WO2025167438A1 - Communication method and communication apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided in the present application are a communication method and a communication apparatus. Within a listening period of a first wake-up signal and/or a wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal, a terminal device may send to a network device a reference signal for estimating an uplink channel and/or report to the network device measured downlink channel information, and the network device may obtain channel information on this basis. The technical solution provided in the embodiments of the present application can ensured that the power consumption of a terminal device is relatively low, and can also make a network device learn of channel information, thereby guaranteeing the communication performance.

Description

Communication method and communication device

This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on February 8, 2024, with application number 202410178048.5 and application name “Communication Method and Communication Device”. This application also claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on August 8, 2024, with application number 202411093465.6 and application name “Communication Method and Communication Device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application.

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and more specifically, to a communication method and a communication device.

Background Art

To reduce power consumption in terminal devices, a small, low-power circuit can be used to monitor for a wake-up signal. This signal is used to wake the terminal device to monitor for paging messages or perform random access. To ensure communication performance, network devices need to know channel information for high-quality scheduling. However, there is currently no technical solution for how terminal devices can feedback channel information to network devices when using a small, low-power circuit to monitor for wake-up signals. Therefore, it is difficult to effectively achieve both reduced power consumption and guaranteed communication performance.

Summary of the Invention

The present application provides a communication method and a communication device, which can reduce the power consumption of terminal equipment and ensure communication performance.

In the first aspect, a communication method is provided, which is applied to the terminal device side and can be executed by the terminal device, or it can also be executed by a module (such as a chip or circuit) in the terminal device, or it can also be executed by a logical node, logical module or software that can implement all or part of the terminal device. This application does not limit this.

The method includes: the terminal device sends first information to the network device in a first time period, the first time period includes a monitoring period of a first wake-up signal and/or a wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal, the first wake-up signal is used to wake up the terminal device, and the first information is used to obtain channel information.

Illustratively, the first information includes at least one of the following:

Periodic sounding reference signal (p-SRS); semi-persistent sounding reference signal (sp-SRS); semi-persistent channel state information (sp-CSI) on the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH); sp-CSI on the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH); periodic channel state information (p-CSI) on the PUCCH. The p-CSI on the PUCCH includes at least one of the following:

The p-CSI on PUCCH includes the L1 reference signal receiving power (L1-RSRP); the p-CSI on PUCCH does not include the L1-RSRP.

The above method can enable the terminal device to send a reference signal for estimating the uplink channel to the network device and/or report the measured downlink channel information to the network device when working under the wake-up mechanism. This not only ensures that the power consumption of the terminal device is low, but also enables the network device to obtain channel information and ensure communication performance.

In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the above-mentioned terminal device sends the first information to the network device in a first time period, including: the terminal device does not send the first information in the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal, and the terminal device sends the above-mentioned first information in the wake-up period indicated by the above-mentioned first wake-up signal.

The terminal device in the above method may not send the first information to the network device during the monitoring period of the wake-up signal, that is, the terminal device does not need to be specially woken up to send the first information, which can make the power consumption of the terminal device very low.

In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the terminal device does not send the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, including: the terminal device does not send the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal and during the on-duration period (on-duration period) of discontinuous reception (DRX).

Specifically, the above-mentioned terminal device is in the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal and in the duration of DRX, which can be understood as: the current time domain position of the terminal device is in the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, and the current time domain position of the terminal device is also in the duration of DRX.

The terminal device in the above method may not monitor the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) during the DRX duration period, but may still monitor the first wake-up signal, which can further reduce the power consumption of the terminal device.

In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the above-mentioned terminal device sends the first information to the network device in a first time period, including: the terminal device sends the first information with a first period during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, and the terminal device sends the first information with a second period during the wake-up period indicated by the above-mentioned first wake-up signal, and the first period is greater than the second period.

The second period is a configuration period of the first information in the time domain.

For example, the first period may be a multiple of the second period. In this case, the first period may also be referred to as a relaxation period of the second period, i.e., the first period is equal to the second period multiplied by the relaxation multiple. The relaxation multiple may be preconfigured by the network for the terminal device or may be specified by a protocol, and this application does not limit this.

Compared with the terminal device sending the first information with a configuration period during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, the terminal device in the above method can send the first information with a first period larger than the configuration period, which can not only ensure the communication performance, but also reduce the power consumption of the terminal device to a certain extent.

In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the above method also includes: the terminal device receives first indication information from the network device, and the first indication information is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the first information in the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal, or the first indication information is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the first information in the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal and during the DRX duration period, or the first indication information is used to indicate the terminal device to send the first information in the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal and at the above-mentioned first period.

Alternatively, the first indication information is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, or the first indication information is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the first information at the first period during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal.

In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, if the first indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, the first indication information is also used to instruct the terminal device to send the first type of information included in the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal; or, if the first indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal and during the DRX duration, the first indication information is also used to instruct the terminal device to send the first type of information included in the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal and during the DRX duration.

In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, if the first indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, the above method also includes: the terminal device does not send the second type of information included in the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal; or, if the first indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal and during the DRX duration, the above method also includes: the terminal device does not send the second type of information included in the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal and during the DRX duration.

Through the above method, the terminal device can only send part of the multiple information included in the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, or the terminal device can only send part of the multiple information included in the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal and during the DRX duration, which can reduce the power consumption of the terminal device.

In conjunction with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the first type of information includes p-CSI including L1-RSRP on a PUCCH and/or p-CSI not including L1-RSRP on a PUCCH, and the second type of information includes one or more of the following:

p-SRS, sp-SRS, sp-CSI on PUCCH, sp-CSI on PUSCH.

In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the above-mentioned terminal device does not send the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, including: the above-mentioned terminal device does not send the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal and is not in the DRX duration period.

Specifically, the above-mentioned terminal device is in the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal and is not in the DRX duration period, which can be understood as: the current time domain position of the terminal device is in the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, but the current time domain position of the terminal device is not in the DRX duration period.

Through the above method, the power consumption of the terminal device can be reduced.

In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal is the running period of a first timer, and the first timer is started by the terminal device in response to monitoring the first wake-up signal.

Exemplarily, the operating period of the first timer may be indicated by a first wake-up signal monitored by the terminal device, or the operating period of the first timer may be pre-configured in the terminal device, which is not limited in this application.

The terminal device in the above method can control the sending of the first information by running a timer after detecting the wake-up signal, without the need for the network device to dynamically instruct the sending and stopping of the first information, which can reduce signaling overhead.

In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the above method also includes: the terminal device monitors a first wake-up signal, the first wake-up signal carries second indication information, and the second indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send the first information.

In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the above method also includes: the terminal device receives third indication information from the network device, and the third indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to stop sending the first information.

Among them, the above-mentioned third indication information used to instruct the terminal device to stop sending the first information can be replaced by the third indication information used to instruct the terminal device not to send the first information.

Specifically, the second indication information may further indicate the time when the terminal device sends the first information, and the third indication information may further indicate the time when the terminal device stops sending the first information.

The terminal device in the above method can send the first information according to the instruction of the network device and stop sending the first information according to the instruction of the network device, so that the sending of the first information can be controlled more flexibly.

Specifically, the terminal device includes at least one of the following during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal:

The terminal device is in a state of monitoring the first wake-up signal, the terminal device is not in the wake-up period indicated by the above-mentioned first wake-up signal, the terminal device is not in the operating period of the first timer, the terminal device uses the second module to work, the terminal device is working in the wake-up circuit, the terminal device is monitoring the first wake-up signal, the terminal device is in the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, etc.

Specifically, the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal may be used by the terminal device when one or more of the following conditions are met:

The monitoring of the first wake-up signal is enabled, or the monitoring of the first wake-up signal is configured, or the monitoring of the first wake-up signal is used, or the monitoring of the first wake-up signal is turned on, etc.

Specifically, the terminal device includes at least one of the following during the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal:

The terminal device is in a state of monitoring PDCCH, the terminal device is not in the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal, the terminal device is in the operating period of the first timer, etc.

In conjunction with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the first information sent during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal includes at least one of the following:

p-CSI including L1-RSRP on PUCCH;

The p-CSI on the PUCCH does not include L1-RSRP.

In conjunction with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the first information sent during the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal includes at least one of the following:

p-SRS, sp-SRS, sp-CSI on PUCCH, sp-CSI on PUSCH, p-CSI including L1-RSRP on PUCCH, p-CSI not including L1-RSRP on PUCCH.

On the second aspect, a communication method is provided, which is applied to the terminal device side and can be executed by the terminal device, or it can be executed by a module in the terminal device (such as a chip or circuit), or it can be executed by a logical node, logical module or software that can implement all or part of the terminal device. This application does not limit this.

The method includes: the terminal device determines whether the current time domain position is in the DRX activation period based on the second information.

The second information includes at least one of the following:

a first wake-up signal detected by the terminal device up to a first time length before the current time domain position, where the first wake-up signal is used to wake up the terminal device;

Uplink grants, downlink assignments, DRX command media access control (MAC) control element (CE) (DRX Command MAC CE), or long DRX command MAC CE (Long DRX Command MAC CE) received by the terminal device from the network device up to a second time length before the current time domain position;

Until the third time length before the current time domain position, the terminal device sends a scheduling request (SR) signaling to the network device.

Wherein, the first time length is greater than or equal to the fourth time length. If the terminal device detects the first wake-up signal, the terminal device needs to switch from the second module to the first module to send the first information. At this time, the time it takes for the terminal device to switch from the second module to the first module is the fourth time length.

The first time length, the second time length, and the third time length may be the same or different, and this application does not limit this. For example, the first time length, the second time length, and the third time length may be 4 ms.

Illustratively, the first information includes at least one of the following:

p-SRS, sp-SRS, sp-CSI on PUCCH, sp-CSI on PUSCH, p-CSI on PUCCH, etc. Among them, p-CSI on PUCCH includes at least one of the following:

p-CSI including L1-RSRP on PUCCH, p-CSI not including L1-RSRP on PUCCH.

The terminal device in the above method takes into account the monitoring of the first wake-up signal when judging whether the current time domain position is in the activation period of DRX, which can make the result of the terminal device judging whether the current position is in the activation period of DRX more accurate.

In combination with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the above method also includes: the above terminal device sends the first information to the network device in a second time period, and the second time period includes the DRX non-activation period and/or the DRX activation period.

The above method can enable the terminal device to send a reference signal for estimating the uplink channel to the network device and/or report the measured downlink channel information to the network device when working under the DRX mechanism. This not only ensures that the power consumption of the terminal device is low, but also enables the network device to obtain channel information, thereby ensuring communication performance.

In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the above-mentioned terminal device sends the first information to the network device in the second time period, including: the terminal device does not send the first information in the non-activation period of the above-mentioned DRX, and the terminal device sends the above-mentioned first information in the activation period of the above-mentioned DRX.

The terminal device in the above method may not send the first information to the network device during the non-activation period of DRX, that is, when the terminal device is not in the activation period of DRX, there is no need to specifically wake up the terminal device to send the first information, which can keep the power consumption of the terminal device low.

In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the terminal device does not send the first information during the non-activation period of the DRX, including: the terminal device does not send the first information during the non-activation period of the DRX and during the continuous period of the DRX.

Specifically, the above-mentioned terminal device is in the non-activation period of DRX and in the continuous period of DRX, which can be understood as: the current time domain position of the terminal device is in the non-activation period of DRX, and the current time domain position of the terminal device is also in the continuous period of DRX.

The terminal device in the above method may not start the duration timer during the DRX duration period, which can further reduce the power consumption of the terminal device.

In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the above-mentioned terminal device sends the first information to the network device in the second time period, including: the terminal device sends the first information with a third period during the non-activation period of the above-mentioned DRX, and the terminal device sends the first information with a fourth period during the activation period of the above-mentioned DRX, and the third period is greater than the fourth period.

The fourth period is a configuration period of the first information in the time domain.

For example, the third period may be a multiple of the fourth period. In this case, the third period may also be referred to as a relaxation period of the fourth period, i.e., the third period is equal to the fourth period multiplied by the relaxation multiple. The relaxation multiple may be preconfigured by the network for the terminal device or may be specified by a protocol, and this application does not limit this.

As another example, the third cycle may be a DRX cycle.

Compared with the terminal device sending the first information with a configuration period during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, the terminal device in the above method can send the first information with a DRX period larger than the configuration period when it is not in the DRX activation period, which can not only ensure the communication performance, but also reduce the power consumption of the terminal device to a certain extent.

In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the above method also includes: the terminal device receives fourth indication information from the network device, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the first information during the above-mentioned DRX non-activation period, or the fourth indication information is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the first information during the above-mentioned DRX non-activation period and during the DRX continuous period, or the fourth indication information is used to indicate the terminal device to send the first information with the above-mentioned third period during the above-mentioned DRX non-activation period.

Alternatively, the fourth indication information is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the first information during the non-activation period of the DRX, or the fourth indication information is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the first information with the first period during the non-activation period of the DRX.

In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, if the fourth indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send the first information during the non-activation period of DRX, the fourth indication information is also used to instruct the terminal device to send the first type of information included in the first information during the non-activation period of DRX; or, if the fourth indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send the first information during the non-activation period of DRX and during the continuous period of DRX, the fourth indication information is also used to instruct the terminal device to send the first type of information included in the first information during the non-activation period of DRX and during the continuous period of DRX.

In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, if the fourth indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send the first information during the non-activation period of DRX, the above method also includes: the terminal device does not send the second type of information included in the first information during the non-activation period of DRX; or, if the first indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send the first information during the non-activation period of DRX and during the continuous period of DRX, the above method also includes: the terminal device does not send the second type of information included in the first information during the non-activation period of DRX and during the continuous period of DRX.

Through the above method, the terminal device can only send some of the multiple information included in the first information during the non-activation period of DRX, or the terminal device can only send some of the multiple information included in the first information during the non-activation period of DRX and during the continuous period of DRX, which can reduce the power consumption of the terminal device.

In conjunction with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the first type of information includes p-CSI including L1-RSRP on the PUCCH and/or p-CSI not including L1-RSRP on the PUCCH, and the second type of information includes one or more of the following:

p-SRS, sp-SRS, sp-CSI on PUCCH, sp-CSI on PUSCH.

In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the terminal device does not send the first information during the non-activation period of DRX, including: the terminal device does not send the first information during the non-activation period of DRX and not during the continuous period of DRX. Specifically, the terminal device is in the non-activation period of DRX and not during the continuous period of DRX can be understood as: the current time domain position of the terminal device is in the non-activation period of DRX, but the current time domain position of the terminal device is not in the continuous period of DRX.

Through the above method, the power consumption of the terminal device can be reduced.

In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the activation period of the above-mentioned DRX is the running period of the first timer, and the first timer is started by the terminal device in response to monitoring the first wake-up signal.

Exemplarily, the operating period of the first timer may be indicated by a first wake-up signal monitored by the terminal device, or the operating period of the first timer may be pre-configured in the terminal device, which is not limited in this application.

In another example, the first timer is a duration timer (drx-onDurationTimer) or an inactivity timer (drx-InactivityTimer) or a retransmission timer (drx-RetransmissionTimer) under the DRX mechanism.

The terminal device in the above method can use multiple timers under the DRX mechanism to control the sending of the first information after detecting the wake-up signal. There is no need to reconfigure a new timer for the terminal device, which can reduce resource occupancy.

In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the above method also includes: the terminal device monitors a first wake-up signal, the first wake-up signal carries fifth indication information, and the fifth indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send the first information.

In combination with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the above method also includes: the terminal device receives sixth indication information from the network device, and the sixth indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to stop sending the first information.

Among them, the above-mentioned fifth indication information used to instruct the terminal device to stop sending the first information can be replaced by the fifth indication information used to instruct the terminal device not to send the first information.

Specifically, the fifth indication information may further indicate the time when the terminal device sends the first information, and the sixth indication information may further indicate the time when the terminal device stops sending the first information.

The terminal device in the above method can send the first information according to the instruction of the network device and stop sending the first information according to the instruction of the network device, so that the sending of the first information can be controlled more flexibly.

Specifically, the terminal device includes at least one of the following during the DRX inactive period:

The terminal device is in a state of monitoring the first wake-up signal, the terminal device is not in the activation period of the above-mentioned DRX, the terminal device is not in the running period of the first timer, the terminal device uses the second module to work, the terminal device is working in the wake-up circuit, the terminal device is monitoring the first wake-up signal, the terminal device is in the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, etc.

Specifically, the terminal device includes at least one of the following during the DRX activation period:

The terminal device is in a state of monitoring PDCCH, the terminal device is not in the activation period of the above-mentioned DRX, the terminal device is in the operating period of the first timer, etc.

With reference to the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the first information sent during the DRX inactive period includes at least one of the following:

p-CSI including L1-RSRP on PUCCH;

The p-CSI on the PUCCH does not include L1-RSRP.

With reference to the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the first information sent during the DRX activation period includes at least one of the following:

p-SRS, sp-SRS, sp-CSI on PUCCH, sp-CSI on PUSCH, p-CSI including L1-RSRP on PUCCH, p-CSI not including L1-RSRP on PUCCH.

With reference to the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the first information sent during the DRX inactive period includes at least one of the following:

p-CSI including L1-RSRP on PUCCH;

The p-CSI on the PUCCH does not include L1-RSRP.

With reference to the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the first information sent during the DRX activation period includes at least one of the following:

p-SRS, sp-SRS, sp-CSI on PUCCH, sp-CSI on PUSCH, p-CSI including L1-RSRP on PUCCH, p-CSI not including L1-RSRP on PUCCH.

On the third aspect, a communication method is provided, which is applied to the terminal device side and can be executed by the terminal device, or it can be executed by a module in the terminal device (such as a chip or circuit), or it can be executed by a logical node, logical module or software that can implement all or part of the terminal device. This application does not limit this.

The method includes: the terminal device determines whether all monitoring opportunities of the second wake-up signal are in the activation period of DRX based on the third information, and the second wake-up signal is used to indicate whether the terminal device starts at least one duration timer; if the terminal device determines that the monitoring opportunity of the above-mentioned second wake-up signal is in the activation period of DRX, the terminal device starts the at least one duration timer.

The third information includes at least one of the following:

A first wake-up signal detected by the terminal device for a fifth time period before the last monitoring opportunity for the second wake-up signal, where the first wake-up signal is used to wake up the terminal device;

Grants, assignments, DRX Command MAC CE, or Long DRX Command MAC CE received by the terminal device from the network device until a sixth time period before the last monitoring opportunity of the second wake-up signal;

Until the seventh time period before the last monitoring opportunity of the second wake-up signal, the terminal device sends the SR signaling to the network device.

The fifth time length is greater than or equal to the fourth time length. If the terminal device detects the first wake-up signal, the terminal device needs to switch from the second module to the first module to send the first information. At this time, the time it takes for the terminal device to switch from the second module to the first module is the fourth time length.

The fifth time length, the sixth time length, and the seventh time length may be the same or different, and this application does not limit this. For example, the fifth time length, the sixth time length, and the seventh time length may be 4 ms.

Exemplarily, the second wake-up signal may be a PDCCH wake-up signal (PDCCH-WUS), downlink control information (DCI), DCI with cyclic redundancy code scrambled by power saving radio network temporary identifier (DCP), etc.

Additionally, if the terminal device determines that all monitoring opportunities of the second wake-up signal are not in the DRX activation period, the terminal device monitors the second wake-up signal, and the monitored second wake-up signal indicates whether to start the at least one duration timer.

The terminal device may send the first information when at least one duration timer is turned on.

Illustratively, the first information includes at least one of the following:

p-SRS, sp-SRS, sp-CSI on PUCCH, sp-CSI on PUSCH, p-CSI on PUCCH, etc. Among them, p-CSI on PUCCH includes at least one of the following:

p-CSI including L1-RSRP on PUCCH, p-CSI not including L1-RSRP on PUCCH.

The terminal device in the above method considers whether the last monitoring opportunity of the second wake-up signal is in the activation period of DRX when judging whether all monitoring opportunities of the second wake-up signal are in the activation period of DRX, and clarifies the method of judging whether all monitoring opportunities of the second wake-up signal are in the activation period of DRX.

In the fourth aspect, a communication method is provided, which is applied to the terminal device side and can be executed by the terminal device, or it can be executed by a module in the terminal device (such as a chip or circuit), or it can be executed by a logical node, logical module or software that can implement all or part of the terminal device. This application does not limit this.

The method includes: the terminal device monitors a first wake-up signal, the first wake-up signal carries second indication information, and the second indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send first information during the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal; the terminal device sends the first information to the network device during the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal based on the second indication information.

Illustratively, the first information includes at least one of the following:

p-SRS, sp-SRS, sp-CSI on PUCCH, sp-CSI on PUSCH, p-CSI on PUCCH, etc. Among them, p-CSI on PUCCH includes at least one of the following:

p-CSI including L1-RSRP on PUCCH, p-CSI not including L1-RSRP on PUCCH.

In combination with the fourth aspect, in certain implementations of the fourth aspect, the above method also includes: the terminal device receives third indication information from the network device, and the third indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to stop sending the first information.

Among them, the above-mentioned third indication information used to instruct the terminal device to stop sending the first information can be replaced by the third indication information used to instruct the terminal device not to send the first information.

Specifically, the above-mentioned second indication information can also indicate the time when the terminal device sends the first information, that is, the second indication information can also indicate the time when the terminal device sends the first information during the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal; the above-mentioned third indication information can also indicate the time when the terminal device stops sending the first information, that is, the third indication information can also indicate the time when the terminal device stops sending the first information during the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal.

The terminal device in the above method can send the first information according to the instruction of the network device and stop sending the first information according to the instruction of the network device, so that the sending of the first information can be controlled more flexibly.

In the fifth aspect, a communication method is provided, which is applied to the network device side and can be executed by the network device, or by a module in the network device (such as a chip or circuit), or by a logical node, logical module or software that can implement all or part of the network device. This application does not limit this.

The method includes: a network device receives first information from a terminal device in a first time period, the first time period includes a monitoring period of a first wake-up signal and/or a wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal, and the first wake-up signal is used to wake up the terminal device; the network device obtains channel information based on the first information.

Illustratively, the first information includes at least one of the following:

p-SRS, sp-SRS, sp-CSI on PUCCH, sp-CSI on PUSCH, p-CSI on PUCCH, etc. Among them, p-CSI on PUCCH includes at least one of the following:

p-CSI including L1-RSRP on PUCCH, p-CSI not including L1-RSRP on PUCCH.

The network device in the above method can receive a reference signal for estimating the uplink channel from the terminal device and/or receive downlink channel information reported by the terminal device when the terminal device is operating under the wake-up mechanism, so that the network device can obtain the channel information, thereby ensuring communication performance.

In combination with the fifth aspect, in certain implementations of the fifth aspect, the above-mentioned network device receives the first information from the terminal device in the first time period, including: the network device sends the first wake-up signal to the terminal device in the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal, and the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal is the time period when the terminal device does not send the first information; the network device receives the first information in the wake-up period indicated by the above-mentioned first wake-up signal.

The network device in the above method can receive the first information during the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal, so that the network device can obtain channel information, thereby ensuring communication performance.

In combination with the fifth aspect, in certain implementations of the fifth aspect, the above-mentioned network device receives the first information from the terminal device in the first time period, including: the network device receives the first information with a first period in the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, and the network device receives the first information with a second period in the wake-up period indicated by the above-mentioned first wake-up signal, and the first period is greater than the second period.

The second period is a configuration period of the first information in the time domain.

For example, the first period may be a multiple of the second period. In this case, the first period may also be referred to as a relaxation period of the second period, i.e., the first period is equal to the second period multiplied by the relaxation multiple. The relaxation multiple may be preconfigured by the network for the terminal device or may be specified by a protocol, and this application does not limit this.

Compared with the network device receiving the first information sent by the terminal device in the configuration period during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, the terminal device in the above method can send the first information in a first period that is larger than the configuration period, which can not only ensure the communication performance, but also reduce the power consumption of the terminal device to a certain extent.

In combination with the fifth aspect, in certain implementations of the fifth aspect, when the terminal device operates under the DRX mechanism, the above-mentioned first cycle may be a DRX cycle.

When the terminal device operates under the DRX mechanism, the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal may also be the non-activation period of DRX, and the wake-up period indicated by the above-mentioned first wake-up signal may also be the activation period of DRX.

Compared with the network device receiving the first information sent by the terminal device with a configuration period during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, the terminal device in the above method can send the first information with a DRX period that is larger than the configuration period, which can not only ensure the communication performance, but also reduce the power consumption of the terminal device to a certain extent.

In combination with the fifth aspect, in certain implementations of the fifth aspect, the above method also includes: the network device sends a first indication information to the terminal device, and the first indication information is used to instruct the terminal device not to send the first information during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal, or the first indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send the first information at the above-mentioned first period during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal.

Alternatively, the first indication information is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, or the first indication information is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the first information at the first period during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal.

In combination with the fifth aspect, in certain implementations of the fifth aspect, the wake-up period indicated by the above-mentioned first wake-up signal is the running period of the first timer, and the first timer is started by the terminal device in response to monitoring the first wake-up signal.

Exemplarily, the operating period of the first timer may be indicated by a first wake-up signal monitored by the terminal device, or the operating period of the first timer may be pre-configured in the terminal device, which is not limited in this application.

After the network device in the above method sends a wake-up signal to the terminal device, the terminal device can control the sending of the first information by running a timer. There is no need for the network device to dynamically instruct the sending and stopping of the first information, which can reduce signaling overhead.

In combination with the fifth aspect, in certain implementations of the fifth aspect, the first timer is a duration timer (drx-onDurationTimer) or an inactivity timer (drx-InactivityTimer) or a retransmission timer (drx-RetransmissionTimer) under the DRX mechanism.

After the network device in the above method sends a wake-up signal to the terminal device, the terminal device can control the sending of the first information by running multiple timers under the DRX mechanism. There is no need to reconfigure new timers for the terminal device, which can reduce resource occupancy.

In combination with the fifth aspect, in certain implementations of the fifth aspect, the above method also includes: the network device sends a first wake-up signal to the terminal device, the first wake-up signal carries second indication information, and the second indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send the first information.

In combination with the fifth aspect, in certain implementations of the fifth aspect, the above method also includes: the network device sends third indication information to the terminal device, and the third indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to stop sending the first information.

Among them, the above-mentioned third indication information used to instruct the terminal device to stop sending the first information can be replaced by the third indication information used to instruct the terminal device not to send the first information.

Specifically, the second indication information may further indicate the time when the terminal device sends the first information, and the third indication information may further indicate the time when the terminal device stops sending the first information.

The network device in the above method can use the indication information to instruct the terminal device to send the first information and stop sending the first information, so that the sending of the first information can be controlled more flexibly.

Specifically, the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal may be used by the terminal device when one or more of the following conditions are met:

The monitoring of the first wake-up signal is enabled, or the monitoring of the first wake-up signal is configured, or the monitoring of the first wake-up signal is used, or the monitoring of the first wake-up signal is turned on, etc.

In conjunction with the fifth aspect, in certain implementations of the fifth aspect, the first information sent during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal includes at least one of the following:

p-CSI including L1-RSRP on PUCCH;

The p-CSI on the PUCCH does not include L1-RSRP.

In conjunction with the fifth aspect, in certain implementations of the fifth aspect, the first information sent during the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal includes at least one of the following:

p-SRS, sp-SRS, sp-CSI on PUCCH, sp-CSI on PUSCH, p-CSI including L1-RSRP on PUCCH, p-CSI not including L1-RSRP on PUCCH.

In the sixth aspect, a communication method is provided, which is applied to the network device side and can be executed by the network device, or by a module in the network device (such as a chip or circuit), or by a logical node, logical module or software that can implement all or part of the network device. This application does not limit this.

The method includes: a network device sends a first wake-up signal to a terminal device, the first wake-up signal carries second indication information, and the second indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send first information during the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal; the network device receives the first information from the terminal device during the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal; and the network device obtains channel information based on the first information.

Illustratively, the first information includes at least one of the following:

p-SRS, sp-SRS, sp-CSI on PUCCH, sp-CSI on PUSCH, p-CSI on PUCCH, etc. Among them, p-CSI on PUCCH includes at least one of the following:

p-CSI including L1-RSRP on PUCCH, p-CSI not including L1-RSRP on PUCCH.

In combination with the sixth aspect, in certain implementations of the sixth aspect, the above method also includes: the network device sends third indication information to the terminal device, and the third indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to stop sending the first information.

Among them, the above-mentioned third indication information used to instruct the terminal device to stop sending the first information can be replaced by the third indication information used to instruct the terminal device not to send the first information.

Specifically, the above-mentioned second indication information can also indicate the time when the terminal device sends the first information, that is, the second indication information can also indicate the time when the terminal device sends the first information during the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal; the above-mentioned third indication information can also indicate the time when the terminal device stops sending the first information, that is, the third indication information can also indicate the time when the terminal device stops sending the first information during the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal.

The network device in the above method can use the indication information to instruct the terminal device to send the first information and stop sending the first information, so that the sending of the first information can be controlled more flexibly.

The communication device in the following seventh to ninth aspects can be a terminal device or a network device, or it can be a module (such as a chip or circuit) in a terminal device or a network device, or it can be a logical node, logical module or software that can implement all or part of the network device. This application does not limit this.

In a seventh aspect, a communication device is provided, which includes a module for executing the method described in the first aspect and any possibility of the first aspect, or for executing the method described in the second aspect and any possibility of the second aspect, or for executing the method described in the third aspect and any possibility of the third aspect, or for executing the method described in the fourth aspect and any possibility of the fourth aspect, or for executing the method described in the fifth aspect and any possibility of the fifth aspect, or for executing the method described in the sixth aspect and any possibility of the sixth aspect, such as a processing module and a transceiver module. The processing module may be a processor, and the transceiver module may be a transceiver. When the communication device is a terminal device or a network device, the transceiver may be a radio frequency module. When the communication device is a module (such as a chip or circuit) in a terminal device or a network device, the transceiver may be an input/output interface, a pin or a circuit, etc.

In an eighth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor, wherein the processor is used to, by executing a computer program or instruction or through a logic circuit, enable the communication device to perform the method described in the first aspect and any possibility of the first aspect, or enable the communication device to perform the method described in the second aspect and any possibility of the second aspect, or enable the communication device to perform the method described in the third aspect and any possibility of the third aspect, or enable the communication device to perform the method described in the fourth aspect and any possibility of the fourth aspect, or enable the communication device to perform the method described in the fifth aspect and any possibility of the fifth aspect, or enable the communication device to perform the method described in the sixth aspect and any possibility of the sixth aspect.

In a possible implementation, the communication device further includes a memory for storing the computer program or instruction.

In a possible implementation, the communication device further includes a communication interface, which is used to input and/or output signals.

In the ninth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a logic circuit and an input/output interface, the input/output interface being used to input and/or output signals, the logic circuit being used to execute the method described in the first aspect and any possibility of the first aspect, or the method described in the second aspect and any possibility of the second aspect, or the method described in the third aspect and any possibility of the third aspect, or the method described in the fourth aspect and any possibility of the fourth aspect, or the method described in the fifth aspect and any possibility of the fifth aspect, or the method described in the sixth aspect and any possibility of the sixth aspect.

In the tenth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, on which a computer program or instruction is stored. When the computer program or the instruction is run on a computer, the method described in the first aspect and any possibility of the first aspect is executed, or the method described in the second aspect and any possibility of the second aspect is executed, or the method described in the third aspect and any possibility of the third aspect is executed, or the method described in the fourth aspect and any possibility of the fourth aspect is executed, or the method described in the fifth aspect and any possibility of the fifth aspect is executed, or the method described in the sixth aspect and any possibility of the sixth aspect is executed.

In the eleventh aspect, a computer program product is provided, comprising instructions, which, when executed on a computer, cause the method described in the first aspect and any possibility of the first aspect to be executed, or the method described in the second aspect and any possibility of the second aspect to be executed, or the method described in the third aspect and any possibility of the third aspect to be executed, or the method described in the fourth aspect and any possibility of the fourth aspect to be executed, or the method described in the fifth aspect and any possibility of the fifth aspect to be executed, or the method described in the sixth aspect and any possibility of the sixth aspect to be executed.

In the twelfth aspect, a communication system is provided, which includes the above-mentioned terminal device and the above-mentioned network device, the terminal device is used to execute the method described in the above-mentioned first aspect and any possibility of the first aspect, or the terminal device is used to execute the method described in the above-mentioned second aspect and any possibility of the second aspect, or the terminal device is used to execute the method described in the above-mentioned third aspect and any possibility of the third aspect, or the terminal device is used to execute the method described in the above-mentioned fourth aspect and any possibility of the fourth aspect, the network device is used to execute the method described in the above-mentioned fifth aspect and any possibility of the fifth aspect, or the network device is used to execute the method described in the above-mentioned sixth aspect and any possibility of the sixth aspect.

For the relevant explanations and descriptions of the beneficial effects of the seventh to twelfth aspects, please refer to the descriptions of the first to sixth aspects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system 100 to which the technical solution of the present application can be applied.

FIG2 is a schematic diagram of triggering a terminal device to work using a first module and a second module.

FIG3 is a schematic diagram of an interaction flow of a communication method 300 provided in an embodiment of the present application.

FIG4 is a schematic diagram of an example of a monitoring period of a first wake-up signal and a wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal provided in an embodiment of the present application.

FIG5 is a schematic diagram of an example of a terminal device sending first information provided in an embodiment of the present application.

FIG6 is another schematic diagram of an example of a terminal device sending first information provided in an embodiment of the present application.

FIG7 is a schematic diagram of a DRX mechanism.

FIG8 is a schematic diagram of data retransmission under the DRX mechanism.

FIG9 is a schematic diagram of an interaction flow of a communication method 500 under the DRX mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of an example of a terminal device sending first information under the DRX mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Figure 11 is another schematic diagram of an example of a terminal device sending first information under the DRX mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present application.

FIG12 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1200 applicable to an embodiment of the present application.

FIG13 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1300 applicable to an embodiment of the present application.

FIG14 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1400 applicable to an embodiment of the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, the following points are explained before introducing the embodiments of the present application.

In this application, "used to indicate" or "indicates" can include direct indication and indirect indication, or "used to indicate" or "indicates" can indicate explicitly and/or implicitly. For example, when describing that a certain information is used to indicate information I, it can include that the information directly indicates I or indirectly indicates I, but it does not necessarily mean that the information contains I.

In the embodiments shown below, the first, second, third, fourth and various numbers are only used for the convenience of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. For example, different messages are distinguished.

In the embodiments of this application, words such as "exemplary," "for example," "illustratively," and "as another example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described as an "exemplary" in this application should not be construed as being preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of the word "exemplary" is intended to present concepts in a concrete manner.

The terms "include", "comprising", "having" and variations thereof mean "including but not limited to", unless specifically emphasized otherwise.

In this application, unless otherwise specified, "/" indicates that the objects associated with each other are in an "or" relationship, for example, A/B can represent A or B. In addition, the expression "and/or" is used to indicate that the objects associated with each other can be in an and relationship or an or relationship; for example, A and/or B can represent the following situations: A exists alone, B exists alone, and A and B exist at the same time, where A and B can be single or multiple. In addition, "at least one of the following" or similar expressions is used to indicate any combination of the listed items; for example, at least one of A, B and (or) C can represent the following situations: A exists alone, B exists alone, C exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, B and C exist at the same time, A and C exist at the same time, and A, B and C exist at the same time, where A, B, and C can be single or multiple.

In the embodiments of the present application, the descriptions involving A sending a message, information or data to B, and B receiving a message, information or data from A are intended to illustrate to which object the message, information or data is to be sent, and do not limit whether they are sent directly or indirectly via other nodes.

First, a communication system to which the embodiments of the present application are applicable is described.

FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system 100 applicable to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG1 , the communication system 100 includes: a network device 110 and a terminal device 120 .

The terminal device 120 is a device with wireless transceiver capabilities, and may refer to user equipment (UE), access terminal, subscriber unit, user station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, wireless communication device, user agent, or user device. The terminal device 120 may also be a satellite phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a wireless data card, a wireless modem, a machine type communication device, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a customer-premises equipment (CPE), a smart point of sale (POS), a handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, a vehicle-mounted device, a communication device carried on a high-altitude aircraft, a wearable device, a drone, a robot, a device-to-device communication (D2D) device, or a similar device. This application does not limit the terminals in wireless communication networks after 5G, such as terminals in wireless communication networks such as D2D (delivery to everything, D2D), terminals in vehicle-to-everything (V2X), virtual reality (VR) terminal equipment, augmented reality (AR) terminal equipment, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self-driving, wireless terminals in remote medical, wireless terminals in smart grid, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart city, wireless terminals in smart home, or terminal equipment in communication networks evolved after 5G.

The communication device used to implement the functions of the terminal device 120 can be a terminal device, or a device that can support the terminal device to implement the functions, such as a chip system. The device can be installed in the terminal device or used in conjunction with the terminal device. In this application, the chip system can be composed of a chip or include a chip and other discrete devices.

The network device 110 is a device with wireless transceiver functions, used to communicate with the terminal device 120. The network device 110 may be a node in a radio access network (RAN), which may be referred to as a base station or a RAN node. It may be an evolved Node B (eNB or eNodeB) in Long Term Evolution (LTE), a base station in a 5G network such as a gNodeB (gNB), or a base station in a public land mobile network (PLMN) that evolves beyond 5G, a broadband network gateway (BNG), an aggregation switch, or access equipment in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

The RAN can be configured as a RAN defined by the 3GPP protocol, an open radio access network (O-RAN), or a cloud radio access network (C-RAN). The network device 110 can also include various forms of base stations, such as macro base stations, micro base stations (also known as small cells), relay stations, transmission reception points (TRPs), transmitting points (TPs), mobile switching centers, and devices that perform base station functions in device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), and machine-to-machine (M2M) communications, as well as network devices in non-terrestrial networks (NTNs), etc., without specific limitation.

The network device 110 may also be a network element or module that can implement some of the functions of the base station. For example, the network device 110 may be one or more of the following: a centralized unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), or a radio unit (RU). The functions of the CU and DU may be implemented by different network elements, or simultaneously by the baseband unit (BBU) of the base station. Optionally, the CU may be further separated into a CU-control plane (CP) and a CU-user plane (UP). The functions of the RU may be implemented by the radio frequency equipment of the base station. For example, the radio frequency equipment of the base station may be a remote radio unit (RRU), a pico remote radio unit (pRRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), or other units, modules, or devices with radio frequency processing functions. The communication interface protocol between the BBU and the radio frequency equipment can be the common public radio interface (CPRI) interface protocol, the enhanced common public radio interface (eCPRI) interface protocol, or the fronthaul interface protocol between the DU and RU in the O-RAN system, etc., without restriction.

The communication device used to implement the functions of the network device 110 can be a network device, or a device that can support the network device to implement the functions, such as a chip system. The device can be installed in the network device or used in conjunction with the network device. The chip system in the embodiment of the present application can be composed of a chip, or it can include a chip and other discrete devices.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned communication system 100 may include any number of network devices 110 and/or any number of terminal devices 120, and this application does not limit this.

In the embodiment of the present application, the communication system 100 may be a long term evolution (LTE) system, an LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, an LTE time division duplex (TDD) system, a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), a fifth generation (5G) communication system, a sixth generation (6G) communication system, a high altitude platform station (HAPS) communication system, a non-terrestrial network (NTN) communication system, etc. The communication system 100 may also be a terrestrial cellular communication system, a D2D communication system, a V2X communication system, an M2M communication system, a machine type communication (MTC), an Internet of Things (IoT) communication system, a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system, or other communication systems.

The communication system 100 may also be a single-hop relay system or a multi-hop relay system, an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) system, a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) communication system, etc., without limitation.

Next, a brief description of the technical contents involved in the embodiments of this application is given.

Whether the process of receiving paging is executed when in an idle state/inactive state, or data is received when in a connected state, the terminal device 120 uses the same receiving module (or receiver, or receiving circuit). In this application, the circuit that completes these functions (or performs related steps) can be referred to as the first module. The first module is only named for distinction, and its specific naming does not limit the scope of protection of this application. For example, the first module can be a first circuit or a main circuit.

The process of terminal device 120 receiving a signal using the first module can be referred to as the process of signal transmission on a link (for distinction, referred to as the first link). The first link represents a connection between terminal device 120 and network device 110 and is a logical concept rather than a physical entity. The first link can also be referred to as the primary link.

The power consumption of the terminal device 120 performing the paging reception process via the first module is relatively high. For example, the terminal device 120 first uses the first module to receive downlink signals, then performs blind detection on the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), and finally decodes the received physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH). All of these factors result in significant power consumption. Due to the complex circuit structure of the first module, its baseline power consumption during operation is also relatively high.

In order to reduce the high power consumption caused by the terminal device 120 executing the process of receiving paging through the first module, the terminal device 120 can use a separate low-power small circuit to receive a wake-up signal (wake-up signal/radio, WUS/WUR) or a low-power wake-up signal (low-power wake-up signal, LP-WUS). The wake-up signal can be used to wake up at least one terminal device or at least one group of terminal devices. In order to reduce the power consumption of the low-power small circuit, the wake-up signal usually adopts some simple modulation methods such as on-off keying (OOK); accordingly, the low-power small circuit in the terminal device adopts envelope detection to receive the wake-up signal. The above-mentioned low-power small circuit can be implemented using a separate small circuit or chip with a simple structure, so that the power consumption of the low-power small circuit can be lower.

In one possible implementation, the low-power small circuit can also be a low-power radio (LR), a wake-up receiver (WUR), a wake-up radio (WUR), etc. This application does not limit the specific naming of the low-power small circuit. In this application, the low-power small circuit can be referred to as the second module. It is understood that the second module is only named for distinction, and its specific naming does not limit the scope of protection of this application. For example, the second module can also be a second circuit or a wake-up circuit.

Similarly, the process of the terminal device 120 using the second module to receive the signal can be referred to as the process of transmitting the signal on the link (for distinction, denoted as the second link). The second link represents a connection relationship between the terminal device 120 and the network device 110. It is a logical concept, not a physical entity. The wake-up signal is only an example name, and this application does not limit its naming.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an example of a terminal device 120 receiving a wake-up signal through the second module. As shown in Figure 2, the terminal device 120 receives signals through the second module. If it fails to detect a wake-up signal associated with itself, it continues to use the second module to receive signals. The first module may be in a closed state (or a sleep state). If it detects a wake-up signal associated with itself, it triggers the wake-up of the first module, i.e., the first module is in/switched to an open state (or a working state, or an active state). After the first module is turned on, the terminal device 120 performs the PDCCH monitoring process. The monitored PDCCH can be a PDCCH used to schedule data transmission, such as a PDCCH carrying any of the following downlink control information (DCI): DCI format 0_0, DCI format 0_1, DCI format 0_2, DCI format 1_0, DCI format 1_1, DCI format 1_2, etc.

In addition, in order to ensure communication performance, the network device 110 needs to obtain channel information in order to perform high-quality scheduling. However, there is currently no relevant technical solution for how the terminal device 120 feeds back channel information to the network device when using the second module to receive the wake-up signal. Therefore, it is impossible to effectively balance reducing the power consumption of the terminal device 120 and ensuring communication performance.

Based on the above technical problems, the present application can provide a communication method 300, which can not only reduce the power consumption of the terminal device but also ensure the communication performance.

Figure 3 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method 300 provided in an embodiment of the present application. In this embodiment, the method is illustrated by taking the terminal device and the network device as the execution subject of the interactive diagram as an example, but the present application does not limit the execution subject of the interactive diagram. For example, the terminal device in Figure 3 can also be a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports the method that can be implemented by the terminal device, or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the terminal device; the network device can also be a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports the method that can be implemented by the network device, or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the network device. When the method is executed by a chip, a chip system, a processor, a logic module or software, etc., the sending and receiving in the following steps can be understood as communication implemented through input/output interfaces, pins or circuits, etc.

The communication method 300 may include the following steps:

In step S310, the terminal device sends first information to the network device during a first period, where the first period includes a monitoring period of the first wake-up signal and/or a wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal. Accordingly, the network device receives the first information from the terminal device during the first period.

For example, the monitoring period for the first wake-up signal may be as shown in FIG4(a). During the monitoring period for the first wake-up signal, the terminal device uses the second module to monitor the first wake-up signal. In addition, the terminal device may also periodically trigger the activation of the first module, thereby using the first module to perform radio resource management (RRM) measurements, etc.

Alternatively, the terminal device may still keep the second module turned on when periodically triggering the turning on of the first module. In this case, all time periods shown in (a) of FIG. 4 may be considered as monitoring periods of the first wake-up signal.

Alternatively, the terminal device uses the second module to monitor the first wake-up signal during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal without periodically triggering the opening of the first module. At this time, all time periods shown in (a) of Figure 4 are time periods when the second module is turned on and the first module is turned off.

Exemplarily, the wake-up period indicated by the above-mentioned first wake-up signal can be shown as (b) in Figure 4. If the terminal device detects the first wake-up signal associated with itself, it triggers the start-up of the first module. The terminal device receives the first wake-up signal and demodulates the wake-up indication information associated with itself according to the information carried in the first wake-up signal, that is, the terminal device is awakened, triggering the start-up of the first module. Optionally, the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal is the period from the time the first module is turned on until the monitoring cycle of the first wake-up signal is entered again. The wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal may also be infinite.

The monitoring period of the terminal device for the first wake-up signal may be understood as any one or more of the following:

The terminal device is in a state of monitoring the first wake-up signal, the terminal device is not in the wake-up period indicated by the above-mentioned first wake-up signal, the terminal device is not in the operating period of the first timer, the terminal device uses the second module to work, the terminal device is working in the wake-up circuit, the terminal device is monitoring the first wake-up signal, the terminal device is monitoring the OOK modulated signal, the terminal device is in the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, etc. The first timer here is described below.

The monitoring period of the first wake-up signal may be used by the terminal device when one or more of the following conditions are met:

Monitoring of the first wake-up signal is enabled, or monitoring of the first wake-up signal is configured, or monitoring of the first wake-up signal is used, or monitoring of the first wake-up signal is turned on, etc. Exemplarily, when the terminal device is configured to monitor the first wake-up signal and the signal quality of the first wake-up signal monitored by the terminal device is greater than a preset quality threshold, monitoring of the first wake-up signal is enabled.

The wake-up period of the terminal device indicated by the first wake-up signal may be understood as any one or more of the following:

The terminal device is in the state of monitoring PDCCH, the terminal device is not in the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal, the terminal device is in the operating period of the first timer, the terminal device uses the first module to work, the terminal device works in the main circuit, the terminal device is monitoring PDCCH, etc.

Illustratively, the first information includes at least one of the following:

Periodic sounding reference signal (p-SRS); semi-persistent sounding reference signal (sp-SRS); semi-persistent channel state information (sp-CSI) on the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH); sp-CSI configured on the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH); periodic channel state information (p-CSI) on the PUCCH. The p-CSI on the PUCCH includes at least one of the following:

p-CSI on PUCCH includes L1 reference signal receiving power (L1-RSRP); p-CSI on PUCCH does not include L1-RSRP, etc.

For example, the sp-CSI sent by the terminal device on PUCCH can also be called the sp-CSI reported by the terminal device on PUCCH, the sp-CSI configured on the PUSCH sent by the terminal device can also be called the sp-CSI configured on the PUSCH reported by the terminal device, and the p-CSI sent by the terminal device on PUCCH can also be called the p-CSI reported by the terminal device on PUCCH.

The first information is configured in the time domain with a second period. The terminal device may send the first information to the network device in the first time period in the following two ways:

It should be noted that the terminal device is configured with resources for sending the first information. As shown in FIG5 and FIG6 , the first information is configured with a second period in the time domain.

Method 1: The terminal device does not send the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, and the terminal device sends the first information during the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal, as shown in FIG5 .

The terminal device may not send the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal as shown in (a) of Figure 5.

Exemplarily, the terminal device sends the first information in a second period during the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal, as shown in (b) of FIG5 .

If the terminal device is also configured with a DRX mechanism, optionally, the terminal device does not send the first information during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal and during the DRX duration period (i.e., the On Duration period), and the terminal device sends the first information during the wake-up period indicated by the above-mentioned first wake-up signal. In one example, the terminal device is in the On Duration period and the duration timer (drx-onDurationTimer) is turned on or the duration timer (drx-onDurationTimer) is in the process of running, but the terminal device does not turn on PDCCH monitoring. Specifically, even if the terminal device is currently in the On Duration period and the duration timer (drx-onDurationTimer) is in the process of running, whether the terminal device performs PDCCH monitoring may not be controlled by the DRX mechanism. Therefore, the terminal device may not turn on PDCCH monitoring in the current On Duration period and still be in the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal. In this case, the terminal device may not send the first information in the current On Duration period. The DRX configuration of the terminal device under the DRX mechanism can be referred to the relevant description corresponding to Figures 7 and 8 below, which will not be repeated here.

Specifically, the terminal device is in the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal and in the On Duration period, which can be understood as: the current time domain position of the terminal device is in both the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal and the On Duration period.

Generally speaking, if a terminal device is configured with the DRX mechanism, it will enable PDCCH monitoring during the On-Duration period and not during the Sleep period, which is sufficient for energy conservation. Due to the introduction of the wake-up circuit and the first wake-up signal, the terminal device will not perform PDCCH monitoring during the On-Duration period even if the duration timer (drx-onDurationTimer) is enabled. Therefore, the On-Duration period may also be a period when the terminal device does not monitor the PDCCH, or the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal may also include the On-Duration period, or the On-Duration period may also include the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, or the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal may overlap with the On-Duration period, etc.

If the terminal device is also configured with a DRX mechanism, optionally, the terminal device does not send any information included in the above-mentioned first information during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal and not during the On Duration period.

Specifically, the terminal device is in the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal and is not in the On Duration period, which can be understood as: the current time domain position of the terminal device is in the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, but is not in the On Duration period.

Optionally, the network device may also send indication information #1 to the terminal device, and the indication information #1 is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the above-mentioned first information during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal. Accordingly, the terminal device receives the indication information #1 from the network device. Here, the indication information #1 is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the above-mentioned first information during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal, and can be replaced by at least one of the following items: the indication information #1 is used to indicate that the terminal device sends the above-mentioned first information during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal, or the indication information #1 is used to indicate that the terminal device does not send the above-mentioned first information during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal. The indication information #1 is used to indicate, which can be understood as: through the value of the indication information #1, and/or, whether the indication information #1 is carried in the signaling/information sent by the network device to the terminal device for indication. The indication information #1 can be an example of the first indication information. Optionally, indication information #1 may instruct the terminal device to send part of the information included in the above-mentioned first information during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal. For example, indication information #1 instructs the terminal device to send the p-CSI containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH and/or the p-CSI not containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH included in the first information during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal, but not to send other SRS and CSI included in the first information, for example, not to send p-SRS, sp-SRS, sp-CSI on PUCCH, and sp-CSI configured on PUSCH.

Optionally, the network device may also send indication information #1 to the terminal device, where indication information #1 is used to indicate whether the terminal device transmits the first information during the monitoring period for the first wake-up signal and during the On-Duration period. Accordingly, the terminal device receives indication information #1 from the network device. Here, indication information #1 is used to indicate whether the terminal device transmits the first information during the monitoring period for the first wake-up signal and during the On-Duration period. This may be replaced by at least one of the following: indication information #1 is used to instruct the terminal device to transmit the first information during the monitoring period for the first wake-up signal and during the On-Duration period, or indication information #1 is used to instruct the terminal device not to transmit the first information during the monitoring period for the first wake-up signal and during the On-Duration period. The indication information #1 indicates that the indication is provided by the value of indication information #1 and/or whether indication information #1 is carried in signaling/information sent by the network device to the terminal device. Indication information #1 may be an example of first indication information. Optionally, indication information #1 may instruct the terminal device to send part of the information included in the above-mentioned first information during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal and in the On Duration period. For example, indication information #1 instructs the terminal device to send the p-CSI containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH and/or the p-CSI not containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH included in the first information during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal and in the On Duration period, but not to send other SRS and CSI included in the first information, for example, not to send p-SRS, sp-SRS, sp-CSI on the PUCCH, and sp-CSI configured on the PUSCH. Exemplarily, the indication information #1 carries a first value (true) or the field of the indication information #1 in the radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration message does not exist (not present/absent), indicating that the terminal device needs to send the first information to the network device during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal; the indication information #1 carries a second value (false) or the field of the indication information #1 in the RRC reconfiguration message exists (present), indicating that the terminal device does not need to send the first information to the network device during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal.

It should be noted that the communication method 300 is uniformly described as the first information being configured with the second period in the time domain. In fact, the multiple pieces of information in the first information may be configured with multiple different periods in the time domain. For example, the p-SRS in the first information is configured with period #1, and the p-CSI in the first information is configured with period #2, which is not limited in this application. Exemplarily, the terminal device may receive one or more indication information #1 from the network device. If the terminal device receives an indication information #1, the indication information #1 may indicate whether the terminal device sends the multiple pieces of information included in the first information at the periods corresponding to the multiple pieces of information included in the first information during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal; if the terminal device receives multiple indication information #1s, the multiple indication information #1s are used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the multiple pieces of information included in the first information at the periods corresponding to the multiple pieces of information included in the first information during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal.

Method 2: The terminal device sends the first information in the first period during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, and the terminal device sends the first information in the second period during the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal, as shown in FIG6 .

The first period is greater than the second period. For example, the first period may be configured by the network for the terminal device or may be specified by a protocol, and this application does not limit this. For example, the first period may be a multiple of the second period, in which case the first period may also be referred to as a relaxation period of the second period, i.e., the first period is equal to the second period multiplied by the relaxation multiple. The relaxation multiple may be configured by the network for the terminal device or may be specified by a protocol, and this application does not limit this.

The terminal device may send the first information in the first period during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal as shown in (a) of FIG6 .

The terminal device may send the first information in a second period during the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal as shown in FIG6(b).

If the terminal device is also configured with a DRX mechanism, optionally, the terminal device sends the above-mentioned first information in the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal and in the On Duration period with the first period, and the terminal device sends the first information in the wake-up period indicated by the above-mentioned first wake-up signal with the above-mentioned second period. In one example, the terminal device is in the On Duration period, and the duration timer (drx-onDurationTimer) is turned on or the duration timer (drx-onDurationTimer) is in the running process, but the terminal device does not turn on PDCCH monitoring. Specifically, even if the terminal device is currently in the On Duration period and the duration timer (drx-onDurationTimer) is in the running process, whether the terminal device performs PDCCH monitoring may not be controlled by the DRX mechanism. Therefore, the terminal device may not turn on PDCCH monitoring in the current On Duration period and is still in the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal. In this case, the terminal device may send the first information in the first period in the current On Duration period.

If the terminal device is also configured with a DRX mechanism, optionally, the terminal device does not send any information included in the above-mentioned first information during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal and not during the On Duration period.

Optionally, the network device may also send indication information #2 to the terminal device, and the indication information #2 is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the above-mentioned first information in the first period during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal. Accordingly, the terminal device receives indication information #2 from the network device. Here, the indication information #2 is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the above-mentioned first information in the first period during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal, and can be replaced by at least one of the following items: the indication information #2 is used to indicate that the terminal device sends the above-mentioned first information in the first period during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal, or the indication information #2 is used to indicate that the terminal device does not send the above-mentioned first information in the first period during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal. The indication information #2 is used to indicate, which can be understood as: the value of the indication information #2, and/or whether the indication information #2 is carried in the signaling/information sent by the network device to the terminal device for indication. The indication information #2 can be an example of the first indication information. Optionally, indication information #2 may instruct the terminal device to send part of the information included in the above-mentioned first information at a first period during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal. For example, indication information #2 instructs the terminal device to send the p-CSI containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH and/or the p-CSI not containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH included in the first information at a first period during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal, but not to send other SRS and CSI included in the first information, for example, not to send p-SRS, sp-SRS, sp-CSI on PUCCH, and sp-CSI configured on PUSCH.

Optionally, the network device may also send indication information #2 to the terminal device, indicating whether the terminal device is transmitting the first information at a first periodicity during the monitoring period for the first wake-up signal and during the On-Duration period. Accordingly, the terminal device receives indication information #2 from the network device. Here, indication information #2 indicating whether the terminal device is transmitting the first information at a first periodicity during the monitoring period for the first wake-up signal and during the On-Duration period may be replaced by at least one of the following: indication information #2 indicating whether the terminal device is transmitting the first information at a first periodicity during the monitoring period for the first wake-up signal and during the On-Duration period; or indication information #2 indicating whether the terminal device is transmitting the first information at a first periodicity during the monitoring period for the first wake-up signal and during the On-Duration period. The indication information #2 indicating the first information can be understood as being indicated by the value of indication information #2 and/or whether indication information #2 is carried in signaling/information sent by the network device to the terminal device. Indication information #2 may be an example of first indication information. Optionally, indication information #2 may instruct the terminal device to send part of the information included in the above-mentioned first information during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal and in the first period during the On Duration period. For example, indication information #2 instructs the terminal device to send the p-CSI containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH and/or the p-CSI not containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH included in the first information during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal and in the first period during the On Duration period, but not to send other SRS and CSI included in the first information, for example, not to send p-SRS, sp-SRS, sp-CSI on the PUCCH, and sp-CSI configured on the PUSCH.

Exemplarily, the above-mentioned indication information #2 carries a first value (true), or the field of indication information #2 in the RRC reconfiguration message does not exist (not present/absent), or indication information #2 indicates a relaxation multiple, or indication information #2 indicates a first period, or the network device is configured with a relaxation multiple, indicating that the terminal device needs to send the first information with the first period in the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal; the above-mentioned indication information #2 carries a second value (false), or the field of indication information #2 in the RRC reconfiguration message exists (present), or indication information #2 does not indicate a relaxation multiple, or the network device is not configured with a relaxation multiple, indicating that the terminal device needs to send the first information with the second period in the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal or the terminal device does not need to send the first information to the network device in the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal.

It should be noted that the communication method 300 is uniformly described as the first information being configured with the second period in the time domain. In fact, the multiple pieces of information in the first information may be configured with multiple different periods in the time domain. For example, the p-SRS in the first information is configured with period #1, and the p-CSI in the first information is configured with period #2, and this application does not limit this. Exemplarily, the terminal device may receive one or more indication information #2 from the network device. If the terminal device receives an indication information #2, the indication information #2 may indicate whether the terminal device sends the multiple pieces of information included in the first information at the periods corresponding to the multiple pieces of information included in the first information; if the terminal device receives multiple indication information #2, the multiple indication information #2 is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the multiple pieces of information included in the first information at the periods corresponding to the multiple pieces of information included in the first information.

Exemplarily, the above-mentioned indication information #1 and the above-mentioned indication information #2 may be the same indication information, and the same indication information is recorded as the first indication information. The first indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send the first information to the network device with the second period during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal, or the first indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send the first information to the network device with the first period during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal, or the first indication information is used to instruct the terminal device not to send the first information to the network device during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal, etc.

The above-mentioned method 1 and the above-mentioned method 2 can also be used in combination, and the terminal device uses the above-mentioned method 1 to send part of the information in the first information, and the terminal device uses the above-mentioned method 2 to send the other part of the information in the first information. Exemplarily, the terminal device sends the p-CSI containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH and the p-CSI not containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH included in the first information in the above-mentioned first wake-up signal monitoring period with the above-mentioned first period, and the terminal device does not send other SRS and CSI included in the first information in the above-mentioned first wake-up signal monitoring period. For example, the terminal device does not send p-SRS, sp-SRS, sp-CSI on PUCCH, and sp-CSI configured on PUSCH in the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal. The terminal device sends any one or more of the information included in the first information in the second period during the wake-up period indicated by the above-mentioned first wake-up signal.

Exemplarily, whether the terminal device sends the p-CSI containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH included in the first information to the network device can be configured by indication information #1-1. If indication information #1-1 is configured as true, the terminal device sends the p-CSI containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH to the network device. If indication information #1-1 is not configured as true, the terminal device does not send the p-CSI containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH to the network device. Whether the terminal device sends the p-CSI not containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH included in the first information to the network device can be configured by indication information #1-2. If indication information #1-2 is configured as true, the terminal device sends the p-CSI not containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH to the network device. If indication information #1-2 is not configured as true, the terminal device does not send the p-CSI not containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH to the network device.

One implementation of the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal is that the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal may be the operating period of a first timer. Specifically, the terminal device detects a first wake-up signal associated with the terminal device; the terminal device starts a first timer in response to detecting the first wake-up signal; and the terminal device sends the first information to the network device during the operating period of the first timer.

Another implementation method of the wake-up period indicated by the above-mentioned first wake-up signal is: the terminal device monitors the first wake-up signal associated with itself, and the first wake-up signal carries second indication information, and the second indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send the first information; the terminal device receives third indication information from the network device, and the third indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to stop sending the first information or the third indication information is used to instruct the terminal device not to send the first information.

After receiving the second indication information, the terminal device may immediately start the first module to send the first information; alternatively, the second indication information may also indicate the time when the terminal device sends the first information. After receiving the second indication information, the terminal device may wait until the time indicated by the second indication information to send the first information before starting the first module to send the first information. This application does not limit this. Similarly, after receiving the third indication information, the terminal device may immediately stop sending the first information; alternatively, the third indication information may also indicate the time when the terminal device stops sending the first information. After receiving the third indication information, the terminal device may wait until the time indicated by the third indication information to stop sending the first information before stopping sending the first information. This application does not limit this.

Step S312: The network device obtains channel information based on the first information.

For example, the network device can estimate the uplink channel based on p-SRS, sp-SRS, etc. and obtain the uplink channel information; the network device can obtain the downlink channel information based on sp-CSI on PUCCH, sp-CSI configured on PUSCH, p-CSI on PUCCH, etc.

Through the above communication method 300, the terminal device can feedback channel information to the network device when using the second module to receive signals, which can achieve low power consumption of the terminal device and ensure communication performance.

The technical solution of the present application can also be applied to a communication system that uses a discontinuous reception (DRX) mechanism, that is, the terminal device is configured to operate under the DRX mechanism.

The DRX mechanism allows the terminal device to periodically enter sleep mode at certain times and not monitor the PDCCH. When monitoring is required, it wakes up from sleep mode, which enables the terminal device to save power.

Figure 7 shows a typical DRX cycle. As shown in Figure 7, in this application, a DRX cycle may include an awake (On Duration) period and a sleep period. The awake (On Duration) period may also be referred to as an on Duration period, or by other names, which are not limited in this application.

As shown in Figure 7, during the On Duration period, the terminal device monitors the PDCCH. During this period, the terminal device is in an awake state.

The sleep period is also called the DRX opportunity period. A terminal device may not transmit data during the sleep period. The longer the terminal device sleeps, the lower its power consumption.

In the DRX mechanism, a terminal device can receive downlink data and uplink grants during the active period. The terminal device can use various timers to ensure the reception of downlink data and uplink grants while in the Radio Resource Control (RRC) connected state. These various timers are described in detail below.

As an example and not a limitation, in the present application, a network device may configure a DRX cycle for a terminal device, and the DRX cycle may be a long DRX cycle. Alternatively, the DRX cycle may be a short DRX cycle and a long DRX cycle. In a specific service scenario, when a terminal device is configured with a short DRX cycle, the terminal device may run a short cycle timer (drx-ShortCycleTimer) corresponding to the short DRX cycle. When the short cycle timer times out, the timer corresponding to the long DRX cycle will be run.

DRX includes at least one of the following parameters:

DRX cycle, the operating period of the duration timer (drx-onDurationTimer), the operating period of the inactivity timer (drx-InactivityTimer), the operating period of the retransmission timer (drx-RetransmissionTimer), etc.

The following is an exemplary description of various timers used in the DRX mechanism.

1. Duration Timer (drx-onDurationTimer)

The drx-onDurationTimer is used to determine the duration of the wake-up period. During the operation of the drx-onDurationTimer, or before the drx-onDurationTimer times out, the terminal device is in the wake-up (On Duration) period and the terminal device can turn on the receiving antenna to monitor the PDCCH.

2. Inactivity Timer (drx-InactivityTimer)

Specifically, suppose subframe 0 is the last subframe of the On Duration period, and the network device has a large byte of data to send to the terminal device. This data cannot be fully transmitted in subframe 0. If the drx-onDurationTimer is executed, the terminal device will enter a sleep period in subframe 1, no longer monitoring the PDCCH, and unable to receive data from the network device's physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH). The network device waits until the end of the current DRX cycle and resumes sending the untransmitted data to the terminal device at the beginning of the next On Duration period. While this processing mechanism is not incorrect, it significantly increases the processing latency of all services. To prevent this situation, the drx-InactivityTimer has been added to the DRX mechanism when the terminal device detects the PDCCH during the On Duration period. If the drx-InactivityTimer is running, even if the originally configured drx-onDurationTimer times out (i.e., the On Duration period ends), the terminal device still needs to continue monitoring the PDCCH subframe until the drx-InactivityTimer times out. The addition of the drx-Inactivity mechanism significantly reduces data processing latency.

3. Retransmission Timer (drx-RetransmissionTimer)

In the DRX mechanism, when a terminal device receives a PDCCH indicating a downlink (DL) transmission or a PDSCH for semi-persistent scheduling (SPS), if data reception fails, retransmission is required. As shown in Figure 8(a), after the terminal device sends a negative acknowledgment (NACK) to the network device for a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ), it starts the drx-HARQ-RTT timer for the corresponding HARQ process. The drx-HARQ-RTT timer indicates the minimum duration the terminal device expects to receive HARQ retransmission indication information. In other words, the terminal device does not expect to receive downlink retransmission indication information during the drx-HARQ-RTT timer. When the drx-HARQ-RTT Timer expires, the terminal device starts the drx-Retransmission Timer DL. The drx-Retransmission Timer DL indicates the maximum duration the terminal device will receive DL retransmission indication information. During the drx-Retransmission Timer DL, the terminal device is active and receives PDCCH and PDSCH retransmissions. In other words, the drx-Retransmission Timer DL is the length of time the UE monitors the PDCCH after the drx-HARQ-RTT Timer expires to receive data that was not successfully transmitted and needs to be retransmitted.

Similarly, for uplink (UL) transmission, as shown in Figure 8(b), when a terminal device receives a PDCCH indicating an uplink transmission or a PUSCH with a configured grant (CG), the terminal device starts the drx-HARQ-RTT Timer for the corresponding HARQ process after completing the uplink PUSCH transmission. The drx-HARQ-RTT Timer indicates the minimum duration for which the terminal device expects to receive HARQ retransmission indication information. In other words, the terminal device does not expect to receive uplink retransmission indication information during the drx-HARQ-RTT Timer. When the drx-HARQ-RTT Timer expires, the terminal device starts the drx-Retransmission Timer UL, which indicates the maximum duration for which the terminal device receives UL retransmission indication information. During the drx-Retransmission Timer UL, the terminal device is active and receives PDCCH instructions for PUSCH retransmission. In other words, drx-Retransmission Timer UL refers to the length of time the UE monitors the PDCCH in order to send data that was not successfully transmitted and needs to be retransmitted after the drx-HARQ-RTT Timer times out.

It should be understood that the timers listed above are only exemplary and the present application is not limited thereto.

The technical method of the present application can also combine the working mechanism of the terminal device using the second module to receive the wake-up signal with the DRX mechanism, that is, when the terminal device is in the DRX active period, the PDCCH monitoring process is executed; when the terminal device is not in the DRX active period, the working mechanism of the terminal device using the second module to receive the wake-up signal is entered. The present application can provide a method 400 for a terminal device to determine whether the current time domain position is in the DRX active period:

The terminal device may determine whether the current time domain position is in the DRX activation period based on the second information. The second information includes at least one of the following:

Whether the terminal device detects the above-mentioned first wake-up signal until a first time length before the current time domain position of the terminal device; whether the terminal device receives uplink grants, downlink assignments, DRX command media access control (MAC) control element (DRX Command MAC CE), or long DRX command MAC CE (Long DRX Command MAC CE) from the network device until a second time length before the current time domain position of the terminal device; whether the terminal device sends a scheduling request (SR) signaling to the network device until a third time length before the current time domain position.

Optionally, the terminal device may determine whether the current time domain position is in or not in the DRX activation period based on the second information. The second information includes at least one of the following:

Until a first time length before the current time domain position of the terminal device, the terminal device monitors the above-mentioned first wake-up signal; until a second time length before the current time domain position of the terminal device, the terminal device receives uplink grants, downlink assignments, DRX command media access control (MAC) control element (DRX Command MAC CE), or long DRX command MAC CE (Long DRX Command MAC CE) from the network device; until a third time length before the current time domain position, the terminal device sends a scheduling request (SR) signaling to the network device.

Whether the terminal device monitors the first wake-up signal refers to whether the terminal device detects the first wake-up signal associated with the terminal device, that is, the first wake-up signal indicates that the terminal device wakes up.

Exemplarily, the first time length is greater than or equal to the fourth time length, the second time length may be 4 milliseconds (ms), and the third time length may be 4 ms, which is not limited in this application. The fourth time length is the time length for the terminal device to switch from the second module to the first module after detecting the first wake-up signal.

For example, the current subframe of the terminal device is 6. If the terminal device does not receive the first wake-up signal from the network device in subframe 1 or subframe 2, the terminal device determines that the current subframe 6 is not in the active period of DRX. Alternatively, the current subframe of the terminal device is 6. If the terminal device does not receive an uplink authorization from the network device in subframe 1 or subframe 2, the terminal device determines that the current subframe 6 is not in the active period of DRX. Alternatively, the current subframe of the terminal device is 6. If the terminal device does not receive a DRX Command MAC CE from the network device in subframe 1 or subframe 2, the terminal device determines that the current subframe 6 is not in the active period of DRX. The fact that the terminal device is not in the active period of DRX can be understood as the fact that the terminal device is in the inactive period of DRX. The period that is not in the active period of DRX is collectively referred to as the inactive period of DRX below.

Exemplarily, the activation period of DRX may include the operating period of the duration timer (drx-onDurationTimer), the operating period of the inactivity timer (drx-InactivityTimer), the operating period of the retransmission timer (drx-RetransmissionTimer), the operating period of the random access contention resolution timer (ra-ContentionResolutionTimer), the operating period of the message B response window (msgB-ResponseWindow), the period when the SR is sent and is in a suspended state, etc., which is not limited in this application.

If the terminal device is configured with DRX and performs downlink reception in DRX mode, the present application can provide a communication method 500, which can realize feedback of channel information to the network device when the terminal device is configured with DRX, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device and ensuring communication performance.

Figure 9 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method 500 provided in an embodiment of the present application. In this embodiment, the terminal device and the network device are used as examples of the execution subjects of the interactive diagram to illustrate the method, but the present application does not limit the execution subjects of the interactive diagram. For example, the terminal device in Figure 9 can also be a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports the method that can be implemented by the terminal device, or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the terminal device; the network device can also be a chip, a chip system, or a processor that supports the method that can be implemented by the network device, or a logic module or software that can implement all or part of the network device. When the method is executed by a chip, a chip system, a processor, a logic module or software, etc., the sending and receiving in the following steps can be understood as communication implemented through input/output interfaces, pins or circuits, etc.

The communication method 500 may include the following steps:

In step S510, the terminal device sends the first information to the network device during a second time period, where the second time period includes a DRX inactive period and/or a DRX active period. Accordingly, the network device receives the first information from the terminal device during the second time period. The DRX inactive period can be understood as a period when the terminal device is not in a DRX active period.

Specifically, the monitoring of the first wake-up signal in the communication method 500 can be enabled, or the monitoring of the first wake-up signal is configured, or the monitoring of the first wake-up signal is used, or the monitoring of the first wake-up signal is turned on, or the terminal device's monitoring of the first wake-up signal is enabled, or the terminal device's monitoring of the first wake-up signal is configured, or the monitoring function of the first wake-up signal is used by the terminal device, or the monitoring of the first wake-up signal is turned on by the terminal device, etc.

The terminal device may send the first information to the network device in the second time period in the following two ways:

It should be noted that the terminal device is configured with transmission resources and DRX for the first information. As shown in FIG10 and FIG11 , the first information is configured with a fourth period in the time domain.

Method 1: The terminal device does not send the above-mentioned first information during the non-activation period of the above-mentioned DRX, and the terminal device sends the above-mentioned first information during the activation period of the above-mentioned DRX, as shown in Figure 10.

It should be noted that whether the current time domain position of the terminal device is in the DRX activation period can be determined according to the above method 400, or according to other methods, and this application does not limit this.

The terminal device does not send the first information during the above-mentioned DRX non-activation period as shown in (a) of Figure 10.

Exemplarily, the terminal device sends the first information in a fourth cycle during the activation period of the DRX, as shown in (b) of FIG10 .

Optionally, the terminal device does not send the above-mentioned first information during the above-mentioned DRX inactive period and in the On Duration period, and the terminal device sends the above-mentioned first information during the above-mentioned DRX active period. In one example, the terminal device is in the On Duration period, but the duration timer (drx-onDurationTimer) is not turned on or the duration timer (drx-onDurationTimer) is not running, and the terminal device does not turn on PDCCH monitoring. Specifically, if no other DRX-related timers (for example, the above-mentioned duration timer (drx-onDurationTimer), inactivity timer (drx-InactivityTimer), retransmission timer (drx-RetransmissionTimer), etc.) are running in the current On Duration period, and there is no situation described in method 400 that causes the terminal device to be in the DRX active period, it can be considered that the current On Duration period is the DRX inactive period, and the terminal device may not turn on PDCCH monitoring in the current On Duration period. In this case, the terminal device may not send the first information in the current On Duration period.

Generally speaking, the On Duration period is the DRX active period and not the DRX inactive period. The terminal device does not need to send any information during the DRX inactive period, which is sufficient for energy conservation. Due to the introduction of the wake-up circuit and the first wake-up signal, the terminal device does not start the duration timer (drx-onDurationTimer) during the On Duration period. Therefore, the DRX inactive period may also include the On Duration period, or the On Duration period may also include the DRX inactive period, or the DRX inactive period may overlap with the On Duration period.

Optionally, the terminal device does not send any information included in the first information during the above-mentioned DRX non-activation period and not during the On Duration period.

Optionally, the network device may also send indication information #3 to the terminal device, and the indication information #3 is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the above-mentioned first information during the non-activation period of the above-mentioned DRX. Accordingly, the terminal device receives indication information #3 from the network device. The indication information #3 may be an example of the fourth indication information. Optionally, the indication information #3 may instruct the terminal device to send part of the information included in the above-mentioned first information during the non-activation period of the above-mentioned DRX. For example, the indication information #3 instructs the terminal device to send the p-CSI containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH and/or the p-CSI not containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH included in the first information during the non-activation period of the above-mentioned DRX, but not to send other SRS and CSI included in the first information, for example, not to send p-SRS, sp-SRS, sp-CSI on the PUCCH, and sp-CSI configured on the PUSCH.

Optionally, the network device may further send indication information #3 to the terminal device, where the indication information #3 is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the above-mentioned first information during the above-mentioned DRX inactive period and during the On Duration period. Accordingly, the terminal device receives indication information #3 from the network device. Here, the indication information #3 is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the above-mentioned first information during the above-mentioned DRX inactive period and during the On Duration period, and may be replaced by at least one of the following items: the indication information #3 is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the above-mentioned first information during the above-mentioned DRX inactive period and during the On Duration period, or the indication information #3 is used to indicate that the terminal device does not send the above-mentioned first information during the above-mentioned DRX inactive period and during the On Duration period. The indication information #3 is used to indicate, which can be understood as: indicating through the value of the indication information #3, and/or whether the indication information #3 is carried in the signaling/information sent by the network device to the terminal device. The indication information #3 may be an example of the fourth indication information. Optionally, indication information #3 may instruct the terminal device to send part of the information included in the above-mentioned first information during the non-activation period of the above-mentioned DRX and during the On Duration period. For example, indication information #3 instructs the terminal device to send the p-CSI containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH and/or the p-CSI not containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH included in the first information during the non-activation period of the above-mentioned DRX and during the On Duration period, but not to send other SRS and CSI included in the first information, for example, not to send p-SRS, sp-SRS, sp-CSI on the PUCCH, and sp-CSI configured on the PUSCH.

Exemplarily, the indication information #3 carries a first value (true) or the field of the indication information #2 in the RRC reconfiguration message does not exist (not present/absent), indicating that the terminal device needs to send the first information to the network device during the above-mentioned DRX non-activation period; the indication information #3 carries a second value (false) or the field of the indication information #1 in the RRC reconfiguration message exists (present), indicating that the terminal device does not need to send the first information to the network device during the above-mentioned DRX non-activation period.

It should be noted that the communication method 500 is uniformly described with the first information being configured with the fourth period in the time domain. In fact, the multiple information in the first information can be configured with multiple different periods in the time domain. For example, the p-SRS in the first information is configured with period #3, and the p-CSI in the first information is configured with period #4, which is not limited in this application. Exemplarily, the terminal device can receive one or more indication information #3 from the network device. If the terminal device receives an indication information #3, the indication information #3 can indicate whether the terminal device sends the multiple information included in the first information at the period corresponding to the multiple information included in the first information during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal; if the terminal device receives multiple indication information #3, the multiple indication information #3 is used to respectively indicate whether the terminal device sends the multiple information included in the first information at the period corresponding to the multiple information included in the first information during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal.

Method 2: The terminal device sends the first information in the third period during the DRX inactive period, and the terminal device sends the first information in the fourth period during the DRX active period, as shown in FIG11 .

The third period is greater than the fourth period. For example, the third period may be configured by the network for the terminal device or may be specified by a protocol, and this application does not limit this. For example, the third period may be a multiple of the fourth period, in which case the third period may also be referred to as a relaxation period of the fourth period, i.e., the third period is equal to the fourth period multiplied by the relaxation multiple. The relaxation multiple may be configured by the network for the terminal device or may be specified by a protocol, and this application does not limit this.

Exemplarily, the third cycle may also be a DRX cycle, that is, the terminal device sends the first information during the operation period of the duration timer in the DRX cycle.

The terminal device may send the first information in the DRX cycle during the above-mentioned DRX non-activation period as shown in (a) of Figure 11.

The terminal device may send the first information in the fourth cycle during the activation period of the above-mentioned DRX as shown in (b) of Figure 11.

Optionally, the terminal device sends the above-mentioned first information in the inactive period of the above-mentioned DRX and in the On Duration period with a third period, and the terminal device sends the above-mentioned first information in the active period of the above-mentioned DRX. In one example, the terminal device is in the On Duration period but the duration timer (drx-onDurationTimer) is not turned on, and the terminal device does not turn on PDCCH monitoring. Specifically, if there are no other DRX-related timers (for example, the above-mentioned duration timer (drx-onDurationTimer), inactivity timer (drx-InactivityTimer), retransmission timer (drx-RetransmissionTimer), etc.) running in the current On Duration period, and there is no situation described in method 400 that causes the terminal device to be in the active period of DRX, it can be considered that the current On Duration period is the inactive period of DRX, and the terminal device may not turn on PDCCH monitoring in the current On Duration period. In this case, the terminal device sends the above-mentioned first information in the current On Duration period with a third period.

Optionally, the terminal device does not send any information included in the first information during the above-mentioned DRX non-activation period and not during the On Duration period.

Optionally, the network device may also send indication information #4 to the terminal device, and the indication information #4 is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the above-mentioned first information with a third period (for example, the DRX period) during the non-activation period of the above-mentioned DRX. Accordingly, the terminal device receives indication information #4 from the network device. The indication information #4 may be an example of the fourth indication information. Optionally, the indication information #4 may instruct the terminal device to send part of the information included in the above-mentioned first information with a third period during the non-activation period of the above-mentioned DRX. For example, the indication information #4 instructs the terminal device to send the p-CSI containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH and/or the p-CSI not containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH included in the first information with a third period during the non-activation period of the above-mentioned DRX, but not to send other SRS and CSI included in the first information, for example, not to send p-SRS, sp-SRS, sp-CSI on the PUCCH, and sp-CSI configured on the PUSCH.

Optionally, the network device may further send indication information #4 to the terminal device, where indication information #4 is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the first information during the DRX inactive period and at a third period (e.g., the DRX period) during the On Duration period. Accordingly, the terminal device receives indication information #4 from the network device. Here, indication information #4 is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the first information during the DRX inactive period and at a third period during the On Duration period, and may be replaced by at least one of the following: indication information #4 is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the first information during the DRX inactive period and at a third period during the On Duration period, or indication information #4 is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the first information during the DRX inactive period and at a third period during the On Duration period. The indication information #4 is used to indicate that the terminal device does not send the first information during the DRX inactive period and at a third period during the On Duration period. The indication information #4 can be understood as indicating the value of the indication information #4 and/or whether the indication information #4 is carried in signaling/information sent by the network device to the terminal device. The indication information #4 may be an example of fourth indication information. Optionally, indication information #4 may instruct the terminal device to send part of the information included in the above-mentioned first information during the non-activation period of the above-mentioned DRX and in the On Duration period with a third period. For example, indication information #4 instructs the terminal device to send the p-CSI containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH and/or the p-CSI not containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH included in the first information during the non-activation period of the above-mentioned DRX and in the On Duration period with a third period, but not to send other SRS and CSI included in the first information, for example, not to send p-SRS, sp-SRS, sp-CSI on the PUCCH, and sp-CSI configured on the PUSCH.

Exemplarily, the above-mentioned indication information #4 carries a first value (true), or the field of indication information #4 in the RRC reconfiguration message does not exist (not present/absent), or indication information #4 indicates a relaxation multiple, or indication information #2 indicates the first period, or the network device is configured with a relaxation multiple, indicating that the terminal device needs to send the first information with a third period during the above-mentioned DRX non-activation period; the above-mentioned indication information #4 carries a second value (false), or the field of indication information #2 in the RRC reconfiguration message exists (present), or indication information #4 does not indicate a relaxation multiple, or the network device is not configured with a relaxation multiple, indicating that the terminal device needs to send the first information with a fourth period during the above-mentioned DRX non-activation period, or the terminal device does not need to send the first information to the network device during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal.

It should be noted that the communication method 500 is uniformly described with the first information being configured with the fourth period in the time domain. In fact, the multiple pieces of information in the first information may be configured with multiple different periods in the time domain. For example, the p-SRS in the first information is configured with period #3, and the p-CSI in the first information is configured with period #4, which is not limited in this application. Exemplarily, the terminal device may receive one or more indication information #4 from the network device. If the terminal device receives an indication information #4, the indication information #4 may indicate whether the terminal device sends the multiple pieces of information included in the first information at the periods corresponding to the multiple pieces of information included in the first information; if the terminal device receives multiple indication information #4, the multiple indication information #4 is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the multiple pieces of information included in the first information at the periods corresponding to the multiple pieces of information included in the first information.

Exemplarily, the above-mentioned indication information #3 and the above-mentioned indication information #4 may be the same indication information, and the same indication information is recorded as the fourth indication information. The fourth indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send the first information to the network device in the fourth period during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal, or the fourth indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send the first information to the network device in the third period during the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal, or the fourth indication information is used to instruct the terminal device not to send the first information to the network device in the monitoring period of the above-mentioned first wake-up signal, etc.

The above-mentioned method 1 and the above-mentioned method 2 can also be used in combination, and the terminal device uses the above-mentioned method 1 to send part of the information in the first information, and the terminal device uses the above-mentioned method 2 to send the other part of the information in the first information. Exemplarily, the terminal device can send the p-CSI containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH and/or the p-CSI not containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH included in the first information to the network device in the non-activated period of DRX in the running period of the DRX cycle during the duration timer, and the terminal device does not send other SRS and CSI included in the first information in the non-activated period of DRX, for example, the terminal device does not send p-SRS, sp-SRS, sp-CSI on PUCCH, and sp-CSI configured on PUSCH in the non-activated period of DRX. The terminal device sends any one or more of the information included in the first information in the fourth period during the activated period of DRX.

Exemplarily, whether the terminal device sends the p-CSI containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH included in the first information to the network device can be configured by indication information #3-1. If indication information #3-1 is configured as true, the terminal device sends the p-CSI containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH to the network device. If indication information #3-1 is not configured as true, the terminal device does not send the p-CSI containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH to the network device. Whether the terminal device sends the p-CSI not containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH included in the first information to the network device can be configured by indication information #3-2. If indication information #3-2 is configured as true, the terminal device sends the p-CSI not containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH to the network device. If indication information #3-2 is not configured as true, the terminal device does not send the p-CSI not containing L1-RSRP on the PUCCH to the network device.

The terminal equipment involved in the above-mentioned method 1 and the above-mentioned method 2 in the DRX inactive period can be understood as any one or more of the following:

The terminal device is in a state of monitoring the first wake-up signal, the terminal device is not in the activation period of DRX, the terminal device is not in the operating period of the first timer, the terminal device uses the second module to work, the terminal device is working in the wake-up circuit, the terminal device is monitoring the first wake-up signal, the terminal device is monitoring the OOK modulated signal, the terminal device is in the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, the terminal device is not in a state of monitoring PDCCH, the terminal device does not use the first module to work, the terminal device is not working in the main circuit, the terminal device is not monitoring PDCCH, etc.

The DRX activation period of the terminal device involved in the above-mentioned method 1 and the above-mentioned method 2 can be understood as any one or more of the following:

The terminal device is in the state of monitoring PDCCH, the terminal device is not in the non-activated period of DRX, the terminal device is in the operating period of the first timer, the terminal device uses the first module to work, the terminal device works in the main circuit, the terminal device is monitoring PDCCH, etc.

One implementation of the DRX activation period is that the DRX activation period may be the operating period of the first timer. Specifically, the terminal device detects a first wake-up signal associated with the terminal device; the terminal device starts a first timer in response to detecting the first wake-up signal; and the terminal device sends the first information to the network device during the operating period of the first timer.

Exemplarily, the first timer may be any of the drx-onDurationTimer, the drx-InactivityTimer, or the drx-RetransmissionTimer, which is not limited in this application.

Another implementation method of the above-mentioned DRX activation period is: the terminal device monitors a first wake-up signal associated with itself, and the first wake-up signal carries fifth indication information, and the fifth indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send the first information; the terminal device receives sixth indication information from the network device, and the sixth indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to stop sending the first information or the sixth indication information is used to instruct the terminal device not to send the first information.

After receiving the fifth indication information, the terminal device may immediately start the first module to send the first information; alternatively, the fifth indication information may also indicate the time when the terminal device sends the first information. After receiving the fifth indication information, the terminal device may wait until the time indicated by the fifth indication information to send the first information before starting the first module to send the first information. This application does not limit this. Similarly, after receiving the sixth indication information, the terminal device may immediately stop sending the first information; alternatively, the sixth indication information may also indicate the time when the terminal device stops sending the first information. After receiving the sixth indication information, the terminal device may wait until the time indicated by the third indication information to stop sending the first information before stopping sending the first information. This application does not limit this.

Step S512: The network device obtains channel information based on the first information.

For example, the network device can estimate the uplink channel based on p-SRS, sp-SRS, etc. and obtain uplink channel information; the network device can obtain downlink channel information based on sp-CSI on PUCCH, sp-CSI configured on PUSCH, p-CSI on PUCCH, etc.

When the terminal device operates under the DRX mechanism, the above-mentioned communication method 500 can be used to enable the terminal device to feed back channel information to the network device, which can not only reduce the power consumption of the terminal device but also ensure communication performance.

Additionally, under the DRX mechanism, the terminal device needs to periodically start a duration timer to monitor the PDCCH. In practice, the PDCCH may not be monitored during the duration timer's operation, so the terminal device does not need to start the duration timer every time. In order to further reduce the power consumption of the terminal device, a second wake-up signal is introduced. The second wake-up signal is used to indicate whether the terminal device needs to start at least one duration timer. The at least one duration timer is associated with the second wake-up signal monitored by the terminal device.

Exemplarily, the second wake-up signal may be PDCCH WUS, downlink control information (DCI), DCI with cyclic redundancy code scrambled by power saving radio network temporary identifier (DCP), etc.

If all monitoring opportunities of the second wake-up signal are within the DRX activation period, the terminal device does not monitor the second wake-up signal and starts at least one duration timer; if all monitoring opportunities of the terminal device are not within the DRX activation period, the terminal device monitors the second wake-up signal, and the monitored second wake-up signal indicates whether it is necessary to start at least one duration timer. The present application can provide a method 600 for determining whether all monitoring opportunities of the second wake-up signal by the terminal device are within the DRX activation period:

The terminal device can determine whether all monitoring opportunities of the second wake-up signal are within the DRX activation period based on the third information. Exemplarily, the third information includes at least one of the following:

Whether the terminal device detects the first wake-up signal within a fifth time period before the last monitoring opportunity of the second wake-up signal;

Whether the terminal device receives an uplink grant, a downlink assignment, a DRX Command MAC CE, or a Long DRX Command MAC CE from the network device until a sixth time period before the last monitoring opportunity of the second wake-up signal;

Whether the terminal device sends SR signaling to the network device until the seventh time length before the last monitoring opportunity of the second wake-up signal.

Optionally, the terminal device may determine that all monitoring opportunities of the second wake-up signal are in a DRX activation period based on third information. The second information includes at least one of the following:

The first wake-up signal detected by the terminal device up to a fifth time period before the last monitoring opportunity of the second wake-up signal;

Up to a sixth time period before the last monitoring opportunity of the second wake-up signal, the terminal device receives an uplink grant, a downlink allocation, a DRX Command MAC CE, or a Long DRX Command MAC CE from the network device;

Until the seventh time period before the last monitoring opportunity of the second wake-up signal, the terminal device sends the SR signaling to the network device.

Whether the terminal device detects the first wake-up signal refers to whether the terminal device detects the first wake-up signal associated with the terminal device, i.e., whether the first wake-up signal indicates that the terminal device is awake. Exemplarily, all monitoring opportunities for the second wake-up signal are all DCP monitoring opportunities (DCP occasion(s)).

Among them, the above-mentioned fifth time length is greater than or equal to the above-mentioned fourth time length, the above-mentioned sixth time length can be 4ms, and the above-mentioned seventh time length can be 4ms, which is not limited in this application.

For example, if the symbol corresponding to the last monitoring opportunity of the second wake-up signal is 6, and if the terminal device receives an uplink grant from the network device at time domain symbol 1 or time domain symbol 2, the terminal device determines that the symbols corresponding to all monitoring opportunities of the second wake-up signal are within the DRX activation period. Alternatively, if the symbol corresponding to the last monitoring opportunity of the second wake-up signal is 6, and if the terminal device receives a DRX Command MAC CE from the network device at time domain symbol 1 or time domain symbol 2, the terminal device determines that the symbol corresponding to the last monitoring opportunity of the second wake-up signal is within the DRX activation period.

The terminal device may send the first information to the network device during the operation period of the at least one duration timer that is turned on.

In addition, the present application may also provide a method for combining the above-mentioned first wake-up signal with the above-mentioned second wake-up signal: multiple terminal devices in the first terminal device group detect the first wake-up signal, and the first wake-up signal is used to wake up the multiple terminal devices in the first terminal device group; the multiple terminal devices in the first terminal device group start the first timer in response to detecting the first wake-up signal, and continue to monitor the second wake-up signal during the running period of the first timer, and the second wake-up signal is used to wake up the first terminal device among the multiple terminal devices in the first terminal device group; the multiple terminal devices in the first terminal device group detect the second wake-up signal. The first terminal device starts at least one duration timer associated with the second wake-up signal in response to the detected second wake-up signal; the other terminal devices in the first terminal device group except the first terminal device stop running the first timer in response to the detected second wake-up signal, and switch from the first module to the second module to work.

The first terminal device may send the first information to the network device during the operation period of the at least one duration timer that is turned on.

Finally, the device embodiment of the embodiment of the present application is introduced.

To implement the various functions of the methods provided herein, both terminal devices and network devices may include hardware structures and/or software modules, with the aforementioned functions implemented in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or a combination of hardware structures and software modules. Whether a particular function is implemented in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or a combination of hardware structures and software modules depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution.

Figure 12 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1200 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1200 includes a processor 1210 and a communication interface 1220. Optionally, the processor 1210 and the communication interface 1220 may be interconnected via a bus 1230. The communication device 1200 may be a terminal device or a network device.

Optionally, the communication device 1200 may further include a memory 1240. The memory 1240 includes, but is not limited to, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), or compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), and is used to store relevant instructions and data.

The processor 1210 may be one or more central processing units (CPUs). In the case where the processor 1210 is a CPU, the CPU may be a single-core CPU or a multi-core CPU.

When the communication apparatus 1200 is a terminal device, illustratively, the communication apparatus 1200 is configured to perform the following operations: sending first information to a network device in a first time period, etc.

When the communication device 1200 is a network device, illustratively, the communication device 1200 is used to perform the following operations: receiving first information from a terminal device in a first time period, or acquiring channel information based on the first information.

The above contents are merely exemplary descriptions. When the communication device 1200 is a terminal device/network device, it will be responsible for executing the methods or steps related to the terminal device/network device in the above method embodiments.

The above description is merely exemplary. For details, please refer to the contents of the above method embodiments. The implementation of each operation in FIG12 may also correspond to the corresponding description of the method embodiments shown in FIG3 to FIG11.

Figure 13 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1300 according to an embodiment of the present application. Communication device 1300 may be a terminal device or a network device, or a chip or module within the terminal device or network device, configured to implement the methods described in the above embodiments. Communication device 1300 includes a transceiver unit 1310 and a processing unit 1320. The following provides an exemplary description of transceiver unit 1310 and processing unit 1320.

The transceiver unit 1310 may include a transmitting unit and a receiving unit. The transmitting unit is used to perform the transmitting operation of the communication device 1300, and the receiving unit is used to perform the receiving operation of the communication device 1300. For ease of description, this embodiment of the application combines the transmitting unit and the receiving unit into a single transceiver unit. This is described here as a unified description and will not be repeated later.

When the communication apparatus 1300 is a terminal device, illustratively, the transceiver unit 1310 is configured to send first information to a network device in a first time period.

When the communication device 1300 is a network device, illustratively, the transceiver unit 1310 is used to receive first information from a terminal device in a first time period, and the processing unit 1320 is used to obtain channel information based on the first information.

The above contents are merely exemplary descriptions. When the communication device 1300 is a terminal device/network device, it will be responsible for executing the methods or steps related to the terminal device/network device in the above method embodiments.

Optionally, the communication device 1300 further includes a storage unit 1330, which is used to store a program or code for executing the aforementioned method.

The device embodiments shown in Figures 12 and 13 are used to implement the contents described in Figures 3 to 11. The specific execution steps and methods of the devices shown in Figures 12 and 13 can refer to the contents described in the above method embodiments.

Figure 14 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1400 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1400 is used to implement the functions of a terminal device/network device. The communication device 1400 may be a chip in the terminal device/network device.

Communication device 1300 includes an input/output interface 1420 and a processor 1410. Input/output interface 1420 may be an input/output circuit. Processor 1410 may be a signal processor, a chip, or other integrated circuit capable of implementing the method of the present application. Input/output interface 1420 is used for inputting or outputting signals or data.

For example, when the communication apparatus 1400 is a terminal device, the input/output interface 1420 is configured to send first information to the network device in a first time period.

For example, when the communication device 1400 is a network device, the input/output interface 1420 is configured to receive first information from a terminal device in a first time period, and the processor 1410 is configured to obtain channel information based on the first information.

In one possible implementation, the processor 1410 implements the functions of the terminal device or the network device by executing instructions stored in the memory.

Optionally, the communication device 1400 further includes a memory.

Optionally, the processor and memory are integrated together.

Optionally, the memory is outside the communication device 1400 .

In one possible implementation, the processor 1410 may be a logic circuit that inputs/outputs messages or signals through the input/output interface 1420. The logic circuit may be a signal processor, a chip, or other integrated circuit that can implement the method of the embodiment of the present application.

The above description of the communication device 1400 is merely an exemplary description. The communication device 1400 can be used to execute the method described in the above embodiments. For details, please refer to the description of the above method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

The present application also provides a chip, including a processor, for calling and executing instructions stored in a memory from the memory, so that a communication device equipped with the chip executes the methods in the above examples.

The present application also provides a chip, comprising: an input interface, an output interface, and a processor, wherein the input interface, the output interface, and the processor are connected via an internal connection path, and the processor is configured to execute code in a memory. When the code is executed, the processor is configured to execute the methods in the above examples. Optionally, the chip also includes a memory, which is configured to store computer programs or code.

The present application also provides a processor for coupling with a memory, and for executing the methods and functions involving a terminal device or a network device in any of the above embodiments.

The present application provides a computer program product comprising instructions. When the computer program product is run on a computer, the method of the aforementioned embodiment is implemented.

The present application also provides a computer program. When the computer program is executed in a computer, the method of the aforementioned embodiment is implemented.

The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a computer, the method described in the above embodiment is implemented.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

In the several embodiments provided in this application, the disclosed systems, devices, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are only schematic. For example, the division of units is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

If the function is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or the part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of each method embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a ROM, a RAM, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included in the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims (39)

A communication method, characterized in that the method comprises: First information is sent to the network device in a first time period, where the first time period includes a monitoring period of a first wake-up signal and/or a wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal, the first wake-up signal is used to wake up the terminal device, and the first information is used to obtain channel information. The method according to claim 1, wherein sending the first information to the network device in the first time period comprises: The first information is not sent during a monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, and the first information is sent during a wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal. The method according to claim 2 is characterized in that the not sending the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal includes: not sending the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal and during the duration of discontinuous reception (DRX). The method according to claim 1, wherein sending the first information to the network device in the first time period comprises: The first information is sent with a first period during a monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, and the first information is sent with a second period during a wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal, wherein the first period is greater than the second period. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: Receive first indication information from the network device, where the first indication information is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, or the first indication information is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal and during the DRX duration period, or the first indication information is used to indicate whether the terminal device sends the first information at the first period during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that If the first indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, the first indication information is also used to instruct the terminal device to send the first type of information included in the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal; or If the first indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal and during the DRX duration, the first indication information is also used to instruct the terminal device to send the first type of information included in the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal and during the DRX duration. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that if the first indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, the method further includes: the terminal device not sending the second type of information included in the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal; or, If the first indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal and during the DRX duration, the method also includes: the terminal device does not send the second type of information included in the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal and during the DRX duration. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that The first type of information includes periodic CSI on the PUCCH including L1 reference signal received power RSRP and/or periodic CSI on the PUCCH not including L1 RSRP, The second type of information includes one or more of the following: Periodic sounding reference signal SRS; Semi-static SRS; Semi-static channel state information (CSI) on the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH); Semi-static CSI on the physical uplink shared channel PUSCH. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the not sending the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal comprises: The first information is not sent during a monitoring period of the first wake-up signal and a non-DRX duration period. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 is characterized in that the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal is the running period of a first timer, and the first timer is started by the terminal device in response to monitoring the first wake-up signal. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising: The first wake-up signal is monitored, and the first wake-up signal carries second indication information, and the second indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send the first information to the network device during the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: Receive third indication information from the network device, where the third indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to stop sending the first information. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 12, wherein the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal includes at least one of the following: The device is in a state of monitoring the first wake-up signal, or is not in the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 13, wherein the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal includes at least one of the following: The device is in a state of monitoring a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), or is not in a monitoring period of the first wake-up signal. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: Periodic sounding reference signal SRS; Semi-static SRS; Semi-static channel state information (CSI) on the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH); Semi-static CSI on the physical uplink shared channel PUSCH; Periodic CSI on PUCCH. The method according to claim 15, wherein the periodic CSI on the PUCCH includes at least one of the following: Periodic CSI on PUCCH including L1 reference signal received power RSRP; The PUCCH does not include periodic CSI of L1 RSRP. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 16, wherein the first information sent during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal includes at least one of the following: Periodic CSI on PUCCH including L1 reference signal received power RSRP; The PUCCH does not include periodic CSI of L1 RSRP. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 17, wherein the first information sent during the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal includes at least one of the following: Periodic sounding reference signal SRS; Semi-static SRS; Semi-static channel state information (CSI) on the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH); Semi-static CSI on the physical uplink shared channel PUSCH; Periodic CSI on PUCCH including L1 reference signal received power RSRP; The PUCCH does not include periodic CSI of L1 RSRP. A communication method, characterized in that a terminal device operates under a discontinuous reception (DRX) mechanism, the method comprising: determining, according to the second information, whether the current time domain position is in a DRX activation period; The second information includes at least one of the following: a first wake-up signal detected up to a first time length before the current time domain position, where the first wake-up signal is used to wake up the terminal device; Up to a second time length before the current time domain position, an uplink grant, a downlink assignment, a DRX command media access control element MAC CE, or a long DRX command MAC CE received from the network device; A scheduling request SR signaling is sent to the network device until a third time length before the current time domain position. A communication method, characterized in that a terminal device operates under a discontinuous reception (DRX) mechanism, the method comprising: determining, according to the third information, whether all monitoring opportunities of the second wake-up signal are in an activation period of DRX, the second wake-up signal being used to indicate whether the terminal device starts at least one duration timer; If it is determined that all monitoring opportunities of the second wake-up signal are within the DRX activation period, start the at least one duration timer; The third information includes at least one of the following: A first wake-up signal is monitored for a fifth time period before the last monitoring opportunity of the second wake-up signal, where the first wake-up signal is used to wake up the terminal device; Uplink grant, downlink assignment, DRX command media access control element MAC CE or long DRX command MAC CE received from the network device up to a sixth time period before the last monitoring opportunity of the second wake-up signal; A scheduling request SR signaling is sent to the network device until a seventh time length before the last monitoring opportunity of the second wake-up signal. A communication method, characterized in that the method comprises: receiving first information from a terminal device in a first time period, where the first time period includes a monitoring period of a first wake-up signal and/or a wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal, and the first wake-up signal is used to wake up the terminal device; Channel information is acquired based on the first information. The method according to claim 21, wherein receiving the first information from the terminal device in the first time period comprises: sending the first wake-up signal to the terminal device during a monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, where the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal is a period during which the terminal device does not send the first information; The first information is received during a wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal. The method according to claim 21, wherein receiving the first information from the terminal device in the first time period comprises: The first information is received with a first period during a monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, and the first information is received with a second period during a wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal, wherein the first period is greater than the second period. The method according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that the method further comprises: Sending first indication information to the terminal device, wherein the first indication information is used to instruct the terminal device not to send the first information during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal, or the first indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send the first information at the first period during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 24 is characterized in that the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal is the running period of a first timer, and the first timer is started by the terminal device in response to monitoring the first wake-up signal. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 24, further comprising: The first wake-up signal is sent to the terminal device, where the first wake-up signal carries second indication information, and the second indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send the first information during the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal. The method according to claim 26, further comprising: Send third indication information to the terminal device, where the third indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to stop sending the first information. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 27, wherein the first information includes at least one of the following: Periodic sounding reference signal SRS; Semi-static SRS; Semi-static channel state information (CSI) on the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH); Semi-static CSI on the physical uplink shared channel PUSCH; Periodic CSI on PUCCH. The method according to claim 28, wherein the periodic CSI on the PUCCH includes at least one of the following: Periodic CSI on PUCCH including L1 reference signal received power RSRP; The PUCCH does not include periodic CSI of L1 RSRP. The method according to any one of claims 23 to 29, wherein the first information received during the monitoring period of the first wake-up signal includes at least one of the following: Periodic CSI on PUCCH including L1 reference signal received power RSRP; The PUCCH does not include periodic CSI of L1 RSRP. The method according to any one of claims 22 to 30, wherein the first information received during the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal includes at least one of the following: Periodic sounding reference signal SRS; Semi-static SRS; Semi-static channel state information (CSI) on the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH); Semi-static CSI on the physical uplink shared channel PUSCH; Periodic CSI on PUCCH including L1 reference signal received power RSRP; The PUCCH does not include periodic CSI of L1 RSRP. A communication method, characterized in that the method comprises: A first wake-up signal is detected, where the first wake-up signal carries second indication information, where the second indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send first information during a wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal; The first information is sent to the network device during the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal based on the second indication information. The method according to claim 32, further comprising: Receive third indication information from the network device, where the third indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to stop sending the first information. A communication method, characterized in that the method comprises: Sending a first wake-up signal to a terminal device, where the first wake-up signal carries second indication information, where the second indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to send first information during a wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal; receiving the first information from the terminal device during the wake-up period indicated by the first wake-up signal; Channel information is acquired based on the first information. The method according to claim 34, further comprising: Send third indication information to the terminal device, where the third indication information is used to instruct the terminal device to stop sending the first information. A communication device, characterized in that the communication device is configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 18, or is configured to perform the method according to claim 19, or is configured to perform the method according to claim 20, or is configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 21 to 31, or is configured to perform the method according to claim 32 or 33, or is configured to perform the method according to claim 34 or 35. A communication device, comprising a processor, wherein the processor is configured to execute a computer program or instruction. The communication device is caused to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 18, or the communication device is caused to perform the method according to claim 19, or the communication device is caused to perform the method according to claim 20, or the communication device is caused to perform the method according to any one of claims 21 to 31, or the communication device is caused to perform the method according to claim 32 or 33, or the communication device is caused to perform the method according to claim 34 or 35. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that a computer program or instruction is stored on the computer-readable storage medium, and when the computer program or instruction is executed on a computer, The method of any one of claims 1 to 18 is performed, or the method of claim 19 is performed, or the method of claim 20 is performed, or the method of any one of claims 21 to 31 is performed, or the method of claim 32 or 33 is performed, or the method of claim 34 or 35 is performed. A computer program product, comprising instructions, which, when executed on a computer, The method of any one of claims 1 to 18 is performed, or the method of claim 19 is performed, or the method of claim 20 is performed, or the method of any one of claims 21 to 31 is performed, or the method of claim 32 or 33 is performed, or the method of claim 34 or 35 is performed.