CN113498022A

CN113498022A - Configuration information updating method and device

Info

Publication number: CN113498022A
Application number: CN202010195496.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 张向东
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-03-19
Filing date: 2020-03-19
Publication date: 2021-10-12
Also published as: WO2021185136A1

Abstract

The embodiment of the application discloses a method and a device for updating configuration information, wherein the method comprises the following steps: first network equipment firstly sends paging information, wherein first indication information contained in the paging information is used for indicating that configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated; then, sending the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service; therefore, the terminal equipment in the connected state, the idle state and the non-activated state can know that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated and receive the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service. In the embodiment of the application, the terminal equipment in the idle state and the inactive state can obtain the updated configuration information of the broadcast multicast service without entering the connected state, so that the power consumption of the terminal can be reduced, and the utilization rate of network resources can be improved.

Description

Configuration information updating method and device

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a method and an apparatus for updating configuration information.

Background

Broadcast networks, such as radio and television broadcast networks, provide the same content to a large number of users over a large coverage area. It does not serve a single user and is therefore very different from traditional unicast traffic.

The broadcast network has several notable features: a large coverage area; users in the coverage area receive the same content at the same time; the Radio access network does not track the user's movements, i.e. does not care where the user receives the Broadcast content (note that Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services (MBMS) over New Radio (NR) may need to consider mobility management); the user does not need to notify the network when receiving the content (the MBMS of the NR may need Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) feedback).

MBMS supports the provision of multicast/broadcast networks in cellular systems, enabling the provision of both multicast/broadcast and unicast services in a single network. The third generation partnership project (3 GPP) has developed a new standing NR _ MBS at Release 17(Release-17, R-17) with the goal of supporting MBMS services in the NR. The services mainly aimed at include public safety and mission critical (public safety and mission critical), car networking applications (V2X applications), multicast service transparent transmission (transparent IPv4/IPv6 multicast delivery), wireless software transmission (software delivery over wireless), multicast communication (group communications) and internet of things applications (IoT applications), etc. An important scope of this is that a User Equipment (UE) in a connected state supports service continuity when the terminal moves, and a UE in an inactive state can also receive an MBMS service.

Security issues such as authentication, encryption, etc. of the MBMS service also need to be considered for MBMS. The MBMS service network may need to update related configuration, such as security algorithm, key, resource for transmitting MBMS, Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) information used, and the like. For connected UEs, MBMS-related configurations, including security-related configurations, may be sent to the UE via a unicast connection in a timely manner. For the UE in the inactive state (idle state or inactive state), how to obtain the MBMS-related configuration information in time is a problem to be solved.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application discloses a method and a device for updating configuration information, and terminal equipment in an inactive state can obtain MBMS related configuration information in time.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a method for updating configuration information, where the method includes: a first network device sends paging information, wherein the paging information comprises first indication information, and the first indication information is used for indicating that configuration information of a broadcast multicast service is updated; and the first network equipment sends broadcast multicast service configuration information. Because the terminal devices in the idle state, the inactive state, and the active state can all receive the paging information, the first indication information carried by the paging information can indicate that the terminal devices in the inactive state, the idle state, and the active state have updated the broadcast multicast service configuration information, and then the broadcast multicast service configuration information is sent.

In the embodiment of the application, the first network device indicates that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated through the paging information, and can notify the update of the MBMS configuration in time, and the terminal device can know that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated without entering a connected state.

In one possible implementation manner, the first indication information is used for indicating a broadcast multicast service of which at least one type of configuration information is updated. The first indication information may indicate only the broadcast multicast service for which the configuration information is updated, or may indicate both the broadcast multicast service for which the configuration information is updated and the broadcast multicast service for which the configuration information is updated.

In this implementation manner, the first indication information is used to indicate that at least one broadcast multicast service configuration information is updated and/or indicate a broadcast multicast service for which the configuration information is updated, so that a terminal device interested in the updated broadcast multicast service responds to paging information carrying the first indication information, and further sends the broadcast multicast service configuration information in a targeted manner.

The paging information includes two types, one type is paging information carried in a data channel (e.g., a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH)), and the type is mainly service paging (so-called service paging, which means that a network has service transmission and needs to page a specific UE, and may carry an identifier of the UE); one type is paging information carried in a control channel (e.g., a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH)), which is mainly an Earthquake sea early warning System (ETWS), a commercial mobile early warning System (CMAS), or the like, that is, a short message (short message), or referred to as direct indication information (direct indication information) in LTE.

In this implementation, two formats of the first indication information are provided, one is a short message (corresponding to paging information in a control channel) transmitted through a physical downlink control channel, and the other is a system message update indication (corresponding to paging information in a data channel) transmitted through a physical downlink shared channel. The reserved bit of the short message is used for indicating that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated, the reserved bit can be effectively utilized, and the method is compatible with the existing communication system. The system message updating indication information transmitted by the physical downlink shared channel indicates that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated, so that the occupation of a control channel can be reduced.

In a possible implementation manner, the first indication information is a short message transmitted through a physical downlink control channel; and the reserved bit in the short message indicates that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated, or the system message update indication in the short message is used for indicating that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated. That is, the reserved bit (bit) in the short message (short message) indicates that the broadcast-multicast configuration information is updated, or the system message update indication in the short message (short message) indicates that the broadcast-multicast configuration information is updated. When the system message update indication in the short message (short message) indicates that the broadcast-multicast configuration information is updated, the system message update indication in the short message (short message) may indicate a system message update including an update of a system message carrying the broadcast-multicast configuration information. Illustratively, when the 3rd bit in the short message is 0, it indicates that the broadcast-multicast configuration information is updated, and when the 3rd bit is 0, it indicates that the broadcast-multicast configuration information is not updated. Illustratively, a system information block (corresponding to a system message update indication) newly defined in the short message indicates that the broadcast-multicast configuration information is updated or not updated.

In this implementation, the reserved bit or the system message update indication in the short message is used to indicate that the broadcast multicast service configuration information is updated, and the system compatibility is strong.

In one possible implementation, the reserved bit or the system message update indication includes a plurality of bits, each bit corresponds to one broadcast multicast service, and the plurality of bits are used for indicating at least one broadcast multicast service for which configuration information is updated. Illustratively, the reserved bits or system message update indicates N bits, where N is the number of MBMS services, one bit corresponds to one MBMS service, and if a bit corresponding to a certain MBMS service is flipped, it is considered that the configuration of the MBMS service is updated.

In the implementation mode, at least one broadcast multicast service with updated configuration information is indicated through a plurality of bits, so that the implementation is simple and the resource overhead is low.

In one possible implementation manner, the sending, by the first network device, the broadcast multicast service configuration information includes: the first network device sends downlink control information or a physical downlink control channel (such as a PDCCH) carrying the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service, or the first network device sends a system message block carrying the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service. The first network device may transmit the broadcast multicast service configuration information in any one of the following manners: 1. directly carried in the downlink control information; 2. carrying broadcast multicast service configuration information through an independent system message block; 3. and carrying the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service through a field in the existing system message block.

In this implementation manner, the first network device may send the broadcast multicast service configuration information in different manners, and has multiple usage scenarios and high flexibility.

In one possible implementation, before the first network device sends the paging information, the method further includes: the first network equipment receives a broadcast multicast service configuration information updating indication of second network equipment, and the broadcast multicast service configuration information updating indication is used for indicating that the broadcast multicast service configuration information needs to be updated.

In this implementation, the first network device responds to the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication from the second network device, so as to timely notify the terminal device that the broadcast multicast service configuration information is updated.

In a possible implementation manner, the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication is used to instruct the first network device to send the paging information to at least one terminal device interested in the updated broadcast multicast service configuration information, or the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication is used to instruct the first network device to send the paging information to all terminal devices. The terminal device interested in the updated broadcast multicast service configuration information may be a terminal device having a need for updating the broadcast multicast service configuration information, or a terminal device having a need for a broadcast multicast service. Illustratively, the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication carries at least one identifier of a terminal device interested in the updated broadcast multicast service configuration information.

In this implementation manner, the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication may satisfy different scene requirements, and may instruct the first network device to send the paging information to the terminal device interested in the updated broadcast multicast service configuration information, or instruct the first network device to send the paging information to all the terminal devices.

In one possible implementation manner, the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication is further used for indicating a broadcast multicast service of which at least one type of configuration information is updated. Illustratively, the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication includes a plurality of bits, each bit corresponding to one broadcast multicast service, and the plurality of bits are used for indicating at least one broadcast multicast service for which the configuration information has been updated.

In this implementation manner, the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication is used to indicate at least one broadcast multicast service whose configuration information is updated, so that the first network device sends the paging information carrying the first indication information to the terminal device interested in the updated broadcast multicast service, and can send the broadcast multicast service configuration information in a targeted manner.

In one possible implementation manner, the sending, by the first network device, the broadcast multicast service configuration information includes: the first network equipment sends multicast data scrambled by a cluster group radio network temporary identifier G-RNTI to terminal equipment for monitoring multicast, wherein the multicast data comprises broadcast multicast service configuration information encrypted by using a multicast key of the broadcast multicast service.

In the implementation mode, the encrypted broadcast multicast service configuration information is sent to the terminal equipment monitoring the multicast through the multicast data scrambled by the G-RNTI, the broadcast multicast service configuration information can be sent to the terminal equipment interested in the broadcast multicast service in time, and the security is high.

In one possible implementation manner, the sending, by the first network device, the broadcast multicast service configuration information includes: and the first network equipment sends the encrypted broadcast multicast service configuration information to the terminal equipment through the C-RNTI under the condition that the cell radio network temporary identifier C-RNTI of the terminal equipment is stored. In this implementation, the terminal device may be in an inactive state. In some embodiments, the encrypted broadcast multicast service configuration information is obtained by encrypting broadcast multicast service configuration information using a unicast key of an access stratum AS of the terminal device.

In the implementation mode, the encrypted broadcast multicast service configuration information is sent to the terminal equipment through the C-RNTI, so that the signaling consumption is low and the safety is high.

In one possible implementation manner, the sending, by the first network device, the broadcast multicast service configuration information includes: and the first network equipment sends a non-access stratum (NAS) message containing the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service. In this implementation, the terminal device may be in an inactive state or an idle state. The terminal equipment which is not in the non-connection state can receive and analyze the NAS message so as to obtain the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service, so that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is carried by the NAS message.

In this implementation, the first network device sends a non-access stratum NAS message including the broadcast multicast service configuration information, so that a terminal device that is not in a non-connected state can obtain the broadcast multicast service configuration information.

In one possible implementation manner, before the first network device sends the broadcast multicast service configuration information, the method further includes: the first network equipment sends request information to second network equipment, and the request information requests the second network equipment to generate an NAS message comprising broadcast multicast service configuration information; the first network equipment receives NAS information which is sent by the second network equipment and comprises broadcast multicast service configuration information. In this implementation, the NAS message includes the broadcast multicast service configuration information encrypted using the non-access stratum NAS key of the terminal device.

In this implementation, the second network device is requested to generate a NAS message of the broadcast multicast service configuration information, so as to send the NAS message containing the broadcast multicast service configuration information to the terminal device.

Of course, the first network device may also send request information to the second network device, where the request information requests the second network device to generate other messages including the broadcast multicast service configuration information, so as to send other messages including the broadcast multicast service configuration channel to the terminal device.

In one possible implementation, the sending, by the first network device, the paging information includes: the first network equipment sends the paging information carrying a cell radio network temporary identifier C-RNTI of the terminal equipment; the sending, by the first network device, the broadcast multicast service configuration information includes: and sending the encrypted broadcast multicast service configuration information to the terminal equipment through the C-RNTI.

In the implementation mode, the encrypted broadcast multicast service configuration information is sent to the terminal equipment through the C-RNTI of the terminal equipment, so that unnecessary data transmission can be reduced, and the reliability is high.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides another method for updating configuration information, where the method includes: the method comprises the steps that terminal equipment receives paging information, wherein the paging information comprises first indication information, and the first indication information is used for indicating that broadcast multicast service configuration information is updated; and the terminal equipment receives the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service. The terminal equipment is in any one of an active state, a non-active state and an idle state. It should be understood that, the terminal device in the idle state or the inactive state may know that the broadcast multicast service configuration information is updated according to the received paging information, and receive the broadcast multicast service configuration information.

In the embodiment of the application, the terminal equipment can know that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated without entering a connection state, and receive the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service, so that the power consumption can be reduced.

In one possible implementation, the first indication information indicates a broadcast multicast service for which at least one configuration information has been updated.

In this implementation manner, the first indication information is used to indicate the broadcast multicast service whose at least one configuration information is updated, so that the terminal device interested in the updated broadcast multicast service responds to the paging information carrying the first indication information, and further sends the broadcast multicast service configuration information in a targeted manner.

In a possible implementation manner, the first indication information is a short message transmitted through a physical downlink control channel, or the first indication information is a system message update indication transmitted through a physical downlink shared channel.

In the implementation mode, two implementation forms of the first indication information are provided, and the first indication information can be compatible with the existing communication system better.

In a possible implementation manner, the first indication information is a short message transmitted through a physical downlink control channel; and the reserved bit in the short message indicates that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated, or the system message update indication in the short message is used for indicating that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated.

In one possible implementation, the reserved bit or the system message update indication includes a plurality of bits, each bit corresponds to one broadcast multicast service, and the plurality of bits are used for indicating at least one broadcast multicast service for which configuration information is updated.

In the implementation mode, the broadcast multicast service with updated configuration information is indicated through a plurality of bits, so that the implementation is simple and the resource overhead is low.

In one possible implementation manner, after the terminal device receives the paging information, the method further includes: the terminal equipment responds to the paging information under the condition that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service needs to be updated; and the terminal equipment does not respond to the paging information under the condition that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service does not need to be updated.

In the implementation manner, the terminal device responds to the paging information when the broadcast multicast service configuration information needs to be updated, so that the first network device sends the broadcast multicast service configuration information in a targeted manner, and the resource overhead can be reduced.

In one possible implementation manner, the terminal device is in any one of an active state, an idle state, and an inactive state.

In this implementation, the terminal device in any state can obtain the updated broadcast multicast service configuration information.

In one possible implementation manner, the receiving, by the terminal device, the broadcast multicast service configuration information includes: the terminal equipment for monitoring the multicast receives multicast data which is sent by first network equipment and scrambled by a cluster group radio network temporary identifier G-RNTI, wherein the multicast data comprises broadcast multicast service configuration information encrypted by using a multicast key of the broadcast multicast service.

In the implementation mode, the terminal equipment obtains the updated broadcast multicast service configuration information through the monitored multicast data, so that the resource overhead is low and the safety is high.

In one possible implementation manner, the receiving, by the terminal device, the broadcast multicast service configuration information includes: and the terminal equipment receives encrypted broadcast multicast service configuration information sent by the first network equipment through the cell radio network temporary identifier C-RNTI. In this implementation manner, the encrypted broadcast multicast service configuration information is obtained by encrypting the broadcast multicast service configuration information using a unicast key of an access stratum AS of the terminal device.

In one possible implementation manner, the receiving, by the terminal device, the broadcast multicast service configuration information includes: the terminal device receives a non-access stratum (NAS) message comprising encrypted broadcast multicast service configuration information. In this implementation manner, the encrypted broadcast multicast service configuration information is obtained by encrypting the broadcast multicast service configuration information using a non-access stratum NAS key of the terminal device.

In this implementation manner, the encrypted NAS message carries the broadcast multicast service configuration information, so that the terminal device in the non-connected state can receive the broadcast multicast service configuration information, and the security is higher.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides another method for updating configuration information, where the method includes: the second network equipment generates a broadcast multicast service configuration information updating indication which is used for indicating that the broadcast multicast service configuration information is updated; and the second network equipment sends the broadcast multicast service configuration information updating indication.

In the embodiment of the application, the second network device sends the broadcast multicast service configuration information updating indication, so that the first network device responds to the broadcast multicast service configuration information updating indication, and further indicates that the broadcast multicast service configuration information is updated through the paging information.

In one possible implementation, the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication is used for indicating a broadcast multicast service for which at least one type of configuration information is updated.

In this implementation, the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication is used to indicate a broadcast multicast service in which at least one configuration information is updated, so that the first network device sends paging information to a terminal device interested in the updated broadcast multicast service, and further sends the paging information in a more targeted manner.

In a possible implementation manner, the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication is used to instruct the first network device to send paging information carrying first indication information to at least one terminal device interested in updated broadcast multicast service configuration information, or the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication is used to instruct the first network device to send paging information carrying first indication information for all terminal devices; the first indication information is used for indicating that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated.

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides another method for updating configuration information, where the method includes: the method comprises the steps that terminal equipment sends a broadcast multicast service configuration information updating request in a first message in a random access process, wherein the broadcast multicast service configuration information updating request is used for requesting to update broadcast multicast service configuration information; and the terminal equipment receives the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service.

The receiving, by the terminal device, the broadcast multicast service configuration information may be receiving, by the terminal device, the broadcast multicast service configuration information before entering the connected state. That is, the terminal device in the idle state or the inactive state may actively obtain the updated configuration information of the broadcast multicast service.

In the embodiment of the application, the terminal device in the inactive state or the idle state can obtain the updated MBMS configuration information in time, so that the power consumption of the terminal device can be reduced, and the network resource efficiency can be improved.

In a possible implementation manner, the reserved bit in the first message indicates broadcast multicast service configuration information to be updated by the terminal device, or a bitmap in the first message indicates broadcast multicast service configuration information to be updated by the terminal device, and the bit in the bitmap and the broadcast multicast service configuration information have a corresponding relationship.

The reserved bit of the first message in the random access process is used for indicating the broadcast multicast service configuration information updating request, the reserved bit can be effectively utilized, and the method is compatible with the existing communication system. And the bitmap in the first message indicates the broadcast multicast service configuration information to be updated of the terminal equipment, so that the resource overhead is low.

In a possible implementation manner, the first message is a first message or a third message in a random access procedure.

In the implementation mode, the broadcast multicast service configuration information updating request is sent through the first message or the third message in the random access process, so that the first message or the third message in the random access process can be fully utilized, and the existing random access process can be well compatible.

In a possible implementation manner, the first message is a third message in a random access process, and the receiving, by the terminal device, the broadcast multicast service configuration information includes: and the terminal equipment receives the broadcast multicast service configuration information through a fourth message in the random access process.

In this implementation manner, the broadcast multicast service configuration information is received through the fourth message in the random access process, so that the broadcast multicast service configuration information can be received in the random access process without the terminal device entering a connected state.

In a possible implementation manner, the first message includes a non-access stratum NAS message or a radio resource control RRC message included in the first message includes a NAS message, where the NAS message includes broadcast multicast service configuration information encrypted by using a NAS key of the terminal device.

In the implementation mode, the encrypted broadcast multicast service configuration information is sent by using the NAS secret key of the terminal equipment, and the encrypted broadcast multicast service configuration information is sent by using NAS information, so that the safety is high.

In a possible implementation manner, the first message carries broadcast multicast service configuration information encrypted by using a password of an access stratum AS of the terminal device, and the terminal device is in an inactive state.

In this implementation, corresponding to the terminal device in the inactive state, the broadcast multicast service configuration information encrypted by using the password of the access stratum AS of the terminal device is sent to the terminal device through the first message in the random access process, and the inactive terminal device can obtain the broadcast multicast service configuration information in time.

In one possible implementation manner, the receiving, by the terminal device, the broadcast multicast service configuration information includes: and the terminal equipment receives the broadcast multicast service configuration information carried by the radio resource control RRC message. The terminal equipment in the non-connection state can receive and analyze the RRC group, and the broadcast multicast service configuration information is carried through the RRC message, so that the terminal equipment can obtain the broadcast multicast service configuration information through the RRC message without entering the connection state.

In the implementation mode, the terminal device in the non-connected state obtains the broadcast multicast service configuration information through the RRC message, and the terminal device does not need to enter the connected state, so that the power consumption can be saved.

In a possible implementation manner, the receiving, by the terminal device, the broadcast multicast service configuration information carried by an RRC message includes: and the terminal equipment receives the RRC message sent by the first network equipment in a broadcast multicast mode.

In this implementation manner, the first network device does not need to establish a connection with the terminal device through the RRC message sent by the first network device in a broadcast multicast manner, and signaling overhead is low.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: the terminal equipment receives indication information used for indicating the terminal equipment to enter a non-connection state.

The terminal device may enter the unconnected state after receiving the indication information indicating that the terminal device enters the unconnected state, so as to save power consumption.

In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides another configuration information updating method, where the method includes: the method comprises the steps that first network equipment receives a broadcast multicast service configuration information updating request in a first message in a random access process; and the first network equipment responds to the broadcast multicast service configuration information updating request and sends the broadcast multicast service configuration information.

In the embodiment of the application, a first network device receives a broadcast multicast service configuration information updating request in a first message of a random access process, responds to the broadcast multicast service configuration information updating request, and sends broadcast multicast service configuration information; the terminal equipment can obtain the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service before entering the connected state.

In the implementation mode, the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service to be updated of the terminal equipment is indicated through the reserved bits or the bitmap, so that the bit consumption is less, and the implementation is simple.

In a possible implementation manner, the first message is a third message in a random access process; the sending, by the first network device, the broadcast multicast service configuration information includes: and the first network equipment sends the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service through a fourth message in the random access process.

In this implementation manner, the first network device sends the broadcast multicast service configuration information through the fourth message in the random access process, and can be well compatible with the existing random access process, so that the terminal device can obtain the broadcast multicast service configuration information without entering a connected state.

In one possible implementation manner, the sending, by the first network device, the broadcast multicast service configuration information includes: the first network device sends a non-access stratum (NAS) message in the first message or a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message contained in the first message, wherein the NAS message comprises broadcast multicast service configuration information encrypted by using an NAS key of the terminal device.

In the implementation mode, the encrypted broadcast multicast service configuration information is sent through the NAS message, so that the terminal device which is not in the connected state can obtain the broadcast multicast service configuration information through the NAS message, and the security is high.

In one possible implementation manner, before the first network device sends the broadcast multicast service configuration information, the method further includes: the first network equipment sends request information to second network equipment, and the request information requests the second network equipment to generate an NAS message comprising broadcast multicast service configuration information; the first network device receives the NAS message from the second network device.

In this implementation, the first network device may obtain the NAS message including the broadcast multicast service configuration information in time by sending the request information.

In a possible implementation manner, the first message carries broadcast multicast service configuration information encrypted by using a key of an access stratum AS of the terminal device, and the terminal device is in an inactive state.

In one possible implementation manner, the sending, by the first network device, the broadcast multicast service configuration information includes: and the first network equipment sends a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message carrying the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service.

In the implementation manner, the first network device sends the RRC message carrying the broadcast multicast service configuration information, so that the terminal device in the non-connected state obtains the broadcast multicast service configuration information through the RRC message, and power consumption of the terminal device can be saved.

In a possible implementation manner, the first network device sends an RRC message carrying the broadcast multicast service configuration information in a broadcast multicast manner.

In the implementation mode, the first network device sends the RRC message carrying the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service in a broadcast multicast mode, connection does not need to be established between the first network device and the terminal device, and signaling overhead is low.

In one possible implementation, the method further includes: and the first network equipment sends indication information indicating that the terminal equipment enters a non-connection state to the terminal equipment.

In this implementation manner, by sending the indication information indicating that the terminal device enters the non-connected state to the terminal device, the terminal device can enter the non-connected state in time, so as to save power consumption.

In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides another configuration information updating method, where the method includes: receiving request information by second network equipment, wherein the request information requests the second network equipment to generate a non-access stratum (NAS) message comprising broadcast multicast service configuration information; and the second network equipment sends the NAS information comprising the broadcast multicast service configuration information.

In this embodiment, the second network device may generate and send the NAS message including the broadcast multicast service configuration information in time.

In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a network device, where the network device includes: a processing module, configured to generate paging information, where the paging information includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that configuration information of a broadcast multicast service is updated; a sending module, configured to send the paging information; the sending module is further configured to send broadcast multicast service configuration information.

In one possible implementation manner, the first indication information is used for indicating a broadcast multicast service of which at least one type of configuration information is updated.

In a possible implementation manner, the first indication information is a short message transmitted through a physical downlink control channel; the first indication information is used to indicate that the broadcast multicast service configuration information is updated, and specifically includes: and the reserved bit in the short message indicates that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated, or the system message update indication in the short message is used for indicating that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated.

In one possible implementation, the network device further includes: and the receiving module is used for receiving a broadcast multicast service configuration information updating indication of the second network equipment, wherein the broadcast multicast service configuration information updating indication is used for indicating that the broadcast multicast service configuration information needs to be updated.

In a possible implementation manner, the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication is used to instruct the first network device to send the paging information to at least one terminal device interested in the updated broadcast multicast service configuration information, or the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication is used to instruct the first network device to send the paging information to all terminal devices.

In one possible implementation manner, the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication is further used for indicating a broadcast multicast service of which at least one type of configuration information is updated.

With regard to the technical effects brought about by the seventh aspect or various possible embodiments, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of the first aspect or the respective embodiments.

In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a terminal device, where the terminal device includes: a receiving module, configured to receive paging information, where the paging information includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that configuration information of a broadcast multicast service is updated; the receiving module is further configured to receive broadcast multicast service configuration information; and the processing module is used for updating the current broadcast multicast service configuration information according to the broadcast multicast service configuration information.

In a possible implementation manner, the first indication information is a reserved bit of a short message transmitted through a physical downlink control channel, or the first indication information is system message update indication information transmitted through a physical downlink shared channel.

In a possible implementation manner, the processing module is configured to respond to the paging information when the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service needs to be updated; and not responding to the paging information under the condition that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service does not need to be updated.

With regard to the technical effect brought about by the eighth aspect or various possible embodiments, reference may be made to the introduction to the technical effect of the second aspect or the respective embodiments.

In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides another network device, where the network device includes: the processing module is used for generating a broadcast multicast service configuration information updating indication which is used for indicating that the broadcast multicast service configuration information is updated; and the sending module is used for sending the broadcast multicast service configuration information updating indication.

With regard to the technical effects brought about by the ninth aspect or various possible embodiments, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of the third aspect or the respective embodiments.

In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides another terminal device, where the terminal device includes: a sending module, configured to send a broadcast multicast service configuration information update request in a first message in a random access process, where the broadcast multicast service configuration information update request is used to request to update broadcast multicast service configuration information; and the receiving module is also used for receiving the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service.

In a possible implementation manner, the first message is a third message in a random access process; the receiving module is specifically configured to receive the broadcast multicast service configuration information through a fourth message in a random access process.

In a possible implementation manner, the receiving module is specifically configured to receive the broadcast multicast service configuration information carried in a radio resource control RRC message.

In a possible implementation manner, the receiving module is specifically configured to receive the RRC message sent by the first network device in a broadcast multicast manner.

In a possible implementation manner, the receiving module is further configured to receive indication information for indicating that the terminal device enters a non-connected state.

With regard to the technical effect brought about by the tenth aspect or various possible embodiments, reference may be made to the introduction to the technical effect of the fourth aspect or the respective embodiments.

In an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides another network device, where the network device includes: a receiving module, configured to receive a broadcast multicast service configuration information update request in a first message in a random access process; the processing module is used for responding to the broadcast multicast service configuration information updating request; and the sending module is used for sending the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service.

In a possible implementation manner, the first message is a third message in a random access process; the sending module is specifically configured to send, by the first network device, the broadcast multicast service configuration information through a fourth message in a random access process.

In a possible implementation manner, the sending module is specifically configured to send, by the first network device, a non-access stratum NAS message in the first message or a radio resource control RRC message included in the first message, where the NAS message includes broadcast multicast service configuration information encrypted by using a NAS key of the terminal device.

In a possible implementation manner, the sending module is further configured to send request information to a second network device, where the request information requests the second network device to generate an NAS message including configuration information of a broadcast multicast service; the receiving module is further configured to receive the NAS message from the second network device.

In a possible implementation manner, the sending module is specifically configured to send a radio resource control RRC message carrying the broadcast multicast service configuration information.

In a possible implementation manner, the sending module is specifically configured to send, in a broadcast multicast manner, an RRC message carrying the broadcast multicast service configuration information.

In a possible implementation manner, the sending module is further configured to send, to the terminal device, indication information indicating that the terminal device enters a non-connected state.

With regard to the technical effect brought about by the eleventh aspect or various possible embodiments, reference may be made to the introduction to the technical effect of the fifth aspect or the respective embodiments.

In a twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a network device, where the network device includes: a receiving module, configured to receive request information, where the request information requests the second network device to generate a non-access stratum NAS message including broadcast multicast service configuration information; a sending module, configured to send a NAS message including the broadcast multicast service configuration information.

With regard to the technical effect brought about by the twelfth aspect or various possible embodiments, reference may be made to the introduction to the technical effect of the sixth aspect or the respective embodiments.

A thirteenth aspect provides a network device comprising a memory for storing instructions and a processor for executing the instructions stored by the memory, and execution of the instructions stored in the memory causes the processor to perform the first aspect or the method in any possible implementation of the first aspect.

A fourteenth aspect provides a terminal device comprising a memory for storing instructions and a processor for executing the instructions stored by the memory, and execution of the instructions stored in the memory causes the processor to perform the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation manner of the second aspect.

A fifteenth aspect provides a network device comprising a memory for storing instructions and a processor for executing the instructions stored by the memory, and execution of the instructions stored in the memory causes the processor to perform the method of the third aspect or any possible implementation of the third aspect.

A sixteenth aspect provides a terminal device comprising a memory for storing instructions and a processor for executing the instructions stored by the memory, and execution of the instructions stored in the memory causes the processor to perform the method of the fourth aspect or any possible implementation of the fourth aspect.

A seventeenth aspect provides a network device comprising a memory for storing instructions and a processor for executing the instructions stored by the memory, and execution of the instructions stored in the memory causes the processor to perform the method of the fifth aspect or any possible implementation of the fifth aspect.

An eighteenth aspect provides a network device comprising a memory for storing instructions and a processor for executing the instructions stored by the memory, and execution of the instructions stored in the memory causes the processor to perform the method of the sixth aspect or any possible implementation of the sixth aspect.

A nineteenth aspect provides a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program which, when executed by a processor, implements the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect.

A twentieth aspect provides a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program which, when executed by a processor, implements the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect.

A twenty-first aspect provides a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program which, when executed by a processor, performs the method of the third aspect or any possible implementation of the third aspect.

A twenty-second aspect provides a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program which, when executed by a processor, implements the method of the fourth aspect or any possible implementation of the fourth aspect.

A twenty-third aspect provides a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program which, when executed by a processor, implements the method of the fifth aspect or any possible implementation of the fifth aspect.

A twenty-fourth aspect provides a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program which, when executed by a processor, implements the method of the sixth aspect or any possible implementation of the sixth aspect.

A twenty-fifth aspect provides a communication system comprising the network device of the seventh aspect and any possible implementation, the terminal device of the eighth aspect and any possible implementation, and the network device of the ninth aspect and any possible implementation.

A twenty-sixth aspect provides another communication system, which includes the terminal device in the tenth aspect and any possible implementation manner, the network device in the eleventh aspect and any possible implementation manner, and the network device in the twelfth aspect and any possible implementation manner.

A twenty-seventh aspect provides a communication device comprising a processor and an interface circuit; the interface circuit is used for receiving code instructions and transmitting the code instructions to the processor; the processor executes the code instructions to cause the method provided by the first aspect or any one of the possible implementations described above to be performed.

A twenty-eighth aspect provides a communications apparatus comprising a processor and an interface circuit; the interface circuit is used for receiving code instructions and transmitting the code instructions to the processor; the processor executes the code instructions to cause the method provided by the second aspect or any one of the possible embodiments described above to be performed.

A twenty-ninth aspect provides a communication device comprising a processor and an interface circuit; the interface circuit is used for receiving code instructions and transmitting the code instructions to the processor; the processor executes the code instructions to cause the method provided by the third aspect or any one of the possible embodiments to be performed.

A thirtieth aspect provides a communications apparatus comprising a processor and an interface circuit; the interface circuit is used for receiving code instructions and transmitting the code instructions to the processor; the processor executes the code instructions to cause the method provided by the fourth aspect or any one of the possible embodiments described above to be performed.

A thirty-first aspect provides a communications apparatus comprising a processor and an interface circuit; the interface circuit is used for receiving code instructions and transmitting the code instructions to the processor; the processor executes the code instructions to cause the method provided by the fifth aspect or any one of the alternative embodiments described above to be performed.

A thirty-second aspect provides a communications apparatus comprising a processor and an interface circuit; the interface circuit is used for receiving code instructions and transmitting the code instructions to the processor; the processor executes the code instructions to cause the method provided by the sixth aspect or any one of the possible embodiments described above to be performed.

In a thirty-third aspect, a chip is provided, where the chip includes a processor and a communication interface, and the processor is coupled to the communication interface, and is configured to implement the method provided in the first aspect or any one of the possible embodiments.

In a thirty-fourth aspect, a chip is provided, where the chip includes a processor and a communication interface, and the processor is coupled with the communication interface to implement the method provided in the second aspect or any one of the possible embodiments.

In a thirty-fifth aspect, a chip is provided, where the chip includes a processor and a communication interface, and the processor is coupled to the communication interface, and is configured to implement the method provided in the third aspect or any one of the possible embodiments.

A thirty-sixth aspect provides a chip comprising a processor and a communication interface, the processor being coupled with the communication interface for implementing the method provided in the above-mentioned fourth aspect or any possible implementation manner.

A thirty-seventh aspect provides a chip, where the chip includes a processor and a communication interface, and the processor is coupled with the communication interface, for implementing the method provided in the fifth aspect or any one of the possible embodiments.

In a thirty-eighth aspect, a chip is provided, where the chip includes a processor and a communication interface, and the processor is coupled with the communication interface to implement the method provided in the above-mentioned sixth aspect or any one of the possible embodiments.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments or the background art of the present application, the drawings required to be used in the embodiments or the background art of the present application will be described below.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2 is a flowchart of a configuration information updating method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3 is a flowchart of another configuration information updating method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is a flowchart of another configuration information updating method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 is a flowchart of another configuration information updating method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a flowchart of another configuration information updating method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a flowchart of a four-step random access method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a flowchart of a two-step random access method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 9 is a flow chart of a two-step random access procedure fallback to a four-step random access procedure;

fig. 10 is a flowchart of another configuration information updating method provided in the embodiment of the present application;

11A-11E are flowcharts of another configuration information updating method provided by the embodiment of the present application;

fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a first network device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal network device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 14 is a schematic structural diagram of a second network device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 15 is a schematic structural diagram of another terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 16 is a schematic structural diagram of another first network device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 17 is a schematic structural diagram of another second network device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 18 is a schematic structural diagram of another terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 19 is a schematic structural diagram of another terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 20 is a schematic structural diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

As described in the background, how to obtain MBMS-related configuration information in time for an inactive UE (idle state or inactive state) is a problem to be solved. The currently adopted scheme is that after the UE enters the connected state, the network device (e.g. base station) sends the MBMS-related configuration information to the UE through a unicast connection. That is, the connected UE can acquire the MBMS-related configuration information. The scheme provided by the embodiment of the application mainly solves the problem that the UE in the non-activated state and the idle state cannot obtain the configuration information related to the MBMS.

The technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the application can be applied to various communication systems, such as: global System for Mobile communication (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) System, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) System, Long Term Evolution (LTE) System, 5th-generation (5G) System, next-generation Mobile communication, and the like. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application, to which the scheme in the present application is applicable. The communication system may include at least one first network device (corresponding to a base station), only one of which is shown, such as the next generation base station (gNB) in the figure, at least one second network device (corresponding to a core network), and one or more terminal devices, such as UE1, UE2, and UE3 in fig. 1, connected to the first network device.

As shown in fig. 1, the core network includes: access and mobility management function (AMF) and User Plane Function (UPF). The AMF is mainly responsible for controlling signaling processing, such as establishing an MBMS bearer, and assisting in processing a group radio network temporary identity (G-RNTI). The UPF is responsible for transmitting and receiving data.

Terminal equipment may also be referred to as User Equipment (UE), terminal, etc. The terminal equipment has a wireless transceiving function, can be deployed on land and comprises an indoor or outdoor, a handheld, a wearable or a vehicle-mounted terminal; can also be deployed on the water surface, such as a ship and the like; it may also be deployed in the air, such as on an airplane, balloon, or satellite, etc. The terminal device may be a mobile phone (mobile phone), a tablet computer (Pad), a computer with wireless transceiving function, a Virtual Reality (VR) terminal device, an Augmented Reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control (industrial control), a wireless terminal in self driving (self driving), a wireless terminal in remote medical (remote medical), a wireless terminal in smart grid (smart grid), a wireless terminal in transportation safety (transportation safety), a wireless terminal in smart city (smart city), a wireless terminal in home (smart home), and so on. The terminal equipment may receive the MBMS service and possibly also the unicast service.

The first network device may be a device capable of communicating with the terminal device. The first network device may be any device with wireless transceiving capability, including but not limited to a base station. For example, the first network device may be a gNB or a base station in a future communication system. In some embodiments, the first network device may also be an access node, a wireless relay node, a wireless backhaul node, and the like in a wireless local area network (WiFi) system. In some embodiments, the first network device may also be a wireless controller in a Cloud Radio Access Network (CRAN) scenario. In some embodiments, the first network device may also be a small station, a Transmission Reference Point (TRP), a road side unit (road side unit), or the like. Although the application is not so limited.

In fig. 1, the first network device is a gNB. A Control Plane (CP) of the gNB is responsible for signaling transmission, such as establishing a Signaling Radio Bearer (SRB) or a Data Radio Bearer (DRB), and is responsible for allocating cell radio network temporary identifiers (C-RNTI), MBMS keys and other MBMS configuration information; the User Plane (UP) of the gNB is responsible for data transmission.

The gNB in fig. 1 may provide broadcast, multicast and unicast services to the terminal devices, i.e. the communication system in fig. 1 supports MBMS. In FIG. 1, C-RNTI represents a cell radio network temporary identity of UE1, C-RNT2 represents a cell radio network temporary identity of UE2, C-RNT3 represents a cell radio network temporary identity of UE3, and G-RNTI represents a group radio network temporary identity (G-RNTI) corresponding to UE1, UE2, and UE 3. It should be understood that the gNB may provide unicast services to the UE through the C-RNT of the UE, and may also provide multicast services to the UE through the G-RNT of the UE. The embodiment of the present application mainly solves the problem that the terminal devices in the inactive state and the idle state cannot obtain the configuration information related to the MBMS in time, so the embodiment of the present application is suitable for any communication system supporting the MBMS. Some of the configuration information update schemes provided by the embodiments of the present application are described below.

Fig. 2 is a flowchart of a configuration information updating method according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 2, the method includes:

201. the first network device transmits paging information.

The paging information includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used for indicating that the broadcast multicast service configuration information is updated. The first network device may be a gNB in 5G, or a base station in another communication system, such as an eNB or a Node B.

The paging information includes two types, one is paging information carried in a data channel (for example, a physical downlink shared channel), and the other type is mainly service paging (so-called service paging, which means that a network has service transmission, needs to page a specific UE, and carries an identifier of the UE); one type is paging information carried in a control channel (e.g., a physical downlink control channel), which is mainly an Earthquake sea early warning System (ETWS), a commercial mobile early warning System (CMAS), and the like, that is, a short message (short message), or referred to as direct indication information (direct indication information) in LTE. In some embodiments, the first indication information is a short message (short message) transmitted through a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH). Illustratively, the reserved bit in the short message indicates that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated, or the system message update indication in the short message indicates that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated. In some embodiments, the first indication information is a system message update indication transmitted through a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH).

The first indication information may indicate that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated, or may specifically indicate which MBMS service configuration information is updated. In some embodiments, the first indication information is used for indicating a broadcast multicast service in which at least one type of configuration information is updated, so that UEs interested in the MBMS service or interested in the MBMS service indicated by the first indication information respond to the paging information. The possible format of the first indication information will be described in detail later.

In some embodiments, the first network device may receive a broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication before performing step 201, where the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication is used to indicate that the broadcast multicast service configuration information needs to be updated. Illustratively, a first network device receives a broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication from a core network (corresponding to a second network device). That is, the core network notifies the first network device that the configuration information of the MBMS needs to be updated. In some embodiments, if the core network holds information of UEs interested in the updated MBMS, the core network may notify the first network device to transmit paging information for the UEs, so that the UEs may obtain the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication. In some embodiments, the core network may inform the first network device to send paging information for all UEs. In some embodiments, the paging information indicates that the configuration information of the MBMS is updated, so that the UE can know that the purpose of paging is MBMS service update. In some embodiments, the UE may not respond to the paging information if the UE is not interested in the MBMS service. In some embodiments, the first network device may carry specific MBMS service information in the paging information, so as to specifically indicate which MBMS service configuration information is updated, so that the UE interested in the MBMS in which the configuration information is updated responds to the paging information.

202. And the first network equipment sends the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service.

The broadcast multicast service configuration information may be updated MBMS configuration information, including, inter alia, updated MBMS keys, key generation parameters, security algorithms, etc. If not specifically stated, in the embodiment of the present application, the MBMS configuration information update at least includes an MBMS key update.

The first network device may transmit the broadcast multicast service configuration information in any one of the following manners: 1. directly carrying the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service in Downlink Control Information (DCI); 2. transmitting broadcast multicast service configuration information through a single system message block; 3. and carrying the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service through a field in an existing system message block.

And the first network equipment sends the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service to all the terminal equipment. In some embodiments, the first network device sends broadcast multicast service configuration information to terminal devices interested in MBMS service or interested in MBMS for which the configuration information is updated. In some embodiments, the first network device sends broadcast multicast service configuration information to terminal devices that respond to the paging information.

In some embodiments, for a terminal device in an INACTIVE (INACTIVE) state, the first network device may encrypt the MBMS configuration information using a key of an Access Stratum (AS). Exemplarily, after the first network device notifies the terminal device of the update of the MBMS configuration information through the paging information, the first network device may send multicast data scrambled by a group radio network temporary identity (G-RNTI) to at least one terminal device that monitors the multicast; wherein the multicast data comprises broadcast multicast service configuration information encrypted by using an MBMS multicast key. Illustratively, if the first network device stores a cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) of the terminal device, the first network device may schedule downlink data transmission through the C-RNTI in a unicast manner, send the MBMS configuration information to the terminal device, and encrypt the transmitted data using a unicast key of the AS.

In some embodiments, the first network device may send a Non-access stratum (NAS) message carrying encrypted broadcast-multicast service configuration information. For example, for a terminal device in an IDLE (IDLE) state or an inactive state, after sending paging information to notify the terminal device that MBMS configuration information is updated (of course, before the paging information is sent, that is, the first network device first requests a core network (corresponding to the second network device) and then sends the paging information to the terminal device), the first network device requests the core network to generate an NAS message including the MBMS configuration information (if the MBMS configuration information is generated by the first network device, the first network device may carry the MBMS configuration information in the request), the core network may send, to the first network device, an NAS message including the MBMS configuration information encrypted by using an NAS key of the terminal device, and then the first network device sends the encrypted NAS message to the terminal device.

In some embodiments, the first network device pages a specific terminal device separately, and carries a C-RNTI in the paging information, and then sends MBMS configuration information to the terminal device using the C-RNTI.

In some embodiments, the first network device defines an update window for the MBMS configuration, and after the first network device notifies the terminal device that the MBMS configuration information is updated, the terminal device only needs to complete configuration update in the update window. The main consideration is that if the first network device notifies the terminal device that the MBMS configuration information is updated and the terminal device needs to establish a connection with the first network device to acquire the updated MBMS configuration information, a large number of terminal devices access the network at the same time, which may result in an excessive burden on the network in a short time.

The foregoing embodiments do not describe in detail the implementation manner in which the paging information indicates that the broadcast multicast service configuration information is updated. Several implementations are described below.

In a first mode

The first network device may use a reserved bit (bit) of a short message (short messages) in the paging information to indicate that the MBMS configuration information is updated.

The format of the present short message is as follows:

TABLE 1

In the embodiment of the present application, the format of the reserved bits of the short message in the paging information is as follows:

TABLE 2

In the first mode, the 3rd bit of the short message in the paging information is used to indicate whether the MBMS configuration information is updated, i.e. whether the MBMS key is updated. If the MBMS configuration information is updated, the first network equipment sets the 3rd bit of the short message in the paging information to be 1; otherwise, it is set to 0. Or, if the 3rd bit is turned over, it is considered that the MBMS configuration information is updated, for example, the turning over from 0 to 1 or the turning over from 1 to 0 indicates that the configuration information of the MBMS service is updated, otherwise, it indicates that the configuration information of the MBMS service is not updated. Of course, other bits than the 3rd bit may be used. The short message in the paging message can be sent through a control channel. In some embodiments, the reserved plurality of bits of the short message in the paging information indicate an MBMS in which the at least one configuration information is updated. For example, K bits reserved in the short message in the paging information are used to indicate that an updated MBMS is to be sent, where K is the number of MBMS services, one bit corresponds to one MBMS service, and if a bit corresponding to one MBMS service is flipped, it is considered that the configuration information of the MBMS service is updated.

Mode two

The first network device defines a special system information block SIB or a field in the SIB to specifically indicate MBMS service update, such as MBMS-Configuration-SIB (corresponding to the first indication information). For example, the MBMS-Configuration-SIB includes N bits (bits), where N is the number of MBMS services, one bit corresponds to one MBMS service, and if a bit corresponding to one MBMS service is flipped, it is considered that the Configuration information of the MBMS service is updated. For example, the flipping from 0 to 1 or the flipping from 1 to 0 indicates that the configuration information of the MBMS service is updated, otherwise, indicates that the configuration information of the MBMS service is not updated. Or, 0 indicates that the configuration information of the MBMS service is updated, and 1 indicates that the configuration information of the MBMS service is not updated, or vice versa.

Mode III

The first network device may use a special SIB or a field in the SIB to specifically indicate the MBMS service whose configuration information is updated, and use a reserved bit (bit) of a short message (short messages) in the paging information or a system message update indication bit to indicate that the MBMS configuration information is updated.

It should be understood that the first, second, and third modes are only examples in which the configuration information of the MBMS is notified to be updated through the paging information, and the paging information may also be in other formats.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart of another configuration information updating method according to an embodiment of the present application. The process flow in fig. 3 is a further refinement and refinement of the process flow in fig. 1. As shown in fig. 3, the method includes:

301. the first network equipment receives the broadcast multicast service configuration information updating indication.

The broadcast multicast service configuration information updating indication is used for indicating that the broadcast multicast service configuration information needs to be updated.

The first network device receives a broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication from a second network device (corresponding to a core network). In some embodiments, if the core network holds information of terminal devices interested in the updated MBMS, the core network may send paging information for the terminal devices (i.e., instruct the first network device to send paging information to the part of the terminal devices), so that the terminal devices may obtain the MBMS update indication. In some embodiments, the core network may send paging information for all UEs (i.e., instruct the first network device to send paging information to all terminal devices). In some embodiments, the first indication information in the paging information indicates that the MBMS configuration information is updated, so that the terminal device can know that the purpose of paging is MBMS service update. If the terminal equipment is not interested in the MBMS service, the terminal equipment can not respond to the paging information. In some embodiments, the core network may carry specific MBMS service information in the paging information, so as to specifically indicate which MBMS service configuration information is sent to be updated, so that the terminal device interested in the MBMS service in which the configuration information is changed responds to the paging information.

302. The first network device transmits paging information.

In some embodiments, the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication is used to instruct the first network device to send the paging information to all terminal devices, and the first network device sends the paging information to all terminal devices in the cell. In some embodiments, the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication is used to instruct the first network device to send the paging information to at least one terminal device interested in the updated broadcast multicast service configuration information, and the first network device sends the paging information to at least one terminal device interested in the updated broadcast multicast service configuration information. The first indication information is used for indicating that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated. In some embodiments, the first indication information is used for indicating a broadcast multicast service in which at least one configuration information is updated. The implementation of step 302 may be the same as the implementation of step 201.

303. The first network equipment encrypts the MBMS configuration information by using the multicast key of the AS to obtain the encrypted MBMS configuration information.

304. And the first network equipment sends the encrypted MBMS configuration information to the terminal equipment for monitoring the multicast through the multicast data scrambled by the G-RNTI.

The multicast data includes encrypted MBMS configuration information obtained by encrypting the MBMS configuration information using a multicast key of the AS. In some embodiments, end devices listening to the multicast are in an inactive state.

In the embodiment of the application, the first network device sends the encrypted MBMS configuration information to the terminal device monitoring the multicast through the multicast data scrambled by the G-RNTI, and the terminal device can receive the MBMS configuration information without entering a connection state, so that the power consumption of the terminal device can be reduced.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart of another configuration information updating method according to an embodiment of the present application. The process flow in fig. 4 is a further refinement and refinement of the process flow in fig. 1. As shown in fig. 3, the method includes:

401. the first network equipment receives the broadcast multicast service configuration information updating indication.

The implementation of step 401 may be the same as the implementation of step 301.

402. The first network device transmits paging information.

The implementation of step 402 may be the same as the implementation of step 302.

403. The first network equipment encrypts the MBMS configuration information by using a unicast key of the AS to obtain the encrypted MBMS configuration information.

404. And the first network equipment sends the encrypted MBMS configuration information to the terminal equipment through the C-RNTI in a unicast mode.

In some embodiments, the first network device stores the C-RNTI of at least one terminal device, and the first network device sends the encrypted MBMS configuration information to the terminal device through the C-RNTI of each terminal device in a unicast manner. In some embodiments, the terminal device is in an inactive state.

Optionally, if the MBMS configuration information is sent to the terminal device using the C-RNTI, the MBMS configuration information may be encrypted using an AS or NAS key of the terminal device.

In the embodiment of the application, the first network device sends the encrypted MBMS configuration information to the terminal devices through the C-RNTIs of the terminal devices in a unicast mode, and the terminal devices do not need to enter a connected state.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart of another configuration information updating method according to an embodiment of the present application. The process flow in fig. 5 is a further refinement and refinement of the process flow in fig. 1. As shown in fig. 5, the method includes:

501. the first network equipment receives the broadcast multicast service configuration information updating indication.

The implementation of step 501 may be the same as the implementation of step 301.

502. The first network device transmits paging information.

The implementation of step 502 may be the same as the implementation of step 302.

503. The first network device sends a configuration information generation request to the second network device.

The configuration information generation request is used for requesting the second network device to generate a NAS message including configuration information of a broadcast multicast service. In some embodiments, in a case that the MBMS configuration information is generated by the first network device, the first network device may carry the MBMS configuration information in the configuration information generation request, and the core network (corresponding to the second network device) may send, to the first network device, a NAS message that includes the MBMS configuration information and is encrypted using a NAS key of the terminal device. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the execution sequence of step 503 and step 502, and step 502 may be executed first and then step 503 may be executed, or step 503 may be executed first and step 502 may be executed, or step 502 and step 503 may be executed in parallel.

504. The second network device sends a NAS message containing the MBMS configuration information encrypted by using the NAS key of the terminal device to the first network device.

Optionally, a special NAS key may be defined for the MBMS service. At this time, the second network device transmits, to the first network device, an NAS message including the MBMS configuration information encrypted using an NAS key corresponding to the MBMS service.

505. And the first network equipment sends the NAS message to the terminal equipment.

In some embodiments, the terminal device is in an inactive state or an idle state.

In the embodiment of the present application, the first network device sends the encrypted MBMS configuration information to the terminal device through the NAS message, and the terminal device does not need to enter a connected state.

In this embodiment, the first network device may also send the MBMS configuration information to the terminal device through other messages, and the terminal device does not need to enter a connected state.

Fig. 6 is an interaction flowchart of a configuration information updating method according to an embodiment of the present application. The process flow in fig. 6 is a further refinement and refinement of the process flow in fig. 1. As shown in fig. 6, the method includes:

601. and the second network equipment sends a broadcast multicast service configuration information updating indication.

The broadcast multicast service configuration information updating indication is used for indicating that the broadcast multicast service configuration information needs to be updated. In some embodiments, the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication is included in a paging message, i.e. a paging message sent by the core network (corresponding to the second network device) to the base station (corresponding to the first network device). In some embodiments, the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication is used for indicating a broadcast multicast service of which at least one configuration information needs to be updated. In some embodiments, the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication is used to instruct the first network device to send paging information carrying first indication information to at least one terminal device interested in updated broadcast multicast service configuration information, or the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication is used to instruct the first network device to send paging information carrying first indication information for all terminal devices; the first indication information is used for indicating that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated. The second network device may be an AMF in a core network, or may be another network device that can send signaling such as a paging message to a base station (corresponding to the first network device), which is not limited in this application.

602. The first network device transmits paging information.

The paging information includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used for indicating that the broadcast multicast service configuration information is updated. The sending of the paging information by the first network device may be that the first network device pages the terminal device separately, and the paging information further includes the C-RNTI of the terminal device. In some embodiments, the first indication information is used for indicating a broadcast multicast service in which at least one configuration information is updated. In some embodiments, if the terminal device is interested in the broadcast multicast service whose configuration information is updated, the terminal device responds to the paging information, and the first network device sends the broadcast multicast service configuration information to the terminal device responding to the paging information. The implementation of step 602 may be the same as the implementation of step 301.

603. And the first network equipment uses the C-RNTI to send the broadcast multicast service configuration information to the terminal equipment.

The implementation of step 603 may be the same as the implementation of step 302.

604. And the terminal equipment updates the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service.

And the terminal equipment updates the current broadcast multicast service configuration information by using the received broadcast multicast service configuration information. The terminal equipment updates the broadcast multicast service configuration information at least comprising MBMS key updating.

In the embodiment of the application, the terminal device in the inactive state or the idle state can obtain the updated MBMS configuration information in time.

The foregoing embodiments describe a scheme in which a first network device (e.g., a base station) instructs a terminal device to update broadcast multicast service configuration information through paging information, and then sends the broadcast multicast service configuration information. In the foregoing embodiment, the terminal device cannot actively acquire the updated MBMS configuration information, but passively receives the updated MBMS configuration information or responds to the paging information to obtain the updated MBMS configuration information. The embodiment of the application provides a scheme for actively acquiring updated MBMS configuration information by terminal equipment. The main principle of this solution is as follows: the terminal device informs the network of the MBMS information it is interested in during the RRC connection setup phase (corresponding to the random access procedure), and after the network (corresponding to the first network device) has undergone the necessary authentication and authorization verification, the network sends the corresponding MBMS configuration information (such as a key, GRNTI, etc.) to the terminal device. For example, the terminal device may inform the network of the MBMS information it is interested in through the information sent in the third step of the four-step random access procedure (i.e., Msg 3). The terminal device changes from the idle state to the connected state, and needs to initiate an RRC connection establishment procedure, such as a call, a response page, and the like. It should be understood that, in the solution provided in this embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may inform the network of the MBMS configuration information that the terminal device is interested in at the RRC connection establishment stage, so as to obtain the corresponding MBMS configuration information. That is, the terminal device can acquire the required MBMS configuration information without entering a connected state. The configuration information updating method provided by the embodiment of the application is suitable for a two-step random access (also called 2-step RACH) scene and is also suitable for a four-step random access (4-step RACH) scene. The terminal equipment can acquire the updated MBMS configuration information in the random access process.

In order to fully understand the method disclosed in the present application, the following describes the four-step random access method according to the embodiments of the present application in detail. As shown in fig. 7:

701. the UE sends a random access preamble, which may also be referred to as message 1(Msg1), to the first network device. The random access preamble is used for notifying the first network device of a random access request, and enabling the first network device to estimate a transmission delay between the first network device and the UE, so that the first network device calibrates uplink timing (uplink timing) and informs the UE of calibration information through a Timing Advance (TA) command.

702. The first network device sends a Random Access Response (RAR), which may also be referred to as message 2(Msg2), to the UE after detecting the random access preamble. The random access response may include the sequence number of the received random access preamble, the timing advance command, the uplink resource allocation information, a temporary cell-radiosystematic identifier (TC-RNTI), and the like in 701.

703. The UE receives the random access response, and if the random access preamble indicated by the sequence number of the random access preamble in the random access response is the same as the random access preamble sent by the UE to the first network device in 701, the UE considers that the random access response is the random access response for the UE, that is, the UE receives the random access response of the UE. After receiving the random access response, the UE sends an uplink message on the uplink resource indicated by the random access response, for example, sends uplink data on a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), which is also referred to as message 3(Msg 3). Wherein the Msg3 can carry a unique user identifier. Because the content of the Msg3 is not fixed during the random access, it may carry an RRC connection request, and may carry some control messages or even service packets. For example, RRC messages such as RRCSetupRequest, rrcresumererequest 1 may be transmitted in Msg 3. Step 703 is the Scheduled Transmission in the third step of the four-step random access process, and corresponds to the physical layer for PUSCH channel Transmission.

704. The first network device receives the uplink message of the UE and returns a collision resolution message, also called message 4, to the UE with successful access (Msg 4). The first network device will carry the unique user identity in Msg3 in the collision resolution message to indicate the UE with successful access, and other UEs without successful access will reinitiate random access. Messages such as RRCSetup, RRCResume, RRCRelease, etc. may be carried in Msg 4.

In order to fully understand the method disclosed in the present application, the following describes the two-step random access method according to the embodiments of the present application in detail. As shown in fig. 8:

step A, the UE sends a first random access message (also called MsgA) to the first network equipment.

In step a, a random access preamble (random access preamble) and a content transmitted via PUSCH ("PUSCH payload") are generally referred to as MsgA. The PUSCH payload generally considers that the content of the PUSCH bearer is similar to Msg3 of a four-step random access procedure, that is, "Scheduled Transmission". Here, in MsgA, that is, "PUSCH payload" may carry RRC messages such as RRCSetupRequest, rrcresumererequest, RRCResumeRequest1, and the like.

And step B, after the first network equipment successfully receives the first random access message, returning a second random access message (also called MsgB) to the terminal equipment.

Step B, a contention resolution (contention resolution) message, generally called MsgB, generally carries the contents of a second-step Random Access Response (RAR) and a fourth-step contention resolution (contention resolution) message in a four-step random access procedure. Therefore, in step B, the contention resolution message may carry the messages such as RRCSetup, rrcreesume, rrcreelease, etc.

In some scenarios, a two-step random access procedure may fall back to a four-step random access procedure. The reason for the fallback is that the network did not successfully receive the PUSCH payload of step a of the two-step random access procedure, but successfully received the random access preamble of step a. Fig. 9 is a flow of a two-step random access flow to a four-step random access flow. As shown in fig. 9:

And step B, the first network equipment returns a fallback indication (fallback indication) to the terminal equipment under the condition that the PUSCH payload is not successfully received.

The back-off indication is used for indicating the UE to back off to the four-step random access flow.

Here, the B-th step corresponds to a Random Access Response (RAR) of the 4-step RACH, and the remaining third and fourth steps are identical to the 4-step RACH.

Step 3, the UE performs scheduled transmission (scheduled transmission), for example, sending uplink data on a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), which may also be referred to as Msg 3.

And step 4, the first network equipment returns a conflict resolution message.

In the fourth step, Msg4 may be transmitted in "content resolution", and messages such as RRCSetup, rrcresum, rrcreelease, etc. may be carried in Msg 4.

The following describes a scheme for a terminal device to actively acquire updated MBMS configuration information according to an embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 10 is a flowchart of another configuration information updating method according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 10, the method includes:

1001. the terminal equipment sends a broadcast multicast service configuration information updating request in a first message in a random access process.

The broadcast multicast service configuration information updating request is used for requesting to update the broadcast multicast service configuration information. The first message may be the first message (i.e., Msg1) or the third message (i.e., Msg3) in a four-step random access procedure, or may be the first random access message (also referred to as MsgA) in a two-step random access procedure.

Illustratively, the first message is a third message (i.e. Msg3) in a four-step random access process, the broadcast multicast service configuration information update request carries any one of the RRCSetupRequest, RRCResumeRequest, and RRCResumeRequest1, and since the reserved bits in the RRCSetupRequest, RRCResumeRequest, and RRCResumeRequest1 are limited, the terminal device may simply tell the first network device through Msg3 that it needs to update the configuration information of the MBMS service.

Illustratively, the first message is a first random access message (i.e. MsgA) in a two-step random access process, and the broadcast multicast service configuration information update request is carried in any one of the RRCSetupRequest, RRCResumeRequest, and RRCResumeRequest1, because the reserved bits in the first message are limited, the terminal device may simply tell the first network device through the MsgA that it needs to update the MBMS service configuration information.

If the terminal device needs to transmit more information to the first network device, a Media Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE) may be defined and carried in Msg3 or MsgA, and the bitmap carried by the MAC AC indicates the MBMS service that the terminal device is interested in. Of course, it is assumed that the maximum number of MBMS services and the corresponding relationship between the bits in the bitmap carried by the MAC AC and the MBMS services can be defined. Illustratively, the bitmap carried by the MAC AC in the first message indicates the broadcast multicast service configuration information to be updated by the terminal device. For example, the bitmap carried by the MAC AC in the first message includes Q bits, Q is the number of the MBMS service, one bit corresponds to one MBMS service, and if a bit corresponding to a certain MBMS service is flipped, it is considered that the terminal needs to update the configuration information of the MBMS service. Or, if the bit corresponding to a certain MBMS service is set to 1 (or 0), it is considered that the terminal needs to update the configuration information of the MBMS service.

In some embodiments, if the terminal device indicates the first network device or the first network device determines that the terminal device is only to obtain the key for the MBMS, the first network device may indicate that the terminal device does not enter the connected state.

1002. The first network equipment sends the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service.

In some embodiments, the first network device parses the broadcast multicast service configuration information update request before sending the broadcast multicast service configuration information, and sends corresponding MBMS configuration information (such as a key, a GRNTI, etc.) to the terminal device after performing necessary authentication and authorization verification. Several ways of sending the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service are described below.

In a first mode

As shown in fig. 11A, the first network device sends the broadcast-multicast service configuration information through a fourth message (Msg4) in a four-step random access procedure. Illustratively, the first network device sends the MBMS configuration information to the terminal device through any one of the rrc request, the rrcreesume, or the rrcreelease.

Mode two

The first network device transmits broadcast multicast service configuration information encrypted using a key of the AS. In some embodiments, for the terminal device in the inactive state, AS shown in fig. 11B, the first network device may encrypt the MBMS configuration information using a key of the AS and transmit the encrypted broadcast multicast service configuration information to the terminal device.

Mode III

As shown in fig. 11C, the first network device transmits a non-access stratum NAS message in the second message of the four-step random access procedure or the radio resource control RRC message included in the second message, where the NAS message includes the broadcast multicast service configuration information encrypted by the NAS key of the terminal device. Illustratively, the first message is msg3, and the second message is msg 4. In some embodiments, for an idle terminal device, a first network device may send request information to a core network after receiving a broadcast multicast service configuration information update request sent by the terminal device, where the request information requests the second network device to generate a NAS message including broadcast multicast service configuration information; the first network device receives a NAS message which is sent by a core network and comprises broadcast multicast service configuration information, and then the NAS message is sent to the terminal device in the Msg 4. Here, the NAS message may be transmitted in an RRC message included in Msg4, or may be directly transmitted in Msg 4.

Mode IV

As shown in fig. 11D, the first network device sends a radio resource control RRC message carrying configuration information of the broadcast multicast service. The first network device may transmit the MBMS configuration information through an RRC message, for example, an RRC reconfiguration message. It should be understood that if one RRC reconfiguration message is for MBMS, the first network device may send the RRC message in an MBMS manner. For example, the first network device places the RRC message on a bearer corresponding to an MBMS service for transmission, and the bottom layer uses a G-RNTI schedule corresponding to the MBMS for scheduling transmission of the RRC message. The RRC message received by the terminal device from the MBMS bearer is considered as configuration information for the MBMS. In this way, the first network device may transmit the RRC message in the MBMS manner. At present, RRC messages are all sent to terminal devices in a unicast manner. And the RRC message is sent in an MBMS mode, so that the terminal equipment interested in the MBMS can receive the updated MBMS configuration information.

Mode five

As shown in fig. 11E, the first network device sends the broadcast multicast service configuration information through a second random access message (MsgB) in a two-step random access procedure. Illustratively, the first network device sends the MBMS configuration information to the terminal device through any one of the rrc request, the rrcreesume, or the rrcreelease. In the fifth mode, the terminal device sends a broadcast multicast service configuration information update request through the MsgA, and the first network device sends broadcast multicast service configuration information through the MsgB.

In the embodiment of the application, the UE acquires the configuration information of the MBMS without entering the connected state, so that the configuration information of the MBMS can be quickly acquired, and the power consumption of the terminal equipment is reduced.

As can be seen from fig. 9 and fig. 11A to 11E, in the random access process, the terminal device informs the first network device that the purpose of the random access process is to perform MBMS configuration update, and the first network device sends MBMS configuration to the terminal device in the random access process, and the terminal device does not need to enter a connected state.

The following describes a schematic structural diagram of the first network device in the foregoing embodiment. Fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a first network device according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 9, the first network device includes:

a processing module 1201, configured to generate paging information, where the paging information includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that configuration information of a broadcast multicast service is updated;

a sending module 1202, configured to send the paging information;

the sending module 1202 is further configured to send broadcast multicast service configuration information.

The first network equipment indicates that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated through the paging information, the terminal equipment can know that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated without entering a connection state, and the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is received, so that the power consumption can be reduced.

Optionally, as an embodiment, the first network device further includes: a receiving module 1203, configured to receive a broadcast multicast service configuration information update instruction of the second network device, where the broadcast multicast service configuration information update instruction is used to indicate that the broadcast multicast service configuration information needs to be updated.

The first network device of fig. 12 may implement the operations performed by the first network device of fig. 2-6.

Fig. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 13, the terminal device includes:

a receiving module 1301, configured to receive paging information, where the paging information includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that configuration information of a broadcast multicast service is updated;

the receiving module 1301 is further configured to receive broadcast multicast service configuration information;

the processing module 1302 is configured to update the current broadcast multicast service configuration information according to the broadcast multicast service configuration information.

Optionally, as an embodiment, the first network device further includes: the processing module 1302 is further configured to respond to the paging information when the broadcast multicast service configuration information needs to be updated; and under the condition that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service does not need to be updated, the paging information is not responded.

The terminal device in fig. 13 may implement the operations performed by the terminal devices in fig. 2-6.

Fig. 14 is a schematic structural diagram of a second network device according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 14, the second network device includes:

a processing module 1401, configured to generate a broadcast multicast service configuration information update instruction, where the broadcast multicast service configuration information update instruction is used to indicate that the broadcast multicast service configuration information is updated;

a sending module 1402, configured to send the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication.

The second network device of fig. 14 may implement the operations performed by the second network device of fig. 3-6.

Fig. 15 is a schematic structural diagram of another terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 12, the terminal device includes:

a sending module 1501, configured to send a broadcast multicast service configuration information update request in a first message in a random access process, where the broadcast multicast service configuration information update request is used to request to update broadcast multicast service configuration information;

the receiving module 1502 is further configured to receive broadcast multicast service configuration information.

In some embodiments, the receiving module 1502 is specifically configured to receive the broadcast multicast service configuration information carried in a radio resource control RRC message.

In some embodiments, the receiving module 1502 is specifically configured to receive the RRC message sent by the first network device in a broadcast multicast manner.

In some embodiments, the receiving module 1502 is further configured to receive indication information for indicating that the terminal device enters the non-connected state.

Fig. 16 is a schematic structural diagram of another first network device according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 16, the first network device includes:

a receiving module 1601, configured to receive a broadcast multicast service configuration information update request in a first message in a random access procedure; the processing module is used for responding to the broadcast multicast service configuration information updating request;

a sending module 1602, configured to send broadcast multicast service configuration information.

In some embodiments, the first message is a third message in a random access procedure; the sending module 1602, is specifically configured to send the broadcast multicast service configuration information through a fourth message in a random access process by the first network device.

In some embodiments, the sending module 1602 is specifically configured to send, by the first network device, a non-access stratum NAS message in the first message or a radio resource control RRC message included in the first message, where the NAS message includes broadcast multicast service configuration information encrypted by using a NAS key of the terminal device.

In some embodiments, the sending module 1602 is further configured to send request information to a second network device, where the request information requests the second network device to generate an NAS message including configuration information of a broadcast multicast service; the receiving module is further configured to receive the NAS message from the second network device.

In some embodiments, the sending module 1602 is specifically configured to send a radio resource control RRC message carrying the broadcast multicast service configuration information.

In some embodiments, the sending module 1602 is specifically configured to send, in a broadcast multicast mode, the RRC message carrying the broadcast multicast service configuration information.

In some embodiments, the sending module 1602 is specifically configured to send, to the terminal device, indication information indicating that the terminal device enters a non-connected state.

Fig. 17 is a schematic structural diagram of another second network device according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 17, the second network device includes:

a receiving module 1701, configured to receive request information, where the request information requests the second network device to generate a NAS message including configuration information of a broadcast multicast service;

a sending module 1702, configured to send a NAS message including the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service.

It should be understood that the above division of the modules in the first network device, the terminal device and the second network device is only a division of logical functions, and all or part of the actual implementation may be integrated into one physical entity, or may be physically separated. For example, each of the above modules may be a processing element separately set up, or may be implemented by being integrated in a certain chip of the terminal, or may be stored in a storage element of the controller in the form of program code, and a certain processing element of the processor calls and executes the functions of each of the above modules. In addition, the modules can be integrated together or can be independently realized. The processing element may be an integrated circuit chip having signal processing capabilities. In implementation, each step of the above method or each module above may be implemented by an integrated logic circuit of hardware in a processor element or an instruction in the form of software. The processing element may be a general-purpose processor, such as a network processor or a Central Processing Unit (CPU), or may be one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the above methods, such as: one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), one or more microprocessors (DSPs), one or more field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), etc.

The embodiment of the application also provides a communication device, and the communication device can be terminal equipment or a circuit. The communication device may be configured to perform the actions performed by the terminal device in the above-described method embodiments.

When the communication apparatus is a terminal device, fig. 18 shows a schematic structural diagram of a simplified terminal device. For ease of understanding and illustration, in fig. 18, the terminal device is exemplified by a mobile phone. As shown in fig. 18, the terminal device includes a processor, a memory, a radio frequency circuit, an antenna, and an input-output device. The processor is mainly used for processing communication protocols and communication data, controlling the terminal equipment, executing software programs, processing data of the software programs and the like. The memory is used primarily for storing software programs and data. The radio frequency circuit is mainly used for converting baseband signals and radio frequency signals and processing the radio frequency signals. The antenna is mainly used for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. Input and output devices, such as touch screens, display screens, keyboards, etc., are used primarily for receiving data input by a user and for outputting data to the user. It should be noted that some kinds of terminal devices may not have input/output devices.

When data needs to be sent, the processor performs baseband processing on the data to be sent and outputs baseband signals to the radio frequency circuit, and the radio frequency circuit performs radio frequency processing on the baseband signals and sends the radio frequency signals to the outside in the form of electromagnetic waves through the antenna. When data is sent to the terminal equipment, the radio frequency circuit receives radio frequency signals through the antenna, converts the radio frequency signals into baseband signals and outputs the baseband signals to the processor, and the processor converts the baseband signals into the data and processes the data. For ease of illustration, only one memory and processor are shown in FIG. 18. In an actual end device product, there may be one or more processors and one or more memories. The memory may also be referred to as a storage medium or a storage device, etc. The memory may be provided independently of the processor, or may be integrated with the processor, which is not limited in this embodiment.

In the embodiment of the present application, the antenna and the radio frequency circuit with the transceiving function may be regarded as a transceiving module of the terminal device, and the processor with the processing function may be regarded as a processing module of the terminal device. As shown in fig. 18, the terminal device includes a transceiver module 1810 and a processing module 1820. A transceiver module may also be referred to as a transceiver, a transceiving device, etc. The processing module may also be referred to as a processor, a processing board, a processing module, a processing device, etc. Optionally, a device in the transceiver module 1810 for implementing the receiving function may be regarded as a receiving module, and a device in the transceiver module 1810 for implementing the transmitting function may be regarded as a transmitting module, that is, the transceiver module 1810 includes the receiving module and the transmitting module. A transceiver module may also sometimes be referred to as a transceiver, transceiving circuitry, or the like. A receiving module may also be sometimes referred to as a receiver, or a receiving circuit, etc. The transmitting module may also sometimes be referred to as a transmitter, or a transmitting circuit, etc.

It should be understood that the transceiving module 1810 is configured to perform the transmitting operation and the receiving operation on the terminal device side in the above method embodiments, and the processing module 1820 is configured to perform other operations besides the transceiving operation on the terminal device in the above method embodiments.

For example, in one implementation, the transceiver module 1810 is used to perform a receiving operation on the terminal device side in fig. 2, and/or the transceiver module 1810 is also used to perform other transceiving steps on the terminal device side in the embodiments of the present application. A processing module 1820, configured to perform operations on the terminal device side in fig. 2 except for the sending operation and the receiving operation.

For another example, in another implementation, the transceiver module 1810 is configured to perform the receiving operations at the terminal device side in steps 302 and 304 in fig. 3. The processing module 1820 is configured to execute other processing steps on the terminal device side in this embodiment of the application.

For another example, in another implementation manner, the transceiver module 1810 is used to perform the receiving operation of the terminal device side in steps 402 and 404 in fig. 4, and/or the transceiver module 1810 is also used to perform other transceiving steps of the terminal device side in the embodiment of the present application. The processing module 1820 is configured to execute other processing steps on the terminal device side in this embodiment of the application.

For another example, in another implementation, the transceiver module 1810 is configured to perform the receiving operation at the terminal device side in step 502 and step 505 in fig. 5. The processing module 1820 is configured to perform other processing steps on the terminal device side in this embodiment.

For another example, in another implementation, the transceiver module 1810 is configured to perform the receiving operation on the terminal device side in step 602 and step 603 in fig. 6. Processing module 1820 is configured to execute step 604 in fig. 6, and/or processing module 1820 is further configured to execute other processing steps on the terminal device side in this embodiment.

For another example, in another implementation, the transceiving module 1810 is configured to perform a transmitting operation on the terminal device side in step 1001 and a receiving operation on the terminal device side in step 1002 in fig. 10.

When the communication device is a chip-like device or circuit, the device may include a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module may be an input/output circuit and/or a communication interface; the processing module is an integrated processor or microprocessor or integrated circuit.

When the communication device in this embodiment is a terminal device, reference may be made to the device shown in fig. 19. In fig. 19, the apparatus includes a processor 1910, a transmitting data processor 1920, a receiving data processor 1930. The processing module 1302 in the above embodiments may be the processor 1910 in fig. 19, and performs corresponding functions. The receiving module 1301 in the above embodiments may be the received data processor 1930 in fig. 19, the sending module may be the sending data processor 1920 in fig. 19, and the receiving module may be the received data processor 1930 in fig. 19. Although fig. 19 shows a channel encoder and a channel decoder, it is understood that these blocks are not limitative and only illustrative to the present embodiment.

As another form of the present embodiment, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, perform the method on the terminal device side in the above-described method embodiments.

As another form of the present embodiment, there is provided a computer program product containing instructions that, when executed, perform the method on the terminal device side in the above-described method embodiments.

When the communication apparatus in this embodiment is a network device, the network device (corresponding to the first network device) may be as shown in fig. 20, and the network device 2000 includes one or more radio frequency modules, such as a Remote Radio Unit (RRU) 2010 and one or more baseband units (BBUs) (which may also be referred to as digital modules, digital units, DUs) 2020. The RRU2010 may be referred to as a transceiver module, and corresponds to the transmitting module 1201 and the receiving module 1201 in fig. 9. Optionally, the transceiver module may also be referred to as a transceiver, a transceiver circuit, or a transceiver, etc., which may include at least one antenna 2011 and the radio frequency module 2012. The RRU2010 is mainly used for transceiving radio frequency signals and converting the radio frequency signals and baseband signals, for example, for sending indication information to a terminal device. The BBU 2010 section is mainly used for performing baseband processing, controlling a base station, and the like. The RRU2010 and the BBU 2020 can be physically disposed together or physically disposed separately, that is, distributed base stations.

The BBU 2020 is a control center of the base station, and may also be referred to as a processing module, and is mainly used for performing baseband processing functions, such as channel coding, multiplexing, modulation, and spreading. For example, the BBU (processing module) described above may be configured to control the base station to perform the operation procedure related to the first network device in the above method embodiment, for example, to generate the above indication information.

In an example, the BBU 2020 may be formed by one or more boards, and a plurality of boards may jointly support a radio access network of a single access system (e.g., an LTE network), or may respectively support radio access networks of different access systems (e.g., an LTE network, a 5G network, or other networks). The BBU 2020 further includes a memory 2021 and a processor 2022. The memory 2021 is used for storing necessary instructions and data. The processor 2022 is configured to control the base station to perform necessary actions, for example, to control the base station to perform the operation procedure related to the first network device in the above method embodiment. The memory 2021 and the processor 2022 may serve one or more boards. That is, the memory and processor may be provided separately on each board. Multiple boards may share the same memory and processor. In addition, each single board can be provided with necessary circuits.

As another form of the present embodiment, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, perform the method on the network device side in the above-described method embodiment.

As another form of the present embodiment, there is provided a computer program product containing instructions that, when executed, perform the method on the network device side in the above-described method embodiments.

It should be understood that the Processor mentioned in the embodiments of the present invention may be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), other general purpose Processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an off-the-shelf Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other Programmable logic device, a discrete Gate or transistor logic device, a discrete hardware component, and the like. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like.

It will also be appreciated that the memory referred to in this embodiment of the invention may be either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. The non-volatile Memory may be a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a Programmable ROM (PROM), an Erasable PROM (EPROM), an Electrically Erasable PROM (EEPROM), or a flash Memory. Volatile Memory can be Random Access Memory (RAM), which acts as external cache Memory. By way of example, but not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as Static random access memory (Static RAM, SRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), Synchronous Dynamic random access memory (Synchronous DRAM, SDRAM), Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), Enhanced Synchronous SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchronous link SDRAM (SLDRAM), and Direct Rambus RAM (DR RAM).

It should be noted that when the processor is a general-purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component, the memory (memory module) is integrated in the processor.

It should be noted that the memory described herein is intended to comprise, without being limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

It should also be understood that reference herein to first, second, third, fourth, and various numerical designations is made only for ease of description and should not be used to limit the scope of the present application.

It should be understood that the term "and/or" herein is merely one type of association relationship that describes an associated object, meaning that three relationships may exist, e.g., a and/or B may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character "/" herein generally indicates that the former and latter related objects are in an "or" relationship.

It should be understood that, in the various embodiments of the present application, the sequence numbers of the above-mentioned processes do not mean the execution sequence, and the execution sequence of the processes should be determined by their functions and inherent logic, and should not constitute any limitation to the implementation process of the embodiments of the present invention.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative modules 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 can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that, for convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the system, the apparatus and the module described above 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 above-described modules is merely a logical division, and an actual implementation may have another division, for example, a plurality of modules 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 modules, and may be in an electrical, mechanical or other form.

The modules described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts displayed as modules may or may not be physical modules, may be located in one place, or may be distributed on a plurality of network modules. Some or all of the modules may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of the present embodiment.

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

The functions, if implemented in the form of software functional modules 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 conceive 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 for updating configuration information, comprising:

a first network device sends paging information, wherein the paging information comprises first indication information, and the first indication information is used for indicating that configuration information of a broadcast multicast service is updated;

and the first network equipment sends broadcast multicast service configuration information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first indication information is used for indicating a broadcast multicast service with at least one updated configuration information.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first indication information is a short message transmitted through a physical downlink control channel; and the reserved bit in the short message indicates that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated, or the system message update indication in the short message is used for indicating that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated.

4. The method according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein before the first network device sends the paging information, the method further comprises:

the first network equipment receives a broadcast multicast service configuration information updating indication of second network equipment, and the broadcast multicast service configuration information updating indication is used for indicating that the broadcast multicast service configuration information needs to be updated.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication instructs the first network device to send the paging information to at least one terminal device interested in updated broadcast multicast service configuration information, or wherein the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication instructs the first network device to send the paging information to all terminal devices.

6. A method for updating configuration information, comprising:

the method comprises the steps that terminal equipment receives paging information, wherein the paging information comprises first indication information, and the first indication information is used for indicating that broadcast multicast service configuration information is updated;

and the terminal equipment receives the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first indication information indicates a broadcast multicast service with at least one configuration information updated.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the first indication information is a short message transmitted through a physical downlink control channel; and the reserved bit in the short message indicates that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated, or the system message update indication in the short message is used for indicating that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated.

9. The method according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein after the terminal device receives the paging information, the method further comprises:

the terminal equipment responds to the paging information under the condition that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service needs to be updated;

and the terminal equipment does not respond to the paging information under the condition that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service does not need to be updated.

10. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the terminal device is in any one of an active state, an idle state and an inactive state.

11. A method for updating configuration information, comprising:

the second network equipment generates a broadcast multicast service configuration information updating indication which is used for indicating that the broadcast multicast service configuration information is updated;

and the second network equipment sends the broadcast multicast service configuration information updating indication.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indicates a broadcast multicast service indicating that at least one configuration information has been updated.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication is used to instruct the first network device to send paging information carrying first indication information to at least one terminal device interested in updated broadcast multicast service configuration information, or the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication is used to instruct the first network device to send paging information carrying first indication information for all terminal devices; the first indication information is used for indicating that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated.

14. A communications apparatus, comprising:

a processing module, configured to generate paging information, where the paging information includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that configuration information of a broadcast multicast service is updated;

a sending module, configured to send the paging information;

the sending module is further configured to send broadcast multicast service configuration information.

15. The communications apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first indication information is used for indicating a broadcast multicast service with at least one updated configuration information.

16. The communication apparatus according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the first indication information is a short message transmitted through a physical downlink control channel; and the reserved bit in the short message indicates that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated, or the system message update indication in the short message is used for indicating that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated.

17. The communication device according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the communication device further comprises:

and the receiving module is used for receiving a broadcast multicast service configuration information updating indication of the second network equipment, wherein the broadcast multicast service configuration information updating indication is used for indicating that the broadcast multicast service configuration information needs to be updated.

18. The communications apparatus of claim 17, wherein the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication instructs the first network device to send the paging information to at least one terminal device interested in updated broadcast multicast service configuration information, or wherein the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication instructs the first network device to send the paging information to all terminal devices.

19. A communications apparatus, comprising:

a receiving module, configured to receive paging information, where the paging information includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate that configuration information of a broadcast multicast service is updated;

the receiving module is further configured to receive broadcast multicast service configuration information;

and the processing module is used for updating the current broadcast multicast service configuration information according to the broadcast multicast service configuration information.

20. The communications apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first indication information indicates a broadcast multicast service for which at least one configuration information has been updated.

21. The communication apparatus according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the first indication information is a short message transmitted through a physical downlink control channel; and the reserved bit in the short message indicates that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated, or the system message update indication in the short message is used for indicating that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated.

22. The communication device according to any one of claims 19 to 21,

the processing module is further configured to respond to the paging information when the broadcast multicast service configuration information needs to be updated; and not responding to the paging information under the condition that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service does not need to be updated.

23. The apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 22, wherein the terminal device is in any one of an active state, an idle state, and an inactive state.

24. A communications apparatus, comprising:

the processing module is used for generating a broadcast multicast service configuration information updating indication which is used for indicating that the broadcast multicast service configuration information is updated;

and the sending module is used for sending the broadcast multicast service configuration information updating indication.

25. The communications apparatus of claim 24, wherein the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indicates a broadcast multicast service indicating that at least one configuration information has been updated.

26. The communications apparatus according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication is configured to instruct the first network device to send paging information carrying first indication information to at least one terminal device interested in updated broadcast multicast service configuration information, or the broadcast multicast service configuration information update indication is configured to instruct the first network device to send paging information carrying first indication information for all terminal devices; the first indication information is used for indicating that the configuration information of the broadcast multicast service is updated.

27. A computer-readable storage medium for storing instructions that, when executed, cause the method of any of claims 1-5 to be implemented.

28. A computer-readable storage medium for storing instructions that, when executed, cause the method of any one of claims 6-10 to be implemented.

29. A computer-readable storage medium for storing instructions that, when executed, cause the method of any one of claims 11-13 to be implemented.

30. A communication system comprising a communication device according to any one of claims 14 to 18, a communication device according to any one of claims 19 to 23 and a communication device according to any one of claims 24 to 26.