Wireless access network and core network function reconstruction configuration method and device

Abstract

The invention provides a wireless access network and core network function reconstruction configuration method and device. The method comprises the following steps: determining an application scene of network deployment; performing reconstruction configuration on the functions of the wireless access network and the core network based on the application scene, wherein the network functions after reconstruction configuration comprise a first network function, a second network function, a third network function and a fourth network function; wherein the functions of the first network function comprise a PHY layer function, an MAC layer function, an RLC layer function and a PDCP layer function; the function of the second network function comprises a first part function of the RRC and an access and mobility management function; the functions of the third network function comprise a second part function of the RRC and a session management function; and the fourth network function comprises a user data packet processing function of the SDAP, a user data packet forwarding function of the SDAP and a user plane function, so that the network time delay is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for reconfiguring the functions of a radio access network and a core network. Background Art

[0002] The current mobile communication network system is originally designed with centralized control. The mobile communication network mainly includes a radio access network, a core network, etc.

[0003] A base station (gNB) can be composed of a gNB central unit (gNB-CU) and at least one gNB distributed unit (gNB-DU). The gNB-CU and the gNB-DU are connected through the F1 interface. The core network is based on a service-based architecture and includes a set of network functions (NFs). The network function NF is a processing function in the system, which defines the functional behavior and interfaces. The NF can be implemented as a network element on dedicated hardware, or as a software instance running on dedicated hardware, or as a virtualized function instantiated on a platform.

[0004] However, with the emergence of emerging services and scenarios, the latency of the current mobile communication network cannot meet the requirements. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Embodiments of this application provide a method, apparatus, and storage medium for reconfiguring the functions of a radio access network and a core network, so as to solve the technical problem of large network latency in related technologies.

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a method for reconfiguring the functions of a radio access network and a core network, including:

[0007] Determine the application scenario of the network deployment;

[0008] Reconfigure the functions of the radio access network and the core network based on the application scenario. The reconfigured network functions include a first network function, a second network function, a third network function, and a fourth network function;

[0009] Among them, the functions of the first network function include PHY layer functions, MAC layer functions, RLC layer functions, and PDCP layer functions; the functions of the second network function include the first part of the RRC functions and access and mobility management functions; the functions of the third network function include the second part of the RRC functions and session management functions; the functions of the fourth network function include user data packet processing functions of SDAP, user data packet forwarding functions of SDAP, and user plane functions.

[0010] In some embodiments, the first part of the RRC functions includes one or more of the following functions:

[0011] Connection control function;

[0012] Mobility management function;

[0013] Handover function;

[0014] Paging function.

[0015] In some embodiments, the second part of the functions of the RRC includes functions other than the first part of the functions.

[0016] In some embodiments, the reconfiguration of the functions of the radio access network and the core network based on the application scenario includes:

[0017] In the case where a single fourth network function cannot establish a user plane path for the UE based on the reconfiguration of the application scenario, at least two fourth network functions are reconfigured.

[0018] In some embodiments, the at least two fourth network functions include at least one ordinary fourth network function and at least one anchor fourth network function.

[0019] In some embodiments, the first network function and the second network function interact through a service-based interface; or, the first network function and the second network function interact through a point-to-point interface;

[0020] One or more of the following information is transmitted between the first network function and the second network function:

[0021] Mobility management information;

[0022] Handover information;

[0023] Paging information.

[0024] In some embodiments, the first network function and the third network function interact through a service-based interface; or, the first network function and the third network function interact through a point-to-point interface;

[0025] One or more of the following information is transmitted between the first network function and the third network function:

[0026] Bearer information;

[0027] Session information;

[0028] QoS information.

[0029] In some embodiments, the reconfiguration of the functions of the radio access network and the core network based on the application scenario includes:

[0030] In the case where the application scenario changes, perform dynamic reconfiguration on the functions of the radio access network and the core network.

[0031] In some embodiments, all or part of the first network function, the second network function, the third network function, and the fourth network function are reconfigured to the same node, and the node includes a physical node or a virtual node;

[0032] Or,

[0033] The first network function, the second network function, the third network function, and the fourth network function are all reconfigured to different nodes, and the nodes include physical nodes or virtual nodes.

[0034] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an electronic device, including a memory, a transceiver, and a processor;

[0035] The memory is used to store a computer program; the transceiver is used to transmit and receive data under the control of the processor; the processor is used to read the computer program in the memory and perform the following operations:

[0036] Determine the application scenario of network deployment;

[0037] Based on the application scenario, perform reconfiguration on the functions of the radio access network and the core network, and the reconfigured network functions include a first network function, a second network function, a third network function, and a fourth network function;

[0038] Among them, the functions of the first network function include PHY layer functions, MAC layer functions, RLC layer functions, and PDCP layer functions; the functions of the second network function include the first part of the RRC functions and access and mobility management functions; the functions of the third network function include the second part of the RRC functions and session management functions; the functions of the fourth network function include the user data packet processing function of SDAP, the user data packet forwarding function of SDAP, and the user plane function.

[0039] In some embodiments, the first part of the RRC functions includes one or more of the following functions:

[0040] Connection control function;

[0041] Mobility management function;

[0042] Handover function;

[0043] Paging function.

[0044] In some embodiments, the second part of the RRC functions includes functions other than the first part of the functions.

[0045] In some embodiments, reconfiguring the functions of the radio access network and the core network based on the application scenario includes:

[0046] When a single fourth network function cannot establish a user plane path for the UE after reconfiguration based on the application scenario, reconfigure at least two fourth network functions.

[0047] In some embodiments, the at least two fourth network functions include at least one ordinary fourth network function and at least one anchor fourth network function.

[0048] In some embodiments, the first network function and the second network function interact through a service-based interface; or, the first network function and the second network function interact through a point-to-point interface;

[0049] One or more of the following information is transmitted between the first network function and the second network function:

[0050] Mobility management information;

[0051] Handover information;

[0052] Paging information.

[0053] In some embodiments, the first network function and the third network function interact through a service-based interface; or, the first network function and the third network function interact through a point-to-point interface;

[0054] One or more of the following information is transmitted between the first network function and the third network function:

[0055] Bearer information;

[0056] Session information;

[0057] QoS information.

[0058] In some embodiments, reconfiguring the functions of the radio access network and the core network based on the application scenario includes:

[0059] When the application scenario changes, dynamically reconfigure the functions of the radio access network and the core network.

[0060] In some embodiments, all or part of the first network function, the second network function, the third network function, and the fourth network function are reconfigured to the same node, and the node includes a physical node or a virtual node;

[0061] Or,

[0062] The first network function, the second network function, the third network function, and the fourth network function are all reconfigured and deployed to different nodes, where the nodes include physical nodes or virtual nodes.

[0063] In a third aspect, an apparatus for reconfiguring radio access network and core network functions according to an embodiment of the present application includes:

[0064] A determination module, configured to determine an application scenario of network deployment;

[0065] A reconfiguration module, configured to reconfigure the functions of the radio access network and the core network based on the application scenario, and the reconfigured network functions include a first network function, a second network function, a third network function, and a fourth network function;

[0066] Wherein, the functions of the first network function include PHY layer functions, MAC layer functions, RLC layer functions, and PDCP layer functions; the functions of the second network function include a first part of RRC functions and access and mobility management functions; the functions of the third network function include a second part of RRC functions and session management functions; the functions of the fourth network function include user data packet processing functions of SDAP, user data packet forwarding functions of SDAP, and user plane functions.

[0067] In some embodiments, the first part of the RRC functions includes one or more of the following functions:

[0068] Connection control function;

[0069] Mobility management function;

[0070] Handover function;

[0071] Paging function.

[0072] In some embodiments, the second part of the RRC functions includes functions other than the first part of the functions.

[0073] In some embodiments, the reconfiguration module is specifically configured to:

[0074] In the case where reconfiguring a single fourth network function based on the application scenario cannot establish a user plane path for the UE, reconfigure at least two fourth network functions.

[0075] In some embodiments, the at least two fourth network functions include at least one ordinary fourth network function and at least one anchor fourth network function.

[0076] In some embodiments, the first network function and the second network function interact through a service-based interface; or, the first network function and the second network function interact through a point-to-point interface;

[0077] One or more of the following information is transmitted between the first network function and the second network function:

[0078] Mobility management information;

[0079] Handover information;

[0080] Paging information.

[0081] In some embodiments, the first network function and the third network function interact through a service-based interface; or, the first network function and the third network function interact through a point-to-point interface;

[0082] One or more of the following information is transmitted between the first network function and the third network function:

[0083] Bearer information;

[0084] Session information;

[0085] QoS information.

[0086] In some embodiments, the reconstruction configuration module is specifically configured to:

[0087] Dynamically reconstruct and configure the functions of the radio access network and the core network when the application scenario changes.

[0088] In some embodiments, all or part of the first network function, the second network function, the third network function, and the fourth network function are reconstructed and configured on the same node, and the node includes a physical node or a virtual node;

[0089] Or,

[0090] The first network function, the second network function, the third network function, and the fourth network function are all reconstructed and configured on different nodes, and the node includes a physical node or a virtual node.

[0091] Fourthly, an embodiment of the present application further provides a non-transitory readable storage medium, and the non-transitory readable storage medium stores a computer program, and the computer program is used to cause a processor to execute the radio access network and core network function reconstruction configuration method described in the first aspect above.

[0092] Fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a processor-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program for causing a processor to execute the method for reconfiguring the functions of the radio access network and the core network as described in the first aspect above.

[0093] Sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program for causing a computer to execute the method for reconfiguring the functions of the radio access network and the core network as described in the first aspect above.

[0094] Seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device, which stores a computer program for causing the communication device to execute the method for reconfiguring the functions of the radio access network and the core network as described in the first aspect above.

[0095] Eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a chip product, which stores a computer program for causing the chip product to execute the method for reconfiguring the functions of the radio access network and the core network as described in the first aspect above.

[0096] The method and apparatus for reconfiguring the functions of the radio access network and the core network provided by the present application reconfigure the functions of the radio access network and the core network based on the application scenarios of network deployment. The reconfigured network functions include a first network function, a second network function, a third network function, and a fourth network function. The functions of the first network function include PHY layer function, MAC layer function, RLC layer function, and PDCP layer function; the functions of the second network function include the first part of the RRC function and the access and mobility management function; the functions of the third network function include the second part of the RRC function and the session management function; the functions of the fourth network function include the user data packet processing function of SDAP, the user data packet forwarding function of SDAP, and the user plane function, reducing the network latency. Description of the Drawings

[0097] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or related technologies, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments or related technologies. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are some embodiments of the present application. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative efforts.

[0098] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the gNB-CU-CP and gNB-CU-UP separation architecture;

[0099] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the 6G distributed network architecture;

[0100] Figure 3 It is a schematic flowchart of a method for reconfiguring the functions of a radio access network and a core network provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0101] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the PU function provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0102] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the ACMF function provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0103] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the SBMF function provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0104] Figure 7 It is one of the schematic diagrams of the network architecture after reconfiguration provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0105] Figure 8 It is another schematic diagram of the network architecture after reconfiguration provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0106] Figure 9 It is one of the schematic diagrams of the user plane protocol stack between the UE and the UPS provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0107] Figure 10 It is a schematic diagram of the ordinary UPS function provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0108] Figure 11 It is a schematic diagram of the anchor UPS function provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0109] Figure 12 It is another schematic diagram of the user plane protocol stack between the UE and the UPS provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0110] Figure 13 It is a schematic diagram of the signaling interaction between the network functions after reconfiguration provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0111] Figure 14 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0112] Figure 15 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of a device for reconfiguring the functions of a radio access network and a core network provided by an embodiment of the present application. Detailed implementation manners

[0113] In the 5th generation mobile communication (5G), a gNB can be composed of a gNB Central Unit (gNB-CU) and at least one gNB Distributed Unit (gNB-DU). The gNB-CU and the gNB-DU are connected through the F1 interface. Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the separated architecture of gNB-CU-CP and gNB-CU-UP, as Figure 1 shown. In the architecture where the control plane of the gNB-CU (gNB-CU-control Plane, gNB-CU-CP) and the user plane of the gNB-CU (gNB-CU-user Plane, gNB-CU-UP) are separated, a gNB can be composed of one gNB-CU-CP, multiple gNB-CU-UPs, and multiple gNB-DUs. The gNB-CU-CP is connected to the gNB-DU through the F1-C interface, and the gNB-CU-UP is connected to the gNB-DU through the F1-U interface. The gNB-CU-UP and the gNB-CU-CP are connected through the E1 interface. Under the control of the same gNB-CU-CP, one gNB-DU can be connected to multiple gNB-CU-UPs, and one gNB-CU-UP can be connected to multiple gNB-DUs.

[0114] The gNB-CU hosts the Radio Resource Control (RRC), Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP), and Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) protocols of the gNB. It supports functions such as radio access control for terminals / user equipment (UE), UE connection control / managing, radio bearer control, mobility management, and paging.

[0115] The gNB-DU hosts the Radio Link Control (RLC), Media Access Control (MAC), and physical layer of the gNB, and part of its operations are controlled by the gNB-CU.

[0116] The gNB-CU-CP hosts the control plane part of the RRC and the PDCP protocol of the gNB-CU. It supports functions related to radio resource management, such as radio access control for UE, UE connection control / managing, radio bearer control, mobility management, and paging.

[0117] The gNB-CU-UP bears the user plane part of the PDCP protocol and the SDAP protocol of the gNB-CU.

[0118] The 5G system architecture includes a set of NFs. An NF is a processing function in the system, which defines functional behaviors and interfaces. An NF can be implemented as a network element on dedicated hardware, as a software instance running on dedicated hardware, or as a virtualized function instantiated on a platform, such as on cloud infrastructure. The 5G system architecture is defined as a service-based architecture, that is, a system architecture that realizes system functions by a set of NFs providing services to other authorized NFs to access their services. An NF service is a function exposed by an NF (as an NF service producer) to other authorized NFs (as NF service consumers) through a service-based interface. An NF service can support at least one NF service operation. An NF can provide different NF services.

[0119] An important trend in the development of the 6th generation mobile communication (6G) network is the centralized and distributed network architecture. The network architectures of 5G and previous generations are natively designed to be centralized. With the development of the network, driven by both business development and technological development, the design of the 6G network needs to consider a distributed architecture, and its control gradually evolves towards being distributed.

[0120] The 6G network will face diverse scenarios and network performance requirements in the air, space, land, and sea. The centralized network architecture cannot uniformly meet all scenarios. To address this challenge, the 6G network architecture needs to go beyond centralized control and gradually evolve towards a distributed architecture, and will build distributed network nodes with different functions. Multiple distributed network nodes form autonomous distributed micro-networks across domains according to business requirements, and provide network services targeted at specific application scenarios, user scales, geographical environments, etc.

[0121] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the 6G distributed network architecture, as Figure 2As shown in the figure, for the 6G distributed network, the core network will be customized on demand for certain industries or scenarios, and at the same time, the core network will be deployed closer to the edge of certain industries, such as some vertical industries like mines, campuses, industrial parks, hospitals, etc. The customized core network is deployed within the park, closer to the base stations, achieving data staying within the park and greatly reducing the data processing latency. Currently, when we talk about more core network deployment closer to the edge, it refers to the decentralization of the User Plane Function (UPF) to the Radio Access Network (RAN), evolving from the original centralized core network to a decentralized one. In this way, the originally centrally controlled core network functions are geographically closer to the terminals, reducing the data processing latency. Under the 6G distributed network, it will be an even more distributed network. The deployment of the core network closer to the edge is not limited to the decentralization of the core network UPF, but the entire customized core network is deployed closer to the edge to the RAN. First, part of the core network control plane network elements are deployed closer to the edge. In the park, dedicated AMF and SMF network elements are deployed closer to the edge. Users sign contracts with the UDM and PCF in the operator's business-to-business (B2B) public network. In principle, the UDM and PCF network elements do not need to be deployed closer to the edge. Second, all signaling planes of the core network are deployed closer to the edge. In the park, AMF, SMF, UDM, and PCF network elements are deployed closer to the edge. For the complete deployment of the control plane closer to the edge, a local and independent core network is newly built. Among them, the UDM and PCF are connected to the operator's Internet of Things platform, and the platform is responsible for user management and processes operations such as opening and closing user accounts. Regardless of which deployment method closer to the edge is adopted, it makes the core network closer to the terminals, not only reducing the data processing latency but also reducing a certain amount of signaling interaction latency. Generally speaking, the decentralization of the UPF is to ensure that data stays within the park and terminal data is not leaked; the deployment of the core network control plane closer to the edge ensures that signaling stays within the park and terminal behavior is not leaked.

[0122] In the related art, a mobile communication network mainly includes a radio access network, a core network, etc. The current native design of the 5G mobile communication network system is centralized control. With the emergence of emerging services and scenarios and the development of network and RAN serviceification, the trend of the 6G network is a combined centralized and distributed network architecture. 6G will build distributed network nodes with different functions. Different network nodes will have different capabilities, permissions, and service scopes. The distributed network nodes will be deployed near users, campuses, and factories. The core network will sink as needed, and the deployment locations of the radio access network and the core network will be very close. After reconfiguring and configuring the related functions of the radio access network and the core network, the processing delay of signaling and data can be further reduced. Especially for satellite networks, if the existing design architectures of the radio access network and the core network are adopted, it is necessary to deploy the complete radio access network and core network functions on the same satellite, which will cause extremely large on-board resource overhead, deployment costs, and data processing and forwarding delays. Therefore, deploying the functions after reconfiguring and configuring the related functions of the radio access network and the core network onto the satellite is also a good solution. Therefore, in order to solve the architecture design problems of the radio access network and the core network in the 6G network and satellite networks, and to enable different function reconfiguration solutions to solve different problems and adapt to different scenarios, this application proposes a method for reconfiguring and configuring the functions of the radio access network and the core network. Different function reconfigurations are used to adapt to different application scenarios, reducing network latency.

[0123] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of this application.

[0124] Figure 3 is a schematic flowchart of the method for reconfiguring and configuring the functions of the radio access network and the core network provided by the embodiments of this application. As Figure 3 shown, the embodiments of this application provide a method for reconfiguring and configuring the functions of the radio access network and the core network. The method includes:

[0125] Step 101, determine the application scenario for network deployment.

[0126] Specifically, in an embodiment of the present application, network functions (for example, core network functions) are customized on demand for certain industries or scenarios, and the core network functions are deployed in certain industries, such as mines, campuses, industrial parks, hospitals, ports, satellite communications and other vertical industries. The customized core network functions are deployed at the edge of the network (for example, within the park) and placed closer to the base station, so that the data does not leave the park and the data processing delay is greatly reduced.

[0127] Step 102: reconfigure the functions of the wireless access network and the core network based on the application scenario, where the reconfigured network functions include a first network function, a second network function, a third network function, and a fourth network function;

[0128] Among them, the functions of the first network function include PHY layer functions, MAC layer functions, RLC layer functions and PDCP layer functions; the functions of the second network function include the first part of the functions of RRC and the access and mobility management functions; the functions of the third network function include the second part of the functions of RRC and the session management function; the functions of the fourth network function include the user data packet processing function of SDAP, the user data packet forwarding function of SDAP and the user plane function.

[0129] Specifically, in an embodiment of the present application, after the application scenario of the network deployment is determined, the functions of the wireless access network and the core network are reconstructed and configured based on the application scenario.

[0130] The reconfigured network functions include a first network function, a second network function, a third network function, and a fourth network function.

[0131] Among them, the functions of the first network function include PHY layer functions, MAC layer functions, RLC layer functions and PDCP layer functions, the functions of the second network function include the first part of the functions of RRC and the access and mobility management functions, the functions of the third network function include the second part of the functions of RRC and the session management function, and the functions of the fourth network function include the user data packet processing function of SDAP, the user data packet forwarding function of SDAP and the user plane function.

[0132] For example, the first network function may be called a public unit (PU). Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the PU function provided in the embodiment of the present application, such as Figure 4 As shown, the functions of the PU include PHY layer functions, MAC layer functions, RLC layer functions and PDCP layer functions.

[0133] For example, the second network function may be called an access connection management function (ACMF).Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the ACMF function provided by an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 5 shown, the functions of ACMF include the first part of the RRC function and the access and mobility management function.

[0134] In some embodiments, the first part of the RRC function includes one or more of the following functions:

[0135] Connection control function;

[0136] Mobility management function;

[0137] Handover function;

[0138] Paging function.

[0139] For example, the functions of ACMF include connection control function, mobility management function, handover function and paging function.

[0140] For another example, the functions of ACMF include connection control function and mobility management function.

[0141] For another example, the functions of ACMF include connection control function.

[0142] For example, the third network function can be called Session Bearer Management Function (SBMF), Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the SBMF function provided by an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 6 shown, the functions of SBMF include the second part of the RRC function and the session management function.

[0143] In some embodiments, the second part of the RRC function includes functions other than connection control function, mobility management function, handover function, paging and other functions.

[0144] For example, when the first part of the RRC function is connection control function, mobility management function, handover function and paging function, the second part of the RRC function includes other RRC functions other than connection control function, mobility management function, handover function and paging function.

[0145] For another example, when the first part of the RRC function is connection control function and mobility management function, the second part of the RRC function includes one or more of the following functions:

[0146] Handover function;

[0147] Paging function;

[0148] Other RRC functions other than connection control function, mobility management function, handover function and paging function.

[0149] For another example, when the first part of the RRC function only includes connection control functions, the second part of the RRC function includes one or more of the following functions:

[0150] Mobility management function;

[0151] Handover function;

[0152] Paging function;

[0153] Other RRC functions other than connection control functions, mobility management functions, handover functions, and paging functions.

[0154] For example, the third network function can be called User Plane Service (UPS), and the functions of UPS include the user data packet processing function of SDAP, the user data packet forwarding function of SDAP, and the user plane function.

[0155] The functions of PU, ACMF, SBMF, and UPS can be placed on logical functions such as the management platform / Operation Administration and Maintenance (OAM) / management orchestrator, etc., and the functions are reconfigured and dynamically deployed to corresponding physical nodes and / or virtual nodes according to relevant factors such as different application scenarios.

[0156] The method for reconfiguring the functions of the radio access network and the core network provided by this application reconfigures the functions of the radio access network and the core network based on the application scenarios of network deployment. The reconfigured network functions include the first network function, the second network function, the third network function, and the fourth network function. The functions of the first network function include PHY layer functions, MAC layer functions, RLC layer functions, and PDCP layer functions; the functions of the second network function include the first part of the RRC function and access and mobility management functions; the functions of the third network function include the second part of the RRC function and session management functions; the functions of the fourth network function include the user data packet processing function of SDAP, the user data packet forwarding function of SDAP, and the user plane function, reducing network latency.

[0157] In some embodiments, the first network function and the second network function interact through a service-based interface; or, the first network function and the second network function interact through a point-to-point interface;

[0158] One or more of the following information is transmitted between the first network function and the second network function:

[0159] Mobility management information;

[0160] Handover information;

[0161] Paging information.

[0162] Specifically, in the embodiments of the present application, the control plane function based on the service-based interface is reconfigured.

[0163] For PU, ACMF, and SBMF, functional reconstruction is carried out in the way of service-based interface interaction. Currently, the network function interaction methods are mainly point-to-point and service-based. It is mainly to solve the scenario of interaction with service-based interfaces; at the same time, it can also be used to solve the scenarios of core network function sinking in 6G distributed networks and satellite network radio access network and core network going up to the satellite, which can reduce deployment costs, control plane signaling, and processing delay of user plane data, etc.

[0164] Figure 7 is one of the schematic diagrams of the reconfigured network architecture provided by the embodiments of the present application. As Figure 7 shown, the PHY, MAC, RLC, and PDCP protocols of the base station are divided into PU. After the RRC function of the base station is respectively integrated with the AMF and SMF of the core network, PU interacts with ACMF and SBMF through service-based interfaces.

[0165] The method for reconfiguring the radio access network and core network functions provided by the present application is reconfigured based on the control plane function of the service-based interface, further reducing network latency.

[0166] In some embodiments, the first network function and the third network function interact through a service-based interface; or, the first network function and the third network function interact through a point-to-point interface;

[0167] One or more of the following information is transmitted between the first network function and the third network function:

[0168] Bearer information;

[0169] Session information;

[0170] QoS information.

[0171] Specifically, in the embodiments of the present application, the control plane based on reference points is reconfigured.

[0172] For PU, ACMF, and SBMF, functional reconstruction is carried out in the way of point-to-point interface interaction. Currently, the network function interaction methods are mainly point-to-point and service-based. It is mainly to solve the scenario of interaction with point-to-point interfaces; at the same time, it can also be used to solve the scenarios of core network function sinking in 6G distributed networks and satellite network radio access network and core network going up to the satellite, which can reduce deployment costs, control plane signaling, and processing delay of user plane data, etc.

[0173] Figure 8 It is the second schematic diagram of the reconfigured network architecture provided by the embodiments of the present application. As Figure 8 shown, the PHY, MAC, RLC, and PDCP protocols of the base station are divided into PU. After the RRC function of the base station is respectively integrated with the AMF and SMF of the core network, when interacting through a point-to-point interface, the interface between the PU and the ACMF is PU-C1, which is mainly used to transmit signaling messages such as mobility management, handover, and paging. The interface between the PU and the SBMF is PU-C2, which is mainly used to transmit signaling messages such as bearer, session, and QoS.

[0174] The method for reconfiguring the functions of the radio access network and the core network provided by the present application performs reconfiguration based on the control plane of the reference point, further reducing the network latency.

[0175] In some embodiments, the reconfiguration of the functions of the radio access network and the core network based on the application scenario includes:

[0176] When a single fourth network function can establish a user plane path for the UE based on the reconfiguration of the application scenario, reconfigure a single fourth network function.

[0177] Specifically, the embodiments of the present application are applicable to the single UPS scenario, mainly to solve the problem of a single UPS establishing a user plane path for the UE. For example, when the distance between the UE and the DN is relatively close, a single UPS can meet the data transmission between the UE and the DN. In the scenario where the core network sinks in the 6G distributed scenario and the data does not leave the campus, and in the scenario where a single UPS has the function of decrypting the UE data; and in the scenario where only a single UPS can be deployed due to limited resources on the satellite, the processing latency and resource consumption of the UE data are reduced.

[0178] Figure 9 It is one of the schematic diagrams of the user plane protocol stack between the UE and the UPS provided by the embodiments of the present application. As Figure 9 shown, in the uplink case: where the PU is responsible for converting the data packets of the UE from the PHY to the PDCP protocol stack into GTP-U protocol stack data packets. After the UPS (Anchor) receives the GTP-U data packets, it decrypts the SDAP and GTP-U of them and sends the decrypted IP packets to the DN or the server. The UPS directly connected to the DN is called Anchor, that is, UPS Anchor; in the downlink case: the UPS encapsulates the IP data packets sent by the DN into data packets of the SDAP and GTP-U protocol stacks, and then sends the encapsulated data packets to the PU. After the PU receives them, it performs the conversion from the GTP-U protocol to the PHY to the PDCP protocol stack, and then sends the protocol-converted data packets to the UE. The UE performs protocol stack decryption and extracts the IP packets sent by the DN.

[0179] The method for reconfiguring the functions of the radio access network and the core network provided by this application reconfigures and configures a fourth network function according to the application scenario, reducing the processing delay and resource consumption of UE data, and further reducing the network delay.

[0180] In some embodiments, the reconfiguration and configuration of the functions of the radio access network and the core network based on the application scenario includes:

[0181] In the case where reconfiguring and configuring a single fourth network function based on the application scenario cannot establish a user plane path for the UE, at least two fourth network functions are reconfigured and configured.

[0182] In some embodiments, the at least two fourth network functions include at least one ordinary fourth network function and at least one anchor fourth network function.

[0183] Specifically, different application scenarios may have different requirements for network reconfiguration and configuration, and the details of the reconfigured network functions may be different.

[0184] The functions of the fourth network function mainly include functions such as user data packet processing and forwarding of the SDAP of the RAN, and the UPF of the core network.

[0185] In the embodiments of this application, in the case where reconfiguring and configuring a single fourth network function based on the application scenario cannot establish a user plane path for the UE, at least two fourth network functions are reconfigured and configured.

[0186] The at least two fourth network functions are connected in a direct connection manner.

[0187] The at least two fourth network functions include at least one ordinary fourth network function and at least one anchor fourth network function.

[0188] The ordinary fourth network function is used for data forwarding and transparent transmission, and the anchor fourth network function is used for data processing, for example, data encapsulation or data decapsulation.

[0189] When there are multiple anchor fourth network functions, data splitting and load balancing can be achieved through different anchor fourth network functions. For example, one anchor fourth network function splits part of the data to the central server, and another anchor fourth network function splits part of the data to the edge server.

[0190] For example, the function of the UPS can be dynamically and flexibly reconstructed a second time based on scenarios such as the location between the PU and the Data Network (DN), the capacity of the UPS, the 6G distributed network, the satellite network, etc., which are called ordinary (non - Anchor) UPS and anchor (Anchor) UPS. Different reconstruction methods and deployments will be dynamically adjusted according to different application scenarios.

[0191] For example, Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the ordinary UPS function provided by the embodiments of the present application. Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the anchor UPS function provided by the embodiments of the present application. Figure 10 and Figure 11 The GTP - U protocol stack in is only an example of the user - plane GTP - U protocol stack in the 5G network. Potential user - plane protocol stacks in future networks may also be SRv6, Quic, NewIP, etc.

[0192] For example, to solve the scenarios that cannot be satisfied by a single UPS for establishing the UE user - plane path. For example, the distance between the PU and the DN is relatively far, and a single UPS cannot establish a user - plane path for the UE for the forwarding and processing of UE data. Or due to the movement of the UE, the distance between the UE and the DN becomes relatively far, resulting in the path established by the original single UPS being no longer usable. To establish a new user - plane path, a new UPS needs to be inserted, resulting in a situation where multiple UPSs coexist. The multiple UPSs include at least one ordinary UPS and at least one anchor UPS.

[0193] Figure 12 is the second schematic diagram of the user - plane protocol stack between the UE and the UPS provided by the embodiments of the present application. As Figure 12 shown, in the case of uplink: The PU is responsible for converting the data packet from the PHY to the PDCP protocol stack sent by the UE into a data packet of the GTP - U protocol stack. The UPS (non - Anchor) is responsible for converting the SDAP protocol stack of the data packet sent by the UE into a data packet of the GTP - U protocol stack, and then sending the data packet of the GTP - U protocol stack to the UPS (Anchor). After receiving the GTP - U data packet, the UPS (Anchor) decrypts it and sends the decrypted IP packet to the DN or the server. The UPS directly connected to the DN is called an Anchor, that is, the UPS Anchor.

[0194] In the downlink scenario: The UPS (Anchor) encapsulates the IP data packets sent by the DN into data packets of the GTP-U protocol stack and then sends them to the UPS (Non - Anchor). After receiving the packets, the UPS (Non - Anchor) performs protocol conversion, re - encapsulates the GTP-U data packets into data packets of the SDAP and GTP-U protocol stacks, and then sends the data packets to the PU. After receiving the packets, the PU performs protocol conversion, converts the GTP-U protocol stack into the protocol stacks of PHY, MAC, RLC, and PDCP, and then sends the protocol - converted data packets to the UE. After receiving the data packets, the UE performs protocol stack decapsulation to extract the IP packets sent by the DN.

[0195] The method for reconfiguring the functions of the radio access network and the core network provided in this application reconfigures and configures at least two fourth network functions according to the application scenario, ensuring that the UE user plane path can be successfully established and improving the reliability.

[0196] In some embodiments, reconfiguring and configuring the functions of the radio access network and the core network based on the application scenario includes:

[0197] In the case where the application scenario changes, dynamically reconfigure and configure the functions of the radio access network and the core network.

[0198] Specifically, in the embodiments of this application, functions such as the PU, ACMF, SBMF, and UPS are placed on a logical function entity. For example, on hardware or software devices such as a management platform / Management and Orchestration (MANO) / slice manager / OAM for orchestration and management. Users can interact with these orchestration and management entities to input the user's intentions. The user's intentions include updating the application scenario, such as the required application scenario, etc. After obtaining the user's intentions, the orchestration and management entity can determine whether the application scenario has changed and the updated application scenario. This orchestration and management entity dynamically reconfigures the functions of the PU, ACMF, SBMF, and UPS and deploys the network based on the user's intentions, and performs reconfiguration of functions and dynamic deployment to corresponding physical nodes or virtual nodes according to different scenarios and relevant factors. In the case where the application scenario changes, dynamically reconfigure and configure the functions of the radio access network and the core network.

[0199] For example, when the user finds that the central server cannot handle a large amount of data, data shunting and load balancing can be achieved by adding an anchor UPS. One anchor UPS shunts part of the data to the central server, and the other anchor UPS shunts part of the data to the edge server.

[0200] It should be noted that: the dynamic reconfiguration configuration in the embodiments of the present application means that after the functional reconfiguration of the radio access network and the core network, secondary reconfiguration can be performed. After determining that the application scenario has changed, reconfiguration can be performed again based on the new application scenario.

[0201] The method for reconfiguring the functions of the radio access network and the core network provided by the present application dynamically reconfigures the functions of the radio access network and the core network in the case of a change in the application scenario, further reducing the network latency.

[0202] In some embodiments, the first network function is reconfigured onto a physical node or a virtual node;

[0203] The second network function is reconfigured onto a physical node or a virtual node;

[0204] The third network function is reconfigured onto a physical node or a virtual node;

[0205] The fourth network function is reconfigured onto a physical node or a virtual node.

[0206] Specifically, in the embodiments of the present application, the first network function is reconfigured onto a physical node or a virtual node, the second network function is reconfigured onto a physical node or a virtual node, the third network function is reconfigured onto a physical node or a virtual node, and the fourth network function is reconfigured onto a physical node or a virtual node.

[0207] For example, in the case of 6G network distributed node collaboration, the OAM / Orchestration Management Entity can configure the PU onto a physical node; deploy the ACMF and SBMF onto virtual nodes; deploy the ordinary UPS and the anchor UPS onto physical nodes. The interaction between network functions can be based on service-based interfaces or point-to-point interfaces.

[0208] The method for reconfiguring the functions of the radio access network and the core network provided by the present application, where the network functions are reconfigured onto physical nodes or virtual nodes, improves the flexibility of reconfiguration and expands the application scope.

[0209] In some embodiments, all or part of the first network function, the second network function, the third network function, and the fourth network function are reconfigured onto the same node, and the node includes a physical node or a virtual node.

[0210] Specifically, in the embodiments of the present application, all or part of the first network function, the second network function, the third network function, and the fourth network function are reconfigured onto the same node, and the node includes a physical node or a virtual node.

[0211] For example, the OAM / orchestration management entity can reconfigure the PU, ACMF, SBMF, ordinary UPS, and anchor UPS to different physical nodes and / or virtual nodes. For example, in a satellite network scenario, the PU, ACMF, SBMF, and anchor UPS can be reconfigured to a satellite. The interaction between network functions can be based on service-based interfaces or peer-to-peer interfaces.

[0212] In the method for reconfiguring the functions of the radio access network and the core network provided by this application, the network functions are reconfigured to physical nodes or virtual nodes, which improves the flexibility of reconfiguration and expands the application scope.

[0213] In some embodiments, the first network function, the second network function, the third network function, and the fourth network function are all reconfigured to different nodes, and the nodes include physical nodes or virtual nodes.

[0214] Specifically, in the embodiments of this application, the first network function, the second network function, the third network function, and the fourth network function are all reconfigured to different nodes, and the nodes include physical nodes or virtual nodes.

[0215] For example, the OAM / orchestration management entity can reconfigure the PU, ACMF, SBMF, ordinary UPS, and anchor UPS to different nodes, and the nodes include physical nodes or virtual nodes.

[0216] In the method for reconfiguring the functions of the radio access network and the core network provided by this application, the network functions are reconfigured to physical nodes or virtual nodes, which improves the flexibility of reconfiguration and expands the application scope.

[0217] Figure 13 It is a schematic diagram of signaling interaction between the reconfigured network functions provided by the embodiments of this application. As Figure 13 shown, the signaling interaction between the reconfigured network functions can include the following steps:

[0218] Step 1: The UE sends a connection establishment / modification / release request to the PD, which includes mobility-related services and / or session-related services. These two services can be sent in parallel, that is, a connection request includes both services; or serially, where a single message can only carry one service request, that is, the mobility-related service request and the session-related service request are sent separately. If the UE is for initial access, there are no connection modification and release requests.

[0219] Step 2: After the PU receives the connection request sent by the UE, it parses the connection request type in the message. If it is a connection establishment request, it selects the ACMF and / or SBMF according to the service type. The specific selection method is local configuration or query from the NRF or other network functions; if it is a connection modification / release request, it sends a service establishment / release request to the ACMF and / or SBMF that originally served the UE.

[0220] Step 3: The PU sends a mobility service establishment / modification / release request to the ACMF.

[0221] Step 4: The PU sends a session service establishment / modification / release request to the SBMF. (It should be noted that: Step 3 is prior to Step 4, which is only exemplary. These two steps can be executed simultaneously or successively. When executed successively, there is no order of precedence.)

[0222] Step 5: If the SBMF receives a session service establishment request sent by the PU, it selects the UPS; if it receives a session service modification / release request, it skips Step 5.

[0223] Step 6: If the SBMF receives a session service establishment request sent by the PU, it sends a session resource establishment request to the selected UPS, requesting the UPS to allocate user plane related resources, QoS, ID, etc.; if it receives a session service modification / release request, it sends a session resource modification / release request to the UPF that originally served the UE, modifying / releasing the originally allocated user plane related resources and ID.

[0224] Step 7: If the UPS receives a session resource establishment request sent by the SBMF, it sends a session resource establishment response to the SBMF, returning the allocated user plane related resources, QoS, ID, etc. to the SBMF; if it receives a session resource modification / release request, it sends a session resource modification / release response to the SBMF, modifying / releasing the originally allocated user plane related resources, QoS, ID, etc.

[0225] Step 8: The SBMF sends a session service establishment / modification / release response to the PU, sending the allocated / modified / released user plane related resource information, QoS, ID to the PU.

[0226] Step 9: The ACMF sends a mobility service establishment / modification / release response to the PU, sending the relevant mobility service information to the PU. (It should be noted that: Step 8 is prior to Step 9, which is only exemplary. These two steps can be executed simultaneously or successively. When executed successively, there is no order of precedence.)

[0227] Step 10: The PU sends a connection establishment / modification / release response to the UE, and sends relevant messages for the establishment / modification / release of mobility services and session services to the UE, such as the success, failure, cancellation, etc. of handover; information such as the QoS, IP address or prefix assigned to the UE.

[0228] Step 11: After the PU receives the session service establishment / modification response sent by the SBMF, it sends a session service update request to the SBMF to update the user plane-related resources, QoS, ID, etc. messages allocated or modified for this session; if the PU receives the session service release response sent by the SBMF, steps 11-14 are omitted.

[0229] Step 12: The SBMF sends a session resource update request to the UPS to update the user plane-related resources and ID allocated or modified by the PU for it.

[0230] Step 13: The UPS sends a session resource update response to the SBMF.

[0231] Step 14: The SBMF sends a session service update response to the PU.

[0232] This application proposes a method for reconfiguring the functions of a radio access network and a core network. Based on the requirements of the application scenario, by reconfiguring the functions of the radio access network and the core network, a new function after the reconfiguration of the radio access network and the core network functions is designed, which solves the problems of high deployment cost, function redundancy, and large processing delay of the control plane and data plane caused by the deployment of the complete functions of the RAN and the core network in the 6G network and satellite network, and increases the deployment flexibility; at the same time, it reduces the signaling interaction and data processing delay, especially for satellite networks, greatly reducing the on-board resource overhead and deployment complexity.

[0233] Figure 14 It is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic device provided by an embodiment of this application, as Figure 14 shown, the electronic device includes a memory 1420, a transceiver 1400, and a processor 1410, where:

[0234] The memory 1420 is used to store computer programs; the transceiver 1400 is used to send and receive data under the control of the processor 1410; the processor 1410 is used to read the computer programs in the memory 1420 and perform the following operations:

[0235] Determine the application scenario of network deployment;

[0236] Based on the application scenario, reconfigure the functions of the radio access network and the core network. The network functions after reconfiguration include the first network function, the second network function, the third network function, and the fourth network function;

[0237] Among them, the functions of the first network function include PHY layer functions, MAC layer functions, RLC layer functions, and PDCP layer functions; the functions of the second network function include the first part of the functions of RRC and access and mobility management functions; the functions of the third network function include the second part of the functions of RRC and session management functions; the functions of the fourth network function include user data packet processing functions of SDAP, user data packet forwarding functions of SDAP, and user plane functions.

[0238] Among them, in Figure 14 it, the bus architecture may include any number of interconnected buses and bridges, specifically various circuits represented by at least one processor represented by the processor 1410 and the memory represented by the memory 1420 are linked together. The bus architecture can also link together various other circuits such as peripheral devices, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art, and thus will not be further described herein. The bus interface provides an interface. The transceiver 1400 can be multiple elements, that is, including a transmitter and a receiver, and provides a unit for communicating with various other devices on a transmission medium, and these transmission mediums include wireless channels, wired channels, optical fiber cables, and other transmission mediums. The processor 1410 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, and the memory 1420 can store the data used by the processor 1410 when performing operations.

[0239] The processor 1410 can be a central processing unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), and the processor can also adopt a multi-core architecture.

[0240] In some embodiments, the first part of the functions of the RRC includes one or more of the following functions:

[0241] Connection control function;

[0242] Mobility management function;

[0243] Handover function;

[0244] Paging function.

[0245] In some embodiments, the second part of the functions of the RRC includes functions other than the first part of the functions.

[0246] In some embodiments, the reconfiguration of the functions of the radio access network and the core network based on the application scenario includes:

[0247] In the case where a single fourth network function cannot establish a user plane path for the UE based on the reconfiguration of the application scenario, at least two fourth network functions are reconfigured.

[0248] In some embodiments, the at least two fourth network functions include at least one ordinary fourth network function and at least one anchor fourth network function.

[0249] In some embodiments, the first network function and the second network function interact through a service-based interface; or, the first network function and the second network function interact through a point-to-point interface;

[0250] One or more of the following information is transmitted between the first network function and the second network function:

[0251] Mobility management information;

[0252] Handover information;

[0253] Paging information.

[0254] In some embodiments, the first network function and the third network function interact through a service-based interface; or, the first network function and the third network function interact through a point-to-point interface;

[0255] One or more of the following information is transmitted between the first network function and the third network function:

[0256] Bearer information;

[0257] Session information;

[0258] QoS information.

[0259] In some embodiments, the reconfiguration of the functions of the radio access network and the core network based on the application scenario includes:

[0260] In the case where the application scenario changes, the functions of the radio access network and the core network are dynamically reconfigured.

[0261] In some embodiments, all or part of the first network function, the second network function, the third network function, and the fourth network function are reconfigured to the same node, and the node includes a physical node or a virtual node;

[0262] Or,

[0263] The first network function, the second network function, the third network function, and the fourth network function are all reconfigured and deployed to different nodes, which include physical nodes or virtual nodes.

[0264] Specifically, the electronic device provided in the embodiments of the present application can implement all the method steps implemented by the above-mentioned method embodiments for reconfiguring the functions of the radio access network and the core network, and can achieve the same technical effects. Therefore, the same parts and beneficial effects as those in the method embodiments will not be specifically described herein.

[0265] Figure 15 It is a schematic structural diagram of a device for reconfiguring the functions of a radio access network and a core network provided by an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 15 shown, an embodiment of the present application provides a device for reconfiguring the functions of a radio access network and a core network, including a determination module 1501 and a reconfiguration module 1502, where:

[0266] The determination module 1501 is configured to determine the application scenario of network deployment;

[0267] The reconfiguration module 1502 is configured to reconfigure the functions of the radio access network and the core network based on the application scenario. The reconfigured network functions include a first network function, a second network function, a third network function, and a fourth network function;

[0268] Among them, the functions of the first network function include PHY layer functions, MAC layer functions, RLC layer functions, and PDCP layer functions; the functions of the second network function include the first part of the RRC functions and access and mobility management functions; the functions of the third network function include the second part of the RRC functions and session management functions; the functions of the fourth network function include the user data packet processing function of SDAP, the user data packet forwarding function of SDAP, and the user plane function.

[0269] In some embodiments, the first part of the RRC functions includes one or more of the following functions:

[0270] Connection control function;

[0271] Mobility management function;

[0272] Handover function;

[0273] Paging function.

[0274] In some embodiments, the second part of the RRC functions includes functions other than the first part of the functions.

[0275] In some embodiments, the reconfiguration module is specifically configured to:

[0276] In the case where reconstructing and configuring a single fourth network function based on the application scenario cannot establish a user plane path for the UE, at least two fourth network functions are reconstructed and configured.

[0277] In some embodiments, the at least two fourth network functions include at least one ordinary fourth network function and at least one anchor fourth network function.

[0278] In some embodiments, the first network function and the second network function interact through a service-based interface; or, the first network function and the second network function interact through a point-to-point interface;

[0279] One or more of the following information is transmitted between the first network function and the second network function:

[0280] Mobility management information;

[0281] Handover information;

[0282] Paging information.

[0283] In some embodiments, the first network function and the third network function interact through a service-based interface; or, the first network function and the third network function interact through a point-to-point interface;

[0284] One or more of the following information is transmitted between the first network function and the third network function:

[0285] Bearer information;

[0286] Session information;

[0287] QoS information.

[0288] In some embodiments, the reconstructing and configuring module is specifically configured to:

[0289] In the case where the application scenario changes, dynamically reconstruct and configure the functions of the radio access network and the core network.

[0290] In some embodiments, all or part of the first network function, the second network function, the third network function, and the fourth network function are reconstructed and configured onto the same node, and the node includes a physical node or a virtual node;

[0291] Or,

[0292] The first network function, the second network function, the third network function, and the fourth network function are all reconstructed and configured onto different nodes, and the node includes a physical node or a virtual node.

[0293] Specifically, the above-mentioned radio access network and core network function reconstruction configuration device provided by the embodiments of the present application can implement all the method steps implemented by the above-mentioned method embodiments of the radio access network and core network function reconstruction configuration method, and can achieve the same technical effects. The same parts and beneficial effects as those in the method embodiments will not be specifically described herein again.

[0294] It should be noted that the division of units / modules in the above-mentioned embodiments of the present application is illustrative, and is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods. In addition, each functional unit in the various embodiments of the present application may be integrated in a processing unit, or each unit may exist physically alone, or two or more units may be integrated in one unit. The above-mentioned integrated unit may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of a software functional unit.

[0295] If the above-mentioned integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a processor-readable storage medium. Based on such an understanding, the technical solution of the present application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the related technology, or all or part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) or a processor to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of the present application. The foregoing storage medium includes: various media such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disc that can store program codes.

[0296] In some embodiments, a non-transitory readable storage medium is further provided. The non-transitory readable storage medium stores a computer program, and the computer program is used to cause a processor to execute the radio access network and core network function reconstruction configuration method provided by the above-mentioned method embodiments.

[0297] Specifically, the above-mentioned non-transitory readable storage medium provided by the embodiments of the present application can implement all the method steps implemented by the above-mentioned method embodiments, and can achieve the same technical effects. The same parts and beneficial effects as those in the method embodiments will not be specifically described herein again.

[0298] It should be noted that: The non-transitory readable storage medium can be any available medium or data storage device accessible by the processor, including but not limited to magnetic memories (such as floppy disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes, magneto-optical discs (MO), etc.), optical memories (such as CDs, DVDs, BDs, HVDs, etc.), and semiconductor memories (such as ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, non-volatile memory (NAND FLASH), solid state drives (SSD)), etc.

[0299] In some embodiments, there is also provided a processor-readable storage medium storing a computer program for causing the processor to execute the wireless access network and core network function reconfiguration configuration method provided in each of the above method embodiments.

[0300] Specifically, the above processor-readable storage medium provided in the embodiments of the present application can implement all the method steps implemented in each of the above method embodiments and can achieve the same technical effects. The same parts and beneficial effects as those in the method embodiments will not be specifically described herein.

[0301] In some embodiments, there is also provided a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for causing a computer to execute the wireless access network and core network function reconfiguration configuration method provided in each of the above method embodiments.

[0302] Specifically, the above computer-readable storage medium provided in the embodiments of the present application can implement all the method steps implemented in each of the above method embodiments and can achieve the same technical effects. The same parts and beneficial effects as those in the method embodiments will not be specifically described herein.

[0303] In some embodiments, there is also provided a communication device storing a computer program for causing the communication device to execute the wireless access network and core network function reconfiguration configuration method provided in each of the above method embodiments.

[0304] Specifically, the above communication device provided in the embodiments of the present application can implement all the method steps implemented in each of the above method embodiments and can achieve the same technical effects. The same parts and beneficial effects as those in the method embodiments will not be specifically described herein.

[0305] In some embodiments, there is also provided a chip product storing a computer program for causing the chip product to execute the wireless access network and core network function reconfiguration configuration method provided in each of the above method embodiments.

[0306] Specifically, the chip product provided in the embodiments of the present application can implement all the method steps implemented in the above method embodiments, and can achieve the same technical effects. Therefore, the same parts and beneficial effects as those in the method embodiments will not be specifically described herein again.

[0307] In addition, it should be noted that: In the embodiments of the present application, terms such as "first" and "second" are used to distinguish similar objects, rather than to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such terms can be interchanged under appropriate circumstances, so that the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in an order other than those illustrated or described herein, and the objects distinguished by "first" and "second" are usually of the same type, and the number of objects is not limited. For example, the first object can be one or multiple.

[0308] In the embodiments of the present application, the term "and / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. The character " / " generally represents an "or" relationship between the associated objects before and after.

[0309] "Determining B based on A" in the embodiments of the present application means that the factor A should be considered when determining B. It is not limited to "determining B only based on A", but also includes: "determining B based on A and C", "determining B based on A, C, and E", "determining C based on A, and further determining B based on C", etc. In addition, it can also include using A as a condition for determining B. For example, "when A meets the first condition, use the first method to determine B"; for another example, "when A meets the second condition, determine B"; for another example, "when A meets the third condition, determine B based on the first parameter", etc. Of course, it can also be a condition for using A as a factor for determining B. For example, "when A meets the first condition, use the first method to determine C, and further determine B based on C", etc.

[0310] In the embodiments of the present application, the term "a plurality of" means two or more, and other quantifiers are similar.

[0311] The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application can be applied to a variety of systems, especially 5G systems. For example, the applicable systems can be Global System of Mobile Communication (GSM) systems, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) systems, Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) systems, LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD) systems, Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-A) systems, Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) systems, 5G New Radio (NR) systems, etc. Both terminal devices and network devices are included in these various systems. The system may also include a core network part, such as an Evolved Packet System (EPS), a 5G System (5GS), etc.

[0312] The terminal device involved in the embodiments of the present application can be a device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to users, such as a handheld device with wireless connection capabilities, or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem, etc. In different systems, the name of the terminal device may also be different. For example, in a 5G system, the terminal device can be called a user equipment (UE). The wireless terminal device can communicate with at least one core network (CN) via a radio access network (RAN). The wireless terminal device can be a mobile terminal device, such as a mobile phone (or a "cellular" phone) and a computer with a mobile terminal device. For example, it can be a portable, pocket-sized, handheld, computer-integrated, or vehicle-mounted mobile device that exchanges language and / or data with the radio access network. For example, devices such as personal communication service (PCS) phones, cordless phones, session initiated protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), etc. The wireless terminal device can also be called a system, a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a mobile, a remote station, an access point, a remote terminal, an access terminal, a user terminal, a user agent, a user device, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0313] The network device involved in the embodiments of this application can be a base station, which can include multiple cells that provide services to terminals. Depending on the specific application scenarios, the base station can also be referred to as an access point, or can be a device in the access network that communicates with wireless terminal devices through at least one sector over the air interface, or other names. The network device can be used to mutually replace the received air frames and Internet Protocol (IP) packets, and act as a router between the wireless terminal device and the rest of the access network, where the rest of the access network can include an Internet Protocol (IP) communication network. The network device can also coordinate the attribute management of the air interface. For example, the network device involved in the embodiments of this application can be a network device (Base Transceiver Station, BTS) in the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) or Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), can also be a network device (NodeB) in Wide-band Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), can also be an evolved network device (evolutional Node B, eNB or e-NodeB) in the Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, a 5G base station (gNB) in the 5G network architecture (next generation system), can also be a Home evolved Node B (HeNB), a relay node, a femto, a pico, etc., which are not limited in the embodiments of this application. In some network architectures, the network device can include a centralized unit (centralized unit, CU) node and a distributed unit (distributed unit, DU) node, and the centralized unit and the distributed unit can also be arranged separately geographically.

[0314] The network device and the terminal device can each use one or more antennas for Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) transmission, and the MIMO transmission can be Single User MIMO (SU-MIMO) or Multiple User MIMO (MU-MIMO). According to the form and quantity of the root antenna combination, the MIMO transmission can be 2D-MIMO, 3D-MIMO, FD-MIMO or massive-MIMO, or can also be diversity transmission, precoding transmission, beamforming transmission, etc.

[0315] Those skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments of the present application can be provided as a method, a system, or a computer program product. Therefore, the present application can take the form of a completely hardware embodiment, a completely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Moreover, the present application can take the form of a computer program product implemented on at least one computer-usable storage medium (including but not limited to disk memory and optical memory, etc.) that contains computer-usable program code.

[0316] The present application is described with reference to the flowcharts and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatuses (systems), and computer program products according to the embodiments of the present application. It should be understood that each flow and / or block in the flowchart and / or block diagram, as well as the combination of flows and / or blocks in the flowchart and / or block diagram, can be implemented by computer-executable instructions. These computer-executable instructions can be provided to the processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processor, or other programmable data processing devices to generate a machine, such that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing devices generate means for implementing the functions specified in Figure 1 one flow or multiple flows and / or blocks Figure 1 one block or multiple blocks.

[0317] These processor-executable instructions can also be stored in a processor-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to work in a specific manner, such that the instructions stored in the processor-readable memory generate a manufactured article including instruction means that implement the functions specified in Figure 1 one flow or multiple flows and / or blocks Figure 1 one block or multiple blocks.

[0318] These processor-executable instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device, such that a series of operation steps are performed on the computer or other programmable device to generate a computer-implemented process, so that the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device provide steps for implementing the functions specified in Figure 1 one flow or multiple flows and / or blocks Figure 1 one block or multiple blocks.

[0319] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalent technologies, the present application is also intended to include these changes and modifications.

Claims

1. A method for reconfiguring functions of a radio access network and a core network, characterized in that, Including: Determine the application scenario of network deployment; Based on the application scenario, reconstruct and configure the functions of the radio access network and the core network. The reconstructed network functions after configuration include the first network function, the second network function, the third network function, and the fourth network function; Among them, the functions of the first network function include PHY layer function, MAC layer function, RLC layer function, and PDCP layer function; the functions of the second network function include the first part of the RRC function and the access and mobility management function; the functions of the third network function include the second part of the RRC function and the session management function; the functions of the fourth network function include the user data packet processing function of SDAP, the user data packet forwarding function of SDAP, and the user plane function.

2. The method for reconfiguring the functions of a radio access network and a core network according to claim 1, wherein The first part of the RRC function includes one or more of the following functions: Connection control function; Mobility management function; Handover function; Paging function.

3. The method for reconfiguring the functions of the radio access network and the core network according to claim 2, wherein The second part of the RRC function includes functions other than the first part of the function.

4. The method for reconfiguring the functions of a radio access network and a core network according to claim 1, wherein The reconstructing and configuring the functions of the radio access network and the core network based on the application scenario includes: In the case where a single fourth network function cannot establish a user plane path for the UE based on the application scenario reconstruction configuration, reconstruct and configure at least two fourth network functions.

5. The method for reconfiguring the functions of a radio access network and a core network according to claim 4, wherein At least two of the fourth network functions include at least one ordinary fourth network function and at least one anchor fourth network function.

6. The method for reconfiguring the functions of the radio access network and the core network according to claim 1, wherein The first network function and the second network function interact through a service-based interface; or, the first network function and the second network function interact through a point-to-point interface; One or more of the following information is transmitted between the first network function and the second network function: Mobility management information; Handover information; Paging information.

7. The method for reconfiguring the functions of a radio access network and a core network according to claim 1, wherein The first network function and the third network function interact through a service-based interface; or, the first network function and the third network function interact through a point-to-point interface; One or more of the following information is transmitted between the first network function and the third network function: Bearer information; Session information; QoS information.

8. The method for reconfiguring the functions of a radio access network and a core network according to claim 1, characterized in that, The reconstructing and configuring the functions of the radio access network and the core network based on the application scenario includes: In the case where the application scenario changes, perform dynamic reconstruction and configuration of the functions of the radio access network and the core network.

9. The method for reconfiguring the functions of a radio access network and a core network according to claim 1, characterized in that, All or part of the first network function, the second network function, the third network function, and the fourth network function are reconstructed and configured on the same node, and the node includes a physical node or a virtual node; Or, The first network function, the second network function, the third network function, and the fourth network function are all reconstructed and configured on different nodes, and the node includes a physical node or a virtual node.

10. An electronic device, characterized in that, Including a memory, a transceiver, and a processor; The memory is used to store computer programs; the transceiver is used to transmit and receive data under the control of the processor; The processor is used to read the computer program in the memory and perform the following operations: Determine the application scenario of network deployment; Reconfigure the functions of the radio access network and the core network based on the application scenario. The network functions after reconfiguration include a first network function, a second network function, a third network function, and a fourth network function; Among them, the functions of the first network function include PHY layer functions, MAC layer functions, RLC layer functions, and PDCP layer functions; the functions of the second network function include the first part of the RRC functions and access and mobility management functions; the functions of the third network function include the second part of the RRC functions and session management functions; the functions of the fourth network function include user data packet processing functions of SDAP, user data packet forwarding functions of SDAP, and user plane functions.

11. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein The first part of the RRC functions includes one or more of the following functions: Connection control function; Mobility management function; Handover function; Paging function.

12. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein The second part of the RRC functions includes functions other than the first part of the functions.

13. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein The reconfiguration of the functions of the radio access network and the core network based on the application scenario includes: In the case where a single fourth network function cannot establish a user plane path for the UE after reconfiguration based on the application scenario, reconfigure at least two fourth network functions.

14. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein The at least two fourth network functions include at least one ordinary fourth network function and at least one anchor fourth network function.

15. The electronic device according to claim 10, characterized in that: The first network function and the second network function interact through a service-based interface; or, the first network function and the second network function interact through a point-to-point interface; One or more of the following information is transmitted between the first network function and the second network function: Mobility management information; Handover information; Paging information.

16. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein The first network function and the third network function interact through a service-based interface; or, the first network function and the third network function interact through a point-to-point interface; One or more of the following information is transmitted between the first network function and the third network function: Bearer information; Session information; QoS information.

17. The electronic device according to claim 10, characterized in that, The reconfiguration of the functions of the radio access network and the core network based on the application scenario includes: In the case where the application scenario changes, dynamically reconfigure the functions of the radio access network and the core network.

18. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein All or part of the first network function, the second network function, the third network function, and the fourth network function are reconfigured to the same node, and the node includes a physical node or a virtual node; Or, The first network function, the second network function, the third network function, and the fourth network function are all reconfigured to different nodes, and the node includes a physical node or a virtual node.

19. A wireless access network and core network function reconstruction configuration device, characterized in that Includes: A determination module for determining the application scenario of network deployment; A reconfiguration module for reconfiguring the functions of the radio access network and the core network based on the application scenario. The network functions after reconfiguration include a first network function, a second network function, a third network function, and a fourth network function; Among them, the functions of the first network function include PHY layer functions, MAC layer functions, RLC layer functions, and PDCP layer functions; the functions of the second network function include the first part of the RRC functions and access and mobility management functions; the functions of the third network function include the second part of the RRC functions and session management functions; the functions of the fourth network function include the user data packet processing function of SDAP, the user data packet forwarding function of SDAP, and user plane functions.

20. A non-transitory readable storage medium, characterized in that, The non-transitory readable storage medium stores a computer program, and the computer program is used to cause the processor to execute the method for reconfiguring the radio access network and core network functions according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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