Communication method and communication apparatus

Abstract

The application provides a communication method and a communication device. The method comprises the following steps: after a first network device receives a radio resource control (RRC) connection establishment request message from a terminal device, the first network device sends an RRC connection establishment message to the terminal device; and the first network device receives an RRC connection establishment completion message from the terminal device and sends the RRC connection establishment completion message to a second network device. Through the application, the first network device can process the RRC message as independently as possible, and the processing burden of the second network device is reduced.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and a communication device. BACKGROUND

[0002] Generally, when a terminal device needs to enter a radio resource control connected state, the terminal device needs to send a radio resource control connection setup request message to a network device, so that the network device can send the radio resource control connection setup request message to other network devices.

[0003] However, the above manner can cause a large processing burden of the other network devices. SUMMARY

[0004] Embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and a communication device, which can effectively improve the processing burden of a second network device.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, which can be applied to a first network device or a chip, the chip can be arranged in the first network device, and the method comprises the following steps:

[0006] The first network device receives a radio resource control connection setup request message from a terminal device; the first network device sends a radio resource control connection setup message to the terminal device; and the first network device receives a radio resource control connection setup complete message from the terminal device and sends the radio resource control connection setup complete message to a second network device.

[0007] It can be understood that radio resource control messages or signaling before the radio resource control connection setup complete message are not sent to the second network device.

[0008] In embodiments of the present application, before the first network device receives the radio resource control connection setup complete message, the terminal device can independently process messages (such as a radio resource control setup request message or a radio resource control connection setup message) sent by the terminal device, so that the first network device can share as much signaling processing burden as possible to ensure that the second network device performs necessary processing.

[0009] In a possible implementation manner, the method further comprises: the first network device sends configuration information of a first signalling radio bearer (SRB) to the second network device, and the configuration information of the first SRB is configured by the first network device.

[0010] It can be understood that the configuration information of the first SRB can be included in the radio resource control connection setup complete message, or the configuration information of the first SRB is sent to the second network device through other messages, and the present embodiment is not limited thereto.

[0011] In a possible implementation, the sending of the radio resource control connection setup complete message to the second network device comprises: sending the radio resource control connection setup complete message to the second network device through a data plane interface or a signaling plane interface between the first network device and the second network device.

[0012] In a possible implementation, the radio resource control connection setup complete message carries indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate that the first network device needs to send the radio resource control connection setup complete message to the second network device.

[0013] In the present embodiment, by carrying the indication information in the radio resource control connection setup complete message, the first network device can explicitly know that it needs to send the radio resource control connection setup complete message to the second network device. Alternatively, the first network device can explicitly know that it cannot process the radio resource control connection setup complete message by itself, and the second network device needs to process it.

[0014] In a possible implementation, the receiving of the radio resource control connection setup request message from the terminal device by the first network device comprises: after receiving the radio resource control connection setup request message from the terminal device, the first network device determines not to send the radio resource control connection setup request message to the second network device.

[0015] In a second aspect, the present embodiment provides a communication apparatus, and the method comprises:

[0016] The second network device receives the radio resource control connection setup complete message sent by the first network device.

[0017] It can be understood that in the present embodiment, the radio resource control message or signaling is not processed before the second network device receives the radio resource control connection setup complete message. That is, the second network device will not receive the radio resource control connection setup request message before the radio resource control connection setup complete message. Through the present embodiment, the first network device can share as much signaling processing burden as possible to ensure that the second network device performs necessary processing. That is, through the present embodiment, on the one hand, the signaling processing burden of the second network device can be improved, and on the other hand, the power consumption of the second network device can be saved.

[0018] In a possible implementation, the second network device receives the radio resource control connection setup complete message sent by the first network device, including: receiving the radio resource control connection setup complete message sent by the first network device through a data plane interface or a signaling plane interface between the second network device and the first network device.

[0019] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: receiving configuration information of a first signaling radio bearer (SRB) sent by the first network device, the configuration information of the first SRB being configured by the first network device.

[0020] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus, which includes units for implementing the method in the first aspect, the second aspect, or any possible implementation.

[0021] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus, which includes a processor and a memory, the processor and the memory being connected with each other, the memory being configured to store a computer program, the computer program including program instructions, and the processor being configured to invoke the program instructions to execute the method in the first aspect or the method in the second aspect.

[0022] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip, which includes a processor and an interface, the processor and the interface being coupled; the interface is configured to receive or output a signal, and the processor is configured to execute code instructions to execute the method in the first aspect or the method in the second aspect.

[0023] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a module device, which includes a communication module, a power module, a storage module, and a chip module, where: the power module is configured to provide power for the module device; the storage module is configured to store data and instructions; the communication module is configured to perform internal communication of the module device, or to perform communication between the module device and an external device; and the chip module is configured to execute the method in the first aspect or the method in the second aspect.

[0024] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer readable storage medium, which stores a computer program, the computer program including program instructions, and the program instructions, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to execute the method in the first aspect or the method in the second aspect.

[0025] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, the communication system comprising a first network device and a second network device, the first network device being configured to perform the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation thereof, and the second network device being configured to perform the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0026] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application or the prior art, the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments or prior art description will be briefly introduced as follows.

[0027] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0028] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a communication scenario provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0029] Figure 3 is a flowchart of a radio resource control (RRC) connection establishment method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0030] Figure 4 is a flowchart of another RRC connection establishment method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0031] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a protocol stack provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0032] Figure 6 is a flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0033] Figure 7 is a flowchart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0034] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of a protocol stack provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0035] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of another protocol stack provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0036] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of still another protocol stack provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0037] Figure 11 is a structural schematic diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0038] Figure 12 is a structural schematic diagram of another communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0039] Figure 13 is a structural schematic diagram of a module device provided by an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0041] It should be noted that, in this document, the terms "comprising", "containing" or any other variant thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device that includes a list of elements not only includes those elements, but also includes other elements not explicitly listed, or further includes elements inherent in such a process, method, article or device. Without more limitations, the element defined by the statement "comprising a" does not exclude the presence of another identical element in the process, method, article or device comprising the element, in addition, the components, features, elements with the same name in different embodiments of the present application may have the same meaning or different meaning, and the specific meaning thereof should be determined in combination with the explanation thereof in the specific embodiment or further in combination with the context in the specific embodiment.

[0042] It should be understood that, in this document, the term "and / or" is only a description of the association relationship of the associated objects, which means that there can be three relationships, for example, A and / or B can represent the existence of A alone, the existence of A and B together, and the existence of B alone. In addition, the character " / " in this document represents an "or" relationship between the front and rear associated objects.

[0043] It should be understood that, in this document, "multiple" means two or more.

[0044] It should be understood that, in this document, the first, second, etc. description is only for illustration and differentiation of the described objects, and there is no order, nor does it represent a special limitation on the number of devices in the embodiments of the present application, and cannot constitute any limitation on the embodiments of the present application.

[0045] It should be understood that, in this document, the one-way communication link from the network device to the terminal device is defined as the downlink, the data transmitted on the downlink is the downlink data, and the transmission direction of the downlink data is called the downlink direction; while the one-way communication link from the terminal device to the network device is the uplink, the data transmitted on the uplink is the uplink data, and the transmission direction of the uplink data is called the uplink direction.

[0046] The technical solutions of the present application can be applied to a third generation (3th generation, 3G) mobile communication system, a fourth generation (4th generation, 4G) mobile communication system, a fifth generation (5th generation, 5G) mobile communication system, also known as a new radio (New Radio, NR) system, or a sixth generation (6th generation, 6G) mobile communication system or other future communication systems.

[0047] The technical solutions of the present application are also applicable to different network architectures, including but not limited to a relay network architecture, a dual link architecture, a vehicle-to-everything (vehicle-to-everything) architecture.

[0048] In the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device can refer to various forms of user equipment (user equipment, UE), access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station (mobile station, MS), remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, wireless communication device, user agent or user equipment. The terminal device can also be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (session initiation protocol, SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (wireless local loop, WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (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 device in a 5G network or a terminal device in a future evolved public land mobile network (public land mobile network, PLMN) and the like. The embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0049] In an embodiment of the present application, the network device can be a device with wireless transceiving function or a chip provided in the device. The network device includes, but is not limited to, an evolved node B (eNB), a radio network controller (RNC), a node B (NB), a network device controller (BSC), a network device transceiver station (BTS), a home network device (for example, a home evolved node B or a home node B (HNB)), a baseband unit (BBU), a wireless relay node, a wireless backhaul node, a transmission and reception point (TRP or transmission point (TP)), and the like. The network device can also be a device used in a 4G, 5G, 6G or the like system, and the like, which is not limited herein.

[0050] Referring to Figure 1 , Figure 1 is a structural diagram of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application. The communication system can include, but is not limited to, one or more network devices and one or more terminal devices, such as Figure 1 Take one network device 101 and one terminal device 102 as an example, wherein Figure 1 the network device 101 in the network device 101 is taken as an example, and the terminal device 102 is taken as an example. The terminal device 102 can establish a wireless link with the network device 101 to communicate. Figure 1 The communication system shown includes, but is not limited to, network devices and terminal devices, and can also include other communication devices, Figure 1 The number and form of the devices shown are used for example and do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments of the present application.

[0051] Figure 2 is a communication scenario diagram provided by an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 2 shown, the terminal device (such as Figure 2 Two users in the indoor environment) can achieve indoor coverage through a premises radio access station (PRAS) and an evolved residential gateway (eRG). For example, the PRAS can achieve air interface coverage function, so that the terminal device can achieve network access based on Uu interface. The eRG can achieve broadband access, which can access the Internet (such as Figure 2 the second curve shown) or access the core network of the mobile communication network (such asFigure 2 The first curve shown, such as a 5G core network (5GC) (e.g., an access and mobility management function (AMF) or a user plane function (UPF)), or an evolved packet core (EPC). Thus, the terminal device can directly access the core network of the mobile communication network, or access the core network of the mobile communication network through the access network of the mobile communication network.

[0052] Statistics show that indoor traffic accounts for about 70%, that is, people use a lot of data time indoors. Therefore, users can use mobile operator networks such as home base stations or home (evolved) node base stations (H(e)NB) when indoors. With further development of technology, on the basis of H(e)NB, the following scenarios are expanded: outdoor picocells, indoor picocells, outdoor microcells, and indoor microcells. The home deployment of H(e)NB can be referred to as a femtocell. The above femtocells, picocells, and microcells are collectively referred to as small cells.

[0053] That is, in this application, the network device can include a first network device and a second network device. For example, the terminal device can access the network through the first network device and the second network device. The first network device shown in this application can also be referred to as a home base station, a femtocell, a picocell, a microcell, a small cell, a small base station, a PRAS, or an eRG, etc. This application does not limit it. Or, the first network device shown in this application can also be referred to as an indoor AP, a distributed unit (DU), a DU of a base station, or an upgraded DU (not limited to the DU of the existing standard), etc. This application does not limit it.

[0054] It can be understood that the second network device shown in the present application can be understood as another network device connected with the first network device, which can be referred to as a macro station, a CU or a CU of a base station, etc., and the present application does not limit this. Optionally, the second network device can interact with one or more first network devices, thereby ensuring the communication of the UE connected with each first network device. Optionally, the second network device can also be understood as a network device for controlling one or more first network devices. For example, the second network device can be a CU, and the first network device can be a DU. In this case, one CU can be connected with one or more DUs, so that the CU can control or manage the one or more DUs.

[0055] It can be understood that the specific names or communication connection modes of the first network device and the second network device are not limited in the present application. For ease of description, the communication method shown in the present application will be described below by taking the first network device as a small base station and the second network device as a macro station as an example.

[0056] Figure 3 is a flow diagram of an RRC connection establishment method provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 3 , when the UE establishes an RRC connection, the UE can send an RRC connection establishment request message (RRCSetupRequest) to the base station (as shown in Figure 3 Msg3), and after the base station receives the RRC connection establishment request message, the base station feeds back an RRC connection establishment message (as shown in Figure 3 Msg4) to the UE. Thus, after the UE receives the RRC connection establishment message, the UE sends an RRC connection establishment completion message (as shown in Figure 3 Msg5) to the base station. Therefore, it can be illustrated that the UE can enter an RRC connected state. In this case, the UE can interact with a core network device such as an AMF through the base station, such as the base station can select an AMF or perform authentication and authorization, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this. It can be understood that the specific description of Msg1 to Msg5 is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0057] It can be understood that Figure 3The signaling flow of UE accessing network in current NR system is given. For example, the base station can complete the establishment of SRB1 through the RRC connection establishment (RRCSetup) message. For another example, in the fifth step, the UE can perform the first NAS signaling transmission through the RRC connection establishment completion (RRCSetupComplete) message. That is, at this time, the base station needs to determine the offloading core network, whether to transmit the NAS signaling to the local core network (if any) or to the operator's core network.

[0058] With the evolution of standard technology, the base station can include a distributed unit (DU) and a centralized unit (CU). Figure 4 The signaling flow of UE accessing network in the case of CU and DU separation is shown. Since there is no RRC layer on the DU, after the DU receives the RRC connection establishment request (RRCSetupRequest) message sent by the UE, the DU needs to transparently transmit the RRC connection establishment request message to the CU. For example, the DU can include the low-layer configuration of the UE in the F1AP initial uplink RRC message transfer message and send the message to the CU. Thus, the CU allocates the F1AP identifier for the UE and generates the RRC connection establishment message, which is encapsulated in the F1AP downlink RRC message transfer. After the UE receives the RRC connection establishment message sent by the DU, the UE can send the RRC connection establishment completion message. After the DU receives the RRC connection establishment completion message, the DU encapsulates the RRC connection establishment completion message in the F1AP downlink RRC message transfer message and sends the message to the CU. For example, the protocol / function division between CU and DU can be referred to Figure 5 . It can be understood that the specific description of Figure 5 can be referred to the related standards or protocols, etc., which will not be described one by one here.

[0059] In combination with the RRC connection establishment method shown in Figures 3 to 5 , and Figure 2In the illustrated communication scenario, if the small base station and the macro station also adopt the CU-DU separated architecture, the small base station serves as the DU, and the macro station serves as the CU. On one hand, the macro station has a heavy burden. In the future, there can be thousands of small base stations accessing the macro station, that is, in the coverage of one macro station, there can be many small base stations of families accessing the network through the macro station, and thus the macro station has a heavy processing burden. On the other hand, it is unnecessary because the small base station only needs to determine how to forward the NAS message at the RRCSetupComplete message, and before that, the small base station can completely handle the RRC signaling by itself.

[0060] In view of this, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and a communication device. In the communication method, the small base station can handle the RRC message (or RRC signaling, etc.) by itself before receiving the RRC setup complete message. Thus, on one hand, the processing burden of the macro station can be improved, and on the other hand, the UE can effectively perform the RRC connection establishment process.

[0061] Figure 6 FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The method can be applied to the communication system as shown in FIG. 1, and the first network device can include any one of an AP, a small base station, a DU, etc., and the second network device can include any one of a macro station or a CU, etc. It can be understood that the description of the first network device and the second network device can refer to the foregoing, and will not be described here. For ease of description, the method provided by the embodiments of the present application will be described below by taking the small base station and the macro station as examples, but the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. As shown in FIG. 1, the method includes the following steps. Figure 1 Figure 6

[0062] 601、The UE sends an RRC connection establishment request message to the small base station, and correspondingly, the small base station receives the RRC connection establishment request message.

[0063] It can be understood that when the small base station receives the RRC connection establishment request message, it does not need to send the RRC connection establishment request message to the macro station. That is, the small base station can independently process the RRC connection establishment request message, and thus feed back the RRC connection establishment message to the UE. Optionally, before the RRC connection establishment complete message, the small base station can not send the RRC message or the RRC signaling, such as the RRC connection establishment request message or the RRC establishment message, to the macro station.

[0064] ​​Optionally, after receiving the RRC connection setup request message, the small cell can also determine not to send the RRC connection setup request message to the macro cell. For example, the RRC connection setup request message can carry indication information, which can be used to indicate whether to send the RRC connection setup request message to the macro cell. For another example, if the UE has determined to access the Internet directly, the small cell does not need to forward the RRC connection setup request message to the macro cell. For another example, if the UE has determined to access the network of the mobile operator, the small cell needs to forward the RRC connection setup request message to the macro cell. The UE determining to access the Internet or the network of the mobile operator can be based on UE implementation, network or user configuration, or service characteristics, such as data service directly accessing the Internet and voice service accessing the network of the mobile operator. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the method of the UE determining to access the Internet or the network of the mobile operator.

[0065] 602. The small cell sends an RRC connection setup message to the UE, and correspondingly, the UE receives the RRC connection setup message.

[0066] In the embodiment of the present application, the small cell does not need to send the RRC connection setup message to the macro cell or the centralized unit connected to the small cell. That is, the small cell can independently or autonomously process the RRC connection setup message. Optionally, the small cell can configure the configuration information of the first SRB. For example, the configuration information of the first SRB can include the configuration information of SRB1, such as the RRC connection setup message carrying the configuration information of SRB1.

[0067] 603. The UE sends an RRC connection setup complete message to the small cell, and correspondingly, the small cell receives the RRC connection setup complete message.

[0068] 604. The small cell sends the RRC connection setup complete message to the macro cell.

[0069] Optionally, the small cell can send the RRC connection setup complete message to the macro cell through the data plane interface or the signaling plane interface between the small cell and the macro cell. The specific description of the data plane interface and the signaling plane interface can be referred to Figures 8 to 10 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0070] Optionally, after receiving the RRC connection setup complete message, the small cell can interact with the macro cell to access the public mobile communication network. For example, the small cell can send an initialization uplink RRC transmission message to the macro cell, and the initialization uplink RRC transmission message can carry the RRC connection setup complete message.

[0071] Optionally, the initial uplink RRC transmission message can also carry configuration information of SRB1. The small base station sends the configuration information of SRB1 to the macro base station because SRB1 has been established between the small base station and the UE, and the macro base station can need to transmit RRC signaling through SRB1, and therefore can need to know the configuration information of SRB1.

[0072] Optionally, the configuration information of SRB1 can be contained in the same message as the RRC connection setup complete message, or can be contained in different messages, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this. For example, the small base station can also send the configuration information of SRB1 to the macro base station through other information.

[0073] Optionally, the RRC connection setup complete message carries indication information, which can be used to indicate that the small base station sends the RRC connection setup complete message to the macro base station.

[0074] Optionally, after the macro base station receives the initial uplink RRC transmission message, the macro base station can perform AMF selection, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0075] In the embodiments of the present application, before the small base station receives the RRC connection setup complete message, the small base station can independently process the RRC message or RRC signaling sent by the UE, so that the small base station can share as much RRC signaling processing burden as possible to ensure that the macro base station performs necessary processing.

[0076] Figure 7 is a flow diagram of another communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. In the communication method, the first network device is taken as an example of a 5G AP (which can also be a DU), and the second network device is taken as an example of a donor gNB (which can also be a CU). It can be understood that the donor gNB shown in the embodiments of the present application is a gNB via which the 5G AP accesses the mobile communication network. That is, the 5G AP can not directly access the mobile communication network and needs to pass through the donor gNB as a relay. As shown in Figure 7 The method comprises the following steps.

[0077] 700, the 5G AP sends a synchronization message or a system message to the UE, and correspondingly, the UE receives the synchronization message or the system message.

[0078] Exemplarily, the synchronization message or system message can include one or more of a primary synchronization signal (PSS), a secondary synchronization signal (SSS), a master information block (MIB), or a system information block 1 (SIB1).

[0079] 701. The UE initiates random access, and sends a random access preamble to the 5G AP. Correspondingly, the 5G AP receives the random access preamble.

[0080] It can be understood that the random access preamble can also be referred to as message 1 (Msg1). Alternatively, the random access preamble can also be referred to as being included in Msg1.

[0081] 702. The 5G AP sends a random access response to the UE, and correspondingly, the UE receives the random access response.

[0082] It can be understood that the random access response can also be referred to as message 2 (Msg2). Alternatively, the random access response can also be referred to as being included in Msg2.

[0083] 703. The UE sends an RRC connection setup request message to the 5G AP, and correspondingly, the 5G AP receives the RRC connection setup request message.

[0084] It can be understood that the RRC connection setup request message can also be referred to as message 3 (Msg3). Alternatively, the RRC connection setup request message can also be referred to as being included in Msg3.

[0085] 704. The 5G AP sends an RRC connection setup message to the UE, and correspondingly, the UE receives the RRC connection setup message.

[0086] It can be understood that the RRC connection setup message can also be referred to as message 4 (Msg4). Alternatively, the RRC connection setup message can also be referred to as being included in Msg4.

[0087] Optionally, the RRC connection setup message can carry configuration information of SRB1. That is, the 5G AP can autonomously configure SRB1 for the UE, without requesting the donor gNB to configure the SRB1.

[0088] 705. The UE sends an RRC connection setup complete message to the 5G AP, and correspondingly, the 5G AP receives the RRC connection setup complete message.

[0089] It can be understood that the RRC connection establishment completion message can also be referred to as message 5 (Msg5), or can also be referred to as the RRC connection establishment completion message included in Msg5.

[0090] Optionally, the RRC connection establishment completion message can carry indication information, which is used to instruct the 5G AP to send the RRC connection establishment completion message to the donor gNB. That is, the UE can explicitly indicate to the 5G AP that it needs to access the mobile communication network through the indication information. In combination with Figure 1 , the UE can indicate through the indication information that it needs to access the network indicated by the first curve.

[0091] Optionally, the RRC connection establishment completion message can carry configuration information of SRB1 (such as Figure 8 indicated). Or, the configuration information of the SRB1 can be carried in other messages, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this.

[0092] Optionally, the RRC connection establishment completion message can carry a registration request (registration request) or a service request (service request). The registration request can be used to request user initial network registration or tracking area / registration area update, etc., and the service request can be used to establish a signaling bearer to the core network.

[0093] 706, the 5G AP determines that the UE needs to access the public mobile communication network.

[0094] Exemplarily, the 5G AP can determine that the UE needs to access the public mobile communication network according to the indication information in the RRC connection establishment completion message. Or, the 5G AP can negotiate with the UE, as long as the UE sends the RRC connection establishment completion message, it means that the UE needs to access the public mobile communication network. It can be understood that Figure 7 The reason why step 706 shown in the dashed line is that when the 5G AP receives the RRC connection establishment completion message, it can directly send the RRC connection establishment completion message to the donor gNB. That is, the 5G AP can not need to determine that the UE needs to access the public mobile communication network, and can send the RRC connection establishment completion message to the donor gNB.

[0095] 707, the 5G AP sends the RRC connection establishment completion message to the donor gNB, and correspondingly, the donor gNB receives the RRC connection establishment completion message.

[0096] Exemplarily, the 5G AP can send the RRC connection establishment completion message to the donor gNB through the initial UL RRC information transmission message.

[0097] It can be understood that the description about the RRC connection setup complete message can refer to the description of 805 above, which will not be described in detail here.

[0098] The following will be described in combination with Figures 8 to 10 The data plane interface and the signaling plane interface between the 5G AP and the donor gNB are described. It can be understood that the description about the data plane interface and the signaling plane interface is also applicable to Figure 6 The small base station and the macro station shown in FIG. 1.

[0099] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of a control plane protocol stack provided by an embodiment of the present application. The RRC signaling of the air interface can be sent from the 5G AP to the donor gNB as data. For example, the RRC connection setup complete message shown in the embodiment of the present application can be sent to the donor gNB by the user plane PDUs shown in Figure 8 That is to say, before the 5G AP receives the RRC connection setup complete message, the RRC message and the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) packet are processed at the 5G AP (or PRAS or eRG or DU, etc.). After the 5G AP receives the RRC connection setup complete message, the RRC message (including the RRC connection setup complete message) and the PDCP packet can be processed at the donor gNB (or CU).

[0100] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of another control plane protocol stack provided by an embodiment of the present application. The RRC signaling (also referred to as the RRC message) of the air interface can be sent to the donor gNB by the F1 signaling between the 5G AP and the donor gNB. For example, the RRC connection setup complete message shown in the embodiment of the present application can be sent to the donor gNB by the F1AP shown in Figure 10 .

[0101] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of a user plane protocol stack provided by an embodiment of the present application. For example, the RRC connection setup complete message shown in the embodiment of the present application can be sent to the donor gNB by the user plane PDUs shown in Figure 11 .

[0102] 708、The 5G AP sends an initial UE message to the AMF, and correspondingly, the AMF receives the initial UE message.

[0103] It can be understood that the 5G AP can also select the AMF before sending the initial UE information. For example, the 5G AP can establish a connection with multiple AMFs, and then the 5G AP can select an AMF with a lighter load according to the load of each AMF and establish a connection with the selected AMF.

[0104] For example, the initial UE information can carry a registration request.

[0105] 709、The AMF initiates an authentication process according to a requirement.

[0106] For example, if the AMF does not have the UE's identification information such as a subscription concealed identifier (SUCI), the AMF can request the UE's identification information from the UE. For example, the AMF can send an identity request to the UE, and the UE returns an identity response to the AMF after receiving the identity request.

[0107] It can be understood that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific method of the authentication process between the AMF and the UE.

[0108] Optionally, the AMF can also send an initial context setup request to the donor gNB, and the donor gNB sends a UE capability enquiry to the UE. Thus, the UE sends UE capability information to the donor gNB, and the donor gNB sends a UE capability information indication to the AMF.

[0109] Optionally, the donor gNB can also send a security mode command to the UE, and the UE returns a security mode complete to the donor gNB after receiving the security mode command.

[0110] Optionally, the donor gNB can also send an RRC connection reconfig to the UE, and the UE can send an RRC connection reconfig complete to the donor gNB after receiving the RRC connection reconfig. The donor gNB can also send an initial context setup response to the AMF.

[0111] Optionally, the UE can also send an UL information transfer to the donor gNB, and the donor gNB can send an UL NAS transport to the AMF after receiving the UL information transfer. Optionally, the UL information transfer can carry an authentication complete. Optionally, the UL NAS transport can also carry an authentication complete.

[0112] In the embodiments of the present application, the RRC message or RRC signaling sent by the UE can be processed independently before the 5G AP receives the RRC connection setup complete message, so that the donor gNB can share as much RRC signaling processing burden as possible to ensure that the donor gNB can perform necessary processing.

[0113] Figure 11 Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application. The device can be a first network device, a device in the first network device, or a device that can be used in matching with the first network device. Figure 11 The communication device shown can include a receiving unit 1101 and a sending unit 1102. Alternatively, the receiving unit 1101 and the sending unit 1102 can be collectively referred to as a communication unit or the like. Alternatively, the receiving unit 1101 and the sending unit 1102 can be integrated into one unit or the like, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this. Among them,

[0114] The receiving unit 1101 is configured to receive a radio resource control connection setup request message from a terminal device.

[0115] The sending unit 1102 is configured to send a radio resource control connection setup message to the terminal device.

[0116] The receiving unit 1101 is further configured to receive a radio resource control connection setup complete message from the terminal device.

[0117] The sending unit 1102 is further configured to send the radio resource control connection setup complete message to a second network device.

[0118] Optionally, the sending unit 1102 is further configured to send configuration information of a first signaling radio bearer (SRB) to the second network device, wherein the configuration information of the first SRB is configured by the first network device.

[0119] Optionally, the sending unit 1102 is specifically configured to send the radio resource control connection setup complete message to the second network device through a data plane interface or a signaling plane interface between the first network device and the second network device.

[0120] It can be understood that, Figure 11 The communication apparatus shown in the figure can further include a processing unit 1103, which can be configured to acquire the radio resource control connection setup message. Optionally, the processing unit 1103 can be configured to determine the configuration information of the first SRB. Optionally, the processing unit 1103 can be configured to determine that the second network device is not sent the radio resource control connection setup request message after receiving the radio resource control connection setup request message, etc. The present application is not limited.

[0121] It can be understood that the above description of the receiving unit 1101, the sending unit 1102 and the processing unit 1103 is only an example, and the specific description of each unit can also refer to the above, which will not be repeated here.

[0122] Multiplexing Figure 11 , Figure 11 Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application. The apparatus can be a second network device, or a device in the second network device, or a device capable of matching the second network device. Figure 11 The communication apparatus shown in the figure can include a receiving unit 1101 and a sending unit 1102. Alternatively, the receiving unit 1101 and the sending unit 1102 can be collectively referred to as a communication unit or the like. Alternatively, the receiving unit 1101 and the sending unit 1102 can be integrated into one unit or the like, and the present application is not limited thereto. Among them,

[0123] The receiving unit 1101 is configured to receive a radio resource control connection setup complete message sent by a first network device.

[0124] Optionally, the sending unit 1102 is configured to send initial UE information to the AMF, and the present application is not limited.

[0125] It can be understood that the processing unit 1103 can be configured to acquire the initial UE information. Alternatively, the control sending unit 1102 sends the initial UE information or the like.

[0126] It can be understood that the above description of the receiving unit 1101, the sending unit 1102 and the processing unit 1103 is only an example, and the specific description of each unit can also refer to the above, which will not be repeated here.

[0127] Figure 12 FIG. 13 is a structural schematic diagram of another communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0128] In some embodiments of the present application, Figure 12 The communication apparatus shown can be used to implement the functions of the first network device (such as a small base station or a 5G AP) in the above Figure 6 or Figure 7 . The communication apparatus can be the first network device or an apparatus for the first network device. The apparatus for the first network device can be a chip system or a chip in the first network device. The chip system can be composed of a chip, or can contain a chip and other discrete devices.

[0129] In some other embodiments of the present application, Figure 12 The communication apparatus shown can be used to implement the functions of the second network device (such as a macro station or a donor gNB) in the above Figure 6 or Figure 7 . The communication apparatus can be the second network device or an apparatus for the second network device. The apparatus for the second network device can be a chip system or a chip in the second network device.

[0130] The communication apparatus includes at least one processor 1220 for implementing the data processing function of the first network device or the second network device in the method provided by the embodiments of the present application. The apparatus 1200 can also include a communication interface 1210 for implementing the transceiving operation of the first network device or the second network device in the method provided by the embodiments of the present application. For example, the specific description of the processor 1220 can refer to the description of the processing unit in Figure 11 , and the specific description of the communication interface 1210 can refer to the description of the sending unit and the receiving unit in Figure 11 , which will not be repeated here.

[0131] In the embodiments of the present application, the processor 1220 can be a central processing unit (CPU), and can also be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, discrete gates or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or the processor can also be any conventional processor. In the embodiments of the present application, the communication interface 1210 can be a transceiver, a circuit, a bus, a module or other types of communication interfaces for communicating with other devices through transmission media. For example, the communication interface 1210 is configured to enable the apparatus 1200 to communicate with other devices. The processor 1220 transceives data through the communication interface 1210, and is configured to implement the method embodiments described above Figure 2 The method.

[0132] The communication apparatus 1200 can further include at least one memory 1230 configured to store program instructions and / or data. The memory 1230 is coupled to the processor 1220. The coupling between the apparatuses, units or modules in the embodiments of the present application is indirect coupling or communication connection between the apparatuses, units or modules, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms, and is used for information interaction between the apparatuses, units or modules. The processor 1220 can operate in cooperation with the memory 1230. The processor 1220 can execute the program instructions stored in the memory 1230. At least one of the at least one memory can be included in the processor.

[0133] When the communication apparatus 1200 is powered on, the processor 1220 can read the software program in the memory 1230, interpret and execute the instructions of the software program, and process the data of the software program. When data needs to be transmitted wirelessly, the processor 1220 performs baseband processing on the data to be transmitted, and outputs the baseband signal to the radio frequency circuit (not shown), which performs radio frequency processing on the baseband signal and transmits the radio frequency signal in the form of electromagnetic waves through the antenna. When data is transmitted to the apparatus 1200, the radio frequency circuit receives the radio frequency signal through the antenna, converts the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor 1220, which converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data. Figure 12

[0134] ​In another implementation, the radio frequency circuit and the antenna can be arranged independently of the processor 1220 that performs baseband processing, for example, in a distributed scenario, the radio frequency circuit and the antenna can be arranged in a remote manner from the communication apparatus.

[0135] The specific connection medium between the communication interface 1210, the processor 1220 and the memory 1230 is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. In the embodiments of the present application, the memory 1230, the processor 1220 and the communication interface 1210 are connected through a bus 1240, and the bus is represented by a thick line in the figure, and the connection mode between other components is only schematically illustrated and is not limited. The bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus and the like. For the convenience of representation, only one thick line is used to represent the bus in the figure, but it does not mean that there is only one bus or only one type of bus. Figure 12 Figure 12 The connection mode between other components is only schematically illustrated and is not limited. The bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus and the like. For the convenience of representation, only one thick line is used to represent the bus in the figure, but it does not mean that there is only one bus or only one type of bus. Figure 12

[0136] When the communication apparatus 1200 is specifically a first network device, for example, the communication apparatus 1200 is specifically a chip or a chip system, the communication interface 1210 can output or receive a baseband signal. When the communication apparatus 1200 is specifically a first network device, the communication interface 1210 can output or receive a radio frequency signal.

[0137] It should be noted that the communication apparatus can perform the related steps of the first network device or the second network device in the foregoing method embodiments, and specific implementation manners are provided in the foregoing steps, which will not be described herein.

[0138] For each apparatus or product applied to or integrated into the communication apparatus, each module contained therein can be realized in a hardware manner such as a circuit, different modules can be located in the same component (for example, a chip, a circuit module or the like) or different components in the terminal, or at least part of the modules can be realized in a software program manner, the software program runs in the processor integrated in the terminal, and the remaining (if any) part of the modules can be realized in a hardware manner such as a circuit.

[0139] ​​The aforementioned memory can be volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or may include both. Non-volatile memory can be read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory can be random access memory (RAM), which serves as an external cache. By way of example, but not limitation, many forms of random access memory (RAM) are available, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchronous linked dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM).

[0140] This application provides a chip. The chip includes a processor and a memory. The number of processors can be one or more, and the number of memories can be one or more. The processor can execute the above-described functions by reading instructions and data stored in the memory. Figure 6 and / or Figure 7 The method shown, and the steps performed in the related implementation methods.

[0141] like Figure 13 As shown, Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of a module device provided in an embodiment of this application. The module device 1300 can execute the relevant steps of the first network device in the aforementioned method embodiment. The module device 1300 includes: a communication module 1301, a power module 1302, a storage module 1303, and a chip module 1304. The power module 1302 provides power to the module device; the storage module 1303 stores data and instructions; the communication module 1301 performs internal communication within the module device or communication between the module device and external devices; the chip module 1304 can perform the aforementioned steps...Figure 6 the method shown, and steps performed by the related embodiments. Figure 7 the method shown, and steps performed by the related embodiments.

[0142] The computer readable storage medium in the embodiments of the present application further stores a computer program. The computer program includes program instructions. When the program instructions are executed by a processor, the above-mentioned method can be executed. Figure 6 the method shown, and steps performed by the related embodiments. Figure 7 the method shown, and steps performed by the related embodiments.

[0143] The computer readable storage medium can be an internal storage unit of the first network device or the second network device in any of the preceding embodiments, for example, a hard disk or a memory of the device. The computer readable storage medium can also be an external storage device of the first network device or the second network device, for example, a plug-in hard disk, a smart media card (SMC), a secure digital (SD) card, a flash card, etc. Further, the computer readable storage medium can include both an internal storage unit and an external storage device of the first network device or the second network device. The computer readable storage medium is used to store the computer program and other programs and data required by the first network device or the second network device. The computer readable storage medium can also be used to temporarily store data that has been output or will be output. The computer readable storage medium can be any available medium accessible by a computer or a data storage device such as a server, a data center, etc. containing one or more sets of available media. The available medium can be a magnetic medium (for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (for example, a digital video disc (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium. The semiconductor medium can be a solid state disk.

[0144] The above-described embodiments can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, the above-described embodiments 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 or computer programs. When the computer instructions or computer programs are loaded or executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are wholly or partially generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable devices. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transferred from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium, for example, the computer instructions can be transferred from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center through a wired or wireless manner.

[0145] It should be understood that the size of the sequence number of each process described above in various embodiments of the present application does not mean the order of execution, and the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and inherent logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0146] In several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed methods, devices and systems can be implemented in other ways. For example, the above-described device embodiments are only illustrative; for example, the division of the units is only a logical function division, and actual implementation can have another division manner; for example, a plurality of units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection between the displayed or discussed units can be indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0147] The units described as separate components can or can not be physically separated, and the components shown as units can or can not be physical units, that is, they can be located in one place, or they can be distributed on a plurality of network units. Part or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the embodiments of the present application.

[0148] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application can be integrated in one processing unit, or each unit can be physically included separately, or two or more units can be integrated in one unit. The integrated unit can be realized in the form of hardware or in the form of hardware plus software functional unit.

[0149] The integrated unit in the form of software function unit can be stored in a computer readable storage medium. The software function unit is stored in a storage medium and includes a plurality of instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a second network device, etc.) to execute part of the steps of the method according to the embodiments of the present application.

[0150] Those skilled in the art can understand that all or part of the processes in the above-mentioned embodiments can be completed by a computer program instructing related hardware. The program can be stored in a computer readable storage medium and can include the processes of the above-mentioned embodiments when executed.

[0151] The above only discloses one preferred embodiment of the present application, and of course cannot limit the scope of the present application. Those skilled in the art can understand that all or part of the processes of the above-mentioned embodiments and equivalent changes made according to the claims of the present application still belong to the scope covered by the present application.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method comprises: The first network device receives a radio resource control connection establishment request message from a terminal device, and does not send the radio resource control connection establishment request message to a second network device; The first network device sends a radio resource control connection establishment message to the terminal device, wherein the radio resource control connection establishment message is a message generated by the first network device itself; The first network device receives a radio resource control connection establishment completion message from the terminal device, and sends the radio resource control connection establishment completion message to the second network device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The method further comprises: The first network device sends configuration information of a first signaling radio bearer (SRB) to the second network device, wherein the configuration information of the first SRB is configured by the first network device.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The sending of the radio resource control connection establishment completion message to the second network device comprises: The radio resource control connection establishment completion message is sent to the second network device through a data plane interface or a signaling plane interface between the first network device and the second network device.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that, The radio resource control connection establishment completion message carries indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate that the first network device sends the radio resource control connection establishment completion message to the second network device.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that, The first network device receiving a radio resource control connection establishment request message from a terminal device comprises: After receiving the radio resource control connection establishment request message from the terminal device, the first network device determines not to send the radio resource control connection establishment request message to the second network device.

6. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method comprises: The second network device receives a radio resource control connection establishment completion message sent by a first network device; wherein, before the second network device receives the radio resource control connection establishment completion message, the first network device receives a radio resource control connection establishment request message from a terminal device, and the first network device does not send the radio resource control connection establishment request message to the second network device; and the second network device does not generate a radio resource control connection establishment message, and the radio resource control connection establishment message is generated by the first network device itself.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, The second network device receiving a radio resource control connection establishment completion message sent by a first network device comprises: The radio resource control connection establishment completion message sent by the first network device is received by the second network device through a data plane interface or a signaling plane interface between the second network device and the first network device.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, The method further comprises: Configuration information of a first signaling radio bearer (SRB) sent by the first network device is received, wherein the configuration information of the first SRB is configured by the first network device.

9. A communications device, characterized by The apparatus comprises: A receiving unit is configured to receive a radio resource control connection establishment request message from a terminal device, and not to send the radio resource control connection establishment request message to a second network device; The sending unit is configured to send a radio resource control connection setup message to the terminal device, the radio resource control connection setup message being a message generated by the communication apparatus itself. The receiving unit is further configured to receive a radio resource control connection setup complete message from the terminal device. The sending unit is further configured to send the radio resource control connection setup complete message to a second network device.

10. A communications device, characterized by The apparatus comprises: The receiving unit is configured to receive a radio resource control connection setup complete message sent by a first network device; wherein, before the second network device receives the radio resource control connection setup complete message, the first network device receives a radio resource control connection setup request message from a terminal device, and the first network device does not send the radio resource control connection setup request message to the second network device; and the second network device does not generate a radio resource control connection setup message, the radio resource control connection setup message being generated by the first network device itself.

11. A communications device, characterized by The communication apparatus comprises a processor and a memory, the processor and the memory are connected to each other, wherein the memory is configured to store a computer program, and the processor is configured to invoke the computer program, so that the method in any one of claims 1 to 5 is executed, or so that the method in any one of claims 6 to 8 is executed.

12. A chip, characterized by The chip comprises a processor and an interface, the processor and the interface are coupled; the interface is configured to receive or output signals, and the processor is configured to execute code instructions, so that the method in any one of claims 1 to 5 is executed, or so that the method in any one of claims 6 to 8 is executed.

13. A modular device, comprising: The module device comprises a communication module, a power module, a storage module and a chip module, wherein: The power module is configured to provide electric energy for the module device; The storage module is configured to store data and instructions; The communication module is configured to perform internal communication of the module device, or to perform communication between the module device and an external device; The chip module is configured to execute the method in any one of claims 1 to 5, or to execute the method in any one of claims 6 to 8.

14. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer readable storage medium stores a computer program, and the computer program, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to execute the method in any one of claims 1 to 5, or to execute the method in any one of claims 6 to 8.

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