A communication method and a communication device

Abstract

The application provides a communication method and a communication device. In the method, a first transmission server determines that the first transmission server needs to be switched and determines a second transmission server according to first quality of service (QoS) measurement information and / or first QoS monitoring information, and a service quality of a first transmission client when connecting to the second transmission server through a first access network device and a second user plane function network element for service meets a service quality requirement of an application layer application. That is, the first transmission server can determine whether to switch according to the measured QoS information and in combination with the QoS information between a user equipment (UE)-radio access network (RAN), or between the RAN-user plane function (UPF), or between the UE-RAN-UPF obtained through 5G core network (5GC) monitoring. Moreover, the first transmission server can determine the second transmission server meeting the QoS requirement, so as to switch to the second transmission server, which is beneficial to guarantee the QoS.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application. The original application has the application number 202310019069.8 and the original application date is January 6, 2023. The entire contents of the original application are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and communication device. Background Technology

[0003] Currently, a service enabler architecture layer data delivery server (SEALDD server) working with a SEALDD client can provide end-to-end quality of service (QoS) measurement from the terminal device to the SEALDD server. For example, an application layer server (VAL server) can request data transmission services from the SEALDD server, including the need for end-to-end QoS measurement. The SEALDD server and SEALDD client perform the QoS measurement and generate a measurement report, which includes the measurement results corresponding to the QoS request. However, how to guarantee QoS when the measured QoS is poor remains a problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a communication method and a communication device. In this method, it can determine that the transmission server needs to be switched and select a second transmission server that meets the service quality requirements of the application layer application, so as to switch to the second transmission server to ensure the service quality of the current business.

[0005] Firstly, this application provides a communication method, which is executed by a transmission server, or by a component of the transmission server (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system), or by a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the transmission server's functions. For example, it can be executed by a first transmission server. The first transmission server determines whether to switch based on first quality of service (QoS) measurement information and / or first QoS monitoring information. The first QoS measurement information includes QoS information when the first transmission server connects to a first transmission client via a first user plane function network element and a first access network device. The first QoS monitoring information includes QoS information of the path between the first transmission client and the first access network device, and / or QoS information of the path between the first access network device and the first user plane function network element. The first transmission server determines a second transmission server, and the QoS of the first transmission client connecting to the second transmission server via the first access network device and the second user plane function network element meets the QoS requirements of the application layer application. For example, the first transmission server can determine whether to switch based on the first QoS measurement information, or based on the first QoS measurement information and the first QoS monitoring information. Optionally, the first user plane functional network element and the second user plane functional network element may be the same or different. Optionally, determining to switch the first transmission server means that for the current service, it is possible to try to obtain the quality of service information of other target transmission servers to ensure QoS. Whether to ultimately switch depends on whether a second transmission server that meets the quality of service requirements can be selected.

[0006] In this method, the first transmission server can determine whether to switch based on the measured QoS information and the QoS information between UE and RAN, or between RAN and UPF, or between UE and RAN and UPF obtained from 5GC monitoring (that is, whether to further determine whether there is a second transmission server that meets the service quality information of other target transmission servers). For example, if the transmission between UE and RAN is normal, but the overall QoS is degraded, it may be due to abnormal transmission between RAN and UPF, or abnormal transmission between UPF and SEALDD server, or excessive load on the SEALDD server. Switching the SEALDD server can improve the service quality, thus determining that the first transmission server needs to be switched. Furthermore, the first transmission server can identify a second transmission server that meets the QoS requirements, and can switch to the second transmission server, which helps to ensure QoS.

[0007] In one possible implementation, the first transmission server determines, based on the first quality of service measurement information, that the quality of service when the first transmission server connects to the first transmission client through the first user plane function network element and the first access network device does not meet the quality of service requirements of the application layer application, and / or, when the quality of service of the path between the first transmission client and the first access network device meets the quality of service requirements of the first path, the first transmission server determines to switch over.

[0008] In this method, the first transmission server can determine, based on the measured QoS information, that the service quality does not meet the service quality requirements of the application layer (e.g., QoS degradation of the data stream). If the QoS information between the UE and RAN is normal or the transmission is normal (or, no anomalies are reported between the UE and RAN (e.g., reporting is based on a threshold; if the value is less than the threshold, an anomaly is reported between the UE and RAN)), then the first transmission server needs to perform a handover, which helps to ensure QoS.

[0009] In one possible implementation, a first transmission server receives information about available target application layer servers from a first application layer server. This information is used to determine available target transmission servers. The first transmission server sends a first message to the available target transmission servers, which is used to obtain at least one of the traffic information and load information of the available target transmission servers. The available target transmission servers include one or more transmission servers. For example, if the first message is used to subscribe to at least one of the traffic information and load information of the available target transmission servers, then for this first message, subsequent QoS measurement results are fed back by notification messages. Alternatively, if the first message is used to request at least one of the traffic information and load information of the available target transmission servers, then for this first message, subsequent QoS measurement results are fed back by response messages.

[0010] In one possible implementation, when the service quality of the first transmission server connecting to the first transmission client through the first user plane function network element and the first access network device does not meet the service quality requirements of the application layer application, and the service quality of the path between the first transmission client and the first access network device and the first user plane function network element meets the service quality requirements of the second path, the first transmission server sends a first message to the available target transmission server.

[0011] In the above method, the first transmission server can obtain the corresponding available target transmission server through the information of the available target application layer servers. The first transmission server can obtain one or more of the traffic information and load information from the available target transmission servers, which helps the first transmission server to determine the second transmission server. Optionally, the premise for the first transmission server to send the first message to the available target transmission server may be: when the service quality of the first transmission server connecting to the first transmission client through the first user plane function network element and the first access network device does not meet the service quality requirements of the application layer application, and the service quality of the path between the first transmission client and the first access network device and the first user plane function network element meets the service quality requirements of the second path.

[0012] In one possible implementation, a first transmission server determines the quality of service (QoS) requirements of the application layer application; the first transmission server obtains at least one of the traffic information and load information of available target transmission servers. Based on at least one of the traffic information and load information of the available target transmission servers, the first transmission server determines a second transmission server that meets the QoS requirements of the application layer application, wherein the second transmission server is one of the available target transmission servers.

[0013] In this method, the first transmission server can determine the selection of the second transmission server based on one or more of the load information and N6 transmission status (i.e. traffic information) obtained from the available target transmission server, thereby switching to the second transmission server, which is beneficial to ensuring QoS.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the first transmission server receives information about available target application layer servers from the first application layer server; the information about available target application layer servers is used to determine the information about available target transmission servers. The first transmission server obtains the quality of service information of the available target transmission servers.

[0015] In one possible implementation, the first transmission server obtains the first location of the first transmission client. The first transmission server then sends a second message to an available target transmission server, the second message including the first location and / or information about an available target application layer server. In one possible implementation, the second message is used to obtain quality of service information for a first location using an available target transmission server. The available target transmission server includes one or more transmission servers.

[0016] In the above method, the first transmission server can obtain available target transmission servers through information about available target application layer servers. The first transmission server can request QoS information of available target transmission servers at a first location, which helps the first transmission server determine the second transmission server.

[0017] In one possible implementation, the first transmission server obtains the first location of the first transmission client. The first transmission server sends a third message to the core network equipment, the third message including one or more of the following: the first location, information about an available target transmission server, or a data network access point identifier associated with an available target transmission server.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the third message is used to obtain quality of service information for a first location using an available target transmission server. The available target transmission server includes one or more transmission servers.

[0019] In one possible implementation, the core network device is a network data analysis function network element.

[0020] In the above method, the first transmission server can obtain an available target transmission server through one or more of the following information: a first location, information about available target transmission servers, or the data network access point identifier associated with the available target transmission server. Furthermore, the first transmission server can request QoS information from the core network equipment regarding the available target transmission server at the first location, thereby facilitating the first transmission server's determination of the second transmission server.

[0021] In one possible implementation, a first transport server determines the quality of service (QoS) requirements of the application layer application. The first transport server obtains QoS information for available target transport servers at a first location. Based on this QoS information, the first transport server determines a second transport server that meets the QoS requirements of the application layer application; this second transport server is one of the available target transport servers.

[0022] In this method, the first transmission server can select a second transmission server based on the QoS information of the available target transmission server at the first location, thereby switching to the second transmission server, which is beneficial to ensuring QoS.

[0023] In one possible implementation, the first transmission server sends a fourth message to the core network device, which is used to obtain the first quality of service monitoring information.

[0024] In this method, the first transmission server can obtain first quality of service (QoS) monitoring information from the core network device, which helps determine whether the first transmission server needs to switch over. For example, the first transmission server can obtain QoS monitoring information from the core network device by default, or send the fourth message to the core network device to obtain QoS monitoring information when QoS is downgraded (when the QoS information does not meet the QoS requirements).

[0025] Secondly, this application provides another communication method, which can be executed by a transmission server, or by a component of the transmission server (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system), or by a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the transmission server. For example, it can be executed by a second transmission server. In this method, the second transmission server receives a first message from a first transmission server, which is used to obtain at least one of the traffic information and load information of the second transmission server. The second transmission server then sends at least one of its traffic information and load information to the first transmission server, which is used by the first transmission server to determine a transmission server that meets the quality of service requirements of the application layer application.

[0026] In one possible implementation, the second transmission server is one of the available target transmission servers, which is determined by the first transmission server based on information about the available target application layer servers.

[0027] In one possible implementation, when the service quality of the first transmission server connecting to the first transmission client through the first user plane function network element and the first access network device does not meet the service quality requirements of the application layer application, and the service quality of the path between the first transmission client and the first access network device and the first user plane function network element meets the service quality requirements of the second path, the second transmission server receives the first message from the first transmission server.

[0028] In the above method, if the second transmission server is one of the available target transmission servers, the first transmission server can obtain the corresponding available target transmission server through the information of the available target application layer servers, thereby obtaining the traffic and load information of the second transmission server, which helps the first transmission server to determine the second transmission server. Optionally, the premise for the first transmission server to send the first message to the available target transmission server may be: when the service quality of the first transmission server connecting to the first transmission client through the first user plane function network element and the first access network device does not meet the service quality requirements of the application layer application, and the service quality of the path between the first transmission client and the first access network device and the first user plane function network element meets the service quality requirements of the second path.

[0029] Thirdly, this application provides another communication method, which can be executed by a transmission server, or by a component of the transmission server (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system), or by a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the transmission server's functions. For example, it can be executed by a second transmission server. The second transmission server receives a second message from a first transmission server, which includes information about a first location and / or available target application layer servers. The first location includes the location area where the first transmission client served by the first transmission server is located. The information about available target application layer servers is used to determine the available target transmission servers, including the second transmission server. The second transmission server sends quality of service (QoS) information about using the second transmission server at the first location to the first transmission server. This QoS information is used by the first transmission server to determine the second transmission server that meets the QoS requirements of the application layer application.

[0030] In one possible implementation, the second message is used to obtain quality of service information of the available target transmission server at the first location.

[0031] In the above method, if the second transmission server is any one of the available target transmission servers, the first transmission server can obtain the corresponding available target transmission server through the information of the available target application layer server and / or the first location, thereby obtaining the QoS information of the available target transmission server at the first location, which is beneficial for the first transmission server to determine the second transmission server.

[0032] Fourthly, this application provides another communication method, which is executed by a transmission server, or by a component of the transmission server (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system), or by a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the transmission server's functions. In this method, the transmission server obtains a first quality of service (QoS) requirement; the transmission server also obtains QoS information when a transmission client uses the transmission server's service at a second location. Based on the first QoS requirement and the QoS information, the transmission server determines a second QoS requirement for the transmission client, the second QoS requirement including a set of one or more QoS parameters. For example, the transmission server may obtain the first QoS requirement by directly receiving it from an application layer server, or it may determine it based on relevant parameters from the application layer server; this application does not limit this. Furthermore, the QoS information when a transmission client uses the transmission server's service at a second location can also be referred to as predicted QoS information.

[0033] In this method, after the transmission server obtains the first quality of service requirement, it can determine the second quality of service requirement based on the quality of service information and the first quality of service requirement in order to ensure QoS.

[0034] In one possible implementation, the transmission server sends a fifth message to the network data analysis function element. This fifth message is used to obtain quality of service (QoS) information using the information from the transmission client and the service information from the transmission server. The transmission server receives the QoS information from the network data analysis function element.

[0035] In this method, the transmission server can obtain the quality of service information when the transmission client uses the service of the transmission server at the second location from the network data analysis function network element, which helps the transmission server to determine the second quality of service requirements for QoS assurance.

[0036] In one possible implementation, the transmission server sends a request message to the core network device, which requests the core network device to provide a guarantee for a second quality of service requirement, which includes a set of one or more quality of service parameters.

[0037] In this method, the transmission server can request guarantees for alternative QoS requirements from the core network equipment, which is conducive to more comprehensive QoS guarantees.

[0038] In one possible implementation, the core network equipment is a network open function network element or a policy control function network element.

[0039] Fifthly, this application provides a communication device, which may be a transmission server, a device within a transmission server, or a device compatible with a transmission server. In one possible implementation, the communication device may include modules that perform the methods / operations / steps / actions described in the first to fourth aspects and in any possible implementation of the first to fourth aspects. These modules may be hardware circuits, software, or a combination of hardware circuits and software. In another possible implementation, the communication device may include a processing unit and a communication unit.

[0040] It is understood that the communication device can also achieve the effects that can be achieved in the first to fourth aspects, and in any of the possible implementations of the first to fourth aspects.

[0041] Sixthly, this application provides a communication device, comprising: a processor and a memory, the memory being used to store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the communication device to implement the methods described in the first to fourth aspects, and any possible implementation of the first to fourth aspects. Optionally, the processor and the memory are coupled.

[0042] In a seventh aspect, this application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the methods of the first to fourth aspects and any possible implementation of the first to fourth aspects.

[0043] Eighthly, this application provides a chip system including a processor and an interface, and may further include a memory for implementing the methods of the first to fourth aspects described above, and any possible implementation of the first to fourth aspects. The chip system may be composed of chips, or may include chips and other discrete devices.

[0044] Ninthly, this application provides a computer program product including instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the methods of the first to fourth aspects and any possible implementation of the first to fourth aspects. Attached Figure Description

[0045] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a communication system provided in this application; Figure 2 A flowchart illustrating the process of adjusting an alternative QoS requirement; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a SEALDD enhancement layer architecture; Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating a QoS measurement process. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a core network deployment hierarchy; Figure 6 A flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in this application; Figure 7 A flowchart illustrating another communication method provided in this application; Figure 8 A flowchart illustrating yet another communication method provided in this application; Figure 9 A flowchart illustrating another communication method provided in this application; Figure 10 A schematic diagram of a communication device provided in this application; Figure 11A schematic diagram of another communication device provided in this application. Detailed Implementation

[0046] In this application embodiment, " / " can indicate that the related objects are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B can represent A or B. "And / or" can be used to describe three relationships between related objects. For example, A and / or B can represent three cases: A alone, A and B simultaneously, and B alone. A and B can be singular or plural. To facilitate the description of the technical solutions in this application embodiment, the terms "first" and "second" can be used to distinguish technical features with the same or similar functions. These terms do not limit the quantity or execution order, and they are not necessarily different. In this application embodiment, the words "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or explanations. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" should not be construed as being better or more advantageous than other embodiments or design solutions. The use of "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present related concepts in a specific manner for ease of understanding.

[0047] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0048] To address the issue of QoS assurance when the QoS measurement results obtained from the transmission server and transmission client are poor, this application provides a communication method that can identify a second transmission server that meets the QoS requirements of the application layer, thereby enabling switching and facilitating QoS assurance.

[0049] In this application, the service enabler architecture layer data delivery (SEALDD) service described herein can be simply referred to as the SEALDD service. The service enabler architecture layer data delivery server can be simply referred to as the delivery server, or simply the SEALDD server. The service enabler architecture layer data delivery client can be simply referred to as the delivery client, or simply the SEALDD client. It is understood that the above abbreviations are merely examples, and both the SEALDD server and client can implement the service enabler architecture layer data delivery service described above. That is, the parts referred to as SEALDD in this application can be replaced with service enabler architecture layer data delivery. Optionally, the delivery server in this application can also be called a data delivery enhancement layer server (primarily used to provide data delivery services and belonging to the enabler layer or enhancement layer).

[0050] In this application, the quality of service information may refer to QoS (quality of service) or service experience (QoE, also known as service experience). That is to say, the parts referred to as QoS, QoE, and service experience in this application can all be replaced with service quality.

[0051] The communication method provided in this application can be applied to, for example... Figure 1 In the communication system shown, for example, the communication system can be a service-enabled architecture layer data transmission service architecture (e.g., simply referred to as the SEALDD service architecture). The communication system includes terminal devices (including SEALDD client, radio access network (RAN) equipment, core network equipment, SEALDD server, vertical application layer server (VAL server), etc.).

[0052] The core network equipment may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following devices or network elements: User Plane Function (UPF) network elements, Application Function (AF) network elements, Access and Mobility Management (AMF) network elements, Session Management (SMF) network elements, and Policy Control (PCF) network elements. The AMF is primarily responsible for mobility management in the mobile network, such as user location updates, user network registration, and user handover. The SMF is primarily responsible for session management in the mobile network, such as session establishment, modification, and release. Specific functions include assigning IP addresses to users and selecting the UPF that provides packet forwarding functionality. The PCF is responsible for providing policies to the AMF and SMF, such as QoS policies and slice selection policies. The AF is responsible for providing services to the network, such as influencing service routing and interacting with the PCF for policy control. The UPF is primarily responsible for processing user packets, such as forwarding and billing; it can also be used to provide mobility during wireless access, in which case the UPF is also called the Protocol Data Unit Session Anchor UPF (PSA UPF). The SEALDD client can be part of the terminal device, running as software or a system component. The SEALDD server, on the other hand, is deployed as a standalone or integrated server between the UPF and the application server (AS). For example, the SEALDD server can be a standalone server, deployed between the UPF and the AS, such as... Figure 1 As shown. For example, a SEALDD server can integrate its functionality into a UPF or an AS. Optionally, depending on the deployment of the UPF and AS, multiple SEALDD servers can be deployed in a distributed manner.

[0053] For example, the user plane connection between the SEALDD client and the SEALDD server, deployed on a 5G system session, can be represented as the UE accessing the network through the RAN's air interface. The RAN and UPF are connected via the N3 interface, allowing connection to different UPF levels. Assuming different SEALDD servers correspond to different cloud platforms, these servers connect to different VAL servers within those cloud platforms. When a UE connects to SEALDD server1 through a RAN and UPF1 and interacts with VAL server1 via SEALDD server1, if the network detects poor data transmission quality, it can optimize and adjust the network based on different causes. For instance, if the poor data transmission quality is due to high load on the SEALDD server or VAL server, or abnormal transmission on the N6 interface, the network can optimize by keeping the RAN and UPF unchanged and switching the SEALDD server and VAL server, thereby improving service quality. Similarly, if the poor data transmission quality is due to high UPF load or congestion on the N3 transmission path, the network can optimize by keeping the RAN unchanged and switching the UPF and its corresponding SEALDD server and VAL server, thereby improving service quality.

[0054] Specifically, terminal equipment can be user equipment (UE), terminals, mobile phones, IoT terminal devices (such as in-vehicle devices, wearable devices, etc.), terminal devices in 5G networks, terminal devices in future evolved PLMN networks, or terminal devices in next-generation networks (such as 6G), etc. Radio access network equipment can be any device capable of communicating with terminal equipment; radio access network equipment can be a base station (BS), a relay station, or an access point (AP). Among these, a base station can be an evolutionary node B (eNB or eNodeB) in a long-term evolution (LTE) system, a gNode B in a new radio (NR) network, a radio device in a next-generation radio access network (NG), a radio controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario, an AP in a wireless fidelity (WiFi) network, or a BS in a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) network, etc.

[0055] I. Definitions of relevant terms used in this application: 1. Procedure for adjusting alternative QoS requirements: Currently, SA2 supports QoS requirement adjustments, including adjustments to parameters such as guaranteed flow bit rate (GFBR), packet delay budget (PDB), and packet error rate (PER). When the RAN detects that a QoS requirement cannot be met, it can trigger a notification message to the AF; or, it can trigger an alternative QoS adjustment, reducing the QoS guarantee level and notifying the AF. Specifically, the AF can propose alternative QoS requirements. If the RAN cannot meet the AF's QoS requirements, it can perform QoS adjustments and report the corresponding alternative QoS reference.

[0056] For example, Figure 2 A flowchart illustrating the process of adjusting an alternative QoS requirement, including the following steps: Step 1: The AF (possibly through the network exposure function (NEF)) sends a request message (e.g., AF request) to the PCF.

[0057] The request message may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: application descriptor, QoS requirement information, QoS notification control (QNC) information, and an alternative QoS set (which includes multiple QoS requirements, sorted by priority, and satisfied in descending order of priority). The application descriptor can be an application ID or an IP 5-tuple, etc.; the alternative QoS set contains multiple alternative QoS levels, and the network can prioritize and satisfy the highest priority QoS. If the current network conditions cannot satisfy the QoS, a lower priority QoS is selected and the AF is notified; if the lowest QoS cannot be satisfied, the service is released and the AF is notified.

[0058] Step 2: PCF determines the QoS flow identifier (QFI) information corresponding to the application data flow based on the QoS requirement information and application descriptor in the request message, and generates the corresponding session management policy (SM policy) information and sends it to SMF.

[0059] Step 3: The SMF generates configuration information based on the policy information of the corresponding QFI and sends the configuration information to the RAN. This configuration information includes one or more of the following: the QFI corresponding to the QoS Flow, the QoS requirements corresponding to the QFI, and QNC indication information.

[0060] Step 4: The RAN performs maintenance based on the QoS requirements configured in the SMF.

[0061] The SMF (Service Provider Function) sends a QoS monitoring request to the RAN (Radio Controller Function) through the AMF (Application Manager Function). The RAN monitors the uplink and downlink QoS (e.g., latency) on the UE side. If the QoS requirements of the AF (Automatic Response Function) cannot be met, it reports this to the SMF. Optionally, if the RAN cannot meet the QoS profile parameters provided by the SMF, it can report the reference information of a currently matching alternative QoS profile when sending QoS notification to the SMF. Optionally, if the RAN has no candidate QoS profiles, and the current QoS requirements (e.g., GFBR, PDB, or PER) cannot be met, the RAN will send a notification to the SMF indicating that the current QoS requirements cannot be met. The RAN will still maintain the QoS flow but release the resources corresponding to the QoS flow (radio link failure, RAN-side blocking). After the RAN sends this notification to the SMF, the SMF will further send the notification information to the PCF (Power Controller Function). Optionally, in the case of alternative QoS, when the RAN cannot meet the QoS profile parameters, it can report the alternative QoS that can be met to the SMF according to the priority order of alternative QoS. The RAN can also detect (at certain time intervals) and report the currently met QoS conditions. SMF can further report the alternative QoS satisfaction status to PCF.

[0062] Optionally, for inter-base station handover scenarios, the source RAN transmits the corresponding QoS profile and alternative QoS profile information to the target RAN, and then the target RAN determines whether the QoS requirements can be met and reports this to the source RAN. Optionally, during the creation or modification of a QoS flow, the RAN can determine whether the QoS profile and alternative QoS profile can be met, and report the met alternative QoS information to the SMF (e.g., via N2 SM information). Optionally, the SMF can further report the QoS satisfaction status to the PCF. If the PCF does not provide specific instructions, the SMF can indicate the QoS satisfaction status to the UE via NAS information.

[0063] Step 5: When the RAN detects that the current RAN state cannot support the corresponding QoS requirements, the RAN sends a QNC notification message to the SMF. This QNC notification message includes information about whether the QoS requirements corresponding to the current AFI cannot be met or information about alternative QoS adjustments.

[0064] Step 6: After receiving the QNC notification message, the SMF sends a notification message to the AF. This notification message includes information about the QoS requirement not being met or information about the adjustment to alternative QoS. In other words, when the QoS requirement cannot be met or the original QoS requirement is adjusted to an alternative QoS, the AF needs to be notified.

[0065] 2. QoS monitoring mechanism: Currently, in SA2-related standard protocols, QoS monitoring mechanisms are used to monitor packet latency. For example, for measuring / monitoring latency between UE, RAN, and UPF, it can be divided into latency between UE and RAN, latency between RAN and UPF, or latency between UE and RAN-UPF. For QoS monitoring requirements, the RAN can provide detection of uplink and downlink latency between UE and RAN. Latency between RAN and UPF is measured at the granularity of terminal device (per UE) or data flow (per QoS flow), or at the granularity of GPRS tunnel protocol userplant (GTP-U). The specific measurement granularity depends on operator configuration, requests from third-party AFs, or policy control of PCFs; this application does not limit this.

[0066] Optionally, if the AF issues a QoS monitoring request, the PCF can generate a corresponding QoS monitoring policy based on the request and add the QoS monitoring policy to the Policy and Charging Control (PCC) rules. This PCC rule can then be sent from the PCF to the SMF. For example, the QoS monitoring policy may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: the QoS parameters to be measured (e.g., uplink latency, downlink latency, loop latency, etc.), the measurement reporting period (e.g., when using periodic triggering mode, the reporting period needs to be set), the measurement reporting threshold (e.g., when using event triggering mode, the event reporting threshold needs to be set), the QoS measurement reporting path / target entity for measurement reporting (e.g., reporting to the PCF / AF / local NEF), and direct measurement reporting indications. Information such as uplink latency, downlink latency, or loop latency obtained by the UPF can be reported to the SMF via the N4 interface, and then by the SMF to the PCF. Optionally, the AF can directly or indirectly subscribe to relevant events from the PCF through the NEF. For example, AF can subscribe to QoS monitoring and then receive relevant latency measurement results from PCF, where the latency results obtained by PCF are obtained from SMF.

[0067] Optionally, the SMF can send an N1N2MessageTransfer message to the AMF, where the N2 SMinformation sent to the RAN can carry QoS monitoring indication information, QoS monitoring frequency, and other information. After receiving the QoS monitoring indication information sent by the SMF through the AMF, the RAN can enable uplink latency measurement between the UE and the RAN, where the specific latency measurement frequency is the QoS monitoring frequency. Optionally, the RAN can refuse QoS monitoring. For example, after the NG-RAN receives an N2 message (which includes QoS monitoring indication information, etc.) sent from the SMF through the AMF, the RAN can refuse to perform QoS monitoring due to load conditions, etc. Optionally, the SMF can issue a QoS monitoring policy to the UPF. For example, the SMF can send an N4 rule to the UPF through an N4 Session Modification Request message, and this N4 rule contains a QoS monitoring policy.

[0068] The following section introduces different scenarios for QoS monitoring.

[0069] Scenario 1: QoS monitoring between NG-RAN and PSA UPF, with measurement granularity at per UE or per QoS flow.

[0070] First, the network activates QoS measurements, including end-to-end (UE-RAN-PSA UPF) QoS measurements activated by the SMF per QoS flow during the PDU creation or modification process. For example, the SMF sends a QoS monitoring request message to the PSA UPF through the N4 interface and a QoS monitoring request message to the NG-RAN through the N2 interface. The QoS monitoring request message includes QoS monitoring parameters determined by the SMF based on local configuration or the QoS monitoring policy received by the PCF.

[0071] Then, NG-RAN receives a QoS monitoring request message and initiates QoS monitoring. For example, based on the QoS monitoring request message from SMF, the RAN node initiates uplink or downlink latency detection on the RAN side. The RAN node can send the uplink or downlink latency measurement results detected by the RAN node to the PSA UPF via uplink data packets or empty uplink packets. For example, latency measurement and monitoring between NG-RAN and PSA UPF includes the following steps: (1) Based on the QoS reporting frequency received from the SMF, the PSA UPF sends a monitoring data packet to the RAN. Among them, for the monitoring data packet, the PSA UPF may carry the QFI identifier, QoS monitoring indication information, and the time T1 for the PSA UPF to send the downlink monitoring data packet in the GTP-U header.

[0072] (2) NG-RAN receives the monitoring data packet from PSA UPF and records the time T2 when the downlink monitoring data packet is received and the time T1 when the UPF sends the downlink monitoring data packet.

[0073] (3) The NG-RAN receives the uplink data packet from the UE and sends the uplink data packet to the PSA UPF to measure the uplink delay; or, the NG-RAN directly sends an empty uplink packet to the PSA UPF to measure the uplink delay. For example, the NG-RAN can encapsulate QoS monitoring indication information, uplink or downlink delay results measured by the RAN, T1, T2, and the time T3 when the NG-RAN sends the uplink monitoring data packet in the GTP-U header.

[0074] (4) The PSA UPF receives uplink monitoring data packets from the NG-RAN and records the time T4 when the uplink monitoring data packets are received. Based on this, the PSA UPF can calculate the loop delay between the PSA UPF and the NG-RAN, or the one-way uplink or downlink delay. In addition, if the NG-RAN carries the delay between the UE and the NG-RAN measured by the NG-RAN in the GTP-U header, the PSA UPF can obtain the delay information between the UE and the RAN.

[0075] (5) The PSA UPF reports QoS measurement results. For example, the PSA UPF reports based on latency measurement results (latency between UE and RAN; or latency between UE, RAN, and PSA UPF). If the latency measurement result is greater than the latency threshold issued by the SMF, the UPF sends the latency measurement result to the SMF through the N4 interface. Optionally, for scenarios with redundant session dual-connection transmission, the UPF can send the latency measurement results of two uplink paths to the SMF.

[0076] Scenario 2: QoS monitoring between NG-RAN and PSA UPF, with measurement granularity at GTP-U level.

[0077] The SMF can activate QoS monitoring on the GTP-U path between the RAN and all UPFs connected to it, based on its local configuration policy. For example, if the PCF sends a QoS monitoring policy to the SMF, and the differentiated services code point (DSCP) corresponding to 5QI in the PCC rule is still not activated for QoS monitoring, the SMF can activate all relevant UPFs to perform QoS monitoring for the PDU session and the RAN. For example, when QoS monitoring includes latency monitoring, the GTP-U endpoints (e.g., the GTP-U sender or receiver) can compare the measured packet latency with the PDB parameters based on the QoS monitoring policy (i.e., PDB parameters) received from the SMF. If the packet latency exceeds the PDB parameters, the UPF can send an alarm message to the SMF or Operation Administration and Maintenance (OAM) indicating that the packet latency exceeds the PDB parameters. The RAN can measure and send (e.g., via the N3 interface) the uplink or downlink packet latency measured on the RAN side to the UPF. The UPF can calculate the uplink or downlink packet latency of the N3 / N9 interface (applicable to N9 when an intermediate UPF (I-UPF) is present). The UPF can then report QoS monitoring results. For example, the UPF can send QoS monitoring results to the SMF via the N4 interface, or it can send QoS monitoring results to the AF via the local NEF.

[0078] 3. Reporting process of N4 interface between UPF and SMF: The UPF can use the N4 reporting process to report relevant events to the SMF. For example, the UPF can send an N4 session report message to the SMF, and after receiving the N4 session report message, the SMF can send an N4 session report confirmation message to the UPF. The reporting trigger event on the UPF side is provided by the SMF configuration.

[0079] Optionally, when performing QoS monitoring, the SMF can configure the UPF to report latency detection results. For example, the UPF can calculate uplink or downlink packet latency (e.g., calculate the latency between the RAN and UPF, or the latency between the UE and UPF). If the measured packet latency exceeds a specified threshold, or the reporting period times out, the UPF can report the latency detection results to the SMF, including the packet latency exceeding the specified threshold or the reporting period timeout. Specifically, the N4 reporting path could be, for example, UPF-SMF-PCF-(NEF)-AF, and the reporting path can be specified by the PCF in the PCC rule. The UPF can report QoS monitoring notifications to the AF through a service-based interface, for example, by using the Nnef_AFsessionWithQoS_Notify service of the NEF network element to report QoS monitoring results (e.g., uplink latency, downlink latency, or loop latency). Optionally, QoS monitoring results can be reported to the corresponding API of the AF. For example, QoS monitoring results (including uplink latency, downlink latency, or loop latency, etc.) can be fed back to the AF through the Nnef_AFsessionWithQoS_Notify service of the NEF network element.

[0080] 4. SEALDD Enhancement Layer Architecture: Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a SEALDD enhancement layer architecture. The SEALDD enhancement layer includes a SEALDD client and a SEALDD server. The SEALDD client runs on the UE as part of the UE, either as software or a system component. Figure 3 The SEALDD server shown can be deployed between the UPF and AS, or... Figure 3The interface structure between the various modules shown includes: communication between the VAL client and the SEALDD client via the SEALDD-C interface; communication between the VAL server and the SEALDD server via the SEALDD-S interface; and data transmission between the SEALDD client and the SEALDD server via the SEALDD-UU interface. The SEALDD-UU interface is carried on the user plane session constructed by the 3GPP network system. The SEALDD server can communicate with the PCF for control plane messages via the N33 / N5 interface. For example, the N5 interface is the interface between the AF and the PCF. N33 is the interface between the AF and the NEF. The AF can communicate indirectly with the PCF through the NEF. The SEALDD server can send AF requests or subscribe to notifications to the 5GC. The SEALDD server can also transmit user plane data with the UPF via the N6 interface. SEALDD servers interact with each other via the SEALDD-E interface, including control plane context transmission and user plane data forwarding. It can be understood that the VAL client can be the AC in the UE. The VAL server can be the EAS or AS. It is also understandable that when VAL has the capability to support SEALDD services, it adopts such... Figure 3 The SEALDD enhancement layer architecture shown enables VAL to implement SEALDD service-related functions. Specifically, during uplink transmission of user plane data, the VALclient first sends the application data packet to the SEALDD client. The SEALDD client encapsulates the packet and sends it to the SEALDD server. The SEALDD server then parses the packet and sends it back to the VAL server. It's understandable that downlink transmission of user plane data follows a similar process.

[0081] It's important to note that when there's no distinction between the data plane and control plane, AS and AF can be used interchangeably or interchangeably; that is, AS and AF can be physically deployed on the same server. Alternatively, when there's a distinction between the data plane and control plane, AS and AF are used to perform different functions. For example, in 5GC, AS can transmit user plane data with UPF via the N6 interface. As another example, in 5GC, AF can communicate control plane messages with PCF via the N5 or N33 interface.

[0082] 5. Network data analytics function (NWDAF): The network element performs statistical evaluation and prediction of QoS and Service Experience, etc. Currently, NWDAF can collect network operation information, such as statistical evaluation and prediction of QoS and Service Experience for specific areas, specific services, and specified UEs. Furthermore, NWDAF can send these statistical evaluations and predictions to AF for the AF to select the data network access identifier (DNAI).

[0083] Specifically, the information that NWDAF can collect may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: (1) NWDAF can collect data from AF on the performance of a specified UE using a specific application at a specific location and connecting to the APP server address at that specific location over a certain period of time. The performance data includes, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: average latency, average packet loss rate, average throughput, etc. For example, NWDAF can obtain the corresponding performance data through information such as UE ID, UE location, application ID, location of application, and application server instance address.

[0084] (2) NWDAF can collect the air interface status of a specified UE in a specific cell at a specific time from OAM, including information such as reference signal receiving power (RSRP) and signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR). For example, NWDAF can obtain the corresponding air interface status through information such as UE ID, UE location, timestamp, and cell ID.

[0085] (3) NWDAF can collect information from SMF and UPF about the QFI to which a UE's session belongs in a specific DNAI-specific APP service (IPfilter), as well as the rate, packet latency, packet retransmission rate, etc. of that QFI. For example, NWDAF can obtain the following information: a. Collect mobility management (MM) related information from the AMF, such as UE location and UE identifier; b. Collect SM-related information from SMF, such as single networkslice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI), application ID information, DNAI, IP packet filtering information, session service UPF information, etc.

[0086] c. Collect data packet measurement-related information from the UPF, such as QoS flow packet bit rate, QoS flow data packet latency, number of data packet transmissions, and number of data packet retransmissions.

[0087] (4) The granularity of the service experience provided by NWDAF can be determined down to a specific application ID, and the service is obtained through a specific slice (S-NSSAI). When a UE obtains a service in a specific area of ​​interest (TA granularity) through a specific DNAI and UPF, the corresponding service experience of the UE for that service can be known.

[0088] For example, NWDAF can share service experience-related information with AF based on information collected from AF, OAM, 5GC, etc. For instance, AF can subscribe to service experience filtering information (such as analytics filter information) from NWDAF. This analytics filter information includes application ID, DNAI, area of ​​interest, etc. The service experience information includes slice service experience information, application service experience information, etc.

[0089] (5) The NWDAF can open statistical or predicted values ​​of the service experience of a UE accessing a network through a certain DNAI at a specific location to other network elements or external AFs. These statistical or predicted values ​​can be used for DNAI selection.

[0090] 6. QoS measurement: Currently, a SEALDD server, in conjunction with a SEALDD client, can provide end-to-end QoS measurement from the UE to the SEALDD server. For example, Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating a QoS measurement process, implemented through the interaction between the VAL client, SEALDD client, SEALDD server, and VAL server, including the following steps: Step 1: The VAL server sends a service subscription request message to the SEALDD server. This message requests data transmission services. The service subscription request message may include requirements for end-to-end QoS measurement, specifying the SEALDD connection information for the QoS measurement, etc.

[0091] Step 2: The SEALDD server sends a service subscription response message to the VAL server. This service subscription response message is used to provide feedback.

[0092] Step 3: Establish the SEALDD connection, setting up a data transfer connection between the SEALDD client and the SEALDD server. Note that Step 3 is optional. Alternatively, a data transfer connection may already be established between the SEALDD client and the SEALDD server before Step 1.

[0093] Step 4: The SEALDD server sends a downlink data packet to the SEALDD client, and carries timestamp information in the downlink data packet (e.g., in the packet header).

[0094] Step 5: The SEALDD client receives downlink data packets sent by the SEALDD server, performs measurements, and records the timestamp information of the SEALDD client. The SEALDD client sends uplink data packets to the SEALDD server, which carry the reception time of the downlink data packets and the transmission time of the uplink data packets.

[0095] Step 6: The SEALDD server can calculate the transmission latency based on the uplink data packets sent by the SEALDD client, and can also collect data such as packet loss rate and bandwidth information to generate a measurement report.

[0096] Step 7: The SEALDD server sends a measurement report to the VAL server.

[0097] 7. Core network deployment levels: For example, Figure 5This diagram illustrates a hierarchical deployment of a core network, potentially categorized as metropolitan core, provincial backbone core, regional / national backbone core, etc. Each level has its own dedicated UPF (User Server Provider) data center, which may be assigned different DNAIs for UPF selection. For example, different provinces may have independent UPFs, each connecting to different data networks (DNs), resulting in different DNAIs. Further, the deployment below the metropolitan core involves the distribution of the RAN (Radio Access Node) and access rings. Each RAN node connects to the access ring and then to the core network via an aggregation ring. Thus, through the hierarchical deployment of RAN and UPF nodes, the RAN can connect to different levels of UPFs via the aggregation ring, such as regional, provincial, or regional UPFs. Different levels of UPFs are distinguished by their DNAIs. When the UE (User Equipment) remains stationary, the RAN nodes do not change. The UE can switch to access the network on a different level of UPF by changing its DNAI.

[0098] II. The communication method provided in this application: Example 1: Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided in this application. This communication method is applied to, for example... Figure 1 In the communication system shown, for example, the communication method can be performed by a transmission server (e.g., a first transmission server) and includes the following steps: S101, the first transmission server determines to switch based on the first service quality measurement information and / or the first service quality monitoring information.

[0099] The first quality of service (QoS) measurement information includes QoS information when the first transmission server connects to the first transmission client to provide service through the first user plane function network element and the first access network device, wherein the first transmission client is the terminal device (including the SEALDD client) served by the first transmission server. Specifically, the first QoS measurement information includes QoS information measured by the first SEALDD server, and / or analysis information from the network data analysis function network element. The QoS information measured by the first SEALDD server may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: latency, throughput, packet loss rate, etc. Specifically, the SEALDD server can measure the QoS information between the UE (or SEALDD client) - RAN - UPF - SEALDD server. For example, the first SEALDD server can use the QoS measurement steps described in Section 6 above to measure the QoS information between the UE - RAN - UPF - SEALDD server (e.g., measuring the latency, throughput, packet loss rate, etc. of the aforementioned path). The analysis information from the network data analysis function element NWDAF can refer to the information that NWDAF can collect as described in Section 5 above. For example, NWDAF can collect data from the SEALDD server (e.g., the first SEALDD server) on the performance of a specified UE using a specific application at a specific location and connecting to the APP server address at a specific location over a certain period of time (e.g., including average latency, average packet loss rate, average throughput, etc.). This application does not limit this.

[0100] The first quality of service (QoS) monitoring information includes the path between the first transmission client and the access network device, and / or the path between the first access network device and the first user plane function network element. Specifically, the first QoS monitoring information may include QoS measurement information of the path (e.g., latency, throughput, packet loss rate, etc. of the path between the first transmission client and the access network device), or the first QoS monitoring information may be indicative information used to indicate whether the QoS information of the path exceeds a threshold (i.e., QoS abnormality). For example, in the current SA2 mechanism, the AF (i.e., the SEALDD server in this application) can request QoS monitoring from the 5GC to request feedback on QoS measurement information between UE and RAN, or between RAN and UPF, or between UE and RAN-UPF, or whether the QoS information between UE and RAN, or between RAN and UPF, or between UE and RAN-UPF exceeds a threshold (i.e., QoS abnormality). For specific implementation details, please refer to the description of the QoS monitoring mechanism in Section 2 above, which will not be repeated here.

[0101] Specifically, S101 includes the following situations: Scenario 1: If, based on the first quality of service (QoS) measurement information, the first transmission server determines that the QoS of the first transmission server connecting to the first transmission client via the first user plane function network element and the first access network device does not meet the QoS requirements of the application layer application, then the first transmission server will decide to perform a handover. In other words, the first transmission server can determine whether to perform a handover based solely on the first QoS measurement information.

[0102] For example, when the first quality of service measurement information includes QoS information obtained by the first SEALDD server from the UE-RAN-UPF-SEALDD server path, and the first SEALDD server determines that the QoS information does not meet the quality of service requirements of the application layer application, the first SEALDD server determines that the quality of service of the data stream is degraded.

[0103] Specifically, the service quality requirements for application-layer applications described in this application can be the service quality requirements for VAL applications, including, for example: a. Satisfying the QoS requirements received from the VAL server, that is, the QoS optimization or guarantee services (including QoS requirements) requested by the VAL server from the SEALDD server. For example, the first VAL server can send a QoS request message to the first SEALDD server, which includes the QoS requirements and / or information on available VAL servers (when the QoS requirements are not met, the SEALDD server switches over, and the network can also reselect a target VAL server from the available VAL servers to satisfy the QoS requirements).

[0104] b. Meet the QoS requirements calculated by the SEALDD server based on the service type (API type information) subscribed to in the VAL or the parameters carried in the subscription.

[0105] Optionally, the quality of service requirements of application layer applications may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following requirements: latency requirements (e.g., if the latency is less than a preset latency threshold, the QoS requirement is considered to be met; otherwise, the QoS requirement is not met), packet loss rate requirements (e.g., if the packet loss rate is less than a preset packet loss rate threshold, the QoS requirement is considered to be met; otherwise, the QoS requirement is not met), throughput requirements (e.g., if the throughput is greater than a preset throughput threshold, the QoS requirement is considered to be met; otherwise, the QoS requirement is not met), etc.

[0106] Scenario 2: When the service quality (SQW) of the first transmission server connecting to the first transmission client via the first user plane function network element and the first access network device does not meet the SQW requirements of the application layer application, and the SQW of the path between the first transmission client and the first access network device meets the SQW requirements of the first path, the first transmission server determines to perform a handover. Alternatively, when the SQW of the first transmission server connecting to the first transmission client via the first user plane function network element and the first access network device does not meet the SQW requirements of the application layer application, and the SQW of the path between the first transmission client and the first access network device meets the SQW requirements of the first path, the first transmission server determines to perform a handover. That is, the first transmission server needs to comprehensively consider the first SQW measurement information and the first SQW monitoring information to determine whether to perform a handover. The SQW requirements of the first path are the required parameter values ​​for determining whether there is a fault between the UE and the RAN. These SQW requirements can be provided by the SEALDD server, determined by the core network device (such as the PCF) according to QoS requirements, or determined by the core network device (such as the PCF) according to its own configuration; this application does not impose any limitations on these requirements.

[0107] For example, if QoS measurements between the UE and RAN are normal, but the service quality of the data flow is degraded, it may be due to an anomaly on the RAN-UPF-SEALDD server side, or an anomaly on the UE-RAN-UPF side, but an anomaly in the N6 path or SEALDD server load. Both of these anomalies can be resolved by switching the SEALDD server. For instance, if the UE-RAN-UPF side is normal but the N6 path or SEALDD server load is abnormal (e.g., poor data transmission quality is caused by high load on the SEALDD server or VAL server in the data center), the RAN and UPF can be kept unchanged, and the SEALDD server and / or VAL server can be switched to improve service quality. Similarly, if the UE-RAN side is normal but the RAN-UPF-SEALDD server side is abnormal (e.g., poor data transmission quality is caused by high UPF load or N3 path congestion), the RAN can be kept unchanged, and the UPF and the corresponding SEALDD server and VAL server can be switched to improve service quality.

[0108] Optionally, the quality of service (QoS) of the path between the first transmission client and the first access network device meets the QoS requirements of the first path, which can also be referred to as normal path transmission between the first transmission client and the first access network device. For example, when the QoS of the path between the first transmission client and the first access network device meets the QoS requirements of the first path, it includes the following two situations: a. The first transmission server did not receive any abnormal feedback between the UE and RAN. For example, if the QoS information between the UE and RAN did not exceed the threshold, the core network equipment did not report any abnormal information, and correspondingly, the SEALDD server did not receive any abnormal information.

[0109] b. The first transmission server receives normal QoS information. For example, the SEALDD server receives QoS information and determines that the QoS information between the UE and RAN does not exceed the threshold based on the QoS information; that is, the SEALDD server receives normal QoS information.

[0110] S102, the first transmission server determines the second transmission server.

[0111] Specifically, when the first transmission client connects to the second transmission server through the first access network device and the second user plane function network element, the quality of service (QoS) meets the QoS requirements of the application layer application. That is, when the first transmission server cannot meet the QoS requirements, the first transmission server can select another transmission server (such as the second transmission server) and switch the service to the second transmission server, thereby serving the first transmission client through the second transmission server.

[0112] Specifically, the first transmission server determines the second transmission server in the following situations: Scenario 1: When the UE-RAN-UPF side is normal, but the overall QoS is degraded, it can be inferred that this is due to anomalies in the N6 path or SEALDD server load (e.g., poor data transmission quality is caused by high load on the SEALDD server or VALserver in the data center). In this case, the RAN and UPF can remain unchanged, and the SEALDD server and / or VAL server can be switched. Optionally, before selecting the second transmission server, the first transmission server can obtain one or more of the load and traffic information of the available target transmission servers in advance, and determine the second transmission server that meets the service requirements based on the load and traffic information of the available target transmission servers. In this case, the first and second transmission servers share the same DNAI. Optionally, when QoS degradation occurs, but the UE-RAN-UPF transmission is normal, the first transmission server can also obtain one or more of the load and traffic information of the available target transmission servers, and determine the second transmission server that meets the service requirements based on the load and traffic information of the available target transmission servers.

[0113] Scenario 2: When the UE-RAN is normal, but the overall QoS is degraded, it can be inferred that the problem is due to an anomaly on the RAN-UPF-SEALDDserver side (e.g., poor data transmission quality caused by high UPF load or N3 path congestion). In this case, the RAN can be kept unchanged, and the UPF and its corresponding SEALDD server and VAL server can be switched. Optionally, before selecting the second transmission server, the first transmission server can obtain the QoS information of the available target transmission servers at the first location in advance, and determine the second transmission server that meets the service requirements based on the QoS information of the available target transmission servers. In this case, the first transmission server and the second transmission server may have different DNAIs or the same DNAI.

[0114] Optionally, when the first transmission server switches the service to the second transmission server, the connection relationship between the devices may include the following: Scenario 1: The terminal device is connected to the first access network device, the first access network device is connected to the first user plane function network element, and the first user plane function network element is connected to the second transmission server (UE-RAN1-UPF1-SEALDD server2). That is, only the first transmission server is replaced; the connection relationships of other devices remain unchanged, and VAL services continue to be provided to the terminal device. In Scenario 1, the second user plane function network element and the first user plane function network element are the same network element.

[0115] Scenario 2: The terminal device is connected to the first access network device, which is connected to the second user plane function network element, which is connected to the second transmission server (UE-RAN1-UPF2-SEALDD server2). In other words, the first transmission server and the first user plane function network element are replaced, while the connections of other devices remain unchanged, continuing to provide VAL services to the terminal. In Scenario 2, the second user plane function network element and the first user plane function network element are different network elements.

[0116] Scenario 3: The terminal device connects to the second access network device, which in turn connects to the second user plane function network element, which in turn connects to the second transmission server (UE-RAN2-UPF2-SEALDD server2). In other words, the first transmission server, the first user plane function network element, and the first access network device are replaced, continuing to provide VAL services to the terminal. In Scenario 3, the second user plane function network element and the first user plane function network element are different network elements.

[0117] In this example, the first transmission server can determine whether to switch based on the measured QoS information and the QoS information obtained from 5GC monitoring between UE and RAN, or between RAN and UPF, or between UE and RAN and UPF. If a switch is required, the first transmission server can identify a second transmission server that meets the QoS requirements, and thus switch to the second transmission server, which helps to ensure QoS.

[0118] The following two specific examples further expand on Example 1, including the interaction flow between the SEALDD server and 5GC, RAN, and SEALDD client.

[0119] Example 2: Figure 7 A flowchart illustrating another communication method provided in this application. For example, this communication method can be implemented through interaction between a SEALDD server (e.g., including a first transport server and a second transport server), a VAL server (e.g., including a first application layer server and a second application layer server), a 5GC, and a SEALDD client (e.g., including a first transport client), comprising the following steps: S201, the first transmission server determines the quality of service requirements of the application layer application and the information of the available target application layer servers.

[0120] The first transmission server determines the quality of service requirements of the application layer application, which may include, but is not limited to, the following methods: Method 1: The first application layer server directly sends the QoS requirements of the application layer application to the first transport server. Correspondingly, the first transport server receives the QoS requirements of the application layer application from the first application layer server. For example, the first VAL server sends a QoS request message (e.g., QoS requirements description) to the first SEALDD server. This QoS request message includes the QoS requirement and information about the available target VAL server (e.g., the identifier and location information of the available target VAL server).

[0121] Method Two: The first transmission server calculates the service quality requirements of the application layer. For example, instead of directly sending the service quality requirements to the first transmission server, the first application layer server includes the API type or other relevant parameters in the request message. In this case, the first transmission server can calculate the service quality requirements of the application layer based on the API type or other relevant parameters in the request message.

[0122] Specifically, the first transmission server determines (also known as acquires) information about the available target application layer server, which may involve receiving information about the target application layer server from the first application layer server.

[0123] Optionally, following S201, the following steps are also included: (1) The first transmission client establishes a connection with the first transmission server, and the first transmission server can obtain the address information and location information of the current terminal device (including the first transmission client).

[0124] (2) The first transmission server determines the information of the available target transmission servers based on the information of the available target application layer servers. The information of the available target transmission servers may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: the identifier of the transmission server, the identifier of the application service, the address of the transmission server, and the address of the application service. For example, the first SEALDD server can discover the information of available SEALDD servers (e.g., information of one or more SEALDD servers) through the Common API (application programming interface) framework (CAPIF) or the edge enable layer (EEL), possibly using the information of the target VALserver (VAL server2) or the VAL server ID (or VAL service information) as an index to query and obtain the information. The first transmission server determines the available target transmission servers based on the information of the available target application layer servers. The available target transmission servers include one or more transmission servers (e.g., including the second transmission server). In this example, the available target transmission servers are transmission servers with the same DNAI, that is, the available target transmission servers and the first transmission server access the same data network and are connected to the same UPF.

[0125] S202, the first transmission server sends a first message to an available target transmission server, the first message being used to obtain at least one of the traffic information and load information of the available target transmission server.

[0126] For example, the first transmission server sends a first message to the second transmission server to obtain at least one of the traffic information and load information of the second transmission server. The available target transmission server's traffic information includes information such as the bandwidth of the N6 path corresponding to the available target transmission server, for example, including... Figure 1 The bandwidth of the N6 path between UPF1 and SEALDDserver2 is shown. The load information for available target transport servers includes the usage of their processing resources (e.g., computing resources), for example, including... Figure 1 The image shows the usage of computing resources for SEALDD server2.

[0127] For example, the first message includes information about the target VAL server (VAL server2) or VAL serverID information (or VAL service information). The first transmission server can obtain at least one of the traffic information and load information of the corresponding targetSEALDD server based on the above information.

[0128] Optionally, the first transmission server may send a first message to an available target transmission server if: the quality of service (QoS) of the first transmission server when it connects to the first transmission client via the first user plane function network element and the first access network device does not meet the QoS requirements of the application layer application, and the QoS of the path between the first transmission client, the first access network device, and the first user plane function network element meets the QoS requirements of the second path. For example, the first transmission server may determine that the QoS is abnormal (not meeting the QoS requirements of the application layer application) based on the first QoS measurement information, but the UE-RAN-UPF relationship in the first QoS monitoring information is normal (meeting the QoS requirements of the second path). In this case, the first transmission server can determine the selectable second transmission server based on load and traffic information, and then the first transmission server can send a first message to the second transmission server to obtain at least one of the traffic information and load information of the second transmission server.

[0129] Optionally, following S202, the following steps are also included: (3) After receiving the first message from the first transmission server, the available target transmission server performs an authorization check to determine whether it is available.

[0130] (4) Based on the authorization check, the available target transmission server that has passed the authorization check sends a first response message to the first transmission server.

[0131] The specific implementation of steps (3) and (4) above can be referred to the description in the existing protocol standards, and this application does not limit them.

[0132] S203, the first transmission server sends a fourth message to the core network equipment, which is used to obtain the first quality of service monitoring information.

[0133] The description of the first service quality monitoring information can be found in Example 1, and will not be repeated here. For example, the first SEALDD server subscribes to QoS monitoring notifications from the 5GC, possibly through network elements such as the NRM server or NEF, which includes the SEALDD traffic descriptor and QoS requirements. Optionally, this fourth message can subscribe to traffic information along the N3 path, for example, obtaining... Figure 1 The traffic information for the N3 path between RAN and UPF1 is shown. Optionally, the QoS requirements in S203 may differ from the QoS requirements sent by VAL server1 in S201, specifically due to differences in format or metrics.

[0134] Optionally, following S203, the following steps are also included: (5) QoS measurement of SEALDD traffic transmission between the first transmission server and the first transmission client.

[0135] The specific implementation of step (5) can be found in the description of QoS measurement in section 6 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0136] Optionally, the execution order between S202 and S203 is not limited in this application. For example, S202 can be executed first, followed by S203. Or, for another example, S203 can be executed first, followed by S202.

[0137] S204, the first transmission server determines, based on the first quality of service measurement information, that the quality of service when the first transmission server connects to the first transmission client through the first user plane function network element and the first access network device to provide services does not meet the quality of service requirements of the application layer application.

[0138] The specific implementation of S204 can be found in the description in Example 1, and will not be repeated here.

[0139] Optionally, the execution order of S202 and S203 with S204 is not limited in this application. For example, S202 and S203 can be executed first, followed by S204. Or, for another example, S204 can be executed first, followed by S202 and S203 (this avoids continuously sending QoS monitoring request messages to 5GC, and instead only discovers the target SEALDD server and performs QoS monitoring after a QoS degradation occurs).

[0140] S205, the first transmission server obtains at least one of the traffic information and load information of the available target transmission server.

[0141] For example, the first transmission server receives traffic and load information from the second transmission server, which may include the current load status of the second transmission server and the total traffic transmission load status (e.g., the load status of all data streams of all services on the entire second transmission server). The second transmission server is one of the available target transmission servers.

[0142] S206, the first transmission server determines a second transmission server that meets the quality of service requirements of the application layer application based on at least one of the traffic information and load information of the available target transmission servers.

[0143] For example, if the first SEALDD server determines that there are no anomalies between the UE, RAN, and UPF based on QoS monitoring information, it indicates that the transmission quality degradation is caused by an abnormal operating state of the first SEALDD server and / or an abnormal transmission on the N6 interface. To ensure QoS, the first SEALDD server can select a second transmission server from the available target transmission servers that can meet the application's QoS requirements, based on the load and traffic status of the available target transmission servers.

[0144] Optionally, following S206, the following steps are also included: (6) The first transmission server migrates to the second transmission server.

[0145] For example, the first transport server migrates the SEALDD service to the second transport server, and the VAL server also changes from the first application layer server corresponding to the first transport server to the second application layer server corresponding to the second transport server. Specific implementation details can be found in existing protocol standards and will not be elaborated here.

[0146] In this example, the SEALDD server simultaneously subscribes to the QoS monitoring results of 5GC and the load and / or traffic information of other SEALDD servers under the same DNAI. If the SEALDD server detects a degradation in the current QoS Measurement and determines, based on the QoS monitoring information, that there are no anomalies between UE, RAN, and UPF, QoS can be guaranteed by switching SEALDD servers under the same DNAI.

[0147] Example 3: Figure 8This is a flowchart illustrating another communication method provided in this application. For example, this communication method can be implemented through interaction between a SEALDD server (e.g., including a first transmission server and a second transmission server), a VAL server (e.g., including a first application layer server), a 5GC, and a SEALDD client (e.g., including a first transmission client), including the following steps: S301, the first transmission server determines the quality of service requirements of the application layer application and the information of the available target application layer servers.

[0148] The first transmission server determines the quality of service requirements of the application layer application, which may include, but is not limited to, the following methods: Method 1: The first application layer server directly sends the QoS requirements of the application layer application to the first transport server. Correspondingly, the first transport server receives the QoS requirements of the application layer application from the first application layer server. For example, the first VAL server sends a QoS request message (e.g., QoS requirements description) to the first SEALDD server. This QoS request message includes the QoS requirement and information about the available target VAL server (e.g., the identifier and location information of the available target VAL server).

[0149] Method Two: The first transmission server calculates the service quality requirements of the application layer. For example, instead of directly sending the service quality requirements to the first transmission server, the first application layer server includes the API type or other relevant parameters in the request message. In this case, the first transmission server can calculate the service quality requirements of the application layer based on the API type or other relevant parameters in the request message.

[0150] Specifically, the first transmission server determines (also known as acquires) information about the available target application layer server, which may involve receiving information about the target application layer server from the first application layer server.

[0151] Optionally, following S301, the following steps are also included: (1) The first transmission client establishes a connection with the first transmission server, and the first transmission server can obtain the address information and location information of the current terminal device (including the first transmission client).

[0152] (2) The first transmission server obtains information about available target transmission servers based on the information of available target application layer servers. For example, the first SEALDD server can discover information about available SEALDD servers (e.g., information about one or more SEALDD servers) through the Common API (application programming interface) framework (CAPIF) or EEL, possibly using the information of the target VAL server (VAL server2) or VAL server ID information (or VAL service information) as an index to query and obtain the information. The first transmission server determines the available target transmission servers based on the information of available target application layer servers. Available target transmission servers include one or more transmission servers (e.g., including the second transmission server). In this example, available target transmission servers can be transmission servers with different DNAIs, that is, available target transmission servers and the first transmission server access different data networks and connect to different UPFs. Optionally, when the first transmission server selects different DNAIs, it also needs to consider the level of the physical location (topology connection) represented by the DNAI. Optionally, in this example, available target transmission servers can also be transmission servers with the same DNAI, that is, available target transmission servers and the first transmission server access the same data network and connect to the same UPF.

[0153] S302, the first transmission server obtains the first location of the first transmission client.

[0154] The first location includes the location area where the first transmission client served by the first transmission server is located. For example, the first location includes... Figure 1 The area of ​​interest 1 is shown. Optionally, the first location can be the UE's geographical location, geographical region, or cell identifier, DNAI, etc., which is not limited in this application.

[0155] In Example 3, the first transmission server can request service quality information of available target transmission servers from different devices, including the following situations: Scenario 1: The first transmission server requests the quality of service information of the available target transmission server from the available target transmission server, as shown in S303a: S303a, the first transmission server sends a second message to an available target transmission server, the second message including information about the first location and / or the available target application layer server.

[0156] For example, a first transmission server sends a second message to a second transmission server. This second message includes information about the first location and / or available target application layer servers. That is, after determining an available target transmission server and obtaining the first location, the first transmission server can send a second message to the available target transmission server. This second message is used to obtain the Quality of Service (QoS) information of using the available target transmission server at the first location. For example, a first SEALDD server sends a second message to a second SEALDD server to subscribe to QoS measurement notifications. This second message contains information about the target VAL server or VAL service-related information, as well as the first location (e.g., UE location information). As another example, a first SEALDD server sends a request message to a second SEALDD server to request the QoS information of using an available target transmission server at the first location. Correspondingly, the second SEALDD server sends a response message to the first SEALDD server, which includes the QoS information of using the available target transmission server at the first location.

[0157] Scenario 2: The first transmission server requests the quality of service information of an available target transmission server from the core network device 5GC, as shown in S303b: S303b, the first transmission server sends a third message to the core network equipment. The third message includes one or more of the following: a first location, information about an available target transmission server, or an identifier of a data network access point associated with an available target transmission server.

[0158] This third message is used to obtain QoS information for the first location using an available target transmission server. Optionally, the core network device is the NWDAF. For example, the first SEALDD server subscribes to QoS measurement notifications from the NWDAF, which includes information about the target VAL server or VAL service-related information, as well as the first location (e.g., UE location information) and the target DNAI.

[0159] Optionally, the quality of service information obtained in S303a and S303b can specifically be the quality of service information of an end-to-end link, for example, obtaining the quality of service information of the end-to-end link of UE (SEALDD client) - RAN - UPF - SEALDD server.

[0160] It is understandable that S303a and S303b are two possible implementations of a step, and only one step needs to be selected for execution during the specific implementation.

[0161] Optionally, following S303a or S303b, the following steps are also included: (3) After receiving the second message from the first transmission server, the available target transmission server performs an authorization check to determine whether it is available.

[0162] (4) Based on the authorization check, the available target transmission server that has passed the authorization check sends a second response message to the first transmission server.

[0163] The specific implementation of steps (3) and (4) above can be referred to the description in the existing protocol standards, and this application does not limit them.

[0164] S304, the first transmission server sends a fourth message to the core network equipment. The fourth message is used to obtain the first quality of service monitoring information.

[0165] The specific implementation of S304 can be found in the description in S203, and will not be repeated here.

[0166] Optionally, following S304, the following steps are also included: (5) QoS measurement of SEALDD traffic transmission between the first transmission server and the first transmission client.

[0167] The specific implementation of step (5) can be found in the description of QoS measurement in section 6 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0168] S305, the first transmission server determines, based on the first quality of service measurement information, that the quality of service when the first transmission server connects to the first transmission client through the first user plane function network element and the first access network device to provide services does not meet the quality of service requirements of the application layer application.

[0169] The specific implementation of S305 can be found in the description in Example 1, and will not be repeated here.

[0170] Optionally, the execution order of S303a / S303b and S304 with S305 is not limited in this application. For example, S303a / S303b and S304 can be executed first, followed by S305. Alternatively, S305 can be executed first, followed by S303a / S303b and S304 (this avoids continuously sending QoS monitoring request messages to 5GC, and instead only identifies the target SEALDD server and performs QoS monitoring after a QoS degradation occurs).

[0171] S306, the first transmission server obtains the quality of service information of the available target transmission server at the first location.

[0172] For example, the first transmission server receives a QoS measurement report from the second transmission server. Specifically, this report may contain QoS information specific to the second transmission server when it serves a UE in the first area for a second application layer server (a specific VAL service). Optionally, this QoS information may also include the load status of the second SEALDD server and the overall traffic transmission load (e.g., the load status of data streams for all services on the entire second transmission server). The second transmission server is one of the available target transmission servers.

[0173] S307, the first transmission server determines a second transmission server that meets the quality of service requirements of the application layer application based on the quality of service information of the available target transmission server at the first location.

[0174] For example, if the first SEALDD server does not receive the QoS monitoring report from 5GC, it can be determined that the data transmission on the RAN side is normal. This indicates that the transmission quality degradation is caused by at least one of the following abnormalities: abnormal operation of the first SEALDD server, RAN-UPF, or UPF-SEALDD server malfunction. To ensure QoS, the first SEALDD server can determine the second transmission server based on the QoS information of the available target transmission server at the first location.

[0175] Optionally, following S307, the following steps are also included: (6) The first transmission server migrates to the second transmission server.

[0176] For example, the first transport server migrates the SEALDD service to the second transport server, and the VAL server also changes from the first application layer server corresponding to the first transport server to the second application layer server corresponding to the second transport server. Specific implementation details can be found in existing protocol standards and will not be elaborated here.

[0177] In this example, the SEALDD server subscribes to both the QoS monitoring results from 5GC and the QoS measurement results for a specific UE location between SEALDD servers (e.g., SEALDD servers across different DNAIs). If the SEALDD server detects a degradation in the current QoS measurement but has not received a notification of the QoS monitoring result degradation from 5GC, it can perform a cross-DNAI SEALDD server switchover to ensure QoS.

[0178] Optionally, Examples 2 and 3 can be executed separately or combined into one example to execute the corresponding steps. For example, the first transmission server can simultaneously obtain the QoS information of the same DNAI and different DNAIs, which helps to determine whether to switch the SEALDD server between the same DNAI or different DNAIs, thereby ensuring QoS.

[0179] Example 4: Figure 9 A flowchart illustrating another communication method provided in this application. This communication method is applied to, for example... Figure 1 In the communication system shown, for example, this communication method can be implemented through interaction between a SEALDD server, an application layer server (VAL server), 5GC, and a SEALDD client, including the following steps: S401, the transmission server obtains the first quality of service requirement.

[0180] The primary quality of service requirements for the transmission server may include, but are not limited to, the following: Method 1: The application layer server directly sends the first QoS request to the transport server, and the transport server can receive the first QoS request from the application layer server. For example, the first VAL server can send a QoS request message to the first SEALDD server, which includes QoS requirements to request QoS optimization or guaranteed service.

[0181] Method 2: The transport server calculates the first quality of service requirement. For example, if the application layer server does not directly send the first quality of service requirement to the transport server, but instead includes the API type or other relevant parameters in the request message, the transport server can calculate the first quality of service requirement based on the API type or other relevant parameters in the request message. The description of the quality of service requirement can be found in the corresponding description in S101, and will not be repeated here.

[0182] Optionally, following S401, the following steps are also included: (1) The transmission client establishes a connection with the transmission server, and the transmission server can obtain the address information and location information of the current terminal device (including the transmission client).

[0183] The specific implementation of step (1) above can be referred to the corresponding description in the existing protocol standard, and this application does not limit it.

[0184] S402, the transmission server obtains the quality of service information when the terminal device at the second location uses the service provided by the transmission server.

[0185] In the second location, the quality of service (QoS) information when the terminal device uses the service provided by the transmission server can also be referred to as predicted QoS information. The second location is a specific location area; for example, the second location is the location area where the terminal device is located. This location area can be the location area of ​​the terminal device determined by its identification information. For a detailed description of the QoS information, please refer to the corresponding description in Example 1; it will not be repeated here.

[0186] Specifically, S402 includes the following processes: The transmission server sends a fifth message to the NWDAF, which is used to obtain service quality information through the information of the terminal device and the service information of the transmission server; The transmission server receives quality of service information from NWDAF.

[0187] For example, the transport server sends a fifth message to the NWDAF, which includes information about the terminal device (e.g., UE ID), information about the SEALDD server, or information about the SEALDD service, so that the NWDAF can obtain the quality of service information when the terminal device uses the transport server's service at the second location. The NWDAF then sends a fifth response message to the transport server, which includes the quality of service information.

[0188] Optionally, the transmission server may send the fifth message to the NWDAF in ways including but not limited to the transmission server sending the fifth message to the NWDAF through NEF, or the transmission server sending the fifth message directly to the NWDAF.

[0189] S403, the transmission server determines the second quality of service requirement of the terminal device based on the first quality of service requirement and the quality of service information.

[0190] The second QoS requirement includes a set of one or more QoS parameters. For example, the SEALDDserver calculates the UE's required second QoS requirement based on the VAL server's first QoS requirement and the service experience information fed back by the NWDAF. The second QoS requirement can be a combination of multi-level QoS requirements; for example, it may include a combination of bandwidth and latency requirements. In other words, satisfying the second QoS requirement includes satisfying both bandwidth and latency requirements. Optionally, the second QoS requirement includes adjustable multi-level alternative QoS requirements. For example, the second QoS requirement may include any combination of multiple bandwidth and latency requirements.

[0191] Optionally, the SEALDD server can also interact with the VAL server to determine whether the second QoS requirement meets the VAL server's business requirements. If it does, the business process continues to be executed; if it does not, the business is released.

[0192] Optionally, following S403, the following steps are also included: (2) The transmission server sends a request message to the core network equipment, which is used to request the core network equipment to provide a guarantee for the second quality of service requirement.

[0193] The core network equipment is either NEF or PCF. For example, the transport server can send an AF request to the PCF. This AF request includes a second Quality of Service (QoS) requirement, which can be a specified parameter (e.g., a combination of specified bandwidth and latency requirements) or an adjustable multi-level alternative QoS requirement (e.g., any combination of multiple bandwidth and latency requirements). Optionally, the set of multiple QoS parameters includes QoS requirement parameters and optional other QoS requirement parameters, where the optional other QoS requirement parameters have a priority order.

[0194] (3) The core network equipment performs alternative QoS maintenance.

[0195] The specific implementation of step (3) above can be found in the description of alternative QoS requirements in the first section above, and will not be repeated here.

[0196] In this example, after receiving the first quality of service request from the VAL server, the transmission server can determine the second quality of service request based on the quality of service information and the first quality of service request in order to ensure the QoS of the UE.

[0197] To achieve the functions of the methods provided in this application, the apparatus or device provided in this application may include hardware structures and / or software modules, implementing the above functions in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or a combination of hardware structures and software modules. Whether a particular function is executed in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or a combination of hardware structures and software modules depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. The module division in this application is illustrative and only represents one logical functional division; other division methods may exist in actual implementation. Furthermore, the functional modules in the various embodiments of this application may be integrated into a single processor, exist as separate physical entities, or two or more modules may be integrated into a single module. The integrated modules may be implemented in hardware or as software functional modules.

[0198] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in this application. The device may include functions such as... Figures 6 to 9 The modules corresponding to the methods / operations / steps / actions described in any of the embodiments shown can be hardware circuits, software, or a combination of hardware circuits and software.

[0199] The device 1000 includes a processing unit 1001 and a communication unit 1002, used to implement the methods executed by the various devices in the foregoing embodiments.

[0200] In one possible implementation, the device is a transmission server, or is located within a transmission server. Specifically, the processing unit 1001 is configured to determine whether to switch the first transmission server based on first quality of service (QoS) measurement information and / or first QoS monitoring information; the first QoS measurement information includes QoS information when the first transmission server connects to the first transmission client for service through the first user plane function network element and the first access network device; the first QoS monitoring information includes QoS information of the path between the first transmission client and the first access network device, and / or QoS information of the path between the first access network device and the first user plane function network element. The processing unit 1001 is further configured to determine a second transmission server, wherein the QoS of the first transmission client connecting to the second transmission server for service through the first access network device and the second user plane function network element meets the QoS requirements of the application layer application.

[0201] Optionally, the processing unit 1001 is configured to determine whether to switch the first transmission server based on the first quality of service measurement information and / or the first quality of service monitoring information, including: Based on the first quality of service measurement information, if the quality of service of the first transmission server when it connects to the first transmission client through the first user plane function network element and the first access network device does not meet the quality of service requirements of the application layer application, and / or, if the quality of service of the path between the first transmission client and the first access network device meets the quality of service requirements of the first path, it is determined that the first transmission server should be switched.

[0202] Optionally, the communication unit 1002 is used to receive information about available target application layer servers from the first application layer server; the information about available target application layer servers is used to determine available target transmission servers, and the available target transmission servers and the first transmission server are connected to the same data network. The communication unit 1002 is also used to send a first message to an available target transmission server, the first message being used to obtain at least one of the traffic information and load information of the available target transmission server; The available target transmission servers include one or more transmission servers.

[0203] Optionally, the processing unit 1001 is used to determine the second transmission server, including: Determine the quality of service requirements for application layer applications; The communication unit 1002 obtains at least one of the traffic information and load information of the available target transmission server; Based on at least one of the traffic information and load information of the available target transmission servers, a second transmission server that meets the quality of service requirements of the application layer application is determined, wherein the second transmission server is one of the available target transmission servers.

[0204] Optionally, the communication unit 1002 is further configured to receive information about available target application layer servers from the first application layer server; the information about available target application layer servers is used to determine information about available target transmission servers. The communication unit 1002 is also used to obtain the first location of the first transmission client; Communication unit 1002 is also used to send a second message to an available target transmission server, the second message including information about the first location and / or an available target application layer server.

[0205] Optionally, the communication unit 1002 is further configured to receive information about available target application layer servers from the first application layer server, wherein the information about available target application layer servers is used to determine information about available target transmission servers. The communication unit 1002 is also used to obtain the first location of the first transmission client; Communication unit 1002 is also used to send a third message to core network equipment, the third message including one or more of the following: first location, information of available target transmission servers, or data network access point identifier associated with available target transmission servers.

[0206] Optionally, the core network equipment is a network element with network data analysis function.

[0207] Optionally, the second or third message is used to obtain the quality of service information of the available target transmission server at the first location; The available target transmission servers include one or more transmission servers.

[0208] Optionally, the processing unit 1001 is used to determine the second transmission server, including: Determine the quality of service requirements for application layer applications; The communication unit 1002 obtains the quality of service information of the available target transmission server at the first location; Based on the quality of service information of the available target transmission servers, a second transmission server that meets the quality of service requirements of the application layer is determined. The second transmission server is one of the available target transmission servers.

[0209] Optionally, the communication unit 1002 is also used to send a fourth message to the core network equipment, the fourth message being used to obtain the first quality of service monitoring information.

[0210] The specific execution flow of the processing unit 1001 and the communication unit 1002 in this embodiment can be referred to the corresponding description in the previous method embodiment, and will not be repeated here. The communication method implemented by this device can determine whether to switch based on the measured QoS information and the QoS information between UE and RAN, or between RAN and UPF, or between UE and RAN and UPF obtained by 5GC monitoring. If a switch is required, the communication method implemented by this device can determine a second transmission server that meets the QoS requirements, thereby allowing switching to the second transmission server, which is beneficial for ensuring QoS.

[0211] In another possible implementation, the device is a transmission server, or is located within a transmission server. Specifically, the communication unit 1002 is used to receive a first message from the first transmission server, the first message being used to obtain at least one of traffic information and load information of the second transmission server. The processing unit 1001 is used to send at least one of the traffic information and load information of the second transmission server to the first transmission server through the communication unit 1002, the at least one of the traffic information and load information of the second transmission server being used by the first transmission server to determine a transmission server that meets the quality of service requirements of the application layer application.

[0212] Optionally, the second transmission server is one of the available target transmission servers, which is determined by the first transmission server based on information about the available target application layer servers.

[0213] The specific execution flow of the processing unit 1001 and the communication unit 1002 in this embodiment can also be referred to the corresponding description in the previous method embodiment, and will not be repeated here. In the communication method implemented by this device, if the second transmission server is any one of the available target transmission servers, the first transmission server can obtain the corresponding available target transmission server through the information of the available target application layer server, thereby subscribing to at least one of the traffic information and load information of the available target transmission server. This is beneficial for the first transmission server to determine the second transmission server that meets the QoS requirements based on at least one of the traffic information and load information of the available target transmission server.

[0214] In another possible implementation, the device is a transmission server, or located within a transmission server. Specifically, the communication unit 1002 is used to receive a second message from the first transmission server. This second message includes information about a first location and / or available target application layer servers. The first location includes the location area where the first transmission client served by the first transmission server is located. The information about available target application layer servers is used to determine the information of available target transmission servers, including the second transmission server. The processing unit 1001 is used to send quality of service (QoS) information about using the second transmission server at the first location to the first transmission server via the communication unit 1002. This QoS information is used by the first transmission server to determine a transmission server that meets the QoS requirements of the application layer application.

[0215] Optionally, the second message is used to obtain the quality of service information of the available target transmission server at the first location.

[0216] The specific execution flow of the processing unit 1001 and the communication unit 1002 in this embodiment can also be referred to the corresponding description in the previous method embodiment, and will not be repeated here. In the communication method implemented by this device, if the second transmission server is any one of the available target transmission servers, the first transmission server can obtain the corresponding available target transmission server through the information of the available target application layer server and / or the first location, thereby subscribing to the first location and using the QoS information of the available target transmission server, which is beneficial for the first transmission server to determine the second transmission server from the available target transmission servers.

[0217] In another possible implementation, the device is a transmission server, or located within a transmission server. Specifically, processing unit 1001 is used to acquire a first quality of service (QoS) requirement. Processing unit 1001 is used to acquire, via communication unit 1002, QoS information when the terminal device uses the service of the transmission server at a second location. Processing unit 1001 is also used to determine a second QoS requirement of the terminal device based on the first QoS requirement and the QoS information, the second QoS requirement including a set of one or more QoS parameters.

[0218] Optionally, the processing unit 1001 is further configured to send a fifth message to the network data analysis function network element via the communication unit 1002. This fifth message is used to obtain quality of service information through information from the terminal device and service information from the transmission server. The communication unit 1002 is also configured to receive quality of service information from the network data analysis function network element.

[0219] Optionally, the processing unit 1001 is further configured to send a request message to the core network device via the communication unit 1002, the request message being used to request the core network device to provide a guarantee for the second quality of service requirement.

[0220] Optionally, the core network equipment can be a network open function network element or a policy control function network element.

[0221] The specific execution flow of the processing unit 1001 and the communication unit 1002 in this embodiment can be referred to the corresponding description in the previous method embodiment, and will not be repeated here. In the communication method implemented by this device, after receiving the first quality of service request from the VALserver, the transmission server can determine the second quality of service request based on the quality of service information and the first quality of service request to ensure QoS.

[0222] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in this application, used to implement the communication methods in the above-described method embodiments. The device 1100 may be a chip system or the device described in the above-described method embodiments.

[0223] The device 1100 includes a communication interface 1101 and a processor 1102. The communication interface 1101 may be, for example, a transceiver, interface, bus, circuit, or a device capable of transmitting and receiving. The communication interface 1101 is used to communicate with other devices via a transmission medium, thereby enabling the device 1100 to communicate with other devices. The processor 1102 is used to perform processing-related operations.

[0224] In one possible implementation, the device 1100 can be a transmission server or located within a transmission server. Specifically, the processor 1102 is configured to determine whether to switch the first transmission server based on first quality of service (QoS) measurement information and / or first QoS monitoring information. The first QoS measurement information includes QoS information when the first transmission server connects to the first transmission client via a first user plane function network element and a first access network device. The first QoS monitoring information includes QoS information of the path between the first transmission client and the first access network device, and / or QoS information of the path between the first access network device and the first user plane function network element. The processor 1102 is also configured to determine a second transmission server, wherein the QoS of the first transmission client connecting to the second transmission server via the first access network device and the second user plane function network element meets the QoS requirements of the application layer application.

[0225] Optionally, the processor 1102 is configured to determine whether to switch the first transmission server based on the first quality of service measurement information and / or the first quality of service monitoring information, including: Based on the first quality of service measurement information, if the quality of service of the first transmission server when it connects to the first transmission client through the first user plane function network element and the first access network device does not meet the quality of service requirements of the application layer application, and / or, if the quality of service of the path between the first transmission client and the first access network device meets the quality of service requirements of the first path, it is determined that the first transmission server should be switched.

[0226] Optionally, the communication interface 1101 is used to receive information about available target application layer servers from the first application layer server; the information about available target application layer servers is used to determine available target transmission servers, and the available target transmission servers and the first transmission server are connected to the same data network. The communication interface 1101 is also used to send a first message to an available target transmission server, the first message being used to obtain at least one of the traffic information and load information of the available target transmission server; The available target transmission servers include one or more transmission servers.

[0227] Optionally, the processor 1102 is used to determine the second transmission server, including: Determine the quality of service requirements for application layer applications; Obtain at least one of the traffic information and load information of the available target transmission server through communication interface 1101; Based on at least one of the traffic information and load information of the available target transmission servers, a second transmission server that meets the quality of service requirements of the application layer application is determined, wherein the second transmission server is one of the available target transmission servers.

[0228] Optionally, the communication interface 1101 is also used to receive information about available target application layer servers from the first application layer server; the information about available target application layer servers is used to determine information about available target transport servers. Communication interface 1101 is also used to obtain the first location of the first transmission client; Communication interface 1101 is also used to send a second message to an available target transmission server, the second message including information about the first location and / or an available target application layer server.

[0229] Optionally, the communication interface 1101 is also used to receive information about available target application layer servers from the first application layer server, and the information about available target application layer servers is used to determine the information about available target transport servers. Communication interface 1101 is also used to obtain the first location of the first transmission client; The communication interface 1101 is also used to send a third message to the core network equipment, the third message including one or more of the following: a first location, information about an available target transmission server, or an identifier of a data network access point associated with an available target transmission server.

[0230] Optionally, the core network equipment is a network element with network data analysis function.

[0231] Optionally, the second or third message is used to obtain the quality of service information of the available target transmission server at the first location; The available target transmission servers include one or more transmission servers.

[0232] Optionally, the processor 1102 is used to determine the second transmission server, including: Determine the quality of service requirements for application layer applications; The quality of service information of the available target transmission server is obtained at the first location via communication interface 1101. Based on the quality of service information of the available target transmission servers, a second transmission server that meets the quality of service requirements of the application layer is determined. The second transmission server is one of the available target transmission servers.

[0233] Optionally, the communication interface 1101 is also used to send a fourth message to the core network equipment, the fourth message being used to obtain the first quality of service monitoring information.

[0234] The specific execution flow of the communication interface 1101 and the processor 1102 in this embodiment can be described in the previous method embodiment, and will not be repeated here. The communication method implemented by this device can determine whether to switch based on the measured QoS information and the QoS information between UE and RAN, or between RAN and UPF, or between UE and RAN and UPF obtained by 5GC monitoring. If a switch is required, the communication method implemented by this device can identify a second transmission server that meets the QoS requirements, thereby allowing switching to the second transmission server, which is beneficial for ensuring QoS.

[0235] In another possible implementation, the device 1100 can be a transmission server or be located within a transmission server. Specifically, the communication interface 1101 is used to receive a first message from a first transmission server, which is used to obtain at least one of traffic information and load information of a second transmission server. The processor 1102 is used to send at least one of the traffic information and load information of the second transmission server to the first transmission server through the communication interface 1101. The at least one of the traffic information and load information of the second transmission server is used by the first transmission server to determine a transmission server that meets the quality of service requirements of the application layer application.

[0236] Optionally, the second transmission server is one of the available target transmission servers, which is determined by the first transmission server based on information about the available target application layer servers.

[0237] The specific execution flow of the communication interface 1101 and the processor 1102 in this embodiment can be referred to the description in the previous method embodiment, and will not be repeated here. In the communication method implemented by this device, if the second transmission server is any one of the available target transmission servers, the first transmission server can obtain the corresponding available target transmission server through the information of the available target application layer server, thereby subscribing to at least one of the traffic information and load information of the available target transmission server, which is beneficial for the first transmission server to determine the second transmission server based on at least one of the traffic information and load information of the available target transmission server.

[0238] In another possible implementation, the device 1100 can be a transmission server or be located within a transmission server. Specifically, the communication interface 1101 is used to receive a second message from the first transmission server. This second message includes information about a first location and / or available target application layer servers. The first location includes the location area where the first transmission client served by the first transmission server is located. The information about available target application layer servers is used to determine the information of available target transmission servers, including the second transmission server. The processor 1102 is used to send quality of service (QoS) information about using the second transmission server at the first location to the first transmission server via the communication interface 1101. This QoS information is used by the first transmission server to determine a transmission server that meets the QoS requirements of the application layer application.

[0239] Optionally, the second message is used to obtain the quality of service information of the available target transmission server at the first location.

[0240] The specific execution flow of the communication interface 1101 and the processor 1102 in this embodiment can be referred to the description in the previous method embodiment, and will not be repeated here. In the communication method implemented by this device, if the second transmission server is any one of the available target transmission servers, the first transmission server can obtain the corresponding available target transmission server through the information of the available target application layer server and / or the first location, thereby subscribing to the first location and using the QoS information of the available target transmission server, which is beneficial for the first transmission server to determine the second transmission server from the available target transmission servers.

[0241] In another possible implementation, the device 1100 can be a transmission server, or it can be located within a transmission server. Specifically, the communication interface 1101 is used to acquire a first quality of service (QoS) requirement. The processor 1102 is used to acquire QoS information when the terminal device uses the service of the transmission server at a second location via the communication interface 1101. The processor 1102 is also used to determine a second QoS requirement of the terminal device based on the first QoS requirement and the QoS information. The second QoS requirement includes a set of one or more QoS parameters.

[0242] Optionally, the processor 1102 is also configured to send a fifth message to the network data analysis function network element via the communication interface 1101. This fifth message is used to obtain quality of service information through information from the terminal device and service information from the transmission server. The communication interface 1101 is also configured to receive quality of service information from the network data analysis function network element.

[0243] Optionally, the processor 1102 is also configured to send a request message to the core network device via the communication interface 1101, the request message being used to request the core network device to provide a guarantee for the second quality of service requirement.

[0244] Optionally, the core network equipment can be a network open function network element or a policy control function network element.

[0245] The specific execution flow of the communication interface 1101 and the processor 1102 in this embodiment can be referred to the description in the previous method embodiment, and will not be repeated here. In the communication method implemented by this device, after receiving the first quality of service request from the VAL server, the transmission server can determine the second quality of service request based on the quality of service information and the first quality of service request to ensure QoS.

[0246] Optionally, the device 1100 may further include at least one memory 1103 for storing program instructions and / or data. In one embodiment, the memory and processor are coupled. The coupling in this application is an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units, or modules, which can be electrical, mechanical, or other forms, for information exchange between devices, units, or modules. The processor may operate in conjunction with the memory. The processor may execute program instructions stored in the memory. The at least one memory and processor are integrated together.

[0247] This application does not limit the specific connection medium between the aforementioned communication interface, processor, and memory. For example, the memory, processor, and communication interface are connected via a bus, with bus 1104 in... Figure 11 The connections between other components are shown in bold and are for illustrative purposes only, not as limiting information. The bus can be divided into address bus, data bus, control bus, etc. For ease of illustration, Figure 11 The bus is represented by a single thick line, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0248] In this application, the processor can be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, or discrete hardware components, capable of implementing or executing the methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in this application. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The steps of the methods disclosed in this application can be directly manifested as being executed by a hardware processor, or executed by a combination of hardware and software modules within the processor.

[0249] In this application, the memory can be non-volatile memory, such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD), or it can be volatile memory, such as random-access memory (RAM). Memory is any other medium capable of carrying or storing desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures, and accessible by a computer, but is not limited to this. The memory in this application can also be a circuit or any other device capable of implementing storage functions for storing program instructions and / or data.

[0250] This application provides another communication device, which includes a processor coupled to a memory. The processor is used to read and execute computer instructions stored in the memory to achieve, for example... Figures 6 to 9 The communication method in any of the embodiments shown.

[0251] This application provides a communication system, which includes, as follows: Figures 6 to 9 One or more of the various devices in any of the embodiments shown.

[0252] This application provides a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium stores a program or instructions. When the program or instructions are executed on a computer, the computer performs the following actions: Figures 6 to 9 The communication method in any of the embodiments shown.

[0253] This application provides a computer program product. The computer program product includes instructions. When the instructions are executed on a computer, they cause the computer to perform actions such as... Figures 6 to 9 The communication method in any of the embodiments shown.

[0254] This application provides a chip or chip system including at least one processor and an interface, the interface and the at least one processor being interconnected via a circuit, the at least one processor being used to run computer programs or instructions to perform, for example... Figures 6 to 9 The communication method in any of the embodiments shown.

[0255] The interfaces in the chip can be input / output interfaces, pins, or circuits, etc.

[0256] The aforementioned chip system can be a system on chip (SOC) or a baseband chip, etc. The baseband chip may include a processor, channel encoder, digital signal processor, modem and interface module, etc.

[0257] In one implementation, the chip or chip system described above in this application further includes at least one memory, which stores instructions. The memory can be an internal storage unit of the chip, such as a register or cache, or it can be a storage unit of the chip itself (such as a read-only memory or random access memory).

[0258] The technical solutions provided in this application can be implemented, in whole or in part, through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, they can be implemented, in whole or in part, in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in this application are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a terminal device, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., digital video disc (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium, etc.

[0259] In this application, provided there is no logical contradiction, the various embodiments may reference each other. For example, the methods and / or terms between method embodiments may reference each other, the functions and / or terms between device embodiments may reference each other, and the functions and / or terms between device embodiments and method embodiments may reference each other.

[0260] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this application without departing from the scope of this application. Therefore, if such modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this application and their equivalents, this application also intends to include such modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that, include: The first transmission server acquires first service quality measurement information and first service quality monitoring information. The first service quality measurement information includes service quality information when the first transmission server connects to the first transmission client to provide service through the first user plane function network element and the first access network device. The first service quality monitoring information includes service quality information of the path between the first transmission client and the first access network device, and service quality information of the path between the first access network device and the first user plane function network element. The first transmission server determines, based on the first quality of service measurement information and the first quality of service monitoring information, that the reason for the degradation of the service quality of the data stream is abnormal load on the first transmission server or abnormal path between the first transmission server and the first user plane functional network element. The first transmission server determines the second transmission server, and the quality of service of the first transmission client when providing services through the second transmission server meets the application quality of service requirements.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first transmission server determines the second transmission server as follows: The first transmission server determines the second transmission server that meets the application quality of service requirements based on at least one of the N6 transmission status and load information of the available target transmission servers.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The method further includes: The first transmission server receives information about available target application layer servers from the first application layer server; the information about available target application layer servers is used to determine available target transmission servers, and the available target transmission servers and the first transmission server are connected to the same data network; The first transmission server sends a first message to the available target transmission server, the first message being used to obtain at least one of the traffic information and load information of the available target transmission server; The available target transmission servers include one or more transmission servers.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first transmission server sends a first message to the available target transmission server, including: When the service quality of the first transmission server connecting to the first transmission client through the first user plane function network element and the first access network device does not meet the service quality requirements of the application layer application, and the service quality of the path between the first transmission client and the first access network device and the first user plane function network element meets the service quality requirements of the second path, the first transmission server sends the first message to the available target transmission server.

5. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first transmission server determines the second transmission server, including: The first transmission server determines the quality of service requirements of the application layer application. The first transmission server obtains at least one of the traffic information and load information of the available target transmission server; The first transmission server determines a second transmission server that meets the quality of service requirements of the application layer application based on at least one of the traffic information and load information of the available target transmission servers. The second transmission server is one of the available target transmission servers.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: The first transmission server receives information about available target application layer servers from the first application layer server; the information about available target application layer servers is used to determine information about available target transmission servers. The first transmission server obtains the quality of service information of the available target transmission server.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first transmission server obtains the quality of service information of the available target transmission server, including: The first transmission server obtains the first location of the first transmission client; The first transmission server sends a second message to the available target transmission server, the second message including at least one of the information of the first location and the available target application layer server.

8. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first transmission server obtains the quality of service information of the available target transmission server, including: The first transmission server obtains the first location of the first transmission client; The first transmission server sends a third message to the core network device. The third message includes one or more of the following: the first location, information about an available target transmission server, or the data network access point identifier associated with the available target transmission server.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, The second message or the third message is used to obtain the quality of service information of the available target transmission server at the first location; The available target transmission servers include one or more transmission servers.

10. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The core network equipment is a network element with network data analysis function.

11. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that, The first transmission server determines the second transmission server, including: The first transmission server determines the quality of service requirements of the application layer application. The first transmission server obtains the quality of service information of the available target transmission server at the first location; The first transmission server determines a second transmission server that meets the service quality requirements based on the service quality information of the available target transmission servers. The second transmission server is one of the available target transmission servers.

12. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: The first transmission server sends a fourth message to the core network device, the fourth message being used to obtain the first service quality monitoring information; or, When the service quality of the first transmission server, when connected to the first transmission client through the first user plane function network element and the first access network device, does not meet the service quality requirements of the application layer application, the first transmission server sends a fourth message to the core network device. The fourth message is used to obtain the first service quality monitoring information.

13. A communication device, characterized in that, It includes a processing unit and a communication unit, which are used to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. A communication device, characterized in that, include: A processor and a memory, the memory being used to store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the communication device to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 12.

15. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, Instructions are stored on the computer-readable storage medium, which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 12.

16. A chip system, characterized in that, The chip system includes a processor, a memory, and an interface, the processor and the interface being used to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 12.

17. A communication system, characterized in that, Includes a communication device for performing the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 12.

18. A computer program product, characterized in that, Includes instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 12.

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