Access network device and communication method

Abstract

The invention provides an access network device and a communication method, and relates to the technical field of communication. In the access network device, the proxy unit isolates the at least one service unit from the external user / equipment, and the external user / equipment can access the at least one service through the proxy unit, so that the service unit can be directly added to the access network device under the condition that the access network device is upgraded to provide more services; therefore, the difficulty of service deployment of the access network equipment is reduced, and the expansibility of the access network device is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to an access network device and a communication method. Background Art

[0002] In the fifth generation (5 th In the 5G generation (5G) communication system, the access network (AN) devices interact with the rest of the core network functions in the core network (CN) through the access and mobility management function (AMF). As an implementation method, the access network device may further include a centralized unit (CU), also known as an aggregation unit, and a distributed unit (DU), wherein the CU mainly includes non-real-time wireless high-level protocol stack functions, and also supports the sinking of some core network functions and the deployment of edge application services, while the DU mainly processes the L1 physical layer functions and the L2 (such as: MAC layer, RLC layer, etc.) functions with real-time requirements.

[0003] With the continuous evolution of standards, access network devices need to implement more new functions. According to the current architecture of access network devices, if new functions are to be added to access network devices, the access network devices (as an implementation method, such as CU and DU, etc.) need to be fully updated and upgraded, which makes it difficult to upgrade the functions of access network devices. Summary of the invention

[0004] The embodiments of the present application provide an access network device and a communication method, which are used to provide an architecture of an access network device with higher scalability and reduce the difficulty of upgrading the functions of the access network device.

[0005] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an access network device, which may also be referred to as a first access network device. The access network device may be one or more access network devices, or may be a software module or a hardware module in an access network device, for example, may be a device or unit other than a CU and a DU in an access network device, or may be a network element or a node in an access network. The access network device includes: an agent unit, and at least one service unit capable of communicating with the agent unit, the agent unit is an entry for an external user / device (also referred to as external) to access the at least one service unit, and the at least one service unit is used to provide a service on the access network side, wherein: the agent unit is used to obtain first data and output the first data to a first service unit in the at least one service unit, the first data is obtained from a second access network device, and the first data includes data corresponding to a first service, and the first service unit is used to provide the first service; the first service unit is used to process the first data to obtain a first result.

[0006] It should be understood that the first access network device and the second access network device can be obtained by functional division. The first access network device is mainly responsible for providing services, and optionally, can also be used to obtain a request for requesting processing services; the second access network device is mainly responsible for the function of communication, for example, for communicating with a terminal device, or other access network devices (or access network devices), or a core network device (or core network device), which is equivalent to a device that can realize the function of a base station in a communication network, such as a gNB, etc. Optionally, the second access network device can be used to obtain a request for requesting processing services. The first access network device and the second access network device can be integrated into the same device, or can be implemented by different devices respectively. Among them, at least one service unit that can communicate with the proxy unit can be understood as: at least one service unit has the ability to communicate with the proxy unit, or can be understood as at least one service unit supports communication with the proxy unit, but does not limit whether at least one service unit is currently communicating with the proxy unit, that is, it does not limit the current communication state of at least one service unit. Two different service units in at least one service unit can be used to provide different services, and different services can specifically be different types of services. For example, any two service units in at least one service unit can be used to provide different types of services. Among them, the service unit may also be referred to as a service function or a service network element, etc., which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. The first service unit in at least one service unit may provide a perception service, a positioning service, or an AI service, etc. Correspondingly, the first service may also be a perception service, a positioning service, or an AI service, etc. The proxy unit serves as an entrance to access at least one service unit, which can be understood as the proxy unit isolating at least one service unit from an external user / device, and an external user / device can access at least one service unit through the proxy unit. An external user / device may be a device, a device, or a unit other than the proxy unit and at least one service unit. For example, an external user / device may include a terminal device, a network element (or unit) in a core network, and a second access network device. "Acquire" may be replaced by "receive", and "output" may be replaced by "send" or "transmit". The acquisition of a certain information involved in the embodiments of the present application, the information is obtained from A, and the two expressions of obtaining the information from A can be replaced with each other. For example, the acquisition of the first data, the first data is obtained from the second access network device, and it can also be replaced by the expression of obtaining the first data from the second access network device. Similarities are not listed below.

[0007] In the embodiment of the present application, an external user / device (such as a second access network device) can directly access at least one service unit through a proxy unit. The external user / device only needs to connect to the proxy unit, and does not need to connect to at least one service unit. Therefore, when upgrading or updating the access network device, only the corresponding service unit needs to be added to the access network device, and there is no need to upgrade or update other service units, proxy units, and external users / devices (such as a second access network device) in the access network device, thereby providing an access network device with a higher scalability architecture and reducing the difficulty and cost of upgrading the access network device. In addition, in the embodiment of the present application, at least one service unit can provide corresponding services, and a service localization mechanism is provided, so that the access network device can directly provide some localized services to the terminal device, without the involvement of the core network, simplifying the process of providing services and helping to improve the efficiency of service processing.

[0008] In a possible implementation manner, the proxy unit and the second access network device may communicate via a universal first interface, and the first interface may be used to transmit signaling and / or data between the proxy unit and the second access network device.

[0009] In the above implementation, the first interface is not an interface pointing to a specific object, but a general interface, such as an application programming interface (API) interface, which is easy to expand and upgrade. In this way, the proxy unit and the second access network device only need interface routing to open up communication between the proxy unit and the second access network device.

[0010] In a possible implementation, the first service unit may use the first result locally, or the first service unit may output the first result to the proxy unit.

[0011] In one possible implementation, there may be multiple ways to trigger the first service. For example, the first service may be triggered by an application function unit. In this case, the proxy unit is also used to obtain a first request from the application function unit (which may be alternatively expressed as: obtaining a first request, wherein the first request is obtained from the application function unit), and output the first request to the second access network device. After obtaining the first result, the proxy unit may output the first result to the application function unit.

[0012] It should be understood that the application function unit can be deployed in a third party or a core network, and there is no specific limitation on this. Optionally, the proxy unit and the application function unit can communicate through an application program interface. The two expressions of outputting a certain information to A and outputting a certain information, which is output to A, involved in the embodiments of the present application can be replaced with each other. For example, outputting a first result to the application function unit can be replaced by outputting a first result, which is output to the application function unit. Similarities are not listed below.

[0013] In the above implementation, the application function unit may directly initiate a first request to the proxy unit, triggering the access network device and the second access network device to collaboratively provide the first service without the involvement of the core network, thereby simplifying the service processing flow.

[0014] In a possible implementation, before the proxy unit sends a first request to the second access network device, it can obtain first information, the first information is obtained from the second access network device (which can be alternatively described as obtaining the first information from the second access network device), and based on the first information, the second access network device is determined from at least one access network device that can be connected, which is equivalent to determining that the first data is obtained through the second access network device. For example, the proxy unit determines that the type of data supported by the second access network device includes data corresponding to the first service. Among them, the first information may include type information of data supported by the second access network device, which is equivalent to the first information characterizing part or all of the capabilities of the second access network device.

[0015] In the above implementation, the proxy unit may determine to obtain the first data through the second access network device based on the first information of the second access network device, thereby ensuring that the second access network device can subsequently provide the first data so that the first service can be successfully executed.

[0016] In a possible implementation, the proxy unit may also be used to obtain second information from the first service unit, where the second information is used to register the first service unit and indicates type information and / or functional information of services supported by the first service unit, wherein the services supported by the first service unit include the first service.

[0017] In the above embodiment, the proxy unit can determine the type and / or function of the service that the first service unit can provide based on the second information of the first service unit. Similarly, the proxy unit can determine the capabilities of each service unit in at least one service unit, so that the proxy unit can subsequently provide the service unit of the first service and ensure that the access network device can smoothly provide the first service.

[0018] In a possible implementation manner, the second information is further used to configure a second interface for communicating between the first service unit and the proxy service; and the proxy unit is further used to establish communication with the first service unit through the second interface.

[0019] In the above implementation, the proxy unit may also configure an interface for communicating with the first service unit through the second information, thereby providing a method for the proxy unit to communicate with the first service unit.

[0020] In a possible implementation, the first service unit is further used to: write information of the first service unit into an interface configuration template to obtain the second information, the information of the first service unit including type information and / or function information of the service provided by the first service unit, and the interface configuration template including general information for configuring the interface of at least one service unit.

[0021] It should be understood that the interface configuration template can be pre-stored, pre-configured or pre-defined in the first service unit, for example, configured in the first service unit through a protocol, or configured in the first service unit manually or through the core network, or it can be configured by negotiation between the agent unit and at least one service unit, and there is no specific limitation on this.

[0022] In the above implementation, the first service unit can write some information of the first service unit itself into the interface configuration template to generate second information that can be used to configure the second interface, thereby simplifying the method of configuring the interface of the service unit. In this way, at least one service unit can use the interface configuration template to generate corresponding information, without having to configure an interface for each service unit separately, thereby simplifying the interface design between the service unit and the proxy unit, and thus reducing the difficulty and cost of adding a new service unit in the access network device.

[0023] In a possible implementation manner, the proxy unit is further configured to output third information, the third information being output to the second access network device, the third information including type information and / or function information of a service supported and provided by the at least one service unit.

[0024] In the above implementation, the second access network device can perceive the capability of the proxy unit, so that the second access network device can select a suitable proxy unit to implement the first service.

[0025] In one possible implementation, the access network device and the second access network device may be relatively independent, for example, the access network device is one device, and the second access network device is another device; or, the access network device and the second access network device are both arranged in the same device, for example, the access network device and the second access network device are both two hardware modules in the same device, or are both two software modules in the same device, or one of them is a software module in the device, and the other is a hardware module in the device, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this.

[0026] In a possible implementation, the first service is a perception service, and the first data includes a perception signal; the first service unit is specifically used to: process the perception signal to determine target identification information and / or target detection information, wherein the first result includes type information and / or location information of the terminal device. Target identification information can be understood as information about a target identified and determined by the perception signal, and the target information includes, for example, the type of the target, for example, the type of the target is a pedestrian or a terminal device (such as a vehicle). Target detection information can be understood as a detection result obtained by detecting the perception signal, and the target detection information includes, for example, the location information of the target, for example, the location information of the target can indicate the location of the terminal device or the location of an obstacle, etc.

[0027] It should be understood that perception services can be applied to scenarios such as smart cities, smart driving, industrial automation, logistics and supply chain management, agriculture and environmental monitoring, and health care and medical care. For example, perception services can be specifically applied to smart cities to perceive low-altitude drones, or perceive pedestrians on the road for path planning or avoidance.

[0028] In a possible implementation, the first service is a positioning service, and the first data includes measurement results of a positioning signal; the first service unit is specifically used to: process the measurement results of the positioning signal to obtain location information of a terminal device, wherein the first result includes the location information of the terminal device.

[0029] It should be understood that positioning services can be applied to scenarios such as marketing and advertising, Internet of Vehicles and intelligent transportation, logistics and supply chain management, indoor navigation and location services, and item tracking and security.

[0030] In a possible implementation, the first service unit is specifically configured to: obtain the associated first data and the temporary identification of the terminal device from a second service unit in the at least one service unit; or, the identity management unit in the first service unit determines the temporary identification of the terminal device based on the identity identification of the terminal device; wherein the first result also includes the temporary identification associated with the location information of the terminal device. The second service unit may also be referred to as an identity management unit.

[0031] In the above implementation, the first service unit only needs to sense the temporary identification of the terminal device, which can avoid leaking the identity of the terminal device and improve the security of data processing.

[0032] In one possible implementation, the first service is an AI service, and the first data includes training data or input data of an AI model; the first service unit is specifically used to: train or update the AI ​​model based on the training data, wherein the first result includes the trained AI model or the updated AI model; or, input the input data into the AI ​​model to obtain an inference result of the AI ​​model, wherein the first result includes the inference result of the AI ​​model.

[0033] It should be understood that AI services can be used for air interface signal processing processes such as channel measurement, beam management and encoding and decoding, and can also be used for network processes such as load balancing, network energy saving and mobility management.

[0034] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a first access network device, and the first access network device can be one or more access network devices, or can be a software module or hardware module in an access network device, for example, it can be a device or unit in an access network device other than DU and CU, or can be regarded as a network element or node in an access network. The first access network device can be, for example, an access network device in the first aspect or any possible implementation, or can be a software or hardware module in an access network device in the first aspect or any possible implementation, or can implement the same function as the access network device in the first aspect or any possible implementation, or can be a larger device or system including the access network device in the first aspect or any possible implementation, and the embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit this. The method includes: obtaining first data from a second access network device, the first data including data corresponding to a first service; processing the first data to obtain a first result.

[0035] In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: outputting the first result to the second access network device.

[0036] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: obtaining a first request from an application function unit, wherein the first request is used to request provision of the first service; outputting the first request, wherein the first request is output to the second access network device; and outputting the first result to the application function unit.

[0037] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: obtaining first information, the first information being obtained from the second access network device, the first information including type information of data supported and provided by the second access network device; and determining the second access network device from at least one access network device that communicates with the first access network device based on the first information.

[0038] In a possible implementation, the first access network device includes an agent unit and at least one service unit capable of communicating with the agent unit, the agent unit is an entrance for external users / equipment to access the at least one service unit, and the at least one service unit is used to provide services on the access network side, wherein the first data is obtained by the agent unit from the second access network device; the method also includes: the agent unit outputs the first data to a first service unit in the at least one service unit, and the first service unit is used to provide the first service; the first service unit processes the first data to obtain the first result.

[0039] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: outputting the first result to the agent unit.

[0040] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: obtaining second information from the first service unit; wherein the second information is used to register the first service unit and indicates type information of services supported by the first service unit, and the services provided by the first service unit include the first service.

[0041] In a possible implementation manner, the second information is further used to configure a second interface for communicating between the first service unit and the proxy service; the method further includes: the proxy unit establishing communication with the first service unit through the second interface.

[0042] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: the first service unit writes information of the first service unit into an interface configuration template to obtain the second information, the information of the first service unit including type information and / or function information of the service provided by the first service unit, and the interface configuration template including general information for configuring an interface of at least one service unit.

[0043] In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: outputting third information, wherein the third information is output to the second access network device, and the third information includes type information and / or function information of a service supported and provided by the first access network device.

[0044] In a possible implementation, the first service is a perception service, and the first data includes a perception signal; processing the first data to obtain a first result includes: processing the perception signal to determine target identification information and / or target detection information, wherein the first result includes the target identification information and / or the target detection information.

[0045] In a possible implementation, the first service is a positioning service, and the first data includes a measurement result of a positioning signal; processing the first data to obtain a first result includes: processing the measurement result of the positioning signal to obtain location information of a terminal device, wherein the first result includes the location information of the terminal device.

[0046] In a possible implementation, processing the first data to obtain a first result includes: acquiring the associated first data and a temporary identifier of the terminal device from a second service unit in the at least one service unit; or, an identity management unit in the first service unit determines the temporary identifier of the terminal device based on the identity identifier of the terminal device; wherein the first result also includes the temporary identifier associated with the location information of the terminal device. The second service unit may also be referred to as an identity management unit.

[0047] In one possible implementation, the first service is an AI service, and the first data includes training data or input data of an AI model; processing the first data to obtain a first result includes: training or updating the AI ​​model based on the training data, wherein the first result includes the trained AI model or the updated AI model; or, inputting the input data of the AI ​​model into the AI ​​model to obtain an inference result of the AI ​​model, wherein the first result includes the inference result of the AI ​​model.

[0048] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a second access network device, which can be one or more access network devices, or can be a software module or hardware module in an access network device, or can be regarded as a network element or node in an access network. The second access network device can be, for example, the second access network device involved in the first aspect or any possible implementation, or can be a software or hardware module in the second access network device involved in the first aspect or any possible implementation, or can implement the same function as the second access network device involved in the first aspect or any possible implementation, or can be a larger device or system including the second access network device involved in the first aspect or any possible implementation, and the embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit this. The method includes: obtaining a first request, the first request is used to request the provision of a first service; outputting first data to the first access network device, the first data including data corresponding to the first service.

[0049] In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: outputting first information, where the first information is output to the first access network device, and the first information includes type information of data supported and provided by the second access network device.

[0050] In a possible implementation, the first request is obtained from a terminal device or a mobility management unit, and the method further includes: obtaining a first result from the first access network device, the first result being a result of processing the first data; and outputting the first result to the terminal device or the mobility management unit. The mobility management unit may also be referred to as a mobility management device.

[0051] Optionally, the mobility management unit may initiate the first request under the triggering of the terminal device, or may initiate the first request under the triggering of the application function unit or other units in the core network, etc., which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. For example, the mobility management unit may also receive a request for providing the first service from the application function unit through the network opening unit, thereby initiating the first request.

[0052] In a possible implementation manner, the first request is received from a terminal device or a mobility management unit; and the method further includes: outputting fourth information to the terminal device or the mobility management unit, the fourth information including type information of data supported and provided by the second access network device.

[0053] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: obtaining third information from the first access network device, the third information including type information and / or function information of services supported and provided by the first access network device, wherein the fourth information also includes type information and / or function information of services provided by the first access network device.

[0054] In the above implementation, the second access network device can output the capabilities of the first access network device and the second access network device to the terminal device or the mobility management unit, so that the terminal device or the mobility management unit can more accurately select the access network device. In addition, the terminal device or the mobility management unit does not need to perceive the first access network device, but perceives the capabilities that the first access network device can provide. Therefore, even if the first access network device is updated, it will not affect the services triggered by the terminal device or the mobility management unit.

[0055] In a possible implementation, the second access network device includes a communication unit and a collection unit, and the first request is obtained by the communication unit; the method further includes: the communication unit outputs a second request to the collection unit, the third access network device or the core network, and the second request is used to request data corresponding to the first service; and obtains the first data from the collection unit, the third access network device or the core network.

[0056] In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: determining to obtain data corresponding to the first service from the collection unit, the third access network device or the core network.

[0057] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a mobile management unit, such as an AMF, or having the same function as an AMF. The method includes: receiving a third request from a terminal device, the third request is used to request the provision of a first service; determining to provide the first service through a second access network device; sending a first request to the second access network device, the first request is used to request the provision of the first service; receiving a first result from the second access network device, the first result being a data processing result corresponding to the first service.

[0058] In an embodiment of the present application, since both the access network device and the core network can provide corresponding services, the mobile management unit can determine whether the first service is provided by the access network device or the core network after receiving the third request. In this way, on the one hand, it can ensure that the access network device can smoothly provide the first service, and on the other hand, it can also be compatible with the existing core network service provision process.

[0059] In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: receiving fourth information from the second access network device, where the fourth information includes type information of data supported by the second access network device.

[0060] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be performed by a terminal device, and the method includes: receiving fourth information, the fourth information including type information of data supported and provided by a second access network device; sending a first request to the second access network device, the first request being used to request provision of a first service; receiving a first result from the second access network device, the first result being a result of processing the first data.

[0061] In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal device can directly obtain the capabilities of the second access network device and initiate a request to the second access network device to provide the first service without the involvement of the core network, which simplifies the service initiation process and improves the efficiency of providing services.

[0062] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an access network device, and the communication device may be the second access network device in the third aspect above, or a software or hardware module configured in the second access network device, or a larger device including the second access network device. The access network device includes corresponding means (means) or modules for executing the third aspect above or any possible implementation method. For example, the access network device includes a communication unit (also referred to as a communication module). Optionally, it also includes a collection unit (also referred to as a collection module).

[0063] For example, the communication unit is used to obtain a first request, where the first request is used to request provision of a first service, and output first data to a first access network device, where the first data includes data corresponding to the first service.

[0064] Optionally, the access network device may also be used to implement the method described in any possible implementation manner of the third aspect above, which will not be listed one by one here.

[0065] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which may be the mobility management unit in the fourth aspect, or a software or hardware module configured in the mobility management unit. The communication network device includes corresponding means or modules for executing the fourth aspect or any possible implementation method. For example, the communication device includes a processing unit (sometimes also referred to as a processing module), and a transceiver unit (sometimes also referred to as a transceiver module).

[0066] For example, the transceiver unit is used to receive a third request from a terminal device, wherein the third request is used to request the provision of a first service; the processing unit is used to determine that the first service is provided through a second access network device; the transceiver module is also used to send a first request to the second access network device, wherein the first request is used to request the provision of a first service; the transceiver module is also used to receive a first result from the second access network device, wherein the first result is a data processing result corresponding to the first service.

[0067] Optionally, the access network device may also be used to implement the method described in any possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect above, which will not be listed one by one here.

[0068] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which may be a terminal device in the fifth aspect, or a software or hardware module configured in the terminal device. The communication network device includes corresponding means or modules for executing the fifth aspect or any possible implementation method. For example, the communication device includes a processing unit (sometimes also referred to as a processing module), and a transceiver unit (sometimes also referred to as a transceiver module).

[0069] For example, under the control of the processing unit, the transceiver unit receives fourth information, wherein the fourth information includes type information of data supported and provided by the second access network device; sends a first request to the second access network device, wherein the first request is used to request the provision of a first service; and receives a first result from the second access network device, wherein the first result is a result of processing the first data.

[0070] Optionally, the communication network device can also be used to implement the method described in any possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect above, which will not be listed one by one here.

[0071] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an access network system, which includes an access network device as described in the first aspect or any possible implementation scheme above, and an access network device as described in the sixth aspect or any possible implementation scheme above.

[0072] In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, the communication system comprising an access network device as described in the first aspect or any possible implementation manner, and an access network device as described in the sixth aspect or any possible implementation manner. Optionally, the communication system further comprises a mobile management unit as described in the seventh aspect or any possible implementation manner, or further comprises a terminal device as described in the eighth aspect or any possible implementation manner.

[0073] In the eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which includes a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the interface circuit is used to receive signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmit them to the processor or send signals from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device, and the processor is used to implement a communication method as described in any one of the first aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect, the fifth aspect and any possible implementation manner through a logic circuit or execution code instructions.

[0074] In the specific implementation process, the communication device may be a chip, and the processor may be a transistor, a gate circuit, a trigger, and various logic circuits, etc. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific implementation method of the processor.

[0075] In one implementation, the communication device may be a wireless communication device, that is, a computer device supporting a wireless communication function. Specifically, the wireless communication device may be a wireless access network device such as a base station.

[0076] In another implementation, the communication device may be a part of a wireless communication device, such as an integrated circuit product such as a system chip or a communication chip. The system chip may also be referred to as a system on chip (SoC), or simply as an SoC chip. The communication chip may include a baseband processing chip and a radio frequency processing chip. The baseband processing chip is sometimes also referred to as a modem or a baseband chip. The radio frequency processing chip is sometimes also referred to as a radio frequency transceiver or a radio frequency chip. In a physical implementation, some or all of the chips in the communication chip may be integrated inside the SoC chip. For example, the baseband processing chip is integrated in the SoC chip, and the radio frequency processing chip is not integrated with the SoC chip. The interface circuit may be a radio frequency processing chip in a wireless communication device, and the processor may be a baseband processing chip in a wireless communication device. The interface circuit may be an input / output interface, an interface circuit, an output circuit, an input circuit, a pin or a related circuit on the chip or the chip system. The processor may also be embodied as a processing circuit or a logic circuit.

[0077] In the twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which includes: a processor and a memory; the memory is used to store one or more computer programs, and the one or more computer programs include computer execution instructions. When the communication device is running, the processor executes the one or more computer programs stored in the memory, so that the communication device performs a communication method as described in any one of the first aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect and the fifth aspect and any possible implementation manner.

[0078] Optionally, the communication device further includes other components, such as an antenna, an input / output module, an interface, etc. These components may be hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0079] In a thirteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip system, the chip system comprising: a processor and an interface. The processor is used to call and run instructions from the interface, and when the processor executes the instructions, the communication method described in any one of the second aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect, the fifth aspect and any possible implementation manner is implemented.

[0080] In the fourteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which is used to store computer programs or instructions, and when it is executed, it implements the communication method described in any one of the second aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect and the fifth aspect and any possible implementation manner.

[0081] In a fifteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product comprising instructions, which, when executed on a computer, implements a communication method as described in any one of the second aspect, the third aspect, the fourth aspect, the fifth aspect and any possible implementation manner.

[0082] Regarding the beneficial effects of any technical solution in the above-mentioned second aspect to the fifteenth aspect, reference can be made to the beneficial effects discussion of the corresponding technical solution in the first aspect, and the repeated parts will not be listed here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0083] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the architecture of an access network device;

[0084] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0085] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the deployment of an access network device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0086] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the deployment of another access network device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0087] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the architecture of another communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0088] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0089] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0090] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0091] Fig. 9 A schematic diagram of the architecture of an access network device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0092] Fig.10 A schematic diagram of the architecture of another access network device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0093] Fig.11 A schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0094] Fig.12 A schematic diagram of the structure of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0095] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the embodiments of the present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0096] In the embodiments of the present application, the number of nouns, unless otherwise specified, means "singular noun or plural noun", that is, "one or more". "At least one" means one or more, and "plural" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c means: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a and b and c, where a, b, c can be single or multiple.

[0097] The following is an introduction to the architecture of the access network device mentioned in the background technology. Figure 1 , which is a schematic diagram of the architecture of an access network device. Figure 1 The figure shows a terminal device, an access network device in an access network, and a core network (CN) device. The terminal device can access the core network device in the core network through the access network device, and the access network device can communicate with other devices in the core network through the access and mobility management function (AMF) in the core network device. Figure 1 As shown in FIG. 1 , the access network device includes at least one CU and at least one DU. If the access network device is to add new functions, the CU and DU need to be fully updated so that the access network device can implement the new functions and connect to the terminal device and the core network device. It can be seen that the architecture of this access network device has poor scalability, which makes it difficult to upgrade the functions of the access network device.

[0098] In view of this, an embodiment of the present application provides an access network device, which access network device (such as a first access network device) includes an agent unit and at least one service unit that supports communication with the agent unit. The agent unit is the entrance to access the access network device, and at least one service unit can provide corresponding services under the instruction of the agent unit. The access network device isolates the communication function from the service function (for example: service function), and the communication function is carried by the second access network device. The service function is integrated on the second access network device (which can be regarded as a service function node) outside the second access network device, thereby realizing the isolation of new functions / features from communication functions, and meeting the rapid launch / update of new functions and the localized service requirements of the access network device. For example, if a new function of the access network device needs to be added, a service unit that implements the new function can be added to the access network device, thereby reducing the difficulty of upgrading the function of the access network device. This makes the access network device architecture more scalable.

[0099] The access network device provided in the embodiment of the present application may be an access network device, or may be a software module or a hardware module (such as a chip) in the access network device, or may be an entity, a network element or a node in the access network, etc., which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application. The following is an introduction to the possible specific implementation forms of the access network device.

[0100] The access network device may be a device having a communication function, such as an access network device or a wireless access network device, and the access network device may be a base station. The access network device in the embodiment of the present application may be, for example, a wireless access network (RAN) device (or node) that connects a terminal device to a wireless network. A base station may broadly cover various names as follows, or be replaced with the following names, such as: NodeB, evolved NodeB (eNB), next generation NodeB (gNB), relay station, access point, transmission point (TRP), transmission point (TP), master station, auxiliary station, multi-standard wireless (motor slide retainer, MSR) node, home base station, network controller, access node, wireless node, access point (AP), transmission node, transceiver node, baseband unit (BBU), remote radio unit (RRU), active antenna unit (AAU), remote radio head (RRH), central unit (CU), distributed unit (DU), radio unit (RU), positioning node, etc. A base station may be a macro base station, a micro base station, a relay node, a donor node, or the like, or a combination thereof. The base station may also refer to a communication module, modem or chip used to be set in the aforementioned equipment or device. The base station may also be a mobile switching center and a device that performs the base station function in D2D, V2X, and M2M communications, a network side device in a 6G network, and a device that performs the base station function in future communication systems. The base station can support networks with the same or different access technologies. Optionally, the RAN node can also be a server, a wearable device, a vehicle or an on-board device, etc. For example, the access network device in the vehicle to everything (V2X) technology may be a road side unit (RSU). The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific equipment form adopted by the core network equipment.

[0101] In some deployments, the access network device mentioned in the embodiments of the present application may be a device including a CU, or a DU, or a device including a CU and a DU, or a control plane CU node (centralized unit control plane (CU control plane, CU-CP) node, centralized unit user plane (CU user plane, CU-UP) node) and a DU node. For example, the access network device may include a gNB-CU-CP, a gNB-CU-UP, and a gNB-DU.

[0102] In some deployments, multiple RAN nodes collaborate to assist terminal devices in achieving wireless access, and different RAN nodes implement part of the functions of the base station. For example, the RAN node can be a CU, DU, CU-CP, CU-UP, or RU. The CU and DU can be set separately, or they can also be included in the same network element, such as a BBU. The RU can be included in a radio frequency device or radio frequency unit, such as an RRU, AAU, or RRH.

[0103] The RAN node may support one or more types of fronthaul interfaces, and different fronthaul interfaces correspond to DUs and RUs with different functions. If the fronthaul interface between the DU and the RU is a common public radio interface (CPRI), the DU is configured to implement one or more baseband functions, and the RU is configured to implement one or more radio frequency functions. If the fronthaul interface between the DU and the RU is another interface, relative to the CPRI, part of the downlink and / or uplink baseband functions, such as, for downlink, one or more of precoding, digital beamforming (BF), or inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) / cyclic prefix (CP) are moved from the DU to the RU for implementation, and for uplink, one or more of digital beamforming (BF), or fast Fourier transform (FFT) / cyclic prefix (CP) are moved from the DU to the RU for implementation. In a possible implementation, the interface may be an enhanced common public radio interface (eCPRI). In the eCPRI architecture, the division between DU and RU is different, corresponding to different types (category, Cat) of eCPRI, such as eCPRI Cat A, B, C, D, E, F.

[0104] Taking eCPRI Cat A as an example, for downlink transmission, based on layer mapping, the DU is configured to implement layer mapping and one or more functions before it (i.e., one or more functions of coding, rate matching, scrambling, modulation, and layer mapping), while other functions after layer mapping (e.g., RE mapping, digital beamforming (BF), or one or more functions of inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) / adding cyclic prefix (CP)) are moved to the RU for implementation. For uplink transmission, based on de-RE mapping, the DU is configured to implement de-mapping and one or more functions before it (i.e., one or more functions of decoding, de-rate matching, de-scrambling, demodulation, inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT), channel equalization, and de-RE mapping), while other functions after de-mapping (e.g., one or more functions of digital BF or fast Fourier transform (FFT) / removing CP) are moved to the RU for implementation. It can be understood that for the functional description of DU and RU corresponding to various types of eCPRI, reference can be made to the eCPRI protocol and will not be repeated here.

[0105] In one possible design, the processing unit for implementing the baseband function in the BBU is called a baseband high layer (BBH) unit, and the processing unit for implementing the baseband function in the RRU / AAU / RRH is called a baseband low layer (BBL) unit.

[0106] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU or RU may also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in the ORAN system, CU may also be called O-CU (open CU), DU may also be called O-DU, CU-CP may also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP may also be called O-CU-UP, and RU may also be called O-RU. Any unit in the CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU and RU in this application may be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0107] The access network device provided in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to various communication systems (or networks), such as: the fifth generation (5th generation, 5G) or new radio (new radio, NR) system, long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE) system, LTE frequency division duplex (frequency division duplex, FDD) system, LTE time division duplex (time division duplex, TDD) system, wireless local area network (wireless local area network, WLAN) system, satellite communication system, future communication system, such as the sixth generation (6th generation, 6G) mobile communication system, or a fusion system of multiple systems, etc. The technical solution provided in the present application can also be applied to device to device (D2D) communication, vehicle to everything (V2X) communication, machine to machine (M2M) communication, machine type communication (MTC), and Internet of things (IoT) communication system or other communication systems.

[0108] The following describes, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a communication system to which the access network device can be applied by way of example.

[0109] For example, see Figure 2 , is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application. Or, Figure 2 It can be understood as a schematic diagram of a scenario in which the access network device can be used. Figure 2 As shown, the communication system includes at least one terminal device, an access network and a core network. Figure 2 In the description, an access network including three core network devices, namely, a first access network device, a second access network device and a third access network device, is used as an example. The terminal device can communicate with the first access network device, the second access network device and the third access network device respectively. The terminal device can access the core network through the second access network device or the third access network device. The first access network device can provide services for the terminal device, for example, the first access network device provides services for the terminal device through the second access network device.

[0110] The first access network device and the second access network device may be obtained by functional division. The first access network device is mainly responsible for providing services, and optionally, can also be used to obtain requests for requesting processing services; the second access network device is mainly responsible for the communication function, for example, for communicating with a terminal device, or other access network devices (or access network equipment), or a core network device (or core network equipment), which is equivalent to a device that can realize the base station function in a communication network, such as a gNB, etc. Optionally, the second access network device can be used to obtain requests for requesting processing services.

[0111] exist Figure 2 The example is taken as 1 for the number of terminal devices, and the number of terminal devices is not actually limited. The device involved in the embodiment of the present application may be one or more hardware devices, or a component in a hardware device, or a software module in a hardware device, etc., and the embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit this. It can be understood that the terminal device in the embodiment of the present application can be replaced by a first network element or a first communication device, the first access network device can be replaced by a second network element or a second communication device, the second access network device can be replaced by a third network element or a third communication device, the third access network device can be replaced by a fourth network element or a fourth communication device, etc.

[0112] In one possible implementation, the first access network device and the second access network device are both arranged in the same device, which may be referred to as the first access network device, for example, the first access network device and the second access network device are both hardware modules or software modules in the access network device. Optionally, the third access network device may also be arranged in the first access network device, or the third access network device may be arranged in the second access network device. In another possible implementation, the first access network device, the second access network device and the third access network device are all arranged relatively independently.

[0113] A terminal device is a device with wireless transceiver functions, which may also be called terminal equipment, user equipment (UE), access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal, wireless communication device, user agent or user device. The terminal device can be a fixed device, a mobile device, a handheld device, a wearable device (also called a wearable device), a vehicle-mounted device, or a wireless device built into the above devices (for example, a communication module or a chip system, etc.). The terminal device is used to connect people, objects, machines, etc., and can be widely used in various scenarios, such as but not limited to the following scenarios: cellular communication, device-to-device communication (D2D), vehicle to everything (V2X), machine-to-machine / machine-type communications (M2M / MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), industrial control, self driving, remote medical, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wear, smart transportation, smart city, drone, robot, etc. The terminal device may sometimes be referred to as user equipment (UE), terminal, access station, UE station, remote station, wireless communication equipment, or user equipment.

[0114] As an example but not limitation, wearable devices can also be called wearable smart devices, which are a general term for wearable devices that use wearable technology to intelligently design daily wearables and develop wearable devices, such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothing and shoes. A wearable device is a portable device that is worn directly on the body or integrated into the user's clothes or accessories. Wearable devices are not just hardware devices, but also achieve powerful functions through software support, data interaction, and cloud interaction. Broadly speaking, wearable smart devices include full-featured, large-sized, and independent of smartphones to achieve complete or partial functions, such as smart watches or smart glasses, as well as those that only focus on a certain type of application function and need to be used in conjunction with other devices such as smartphones, such as various smart bracelets and smart jewelry for vital sign monitoring.

[0115] Among them, any access network device (such as the first access network device, the second access network device or the third access network device) and / or the terminal device can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; can also be deployed on the water surface; can also be deployed on an airplane, balloon and satellite in the air. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the scenarios in which the access network device and the terminal device are located.

[0116] In the embodiment of the present application, the device for realizing the function of the terminal device may be a terminal device, or a device capable of supporting the terminal device to realize the function, such as a chip system, which may be installed in the terminal device or used in combination with the terminal device. In the embodiment of the present application, the chip system may be composed of a chip, or may include a chip and other discrete devices. In the embodiment of the present application, only the device for realizing the function of the terminal device is used as an example for explanation, and the solution of the embodiment of the present application is not limited.

[0117] Please refer to Figure 3 , which is a deployment diagram of an access network device provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 3 Possible architectures of the first access network device, the second access network device and the third access network device are illustrated respectively. Figure 3 The first access network device involved is, for example, Figure 2 The first access network device and the second access network device involved are, for example, Figure 2 The second access network device and the third access network device involved are, for example, Figure 2 The third access network device involved.

[0118] The first access network device includes a proxy unit and at least one service unit. The proxy unit may be a hardware module or a software module in the access network device, and the at least one service unit may be a hardware module or a software module in the access network device, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application. Figure 3 The example is based on the number of proxy units being one, but in reality the number of proxy units may be one or more. Figure 3 It is taken as an example that the at least one service unit includes three service units: a first service unit, a second service unit and a third service unit. Actually, the number of service units included in the at least one service unit is not limited.

[0119] The proxy unit can be regarded as an entrance for external users / devices to access at least one service unit. In other words, external users / devices can access at least one service unit through the proxy unit. It can also be described as the proxy unit is used to connect to external users / devices, isolate at least one service unit and external users / devices, and control external users / devices to access at least one service unit. External users / devices refer to units, devices or equipment other than the proxy unit and at least one service unit, such as terminal devices, core networks (such as devices or units in the core network, such as access and mobility management functions (AMF) in the core network), second access network devices and third parties (such as devices or units in third parties, such as application functions (AF)), etc.

[0120] Optionally, the proxy unit may also be responsible for registration / authorization / access management or signaling forwarding of the service unit, data packet header addition / modification, service data routing, path update, and storage of context information related to the service unit.

[0121] The proxy unit can (or supports) communicating with at least one service unit, or it can be described as at least one service unit can (or supports) communicating with the proxy unit. It can also be described as that the proxy unit can correspond to at least one service unit.

[0122] For example, the agent unit can use the second interface (such as Figure 3 The proxy unit can be used as a "backplane" to provide a standard "slot" for at least one service unit.

[0123] In the case where the agent unit includes multiple agent units, any agent unit among the multiple agent units can communicate with at least one service unit, or, an agent unit among the multiple agent units can communicate with a service unit among the at least one service unit. For example, each agent unit among the multiple agent units communicates with a service unit among the at least one service unit. In other words, the multiple agent units correspond one-to-one to the at least one service unit.

[0124] At least one service unit may be used to provide services on the access network side. The services (or services) on the access network side may be understood as services that the access network can provide, which may be regarded as local services or as endogenous services of the access network. The services on the access network side include, but are not limited to, access services, sensing services, positioning services, artificial intelligence (AI) services, and other services that the access network can provide during future evolution. The services on the access network side may include the following features 1 and / or 2.

[0125] Feature 1: The service data needs to be closed locally or not leave the park.

[0126] For example, when users in a park (such as an industrial park) use positioning services based on the access network, the positioning information of the equipment in the park involves some privacy issues of the equipment, and the users do not want the positioning data to enter the operator network, that is, the public network. Therefore, it can be regarded as the need for the data of the positioning service to stay within the park; for another example, when the operator uses perception services, the perception signals collected by the access network (such as access network devices) can be processed in a local closed loop, and the processing results can be directly applied to the access network without being forwarded through layers of equipment in the public network. Therefore, it can be regarded as the need for the data of the perception service to be local closed-loop.

[0127] Feature 2: The service needs to have real-time perception of the air interface status of the access network.

[0128] For example, for some services, the data of the source end needs to be flexibly adjusted considering the air interface status of the access network equipment. For example, when the air interface status is relatively congested or the signal quality is poor, the source end can reduce the requirements of the service data generated by the source end for air interface transmission by reducing the bit rate, thereby making adaptive adjustments to improve the user experience quality. Therefore, it is understandable that such services have the need to have real-time perception of the air interface status of the access network equipment. For example, extended reality (XR) (specifically virtual reality (VR)) services.

[0129] It should be understood that the services on the access network side may include services that only the access network can provide, services that the core network and other networks (such as the core network) can provide separately, services provided by the access network in collaboration with other networks (core network), and services that the access network can provide in collaboration with other devices (such as terminal devices).

[0130] In the case where at least one service unit includes multiple service units, these multiple service units can provide (or implement) at least one type of service. Exemplarily, these multiple service units can all be used to provide a service, or at least two of the multiple service units are used to provide at least two different types of services. At least two of the multiple service units are used to provide at least two different types of services, including any two of the multiple services being used to provide two types of services. Taking the first service unit as an example, the content of the first service unit is introduced by way of example. The contents of the second service unit and the third service unit can refer to the content of the first service unit.

[0131] For example, the first service unit is used to provide (or implement) a sensing service. In this case, the first service unit may also be referred to as a sensing function (SF), a sensing network element, a sensing function unit or a sensing function network element, etc.

[0132] For another example, the first service unit is used to provide (or implement) a positioning service, and the first service unit can be used to provide (or implement) an AI service. In this case, the first service unit can be referred to as a positioning network element, a positioning function unit, a positioning function network element, or a positioning data management unit. In this example, the first service unit can be used to determine the location information of the terminal device.

[0133] Optionally, the positioning data management unit includes an identity management unit. The identity management unit is used to manage identification information of the terminal device. In the case where the positioning data management unit does not include the identity management unit, at least one service unit may further include the identity management unit, that is, in this case, the identity management unit and the positioning data management unit may be regarded as two relatively independent service units. The identity management unit may be used to manage the identity information of the terminal device, for example, the positioning data management unit may be regarded as an example of the first service unit, and the identity management unit may be regarded as an example of the second service unit.

[0134] For another example, the first service unit is used to implement an AI service. In this case, the first service unit may be referred to as an AI network element, an AI function unit, an AI function network element, or an AI management unit. The AI ​​management unit may be used to train an AI model, update an AI model, or perform reasoning based on an AI model.

[0135] Optionally, each service unit in the at least one service unit may include one or more instances, and the proxy unit may be used to select an instance for executing the corresponding service.

[0136] The second access network device and the third access network device can access the service provided by the at least one service unit through the proxy unit. For example, the second access network device and the third access network device can respectively access the service provided by the at least one service unit through the first interface (such as Figure 3 The first interface may be a general interface that is not directed to a specific service unit. In this way, it is convenient to expand and upgrade the first interface, reach an industry consensus, and simplify the design of the interface. Optionally, the first interface can be used to transmit signaling and / or data.

[0137] In a possible implementation manner, the second access network device and the third access network device may both include a communication unit and at least one collection unit, and the communication unit may communicate with the at least one collection unit. Figure 3 In the example, the number of communication units and collection units is 1, but the number of communication units and collection units is not limited in practice.

[0138] The second access network device and the third access network device may also communicate with each other. For example, the communication unit in the second access network device may communicate with the communication unit in the third access network device via an Xn-c interface.

[0139] Please refer to Figure 4 , which is a deployment diagram of an access network device provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 4 A possible implementation of the second access network device and the third access network device is illustrated. Figure 4 In the example, the communication unit is a centralized unit (CU) (also called a convergence unit) and the collection unit is a distributed unit (DU). In other words, the CU can be regarded as Figure 3 An implementation of the communication unit involved, and the DU can be regarded as Figure 3 An implementation of the acquisition unit involved.

[0140] The CU in the second access network device can control access to the DU in the second access network device, and the CU in the third access network device can control access to the DU in the third access network device.

[0141] Figure 4 In the example, the number of CUs included in the second access network device and the third access network device is 1, and the number of CUs included in the second access network device and the third access network device is not actually limited. And, Figure 4 In the figure, the number of DUs included in the second access network device and the third access network device is taken as an example, and the number of DUs included in the second access network device and the third access network device is not actually limited.

[0142] The CU of the second access network device and the DU of the third access network device can communicate through the interface F1. Both the second access network device and the third access network device can communicate with the core network through the interface NG. The second access network device and the third access network device can communicate through the interface Xn-C.

[0143] exist Figure 4 In the illustrated implementation, the second access network element device and the third access network device include a CU and a DU, so that the second access network device and the third access network device can reuse the architecture of the existing access network device, thereby reducing changes to the devices in the network.

[0144] The CU of the second access network device can be used to carry the logical nodes of the radio resource control (RRC), service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) of the second access network device, and is used to control the operation of one or more DUs. The DU of the second access network device can be used to carry the logical nodes of the radio link control (RLC), medium access control (MAC) and physical (PHY) layers of the second access network device.

[0145] In the case where the first access network device and the second access network device are deployed in the same access network equipment, optionally, the first access network device may be a unit or device in the access network equipment except for the CU and the DU.

[0146] The content of the CU in the third access network device can refer to the content of the CU in the second access network device, and the content of the DU in the third access network device can refer to the content of the DU in the second access network device, which will not be repeated here.

[0147] The proxy unit can be used to carry the data of the adaptation layer, that is, the adaptation layer is deployed on the protocol stack processing of the RRC, SDAP, and PDCP data of the CU, and can be used to process the content carried by the CU of the second access network device. In one possible implementation, taking the direction in which a certain data is output from the CU to the proxy unit as an example, the data is processed by the PDCP and SDAP of the CU to obtain the first user plane data, the user plane data is processed by the adaptation layer to obtain the first processed data, the first processed data is transmitted to the proxy unit through the Nx interface, and the proxy unit restores the first processed data to obtain the first user plane data (that is, the user plane data obtained after the PDCP and SDAP processing of the CU). If the data is output from the proxy unit to the CU, the processing of the proxy unit in this case is similar to the processing process of the proxy unit in the case where the data is transmitted from the CU to the proxy unit, and is not listed here.

[0148] Similarly, an adaptation layer can also be deployed between the service unit and the proxy unit. After the data is processed by the adaptation layer of the proxy unit, second processed data is obtained. The second processed data is passed to the adaptation layer of the service unit through the Ny interface. After processing by the adaptation layer, the service unit restores the data transmitted by the proxy unit (that is, obtains the processed data that has not been processed by the proxy unit).

[0149] It should be understood that Figure 4 The example in which the second access network device and the third access network device include CU and DU is taken as an example. In fact, the implementation method of the second access network device and the third access network device is not limited, and the embodiments of the present application do not make specific limitations on this.

[0150] In a possible implementation manner, the CU of the second access network device and the CU of the third access network device may be further separated into a CU-CP and a CU-UP. In this case, the communication unit may include a CU-CP and / or a CU-UP.

[0151] Please refer to Figure 5 , is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application. Or it can also be regarded as a schematic diagram of a scenario provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 5 The terminal device, access network and core network are illustrated. The access network includes a first access network device and a second access network device. Figure 5 The structure of the first access network device shown in Figure 3 The architecture of the first access network device involved and the structure of the second access network device can be referred to in the previous text. Figure 4 The architecture of the second access network device involved.

[0152] The core network includes, for example, a mobile management unit, a network exposure unit, a unified data management unit and a data analysis unit. The mobile management unit may also be referred to as a mobile management device or a mobile management network element, such as AMF. The network exposure unit may also be referred to as a network exposure device or a network exposure network element, such as a network development function (NEF). The unified data management unit may also be referred to as a unified data management device or a unified data management network element, such as unified data management (UDM). The data analysis unit may also be referred to as a data analysis device or a data analysis network element, such as a network data analysis function (NWDAF). Optionally, NWDAF may obtain the RAN-side perception results through AMF to perform intelligent network analysis and prediction.

[0153] Optionally, the communication system further illustrates at least one application function unit, which may be deployed in a third party or a core network. The application function unit is, for example, an AF. For example, the AF may initiate a request for processing a local service (or services) through a proxy unit.

[0154] To simplify the description, the following text will take the mobile management unit as AMF and the application function unit as AF as an example. That is to say, the AMF in the following text can be replaced by the mobile management unit, and the AF can be replaced by the application function unit.

[0155] like Figure 5 As shown, the proxy unit can communicate with the AF, for example, through an application programming interface (API). The first access network device can communicate with the second access network device, for example, through an Nx interface. The second access network device can communicate with the AMF, for example, through an N2 interface. Both the CU and DU in the second access network device can communicate with the terminal device. The terminal device can also communicate with the AMF through an N1 interface.

[0156] The following describes the method provided by the embodiments of the present application in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings corresponding to the various embodiments of the present application, all steps indicated by dotted lines are optional steps. The terminal device involved in the various embodiments of the present application is, for example, Figure 2 or Figure 5 The terminal device involved, the first access network device is for example Figure 2 , Figure 3 or Figure 5 The first access network device involved, the first service unit is for example Figure 3 or Figure 5 The first service unit involved, the proxy unit is for example Figure 3 or Figure 5 The proxy unit involved, the second access network device is for example Figures 2 to 5 Any of the second access network devices involved, the third access network device is, for example, Figures 2 to 4 Any third access network device involved, AF, for example Figure 5 The application functional unit involved, AMF, is for example Figure 5 If the technical solutions provided in the various embodiments of the present application are applied to other communication systems, the name and / or function of the device may be changed, and there is no limitation on this.

[0157] Please refer to Figure 6 , is a schematic diagram of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 6 In the description, at least one service unit included in the first access network device includes a first service unit as an example.

[0158] S601: A first service unit in a first access network device outputs information 1 to an agent unit in the first access network device. Accordingly, the agent unit obtains information 1 from the first service unit. Information 1 may be referred to as second information.

[0159] It should be understood that the output and acquisition mentioned in the embodiments of the present application can be two interactive operations between two software modules in a device, or two interactive operations between two hardware modules in a device, or two interactive operations between a software module and a hardware module in a device, or two interactive operations between two devices, or two interactive operations between a device and a software module in another device, or two interactive operations between a device and a hardware module in another device, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit this. In addition, the "output" involved in the embodiments of the present application can be replaced by "sending" or "transferring", and "receiving" can be replaced by "obtaining".

[0160] Information 1 may also be referred to as registration information or configuration information, and is used to register the first service unit. Information 1 may indicate or include type information and / or function information of the service provided by the first service unit, for example, information 1 may include an identifier of the type of service provided by the first service unit and / or an identifier of the function.

[0161] Function can be understood as one or more functions involved in the process of implementing a service. A service may correspond to one function, for example, a positioning service corresponds to a positioning function. In this case, functions and types can be interchangeable; or, a service may correspond to multiple functions, for example, a perception service corresponds to a function including a function of analyzing perception data, a function of filtering perception data, and a function of processing perception data, etc., which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. The functions that may correspond to any two different service units may include the same functions, or may not include the same functions. For example, both service units include a recording function, and the recording function refers to the ability to record the context information of the service unit, such as the upstream text information of the service unit. When the service unit has a recording function, the service state of the service unit can be regarded as stateful; when the service unit does not have a recording function, the service state of the service unit can be regarded as stateless.

[0162] Optionally, information 1 can also be used to configure a second interface for the first service unit to communicate with the proxy service. In this case, the proxy service can determine the second interface for communicating with the first service unit based on information 1, and communicate with the first service unit through the second interface. The content of the second interface can be referred to in the previous text. Figure 3 The content of the second interface is discussed.

[0163] In a possible implementation, the information 1 may be generated by the first service unit based on an interface configuration template (or simply referred to as an interface template or template), and the interface configuration template may be preconfigured or predefined in the first service unit.

[0164] The interface configuration template includes general information for configuring the interface of at least one service unit. For example, the interface configuration template may include information of common functions. The information of common functions may be used to implement the common functions required by the interface of at least one service unit. The interface configuration module may be similar to the predefined information at the operating system level, and different developers may develop applications based on the predefined information. Accordingly, different service units may also configure the interface corresponding to the service unit based on the interface configuration template. In this way, it is not necessary to develop a dedicated interface for each service unit separately, which can simplify the interface design in the access network device.

[0165] Exemplarily, the first service unit may write (or input or fill) information of the first service unit in the interface configuration template, thereby obtaining the interface configuration information of the first service unit. The information of the first service unit may be some information specific to the first service unit, such as type information and / or function information of the service provided by the first service unit. The type information and / or function information of the service provided by the first service unit may be used to identify the first service unit.

[0166] Optionally, information 1 also indicates or includes service parameters of the first service unit. Service parameters include, for example, the type of data supported for processing by the first service unit, and / or the data format supported for transmission by the first service unit, etc. The service parameters of the first service data unit may be a specific description of the service type, such as operations performed on the service, such as creating the service, updating the service, or deleting the service, etc. Optionally, the service parameters also include a user identifier of the service requester. The user identifier is used to indicate the requester of the service request, and is used by the service provider to complete the operation according to the user identifier. For example, if a terminal device initiates a service, the user identifier of the service requester may be the identifier of the terminal device.

[0167] S602: The proxy unit in the first access network device communicates with the first service unit in the first access network device through the second interface.

[0168] For example, the proxy unit configures the second interface based on the information 1, so that it can communicate with the first service unit through the second interface.

[0169] The above S601-S602 is a process for establishing communication between an agent unit and a first service unit provided in an embodiment of the present application. In fact, any service unit in at least one service unit can establish communication with the agent unit by referring to the above S601-S602 process, which is not listed here. In this way, the agent unit can obtain the type information and / or function information of the service supported by each service unit in at least one service unit.

[0170] It should be understood that there are many ways for the proxy unit to establish communication with the first service unit. When the proxy unit establishes communication with the first service unit in other ways, or when the proxy unit has established communication with the first service unit, there is no need to perform steps S601 and S602, that is, S601-S602 are optional steps. Figure 6 Indicated by dotted line.

[0171] S603: The second access network device outputs information 2 to the proxy unit in the first access network device. Accordingly, the proxy unit obtains information 2 from the second access network device. Information 2 may be referred to as first information. Information 2 includes or indicates type information of data supported and provided by the second access network device. The type information of data in information 2 is equivalent to the service type supported by the second access network device.

[0172] For example, the communication unit in the second access network device can output information 2 to the agent unit in the first access network device through the first interface. Figure 3The information 2 may be carried in the capability information of the second access network device. The type of data may be divided according to the type of service that the data is used to implement. For example, if the service includes a perception service and a positioning service, the type of data may include perception data for implementing the perception service and positioning data for implementing the positioning service. The type information of the data may be, for example, an identifier of the type of data.

[0173] Optionally, information 2 may also include a method for providing data and / or a first area restriction. In the embodiment of the present application, the data supported by the second access network device include at least one of the data pre-stored by the second access network device, the data that can be collected, or the data that can be obtained from other access network devices. The method of providing data may be divided according to the source of the data, for example, the method of providing data includes providing by an access network device (such as a second access network device or a third access network device), or providing by the core network, etc. The first area restriction may be an area in which the second access network device supports providing data. The area in which data is provided may be divided according to the granularity of the second access network device or the tracking area (TA). For example, if divided according to the second access network device, the first area restriction may refer to which access network devices the second access network device can provide data for. For example, with TA as the granularity, the first area restriction may refer to which TAs the second access network device provides data in.

[0174] In the case where information 2 is output by the communication unit in the second access network device to the proxy unit, the type information of the data supported by the second access network device can be preconfigured or predefined in the communication unit of the second access network device, or can be obtained from the collection unit of the second access network device. This embodiment of the present application does not limit this.

[0175] S604. The proxy unit in the first access network device outputs information 3 to the second access network device. Accordingly, the second access network obtains information 3 from the proxy unit. Information 3 may also be referred to as third information. Information 3 may include or indicate type information and / or function information of services provided by the first access network device (which is also equivalent to type information and / or function information of services supported by at least one service unit). Information 3 may be carried in the capability information of the first access network device.

[0176] For example, the proxy unit can output information 3 to the communication unit in the second access network device through the first interface. Figure 3It should be understood that the process of S603-S604 can be regarded as a process in which the first access network device and the second access network device exchange capability information. Of course, the first access network device may also be pre-configured or pre-defined with the information 2 of the second access network device, and the second access network device may also be pre-configured or pre-defined with the information 3 of the first access network device. In this case, it is not necessary to perform steps S603 and S604, that is, S603 and S604 are optional steps. Figure 6 Indicated by dotted line.

[0177] S605: The AF outputs the first request to the proxy unit in the first access network device. Correspondingly, the proxy unit obtains the first request from the AF. The AF outputting the first request to the proxy unit can be regarded as an example of an external user / device accessing the proxy unit.

[0178] Exemplarily, the AF may output a first request to the proxy unit through an API. The first request may also be referred to as a service request or a business request, etc., and the first request is used to request the provision of a first service. Optionally, the first request includes type information and / or function information of the first service, and the type information and / or function of the first service may indicate a request to provide the first service. The first service may be, for example, a perception service, a positioning service, or an AI service. Optionally, the first request also includes key performance indicators (KPI) and / or a target area. KPI refers to an indicator corresponding to the first service, for example, at least one requirement such as the expected rate, expected latency, and expected reliability of providing the first service. The target area may be, for example, an area where the AF requests the provision of the first service.

[0179] S606: The proxy unit determines a second access network device.

[0180] Exemplarily, after receiving the first request, the proxy unit may determine that the first service needs to be provided, and therefore may determine an access network device that can provide data corresponding to the first service from at least one access network device (such as a second access network device and a third access network device) that can communicate with the proxy unit. The data corresponding to the first service may also be described as data related to the first service, and the first data is used to implement the first service. The first data may include input data required to implement the first service and intermediate processing results of the input data required to implement the first service. For example, if the first service includes a perception service, the first data may be measurement data of a perception signal, and the measurement data of the perception signal is, for example, obtained from a terminal device, and the measurement data of the perception signal includes, for example, the signal strength of the perception signal and / or the direction angle of the perception signal. For another example, if the first service includes a positioning service, the first data may be a measurement result of a positioning signal, and the measurement result of the positioning signal is, for example, obtained from a terminal device, and the measurement result of the positioning signal specifically includes, for example, the signal strength of the positioning signal measured by the terminal device and / or the arrival time of the positioning signal. For another example, the first service includes an AI service, and the first data is, for example, input data of an AI model, and the input data of the AI ​​model may be obtained from a terminal device. Specifically, for example, the AI ​​model is used to predict channel information, and the first data may be a reference signal. Channel sounding reference signal (SRS). The AI ​​model may also be described as a function (such as an AI function or an ML (Machine learning) function), a feature or an algorithm (or operator), etc. The AI ​​model may specifically include an AI model or an ML model, etc.

[0181] In the embodiment of the present application, an access network device capable of providing data corresponding to the first service is taken as an example as the second access network device.

[0182] Under this assumption, the proxy unit can determine, based on information 2, that the second access network device can support the provision of data corresponding to the first service, and then determine the second access network device, which can also be understood as determining that the second access network device provides the data corresponding to the first service. In the case where information 2 includes regional restrictions, the proxy unit can also determine that the regional restrictions of the second access network device include the target area before determining the second access network device.

[0183] In another possible implementation manner, the only access network device that the proxy unit can communicate with is the second access network device. In this case, the proxy unit does not need to perform step S606, that is, S606 is an optional step. Figure 6 Indicated by dotted line.

[0184] S607: The proxy unit in the first access network device outputs the first request to the second access network device. Correspondingly, the second access network device obtains the first request from the proxy unit. The content of the first request can refer to the content of the first request above, which is not listed here.

[0185] For example, the proxy unit in the first access network device can output the first request to the communication unit in the second access network device through the first interface. Figure 3 The content of the first interface discussed will not be listed here.

[0186] Figure 6 In the example, AF triggering the first service is taken as an example. AF triggering the first service may specifically include the contents of S605 to S607. AF triggering the first service may be applicable to local services (or businesses). In fact, there may be multiple ways to trigger the first service. When other ways are used to trigger the first service, S605-S607 are optional steps. Figure 6 Indicated by dotted line.

[0187] S608: The second access network device obtains the first data.

[0188] In one possible implementation, after obtaining the first request, the second access network device may determine a source device for obtaining data corresponding to the first service, and request the source device, thereby obtaining the data corresponding to the first service from the source device. In the embodiment of the present application, the data corresponding to the first service includes the first data as an example.

[0189] In different cases of source devices, the content of the first data obtained by the second access network device is also different, which are introduced below respectively.

[0190] A1, the source device is the second access network device. Under A1, it is equivalent to the second access network device acquiring the first data by itself.

[0191] Exemplarily, the second access network device may pre-store the first data. Alternatively, the communication unit of the second access network device may output a second request to the collection unit of the second access network device, and the second request is used to request data corresponding to the first service. After receiving the second request, the collection unit of the second access network device may collect the first data and output the first data to the communication unit of the second access network device. The first data may be collected by the second access network device in collaboration with the terminal device, or may be collected in coordination with the core network, and this embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit this.

[0192] The content of the first data is different, and the content of the first data collected by the collection unit of the second access network device is also different, which are introduced below respectively.

[0193] For example, when the first data includes the measurement result of the perception signal, the collection unit of the second access network device may output the perception signal to the terminal device, the terminal device measures the perception signal to obtain the measurement result of the perception signal, and the terminal device outputs the measurement result of the perception signal to the collection unit of the second access network device.

[0194] For another example, when the first data includes the measurement result of the positioning signal, the collection unit of the second access network device may output the positioning signal to the terminal device, the terminal device measures the positioning signal to obtain the measurement result of the positioning signal, and the terminal device outputs the measurement result of the positioning signal to the collection unit of the second access network device.

[0195] For another example, when the first data includes input data of AI, the collection unit of the second access network device obtains the input data of AI from the terminal device, and the input data of AI includes SRS, for example.

[0196] Of course, the above is an example of how the collection unit of the second access network device collects the first data. In fact, there may be many ways for the second access network device to collect the first data, and the embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this.

[0197] A2: The source device is another core network device (such as a third access network device). In A2, it is equivalent to the second access network device obtaining the first data from the third access network device.

[0198] Exemplarily, the second access network device (specifically, the communication unit of the second access network device) can output a second request to the third access network device. The meaning of the second request can refer to the content of the second request discussed in A1 above. After the third access network device obtains the second request, it can collect the first data and output the first data to the second access network device. The communication unit of the third access network device can output the first data to the communication unit of the second access network device through the interface Xn. The way in which the third access network device collects the first data can refer to the content of the first data collected by the second access network device, which is not listed here.

[0199] A3, the source device is a core network. Under A3, it is equivalent to the second core network device obtaining the first data from the core network.

[0200] Exemplarily, the second access network device (specifically, the communication unit of the second access network device) may output a second request to the core network. The meaning of the second request may refer to the content of the second request discussed in A1 above. After the core network obtains the second request, it may collect the first data and output the first data to the second access network device. The core network may pre-store the first data, or the core network may also collect the first data with reference to the manner in which the second access network device collects the first data above, which is not listed here.

[0201] In another possible case, after obtaining the first request, the second access network device may also directly collect data corresponding to the first service to obtain the first data. In this case, the second access network device may not need to determine the source device for obtaining the data corresponding to the first service.

[0202] S609: The communication unit of the second access network device outputs the first data to the agent unit of the first access network device. Correspondingly, the agent unit obtains the first data from the communication unit of the second access network device.

[0203] For example, the communication unit of the second access network device may output the first data to the proxy unit of the first access network device through the first interface. Figure 3 The content of the first interface discussed will not be listed here.

[0204] S610: The proxy unit of the first access network device outputs first data to the first service unit of the first access network device. Correspondingly, the first service unit obtains the first data from the proxy unit.

[0205] For example, the proxy unit of the first access network device may output the first data to the first service unit of the first access network device through the second interface. Figure 3 The content of the discussion will not be listed here.

[0206] When the number of the at least one service unit of the first access network device is more than one, the agent unit may determine the first service unit from the plurality of service units before executing S610.

[0207] The proxy unit may determine the service unit supporting the provision of the first service based on the type information and / or function information of the service supported by each service unit in the at least one service unit. In the embodiment of the present application, the service unit supporting the first service is introduced as the first service unit.

[0208] Optionally, the proxy unit may pre-process the first data before sending the first data to the first service unit. The proxy unit sending the first data to the first service unit actually means sending the pre-processed first data to the first service unit.

[0209] There are many ways for the proxy unit to process the first data. For example, the proxy unit can update the packet header corresponding to the first data, or discard the packet header corresponding to the first data, to obtain the preprocessed first data. For another example, the proxy unit can extract part of the entire data content in the first data, and use this part or all of the data content as the preprocessed first data. For another example, the proxy unit can change the format of the first data, and use the first data with the changed format as the preprocessed first data. Of course, there are many other ways to preprocess the first data, and the embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this.

[0210] S611. A first service unit of a first access network device obtains a first result.

[0211] After receiving the first data, the first service unit may process the first data to obtain a first result. The first result may be a final result of implementing the first service or an intermediate result of implementing the first service. Different first services may also correspond to different first results, which are described below with examples.

[0212] For example, if the first service includes a perception service, the first service unit may analyze the first data to determine target identification information and / or target detection information. The target identification information and / or target detection information may be an example of a first result. The target may be a terminal device, or a person and / or object associated with the terminal device, for example, the target may be a person and / or object whose distance from the terminal device is less than or equal to the first distance. The target identification information may be determined by identifying a perception signal, for example, including target type information and / or target location information, for example, the target type information indicates that the type of the terminal device is a vehicle. The target detection information may be obtained by detecting a perception signal, for example, including target location information and / or target and terminal device location information, for example.

[0213] For another example, the first service includes a positioning service. In this case, the first service unit may be referred to as a positioning data management unit.

[0214] Exemplarily, the proxy unit may output the first data (e.g., the measurement result of the positioning signal) to the positioning data management unit, and the positioning data management unit may process the first data (e.g., the measurement result of the positioning signal) to determine the location information of the terminal device. The location information of the terminal device may be regarded as an example of the first result.

[0215] Alternatively, in order to avoid privacy leakage of the terminal identity, the identity management unit may determine the identity identifier (such as a permanent identity identifier) ​​of the terminal device corresponding to the first data (such as the measurement result of the positioning signal). For example, the identity management unit may obtain the identity identifier of the terminal device from the proxy unit, or may pre-store and pre-configure the identity identifier of the terminal device. The identity management unit may generate a temporary identifier for the terminal device, and associate the temporary identifier with the first data, and output the associated temporary identifier and the first data to the positioning data management unit. In this way, the first service unit determines the location information of the terminal device. In this process, the positioning data management unit may only perceive the temporary identifier of the terminal device, thereby ensuring the security of the processing.

[0216] For another example, the first service includes an AI service, and the service unit may be an AI management unit for managing functions such as AI models, AI training data, and AI reasoning. The data obtained by the service unit from the proxy unit may be used as input data of the AI ​​model, and the AI ​​model is trained in the AI ​​management unit to obtain a trained AI model, which may be regarded as an example of the first result. The AI ​​management unit may also update the AI ​​model to obtain an updated AI model, which may be regarded as an example of the first result. Optionally, the AI ​​management unit may also perform AI reasoning based on the first data (in this case, the first data is, for example, the input data of the AI ​​model), and obtain a reasoning result after completing the reasoning according to the AI ​​model. The reasoning result may be regarded as an example of the first result. Optionally, the first service unit may transmit the first result to the second access network device through the proxy unit. The second access network device may use or output the first result, for example, a communication unit (such as a CU) or a collection unit (such as a DU) in the second access network device may use the first result.

[0217] In the case where the first service unit has a recording function, the first service unit may record context information of the first service unit. The context information may indicate process information of providing the first service this time, for example, may include first data and first result.

[0218] Alternatively, the proxy unit records the context information of the first service unit. This is applicable to the case where the first service unit does not have a recording function. Of course, the proxy unit and the first service unit may also both record the context information of the first service unit.

[0219] S612: The first service unit of the first access network device outputs the first result to the agent unit of the first access network device. Correspondingly, the agent unit obtains the first result from the first service unit.

[0220] For example, the first service unit may output the first result to the proxy unit through the second interface. The content of the second interface may refer to the above Figure 3The content of the second interface is discussed.

[0221] S613: The agent unit of the first access network device outputs the first result to the AF. Correspondingly, the AF obtains the first result from the agent unit.

[0222] For example, the agent unit may output the first result to the AF through an API.

[0223] In another possible implementation, the first service unit may directly use the first result locally (this situation may be referred to as a local closed loop), which may be applicable to a server or a mobile edge computing (MEC) server with the first service deployed locally. In this case, steps S612-S613 do not need to be performed, that is, S612-S613 are optional steps. Figure 6 Indicated by dotted line.

[0224] In an embodiment of the present application, when a new function is to be added to the first access network device, a corresponding service unit can be directly added to the first access network device without the need to upgrade the first access network device and the second access network device as a whole, thereby improving the scalability of the access network device architecture and reducing the difficulty and cost of subsequent upgrades to the first access network device. In addition, the first access network device and the second access network device collaborate to implement the first service without the need for the core network, providing a mechanism for locally implementing the first service when the AF triggers the first service. Since it does not need to go through the core network, the latency in implementing the first service is reduced. In addition, the AF can directly initiate the first request to the first access network device without the need for forwarding by other network elements, thereby reducing network transmission latency and also helping to improve the efficiency of the first service.

[0225] Figure 6 The first service is described by taking AF triggering the first service as an example. In another possible implementation, the first service may be triggered by AMF. Figure 7 The schematic diagram of the communication method shown introduces the interaction between various devices when AMF triggers the first service.

[0226] S701: A first service unit of a first access network device outputs information 1 to an agent unit of the first access network device. Accordingly, the agent unit obtains information 1 from the first service unit. Information 1 may be referred to as second information.

[0227] The content of information 1 can refer to the content of information 1 discussed in S601 above, and the way in which the first service unit sends information 1 to the proxy unit can also refer to the content of the first service unit sending information 1 to the proxy unit discussed in S601 above, and the repeated parts are not listed again.

[0228] S702: The proxy unit in the first access network device communicates with the first service unit in the first access network device via the second interface. The content of the second interface can refer to the content discussed in S601 above, and the repeated parts are not listed again.

[0229] S703: The second access network device outputs information 2 to the proxy unit in the first access network device. Accordingly, the proxy unit obtains information 2 from the second access network device. Information 2 may be referred to as first information.

[0230] The content of information 2 can refer to the content discussed in S603 above, and the way in which the second access network device outputs information 2 to the proxy unit can also refer to the content of the second access network device outputting information 2 to the proxy unit discussed in S603 above. The repeated parts will not be repeated here.

[0231] S704: The proxy unit of the first access network device outputs information 3 to the second access network device. Correspondingly, the second access network device obtains information 3 from the proxy unit. Information 3 may also be referred to as third information.

[0232] The content of information 3 can refer to the content discussed in S604 above, and the way in which the proxy unit outputs information 3 to the second access network device can also refer to the content discussed in S604 above, and the repeated parts will not be repeated.

[0233] S705. The second access network device outputs information 4 to the AMF. Accordingly, the AMF obtains information 4 from the second access network device. Information 4 may also be referred to as fourth information. Information 4 may be regarded as capability information of the second access network device.

[0234] For example, the communication unit in the second access network device may output information 4 to the AMF through the N2 interface. Information 4 may indicate the type information of the data supported by the second access network device, and the content of the type information of the data supported by the second access network device may refer to the content discussed in S603 above. Optionally, information 4 may also indicate the type information and / or function information of the service provided by the first access network device, and the type information and / or function information of the service provided by the first access network device may refer to the content discussed in S604 above.

[0235] It should be understood that, when information 4 also indicates the type information and / or functional information of the service provided by the first access network device, the AMF may not need to be aware of the existence of the first access network device, or it can be understood that, for the AMF, information 4 is regarded as the capability information of the first access network device.

[0236] In a possible implementation, the AMF may also output the capability information of the AMF to the second access network device. Accordingly, the second access network device obtains the capability information of the AMF from the AMF. For example, the AMF may output the capability information of the AMF to the second access network device via the N2 interface. The capability information of the AMF may indicate at least one of the service type, data type, and second area restriction that the AMF can support. The content of the service type and data type may refer to the content discussed above, and the content of the second area restriction may refer to the content of the first area restriction mentioned above, which will not be listed here.

[0237] It should be noted that the above is introduced using the example of AMF obtaining the capability information of the second access network device. In fact, AMF can communicate with multiple access network devices (such as the second access network device and the third access network device), so AMF can obtain the capability information corresponding to each access network device in the multiple access network devices.

[0238] AMF may not need information 4, or AMF may be pre-configured or pre-defined with information 4. In these cases, there is no need to perform steps S701-S705, that is, S701-S705 are optional steps. Figure 7 Indicated by dotted line.

[0239] S706: The terminal device outputs a third request to the AMF. Correspondingly, the AMF obtains the third request from the terminal device. The third request is used to request provision of the first service.

[0240] The third request may include type information and / or function information of the first service. Optionally, the first request also includes a KPI and / or a target area. The type information, function information, KPI, and target area of ​​the first service may refer to the type information, function information, KPI, and target area of ​​the first service discussed in S605 above, and the repeated parts will not be repeated.

[0241] The AMF actively determines that the terminal device needs the first service. In this case, step S706 does not need to be performed, that is, S706 is an optional step. Figure 7 Indicated by dotted line.

[0242] S707. AMF determines the second access network device.

[0243] Since both the access network device and the core network may be able to implement the first service, after receiving the third request, the AMF can determine whether the access network device provides the first service or the core network provides the first service.

[0244] Exemplarily, the AMF may determine, based on the capability information of multiple access network devices, that if N access network devices among the multiple access network devices can provide the first service, then the AMF may determine that the first service is provided by the access network device, where N is a positive integer. If the AMF determines that multiple access network devices cannot provide the first service, it may request the core network element (or core network unit) in the core network that can provide the first service to provide the first service.

[0245] In the embodiment of the present application, the AMF determines that the access network device provides the first service. In the embodiment of the present application, the second access network device is taken as an example. When N is 1, the AMF can determine that the access network device that can provide the first service is the second access network device. When N is greater than 1, it means that there can be multiple access network devices that can provide the first service, then the AMF can determine an access network device for providing the first service from the N access network devices. For example, the AMF can use the access network device with the smallest load among the N access network devices as the second access network device, or use the access network device among the N access network devices that is closest to the terminal device as the second access network device, or use the access network device among the N access network devices that is closest to the AMF as the second access network device.

[0246] The AMF may also be able to communicate only with the second access network device. In this case, the AMF may not need to perform step S707, that is, step S707 is an optional step. Figure 7 Indicated by dotted line.

[0247] S708, AMF outputs the first request to the second access network device. Correspondingly, the second access network device obtains the first request from AMF.

[0248] The above S706-S708 are examples for introducing AMF triggering the first service. When the first service is triggered by other methods, there is no need to perform S706-S708 steps, that is, S706-S708 are optional steps. Figure 7 Indicated by dotted line.

[0249] For example, the AMF may output the first request to the communication unit of the second access network device through the N2 interface. The content of the first request may refer to the content of the first request in S605 above, which is not listed here.

[0250] It should be understood that S706 is an example of AMF initiating the first request under the triggering of the terminal device. In fact, AMF may also initiate the first request through NEF under the triggering of AF, or initiate the first request under the triggering of other units in the core network (such as data analysis unit), or AMF initiates the first request by itself. This embodiment of the application does not limit this. When AMF obtains the third request from other devices or units, S706 is an optional step. Figure 7 Indicated by dotted line.

[0251] S709: The second access network device obtains the first data.

[0252] The content of the first data may refer to the content of the first data discussed in S608 above, and the method of obtaining the first data may refer to the content of obtaining the first data discussed in S608 above, and the repeated parts will not be listed again.

[0253] S710: The second access network device outputs first data to the proxy unit of the first access network device. Correspondingly, the proxy unit obtains the first data from the second access network device.

[0254] The manner in which the second access network device outputs the first data to the proxy unit of the first access network device can refer to the content of the second access network device outputting the first data to the proxy unit of the first access network device discussed in S609 above, and the repeated parts will not be repeated.

[0255] S711: The agent unit of the first access network device outputs first data to the first service unit of the first access network device. Correspondingly, the first service unit obtains the first data from the agent unit.

[0256] The manner in which the proxy unit outputs the first data to the first service unit may refer to the content of the proxy unit outputting the first data to the first service unit discussed in S610 above, and the repeated parts will not be repeated here.

[0257] Optionally, before the proxy unit outputs the first data to the first service unit, the first data may be preprocessed to obtain the preprocessed first data. What the proxy unit actually sends to the first service unit is the preprocessed first data. The content of the preprocessed first data can refer to the content of the preprocessed first data in the previous text, and will not be listed here.

[0258] S712: The first service unit of the first access network device obtains a first result.

[0259] The content of the first result can refer to the content of the first result discussed in S611 above, and the content of the first result obtained by the first service unit can refer to the content of obtaining the first result discussed in S611 above, and the repeated parts will not be repeated.

[0260] S713: The first service unit of the first access network device outputs the first result to the agent unit of the first access network device. Correspondingly, the agent unit obtains the first result from the first service unit.

[0261] For example, the content of the first result output by the first service unit to the proxy unit can refer to the content of the first result output by the first service unit to the proxy unit discussed in S612 above, and the repeated parts are not repeated here.

[0262] S714: The proxy unit of the first access network device outputs the first result to the second access network device. Correspondingly, the second access network device obtains the first result from the proxy unit.

[0263] For example, the agent unit of the first access network device may output the first result to the communication unit of the second access network device through the second interface. Figure 3 The content of the second interface involved will not be repeated here.

[0264] S715. The second access network device outputs the first result to the AMF. Correspondingly, the AMF obtains the first result from the second access network device.

[0265] For example, the communication unit of the second access network device outputs the first result to the AMF through the N2 interface.

[0266] S716. AMF outputs the first result to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device obtains the first result from AMF.

[0267] For example, the AMF may output the first result to the terminal device via the N1 interface. Optionally, the AMF may carry the first result in a non-access stratum (NAS) message, and the AMF may output the NAS message to the terminal device, which is equivalent to outputting the first result.

[0268] In another possible implementation manner, the first service unit may also use the first result locally. In this case, steps S713 to S716 do not need to be performed. Figure 7 Indicated by dotted line.

[0269] In the embodiment of the present application, the access network device architecture has high scalability. In addition, the terminal device can initiate the first request through AMF, which can be compatible with the existing service triggering mechanism, so that the method provided in the embodiment of the present application has good compatibility. In addition, in the embodiment of the present application, the first access network device and the second access network device can also collaboratively provide the first service, providing a mechanism for locally providing the first service when the AMF triggers the first service.

[0270] Figure 7The AMF triggering the first service is used as an example for introduction. In another possible implementation, the first service may be directly triggered by the terminal device. Figure 8 The schematic diagram of the communication method shown introduces the interaction between various devices when the terminal device directly triggers the first service.

[0271] S801. A first service unit of a first access network device sends information 1 to an agent unit of the first access network device. Correspondingly, the agent unit obtains information 1 from the first service unit. Information 1 may be referred to as second information.

[0272] The content of information 1 can refer to the content of information 1 discussed in S601 above, and the way in which the first service unit sends information 1 to the proxy unit can also refer to the content of the first service unit sending information 1 to the proxy unit discussed in S601 above, and the repeated parts are not listed again.

[0273] S802: The proxy unit in the first access network device communicates with the first service unit in the first access network device via the second interface. The content of the second interface can refer to the content discussed in S601 above, and the repeated parts are not listed again.

[0274] S803: The second access network device outputs information 2 to the proxy unit in the first access network device. Accordingly, the proxy unit obtains information 2 from the second access network device. Information 2 may be referred to as first information.

[0275] The content of information 2 can refer to the content discussed in S603 above, and the way in which the second access network device outputs information 2 to the proxy unit can also refer to the content of the second access network device outputting information 2 to the proxy unit discussed in S603 above. The repeated parts will not be repeated here.

[0276] S804: The proxy unit of the first access network device outputs information 3 to the second access network device. Correspondingly, the second access network device obtains information 3 from the proxy unit. Information 3 may also be referred to as third information.

[0277] The content of information 3 can refer to the content discussed in S604 above, and the way in which the proxy unit outputs information 3 to the second access network device can also refer to the content discussed in S604 above, and the repeated parts will not be repeated.

[0278] S805: The second access network device sends information 4. Information 4 may also be referred to as fourth information. Information 4 may be regarded as capability information of the second access network device.

[0279] For example, the second access network device may broadcast information 4. In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device receives the information 4 as an example. Alternatively, the second access network device may directly output information 4 to the terminal device. The content of information 4 may refer to the content of information 4 in S704 above, and the repeated parts are not listed again.

[0280] It should be understood that, when information 4 also indicates the type information and / or functional information of the service provided by the first access network device, the terminal device may not need to perceive the existence of the first access network device, or it can be understood that, for the terminal device, information 4 is regarded as the capability information of the first access network device.

[0281] In a possible implementation, the terminal device may also output the capability information of the terminal device to the second access network device. Accordingly, the second access network device obtains the capability information of the terminal device from the terminal device. For example, the terminal device may output the capability information of the terminal device to the communication unit of the second access network device. The capability information of the terminal device may indicate the service type supported by the terminal device. The service type may refer to the content discussed above.

[0282] It should be noted that the above is introduced using the example of a terminal device obtaining the capability information of a second access network device. In fact, the terminal device can communicate with multiple access network devices (such as the second access network device and the third access network device), so the terminal device can obtain the capability information corresponding to each of the multiple access network devices.

[0283] In this case, before triggering the first request, the terminal device may determine the access network device for providing the first service from multiple access network devices. In the embodiment of the present application, the second access network device providing the first service is taken as an example. The content of the terminal device determining the access network device for providing the first service can refer to the content of the AMF determining the access network device providing the first service in the previous text, and the repeated parts will not be repeated.

[0284] The terminal device may also obtain information 4 in other ways. For example, the terminal device may obtain information 4 through AMF, etc. In this case, steps S801-S805 do not need to be performed, that is, S801-S805 are optional steps. Figure 8 Indicated by dotted line.

[0285] S806: The terminal device outputs the first request to the second access network device. Correspondingly, the second access network device obtains the first request from the terminal device.

[0286] The content of the first request can refer to the content of the first request in S605 above, which will not be listed here.

[0287] S807. The second access network device obtains the first data.

[0288] The content of the first data may refer to the content of the first data discussed in S608 above, and the method of obtaining the first data may refer to the content of obtaining the first data discussed in S608 above, and the repeated parts will not be listed again.

[0289] S808: The second access network device outputs the first data to the proxy unit of the first access network device. Correspondingly, the proxy unit obtains the first data from the second access network device.

[0290] The manner in which the second access network device outputs the first data to the proxy unit of the first access network device can refer to the content of the second access network device outputting the first data to the proxy unit of the first access network device discussed in S609 above, and the repeated parts will not be repeated.

[0291] S809: The proxy unit of the first access network device outputs the first data to the first service unit of the first access network device. Correspondingly, the first service unit obtains the first data from the proxy unit.

[0292] The manner in which the proxy unit outputs the first data to the first service unit may refer to the content of the proxy unit outputting the first data to the first service unit discussed in S610 above, and the repeated parts will not be repeated here.

[0293] Optionally, before the proxy unit outputs the first data to the first service unit, the first data may be preprocessed to obtain the preprocessed first data. What the proxy unit actually sends to the first service unit is the preprocessed first data. The content of the preprocessed first data can refer to the content of the preprocessed first data in the previous text, and will not be listed here.

[0294] S810. A first service unit of a first access network device obtains a first result.

[0295] The content of the first result can refer to the content of the first result discussed in S611 above, and the content of the first result obtained by the first service unit can refer to the content of obtaining the first result discussed in S611 above, and the repeated parts will not be repeated.

[0296] S811: The first service unit of the first access network device outputs a first result to the agent unit of the first access network device. Correspondingly, the agent unit obtains the first result from the first service unit.

[0297] For example, the content of the first result output by the first service unit to the proxy unit can refer to the content of the first result output by the first service unit to the proxy unit discussed in S612 above, and the repeated parts are not repeated here.

[0298] S812: The proxy unit of the first access network device outputs the first result to the second access network device. Correspondingly, the second access network device obtains the first result from the proxy unit.

[0299] For example, the agent unit of the first access network device may output the first result to the communication unit of the second access network device through the second interface. Figure 3 The content of the second interface involved will not be repeated here.

[0300] S813: The second access network device outputs the first result to the terminal device. Correspondingly, the terminal device obtains the first result from the second access network device.

[0301] For example, the communication unit of the second access network device outputs the first result to the terminal device.

[0302] In another possible implementation manner, the first service unit may also use the first result locally. In this case, steps S812-S813 may not be performed, that is, steps S812-S813 are optional steps. Figure 8 Indicated by dotted line.

[0303] In the embodiment of the present application, the access network device architecture has high scalability. In addition, the terminal device can directly initiate the first request to the second access network device, which simplifies the processing flow of the terminal device initiating the service and improves the efficiency of providing the first service. In addition, in the embodiment of the present application, the first access network device and the second access network device can collaboratively provide the first service, providing a mechanism for locally providing the first service when the terminal device triggers the first service.

[0304] It should be understood that the above embodiment uses AF, terminal device or AMF to trigger the first service as an example. In fact, there may be many ways to trigger the first service, and the embodiments of the present application do not make specific limitations on this.

[0305] Please refer to Fig. 9 , is a schematic diagram of the architecture of an access communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0306] like Fig. 9 As shown, the access network device 900 includes an agent unit 910 and at least one service unit 920. The access network device 900 may be, for example, Figure 2 , Figure 3 or Figure 5 The first access network device is shown.

[0307] In the embodiment of the present application, the access network device 900 can implement the above Figures 6 to 8 The proxy unit 910 can also implement the functions of any of the first access network devices involved in the above. Figures 6 to 8 The functions of any of the agent units involved in the above can also implement the corresponding steps performed by the agent unit, and at least one service unit 920 can also implement Figures 6 to 8 The functions of at least one service unit involved in any one of the above can also implement the corresponding steps performed by at least one service unit.

[0308] For example, in the access network device 900, Figures 6 to 8 When the functions of any of the first access network devices involved are: the proxy unit 910 is used to obtain first data from the second access network device and output the first data to a first service unit in at least one service unit 920; the first service unit is used to process the first data to obtain a first result.

[0309] Optionally, the proxy unit 910 may also be used to determine the second access network device, obtain information 1 and the first result, and may also output information 3 and the first result, etc. Furthermore, the first service unit may also be used to output the first result.

[0310] For a more detailed description of the above-mentioned proxy unit 910 and at least one service unit 920, please refer directly to Figures 6 to 8 The relevant description in any of the method embodiments is directly obtained and will not be repeated here.

[0311] Please refer to Fig.10 , is a schematic diagram of the architecture of an access communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0312] like Fig.10 As shown, the access network device 1000 includes a communication unit 1010 and a collection unit 1020. The access network device 1000 may be, for example, Figures 2 to 5 The second access network device is shown.

[0313] In the embodiment of the present application, the access network device 1000 can implement the above Figures 6 to 8 The communication unit 1010 can also implement the functions of any of the second access network devices involved in the above. Correspondingly, the corresponding steps performed by the second access network device can also be implemented. Figures 6 to 8 The function of the communication unit in any of the second access network devices involved in the above can also implement the corresponding steps performed by the communication unit in the second access network device, and the collection unit 1020 can also implement Figures 6 to 8 The functions of any of the acquisition units involved can also implement the corresponding steps performed by the acquisition unit in the previous text.

[0314] For example, in the access network device 1000, Figure 6 The functions of the second access network device involved are: the communication unit 1010 can be used to obtain the first data and output the first data. Optionally, the collection unit 1020 can collect the first data. And the communication unit 1010 can be used to obtain information 3 and the first request, etc.

[0315] For another example, in the access network device 1000, Figure 7 or Figure 8 The functions of the second access network device involved are: the communication unit 1010 can be used to obtain the first data and output the first data. Optionally, the collection unit 1020 can collect the first data. And, the communication unit 1010 can be used to obtain information 3 and the first request, and output information 4, etc.

[0316] For a more detailed description of the communication unit 1010 and the acquisition unit 1020, please refer to Figures 6 to 8 The relevant description in any of the method embodiments is directly obtained and will not be repeated here.

[0317] The embodiment of the present application provides an access network system, which includes a first access network device and a second access network device. The first access network device can be, for example, Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 5 or Fig. 9 The first access network device shown in FIG. 1 and the second access network device may be, for example, Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 or Fig.10 In addition, the first access network device can implement the above Figures 6 to 8 The function of any of the first access network devices, and the second access network device can realize the above Figures 6 to 8 The function of any second access network device.

[0318] Please refer to Fig.11 , is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. Fig.11 As shown, the communication device 1100 includes a processor 1110 and an interface circuit 1120. The processor 1110 and the interface circuit 1120 are coupled to each other. It is understood that the interface circuit 1120 can be a transceiver or an input-output interface. Optionally, the communication device 1100 may also include a memory 1130 for storing instructions executed by the processor 1110 or storing input data required by the processor 1110 to execute instructions or storing data generated after the processor 1110 executes instructions.

[0319] Optionally, the processor 1110, the interface circuit 1120 and the memory 1130 can be connected via a bus. The bus can be a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus or an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus. The bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of representation, Fig.11 The bus is represented by only one line, but it does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus. The bus may include a path for transmitting information between various components of the communication device (such as the processor 1110, the interface circuit 1120 and the memory 1130).

[0320] In the first embodiment, the communication device 1100 can be used to implement the functions of any of the first access network devices described above, for example, Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 5 or Fig. 9 The functions of the first access network device shown in the figure can also realize the above Figures 6 to 8 The functions of any of the first access network devices shown.

[0321] In the second embodiment, the communication device 1100 can be used to implement the functions of any second access network device described above, for example, Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 or Fig.10 The functions of the second access network device shown in the figure can also realize the above Figures 6 to 8 The functionality of any of the second access network devices shown.

[0322] In a third embodiment, the communication device 1100 can be used to implement any of the functions AF described above, for example, Figure 5 The functions of the application functional unit shown in the figure can also realize the above Figure 6 The functions of AMF are shown.

[0323] In a fourth embodiment, the communication device 1100 can be used to implement any of the AMF functions described above, for example, Figure 5 The functions of the mobile management unit shown in the figure can also realize the above Figure 7 The functions of AMF are shown.

[0324] In the fifth embodiment, the communication device 1100 can be used to implement the functions of any terminal device described above, for example, Figure 2 , Figure 3 or Figure 5 The functions of the terminal device shown in the figure can also realize the above Figure 8 Functions of the terminal device shown.

[0325] When the above communication device is a chip applied to a terminal, the terminal chip implements the functions of the terminal in the above method embodiment. The terminal chip receives information from other modules in the terminal (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna), and the information is sent by the base station to the terminal; or the terminal chip sends information to other modules in the terminal (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna), and the information is sent by the terminal to the base station.

[0326] When the above-mentioned communication device is a module applied to a base station, the base station module implements the functions of the base station in the above-mentioned method embodiment. The base station module receives information from other modules in the base station (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna), and the information is sent by the terminal to the base station; or, the base station module sends information to other modules in the base station (such as a radio frequency module or an antenna), and the information is sent by the base station to the terminal. The base station module here can be a baseband chip of a base station, or it can be a DU or other module, and the DU here can be a DU under an open radio access network (O-RAN) architecture.

[0327] The present application embodiment provides another example of a communication device, the communication device includes at least one processor and at least one memory, the at least one processor and the at least one memory are coupled, the at least one memory is used to store instructions, when the instructions are executed by the at least one processor, the communication device executes the method in the above embodiment. Take the communication device including a processor and a memory as an example, Fig.12 The communication device 1200 includes a processor 1210 and a memory 1220. The processor 1210 is coupled to the memory 1220, and the memory 1220 stores instructions. When the instructions stored in the memory 1220 are executed by the processor 1210, the communication device 1200 executes the method executed by the first access network device in the above embodiment, or the method executed by the second access network device. Optionally, the processor 1210 and the memory 1220 may also be connected via a bus, and the implementation of the bus may refer to the above description. Fig.11 The implementation method of the bus discussed in .

[0328] It is understood that the processor involved in each embodiment of the present application may be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. Also, the memory involved in each embodiment of the present application may include a volatile memory (volatile memory), such as a random access memory (RAM). The memory may also include a non-volatile memory (non-volatile memory), such as a read-only memory (ROM), a flash memory, a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD).

[0329] The method steps in each embodiment of the present application can be implemented in hardware or in software instructions that can be executed by a processor. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, and the software modules can be stored in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, erasable programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, register, hard disk, mobile hard disk, CD-ROM or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. 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 a base station or a terminal. The processor and the storage medium can also be present in a base station or a terminal as discrete components.

[0330] In the above embodiments, it can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer program or instruction is loaded and executed on a computer, the process or function described in the embodiment of the present application is executed in whole or in part. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user device or other programmable device. The computer program or instruction may 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 program or instruction may be transmitted from one website site, computer, server or data center to another website site, computer, server or data center by wired or wireless means. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server, data center, etc. that integrates one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a tape; it may also be an optical medium, for example, a digital video disc; it may also be a semiconductor medium, for example, a solid-state hard disk. The computer-readable storage medium may be a volatile or nonvolatile storage medium, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile types of storage media.

[0331] The present application provides a chip system, which includes: a processor and an interface. The processor is used to call and run instructions from the interface. When the processor executes the instructions, any of the above communication methods is implemented. For example, Figures 6 to 8 The communication method described in any one of the above.

[0332] The embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which is used to store a computer program or instruction. When the computer program or instruction is executed, any of the above communication methods is implemented. For example, Figures 6 to 8 The communication method described in any one of the above.

[0333] The present application embodiment provides a computer program product including instructions, which, when executed on a computer, implements any of the above communication methods, for example, Figures 6 to 8 The communication method described in any one of the above.

[0334] In the various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or provided for in any logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between the different embodiments are consistent and may be referenced to each other, and the technical features in the different embodiments may be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

[0335] It is understood that the various numerical numbers involved in the various embodiments of the present application are only for the convenience of description and are not used to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. The size of the sequence number of the above-mentioned processes does not mean the order of execution, and the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic.

Claims

1. An access network device, characterized in that: include: An agent unit, and at least one service unit capable of communicating with the agent unit, the agent unit is an entrance for external users / equipment to access the at least one service unit, and the at least one service unit is used to provide services on the access network side, wherein: The proxy unit is configured to obtain first data and output the first data to a first service unit among the at least one service unit, wherein the first data is obtained from a second access network device, the first data includes data corresponding to a first service, and the first service unit is configured to provide the first service; The first service unit is used to process the first data to obtain a first result.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The proxy unit communicates with the second access network device via a first interface, wherein the first interface is used to transmit data and / or signaling, and the first interface is a universal interface.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The first service unit is further configured to: The first data is output to the agent unit.

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that The agent unit is also used for: Obtaining a first request, where the first request is obtained from an application function unit and is used to request provision of the first service; outputting the first request, where the first request is used by the second access network device to obtain data corresponding to the first service; The first result is outputted, where the first result is used to be outputted to the application function unit.

5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that The agent unit is also used for: Acquire first information, where the first information is acquired from the second access network device, and the first information includes type information of data supported and provided by the second access network device; Based on the first information, the second access network device is determined from at least one access network device communicating with the proxy unit.

6. The device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that The first request is obtained from the application function unit through an application program interface.

7. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The agent unit is also used for: Second information is obtained from the first service unit, where the second information is used to register the first service unit and indicates type information and / or function information of services supported by the first service unit, wherein the services supported by the first service unit include the first service.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that The second information is further used to configure a second interface for communication between the first service unit and the proxy service; the proxy unit is further used to: Communication is established with the first service unit through the second interface.

9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that The first service unit is further configured to: Write the information of the first service unit into the interface configuration template to obtain the second information, wherein the information of the first service unit includes type information and / or function information of the service provided by the first service unit, and the interface configuration template includes general information for configuring the interface of at least one service unit.

10. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The agent unit is also used for: Output third information, where the third information includes type information and / or function information of the service supported and provided by the at least one service unit, and the third information is used by the second access network device to determine the first access network device.

11. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that: The access network device and the second access network device are both arranged in the same device.

12. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that: The first service includes a perception service, a positioning service or an artificial intelligence service.

13. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a first access network device, the method includes: Acquire first data, where the first data is acquired from the second access network device, and the first data includes data corresponding to the first service; The first data is processed to obtain a first result.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The method further comprises: Output the first result to the second access network device.

15. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The method further comprises: Obtaining a first request, wherein the first request is obtained from an application function unit and is used to request provision of the first service; Outputting a first request, where the first request is used by the second access network device to obtain data corresponding to the first service; The first result is outputted, where the first result is outputted to the application function unit.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The method further comprises: Acquire first information, where the first information is acquired from the second access network device, and the first information includes type information of data supported and provided by the second access network device; Based on the first information, the second access network device is determined from at least one access network device communicating with the first access network device.

17. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that: The first access network device includes an agent unit and at least one service unit capable of communicating with the agent unit, the agent unit is an entrance for external users / equipment to access the at least one service unit, and the at least one service unit is used to provide services on the access network side, wherein the first data is obtained by the agent unit from the second access network device; the method further includes: The proxy unit outputs the first data to a first service unit among the at least one service unit, where the first service unit is used to provide the first service; The first service unit processes the first data to obtain the first result.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first result is output to the agent unit.

19. The method according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that The method further comprises: Acquire second information from the first service unit; The second information is used to register the first service unit and indicates type information of services supported by the first service unit, and the services provided by the first service unit include the first service.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that The second information is also used to configure a second interface for communication between the first service unit and the proxy service; the method further includes: The proxy unit establishes communication with the first service unit through the second interface.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first service unit writes the information of the first service unit into the interface configuration template to obtain the second information, the information of the first service unit includes the type information and / or function information of the service provided by the first service unit, and the interface configuration template includes general information for configuring the interface of at least one service unit.

22. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 21, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Output third information, where the third information is output to the second access network device, and the third information includes type information and / or function information of services supported and provided by the first access network device.

23. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a second access network device, the method comprises: Obtaining a first request, where the first request is used to request provision of a first service; Output first data, where the first data is output to a first access network device, and the first data includes data corresponding to the first service.

24. The method according to claim 23, characterized in that The method further comprises: Output first information, where the first information is output to the first access network device, and the first information includes type information of data supported and provided by the second access network device.

25. The method according to claim 23 or 24, characterized in that The first request is obtained from a terminal device or a mobility management unit, and the method further includes: Obtaining a first result, where the first result is obtained from the first access network device, and the first result is a result of processing the first data; The first result is outputted, and the first result is outputted to the terminal device or the mobility management unit.

26. The method according to any one of claims 23 to 25, characterized in that: The first request is received from a terminal device or a mobile management unit; the method further comprises: Output fourth information, where the fourth information is output to the terminal device or the mobility management unit, and the fourth information includes type information of data supported and provided by the second access network device.

27. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that The method further comprises: Obtain third information, where the third information is obtained from the first access network device, and the third information includes type information and / or function information of services supported and provided by the first access network device, wherein the fourth information also includes type information and / or function information of services provided by the first access network device.

28. The method according to any one of claims 23 to 27, characterized in that: The second access network device includes a communication unit and a collection unit, and the first request is obtained by the communication unit; the method further includes: The communication unit outputs a second request, the second request is output to the collection unit, the third access network device or the core network, and the second request is used to request data corresponding to the first service; The first data is obtained, where the first data is obtained from the collection unit, the third access network device or the core network.

29. The method according to claim 28, characterized in that The method further comprises: Determine to obtain data corresponding to the first service from the collection unit, the third access network device or the core network.

30. An access network device, characterized in that: Comprising modules for implementing the method according to any one of claims 23-29.

31. An access network system, characterized in that: Includes the device as described in any one of claims 1-12, and includes the device as described in claim 30.

32. A communication device, characterized in that: It includes a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the interface circuit is used to receive signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmit them to the processor or send signals from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device, and the processor is used to implement the method as described in any one of claims 13 to 22 or the method as described in any one of claims 23 to 29 through a logic circuit or executing code instructions.

33. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A processor, the processor is coupled to a memory, the memory is used to store instructions, when the instructions are executed by the processor, the communication device implements the method according to any one of claims 13-22, or the method according to any one of claims 23-29.

34. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The storage medium stores a computer program or instruction. When the computer program or instruction is executed by the communication device, the method according to any one of claims 13 to 22 is implemented, or the method according to any one of claims 23 to 29 is implemented.

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