CN112970301A

CN112970301A - Acknowledgement for downlink early data transmission in paging message

Info

Publication number: CN112970301A
Application number: CN201880099358.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李海涛; S·赛瓦加纳帕西
Original assignee: Nokia Shanghai Bell Co Ltd; Nokia Networks Oy
Current assignee: Nokia Shanghai Bell Co Ltd; Nokia Oyj
Priority date: 2018-11-08
Filing date: 2018-11-08
Publication date: 2021-06-15
Anticipated expiration: 2038-11-08
Also published as: WO2020093316A1; CN112970301B

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods, devices, apparatuses, and computer-readable storage media for acknowledgement of downlink early data transmission in a paging message. In an example embodiment, a terminal device receives a paging message carrying Downlink (DL) data from an access network device. The terminal device obtains a pre-configured uplink resource (PUR) region for sending a paging response carrying an acknowledgement for DL data. And the terminal equipment sends a paging response to the access network equipment in the PUR area.

Description

Acknowledgement for downlink early data transmission in paging message

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to the field of communications, and, in particular, to methods, devices, apparatuses, and computer-readable storage media for acknowledgement of downlink early data transmission in a paging message.

Background

Connectionless small data transmission using early data transmission during random access is discussed for the third generation partnership project (3GPP) release (Rel-15). Uplink (UL) early data transmission only is standardized, which is also referred to as Mobile Originated (MO) early data transmission. For 3GPP release 16(R-16), further enhancements to narrowband internet of things (NB-IoT) are proposed to support early data transmission of Downlink (DL) small data.

Early Data Transmission (EDT) of Mobile Termination (MT) is approved to improve Downlink (DL) transmission efficiency or UE power consumption. Some options for MT-EDT are discussed, including:

option 1. MT data in paging message

Option 2. MT data scheduled in paging message

Option 3 MT data after paging message and PRACH preamble transmitted

Option 4 MT data in Msg4

Option 1 requires the MT data to be sent in a paging message. Option 2 requires that MT data be scheduled in the paging message. Option 3 requires the MT data to be sent after transmission of the paging message and the Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) preamble. Option 4 requires the MT data to be sent in message 4(Msg4) during Random Access (RA).

Option 1, including DL data in the paging message, may reduce signaling overhead compared to conventional procedures, where DL data can only be transmitted after a connection is established from the User Equipment (UE) to the enodeb (enb) and further to the Mobility Management Entity (MME), i.e. after a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection setup complete message is sent. In this case, the MME may need to know whether data is sent to the appropriate UE, e.g., to determine whether to retransmit or refresh the data.

Disclosure of Invention

In general, example embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, devices, apparatuses, and computer-readable storage media for acknowledgement of downlink early data transmission in a paging message.

In a first aspect, a method is provided. In the method, a terminal device receives a paging message carrying downlink data from an access network device. The terminal device obtains a preconfigured uplink resource region for sending a paging response carrying an acknowledgement for the downlink data. The terminal device sends a paging response to the access network device in the preconfigured uplink resource region.

In a second aspect, a method is provided. In the method, an access network device receives a paging message from a core network device carrying downlink data destined for a terminal device. The access network device forwards the paging message to the terminal device. The access network device receives a page response from the terminal device in a pre-configured uplink resource region for the page response. The page response carries an acknowledgement for the downlink data. And the access network equipment forwards the paging response to the core network equipment.

In a third aspect, a method is provided. In the method, a core network device sends a paging message to an access network device carrying downlink data destined for a terminal device. The core network device receives a paging response sent by the terminal device from the access network device in a pre-configured uplink resource region used for the paging response. The page response carries an acknowledgement for the downlink data.

In a fourth aspect, an apparatus is provided that includes at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to receive, at a terminal device, a paging message carrying downlink data from an access network device. The apparatus is also caused to obtain a preconfigured uplink resource region for sending a paging response carrying an acknowledgement for the downlink data. The apparatus is also caused to send a paging response to the access network device in the preconfigured uplink resource region.

In a fifth aspect, an apparatus is provided that includes at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to receive, at the access network device, a paging message from the core network device carrying downlink data destined for the terminal device. The device is also caused to forward the paging message to the terminal device. The apparatus is also caused to receive a paging response from the terminal device in the pre-configured uplink resource region for the paging response, the paging response carrying an acknowledgement of the downlink data. The device is also caused to forward the paging response to the core network device.

In a sixth aspect, an apparatus is provided that includes at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to transmit, at the core network device, a paging message to the access network device carrying downlink data destined for the terminal device. The apparatus is also caused to receive a paging response sent by the terminal device from the access network device in a preconfigured uplink resource region for the paging response, the paging response carrying an acknowledgement for downlink data.

In a seventh aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for performing the method according to the first, second or third aspect.

In a sixth aspect, a computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon is provided. The computer program, when executed by a processor of an apparatus, causes the apparatus to perform the method according to the first, second or third aspect.

It should be understood that this summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the embodiments of the disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become readily apparent from the following description.

Drawings

Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 illustrates an example acknowledgement procedure based on PRACH transmission at a UE;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example environment in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented;

fig. 3 illustrates an example process of information exchange between a core network device, an access network device, and a terminal device, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

fig. 4 illustrates an example process of information exchange between a core network device, an access network device, and a terminal device, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

fig. 5 illustrates an example process of information exchange between a core network device, an access network device, and a terminal device according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram of an example method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

fig. 7 shows a flowchart of an example method according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of an example method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

fig. 9 shows a simplified block diagram of a device suitable for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure.

Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numbers refer to the same or similar elements.

Detailed Description

The principles of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to a few exemplary embodiments. It is understood that these embodiments are described for illustrative purposes only and are presented to aid those skilled in the art in understanding and enabling the disclosure, without placing any limitation on the scope of the disclosure. The disclosure described herein may be implemented in a variety of other ways besides those described below.

In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

As used herein, the term "access network device" refers to a device via which a terminal device or UE may access a communication network. Examples of access network equipment include relays, Access Points (APs), transmission points (TRPs), node bs (NodeB or NB), evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), gigabit NodeB (gnb), remote radio modules (RRUs), Radio Heads (RH), Remote Radio Heads (RRHs), low power nodes (such as femto, pico), and so forth.

As used herein, the term "terminal device" or "user equipment" (UE) refers to any terminal device capable of wireless communication with each other or with access network devices. Communication may involve the transmission and/or reception of wireless signals using electromagnetic signals, radio waves, infrared signals, and/or other types of signals suitable for the conveyance of information over the air. In some embodiments, the UE may be configured to transmit and/or receive information without direct human interaction. For example, the UE may transmit information to the network device on a predetermined schedule, triggered by an internal or external event, or in response to a request from the network side.

Examples of UEs include, but are not limited to, User Equipment (UE), such as a smart phone, a wireless-enabled tablet, a Laptop Embedded Equipment (LEE), a laptop installation equipment (LME), and/or a wireless Customer Premises Equipment (CPE). For purposes of discussion, some embodiments will be described with reference to a UE as an example of a terminal device, and the terms "terminal device" and "user equipment" (UE) may be used interchangeably in the context of this disclosure.

As used herein, the term "core network device" refers to a device that is capable of communicating with an access network device and providing services to UEs in the core network. As an example, the core network device may include a Mobile Switching Center (MSC), an MME, an operations and management (O & M) node, an Operations Support System (OSS) node, a self-organizing network (SON) node, a positioning node such as an enhanced serving mobile location center (E-SMLC), and/or a Mobile Data Terminal (MDT).

As used herein, the term "circuitry" may refer to one or more or all of the following:

(a) a purely hardware circuit implementation (such as an implementation in analog and/or digital circuitry only); and

(b) a combination of hardware circuitry and software, such as (as applicable): (i) a combination of analog and/or digital hardware circuitry and software/firmware, and (ii) a hardware processor with software (including a digital signal processor), any portion of software and memory that work in conjunction to cause a device such as a mobile telephone or server to perform various functions; and

(c) hardware circuits and/or processors, such as microprocessors or portions of microprocessors, that require software (e.g., firmware) to operate but may not exist when operation is not required.

This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of the term in this application, including in any claims. As another example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also encompasses an implementation of a portion of a purely hardware circuit or processor (or processors) or a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware. The term circuitry also encompasses (e.g., and if applicable to the particular claim element) a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device, or a similar integrated circuit in a server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The term "comprising" and its variants are to be understood as open-ended terms meaning "including but not limited to". The term "based on" should be understood as "based at least in part on". The terms "one embodiment" and "an embodiment" should be understood as "at least one embodiment". The term "another embodiment" should be understood as "at least one other embodiment". Other explicit and implicit definitions may be included below.

When sending DL data to a UE in a paging message, the MME may need to know whether the UE has successfully received the data to determine whether to retransmit or refresh the data. In this case, the UE may send an acknowledgement for DL data to the MME. In a conventional UE feedback scheme, after establishing a connection with an eNB, the UE may transmit a paging response to acknowledge receipt of data. Further, in response to the actual network command, the page response is followed by uplink data for the application level information. Acknowledgements after connection establishment will result in the loss of the benefits of DL EDT in terms of power saving. In addition, this approach will result in uplink transmission energy inefficiency in the network command scenario.

Another conventional UE feedback scheme is based on Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) transmissions. Fig. 1 illustrates an example acknowledgement procedure based on PRACH transmission at a UE. As shown, the MME sends (105) a paging message to the eNB carrying a non-access stratum (NAS) Protocol Data Unit (PDU) encapsulating MT data destined for the UE. The eNB sends (110) a paging message to the UE together with the allocated PRACH resources. The UE initiates a PRACH transmission using (115) the PRACH resource to acknowledge receipt of the DL data. However, this PRACH based scheme is not secure enough. False UEs may use the same preamble to send acknowledgements and therefore the MME will erroneously refresh the data. To ensure the power saving goal of DL EDT, acknowledgements must be sent in an efficient and secure manner.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an early data transmission scheme in paging messages to reduce signaling overhead and maintain transmission security in the uplink and downlink. With this scheme, pre-configured uplink resources (PURs) are allocated for the terminal device to send a paging response to acknowledge DL data carried in the paging message. Thus, after the terminal device receives the paging message carrying DL data, the terminal device sends a paging response carrying an acknowledgement. For example, this scheme allows DL EDT in paging messages without additional signaling overhead for random access procedures for fixed terminal devices or terminal devices with active timing advance.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example environment 200 in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented. The environment 200, which is part of a communication network, includes an access network device 210 and a terminal device 220. Environment 200 also includes core network device 230 that may communicate with access network device 210 and with terminal device 220 via access network device 210.

It should be understood that one access network device, one terminal device, and one core network device are shown in fig. 2 for purposes of illustration only and not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of the present disclosure. Environment 200 may include any suitable number of access network devices, terminal devices, and core network devices suitable for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure.

The terminal device 220 may communicate with the access network device 210 or may communicate with another terminal device or core network device 230 or other network entity via the access network device 210. The communication between the terminal device 220 and the access network device 210 may follow any suitable wireless communication standard or protocol, such as Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-advanced (LTE-a), fifth generation (5G) NR, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), and Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) standards, and employ any suitable communication technology, including, for example, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), Time Division Multiplexing (TDM), Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM), Code Division Multiplexing (CDM), Bluetooth (Bluetooth), ZigBee, and machine type communication (emmtc), enhanced mobile broadband (bb), large-scale Machine Type Communication (MTC), and ultra-reliable low-delay communication (urlcc) technologies.

Core network device 230 may communicate with access network device 210 and other access network devices. The communication between the core network device 230 and the access network device 210 may utilize any suitable communication technology. In some embodiments, core network device 230 and access network device 210 may communicate in a cable.

The environment 200 allows DL EDT from the core network device 230 to the terminal device 220. In various example embodiments of the present disclosure, the core network device 230 sends DL data destined for the terminal device 220 to the access network device 210 in a paging message. For a paging response carried with an acknowledgement of DL data sent by the terminal device 220, the access network device 210 allocates a pre-configured uplink resource (PUR) region. The terminal device 220 sends a paging response to the access network device 210 using the PUR zone. Access network device 210 forwards the page response to core network device 230. Then, the DL EDT is completed.

Fig. 3 illustrates an example process 300 of information exchange between the core network device 230, the access network device 210, and the terminal device 220, according to some embodiments of the disclosure.

In process 300, core network device 230 sends a paging message to access network device 210 carrying DL data destined for terminal device 220. For the paging message, a paging response may be sent by terminal device 220 to acknowledge DL data without triggering a Random Access Channel (RACH) attempt to establish a connection with core network device 230 via access network device 210. In some example embodiments, the paging message may also carry a response indication (referred to as a first response indication) indicating that a paging response is to be sent by the terminal device 220 in an early uplink transmission opportunity. In the context of the present disclosure, an early uplink transmission opportunity refers to an uplink transmission opportunity prior to message 5(Msg5) during a RACH procedure, such as a PUR region prior to Msg5 or message 3(Msg 3).

With the first response indication, the core network device 230 may indicate that the paging response via the NAS message based on the establishment of the connection between the terminal device 220 and the access network device 210 is not required, but rather that the application level acknowledgement implemented by the UL NAS PDU should be sent in the next available UL transmission opportunity. Thus, the access network device 210 may be aware of the activation of the PUR region for the terminal device 220 to send a page response carrying an acknowledgement for DL data.

It should be appreciated that the first response indication may alternatively be included in the paging message. In some other example embodiments, the first response indication may be sent by the core network device 230 to the access network device 210 alone and with the paging message.

The paging message may also carry some other information related to the paging response. In some example embodiments, the paging message may carry a size indication for a reference size of the paging response. As an example, the reference size may be a suggested maximum size for the page response. The paging message may also carry a number of repetitions of the paging response, which is used to instruct the terminal device 220 to repeatedly send the paging response. The number of repetitions of the paging response may be determined by the core network device 230 based on a repetition level associated with the terminal device 220. For example, the number of repetitions may be determined by the core network device 230 based on the last level of repetition used by the terminal device 220. Other information related to the page response is also possible.

After the core network device 230 sends 305 the paging message to the access network device 210, the access network device 210 forwards 310 the paging message to the terminal device 220. In some example embodiments, the paging message may be forwarded in a paging occasion (referred to as a first paging occasion) scheduled in Downlink Control Information (DCI) (referred to as a first DCI). The first DCI is scrambled based on a paging radio network temporary identifier (P-RNTI), which is referred to as a first P-RNTI or an EDT-P-RNTI. The EDT-P-RNTI may be broadcast by the access network device 210 for supporting DL EDT operations. With the EDT-P-RNTI, the terminal device 220 may monitor for paging messages with DL data.

In some example embodiments, the access network device 210 may also send a paging message that does not carry DL data. Such a paging message may be transmitted in a paging opportunity (referred to as a second paging opportunity) scheduled in a DCI different from the first DCI (referred to as a second DCI). The second DCI is generated based on a different P-RNTI (referred to as a second P-RNTI).

To further save power consumption of the terminal device 220, the second DCI may indicate the presence of the first DCI. In this way, the terminal device 220 may know when to detect the first DCI, thereby avoiding always attempting to blindly decode both the first DCI and the second DCI.

In some example embodiments, prior to the access network device 210 forwarding (310) the paging message, the access network device 210 may modify the paging message by adding a response indication (referred to as a second response indication) to indicate that the paging response is to be transmitted by the terminal device in the PUR region. For example, if the access network device 210 knows that the terminal device 220 is capable of transmitting on the PUR region and the timing advance of the terminal device 220 is valid, the access network device 210 may add the second response indication to the paging message.

The second response indication may be implemented in an explicit or implicit manner. For example, the second response indication may be implemented in an implicit manner by information about the PUR region. In some example embodiments, the information related to the PUR zone may be a resource indication (referred to as a first resource indication) of the PUR zone. For example, the access network device 210 may determine a PUR region for the terminal device 220 to send the paging response, and then add a first resource indication of the PUR region as a second response indication to the paging message to implicitly instruct the terminal device 220 to send the paging response using the PUR region. In this way, initiation of a RACH procedure by the terminal device 220 is avoided.

The determination of the PUR zone may be performed by the access network device 210 after receiving the paging message from the core network device 230. In some example embodiments, the core network device 230 may send (305) a data indication of DL data to the access network device 210 for the terminal device 220 before the core network device 230 sends a paging message with the DL data. The data indication may also be carried in a paging message. In these embodiments, access network device 210 determines the PUR zone after receiving the data indication. Then, the access network device 210 sends the first resource indication of the PUR zone to the core network device 230. The core network device 230 encrypts the first resource indication and the DL data using the NAS security key of the terminal device 210. In this case, the transmitted (305) paging message carries the encrypted first resource indication and the DL data. In this way, the terminal device 220 can be notified of the PUR region in a secure manner.

The PUR zones may be selected by the access network device 210 from a set of PUR zones. The set of PUR regions may be predefined for sending a paging response to acknowledge DL data carried in a paging message. The predefined set of PUR regions may include time and frequency resources. In some example embodiments, since paging messages are typically sent in Discontinuous Reception (DRX) cycles, the predefined PUR regions may be configured periodically in each DRX cycle.

The predefined PUR regions may be dedicated and different from conventional PUR regions used for UL data transmission. For example, each predefined PUR area may have a size below a threshold size. The size may be fixed or may be dynamically changed. In comparison, the size of a conventional PUR region for UL data transmission may be larger to accommodate UL data of various sizes. As another example, the predefined PUR areas may have a different pattern than the conventional PUR areas. The pattern may include a period, offset, duration, etc. The pattern of the predefined PUR areas need not be aligned with the pattern of the conventional PUR areas used for uplink data.

A predefined set of PUR regions may be indicated to the terminal device 220 in a secure manner. In some example embodiments, the resource indication (referred to as a second resource indication) of the predefined set of PUR regions may be sent by the access network device 210 to the terminal device 220 via dedicated RRC signaling for a consumer internet of things (CIoT) optimized User Plane (UP) solution. For CIoT optimized Control Plane (CP) solutions, the access network device 210 may send the second resource indication to the core network device 230, and the core network device 230 may encrypt the second resource indication using the NAS security key of the terminal device 220. The core network device 230 sends a NAS message carrying the encrypted second resource indication to the access network device 210, and the access network device 210 forwards the NAS message to the terminal device 220.

As an implementation of the second response indication for indicating that the paging response is to be sent by the terminal device 220 in the PUR zone, the information related to the PUR zone may be an activation indication of the PUR zone. For example, in embodiments where a predefined set of PUR regions are configured periodically per DRX cycle, the access network device 210 may use a bit to indicate that the PUR region immediately after the paging message is received is activated for the paging response. The PUR region may be configured at any suitable location in the DRX cycle. In some embodiments, the PUR region may be located at the end of the DRX cycle to further improve transmission efficiency and reduce transmission delay of paging responses. In this case, if there is no paging message in a DRX cycle, the PUR regions associated with this DRX cycle may be multiplexed for other transmissions to further improve resource utilization.

In some example embodiments, the predefined PUR zones may be associated with a timer to avoid reserving resources for a longer duration. When the access network device 210 determines a PUR region, the access network device 210 may trigger an acknowledgement for DL data during a RACH procedure if a timer associated with the determined PUR region expires.

After the access network device 210 forwards (310) the paging message to the terminal device 220, the terminal device 220 obtains (315) the PUR zone. In embodiments where the first resource indication of the PUR region is indicated in the forwarded paging message, the terminal device 220 may obtain the PUR region from the paging message. In embodiments where a predefined set of PUR regions are configured periodically per DRX cycle, the terminal device 220 may determine the PUR region after the end of the DRX cycle at which the paging message was received for use in sending a paging response.

The PUR region may be shared by the UEs. As an example, a PUR region may include several contention-based PUR opportunities. In this case, the terminal device 220 may detect available PUR occasions based on contention. As another example, PUR opportunities may be contention-free. A predetermined PUR opportunity may be assigned to a terminal device 220 that access network device 210 desires to receive a page response.

In some example embodiments, terminal device 220 may first determine whether to use the PUR zone to send a paging response. For example, the terminal device 220 may make this determination based on an explicit or implicit indication inserted into the paging message by the access network device 210 as described above. If the explicit or implicit indication indicates that the PUR region is to be used to send a paging response, the terminal device 220 may determine that the PUR region is to be used to send a paging response.

In embodiments where the paging message from the core network device 210 carries a first response indication indicating that the paging response is to be sent by the terminal device in an early uplink transmission opportunity, the access network device 220 may forward the first response indication along with the paging message. In this case, if the access network device 210 does not insert an explicit or implicit indication in the paging message to indicate that the PUR region is to be used to send a paging response, the terminal device 220 may determine that an MO EDT procedure (such as Msg3) may be used to send an acknowledgement based on the first response indication. If the above indication is not included in the paging message, the terminal device 220 may trigger a RACH procedure to send a paging response.

In some example embodiments, the paging response may be repeatedly sent by the terminal device 220 in the PUR region. In an example embodiment in which the number of repetitions of the paging response is determined by the core network device 230, the terminal device 220 may receive a repetition indication for the number of repetitions from the core network device 230 via the access network device 210. The number of repetitions may also be determined by the access network device 210 and indicated to the terminal device 220.

After obtaining (315) the PUR region, the terminal device 220 sends (320) a page response to the access network device 210 in the PUR region, and the page response carries an acknowledgement for the DL data. The acknowledgement may comprise a positive or negative acknowledgement. For example, the terminal device 220 may send a positive acknowledgement after successfully decoding the paging message and data. If the decoding fails, the terminal device 220 may send a negative acknowledgement. The acknowledgement may be implemented through application level information such as NAS PDUs.

In some example embodiments, the paging response may also include an Identifier (ID) of the terminal device 220. With this ID, the access network device 210 can know which terminal device sent the page response. The access network device 210 may use the ID for contention resolution, particularly in the case where the PUR region is contention based.

After the terminal device 220 sends (320) the page response to the access network device 210, the access network device 210 forwards (325) the page response to the core network device 230. Then, the DL EDT is completed.

Fig. 4 illustrates an example process 400 of information exchange between the core network device 230, the access network device 210, and the terminal device 220, according to some embodiments of the disclosure.

In process 400, access network device 210 (e.g., an eNB) configures a PUR region for carrying a paging response for acknowledgement of DL data carried by the paging message, and then access network device 210 sends the PUR region to terminal device 220 (e.g., a UE) in a secure manner (405). When the terminal device 220 is in idle mode (410), the core network device 230 (e.g., MME) sends (415) a paging message carrying DL data encrypted using a security key specific to the terminal device 220.

Access network device 210 determines (420) a PUR zone for terminal device 220 to send a page response. The access network device 210 adds the determined first resource indication of the PUR to the paging message and then forwards (425) the paging message to the terminal device 220. The terminal device 220 successfully decodes (430) the DL data. The terminal device 220 then sends (435) a page response to the access network device 210 in the PUR area, where the page response carries a positive acknowledgement. Access network device 210 forwards (440) the page response to core network device 230.

Fig. 5 illustrates an example process 500 of information exchange between the core network device 230, the access network device 210, and the terminal device 220, according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure.

In process 500, access network device 210 (e.g., an eNB) configures a PUR region for carrying a paging response for acknowledgement of DL data carried by the paging message, and then access network device 210 sends the PUR region to terminal device 220 (e.g., a UE) in a secure manner (505). When the terminal device 220 is in idle mode (410), the core network device 230 (e.g., MME) sends (515) a data indication of DL data destined for the terminal device 210 in a paging message.

Access network device 210 determines (520) a PUR zone for terminal device 220 to send a page response. The access network device 210 then sends (522) a first resource indication of the determined PUR to the core network device 230. The core network device 230 encrypts the first resource indication and the DL data using a security key specific to the terminal device 220 and sends a paging message carrying the encrypted first resource indication and the DL data to the access network device 210 (524).

Access network device 210 forwards (525) the paging message to terminal device 220. The terminal device 220 successfully decodes (530) the DL data and sends (535) a page response to the access network device 210 in the PUR region, wherein the page response carries a positive acknowledgement. The access network device 210 forwards (540) the page response to the core network device 230.

Fig. 6 illustrates a flow diagram of an example method 600 in accordance with some other embodiments of the present disclosure. Method 600 may be implemented at terminal device 220 as shown in fig. 2. For discussion purposes, the method 600 will be described with reference to fig. 2.

At block 605, the terminal device 220 receives a paging message carrying DL data from the access network device 210. At block 610, the terminal device 220 obtains a PUR region for sending a paging response carrying an acknowledgement of DL data. At block 615, the terminal device 220 sends a page response to the access network device 210 in the PUR area.

In some example embodiments, terminal device 220 may detect the first DCI using the first P-RNTI. The first DCI indicates a first paging opportunity to be used for forwarding a paging message. Terminal device 220 may determine a first paging opportunity from the first DCI and receive a paging message from access network device 210 in the first paging opportunity.

In some example embodiments, terminal device 220 may detect the second DCI using a second P-RNTI that is different from the first P-RNTI. The second DCI indicates a second paging opportunity for transmitting a paging message without DL data destined to the terminal device 220. The terminal device 220 may determine a second paging opportunity from the second DCI and receive a paging message without DL data from the access network device 210 in the second paging opportunity. In some example embodiments, the terminal device 220 may receive a first P-RNTI broadcast by the access network device.

In some example embodiments, the second DCI may also indicate that the first DCI is to be detected by terminal device 220.

In some example embodiments, the paging message may also carry a first response indication from the core network device 230 to indicate that the paging response is to be sent by the terminal device 220 in the early uplink transmission opportunity. In some example embodiments, the paging message may also carry a size indication for a reference size of the paging response from the core network device 230.

In some example embodiments, the paging message may also carry a second response indication indicating that a paging response is to be sent by the terminal device 220 in the PUR region. In some example embodiments, the second response indication may include a first resource indication of a preconfigured uplink resource region.

In some example embodiments, terminal device 220 may receive a second resource indication for a predefined set of PUR regions. The PUR regions are obtained by the terminal device 220 from a predefined set of PUR regions. In some example embodiments, the size of each preconfigured uplink resource region may be below a threshold size.

In some example embodiments, the predefined set of PUR regions may be configured periodically in each discontinuous reception cycle. The second response indication may include an activation indication to indicate that a PUR region of the predefined set of PUR regions immediately after the paging message is received is to be activated to send the paging response.

In some example embodiments, the terminal device 220 may receive the second resource indication from the access network device 210 via dedicated signaling. In some example embodiments, the terminal device 220 may receive, from the access network device 210, a second resource indication encrypted by the core network device 230 using the non-access stratum security key of the terminal device 220.

In some example embodiments, the paging message is forwarded in a DRX cycle, and the PUR area is located at the end of the DRX cycle. In some example embodiments, the PUR region is associated with a timer. In these example embodiments, the terminal device 220 may send a page response to the access network device 210 in the PUR area if the timer has not expired.

In some example embodiments, the terminal device 220 may receive a repeat indication from the access network device 210 for a number of repetitions of the page response. The number of repetitions may be determined by the core network device 230 based on a reference repetition level associated with the terminal device 210.

In some example embodiments, the paging response also carries the ID of the terminal device 210.

Fig. 7 illustrates a flow diagram of an example method 700 in accordance with some other embodiments of the present disclosure. The method 700 may be implemented at an access network device 210 as shown in fig. 2. For discussion purposes, the method 700 will be described with reference to fig. 2.

At block 705, the access network device 210 receives a paging message from the core network device 230 carrying DL data destined for the terminal device 220. At block 710, the access network device 210 forwards the paging message to the terminal device 220. At block 715, the access network device 210 receives the page response from the terminal device 220 in the PUR area for page response. The paging response carries an acknowledgement for the DL data. At block 720, the access network device 210 forwards the page response to the core network device 230.

In some example embodiments, the access network device 210 may generate the first DCI based on the first P-RNTI. The first DCI indicates a first paging opportunity to be used for forwarding a paging message. The access network device 210 may forward 220 the paging message to the terminal device in a first paging opportunity.

In some example embodiments, the access network device 210 may generate the second DCI based on a second P-RNTI that is different from the first P-RNTI. The second DCI indicates a second paging opportunity for transmitting a paging message without DL data destined to the terminal device 220. The access network device 210 may send a paging message without DL data to the terminal device 220 in a second paging opportunity. In some example embodiments, the access network device 210 may broadcast the first P-RNTI.

In some example embodiments, the paging message from the core network device 230 may also carry a first response indication to indicate that a paging response is to be sent by the terminal device 220 in the early uplink transmission opportunity. In some example embodiments, the paging message from the core network device 230 may also carry a size indication for a reference size of the paging response from the core network device 230.

In some example embodiments, the access network device 210 may modify the paging message by adding a second response indication to indicate that a paging response is to be sent by the terminal device 210 in the PUR region. Access network device 210 may then forward the modified paging message to terminal device 220. In some example embodiments, the access network device 210 may determine the PUR zone and add the first resource indication of the PUR zone to the paging message as the second response indication.

In some example embodiments, access network device 210 may receive a data indication of downlink data from core network device 230. In response to the data indication, the access network device 210 may determine the PUR zone. The access network device 210 may send a first resource indication of the PUR zone to the core network device 230. The access network device 210 may then receive from the core network device 230 a paging message carrying the downlink data and the first resource indication encrypted by the core network device 230 using the NAS key for the terminal device 220.

In some example embodiments, access network device 210 may select a PUR zone from a predefined set of PUR zones. In some example embodiments, access network device 210 may send a second resource indication of a predefined set of PUR regions to terminal device 220. In some example embodiments, the access network device 210 may send the second resource indication to the terminal device 220 via dedicated RRC signaling.

In some example embodiments, the access network device 210 may send the second resource indication to the core network device 230. The access network device 210 may receive from the core network device 230 a second resource indication encrypted by the core network device 230 using the NAS security key for the terminal device 220. The access network device 210 may then forward the encrypted second resource indication to the terminal device 220.

In some example embodiments, the size of each preconfigured uplink resource region may be below a threshold size. In some example embodiments, a predefined set of PUR regions may be configured periodically in each discontinuous reception cycle. The second response indication may include an activation indication to indicate that a PUR region of the predefined set of PUR regions immediately after the paging message is received is to be activated to send the paging response.

In some example embodiments, the paging message is forwarded in a DRX cycle, and the PUR area is located at the end of the DRX cycle. In some example embodiments, the PUR region is associated with a timer. In these example embodiments, the access network device 210 may receive a page response from the terminal device 220 in the PUR area before the timer expires.

In some example embodiments, the access network device 210 may receive a repeat indication from the core network device for a number of repetitions of the page response. The number of repetitions may be determined by the core network device 230 based on a reference repetition level associated with the terminal device 220. Access network device 210 may then forward the duplicate indication to terminal device 220.

Fig. 8 shows a flowchart of an exemplary method 800 according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure. The method 800 may be implemented at the core network device 230 as shown in fig. 2. For discussion purposes, the method 800 will be described with reference to fig. 2.

At block 805, the core network device 230 sends a paging message carrying DL data destined for the terminal device 220 to the access network device 210. At block 810, the core network device 230 receives a paging response sent by the terminal device 220 from the access network device 210 in a PUR area used for the paging response. The paging response carries an acknowledgement for the DL data.

In some example embodiments, the paging message may also carry a first response indication to indicate that a paging response is to be sent by the terminal device 220 in an early uplink transmission opportunity. In some example embodiments, the paging message may also carry a size indication for a reference size of the paging response from the core network device 230.

In some example embodiments, the core network device 230 may send a data indication of the DL data to the access network device 210. The core network device 230 may receive a first resource indication of the PUR zone from the access network device 210. The core network device 230 may then encrypt the first resource indication and the DL data using the NAS security key for the terminal device 210. The core network device 230 may send a paging message carrying the encrypted first resource indication and DL data to the access network device 210.

In some example embodiments, the core network device 230 may determine the number of repetitions of the paging response based on a reference repetition level associated with the terminal device 220. The core network device 230 may send a repetition indication of the number of repetitions to the access network device 210.

All operations and features as described above with reference to fig. 2-5 are equally applicable to

methods

600, 700, and 800 and have similar effects. Details will be omitted for the sake of simplicity.

In some embodiments, an apparatus capable of performing the

method

600, 700, or 800 may include means for performing the respective steps of the

method

600, 700, or 800. The component may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the components may be implemented in circuitry or software modules.

In some example embodiments, an apparatus capable of performing method 600 comprises: means for receiving at the terminal device a paging message carrying downlink data from the access network device; means for obtaining a preconfigured uplink resource region for sending a paging response carrying an acknowledgement for downlink data; and means for sending a paging response to the access network device in the preconfigured uplink resource region.

In some example embodiments, the means for receiving the paging message may comprise: means for detecting first downlink control information using a first paging radio network temporary identifier, the first downlink control information indicating a first paging opportunity to be used for forwarding a paging message; means for determining a first paging opportunity from the first downlink control information; and means for receiving a paging message from the access network device in the first paging opportunity.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus may further include: means for detecting second downlink control information using a second paging radio network temporary identifier different from the first paging radio network temporary identifier, the second downlink control information indicating a second paging opportunity for sending paging messages without downlink data to the terminal device; means for determining a second paging opportunity from the second downlink control information; and means for receiving a paging message without downlink data from the access network device in a second paging opportunity.

In some example embodiments, the second downlink control information may also indicate that the first downlink control information is to be detected by the terminal device.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus may further include: means for receiving a first paging radio network temporary identifier broadcast by an access network device.

In some example embodiments, the paging message may also carry a first response indication from the core network device to indicate that the paging response is to be sent by the terminal device in the early uplink transmission opportunity.

In some example embodiments, the paging message may also carry a size indication for a reference size of the paging response from the core network device.

In some example embodiments, the paging message may also carry a second response indication indicating that a paging response is to be sent by the terminal device in a preconfigured uplink resource region.

In some example embodiments, the second response indication may include a first resource indication of a preconfigured uplink resource region.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus may further include: means for receiving a second resource indication of a predefined set of preconfigured uplink resource regions, wherein the preconfigured uplink resource regions are obtained from the predefined set of preconfigured uplink resource regions.

In some example embodiments, a predefined set of preconfigured uplink resource regions may be configured periodically in each discontinuous reception cycle. The second response indication may include an activation indication to indicate that a preconfigured uplink resource region of the predefined set of preconfigured uplink resource regions immediately after the paging message is received is to be activated to send the paging response.

In some example embodiments, the means for receiving the second resource indication may comprise: means for receiving a second resource indication from the access network device via dedicated RRC signaling.

In some example embodiments, the means for receiving the second resource indication may comprise: means for receiving, from the access network device, a second resource indication encrypted by the core network device using a non-access stratum security key for the terminal device.

In some example embodiments, the size of each preconfigured uplink resource region may be below a threshold size.

In some example embodiments, the paging message may be forwarded in a discontinuous reception cycle. The preconfigured uplink resource region may be located at the end of the discontinuous reception cycle.

In some example embodiments, the preconfigured uplink resource region may be associated with a timer. The means for sending a page response may comprise: means for transmitting a paging response to the access network device in the preconfigured uplink resource region in response to the timer not expiring.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus may further include: means for receiving a repetition indication for a number of repetitions of the paging response from the access network device, the number of repetitions determined by the core network device based on a reference repetition level associated with the terminal device.

In some example embodiments, the paging response may also carry an identifier of the terminal device.

In some example embodiments, an apparatus capable of performing method 700 comprises: means for receiving at the access network device from the core network device a paging message carrying downlink data destined for the terminal device; means for forwarding the paging message to the terminal device; means for receiving a paging response from the terminal device in a preconfigured uplink resource region for paging responses, the paging response carrying an acknowledgement for downlink data; and means for forwarding the paging response to the core network device.

In some example embodiments, the means for forwarding the paging message may comprise: means for generating first downlink control information based on the first paging radio network temporary identifier, the first downlink control information indicating a first paging opportunity to be used for forwarding paging messages; and means for forwarding the paging message to the terminal device in the first paging opportunity.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus may further include: means for generating second downlink control information based on a second paging radio network temporary identifier different from the first paging radio network temporary identifier, the second downlink control information indicating a second paging opportunity for transmitting paging messages without downlink data to the terminal device; and means for transmitting a paging message without downlink data to the terminal device in the second paging opportunity.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus may further include: means for broadcasting a first paging radio network temporary identifier.

In some example embodiments, the paging message from the core network device may also carry a first response indication indicating that a paging response is to be sent by the terminal device in the early uplink transmission opportunity.

In some example embodiments, the paging message from the core network device may also carry a size indication for a reference size of the paging response.

In some example embodiments, the means for forwarding the paging message may comprise: means for modifying the paging message by adding a second response indication to indicate that the paging response is to be transmitted by the terminal device in the preconfigured uplink resource region; and means for forwarding the modified paging message to the terminal device.

In some example embodiments, the means for modifying the paging message may comprise: means for determining a preconfigured uplink resource region; and means for adding the first resource indication of the preconfigured uplink resource region to the paging message as a second response indication.

In some example embodiments, the means for receiving the paging message may comprise: means for receiving a data indication of downlink data from a core network device; means for determining a preconfigured uplink resource region; means for transmitting a first resource indication of a preconfigured uplink resource region to a core network device; and means for receiving from the core network device a paging message carrying downlink data and a first resource indication encrypted by the core network device using a non-access stratum security key for the terminal device.

In some example embodiments, the means for determining the preconfigured uplink resource region may comprise: means for selecting a preconfigured uplink resource region from a predefined set of preconfigured uplink resource regions.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus may further include: means for transmitting a second resource indication of a predefined set of preconfigured uplink resource regions to the terminal device.

In some example embodiments, the means for transmitting the second resource indication may comprise: means for transmitting the second resource indication to the terminal device via dedicated RRC signaling.

In some example embodiments, the means for transmitting the second resource indication may comprise: means for sending a second resource indication to the core network device; means for receiving, from the core network device, a second resource indication encrypted by the core network device using a non-access stratum security key for the terminal device; and means for forwarding the encrypted second resource indication to the terminal device.

In some example embodiments, a set of preconfigured uplink resource regions may be predefined periodically in each discontinuous reception cycle. The second response indication may include an activation indication to indicate that a preconfigured uplink resource region of the predefined set of preconfigured uplink resource regions immediately after the paging message is received is to be activated to send the paging response.

In some example embodiments, the preconfigured uplink resource region may be associated with a timer. The means for receiving a page response may comprise: means for receiving a paging response from the terminal device in a preconfigured uplink resource region before expiration of the timer.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus may further include: means for receiving a repetition indication for a number of repetitions of the paging response from the core network device, the number of repetitions determined by the core network device based on a reference repetition level associated with the terminal device; and means for forwarding the duplicate indication to the terminal device.

In some example embodiments, an apparatus capable of performing method 800 comprises: means for sending, at the core network device, a paging message carrying downlink data destined for the terminal device to the access network device; and means for receiving a paging response sent by the terminal device from the access network device in a preconfigured uplink resource region for the paging response, the paging response carrying an acknowledgement for downlink data.

In some example embodiments, the paging message may also carry a size indication for a reference size of the paging response.

In some example embodiments, the means for sending the paging message may comprise: means for transmitting a data indication of downlink data to the access network device; means for receiving a first resource indication of a preconfigured uplink resource region from an access network device; means for encrypting the first resource indication and the downlink data using a non-access stratum security key for the terminal device; and means for sending a paging message to the access network device carrying the encrypted first resource indication and downlink data.

In some example embodiments, the apparatus may further include: means for determining a number of repetitions for the paging response based on a reference repetition level associated with the terminal device; and means for sending a repetition indication of the number of repetitions to the access network device.

In some example embodiments, the paging message may also carry a first response indication to indicate that a paging response is to be sent by the terminal device in the early uplink transmission opportunity.

Fig. 9 is a simplified block diagram of a device 900 suitable for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 900 may be implemented at the terminal device 220, the access network device 210, or the core network device 230 as shown in fig. 2.

As shown, the device 900 includes a processor 910, a memory 920 coupled to the processor 910, a communication module 930 coupled to the processor 910, and a communication interface (not shown) coupled to the communication module 930. The memory 920 stores at least a program 940. The communication module 930 is used for bidirectional communication, e.g., via multiple antennas. The communication interface may represent any interface necessary for communication.

The program 940 is assumed to include program instructions that, when executed by the associated processor 910, enable the device 900 to operate in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, as discussed herein with reference to fig. 2-8. The embodiments herein may be implemented by computer software executable by the processor 910 of the device 900, or by hardware, or by a combination of software and hardware. The processor 910 may be configured to implement various embodiments of the present disclosure.

The memory 920 may be of any type suitable to the local technology network and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as non-transitory computer-readable storage media, semiconductor-based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and removable memory, as non-limiting examples. Although only one memory 920 is shown in device 900, there may be several physically different memory modules in device 900. The processor 910 may be of any type suitable for a local technology network, and may include, by way of non-limiting example, one or more of the following: general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) and processors based on a multi-core processor architecture. Device 900 may have multiple processors, such as application specific integrated circuit chips that are time dependent from a clock synchronized to the main processor.

When the device 900 is acting as a terminal device 220 or part of a terminal device 220, the processor 910 and the communication module 930 may cooperate to implement the method 600 as described above with reference to fig. 2-6. When the device 900 is acting as an access network device 210 or part of an access network device 210, the processor 910 and the communication module 930 may cooperate to implement the method 700 as described above with reference to fig. 2-5 and 7. When the device 900 is acting as a core network device 230 or part of a core network device 230, the processor 910 and the communication module 930 may cooperate to implement the method 800 as described above with reference to fig. 2-5 and 8. All operations and features as described above with reference to fig. 2 through 8 are equally applicable to device 900 and have similar effects. Details will be omitted for the sake of simplicity.

In general, the various embodiments of the disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device. While various aspects of the example embodiments of this disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flow charts, or using some other pictorial representation, it is well understood that the blocks, apparatus, systems, techniques or methods described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

The present disclosure also provides at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The computer program product comprises computer-executable instructions, such as those included in program modules, that execute in the device on the target real or virtual processor to perform the methods 600 to 800 as described above with reference to fig. 2 to 8. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data types, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between program modules as desired in various embodiments. Machine-executable instructions for program modules may be executed within local or distributed devices. In a distributed facility, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage media.

Program code for performing the methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. These program codes may be provided to a processor or controller of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that the program codes, when executed by the processor or controller, cause the functions/operations specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram to be performed. The program code may execute entirely on the machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine or entirely on the remote machine or server.

In the context of the present disclosure, computer program code or related data may be carried by any suitable carrier to enable a device, apparatus or processor to perform various processes and operations as described above. Examples of the carrier include a signal, computer readable medium.

The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable medium may include, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination thereof. More specific examples of a computer-readable storage medium include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a Random Access Memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination thereof.

Further, while operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In some cases, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Also, while the above discussion contains several specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination.

Although the disclosure has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Various embodiments of the techniques have been described. In addition to or instead of the above, the following embodiments are described. The functionality described in any of the examples below may be used with other examples described herein.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a terminal device, a paging message carrying downlink data from an access network device;

obtaining a preconfigured uplink resource region for sending a paging response carrying an acknowledgement for the downlink data; and

sending the paging response to the access network device in the preconfigured uplink resource region.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the paging message comprises:

detecting first downlink control information using a first paging radio network temporary identifier, the first downlink control information indicating a first paging opportunity to be used for forwarding the paging message;

determining the first paging opportunity from the first downlink control information; and

receiving the paging message from the access network device in the first paging opportunity.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

detecting second downlink control information using a second paging radio network temporary identifier different from the first paging radio network temporary identifier, the second downlink control information indicating a second paging opportunity for sending paging messages without downlink data to the terminal device;

determining the second paging opportunity from the second downlink control information; and

receiving the paging message without the downlink data from the access network device in the second paging opportunity.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second downlink control information further indicates that the first downlink control information is to be detected by the terminal device.

5. The method of any of claims 2 to 4, further comprising:

receiving the first paging radio network temporary identifier broadcast by the access network device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the paging message further carries a first response indication from the core network device to indicate that the paging response is to be sent by the terminal device in an early uplink transmission opportunity.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the paging message further carries a size indication from the core network device for a reference size of the paging response.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the paging message further carries a second response indication indicating that the paging response is to be sent by the terminal device in the preconfigured uplink resource region.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second response indication comprises a first resource indication of the preconfigured uplink resource region.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a second resource indication of a predefined set of pre-configured uplink resource regions,

wherein the preconfigured uplink resource region is obtained from the predefined set of preconfigured uplink resource regions.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the predefined set of preconfigured uplink resource regions is configured periodically in each discontinuous reception cycle, and

wherein the second response indication comprises an activation indication to indicate that the preconfigured uplink resource region of the predefined set of preconfigured uplink resource regions immediately after the paging message is received is to be activated for sending the paging response.

12. The method of claim 10 or 11, wherein receiving the second resource indication of the predefined set of preconfigured uplink resource zones comprises:

receiving the second resource indication from the access network device via dedicated radio resource control signaling.

13. The method of claim 10 or 11, wherein receiving the second resource indication of the predefined set of preconfigured uplink resource zones comprises:

receiving, from the access network device, the second resource indication encrypted by the core network device using a non-access stratum security key for the terminal device.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein a size of each of the preconfigured uplink resource zones is below a threshold size.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the paging message is forwarded in a discontinuous reception cycle and the preconfigured uplink resource region is located at an end of the discontinuous reception cycle.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the preconfigured uplink resource region is associated with a timer and sending the paging response comprises:

in response to the timer not expiring, sending the paging response to the access network device in the preconfigured uplink resource region.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the access network device, a repetition indication for a number of repetitions of the paging response, the number of repetitions determined by the core network device based on a reference repetition level associated with the terminal device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the page response also carries an identifier of the terminal device.

19. A method, comprising:

receiving, at an access network device, a paging message carrying downlink data destined for a terminal device from a core network device;

forwarding the paging message to the terminal device;

receiving a page response from the terminal device in a preconfigured uplink resource region for the page response, the page response carrying an acknowledgement for the downlink data; and

and forwarding the paging response to the core network equipment.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein forwarding the paging message comprises:

generating first downlink control information based on a first paging radio network temporary identifier, the first downlink control information indicating a first paging opportunity to be used for forwarding the paging message; and

forwarding the paging message to the terminal device in the first paging opportunity.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

generating second downlink control information based on a second paging radio network temporary identifier different from the first paging radio network temporary identifier, the second downlink control information indicating a second paging opportunity for sending paging messages without downlink data destined for the terminal device; and

transmitting the paging message without the downlink data to the terminal device in the second paging opportunity.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the second downlink control information further indicates that the first downlink control information is to be detected by the terminal device.

23. The method of any of claims 20 to 22, further comprising:

broadcasting the first paging radio network temporary identifier.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the paging message from the core network device further carries a first response indication indicating that the paging response is to be sent by the terminal device in an early uplink transmission opportunity.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the paging message from the core network device further carries a size indication for a reference size of the paging response.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein forwarding the paging message comprises:

modifying the paging message by adding a second response indication to indicate that the paging response is to be sent by the terminal device in the preconfigured uplink resource region; and

forwarding the modified paging message to the terminal device.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein modifying the paging message comprises:

determining the preconfigured uplink resource region; and

adding a first resource indication of the preconfigured uplink resource region to the paging message as the second response indication.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein receiving the paging message comprises:

receiving a data indication of the downlink data from the core network device;

determining the preconfigured uplink resource region;

transmitting a first resource indication of the preconfigured uplink resource region to the core network device; and

receiving the paging message carrying the downlink data and the first resource indication encrypted by the core network device using a non-access stratum security key for the terminal device from the core network device.

29. The method of claim 27 or 28, wherein determining the preconfigured uplink resource region comprises:

selecting the preconfigured uplink resource region from a predefined set of preconfigured uplink resource regions.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

transmitting a second resource indication of the predefined set of preconfigured uplink resource regions to the terminal device.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein sending the second resource indication comprises:

transmitting the second resource indication to the terminal device via dedicated radio resource control signaling.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein sending the second resource indication comprises:

sending the second resource indication to the core network device;

receiving, from the core network device, the second resource indication encrypted by the core network device using a non-access stratum security key for the terminal device; and

forwarding the encrypted second resource indication to the terminal device.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein a size of each of the preconfigured uplink resource zones is below a threshold size.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein a set of preconfigured uplink resource zones is predefined periodically in each discontinuous reception cycle, and

wherein the second response indication comprises an activation indication to indicate that the preconfigured uplink resource region of the predefined set of preconfigured uplink resource regions immediately after the paging message is received is to be activated to send the paging response.

35. The method of claim 19, wherein the paging message is forwarded in a discontinuous reception cycle and the preconfigured uplink resource region is located at an end of the discontinuous reception cycle.

36. The method of claim 19, wherein the preconfigured uplink resource region is associated with a timer and receiving the page response comprises:

receiving the paging response from the terminal device in the preconfigured uplink resource region before the timer expires.

37. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving, from the core network device, a repetition indication for a number of repetitions of the paging response, the number of repetitions determined by the core network device based on a reference repetition level associated with the terminal device; and

and forwarding the repeat indication to the terminal equipment.

38. The method of claim 19, wherein the page response also carries an identifier of the terminal device.

39. A method, comprising:

sending, at a core network device, a paging message carrying downlink data destined for a terminal device to an access network device; and

receiving a paging response sent by the terminal device from the access network device in a preconfigured uplink resource region for the paging response, the paging response carrying an acknowledgement for the downlink data.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the paging message further carries a size indication for a reference size of the paging response.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein sending the paging message comprises:

sending a data indication of the downlink data to the access network device;

receiving a first resource indication of the preconfigured uplink resource region from the access network device;

encrypting the first resource indication and the downlink data using a non-access stratum security key for the terminal device; and

sending the paging message carrying the encrypted first resource indication and the downlink data to the access network device.

42. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

determining a number of repetitions for the page response based on a reference repetition level associated with the terminal device; and

and sending a repeat indication of the repeat number to the access network equipment.

43. The method of claim 39, wherein the paging message further carries a first response indication to indicate that the paging response is to be sent by the terminal device in an early uplink transmission opportunity.

44. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform the method of any of claims 1-18.

45. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform the method of any of claims 19-38.

46. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform the method of any of claims 39-43.

47. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving at the terminal device a paging message carrying downlink data from the access network device;

means for obtaining a preconfigured uplink resource region for sending a paging response carrying an acknowledgement for the downlink data; and

means for transmitting the paging response to the access network device in the preconfigured uplink resource region.

48. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving at the access network device from the core network device a paging message carrying downlink data destined for the terminal device;

means for forwarding the paging message to the terminal device;

means for receiving a page response from the terminal device in a preconfigured uplink resource region for the page response, the page response carrying an acknowledgement for the downlink data; and

means for forwarding the paging response to the core network device.

49. An apparatus, comprising:

means for sending, at the core network device, a paging message carrying downlink data destined for the terminal device to the access network device; and

means for receiving a paging response sent by the terminal device from the access network device in a preconfigured uplink resource region for the paging response, the paging response carrying an acknowledgement for the downlink data.

50. A computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor of a device, cause the device to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 18.

51. A computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor of an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the method of any of claims 19 to 38.

52. A computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor of an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the method of any of claims 39 to 43.