Information transmission method and communication device

Abstract

The invention provides an information transmission method and communication device.The information transmission method is applied to a first communication device, the first communication device is deployed in flight equipment, and the method comprises the steps that first information from a second communication device is received; determining that the first information cannot be transmitted to a third communication device, storing the first information; when the first information can be transmitted to the third communication device, the first information is transmitted to the third communication device. According to the invention, the success rate of information transmission can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular, to an information transmission method and a communication device. Background Art

[0002] With the development of communication technologies, communication devices in a communication network are deployed in flying devices. For example, access network devices in the communication network are deployed in flying devices, or network elements of the core network in the communication network are deployed in flying devices. The positions of flying devices are not fixed and often change. For example, if the flying device is a satellite, the satellite orbits the earth, or if the flying device is an airplane, the airplane also continuously changes its position during flight. Due to the continuous change of the position of the flying device, the connection between the communication device deployed in the flying device and other devices may be discontinuous, resulting in a discontinuous end-to-end link and possible failure of information transmission. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Embodiments of this application provide an information transmission method and a communication device, which can improve the success rate of information transmission.

[0004] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide an information transmission method, which is applied to a first communication device deployed in a flying device. The method includes:

[0005] Receiving first information from a second communication device;

[0006] Determining that the first information cannot be transmitted to a third communication device, and storing the first information;

[0007] When the first information can be transmitted to the third communication device, sending the first information to the third communication device.

[0008] Based on the description of the first aspect, after the first communication device deployed in the flying device receives the first information, if the first information cannot be transmitted to the third communication device, then the first communication device stores the first information and, when the first information can be transmitted to the third communication device, sends the stored first information to the third communication device, thereby avoiding the failure of information transmission caused by the discontinuous link between the first communication device and other devices due to the flight of the flying device and improving the success rate of information transmission.

[0009] In a possible implementation, the first communication device includes at least one of the following network elements: a network element in the core network, a network element in an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, an access network device, or other devices with a store-and-forward function;

[0010] The network elements in the core network include at least one of the following: User Plane Function (UPF), Session Management Function (SMF), Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Mobile Management Entity (MME), Short Message Service Center (SMSC), Unified Data Management (UDM), Authentication Server Function (AUSF), Policy Control Function (PCF), Serving Gateway, Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway;

[0011] The network elements in the IMS network include at least one of the following: IMS Access Gateway (IMS-AGW), Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF), Serving Call Session Control Function (S-CSCF), IP Short Message Gateway (IP-SM-GW);

[0012] The second communication device is a terminal device, and the third communication device is a network element in a terrestrial network; or, the second communication device is a network element in a terrestrial network, and the third communication device is a terminal device.

[0013] Implementing this method, the first information can be sent by the terminal device to the network element in the terrestrial network through the first communication device on the flying device, or the first information can be sent by the network element in the terrestrial network to the terminal device through the first communication device on the flying device, which can avoid the problem of information transmission failure caused by the interruption of the communication link.

[0014] In a possible implementation, storing the first information includes:

[0015] Store the first information according to storage control information, where the storage control information includes a first storage duration and / or a first storage capacity; the storage control information is determined by the first communication device, or the storage control information comes from a fourth communication device.

[0016] Implementing this method, the first information can be stored based on the storage control information, facilitating the control of the storage duration and storage capacity of the first information on the flying device.

[0017] In a possible implementation, the first storage duration is determined based on at least one of the following: the duration during which information cannot be transmitted between the first communication device and the third communication device, the storage duration information in the subscribed data, the service requirements of the first information, the storage duration corresponding to the first information, and the subscribed data includes the subscribed data of the terminal device and / or service associated with the first information;

[0018] The first storage capacity is determined based on at least one of the following: the service identifier associated with the first information, the service type associated with the first information, the service requirements of the first information, the storage capacity information in the subscribed data, the available storage capacity corresponding to the service identifier to which the first information belongs, and the storage capacity corresponding to the first information.

[0019] Implementing this method, the storage duration of the first information can be determined based on various factors to meet the storage duration requirements of the first information on the flying device in various scenarios, and the storage capacity of the first information can also be determined based on various factors to meet the storage capacity requirements of the first information on the flying device in various scenarios.

[0020] In a possible implementation, the fourth communication device includes at least one of the following: SMF, UPF, Mobility Management Entity (MME), Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Short Message Service Center (SMSC), Policy Control Function (PCF), and Operation and Administration Function (OAM).

[0021] Implementing this method, the fourth communication device can specifically determine the storage control information and send it to the first communication device, reducing the processing complexity of the first communication device.

[0022] In a possible implementation, the method further includes:

[0023] Send the storage control information to the second communication device.

[0024] Implementing this method, the first communication device can send the storage control information to the second communication device, facilitating the second communication device to determine whether to send the first information.

[0025] In a possible implementation, the method further includes:

[0026] Receive storage requirement information from the second communication device, where the storage requirement information includes storage time requirement information and / or storage space requirement information. The storage time requirement information indicates the storage duration corresponding to the first information, and the storage space requirement information indicates the storage capacity corresponding to the first information and / or the service identifier to which the first information belongs.

[0027] Implementing this method, the second communication device can send storage requirement information, which facilitates the first communication device to specifically determine the storage duration and / or storage capacity allocated to the first information, thereby improving the utilization rate of the storage space.

[0028] In a possible implementation manner, when the first information can be transmitted to the third communication device, sending the first information to the third communication device includes:

[0029] If the duration of storing the first information is equal to the first storage duration, attempt to send the first information to the third communication device.

[0030] Implementing this method, when the storage duration of the first information reaches the allocated first storage duration, attempt to send the first information to the third communication device, which facilitates controlling the storage duration of the first information.

[0031] In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes:

[0032] Send storage and forwarding service indication information to the second communication device;

[0033] The storage and forwarding service indication information indicates at least one of the following:

[0034] Whether the network where the first communication device is located can provide non-real-time services;

[0035] The available storage capacity that the first communication device can provide;

[0036] The storage duration that the first communication device can provide.

[0037] Implementing this method, the first communication device can indicate storage and forwarding service indication information to the second communication device, which facilitates the second communication device to determine whether to send the first information and improves the success rate of information transmission.

[0038] In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes:

[0039] Receive a capability request from the second communication device, where the capability request is used to request to obtain the storage and forwarding service indication information.

[0040] Implementing this method, when the second communication device requests the storage and forwarding service indication information, the first communication device sends the storage and forwarding service indication information to the first communication device, so as to push the storage and forwarding service indication information to the second communication device in a targeted manner, saving signaling overhead.

[0041] In a possible implementation manner, the method further includes:

[0042] Receiving first capability information from the second communication device, where the first capability information indicates that the second communication device supports non-real-time services; and / or, sending second capability information to the second communication device, where the second capability information indicates that the network where the first communication device is located supports non-real-time services.

[0043] Implementing this method, the first communication device and the second communication device can interact with each other's capability information, so as to facilitate determining whether to adopt the storage and forwarding mode.

[0044] In a possible implementation manner, whether the first information can be transmitted to the third communication device is determined based on the information of the first communication device and the information of the third communication device;

[0045] The information of the first communication device indicates the flight information of the first communication device and / or the time when the first communication device can send and receive data, and the information of the third communication device indicates the location of the third communication device and / or the time when the third communication device can send and receive data.

[0046] Implementing this method, it can be more accurately determined that the communication link between the first communication device and the third communication device is available, improving the success rate of information transmission.

[0047] In a possible implementation manner, the flying device is a satellite, and the information of the first communication device includes at least one of the following: the ephemeris data of the satellite, the orbital altitude of the satellite, the operating period of the satellite, the number of satellites included in the constellation where the satellite is located, the number of satellites connecting ground stations in the constellation where the satellite is located, the position of the satellite, or the working time of the satellite;

[0048] The third communication device is a ground station, and the information of the third communication device includes at least one of the following: the geographical location of the ground station, the height of the ground station, the speed of the ground station, or the operating time of the ground station; or,

[0049] The third communication device is a terminal device, and the information of the third communication device includes at least one of the following: the time when the terminal device periodically registers, the deregistration time of the terminal device, the power saving information of the terminal device, the sleep time of the terminal device, the geographical location of the terminal device, or the speed of the terminal device.

[0050] Implementing this method can accurately determine whether the communication link between the satellite and the ground station or the terminal device is available, and improve the success rate of information transmission.

[0051] In a possible implementation, the information of the first communication device comes from at least one of the following: an application server, OAM, or unified data management UDM;

[0052] The third communication device is a ground station, and the information of the third communication device comes from at least one of the following: an application server, OAM, or UDM; or, the third communication device is a terminal device, and the information of the third communication device comes from at least one of the following: the terminal device, OAM, an application server, or UDM.

[0053] Implementing this method can obtain the information of the satellite, the ground station, or the terminal device, thereby facilitating the determination of whether the communication link between the satellite and the ground station or the terminal device is available.

[0054] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides another information transmission method, which is applied to a second communication device, and the method further includes:

[0055] Determine the first information to be sent;

[0056] Determine that the storage capacity provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information; and / or, determine that the storage duration provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage duration corresponding to the first information; the first communication device is deployed in a flying device;

[0057] Send the first information to the first communication device.

[0058] Based on the description in the second aspect, before sending the first information, the second communication device determines that the storage capacity and / or the storage duration provided by the network where the first communication device deployed in the flying device is located can meet the storage requirements of the first information, and then sends it to the first communication device, thereby improving the success rate of information transmission.

[0059] In a possible implementation, the method further includes:

[0060] Determine that the storage capacity provided by the network where the first communication device is located is less than the storage capacity corresponding to the first information; and / or, determine that the storage duration provided by the network where the first communication device is located is less than the storage duration corresponding to the first information;

[0061] Send the first information to a fifth communication device, where the fifth communication device and the first communication device are in different networks.

[0062] Implementing this method, if the storage capacity and / or the storage duration provided by the network where the first communication device deployed in the flying device is located cannot meet the storage requirements of the first information, the first communication device will select another network to send the first information, thereby improving the success rate of information transmission.

[0063] In a possible implementation, the first communication device includes at least one of the following network elements: a network element in the core network, a network element in the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, an access network device, or other devices with storage and forwarding functions;

[0064] The network elements in the core network include at least one of the following: User Plane Function (UPF), Session Management Function (SMF), Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Mobility Management Entity (MME), Short Message Service Center (SMSC), Unified Data Management Function (UDM), Authentication Service Function (AUSF), Policy Control Function (PCF), Serving Gateway, Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway;

[0065] The network elements in the IMS network include at least one of the following: IMS-AGW, P-CSCF, S-CSCF, IP-SM-GW;

[0066] The second communication device is a terminal device or a network element in a network located on the ground.

[0067] In a possible implementation, the method further includes:

[0068] Receive storage control information, where the storage control information includes a first storage duration and / or a first storage capacity, the first storage duration is the storage duration that the network where the first communication device is located can provide for the first information, and the first storage capacity is the storage capacity that the network where the first communication device is located can provide for the first information;

[0069] According to the storage duration corresponding to the first information and the first storage duration, determine whether the storage duration provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage duration corresponding to the first information; and / or, according to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information and the first storage capacity, determine whether the storage capacity provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information.

[0070] In a possible implementation, the method further includes:

[0071] Sending storage requirement information, where the storage requirement information includes storage time requirement information and / or storage space requirement information. The storage time requirement information indicates the storage duration corresponding to the first information, and the storage space requirement information indicates the storage capacity corresponding to the first information and / or the service identifier to which the first information belongs.

[0072] In a possible implementation, the method further includes:

[0073] Receiving storage and forwarding service indication information, where the storage and forwarding service indication information indicates at least one of the following:

[0074] Whether the network where the first communication device is located can provide non-real-time services;

[0075] The available storage capacity that the network where the first communication device is located can provide;

[0076] The storage duration that the network where the first communication device is located can provide;

[0077] Determining whether the storage duration provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage duration corresponding to the first information according to the storage duration corresponding to the first information and the storage duration that the network where the first communication device is located can provide; and / or determining whether the storage capacity provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information according to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information and the available storage capacity that the network where the first communication device is located can provide.

[0078] In a possible implementation, the method further includes:

[0079] Sending a capability request, where the capability request is used to request to obtain the storage and forwarding service indication information.

[0080] In a possible implementation, the method further includes:

[0081] Sending first capability information, where the first capability information indicates that the second communication device supports non-real-time services; and / or receiving second capability information, where the second capability information indicates that the network where the first communication device is located supports non-real-time services.

[0082] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides another information transmission method, which is applied to a fourth communication device, and the method further includes:

[0083] Determine storage control information, where the storage control information includes a first storage duration and / or a first storage capacity of the first information stored in a first communication device of the flight device;

[0084] Send the storage control information to the first communication device.

[0085] Based on the description of the third aspect, the determined storage control information can be sent to the first communication device for storage and forwarding, thereby reducing the processing complexity of the first communication device.

[0086] In a possible implementation, the first communication device includes at least one of the following network elements: a user plane function UPF, a session management function SMF, an access and mobility management function AMF, an access network device, or a device with storage and forwarding capabilities;

[0087] The fourth communication device includes at least one of the following: SMF, UPF, MME, AMF, a short message service center SMSC.

[0088] Implementing this method can determine storage control information through various network elements, facilitating the first communication device to store and forward the first information according to the storage control information.

[0089] In a possible implementation, the sending end of the first information is a second communication device, and the receiving end of the first information is a third communication device;

[0090] The first storage duration is determined based on at least one of the following: the duration during which data cannot be transmitted between the first communication device and the third communication device, the storage duration information in the subscribed data, the service requirements of the first information, the storage duration corresponding to the first information, and the subscribed data includes the subscribed data of the terminal device and / or service associated with the first information; and / or,

[0091] The first storage capacity is determined based on at least one of the following: the service identifier associated with the first information, the service type associated with the first information, the service requirements of the first information, the storage capacity information in the subscribed data, the available storage capacity corresponding to the service identifier to which the first information belongs, the storage capacity corresponding to the first information.

[0092] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which includes:

[0093] A receiving unit, configured to receive the first information from the second communication device;

[0094] A storage unit, configured to determine that the first information cannot be transmitted to the third communication device and store the first information;

[0095] A sending unit, configured to send the first information to the third communication device when the first information can be transmitted to the third communication device.

[0096] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which includes:

[0097] A first determination unit, configured to determine first information to be sent;

[0098] A second determination unit, configured to determine that the storage capacity provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information; and / or determine that the storage duration provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage duration corresponding to the first information; the first communication device is deployed in a flying device;

[0099] A sending unit, configured to send the first information to the first communication device.

[0100] In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which includes:

[0101] A determination unit, configured to determine storage control information, where the storage control information includes a first storage duration and / or a first storage capacity of the first information stored in the first communication device in the flying device;

[0102] A sending unit, configured to send the storage control information to the first communication device.

[0103] In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, which includes a processor and a memory. The processor and the memory are interconnected. The memory is used to store a computer program, and the processor is configured to execute the computer program to perform the method described in the first aspect or any optional implementation manner of the first aspect, or to perform the method described in the second aspect or any optional implementation manner of the second aspect, or to perform the method described in the third aspect or any optional implementation manner of the third aspect, or to perform the method described in the third aspect or any optional implementation manner of the third aspect.

[0104] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a chip, which includes a processor and an interface. The processor and the interface are coupled; the interface is used to receive and / or output signals, and the processor is used to execute code instructions to perform the method described in the first aspect or any optional implementation manner of the first aspect, or to perform the method described in the second aspect or any optional implementation manner of the second aspect, or to perform the method described in the third aspect or any optional implementation manner of the third aspect.

[0105] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a module device, which includes a communication module, a power module, a storage module, and a chip module, where: the power module is used to provide electrical energy for the module device; the storage module is used to store data and / or instructions; the communication module communicates with an external device; the chip module is used to call the data and / or instructions stored in the storage module and execute the method described in the first aspect or any optional implementation manner of the first aspect, or execute the method described in the second aspect or any optional implementation manner of the second aspect, or execute the method described in the third aspect or any optional implementation manner of the third aspect.

[0106] In a tenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program. The computer program includes program instructions. When a computer executes the program instructions, it is used to implement the method described in the first aspect or any optional implementation manner of the first aspect, or to implement the method described in the second aspect or any optional implementation manner of the second aspect, or to implement the method described in the third aspect or any optional implementation manner of the third aspect.

[0107] In an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program or computer code. When it runs on a computer, it is used to implement the method described in the above-mentioned first aspect or any optional implementation manner of the first aspect, or to implement the method described in the above-mentioned second aspect or any optional implementation manner of the second aspect, or to implement the method described in the above-mentioned third aspect or any optional implementation manner of the third aspect.

[0108] In a twelfth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, which includes at least two of a first communication device, a second communication device, and a third communication device. Description of the Drawings

[0109] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of a 5G communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0110] Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0111] Figure 3a It is a schematic diagram of the position of a flying device at time t1 provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0112] Figure 3b It is a schematic diagram of the position of a flying device at time t2 provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0113] Figure 4 It is a schematic flowchart of an information transmission method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0114] Figure 5 It is a schematic flowchart of another information transmission method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0115] Figure 6 It is a schematic flowchart of yet another information transmission method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0116] Figure 7 It is a schematic flowchart of yet another information transmission method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0117] Figure 8 It is a schematic flowchart of yet another information transmission method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0118] Figure 9 It is a scenario example of an information transmission method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0119] Figure 10 It is a scenario example of another information transmission method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0120] Figure 11 It is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0121] Figure 12 It is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0122] Figure 13 It is a schematic structural diagram of yet another communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0123] Figure 14 It is a schematic structural diagram of a module device provided by an embodiment of the present application. Detailed implementation manners

[0124] In the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified, the character " / " indicates that the associated objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B may represent A or B. "And / or" describes the association relationship of the associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may represent: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone.

[0125] It should be noted that the terms "first", "second", etc. involved in the embodiments of the present application are only used for the purpose of distinguishing descriptions, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the quantity of the indicated technical features, nor can they be understood as indicating or implying an order.

[0126] In the embodiments of the present application, "at least one" means one or more, and "a plurality" means two or more. In addition, "at least one (item)" or similar expressions thereof refer to any combination of these items, which may include any combination of a single item or plural items. For example, at least one (item) of A, B, or C may represent: A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A, B, and C. Each of A, B, and C itself may be an element or a set containing one or more elements.

[0127] In the embodiments of the present application, terms such as "exemplary", "in some embodiments", "in another embodiment", etc. are used to give examples, illustrations, or explanations. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" in the present application should not be construed as being more preferred or having more advantages than other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of the word "exemplary" is intended to present concepts in a specific manner.

[0128] In the embodiments of the present application, "of", "corresponding", and "corresponding to" can sometimes be used interchangeably. It should be noted that when the difference is not emphasized, the intended meanings are the same. In the embodiments of the present application, communication and transmission can sometimes be used interchangeably. It should be noted that when the difference is not emphasized, the meanings expressed are the same. For example, transmission may include sending and / or receiving, and can be a noun or a verb.

[0129] In the embodiments of the present application, the equality involved can be used in conjunction with greater than, applicable to the technical solutions adopted when greater than, or can be used in conjunction with less than, applicable to the technical solutions adopted when less than. It should be noted that when equality is used in conjunction with greater than, it cannot be used in conjunction with less than; when equality is used in conjunction with less than, it is not used in conjunction with greater than.

[0130] Before introducing the communication system of the embodiments of the present application, first in combination with Figure 1 the fifth generation (5G) system shown in the figure, the network elements involved in the embodiments of the present application are introduced.

[0131] As Figure 1As shown, the system can be divided into an access network and a core network. The access network is used to implement functions related to wireless access, mainly including radio access network (RAN) equipment 102. The core network mainly includes the following key logical network elements: user plane function (UPF) 103, access and mobility management function (AMF) 105, session management function (SMF) 106, policy control function (PCF) 107, unified data management (UDM) 109. The system 100 may also include user equipment (UE) 101, data network (DN) 104, and application function (AF) 108. The interfaces between the network elements are as shown in Figure 1 shown in. It should be understood that service-based interfaces can also be used for communication between network elements. Among them, the network elements deployed in the core network can be called core network devices. The devices deployed in the access network can be called access network devices.

[0132] A UE, which can also be referred to as a terminal device. The terminal device can communicate with one or more core networks (CNs) via a RAN device. The terminal device can be referred to as an access terminal, terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile unit, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, wireless network device, user agent, or user device. The terminal can be a cellular phone, cordless phone, session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, wireless local loop (WLL) station, personal digital assistant (PDA), handheld device with wireless communication capabilities, computing device, or other device connected to a wireless modem, in-vehicle device, wearable device, or terminal device in the Internet of Things, vehicle network, and any form of terminal device in future networks, etc. The terminal device can also be a virtual reality (VR) terminal device with wireless transceiver capabilities, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal device in industrial control, a wireless terminal device in self-driving, a wireless terminal device in remote medical, a wireless terminal device in smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal device in smart city, or a wireless terminal in smart home. The terminal device can be deployed on land, including indoor or outdoor, handheld or in-vehicle; it can also be deployed on water (such as on a ship, etc.); it can also be deployed in the air (such as on an airplane, balloon, satellite, etc.).

[0133] A RAN device is a device that connects a terminal device to a wireless network and can specifically be a base station. The base station can include various forms of base stations, such as macro base stations, micro base stations (also known as small stations), relay stations, access points, etc. Specifically, it can be an access point (AP) in a wireless local area network (WLAN), a base transceiver station (BTS) in a global system for mobile communications (GSM) or a code division multiple access (CDMA), a base station (NodeB, NB) in a wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), an evolved base station (Evolved Node B, eNB or eNodeB) in LTE, or a relay station or access point, or a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, and a next generation Node B (gNB) in a 5G system.

[0134] The UDM has functions such as managing the subscription data of users and generating authentication information of users.

[0135] The AMF is mainly responsible for functions such as UE registration management, UE connection management, UE reachability management, UE access authorization and authentication, UE security functions, UE mobility management, network slice selection, and SMF selection.

[0136] The SMF is mainly responsible for all control plane functions of UE session management, including the selection and control of the UPF, the allocation and management of internet protocol (IP) addresses, the quality of service (QoS) management of the session, and obtaining policy and charging control (PCC) policies from the PCF. The SMF also serves as the endpoint of the SM part in non-access stratum (NAS) messages.

[0137] The PCF has functions such as providing policy rules to control plane function entities.

[0138] The AF can be an application server, which can belong to the operator or a third party.

[0139] The UPF is mainly responsible for processing user messages, such as forwarding and charging. It can serve as an anchor point for the connection of a protocol data unit (PDU) session, and is responsible for filtering UE data messages, data transmission / forwarding, rate control, generating charging information, user plane QoS processing, uplink transmission authentication, transmission level verification, downlink packet caching, and triggering downlink data notification, etc.

[0140] The DN is a network that provides data transmission services for users. For example, it can be an IP Multimedia Service (IMS), the Internet, etc. The DN may include an application server (AS). The AS is a software framework that provides an environment for an application to run and offers services such as security, data, transaction support, load balancing, and management of large distributed systems for the application. The UE obtains application messages by communicating with the AS. It should be noted that the above AF is the control plane of the AS.

[0141] The method provided by the embodiments of this application can be applied to a non-terrestrial networks (NTN) communication system, such as Figure 2 As shown, the communication system may include a terminal device, a flying device (such as a satellite), and a ground network. The ground network may include network elements, such as a ground station (which can also be called a gateway station, gateway), and other network elements. For example, the other network elements can be an Application Server (AS), an AF, etc. The ground network can be connected to the DN. In some embodiments, the DN can also be included in the ground network. The ground network can be understood as a network on the earth's surface, which can include at least one of land, sea, and low altitude. For example, the network elements in the ground network can be deployed on land, sea, or low altitude, etc.

[0142] The terminal device in the embodiments of this application can be a terminal device on land, sea, or low altitude. For example, it can be a terminal device on an airplane, a terminal device on a ship, etc. This application does not make any limitations.

[0143] In the embodiments of this application, Figure 1 the access network device (such as the RAN) and some network elements in the core network can be deployed in Figure 2 the flying device in. For example, at least one of the RAN, AMF, SMF, UDM, UPF, PCF can be deployed in the flying device. In some embodiments, the Authentication Server Function (AUSF) can also be deployed in the flying device.

[0144] The flying device in the embodiments of the present application may be a satellite, an aircraft, an airship, a balloon, an airplane, etc., and the present application does not make any limitations.

[0145] In one implementation, if the flying device is a satellite, the satellite may be a geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite, or a medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite or a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite in a non-geostationary earth orbit (NGEO), or a high altitude platform station (HAPS), etc. The present application does not make any limitations on the specific type of the satellite.

[0146] The ground station in the embodiments of the present application can be used to connect network elements in the network between the satellite and the ground. The communication link between the ground station and the satellite can be called a feeder link (or a feedback link); the communication link between the satellite and the terminal device can be called a service link.

[0147] It can be understood that Figure 2 Only one satellite and one ground station are shown. In actual use, an architecture with multiple satellites and / or multiple ground stations can be adopted according to needs. Among them, each satellite can provide services to one or more terminal devices, each satellite can correspond to one or more ground stations, each ground station can correspond to one or more satellites, etc., and the present application does not make specific limitations.

[0148] Since the flying device (such as a satellite) is constantly moving, the relative positions between the flying device and the terminal device or the ground station will constantly change. For example, as Figure 3a shown, at time t1, the flying device (such as a satellite) is above the terminal device, the service link between the flying device (such as a satellite) and the terminal device is available, and the communication device on the flying device can communicate with the terminal device, but the feeder link between the flying device (such as a satellite) and the ground station is not available. At time t2, as Figure 3b shown, the flying device (such as a satellite) is above the ground station, the feeder link between the flying device (such as a satellite) and the ground station is available, and the communication device on the flying device can communicate with the ground station, but the service link between the flying device (such as a satellite) and the terminal device is not available. Among them, time t2 can be after time t1.

[0149] The following explains some of the terms related to the embodiments of the present application to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0150] 1. Satellite constellation

[0151] A satellite constellation is a collection of satellites that are launched into orbit and can operate normally. Usually, it is a satellite network composed of a number of satellites configured in a certain way. Multiple satellites belonging to the same satellite constellation can communicate with each other and transmit information.

[0152] 2. Ephemeris data

[0153] Ephemeris, which can also be called ephemeris table, almanac, ephemeris book, etc., is information used to locate the position of celestial bodies at any moment. The terminal device can search for the network according to the satellite ephemeris data, thereby improving the user experience. Satellite ephemeris mainly includes orbital plane parameters and satellite level parameters. It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, the satellite ephemeris can also be called ephemeris parameters, satellite ephemeris parameters, or other possible names, and the present application does not make any limitations in this regard.

[0154] It should be noted that in the following embodiments, storing the first information in the first communication device can also be understood as storing the first information in the flying device, and this flying device can refer to a satellite.

[0155] It should be noted that the various technical solutions (or called various embodiments) of the present application can be implemented independently or can also be combined based on certain internal connections. The present application does not make any limitations. And various terms and definitions between the various embodiments can be cited from each other. In each embodiment of the present application, different implementation manners can also be combined or implemented independently.

[0156] Please refer to Figure 4 , which is a schematic flowchart of an information transmission method provided by an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 4 shown, the information transmission method of this embodiment may include some or all of the following steps:

[0157] 401. The second communication device determines the first information to be sent.

[0158] In the embodiments of the present application, the second communication device can refer to the device that sends information. Exemplarily, this second communication device can be Figure 2 the terminal device shown, or the second communication device can be Figure 2A network element in the ground network shown, where the ground network may include networks deployed on land, at sea, at low altitude, etc. Exemplarily, the second communication device may be an AF or an AS or a DN or a ground station, etc.

[0159] The first information may include at least one of the following: service data, control information, signaling, or reference signals, etc.

[0160] 402, the second communication device determines that the storage capacity provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information; and / or determines that the storage duration provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage duration corresponding to the first information.

[0161] The first communication device is deployed in a flying device, and the flying device may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: satellites, airplanes, airships, balloons, etc. In the embodiments of the present application, the first communication device may refer to a store-and-forward device, and store-and-forward can be understood as that the first communication device can store the first information and forward the first information. The first communication device may include at least one of the following network elements: network elements in the core network, network elements in the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, access network devices, or other devices with store-and-forward functions;

[0162] The network elements in the core network include at least one of the following: UPF, SMF, AMF, MME, SMSC, UDM, AUSF, PCF, serving gateway, PDN gateway;

[0163] The network elements in the IMS network include at least one of the following: IMS-AGW, P-CSCF, S-CSCF, IP-SM-GW.

[0164] Optionally, the second communication device determines whether the storage capacity provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information. The storage capacity corresponding to the first information can be understood as the capacity of the storage space for storing the first information, and the storage capacity corresponding to the first information may be greater than or equal to the actual occupied storage space capacity of the first information. Alternatively, the storage capacity corresponding to the first information can be replaced with the desired storage capacity of the second communication device or the first information.

[0165] Optionally, the second communication device determines whether the storage duration provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage duration corresponding to the first information. The storage duration corresponding to the first information can be understood as the desired storage duration of the second communication device for the first information in the first communication device. Alternatively, the storage duration corresponding to the first information can be replaced with the desired storage duration of the second communication device or the first information.

[0166] In some embodiments, the second communication device determines that the storage capacity provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information; and / or, the second communication device determines that the storage duration provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information, and then executes step 403. In some implementation manners, the second communication device also needs to determine that the communication link between the second communication device and the first communication device (the first communication device can also be replaced by a flying device) is available before the second communication device executes step 403. Among them, if the flying device is a satellite and the second communication device is a terminal device, the availability of the communication link between the second communication device and the first communication device can be understood as the availability of the service link between the terminal device and the satellite. If the second communication device is a network element in a ground network, the availability of the communication link between the second communication device and the first communication device can be understood as the availability of the feeder link between the ground station and the first communication device (the first communication device can also be replaced by a flying device).

[0167] 403. The second communication device sends the first information to the first communication device. Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the first information.

[0168] 404. The first communication device determines that the first information cannot be transmitted to the third communication device and stores the first information.

[0169] In a possible implementation manner, the communication link between the first communication device and the third communication device is unavailable, so the first information cannot be transmitted to the third communication device. Exemplarily, the third communication device can be a terminal device or a network element in a ground network. For example, the third communication device can be a ground station in a ground network, or an AF, or an AS, etc.

[0170] In another possible implementation manner, if the third communication device needs to obtain the first information, it will send a request to the first communication device to obtain the first information. The first communication device determines that the first information cannot be transmitted to the third communication device when it determines that it has not received the request sent by the third communication device for obtaining the first information.

[0171] The first communication device may store the first information according to the stored control information, and the stored control information may include a first storage duration and / or a first storage capacity. Exemplarily, the stored control information includes the first storage duration. When the first communication device determines that the storage duration of the first information reaches the first storage duration, it attempts to send the first information to the third communication device. Optionally, if the sending is unsuccessful and the total storage duration of the first information does not exceed the maximum storage duration, the first information may continue to be stored. The maximum storage duration may be the maximum available storage duration of the communication link between the first communication device and the third communication device, or the maximum available storage duration may be determined according to the subscribed data. The subscribed data may be the subscribed data of the terminal device and / or service associated with the first information. The terminal device associated with the first information may refer to the terminal device that receives or sends the first information, and the service associated with the first information may be the service to which the first information belongs. Optionally, if the total storage duration of the first information reaches the maximum storage duration, the first information may be discarded. Exemplarily, the stored control information includes the first storage capacity, and the first communication device may allocate the first storage capacity for storing the first information.

[0172] In a possible implementation manner, the stored control information may be determined by the first communication device itself, or the stored control information may be determined by the fourth communication device and sent to the first communication device by the fourth communication device. For specific reference, please refer to the relevant descriptions in the subsequent embodiments Figure 8 and will not be elaborated here.

[0173] 405, when the first information can be transmitted to the third communication device, the first communication device sends the first information to the third communication device. Correspondingly, the third communication device receives the first information.

[0174] When the first information cannot be transmitted to the third communication device, the first communication device stores the first information. When the first information can be transmitted to the third communication device, the first communication device may send the stored first information to the third communication device. In the embodiments of the present application, the process of the first communication device storing and forwarding the first information may be simply referred to as the store-and-forward mode or the store-and-forward service.

[0175] In a possible implementation manner, if the communication link between the first communication device and the third communication device is available, it is determined that the first information can be transmitted to the third communication device. For example, if the third communication device is a terminal device, it may be that the communication link between the flying device and the terminal device is available. Another example is that if the third communication device is a network element in the ground network, it may be that the communication link between the flying device and the ground station is available.

[0176] Whether the communication link between the first communication device and the third communication device is available can be determined based on the information of the first communication device and the information of the third communication device. The information of the first communication device indicates the flight information of the first communication device and / or the time when the first communication device can send and receive data, and the information of the third communication device indicates the location of the third communication device and / or the time when the third communication device can send and receive data. The time when the communication link between the first communication device and the third communication device is unavailable or the available time can be determined through the information of the first communication device and the information of the third communication device.

[0177] For example, if the flying device is a satellite, the information of the first communication device includes at least one of the following: ephemeris data of the satellite, the orbital altitude of the satellite, the operating period of the satellite, the number of satellites included in the constellation where the satellite is located, the number of satellites connecting to the ground station in the constellation where the satellite is located, the location of the satellite, or the working time of the satellite.

[0178] If the third communication device is a ground station, the information of the third communication device includes at least one of the following: geographical location of the ground station, altitude of the ground station, speed of the ground station, or operating time of the ground station.

[0179] If the third communication device is a terminal device, the information of the third communication device includes at least one of the following: the time when the terminal device periodically registers, the deregistration time of the terminal device, the power saving information of the terminal device, the sleep time of the terminal device, the geographical location of the terminal device, or the speed of the terminal device.

[0180] Exemplarily, the information of the first communication device can be from at least one of the following: AS, AF, DN, OAM, UDM.

[0181] If the third communication device is a ground station, the information of the third communication device is from at least one of the following: AS, AF, OAM, UDM. If the third communication device is a terminal device, the information of the third communication device is from at least one of the following: the terminal device, OAM, AS, AF, UDM.

[0182] In another possible implementation, the first communication device receives a request message from the third communication device, and this request message is used to request to obtain the first information, then it is determined that the first information can be transmitted to the third communication device.

[0183] In the above description, one of the second communication device and the third communication device is taken as a terminal device, and the other communication device is taken as a network element on the ground as an example. In some implementations, both the second communication device and the third communication device can also be terminal devices.

[0184] Exemplarily, the above-mentioned first storage duration can be determined based on at least one of the following:

[0185] 1. The duration during which information cannot be transmitted between the first communication device and the third communication device;

[0186] The duration during which information cannot be transmitted between the first communication device and the third communication device may be the duration during which the communication link between the first communication device and the third communication device is unavailable. Exemplarily, if the first communication device is deployed on a satellite and the third communication device is a terminal device, the duration during which information cannot be transmitted between the first communication device and the third communication device may refer to the duration during which the service link between the satellite and the terminal device is unavailable. Exemplarily, if the first communication device is deployed on a satellite and the third communication device is a network element in a ground network, the duration during which information cannot be transmitted between the first communication device and the third communication device may refer to the duration during which the feeder link between the satellite and the ground station is unavailable.

[0187] 2. The storage duration information in the subscription data, where the subscription data includes the subscription data of the terminal device and / or service associated with the first information;

[0188] The subscription data may include storage duration information, which may indicate the storage duration of the first information in the first communication device (or flying device). Further optionally, it may also include the maximum storage duration of the first information in the first communication device. The terminal device associated with the first information may refer to the terminal device that receives or sends the first information, and the service associated with the first information may refer to the service to which the first information belongs. For example, if the first information is data of an application, the service to which the first information belongs is the application service.

[0189] Exemplarily, the subscription data may include the storage duration corresponding to at least one service identifier. The service identifier may include one of the following: Data Network Name (DNN), Single Network Slice Selection Assistance information (S-NSSAI), APP ID, etc. The storage duration of the first information in the first communication device may be determined according to the service identifier associated with the first information.

[0190] 3. The service requirements of the first information.

[0191] Exemplarily, the service requirements of the first information may refer to the requirements of the first information for latency. For example, if the first information is video data downloaded from the network, the requirements of the first information for latency are not high. For example, a latency of two hours can be tolerated.

[0192] 4. The storage duration corresponding to the first information.

[0193] The storage duration corresponding to the first information can be understood as the expected storage duration of the first information or the expected storage duration of the second communication device, and this expected storage duration can be sent by the second communication device to the device for determining the first storage duration.

[0194] In the embodiments of the present application, the first storage duration can be determined based on one or more of 1 to 4. For example, the first storage duration can be determined based on 1 and 2 above. If the storage duration indicated by the storage duration information in the subscription data is less than or equal to the duration during which information cannot be transmitted between the first communication device and the second communication device, then the duration indicated by the storage duration in the subscription data is used as the first storage duration. If the storage duration indicated by the storage duration information in the subscription data is greater than the duration during which information cannot be transmitted between the first communication device and the second communication device, then the duration during which information cannot be transmitted between the first communication device and the second communication device is used as the first storage duration. Another example is that the first storage duration can be determined based on 4 above, that is, the storage duration corresponding to the first information is used as the first storage duration. The above are only examples and do not limit the present application, and there may be more combinations.

[0195] Exemplarily, the first storage capacity in the above embodiments is determined based on at least one of the following:

[0196] 1. The service identifier associated with the first information;

[0197] The service identifier associated with the first information may include one of the following: Data Network Name (DNN), Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (S-NSSAI), APP ID, charging information, etc.

[0198] 2. The service type associated with the first information;

[0199] The service type associated with the first information may include video service type, voice service type, download service type, request message type, etc.

[0200] 3. The service requirement of the first information;

[0201] The service requirement of the first information may refer to the service requirement of the first information for space storage. For example, a service of downloading a video type requires a large storage capacity.

[0202] 4. The storage capacity information in the subscription data, and the subscription data includes the subscription data of the terminal device and / or service associated with the first information;

[0203] The signed data may include storage capacity information, which may indicate the storage capacity corresponding to various service identifiers. Exemplarily, the storage capacity corresponding to a service identifier may be the total storage capacity allocated to the information of the service identifier.

[0204] 5. The available storage capacity corresponding to the service identifier to which the first information belongs;

[0205] The available storage capacity corresponding to the service identifier to which the first information belongs may indicate the remaining storage capacity corresponding to the service identifier, and the remaining storage capacity may be the total storage capacity of the service identifier minus the used storage capacity.

[0206] 6. The storage capacity corresponding to the first information.

[0207] The storage capacity corresponding to the first information may refer to the expected storage capacity of the first information or the expected storage capacity of the second communication device, and the expected storage capacity may be sent by the second communication device to the device for determining the first storage capacity.

[0208] In the embodiments of the present application, the first storage capacity may be determined based on one or more of 1 to 6. For example, if the first storage capacity is determined based on 1 and 5 above, it is necessary to determine the service identifier associated with the first information, and further determine the first storage capacity of the first information according to the available storage capacity corresponding to the service identifier. The above is only an example and does not limit the present application, and more combinations may also be included.

[0209] Please refer to Figure 5 , which is a schematic flowchart of another information transmission method provided by the embodiments of the present application. As Figure 5 shown, the information transmission method of this embodiment includes all or part of the following steps. For example, step 502 may not be executed. The following describes each step by way of example:

[0210] 501. The second communication device determines the first information to be sent.

[0211] Step 501 in the embodiments of the present application may refer to the description of step 401 in Figure 4 the embodiments, and will not be elaborated here.

[0212] 502. The second communication device sends storage requirement information to the first communication device. The storage requirement information includes storage time requirement information and / or storage space requirement information. The storage time requirement information indicates the storage duration corresponding to the first information, and the storage space requirement information indicates the storage capacity corresponding to the first information and / or the service identifier to which the first information belongs. Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the storage requirement information.

[0213] 503, the first communication device sends storage control information to the second communication device. The storage control information includes a first storage duration and / or a first storage capacity. Correspondingly, the second communication device receives the storage control information.

[0214] The storage duration corresponding to the first information may refer to the expected storage duration of the first information or the expected storage duration of the second communication device. The storage capacity corresponding to the first information may refer to the expected storage capacity of the first information or the expected storage capacity of the second communication device. The storage capacity corresponding to the first information is greater than or equal to the storage space capacity actually occupied by the first information.

[0215] Exemplarily, the storage space requirement information may include the storage capacity corresponding to the first information and / or the service identifier to which the first information belongs. The service identifier can be used to determine the available storage capacity corresponding to the service identifier, and the available storage capacity corresponding to the service identifier can be understood as the remaining storage capacity corresponding to the service identifier in the first communication device.

[0216] When the network where the first communication device is located supports non-real-time services (also known as store-and-forward services), the first communication device can determine the first storage duration and / or the first storage capacity allocated for the first information.

[0217] The first communication device can determine the first storage duration allocated for the first information based on the storage duration corresponding to the first information. The first storage duration can be the same as or different from the storage duration corresponding to the first information. For example, if the storage duration corresponding to the first information is less than the unavailable duration of the communication link between the first communication device and the third communication device, then the first storage duration is equal to the storage duration corresponding to the first information. Another example is that if the storage duration corresponding to the first information is greater than the storage duration indicated by the storage time information in the subscribed data, then the first storage duration is the storage duration indicated by the storage time information in the subscribed data, that is, less than the storage duration corresponding to the first information.

[0218] The first communication device can determine the first storage capacity allocated for the first information based on the storage capacity corresponding to the first information. The first storage capacity can be the same as or different from the storage capacity corresponding to the first information. For example, if the storage capacity corresponding to the first information is less than the available storage capacity corresponding to the service identifier to which the first information belongs, then the first storage capacity is equal to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information. Another example is that if the storage capacity corresponding to the first information is greater than the available storage capacity corresponding to the service identifier to which the first information belongs, then the first storage capacity is the available storage capacity corresponding to the service identifier to which the first information belongs, that is, less than the storage capacity corresponding to the first information.

[0219] After determining the first storage duration and / or the first storage capacity, the first communication device can send the storage control information to the second communication device.

[0220] In a possible implementation, the second communication device may be a terminal device. The storage requirement information may be carried in a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session request message, and the storage control information may be carried in a PDU session response message. In some implementations, when the network where the first communication device is located does not support non-real-time services (also referred to as store-and-forward services), the PDU session establishment request may be rejected; the reason for rejection may be carried in the PDU session response message, for example: unable to support the requested storage time and / or unable to support the requested storage space.

[0221] In a possible implementation, the second communication device may be an application server. When the network where the first communication device is located supports non-real-time services (also referred to as store-and-forward services), the first communication device sends a response message to the application server, and the response message includes storage control information. When the first communication device does not support non-real-time services (also referred to as store-and-forward services), a response message may be sent to the application server, and the response message indicates that the service is not supported.

[0222] 504. The second communication device determines whether the storage duration provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage duration corresponding to the first information according to the storage duration corresponding to the first information and the first storage duration; and / or determines whether the storage capacity provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information according to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information and the first storage capacity.

[0223] If it is determined that the storage capacity provided by the network where the first communication device is located is less than the storage capacity corresponding to the first information; and / or it is determined that the storage duration provided by the network where the first communication device is located is less than the storage duration corresponding to the first information, then step 506 is executed. If it is determined that the storage capacity provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information; and / or it is determined that the storage duration provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage duration corresponding to the first information, then step 505 is executed.

[0224] 505. The second communication device sends the first information to the first communication device. Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the first information.

[0225] For step 505 in the embodiments of the present application, please refer to Figure 4 the description of step 403 in the embodiments, which will not be elaborated here.

[0226] 506. The second communication device sends the first information to the fifth communication device, and the fifth communication device and the first communication device are in different networks.

[0227] The network where the fifth communication device is located is different from the network where the first communication device is located. In other words, the second communication device determines that the first storage capacity provided by the network where the first communication device is located cannot meet the storage capacity requirement of the first information, and / or the second communication device determines that the first storage duration provided by the network where the first communication device is located cannot meet the storage duration requirement of the first information. Then, the second communication device can select a different network to transmit the first information.

[0228] 507. The first communication device determines that the first information cannot be transmitted to the third communication device and stores the first information.

[0229] 508. When the first information can be transmitted to the third communication device, the first communication device sends the first information to the third communication device. Correspondingly, the third communication device receives the first information.

[0230] For steps 507 - 508 in the embodiments of the present application, please refer to Figure 4 steps 404 - 405 in the embodiments, which will not be elaborated here.

[0231] Please refer to Figure 6 , which is a schematic flowchart of another information transmission method provided by the embodiments of the present application. As Figure 6 shown, the information transmission method of this embodiment includes all or some of the following steps. For example, step 602 may not be executed. The following is a description of each step by way of example:

[0232] 601. The second communication device determines the first information to be sent.

[0233] For step 601 in the embodiments of the present application, please refer to Figure 4 the description of step 401 in the embodiments, which will not be elaborated here.

[0234] 602. The second communication device sends a capability request to the first communication device. The capability request is used to request to obtain storage - forwarding service indication information. Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the capability request.

[0235] 603. The first communication device sends the storage - forwarding service indication information to the second communication device. Correspondingly, the second communication device receives the storage - forwarding service indication information.

[0236] Among them, the storage - forwarding service indication information indicates at least one of the following:

[0237] Whether the network where the first communication device is located can provide non - real - time services;

[0238] The available storage capacity that the first communication device can provide;

[0239] The storage duration that the first communication device can provide.

[0240] Exemplarily, the capability request may further include the service identifier to which the first information belongs. For example, the first communication device may determine the available storage capacity that can be provided for the service identifier. For another example, the first communication device may determine the storage duration that can be provided for the service identifier.

[0241] Alternatively, whether the network where the first communication device is located can provide non-real-time services can be replaced with whether the network where the first communication device is located can provide store-and-forward services.

[0242] Alternatively, the first communication device in steps 602 and 603 can be replaced with a fourth communication device. The fourth communication device and the first communication device belong to the same network. In other words, the second communication device can perform capability interaction with the fourth communication device. The first communication device is the communication device that actually performs store-and-forward. The flight device where the fourth communication device is located can be the same as or different from the flight device where the first communication device is located.

[0243] 604. The second communication device determines whether the storage duration provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage duration corresponding to the first information according to the storage duration corresponding to the first information and the storage duration that can be provided by the network where the first communication device is located; and / or determines whether the storage capacity provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information according to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information and the available storage capacity that can be provided by the network where the first communication device is located.

[0244] If it is determined that the storage capacity provided by the network where the first communication device is located is less than the storage capacity corresponding to the first information; and / or it is determined that the storage duration provided by the network where the first communication device is located is less than the storage duration corresponding to the first information, then step 606 is executed. If it is determined that the storage capacity provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information; and / or it is determined that the storage duration provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage duration corresponding to the first information, then step 605 is executed.

[0245] 605. The second communication device sends the first information to the first communication device. Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the first information.

[0246] 606. The second communication device sends the first information to a fifth communication device, and the fifth communication device and the first communication device are in different networks.

[0247] 607. The first communication device determines that the first information cannot be transmitted to the third communication device and stores the first information.

[0248] 608. When the first information can be transmitted to the third communication device, the first communication device sends the first information to the third communication device. Correspondingly, the third communication device receives the first information.

[0249] For steps 605 - 608 of the embodiments of the present application, please refer to Figure 5 steps 505 - 508 of the embodiments, which will not be elaborated here.

[0250] Please refer to Figure 7 , which is a schematic flowchart of another information transmission method provided by the embodiments of the present application. As Figure 7 shown, the information transmission method of this embodiment includes all or some of the following steps. For example, steps 701 and / or 702 can be executed. The following is an example description of each step:

[0251] 701. The second communication device sends first capability information to the first communication device. The first capability information indicates that the second communication device supports non - real - time services. Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the first capability information.

[0252] Alternatively, the first capability information can indicate that the second communication device supports store - and - forward services. Exemplarily, the second communication device can be a terminal device or a network element in a terrestrial network.

[0253] 702. The first communication device sends second capability information to the second communication device. The second capability information indicates that the network where the first communication device is located supports non - real - time services. Correspondingly, the second communication device receives the second capability information.

[0254] Alternatively, the second capability information indicates that the network where the first communication device is located supports store - and - forward services.

[0255] Exemplarily, the above - mentioned first capability information and / or second capability information can be carried in NAS signaling, RRC signaling. For example, the second communication device is a terminal device, and the first communication device is an AMF. The terminal device sends a registration request message to the AMF, and the registration request message includes the first capability information, which indicates whether the terminal device supports non - real - time services (which can be replaced by store - and - forward services). If the AMF supports non - real - time services and the terminal device supports non - real - time services, the AMF sends a registration response message to the terminal device. The registration response message includes the second capability information, indicating that the network where the AMF is located supports non - real - time services. If the AMF only supports non - real - time services and does not support real - time services, the registration response message can also indicate that the network only supports non - real - time services. If the AMF and / or the terminal device does not support non - real - time services, the AMF notifies the terminal that the network rejects this registration and notifies that the reason for rejecting the registration is that the AMF and / or the terminal device does not support non - real - time services.

[0256] Alternatively, the first communication device in step 701 and step 702 can be replaced by a fourth communication device. The fourth communication device and the first communication device belong to the same network. In other words, the second communication device can perform capability interaction with the fourth communication device. The first communication device is the communication device that actually performs storage and forwarding. The flight device where the fourth communication device is located can be the same as or different from the flight device where the first communication device is located.

[0257] 703, the second communication device determines the first information to be sent.

[0258] 704, the second communication device determines that the storage capacity provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information; and / or determines that the storage duration provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage duration corresponding to the first information.

[0259] 705, the second communication device sends the first information to the first communication device. Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the first information.

[0260] 706, the first communication device determines that the first information cannot be transmitted to the third communication device and stores the first information.

[0261] 707, when the first information can be transmitted to the third communication device, the first communication device sends the first information to the third communication device. Correspondingly, the third communication device receives the first information.

[0262] For steps 703 - 707 in the embodiments of the present application, please refer to Figure 4 Steps 401 - 405 in the embodiments, which will not be elaborated here.

[0263] Please refer to Figure 8 , which is a schematic flowchart of another information transmission method provided by the embodiments of the present application. As Figure 8 shown, the information transmission method of this embodiment includes but is not limited to the following steps:

[0264] 801, the fourth communication device determines storage control information, which includes the first storage duration and / or the first storage capacity of the first information stored in the first communication device in the flight device.

[0265] The fourth communication device may include at least one of the following: AMF, SMF, UPF, Mobility Management Entity (MME), AMF, short message service center (SMSC), PCF, Operation Administration and Maintenance (OAM), etc. Exemplarily, the fourth communication device may also be deployed in a flying device. Optionally, the flying device where the fourth communication device is located may be different from or the same as the flying device where the first communication device is located. For example, if the flying device is a satellite, the satellite where the first communication device is located and the satellite where the fourth communication device is located may be different satellites belonging to the same constellation. The fourth communication device may select which network element on a satellite (such as a low-earth orbit satellite, a medium-earth orbit satellite, or a geostationary orbit satellite) to use as the first communication device for storage and forwarding. The fourth communication device may also select which network element (such as UPF, SMF, or AMF, etc.) to use as the first communication device.

[0266] In a possible implementation, when the fourth communication device receives the storage requirement information sent by the second communication device, it may determine the storage control information. The storage requirement information includes storage time requirement information and / or storage space requirement information. For the relevant description of the storage requirement information, please refer to the description of the foregoing embodiments and will not be elaborated here. When the network where the fourth communication device is located supports non-real-time services (also referred to as storage and forwarding services), the fourth communication device may determine the first storage duration and / or the first storage capacity. Further optionally, the fourth communication device may also determine the first communication device for storing and forwarding the first information.

[0267] 802, the fourth communication device sends the storage control information to the first communication device. Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the storage control information.

[0268] Exemplarily, the fourth communication device may also send the storage control information to the second communication device.

[0269] For example, if the fourth communication device is an AMF and the first communication device is an SMF or a UPF, the fourth communication device may send the stored control information to the SMF through the Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext message. Further optionally, if the first communication device is a UPF, the SMF may send the stored control information to the UPF through the N4 Session Establishment / Modification Request message. It is understandable. For another example, the fourth communication device may also be an SMF, and the first communication device is a UPF. After the SMF determines the stored control information, it sends the stored control information to the UPF through the N4 Session Establishment / Modification Request message. After the fourth communication device sends the stored control information to the first communication device, it may further instruct the first communication device to store and forward the first information according to the stored control information.

[0270] 803. The second communication device sends the first information to the first communication device. Correspondingly, the first communication device receives the first information.

[0271] 804. The first communication device determines that the first information cannot be transmitted to the third communication device and stores the first information according to the stored control information.

[0272] 805. When the first information can be transmitted to the third communication device, the first communication device sends the first information to the third communication device. Correspondingly, the third communication device receives the first information.

[0273] For steps 803 - 805 in the embodiments of the present application, please refer to Figure 4 steps 403 - 405 in the embodiments, which will not be elaborated here.

[0274] The following combines Figure 9 and Figure 10 for an example description. In Figure 9 and Figure 10 the gNB / AMF / SMF / UPF may be deployed in a flying device, taking a flying device being a satellite as an example.

[0275] As Figure 9 shown, it is a scenario example of an information transmission method provided by the embodiments of the present application. The method includes the following steps:

[0276] 901. The terminal device sends the first information.

[0277] The terminal device may send the first information to the gNB in the satellite, and this first information may be referred to as uplink data. Since the communication link between the satellite and the ground station in the terrestrial network is unavailable, network elements in the satellite, such as gNB or AMF or SMF or UPF, may store this first information.

[0278] 902, the gNB / AMF / SMF / UPF stores the first information in at least one of the following network elements according to the stored control information: gNB, AMF, SMF, or UPF.

[0279] The stored control information may include the first storage duration and / or the first storage capacity. For example, the gNB or AMF or SMF or UPF may determine the network element for storing the first information.

[0280] 903, the gNB / AMF / SMF / UPF determines that the storage time has timed out and / or determines that the communication link between the satellite and the ground station is available.

[0281] Exemplarily, when the storage time of the first information reaches the first storage duration, an attempt may be made to send the first information to the AF / AS / DN.

[0282] Exemplarily, if it is determined that the communication link between the satellite and the ground station is available, an attempt may be made to send the first information to the AF / AS / DN.

[0283] Exemplarily, if it is determined that the storage time of the first information reaches the first storage duration and the communication link between the satellite and the ground station is available, an attempt may be made to send the first information to the AF / AS / DN.

[0284] 904, the gNB / AMF / SMF / UPF sends the stored first information.

[0285] The network element storing the first information sends the stored first information to the AF / AS / DN.

[0286] As Figure 10 shown, it is a scenario example of an information transmission method provided by an embodiment of this application, and this method includes the following steps:

[0287] 1001, the AF / AS / DN sends the first information.

[0288] The AF / AS / DN may send the first information to the UPF in the satellite, and this first information may be referred to as downlink data. Since the communication link between the satellite and the terminal device is unavailable, network elements in the satellite, such as gNB or AMF or SMF or UPF, may store this first information.

[0289] 1002. The gNB / AMF / SMF / UPF stores the first information in at least one of the following network elements according to the stored control information: gNB, AMF, SMF, or UPF.

[0290] The stored control information may include a first storage duration and / or a first storage capacity. For example, the gNB or AMF or SMF or UPF may determine the network element for storing the first information.

[0291] 1003. The gNB / AMF / SMF / UPF determines that the storage time has timed out and / or determines that the communication link between the satellite and the terminal device is available.

[0292] Exemplarily, when the storage time of the first information reaches the first storage duration, an attempt may be made to send the first information to the terminal device.

[0293] Exemplarily, if it is determined that the communication link between the satellite and the terminal device is available, an attempt may be made to send the first information to the terminal device.

[0294] Exemplarily, if it is determined that the storage time of the first information reaches the first storage duration and the communication link between the satellite and the terminal device is available, an attempt may be made to send the first information to the terminal device.

[0295] 1004. The gNB / AMF / SMF / UPF sends the stored first information.

[0296] The network element storing the first information sends the stored first information to the terminal device.

[0297] Please refer to Figure 11 , Figure 11 which is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application. The communication device may be a first communication device, and the communication device may be applied to an access network device or a core network device in a flight device. Exemplarily, the communication device may be an access network device or a core network device, or a device in an access network device or a core network device. For example, it may be a chip or a chip module in the access network device or the core network device, or a device that can be used in matching with the access network device or the core network device. Figure 11 The illustrated communication device 100 may include a receiving unit 110, a storage unit 120, and a sending unit 130, where:

[0298] The receiving unit 110 is configured to receive the first information from a second communication device;

[0299] The storage unit 120 is configured to determine that the first information cannot be transmitted to a third communication device and store the first information;

[0300] A sending unit 130, configured to send the first information to the third communication device when the first information can be transmitted to the third communication device.

[0301] In a possible implementation, a network element in the core network, a network element in the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, an access network device, or other devices with a store-and-forward function;

[0302] The network elements in the core network include at least one of the following: User Plane Function (UPF), Session Management Function (SMF), Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Mobility Management Entity (MME), Short Message Service Center (SMSC), Unified Data Management Function (UDM), Authentication Service Function (AUSF), Policy Control Function (PCF), Serving Gateway, Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway;

[0303] The network elements in the IMS network include at least one of the following: IMS Access Gateway (IMS-AGW), Proxy-Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF), Serving-Call Session Control Function (S-CSCF), IP Short Message Gateway (IP-SM-GW);

[0304] The second communication device is a terminal device, and the third communication device is a network element in a ground network; or, the second communication device is a network element in a ground network, and the third communication device is a terminal device.

[0305] In a possible implementation, the storage unit 120 is specifically configured to store the first information according to storage control information, where the storage control information includes a first storage duration and / or a first storage capacity; the storage control information is determined by the first communication device, or the storage control information comes from a fourth communication device.

[0306] In a possible implementation, the first storage duration is determined based on at least one of the following: the duration during which information cannot be transmitted between the first communication device and the third communication device, the storage duration information in the subscription data, the service requirements of the first information, the storage duration corresponding to the first information, and the subscription data includes subscription data of the terminal device and / or service associated with the first information;

[0307] The first storage capacity is determined based on at least one of the following: the service identifier associated with the first information, the service type associated with the first information, the service requirements of the first information, the storage capacity information in the subscription data, the available storage capacity corresponding to the service identifier to which the first information belongs, and the storage capacity corresponding to the first information.

[0308] In a possible implementation, the fourth communication device includes at least one of the following: SMF, UPF, Mobility Management Entity (MME), Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Short Message Service Center (SMSC), Policy Control Function (PCF), and Operation, Administration and Maintenance (OAM).

[0309] In a possible implementation, the sending unit 130 is further configured to send the storage control information to the second communication device.

[0310] In a possible implementation, the receiving unit 110 is further configured to receive storage requirement information from the second communication device, where the storage requirement information includes storage time requirement information and / or storage space requirement information. The storage time requirement information indicates the storage duration corresponding to the first information, and the storage space requirement information indicates the storage capacity corresponding to the first information and / or the service identifier to which the first information belongs.

[0311] In a possible implementation, the sending unit 130 is specifically configured to, if the duration of storing the first information is equal to the first storage duration, attempt to send the first information to the third communication device.

[0312] In a possible implementation, the sending unit 130 is further configured to send storage and forwarding service indication information to the second communication device;

[0313] The storage and forwarding service indication information indicates at least one of the following:

[0314] Whether the network where the first communication device is located can provide non-real-time services;

[0315] The available storage capacity that the first communication device can provide;

[0316] The storage duration that the first communication device can provide.

[0317] In a possible implementation, the receiving unit 110 is further configured to receive a capability request from the second communication device, where the capability request is used to request to obtain the storage and forwarding service indication information.

[0318] In a possible implementation, the receiving unit 110 is further configured to receive first capability information from the second communication device, where the first capability information indicates that the second communication device supports non-real-time services; and / or, the sending unit 130 is further configured to send second capability information to the second communication device, where the second capability information indicates that the network where the first communication device is located supports non-real-time services.

[0319] In a possible implementation, whether the first information can be transmitted to the third communication device is determined based on the information of the first communication device and the information of the third communication device;

[0320] The information of the first communication device indicates the flight information of the first communication device and / or the time when the first communication device can send and receive data, and the information of the third communication device indicates the location of the third communication device and / or the time when the third communication device can send and receive data.

[0321] In a possible implementation, the flying device is a satellite, and the information of the first communication device includes at least one of the following: ephemeris data of the satellite, orbital altitude of the satellite, operating period of the satellite, number of satellites included in the constellation where the satellite is located, number of satellites connecting to the ground station in the constellation where the satellite is located, location of the satellite, or working time of the satellite;

[0322] The third communication device is a ground station, and the information of the third communication device includes at least one of the following: geographical location of the ground station, altitude of the ground station, speed of the ground station, or operating time of the ground station; or,

[0323] The third communication device is a terminal device, and the information of the third communication device includes at least one of the following: time of periodic registration of the terminal device, deregistration time of the terminal device, power saving information of the terminal device, sleep time of the terminal device, geographical location of the terminal device, or speed of the terminal device.

[0324] In a possible implementation, the information of the first communication device comes from at least one of the following: application server, OAM, unified data management UDM;

[0325] The third communication device is a ground station, and the information of the third communication device comes from at least one of the following: application server, OAM, UDM; or, the third communication device is a terminal device, and the information of the third communication device comes from at least one of the following: the terminal device, OAM, application server, UDM.

[0326] Regarding Figure 11 For the description of specific embodiments, reference may be made to Figures 4 - 10 the description of the embodiments, which will not be elaborated here.

[0327] Please refer to Figure 12 , Figure 12It is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application. The communication device may be a second communication device, and this communication device can be applied to a network element in a terminal device or on the ground. Exemplarily, this communication device can be a network element in a terminal device or on the ground, or a device in a network element in a terminal device or on the ground. For example, it can be a chip or a chip module in the terminal device or the network element on the ground, or a device that can be used in matching with the terminal device or the network element on the ground. Figure 12 The shown communication device 200 may include a first determination unit 210, a second determination unit 220, and a sending unit 230, where:

[0328] The first determination unit 210 is used to determine the first information to be sent;

[0329] The second determination unit 220 is used to determine that the storage capacity provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information; and / or, determine that the storage duration provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage duration corresponding to the first information; the first communication device is deployed in a flight device;

[0330] The sending unit 230 is used to send the first information to the first communication device.

[0331] In a possible implementation manner, the second determination unit 220 is further used to determine that the storage capacity provided by the network where the first communication device is located is less than the storage capacity corresponding to the first information; and / or, determine that the storage duration provided by the network where the first communication device is located is less than the storage duration corresponding to the first information;

[0332] The sending unit 230 is further used to send the first information to a fifth communication device, and the fifth communication device and the first communication device are in different networks.

[0333] In a possible implementation manner, the first communication device includes at least one of the following network elements: a network element in a core network, a network element in an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, an access network device, or other devices with a store-and-forward function;

[0334] The network elements in the core network include at least one of the following: a User Plane Function (UPF), a Session Management Function (SMF), an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), a Mobility Management Entity (MME), a Short Message Service Center (SMSC), a Unified Data Management Function (UDM), an Authentication Service Function (AUSF), a Policy Control Function (PCF), a Serving Gateway, a Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway;

[0335] The network elements of the IMS network include at least one of the following: IMS access gateway IMS-AGW, proxy call session control function P-CSCF, serving call session control function proxy S-CSCF, IP short message gateway IP-SM-GW;

[0336] The second communication device is a terminal device or a network element in a network located on the ground.

[0337] In a possible implementation manner, the device further includes:

[0338] A receiving unit, configured to receive storage control information, where the storage control information includes a first storage duration and / or a first storage capacity, the first storage duration is the storage duration that the network where the first communication device is located can provide for the first information, and the first storage capacity is the storage capacity that the network where the first communication device is located can provide for the first information;

[0339] A second determining unit, specifically configured to determine, according to the storage duration corresponding to the first information and the first storage duration, whether the storage duration provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage duration corresponding to the first information; and / or, determine, according to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information and the first storage capacity, whether the storage capacity provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information.

[0340] In a possible implementation manner, the sending unit 230 is further configured to send storage requirement information, where the storage requirement information includes storage time requirement information and / or storage space requirement information, the storage time requirement information indicates the storage duration corresponding to the first information, and the storage space requirement information indicates the storage capacity corresponding to the first information and / or the service identifier to which the first information belongs.

[0341] In a possible implementation manner, the receiving unit is further configured to receive storage and forwarding service indication information, where the storage and forwarding service indication information indicates at least one of the following:

[0342] Whether the network where the first communication device is located can provide non-real-time services;

[0343] The available storage capacity that the network where the first communication device is located can provide;

[0344] The storage duration that the network where the first communication device is located can provide;

[0345] Determine whether the storage duration provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage duration corresponding to the first information, based on the storage duration corresponding to the first information and the storage duration that can be provided by the network where the first communication device is located; and / or, determine whether the storage capacity provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information, based on the storage capacity corresponding to the first information and the available storage capacity that can be provided by the network where the first communication device is located.

[0346] In a possible implementation manner, the sending unit 230 is further configured to send a capability request, where the capability request is used to request to obtain the storage forwarding service indication information.

[0347] In a possible implementation manner, the sending unit 230 is further configured to send first capability information, where the first capability information indicates that the second communication device supports non-real-time services; and / or, the receiving unit is further configured to receive second capability information, where the second capability information indicates that the network where the first communication device is located supports non-real-time services.

[0348] Regarding Figure 12 For the description of specific embodiments, reference may be made to Figures 4 - 10 the description of the embodiments, which will not be elaborated herein.

[0349] Please refer to Figure 13 , Figure 13 which is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by an embodiment of the present application, and is used to implement the functions of the first communication device, the second communication device, the third communication device, the fourth communication device, or the fifth communication device in the above Figures 4 - 10 The communication device 300 may be a terminal device or a network element in the network, or may be a device for a terminal device or a network element in the network. The device for a terminal device or a network element in the network may be a chip system or a chip in the terminal device or the network element. Among them, the chip system may be composed of chips, or may include chips and other discrete devices.

[0350] The communication device 300 includes at least one processor 320, which is used to implement the data processing functions of the first communication device, the second communication device, the third communication device, the fourth communication device, or the fifth communication device in the method provided by the embodiments of the present application. The communication device 300 may further include a communication interface 310, which is used to implement the transceiver operations of the first communication device, the second communication device, the third communication device, the fourth communication device, or the fifth communication device in the method provided by the embodiments of the present application. In the embodiments of the present application, the processor 320 may be a central processing unit (CPU), and the processor may also be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may also be any conventional processor, etc. In the embodiments of the present application, the communication interface 310 may be a transceiver, a circuit, a bus, a module, or other types of communication interfaces, which are used to communicate with other devices through a transmission medium. For example, the communication interface 310 is used for the communication device 300 to communicate with other devices. The processor 320 uses the communication interface 310 to transmit and receive data, and is used to implement the method embodiments described above Figures 4 - 10 in the method.

[0351] The communication device 300 may further include at least one memory 330, which is used to store program instructions and / or data. The memory 330 is coupled to the processor 320. The coupling in the embodiments of the present application is an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units, or modules, which may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms, and is used for information interaction between devices, units, or modules. The processor 320 may cooperate with the memory 330. The processor 320 may execute the program instructions stored in the memory 330. At least one of the at least one memories may be included in the processor.

[0352] After the communication device 300 is powered on, the processor 320 may read the software program in the memory 330, interpret and execute the instructions of the software program, and process the data of the software program. When data needs to be wirelessly transmitted, after the processor 320 performs baseband processing on the data to be transmitted, it outputs a baseband signal to the radio frequency circuit ( Figure 13(not shown), the RF circuit performs RF processing on the baseband signal and then transmits the RF signal outward in the form of electromagnetic waves through the antenna. When data is to be sent to the communication device 300, the RF circuit receives the RF signal through the antenna, converts the RF signal into a baseband signal, and outputs the baseband signal to the processor 320. The processor 320 converts the baseband signal into data and processes the data.

[0353] In another implementation, the RF circuit and the antenna can be provided independently of the processor 320 that performs baseband processing. For example, in a distributed scenario, the RF circuit and the antenna can be independent of the device and arranged in a remote manner.

[0354] In the embodiments of the present application, the specific connection medium between the communication interface 310, the processor 320, and the memory 330 is not limited. In the embodiments of the present application Figure 13 it is shown that the memory 330, the processor 320, and the communication interface 310 are connected through a bus 340. The bus is represented by a thick line in Figure 13 and the connection manners between other components are only for illustrative purposes and are not to be taken as limiting. The bus can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For the sake of convenience of representation, Figure 13 only a thick line is used to represent it in, but it does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0355] When the communication device 300 is specifically used for a terminal device, for example, when the communication device 300 is specifically a chip or a chip system, what the communication interface 310 outputs or receives can be a baseband signal. When the communication device 300 is specifically a terminal device, what the communication interface 310 outputs or receives can be an RF signal.

[0356] It should be noted that this device can perform the relevant steps of the first communication device, the second communication device, the third communication device, the fourth communication device, or the fifth communication device in the foregoing method embodiments. For the specific implementation manners provided in each of the above steps, reference can be made specifically, and details are not described herein again.

[0357] For each device and product applied to or integrated into a device, each module included therein can be implemented in the form of hardware such as a circuit. Different modules can be located in the same component (for example, a chip, a circuit module, etc.) or different components within the terminal device, or at least some modules can be implemented in the form of a software program that runs on a processor integrated within the terminal device, and the remaining (if any) part of the modules can be implemented in the form of hardware such as a circuit.

[0358] The above-mentioned memory may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memories. Among them, the non-volatile memory may be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be a random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example but not limitation, many forms of random access memory (RAM) are available, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchlink dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct rambus random access memory (DR RAM).

[0359] An embodiment of the present application provides a chip. The chip includes: a processor, and optionally, the chip further includes a memory. Among them, the number of processors may be one or more, and the number of memories may be one or more. By reading the instructions and data stored on the memory, the processor can execute the method shown in the above Figures 4 - 10 and the steps performed by the related embodiments.

[0360] As Figure 14 shown, Figure 14 is a schematic structural diagram of a module device provided by an embodiment of the present application. The module device 400 can execute the related steps of the first communication device or the second communication device or the third communication device or the fourth communication device or the fifth communication device in the foregoing method embodiments.

[0361] The module device 400 includes: a communication module 410, a power module 420, a storage module 430, and a chip module 440. Among them, the power module 420 is used to provide electrical energy for the module device; the storage module 430 is used to store data and / or instructions; the communication module 410 is used to communicate with external devices; the chip module 440 is used to call the data and / or instructions stored in the storage module 430, and in combination with the communication module 410, can execute the above-mentioned as Figures 4 - 10 shown in, and the steps performed by related embodiments.

[0362] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program, and the computer program includes program instructions. When an electronic device executes the program instructions, the steps performed by the first communication device or the second communication device or the third communication device or the fourth communication device or the fifth communication device in the above-mentioned Figure 4 Figure 10 shown method are implemented.

[0363] The computer-readable storage medium may be an internal storage unit of the first communication device or the second communication device or the third communication device or the fourth communication device or the fifth communication device described in any of the foregoing embodiments, such as the hard disk or memory of the device. The computer-readable storage medium may also be an external storage device of the terminal device or network device, such as a plug-in hard disk, a smart media card (SMC), a secure digital (SD) card, a flash card, etc. equipped on the device. Further, the computer-readable storage medium may also include both the internal storage unit of the terminal device or network device and the external storage device. The computer-readable storage medium is used to store the computer program and other programs and data required by the terminal device or network device. The computer-readable storage medium may also be used to temporarily store data that has been output or will be output. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server, a data center, etc. that includes one or more collections of available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., a high-density digital video disc (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium. The semiconductor medium may be a solid-state drive.

[0364] Regarding each device and product described in the above embodiments, each module / unit included therein can be a software module / unit, a hardware module / unit, or can be partly a software module / unit and partly a hardware module / unit. For example, for each device and product applied to or integrated into a chip, each module / unit included therein can be implemented in the form of hardware such as circuits, or at least part of the modules / units can be implemented in the form of a software program that runs on a processor integrated inside the chip, and the remaining (if any) part of the modules / units can be implemented in the form of hardware such as circuits; for each device and product applied to or integrated into a chip module, each module / unit included therein can be implemented in the form of hardware such as circuits, and different modules / units can be located in the same component (such as a chip, a circuit module, etc.) or different components of the chip module, or at least part of the modules / units can be implemented in the form of a software program that runs on a processor integrated inside the chip module, and the remaining (if any) part of the modules / units can be implemented in the form of hardware such as circuits; for each device and product applied to or integrated into a data acquisition node, each module / unit included therein can be implemented in the form of hardware such as circuits, and different modules / units can be located in the same component (such as a chip, a circuit module, etc.) or different components inside the terminal device, or at least part of the modules / units can be implemented in the form of a software program that runs on a processor integrated inside the data acquisition node, and the remaining (if any) part of the modules / units can be implemented in the form of hardware such as circuits.

[0365] The above embodiments can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any other arbitrary combination. When implemented using software, the above embodiments can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions or computer programs. When the computer instructions or computer programs are loaded or executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are generated in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable devices. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center in a wired or wireless manner.

[0366] It should be understood that in various embodiments of the present application, the magnitudes of the serial numbers of the above processes do not mean the order of execution, and the order of execution of each process should be determined according to its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation to the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0367] In several embodiments provided by the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed methods, devices, and systems can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for example, the division of the units is only a logical function division, and there may be other division methods in actual implementation; for example, multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the displayed or discussed coupling or direct coupling or communication connection to each other can be through some interfaces, and the indirect coupling or communication connection of the device or unit can be in electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0368] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components displayed as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they can be located in one place or distributed to multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of this embodiment.

[0369] In addition, each functional unit in various embodiments of the present invention can be integrated in a processing unit, or each unit can be physically included separately, or two or more units can be integrated in one unit. The above integrated unit can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of a combination of hardware and software functional units.

[0370] The above integrated unit implemented in the form of a software functional unit can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. The above software functional unit stored in a storage medium includes several instructions to enable a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network gateway node, etc.) to execute some steps of the methods described in various embodiments of the present invention.

[0371] Those of ordinary skill in the art can understand that all or part of the processes in the above-described embodiment methods can be completed by instructing relevant hardware through a computer program. The program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. When the program is executed, it can include the processes of the above-described method embodiments. Among them, the storage medium can be a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a read-only memory (ROM), or a random access memory (RAM), etc.

[0372] The above-disclosed is only a preferred embodiment of the present application. Of course, the scope of rights of the present application cannot be limited by this. Those of ordinary skill in the art can understand all or part of the processes of the above embodiments and still fall within the scope covered by the present application according to the equivalent changes made in accordance with the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. An information transmission method, characterized in that, The method is applied to a first communication device deployed in a flying device, and the method includes: Receiving first information from a second communication device; Determining that the first information cannot be transmitted to a third communication device, and storing the first information; When the first information can be transmitted to the third communication device, sending the first information to the third communication device.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first communication device includes at least one of the following network elements: a network element in the core network, a network element in the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, an access network device, or other devices with a store-and-forward function; The network element in the core network includes at least one of the following: User Plane Function (UPF), Session Management Function (SMF), Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Mobility Management Entity (MME), Short Message Service Center (SMSC), Unified Data Management Function (UDM), Authentication Service Function (AUSF), Policy Control Function (PCF), Serving Gateway, Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway; The network element in the IMS network includes at least one of the following: IMS Access Gateway (IMS-AGW), Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF), Serving Call Session Control Function (S-CSCF), IP Short Message Gateway (IP-SM-GW); The second communication device is a terminal device, and the third communication device is a network element in a ground-based network; or, the second communication device is a network element in a ground-based network, and the third communication device is a terminal device.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The storing the first information includes: Storing the first information according to storage control information, where the storage control information includes a first storage duration and / or a first storage capacity; the storage control information is determined by the first communication device, or the storage control information comes from a fourth communication device.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first storage duration is determined based on at least one of the following: the duration during which information cannot be transmitted between the first communication device and the third communication device, the storage duration information in the subscription data, the service requirement of the first information, the storage duration corresponding to the first information, and the subscription data includes the subscription data of the terminal device and / or service associated with the first information; The first storage capacity is determined based on at least one of the following: the service identifier associated with the first information, the service type associated with the first information, the service requirement of the first information, the storage capacity information in the subscription data, the available storage capacity corresponding to the service identifier to which the first information belongs, and the storage capacity corresponding to the first information.

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The fourth communication device includes at least one of the following: SMF, UPF, MME, AMF, SMSC, PCF, Operation and Administration Function (OAM).

6. The method according to any one of claims 3-5, characterized in that, The method further includes: Sending the storage control information to the second communication device.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive storage requirement information from the second communication device, where the storage requirement information includes storage time requirement information and / or storage space requirement information. The storage time requirement information indicates the storage duration corresponding to the first information, and the storage space requirement information indicates the storage capacity corresponding to the first information and / or the service identifier to which the first information belongs.

8. The method according to any one of claims 3-7, characterized in that, When the first information can be transmitted to the third communication device, sending the first information to the third communication device includes: If the duration of storing the first information is equal to the first storage duration, attempt to send the first information to the third communication device.

9. The method according to any one of claims 3-5, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send storage and forwarding service indication information to the second communication device; The storage and forwarding service indication information indicates at least one of the following: Whether the network where the first communication device is located can provide non-real-time services; The available storage capacity that the first communication device can provide; The storage duration that the first communication device can provide.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive a capability request from the second communication device, where the capability request is used to request the storage and forwarding service indication information.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive first capability information from the second communication device, where the first capability information indicates that the second communication device supports non-real-time services; and / or, send second capability information to the second communication device, where the second capability information indicates that the network where the first communication device is located supports non-real-time services.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1-11, characterized in that, Whether the first information can be transmitted to the third communication device is determined based on the information of the first communication device and the information of the third communication device; The information of the first communication device indicates the flight information of the first communication device and / or the time when the first communication device can send and receive data, and the information of the third communication device indicates the location of the third communication device and / or the time when the third communication device can send and receive data.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The flying device is a satellite, and the information of the first communication device includes at least one of the following: the ephemeris data of the satellite, the orbital altitude of the satellite, the operating period of the satellite, the number of satellites included in the constellation where the satellite is located, the number of satellites in the constellation where the satellite is located that are connected to the ground station, the location of the satellite, or the working time of the satellite; The third communication device is a ground station, and the information of the third communication device includes at least one of the following: the geographical location of the ground station, the altitude of the ground station, the speed of the ground station, or the operating time of the ground station; or, The third communication device is a terminal device, and the information of the third communication device includes at least one of the following: the time when the terminal device periodically registers, the deregistration time of the terminal device, the power saving information of the terminal device, the sleep time of the terminal device, the geographical location of the terminal device, or the speed of the terminal device.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, The information of the first communication device comes from at least one of the following: an application server, OAM, or unified data management UDM; The third communication device is a ground station, and the information of the third communication device comes from at least one of the following: an application server, OAM, UDM; or, the third communication device is a terminal device, and the information of the third communication device comes from at least one of the following: the terminal device, OAM, application server, UDM.

15. An information transmission method, characterized in that, The method is applied to a second communication device, and the method includes: Determine first information to be sent; Determine that the storage capacity provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information; and / or, determine that the storage duration provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage duration corresponding to the first information; the first communication device is deployed in a flying device; Send the first information to the first communication device.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, The method further includes: Determine that the storage capacity provided by the network where the first communication device is located is less than the storage capacity corresponding to the first information; and / or, determine that the storage duration provided by the network where the first communication device is located is less than the storage duration corresponding to the first information; Send the first information to a fifth communication device, where the fifth communication device and the first communication device are in different networks.

17. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, The first communication device includes at least one of the following network elements: a network element in the core network, a network element in the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, an access network device, or other devices with storage and forwarding functions; The network elements in the core network include at least one of the following: User Plane Function (UPF), Session Management Function (SMF), Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Mobility Management Entity (MME), Short Message Service Center (SMSC), Unified Data Management Function (UDM), Authentication Service Function (AUSF), Policy Control Function (PCF), Serving Gateway, Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway; The network elements in the IMS network include at least one of the following: IMS-AGW, P-CSCF, S-CSCF, IP-SM-GW; The second communication device is a terminal device or a network element in a ground-based network.

18. The method according to any one of claims 15-17, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive storage control information, where the storage control information includes a first storage duration and / or a first storage capacity, the first storage duration is the storage duration that the network where the first communication device is located can provide for the first information, and the first storage capacity is the storage capacity that the network where the first communication device is located can provide for the first information; According to the storage duration corresponding to the first information and the first storage duration, determine whether the storage duration provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage duration corresponding to the first information; and / or, according to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information and the first storage capacity, determine whether the storage capacity provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send storage requirement information, where the storage requirement information includes storage time requirement information and / or storage space requirement information. The storage time requirement information indicates the storage duration corresponding to the first information, and the storage space requirement information indicates the storage capacity corresponding to the first information and / or the service identifier to which the first information belongs.

20. The method according to any one of claims 15-17, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receiving storage and forwarding service indication information, where the storage and forwarding service indication information indicates at least one of the following: Whether the network where the first communication device is located can provide non-real-time services; The available storage capacity that the network where the first communication device is located can provide; The storage duration that the network where the first communication device is located can provide; Determining whether the storage duration provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage duration corresponding to the first information according to the storage duration corresponding to the first information and the storage duration that the network where the first communication device is located can provide; and / or, determining whether the storage capacity provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information according to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information and the available storage capacity that the network where the first communication device is located can provide.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that, The method further includes: Sending a capability request, where the capability request is used to request to obtain the storage and forwarding service indication information.

22. The method according to any one of claims 15 - 21, characterized in that, The method further includes: Sending first capability information, where the first capability information indicates that the second communication device supports non-real-time services; and / or, receiving second capability information, where the second capability information indicates that the network where the first communication device is located supports non-real-time services.

23. A communication device, characterized in that, Includes: A receiving unit, configured to receive first information from a second communication device; A storage unit, configured to determine that the first information cannot be transmitted to a third communication device and store the first information; A sending unit, configured to send the first information to the third communication device when the first information can be transmitted to the third communication device.

24. A communication device, characterized in that, Includes: A first determination unit, configured to determine the first information to be sent; A second determination unit, configured to determine that the storage capacity provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage capacity corresponding to the first information; and / or, determine that the storage duration provided by the network where the first communication device is located is greater than or equal to the storage duration corresponding to the first information; the first communication device is deployed in an aircraft; A sending unit, configured to send the first information to the first communication device.

25. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device includes a processor and a memory, the processor and the memory are connected to each other. Among them, the memory is used to store a computer program, the computer program includes program instructions, and the processor calls the program instructions to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, or execute the method according to any one of claims 15 to 22.

26. A chip, characterized in that, The chip includes a processor and an interface, the processor and the interface are coupled; the interface is used to receive or output signals, and the processor is used to execute code instructions to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, or execute the method according to any one of claims 15 to 22.

27. A module device, characterized in that, The module device includes a communication module, a power module, a storage module, and a chip module, where: The power module is used to provide electrical energy for the module device; The storage module is used to store data and / or instructions; The communication module is used to communicate with external devices; The chip module is used to call the data and / or instructions stored in the storage module, execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, or execute the method according to any one of claims 15 to 22.

28. A computer - readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program, the computer program includes program instructions, when the computer executes the program instructions, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 14 is implemented; or the method according to any one of claims 15 to 22 is implemented.

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