CN113170415B

CN113170415B - Communication method and device

Info

Publication number: CN113170415B
Application number: CN201980077306.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 王宏; 单宝堃
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-02-28
Filing date: 2019-02-28
Publication date: 2023-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 2039-02-28
Also published as: WO2020172844A1; CN113170415A

Abstract

The application provides a communication method and a communication device, which can improve communication efficiency. The method comprises the following steps: the terminal equipment determines a first identifier, wherein the first identifier is used for monitoring downlink data in an idle state or an inactive state by the terminal equipment; and the terminal equipment receives a first message from the access network equipment according to the first identifier, wherein the first message comprises downlink data and resource configuration information, the resource configuration information is used for indicating a first resource, and the first resource is used for the terminal equipment to send feedback information of the downlink data.

Description

Communication method and device

Technical Field

The present application relates to communication methods, and more particularly, to communication methods and apparatuses.

Background

In a communication scenario, especially in a Machine Type Communication (MTC) scenario and a narrowband internet of things (NB-IoT) scenario, in order to transmit data, a wireless connection between an access network device and a terminal device needs to be established, and establishing the wireless connection needs a certain signaling overhead. Meanwhile, the power consumption of the terminal device is increased by the lengthy connection establishment flow and data transmission process. In addition, if the delay requirement of the small data packet is high, since data transmission needs to be performed after the general connection establishment procedure and the MTC and NB-IoT use a repeated transmission method, the delay of data transmission is high and the delay requirement cannot be met. To solve the above problem, a method for early transmitting downlink data is proposed in the industry. The main idea is to send downlink data to the terminal device in a generic connection establishment procedure or in a random access procedure or not via a connection establishment procedure. For example, the downlink data may be sent to the terminal device after the access network device sends the paging message.

However, the foregoing method for early transmitting downlink data may bring additional power consumption to a terminal in a network, and may increase additional resource overhead for an air interface.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a communication method and device, which are beneficial to reducing power consumption overhead of a terminal on one hand and saving resource overhead of an air interface on the other hand.

In a first aspect, a communication method is provided, including: the method comprises the steps that terminal equipment determines a first identifier, wherein the first identifier is used for monitoring downlink data in an idle state or an inactive state by the terminal equipment; and the terminal equipment receives a first message from access network equipment according to the first identifier, wherein the first message comprises the downlink data and resource configuration information, the resource configuration information is used for indicating a first resource, and the first resource is used for the terminal equipment to send feedback information of the downlink data.

In the embodiment of the application, the information indicating the feedback resources is carried in the first message which is sent to the terminal and comprises the downlink data, so that the information indicating the feedback resources can be prevented from being carried by a paging message. This may reduce the size of the paging message, thereby reducing power consumption for terminals that are not paged to receive the paging message. In addition, the resource overhead for the network to send paging messages in multiple cells may be reduced.

With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: under the condition that the downlink data is not monitored in a preset first time period, the terminal equipment stops using the first identifier to monitor the downlink data; or, the terminal device initiates a random access process under the condition that the downlink data is not monitored in a preset second time period.

In the embodiment of the application, the terminal device can preset a time period for monitoring the downlink data, and does not monitor the downlink data or initiate a random access process under the condition that the downlink data is not monitored in the preset time period, so that the efficiency of monitoring the data by the terminal device is improved, and the timeliness and the reliability of acquiring the data are improved.

With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the resource configuration information further includes first information, where the first information is used to indicate an effective time for using the first resource.

In the embodiment of the application, the resource configuration information further includes effective time for indicating the first resource, so that the terminal device sends the feedback information according to the effective time, and the efficiency of sending the feedback information by the terminal device is improved.

With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first resource is a periodic resource, and the first information is used to indicate a number of times of using the first resource.

With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first resource includes a second resource and a third resource, where the second resource is used for feeding back Acknowledgement (ACK) information, and the third resource is used for feeding back Negative Acknowledgement (NACK) information.

In the embodiment of the application, different resources can be used for feeding back the ACK information and the NACK information, so that the communication efficiency of the terminal equipment for feeding back the downlink data is improved.

With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first resource includes a physical uplink control channel PUCCH resource or a physical random access channel PRACH resource.

With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first message further includes the downlink data.

With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first message further carries a next hop chain count NCC and/or a recovery identifier.

With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first message is a radio resource control RRC message dedicated to the terminal device.

With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first message includes an RRC message and a random access response, RAR, message, where the RRC message includes the downlink data, and the RAR message includes the resource configuration information.

With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first message is an RRC connection release message or an RRC data early transfer complete message.

With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: and the terminal equipment receives a paging message from the access network equipment, wherein the paging message comprises the first identifier.

With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first identifier is carried in an RRC connection release message or an RRC early data transfer completion message.

With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation manner, when a terminal device performs cell reselection, the terminal device deletes the stored first identifier.

In this embodiment of the present application, if the terminal device performs cell reselection, the first identifier may not be applicable to the reselected cell, and therefore, the terminal device may delete the stored first identifier and no longer use the first identifier to monitor a downlink channel, so as to reduce power consumption of the terminal device.

In a second aspect, a communication method is provided, including: the method comprises the steps that terminal equipment determines a first identifier, wherein the first identifier is used for monitoring downlink data in an idle state or an inactive state by the terminal equipment; and the terminal equipment receives control information from access network equipment according to the first identifier, wherein the control information is used for scheduling the downlink data, the control information comprises resource configuration information, the resource configuration information is used for indicating a first resource, and the first resource is used for the terminal equipment to send feedback information of the downlink data.

In the embodiment of the application, the information indicating the feedback resources is carried in the control information sent to the terminal, so that the information indicating the feedback resources can be prevented from being carried by the paging message. This may reduce the size of the paging message, thereby reducing power consumption for terminals that are not paged to receive the paging message. In addition, the resource overhead for the network to send paging messages in multiple cells may be reduced.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: under the condition that the downlink data is not monitored in a preset first time period, the terminal equipment stops using the first identifier to monitor the downlink data; or, the terminal device initiates a random access process when the downlink data is not monitored in a preset second time period.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the resource configuration information further includes first information, where the first information is used to indicate an effective time for using the first resource.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first resource is a periodic resource, and the first information is used to indicate a number of times of using the first resource.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first resource includes a second resource and a third resource, the second resource is used for feeding back acknowledgement ACK information, and the third resource is used for feeding back negative acknowledgement NACK information.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first resource includes a physical uplink control channel PUCCH resource or a physical random access channel PRACH resource.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first message further includes the downlink data.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the next hop chain count NCC and/or the recovery identifier are also carried in the first message.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the control information is carried in a random access response, RAR, message.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the control information is downlink control information DCI.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: and the terminal equipment receives a paging message from the access network equipment, wherein the paging message comprises the first identifier.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first identifier is carried in an RRC connection release message or an RRC early data transfer completion message.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner, when a terminal device performs cell reselection, the terminal device deletes the stored first identifier.

In a third aspect, a communication method is provided, including: the method comprises the steps that access network equipment sends a first identifier to terminal equipment, wherein the first identifier is used for monitoring downlink data by the terminal equipment in an idle state or an inactive state; the access network equipment sends a first message to the terminal equipment, wherein the first message comprises the downlink data and resource configuration information, the resource configuration information is used for indicating a first resource, and the first resource is used for the terminal equipment to send feedback information of the downlink data.

With reference to the third aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the resource configuration information further includes first information, where the first information is used to indicate an effective time for using the first resource.

With reference to the third aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first resource is a periodic resource, and the first information is used to indicate a number of times of using the first resource.

With reference to the third aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first resource includes a second resource and a third resource, the second resource is used for feeding back acknowledgement, ACK, information, and the third resource is used for feeding back negative acknowledgement, NACK, information.

With reference to the third aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first resource includes a physical uplink control channel PUCCH resource or a physical random access channel PRACH resource.

With reference to the third aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first message further includes the downlink data.

With reference to the third aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first message further carries a next hop chain count NCC and/or a recovery identifier.

With reference to the third aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first message is a radio resource control, RRC, message dedicated to the terminal device.

With reference to the third aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first message includes an RRC message and a random access response, RAR, message, where the RRC message includes the downlink data, and the RAR message includes the resource configuration information.

With reference to the third aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first message is an RRC connection release message or an RRC data early transfer complete message.

With reference to the third aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the sending, by the access network device, the first identifier to the terminal device includes: and the access network equipment sends a paging message to the terminal equipment, wherein the paging message comprises the first identifier.

In a fourth aspect, a communication method is provided, including: the method comprises the steps that access network equipment sends a first identifier to terminal equipment, wherein the first identifier is used for monitoring downlink data by the terminal equipment in an idle state or an inactive state; the method comprises the steps that access network equipment sends control information to terminal equipment, the control information is used for scheduling downlink data, the control information comprises resource configuration information, the resource configuration information is used for indicating first resources, and the first resources are used for the terminal equipment to send feedback information of the downlink data.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the resource configuration information further includes first information, where the first information is used to indicate an effective time for using the first resource.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first resource is a periodic resource, and the first information is used to indicate a number of times of using the first resource.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first resource includes a second resource and a third resource, the second resource is used for feeding back acknowledgement, ACK, information, and the third resource is used for feeding back negative acknowledgement, NACK, information.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the first resource includes a physical uplink control channel PUCCH resource or a physical random access channel PRACH resource.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the control information is carried in a random access response, RAR, message.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the control information is downlink control information DCI.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the sending, by the access network device, the first identifier to the terminal device includes: and the access network equipment sends a paging message to the terminal equipment, wherein the paging message comprises the first identifier.

In a fifth aspect, an apparatus is provided for performing the method of the above aspects or any possible implementation manner of the aspects. In particular, the apparatus comprises means for performing the method in the above aspects or any possible implementation of the aspects. In one design, the apparatus may include a module corresponding to one or more of the methods/operations/steps/actions described in the foregoing aspects, and the module may be a hardware circuit, a software circuit, or a combination of a hardware circuit and a software circuit.

In a sixth aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising: a communication interface, a memory, and a processor. Wherein the communication interface, the memory and the processor are in communication with each other via an internal connection path, the memory is configured to store instructions, and the processor is configured to execute the instructions stored by the memory to implement the method in the above aspects or any possible implementation manner of the aspects.

In a seventh aspect, there is provided a system comprising means for implementing the method of the first aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect, and means for implementing the method of the second aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the second aspect, and means for implementing the method of the third aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the third aspect, and means for implementing the method of the fourth aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the fourth aspect; in one design, the system includes means for implementing the method performed by the terminal device and means for implementing the method performed by the access network device.

In an eighth aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising: computer program code which, when executed by a computing device, causes the computing device to perform the method of any one of the above aspects or possible implementations of the aspects.

In a ninth aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium for storing instructions which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the instructions of the method of the above aspects or any possible implementation of the aspects.

In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip system, where the chip system includes a processor and may further include a memory, and is configured to implement the functions of the terminal device or the access network device in the foregoing method. The chip system may be formed by a chip, and may also include a chip and other discrete devices.

In an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, where the communication system includes a terminal device and an access network device, where the terminal device is configured to implement the above-mentioned first aspect or any one of the possible implementation methods of the second aspect, and the access network device is configured to implement the above-mentioned third aspect or any one of the possible implementation methods of the fourth aspect.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless communication system architecture of an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a 5G network architecture according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a 4G network architecture according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 4 is a schematic flow chart diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 5-1 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method of a further embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 5-2 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method of a further embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 6 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method according to another embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 7 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method according to still another embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 8 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method according to another embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 9 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method according to yet another embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 10 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method of a further embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal device according to yet another embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of an access network device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 14 is a schematic structural diagram of an access network device according to still another embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

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

The technical solution of the embodiment of the present application may be applied to various communication systems, such as a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, an LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system, an LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD), a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) communication system, a fifth generation (5 g) system, or a New Radio (NR) system.

A terminal device in this embodiment may refer to a User Equipment (UE), an access terminal, a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a wireless communication device, a user agent, or a user equipment. The terminal device may also be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication function, a satellite wireless device, a Set Top Box (STB), a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE), a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a terminal device in a future 5G network or a terminal device in a future evolved Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), and the like, which is not limited in this embodiment.

The access network device in the embodiment of the present application may be a device for communicating with the terminal device. The access network device is a bridge between the terminal device and the core network. The access network devices may be connected via a communication interface (e.g., which may be referred to as an X2 interface). The primary functions of the access network equipment may include, but are not limited to, at least one of: radio resource management, IP header compression and user data stream encryption, mobility Management Entity (MME) selection when a terminal device is attached, routing of a user plane to a Serving Gateway (SGW), organization and transmission of paging messages, organization and transmission of broadcast messages, measurement and measurement report configuration for mobility, and the like.

The access network device may be a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) in a global system for mobile communications (GSM) system or a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, a base station (NodeB, NB) in a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, an evolved base station (evolved NodeB, eNB, or eNodeB) in an LTE system, a wireless controller in a Cloud Radio Access Network (CRAN) scenario, or the access network device may be a relay station, an access point, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, an access network device in a 5G network, or an access network device in a future evolved network, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited.

In this embodiment, the core network device may include, for example: a User Plane Function (UPF) entity, an access and mobility management function (AMF), a Session Management Function (SMF). The core network device may also be a Mobility Management Entity (MME).

In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device, the access network device, or the core network device includes a hardware layer, an operating system layer running on the hardware layer, and an application layer running on the operating system layer. The hardware layer includes hardware such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Memory Management Unit (MMU), and a memory (also referred to as a main memory). The operating system may be any one or more computer operating systems that implement business processing through processes (processes), such as a Linux operating system, a Unix operating system, an Android operating system, an iOS operating system, or a windows operating system. The application layer comprises applications such as a browser, an address list, word processing software, instant messaging software and the like. Furthermore, the embodiment of the present application does not particularly limit the specific structure of the execution main body of the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, as long as the communication can be performed according to the method provided in the embodiment of the present application by running the program in which the code of the method provided in the embodiment of the present application is recorded, for example, the execution main body of the method provided in the embodiment of the present application may be a terminal device, an access network device, or a core network device, or a functional module capable of calling the program and executing the program in the terminal device, the access network device, or the core network device.

In addition, various aspects or features of the present application may be implemented as a method, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programming and/or engineering techniques. The term "article of manufacture" as used herein is intended to encompass a computer program accessible from any computer-readable device, carrier, or media. For example, computer-readable media may include, but are not limited to: magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, or magnetic strips), optical disks (e.g., compact Disk (CD), digital Versatile Disk (DVD), or the like), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), card, stick, or key drive, or the like). In addition, various storage media described herein can represent one or more devices and/or other machine-readable media for storing information. The term "machine-readable medium" can include, without being limited to, wireless channels and various other media capable of storing, containing, and/or carrying instruction(s) and/or data.

Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless communication system architecture 100 suitable for use with embodiments of the present application. As shown in fig. 1, the system architecture 100 includes a terminal device 110, an access network device 120, a core network device 130, and a data network 160 (DN), where the core network device 130 includes a management device 140 and a gateway device 150. Terminal device 110 in fig. 1 may be configured to connect to access network device 120 deployed by an operator through a wireless air interface, and then connect to a data network through core network device 130; the access network device 120 is mainly used for implementing functions such as a wireless physical layer function, resource scheduling and wireless resource management, wireless access control, and mobility management; the core network device 130 may include a management device 140 and a gateway device 150, where the management device 140 is mainly used for device registration, security authentication, mobility management, location management, and the like of a terminal device, and the gateway device 150 is mainly used for establishing a channel with the terminal device, and forwarding a data packet between the terminal device and an external data network on the channel; the data network 160 may correspond to a plurality of different service domains, such as an internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS), an internet (internet), an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), other operator service domains, and the like, and is mainly used for providing a plurality of data service services for terminal devices, and may include network devices such as servers (including servers providing multicast services), routers, gateways, and the like. Fig. 1 is an exemplary architecture diagram, and besides the functional units shown in fig. 1, the network architecture may also include other functional units or functional entities, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

When the communication network shown in fig. 1 is a 5G network, the access network device may be AN Access Network (AN)/Radio Access Network (RAN) device, and the network is composed of a plurality of 5G-AN/5G-RAN nodes, where the 5G-AN/5G-RAN nodes may be: access node (AP), next generation base station (NR nodeB, gNB), central Unit (CU), and Distributed Unit (DU) in separate forms, which are, gNB, TRP, TP, or some other access node. The core network device may include: access and Mobility Function (AMF), session Management Function (SMF), policy Control Function (PCF), user Plane Function (UPF), and other functional units, which may work independently or may be combined together to implement some control functions, such as: the AMF, SMF and PCF may be combined together as a management device to complete access control and mobility management functions such as access authentication, security encryption, location registration, etc. of the terminal device, session management functions such as establishment, release and change of a user plane transmission path, etc., and functions of analyzing data (such as congestion) related to some slices (slices) and data related to the terminal device, and the UPF as a gateway device mainly completes functions such as routing forwarding of user plane data, etc., for example: and the system is responsible for filtering data messages of the terminal equipment, transmitting/forwarding data, controlling the rate, generating charging information and the like.

When the communication network shown in fig. 1 is a 4G network, the access network device may be a base station (NB), an evolved nodeB (eNB), a HeNB, a TRP, a TP, an AP, or some other access unit; the core network device may include: management devices such as a Mobility Management Entity (MME), a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF), and gateway devices such as a Serving Gateway (SGW), a packet data network gateway (PGW), and a Local Gateway (LGW).

In another example of the network architecture shown in fig. 2 and suitable for the present application, in the 5G network architecture shown in fig. 2, the functional units may establish a connection through a next generation Network (NG) interface to implement communication, for example: the terminal equipment establishes an air interface connection with the access network equipment through a New Radio (NR) interface, and is used for transmitting user plane data and control plane signaling; the terminal equipment can establish control plane signaling connection with the AMF through an NG interface 1 (N1 for short); an access network device, such as a next generation radio access base station (NR NodeB, gNB), may establish a user plane data connection with the UPF through an NG interface 3 (N3 for short); the access network equipment can establish control plane signaling connection with the AMF through an NG interface 2 (N2 for short); UPF can establish control plane signaling connection with SMF through NG interface 4 (N4 for short); the UPF can interact user plane data with a data network through an NG interface 6 (N6 for short); the AMF can establish a control plane signaling connection with the SMF through an NG interface 11 (N11 for short); the SMF may establish a control plane signaling connection with the PCF via NG interface 7 (N7 for short). The air interface shown in fig. 2 may also be referred to as a 3GPP air interface.

It should be noted that the architecture diagram shown in fig. 2 is only an exemplary architecture diagram, and besides the functional units shown in fig. 2, the network architecture may also include other functional units or functional entities, such as: the core network device may further include other functional units such as a unified data management function (UDM), which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of another 4G network architecture suitable for the present application. In the 4G network architecture shown in fig. 3, a terminal device may establish an air interface connection with an access network device through a Uu interface, the access network device establishes a control plane signaling connection with an MME through an S1-C interface, the access network device establishes a user plane data connection with an SGW through an S1-U interface, the SGW establishes a control plane signaling connection with the MME through an S11, the SGW establishes a user plane data connection with a PGW through an S5/S8 interface, and the PGW and the PCRF are connected through a Gx interface. In addition, the PGW is also connected to the data network via a communication interface. The air interface shown in fig. 3 may also be referred to as a 3GPP air interface.

It should be noted that fig. 1 to fig. 3 are only exemplary architecture diagrams, and names of functional modules and communication structures in the exemplary architecture diagrams are not limited in the embodiments of the present application. In addition to the functional units shown in fig. 1 to 3, the network architecture may further include other functional units or functional entities, or include fewer functional units or functional entities, which is not limited in this embodiment.

For the purpose of describing examples in this application, several concepts involved are first introduced.

An idle state: in an idle state, no dedicated data or signaling bearer is established between the terminal device and the access network device, and no dedicated bearer is established between the terminal device and the core network device.

Connection state: in the connected state, dedicated data and signaling bearers are established between the terminal device and the access network device.

In the non-activated state: in the inactive state, no dedicated data or signaling bearer is established between the terminal device and the access network device, and a dedicated bearer is established between the terminal device and the core network device.

Generally, the concept of message 1 (message 1, msg 1) to message 5 (message 5, msg 5) is introduced along with the random access procedure. Where Msg1 may refer to a random access preamble (preamble), message 2 (message 2, msg 2) may refer to a Random Access Response (RAR) message, and Msg3 may refer to a message including a Common Control Channel (CCCH) Service Data Unit (SDU) associated with a UE collision resolution identifier during a random access procedure, where the CCCH SDU may be a radio resource control connection request (RRC connection request), an RRC connection reestablishment request (RRC connection request), an RRC early data request (RRC early request), or an RRC connection reestablishment request (RRC connection request). Message 4 (message 4, msg 4) may refer to an RRC connection setup (RRC connection setup) message, an RRC connection resume (RRC connection resume) message, an RRC connection release (RRC connection release) message, an RRC connection reestablishment (RRC connection reestablishment) message, or an RRC early data complete (RRC early data complete) message. Msg 5 may refer to an RRC connection setup complete (RRC connection setup complete) message or an RRC connection reestablishment complete (RRC connection reestablishment complete) message.

Next, referring to fig. 4, a general procedure for establishing a connection between an access network device and a terminal device in the embodiment of the present application is described. Or fig. 4 shows a process of entering the connected state from the idle state by the terminal device. The communication architecture of fig. 3 is illustrated in fig. 4 as an example, and those skilled in the art will understand that the method may also be used in other similar communication architectures. In fig. 4, after entering the connection state, the terminal device transmits downlink data. Steps S1 to S3 are a paging (paging) process triggered by downlink data, and steps S4 to S8 are a process of performing random access (random access) for the terminal device.

S1, the SGW sends downlink data indication information to the MME.

For example, when the SGW on the core network side has downlink data of a terminal device to arrive, the SGW sends a downlink data indication message to the MME to notify the MME that the downlink data of a certain terminal device arrives, where the downlink data indication message may carry an evolved packet system bearer identifier (EPS bearer ID) of the terminal device.

S2, the MME sends a paging message to the access network equipment.

For example, after the MME receives the downlink data indication message sent by the SGW, the MME sends a paging (paging) message to the access network device, so that the access network device pages the terminal device.

Alternatively, in 4G, the paging message in step S2 may be referred to as S1paging.

And S3, the access network equipment sends a paging message to the terminal equipment.

For example, after receiving the paging message sent by the MME, the access network device sends the paging message in a broadcast form.

The idle terminal device may periodically monitor a paging message sent by the access network device, and when the terminal device monitors the paging message sent by the access network device and the paging message carries an identifier of the terminal device, the terminal device may trigger an RRC connection establishment procedure.

Alternatively, in 4G, the paging message in step S3 may be referred to as Uu paging.

And S4, the terminal equipment sends a random access preamble (preamble) to the access network equipment, wherein the preamble sent in S4 is Msg1.

For example, the random access preamble may be a preamble that is broadcasted to the terminal device by the access network device through a broadcast message, and is randomly selected by the terminal device that needs to initiate a random access process from a plurality of preambles broadcasted by the access network device, and a resource is randomly selected from resources for sending the preamble broadcasted by the access network device, so as to send the preamble selected by the terminal device to the access network device.

And S5, the access network equipment sends a Random Access Response (RAR) message to the terminal equipment. The RAR message is Msg 2.

For example, the access network device may monitor a preamble sent by the terminal device on a resource of the preamble, and when a certain preamble is detected, the access network device confirms that the terminal device sends the preamble, and sends an RAR message to the terminal device.

Optionally, the RAR message may include Timing Advanced (TA) when the terminal device sends Msg3, an uplink resource grant (uplink grant) when the terminal device sends Msg3, and the like.

And S6, after receiving the RAR sent by the access network equipment, the terminal equipment sends an RRC connection request message to the access network equipment, namely, the Msg3 is sent to the access network equipment.

For example, the terminal device may send an RRC connection request message (RRC connection request) according to the TA and the uplink resource grant in the RAR message.

Optionally, the RRC connection request message carries an Identifier (ID) of the terminal device, where the ID of the terminal device may be a system architecture evolution temporary mobile equipment identifier (S-TMSI) or an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) of the terminal device.

S7, the access network equipment sends an RRC connection setup (RRC connection setup) message to the terminal equipment.

And S8, the terminal equipment sends an RRC connection setup complete (RRC connection setup complete) message to the access network equipment.

S9, the access network equipment sends an initialization UE message to the MME.

S10, the MME sends an initial context setup request (initial context setup request) to the access network device.

The context may be referred to as a UE context, which may include basic configuration of the terminal device, communication capability of the terminal device, and other information.

S11, the access network device sends a security mode command to the terminal device.

S12, the terminal equipment sends a security mode complete message to the access network equipment.

Wherein, S11-S12 are the process of setting the security context of the terminal equipment.

S13, the access network device sends an RRC connection reconfiguration (RRC connection reconfiguration) message to the terminal device.

Optionally, this step may be used to configure a Data Radio Bearer (DRB) and a signaling radio bearer 2 (srb 2).

S14, the terminal device sends an RRC connection reconfiguration complete (RRC connection reconfiguration complete) message to the access network device.

S15, the access network device sends an initial context setup complete (initial context setup complete) to the MME.

S16, the MME sends a modify bearer request (modify bearer request) to the SGW.

S17, the SGW sends a modified bearer response (modified bearer response) to the MME.

Wherein, S14-S17 are the process of establishing or modifying the core network side bearer for the terminal equipment.

And S18, the SGW sends downlink data to the access network equipment.

And S19, the access network equipment sends the downlink data to the terminal equipment.

Wherein, S18 to S19 are processes in which the SGW sends downlink data to the terminal device through the access network device.

It should be noted that, in the embodiments of the present application, two schemes for transmitting data are involved. The first scheme is called user plane solution (user plane solution), in which data is transmitted through SGW-access network device-terminal device. The second scheme is called a control plane solution (control plane solution), in the scheme, data is transmitted through an SGW-MME-access network device-terminal device, the data is forwarded through an MME, and a message interacted between the terminal device and the MME is called a non-access stratum (NAS) message, that is, the data is interacted with the terminal device through an NAS message. Data is encrypted at the NAS layer so no Access Stratum (AS) layer security context is required.

As can be seen from the example in fig. 4, when there is downlink data of the terminal device on the network side, a very complicated connection establishment procedure needs to be performed, and when there is only a small data packet of the terminal device on the network side, the above procedure increases the burden on the system and reduces the utilization efficiency of resources. In order to solve the above problems, a method for early transmitting downlink data is provided.

For ease of understanding, the concept related to early transmission of downstream data is presented next. The main idea of data early transfer is to send downlink data to the terminal device during the connection establishment procedure or during the random access procedure or not via the connection establishment procedure. For example, the early downlink data transmission may refer to sending downlink data to the terminal device before message 3 (message 3, msg 3) in the random access procedure, for example, sending downlink data in a paging message, or sending downlink data after the paging message, or sending downlink data after receiving a random access preamble (preamble), or sending downlink data in an RAR message, or sending downlink data after the RAR message. However, the current flow of the downlink data early-transmission method is not sufficient in consideration of application, thereby affecting the communication efficiency. For example, if downlink data is carried in the paging message, the paging message may be overloaded. In addition, in the current data early transmission method, the problem of how to feed back the downlink data transmission is not solved.

In addition, in order to ensure the reliability of downlink data transmission, the paging message may carry an uplink resource for the terminal device to feed back an indication of whether the downlink data is successfully received. Because the paging message faces to multiple terminals, that is, multiple terminals can receive the same paging message, and because the uplink resource is specific to individual terminal, the terminal will receive the uplink resource configured to other terminals, which increases the power consumption of the terminal for receiving the paging message. Moreover, since the paging message is sent in multiple cells, the resource overhead of the network side is further increased, which results in resource waste.

In order to solve the above problem, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can improve resource utilization efficiency and reliability of downlink data transmission in an early downlink data transmission process. Fig. 5-1 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The method of fig. 5-1 may be applied to a scenario in which the downstream data is transmitted early. As shown in fig. 5-1, the method includes:

s5011, the terminal device determines a first identifier, and the first identifier is used for the terminal device to monitor downlink data.

Optionally, the downlink data may be user plane data (user plane data), or the downlink data may be unicast data (unicast data).

Optionally, the terminal device is in an idle (idle) state or a non-active (inactive) state. The first identifier may be used for the terminal device to monitor downlink data in an idle state or an inactive state.

Optionally, the type of the first identifier is not limited in this embodiment of the application, for example, the first identifier may be a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI), a cell-RNTI (C-RNTI), or a downlink RNTI (downlink-RNTI, D-RNTI) for early transmission of downlink data.

Optionally, the embodiment of the present application does not limit a manner of obtaining the first identifier. For example, the first identifier may be carried in a paging message sent by the access network device to the terminal device, or may be carried in an RRC connection release message sent by the access network device to the terminal device, or may be carried in an RRC early-transfer data complete message sent by the access network device to the terminal device, or may be carried in an RAR message sent by the access network device to the terminal device, or the first identifier may be carried in another type of message, or the first identifier may be determined by the terminal device itself. For example, the terminal device may determine the first identity according to the same rules as the access network device.

S5012, the terminal device receives a first message from an access network device according to the first identifier, where the first message includes the downlink data and resource configuration information, the resource configuration information is used to indicate a first resource, and the first resource is used for the terminal device to send feedback information of the downlink data.

Optionally, the resource configuration information indicates a first resource, where the first resource is used for the terminal device to send feedback information of the downlink data.

Optionally, the first resource is used for the terminal device to send feedback information whether the downlink data is received.

Optionally, the feedback information on whether the downlink data is received may include Acknowledgement (ACK) information and Negative Acknowledgement (NACK) information.

Optionally, the application does not limit the type of the first resource. For example, the first resource may be a time domain resource, a frequency domain resource, or a code resource. For example, the first resource may include a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) resource or a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) resource.

In one example, the resource configuration information further includes first information indicating a valid time of the first resource. For example, the valid time may be used to indicate a preset third time period, the first resource may be used in the preset third time period of the terminal device, and after the preset third time period, the first resource is disabled. Alternatively, if the first resource is a periodic resource, the valid time may be represented by the number of times of use of the first resource. For example, the first information is used to indicate a number of uses of the first resource. For example, assuming that the PRACH or PUCCH resources are periodic, the first information may be used to configure the number of times of use of the PRACH or PUCCH resources.

Optionally, the first resource may include a second resource and a third resource, and the ACK information may be fed back by using the second resource, and the NACK information may be fed back by using the second resource. For example, two sets of PRACH resources or two sets of PUCCH resources may be configured, one set of resources is used for feeding back ACK information, and the other set of resources is used for feeding back NACK.

Optionally, the embodiment of the present application does not limit the type of the first message. In one example, the first message may be a RAR message, or the first message may be another type of message.

Optionally, the terminal device may descramble the monitored data according to the first identifier, so as to obtain the downlink data.

Optionally, the terminal device may further receive a paging message sent by the access network device. The paging message may include an identification of the terminal device. The paging message may be used to indicate downlink data transmitted by the core network to the terminal device. Optionally, in this embodiment of the present application, downlink data may not be carried in the paging message, so as to reduce the influence on the load of the paging message.

Optionally, in some examples, the first message is an RRC message dedicated to the terminal device, for example, the first message may be an RRC connection release message or an RRC data early transfer complete message, or another type of dedicated RRC message.

Optionally, in some examples, if the first message is an RRC connection release message, the RRC connection release message may carry the first identifier, or the RRC connection release message may carry the downlink data, the resource configuration information, and the first identifier. The first identifier may be used to monitor downlink data when data is transmitted early next time. The first identifier for monitoring the downlink data this time may be carried in the RRC connection release message sent last time.

Similarly, if the first message is an RRC data early-transfer complete message, the RRC data early-transfer complete message may carry the first identifier. The first identifier may be used to monitor downlink data when the next data is transmitted early. Or, the first identifier for monitoring the downlink data this time may be carried in the RRC data early-transfer complete message sent last time.

Fig. 5-2 is a flow chart illustrating a communication method according to another embodiment of the present application. The method of fig. 5-2 may be applied to a scenario where the downstream data is transmitted early. As shown in fig. 5-2, the method includes:

s5021, the terminal equipment determines a first identification, and the first identification is used for monitoring downlink data in an idle state or an inactive state by the terminal equipment.

Optionally, the terminal device is in an idle state or an inactive state (inactive). The first identifier may be used for the terminal device to monitor downlink data in an idle state or an inactive state.

S5022, the terminal device receives control information from an access network device according to the first identifier, where the control information is used to schedule the downlink data, the control information includes resource configuration information, the resource configuration information is used to indicate a first resource, and the first resource is used for the terminal device to send feedback information of the downlink data.

Alternatively, the control information may be Downlink Control Information (DCI).

Optionally, the control information may be carried in a RAR message.

In the embodiment of the application, the information indicating the feedback resource is carried in the control information sent to the terminal, so that the information indicating the feedback resource can be prevented from being carried by a paging message. This may reduce the size of the paging message, thereby reducing power consumption for terminals that are not paged to receive the paging message. In addition, the resource overhead for the network to send paging messages in multiple cells may be reduced.

For the resource configuration information and other contents of the first resource, reference may be made to the foregoing description, and details are not repeated here.

Optionally, the terminal device may monitor downlink data or monitor control information of scheduling downlink data according to the first identifier, so as to obtain the downlink data.

Optionally, in some examples, the resource configuration information may be sent simultaneously with the downlink data, or may also be sent separately from the downlink data, that is, the resource configuration information and the downlink data are not necessarily carried in the same message. The resource configuration information may be transmitted separately after the paging message or together with the downlink data after the paging message, thereby reducing the influence on the load of the paging message.

Optionally, the downlink data may be transmitted by using a control plane scheme, or may be transmitted by using a user plane scheme. For example, fig. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a manner of transmitting by using a control plane scheme in the embodiment of the present application, and fig. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a manner of transmitting by using a user plane scheme in the embodiment of the present application. Wherein, in the transmission mode using the user plane scheme, the first message may also carry a next hop chain count (NCC). In the mode of transmission by using the control plane scheme, the downlink data may be encapsulated in NAS PDUs. In one example, the first message may further carry a resume identification (resume ID).

Optionally, the downlink data may be carried in the first message, or may be carried in another message. The first message may simultaneously carry downlink data and the resource configuration information. The first message may be a RAR message.

Several implementations of the data early-transmission of the embodiments of the present application are described below, and it should be understood that the following examples are only illustrative and not limiting, and that the present application may also adopt variations of the following examples or other implementations. The communication method of the embodiment of the present application will be described in detail in the examples of fig. 6 to 10 later.

Optionally, in the first manner, after sending the paging message to the terminal device, the access network device sends a PDCCH, where the PDCCH is used to schedule a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH), the PDSCH is used to carry an RRC message, and the RRC message may carry a NAS Protocol Data Unit (PDU). The NAS PDU may carry downlink data. Optionally, the RRC message may also carry the resource configuration information.

In the second way, after sending the paging message to the terminal device, the access network device sends a PDCCH, and the PDCCH is used for scheduling the PDSCH. The PDSCH may carry RRC messages and downlink data, and the RRC messages may also carry resource configuration information and NCC. The first and second modes are different in that the first mode is a control plane transmission scheme and the second mode is a user plane transmission scheme.

In the third mode, the access network device may send Downlink Control Information (DCI) to the terminal device, where the DCI may be used to schedule downlink data. Optionally, the DCI is carried in a RAR message (i.e., msg 2), and after receiving the RAR message, the terminal device may receive downlink data according to the DCI. Optionally, the DCI is not limited to be carried in the RAR message, and may also be carried in other types of messages.

In a fourth mode, the access network device may send a first message to the terminal device, where the first message includes the resource configuration information and the downlink data. For example, if the downlink data is transmitted by using a user plane scheme, the downlink data may be carried in a Dedicated Traffic Channel (DTCH). Or, if the downlink data is transmitted by using a control plane scheme, the downlink data may be carried in a Common Control Channel (CCCH), and the CCCH is included in an RRC message. Optionally, the RAR message may include the resource configuration information, the RAR message and the RRC message may be multiplexed in a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer to form a MAC PDU, and the first message may include the MAC PDU.

Optionally, in an embodiment, if the downlink data is not monitored within a preset first time period, the terminal device stops monitoring the downlink data using the first identifier; or, if the downlink data is not monitored in the preset second time period, the terminal device initiates a random access process or an RRC connection establishment process. Wherein the random access procedure may include steps S4-S7 in fig. 4, and the RRC connection setup procedure may include steps S4-S8 in fig. 4. Or, it can be understood that the terminal device may start a random access process when the terminal device does not monitor the downlink data, so that the terminal device is switched from an idle state to a connected state to receive the downlink data in the connected state, thereby avoiding a problem that the downlink data cannot be received in time, and improving timeliness of downlink data transmission.

Optionally, in some examples, if a terminal device performs cell reselection, the terminal device may delete the first identifier saved previously. If the terminal device reselects the cell, the first identifier may not be applicable to the reselected cell, so that the terminal device may delete the stored first identifier and no longer use the first identifier to monitor the downlink channel, thereby reducing the power consumption of the terminal device.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart of a communication method according to another embodiment of the present application. Fig. 6 employs a scheme of control plane communication. As shown in fig. 6, the method comprises the steps of:

s601, the core network equipment sends S1paging information to the access network equipment.

Optionally, since the paging message sent by the core network device to the access network device is via the S1 interface, the paging message may be referred to as an S1paging message, and if the paging message is applied to other communication systems, for example, a 5G system, other names may also be used, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. Optionally, the S1paging message may carry S-TMSI and NAS PDU.

The NAS PDU carries downlink data of the terminal equipment. Optionally, the downlink data may be small data.

Optionally, the core network device may be an MME, an AMF, or another type of core network device.

And S602, the access network equipment allocates a first identifier for the terminal equipment corresponding to the S-TMSI.

Optionally, the first identifier may be an RNTI. For example, when receiving the S1paging message, the access network device may confirm that the terminal device corresponding to the S-TMSI is paged and has downlink small data or a downlink data packet, and the access network device allocates a first identifier, such as an RNTI, to the terminal device. The first identifier is used for the terminal equipment to monitor downlink data. Optionally, the terminal device is in an idle state or an inactive state.

S603, the access network equipment sends Uu paging information to the terminal equipment, and the Uu paging information carries the first identification.

For example, the Uu paging message may carry the S-TMSI as well as the RNTI.

Correspondingly, the terminal equipment receives the Uu paging message and determines that the terminal equipment is paged according to the S-TMSI carried by the paging message.

Optionally, if the terminal device determines that the Uu paging message carries the first identifier, for example, the RNTI, the terminal device determines that downlink data arrives.

Alternatively, if the paging message is applied to other communication systems, for example, a 5G system, other names may also be used, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

S604, the terminal device monitors the PDCCH for scheduling the downlink data by using the first identifier.

Optionally, the time for the terminal device to monitor the PDCCH may be preset, and if the PDCCH is not monitored in a preset first time period, the terminal device stops monitoring the PDCCH by using the first identifier.

Optionally, if the terminal device does not monitor the PDCCH within the preset second time period, the terminal device may initiate a random access procedure to the access network device.

Alternatively, the PDCCH may be a machine type communication PDCCH (MTC PDCCH, MPDCCH) or a Narrowband PDCCH (NPDCCH).

S605, the access network device allocates a first resource for the terminal device, wherein the first resource is used for the terminal device to send feedback information of the downlink data.

Optionally, the first resource may be a PRACH resource or a PUCCH resource.

Optionally, the access network device may further determine an effective time of the PRACH resource or the PUCCH resource. The detailed description of the effective time can be referred to the related description in the example of fig. 5.

Optionally, the PRACH resource may include one or more of an index of a PRACH configuration (PRACH-configlndex), a preamble index (ra-preamble index), and a PRACH mask index (ra-PRACH-mask index).

Alternatively, the PUCCH resource may include an ACK/NACK resource index, a frequency domain sequence cyclic shift, and the like.

It should be noted that step S605 may be executed before S603, or may be executed after S603. That is, the method may be performed before or after the access network device sends the Uu paging message to the terminal device, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. For example, S605 may be performed simultaneously with S602.

And S606, the access network equipment sends downlink data.

For example, after sending the Uu paging message to the terminal device, the access network device sends a PDCCH, where the PDCCH is used for scheduling downlink data. For example, downlink data is carried on the PDSCH. In one possible embodiment, the PDSCH is used to carry RRC messages. The RRC message may carry NAS PDUs. The NAS PDU may carry downlink data. Optionally, the RRC message may also carry the resource configuration information. The resource configuration information is used to indicate the first resource allocated in S605. Optionally, the resource configuration information may further carry first information, where the first information is used to indicate an effective time of the first resource. In another possible embodiment, the access network device sends an RRC message. For example, the RRC message and downlink data are multiplexed in the MAC layer to form one MAC PDU, and are scheduled and transmitted through the PDCCH.

The valid time may be k time units, where k is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The time unit may refer to a time unit such as a frame, a subframe, a symbol, and the like.

S607, the access network device monitors or receives the feedback information sent by the terminal device.

For example, after S606, the access network device may acquire feedback information of downlink data sent by the terminal device by monitoring the PRACH or PUCCH.

S608, the terminal device sends feedback information of the downlink data by using the first resource.

For example, if the terminal device monitors the PDCCH and the scheduled downlink data, the terminal device sends an ACK using the first resource in a preset third time period.

For example, if the terminal device determines that Timing Advance (TA) is valid, the terminal device may transmit ACK or NACK using PUCCH.

And S609, the access network equipment sends feedback information to the core network equipment to indicate whether the downlink data is successfully sent to the terminal equipment.

For example, if the access network device monitors the feedback information sent by the terminal device, the access network device sends NAS PDU or feedback information of downlink data to the core network device, which is used to indicate that the downlink data is successfully sent to the terminal device. Or, if the access network device does not receive the feedback information sent by the terminal device within the preset time, or the received feedback information is NACK, the access network device sends NACK feedback information of the NAS PDU to the core network device, indicating that the downlink data is not successfully sent to the terminal device.

Fig. 7 is a flowchart of a communication method according to another embodiment of the present application. Fig. 7 employs a user plane approach. As shown in fig. 7, the method includes the following steps.

S701, the second core network equipment sends a downlink data indication to the first core network equipment.

Optionally, the downlink data indication may carry a first indication indicating that the terminal device has downlink data.

Optionally, the downlink data may be downlink small data or a downlink data packet.

As an example, the second core network device may be an SGW and the first core network device may be an MME. Alternatively, the second core network device and the first core network device may be other types of devices capable of implementing the related functions.

S702, the first core network device sends an S1paging message to the access network device, wherein the S1paging message may carry the S-TMSI and the first indication.

Optionally, the S1paging message may further carry a second indication, where the second indication may be used to indicate one or more access network devices. The one or more access network devices are access network devices that have a greater probability of serving the terminal device. For example, the MME can know that the access network device corresponding to the serving cell of the terminal device in the last connection process, and for some terminal devices that are not mobile or move slowly, the terminal device has a larger probability of being in the coverage area of the previous access network device or the access network device adjacent to the previous access network device, so that the MME can instruct the access network devices to request downlink data.

Optionally, the S1paging message may include at least one of the first indication and the second indication.

S703, performing a path switch (path switch) procedure between the access network device and the first core network device.

For example, if the access network device receives an S1paging message and the S1paging message includes the first indication and/or the second indication, the access network device may send a path switch request message to the MME.

S704, a procedure of modifying a bearer between the first core network device and the second core network device.

For example, if the MME receives a path switching request sent by the access network device, the MME sends a bearer modification request message to the SGW, and accordingly, the SGW sends a bearer modification response message to the MME.

Then, in S703, the MME sends a path forwarding response message to the access network device

S705, the second core network device sends downlink data to the access network device.

S706, the access network equipment distributes a first identifier for the terminal equipment.

For example, if the access network device receives the S1paging message from the MME, it is confirmed that the terminal device corresponding to the S-TMSI is paged. If the S1paging message contains the first indication and/or the second indication, the access network equipment allocates a first identifier for the terminal equipment. For example, the first identifier may be an RNTI, and the RNTI is used for the terminal device to monitor downlink data in an idle state or an inactive state.

S707, the access network equipment sends a Uu paging message to the terminal equipment, wherein the Uu paging message carries the first identifier.

For example, the Uu paging message may carry the S-TMSI as well as the RNTI.

Correspondingly, the terminal equipment receives the Uu paging message and determines that the terminal equipment is paged according to the S-TMSI carried in the paging message.

Optionally, if the terminal device determines that the Uu paging message carries the first identifier, the terminal device determines that downlink data arrives.

Optionally, if the terminal device determines that downlink data arrives, the terminal device may activate the UE context and the security context, and derive the key according to the stored NCC.

Or, optionally, if the terminal device determines that the Uu paging message carries the first identifier, the terminal device may activate the UE context and the security context, and derive the key according to the stored NCC.

And S708, the terminal equipment monitors the downlink data by using the first identifier.

Optionally, the terminal device monitors a PDCCH for scheduling downlink data using the first identifier.

Optionally, if the PDCCH is not monitored within a preset first time period, the terminal device stops monitoring the PDCCH by using the first identifier. Optionally, the preset first time period may be access network configured or predefined.

Optionally, if the terminal device does not monitor the PDCCH within the preset second time period, the terminal device may initiate a random access process to the access network device.

S709, the access network device allocates a first resource to the terminal device, where the first resource is used for the terminal device to send feedback information of the downlink data.

Optionally, the first resource may be a PRACH resource or a PUCCH resource.

Optionally, the access network device may further determine an effective time of the PRACH or PUCCH resource. The detailed description of the effective time can be referred to the related description of fig. 5.

Optionally, the PRACH resource may include one or more of an index of PRACH configuration (PRACH-configlndex), a preamble index (ra-preamble index), and a PRACH mask index (ra-PRACH-mask index).

Optionally, the PUCCH resource may include an ACK/NACK resource index, a frequency domain sequence cyclic shift.

Step S709 may be executed before S707 or after S707. That is, the method may be performed before or after the access network device sends the Uu paging message to the terminal device, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. For example, S709 may be performed simultaneously with S706.

And S710, the access network equipment sends downlink data.

For example, after sending the Uu paging message to the terminal device, the access network device sends a PDCCH, where the PDCCH is used for scheduling downlink data. For example, downlink data is carried on the PDSCH. In one possible implementation, the PDSCH may carry RRC messages and downlink data, and the RRC messages may carry resource configuration information and NCC. The NCC may be used to derive the key the next time. The resource configuration information is used to indicate the first resource allocated in S709. Optionally, the RRC message may further carry first information, where the first information is used to indicate an effective time for using the first resource.

And S711, the access network equipment monitors the feedback information sent by the terminal equipment.

For example, after S710, the access network device may acquire feedback information of downlink data sent by the terminal device by monitoring the PRACH or PUCCH.

S712, the terminal device sends feedback information indicating whether downlink data is received by using the first resource.

For example, if the terminal device monitors the PDCCH and the scheduled downlink data, the terminal device sends an ACK using the first resource within a preset third time period.

Optionally, if the NCC is received by the terminal device, the NCC is saved.

S713, the access network equipment sends feedback information to the second core network equipment to indicate whether the downlink data are successfully sent to the terminal equipment.

For example, if the access network device monitors feedback information sent by the terminal device, the access network device sends feedback information of downlink data to the MME or the SGW, which is used to indicate that the downlink data is successfully sent to the terminal device. Or, if the access network device does not receive the feedback information sent by the terminal device within the preset time period, or the received feedback information is NACK, the access network device sends NACK feedback information of the downlink data to the MME or the SGW, indicating that the downlink data is not successfully sent to the terminal device.

Fig. 8 is a detailed flowchart of a communication method according to another embodiment of the present application. Shown in fig. 8 is a user plane scenario, and as shown in fig. 8, the method includes the following steps.

S801, the first core network device sends an S1paging message to the access network device, wherein the S1paging message can carry an S-TMSI and a downlink data indication (downlink data indication).

The downlink data indication may be used to indicate that downlink data arrives. For example, the downstream data indication may be used to indicate that only one downstream data packet arrives.

The first core network device may be an MME.

S802, the access network equipment allocates a fourth resource for the terminal equipment, and the fourth resource is used for the terminal equipment to request downlink data.

In another possible implementation manner, alternatively, the fourth resource is used for the terminal device to indicate to the access network device that the Uu paging message is successfully received.

Specifically, in a possible implementation manner, if the access network device determines that downlink data arrives at the terminal device identified as the S-TMSI according to an S1paging message received from an MME, the access network device allocates a fourth resource to the terminal device.

In one possible embodiment, the fourth resource may be a PRACH resource or a PUCCH resource. Detailed configuration information on PRACH resources and PUCCH resources may be found in the foregoing description.

And S803, the access network equipment sends a Uu paging message to the terminal equipment, wherein the Uu paging message can carry the S-TMSI and the information indicating the fourth resource.

Accordingly, the terminal device receives the Uu paging message from the access network device.

Optionally, the Uu paging message carries a first identifier, where the first identifier is used for the terminal device to monitor downlink data.

S804, the terminal equipment sends a downlink data request to the access network equipment according to the Uu paging message.

In one possible embodiment, the downlink data request is implicitly indicated. For example, the terminal device sends an uplink signal to the access network device by using the first resource, where the uplink signal is used to indicate a downlink data request.

Correspondingly, the access network device receives the downlink data request from the terminal device. For example, if the access network device receives the uplink signal sent by the terminal device on the first resource, the access network device confirms that the terminal device sends a downlink data request.

S805, the access network device sends a path switch request (path switch request) to the first core network device according to the downlink data request.

Accordingly, the first core network device receives the path switch request from the access network device.

S806, the first core network device sends a request for modifying a bearer (modify bearer request) to the second core network device according to the path switching request.

Correspondingly, the second core network device receives the bearer modification request from the first core network device. The second core network device may be an SGW.

S807, the second core network device sends a modified bearer response (modified bearer response) to the first core network device in response to the modified bearer request.

Accordingly, the first core network device receives the modified bearer response from the second core network device.

S808, the first core network device sends a path switch request acknowledgement (path switch request ack) to the access network device according to the modified bearer response.

Accordingly, the access network device receives the path switch request acknowledgement from the first core network device.

S809, the access network device receives downlink data from the second core network device.

S810, the access network device sends a first message to the terminal device, where the first message includes the downlink data and resource configuration information, the resource configuration information is used to indicate a first resource, and the first resource is used to send feedback information of the downlink data.

Optionally, the first message further comprises a Timing Advance (TA).

Optionally, the first message further comprises NCC.

Optionally, the first resource is a PUCCH resource or a PRACH resource.

Accordingly, the terminal device receives the first message from the access network device.

Optionally, if the Uu paging message does not carry the first identifier, the terminal device may determine the first identifier according to the fourth resource, where the first identifier is used for the terminal device to receive the first message from the access network device.

S811, the terminal device sends the feedback information of the downlink data to the access network device according to the first message.

In one possible embodiment, the feedback information comprises a positive indication (ACK) and/or a negative indication (NACK).

In a possible implementation manner, if the first message contains a PUCCH resource and a TA used for transmitting feedback information of the downlink data, the terminal device transmits the positive indication or the negative indication using the PUCCH resource and the TA.

In another possible implementation, if the first message contains a PUCCH resource for transmitting feedback information of the downlink data, and the terminal device determines that the TA is valid, the terminal device transmits the positive indication or the negative indication using the PUCCH resource and the valid TA.

In another possible implementation, if the first message includes PRACH resource (e.g., dedicated preamble and/or dedicated time-frequency resource for transmitting preamble) for transmitting the feedback information of the downlink data, the terminal device transmits the positive indication or the negative indication using the PRACH resource.

S812, optionally, the access network device sends second feedback information to the first core network device or the second core network device according to the feedback information, where the second feedback information is used for the access network device to indicate, to the first core network device or the second core network device, that the downlink data is successfully sent to the terminal device.

Fig. 9 is a detailed flowchart of a communication method according to another embodiment of the present application. The method of fig. 9 is a control plane approach. As shown in fig. 9, the method includes the following steps.

The schemes of S901 to S904 are the same as or similar to those of S801 to S804 in fig. 8, and are not described herein again.

S905, the access network device sends an initial UE message to the first core network device according to the downlink data request.

Accordingly, the first core network device receives the initialization UE message from the access network device. The first core network device may be, for example, an MME.

S906, the first core network device sends a downlink NAS message or a connection establishment indication message to the access network device according to the initialized UE message, wherein the downlink NAS message or the connection establishment indication message carries the downlink data.

S907, the access network device sends a first message to the terminal device, where the first message includes the downlink data and resource configuration information, the resource configuration information is used to indicate a first resource, and the first resource is used to send feedback information of the downlink data.

Optionally, the first message further comprises a Timing Advance (TA).

Optionally, the first resource is a PUCCH resource or a PRACH resource.

Accordingly, the terminal device receives the second message from the access network device.

And S908, the terminal equipment sends the feedback information of the downlink data to the access network equipment according to the first message.

In a possible implementation manner, if the second message contains a PUCCH resource and a TA used for transmitting feedback information of the downlink data, the terminal device transmits the positive indication or the negative indication by using the PUCCH resource and the TA.

In another possible implementation, if the second message includes a PUCCH resource for transmitting feedback information of the downlink data, and the terminal device determines that the TA is valid, the terminal device transmits the positive indication or the negative indication using the PUCCH resource and the valid TA.

In another possible implementation, if the second message includes PRACH resource (e.g., dedicated preamble and/or dedicated time-frequency resource for transmitting preamble) for transmitting the feedback information of the downlink data, the terminal device transmits the positive indication or the negative indication using the PRACH resource.

S909, optionally, the access network device sends second feedback information to the first core network device according to the feedback information, where the second feedback information is used for the access network device to indicate, to the first core network device, that the downlink data is successfully sent to the terminal device.

Fig. 10 is a flowchart of a communication method in a further embodiment of the present application. Fig. 10 illustrates a data early transfer method in case of a cell reselection. The scheme of control plane communication is shown in fig. 10, and those skilled in the art can understand that the method is also applicable to the scheme of user plane communication. As shown in fig. 10, the method includes the following steps.

S1001, the access network equipment sends the first identification to the terminal equipment.

Optionally, the first identifier may be carried in an RRC connection release message or an RRC early data transfer complete message that is sent by the access network device to the terminal device. The first identifier may be, for example, a D-RNTI or an RNTI. The first identifier may be used for the terminal device to monitor downlink data at a Paging Occasion (PO). Wherein, the paging time may refer to a time for receiving a page.

Optionally, the terminal device stores the first identifier after receiving the RRC connection release message or the RRC early data complete message.

Optionally, the access network device stores the first identifier and the S-TMSI of the terminal device.

S1002, the core network equipment sends an S1paging message to the access network equipment, wherein the S1paging message carries the S-TMSI of the terminal equipment.

Optionally, the S1paging message carries an NAS PDU, or the core network device sends the NAS PDU to the access network device using another message. The NAS PDU comprises downlink data of the terminal equipment. Optionally, the core network device may be an MME.

Optionally, the S1paging message may also carry a downlink data indication.

S1003, the terminal equipment monitors and schedules the first message by using the first identifier at the paging time.

Optionally, the terminal device monitors a PDCCH using the first identifier, and the PDCCH schedules the first message.

Optionally, the terminal device may monitor the PDCCH scheduling the paging message using a paging RNTI (P-RNTI) in an idle state, and monitor the PDCCH scheduling the first message using the first identity.

Optionally, if the terminal device performs cell reselection, the terminal device deletes the stored first identifier, for example, the D-RNTI.

Optionally, if the cell broadcast supports the indication that the first identifier is used to monitor the downlink data after the terminal device performs cell reselection, the terminal device performs S1003. The precondition is, of course, that in some cases, the terminal device still monitors the downlink data using the same first identifier after the cell reselection occurs. For example, the terminal device may use the same first identity in several adjacent cells. Or, if the cell broadcast does not support the indication that the first identifier monitors the downlink data after the cell reselection occurs, the terminal device does not execute step S1003, and the terminal device may delete the first identifier saved before.

S1004, the access network equipment sends a first message to the terminal equipment, wherein the first message carries NAS PDU, and the NAS PDU comprises the downlink data.

For example, the access network device receives an S1paging message and an NAS PDU sent by a core network device, and determines, according to an S-TMSI in the S1paging message, a terminal device identified by the S-TMSI and a first identifier corresponding to the terminal device. And the access network equipment sends a first message by using the first identifier. In one possible embodiment, the access network device scrambles a PDCCH that schedules a PDSCH that carries the first message using the first identity.

Optionally, the first message may be an RRC message, and in a possible embodiment, the PDSCH is used to carry the RRC message. The RRC message may carry a NAS PDU. The NAS PDU may carry downlink data.

Optionally, the first message may also carry the resource configuration information. The resource configuration information is used for indicating a first resource. The first resource is used for the terminal equipment to send feedback information whether the downlink data is received. Optionally, the first resource comprises a PARCH resource or a PUCCH resource.

Optionally, the resource configuration information may further carry an effective time, where the effective time is used to indicate a time when the first resource may be used.

The valid period may be k time units, where k is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The time unit may refer to a time unit such as a frame, a subframe, a symbol, and the like.

It should be noted that, if the access network device determines that there is no NAS PDU or downlink data of the terminal device, step S1004 may not be executed. I.e., step S1004 is an optional step.

Steps S1005-S1007 are the same as or similar to steps S607-S609 in fig. 6, and are not repeated herein for brevity.

The communication method according to the embodiment of the present application is described above, and the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal device 1100 according to an embodiment of the present application. It should be understood that terminal device 1100 is capable of performing the various steps performed by the terminal device in the methods of fig. 1-10, and will not be described in detail herein to avoid repetition. The terminal device 1100 includes: a processing unit 1110 and a communication unit 1120.

A processing unit 1110, configured to determine a first identifier, where the first identifier is used for the terminal device to monitor downlink data in an idle state or an inactive state;

a communication unit 1120, configured to receive a first message from an access network device, where the first message includes resource configuration information, where the resource configuration information is used to indicate a first resource, and the first resource is used for the terminal device to send feedback information of the downlink data;

the processing unit 1110 is further configured to monitor the downlink data according to the first identifier.

Fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of an access network device 1200 according to an embodiment of the present application. It should be understood that the access network device 1200 is capable of performing the various steps performed by the access network device in the methods of fig. 1-10, and will not be described in detail herein to avoid repetition. The access network apparatus 1200 includes: a transmitting unit 1210 and a transmitting unit 1220.

A sending unit 1210, configured to send a first message to a terminal device, where the first message includes resource configuration information, where the resource configuration information is used to indicate a first resource, and the first resource is used for the terminal device to send feedback information of downlink data, where the downlink data is monitored by the terminal device in an idle state or an inactive state;

a receiving unit 1220, configured to receive the feedback information from the terminal device.

Fig. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal device 1300 according to an embodiment of the present application. It should be understood that terminal device 1300 is capable of performing the various steps performed by the terminal device in the methods of fig. 1-10, and will not be described in detail herein to avoid repetition. The terminal device 1300 includes:

a memory 1310 for storing a program;

a communication interface 1320 for communicating with other devices;

a processor 1330 that executes programs in memory 1310 that, when executed,

the processor 1330 is configured to determine a first identifier, where the first identifier is used for the terminal device to monitor downlink data in an idle state or an inactive state; the terminal device is configured to receive a first message from an access network device, where the first message includes resource configuration information, where the resource configuration information is used to indicate a first resource, and the first resource is used for the terminal device to send feedback information of the downlink data; and the downlink data monitoring device is used for monitoring the downlink data according to the first identifier.

Fig. 14 is a schematic structural diagram of an access network device 1400 according to an embodiment of the present application. It should be understood that the access network device 1400 is capable of performing the various steps performed by the access network device in the methods of fig. 1-10, and will not be described in detail herein to avoid repetition. The access network apparatus 1400 includes:

a memory 1410 for storing programs;

a communication interface 1420 for communicating with other devices;

a processor 1430 for executing programs in memory 1410 that, when executed,

the processor 1430 is configured to send a first message to a terminal device, where the first message includes resource configuration information, where the resource configuration information is used to indicate a first resource, and the first resource is used for the terminal device to send feedback information of downlink data, where the downlink data is monitored by the terminal device in an idle state or an inactive state; and for receiving the feedback information from the terminal device.

It is understood that the above-described apparatus or device may perform some or all of the steps in the above-described embodiments, and these steps or operations are merely examples, and other operations or variations of various operations may be performed by the embodiments of the present application. Further, the various steps may be performed in a different order presented in the above-described embodiments, and it is possible that not all of the operations in the above-described embodiments are performed.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative elements and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware or combinations of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the implementation. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present application.

It is clear to those skilled in the art that, for convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the above-described systems, apparatuses and units may refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and are not described herein again.

In the several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus and method may be implemented in other ways. For example, the above-described apparatus embodiments are merely illustrative, and for example, the division of the units is only one logical division, and other divisions may be realized in practice, for example, a plurality of units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted, or not executed. In addition, the shown or discussed mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection may be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, and may be in an electrical, mechanical or other form.

The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts displayed as units may or may not be physical units, may be located in one position, or may be distributed on multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of the embodiment.

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

The functions, if implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as a stand-alone product, may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solution of the present application or portions thereof that substantially contribute to the prior art may be embodied in the form of a software product stored in a storage medium and including instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device) to execute all or part of the steps of the method according to the embodiments of the present application. And the aforementioned storage medium includes: various media capable of storing program codes, such as a usb disk, a removable hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

The above description is only for the specific embodiments of the present application, but the scope of the present application is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art can easily think of the changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the present application, and shall be covered by the scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising:

a terminal device determines a first identifier, wherein the first identifier is used for monitoring downlink data in an idle state or an inactive state, and the first identifier is carried in an RRC connection release message or an RRC early data transmission completion message;

and the terminal equipment receives a first message from access network equipment according to the first identifier, wherein the first message comprises the downlink data and resource configuration information, the resource configuration information is used for indicating a first resource, and the first resource is used for the terminal equipment to send feedback information of the downlink data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

under the condition that the downlink data is not monitored in a preset first time period, the terminal equipment stops using the first identifier to monitor the downlink data; or the like, or a combination thereof,

and under the condition that the downlink data is not monitored in a preset second time period, the terminal equipment initiates a random access process.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the resource configuration information further comprises first information indicating a valid time for using the first resource.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first resource is a periodic resource, and wherein the first information is used to indicate a number of uses of the first resource.

5. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first resources comprise second resources for feeding back acknowledgement, ACK, information and third resources for feeding back negative acknowledgement, NACK, information.

6. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first resource comprises a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH, resource or a physical random access channel, PRACH, resource.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a next hop chain count, NCC, and/or a recovery identity is also carried in the first message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message is a radio resource control, RRC, message dedicated to the terminal device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message comprises an RRC message and a random access response, RAR, message, the RRC message including the downlink data, the RAR message including the resource configuration information.

10. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the terminal device deletes the saved first identity in the event of a cell reselection by the terminal device.

11. A method of communication, comprising:

and the terminal equipment receives control information from access network equipment according to the first identifier, wherein the control information is used for scheduling the downlink data, the control information comprises resource configuration information, the resource configuration information is used for indicating a first resource, and the first resource is used for the terminal equipment to send feedback information of the downlink data.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

under the condition that the downlink data is not monitored in a preset first time period, the terminal equipment stops using the first identifier to monitor the downlink data; or the like, or, alternatively,

13. The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein the resource configuration information further comprises first information indicating a valid time for using the first resource.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first resource is a periodic resource, and wherein the first information is used to indicate a number of uses of the first resource.

15. The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein the first resources comprise second resources for feeding back acknowledgement, ACK, information and third resources for feeding back negative acknowledgement, NACK, information.

16. The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein the first resource comprises a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH, resource or a physical random access channel, PRACH resource.

17. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that in case of a cell reselection by a terminal device, said terminal device deletes said saved first identity.

18. A method of communication, comprising:

the method comprises the steps that access network equipment sends a first identifier to terminal equipment, wherein the first identifier is used for monitoring downlink data in an idle state or an inactive state by the terminal equipment, and the first identifier is carried in an RRC connection release message or an RRC early transmission data completion message;

the access network equipment sends a first message to the terminal equipment, wherein the first message comprises the downlink data and resource configuration information, the resource configuration information is used for indicating a first resource, and the first resource is used for the terminal equipment to send feedback information of the downlink data.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the resource configuration information further comprises first information indicating a valid time to use the first resource.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first resource is a periodic resource, and wherein the first information is used to indicate a number of uses of the first resource.

21. The method of any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein the first resources comprise second resources for feeding back acknowledgement, ACK, information and third resources for feeding back negative acknowledgement, NACK, information.

22. The method of any of claims 18 to 20, wherein the first resource comprises a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH, resource or a physical random access channel, PRACH, resource.

23. The method according to any of claims 18 to 20, wherein the first message is a radio resource control, RRC, message dedicated to the terminal device.

24. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein the first message comprises an RRC message and a random access response, RAR, message, the RRC message comprising the downlink data, the RAR message comprising the resource configuration information.

25. A method of communication, comprising:

the method comprises the steps that access network equipment sends a first identifier to terminal equipment, wherein the first identifier is used for monitoring downlink data in an idle state or an inactive state of the terminal equipment, and the first identifier is carried in an RRC connection release message or an RRC early-transmission data completion message;

the method comprises the steps that access network equipment sends control information to terminal equipment, the control information is used for scheduling downlink data, the control information comprises resource configuration information, the resource configuration information is used for indicating first resources, and the first resources are used for the terminal equipment to send feedback information of the downlink data.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the resource configuration information further comprises first information indicating a valid time for using the first resource.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the first resource is a periodic resource, and wherein the first information indicates a number of uses of the first resource.

28. The method of any one of claims 25 to 27, wherein the first resources comprise second resources for feeding back acknowledgement, ACK, information and third resources for feeding back negative acknowledgement, NACK, information.

29. The method of any of claims 25 to 27, wherein the first resource comprises a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH, resource or a physical random access channel, PRACH, resource.

30. A terminal device, comprising: a processor coupled with a memory;

a memory for storing a computer program;

a processor for executing a computer program stored in the memory to cause the terminal device to perform the method of any of claims 1-17.

31. An access network device, comprising: a processor coupled with a memory;

a memory for storing a computer program;

a processor for executing a computer program stored in the memory to cause the access network device to perform the method of any of claims 18-29.

32. A computer-readable storage medium comprising a program or instructions for performing the method of any one of claims 1-17 when the program or instructions are run on a computer.

33. A computer-readable storage medium comprising a program or instructions for performing the method of any one of claims 18-29 when the program or instructions are run on a computer.

34. A chip comprising circuitry for implementing the method of any one of claims 1-17.

35. A chip comprising circuitry for implementing the method of any of claims 18-29.