Network switching method, electronic equipment, storage medium and program product

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides a network switching method, electronic equipment, a storage medium and a program product. The method comprises: determining a current network type of a terminal device, the current network type comprising a 5G reduced performance network or a 4G network; determining a current communication state of the terminal device, wherein the current communication state comprises a connection state or an idle state; and executing network switching through a communication module according to the current network type and the current communication state every preset duration. According to the scheme, the current network type and the current communication state are integrated, so that the terminal equipment in the connected state can be prevented from directly performing network switching, and the communication quality is prevented from being influenced in the network switching process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a network switching method, electronic device, storage medium, and program product. Background Technology

[0002] The high speed and low latency of 5G communication technology can significantly improve the user's communication experience. As user communication application scenarios gradually expand, the 5G performance-degraded Redcap network can meet the needs of low-cost, small-size, and low-power applications.

[0003] However, due to the inherent limitations of 5G networks with reduced performance, in some regions or environments, the communication quality of 5G networks with reduced performance is worse than that of 4G networks. To ensure normal communication for users, the 5G network with reduced performance is sometimes switched back to 4G, depending on the usage scenario. In related technologies, network switching is performed based on the network type supported by the network device connected to the terminal device.

[0004] However, this method reduces communication quality during network switching. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a network switching method, electronic device, storage medium, and program product to avoid affecting communication quality during network switching.

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a network switching method, comprising: determining the current network type of a terminal device, the current network type including a 5G degraded network or a 4G network; determining the current communication state of the terminal device, the current communication state including a connected state or an idle state; and performing network switching through a communication module at preset intervals, based on the current network type and the current communication state.

[0007] In one possible implementation, network switching is performed via a communication module based on the current network type and the current communication state, including: if the current network type is a 5G network with reduced performance, then determining a first measurement interval and a first number of measurements; performing measurements based on the first measurement interval and the first number of measurements to obtain multiple first signal quality parameters of the network device connected to the terminal device; determining whether each first signal quality parameter is less than a parameter threshold; if so, then performing network switching via the communication module based on the current communication state.

[0008] In one possible implementation, network switching is performed via the communication module based on the current communication state, including: if the current communication state is idle, switching the network type to a 4G network via the communication module; if the current communication state is connected, determining a first communication state of the terminal device until the first communication state is idle, determining a second signal quality parameter, and if the second signal quality parameter is less than the parameter threshold, switching the network type to a 4G network via the communication module.

[0009] In one possible implementation, switching the network type to a 4G network via the communication module includes: disabling the 5G performance reduction capability of the communication module and triggering the communication module to search for a network, thereby switching the network type to a 4G network; or, setting the communication module to use only the 4G standard or 4G frequency band and triggering the communication module to search for a network, thereby switching the network type to a 4G network.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: switching the network type to a 4G network through the communication module, including: if the network device switches the network type to a 4G network, updating the state of the communication module to a 4G network access state, and switching the network type to a 4G network through the communication module; if the state of the communication module is a 5G network access state with reduced performance, and after a first time interval, the state of the communication module is again obtained as a 4G network access state, then the network type is switched to a 4G network through the communication module.

[0011] In one possible implementation, network switching is performed via a communication module based on the current network type and the current communication state, including: if the current network type is a 4G network and the current communication state is idle, then the network type is switched to a 5G network with reduced performance via the communication module; if the current network type is a 4G network and the current communication state is connected, then a second communication state of the terminal device is determined until the second communication state is idle, then the network type is switched to a 5G network with reduced performance via the communication module.

[0012] In one possible implementation, switching the network type to a 5G degraded network via the communication module includes: restoring the 5G degraded capability of the communication module, triggering the communication module to search for networks, and controlling the communication module to first search for 5G degraded networks and then search for 4G networks, thereby achieving the switching of the network type to a 4G network; or, setting the communication module to use only the 5G standard or 5G frequency band and triggering the communication module to search for networks, thereby achieving the switching of the network type to a 5G degraded network.

[0013] In one possible implementation, after switching the network type to a 5G network with reduced performance via the communication module, the method further includes: determining a second measurement interval and a second number of measurements; performing measurements based on the second measurement interval and the second number of measurements to obtain multiple second signal quality parameters of the network device connected to the terminal device; determining whether each second signal quality parameter is less than the sum of a parameter threshold and a preset offset; if so, switching the network type to a 4G network via the communication module.

[0014] In one possible implementation, before performing network switching via the communication module, the method further includes: if the current communication state is idle, determining the working state of the communication module, the working state including a wake-up state or a sleep state; if the working state of the communication module is sleep state, sending a first instruction to the communication module to keep the communication module in a wake-up state until the network switching is completed.

[0015] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: when the terminal device starts up, sending a second instruction to the communication module to cause the communication module to switch the network type to a 5G degraded network, or if the switch to a 5G degraded network is unsuccessful, to switch to a 4G network.

[0016] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a network switching device, comprising: a first determining module, configured to determine the current network type of a terminal device, the current network type including a 5G degraded network or a 4G network; a second determining module, further configured to determine the current communication state of the terminal device, the current communication state including a connected state or an idle state; and a switching module, configured to perform network switching through a communication module at preset intervals, based on the current network type and the current communication state.

[0017] In one possible implementation, the switching module is specifically configured to determine a first measurement interval and a first number of measurements if the current network type is a 5G network with reduced performance; the switching module is further configured to perform measurements according to the first measurement interval and the first number of measurements to obtain multiple first signal quality parameters of the network device connected to the terminal device; the switching module is further configured to determine whether each first signal quality parameter is less than a parameter threshold; the switching module is further configured to perform network switching through the communication module according to the current communication state if the parameter is less than a parameter threshold.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the switching module is specifically configured to switch the network type to a 4G network through the communication module if the current communication state is an idle state; the switching module is further configured to determine a first communication state of the terminal device if the current communication state is a connected state, until the first communication state is an idle state, determine a second signal quality parameter, and if the second signal quality parameter is less than the parameter threshold, switch the network type to a 4G network through the communication module.

[0019] In one possible implementation, the switching module is specifically configured to switch the network type to a 4G network by disabling the 5G performance reduction capability of the communication module and triggering the communication module to search for a network; or, the switching module is further configured to set the communication module to use only the 4G standard or 4G frequency band and trigger the communication module to search for a network, thereby switching the network type to a 4G network.

[0020] In one possible implementation, the device further includes: a processing module, configured to update the state of the communication module to a 4G network access state if the network device switches the network type to a 4G network, and switch the network type to a 4G network through the communication module; the processing module is further configured to switch the network type to a 4G network if the state of the communication module is a 5G network access state with reduced performance, and after a first time interval, the state of the communication module is again obtained to be a 4G network access state, and then switch the network type to a 4G network through the communication module.

[0021] In one possible implementation, the device further includes: an execution module, configured to switch the network type to a 5G network with reduced performance if the current network type is a 4G network and the current communication state is an idle state; the execution module is further configured to determine a second communication state of the terminal device if the current network type is a 4G network and the current communication state is a connected state, until the second communication state is an idle state, and then switch the network type to a 5G network with reduced performance through the communication module.

[0022] In one possible implementation, the execution module is specifically configured to switch the network type to a 4G network by restoring the 5G performance degradation capability of the communication module, triggering the communication module to search for networks, and controlling the communication module to first search for 5G performance degradation networks and then search for 4G networks; or, the execution module is further configured to set the communication module to use only the 5G standard or 5G frequency band and trigger the communication module to search for networks, thereby switching the network type to a 5G performance degradation network.

[0023] In one possible implementation, the device further includes: a judgment module, configured to determine a second measurement interval and a second number of measurements; the judgment module is further configured to perform measurements according to the second measurement interval and the second number of measurements to obtain multiple second signal quality parameters of the network device connected to the terminal device; the judgment module is further configured to determine whether each second signal quality parameter is less than the sum of a parameter threshold and a preset offset; the judgment module is further configured to, if so, switch the network type to a 4G network through the communication module.

[0024] In one possible implementation, the device further includes: a first indication module, configured to determine the working state of the communication module if the current communication state is an idle state, the working state including a wake-up state or a sleep state; the first indication module is further configured to send a first instruction to the communication module if the working state of the communication module is a sleep state, so that the communication module remains in a wake-up state until the network switching is completed.

[0025] In one possible implementation, the device further includes: a second instruction module, configured to send a second instruction to the communication module when the terminal device is started, so that the communication module switches the network type to a 5G degraded network, or switches to a 4G network if the switch to a 5G degraded network fails.

[0026] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a network switching device, including: a memory and a processor;

[0027] The memory stores computer-executed instructions;

[0028] The processor executes computer execution instructions stored in the memory, causing the processor to perform the first aspect and / or various possible implementations of the first aspect as described above.

[0029] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, are used to implement the first aspect and / or various possible implementations of the first aspect.

[0030] Fifthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer program product, including a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the first aspect and / or various possible implementations of the first aspect.

[0031] The network switching method, electronic device, storage medium, and program product provided in this application include: determining the current network type of a terminal device, wherein the current network type includes a 5G network with reduced performance or a 4G network; determining the current communication state of the terminal device, wherein the current communication state includes a connected state or an idle state; and performing network switching through a communication module at preset intervals, based on the current network type and the current communication state. This solution, by considering both the current network type and the current communication state, can avoid terminal devices in a connected state from directly performing network switching, thereby preventing communication quality from being affected during network switching. Attached Figure Description

[0032] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0033] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an application scenario of a network switching method provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0034] Figure 2 A flowchart illustrating a network switching method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0035] Figure 3 A flowchart illustrating a network switching method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0036] Figure 4 A schematic diagram illustrating the switching of 4G networks provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0037] Figure 5 A schematic diagram illustrating the switching of a 5G network with reduced performance, provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0038] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a wake-up command provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0039] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a network switching device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0040] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a network switching device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0041] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0042] The accompanying drawings illustrate specific embodiments of this application, which will be described in more detail below. These drawings and descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the concept in any way, but rather to illustrate the concept of this application to those skilled in the art through reference to particular embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0043] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this application. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this application as detailed in the appended claims.

[0044] It should be noted that the user information (including but not limited to user device information, user personal information, etc.) and data (including but not limited to data used for analysis, data stored, data displayed, etc.) involved in this application are all information and data authorized by the user or fully authorized by all parties. Furthermore, the collection, use, processing, transmission, provision, disclosure, and application of the relevant data all comply with the relevant laws, regulations, and standards of the relevant countries and regions, have taken necessary confidentiality measures, do not violate public order and good morals, and provide corresponding operation portals for users to choose to authorize or refuse.

[0045] It should be noted that the network switching method, apparatus, electronic device, storage medium, and program product of this application can be used in the field of communication technology, or in any field other than communication technology. The application field of the network switching method, apparatus, electronic device, storage medium, and program product of this application is not limited.

[0046] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an application scenario of a network switching method provided in an embodiment of this application. An example is given based on the illustrated scenario: Terminal device 101 establishes a communication connection with network device 102, and terminal device 101 achieves network communication through the communication connection.

[0047] For example, the 5G network communication standard was defined in Release 15 (R15) and Release 16 (R16) of the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The R15 / R16 5G network standard is not suitable for applications requiring low cost, small size, and low power consumption. Therefore, R17 defines New Radio (NR) low-complexity, low-cost terminals (i.e., RedCapUE), which reduces cost, complexity, and power consumption compared to the R15 / R16 5G network standard by reducing bandwidth, using multiple antennas and MIMO, and improving modulation. 5G Redcap terminal devices (hereinafter referred to as terminal devices) simultaneously support both R17 5G Redcap networks and 4G networks, and can switch to the appropriate network based on the actual usage scenario.

[0048] In related technologies, terminal devices perform network switching based on the network type supported by the connected network device. For example, if a terminal device is within the signal coverage area of ​​any network device, and the terminal device establishes a connection with that network device, the terminal device will switch to the 5G network if the network device supports 5G (which has reduced performance), and switch to the 4G network if the network device supports 4G. If the terminal device is in Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection mode during the switching process (i.e., it is currently transmitting data), the switching will interrupt data transmission, affecting user experience.

[0049] The network switching method provided in this application aims to solve the above-mentioned technical problems of the prior art.

[0050] The technical solution of this application and how the technical solution of this application solves the above-mentioned technical problems are described in detail below with specific embodiments. These specific embodiments can be combined with each other, and the same or similar concepts or processes may not be described again in some embodiments. The embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0051] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating a network handover method provided in an embodiment of this application. The method includes the following steps:

[0052] S201. Determine the current network type of the terminal device. The current network type includes 5G degraded network or 4G network.

[0053] The current network type refers to the type of network that the terminal device is currently connected to.

[0054] The terminal device in this application supports both 5G degraded networks and 4G networks.

[0055] For example, it is determined at regular intervals whether to perform a network switch.

[0056] With the example scenario, as the location of the terminal device changes or the network environment changes, the network currently connected to the terminal device may not be the optimal network. To ensure communication quality, it is periodically determined whether to perform a network switch, and if so, the network switch is performed. During each determination, the current network type is obtained.

[0057] S202. Determine the current communication state of the terminal device. The current communication state includes connected state or idle state.

[0058] The current communication status refers to the current RRC communication status of the terminal device.

[0059] The following scenario example illustrates the process. When a terminal device needs to transmit data, it initiates an RRC connection establishment request. The terminal device responds, allocates resources, and establishes an RRC connection. After the data transmission is complete, either the terminal device or the network device can initiate an RRC connection release request to release resources, allowing the terminal device to return to the RRC idle state.

[0060] Using scenario examples, when a terminal device is in a connected state (i.e., during data transmission), performing a network switch may lead to the following situations:

[0061] Data transmission interruption: During network switching, the connection between terminal devices may be temporarily broken, potentially resulting in the loss of some data packets. Network switching takes time, which can cause data transmission delays and impact the performance of real-time applications such as video streaming and live broadcasts.

[0062] RRC Connection Re-establishment: During network handover, the terminal device needs to release its current RRC connection and re-establish an RRC connection with the new network device. This process may cause a brief connection interruption. If the signal quality of the new network device is poor or there are network configuration problems, RRC connection re-establishment may fail, preventing the terminal device from successfully accessing the new network device.

[0063] Business continuity: For real-time applications, brief pauses or disconnections may occur during network switching. Frequent network switching can impact user experience, with users potentially perceiving network instability or service interruptions.

[0064] Resource consumption: During network handover, terminal devices need to perform a lot of signaling interactions and resource allocation, which increases power consumption.

[0065] Network resource usage: During network switching, network resources will be temporarily occupied, which may affect the network experience of other users.

[0066] It is understandable that the current communication status affects the execution of network switching, and determining whether to perform network switching based on the current communication status can effectively eliminate this impact.

[0067] S203. Every preset time interval, network switching is performed through the communication module according to the current network type and current communication status.

[0068] The communication module is an integrated device used to implement communication functions. Network switching is achieved by controlling the communication module.

[0069] Optionally, when switching from a 5G network (which has reduced performance) to a 4G network, the 5G capability of the communication module is disabled, retaining only the 4G capability, thereby triggering the communication module to re-search for and access the 4G network. When switching from a 4G network to a 5G network (which has reduced performance), this is achieved by restoring the 5G capability of the communication module.

[0070] Optionally, when switching from a 5G network (which has reduced performance) to a 4G network, the communication module can be triggered to re-search for and access the 4G network by locking its 4G standard or 4G frequency band. Similarly, when switching from a 4G network to a 5G network (which has reduced performance), the communication module can be triggered to re-search for and access the 5G network (which has reduced performance) by locking its 5G standard or 5G frequency band.

[0071] The network switching method provided in this application determines the current network type of the terminal device, including a 5G network with reduced performance or a 4G network; determines the current communication state of the terminal device, including a connected state or an idle state; and performs network switching through the communication module every preset time interval, based on the current network type and the current communication state. This solution, by considering both the current network type and the current communication state, avoids direct network switching for terminal devices currently in a connected state, thereby preventing disruption to communication quality during network switching.

[0072] Based on any of the above embodiments, the following, in conjunction with Figure 3 The detailed process of network switching is explained.

[0073] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating a network switching method provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 3 As shown, the method includes:

[0074] S301. Determine the current network type of the terminal device. The current network type includes 5G degraded network or 4G network.

[0075] It should be noted that the execution process of S301 is the same as that of S201, and will not be repeated here.

[0076] S302. Determine the current communication state of the terminal device. The current communication state includes connected state or idle state.

[0077] It should be noted that the execution process of S302 is the same as that of S202, and will not be repeated here.

[0078] Next, we will provide an example of switching from a 5G network with reduced performance to a 4G network.

[0079] S303. If the current network type is a 5G network with reduced performance, then determine the first measurement interval and the first number of measurements.

[0080] The first measurement interval controls the interval at which the network decision is made. The first number of measurements controls the number of times the signal quality parameters are measured.

[0081] With scenario examples, it is shown that by making judgments at intervals, network switching can be performed automatically when necessary, and network changes can be responded to in real time to ensure that terminal devices are always connected to the best network.

[0082] S304. Perform measurements according to the first measurement interval and the first number of measurements to obtain multiple first signal quality parameters of the network device connected to the terminal device.

[0083] Optionally, the first signal quality parameter can be the Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) or the Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR).

[0084] With the example provided, the first signal quality parameter represents the signal quality, which is used to determine whether to perform a network handover. For instance, if the current signal quality is good, there is no need to perform a network handover.

[0085] To illustrate with a scenario example, if the first measurement interval is 2 seconds and the first measurement count is 3, then a measurement is performed every 2 seconds to obtain a first signal quality parameter, resulting in a total of three first signal quality parameters.

[0086] Based on the above implementation method, by measuring multiple first signal quality parameters, random errors can be effectively reduced, thereby improving the accuracy of network handover.

[0087] S305. Determine whether each first signal quality parameter is less than the parameter threshold.

[0088] The parameter threshold is a preset value. The parameter threshold is used as a criterion for judging signal quality parameters.

[0089] Optionally, the corresponding parameter thresholds can be determined based on the application scenario of the terminal device.

[0090] With the help of scenario examples, for use cases with high signal quality requirements, the parameter thresholds should be increased accordingly to accurately determine whether to perform network switching.

[0091] If so, then execute S306.

[0092] S306. Based on the current communication status, perform network switching through the communication module.

[0093] Using a scenario example, if each first signal quality parameter is less than its threshold, the current signal quality is considered poor. Compared to 4G networks, 5G networks, despite their reduced performance, offer significant advantages in data transmission rates and latency. However, if the current signal quality is poor, the advantages of 5G networks cannot be fully realized, and switching back to 4G can effectively improve communication quality.

[0094] Optionally, the criterion for judging poor signal quality can also be that the average value of multiple first signal quality parameters is less than a parameter threshold.

[0095] One feasible implementation method is to perform network switching as follows: if the current communication state is idle, the network type is switched to 4G network through the communication module; if the current communication state is connected, the first communication state of the terminal device is determined until the first communication state is idle, and a second signal quality parameter is determined. If the second information quality parameter is less than the parameter threshold, the network type is switched to 4G network through the communication module.

[0096] The first communication status is the communication status obtained through continuous monitoring.

[0097] For example, if the current communication state is idle, it means there is no data transmission at present, and performing a network switch will not affect the communication of the terminal device, so the network switch can be performed directly. If the current communication state is connected, the first communication state is continuously monitored until the first communication state becomes idle, indicating that the terminal device has completed data transmission, and performing a network switch will not affect the communication of the terminal device.

[0098] Optionally, after data transmission is complete, the network device may decide to release the connection resources of the terminal device and switch the terminal device to an idle state. At this time, the network device will send an RRC state change notification to the terminal device, and after receiving the notification, the terminal device will update its own RRC state to the idle state.

[0099] With the example scenario, when the first communication state is idle, the signal quality parameter is immediately queried to obtain the second signal quality parameter. This second signal quality parameter is then used to further determine whether a network handover needs to be performed. It can be understood that during continuous monitoring of the first communication state, the signal quality may improve from poor to good; further judgment can improve the accuracy of network handover.

[0100] Below, in conjunction with Figure 4 Instructions for switching to 4G networks.

[0101] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the switching of a 4G network as provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 4As shown, when the current network type is a 5G network with reduced performance, multiple first signal quality parameters are measured. Based on these parameters and their threshold values, it is determined whether the signal quality is poor. If so, it is determined whether the network is in an idle state. If it is in an idle state, the network type is switched to a 4G network. If it is in a connected state, the communication status is continuously monitored until the communication status changes to an idle state, at which point the signal quality is further determined. If so, a network switch is performed.

[0102] Optionally, if switching to the 4G network fails, you need to switch to the 5G network again to reduce performance. If switching to the 4G network fails for a preset number of consecutive times, stop switching to the 4G network and start a timer. Switching to the 4G network is prohibited until the timer expires. Normal processing will resume after the timer expires.

[0103] In this feasible implementation, by comprehensively analyzing communication status and signal quality from multiple dimensions, the accuracy of determining whether a network switch should be performed can be improved, thereby enhancing the accuracy of network switching.

[0104] One feasible implementation is to switch the network type to 4G network by disabling the 5G performance capability of the communication module and triggering the communication module to search for the network; or by setting the communication module to use only the 4G standard or 4G frequency band and triggering the communication module to search for the network.

[0105] With scenario examples, by sending a specific command to the communication module to disable its 5G performance-degrading capabilities, the communication module will disconnect from the 5G network. By triggering the communication module to re-search for a network, it can automatically search for and connect to a 4G network. Alternatively, by sending a specific command to the communication module to configure it to use only the 4G standard or 4G frequency band, and by triggering the communication module to re-search for a network, it can automatically search for and connect to a 4G network.

[0106] In this feasible implementation, the accuracy of network switching can be improved by explicitly disabling 5G to reduce performance or by explicitly using only 4G networks.

[0107] One feasible implementation method is to switch the network type to a 4G network as follows: If the network device switches the network type to a 4G network, the status of the communication module is updated to be connected to a 4G network, and the network type is switched to a 4G network through the communication module; if the status of the communication module is connected to a 5G network with reduced performance, and the status of the communication module is obtained again after the first time interval and is connected to a 4G network, then the network type is switched to a 4G network through the communication module.

[0108] Optionally, if the terminal device is currently on a 5G network with reduced performance, before determining whether to switch to a 4G network, the network device can autonomously perform a network switch to a 4G network through 3GPP standard handover, reselection, or redirection procedures. In this case, the network switch plan needs to be redefined.

[0109] For example, in Scheme 1: the lower layer of the communication module will notify the upper layer of the communication module to perform network switching independently on the network device side, and the communication module will update its status to be connected to the 4G network.

[0110] Option 2: When the timer times out and triggers the decision to switch to the 4G network, check whether the communication module is currently connected to the 4G network. If it is connected to the 4G network, handle it according to the 4G to 5G network switching scheme with reduced performance. If it is still connected to the 5G network with reduced performance, handle it according to the 5G network switching to 4G network scheme with reduced performance.

[0111] In this feasible implementation, supplementary judgments are made before switching to the 4G network, which can correctly determine the network switching scheme based on the currently accessed network, thereby improving the accuracy of network switching.

[0112] Next, we will provide an example of switching from a 4G network to a 5G network, which reduces performance.

[0113] S307. If the current network type is 4G and the current communication state is idle, then the network type is switched to 5G via the communication module to reduce performance.

[0114] For example, if the current communication state is idle, it means that there is no data transmission at present, and performing network switching will not affect the communication of the terminal device, so network switching can be performed directly.

[0115] S308. If the current network type is 4G network and the current communication state is connected, then determine the second communication state of the terminal device until the second communication state is idle, then switch the network type to 5G network with reduced performance through the communication module.

[0116] The second communication status is the communication status obtained through continuous monitoring.

[0117] For example, if the current communication state is connected, the second communication state is continuously monitored until the second communication state is idle, indicating that the terminal device has completed data transmission. In this case, performing network switching will not affect the communication of the terminal device.

[0118] To illustrate with an example scenario, 5G networks, which have reduced performance, offer higher performance than 4G networks. Therefore, when the second communication state switches to the idle state, the network switching can be performed directly without needing to reassess the signal quality of the 4G network.

[0119] It should be noted that this application does not impose any restrictions on the execution order of S307 and S308.

[0120] One feasible implementation method is to switch the network type to a 5G degraded network by restoring the 5G degraded capability of the communication module, triggering the communication module to search for networks, and controlling the communication module to first search for 5G degraded networks and then search for 4G networks, thereby achieving the switch to a 4G network; or, setting the communication module to use only the 5G standard or 5G frequency band and triggering the communication module to search for networks, thereby achieving the switch to a 5G degraded network.

[0121] With scenario examples, by sending specific commands to the communication module to restore its 5G performance degradation capability, and by triggering the communication module to re-search for networks, the communication module can automatically search for and connect to 5G networks with reduced performance. Alternatively, by sending specific commands to the communication module to configure it to use only the 5G standard or 5G frequency band, and by triggering the communication module to re-search for networks, the communication module can automatically search for and connect to 5G networks with reduced performance.

[0122] In this feasible implementation, the accuracy of network handover can be improved by explicitly restoring the performance degradation capability of 5G or explicitly using only the performance degradation network of 5G.

[0123] One feasible implementation, after switching to a 5G network with reduced performance, may further include: determining a second measurement interval and a second number of measurements; performing measurements according to the second measurement interval and the second number of measurements to obtain multiple second signal quality parameters of the network device connected to the terminal device; determining whether each second signal quality parameter is less than the sum of a parameter threshold and a preset offset; if so, switching the network type to a 4G network through the communication module.

[0124] With the example provided, the second signal command parameter represents the signal quality, which is used to determine whether to maintain the connection on the degraded 5G network. For instance, if the current signal quality is good, the connection to the degraded 5G network will be maintained; if the current signal quality is poor, the connection will fall back to the 4G network.

[0125] Below, in conjunction with Figure 5 This section explains why switching to a 5G network reduces performance.

[0126] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the switching to a 5G network with reduced performance, as provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 5As shown, when the current network type is 4G, it checks if the terminal device is in an idle state. If it is in an idle state, the network type is switched to a 5G network with reduced performance. If it is in a connected state, the communication status is continuously monitored until the communication status changes to an idle state, at which point the network type is switched to a 5G network with reduced performance. After the network switch is completed, it checks if the signal quality is poor. If so, it falls back to the 4G network.

[0127] In this feasible implementation, judging the signal quality after completing the network switch can avoid the impact of poor network quality due to 5G performance degradation on the communication of terminal devices, thereby improving the communication quality.

[0128] One feasible implementation method includes, before performing network switching, the following steps: if the current communication state is idle, determine the working state of the communication module, which includes a wake-up state or a sleep state; if the working state of the communication module is sleep state, send a first instruction to the communication module to keep the communication module in a wake-up state until the network switching is completed.

[0129] Below, in conjunction with Figure 6 The wake-up command is explained.

[0130] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a wake-up command provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 6 As shown, determine whether the current communication state is idle. If so, determine whether the communication module's working state is sleep. If so, send the first command to the communication module.

[0131] With the example scenario, the communication module is used to perform network connection-related tasks. If the current communication state is idle, the communication module may go into sleep mode to save power. By keeping the communication module in a wake-up state, interruptions can be avoided during network switching.

[0132] In this feasible implementation, keeping the communication module awake by the first instruction can prevent network switching interruptions, thereby improving the reliability of network switching.

[0133] One feasible implementation method for network switching may further include: when the terminal device starts up, sending a second instruction to the communication module to cause the communication module to switch the network type to a 5G degraded network, or if the switch to a 5G degraded network is unsuccessful, to switch to a 4G network.

[0134] With the example of the scenario, the 5G degraded network has higher performance. By instructing the 5G degraded network to be the default network through the second command, the communication module can prioritize switching to the higher-performance 5G degraded network, or prioritize connecting to the higher-performance 5G degraded network when the terminal device is not connected to the network.

[0135] In this feasible implementation, the communication performance of the terminal device can be improved by controlling the communication module to prioritize switching the network type to a 5G network with reduced performance.

[0136] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a network switching device provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 7 As shown, the network switching device 70 may include: a first determining module 71, a second determining module 72, and a switching module 73, wherein,

[0137] The first determining module 71 is used to determine the current network type of the terminal device, which includes a 5G degraded network or a 4G network.

[0138] The second determining module 72 is also used to determine the current communication state of the terminal device, which includes a connected state or an idle state.

[0139] The switching module 73 is used to perform network switching through the communication module at preset intervals, based on the current network type and current communication status.

[0140] Optionally, the first determining module 71 can be executed. Figure 2 S201 in the embodiment.

[0141] Optionally, the second determining module 72 can be executed. Figure 2 S202 in the embodiment.

[0142] Optionally, switching module 73 can be executed. Figure 2 S203 in the embodiment.

[0143] It should be noted that the network switching device shown in the embodiments of this application can execute the technical solutions shown in the above method embodiments, and its implementation principle and beneficial effects are similar, so they will not be described again here.

[0144] In one possible implementation, the switching module 73 is specifically used for:

[0145] If the current network type is a 5G network with reduced performance, then determine the first measurement interval and the first number of measurements;

[0146] The measurement is performed according to the first measurement interval and the first number of measurements to obtain multiple first signal quality parameters of the network device connected to the terminal device.

[0147] Determine whether each first signal quality parameter is less than the parameter threshold;

[0148] If so, network switching is performed through the communication module based on the current communication status.

[0149] In one possible implementation, the switching module 73 is specifically used for:

[0150] If the current communication state is idle, the network type will be switched to 4G network through the communication module;

[0151] If the current communication state is connected, the first communication state of the terminal device is determined until the first communication state is idle. Then, the second signal quality parameter is determined. If the second information quality parameter is less than the parameter threshold, the network type is switched to 4G network through the communication module.

[0152] In one possible implementation, the switching module 73 is specifically used for:

[0153] By disabling the 5G capability of the communication module to reduce performance and triggering the communication module to search for networks, the network type can be switched to 4G; or,

[0154] The communication module is set to use only the 4G standard or 4G frequency band, and the communication module is triggered to search for the network, thereby switching the network type to 4G network.

[0155] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a network switching device provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 7 Based on the illustrated embodiments, as Figure 8 As shown, the network switching device 80 further includes: a processing module 74, an execution module 75, a judgment module 76, a first indication module 77, and a second indication module 78, wherein,

[0156] Processing module 74 is used for:

[0157] If the network device switches the network type to 4G network, the status of the communication module will be updated to 4G network access status, and the network type will be switched to 4G network through the communication module.

[0158] If the communication module is in a 5G network state with reduced performance, and after the first time interval, the communication module is again found to be in a 4G network state, then the network type will be switched to 4G network through the communication module.

[0159] Execution module 75 is used for:

[0160] If the current network type is 4G and the current communication state is idle, the network type will be switched to 5G via the communication module to reduce performance.

[0161] If the current network type is 4G and the current communication state is connected, then the second communication state of the terminal device is determined until the second communication state is idle. Then, the network type is switched to 5G, a network with reduced performance, through the communication module.

[0162] In one possible implementation, execution module 75 is specifically used for:

[0163] By restoring the communication module's 5G performance degradation capability, triggering the communication module to search for networks, and controlling the communication module to first search for 5G networks with reduced performance before searching for 4G networks, the network type can be switched to 4G; or,

[0164] By setting the communication module to use only the 5G standard or 5G frequency band and triggering the communication module to search for networks, the network type can be switched to a 5G network with reduced performance.

[0165] Module 76 is used for:

[0166] Determine the second measurement interval and the second number of measurements;

[0167] The measurement is performed according to the second measurement interval and the second number of measurements to obtain multiple second signal quality parameters of the network device connected to the terminal device.

[0168] Determine whether each second signal quality parameter is less than the sum of the parameter threshold and the preset offset;

[0169] If so, the network type will be switched to 4G network via the communication module.

[0170] First instruction module 77, used for:

[0171] If the current communication state is idle, then the working state of the communication module is determined. The working state includes wake-up state or sleep state.

[0172] If the communication module is in sleep mode, a first instruction is sent to the communication module to keep it awake until the network handover is completed.

[0173] The second instruction module 78 is used for:

[0174] When the terminal device starts up, a second instruction is sent to the communication module to switch the network type to a 5G network with reduced performance, or if the switch to a 5G network with reduced performance fails, switch to a 4G network.

[0175] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of this application, such as... Figure 9 As shown, the electronic device includes:

[0176] The electronic device includes a processor 291 and a memory 292; it may also include a communication interface 293 and a bus 294. The processor 291, memory 292, and communication interface 293 can communicate with each other via the bus 294. The communication interface 293 can be used for information transmission. The processor 291 can invoke logical instructions stored in the memory 292 to execute the methods of the above embodiments.

[0177] Furthermore, the logic instructions in the aforementioned memory 292 can be implemented as software functional units and, when sold or used as independent products, can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.

[0178] The memory 292, as a computer-readable storage medium, can be used to store software programs and computer-executable programs, such as program instructions / modules corresponding to the methods in the embodiments of this application. The processor 291 executes functional applications and data processing by running the software programs, instructions, and modules stored in the memory 292, thereby implementing the methods in the above-described method embodiments.

[0179] The memory 292 may include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area may store the operating system and application programs required for at least one function; the data storage area may store data created based on the use of the terminal device. Furthermore, the memory 292 may include high-speed random access memory and may also include non-volatile memory.

[0180] This application provides a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, are used to implement the methods described in the foregoing embodiments.

[0181] This application provides a computer program product, including a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the method as described in the foregoing embodiments.

[0182] It should be noted that, for the sake of simplicity, the foregoing method embodiments are all described as a series of actions. However, those skilled in the art should understand that this application is not limited to the described order of actions, as some steps may be performed in other orders or simultaneously according to this application. Furthermore, those skilled in the art should also understand that the embodiments described in the specification are all optional embodiments, and the actions and modules involved are not necessarily essential to this application.

[0183] It should be further noted that although the steps in the flowchart are shown sequentially according to the arrows, these steps are not necessarily executed in the order indicated by the arrows. Unless explicitly stated herein, there is no strict order restriction on the execution of these steps, and they can be executed in other orders. Moreover, at least some steps in the flowchart may include multiple sub-steps or multiple stages. These sub-steps or stages are not necessarily completed at the same time, but can be executed at different times. The execution order of these sub-steps or stages is not necessarily sequential, but can be performed alternately or in turn with other steps or at least some of the sub-steps or stages of other steps.

[0184] It should be understood that the above-described device embodiments are merely illustrative, and the device of this application can also be implemented in other ways. For example, the division of units / modules in the above embodiments is only a logical functional division, and there may be other division methods in actual implementation. For example, multiple units, modules, or components may be combined, or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed.

[0185] Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the functional units / modules in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one unit / module, or each unit / module can exist physically separately, or two or more units / modules can be integrated together. The integrated units / modules described above can be implemented in hardware or as software program modules.

[0186] When the integrated unit / module is implemented in hardware, the hardware can be digital circuits, analog circuits, etc. The physical implementation of the hardware structure includes, but is not limited to, transistors, memristors, etc. The processor can be any suitable hardware processor, such as CPU, GPU, FPGA, DSP, and ASIC. The storage unit can be any suitable magnetic or magneto-optical storage medium, such as Resistive Random Access Memory (RRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Enhanced Dynamic Random Access Memory (EDRAM), High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM), Hybrid Memory Cube (HMC), etc.

[0187] If the integrated unit / module is implemented as a software program module and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage device (CMD). Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a memory and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods of the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned memory includes various media capable of storing program code, such as a USB flash drive, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), portable hard drive, magnetic disk, or optical disk.

[0188] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have their own emphasis. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments. The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as the combination of these technical features does not contradict each other, it should be considered within the scope of this specification.

[0189] Other embodiments of this application will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this application that follow the general principles of this application and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of this application are indicated by the following claims.

[0190] It should be understood that this application is not limited to the precise structure described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of this application is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A network handover method, characterized in that, include: Determine the current network type of the terminal device, where the current network type includes a 5G degraded network or a 4G network; Determine the current communication state of the terminal device, wherein the current communication state includes a connected state or an idle state; Every preset time interval, network switching is performed through the communication module based on the current network type and the current communication status.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Based on the current network type and the current communication status, network switching is performed via the communication module, including: If the current network type is a 5G degraded network, then determine the first measurement interval and the first number of measurements; The measurement is performed according to the first measurement interval and the first number of measurements to obtain multiple first signal quality parameters of the network device connected to the terminal device. Determine whether each first signal quality parameter is less than the parameter threshold; If so, network switching is performed through the communication module based on the current communication status.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, Based on the current communication status, network switching is performed via the communication module, including: If the current communication state is idle, the network type is switched to 4G network through the communication module; If the current communication state is connected, then the first communication state of the terminal device is determined until the first communication state is idle. Then, a second signal quality parameter is determined. If the second information quality parameter is less than the parameter threshold, then the network type is switched to 4G network through the communication module.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, Switching the network type to 4G network via the communication module includes: By disabling the 5G performance reduction capability of the communication module and triggering the communication module to search for a network, the network type can be switched to a 4G network; or, The communication module is set to use only the 4G standard or 4G frequency band, and the communication module is triggered to search for the network, thereby switching the network type to a 4G network.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, Switching the network type to 4G network via the communication module includes: If the network device switches the network type to 4G network, the status of the communication module is updated to 4G network access status, and the network type is switched to 4G network through the communication module; If the communication module is in a state of accessing a 5G network with reduced performance, and after a first time interval, the state of the communication module is obtained again and it is in a state of accessing a 4G network, then the network type is switched to a 4G network through the communication module.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Based on the current network type and the current communication status, network switching is performed via the communication module, including: If the current network type is a 4G network and the current communication state is idle, then the network type is switched to a 5G network with reduced performance via the communication module. If the current network type is a 4G network and the current communication state is connected, then the second communication state of the terminal device is determined until the second communication state is idle. Then, the network type is switched to a 5G network with reduced performance through the communication module.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, Switching the network type to a 5G network with reduced performance via the communication module includes: By restoring the 5G performance degradation capability of the communication module, triggering the communication module to search for networks, and controlling the communication module to first search for 5G performance degradation networks and then search for 4G networks, the network type can be switched to 4G network; or... The communication module is set to use only the 5G standard or 5G frequency band, and the communication module is triggered to search for the network, thereby switching the network type to a 5G network with reduced performance.

8. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, After switching the network type to a 5G network with reduced performance via the communication module, the following is also included: Determine the second measurement interval and the second number of measurements; The measurement is performed according to the second measurement interval and the second number of measurements to obtain multiple second signal quality parameters of the network device connected to the terminal device; Determine whether each second signal quality parameter is less than the sum of the parameter threshold and the preset offset; If so, the network type will be switched to 4G network via the communication module.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, Before performing network switching via the communication module, the following is also included: If the current communication state is idle, then the working state of the communication module is determined, and the working state includes wake-up state or sleep state; If the communication module is in a sleep state, a first instruction is sent to the communication module to keep it awake until the network switch is completed.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The method further includes: When the terminal device starts up, a second instruction is sent to the communication module to cause the communication module to switch the network type to a 5G network with reduced performance, or if the switch to a 5G network with reduced performance is unsuccessful, to switch to a 4G network.

11. A network switching device, characterized in that, include: The first determining module is used to determine the current network type of the terminal device, wherein the current network type includes a 5G degraded network or a 4G network; The second determining module is further configured to determine the current communication state of the terminal device, the current communication state including a connected state or an idle state; The switching module is used to perform network switching through the communication module at preset intervals, based on the current network type and the current communication status.

12. An electronic device, characterized in that, include: A processor, and a memory communicatively connected to the processor; The memory stores computer-executed instructions; The processor executes computer execution instructions stored in the memory to implement the method as described in any one of claims 1-10.

13. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, are used to implement the method as described in any one of claims 1-10.

Images