Method for adaptive configuration of data streaming

Abstract

The present invention relates to the configuration of transmission profiles of data flows in a communication network, and in particular to the configuration of quality of service profiles for QoS flows. In some embodiments, a first network element in a communication network can be configured to determine a plurality of transmission profiles for a data flow, and send these profiles to a second network element. The second network element can adaptively select an active transmission profile from the plurality of transmission profiles to configure the transmission of the data flow. The second network element can further modify the active transmission profile during the transmission of the data flow according to the plurality of transmission profiles, without involving additional decisions of the first network element.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to adaptive configuration of data stream transmission parameters in a communication network. Background Art

[0002] A data transmission session in a communication network may include one or more data flows. The data flows within such a data transmission session are associated with a set of transmission characteristics or requirements, such as Quality of Service (QoS) characteristics. These QoS transmission characteristics or requirements may be represented by a set of parameters that specify a transmission profile for the data flow. Based on its transmission profile, the communication network may configure the transmission of the data flow, for example, by allocating communication resources to the data flow. Determining the transmission profile involves numerous signaling processes between various network nodes, network elements, or entities in the communication network, and between such network nodes, network elements, or entities. Conventional methods for modifying the transmission profile based on the network environment and conditions of the data flow are cumbersome to implement, and also suffer from time delays and low communication resource utilization. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a method, system and device for adaptively configuring parameters of data stream transmission in a communication network.

[0004] In some embodiments, a method for configuring a transmission parameter set for a data flow in a communication network is disclosed. The method may include: a first network element of the communication network determining two or more different configuration profiles for the data flow, each configuration profile including a parameter set for transmission of the data flow as estimated by the first network element; the first network element notifying a second network element of the communication network separate from the first network element of the two or more different configuration profiles; the first network element causing the second network element to select an active configuration profile from the two or more different configuration profiles; and the first network element causing the communication network to configure transmission of the data flow based on the transmission parameter set associated with the active configuration profile.

[0005] In some other embodiments, a method for configuring a transmission parameter set for a data flow in a communication network is disclosed. The method may include: a second network element of the communication network receiving two or more different profiles for the data flow, wherein the two or more different profiles are estimated by a first network element of the communication network and each profile includes a transmission parameter set for the data flow; the second network element selecting a first profile from the two or more different profiles as an active profile; and the second network element causing the communication network to configure transmission of the data flow based on the transmission parameter set associated with the first profile.

[0006] In some other embodiments, a network device is disclosed, which mainly includes one or more processors and one or more memories, wherein the one or more processors are configured to read computer codes from the one or more memories to implement any one of the above methods.

[0007] In yet other embodiments, a computer program product is disclosed, which may include a non-transitory computer-readable program medium having computer code stored thereon, which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to implement any one of the above methods.

[0008] The above-described embodiments and other aspects and implementations thereof are described in more detail in the following drawings, description, and claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 Exemplary embodiments for configuring the transmission of data flows in a communication network are shown.

[0010] Figure 2 An exemplary wireless communication network and exemplary communication sessions supported by the wireless communication network are shown.

[0011] Figure 3 An exemplary wireless communication network is shown.

[0012] Figure 4 Quality of Service (QoS) flows within a communication session in a communication network are shown.

[0013] Figure 5 An exemplary scheme for identifying and specifying QoS flow parameters in a communication network is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] In a communication network, end-to-end communication can establish a data communication session (also referred to as a data session or communication session). Each data session includes data transmissions of different types, characteristics, and transmission requirements. A data session can contain multiple data streams, each of which contains data with similar transmission characteristics and / or data with similar transmission quality requirements. The communication network can control and configure the transmission of each data stream based on its transmission characteristics / requirements. For example, the communication network can allocate communication resources to the data stream based on the transmission characteristics / requirements of the data stream.

[0015] The transmission characteristics / requirements of such a data stream are typically used to determine a set of transmission parameters, which are characterized by a transmission profile for the data stream. Therefore, the network can configure data stream transmission (e.g., allocate communication resources) based on the transmission profile. Network elements in the communication network responsible for configuring and managing data stream transmission can determine the transmission profile. However, due to the difficulty in obtaining information related to the transmission profile of a specific data stream, the determined transmission profile may not be accurate. Furthermore, network conditions for data stream transmission may change over time during the activation of a data session. The network element responsible for determining the transmission profile for the data stream may not be able to promptly detect changes in network conditions and, therefore, cannot adaptively adjust the transmission profile for the data stream in real time. While other network elements in the communication network that can detect changes in network conditions can request adjustments to the transmission profile, this approach, however, incurs significant latency and requires significant signaling overhead. Here, "network element" may include one or more network nodes, one or more network functions, and / or one or more network entities.

[0016] Figure 1 An exemplary embodiment 100 of adaptively configuring a transmission profile for a data stream in a communication network is provided, wherein the adaptive configuration method can reduce latency and communication resource consumption. Figure 1 As shown, a first network element 102 in a communication network is configured to determine a set of candidate transmission profiles, as shown at 110, including a plurality of independent transmission profiles 112, 114, and 116. The first network element 102 can communicate with a policy function 150. The first network element 102 can determine the set of transmission profiles 110 based in part on a policy and a set of rules in the policy function 150. The second network element 104 is notified of the set of transmission profiles from the first network element 102 via signaling between the first network element 102 and the second network element 104.

[0017] After obtaining the set of transmission profiles 110, the second network element 104 selects 132 an active transmission profile 130 from the set of transmission profiles 110 based on the network conditions detected or inferred by the second network element 104. The second network element 104 may also send the selected transmission profile 130 as feedback of the active transmission profile of the data flow to the first network element 102 and / or other network elements in the communication network, as shown at 118. The communication network may then configure data flow transmission based on the selected transmission profile 130, as shown at 140.

[0018] After configuration and when data flow transmission is activated, the second network element 104 can detect or infer changes in network conditions of the data flow in real time, adaptively modify the activated transmission profile in the transmission profile group 110, and reselect a different transmission profile from the transmission profile group 110 as the active transmission profile for the data flow, as shown in 132. Then, the second network element 104 can send feedback of the modification to the first network element 102, as shown in 118, and cause the communication network to reconfigure the data flow transmission based on the modified or reselected transmission profile 130, as shown in 140.

[0019] so, Figure 1 The embodiment provides a mechanism for the second network element 104 to adaptively modify the transmission profile 130 of the active data flow, under which the second network element does not need to send an independent request to the first network element 102 to cause the first network element to re-evaluate, re-determine or estimate the new transmission profile, and the first network element does not need to notify the second network element 104 of the new transmission profile. Figure 1 The implementation method removes the signaling process between the first network element 102 and the second network element 104 for modifying the transmission configuration file and network reconfiguration, thereby reducing the reconfiguration delay during the activation transmission of the data flow.

[0020] exist Figure 1 In an embodiment, the first network element 102 can be configured to access the policy function 150 to evaluate and determine the candidate transmission profile group 110 for the data flow. The second network element 104 can better and more accurately determine or detect the real-time network conditions and data flow transmission status, and thus can better determine whether the active transmission profile needs to be modified. Figure 1 The embodiments provide a collaborative solution between the first network element 102 and the second network element 104 to achieve more efficient adaptive configuration and reconfiguration of data stream transmission profiles. Furthermore, the second network element 104 can be configured with data analysis capabilities, adaptively configuring and intelligently selecting the active transmission profile for the data stream based on monitored or collected data transmission history information. This data analysis capability includes, but is not limited to, various artificial intelligence models and other big data analysis model technologies.

[0021] exist Figure 1 In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the transmission of the transmission profile 110 and the transmission profile selection and modification feedback 118 need not be direct communication. In some embodiments, such communication can be performed by Figure 1 Other intermediate network elements shown as 106 in the figure relay or forward the information. Therefore, such communication may involve more than one interface (for example, more than one signaling interface).

[0022] Each profile in transmission profiles 110 may be associated with a set of predefined data transmission characteristics / requirements and parameters. Each parameter in the data transmission profile set may be a specific value, a range of values, or an upper / lower limit. In one example, each profile in data transmission profiles 110 may correspond to a Quality of Service (QoS) profile, which is associated with a set of predefined characteristics, requirements, and / or parameters corresponding to QoS.

[0023] In some embodiments, a predefined number of possible transmission profiles may be specified, and the first network element 102 may determine the transmission profile 110 from the predefined possible transmission profiles. In these embodiments, the predefined possible transmission profiles may be specified in a profile database 120, which is accessible to both the first network element 102 and the second network element 104. Thus, notification of the transmission profile 110 from the first network element 102 to the second network element 104, and feedback of the transmission profile selection from the second network element 104 to the first network element 102, may include the transmission of profile identifiers rather than the actual profile content. These transmission profile identifiers may be used by the first network element 102 and the second network element 104 to look up transmission profile characteristics / requirements / parameters from the profile database 120. Furthermore, the transmission profile group 110 may be assigned a group identifier associated with the data flow.

[0024] The communication network may use the transmission profile and the parameters therein to configure or reconfigure the corresponding data stream transmission. This configuration or reconfiguration may include, but is not limited to, the allocation of communication resources to support the data stream transmission. This configuration may be performed by any network element, network node, network function, or network entity in the communication network. For example, this configuration or reconfiguration may be performed by a second network element. For another example, this configuration or reconfiguration may be performed by a first network element. For another example, this configuration or reconfiguration may be performed by a network node or function other than the first network element or the second network element based on the transmission profile selected by the second network element.

[0025] The second network element's feedback 118 on the transmission profile selection may also be recorded or logged by the first network element or other network node, element, entity, or database in the communication network. This recorded information may provide the first network element with historical reference data to improve the initial determination of multiple transmission profiles for the second network element to select for data flows in future communication sessions.

[0026] Although various examples below are based at least in part on wireless communication networks, Figure 1The basic principle of adaptive configuration of data stream transmission profiles in the illustrated embodiment is applicable to various other types of communication networks. Figure 2 An exemplary wireless network 200 is shown in which such basic principles may be applied. As used herein, the term "wireless network" broadly refers to a communication network that involves, at least in part, an over-the-air communication interface.

[0027] Figure 2 The exemplary wireless network 200 of FIG. 1 may include user equipment (UE) 210, 212, and 214, a carrier network 202, various service applications 240, 242, and 244, and other data networks 250. UEs 210, 212, and 214 may be implemented as network nodes including mobile or fixed network devices, including but not limited to cellular phones, tablets, personal digital assistants, mobile computers, desktop computers, and Internet of Things devices (such as connected smart home appliances, distributed sensor network nodes, and the like). Carrier network 202 may be configured to transmit voice, data, and other information (collectively, data traffic) between UEs 210, 212, and 214, between UEs and service applications 240, 242, and 244, or between UEs and other data networks 250. Carrier network 202 may include, for example, access networks 220 and 222 and a core network 230. Access networks 220 and 222 may be configured to interact with and provide network access to UEs on one side of a data path corresponding to a communication session and core network 230. The core network 230 may include, for example, various network nodes or functions configured to control communication sessions and perform network access management and data traffic routing. Service applications 240, 242, and 244 may be hosted by various application servers provided with access to the access networks 220 and 222 and / or the core network 230, and may be configured to provide services to the UEs 210, 212, and 214 via the access networks 220 and 222 and the core network 230. The service applications 240, 242, or 244 may be deployed as data networks outside the core network 230. Similarly, other data networks 250 may be accessed by the UEs 210, 212, and 214 and other network functions via the core network 230.

[0028] The wireless network 200 may also include edge network nodes (alternatively referred to as edge nodes) 260 and 262. These edge network nodes, alone or in combination with other servers connected to and associated with the edge network nodes, may be configured to provide various distributed computing, storage, content hosting, and other services. The edge nodes 260 and 162 may be implemented, for example, as mobile cloud nodes for mobile edge computing (MEC) or data storage. Edge nodes (such as, Figure 2The edge node 260 of the access network may be deployed close to or together with a network node within the access network such as the access network 220. Figure 2 Edge nodes 260 and 262 may be deployed proximate to or alongside network nodes within core network 230. Edge nodes 260 and 262 may access carrier network 202 via various capabilities and / or network exposure mechanisms. For example, edge node 260 may be configured to access access network 220 via capabilities and / or network exposure mechanisms provided by access network 220. Similarly, edge node 262 may be configured to access core network 230 via capabilities and / or network exposure mechanisms provided by core network 230. Edge nodes 260 and 262 may also communicate with service applications 242 and 244, such as those shown by 243 and 245, to provide computing and storage services to carrier network 202.

[0029] like Figure 2 As shown, wireless network 200 can establish various end-to-end communication sessions based on requests from various network devices. For example, an end-to-end communication session can be established between UEs 210, 212, and 214. For another example, an end-to-end communication session can be established between UEs 210, 212, and 214 and service applications 240, 242, and 244 or data network 250. End-to-end communication sessions can also be established between various service applications 240, 242, and 244 and data network 250 via access networks 220 and 222 and / or core network 230.

[0030] Figure 2The dashed arrows in FIG. 2 illustrate various exemplary communication sessions involving UEs 210, 212, and 214. For example, arrow 270 illustrates a communication session that can be established between UEs 210 and 212, which are served by the same access network 220. Arrow 272 illustrates a communication session that can be established between UE 210 and UE 214, which are served by different access networks 220 and 222 connected by core network 230. Arrow 274 illustrates a communication session that can be established between UE 210 and service application 240 via access network 220 and core network 230. Arrow 276 illustrates a communication session that can be established between UE 210 and data network 250 via access network 220 and core network 230. Arrow 278 illustrates a communication session that can be established between UE 210 and service application 244 via access network 220, core network 230, and edge node 262. Arrow 280 illustrates a communication session that can be established between UE 210 and service application 242 via access network 220 and edge node 260. Finally, as shown by arrow 282, a direct-link communication session can be established between UE 210 and UE 212 without data relaying by access network 220. As described in further detail below, each of these communication sessions can include various types of data flows with various data transmission characteristics and requirements.

[0031] Other communication sessions can also be established which do not involve the UE as a communication terminal and which Figure 2 Not explicitly shown. For example, a communication session can be established between service applications, such as between service applications 242 and 244, via access network 220, core network 230, and edge nodes 260 and 262. For another example, a communication session can be established between service application 242 and service application 240 via edge node 260, access network 220, and core network 230. For another example, a communication session can be established between service application 244 via edge node 262 and core network 230. These communication sessions can rely on network access provided by carrier network 202 through a third party, such as access through capabilities and / or network exposure functions.

[0032] Figure 3 Further illustrated is an example wireless network 300 showing various example network functions or nodes, including access network nodes 220 and 222 in the form of a radio access network (RAN), UEs 210 and 212, edge nodes 260 and 262, applications 240, 242, and 244 hosted in application servers, and core network 202. The connectivity between these network components can be similar to that described above. Figure 2and the kind of connectivity described in this disclosure. The RANs 220 and 222 may, for example, include multiple wireless base stations or cells, such as those implemented in various generations of cellular wireless networks. Communications between the UE and the carrier network 202 may rely on an over-the-air wireless communication interface between the UE and the RANs 220 and 222.

[0033] like Figure 3 As shown in more detail in , the core network 202 of the wireless network 300 may include various network nodes or functions that are geographically distributed and interconnected to provide network coverage and data routing for the service area of ​​the carrier network. These network nodes may be implemented as dedicated hardware network nodes. Alternatively, these network nodes may be virtualized and implemented as virtual machines or software entities. These network nodes may each be configured with one or more types of network functions that collectively provide the provisioning and routing functions of the core network 202. Although Figure 3 Only a single instance of some network functions of the core network 202 is shown in the figure, but those skilled in the art will appreciate that each of these network functions may be instantiated as multiple instances of network nodes or elements distributed throughout the core network 202. Each of these network nodes or elements may provide / support one or more network functions of the core network. Figure 3 In the diagram of FIG, components of core network 202 may be represented as network nodes or functions. When a component is referenced as a network function, such network function is implicitly implemented in the corresponding core network node. For simplicity, the terms "network node" and "network function" may be used interchangeably.

[0034] For example, Figure 3 As shown, the core network 302 may include an application function (AF) 314, a network exposure function (NEF) 312, and a unified data storage (UDR) function 310. The core network 202 may also include an access and mobility management function (AMF) 330 and session management functions (SMF or I-SMF representing an intermediate SMF) 344 and 342. The AMF 330 and the SMFs 344 and 342 may obtain communication policy information from a separate access / mobility management policy control function (AM PCF) 320 and a session management policy control function (SM PCF) 322 via communication interfaces 321 and 323, respectively. A network node that supports the AM PCF function and the AM PCF function may include or access Figure 1 Policy function 150 is depicted.

[0035] like Figure 3As further shown, the SMF 322 and the I-SMF 344 control one or more user plane functions (UPFs) 352 and 354. The RAN 220 and one or more UPFs are connected by the core network and form a data traffic network node pipeline (or alternatively, a data traffic path) for a specific communication session in the carrier network. The network node assigned to support the UPFs 352 and 354 for a specific communication session can act as a data routing network node for the communication session. The user plane functions may include one or more anchor UPFs (A-UPFs) 354 controlled by the SMF 344 and one or more intermediate UPFs (I-UPFs) 352 controlled by the I-SMF 342.

[0036] like Figure 3 As shown, the AMF 330 also communicates with the RAN 220 and 222 and the session management function I-SMF 342 or SMF 344 via interfaces 331 and 333, respectively. The AMF 330 may be responsible for providing registration, authentication, and UE access to the core network 202, as well as the allocation of session management network nodes to support a specific UE communication session. The session management network nodes 342 and 344 allocated by the access AMF 330 may then be responsible for allocating data routing network nodes for UPF functions 352 and 354 and supporting a specific UE communication session, and controlling these data routing network nodes allocated to the UPF functions 352 and 354 via the communication interface 343. Data communication between the UPF 352 / 354 and the RAN 220 may be based on the communication interface 353. The UPFs 352 and 354 may form a user plane 350 for the communication session. The user plane 350 and the communication session may terminate at the data network 25, or, for example, at another remote RAN and the UE served by the remote RAN ( Figure 3 Not shown, but in Figure 2 shown in ).

[0037] NEF 312 provides network opening functions to AF 314, which is used by service application 240 to access core network 202 and act as a communication endpoint for the communication session. Similarly, edge node 262 can also be provided with access to core network 202 via NEF 312 and provide services for service application 244. In this way, edge node 262 can be regarded as AF 314. On the other hand, Figure 3 The edge node 260 can directly access the RAN 220 via the capabilities / network exposure provided by the RAN 220 to provide the service application 242.

[0038] By Figure 3The signaling and data exchange between various types of network nodes of various communication interfaces indicated by the various connection lines in the figure can be carried by signaling or data messages that follow a predetermined type of format or protocol. Some example communication interfaces defined in, for example, the fifth generation new air interface wireless communication specification can be used between various network nodes in the communication network 300, such as Figure 3 The numbers along the connection lines indicate: the N1 interface 331 between the UE 210 and the AMF 330 via the RAN 220, the N2 interface between the RAN 220 and the AMF 330, the N3 interface between the RAN 220 and the user plane 350, the N4 interface between the SMF 342 / 344 and the UPF 350, the N11 interface between the AMF 330 and the I-SMF 342, and the N16a interface between the I-SMF 342 and the SMF 344.

[0039] The following describes in more detail Figure 3 Further description of the functionality of the various network nodes and network functions within the wireless communication network 300:

[0040] 1) AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function) 330. These network nodes perform functions including, but not limited to, registration management, connection management, reachability management, and mobility management for UE 110. They also perform access authentication and access authorization. AMF 330 can function as a non-access stratum (NAS) security terminal and relay session management NAS messages between UE 210 and SMFs 342 and 344. AMF 330 also performs SMF selection during communication session establishment procedures and UE mobility procedures.

[0041] 2) SMF (Session Management Function) 344. These network nodes perform functions including, but not limited to, establishment, modification, and release of communication sessions, UE IP address allocation and management (including optional authorization functions), selection and control of UPF 350, and downlink data notification. Each SMF 344 can control one or more UPFs 354 and is associated with a service area, which is the collection of UPF service areas of all UPFs under its control.

[0042] 3) I-SMF (intermediate SMF) 342. An I-SMF (which cannot be controlled by the original SMF 344) that is inserted, changed, or removed to a communication session as needed to control the I-UPF 352 is selected for the communication session because they belong to different SMF service areas.

[0043] 4) UPF (User Plane Function) 350. These network nodes perform functions including, but not limited to, acting as an anchor point for intra / inter-Radio Access Technology (RAT) mobility, packet routing and forwarding, traffic usage reporting, Quality of Service (QoS) processing for the user plane, downlink packet buffering, and downlink data notification triggering. The UPF service area includes an area consisting of one or more tracking areas within which communication sessions associated with the UPF can be handled by RAN nodes via a direct interface between the RAN and the UPF (e.g., Figure 3 The N3 interface shown in the figure) service, without adding a new UPF or removing / reallocating the UPF in between. Figure 3 354) is the anchor UPF, which remains unchanged during UE mobility. When the UE moves outside the A-UPF service area, an intermediate UPF (I-UPF) can be inserted / relocated. The I-UPF can use e.g. Figure 3 The N3 tunnel indicated in is connected to the RAN 320 and can be used, for example Figure 3 The N9 tunnel indicated in FIG is connected to the A-UPF 354 .

[0044] 5) PCF (Policy Control Function) 320 and 322. These network nodes perform the following functions, including but not limited to providing policy rules and controlling other network nodes to enforce policy rules. Specifically, the PCF provides access and mobility-related policies to the AMF 330 so that the AMF 330 enforces these policies during the mobility process. These PCFs are called AMPCF ( Figure 3 AM PCF 320 also provides UE access selection and communication session selection related policies (UE policies) to AMF 330 for AMF to forward to UE 210. PCF can also provide session management related policies to SMF 344 for SMF to enforce. These PCFs can be referred to as SM PCFs ( Figure 3 322). AM PCF 320 and SM PCF 322 can be deployed in a distributed manner, and each PCF can support different AM or SM policy functions.

[0045] 6) UDR (Unified Data Store) 310. These network nodes can support storage / retrieval of structured data for network exposure, application data (e.g., packet flow descriptions (PFDs) for application detection, application request information for multiple UEs, and application requests for data traffic routing impact, as described above and in more detail below), and storage / retrieval of network group IDs corresponding to subscriber identities (e.g., external group IDs or internal group IDs). The UDR 310 can be located in the same public land mobile network (PLMN) as the network application service to which it provides application data storage.

[0046] 7) NEF (Network Exposure Function) 312. These network nodes can store / retrieve information as structured data using a standardized interface to the UDR 310 (e.g., Nudr interface). The NEF 312 can provide the AF with a means for securely providing various information to the core network 330, including but not limited to information regarding the impact of applications on data traffic routing. The NEF 312 can authenticate, authorize, and assist in suppressing requests from the AF. Access to the NEF 312 can be through an open API provided by the core network 302. A specific NEF instance can support one or more of these functions, so a single NEF 312 can support a subset of the APIs specified for the NEF. The NEF 312 can be configured to access a UDR 310 located in the same PLMN as the NEF 312.

[0047] 8) AF (Application Function) 314. These network nodes can interact with the core network 330 to provide services to applications. AF 314 can interact with applications on one side and with network functions in the core network via NEF 312 on the other side. In some embodiments, an AF 314 deemed trusted by the core network 302 can bypass NEF 312 and interact directly with other relevant network functions in the core network 302.

[0048] The above about Figure 1-3 The communication session for end-to-end communication described above can be established as a protocol data unit session (PDU session) in the exemplary wireless communication network described above. Figure 4 400, and form a data pipe 402 for a communication session. Within the PDU session data pipe 402, data of different types and characteristics / transmission requirements (e.g., video, voice, text, etc.) can be included. Data with similar characteristics can be composed of data streams. For example, Figure 4As shown, data streams 410, 412, and 414 can be configured to transmit data with different characteristics / transmission requirements. In some embodiments, each data stream can be further divided into sub-streams or service data streams. For example, Figure 4 Data stream 412 may include a single service data stream 424 , while data stream 410 may include two service data streams 420 and 422 , and data stream 414 may include three service data streams 426 , 428 , and 430 .

[0049] As mentioned above about Figure 1 As described above, the characteristics / transmission requirements of data flows 410, 412, and 414 can be reflected in the transmission profiles associated with these data flows. An example of a transmission profile may be a Quality of Service (QoS) profile, which is used to characterize the parameters and rules for the Quality of Service (QoS) requirements associated with the corresponding data flows. In some embodiments, a communication network may allocate and configure communication resources for data flows based at least in part on its transmission profile, such as a QoS profile. Data flows based on a QoS profile may be referred to as QoS flows. Data flows 410, 412, and 414 may represent the lowest granularity for such communication resource allocation and configuration. In other words, all data transmissions within a particular data flow will be allocated the same communication resources (e.g., data radio bearers) and network access control. In some embodiments, different data flows may share the same communication resource allocation. For example, while data flow 414 may be allocated a first communication resource (e.g., a first data radio bearer), data flow 410 and data flow 412 may both be allocated the same second communication resource (e.g., a second data radio bearer).

[0050] about Figure 1 The described adaptive configuration of the transport profile can be applied to Figure 2-3 Depicted is an exemplary wireless network Figure 4 The data flow shown. For example, for a specific data flow such as a QoS flow, the first network element in the communication network 200 or 300 can determine a plurality of QoS profile sets and transmit these candidate QoS profiles to the second network element in the communication network 200 or 300. The second network element can select a QoS profile from the plurality of QoS profiles based on the network conditions detected or inferred at the second network element to be used for configuring the QoS flow transmission performed by the communication network. The configuration of the QoS flow transmission can be performed by any network node or function in the communication network. The second network element can also provide the first network element with feedback on its selection of the QoS profile. As described above with respect to Figure 1Said feedback notification may include a QoS identifier assigned to the selected QoS profile. After the initial selection of the QoS profile and while the QoS flow is activated, the second network element may also change its selection of the QoS profile for the QoS flow based on changes in network conditions to select another QoS profile from the multiple QoS profiles provided by the first network element, and send feedback to the first network element to notify the first network element of such modification. In this way, the QoS profile for the QoS flow may be adaptively configured with Figure 2 Communication network 200 or Figure 3 Low latency and reduced signaling volume between network nodes in the communication network 300.

[0051] As mentioned above about Figure 1 As described, the QoS profiles may each include QoS parameters and / or rule sets. For each QoS profile, these QoS parameters may be specified as specific values, value ranges, or value limits (e.g., maximum or minimum values ​​for the QoS parameters). QoS parameters may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: allocation and reservation priority (ARP) parameters and various bit rates, such as guaranteed flow bit rate (GFBR), maximum flow bit rate (MFBR), aggregate maximum bit rate (AMBR), and maximum packet loss rate (MPLR), resource type, priority, packet delay budget (PDB), packet error rate (PER), average window, maximum data burst size (MDBV), etc.

[0052] Instead of selecting a QoS profile from the candidate QoS profiles provided by the first network element, the second network element may determine values ​​of one or more QoS parameters that are compatible with the candidate QoS profiles provided by the first network element. Accordingly, the second network element may send feedback values ​​of the one or more QoS parameters to the first network element instead of an identifier of the selected QoS profile.

[0053] In some embodiments, Figure 1 The first network element in the embodiment can be implemented as a core network, any RAN, any edge network node, Figure 2 and Figure 3 any network node of the service application, or any other network entity of the communication network. Figure 1 The second network element in the embodiment can be implemented as any RAN, any edge network node, Figure 2 and Figure 3 One or more of any network nodes of a communication network or any other network entities of a communication network that utilizes a service of the communication network.

[0054] In some embodiments, the first network element may be implemented as a core network 230, and the second network element may be Figure 2 or Figure 3 RAN 220. After receiving multiple candidate QoS profiles from the first network element, RAN 220 may perform a selection from the multiple candidate QoS profiles, or determine at least one QoS parameter value that is compatible with the multiple candidate QoS profiles. This selection or determination may be performed, for example, by a Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer within RAN 220. The communication network may then configure the transmission of the QoS flow based on the selected QoS profile or QoS parameter value. For example, RAN 220 may then configure the QoS flow based on the selected QoS profile or QoS parameter value. Specifically, RAN 220 may perform radio bearer allocation for the QoS flow based on the selected QoS profile or QoS parameter, so that the QoS flow may be sent according to the quality of service requirements implicit in the selected QoS profile or QoS parameter value. For another example, RAN 220 may feed back the selection of the QoS profile to the core network (e.g., SMF) as a reference for the core network to perform configuration of QoS flow transmission. In these exemplary embodiments, the network node acting as the first network element in the core network 230 may include, but is not limited to, for example Figure 3 The SMF 344 is assigned to manage QoS flows. Figure 3 323 communicates with the SM PCF 322 to obtain various policies related to the QoS flow, and can therefore easily determine multiple candidate QoS profiles for the QoS flow. On the other hand, the RAN 220 can better determine the real-time wireless network conditions between the RAN and the end UE of the QoS flow, and can select a more appropriately activated QoS profile or determine specific QoS parameter values ​​based on the multiple candidate QoS profiles. In this way, the core network can use a more flexible range for QoS profile estimation for the QoS flow, and the RAN can make more accurate real-time adaptive selection of QoS profiles or parameters. In this way, data transmission loss can be reduced and the user experience can be improved.

[0055] The above exemplary embodiment (wherein the core network 230 acts as a first network element and the RAN 220 acts as a second network element) may be applicable to a network involving Figure 2QoS flows within various end-to-end communication sessions in the RAN 220 and the core network 230, including but not limited to: UE-to-UE communication session 272, UE-to-service application communication session 274, UE-to-data network communication session 276, and UE-to-service application communication session 278.

[0056] In some other embodiments, the first network element may be implemented as the core network 230, and the second network element may be Figure 2 or Figure 3 edge node 262. After receiving a plurality of candidate QoS profiles from the first network element (core network 230), the edge node 262 may utilize, for example, various data analysis techniques (including but not limited to artificial intelligence and other big data analysis models) to select a QoS profile from the plurality of candidate QoS profiles or determine at least one QoS parameter value that is compatible with the plurality of candidate QoS profiles. This selection of a QoS profile or a specific QoS parameter can be used by the communication network to configure a QoS flow. For example, the selected profile or QoS parameter can be fed back to the core network, which can cause the RAN (if the QoS flow involves the UE 210 as an end device) to perform wireless air bearer allocation for the QoS flow based on the selected QoS profile or QoS parameters, so that the QoS flow can be sent according to the quality of service requirements implicit in the selected QoS profile or QoS parameter value. In these exemplary embodiments, the network node acting as the first network element in the core network 230 may include but is not limited to, for example Figure 3 The SMF 344 is assigned to manage QoS flows. Figure 3 323 communicates with the SM PCF 322 to obtain various policies related to the QoS flow, and thus can easily determine multiple candidate QoS profiles for the QoS flow. On the other hand, the edge node 262 can have data analysis capabilities and can intelligently predict more appropriate activated QoS profiles or specific QoS parameter values. In these embodiments, the edge node 262 can be connected to Figure 3 The NEF 312 of the core network acts as an AF based on the capabilities / network exposure functions provided by the core network. The edge node 262 can be configured as an MEC.

[0057] The above exemplary embodiment (wherein the core network 230 acts as the first network element and the edge node 262 acts as the second network element) may be applied to a system involving Figure 22 and 3. QoS flows within various end-to-end communication sessions within the RAN 220 and the core network 230 in FIG. 2, including but not limited to the UE-to-service application communication session 278. In variations of these embodiments, the second network element may be an application server associated with the service application 244, rather than the edge node 262. Accordingly, the selection and determination of the QoS profile or specific QoS parameters to be activated based on the candidate QoS profiles provided by the core network may be performed by such an application server.

[0058] In some other embodiments, the first network element may be implemented as the core network 230, and the second network element may be Figure 2 or Figure 3 Edge node 260. Edge node 260 may be configured to access RAN 220 via capabilities / network open functions provided by RAN 220. A first network element (core network) may transmit multiple candidate QoS profiles to edge node 260 via RAN 220. After receiving the multiple candidate QoS profiles from core network 230, the edge node may utilize, for example, data analytics techniques (including but not limited to artificial intelligence and other big data analytics models) to select a QoS profile from the multiple candidate QoS profiles or determine at least one QoS parameter value that is compatible with the multiple candidate QoS profiles. This selection of a QoS profile or specific QoS parameter may be used by the communication network to configure a QoS flow. For example, the selected profile or QoS parameter value may be fed back to RAN 220 and the core network for configuring the transmission of the QoS flow. For example, RAN 220 may then perform data radio bearer allocation for the QoS flow (if UE 210 is involved as an end device in the QoS flow) based on the selected QoS profile or QoS parameter value, so that the QoS flow can be transmitted according to the quality of service requirements implicit in the selected QoS profile or QoS parameter value. In these exemplary embodiments, the network node acting as the first network element in the core network 230 may include, but is not limited to, Figure 3 The SMF 344 is assigned to manage QoS flows. Figure 3 323 communicates with the SM PCF 322 to obtain various policies related to the QoS flow, and thus can conveniently determine multiple candidate QoS profiles for the QoS flow. On the other hand, the edge node 260 can have the ability to intelligently predict a more appropriate activated QoS profile or specific QoS parameter value.

[0059] The above exemplary embodiment (wherein the core network 230 acts as the first network element and the edge node 260 acts as the second network element) may be applicable to a system involving Figure 2QoS flows within various end-to-end communication sessions between the RAN 220 and the edge node 260 in the core network, including but not limited to the UE-to-service application communication session 280. In variations of these embodiments, the second network element may be an application server associated with the service application 242, rather than the edge node 260. Accordingly, the selection and determination of the QoS profile or specific QoS parameters based on the activation of the candidate QoS profiles provided by the core network may be performed by the application server.

[0060] In some other embodiments, the first network element may be implemented as the core network 230. The first network element (core network 230) may transmit multiple candidate QoS profiles to the RAN 220 involved in the QoS flow. The RAN 220 may detect network conditions and select a subset of QoS profiles from the multiple candidate QoS profiles. The RAN 220 may also transmit the subset of QoS profiles to the edge node 260 involved in the QoS flow. The edge node 260 may then perform another selection of a QoS profile from the subset of QoS profiles. The edge node 260 may then feedback the selection of the QoS profile to the RAN 220, which may further feedback the selection to the first network element (core network 230). In this way, both the RAN 220 and the edge node 260 involved in the data flow can participate in selecting a QoS profile from the multiple candidate QoS profiles provided by the first network element based on network condition detection and data analysis capabilities. In other words, the RAN 220 and the edge node 260 may collaboratively act as a second network element. After selecting the QoS profile, the communication network (e.g., RAN 220) can configure the transmission of the QoS flow based on the selected QoS profile. This embodiment can be applied to QoS flows within various end-to-end communication sessions involving RAN 220 and edge node 260, including but not limited to UE to service application communication session 280.

[0061] The selection of a QoS profile from a plurality of QoS profiles determined by the first network element may be performed by a second network element Figure 2260 or 262. For example, the edge node 260 or 262 may first select a subset of QoS profiles from a plurality of QoS profiles determined by the first network element (e.g., the core network 230). The edge node 260 or 262 may then send the selected subset of QoS profiles to the service application 242 or 244. The service application 242 or 244 may also select a QoS profile from the subset of QoS profiles. The service application 242 or 244 may then feed back the selection of the QoS profile to the edge node 260 or 262, which may also feed back the selection to the first network element. After selecting the QoS profile, the communication network (e.g., the RAN 220) may configure the transmission of the QoS flow based on the selected QoS profile. This embodiment may be applicable to QoS flows within various end-to-end communication sessions involving the edge node 260 or 262 and the service application 242 or 244, including but not limited to UE to service application communication sessions 278 and 280.

[0062] In some other embodiments applicable to, for example, UE mobility scenarios, the source base station or cell may receive multiple QoS profiles for a QoS flow from the core network (e.g., from the SMF), and the source base station may further send these QoS profiles to the target base station or cell to facilitate QoS flow transmission in the case of UE mobility. The target base station or cell may select a QoS profile or determine a specific QoS parameter value based on the multiple QoS profiles for the QoS flow.

[0063] In some other embodiments applicable to dual connectivity scenarios, a macro cell in the RAN may receive multiple QoS profiles for a QoS flow from the core network (e.g., from the SMF) and may also send these QoS profiles to a small cell. The small cell may then select a QoS profile or determine a specific QoS parameter value based on the multiple QoS profiles for the QoS flow.

[0064] In some other embodiments applicable to direct UE link scenarios, the first UE may receive multiple QoS profiles for the direct link QoS flow from the RAN and may also send these QoS profiles to the second UE. The second UE may then select a QoS profile or determine a specific QoS parameter value based on the multiple QoS profiles for the QoS flow.

[0065] In some other embodiments applicable to MEC scenarios, a source edge node for MEC may receive multiple QoS profiles for a QoS flow from the RAN or from the core network via a capability / network exposure function, and may also send these QoS profiles for MEC to a target edge node. The target edge node may then select a QoS profile or determine a specific QoS parameter value based on the multiple QoS profiles for the QoS flow.

[0066] In each of the above embodiments, the QoS profile or QoS parameters selected or determined by the second network element may be transmitted as feedback to the first network element. For example, in some of the above embodiments, the feedback may be sent by the RAN 220 to the core network (e.g., SMF 344). In some of the above embodiments, the feedback may be sent directly by the edge node 262 to the core network (e.g., SMF 344). In some of the above embodiments, the feedback may be sent by the edge node 260 to the core network (e.g., SMF 344) via the RAN 220. In some of the above embodiments, the feedback may be sent by the UE 210 to the core network (e.g., SMF 344) via the RAN 220. In some of the above embodiments, the feedback may be sent from another UE to one UE via a UE-UE communication interface (such as PC5). In some of the above embodiments, the feedback may be sent from one edge node to another edge node. In some of the above embodiments, the feedback may be sent from one RAN to another RAN. The above feedback may be implemented using direct or indirect signaling between the first network element and the second network element.

[0067] Once the feedback information is received by the second network element, it can be sent to various network management nodes for record keeping. These historical records can be used as a basis for the communication network (e.g., SMF 344) to determine future QoS profile recommendations and to develop better QoS profile selection models.

[0068] As described above, the RAN 220 may use the selected QoS profile or determined QoS parameters to allocate resources for QoS flows, including but not limited to data radio bearer allocation. The QoS profile selection or QoS parameter determination may be performed by the RAN 220, acting as a second network element. Optionally, the RAN may be notified of these QoS profile selections and QoS parameter determinations during a feedback process.

[0069] In some embodiments, as described above with respect to Figure 1As described, a predetermined number of possible QoS profiles can be specified, and the first network element can determine multiple QoS profiles among the predetermined possible QoS profiles. In these embodiments, the predetermined possible QoS profiles can be specified in a QoS profile database, and the QoS profile database can be made accessible to the first network element and the second network element. In this way, the notification of multiple QoS profiles from the first network element to the second network element and the feedback of the selection of the activated QoS profile from the second network element to the first network element can include QoS identifiers instead of the actual QoS profile content. These QoS profile identifiers can be used by the first network element and the second network element to look up QoS profile characteristics / requirements / parameters from the QoS profile database. The QoS profile identifier can be referred to as a QoS flow ID (QFI). In addition, the QoS profile group determined by the first network element can be assigned a group identifier associated with the QoS flow.

[0070] Figure 5 The above embodiment for identifying a QoS profile is shown. Specifically, Figure 5 As shown, each QoS flow is associated with a group ID for the QFIs included in each group (e.g., 410 and 420). Each group includes multiple QFIs. For example, QFI group 410 may include QFIs 412, 414, and 416, while QFI group 420 may include QFIs 422, 424, and 426. Each QFI corresponds to a QoS parameter set, and the values ​​or ranges of the QoS parameters can be looked up in a QoS profile database, as shown in 430.

[0071] In some embodiments, the second network element can provide a recommended QoS profile to the communications network. This approach is particularly beneficial when the first network element does not provide multiple suitable QoS profiles for the data flow. The recommendation can be provided as feedback to the communications network, allowing the first network element to better evaluate multiple QoS profiles in the future. For example, the second network element can be a RAN, and the recommended QoS profile can be sent to the core network via, for example, user equipment feedback.

[0072] The above description and accompanying drawings provide specific example embodiments and implementations. However, the subject matter described may be embodied in a variety of different forms, and therefore, the covered or claimed subject matter is intended to be construed as not being limited to any example embodiment set forth herein. A reasonably broad scope is intended for the claimed or covered subject matter. For example, the subject matter may be embodied as a method, device, component, system, or non-transitory computer-readable medium for storing computer code, among other things. Thus, embodiments may, for example, take the form of hardware, software, firmware, storage media, or any combination thereof. For example, the method embodiments described above may be implemented by a component, device, or system comprising a memory and a processor by executing computer code stored in the memory.

[0073] Throughout the specification and claims, in addition to the meanings explicitly stated, terms may have subtle meanings that are suggested or implied by the context. Similarly, the phrase "in one embodiment / implementation" as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, and the phrase "in another embodiment / implementation" as used herein does not necessarily refer to a different embodiment. For example, it is intended that the claimed subject matter include all or part of the combination of the example embodiments.

[0074] In general, terms can be understood at least in part from their usage in the context. For example, terms as used herein, such as "and", "or", "and / or", can include various meanings that can depend at least in part on the context in which the terms are used. Typically, if "or" is used to associate a list such as A, B, or C, it is intended to mean A, B, and C used here in an inclusive sense, as well as A, B, or C used here in an exclusive sense. In addition, the term "one or more" as used herein, at least in part depending on the context, can be used to describe any feature, structure, or characteristic in a singular sense, or can be used to describe a combination of features, structures, or characteristics in a plural sense. Similarly, terms such as "one", "an", or "the" can be understood to convey singular usage or plural usage, depending at least in part on the context. In addition, the term "based on" can be understood to not necessarily be intended to convey an exclusive set of factors, but can also allow the presence of additional factors that are not necessarily explicitly described, depending at least in part on the context.

[0075] Throughout this specification, references to features, advantages, or similar language do not imply that all features and advantages that can be achieved with the present solution should be or are included in any single embodiment thereof. Rather, language referring to features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present solution. Thus, throughout this specification, discussions of features and advantages, and similar language, may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

[0076] Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the present solution may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One of ordinary skill in the relevant art will recognize, based on the description herein, that the present solution may be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other cases, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the present solution.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a transmission parameter set for a data stream in a wireless communication network, comprising: a first network element of the wireless communication network determining two or more different profiles for the data flow, each profile comprising the set of transmission parameters for the data flow estimated by the first network element; The first network element notifies a second network element of the wireless communication network that is separate from the first network element of the two or more different configuration files; as well as The first network element receives an indication of an activated profile selected by the second network element from the two or more different profiles, wherein: The first network element includes a first access network of the wireless communication network; The second network element includes a second access network of the wireless communication network; Notifying the second network element of the two or more different profiles involves at least the first access network notifying the second access network of the two or more different profiles for selection; The first network element causes the second network element to select an activated profile from the two or more different profiles; and The first network element causes the wireless communication network to configure transmission of the data flow based on the set of transmission parameters associated with the activated profile.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The first access network includes a source access network node that sends the two or more different profiles to a target access network node associated with the second access network during user equipment mobility, or a macro cell that sends the two or more different profiles to a small cell associated with the second access network during dual connectivity; and The second access network includes a target access network node that receives the two or more different profiles from the source access network node during user equipment mobility, or a small cell that receives the two or more different profiles from a macro cell during dual connectivity.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The first network element further includes a core network of the wireless communication network for providing services to the first access network; and The second network element further includes: an edge network node, the edge network node being connected to the second access network using a capability exposure mechanism provided by the second access network; a target site associated with the second access network, wherein the two or more different configuration files are sent from the core network to the target site via the source site during movement of a user equipment from a source site associated with the first access network of the wireless communication network to the target site; or The small cell of the wireless communication network associated with the second access network, the two or more different configuration files are sent from the core network to the small cell via the macro cell of the wireless communication network associated with the first access network during dual connectivity.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The first network element further comprises a first user equipment connected to a first access network of the wireless communication network; The second network element further includes a second user equipment connected to the second access network; and The first user equipment selects the two or more different profiles from the first access network.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The first network element further includes a first edge network node, the first edge network node being connected to a first access network or a core network of the wireless communication network via a capability exposure mechanism provided by the wireless communication network; and The second network element includes a second edge network node connected to the second access network.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein: The second edge network node is connected to the second access network via a capability opening mechanism provided by the wireless communication network.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein The two or more different profiles include a Quality of Service (QoS) profile.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein: The indication of the selected active profile includes a QoS profile identification.

9. A method for configuring a set of transmission parameters for a data flow in a wireless communication network, comprising: The second network element of the wireless communication network receives two or more different profiles for the data flow, wherein the two or more different profiles are estimated by the first network element of the wireless communication network and each profile includes a set of transmission parameters for the data flow; The second network element selects a first configuration file from the two or more different configuration files as an activated configuration file; as well as The second network element sends an indication of a first configuration file selected from the two or more different configuration files to the first network element, wherein: The first network element includes a first access network of the wireless communication network; The second network element includes a second access network of the wireless communication network; as well as Receiving the two or more different profiles involves at least the second access network receiving the two or more different profiles from the first access network; The second network element causes the wireless communication network to configure transmission of the data flow based on the set of transmission parameters associated with the first profile.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: The second network element feeds back the selection of the first configuration file to the first network element.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein: The first network element further includes a core network of the wireless communication network for providing services to the first access network; and The second network element further includes: a service data adaptation entity for selecting said first profile from said two or more different profiles, an edge network node, the edge network node being connected to the second access network via a capability exposure mechanism; or an application service node, wherein the application service node is connected to the second access network; a target cell of the wireless communication network associated with the second access network, the two or more different configuration files being sent from the core network to the target cell via a source cell associated with the first access network; or The two or more different configuration files are sent from the core network to the small cell of the wireless communication network related to the second access network via the macro cell of the wireless communication network related to the first access network.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein The first network element further comprises a first user equipment connected to a first access network of the wireless communication network; The second network element further includes a second user equipment; and The first user equipment selects the two or more different profiles from the first access network.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein The first network element further includes a first edge network node, the first edge network node being connected to a first access network or a core network of the wireless communication network via a capability exposure mechanism provided by the wireless communication network; and The second network element further includes a second edge network node connected to the second access network.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein: The first access network includes a source access network node that sends the two or more different profiles to a target access network node associated with the second access network during user equipment mobility, or a macro cell that sends the two or more different profiles to a small cell associated with the second access network during dual connectivity; and The second network element further includes a target access network node that receives the two or more different profiles from the source access network node during user equipment mobility, or a small cell that receives the two or more different profiles from a macro cell during dual connectivity.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein: The first network element further includes a core network of the wireless communication network; and The second network element further includes an edge network node and a service application node of the wireless communication network connected to the second access network, the edge network node being configured to select a subset of profiles from the two or more different profiles, and the service application node being configured to select the first profile from the subset of profiles as the activated profile.

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein The two or more different profiles include a Quality of Service (QoS) profile.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein The indication of selection of the first profile includes a QoS profile identification.

18. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: The second network element modifies the activated profile from the first profile to a second profile according to the two or more different profiles during transmission of the data stream; The second network element causes the wireless communication network to reconfigure transmission of the data flow according to the second configuration file; and The second network element feeds back modification information from the first configuration file to the second configuration file to the first network element.

19. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: The second network element detects a network condition for the data flow; The second network element generates a recommended transmission profile that is different from the two or more different profiles; and The second network element feeds back the recommended transmission profile to the core network of the wireless communication network.

20. A network device comprising one or more processors and one or more memories, wherein the one or more processors are configured to read computer code from the one or more memories to cause: A first network element of a wireless communication network determines two or more different profiles for a data flow, each profile comprising a set of transmission parameters for the data flow estimated by the first network element; The first network element notifies a second network element of the wireless communication network that is separate from the first network element of the two or more different configuration files; as well as The first network element receives an indication of an activated profile selected by the second network element from the two or more different profiles, wherein: The first network element includes a first access network of the wireless communication network; The second network element includes a second access network of the wireless communication network; Notifying the second network element of the two or more different profiles involves at least the first access network notifying the second access network of the two or more different profiles for selection; The first network element causes the second network element to select an activated profile from the two or more different profiles; and The first network element causes the wireless communication network to configure transmission of the data flow based on the set of transmission parameters associated with the activated profile.

21. The network device according to claim 20, wherein: The first access network includes a source access network node that sends the two or more different profiles to a target access network node associated with the second access network during user equipment mobility, or a macro cell that sends the two or more different profiles to a small cell associated with the second access network during dual connectivity; and The second access network includes a target access network node that receives the two or more different profiles from the source access network node during user equipment mobility, or a small cell that receives the two or more different profiles from a macro cell during dual connectivity.

22. The network device according to claim 20, wherein: The first network element further includes a core network of the wireless communication network for providing services to the first access network; and The second network element further includes: an edge network node, the edge network node being connected to the second access network using a capability exposure mechanism provided by the second access network; a target site associated with the second access network, wherein the two or more different configuration files are sent from the core network to the target site via the source site during movement of a user equipment from a source site associated with the first access network of the wireless communication network to the target site; or The small cell of the wireless communication network associated with the second access network, the two or more different configuration files are sent from the core network to the small cell via the macro cell of the wireless communication network associated with the first access network during dual connectivity.

23. The network device according to claim 20, wherein: The first network element further comprises a first user equipment connected to a first access network of the wireless communication network; The second network element further includes a second user equipment connected to the second access network; and The first user equipment selects the two or more different profiles from the first access network.

24. The network device according to claim 20, wherein: The first network element further includes a first edge network node, the first edge network node being connected to a first access network or a core network of the wireless communication network via a capability exposure mechanism provided by the wireless communication network; and The second network element includes a second edge network node connected to the second access network.

25. The network device according to claim 24, wherein: The second edge network node is connected to the second access network via a capability opening mechanism provided by the wireless communication network.

26. The network device according to claim 20, wherein: The two or more different profiles include a Quality of Service (QoS) profile.

27. The network device according to claim 26, wherein: The indication of the selected active profile includes a QoS profile identification.

28. A network device comprising one or more processors and one or more memories, wherein the one or more processors are configured to read computer code from the one or more memories to cause: a second network element of a wireless communication network receiving two or more different profiles for a data flow, wherein the two or more different profiles are estimated by a first network element of the wireless communication network and each profile comprises a set of transmission parameters for the data flow; The second network element selects a first configuration file from the two or more different configuration files as an activated configuration file; as well as The second network element sends an indication of a first configuration file selected from the two or more different configuration files to the first network element, wherein: The first network element includes a first access network of the wireless communication network; The second network element includes a second access network of the wireless communication network; Receiving the two or more different profiles involves at least the second access network receiving the two or more different profiles from the first access network; as well as The second network element causes the wireless communication network to configure transmission of the data flow based on the set of transmission parameters associated with the first profile.

29. The network device according to claim 28, further comprising: The second network element feeds back the selection of the first configuration file to the first network element.

30. The network device of claim 28, wherein: The first network element further includes a core network of the wireless communication network for providing services to the first access network; and The second network element further includes: a service data adaptation entity for selecting the first profile from the two or more different profiles, an edge network node, the edge network node being connected to the second access network via a capability exposure mechanism; or an application service node, the application service node being connected to the second access network; or a target cell of the wireless communication network associated with the second access network, the two or more different configuration files being sent from the core network to the target cell via a source cell associated with the first access network; or The two or more different configuration files are sent from the core network to the small cell of the wireless communication network related to the second access network via the macro cell of the wireless communication network related to the first access network.

31. The network device of claim 28, wherein The first network element further comprises a first user equipment connected to a first access network of the wireless communication network; The second network element further includes a second user equipment; and The first user equipment selects the two or more different profiles from the first access network.

32. The network device of claim 28, wherein The first network element further includes a first edge network node, the first edge network node being connected to a first access network or a core network of the wireless communication network via a capability exposure mechanism provided by the wireless communication network; and The second network element further includes a second edge network node connected to the second access network.

33. The network device of claim 28, wherein: The first access network includes a source access network node that sends the two or more different profiles to a target access network node associated with the second access network during user equipment mobility, or a macro cell that sends the two or more different profiles to a small cell associated with the second access network during dual connectivity; and The second network element further includes a target access network node that receives the two or more different profiles from the source access network node during user equipment mobility, or a small cell that receives the two or more different profiles from a macro cell during dual connectivity.

34. The network device of claim 28, wherein: The first network element further includes a core network of the wireless communication network; and The second network element further includes an edge network node and a service application node of the wireless communication network connected to the second access network, the edge network node being configured to select a subset of profiles from the two or more different profiles, and the service application node being configured to select the first profile from the subset of profiles as the activated profile.

35. The network device according to claim 28, wherein The two or more different profiles include a Quality of Service (QoS) profile.

36. The network device according to claim 35, wherein: The indication of selection of the first profile includes a QoS profile identification.

37. The network device according to claim 28, further comprising: The second network element modifies the activated profile from the first profile to a second profile according to the two or more different profiles during transmission of the data stream; The second network element causes the wireless communication network to reconfigure transmission of the data flow according to the second configuration file; and The second network element feeds back modification information from the first configuration file to the second configuration file to the first network element.

38. The network device according to claim 28, further comprising: The second network element detects a network condition for the data flow; The second network element generates a recommended transmission profile that is different from the two or more different profiles; and The second network element feeds back the recommended transmission profile to the core network of the wireless communication network.

39. A computer readable program medium having computer code stored thereon, which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

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