CN111757436A

CN111757436A - Discontinuous reception method and device

Info

Publication number: CN111757436A
Application number: CN201910253119.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 黄雯雯; 铁晓磊; 花梦
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-03-29
Filing date: 2019-03-29
Publication date: 2020-10-09

Abstract

The application relates to a discontinuous reception method and equipment. The discontinuous reception method comprises the following steps: the terminal equipment receives indication information from the network equipment, wherein the indication information is used for indicating the terminal equipment not to monitor the PDCCH within a first time length; and if the first symbol after the expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is the first symbol in the first time length, the terminal equipment starts the repeat timer at a second symbol which is later than the first symbol. The terminal device may delay starting the retransmission timer, so that the timing duration of the retransmission timer does not change, and for the network device, the opportunity of retransmission scheduling is only delayed but not reduced. And the terminal equipment does not immediately start the retransmission timer when determining the time when the retransmission timer needs to be started, but postpones a period of time, so that the time for the terminal equipment to monitor the PDCCH can be reduced as much as possible, and the power consumption of the terminal equipment is saved.

Description

Discontinuous reception method and device

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a method and a device for discontinuous reception.

Background

Currently, in order to reduce power consumption of a terminal device, a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) or a connected-discontinuous reception (C-DRX) mechanism is introduced. In the CRX or C-DRX mode, the terminal equipment can enter a sleep state when the PDCCH does not need to be detected, so that the power consumption of the terminal equipment is reduced.

Under a DRX or C-DRX mechanism of Release-15 of 3rd generation partnership project (3 GPP), a base station configures parameters such as a DRX cycle (DRX cycle), a DRX duration timer (DRX-on timer), a DRX inactivity timer (DRX-inactivity timer), a DRX hybrid automatic retransmission request loopback delay timer (DRX-automatic request-round-trip timer), or a DRX retransmission timer (DRX-retransmission timer) to a terminal device. Wherein, the terminal device needs to monitor the PDCCH during the operation period of the drx-on duration timer, the drx-inactivity timer or the drx-retransmission timer.

In addition to the DRX mechanism, in order to reduce the power consumption of the terminal device, sleep (GTS) signaling is introduced, or may also be referred to as signaling to reduce PDCCH detection. The base station may send go-to-sleep signaling to the terminal device, instructing the terminal device not to monitor the PDCCH for a period of time.

Then, if go-to-sleep signaling is used under the DRX or C-DRX mechanism, the base station sends the go-to-sleep signaling to the terminal device, which indicates that the terminal device is not to monitor the PDCCH, and if the terminal device needs to start a DRX-retransmission timer during the period, the terminal device needs to monitor the PDCCH, which may cause a conflict, which may cause the base station and the terminal device to understand inconsistently, resulting in different behaviors between the base station and the terminal device, and thus causing abnormal communication between the base station and the terminal device.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a discontinuous reception method and equipment, which are used for providing a mechanism for solving conflicts and ensuring that network equipment and terminal equipment can normally communicate as much as possible.

In a first aspect, a first method of discontinuous reception is provided, the method including: the method comprises the steps that terminal equipment receives indication information from network equipment, wherein the indication information is used for indicating that the terminal equipment does not monitor a PDCCH within a first duration; and if the first symbol after the expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is the first symbol in the first time length, the terminal equipment starts a repeat timer at a second symbol which is later than the first symbol.

The method may be performed by a first communication device, which may be a communication apparatus or a communication device, such as a system-on-a-chip, capable of supporting the communication apparatus to implement the functionality required for the method. Illustratively, the communication device is a terminal device.

In this embodiment of the present application, the terminal device does not monitor the PDCCH within the first time duration, and if the first symbol after the expiration time of the HARQ loopback delay timer is the first symbol within the first time duration, that is, the time when the terminal device needs to start the retransmission timer is within the first time duration, the terminal device may delay starting the retransmission timer, so that the timing time duration of the retransmission timer does not change, and for the network device, the time for retransmission scheduling is only delayed, but not reduced. In addition, the terminal device does not immediately start the retransmission timer when the retransmission timer is determined to need to be started, but postpones a period of time, so that the terminal device does not need to monitor the PDCCH during the period from the time when the retransmission timer is originally needed to be started to the time when the retransmission timer is really started, thereby reducing the time for the terminal device to monitor the PDCCH and saving the power consumption of the terminal device. In addition, in the embodiment of the application, the network device and the terminal device have the same understanding on whether the terminal device monitors the PDCCH or not, so that the probability of occurrence of conflict is reduced, the behaviors of the network device and the terminal device are consistent, and normal communication between the network device and the terminal device is ensured.

With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the second symbol is a first symbol after the first time length.

This also corresponds to starting or restarting the retransmission timer immediately after the end of the first duration, so that there is no conflict between the first duration and the running time of the retransmission timer. The technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the application reduces the time for the terminal equipment to monitor the PDCCH, the running time of the retransmission timer is not shortened, and the opportunity of retransmission scheduling of the network equipment is not influenced.

In a second aspect, a second method of discontinuous reception is provided, the method comprising: the network equipment sends indication information to the terminal equipment, wherein the indication information is used for indicating the terminal equipment not to monitor the PDCCH within a first duration; and if the first symbol after the expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is the first symbol in the first time length, the network equipment starts a repeat timer at a second symbol which is later than the first symbol.

The method may be performed by a second communication device, which may be a communication apparatus or a communication device capable of supporting a communication apparatus to implement the functions required by the method, such as a system-on-a-chip. Illustratively, the communication device is a network device.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the second symbol is a first symbol after the first time length.

With regard to the technical effects brought by the second aspect or the various embodiments of the second aspect, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of the first aspect or the various embodiments of the first aspect, and details are not repeated.

In a third aspect, a third method of discontinuous reception is provided, the method comprising: the method comprises the steps that terminal equipment receives indication information from network equipment, wherein the indication information is used for indicating that the terminal equipment does not monitor a PDCCH within a first duration; if the terminal device determines that a first symbol after the expected expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is a first symbol in the first time duration before starting the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer, the terminal device starts the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer at a third symbol which is later than a second symbol, wherein the second symbol is the first symbol after a symbol occupied by HARQ feedback sent to the network device by the terminal device.

The method may be performed by a third communication device, which may be a communication apparatus or a communication device capable of supporting a communication apparatus to implement the functions required by the method, such as a system-on-chip. Illustratively, the communication device is a terminal device.

In this embodiment, the terminal device does not monitor the PDCCH within the first duration, and if the terminal device determines that the first symbol after the expected expiration time of the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer is within the first duration, the terminal device may delay starting the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer, which is equivalent to a time for starting or restarting the retransmission timer. However, the retransmission timer is only delayed in starting or restarting time, but the timing duration is not changed, and for the network device, the opportunity of retransmission scheduling is only delayed but not reduced. In addition, the terminal device does not start the retransmission timer immediately when determining that the retransmission timer needs to be started, but postpones a period of time, so that the time for the terminal device to monitor the PDCCH can be reduced as much as possible, and the power consumption of the terminal device can be saved.

With reference to the third aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the terminal device starts a retransmission timer at a fourth symbol, where the fourth symbol is a first symbol after the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer expires.

The terminal device may start a retransmission timer at the first symbol after the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer expires.

With reference to the third aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the fourth symbol is a first symbol after the first time length.

After the first time length is finished, the terminal device can start or restart the retransmission timer immediately, so that the waste of time is reduced, the timing time length of the retransmission timer is not changed, and for the network device, the opportunity of retransmission scheduling is only delayed but not reduced. In addition, the terminal device does not start the retransmission timer immediately when determining that the retransmission timer needs to be started, but postpones a period of time, so that the time for the terminal device to monitor the PDCCH can be reduced as much as possible, and the power consumption of the terminal device can be saved.

In a fourth aspect, a fourth method of discontinuous reception is provided, the method comprising: the network equipment sends indication information to the terminal equipment, wherein the indication information is used for indicating the terminal equipment not to monitor the PDCCH within a first duration; if the network device determines that a first symbol after the expected expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is a first symbol in the first time duration before starting the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer, the network device starts the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer at a third symbol later than a second symbol, wherein the second symbol is the first symbol after a symbol occupied by HARQ feedback from the terminal device received by the network device.

The method may be performed by a fourth communication device, which may be a communication apparatus or a communication device capable of supporting a communication apparatus to implement the functions required by the method, such as a system-on-chip. Illustratively, the communication device is a network device.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the method further includes: the network device starts a retransmission timer at a fourth symbol, where the fourth symbol is the first symbol after the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer expires.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the fourth symbol is a first symbol after the first time length.

With regard to the technical effects of the fourth aspect or the various embodiments of the fourth aspect, reference may be made to the description of the technical effects of the third aspect or the various embodiments of the third aspect, and details are not repeated.

In a fifth aspect, a fifth method of discontinuous reception is provided, the method comprising: the method comprises the steps that terminal equipment receives indication information from network equipment, wherein the indication information is used for indicating that the terminal equipment does not monitor a PDCCH within a first duration; and if the first symbol after the expected expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is the first symbol in the first time length, the terminal equipment prolongs the timing time length of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer.

The method may be performed by a fifth communication device, which may be a communication apparatus or a communication device capable of supporting a communication apparatus to implement the functions required by the method, such as a system-on-chip. Illustratively, the communication device is a terminal device.

In the embodiment of the application, the terminal device does not monitor the PDCCH within the first time duration, and if the time that the terminal device needs to start the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer is within the first time duration, the terminal device may extend the timing time of the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer, so that the time that the retransmission timer is started or restarted is delayed. However, the retransmission timer is only delayed in starting or restarting time, but the timing duration is not changed, and for the network device, the opportunity of retransmission scheduling is only delayed but not reduced. In addition, the terminal device does not start the retransmission timer immediately when determining that the retransmission timer needs to be started, but postpones a period of time, so that the time for the terminal device to monitor the PDCCH can be reduced as much as possible, and the power consumption of the terminal device can be saved.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in one possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the method further includes: and the terminal equipment starts a retransmission timer at a second symbol, wherein the second symbol is the first symbol after the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer expires.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the second symbol is a first symbol after the first time length.

In a sixth aspect, a sixth method of discontinuous reception is provided, the method comprising: the network equipment sends indication information to the terminal equipment, wherein the indication information is used for indicating the terminal equipment not to monitor the PDCCH within a first duration; and if the first symbol after the expected expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is the first symbol in the first time length, the network equipment prolongs the timing time length of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer.

The method may be performed by a sixth communication apparatus, which may be a communication device or a communication apparatus capable of supporting a communication device to implement the functions required by the method, such as a system-on-chip. Illustratively, the communication device is a network device.

With reference to the sixth aspect, in one possible implementation of the sixth aspect, the method further includes: the network device starts a retransmission timer at a second symbol, wherein the second symbol is a first symbol after the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer expires.

With reference to the sixth aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect, the second symbol is a first symbol after the first time length.

With regard to the technical effects brought by the sixth aspect or the various embodiments of the sixth aspect, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of the fifth aspect or the various embodiments of the fifth aspect, and details are not repeated.

In a seventh aspect, a first communication device is provided, for example, the first communication device as described above. The communication device includes a processor and a transceiver. The processor and the transceiver may be adapted to implement the method described in the first aspect above or in various possible designs of the first aspect. Illustratively, the communication means is a chip provided in the communication device. Illustratively, the communication device is a terminal device. Wherein, the transceiver is implemented by an antenna, a feeder, a codec, etc. in the communication device, for example, or, if the communication device is a chip disposed in the communication device, the transceiver is, for example, a communication interface in the chip, and the communication interface is connected with a radio frequency transceiving component in the communication device to implement transceiving of information by the radio frequency transceiving component. Wherein,

the transceiver is configured to receive indication information from a network device, where the indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device does not monitor the PDCCH within a first duration;

the processor is configured to start a retransmission timer at a second symbol later than the first symbol if a first symbol after an expiration time of a hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is the first symbol within the first duration.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the seventh aspect, the second symbol is a first symbol after the first time length.

With regard to the technical effects brought by the seventh aspect or the various embodiments of the seventh aspect, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of the first aspect or the various embodiments of the first aspect, and details are not repeated.

In an eighth aspect, a second communication device is provided, for example, the second communication device as described above. The communication device includes a processor and a transceiver. The processor and transceiver may be used to implement the methods described above for the second aspect or for the various possible designs of the second aspect. Illustratively, the communication means is a chip provided in the communication device. Illustratively, the communication device is a network device. Wherein, the transceiver is implemented by an antenna, a feeder, a codec, etc. in the communication device, for example, or, if the communication device is a chip disposed in the communication device, the transceiver is, for example, a communication interface in the chip, and the communication interface is connected with a radio frequency transceiving component in the communication device to implement transceiving of information by the radio frequency transceiving component. Wherein,

the transceiver is used for sending indication information to the terminal equipment, wherein the indication information is used for indicating the terminal equipment not to monitor the PDCCH within a first time length;

With reference to the eighth aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the eighth aspect, the second symbol is a first symbol after the first time length.

With regard to the technical effects brought by the eighth aspect or the various embodiments of the eighth aspect, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of the second aspect or the various embodiments of the second aspect, and details are not repeated.

In a ninth aspect, a third communication device is provided, for example a third communication device as described above. The communication device includes a processor and a transceiver. The processor and transceiver may be adapted to implement the methods described in the third aspect or the various possible designs of the third aspect described above. Illustratively, the communication means is a chip provided in the communication device. Illustratively, the communication device is a terminal device. Wherein, the transceiver is implemented by an antenna, a feeder, a codec, etc. in the communication device, for example, or, if the communication device is a chip disposed in the communication device, the transceiver is, for example, a communication interface in the chip, and the communication interface is connected with a radio frequency transceiving component in the communication device to implement transceiving of information by the radio frequency transceiving component. Wherein,

the processor is configured to start the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer at a third symbol later than a second symbol if the first symbol after the expected expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is determined to be the first symbol within the first time duration before the terminal device starts the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer, where the second symbol is the first symbol after a symbol occupied by HARQ feedback sent by the terminal device to the network device.

With reference to the ninth aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the ninth aspect, the processor is further configured to start a retransmission timer at a fourth symbol, where the fourth symbol is a first symbol after the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer expires.

With reference to the ninth aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the ninth aspect, the fourth symbol is a first symbol after the first time length.

With regard to the technical effects of the ninth aspect or the various embodiments of the ninth aspect, reference may be made to the description of the technical effects of the third aspect or the various embodiments of the third aspect, and details are not repeated.

A tenth aspect provides a fourth communication device, for example, the fourth communication device as described above. The communication device includes a processor and a transceiver. The processor and transceiver may be adapted to implement the methods described in the fourth aspect or the various possible designs of the fourth aspect described above. Illustratively, the communication means is a chip provided in the communication device. Illustratively, the communication device is a network device. Wherein, the transceiver is implemented by an antenna, a feeder, a codec, etc. in the communication device, for example, or, if the communication device is a chip disposed in the communication device, the transceiver is, for example, a communication interface in the chip, and the communication interface is connected with a radio frequency transceiving component in the communication device to implement transceiving of information by the radio frequency transceiving component. Wherein,

the processor is configured to start the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer at a third symbol later than a second symbol if it is determined that a first symbol after an expected expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is the first symbol within the first time duration before the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is started, where the second symbol is the first symbol after a symbol occupied by HARQ feedback from the terminal device received by the network device.

With reference to the tenth aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the tenth aspect, the processor is further configured to start a retransmission timer at a fourth symbol, where the fourth symbol is a first symbol after the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer expires.

With reference to the tenth aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the tenth aspect, the fourth symbol is a first symbol after the first duration.

With regard to the technical effects brought by the tenth aspect or the various embodiments of the tenth aspect, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of the fourth aspect or the various embodiments of the fourth aspect, and details are not repeated.

In an eleventh aspect, a fifth communication device is provided, for example, the fourth communication device as described above. The communication device includes a processor and a transceiver. The processor and transceiver may be adapted to implement the methods described in the fourth aspect or the various possible designs of the fourth aspect described above. Illustratively, the communication means is a chip provided in the communication device. Illustratively, the communication device is a terminal device. Wherein, the transceiver is implemented by an antenna, a feeder, a codec, etc. in the communication device, for example, or, if the communication device is a chip disposed in the communication device, the transceiver is, for example, a communication interface in the chip, and the communication interface is connected with a radio frequency transceiving component in the communication device to implement transceiving of information by the radio frequency transceiving component. Wherein,

the processor is configured to extend the timing duration of the harq loopback delay timer if a first symbol after the expected expiration time of the harq loopback delay timer is a first symbol within the first duration.

With reference to the eleventh aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the eleventh aspect, the processor is further configured to start a retransmission timer at a second symbol, where the second symbol is a first symbol after the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer expires.

With reference to the eleventh aspect, in one possible implementation manner of the eleventh aspect, the second symbol is a first symbol after the first time length.

With regard to the technical effects brought by the various embodiments of the eleventh aspect or the eleventh aspect, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of the various embodiments of the fifth aspect or the fifth aspect, and details are not repeated.

In a twelfth aspect, a sixth communication device is provided, for example, the sixth communication device as described above. The communication device includes a processor and a transceiver. The processor and transceiver may be adapted to implement the methods described in the above sixth aspect or the various possible designs of the sixth aspect. Illustratively, the communication means is a chip provided in the communication device. Illustratively, the communication device is a network device. Wherein, the transceiver is implemented by an antenna, a feeder, a codec, etc. in the communication device, for example, or, if the communication device is a chip disposed in the communication device, the transceiver is, for example, a communication interface in the chip, and the communication interface is connected with a radio frequency transceiving component in the communication device to implement transceiving of information by the radio frequency transceiving component. Wherein,

With reference to the twelfth aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the twelfth aspect, the processor is further configured to start a retransmission timer at a second symbol, where the second symbol is a first symbol after the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer expires.

With reference to the twelfth aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the twelfth aspect, the second symbol is a first symbol after the first time length.

With regard to the technical effects brought by the twelfth aspect or the various embodiments of the twelfth aspect, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of the sixth aspect or the various embodiments of the sixth aspect, and details are not repeated.

In a thirteenth aspect, a seventh communication device is provided, for example, the communication device is the first communication device as described above. The communication device is configured to perform the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect. In particular, the communication device may comprise means for performing the method of the first aspect or any of its possible implementations, for example comprising a processing means and a transceiver means coupled to each other. Illustratively, the communication device is a communication apparatus. Illustratively, the communication device is a terminal device. Wherein,

the receiving and sending module is configured to receive indication information from a network device, where the indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device does not monitor the PDCCH within a first duration;

the processing module is configured to start a retransmission timer at a second symbol later than the first symbol if a first symbol after an expiration time of a hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is the first symbol within the first time duration.

With reference to the thirteenth aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the thirteenth aspect, the second symbol is a first symbol after the first time length.

With regard to the technical effects brought by the thirteenth aspect or the various embodiments of the thirteenth aspect, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of the first aspect or the various embodiments of the first aspect, and details are not repeated.

In a fourteenth aspect, an eighth communication device is provided, for example, the communication device is the second communication device as described above. The communication device is configured to perform the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation manner of the second aspect. In particular, the communication device may comprise means for performing the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation manner of the second aspect, for example comprising a processing means and a transceiver means coupled to each other. Illustratively, the communication device is a communication apparatus. Illustratively, the communication device is a network device. Wherein,

the receiving and sending module is used for sending indication information to the terminal equipment, wherein the indication information is used for indicating the terminal equipment not to monitor the PDCCH within a first time length;

With reference to the fourteenth aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the fourteenth aspect, the second symbol is a first symbol after the first time length.

With regard to the technical effects brought by the fourteenth aspect or the various embodiments of the fourteenth aspect, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of the second aspect or the various embodiments of the second aspect, and details are not repeated.

A fifteenth aspect provides a ninth communications device, for example a third communications device as described above. The communication device is configured to perform the method of the third aspect or any possible implementation manner of the third aspect. In particular, the communication device may comprise means for performing the method of the third aspect or any possible implementation manner of the third aspect, for example comprising a processing means and a transceiver means coupled to each other. Illustratively, the communication device is a communication apparatus. Illustratively, the communication device is a terminal device. Wherein,

the processing module is configured to, if it is determined that a first symbol after an expected expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is a first symbol within the first time duration before the terminal device starts the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer, start the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer at a third symbol that is later than a second symbol, where the second symbol is the first symbol after a symbol occupied by HARQ feedback sent by the terminal device to the network device.

With reference to the fifteenth aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the fifteenth aspect, the processing module is further configured to start a retransmission timer at a fourth symbol, where the fourth symbol is a first symbol after the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer expires.

With reference to the fifteenth aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the fifteenth aspect, the fourth symbol is a first symbol after the first time length.

With regard to the technical effects brought by the embodiments of the fifteenth aspect or the fifteenth aspect, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of the embodiments of the third aspect or the third aspect, and details are not repeated.

A sixteenth aspect provides a tenth communication device, for example, a fourth communication device as described above. The communication device is configured to perform the method of the fourth aspect or any possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect. In particular, the communication device may comprise means for performing the method of the fourth aspect or any possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, for example comprising a processing means and a transceiver means coupled to each other. Illustratively, the communication device is a communication apparatus. Illustratively, the communication device is a network device. Wherein,

the processing module is configured to start the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer at a third symbol later than a second symbol if a first symbol after an expected expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is determined to be the first symbol within the first time duration before the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is started, where the second symbol is the first symbol after a symbol occupied by HARQ feedback from the terminal device received by the network device.

With reference to the sixteenth aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the sixteenth aspect, the processing module is further configured to start a retransmission timer at a fourth symbol, where the fourth symbol is a first symbol after the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer expires.

With reference to the sixteenth aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the sixteenth aspect, the fourth symbol is a first symbol after the first time length.

With regard to the technical effects brought by the various embodiments of the sixteenth aspect or the sixteenth aspect, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of the various embodiments of the fourth aspect or the fourth aspect, and details are not repeated.

A seventeenth aspect provides an eleventh communication device, for example, the communication device is the fifth communication device as described above. The communication device is configured to perform the method of the fifth aspect or any possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect. In particular, the communication device may comprise means for performing the method of the fifth aspect or any possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, for example comprising a processing means and a transceiver means coupled to each other. Illustratively, the communication device is a communication apparatus. Illustratively, the communication device is a terminal device. Wherein,

the processing module is configured to, if a first symbol after the expected expiration time of the harq loopback delay timer is a first symbol within the first time duration, extend the timing time duration of the harq loopback delay timer.

With reference to the seventeenth aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the seventeenth aspect, the processing module is further configured to start a retransmission timer at a second symbol, where the second symbol is a first symbol after the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer expires.

With reference to the seventeenth aspect, in one possible implementation of the seventeenth aspect, the second symbol is a first symbol after the first time length.

With regard to the technical effects brought by the various embodiments of the seventeenth aspect or the seventeenth aspect, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of the various embodiments of the fifth aspect or the fifth aspect, and the description is omitted for brevity.

Eighteenth, a twelfth communication device is provided, for example, the communication device is the sixth communication device as described above. The communication device is configured to perform the method of the sixth aspect or any possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect. In particular, the communication device may comprise means for performing the method of the sixth aspect or any possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect, for example comprising a processing means and a transceiver means coupled to each other. Illustratively, the communication device is a communication apparatus. Illustratively, the communication device is a network device. Wherein,

With reference to the eighteenth aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the eighteenth aspect, the processing module is further configured to start a retransmission timer at a second symbol, where the second symbol is a first symbol after the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer expires.

With reference to the eighteenth aspect, in a possible implementation manner of the eighteenth aspect, the second symbol is a first symbol after the first time length.

With regard to the technical effects brought by the eighteenth aspect or the various embodiments of the eighteenth aspect, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of the various embodiments of the sixth aspect or the sixth aspect, which is not repeated herein.

In a nineteenth aspect, a thirteenth communications device is provided. The communication device may be the first communication device in the above method design. Illustratively, the communication means is a chip provided in the communication device. Illustratively, the communication device is a terminal device. The communication device includes: a memory for storing computer executable program code; and a processor coupled with the memory. Wherein the program code stored by the memory comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the thirteenth communication device to perform the method of the first aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect.

Wherein, the thirteenth communication device may further include a communication interface, which may be a transceiver in the terminal equipment, for example, implemented by an antenna, a feeder, a codec, etc. in the communication device, or, if the thirteenth communication device is a chip disposed in the terminal equipment, the communication interface may be an input/output interface of the chip, for example, an input/output pin, etc.

A twentieth aspect provides a fourteenth communications apparatus. The communication device may be the second communication device in the above method design. Illustratively, the communication means is a chip provided in the communication device. Illustratively, the communication device is a network device. The communication device includes: a memory for storing computer executable program code; and a processor coupled with the memory. Wherein the program code stored by the memory comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the fourteenth communication device to perform the method of the second aspect or any one of the possible embodiments of the second aspect.

Wherein, the fourteenth communication device may further include a communication interface, and the communication interface may be a transceiver in the network device, for example, implemented by an antenna, a feeder line, a codec, and the like in the communication device, or, if the fourteenth communication device is a chip disposed in the network device, the communication interface may be an input/output interface of the chip, for example, an input/output pin, and the like.

In a twenty-first aspect, a fifteenth communications apparatus is provided. The communication device may be the third communication device in the above method design. Illustratively, the communication means is a chip provided in the communication device. Illustratively, the communication device is a terminal device. The communication device includes: a memory for storing computer executable program code; and a processor coupled with the memory. Wherein the program code stored by the memory comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the fifteenth communication device to perform the method of the third aspect or any one of the possible embodiments of the third aspect.

Wherein, the fifteenth communication device may further include a communication interface, which may be a transceiver in the terminal equipment, for example, implemented by an antenna, a feeder, a codec, and the like in the communication device, or, if the fifteenth communication device is a chip disposed in the terminal equipment, the communication interface may be an input/output interface of the chip, for example, an input/output pin, and the like.

In a twenty-second aspect, a sixteenth communication device is provided. The communication device may be the fourth communication device in the above method design. Illustratively, the communication means is a chip provided in the communication device. Illustratively, the communication device is a network device. The communication device includes: a memory for storing computer executable program code; and a processor coupled with the memory. Wherein the program code stored by the memory comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the sixteenth communication device to perform the method of the fourth aspect or any one of the possible embodiments of the fourth aspect.

Wherein, the sixteenth communication device may further include a communication interface, and the communication interface may be a transceiver in the network device, for example, implemented by an antenna, a feeder, a codec, and the like in the communication device, or, if the sixteenth communication device is a chip disposed in the network device, the communication interface may be an input/output interface of the chip, for example, an input/output pin, and the like.

A twenty-third aspect provides a seventeenth communications device. The communication device may be the fifth communication device in the above method design. Illustratively, the communication means is a chip provided in the communication device. Illustratively, the communication device is a terminal device. The communication device includes: a memory for storing computer executable program code; and a processor coupled with the memory. Wherein the program code stored by the memory comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the seventeenth communication device to perform the method of any one of the possible embodiments of the fifth aspect or the fifth aspect described above.

Wherein, the seventeenth communication device may further include a communication interface, which may be a transceiver in the terminal equipment, for example, implemented by an antenna, a feeder, a codec, and the like in the communication device, or, if the seventeenth communication device is a chip disposed in the terminal equipment, the communication interface may be an input/output interface of the chip, for example, an input/output pin, and the like.

A twenty-fourth aspect provides an eighteenth communication device. The communication device may be the sixth communication device in the above method design. Illustratively, the communication means is a chip provided in the communication device. Illustratively, the communication device is a network device. The communication device includes: a memory for storing computer executable program code; and a processor coupled with the memory. Wherein the program code stored by the memory comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the eighteenth communication device to perform the method of the sixth aspect or any one of the possible embodiments of the sixth aspect.

Wherein, the eighteenth kind of communication device may further include a communication interface, which may be a transceiver in the network device, for example, implemented by an antenna, a feeder, a codec, etc. in the communication device, or, if the eighteenth kind of communication device is a chip disposed in the network device, the communication interface may be an input/output interface of the chip, for example, an input/output pin, etc.

A twenty-fifth aspect provides a first communication system, which may include the first communication apparatus of the seventh aspect, the seventh communication apparatus of the thirteenth aspect, or the thirteenth communication apparatus of the nineteenth aspect, and include the second communication apparatus of the eighth aspect, the eighth communication apparatus of the fourteenth aspect, or the fourteenth communication apparatus of the twentieth aspect.

A twenty-sixth aspect provides a second communication system, which may include the third communication apparatus of the ninth aspect, the ninth communication apparatus of the fifteenth aspect, or the fifteenth communication apparatus of the twentieth aspect, and include the fourth communication apparatus of the tenth aspect, the tenth communication apparatus of the sixteenth aspect, or the sixteenth communication apparatus of the twenty-second aspect.

A twenty-seventh aspect provides a third communication system, which may include the fifth communication apparatus of the eleventh aspect, the eleventh communication apparatus of the seventeenth aspect, or the seventeenth communication apparatus of the twenty-fourth aspect, and include the sixth communication apparatus of the twelfth aspect, the twelfth communication apparatus of the eighteenth aspect, or the eighteenth communication apparatus of the twenty-fourth aspect.

The first communication system, the second communication system, and the third communication system may be the same communication system, or may be different communication systems, or any two of them may be one communication system and the other is different communication system, for example, the first communication system and the second communication system are the same communication system, and the third communication system is another communication system.

A twenty-eighth aspect provides a computer storage medium having stored therein instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as set forth in the above first aspect or any one of the possible designs of the first aspect.

A twenty-ninth aspect provides a computer storage medium having stored therein instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as set forth in the second aspect or any one of the possible designs of the second aspect.

A thirty-first aspect provides a computer storage medium having stored therein instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as set forth in the third aspect or any one of the possible designs of the third aspect.

In a thirty-first aspect, there is provided a computer storage medium having stored therein instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the fourth aspect or any one of the possible designs of the fourth aspect.

A thirty-second aspect provides a computer storage medium having stored therein instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as set forth in the fifth aspect or any one of the possible designs of the fifth aspect.

A thirty-third aspect provides a computer storage medium having stored therein instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as set forth in the sixth aspect or any one of the possible designs of the sixth aspect.

In a thirty-fourth aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising instructions stored thereon, which when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the first aspect or any one of the possible designs of the first aspect.

A thirty-fifth aspect provides a computer program product comprising instructions stored thereon, which when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as set forth in the second aspect or any one of the possible designs of the second aspect.

A thirty-sixth aspect provides a computer program product comprising instructions stored thereon which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the third aspect or any one of the possible designs of the third aspect.

A thirty-seventh aspect provides a computer program product comprising instructions stored thereon, which when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the fourth aspect or any one of the possible designs of the fourth aspect.

In a thirty-eighth aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising instructions stored thereon, which when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the fifth aspect or any one of the possible designs of the fifth aspect.

In a thirty-ninth aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising instructions stored thereon, which when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the sixth aspect or any one of the possible designs of the sixth aspect.

In this embodiment of the present application, if the time that the terminal device needs to start the retransmission timer is within the first time duration, the terminal device may delay starting the retransmission timer, so that the timing duration of the retransmission timer does not change, and for the network device, the time of the retransmission scheduling is only delayed, but not reduced. In addition, the terminal device does not start the retransmission timer immediately when determining that the retransmission timer needs to be started, but postpones a period of time, so that the time for the terminal device to monitor the PDCCH can be reduced as much as possible, and the power consumption of the terminal device can be saved.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a C-DRX cycle;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a C-DRX process, as an example of downlink transmission;

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of go-to-sleep signaling indicating a time period;

FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram of go-to-sleep signaling indicating another time period;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a first conflict resolution contemplated by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a second conflict resolution contemplated by an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a schematic view of an application scenario according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a flowchart of a first method for discontinuous reception according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a process of a first discontinuous reception method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 9 is a flowchart of a second method for discontinuous reception according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 10 is a flowchart of a third method for discontinuous reception according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus capable of implementing functions of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus capable of implementing functions of a network device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus capable of implementing functions of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 14 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus capable of implementing functions of a network device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 15 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus capable of implementing functions of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 16 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus capable of implementing functions of a network device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 17A to 17B are schematic diagrams of two structures of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the embodiments of the present application will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, some terms in the embodiments of the present application are explained to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

1) Terminal equipment, including devices that provide voice and/or data connectivity to a user, may include, for example, handheld devices with wireless connection capability or processing devices connected to wireless modems. The terminal device may communicate with a core network via a Radio Access Network (RAN), exchanging voice and/or data with the RAN. The terminal device may include a User Equipment (UE), a wireless terminal device, a mobile terminal device, a device-to-device communication (D2D) terminal device, a vehicle-to-all (V2X) terminal device, a machine-to-machine/machine-type communication (M2M/MTC) terminal device, an internet of things (IoT) terminal device, a subscriber unit (subscriber unit), a subscriber station (subscriber station), a mobile station (mobile station), a remote station (remote station), an access point (access point, AP), a remote terminal (remote), an access terminal (user), a user terminal (user agent), or a user equipment (user), etc. For example, mobile telephones (or so-called "cellular" telephones), computers with mobile terminal equipment, portable, pocket, hand-held, computer-included mobile devices, and the like may be included. For example, Personal Communication Service (PCS) phones, cordless phones, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phones, Wireless Local Loop (WLL) stations, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and the like. Also included are constrained devices, such as devices that consume less power, or devices that have limited storage capabilities, or devices that have limited computing capabilities, etc. Examples of information sensing devices include bar codes, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), sensors, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), laser scanners, and the like.

By way of example and not limitation, in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device may also be a wearable device. Wearable equipment can also be called wearable smart device or intelligent wearable equipment etc. is the general term of using wearable technique to carry out intelligent design, develop the equipment that can dress to daily wearing, like glasses, gloves, wrist-watch, dress and shoes etc.. A wearable device is a portable device that is worn directly on the body or integrated into the clothing or accessories of the user. The wearable device is not only a hardware device, but also realizes powerful functions through software support, data interaction and cloud interaction. The generalized wearable smart device includes full functionality, large size, and can implement full or partial functionality without relying on a smart phone, such as:

smart watches or smart glasses and the like, and only focus on a certain type of application functions, and need to be used in cooperation with other devices such as smart phones, such as various smart bracelets, smart helmets, smart jewelry and the like for monitoring physical signs.

The various terminal devices described above, if located on a vehicle (e.g., placed in or installed in the vehicle), may be considered to be vehicle-mounted terminal devices, which are also referred to as on-board units (OBUs), for example.

2) Network equipment, for example, including Access Network (AN) equipment, such as a base station (e.g., AN access point), may refer to equipment in AN access network that communicates with wireless terminal equipment over one or more cells over AN air interface, or access network equipment in one type of V2X technology is a Road Side Unit (RSU), for example. The base station may be configured to interconvert received air frames and Internet Protocol (IP) packets as a router between the terminal device and the rest of the access network, which may include an IP network. The RSU may be a fixed infrastructure entity supporting the V2X application and may exchange messages with other entities supporting the V2X application. The access network device may also coordinate attribute management for the air interface. For example, the access network device may include an evolved Node B (NodeB) or eNB or e-NodeB in an LTE system or an LTE-a (long term evolution-advanced), or may also include a next generation Node B (gNB) in a New Radio (NR) system of the 5th generation mobile communication technology (5G), or may also include a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU) in a cloud access network (cloud access network) system, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

Of course, the network device may also include a core network device, but since the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application mainly relates to an access network device, hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the "network device" described hereinafter refers to the access network device.

3) And DRX, under a DRX mechanism, the terminal equipment can periodically enter a sleep state without monitoring a PDCCH. The implementation mechanism of DRX in three states of Radio Resource Control (RRC) _ IDLE (IDLE), RRC _ INACTIVE (INACTIVE), and RRC _ CONNECTED (CONNECTED) is different. Here, DRX in RRC _ IDLE and RRC _ INACTIVE states is alternatively referred to as IDLE DRX, and in IDLE DRX, the terminal device mainly monitors paging, and the terminal device monitors a paging occasion (paging occasion) in one DRX cycle (DRX cycle). If the terminal equipment has service data transmission, the terminal equipment needs to enter an RRC _ CONNECTED state from an RRC _ IDLE state or an RRC _ INACTIVE state.

With respect to DRX in RRC _ IDLE and RRC _ INACTIVE states, the DRX mechanism in the CONNECTED state (RRC _ CONNECTED) is complicated. With respect to C-DRX, it will be described later.

4) "at least one" means one or more, "a plurality" means two or more. "and/or" describes the association relationship of the associated objects, meaning that there may be three relationships, e.g., a and/or B, which may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone, wherein A and B can be singular or plural. The character "/" generally indicates that the former and latter associated objects are in an "or" relationship. "at least one of the following" or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of the singular or plural items. For example, at least one (one) of a, b, or c, may represent: a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, or a-b-c, wherein a, b, c may be single or multiple.

And, unless stated to the contrary, the embodiments of the present application refer to the ordinal numbers "first", "second", etc., for distinguishing a plurality of objects, and do not limit the sequence, timing, priority, or importance of the plurality of objects. For example, the first information and the second information are only for distinguishing different signaling, and do not indicate the difference in content, priority, transmission order, importance, or the like of the two information.

Having described some of the concepts related to the embodiments of the present application, the following describes features of the embodiments of the present application.

In communication systems, power consumption of terminal devices is an important aspect of the user experience. The third generation partnership project (3 GPP) version (release)16 proposes to optimize the power consumption of the terminal device under the NR system. One of the factors causing the waste of power consumption of the terminal device is PDCCH-empty detection (PDCCH-only). One of the functions of the PDCCH is to carry scheduling information of Downlink (DL) or Uplink (UL) data, for example, DL, a terminal device needs to blindly detect or monitor the PDCCH to obtain the scheduling information, and if the PDCCH is detected to have the scheduling information, the terminal device receives data sent by a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) according to the scheduling information. In many cases, the base station does not continue to have data to send to the terminal device, but the terminal device periodically detects the PDCCH even though the base station does not have data to send to the terminal device. However, the base station does not transmit data, so the terminal device does not detect the PDCCH, which is called PDCCH null detection, and the PDCCH null detection occupies a large part of power consumption of the terminal device. Therefore, it is desirable that the NR system can reduce power consumption of the terminal device from this aspect so that the terminal device can be in a power saving state when there is no data transmission, for example, the terminal device may not need to monitor the PDCCH.

To reduce the power consumption of the terminal device, one solution is to use a DRX mechanism. In the DRX mode, the terminal device periodically turns on/off the receiver to detect the PDCCH, thereby reducing power consumption of the terminal device. Referring to fig. 1, a diagram of a C-DRX cycle is shown. One DRX cycle includes a period of one on duration, i.e., the duration period shown in fig. 1. During the duration period, the terminal device needs to monitor the PDCCH. And one DRX cycle also includes possible sleep time, such as the DRX opportunity (opportunity for DRX) in fig. 1 represents the sleep time of the terminal device. Alternatively, "sleep" may be referred to as "stop" or "sleep", and the opportunity for DRX may be referred to as a non-active time (non-active time), and the like, and specific names are not limited. Also included in figure 1 are a DRX start offset (DRX-start offset) and a DRX slot offset (DRX-slot offset). Wherein the DRX start offset is used to determine the subframe where the DRX cycle starts, and the DRX slot offset represents the delay time before starting the DRX-on duration timer. It can be understood that, taking the long DRXcycle as an example, if the formula [ (SFN × 10) + subframe number (subframe number) ] module (drx-long cycle) ═ drx-start offset is satisfied, the terminal device starts the drx-on duration timer after the beginning subframe passes through drx-slot offset slots. Wherein modulo denotes a modulo operation.

For example, the base station may configure parameters (parameters) such as a DRX cycle, a DRX-on duration timer, a DRX-inactivity timer, a HARQ-RTT-timer, and a DRX-retransmission timer to the terminal device through RRC signaling. For an explanation of these parameters, reference may be made to table 1. The terminal device needs to monitor the PDCCH during the running time of each of the drx-on duration timer, drx-inactivity timer, and drx-retransmission timer, so the running time of these timers can be collectively referred to as active time (active time).

TABLE 1

It can be seen that the DRX cycle can be selected from a long cycle and a short cycle, and when the base station configures the DRX parameters for the terminal device, the base station needs to configure the long cycle, and optionally, the base station can also configure the short cycle.

The following describes the procedure of C-DRX by taking downlink transmission as an example, and refer to fig. 2.

After entering one DRX cycle, the terminal device starts to monitor the PDCCH for the on duration period. If the terminal device does not detect the PDCCH within the on duration period, the terminal device enters a sleep state after the on duration period is ended, and the terminal device does not monitor the PDCCH in the sleep state. Or, if the terminal device detects the PDCCH and the PDCCH is used for scheduling newly transmitted data in the on duration period, the terminal device starts or restarts the drx-inactivity timer, that is, the drx-inactivity timer is started (or restarted) once every time the terminal device detects the initial transmission schedule, and the terminal device will be in the active state until the drx-inactivity timer times out. The terminal device continuously monitors the PDCCH during the running time of the drx-inactivity timer. The terminal device receives the PDSCH according to the monitored scheduling information of the PDCCH, after receiving the PDSCH, the terminal device sends HARQ response (HARQ-ACK) information to the base station, and after the HARQ-ACK feedback is completed, the terminal device starts drx-HARQ-RTT-timer dl of a corresponding process, for example, drx-HARQ-RTT-timer dl #1 is started, where #1 represents a HARQ process number. If the terminal device does not correctly receive the PDSCH of the corresponding HARQ process, the terminal device may start a drx-retransmission timer dl of the corresponding process, e.g. drx-retransmission timer dl #1, at the first symbol after drx-HARQ-RTT-timer dl timeout, or understood as the first symbol after drx-HARQ-RTT-timer dl expires. The terminal device continuously monitors the PDCCH during the run time of drx-retransmission timer dl. In the running time of drx-retransmission timer dl, if the terminal device detects that the PDCCH indicates downlink scheduling, the terminal device stops drx-retransmission timer dl. In addition, if the PDCCH detected by the terminal device is a PDCCH for scheduling newly transmitted data, the terminal device may also start or restart a drx-inactivity timer, and if the PDCCH detected by the terminal device is a PDCCH for scheduling retransmitted data, the terminal device may not start or restart the drx-inactivity timer.

The process of uplink transmission and the process of downlink transmission are similar, except that the starting time of drx-HARQ-RTT-timer ul is the first symbol after the first repetition of PUSCH, and the starting time of drx-retransmission timer ul is the first symbol after drx-HARQ-RTT-timer ul expires. And when the terminal equipment detects that the PDCCH indicates uplink scheduling, terminating drx-retransmission TimerUL of the corresponding process.

In addition, another scheme for reducing the power consumption of the terminal device is to introduce go-to-sleep signaling, or the signaling may also be referred to as signaling for reducing PDCCH detection. For example, the base station may indicate that the terminal device does not monitor the PDCCH for a period of time by using information such as RRC signaling, media access control element (MAC CE) or Downlink Control Information (DCI) to carry go-to-sleep signaling. The time that the terminal device indicated by the go-to-sleep signaling does not monitor the PDCCH may be a short time, for example, several slots, and the terminal device may wake up to monitor the PDCCH before the active time ends, or the go-to-sleep signaling may indicate that the terminal device does not monitor the PDCCH until the start time of the next DRX cycle.

For example, referring to fig. 3A, a schematic diagram of indicating a time period for go-to-sleep signaling is shown. The go-to-sleep signaling is used to instruct the terminal device not to monitor the PDCCH for a period of time, and the GTS in fig. 3A represents the period of time indicated by the go-to-sleep signaling in which the PDCCH is not monitored. In fig. 3A, the end time of the GTS is within the active time of the terminal device, and after the GTS is ended, the terminal device may still continue to monitor the PDCCH.

For another example, please refer to fig. 3B, which is a schematic diagram illustrating another time period for go-to-sleep signaling. The GTS in fig. 3B also represents the time period during which the PDCCH is not monitored as indicated by go-to-sleep signaling. In fig. 3B, the end time of the GTS is the start time of the next DRX cycle. The terminal device may enter the next DRX cycle after the GTS is finished.

For example, the base station may send go-to-sleep signaling if it believes there is no data to transmit. However, if downlink data retransmission occurs, the terminal device needs to start drx-retransmission timer dl, or if the terminal device transmits PUSCH to the base station, the terminal device needs to start drx-retransmission timer ul. During the run time of drx-retransmission timertdl or drx-retransmission timertul, the terminal device needs to monitor the PDCCH. However, if the terminal device needs to start the drx-retransmission timer in the GTS time period, since the terminal device does not need to monitor the PDCCH in the GTS time period, a collision is caused, so that the base station and the terminal device may not understand whether the terminal device monitors the PDCCH, and the base station and the terminal device perform different behaviors, thereby causing the base station and the terminal device to be unable to communicate normally.

For this reason, two possible conflict resolution approaches are considered.

1. The first conflict resolution approach.

And if the go-to-sleep signaling and the C-DRX mechanism are simultaneously applied and the terminal equipment needs to start a DRX-retransmission timer in the GTS time period, the time window of the GTS is ended in advance. Wherein, the drx-retransmission timer may include drx-retransmission timer DL or drx-retransmission timer UL.

Referring to fig. 4, even though the GTS period has not ended, once the drx-retransmission timer is started, the terminal device wakes up to monitor the PDCCH, and thus may be regarded as the GTS period ended early. The area in fig. 4 where the diagonal lines are drawn is the time when the terminal device wakes up in advance with respect to the normal GTS period.

As shown in fig. 4, if the time period of the normal GTS is followed, the terminal equipment of the area that is diagonally drawn does not need to wake up. However, since the terminal device wakes up in advance, the terminal device needs to monitor more time indicated by the hatched area, that is, the time for the terminal device to monitor the PDCCH becomes longer. In particular, if the last data packet is retransmitted and no other newly transmitted data can be scheduled, the terminal device needs to monitor the PDCCH for the drx-retransmission timer period until the PDCCH is monitored, which is relatively large power consumption for the terminal device.

2. Second conflict resolution.

If go-to-sleep signaling and C-DRX mechanism are simultaneously applied and the terminal equipment needs to start a DRX-retransmission timer in a GTS time period, the terminal equipment normally starts the DRX-retransmission timer, but the terminal equipment starts monitoring the PDCCH after the GTS time period is over.

For this, referring to fig. 5, the terminal device starts the drx-retransmission timer in the GTS period, but the terminal device does not monitor the PDCCH in the overlapping time of the GTS and drx-retransmission timers until the terminal device monitors the PDCCH after the GTS period is over. The hatched area in fig. 5 indicates the time when the GTS and the drx-transmission timer overlap, during which time the terminal device does not monitor the PDCCH.

In the second conflict resolution mode, the effective drx-retransmission timer duration is shortened, and the time for the terminal equipment to monitor the PDCCH is shortened, thereby reducing the opportunity for the base station to schedule retransmission.

From the above analysis, both conflict resolution methods have corresponding drawbacks.

In view of this, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application are provided. In this embodiment of the present application, the terminal device determines not to monitor the PDCCH within the first time duration, and if a first symbol after an expiration time of the HARQ loopback delay timer is the first symbol within the first time duration, that is, a time when the terminal device needs to start the retransmission timer is within the first time duration, the terminal device may delay starting the retransmission timer, so that a timing time duration of the retransmission timer does not change, and for the network device, a time of retransmission scheduling is only delayed, but not reduced. In addition, the terminal device does not start the retransmission timer immediately when determining that the retransmission timer needs to be started, but postpones for a while, so that the time for the terminal device to monitor the PDCCH can be reduced as much as possible, and the time of the retransmission timer is covered in the time of an inactivity timer or a drx-on duration timer after the GTS is finished as much as possible, so as to save the power consumption of the terminal device. In addition, in the embodiment of the application, the network device and the terminal device have the same understanding on whether the terminal device monitors the PDCCH or not, so that the probability of occurrence of conflict is reduced, the behaviors of the network device and the terminal device are consistent, and normal communication between the network device and the terminal device is ensured.

The technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application may be applied to a fourth generation mobile communication technology (4G) 4G system, such as an LTE system, or may be applied to a 5G system, such as an NR system, or may also be applied to a next generation mobile communication system or other similar communication systems, which is not limited specifically.

A network architecture applied in the embodiment of the present application is described below, please refer to fig. 6.

Fig. 6 includes a network device and a terminal device, and the terminal device is connected to one network device. Of course, the number of terminal devices in fig. 6 is only an example, and in practical applications, the network device may provide services for a plurality of terminal devices. Each terminal device in a part of the plurality of terminal devices or all of the plurality of terminal devices may implement the technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present application. In addition, the terminal device in fig. 6 is a mobile phone as an example, but is not limited to this in practical application.

The network device in fig. 6 is, for example, an access network device, such as a base station, or may also be a device such as an RSU. Wherein the base stations correspond to different devices in different systems, e.g. in fourth generation mobile communications technology (the 4)^thgeneration, 4G) system may correspond to an eNB, and a 5G system may correspond to a gNB. Of course, the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application may also be applied to a future mobile communication system, and therefore, the network device in fig. 6 may also correspond to an access network device in the future mobile communication system.

The technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the application is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The embodiment of the present application provides a first method of discontinuous reception, please refer to fig. 7, which is a flowchart of the method. In the following description, the method is applied to the network architecture shown in fig. 6 as an example. In addition, the method may be performed by two communication apparatuses, for example, a first communication apparatus and a second communication apparatus, where the first communication apparatus may be a network device or a communication apparatus capable of supporting the network device to implement the functions required by the method, or the first communication apparatus may be a terminal device or a communication apparatus capable of supporting the terminal device to implement the functions required by the method, and may of course be other communication apparatuses such as a system on chip. The same applies to the second communication apparatus, which may be a network device or a communication apparatus capable of supporting the network device to implement the functions required by the method, or a terminal device or a communication apparatus capable of supporting the terminal device to implement the functions required by the method, and of course, other communication apparatuses such as a system on a chip may also be used. The implementation manners of the first communication device and the second communication device are not limited, for example, the first communication device may be a network device, the second communication device is a terminal device, or both the first communication device and the second communication device are network devices, or both the first communication device and the second communication device are terminal devices, or the first communication device is a network device, and the second communication device is a communication device capable of supporting the terminal device to implement the functions required by the method, and so on. The network device is, for example, a base station.

For convenience of introduction, in the following, the method is performed by a network device and a terminal device as an example, that is, the first communication apparatus is a network device and the second communication apparatus is a terminal device as an example. Since the present embodiment is applied to the network architecture shown in fig. 6 as an example, the network device described below may be a network device in the network architecture shown in fig. 6, and the terminal device described below may be a terminal device in the network architecture shown in fig. 6.

S71, the network device sends indication information to the terminal device, the terminal device receives the indication information from the network device, and the indication information is used for indicating the terminal device not to monitor the PDCCH within the first duration.

The network device configures various parameters of C-DRX to the terminal device, such as configuring a DRX period, configuring the length of timers such as DRX-duration timer, DRX-inactivity timer, DRX-HARQ-RTT-timer or DRX-retransmission timer, and the like.

And the terminal equipment monitors the PDCCH in the on duration period of the C-DRX period. The terminal device starts or restarts a drx-activity timer each time a PDCCH for scheduling newly transmitted data is detected. In addition, the terminal device receives a PDSCH or transmits a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) according to the detected PDCCH.

For example, if the PDCCH detected by the terminal device indicates downlink scheduling, the terminal device receives the PDSCH according to the scheduling of the PDCCH. After receiving the PDSCH, the terminal device may send HARQ feedback, i.e. send HARQ-ACK, to the network device to feedback whether the PDSCH is correctly received. And, after the first symbol after the HARQ-ACK is sent, that is, the first symbol after the symbol occupied by the HARQ-ACK, the terminal device may start drx-HARQ-RTT-timer dl of the corresponding process. And in the running time of the HARQ-RTT-timerDL, the terminal equipment considers that the downlink retransmission scheduling of the process cannot be received. If the terminal device does not correctly receive the PDSCH, the terminal device may turn on drx-retransmission timer dl when the first symbol after drx-HARQ-RTT-timer dl timeout, that is, the first symbol after expiration time (or referred to as end time) of drx-HARQ-RTT-timer dl. And if the terminal equipment correctly receives the PDSCH, the terminal equipment does not start drx-retransmission timer DL when drx-HARQ-RTT-timer DL is the first symbol after timeout.

Or, if the PDCCH detected by the terminal device indicates uplink scheduling, the terminal device sends a PUSCH to the network device according to the scheduling of the PDCCH. And starting the HARQ-RTT-timer UL of the corresponding process by the terminal equipment at the next symbol after the first repeated PUSCH, or the first symbol after the occupied symbol sent by the PUSCH for the first time. And in the running time of the HARQ-RTT-timer UL, the terminal equipment considers that the uplink retransmission scheduling of the process cannot be received. And the terminal device will start drx-transmission timer ul of the corresponding process at the first symbol after HARQ-RTT-timer timeout, i.e. at the first symbol after expiration of drx-HARQ-RTT-timer dl.

It is possible for the network device to send the indication information at any time during the above-described C-DRX procedure. For example, the network device may determine that there is no data transmission in the next first duration, or determine that there is no newly transmitted data in the first duration, and the like, and send the indication information to the terminal device to indicate that the terminal device does not need to monitor the PDCCH in the first duration, so as to reduce power consumption of the terminal device. The indication information is, for example, go-to-sleep signaling (or the signaling may also be referred to as signaling for reducing PDCCH detection), or may be other signaling for indicating that the terminal device does not need to monitor the PDCCH for the first duration. If the indication information is go-to-sleep signaling, the first duration is the GTS period as described above.

The embodiment of the present application does not limit the ending time of the first duration, for example, the ending time of the first duration may be located within an active time of the current DRX cycle, as shown in fig. 3A; alternatively, the ending time of the first duration may be located after the active time of the current DRX cycle, for example, after the current C-DRX cycle ends, and as shown in fig. 3B, the ending time of the first duration may be the starting time of the next C-DRX cycle.

For example, the network device may carry the indication information in information such as RRC signaling, MAC CE, or DCI, and send the information to the terminal device, or may also carry the indication information in other information and send the information to the terminal device, which is not limited specifically.

S72, if the first symbol after the expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is the first symbol in the first duration, the terminal device starts the retransmission timer at the second symbol later than the first symbol.

The first symbol is, for example, any one symbol within the first duration.

For example, the hybrid automatic repeat request round trip delay timer is drx-HARQ-RTT-timerDL, and the retransmission timer is drx-retransmission timerDL; or the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is drx-HARQ-RTT-timeRIL, and the retransmission timer is drx-retransmission timeRIL.

For drx-HARQ-RTT-timerll, the terminal should start drx-retransmission timerll at the first symbol after the drx-HARQ-RTT-timerll expiration time, or for drx-HARQ-RTT-timerll, the terminal should start drx-retransmission timerll at the first symbol after the drx-HARQ-RTT-timerll expiration time. In this embodiment of the present application, if the first symbol after the expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is the first symbol within the first duration, the terminal device may delay starting the retransmission timer, that is, the retransmission timer may be restarted at the second symbol, and after the retransmission timer is started, the terminal device may monitor the PDCCH. For example, the terminal should start drx-retransmission timer dl at the first symbol after the expiration time of drx-HARQ-RTT-timer dl, but the first symbol after the expiration time of drx-HARQ-RTT-timer dl is a symbol within the first time duration, i.e. the terminal needs to start drx-retransmission timer dl within the first time duration, the terminal may delay to restart drx-retransmission timer dl at the second symbol.

By the method, the time of drx-retransmission timer DL can be covered in the time of an inactivity timer or drx-on duration timer after GTS is finished as much as possible, and the time of monitoring the PDCCH by the terminal equipment is reduced. In addition, the terminal device only delays the start of the retransmission timer, but the operation time of the retransmission timer is not shortened, so that the timing of retransmission scheduling is not reduced for the network device.

For example, the second symbol may be located within the first time length, where the time offset between the second symbol and the first symbol may be a network device notification terminal device, for example, the network device may notify the terminal device through DCI or other information. Although the terminal device still needs to start the retransmission timer within the first time period, compared to the first conflict solution introduced above, the time of drx-retransmission timer dl is covered as much as possible within the time of the inactivity timer or drx-on duration timer after the GTS ends, and the time of the terminal device monitoring the PDCCH is reduced, which is helpful for saving the power consumption of the terminal device.

Alternatively, the second symbol may also be located after the end of the first time period, e.g. the second symbol may be the first symbol after the first time period. Referring to fig. 8, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application is illustrated by taking the first symbol after the second symbol is the first time length as an example, and fig. 8 takes the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer drx-HARQ-RTT-timerDL and the retransmission timer drx-retransmission timerDL as an example. This way, too, corresponds to starting the retransmission timer immediately after the end of the first duration, so that there is no overlap between the first duration and the running time of the retransmission timer. As can also be seen from fig. 8, compared to the first collision resolution method described above, the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application reduces the time for the terminal device to monitor the PDCCH (the portion indicated by the oblique lines in fig. 8 is the time for the terminal device to wake up in advance to monitor the PDCCH in the first collision resolution method described above), and compared to the second collision resolution method described above, the operating time of the retransmission timer in the solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is not shortened, and the opportunity of network device retransmission scheduling is not affected.

Specifically, the embodiment of the present application does not limit the position of the second symbol, as long as the second symbol is later than the first symbol.

S73, if the first symbol after the expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is the first symbol in the first time duration, the network device starts the retransmission timer at a second symbol later than the first symbol.

In the C-DRX mechanism, the network device performs operations similar to the terminal device, for example, the network device also needs to maintain the timers in the C-DRX in the same manner as the terminal device, so that the network device and the terminal device can be kept consistent. Therefore, if the first symbol after the expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is the first symbol within the first time duration, the network device may also delay starting the retransmission timer, that is, the retransmission timer may be restarted at the second symbol, and after the retransmission timer is started, the terminal device may monitor the PDCCH. Specifically, for the operation mode of the network device, reference may be made to the introduction of the operation mode of the terminal device, for example, for S73, reference may be made to the description of S72.

Wherein S72 may occur before S73, or S72 may occur after S73, or S72 and S73 may also occur simultaneously, which is not limited in particular.

In this embodiment of the present application, the terminal device determines not to monitor the PDCCH within the first duration, and if a first symbol after an expiration time of the HARQ loopback delay timer is a first symbol within the first duration, that is, a time when the terminal device needs to start the retransmission timer is within the first duration, the terminal device may delay starting the retransmission timer. Thus, the timing duration of the retransmission timer does not change, and for the network device, the retransmission scheduling opportunity is delayed, but not reduced. In addition, the terminal device does not immediately start the retransmission timer when the retransmission timer is determined to need to be started, but postpones a period of time, so that the terminal device does not need to monitor the PDCCH during the period from the time when the retransmission timer is originally needed to be started to the time when the retransmission timer is really started, thereby reducing the time for the terminal device to monitor the PDCCH and saving the power consumption of the terminal device.

In order to solve the same technical problem, an embodiment of the present application provides a second method of discontinuous reception, please refer to fig. 9, which is a flowchart of the method. In the following description, the method is applied to the network architecture shown in fig. 6 as an example. In addition, the method may be performed by two communication apparatuses, for example, a third communication apparatus and a fourth communication apparatus, where the third communication apparatus may be a network device or a communication apparatus capable of supporting the network device to implement the functions required by the method, or the third communication apparatus may be a terminal device or a communication apparatus capable of supporting the terminal device to implement the functions required by the method, and of course, other communication apparatuses such as a system on chip may also be used. The same applies to the fourth communication apparatus, which may be a network device or a communication apparatus capable of supporting the network device to implement the functions required by the method, or a terminal device or a communication apparatus capable of supporting the terminal device to implement the functions required by the method, and of course, may also be other communication apparatuses, such as a system on a chip. The third communication device may be a network device, the fourth communication device is a terminal device, or both the third communication device and the fourth communication device are network devices, or both the third communication device and the fourth communication device are terminal devices, or the third communication device is a network device, and the fourth communication device is a communication device capable of supporting the terminal device to implement the functions required by the method, and so on. The network device is, for example, a base station.

For convenience of introduction, in the following, the method is taken as an example executed by a network device and a terminal device, that is, the third communication device is a network device, and the fourth communication device is a terminal device. Since the present embodiment is applied to the network architecture shown in fig. 6 as an example, the network device described below may be a network device in the network architecture shown in fig. 6, and the terminal device described below may be a terminal device in the network architecture shown in fig. 6.

S91, the network device sends indication information to the terminal device, the terminal device receives the indication information from the network device, and the indication information is used for indicating the terminal device not to monitor the PDCCH within the first duration.

Regarding S91, reference may be made to the description of S71 in the embodiment shown in fig. 7.

S92, if the terminal device determines that a first symbol after the expected expiration time of the HARQ loopback delay timer is the first symbol in the first duration before starting the HARQ loopback delay timer, the terminal device starts the HARQ loopback delay timer at a third symbol later than a second symbol, where the second symbol is the first symbol after a symbol occupied by HARQ feedback sent by the terminal device to the network device, or the second symbol is the first symbol (or the next symbol) after the first repetition of the PUSCH sent by the terminal device to the network device.

Wherein, if the PUSCH is repeatedly transmitted, the second symbol refers to the first symbol after the PUSCH transmitted to the network device by the terminal device is repeated for the first time. Or, the first symbol after the PUSCH transmitted by the terminal device to the network device is repeated for the first time may also be described as the first symbol after the symbol occupied by the PUSCH transmitted by the terminal device to the network device for the first time.

The first symbol is, for example, any one symbol within the first duration.

The HARQ feedback refers to HARQ-ACK, that is, response information of the terminal device for downlink data sent by the network device. HARQ-ACK is for example an Acknowledgement (ACK) or a Negative Acknowledgement (NACK), and an ACK may be sent to the network device if the terminal device receives the downlink data correctly, or a NACK may be sent to the network device if the terminal device receives the downlink data incorrectly.

The hybrid automatic repeat request round trip delay timer is, for example, drx-HARQ-RTT-timer, which may include drx-HARQ-RTT-timer dl or drx-HARQ-RTT-timer ul. At the first symbol after the expiration of drx-HARQ-RTT-timerll, the terminal device starts drx-retransmission timerll, and at the first symbol after the expiration of drx-HARQ-RTT-timerll, the terminal device starts drx-retransmission timerll. That is, the terminal device starts the retransmission timer at the first symbol after the expiration of drx-HARQ-RTT-timer. Thus, if the first symbol after the expiration of the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer (i.e. the first symbol after the expiration of the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer) is within the first time duration, it indicates that the retransmission timer will start within the first time duration. Therefore, the embodiment of the application can delay the start of the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer, and the end time of the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer is correspondingly delayed, so that the purpose of delaying the start of the retransmission timer can be achieved. And the retransmission timer is started in a delayed manner, the timing duration of the retransmission timer cannot be changed, and for network equipment, the retransmission scheduling opportunity is only delayed but not reduced. In addition, the terminal device does not start the retransmission timer immediately when determining that the retransmission timer needs to be started, but postpones for a period of time, so that the time for the terminal device to monitor the PDCCH can be reduced as much as possible, and the power consumption of the terminal device can be saved.

If the hybrid automatic repeat request round trip delay timer is drx-HARQ-RTT-timerDL, when the terminal device sends HARQ-ACK to the network device, that is, when the terminal device sends HARQ-ACK to the network device, the terminal device needs to start drx-HARQ-RTT-timerDL after a first symbol occupied by the HARQ-ACK. Before the terminal device starts drx-HARQ-RTT-timerll, if the first symbol after the predicted expiration time (or the predicted timeout time) at which the terminal device starts drx-HARQ-RTT-timerll is the first symbol in the first time duration, which indicates that the terminal device needs to start drx-retransmission timerll in the first time duration, the terminal device should start drx-retransmission timerll in the second symbol, and the embodiment of the present application may delay the terminal device to restart drx-HARQ-RTT-timerll by the third symbol. Correspondingly, the running time of the drx-HARQ-RTT-timerDL is not changed, so the ending time of the drx-HARQ-RTT-timerDL is delayed. The terminal equipment starts drx-retransmission timer DL at the first symbol after drx-HARQ-RTT-timer DL is overtime, which is equivalent to delaying the starting time of drx-retransmission timer DL, thereby reducing the time for the terminal equipment to monitor PDCCH. In addition, the terminal device only delays the starting of the drx-retransmission timer dl, but the running time of the drx-retransmission timer dl is not shortened, so that the retransmission scheduling time is not reduced for the network device.

Or, if the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is drx-HARQ-RTT-timer ul, when the terminal device finishes the first repeated transmission of the PUSCH to the network device, that is, when the terminal device transmits the first symbol after the symbol occupied by the PUSCH which is transmitted for the first time to the network device, the terminal device needs to start drx-HARQ-RTT-timer ul. Before the terminal device starts drx-HARQ-RTT-timer ul, if the first symbol after the estimated expiration time (or the estimated timeout time) when the terminal device starts drx-HARQ-RTT-timer ul is the first symbol in the first time duration, which indicates that the terminal device needs to start drx-retransmission timer ul in the first time duration, the terminal device should start drx-retransmission timer ul in the second symbol, and the embodiment of the present application may cause the terminal device to delay restarting drx-HARQ-RTT-timer ul by the third symbol. Accordingly, the end time of drx-HARQ-RTT-timer ul is delayed because the running time of drx-HARQ-RTT-timer ul is not changed. The terminal equipment starts drx-retransmission timer UL at the first symbol after drx-HARQ-RTT-timer UL is overtime, which is equivalent to the starting time of drx-retransmission timer UL is delayed, thereby reducing the time for the terminal equipment to monitor PDCCH. In addition, the terminal device only delays the start of the drx-retransmission timer ul, but the running time of the drx-retransmission timer ul is not shortened, so that the retransmission scheduling time is not reduced for the network device.

For example, the terminal device may start a retransmission timer at the fourth symbol, and after starting the retransmission timer, the terminal device may monitor the PDCCH. The fourth symbol may be the first symbol after expiration of the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer or understood to be the first symbol after expiration of the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer. For example, if drx-HARQ-RTT-timer is drx-HARQ-RTT-timer dl, the fourth symbol may be the first symbol after expiration of drx-HARQ-RTT-timer dl, or if drx-HARQ-RTT-timer is drx-HARQ-RTT-timer ul, the fourth symbol may be the first symbol after expiration of drx-HARQ-RTT-timer ul.

For example, the third symbol may still be located within the first duration, in which case the fourth symbol may still be located within the first duration, or the fourth symbol may be later than the end of the first duration. If the fourth symbol is still located in the first duration, the time for the terminal device to start the retransmission timer is still located in the first duration, but compared with the first collision solution introduced above, the time for the terminal device to monitor the PDCCH is still reduced, which helps to save power consumption of the terminal device. The first duration and the retransmission timer may have no overlap in running time if the fourth symbol is later than the end of the first duration. For example, the fourth symbol may be the first symbol after the first time length, which is equivalent to that the terminal device may start the retransmission timer immediately after the first time length ends, so that the waste of time is reduced, and the timing length of the retransmission timer does not change, and for the network device, the timing of the retransmission scheduling is delayed but not reduced. In addition, the terminal device does not start the retransmission timer immediately when determining that the retransmission timer needs to be started, but postpones for a period of time, so that the time of the retransmission timer is covered in the time of the inactivity timer or the drx-on duration timer after the GTS is finished, thereby reducing the time for the terminal device to monitor the PDCCH as much as possible and saving the power consumption of the terminal device. Moreover, the embodiment of the application also reduces the probability of occurrence of conflict, and the network equipment and the terminal equipment are consistent in understanding, so that the behaviors of the network equipment and the terminal equipment are consistent, and the normal communication between the network equipment and the terminal equipment is ensured.

Alternatively, the third symbol may be located after the end of the first duration, in which case the fourth symbol may be later than the end of the first duration. This approach is equivalent to starting the retransmission timer after the first duration has ended, so that there is no conflict between the first duration and the running time of the retransmission timer. And the timing duration of the retransmission timer is not changed, and for the network equipment, the retransmission scheduling opportunity is only delayed but not reduced.

S93, if the network device determines that a first symbol after the expected expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is the first symbol in the first duration before starting the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer, the network device starts the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer at a third symbol later than a second symbol, where the second symbol is the first symbol after a symbol occupied by HARQ feedback from the terminal device received by the network device, or the second symbol is the first symbol (or the next symbol) after the PUSCH first repetition from the terminal device received by the network device is repeated.

In the C-DRX mechanism, the network device performs operations similar to the terminal device, for example, the network device also needs to maintain the timers in the C-DRX in the same manner as the terminal device, so that the network device and the terminal device can be kept consistent. Therefore, reference may be made to the description of the operation mode of the terminal device for the operation mode of the network device, for example, the network device may also start a retransmission timer in the fourth symbol.

Wherein S92 may occur before S93, or S92 may occur after S93, or S92 and S93 may also occur simultaneously, which is not limited in particular.

In this embodiment, the terminal device does not monitor the PDCCH within the first duration, and if the terminal device determines that the first symbol after the expected expiration time of the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer is within the first duration, the terminal device may delay starting the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer, which is equivalent to the time for starting the retransmission timer. However, the retransmission timer is only started after a delay, and the duration of the retransmission timer is not changed, so that the network device only delays the retransmission scheduling time, but does not reduce the retransmission scheduling time. In addition, the terminal device does not start the retransmission timer immediately when the time for starting the retransmission timer is determined, but postpones a period of time, so that the terminal device does not need to monitor the PDCCH during the period from the time for starting the retransmission timer to the time for really starting the retransmission timer, thereby reducing the time for monitoring the PDCCH by the terminal device, and enabling the time of the retransmission timer to cover the time of the inactivity timer or the drx-on duration timer after the GTS is finished as much as possible, so as to save the power consumption of the terminal device. Moreover, the embodiment of the application also reduces the probability of occurrence of conflict, and the network equipment and the terminal equipment are consistent in understanding, so that the behaviors of the network equipment and the terminal equipment are consistent, and the normal communication between the network equipment and the terminal equipment is ensured.

In order to solve the same technical problem, a third method of discontinuous reception is provided in the embodiments of the present application, please refer to fig. 10, which is a flowchart of the method. In the following description, the method is applied to the network architecture shown in fig. 6 as an example. In addition, the method may be performed by two communication apparatuses, for example, a fifth communication apparatus and a sixth communication apparatus, where the fifth communication apparatus may be a network device or a communication apparatus capable of supporting the network device to implement the functions required by the method, or the fifth communication apparatus may be a terminal device or a communication apparatus capable of supporting the terminal device to implement the functions required by the method, and may of course be other communication apparatuses such as a system on chip. The same is true for the sixth communication apparatus, which may be a network device or a communication apparatus capable of supporting the network device to implement the functions required by the method, or the sixth communication apparatus may be a terminal device or a communication apparatus capable of supporting the terminal device to implement the functions required by the method, or of course, other communication apparatuses such as a system on chip may also be used. The fifth communication device and the sixth communication device are not limited to be implemented, for example, the fifth communication device may be a network device, the sixth communication device is a terminal device, or both the fifth communication device and the sixth communication device are network devices, or both the fifth communication device and the sixth communication device are terminal devices, or the fifth communication device is a network device, and the sixth communication device is a communication device capable of supporting the terminal device to implement the functions required by the method, and so on. The network device is, for example, a base station.

For convenience of introduction, in the following, the method is performed by the network device and the terminal device as an example, that is, the fifth communication device is the network device and the sixth communication device is the terminal device as an example. Since the present embodiment is applied to the network architecture shown in fig. 6 as an example, the network device described below may be a network device in the network architecture shown in fig. 6, and the terminal device described below may be a terminal device in the network architecture shown in fig. 6.

S101, the network equipment sends indication information to the terminal equipment, the terminal equipment receives the indication information from the network equipment, and the indication information is used for indicating that the terminal equipment does not monitor the PDCCH within a first time length.

With respect to S101, reference may be made to the description of S71 in the embodiment shown in fig. 7.

And S102, if the first symbol after the expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is the first symbol in the first time length, the terminal equipment prolongs the timing time length of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer.

The first symbol is, for example, any one symbol within the first duration.

The hybrid automatic repeat request round trip delay timer is, for example, drx-HARQ-RTT-timer, which may include drx-HARQ-RTT-timer dl or drx-HARQ-RTT-timer ul. Because the duration of the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer is preconfigured by the network device, the terminal device can determine the expiration time (or referred to as the end time) of the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer when the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer is not started and before the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer expires, or after the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer is started and before the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer expires, because the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer has not expired at this time, the terminal device determines only the expected expiration time of the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer; or, when drx-HARQ-RTT-timer times out, the terminal device may also determine an expiration time of drx-HARQ-RTT-timer, that is, a current time, because drx-HARQ-RTT-timer has expired at this time, the terminal device determines the actual expiration time of drx-HARQ-RTT-timer.

At the first symbol after the expiration of drx-HARQ-RTT-timer dl, the terminal device starts drx-retransmission timer dl, and at the first symbol after the expiration of drx-HARQ-RTT-timer ul, the terminal device starts drx-retransmission timer ul, that is, at the first symbol after the expiration of drx-HARQ-RTT-timer, the terminal device starts a retransmission timer. Therefore, if the end time of the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer is within the first duration, the terminal device may need to start the retransmission timer within the first duration, which may cause the first duration and the operation time of the retransmission timer to overlap.

In view of this, in the embodiment of the present application, if the ending time of the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer is within the first time duration, the terminal device may extend the timing duration of the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer, which is equivalent to the timing duration of the stretching drx-HARQ-RTT-timer, and the ending time of the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer may be delayed. For example, if the terminal device determines that the terminal device is the expected expiration time of drx-HARQ-RTT-timer, the terminal device may directly extend the timing duration of drx-HARQ-RTT-timer; or, if the terminal device determines that the terminal device is the actual expiration time of the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer, the terminal device may extend the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer, so that the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer does not stop but continues to operate.

The terminal equipment starts the drx-retransmission timer at the first symbol after the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer is overtime, and the time of the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer is delayed, which is equivalent to the delay of the starting time of the drx-retransmission timer, so that the time of the terminal equipment for monitoring the PDCCH is reduced, the time of the drx-retransmission timer is covered in the time of an inactive timer or a drx-duration timer after the GTS is ended as much as possible, and the power consumption of the terminal equipment is reduced. In addition, the terminal device only delays the start of the drx-retransmission timer, but the running time of the drx-retransmission timer is not shortened, so the retransmission scheduling time is not reduced for the network device. Moreover, the embodiment of the application also reduces the probability of occurrence of conflict, and the network equipment and the terminal equipment are consistent in understanding, so that the behaviors of the network equipment and the terminal equipment are consistent, and the normal communication between the network equipment and the terminal equipment is ensured.

For example, the terminal device may start a retransmission timer at the second symbol, after which the terminal device may monitor the PDCCH. The second symbol may be the first symbol after expiration of the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer or understood to be the first symbol after expiration of the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer. For example, if drx-HARQ-RTT-timer is drx-HARQ-RTT-timer dl, the second symbol may be the first symbol after expiration of drx-HARQ-RTT-timer dl, or if drx-HARQ-RTT-timer is drx-HARQ-RTT-timer ul, the second symbol may be the first symbol after expiration of drx-HARQ-RTT-timer ul.

For example, the second symbol may still be within the first duration, or the second symbol may be later than the end of the first duration. If the second symbol is still within the first duration, which indicates that the time for the terminal device to start the retransmission timer is still within the first duration, but compared to the first collision solution introduced above, the time for the retransmission timer to cover the time of the inactivity timer or drx-on duration timer after the GTS ends is as much as possible, and the time for the terminal device to monitor the PDCCH is still reduced, which helps to save the power consumption of the terminal device.

And if the second symbol is later than the end of the first duration, the first duration and the retransmission timer run time do not overlap. For example, the second symbol may be the first symbol after the first time length, which is equivalent to that the terminal device may start the retransmission timer immediately after the first time length ends, so that the waste of time is reduced, and the timing length of the retransmission timer does not change, and for the network device, the timing of the retransmission scheduling is delayed but not reduced. In addition, the terminal device does not start the retransmission timer immediately when determining that the retransmission timer needs to be started, but postpones a period of time, so that the time for the terminal device to monitor the PDCCH can be reduced as much as possible, and the power consumption of the terminal device can be saved.

S103, if the first symbol after the expected expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is the first symbol in the first time length, the network equipment prolongs the timing time length of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer.

In the C-DRX mechanism, the network device performs operations similar to the terminal device, for example, the network device also needs to maintain the timers in the C-DRX in the same manner as the terminal device, so that the network device and the terminal device can be kept consistent. Therefore, reference may be made to the description of the operation mode of the terminal device for the operation mode of the network device, for example, the network device may also start a retransmission timer at the second symbol.

S102 may occur before S103, or S102 may occur after S103, or S102 and S103 may also occur simultaneously, which is not limited specifically.

In this embodiment, the terminal device does not monitor the PDCCH within the first duration, and if the terminal device determines that the first symbol after the expiration time of the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer is within the first duration, the terminal device may extend the timing duration of the drx-HARQ-RTT-timer, which is equivalent to the time for starting the retransmission timer being delayed. However, the retransmission timer is only started after a delay, and the timing duration is not changed, and for the network device, the opportunity of retransmission scheduling is only delayed but not reduced. In addition, the terminal device does not start the retransmission timer immediately when determining that the retransmission timer needs to be started, but postpones for a period of time, and the time of the retransmission timer is covered in the time of the inactivity timer or the drx-on duration timer after the GTS is finished, so that the time for the terminal device to monitor the PDCCH can be reduced as much as possible, and the power consumption of the terminal device can be saved.

The following describes an apparatus for implementing the above method in the embodiment of the present application with reference to the drawings. Therefore, the above contents can be used in the subsequent embodiments, and the repeated contents are not repeated.

The embodiment of the application provides a first communication device, for example, a first communication device. Referring to fig. 11, the communication device is, for example, communication device 1100. The communication apparatus 1100 may implement the functions of the terminal device referred to above. The communication apparatus 1100 may be a communication device, or the communication apparatus 1100 may be a chip provided in the communication device. Illustratively, the communication device is a terminal device as described above. The communication device 1100 may include a processor 1101 and a transceiver 1102. Processor 1101 may be used, among other things, to perform S72 in the embodiment shown in fig. 7, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein. The transceiver 1102 may be configured to perform S71 in the embodiment illustrated in fig. 7, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein.

For example, the transceiver 1102 is configured to receive indication information from a network device, where the indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device does not monitor the PDCCH for a first duration;

a processor 1101, configured to start, by the terminal device, a retransmission timer at a second symbol later than a first symbol if a first symbol after an expiration time of a hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is the first symbol in the first duration.

In one possible embodiment, the second symbol is the first symbol after the first time length.

All relevant contents of each step related to the above method embodiment may be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional module, and are not described herein again.

Embodiments of the present application provide a second communication device, which is, for example, a second communication device. Referring to fig. 12, the communication device is, for example, a communication device 1200. The communication apparatus 1200 may implement the functionality of the network devices referred to above. Exemplarily, the communication apparatus 1200 may be a communication device, or the communication apparatus 1200 may also be a chip provided in the communication device. Illustratively, the communication device is a network device as described above. The communication device 1200 may include a processor 1201 and a transceiver 1202. Processor 1201 may be used, among other things, to perform S73 in the embodiment shown in fig. 7, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein. The transceiver 1202 may be configured to perform S71 in the embodiment illustrated in fig. 7, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein.

For example, the transceiver 1202 is configured to send indication information to a terminal device, where the indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device does not monitor the PDCCH for a first duration;

the processor 1201 is configured to start a retransmission timer at a second symbol later than the first symbol if a first symbol after an expiration time of a hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is the first symbol within the first duration.

The embodiment of the present application provides a third communication device, which is, for example, a third communication device. Referring to fig. 13, the communication device is, for example, a communication device 1300. The communication apparatus 1300 may implement the functions of the terminal device referred to above. Exemplarily, the communication apparatus 1300 may be a communication device, or the communication apparatus 1300 may also be a chip disposed in the communication device. Illustratively, the communication device is a terminal device as described above. The communication device 1300 may include a processor 1301 and a transceiver 1302. Processor 1301 may be used, among other things, to perform S92 in the embodiment illustrated in fig. 9, and/or other processes to support the techniques described herein. Transceiver 1302 may be used to perform S91 in the embodiment shown in fig. 9, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein.

For example, the transceiver 1302 is configured to receive indication information from a network device, where the indication information is used to instruct the communications apparatus 1300 not to monitor the PDCCH for a first duration;

a processor 1301, configured to, if it is determined that a first symbol after an expected expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is a first symbol within the first time duration before starting the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer, start the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer at a third symbol later than a second symbol, where the second symbol is the first symbol after a symbol occupied by HARQ feedback sent by the transceiver 1302 to the network device.

In a possible implementation, the processor 1301 is further configured to start the retransmission timer at a fourth symbol, where the fourth symbol is the first symbol after the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer expires.

In one possible implementation, the fourth symbol is the first symbol after the first time length.

The embodiment of the present application provides a fourth communication device, which is, for example, a fourth communication device. Referring to fig. 14, the communication device is, for example, a communication device 1400. The communication apparatus 1400 may implement the functionality of the network device referred to above. Exemplarily, the communication apparatus 1400 may be a communication device, or the communication apparatus 1400 may also be a chip disposed in the communication device. Illustratively, the communication device is a network device as described above. The communication device 1400 may include a processor 1401 and a transceiver 1402. Processor 1401 may be used, among other things, to perform S93 in the embodiment shown in fig. 9, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein. The transceiver 1402 may be used to perform S91 in the embodiment shown in fig. 9, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein.

For example, the transceiver 1402 is configured to send indication information to a terminal device, where the indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device does not monitor the PDCCH for a first duration;

a processor 1401, configured to, if it is determined that a first symbol after an expected expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is a first symbol in the first time duration before starting the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer, start the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer at a third symbol later than a second symbol, where the second symbol is the first symbol after a symbol occupied by HARQ feedback from the terminal device received by the communication apparatus 1400.

In a possible implementation, the processor 1401 is further configured to start a retransmission timer at a fourth symbol, where the fourth symbol is a first symbol after the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer expires.

The present embodiment provides a fifth communication device, which is, for example, a fifth communication device. Referring to fig. 15, the communication device is, for example, a communication device 1500. The communication apparatus 1500 may implement the functions of the terminal device referred to above. The communication apparatus 1500 may be a communication device, or the communication apparatus 1500 may be a chip provided in the communication device. Illustratively, the communication device is a terminal device as described above. The communications apparatus 1500 can include a processor 1501 and a transceiver 1502. Processor 1501 may be used, among other things, to perform S102 in the embodiment shown in fig. 10, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein. The transceiver 1502 may be used to perform S101 in the embodiment shown in fig. 10, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein.

For example, the transceiver 1502 is configured to receive indication information from a network device, where the indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device does not monitor the PDCCH for a first duration;

a processor 1501, configured to extend the timing duration of the harq loopback delay timer if a first symbol after the expected expiration time of the harq loopback delay timer is a first symbol within the first duration.

In a possible embodiment, the processor 1501 is further configured to start the retransmission timer at a second symbol, which is a first symbol after the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer expires.

The embodiment of the present application provides a sixth communication device, for example, a sixth communication device. Referring to fig. 16, the communication device is, for example, a communication device 1600. The communication apparatus 1600 may implement the functionality of the network devices referred to above. The communication apparatus 1600 may be a communication device, or the communication apparatus 1600 may be a chip disposed in the communication device. Illustratively, the communication device is a network device as described above. The communication device 1600 may include a processor 1601 and a transceiver 1602. Processor 1601 may be used, among other things, to perform S103 in the embodiment shown in fig. 10, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein. The transceiver 1602 may be used to perform S101 in the embodiment shown in fig. 10, and/or other processes to support the techniques described herein.

For example, the transceiver 1602 is configured to send indication information to a terminal device, where the indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device does not monitor the PDCCH for a first duration;

the processor 1601 is configured to, if a first symbol after an expected expiration time of a hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is a first symbol within the first time duration, extend a timing time duration of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer.

In a possible embodiment, the processor 1601 is further configured to start a retransmission timer at a second symbol, where the second symbol is a first symbol after the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer expires.

In a simple embodiment, those skilled in the art can also realize the communication apparatus 1100, the communication apparatus 1200, the communication apparatus 1300, the communication apparatus 1400, the communication apparatus 1500, or the communication apparatus 1600 described above by the structure of the communication apparatus 1700 shown in fig. 17A. The communication apparatus 1700 may implement the functions of the terminal device or the network device referred to above. The communication device 1700 may include a processor 1701.

Wherein, when the communication apparatus 1700 is used to implement the functions of the terminal device referred to above, the processor 1701 may be configured to execute S72 in the embodiment shown in fig. 7, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein; alternatively, where the communications apparatus 1700 is used to implement the functionality of the network devices referred to above, the processor 1701 may be configured to execute S73 in the embodiment illustrated in fig. 7, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein. Alternatively, where the communications apparatus 1700 is used to implement the functionality of a terminal device as referred to above, the processor 1701 may be used to perform S92 in the embodiment shown in fig. 9, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein; alternatively, when the communication apparatus 1700 is used to implement the functions of the network device mentioned above, the processor 1701 may be configured to execute S93 in the embodiment shown in fig. 9. Alternatively, where the communications apparatus 1700 is used to implement the functionality of a terminal device referred to above, the processor 1701 may be configured to perform S102 in the embodiment shown in fig. 10, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein; alternatively, when the communication apparatus 1700 is used to implement the functions of the network device mentioned above, the processor 1701 may be configured to execute S103 in the embodiment shown in fig. 10.

The communication apparatus 1700 may be implemented by a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a system on chip (SoC), a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Network Processor (NP), a digital signal processing circuit (DSP), a Micro Controller Unit (MCU), or a programmable controller (PLD) or other integrated chips, and the communication apparatus 1700 may be disposed in the terminal device or the network device according to the embodiment of the present application, so that the terminal device or the network device implements the method according to the embodiment of the present application.

In an alternative implementation, the communication apparatus 1700 may include a transceiving component for communicating with other devices. Where the communications apparatus 1700 is used to implement the functionality of the terminal device or the network device referred to above, the transceiving component may be configured to perform S71 in the embodiment shown in fig. 7, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein. Alternatively, where the communications apparatus 1700 is used to implement the functionality of a terminal device or a network device as referred to above, the transceiving component may be used to perform S91 in the embodiment shown in fig. 9, and/or other processes to support the techniques described herein. Alternatively, where the communications apparatus 1700 is used to implement the functionality of a terminal device or a network device as referred to above, the transceiving component may be used to perform S101 in the embodiment shown in fig. 10, and/or other processes to support the techniques described herein.

In an alternative implementation, the communications apparatus 1700 may further include a memory 1702, see fig. 17B, wherein the memory 1702 is configured to store computer programs or instructions and the processor 1701 is configured to decode and execute the computer programs or instructions. It will be appreciated that these computer programs or instructions may comprise the functional programs of the terminal devices or network devices described above. When the functional program of the terminal device is decoded and executed by the processor 1701, the terminal device can be enabled to implement the functions of the terminal device in the method provided by the embodiment shown in fig. 7 in the embodiment of the present application, or the functions of the terminal device in the method provided by the embodiment shown in fig. 9 in the embodiment of the present application, or the functions of the terminal device in the method provided by the embodiment shown in fig. 10 in the embodiment of the present application. When the functional program of the network device is decoded and executed by the processor 1701, the network device can be enabled to implement the functions of the network device in the method provided by the embodiment shown in fig. 7 in the embodiment of the present application, or the functions of the network device in the method provided by the embodiment shown in fig. 9 in the embodiment of the present application, or the functions of the network device in the method provided by the embodiment shown in fig. 10 in the embodiment of the present application.

In an alternative implementation, the functional programs of these terminal devices or network devices are stored in a memory external to communications apparatus 1700. When the terminal device function program is decoded and executed by the processor 1701, part or all of the contents of the terminal device function program are temporarily stored in the memory 1702. When the functional program of the network device is decoded and executed by the processor 1701, a part or all of the content of the functional program of the network device is temporarily stored in the memory 1702.

In an alternative implementation, the functional programs of these terminal devices or network devices are provided in the memory 1702 stored inside the communication apparatus 1700. When the memory 1702 inside the communication apparatus 1700 stores the function program of the terminal device, the communication apparatus 1700 may be provided in the terminal device of the embodiment of the present application. When the memory 1702 inside the communication apparatus 1700 stores the function program of the network device, the communication apparatus 1700 may be provided in the network device according to the embodiment of the present application.

In yet another alternative implementation, part of the contents of the functional programs of these terminal devices are stored in a memory external to the communication apparatus 1700, and the other part of the contents of the functional programs of these terminal devices are stored in a memory 1702 internal to the communication apparatus 1700. Alternatively, part of the contents of the function programs of these network devices may be stored in a memory external to the communication apparatus 1700, and the other part of the contents of the function programs of these network devices may be stored in the memory 1702 internal to the communication apparatus 1700.

In the embodiment of the present application, the communication apparatus 1100, the communication apparatus 1200, the communication apparatus 1300, the communication apparatus 1400, the communication apparatus 1500, the communication apparatus 1600, and the communication apparatus 1700 are presented in the form of dividing each functional module corresponding to each function, or may be presented in the form of dividing each functional module in an integrated manner. As used herein, a "module" may refer to an ASIC, a processor and memory that execute one or more software or firmware programs, an integrated logic circuit, and/or other components that provide the described functionality.

In addition, the first communication device as described above may be implemented in other forms. The communication device comprises, for example, a processing module and a transceiver module. For example, the processing module may be implemented by the processor 1101 and the transceiver module may be implemented by the transceiver 1102. Among other things, the processing module may be used to perform S72 in the embodiment shown in fig. 7, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein. The transceiver module may be used to perform S71 in the embodiment shown in fig. 7, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein.

For example, the transceiver module is configured to receive indication information from a network device, where the indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device does not monitor the PDCCH within a first duration;

and the processing module is used for starting the retransmission timer at a second symbol later than the first symbol by the terminal equipment if a first symbol after the expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is the first symbol in the first time length.

The second communication means as described above may also be implemented in other forms. The communication device comprises, for example, a processing module and a transceiver module. For example, the processing module may be implemented by the processor 1201, and the transceiver module may be implemented by the transceiver 1202. Among other things, the processing module may be used to perform S73 in the embodiment shown in fig. 7, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein. The transceiver module may be used to perform S71 in the embodiment shown in fig. 7, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein.

For example, the transceiver module is configured to send indication information to a terminal device, where the indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device does not monitor the PDCCH within a first duration;

and the processing module is used for starting the retransmission timer at a second symbol later than the first symbol if a first symbol after the expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is the first symbol in the first time length.

The third communication means as described above may also be implemented in other forms. The communication device comprises, for example, a processing module and a transceiver module. For example, the processing module may be implemented by the processor 1301 and the transceiver module may be implemented by the transceiver 1302. Among other things, the processing module may be used to perform S92 in the embodiment shown in fig. 9, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein. The transceiver module may be used to perform S91 in the embodiment shown in fig. 9, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein.

For example, the transceiver module is configured to receive indication information from a network device, where the indication information is used to instruct the communications apparatus 1300 not to monitor the PDCCH for a first duration;

a processing module, configured to start the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer at a third symbol later than a second symbol if a first symbol after an expected expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is determined to be the first symbol within the first time duration before the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is started, where the second symbol is the first symbol after a symbol occupied by HARQ feedback sent to the network device by the transceiver module.

In a possible implementation, the processing module is further configured to start a retransmission timer at a fourth symbol, where the fourth symbol is a first symbol after the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer expires.

The fourth communication means as described above may also be implemented in other forms. The communication device comprises, for example, a processing module and a transceiver module. For example, the processing means may be embodied by the processor 1401 and the transceiver means may be embodied by the transceiver 1402. Among other things, the processing module may be used to perform S93 in the embodiment shown in fig. 9, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein. The transceiver module may be used to perform S91 in the embodiment shown in fig. 9, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein.

a processing module, configured to start a hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer at a third symbol later than a second symbol if a first symbol after an expected expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is determined to be the first symbol within the first time duration before the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is started, where the second symbol is the first symbol after a symbol occupied by HARQ feedback from the terminal device received by the communication device.

The fifth communication means as described above may also be implemented in other forms. The communication device comprises, for example, a processing module and a transceiver module. For example, the processing module may be implemented by the processor 1501 and the transceiver module may be implemented by the transceiver 1502. Among other things, the processing module may be used to perform S102 in the embodiment shown in fig. 10, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein. The transceiver module may be used to perform S101 in the embodiment shown in fig. 10, and/or other processes to support the techniques described herein.

and the processing module is used for prolonging the timing duration of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer if a first symbol after the expected expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is a first symbol in the first duration.

In a possible implementation, the processing module is further configured to start a retransmission timer at a second symbol, where the second symbol is a first symbol after the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer expires.

The sixth communication device as described above may also be implemented in other forms. The communication device comprises, for example, a processing module and a transceiver module. For example, the processing module may be implemented by the processor 1601 and the transceiver module may be implemented by the transceiver 1602. Among other things, the processing module may be used to perform S103 in the embodiment shown in fig. 10, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein. The transceiver module may be used to perform S101 in the embodiment shown in fig. 10, and/or other processes to support the techniques described herein.

Since the communication device 1100, the communication device 1200, the communication device 1300, the communication device 1400, the communication device 1500, the communication device 1600, or the communication device 1700 provided in the embodiment of the present application can be used to execute the method provided in the embodiment shown in fig. 7, the method provided in the embodiment shown in fig. 9, or the method provided in the embodiment shown in fig. 10, for technical effects that can be obtained by the method, reference may be made to the above method embodiment, and details are not repeated here.

Embodiments of the present application are described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the application. It will be understood that each flow and/or block of the flow diagrams and/or block diagrams, and combinations of flows and/or blocks in the flow diagrams and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

In the above embodiments, the implementation may be wholly or partially realized by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When loaded and executed on a computer, cause the processes or functions described in accordance with the embodiments of the application to occur, in whole or in part. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a network of computers, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored on a computer readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer readable storage medium to another, for example, from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wire (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device, such as a server, a data center, etc., that incorporates one or more of the available media. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., a Digital Versatile Disk (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., a Solid State Disk (SSD)), among others.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made in the embodiments of the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the application. Thus, if such modifications and variations of the embodiments of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents, the present application is also intended to encompass such modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A method of discontinuous reception, comprising:

the method comprises the steps that terminal equipment receives indication information from network equipment, wherein the indication information is used for indicating that the terminal equipment does not monitor a PDCCH within a first duration;

and if the first symbol after the expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is the first symbol in the first time length, the terminal equipment starts a repeat timer at a second symbol which is later than the first symbol.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second symbol is a first symbol after the first time duration.

3. A method of discontinuous reception, comprising:

if the terminal device determines that a first symbol after the expected expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is a first symbol in the first time length before starting the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer, the terminal device starts the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer at a third symbol which is later than a second symbol, wherein the second symbol is the first symbol after a symbol occupied by hybrid automatic repeat request HARQ feedback sent to the network device by the terminal device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

and the terminal equipment starts a retransmission timer at a fourth symbol, wherein the fourth symbol is the first symbol after the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer expires.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the fourth symbol is a first symbol after the first time duration.

6. A method of discontinuous reception, comprising:

and if the first symbol after the expected expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is the first symbol in the first time length, the terminal equipment prolongs the timing time length of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

and the terminal equipment starts a retransmission timer at a second symbol, wherein the second symbol is the first symbol after the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer expires.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second symbol is a first symbol after the first time duration.

9. A method of discontinuous reception, comprising:

the network equipment sends indication information to the terminal equipment, wherein the indication information is used for indicating the terminal equipment not to monitor the PDCCH within a first duration;

and if the first symbol after the expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is the first symbol in the first time length, the network equipment starts a repeat timer at a second symbol which is later than the first symbol.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second symbol is a first symbol after the first time duration.

11. A method of discontinuous reception, comprising:

if the network device determines that a first symbol after the expected expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is a first symbol in the first time length before starting the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer, the network device starts the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer at a third symbol which is later than a second symbol, wherein the second symbol is the first symbol after a symbol occupied by hybrid automatic repeat request HARQ feedback received by the network device from the terminal device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

the network device starts a retransmission timer at a fourth symbol, where the fourth symbol is the first symbol after the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer expires.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the fourth symbol is a first symbol after the first time duration.

14. A method of discontinuous reception, comprising:

and if the first symbol after the expected expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is the first symbol in the first time length, the network equipment prolongs the timing time length of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

the network device starts a retransmission timer at a second symbol, wherein the second symbol is a first symbol after the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer expires.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second symbol is a first symbol after the first time duration.

17. A communication device, comprising:

a transceiver module, configured to receive indication information from a network device, where the indication information is used to indicate that the communication device does not monitor a PDCCH within a first duration;

18. The communications device of claim 17, wherein the second symbol is a first symbol after the first time duration.

19. A communication device, comprising:

the terminal equipment comprises a receiving and sending module, a sending and receiving module and a sending and receiving module, wherein the receiving and sending module is used for receiving indication information from network equipment, and the indication information is used for indicating the terminal equipment not to monitor a PDCCH within a first time length;

a processing module, configured to determine, before starting a hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer, that a first symbol after an expected expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is a first symbol within the first time duration, and start the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer at a third symbol that is later than a second symbol, where the second symbol is the first symbol after a symbol occupied by a hybrid automatic repeat request HARQ feedback sent by the communication device to the network device.

20. The communications device of claim 19, wherein the processing module is further configured to start a retransmission timer at a fourth symbol, and the fourth symbol is a first symbol after the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer expires.

21. The communications device of claim 20, wherein the fourth symbol is a first symbol after the first time duration.

22. A communication device, comprising:

23. The communications device of claim 22, wherein the processing module is further configured to start a retransmission timer at a second symbol, and wherein the second symbol is a first symbol after the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer expires.

24. The communications device of claim 23, wherein the second symbol is a first symbol after the first time duration.

25. A communication device, comprising:

the terminal equipment comprises a receiving and sending module, a sending and receiving module and a sending and receiving module, wherein the receiving and sending module is used for sending indication information to the terminal equipment, and the indication information is used for indicating the terminal equipment not to monitor the PDCCH within a first duration;

26. The communications device of claim 25, wherein the second symbol is a first symbol after the first time duration.

27. A communication device, comprising:

a processing module, configured to start a hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer at a third symbol later than a second symbol if a first symbol after an expected expiration time of the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is determined to be the first symbol within the first time duration before the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer is started, where the second symbol is the first symbol after a symbol occupied by a hybrid automatic repeat request HARQ feedback from the terminal device received by the communication device.

28. The communications device of claim 27, wherein the processing module is further configured to start a retransmission timer at a fourth symbol, and wherein the fourth symbol is a first symbol after the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer expires.

29. The communications device of claim 28, wherein the fourth symbol is a first symbol after the first time duration.

30. A communication device, comprising:

31. The communications device of claim 30, wherein the processing module is further configured to start a retransmission timer at a second symbol, and wherein the second symbol is a first symbol after the hybrid automatic repeat request loopback delay timer expires.

32. The communications device of claim 31, wherein the second symbol is a first symbol after the first time duration.