Information processing apparatus, base station, information processing method, communication method, and communication system

Abstract

An information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus capable of performing processing related to a first communication and a second communication, the first communication propagating a data source as information recoverable in the same form by a receiving side, the second communication propagating, to the receiving side, part or all of the information extracted from the data source by using an artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) model, the information processing apparatus including: a determination unit configured to perform determination related to a communication to be used by a communication apparatus; and a configuration unit configured to perform processing related to configuration such that, if the communication related to a result of the determination is the second communication, the communication to be used by the communication apparatus becomes the second communication.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to information processing apparatus, base station, information processing method, communication method, and communication system. Background Technology

[0002] Recent mobile communication systems (e.g., cellular communication systems such as 5G) enable radio communication with high performance (e.g., stable connection, low latency, high reliability, high throughput, low power consumption, low processing load, etc.). Users or communication devices can utilize high-quality communication services through radio communication with high performance.

[0003] Reference List

[0004] Non-patent literature

[0005] NPL 1: Xuewen Luo; Hsiao-Hwa Chen; Qing Guo, "Semantic Communications: Overview, Open Issues, and Future Research Directions", IEEE WirelessCommunications, Volume 29, Issue 1, 2022, Pages 210-219

[0006] NPL 2: Sejin Seo; Jihong Park; Seung-Woo Ko; Jinho Choi; Mehdi Bennis; Seong-Lyun Kim, “Toward Semantic Communication Protocols: A Probabilistic Logic Perspective”, IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications, Vol. 41, No. 8, 2023, pp. 2670-2686 Summary of the Invention

[0007] Technical issues

[0008] However, in some cases, existing technologies may not be sufficient to provide high-quality communication services to users or communication devices in their current state. For example, in communication technologies used by mobile communication systems (e.g., cellular communication systems up to 5G), communication devices in low SNR environments can only utilize lower-quality communication services compared to communication devices in high SNR environments.

[0009] Therefore, this disclosure provides an information processing apparatus, a base station, an information processing method, a communication method, and a communication system that can provide high-quality communication services.

[0010] Note that the above-described problems or objectives are merely one of many problems or goals that can be solved or achieved through the various embodiments disclosed in this specification.

[0011] Solution to the problem

[0012] To address the aforementioned problems, the information processing apparatus according to embodiments of this disclosure is an information processing apparatus capable of performing processing related to the following communications: a first communication, transmitting source data as information that can be recovered in the same form at the receiving side; and a second communication, transmitting some or all of the information extracted from the source data using an artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) model to the receiving side. The information processing apparatus includes: a determining unit configured to perform a determination related to a communication to be used by a communication device; and a configuring unit configured to perform processing regarding a configuration for making the communication to be used by the communication device the second communication if the communication related to the result of the determination is the second communication. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is a diagram used to describe an overview of this embodiment.

[0014] Figure 2 This is a diagram used to describe an overview of this embodiment.

[0015] Figure 3 This is a diagram used to describe an overview of this embodiment.

[0016] Figure 4 This is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the communication system according to this embodiment.

[0017] Figure 5 This is a diagram illustrating an example configuration of a server according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0018] Figure 6 This is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the management device according to this embodiment.

[0019] Figure 7 This is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a base station according to this embodiment.

[0020] Figure 8 This is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the terminal device according to this embodiment.

[0021] Figure 9 This is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the 5GS architecture.

[0022] Figure 10 This is a graph showing the standardized SST values.

[0023] Figure 11 This is a diagram illustrating an example of 5GS connectivity processing.

[0024] Figure 12A This is a diagram illustrating an example of PDU session establishment processing.

[0025] Figure 12B This is a diagram illustrating an example of PDU session establishment processing.

[0026] Figure 13 This is a diagram illustrating an example of the QoS architecture of 5GS.

[0027] Figure 14 It is a diagram used to describe a neural network model.

[0028] Figure 15 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of a communication mode selection process (determination process) performed by a terminal device.

[0029] Figure 16 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of uplink processing of a terminal device in a second communication.

[0030] Figure 17 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of downlink processing by a terminal device in a second communication.

[0031] Figure 18 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of base station processing in a second communication.

[0032] Figure 19 This is a flowchart illustrating a first example of session management processing in the core network.

[0033] Figure 20 This is a flowchart illustrating a second example of session management processing in the core network.

[0034] Figure 21 This is a flowchart illustrating a third example of session management processing in the core network.

[0035] Figure 22 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of alternative network slice configuration processing.

[0036] Figure 23 This is a diagram illustrating the hierarchical structure of examples four through nine.

[0037] Figure 24 This is a diagram used to describe LCM.

[0038] Figure 25 This is a flowchart illustrating the session establishment process based on the sixth example.

[0039] Figure 26This is a flowchart illustrating the selection process based on the seventh example.

[0040] Figure 27 This is a flowchart illustrating the session modification process based on the ninth example. Detailed Implementation

[0041] Embodiments of this disclosure will now be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that in the following embodiments, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components, and redundant descriptions are omitted accordingly.

[0042] Furthermore, in this specification, the phrase “at least one of…” followed by a list of elements should be understood as referring to the listed elements as options. For example, “at least one of A, B, and C” indicates “(A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C) or (A, B, and C)”. Similarly, “at least one of A, B, or C” and “at least one of A, B, and / or C” are equivalent to “at least one of A, B, and C”. Here, A, B, and C are all arbitrary expressions (e.g., words, phrases, clauses, terms, or items).

[0043] Furthermore, in this specification and accompanying drawings, multiple components having substantially the same functional configuration can be distinguished from each other by using the same reference numerals with different suffixes. For example, multiple configurations having substantially the same functional configuration may be distinguished as terminal devices 401, 402, and 403 as needed. However, when multiple components having substantially the same functional configuration do not need to be specifically distinguished from each other, only the same reference numerals are assigned to the components. For example, when terminal devices 401, 402, and 403 do not need to be specifically distinguished from each other, the terminal device is simply referred to as "terminal device 40".

[0044] The one or more embodiments described below (including examples and modified examples) can be implemented independently. On the other hand, where appropriate, at least a portion of the various embodiments described below can be combined with at least a portion of another embodiment. These various embodiments may include novel features that differ from each other. Therefore, the various embodiments can help accomplish or solve different objectives or problems and can produce different effects.

[0045] This disclosure will be described in the following order: 1. Overview 2. Configuration of the communication system 2-1. Server Configuration 2-2. Configuration of Management Device 2-3. Base Station Configuration 2-4. Configuration of Terminal Device 3. Technologies applied to communication systems 3-1. Semantic Communication 3-2. 5GS Network Architecture 3-3. Network Slicing 3-4. Session Establishment Processing 3-5. Flow-based QoS control 3-6. AI / ML Models 4. Operational Examples of Communication Systems 4-1. First Example 4-2. Second Example 4-3. Third Example 5. Another operational example of a communication system 5-1. Fourth Example 5-2. Fifth Example 5-3. Sixth Example 5-4. Seventh Example 5-5. Eighth Example 5-6. Ninth Example 6. Modify the example 7. Conclusion 1. Overview In 2018, the first standard for the fifth-generation mobile communication system (so-called 5G) was established as Rel-15. 5G is a radio access technology that can support a variety of use cases, including enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive machine-type communications (mMTC), and ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC).

[0046] 5G mobile communication systems enable radio communication with high performance (e.g., stable connection, low latency, high reliability, high throughput, low power consumption, low processing load, etc.). Users or communication devices (e.g., terminal devices) can utilize high-quality communication services through radio communication with high performance. For example, a terminal device can receive large amounts of data at high speed from a transmitting communication device. Alternatively, the terminal device can perform real-time communication with low latency (e.g., real-time communication in VR games, the metaverse, or video conferencing).

[0047] However, depending on the circumstances, existing technologies may be insufficient in their current state to provide high-quality communication services to communication devices. For example, in existing communication technologies used by existing mobile communication systems such as 5G, communication devices in low SNR environments can only utilize lower-quality communication services (e.g., low-speed or high-latency communication services) compared to communication devices in high SNR environments. Here, SNR refers to the signal-to-noise ratio.

[0048] Existing communication methods are used to propagate source data (hereinafter referred to as "source data") such that the data can be recovered in the same form at the receiving end. In the description below, this form of communication may be referred to as "conventional communication." Source data is, for example, data that is the source of the data being transmitted via the actual communication path. Source data can be data generated by an application (e.g., data input to an AI / ML model described below). Source data can be reformulated as raw data.

[0049] It is worth noting that in recent years, a new communication method called semantic communication has emerged. It has been found that using semantic communication improves communication performance at the application level in low SNR environments (e.g., NPL 1 and NPL 2 mentioned above) compared to conventional communication. When performing communication using semantic communication, the receiving side does not always recover the source data in the same form. For this reason, semantic communication technology cannot be simply applied to existing mobile communication systems. However, the standard specifications of the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) do not provide support in a way that allows the implementation of semantic communication.

[0050] Therefore, in this embodiment, the above-mentioned problems are solved by the following means.

[0051] Figures 1 to 3 This is a diagram used to describe an overview of this embodiment. The communication system in this embodiment is, for example, a mobile communication system. For instance, the communication system in this embodiment is a cellular communication system, such as 5G.

[0052] The communication system according to this embodiment includes multiple information processing devices (multiple communication devices). The communication system according to this embodiment includes, for example, devices belonging to a core network, a base station, and a terminal device. Devices belonging to the core network are, for example, devices that implement network functions constituting the core network (e.g., management device 20 described below). Note that devices belonging to the core network may include a base station. In the following description, devices that implement network functions constituting the core network may be simply referred to as the core network.

[0053] The communication system according to this embodiment supports communication that at least propagates information (data) such that the source data can be recovered in the same form at the receiving end (hereinafter referred to as "first communication") and communication that propagates part or all of the information extracted from the source data using an artificial intelligence / machine learning (AI / ML) model to the receiving end (hereinafter referred to as "second communication"). For example, at least one of a plurality of information processing devices included in the communication system ( Figures 1 to 3 (At least one of the terminal device, base station, and core network in the example) can perform processing related to the first and second communications.

[0054] Here, the first communication is, for example, conventional communication provided by a conventional mobile communication system (e.g., a fifth-generation or earlier mobile communication system). The second communication is, for example, semantic communication. The first communication can be restated as a first communication mode, a first communication means, or a first communication method. Similarly, the second communication can be restated as a second communication mode, a second communication means, or a second communication method.

[0055] First, an information processing device (terminal device, base station, or core network) included in a communication system determines the communication used by a communication device (e.g., a terminal device) included in the communication system. Then, if the communication associated with the determination result is a second communication, the information processing device performs setting-related processing to designate the communication used by the communication device (e.g., the terminal device) as the second communication.

[0056] The operation of the information processing device will be described below when the information processing device is a terminal device, when the information processing device is a base station, and when the information processing device is a core network.

[0057] When the information processing device is a terminal device

[0058] First, the operation of the information processing device (terminal device) when the information processing device is a terminal device will be described.

[0059] The terminal device can determine (select) the communication (communication means) to be used from multiple communication means, including first communication and second communication, based on the application executed under preset conditions. Here, the preset conditions may be the time when a session establishment request for the application executed by the terminal device is sent. That is, when a session establishment request for the application executed by the terminal device is sent, the terminal device can select the communication means to be used for communication from multiple communication means according to the instructions of the application.

[0060] Figure 1 This is a diagram used to describe the first communication. If the communication related to the determined result (the communication means selected by the terminal device) is the first communication, then the terminal device sets the communication it uses as the first communication. Then, the terminal device sends data to the receiving communication device, enabling the receiving communication device to recover the source data in the same form. Alternatively, the terminal device receives data sent by the sending communication device, enabling the terminal device to recover the source data in the same form.

[0061] Here, the communication device on the sending / receiving side can be a base station, another terminal device, or a core network. Furthermore, the communication device on the sending / receiving side can be a server providing services to the terminal device's application via communication. Note that when the terminal device sends data to another communication device, the terminal device can also be the sending side communication device. Additionally, when the terminal device receives data from another communication device, the terminal device can also be the receiving side communication device.

[0062] Note that in the following description, data (information) transmitted in a manner that allows the receiving communication device to recover the source data in the same form may be referred to as first data. First data may be the source data itself, or it may be data obtained by performing predetermined processing on the source data so that the receiving communication device can recover the source data in the same form. For example, first data may be data obtained by adding redundant data (e.g., error detection data and / or error correction data) to the source data. Additionally, first data may be data obtained by performing processes such as compression, encoding, and modulation on the source data.

[0063] Figure 2 and Figure 3 This is a diagram used to describe the second communication. If the communication associated with the determined result (the communication selected by the terminal device) is the second communication, the terminal device obtains, for example, configuration information about the second communication from the core network. The terminal device then configures the communication it uses itself as the second communication. Here, the configuration information about the second communication may include an AI / ML model for the second communication (…). Figure 2 and Figure 3 The information of the first AI / ML model shown is then used by the terminal device to configure the first AI / ML model based on the information associated with it. The first AI / ML model may be data extracted from source data for semantic communication. Figure 2 The second data shown in the figure is an AI / ML model, or it can be data transmitted in semantic communication. Figure 3 The third data shown generates the data to be passed to the application. Figure 3 The AI / ML model (shown as the fourth data).

[0064] When the terminal device is the transmitting side, the terminal device as follows: Figure 2The diagram illustrates the use of a first AI / ML model to compute second data from source data. For example, a terminal device inputs source data into the input layer of the first AI / ML model, thereby obtaining second data from the output layer of the first AI / ML model. The terminal device then transmits the second data to a receiving communication device (e.g., a base station). The receiving communication device retrieves the second data from the terminal device. The receiving communication device then uses the second AI / ML model to compute data to be used in a predetermined process from the second data. The predetermined purpose may be to transmit the data to another communication device or to process the data in an application within the communication device. Here, the second AI / ML model may be an AI / ML model that generates the data to be used in the predetermined process using the second data.

[0065] When the terminal device is the receiving side, the terminal device as follows: Figure 3 The diagram shows the acquisition of third data from the base station. This third data can be data calculated from the source data by the communication device on the receiving side (e.g., the base station) using a second AI / ML model. The second AI / ML model can be used to extract data for semantic communication from the source data. Figure 3 The terminal device uses a first AI / ML model to compute fourth data from the third data (shown as the third data). For example, the terminal device inputs the third data into the input layer of the first AI / ML model, thereby obtaining the fourth data from the output layer of the first AI / ML model. The terminal device then transmits the fourth data to the application.

[0066] When the information processing device is a base station

[0067] Next, the operation of the information processing device (base station) when the information processing device is a base station will be described.

[0068] A base station can determine (select) a communication (communication means) to be used by a terminal device from a plurality of communication (communication means), including a first communication and a second communication. For example, the base station can determine (select) the communication means to be used by the terminal device for communication from a plurality of communication means based on the quality of the communication between the terminal device and the base station (e.g., signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)). For example, when the communication quality between the terminal device and the base station is inferior to a predetermined standard, the base station can determine that the communication used by the terminal device is the second communication.

[0069] Here, communication quality is not limited to SNR, and can be, for example, Received Signal Strength Index (RSSI), Reference Received Power (RSRP), Reference Received Quality (RSRQ), or a combination of multiple indicators selected from these indicators (SNR, RSSI, RSRP, and RSRQ). Of course, communication quality can be the quality (value / information) determined based on one or more indicators selected from these indicators (SNR, RSSI, RSRP, and RSRQ).

[0070] If the communication associated with the determined result is the first communication, the base station configures the communication used by the terminal device as the first communication. Here, the base station can set the configuration associated with the bearer between the base station and the terminal device as the configuration for the communication used by the terminal device as the first communication. For example, the base station can perform processing to update the second bearer established for the second communication to the first bearer corresponding to the first communication.

[0071] On the other hand, if the communication related to the determined result is a second communication, the base station configures the communication used by the terminal device as the second communication. Here, the base station can set the configuration related to the bearer between the base station and the terminal device as the configuration for the communication used by the terminal device as the second communication. For example, the base station can perform processing to update the first bearer established for the first communication to a second bearer corresponding to the second communication.

[0072] When the information processing device is the core network

[0073] Next, the operation of the information processing device (core network) when the information processing device is a base station will be described.

[0074] The core network can configure QoS monitoring for at least one QoS flow processed in a first session established for the first communication. The core network can then determine whether the result of the QoS monitoring satisfies the parameters of the QoS flow, as a determination regarding the communication used by the communication device. If the result of the QoS monitoring does not satisfy the parameters of the QoS flow, the core network can determine that the communication used by the terminal device is the second communication.

[0075] If the QoS monitoring results satisfy the parameters of the QoS flow, the core network configures the communication used by the terminal device as the first communication. Here, the core network can set the configuration associated with the session used by the terminal device as the configuration for the communication used by the terminal device as the first communication. For example, the core network can perform processing to update a second session established for the second communication to a first session corresponding to the first communication. This processing to update a second session established for the second communication to a first session corresponding to the first communication may include processing performed by the base station to update a second bearer established for the second communication to a first bearer corresponding to the first communication.

[0076] On the other hand, if the QoS monitoring results do not meet the parameters of the QoS flow, the core network will configure the communication used by the terminal device as the second communication. Here, the core network can set the configuration related to the session used by the terminal device as the configuration for the communication used by the terminal device as the second communication. For example, the core network can perform a process for updating the first session established for the first communication to the second session corresponding to the second communication. Here, the process for updating the first session established for the first communication to the second session corresponding to the second communication may include the process performed by the aforementioned base station for updating the first bearer established for the first communication to the second bearer corresponding to the second communication.

[0077] Therefore, the communication system of this embodiment can selectively use conventional communication and semantic communication as needed (e.g., depending on the communication environment of the communication device). As a result, the communication system can provide high-quality communication services (e.g., low-latency communication) to users or communication devices.

[0078] Although an overview of this embodiment has been described, the communication system 1 according to this embodiment will be described in detail below.

[0079] 2. Configuration of the communication system

[0080] First, the configuration of communication system 1 will be described. Figure 4 This diagram illustrates the configuration of a communication system 1 according to this embodiment. The communication system 1 includes a server 10, a management device 20, a base station 30, and a terminal device 40. The communication system 1 provides a wireless network enabling mobile communication (mobile network) to a user by causing the radio communication devices constituting the communication system 1 to operate collaboratively.

[0081] The wireless network in this embodiment can be a cellular network, including, for example, a radio access network (RAN) and a core network (CN). The mobile network can include terminal device 40. In this embodiment, the radio communication device is a device with radio communication capabilities, and... Figure 4 The example corresponds to base station 30 and terminal device 40.

[0082] The communication system 1 may include multiple servers 10, management devices 20, base stations 30, and terminal devices 40. Figure 4 In the example, communication system 1 includes server 101 and server 102 as server 10, and management device 201 and management device 202 as management device 20. Furthermore, communication system 1 includes base station 301, base station 302, and base station 303 as base station 30, and terminal device 401, terminal device 402, and terminal device 403 as terminal device 40. Note that in the following description, the devices included in communication system 1 may be referred to as network devices.

[0083] Terminal device 40 can be configured to connect to a network using a radio access technology (RAT) such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), New Radio (NR), Beyond 5G (B5G), 6G, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth (Bluetooth name). In this case, terminal device 40 can be configured to use different radio access technologies (radio communication schemes). For example, terminal device 40 can be configured to use NR and Wi-Fi. Additionally, terminal device 40 can be configured to use different cellular communication technologies (e.g., LTE, NR, B5G, or 6G). In the following description, terminal device 40 may be referred to as user equipment (UE) 40.

[0084] LTE and NR are both types of cellular communication technology that enable mobile communication for terminal devices by allocating multiple areas covered by base stations using a cellular pattern. 6G is also a type of cellular communication technology that enables mobile communication for terminal devices by allocating multiple areas covered by base stations using a cellular pattern.

[0085] Note that in the following description, "LTE" includes LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), LTE-Advanced Pro (LTE-A Pro), and Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (EUTRA). Furthermore, NR is assumed to include New Radio Access Technology (NRAT) and the further EUTRA (FEUTRA). It is also noted that a single base station 30 can manage multiple cells. In the following description, cells corresponding to LTE are referred to as LTE cells, and cells corresponding to NR are referred to as NR cells.

[0086] NR is the next-generation (fifth-generation) radio access technology after LTE (fourth-generation communication, including LTE-Advanced and LTE-Advanced Pro). NR is a radio access technology that can support various use cases, including enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive machine-type communications (mMTC), and ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC). 3GPP's Rel-15 has defined NR as a technical framework corresponding to the use cases, requirements, deployment scenarios, etc., in these applications. Furthermore, B5G and 6G require the simultaneous achievement of multiple goals, including high speed and high capacity, low latency / high reliability, and multiple simultaneous connections.

[0087] 6G is the next generation of cellular communication technology following NR and 5GS (5G systems) in fifth-generation mobile communication. 6G includes radio access technologies and network technologies between base stations, core networks, and data networks. Additionally, 6G includes technologies for polar connectivity for each of eMBB, mMTC, and URLLC, which are considered major use cases or requirements in NR. 6G also includes new technologies in new aspects. For example, 6G may include technologies related to AI (e.g., cognitive networks, AI-native air interfaces), sensing (including radar / RF sensing and networks as sensors), and terahertz communication.

[0088] It should be noted that the wireless networks described above or below may correspond to at least one of radio access technologies (RATs) such as LTE, NR, B5G, and 6G. LTE, NR, and 6G are each types of cellular communication technologies and enable mobile communication of terminal devices by allocating multiple areas covered by base stations in a cellular pattern. It should be noted that the radio access scheme used by communication system 1 is not limited to LTE, NR, B5G, and 6G, and may be another radio access scheme such as Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) or Code Division Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA 2000).

[0089] Furthermore, base station 30 can be a ground station or a non-ground station. A non-ground station can be a satellite station or an aircraft station. If the non-ground station is a satellite station, then the wireless network can be a bend-tube (transparent) type mobile satellite communication system.

[0090] It should be noted that in this embodiment, ground station and ground base station refer to base stations and relay stations installed on the ground. Here, "ground" is not only land, but also ground in a broad sense, including underground, above water, and underwater. It should be noted that in the following description, the term "ground station" can be replaced by "gateway".

[0091] It should be noted that base stations in LTE are sometimes referred to as "eNodeB" or "eNB". Additionally, base stations in NR can be referred to as "gNodeB" or "gNB". Furthermore, base stations in 6G can be referred to as "6G NodeB" (6GNB). Also, in LTE, NR, and 6G, terminal devices (also called "mobile stations" or "terminals") are sometimes referred to as "User Equipment (UE)". It should be noted that a terminal device is a type of communication device and is also referred to as a "mobile station" or "terminal".

[0092] It should be noted that terminal device 40 can connect to the network using radio access technologies (radio communication schemes) other than LTE, NR, B5G, 6G, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. For example, terminal device 40 can connect to the network using Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) communication. Alternatively, terminal device 40 can connect to the network using proprietary standard radio communication.

[0093] Here, LPWA communication refers to radio communication that enables low-power wide-area communication. For example, LPWA radio refers to Internet of Things (IoT) radio communication using a specified low-power radio band (e.g., the 920MHz band) or an Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band. LPWA radio can include LTE-M operating in cellular frequency bands and / or Cellular IoT (C-IoT) represented by NB-IoT. It should be noted that the LPWA communication used by terminal device 40 can conform to an LPWA standard. The LPWA standard can be at least one of, for example, ELTRES, ZETA, SIGFOX, LoRaWAN, LTE-M, and NB-IoT. Of course, the LPWA standard is not limited to this and can be another LPWA standard.

[0094] Figure 4 The radio communication devices shown can be considered devices in a logical sense. That is, some radio communication devices can be implemented using virtual machines (VMs), containers (such as Docker), etc., and these devices can be implemented on physically identical hardware.

[0095] In this embodiment, the concept of a radio communication device includes not only portable mobile devices (terminal devices), such as mobile terminals, but also devices installed in structures or mobile bodies. The structure or mobile body itself can be considered a radio communication device. The concept of a radio communication device includes not only terminal device 40 but also base station 30. A radio communication device is a type of processing device or information processing device. A radio communication device can be described as a transmitting device or a receiving device.

[0096] The configuration of each radio communication device constituting communication system 1 will be described in detail below. It should be noted that the configuration of each radio communication device described below is merely an example. The configuration of each radio communication device may differ from the configuration described below.

[0097] 2-1. Server Configuration

[0098] First, the configuration of server 10 will be described.

[0099] Server 10 is an information processing device (computer) that provides various services to terminal device 40. For example, server 10 is an XR server that distributes XR content (XR media), such as XR motion graphics content, to terminal device 40. Server 10 is, for example, an application server (AS). In the following description, server 10 may be referred to as application server 10 or AS 10.

[0100] It should be noted that server 10 can be a web server, PC server, mid-range server, or mainframe server. Additionally, server 10 can be an information processing device that performs data processing (edge ​​processing) near the user or terminal. For example, server 10 can be an information processing device (computer) co-located with or built into a base station. Furthermore, server 10 can include functions as a core network. For example, server 10 can be a device used as a management device 20. Of course, server 10 can be an information processing device performing cloud computing. In this embodiment, server 10 can be used for application functions.

[0101] Server 10 is connected to management device 20 via network N. Although in Figure 4 The example shows only one network N, but multiple networks N can exist. Here, network N is a public network, such as the Internet. It should be noted that network N is not limited to the Internet and can be, for example, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a cellular network, a fixed-line telephone network, or a local Internet Protocol (IP) network. Network N can include wired networks or wireless networks.

[0102] Figure 5 This is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of server 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Server 10 includes a communication unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a control unit 13. Figure 5 The configuration shown is a functional configuration and may differ from the hardware configuration. Furthermore, the functionality of server 10 can be distributed across multiple physically separate configurations. For example, server 10 may be configured with multiple information processing devices.

[0103] Communication unit 11 is a communication interface used for communicating with other devices. For example, communication unit 11 is, for instance, a network interface. For example, communication unit 11 can be a local area network (LAN) interface such as a network interface card (NIC). It should be noted that communication unit 11 can be a wired interface or a radio interface. Communication unit 11 communicates with management device 20, base station 30, terminal device 40, and other servers 10 under the control of control unit 13.

[0104] Storage cell 12 is a storage device capable of reading and writing data, such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), flash memory, or hard disk.

[0105] Control unit 13 is the controller for each unit of control server 10. Control unit 13 can be implemented by a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a microprocessor unit (MPU). For example, control unit 13 can be implemented by using memory such as random access memory (RAM) as a workspace to execute various types of programs stored in storage devices within management device 20. Control unit 13 can be implemented by an integrated circuit such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). Control unit 13 can also be implemented by a graphics processing unit (GPU). Any of a CPU, MPU, ASIC, FPGA, and GPU can be considered as a controller. Note that control unit 13 may include multiple physically separate objects. For example, control unit 13 may include multiple semiconductor chips.

[0106] 2-2. Configuration of Management Device

[0107] Next, the configuration of the management device 20 will be described.

[0108] The management device 20 is an information processing device (computer) that manages the wireless network. For example, each management device 20 is an information processing device that manages the communications of the base station 30.

[0109] Management device 20 may be, for example, a device constituting the core network (CN). For instance, management device 20 may include functions as a Mobility Management Entity (MME). Management device 20 may also include functions as Access and Mobility Management Functions (AMF) and / or Session Management Functions (SMF). MME, AMF, and SMF are control plane network function nodes in the core network (CN). Management device 20 may also include functions as a control plane network function (6G CPNF) in 6G. A 6G CPNF may include one or more logical nodes.

[0110] Of course, the functions of management device 20 are not limited to MME, AMF, SMF, and 6G CPNF. Management device 20 may include functions such as Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF), Authentication Server Function (AUSF), Policy Control Function (PCF), and Unified Data Management (UDM). Management device 20 may also include functions such as Home Subscriber Server (HSS).

[0111] Note that management device 20 may include gateway functionality. For example, management device 20 may include functionality as a Serving Gateway (S-GW) or Packet Data Network Gateway (P-GW). Management device 20 may also include functionality as a User Plane Function (UPF). In this case, management device 20 may include multiple UPFs. Management device 20 may also be a device that includes functionality as a User Plane Network Function (6G UPNF) in 6G.

[0112] The core network (CN) includes multiple network functions, and each network function can be integrated into a single physical device or distributed across multiple physical devices. In other words, the management device 20 can be distributed across multiple devices. Furthermore, this distributed distribution can be controlled to be dynamically executed. The base station 30 and the management device 20 constitute a network and provide radio communication services to the terminal device 40. The management device 20 is connected to the Internet, and the terminal device 40 can use various services provided via the Internet through the base station 30.

[0113] Note that management device 20 does not necessarily have to be a device constituting the core network CN. For example, suppose the core network CN is a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) or Code Division Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA 2000) core network. In this case, management device 20 can be a device used as a Radio Network Controller (RNC).

[0114] Figure 6 This is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the management device 20 according to this embodiment. The management device 20 includes a communication unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a control unit 23. Figure 6 The configuration shown is a functional configuration and may differ from the hardware configuration. Furthermore, the functionality of management device 20 can be implemented statically or dynamically in multiple physically separate configurations. For example, management device 20 may include multiple server devices.

[0115] Communication unit 21 is a communication interface for communicating with a radio communication device (e.g., base station 30). Communication unit 21 can be a network interface or a device connection interface. Communication unit 21 can be a local area network (LAN) interface such as a network interface card (NIC), or a universal serial bus (USB) interface including a USB host controller, USB port, etc. Communication unit 21 can be a wired interface or a radio interface. Communication unit 21 is controlled by control unit 23.

[0116] Storage unit 22 is a storage device capable of data reading and writing, such as DRAM, SRAM, flash memory, or hard disk. Storage unit 22 stores, for example, the connection status of terminal device 40. Storage unit 22 stores the status of the radio resource control (RRC) and EPS connection management (ECM) of terminal device 40, or the status of the 5G system connection management (CM) of terminal device 40. Storage unit 22 can be used as a home memory for storing location information of terminal device 40.

[0117] Control unit 23 is the controller for each unit of the management device 20. Control unit 23 can be implemented by a processor, such as a CPU, MPU, etc. Specifically, control unit 23 can be implemented by using RAM, etc., as a workspace to execute various types of programs stored in a memory device within the management device 20. Control unit 23 can be implemented by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or FPGA. Control unit 23 can also be implemented by a GPU. Any of a CPU, MPU, ASIC, FPGA, and GPU can be considered a controller. Note that control unit 23 can include multiple physically separate objects. For example, control unit 23 can include multiple semiconductor chips.

[0118] The control unit 23 includes at least one block selected from the following: a determining unit 231, a configuring unit 232, an acquiring unit 233, an updating unit 234, and a communication control unit 235. Each block constituting the control unit 23 (from the determining unit 231 to the communication control unit 235) is a functional block representing the function of the control unit 23. These functional blocks can be software blocks or hardware blocks. For example, each of the above functional blocks can be a software module implemented by software (including microprograms), or it can be a circuit block on a semiconductor chip (die). Of course, each of the functional blocks can be a single processor or a single integrated circuit. The control unit 23 may include functional units different from the above functional blocks. For example, the updating unit 234 may have some or all of the functions of the configuring unit 232. The method of configuring the functional blocks is arbitrary.

[0119] 2-3. Base station configuration

[0120] Next, the configuration of base station 30 will be described.

[0121] Each base station 30 is a radio communication device that performs radio communication with another radio communication device (e.g., terminal device 40 or another base station 30). Base station 30 can communicate wirelessly with terminal device 40 through a relay station, or it can communicate wirelessly with terminal device 40 directly.

[0122] Base station 30 is a device corresponding to a radio base station (base station, Node B, eNB, gNB, 6GNB, etc.) or radio access point. Base station 30 can be a wireless relay station. Base station 30 can be referred to as an optical extension device of a remote radio head (RRH). Base station 30 can be a receiving station such as a field pickup unit (FPU). Base station 30 can be an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) donor node or IAB relay node that provides wireless access lines and wireless backhaul lines through time division multiplexing, frequency division multiplexing, or space division multiplexing.

[0123] The radio access technology used by base station 30 can be cellular communication technology. The radio access technology used by base station 30 can be wireless LAN technology. The radio access technology used by base station 30 can be low-power wide-area (LPWA) communication technology. However, the radio access technology used by base station 30 is not limited to the above technologies and can be any other radio access technology. The radio communication used by base station 30 can be millimeter-wave radio communication or terahertz-wave radio communication. The radio communication used by base station 30 can be radio communication using radio waves or radio communication using infrared or visible light (optical radio communication). Additionally, base station 30 can be able to perform non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) communication with terminal device 40. Here, NOMA communication is communication using non-orthogonal resources (transmission, reception, or both). Note that base station 30 can be able to perform NOMA communication with another base station 30.

[0124] Note that base station 30 can communicate with the core network via a base station-core network interface (e.g., NG interface, S1 interface, etc.). This interface can be wired or wireless. Additionally, the base station can communicate with another base station via an inter-base station interface (e.g., Xn interface, X2 interface, F1 interface, etc.). This interface can be wired or wireless.

[0125] The concept of a "base station" (also known as a "base station device") includes not only donor base stations but also relay base stations (also known as "relay stations"). A relay base station can be any of an RF repeater, a smart repeater, and a smart surface. The concept of a "base station" includes not only the structure with base station functionality but also the devices installed within that structure.

[0126] This structure includes, for example, buildings such as high-rise buildings, houses, steel towers, station facilities, airport facilities, port facilities, office buildings, school buildings, hospitals, factories, commercial facilities, or stadiums. The concept of "structure" includes not only buildings but also non-building structures such as tunnels, bridges, dams, fences, and iron bars, as well as facilities such as cranes, gates, and windmills. The concept of "structure" includes not only structures on land (in a narrow sense) or underground but also above-water structures such as docks or large floating vessels and underwater structures such as marine observation facilities. A base station can be reformulated as an information processing device.

[0127] Base station 30 can be a donor station or a relay station. Base station 30 can also be a fixed station or a mobile station. A mobile station is a radio communication device configured to be mobile (e.g., a base station). In this case, base station 30 can be a device installed in a mobile body, or it can be the mobile body itself. For example, a mobile relay station can be considered as base station 30 as a mobile station. In addition, base station 30 as a mobile station also corresponds to a device that initially has mobility and includes the functions of a base station (at least some of the functions of a base station), such as a vehicle, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) represented by a drone, or a smartphone.

[0128] Here, a mobile body can be a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or mobile phone. A mobile body can be one that moves on land (ground in the narrow sense) (e.g., vehicles such as cars, bicycles, buses, trucks, motorcycles, trains, or linear electric locomotives), or one that moves underground (e.g., in tunnels) (e.g., subways). A mobile body can also be one that moves on water (e.g., ships such as passenger ships, cargo ships, or hovercraft), or one that moves underwater (e.g., submersibles such as submarines, amphibious vehicles, or unmanned submersibles). A mobile body can also be one that moves in the atmosphere (e.g., aircraft such as airplanes, airships, or drones).

[0129] Base station 30 can be a ground-based base station (ground station) installed on the ground. Base station 30 can be a base station deployed in a structure on the ground, or it can be a base station installed in a mobile body that moves on the ground. Base station 30 can be an antenna installed in a structure such as a building and a signal processing device connected to the antenna. Base station 30 can be the structure or the mobile body itself. The phrase "on the ground" refers to the ground in a broad sense, including not only land (the ground in a narrow sense), but also underground, on water, and underwater. Base station 30 is not limited to a ground-based base station. If communication system 1 is a satellite communication system, then base station 30 can be an air station. From the perspective of a satellite station, an air station located on Earth is a ground station.

[0130] Base station 30 is not limited to ground stations. Base station 30 can be a non-ground base station (non-ground station) that can float in the air or space. Base station 30 can be an air station or a satellite station.

[0131] A satellite station is a satellite station that can float in outer space. A satellite station can be a device mounted on a spacecraft, such as an artificial satellite, or it can be the spacecraft itself. A spacecraft is a moving body that moves in outer space. A spacecraft can be at least one of artificial satellites, spacecraft, space stations, and probes. Of course, a spacecraft can be an artificial celestial body other than those mentioned above. Note that the satellite used as a satellite station can be any of a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite, a medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellite, a geostationary orbit (GEO) satellite, or a highly elliptical orbit (HEO) satellite. A satellite station can be a device mounted on a low Earth orbit satellite, a medium Earth orbit satellite, a geostationary orbit satellite, or a highly elliptical orbit satellite.

[0132] An aircraft station is a radio communication device that can float in the atmosphere, such as an aircraft. An aircraft station can be a device mounted on an aircraft, or it can be the aircraft itself. The concept of "aircraft" includes not only heavier-than-air aircraft (e.g., airplanes or gliders) but also lighter-than-air aircraft (e.g., balloons or airships). The concept of "aircraft" also includes not only heavier-than-air or lighter-than-air aircraft but also rotorcraft, such as helicopters or autogyros. An aircraft station or an aircraft equipped with an aircraft station can be an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), such as a drone.

[0133] The concept of "unmanned aerial vehicles" includes unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tethered unmanned aircraft systems (tethered UAS). The concept of "unmanned aerial vehicles" includes lighter-than-air (LTA) UAS and heavier-than-air (HTA) UAS. The concept of "unmanned aerial vehicles" includes high-altitude UAS platforms (HAP).

[0134] The coverage area of ​​base station 30 can range from relatively large, like a macrocell, to relatively small, like a picocell. The coverage area of ​​base station 30 can be extremely small, like a femtocell. Base station 30 can have beamforming capabilities. Base station 30 can form a cell or service area for each beam. In addition to this, or alternatively, base station 30 can also have the capability to transmit a desired wave to a predetermined point in a targeted manner by further considering distance information from the antennas of base station 30. This capability can be referred to as beam focusing or point formation. Base station 30 can also be configured to acquire detection data by performing sensing using beams.

[0135] Figure 7 This is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a base station 30 according to this embodiment. The base station 30 includes a radio communication unit 31, a storage unit 32, and a control unit 33. However, Figure 7 The configuration shown is a functional configuration and may differ from the hardware configuration. Furthermore, the functionality of base station 30 can be distributed across multiple physically separate configurations.

[0136] It should be noted that base station 30 does not necessarily have to include all the configurations described above or later. Base station 30 may also include configurations other than those described above or later.

[0137] The radio communication unit 31 is a signal processing unit for performing radio communication with other radio communication devices (e.g., at least one of the terminal device 40 and other base stations 30). The radio communication unit 31 may be referred to as a wireless transceiver or simply a transceiver. In this case, the radio communication unit 31 may be a transceiver of specifications defined by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) technical specifications (hereinafter referred to as a "3GPP transceiver"). The 3GPP transceiver may be a 3G transceiver, a 4G (LTE) transceiver, a 5G (NR) transceiver, or a 5G or later generation transceiver. The radio communication unit 31 is controlled by the control unit 33. The radio communication unit 31 supports one or more radio access schemes. The radio communication unit 31 may support at least one of NR, LTE, B5G, and 6G. In addition to supporting NR, LTE, B5G, and 6G, the radio communication unit 31 may also support W-CDMA, cdma2000, etc. The radio communication unit 31 may support automatic repeater technology, such as Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ). Some or all of the processing performed by the radio communication unit 31 may be performed by the control unit 33.

[0138] The radio communication unit 31 includes a transmitting processing unit 311, a receiving processing unit 312, and an antenna 313. At least one of the transmitting processing unit 311, the receiving processing unit 312, and the antenna 313 can be considered as the radio communication unit 31. The radio communication unit 31 may include multiple transmitting processing units 311, receiving processing units 312, and antennas 313. When the radio communication unit 31 supports multiple radio access schemes, each unit of the radio communication unit 31 can be configured individually for each radio access scheme. For example, the transmitting processing unit 311 and the receiving processing unit 312 can be configured individually for each of LTE, NR, B5G, and 6G. The antenna 313 may include multiple antenna elements, such as multiple patch antennas. The radio communication unit 31 may include beamforming functionality. For example, the radio communication unit 31 may include polarization beamforming functionality using vertically polarized waves (V-polarized waves) and horizontally polarized waves (H-polarized waves) (or polarization beamforming functionality using dual-polarized waves in polarization directions of 45 degrees and 45 degrees in the vertical direction).

[0139] The transmission processing unit 311 performs transmission processing of downlink control information and downlink data. For example, the transmission processing unit 311 encodes the downlink control information and downlink data received from the control unit 33 using an encoding scheme such as block coding, convolutional coding, or turbo coding. Here, the encoding can be based on polarity codes or low-density parity-check codes (LDPC codes). Then, the transmission processing unit 311 modulates the encoded bits using a predetermined modulation scheme (e.g., BPSK, QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM, 256QAM, or higher-order multilevel modulation schemes). At this time, the signal points on the constellation do not necessarily have to be equidistant. In addition, the constellation can be a non-uniform constellation (NUC). Then, the transmission processing unit 311 multiplexes the modulation symbols and downlink reference signals of each channel and allocates the multiplexed signals to predetermined resource elements. Then, the transmission processing unit 311 performs various types of signal processing on the multiplexed signals. For example, the transmission processing unit 311 performs processes such as converting to the frequency domain using a fast Fourier transform, adding a guard interval (cyclic prefix), generating a baseband digital signal, converting to an analog signal, quadrature modulation, up-conversion, removing additional frequency components, and amplifying power. The signal generated by the transmission processing unit 311 is transmitted from the antenna 313.

[0140] The receiving processing unit 312 performs processing on the received uplink signal. For example, it performs down-conversion, removes unnecessary frequency components, controls amplification levels, performs quadrature demodulation, converts the signal to a digital signal, removes the guard interval (cyclic prefix), and extracts the frequency domain signal using a fast Fourier transform. Then, the receiving processing unit 312 separates the uplink channel, such as the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) or Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH), and the uplink reference signal from the signal that has undergone the above processing. The receiving processing unit 312 also demodulates the received signal of the uplink channel modulation symbols using a modulation scheme such as Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK) or Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK). The modulation scheme used for demodulation can be 16 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM), 64QAM, or 256QAM. In this case, the signal points on the constellation do not necessarily have to be equidistant. The constellation can be a Non-Uniform Constellation (NUC). Then, the receiving processing unit 312 performs decoding processing on the encoded bits of the demodulated uplink channel. The decoded uplink data and uplink control information are output to the control unit 33.

[0141] Antenna 313 is an antenna device that converts current into radio waves and vice versa. Antenna 313 may include one antenna element, such as a patch antenna. Antenna 313 may include multiple antenna elements, such as multiple patch antennas. If antenna 313 includes multiple antenna elements, then wireless communication unit 31 may have beamforming capabilities. Wireless communication unit 31 may be configured to generate a directional beam by controlling the directivity of radio signals using multiple antenna elements. Antenna 313 may be a dual-polarized antenna. If antenna 313 is a dual-polarized antenna, then when transmitting radio waves, wireless communication unit 31 may use vertically polarized waves (V-polarized waves) and horizontally polarized waves (H-polarized waves) (or dual-polarized waves in polarization directions of 45 degrees and 45 degrees from the vertical direction). Wireless communication unit 31 may control the directivity of the radio waves to be transmitted to use vertically polarized waves and horizontally polarized waves (or dual-polarized waves in polarization directions of 45 degrees and 45 degrees from the vertical direction). The wireless communication unit 31 can also transmit and receive spatially multiplexed signals through multiple layers including multiple antenna elements.

[0142] Storage unit 32 is a storage device capable of reading and writing data, such as DRAM, SRAM, flash memory, or hard disk drive.

[0143] Control unit 33 is a controller that controls each unit of base station 30. Control unit 33 controls the wireless communication units to perform wireless communication with another wireless communication device (e.g., terminal device 40 or another base station 30). Control unit 33 can be implemented using a processor such as a CPU or MPU. Specifically, control unit 33 can be implemented by the processor executing various types of programs stored in a memory device within base station 30 using RAM or similar memory as a working area. Control unit 33 can be implemented using an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or FPGA. Control unit 33 can also be implemented using a GPU. Any of a CPU, MPU, ASIC, FPGA, and GPU can be considered a controller. Note that control unit 33 may include multiple physically separate objects. For example, control unit 33 may include multiple semiconductor chips.

[0144] The control unit 33 includes at least one block selected from the following: a determining unit 331, a configuring unit 332, an acquiring unit 333, a transmitting unit 334, and a receiving unit 335. The blocks constituting the control unit 33 (from the determining unit 331 to the receiving unit 335) are functional blocks that respectively indicate the functions of the control unit 33. Functional blocks can be software blocks or hardware blocks. For example, each of the above functional blocks can be a software module implemented by software (including microprograms), or it can be a circuit block on a semiconductor chip (die). Of course, each of the functional blocks can be a separate processor or a separate integrated circuit. The control unit 33 may include functional units different from the above functional blocks. The method of configuring the functional blocks is arbitrary.

[0145] Note that in several embodiments, base station 30 may include a collection of multiple physical or logical devices. As an example, base station 30 in this embodiment may be classified as multiple devices, such as a baseband unit (BBU) and a radio frequency unit (RU). Base station 30 can be interpreted as a collection of multiple devices. Furthermore, the base station may be one or both of the BBU and RU. The BBU and RU may be connected via a predetermined interface such as an enhanced public public radio interface (eCPRI).

[0146] RU can be restated as Remote Radio Unit (RRU) or Radio DoT (RD). RU can correspond to the gNB Distributed Unit (gNB-DU) described below. BBU can correspond to the gNB Central Unit (gNB-CU) described below. RU can be a device integrated with an antenna. The antenna of base station 30, for example, an antenna integrated with the RU, can employ an advanced antenna system and support MIMO, such as FD-MIMO, or beamforming. The antenna of base station 30 can include, for example, 64 transmit antenna ports and 64 receive antenna ports.

[0147] The antenna mounted on the RU can be an antenna panel comprising one or more antenna elements, and the RU can have one or more antenna panels mounted thereon. The RU can have two types of antenna panels mounted thereon, including horizontally polarized antenna panels and vertically polarized antenna panels. The RU can also have two types of antenna panels mounted thereon, namely, right-handed circularly polarized antenna panels and left-handed circularly polarized antenna panels, or antenna panels with a 45-degree polarization direction and antenna panels with a 45-degree polarization direction from the vertical direction. Multiple antennas with such multiple polarization directions can be mounted on a single antenna panel. The RU can form and control an independent beam for each antenna panel.

[0148] Multiple base stations 30 can be interconnected. One or more base stations 30 may be included in a radio access network (RAN). In this case, base station 30 may simply be referred to as RAN, RAN node, access network (AN), AN node, etc. The RAN in LTE may be called Enhanced Universal Terrestrial RAN (EUTRAN). The RAN in NR may be called NGRAN. In addition, the RAN in 6G may be called 6GRAN. The RAN in W-CDMA (UMTS) may be called UTRAN.

[0149] In LTE, base station 30 can be referred to as an evolved Node B (eNodeB) or eNB. In this case, EUTRAN includes one or more eNodeBs (eNBs). In NR, base station 30 can be referred to as a gNodeB or gNB. In this case, NGRAN includes one or more gNBs. In 6G, base station 30 can be referred to as a 6GNodeB, 6gNodeB, 6GNB, or 6gNB. In this case, 6GRAN includes one or more 6GNBs. EUTRAN can include gNBs (en-gNBs) connected to the core network (EPC) in the LTE communication system (EPS). NGRAN can include ng-eNBs connected to the core network 5GC in the 5G communication system (5GS).

[0150] If base station 30 is an eNB, gNB, 6GNB, etc., then base station 30 can be referred to as a 3GPP access point. If base station 30 is a radio access point, then base station 30 can be referred to as a non-3GPP access point. Base station 30 can be an optical extender device referred to as a Remote Radio Header (RRH). If base station 30 is a gNB, then base station 30 can be a combination of the aforementioned gNB-CU and gNB-DU, or it can be one of gNB-CU or gNB-DU.

[0151] Here, for communication with the UE, the gNB-CU carries multiple higher layers in the access layer (e.g., Radio Resource Control (RRC), Serving Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP), and Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP)). On the other hand, the gNB-DU carries multiple lower layers in the access layer (e.g., Radio Link Control (RLC), Media Access Control (MAC), and Physical Layer (PHY)). That is, the gNB-CU can generate RRC signaling (quasi-static notification) for the messages / information described below, and the gNB-DU can generate its MAC CE or DCI (dynamic notification). Alternatively, in the RRC configuration (quasi-static notification), the gNB-DU can generate some configurations, such as IE: cellGroupConfig, and the gNB-CU can generate the remaining configurations. These configurations can be transmitted and received on the F1 interface described below.

[0152] Base station 30 can be configured to communicate with another base station. If multiple base stations 30 are a combination of eNBs or a combination of eNB and en-gNB, base stations 30 can be connected via the X2 interface. If multiple base stations 30 are a combination of gNBs or a combination of gn-eNB and gNB, base stations 30 can be connected via the Xn interface. If multiple base stations 30 are a combination of gNB-CU and gNB-DU, base stations 30 can be connected via the F1 interface described above. Messages / information described below (e.g., RRC signaling, MAC control element (CE), downlink control information (DCI), etc.) can be sent between multiple base stations 30, for example, via the X2 interface, Xn interface, or F1 interface.

[0153] The cell provided by base station 30 can be referred to as the serving cell. The concept of "serving cell" includes primary cells (PCell) and secondary cells (SCell). If dual connectivity is provided to terminal device 40, the PCell provided by the master node (MN) and zero or more SCells can be referred to as a primary cell group. Dual connectivity can be at least one of EUTRA-EUTRA dual connectivity, EUTRA-NR dual connectivity (ENDC), EUTRA-NR dual connectivity with 5GC, NR-EUTRA dual connectivity (NEDC), NR-NR dual connectivity, NR-6G dual connectivity, and 6G-NR dual connectivity. Of course, dual connectivity is not limited to these.

[0154] The serving cell may include a primary and secondary cell (PSCell) or a primary SCG cell. If dual connectivity is provided to terminal device 40, the PSCell provided by the secondary node (SN) and zero or more SCells may be referred to as a secondary cell group (SCG). Unless a special configuration is provided (e.g., PUCCH on the SCell), the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) is transmitted by the PCell and PSCell, but not by the SCell. Radio link failures are also detected by the PCell and PSCell, but not by the SCell (it is not necessary to be detected). Because the PCell and PSCell have a special role in the serving cell as described above, they are also referred to as special cells (SpCell).

[0155] A cell can be associated with one downlink component carrier and one uplink component carrier. The system bandwidth corresponding to a cell can be divided into multiple bandwidth portions (BWPs). One or more BWPs can be configured for the terminal device 40, and one BWP can be used as the active BWP of the terminal device 40. The radio resources (e.g., frequency bands, digital (subcarrier spacing), or time slot format (time slot configuration)) that the terminal device 40 can use can differ for each cell, each component carrier, or each BWP.

[0156] 2-4. Configuration of Terminal Device

[0157] Next, the configuration of terminal device 40 will be described.

[0158] Terminal device 40 is a wireless communication device (e.g., user equipment (UE)) that performs wireless communication with another wireless communication device (e.g., base station 30 or another terminal device 40). Note that in the following description, terminal device 40 may be referred to as "UE 40".

[0159] Any type of information processing device (computer) can be used as terminal device 40. For example, terminal device 40 can be a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone, smart device (smartphone or tablet), personal digital assistant (PDA), or laptop PC. Furthermore, terminal device 40 can also be an imaging device with communication capabilities (e.g., a camera). Terminal device 40 can also be a vehicle such as a motorcycle or mobile relay vehicle equipped with communication equipment such as a field pickup unit (FPU). Terminal device 40 can also be a machine-to-machine (M2M) device or an Internet of Things (IoT) device. Terminal device 40 can also be a wearable device such as a smartwatch.

[0160] Furthermore, terminal device 40 can be an XR device such as an augmented reality (AR) device, a virtual reality (VR) device, or a mixed reality (MR) device. In this case, the XR device can be an eyeglasses-type device such as AR glasses or MR glasses, or a head-mounted device such as a VR headset. If terminal device 40 is an XR device, it can be a standalone device comprising only a user-wearing portion (e.g., eyeglasses). Terminal device 40 can also be a terminal linking device comprising a user-wearing portion (e.g., eyeglasses) and a terminal portion (e.g., a smart device) linked to the user-wearing portion.

[0161] Terminal device 40 can communicate with base station 30 via non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA). When communicating with base station 30, terminal device 40 can also use automatic repeater techniques such as HARQ. Terminal device 40 can also communicate via sidelink with another terminal device 40. When communicating via sidelink, terminal device 40 can also use automatic repeater techniques such as HARQ. When communicating via sidelink with another terminal device 40, terminal device 40 can perform NOMA communication. Terminal device 40 can also communicate via low-power wide-area (LPWA) with another wireless communication device such as base station 30. The wireless communication used by terminal device 40 can be millimeter-wave wireless communication. The wireless communication used by terminal device 40 can be radio wave wireless communication, including sidelink communication, or it can be infrared or visible light wireless communication, i.e., optical radio communication.

[0162] Terminal device 40 can be a mobile wireless communication device, i.e., a mobile device. Terminal device 40 can be a wireless communication device installed in a mobile body, or it can be the mobile body itself. Terminal device 40 can be a vehicle moving on a road, such as a car, bus, truck, or motorcycle, a train running on rails, or a wireless communication device installed on a vehicle. The mobile body can be a mobile terminal or a mobile body that moves on land (narrowly defined, on the ground), underground, on water, or underwater. The mobile body can also be a mobile body moving in the atmosphere, such as an airplane, airship, balloon, or helicopter, or a mobile body that can move in space, such as a satellite. The mobile body can be an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) such as a drone. Additionally, terminal device 40 can be a wireless communication device installed on a mobile body.

[0163] Terminal device 40 can simultaneously connect to multiple base stations 30 or multiple cells for communication. When a base station 30 supports a communication area through multiple cells (e.g., pCell or sCell), base station 30 can aggregate multiple cells to communicate with terminal device 40 using carrier aggregation (CA), dual connectivity (DC), multiple connectivity (MC), or similar technologies. Alternatively, terminal device 40 can also communicate with multiple base stations 30 via cells of different base stations 30 using coordinated multipoint transmission and reception (CoMP) technology.

[0164] Terminal device 40 can be a relay terminal for communication to a remote terminal.

[0165] Figure 8 This is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the terminal device 40 according to this embodiment. The terminal device 40 includes a wireless communication unit 41, a storage unit 42, a control unit 43, and a sensor unit 44. Figure 8 The configuration shown is a functional configuration and may differ from the hardware configuration. The functions of the terminal device 40 may also be distributed across multiple physically separate configurations.

[0166] Note that terminal device 40 does not necessarily have to include all the configurations described above or below. For example, terminal device 40 does not necessarily have to include sensor unit 44. Terminal device 40 may also include configurations other than those described above or below. Terminal device 40 may have beamforming functionality. Terminal device 40 may also be configured to acquire detection data by performing sensing using beams.

[0167] Wireless communication unit 41 is a signal processing unit for performing wireless communication with another wireless communication device (e.g., base station 30 or another terminal device 40). Wireless communication unit 41 may be referred to as a wireless transceiver or simply a transceiver. In this case, wireless communication unit 41 may be a transceiver according to a standard defined by the 3GPP technical specifications (hereinafter referred to as a "3GPP transceiver"). A 3GPP transceiver may be a 3G transceiver, a 4G (LTE) transceiver, a 5G (NR) transceiver, or a 5G or later generation transceiver. Wireless communication unit 41 is controlled, for example, by control unit 43. Wireless communication unit 41 supports one or more wireless access schemes. Wireless communication unit 41 may support at least one of NR, LTE, B5G, and 6G. In addition to NR, LTE, B5G, and 6G, wireless communication unit 41 may also support W-CDMA, cdma 2000, etc. Wireless communication unit 41 may also support automatic repeater technology such as HARQ. Some or all of the processing performed by wireless communication unit 41 may be performed by control unit 43.

[0168] The wireless communication unit 41 includes a transmitting processing unit 411, a receiving processing unit 412, and an antenna 413. At least one of the transmitting processing unit 411, the receiving processing unit 412, and the antenna 413 can be considered as the wireless communication unit 41. The wireless communication unit 41 may include multiple transmitting processing units 411, receiving processing units 412, and antennas 413. When the wireless communication unit 41 supports multiple wireless access schemes, each unit of the wireless communication unit 41 can be configured individually for each wireless access scheme. For example, the transmitting processing unit 411 and the receiving processing unit 412 can be configured individually for LTE, NR, B5G, and 6G. The antenna 413 may include multiple antenna elements, such as multiple patch antennas. The wireless communication unit 41 may have beamforming functionality. For example, the wireless communication unit 41 may include polarization beamforming functionality using vertically polarized waves (V-polarized waves) and horizontally polarized waves (H-polarized waves) (or polarization beamforming functionality using dual-polarized waves in polarization directions at 45 degrees and 45 degrees from the vertical direction).

[0169] Storage unit 42 is a storage device that can read and write data, such as DRAM, SRAM, flash memory or hard disk.

[0170] Control unit 43 is a controller for each unit of terminal device 40. Control unit 43 controls wireless communication units used to perform wireless communication with another wireless communication device (e.g., base station 30 or another terminal device 40). Control unit 43 can be implemented using a processor such as a CPU or MPU. Specifically, control unit 43 can be implemented by a processor using RAM or the like as a working area to execute various types of programs stored in a memory device within terminal device 40. Control unit 43 can be implemented using an integrated circuit such as an ASIC or FPGA. Any of a CPU, MPU, ASIC, and FPGA can be considered a controller. Control unit 43 can also be implemented using a GPU. Any of a CPU, MPU, ASIC, FPGA, and GPU can be considered a controller. Note that control unit 43 can include multiple physically separate objects. For example, control unit 43 can include multiple semiconductor chips.

[0171] The control unit 43 includes at least one block selected from the following: a determining unit 431, a configuring unit 432, an acquiring unit 433, a sending unit 434, a calculating unit 435, a transmitting unit 436, an extracting unit 437, and an identifying unit 438. The determining unit 431 may be referred to as the selecting unit 431. Each block constituting the control unit 43 (each of the determining units 431 to the identifying unit 438) is a functional block that indicates the function of the control unit 43. The functional block can be a software block or a hardware block. For example, each of the above functional blocks can be a software module implemented by software (including microprograms), or it can be a circuit block on a semiconductor chip (die). Of course, each functional block can be a processor or an integrated circuit. The control unit 43 may include functional units different from the above functional blocks. The method of configuring the functional blocks is arbitrary.

[0172] Sensor unit 44 is a sensor that acquires information about the position or attitude of terminal device 40. For example, sensor unit 44 is an accelerometer and / or a gyroscope sensor. For example, the sensor unit may be a six-degree-of-freedom (6DoF) sensor or a three-degree-of-freedom (3DoF) sensor. Note that sensor unit 44 is not limited to accelerometers and / or gyroscopes. Sensor unit 44 may be an inertial measurement unit (IMU), a geomagnetic sensor, an illuminance sensor, a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor, or an image sensor. Additionally, sensor unit 44 may be a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensor. GNSS sensors may be Global Positioning System (GPS) sensors, GLONASS sensors, Galileo sensors, or Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) sensors. Furthermore, sensor unit 44 may be a camera (e.g., an infrared camera or a light field camera), may be a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensor, or may be a millimeter-wave radar. Sensor unit 44 may also be a combination of multiple sensors among these sensors.

[0173] 3. Technologies applied to communication systems

[0174] The configuration of communication system 1 has been described, and the techniques applied to communication system 1 will be described next.

[0175] Although the following description assumes that communication system 1 is a fifth-generation mobile communication system (5G) as an example, communication system 1 is not limited to a fifth-generation mobile communication system. Communication system 1 can be a fourth-generation mobile communication system (4G) or a sixth-generation mobile communication system (6G). Of course, communication system 1 can be any other radio communication system.

[0176] 3-1. Semantic Communication

[0177] Until 5G mobile communication systems were designed based on Shannon's information theory, which focuses on the maximum data rate that a communication channel can support. Data is then propagated so that the data or bit string used as the source can be recovered as equivalent to the data or bit string used as the transmission source on the receiving side.

[0178] On the other hand, the concept of using communication systems to disseminate the meaning of data as a source, known as "semantic communication," has begun to attract attention toward 6G. Semantic communication is expected to provide a communication method that leverages the synergistic effects of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to achieve machine intelligence (e.g., a communication method suitable for use in robotics).

[0179] In the past, human-to-human (H2H) communication, exemplified by telephone calls, was the mainstream. However, with the proliferation of IoT and AI, there is also a demand for human-to-machine (H2M) and machine-to-machine (M2M) communication.

[0180] For example, H2M communication requires the transmission of information that can be understood not only by humans but also by machines, enabling communication (interaction) or dialogue between humans and machines. On the other hand, M2M communication requires the transmission of information that does not need to be understood by humans but is necessary for efficiently performing specific computational processes among multiple machines. In other words, past radio communication systems designed under the assumption of human-to-human communication are considered inefficient for human-to-machine or machine-to-machine communication.

[0181] Furthermore, according to non-patent literature 1 and non-patent literature 2, two significant effects are achieved by utilizing this semantic communication (effect 1 and effect 2 below).

[0182] (Effect 1) Improved communication performance

[0183] Compared to past communications, the performance of communications in low SNR environments has been improved at the application level.

[0184] (Effect 2) Reduction in the amount of data sent

[0185] Communication devices can extract only important information from data by using AI models and other methods to perform a process called semantic extraction. The communication device can then send only the extracted information, thereby reducing the amount of data transmitted.

[0186] 3-2.5GS Network Architecture

[0187] Next, the network architecture applicable to the communication system 1 in this embodiment will be described. The 5G system (5GS) architecture will be described below as an example of the architecture of the communication system 1.

[0188] Figure 9 This is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the 5GS architecture. The 5G core network CN is also referred to as the 5G core (5GC) / Next Generation Core (NGC). In this embodiment, the core network CN includes, for example, one or more management devices 20. Hereinafter, the core network CN in 5G is also referred to as 5GC / NGC. The core network CN is connected to the user equipment (UE) 40 via a radio access network (RAN) / access network (AN) 510. The UE 40 is, for example, a terminal device 40 in communication system 1. The RAN / AN 510 includes, for example, a base station 30 in communication system 1. Note that although in Figure 15 In the example, RAN / AN 510 is not included in the core network CN, but RAN / AN can be regarded as a device belonging to the core network CN.

[0189] An application server (AS) 10, which performs application-related processing, is connected to the 5GS via the Internet. Server 10 is, for example, an application server (AS). Figure 9 The application server 10 shown corresponds to, for example, server 10 in communication system 1. This enables UE 40 to use applications via 5G services.

[0190] When the entity providing the application has a contract such as a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) operator providing 5G services, server 10 can be deployed within DN 530 or as part of the core network CN of DN 530. Server 10 can be provided as an edge server.

[0191] The control plane function group 540 in 5GS includes multiple network functions (NFs). These multiple NFs included in the control plane function group 540 include, for example, Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) 541, Network Exposure Function (NEF) 542, Network Repository Function (NRF) 543, Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF) 544, Policy Control Function (PCF) 545, Session Management Function (SMF) 546, Unified Data Management (UDM) 547, Application Function (AF) 548, Authentication Server Function (AUSF) 549, UE Radio Capability Management Function (UCMF) 550, and Network Data Analysis Function (NWDAF) 551.

[0192] UDM 547 includes a unified data repository (UDR) for maintaining and managing subscriber information, and a front-end (FE) unit for processing subscriber information. AMF 541 performs mobility management. SMF 546 performs session management.

[0193] The UCMF 550 maintains UE radio capability information corresponding to all UE radio capability IDs in the Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN). The UCMF 550 is responsible for allocating UE radio capability IDs to each PLMN.

[0194] NWDAF 551 processes analytical information (e.g., statistical information) for the automation of networks. In NWDAF 551, an Analysis Logic Function (AnLF) (not shown) and a Model Training Logic Function (MTLF) (not shown) are defined. These are logic functions for performing inference using an Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Machine Learning (ML) model, acquiring analytical information, and disclosing that analytical information. AnLF is the logic function for performing inference using an AI / ML model, acquiring analytical information, and disclosing that analytical information. MTLF is the logic function for training an AI / ML model and disclosing its learning services.

[0195] The NMF (Network Function) is a service-based interface provided by AMF 541. The Nsmf (Network Function) is a service-based interface provided by SMF 546. The Nnef (Network Function) is a service-based interface provided by NEF 542. The Npcf (Network Function) is a service-based interface provided by PCF 545. The Nudm (Network Function) is a service-based interface provided by UDM 547. The Naf (Network Function) is a service-based interface provided by AF 548. The Nnrf (Network Function) is a service-based interface provided by NRF 543. The Nnssf (Network Function) is a service-based interface provided by NSSF 544. The Nausf (Network Function) is a service-based interface provided by AUSF 549. The Nucmf (Network Function) is a service-based interface provided by UCMF 550. The Nnwdaf (Network Function) is a service-based interface provided by NWDAF 551. Each NF exchanges information with other NFs via its respective service-based interface.

[0196] Each NF can receive responses or notifications from a service by requesting or subscribing to that service provided by another network function. That is, each NF exchanges information with other NFs via request / response or subscription / notification through its respective service-based interface.

[0197] User plane function (UPF) 520 has user plane processing capabilities. Data network (DN) 530 has the capability to provide connectivity to mobile network operator (MNO) dedicated services, the Internet, and third-party services. UPF 520 serves as a forwarding processing unit for user plane data processed by server 10. UPF 520 also serves as a gateway connecting to RAN / AN 510.

[0198] Here, virtualization or containers can be used to configure each NF in the core network (CN). Each NF can be implemented in a cloud server. In 5GS, software-defined networking (SDN) can be used to configure each NF dynamically and reconfigurably.

[0199] In a 5G core network (CN) configured according to a service-based architecture, new service nodes (NFs) can be introduced by defining new services and their service-based interfaces. Furthermore, in next-generation (i.e., 6G) and later core network CNs, the aggregation and subdivision of these NFs, the transfer of specific services to other NFs, etc., are assumed depending on the services provided by each NF. Therefore, the NFs supported by the core network CN are not limited to the NF types of the 5G core network CN described above.

[0200] The RAN / AN 510 has the capability to connect to the RAN as well as to other ANs besides the RAN. The RAN / AN 510 includes base stations called gNBs or ng-eNBs. The RAN can also be referred to as Next Generation (NG) RAN.

[0201] Furthermore, the RAN / AN 510's functionality is divided into a Central Unit (CU) that handles Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) sublayer or higher L2 / L3 functions, and a Distributed Unit (DU) that handles Radio Link Control (RLC) sublayer or lower L2 / L1 functions. The RAN / AN 510's functions can be distributed and allocated via the F1 interface.

[0202] Furthermore, the DU's functionality is divided into Radio Units (RUs) that handle the LOW PHY sublayer and Radio, and individual DUs that handle RLC, Media Access Control (MAC), and HIGH PHY. The RU's functionality can be distributed and allocated via front-haul conforming to the Evolved Common Radio Interface (eCPRI).

[0203] The functionality of CU and / or DU can be configured using virtualization or containers. The functionality of CU and / or DU can be implemented in cloud servers. In 5GS, SDN can be used to dynamically and reconfigure the functionality of CU and / or DU.

[0204] UE 40 and AMF 541 exchange information via reference point N1. RAN / AN 510 and AMF 541 exchange information via reference point N2. SMF 546 and UPF 520 exchange information via reference point N4.

[0205] The SMF 546 performs Quality of Service (QoS) control on a per-service data flow basis. SMF 546 QoS control can be applied to both IP and Ethernet type service data flows. By performing QoS control on a per-service data flow basis, SMF 546 provides authorized QoS for each specific service.

[0206] SMF 546 can be combined with service-based, subscription-based, or predefined PCF internal policy rules to use metrics such as QoS subscription information.

[0207] SMF 546 uses policy and charging control (PCC) rules associated with QoS flows (i.e., QoS-controlled data flows) to determine the QoS of the QoS flows to be authorized.

[0208] When a QoS stream has been deleted, the SMF 546 can notify the PCF 545 that the QoS stream has been deleted. Additionally, when the guaranteed bit rate of a QoS stream (i.e., the guaranteed stream bit rate (GFBR)) cannot be guaranteed, the SMF 546 can notify the PCF 545 that the GFBR cannot be guaranteed.

[0209] As part of the QoS reservation process for QoS flows, QoS flows initiated by the UE can be established. Furthermore, as part of the QoS flow modification process, QoS downgrades or upgrades can be performed.

[0210] Note that it is assumed that in next-generation (i.e., 6G) or later mobile communication systems, not only the control plane function group but also the user plane functions (e.g., UPF 520) and RAN / AN 510 support a service-based architecture. Therefore, each node constituting the mobile communication system can be dynamically and reconfigurably implemented and / or set / reconfigured within an information processing device, including a cloud server, by leveraging technologies such as virtualization, containers, and / or software-defined networking (SDN).

[0211] 3-3. Network Slicing

[0212] Next, we will describe network slicing.

[0213] Network slicing is a service unit obtained by dividing the communication services provided by 5G according to the communication characteristics of each service (e.g., data rate, latency, etc.).

[0214] Individual Network Slice Selection Auxiliary Information (S-NSSAI) is assigned to each network slice as Network Slice Selection Auxiliary Information (NSSAI). Network slice selection auxiliary information is information used to assist in the selection of network slices.

[0215] S-NSSAI is configured using a combination of the following: a mandatory Slice / Service Type (SST) consisting of 8 bits for identifying the type of slice (slice type); and an optional Slice Distinguisor (SD) consisting of 24 bits for distinguishing different slices within the same SST.

[0216] For S-NSSAI, either a standardized SST or a non-standardized proprietary SST can be used. When using a standardized S-NSSAI value, only the standardized SST is included, excluding the SD. Conversely, when using a non-standardized S-NSSAI value, it can include only the standardized SST and SD, non-standardized SST and SD, or only the non-standardized SST. Non-standardized S-NSSAI values ​​can only be used within a PLMN (i.e., a telecommunications operator) that exclusively uses that value.

[0217] Figure 10 This is a graph showing the standardized SST values. Figure 10 The table shown is based on the table shown in 3GPP TS 23.501. The phrase "when using standardized S-NSSAI values" above corresponds to the case where S-NSSAI values ​​only include these SST values ​​(eMBB: 1, URLLC: 2, MIoT: 3, V2X: 4, HMTC: 5, and HDLLC: 6). That is, for other network slices, such as those subdivided via SD, non-standardized S-NSSAI values ​​are used.

[0218] Network slice configuration information includes one or more configured NSSAIs. The serving Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) can have its own configured NSSAI configured in UE 40 for each PLMN. Alternatively, the Home PLMN (HPLMN) can have its default configured NSSAI configured in UE 40. The default configured NSSAI can only be used by UE 40 under the serving PLMN if the serving PLMN's configured NSSAI is not configured in UE 40.

[0219] It should be noted that the Default Configured NSSAI can be pre-configured in UE 40. Additionally, HPLMN's UDM 547 can provide or update the DefaultConfigured NSSAI through a UE parameter update process handled via the UDM control plane.

[0220] Configured NSSAI includes one or more S-NSSAIs.

[0221] A Requested NSSAI is an NSSAI provided from UE 40 to the serving PLMN during registration processing. A Requested NSSAI should be any of the following.

[0222] - Default Configured NSSAI

[0223] - Configured NSSAI

[0224] - Allowed NSSAI or a portion thereof

[0225] - NSSAI obtained by adding one or more S-NSSAIs contained in Configured NSSAI to Allowed NSSAI or a portion thereof.

[0226] For example, Allowed NSSAI is the NSSAI provided to UE 40 by the serving PLMN during the registration process. AllowedNSSAI indicates one or more S-NSSAI values ​​that can be used in the current registration area of ​​the current serving PLMN.

[0227] A rejected S-NSSAI indicates the value of one or more S-NSSAIs in the Requested NSSAI that is not permitted in at least one tracking region in the current registered region of the current service PLMN.

[0228] Here, the tracking area is the area used for mobility management and is identified by a Tracking Area Identifier (TAI). The network (PLMN) manages the location of UE 40 within the group of tracking areas where UE 40 is camped, enabling messages or data to be sent to UE 40 in the RRC_IDLE state. When UE 40 registers with the network, AMF 541 assigns a set of tracking areas included in the TAI list as the area (registration area) for UE 40 to register. In other words, the network manages whether the registered UE 40 is located in any of the tracking areas on the TAI list.

[0229] If UE 40 detects a better cell based on the cell reselection criteria, the UE will reselect that cell and camp on it. At this time, if the selected cell does not belong to any tracking area on the TAI list registered by UE 40, location registration processing, i.e., updating the TAI list, is performed.

[0230] A subscribed S-NSSAI is an S-NSSAI that UE 40 can use in the PLMN based on the subscription information. The subscription information should include one or more subscribed S-NSSAIs and should include at least one default S-NSSAI.

[0231] UDM 547 transmits up to 16 Subscribed S-NSSAIs to AMF 541. Therefore, the number of S-NSSAIs that can be included in the Configured NSSAI is 16. The subscription information transmitted from UDM 547 to AMF 541 should include at least one default S-NSSAI. NSSF 544 determines the Allowed NSSAI and Configured NSSAI and determines an AMF set (or "group"), which is a list of candidates for AMF 541. For example, depending on the network slicing or other criteria used by UE 40, AMF 541 can be selected from the candidate list, and UE 40 can be assigned to the selected AMF 541.

[0232] One or more S-NSSAIs included in the Allowed NSSAI provided to UE 40 may include values ​​that are not part of UE 40's current network slice configuration information for the serving PLMN. In this case, the network provides a mapping between each S-NSSAI in the Allowed NSSAI and the corresponding S-NSSAI in the HPLMN based on the Allowed NSSAI. Using the information about the mapping, UE 40 can associate the application with the corresponding S-NSSAI in the HPLMN and the Allowed NSSAI for each network slice selection policy (NSSP) rule in the UE Routing Policy (URSP) or for each local configuration of UE 40.

[0233] For example, if the HPLMN and / or the Visitor PLMN (VPLMN) uses non-standardized S-NSSAI values, UE 40 needs to provide information on the mapping between the S-NSSAI values ​​included in the Requested NSSAI during roaming and the corresponding S-NSSAI values ​​used in the HPLMN. UE 40 may obtain this mapping information in advance from the serving PLMN as a mapping between the S-NSSAI values ​​included in the Configured NSSAI of the serving PLMN and the corresponding S-NSSAI values ​​used in the HPLMN. Alternatively, UE 40 may obtain this mapping information in advance from the serving PLMN as a mapping between the S-NSSAI values ​​included in the Allowed NSSAI of the serving PLMN and the access type and the corresponding S-NSSAI values ​​used in the HPLMN.

[0234] In addition, UE 40 can support contract-based constraint functionality for network slices that can be registered simultaneously. When this functionality is supported, UE 40 includes information indicating support for this functionality in the registration request message during initial registration and mobility registration updates, as part of the UE 5GMM core network capabilities.

[0235] AMF 541 provides Configured NSSAI to UE 40 that has been notified to support contract-based constraint functions related to network slices that can be registered simultaneously. At this time, AMF 541 provides information on the Network Slice Simultaneous Registration Group (NSSRG) associated with the network slice (S-NSSAI) of HPLMN.

[0236] Subscription information including NSRRG information should include at least one default S-NSSAI. If multiple default S-NSSAIs are configured, each default S-NSSAI is associated with the same NSRRG. In other words, UE 40 is allowed to register all default S-NSSAIs simultaneously.

[0237] In addition to the default S-NSSAI, HPLMN can also transmit other subscription S-NSSAIs, which are subscription information, to VPLMN. These other subscription S-NSSAIs share at least all NSSRGs defined by the default S-NSSAI. In this case, HPLMN does not need to transmit NSRRG information to VPLMN.

[0238] UE 40 that receives an NSSRG must include only the network slice (S-NSSAI) assigned to a single public NSSRG in the requested NSSAI.

[0239] Additionally, when the boundary of a network slice's service area does not match the boundary of its tracking area, the communication device can use network slice location availability information (S-NSSAI location availability information) to impose additional constraints on the use of the network slice within the tracking area. For example, consider the following scenario: the configured NSSAI's S-NSSAI is unavailable in some cells within the tracking area of ​​the registered area. In this case, network slice location availability information is provided to UE 40, including location information (e.g., cell ID) of cells within the tracking area where S-NSSAI is available.

[0240] AMF 541 can determine the target NSSAI independently or in cooperation with NSSF 544. The target NSSAI is information used by RAN / AN 510 (e.g., NG-RAN) to redirect UE 40 to a cell / tracking area that supports the target NSSAI and is located in another frequency band of another tracking area. RAN / AN 510 uses this information to redirect UE 40, in addition to information such as the allowed NSSAI and the RAT / Frequency Selection Priority (RFSP) of the allowed NSSAI.

[0241] The target NSSAI includes at least one S-NSSAI from the requested NSSAI. For example, the target NSSAI includes at least one S-NSSAI that is not available in the current tracking region but is available in another tracking region in another frequency band or in a region of another frequency band overlapping with the current tracking region. Furthermore, at least one S-NSSAI from the requested NSSAI may be optionally added to the target NSSAI. An optional S-NSSAI added is, for example, an S-NSSAI that is not available in the current tracking region but is available in the same tracking region as the S-NSSAI included in the target NSSAI.

[0242] The AMF 541 obtains the RAT / Frequency Selection Priority Index (RFSP Index) suitable for the target NSSAI from the PCF 545. Additionally, the AMF 541 can then include the RFSP Index in the information to be transmitted to the RAN / AN 510 (e.g., NG-RAN). If the PCF 545 is not installed, the AMF 541 determines the RFSP Index according to locally configured rules. The RAN / AN 510 maps the RFSP Index to a locally defined configuration to apply individual radio resource management policies that take into account available information. In other words, the RAN / AN 510 can select a configuration suitable for the radio resource management policy corresponding to the target NSSAI.

[0243] When RAN / AN 510 can redirect UE 40 to a new tracking area that supports the target NSSAI or any S-NSSAI that supports the target NSSAI, the RFSP index associated with the target NSSAI is considered. Otherwise, the RFSP index of the allowed NSSAI is considered.

[0244] In addition, partial network slices can be provided in the registration area by configuring partially allowed NSSAI and / or partially denied S-NSSAI (S-NSSAI is partially denied in RA).

[0245] S-NSSAIs of permitted NSSAIs are available in all tracking regions within the registered region. On the other hand, S-NSSAIs of partially permitted NSSAIs are only available in the tracking regions corresponding to the list of tracking regions associated with that S-NSSAI.

[0246] Assume UE 40 corresponds to a partial network slice within the registered area. In this case, AMF 541 configures the registered area for UE 40, considering that the S-NSSAI of the requested NSSAI is supported in the current tracking area and surrounding tracking areas. AMF 541 provides UE 40 with partially allowed NSSAI or partially denied S-NSSAI within the registered area using a registration accept message or a UE configuration update command message.

[0247] For each S-NSSAI that is partially permitted by the Registry, the AMF 541 provides a list of tracking regions that support the S-NSSAI. Alternatively, the AMF 541 may reject an S-NSSAI along with an indication of the reason for rejection, stating "partially in the RA". For each S-NSSAI that is partially rejected in the Registry, the AMF 541 provides a list of tracking regions that support or do not support the S-NSSAI.

[0248] When S-NSSAI is unavailable or overloaded, the network slicing replacement function can be used to replace S-NSSAI with an alternative S-NSSAI.

[0249] AMF 541 can determine to replace S-NSSAI with the alternative S-NSSAI based on notifications from NSSF 544, PCF 545, or Operation, Administration and Maintenance (OAM).

[0250] In the case of roaming, in order to activate the network slice replacement function of HPLMMN's S-NSSAI, V-AMF 541-2 can receive notifications about the availability of HPLMMN's S-NSSAI network slices from HPLMMN's H-NSSF 544-1 via VPLMN's V-NSSF 544-2.

[0251] AMF 541 determines the alternative S-NSSAI for UE 40 that has registered S-NSSAI based on notifications from NSSF 544 or PCF 545 (or based on local configuration if NSSF 544 or PCF 545 does not provide an alternative S-NSSAI).

[0252] Alternative S-NSSAIs should be supported in the registration area of ​​UE 40. For example, suppose that NSSF 544 or PCF 545 does not provide an alternative S-NSSAI, and therefore AMF 541 cannot determine an alternative S-NSSAI. In this case, AMF 541 may further negotiate with PCF 545 to determine an alternative S-NSSAI.

[0253] During registration, UE 40 notifies the network of support for the network slice replacement function. The PDU session associated with the S-NSSAI to be exchanged supports UE 40 in connected mode (CM-CONNECTED mode), which exists in the UE context. To enable this function, AMF 541 provides UE 40 with an alternative S-NSSAI to the S-NSSAI, which is included in both the allowed NSSAIs and the configured NSSAIs. AMF 541 can also provide UE 40 with mapping information between the S-NSSAI and the alternative S-NSSAI using UE configuration update messages.

[0254] After transmitting the mapping information to UE 40, AMF 541 activates the Session Management Context Update (Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext) service for the current PDU session associated with the S-NSSAI to be replaced as the alternative S-NSSAI. AMF 541 then instructs SMF 546 to update the PDU session required to transition the PDU session to the alternative S-NSSAI.

[0255] UE 40 establishes a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) signaling connection through a service request procedure or a UE registration procedure. At this point, it is assumed that AMF 541 determines to exchange S-NSSAI to support UE 40 in an idle state (CM-IDLE state). If a PDU session associated with S-NSSAI exists in the UE context, AMF 541 provides UE 40 with mapping information between S-NSSAI and the alternative S-NSSAI using a UE configuration update message or a registration accept message.

[0256] 3-4. Session Establishment Processing

[0257] Next, the session establishment process will be described. Figure 11 This is a diagram illustrating an example of connectivity processing for 5GS.

[0258] After power input, UE 40 performs a registration process to register in the network. UE 40 updates its registration area (i.e., tracking area) on a per-registration-area basis. Here, UE 40 may include its UE radio capability ID in the registration request message. AMF 541 can retain UE radio capability information of UE 40 based on the UE radio capability ID notified by UE 40. RAN / AN 510 can also obtain UE radio capability information from either UE 40 or AMF 541.

[0259] During communication, UE 40 transitions to RRC_IDLE and CM-IDLE states (step S101). While in RRC_IDLE and CM-IDLE states, UE 40 performs cell reselection (step S102) and camps on an appropriate cell that meets predetermined criteria.

[0260] UE 40 determines the use of S-NSSAI corresponding to the application to be used from the allowed NSSAIs (step S103). Subsequently, UE 40 sends an RRC establishment request message to RAN / AN 510 of the base station managing the cell where the UE is camped (step S104).

[0261] Upon receiving the message, RAN / AN 510 sends an RRC configuration message to UE 40 (step S105). UE 40 transitions to the RRC_CONNECTED and CM-IDLE states (step S106) and returns an RRC configuration complete message to RAN / AN 510 (step S107). This completes the RRC configuration process.

[0262] Next, UE 40 sends a PDU session setup request message as a NAS message to AMF 541 (step S108). Therefore, PDU session establishment processing via RAN / AN 510 and UPF 520 is performed between UE 40 and DN 530 (step S109).

[0263] UE 40 transitions to the RRC_CONNECTED and CM-CONNECTED states (step S110). Note that the PDU session establishment request message may include S-NSSAI selected by UE 40.

[0264] AMF 541 sends an Initial Context Setup Request message to RAN / AN 510 (step S111). The Initial Context Setup Request message may include at least one of the following: PDU session context, security key, UE radio capabilities, and UE security capabilities. The Initial Context Setup Request message may also include allowed NSSAIs. The Initial Context Setup Request message may also include S-NSSAIs for each PDU session.

[0265] RAN / AN 510 configures the UE context of UE 40 and sends a SecurityModeCommand message to UE 40 (step S112). The SecurityModeCommand message includes the integrity algorithm selected by RAN / AN 510.

[0266] UE 40 checks the validity of the received SecurityModeCommand message by verifying the integrity of the message, and returns a SecurityModeComplete message to RAN / AN 510 (step S113).

[0267] RAN / AN 510 sends an RRCReconfiguration message to UE 40 to configure Signaling Radio Bearer (SRB) 2 and Data Radio Bearer (DRB) (step S114). Upon receiving the message, UE 40 returns an RRCReconfigurationComplete message to RAN / AN 510 (step S115). Thus, SRB2 and DRB are established between UE 40 and RAN / AN 510.

[0268] RAN / AN 510 sends an Initial Context Setup Request Response Message to AMF 541 to notify AMF 541 of the completion of UE context configuration processing (step S116).

[0269] Figure 12A and 12B This is a diagram illustrating an example of PDU session establishment processing. More specifically, Figure 12A and 12B This illustrates the PDU session establishment process initiated by the PDU session establishment request message. Figure 11 A diagram illustrating an example of step S109).

[0270] When AMF 541 receives a PDU session establishment request message from UE 40 ( Figure 11 and 12A In step S108 shown, AMF 541 performs SMF selection ( Figure 12A Step S201 shown in the figure.

[0271] AMF 541 sends an Nsmf_PDUSession_Create_SMContext request message to the selected SMF 546 (step S202). The Nsmf_PDUSession_Create_SMContext request message includes the Subscription Permanent Identifier (SUPI), S-NSSAI, and the Data Network Name (DNN) or DNN requested by the UE.

[0272] The Data Network Name (DNN) corresponds to the Access Point Name (APN) used in the system prior to 4G. S-NSSAI is information used to assist in network slice selection (Network Slice Selection Assistance Information).

[0273] When session management subscription data corresponding to SUPI, S-NSSAI, and Data Network Name (DNN) is unavailable, the SMF546 retrieves the session management subscription data from the UDM 547 using the Nudm_SDM_Get message. Additionally, the SMF 546 registers the session management subscription data with the UDM 547 using the Nudm_SDM_Subscribe message to be notified when the session management subscriber information is updated.

[0274] If the message can be processed, the SMF 546, which has received the Nsmf_PDUSession_Create_SMContext request message, creates the SM context. The SMF 546 returns an Nsmf_PDUSession_Create_SMContext response message containing the SM context ID to the AMF 541 (step S203).

[0275] When the SMF 546 needs to perform a second authentication and authorization process through the DN-AAA server during the PDU session establishment process, the UE activates PDU session authentication / authorization (step S204).

[0276] When dynamic policy and charging control (PCC) is applied to a PDU session to be established, the SMF 546 performs PCF selection (step S205). Alternatively, the SMF 546 may apply local policies.

[0277] In addition, SMF 546 can establish an SM policy association with PCF 545 and perform an SM policy association establishment process to obtain the default PCC rules for the PDU session (step S206). This allows the PCC rules to be obtained before selecting UPF 520.

[0278] SMF 546 performs UPF selection according to preset rules or the PCC rules obtained in step S206 above (step S207). Therefore, SMF 546 selects one or more UPFs 520. SMF 546 sends an N4 session establishment request message to the selected UPF 520 (step S208).

[0279] The N4 session establishment request message sets up N4 rules for controlling uplink and downlink traffic in the UPF 520. N4 rules include information such as Packet Detection Rules (PDR), Forwarding Action Rules (FAR), QoS Enforcement Rules (QER), Usage Reporting Rules (URR), and Buffer Action Rules (BAR).

[0280] PDR includes the necessary information for classifying packets in UPF 520. FAR includes information about the processing method for a specific packet (e.g., forwarding, copying, dropping, buffering, etc.). QER includes information about the QoS indication to be applied to traffic. URR includes the necessary information for measuring and reporting traffic. BAR includes information about the time period and quantity of data to be buffered in the control plane, as well as the notification method.

[0281] Upon receiving the N4 session establishment request, the UPF 520 returns an N4 session establishment response message to the SMF 546 (step S209). Note that when multiple UPF 520s are selected for the PDU session in step S207 above, the N4 session establishment process is activated for each UPF 520.

[0282] SMF 546 sends a Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer message to AMF 541 (step S210). The Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer message may include at least one of PDU session ID, N2SM Information, CN Tunnel Info, S-NSSAI, and N1SM Container.

[0283] N2SM information may include at least one of the following: PDU session ID, QFI, and QoS profile.

[0284] When multiple UPF 520s are used for a PDU session, the CN tunneling information includes tunneling information associated with the multiple UPF 520s terminating N3.

[0285] The N1SM container includes PDU session establishment acceptance and QoS rules that AMF 541 needs to provide to UE 40. PDU session establishment acceptance includes S-NSSAI.

[0286] The Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer message includes the PDU session ID to clarify which access method AMF 541 uses for UE 40.

[0287] Go to Figure 12B AMF 541 sends an N2 PDU session request message to RAN / AN 510 (step S211). The N2 PDU session request message includes a NAS message and N2SM information received from SMF 546, wherein the destination of the NAS message is set to UE 40 and includes the PDU session ID and N1SM container.

[0288] RAN / AN 510 obtains the PDU session ID, QFI, QoS profile, etc., from the N2SM information included in the N2 PDU session request message. Furthermore, RAN / AN 510 forwards the NAS message included in the N2 PDU session request message to UE 40 (step S212). As described above, the NAS message includes the PDU session ID and the N1SM container, and the N1SM container includes PDU session establishment acceptance and QoS rules.

[0289] In addition, RAN / AN 510 assigns AN tunnel information (AN Tunnel Info) to PDU sessions. Here, AN tunnel information includes the tunnel endpoints of the involved RAN / AN nodes and the QFIs assigned to each tunnel endpoint. RAN / AN 510 updates N2SM information to notify SMF 546 of this information. Here, N2SM information may include at least one of the following: PDU session ID, AN tunnel information, a list of allowed or denied QFIs, and user plane implementation policy notification.

[0290] RAN / AN 510 sends an N2 PDU session response message including N2SM information to AMF 541 (step S213).

[0291] AMF 541 obtains N2SM information via an N2 PDU session response received from RAN / AN 510. Then, AMF 541 forwards an Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext request message (step S214) to SMF 546, which includes the SM context ID and the obtained N2SM information.

[0292] SMF 546 and UPF 520 activate the N4 session modification process. Then, SMF 546 sends an N4 session modification request message to UPF 520 (step S215). In addition to forwarding rules, SMF 546 also provides AN tunnel information to UPF 520.

[0293] UPF 520 returns an N4 session modification response message to SMF 546 (step S216). Note that when multiple UPF 520s are used for a PDU session, the session modification process is performed on all UPF 520s that terminate N3.

[0294] Through the above processing, the task is completed. Figure 11 Step S109 shows the PDU session establishment process.

[0295] 3-5. Flow-based QoS control

[0296] Figure 13 This is a diagram illustrating an example of a 5GS QoS architecture. Figure 13 It is based on 3GPP TS38.300. At the Non-Access Stratum (NAS) level, QoS flows are the finest granular level that distinguishes different QoS levels within a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session. Within a PDU session, QoS flows are identified by the QoS Flow ID (QFI).

[0297] 5GS can use the PDU set in the QoS stream with the finest granularity to identify data in terms of QoS control. In addition to applying QoS control at the QoS stream level, 5GS can also apply QoS control at the PDU set level.

[0298] PCF 545 can associate AF session information with PDU session. AF 548 can establish a data session (e.g., PDU session) for UE 40 through an AF session request with PCF 545, as a session for a specific QoS (e.g., low latency or low jitter).

[0299] SMF 546 associates PCC rules with QoS flows based on QoS and service requirements. SMF 546 assigns QFIs to new QoS flows and obtains the PCC rules and other information associated with the QoS flows from PCF 545.

[0300] SMF 546 obtains the QoS profile of the QoS flow from the PCC rules, the corresponding instructions for UPF 520 (e.g., N4 rules), and the QoS rules.

[0301] The RAN / AN 510 base station (gNB) can establish at least one data radio bearer (DRB) for each UE 40 and establish a PDU session. The DRB is a logical path used to transmit data.

[0302] In the 5G QoS model, guaranteed stream bit rate (GBR) with guaranteed bandwidth and non-guaranteed stream bit rate (non-GBR) without guaranteed bandwidth are supported. In addition, delay-critical GBR is supported for Time-Sensitive Communication (TSC) QoS streams.

[0303] The RAN / AN 510 and core network CN ensure quality of service by mapping each packet to the appropriate QoS flow and DRB. That is, a two-stage mapping is performed: mapping IP flows to QoS flows in the NAS and mapping QoS flows to DRBs in the AS.

[0304] At the NAS level, QoS flows are characterized by QoS profiles provided to RAN / AN 510 from the core network CN and QoS rules provided to UE 40 from the core network CN.

[0305] QoS profiles are used by RAN / AN 510 to determine the processing method on the radio interface. QoS rules are used to instruct UE 40 on the mapping between traffic and QoS flows in the uplink user plane.

[0306] Therefore, for Multicast / Broadcast Service (MBS) sessions, the QoS rules for MBS QoS flows and the QoS parameters at the QoS flow level are not provided to UE 40.

[0307] QoS profiles can be provided to RAN / AN 510 from SMF 546 via AMF 541 and reference point N2, or they can be pre-configured in RAN / AN 510.

[0308] If necessary, SMF 546 can also provide UE 40 with one or more QoS rules and QoS parameters of QoS flow levels associated with the QoS rules via AMF 541 and reference point N1.

[0309] Alternatively, reflective QoS control can be applied to UE 40. Reflective QoS control involves monitoring the QFI of downlink packets and applying the same mapping to uplink packets.

[0310] A QoS flow is classified as a GBR QoS flow or a non-GBR QoS flow depending on its QoS profile. The QoS profile of a QoS flow includes QoS parameters such as the 5G QoS Identifier (5QI) and the Allocation and Reservation Priority (ARP).

[0311] ARP includes information about priority levels, preemption capabilities, and preemption vulnerabilities.

[0312] Priority defines the relative importance of QoS flows. The minimum priority (priority level) value represents the highest priority.

[0313] Preemption capability defines whether a QoS flow can preempt resources already allocated to other QoS flows with lower priority. Preemption vulnerability defines whether a particular QoS flow can yield resources allocated to it to another QoS flow with higher priority.

[0314] "Enable" or "Disable" is configured in Preemptive Capability and Preemptive Vulnerability.

[0315] In addition, the QoS profile of a QoS stream can include QoS parameters for a set of PDUs.

[0316] In a GBR QoS stream, the QoS profile may include at least one of the following information, for example.

[0317] • Uplink and downlink GFBR

[0318] • Uplink and downlink maximum stream bit rate (MFBR)

[0319] Maximum packet loss rate for uplink and downlink

[0320] • Delay critical resource types

[0321] Notification control

[0322] In non-GBR QoS flows, the QoS profile may include at least one of the Reflective QoS Attribute (RQA) and additional QoS flow information.

[0323] The QoS parameter notification control indicates whether RAN / AN 510 needs to notify when a specific QoS flow does not meet the GFBR. When it is determined that notification control is "enabled" and the GFBR is not met for a specific GBR QoS flow, RAN / AN 510 sends the corresponding notification to SMF 546.

[0324] At this time, unless RAN / AN 510 is in a special state requesting the release of RAN resources for the GBR QoS flow, RAN / AN 510 should maintain the QoS flow. This special state can be at least one of, for example, radio link failure and internal RAN congestion.

[0325] Then, when it is determined that the GFBR is satisfied again for the QoS flow, the RAN / AN 510 transmits a new notification to the SMF 546 to indicate this.

[0326] In addition, alternative QoS profiles can be used for notification control of QoS parameters. Alternative QoS profiles include a set of Packet Delay Budget (PDB), Packet Error Rate (PER), Average Window, and GFBR. Alternative QoS profiles used for delay-critical GBR QoS flows may also include information on Maximum Data Burst Value (MDBV).

[0327] When RAN / AN 510 transmits a notification to SMF 546 that a QoS profile is not satisfied, RAN / AN 510 checks against a list of alternative QoS profiles to see if a higher-priority alternative QoS profile exists that can currently satisfy the QoS profile. If a corresponding alternative QoS profile exists, RAN / AN 510 indicates to SMF 546 that an alternative QoS profile exists that can satisfy the QoS profile. To this end, RAN / AN 510 includes information about the alternative QoS profile in the notification transmitted to SMF 546. This control allows SMF 546 to determine that even the lowest-priority alternative QoS profile cannot satisfy the QoS profile.

[0328] The Aggregated Maximum Bit Rate (AMBR) is related to the Session-AMBR for each PDU session and the UE-AMBR for each UE 40 within the same PDU session. The Session-AMBR limits the aggregate bit rate expected to be provided across all non-GBR QoS flows for a given PDU session. The Session-AMBR is managed by the UPF 520. Conversely, the UE-AMBR limits the aggregate bit rate expected to be provided across all non-GBR QoS flows for a given UE 40. The UE-AMBR is managed by the RAN / AN 510.

[0329] In addition, in each UE 40, the maximum bit rate of the slice (S-MBR) associated with the network slice (S-NSSAI) can be configured. The S-MBR can be included in the subscription information as a subscribed UE-Slice-MBR.

[0330] The UE-slice-MBR limit expects the aggregated bit rate provided across all GBR and non-GBR QoS flows belonging to all PDU sessions established by UE 40 for use in the same network slice (S-NSSAI).

[0331] RAN / AN 510 receives the UE-Slice-MBR corresponding to the network slice (S-NSSAI) from AMF 541. RAN / AN 510 configures the session-AMBR and MFBR for UE 40 such that the sum of the session-AMBR of all PDU sessions belonging to the network slice (S-NSSAI) and the MFBR of the GBR QoS flows is equal to the UE-Slice-MBR.

[0332] 5QI is related to QoS features. 5QI provides policies for configuring node-specific parameters for each QoS flow. Communication devices can determine standardized or pre-configured 5G QoS features from 5QI. No explicit signaling is executed for standardized or pre-configured 5G QoS features. The QoS features of the signaling can be part of a QoS profile.

[0333] QoS characteristics may include information about at least one of the following: resource type, priority, packet delay budget, packet error rate, average window, and maximum data burst size.

[0334] The resource type is a GBR QoS flow, a non-GBR QoS flow, or a delay-critical GBR QoS flow. The packet delay budget may include the packet delay budget in the core network (CN).

[0335] At the AS level, the DRB defines the packet processing method in the radio interface (Uu interface). The DRB provides the same packet forwarding processing for any packet.

[0336] The RAN / AN 510 maps QoS flows to DRBs based on the QFI and the QoS profile configured for the QFI. The RAN / AN 510 can establish different DRBs for packets requiring different packet forwarding processing (see [link to documentation]). Figure 13 ).

[0337] RAN / AN 510 can also multiplex multiple QoS flows belonging to the same PDU session into the same DRB (see [link]). Figure 13 ).

[0338] In the uplink, the mapping of QoS flows to the DRB is controlled according to mapping rules. These mapping rules are signaled in two different ways.

[0339] One approach is called reflective mapping. In reflective mapping, the UE 40 monitors the QFI of downlink packets for each DRB and applies the same mapping to uplink packets.

[0340] Another approach is called explicit configuration. In explicit configuration, the mapping rules of the DRB for QoS flows are explicitly communicated by the Radio Resource Control (RRC) through signaling.

[0341] In the downlink, the RAN / AN 510 signals the QFI for Reflected Quality of Service (RQoS) on the Uu interface. However, unless the RAN / AN 510 and NAS use reflection mapping for the QoS flows carried on that DRB, the RAN / AN 510 and NAS do not signal the QFI for a specific DRB on the Uu interface.

[0342] In the uplink, the RAN / AN 510 can be configured to signal (or “notify via signaling”) the QFI to the UE 40 on the Uu interface. The RAN / AN 510 can also configure a default DRB for each PDU session. When an uplink packet does not fit into explicit configuration or reflection mapping, the UE 40 maps the packet to the default DRB of the PDU session.

[0343] For non-GBR QoS flows, the core network (CN) can transmit additional QoS flow information parameters associated with any QoS flow to RAN / AN 510. This is performed to instruct an increase in the frequency of a specific traffic (or "traffic") compared to other non-GBR QoS flows in the same PDU session.

[0344] How multiple QoS flows in a PDU session are mapped to a single DRB depends on the RAN / AN 510. For example, the RAN / AN 510 can map GBR QoS flows and non-GBR QoS flows to the same DRB, or it can map GBR QoS flows and non-GBR QoS flows to different DRBs. The RAN / AN 510 can also map multiple GBR QoS flows to the same DRB, or it can map multiple GBR QoS flows to different DRBs.

[0345] In 5G NR, a new Serving Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) sublayer has been introduced for QoS control over QoS flows. The SDAP sublayer enables QoS flow traffic to be mapped to the appropriate DRB. The SDAP sublayer can have multiple SDAP entities. For each PDU session on the Uu interface, the SDAP sublayer has one SDAP entity. The establishment or release of SDAP entities is performed via RRC.

[0346] QoS flows are identified by the QFI in the PDU session container included in the GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP)-U header. The PDU session is identified by the GTP-U tunnel endpoint ID (GTP-UTEID). The SDAP sublayer maps each QoS flow to a specific DRB.

[0347] Upon receiving a QoS monitoring request from AF 548, PCF 545 generates an authorized QoS monitoring policy and provides it to SMF 546. In this case, PCF 545 can include the QoS monitoring policy in the PCC rule. Note that AF 548 can include the QoS monitoring request in the AF request (AF request) described below.

[0348] Here, AF 548 can request monitoring of packet delay, congestion information, data rate, QoS notification, etc. as QoS monitoring.

[0349] Packet delay monitoring involves measuring uplink (UL), downlink (DL), or round-trip (RT) packet delay between UE 40 and PSA-UPF 520.

[0350] Congestion information monitoring is provided by RAN / AN 510 for monitoring congestion information of UL and / or DL ​​QoS flows.

[0351] Data rate monitoring involves measuring the UL and / or DL ​​data rates for each QoS stream.

[0352] Monitoring of QoS notifications is the monitoring of notification control information for QoS parameters provided by RAN / AN 510.

[0353] The PCF 545 can include instructions in its PCC rules to perform traffic parameter measurements for detecting jitter occurring in N6, as well as measurements during UL and / or DL ​​periods according to local policies. The PCF 545 can then send the PCC rule including this instruction to the SMF 546. The 5GS can then treat these measurements as QoS monitoring.

[0354] SMF 546 can activate end-to-end UL / DL / RT packet delay measurements between UE 40 and PSA-UPF 520 for QoS flows. SMF 546 can perform this activation during PDU session establishment or during PDU session modification.

[0355] SMF 546 transmits a QoS monitoring request to UPF 520 via reference point N4. Then, SMF 546 transmits N2 signaling to request QoS monitoring between UPF 520 and RAN / AN 510.

[0356] The SMF 546 requests QoS monitoring based on a QoS monitoring policy received from the PCF 545 or a locally pre-configured authorized QoS monitoring policy. The QoS monitoring request includes monitoring variables determined by the SMF 546.

[0357] The RAN / AN 510 measures the delay of the UL / DL packets in the RAN / AN 510 section. The RAN / AN 510 provides the measurement to the UPF 520 via reference point N3.

[0358] The UPF 520 calculates the latency of UL / DL packets at reference point N3 or N9. The UPF 520 transmits QoS monitoring results to the SMF546 under predetermined conditions. These predetermined conditions may be, for example, once only, periodically, or event-triggered.

[0359] Additionally, the UPF 520 can transmit QoS monitoring results to the AF 548 via a locally deployed NEF 542. Here, the QoS monitoring results are as follows.

[0360] • Measurement of the bit rate (e.g., average bit rate or maximum bit rate) of each GBR QoS stream in the target PDU session

[0361] • Measurement results of the aggregated bit rate of all non-GBR QoS flows in the target PDU session

[0362] • Measurement results of packet error rate of target PDU session

[0363] • Measurement results of the aggregated bit rate of all non-GBR QoS flows in target UE 40

[0364] • Measurement results of the packet error rate of target UE 40

[0365] • Measurement results of UL / DL grouping delay

[0366] Additionally, AF 548 can transmit a request to PCF 545 to monitor and report packet delay changes, along with a request for measuring packet delay. Here, packet delay change is, for example, the change in packet delay measured between UE 40 and PSA-UPF 520. Packet delay change is a definition used to assess jitter during packet transmission.

[0367] Requests for changes in packet delay can include at least one of the following, for example.

[0368] • The parameter to be measured for the change in packet delay (UL, DL, or round-trip (RT) packet delay change)

[0369] • Reporting frequency (event-triggered or periodic)

[0370] In response to a packet delay change monitoring request from AF 548, PCF 545 activates QoS monitoring processing. PCF 545 obtains the results of UL, DL, or round-trip (RT) QoS monitoring from SMF 546. Based on the QoS monitoring results, PCF 545 derives the 5GS packet delay change (5GS packet delay change) and reports the packet delay change to AF 548.

[0371] The delay of UL / DL packets is the delay of UL / DL packets in the RAN / AN 510 section obtained from RAN / AN 510, as well as the delay of UL / DL packets in reference point N3 or N9.

[0372] 3-6. AI / ML Models

[0373] The information processing apparatus (e.g., at least one of server 10, management device 20, base station 30, and terminal device 40) according to this embodiment can use an artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) model to analyze and / or synthesize data. In the following description, the AI / ML model may be referred to as a learning model, a training model, or simply a model.

[0374] A learning model is a machine learning model generated through the learning process of machine learning. Machine learning is one of the artificial intelligence techniques that enables computers to perform tasks similar to human recognition, judgment, or estimation. The processes performed in machine learning include two types of processing: learning processing for recognition, judgment, or estimation, and deterministic processing.

[0375] In the learning process, the processing of a learning model for learning (e.g., training using data for learning) is performed. In the learning process, the information processing device (hereinafter referred to as the "learning device") that performs the learning uses the data for learning to learn the learning model (e.g., a neural network model). For example, in the case of a neural network model, the weight coefficients of each edge are optimized during learning. The model extracted as a result of the learning process can be referred to as the trained model.

[0376] Deterministic processing is the process used for identification, judgment, or estimation. In deterministic processing, for example, an information processing device that performs determination (hereinafter referred to as a "determining device") inputs data related to unknown data into a learning model (a trained model). The learning model outputs the result of the identification, judgment, or estimation of the unknown data as the result of the computational processing. The determining device may be the same as or different from the learning device.

[0377] Learning models are, for example, neural network models. Figure 14This is a diagram used to describe a neural network model. A neural network model consists of layers called input layers, hidden layers (or intermediate layers), and output layers. Each layer includes multiple nodes, and the nodes are connected via edges. Each layer has a function called an activation function, and each edge is weighted. A learning model includes one or more intermediate layers (or hidden layers). If the learning model is a neural network model, then learning the model means, for example, setting the number of hidden layers (or intermediate layers), the number of nodes per layer, the weights of each edge, etc.

[0378] Here, the neural network model can be a deep learning model. Using a trained deep learning model, trained on a large amount of data, improves the accuracy of identification, judgment, or estimation. Common algorithms used in deep learning include, for example, the following. The algorithm used in this embodiment can be at least one of the following.

[0379] • Deep Neural Networks (DNNs)

[0380] Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs)

[0381] • Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs)

[0382] Fully connected neural networks

[0383] Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM)

[0384] • Automatic encoder

[0385] Deep neural networks (DNNs) have two or more hidden layers. Therefore, deep neural networks (DNNs) are more accurate than traditional neural networks with one hidden layer in terms of recognition, judgment, or estimation.

[0386] In CNNs, hidden layers consist of layers called convolutional layers and pooling layers. In convolutional layers, filtering is performed through convolution operations, and data called feature maps are extracted. In pooling layers, information from the feature maps output from the convolutional layers is compressed, and downsampling is performed.

[0387] RNNs have a network structure in which the values ​​of the hidden layers are recursively fed into the hidden layers. RNNs process, for example, short-term time series data.

[0388] In a fully connected neural network, all intermediate layers are fully connected layers. This means that in a fully connected neural network, all nodes in each intermediate layer are interconnected. Fully connected neural networks are primarily used in the field of speech recognition.

[0389] In LSTM, parameters used to maintain the state of intermediate layers called memory cells are introduced into the intermediate layer output of the RNN. In this way, LSTM can preserve the effects of outputs from the distant past. That is, LSTM can process time series data with longer time periods than RNNs.

[0390] In autoencoders, low-dimensional features that can be reproduced from input data through unsupervised learning are extracted. Autoencoders are effective for noise removal and dimensionality reduction.

[0391] Furthermore, learning models are not limited to neural network models. For example, a learning model can be based on reinforcement learning. In reinforcement learning, actions (configurations) that maximize values ​​are learned through repeated trials. Alternatively, a learning model can be a logistic regression model.

[0392] Furthermore, the learning model can consist of multiple models. For example, the learning model can consist of multiple neural network models. More specifically, the learning model can consist of multiple neural network models selected from the aforementioned neural network models (e.g., DNN, CNN, RNN, LSTM, etc.). When the learning model consists of multiple neural network models, these models can be in a dependent or parallel relationship.

[0393] Note that a learning model can be restated as an AI model, an ML model, or a trained model. In the following description, a learning model may simply be referred to as a "model".

[0394] Note that any learning algorithm can be used for learning. For example, information processing devices can use learning algorithms such as neural networks, support vector machines, clustering, reinforcement learning, random forests, or decision trees to perform learning models.

[0395] 4. Operational Examples of Communication Systems

[0396] The above description will be used as an example of the operation of communication system 1.

[0397] Note that in the following description, base station 30 is assumed to be an apparatus belonging to the core network CN. Note that base station 30 may be considered an apparatus that does not belong to the core network CN. In this case, the description of "applies to the core network CN" appearing in the following description can be replaced with "base station 30", "applies to both base station 30 and the core network CN" or "applies to either base station 30 or the core network CN".

[0398] Furthermore, in the following description, it is assumed that each information processing device included in communication system 1 (e.g., server 10, management device 20, base station 30, and terminal device 40) supports multiple communication modes, including the first communication and the second communication, as communication modes. That is, each information processing device included in communication system 1 can perform processing related to the first communication and the second communication. As described above, the first communication is a communication mode that serves as a data source for information transmission that can be recovered by the communication device on the receiving side into the same form (e.g., a communication mode provided by a fifth-generation or earlier mobile communication system). The second communication is a communication mode in which, for example, some or all of the information extracted from the source data using an AI / ML model is transmitted to the receiving side. The second communication is a communication mode suitable for human-to-machine (H2M) and machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, and corresponds to, for example, semantic communication.

[0399] The first communication can be restated as a first communication mode, a first communication means, or a first communication method. The second communication can be restated as a second communication mode, a second communication means, or a second communication method.

[0400] 4-1. First Example

[0401] First, the operation of the communication system 1 according to the first example will be described. In the first example, the communication mode selection process, the uplink / downlink processing of the terminal device 40 in the second communication, and the downlink processing of the terminal device 40 in the second communication will be described. The terminal device 40 of this embodiment supports multiple communication modes, including the first communication and the second communication. That is, the terminal device 40 can use at least the first communication and the second communication.

[0402] 4-1-1. Select Process (Confirm Process)

[0403] First, the communication mode selection process (determining process) will be described.

[0404] Figure 15 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of a communication mode selection process (determination process) performed by terminal device 40 (UE 40).

[0405] Note that in the following description, although the communication modes selectable by terminal device 40 are first communication and second communication, the communication modes selectable by terminal device 40 may include communication modes other than first communication and second communication. Furthermore, in the following description, although terminal device 40 selects a communication mode, information processing devices other than terminal device 40 (e.g., server 10, management device 20, base station 30, or another terminal device 40) may select the communication mode used by terminal device 40. Additionally, in the following description, communication mode may refer to communication means, communication method, or simply communication.

[0406] The following processing is performed, for example, by the control unit 43 of the terminal device 40. Referring below... Figure 15 The flowchart describes the communication mode selection process (determination process).

[0407] First, the terminal device 40 confirms whether its current state is under a preset condition (step S301). The preset condition could be, for example, "when a session for an application to be executed is established." In this case, the terminal device 40 can confirm whether it is already activated. Figure 11 The session establishment process is shown.

[0408] If the state is not under the preset conditions, for example when it has not yet been activated. Figure 11 During the session establishment process shown (step S301: No), the terminal device 40 repeats step S301 until the state is under a preset condition (e.g., until activation). Figure 11 Until the session establishment process is shown.

[0409] On the other hand, if the state is under preset conditions, such as if it is already activated. Figure 11 During the session establishment process shown (step S301: Yes), the determining unit 431 (or selecting unit 431) of the terminal device 40 determines (selects) the communication mode used by the terminal device 40 from among multiple communication modes, including the first communication and the second communication, based on the application to be executed. For example, the terminal device 40 determines whether to use the first communication or the second communication based on the application. That is, the terminal device 40 selects the first communication or the second communication based on the application (step S302).

[0410] For example, suppose the application executed by terminal device 40 is for downloading video content such as movies. In this case, the determining unit 431 (or selecting unit 431) of terminal device 40 selects a first communication, in which the receiving side propagates source data (e.g., video content data) as information retrievable in the same form. It is also assumed that the application executed by terminal device 40 is for reporting anomalies using a surveillance camera. In this case, the determining unit 431 (or selecting unit 431) of terminal device 40 selects a second communication, in which some or all of the semantic information of the source data is propagated. The semantic information of the source data is, for example, semantic information about anomaly detection, which is extracted from the source data using an AI / ML model.

[0411] Furthermore, prior to the processing in step S302, the acquisition unit 433 of the terminal device 40 can acquire information from a device belonging to the core network CN (e.g., 5GC) regarding an indicator for selecting the first or second communication for each application. Here, the indicator information indicates the priority of the communication to be used for each application. For example, the indicator information may state that, for each application, a higher priority is assigned to either the first or second communication. Then, the determination unit 431 (or selection unit 431) of the terminal device 40 can determine the communication to be used based on the indicator information. Note that the device belonging to the core network CN may be the base station 30 (RAN / AN 510) or the management device 20 (an information processing device that implements the network functions constituting the core network CN).

[0412] The transmitting unit 434 of the terminal device 40 sends information about the communication mode (communication related to the determination result) selected in step S302 to a device belonging to the core network CN (step S303). For example, the terminal device 40 sends information about the first communication or the second communication as information about the selected communication mode (communication mode related to the determination result) to the base station 30 or the management device 20 (step S303). In the following description, the selected communication mode (communication mode related to the determination result) is simply referred to as the selected communication.

[0413] For example, suppose a first network slice is configured as the network slice corresponding to a first communication, and a second network slice is configured as the network slice corresponding to a second communication. In this case, it is activated. Figure 11 The terminal device 40 for session establishment processing, as shown, selects a first network slice or a second network slice in step S103 based on the communication (first communication or second communication) selected in step S302.

[0414] Then, in order to send the communication information selected in step S302 to base station 30, terminal device 40 sends a PDU session establishment request to AMF 541 via base station 30 in step S108. This PDU session establishment request includes network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI) corresponding to the network slice (first network slice or second network slice) selected in step S103. For example, if the first network slice was selected in step S103 (i.e., if the first communication was selected in step S302), then the session establishment request includes the first network slice selection assistance information corresponding to the first communication. On the other hand, if the second network slice was selected in step S103 (i.e., if the second communication was selected in step S302), then the session establishment request includes the second network slice selection assistance information corresponding to the second communication.

[0415] Return to Figure 15The terminal device 40 determines whether the selected communication (the communication related to the determination result) is the second communication (step S304). If the selected communication is not the second communication, for example, if the selected communication is the first communication (step S304: No), then the terminal device 40 ends the processing.

[0416] On the other hand, if the selected communication is the second communication (step S304: Yes), the terminal device 40 receives configuration information about the second communication from the base station 30 or the management device 20 (step S305). The configuration information about the second communication may be, for example, information about the artificial intelligence / machine learning (AI / ML) model used for the second communication. If multiple applications are executed by the terminal device 40, the AI / ML model used for the second communication may be a different AI / ML model for each application. In this case, the configuration information about the second communication may be information about the AI / ML model for each application.

[0417] Subsequently, the terminal device 40 executes the configuration of the second communication based on the received configuration information (step S306). Here, the configuration of the second communication is, for example, a configuration for obtaining information about the characteristics or meaning (semantics) of the source data from the source data. For example, the configuration of the second communication is the configuration of the AI / ML model for the second communication. If there are multiple applications executed by the terminal device 40, the terminal device 40 can configure different AI / ML models for each application.

[0418] When the configuration is completed, the terminal device 40 ends the processing.

[0419] 4-1-2. Uplink Processing

[0420] Next, the uplink processing of the terminal device 40 (UE 40) in the second communication will be described.

[0421] Figure 16 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of uplink processing of terminal device 40 in a second communication. The following processing is performed by, for example, control unit 43 of terminal device 40. Reference will be made below. Figure 16 The flowchart describes the downlink processing of the terminal device 40 in the second communication.

[0422] As Figure 15 In step S303 shown, the terminal device 40 sends a session establishment request, which includes information about the second communication (step S401).

[0423] As Figure 15In step S305 shown, the terminal device 40 obtains information about the AI / ML model used for the second communication from a device belonging to the core network CN (e.g., 5GC) (step S402). The device belonging to the core network CN can be the base station 30 (RAN / AN 510) or the management device 20 (an information processing device that implements the network functions constituting the core network CN).

[0424] As part of step S306, the terminal device 40 sets up the AI / ML model based on the acquired information about the AI / ML model (step S403). Here, the AI / ML model can be, for example, the neural network model described above. The information about the AI / ML model can include information about the number of hidden layers (or intermediate layers), the number of nodes in each layer, the weight of each edge, etc. Note that the neural network model can be the deep learning model described above. The information about the AI / ML model can also include information indicating the algorithm used in the deep learning described above (e.g., information indicating at least one of the following: deep neural network (DNN), convolutional neural network (CNN), recurrent neural network (RNN), fully connected neural network, LSTM, and autoencoder). In the following description, the AI / ML model configured in the terminal device 40 (e.g., the AI / ML model configured in step S403) is referred to as the first AI / ML model.

[0425] Terminal device 40 inputs the source data of the running application into the first AI / ML model configured in step S403 (step S404).

[0426] Terminal device 40 performs calculations on the first AI / ML model that has received the source data. Then, terminal device 40 acquires second data as the output of the first AI / ML model (step S405).

[0427] Terminal device 40 sends second data to base station 30 through a session established according to the session establishment request (step S406). When the transmission is completed, terminal device 40 ends the processing.

[0428] Note that the information about the AI / ML model provided to the terminal device 40 may be information about the AI / ML model learned by the Model Training Logic Function (MTLF) of NWDAF 551.

[0429] 4-1-3. Downlink Processing

[0430] Next, the downlink processing of the terminal device 40 (UE 40) in the second communication will be described.

[0431] Figure 17This is a flowchart illustrating an example of downlink processing of terminal device 40 in a second communication. The following processing is performed by, for example, control unit 43 of terminal device 40. Reference will be made below. Figure 17 The flowchart describes the downlink processing of the terminal device 40 in the second communication.

[0432] Note that, due to the processing from step S501 to step S503 and Figure 16 The uplink processing shown is the same from step S401 to step S403, so its description is omitted here.

[0433] Base station 30 (RAN / AN 510) is configured with a second AI / ML model. The second AI / ML model is an AI / ML model corresponding to the first AI / ML model configured in terminal device 40 in step S503. The first AI / ML model can be compared with... Figure 16 The first AI / ML model configured for the uplink in step S403 shown may be the same or different.

[0434] Here, the second AI / ML model and the first AI / ML model can each consist of a neural network model or a deep learning model. In other words, a neural network model or a deep learning model can be divided into a second AI / ML model and a first AI / ML model.

[0435] Base station 30 inputs source data into the configured second AI / ML model. Then, base station 30 performs calculations on the second AI / ML model that has received the source data. Finally, base station 30 acquires third data as the output of the second AI / ML model.

[0436] Terminal device 40 receives third data from base station 30 through an established session (step S504).

[0437] The terminal device 40 inputs the received third data into the configured first AI / ML model (step S505).

[0438] Terminal device 40 performs calculations on the first AI / ML model that has received the third data. Then, terminal device 40 acquires the fourth data as the output of the first AI / ML model (step S506).

[0439] The terminal device 40 transmits the acquired fourth data to a higher-level application (step S507). When the transmission is complete, the terminal device 40 ends the processing.

[0440] 4-1-4. Modified Example

[0441] It is important to note that a neural network model (e.g., a deep learning model) that is divided into a second AI / ML model and a first AI / ML model can be an AI / ML model learned by the Model Training Logic Function (MTLF) of NWDAF 551. Furthermore, base station 30 (RAN / AN 510) can determine which layer (hidden layer or intermediate layer) of a neural network model is divided into. Base station 30 can dynamically change the division point based on the channel state with terminal device 40.

[0442] Additionally, in the above example (step S402 / step S502), the terminal device 40 obtains information about the AI / ML model used for the second communication from a device belonging to the core network CN (base station 30 or management device 20). Alternatively or additionally, the terminal device 40 may obtain a set of fifth data pre-assigned with identification information from a device belonging to the core network CN (base station 30 or management device 20). Here, the set of fifth data is, for example, a set of candidates for information about the features / meanings (semantics) included in the source data.

[0443] Uplink status

[0444] At this point, the terminal device 40 can configure a set of fifth data pre-allocated with identification information, instead of steps S403 / S503. Furthermore, the terminal device 40 can extract the fifth data from the source data, instead of steps S404 / S504. Here, the process of extracting the fifth data from the source data can be performed using a first AI / ML model. Then, the terminal device 40 can identify the identification information (second data) corresponding to the extracted fifth data based on the configured set, instead of steps S405 / S505. The terminal device 40 can transmit the identified identification information (second data) to the base station 30 (RAN / AN 510) through the established session, instead of steps S406 / S506. The base station 30 can identify the fifth data corresponding to the received identification information (second data) based on the set of fifth data pre-allocated with identification information.

[0445] Downlink status

[0446] Base station 30 (RAN / AN 510) can input source data into the configured second AI / ML model. Then, base station 30 acquires identification information (third data) as the output of the second AI / ML model. Terminal device 40 can receive the identification information (third data) in step S504. Then, instead of step S506, terminal device 40 can identify the fifth data corresponding to the received identification information based on a set of fifth data pre-allocated with identification information. Terminal device 40 can then transmit the identified fifth data to a higher-level application instead of step S507.

[0447] Here, terminal device 40 can send information indicating what kind of information to obtain (what kind of information is desired) as configuration information about the second communication. For example, terminal device 40 can include information in a request (e.g., a session establishment request) indicating whether to obtain information about the AI / ML model used for the second communication or information about a set of fifth data with pre-assigned identification information, as configuration information about the second communication.

[0448] Additionally, the network functions of the core network (CN) can determine what information should be provided to the terminal device 40 as configuration information for the second communication. For example, the network functions of the core network (CN) (e.g., SMF 546) can determine, based on the PCC rules obtained from PCF 545 at the time of session establishment, whether to provide the terminal device 40 with information about the AI / ML model used for the second communication or information about a set of fifth data pre-assigned with identification information, as configuration information for the second communication.

[0449] Here, the information processing device included in communication system 1 (e.g., a server of a service operator that has entered into a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) managing the core network CN) can request the core network CN to provide instructions on what information to provide to the terminal device 40 as a configuration for the second communication. For example, the information processing device can request instructions from the core network CN via trusted AF 548 regarding whether to provide the terminal device 40 with information about an AI / ML model used for the second communication or information about a set of fifth data pre-assigned with identification information, as a configuration for the second communication. When the core network CN's PCF 545 receives the request from trusted AF 548, the core network CN can reflect the request in the PCC rule.

[0450] As described above, terminal device 40 supports both first and second communications (e.g., semantic communication), thus allowing terminal device 40 to perform communications in a suitable communication mode according to the application. As a result, the radio resources consumed can be reduced.

[0451] 4-2. Second Example

[0452] Next, the operation of communication system 1 according to the second example will be described. In the second example, the processing of base station 30 (RAN / AN 510) in the second communication will be described.

[0453] In this embodiment, it is assumed that base station 30 supports multiple communication modes, including first communication and second communication. That is, base station 30 in this embodiment can perform processing related to at least first communication and second communication. As described above, first communication is a communication mode in which source data is propagated as information that can be recovered in the same form in the communication device at the receiving end, and second communication is, for example, a communication mode in which part or all of the information extracted from the source data using an AI / ML model is propagated to the receiving end (e.g., semantic communication).

[0454] 4-2-1. Base Station Processing

[0455] Figure 18 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing of base station 30 in the second communication. The following processing is performed, for example, by control unit 33 of base station 30. Referring below, reference will be made to... Figure 18 The flowchart describes the processing of base station 30 in the second communication.

[0456] Base station 30 from execution Figure 15 In step S303 shown, the terminal device 40 (UE 40) receives a request (step S601) including information about the communication mode selected by the terminal device 40 (the communication mode related to the determined result). For example, the base station 30 receives a request including information about a first communication or a second communication as information about the communication mode. Here, the request including information about the first communication or the second communication is, for example, a session establishment request for the first communication or the second communication. In the following description, the communication mode selected by the terminal device 40 (the communication mode related to the determined result) is simply referred to as "selected communication". Note that the request may include information about the application related to the communication mode used by the terminal device 40 (information about the application using the second communication). The information about the application related to the communication mode may include network slice selection assistance information.

[0457] Base station 30 determines whether the request includes information about the second communication (step S602). Here, a request that includes information about the first or second communication is, for example, a session establishment request for the first or second communication. If the request does not include information about the second communication, for example, if the communication selected by terminal device 40 is the first communication (step S602: No), then base station 30 ends the processing.

[0458] If information about the second communication is included, for example, if the communication selected by terminal device 40 is the second communication (step S602: Yes), then base station 30 (RAN / AN 510) sends information about the AI / ML model of the second communication to terminal device 40 (step S603). Here, the information about the AI / ML model can be an AI / ML model corresponding to the information applied above. When the transmission is complete, terminal device 40 ends the processing.

[0459] 4-2-2. Processing after sending AI / ML model information

[0460] Terminal device 40, which has already received information about the AI / ML model, executes... Figure 16 Step S402 (or Figure 17 The processing of step S502 and subsequent steps.

[0461] Here, the AI / ML model can be, for example, the neural network model described above. In this case, the information about the AI / ML model can be information about the number of hidden layers (or intermediate layers), the number of nodes in each layer, the weight of each edge, etc. Note that the neural network model can be the deep learning model described above. In this case, the information about the AI / ML model can also include information indicating the algorithm used in the deep learning described above (e.g., information indicating at least one of a deep neural network (DNN), convolutional neural network (CNN), recurrent neural network (RNN), fully connected neural network, LSTM, and autoencoder).

[0462] Uplink status

[0463] Terminal device 40 configures a first AI / ML model (e.g., a first AI / ML model for the uplink) for the second communication based on information about the AI / ML model for the second communication. Terminal device 40 (UE 40) inputs source data into the configured first AI / ML model. Terminal device 40 performs calculations on the first AI / ML model that has received the source data. Then, terminal device 40 acquires second data as the output of the first AI / ML model. Terminal device 40 sends the second data to base station 30 through an established session. Base station 30 acquires the second data from terminal device 40.

[0464] Downlink status

[0465] Base station 30 (RAN / AN 510) configures a second AI / ML model (for downlink) for the second communication based on information about the AI / ML model of the second communication. Base station 30 inputs source data into the configured second AI / ML model. Base station 30 performs calculations on the second AI / ML model that has received the source data. Then, base station 30 acquires third data as the output of the second AI / ML model. Base station 30 sends the third data to terminal device 40 through the established session. Terminal device 40 acquires the third data from base station 30.

[0466] 4-2-3. Modified Example

[0467] In the example described above (step S603), base station 30 provides terminal device 40 with information about the AI / ML model of the second communication. Alternatively or additionally, base station 30 may provide terminal device 40 with a set of fifth data pre-assigned with identification information. Here, the set of fifth data is, for example, a set of candidates for information about the features / meanings (semantics) included in the source data.

[0468] Here, base station 30 can determine what information to provide to terminal device 40 based on a request from terminal device 40. For example, base station 30 can determine whether to provide terminal device 40 with information about the AI / ML model of the second communication or with information about a set of fifth data pre-assigned with identification information, based on the request from terminal device 40. Terminal device 40 can include this request, for example, in a session establishment request.

[0469] Additionally, the network functions of the core network (CN) can determine what information to provide to the terminal device 40 as configuration information regarding the second communication. For example, the network functions of the core network (CN) (e.g., SMF 546) can determine, based on the PCC rules obtained from PCF 545 at session establishment, whether to provide the terminal device 40 with information about the AI / ML model of the second communication or information about a set of fifth data with pre-assigned identification information as configuration information regarding the second communication. The network functions of the core network (CN) (e.g., SMF 546) can send an indication to the base station 30 regarding which information to provide to the terminal device 40 (e.g., whether to provide the terminal device 40 with information about the AI / ML model of the second communication or to provide the terminal device 40 with a set of fifth data with pre-assigned identification information). This indication can be sent directly via a service-based interface or via AMF 541.

[0470] Here, the information processing device included in communication system 1 (e.g., a server of a service operator that has entered into a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) managing the core network CN) can request the core network CN to issue instructions on what information should be provided to the terminal device 40 as a configuration for the second communication. For example, the information processing device can request the core network CN, via trusted AF 548, to provide instructions on whether any information in the set of fifth data pre-assigned identification information regarding the AI / ML model for the second communication should be provided to the terminal device 40 as a configuration for the second communication. When the core network CN's PCF 545 receives the request from trusted AF 548, the core network CN can reflect the request in the PCC rule.

[0471] As described above, since base station 30 supports both first and second communications (e.g., semantic communications), terminal device 40 can perform communications in a communication mode suitable for each application. As a result, the radio resources consumed can be reduced.

[0472] 4-3. Third Example

[0473] Next, the operation of the communication system 1 according to the third example will be described. In the second example, the processing of the apparatus constituting the core network CN (e.g., 5GC) in the second communication will be described. As mentioned above, the apparatus constituting the core network CN is, for example, an apparatus that implements the network functions constituting the core network CN (e.g., management apparatus 20). In the following description, the apparatus constituting the core network CN may simply be referred to as the "core network".

[0474] In this embodiment, it is assumed that the core network (CN) supports multiple communication modes, including a first communication and a second communication. That is, the core network (CN) of this embodiment can perform processing related to at least the first and second communications. As described above, the first communication is a communication mode in which source data is propagated as information that can be recovered in the same form by a communication device on the receiving side, and the second communication is, for example, a communication mode in which part or all of the information extracted from the source data using an AI / ML model is propagated to the receiving side (e.g., semantic communication).

[0475] 4-3-1. First Example of Session Management Processing

[0476] Figure 19 This is a flowchart illustrating a first example of session management processing in the core network (CN). The following processing can be performed, for example, by the control unit 23 of the management device 20. Reference will be made below. Figure 19 The flowchart describes the session management process of the core network (CN).

[0477] First, the core network CN is based on Figure 12A and Figure 12B The PDU session establishment process shown is used to establish the first session corresponding to the first communication (step S701).

[0478] The core network CN configures the QoS flows for the established first session (step S702). For example, the PCF 545 of the core network CN configures at least one QoS flow to be processed in the first session according to the PCC rules.

[0479] The core network CN is configured with QoS monitoring for the QoS flows assigned to the first session (step S703). For example, the PCF 545 of the core network CN can provide QoS monitoring policies to the AMF 541 and / or SMF 546.

[0480] AMF 541 may request base station 30 (RAN / AN 510) to perform QoS monitoring according to the QoS monitoring policy. Here, QoS monitoring may be at least one of packet delay monitoring, congestion information monitoring, data rate monitoring, and QoS notification monitoring.

[0481] The SMF 546 can request the UPF 520 to perform QoS monitoring according to the QoS monitoring policy. Here, QoS monitoring can be at least one of the following measurement operations.

[0482] • Bit rate (e.g., average bit rate and / or maximum bit rate) for each GBR QoS stream in the first session.

[0483] • Aggregated bit rate of all non-GBR QoS streams in the first session

[0484] • Grouping error rate in the first session

[0485] • Aggregated bit rate of all non-GBR QoS streams of target terminal device 40

[0486] • Packet error rate of target terminal device 40

[0487] The core network CN obtains the QoS monitoring results from base station 30 (RAN / AN 510) and / or UPF 520 (step S704). For example, SMF 546 obtains the QoS monitoring results from base station 30 via AMF 541. SMF 546 also obtains the QoS monitoring results from UPF 520.

[0488] The core network CN determines whether the results of QoS monitoring meet the parameters (e.g., packet delay requirements, etc.) assigned to the QoS flow of the first session (step S705). If the parameters of the QoS flow are met (step S705: Yes), the core network CN returns the process to step S704.

[0489] On the other hand, if the parameters of the QoS flow are not satisfied (step S705: No), the core network CN updates the first session to the second session corresponding to the second communication (e.g., semantic communication) (step S706). For example, if it is determined that the measurement result of the packet delay of the QoS flow allocated to the first session does not meet the parameters of the QoS flow (e.g., packet delay budget), the SMF 546 activates the SM policy association modification process and requests the PCF 545 to modify the policy for the first communication to the policy for the second communication.

[0490] The core network (CN) instructs the terminal device 40 to change the first session to the second session (step S707) and end the process.

[0491] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S705 that the parameters of the QoS flow allocated to the first session are satisfied, then step S704 and subsequent steps are executed.

[0492] 4-3-2. A Second Example of Session Management Processing

[0493] Figure 20 This is a flowchart illustrating a second example of session management processing in the core network (CN). The following processing can be performed, for example, by the control unit 23 of the management device 20. Reference will be made below to... Figure 20 The flowchart describes the session management process of the core network (CN). Note that the processing of steps S801 to S805 is different from that of the core network (CN). Figure 19 The processes in steps S701 to S705 shown are the same, so their description is omitted here.

[0494] If the parameters of the QoS flow are not satisfied (step S805: No), the core network CN identifies applications capable of supporting the second communication (e.g., semantic communication) (step S806). For example, information about a set of IDs of applications capable of supporting semantic communication is stored in the Unified Data Repository (UDR) of UDM 547. SMF 546 or PCF 545 obtains information about a set of IDs of applications capable of supporting semantic communication from UDM 547. SMF 546 or PCF 545 can identify applications capable of supporting the second communication based on the information obtained from UDM 547.

[0495] The core network CN identifies terminal device 40 from one or more terminal devices 40 that have established a first session. More specifically, the core network CN identifies terminal device 40 that uses the application identified in step S801 and supports the second communication from one or more terminal devices 40 that have established a first session (step S807). For example, the session management context of each session includes information about the application being used. The SMF 546 can determine the application being used by terminal device 40 from the session management context of each session. Here, the SMF 546 can identify the application being used in each session based on network slice (S-NSSAI) and / or data network name (DNN). In addition, the SMF 546 can obtain UE radio capability information of the terminal device 40 using the identified application from the AMF 541. The SMF 546 can identify the terminal device 40 supporting the second communication based on the UE radio capability information.

[0496] The core network CN sends an instruction to the terminal device 40 identified in step S807 to modify the first session to a second session corresponding to the second communication (step S808). For example, SMF 546 sends a Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer message including an N1SM container to AMF 541. The N1SM container includes a PDU session modification request message, and AMF 541 sends an N1 message including the N1SM container to the terminal device 40. When the transmission is complete, the core network CN ends the processing.

[0497] Here, the terminal device 40 that receives the PDU session modification request message activates PDU session modification request processing. PDU session modification request processing is, for example, in... Figure 12A and Figure 12B The process shown uses modification instead of creation.

[0498] 4-3-3. Third example of session management processing

[0499] Figure 21 This is a flowchart illustrating a third example of session management processing in the core network (CN). For example, the control unit 23 of management device 20 can perform the following processing. Reference will be made below. Figure 21 The flowchart describes the session management process of the core network (CN). Note that the processing from steps S901 to S905 is different from... Figure 19 The processes from steps S701 to S705 shown are the same, so their description is omitted here.

[0500] If the parameters of the QoS flow are not met (step S905: No), the core network CN updates the first session to a third session, which has already added a second QoS flow for the second communication (e.g., semantic communication) (step S906). For example, if it is determined that the QoS monitoring results do not meet the parameters of the QoS flow assigned to the first session (e.g., packet delay requirements), the SMF 546 activates the SM policy association modification process. Through this SM policy association modification process, the SMF 546 requests the PCF 545 to modify the policy to use the second communication in addition to the first communication. Furthermore, based on the QoS monitoring results, the SMF 546 requests that the QoS flow assigned to the first session be modified from the first QoS flow to the second QoS flow. Here, compared to the first QoS flow, the second QoS flow is a QoS flow with lower packet delay requirements. In this case, the QoS monitoring results need to meet the requirements of the second QoS flow.

[0501] The core network CN sends an instruction to the terminal device 40 to change from the first session to the third session (step S907). When the transmission is complete, the core network CN ends the processing.

[0502] A communication device (e.g., terminal device 40) included in communication system 1 can use a second QoS stream to send (downlink communication) / receive (uplink communication) source data (or first data). The communication device can use a first QoS stream to send (downlink communication) / receive (uplink communication) second data. That is, the communication device can first use low-latency communication means to send or receive part or all of the information extracted from the source data, and then use communication means with relaxed latency requirements to send or receive the source data (or first data).

[0503] Base station 30 and terminal device 40 establish a first data radio bearer (DRB) for first communication and a second DRB for second communication. Then, base station 30 maps a first QoS stream to the first DRB and a second QoS stream to the second DRB. That is, terminal device 40 sends or receives data of the first QoS stream via the first DRB and sends or receives data of the second QoS stream via the second DRB.

[0504] In addition, Figure 21The example shown illustrates updating to a third session that has already had a second QoS flow added for the second communication. However, this embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the core network CN can add a second session for the second communication in addition to the first session. The core network CN can then modify the QoS flow assigned to the first session from the first QoS flow to the second QoS flow. The core network CN can then assign the first QoS flow to the second session. Here, the second QoS flow is a QoS flow with lower packet latency requirements compared to the first QoS flow. In this case, the QoS monitoring results meet the requirements of the second QoS flow.

[0505] A communication device (e.g., terminal device 40) included in communication system 1 can send (downlink communication) / receive (uplink communication) source data (or first data) through a first session using a second QoS stream. The communication device can send (downlink communication) / receive (uplink communication) second data through a second session using the first QoS stream.

[0506] 4-3-4. Alternative Network Slice Configuration Processing

[0507] Figure 22 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of alternative network slice configuration processing. For example, the control unit 23 of management device 20 can perform the following processing. Reference will be made below. Figure 22 The flowchart describes the session management process of the core network (CN).

[0508] When terminal device 40 (UE 40) activates the establishment process of the first session corresponding to the first network slice ( Figure 12A and Figure 12B When the first communication occurs, the core network CN receives a first session establishment request from the terminal device 40 (UE 40) (step S1001). The first network slice is the network slice corresponding to the first communication.

[0509] The core network (CN) determines whether the application using the first session supports the second communication (step S1002). For example, the AMF 541 can identify the application using the first session by using information about the application included in the first session establishment request. Then, the AMF 541 can determine whether the application using the first session supports the second communication based on information about a set of application IDs that can support the second communication (e.g., semantic communication). If the application using the first session does not support the second communication (step S1002: No), the core network (CN) terminates the process.

[0510] On the other hand, if the application using the first session supports the second communication (step S1002: Yes), the core network CN determines whether the terminal device 40 that requested to establish the first session supports the second communication (step S1003). For example, AMF 541 determines whether the terminal device 40 supports the second communication based on the UE radio capability information of the terminal device 40 that requested to establish the first session. If the terminal device 40 that requested to establish the first session does not support the second communication (step S1003: No), the core network CN ends the process.

[0511] If the terminal device 40 that has requested to establish the first session supports the second communication (step S1003: Yes), then the core network CN configures the second network slice corresponding to the second communication as a candidate network slice (candidate S-NSSAI) for the first session to be established (step S1004). When the configuration is complete, the core network CN ends the process.

[0512] When the configuration of alternative network slices is completed, the core network CN performs step S201 of the PDU session establishment process and the subsequent steps. Figure 12A and Figure 12B Therefore, the core network (CN) establishes a first session for the first network slice. As mentioned above, the first network slice is the network slice corresponding to the first communication.

[0513] For example, if the first network slice is unavailable (or if the first network slice is under heavy load), the AMF 541 can instruct the SMF 546 to perform the session update (session to second session update) required to migrate the first session to an alternative network slice.

[0514] Using the above processing, the core network (CN) can instruct a terminal device 40 in a predetermined state (e.g., a terminal device 40 using an application supporting second communication (e.g., semantic communication) in the predetermined state to change from the first communication to the second communication. The predetermined state is, for example, a state where a specific QoS request cannot be met due to insufficient communication capacity, a state where a specific network slice is unavailable, or a high-load state. This allows for a reduction in the amount of communication used.

[0515] 5. Other operational examples of communication systems

[0516] Next, other operational examples of communication system 1 will be described.

[0517] Examples four through nine will be described below. Figure 23 This is a diagram illustrating the hierarchical structure of each example (examples four through nine).

[0518] The fourth example will describe the registration process. The fifth example will describe the sharing and management of AI / ML models. The sixth example will describe the selection of a session to be established when initiated by the network. The seventh example will describe the process of selecting the communication mode for terminal device 40. The eighth example will describe the selection of a communication mode by an external application server (e.g., server 10). The ninth example will describe session reconstruction due to changes in the wireless environment.

[0519] Communication mode

[0520] In the embodiments described above or later, each information processing device included in the communication system 1 (e.g., server 10, management device 20, base station 30, and terminal device 40) supports multiple communication modes, including first communication and second communication. That is, each information processing device included in the communication system 1 is capable of performing processing related to the first communication and second communication.

[0521] As described above, the first communication is a communication mode in which data as the source is propagated into information that can be recovered in the same form by a communication device on the receiving side (e.g., a communication mode provided by a fifth-generation or earlier mobile communication system). The second communication is, for example, a communication mode in which some or all of the information extracted from the source data using an AI / ML model is propagated to the receiving side. The second communication is a communication mode suitable for human-to-machine (H2M) and machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, and corresponds to, for example, semantic communication.

[0522] The first communication can be restated as a first communication mode, a first communication means, or a first communication method. The second communication can be restated as a second communication mode, a second communication means, or a second communication method.

[0523] Values ​​related to radio parameters

[0524] Furthermore, in the embodiments described above or later, the values ​​related to the radio parameters can be at least one of the values ​​indicated, for example, in (1) to (4) below. Additionally, the values ​​related to the radio parameters can be a combination of two or more values ​​selected from the plurality of values ​​indicated in (1) to (4) below. Furthermore, the values ​​related to the radio parameters can be values ​​obtained by calculating a finite number of times based on two or more values ​​selected from the plurality of values ​​indicated in (1) to (4) below.

[0525] (1) Values ​​reported by terminal device 40 to other devices

[0526] Values ​​related to radio parameters can be parameters relating to reports from terminal device 40 to base station 30 or core network CN (e.g., management device 20). For example, values ​​related to radio parameters can be Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) or Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ). Here, reports from terminal device 40 to base station 30 or core network CN can be, for example, Channel State Information (CSI) reports, measurement reports, or reports related to Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ). A CSI report can be referred to as CSI feedback. Additionally, a measurement report can be referred to as a measurement result report.

[0527] (2) Values ​​measured by base station 30

[0528] Values ​​related to radio parameters can be values ​​related to the wireless environment as measured by base station 30. For example, values ​​related to radio parameters can be wireless environment-related values ​​obtained from signals from terminal device 40.

[0529] (3) Values ​​collected by base station 30 or core network CN

[0530] Values ​​related to radio parameters can be values ​​that can be arbitrarily collected by base station 30 or core network CN (e.g., management device 20). For example, values ​​related to radio parameters can be signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).

[0531] (4) The value calculated from the above values

[0532] The values ​​related to radio parameters can be calculated from the values ​​(radio parameters) indicated in (1) to (4) described above.

[0533] Core Network CN

[0534] Furthermore, in the description of each of the following examples (Examples 4 through 9), it is assumed that the core network CN is a means of implementing the network functions that constitute the core network (e.g., the management device 20 described below).

[0535] 5-1. Fourth Example

[0536] First, the fourth example will be described.

[0537] In the fourth example, a method will be described for the terminal device 40 to notify the network (base station 30 and / or core network CN) whether the terminal device supports the second communication. The terminal device 40 of this embodiment supports multiple communication modes, including the first communication and the second communication. That is, the terminal device 40 can use at least the first communication and the second communication.

[0538] During registration processing, terminal device 40 sends information obtained by adding information indicating whether it supports the second communication to the UE radio capability ID. For example, in addition to the conventional UE radio capability ID in the information sent to AMF 541 during registration processing, terminal device 40 also includes information indicating whether it supports the second communication. Note that the information indicating whether the terminal device supports the second communication (e.g., semantic communication) can be predefined by the network operator in the form of an ID, etc. In this case, terminal device 40 can select the corresponding ID and perform the registration process. Additionally, terminal device 40 can include information indicating whether the AI / ML model used for the second communication is retained in the information sent to AMF 541 during registration processing (information indicating whether terminal device 40 retains the AI / ML model used for the second communication).

[0539] AMF 541 can notify predetermined network functions (e.g., PCF 545, SMF 546, UDM 547, and DN 530) of the received UE radio capability ID through various reference points in a conventional manner.

[0540] Note that the network functions (core network CN functions) by which AMF 541 notifies its UE radio capability ID do not necessarily have to be all of the aforementioned network functions (PCF 545, SMF 546, UDM 547, and DN 530). Furthermore, the network functions by which AMF 541 notifies its UE radio capability ID may include functions other than those mentioned above (PCF 545, SMF 546, UDM 547, and DN 530). Additionally, the network functions by which AMF 541 notifies its UE radio capability ID may include functions newly added to the core network CN. Moreover, instead of using notification, some functions of the core network CN can subscribe to AMF 541 as needed.

[0541] This process enables base station 30, core network CN, etc., to identify the terminal device corresponding to the second communication. As a result, communication can be performed using both the first and second communications. The following effects are achieved as a result.

[0542] For example, in adverse wireless environments, terminal device 40 selects a second communication based on values ​​related to radio parameters, thereby improving application layer performance compared to conventional communication. As a result, user experience (UX) can be improved.

[0543] In addition to the above, when the base station 30 and / or the core network CN determine the terminal device 40 corresponding to the second communication, the base station 30 and / or the core network CN can perform more flexible QoS control than before.

[0544] For example, even in communications for applications requiring low latency, network congestion may occur, potentially preventing the desired QoS from being met due to relaxed QoS. However, according to this technology, robust communication can be performed, for example, in communications for applications that do not require all information from the sending source, even during network congestion, while meeting fundamental requirements such as low latency.

[0545] Additionally, when terminal device 40 supports the second communication, it can refer to, for example, its own radio parameters and request session re-establishment. For instance, even when terminal device 40 is in an unfavorable wireless environment (e.g., an environment with low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)), terminal device 40 will switch to the second communication mode, allowing users to have a better user experience (UX) than usual.

[0546] This example demonstrates how to achieve network congestion-resistant communication. Additionally, it improves the user experience for users of terminal device 40 in adverse wireless environments.

[0547] 5-2. Fifth Example

[0548] Next, the fifth example will be described.

[0549] In the fifth example, the sharing and management of the AI / ML model used for the second communication will be described. In the following description, the AI / ML model used for the second communication will be simply referred to as the "AI / ML model".

[0550] 5-2-1. Sharing of AI / ML Models

[0551] First, the sharing of AI / ML models will be described. Here, a method for the terminal device 40 to notify the base station 30 and / or the core network CN whether the terminal device 40 retains an AI / ML model will be described, as well as a method for the base station 30 and / or the core network CN to share (send) the AI / ML model with the terminal device 40.

[0552] Terminal device 40 may use the UE radio capability ID or together with the UE radio capability ID to notify base station 30 and / or core network CN whether terminal device 40 retains an AI / ML model (information indicating whether terminal device retains an AI / ML model).

[0553] Additionally, in the fourth example, when the terminal device 40 requesting session establishment has not yet notified the base station 30 and / or the core network CN whether the terminal device retains an AI / ML model, the terminal device 40 may notify the base station 30 and / or the core network CN whether the terminal device retains an AI / ML model before requesting session establishment. Figure 11Step S108 shown. For example, the terminal device 40 can do so when sending an RRCSetupRequest ( Figure 11 In step S104 shown, the terminal device is notified to the base station 30 whether it retains an AI / ML model.

[0554] Furthermore, base station 30 and / or core network CN can query terminal device 40 whether the terminal device retains an AI / ML model after receiving a session establishment request from terminal device 40. For example, when receiving an RRCSetupRequest ( Figure 11 In step S104 shown, base station 30 can send a query to terminal device 40 in response. This can be done by sending RRCSetup (…). Figure 11 The query is performed before step S105 shown. In this case, the terminal device 40 can notify the base station 30 whether the terminal device retains the AI / ML model before completing RRCSetup.

[0555] Alternatively, terminal device 40 may request base station 30 and / or core network CN to share the AI / ML model (e.g., send information about the AI / ML model, such as model structure parameters) instead of notifying base station 30 and / or core network CN whether the terminal device retains the AI / ML model. Here, the sharing of the AI / ML model requested by terminal device 40 can be model delivery, model transmission, or model download. Model delivery, model transmission, and model download will be described below.

[0556] In addition, terminal device 40 can perform an RRCSetupRequest ( Figure 11 Before step S104, the base station 30 and / or the core network CN are requested to share the AI / ML model. Upon receiving the request to share the AI / ML model, the base station 30 and / or the core network CN can share the AI / ML model with the terminal device 40 immediately after the request (e.g., by sending parameters of the model structure). Of course, the sharing of the AI / ML model does not have to be performed immediately after the request.

[0557] Furthermore, the sharing of AI / ML models from base station 30 and / or core network CN (e.g., sending AI / ML model information) can be performed immediately after terminal device 40 notifies base station 30 and / or core network CN whether it retains an AI / ML model. Of course, sharing of AI / ML models does not necessarily have to be performed immediately after notification. For example, when base station 30 and / or core network CN have already notified the terminal device whether it retains an AI / ML model, it can be performed after sending RRCSetup (…). Figure 11The sharing of the AI / ML model (e.g., sending AI / ML model information from base station 30) is performed before step S105 shown. Additionally, after the PDU session is established ( Figure 11 As shown in step S109, information about the AI / ML model can be sent from NWDAF551 as a NAS message to the terminal device 40.

[0558] At this time, when the base station 30 and / or the core network CN manage the state related to the AI / ML model of the terminal device 40 (e.g., whether the terminal device 40 retains the AI / ML model and / or the identification information of the AI / ML model retained by the terminal device 40), the base station 30 and / or the core network CN can change the state information of the AI / ML model.

[0559] Furthermore, in the example above, it is assumed that the AI / ML model has already been trained. However, terminal device 40 can perform training of the AI / ML model (or a portion thereof), for example, as in joint learning. In this case, terminal device 40 can use the AI / ML model trained by terminal device 40 to perform the second communication.

[0560] 5-2-2. AI / ML Model Management

[0561] 3GPP has studied the management of models used for communication (e.g., RP-221347). The AI / ML model in this embodiment can be managed by the information processing apparatus constituting the communication system 1. In this embodiment, the management of the AI / ML model can be referred to as lifecycle management (LCM).

[0562] LCM elements

[0563] The LCM can be configured by one or more elements (processes / methods / procedures / functions) shown below (M1) to (M25). For example, the LCM can be one of (M1) to (M25), or it can be a combination of multiple elements selected from (M1) to (M25). Note that (M1) to (M25) shown below are merely examples. The LCM (or the elements constituting the LCM) of this embodiment may include elements other than (M1) to (M25). (M1) to (M25) will be described below.

[0564] (M1) Data Collection

[0565] Data collection is the process by which network nodes (e.g., base station 30), management entities (e.g., management device 20), or user equipment (UE) (e.g., terminal device 40) collect data for the purpose of training AI / ML models, data analysis, and inference.

[0566] (M2) model training

[0567] Model training is a data-driven training process that learns the input / output relationships of an AI / ML model and obtains data from the trained AI / ML model for inference.

[0568] (M3) Function Identification

[0569] Function identification is the process / method of identifying the functions or requirements for which an AI / ML model is applicable.

[0570] (M4) model recognition

[0571] Model recognition is the process / method of recognizing AI / ML models for shared understanding by the network (e.g., base station 30 and / or core network CN) and UE (e.g., terminal device 40).

[0572] (M5) Model Delivery

[0573] Model delivery is a general term for delivering AI / ML models from one entity (e.g., a communication device) to another entity (e.g., another communication device) using any method.

[0574] (M6) Model Transfer

[0575] Model transfer is the process of transmitting any AI / ML model via an over-the-air interface, either using parameters of a model structure known to the receiving side or using a new model with parameters. This transfer may include transmitting a complete model or a portion of a model.

[0576] (M7) Model Download

[0577] Model download is the process of transmitting a model from a network (e.g., base station 30 and / or core network CN) to a UE (e.g., terminal device 40).

[0578] (M8) Model Upload

[0579] Model uploading is the process of transmitting a model from a UE (e.g., terminal device 40) to a network (e.g., base station 30 and / or core network CN).

[0580] (M9) Model Reasoning

[0581] Model inference is the process of using a trained AI / ML model to generate a set of outputs based on a set of inputs (e.g., information received from other communication devices).

[0582] (M10) Model Validation

[0583] Model validation is a subprocess of training used to evaluate the quality of an AI / ML model using a different dataset than the one used for model training.

[0584] (M11) Model Testing

[0585] Model testing is a subprocess of training used to evaluate the final performance of an AI / ML model using a different dataset than that used for model training and validation. Unlike AI / ML model validation, model testing does not anticipate adjustments to the model upon subsequent adjustments.

[0586] (M12) model activation

[0587] Model activation is the process of enabling an AI / ML model for a specific function.

[0588] (M13) Function Activation

[0589] Feature activation is the process of enabling AI / ML features for specific characteristics.

[0590] (M14) model deactivation

[0591] Model deactivation is the process of disabling an AI / ML model for a specific function.

[0592] (M15) Function Deactivation

[0593] Function deactivation is the process of disabling AI / ML functions for specific features.

[0594] (M16) Model Switching

[0595] Model switching is the process of deactivating the currently active AI / ML model and activating another AI / ML model for a specific function.

[0596] (M17) Function Switching

[0597] Function switching is the process of deactivating the currently active AI / ML model and activating another AI / ML model for a specific function.

[0598] (M18) model rollback

[0599] Model rollback is the process of deactivating the AI / ML model and switching to processing that does not use the AI / ML model.

[0600] (M19) Model Monitoring

[0601] Model monitoring is the process used to monitor the reasoning ability of AI / ML models.

[0602] (M20) Model Update

[0603] Model update is the process of updating the model parameters and / or model structure.

[0604] (M21) Model Registration

[0605] Model registration is the process of registering the model parameters and / or model structure of a model.

[0606] (M22) model deployment

[0607] Model deployment is a general term for deploying an AI / ML model from one entity (e.g., a communication device described above or below) to another entity (e.g., a communication device described above or below) using any method.

[0608] (M23) Model Configuration

[0609] Model configuration is the process of configuring the model parameters and / or model structure.

[0610] (M24) Model Selection

[0611] Model selection is the process of choosing and activating an AI / ML model from among several currently available options.

[0612] (M25)UE capability

[0613] UE capability is the process by which a terminal device (e.g., terminal device 40) notifies another communication device (e.g., base station 30) of its capabilities.

[0614] Relationships in LCM (or components)

[0615] Figure 24 This is a diagram used to describe LCM. More specifically, Figure 24 This is a diagram illustrating the relationships (or the components that make up the LCM). For example... Figure 24 As shown in the diagram, LCM can be implemented. It should be noted that... Figure 24 The diagram can be implemented by any one of base station 30, transmitting device (e.g., terminal device 40), and receiving device (e.g., another terminal device 40), or by a combination of at least two of them. In other words, any one of base station 30, transmitting device (e.g., terminal device 40), and receiving device (e.g., terminal device 40) can perform the aforementioned LCM and Figure 24 At least a portion of the operations defined in the diagram. Figure 24 The diagram is merely an example. The relationships (or components that make up the LCM) in an LCM are not limited to... Figure 24 The relationship is shown in the diagram.

[0616] Data collection provides training data for model training. Additionally, it provides monitoring data for model management / performance monitoring. Data collection also provides inference data for model inference.

[0617] Model training will store the trained / updated model in the model storage device.

[0618] Model management / performance monitoring controls model training (e.g., controls model maintenance and / or updates). Model management / performance monitoring also performs control over model inference (e.g., at least one of model activation, model deactivation, model selection, model switching, and model fallback).

[0619] The model storage device delivers or transfers trained / updated models to model inference.

[0620] The model inference outputs to model management / performance monitoring notifications.

[0621] other

[0622] The AI / ML model used for the second communication can be provided with a version and validity period. The version and validity period can be managed by the base station 30 and / or the core network CN.

[0623] Furthermore, when the terminal device 40 is notified of the expiration date, it can delete the AI / ML model whose expiration date has expired.

[0624] Furthermore, when a portion or all of the AI / ML model needs to be updated due to the expiration of its validity period, the terminal device 40 may request the base station 30 and / or the core network CN (e.g., AMF 541) to update the model or share a new model.

[0625] When the terminal device 40 is not notified of the expiration date, the terminal device 40 may query the base station 30 and / or the core network CN (e.g., AMF 541) to see if the AI / ML model held by the terminal device 40 is available.

[0626] Base station 30 and / or core network CN can also collect AI / ML models retained by terminal device 40.

[0627] Terminal device 40 may notify base station 30 and / or core network CN of the version of the AI / ML model retained by terminal device 40. In this case, terminal device 40 may notify base station 30 and / or core network CN of the AI / ML model version, for example, in a form included in UE capability information.

[0628] The core network (CN) (e.g., the function of managing the versions of AI / ML models) can maintain the versions of the AI / ML models collected above.

[0629] In addition, when the version has been updated, the core network (CN) (e.g., the function of managing the version of the AI / ML model) can notify one or more terminal devices 40 of the AI / ML model update.

[0630] When a notification for an AI / ML model update is received, the terminal device 40 may perform the process of updating the AI / ML model. Conversely, when a notification for an AI / ML model update is received, the terminal device 40 may refuse the update.

[0631] Furthermore, in the example above, the AI / ML model is shared between the network (e.g., base station 30 and / or core network CN) and terminal device 40. However, terminal device 40 can perform training (or partial training) of the AI / ML model, for example, as in joint learning. In this case, terminal device 40 may already possess an AI / ML model trained by terminal device 40.

[0632] 5-3. Sixth Example

[0633] Next, the sixth example will be described.

[0634] In the sixth example, a scenario will be described where the network (e.g., the core network CN) actively selects which session to establish. For example, in the sixth example, the network (base station 30 and / or core network CN) determines the values ​​of the radio environment before establishing the session. The core network CN selects whether to establish a session for the first communication or a session for the second communication based on the capabilities of the terminal device 40 and / or the values ​​of the radio environment.

[0635] It should be noted that in the sixth example, it is assumed that the following (Premise 1) through (Premise 4) have been satisfied.

[0636] (Premise 1) Terminal device 40 supports multiple communication modes, including first communication and second communication. That is, terminal device 40 can use at least first communication and second communication.

[0637] (Premise 2) The terminal device 40 has registered the capabilities related to the second communication (indicating information supporting the second communication) with the network (base station 30 and / or core network CN) through the process shown in the fourth example.

[0638] (Premise 3) The terminal device 40 has received the AI / ML model for the second communication through the process shown in the fourth example.

[0639] (Premise 4) The radio parameters of terminal device 40 have been collected by the network (base station 30 and / or core network CN), or the values ​​of the radio parameters of terminal device 40 have been stored in the network (base station 30 and / or core network CN). For example, before a PDU session is established between terminal device 40 and UPF 520, a CSI report and / or measurement report are made to base station 30 and / or core network CN. The CSI report may be referred to as CSI feedback. Furthermore, the measurement report may be referred to as a measurement result report.

[0640] The sixth example is described based on the above premises. Figure 25 This is a flowchart illustrating the session establishment process based on the sixth example. See below for reference. Figure 25 The flowchart describes the process based on the session established in the sixth example.

[0641] First, the core network CN determines whether the terminal device 40 supports the second communication based on information about the capabilities of the terminal device 40 that has requested session establishment (step S1101). Furthermore, at this time, the core network CN may query whether the application used by the terminal device 40 supports the second communication. This query does not necessarily have to be performed at step S1101. For example, the core network CN may perform the query simultaneously with the terminal capability query. Alternatively, the core network CN may include this query in the terminal capability query. When the AMF 541 of the core network CN receives a PDU session establishment request message from the UE 40 ( Figure 11 and Figure 12A During step S108 (as shown), AMF 541 performs SMF selection in 5G ( Figure 12A (See step S201 shown). At this time, AMF 541 can refer to the capabilities of terminal device 40.

[0642] If the terminal device 40 does not support the second communication (step S1101: No), the core network CN causes the process to proceed to step S1105.

[0643] On the other hand, if terminal device 40 supports the second communication (step S1101: Yes), the core network CN collects information about terminal device 40 that has requested session establishment (step S1102). At this time, the AMF 541 of the core network CN can request the base station 30 to share the values ​​of the radio parameters of terminal device 40 that has requested session establishment. The AMF 541 can further query the base station 30 to see if the second communication (e.g., semantic communication) is recommended, instead of requesting the values ​​of the radio parameters. In addition, when a PDU session establishment request message is transmitted from terminal device 40 to AMF 541 ( Figure 11 and Figure 12A During step S108, the base station 30 can send the values ​​of the radio parameters of the terminal device 40 to the AMF 541.

[0644] The core network CN makes a determination regarding the application of the second communication (e.g., whether to establish a session for the second communication) based on the information collected in step S1102 (e.g., the values ​​of the radio parameters of the terminal device 40 that has requested session establishment). For example, the core network CN determines whether the values ​​of the radio parameters of the terminal device 40 that has requested session establishment meet a predetermined standard (e.g., whether the value is greater than a predetermined threshold) (step S1103).

[0645] If the criteria are met (step S1103: Yes), the core network CN constructs (establishes) a session for the second communication (step S1104). Note that if a session for the first communication has already been established, the core network CN can switch the session for the first communication to the session for the second communication.

[0646] On the other hand, if the standard is not met (step S1103: No), or if the terminal device 40 does not support the second communication (step S1101: No), the core network CN constructs (establishes) a session for the first communication (step S1105).

[0647] Once the session is established, the core network (CN) terminates the process.

[0648] Note that when base station 30 has not yet received a CSI report and / or measurement report from terminal device 40, i.e., only prerequisites 1 to 3 are met and prerequisite 4 is not met, the core network CN may refer to, for example, the strength information of the received signal from the random access channel of terminal device 40 as information for determining step S1103. Then, the core network CN may determine step S1103 (determination of the application of the second communication) based on this information.

[0649] After the session is established, a session establishment completion message is sent from base station 30 to terminal device 40. When a second session has been established, terminal device 40 configures the AI / ML model for the second communication.

[0650] Note that if all conditions are met but the application does not support the second communication, the terminal device can cancel the session establishment before the session is established (before step S1105). Alternatively, if the first communication can be performed within an established session, the terminal device 40 can perform communication using the first communication within the established session without canceling the session establishment.

[0651] According to this example, the core network CN selects the session to be established based on the wireless environment of the terminal device 40. Therefore, a session suitable for the wireless environment of the terminal device 40 is established, and thus, high-quality communication services can be provided to the terminal device 40 even in unfavorable wireless environments.

[0652] 5-4. Seventh Example

[0653] Next, the seventh example will be described.

[0654] In the seventh example, the process for selecting the communication mode to be used by the terminal device 40 will be described. In the seventh example, the selection of the communication mode is performed proactively by the terminal device 40. For example, in the seventh example, the terminal device 40 determines itself whether a predetermined criterion is met. Then, if the predetermined criterion is met, the terminal device 40 requests the core network CN to establish a session for the second communication.

[0655] Note that it is assumed that premises 1 through 4 shown in the sixth example are also satisfied in the seventh example.

[0656] Figure 26 This is a flowchart illustrating the selection process based on the seventh example. (Refer to the following...) Figure 26 The flowchart description is based on the selection process in the seventh example.

[0657] First, the terminal device 40 determines whether the application supports the communication performed in the second communication when the application is activated (step S1201). If the application does not support the second communication (step S1201: No), the terminal device 40 proceeds the process to step S1206.

[0658] On the other hand, if the application supports the second communication (step S1201: Yes), the terminal device 40 references the values ​​of its own radio parameters (step S1202). For example, the terminal device 40 references values ​​indicating the quality of the signal of the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) (e.g., RSRP and / or RSRQ).

[0659] Terminal device 40 makes a determination regarding the application of the second communication (e.g., a determination of whether to use the second communication) based on the information referenced in step S1202 (e.g., the values ​​of radio parameters). For example, terminal device 40 determines whether the values ​​of the radio parameters meet a predetermined standard (e.g., whether the values ​​are greater than a predetermined threshold) (step S1203). Here, the predetermined standard can be a standard defined by the application. For example, if the application-defined standard is that RSRQ is equal to or less than -25dB, then if RSRQ is -2dB, terminal device 40 selects the first communication, and if RSRQ is -25dB, it selects the second communication.

[0660] If the criteria are met (step S1203: Yes), the terminal device 40 selects the second communication as the communication mode to be used (step S1204). Then, the terminal device 40 performs configuration for the second communication (step S1205). At this time, the terminal device 40 can request the AMF 541 of the core network CN to establish a session for the second communication. In addition, the terminal device 40 can configure an artificial intelligence / machine learning (AI / ML) model for the second communication.

[0661] On the other hand, if the criteria are not met (step S1203: No), the terminal device 40 selects the first communication as the communication mode to be used (step S1206). Then, the terminal device 40 performs configuration for the first communication (step S1207). At this time, the terminal device 40 can request the AMF 541 of the core network CN to establish a session for the first communication.

[0662] When the session is established, the terminal device 40 ends the processing.

[0663] According to this example, terminal device 40 selects the session to be established for each application based on the wireless environment. As a result, communication system 1 can select the optimal communication mode for each application.

[0664] 5-5. Eighth Example

[0665] Next, the eighth example will be described.

[0666] Typically, the terminal device 40 or the application server selects the communication method. In the eighth example, an application server outside the core network CN (hereinafter referred to as the external application server) selects the communication mode to use from a plurality of communication modes, including the first communication and the second communication. The external application server is, for example, server 10.

[0667] For example, the external application server references the capabilities (UE radio capability ID) and / or radio parameter values ​​of the terminal device 40 via the NEF 542 reference of the core network CN. Then, the external application server uses second communication to send data to the terminal device 40 that has capabilities and radio parameters that meet the standard. Conversely, the external application server uses first communication to send data to the terminal device 40 that has capabilities and radio parameters that do not meet the standard.

[0668] According to this example, the external application server can select the optimal communication mode for each terminal device 40.

[0669] It should be noted that external application servers can reference information from base station 30 and / or core network CN (e.g., network congestion status and / or radio resource utilization) independently of the aforementioned information (the capabilities of terminal device 40 and / or the values ​​of the radio parameters of terminal device 40). This does not allow external factors to degrade the user experience.

[0670] 5-6. Ninth Example

[0671] Next, the ninth example will be described.

[0672] In the ninth example, a session (or network slice) reconstruction due to a change in the wireless environment will be described. For example, in the ninth example, information processing devices included in communication system 1 (e.g., terminal device 40, base station 30, core network CN, or external application server) reconstruct an already constructed (established) session (or network slice) using values ​​of radio parameters. It should be noted that the term "reconstruction" in the following description can be replaced with "modification," "update," or "switch." Similarly, the term "modification" in the following description can be replaced with "reconstruction," "update," or "switch."

[0673] For example, one can imagine a scenario where a terminal device 40, which has established a session for the first communication, moves to a poor wireless environment (e.g., a wireless environment with obstructions). In this case, during the first communication, the terminal device 40 can only receive low-quality communication services due to factors such as low received power, noise, and / or interference from another terminal device 40. Therefore, the information processing apparatus can reconstruct the session (or network slicing) based on the change in the wireless environment between the terminal device 40 and the base station 30, rather than performing QoS monitoring.

[0674] It should be noted that terminal device 40 can determine whether its wireless environment has deteriorated based on the state of the received signal (e.g., t). Furthermore, base station 30 can determine whether its wireless environment has deteriorated based on reports from terminal device 40 (e.g., CSI reports and / or measurement reports). Then, when it is determined that the wireless environment has deteriorated, terminal device 40 or base station 30 can request the core network CN to modify the PDU session. The core network CN can modify the PDU session.

[0675] Figure 27 This is a flowchart illustrating the session modification process according to the ninth example. In the following process, session modification is performed when switching from the first communication to the second communication. In the following description, although the terminal device 40 performs the session modification process, the base station 30 may also perform the session modification process. In this case, the term "terminal device 40" in the following description can be replaced by "base station 30". Furthermore, the term "session" in the following description can be replaced by "network slice". Reference will be made below. Figure 27 The flowchart description is based on the session modification process in the seventh example.

[0676] Terminal device 40 acquires information used as a reference (indicator) for determining the communication to be used by terminal device 40. For example, terminal device 40 acquires information about a standard (indicator) for switching from a first communication to a second communication (step S1301). This switching standard (indicator) may be a standard of the wireless environment of terminal device 40 (e.g., a threshold). Terminal device 40 may acquire this switching standard (indicator) information from its own storage unit (storage unit 42) or from the network (base station 30 and / or core network CN). Terminal device 40 may acquire this switching standard (indicator) information during the PDU session establishment request processing.

[0677] Terminal device 40 makes a determination about the communication it intends to use. For example, terminal device 40 determines whether the criteria (indicators) obtained in step S1301 are met (step S1302). For example, terminal device 40 determines whether the values ​​of its own radio communication parameters (e.g., at least one of SNR, RSRP, and RSRQ) are below a threshold used as a switching criterion.

[0678] If the criteria (indicators) are not met (step S1302: No), that is, if the wireless ring has not deteriorated, then the terminal device 40 terminates the process. In other words, the terminal device 40 continues to use the current session (the session used for the first communication). It should be noted that if the current session is used for the second communication, the terminal device 40 can switch the current session to the session used for the first communication.

[0679] If the criteria (indicators) are met (step S1302: Yes), i.e., if the radio loop has deteriorated, the terminal device 40 sends a session modification request (e.g., a request to modify the session from one used for first communication to one used for second communication) to the AMF 541 of the core network CN. The AMF 541, upon receiving the session modification request, performs the session modification. The terminal device 40 terminates the process upon completing the transmission of the session modification request.

[0680] Modify Example

[0681] It should be noted that although the above example describes the process of modifying a session from one used for the first communication to one used for the second communication, the above session modification process also applies to the modification of a session from one used for the second communication to one used for the first communication. For example, when the wireless environment is improved (e.g., when the criteria for switching from the second communication to the first communication are met), the terminal device 40 may send a session modification request (e.g., a request to modify a session from one used for the second communication to one used for the first communication) to the AMF 541 of the core network CN.

[0682] Additionally, in the example above, terminal device 40 sends a session modification request to the core network CN. However, terminal device 40 can also send a bearer modification request to base station 30. Here, the bearer is a radio bearer (RB) established between terminal device 40 and base station 30. The description "bearer (or radio bearer)" shown below can be replaced by "signaling radio bearer" (SRB) or "data radio bearer (DRB)". It should be noted that in a DRB modification request, the terminal device can perform changes to QoS flows or specify QFIs.

[0683] For example, if the communication related to the determination result is a second communication, such as when it is determined in step S1302 that the handover criteria are met, the terminal device 40 can perform processing to update the first bearer established for the first communication to the second bearer corresponding to the second communication. For example, the terminal device 40 can send a request to the base station 30 to update the first bearer to the second bearer. Upon receiving the request, the base station 30 can update the radio bearer between the terminal device 40 and the base station 30 from the first bearer to the second bearer.

[0684] It should be noted that base station 30 can make determinations regarding communications used by terminal device 40. For example, base station 30 can determine whether the value of a radio communication parameter of terminal device 40 (e.g., at least one of SNR, RSRP, and RSRQ) is lower than a threshold used as a handover criterion. If the communication associated with the determination result is a second communication, for example, when it is determined that the value associated with the radio communication parameter of terminal device 40 is lower than the threshold used as a handover criterion, base station 30 can perform processing to update the first bearer established for the first communication to a second bearer corresponding to the second communication.

[0685] It is conceivable that terminal device 40 receives RrcReconfiguration, and RrcReconfiguration includes RadioBearerConfig. RadioBearerConfig from base station 30 typically includes identification information (e.g., BearerID) for identifying the bearer. RadioBearerConfig may include information indicating whether the bearer supports the second communication, etc. Additionally, if the bearer supports the second communication, RadioBearerConfig may include information about the type and / or version of the AI / ML model used in the bearer (e.g., the AI / ML model used for the second communication). Furthermore, RadioBearerConfig may include bitrate information, or it may include information about evaluation metrics related to the second communication.

[0686] Regarding bearing

[0687] exist Figure 11In the PDU session establishment process shown in step S109, at least one data radio bearer (DRB) is configured. The DRB can be released when there is no response from the network for a certain period of time (e.g., when the state of terminal device 40 transitions to CM_IDLE). Furthermore, the DRB can be added or modified depending on the QoS requirements of the packets.

[0688] drb-ToRelease

[0689] When a DRB is used in the first or second communication, the communication device (e.g., base station 30) releases the PDCP entity and / or drb-id of the used DRB. Additionally, when the second communication is in use and the AI / ML model of the DRB is discarded each time, the AI / ML model discard request for the terminal device 40 can be included in drb-ToRelease.

[0690] drb-ToAddModList

[0691] Case where a DRB is not in use and a new DRB is added: The newly added DRB can be used in the second communication. Additionally, at this time, drb-ToAddModList can include information such as the version of the AI / ML model used in the second communication.

[0692] The scenario in which DRB is used in the first communication: The ID of the DRB corresponding to the second communication can be added to drb-ToAddModList so that the DRB can be used in the second communication. Additionally, when a modification is performed using the same drb-ID, drb-ToAddModList can include a message indicating the use of the DRB in the second communication. Furthermore, drb-ToAddModList can include the version of the AI / ML model used in the second communication.

[0693] The execution of DRB in the second communication: To enable the DRB to be used in the first communication, drb-ToAddModList can carry a message requesting the use of the DRB supporting the first communication. Additionally, when multiple second communication methods exist, the ID of the DRB corresponding to the second communication can be added to a drb-ToAddModList that differs from the first configuration. Furthermore, when modifying using the same drb-ID, a message indicating the use of the DRB in the first communication can be included. Additionally, in this case, drb-ToAddModList can include the version of the AI / ML model used for the second communication.

[0694] Common information: If there is a version of the AI / ML model when using the second communication, that version can be included in drb-ToAddModList.

[0695] DRB (or drb) can be reformulated as SRB (or srb), SRB3 (or srb3), etc.

[0696] According to this example, when the terminal device 40 can no longer guarantee the predetermined radio quality due to changes in the wireless environment, the terminal device 40 can switch from the first communication mode to the second communication mode. Therefore, the communication system 1 can reduce traffic, and thus continue to provide high-quality communication service even for the terminal device 40 in a deteriorated wireless environment.

[0697] 6. Modify the example

[0698] The above embodiments are merely examples and can be modified and applied in various ways.

[0699] For example, the techniques disclosed in this embodiment (e.g., the first to ninth examples) can be applied not only to the terminal device 40 in a connected state, but also to the terminal device 40 in an idle state. That is, when communication begins (e.g., when a session is established), the terminal device 40 in an idle state can select the communication mode to use from a plurality of communication modes including the first communication and the second communication.

[0700] Furthermore, the first AI / ML model and the second AI / ML model in this embodiment can be sub-models of an AI / ML model. For example, suppose an AI / ML model is a neural network. In this case, the first AI / ML model can be a model composed of the first half of an AI / ML model (e.g., part of the input layer and intermediate layers). Similarly, the second AI / ML model can be a model composed of the second half of an AI / ML model (e.g., the remaining intermediate layers and the output layer). Sub-models can also be considered a type of AI / ML model.

[0701] According to this embodiment, the control device for the control server 10, management device 20, base station 30 or terminal device 40 can be implemented by a dedicated computer system or a general-purpose computer system.

[0702] For example, the program for performing the above operations is stored on a computer-readable recording medium such as an optical disc, semiconductor memory, magnetic tape, or floppy disk for distribution. Then, for example, the program is installed in a computer and performs the above processing operations, thereby constituting a control device. In this case, the control device can be an external device (e.g., a personal computer) of the server 10, management device 20, base station 30, or terminal device 40. Alternatively, the control device can be an internal device (e.g., control unit 13, control unit 23, control unit 33, or control unit 43) of the server 10, management device 20, base station 30, or terminal device 40.

[0703] The communication program can be stored on a disk drive within a server device included on a network (e.g., the Internet) to enable downloading to computers, etc. This functionality can be achieved through cooperation between an operating system (OS) and application software. In this case, parts other than the OS can be stored on a distribution medium, or parts other than the OS can be stored on a server device to enable downloading to computers, etc.

[0704] In the processing operations described in the above embodiments, all or some processing operations described as automatically executed can be performed manually, or all or some processing operations described as manually executed can be performed automatically using known methods. Furthermore, unless otherwise stated, the processing procedures, specific names, and information including various data and parameters described in the above documents and figures are freely changeable. For example, the various types of information shown in the figures are not limited to the information shown.

[0705] The components of the device shown in the accompanying drawings are conceptual in function and are not necessarily physically configured as shown in the drawings. That is, the specific distribution and integration of the device are not limited to the forms shown in the accompanying drawings, and all or some of the devices can be configured functionally or physically distributed or integrated in any unit according to various loads, usage conditions, etc.

[0706] The above embodiments can be appropriately combined in areas where the processing content does not contradict each other. Additionally, the order of steps shown in the sequence diagram or flowchart can be appropriately changed.

[0707] For example, each of these embodiments can be implemented as any configuration constituting an apparatus or system, such as a processor as a System Large Scale Integration (LSI) or the like, a module using multiple processors or the like, a unit using multiple modules or the like, a collection of units including which other functions are added, and so on (i.e., a configuration of a part of an apparatus).

[0708] The functionality implemented by the components described in this description / specification can be implemented on a circuit or processing circuit programmed to implement the described functionality. Here, the circuit or processing circuit can be a general-purpose processor, a special-purpose processor, an integrated circuit, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a central processing unit (CPU), conventional circuitry, and / or combinations thereof. A processor includes transistors and other circuitry. A processor can be considered a circuit or processing circuit. A processor can be a programmed processor that executes a program stored in memory.

[0709] In this description / specification, circuits, units, and devices can be hardware programmed to implement or perform the described functions. This hardware can be any hardware disclosed in this description / specification or any known hardware programmed or otherwise configured to perform the described functions. Where the processor hardware is considered a type of circuit, the circuit, device, or unit can be a combination of hardware and software used to configure the hardware and / or the processor.

[0710] Furthermore, this embodiment can be implemented in any configuration constituting an apparatus or system. For example, each of this embodiments can be implemented as a processor such as a System Large Scale Integration (LSI), a module such as each using multiple processors, a unit such as using multiple modules, a collection of units including which other functions are added, and so on. That is, this embodiment can be implemented as a configuration that is part of an apparatus.

[0711] A system LSI can be referred to as a system-on-a-chip (SoC). In other words, each device described above or below (e.g., server 10, management device 20, base station 30, and terminal device 40) can be interpreted as a processor (e.g., CPU) of a system LSI (e.g., SoC) or a module that uses or constitutes that processor. Alternatively or additionally, this embodiment can be implemented by any configuration constituting the device or system (e.g., a modem chip (baseband chip), a radio frequency (RF) unit, or a combination thereof). An RF unit may include at least one of RF circuitry and an RF front end. In other words, each device described above or below can be interpreted as a modem chip (baseband chip) or an RF unit, or a combination thereof. Alternatively or additionally, each device described above or below can be interpreted as a module that uses or constitutes a modem chip or an RF unit.

[0712] A modem chip performs communication-related signal processing in a device (including those described above or below). The modem chip may include at least the functions of a modulator or demodulator. The RF unit may include at least one of an RF transceiver (RF up-converter or RF down-converter), a power amplifier, and a low-noise amplifier. The RF transceiver converts baseband signals to RF frequencies and vice versa. The power amplifier performs amplification for signals transmitted from the antenna. The low-noise amplifier amplifies weak signals received from the antenna. Alternatively or additionally, the RF unit (particularly the RF front end) may include at least one of the aforementioned power amplifier and low-noise amplifier, an envelope tracker, a filter, a duplexer, a multiplexer, an antenna switch, and an antenna tuner.

[0713] A combination of a modem chip and an RF unit can be referred to as a modem-RF system. At least a portion of the modem chip, RF unit, or combination thereof can be included in a system LSI (e.g., a SoC). For example, the system LSI can implement processes performed by at least a portion of the modem chip, RF unit, or combination thereof (e.g., at least a portion of MAC layer processing / PHY layer processing). Here, MAC layer processing or PHY layer processing can be at least a portion of processes performed by the means in the embodiments described above or below (e.g., server 10, management device 20, base station 30, and terminal device 40).

[0714] Note that in this embodiment, a system refers to a collection of multiple components (devices, modules (parts), etc.), and it is irrelevant whether all components are housed in the same enclosure. For example, a system refers to multiple devices housed in separate enclosures and connected by a network, or a device in an enclosure that houses multiple modules.

[0715] Alternatively, for example, this embodiment may employ a cloud computing configuration, in which multiple devices perform the processing of a function in a shared and collaborative manner via a network.

[0716] 7. Conclusion

[0717] As described above, according to this embodiment, the communication system 1 includes an information processing device (e.g., any one of server 10, management device 20, base station 30, or terminal device 40) capable of performing processing (e.g., semantic communication) related to a first communication (where source data is propagated as information that can be recovered in the same form at the receiving end) and a second communication (where part or all of the information extracted from the source data using an AI / ML model is propagated to the receiving end). The information processing device performs a determination related to the communication to be used by the terminal device. Furthermore, if the communication related to the determination result is the second communication, the information processing device performs processing to configure the communication to be used by the terminal device 40 as the second communication. The terminal device 40 uses the configuration-related communication to perform the communication.

[0718] Therefore, communication system 1 can selectively use first communication (e.g., conventional communication) and second communication (e.g., semantic communication) depending on the circumstances (e.g., depending on the communication environment of terminal device 40). As a result, communication system 1 can provide high-quality communication services (e.g., low-latency communication) to the user or terminal device 40.

[0719] Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, the technical scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Furthermore, components from different embodiments and modifications can be appropriately combined.

[0720] The effects of the embodiments described in this specification are merely illustrative and not limiting, and may produce other effects.

[0721] Note that this technology can be configured as follows.

[0722] (1) An information processing apparatus capable of performing processing related to the following communications: a first communication transmitting source data as information that can be recovered in the same form at a receiving side; and a second communication transmitting some or all of the information extracted from the source data using an artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) model to the receiving side, the information processing apparatus comprising: The determining unit is configured to perform determinations related to communication to be used by the communication device; and The configuration unit is configured to perform processing regarding the configuration of the communication device to use as the second communication if the communication associated with the determined result is the second communication.

[0723] (2) The information processing device as described in (1) above, wherein the information processing device is a terminal device serving as the communication device, comprising: The transmitting unit is configured to transmit information about communications related to the determined result to a base station or a device belonging to the core network; and The acquisition unit is configured to acquire information about the configuration used for the second communication from a base station or a device belonging to the core network if the communication related to the determined result is a second communication. The determining unit determines the communication to be used from a plurality of communications, including a first communication and a second communication, based on predetermined conditions and according to the application. If the communication related to the determined result is a second communication, the configuration unit performs configuration for the second communication based on information obtained from the base station or a device belonging to the core network.

[0724] (3) The information processing apparatus as described in (2) above, wherein the apparatus belonging to the core network is an apparatus for implementing the network functions constituting the core network.

[0725] (4) An information processing apparatus as described in (2) or (3) above, wherein the predetermined condition is the time when a request for establishing a session for an application to be executed is sent, and

[0726] The sending unit sends a session establishment request to the base station or a device belonging to the core network, the session establishment request including information about communications related to the determined result.

[0727] (5) The information processing apparatus as described in (4) above, wherein the information regarding communication related to the determined result is selection aid information for identifying network slices, and

[0728] The session establishment request includes first network slice selection assistance information corresponding to the first communication or second network slice selection assistance information corresponding to the second communication.

[0729] (6) An information processing apparatus as described in any of (2) to (5) above, wherein the acquisition unit acquires information about indicators for determining the communication to be used before determining the communication to be used. Information about metrics indicates the priority of communication to be used by each application, and The determining unit determines the communication to be used based on information about the indicators.

[0730] (7) The information processing apparatus described in any of (2) to (6) above, wherein the information regarding the configuration for the second communication is information regarding the AI / ML model for the second communication, and

[0731] If the communication related to the determined result is a second communication, the configuration unit configures the AI / ML model for the second communication based on information about the AI / ML model.

[0732] (8) The information processing apparatus as described in (7) above, wherein the configuration unit configures different AI / ML models for each application.

[0733] (9) The information processing device described in (1) above is a device that realizes the network functions that constitute the core network. If the communication related to the determined result is a second communication, the configuration unit performs processing to update the first session established for the first communication to a second session corresponding to the second communication, as a configuration-related process.

[0734] (10) The information processing apparatus as described in (9) above, comprising: The acquisition unit is configured to acquire QoS monitoring results configured for at least one QoS flow processed in a first session established for the first communication. Specifically, as a determination of the communication to be used by the communication device, the determining unit determines whether the QoS monitoring results satisfy the parameters of the QoS flow, and When the QoS monitoring results do not meet the parameters, the configuration unit performs processing to update the first session to the second session as processing regarding the configuration.

[0735] (11) The information processing device described in (1) above is a base station. If the communication related to the determined result is a second communication, the configuration unit performs a process to update the first bearer established for the first communication to a second bearer corresponding to the second communication, as a process related to the configuration.

[0736] (12) The information processing apparatus as described in (1) above includes: an alternative network slice configuration unit configured to configure a second network slice corresponding to the second communication as an alternative network slice to the first network slice corresponding to the first communication if the communication related to the determined result is a second communication.

[0737] (13) An information processing apparatus as described in any of (1) to (12) above, wherein the first communication is provided by a fifth-generation or earlier mobile communication system, and

[0738] The second type of communication is semantic communication.

[0739] (14) A base station capable of performing processing related to a first communication and a second communication, wherein the first communication transmits source data as information that can be recovered to the same form at a receiving side, and the second communication transmits some or all of the information extracted from the source data using an artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) model to the receiving side, the base station comprising: The receiving unit is configured to receive a request including information about communications to be used by the communication device; and The sending unit is configured to send information about the configuration for the second communication to the terminal device, which is the communication device, if the request includes information about the second communication.

[0740] (15) The base station as described in (14) above, wherein the request includes information about an application related to the communication to be used by the communication device, and

[0741] The sending unit sends information about the AI / ML model corresponding to the information of the application as information about the configuration for the second communication.

[0742] (16) An information processing method executed by an information processing device, the information processing device being capable of performing processing related to a first communication and a second communication, the first communication transmitting source data as information that can be recovered to the same form at a receiving side, and the second communication transmitting some or all of the information extracted from the source data using an artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) model to the receiving side, the information processing method comprising: Perform determinations related to the communication to be used by the communication device; and If the communication associated with the determined result is a second communication, then processing is performed regarding the configuration for making the communication to be used by the communication device a second communication.

[0743] (17) A communication method performed by a base station, the base station being capable of performing processing related to a first communication and a second communication, the first communication transmitting source data as information that can be recovered to the same form at a receiving side, and the second communication transmitting some or all of the information extracted from the source data using an artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) model to the receiving side, the communication method comprising: Receive requests including information about communications to be used by the communication device; and If the request includes information about the second communication, then information about the configuration for the second communication is sent to the terminal device, which is the communication device.

[0744] (18) A communication system, comprising: A terminal device capable of performing a first communication and a second communication, wherein the first communication transmits source data as information that can be recovered to the same form at the receiving side, and the second communication transmits some or all of the information extracted from the source data using an artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) model to the receiving side; and A base station configured to communicate with the terminal device. The terminal device includes: The selection unit is configured to select the communication to be used from a plurality of communications, including a first communication and a second communication, based on preset conditions and the application; and The first transmitting unit is configured to send a request to the base station including information about the selected communication, and The base station includes: The second sending unit is configured to send information about the configuration for the second communication to the terminal device if the request includes information about the second communication.

[0745] (19) A communication system, comprising: An information processing apparatus capable of performing processing related to a first communication and a second communication, wherein the first communication transmits source data as information that can be recovered to the same form at the receiving side, and the second communication transmits some or all of the information extracted from the source data using an artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) model to the receiving side; and A terminal device capable of performing first and second communications. The information processing device includes: The determining unit is configured to perform determinations related to communication to be used by the terminal device; and The configuration unit is configured to perform processing regarding the configuration for making the communication to be used by the terminal device the second communication if the communication related to the determined result is the second communication, and The terminal device performs communication by using communication related to the configuration.

[0746] (20) The communication system described in (19) above, wherein the information processing device is a device that implements the network functions constituting the core network. If the communication related to the determined result is a second communication, then the configuration unit performs processing to update the first session established for the first communication to a second session corresponding to the second communication, and If the communication related to the determined result is a second communication, then the terminal device performs the communication by using a second session.

[0747] (21) The communication system described in (19) above, wherein the information processing device is a base station, If the communication associated with the determined result is a second communication, then the configuration unit performs a process to update the first bearer established for the first communication to a second bearer corresponding to the second communication, and If the communication related to the determined result is a second communication, then the terminal device performs the communication by using a second bearer.

[0748] (22) The communication system described in (19) above, The information processing device The system includes an alternative network slice configuration unit, configured to configure a second network slice corresponding to the second communication as an alternative network slice to the first network slice corresponding to the first communication if the communication related to the determined result is a second communication. If the first network slice is unavailable, a notification is sent to the terminal device to switch the first network slice to a second network slice as an alternative network slice.

[0749] <Terminal Device>

[0750] In addition, this technology can also be configured as follows.

[0751] (A1)

[0752] A terminal device is capable of performing a first communication and a second communication, wherein the first communication propagates source data as information that can be recovered in the same form at a receiving side, and the second communication propagates part or all of the information extracted from the source data using an artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) model to the receiving side, the terminal device comprising: A selection unit is configured to select a communication to be used from a plurality of communications based on a predetermined condition and an application, the plurality of communications including a first communication and a second communication. A transmitting unit configured to send information about selected communications to devices belonging to the core network; The acquisition unit, if the selected communication is the second communication, is configured to acquire information about the configuration used for the second communication from a device belonging to the core network; and The configuration unit, if the selected communication is the second communication, is configured to perform configuration for the second communication based on information obtained from a device belonging to the core network.

[0753] (A2) The terminal device in (A1) as described above, wherein the device belonging to the core network is a base station.

[0754] (A3) The terminal device in (A1) as described above, wherein the device belonging to the core network is an information processing device that implements the network functions constituting the core network.

[0755] (A4) The terminal device of any one of (A1) to (A3) as described above, wherein the predetermined condition is the time when a request for establishing a session for executing an application is sent, and

[0756] The sending unit sends a session establishment request to a device belonging to the core network, the session establishment request including information about the selected communication.

[0757] (A5) The terminal device as described in (A4) above, wherein the information regarding the selected communication is selection auxiliary information for identifying network slices, and

[0758] The session establishment request includes first network slice selection assistance information corresponding to the first communication or second network slice selection assistance information corresponding to the second communication.

[0759] (A6) The terminal device of any one of (A1) to (A5) as described above, wherein the acquisition unit acquires information about indicators for determining the communication to be used before determining the communication to be used.

[0760] (A7) The terminal device as described in (A6) above, wherein the information about the indicators is information that assigns a higher priority to the first communication or the second communication for each application.

[0761] (A8) The terminal device of any one of (A1) to (A7) as described above, wherein the information regarding the configuration for the second communication is information regarding the AI / ML model for the second communication, and

[0762] If the selected communication is the second communication, the configuration unit configures the first AI / ML model based on information about the AI / ML model.

[0763] (A9) The terminal device as described in (A8) above, comprising: A computing unit is configured to compute second data from the source data using a configured first AI / ML model. The transmitting unit transmits second data to the base station via a session established based on a session establishment request that includes information about the second communication.

[0764] (A10) The terminal device as described in (A9) above, wherein the session establishment request includes information about the application, and

[0765] The acquisition unit acquires information about the AI / ML model corresponding to the information about the application.

[0766] (A11) The terminal device as described in (A8) above, comprising: A computing unit configured to compute fourth data from third data obtained from a base station using a configured first AI / ML model; and The forwarding unit is configured to forward the fourth data to the application.

[0767] (A12) The terminal device as described in (A11) above, wherein the third data is data calculated by the base station from the data as the source by using a second AI / ML model configured for the base station.

[0768] (A13) The terminal device of any one of (A1) to (A12) as described above, wherein the first communication is provided by a fifth-generation or earlier mobile communication system, and

[0769] The second type of communication is semantic communication.

[0770] (A14) The terminal device according to any one of (A1) to (A7) above, wherein the configuration information for the second communication is information of a set of fifth data corresponding to the identification information for the second communication, and

[0771] The configuration unit configures a set of fifth data when the selected communication is the second communication.

[0772] (A15) The terminal device described in (A14) above includes: The extraction unit is configured to extract fifth data from the data that serves as the source; and The identification unit is configured to identify the identification information corresponding to the extracted fifth data. The sending unit sends the identified identification information to the base station via a session established according to the session establishment request.

[0773] (A16) The terminal device described in (A14) above includes: The identification unit is configured to identify the fifth data; and The transmission unit is configured to transmit the fifth data to the application. The acquisition unit obtains identification information extracted from the source data from the base station via a session established according to the session establishment request, and The identification unit identifies the data corresponding to the acquired identification information as the fifth data.

[0774] (A17) The terminal device according to any one of (A1) to (A16) above, wherein the transmitting unit transmits information indicating which of the following is information to be acquired as configuration information for the second communication: information about the artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) model for the second communication and information about a set of fifth data corresponding to the identification information for the second communication.

[0775] (A18)

[0776] A communication method performed by a terminal device capable of first communication using data as a source as information retrievable in the same form at the receiving end and second communication propagating part or all of the information extracted from the source data using an artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) model to the receiving end, the communication method comprising: The application selects the communication to be used from multiple communications, including the first communication and the second communication, under preset conditions. Send information about the selected communication to devices belonging to the core network; If the selected communication is the second communication, then obtain the configuration information for the second communication from the device belonging to the core network; and If the selected communication is the second communication, the configuration for the second communication is performed based on information obtained from devices belonging to the core network.

[0777] (A19)

[0778] A program enables a terminal device to transmit, as a first communication using data propagated as the source as information retrievable in the same form at the receiving end, and a second communication using an artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) model to propagate part or all of the information extracted from the data as the source to the receiving end. The selection unit is configured to select the communication to be used from a plurality of communications, including a first communication and a second communication, based on preset conditions according to the application; The transmitting unit is configured to send information about the selected communication to devices belonging to the core network; The acquisition unit is configured to acquire configuration information for the second communication from a device belonging to the core network if the selected communication is the second communication; and The configuration unit is configured to perform configuration for the second communication based on information obtained from a device belonging to the core network if the selected communication is the second communication.

[0779] base station

[0780] In addition, this technology can also be configured as follows.

[0781] (B1)

[0782] A base station capable of performing a first communication involving the propagation of data as a source as recoverable information in the same form at the receiving end, and a second communication involving the propagation of part or all of the information extracted from the data as a source using an artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) model to the receiving end, the base station comprising: The receiving unit is configured to receive a request including information about the communication to be used by a terminal device capable of performing the first and second communications; and The sending unit is configured to send information about the configuration for the second communication to the terminal device if the request includes information about the second communication.

[0783] (B2)

[0784] The base station described in (B1) above, wherein the configuration information for the second communication includes information about the AI / ML model used for the second communication.

[0785] (B3)

[0786] The base station described in (B1) or (B2) above, wherein the request is a session establishment request.

[0787] (B4)

[0788] The base station described in any one of (B1) to (B3) above, wherein the information regarding the communication to be used by the terminal device is selection aid information for identifying network slices.

[0789] (B5)

[0790] The base station described in any one of (B1) to (B4) above, wherein the request includes information about the application, and

[0791] The sending unit sends information about the AI / ML model, corresponding to the information about the application, to the terminal device.

[0792] (B6)

[0793] The base station described in any one of (B1) to (B5) above, wherein the configuration information for the second communication includes information about the AI / ML model used for the second communication, and

[0794] The receiving unit receives from the terminal device second data calculated from the source data using a first AI / ML model configured based on information about the AI / ML model.

[0795] (B7)

[0796] The base station described in any one of (B1) to (B6) above includes: The configuration unit is configured to configure the AI / ML model for the second communication. The configuration information for the second communication includes information about the AI / ML model used for the second communication, and If the configuration unit requests information about the second communication, it configures the second AI / ML model based on the information about the AI / ML model used for the second communication.

[0797] (B8)

[0798] The base station described in (B7) above, wherein the transmitting unit transmits third data to the terminal device, which is calculated from the data as the source using a second AI / ML model.

[0799] (B9)

[0800] The base station described in (B1) above, wherein the configuration information for the second communication includes information about a set of fifth data corresponding to the identification information for the second communication.

[0801] (B10)

[0802] The base station described above (B9), The receiving unit receives identification information from the terminal device corresponding to the fifth data extracted from the data that is the source, and The identification information corresponding to the fifth data is information identified by the terminal device based on a first set of information identified about a set of fifth data.

[0803] (B11)

[0804] The base station described above (B9) includes: The configuration unit is configured to configure the second set based on information about a set of fifth data corresponding to the identification information; The extraction unit is configured to extract fifth data from the data that serves as the source; and The identification unit is configured to identify the identification information corresponding to the extracted fifth data based on a configured second set. The sending unit sends the identified identification information to the terminal device via an established session.

[0805] (B12)

[0806] A communication method performed by a base station capable of performing a first communication that transmits data as source data as information retrievable in the same form at the receiving end, and a second communication that transmits part or all of the information extracted from the source data using an artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) model to the receiving end, the communication method comprising: Receive a request including information about the communication to be used by the terminal device capable of performing the first and second communications; and If the request includes information about the second communication, then information about the configuration used for the second communication is sent to the terminal device.

[0807] (B13)

[0808] A program enables a base station to process and propagate, as a first communication, data as a source, as information retrievable in the same form at the receiving end, and a second communication, using an artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) model to propagate part or all of the information extracted from the data as a source to the receiving end. The receiving unit is configured to receive a request including information about the communication to be used by a terminal device capable of using the first and second communications; and The sending unit is configured to send information about the configuration for the second communication to the terminal device if the request includes information about the second communication.

[0809] Communication system

[0810] In addition, this technology can also be configured as follows.

[0811] (C1)

[0812] A communication system, comprising: A terminal device capable of transmitting first communication, which transmits data as source information as recoverable information in the same form at the receiving end, and a second communication, which transmits part or all of the information extracted from the source data using an artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) model to the receiving end; and Base stations that communicate with terminal devices The terminal device includes: The selection unit is configured to select the communication to be used from a plurality of communications, including a first communication and a second communication, based on preset conditions according to the application; and The first sending unit is configured to send a request, including information about the selected communication, to a device belonging to the core network, and Base stations include: The second sending unit is configured to send information about the configuration for the second communication to the terminal device if the request includes information about the second communication.

[0813] (C2)

[0814] In the communication system described above (C1), the device belonging to the core network is the base station.

[0815] (C3)

[0816] In the communication system described above (C1), the device belonging to the core network is an information processing device that realizes the network functions constituting the core network.

[0817] (C4)

[0818] The communication system described in any one of (C1)-(C3) above, wherein the preset condition is the time when a request to establish a session by an application executed by a terminal device is sent, and

[0819] The first sending unit sends a session establishment request, including information about the selected communication, to a device belonging to the core network.

[0820] (C5)

[0821] The communication system described above (C4) includes information about the selected communication that serves as auxiliary information for identifying network slices.

[0822] The session establishment request includes first network slice selection assistance information corresponding to the first communication or second network slice selection assistance information corresponding to the second communication.

[0823] (C6)

[0824] The communication system according to any one of (C1)-(C5) above, wherein the second transmitting unit transmits information to the terminal device regarding indicators for selecting the communication to be used.

[0825] (C7)

[0826] In the communication system described above (C6), the information about the indicators is information about assigning a higher priority to either the first or the second communication for each application.

[0827] (C8)

[0828] The communication system described in any one of (C1)-(C7) above, wherein the information regarding the configuration for the second communication is information regarding the artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) model for the second communication, and

[0829] The second sending unit sends instructions to the terminal device for configuring the first AI / ML model based on information about the AI / ML model.

[0830] (C9)

[0831] The communication system described above (C8), wherein the terminal device includes: The first computing unit is configured to compute second data from the source data using a configured first AI / ML model; and Base stations include: The receiving unit is configured to receive second data from the terminal device via a session established based on a session establishment request including information about the second communication.

[0832] (C10)

[0833] In the communication system described above (C9), the first transmitting unit transmits a session establishment request including information about the application, and

[0834] The receiving unit sends information about the AI / ML model, corresponding to the information about the application, to the terminal device.

[0835] (C11)

[0836] The communication system described above (C8), wherein the base station includes: The second computing unit is configured to compute third data from the source data using a configured second AI / ML model; and The terminal device includes: A transmission unit configured to transmit data to an application; The acquisition unit is configured to acquire third data from the base station; and The first computing unit is configured to compute the fourth data from the third data using a configured first AI / ML model, and The transmission unit transmits the fourth data to the application.

[0837] (C12)

[0838] The communication system described in any one of (C1)-(C11) above, wherein the first communication is provided by a fifth-generation or earlier mobile communication system, and

[0839] The second type of communication is semantic communication.

[0840] (C13)

[0841] The communication system described in any one of (C1)-(C7) above, wherein the information regarding the configuration for the second communication is information regarding the fifth data group corresponding to the identification information for the second communication, and

[0842] The second transmitting unit sends instructions to the terminal device for configuring the fifth data group.

[0843] (C14)

[0844] The communication system described above (C13), wherein the terminal device includes: The extraction unit is configured to extract fifth data from the data that serves as the source; and The identification unit is configured to identify the identification information corresponding to the extracted fifth data; and Base stations include: The receiving unit is configured to receive the identified identification information from the terminal device via a session established based on a session establishment request including information about the second communication.

[0845] (C15)

[0846] In the communication system described above (C13), the second transmitting unit transmits identification information extracted from data as the source to the terminal device via a session established based on a session establishment request including information about the second communication, and

[0847] The terminal device includes: The identification unit is configured to identify the data corresponding to the received identification information as the fifth data; and The transmission unit is configured to transmit the fifth data to the application.

[0848] (C16)

[0849] The communication system according to any one of (C1)-(C15) above, wherein the first transmitting unit and the terminal device, as information transmitting instructions regarding the configuration for the second communication, indicate which of the following two types of information to be acquired: information regarding the AI / ML model for the second communication and information regarding the fifth data group corresponding to the identification information for the second communication.

[0850] (C17)

[0851] A communication method performed by a communication system, the communication system comprising: A terminal device capable of performing a first communication and a second communication, wherein the first communication transmits source data in the form of information that can be recovered in the same form at the receiving end, and the second communication transmits part or all of the information extracted from the source data using an artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) model to the receiving end; and Base stations that communicate with terminal devices The terminal device selects the communication to use from multiple communications, including a first communication and a second communication, based on preset conditions, and sends a request containing information about the selected communication to a device belonging to the core network. If the request includes information about the second communication, the base station sends information about the configuration used for the second communication to the terminal device.

[0852] Core Network

[0853] In addition, this technology can also be configured as follows.

[0854] (D1)

[0855] An information processing apparatus capable of performing processing related to a first communication and a second communication, wherein the first communication propagates data as a source, as information that can be recovered in the same form at a receiving end, and the second communication propagates to the receiving end part or all of information extracted from the data as a source using an artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) model, the information processing apparatus comprising: The configuration unit is configured to configure at least one QoS flow to be processed in the first session established for the first communication, and to configure QoS monitoring for the QoS flow; The acquisition unit is configured to acquire the QoS monitoring results of the QoS stream; The determining unit is configured to determine whether the results of QoS monitoring meet the parameters of the QoS flow; and The update unit is configured to update the first session to the second session corresponding to the second communication if the result does not meet the parameters.

[0856] (D2)

[0857] The information processing apparatus described above (D1) further includes an update unit that performs a first identification process for identifying an application capable of supporting the second communication.

[0858] (D3)

[0859] The information processing apparatus described above (D2), wherein the first identification processing includes processing for acquiring information about an ID set capable of supporting the second communication, and

[0860] The update unit identifies applications that can support the second communication based on the acquired information about the application's ID set.

[0861] (D4)

[0862] The information processing apparatus described in (D2) or (D3) above, wherein the updating unit further performs a second identification process for identifying the terminal device using the application.

[0863] (D5)

[0864] The information processing apparatus described above (D4), wherein the second identification processing includes processing for obtaining a session management context of a first session, including information about the application being used, and

[0865] The update unit identifies the terminal device using the application based on the session management context.

[0866] (D6)

[0867] The information processing apparatus of any one of (D1)-(D5) above, wherein the updating unit further performs a third identification process for identifying a terminal device capable of supporting the second communication.

[0868] (D7)

[0869] The information processing apparatus described above (D6), wherein the third identification processing includes processing for acquiring UE radio capability information of a terminal device using an application capable of supporting the second communication, and

[0870] The updating unit identifies terminal devices that support the second communication based on the UE radio capability information.

[0871] (D8)

[0872] The information processing apparatus according to any one of (D4)-(D7) above, wherein the updating unit performs a sending process for sending an instruction to the identified terminal device for updating the first session to a second session corresponding to the second communication.

[0873] (D9)

[0874] In the information processing apparatus described above (D1), the second session is a session corresponding to the second communication in addition to the first communication.

[0875] (D10)

[0876] The information processing apparatus described above (D9) includes a second session that adds a second QoS stream that satisfies the results of QoS monitoring in addition to the QoS stream allocated to the first session.

[0877] (D11)

[0878] The information processing apparatus described above (D10) includes: The communication control unit is configured to send or receive data for a second communication using a QoS stream, and to send or receive data for a first communication using a second QoS stream.

[0879] (D12)

[0880] An information processing method performed by an information processing apparatus capable of processing a first communication related to a data source that is retrievable in the same form at the receiving end, and a second communication related to the transmission of some or all of the information extracted from the data source using an artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) model to the receiving end, the information processing method comprising: Configure at least one QoS flow to be processed in the first session established for the first communication, and configure QoS monitoring for the QoS flow; Obtain the QoS monitoring results for this QoS stream; Determine whether the results of the QoS monitoring meet the parameters of the QoS flow; and If the result does not meet the parameters, the first session will be updated to the second session corresponding to the second communication.

[0881] (D13)

[0882] A program that enables an information processing device capable of processing a first communication relating to a data source that is a source of information that can be recovered in the same form at the receiving end, and a second communication relating to the transmission of some or all of the information extracted from the data source using an artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) model to the receiving end, to perform the following functions: The configuration unit is configured to configure at least one QoS flow to be processed in a first session established for the first communication, and to configure QoS monitoring for the QoS flow; The acquisition unit is configured to acquire the QoS monitoring results of the QoS flow; The determining unit is configured to determine whether the result of the QoS monitoring satisfies the parameters of the QoS flow; and The update unit is configured to update the first session to the second session corresponding to the second communication if the result does not meet the parameters.

[0883] List of reference numerals

[0884] 1. Communication System

[0885] 10 servers

[0886] 20 Management Devices

[0887] 30 base stations

[0888] 40 Terminal devices

[0889] Communication Units 11 and 21

[0890] Radio communication units 31 and 41

[0891] 12, 22, 32, 42 storage units

[0892] Control units 13, 23, 33, and 43

[0893] 44 sensor units

[0894] 311 and 411 Transmission Processing Units

[0895] 312, 412 Receiving and Processing Units

[0896] 313 and 413 antennas

[0897] Units 231, 331, and 431 are defined.

[0898] Configuration units 232, 332, and 432

[0899] Acquisition Units 233, 333, and 433

[0900] 234 Update Unit

[0901] 235 Communication Control Unit

[0902] Transmitting units 334 and 434

[0903] 335 Receiver Unit

[0904] 435 computing units

[0905] 436 forwarding unit

[0906] 437 Extraction Unit

[0907] 438 Identification Units

[0908] 510 RAN / AN

[0909] 520 UPF

[0910] 530 DN

[0911] 540 Control Plane Function Group

[0912] 541 AMF

[0913] 542 NEF

[0914] 543 NRF

[0915] 544 NSSF

[0916] 545 PCF

[0917] 546 SMF

[0918] 547 UDM

[0919] 548 AF

[0920] 549 AUSF

[0921] 550 UCMF

[0922] 551 NWDAF

[0923] CN Core Network

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus capable of performing processing related to the following communications: a first communication, transmitting source data as information that can be recovered to the same form at a receiving side; and a second communication, transmitting some or all of the information extracted from the source data using an artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) model to the receiving side, the information processing apparatus comprising: The determining unit is configured to perform determinations related to communication to be used by the communication device; as well as The configuration unit is configured to perform processing regarding the configuration of the communication device to use as the second communication if the communication associated with the determined result is the second communication.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is a terminal device serving as the communication apparatus, comprising: The transmitting unit is configured to transmit information about communications related to the determined result to a base station or a device belonging to the core network; as well as The acquisition unit is configured to acquire information about the configuration used for the second communication from a base station or a device belonging to the core network if the communication related to the determined result is a second communication. The determining unit determines the communication to be used from a plurality of communications, including a first communication and a second communication, based on predetermined conditions and according to the application. If the communication related to the determined result is a second communication, the configuration unit performs configuration for the second communication based on information obtained from the base station or a device belonging to the core network.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, The device belonging to the core network is a device that implements the network functions constituting the core network.

4. The information processing device according to claim 2, in, The predetermined condition is the time when a request is sent to establish a session for the application to be executed, and The sending unit sends a session establishment request to the base station or a device belonging to the core network, the session establishment request including information about communications related to the determined result.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, in, Information regarding communications related to the determined results is auxiliary information for identifying network slices, and The session establishment request includes first network slice selection assistance information corresponding to the first communication or second network slice selection assistance information corresponding to the second communication.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, in, The acquisition unit acquires information about indicators used to determine the communication to be used before determining the communication to be used. Information about metrics indicates the priority of communication to be used by each application, and The determining unit determines the communication to be used based on information about the indicators.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, in, The information regarding the configuration used for the second communication pertains to the AI / ML model used for the second communication, and If the communication related to the determined result is a second communication, the configuration unit configures the AI / ML model for the second communication based on information about the AI / ML model.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein, The configuration unit configures different AI / ML models for each application.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 is an apparatus for realizing the network functions constituting the core network. in, If the communication related to the determined result is a second communication, the configuration unit performs processing to update the first session established for the first communication to a second session corresponding to the second communication, as a configuration-related process.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, comprising: The acquisition unit is configured to acquire QoS monitoring results configured for at least one QoS flow processed in a first session established for the first communication. Specifically, as a determination of the communication to be used by the communication device, the determining unit determines whether the QoS monitoring results satisfy the parameters of the QoS flow, and When the QoS monitoring results do not meet the parameters, the configuration unit performs processing to update the first session to the second session as processing regarding the configuration.

11. The information processing device according to claim 1 is a base station. in, If the communication associated with the determined result is a second communication, the configuration unit performs a process to update the first bearer established for the first communication to a second bearer corresponding to the second communication, as a process related to the configuration.

12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: The alternative network slice configuration unit is configured to configure a second network slice corresponding to the second communication as an alternative network slice to the first network slice corresponding to the first communication if the communication related to the determined result is a second communication.

13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, in, The first type of communication was communication provided by fifth-generation or earlier mobile communication systems, and The second type of communication is semantic communication.

14. A base station capable of performing processing related to a first communication and a second communication, wherein the first communication transmits source data as information that can be recovered to the same form at a receiving side, and the second communication transmits some or all of the information extracted from the source data using an artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) model to the receiving side, the base station comprising: The receiving unit is configured to receive a request that includes information about communications to be used by the communication device; as well as The sending unit is configured to send information about the configuration for the second communication to the terminal device, which is the communication device, if the request includes information about the second communication.

15. The base station according to claim 14, in, The request includes information about applications related to the communication to be used by the communication device, and The sending unit sends information about the AI / ML model corresponding to the information of the application as information about the configuration for the second communication.

16. An information processing method executed by an information processing device, the information processing device being capable of performing processing related to a first communication and a second communication, wherein the first communication transmits source data as information that can be recovered to the same form at a receiving end, and the second communication transmits some or all of the information extracted from the source data using an artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) model to the receiving end, the information processing method comprising: Perform determinations related to communications to be used by the communication device; as well as If the communication associated with the determined result is a second communication, then processing is performed regarding the configuration for making the communication to be used by the communication device a second communication.

17. A communication method performed by a base station, the base station being capable of performing processing related to a first communication and a second communication, the first communication transmitting source data as information that can be recovered to the same form at a receiving side, and the second communication transmitting some or all of the information extracted from the source data using an artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) model to the receiving side, the communication method comprising: Receive requests that include information about communications to be used by the communication device; as well as If the request includes information about the second communication, then information about the configuration for the second communication is sent to the terminal device, which is the communication device.

18. A communication system, comprising: A terminal device capable of performing first and second communications, wherein the first communication transmits source data as information that can be recovered in the same form at the receiving side, and the second communication transmits some or all of the information extracted from the source data using an artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) model to the receiving side. as well as A base station configured to communicate with the terminal device. The terminal device includes: The selection unit is configured to select the communication to be used from a plurality of communications, including a first communication and a second communication, based on preset conditions and the application; and The first transmitting unit is configured to send a request to the base station including information about the selected communication, and The base station includes: The second sending unit is configured to send information about the configuration for the second communication to the terminal device if the request includes information about the second communication.

19. A communication system, comprising: An information processing device capable of performing processing related to a first communication and a second communication, wherein the first communication transmits source data as information that can be recovered in the same form at the receiving side, and the second communication transmits some or all of the information extracted from the source data using an artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) model to the receiving side. as well as A terminal device capable of performing first and second communications. The information processing device includes: The determining unit is configured to perform determinations related to communication to be used by the terminal device; and The configuration unit is configured to perform processing regarding the configuration for making the communication to be used by the terminal device the second communication if the communication related to the determined result is the second communication, and The terminal device performs communication by using communication related to the configuration.

20. The communication system according to claim 19, in, The information processing device is a device that enables the network functions that constitute the core network. If the communication related to the determined result is a second communication, then the configuration unit performs processing to update the first session established for the first communication to a second session corresponding to the second communication, and If the communication related to the determined result is a second communication, then the terminal device performs the communication by using a second session.

21. The communication system according to claim 19, The information processing device mentioned above is a base station. If the communication associated with the determined result is a second communication, then the configuration unit performs a process to update the first bearer established for the first communication to a second bearer corresponding to the second communication, and If the communication related to the determined result is a second communication, then the terminal device performs the communication by using a second bearer.

22. The communication system according to claim 19, wherein, The information processing device The system includes an alternative network slice configuration unit, configured to configure a second network slice corresponding to the second communication as an alternative network slice to the first network slice corresponding to the first communication if the communication related to the determined result is a second communication. If the first network slice is unavailable, a notification is sent to the terminal device to switch the first network slice to a second network slice as an alternative network slice.

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