Data indication method and related apparatus

Abstract

Provided in the embodiments of the present application are a data indication method and a related apparatus. The data indication method comprises: sending a first message, wherein the first message comprises second data and first information, the second data is first data or segmented data of the first data, the first data corresponds to service data to be transmitted by a terminal, the first information is used for indicating information regarding a remaining data volume, and the information regarding the remaining data volume indicates the range of the volume of data to be transmitted after the terminal sends the second data. The range of the volume of data to be transmitted is indicated by means of information regarding a remaining data volume, instead of the remaining data volume being directly reported, such that the remaining data volume can be replaced with the information regarding the remaining data volume that occupies fewer bits, thereby reducing the number of bits of information in a second message that is used for indicating the remaining data volume, and thus improving the bit occupancy rate of data to be transmitted by a terminal. Moreover, in a scenario where a network side cannot learn of the volume of the data to be transmitted by the terminal, the range indicated by the information regarding the remaining data volume can also be used to estimate scheduling resources, thereby ensuring the normal execution of a scheme.

Description

Data indication method and related device

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 2025103780605, filed on March 26, 2025, entitled “Data Indication Method and Related Apparatus”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of wireless communication technology, and in particular to a data indication method and related apparatus. Background Technology

[0003] In wireless communication systems, such as ambient internet of things (AIOT) systems, terminals can report data to the network. For example, the network instructs the terminal on the size of the data packet that can be transmitted in a single transmission, referred to as the Transport Block Size (TBS). If the terminal's data to be transmitted is smaller than the TBS, the terminal can send the data. If the terminal's data to be transmitted is larger than the TBS, the terminal must first segment the data before sending the segmented data.

[0004] In scenarios where the terminal segments the data to be transmitted, the terminal can report 1 bit of information to the network side to indicate that it still has data to be transmitted, or report the remaining amount of data after the data to be transmitted has been segmented. In this way, the network side can estimate the TBS for the next data transmission based on the 1 bit of information reported by the terminal or the remaining amount of data.

[0005] However, the method of the terminal reporting 1 bit of information cannot be applied in scenarios where the network side cannot know the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal; the method of reporting the remaining data amount will occupy more bits, which is not conducive to the terminal transmitting the terminal's data to be transmitted with enough bits. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This application provides a data indication method and related apparatus, which aims to enable implementation in scenarios where the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal cannot be known on the network side, and to improve the bit occupancy rate of the data to be transmitted by the terminal.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides the following technical solution:

[0008] Firstly, this application provides a data indication method, which can be executed by a terminal, which may refer to a terminal device, or a component configured in the terminal device (such as a circuit, chip, or chip system), or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the terminal device. This application does not limit this.

[0009] The data indication method includes: sending a first message, the first message including second data and first information; wherein: the second data is the first data or segmented data of the first data, the first data corresponds to the service data to be transmitted by the terminal; the first information is used to indicate the remaining data volume information, the remaining data volume information indicates the range of the amount of data to be transmitted after the terminal sends the second data.

[0010] As can be seen from the above technical solution, by indicating the range of data to be transmitted through remaining data quantity information, instead of directly reporting the remaining data quantity, it is possible to use a smaller percentage of remaining data quantity information to represent the actual remaining data quantity. This reduces the number of bits indicating the remaining data quantity in the second message, thereby improving the bit occupancy rate of the terminal's data to be transmitted. Furthermore, in scenarios where the network side cannot know the terminal's data quantity to be transmitted, the range of data quantity indicated by the remaining data quantity information can be used to estimate scheduling resources and ensure the normal execution of the solution.

[0011] In some possible implementations, the first information is used to indicate the remaining data volume information. This remaining data volume information indicates the range of data to be transmitted after the terminal sends the second data. The remaining data volume information includes a first value, which indicates that the range of data to be transmitted is a first range. In this implementation, the range of data to be transmitted is indicated by the first value, which occupies fewer bits, resulting in a higher bit occupancy rate for the data to be transmitted by the terminal.

[0012] In some possible implementations, the first range is indicated by an interval consisting of a first threshold value; or, the first range is indicated by an interval consisting of a multiple of the amount of second data, where the multiple is a number greater than 0; or, the first range is indicated by an interval consisting of a multiple of the amount of received data, where the multiple is a number greater than 0, and the amount of received data is used to indicate the cumulative amount of data successfully received by the network side; or, the first range is indicated by an interval consisting of a multiple of the transport block size (TBS), where the multiple is a number greater than 0, and TBS indicates the size of the data packets that the terminal can transmit as indicated by the network side; or, the first range is indicated by an interval consisting of a multiple of the size of the downlink data packets sent by the intermediate device received by the terminal, where the multiple is a number greater than 0.

[0013] In some possible implementations, before sending the first message, the system further includes receiving a second message, which instructs the terminal to report the remaining data volume information. This implementation is well-suited for group command services. After the intermediate device receives the first data reported by one terminal, since the first data from other terminals may be the same or similar, other terminals in the group do not need to report the remaining data volume information. The intermediate device can determine the data to be transmitted by other terminals based on the received first data, and thus make resource scheduling decisions, reducing the number of times remaining data volume information is reported.

[0014] In some possible implementations, the second message includes at least one of the following: Transport Block Size (TBS), Reporting Indication Information, Received Data Amount, and Threshold Value; wherein: TBS indicates the size of data packets that the terminal can transmit as indicated by the network side; Received Data Amount is used to indicate the cumulative amount of data successfully received by the network side; and Threshold Value is used to indicate the range of the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal.

[0015] In some possible implementations, the first message may also include second information, which indicates that the first message includes the first information and / or indicates that the second data is segmented data of the first data, thereby providing a clear indication of whether the terminal still has data to be transmitted.

[0016] In some possible implementations, the first message further includes third information, wherein: the third information is used to indicate that the terminal has N pieces of first data to be transmitted, and / or to indicate the remaining data volume of some or all of the N pieces of first data, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1; or, the third information is used to indicate that there is first data to be transmitted, and / or to indicate the remaining data volume of some or all of the N pieces of first data, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1. This implementation can be applied to indicating the remaining data volume information in multiple first data transmission schemes, thereby facilitating more reasonable resource scheduling for this scenario.

[0017] In some possible implementations, the third information indicating the remaining amount of some of the first data in N first data includes: the third information indicating the remaining amount of the next first data to be transmitted from the currently transmitted first data; or, the third information indicating the remaining amount of NM first data to be transmitted, where M is an integer between 1 and N.

[0018] In some possible implementations, the order of the remaining data of some or all of the N first data indicated by the third information corresponds to the generation order or transmission order of the N first data.

[0019] In some possible implementations, the third information indicates the remaining amount of some or all of the first data in the N first data, including: the third information indicates the size of the remaining amount of some or all of the first data in the N first data, or indicates the range of the remaining amount of some or all of the first data in the N first data.

[0020] In some possible implementations, sending the first message includes: sending the first message based on the amount of data in the first data and the amount of data in the header of the first message.

[0021] In some possible implementations, sending a first message based on the amount of data in the first data and the amount of data in the header of the first message includes: sending a first message if the sum of the amount of data in the first data and the amount of data in the header of the first message is greater than or equal to the transport block size (TBS), wherein TBS indicates the size of the data packet to be transmitted as indicated by the network side; or sending a first message if the difference between the transport block size (TBS) and the sum of the amount of data in the first data and the amount of data in the header of the first message is greater than or equal to a second value, wherein TBS indicates the size of the data packet that the terminal can transmit as indicated by the network side.

[0022] In some possible implementations, the first data includes higher-level data packets from the terminal.

[0023] Secondly, this application provides a data indication method, which can be executed by an intermediate device, which may refer to the device itself, or a component configured in the device (such as a circuit, chip, or chip system), or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the device's functions. This application does not limit this.

[0024] The data indication method includes: receiving a first message, the first message including second data and first information; wherein: the second data is the first data or segmented data of the first data, the first data corresponds to the data of the terminal's service; the first information is used to indicate the remaining data volume information, the remaining data volume information indicates the range of the amount of data to be transmitted after the terminal sends the second data.

[0025] In some possible implementations, the first information is used to indicate the remaining data volume information. The remaining data volume information indicates the range of the amount of data to be transmitted after the terminal sends the second data. The remaining data volume information includes a first value, which indicates that the range of the amount of data to be transmitted is a first range.

[0026] In some possible implementations, the first range is indicated by an interval consisting of a first threshold value; or, the first range is indicated by an interval consisting of a multiple of the amount of second data, where the multiple is a number greater than 0; or, the first range is indicated by an interval consisting of a multiple of the amount of received data, where the multiple is a number greater than 0, and the amount of received data is used to indicate the cumulative amount of data successfully received by the network side; or, the first range is indicated by an interval consisting of a multiple of the transport block size (TBS), where the multiple is a number greater than 0, and TBS indicates the size of the data packets that the terminal can transmit as indicated by the network side; or, the first range is indicated by an interval consisting of a multiple of the size of the downlink data packets sent by the intermediate device received by the terminal, where the multiple is a number greater than 0.

[0027] In some possible implementations, before receiving the first message, a second message is sent, which instructs the terminal to report the remaining data amount.

[0028] In some possible implementations, the second message includes at least one of the following: Transport Block Size (TBS), Reporting Indication Information, Received Data Amount, and Threshold Value; wherein: TBS indicates the size of data packets that the terminal can transmit as indicated by the network side; Received Data Amount is used to indicate the cumulative amount of data successfully received by the network side; and Threshold Value is used to indicate the range of the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal.

[0029] In some possible implementations, the first message may also include second information, which indicates that the first message includes the first information and / or indicates that the second data is segmented data of the first data.

[0030] In some possible implementations, the first message further includes third information, wherein: the third information is used to indicate that the terminal has N pieces of first data to be transmitted, and / or to indicate the remaining amount of some or all of the first data among the N pieces of first data, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1; or, the third information is used to indicate that there is first data to be transmitted, and / or to indicate the remaining amount of some or all of the first data among the N pieces of first data, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0031] In some possible implementations, the third information indicating the remaining amount of some of the first data in N first data includes: the third information indicating the remaining amount of the next first data to be transmitted from the currently transmitted first data; or, the third information indicating the remaining amount of NM first data to be transmitted, where M is an integer between 1 and N.

[0032] In some possible implementations, the order of the remaining data of some or all of the N first data indicated by the third information corresponds to the generation order or transmission order of the N first data.

[0033] In some possible implementations, the third information indicates the remaining amount of some or all of the first data in the N first data, including: the third information indicates the size of the remaining amount of some or all of the first data in the N first data, or indicates the range of the remaining amount of some or all of the first data in the N first data.

[0034] In some possible implementations, the first data includes higher-level data packets from the terminal.

[0035] Thirdly, this application provides a data indication method, which can be executed by a terminal, which may refer to a terminal device, or a component configured in the terminal device (such as a circuit, chip, or chip system), or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the terminal device. This application does not limit this aspect.

[0036] The data indication method includes: sending a third message based on the amount of third data and the amount of data in the header of the third message, wherein: the third message includes fourth data and fourth information; the fourth data is third data or segmented data of third data, and the third data corresponds to the service data to be transmitted by the terminal; in the case that the fourth data is segmented data of third data, the fourth information includes fifth information and sixth information, the fifth information is used to indicate the remaining amount of data, the sixth information is used to indicate that the third message includes the fifth information, and / or the fourth data is segmented data of third data.

[0037] In the above technical solution, the terminal sends the third message based on the amount of data in the third data and the amount of data in the header of the third message. In other words, the amount of data in the third data and the amount of data in the header of the third message are the conditions for determining whether the third message includes the fourth information. Because the proportion of the amount of data in the header of the third message is taken into account, the accuracy of determining whether the third message includes the remaining data is also improved.

[0038] In some possible implementations, a third message is sent based on the amount of data in the third data and the amount of data in the header of the third message, including: sending a third message when the sum of the amount of data in the third data and the amount of data in the header of the third message is greater than or equal to the transport block size (TBS), wherein TBS indicates the size of the data packet that the terminal can transmit as indicated by the network side; or sending a third message when the difference between the transport block size (TBS) and the sum of the amount of data in the third data and the amount of data in the header of the third message is greater than or equal to a third value, wherein TBS indicates the size of the data packet to be transmitted as indicated by the network side.

[0039] Fourthly, this application provides a communication device, which includes a communication module for use in communication.

[0040] It should be understood that the communication device of the fourth aspect can be used to perform any or all of the possible implementations of the first or third aspect.

[0041] Fifthly, this application provides a communication device, which includes a communication module for use in communication.

[0042] It should be understood that the communication device of the fifth aspect can be used to perform any or all of the possible implementations of the second aspect.

[0043] In a sixth aspect, this application provides a communication device, including a processor coupled to a memory and a communication interface, which can be used to execute instructions or data in the memory to implement the method or all of the possible implementations of the first or third aspect.

[0044] In some possible implementations, the communication device also includes a memory.

[0045] In some possible implementations, the communication interface can be a transceiver, or an input / output interface.

[0046] In some possible implementations, the communication device is a chip configured in a network device. When the communication device is a chip configured in a network device, the communication interface can be an input / output interface.

[0047] In a seventh aspect, this application provides a communication device including a processor coupled to a memory and a communication interface, which can be used to execute instructions or data in the memory to implement the methods or all of the possible implementations of the second aspect.

[0048] In some possible implementations, the communication device also includes a memory.

[0049] In some possible implementations, the communication interface can be a transceiver, or an input / output interface.

[0050] In some possible implementations, the communication device is a chip configured in the reader / writer. When the communication device is a chip configured in the reader / writer, the communication interface can be an input / output interface.

[0051] Eighthly, this application provides a processor, including: an input circuit, an output circuit, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is used to receive signals through the input circuit and transmit signals through the output circuit, causing the processor to execute the method in any possible implementation of any aspect.

[0052] In specific implementation, the processor can be one or more chips, the input circuit can be input pins, the output circuit can be output pins, and the processing circuit can be transistors, gate circuits, flip-flops, and various logic circuits. The input signal received by the input circuit can be received and input by, for example, but not limited to, a receiver, and the signal output by the output circuit can be, for example, but not limited to, output to and transmitted by a transmitter. Furthermore, the input circuit and the output circuit can be the same circuit, which is used as both the input circuit and the output circuit at different times. This application does not limit the specific implementation of the processor and various circuits.

[0053] Ninthly, this application provides a computer program product comprising: a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions) that, when run, causes a computer to perform a method in any of the possible implementations of any of the above aspects.

[0054] In a tenth aspect, this application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions) that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method in any possible implementation of any of the above aspects.

[0055] Eleventhly, this application provides a chip system including one or more processors for calling and executing instructions stored in memory, causing the methods in any of the above aspects or possible implementations to be executed. The chip system may be composed of chips or may include chips and other discrete devices. The chip system may include input circuitry or interfaces for transmitting information or data, and output circuitry or interfaces for receiving information or data.

[0056] In a twelfth aspect, this application provides a communication system including the aforementioned terminal and intermediate device.

[0057] In one possible implementation, the communication system may also include other devices that communicate with the terminal and / or intermediate devices.

[0058] The technical effects of the solutions provided in aspects two through twelfth are described in the content of aspect one. Attached Figure Description

[0059] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the communication system with T1 topology;

[0060] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the communication system with T2 topology;

[0061] Figure 3 shows a partial protocol stack example for AIoT.

[0062] Figures 4 to 6 are schematic diagrams illustrating the interaction process between the reader and the IoT device;

[0063] Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating the data indication method disclosed in an embodiment of this application;

[0064] Figures 8 and 9 are schematic diagrams of several structures of the MAC PDU disclosed in the embodiments of this application;

[0065] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second message disclosed in an embodiment of this application;

[0066] Figure 11 is a flowchart illustrating another data indication method disclosed in an embodiment of this application;

[0067] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the hierarchical interaction between the terminal and network device disclosed in the embodiments of this application;

[0068] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the MAC PDU disclosed in the embodiments of this application;

[0069] Figure 14 is a flowchart illustrating another data indication method disclosed in an embodiment of this application;

[0070] Figures 15 and 16 are schematic diagrams of several other structures of the MAC PDU disclosed in the embodiments of this application;

[0071] Figure 17 is a schematic diagram of the hierarchical interaction between the terminal and network device disclosed in the embodiments of this application;

[0072] Figure 18 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the MAC PDU disclosed in the embodiments of this application;

[0073] Figure 19 is a structural example diagram of a communication device disclosed in an embodiment of this application;

[0074] Figure 20 is a structural example diagram of another communication device disclosed in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0075] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The terminology used in the following embodiments is for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and is not intended to be a limitation of this application. As used in the specification and appended claims of this application, the singular expressions "a," "an," "the," "the," "the," and "this" are intended to also include expressions such as "one or more," unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that in the embodiments of this application, "one or more" refers to one, two, or more; "and / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships may exist; for example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0076] References to "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" as described in this specification mean that one or more embodiments of this application include a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment. Therefore, the phrases "in one embodiment," "in some embodiments," "in other embodiments," "in still other embodiments," etc., appearing in different parts of this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but rather mean "one or more, but not all, embodiments," unless otherwise specifically emphasized. The terms "comprising," "including," "having," and variations thereof mean "including but not limited to," unless otherwise specifically emphasized.

[0077] The "multiple" mentioned in the embodiments of this application refers to two or more. It should be noted that in the description of the embodiments of this application, terms such as "first" and "second" are used only for the purpose of distinguishing descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, nor should they be construed as indicating or implying order.

[0078] The technical solutions provided in this application can be applied to communication systems, which may include, but are not limited to, the following systems: second-generation (2G) communication systems, third-generation (3G) communication systems, long-term evolution (LTE) systems, universal mobile telecommunication systems (UMTS), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication systems, fifth-generation (5G) systems or new radio (NR) systems, 5.5G systems or sixth-generation (6G) systems, and future mobile communication systems; vehicle-to-X (V2X); V2X may include vehicle-to-network (V2N), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P), etc.; long-term evolution-vehicle (LTE-V) technology for vehicle-to-everything (V2V); vehicle-to-everything (V2X); machine-type communication (MTC); and the Internet of Things (IoT). Things (IoT), Ambient Internet of Things (AIOT), Long Term Evolution of Machines (LTE-M), Machine to Machine (M2M), etc.

[0079] The scenarios in which this communication system is applicable include: terrestrial cellular communication, non-terrestrial network (NTN), satellite communication, high altitude platform station (HAPS) communication, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, integrated access and backhaul (IAB) communication, and reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) communication, etc.

[0080] For example, the communication system provided in this application embodiment may include: a first device, a second device, and a third device. The first device can communicate with the second device, and the second device can communicate with the third device.

[0081] The first device is an Internet of Things (IoT) device. For example, the first device may include an AIoT device, which is a new type of IoT device that harvests energy from radio waves, light, motion, heat, or any other available ambient energy source and uses it as its power source. Some or all of the characteristics of an AIoT device can be described in the 3GPP standard. For example, an AIoT device can be a device for inventorying assets, which may include hardware assets, software assets, and data assets related to the AIoT device; this application embodiment does not limit this. In some embodiments, hardware assets may be the brand, model, quantity, or usage status of sensors, etc., this application embodiment does not limit this. In some embodiments, software assets may be the name, version, developer, functional description, or scope of use of application software, etc., this application embodiment does not limit this. In some embodiments, data assets may be user data using the AIoT device, such as user identity information, user usage habits, etc., this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0082] The second device is a reader, also known as an intermediate device, used to read data from the AIoT device. This data may include information on assets inventoried by the AIoT device, such as checking asset inventory. It may also include instructions for reading and writing data to the AIoT device; however, this embodiment does not limit the scope of the application. The second device can also assist the core network device in acquiring data from the AIoT device, thereby facilitating the core network device's management of the AIoT device.

[0083] The third device can be a network-side device used to provide network communication functions. In some cases, it is also called a network device or network element. A network device can usually be a base station (including the functional units of the base station, or a combination of the functional units of the base station) or a core network unit. The core network unit can be a functional unit in the core network, including but not limited to the access and mobility management function (AMF) unit or the session management function (SMF) unit.

[0084] It is understood that in some embodiments, the second device may be a radio access network (RAN), also known as an AIoT RAN. The RAN may be an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB) in a 5G mobile communication system, a base station in a next-generation 6G communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, an access point (AP) in a WiFi system, a radio controller, relay station, access point, vehicle-mounted equipment, wearable devices, or network equipment in other future communication systems. Alternatively, the RAN may also be a module or unit that performs some of the functions of a base station; for example, it may be a central unit (CU) or a distributed unit (DU). This application does not limit the specific technology or device form used in the second device.

[0085] In other embodiments, the second device may also be a user equipment (UE), an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, or a repeater, or other device with relay capabilities. The UE may also be referred to as: terminal equipment, station, mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication equipment, user agent, or user equipment, etc.

[0086] A UE can be a device that provides voice or data connectivity to a user, such as a handheld device or vehicle-mounted device with wireless connectivity. Currently, examples of terminals include: mobile phones, tablets, laptops, PDAs, mobile internet devices (MIDs), wearable devices, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals with cloud gaming capabilities, wireless terminals in self-driving vehicles, wireless terminals in remote medical surgery, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart cities, wireless terminals in smart homes, cellular phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld devices with wireless communication capabilities, computing devices or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem, in-vehicle devices, and wearable devices. This application does not limit these examples.

[0087] In other embodiments, the second device may also be a combination of devices such as a wireless access network and a user equipment.

[0088] In one implementation, the second device may include a UE and a RAN. The UE can read data information from the AIOT device and send the data information to the RAN. After receiving the data information from the AIOT device sent by the UE, the RAN sends the data information to the core network device, thereby enabling the core network device to obtain the data information from the AIOT device.

[0089] Depending on the type of the second device, the communication system provided in this application embodiment may include two architectures. For example, Figures 1 and 2 respectively illustrate the two communication system architectures.

[0090] Figure 1 illustrates a communication system with an architecture (T1 topology). The reader / writer 200 is the RAN, which is directly connected to the AIoT device 100. The RAN can be associated with multiple AIoT devices 100. A third device is the core network device. The RAN can also communicate with the core network device 300 to exchange data. In some embodiments, the core network device can be a core network unit, which is a functional unit in the core network, including but not limited to an AIoT function unit (AIoTF), an access and mobility management function (AMF) unit, or a session management function (SMF) unit.

[0091] Figure 2 illustrates a communication system with an alternative architecture (T2 topology). The reader 200 is a UE, acting as an intermediary node between the AIoT device 100 and the network. The UE can also be associated with multiple AIoT devices 100. The AIoT device 100 communicates with the network device 300 through the UE 200. The network device 300 may include access network devices and core network devices.

[0092] To facilitate understanding, the concepts involved in this application will be explained below.

[0093] 1. Referring to Figure 3, the partial protocol stack of AIoT can be categorized as follows:

[0094] The AIOT upper layer can generate AIOT application data; the data generated by this layer is referred to in this application as AIOT business data packets, application data packets, etc.

[0095] The Non-Access Layer (NAS layer) can encapsulate AIoT application data and perform encryption and decryption operations. The data generated by this layer is referred to as NAS PDU (Network Access Stratum Protocol Data Unit) in this application. Application data packets generated by the higher layers of AIoT and NAS PDUs generated by the NAS layer can be collectively referred to as higher-layer data packets.

[0096] The Media Access Control (MAC) layer is part of the access layer. It processes data packets received from the upper layer based on scheduling information. The data output by this layer is called a MAC PDU (Media Access Control Protocol Data Unit). When the MAC layer receives data from the NAS layer and encapsulates it, the NAS layer data becomes the MAC layer's MAC SDU.

[0097] Based on the topology shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the protocol stack shown in Figure 3, the data transmission process between IoT devices and readers in an IoT system can be illustrated in Figure 4.

[0098] 11: The reader sends an R2D message to the device, which contains scheduling information for D2R messages. This scheduling information can explicitly (directly indicate) or implicitly (calculated through resource configuration and other information) indicate the size of the D2R messages that the device can send. This is referred to as TBS (transport block).

[0099] 12: The device constructs and sends a D2R message based on the R2D message.

[0100] If TBS is smaller than the size of the D2R message that the device wants to send, the device needs to segment the data packet to be transmitted, send only a portion of the data packet, and wait for the reader to schedule it again. Therefore, the D2R message in this step may contain a complete data packet or segmented data packets.

[0101] Steps 11 and 12 are executed repeatedly until the device has sent all the data packets to be transmitted.

[0102] In this context, D2R messages are messages sent from IoT devices to the reader, while R2D messages are messages sent from the reader to the IoT device. D2R and R2D messages can be notification messages, commands, command response messages, etc. R2D messages can also be called paging messages, data transmission messages, etc., and this application does not limit the terminology.

[0103] Currently, there are two related technologies for scenarios involving segmenting data to be transmitted from a device.

[0104] Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram of a related technology.

[0105] As shown in Figure 5, the reader sends an R2D message to the device in step 21, which contains scheduling information for the D2R message. The device can report a D2R message to the reader in step 22. The 1 bit of information in the D2R message is used to indicate whether the device still has data to be transmitted.

[0106] This technology requires the core network to inform the reader of the estimated D2R message size so that the reader can estimate the scheduling resources for D2R messages. This technical solution is not well-suited for scenarios where the core network cannot provide an estimated D2R message size.

[0107] Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of another related technology.

[0108] As shown in Figure 6, the reader sends an R2D message to the device in step 31, which contains scheduling information for D2R messages. The device can report a D2R message to the reader in step 32. This D2R message is the first segment of the data to be transmitted, and it includes indication information indicating the remaining D2R data size.

[0109] In this technology, the "remaining D2R data size" will occupy a large number of bits, which is not conducive to D2R messages transmitting the device's data to be transmitted with enough bits.

[0110] In view of this, the present application provides a data indication method, which, when applied to an AIoT system, can solve the problem that the remaining D2R data in the D2R messages reported by IoT devices occupies a large number of bits, and can also be applied to scenarios where the core network cannot provide an estimate of the D2R message size.

[0111] As described above, the data indication method provided in this application can be applied not only to AIoT systems but also to various other communication systems, as detailed above. This data indication method, when applied to multiple communication systems, can also solve the problem of excessive bit counts for remaining data when a terminal reports segmented data. It is also suitable for scenarios where the core network cannot provide an estimate of the amount of data reported by the terminal.

[0112] For ease of explanation, the following description will focus on terminals and intermediate devices. This can be understood as follows: In an AIoT system, a terminal can refer to an IoT device, and an intermediate device can refer to a reader / writer. It can also be understood as follows: In non-IoT wireless communication systems such as 2G, 3G, LTE, 5G, 5.5G, and 6G, an intermediate device can refer to a network device used to provide network communication services.

[0113] Figure 7 shows a flowchart illustrating the data indication method provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0114] As shown in Figure 7, this data indication method includes:

[0115] S701, the intermediate device sends a second message, and the corresponding terminal receives the second message.

[0116] In some embodiments, the second message may include scheduling information from the first message, which may indicate the size of the data packet (TBS) to be sent by the terminal this time. Optionally, the scheduling information from the first message may directly or indirectly indicate the size of the data packet to be sent by the terminal this time; wherein, a direct indication may be understood as the scheduling information including the TBS, and an indirect indication may be understood as the TBS being calculated through information such as resource configuration in the second message.

[0117] In some application scenarios, step S701 may or may not be executed. For example, if the intermediate device and the terminal determine the size of the data packet to be sent by the terminal in this instance using a pre-agreed method, step S701 may not be executed.

[0118] S702, the terminal sends the first message, and the corresponding intermediate device receives the first message.

[0119] The first message includes second data and first information; wherein: the second data is the first data or segmented data of the first data, the first data corresponds to the service data to be transmitted by the terminal; the first information is used to indicate the remaining data volume information, the remaining data volume information indicates the range of the amount of data to be transmitted after the terminal sends the second data.

[0120] It can be understood that the first data corresponds to the business data to be transmitted by the terminal, meaning that the content of the first data and the business data to be transmitted by the terminal are the same, i.e., they contain the same valid information. The difference between the two lies in the fact that their formats differ due to encapsulation, encryption, and other operations.

[0121] In some embodiments, the service data to be transmitted by the terminal may refer to the complete service data packet corresponding to the service executed by the terminal. For example, when the terminal first executes the data indication method provided in this application and first transmits second data to the intermediate device via a first message, the service data to be transmitted by the terminal refers to this complete service data packet. In one example, the complete service data packet includes 1000 bits, and the service data to be transmitted by the terminal corresponding to the first data is this 1000-bit data.

[0122] In other embodiments, the service data to be transmitted by the terminal may also refer to the remaining data after removing the transmitted portion of the complete service data packet. For example, if the terminal transmits second data to an intermediate device once or multiple times via a first message, the transmitted second data is the transmitted portion of the complete service data packet. In one example, the complete service data packet includes 1000 bits. The terminal transmits the first 100 bits of data via a first message. In the first message executing step S702, the service data to be transmitted by the terminal corresponding to the first data is the last 900 bits of data.

[0123] The amount of data to be transmitted after the terminal sends the second data refers to the amount of data remaining after the first data is subtracted from the second data. In other words, it is the amount of data remaining after the second data is subtracted from the business data to be transmitted by the terminal. It can be simply referred to as the amount of data to be transmitted, the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal, etc.

[0124] It should be noted that, in some other embodiments, the remaining data volume information may also indicate the range of the data volume of the service data to be transmitted by the terminal.

[0125] In some embodiments, the first information can be represented in the form of a field, which can be referred to as the first field. In the following text, the first field can refer to the first information.

[0126] In this embodiment of the application, the remaining data amount information indicates the range of the data amount to be transmitted, instead of directly reporting the remaining data amount. This allows the remaining data amount information, which accounts for a very small percentage, to be used instead of the remaining data amount. This reduces the number of bits in the second message indicating the remaining data amount and improves the bit occupancy rate of the data to be transmitted by the terminal.

[0127] When the solution of this application embodiment is applied to an AIoT system, the remaining data volume information indicates the range, and the first message includes the remaining data volume information but does not directly include the remaining data volume itself. This can solve the problem that the amount of remaining D2R data occupies a large number of bits. Furthermore, in scenarios where the core network cannot provide an estimate of the D2R message size, the reader can also use the range of the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal indicated by the remaining data volume information to estimate the scheduling resources of the D2R message and ensure the normal execution of the solution.

[0128] It should be noted that when the intermediate device receives the first message, it generates an offset based on the amount of data in the second data section of the first message. This offset indicates the amount of data successfully received by the network side. The first data corresponds to the terminal's complete service data. In scenarios where the second data in the first message received by the intermediate device is segmented data of the first data, the intermediate device can, after receiving all segments of the first data, assemble all segments into a data packet and submit it to the core network. Alternatively, the intermediate device can send all received segments of the first data to the core network, which will then assemble the data packet. Alternatively, the first data corresponds to the remaining data in the terminal's complete service data packet after removing the transmitted portion. In scenarios where the second data in the first message received by the intermediate device is segmented data of the first data, the intermediate device can, after receiving all segments of the first data, assemble all segments and the transmitted portion of the complete service data into a data packet and submit it to the core network. Alternatively, the intermediate device can, either send all received segments of the first data and the transmitted portion of the complete service data to the core network, which will then assemble the data packet.

[0129] Based on the foregoing, the first data corresponds to the terminal's service data, meaning the content of the first data and the terminal's service data is the same. Referring to the protocol stack shown in Figure 3, the terminal's AIoT higher layer generates application data packets to indicate the terminal's service data. The non-access layer encapsulates the application data packets, performs encryption and decryption operations, and obtains a NAS PDU. Since the first data corresponds to the terminal's service data, the first data can be an application data packet or a higher-level data packet such as a NAS PDU.

[0130] Similarly, referring to the protocol stack shown in Figure 3, the MAC PDU generated by the terminal's MAC layer can be sent to the intermediate device. Based on this, in some embodiments, the first message can be a MAC PDU.

[0131] Figure 8 shows a structural example of a MAC PDU. As shown in Figure 8, a MAC PDU includes a MAC header, a first field, second data, and padding bytes may be included as needed.

[0132] For example, the first field includes remaining data volume information, which indicates the range of the data volume to be transmitted. The remaining data volume can be understood as the size of the remaining data after deducting the second data segment from the first data segment when the first segment is sent. Optionally, the first field may also include information such as an access stratum identifier (AS ID), which is not limited in this application.

[0133] Optionally, the MAC header may include information such as message type (MT) and message length. This application does not limit the information included in the MAC header.

[0134] Optionally, the first field can be a newly added field of the MAC PDU, or it can occupy part of the bits of an existing field; this application does not limit this. Furthermore, the position of the first field is also not limited in this application.

[0135] The second data is either the first data or segmented data of the first data. This can be understood as: under certain conditions, the first data can be segmented.

[0136] For example, the conditions for segmenting the first data could be:

[0137] Does the size of the first data packet exceed the TBS? Specifically: If the size of the first data packet exceeds the TBS, the first data can be segmented, and the second data is the segmented data of the first data; if the size of the first data packet is less than the TBS, the first data does not need to be segmented, and the second data is the first data.

[0138] Optionally, the aforementioned "greater than" can also be "greater than or equal to". If the data packet size of the first data is greater than or equal to TBS, then the second data is a segment of the first data.

[0139] Alternatively, the data packet size of the first data is equal to TBS, and the second data can also be the first data.

[0140] As another example, the condition for segmenting the first data can also be:

[0141] The size of the first data packet, the sum of the data size of the first message header and the data size of the first field, and whether it is greater than TBS. Specifically: if the sum of the first data packet size, the first message header data size, and the first field data size is greater than TBS, then the first data can be segmented, and the second data is the segmented data of the first data; if the sum of the first data packet size, the first message header data size, and the first field data size is less than TBS, then the second data is the first data.

[0142] Optionally, the aforementioned "greater than" can also be "greater than or equal to". Correspondingly, if the sum of the data packet size of the first data, the data volume of the header of the first message, and the data volume of the first field is greater than or equal to TBS, then the second data is the segmented data of the first data.

[0143] Alternatively, the sum of the data packet size of the first data, the data size of the header of the first message, and the data size of the first field is equal to TBS, and the second data can also be the first data.

[0144] For example, the first message is a MAC PDU, the header of the first message refers to the MAC header, and the first data can be a NAS PDU.

[0145] It should be noted that when a terminal sends service data in MAC PDU format, due to the format requirements of MAC PDUs, the MAC PDU must include not only the data to be transmitted but also a MAC header. Furthermore, to indicate the remaining data volume, the MAC PDU must also include a first field. In other words, a complete MAC PDU must include: a MAC header, the data to be transmitted, and the first field. Therefore, the number of bits used in the complete MAC PDU sent by the terminal can be used to determine whether the first data needs to be segmented, thus improving the accuracy of the segmentation determination.

[0146] In some application scenarios, all the data to be transmitted by the terminal is the first data. In the first message sent by the terminal, the second data is the first data. The remaining data information indicates that the terminal has no data to be transmitted, that is, it indicates that the range of the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal is 0.

[0147] In other application scenarios, the second data is a segment of the first data, and the remaining data information indicated by the first field is used to indicate the range of the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal. This range can be understood as the range of the remaining data of the first data excluding the second data.

[0148] One implementation of the first field indicating the remaining data volume information, which indicates the range of the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal, is as follows: the first field includes the remaining data volume information, which corresponds to the range of the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal.

[0149] In some embodiments, the remaining data size information is a first value, which indicates that the range of data size to be transmitted by the terminal is a first range. It can be understood that the first value can be an index of the first range, meaning the first field includes the index of the first range. This index value has the advantage of using fewer bits compared to "remaining D2R data size".

[0150] The intermediate device can send a message to the terminal. This message may include multiple index values ​​and a range of data sizes to be transmitted by the terminal indicated by each index value. In other words, the message includes multiple index values ​​and their corresponding ranges of data sizes to be transmitted by the terminal. For example, this message may be the aforementioned second message, or other messages; this application is not limited in this regard. Based on this, the terminal can determine the index value corresponding to the range to which the remaining data (excluding the second data) belongs, according to the message sent by the intermediate device.

[0151] The first range indicated by the first value can be implemented in several ways, as follows:

[0152] In one implementation, the first range is indicated by an interval consisting of a first threshold value. Optionally, the first threshold value can be a random number, i.e., a value without other indicative meaning, as shown in Table 1; the first threshold value can also be TBS, the amount of data in the second data, as shown in Table 2. The first threshold value can also be the amount of data already received, which is used to indicate the cumulative amount of data successfully received by the network side, such as the size of downlink data packets sent by intermediate devices received by the terminal device, etc., and this application does not limit this.

[0153] In Table 1, the index values ​​typically include 2 bits. These four 2-bit index values ​​typically indicate different intervals formed by threshold values ​​T1, T2, and 1000, with each interval representing a range corresponding to one index value. The first value includes any index value, and the first range includes the range corresponding to any index value.

[0154] It is understood that the index value is not limited to 2 bits, and the first range indicated by different index values ​​is not limited to the threshold values ​​shown in Table 1. The more bits the index value occupies, the wider the range of the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal it indicates.

[0155] Table 1

[0156] In one example, the second data in the first message is the first data. Based on the example shown in Table 1, the first value in the first field can be 00, which corresponds to a range of 0 for the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal, indicating that the terminal has no data to be transmitted.

[0157] In another example, in the first message, the second data is segmented data of the first data. Based on the example shown in Table 1, the first value in the first field can be any one from 01 to 11, and the range of the amount of data to be transmitted by the corresponding terminal is (0, T1], (T1, T2], (T2, 1000] or any one of the intervals greater than T2.

[0158] In Table 2, the index values ​​typically consist of 2 bits. These 2-bit index values ​​can each indicate a different interval consisting of length or TBS, with each interval representing a range corresponding to one index value. The first value includes any index value, and the first range includes the range corresponding to any index value.

[0159] It is understood that the index value is not limited to 2 bits, and the first range indicated by different index values ​​is not limited to the threshold values ​​shown in Table 2. The more bits the index value occupies, the wider the range of the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal it indicates.

[0160] Table 2

[0161] In one example, the second data in the first message is the first data. Based on the example shown in Table 2, the first value in the first field can be 00, which corresponds to a range of 0 for the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal, indicating that the terminal has no data to be transmitted.

[0162] In another example, in the first message, the second data is a segment of the first data. Based on the example shown in Table 2, the first value in the first field can be 01 or 10, and the corresponding range of the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal is (0, length or TBS], or an interval greater than length or TBS. Here, length is the size of the second data or MAC PDU in the D2R message; TBS is the value indicated by the R2D message received by the terminal device.

[0163] In another implementation, the first range is indicated by an interval consisting of multiples of the second data's data size. These multiples are positive numbers and can be integers, fractions, decimals, etc., and this application is not limited to any of these. Optionally, the second data's data size can also be replaced by the length of the second message. The following explanation uses the second data's data size as an example.

[0164] In Table 3, the index values ​​also include 2 bits, and the four 2-bit index values ​​can respectively indicate different intervals consisting of multiples of the second data volume. Each interval is a range corresponding to one index value. The first value includes any index value, and the first range includes the range corresponding to any index value.

[0165] It is understood that the index value is not limited to 2 bits, and the first range indicated by different index values ​​does not limit the multiple of the data volume of the second data shown in Table 3. The more bits the index value occupies, the wider the range of the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal it indicates.

[0166] Table 3

[0167] In one example, the second data in the first message is the first data. Based on the example shown in Table 3, the first value in the first field can be 00, which corresponds to a range of 0 for the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal, indicating that the terminal has no data to be transmitted.

[0168] In another example, in the first message, the second data is segmented data of the first data. Based on the example shown in Table 3, the first value in the first field can be 01, 10 or 11, and the range of the amount of data to be transmitted by the corresponding terminal is (0, L], (L, 2L], or any interval greater than 2L.

[0169] In another implementation, the first range is indicated by an interval consisting of multiples of the received data amount. The multiple is a number greater than 0, and the multiple can be an integer, fraction, decimal, etc. This application does not limit the multiple. The received data amount is used to indicate the cumulative amount of data successfully received by the network side, or it can indicate the amount of data received by the network side this time, which can be represented by offset.

[0170] In Table 4, the index values ​​also include 2 bits, and the four 2-bit index values ​​can respectively indicate different intervals consisting of multiples of the offset. Each interval is the range corresponding to an index value. The first value includes any index value, and the first range includes the range corresponding to any index value.

[0171] It is understood that the index value is not limited to 2 bits, and the first range indicated by different index values ​​is not limited to multiples of the offset shown in Table 3. The more bits the index value occupies, the wider the range of the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal it indicates.

[0172] Table 4

[0173] It should be noted that before each time the terminal reports service data to the network side (such as reporting the second data via the first message as mentioned above), the network side may send an offset message to the terminal to indicate the cumulative amount of data successfully received by the network side or the amount of data received by the network side this time. For example, the second message sent by the network side includes the scheduling information of the first message, which may include the offset. As another example, the offset may also be sent to the terminal by the network side via other messages; this application does not limit the method by which the network side notifies the terminal of the offset.

[0174] Before the terminal reports the first message, it can determine whether the current amount of data to be transmitted needs to be segmented based on the comparison result of the current amount of data to be transmitted and TBS, further determine the remaining amount of data after this report, and determine the range of the remaining amount of data in Table 4 and the index value corresponding to the range.

[0175] It is known that when the network side initially schedules the terminal to report service data, the cumulative data volume indicated by the offset is 0. Therefore, the terminal cannot determine the range of its current remaining data volume based on the cumulative data volume indicated by the offset. To address this, the terminal can determine the range of its current remaining data volume based on a fixed offset, such as 1000 bits, 128 bits, or a value indicated by the network side. Optionally, the network side can indicate this value through the scheduling information in the first message of the second message, or through other messages.

[0176] In one example, the second data in the first message is the first data. Based on the example shown in Table 4, the first value in the first field can be 00, which corresponds to a range of 0 for the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal, indicating that the terminal has no data to be transmitted.

[0177] In another example, in the first message, the second data is segmented data of the first data. Based on the example shown in Table 4, the first value in the first field can be 01, 10 or 11, and the range of the amount of data to be transmitted by the corresponding terminal is (0, 0.5*offset], (0.5*offset, offset], or any interval greater than offset.

[0178] In another implementation, the first range is indicated by an interval consisting of multiples of TBS, where the multiples are numbers greater than 0. The multiples can be integers, fractions, decimals, etc., and this application does not limit them. TBS indicates the size of data packets that the terminal can transmit, as indicated by the network side.

[0179] In Table 5, the index values ​​also include 2 bits, and the four 2-bit index values ​​can respectively indicate different intervals consisting of multiples of TBS, with each interval being the range corresponding to one index value. The first value includes any index value, and the first range includes the range corresponding to any index value.

[0180] It is understood that the index value is not limited to 2 bits, and the first range indicated by different index values ​​is not limited to multiples of TBS shown in Table 5. The more bits the index value occupies, the wider the range of the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal it indicates.

[0181] Table 5

[0182] In one example, the second data in the first message is the first data. Based on the example shown in Table 3, the first value in the first field can be 00, which corresponds to a range of 0 for the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal, indicating that the terminal has no data to be transmitted.

[0183] In another example, in the first message, the second data is segmented data of the first data. Based on the example shown in Table 5, the first value in the first field can be 01, 10 or 11, and the range of the amount of data to be transmitted by the corresponding terminal is (0, K], (K, 2K], or any interval greater than 2K.

[0184] In another implementation, the first range is indicated by a range consisting of multiples of the size of the downlink data packets sent by the intermediate device received by the terminal. The multiple is a number greater than 0, and the multiple can be an integer, a fraction, a decimal, etc., which is not limited in this application.

[0185] The second message sent by the intermediate device may include downlink data packets, and the first range may be indicated by a range consisting of multiples of the downlink data packets.

[0186] In Table 6, the index values ​​also include 2 bits, and the four 2-bit index values ​​can respectively indicate different intervals consisting of multiples of the downlink data packet size. Each interval is a range corresponding to one index value. The first value includes any index value, and the first range includes the range corresponding to any index value.

[0187] It is understood that the index value is not limited to 2 bits, and the first range indicated by different index values ​​is not limited to multiples of the downlink packet size shown in Table 6. The more bits the index value occupies, the wider the range of the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal it indicates.

[0188] Table 6

[0189] In one example, the second data in the first message is the first data. Based on the example shown in Table 3, the first value in the first field can be 00, which corresponds to a range of 0 for the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal, indicating that the terminal has no data to be transmitted.

[0190] In another example, in the first message, the second data is segmented data of the first data. Based on the example shown in Table 5, the first value in the first field can be 01, 10 or 11, and the range of the amount of data to be transmitted by the corresponding terminal is (0, J], (J, 2J], or any interval greater than 2J.

[0191] In some embodiments, the first message may further include second information, which indicates that the first message includes the first information and / or indicates that the second data is segmented data of the first data. In some embodiments, the second information may also be represented in the form of a field; therefore, the second information may also be referred to as the second field. The term "second field" will be used to refer to the second information below. The first message also includes the second field, that is: the first message includes the first field, the second field, and the second data, which can provide a clear indication of whether the terminal still has data to be transmitted. For a description of the first field and the first data, please refer to the foregoing content; they will not be elaborated here.

[0192] In some embodiments, the second field may be included in the header of the first message, thereby enabling the intermediate device to quickly know the content of the data portion of the first message, and in particular, to quickly know whether the data portion of the first message indicates that there is remaining data in the first message.

[0193] For example, the first message is a MAC PDU, and the MAC header includes a message type (MT). The second field can also be MT, meaning the value of MT is used to indicate that the first message includes the first field. Specifically, if the value of MT is the first value, it indicates that the first message includes the first field; if the value of MT is the second value, it indicates that the first message does not include the first field. The first and second values ​​can be agreed upon by the intermediate device and the terminal, and this application does not limit their values.

[0194] As another example, the second field may be a newly added field in the header of the first message. The newly added field may include one or more bits, one value of which indicates that the first message includes the first field and / or indicates that the second data is segmented data of the first data, and another value indicates that the first message does not include the first field and / or indicates that the second data is not segmented data of the first data.

[0195] In other embodiments, the second field is included in the data portion of the first message. Optionally, the second field and the first field may belong to the same field in the same location of the first message, or they may be in different locations; this application does not limit this.

[0196] Figure 9 shows three structural examples of MAC PDU.

[0197] As shown in Figure 9(a), the MAC PDU includes a MAC header, a first field, and second data, and may also include padding bytes as needed. For a description of the first field, please refer to the preceding content; it will not be elaborated upon here.

[0198] The MAC header includes a second field. One value of this second field indicates that the MAC PDU includes information about the remaining data volume, while another value indicates that the MAC PDU does not. Optionally, the second field is the MT (Mean Transmission Module) in the MAC header. For further information on other aspects of the MAC header, please refer to the foregoing descriptions; they will not be elaborated upon here.

[0199] As shown in Figure 9(b), a MAC PDU includes a MAC header, a first field, and second data. Padding bytes may also be included as needed. For a description of the MAC header, please refer to the preceding content; it will not be elaborated upon here.

[0200] For example, the first field is included in the data portion of the MAC PDU, which may include a second field, remaining data volume information, and other information, which may optionally include AS ID, etc., but this application is not limited thereto.

[0201] The second field, which may be called the Remaining Indicator, may include one or more bits. One value of the second field, i.e., one value of one or more bits, is used to indicate that the MAC PDU includes information about the amount of data remaining. Another value of the second field, i.e., another value of one or more bits, is used to indicate that the MAC PDU does not include information about the amount of data remaining.

[0202] As shown in Figure 9(c), the MAC PDU includes a MAC header, a first field, and second data. Padding bytes may also be included as needed. For a description of the MAC header, please refer to the preceding content; it will not be elaborated upon here.

[0203] For example, the first field is included in the data portion of the MAC PDU, which may include a second field, remaining data volume information, and other information, which may optionally include AS ID, etc., but this application is not limited thereto.

[0204] The second field, which may be called a Segment Indicator, may include one or more bits. One value of the second field, i.e., one value of one or more bits, is used to indicate that the second data is a segment of the first data. Another value of the second field, i.e., another value of one or more bits, is used to indicate that the second data is not segmented data, i.e., the second data is the first data, i.e., the first data is not segmented.

[0205] In other embodiments, the terminal may determine whether the first message to be sent needs to include the first field based on certain conditions. Optionally, the terminal may also determine whether the first message to be sent needs to include both the first and second fields based on these conditions.

[0206] It is understood that, based on the foregoing, the first message also includes second data. Since this is not the focus of this embodiment, the following only explains whether the first message needs to include the first field, and optionally, whether the second field needs to be included. It can be assumed that the first message includes the second data.

[0207] In some embodiments, the condition may be directly indicated by the network side. In other embodiments, the condition may be chosen by the terminal itself.

[0208] One way to implement direct network-side indication is for an intermediate device to send information to instruct the terminal to report the remaining data volume, which can be referred to as network-side indication information.

[0209] For example, network-side indication information may be included in the second message sent by the intermediate device in step S701. As another example, network-side indication information may also be included in other R2D messages, and is not limited to the second message used to indicate scheduling information in the first message.

[0210] R2D messages can be, for example, paging messages, MSG2, MSG4, R2D scheduling messages, R2D acknowledgment messages, etc. For MSG2, MSG4, R2D scheduling messages, and R2D acknowledgment messages, please refer to the explanations of the relevant protocols; this application will not elaborate on them. This application also does not limit the specific form of R2D messages.

[0211] In this embodiment, the network side uses network side indication information to instruct the terminal to report the remaining data volume information, which can be well applied to group command services. That is, after the intermediate device obtains the first data reported by one terminal, since the first data of the other terminals may be the same or similar, the other terminals in the group do not need to report the remaining data volume information. The intermediate device can determine the data to be transmitted by other terminals based on the first data reported by the received terminals, and then make a decision on scheduling resources, which can reduce the number of times the remaining data volume information is reported.

[0212] Furthermore, for group command services, the intermediate device can determine whether the first data contains information on the remaining data quantity by the timing of the first data transmission. That is, for the first data of the same group command service, the subsequent first data transmitted after receiving the first data usually does not include information on the remaining quantity. In this way, the implementation complexity of the terminal-side execution scheme can be reduced.

[0213] Figure 10 illustrates an exemplary structure of the second message. As shown in Figure 10, the second message includes: AS ID size & ID, resource of D2R, and network-side indication information.

[0214] Here, AS ID can refer to the access stratum identifier, ID size can refer to the length of the AS ID, and resource of D2R can refer to the resource of the second message.

[0215] Optionally, the second message may instruct the terminal to report the remaining data amount information via network-side indication information in the following manner: the second message includes at least one of the following: TBS, reporting indication information, received data amount (offset), threshold value;

[0216] Among them: TBS indicates the size of the data packets that the terminal can transmit as indicated by the network side; the reporting indication information can occupy one or more bits, and the specific value of one or more bits is used to indicate the remaining data amount information to be reported by the terminal; the received data amount is used to indicate the cumulative amount of data successfully received by the network side, or the amount of data received by the network side this time; the threshold value is used to indicate the range of the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal.

[0217] The intermediate device sends a second message, which instructs the terminal to report the remaining data amount. The terminal receives and decodes the second message to clearly understand the network side's instruction to report the remaining data amount. Based on this, the first message sent by the terminal can include the first field.

[0218] The TBS in the second message is used to instruct the terminal to report the remaining data amount information. That is, the second message sent by the intermediate device includes TBS, and the terminal can send a first message including the first field based on TBS. Optionally, the first message may also include the second field.

[0219] The offset in the second message is used to instruct the terminal to report the remaining data amount information. That is, the second message sent by the intermediate device includes the offset, and the terminal can send a first message including the first field based on the offset. Optionally, the first message may also include the second field.

[0220] Understandable: TBS and offset are usually included in the scheduling information of the first message in the second message. They are existing information in the second message. The intermediate device indicates the remaining data volume to the terminal based on TBS and / or offset. No additional information is needed, which can improve the utilization rate of information and reduce the cost of intermediate device indicating information.

[0221] The network-side indication information includes one or more threshold values. The description of these threshold values ​​can be as described above, and the range they form indicates the range of data volume to be transmitted by the terminal. Different ranges formed by the threshold values ​​also correspond to index values. The second message sent by the intermediate device includes one or more threshold values. The terminal can send a first message including a first field based on the threshold values. Optionally, the first message may also include a second field.

[0222] It should also be noted that before sending the first message, the terminal needs to determine the first value indicated by the first field in the first message, i.e., the index value. The determination method is as follows: first, determine the interval corresponding to the amount of data to be transmitted (this interval is composed of threshold values), and then determine the index value corresponding to this interval. In this way, specifying one or more threshold values ​​has two functions: assisting the terminal in clarifying the index value and clearly reporting the remaining data amount information. It can also improve the utilization rate of information and reduce the cost of intermediate devices indicating information.

[0223] Network-side indication information includes reporting indication information, which occupies one or more bits. For example, one or more values ​​of these bits can instruct the terminal to report the remaining data amount. For instance, if the reporting indication information occupies 2 bits, values ​​01, 10, and 11 can all instruct the terminal to report the remaining data amount, while a value of 00 indicates that the terminal should not report the remaining data amount. Of course, the correspondence between the 2-bit values ​​and functions is merely an example and does not constitute a limitation.

[0224] In one example, the reporting indication information includes 01. The terminal can send a first message including the first field based on the reporting indication information of 01 in the second message. Optionally, the first message may also include the second field.

[0225] It is understandable that the reporting indication information is an additional field of the second message, which can be used to indicate whether the terminal should report the remaining quantity information. Although it occupies additional bits of the second message, it has the advantage of flexible indication.

[0226] The terminal can choose one of the following implementation methods: based on the amount of data in the first data and the amount of data in the header of the first message, the terminal sends a first message including a first field. Optionally, the first message may also include a second field.

[0227] It should be noted that if the intermediate device does not send network-side indication information, or if the network-side indication information sent does not instruct the terminal to report the remaining data volume information, the terminal may also choose whether to include the first field in the first message, and optionally include the second field.

[0228] The following section, in conjunction with Figures 11 and 12, provides a detailed explanation of this implementation method.

[0229] Figure 11 shows a flowchart illustrating another data indication method provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 11, the data indication method includes:

[0230] S1101, the intermediate device sends a second message, and the corresponding terminal receives the second message.

[0231] In some application scenarios, step S1101 may or may not be performed.

[0232] As shown in Figure 12, the second message may include the scheduling information of the first message. The scheduling information of the first message may indicate the size of the data packet sent by the terminal this time, i.e., TBS, and may also indicate the amount of data received, which can be represented by offset. Offset is used to indicate the cumulative amount of data successfully received by the network side, and may also refer to the amount of data received by the network side this time.

[0233] Correspondingly, the terminal's MAC layer can receive the second message. The MAC layer can obtain the length based on the TBS and the Noffset based on the offset; generally, Noffset <= offset. Optionally, the MAC layer can also directly use the offset without calculating Noffset. The length and Noffset (or offset) obtained by the MAC layer can be passed to the NAS layer. Optionally, the NAS layer can continue to pass the length and Noffset (or offset) to higher layers, until it reaches the AIOT upper layer.

[0234] For a detailed description of the second message, please refer to the aforementioned embodiments; it will not be repeated here.

[0235] S1102, The terminal obtains the first data, which corresponds to the service data to be transmitted by the terminal.

[0236] The explanation of the first data can be found in the aforementioned content, and will not be repeated here.

[0237] As shown in Figure 12, after receiving a command, the AIOT upper layer generates command feedback and submits it to the lower layer, up to the NAS layer. This command feedback may include application data packets from the AIOT upper layer. The NAS layer processes the application data packets to obtain a NAS PDU. This processing may include data packet encapsulation, encryption, etc. This embodiment uses an application data packet as the first data example, but this is not a limitation; it can be understood that the first data can be a NAS PDU obtained by the NAS layer.

[0238] S1103. The terminal determines whether the conditions for reporting the first field are met.

[0239] If the terminal determines that the conditions for reporting the first field are not met, then step S1104 is executed; if the terminal determines that the conditions for reporting the first field are met, then step S1105 is executed.

[0240] In some embodiments, the terminal sends a first message based on the amount of data in the first data and the amount of data in the header of the first message. The first message includes a first field and optionally may also include a second field. Therefore, the conditions for reporting the first field are related to the amount of data in the first data and the amount of data in the header of the first message.

[0241] In one implementation, sending a first message based on the data volume of the first data and the data volume of the header of the first message includes: sending the first message if the sum of the data volume of the first data and the data volume of the header of the first message is greater than TBS. Based on this, the condition for reporting the first field includes whether the sum of the data volume of the first data and the data volume of the header of the first message is greater than TBS. This "greater than" can also be greater than or equal to TBS.

[0242] For example, the first message is a MAC PDU, the header of the first message refers to the MAC header, and the first data can be a NAS PDU. Correspondingly, the conditions for sending the first message are as follows:

[0243] size of[NAS PDU+MAC header]>TBS

[0244] Optionally, the header of the first message may or may not include the first field.

[0245] Alternatively, if the first field is included in other locations of the first message but not in the header, then the first message can be sent if the sum of the data volume of the first data, the data volume of the header of the first message, and the data volume of the first field is greater than or equal to TBS. Based on this, the conditions for reporting the first field include: whether the sum of the data volume of the first data, the data volume of the header of the first message, and the data volume of the first field is greater than TBS. This "greater than" can also be greater than or equal to TBS.

[0246] In another implementation, the first message is sent based on the amount of data in the first data set and the amount of data in the header of the first message. This includes sending the first message if the difference between the TBS (the sum of the amounts of the first data set and the header of the first message) and the sum of the amounts of the first data set and the header of the first message is greater than a second value. Therefore, the condition for reporting the first field includes whether the difference between the TBS and the sum of the amounts of the first data set and the header of the first message is greater than a second value. This "greater than" can also mean greater than or equal to.

[0247] For example, the first message is a MAC PDU, the header of the first message refers to the MAC header, and the first data can be a NAS PDU. Correspondingly, the conditions for sending the first message are as follows:

[0248] TBS – size of [NAS PDU + MAC header] > Second value

[0249] Optionally, the second value can be 0, or a value close to 0.

[0250] Alternatively, the header of the first message may include a first field, and the corresponding second value is the data size of the first field, or an approximate value of the data size of the first field. The conditions for sending the first message are as follows:

[0251] TBS – size of [NAS PDU + MAC header (with first field)] > size of [first field]

[0252] Alternatively, if the first field is included in other locations of the first message but not in the header, then the first message can be sent if the difference between the sum of the TBS, the data volume of the first data, the data volume of the header of the first message, and the data volume of the first field is greater than a second value. Therefore, the conditions for reporting the first field include: the difference between the TBS, the data volume of the first data, the data volume of the header of the first message, and the data volume of the first field is greater than a second value. This "greater than" can also be greater than or equal to.

[0253] Correspondingly, the second value can also be the data volume value of the first field, or an approximate value of the data volume value of the first field.

[0254] As shown in Figure 12, in some embodiments, the terminal's AIOT upper layer, NAS layer, or MAC layer can determine whether the first data needs to be segmented, and if segmentation is required, segment the first data accordingly.

[0255] For example, let's illustrate the process by showing the NAS layer's determination of whether segmentation is needed, and then performing segmentation if necessary. For the NAS layer, when determining whether the first data needs segmentation, the first data is a NAS PDU, and the transmittable data size is length, where length is less than or equal to TBS, which can be calculated from TBS, for example, by subtracting MAC layer information from TBS. The conditions for the NAS layer to determine whether the first data needs segmentation are as follows:

[0256] Whether the NAS PDU is greater than the length; optionally, this greater than can be greater than or equal to.

[0257] Alternatively, whether the sum of the data size of the NAS PDU, MAC header, and first field is greater than TBS; optionally, this greater than can be greater than or equal to.

[0258] Correspondingly, if the NAS layer determines that the NAS PDU is greater than the length, the NAS layer can segment the first data to obtain segmented data of the first data; or, if the MAC layer determines that the sum of the data size of the NAS PDU, MAC header and the first field is greater than the TBS, the NAS layer can segment the first data to obtain segmented data of the first data.

[0259] Optionally, if the NAS layer determines that the NAS PDU is greater than the length, or that the sum of the data sizes of the NAS PDU, the MAC header, and the first field is greater than the TBS, the NAS layer may also send the remaining data size information indicated by the first field to the MAC layer.

[0260] Understandable: The first message sent by the terminal is a MAC PDU, which includes a MAC header. In order to indicate the range of the remaining data volume, the MAC PDU also includes a first field. Based on this, the first message includes at least a NAS PDU, a MAC header, and a first field. Based on this, whether the first data needs to be segmented is determined by whether the sum of the data volume of the NAS PDU, the MAC header, and the first field is greater than the TBS, which is highly accurate.

[0261] In other embodiments, the terminal's AIOT upper layer, NAS layer, or MAC layer may also determine whether to report the first field. When it is necessary to report the first field, the first message includes the first field, and optionally, it may also include the second field.

[0262] For example, this process will be explained using the NAS layer. For the NAS layer, the first data it processes is the NAS PDU, and the transmittable data size is length. The conditions for the NAS layer to report the first field can be described as above, and will not be repeated here.

[0263] The first field reported by the NAS layer can be understood as: whether the NAS layer sends the remaining data amount information indicated by the first field to the MAC layer, or whether the MAC layer sends a first message including the first field indicating the remaining data amount sent by the NAS layer and the second data. Optionally, if the first message includes the first field, it may also include the second field.

[0264] For example, Figure 12 shows whether the NAS layer sends the remaining data amount information indicated by the first field to the MAC layer when the reporting conditions are met.

[0265] S1104. The terminal sends the fifth message, and the corresponding intermediate device receives the fifth message.

[0266] The fifth message includes the first data.

[0267] Optionally, the fifth message may also include a second field. It is understood that because the terminal does not meet the conditions for reporting the first field, and does not meet the conditions for segmentation, the first data does not need to be segmented. The second field may indicate that the first message does not include the first field, and / or indicate that the first data is not segmented.

[0268] Alternatively, if the terminal does not meet the conditions for reporting the first field, the fifth message sent by the terminal may also include the first field, but the remaining data information indicated by the first field is used to indicate that the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal is 0 or a value close to 0, so as to indicate that the terminal has no more data to be transmitted.

[0269] S1105, The terminal sends the first message, and the corresponding intermediate device receives the first message.

[0270] The first message includes second data and a first field; wherein: the second data is segmented data of the first data; the first field is used to indicate the amount of remaining data. Optionally, the first message may also include a second field. For descriptions of the first data, the first field, and the second field, please refer to the foregoing content, which will not be repeated here.

[0271] As illustrated in Figure 12, the MAC PDU sent by the terminal's MAC layer includes second data and a first field. The second data is either the first data or segmented data of the first data. The second data is the first data, and the remaining data information indicated by the first field indicates that the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal is 0 or approximately 0. The second data is segmented data of the first data, and the remaining data information indicated by the first field indicates the range of the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal.

[0272] In some application scenarios, a terminal has multiple pieces of first data that need to be transmitted. Based on this, in some embodiments, the first message may also include third information, indicating that the terminal has multiple pieces of first data that need to be transmitted. In some embodiments, the third information is represented in the form of a field, which may also be referred to as a third field. Hereinafter, the term "third field" will be used to refer to the third information. The first message also includes a third field, meaning the first message may include a first field, second data, and a third field; optionally, it may also include a second field. The descriptions of the first field, second data, and second field can be found in the foregoing embodiments and will not be repeated here. The conditions and methods for the terminal to send the first message can also be found in the foregoing embodiments and will not be repeated here either.

[0273] In this embodiment of the application, the first message includes a third field to indicate that the terminal has multiple first data that need to be transmitted. This makes it easier for the network side to know that the terminal has multiple first data to be transmitted, and thus makes it easier to perform reasonable resource scheduling for this scenario.

[0274] In some embodiments, the third field may be included in the data portion of the first message. Optionally, the third field and the first field may belong to the same field in the same location of the first message, or they may be in different locations; this application is not limited in this respect.

[0275] In other embodiments, the third field may be included in the header of the first message.

[0276] Figure 13 shows a structural example where the first message is a MAC PDU, and the MAC PDU includes a third field.

[0277] As shown in Figure 13, a MAC PDU includes a MAC header, a first field, a third field, and second data. Padding bytes may also be included as needed. For a description of the first field of the MAC header, please refer to the previous content; it will not be elaborated here.

[0278] Optionally, both the third field and the first field are included in the data portion of the MAC PDU.

[0279] For example, the third field is used to indicate that the terminal has N pieces of first data to be transmitted, and / or to indicate the remaining amount of some or all of the first data in the N pieces of first data, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0280] As another example, the third field is used to indicate the existence of first data to be transmitted, and / or to indicate the remaining amount of some or all of the first data in N first data, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0281] As shown in Figure 13, the third field includes indication information, which indicates that the terminal has N pieces of first data to be transmitted or indicates that there is first data to be transmitted. The third field also includes the remaining amount of some or all of the first data in the N pieces of first data.

[0282] For example, the indication information is referred to as a multiple indicator.

[0283] In one implementation, the third field indicating the remaining amount of data in a subset of N first data includes: the third field indicating the remaining amount of data in the next set of first data to be transmitted from the currently transmitted first data. Optionally, this indication method involves the third field including the remaining amount of data in the next set of first data to be transmitted from the currently transmitted first data. For example, the remaining amount of data in the next set of first data to be transmitted from the currently transmitted first data can be referred to as "size for the next".

[0284] In another implementation, the third field indicating the remaining amount of data in a subset of the N first data includes: the third field indicating the remaining amount of data in NM first data to be transmitted, where M is an integer between 1 and N. Optionally, this indication method is that the third field includes the remaining amount of data in NM first data to be transmitted. For example, the remaining amount of data in NM first data to be transmitted can be referred to as the size for all the remaining D2R Data.

[0285] It can be understood that: the total number of first data to be transmitted by the terminal is N, and the terminal transmits the first first data through the first message for the first time. In this case, the third field indicates the remaining amount of N-1 first data to be transmitted, that is, M=1.

[0286] The terminal has N data items to be transmitted. The terminal has already transmitted K data items through the first message. The terminal is currently transmitting the (K+1)th data item. In this case, the third field indicates the remaining amount of data for the NK-1 data items to be transmitted, i.e., M = K+1.

[0287] In some embodiments, the sorting of the remaining data of some or all of the N first data indicated by the third field corresponds to the generation order or transmission order of the N first data.

[0288] In one implementation, the third field includes the remaining data volume of some or all of the N first data, and its sorting corresponds to the generation order or transmission order of the N first data. That is, the remaining data volume of some or all of the N first data can be sorted according to the generation order or transmission order of the N first data.

[0289] For example, taking the generation order of N first data as an example, we can illustrate the sorting of the remaining data of some of the first data among the N first data. In one example, the generation order of the N first data is first data 1, first data 2, ..., first data N. Some of the first data among the N first data are first data 2 to first data N-1. Correspondingly, the sorting of the remaining data of first data 2 to first data N-1 is: remaining data of first data 2, remaining data of first data 3, ..., remaining data of first data N-1.

[0290] In some embodiments, the third field indicates the remaining amount of some or all of the first data in N first data, including: the third field indicates the size of the remaining amount of some or all of the first data in N first data, or indicates the range of the remaining amount of some or all of the first data in N first data.

[0291] One way to implement the third field indicating the amount of remaining data in some or all of the N first data is to include the amount of remaining data in some or all of the N first data. Similarly, another way to implement the third field indicating the range of the remaining data in some or all of the N first data is to include the range of the remaining data in some or all of the N first data.

[0292] The range of remaining data in some or all of the N first data can also be indicated by remaining data information. The description and implementation of the remaining data information can be found in the aforementioned embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0293] It should be noted that the terminal needs to transmit multiple first data. For the first data that has not yet started transmission, the remaining data volume of the first data is the total data volume of the first data. For the first data that has been partially transmitted, that is, some segments of the first data have been completed or are being transmitted, the remaining data volume of the first data is the remaining segment of the first data, or optionally, it can be the total data volume of the first data.

[0294] This application also provides another data indication method, which can improve the accuracy of determining whether the third message includes the remaining data volume.

[0295] Figure 14 shows a flowchart of another data indication method provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0296] As shown in Figure 14, the data indication method includes:

[0297] S1401, The network device sends the fourth message, and the corresponding terminal receives the fourth message.

[0298] In some embodiments, the fourth message may include scheduling information from the third message, which may indicate the size of the data packet (TBS) to be sent by the terminal this time. Optionally, the scheduling information from the third message may directly or indirectly indicate the size of the data packet to be sent by the terminal this time; wherein, a direct indication may be understood as the scheduling information including the TBS, and an indirect indication may be understood as the TBS being calculated through information such as resource configuration in the fourth message.

[0299] In some application scenarios, step S1401 may or may not be executed. For example, if the network device and the terminal determine the size of the data packet to be sent by the terminal in this instance using a pre-agreed method, step S1401 may not be executed.

[0300] S1402, The terminal sends a third message based on the amount of data in the third data and the amount of data in the header of the third message, and the network device receives the third message accordingly.

[0301] The third message includes fourth data and fourth information; the fourth data is the third data or segmented data of the third data, and the third data corresponds to the service data to be transmitted by the terminal; when the fourth data is segmented data of the third data, the fourth field includes fifth information and sixth information, the fifth information is used to indicate the remaining amount of data, the sixth information is used to indicate that the third message includes the fifth information, and / or the fourth data is segmented data of the third data.

[0302] In some embodiments, the fourth information is represented in the form of a field, which may also be referred to as the fourth field. The fourth field mentioned below can refer to the fourth information.

[0303] In some embodiments, the remaining data amount may refer to the amount of data remaining after the third data is subtracted from the fourth data. In other embodiments, the remaining amount may also refer to the amount of data in the third data.

[0304] In this embodiment, the terminal sends the third message based on the amount of data in the third data and the amount of data in the header of the third message. In other words, the amount of data in the third data and the amount of data in the header of the third message are the conditions for determining whether the third message includes the fourth field. Since the proportion of data in the header of the third message is taken into account, the accuracy of determining whether the third message includes the remaining data is also improved.

[0305] The description of the service data to be transmitted by the terminal can be found in the foregoing embodiments, and will not be repeated here. The description of the third data and the service data to be transmitted by the terminal can be found in the foregoing embodiments of the first data and the service data to be transmitted by the terminal, and will not be repeated here either.

[0306] In one implementation, the fifth and sixth information in the fourth field can be located in different positions in the third message.

[0307] Similarly, referring to the protocol stack shown in Figure 3, the MAC PDU generated by the terminal's MAC layer can be sent to the network device. Based on this, in some embodiments, the third message can be a MAC PDU. For example, the sixth information is located in the MAC header of the MAC PDU, and the fifth information is located in the data portion of the MAC PDU. The sixth information being located in the MAC header allows the network device to quickly determine the content of the data portion of the third message, and especially to quickly determine whether the data portion of the third message indicates the existence of remaining data.

[0308] In another implementation, the fifth and sixth information in the fourth field can also be located in the same position as the third message. Taking the third message as a MAC PDU as an example, the fifth and sixth information can both be located in the data part of the MAC PDU. Since the fifth information indicates the amount of remaining data and occupies a large number of bits, the data part of the MAC PDU can provide enough bits to carry the fifth information.

[0309] Figure 15 shows three structural examples of MAC PDU.

[0310] As shown in Figure 15(a), the MAC PDU includes a MAC header, a fourth field, and fourth data, and may also include padding bytes as needed. The fourth data is segmented data from the third data, and the fourth field includes fifth and sixth information.

[0311] Optionally, the sixth piece of information is located in the MAC header, and the fifth piece of information is located in the data section.

[0312] For example, the MAC header includes information such as message type (MT) and message length. This application does not limit the information included in the MAC header. The sixth piece of information can be MT, that is, the value of MT is used to indicate whether the third message includes the fifth piece of information. Wherein, if the value of MT is the first value, it indicates that the third message includes the sixth piece of information; if the value of MT is the second value, it indicates that the third message does not include the fifth piece of information. The first and second values ​​can be agreed upon by the network device and the terminal, and this application does not limit their values.

[0313] As another example, the sixth information may be additional information in the MAC header, which may include one or more bits, one value of which indicates that the third message includes the fifth information, and another value of which indicates that the third message does not include the fifth information.

[0314] In addition to the fifth information, the fourth field may also include other information, such as AS ID, which is not limited in this application.

[0315] One way to implement the fifth information indicating the amount of remaining data is as follows: the fifth information includes the amount of remaining data. The amount of remaining data can be understood as: the data remaining after deducting the fourth data from the third data.

[0316] It can be understood that in Figure 15(a), the fourth data is a segment of the third data, and the sixth information indicates that the MAC PDU includes the fifth information.

[0317] As shown in Figure 15(b), the MAC PDU includes a MAC header, a fourth field, and fourth data, and may also include padding bytes as needed. The fourth data is segmented data from the third data, and the fourth field includes fifth and sixth information. For a description of the MAC header, please refer to the preceding content; it will not be elaborated here. Both the sixth and fifth information are located in the data section of the MAC PDU.

[0318] For example, the sixth information, such as a Remaining Indicator, may include one or more bits. One value of the sixth information, i.e., one value of one or more bits, indicates that the MAC PDU includes the fifth information, and another value of the sixth information, i.e., another value of one or more bits, indicates that the MAC PDU does not include the fifth information. It can be understood that in Figure 15(b), if the fourth data is a segment of the third data, then the sixth information indicates that the MAC PDU includes the fifth information.

[0319] The description of the fifth piece of information can be found in the aforementioned embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0320] As shown in Figure 15(c), the MAC PDU includes the MAC header, field 4, and data 4, and may also include padding bytes as needed. The data 4 is a segment of the data 3, and field 4 includes information 5 and information 6. For a description of the MAC header, please refer to the preceding content; it will not be elaborated here. Both information 6 and information 5 are located in the data portion of the MAC PDU.

[0321] For example, the sixth information, such as a Segment Indicator, may include one or more bits. One value of the sixth information, i.e., one value of the one or more bits, is used to indicate that the fourth data is a segment of the third data. Another value of the sixth information, i.e., another value of the one or more bits, is used to indicate that the fourth data is not segmented data, i.e., the fourth data is the third data, that is, the third data is not segmented. It can be understood that in Figure 15(c), if the fourth data is segmented data of the third data, then the sixth information indicates that the fourth data is a segment of the third data.

[0322] The description of the fifth piece of information can be found in the aforementioned embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0323] Figure 16 shows another structural example of a MAC PDU.

[0324] As shown in Figure 16, a MAC PDU includes a MAC header, a fourth field, and fourth data. Padding bytes may also be included as needed. The fourth data is the third data. The fourth field includes a sixth piece of information, which indicates that the MAC PDU does not include the fifth piece of information, or that the fourth data is not segmented from the third data, meaning the third data is not segmented. Of course, in this case, the fourth field does not include the fifth piece of information.

[0325] Optionally, the sixth information is located in the data portion of the third message, indicating that the MAC PDU does not include the fifth information, or that the third data is not segmented, as described above, and will not be repeated here.

[0326] In other embodiments, the terminal may determine whether the sent third message needs to include a fourth field based on certain conditions. The following description only addresses whether the third message needs to include a fourth field; it is assumed that the third message includes fourth data.

[0327] In step S1402, the terminal sends the third message based on the amount of data in the third data and the amount of data in the header of the third message. This is an implementation method chosen by the terminal itself. In other embodiments, the above conditions may also be directly instructed by the network side.

[0328] The following section, in conjunction with Figure 17, provides a detailed explanation of the implementation method for the terminal to make its own decisions.

[0329] As shown in Figure 17, the network device sends a fourth message, which includes the scheduling information of the third message. The scheduling information of the third message can indicate the size of the data packet sent by the terminal this time, i.e., TBS, and can also indicate the amount of data received, which can be represented by offset. Offset is used to indicate the cumulative amount of data successfully received by the network side, or to indicate the amount of data received by the network side this time.

[0330] Correspondingly, the terminal's MAC layer can receive the fourth message. The MAC layer can obtain the length based on TBS and the Noffset based on the offset, generally Noffset <= offset. Where the length is less than or equal to TBS, the length is obtained based on TBS, for example, TBS minus the MAC layer information. Optionally, the MAC layer can also directly use the offset without calculating Noffset. The length and Noffset (or offset) obtained by the MAC layer can be passed to the NAS layer. Optionally, the NAS layer can continue to pass the length and Noffset (or offset) to higher layers, until it reaches the AIoT upper layer.

[0331] After receiving a command, the AIOT upper layer can generate command feedback and submit it to the lower layer, up to the NAS layer. This command feedback may include application data packets from the AIOT upper layer. The NAS layer processes the application data packets to obtain NAS PDUs. This processing may include packet encapsulation, encryption, etc. This embodiment uses application data packets as an example of third data, but this is not a limitation. It can be understood that the third data can be the NAS PDU obtained by the NAS layer.

[0332] In some embodiments, the terminal's AIOT upper layer, NAS layer, or MAC layer can determine whether the third data needs to be segmented, and if segmentation is required, segment the third data accordingly.

[0333] For example, let's illustrate this process by showing the NAS layer's determination of whether segmentation is needed, and then performing segmentation if necessary. For the NAS layer, when determining whether the third data needs segmentation, the third data is a NAS PDU with a transmittable data size of length. The conditions for the NAS layer to determine whether the third data needs segmentation are as follows:

[0334] Whether the NAS PDU is greater than the length; optionally, this greater than can be greater than or equal to.

[0335] Alternatively, whether the sum of the data sizes of the NAS PDU, MAC header, and fifth information is greater than TBS; optionally, this greater than can be greater than or equal to.

[0336] Correspondingly, if the NAS layer determines that the NAS PDU is greater than the length, the NAS layer can segment the third data to obtain segmented data of the third data; or, if the NAS layer determines that the sum of the data size of the NAS PDU, MAC header and fifth information is greater than the TBS, the NAS layer can segment the third data to obtain segmented data of the third data.

[0337] Optionally, if the NAS layer determines that the NAS PDU is greater than the length, or that the sum of the data sizes of the NAS PDU, MAC header, and fifth information is greater than the TBS, the NAS layer may also send the remaining data to the MAC layer.

[0338] It is understandable that the third message sent by the terminal is a MAC PDU, which includes a MAC header. In order to indicate the amount of remaining data, the MAC PDU also includes fifth information. Based on this, the third message includes at least a NAS PDU, a MAC header, and fifth information. Based on this, whether the third data needs to be segmented is determined by whether the sum of the data sizes of the NAS PDU, MAC header, and fifth information is greater than the TBS, which is highly accurate.

[0339] In other embodiments, the terminal's AIOT upper layer, NAS layer, or MAC layer may also determine whether to report the fourth field, and if it is necessary to report the fourth field, the third message includes the fourth field.

[0340] For example, this process will be explained using the NAS layer. For the NAS layer, the third data it processes is the NAS PDU, and the transmittable data size is `length`. The conditions for the NAS layer to report the fourth field are as follows:

[0341] In one implementation, sending a third message based on the amount of third data and the amount of data in the header of the third message includes: sending the third message if the sum of the amount of third data and the amount of data in the header of the third message is greater than or equal to TBS. Based on this, the condition for reporting the fourth field includes whether the sum of the amount of third data and the amount of data in the header of the third message is greater than TBS. This "greater than" can also be greater than or equal to TBS.

[0342] For example, the third message is a MAC PDU, the header of the third message refers to the MAC header, and the third data can be a NAS PDU. Correspondingly, the conditions for sending the third message are as follows:

[0343] size of[NAS PDU+MAC header]>TBS

[0344] In another implementation, the third message is sent based on the amount of data in the third data section and the amount of data in the header of the third message. This includes sending the third message if the difference between the TBS and the sum of the amounts of the third data section and the header of the third message is greater than a third value. Based on this, the conditions for reporting the fourth field include whether the difference between the TBS and the sum of the amounts of the third data section and the header of the third message is greater than a third value. This "greater than" can also mean greater than or equal to.

[0345] For example, the third message is a MAC PDU, the header of the third message refers to the MAC header, and the third data can be a NAS PDU. Correspondingly, the conditions for sending the third message are as follows:

[0346] TBS – size of [NAS PDU + MAC header] > Third value

[0347] Optionally, the third value can be 0, or a value close to 0.

[0348] Alternatively, the third message may include the remaining data amount indicated by the fifth message; correspondingly, the third value is the size of the remaining data amount, or an approximate value of the remaining data amount. The conditions for sending the third message are as follows:

[0349] TBS – size of [NAS PDU + MAC header (with remaining data size)] > size of [remaining data size]

[0350] The fourth field reported by the NAS layer can be understood as: whether the NAS layer sends the remaining data to the MAC layer, or whether the MAC layer sends a third message that includes the remaining data sent by the NAS layer, the sixth information, and the fourth data.

[0351] For example, Figure 17 shows whether the NAS layer sends the remaining data to the MAC layer when the reporting conditions are met.

[0352] The MAC PDU sent by the terminal's MAC layer includes fourth data and a fourth field. The fourth data is either the third data or segmented data of the third data. In the case where the fourth data is segmented data of the third data, the fourth field includes fifth information and sixth information. The fifth information is used to indicate the amount of data remaining, and the sixth information is used to indicate that the third message includes the fifth information, and / or that the fourth data is segmented data of the third data.

[0353] One implementation of direct instruction from the network side could be that the network device sends a seventh message, which instructs the terminal to report the remaining data amount. In scenarios where the network device does not send a seventh message, or where the seventh message instructs the terminal not to report the remaining data amount, the terminal can determine whether the reported third message includes a fourth field based on the aforementioned self-selection method.

[0354] For example, the seventh information may include the fourth message sent by the network device in step S1401. As another example, the seventh information may also be included in other R2D messages, and is not limited to the fourth message used to indicate scheduling information in the third message.

[0355] R2D messages can be, for example, paging messages, MSG2, MSG4, R2D scheduling messages, R2D acknowledgment messages, etc. For MSG2, MSG4, R2D scheduling messages, and R2D acknowledgment messages, please refer to the explanations of the relevant protocols; this application will not elaborate on them. This application also does not limit the specific form of R2D messages.

[0356] In this embodiment, the network side uses the seventh information to instruct the terminal to report the remaining data volume, which is well applicable to group command services. That is, after the network device obtains the first data reported by one terminal, since the first data of the other terminals may be the same or similar, the other terminals in the group do not need to report the remaining data volume. The network device can determine the data to be transmitted by other terminals based on the first data reported by the received terminals, and then make a decision on scheduling resources, which can reduce the number of times the remaining data volume is reported.

[0357] Furthermore, for group command services, network devices can determine whether the first data contains the remaining data by the timing of the first data transmission. That is, for the first data of the same group command service, the subsequent first data transmitted after receiving the first data usually does not include the remaining amount. In this way, the implementation complexity of the terminal-side execution scheme can be reduced.

[0358] The structure of the fourth message can be referenced from the structure of the fourth message shown in Figure 10. In one implementation, the fourth message includes: AS ID size&ID, resource of D2R, and seventh information.

[0359] Here, AS ID can refer to the access stratum identifier, ID size can refer to the length of the AS ID, and resource of D2R can refer to the resource of the fourth message.

[0360] Optionally, the seventh information may be provided by the terminal instructing it to report the remaining data amount in the following ways: the seventh information includes at least one of the following: TBS, reporting indication information, and the amount of data received (offset);

[0361] Among them: TBS indicates the size of the data packets that the terminal can transmit, as indicated by the network side; the reporting indication information may occupy one or more bits, and the specific value of one or more bits is used to indicate the amount of remaining data reported by the terminal; the received data amount is used to indicate the cumulative amount of data successfully received by the network side, or to indicate the amount of data received by the network side this time.

[0362] The network device sends a fourth message, which includes a seventh message. The terminal receives the fourth message, decodes the seventh message, and can clearly understand the network side's instruction to report the remaining data volume. Based on this, the third message sent by the terminal can include a fourth field.

[0363] The seventh information is TBS, which means that the fourth message sent by the network device includes TBS, and the terminal can send a third message including the fourth field based on TBS.

[0364] The seventh piece of information is the offset. That is, the fourth message sent by the network device includes the offset, and the terminal can send a third message including the fourth field based on the offset.

[0365] Understandable: TBS and offset are usually included in the scheduling information of the third message in the fourth message. They are existing information in the fourth message. The network device indicates the remaining data amount to the terminal based on TBS and / or offset. No additional information is needed, which can improve the utilization rate of information and reduce the cost of network device indicating information.

[0366] The seventh piece of information includes reporting instruction information, which occupies one or more bits. For example, one or more values ​​of the one or more bits can instruct the terminal to report the remaining data amount. For instance, the reporting instruction information occupies 2 bits, and the values ​​of 01, 10, and 11 of the 2 bits can all instruct the terminal to report the remaining data amount, while the value of 00 of the 2 bits instructs the terminal not to report the remaining data amount. Of course, the correspondence between the 2-bit values ​​and functions is only an example and does not constitute a limitation.

[0367] In one example, the seventh information includes 01, and the terminal can send a third message including the fourth field based on the seventh information being 01 in the fourth message.

[0368] It is understandable that the reporting indication information is an additional field of the fourth message, which can be used to indicate whether the terminal should report the remaining quantity information. Although it occupies additional bits of the fourth message, it has the advantage of flexible indication.

[0369] In some application scenarios, a terminal has multiple pieces of third data that need to be transmitted. Therefore, in some embodiments, the third message may further include an eighth piece of information indicating that the terminal has multiple pieces of third data that need to be transmitted. In some embodiments, the eighth piece of information is represented in the form of a field, which may also be referred to as the fifth field below. That is, the third message may include a fourth field, fourth data, and a fifth field; the descriptions of the fourth field and fourth data can be found in the foregoing embodiments and will not be repeated here. The conditions and methods for the terminal to send the third message can also be found in the foregoing embodiments and will not be repeated here either.

[0370] In this embodiment of the application, the third message includes a fifth field to indicate that the terminal has multiple third data that need to be transmitted. This makes it easier for the network side to know that the terminal has multiple third data to be transmitted, and thus makes it easier to perform reasonable resource scheduling for this scenario.

[0371] In some embodiments, the fifth field may be included in the data portion of the third message. Optionally, the fifth field and the fourth field may belong to the same field in the same location of the third message, or they may be in different locations; this application is not limited in this respect.

[0372] In other embodiments, the fifth field may be included in the header of the third message.

[0373] Figure 18 shows a structural example of a third message being a MAC PDU, which includes a fifth field.

[0374] As shown in Figure 18, a MAC PDU includes a MAC header, a fourth field, a fifth field, and a fourth data field. Padding bytes may also be included as needed. For a description of the MAC header and the fourth field, please refer to the previous content; further explanation is not provided here.

[0375] Optionally, the fifth field is included in the data portion of the MAC PDU.

[0376] For example, the fifth field is used to indicate that the terminal has N pieces of third data to be transmitted, and / or to indicate the remaining amount of some or all of the third data among the N pieces of third data, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0377] For another example, the fifth field is used to indicate the existence of third data to be transmitted, and / or to indicate the remaining amount of some or all of the third data in N third data, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0378] As shown in Figure 13, the fifth field includes indication information, which indicates that the terminal has N pieces of third data to be transmitted or indicates that there is third data to be transmitted. The fifth field also includes the remaining amount of some or all of the N pieces of third data.

[0379] For example, the indication information is referred to as a multiple indicator.

[0380] In one implementation, the fifth field indicating the remaining amount of data in a subset of N third data includes: the fifth field indicating the remaining amount of data in the next third data to be transmitted after the currently transmitted third data. Optionally, this indication method involves the fifth field including the remaining amount of data in the next third data to be transmitted after the currently transmitted third data. For example, the remaining amount of data in the next third data to be transmitted after the currently transmitted third data can be referred to as "size for the next".

[0381] In another implementation, the fifth field indicating the remaining amount of some of the N third data includes: the fifth field indicating the remaining amount of NM third data to be transmitted, where M is an integer between 1 and N. Optionally, this indication method is that the fifth field includes the remaining amount of NM third data to be transmitted. For example, the remaining amount of NM third data to be transmitted can be referred to as the size for all the remaining D2R Data.

[0382] It can be understood that: the total number of third data to be transmitted by the terminal is N, and the terminal transmits the first third data through the third message for the first time. In this case, the fifth field indicates the remaining amount of N-1 third data to be transmitted, that is, M=1.

[0383] The terminal has N third data items to be transmitted. The terminal has completed the transmission of K third data items through the third message. The terminal is currently transmitting the (K+1)th third data item. In this case, the fifth field indicates the remaining amount of data for the NK-1 third data items to be transmitted, i.e., M = K+1.

[0384] In some embodiments, the order of the remaining data of some or all of the N third data indicated by the fifth field corresponds to the generation order or transmission order of the N third data.

[0385] In one implementation, the fifth field includes the remaining data volume of some or all of the N third data, and its sorting corresponds to the generation or transmission order of the N third data. That is, the remaining data volume of some or all of the N third data can be sorted according to the generation or transmission order of the N third data.

[0386] For example, taking the generation order of N third data as an example, we can illustrate the sorting of the remaining data volume of some third data among the N third data. In one example, the generation order of the N third data is third data 1, third data 2, ..., third data N. Some of the third data among the N third data are third data 2 to third data N-1. Correspondingly, the sorting of the remaining data volume of third data 3 to third data N is: the remaining data volume of third data 2, the remaining data volume of third data 3, ..., the remaining data volume of third data N-1.

[0387] In some embodiments, the fifth field indicates the remaining amount of some or all of the third data in the N third data, including: the fifth field indicates the size of the remaining amount of some or all of the third data in the N third data, or indicates the range of the remaining amount of some or all of the third data in the N third data.

[0388] One way to implement the fifth field indicating the remaining amount of some or all of the N third data is to include the remaining amount of some or all of the N third data. Similarly, another way to implement the fifth field indicating the range of the remaining amount of some or all of the N third data is to include the range of the remaining amount of some or all of the N third data.

[0389] The range of remaining data in some or all of the N third data can also be indicated by the remaining data quantity information. The description and implementation of the remaining data quantity information can be found in the aforementioned embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0390] It should be noted that the terminal needs to transmit multiple third data. For third data that has not yet started transmission, the remaining data volume of that third data is the total data volume of the third data. For third data that has been partially transmitted, that is, some segments of the third data have been completed or are being transmitted, the remaining data volume of the third data is the remaining segment of the third data, or optionally, it can be the total data volume of the first data.

[0391] It should be noted that this application uses NAS PDU as an example for segmentation object, but this application is also applicable to scenarios where the segmentation object is other types of data packets, such as AIoT service data packets, IP data packets, unstructured data packets, etc., all of which belong to the high-level data proposed in this application.

[0392] Figure 19 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 19, the communication device 1900 may include a communication module 1920. The communication module 1920 can implement corresponding communication functions, which can be internal communication functions of the communication device 1900 or communication functions between the communication device 1900 and other devices. Optionally, the communication module 1920 may also be referred to as a communication interface or a transceiver module.

[0393] Optionally, the communication device 1900 also includes a processing module 1910. The processing module 1910 can perform corresponding processing functions.

[0394] Optionally, the communication device 1900 further includes a storage module, which can be used to store instructions and / or data; the processing module 1910 can read the instructions and / or data in the storage module so that the communication device 1900 can implement the aforementioned method embodiments.

[0395] In one possible design, the communication device 1900 may correspond to the terminal in the above method embodiments, or to a component (such as a circuit, chip, or chip system) configured in the terminal. The communication device 1900 may be used to execute the steps or processes performed by the terminal in any of the above method embodiments.

[0396] For example, the communication module 1920 is used to send a first message, which includes second data and first information; wherein: the second data is the first data or segmented data of the first data, and the first data corresponds to the service data to be transmitted by the terminal; the first field is used to indicate the remaining data volume information, which indicates the range of the amount of data to be transmitted after the terminal sends the second data.

[0397] For example, the communication module 1920 is also used to receive a second message, which instructs the terminal to report the remaining data amount information.

[0398] For example, the communication module 1920 sends a first message, including sending the first message based on the amount of data in the first data and the amount of data in the header of the first message.

[0399] For example, the communication module 1920 sends a first message based on the amount of data in the first data and the amount of data in the header of the first message, including: sending the first message if the sum of the amount of data in the first data and the amount of data in the header of the first message is greater than or equal to the transport block size (TBS), wherein TBS indicates the size of the data packet to be transmitted as indicated by the network side; or sending the first message if the difference between the transport block size (TBS) and the sum of the amount of data in the first data and the amount of data in the header of the first message is greater than or equal to a second value, wherein TBS indicates the size of the data packet that the terminal can transmit as indicated by the network side.

[0400] For example, the communication module 1920 is used to send a third message based on the amount of third data and the amount of data in the header of the third message, wherein: the third message includes fourth data and fourth information; the fourth data is third data or segmented data of third data, and the third data corresponds to the service data to be transmitted by the terminal; in the case that the fourth data is segmented data of third data, the fourth field includes fifth information and sixth information, the fifth information is used to indicate the remaining amount of data, the sixth information is used to indicate that the third message includes the fifth information, and / or the fourth data is segmented data of third data.

[0401] For example, the communication module 1920 sends a third message based on the amount of third data and the amount of data in the header of the third message, including: sending a third message if the sum of the amount of third data and the amount of data in the header of the third message is greater than or equal to the transport block size TBS, wherein TBS indicates the size of the data packet that the terminal can transmit as indicated by the network side; or sending a third message if the difference between the transport block size TBS and the sum of the amount of third data and the amount of data in the header of the third message is greater than or equal to a third value, wherein TBS indicates the size of the data packet to be transmitted as indicated by the network side.

[0402] The above are merely examples; for detailed steps or procedures, please refer to the descriptions in the foregoing embodiments.

[0403] In one possible design, the communication device 1900 may correspond to the intermediate device (which may be a reader / writer, a RAN, a core network device, or a functional unit within a core network device) in the above method embodiments, or a component (such as a circuit, chip, or chip system) configured in the intermediate device. The communication device 1900 may be used to perform the steps or processes executed by the intermediate device in any of the above method embodiments.

[0404] For example, the communication module 1920 is used to receive a first message, which includes second data and first information; wherein: the second data is the first data or segmented data of the first data, and the first data corresponds to the service data to be transmitted by the terminal; the first information is used to indicate the remaining data volume information, which indicates the range of the amount of data to be transmitted after the terminal sends the second data.

[0405] For example, the communication module 1920 is also used to send a second message, which instructs the terminal to report the remaining data amount information.

[0406] The above are merely examples; for detailed steps or procedures, please refer to the descriptions in the foregoing embodiments.

[0407] Figure 20 is another schematic block diagram of a communication device 2000 provided in an embodiment of this application. The communication device 2000 may be a terminal, an intermediate device, a chip, a chip system, or a processor that implements the above methods. The communication device 2000 can be used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments; for details, please refer to the descriptions in the above method embodiments.

[0408] As shown in Figure 20, the communication device 2000 may include one or more processors 2010, which may also be referred to as processing units or processing modules, and can implement certain control functions. The processor 2010 can be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, such as a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, while the central processing unit can be used to control the communication device 2000 (e.g., base station, baseband chip, user, user chip), execute software programs, and process data from the software programs.

[0409] In an alternative design, the processor 2010 may also store instructions and / or data, which can be executed by the processor 2010 to cause the communication device 2000 to perform the methods described in the above method embodiments.

[0410] In another alternative design, the communication device 2000 may include a communication interface 2020 for implementing receiving and transmitting functions. For example, the communication interface 2020 may be a transceiver circuit, interface, interface circuit, or transceiver. The transceiver circuit, interface, interface circuit, or transceiver for implementing receiving and transmitting functions may be separate or integrated. The aforementioned transceiver circuit, interface, interface circuit, or transceiver may be used for reading and writing code / data, or it may be used for transmitting or relaying signals.

[0411] Optionally, the communication device 2000 may include one or more memories 2030, which may store instructions that can be executed on the processor 2010, causing the communication device 2000 to perform the methods described in the above method embodiments. Optionally, the memories 2030 may also store data. Optionally, the processor 2010 may also store instructions and / or data. The processor 2010 and the memories 2030 may be provided separately or integrated together.

[0412] It should be understood that, in one possible design, the steps in the method embodiments provided in this application can be implemented by integrated logic circuits in the processor's hardware or by instructions in software form. The steps of the methods disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be directly implemented by a hardware processor, or implemented by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor. The software modules can reside in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, registers, or other mature storage media in the art. This storage medium is located in memory, and the processor reads information from the memory and, in conjunction with its hardware, completes the steps of the above method. To avoid repetition, detailed descriptions are not provided here.

[0413] In one implementation, the communication device 2000 may correspond to the terminal in the above method embodiments and may be used to execute the various steps and / or processes executed by the terminal in the above method embodiments. The processor 2010 may be used to execute instructions stored in the memory 2030, and when the processor 2010 executes the instructions stored in the memory, the processor 2010 is used to execute the various steps and / or processes of the above method embodiments corresponding to the terminal.

[0414] In another implementation, the communication device 2000 may correspond to the intermediate device in the above method embodiments, and may be used to execute the various steps and / or processes executed by the intermediate device in the above method embodiments. The processor 2010 may be used to execute instructions stored in the memory 2030, and when the processor 2010 executes the instructions stored in the memory, the processor 2010 is used to execute the various steps and / or processes of the above method embodiments corresponding to the intermediate device.

[0415] It is understood that the aforementioned processor can be one or more chips. For example, the processor can be a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a system-on-chip (SoC), a central processing unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), a digital signal processor (DSP), a microcontroller unit (MCU), a programmable logic device (PLD), or other integrated chips.

[0416] It is understood that the memory in the embodiments of this application can be volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory can be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. The volatile memory can be random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example, but not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchronous linked dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM). It should be noted that the memory used in the systems and methods described herein is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0417] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to perform the data instruction method described in the above embodiments.

[0418] Computer-readable storage media can be non-transitory computer-readable storage media, such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, and optical data storage devices.

[0419] This application also provides a computer program product. When executed by one or more computing devices, the computer program product enables the computing devices to perform any of the aforementioned data indication methods. The computer program product can be a software installation package. When any of the aforementioned data indication methods needs to be used, the computer program product can be downloaded and executed on a computer.

[0420] This application also provides a processor, including: an input circuit, an output circuit, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit receives signals through the input circuit and transmits signals through the output circuit, causing the processor to execute the data indication method described in the above embodiments.

[0421] In specific implementation, the processor can be one or more chips, the input circuit can be input pins, the output circuit can be output pins, and the processing circuit can be transistors, gate circuits, flip-flops, and various logic circuits. The input signal received by the input circuit can be received and input by, for example, but not limited to, a receiver, and the signal output by the output circuit can be output to, for example, but not limited to, a transmitter and transmitted by the transmitter. Furthermore, the input circuit and the output circuit can be the same circuit, which is used as the input circuit and the output circuit at different times. This application does not limit the specific implementation of the processor and various circuits.

[0422] This application also provides a chip system including one or more processors for calling and executing instructions stored in memory, causing the data indication method described in the above embodiments to be executed. The chip system may be composed of a chip or may include chips and other discrete devices. The chip system may include input circuitry or interfaces for transmitting information or data, and output circuitry or interfaces for receiving information or data.

[0423] In the embodiments of this application, the terms and English abbreviations are exemplary examples given for ease of description and should not be construed as limiting the application in any way. This application does not preclude the possibility of defining other terms that can achieve the same or similar functions in existing or future agreements.

[0424] In the above embodiments, implementation can be achieved, in whole or in part, through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, it can be implemented, in whole or in part, as a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When these computer instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are generated.

[0425] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0426] It should be understood that in the various embodiments of this application, the sequence number of each process does not imply the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this application.

[0427] In summary, the above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the technical solution of this application and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A data indication method, characterized in that, Applied to a terminal, the method includes: Send a first message, which includes second data and first information; wherein: The second data is the first data or segmented data of the first data, and the first data corresponds to the service data to be transmitted by the terminal; the first information is used to indicate the remaining data volume information, and the remaining data volume information indicates the range of the amount of data to be transmitted after the terminal sends the second data.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first information is used to indicate the remaining data volume information. The remaining data volume information indicates the range of the amount of data to be transmitted after the terminal sends the second data. The remaining data volume information includes a first value, which indicates that the range of the amount of data to be transmitted is a first range.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first range is indicated by an interval consisting of a first threshold value; Alternatively, the first range may be indicated by an interval consisting of multiples of the amount of the second data, where the multiples are numbers greater than 0; Alternatively, the first range may be indicated by an interval consisting of multiples of the amount of data received, where the multiples are numbers greater than 0, and the amount of data received may be used to indicate the cumulative amount of data successfully received by the network side. Alternatively, the first range may be indicated by an interval consisting of multiples of the Transport Block Size (TBS), where the multiple is a number greater than 0, and the TBS indicates the size of the data packets that the terminal can transmit as indicated by the network side. Alternatively, the first range may be indicated by a range consisting of multiples of the size of downlink data packets sent by intermediate devices received by the terminal, where the multiple is a number greater than 0.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, Before sending the first message, the process also includes: A second message is received, which instructs the terminal to report the remaining data amount information.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The second message includes at least one of the following: Transport Block Size (TBS), Reporting Indication Information, Received Data Volume, Threshold Value; wherein: TBS indicates the size of data packets that the terminal can transmit as indicated by the network side; the Received Data Volume is used to indicate the cumulative amount of data successfully received by the network side; the Threshold Value is used to indicate the range of the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The first message also includes second information, which is used to indicate that the first message includes the first information and / or to indicate that the second data is segmented data of the first data.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The first message also includes third information, wherein: The third information is used to indicate that the terminal has N pieces of the first data to be transmitted, and / or to indicate the remaining amount of some or all of the first data in the N pieces of the first data, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1; Alternatively, the third information may be used to indicate the existence of the first data to be transmitted, and / or to indicate the remaining amount of some or all of the first data in N pieces of the first data, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The third information indicates the remaining amount of data in a portion of the first data among the N first data sets, including: The third information indicates the remaining amount of the next set of the first data to be transmitted; Alternatively, the third information indicates the remaining amount of NM units of the first data to be transmitted, where M is an integer between 1 and N.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, The third information indicates the sorting of the remaining data of some or all of the first data in the N first data, which corresponds to the generation order or transmission order of the N first data.

10. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that, The third information indicates the remaining amount of some or all of the first data in N pieces of the first data, including: The third information indicates the amount of remaining data in some or all of the N first data sets, or indicates the range of the remaining data in some or all of the N first data sets.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that, Sending the first message includes: Based on the amount of data in the first data and the amount of data in the header of the first message, the first message is sent.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, Sending the first message based on the amount of data in the first data and the amount of data in the header of the first message includes: If the sum of the data volume of the first data and the data volume of the header of the first message is greater than or equal to the transport block size (TBS), the first message is sent, where TBS indicates the size of the transport data packet indicated by the network side. Alternatively, if the difference between the Transport Block Size (TBS) and the sum of the data size of the first data and the data size of the header of the first message is greater than or equal to a second value, the first message is sent, wherein the TBS indicates the size of the data packets that the terminal can transmit as indicated by the network side.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that, The first data includes high-level data packets from the terminal.

14. A data indication method, characterized in that, Applied to intermediate devices, the method includes: Receive a first message, the first message including second data and first information; wherein: The second data is the first data or segmented data of the first data, the first data corresponding to the data of the terminal's service; the first information is used to indicate the remaining data volume information, the remaining data volume information indicating the range of the amount of data to be transmitted after the terminal sends the second data.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that, The first information is used to indicate the remaining data volume information. The remaining data volume information indicates the range of the amount of data to be transmitted after the terminal sends the second data. The remaining data volume information includes a first value, which indicates that the range of the amount of data to be transmitted is a first range.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, The first range is indicated by an interval consisting of a first threshold value; Alternatively, the first range may be indicated by an interval consisting of multiples of the amount of the second data, where the multiples are numbers greater than 0; Alternatively, the first range may be indicated by an interval consisting of multiples of the amount of data received, where the multiples are numbers greater than 0, and the amount of data received may be used to indicate the cumulative amount of data successfully received by the network side. Alternatively, the first range may be indicated by an interval consisting of multiples of the Transport Block Size (TBS), where the multiple is a number greater than 0, and the TBS indicates the size of the data packets that the terminal can transmit as indicated by the network side. Alternatively, the first range may be indicated by a range consisting of multiples of the size of downlink data packets sent by intermediate devices received by the terminal, where the multiple is a number greater than 0.

17. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that, The process of receiving the first message includes: A second message is sent, which instructs the terminal to report the remaining data amount information.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that, The second message includes at least one of the following: Transport Block Size (TBS), Reporting Indication Information, Received Data Volume, Threshold Value; wherein: TBS indicates the size of data packets that the terminal can transmit as indicated by the network side; the Received Data Volume is used to indicate the cumulative amount of data successfully received by the network side; the Threshold Value is used to indicate the range of the amount of data to be transmitted by the terminal.

19. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 18, characterized in that, The first message also includes second information, which is used to indicate that the first message includes the first information and / or to indicate that the second data is segmented data of the first data.

20. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 19, characterized in that, The first message also includes third information, wherein: The third information is used to indicate that the terminal has N pieces of the first data to be transmitted, and / or to indicate the remaining amount of some or all of the first data in the N pieces of the first data, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1; Alternatively, the third information may be used to indicate the existence of the first data to be transmitted, and / or to indicate the remaining amount of some or all of the first data in N pieces of the first data, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that, The third information indicates the remaining amount of data in a portion of the first data among the N first data sets, including: The third information indicates the remaining amount of the next set of the first data to be transmitted; Alternatively, the third information indicates the remaining amount of NM units of the first data to be transmitted, where M is an integer between 1 and N.

22. The method according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that, The third information indicates the sorting of the remaining data of some or all of the first data in the N first data, which corresponds to the generation order or transmission order of the N first data.

23. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that, The third information indicates the remaining amount of some or all of the first data in N pieces of the first data, including: The third information indicates the amount of remaining data in some or all of the N first data sets, or indicates the range of the remaining data in some or all of the N first data sets.

24. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 23, characterized in that, The first data includes high-level data packets from the terminal.

25. A data indication method, characterized in that, include: Based on the amount of data in the third data and the amount of data in the header of the third message, the third message is sent, wherein the third message includes fourth data and fourth information; The fourth data is the third data or segmented data of the third data, and the third data corresponds to the service data to be transmitted by the terminal; when the fourth data is segmented data of the third data, the fourth information includes a fifth information and a sixth information, the fifth information is used to indicate the remaining data volume, the sixth information is used to indicate that the third message includes the fifth information, and / or the fourth data is segmented data of the third data.

26. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that, Sending the third message based on the amount of data in the third data and the amount of data in the header of the third message includes: If the sum of the data volume of the third data and the data volume of the header of the third message is greater than or equal to the transport block size (TBS), the third message is sent, wherein the TBS indicates the size of the data packets that the terminal can transmit as indicated by the network side. Alternatively, if the difference between the Transport Block Size (TBS) and the sum of the data size of the third data and the data size of the header of the third message is greater than or equal to a third value, the third message is sent, wherein the TBS indicates the size of the transport data packet indicated by the network side.

27. A communication device, characterized in that, Includes a communication module, the communication device being used to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 13, or the method as described in any one of claims 14 to 24, or the method as described in claim 25 or 26.

28. A communication device, characterized in that, include: Memory is used to store computer programs or computer instructions; A processor for executing a computer program or computer instructions stored in the memory, causing the communication device to perform the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, or the method as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 24, or the method as claimed in claim 25 or 26.

29. A computer storage medium for storing a computer program, which, when executed, implements the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, or the method as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 24, or the method as claimed in claim 25 or 26.

30. A computer program product, characterized in that, It stores instructions that, when the computer program product is run on the electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 13, or the method as described in any one of claims 14 to 24, or the method as described in claim 25 or 26.

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