Paging method, network device and terminal device

Provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure are a paging method, a network device, and a terminal device. The method includes when a second network device determines that downlink data of a terminal device arrives, a first network device sending a first paging message to the terminal device. The first paging message is used to page the terminal device for the second network device. The first network device is a network device in a first network, the second network device is a network device in a second network, and the first network and the second network are different networks among a plurality of networks registered by the terminal device.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to the field of communications, and more specifically, to a paging method, a network device, and a terminal device.

For a multi-mode terminal, the terminal device can register in multiple systems (or networks). Therefore, the terminal device needs to monitor paging messages of multiple systems at the same time, resulting in high power consumption of the terminal device. In this case, how to perform paging to reduce the power consumption of the terminal device is a problem worthy of study.

SUMMARY

The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a paging method, a network device, and a terminal device, which can reduce the power consumption of the terminal device.

According to a first aspect, there is provided a paging method, including when a second network device determines that downlink data of a terminal device arrives, sending, by a first network device, a first paging message to the terminal device, wherein the first paging message is used for the second network device to page the terminal device; and wherein the first network device is a network device in a first network, the second network device is a network device in a second network, and the first network and the second network are different networks among a plurality of networks registered by the terminal device

Therefore, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the terminal device may register in a plurality of networks, but paging of the terminal device by the plurality of networks is only performed in a specific network or networks, so that the terminal device can only listen to the paging message of the specific one or more networks, which is beneficial to the power saving of the terminal device.

Optionally, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the first paging message may be an existing message, and the existing message carries indication information for indicating that the first paging message is used for the second network device to page the terminal device, or the first paging message may also be a newly added message type, which is specifically used to page the terminal device for the network devices in other networks, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

In some possible implementation manners, the method further includes receiving, by the first network device, a first message sent by the second network device, wherein the first message is used to notify the first network device that the second network device needs to send downlink data to the terminal device.

In some possible implementation manners, the sending, by the first network device, the first paging message to the terminal device includes sending, by the first network device, the first paging message to the terminal device in a first registration area, wherein the first registration area is a registration area of the terminal device in the first network.

In some possible implementation manners, the sending, by the first network device, the first paging message to the terminal device includes sending, by the first network device, the first paging message to the terminal device in a second registration area, wherein the second registration area is a registration area of the terminal device in the second network.

In some possible implementation manners, the method further includes receiving, by the first network device, a second message sent by the second network device, wherein the second message is used to notify the first network device of information about the second registration area.

In some possible implementation manners, the first paging message includes indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate at least one of identification information of the second network device, standard information of the second network, or identification information of the terminal device in the second network.

In some possible implementation manners, the method further includes receiving, by the first network device, the indication information sent by the second network device.

In some possible implementation manners, the method further includes: receiving, by the first network device, a third message sent by the terminal device, wherein the third message is used to notify the first network device that the terminal device has replied to the second network device with a first paging response message.

In some possible implementation manners, the method further includes receiving, by the first network device, a fourth message sent by the second network device, wherein the fourth message is used to notify the first network device that the second network device has received a first paging response message returned by the terminal device, or the fourth message is used to notify the first network device to stop paging the terminal device.

In some possible implementation manners, the method further includes when the second network device does not receive a first paging response message returned by the terminal device, receiving, by the first network device, a fifth message sent by the second network device, wherein the fifth message is used to notify the first network device to page the terminal device again.

In some possible implementation manners, the method further includes when both the first network device and the second network device determine that the downlink data of the terminal device arrives, sending, by the first network device, a second paging message to the terminal device, wherein the second paging message comprises a paging message for the terminal device by the first network device and the second network device.

In some possible implementation manners, the method further includes receiving, by the first network device, a second paging response message returned by the terminal device.

In some possible implementation manners, the first network and the second network are networks in the same public land mobile network (PLMN), or the first network and the second network are networks in different PLMNs.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a paging method, including determining, by a second network device, that downlink data of a terminal device arrives; and sending, by the second network device, a first paging message to the terminal device through a first network device, wherein the first network device is a network device in a first network, the second network device is a network device in a second network, and the first network and the second network are different networks among a plurality of networks registered by the terminal device.

In some possible implementation manners, the method further includes sending, by the second network device, a first message to the first network device, wherein the first message is used to notify the first network device that the second network device needs to send downlink data to the terminal device.

In some possible implementation manners, the method further includes sending, by the second network device, a second message to the first network device, wherein the second message is used to notify the first network device of a second registration area of the terminal device in the second network.

In some possible implementation manners, the first paging message includes indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate at least one of identification information of the second network device, standard information of the second network, or identification information of the terminal device in the second network.

In some possible implementation manners, the method further includes sending, by the second network device, the indication information to the first network device.

In some possible implementation manners, the method further includes sending, by the second network device, a fourth message to the first network device, wherein the fourth message is used to notify the first network device that the second network device has received a first paging response message returned by the terminal device, or the fourth message is used to notify the first network device to stop paging the terminal device.

In some possible implementation manners, the method further includes when the second network device does not receive a first paging response message returned by the terminal device, sending, by the second network device, a fifth message to the first network device, wherein the fifth message is used to notify the first network device to page the terminal device again.

In some possible implementation manners, the method further includes receiving, by the second network device, a sixth message sent by the terminal device, wherein the sixth message comprises information of the first network device.

In some possible implementation manners, the sixth message further includes a first request, and the first request is used to request to respond to the paging message of the second network device in the first network.

In some possible implementation manners, the second network device accepts or rejects the first request of the terminal device.

In some possible implementation manners, the first network and the second network are networks in the same public land mobile network (PLMN), or the first network and the second network are networks in different PLMNs.

According to a third aspect, there is provided paging method, including receiving, by a terminal device, a first paging message sent by a first network device, wherein the first paging message is used for a second network device to page the terminal device; and replying, by the terminal device, to the second network device with a first paging response message, wherein the first network device is a network device in a first network, the second network device is a network device in a second network, and the first network and the second network are different networks among a plurality of networks registered by the terminal device

In some possible implementation manners, the replying, by the terminal device, to the second network device with the first paging response message includes replying, by the terminal device, to the second network device with the first paging response message in a second registration area, wherein the second registration area is a registration area of the terminal device in the second network.

In some possible implementation manners, the first paging message includes indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate at least one of identification information of the second network device, standard information of the second network, or identification information of the terminal device in the second network.

In some possible implementation manners, the method further includes sending, by the terminal device, a third message to the first network device, wherein the third message is used to notify the first network device that the terminal device has replied to the second network device with a first paging response message.

In some possible implementation manners, the method further includes when registering with the second network, sending, by the terminal device, a sixth message to the second network device, wherein the sixth message comprises information of the first network device.

In some possible implementation manners, the sixth message further includes a first request, and the first request is used to request to respond to the paging message of the second network device in the first network.

In some possible implementation manners, the method further includes receiving, by the terminal device, a second paging message sent by the first network device, wherein the second paging message comprises a paging message for the terminal device by the first network device and the second network device.

In some possible implementation manners, the method further includes replying, by the terminal device, a second paging response message in the first network and the second network.

According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a network device for performing the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect, or for performing the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation manner of the second aspect. Specifically, the network device includes a unit for performing the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect, or the network device includes a unit for performing the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect.

According to a fifth aspect, there is provided a network device. The network device includes a memory, a processor, an input interface, and an output interface. The memory, the processor, the input interface, and the output interface are connected through a bus system. The memory is configured to store instructions, and the processor is configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory, to execute the method in the first aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect, or to execute the method in the second aspect or any possible implementation manner of the second aspect.

According to a sixth aspect, there is provided a terminal device for performing the method in the third aspect or any possible implementation manner of the third aspect. Specifically, the terminal device includes a unit for performing the method in the third aspect or any possible implementation manner of the third aspect.

In a seventh aspect, there is provided a terminal device. The terminal device includes a memory, a processor, an input interface, and an output interface. The memory, the processor, the input interface, and the output interface are connected through a bus system. The memory is configured to store instructions, and the processor is configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory to perform the method in the third aspect or any possible implementation manner of the third aspect.

In an eighth aspect, there is provided a computer storage medium for storing computer software instructions used to execute the method in the first to third aspects or any possible implementation manner of the first to third aspects, the computer software instructions including a program designed to execute the above aspects.

In a ninth aspect, there is provided a computer program product including instructions, which when executed on a computer, causes a computer to execute the method in the first to third aspects or any possible implementation manner of the first to third aspects.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

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

It should be understood that the terms “system” and “network” are often used interchangeably herein. The term “and/or” here describes an association relationship between associated objects, indicating that there may be three relationships. For example, A and/or B may mean the following three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, B exists alone. In addition, the character “/” here generally indicates that the associated objects are in an “or” relationship.

The embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to various communication systems, such as a Global System of Mobile Communication (GSM) system, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, an Advanced long term evolution (LTE-A) system, a New Radio (NR) system, an evolution system of NR system, an LTE-based access to unlicensed spectrum (LTE-U) system, an NR-based access to unlicensed spectrum (NR-U) system, a Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), a Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN), Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), a next-generation communication system or other communication systems, etc.

FIG. 1shows a wireless communication system100applicable to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The wireless communication system100may include at least one network device, for example, a first network device110and a second network device120shown inFIG. 1. Both the first network device110and the second network device120can communicate with a terminal device130through a wireless air interface. The first network device110and the second network device120can provide communication coverage for a specific geographic area and can communicate with the terminal device located within the coverage area. The first network device110or the second network device120may be a base station (Base Transceiver Station, BTS for short) in the GSM system or CDMA system, or may be a base station (NodeB) in the WCDMA system, or may be an Evolutional Node B (referred to as “eNB” or “eNodeB”) in the LTE system, or a network device in the future 5G network, such as a Transmission Reception Point (TRP), a base station, a small base station equipment, etc., which is not particularly limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

The wireless communication system100further includes one or more terminal devices (User Equipments, “UEs”)130located within the coverage of the first network device110and the second network device120. The terminal device130may be mobile or fixed. The terminal device130may communicate with one or more core networks (Core Networks) via a Radio Access Network (abbreviated as “RAN”). The terminal device may be referred to as an access terminal, a terminal device, a user unit, a user station, a mobile station, a mobile station, a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a terminal, a wireless communication device, a user agent or a user apparatus. The terminal device may be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (“PDA”), a handheld device, a computing device with wireless communication capabilities, or other processing devices connected to wireless modems, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, and a terminal device in future 5G networks, etc.

The method for signal transmission according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference toFIGS. 2 to 5. It should be understood thatFIGS. 2 to 5are schematic flowcharts of the method for signal transmission according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, which shows the detailed communication steps or operations of the method, but these steps or operations are only examples, and the embodiments of the present disclosure may also perform other operations or variations of various operations inFIGS. 2 to 5.

FIG. 2is a schematic flowchart of a paging method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 2, the method200includes the following steps.

In S210, when a second network device determines that downlink data of a terminal device arrives, a first network device sends a first paging message to the terminal device. The first paging message is used for the second network device to page the terminal device;

The first network device is a network device in a first network, the second network device is a network device in a second network, and the first network and the second network are different networks in a plurality of networks registered by the terminal device.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the terminal device may register in a plurality of networks, but paging of the terminal device by the plurality of networks can only be performed in one or more specific networks, so that the terminal device can only monitor a paging message from the specific one or more networks, which is conducive to power saving of the terminal device.

Optionally, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the first network device may be a network device in a network that can perform paging, and the second network device is a network device in a network that cannot perform paging. When the second network device determines a need to page the terminal device, the second network device pages the terminal device through the first network device. For example, when downlink data of the terminal device arrives in the second network, the second network device determines that it needs to page the terminal device. Further, the second network device may instruct the first network device in the first network to page the terminal device, so that the first network device may initiate paging the terminal device for the second network device.

Optionally, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, there may be one or more first network devices, and there may be one or more second network devices, that is, there may be one or more networks capable of performing paging, and there may be one or more networks that cannot perform paging, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

Optionally, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the first paging message may include indication information used to indicate that the first paging message is sent by the first network device for the second network device, or to indicate that the second network device wants to page the terminal device.

Optionally, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the first paging message may be an existing message, and the first network device may carry indication information in the existing message to indicate that the first paging message is used for paging the terminal device for the second network device, or the first paging message may also be a newly added message, which is specifically used for paging the terminal device for a network device in other network, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

Optionally, the indication information is used to indicate at least one of identification information of the second network device, standard information of the second network, or identification information of the terminal device in the second network.

For example, the first paging message may include the identification information of the second network device, for example, device identification of the second network device, or may also include the identification information of the second network, for example, the standard information of the second network, such as LTE, NR, etc., or may also include the identification information of the terminal device in the second network, etc., which is not limited by the embodiments of the present disclosure, as long as the terminal device can determine that the first paging message is a paging initiated by the network device in the second network according to the indication information.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the second network device may send the indication information to the first network device, so that when the first network device pages the terminal device for the second network device, the first network device carries the indication information in the first paging message.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the method200further includes the first network device receiving a first message sent by the second network device, where the first message is used to notify the first network device that the second network device needs to send downlink data to the terminal device.

For example, when it is determined that the downlink data of the terminal device arrives, the second network device may send a first message to the first network device, where the first message is used to instruct the first network device to page the terminal device for the second network device, or the first message is used to notify the first network device that the second network device needs to send downlink data to the terminal device, that is, when the second network device needs to page the terminal device, it can send the first message to the first network device so that the first network device can perform paging of the terminal device based on the first message.

Optionally, the second network device may carry the indication information in the first message, so that the first network device can learn the indication information after receiving the first message and can carry the indication information in the first paging message to be sent to the terminal device, indicating that the first paging message is initiated for the network device in the second network.

Optionally, in some embodiments, S210may include the first network device sending the first paging message to the terminal device in a first registration area, where the first registration area is a registration area of the terminal device in the first network.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the first network device sending the first paging message to the terminal device includes the first network device sending the first paging message to the terminal device in a second registration area, where the second registration area is a registration area of the terminal device in the second network.

That is, the first network device may page the terminal device in the first registration area in the first network of the terminal device, or may page the terminal device in the second registration area of the second network of the terminal device, and the embodiments of the application do not specifically limit the sending area of the first paging message. For example, the first network device may also send the first paging message in a Tracking Area (TA) of the terminal device.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the method further includes the first network device receiving a second message sent by the second network device, where the second message is used to notify the first network device of information about the second registration area.

That is, the second network device may notify the first network device of the information of the second registration area in advance, so that the first network device initiates paging of the terminal device in the second registration area.

Optionally, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, after receiving the first paging message sent by the first network device, the terminal device may reply to the second network device with a first paging response message. Optionally, the terminal device may reply the first paging response message to the second network device in the first network or the second network, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

Optionally, if the terminal device replies with the first paging response message in the first network, after receiving the first paging response message, the first network device may forward the first paging response message to the second network device. Meanwhile, the first network device may also stop paging the terminal device.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the method200may further include the first network device receiving a third message sent by the terminal device, where the third message is used to notify the first network device that the terminal device has replied to the second network device with a first paging response message.

Specifically, after the terminal device (for example, in the first network or the second network) replies with the first paging response message, the terminal device may also send a third message to the first network device to notify the first network device that the terminal device has replied with the first paging response message to the second network device. In this way, after the first network device receives the third message, it can stop paging the terminal device.

Optionally, in other embodiments, the method200may further include the first network device receiving a fourth message sent by the second network device, where the fourth message is used to notify the first network device that the second network device has received the first paging response message replied from the terminal device, or the fourth message is used to notify the first network device to stop paging the terminal device.

Specifically, after the second network device receives the first paging response message returned by the terminal device, the second network device may send a fourth message to the first network device to notify the first network device that the second network device has received the first paging response message returned by the terminal device, or to notify the first network device to stop paging the terminal device, so that the first network device can stop paging the terminal device after receiving the fourth message.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the method200may further include if the second network device does not receive the first paging response message returned by the terminal device, the first network device receiving a fifth message sent by the second network device, and the fifth message is used to notify the first network device to page the terminal device again.

Specifically, if the second network device does not receive the first paging response message sent by the terminal device within a specific time, the second network device may also send a fifth message to the first network device to notify the first network device to page the terminal device again.

Optionally, the specific time may be preset, or specified by the communication system, or determined by the second network device, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the method200may further include if both the first network device and the second network device determine that the downlink data of the terminal device arrives, the first network device sending a second paging message to the terminal device, the second paging message including a paging message for the terminal device by the first network device and the second network device.

That is, the first network device can implement paging of the terminal device by the network devices in at least two networks through one paging message.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the second paging message may include first indication information and second indication information, the first indication information may be used to indicate that the second paging message includes the paging message to the terminal device by the first network device, and the second indication information may be used to indicate that the second paging message includes the paging message for the terminal device by the second network device.

Optionally, the first indication information is used to indicate at least one of identification information of the first network device, standard information of the first network, or identification information of the terminal device in the first network.

Optionally, the second indication information may include at least one of identification information of the second network device, standard information of the second network, or identification information of the terminal device in the second network.

Optionally, after receiving the second paging message, the terminal device determines that the second paging message includes the paging message of the first network device and the second network device to the terminal device. Further, the terminal device may reply the paging response message to both the first network device and the second network device.

Optionally, the terminal device may reply to the first network device with a paging response message in the first network, and reply to the second network device with a paging response message in the second network.

Optionally, the terminal device may also reply a paging response message to the first network device and the second network device in the first network. In this case, the terminal device may include in the paging response message the foregoing first indication information and second indication information to indicate that the paging response message is a paging response to the first network device and the second network device.

Optionally, the terminal device may also reply the paging response message in the second network. In this case, the terminal device may include in the paging response message the foregoing first indication information and second indication information to indicate that the paging response message is a paging response to the first network device and the second network device.

Optionally, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the first network and the second network may be networks in the same Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), or the first network and the second network are networks in different PLMNs, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

Optionally, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the first network device may be an access network device or core network device in the first network, and the second network may be an access network device or core network device in the second network.

For example, if the first network is an NR network and the second network is an LTE network, the first network device may be an access network device (gNB) in the NR system, an Access Management Function (AMF), or Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW), or User Plane Function (UPF), etc., which is not limited by the embodiments of the present disclosure, and the second network device may be a base station (eNB) in an LTE system, a Mobility Management Entity (MME) or a Service Gateway (SGW), etc., which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

The paging method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is described in detail from the perspective of the first network device above with reference toFIG. 2, and the paging method according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is described in detail below with reference toFIG. 3from the perspective of the second network device. It should be understood that the description on the second network device side corresponds to the description of the first network device side. For similar descriptions, the above contents may be referred to, and to avoid repetition, they are not repeated here.

FIG. 3is a schematic flowchart of a paging method according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 3, the method300includes the following steps.

In S310, the second network device determines that downlink data of the terminal device arrives.

In S320, the second network device sends a first paging message to the terminal device through the first network device, the first network device is a network device in a first network, the second network device is a network device in a second network, and the first network and the second network are different networks among a plurality of networks registered by the terminal device.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the method300further includes the second network device sending a first message to the first network device, where the first message is used to notify the first network device that the second network device needs to send downlink data to the terminal device.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the method300further includes the second network device sending a second message to the first network device, where the second message is used to notify the first network device of a second registration area of the terminal device in the second network.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the first paging message includes indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate at least one of identification information of the second network device, standard information of the second network, or identification information of the terminal device in the second network.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the method300further includes the second network device sending the indication information to the first network device.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the method300further includes the second network device sending a fourth message to the first network device, where the fourth message is used to notify the first network device that the second network device has received a first paging response message returned by the terminal device, or the fourth message is used to notify the first network device to stop paging the terminal device.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the method300further includes if the second network device does not receive the first paging response message returned by the terminal device, the second network device sending a fifth message to the first network device, the fifth message is used to notify the first network device to page the terminal device again.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the method300further includes the second network device receiving a sixth message sent by the terminal device, where the sixth message includes information of the first network device.

Optionally, the sixth message may be sent when the terminal device performs network registration in the second network, and the sixth message may include information of the first network device and/or identification information of the first network.

Optionally, the information of the first network device may be the identification information of the first network device, for example, the device identification of the first network device.

Optionally, the identification information of the first network may be information such as the standard information of the first network that can identify the first network, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the sixth message further includes a first request, and the first request is used to request a response to the paging message of the second network device in the first network.

That is, the terminal device may request the second network device to respond to the paging message in the first network. Optionally, the second network device may accept or reject the first request of the terminal device. For example, the second network device may reply a sixth response message to the terminal device, which is used to indicate that the second network device accepts or rejects the first request of the terminal device.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the first network and the second network are networks in the same public land mobile network (PLMN), or the first network and the second network are networks in different PLMNs.

The paging method according to the embodiments of the present disclosure is described in detail above from the perspective of the first network device and the second network device with reference toFIGS. 2 and 3, and hereinafter, in conjunction withFIG. 4, a paging method according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail from the perspective of the terminal device. It should be understood that the description on the terminal device side and the description on the network device side correspond to each other, and similar descriptions can be referred to above, and to avoid repetition, they are not repeated here.

FIG. 4is a schematic flowchart of a paging method400according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure. The method400may be executed by a terminal device in the communication system shown inFIG. 1. As shown inFIG. 4, the method400includes the following contents.

In S410, the terminal device receives a first paging message sent by the first network device. The first paging message is used to page the terminal device for the second network device.

In S420, the terminal device replies to the second network device with a first paging response message. The first network device is a network device in a first network, the second network device is a network device in a second network, and the first network and the second network are different networks among a plurality of networks registered by the terminal device.

Optionally, in some embodiments, S429may include the terminal device replying to the second network device with the first paging response message in a second registration area, where the second registration area is a registration area of the terminal device in the second network.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the first paging message includes indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate at least one of identification information of the second network device, standard information of the second network, or identification information of the terminal device in the second network.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the method400further includes the terminal device sending a third message to the first network device, where the third message is used to notify the first network device that the terminal device has responded to the second network device with a first paging response message.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the method400further includes when registering with the second network, the terminal device sending a sixth message to the second network device, where the sixth message includes information of the first network device.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the sixth message further includes a first request, and the first request is used to request a response to the paging message of the second network device in the first network.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the method400further includes the terminal device receiving a second paging message sent by the first network device, where the second paging message includes a paging message for the terminal device by the first network device and the second network device.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the method400further includes the terminal device replying a second paging response message in the first network and the second network.

Hereinafter, with reference toFIG. 5, taking the first network as an NR network and the second network as an LTE network as an example, the paging method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described from the perspective of device interaction. As shown inFIG. 5, the paging method may include the following contents.

S501and S502are the processes for the UE to register to the NR system, and S503and S504are the processes for the UE to register to the LTE system. It should be understood that the two registration processes are in no particular order, and the UE may register to the NR system first or may register to the LTE system first or may register to the two systems at the same time, which is not specifically limited in the present disclosure.

Specifically, in S501, when the UE registers with the NR system, it may send a registration request message to a core network device (for example, AMF) of the NR system.

Further, in S502, the core network device (for example, AMF) of the NR system may reply to the UE with a registration acceptance message.

In S503, when the UE registers with the LTE system, it can send a registration request message to a core network device (for example, MME) of the LTE system.

Optionally, the registration request message may also include information of the NR system, for example, AMF information, etc., so that the core network device of the LTE system determines that the paging to the terminal device can be initiated through the NR system.

Further, in S504, the core network device (for example, MME) of the LTE system may reply to the UE with a registration acceptance message.

So far, the terminal device has been successfully registered in both the LTE system and the NR system.

In S505, the core network device (for example, SGW) in the LTE system determines that the downlink data of the terminal device arrives, that is, determines that the downlink data needs to be sent to the terminal device.

Further, in S506, the SGW notifies the MME in the LTE system.

After the MME in the LTE system learns that the downlink data of the terminal device arrives, in S507, it sends a first message to the core network device (for example, AMF) in the NR system to indicate that the downlink data of the terminal device arrives. Optionally, the first message may carry an Identity (ID) of the UE.

Further, in S508, the core network device (for example, AMF) in the NR system sends a paging request message to the access network device (gNB) in the NR system. Optionally, the paging request message may include the foregoing indication information that is used to indicate that the paging request message is initiated for a network device in the LTE system.

Optionally, the paging request message may be a message used for communication between the core network and the access network.

Thereafter, in S509, the access network device (gNB) in the NR system may send a paging message to the terminal device, and the paging message may include the aforementioned indication information, for example, the identification information of the terminal device in the LTE network, or the standard information of the LTE network, etc.

Further, in S510, the terminal device may initiate a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection setup process to an access network device (e.g., eNB) in the LTE system to establish the RRC connection of the terminal device and the eNB.

Then, in S511, the terminal device may reply a paging response message to the core network device (for example, MME) in the LTE system.

Therefore, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the network device in the LTE system can implement paging of the terminal device through the network device in the NR system, so that the terminal device can only receive the paging message in the NR system without receiving the paging message in the LTE system, which is beneficial to the power saving of the terminal device.

The method embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail above with reference toFIGS. 2 to 5, and the device embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference toFIGS. 6 to 11. It should be understood that the device embodiments and the method embodiments correspond to each other, and the similar description can refer to the method embodiments.

FIG. 6shows a schematic block diagram of a network device600according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 6, the network device600includes a communication module610configured to when the second network device determines that downlink data of the terminal device arrives, send a first paging message to the terminal device. The first paging message is used to page the terminal device for the second network device;

where the network device is a network device in a first network, the second network device is a network device in a second network, and the first network and the second network are different networks in a plurality of networks registered by the terminal device.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the communication module610is further configured to receive a first message sent by the second network device, where the first message is used to notify the network device that the second network device needs to send downlink data to the terminal device.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the communication module610is specifically configured to send the first paging message to the terminal device in a first registration area, where the first registration area is a registration area of the terminal device in the first network.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the communication module610is specifically configured to send the first paging message to the terminal device in a second registration area, where the second registration area is a registration area of the terminal device in the second network.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the communication module610is further configured to receive a second message sent by the second network device, where the second message is used to notify the network device of information about the second registration area.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the first paging message includes indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate at least one of identification information of the second network device, standard information of the second network, or identification information of the terminal device in the second network.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the communication module610is further configured to receive the indication information sent by the second network device.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the communication module610is further configured to receive a third message sent by the terminal device, where the third message is used to notify the network device that the terminal device has returned a first paging response message to the second network device.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the communication module610is further configured to receive a fourth message sent by the second network device, where the fourth message is used to notify the network device that the second network device has received the first paging response message returned by the terminal device, or the fourth message is used to notify the network device to stop paging the terminal device.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the communication module610is further configured to if the second network device does not receive the first paging response message returned by the terminal device, receive a fifth message sent by the second network device, and the fifth message is used to notify the network device to page the terminal device again.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the communication module610is further configured to if both the network device and the second network device determine that the downlink data of the terminal device arrives, send a second paging message to the terminal device, and the second paging message includes a paging message to the terminal device by the network device and the second network device.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the communication module610is further configured to receive a second paging response message returned by the terminal device.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the first network and the second network are networks in the same public land mobile network (PLMN), or the first network and the second network are networks in different PLMNs.

It should be understood that the network device600according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may correspond to the first network device in the method embodiment of the present disclosure, and the above and other operations and/or functions of each unit in the network device600are respectively for implementing the corresponding process of the first network device in the method200inFIG. 2or the gNB in the method shown inFIG. 5, which will not be repeated here for brevity.

FIG. 7is a schematic block diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The network device700ofFIG. 7includes a determining module710, configured to determine that downlink data of the terminal device arrives; and a communication module720, configured to send a first paging message to the terminal device through the first network device, the first network device is a network device in a first network, the network device is a network device in a second network, and the first network and the second network are different networks among a plurality of networks registered by the terminal device.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the communication module720is further configured to send a first message to the first network device, where the first message is used to notify the first network device that the network device needs to send downlink data to the terminal device.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the communication module720is further configured to send a second message to the first network device, where the second message is used to notify the first network device of a second registration area of the terminal device in the second network.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the first paging message includes indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate at least one of identification information of the network device, standard information of the second network, or identification information of the terminal device in the second network.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the communication module720is further configured to send the indication information to the first network device.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the communication module720is further configured to send a fourth message to the first network device, where the fourth message is used to notify the first network device that the network device has received a first paging response message returned by the terminal device, or the fourth messages is used to notify the first network device to stop paging the terminal device.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the communication module720is further configured to if the network device does not receive the first paging response message returned by the terminal device, send a fifth message to the first network device, where the fifth message is used to notify the first network device to page the terminal device again.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the communication module720is further configured to receive a sixth message sent by the terminal device, where the sixth message includes information of the first network device.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the sixth message further includes a first request, and the first request is used to request a response to a paging message of the network device in the first network.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the network device accepts or rejects the first request of the terminal device.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the first network and the second network are networks in the same public land mobile network (PLMN), or the first network and the second network are networks in different PLMNs.

Specifically, the network device700may correspond to the second network device described in the above method300, or the eNB in the method shown inFIG. 5(for example, the network device700may be configured in the second network device described in the above method300or the eNB in the method shown inFIG. 5, or the network device700itself may be the second network device described in the above method300or the eNB in the method shown inFIG. 5), and each module or unit in the network device700are respectively used to perform various actions or processing procedures performed by the second network device in the above method300or the eNB in the method shown inFIG. 5. Here, in order to avoid redundant description, detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

FIG. 8is a schematic block diagram of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The terminal device800ofFIG. 8includes a communication module810, configured to receive a first paging message sent by a first network device, where the first paging message is used to page the terminal device for a second network device; and reply to the second network device with a paging response message, where the first network device is a network device in a first network, the second network device is a network device in a second network, and the first network and the second network are different networks among a plurality of networks registered by the terminal device.

The communication module810is also configured to reply the first paging response message to the second network device in a second registration area.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the first paging message includes indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate at least one of identification information of the second network device, standard information of the second network, or identification information of the terminal device in the second network.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the communication module810is further configured to send a third message to the first network device, where the third message is used to notify the first network device that the terminal device has returned a first paging response message to the second network device.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the communication module810is further configured to when registering with the second network, send a sixth message to the second network device, where the sixth message includes information of the first network device.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the sixth message further includes a first request, and the first request is used to request a response to a paging message of the second network device in the first network.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the communication module810is further configured to receive a second paging message sent by the first network device, where the second paging message includes a paging message for the terminal device by the first network device and the second network device.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the communication module810is further configured to reply a second paging response message in the first network and the second network.

Specifically, the terminal device800may correspond to (for example, may be configured in or itself is) the terminal device described in the above method400, and each module or unit in the terminal device800is used to perform each action or processing procedure performed by the terminal device in the above method400respectively. In order to avoid redundant description, a detailed description thereof is omitted.

As shown inFIG. 9, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a network device900. The network device900may be the network device600inFIG. 6, which can be used to execute the content of the first network device corresponding to the method200inFIG. 2or gNB inFIG. 5. The network device900includes an input interface910, an output interface920, a processor930, and a memory940. The input interface910, the output interface920, the processor930, and the memory940may be connected through a bus system. The memory940is used to store programs, instructions or codes. The processor930is configured to execute the programs, the instructions, or the codes in the memory940to control the input interface910to receive signals, control the output interface920to send signals, and complete operations in the foregoing method embodiments.

It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor930may be a Central Processing Unit (referred to as “CPU”), and the processor930may also be other general-purpose processors or digital signal processors (DSP), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may also be any conventional processor or the like.

The memory940may include a read-only memory and a random access memory, and provide instructions and data to the processor930. A portion of the memory940may also include a non-volatile random access memory. For example, the memory940may also store device type information.

In the implementation process, each content of the above method may be completed by an integrated logic circuit of hardware or an instruction in the form of software in the processor930. The content of the method disclosed in conjunction with the embodiments of the present disclosure may be directly embodied and executed by a hardware processor, or may be executed and completed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor. The software module may be located in a mature storage medium in the art, such as a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, or an electrically erasable programmable memory, and a register. The storage medium is located in the memory940, and the processor930reads the information in the memory940and completes the content of the above method in combination with its hardware. In order to avoid repetition, they will not be described in detail here.

In a specific embodiment, the communication module610included in the network device600inFIG. 6may be implemented using the input interface910and the output interface920ofFIG. 9.

As shown inFIG. 10, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a network device1000. The network device1000may be the network device700inFIG. 7, which can be used to execute the content of the second network device corresponding to the method300inFIG. 3or the eNB inFIG. 5. The network device1000includes an input interface1010, an output interface1020, a processor1030, and a memory1040. The input interface1010, the output interface1020, the processor1030, and the memory1040may be connected through a bus system. The memory1040is used to store programs, instructions or codes. The processor1030is configured to execute the programs, the instructions, or the codes in the memory1040to control the input interface1010to receive signals, control the output interface1020to send signals, and complete operations in the foregoing method embodiments.

It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor1030may be a Central Processing Unit (“CPU” for short), and the processor1030may also be other general-purpose processors or digital signal processors (DSP), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may also be any conventional processor or the like.

The memory1040may include a read-only memory and a random access memory, and provide instructions and data to the processor1030. A portion of the memory1040may also include a non-volatile random access memory. For example, the memory1040may also store device type information.

In the implementation process, each content of the above method may be completed by an integrated logic circuit of hardware or instructions in the form of software in the processor1030. The content of the method disclosed in conjunction with the embodiments of the present disclosure may be directly embodied and executed by a hardware processor, or may be executed and completed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor. The software module may be located in a mature storage medium in the art, such as a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, or an electrically erasable programmable memory, and a register. The storage medium is located in the memory1040, and the processor1030reads the information in the memory1040and completes the content of the above method in combination with its hardware. In order to avoid repetition, they will not be described in detail here.

In a specific embodiment, the determination module710included in the network device700inFIG. 7may be implemented by the processor1030inFIG. 10, and the communication module720included in the network device700inFIG. 7may be implemented by the input interface1010and the output interface1020.

As shown inFIG. 11, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a terminal device1100. The terminal device1100may be the terminal device800inFIG. 8, which can be used to perform the content corresponding to the method400inFIG. 4or the terminal device inFIG. 5. The terminal device1100includes an input interface1110, an output interface1120, a processor1130, and a memory1140. The input interface1110, the output interface1120, the processor1130, and the memory1140may be connected through a bus system. The memory1140is used to store programs, instructions or codes. The processor1130is configured to execute the programs, the instructions, or the codes in the memory1140to control the input interface1110to receive signals, control the output interface1120to send signals, and complete operations in the foregoing method embodiments.

It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor1130may be a Central Processing Unit (referred to as “CPU”), and the processor1130may also be other general-purpose processors or digital signal processors (DSP), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may also be any conventional processor or the like.

The memory1140may include a read-only memory and a random access memory, and provide instructions and data to the processor1130. A portion of the memory1140may also include a non-volatile random access memory. For example, the memory1140may also store device type information.

In the implementation process, each content of the above method may be completed by an integrated logic circuit of hardware or instructions in the form of software in the processor1130. The content of the method disclosed in conjunction with the embodiments of the present disclosure may be directly embodied and executed by a hardware processor, or may be executed and completed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor. The software module may be located in a mature storage medium in the art, such as a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, or an electrically erasable programmable memory, and a register. The storage medium is located in the memory1140, and the processor1130reads the information in the memory1140and completes the content of the above method in combination with its hardware. In order to avoid repetition, they will not be described in detail here.

In a specific embodiment, the communication module810included in the terminal device800inFIG. 8may be implemented using the input interface1110and the output interface1120ofFIG. 11.

An embodiment of the present disclosure also provides a computer-readable storage medium that stores one or more programs, the one or more programs include instructions, and when the instructions are executed by a portable electronic device that includes a plurality of application programs, the portable electronic device can execute the method of the embodiments shown inFIGS. 2 to 5.

An embodiment of the present disclosure also proposes a computer program including instructions. When the computer program is executed by the computer, the computer can execute the corresponding flow of the method in the embodiments shown inFIGS. 2 to 5.

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

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

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

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