Communication method and communications apparatus
16 claims: 5 independent, 11 dependent
- 1通信方法であって、セッション管理機能ネットワーク要素によって、アクセス及びモビリティ管理機能ネットワーク要素から、第1のアクセスネットワークデバイスから第2のアクセスネットワークデバイスへのハンドオーバーに成功しているサービス品質(QoS)フローの識別子を受信するステップと、前記QoSフローのQoS要件を満足することが不可能であるということを示す前記第1のアクセスネットワークデバイスからの前記QoSフローの通知制御状態に応答して、前記セッション管理機能ネットワーク要素によって、前記QoSフローの前記QoS要件を満足することが可能であるということをポリシー制御機能ネットワーク要素に通知するステップと、を含む、方法。
- 2当該方法は、前記セッション管理機能ネットワーク要素によって、 前記QoSフローがハンドオーバーされる前に前記第1のアクセスネットワークデバイスから受信した 前記QoSフローの前記通知制御状態 に基づいて、前記QoSフローの前記QoS要件を満足することが可能であるということ を決定するステップをさらに含む、請求項1に記載の方法。
- 3前記セッション管理機能ネットワーク要素によって、前記第1のアクセスネットワークデバイスからの前記QoSフローの前記通知制御状態を受信するステップをさらに含む、請求項 2 に記載の方法。
- 4前記第1のアクセスネットワークデバイスから前記第2のアクセスネットワークデバイスへのハンドオーバーに成功している前記QoSフローの前記識別子を受信するステップの後に、当該方法は、前記セッション管理機能ネットワーク要素によって、前記QoSフローの前記QoS要件を満足することが可能であるということを決定するステップをさらに含む、請求項1乃至3のうちのいずれか1項に記載の方法。
- 5前記セッション管理機能ネットワーク要素によって、前記ポリシー制御機能ネットワーク要素からのポリシー決定を受信するステップであって、前記ポリシー決定は、前記QoSフローの前記QoS要件を満足することが可能であるという前記通知に基づく、ステップをさらに含む、請求項1乃至4のうちのいずれか1項に記載の方法。
- 6前記ポリシー制御機能ネットワーク要素によって、前記セッション管理機能ネットワーク要素から、前記QoSフローの前記QoS要件を満足することが可能であるという前記通知を受信するステップと、前記ポリシー制御機能ネットワーク要素によって、前記通知に基づいて、ポリシー決定を行うステップと、をさらに含む、請求項1乃至5のうちのいずれか1項に記載の方法。
- 7前記アクセス及びモビリティ管理機能ネットワーク要素によって、前記セッション管理機能ネットワーク要素に、前記第1のアクセスネットワークデバイスから前記第2のアクセスネットワークデバイスへのハンドオーバーに成功している前記QoSフローの前記識別子を送信するステップをさらに含む、請求項1乃至6のうちのいずれか1項に記載の方法。
- 8前記第1のアクセスネットワークデバイスによって、前記セッション管理機能ネットワーク要素に、前記QoSフローの前記通知制御状態を送信するステップをさらに含む、請求項1乃至7のうちのいずれか1項に記載の方法。
- 9請求項1乃至5のうちのいずれか1項に記載の方法を実行するように構成される通信装置。
- 10コンピュータプログラムであって、当該コンピュータプログラムがコンピュータによって実行されるときに、前記コンピュータが、請求項1乃至5のうちのいずれか1項に記載の方法を実行することを可能とする、コンピュータプログラム。
- 11コンピュータ読み取り可能な記憶媒体であって、当該コンピュータ読み取り可能な記憶媒体は、コンピュータプログラムを格納し、前記コンピュータプログラムがコンピュータによって実行されるときに、前記コンピュータが、請求項1乃至5のうちのいずれか1項に記載の方法を実行することを可能とする、コンピュータ読み取り可能な記憶媒体。
- 12チップシステムであって、当該チップシステムは、命令を格納するように構成されるメモリと、前記メモリから前記命令を呼び出し、そして、前記命令を実行する、ように構成され、それによって、当該チップシステムが設置される通信デバイスは、請求項1乃至5のうちのいずれか1項に記載の方法を実行する、プロセッサと、を含む、チップシステム。
- 13通信システムであって、請求項1乃至5のうちのいずれか1項に記載の方法を実行するように構成されるセッション管理機能ネットワーク要素と、前記セッション管理機能ネットワーク要素から、QoSフローのQoS要件を満足することが可能であるという通知を受信するように構成されるポリシー制御機能ネットワーク要素と、を含む、通信システム。
- 14前記セッション管理機能ネットワーク要素に、第1のアクセスネットワークデバイスから第2のアクセスネットワークデバイスへのハンドオーバーに成功している前記QoSフローの識別子を送信するように構成されるアクセス及びモビリティ管理機能ネットワーク要素をさらに含む、請求項13に記載の通信システム。
- 15前記セッション管理機能ネットワーク要素に、前記QoSフローの通知制御状態を送信するように構成されるアクセスネットワークデバイスをさらに含む、請求項13又は14に記載の通信システム。
- 16前記ポリシー制御機能ネットワーク要素は、さらに、前記通知に基づいてポリシー決定を行い、そして、前記セッション管理機能ネットワーク要素に前記ポリシー決定を送信する、ように構成される、請求項13乃至15のうちのいずれか1項に記載の通信システム。
Independent claims16
184 paragraphs, as filed
[CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS]
This application claims priority from Chinese Patent Application No. 201810491245.7, entitled COMMUNICATION METHOD AND COMMUNICATION APPARATUS, filed with the China Patent Office on May 21, 2018, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
[Technical field]
This application relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular to communication methods and devices.
In the next-generation communication system, a terminal device may establish at least one packet data unit (PDU) session with a core network device by using an access network device. For each PDU session, at least one quality of service (QoS) flow may be established, and for the QoS flows, a data radio bearer (DB) corresponding to each QoS flow may be established. The access network device configures a quality of service requirement for transmitting a data packet by using a DRB corresponding to the QoS flow. When transmitting a data packet by using a DRB corresponding to the QoS flow, if it is impossible to satisfy the quality of service requirement of the service flow, the access network device may notify the core network device of a notification control state corresponding to the QoS flow, and the notification control state is used to indicate that it is impossible to satisfy the quality of service requirement of the QoS flow, so that the core network device makes a policy decision again for the QoS flow. The policy decision may be, for example, deleting or modifying the QoS flow.
In some communication scenarios, for example, when a terminal device is handed over between multiple access network devices, a PDU session established by the terminal device may be handed over between the multiple access network devices. Correspondingly, a QoS flow corresponding to the PDU session may also be handed over between the multiple access network devices. However, since the DRB established by the source access network device before the handover may be different from the DRB established by the target access network device after the handover, the notification control state of the QoS flow may be different when a data packet is transmitted by using different DRBs corresponding to the QoS flow before and after the handover. Since the core network device cannot recognize the handover of the QoS flow between the multiple access network devices, it is highly likely that the notification control state of the QoS flow recorded by the core network device is still the notification control state that the source access network device notifies before the handover. As a result, the notification control state of the QoS flow recorded by the target access network device after a handover may not be synchronized with the notification control state of the QoS flow recorded by the core network device, and the core network device is prone to making incorrect policy decisions for that QoS flow.
This application provides a communication method and a communication device to avoid a synchronization loss that may exist between the notification control states of a QoS flow recorded on the access network side and the core network side after the QoS flow is handed over on the access network side.
According to a first aspect, a communication method is provided, in which in a process of handing over at least one QoS flow from a first access network device to a second access network device, the first access network device sends first information to the second access network device, the first information is used to indicate that the first access network device is informing a core network device that it is unable to satisfy a quality of service requirement of the at least one QoS flow. After receiving the first information sent by the first access network device, the second access network device may send second information to the core network device, the second information is used to inform the core network device that it is able to satisfy a quality of service requirement of a first QoS flow of the at least one QoS flow and the first QoS flow is a QoS flow being handed over from the first access network device to the second access network device.
Further, after receiving the information sent by the second access network device and indicating that the quality of service requirements of the first QoS flow can be satisfied, a session management function (SMF) network element in the core network device may notify a policy control function (PCF) network element that the quality of service requirements of the first QoS flow can be satisfied.
In the above method, in the process of handing over a QoS flow, the first access network device may inform the second access network device of information about a state that has been notified to the core network device and is unable to satisfy the quality of service requirement of the at least one QoS flow. After a first QoS flow of the at least one QoS flow is successfully handed over to the second access network device, the second access network device may consider by default that it is able to satisfy the quality of service requirement of the first QoS flow that has been successfully handed over, and then inform the core network device that it is able to satisfy the quality of service requirement of the QoS flow that has been successfully handed over. In this way, the notification control state of the QoS flow recorded on the access network side after handover and the notification control state of the QoS flow recognized by the core network side can be synchronized to prevent the core network side from making an incorrect policy decision.
In one possible implementation, the first information may include an identifier of at least one QoS flow. Alternatively, the first information may include an identifier of the at least one QoS flow and a notification control state of the at least one QoS flow. The notification control state is a first state, and the first state is used to indicate that it is impossible to satisfy the quality of service requirement of the at least one QoS flow. Through the above scheme, the first access network device sends the first information to the second access network device, so that the second access network device can know the state of the at least one QoS flow recorded on the core network side. After that, the second access network device can inform the core network side of the latest notification control state of the QoS flow after handover, to ensure that the notification control state recorded on the core network side and the second access network device can be synchronized with each other.
In one possible implementation, the first access network device may transmit the first information to the second access network device through an interface connected to the second access network device.
When there is no interface connected between the first access network device and the second access network device, the first access network device may forward the first information by using a core network side. In one implementation, the first access network device may send the first information to the second access network device by using an access and mobility management function (AMF) network element. The AMF network element may forward the first information transparently.
In one possible implementation, after sending the second information to the core network device, when detecting that the quality of service requirement of the first QoS flow cannot be satisfied, the second access network device may immediately send third information to the core network device, where the third information is used to notify the core network device that the quality of service requirement of the first QoS flow cannot be satisfied. Compared with the prior art in which the second access network device needs to wait for a certain period of time before reporting the notification control status of the QoS flow again, the above implementation provided by this application can enable the core network device to be aware of the latest notification control status of the QoS flow in a timely manner.
In one possible implementation, after receiving information indicating that the quality of service requirement of the first QoS flow is able to be satisfied by the second access network device and determining that the received notification control state of at least one QoS flow transmitted by the first access network device is a first state, the SMF network element may notify the PCF network element that the quality of service requirement of the first QoS flow is able to be satisfied. The first state is used to indicate that it is impossible to satisfy the quality of service requirement of the at least one QoS flow. Through the above manner, the SMF network element may selectively notify the PCF network element of the latest notification control state of the QoS flow whose notification control state recorded on the core network side and the access network side after the handover is not consistent with each other, and may not notify the QoS flow whose recorded notification control state is consistent.
According to a second aspect, a communication method is provided, in which, when at least one QoS flow is being handed over from a first access network device to the second access network device, the second access network device may send fourth information to a core network device, the fourth information being used to inform the core network device that a quality of service requirement of the at least one QoS flow can be satisfied. Furthermore, after receiving the information sent by the second access network device and indicating that a quality of service requirement of the at least one QoS flow can be satisfied, an SMF network element may send fifth information to a PCF network element, the fifth information being used to inform the PCF network element that a notification control state of the at least one QoS flow can be satisfied. Optionally, the at least one QoS flow belongs to all QoS flows that are being handed over from the first access network device to the second access network device and require notification control.
In the above method, the involvement of the first access network device before handover is not required, and the second access network device directly notifies the core network device of all notification control states of the QoS flows that have been successfully handed over, so that the core network device can be aware of the notification control states of those handed over QoS flows in a timely manner, and the notification control states of the QoS flows recorded on the access network side after handover can be synchronized with the notification control states of the QoS flows recognized by the core network side to prevent the core network side from making erroneous policy decisions.
In one possible implementation, after sending the fourth information to the PCF network element, if the second access network device detects that it is not possible to satisfy the quality of service requirement of the at least one QoS flow, the second access network device may immediately notify the core network device that it is not possible to satisfy the quality of service requirement of the at least one QoS flow. Compared with the prior art in which the second access network device needs to wait for a certain period of time before reporting the notification control status of the QoS flow again, the above implementation provided by this application can enable the core network device to know the latest notification control status of the QoS flow in a timely manner.
In one possible implementation, after receiving the fourth information sent by the second access network device and determining that the received notification control state of the at least one QoS flow sent by the first access network device is a first state, the SMF network element may send fifth information to the PCF network element. The first state is used to indicate that it is impossible to satisfy the quality of service requirement of the at least one QoS flow. Through the above manner, the SMF network element can determine the notification control state recorded on the core network side and the access network side after the handover.<u style="Single">do not match each other</u>The latest notification control state of the QoS flows may be selectively notified to the PCF network element, and QoS flows with matching recorded notification control states may not be notified.
According to a third aspect, a communication method is provided, in which an SMF network element determines a received notification control state of at least one QoS flow transmitted by a first access network device, and when a second QoS flow of the at least one QoS flow is being handed over from the first access network device to a second access network device, the SMF network element determines a third QoS flow of the second quality of service flow whose notification control state is in a first state. Further, the SMF network element updates the notification control state of the third QoS flow to a second state, and transmits sixth information to a PCF network element, the sixth information being used to inform the PCF network element that the notification control state of the third QoS flow is in the second state. The first state is used to indicate that it is not possible to satisfy a quality of service requirement of the at least one QoS flow, and the second state is used to indicate that it is possible to satisfy the quality of service requirement of the at least one QoS flow.
In the above method, since it is impossible to satisfy the quality of service requirements of the QoS flow in the source access network device, the QoS flow is usually handed over, and the QoS flow needs to be handed over to a target access network device that can satisfy the quality of service requirements. Based on this, after determining the QoS flow that has been successfully handed over, the SMF network element may, by default, consider that the quality of service requirements of the QoS flow that was previously recorded cannot be satisfied but can be satisfied now, and then notify the PCF network element, so that the PCF network element can recognize the status of the QoS flow that has been successfully handed over in a timely manner and avoid making an erroneous decision.
In one possible implementation, before determining a third QoS flow among the second QoS flows whose notification control state is in the first state, the SMF network element may further receive seventh information sent by the AMF network element, the seventh information including an identifier of the second QoS flow being handed over from the first access network device to the second access network device, thereby enabling the SMF network element to know the QoS flow that has been successfully handed over.
According to a fifth aspect, a communication method is provided, in which an SMF network element may determine that at least one QoS flow is handed over from a first access network device to a second access network device, and then the SMF network element transmits eighth information to a PCF network element, the eighth information being used to indicate that the at least one QoS flow is handed over from the first access network device to the second access network device. After receiving the eighth information transmitted by the SMF network element, the PCF network element may determine a QoS flow among the at least one QoS flow whose notification control state is in a first state, and update the notification control state of the determined QoS flow to a second state. The first state is used to indicate that it is not possible to satisfy a quality of service requirement of the determined QoS flow, and the second state is used to indicate that it is possible to satisfy the quality of service requirement of the determined QoS flow.
In one implementation, a handover indication trigger may be configured for the PCF network element that may be sent by the SMF network element and may trigger the PCF network element to perform an operation to update a notification control state of the at least one QoS flow after receiving third information indicating that handover of the QoS flow is successful.
In the above method, the SMF network element may notify the PCF network element that the handover of at least one QoS flow is successful, so that the PCF network element can recognize the handover of the QoS flow in a timely manner, and then update the notification control state of the QoS flow that has been successfully handed over in a timely manner, to ensure as much as possible that the notification control state is synchronized with the notification control state of the QoS flow recorded on the access network side after the handover, and to avoid making an erroneous decision.
According to a fifth aspect, the application provides a first type of communication device. The communication device has a function implementing the first access network device in the first aspect. For example, the communication device includes corresponding modules, units, or means for performing the steps in the first aspect by the first access network device. Those functions, modules, units, or means may be implemented by software, or may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by hardware executing the corresponding software.
In one possible design, the communications apparatus may include a processing module and a transceiver module that may perform corresponding functions of the first access network device in the manner provided by the first aspect or any of multiple possible implementations of the first aspect.
In another possible design, the communications apparatus may include a processor and may further include a transceiver configured to receive and transmit signals, and the processor executes program instructions to fully perform the method performed by the first access network device in the first aspect or any one of multiple possible implementations of the first aspect.
The communication apparatus may further include one or more memories configured to be coupled to the processor, the memory storing computer program instructions and/or data required to implement the functionality of the first access network device in the first aspect. The processor may execute the computer program instructions stored in the memory to fully perform the method performed by the first access network device in the first aspect or any one of multiple possible implementations of the first aspect.
According to a sixth aspect, the application provides a second type of communication device. The communication device has a function of implementing the second access network device in the first aspect or the second aspect. For example, the communication device includes corresponding modules, units or means for performing the steps in the first aspect or the second aspect by the second access network device. Those functions, modules, units or means may be implemented by software, or may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by hardware executing the corresponding software.
In one possible design, the communications apparatus may include a processing module and a transceiver module, which may perform corresponding functions of the second access network device in the manner provided by the first aspect or any one of multiple possible implementations of the first aspect, or the processing module and the transceiver module may perform corresponding functions of the second access network device in the manner provided by the second aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the second aspect.
In another possible design, the communications apparatus may include a processor and may further include a transceiver configured to receive and transmit signals, and the processor executes program instructions to fully perform the method performed by the second access network device in the first aspect or any one of multiple possible implementations of the first aspect, or fully perform the method performed by the second access network device in the second aspect or any one of multiple possible implementations of the second aspect.
The communication apparatus may further include one or more memories. The memory is configured to be coupled to the processor, the memory storing computer program instructions and/or data required to implement the functionality of the second access network device in the first aspect or the second aspect. The processor may execute the computer program instructions stored in the memory to fully perform the method performed by the first access network device in the first aspect or any one of a plurality of possible implementations of the first aspect, or to fully perform the method performed by the second access network device in the second aspect or any one of a plurality of possible implementations of the second aspect.
According to a seventh aspect, the present application provides a third type of communication device. The communication device has a function of implementing the SMF network element in any one of the first to fourth aspects. For example, the communication device includes corresponding modules, units or means for performing the steps in any one of the first to fourth aspects by the SMF network element. The functions, modules, units or means may be implemented by software, or by hardware, or by hardware executing the corresponding software.
In one possible design, the communication device may include a processing module and a transceiver module that may perform corresponding functions of an SMF network element in a manner provided by any one of the first to fourth aspects or any one of multiple possible implementations of those aspects.
In another possible design, the communication device may include a processor and may further include a transceiver configured to receive and transmit signals, and the processor executes program instructions to fully perform the method performed by the SMF network element in any one of the first to fourth aspects or any one of multiple possible implementations of those aspects.
The communication device may further include one or more memories configured to be coupled to the processor, the memory storing computer program instructions and/or data required to implement the functionality of the SMF network element in any one of the first to fourth aspects. The processor may execute the computer program instructions stored in the memory to fully perform the method performed by the SMF network element in any one of the first to fourth aspects or any one of multiple possible implementations of those aspects.
According to an eighth aspect, the present application provides a fourth type of communication device. The communication device has a function implementing the PCF network element in the fourth aspect. For example, the communication device includes corresponding modules, units or means for performing the steps in the fourth aspect by the PCF network element. Those functions, modules, units or means may be implemented by software, or may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by hardware executing the corresponding software.
In one possible design, the communication device may include a processing module and a transceiver module that may perform corresponding functions of a PCF network element in the manner provided by the fourth aspect or any one of multiple possible implementations of the fourth aspect.
In another possible design, the communication device may include a processor and may further include a transceiver configured to receive and transmit signals, and the processor executes program instructions to fully perform the method performed by the PCF network element in the fourth aspect or any one of multiple possible implementations of the fourth aspect.
The communication device may further include one or more memories configured to be coupled to the processor, the memory storing computer program instructions and/or data required to implement the functionality of the PCF network element in the fourth aspect. The processor may execute the computer program instructions stored in the memory to fully perform the method performed by the PCF network element in the fourth aspect or any one of multiple possible implementations of the fourth aspect.
According to a ninth aspect, the present application provides a communication system, the communication system including a first type communication device of the fifth aspect, a second type communication device of the sixth aspect, a third type communication device of the seventh aspect, and a fourth type communication device of the eighth aspect.
According to a tenth aspect, the present application provides a chip, optionally connected to a memory, configured to read and execute a software program stored in the memory to implement the methods of the above aspects.
According to an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a computer storage medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon that, when read and executed by a computer, enables the computer to perform the methods in the above aspects.
According to a twelfth aspect, the present application further provides a computer program product including a software program, which when executed by a computer enables the computer to perform the methods in the above aspects.
<figref num="1">FIG. 1 is a network architecture diagram of a 5G communication system according to this application.</figref><figref num="2">1 illustrates a QoS model based on QoS flows according to this application.</figref><figref num="3">1 is a schematic flow chart of establishing a QoS flow according to the present application.</figref><figref num="4">1 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to embodiment 1 of the present application;</figref><figref num="5">FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an interaction procedure between a first RAN device and a second RAN device in scenario 1 according to embodiment 1 of this application;</figref><figref num="6">FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an interaction procedure between a first RAN device and a second RAN device in scenario 2 according to embodiment 1 of this application;</figref><figref num="7">4 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to embodiment 2 of the present application;</figref><figref num="8">11 is a schematic flowchart of a second RAN device notifying a core network device of a notification control state of at least one QoS flow according to embodiment 2 of this application; </figref><figref num="9">1 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to embodiment 3 of the present application;</figref><figref num="10">1 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to embodiment 4 of the present application.</figref><figref num="11">1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;</figref><figref num="12">1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;</figref><figref num="13">1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;</figref><figref num="14">1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;</figref><figref num="15">1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;</figref><figref num="16">1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;</figref><figref num="17">1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;</figref><figref num="18">1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;</figref>
To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present application clearer, the following description will further describe the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First, a communication system to which several technical solutions provided by this application are applicable is described.
The technical solutions provided by this application are applicable to various communication systems, such as long term evolution (LTE) systems, 5th generation (5G) communication systems, and other similar communication systems. Illustratively, FIG. 1 is a network architecture diagram of a 5G communication system.
Terminal devices may include handheld devices, vehicle mounted devices, wearable devices, or computing devices with wireless communication capabilities or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem, as well as various forms of user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), and terminal equipment.
A (radio) access network ((R)AN) device may be configured to implement functions such as radio physical layer functions, radio resource management, radio access control, and mobility management. RAN devices may include base stations such as access points (AP), next generation Node Bs (gNBs), next generation evolved Node Bs (ng-eNBs), transmission receive points (TRPs), transmission points (TPs), or other access nodes in a 5G system. It should be understood that in the following description, (R)AN devices are collectively referred to as RAN devices for ease of description.
A user plane function (UPF) network element may be connected to an external data network as a user plane function network element. The main functions of the user plane function network element include user plane related functions such as data packet routing and transmission, packet detection, service usage reporting, QoS processing, lawful interception, uplink packet detection, and downlink data packet storage.
The main functions of an AMF network element include access and mobility related functions such as connection management, mobility management, registration management, access authentication and authorization, reachability management, and security context management.
The main functions of the SMF network element include session-related functions such as session management (e.g., session establishment, modification, and release, including maintenance of tunnels between the UPF and the RAN), UPF selection and control, service and session continuity (SSC) mode selection, and roaming.
The primary functions of the PCF network element include policy-related functions such as formulating a uniform policy, providing policy control, and obtaining subscription information relevant to policy decisions.
An application function (AF) network element may be a third-party application control platform or an operator-deployed device. The main functions of an application function network element include providing application-related information and providing services to multiple application servers.
The primary function of a data network (DN) is to provide a specific data service, such as operator services, Internet access, or third-party services.
The above contents mainly describe network elements or devices that may be mentioned in this application. It should be understood that the network architecture shown in FIG. 1 is only used as an example for explanation, and does not constitute a limitation on the network architecture of the communication system to which this application is applicable. The communication system to which this application is applicable may further include other network elements or devices that are not listed one by one in this application. In addition, the connection topology between multiple network elements or multiple devices in the communication system to which this application is applicable may be a reference point-based topology as shown in FIG. 1, or a service-oriented interface-based topology. In addition, the communication system to which this application is applicable may be further classified into a non-roaming scenario and a roaming scenario. The roaming scenario may be further classified into a local breakout scenario and a home routing scenario. The network architectures of the communication systems in these communication scenarios may be different, but all of the network architectures may be applicable to the embodiments of this application.
At present, in the 5G communication system, a QoS model based on QoS flow is proposed to guarantee the end-to-end service quality. Referring to Fig. 2, a terminal device may establish at least one PDU session with a UPF on the side of a core network by using a RAN device. For each PDU session, establish at least one QoS flow between the terminal device, the RAN device, and the UPF network element. Fig. 3 is a schematic flowchart for establishing a QoS flow. The procedure of interaction between multiple network elements or multiple devices includes the following steps:
Step 301: The SMF network element instructs the terminal device, the RAN device, and the UPF network element to establish a QoS flow according to a local policy or a policy and charging control (PCC) rule sent by the PCF network element. The specific establishment process is divided into three steps: Step 301A: The SMF network element sends service data flow (SDF) information to the UPF network element, where the service data flow information includes QoS control information; Step 301B: The SMF network element sends a QoS profile of the QoS flow to the (R)AN device by using the AMF network element; Step 301C: The SMF network element sends QoS rules to the terminal device by using the AMF network element and/or the (R)AN device, and the QoS rules include QoS control information. It should be noted that the content included in the QoS profile and the content included in the QoS control information are basically the same, and both are generated by the SMF according to the local policy or PCC rule.
Step 302: Establish a QoS flow between the terminal device, the RAN device, and the UPF network element. The (R)AN device may establish a DRB for the radio interface based on the QoS profile, and store a binding relationship between the QoS flow and the DBR. During the transmission of data packets in the downlink direction between the terminal device, the RAN device, and the UPF network element, when receiving a downlink data packet, the UPF network element performs QoS control based on the SDF information sent by the SMF network element, and adds a quality of service identifier (QoS flow identifier, ) used to identify the QoS flow to the packet header of the downlink data packet. When receiving a downlink data packet, the RAN device determines a QoS flow that can be used by parsing the QFI in the packet header, and transmits the downlink data packet by the corresponding DRB based on the stored binding relationship between the QoS flow and its DRB. In the uplink direction, when the terminal device needs to transmit an uplink data packet, the terminal device determines a QoS flow according to the QoS rule, adds a QFI to the packet header of the uplink data packet, and then transmits the uplink data packet by the corresponding DRB based on the binding relationship between the QoS flow and its DRB. When receiving an uplink data packet, the RAN device adds a QFI to the packet header of the uplink data packet to be forwarded to the UPF network element based on the QFI in the packet header. When receiving an uplink data packet to be transmitted by the RAN device, the UPF network element verifies whether the uplink data packet is transmitted by using a correct QoS flow.
The QoS profiles generated by the SMF are different, so that the established QoS flows may include two types.
Type 1 is a guaranteed bit rate (GBR) QoS flow. In this case, the QoS profile may include a 5G QoS identifier (5QI) used to identify QoS attribute information, an allocation and retention priority (ARP), a guaranteed flow bit rate (GFBR), and a maximum bit rate (MBR). Optionally, the QoS profile may further include notification control information. When the QoS profile includes notification control information, the GBR QoS flow is a GBR QoS flow that requires notification control. When the QoS profile does not include notification control information, the GBR QoS flow is a GBR QoS flow that does not require notification control.
When a RAN device detects that it is not possible to satisfy the quality of service requirements of the GBR QoS flow during transmission of a data packet in the DRB corresponding to the GBR QoS flow, and the GBR QoS flow is configured to require notification control, the RAN device may notify the SMF network element that it is not possible to satisfy the quality of service requirements of the GBR QoS flow by using an AMF network element, so that the SMF network element modifies or deletes the GBR QoS flow according to a local policy, or the SMF network element instructs the PCF network element to modify or delete the GBR QoS flow. In one example, when the bit rate for transmitting the data packet does not reach the expected bit rate specified by the GBR, the GBR It may be considered that the quality of service requirement of the QoS flow cannot be satisfied. In another example, it may be considered that the quality of service requirement of the GBR QoS flow cannot be satisfied when the transmission delay (or packet loss rate, etc.) during the transmission of the data packet does not satisfy the transmission delay (or packet loss rate, etc.) included in the 5QI.
Type 2 is a non-guaranteed bit rate (non-GBR) QoS flow. In this case, the QoS profile may include 5QI and ARP, etc.
For QoS flows that require notification control, when handover occurs between multiple RAN devices, the notification control state recorded on the RAN side may not be synchronized with the notification control state recorded on the core network side, and the core network side is prone to making incorrect policy decisions for the QoS flows.
For example, in a scenario in which a terminal device is handed over between multiple RAN devices, a PDU session established by the terminal device may be handed over between the multiple RAN devices. Correspondingly, a QoS flow corresponding to the PDU session may also be handed over between the multiple RAN devices. The DRB established by the source RAN device before the handover may be different from the DRB established by the target RAN device after the handover. Therefore, before the handover, when a data packet is transmitted by using the DRB established by the source RAN device corresponding to the QoS flow, it is impossible to satisfy the quality of service requirement. Meanwhile, after the handover, when a data packet is transmitted by using the DRB established by the target RAN device corresponding to the QoS flow, it is highly likely that the quality of service requirement can be satisfied.
In this case, since the SMF network element and the PCF network element are unable to recognize the handover of the QoS flow between the multiple RAN devices, it is highly likely that the notification control state of the QoS flow recorded by the SMF network element and the PCF network element is still in a state where the source RAN device has notified before the handover and the quality of service requirement cannot be satisfied. Therefore, when making a policy decision again for the QoS flow where the source RAN device has notified and the quality of service requirement cannot be satisfied, the SMF network element or the PCF network element may make an incorrect policy decision. For example, the quality of service requirement of the QoS flow in the target RAN device after the handover can be satisfied, but the QoS flow is deleted or the quality of service requirement of the QoS flow is reduced.
In order to solve the above problems, several embodiments of this application provide a communication method and a communication device, in a scenario where a QoS flow is handed over between several RAN devices, the notification control state of the QoS flow after the handover is fed back to the core network side in a timely manner, so that the notification control state of the QoS flow maintained at the core network side and the RAN device after the handover can be kept as synchronized as possible.
It should be understood that in the embodiments of this application, the scenario in which a QoS flow is handed over between multiple RAN devices is not limited to a scenario in which a terminal device is handed over between multiple RAN devices, and there may be other possible scenarios in which a QoS flow is handed over between multiple RAN devices. For example, a terminal device may be handed over to a radio resource control (RCC) Handover of QoS flows between multiple RAN devices may also occur when returning from an RRC inactive mode to an RRC connected mode. In another example, in a dual connection scenario where a terminal device establishes a PDU session with a master RAN device and a secondary RAN device, QoS flows may also be handed over from the master RAN device to the secondary RAN device, or from the secondary RAN device to the master RAN device. These scenarios are also applicable to multiple embodiments of this application.
The following description will explain in detail the communication method provided by this application with reference to several specific embodiments. It should be understood that the terms "first" and "second" below are only used to distinguish the description and should not be understood as indicating or implying a relative importance or an order. For example, for ease of distinction in the following description, a source RAN corresponding to a QoS flow before handover is referred to as a first RAN device, and a target RAN device corresponding to a QoS flow after handover is referred to as a second RAN device.
[Embodiment 1]
4 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to Embodiment 1 of this application. The method includes the following steps:
Step 401: In a process of handing over at least one QoS flow from a first RAN device to a second RAN device, the first RAN device sends first information to the second RAN device, where the first information is used to indicate that the first RAN device is notifying a core network device that it is unable to satisfy a quality of service requirement of the at least one QoS flow.
In embodiment 1 of this application, the first RAN device notifies the core network device that it is not possible to satisfy the quality of service requirements of at least one QoS flow, which can be understood as the notification control state of the at least one QoS flow that the first RAN device last notifies the core network device of being a state in which it is not possible to satisfy the quality of service requirements. For the sake of simplicity in the following description, the notification control state includes a first state and a second state. The first state is used to indicate that it is not possible to satisfy the quality of service requirements of the QoS flow, and the second state is used to indicate that it is possible to satisfy the quality of service requirements of the QoS flow. The at least one QoS flow is a QoS flow that requires notification control. In this application, the QoS flow that requires notification control is defined as a GBR It should be understood that it is not limited to QoS flows, or may be other QoS flows that need to inform the core network device when it is not possible to satisfy the quality of service requirements.
When the first RAN device notifies the second RAN device that the first RAN device is notifying the core network device of its inability to satisfy the quality of service requirement of at least one QoS flow, the first RAN device may add, to the first information transmitted to the second RAN device, an identifier of the at least one QoS flow that the first RAN device has last notified to the core network device, the identifier of the QoS flow being, for example, a QFI. Alternatively, the first RAN device may add, to the first information transmitted to the second RAN device, an identifier of the at least one QoS flow and a notification control state of the at least one QoS flow, the notification control state being a first state.
Before the handover occurs, the first RAN device may detect whether the quality of service requirements of the established QoS flows are satisfied. When it is not possible to satisfy at least one QoS flow and the at least one QoS flow is a QoS flow requiring notification control, the first RAN device may notify the core network device that the notification control state of the at least one QoS flow is in a first state. Then, when it is possible to satisfy the at least one QoS flow, the first RAN device may further notify the core network device that the at least one QoS flow is in a second state. Based on this, the first RAN device may locally record the notification control state of the QoS flow that is notified to the core network device. For example, the first RAN device may record a transmission state table of quality of service notification control (QoS notification control, QNC).
In one example of this application, a QoS flow identifier and a notification control state corresponding to the QoS flow and last notified to a core network device may be recorded in a transmission state table of the QNC. The QoS flow identifier is, for example, a QFI, and the notification control state includes a first state and a second state. Table 1 shows one example of a transmission state table of the QNC.
<tables><img file="JP7516448B2_D0001.tif" /></tables>
As shown in Table 1, the QoS flows recorded by the first RAN device are identified by #1 to #n. When the corresponding notification control state is "1", the value represents a first state, i.e., the quality of service requirements of the QoS flow cannot be satisfied. When the corresponding notification control state is "0", the value represents a second state, i.e., the quality of service requirements of the QoS flow can be satisfied. Every time the first RAN device notifies the core network device of the notification control state of the QoS flow, the first RAN device may correspondingly update the locally recorded transmission state table of the QNC. For example, for QoS flow #1, the notification control state currently recorded in Table 1 is "1". If the first RAN device subsequently detects that the quality of service requirements of QoS flow #1 can be satisfied, the first RAN device may notify the core network device that the quality of service requirements of QoS flow #1 can be satisfied, and may correspondingly update the locally recorded notification control state of QoS flow #1 to "0".
Upon detecting the need to hand over at least one QoS flow from the first RAN device to the second RAN device, the first RAN device may inform the second RAN device of the contents of the latest recorded transmission state table of the QNC, or alternatively, may inform the second RAN device of the contents of the QoS flows for which the notification control state is "1" in the latest recorded transmission state table of the QNC.
In another example of this application, only the identifier of at least one QoS flow whose notification control state last notified to the core network device is the first state may be recorded in the transmission state table of the QNC. In other words, the identifier of at least one QoS flow whose quality of service requirement last notified to the core network device is not able to be satisfied is recorded. Table 2 shows an example of the transmission state table of the QNC.
<tables><img file="JP7516448B2_D0002.tif" /></tables>
As shown in Table 2, at least one QoS flow recorded by the first RAN device is identified by #1 to #n. Each time the first RAN device notifies the core network device of the notification control state of the QoS flow, the first RAN device may update the recorded transmission state table of the QNC. For example, in the case of QoS flow #1, the QoS flow #1 is currently recorded in Table 2, and Table 2 indicates that the quality of service requirement of the QoS flow #1 cannot be satisfied. If the first RAN device subsequently detects that the quality of service requirement of the QoS flow #1 can be satisfied, the first RAN device may notify the core network device that the quality of service requirement of the QoS flow #1 can be satisfied, and may correspondingly delete the QoS flow #1 recorded in Table 2. Similarly, if the first RAN device subsequently detects that the quality of service requirement of another QoS flow different from the QoS flow recorded in Table 2 cannot be satisfied, and notifies the core network device of the other QoS flow, the first RAN device may also add the identifier of the other QoS flow to Table 2.
Upon detecting a need to hand over at least one QoS flow from the first RAN device to the second RAN device, the first RAN device may inform the second RAN device of the contents of the latest recorded transmission state table of the QNC.
Of course, the above examples are only used for illustration purposes, and the manner in which the first RAN device transmits the first information to the second RAN device according to this embodiment of the application is not limited thereto.
Step 402: After receiving the first information sent by the first RAN device, the second RAN device sends second information to the core network device, where the second information is used to notify the core network device that it is possible to satisfy a quality of service requirement of a first QoS flow of the at least one QoS flow, the first QoS flow requiring notification control and belonging to all QoS flows that have been successfully handed over from the first RAN device to the second RAN device.
In this embodiment of the application, in the process of handing over at least one QoS flow from a first RAN device to a second RAN device, it may happen that not all of the QoS flows can be successfully handed over. For the second RAN device, some of the multiple QoS flows that are still unable to satisfy the quality of service requirements may be directly deleted. Therefore, the second RAN device may first determine a QoS flow that is successfully handed over from the first RAN device to the second RAN device, i.e., a first QoS flow, from the at least one QoS flow, and then may consider by default that it is able to satisfy the quality of service requirements of the first QoS flow that is successfully handed over.
The following description lists two specific scenarios to describe the procedure of interaction between the first RAN device and the second RAN device in embodiment 1 of this application.
Scenario 1: A directly connected Xn interface exists between the first RAN device and the second RAN device. In this case, the handover procedure may be a handover based on the Xn interface.
FIG. 5 shows a procedure of interaction between a first RAN device and a second RAN device in scenario 1 provided by embodiment 1 of this application.
Step 501: A first RAN device directly sends a handover request to a second RAN device, the handover request carrying an identifier of at least one QoS flow that the first RAN device has last notified to a core network device and a notification control state of the at least one QoS flow, the notification control state being a first state indicating that it is impossible to satisfy a quality of service requirement of the QoS flow.
Step 502: The second RAN device sends a handover request acknowledge response to the first RAN device.
Scenario 2: There is no directly connected Xn interface between the first RAN device and the second RAN device. A core network device participates in the handover procedure. For example, the handover procedure may be a handover based on the N2 interface.
FIG. 6 shows a procedure of interaction between a first RAN device and a second RAN device in scenario 2 provided by embodiment 1 of this application.
Step 601: A first RAN device sends a handover required message to a first AMF network element serving the first RAN device, where the handover required message carries an identifier of at least one QoS flow that the first RAN device has last notified to a core network device and a notification control state of the at least one QoS flow, where the notification control state is a first state, indicating that it is impossible to satisfy the quality of service requirements of the QoS flow.
In one example of this application, at least one QoS flow identifier and at least one QoS flow notification control state may be included in a source to target transparent container, which contains the content that the first RAN device transmits to the second RAN device by using the core network, and the AMF network element only performs the forwarding and does not know the content in the container.
Step 602: The first AMF network element selects a second AMF network element serving the second RAN device.
Step 603: The first AMF network element sends a UE context creation request (namf_communication_createUEcontext request) to the second AMF network element, where the UE context creation request carries an identifier of at least one QoS flow and a notification control state of the at least one QoS flow.
Step 604: The second AMF network element and the SMF network element perform a session management context update procedure for the PDU session, and perform a session establishment procedure based on the N4 interface.
Step 605: The second AMF network element sends a handover request to the second RAN device, where the handover request carries an identifier of at least one QoS flow that the first RAN device has last notified to the core network device and a notification control state of the at least one QoS flow.
Step 606: The second RAN device sends a handover request acknowledge response to the second AMF network element.
Step 607: The second AMF network element and the SMF network element perform a session management context update procedure for the PDU session to perform a session modification procedure based on the N4 interface.
Step 608: The second AMF network element sends a UE context creation response (namf_communication_createUEcontext response) to the first AMF network element.
In scenarios 1 and 2, after the second RAN device determines that the first RAN device has notified the core network device that it is unable to satisfy the quality of service requirements of at least one QoS flow, when the second RAN device detects that a first QoS flow of the at least one QoS flow has been successfully handed over from the first RAN device to the second RAN device, the core network device is enabled to know in a timely manner the latest notification control state of the first QoS flow that has been successfully handed over, and in this embodiment of the application, the second RAN device may directly notify the core network device that it is able to satisfy the quality of service requirements of the first QoS flow that has been successfully handed over.
In the above procedure, the first RAN device or the second RAN device may notify the core network device of the notification control status of the QoS flow in the following two implementations.
In one first implementation, the first RAN device or the second RAN device may inform the SMF network element of the notification control state of the QoS flow by using the AMF network element. Upon knowing the notification control state of the QoS flow, the SMF network element may perform a session management policy modification procedure according to a local policy to modify or delete the QoS flow.
In a second implementation, the first RAN device or the second RAN device may inform the SMF network element of the notification control state of the QoS flow by using an AMF network element, and the SMF network element may further inform the PCF network element of the notification control state of the QoS flow, so that the SMF network element and the PCF network element perform a session management policy modification procedure according to the dynamic PCC rule to modify or delete the QoS flow.
In a second implementation, after receiving information indicating that it is possible to satisfy the quality of service requirement of a first QoS flow of the at least one QoS flow transmitted by the second RAN device, i.e., second information, the SMF network element may notify the PCF network element that it is possible to satisfy the quality of service requirement of the first QoS flow.
In addition, after the second RAN device notifies the core network device that it is capable of satisfying the quality of service requirement of the first QoS flow of the at least one QoS flow, in one implementation, if the second RAN device subsequently detects that it is unable to satisfy the quality of service requirement of the first QoS flow, the second RAN device may immediately send third information to the core network device, which is used to notify the core network device that it is unable to satisfy the quality of service requirement of the first QoS flow. Compared with the prior art, which can notify the notification control state of the QoS flow again only after a preset time length, the above implementations proposed by this application can reduce the delay, so that the core network device can recognize the latest notification control state of the QoS flow on the core network side in a timely manner.
In the manner provided by embodiment 1, in the process of handing over at least one QoS flow from the first RAN device to the second RAN device, the notification control state of the at least one QoS flow may also be transferred from the first RAN device to the second RAN device at the same time, so that the second RAN device can accurately know the notification control state of the at least one QoS flow that the first RAN device has notified to the core network device. This is synonymous with knowing the notification control state of the QoS flow currently recorded by the core network device. In this case, the second RAN device notifies the core network device of the notification control state of the QoS flow being handed over, so that the notification control state of the QoS flow recorded and handed over on the access network side can be synchronized with the notification control state of the QoS flow recognized on the core network side, and the core network device can avoid making an erroneous policy decision.
[Embodiment 2]
7 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to embodiment 2 of this application. The method includes the following steps:
Step 701: When at least one QoS flow is being handed over from a first RAN device to a second RAN device, the second RAN device sends fourth information to a core network device, where the fourth information is used to notify the core network device that it is possible to satisfy a quality of service requirement of the at least one QoS flow.
In embodiment 2 of this application, the at least one QoS flow may be understood to be all of the QoS flows that require notification control and have been successfully handed over from the first RAN device to the second RAN device.
The second RAN device sends fourth information to the AMF network element, and then the AMF network element forwards the fourth information to the SMF network element to notify the SMF network element that the quality of service requirement of the at least one QoS flow can be satisfied. Further, after receiving the fourth information sent by the second RAN device, the SMF network element may further send fifth information to the PCF network element, where the fifth information is used to notify the PCF network element that the quality of service requirement of the at least one QoS flow can be satisfied.
In a specific implementation, after receiving the fourth information, the SMF network element may update the recorded notification control state of the at least one QoS flow. The notification control state includes a first state and a second state. The first state is used to indicate that it is not possible to satisfy the quality of service requirement of the at least one QoS flow, and the second state is used to indicate that it is possible to satisfy the quality of service requirement of the at least one QoS flow. The SMF network element may further determine whether to notify the PCF network element of the updated notification control state of the at least one QoS flow depending on a certain situation.
In one example of this application, after receiving the information indicating that the notification control state of the at least one QoS flow notified by the second RAN device is in the second state, i.e., the fourth information, the SMF network element may determine whether it has received information indicating that the notification control state of the at least one QoS flow is in the first state from the first RAN device. If the result of the determination is that it has not received, the result indicates that the core network side has not received, before the handover, a notification indicating that it is not possible to satisfy the quality of service requirement of the at least one QoS flow. In this case, the SMF network element may not need to repeatedly notify the PCF network element that the notification control state of the at least one QoS flow is in the second state. If the result of the determination is that it has received, the result may indicate that the core network side has received, before the handover, a notification indicating that it is not possible to satisfy the quality of service requirement of the at least one QoS flow. In order to ensure that the notification control states of the QoS flows recorded by the core network side and the second RAN device can be synchronized with each other after the handover, after determining that the latest received notification control state of the at least one QoS flow notified by the first RAN device is a first state, the SMF network element may send fifth information to the PCF network element to inform the PCF network element that the notification control state of the at least one QoS flow is a second state.
The following description describes, with reference to a specific scenario, a process in which a second RAN device notifies a core network device of a notification control state of at least one QoS flow according to embodiment 2 of this application, as shown in FIG. 8.
It is assumed that a PDU session existing between a first UPF session serving a first RAN device and a terminal device and established by using the first RAN device is switched to a PDU session existing between a second UPF network element serving a second RAN device and the terminal device and established by using the second RAN device. In addition, at least one QoS flow is also handed over from an end-to-end path including the terminal device, the first RAN device, and the first UPF to an end-to-end path including the terminal device, the second RAN device, and the second UPF.
Step 801: A second RAN device sends an N2 message to an AMF network element, where the N2 message includes an identifier of a PDU session and N2 session management (SM) information. The N2 SM message includes a QFI of at least one QoS flow and a notification control state of the at least one QoS flow, i.e., a second state.
Optionally, the N2 SM message may further include a QFI of another QoS flow that is unable to satisfy the service quality requirement and requires notification control and a notification control status of the other QoS flow, where the notification control status of the other QoS flow is in the first state.
Step 802: The AMF network element sends a PDU session session management context update request (nsmf_PDUsession_updateSMcontext request) to the SMF network element, where the request may include a QFI of at least one QoS flow and a notification control state of the at least one QoS flow, where the notification control state of the at least one QoS flow is in a second state. Optionally, the request may further include a QFI of another QoS flow and a notification control state of the other QoS flow, where the notification control state of the other QoS flow is in a first state.
Step 803: After receiving the request, the SMF network element determines whether to notify the PCF network element of the QoS flows reported by the second RAN device and whose notification control state is in the second state according to a certain situation. This process should refer to the description in embodiment 1. For the QoS flows reported by the second RAN device and whose notification control state is in the first state, the SMF network element may initiate a session management policy modification procedure according to an existing procedure to delete or modify the QoS flows.
In embodiment 2, the second RAN device may send to the core network device a notification control status of at least one QoS flow that requires notification control and has been successfully handed over from the first RAN device, so that the core network device can accurately recognize the notification control status of the QoS flow being handed over in a timely manner to prevent the core network device from making erroneous policy decisions.
[Embodiment 3]
9 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to embodiment 3 of this application. The method includes the following steps:
Step 901: The SMF network element determines a received notification control state of at least one QoS flow transmitted by a first RAN device.
In embodiment 3 of this application, at least one QoS flow may be understood as a corresponding QoS flow that requires notification control in a PDU session of a terminal device before handover. The notification control state includes a first state and a second state. The first state is used to indicate that it is not possible to satisfy the quality of service requirement of the QoS flow, and the second state is used to indicate that it is possible to satisfy the quality of service requirement of the QoS flow.
Step 902: When a second QoS flow of the at least one QoS flow is being handed over from the first RAN device to the second RAN device, the SMF network element determines a third QoS flow among the second QoS flow, the notification control state of which is in the first state, and updates the notification control state of the third QoS flow to the second state.
Step 903: The SMF network element<u style="Single">Network Elements</u>to the PCF network element, where the sixth information is used to notify the PCF network element that the notification control state of the third QoS flow is the second state.
In one example of this application, the SMF network element may receive seventh information sent by the AMF network element, where the seventh information may include an identifier of a second QoS flow that has been successfully handed over from the first RAN device to the second RAN device, and may further include an identifier of a PDU session that has been successfully handed over from the first RAN device to the second RAN device, whereby the SMF network element determines information regarding the PDU session and the second QoS flow that have been successfully handed over.
When the handover of the PDU session and the QoS flow between the first RAN device and the second RAN device is based on the Xn interface, the first RAN device or the second RAN device may notify the AMF network element of the successfully handed over PDU session and the second QoS flow, and then the AMF network element notifies the SMF network element of the successfully handed over PDU session and the second QoS flow. When the handover of the PDU session and the QoS flow between the first RAN device and the second RAN device is based on the N2 interface, the AMF network element may recognize the successfully handed over PDU session and the second QoS flow during the handover, and then directly notify the SMF network element of the successfully handed over PDU session and the second QoS flow.
For a second QoS flow of the at least one QoS flow that has been successfully handed over, the SMF network element may first determine whether the notification control state of the second QoS flow of the notification control state of the at least one QoS flow last received from the first RAN device is a first state. For a third QoS flow of the second QoS flow whose notification control state is the first state, the SMF network element may consider by default that the quality of service requirement of the third QoS flow can be satisfied, and notify the PCF network element that the quality of service requirement of the third QoS flow can be satisfied. In case of a fourth QoS flow of the second QoS flow whose notification control state is the second state, the SMF network element may not need to repeatedly notify the PCF network element of the notification control state of the fourth QoS flow, since the quality of service requirement of the fourth QoS flow recorded by the core network side is satisfied.
If none of the at least one QoS flow has been successfully handed over from the first RAN device to the second RAN device, the SMF network element may notify the PCF network element according to existing procedures, so that the PCF network element makes a policy decision again for the QoS flow.
Specifically, the SMF network element may inform the PCF network element of the notification control state of the associated QoS flow when initiating a session management policy association modification procedure. A policy control request trigger is configured for the PCF network element. The PCF network element may identify a notification to be sent by the SMF network element, where the notification includes information indicating that it is possible to satisfy the quality of service requirements of the third QoS flow. The PCF network element may then make a policy decision based on the notification sent by the SMF network element and send the result of the policy decision to the SMF network element.
In embodiment 3, generally, the first RAN device cannot satisfy the quality of service requirements of the QoS flow, and the QoS flow needs to be handed over to the second RAN device that can satisfy the quality of service requirements, so that the QoS flow is handed over between the first RAN device and the second RAN device. Based on this, after determining the QoS flow that has been successfully handed over, the SMF network element can, by default, consider that the quality of service requirements of the QoS flow previously recorded cannot be satisfied, but the current one can be satisfied, and notify the PCF network element, so that the PCF network element can recognize the status of the QoS flow that has been successfully handed over in a timely manner and avoid making an erroneous decision.
[Embodiment 4]
10 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to embodiment 4 of this application. The method includes the following steps:
Step 1001: An SMF network element determines that at least one QoS flow is being handed over from a first RAN device to a second RAN device.
In embodiment 4 of this application, the at least one QoS flow may be understood as a QoS flow that has been successfully handed over from the first RAN device to the second RAN device. For example, through notification of the AMF network element, the SMF network element may determine that the at least one QoS flow has been successfully handed over. For details, please refer to the related description of embodiment 3.
Step 1002: The SMF network element sends eighth information to the PCF network element, where the eighth information is used to indicate that at least one QoS flow is being handed over from the first RAN device to the second RAN device.
The difference from embodiment 3 is that in embodiment 4 of this application, the SMF network element may notify the PCF network element that at least one QoS flow has been successfully handed over in a procedure of initiating a session management policy association modification. Furthermore, the PCF network element updates the recorded notification control state of the at least one QoS flow. The notification control state includes a first state and a second state. The first state is used to indicate that it is not possible to satisfy the quality of service requirements of the QoS flow, and the second state is used to indicate that it is possible to satisfy the quality of service requirements of the QoS flow.
Step 1003: After receiving the eighth information, the PCF network element determines a QoS flow among the at least one QoS flow whose notification control state is in a first state, and updates the notification control state of the determined QoS flow to a second state.
In one implementation, a handover indication trigger may be configured for the PCF network element to trigger the PCF network element to perform an operation of updating a notification control state of the QoS flow after receiving the eighth information sent by the SMF network element and indicating that the handover of the at least one QoS flow is successful. The PCF network element may then make a policy decision based on the latest and updated notification control state of the QoS flow and send the policy decision result to the SMF network element.
In embodiment 4, after determining that at least one QoS flow has been successfully handed over, the SMF network element may notify the PCF network element that the at least one QoS flow has been successfully handed over, and then the PCF network element updates the notification control state of the at least one QoS flow, so that the PCF network element can be aware of the status of the QoS flow that has been successfully handed over in a timely manner, and can avoid making erroneous decisions as far as possible.
Based on the same technical concept, the following description describes a communication device provided by several embodiments of the present application with reference to several accompanying drawings.
An embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which has a function of implementing the first RAN device in the above method embodiment 1. For example, the communication device includes corresponding modules, units, or means for executing a plurality of steps in the above method embodiment 1 by the first RAN device. Those functions, modules, units, or means may be implemented by software, or may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software.
FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1100 according to an embodiment of this application. The device 1100 includes a processor 1101 and a transceiver 1102. The processor 1101 is configured to assist the first RAN device to perform functions in the above method embodiment 1. The transceiver 1102 is configured to assist the first RAN device to perform functions of transmitting and receiving messages. The device 1100 may further include a memory 1103. The processor 1101, the transceiver 1102, and the memory 1103 are connected to each other. The memory 1103 is configured to store computer program instructions required to implement functions of the first RAN device in the above method embodiment 1. The processor 1101 is configured to execute the computer program instructions stored in the memory 1103, and controls the transceiver 1102 to receive and transmit signals, and completes the steps of performing corresponding functions by the first RAN device of the method in the above method embodiment 1.
Specifically, the processor 1101 is configured to transmit first information to the second access network device by using the transceiver 1102 in a process of handing over at least one quality of service flow from the communication device 1100 to the second access network device, the first information being used to indicate that the communication device 1100 is notifying the core network device that it is unable to satisfy the quality of service requirements of the at least one quality of service flow.
In one possible implementation, the first information includes an identifier of the at least one quality of service flow and a notification control state of the at least one quality of service flow, the notification control state being a first state, the first state being used to indicate an inability to satisfy quality of service requirements of the at least one quality of service flow.
In one possible implementation, the processor 1101 is configured, in particular, to transmit first information to the second access network device through an interface connected to the second access network device by using the transceiver 1102, or to transmit the first information to the second access network device by using the transceiver 1102 and an AMF network element.
For the specific steps performed by the processor 1101 and the transceiver 1102, reference should be made to the relevant descriptions in the steps performed by the first RAN device in embodiment 1 of the above method.
Alternatively, the communication device 1100 may be implemented by using multiple logical units. Figure 12 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication device 1200 according to an embodiment of this application. The device 1200 includes a processing module 1201 and a transceiver 1202. The processing module 1201 corresponds to the processor 1101 in the above communication device 1100, and the transceiver module 1202 corresponds to the transceiver 1102 in the above communication device 1100. The processing module 1201 and the transceiver module 1202 may be configured to respectively implement corresponding functions of the first RAN device in the above method embodiment 1. For a specific implementation process, reference should be made to the relevant description of the above method embodiment 1 and the communication device 1100. Details will not be described in this specification.
An embodiment of the present application provides another communication apparatus, which has a function of implementing the second RAN device in the above method embodiment 1 or 2. For example, the communication apparatus includes corresponding modules, units, or means for executing a plurality of steps in the above method embodiment 1 or 2 by the second RAN device. Those functions, modules, units, or means may be implemented by software, or may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software.
FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1300 according to an embodiment of this application. The device 1300 includes a processor 1301 and a transceiver 1302. The processor 1301 is configured to assist the second RAN device to perform functions in the above method embodiment 1 or 2. The transceiver 1302 is configured to assist the second RAN device to perform functions of receiving and transmitting messages. The device 1300 may further include a memory 1303. The processor 1301, the transceiver 1302, and the memory 1303 are connected to each other. The memory 1303 is configured to store computer program instructions required to implement the functions of the second RAN device in the above method embodiment 1 or 2. The processor 1301 is configured to execute the computer program instructions stored in the memory 1303, and controls the transceiver 1302 to receive and transmit signals, and completes the steps of performing corresponding functions by the second RAN device in the above method embodiment 1 or 2.
In one possible design, the processor 1301 is configured to receive, by using the transceiver 1302, first information transmitted by a first access network device, the first information being used to indicate that the first access network device is informing the core network device of an inability to satisfy a quality of service requirement of the at least one quality of service flow. The processor 1301 is further configured to transmit, by using the transceiver 1302, second information to the core network device, the second information being used to inform the core network device of an inability to satisfy a quality of service requirement of a first quality of service flow of the at least one quality of service flow, the first quality of service flow being handed over from the first access network device to the communications apparatus 1300.
The processor 1301 is further configured to send third information to the core network device by using the transceiver 1302 when detecting that it is impossible to satisfy the quality of service requirements of the first quality of service flow, the third information being used to notify the core network device that it is impossible to satisfy the quality of service requirements of the first quality of service flow.
In another possible design, when at least one quality of service flow is being handed over from the first access network device to the communication device 1300, the processor 1301 is configured to send fourth information to the core network device by using the transceiver 1302, where the fourth information is used to inform the core network device that a quality of service requirement of the at least one quality of service flow can be satisfied. Optionally, the at least one quality of service flow belongs to all quality of service flows that are being handed over from the first access network device to the communication device 1300 and require notification control.
For specific steps performed by the processor 1301 and the transceiver 1302, reference should be made to the relevant descriptions of the steps performed by the second RAN device in the method embodiment 1 or 2. Details will not be described in this specification.
Alternatively, the communication device 1300 may be implemented by using multiple logical units. FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1400 according to an embodiment of this application. The device 1400 includes a processing module 1401 and a transceiver 1402. The processing module 1401 corresponds to the processor 1301 in the above communication device 1300, and the transceiver module 1402 corresponds to the transceiver 1302 in the above communication device 1300. The processing module 1401 and the transceiver module 1402 may be configured to implement corresponding functions of the second RAN device in the above method embodiment 1 or method embodiment 2, respectively. For a specific implementation process, reference should be made to the above method embodiment 1 or method embodiment 2 and the relevant description of the communication device 1300. Details will not be described in this specification.
An embodiment of the present application provides another communication device, which has a function of implementing an SMF network element in any one of the above method embodiment 1 to method embodiment 4. For example, the communication device includes corresponding modules, units, or means for executing a plurality of steps in the above method embodiment 1 to method embodiment 4 by the SMF network element. Those functions, modules, units, or means may be implemented by software, or may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by hardware executing the corresponding software.
FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1500 according to an embodiment of this application. The device 1500 includes a processor 1501 and a transceiver 1502. The processor 1501 is configured to assist the SMF network element to perform the functions in any one of the above method embodiment 1 to method embodiment 4. The transceiver 1502 is configured to assist the SMF network element to perform the functions of receiving and transmitting messages. The device 1500 may further include a memory 1503. The processor 1501, the transceiver 1502, and the memory 1503 are connected to each other. The memory 1503 is configured to store computer program instructions required to implement the functions of the SMF network element in any one of the above method embodiment 1 to method embodiment 4. The processor 1501 is configured to execute computer program instructions stored in the memory 1503, and controls the transceiver 1502 to receive and transmit signals, and completes the steps of performing corresponding functions by an SMF network element of any one of method embodiments 1 to 4.
In a first possible design, the processor 1501 is configured to receive, by using the transceiver 1502, a notification control state of at least one quality of service flow sent by a second access network device, the at least one quality of service flow being handed over from a first access network device to the second access network device, the notification control state being a second state, the second state being used to indicate that a quality of service requirement of the at least one quality of service flow can be satisfied. The processor 1501 is further configured to send, by using the transceiver module, fifth information to a policy control function (PCF) network element, the fifth information being used to inform the PCF network element that a quality of service requirement of the at least one quality of service flow can be satisfied.
Optionally, the processor 1501 is further configured to determine, by using the transceiver 1502, before sending the fifth information to the PCF network element, that the received notification control state of the at least one quality of service flow sent by the first access network device is a first state, the first state being used to indicate that it is impossible to satisfy quality of service requirements of the at least one quality of service flow.
In a second possible design, the processor 1501 may be configured to determine a received notification control state of at least one quality of service flow transmitted by the first access network device. Moreover, the processor 1501 is further configured to determine a third quality of service flow among the second quality of service flows, the notification control state of which is in the first state, when the second quality of service flow among the at least one quality of service flow is being handed over from the first access network device to the second access network device. Moreover, the processor 1501 is configured to update the notification control state of the third quality of service flow to the second state, and send sixth information to a policy control function (PCF) network element by using the transceiver 1502, the sixth information being used to inform the PCF network element that the notification control state of the third quality of service flow is in the second state.
The first state is used to indicate that it is not possible to satisfy the quality of service requirements of at least one quality of service flow, and the second state is used to indicate that it is possible to satisfy the quality of service requirements of said at least one quality of service flow.
Optionally, the processor 1501 may be further configured to receive seventh information transmitted by the AMF network element by using the transceiver 1502, the seventh information including an identifier of a second quality of service flow being handed over from the first access network device to the second access network device.
In a third possible design, the processor 1501 may be configured to determine that the at least one QoS flow has been handed over from the first access network device to the second access network device. Then, the processor 1501 may be further configured to send eighth information to the PCF network element by using the transceiver 1502, where the eighth information is used to indicate that the at least one QoS flow has been handed over from the first access network device to the second access network device.
For the specific steps performed by the processor 1501 and the transceiver 1502, reference should be made to the relevant descriptions of the steps performed by the SMF network element in the above method embodiment 1 to method embodiment 4. Details will not be described in this specification.
Alternatively, the communication device 1500 may be implemented by using multiple logical units. Figure 16 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication device 1600 according to an embodiment of this application. The device 1600 includes a processing module 1601 and a transceiver 1602. The processing module 1601 corresponds to the processor 1501 in the above communication device 1500, and the transceiver module 1602 corresponds to the transceiver 1502 in the above communication device 1500. The processing module 1601 and the transceiver module 1602 may be configured to implement corresponding functions of the SMF network element in any one of the above method embodiment 1 to method embodiment 4, respectively. For a specific implementation process, reference should be made to the above method embodiment 1 to method embodiment 4 and the related description of the communication device 1500. Details will not be described in this specification.
An embodiment of this application provides another communication device, which has a function of implementing the PCF network element in the above method embodiment 4. For example, the communication device includes corresponding modules, units, or means for executing a plurality of steps in the above method embodiment 4 by the PCF network element. Those functions, modules, units, or means may be implemented by software, or may be implemented by hardware, or may be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software.
FIG. 17 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1700 according to an embodiment of this application. The device 1700 includes a processor 1701 and a transceiver 1702. The processor 1701 is configured to assist the PCF network element to perform functions in the above embodiment 4 of the method. The transceiver 1702 is configured to assist the PCF network element to perform functions of receiving and transmitting messages. The device 1700 may further include a memory 1703. The processor 1701, the transceiver 1702, and the memory 1703 are connected to each other. The memory 1703 is configured to store computer program instructions required to implement the functions of the PCF network element in the above embodiment 4 of the method. The processor 1701 is configured to execute the computer program instructions stored in the memory 1703, and controls the transceiver 1702 to receive and transmit signals, and completes the steps of performing corresponding functions by the PCF network element in embodiment 4 of the method.
Specifically, the processor 1701 may be configured to receive, by using the transceiver 1702, eighth information sent by the SMF network element, where the eighth information is used to indicate that at least one QoS flow is handed over from the first access network device to the second access network device. Then, the processor 1701 may determine a QoS flow of which a notification control state is in a first state among the at least one QoS flow, and update a notification control state of the determined QoS flow to a second state. The first state is used to indicate that it is not possible to satisfy a quality of service requirement of the determined QoS flow, and the second state is used to indicate that it is possible to satisfy a quality of service requirement of the determined QoS flow.
For the specific steps performed by the processor 1701 and the transceiver 1702, reference should be made to the relevant description of the steps performed by the PCF network element in the above method embodiment 4. Details are not described in this specification.
Alternatively, the communication device 1700 may be implemented by using multiple logical units. Figure 18 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1800 according to an embodiment of this application. The device 1800 includes a processing module 1801 and a transceiver 1802. The processing module 1801 corresponds to the processor 1701 in the above communication device 1700, and the transceiver module 1802 corresponds to the transceiver 1702 in the above communication device 1700. The processing module 1801 and the transceiver module 1802 may be configured to respectively implement corresponding functions of the PCF network element in the above method embodiment 4. For a specific implementation process, refer to the relevant description of the above method embodiment 4 and the communication device 1700. Details will not be described in this specification.
It can be understood that in the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of this application, only simplified designs of the communication device are shown. In practical applications, the above communication device is not limited to the above configuration. For example, for the first RAN device or the second RAN device, a specific structure may further include an antenna array, a duplexer, and a baseband processing unit, etc.
The processor in the embodiment of this application may be a central processing unit (CPU), a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FGA), a microcomputer, ... It should be noted that the processor may be a FPGA (field programmable gate array) or other programmable logic device, transistor logic device, hardware component, or a combination thereof. The processor may implement or execute the various example logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the content disclosed by this application. Alternatively, the processor may be a combination of one or more microprocessors, or a combination of multiple processors that implement computational functions, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor. The memory may be integrated into the processor, or the memory may be located separately from the processor.
According to a method provided by multiple embodiments of this application, one embodiment of this application further provides a communication system, which includes the above-mentioned first RAN device, a second RAN device, an SMF network element, and a PCF network element.
An embodiment of the present application further provides a chip, connected to a memory and configured to read and execute a software program stored in the memory to implement any of the methods according to the above method embodiments.
An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer storage medium, which stores computer-readable instructions, and when reading and executing the computer-readable instructions, enables a computer to complete any of the methods according to the above method embodiments.
An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product including a software program, which, when executed by a computer, enables the computer to perform any of the methods according to the above method embodiments.
Those skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments of this application may be provided as a method, a system, or a computer program product. Thus, this application may use the form of a hardware-only embodiment, a software-only embodiment, or an embodiment involving a combination of software and hardware. In addition, this application may use the form of a computer program product, which is implemented by one or more computer-readable storage media including computer instructions (including, but not limited to, disk memory, optical memory, etc.).
The above embodiments describe in detail the objectives, technical methods and beneficial effects of this application. It should be understood that the above descriptions are only specific implementations of this application, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Any modifications and changes made based on the technical solutions of this application shall belong to the scope of protection of this application.
20 sheets
Sheet 1 Sheet 2 Sheet 3 Sheet 4 Sheet 5 Sheet 6 Sheet 7 Sheet 8 Sheet 9 Sheet 10 Sheet 11 Sheet 12 Sheet 13 Sheet 14 Sheet 15 Sheet 16 Sheet 17 Sheet 18 Sheet 19 Sheet 20
Every citation, both waysCites: the store holds 2 of 3
| Document | Relation | Office |
|---|---|---|
| WO2018127190A1 | Cites | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) |
| US20170317894A1 | Cites | United States of America |
| Samsung,Corrections on namings of SMF Service Operations[online],3GPP TSG SA WG2 #127 S2-183760,Internet<URL:https://www.3gpp.org/ftp/tsg_sa/WG2_Arch/TSGS2_127_Sanya/Docs/S2-183760.zip>,2018年03月20日,1-31頁 | Non-patent | – |
28 members in 9 offices
Priority claims4
| Document | Office | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201810491245 | China | A | |
| 2018104912457 | China | – | |
| 2019087827 | China | W | |
| 2020565351 | Japan | A |
Members28
| Document | Office | Kind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2019223690A1 | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A1 | |
| CN110519807A | China | A | |
| AU2019272364A1 | Australia | A1 | |
| KR20210008878A | Republic of Korea | A | |
| BR112020023685A2 | Brazil | A2 | |
| EP3790314A1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A1 | |
| US2021075864A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| EP3790314A4 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A4 | |
| CN110519807B | China | B | |
| CN113365293A | China | A | |
| JP2021524689A | Japan | A | |
| AU2019272364B2 | Australia | B2 | |
| JP7048763B2 | Japan | B2 | |
| AU2019272364C1 | Australia | C1 | |
| JP2022109906A | Japan | A | |
| KR102434931B1 | Republic of Korea | B1 | |
| US11575754B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| US2023147304A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| EP3790314B1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | B1 | |
| US2024048624A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| EP4354832A2 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A2 | |
| ES2967399T3 | Spain | T3 | |
| EP4354832A3 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A3 | |
| JP7516448B2This record | Japan | B2 | |
| CN113365293B | China | B | |
| US12301668B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| EP4354832B1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | B1 | |
| EP4354832C0 | European Patent Office (EPO) | C0 |
10 legal events, as the office reported them to INPADOC
Over the term
Point at a mark for the eventEvents
| Event | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of patent or registration of utility modelJAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: R150R150 | R150 | |
| First payment of annual fees (during grant procedure)JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A61A61 | A61 | |
| Written decision to grant a patent or to grant a registration (utility model)JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A01A01 | A01 | |
| Decision of grant or rejection writtenTRDD | TRDD | |
| Request for written amendment filedJAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A523A521 | A521 | |
| Notification of reasons for refusalJAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A131A131 | A131 | |
| Request for written amendment filedJAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A523A521 | A521 | |
| Notification of reasons for refusalJAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A131A131 | A131 | |
| Request for written amendment filedJAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A523A521 | A521 | |
| Written request for application examinationJAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A621A621 | A621 |
Numbers
- Publication
- 7516448
- Application
- 47594
Titles2
- Japanese
- 通信方法及び通信装置
- English
- Communication method and communication device
Classification
- CPC, 12
- H04W24/02
- H04W36/0044
- H04L67/14
- H04W36/0011
- H04W36/0083
- H04W36/302
- H04W28/0268
- H04W28/0236
- H04L67/141
- H04L67/562
- H04W36/385
- H04W36/00837
- IPC, 3
- H04W28 24
- H04W36 26
- H04W92 24
