Communication method and communication apparatus

Abstract

The present application is applied to the technical field of communications, and provides a communication method and a communication apparatus. The communication method comprises: a terminal receives first information and second information, the first information indicating a first index, the first index being used for determining a first backoff duration or a second backoff duration, the first backoff duration being greater than the second backoff duration, and the second information enabling the first index to be used for determining the first backoff duration; and the terminal sends a random access request to a network device on the basis of the first backoff duration. The method can improve the success rate of random access of terminals.

Description

Communication methods and communication devices

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202510187796.4, filed on February 19, 2025, entitled "Communication Method and Communication Device", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to communication methods and communication devices. Background Technology

[0003] Satellite communication has unique advantages over terrestrial communication, such as providing wider coverage and being less susceptible to damage from natural disasters or external forces. However, unlike terrestrial communication, which has a limited number of beams and cannot simultaneously cover all areas, satellite communication employs SSB (Single Beam Sweeping) to improve network coverage. For example, within a synchronization signal block (SSB) period, an active beam of a network device can reside in one area for a period and another area for a period of time. To further enhance satellite downlink coverage, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is discussing extending the SSB period, making the SSB period of satellite communication longer than that of terrestrial communication.

[0004] Terminals can initiate random access based on the random access resources configured in the network device. If a terminal's random access fails, it must wait for the rollback period before re-initiating random access. However, with longer SSB periods, multiple failed random access attempts may result in the terminal being unable to access the network for an extended period. Improving the success rate of terminal access is a pressing technical problem that needs to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a communication method and a communication device, which helps to improve the success rate of terminal access.

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a communication method that can be applied to a terminal-side device. The terminal-side device can be a terminal, or a processor, module, chip, chip system, or functional module of the terminal for implementing the method. The method includes: receiving first information and second information, wherein the first information indicates a first index, the first index is used to determine a first backoff duration or a second backoff duration, the first backoff duration being longer than the second backoff duration, and the second information enables the first index to determine the first backoff duration; and sending a random access request to a network device based on the first backoff duration.

[0007] Based on the method described in the first aspect, the terminal can wait for a period of time, the duration of which is a random value shorter than the first backoff duration, based on a first backoff duration. Since the first backoff duration is longer than the second backoff duration, this increases the range of backoff durations the terminal can handle in satellite communication or SSB beam-hopping scanning scenarios. Configuring a longer backoff duration can distribute the time spent by terminal devices attempting to access the network, reducing the probability of multiple terminal devices competing for resources within the same time period, thereby reducing conflicts and providing a more stable access environment for the terminal devices, thus improving the access success rate. Furthermore, a longer backoff duration can reduce the number of access attempts by the terminal devices, thereby reducing power consumption.

[0008] In some possible implementations, the first backoff duration is determined based on the first parameter and the first period, the first index is associated with the first parameter, the first period is the synchronization signal block (SSB) period, or the first period is the association period of the random access timing (RO) and the SSB.

[0009] In some possible implementations, the first backoff duration is equal to the product of the first parameter and the first cycle.

[0010] In some possible implementations, the first parameter is equal to the first index.

[0011] In some possible implementations, the first rollback duration is determined based on the second rollback duration.

[0012] In some possible implementations, the second information is also used to indicate a second parameter, which is greater than 1, and the first rollback duration is equal to the product of the second rollback duration and the first parameter.

[0013] In some possible implementations, the second information is carried in the SIB.

[0014] Secondly, this application provides a communication method that can be applied to a network-side device, which may be a network device, or a processor, module, chip, or chip system or functional module of the network device for implementing the method. The method includes: sending first information and second information, wherein the first information indicates a first index, the first index is used to determine a first backoff duration or a second backoff duration, the first backoff duration being greater than the second backoff duration, and the second information enables the first index to determine the first backoff duration.

[0015] The beneficial effects corresponding to the second aspect can be found in the description of the first aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0016] In some possible implementations, the first backoff duration is determined based on the first parameter and the first period, the first index is associated with the first parameter, the first period is the synchronization signal block (SSB) period, or the first period is the association period of the random access timing (RO) and the SSB.

[0017] In some possible implementations, the first backoff duration is equal to the product of the first parameter and the first cycle.

[0018] In some possible implementations, the first parameter is equal to the first index.

[0019] In some possible implementations, the first rollback duration is determined based on the second rollback duration.

[0020] In some possible implementations, the second information is also used to indicate a second parameter, which is greater than 1, and the first rollback duration is equal to the product of the second rollback duration and the first parameter.

[0021] In some possible implementations, the second information is carried in the SIB.

[0022] Thirdly, this application provides a communication method that can be applied to a terminal-side device, which may be a terminal, or a processor, module, chip, chip system, or functional module of the terminal for implementing the method. The method includes: receiving third information indicating a first time window; receiving fourth information used to determine a second time window, the fourth information indicating a first duration and / or a first offset, the first duration being the length of the second time window, the first duration not being equal to the length of the first time window, and the first offset being the interval between the first and second time windows; and if a random access response is not successfully received within the second time window, sending a random access request to a network device.

[0023] Based on the method described in the third aspect, if the terminal does not receive a random access response from the network device within the second time window, it can be understood as a failed random access response. Therefore, after the second time window ends, it can wait for a rollback period and then re-initiate the random access request. Since the network device changes the end position of the terminal's random access response time window through the fourth information, it also changes the time at which the terminal resends the random access request. The network device can configure different terminals within the same RO to have different end times for their random access response time windows. Consequently, these different terminals will resend random access requests at different times, which helps reduce the probability of multiple terminals competing for resources within the same time period, reduces conflicts, provides a more stable access environment for terminals, and improves the success rate of random access.

[0024] In some possible implementations, when the fourth information indicates the first duration, the start times of the first time window and the second time window are the same.

[0025] In some possible implementations, when the fourth information indicates the first offset, the first offset is the interval between the start time of the first time window and the start time of the second time window, or the first offset is the interval between the end time of the first time window and the end time of the second time window.

[0026] Fourthly, this application provides a communication method that can be applied to a network-side device, which may be a network device, or a processor, module, chip, or chip system or functional module of the network device for implementing the method. The method includes: sending third information, the third information indicating a first time window; sending fourth information, the fourth information used to determine a second time window, the second time window used to transmit a random access response, the fourth information indicating a first duration and / or a first offset, the first duration being the length of the second time window, the first duration not being equal to the length of the first time window, and the first offset being the interval between the first time window and the second time window.

[0027] The beneficial effects corresponding to the fourth aspect can be found in the beneficial effects of the third aspect, and will not be elaborated here.

[0028] In some possible implementations, when the fourth information indicates the first duration, the start times of the first time window and the second time window are the same.

[0029] In some possible implementations, when the fourth information indicates the first offset, the first offset is the interval between the start time of the first time window and the start time of the second time window, or the first offset is the interval between the end time of the first time window and the end time of the second time window.

[0030] In some possible implementations, the fourth information is used for the first wave bit; the method also includes sending a fifth information for the second wave bit, the fifth information being used to determine a third time window, the third time window being used to transmit a random access response, the end time of the third time window being different from the end time of the second time window.

[0031] In some possible implementations, the fifth information indicates a second duration and / or a second offset, the second duration being unequal to the first duration and the second offset being unequal to the first offset; wherein the second duration is the length of the third time window, the second duration is greater than the length of the first time window, and the second offset is the interval between the first time window and the third time window.

[0032] Fifthly, this application provides a communication method that can be applied to a terminal-side device. The terminal-side device can be a terminal, or a processor, module, chip, chip system, or functional module of the terminal for implementing the method. The method includes: receiving sixth information, the sixth information indicating a first random access resource; receiving seventh information, the seventh information determining a second random access resource, the seventh information indicating a third offset, the third offset being the interval between the first random access resource and the second random access resource, the start time of the second random access resource being after the first random access resource; and sending a random access request to a network device based on the second random access resource.

[0033] Based on the method described in the fifth aspect, the terminal adjusts the resource location used to initiate random access according to the seventh information, and determines to initiate random access on the second random access resource. This helps to avoid a large number of terminals initiating random access in a short period of time, thus avoiding conflicts, providing a more stable access environment for the terminal, and improving the success rate of random access.

[0034] Sixthly, this application provides a communication method that can be applied to a network-side device, which may be a network device, or a processor, module, chip, or chip system or functional module of the network device for implementing the method. The method includes: sending sixth information, which indicates a first random access resource; and sending seventh information, which determines a second random access resource and indicates a third offset, where the third offset is the interval between the first and second random access resources, and the start time of the second random access resource is after the first random access resource.

[0035] The beneficial effects corresponding to the sixth aspect can be found in the description of the fifth aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0036] In some possible implementations, the method further includes: receiving congestion information from core network devices, the congestion information being used to indicate network congestion during a first time period, and the seventh information being determined based on the congestion information.

[0037] Seventhly, this application provides a communication method that can be applied to a terminal-side device. The terminal-side device can be a terminal, or a processor, module, chip, chip system, or functional module of the terminal for implementing the method. The method includes: receiving eighth information, the eighth information indicating a second index, the second index being associated with a third backoff duration, the second index being greater than 13, and the third backoff duration being greater than 1920 milliseconds; and sending a random access request to a network device based on the third backoff duration.

[0038] Based on the method described in aspect seven, the range of terminal rollback duration can be increased. Configuring a longer rollback duration can distribute the access attempt time of the terminal, reducing the probability of multiple terminals competing for resources within the same time period, thereby reducing conflicts and providing a more stable access environment for the terminal, thus improving the access success rate. Furthermore, a longer rollback duration can reduce the number of access attempts by the terminal, thereby reducing power consumption. In addition, this method can fully utilize reserved indexes, avoid introducing complex extension mechanisms, and does not affect the rollback duration associated with other existing indexes. It is simple to implement and does not require the introduction of additional signaling, reducing signaling overhead.

[0039] Eighthly, this application provides a communication method that can be applied to a network-side device, which may be a network device, or a processor, module, chip, or chip system or functional module of the network device for implementing the method. The method includes: sending an eighth message, the eighth message indicating a second index, the second index being associated with a third backoff duration, the second index being greater than 13, and the third backoff duration being greater than 1920 milliseconds.

[0040] The beneficial effects corresponding to the eighth aspect can be found in the description of the seventh aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0041] Ninthly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device for executing the method in any possible implementation of any of the first to eighth aspects. The communication device includes a module for executing the method in any possible implementation of any of the first to eighth aspects.

[0042] In a tenth aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication device including a processing circuit for executing a method in any possible implementation of any of the first to eighth aspects. The processing circuit executes a program, and when the program is executed, the method shown in any possible implementation of the first to eighth aspects is executed.

[0043] In one possible implementation, the communication device also includes a memory for storing the program.

[0044] In one possible implementation, the memory is located outside the aforementioned communication device.

[0045] In one possible implementation, the memory is located within the aforementioned communication device.

[0046] Furthermore, the processing circuitry and memory can be integrated into a single device; that is, the processing circuitry and memory can be combined. For example, the communication device can be a chip.

[0047] In one possible implementation, the communication device further includes a transceiver circuit for receiving information (or inputting information) or sending information (or outputting information).

[0048] Eleventhly, embodiments of this application provide a communication device, which includes a processing circuit and a transceiver circuit. The processing circuit can be a logic circuit, and the transceiver circuit can be an interface circuit. The logic circuit and the interface are coupled. The interface circuit is used to input and / or output information, and the logic circuit is used to execute a method of any possible implementation of any one of the first to eighth aspects.

[0049] In a twelfth aspect, this application provides a communication system including a communication device for performing the method described in the first aspect and a communication device for performing the method described in the second aspect. Alternatively, it includes a communication device for performing the method described in the third aspect and a communication device for performing the method described in the fourth aspect. Alternatively, it includes a communication device for performing the method described in the fifth aspect and a communication device for performing the method described in the sixth aspect. Alternatively, it includes a communication device for performing the method described in the seventh aspect and a communication device for performing the method described in the eighth aspect.

[0050] In a thirteenth aspect, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the method described in any possible implementation of any of the first to eighth aspects to be executed.

[0051] In a fourteenth aspect, embodiments of this application provide a computer program product that, when run on a computer, causes the method shown in any possible implementation of any of the first to eighth aspects to be executed. Attached Figure Description

[0052] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0053] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0054] Figures 3a to 3c show the satellite communication network architecture provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0055] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an SSB hopping beam scanning provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0056] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0057] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a BI subheading provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0058] Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0059] Figure 8a is a schematic diagram of a time window for a random access response provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0060] Figure 8b is a schematic diagram of a time window for a random access response provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0061] Figure 9 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0062] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of a random access resource provided in this embodiment;

[0063] Figure 11 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0064] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0065] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0066] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0067] To facilitate understanding of the technical solution of this application, the application will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0068] The terms "first" and "second," etc., used in the specification, claims, and drawings of this application are used only to distinguish different objects and not to describe a specific order. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or device 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 devices.

[0069] The term "embodiment" as used herein means that a particular 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 separate or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0070] 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".

[0071] 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.

[0072] In this application, "...when" and "if" both refer to the corresponding processing that will be carried out under certain objective circumstances, and are not limited to a specific time. They do not require a judgment action during implementation, nor do they imply any other limitations.

[0073] In the embodiments of this application, the terms "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate that something is an example, illustration, or description. Any embodiment or design that is described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of this application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or design. Specifically, the use of terms such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a specific manner to facilitate understanding.

[0074] In this application, "instruction" may include: direct instruction, or indirect instruction, or explicit instruction, or implicit instruction.

[0075] In this application, "including" can include: direct inclusion, indirect inclusion, explicit inclusion, or implicit inclusion.

[0076] The prior art may change as the technical solutions evolve, and the technical solutions provided in this application are not limited to the prior art provided.

[0077] It should be noted that different embodiments or some steps (e.g., any one or more steps) in different embodiments of this application can be combined with each other to form new embodiments. It should also be noted that the scope of this application is not limited to including optional steps in a certain embodiment, mandatory steps in a certain embodiment, or both optional and mandatory steps in a certain embodiment.

[0078] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified or in case of logical conflict, the terminology and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced in each other.

[0079] It should be noted that the order of the steps in the embodiments of this application is not limited by this application.

[0080] It should be noted that the order in which different conditions are judged in the embodiments of this application is not limited by this application.

[0081] It should be noted that the terms "after" and "time" in this application do not strictly limit the specific point in time.

[0082] It should be noted that the nouns and terms used in this application are merely examples and may be other names, which are not limited in this application.

[0083] The following describes the communication system involved in the embodiments of this application.

[0084] The technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: 5th generation (5G) or new radio (NR) systems, long term evolution (LTE) systems, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) systems, LTE time division duplex (TDD) systems, wireless local area network (WLAN) systems, satellite communication systems, future communication systems, or integrated systems of multiple systems. The technical solutions provided in this application can also be applied to device-to-device (D2D) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), and Internet of Things (IoT) communication systems or other communication systems.

[0085] The method provided in this application can be applied between two entities in a communication system, such as one entity sending information to or receiving information sent by the other entity. In a wireless communication system, communication devices are included, and these devices can communicate wirelessly using air interface resources. Air interface resources may include at least one of time-domain resources, frequency-domain resources, code resources, and spatial resources; this application does not limit this. For example, the aforementioned two entities may include a network device and a terminal device, or may include a chip that can be placed in a network device and a chip that can be placed in a terminal device, etc. Of course, as standards advance, other types of entities may emerge subsequently; this application does not limit this.

[0086] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 1, the communication system may include at least one network device and at least one terminal device, such as terminal device 1 to terminal device 4 in Figure 1. The terminal device and the network device can communicate via an air interface Uu link or via a non-terrestrial network (NTN) link, etc. For example, terminal device 3 and terminal device 4 can communicate via a D2D sidelink, etc. The form of the terminal device shown in Figure 1 is only an example. In a specific implementation, the terminal device may also include in-vehicle equipment or in-vehicle terminals in a vehicle network. This application embodiment does not limit the specific form of the terminal device when applied to a vehicle network or the Internet.

[0087] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 2, the scenarios of this communication system may include at least one of scenario (a), scenario (b), scenario (c), or scenario (d). Scenario (a) is a point-to-point single connection between a network device and a terminal device; scenario (b) is a multi-hop single connection between a network device and a terminal device; scenario (c) is a point-to-point dual connectivity (DC) between a network device and a terminal device; and scenario (d) is a multi-hop dual connection between a network device and a terminal device.

[0088] Figure 1 exemplarily illustrates a network device and multiple terminal devices, and Figure 2 exemplarily illustrates single-connection and dual-connection. In specific implementations, the communication system may also include a greater number of network devices, and the coverage area of ​​each network device may include a greater or lesser number of terminal devices; this application embodiment does not limit this. The architectures shown in Figures 1 and 2 are merely examples and do not impose limitations on the network architecture applicable to this application. Any network-side device communicating with or sensing other devices is a network architecture usable in this application.

[0089] The following provides a detailed description of terminal equipment and network equipment.

[0090] A terminal device is a device with wireless transceiver capabilities. It can communicate with RAN nodes (or wireless access devices, or network devices as described below) in a radio access network (RAN). Terminal devices can also be referred to as user equipment (UE), access terminal, terminal, subscriber unit, user station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, user agent, or user device, etc. In one possible implementation, the terminal device can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; or it can be deployed on water, including ships; or it can be deployed in the air, such as on airplanes, balloons, or satellites. In another possible implementation, the terminal device can be a handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a sensor, a terminal in the Internet of Things (IoT), a terminal in the Internet of Vehicles (IoV), a drone, a terminal device in a 5G network, or any form of terminal device in a future network, etc., and this application embodiment does not limit this. In another possible implementation, the terminal device can also be a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in autonomous driving, a wireless terminal in telemedicine, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in a smart city, or a wireless terminal in a smart home, etc. In this application embodiment, the terminal device will be uniformly referred to as a terminal.

[0091] In this application embodiment, the device for implementing the terminal's functions can be a terminal itself; it can also be a device capable of supporting the terminal in implementing those functions, such as a chip system. This device can be installed in the terminal or used in conjunction with the terminal. In this application embodiment, the chip system can be composed of chips, or it can include chips and other discrete devices. For ease of description, the technical solutions provided in this application embodiment will be described below using the example of a terminal as the device for implementing the terminal's functions.

[0092] A network device can be a device deployed in a wireless access network to provide wireless communication services to terminals. This network device can also be called an access network device, access equipment, or RAN device, etc. For example, a network device can be a next-generation node B (gNB), a next-generation evolved node B (ng-eNB), or a network device in future communications. A network device can be any device with wireless transceiver capabilities, including but not limited to the base stations mentioned above (including base stations deployed on satellites). This network device can also be a device with base station functionality in future communication systems. As an example, this network device can be an access node, wireless relay node, or wireless backhaul node in a wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) system. As another example, this network device can be a wireless controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario. As yet another example, this network device can be a wearable device or vehicle-mounted device capable of providing wireless communication services. As yet another example, this network device can also be a small cell, a transmission reception point (TRP) (or transceiver point), etc. In systems using different wireless access technologies, the names of devices with network equipment functions may vary, and these will not be listed one by one in the embodiments of this application.

[0093] Network devices can be fixed or mobile. For example, a helicopter or drone can be configured to act as a mobile network device, and one or more cells can move according to the location of the mobile network device. In other examples, a helicopter or drone can be configured to be used as a device to communicate with another network device.

[0094] In some network device deployments, the network device may include a central unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU). For example, some protocol layer functions of the network device may be centrally controlled by the CU, while the remaining part or all of the protocol layer functions may be distributed in the DU, which is centrally controlled by the CU. In other network device deployments, the CU may be divided into a CU-control plane (CP) and a CU-user plane (UP). In still other network device deployments, the network device may also be an open radio access network (ORAN) architecture. When the network device is an ORAN architecture, it may be a functional entity or module within the ORAN. For example, the network device may be one or more of a CU, DU, or RU. In an ORAN system, the CU may also be called an open (O)-CU, the DU may also be called an O-DU, the CU-CP may also be called an O-CU-CP, and the CU-UP may also be called an O-CU-UP, etc. The network device deployment methods listed here are merely examples. As standard technologies evolve, network devices may have other deployment forms, and this application does not limit these.

[0095] In some deployments, multiple RAN nodes collaborate to assist terminals in achieving wireless access, with different RAN nodes each implementing a portion of the access network's functions. For example, RAN nodes can be CUs, DUs, CU-CPs, CU-UPs, or RUs. CUs and DUs can be configured separately or included in the same network element, such as an indoor baseband unit (BBU). RUs can be included in radio frequency equipment or radio frequency units, such as remote radio units (RRUs), active antenna units (AAUs), or remote radio heads (RRHs).

[0096] RAN nodes can support one or more types of fronthaul interfaces, each corresponding to a DU and RU with different functions. If the fronthaul interface between the DU and RU is a Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI), the DU is configured to implement one or more baseband functions, and the RU is configured to implement one or more radio frequency functions. If the fronthaul interface between the DU and RU is another type of interface, relative to CPRI, it moves some downlink and / or uplink baseband functions—for example, for downlink, precoding, or one or more of inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) / adding a cyclic prefix (CP)—from the DU to the RU; and for uplink, digital beamforming, or one or more of fast Fourier transform (FFT) / removing CP—from the DU to the RU. In one possible implementation, this interface can be an enhanced common public radio interface (eCPRI). Under the eCPRI architecture, the partitioning methods between DU and RU are different, corresponding to different types (category, Cat) of eCPRI, such as eCPRI Cat A, B, C, D, E, F.

[0097] Taking eCPRI Cat A as an example, for downlink transmission, layer mapping is used as the dividing line. The DU is configured to implement one or more functions preceding layer mapping (i.e., coding, rate matching, scrambling, modulation, and layer mapping itself), while other functions following layer mapping (e.g., resource element (RE) mapping, digital beamforming, or IFFT / CP addition) are implemented in the RU. For uplink transmission, de-RE mapping is used as the dividing line. The DU is configured to implement one or more functions preceding de-mapping (i.e., decoding, rate matching de-matching, descrambling, demodulation, inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT), channel equalization, and de-RE mapping itself), while other functions following de-mapping (e.g., digital BF or FFT / CP removal) are implemented in the RU. For functional descriptions of the DU and RU corresponding to various types of eCPRI, please refer to the eCPRI protocol; they will not be elaborated here.

[0098] In one possible design, the processing unit in the BBU used to implement baseband functions is called the baseband high (BBH) unit, and the processing unit in the RRU / AAU / RRH used to implement baseband functions is called the baseband low (BBL) unit.

[0099] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU may have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meaning. For example, in an ORAN system, CU can also be called O-CU (open CU), DU can also be called O-DU, CU-CP can also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP can also be called O-CU-UP, and RU can also be called O-RU. Any of the units among CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU in this application can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software modules and hardware modules.

[0100] Network devices and / or terminals can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; they can also be deployed on water; and they can also be deployed in the air on airplanes, balloons, and satellites. This application does not limit the scenario in which the network devices and terminals are located. Furthermore, terminals and network devices can be hardware devices, software functions running on dedicated hardware, or software functions running on general-purpose hardware, such as virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform), or entities that include dedicated or general-purpose hardware devices and software functions. This application does not limit the specific form of the terminals and network devices.

[0101] In this embodiment, the device for implementing the functions of the network device can be the network device itself; or it can be a device capable of supporting the network device in implementing the functions, such as a chip system. This device can be installed in the network device or used in conjunction with the network device.

[0102] Specifically, the solution provided in this application can be applied to the field of satellite communication. The satellite possesses some or all of the functions of network equipment and can be called a satellite base station. It can provide wireless access services and schedule wireless resources for terminals accessing the network through the satellite base station. The satellite base station and the terminal communicate through a User-Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (Uu) interface. The satellite base station and the core network can communicate through a Next Generation (NG) interface. The satellite base station and the core network can exchange non-access stratum (NAS) signaling of the core network and user service data through the NG interface. Optionally, the satellite equipment can be divided into transparent mode and regenerative mode according to its operating mode. When the satellite operates in transparent mode, it has relay forwarding functions. The gateway station has base station functions or some base station functions; in this case, the gateway station can be regarded as a base station. Optionally, when the satellite operates in regenerative mode, it has data processing capabilities and has base station functions or some base station functions; in this case, the satellite can be regarded as a base station.

[0103] Figures 3a to 3c illustrate the satellite communication network architecture applicable to the embodiments of this application. Terminals can access the network via an air interface (which can be of various types, such as a 5G air interface). Terminals access the wireless network via the air interface, obtain data network services through the wireless network, or communicate with other devices (such as other terminals) through the wireless network. Base stations can be deployed on the ground and connected to ground stations that communicate with the satellite, as shown in Figure 3a. Alternatively, base stations can be deployed on the satellite, as shown in Figure 3b. Ground stations and ground base stations can be connected via wired or wireless means, and ground stations can communicate with the core network through base stations. Wireless links can exist between satellites. If a satellite only has a transparent forwarding function (i.e., the corresponding base station is deployed on the ground), then only transparent forwarding is implemented between satellites. If a base station or some base station functions are deployed on the satellite, then signaling interaction and user data transmission between base stations can be completed between satellites, as shown in Figure 3c. The various network elements included in Figures 3a to 3c and their interfaces are described below:

[0104] The terminal, as described above, is a mobile device that supports the New Radio interface, typically such as a mobile phone or tablet. It can access satellite networks via the air interface and initiate services such as making calls and accessing the internet.

[0105] A base station is a type of network device mentioned in the above description. It can provide wireless access services, allocate wireless resources to access terminals, and provide reliable wireless transmission protocols and data encryption protocols, etc.

[0106] The core network provides services such as user access control, mobility management, session management, user authentication, and billing. It consists of multiple functional units, such as the access and mobility management function (AMF), which provides user access management, authentication, and mobility management functions, and the user plane function (UPF), which provides functions such as managing user plane data transmission and traffic statistics.

[0107] Ground stations can be responsible for forwarding signaling and service data between satellite base stations and the core network.

[0108] The air interface refers to the wireless link between the terminal and the base station.

[0109] The NG interface refers to the interface between the base station and the core network, mainly used for exchanging signaling such as NAS from the core network, as well as user service data. It should be noted that in a 4G communication system, the Xn interface in Figures 3a-3c is replaced by the X2 interface, and the NG interface is replaced by the S1 interface.

[0110] The following describes the relevant technical terms used in the embodiments of this application:

[0111] I. Beam

[0112] A beam is a communication resource that refers to a directional, specific transmission or reception effect created by an antenna array of a network device or terminal's transmitter or receiver. Using beams to transmit and receive signals can effectively increase the transmission distance.

[0113] Beams can be divided into transmit beams and receive beams. The technology for forming beams can be beamforming technology or other technologies. Beamforming includes transmit beamforming and receive beamforming. Specifically, beamforming technology can be digital beamforming technology, analog beamforming technology, or hybrid digital / analog beamforming technology, etc.

[0114] In this context, the transmit beam refers to the beamform formed by the transmitting end sending signals with certain beamforming weights, resulting in a spatially directional beam. For example, in the uplink direction, the transmitting end can be a terminal; in the downlink direction, the transmitting end can be a network device. The receive beam refers to the beamform formed by the receiving end receiving signals with certain beamforming weights, resulting in a spatially directional beam. Again, in the uplink direction, the receiving end can be a network device; in the downlink direction, the receiving end can be a terminal.

[0115] Transmit beamforming refers to the process of assigning a specific amplitude and phase to each antenna element of a transmitter with an antenna array. This gives the transmitted signal a certain spatial directivity, meaning that the signal power is high in some directions and low in others, with the direction of highest signal power being the direction of the transmitted beam. The antenna array consists of multiple antenna elements, and the specific amplitude and phase assigned are called beamforming weights.

[0116] Receiver beamforming refers to the process where, when a receiving device with an antenna array receives a signal, a specific amplitude and phase are assigned to each antenna element in the array. This makes the power gain of the received signal directional; that is, the power gain is high when receiving signals in certain directions, and low when receiving signals in other directions. The direction with the highest power gain is the direction of the received beam. The antenna array consists of multiple antenna elements, and the specific amplitude and phase assigned are called beamforming weights.

[0117] Using a specific transmit beam to transmit a signal means using a specific beamforming weight to transmit the signal. Using a specific receive beam to receive a signal means using a specific beamforming weight to receive the signal.

[0118] Optionally, the beam can be a wide beam, a narrow beam, or other types of beam.

[0119] Beams can be mapped to resources. For example, during beam measurement, network devices measure different beams by sending reference signals on different resources. The terminal then feeds back the measured quality to the network device, allowing the network device to determine the quality of the corresponding beam. During data transmission, beams can also be indicated by their corresponding resources. For instance, a network device uses the Transmission Configuration Index (TCI) field in its downlink control information (DCI) to indicate a transmission configuration indication-state. The terminal device then determines the beam corresponding to the reference resource based on the reference resource contained in that TCI-state.

[0120] Different beams can be considered as different resources; using (or through) different beams can transmit the same information or different information.

[0121] Beam pairs are based on the concept of beams. A beam pair typically includes a transmit beam at the transmitting end and a receive beam at the receiving end.

[0122] In communication systems, such as 5G New Radio (NR) systems, network devices and terminal devices can generate one or more transmit beams and one or more receive beams. Before transmitting data, network devices and terminal devices need to perform beam alignment. In communication protocols, beams can be specifically represented as digital beams, analog beams, spatial domain filters, spatial filters, spatial parameters, TCI, TCI-states, etc. The beam used to transmit signals can be called a transmission beam (or Tx beam), a spatial domain transmission filter, a spatial transmission filter, a spatial domain transmission parameter, a spatial transmission parameter, etc. The beam used to receive signals can be called a reception beam (or Rx beam), a spatial domain reception filter, a spatial reception filter, a spatial domain reception parameter, a spatial reception parameter, etc. It is understood that this application uses the term "beam" uniformly in its embodiments, but "beam" can be understood as other equivalent concepts, and is not limited to those mentioned above.

[0123] II. Beam Scan

[0124] Beam scanning refers to transmitting synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) at different times and in different directions. SSBs can also be called synchronization signal and physical broadcasting channel blocks (SS / PBCH blocks). Beam scanning can also be called SSB scanning.

[0125] Because satellites cover a large area in satellite communications, the number of active beams is prioritized. Typically, at any given moment, all active beams cannot completely cover the coverage area. Therefore, a "SSB hopping beam scanning" strategy is commonly used, meaning the broadcast beam periodically polls and scans all positions within the coverage area. The time a beam transmits a signal or stays on a particular position within one SSB cycle is called the dwell time. A position refers to the x-dB projection topology of the satellite beam on the ground. Optionally, x can be equal to 3; this application does not limit the value of x.

[0126] For example, as shown in Figure 4, during time period t1, beam 1 is stationed in region 1, and during time period t2, beam 1 is stationed in region 2. In this way, beam 1 can be stationed in regions 1 to 4 respectively during different time periods within one SSB cycle, thereby ensuring that regions 1 to 4 are all covered by the network.

[0127] Based on the "SSB hopping beam scanning" strategy, in some implementations, the random access resources (such as the time-domain location of random access opportunities (ROs)) that a terminal can use will be restricted by beam camping. The terminal can only send a random access request to the network device when there is beam camping. For example, when a cell terminal corresponding to Area 1 initiates a random access request to the network device, it can only use the RO corresponding to the time period t1.

[0128] III. Random Access (RA)

[0129] Random access refers to the process from when a terminal sends a random access preamble to attempt to access the network until a basic signaling connection is established with the network. Through random access, a terminal can transition from an idle or inactive state to a connected state, establish various bearers with network devices, obtain necessary resources and parameter configurations, and then communicate with the network devices.

[0130] The random access described in this application embodiment can refer to four-step random access or two-step random access. For example, the random access response (RAR) described in this application embodiment can refer to random access message 2 (Msg2) sent by the network device to the terminal in four-step random access, or it can refer to random access message B (MsgB) sent by the network device to the terminal in two-step random access. As another example, the random access request described in this application embodiment can refer to random access message 1 (Msg1) sent by the terminal to the network device in four-step random access, or it can refer to random access message A (MsgA) sent by the terminal to the network device in two-step random access. Of course, the random access described in this application embodiment can also be other types of random access, and this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0131] If random access fails, the terminal can resend the random access request based on one of the following methods:

[0132] Method a: When the cell is overloaded, this refers to an excessive number of terminals initiating random access, or multiple terminals simultaneously selecting the same random access preamble, causing the network device to be unable to correctly parse the request. The network device indicates a backoff time to the terminal, which then waits for a period of time based on the backoff time indicated by the network device before sending the random access request. Optionally, the length of this period is a random value less than or equal to the backoff time.

[0133] Method b, RAR failure, refers to the terminal not receiving the RAR within the RAR Response Window, or failing to decode the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) of the RAR, or the network device failing to recognize the random access preamble ID (RAPID). In the event of RAR failure, the terminal can determine the appropriate response based on the parameter N indicated by the higher layer. T,1 N after the RAR window (or after PDSCH reception) T,1 A random access request is sent at +0.75ms.

[0134] Method c, RAR failure, or Msg4 failure. Msg4 failure means that the terminal failed to successfully complete contention resolution after receiving the Msg4 message; for example, the Msg4 message does not contain the terminal's unique identifier. The terminal increments the value of the preamble transmission counter (PREAMBLE_TRANSMISSION_COUNTER) by 1. REAMBLE_TRANSMISSION_COUNTER is used to record the number of times the terminal sends a random access request during this random access process. The terminal will wait for a period of time according to the backoff time indicated by the network device before sending the random access request. Optionally, the length of this period is a random value less than or equal to the backoff time. Further, optionally, the terminal initializes the backoff time to 0 during initial access, or the backoff time defaults to 0 if the terminal does not receive the backoff time indicated by the network device.

[0135] Based on the above introduction, in order to enhance satellite downlink coverage, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) proposed extending the SSB period to make the SSB period of satellite communication longer than that of terrestrial communication. For example, the default SSB period for terrestrial communication is 20ms, while the SSB period for satellite communication is 160ms. In satellite communication scenarios, or in scenarios with SSB hopping beam scanning, the shorter backoff time indicated by the network device may be invalid. For example, after the terminal waits for the backoff time, the beam may no longer be camped in that area, and the terminal will be unable to initiate random access again. For example, referring to the example shown in Figure 4 above, for a terminal in area 1, if the random access initiated by the terminal within the time period t1 fails, and the backoff time indicated by the network device is less than the SSB period but greater than the time corresponding to t1, after the terminal waits for the backoff time, beam 1 may be camped in area 2, area 3, or area 4, and the terminal will be unable to initiate random access.

[0136] However, with longer SSB periods, multiple failed random access attempts by the terminal may result in the terminal being unable to access the network for an extended period. Improving the success rate of terminal access is a pressing technical issue that needs to be addressed.

[0137] To improve the success rate of terminal access, this application proposes a communication method. As shown in Figure 5, the communication method includes steps 501 to 503. This application does not limit the order in which steps 501 and 502 are executed. For example, step 501 may be executed before step 502; or step 502 may be executed before step 501; or steps 501 and 502 may be executed simultaneously.

[0138] The method shown in Figure 5 can be applied between a terminal-side device and a network-side device. The terminal-side device can be a terminal, or a processor, module, chip, chip system, or functional module implementing the method. The network-side device can be a network device, or a processor, module, chip, chip system, or functional module implementing the method. Figure 5 illustrates this using a terminal and network device as the executing entities as an example.

[0139] 501. The network device sends first information, and the corresponding terminal receives the first information. The first information indicates a first index, which is used to determine the first rollback duration or the second rollback duration, wherein the first rollback duration is longer than the second rollback duration.

[0140] In some possible implementations, this first information is carried in a RAR medium access control (MAC) protocol data unit (PDU), and this first index is represented by a backoff indicator (BI) subheader in the RAR MAC PDU. For example, the structure of the BI subheader can be as shown in Figure 6. Here, BI is used to indicate the backoff time the terminal needs to wait. In addition, E (extension) is used to indicate whether there are any subsequent subheaders after this BI subheader in the RAR MAC PDU; for example, if E = 1, it means there are other subheaders following; if E = 0, it means this is the last subheader. T (type) indicates the type of the subheader; for example, for a BI subheader, T = 1. R (reserved) is a reserved bit.

[0141] 502. The network device sends the second information, and the corresponding terminal receives the second information. The second information enables the first index to determine the first rollback duration.

[0142] In this embodiment, the network device can use an index to indicate to the terminal the rollback duration to be waited for when sending the next random access request. Optionally, the index can also be described as an identifier or number, which is not limited in this embodiment. It is understood that there is an association between the index and the rollback duration. Specifically, one index is associated with at least two rollback durations, and the two rollback durations corresponding to one index are not equal. For example, the first index is associated with the first rollback duration and also with the second rollback duration.

[0143] For example, the association between the first index and the first rollback duration, and the association between the first index and the second rollback duration, can be shown in List 1 below:

[0144] Table 1

[0145] For example, when the first index is 4, the associated second rollback duration is 40ms, and the associated first rollback duration is 800ms. As another example, when the first index is 8, the associated second rollback duration is 160ms, and the associated first rollback duration is 1440ms.

[0146] Optionally, the relationship between the index and the rollback duration described above may be configured by the network device, or pre-configured (e.g., configured by the terminal at the factory or pre-configured by the terminal's higher-layer signaling), or predefined, or determined by negotiation between the network device and the terminal (e.g., determined by the network device and indicated to the terminal, or determined by the terminal and indicated to the network device). This application does not limit this.

[0147] The network device enables the first index using the second information to determine the first backoff duration. Since the first backoff duration is longer than the second backoff duration, this increases the range of possible backoff durations for the terminal in satellite communication or SSB beam hopping scanning scenarios. Configuring a longer backoff duration can distribute the time the terminal spends attempting to access the network, reducing the probability of multiple terminals competing for resources within the same time period, thereby reducing conflicts and providing a more stable access environment for the terminal, thus improving the access success rate. Furthermore, a longer backoff duration can reduce the number of access attempts by the terminal, thereby reducing power consumption.

[0148] Optionally, the first backoff duration can be longer than the SSB period. Configuring a longer backoff duration can also prevent the backoff duration from being ineffective for the terminal. For example, in satellite communication scenarios or SSB hopping beam scanning scenarios, assuming the SSB period is 320ms and the beam resides in the cell where the terminal is located for 40ms, if the backoff duration configured by the network device is less than the SSB period of 320ms, the beam will no longer be residing in the cell when the terminal initiates random access based on the backoff duration. Using this method will prevent the terminal from initiating random access after the backoff. Configuring a backoff duration longer than the SSB period can avoid this problem.

[0149] Based on the above introduction, in some possible implementations, the determination of the first rollback duration can be achieved using one of the following two methods:

[0150] Method 1: The first backoff duration is determined based on the first parameter and the first period. The first index is associated with the first parameter, and the first period is the SSB period, or the associated period of RO and SSB. The SSB period can be indicated by the System Information Block (SIB) sent by the network device. Alternatively, the SSB period can also be described as the hopping beam period corresponding to the wavelength of the terminal, or the discontinuous transmission (DTX) period corresponding to the wavelength of the terminal.

[0151] The relationship between the first index and the first parameter is one-to-one. Optionally, the relationship between the first index and the first parameter may be configured by the network device, or pre-configured (e.g., configured at the terminal factory or pre-configured by the terminal's higher-layer signaling), or predefined, or determined by negotiation between the network device and the terminal (e.g., determined and indicated by the network device to the terminal, or determined and indicated by the terminal to the network device). This application does not limit this.

[0152] For example, the relationship between the first parameter and the first index can be shown in List 2 below:

[0153] Table 2

[0154] In Table 2, the first parameter is equal to the first index. Specifically, the first parameter associated with the first index is equal to the first index. For example, when the first index is 1, the corresponding first parameter is 1; and when the first index is 3, the corresponding first parameter is 3.

[0155] Optionally, the first backoff duration is equal to the product of the first parameter and the first period. For example, assuming the first period is 160ms, the relationship between the first parameter and the first backoff duration, based on Table 2 above, can be shown in Table 3 below:

[0156] Table 3

[0157] For example, when the first index is 3, the first rollback duration is calculated to be 480ms, based on the fact that the first rollback duration is equal to the product of the first parameter and the first cycle. As another example, when the first index is 13, the first rollback duration is calculated to be 2240ms, based on the fact that the first rollback duration is equal to the product of the first parameter and the first cycle.

[0158] It should be understood that Table 2 above is only one example, and there may be other relationships between the first parameter and the first index. For example, the first parameter may also be equal to the product or sum of the first index and N, where N is a constant. This application embodiment does not limit the relationship between the first parameter and the first index. Similarly, Table 3 above is only one example, and there may be other relationships between the first rollback duration, the first parameter, and the first period. For example, the first rollback duration may also be equal to the sum of the first period and the first parameter, etc. This application embodiment does not limit the relationship between the first rollback duration, the first parameter, and the first period.

[0159] Optionally, in this method one, the second information can be carried in a broadcast message at the beam level, such as an SIB message. Alternatively, the second information can be carried in the BI subheader of a RAR MAC PDU, for example, the second information can be a reserved bit (R) in the BI subheader. Optionally, the second information can be referred to as the parameter "backOffIndicator-r19". For example, the second information can be represented by 1 bit. For instance, when the second information is a first value, it is used to enable the first index to determine the first backoff duration; when the second information is a second value, it is used to enable the first index to determine the second backoff duration; or, when the second information is a second value, it is used to enable the first index to determine the first backoff duration; when the second information is a first value, it is used to enable the first index to determine the second backoff duration. Where the first value is 1 and the second value is 0; or, the first value is 0 and the second value is 1.

[0160] Method 2: The first rollback duration is determined based on the second rollback duration. It is understandable that the first and second rollback durations are correlated; the terminal can determine the second rollback duration through this correlation. For example, this second information also indicates a second parameter; if the second parameter is greater than 1, the first rollback duration equals the product of the second rollback duration and the first parameter. For example, assuming the second parameter equals 2, the following table 4 can be obtained:

[0161] Table 4

[0162] For example, assuming the first index is 3, the first backoff duration is 30ms. With the second parameter equal to 2, the first backoff duration is the product of the second backoff duration and the second parameter, resulting in a first backoff duration of 60ms. As another example, assuming the first index is 8, the second parameter is 2, and the first backoff duration is 160ms, the first backoff duration is the product of the second backoff duration and the second parameter, resulting in a first backoff duration of 320ms.

[0163] It should be understood that Table 4 above is only one example, and the second parameter can have other values. For example, the second parameter can also take any value among 1.25, 1.5, or 1.75. Similarly, there can be other relationships between the first rollback duration and the second rollback duration. For example, the first rollback duration can also be equal to the sum of the second rollback duration and the second parameter. The embodiments of this application do not limit the second parameter, or the relationship between the first rollback duration and the second rollback duration.

[0164] Optionally, when the second information indicates the second parameter, the second information can be used by default to enable the first index to determine the first rollback duration.

[0165] Optionally, in this second method, the second information can be carried in a broadcast message at the beam level, such as an SIB message. Further optionally, the second parameter can also be a newly added parameter in the SIB message: the BI scaling factor (scaling_factor_BI_r19).

[0166] 503. The terminal sends a random access request to the network device based on the first rollback duration.

[0167] In this embodiment, the terminal can wait for a period of time based on a first backoff duration, where the duration is a random value shorter than the first backoff duration. Since the first backoff duration is longer than the second backoff duration, this increases the range of possible backoff durations for the terminal in satellite communication or SSB beam-hopping scanning scenarios. Configuring a longer backoff duration can distribute the time the terminal spends attempting to access the network, reducing the probability of multiple terminals competing for resources within the same time period, thereby reducing conflicts and providing a more stable access environment for the terminal, thus improving the access success rate. Furthermore, a longer backoff duration can reduce the number of access attempts by the terminal, thereby reducing power consumption.

[0168] To improve the success rate of terminal access, this application proposes a communication method. As shown in Figure 7, the communication method includes steps 701 to 703. This application does not limit the order in which steps 701 and 702 are executed. For example, step 701 may be executed before step 702; or step 702 may be executed before step 701; or steps 701 and 702 may be executed simultaneously.

[0169] The method shown in Figure 7 can be applied between a terminal-side device and a network-side device. The terminal-side device can be a terminal, or a processor, module, chip, chip system, or functional module implementing the method. The network-side device can be a network device, or a processor, module, chip, chip system, or functional module implementing the method. Figure 7 illustrates this using a terminal and network device as the executing entities as an example.

[0170] 701. When a network device sends third information, the corresponding terminal receives the third information, and the third information indicates the first time window.

[0171] In this embodiment, the first time window is the time window for the random access response, used to receive the random access response from the network device. Optionally, the third information can be carried in the SIB. More optionally, the third information can be the parameter random access response time window (ra-ResponseWindow) in the SIB, which indicates the length of the time window during which the terminal must wait for the random access response after sending the random access request.

[0172] 702. The network device sends fourth information, and the corresponding terminal receives the fourth information. The fourth information is used to determine the second time window. The fourth information indicates the first duration and / or the first offset. The first duration is the length of the second time window. The first duration is not equal to the length of the first time window. The first offset is the interval between the first time window and the second time window.

[0173] In this embodiment, the end position of the random access response time window can be changed through the fourth information. Since the terminal needs to re-initiate random access after the random access response time window, this method can change the time when the terminal resends the random access request. Optionally, the fourth information can be carried in an SIB message, and the fourth information can be a cell-level broadcast message or a wavelet-level broadcast message.

[0174] Network devices can be configured to have different end times for the random access response time windows of different terminals within the same RO, thus causing the terminals to send random access requests at different times. This helps reduce the probability of multiple terminals competing for resources within the same time period, reduces conflicts, provides a more stable access environment for terminals, and improves the success rate of random access.

[0175] In satellite communication, different wavelengths can share the same Service SSB. In some examples, different random access response time windows can be configured for different wavelengths corresponding to the same Remote Router (RO). For instance, the terminal receiving the fourth information is referred to as the first terminal. The first terminal is located in the first wavelength. The fourth information is used for the first wavelength. The network device sends the fifth information for the second wavelength. The fifth information is used to determine the third time window. The third time window is used for terminals in the second wavelength to receive random access responses. The end time of the third time window is different from the end time of the second time window. The terminal receiving the fifth information is referred to as the second terminal. When the first and second wavelengths share the same RO, if the first terminal and the second terminal initiate a random access request using the same RO, the fourth and fifth information can make the random access response time windows for the first terminal and the second terminal different, i.e., the end time of the third time window is different from the end time of the second time window. In this way, resource competition between the first terminal and the second terminal when initiating random access again can be avoided, thereby reducing conflicts and improving the success rate of random access.

[0176] Optionally, the network device may not need to send the fifth information for the second wave of terminals. Instead, it may allow the terminals in the second wave of terminals to continue using the first time window as the time window for receiving random access responses. In this way, the first terminal and the second terminal may not compete for the same random access resources, which could lead to conflicts and improve the success rate of random access.

[0177] The following describes two possible implementations of how the fourth information can be used to determine the second time window:

[0178] In Method 1, the fourth information indicates the first duration, and the start time of the first time window and the second time window are the same. The first duration is the length of the second time window. The first duration and the length of the first time window are not equal, so that the end time of the first time window and the second time window are different, which can adjust the time when the terminal re-initiates the random access request.

[0179] For example, in conjunction with the aforementioned network device, a fifth piece of information is also sent for the second wavelet, as shown in Figure 8a. This fifth piece of information also indicates a second duration, which is the length of the third time window. Similar to the fourth piece of information, the start time of the third time window is the same as the start time of the first time window, but the second duration is not equal to the length of the first time window. This allows the end times of the first and second time windows to be different, thereby adjusting the time at which the terminal re-initiates the random access request. Furthermore, the second duration being unequal to the first duration allows the end times of the second and third time windows to be different. This ensures that the time it takes for the first terminal to resend the random access request after waiting for the rollback duration is different from the time it takes for the second terminal to resend the random access request after waiting for the rollback duration, which helps avoid conflicts between the second and first terminals.

[0180] Method 2: The fourth information indicates the first offset, which is the interval between the start time of the first time window and the start time of the second time window, or the first offset is the interval between the end time of the first time window and the end time of the second time window. By adjusting the position of the first time window through the first offset to obtain the second time window, the end times of the first time window and the second time window can be different, thereby adjusting the time when the terminal re-initiates the random access request.

[0181] For example, in conjunction with the network device described above, the fifth information of the second wave bit is also sent, as shown in Figure 8b. The fifth information further indicates a second offset, which is the interval between the first time window and the third time window. Further, the second offset is the interval between the start time of the first time window and the start time of the third time window, or the second offset is the interval between the end time of the first time window and the end time of the third time window. Further, the second offset is not equal to the first offset. In this way, the end times of the second time window and the third time window are different, which allows the time it takes for the first terminal to resend the random access request after waiting for the backoff time to be different from the time it takes for the second terminal to resend the random access request after waiting for the backoff time, thus helping to avoid conflicts between the second terminal and the first terminal.

[0182] It should be understood that methods one and two described above can be combined in some scenarios. This approach alters the end position of the random access response time window. Since the terminal needs to re-initiate random access after the random access response time window, this method changes the timing of the terminal's subsequent random access request. Network devices can configure different end times for the random access response time windows of different terminals within the same RO (Remote Access Controller). Consequently, these different terminals will re-send random access requests at different times, reducing the probability of multiple terminals competing for resources within the same time period, minimizing conflicts, providing a more stable access environment for terminals, and improving the success rate of random access.

[0183] 703. After failing to receive a random access response in the second time window, the terminal sends a random access request to the network device.

[0184] In this embodiment, if the terminal does not receive a random access response from the network device within the second time window, it can be understood as a failed random access response. Therefore, after the second time window ends, the terminal can wait for a rollback period and then re-initiate the random access request. Since the network device changes the end position of the terminal's random access response time window through the fourth information, it also changes the time at which the terminal resends the random access request. The network device can configure different terminals within the same RO to have different end times for their random access response time windows. Consequently, these different terminals will resend random access requests at different times, which helps reduce the probability of multiple terminals competing for resources within the same time period, reduces conflicts, provides a more stable access environment for the terminal, and improves the success rate of random access.

[0185] To improve the success rate of terminal access, this application proposes a communication method. As shown in Figure 9, the communication method includes steps 901 to 903. This application does not limit the order in which steps 901 and 902 are executed. For example, step 901 may be executed before step 902; or step 902 may be executed before step 901; or steps 901 and 902 may be executed simultaneously.

[0186] The method shown in Figure 9 can be applied between a terminal-side device and a network-side device. The terminal-side device can be a terminal, or a processor, module, chip, chip system, or functional module implementing the method. The network-side device can be a network device, or a processor, module, chip, chip system, or functional module implementing the method. Figure 9 illustrates this using a terminal and network device as the executing entities as an example.

[0187] 901. The network device sends the sixth information, and the corresponding terminal receives the sixth information. The sixth information is used to indicate the first random access resource.

[0188] In some possible implementations, the sixth information can be carried in an SSB or an SIB. The network device can indicate the first random access resource to the terminal through the SSB or SIB. The first random access resource is a resource that can be used to initiate random access.

[0189] 902. The network device sends the seventh information, and the corresponding terminal receives the seventh information. The seventh information is used to determine the second random access resource and to indicate the third offset. The third offset is the interval between the first random access resource and the second random access resource. The start time of the second random access resource is after the first random access resource.

[0190] In this embodiment, the network device can adjust the resource location used by the terminal to initiate random access through the seventh information, avoiding a large number of terminals initiating random access in a concentrated period of time, thus preventing conflicts and providing a more stable access environment for the terminal, thereby improving the success rate of random access. Optionally, the third offset can be a time offset. For example, the third offset is the interval between the start time of the first random access resource and the start time of the second random access resource, or the third offset is the interval between the end time of the first random access resource and the end time of the second random access resource.

[0191] For example, as shown in Figure 10, during the first time period, the network congestion level is high. The first random access resource is located during the first time period. If the terminal sends a random access request based on the first random access resource, it may conflict with other terminals. The second random access resource is determined by the third offset indicated by the seventh information. The second random access resource is located during the second time period. The network congestion level is low during the second time period. Therefore, if the terminal initiates random access based on the second random access resource, it is beneficial to avoid conflicts and thus improve the success rate of random access.

[0192] For example, network devices can send a seventh message based on cell congestion conditions. For instance, assuming the first random access resource is located within a first time period, the network device predicts the network congestion level within that time period. If the prediction indicates high congestion, the network device can send a seventh message to prevent terminals from initiating random access using the first random access resource. Alternatively, in satellite communication scenarios, when a satellite moves to an area with a large number of users within a first time period, the network device can send a seventh message to prevent terminals from initiating random access using the first random access resource, thereby avoiding conflicts caused by a large number of terminals initiating random access simultaneously.

[0193] Optionally, network congestion can be characterized by parameters such as random access success rate, resource utilization, number of user connections, packet loss rate, or throughput. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0194] In some possible implementations, before step 902, the core network device sends congestion information to the network device. Correspondingly, this core network device is an AMF (Active Network Provider). The congestion information indicates the network congestion situation within a first time period, and the seventh information is determined based on the congestion information. Optionally, the congestion information indicates a high degree of network congestion within the first time period. Since the first random access resource is located within the first time period, the network device can use the seventh information to enable some terminals to initiate random access using the second random access resource, avoiding conflicts between terminals and thus improving the success rate of random access. Optionally, this core network device is an AMF.

[0195] In some possible implementations, this seventh information is carried in a broadcast message at the beam level, such as a system message. In this way, when different beams share the SSB, the timing of random access initiated by terminals under different beams can be different, thereby avoiding conflicts between terminals under different beams.

[0196] 903. The terminal sends a random access request to the network device based on the second random access resource.

[0197] In this embodiment, the terminal adjusts the resource location used to initiate random access based on the seventh information, and determines to initiate random access on the second random access resource. This helps to avoid a large number of terminals initiating random access in a short period of time, which could lead to conflicts. It provides a more stable access environment for the terminal and helps to improve the success rate of random access.

[0198] To improve the success rate of terminal access, this application proposes a communication method. As shown in Figure 11, the communication method includes steps 1101 to 1102. This application does not limit the order in which steps 1101 and 1102 are executed. For example, step 1101 may be executed before step 1102; or step 1102 may be executed before step 1101; or steps 1101 and 1102 may be executed simultaneously.

[0199] The method shown in Figure 11 can be applied between a terminal-side device and a network-side device. The terminal-side device can be a terminal, or a processor, module, chip, chip system, or functional module implementing the method. The network-side device can be a network device, or a processor, module, chip, chip system, or functional module implementing the method. Figure 11 illustrates the method using a terminal and network device as the executing entities.

[0200] 1101. The network device sends the eighth message. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the eighth message. The eighth message indicates the second index. The second index is associated with the third backoff duration. The second index is greater than 13, and the third backoff duration is greater than 1920ms.

[0201] 1102. The terminal sends a random access request to the network device based on the third backoff duration.

[0202] In this embodiment, the eighth information can be used to indicate to the terminal the rollback duration to be waited after a random access failure. Optionally, the eighth information is carried in a RAR MAC PDU, and the second index can be represented by the BI subheader of the RAR MAC PDU. Optionally, the index can also be described as an identifier or a number, which is not limited in this embodiment.

[0203] Understandably, there is a correlation between indexes and rollback duration. For example, the correlation between indexes and rollback duration can be shown in Listing 5 below:

[0204] Table 5

[0205] For example, when the second index is 14, the associated third rollback duration is 3840ms; and when the second index is 15, the associated third rollback duration is 30720ms.

[0206] It should be understood that Table 5 above is only an example. Indexes 14 and 15 can also be associated with other rollback durations, or the second index can be greater than 15. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0207] This approach increases the range of fallback time for terminals. Configuring a longer fallback time can distribute the time terminals spend attempting to access the network, reducing the probability of multiple terminals competing for resources simultaneously, thus reducing conflicts and providing a more stable access environment, which is beneficial for improving access success rate. Furthermore, a longer fallback time can reduce the number of access attempts by the terminal, thereby reducing power consumption. In addition, this method allows for full utilization of reserved indexes, avoids introducing complex extension mechanisms, does not affect the fallback time associated with other existing indexes, is simple to implement, and does not require additional signaling, reducing signaling overhead.

[0208] The following describes the communication device provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0209] This application divides the communication 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 only represents one logical functional division; other division methods may be used in actual implementation. The communication device of the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 12 to 14.

[0210] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 12, the communication device includes a processing module 1201 and a communication module 1202. The communication module 1202 can implement corresponding communication functions, and the processing module 1201 is used to implement corresponding processing functions. For example, the communication module 1202 can also be an interface, a communication interface, etc.

[0211] In this embodiment, the communication device can be used to perform the actions performed by the terminal-side device in the above method embodiment. In this case, the terminal-side device can be the terminal-side device itself or a chip or functional module configurable within the terminal-side device. The communication module 1202 is used to perform the transmit / receive related operations of the terminal-side device in the above method embodiment, and the processing module 1201 is used to perform the processing related operations of the terminal-side device in the above method embodiment.

[0212] In some embodiments, the communication module 1202 is configured to receive first information and second information, the first information indicating a first index, the first index being used to determine a first rollback duration or a second rollback duration, the first rollback duration being longer than the second rollback duration, and the second information enabling the first index to determine the first rollback duration; the communication module 1202 is also configured to send a random access request to the network device based on the first rollback duration.

[0213] In some embodiments, the communication module 1202 is configured to receive third information, the third information indicating a first time window; the communication module 1202 is further configured to receive fourth information, the fourth information being used to determine a second time window, the fourth information indicating a first duration and / or a first offset, the first duration being the length of the second time window, the first duration being unequal to the length of the first time window, and the first offset being the interval between the first time window and the second time window; the communication module 1202 is further configured to send a random access request to the network device if a random access response is not successfully received within the second time window.

[0214] In some embodiments, the communication module 1202 is configured to receive sixth information, which indicates a first random access resource; the communication module 1202 is also configured to receive seventh information, which determines a second random access resource and indicates a third offset, which is the interval between the first random access resource and the second random access resource, and the start time of the second random access resource is after the first random access resource; the communication module 1202 is also configured to send a random access request to the network device based on the second random access resource.

[0215] In some embodiments, the communication module 1202 is configured to receive eighth information, the eighth information indicating a second index, the second index being associated with a third backoff duration, the second index being greater than 13, and the third backoff duration being greater than 1920 milliseconds; the communication module 1202 is also configured to send a random access request to the network device based on the third backoff duration.

[0216] In this embodiment, the communication device can be used to perform the actions performed by the network-side device in the above method embodiment. In this case, the network-side device can be the network-side device itself or a chip or functional module configurable within the network-side device. The communication module 1202 is used to perform the transmit / receive related operations of the network-side device in the above method embodiment, and the processing module 1201 is used to perform the processing related operations of the network-side device in the above method embodiment.

[0217] In some embodiments, the communication module 1202 is configured to send first information and second information, the first information indicating a first index, the first index being used to determine a first rollback duration or a second rollback duration, the first rollback duration being longer than the second rollback duration, and the second information enabling the first index to determine the first rollback duration.

[0218] In some embodiments, the communication module 1202 is configured to send third information, the third information indicating a first time window; the communication module 1202 is also configured to send fourth information, the fourth information being used to determine a second time window, the second time window being used to transmit a random access response, the fourth information indicating a first duration and / or a first offset, the first duration being the length of the second time window, the first duration being unequal to the length of the first time window, and the first offset being the interval between the first time window and the second time window.

[0219] In some embodiments, the communication module 1202 is configured to send a sixth message, the sixth message being used to indicate a first random access resource; the communication module 1202 is also configured to send a seventh message, the seventh message being used to determine a second random access resource, the seventh message being used to indicate a third offset, the third offset being the interval between the first random access resource and the second random access resource, the start time of the second random access resource being after the first random access resource.

[0220] In some embodiments, the communication module 1202 is configured to send an eighth message, the eighth message indicating a second index, the second index being associated with a third backoff duration, the second index being greater than 13, and the third backoff duration being greater than 1920 milliseconds.

[0221] Optionally, in the above embodiments, the communication device may further include a storage module, which can be used to store instructions and / or data. The processing module 1201 can read the instructions and / or data in the storage module so that the communication device can implement the aforementioned method embodiments.

[0222] The specific descriptions of the communication module and the processing module are merely examples. For the specific functions or execution steps of the communication module and the processing module, please refer to the above method embodiments, which will not be detailed here.

[0223] The communication device according to the embodiments of this application has been described above. The following describes possible product forms of the communication device. Any product possessing the functions of the communication device described in FIG12 above falls within the protection scope of the embodiments of this application. The following description is merely illustrative and does not limit the product form of the communication device according to the embodiments of this application to this extent.

[0224] In one possible implementation, in the communication device shown in FIG12, the processing module 1201 can be one or more processing circuits, and the communication module 1202 can be a communication circuit. Alternatively, the communication module 1202 can also be a transmitting module and / or a receiving module. The transmitting module can be a transmitting circuit, and the receiving module can be a receiving circuit. The transmitting module and the receiving module are integrated into one device, such as a communication circuit. In the embodiments of this application, the processing circuit and the communication circuit can be coupled, etc. The connection method of the processing circuit and the communication circuit is not limited in the embodiments of this application. In the process of performing the above method, the process of sending information in the above method can be the process of the processing circuit outputting the above information. When outputting the above information, the processing circuit outputs the above information to the communication circuit so that the communication circuit can transmit (or output). After the above information is output by the processing circuit, it may need to undergo other processing before reaching the communication circuit. Similarly, the process of receiving information in the above method can be the process of the processing circuit receiving the input above information. When the processing circuit receives the input information, the communication circuit receives the above information and inputs it into the processing circuit. Furthermore, after the communication circuit receives the aforementioned information, the information may need to undergo further processing before being input into the processing circuit.

[0225] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 13, the communication device 130 includes one or more processing circuits 1320 and communication circuits 1310.

[0226] In some embodiments of this application, the communication device can be used to execute the steps, methods, or functions performed by the terminal-side device described above. For example, the processing circuit 1320 can be used to execute the functions or steps implemented by the processing module 1201 shown in FIG. 12, and the communication circuit 1310 can be used to execute the functions or steps implemented by the communication module 1202 shown in FIG. 12. Detailed descriptions of the processing circuit 1320 and the communication circuit 1310 can be found in FIG. 12 or the method embodiments shown above, and will not be elaborated further here.

[0227] In other embodiments of this application, the communication device is used to perform the steps, methods, or functions performed by the network-side device described above. For example, the processing circuit 1320 can be used to perform the functions or steps implemented by the processing module 1201 shown in FIG. 12, and the communication circuit 1310 can be used to perform the functions or steps implemented by the communication module 1202 shown in FIG. 12. Detailed descriptions of the processing circuit 1320 and the communication circuit 1310 can be found in FIG. 12 or the method embodiments shown above, and will not be elaborated further here.

[0228] For example, the processing circuitry may be one or more processors, or all or part of the circuitry within one or more processors. The communication circuitry may be a transceiver, an input / output circuit, or an interface circuit, etc.

[0229] For example, in various implementations of the communication device shown in FIG13, the communication circuit may include a receiver for performing a receiving function (or operation) and a transmitter for performing a transmitting function (or operation). The communication circuit is also used to communicate with other devices / communication devices via a transmission medium.

[0230] Optionally, the communication device 130 may further include one or more memories 1330 for storing program instructions and / or data. The memories 1330 are coupled to the processing circuitry 1320. 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 processing circuitry 1320 may operate in conjunction with the memories 1330. The processing circuitry 1320 may execute the program instructions stored in the memories 1330. Optionally, at least one of the aforementioned memories may be included in the processing circuitry.

[0231] This application embodiment does not limit the specific connection medium between the communication circuit 1310, processing circuit 1320, and memory 1330. In Figure 13, the memory 1330, processing circuit 1320, and communication circuit 1310 are connected by a bus 1340, which is represented by a thick line in Figure 13. The connection methods between other components are only illustrative and are not intended to be limiting. The bus can be divided into address bus, data bus, control bus, etc. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is used in Figure 13, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0232] In the embodiments of this application, the processing circuit may be a general-purpose processing circuit, a digital signal processing circuit, 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 in the embodiments of this application. The general-purpose processing circuit may be a microprocessor circuit or any conventional processing circuit, etc. The steps of the methods in conjunction with the embodiments of this application can be directly manifested as the execution of the hardware processing circuit, or the execution of the steps by combining hardware and software modules in the processing circuit, etc.

[0233] 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 in the form of instructions or data structures, 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 these. The memory in this application embodiment may also be a circuit or any other communication device capable of implementing storage functions, used to store program instructions and / or data.

[0234] For example, the processing circuit 1320 is mainly used to process communication protocols and communication data, control the entire communication device, execute software programs, and process the data of the software programs. The memory 1330 is mainly used to store software programs and data. The communication circuit 1310 may include a control circuit and an antenna. The control circuit is mainly used for the conversion between baseband signals and radio frequency signals, and for processing radio frequency signals. The antenna is mainly used for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. Input / output communication devices, such as touch screens, displays, and keyboards, are mainly used to receive user input data and output data to the user.

[0235] When the communication device is powered on, the processing circuit 1320 can read the software program in the memory 1330, 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 processing circuit 1320 performs baseband processing on the data to be transmitted and outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency (RF) circuit. The RF circuit then performs RF processing on 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 processing circuit 1320. The processing circuit 1320 converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

[0236] In another implementation, the radio frequency circuit and antenna can be set up independently of the processing circuit that performs baseband processing. For example, in a distributed scenario, the radio frequency circuit and antenna can be arranged in a remote manner, independent of the communication device.

[0237] The communication device shown in this application embodiment may also have more components than those in Figure 13, and this application embodiment does not limit this. The methods performed by the processing circuit and communication circuit shown above are only examples, and the specific steps performed by the processing circuit and communication circuit can be referred to the methods described above.

[0238] In another possible implementation, in the communication device shown in FIG12, the processing module 1201 may be one or more logic circuits, and the communication module 1202 may be an input / output interface, or a communication interface, or an interface circuit, or an interface, etc. Alternatively, the communication module 1202 may also include a transmitting module and / or a receiving module. The transmitting module may include an output interface, and the receiving module may include an input interface. The transmitting module and the receiving module are integrated into one module, such as an input / output interface.

[0239] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 14, the communication device includes a logic circuit 1401 and an interface circuit 1402. That is, the processing module 1201 can be implemented using the logic circuit 1401, and the communication module 1202 can be implemented using the interface circuit 1402. The logic circuit 1401 can be a chip, a processing circuit, an integrated circuit, or a system-on-a-chip (SoC) chip, etc., and the interface circuit 1402 can be a communication interface, an input / output interface, pins, etc. For example, the communication device in Figure 14 can be a chip, which includes the logic circuit 1401 and the interface circuit 1402.

[0240] 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 1401 can be used to execute the functions or steps implemented by the processing module 1201 shown in FIG. 12, and the interface circuit 1402 can be used to execute the functions or steps implemented by the communication module 1202 shown in FIG. 12. For a detailed description of the logic circuit 1401 and the interface circuit 1402, please refer to FIG. 12 or the method embodiment shown above, which will not be detailed here.

[0241] The communication device shown in the embodiments of this application can implement the method provided in the embodiments of this application in hardware form, or it can implement the method provided in the embodiments of this application in software form, etc., and the embodiments of this application do not limit it in this way.

[0242] This application also provides a communication system, which includes a terminal-side device and a network-side device, which can be used to execute the methods in any of the foregoing embodiments.

[0243] In addition, this application also provides a computer program for implementing the operations and / or processes performed by various communication devices in the method provided in this application.

[0244] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer code that, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform the operations and / or processes performed by various communication devices in the methods provided in this application.

[0245] This application also provides a computer program product comprising computer code or a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the operations and / or processes performed by various entities in the method provided in this application to be executed.

[0246] In the embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, communication devices, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the communication device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For instance, the division of modules is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple modules or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. In addition, the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, communication devices, or modules, or it may be an electrical, mechanical, or other form of connection.

[0247] The modules described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as modules may or may not be physical modules; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network modules. Some or all of the modules can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the technical effects of the solutions provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0248] Furthermore, the functional modules in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing module, or each module can exist physically separately, or two or more modules can be integrated into one module. The integrated modules described above can be implemented in hardware or as software functional modules.

[0249] If the integrated module is implemented as a software functional module and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. 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 readable storage medium 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 readable storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0250] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Receive first information and second information, the first information indicates a first index, the first index is used to determine a first rollback duration or a second rollback duration, the first rollback duration is greater than the second rollback duration, and the second information enables the first index to determine the first rollback duration; Based on the first rollback duration, a random access request is sent to the network device.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first rollback duration is determined based on the first parameter and the first period. The first index is associated with the first parameter. The first period is the synchronization signal block (SSB) period, or the first period is the association period between the random access opportunity (RO) and the SSB.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first rollback duration is equal to the product of the first parameter and the first period.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The first parameter is equal to the first index.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first rollback duration is determined based on the second rollback duration.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The second information is also used to indicate a second parameter, which is greater than 1, and the first rollback duration is equal to the product of the second rollback duration and the first parameter.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The second information is carried in the SIB.

8. A communication method, characterized in that, The method includes: Send a first message and a second message. The first message indicates a first index, which is used to determine a first rollback duration or a second rollback duration. The first rollback duration is longer than the second rollback duration. The second message enables the first index to be used to determine the first rollback duration.

9. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first rollback duration is determined based on the first parameter and the first period. The first index is associated with the first parameter. The first period is the synchronization signal block (SSB) period, or the first period is the association period between the random access opportunity (RO) and the SSB.

10. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The first rollback duration is equal to the product of the first parameter and the first period.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that, The first parameter is equal to the first index.

12. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The first rollback duration is determined based on the second rollback duration.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The second information is also used to indicate a second parameter, which is greater than 1, and the first rollback duration is equal to the product of the second rollback duration and the first parameter.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that, The second information is carried in the SIB.

15. A communication device, characterized in that, The apparatus includes a module or unit for performing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, or the apparatus includes a module or unit for performing the method according to any one of claims 8 to 14.

16. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device includes at least one processor; wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the communication device to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 7, or the at least one processor is configured to cause the communication device to perform the method of any one of claims 8 to 14.

17. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The storage medium stores a computer program or instructions, which, when executed, perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, or the method as described in any one of claims 8 to 14.

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