Communication method and communication device

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method and a communication device. A remote device obtains a first required session attribute or identification information of the first required session attribute, and sends a first message including the first required session attribute or identification information of the first required session attribute, so that a relay device can judge whether it can become a relay device of the remote device according to the first message, thereby helping the remote device to select a relay device that meets the required session attributes, thereby helping to improve communication efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communications, and more specifically, to a communication method and a communication device. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of mobile communications, the widespread use of new service types, such as video chat, virtual reality (VT) / augmented reality (AR), etc., has increased users' demand for bandwidth. When the remote device is outside the coverage of the access network device or the communication signal quality between the remote device and the access network device is poor, the remote device can be assisted by a relay device. That is, the communication between the remote device and the access network device is achieved through the communication between the remote device and the relay device, and the communication between the relay device and the access network device. In other words, the communication from the remote device outside the network coverage to the access network device is supported by relay communication.

[0003] Therefore, how to choose appropriate relay equipment needs to be solved urgently. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present application provides a communication method and a communication device, which can help a remote device select a relay device with session attributes that meet the requirements, thereby helping to improve communication efficiency.

[0005] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided, which includes: a remote device obtains a first required session attribute or identification information of the first required session attribute; the remote device sends a first message, and the first message includes the first required session attribute or identification information of the first required session attribute.

[0006] The remote device obtains the first required session attribute or the identification information of the first required session attribute, and sends a first message including the first required session attribute or the identification information of the first required session attribute, so that the relay device can determine whether it can become the relay device of the remote device based on the first message, which in turn helps the remote device select a relay device that meets the required session attributes, thereby helping to improve communication efficiency.

[0007] In some possible implementations, the method further includes: the remote device receives a response message to the first message from the relay device to be selected, wherein the response message to the first message is used to indicate that the allowed session attributes of the relay device to be selected include the first required session attributes; the remote device determines a target relay device of the remote device based on the response message of the relay device to be selected, and the target relay device is used to provide relay services for the remote device.

[0008] If the allowed session attributes of the relay device include the first required session attribute, the relay device sends a response message of the first message to the remote device. Alternatively, if the allowed session attributes of the relay device do not include the first required session attribute, the relay device does not send a response message of the first message. If the allowed session attributes of the relay device include the first required session attribute, the response message of the first message is used to indicate that the allowed session attributes of the relay device include the first required session attribute (i.e., the relay device allows the use of the first required session attribute). If the allowed session attributes of the relay device do not include the first required session attribute, the response message of the first message is used to indicate that the allowed session attributes of the relay device do not include the first required session attribute (i.e., the relay device does not allow the use of the first required session attribute). The remote device can determine the target relay device of the remote device based on the response message of the selected relay device, i.e., the remote device can select a relay device that meets the required session attributes, thereby improving communication efficiency.

[0009] In some possible implementations, the relay device to be selected includes at least two relay devices, and the response message also includes other session attributes in the allowed session attributes of the relay device to be selected except the first required session attribute; the remote device determines the target relay device of the remote device based on the response message of the relay device to be selected, including: the remote device determines the target relay device based on the other session attributes of the relay device to be selected.

[0010] If the remote device receives at least two response messages to the first message. That is, there are at least two relay devices whose allowed session attributes include the first required session attribute. The remote device can select a relay device from the at least two relay devices as a target relay device. In this way, the remote device can communicate with the network device through the target relay device, thereby further finding a more suitable relay device for different sessions, thereby improving communication efficiency.

[0011] In some possible implementations, the first demand session attribute includes at least one of demand slice information, data network information, access type, or session type.

[0012] In some possible implementations, the method also includes: the remote device sends a second message to the target relay device, the second message including a second required session attribute of the remote device or identification information of the second required session attribute of the remote device; the remote device receives a response message to the second message from the target relay device, the response message to the second message is used to indicate that the allowed session attributes of the target relay device include the second required session attribute.

[0013] The remote device sends a second message to the target relay device, and the target relay device determines whether to allow the second required session attribute and responds to the second message. If the remote device determines that the target relay device allows the second required session attribute, the remote device can transmit the service corresponding to the second required session attribute through the target relay device. In other words, the target relay device can be used to provide relay services for the service corresponding to the first required session attribute and the service corresponding to the second required session attribute of the remote device at the same time, which reduces the process of finding a suitable relay device for the service corresponding to the second required session attribute, thereby saving signaling overhead.

[0014] In some possible implementations, there is a mapping relationship between the identification information of the first required session attribute and the first required session attribute.

[0015] The remote device may indicate the first required session attribute through the identification information of the first required session attribute, which saves resource overhead compared to directly sending the first session attribute.

[0016] In some possible implementations, the identification information of the first required session attribute includes a group identification ID or a relay service code of the remote device.

[0017] The remote device may reuse the group ID or the relay service code to indicate the first required session attribute, which saves resource overhead compared to directly sending the first session attribute.

[0018] According to a second aspect, a communication method is provided, which includes: a relay device receiving a first message from a remote device, the first message including a first required session attribute or identification information of the first required session attribute; when the allowed session attributes of the relay device include the first required session attribute, the relay device sending a response message of the first message to the remote device.

[0019] The relay device receives a first message including a first required session attribute or identification information of the first required session attribute from a remote device, and determines whether it can become a relay device of the remote device based on the first message, thereby helping the remote device to select a relay device that meets the required session attributes, thereby helping to improve communication efficiency.

[0020] In some possible implementations, the first demand session attribute includes at least one of demand slice information, data network information, access type, or session type.

[0021] In some possible implementations, when the first required session attribute includes required slice information, the method further includes: when the allowed slices of the relay device include the first slice indicated by the required slice information, the relay device determines that the allowed session attributes of the relay device include the first required session attribute.

[0022] If the relay device determines that the allowed slice includes the first slice, the relay device determines that the allowed session attribute includes the first required session attribute. If the relay device determines that the allowed slice does not include the first slice, the relay device determines that the allowed session attribute does not include the first required session attribute. Each relay device can determine whether its own allowed session attribute includes the first required session attribute based on whether its own allowed slice includes the first slice, and then determine whether to send a response message to the first message to the terminal, so that the remote device can select a relay device that meets the first required session attribute based on the response message of the first message, thereby further selecting a more suitable relay device and improving communication efficiency.

[0023] In some possible implementations, when the first required session attribute includes required slice information, the method further includes: when the configured slice of the relay device includes the first slice indicated by the required slice information, the relay device sends a request message to the access network device, and the request message is used to request authorization for the first slice; the relay device receives a response message to the request message, and the response message to the request message is used to indicate that the first slice is an allowed slice; the relay device determines, based on the response message, that the allowed session attribute of the relay device includes the first required session attribute.

[0024] If the relay device determines that the configured slice includes the first slice, the relay device sends a request message to the network device, and the request message is used to request authorization for the first slice. Specifically, the relay device sends a request message to AMF, and AMF sends the request message to UDM, and UDM determines whether to authorize the first slice as an allowed slice. The relay device receives a response message to the request message from UDM, and the response message to the request message is used to indicate whether the first slice is an allowed slice. If the response message to the request message indicates that the first slice is an allowed slice, the relay device determines that its allowed session attributes include the first required session attributes. In this way, when the remote device selects the relay device as the target relay device, it can save the process of authorizing the configured slice as an allowed slice, thereby saving transmission delay.

[0025] In some possible implementations, there is a mapping relationship between the identification information of the first required session attribute and the first required session attribute, and the method further includes: the relay device determining the first required session attribute according to the mapping relationship and the identification information of the first required session attribute.

[0026] The relay device can determine the first required session attribute through the identification information and the mapping relationship of the first required session attribute, which saves the resource overhead of the remote device compared to directly sending the first session attribute.

[0027] In some possible implementations, the identification information of the first required session attribute includes a group identification ID or a relay service code of the remote device.

[0028] The remote device may reuse the group ID or the relay service code to indicate the first required session attribute, which saves resource overhead compared to directly sending the first session attribute.

[0029] In some possible implementations, the method also includes: the relay device receives a second message from the remote device, the second message includes a second required session attribute of the remote device; when the allowed session attribute of the relay device includes the second required session attribute, the relay device sends a response message to the second message.

[0030] After the relay device is selected as the target relay device of the remote device, it can also receive a second message from the remote device. The target relay device determines whether to allow the second required session attribute and responds to the second message. If the remote device determines that the target relay device allows the second required session attribute, the remote device can transmit the service corresponding to the second required session attribute through the target relay device. In other words, the target relay device can be used to provide relay services for the service corresponding to the first required session attribute and the service corresponding to the second required session attribute of the remote device at the same time, which reduces the process of finding a suitable relay device for the service corresponding to the second required session attribute, thereby saving signaling overhead.

[0031] In some possible implementations, the response message to the first message includes other session attributes among the allowed session attributes of the relay device except the first required session attribute.

[0032] The relay device includes other session attributes in the allowed session attributes of the relay device except the first required session attribute in the response message, so that the remote device can select the target relay device according to the other session attributes, thereby further finding a more suitable relay device for different sessions, thereby improving communication efficiency.

[0033] According to a third aspect, a communication method is provided, which includes: a remote device receiving first information, wherein the first information includes an allowed session attribute of a relay device or identification information of an allowed session attribute of a relay device; the remote device determines a target relay device of the remote device based on the first information and a first required session attribute of the remote device, wherein the target relay device is used to provide a relay service for the remote device.

[0034] The remote device can determine whether the relay device can become the target relay device of the remote device based on the allowed session attributes or identification information of the allowed session attributes sent by the relay device, combined with the remote device's own required session attributes. In this way, the remote device can select a more suitable relay device, thereby improving communication efficiency.

[0035] In some possible implementations, the remote device determines the target relay device of the remote device based on the first information and the first required session attribute of the remote device, including: when there is only one relay device whose allowed session attributes include the first required session attribute, the remote device takes the one relay device as the target relay device; or when there are at least two relay devices whose allowed session attributes include the first required session attribute, the remote device selects the target relay device from the at least two relay devices.

[0036] If there are multiple relay devices whose allowed session attributes include the first required session attribute, the remote device can select a more suitable relay device as the target relay device, so that the remote device can further select a suitable relay device, thereby improving communication efficiency.

[0037] In some possible implementations, the first information also includes other session attributes in the allowed session attributes of the relay device except the first required session attribute, and the remote device selects the target relay device from the at least two relay devices, including: the remote device determines the target relay device based on the other session attributes of the at least two relay devices.

[0038] If there are multiple relay devices whose allowed session attributes include the first required session attribute, the remote device can select a target relay device according to other session attributes of the multiple relay devices, thereby improving communication efficiency.

[0039] In some possible implementations, the method further includes: the remote device sending a request message, the request message being used to request an allowed session attribute of the relay device; wherein the remote device receiving the first information includes: the remote device receiving a response message to the request message, the response message to the request message including the first information.

[0040] The relay device can send the first information to the remote device only when the remote device has a demand, thus avoiding the waste caused by sending the first information when the remote device has no demand, thereby saving waste of resources.

[0041] In some possible implementations, the first demand session attribute includes at least one of demand slice information, data network information, access type, or session type.

[0042] In some possible implementations, there is a mapping relationship between the identification information of the allowed session attribute and the allowed session attribute, and the method further includes: the remote device determines the allowed session attribute of the relay device based on the mapping relationship and the identification information of the allowed session attribute of the relay device.

[0043] The relay device can determine the allowed session attribute through the identification information and the mapping relationship of the allowed session attribute, which saves the resource overhead of the relay device compared to directly sending the allowed session attribute.

[0044] In some possible implementations, the identification information of the allowed session attribute includes a group identification ID or a relay service code of the relay device.

[0045] The relay device may reuse the group ID or the relay service code to indicate the allowed session attribute, which saves resource overhead compared to directly sending the allowed session attribute.

[0046] In a fourth aspect, a communication method is provided, the method comprising: a relay device obtains first information, the first information comprising an allowed session attribute of the relay device or identification information of the allowed session attribute of the relay device; the relay device sends the first information to a remote device.

[0047] The relay device obtains first information including the allowed session attribute of the relay device or identification information of the allowed session attribute, and sends the first information to the remote device. In this way, the remote device can combine the first information and the required session attribute of the remote device itself to determine whether the relay device can become the target relay device of the remote device. In other words, the remote device can select a more suitable relay device, thereby improving communication efficiency.

[0048] In some possible implementations, the method further includes: the relay device receiving a request message, the request message being used to request an allowed session attribute of the relay device; wherein the relay device sending the first information to a remote device includes: the relay device sending a response message to the request message to the remote device, the response message to the request message including the first information.

[0049] The relay device can send the first information to the remote device only when the remote device has a demand, thus avoiding the waste caused by sending the first information when the remote device has no demand, thereby saving waste of resources.

[0050] In some possible implementations, there is a mapping relationship between the identification information of the allowed session attribute and the allowed session attribute.

[0051] The relay device can determine the allowed session attribute through the identification information and the mapping relationship of the allowed session attribute, which saves the resource overhead of the relay device compared to directly sending the allowed session attribute.

[0052] In some possible implementations, the identification information of the allowed session attribute includes a group identification ID or a relay service code of the relay device.

[0053] The relay device may reuse the group ID or the relay service code to indicate the allowed session attribute, which saves resource overhead compared to directly sending the allowed session attribute.

[0054] In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided, which may be a remote device or a chip in a remote device. The device has the function of implementing the first aspect and various possible implementations. The function may be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0055] In one possible design, the device includes a transceiver module. Optionally, the device also includes a processing module. The transceiver module may be, for example, at least one of a transceiver, a receiver, and a transmitter, and the transceiver module may include a radio frequency circuit or an antenna. The processing module may be a processor. Optionally, the device also includes a storage module, and the storage module may be, for example, a memory. When a storage module is included, the storage module is used to store instructions. The processing module is connected to the storage module, and the processing module may execute instructions stored in the storage module or instructions derived from other sources, so that the device executes the above-mentioned first aspect, and the communication method of various possible implementation methods. In this design, the device may be a remote device.

[0056] In another possible design, when the device is a chip, the chip includes: a transceiver module. Optionally, the device also includes a processing module. The transceiver module may be, for example, an input / output interface, a pin or a circuit on the chip. The processing module may be, for example, a processor. The processing module may execute instructions so that the chip in the remote device executes the first aspect described above, as well as any possible communication method. Optionally, the processing module may execute instructions in a storage module, which may be a storage module in the chip, such as a register, a cache, etc. The storage module may also be located in the communication device but outside the chip, such as a read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and instructions, a random access memory (RAM), etc.

[0057] Among them, the processor mentioned in any of the above places can be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of programs of the above-mentioned communication methods.

[0058] In a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided, which may be a relay device or a chip in a relay device. The device has the function of implementing the second aspect and various possible implementations. The function may be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0059] In one possible design, the device includes: a transceiver module. Optionally, the device also includes a processing module. The transceiver module may be, for example, at least one of a transceiver, a receiver, and a transmitter, and the transceiver module may include a radio frequency circuit or an antenna. The processing module may be a processor.

[0060] Optionally, the device further includes a storage module, which may be, for example, a memory. When the storage module is included, the storage module is used to store instructions. The processing module is connected to the storage module, and the processing module may execute instructions stored in the storage module or instructions derived from other sources, so that the device performs the above-mentioned second aspect, or any one of the methods thereof.

[0061] In another possible design, when the device is a chip, the chip includes: a transceiver module. Optionally, the device also includes a processing module. The transceiver module may be, for example, an input / output interface, a pin or a circuit on the chip. The processing module may be, for example, a processor. The processing module may execute instructions so that the chip in the relay device executes the second aspect and any possible communication method.

[0062] Optionally, the processing module may execute instructions in a storage module, and the storage module may be a storage module within a chip, such as a register, a cache, etc. The storage module may also be located within the communication device but outside the chip, such as a ROM or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and instructions, a RAM, etc.

[0063] The processor mentioned in any of the above may be a CPU, a microprocessor, an application specific integrated circuit ASIC, or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of programs of the above-mentioned communication methods.

[0064] In a seventh aspect, a communication device is provided, which may be a remote device or a chip in a remote device. The device has the function of implementing the third aspect and various possible implementations. The function may be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0065] In one possible design, the device includes: a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module may be, for example, at least one of a transceiver, a receiver, and a transmitter, and the transceiver module may include a radio frequency circuit or an antenna. The processing module may be a processor. Optionally, the device also includes a storage module, which may be, for example, a memory. When a storage module is included, the storage module is used to store instructions. The processing module is connected to the storage module, and the processing module may execute instructions stored in the storage module or instructions derived from other sources, so that the device executes the third aspect above, and the communication method of various possible implementations. In this design, the device may be a remote device.

[0066] In another possible design, when the device is a chip, the chip includes: a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module may be, for example, an input / output interface, a pin or a circuit on the chip. The processing module may be, for example, a processor. The processing module may execute instructions so that the chip in the remote device executes the third aspect described above, as well as any possible communication method. Optionally, the processing module may execute instructions in a storage module, which may be a storage module in the chip, such as a register, a cache, etc. The storage module may also be located in the communication device but outside the chip, such as a ROM or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and instructions, RAM, etc.

[0067] The processor mentioned in any of the above may be a CPU, a microprocessor, an ASIC, or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of programs of the above-mentioned communication methods.

[0068] In an eighth aspect, a communication device is provided, which may be a relay device or a chip in a relay device. The device has the function of implementing the fourth aspect and various possible implementations. The function may be implemented by hardware or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0069] In one possible design, the device includes: a transceiver module. Optionally, the device also includes a processing module. The transceiver module may be, for example, at least one of a transceiver, a receiver, and a transmitter, and the transceiver module may include a radio frequency circuit or an antenna. The processing module may be a processor.

[0070] Optionally, the device further includes a storage module, which may be, for example, a memory. When the storage module is included, the storage module is used to store instructions. The processing module is connected to the storage module, and the processing module may execute instructions stored in the storage module or instructions derived from other sources, so that the device performs the fourth aspect above, or any one of the methods thereof.

[0071] In another possible design, when the device is a chip, the chip includes: a transceiver module. Optionally, the device also includes a processing module. The transceiver module may be, for example, an input / output interface, a pin or a circuit on the chip. The processing module may be, for example, a processor. The processing module may execute instructions so that the chip in the relay device executes the fourth aspect and any possible communication method.

[0072] Optionally, the processing module may execute instructions in a storage module, and the storage module may be a storage module within a chip, such as a register, a cache, etc. The storage module may also be located within the communication device but outside the chip, such as a ROM or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and instructions, a RAM, etc.

[0073] The processor mentioned in any of the above may be a CPU, a microprocessor, an ASIC, or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of programs of the above-mentioned communication methods.

[0074] In a ninth aspect, a computer storage medium is provided, in which a program code is stored, and the program code is used to indicate instructions for executing the method in the above-mentioned first aspect and any possible implementation thereof.

[0075] In a tenth aspect, a computer storage medium is provided, in which a program code is stored, and the program code is used to indicate instructions for executing the method in the above-mentioned second aspect and any possible implementation thereof.

[0076] In an eleventh aspect, a computer storage medium is provided, in which a program code is stored, and the program code is used to indicate instructions for executing the method in the third aspect and any possible implementation thereof.

[0077] In a twelfth aspect, a computer storage medium is provided, in which a program code is stored, and the program code is used to indicate instructions for executing the method in the fourth aspect and any possible implementation thereof.

[0078] In a thirteenth aspect, a computer program product comprising instructions is provided, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method in the above-mentioned first aspect, or any possible implementation thereof.

[0079] In a fourteenth aspect, a computer program product comprising instructions is provided, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method in the above-mentioned second aspect, or any possible implementation thereof.

[0080] In a fifteenth aspect, a computer program product comprising instructions is provided, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method in the third aspect above, or any possible implementation thereof.

[0081] In a sixteenth aspect, a computer program product comprising instructions is provided, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method in the fourth aspect above, or any possible implementation thereof.

[0082] In the seventeenth aspect, a communication system is provided, which includes the device described in the fifth aspect and the device described in the sixth aspect.

[0083] In the eighteenth aspect, a communication system is provided, which includes the device described in the seventh aspect, the device described in the eighth aspect, and the device described in the eighth aspect.

[0084] Based on the above technical solution, the remote device obtains the first required session attribute or the identification information of the first required session attribute, and sends a first message including the first required session attribute or the identification information of the first required session attribute, so that the relay device can judge whether it can become the relay device of the remote device based on the first message, which in turn helps the remote device select a relay device that meets the required session attributes, thereby helping to improve communication efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0085] Figure 1 is a possible network architecture schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present application;

[0086] Figure 2 is another schematic diagram of a communication system architecture according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0087] Figure 3 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0088] Figure 4 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0089] Figure 5 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0090] Figure 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0091] Figure 7 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0092] Figure 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0093] Fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0094] Fig.10 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0095] Fig.11 It is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to another embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0096] The technical solution in this application will be described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0097] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, for example: global system for mobile communications (GSM) system, code division multiple access (CDMA) system, wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) system, general packet radio service (GPRS), long term evolution (LTE) system, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, LTE time division duplex (TDD), universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication system, future fifth generation (5G) communication system or future new radio (NR) communication system, etc.

[0098] The remote device in the embodiments of the present application may be a terminal, user equipment (UE), access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent or user device. The terminal may also be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication function, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a terminal in a future 5G network or a terminal in a future evolved public land mobile communication network (PLMN), etc., and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this. For the convenience of description, the following embodiments do not distinguish between "terminal" and "remote device".

[0099] The access network device in the embodiment of the present application can be a device for communicating with a terminal. The access network device can be a base station (base transceiver station, BTS) in the global mobile communication GSM system CDMA, or a base station (NodeB, NB) in the WCDMA system, or an evolved base station (evoled NodeB, eNB or eNodeB) in the LTE system, or a wireless controller in a cloud radio access network (cloud radio access network, CRAN) scenario, or the access network device can be a relay station, an access point, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, and an access network device in a future 5G network or an access network device in a future evolved PLMN network, one or a group of (including multiple antenna panels) antenna panels of a base station in a 5G system, or a network node constituting a gNB or a transmission point, such as a baseband unit (baseband unit, BBU), or a distributed unit (distributed unit, DU), etc., which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0100] In some deployments, the gNB may include a centralized unit (CU) and a DU. The gNB may also include an active antenna unit (AAU). The CU implements some functions of the gNB, and the DU implements some functions of the gNB. For example, the CU is responsible for processing non-real-time protocols and services, and implementing the functions of the radio resource control (RRC) and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layers. The DU is responsible for processing physical layer protocols and real-time services, and implementing the functions of the radio link control (RLC) layer, the media access control (MAC) layer, and the physical (PHY) layer. The AAU implements some physical layer processing functions, radio frequency processing, and related functions of active antennas. Since the information of the RRC layer will eventually become the information of the PHY layer, or be converted from the information of the PHY layer, under this architecture, high-level signaling, such as RRC layer signaling, can also be considered to be sent by the DU, or by the DU+AAU. It can be understood that the access network device can be a device including one or more of a CU node, a DU node, and an AAU node. In addition, the CU may be classified as an access network device in a radio access network (RAN), or may be classified as an access network device in a core network (CN), which is not limited in the present application.

[0101] In an embodiment of the present application, a terminal or access network device includes a hardware layer, an operating system layer running on the hardware layer, and an application layer running on the operating system layer. The hardware layer includes hardware such as a central processing unit (CPU), a memory management unit (MMU), and a memory (also called main memory). The operating system can be any one or more computer operating systems that implement business processing through a process, such as a Linux operating system, a Unix operating system, an Android operating system, an iOS operating system, or a windows operating system. The application layer includes applications such as a browser, an address book, a word processing software, and an instant messaging software. In addition, the embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit the specific structure of the execution subject of the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, as long as it can communicate according to the method provided in the embodiment of the present application by running a program that records the code of the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, for example, the execution subject of the method provided in the embodiment of the present application can be a terminal or an access network device, or a functional module in a terminal or an access network device that can call and execute a program.

[0102] In addition, various aspects or features of the present application may be implemented as a method, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programming and / or engineering techniques. For example, computer readable media may include, but are not limited to: magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disks, floppy disks, or magnetic tapes, etc.), optical disks (e.g., compact discs (CDs), digital versatile discs (DVDs), etc.), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), cards, sticks, or key drives, etc.). In addition, the various storage media described herein may represent one or more devices and / or other machine-readable media for storing information. The term "machine-readable medium" may include, but is not limited to, wireless channels and various other media capable of storing, containing, and / or carrying instructions and / or data.

[0103] Figure 1It is a possible network architecture diagram of an embodiment of the present application. Taking the 5G network architecture as an example, the network architecture includes: a terminal 101, a (radio) access network device (radio access network, (R) AN) 102, a user plane function (user plane function, UPF) network element 103, a data network (data network, DN) network element 104, an authentication server function (authentication server function, AUSF) network element 105, an AMF network element 106, a session management function (session management function, SMF) network element 107, a network exposure function (network exposure function, NEF) network element 108, a network function library function (network repository function, NRF) network element 109, a policy control function module (policy control function, PCF) network element 110, a unified data management (udm) network element 111 and an NSSF network element 112. In the following, UPF network element 103, DN network element 104, AUSF network element 105, AMF network element 106, SMF network element 107, NEF network element 108, NRF network element 109, policy control function (PCF) network element 110, UDM network element 111, and NSSF network element 112 are referred to as UPF103, DN104, AUSF105, AMF106, SMF107, NEF108, NRF109, PCF110, UDM111, NSSF112, and unified data repository (UDR) 113.

[0104] Among them, terminal 101 mainly accesses the 5G network through the wireless air interface and obtains services. The terminal interacts with RAN through the air interface, and interacts with the AMF of the core network through non-access stratum signaling (NAS). RAN102 is responsible for the air interface resource scheduling and air interface connection management of the terminal access network. UPF103 is responsible for forwarding and receiving user data in the terminal. For example, UPF can receive user data from the data network and transmit it to the terminal through the access network equipment. It can also receive user data from the terminal through the access network equipment and forward it to the data network. The transmission resources and scheduling functions that provide services to the terminal in UPF103 are managed and controlled by the SMF network element. AUSF105 belongs to the core network control plane network element, which is mainly responsible for the authentication and authorization of users to ensure that the users are legitimate users. AMF106 belongs to the core network element and is mainly responsible for the signaling processing part, such as access control, mobility management, attachment and detachment, and gateway selection. AMF106 can also provide storage resources for the control plane for the session when providing services for the session in the terminal, so as to store the session identifier, the SMF network element identifier associated with the session identifier, etc. SMF107 is responsible for user plane network element selection, user plane network element redirection, Internet protocol (IP) address allocation, bearer establishment, modification and release, and quality of service (QoS) control. NEF108 belongs to the core network control plane element and is responsible for the opening of mobile network capabilities to the outside world. NRF109 belongs to the core network control plane element and is responsible for the dynamic registration of service capabilities of network functions and network function discovery. PCF110 mainly supports the provision of a unified policy framework to control network behavior, provides policy rules to the control layer network functions, and is responsible for obtaining user subscription information related to policy decisions. UDM111 belongs to the core network control plane network element and belongs to the user server. It can be used for unified data management and supports 3GPP authentication, user identity operation, permission granting, registration and mobility management. NSSF112 is used to complete the network slice selection function for the terminal. NSSF112 belongs to the core network control plane entity and is responsible for the selection of the target NSI. UDR113 is responsible for the storage and provision of terminal subscription data or the storage and provision of terminal policy data.

[0105] In this network architecture, Nausf is the service-based interface presented by AUSF105, Namf is the service-based interface presented by AMF106, Nsmf is the service-based interface presented by SMF107, Nnef is the service-based interface presented by NEF108, Nnrf is the service-based interface presented by NRF109, Npcf is the service-based interface presented by PCF110, Nudm is the service-based interface presented by UDM111, Nnssf is the service-based interface presented by NSSF112, and Nudr is the service-based interface presented by UDR113. N1 is the reference point between UE101 and AMF106, N2 is the reference point between (R)AN102 and AMF106, which is used for sending non-access stratum (NAS) messages, etc.; N3 is the reference point between (R)AN102 and UPF103, which is used for transmitting user plane data, etc.; N4 is the reference point between SMF107 and UPF103, which is used for transmitting information such as tunnel identification information of N3 connection, data cache indication information, and downlink data notification messages; N6 interface is the reference point between UPF103 and DN104, which is used for transmitting user plane data, etc.

[0106] Figure 2 Another communication system architecture diagram of an embodiment of the present application is shown. When a remote device is out of network coverage or the signal quality between the remote device and the access network device is poor (for example, below a preset threshold), the remote device can be assisted by a relay device to achieve communication between the remote device and the relay device, and between the relay device and the access network device. For example, Figure 2 As shown, the remote device can communicate with the RAN through the relay terminal.

[0107] It can be understood that the relay device in the embodiment of the present application can be a terminal (ie, a relay terminal), an access network device (ie, a RAN), or a roadside unit, without limitation.

[0108] The following is an introduction to the terms involved in this application.

[0109] 1. Session attributes:

[0110] In a 5G network, a terminal can access a data network by creating a protocol data unit (PDU) session. For example, a terminal can create multiple PDU sessions to access different data networks. Each PDU session has corresponding attributes, which can be called session attributes. Specifically, the session attributes may include at least one of slice information, data network information, session type (PDU session type), session and service continuity mode (SSC mode), and access type.

[0111] Among them, the slice information can be used to identify the slice, for example, single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI). S-NSSAI consists of a slice service type (SST) and a slice differentiator (SD). SST is determined by the slice characteristics, and can be specifically divided into enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), MIoT, ultra reliable and low latency communications (URLLC) and V2X, etc. SD is used to distinguish multiple slices of the same SST. NSSAI is a collection of multiple S-NSSAIs, and one network slice selection assistance information (NSSAI) can include 8 S-NSSAIs. Specifically, the slice information may include a slice identifier and a PLMN identifier. At this time, slices under different PLMNs may use the same slice identifier. For example, the slice information may include PLMN1, slice 1, or PLMN2, slice 1.

[0112] The data network information can be used to identify a data network (DN), for example, a data network name (DNN). The DN can be the Internet or a private enterprise network, which is not limited in this application.

[0113] The data network information can be used to identify a data network (DN), for example, a data network name (DNN). The DN can be the Internet or a private enterprise network, which is not limited in this application.

[0114] The session type may include IPv4, IPv6, IPv4IPv6, Ethernet, or unstructured.

[0115] The session continuity mode may include SSC mode 1, SSC mode 2 or SSC mode 3, etc. Among them, SSC mode 1 may be that the network maintains the continuity of the services provided to the terminal, SSC mode 2 may be that the network releases the service connection and the corresponding PDU session to the terminal, and SSC mode 3 may be that a new PDU session connection is established before the original connection is terminated.

[0116] The access type can be 3GPP access or non-3GPP access, without restriction.

[0117] It should be pointed out that the allowed session attributes refer to at least one of the allowed slicing information, allowed data network information, allowed session type, allowed session continuity mode, and allowed access type. For example, the allowed session attributes of the relay device are the session attributes allowed by the relay device itself, and the allowed session attributes of the remote device are the session attributes allowed by the remote device itself.

[0118] 2. Allow slicing:

[0119] It can be understood that the slices allowed for use, for example, the slices allowed for use by the terminal, or the slices allowed for use by AMF. Among them, the slices allowed for use by the terminal can be referred to as the allowed slices of the terminal, and the slices allowed for use by AMF can be referred to as the allowed slices of AMF.

[0120] Specifically, the allowed slice of the terminal may refer to the slice that the terminal can use when establishing a PDU session, or part or all of the subscribed slice of the terminal. Among them, the subscribed slice refers to the slice in the subscription information, which can be identified by the subscribed S-NSSAI.

[0121] It is understandable that the allowed slice information can be used to indicate the allowed slice, for example, the allowed slice can be identified by the allowed network slice selection auxiliary information (allowed NSSAI). Specifically, in the registration process, the network side can provide the terminal with a legal NSSAI to identify the allowed slice of the terminal.

[0122] 3. Configure slices:

[0123] The slice indicated by the configuration slice information can be called a configuration slice. The configuration slice information can be pre-configured in the terminal or notified to the terminal by the AMF during the registration process. If the configuration slice information is notified to the terminal by the AMF, the configuration slice indicated by the configuration slice information is a slice supported by the PLMN serving the terminal. The configuration slice is mainly used by the terminal to request authorization from the network device. If the authorization is successful, the configuration slice can become an allowed slice. The configuration slice can be represented by the configured network slice selection auxiliary information (configured NSSAI).

[0124] It should be pointed out that "allowed" may mean allowed by the network side or allowed by the operator. For example, if a terminal has signed a contract for a certain slice, it means that the terminal is allowed to use the slice without restriction.

[0125] Among them, the slices allowed by AMF can be understood as slices allowed by AMF, and the slices allowed by the terminal can be understood as slices allowed by the terminal.

[0126] It should be pointed out that "allowed" may mean allowed by the network side or allowed by the operator. For example, if a terminal has signed a contract for a certain slice, it means that the terminal is allowed to use the slice without restriction.

[0127] 4. UE route selection policy (URSP):

[0128] The URSP may include a correspondence between an application identifier (app ID) and a session attribute. The application may be an Internet of Vehicles application or an Internet of Things application, without limitation. In addition, the session attribute in the correspondence may be a contracted session attribute of a terminal device.

[0129] URSP can be used to determine the routing path of the application data flow, for example, which PDU session to route to. URSP can also be used by the application to determine the session attributes of the PDU session used to transmit the data of the application.

[0130] Specifically, the URSP may be pre-set in the terminal, or may be sent to the terminal by the PCF via the AMF. The terminal may give priority to the URSP sent by the network device.

[0131] 5. Signing session attributes:

[0132] The subscription session attribute may be a session attribute in the subscription information. For example, if the terminal has subscribed to a certain session attribute, that is, the subscription session attribute of the terminal, it indicates that the terminal can use the session attribute. The subscription session attribute may include at least one of a subscription slice, a subscription data network, a subscription session type, a subscription session type, a subscription session continuity mode, and a subscription access type.

[0133] The subscribed slice may be a slice in the subscription information. For example, if the terminal has subscribed to a slice, that is, the subscribed slice of the terminal, it indicates that the terminal can use the slice. The subscribed slice may be represented by subscribed network slice selection auxiliary information (subscribed NSSAI).

[0134] 6. Allow session attributes:

[0135] The allowed session attribute may refer to the allowed session attribute of a terminal (e.g., a remote device or a relay device), that is, a session attribute that the terminal is allowed to use, or an attribute set for a session of the terminal. For example, it may be a session attribute corresponding to the contract information of the remote device or the relay device, it may be a session attribute that the remote device or the relay device is authorized to use, or it may be an allowed session attribute when the remote device or the relay device is at the current registration location.

[0136] 7. Required session attributes:

[0137] The required session attributes may refer to the session attributes required by the terminal (e.g., the remote device). For example, it may be the session attributes required by the remote device to meet the demand for transmitting data to the network, or it may be the session attributes required to meet the application requirements of the remote device. The required session attributes may be determined by the remote device based on the application requirements and URSP, or they may be determined by the remote device based on the contracted session attributes, which will not be described in detail here.

[0138] In the traditional scheme, the terminal can send a discovery message carrying a relay service code to request the discovery of a relay device, where the relay service code is used to indicate that the terminal requires the connection service provided by the relay device. The relay device that receives the discovery message determines whether to send a response message to the discovery message based on whether the connection service it can provide meets the connection service required by the terminal. If the connection service provided by the relay device can meet the connection service required by the terminal, a response message to the discovery message is sent to the terminal. If the connection service provided by the relay device cannot meet the connection service required by the terminal, no response message is sent. The terminal can select the relay device that sends the response message to perform the relay service.

[0139] However, the traditional solution cannot select a suitable relay device according to different session requirements of the terminal, resulting in the selected relay device being unable to meet the session requirements of the remote device.

[0140] Figure 3 A schematic flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0141] 301. A remote device obtains a first required session attribute or identification information of the first required session attribute.

[0142] Specifically, the remote device may obtain the required session attributes or identification information of the required session attributes of one or more sessions, and the identification information of the required session attributes may be used to identify the required session attributes.

[0143] The first required session attribute may be used as a session attribute of a first session that is to be established or needs to be established by the remote device without limitation.

[0144] It is understandable that the remote device can be used to transmit different services through one or more session connections, and this application does not limit this.

[0145] It can also be understood that before step 301, the remote device can register in advance, that is, the remote device performs signaling interaction with the AMF and UDM to obtain the remote device's allowed slices, configured slices and URSP, etc. Among them, URSP is used for the remote device to select or establish corresponding sessions for different services (or different applications).

[0146] Optionally, the first demand session attribute includes at least one of demand slice information, data network information, session type, session continuity mode or access type.

[0147] Among them, the required slice information in the first required session attribute can be used to characterize the slice required by the remote device, or the remote device's demand for the slice, or the slice requested by the remote device, or the required slice of the remote device. That is, the required slice information can be used to indicate the required slice of the remote device, for example, indicating a slice of a certain PLMN. Specifically, the required slice information may include a slice identifier and a PLMN identifier. At this time, slices under different PLMNs can use the same slice identifier. For example, the required slice information may include PLMN1, slice 1, or PLMN2, slice 1.

[0148] Specifically, the first required session attribute may include only the required slice information, or only the data network information, or only the session type, or only the session continuity mode, or only the access type. Or the first required session attribute may include at least two of the above five items, for example, the first required session attribute includes the required slice information and the data network information, or the first required session attribute includes the required slice information and the session type, or the first required session attribute includes the data network information and the session type, or the first required session attribute includes the required slice information, the data network information and the session type, or the first required session attribute includes the required slice information and the session continuity mode.

[0149] It can be understood that the required slice can be one or more slices in the allowed slice of the remote device or the configured slice of the remote device, without limitation.

[0150] Optionally, the identification information of the first required session attribute is used to identify the first required session attribute, and may include a group identity (identity, ID) or a relay service code (relay service code) of the remote device.

[0151] Specifically, the group identifier of the remote device can be used to indicate the group to which the remote device belongs. For example, terminals with the same capabilities or terminals with the same application services can be added to the same group, that is, using the same group ID identifier. In other words, the group ID can be based on the granularity of the remote device or the granularity of the application.

[0152] It is understandable that terminals with the same capabilities can be understood as terminals with the same vehicle to everything (V2X) information exchange capabilities or the same Internet of things (IOT) capabilities.

[0153] Optionally, there is a mapping relationship between the identification information of the first required session attribute and the first required session attribute.

[0154] Specifically, the remote device may obtain the identification information corresponding to the first required session attribute according to the mapping relationship. For example, if the identification information of the first required session attribute is the group ID of the remote device, the mapping relationship may be the correspondence between the group ID and the session attribute. If the identification information of the first required session attribute is the relay service code, the mapping relationship may be the correspondence between the relay service code and the session attribute.

[0155] It is understandable that the mapping relationship may include a pair of corresponding relationships or multiple pairs of corresponding relationships, and the present application does not limit this. In addition, in the corresponding relationship between the group ID and the first demand session attribute, the group ID and the first demand session attribute may correspond one to one, or one group ID may correspond to multiple first demand session attributes, or multiple IDs may correspond to one first demand session attribute. Correspondingly, in the corresponding relationship between the relay service code and the first demand session attribute, the relay service code and the first demand session attribute may correspond one to one, or one relay service code may correspond to multiple first demand session attributes, or multiple relay service codes may correspond to one first demand session attribute.

[0156] Optionally, the mapping relationship may be obtained by the remote device from UDM or PCF or proximity service function (ProSe Function). PCF or ProSe Function is used for storing and issuing D2D discovery or communication related parameters. Among them, PCF is a control plane network element, and ProSe Function is a data plane network element.

[0157] Optionally, when the first demand session attribute includes demand slice information, the above method also includes: PCF or ProSeFunction can obtain the contract information of the remote device from the UDR, the contract information can include contract slice information (or allowed slice information), generate a mapping relationship between the contract slice information and the relay service code, and then send the mapping relationship between the contract information (or allowed slice information) and the relay service code to the remote device. In other words, the slice information in the mapping relationship is the slice information that the remote device has signed.

[0158] 302. The remote device sends a first message, where the first message includes a first required session attribute or identification information of the first required session attribute.

[0159] Specifically, the remote device may broadcast the first message, and correspondingly, the relay device receives the first message.

[0160] It can be understood that the first message may be a session request message or a discovery request message.

[0161] For example, the remote device may send the session request message when the remote device is not within the network service range, that is, cannot communicate directly with the network device, or when the communication quality between the remote device and the network device is poor.

[0162] 303, when the allowed session attribute of the relay device includes the first required session attribute, the relay device sends a response message of the first message to the remote device.

[0163] Correspondingly, the remote device receives a response message to the first message.

[0164] Among them, the response message of the first message can use the allowed session attributes indicating the relay device to include the first required session attribute (that is, the relay device is allowed to use the first required session attribute, or the relay device is allowed to use the first required session attribute, or the relay device supports the first required session attribute).

[0165] Exemplarily, if the first message includes identification information of the first required session attribute, the relay device can determine the first required session attribute according to the identification information and the mapping relationship. Further, the relay device determines whether its allowed session attributes include the first required session attribute.

[0166] In a possible implementation of step 303: if the allowed session attribute of the relay device includes the first required session attribute, the relay device sends a response message of the first message to the remote device. Alternatively, if the allowed session attribute of the relay device does not include the first required session attribute, the relay device does not send a response message of the first message.

[0167] In another possible implementation of step 303: if the allowed session attributes of the relay device include the first required session attribute, the response message of the first message is used to indicate that the allowed session attributes of the relay device include the first required session attribute (i.e., the relay device is allowed to use the first required session attribute). If the allowed session attributes of the relay device do not include the first required session attribute, the response message of the first message is used to indicate that the allowed session attributes of the relay device do not include the first required session attribute (i.e., the relay device is not allowed to use the first required session attribute).

[0168] In an embodiment of the present application, a relay device can determine whether it can become a relay device of the remote device based on a first message sent by a remote device that includes a first required session attribute or identification information of the first required session attribute, thereby helping the remote device to select a relay device that meets the required session attributes, thereby helping to improve communication efficiency.

[0169] It can be understood that the relay devices mentioned in the above embodiments may be one or more. For example, the remote device may send a first message to multiple relay devices, and the relay device that can meet the first session attribute requirements among the relay devices that receive the first message (hereinafter may also be referred to as the selected relay device) sends a response message to the first message to the remote device, wherein the selected relay device may be one or more, and accordingly, the response message to the first message received by the remote end may be one or more, without limitation.

[0170] It can also be understood that the response message to the first message may only carry the identifier of the first message, so that the remote device can know that the response message is the response message to the first message according to the identifier of the first message.

[0171] Optionally, the response message may also indicate that the allowed session attributes of the relay device that sends the response message include the first required session attributes, that is, the response message may be regarded as indication information that can be used as the relay device. The response message indicates that the relay device allows the session attributes of the first session, which may specifically include the first session attributes in the response message. Or the response message may only indicate whether the session attributes of the first session are allowed in other ways. For example, a bit value of "1" in the responsive message indicates that the relay device allows the session attributes of the first session, and a bit value of "0" indicates that the relay device does not allow the session attributes of the first session.

[0172] It can also be understood that the relay device can register in advance before step 303, that is, perform signaling interaction with AMF and UDM to obtain the allowed slices, configuration slices and UE route selection policy (UE route selection policy, URSP) allowed by the relay device. Among them, URSP is used for the remote device to select the corresponding session for different services (or different applications).

[0173] It can also be understood that when the first demand session attribute includes demand slice information, the above method may also include: PCF or ProSe Function can obtain the contract information of the relay device from the UDR, and the contract information may include contract slice information (or allowed slice information), PCF or ProSe Function generates a correspondence between the contract slice information (or allowed slice information) and the relay service code, and sends the correspondence between the contract slice information (or allowed slice information) and the relay service code to the relay device.

[0174] Optionally, in an implementation scenario of the above embodiment, the above method further includes:

[0175] The remote device receives a response message to the first message from the to-be-selected relay device, wherein the allowed session attribute of the to-be-selected relay device includes the first required session attribute;

[0176] The remote device determines a target relay device of the remote device according to the response message of the to-be-selected relay device, and the target relay device is used to provide a relay service for the remote device.

[0177] Specifically, when the remote device receives the response message to the first message, it can determine the relay device that sent the response message as the target relay device. In this way, the remote device can communicate with the network device through the target relay device, thereby meeting the need to find a suitable relay device for different sessions and improving communication efficiency.

[0178] Further optionally, the relay device to be selected includes at least two relay devices, and the response message also includes other session attributes in the allowed session attributes of the relay device to be selected except the first required session attribute; the remote device determines the target relay device of the remote device based on the response message of the relay device to be selected, including: the remote device determines the target relay device based on the other session attributes of the relay device to be selected.

[0179] Specifically, if the remote device receives at least two response messages to the first message. That is, there are at least two relay devices whose allowed session attributes include the first required session attribute. The remote device can select a relay device from the at least two relay devices as a target relay device. In this way, the remote device can communicate with the network device through the target relay device, thereby satisfying the need to find a suitable relay device for different sessions and improving communication efficiency.

[0180] It is understandable that the remote device may select a target relay device from the at least two relay devices according to the channel quality. For example, the remote device may select a relay device with the best channel quality as the target relay device.

[0181] Optionally, the response message to the first message may also include other session attributes in the allowed session attributes of the relay device except the first required session attribute, so that the remote device can select the target relay device according to other session attributes in each response message.

[0182] Specifically, each response message of the first message corresponds to a relay device, that is, different response messages come from different relay devices. For example, the first response message of the first message includes other session attributes in the allowed session attributes of the first relay device except the first required session attribute. Among them, the first response message is sent by the first relay device. In other words, the remote device can select the target relay device according to the other session attributes in each response message. For example, the remote device selects the relay device corresponding to the response message including more types of other session attributes as the target relay device, and can also select the relay device corresponding to the response message including a certain type of required session attributes as the target relay device.

[0183] It can be understood that the response message of the first message may include the first required session attribute, or may not include the first required session attribute.

[0184] Optionally, in an implementation scenario of the above embodiment, the above method further includes:

[0185] The remote device sends a second message to the target relay device, where the second message includes a second required session attribute of the remote device or identification information of the second required session attribute;

[0186] When the allowed session attribute of the relay device includes the second required session attribute, the relay device sends a response message to the second message.

[0187] Specifically, the second required session attribute is different from the first required session attribute. If the remote device requires multiple required session attributes, then after the remote device selects a target relay device for the first required session attribute, it can also determine whether the current target relay device can serve as a relay device for the second required session attribute. The remote device sends a second message to the target relay device, and the target relay device determines whether to allow the second required session attribute and responds to the second message. If the remote device determines that the target relay device allows the second required session attribute, the remote device can transmit the service corresponding to the second required session attribute through the target relay device. In other words, the target relay device can be used to provide relay services for the service corresponding to the first required session attribute and the service corresponding to the second required session attribute of the remote device at the same time, thereby reducing the process of finding a suitable relay device for the service corresponding to the second required session attribute, thereby saving signaling overhead.

[0188] There are two ways in which the target relay device responds to the second message.

[0189] One method: if the allowed session attributes of the target relay device include the second required session attribute, the target relay device sends a response message; if the allowed session attributes of the target relay device do not include the second required session attribute, the target relay device does not send a response message, and the response message can only be used to identify the response message corresponding to the second message.

[0190] Another way: when the allowed session attributes of the target relay device include the second required session attribute, the response message sent by the target relay device is used to indicate that the target relay device is allowed to use the second required session attribute (that is, the target relay device supports the second required session attribute, or the target relay device is allowed to use the second required session attribute, or the target relay device is allowed to use the second required session attribute); or, when the allowed session attributes of the target relay device do not include the second required session attribute, the response message sent by the target relay device is used to indicate that the target relay device is not allowed to use the second required session attribute (that is, the target relay device does not support the second required session attribute, or the target relay device is not allowed to use the second required session attribute, or the target relay device is not allowed to use the second required session attribute).

[0191] It is understandable that the remote device may also determine whether the target relay device allows other required session attributes, that is, whether the target relay device can provide relay services for more services corresponding to the required session attributes.

[0192] It can also be understood that if the target relay device does not allow the second required session attribute, the remote device can reselect the target relay device for the second required session attribute, or the remote device can also reselect the target relay device that can allow both the first required session attribute and the second required session attribute.

[0193] Optionally, in another implementation scenario of the above embodiment, the first demand session attribute includes demand slice information, and the above method further includes:

[0194] When the allowed slices of the relay device include the first slice indicated by the required slice information, the relay device determines that the allowed session attributes of the relay device include the first required session attributes.

[0195] Specifically, before step 303, the relay device determines whether its allowed session attributes include the first required session attribute, which can specifically be that the relay device determines whether the allowed slices include the first slice indicated by the required slice information included in the first required session attribute. If the relay device determines that the allowed slices include the first slice, the relay device determines that the allowed session attributes include the first required session attribute. If the relay device determines that the allowed slices do not include the first slice, the relay device determines that the allowed session attributes do not include the first required session attribute. Each relay device can determine whether its allowed session attributes include the first required session attribute based on whether its allowed slices include the first slice, and then determine whether to send a response message to the first message to the remote device, so that the remote device can select a relay device that meets the first required session attribute based on the response message to the first message, thereby further selecting a more suitable relay device and improving communication efficiency.

[0196] It can be understood that if the relay device determines that its allowed slices include the first slice, but the relay device has not yet established a PDU session corresponding to the first slice, the relay device can initiate the establishment of a PDU session.

[0197] Optionally, in another implementation scenario of the above embodiment, the first demand session attribute includes the demand slice information, and the above method further includes:

[0198] When the configured slice of the relay device includes the first slice indicated by the required slice information, the relay device sends a request message to the access network device, where the request message is used to request authorization for the first slice;

[0199] The relay device receives a response message to the request message, where the response message is used to indicate that the first slice is an allowed slice;

[0200] The relay device determines, according to the response message, that the allowed session attribute of the relay device includes the first required session attribute.

[0201] Specifically, the relay device determines whether its allowed session attribute includes the first required session attribute, which can be specifically that the relay device determines whether the configured slice includes the first slice indicated by the required slice information included in the first required session attribute. If the relay device determines that the configured slice includes the first slice, the relay device sends a request message to the network device, and the request message is used to request authorization for the first slice. Specifically, the relay device sends a request message to the AMF, and the AMF sends the request message to the UDM, and the UDM determines whether to authorize the first slice as an allowed slice, or the AMF determines whether to authorize the first slice as an allowed slice. The relay device receives a response message to the request message from the AMF, and the response message to the request message is used to indicate whether the first slice is an allowed slice. If the response message to the request message indicates that the first slice is an allowed slice, the relay device determines that its allowed session attribute includes the first required session attribute. If the response message indicates that the first slice is not an allowed slice, the relay device does not send a response message to the first message to the remote device.

[0202] Optionally, in another implementation scenario of the above embodiment, when the first required session attribute includes the required slice information, when the configured slice of the relay device includes the first slice indicated by the required slice information, the relay device determines to allow the session attribute to include the first required session attribute.

[0203] Specifically, when the relay device determines that the configured slice includes the first slice, the relay device may consider that the allowed session attribute includes the first required session attribute, and send a response message of the first message to the remote device. If the remote device selects the relay device as the target relay device, the relay device will request the network device to authorize the first slice as an allowed slice. For example, the relay device sends a request message to the AMF, and the AMF sends the request message to the UDM, and the UDM determines whether to authorize the first slice as an allowed slice, or the AMF determines whether to authorize the first slice as an allowed slice. If the authorization is successful, the AMF sends a response message of the request message to the relay device, and the response message of the request message is used to indicate that the first slice is an allowed slice. In this way, the relay device can provide relay services for the remote device. In other words, the relay device only requests authorization of the first slice when it is selected as the target relay device by the remote device. If the relay device is not selected as the target relay device, the relay device does not need to request authorization of the first slice, thereby saving signaling overhead.

[0204] Optionally, in another implementation scenario of the above embodiment, step 303 includes:

[0205] When the URSP of the relay device includes the first required session attribute, the relay device sends a response message of the first message to the remote device.

[0206] Specifically, the URSP may be regarded as a list including multiple session attributes, and the relay device may determine whether the allowed session attributes of the relay device include the first required session attribute according to whether the list includes the first required session attribute.

[0207] It is understandable that, in the above embodiment, the first message only includes the first required session attribute information, and in the embodiment of the present application, the first message may also include more types of required session attribute information. In this way, the response message to the first message may be sent by the relay device when all the required session information is met at the same time, or when part of the required session information is met.

[0208] Step 303 may be replaced by: when the relay device meets the first required session attribute, the relay device sends a response message of the first message to the remote device.

[0209] The specific implementation manner of the relay device satisfying the first required session attribute may be that the allowed session attribute of the relay device includes the first required session attribute.

[0210] Figure 4 A schematic flow chart of a communication method according to another embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0211] It should be noted that Figure 4 In the embodiment shown, Figure 3 The same terms in the illustrated embodiments may have the same meanings, and are not described herein in detail to avoid repetition.

[0212] 401. A relay device obtains first information, where the first information includes an allowed session attribute of the relay device or identification information of the allowed session attribute of the relay device.

[0213] Specifically, the relay device may obtain its own required session attributes, or identification information of the required session attributes.

[0214] It can be understood that the allowed session attributes of the relay device may be all allowed session attributes of the relay device, or may be part of the allowed session attributes of the relay device determined in combination with the current state.

[0215] It is also understood that the relay device can determine the allowed session attribute by: Figure 3 The various implementation methods in the illustrated embodiments are not described in detail here to avoid repetition.

[0216] Optionally, the identification information of the allowed session attribute may include a group ID or a relay service code.

[0217] Optionally, there is a mapping relationship between the identification information of the allowed session attribute and the allowed session attribute.

[0218] Specifically, the relay device determines the identification information corresponding to the allowed session attribute according to the mapping relationship.

[0219] 402: The relay device sends the first information to the remote device. Correspondingly, the remote device receives the first information from the relay device.

[0220] Specifically, the present application embodiment takes a certain relay device as an example for explanation, but the present application is not limited to this. Other relay devices may also be used according to Figure 4 The steps shown determine whether to send the first information and determine the manner in which the first information is sent.

[0221] In one example, the relay device may send the first information periodically or regularly. For example, the relay device may broadcast and send the first information.

[0222] In another example, before step 401, the relay device may receive a first request message sent by a remote device, where the first request message is used to request an allowed session attribute of the relay device, and send a response message to the first request message to the remote device, and then carry the first information in the response message of the first request message.

[0223] Specifically, the relay device may send the first information to the remote device only when the remote device has a demand, thereby avoiding the waste caused by sending the first information when the remote device has no demand, thereby saving resource waste.

[0224] 403 , the remote device determines a target relay device of the remote device according to the first information and a first required session attribute of the remote device, and the target relay device is used to provide a relay service for the remote device.

[0225] Specifically, the remote device can determine whether the relay device that sent the first information can be used as the target relay device according to whether the allowed session attributes included in the first information include the first required session attribute, or according to whether the allowed session attributes corresponding to the identification information of the allowed session attributes include the first required session attribute. In other words, the remote device can determine whether the relay device can become the target relay device of the remote device according to the allowed session attributes or the identification information of the allowed session attributes sent by the relay device, combined with the remote device's own required session attributes, so that the remote device can select a more suitable relay device, thereby improving communication efficiency.

[0226] It is understandable that after selecting the target relay device, the remote device may also send a response message to the relay device that sent the first information. The remote device may only send the response message to the target relay device, and the relay device that receives the response message may know that it is selected as the target relay device. Alternatively, the remote device sends a response message to each relay device that sends the first information, and the response message may indicate whether the corresponding relay device is selected as the target relay device. The response message may also include the first required session attribute and / or a session request to establish the first session connection.

[0227] Optionally, the remote device may determine the allowed session attribute corresponding to the identification information according to the mapping relationship and the identification information.

[0228] Optionally, in an implementation scenario of the above embodiment, step 403 may specifically include:

[0229] If there is only one relay device (for example, the first relay device) whose allowed session attribute includes the first required session attribute, the first relay device is used as the target relay device.

[0230] In another embodiment, step 403 may specifically be that if there are at least two relay devices whose allowed session attributes include the first required session attribute, the remote device may select one relay device from the at least two relay devices as the target relay device.

[0231] Specifically, a plurality of relay devices send the first information to the remote device, wherein the allowed session attributes of at least two relay devices include the first required session attribute, and the remote device selects a target relay device from the at least two relay devices, for example, randomly.

[0232] Optionally, the first information may also include other session attributes in the allowed session attributes of the relay device except the first required session attribute, so that when the remote device selects the target relay device from the at least two relay devices, it can determine it based on other session attributes in the allowed session attributes of the relay device.

[0233] Specifically, in the case that there are at least two relay devices whose allowed session attributes include the first required session attribute, the remote device may select the target relay device according to other session attributes of the allowed session attributes of the at least two relay devices except the first required session attribute. Exemplarily, the remote device may select the target relay device according to the number of types of other session attributes, or according to the content of other session attributes. For example, the remote device may select a relay device with more types of other session attributes as the target relay device, or may select a relay device whose allowed session attributes include a certain type of session attributes as the target relay device.

[0234] The various embodiments described herein may be independent solutions or may be combined according to internal logic, and all of these solutions fall within the protection scope of this application.

[0235] It can be understood that in the above-mentioned method embodiments, the methods and operations implemented by the remote device can also be implemented by components that can be used for the remote device (such as chips or circuits), and the methods and operations implemented by the relay device can also be implemented by components that can be used for the relay device (such as chips or circuits).

[0236] The above mainly introduces the scheme provided by the embodiments of the present application from the perspective of various interactions. It can be understood that each network element, such as a transmitting device or a receiving device, includes a hardware structure and / or software module corresponding to each function in order to implement the above functions. Those skilled in the art should be aware that, in combination with the units and algorithm steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed in this document, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in hardware or in a computer software-driven hardware manner depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to exceed the scope of this application.

[0237] The embodiment of the present application can divide the functional modules of the transmitting end device or the receiving end device according to the above method example. For example, each functional module can be divided corresponding to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The above integrated module can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional modules. It should be noted that the division of modules in the embodiment of the present application is schematic and is only a logical functional division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation. The following is an example of using each functional module divided according to each function to illustrate.

[0238] It should be understood that the specific examples in the embodiments of the present application are only intended to help those skilled in the art to better understand the embodiments of the present application, rather than to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application.

[0239] It should be understood that in the various embodiments of the present application, the size of the serial numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not mean the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0240] Above, combined Figure 3 and Figure 4 The method provided by the embodiment of the present application is described in detail. Figures 5 to 11The device provided in the embodiment of the present application is described in detail. It should be understood that the description of the device embodiment corresponds to the description of the method embodiment, so the contents not described in detail can be referred to the method embodiment above, and for the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0241] Figure 5 A schematic block diagram of a communication device 500 according to an embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0242] It should be understood that the device 500 may correspond to Figure 1 The UE shown, Figure 2 remote device in the Figure 3 The remote device shown may have Figure 3 The device 500 includes a transceiver module 510. Optionally, the device 500 also includes a processing module 520.

[0243] The transceiver module 510 is used to obtain the first required session attribute or identification information of the first required session attribute;

[0244] The transceiver module 510 is further configured to send a first message, where the first message includes the first required session attribute or identification information of the first required session attribute.

[0245] Optionally, the transceiver module 510 is further configured to receive a response message to the first message from the to-be-selected relay device, wherein the response message to the first message is used to indicate that the allowed session attribute of the to-be-selected relay device includes the first required session attribute;

[0246] The processing module 520 is used to determine a target relay device of the remote device according to the response message of the to-be-selected relay device, and the target relay device is used to provide a relay service for the remote device.

[0247] Optionally, the relay device to be selected includes at least two relay devices, and the response message also includes other session attributes in the allowed session attributes of the relay device to be selected except the first required session attribute; the processing module 520 is specifically used to: determine the target relay device according to the other session attributes of the relay device to be selected.

[0248] Optionally, the first demand session attribute includes at least one of demand slice information, data network information, access type or session type.

[0249] Optionally, the transceiver module 510 is further configured to send a second message to the target relay device, wherein the second message includes the second required session attribute of the remote device or identification information of the second required session attribute of the remote device;

[0250] The transceiver module 510 is further configured to receive a response message to the second message from the target relay device, where the response message to the second message is configured to indicate that the allowed session attribute of the target relay device includes the second required session attribute.

[0251] Optionally, there is a mapping relationship between the identification information of the first required session attribute and the first required session attribute.

[0252] Optionally, the identification information of the first required session attribute includes a group identification ID or a relay service code of the remote device.

[0253] Figure 6 The communication device 600 provided in the embodiment of the present application is shown. The device 600 can be Figure 2 The remote device described in the above. The device can be used as follows Figure 6 The hardware architecture shown in FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a device that includes a processor 610 and a transceiver 630. Optionally, the device may further include a memory 640. The processor 610, the transceiver 630 and the memory 640 communicate with each other via an internal connection path. Figure 5 The related functions implemented by the processing module 520 in the embodiment can be implemented by the processor 610, and the related functions implemented by the transceiver module 510 can be implemented by the processor 610 controlling the transceiver 630.

[0254] Optionally, the processor 610 may be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a dedicated processor, or one or more integrated circuits for executing the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application. Alternatively, the processor may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and / or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions). For example, it may be a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor may be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit may be used to control a communication device (e.g., a base station, a terminal, or a chip, etc.), execute a software program, and process data of the software program.

[0255] Optionally, the processor 610 may include one or more processors, for example, one or more central processing units (CPUs). When the processor is a CPU, the CPU may be a single-core CPU or a multi-core CPU.

[0256] The transceiver 630 is used to send and receive data and / or signals, and receive data and / or signals. The transceiver may include a transmitter and a receiver, the transmitter is used to send data and / or signals, and the receiver is used to receive data and / or signals.

[0257] The memory 640 includes but is not limited to random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable readonly memory (EPROM), and compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM). The memory 640 is used to store relevant instructions and data.

[0258] The memory 640 is used to store program codes and data of the remote device, and may be a separate device or integrated in the processor 610 .

[0259] Specifically, the processor 610 is used to control the transceiver to transmit information with the relay device. For details, please refer to the description in the method embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0260] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the apparatus 600 may further include an output device and an input device. The output device communicates with the processor 610 and may display information in a variety of ways. For example, the output device may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display device, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display device, or a projector. The input device communicates with the processor 610 and may receive user input in a variety of ways. For example, the input device may be a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen device, or a sensor device.

[0261] Understandably, Figure 6 Only a simplified design of the communication device is shown. In practical applications, the device may also include other necessary components, including but not limited to any number of transceivers, processors, controllers, memories, etc., and all remote devices that can implement the present application are within the protection scope of the present application.

[0262] In a possible design, the device 600 may be a chip, for example, a communication chip that can be used in a remote device, and is used to implement the relevant functions of the processor 610 in the remote device. The chip may be a field programmable gate array, a dedicated integrated chip, a system chip, a central processing unit, a network processor, a digital signal processing circuit, a microcontroller, or a programmable controller or other integrated chips that implement the relevant functions. The chip may optionally include one or more memories for storing program codes, and when the codes are executed, the processor implements the corresponding functions.

[0263] The present application also provides a device, which can be a remote device or a circuit. The device can be used to execute the actions executed by the remote device in the above method embodiment.

[0264] Figure 7 A schematic block diagram of a communication device 700 according to an embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0265] It should be understood that the device 700 may correspond to Figure 2-4 The relay device in any of the illustrated embodiments may have any function of the relay device in the method. The apparatus 700 includes a transceiver module 710. Optionally, the apparatus 700 may also include a processing module 720.

[0266] The transceiver module 710 is used to receive a first message from a remote device, where the first message includes a first required session attribute or identification information of the first required session attribute;

[0267] The transceiver module is further configured to send a response message of the first message to the remote device when the allowed session attribute of the relay device includes the first required session attribute.

[0268] Optionally, the first demand session attribute includes at least one of demand slice information, data network information, access type or session type.

[0269] Optionally, in the case where the first required session attribute includes required slice information, the processing module 720 is used to determine that the allowed session attribute of the relay device includes the first required session attribute when the allowed slice of the relay device includes the first slice indicated by the required slice information.

[0270] Optionally, in the case where the first required session attribute includes required slice information, the transceiver module 710 is also used to send a request message to the access network device when the configured slice of the relay device includes the first slice indicated by the required slice information, and the request message is used to request authorization for the first slice; the transceiver module 710 is also used to receive a response message to the request message, and the response message to the request message is used to indicate that the first slice is an allowed slice; the processing module 720 is used to determine, based on the response message, that the allowed session attribute of the relay device includes the first required session attribute.

[0271] Optionally, there is a mapping relationship between the identification information of the first required session attribute and the first required session attribute, and the processing module 720 is used to determine the first required session attribute according to the mapping relationship and the identification information of the first required session attribute.

[0272] Optionally, the identification information of the first required session attribute includes a group identification ID or a relay service code of the remote device.

[0273] Optionally, the transceiver module 710 is also used to receive a second message from the remote device, wherein the second message includes a second required session attribute of the remote device; the transceiver module 710 is also used to send a response message to the second message when the allowed session attribute of the relay device includes the second required session attribute.

[0274] Optionally, the response message to the first message includes other session attributes among the allowed session attributes of the relay device except the first required session attribute.

[0275] Figure 8 The communication device 800 provided in the embodiment of the present application is shown. The device 800 can be Figure 2 The relay device described in the above. The device can be used as follows Figure 8 The hardware architecture shown in FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a device for displaying a processor 810 and a transceiver 820. Optionally, the device may further include a memory 830. The processor 810, the transceiver 820 and the memory 830 communicate with each other via an internal connection path. Figure 7 The related functions implemented by the processing module 720 in the embodiment can be implemented by the processor 810, and the related functions implemented by the transceiver module 710 can be implemented by the processor 810 controlling the transceiver 820.

[0276] Optionally, the processor 810 may be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a dedicated processor, or one or more integrated circuits for executing the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application. Alternatively, the processor may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and / or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions). For example, it may be a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor may be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit may be used to control a communication device (e.g., a base station, a terminal, or a chip, etc.), execute a software program, and process data of the software program.

[0277] Optionally, the processor 810 may include one or more processors, for example, one or more central processing units (CPUs). When the processor is a CPU, the CPU may be a single-core CPU or a multi-core CPU.

[0278] The transceiver 820 is used to send and receive data and / or signals, and receive data and / or signals. The transceiver may include a transmitter and a receiver, the transmitter is used to send data and / or signals, and the receiver is used to receive data and / or signals.

[0279] The memory 830 includes but is not limited to random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable readonly memory (EPROM), and compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM). The memory 830 is used to store relevant instructions and data.

[0280] The memory 830 is used to store program codes and data of the relay device, and may be a separate device or integrated in the processor 810 .

[0281] Specifically, the processor 810 is used to control the transceiver to transmit information with the terminal to implement the description in the above method embodiment, which will not be repeated here.

[0282] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the apparatus 800 may further include an output device and an input device. The output device communicates with the processor 810 and may display information in a variety of ways. For example, the output device may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display device, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display device, or a projector. The input device communicates with the processor 810 and may receive user input in a variety of ways. For example, the input device may be a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen device, or a sensor device.

[0283] Understandably, Figure 8 Only a simplified design of the communication device is shown. In practical applications, the device may also include other necessary components, including but not limited to any number of transceivers, processors, controllers, memories, etc., and all relay devices that can implement the present application are within the protection scope of the present application.

[0284] In a possible design, the device 800 may be a chip, for example, a communication chip that can be used in a relay device, and is used to implement the relevant functions of the processor 810 in the relay device. The chip may be a field programmable gate array, a dedicated integrated chip, a system chip, a central processing unit, a network processor, a digital signal processing circuit, a microcontroller, and a programmable controller or other integrated chip that implements the relevant functions. The chip may optionally include one or more memories for storing program codes, and when the codes are executed, the processor implements the corresponding functions.

[0285] The embodiment of the present application also provides a device, which can be a relay device or a circuit. The device can be used to execute the action executed by the relay device in the above method embodiment.

[0286] Optionally, when the apparatus in this embodiment is a remote device, Fig. 9 A simplified schematic diagram of the structure of the remote device is shown. For ease of understanding and illustration, Fig. 9 In this example, a mobile phone is used as the remote device. Fig. 9As shown, the remote device includes a processor, a memory, a radio frequency circuit, an antenna, and an input-output device. The processor is mainly used to process the communication protocol and communication data, as well as to control the remote device, execute software programs, process the data of software programs, etc. The memory is mainly used to store software programs and data. The radio frequency circuit is mainly used for converting baseband signals and radio frequency signals and processing radio frequency signals. The antenna is mainly used to send and receive radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. Input-output devices, such as touch screens, display screens, keyboards, etc., are mainly used to receive data input by users and output data to users. It should be noted that some types of remote devices may not have input-output devices.

[0287] When data needs to be sent, the processor performs baseband processing on the data to be sent and outputs the baseband signal to the RF circuit. The RF circuit performs RF processing on the baseband signal and then sends the RF signal outward in the form of electromagnetic waves through the antenna. When data is sent to a remote device, the RF circuit receives the RF signal through the antenna, converts the RF signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor. The processor converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data. For ease of explanation, Fig. 9 Only one memory and processor are shown. In an actual remote device product, there may be one or more processors and one or more memories. The memory may also be referred to as a storage medium or a storage device. The memory may be set independently of the processor or may be integrated with the processor, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0288] In the embodiments of the present application, the antenna and the radio frequency circuit having transceiver functions may be regarded as the transceiver unit of the remote device, and the processor having the processing function may be regarded as the processing unit of the remote device. Fig. 9 As shown, the remote device includes a transceiver unit 910 and a processing unit 920. The transceiver unit may also be referred to as a transceiver, a transceiver, a transceiver device, etc. The processing unit may also be referred to as a processor, a processing board, a processing module, a processing device, etc. Optionally, the device used to implement the receiving function in the transceiver unit 910 may be regarded as a receiving unit, and the device used to implement the sending function in the transceiver unit 910 may be regarded as a sending unit, that is, the transceiver unit 910 includes a receiving unit and a sending unit. The transceiver unit may also be sometimes referred to as a transceiver, a transceiver, or a transceiver circuit, etc. The receiving unit may also be sometimes referred to as a receiver, a receiver, or a receiving circuit, etc. The sending unit may also be sometimes referred to as a transmitter, a transmitter, or a transmitting circuit, etc.

[0289] It should be understood that the transceiver unit 910 is used to perform the sending operation and the receiving operation on the remote device side in the above method embodiment, and the processing unit 920 is used to perform other operations on the remote device except the sending and receiving operation in the above method embodiment.

[0290] For example, in one implementation, the processing unit 920 is used to execute Figure 3 The processing step 301 of the remote device side. The transceiver unit 910 is used to perform Figure 3 The transceiver unit 910 is also used to perform the transceiver operations in step 302 and step 303, and / or the transceiver unit 910 is also used to perform other transceiver steps on the remote device side in the embodiment of the present application.

[0291] When the device is a chip, the chip includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit, wherein the transceiver unit may be an input / output circuit or a communication interface; and the processing unit may be a processor or a microprocessor or an integrated circuit integrated on the chip.

[0292] Optionally, when the device is a remote device, it can also refer to Fig.10 As an example, the device can perform similar Fig. 9 The function of the processor 910. Fig.10 In the embodiment, the device includes a processor 1001, a sending data processor 1003, and a receiving data processor 1005. The processing module 520 in the above embodiment can be Fig.10 The processor 1001 in the embodiment can perform corresponding functions. Fig.10 The sending data processor 1003 and the receiving data processor 1005 in the embodiment of the present invention. Fig.10 A channel encoder and a channel decoder are shown in the figure, but it can be understood that these modules do not constitute a restrictive description of this embodiment and are only illustrative.

[0293] Fig.11 Another form of this embodiment is shown. The processing device 1100 includes modules such as a modulation subsystem, a central processing subsystem, and a peripheral subsystem. The communication device in this embodiment can be used as the modulation subsystem therein. Specifically, the modulation subsystem may include a processor 1103 and an interface 1104. The processor 1103 performs the functions of the above-mentioned processing module 520, and the interface 1104 performs the functions of the above-mentioned transceiver module 510. As another variation, the modulation subsystem includes a memory 1106, a processor 1103, and a program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, and the processor implements the method described in the embodiment when executing the program. It should be noted that the memory 1106 may be non-volatile or volatile, and its location may be located inside the modulation subsystem or in the processing device 1100, as long as the memory 1106 can be connected to the processor 1103.

[0294] As another form of this embodiment, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, on which instructions are stored. When the instructions are executed, the actions of the remote device or the relay device in the above method embodiment are performed.

[0295] As another form of this embodiment, a computer program product including instructions is provided, and when the instructions are executed, the actions of the remote device or the relay device in the above method embodiment are performed.

[0296] The present application embodiment provides a communication system, which includes a remote device and a relay device. The remote device and the relay device can be used to perform Figure 3 Or the method in the embodiment shown in 4.

[0297] The embodiment of the present application also provides a communication system, which includes: Figure 5 The remote device shown and Figure 7 The relay device shown.

[0298] An embodiment of the present application also provides a chip system, which can be located on a remote device or a relay device to implement the functions involved in the remote device or the relay device in the above method embodiment, for example, processing the information or messages involved in the above method.

[0299] In a possible design, the chip system also includes a memory, which is used to store necessary program instructions and data for the distributed unit, the centralized unit, the remote device and the relay device. The chip system can be composed of chips or include chips and other discrete devices.

[0300] An embodiment of the present application also provides a communication device, including a memory and a processor, wherein the memory is used to store a computer program, and the processor is used to call the computer program in the memory to execute the functions of the remote device or relay device in the above method embodiment.

[0301] In the above embodiments, it can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the process or function described in the embodiment of the present application is generated in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from a website site, computer, server or data center by wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (digital subscriber line, DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) mode to another website site, computer, server or data center. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more available media integrated. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (eg, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (eg, a high-density digital video disc (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium (eg, a solid state disk (SSD)).

[0302] It should be understood that the processor can be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. In the implementation process, each step of the above method embodiment can be completed by the hardware integrated logic circuit in the processor or the instruction in the form of software. The above processor can be a general processor, a digital signal processor (digital signal processor, DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (application specific integrated circuit, ASIC), a field programmable gate array (field programmable gate array, FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gates or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components. The methods, steps and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented or executed. The general processor can be a microprocessor or the processor can also be any conventional processor, etc. The steps of the method disclosed in the embodiment of the present application can be directly embodied as a hardware decoding processor to perform, or the hardware and software modules in the decoding processor can be combined to perform. The software module can be located in a mature storage medium in the field such as a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory or an electrically erasable programmable memory, a register, etc. The storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory and completes the steps of the above method in combination with its hardware.

[0303] It can be understood that the memory in the embodiments of the present application can be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or can include both volatile and non-volatile memories. Among them, the non-volatile memory can be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory can be a random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example and not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), synchronous link DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM).

[0304] In the present application, "at least one" means one or more, and "plurality" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can mean: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, c can be single or multiple.

[0305] It should be understood that "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" mentioned throughout the specification means that specific features, structures or characteristics related to the embodiment are included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" appearing throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. In addition, these specific features, structures or characteristics can be combined in one or more embodiments in any suitable manner. It should be understood that in various embodiments of the present invention, the size of the sequence number of the above-mentioned processes does not mean the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiment of the present invention.

[0306] The terms "component", "module", "system", etc. used in this specification are used to represent computer-related entities, hardware, firmware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. For example, a component can be, but is not limited to, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable file, an execution thread, a program and / or a computer. By way of illustration, both applications running on a computing device and a computing device can be components. One or more components may reside in a process and / or an execution thread, and a component may be located on a computer and / or distributed between two or more computers. In addition, these components may be executed from various computer-readable media having various data structures stored thereon. Components may, for example, communicate through local and / or remote processes according to signals having one or more data packets (e.g., data from two components interacting with another component between a local system, a distributed system and / or a network, such as the Internet interacting with other systems through signals).

[0307] It should also be understood that the first, second and various numerical numbers involved in this document are only distinguished for the convenience of description and are not used to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application.

[0308] It should be understood that the term "and / or" in this article is only a description of the association relationship of the associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. Among them, the existence of A or B alone does not limit the number of A or B. Taking the existence of A alone as an example, it can be understood that there are one or more A.

[0309] Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to be beyond the scope of this application.

[0310] Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0311] In the several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are only schematic. For example, the division of the units is only a logical function division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0312] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed on multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of this embodiment.

[0313] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0314] If the functions are implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application, or the part that contributes to the prior art or the part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium, including several instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or an access network device, etc.) to perform all or part of the steps of the methods described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

[0315] The above is only a specific implementation of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art who is familiar with the present technical field can easily think of changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the present application, which should be included in the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be based on the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The relay device receives a first message from a remote device, where the first message includes identification information of a first demand session attribute, where the first demand session attribute includes demand slice information, where the demand slice information indicates a first slice, where the identification information of the first demand session attribute is a relay service code, and where a mapping relationship exists between the relay service code and the demand slice information; The relay device determines the required slice information according to the mapping relationship and the relay service code; When the allowed slice information of the relay device includes the required slice information, the relay device sends a response message of the first message to the remote device; When the allowed slice information of the relay device does not include the required slice information, the relay device does not send a response message to the first message.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first required session attribute also includes at least one of data network information, access type or session type.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The allowed slice information is auxiliary information for selecting allowed network slices.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The first message is a discovery request message.

5. A device, characterized in that: The method comprises a module for implementing the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A device, characterized in that: The device comprises a processor, configured to call a program stored in a memory to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

7. A relay device, characterized in that: Comprising the device as claimed in claim 6.

8. A computer storage medium, characterized in that: The computer storage medium stores instructions, and when the instructions are executed, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is implemented.

9. A computer program product comprising instructions, which, when executed on a computer, enable the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 to be executed.

10. A communication system comprising: A relay device and a remote device, wherein the relay device is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and the remote device is used to send a first message to the relay device.

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