Network slice based cell determination method and related products

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application disclose a cell determination method based on network slices and related products, comprising: determining at least one first network slice by a terminal device; and determining a first cell to be accessed by the terminal device according to the at least one first network slice. The embodiments of the present application are beneficial to wireless communication based on network slices, improve the target of cell access, and refine the utilization of network resources.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, in particular to a cell determination method based on network slices and related products. BACKGROUND

[0002] It is well known that the strong demand for wireless communication in vertical markets, in order to meet the needs of vertical industries in terms of delay, mobility, reliability, location accuracy, etc., the random access network needs to enhance how to support vertical services in the access network. One way is to base on network slices, network slices are a kind of on-demand networking, which can separate multiple virtual end-to-end networks on a unified infrastructure, each network slice is logically isolated from the wireless access network bearer network to the core network, in order to adapt to various types of applications, to provide lower latency, more targeted, greater flexibility and higher scalability services for multiple services with different needs.

[0003] Currently, the selection of terminal devices for public land mobile networks (PLMN) and cells does not take into account the needs of terminal devices for network slices, so how terminal devices access corresponding cells through configured network slices is a problem to be solved. SUMMARY

[0004] Embodiments of the present application provide a cell determination method based on network slices and related devices, in order to realize wireless communication based on network slices, improve the target of cell access, and refine the utilization of network resources.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a cell determination method based on network slices, comprising:

[0006] The terminal device determines at least one first network slice;

[0007] The terminal device determines a first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice.

[0008] In a second aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a cell determination method based on network slices, comprising:

[0009] When the network device receives a first message, it sends first information to the terminal device, the first information includes at least one network slice information, the network slice information is used by the terminal device to determine at least one first network slice, and to determine a first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice, the first message is a location update message initiated by the terminal device, or a configuration update message initiated by the terminal device.

[0010] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a terminal device, comprising a processing unit and a communication unit, wherein

[0011] The processing unit is configured to determine at least one first network slice, and determine a first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice through the communication unit.

[0012] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a network device, comprising a processing unit and a communication unit, wherein

[0013] The processing unit is configured to send first information to a terminal device through the communication unit when receiving a first message, the first information comprising at least one network slice information, the network slice information being used by the terminal device to determine at least one first network slice and determine a first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice, the first message being a location update message initiated by the terminal device or a configuration update message initiated by the terminal device.

[0014] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip, comprising: a processor configured to call and run a computer program from a memory, so that a device installed with the chip performs part or all steps described in any method of the first aspect of the present application.

[0015] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip, comprising: a processor configured to call and run a computer program from a memory, so that a device installed with the chip performs part or all steps described in any method of the second aspect of the present application.

[0016] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a terminal device, comprising a processor, a memory, a communication interface and one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the processor, and the programs comprise instructions for performing steps in any method of the first aspect of the present application.

[0017] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a network device, comprising a processor, a memory, a communication interface and one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the processor, and the programs comprise instructions for performing steps in any method of the second aspect of the present application.

[0018] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer readable storage medium, wherein the computer readable storage medium stores a computer program for electronic data exchange, and the computer program causes a computer to perform some or all of the steps described in any method of the first aspect of the embodiments of the present application.

[0019] In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer readable storage medium, wherein the computer readable storage medium stores a computer program for electronic data exchange, and the computer program causes a computer to perform some or all of the steps described in any method of the second aspect of the embodiments of the present application.

[0020] In an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product, which includes a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a computer program, and the computer program is operable to cause a computer to perform some or all of the steps described in any method of the first aspect of the embodiments of the present application. The computer program product can be a software installation package.

[0021] In a twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product, which includes a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a computer program, and the computer program is operable to cause a computer to perform some or all of the steps described in any method of the second aspect of the embodiments of the present application. The computer program product can be a software installation package.

[0022] It can be seen that, in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device determines at least one first network slice, and determines a first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice. It can be seen that the terminal device selects the first cell to be accessed according to the determined first network slice, realizes wireless communication based on network slices, is conducive to improving the targeting of cell access, optimizes the wireless communication of the terminal device, and finely utilizes network resources. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] The drawings needed to be used in the description of the embodiments or prior art will be briefly introduced as follows.

[0024] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a network architecture diagram of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0025] Figure 2 FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a cell determination method based on network slices provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0026] Figure 3 FIG. 3 is another flowchart of a cell determination method based on network slices provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0027] Figure 4 is a structural schematic diagram of a terminal device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0028] Figure 5 is a structural schematic diagram of a network device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0029] Figure 6 is a functional unit component block diagram of a terminal device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0030] Figure 7 is a functional unit component block diagram of a network device provided by an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] 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. Obviously, the described embodiments are some but not all of the embodiments of the present application. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative work fall within the protection scope of the present application.

[0032] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, for example, a Global System of Mobile communication (GSM) system, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, an LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system, an LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD) system, an Advanced long term evolution (LTE-A) system, a New Radio (NR) system, an evolved system of the NR system, an LTE-based access to unlicensed spectrum (LTE-U) system, an NR-based access to unlicensed spectrum (NR-U) system, a Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) communication system, a Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN), a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), a next generation communication system, or other communication systems, and the like.

[0033] Generally, a conventional communication system supports a limited number of connections, and is easy to implement. However, with the development of communication technology, a mobile communication system will not only support conventional communication, but also support, for example, Device to Device (D2D) communication, Machine to Machine (M2M) communication, Machine Type Communication (MTC), and Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) communication, and the like. The embodiments of the present application can also be applied to these communication systems.

[0034] Exemplarily, the communication system 100 to which embodiments of the present application apply is shown in Figure 1 The communication system 100 can include a network device 110, which can be a device communicating with a terminal device 120 (or called a communication terminal, a terminal). The network device 110 can provide communication coverage for a specific geographic area, and can communicate with terminal devices located within the coverage area. Optionally, the network device 110 can be a base station (Base Transceiver Station, BTS) in a GSM system or a CDMA system, a base station (NodeB, NB) in a WCDMA system, an evolved base station (eNB or eNodeB) in an LTE system, or a radio controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or the network device can be a mobile switching center, a relay station, an access point, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a hub, a switch, a bridge, a router, a network-side device in a 5G network, or a network device in a future evolved public land mobile network (PLMN), etc.

[0035] The communication system 100 further includes at least one terminal device 120 located within the coverage of the network device 110. As used herein, a "terminal device" includes, but is not limited to, an apparatus configured to receive / transmit communication signals via a wired line connection, such as via a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), a digital cable, a direct cable connection; and / or another data connection / network; and / or a wireless interface, such as for a cellular network, a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), a digital television network such as a DVB-H network, a satellite network, an AM-FM broadcast transmitter; and / or another terminal device; and / or an Internet of Things (IoT) device. A terminal device configured to communicate over a wireless interface can be referred to as a "wireless communication terminal", "wireless terminal" or "mobile terminal". Examples of mobile terminals include, but are not limited to, satellite or cellular phones; Personal Communications System (PCS) terminals that can combine a cellular radiotelephone with data processing, facsimile, and data communications capabilities; PDA's that can include a wireless radio telephone, a pager, Internet / Intranet access, Web browser, an organizer, a calendar, and / or a global positioning system (GPS) receiver; and conventional laptop and / or palmtop receivers or other electronic devices that include a radio telephone transceiver. A terminal device can refer to an access terminal, User Equipment (UE), subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, mobile, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent, or user device. An access terminal can be a cellular telephone, a cordless telephone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a handset with wireless communication capabilities, a computing device, or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, a terminal device in a 5G network, or a terminal device in a future evolved PLMN, etc.

[0036] Optionally, the terminal devices 120 can communicate with each other through Device to Device (D2D) communication.

[0037] Optionally, the 5G system or 5G network can also be referred to as a New Radio (NR) system or NR network.

[0038] Figure 1 Exemplarily, one network device and two terminal devices are shown, optionally, the communication system 100 can include multiple network devices and each network device can include other number of terminal devices within its coverage, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0039] Optionally, the communication system 100 can further include a network controller, a mobile management entity and other network entities, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0040] It should be understood that the devices with communication functions in the network / system in the embodiments of the present application can be referred to as communication devices. For example, Figure 1 For example, the communication system 100 shown, the communication devices can include network devices 110 and terminal devices 120 with communication functions, the network devices 110 and the terminal devices 120 can be the specific devices described above, which will not be described here; the communication devices can also include other devices in the communication system 100, such as network controllers, mobile management entities and other network entities, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0041] It should be understood that the terms "system" and "network" are often used interchangeably in this paper. The term "and / or" in this paper is only used to describe the association relationship between the associated objects, which means that there can be three relationships, for example, A and / or B, which means that there are three cases of A alone, A and B together, and B alone. In addition, the character " / " in this paper generally represents an "or" relationship between the associated objects.

[0042] Currently, the main application scenarios of 5G network are: enhanced mobile broadband (Enhance Mobile Broadband, eMBB), low latency and high reliability communication (ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communications, URLLC), and massive machine type of communication (massive Machine Type of Communication, mMTC).

[0043] Among them, the NR network can be deployed independently, in order to reduce the air signaling, quickly recover the wireless connection, and quickly recover the data service in the 5G network environment, a new radio resource control (Radio Resource Control, RRC) state is defined, that is, RRC inactive state RRC_INACTIVE, which is different from RRC idle state RRC_IDLE and RRC active state RRC_ACTIVE.

[0044] RRC_IDLE: there is no RRC connection, mobility is based on UE's cell reselection, paging is initiated by the core network (CN), and the paging area is configured by the CN. There is no UE access stratum (AS) context information on the network device side.

[0045] RRC_CONNECTED: there is an RRC connection, and the network device and the UE have UE AS context information. The network device side knows the specific cell-level location of the UE. Mobility is network device side-controlled mobility. Unicast data can be transmitted between the UE and the network device.

[0046] RRC_INACTIVE: mobility is based on UE's cell reselection, there is a connection between the core network and the access network, the UE's AS context information exists on a certain network device, paging is triggered by the RAN, the random access network (RAN)-based paging area is managed by the RAN, and the network device side knows the UE's RAN-based paging area-level location.

[0047] PLMN and cell selection:

[0048] The selection of a PLMN can be divided into two forms: automatic and manual. The so-called automatic refers to the UE autonomously completing the search and selection of a PLMN according to pre-set priority criteria; the so-called manual refers to the UE presenting a list of PLMNs that meet the conditions to the user for selection by the user. Whether in automatic mode or manual mode, the AS layer of the UE needs to be able to report the existing PLMN list in the network to the non-access stratum (NAS) layer of the UE. To this end, the AS layer of the UE performs full-band search according to its own capabilities and settings, searches for the cell with the strongest signal at each frequency point, reads its system information, and reports it to the NAS layer of the UE, which decides whether to continue the PLMN search. For an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) cell, a PLMN with a reference signal receiving power (RSRP) >=-110 dBm is referred to as a high-quality PLMN (High Quality PLMN). For a PLMN that does not meet the high-quality condition, the AS layer of the UE needs to report the PLMN ID and the RSRP value at the same time during the reporting process.

[0049] If the UE searches multiple PLMNs, in the automatic mode, the priority of PLMN selection can be as follows:

[0050] (1) : the PLMN registered before the last time the UE is powered on or leaves the service area, i.e. the Registered PLMN (RPLMN) ;

[0051] (2) : the priority list of the Home PLMN (HPLMN) or the Equivalent Home PLMN (EHPLMN) ;

[0052] (3) : the PLMN priority list defined by the user or the operator;

[0053] (4) : the high-quality PLMN;

[0054] (5) : the list of non-high-quality PLMNs sorted by RSRP.

[0055] If the UE stores prior information, such as carrier frequency, cell parameters, etc., the PLMN search process can be optimized, and the NAS layer instructs the AS layer to perform PLMN search according to the parameters of the prior information and report the result to the NAS layer.

[0056] After the UE selects a PLMN, it needs to select a suitable cell for camping through the cell selection process.

[0057] The related parameters are broadcast in the System Information Block (SIB) 1 system message, and the role of the minimum access RSRP value offset Qrxlevminoffset is to reduce the ping-pong selection between PLMNs. This parameter is only used when the UE camps on the Visited PLMN and periodically searches for higher-level PLMNs.

[0058] The UE cell selection process can be divided into the following two cases:

[0059] (1) : initial cell selection, the UE has no prior information about the Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (EUTRA) carrier, at this time the UE needs to perform full-band search according to its own capability and setting, search for the strongest cell on each frequency point, and when the cell selection criterion S-Criterion is met, the cell can be selected for camping.

[0060] (2): UE stores the cell information, at this time, UE only needs to search on these cells, search to determine whether to meet S criteria, when meeting S criteria, UE selects this cell to reside. Otherwise, still need to perform the process of initial cell selection.

[0061] Among them, the information of the service type provided by the cell is broadcasted in the related parameters of SIB1, and the selected cell needs to meet the following conditions when the UE performs cell selection:

[0062] (1): The PLMN where the cell is located needs to meet one of the following conditions: the selected PLMN, or the registered PLMN, or one of the equivalent PLMN list;

[0063] (2): The cell is not prohibited;

[0064] (3): The cell belongs to at least one tracking area (TA) that is not prohibited from roaming;

[0065] (4): For the cell of the closed subscriber group (CSG), the CSG ID is included in the CSG list allowed by the UE;

[0066] (5): The cell meets the S-Criterion criteria.

[0067] When the UE enters the system coverage area, the UE performs the cell search process. No matter the UE is in the above state (connected, idle, inactive), the UE will perform cell search when the system moves to realize mobility.

[0068] In the NR cell search process, the UE searches based on the synchronization signal block (SSB). The UE scans each frequency band supported in turn. The SSB is located in a set of possible positions for each frequency band. The UE searches for the SSB using a synchronization raster. After searching for the SSB, the UE can know the cell identity and master information block (MIB) and other system information.

[0069] In addition, the UE searches for the strongest cell on all carrier frequencies in the NR frequency band. If the RSRP of the strongest cell on this frequency point is greater than or equal to -110 dBm, the NAS layer is reported as a high-quality PLMN. If it is less than -110 dBm, but the UE can read his PLMN information, the NAS layer is reported with the PLMN and the corresponding RSRP value. The NAS layer selects the PLMN through the PLMN and the corresponding RSRP value.

[0070] Network slicing in Rel-15 only involves the core network side. Specifically, a UE reports a slicing requirement, and a network selects a suitable MAF according to the slicing requirement reported by the UE to establish a service session between the UE and a network device. In Rel-17, the access network is enhanced for slicing.

[0071] Please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 2 A cell determination method based on network slicing is provided in an embodiment of the present application, which is applied to the above communication system and includes some or all of the following contents:

[0072] In step 201, a terminal device determines at least one first network slice.

[0073] In one possible example, the terminal device determines at least one first network slice, including:

[0074] The terminal device determines the at least one first network slice preconfigured; or

[0075] The terminal device determines the at least one first network slice according to a selection operation of a user; or

[0076] The terminal device selects the at least one first network slice according to a priority of a plurality of network slices preconfigured.

[0077] The at least one first network slice can include one or more first network slices. When the at least one first network slice is multiple, the terminal device determines a network slice list as the at least one first network slice, which can include a priority of each first network slice.

[0078] The specific implementation manner in which the terminal device determines the at least one first network slice according to a selection operation of a user can be that a user selects at least one first network slice from a plurality of network slices, or can be that a user selects a first service, and the terminal device determines the at least one first network slice according to the first service, which is not limited herein.

[0079] It can be seen that in the present example, the terminal device can determine at least one first network slice in multiple manners, which is beneficial to improving the diversity of the terminal device in determining a cell to be accessed.

[0080] In step 202, the terminal device determines a first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice.

[0081] Optionally, the terminal device accesses the first cell.

[0082] It can be seen that, in the embodiment of the application, the terminal device determines at least one first network slice, and determines a first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice. It can be seen that the terminal device selects the first cell to be accessed according to the determined first network slice, realizes wireless communication based on a network slice, and is beneficial to improving the target of cell access, optimizing wireless communication of the terminal device, and fine utilization of network resources.

[0083] In one possible example, the terminal device determines the first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice, including:

[0084] The non-access stratum (NAS) layer of the terminal device sends indication information corresponding to the at least one first network slice to an access stratum (AS) layer;

[0085] The AS layer of the terminal device performs cell search according to the indication information, and obtains a first search result;

[0086] The AS layer of the terminal device determines the first cell to feed back to the NAS layer according to the first search result;

[0087] The NAS layer of the terminal device determines the first cell as the cell to be accessed.

[0088] The indication information includes radio access technology (RAT) and frequency information corresponding to each first network slice, that is, the indication information can be a list of RAT and frequency information, and the order of each group of RAT and frequency information in the list corresponds to the priority order of the at least one first network slice.

[0089] The indication information is determined by the NAS layer of the terminal device through querying a first mapping relationship of the at least one first network slice, and the first mapping relationship is a mapping relationship between a network slice and a RAT and a frequency.

[0090] The implementation manner of the AS layer of the terminal device performing cell search according to the indication information can be that the AS layer performs cell search on specific frequency information based on the RAT in the indication information, and searches for a cell meeting the indication information as the first search result.

[0091] Specifically, when the at least one first network slice includes a plurality of first network slices, the AS layer performs cell search according to the priority of the plurality of groups of RAT and frequency information in the indication information, for example, first performs cell search according to the RAT and frequency information with the highest priority, stops the search when an accessible cell is found, and if no accessible cell is found, performs cell search according to the next group of RAT and frequency information according to the priority until an accessible cell is found or until all the RAT and frequency information in the indication information is searched.

[0092] The first cell can be a high-quality cell selected by the AS layer from the plurality of cells in the first search result, i.e., a cell with RSRP >= -110 dBm, which is not limited herein.

[0093] It can be seen that in this example, the terminal device performs cell search on the specific indication information for the first network slice, which is beneficial to save the time for the terminal device to search for a cell suitable for the first network slice and save the power consumption of the terminal.

[0094] In this possible example, the AS layer of the terminal device determines the first cell to feed back to the NAS layer according to the first search result, including:

[0095] The AS layer of the terminal device determines the first cell according to the first search result.

[0096] The AS layer of the terminal device reads the system information block (SIB) information of the first cell.

[0097] The AS layer of the terminal device feeds back the first cell and the information of the second network slice corresponding to the first cell in the SIB information to the NAS layer.

[0098] The AS layer selects a cell with high quality and supporting network slice according to the first search result.

[0099] The information of the second network slice corresponding to the first cell can be used to select the corresponding network slice in the next random access process of the terminal device.

[0100] It can be seen that in this example, the AS layer of the terminal device feeds back the information of the second network slice corresponding to the first cell to the NAS layer when feeding back the first cell to the NAS layer, which is beneficial to save the time of the next random access process.

[0101] In one possible example, after the AS layer of the terminal device performs cell search according to the indication information, the method further includes:

[0102] The AS layer of the terminal device feeds back a second search result of the cell search to the NAS layer, and the second search result is that no cell meeting the indication information is searched.

[0103] In this possible example, after the AS layer of the terminal device feeds back the second search result of the cell search to the NAS layer, the method further includes:

[0104] The NAS layer of the terminal device determines a third network slice, and sends indication information corresponding to the third network slice to the AS layer, and the priority of the third network slice is lower than that of the first network slice.

[0105] The third network slice can be a network slice with a priority lower than that of the first network slice in a plurality of network slices preconfigured in the terminal device.

[0106] The indication information corresponding to the third network slice is used for the AS layer to continue searching a cell meeting the indication information and feeding back the cell to the NAS layer according to the indication information.

[0107] It can be seen that in this example, when the terminal device does not search for a cell meeting the requirement on the indication information of the first network slice, the terminal device selects a third network slice with a low priority to continue cell search, which is beneficial to guarantee the terminal device to access a cell.

[0108] In one possible example, the terminal device determines a first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice, including:

[0109] The NAS layer of the terminal device sends the at least one first network slice to the AS layer.

[0110] The AS layer of the terminal device performs cell search.

[0111] When a first reference cell supporting the at least one first network slice is searched, the AS layer of the terminal device submits the first reference cell as a third search result to the NAS layer.

[0112] The NAS layer of the terminal device determines the first cell to be accessed according to the third search result.

[0113] The specific implementation manner of the AS layer of the terminal device performing cell search can be that the AS layer performs full-network search.

[0114] The first reference cell can be a cell with the highest quality searched by the AS layer, or the first reference cell can include a plurality of cells fed back to the NAS layer, and the NAS layer determines a first cell therefrom.

[0115] It can be seen that, in the example, the terminal device directly feeds back to the NAS layer by the AS layer judging mode to the cell supporting the first network slice, which is beneficial to improve the cell access speed and reduce the power consumption of the terminal device in cell access.

[0116] In this possible example, the method further includes:

[0117] The NAS layer of the terminal device sends the indication information corresponding to the at least one first network slice to the AS layer;

[0118] The AS layer of the terminal device performs cell search, including:

[0119] The AS layer of the terminal device performs cell search according to the indication information.

[0120] The indication information is the same as described above, and details are not repeated here.

[0121] It can be seen that, in the example, after the terminal device sends the at least one first network slice to the AS layer, the indication information is sent to the AS layer, so that the AS layer can perform cell search on the indication information to search for a first reference cell supporting the at least one first network slice, which is beneficial to save the cell search time and reduce the consumption.

[0122] In one possible example, the third search result includes public land mobile network (PLMN) information supported by the first reference cell, and the NAS layer of the terminal device determines the first cell to be accessed according to the third search result, including:

[0123] The NAS layer of the terminal device determines whether the PLMN information supported by the first reference cell is a first type of PLMN;

[0124] If yes, the NAS layer of the terminal device determines that the first reference cell is the first cell to be accessed.

[0125] The first type of PLMN is a PLMN allowed by the terminal device.

[0126] When it is determined that the PLMN information supported by the first reference cell is not the first type of PLMN, the cell is not selected for camping, and then the NAS layer can notify the AS layer to perform cell search again.

[0127] It can be seen that, in the example, the NAS layer of the terminal device determines whether the PLMN information supported by the first reference cell is the PLMN information allowed by the terminal device according to the AS layer feedback, and determines the first cell to be accessed only when the PLMN information is the allowed PLMN information, which is beneficial to improve the success rate of cell access.

[0128] In one possible example, after the AS layer of the terminal device performs the cell search, the method further includes:

[0129] The AS layer of the terminal device feeds back a fourth search result of the cell search to the NAS layer, the fourth search result being that no cell supporting the at least one first network slice is searched.

[0130] In one possible example, the terminal device determines the first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice, including:

[0131] The NAS layer of the terminal device sends a first instruction to the AS layer;

[0132] The AS layer of the terminal device performs cell search according to the first instruction;

[0133] The AS layer of the terminal device reads SIB information of a searched second reference cell and feeds back a fifth search result to the NAS layer, the fifth search result including the second reference cell and corresponding network slice information;

[0134] The NAS layer of the terminal device determines the first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice and the fifth search result.

[0135] The first instruction is an instruction for instructing the AS layer to perform cell search, and under the first instruction, the AS layer performs full-network search to search for a second reference cell supporting network slice technology.

[0136] In this possible example, the first instruction further includes indication information corresponding to the at least one first network slice.

[0137] When the first instruction includes the indication information, the AS layer can perform cell search on the indication information, saving cell search time.

[0138] It can be seen that in this example, the NAS layer of the terminal device directly instructs the AS layer to perform cell search, which is compatible with existing technologies while determining the first cell to be accessed to meet the at least one first network slice, and is conducive to reducing changes to the device and reducing costs.

[0139] In one possible example, the NAS layer of the terminal device determines the first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice and the fifth search result, including:

[0140] The NAS layer of the terminal device detects whether the network slice information of the at least one first network slice matches the second reference cell;

[0141] If the match is detected, the NAS layer of the terminal device determines that the second reference cell is the first cell.

[0142] The network slice information of the second reference cell is the same as any one of the at least one first network slice.

[0143] It can be seen that, in this example, the terminal device determines whether to select the second reference cell as the first cell to be accessed through the network slice matching process, which is beneficial to reduce the complexity of the algorithm and improve the cell access speed.

[0144] In this possible example, after the NAS layer of the terminal device detects whether the network slice information of the at least one first network slice matches the second reference cell, the method further includes:

[0145] When it is detected that the network slice information of the at least one first network slice does not match the second reference cell, the NAS layer of the terminal device sends a second instruction to the AS layer, and the second instruction is used for the AS layer to select a third reference cell according to the second instruction and feed back to the NAS layer.

[0146] It can be seen that, in this example, the terminal device informs the AS layer to perform cell search again after the network slice does not match, which guarantees the timeliness and success rate of cell access.

[0147] In one possible example, the fifth search result further includes PLMN information supported by the second reference cell.

[0148] In this possible example, the NAS layer of the terminal device determines the first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice and the fifth search result, including:

[0149] When it is detected that the network slice information of the at least one first network slice matches the second reference cell, and the PLMN information supported by the second reference cell is not the second type of PLMN information or the PLMN information supported by the second reference cell is the first type of PLMN information, the NAS layer of the terminal device determines that the second reference cell is the first cell.

[0150] The NAS layer of the terminal device determines the second reference cell as the first cell according to the first configuration information when it is detected that the at least one first network slice does not match the network slice information of the second reference cell, or the PLMN information supported by the second reference cell is second type PLMN information or is not first type PLMN information.

[0151] The second type PLMN information is PLMN information that the terminal device is prohibited to perform on.

[0152] In this possible example, the first configuration information indicates network slice information that the terminal device is allowed to perform on second type PLMN, or the first configuration information is a priority relationship between a network slice and a PLMN.

[0153] The specific implementation manner of determining the second reference cell as the first cell according to the first configuration information can be that when it is detected that the at least one first network slice matches the network slice information of the second reference cell, but the PLMN information supported by the second reference cell is second type PLMN information or is not first type PLMN information, the terminal device determines that the second reference cell is the first cell if the at least one first network slice includes the network slice indicated in the first configuration information that the terminal device is allowed to perform on second type PLMN; or, the second reference cell is determined as the first cell according to the priority relationship between the network slice and the PLMN, specifically, when the priority of the network slice is higher than that of the PLMN, the second reference cell is determined as the first cell when the at least one first network slice matches the network slice information of the second reference cell, but the PLMN information supported by the second reference cell is second type PLMN information or is not first type PLMN information, or when the priority of the network slice is lower than that of the PLMN, the second reference cell is determined as the first cell when the at least one first network slice does not match the network slice information of the second reference cell, but the PLMN information supported by the second reference cell is not second type PLMN information or is first type PLMN information.

[0154] It can be seen that in this example, the terminal device determines the first cell to be accessed by matching the network slice information and the PLMN information, and when there is a mismatch, the first cell is determined through the first configuration information, thereby increasing the diversity of the determination of the first cell.

[0155] In one possible example, the network slice information supported by the terminal device, the first mapping relationship, and the first configuration information are preconfigured in the terminal device or configured in the terminal device by a network device.

[0156] In a possible example, the network slice information supported by the terminal device, the first mapping relationship, and the first configuration information are sent by the network device to the terminal device through a registration receiving message in a process in which the terminal device initiates location update, or are sent by the network device to the terminal device when a configuration update message of the terminal device is received.

[0157] The configuration update message can be various, for example, can be an update message of the network slice information, or an update message of the first configuration information, and the like, which is not limited herein.

[0158] The network slice information supported by the terminal device, the first mapping relationship, and the first configuration information can be sent by the network device to the terminal device at the same time, or can be sent to the terminal device at different times, which is not limited herein.

[0159] It can be seen that, in the example, the network device sends the information to the terminal device through a registration receiving message in a process in which the terminal device initiates location update, or sends the information to the terminal device when a configuration update message of the terminal device is received, which is beneficial to avoid increasing signaling consumption, provides an accurate basis for the terminal device to select a cell to be accessed, and further improves the accuracy of cell access.

[0160] Please refer to Figure 3 , Figure 3 A cell determination method based on a network slice is provided in the embodiments of the present application, and is applied to the communication system. The method includes some or all of the following contents:

[0161] In step 301, the network device sends first information to the terminal device when a first message is received. The first information includes at least one network slice information, and the network slice information is used for the terminal device to determine at least one first network slice and determine a first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice. The first message is a location update message initiated by the terminal device, or a configuration update message initiated by the terminal device.

[0162] In a possible example, the first information further includes a first mapping relationship and / or first configuration information. The first mapping relationship is a mapping relationship between a network slice and a RAT and a frequency. The first configuration information indicates service information corresponding to the at least one network slice allowed to be executed on a second type of public land mobile network (PLMN) by the terminal device, or the first configuration information is a priority relationship between a network slice and a PLMN.

[0163] It can be seen that, in the embodiment of the application, the network device sends first information to the terminal device when receiving the first message, the first information includes at least one network slice information, the network slice information is used for the terminal device to determine at least one first network slice, and the terminal device determines a first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice, and the first message is a location update message initiated by the terminal device or a configuration update message initiated by the terminal device. It can be seen that the network device sends the network slice information to the terminal device, and the terminal device can determine the first cell to be accessed according to the determined first network slice, realizes wireless communication based on the network slice, is beneficial to improving the target of cell access, optimizes wireless communication of the terminal device, and finely utilizes network resources.

[0164] Consistent with the above Figure 2 embodiment, please refer to Figure 4 , Figure 4 is a structural schematic diagram of a terminal device 400 provided by the embodiment of the application, as shown in the figure, the terminal device 400 includes a processor 410, a memory 420, a communication interface 430 and one or more programs 421, wherein the one or more programs 421 are stored in the above-mentioned memory 420 and are configured to be executed by the above-mentioned processor 410, and the one or more programs 421 include instructions for performing the following operations.

[0165] determining at least one first network slice;

[0166] determining a first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice.

[0167] It can be seen that, in the embodiment of the application, the terminal device determines at least one first network slice, and determines a first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice. It can be seen that the terminal device selects the first cell to be accessed according to the determined first network slice, realizes wireless communication based on the network slice, is beneficial to improving the target of cell access, optimizes wireless communication of the terminal device, and finely utilizes network resources.

[0168] In one possible example, in terms of determining at least one first network slice, the instructions in the one or more programs 421 are specifically used to execute the following instructions: determining the at least one first network slice preconfigured; or determining the at least one first network slice according to a selection operation of a user; or selecting the at least one first network slice according to priorities of a plurality of network slices preconfigured.

[0169] In one possible example, in the aspect of determining the first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice, the instructions in the one or more programs 421 are specifically configured to perform the following instructions: sending, by a non-access stratum (NAS) layer, indication information corresponding to the at least one first network slice to an access stratum (AS) layer; performing, by the AS layer, cell search according to the indication information, obtaining a first search result; determining, by the AS layer, the first cell according to the first search result and feeding back to the NAS layer; and determining, by the NAS layer, the first cell as the cell to be accessed.

[0170] In this possible example, in the aspect of determining, by the AS layer, the first cell according to the first search result and feeding back to the NAS layer, the instructions in the one or more programs 421 are specifically configured to perform the following instructions: determining, by the AS layer, the first cell according to the first search result; reading, by the AS layer, system information block (SIB) information of the first cell; and feeding back, by the AS layer, the first cell and information of a second network slice corresponding to the first cell in the SIB information to the NAS layer.

[0171] In one possible example, the first cell is a cell supporting network slicing.

[0172] In one possible example, the instructions in the one or more programs 421 are further configured to perform the following steps: after performing, by the AS layer, cell search according to the indication information, feeding back, by the AS layer, a second search result of the cell search to the NAS layer, the second search result being that no cell satisfying the indication information is searched.

[0173] In this possible example, the instructions in the one or more programs 421 are further configured to perform the following steps: after feeding back, by the AS layer, the second search result of the cell search to the NAS layer, determining, by the NAS layer, a third network slice and sending indication information corresponding to the third network slice to the AS layer, the priority of the third network slice being lower than that of the first network slice.

[0174] In a possible example, in the aspect of determining the first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice, the instructions in the one or more programs 421 are specifically configured to perform the following instructions: sending the at least one first network slice to an AS layer through a NAS layer; performing cell search through the AS layer; when a first reference cell supporting the at least one first network slice is searched, submitting the first reference cell as a third search result to the NAS layer through the AS layer; and determining the first cell to be accessed according to the third search result through the NAS layer.

[0175] In this possible example, the instructions in the one or more programs 421 are further configured to perform the following steps: sending indication information corresponding to the at least one first network slice to the AS layer through the NAS layer.

[0176] In the aspect of performing cell search through the AS layer, the instructions in the one or more programs 421 are specifically configured to perform the following instructions: performing cell search according to the indication information through the AS layer.

[0177] In a possible example, the third search result includes public land mobile network (PLMN) information supported by the first reference cell, and in the aspect of determining the first cell to be accessed according to the third search result through the NAS layer, the instructions in the one or more programs 421 are specifically configured to perform the following instructions: determining, through the NAS layer, whether the PLMN information supported by the first reference cell is a first type of PLMN; and if so, determining, through the NAS layer, that the first reference cell is the first cell to be accessed.

[0178] In a possible example, the instructions in the one or more programs 421 are further configured to perform the following steps: after performing cell search through the AS layer, feeding back a fourth search result of the cell search to the NAS layer through the AS layer, the fourth search result being that no cell supporting the at least one first network slice is searched.

[0179] In one possible example, in the aspect of determining the first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice, the instructions in the one or more programs 421 are specifically configured to perform the following instructions: sending a first instruction to the AS layer through the NAS layer; and performing cell search according to the first instruction through the AS layer; reading SIB information of a searched second reference cell through the AS layer, and feeding back a fifth search result to the NAS layer, the fifth search result comprising the second reference cell and corresponding network slice information; and determining the first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice and the fifth search result through the NAS layer.

[0180] In this possible example, the first instruction comprises indication information corresponding to the at least one first network slice.

[0181] In one possible example, in the aspect of determining the first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice through the NAS layer, the instructions in the one or more programs 421 are specifically configured to perform the following instructions: detecting, through the NAS layer, whether the at least one first network slice matches the network slice information of the second reference cell; and if matching, determining, through the NAS layer, that the second reference cell is the first cell.

[0182] In this possible example, the instructions in the one or more programs 421 are further configured to perform the following steps: after detecting, through the NAS layer, whether the at least one first network slice matches the network slice information of the second reference cell, when it is detected that the at least one first network slice does not match the network slice information of the second reference cell, sending a second instruction to the AS layer through the NAS layer, the second instruction being used for the AS layer to select a third reference cell according to the second instruction and feed back to the NAS layer.

[0183] In one possible example, the fifth search result further comprises PLMN information supported by the second reference cell.

[0184] In this possible example, in terms of determining the first cell to be accessed by the NAS layer according to the at least one first network slice and the fifth search result, the instructions in the one or more programs 421 are specifically configured to perform the following instructions: determining, by the NAS layer, the second reference cell as the first cell when it is detected that the at least one first network slice matches the network slice information of the second reference cell, and the PLMN information supported by the second reference cell is not the second type of PLMN information or the PLMN information supported by the second reference cell is the first type of PLMN information; and determining, by the NAS layer, the second reference cell as the first cell according to the first configuration information when it is detected that the at least one first network slice does not match the network slice information of the second reference cell, or the PLMN information supported by the second reference cell is the second type of PLMN information or is not the first type of PLMN information.

[0185] In this possible example, the first configuration information indicates network slice information that the terminal device is allowed to perform on the second type of PLMN, or the first configuration information is a priority relationship between a network slice and a PLMN.

[0186] In one possible example, the indication information includes radio access technology (RAT) and frequency information corresponding to each of the first network slices.

[0187] In one possible example, the indication information is determined by the NAS layer of the terminal device by querying a first mapping relationship of the at least one first network slice, and the first mapping relationship is a mapping relationship between a network slice and a RAT and a frequency.

[0188] In one possible example, the network slice information supported by the terminal device, the first mapping relationship, and the first configuration information are preconfigured in the terminal device or configured in the terminal device by a network device.

[0189] In this possible example, the network slice information supported by the terminal device, the first mapping relationship, and the first configuration information are sent to the terminal device by a network device through a registration receiving message in a process in which the terminal device initiates location update, or are sent to the terminal device by a network device when a configuration update message of the terminal device is received.

[0190] Consistent with the above Figure 3 embodiments shown in the above Figure 5 , Figure 5Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network device 500 according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in the figure, the network device 500 comprises a processor 510, a memory 520, a communication interface 530, and one or more programs 521. The one or more programs 521 are stored in the memory 520 and configured to be executed by the processor 510. The one or more programs 521 comprise instructions for performing the following operations.

[0191] In response to receiving the first message, the network device sends first information to the terminal device, the first information comprising at least one network slice information, the network slice information being used by the terminal device to determine at least one first network slice and determine a first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice, the first message being a location update message initiated by the terminal device or a configuration update message initiated by the terminal device.

[0192] It can be seen that, in the embodiments of the present application, in response to receiving the first message, the network device sends first information to the terminal device, the first information comprising at least one network slice information, the network slice information being used by the terminal device to determine at least one first network slice and determine a first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice, the first message being a location update message initiated by the terminal device or a configuration update message initiated by the terminal device. It can be seen that the network device sends network slice information to the terminal device, and the terminal device can determine a first cell to be accessed according to the determined first network slice, thereby realizing network slice-based wireless communication, improving the targeting of cell access, optimizing the wireless communication of the terminal device, and finely utilizing network resources.

[0193] In one possible example, the first information further comprises first mapping relationship and / or first configuration information, the first mapping relationship being a mapping relationship between network slices and RATs and frequencies, and the first configuration information indicating service information corresponding to the at least one network slice allowed by the terminal device to perform on a second type of public land mobile network (PLMN) or being a priority relationship between network slices and PLMNs.

[0194] The above describes the scheme of the embodiments of the present application mainly from the perspective of interaction between network elements. It can be understood that the terminal device and the network device contain the hardware structure and / or software module corresponding to the execution of each function in order to implement the above functions. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that, in combination with the units and algorithm steps of the examples described in the embodiments disclosed herein, the present application can be realized in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a certain function is executed in the form of hardware or computer software driving hardware depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical scheme. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the present application.

[0195] The embodiments of the present application can divide the functional units of the terminal device and the network device according to the above method examples. For example, each functional unit can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated in one processing unit. The integrated unit can be realized in the form of hardware or in the form of a software program module. It should be noted that the division of units in the embodiments of the present application is illustrative, and is only a logical function division. There can be another division method in actual implementation.

[0196] In the case of using integrated units, Figure 6 A possible functional unit composition block diagram of the terminal device involved in the above embodiments is shown. The terminal device 600 includes a processing unit 602 and a communication unit 603. The processing unit 602 is used to control and manage the actions of the terminal device. The communication unit 603 is used to support the communication of the terminal device with other devices, such as the communication between the network device shown in the above embodiments. The terminal device can also include a storage unit 601 for storing the program code and data of the terminal device. Figure 5

[0197] ​The processing unit 602 can be a processor or a controller, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, a transistor logic device, a hardware component, or any combination thereof. The processing unit 602 can implement or execute various example logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the present disclosure. The processing unit 602 can also be a combination of components implementing computing functions, such as a combination of one or more microprocessors, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, and the like. The communication unit 603 can be a communication interface, a transceiver circuit, or the like. The storage unit 601 can be a memory. When the processing unit 602 is a processor, the communication unit 603 is a communication interface, and the storage unit 601 is a memory, the terminal device according to the embodiments of the present application can be a terminal device as shown in FIG. 6. Figure 4

[0198] In a specific implementation, the processing unit 602 is configured to perform any step performed by the terminal device in the above method embodiments, and when performing data transmission such as sending, the communication unit 603 can be selectively invoked to complete the corresponding operation. Details are described below.

[0199] The processing unit 602 is configured to determine at least one first network slice, and determine a first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice through the communication unit 603.

[0200] It can be seen that, in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device determines at least one first network slice, and determines a first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice. It can be seen that the terminal device selects a first cell to be accessed according to the determined first network slice, realizes wireless communication based on network slices, and is beneficial to improving the targeting of cell access, optimizing the wireless communication of the terminal device, and fine utilization of network resources.

[0201] In one possible example, in the aspect of determining the at least one first network slice, the processing unit 602 is specifically configured to: determine the at least one first network slice pre-configured; or determine the at least one first network slice according to a selection operation of a user; or select the at least one first network slice according to a priority of a plurality of network slices pre-configured.

[0202] ​In a possible example, in the aspect of determining the first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice by the communication unit 603, the processing unit 602 is specifically configured to: send, by a non-access stratum (NAS) layer, indication information corresponding to the at least one first network slice to an access stratum (AS) layer; perform, by the AS layer and the communication unit 603, cell search according to the indication information, to obtain a first search result; determine, by the AS layer, the first cell according to the first search result and feed back to the NAS layer; and determine, by the NAS layer, the first cell as the cell to be accessed.

[0203] In this possible example, in the aspect of determining the first cell according to the first search result by the AS layer, the processing unit 602 is specifically configured to: determine, by the AS layer, the first cell according to the first search result; read, by the AS layer and the communication unit 603, system information block (SIB) information of the first cell; and feed back, by the AS layer, the first cell and information of a second network slice corresponding to the first cell in the SIB information to the NAS layer.

[0204] In a possible example, the first cell is a cell supporting network slicing.

[0205] In a possible example, after performing, by the AS layer and the communication unit 603, cell search according to the indication information, the processing unit 602 is further configured to: feed back, by the AS layer, a second search result of the cell search to the NAS layer, the second search result being that no cell satisfying the indication information is searched.

[0206] In this possible example, after feeding back, by the AS layer, the second search result of the cell search to the NAS layer, the processing unit 602 is further configured to: determine, by the NAS layer, a third network slice, and send indication information corresponding to the third network slice to the AS layer, the priority of the third network slice being lower than that of the first network slice.

[0207] In a possible example, in the aspect of determining the first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice, the processing unit 602 is specifically configured to: send, by a NAS layer, the at least one first network slice to an AS layer; perform, by the AS layer and the communication unit 603, cell search; when a first reference cell supporting the at least one first network slice is searched, feed back, by the AS layer, the first reference cell to the NAS layer as a third search result; and determine, by the NAS layer, the first cell to be accessed according to the third search result.

[0208] In this possible example, the processing unit 602 is further configured to send, by the NAS layer, the indication information corresponding to the at least one first network slice to the AS layer.

[0209] In the aspect of performing the cell search by the AS layer, the processing unit 602 is specifically configured to perform, by the AS layer and the communication unit 603, the cell search according to the indication information.

[0210] In one possible example, the third search result includes public land mobile network (PLMN) information supported by the first reference cell, and in the aspect of determining the first cell to be accessed by the NAS layer according to the third search result, the processing unit 602 is specifically configured to determine, by the NAS layer, whether the PLMN information supported by the first reference cell is a first type of PLMN, and if so, determine, by the NAS layer, that the first reference cell is the first cell to be accessed.

[0211] In one possible example, after the cell search by the AS layer and the communication unit 603, the processing unit 602 is further configured to feed back, by the AS layer, a fourth search result of the cell search to the NAS layer, the fourth search result being that no cell supporting the at least one first network slice is searched.

[0212] In one possible example, in the aspect of determining the first cell to be accessed by the communication unit 603 according to the at least one first network slice, the processing unit 602 is specifically configured to send, by the NAS layer, a first instruction to the AS layer, perform, by the AS layer and the communication unit 603, the cell search according to the first instruction, read, by the AS layer, SIB information of a second reference cell searched, and feed back a fifth search result to the NAS layer, the fifth search result including the second reference cell and corresponding network slice information, and determine, by the NAS layer, the first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice and the fifth search result.

[0213] In this possible example, the first instruction includes indication information corresponding to the at least one first network slice.

[0214] In one possible example, in terms of determining the first cell to be accessed by the NAS layer according to the at least one first network slice and the fifth search result, the processing unit 602 is specifically configured to: detect, by the NAS layer, whether the at least one first network slice matches the network slice information of the second reference cell; and if the match is detected, determine, by the NAS layer, the second reference cell as the first cell.

[0215] In this possible example, after detecting, by the NAS layer, whether the at least one first network slice matches the network slice information of the second reference cell, the processing unit 602 is further configured to: when it is detected that the at least one first network slice does not match the network slice information of the second reference cell, send, by the NAS layer, a second instruction to the AS layer, the second instruction being used for the AS layer to select a third reference cell according to the second instruction and feed back to the NAS layer.

[0216] In one possible example, the fifth search result further includes PLMN information supported by the second reference cell.

[0217] In this possible example, in terms of determining the first cell to be accessed by the NAS layer according to the at least one first network slice and the fifth search result, the processing unit 602 is specifically configured to: when it is detected that the at least one first network slice matches the network slice information of the second reference cell, and the PLMN information supported by the second reference cell is not the second type of PLMN information or the PLMN information supported by the second reference cell is the first type of PLMN information, determine, by the NAS layer, the second reference cell as the first cell; and when it is detected that the at least one first network slice does not match the network slice information of the second reference cell, or the PLMN information supported by the second reference cell is the second type of PLMN information or is not the first type of PLMN information, determine, by the NAS layer, the second reference cell as the first cell according to first configuration information.

[0218] In this possible example, the first configuration information indicates network slice information allowed by the terminal device to perform on the second type of PLMN, or the first configuration information is a priority relationship between a network slice and a PLMN.

[0219] In one possible example, the indication information includes radio access technology (RAT) and frequency information corresponding to each of the first network slices.

[0220] In a possible example, the indication information is determined by a NAS layer of the terminal device by querying a first mapping relationship through the at least one first network slice, and the first mapping relationship is a mapping relationship between a network slice and a RAT and a frequency.

[0221] In a possible example, the network slice information supported by the terminal device, the first mapping relationship, and the first configuration information are preconfigured in the terminal device or configured in the terminal device by a network device.

[0222] In this possible example, the network slice information supported by the terminal device, the first mapping relationship, and the first configuration information are sent to the terminal device by a network device through a registration receiving message in a process in which the terminal device initiates a location update, or are sent to the terminal device by the network device when a configuration update message of the terminal device is received.

[0223] In the case of an integrated unit, Figure 7 A possible functional unit composition block diagram of a network device involved in the above embodiments is shown. The network device 700 includes a processing unit 702 and a communication unit 703. The network device 700 further includes that the processing unit 702 is configured to control and manage actions of the network device. The communication unit 703 is configured to support communication of the network device with other devices, for example, communication with the terminal device shown in FIG. 7. Figure 4 The network device can also include a storage unit 701 configured to store program codes and data of the network device.

[0224] The processing unit 702 can be a processor or a controller, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, a transistor logic device, a hardware component, or any combination thereof. The processing unit 702 can implement or execute the various exemplary logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the present disclosure. The processing unit 702 can also be a combination of components implementing computing functions, such as a combination of one or more microprocessors, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, and the like. The communication unit 703 can be a communication interface, a transceiver circuit, or the like. The storage unit 701 can be a memory. When the processing unit 702 is a processor, the communication unit 703 is a communication interface, and the storage unit 701 is a memory, the network device involved in the embodiments of the present application can be a network device as shown in FIG. 7. Figure 5

[0225] In a specific implementation, the processing unit 702 is configured to perform any step performed by the network device in the above method embodiments, and when performing data transmission such as sending, the communication unit 703 can be selectively called to complete the corresponding operation. Details are described below.

[0226] The processing unit 702 is configured to send first information to a terminal device through the communication unit 702 when receiving a first message, the first information including at least one network slice information, the network slice information being used by the terminal device to determine at least one first network slice and determine a first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice, the first message being a location update message initiated by the terminal device or a configuration update message initiated by the terminal device.

[0227] ​It can be seen that, in the embodiment of the application, the network device sends the first information to the terminal device when receiving the first message, the first information includes at least one network slice information, the network slice information is used for the terminal device to determine at least one first network slice, and the terminal device determines a first cell to be accessed according to the at least one first network slice, and the first message is a location update message initiated by the terminal device or a configuration update message initiated by the terminal device. It can be seen that the network device sends the network slice information to the terminal device, the terminal device can determine the first cell to be accessed according to the determined first network slice, realizes wireless communication based on the network slice, is beneficial to improving the target of cell access, optimizes the wireless communication of the terminal device, and finely utilizes the network resources.

[0228] In one possible example, the first information further includes first mapping relationship and / or first configuration information, the first mapping relationship is a mapping relationship between the network slice and the RAT and the frequency, and the first configuration information indicates service information corresponding to the at least one network slice allowed by the terminal device to perform on the second type of public land mobile network (PLMN), or the first configuration information is a priority relationship between the network slice and the PLMN.

[0229] The embodiment of the application further provides a chip, wherein the chip includes a processor, which is used for calling and running a computer program from a memory, so that a device installed with the chip performs part or all steps described by the terminal device in the above method embodiment.

[0230] The embodiment of the application further provides a chip, wherein the chip includes a processor, which is used for calling and running a computer program from a memory, so that a device installed with the chip performs part or all steps described by the network device in the above method embodiment.

[0231] The embodiment of the application further provides a computer readable storage medium, wherein the computer readable storage medium stores a computer program for electronic data exchange, and the computer program causes a computer to perform part or all steps described by the terminal device in the above method embodiment.

[0232] The embodiment of the application further provides a computer readable storage medium, wherein the computer readable storage medium stores a computer program for electronic data exchange, and the computer program causes a computer to perform part or all steps described by the network device in the above method embodiment.

[0233] The embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program product, wherein the computer program product comprises a computer program, and the computer program is operable to cause a computer to execute part or all of the steps described with reference to the terminal device in the above method embodiments. The computer program product can be a software installation package.

[0234] The embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program product, wherein the computer program product comprises a computer program, and the computer program is operable to cause a computer to execute part or all of the steps described with reference to the network device in the above method embodiments. The computer program product can be a software installation package.

[0235] The steps of the methods or algorithms described in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by hardware, or be implemented by a processor executing software instructions. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, and the software modules can be stored in a Random Access Memory (RAM), a flash memory, a Read Only Memory (ROM), an Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM), an Electrically EPROM (EEPROM), a register, a hard disk, a mobile hard disk, a compact disk (CD-ROM) or any other forms of storage medium well known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to a processor, such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium can also be a component of the processor. The processor and the storage medium can be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC can be located in the access network device, the target network device or the core network device. Of course, the processor and the storage medium can also exist as discrete components in the access network device, the target network device or the core network device.

[0236] Those skilled in the art should be aware that, in the above one or more examples, the functions described in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, the functions can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are generated in whole or in part. 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 transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium, for example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server or data center to another website, computer, server or data center through wired (such as coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (such as infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) manner. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server, data center, etc. integrated with one or more available media. The available media can be magnetic media (such as floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), optical media (such as digital video disc (DVD)), or semiconductor media (such as solid state disk (SSD)) and the like.

[0237] The above detailed description of the embodiments of the present application further explains the purposes, technical solutions and beneficial effects of the embodiments of the present application. It should be understood that the above detailed description is only a specific implementation of the embodiments of the present application and is not intended to limit the protection scope of the embodiments of the present application. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made on the basis of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application should be included in the protection scope of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A cell determination method based on network slicing, characterized in that, include: The terminal device identifies at least one first network slice; The terminal device determines the first cell to be accessed based on the at least one first network slice; Wherein, the terminal device determines at least one first network slice, including: The terminal device selects at least one first network slice according to the priority of multiple network slices configured in the network device; The network slicing information supported by the terminal device is configured in the terminal device by the network device. The network slice information supported by the terminal device is sent to the terminal device by the network device through a registration and receiving message during the location update process initiated by the terminal device. Wherein, the terminal device determines the first cell to be accessed based on the at least one first network slice, including: The non-access layer (NAS) of the terminal device sends the indication information corresponding to the at least one first network slice to the access layer (AS). The AS layer of the terminal device performs a cell search based on the instruction information and obtains a first search result. The AS layer of the terminal device determines the first cell based on the first search result and feeds it back to the NAS layer; The NAS layer of the terminal device determines that the first cell is the cell to be accessed; The indication information includes a list of Radio Access Technology (RAT) and frequency information corresponding to each of the first network slices, wherein the order of each group of RAT and frequency information in the list corresponds to the priority order of at least one first network slice.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The terminal device determines at least one first network slice, and further includes: The terminal device determines the pre-configured at least one first network slice; or, The terminal device determines the at least one first network slice based on the user's selection operation.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The AS layer of the terminal device determines the first cell and feeds it back to the NAS layer based on the first search result, including: The AS layer of the terminal device determines the first cell based on the first search result; The AS layer of the terminal device reads the System Information Block (SIB) information of the first cell. The AS layer of the terminal device feeds back the information of the first cell and the second network slice corresponding to the first cell in the SIB information to the NAS layer.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first cell is a cell that supports network slicing.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, After the AS layer of the terminal device performs a cell search based on the indicated information, the method further includes: The AS layer of the terminal device feeds back the second search result of the cell search to the NAS layer. The second search result indicates that no cell matching the indication information was found.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, After the AS layer of the terminal device feeds back the second search result of the cell search to the NAS layer, the method further includes: The NAS layer of the terminal device determines the third network slice and sends the indication information corresponding to the third network slice to the AS layer. The priority of the third network slice is lower than that of the first network slice.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The terminal device determines the first cell to be accessed based on the at least one first network slice, including: The NAS layer of the terminal device sends the at least one first network slice to the AS layer; The terminal device performs cell search at the AS layer; When a first reference cell supporting at least one first network slice is found, the AS layer of the terminal device submits the first reference cell as the third search result to the NAS layer. The NAS layer of the terminal device determines the first cell to be accessed based on the third search result.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The method further includes: The NAS layer of the terminal device sends the indication information corresponding to the at least one first network slice to the AS layer; The terminal device performs cell search at the AS layer, including: The AS layer of the terminal device performs a cell search based on the instruction information.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, The third search result includes Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) information supported by the first reference cell. The NAS layer of the terminal device determines the first cell to be accessed based on the third search result, including: The NAS layer of the terminal device determines whether the PLMN information supported by the first reference cell is a first type of PLMN; If so, the NAS layer of the terminal device determines that the first reference cell is the first cell to be accessed.

10. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, After the AS layer of the terminal device performs cell search, the method further includes: The AS layer of the terminal device feeds back the fourth search result of the cell search to the NAS layer, wherein the fourth search result indicates that no cell supporting the at least one first network slice was found.

11. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The terminal device determines the first cell to be accessed based on the at least one first network slice, including: The NAS layer of the terminal device sends a first instruction to the AS layer; The AS layer of the terminal device performs a cell search according to the first instruction; The AS layer of the terminal device reads the SIB information of the searched second reference cell and feeds back the fifth search result to the NAS layer. The fifth search result includes the second reference cell and the corresponding network slice information. The NAS layer of the terminal device determines the first cell to be accessed based on the at least one first network slice and the fifth search result.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The first instruction includes indication information corresponding to the at least one first network slice.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that, The NAS layer of the terminal device determines the first cell to be accessed based on the at least one first network slice and the fifth search result, including: The NAS layer of the terminal device detects whether the network slice information of the at least one first network slice matches that of the second reference cell; If a match is found, the NAS layer of the terminal device determines that the second reference cell is the first cell.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, After the NAS layer of the terminal device detects whether the network slice information of the at least one first network slice matches that of the second reference cell, the method further includes: When it is detected that the network slice information of the at least one first network slice does not match that of the second reference cell, the NAS layer of the terminal device sends a second instruction to the AS layer. The second instruction is used by the AS layer to select a third reference cell and feed it back to the NAS layer.

15. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The fifth search result also includes PLMN information supported by the second reference cell.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, The NAS layer of the terminal device determines the first cell to be accessed based on the at least one first network slice and the fifth search result, including: When the NAS layer of the terminal device detects that the at least one first network slice matches the network slice information of the second reference cell, and the PLMN information supported by the second reference cell is not the second type of PLMN information or the PLMN information supported by the second reference cell is the first type of PLMN information, the second reference cell determines the second reference cell as the first cell. When the NAS layer of the terminal device detects that the network slice information of the at least one first network slice does not match that of the second reference cell, or that the PLMN information supported by the second reference cell is a second type of PLMN information or is not a first type of PLMN information, the second reference cell is determined to be the first cell according to the first configuration information.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that, The first configuration information indicates the network slice information that the terminal device is allowed to execute on the second type of PLMN, or the first configuration information is the priority relationship between network slices and PLMN.

18. The method according to any one of claims 1, 5, 6, 8, and 12, characterized in that, The indication information includes the Radio Access Technology (RAT) and frequency information corresponding to each of the first network slices.

19. The method according to any one of claims 16 and 17, characterized in that, The indication information is determined by the NAS layer of the terminal device through querying the first mapping relationship through at least one first network slice. The first mapping relationship is the mapping relationship between the network slice and the RAT and frequency.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that, The first mapping relationship and the first configuration information are pre-configured in the terminal device, or configured in the terminal device by the network device.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that, The first mapping relationship and the first configuration information are sent by the network device to the terminal device through a registration receiving message during the location update process initiated by the terminal device; or by the network device to the terminal device when it receives a configuration update message from the terminal device.

22. A cell determination method based on network slicing, characterized in that, include: When a network device receives a first message, it sends first information to a terminal device. This first information includes at least one network slice information. The network slice information is used by the terminal device to determine at least one first network slice and, based on the at least one first network slice, to determine a first cell to be accessed. The first message is either a location update message initiated by the terminal device or a configuration update message initiated by the terminal device. During the process of determining at least one first network slice and, based on the at least one first network slice, the terminal device's Non-Access Stratum (NAS) layer sends indication information corresponding to the at least one first network slice to the Access Stratum (AS) layer. The terminal device's AS layer performs a cell search based on the indication information to obtain a first search result. The terminal device's AS layer determines the first cell based on the first search result and feeds it back to the NAS layer. The terminal device's NAS layer determines the first cell as the cell to be accessed. The indication information includes a list of Radio Access Technology (RAT) and frequency information corresponding to each first network slice, wherein the order of each group of RAT and frequency information in the list corresponds to the priority order of at least one first network slice. The network slice information is used to configure the priorities of multiple network slices, so that the terminal device can select at least one first network slice according to the priorities of the multiple network slices; wherein, the network slice information also includes network slice information supported by the terminal device, and the network slice information supported by the terminal device is pre-configured in the terminal device when the network device sends it to the terminal device; The network slice information supported by the terminal device is sent to the terminal device by the network device through a registration and receiving message during the location update process initiated by the terminal device.

23. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that, The first information also includes a first mapping relationship and / or first configuration information, wherein the first mapping relationship is a mapping relationship between network slices and RATs and frequencies, and the first configuration information indicates the service information corresponding to the at least one network slice that the terminal device is allowed to execute on a second type of public land mobile network (PLMN), or the first configuration information is a priority relationship between network slices and PLMNs.

24. A terminal device, characterized in that, The terminal device includes a processing unit and a communication unit, wherein... The processing unit is configured to determine at least one first network slice; and to determine, through the communication unit, a first cell to be accessed based on the at least one first network slice. The processing unit determines at least one first network slice, including: The processing unit selects at least one first network slice according to the priority of multiple network slices configured in the network device; The network slicing information supported by the terminal device is configured in the terminal device by the network device. The network slice information supported by the terminal device is sent to the terminal device by the network device through a registration and receiving message during the location update process initiated by the terminal device. The step of determining the first cell to be accessed based on the at least one first network slice includes: The non-access layer (NAS) of the terminal device sends the indication information corresponding to the at least one first network slice to the access layer (AS). The AS layer of the terminal device performs a cell search based on the instruction information and obtains a first search result. The AS layer of the terminal device determines the first cell based on the first search result and feeds it back to the NAS layer; The NAS layer of the terminal device determines that the first cell is the cell to be accessed; The indication information includes a list of Radio Access Technology (RAT) and frequency information corresponding to each of the first network slices, wherein the order of each group of RAT and frequency information in the list corresponds to the priority order of at least one first network slice.

25. A network device, characterized in that, The network device includes a processing unit and a communication unit, wherein... The processing unit is configured to, upon receiving a first message, send first information to the terminal device via the communication unit. The first information includes at least one network slice information. This network slice information is used by the terminal device to determine at least one first network slice and, based on the at least one first network slice, to determine a first cell to be accessed. The first message is either a location update message initiated by the terminal device or a configuration update message initiated by the terminal device. During the process of determining at least one first network slice and, based on the at least one first network slice, the terminal device's Non-Access Stratum (NAS) layer sends indication information corresponding to the at least one first network slice to the Access Stratum (AS) layer. The terminal device's AS layer performs a cell search based on the indication information to obtain a first search result. The terminal device's AS layer determines the first cell based on the first search result and feeds it back to the NAS layer. The terminal device's NAS layer determines the first cell as the cell to be accessed. The indication information includes a list of Radio Access Technology (RAT) and frequency information corresponding to each first network slice, wherein the order of each group of RAT and frequency information in the list corresponds to the priority order of at least one first network slice. The network slice information is used to configure the priorities of multiple network slices, so that the terminal device can select at least one first network slice according to the priorities of the multiple network slices; wherein, the network slice information also includes network slice information supported by the terminal device, and the network slice information supported by the terminal device is pre-configured in the terminal device when the network device sends it to the terminal device; The network slice information supported by the terminal device is sent to the terminal device by the network device through a registration and receiving message during the location update process initiated by the terminal device.

26. A terminal device, characterized in that, The method includes a processor, a memory, a communication interface, and one or more programs, said one or more programs being stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the processor, said programs including instructions for performing the steps of the method as described in any one of claims 1-21.

27. A network device, characterized in that, The device includes a processor, a memory, a communication interface, and one or more programs, said programs being stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the processor, said programs including instructions for performing the steps of the method as described in any one of claims 22-23.

28. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, It stores a computer program for electronic data interchange, wherein the computer program causes the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1-21.

29. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, It stores a computer program for electronic data interchange, wherein the computer program causes the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 22-23.

Images