listed here.
[0041] The second device (i.e., network-side device) involved in the technical solution provided in this application embodiment can be a base station in a cellular network, also known as a public mobile communication base station, which is an interface device for mobile devices to access the Internet. In this application embodiment, the second device is an interface device for NB-IoT devices to access the NB-IoT network.
[0042] The guiding cell involved in the technical solution provided in this application embodiment is a cell used to guide the terminal device to find the target cell that can be camped. The target cell needs to meet the NB-IoT device's standard for campable cells.
[0043] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a flowchart illustrating a network search method provided in an embodiment of this application. The descriptions of the first device, the second device, and the guiding cell involved in this method can be found above and will not be detailed here. As shown in Figure 1, this flowchart illustrates the process of the first device performing a cell search and selecting a cell to camp on, or performing a cell reselection, after powering on. When the network search conditions are met, such as when the first device is powered on or needs to connect to the network, the network search method flowchart shown in Figure 1 can be executed. For example, the above process includes, but is not limited to, the following steps: 1) Power-on initialization: The first device powers on and performs hardware and software self-tests to prepare necessary network search parameters. 2) Frequency band scanning: The first device begins scanning the NB-IoT frequency bands it supports to find available frequencies for deploying NB-IoT signals. 3) Cell search: The target cell is searched among the cells corresponding to the found available NB-IoT signal frequencies. Typically, the selection of the target cell is determined based on the signal strength of the base station covering the cell, and the target cell needs to meet the NB-IoT device's criteria for camping on a cell. 4) Cell camping and network attachment. The steps involved in the above process will be explained in detail below.
[0044] 1001. Determine if the first device has a reserved frequency. If yes, proceed to step 1002; otherwise, proceed to step 1005.
[0045] In this embodiment, the reserved frequency points are those corresponding to cells where the first device has previously camped. Optionally, the reserved frequency points are those corresponding to cells where the first device is configured to camp. For example, if the first device has reserved frequency points corresponding to cells it has previously camped, it will first search for the target cell among the cells corresponding to the reserved frequency points. If the search for the target cell is successful, it will directly camp on the target cell without performing the step of searching for a guiding cell. If the first device does not have any reserved frequency points, it will perform the step of searching for a guiding cell.
[0046] The first device prioritizes searching for cells corresponding to reserved frequency points, which increases the probability of a successful search and improves efficiency. If no reserved frequency point is found or the search fails, the device then performs a guide cell search. This eliminates the need to search for cells corresponding to all frequency points across the entire frequency band, reducing the number of frequency points searched and thus speeding up the search and improving the network search efficiency of the first device.
[0047] 1002. The first device searches for the target cell among the cells corresponding to the reserved frequency points.
[0048] In this embodiment, it is assumed that the first device has priority in searching for reserved frequency points. Considering that the cells corresponding to reserved frequency points generally meet the criteria of the first device's target cells and have a higher probability of successful search, the network search efficiency of the first device can be improved.
[0049] 1003. Determine whether the first device successfully searched for the target cell among the cells corresponding to the reserved frequency points. If yes, proceed to step 1004; otherwise, proceed to step 1005.
[0050] For example, when cell reselection occurs or the cell corresponding to the reserved frequency point is no longer suitable for camping, the first device needs to perform a network search again. In other words, the cell that the first device previously camped on may no longer be suitable for camping. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is necessary to determine whether the first device successfully searched for the target cell among the cells corresponding to the reserved frequency point.
[0051] 1004. The first device is stationed in the target cell that has been searched.
[0052] In this embodiment of the application, successfully searching for and camping on the target cell in the cells corresponding to the reserved frequency point is the case with the shortest network search time, and the network search efficiency of the first device is the highest at this time.
[0053] 1005. The first device performs the steps of searching for and guiding the cell.
[0054] The first device searches for a guiding cell on a frequency point agreed upon with the second device. The agreed frequency point is a frequency point supported by both the first and second devices. The agreed frequency point can be one or more frequencies within at least one frequency band, which can be an LTE band, a 5G band, or a 6G band. For example, the agreed frequency point can be at least one of the guard bands at both ends of the frequency band and the center frequency point of the frequency band. It should be noted that this example is one possible case, and the embodiments of this application do not limit the location of the agreed frequency point; the agreed frequency point can also be any frequency point in the frequency band other than the guard bands at both ends and the center frequency point.
[0055] In this embodiment, the agreed frequency point can be determined based on the performance of the first device. For example, for a first device with relatively low performance, due to cost considerations, it may only support the middle part of the frequency band, and the frequency point agreed upon by the first device and the second device may be the center frequency point of the frequency band. Alternatively, for a first device with relatively high performance, in order to be compatible with more frequency bands, the frequency point agreed upon by the first device and the second device may include the guard frequency points at both ends of the frequency band and the center frequency point of the frequency band. For a detailed explanation of the guard frequency points at both ends of the frequency band and the center frequency point of the frequency band, please refer to the following description of Figure 3.
[0056] The first device needs to search for a guiding cell in the cell corresponding to the frequency point agreed upon with the second device, so as to obtain an effective frequency point for deploying NB-IoT signals. Then, it searches for the target cell in the cell corresponding to the effective frequency point. This can reduce the number of frequency points searched by the first device when searching for the target cell, thereby speeding up the network search speed of the first device and effectively improving the network search efficiency of the first device.
[0057] In this embodiment of the application, if the first device fails to search for the target cell in the cells corresponding to the reserved frequency points, or if the first device does not have reserved frequency points, a step of searching for the guiding cell is added, instead of directly searching for cells corresponding to all frequency points in the entire frequency band. This can reduce the probability of searching for all frequency points in the entire frequency band, thereby avoiding the problem of very slow network search speed caused by performing a full-band search to a certain extent.
[0058] 1006. The first device obtains the effective frequency point for deploying NB-IoT signals in the pilot cell.
[0059] Generally, the first device only needs to search for the three frequency points at the edge of the frequency band and the center frequency point to obtain the frequency point information of the nearby co-frequency or different frequency cells.
[0060] After the first device finds the pilot cell, it obtains the first broadcast message in the pilot cell, which carries the valid frequency points for deploying NB-IoT signals.
[0061] Optionally, the first device obtains a second broadcast message in the pilot cell. This second broadcast message informs the first device whether the pilot cell is available for camping; in other words, it prevents terminal devices from using the cell, restricting its use to broadcast only valid frequencies. For example, if the second broadcast message carries the first message, it indicates that the pilot cell supports NB-IoT device camping, meaning the pilot cell allows terminal devices to use it; if it carries the second message, it indicates that the pilot cell does not support NB-IoT device camping, meaning the pilot cell does not allow terminal devices to use it. This implementation increases the flexibility of the pilot cell's function, allowing its functionality to be determined based on actual communication conditions. Regardless of whether the pilot cell supports the first device camping, this implementation reduces the number of cells the first device searches for corresponding to the frequency, thereby accelerating the first device's network search speed and effectively improving its network search efficiency. 1007. The first device searches for the target cell among the cells corresponding to the valid frequency.
[0062] The first device searches for the cell with the strongest signal in the cell corresponding to the effective frequency point, and selects the cell that meets the first device's criteria for the cell to be camped as the target cell.
[0063] 1008. Determine whether the first device successfully searched for the target cell in the cells corresponding to the valid frequency point. If yes, proceed to step 1010; otherwise, proceed to step 1009.
[0064] For example, if the first device fails to search for the target cell in the cell corresponding to the valid frequency point, in order to ensure that the first device can successfully access the NB-IoT network, it is also necessary to search for the target cell in the cells corresponding to all frequency points of the full frequency band supported by the first device. Therefore, this embodiment of the application also needs to determine whether the first device has successfully searched for the target cell in the cell corresponding to the valid frequency point.
[0065] 1009. The first device searches for the target cell among all the cells corresponding to all frequency points in the full frequency band.
[0066] Searching for a target cell among all cells corresponding to frequencies across the entire frequency band supported by the first device is the least efficient method for network searching. However, before performing a full-band search, the first device first searches for guide cells to obtain valid frequencies for deploying NB-IoT signals, thereby reducing the number of frequencies to search. Therefore, the embodiments of this application significantly reduce the probability of the first device performing a full-band search, while also improving the network searching efficiency of the first device.
[0067] 1010. The first device is stationed in the target community.
[0068] This embodiment of the application significantly improves network search efficiency while ensuring the first device's successful network search. The first device first searches for a guiding cell in the cells corresponding to the frequency points agreed upon by the first and second devices. It then obtains a first broadcast message from the guiding cell, which carries the valid frequency points for deploying NB-IoT signals. Subsequently, the first device only needs to search for the target cell in the cells corresponding to the aforementioned valid frequency points and camp on that target cell, without needing to search for cells corresponding to all frequency points across the entire frequency band. This reduces the number of frequency points the first device needs to search, speeds up the network search process, and effectively improves the network search efficiency of the first device.
[0069] Please refer to Figure 2, which is a flowchart illustrating another network search method provided in this application embodiment. The descriptions of the first device 2001, the second device 2002, and the guiding cell involved in this method can be found above and will not be detailed here. As shown in Figure 2, this flowchart illustrates the process in which the first device and the second device jointly participate in the network search process. The steps involved in the above process will be described in detail below.
[0070] 2003. The first device searches for the target cell among the cells corresponding to the reserved frequency points.
[0071] Before searching for the guiding cell, the first device first searches for the target cell among the cells corresponding to the reserved frequency points. This is because the cells corresponding to the reserved frequency points are cells that the first device has previously camped on, and the probability of successfully searching for these previously camped cells is the highest. If camping is successful, there is no need to search for the guiding cell again. In this embodiment, searching for cells corresponding to the reserved frequency points is the most efficient way to search the network.
[0072] 2004. The first device failed to search for the target cell among the cells corresponding to the reserved frequency points.
[0073] The first device may fail to search for the target cell in the cells corresponding to the reserved frequency points. In order to ensure that the first device can successfully search for the network and improve the network search efficiency, the first device needs to perform step 2004.
[0074] 2005. The first device searches for and guides cells in the cells corresponding to the frequency points agreed upon with the second device.
[0075] The explanation of the frequency point agreed upon by the first device and the second device can be found in the above description of step 1005 in Figure 1, and will not be elaborated here. In this embodiment, the first device obtains the effective frequency point for deploying NB-IoT signals by searching for guiding cells on the agreed frequency point. In the subsequent network search process, it only needs to search for the target cell in the cells corresponding to the above effective frequency point, thereby reducing the number of frequency points searched and improving the efficiency of the first device in network search.
[0076] 2006. The second device sends a first broadcast message and a second broadcast message in the pilot cell, and correspondingly, the first device receives the first broadcast message and the second broadcast message in the pilot cell.
[0077] The second device sends a first broadcast message in the pilot cell to broadcast the valid frequency points for deploying NB-IoT signals. These valid frequency points may correspond to the frequency points of cells that operate on the same or different frequencies as the pilot cell. For example, the first device can carry the valid frequency points through a broadcast message containing a system information block (SIB) message, specifically a system information block type 4 (SIB4) message and a system information block type 5 (SIB5) message. The SIB4 and SIB5 messages are used to broadcast the valid frequency points corresponding to cells operating on the same or different frequencies as the pilot cell, respectively. For example, the structures of the SIB4 and SIB5 messages in Narrowband IoT Release 13 are as follows:
[0078] The following will explain some of the fields in the code above.
[0079] In the structure of the SIB4 message, the intraFreqNeighCellList-r13 field in R13 contains a list of co-frequency neighbor cells for the pilot cell; this field is optional. The intraFreqBlackCellList-r13 field in R13 contains a list of co-frequency blacklist cells for the pilot cell; this field is also optional. The lateNonCriticalExtension field is used for future extensions without changing the definitions of existing fields; this field is optional.
[0080] In the structure of the SIB5 message, the interFreqCarrierFreqList-r13 field in Release 13 contains a list of interFreq carrier frequencies for the pilot cell. The t-Reselection-r13 field in Release 13 indicates the time parameters that the first device needs to consider when performing cell reselection. The lateNonCriticalExtension field is for future expansion without changing the definition of existing fields; this field is optional.
[0081] The second device sends a second broadcast message in the pilot cell to inform the first device whether it can camp on the pilot cell. For example, the first device can carry this information via a broadcast System Information Block Type 1 (SIB1) message. For example, the structure of the Public Land Mobile Network Identity (PLMN-IdentityInfo-NB-r13) information in the Narrowband IoT Release 13 (NRP) version 13 within the SIB1 message is as follows:
[0082] PLMN-IdentityInfo-NB-r13::= SEQUENCE{
[0083] plmn-Identity-r13 PLMN-Identity,
[0084] cellReservedForOperatorUse-r13 ENUMERATED{reserved,notReserved},
[0085] attachWithoutPDN-Connectivity-r13 ENUMERATED{true}OPTIONAL--Need OP
[0086] }
[0087] The following will explain some of the fields in the code above.
[0088] In Release 13, the `plmn-Identity-r13` field stores the unique identifier of a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN). The `cellReservedForOperatorUse-r13` field indicates whether a cell is reserved for a specific operator. A value of `reserved` means the cell is reserved for a specific operator and does not support NB-IoT camping. A value of `notReserved` means the cell is not reserved for any operator and any eligible NB-IoT device can camp on it. The `attachWithoutPDN-Connectivity-r13` field in Release 13 allows NB-IoT devices to maintain basic connectivity to the network even without a data connection. This field is optional.
[0089] The second device (network-side device) informs the first device (terminal-side device) of the effective frequency points for deploying NB-IoT signals by sending a first broadcast message in the pilot cell. The first device searches for target cells among the cells corresponding to the aforementioned effective frequency points, without needing to search for cells corresponding to all frequency points across the entire frequency band. This reduces the number of frequency points the first device needs to search for, speeds up the network search, and effectively improves the network search efficiency of the first device.
[0090] In 2007, the first device obtained an effective frequency point for deploying NB-IoT signals.
[0091] After the first device searches for the guiding cell, it obtains the first broadcast message and gets the effective frequency point for deploying the NB-IoT signal. For an explanation of this step, please refer to the explanation of step 1006 in Figure 1 above, which will not be elaborated here.
[0092] 2008. The first device searches for the target cell in the cells corresponding to the effective frequency point.
[0093] For an explanation of this step, please refer to the explanation of step 1007 in Figure 1 above, which will not be elaborated here.
[0094] 2009, the first piece of equipment was stationed in the target community.
[0095] The first device successfully searched for and stayed in the target cell.
[0096] Please refer to Figure 3, which is a schematic diagram of a frequency band provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 3, the frequency band can be a frequency band supported by LTE signals, the frequency band number can be 40 (band40), the frequency range of frequency band 40 is 2300MHz to 2400MHz, and the bandwidth of the frequency point supported by NB-IoT technology is 180KHz.
[0097] In this embodiment of the application, the frequency point agreed upon by the first device and the second device can be at least one of the frequency band edge protection frequency point and the frequency band center frequency point, as shown in Figure 3. The frequency band edge protection frequency points are a frequency point with a frequency range of 2300MHz to 2300.18MHz and a frequency point with a frequency range of 2399.82MHz to 2400MHz, respectively, and the frequency band center frequency point is a frequency point with a frequency range of 2349.91MHz to 2350.09MHz. That is to say, in this embodiment of the application, the agreed frequency point can be at least one of the following: a frequency point with a frequency range of 2300MHz to 2300.18MHz, a frequency point with a frequency range of 2399.82MHz to 2400MHz, and a frequency point with a frequency range of 2349.91MHz to 2350.09MHz.
[0098] The frequency bands mentioned above can also be 5G bands, 6G bands, etc., or frequency bands with frequency numbers such as 33, 34, 35, etc., which will not be listed here.
[0099] The apparatus provided in the embodiments of this application will be described below.
[0100] This application divides the device into functional modules according to the above method embodiments. For example, each function can be divided into its own functional modules, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The integrated modules can be implemented in hardware or as software functional modules. It should be noted that the module division in this application is illustrative and represents a logical functional division; in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. The device of the embodiment of this application will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 4 to 6.
[0101] Please refer to Figure 4, which is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 4, the communication device includes a processing module 401 and a transceiver module 402. The transceiver module 402 can realize the signal transmission and reception function during network search, and the processing module 401 is used to implement the corresponding processing function. The transceiver module 402 can also be referred to as an interface, a communication interface, or a communication module, etc.
[0102] In some embodiments of this application, the device can be used to perform the actions performed by the first device in the above method embodiments. In this case, the device can be the device itself or a chip or functional module configurable in the device. The transceiver module 402 is used to perform the network search-related operations of the first device in the above method embodiments, and the processing module 401 is used to perform the processing-related operations of the first device in the above method embodiments.
[0103] Reusing Figure 4, in some other embodiments of this application, the device can be used to perform the actions performed by the second device in the above method embodiments. In this case, the device can be the device itself or a chip or functional module configurable in the device. The transceiver module 402 is used to perform the transceiver-related operations of the second device in the above method embodiments, and the processing module 401 is used to perform the processing-related operations of the second station in the above method embodiments.
[0104] For example, the transceiver module 402 described above can be an antenna module. Alternatively, the transceiver module 402 can be an input / output module. Optionally, in the above embodiments, the device may further include a storage module, which can be used to store instructions and / or data. The processing module 401 can read the instructions and / or data from the storage module to enable the device to implement the aforementioned method embodiments. For example, the storage module can be used to store frequency points corresponding to cells where the first device has previously resided.
[0105] In one possible implementation, in the device shown in FIG4, the processing module 401 can be one or more processors, and the transceiver module 402 can be a transceiver, or the transceiver module 402 can also be a transmitting module and a receiving module. The transmitting module can be a transmitter, and the receiving module can be a receiver. The transmitting module and the receiving module are integrated into one device, such as a transceiver. In the embodiments of this application, the processor and the transceiver can be coupled, etc., and the connection method of the processor and the transceiver is not limited in the embodiments of this application. In the process of executing the above method, the process of sending information in the above method can be the process of the processor outputting the above information. When outputting the above information, the processor outputs the above information to the transceiver so that the transceiver can transmit it. After the above information is output by the processor, it may need to undergo other processing before reaching the transceiver. Similarly, the process of receiving information in the above method can be the process of the processor receiving the input above information. When the processor receives the input information, the transceiver receives the above information and inputs it into the processor. Furthermore, after the transceiver receives the above information, the above information may need to undergo other processing before being input into the processor.
[0106] The specific descriptions of the transceiver module and processing module shown in the above embodiments are merely examples. For the specific functions or execution steps of the transceiver module and processing module, please refer to the above method embodiments, which will not be described in detail here.
[0107] It is understandable that the module division in the above-mentioned device is a logical functional division. Each function can correspond to a functional module, or two or more functions can be integrated into one functional module. In actual implementation, all or some modules can be integrated into one physical entity, or they can be distributed across different physical entities. Furthermore, the above-mentioned functional modules can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both.
[0108] Please refer to Figure 5, which is another structural schematic diagram of the communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 5, the device includes one or more processors 502 and transceivers 501.
[0109] In some embodiments of this application, the above-described apparatus can be used to perform the steps, methods, or functions performed by the first device. For example, the processor 502 can be used to perform the functions or steps implemented by the processing module 401 shown in FIG. 4, and the transceiver 501 can be used to perform the functions or steps implemented by the transceiver module 402 shown in FIG. 4. Detailed descriptions of the processor 502 and transceiver 501 can be found in FIG. 4 or the method embodiments shown above, and will not be elaborated further here.
[0110] In other embodiments of this application, the above-described apparatus is used to perform the steps, methods, or functions performed by the second device. For example, the processor 502 can be used to perform the functions or steps implemented by the processing module 401 shown in FIG. 4, and the transceiver 501 can be used to perform the functions or steps implemented by the transceiver module 402 shown in FIG. 4. Detailed descriptions of the processor 502 and transceiver 501 can be found in FIG. 4 or the method embodiments shown above, and will not be elaborated further here.
[0111] The following explanation uses the device shown in Figure 5 as an example of a communication device.
[0112] In various implementations of the communication device shown in Figure 5, the transceiver may include a receiver for performing the function (or operation) of receiving, and a transmitter for performing the function (or operation) of transmitting. The transceiver is also used to communicate with other devices / appliances via a transmission medium.
[0113] Optionally, the communication device 500 may further include one or more memories 503 for storing program instructions and / or data. The memory 503 is coupled to the processor 502. The coupling in this embodiment is an indirect coupling or communication connection between communication devices, units, or modules, and can be electrical, mechanical, or other forms, used for information exchange between the communication devices, units, or modules. The processor 502 may operate in conjunction with the memory 503. The processor 502 can execute the program instructions stored in the memory 503. Optionally, at least one of the above-mentioned memories may be included in the processor.
[0114] This application embodiment does not limit the specific connection medium between the transceiver 501, processor 502, and memory 503. In Figure 5, the transceiver 501, processor 502, and memory 503 are connected via a bus 504, which is represented by a thick line. The connection methods between other components are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be limiting. The bus can be categorized as an address bus, data bus, control bus, etc. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is used in Figure 5, but this does not indicate that there is only one bus or one type of bus.
[0115] In the embodiments of this application, the processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc., and can implement or execute the various methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of this application. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The steps of the methods disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be directly manifested as being executed by a hardware processor, or being executed by a combination of hardware and software modules within the processor.
[0116] In this application embodiment, the memory may include, but is not limited to, non-volatile memory such as hard disk drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD), random access memory (RAM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), read-only memory (ROM), or compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), etc. Memory is any storage medium capable of carrying or storing program code having instruction or data structure forms, and capable of being read and / or written by a computer (such as the communication device shown in this application), but is not limited to this. The memory in this application embodiment may also be a circuit or any other device capable of implementing storage functions, used to store program instructions and / or data.
[0117] The processor 502 is primarily used to process communication protocols and data, control the entire communication device, execute software programs, and process the data from those programs. The memory 503 is primarily used to store software programs and data. The transceiver 501 may include control circuitry and an antenna. The control circuitry is primarily used for converting baseband signals to radio frequency signals and processing radio frequency signals. The antenna is primarily used for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. Input / output devices, such as touchscreens, displays, and keyboards, are primarily used to receive user input data and output data to the user.
[0118] When the communication device is powered on, the processor 502 can read the software program in the memory 503, interpret and execute the instructions of the software program, and process the data of the software program. When data needs to be transmitted wirelessly, the processor 502 performs baseband processing on the data to be transmitted and outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency (RF) circuit. The RF circuit processes the baseband signal and transmits the RF signal outward in the form of electromagnetic waves through the antenna. When data is sent to the communication device, the RF circuit receives the RF signal through the antenna, converts the RF signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor 502. The processor 502 converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.
[0119] In another implementation, the radio frequency circuitry and antenna can be set up independently of the processor performing baseband processing. For example, in a distributed scenario, the radio frequency circuitry and antenna can be arranged remotely, independent of the communication device.
[0120] The communication device shown in this application embodiment may also have more components than those in Figure 5, and this application embodiment does not limit this. The methods executed by the processor and transceiver shown above are only examples, and the specific steps executed by the processor and transceiver can be referred to the methods described above.
[0121] In another possible implementation, in the communication device shown in Figure 4, the processing module 401 can be one or more logic circuits, and the transceiver module 402 can be an input / output interface, or a communication interface, or an interface circuit, or an interface, etc. Alternatively, the transceiver module 402 can also be a sending module and a receiving module. The sending module can be an output interface, and the receiving module can be an input interface. The sending module and the receiving module are integrated into one module, such as an input / output interface.
[0122] Please refer to Figure 6, which is a schematic diagram of the chip structure provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 6, the chip includes a logic circuit 601 and an interface 602. That is, the processing module 401 can be implemented using the logic circuit 601, and the transceiver module 402 can be implemented using the interface 602. The logic circuit 601 can be a chip, processing circuit, integrated circuit, or system-on-chip (SoC) chip, etc., and the interface 602 can be a communication interface, input / output interface, pins, etc. For example, Figure 6 illustrates a chip using the aforementioned device as an example, which includes a logic circuit 601 and an interface 602.
[0123] In this embodiment, the logic circuit and the interface can also be coupled to each other. The specific connection method of the logic circuit and the interface is not limited in this embodiment. For example, the logic circuit 601 can be used to execute the functions or steps implemented by the processing module 401 shown in FIG. 4, and the interface 602 can be used to execute the functions or steps implemented by the transceiver module 402 shown in FIG. 4. For a detailed description of the logic circuit 601 and the interface 602, please refer to FIG. 6 or the method embodiment shown above, which will not be detailed here.
[0124] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for electronic data interchange, which causes a computer to perform some or all of the steps of any of the methods for implementing key functions as described in the above method embodiments.
[0125] It should be noted that, for the foregoing method embodiments, for the sake of simplicity, they are all described as a series of actions. However, those skilled in the art should understand that this application is not limited to the described order of actions, because according to this application, some steps can be performed in other orders or simultaneously. In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have their own emphasis. Parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment can be referred to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.
[0126] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed apparatus can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are illustrative; for instance, the division of units is a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between devices or units may be electrical or other forms.
[0127] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.
[0128] Furthermore, the functional units in the various embodiments of the application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The integrated unit can be implemented in hardware or as a software program module.
[0129] If the integrated unit is implemented as a software program module and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage device (CMD). Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a memory and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned memory includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), portable hard drives, magnetic disks, or optical disks.
[0130] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps in the various methods of the above embodiments can be implemented by a program instructing related hardware. The program can be stored in a computer-readable storage device, which may include: a flash drive, a read-only memory, a random access memory, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk, etc.
[0131] The embodiments of this application have been described in detail above. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this application. The description of the above embodiments is only for the purpose of helping to understand the method and core ideas of this application. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope based on the ideas of this application. Therefore, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of this application.
Claims
1. A method for searching a network, the method being applied to a first device, the method comprising: Search for a pilot cell, and obtain a first broadcast message from the pilot cell. The first broadcast message carries a valid frequency point for deploying narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) signals. The pilot cell is the cell corresponding to the frequency point agreed upon by the first device and the second device. Search for the target cell in the cells corresponding to the effective frequency point; Residing in the target community.
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The frequency points agreed upon by the first device and the second device include at least one of the frequency points at both ends of the frequency band and the center frequency point, and the frequency band is the frequency range supported by the first device.
3. The method according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that, The method further includes: The second broadcast message is obtained in the pilot cell; The second broadcast message carries first information, which indicates that the pilot cell supports the first device camping; or, the second broadcast message carries second information, which indicates that the pilot cell does not support the first device camping.
4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, Prior to the search-guided cell, the method further includes: Search for the target cell in the cells corresponding to the reserved frequency points, where the reserved frequency points are the frequency points corresponding to the cells where the first device has previously camped; If the search for the target cell fails among the cells corresponding to the reserved frequency points, then the step of searching for a guiding cell is executed.
5. A method for searching a network, characterized in that, The method is applied to a second device, and the method includes: The pilot cell sends a first broadcast message, which carries a valid frequency point for deploying narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) signals. The pilot cell is the cell corresponding to the frequency point agreed upon by the first device and the second device.
6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The frequency points agreed upon by the first device and the second device include at least one of the frequency points at both ends of the frequency band and the center frequency point, and the frequency band is the frequency range supported by the first device.
7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The method further includes: A second broadcast message is sent in the pilot cell; The second broadcast message carries first information, which indicates that the pilot cell supports the first device camping; or, the second broadcast message carries second information, which indicates that the pilot cell does not support the first device camping.
8. The method according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that, The effective frequency points include at least one of the following: At least one of the frequency points corresponding to the pilot cell and frequency points different from the frequency point corresponding to the pilot cell.
9. A communication device, characterized in that, The device includes a transceiver, a processor, and a memory, wherein the transceiver is used to receive and transmit data, the memory is used to store a computer program, the computer program including program instructions, and the processor is configured to invoke the program instructions to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.
10. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program, the computer program including program instructions that cause the computer to perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, or the method as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8.