COMMUNICATION METHOD, DEVICE, AND SYSTEM

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method, device, and system to solve the problem of high transmission overhead required between an SMF network element and a PCF network element to transmit TSN parameters. In the technical solution provided by the present application, when the PCF network element determines that a cellular communication system supports interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the cellular communication system and TSN, the PCF network element generates an MDBV value corresponding to the session based on the maximum TSC burst size and sends the MDBV value to the SMF network element. After receiving the MDBV value, the SMF network element determines merge stream requirement information based on the MDBV value. According to the method of the present application, system transmission overhead can be reduced and accurate merge stream requirement information can be obtained.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communications, and in particular to communication methods, communication devices, computer-readable storage media, computer program products, and communication systems. [Background technology]

[0002] Time sensitive network (TSN) can provide reliable transmission service and solve the problem of high-speed transmission delay in traditional Ethernet networks.

[0003] Currently, cellular communication systems can interact with TSN. For example, a session management function (SMF) network element in a 5th generation (5G) system can be used as a centralized user configuration (CUC) in the TSN system, and an access network (AN) device and a user plane function (UPF) network element in the 5G system can be used as TSN terminals, i.e., talkers and listeners. The SMF network element can generate talker group information and listener group information and send the talker group information and listener group information to a centralized network configuration (CNC) network element in the TSN system, so that the CNC network element can configure the TSN terminal based on the talker group information and listener group information. The talker group information includes traffic parameters, such as maximum frame length and slowest transmission offset. When generating the maximum frame length and the latest transmission offset, the SMF network element first obtains the TSN parameters from the policy control function (PCD) network element in the 5G system, where the TSN parameters include the maximum burst size, and then calculates the maximum frame length and the latest transmission offset based on the maximum burst size.

[0004] This method requires a high transmission overhead between the SMF and PCF network elements to transmit the TSN parameters. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present application provides a communication method, a communication device, a computer-readable storage medium, a computer program product, and a communication system to solve a problem in the prior art that high transmission overhead is required between an SMF network element and a PCF network element to transmit TSN parameters.

[0006] According to a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, applied to a policy control function (PCF) network element, the method including: when determining that a cellular communication system supports interworking with a time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network, generating a maximum data burst volume value corresponding to the session based on a maximum value of a time-sensitive communication burst size, the maximum data burst volume value being equal to the maximum value of the time-sensitive communication burst size; and transmitting the maximum data burst volume value to a session management function (PCF) network element, the maximum data burst volume value being for determining merge stream requirement information associated with the session.

[0007] The cellular communication system may include a 5G system. Optionally, the cellular communication system may further include a future communication system, such as 6G.

[0008] In this method, when calculating merge stream requirement information, the session management function network element can directly perform the calculation based on the maximum data burst volume value obtained from the policy control function network element. In this way, the session management function network element does not need to further obtain such a parameter, i.e., the maximum value of the time-sensitive communication burst size, from the policy control function network element, thereby reducing transmission overhead. Furthermore, in this method, since the maximum data burst volume value is equal to the maximum value of the time-sensitive communication burst size, the merge stream requirement information obtained by the session management function network element through calculation based on the maximum data burst volume value is equivalent to the merge stream requirement information obtained by the session management function network element through calculation based on the maximum value of the time-sensitive communication burst size in the prior art to obtain accurate merge stream requirement information.

[0009] In some possible implementations, the method further includes receiving first information from the first network element, the first information being for determining that the cellular communication system supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network.

[0010] In this method, the policy control function network element may determine, based on the first information, that the cellular communication system supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network. In other words, upon receiving the first information, the policy control function network element sets the maximum data burst volume value to a value equal to the maximum value of the time-sensitive communication burst size, whereby, after receiving the maximum data burst volume value, the session management function network element may generate merge stream requirement information based on the maximum data burst volume value. This is helpful for obtaining accurate merge stream requirement information while reducing transmission overhead.

[0011] In some possible implementations, the first network element is a session management function network element.

[0012] In this implementation, the first information indicates at least one of: that the session management function network element supports interaction with a time-sensitive network; that an interaction requirement exists between the session management function network element and the time-sensitive network; that the session management function network element has the functionality of a centralized user-configured network element; that the data network name corresponding to the session is applicable to a time-sensitive communication service; and that the network slice information corresponding to the session is applicable to a time-sensitive communication service.

[0013] Because the session management function network element is a network element in a 5G system, the session management function network element's support for interworking with a time-sensitive network can be equivalent to the 5G system's support for interworking with a time-sensitive network. Similarly, the existence of an interworking requirement between the session management function network element and the time-sensitive network can be equivalent to the existence of an interworking requirement between the 5G system and the time-sensitive network.

[0014] In this implementation, the first information is sent by a session management function network element, and the first information may be indicative directly or indirectly.

[0015] As an example, the first information may include indication information indicating that the session management function network element supports interaction with the time-sensitive network or that an interaction requirement exists between the session management function network element and the time-sensitive network.

[0016] The session management function network element may generate the first information based on a condition, the condition including at least one of: the session management function network element has a function of a centralized user-configured network element; the data network name corresponding to the session is applicable to a time-sensitive communication service; and the network slice information corresponding to the session is applicable to a time-sensitive communication service.

[0017] In this example, the session management function network element first generates first information based on the condition, and then sends the first information to the policy control function network element. In this way, after receiving the first information, the policy control function network element can directly set the maximum data burst volume value to a value equal to the maximum value of the time-sensitive communication burst size, thereby reducing the power consumption of the policy control function network element.

[0018] As another example, the first information indicates at least one of: that the session management function network element has the functionality of a centralized user-configured network element; that the data network name corresponding to the session is applicable to a time-sensitive communication service; and that the network slice information corresponding to the session is applicable to a time-sensitive communication service.

[0019] In this example, the session management function network element directly transmits the first information to the policy control function network element. After receiving the first information, the policy control function network element first determines, based on the first information, that the session management function network element supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the session management function network element and the time-sensitive network, and then sets the maximum data burst volume value to a value equal to the maximum value of the time-sensitive communication burst size. In other words, the session management function does not need to generate other information based on the first information, thereby reducing the power consumption of the session management function network element.

[0020] In some possible implementations, the method further includes sending second information to the session management function network element, where the second information instructs the session management function network element to send the first information to the policy control function network element if the session management function network element supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or if an interworking requirement exists between the session management function network element and the time-sensitive network.

[0021] Optionally, the second information may include a policy control request trigger, which is configured to trigger the session management function network element to send the first information to the policy control function network element if the session management function network element supports interaction with the time-sensitive network or if an interaction requirement exists between the session management function network element and the time-sensitive network.

[0022] In this method, the first information is transmitted when the session management function network element determines that the session management function network element supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the session management function network element and the time-sensitive network. In other words, when the session management function network element does not support interworking with the time-sensitive network or there is no interworking requirement between the session management function network element and the time-sensitive network, the session management function network element does not need to transmit the first information to the policy control function network element. This helps reduce unnecessary transmission overhead.

[0023] In some possible implementations, the first network element is an application function network element.

[0024] In this implementation, the first information indicates at least one of: that the application function network element supports interaction with the time-sensitive network; that an interaction requirement exists between the application function network element and the time-sensitive network; that a delay requirement in the application function request is below a predetermined threshold; that the application function request includes support container information; and that the application function request includes burst arrival time information.

[0025] Because the application function network element is a network element in the 5G system, the application function network element's support for interworking with the time-sensitive network can be equivalent to the 5G system's support for interworking with the time-sensitive network. Similarly, the existence of an interworking requirement between the application function network element and the time-sensitive network can be equivalent to the existence of an interworking requirement between the 5G system and the time-sensitive network.

[0026] In this implementation, the first information is sent by the application function network element, and the first information may be direct or indirect.

[0027] As an example, the first information may include indication information indicating that the application function network element supports interaction with the time-sensitive network or that an interaction requirement exists between the application function network element and the time-sensitive network.

[0028] The application function network element may generate the first information based on a condition, the condition including at least one of: a delay requirement in the application function request being equal to or less than a preset threshold, the application function request including assistance container information, and the application function request including burst arrival time information.

[0029] In this example, the application function network element first generates first information based on the condition, and then sends the first information to the policy control function network element. In this way, after receiving the first information, the policy control function network element can directly set the maximum data burst volume value to a value equal to the maximum value of the time-sensitive communication burst size to reduce the power consumption of the policy control function network element.

[0030] As another example, the first information indicates at least one of: a delay requirement in the application function request is below a predetermined threshold; the application function request includes support container information; and the application function request includes burst arrival time information.

[0031] In this example, the application function network element directly sends the first information to the policy control function network element. After receiving the first information, the policy control function network element first determines based on the first information that the session management function network element supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the session management function network element and the time-sensitive network, and then sets the maximum data burst volume value to a value equal to the maximum value of the time-sensitive communication burst size. In other words, the application function does not need to generate other information based on the first information, so the power consumption of the application function network element is reduced.

[0032] In some possible implementations, determining that the cellular communication system supports interaction with the time-sensitive network or that an interaction requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network includes receiving third information from a session management function network element, the third information including a data network name and / or network slice information corresponding to the session, and determining, based on the third information, that the cellular communication system supports interaction with the time-sensitive network or that an interaction requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network.

[0033] The policy control function network element determining, based on the third information, that the cellular communication system supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network includes the policy control function network element determining, based on the third information and the local configuration, that the cellular communication system supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network.

[0034] For example, it is assumed that the local configuration includes a data network name and / or network slice information for supporting interworking with the time-sensitive network. If the local configuration includes the third information, the policy control function network element determines that the 5G network supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G network and the time-sensitive network. If the local configuration does not include the third information, the policy control function network element determines that the 5G network does not support interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement does not exist between the 5G network and the time-sensitive network.

[0035] As another example, it is assumed that the local configuration includes a network identifier and indication information corresponding to the network identifier, where the network identifier may include at least one data network name and / or at least one network slice information, and the indication information indicates whether interworking with the time-sensitive network is supported. If the local configuration includes third information and the indication information corresponding to the third information indicates that interworking with the time-sensitive network is supported, the policy control function network element determines that the 5G network supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G network and the time-sensitive network. Otherwise, the policy control function network element determines that the 5G network does not support interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement does not exist between the 5G network and the time-sensitive network.

[0036] In this method, the policy control function network element determines, based on the third information and the local configuration, that the cellular communication system supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network. In this way, when determining that the 5G network supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G network and the time-sensitive network, the policy control function network element sets the maximum data burst volume value to a value equal to the maximum value of the time-sensitive communication burst size and then transmits the maximum data burst volume value to the session management function network element, so that the session management function network element can calculate merge stream requirement information based on the maximum data burst volume value. In this way, the session management function network element does not need to further obtain such a parameter, i.e., the maximum value of the time-sensitive communication burst size, from the policy control function network element, but directly performs the calculation based on the maximum data burst volume value obtained from the policy control function network element. This can reduce transmission overhead and obtain accurate merge stream requirement information.

[0037] In some possible implementations, determining that the cellular communication system supports interaction with the time-sensitive network or that an interaction requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network includes receiving fourth information from the application function network element, the fourth information including a data network name and / or network slice information corresponding to the application function request, and determining, based on the fourth information, that the cellular communication system supports interaction with the time-sensitive network or that an interaction requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network.

[0038] The policy control function network element determining, based on the fourth information, that the cellular communication system supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network includes the policy control function network element determining, based on the fourth information and the local configuration, that the cellular communication system supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network.

[0039] For example, it is assumed that the local configuration information includes a data network name and / or network slice information for supporting interworking with the time-sensitive network. If the local configuration includes the fourth information, the policy control function network element determines that the 5G network supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G network and the time-sensitive network. If the local configuration does not include the fourth information, the policy control function network element determines that the 5G network does not support interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement does not exist between the 5G network and the time-sensitive network.

[0040] As another example, it is assumed that the local configuration includes a network identifier and indication information corresponding to the network identifier, where the network identifier may include a data network name and / or network slice information corresponding to each of the at least one application function request, and the indication information indicates whether interworking with a time-sensitive network is supported. If the local configuration includes fourth information and the indication information corresponding to the fourth information indicates that interworking with a time-sensitive network is supported, the policy control function network element determines that the 5G network supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G network and the time-sensitive network. Otherwise, the policy control function network element determines that the 5G network does not support interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement does not exist between the 5G network and the time-sensitive network.

[0041] In this method, the policy control function network element determines, based on the fourth information and the local configuration, that the cellular communication system supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network. In this way, when determining that the 5G network supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G network and the time-sensitive network, the policy control function network element sets the maximum data burst volume value to a value equal to the maximum value of the time-sensitive communication burst size and then transmits the maximum data burst volume value to the session management function network element, so that the session management function network element can calculate merge stream requirement information based on the maximum data burst volume value. In this way, the session management function network element does not need to further obtain such a parameter, i.e., the maximum value of the time-sensitive communication burst size, from the policy control function network element, but directly performs the calculation based on the maximum data burst volume value obtained from the policy control function network element. This can reduce transmission overhead and obtain accurate merge stream requirement information.

[0042] In some possible implementations, the merge stream requirement information includes a maximum frame length and / or a latest transmission offset.

[0043] If the merge stream requirement information includes a maximum frame length, the session management function network element may calculate the maximum frame length by using the formula (1): S1=S1-S2 (1) The maximum frame length may be calculated according to:

[0044] S represents the maximum frame length, S1 represents the maximum data burst volume value, and S2 represents framing bits (e.g., CRC and GTP-U tunnel header) that are not for transmission in the 5G system.

[0045] When the merge stream requirement information includes the latest transmission offset, the session management function network element calculates the latest transmission offset by the following formula (2): a=b+c-(d+ts) (2) The slowest transmission offset may be calculated according to:

[0046] a represents the earliest transmission offset, b represents the interval, c represents the jitter, and ts represents the time to transmit the maximum frame length.

[0047] Optionally, after obtaining the maximum frame length through calculation, the session management function network element may locally store the maximum frame length, and thus, the session management function network element may calculate the latest transmission offset based on the locally stored maximum frame length.

[0048] In this method, since the maximum data burst volume value is equal to the maximum value of the time-sensitive communication burst size, when the session management function network element determines the merge stream requirement information based on the maximum data burst volume value, the session management function network element can obtain accurate merge stream requirement information.

[0049] According to a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, applied to a Session Management Function (SMF) network element, including: receiving a maximum data burst volume value corresponding to a session from a Policy Control Function (SMF) network element, where the maximum data burst volume value is equal to a maximum value of a time-sensitive communication burst size of a time-sensitive service flow; determining merge stream requirement information based on the maximum data burst volume value; and sending the merge stream requirement information to a centralized network configuration network element in the time-sensitive network.

[0050] In some possible implementations, before receiving the first information from the policy control function network element, the method further includes sending the first information to the policy control function network element, the first information indicating that the cellular communication system supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network.

[0051] In some possible implementations, the first information includes indication information indicating that the session management function network element supports interaction with the time-sensitive network or that an interaction requirement exists between the session management function network element and the time-sensitive network.

[0052] In some possible implementations, the method further includes generating the first information based on conditions, the conditions including at least one of: the session management function network element has a function of a centralized user-configured network element; the data network name corresponding to the session is applicable to a time-sensitive communication service; and the network slice information corresponding to the session is applicable to a time-sensitive communication service.

[0053] In some possible implementations, the function of the network element, the data network name corresponding to the session, is applicable to the time-sensitive communication service, and the network slice information corresponding to the session is applicable to the time-sensitive communication service.

[0054] In some possible implementations, the method further includes receiving second information from the policy control function network element.

[0055] Sending the first information to the policy control function network element includes sending the first information to the policy control function network element based on the second information if the session management function network element supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or if an interworking requirement exists between the session management function network element and the time-sensitive network.

[0056] In some possible implementations, the second information includes a policy control request trigger. Sending the second information to the policy control function network element includes sending the second information to the policy control function network element based on the policy control request trigger.

[0057] In some possible implementations, the method further includes sending third information to a policy control function network element, where the third information includes a data network name and / or network slice information corresponding to the session.

[0058] In some possible implementations, the merge stream requirement information includes a maximum frame length and / or a latest transmission offset.

[0059] If the merge stream requirement information includes a maximum frame length, determining the merge stream requirement information based on the maximum data burst volume value includes determining a first difference between the maximum data burst volume value and the framing bits not for transmission, and determining the maximum frame length based on the first difference. For the calculation method, see equation (1) above.

[0060] When the merge stream requirement information includes a latest transmission offset, determining the merge stream requirement information based on the maximum data burst volume value includes: determining a maximum frame length in the merge stream requirement information based on the maximum data burst volume value, determining a first sum of a transmission time corresponding to the maximum frame length and a jitter in the merge stream requirement information, determining a second sum of the interval in the merge stream requirement information and the earliest transmission offset, determining a second difference between the first sum and the second sum, and determining the latest transmission offset based on the second difference. For the calculation method, see Equation (2) above.

[0061] According to a third aspect, the present application provides a communication method, applicable to an application function AF network element, comprising: transmitting first information to a policy control function network element, the first information being for determining that a cellular communication system supports interworking with a time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network; instructing the policy control function network element to transmit a maximum data burst volume value corresponding to a session to the session management function network element, the maximum data burst volume value being equal to a maximum value of a time-sensitive communication burst size; and the maximum data burst volume value being for determining merge stream requirement information associated with the session.

[0062] In some possible implementations, the first information includes at least one of: the application function network element supports interaction with the time-sensitive network; an interaction requirement exists between the application function network element and the time-sensitive network; a delay requirement in the application function request is below a predetermined threshold; the application function request includes support container information; and the application function request includes burst arrival time information.

[0063] In some possible implementations, the method further includes sending fourth information to the policy control function network element, where the fourth information includes a data network name and / or network slice information corresponding to the application function request.

[0064] In some possible implementations, the merge stream requirement information includes a maximum frame length and / or a latest transmission offset.

[0065] According to a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication method. The method includes, when determining that the new radio cellular communication system supports interworking with a time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network, the policy control function network element generates a maximum data burst volume value corresponding to the session based on a maximum value of the time-sensitive communication burst size, the maximum data burst volume value being equal to the maximum value of the time-sensitive communication burst size, and transmitting the maximum data burst volume value to the session management function network element. The session management function network element determines merge stream requirement information based on the maximum data burst volume value. The session management function network element transmits the merge stream requirement information to a centralized network configuration network element in the time-sensitive network.

[0066] In some possible implementations, the method further includes the session management function network element sending first information to the policy control function network element, the first information indicating that the cellular communication system supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network.

[0067] In some possible implementations, the first information includes indication information indicating that the session management function network element supports interaction with the time-sensitive network or that an interaction requirement exists between the session management function network element and the time-sensitive network.

[0068] In some possible implementations, the method further includes the session management function network element generating the first information based on conditions, the conditions including at least one of: the session management function network element having functionality of a centralized user-configured network element, the data network name corresponding to the session being applicable to a time-sensitive communication service, and the network slice information corresponding to the session being applicable to a time-sensitive communication service.

[0069] In some possible implementations, the first information indicates at least one of: that the session management function network element has the functionality of a centralized user-configured network element; that the data network name corresponding to the session is applicable to a time-sensitive communication service; and that the network slice information corresponding to the session is applicable to a time-sensitive communication service.

[0070] In some possible implementations, the method further includes the policy control function network element sending second information to the session management function network element, where the second information instructs the session management function network element to send the first information to the policy control function network element if the session management function network element supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or if an interworking requirement exists between the session management function network element and the time-sensitive network.

[0071] In some possible implementations, the method further includes the session management function network element sending third information to the policy control function network element, where the third information includes a data network name and / or network slice information corresponding to the session. The policy control function network element determines, based on the third information, that the 5G system supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G system and the time-sensitive network.

[0072] In some possible implementations, the merge stream requirement information includes a maximum frame length and / or a latest transmission offset.

[0073] In some possible implementations, when the merge stream requirement information includes a maximum frame length, the session management function network element determining the merge stream requirement information based on the maximum data burst volume value includes determining a first difference between the maximum data burst volume value and framing bits not for transmission, and determining the maximum frame length based on the first difference.

[0074] In some possible implementations, when the merge stream requirement information includes a latest transmission offset, the session management function network element determining the merge stream requirement information based on the maximum data burst volume value includes determining a maximum frame length in the merge stream requirement information based on the maximum data burst volume value, determining a first sum of the transmission time corresponding to the maximum frame length and the jitter in the merge stream requirement information, determining a second sum of the interval in the merge stream requirement information and the earliest transmission offset, determining a second difference between the first sum and the second sum, and determining the latest transmission offset based on the second difference.

[0075] In some possible implementations, the method further includes the application function network element sending first information to the policy control function network element, the first information indicating that the cellular communication system supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network.

[0076] In some possible implementations, the first information indicates at least one of: that the application function network element supports interaction with the time-sensitive network; that an interaction requirement exists between the application function network element and the time-sensitive network; that a delay requirement in the application function request is below a predetermined threshold; that the application function request includes support container information; and that the application function request includes burst arrival time information.

[0077] In some possible implementations, the method further includes the application function network element sending fourth information to the policy control function network element, where the fourth information includes a data network name and / or network slice information corresponding to the application function request. The policy control function network element determining that the cellular communication system supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network includes determining that the 5G system supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G system and the time-sensitive network based on the fourth information.

[0078] According to a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication device including a module or unit configured to implement the method of the first aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect. It should be understood that each module or unit may implement a corresponding function by executing a computer program.

[0079] According to a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication device including a module or unit configured to implement the method of the second aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the second aspect, it being understood that each module or unit may implement the corresponding function by executing a computer program.

[0080] According to a seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication device including a module or unit configured to implement the method of the third aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the third aspect, it should be understood that each module or unit may implement the corresponding function by executing a computer program.

[0081] According to an eighth aspect, the present application provides a communication device including a processor, the processor being configured to perform the communication method according to any one of the possible implementations of the first to third aspects.

[0082] The apparatus may further include a memory configured to store instructions and data. The memory is coupled to a processor, and when the processor executes the instructions stored in the memory, the processor can perform the methods described in the above aspects. The apparatus may further include a communication interface. The communication interface is used by the apparatus to communicate with other devices. For example, the communication interface may be a transceiver, a circuit, a bus, a module, or another type of communication interface.

[0083] It may be understood that the communication devices provided in the fifth to eighth aspects may alternatively be chip systems.

[0084] According to a ninth aspect, the present application provides a communication system, which may include a policy control function network element and a session management function network element.

[0085] In some possible implementations, the communication system may further include an application function network element.

[0086] The policy control function network element, the session management function network element, and the application function network element may be configured to implement the method of any item of the fourth aspect.

[0087] According to a tenth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing program code for execution by a communications device, the program code including instructions for implementing the methods of the first to fourth aspects.

[0088] According to an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising instructions which, when executed on a communications device, enable the communications device to perform the methods of the first to fourth aspects.

[0089] It will be understood that for the effects obtainable from the second to eleventh aspects, reference should be made to the description of the first aspect, and details will not be described here. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0090] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram of the TSN system architecture. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram of a 5G system architecture to which embodiments of the present application are applied. [Figure 3] Diagram of the network architecture where 5G systems interact with TSN networks. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram of the internal processing delay of a 5G system switching node. [Figure 5] A diagram of TSN stream latency in a 5G system. [Figure 6] 5G QoS model based on QoS flow. [Figure 7] A diagram of a network architecture in which a 5G system interacts with TSN services in a non-TSN network. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a diagram of another network architecture in which a 5G network interacts with a TSN network. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a diagram of yet another network architecture in which a 5G network interacts with a TSN network. [Figure 10] 1 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method. [Figure 11] 1 is a diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 12] 1 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 13]4 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to another embodiment of the present application; [Figure 14] 4 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to yet another embodiment of the present application; [Figure 15] 4 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to yet another embodiment of the present application; [Figure 16] 1 is a diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application; [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a diagram of the structure of a communication device according to another embodiment of the present application. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a diagram of the structure of a communication device according to yet another embodiment of the present application. [Figure 19] 1 is a diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0091] The following describes the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0092] In order to clearly describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, terms such as "first" and "second" are used in the embodiments of the present application to distinguish between the same or similar items that have essentially the same function or purpose. For example, the terms "first information" and "second information" are merely used to distinguish between different pieces of information, and do not limit the order of the first information and the second information. Those skilled in the art can understand that the terms "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity or execution order, and the terms "first" and "second" do not indicate a clear distinction.

[0093] In the embodiments of the present application, "at least one" means one or more, and "multiple" means two or more. "And / or" indicates an association relationship between related objects, and indicates that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can indicate that only A exists, both A and B exist, or only B exists, where A and B may be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates an "OR" relationship between related objects. "At least one of the following items (moieties)" or similar expressions means any combination of these items, including a single item (moiety) or any combination of multiple items (moieties). For example, at least one of a, b, or c can refer to a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a, b, and c, where a, b, and c may be singular or plural.

[0094] The communication method in the embodiment of the present application may be applied to a network architecture in which a cellular communication system interacts with TSN. The cellular communication system may include a 5G system. Optionally, the cellular communication system may further include some future communication systems, such as a sixth generation (6G) system. Hereinafter, the present application uses the 5G system as an example for explanation.

[0095] To facilitate understanding of the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application, the following describes the system architecture and application scenarios of the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application. The system architecture and application scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are intended to more clearly describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute limitations on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application.

[0096] Figure 1 is a diagram of a TSN system architecture. As shown in Figure 1, the TSN system architecture includes a CUC network element, a CNC network element, a TSN terminal, and at least one switching node. The TSN terminals include TSN terminal 1 and TSN terminal 2. The CUC network element and the CNC network element are in the management plane technology, and the TSN terminal and at least one switching node are in the user plane technology.

[0097] Transmission and exchange of information may occur between TSN terminal 1 and TSN terminal 2 via at least one switching node. As an example, when TSN terminal 1 transmits information to TSN terminal 2, TSN terminal 1 is a talker and TSN terminal 2 is a listener. As another example, when TSN terminal 2 transmits information to TSN terminal 1, TSN terminal 2 is a talker and TSN terminal 1 is a listener.

[0098] The CUC network element may be configured to manage TSN terminals and services, obtain the capabilities of TSN terminals and user equipment, send TSN stream requirements to the CNC network element, and configure TSN terminals based on CNS instructions.

[0099] The CNC network element manages the TSN terminal and at least one switching node, receives capability information of at least one switching node, receives requirements for the TSN stream, generates an end-to-end forwarding path for the TSN stream by calculation based on the requirements for the TSN stream, and distributes scheduling parameters to the at least one switching node.

[0100] Each of the at least one switching node reports its capability information and topology information to the CNC, and schedules and forwards data flows based on rules distributed by the CNC. In this embodiment, the switching node may also be referred to as a bridge.

[0101] In the system, information reported by switching nodes to CNC network elements may include bridge information, bridge capabilities, bridge topology, port traffic levels and priorities, and stream parameters.

[0102] The bridge information includes a bridge number, a port number, and a port number list. The bridge number distinguishes between bridge instances. If the bridge is a 5G system node, the bridge number may be derived from a unique bridge media access control (MAC) address, or may be set in a specific way to ensure that a unique value is used in the 5G system graph.

[0103] The bridge capabilities include bridge delay per port pair per traffic category, propagation delay per port, and virtual local area network configuration information. The bridge delay per port pair per traffic category includes 5G system bridge delay, ingress port number, egress port, and traffic level. The 5G system bridge delay is frame size dependent and independent, and the maximum and minimum values ​​of the 5G system bridge delay are as follows: maximum length-independent delay (independentDelayMax), minimum length-independent delay (independentDelayMin), maximum length-dependent delay (dependentDelayMax), and minimum length-dependent delay (dependentDelayMin).

[0104] Here, the length refers to the length of the frame. When the 5G system functions as a bridge, the maximum length-independent delay and the minimum length-independent delay are set based on the configuration. The 5G system sets the maximum length-dependent delay and the minimum length-dependent delay based on the time range for transmitting a single octet of an Ethernet frame from an ingress to an egress and the time for receiving and storing each octet of the frame.

[0105] The propagation delay for each port includes the transmission propagation delay and the egress port number.

[0106] In the system, the information exchanged between the CUC network element and the CNC network element is called user / network configuration information (UNI), and the UNI may include talker group information, listener group information, and status group information.

[0107] Talker group information includes information such as stream identifier (StreamID), stream rank (StreamRank), end station interfaces (EndStationInterfaces), data frame specification (DataFrameSpecification), traffic specification (TrafficSpecification), user-to-network requirements (UserToNetworkRequirements), and end node interface capabilities (InterfaceCapabilities).

[0108] The stream identifier identifies the stream configuration and contains two fields: MAC address and unique ID. The MAC address is the source MAC address where the stream originates (optional) and is a 48-bit field. The unique ID is used to distinguish between different streams of the same talker and is a 16-bit field.

[0109] The stream rank is intended to provide the rank of a stream relative to other streams in the network. The rank is intended to determine the resource configuration priority of the stream and is unrelated to the data of the stream. Currently, the value can be 0 or 1. The value 0 indicates a higher priority than the value 1, and typically indicates an emergency service. The number of stream ranks is not limited in the embodiments of this application.

[0110] The end station interface, also called end node interface, is used to indicate the interface corresponding to the stream. One stream may contain multiple interfaces. The end station interface contains two fields: MAC address and interface name (InterfaceName).

[0111] The data frame specification defines the data of the stream and identifies the data packets of the stream. The corresponding TSN setting is then applied. The data frame specification may include any one or more of the following fields:

[0112] IEEE802-MAC address: Indicates the source MAC address and destination MAC address. The MAC address field length is 96 bits.

[0113] IEEE 802-Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) Tag: Indicates the C-tag (inner VLAN tag identifying the user VLAN) information of the data frame, excluding the S-tag (outer VLAN tag identifying the carrier VLAN) and the drop eligible indicator (DEI) field (the DEI and PCP fields together identify the priority of the S-tag). Optionally, the priority code point (PCP) field and the VLAN ID field may be used. If only the PCP field is present, the VLAN ID is set to 0. The VLAN tag field length is 24 bits.

[0114] Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) Tuple: Indicates the IPv4 information of a data frame and includes the IP6 tuple. The IPv4 address 6-tuple can include the source IP address, destination IP address, differentiated services code point (DSCP), protocol, source port, and destination port.

[0115] IPv6 tuple: Indicates the IPv6 information of the data frame and includes an IP6 tuple. The six tuple of an IPv6 address includes a source IP address, a destination IP address, a DSCP, a protocol, a source port, and a destination port.

[0116] In this application, for information such as the data types of the 6-tuple of an IPv4 address and the 6-tuple of an IPv6 address, please refer to the contents of the protocol IEEE standard 802.1Qcc.

[0117] The traffic specification defines how talkers transmit data frames. On the network side, the traffic specification can be used to allocate resources for each bridge and adjust sorting parameters. The traffic specification includes interval, maximum number of frames in a period (MaxFramesPerInterval), maximum frame length (MaxFrameSize), and transmission selection.

[0118] The interval indicates the maximum duration of the frame size (MaxFrameSize) and number of frames (MaxFramesPerInterval) defined by the talker. The duration is a fractional number of seconds defined by an unsigned 32-digit integer numerator and an unsigned 32-digit integer denominator, i.e., it can be less than one second.

[0119] The maximum number of frames in a period indicates the maximum number of frames that may be transmitted in a period.

[0120] The maximum frame length indicates the maximum length of a frame that the talker can transmit.

[0121] Transmission selection specifies the scheduling algorithm used in the stream transfer process. 0 is used by default and indicates strict priority.

[0122] Optionally, the transmit selection may further include information such as an EarliestTransmitOffset, a LatestTransmitOffset, and a Jitter.

[0123] The earliest transmit offset indicates the earliest offset (relative to the start of the period) that a talker may begin transmitting a data frame within a transmission period. The value is a signed integer in nanoseconds (ns).

[0124] The latest transmit offset indicates the latest offset (relative to the start of the period) that a talker may begin transmitting a data frame within a transmission period. The value is a signed integer, measured in ns.

[0125] Jitter indicates the maximum time difference between the talker's transmission offset and the ideal synchronized network time. The value is an unsigned integer in ns. Jitter is intended to define the time error introduced by the talker implementation, not the time synchronization error.

[0126] User-to-Network Requirements defines user requirements, e.g., delay or redundancy, and includes two fields: the number of redundant paths (NumSeamlessTrees) and the maximum latency (MaxLatency).

[0127] The number of redundant paths indicates the number of seamlessly connected redundant paths the network must provide. When the field is 0, it indicates one path and no redundancy. If the number of required redundant paths is greater than the number of paths the network can provide, some redundant paths will share the same path.

[0128] The maximum latency indicates the maximum latency of a data frame from the talker to the listener. The value is a signed integer, measured in ns. If a stream has multiple listeners, if the talker defines a value, the latency to all listeners must meet that value; alternatively, if the talker does not define a value and the listener defines a value, all latency must meet the value defined by the listener.

[0129] The interface capabilities of an end node include VLAN tag capability, stream identifier type, and sequence encoding and decoding type. The VLAN tag capability is for defining whether the talker adds or removes VLAN tags. The stream identifier type is for defining the stream identifier type supported by the talker. The sequence encoding and decoding type is for defining the encoding and decoding type of frame duplication and deduplication sequences supported by the talker.

[0130] The listener group information includes information such as stream identifier, end station interface, user-to-network requirements, and end node interface capabilities. For a specific definition of the listener group information, please refer to the specific content of the talker group information. The details will not be described again here.

[0131] In the system, the CNC may send status group information to the talker and listener separately via the CUC to notify that the TSN configuration has succeeded or failed.

[0132] The status group information includes information such as a stream identifier, a TSN stream configuration status (StatusInfo), an accumulated latency (AccumulatedLatency), an interface configuration (InterfaceConfiguration), and a list of interfaces that failed to be configured (FailedInterfaces).

[0133] The TNS stream configuration status contains three fields: talker network configuration status, listener network configuration status, and error code.

[0134] The value of the field corresponding to the talker network configuration status can be 0, 1, or 2. When the value of the field is 0, it indicates that no talker is detected, when the value of the field is 1, it indicates that the talker is ready (in other words, configured), or when the value of the field is 2, it indicates that the talker failed to configure.

[0135] The value of the field corresponding to the listener network configuration status can be 0, 1, 2, or 3. When the field value is 0, it indicates that no listeners were detected, when the field value is 1, it indicates that a listener is ready (in other words, configured), when the field value is 2, it indicates that one or more listeners are ready and one or more listeners failed to configure, in which case the stream can be used if a listener is ready, or when the field value is 3, it indicates that all listeners failed to configure.

[0136] The cumulative latency defines the maximum possible latency of the currently planned transmission path. The value is a signed integer, measured in nanoseconds.

[0137] The cumulative latency defines the interface configuration for the talker and listener. The configuration satisfies the stream requirements and interface capability requirements. The following settings are included: MAC address, VLAN tag, IPv4 tuple, IPv6 tuple, and time offset (TimeAwareOffset).

[0138] The time offset defines the time offset used by the talker to transmit the data packet, and the time offset is between the earliest and latest transmission offsets. In other words, the time offset is the talker's packet transmission time.

[0139] 2 is a diagram of a 5G system architecture to which the present application is applied. The 5G system to which the present application is applied may include a service-based non-roaming architecture shown in (a) of FIG. 2, and may also include a reference point-based non-roaming architecture shown in (b) of FIG. 2.

[0140] In this embodiment, the 5G system may include a terminal device, an access network device, and a core network device.

[0141] A terminal device may also be referred to as a terminal, user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), etc., and may be an entity located at a user's side and configured to receive or transmit signals, such as a mobile phone. The terminal device includes a handheld device, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, or a computing device with wireless communication capabilities. For example, the UE may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, or a computer with wireless transceiver capabilities. Alternatively, the terminal device may be a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in autonomous driving, a wireless terminal in telemedicine, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in a smart city, a wireless terminal in a smart home, etc. Terminal devices can be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearables, smart transportation, and smart cities. Terminals can be mobile phones, tablet computers, computers with wireless transceiver capabilities, wearable devices, vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, helicopters, airplanes, ships, robots, robotic arms, smart home devices, etc.

[0142] Access network devices are devices that provide access to terminal devices and include radio access network (RAN) devices and access networks (RANs). RAN devices are primarily radio network devices in 3GPP networks, while AN devices may be non-3GPP-defined access network devices. RAN devices are primarily responsible for air interface functions such as radio resource management, quality of service (QoS) management, and data compression and encryption. RAN devices may include various types of base stations, such as macro base stations, micro base stations (also known as small cells), relay stations, and access points. RAN devices include, but are not limited to, base stations such as next-generation base stations (gNodeBs, gNBs) in 5G communication systems, next-generation base stations in 6G mobile communication systems, base stations in other future mobile communication systems, access nodes in Wi-Fi systems, and evolved NodeBs (eNBs) in long-term evolution (LTE) systems. The RAN device may alternatively be a home base station (e.g., a home evolved NodeB or home NodeB, HNB), a baseband unit (BBU), a transmission reception point (TRP), a transmitting point (TP), etc.

[0143] The core network devices include an access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, an SMF network element, a PCF network element, an application function (AF) network element, and a UPF network element.

[0144] The AMF network element is mainly responsible for mobility management within a mobile network, such as user location update, user network registration, and user switching.

[0145] The SMF network element is mainly responsible for session management within the mobile network, such as session establishment, modification, and release. Specific functions include, for example, allocating an IP address to a user and selecting a UPF that provides packet forwarding functionality.

[0146] The UPF network element is mainly responsible for forwarding and receiving user data at the terminal device. The UPF network element may receive user data from a data network and transmit the user data to the terminal device via an access network device, or may receive user data from the terminal device via the access network and forward the user data to the data network. The transmission resources and scheduling functions in the UPF network element and serving the terminal device are managed and controlled by the SMF network element.

[0147] The PCF network element primarily supports the operation of providing a unified policy framework to the control network, the functionality of providing policy rules to the control layer network, and is responsible for obtaining user subscription information for policy decisions.

[0148] The AF network element mainly supports interacting with the 3GPP core network to provide services, for example, influencing data routing decisions and policy control functions, or providing some third-party services to the network side.

[0149] The 5G system may further include a unified data management (UDM) network element, a network exposure function (NEF) network element, and other network elements. The UDM network element is configured to generate authentication credentials, process subscriber identities (e.g., store and manage subscription persistent identifiers), control access authorization, manage subscription data, etc. The NEF network element is primarily for capability support and event exposure.

[0150] An entity in this application may also be referred to as a network element or a functional entity. For example, an AMF entity may also be referred to as an AMF network element or an AMF functional entity. As another example, an SMF entity may also be referred to as an SMF network element or an SMF functional entity.

[0151] In 5G systems, network elements within access network devices enable interconnection and interworking between terminal devices and 3GPP core networks by using non-3GPP technologies such as wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), code division multiple access (CDMA) networks, etc.

[0152] In some possible application scenarios, a 5G system may interact with a TSN network to reduce transmission delays in the 5G system. Figure 3 is a diagram of a network architecture in which a 5G system interacts with a TSN network.

[0153] As shown in Figure 3, the 5G system and TSN translators are used as a logical TSN switching node (i.e., a TSN bridge) to implement the assumed functionality of a switching node in TSN. The TSN translator converts and adapts the features and information of the 5G network into information required by TSN and provides the information to the TSN system, or converts the information required by the TSN system into features or information for the 5G network and provides the features or information to the 5G system.

[0154] On the control plane, the 5G system exchanges information with nodes in the TSN system through a TSN translator (i.e., an AF network element in 5G) on the control plane. The exchanged information includes 5G system switching node capability information, TSN configuration information, TSN input / output port time scheduling information, time synchronization information, etc.

[0155] The AF network element provides capability information of the 5G system switching node to the CNS in the TSN system, and the CNS determines TSN configuration information (e.g., transmission time window and stream period) of the 5G system switching node for the TSN service based on the capability information of the 5G system switching node and the capability information of another TSN switching node. The AF network element provides the TSN configuration information determined by the CNC for the 5G system switching node to the 5G system switching node to ensure end-to-end deterministic delay.

[0156] The capability information of the 5G system switching node includes the internal processing delay of the 5G system switching node, the UE side transmission delay of the 5G system switching node, and the UPF side transmission delay of the 5G system switching node. The internal processing delay of the 5G system switching node may further include the UE side residence time (i.e., the processing residence time of the TSN packet in the UE and the UE side TSN translator), the UPF side residence time (i.e., the processing residence time of the TSN packet in the UPF and the UPF side TSN translator), and the transmission delay between the UE and the UPF (specifically, expressed as a packet delay budget (PDB) value of the TSN packet between the UE and the UPF). The downlink is used as an example. The internal processing delay of the 5G system switching node may be shown in FIG. 4.

[0157] On the user plane, a UPF network element in a 5G system receives a downlink TSN stream from a TSN system or transmits an uplink TSN stream to the TSN system via a UPF-side TSN translator. The TSN translator can be integrated into the UPF network element or deployed independently from the UPF network element. In this embodiment, the UPF-side TSN translator can also be referred to as a network-side TSN translator (NW-TT).

[0158] On the user plane, a UE in a 5G system receives an uplink TSN stream from a TSN system or transmits a downlink TSN stream to the TSN system via a UE-side TSN translator. The TSN translator can be embedded in the UE or located independently of the UE. In this embodiment, the UE-side TSN translator can also be referred to as a device-side TSN translator (DS-TT).

[0159] The following describes the delay of a TSN stream in a 5G system with reference to Figure 5. Figure 5(a) shows the uplink direction, and Figure 5(b) shows the downlink direction.

[0160] The AF network element may obtain scheduling information of the TSN stream from the CNC, and determine a time sensitive communication assistance container (TSCAC) based on the scheduling information of the TSN stream.

[0161] The TSCAC may include the time at which the TSN stream arrives at the entrance of the 5G system (which may be referred to as the first burst arrival time).

[0162] For example, in the uplink direction, the time at which the TSN stream arrives at the entrance of the 5G system is the time at which the TSN stream arrives at the entrance of the DS-TT, for example, the uplink burst arrival time (UL burst arrival time) in (a) of Figure 5. Here, the uplink burst arrival time may also be referred to as the uplink TSCAC burst arrival time.

[0163] As another example, in the downlink direction, the time at which the TSN stream arrives at the entrance of the 5G system is the time at which the TSN stream arrives at the entrance of the NW-TT, for example, the downlink burst arrival time (DL burst arrival time) in (b) of Figure 5. Here, the downlink burst arrival time may also be referred to as the downlink TSCAC burst arrival time.

[0164] Optionally, the TSCAC may further include a stream direction and a period, where the stream direction indicates whether the TSN stream is in the uplink or downlink direction, and the period indicates the interval between two burst start times.

[0165] In addition, the AF network element may further provide the TSCAC to the SMF network element via the PCF network element, and the SMF network element may further obtain TSC assistance information (TSCAI) through calculation based on the TSCAC, and send the TSCAI to the access network device, so that the access network device can reserve resources in advance.

[0166] The TSCAI may include a first burst arrival time, a stream direction, and a period, where the first burst arrival time may be determined based on the first burst arrival time, the stream direction is consistent with the stream direction of the TSCAC, and the period is consistent with the period of the TSCAC.

[0167] For example, in the uplink direction, the second burst arrival time is the time when the TSN stream is transmitted from the UE, e.g., the uplink TSCAI burst arrival time (UL TSCAI burst arrival time) in (a) of Figure 5. In this example, the way in which the SMF determines the UL TSCAI burst arrival time is as follows:

[0168] UL TSCAI burst arrival time = UL burst arrival time + UE residence time

[0169] As another example, in the downlink direction, the second burst arrival time is the time when the TSN stream arrives at the NG-RAN, e.g., the downlink TSCAI burst arrival time (DL TSCAI burst arrival time) in Figure 5(b). In this example, the way in which the SMF determines the DL TSCAI burst arrival time is as follows:

[0170] DL TSCAI burst arrival time = DL burst arrival time + Downlink Core Network Packet Delay Budget (DL CN PDB)

[0171] In a system, SMF network elements may associate service flows (i.e., data flows) with quality of service (QoS) flows. In other words, there is a correspondence between QoS flows and service flows. For TSC services, it is generally considered that QoS flows have a one-to-one correspondence with service flows.

[0172] To ensure end-to-end quality of service in 5G systems, a QoS flow-based 5G QoS model is proposed, as shown in Figure 6. The 5G QoS model supports guaranteed bit rate QoS flows (GBR QoS flows) and non-guaranteed bit rate QoS flows (Non-GBR QoS flows). The same transmission treatment (e.g., scheduling or admission threshold) is applied to data packets controlled by using the same QoS flow.

[0173] A terminal device can establish one or more sessions (e.g., PDU sessions) with a 5G system, and one or more QoS flows can be established in each session. Each QoS flow is identified by a QoS Flow Identifier (QFI), which uniquely identifies one QoS flow within a session.

[0174] Each QoS flow has its own characteristic information, and the SMF sends the QoS profile to the RAN. The QoS file contains the 5G QoS identifier 5QI (5QI is the QoS characteristic index).

[0175] The QoS features include a PDB, which defines an upper bound on the possible delay time of a data packet between the UE and the UPF.

[0176] The PDB includes the 5G Access Network Packet Delay Budget (5G-AN PDB) and the Core Network Packet Delay Budget (CN PDB). The CN PDB represents the delay between any N6 termination point in the UPF (for any UPF that may be selected for the session) and the 5G-AN with a given PDB. The 5G-AN PDB is determined by subtracting the value of the CN PDB from the PDB. The CN PDB can be a static or dynamic value depending on the implementation of the 5GS Bridge.

[0177] The QoS features further include the maximum data burst volume (MDBV) that needs to be served in a 5G-AN PDB period. Each standardized 5QI (for delay-critical GBR resource types) has a default MDBV value. The MDBV can alternatively be dynamically distributed to the RAN. If the RAN receives a dynamically distributed MDBV, the RAN should use the dynamically distributed MDBV instead of the default value.

[0178] In the system, the 5G network may generate an MDBV in the QoS information based on the TSC burst size. The maximum TSC burst size is considered to be the maximum data volume within a period equal to the 5G-AN PDB value of the 5QI. The MDBV of the 5QI to which the maximum TSC burst size is mapped should be equal to or greater than the maximum TSC burst size. When interworking with an external TSN, the 5QI should also have a PDB value that satisfies the bridge delay capability of the corresponding service type. When interworking with an external TSC, the MDBV of the 5QI to which the maximum TSC burst size is mapped should also be equal to or greater than the maximum TSC burst size.

[0179] In this application, the network interfacing with the 5G system may not be limited to a TSN network, and may be, for example, a TSC service in a non-TSN network. A network architecture in which a 5G system interfacing with a TSC service in a non-TSN network may be shown in Figure 7. In the system, the TSCAC may be transmitted to an SMF network element via an AF network element or a time sensitive communication and time synchronization function (TSCTSF) network element. For how the SMF network element determines the TSCAI based on the TSCAC, please refer to the network architecture shown in Figure 3. The details will not be described again here.

[0180] For ease of understanding, this application uses an example in which the network interfacing with the 5G system is a TSN network for explanation.

[0181] As shown in Figure 8, when a 5G network interacts with a TSN network, a control plane network element (e.g., an SMF network element) in the 5G system may be used as a CUC network element in the TSN network, and an access network device and a UPF network element in the 5G system may be used as a TSN terminal 1 and a TSN terminal 2, respectively. In this application, an SMF network element used as a CUC network element in a TSN network may also be referred to as an SMF or a CUC.

[0182] In the uplink direction, the access network device is used as a talker and the UPF network element is used as a listener. In the downlink direction, the UPF network element is used as a talker and the access network device is used as a listener. Therefore, the access network device in Figure 8 may further include an access network talker / listener (AN-TL), and the UPF network element may further include a core network talker / listener (CN-TL).

[0183] Referring to FIG. 3, the network architecture in which a 5G network interacts with a TSN network may alternatively be shown in FIG. 9.

[0184] When a 5G network interacts with a TSN network, the SMF network element may generate talker group information and listener group information and send the talker group information / listener group information to a CNC network element in the TSN system, so that the CNC network element can configure the TSN terminal based on the talker group information / listener group information. The talker group information / listener group information may also be called a merged stream requirement. The merged stream requirement information includes traffic specification-related parameters, such as interval, maximum frame length, maximum number of frames in a period, earliest transmission offset, latest transmission offset, jitter, and user-to-network requirements.

[0185] The SMF may generate intervals based on the traffic periodicity indicated in the TSCAI.

[0186] The SMF may generate a maximum frame length based on the maximum TSC burst size of the QoS flow. The SMF may determine the maximum frame length according to the following formula: Maximum frame length = Maximum TSC burst size - Framing bits not intended for transmission in 5G systems (e.g., CRC and GTP-U tunnel header)

[0187] The SMF may determine the earliest transmission offset based on the first burst arrival time or the second burst arrival time.

[0188] As an example, in the uplink direction, the SMF may determine the earliest transmission offset according to the following formula: Earliest transmission offset = uplink TSCAI burst arrival time + 5G-AN PDB-k1 × interval k1 is an integer.

[0189] As another example, in the downlink direction, the SMF may determine the earliest transmission offset according to the following formula: Earliest transmission offset = Downlink TSCAC burst arrival time + UPF side residence time - k2 × interval k2 is an integer.

[0190] The SMF may generate jitter based on local settings.

[0191] The SMF may determine the latest transmit offset based on the earliest transmit offset, the interval, the jitter, and the maximum frame length. The SMF may determine the latest transmit offset according to the following formula: Latest transmit offset = Earliest transmit offset + Interval - (Time to transmit jitter + Maximum frame length)

[0192] The SMF may generate user-to-network requirements based on the time difference between the CN PDB and the UPF side residence time.

[0193] FIG. 10 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method. At S1001, a terminal device triggers a session establishment procedure. At S1002, a PCF network element sends a PCC rule and quality of service flow information to an SMF network element, where the PCC rule includes TSCAC information, and the quality of service flow information includes an MDBV value and a maximum TSC burst size. Correspondingly, the SMF network element receives the PCC rule and quality of service flow information, establishes a QoS flow based on the MDBV value in the quality of service flow information, and transmits the QoS flow information to the access network device and the UPF network element. At S1003, the SMF network element obtains merge stream requirement information based on the PCC rule and the maximum TSC burst size. At S1004, the SMF network element transmits the merge stream requirement information to a CNC. At S1005, the CNC network element generates status information (also referred to as a merge end station communication configuration) based on the merge stream requirement information. At S1006, the CNC network element sends the status information to the SMF network element. In response, the SMF network element receives the status information. At S1007, the SMF network element configures the access network device and the UPF network element based on the status information.

[0194] However, in this method, when generating some parameters (e.g., maximum frame length and latest transmission offset) in the merge stream requirement information, the SMF network element needs to first obtain the maximum TSC burst size value from the PCF network element in the 5G system, and then calculate the maximum frame length and latest transmission offset based on the maximum TSC burst size value. Furthermore, the SMF network element further obtains an MDBV value from the PCF network element, and the MDBV value may be equal to or greater than the maximum TSC burst size. Therefore, when the maximum TSC burst size value is transmitted between the PCF network element and the SMF network element and the MDBV value is equal to the maximum TSC burst size, a problem of high transmission overhead occurs.

[0195] In view of this, the present application provides a communication method to solve the problem of high transmission overhead in the prior art.

[0196] In the technical solution of the present application, when it is determined that the 5G system interworks with the TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G system and the TSN, the PCF network element sets the maximum burst size to the MDBV value and sends the MDBV value to the SMF network element, so that the SMF network element can determine the merge stream requirement information based on the MDBV value. In this way, the SMF network element does not need to generate the merge stream requirement information based on the maximum TSC burst size. In other words, such a parameter, i.e., the maximum TSC burst size, does not need to be transmitted between the PCF network element and the SMF network element, thereby reducing system transmission overhead. Furthermore, because the MDBV value is equal to the maximum TSC burst size, the PCF network element can accurately transmit the maximum TSC burst size to the PCF network element based on the MDBV value to obtain accurate merge stream requirement information.

[0197] 11 is a diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 11, the communication method may include S1101 to S1104.

[0198] In this embodiment, the terminal device may be configured to trigger a session establishment procedure or a session modification procedure.

[0199] S1101: If it is determined that the 5G network supports interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G network and TSN, the PCF network element generates an MDBV value corresponding to the session based on the maximum TSC burst size, and the MDBV value is equal to the maximum TSC burst size.

[0200] In this embodiment, the PCF network element may determine, based on the indication information, that the 5G network supports interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G network and TSN.

[0201] For example, the indication information may be sent by an SMF network element.

[0202] In this example, the indication information may directly or indirectly indicate that the 5G network supports interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G network and TSN.

[0203] For ease of understanding, this example will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to FIG.

[0204] As another example, the indication information may be transmitted by an AF network element.

[0205] In this example, the indication information may directly or indirectly indicate that the 5G network supports interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G network and TSN.

[0206] For ease of understanding, this example will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to FIG.

[0207] Optionally, the PCF network element may alternatively determine, based on the data network name and / or network slice information, whether the 5G network supports interworking with TSN or whether an interworking requirement exists between the 5G network and TSN.

[0208] For example, the PCF network element may obtain the session association information sent by the SMF network element, and then determine, based on the session association information and local configuration, whether the 5G network supports interworking with the TSN or whether an interworking requirement exists between the 5G network and the TSN. The session association information may include a data network name and / or network slice information corresponding to the session.

[0209] For example, it is assumed that the local configuration includes a data network name and / or network slice information that supports interworking with TSN. If the local configuration includes session association information, the PCF network element determines that the 5G network supports interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G network and TSN. If the local configuration does not include session association information, the PCF network element determines that the 5G network does not support interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement does not exist between the 5G network and TSN.

[0210] As another example, it is assumed that the local configuration includes a network identifier and indication information corresponding to the network identifier, where the network identifier may include at least one data network name and / or at least one network slice information, and the indication information indicates whether interworking with TSN is supported. If the local configuration includes session association information and the indication information corresponding to the session association information indicates that interworking with TSN is supported, the PCF network element determines that the 5G network supports interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G network and the TSN. Otherwise, the PCF network element determines that the 5G network does not support interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement does not exist between the 5G network and the TSN.

[0211] For ease of understanding, this example will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to FIG.

[0212] As another example, the PCF network element may obtain association information of the AF request and determine, based on the association information of the AF request and preset configuration information, whether the 5G network supports interworking with TSN or whether an interworking requirement exists between the 5G network and TSN. The association information of the AF request may include a data network name and / or network slice information corresponding to the AF request.

[0213] For example, it is assumed that the local configuration includes a data network name and / or network slice information that supports interworking with TSN. If the local configuration includes association information for the AF request, the PCF network element determines that the 5G network supports interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G network and TSN. If the local configuration does not include association information for the AF request, the PCF network element determines that the 5G network does not support interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement does not exist between the 5G network and TSN.

[0214] As another example, it is assumed that the local configuration includes a network identifier and indication information corresponding to the network identifier, where the network identifier may include a data network name and / or network slice information corresponding to each of the at least one AF request, and the indication information indicates whether interworking with TSN is supported. If the local configuration includes association information for the AF request and the indication information corresponding to the association information for the AF request indicates that interworking with TSN is supported, the PCF network element determines that the 5G network supports interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G network and TSN. Otherwise, the PCF network element determines that the 5G network does not support interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement does not exist between the 5G network and TSN.

[0215] For ease of understanding, this example will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to FIG.

[0216] In this embodiment, the PCF network element may first obtain the maximum TSC burst size value from the AF network element, and then set the MDBV value to a value equal to the maximum TSC burst size value, i.e., set the MDBV value equal to the maximum TSC burst size value.

[0217] Furthermore, if the PCF network element determines that the 5G network supports interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G network and TSN, the PCF network element may set the MDBV value to a value equal to the maximum TSC burst size when generating a PCC rule corresponding to the session.

[0218] It can be appreciated that setting the MDBV value equal to the maximum TSC burst size does not adversely affect the existing functionality of MDBV (specifically, RAN scheduling / admission control), but instead adds a new functionality of representing the maximum burst size of a service flow (e.g., a TSN / TSC stream or aggregated TSN / TSC stream) in the data network.

[0219] S1102: The PCF network element sends the MDBV value to the SMF network element, and the SMF network element receives the MDBV value accordingly.

[0220] S1103: The SMF network element determines merge stream requirement information based on the MDBV value.

[0221] In this embodiment, the merge stream requirement information may also be referred to as talker / listener group information, and the merge stream requirement information may include a maximum frame length and / or a latest transmission offset.

[0222] If the merge stream requirement information includes a maximum frame length, the SMF network element may use the following formula (1): S1=S1-S2 (1) The maximum frame length can be calculated according to:

[0223] S represents the maximum frame length, S1 represents the MDBV value, and S2 represents framing bits that are not intended for transmission in the 5G system (e.g., CRC and GTP-U tunnel header).

[0224] When the merge stream requirement information includes the latest transmission offset, the SMF network element calculates the latest transmission offset using equation (2): a=b+c-(d+ts) (2) The slowest transmission offset may be calculated according to:

[0225] a represents the earliest transmission offset, b represents the interval, c represents the jitter, and ts represents the time for transmitting the maximum frame length. In this embodiment, the calculation of the earliest transmission offset, the interval, and the jitter can be found in the prior art, and the details will not be described here.

[0226] In this embodiment, after obtaining the maximum frame length by calculation according to equation (1), the SMF network element may locally store the value of the maximum frame length. In this way, the SMF network element may calculate the latest transmission offset based on the locally stored value of the maximum frame length.

[0227] Optionally, when calculating the latest transmission offset, the SMF network element may first obtain the maximum frame length value by calculation according to equation (1), and then calculate the latest transmission offset based on the maximum frame length value obtained by calculation.

[0228] S1104: The SMF network element sends merge stream requirement information to the CNC network element.

[0229] In this embodiment, after the SMF network element sends the merge stream requirement information to the CNC network element, the CNC network element may generate status information based on the merge stream requirement information and send the status information to the SMF network element. Correspondingly, after receiving the status information, the SMF network element may configure the access network device and the UPF network element based on the status information. In this method, when calculating the merge stream requirement information (e.g., the maximum frame length and the latest transmission offset), the SMF network element may perform the calculation directly based on the MDBV value obtained from the PCF network element. In this way, the SMF network element does not need to further obtain such parameters, i.e., the maximum TSC burst size, from the PCF network element, thereby reducing transmission overhead. Furthermore, in this method, since the MDBV value is equal to the maximum TSC burst size, the merge stream requirement information obtained by the SMF network element through calculation based on the MDBV value is equivalent to the merge stream requirement information obtained by the SMF network element through calculation based on the maximum TSC burst size in the prior art to obtain accurate merge stream requirement information.

[0230] The present solution will now be further described herein with reference to FIGS.

[0231] 12 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 12, the communication method includes S1201 to S1208.

[0232] S1201: The SMF network element sends first information to the PCF network element, the first information being for determining that the 5G system supports interworking with the TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G system and the TSN. Correspondingly, the PCF network element receives the first information.

[0233] In this embodiment, the first information is the indication information sent by the SMF network element to the PCF network element in the embodiment shown in Figure 11. The step may be used during session establishment or session modification.

[0234] The 5G system's support for interworking with TSN indicates that the 5G system network can control the TSN functions of the transport network deployed on a communication interface (e.g., an N3 interface). Optionally, the communication interface may further include an N9 interface.

[0235] In this embodiment, the first information may directly or indirectly indicate that the 5G system supports interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G system and TSN.

[0236] In implementation, the first information includes indication information indicating that the SMF network element supports interworking with the TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the SMF network element and the TSN.

[0237] If it is determined that an SMF network element in the 5G network supports interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between an SMF network element in the 5G network and TSN, the PCF network element may determine that the 5G network supports interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G network and TSN.

[0238] Optionally, the SMF network element may generate the first information based on conditions, including at least one of the following conditions: the SMF network element has a function of a CUC network element, the data network name corresponding to the session is applicable to a time-sensitive communication service, and the network slice information corresponding to the session is applicable to a time-sensitive communication service.

[0239] Optionally, the SMF network element may alternatively generate the first information based on port information of the access network device and / or the UPF network element, where the port information may include information such as interface capabilities, end station interfaces, and cache capabilities.

[0240] In this implementation, before the SMF network element sends the first information to the PCF network element, the PCF network element may further send second information to the SMF network element, where the second information instructs the SMF network element to send the first information to the PCF network element if the SMF network element supports interworking with TSN or if an interworking requirement exists between the SMF network element and TSN.

[0241] For example, the PCF network element may first send the PCC rule to the SMF network element, where the PCC rule carries the second information.

[0242] Optionally, the second information may further instruct the SMF network element to send sub-information to the PCF network element when an interworking requirement between the 5G system and the TSN changes, where the sub-information indicates that an interworking requirement between the 5G system and the TSN has changed.

[0243] Optionally, after receiving the sub-information, the PCF network element may further instruct the SMF network element to send the changed value to the PCF. Alternatively, when sending the sub-information to the PCF network element, the SMF network element may send the changed value to the PCF network element.

[0244] As another example, the second information may include a policy control request trigger, in which case the SMF network element may send the first information to the PCF network element based on the policy control request trigger.

[0245] Specifically, the policy control request trigger may be used to trigger the SMF network element to send the second information to the PCF network element if the SMF network element supports interworking with TSN.

[0246] Optionally, the policy control request trigger may further be used to trigger the SMF network element to send sub-information to the PCF network element if an interaction requirement between the SMF network element and the TSN has changed, where the sub-information indicates that the interaction requirement between the 5G system and the TSN has changed.

[0247] In this implementation, it can be understood that the first information provides a direct instruction.

[0248] In another implementation, the first information may include at least one of the following conditions: the SMF network element has the functionality of a centralized user-configured CUC network element, the data network name corresponding to the session is applicable to a time-sensitive communication service, and the network slice information corresponding to the session is applicable to a time-sensitive communication service.

[0249] Optionally, the first information is information from the access network device and / or the user plane function (UPF) network element and may further include port information determined by the SMF network element. The port information may include information such as interface capabilities, end station interfaces, and cache capabilities.

[0250] In this implementation, it can be understood that the first information provides an indirect indication.

[0251] S1202: The PCF network element generates an MDBV value corresponding to the session based on the maximum value of the TSC burst size, where the MDBV value is equal to the maximum value of the TSC burst size.

[0252] In implementation, the first information directly indicates the MDBV value for the session after receiving the first information from the SMF network element.

[0253] In another implementation, the first information indirectly indicates. In this way, after receiving the first information from the SMF network element, the PCF network element first determines based on the first information that the SMF network element supports interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the SMF network element and TSN, and then generates an MDBV value corresponding to the session based on the maximum TSC burst size.

[0254] S1203: The PCF network element sends the MDBV value to the SMF network element, and the SMF network element receives the MDBV value accordingly.

[0255] S1204: The SMF network element determines merge stream requirement information based on the MDBV value.

[0256] For how the SMF network element determines the merge stream requirement information based on the MDBV value in this embodiment, please refer to S1103 in the embodiment shown in Figure 11. The details will not be described again here.

[0257] S1205: The SMF network element sends the merge stream requirement information to the CNC network element. In response, the CNC network element receives the merge stream requirement information.

[0258] S1206: The CNC network element generates status information based on the merge stream requirement information.

[0259] S1207: The CNC network element sends the status information to the SMF network element. In response, the SMF network element receives the status information.

[0260] S1208: The SMF network element configures the access network device and the UPF network element based on the status information.

[0261] In this embodiment, for the specific implementation of S1205 to S1208, please refer to the prior art, and the details will not be described here.

[0262] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the PCF network element determines, based on the first information sent by the SMF network element, that the 5G network supports interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G network and TSN.

[0263] In this embodiment, after receiving the first information from the SMF network element, the PCF network element sets the MDBV value to a value equal to the maximum TSC burst size, and then sends the MDBV value to the SMF network element, so that the SMF network element can calculate merge stream requirement information based on the MDBV value. In this way, the SMF network element does not need to further obtain such a parameter, i.e., the maximum TSC burst size, from the PCF network element, but directly performs the calculation based on the MDBV value obtained from the PCF network element. This can reduce transmission overhead, and accurate merge stream requirement information can be obtained.

[0264] 13 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to another embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 13, the communication method includes S1301 to S1308.

[0265] S1301: The AF network element sends first information to the PCF network element, where the first information is for determining that the 5G system supports interworking with the TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G system and the TSN. Correspondingly, the PCF network element receives the first information.

[0266] In this embodiment, the first information is the indication information sent by the PCF network element by the AF network element in the embodiment shown in Figure 11. The step can be used during session establishment or session modification.

[0267] The 5G system's support for interworking with TSN indicates that the 5G system network can control the TSN functions of the transport network deployed on a communication interface (e.g., an N3 interface). Optionally, the communication interface may further include an N9 interface.

[0268] In this embodiment, the first information may directly or indirectly indicate that the 5G system supports interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G system and TSN.

[0269] In implementation, the first information includes indication information indicating that the AF network element supports interworking with the TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the AF network element and the TSN.

[0270] If it is determined that an AF network element in the 5G network supports interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between an AF network element in the 5G network and TSN, the PCF network element may determine that the 5G network supports interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G network and TSN.

[0271] Optionally, the AF network element may generate the first information based on a condition, which includes at least one of the following conditions: a delay requirement in the AF request is equal to or less than a preset threshold, the AF request includes assistance container information, and the AF request includes burst arrival time information.

[0272] For example, the delay requirement in the AF request may include PDB, and the preset threshold may be 2 ms or 3 ms.

[0273] In this implementation, it can be understood that the first information provides a direct instruction.

[0274] In another implementation, the first information includes at least one of the following conditions: a delay requirement in the AF request is less than or equal to a preset threshold, the AF request includes assistance container information, and the AF request includes burst arrival time information.

[0275] In this implementation, it can be understood that the first information provides an indirect indication.

[0276] S1302: The PCF network element generates an MDBV value corresponding to the session based on the maximum value of the TSC burst size, where the MDBV value is equal to the maximum value of the TSC burst size.

[0277] In implementation, the first information directly indicates, In this way, after receiving the first information from the AF network element, the PCF network element generates an MDBV value corresponding to the session based on the maximum TSC burst size.

[0278] In another implementation, the first information indirectly indicates. In this way, after receiving the first information from the AF network element, the PCF network element first determines based on the first information that the SMF network element supports interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the SMF network element and TSN, and then generates an MDBV value corresponding to the session based on the maximum TSC burst size.

[0279] S1303: The PCF network element sends the MDBV value to the SMF network element, and the SMF network element receives the MDBV value accordingly.

[0280] S1304: The SMF network element determines merge stream requirement information based on the MDBV value.

[0281] For how the SMF network element determines the merge stream requirement information based on the MDBV value in this embodiment, please refer to S1103 in the embodiment shown in Figure 11. The details will not be described again here.

[0282] S1305: The SMF network element sends the merge stream requirement information to the CNC network element. In response, the CNC network element receives the merge stream requirement information.

[0283] S1306: The CNC network element generates status information based on the merge stream requirement information.

[0284] S1307: The CNC network element sends the status information to the SMF network element. In response, the SMF network element receives the status information.

[0285] S1308: The SMF network element configures the access network device and the UPF network element based on the status information.

[0286] In this embodiment, the specific implementation of S1305 to S1308 can be referred to the prior art, and the details will not be described here.

[0287] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the PCF network element determines, based on the first information sent by the AF network element, that the 5G network supports interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G network and TSN.

[0288] In this embodiment, after receiving the first information from the AF network element, the PCF network element sets the MDBV value to a value equal to the maximum TSC burst size, and then sends the MDBV value to the SMF network element, so that the SMF network element can calculate merge stream requirement information based on the MDBV value. In this way, the SMF network element does not need to further obtain such a parameter, i.e., the maximum TSC burst size, from the PCF network element, but directly performs the calculation based on the MDBV value obtained from the PCF network element. This can reduce transmission overhead, and accurate merge stream requirement information can be obtained.

[0289] 14 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to another embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 14, the communication method includes S1401 to S1409.

[0290] S1401: The SMF network element sends third information to the PCF network element, where the third information includes a data network name and / or network slice information corresponding to the session.

[0291] The third information corresponds to the session association information in the embodiment shown in FIG.

[0292] S1402: The PCF network element determines, based on the third information, whether the 5G system supports interworking with TSN or whether there is an interworking requirement between the 5G system and TSN.

[0293] When determining based on the third information whether the 5G system supports interworking with TSN or whether an interworking requirement exists between the 5G system and TSN, the PCF network element may determine based on the third information and the local configuration whether the 5G system supports interworking with TSN or whether an interworking requirement exists between the 5G system and TSN.

[0294] In a possible implementation, the local configuration of the PCF network element may include a data network name and / or network slice information that supports interworking with TSN (i.e., indicates that interworking with TSN exists). If the local configuration includes the third information, the PCF network element determines that the 5G network supports interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G network and TSN. If the local configuration does not include the third information, the PCF network element determines that the 5G network does not support interworking with TSN.

[0295] In a first example, the local configuration includes at least one data network name that supports interworking with TSN. If the at least one data network name in the local configuration includes a data network name corresponding to the session in the third information, the PCF determines that the 5G network supports interworking with TSN. If the at least one data network name in the local configuration does not include a data network name corresponding to the session in the third information, the PCF determines that the 5G network does not support interworking with TSN.

[0296] For example, it is assumed that the local configuration includes data network name 1 and data network name 2. If the data network name corresponding to the session in the third information is data network name 1 or data network name 2, the PCF determines that the 5G network supports interworking with TSN. If the data network name corresponding to the session in the third information is another data network name (e.g., data network name 3), the PCF determines that the 5G network does not support interworking with TSN.

[0297] In a second example, the local configuration includes at least one network slice information that supports interworking with TSN. If the at least one network slice information in the local configuration includes the network slice information in the third information, the PCF determines that the 5G network supports interworking with TSN. If the at least one network slice information in the local configuration does not include the network slice information in the third information, the PCF determines that the 5G network does not support interworking with TSN.

[0298] For example, it is assumed that the local configuration includes network slice information 1 and network slice information 2. If the network slice information corresponding to the session in the third information is network slice information 1 or network slice information 2, the PCF determines that the 5G network supports interworking with TSN. If the network slice information corresponding to the session in the third information is another network slice information (e.g., network slice information 3), the PCF determines that the 5G network does not support interworking with TSN.

[0299] In a third example, the local configuration includes at least one pair of data network name and network slice information that supports interworking with TSN. If the at least one pair of data network name and network slice information in the local configuration includes the data network name and network slice information in the third information, the PCF determines that the 5G network supports interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G network and the TSN. If the at least one pair of data network name and network slice information does not include the data network name and network slice information in the third information, the PCF determines that the 5G network does not support interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G network and the TSN.

[0300] For example, it is assumed that the local configuration includes three information pairs: a first information pair includes a data network name 1 and network slice information A, a second information pair includes a data network name 2 and network slice information B, and a third information pair includes a data network name 3 and network slice information C. If the data network name and network slice information corresponding to the session in the third information are any one of the three information pairs, the PCF determines that the 5G network supports interworking with TSN. Otherwise, the PCF determines that the 5G network does not support interworking with TSN.

[0301] In another possible implementation, the local configuration of the PCF network element may include a network identifier and indication information corresponding to the network identifier, where the network identifier may include at least one data network name and / or at least one network slice information, and the indication information indicates whether interworking with TSN is supported (or whether an interworking requirement with TSN exists). If the network identifier in the local configuration includes third information and the indication information corresponding to the third information indicates that interworking with TSN is supported, the PCF network element determines that the 5G network supports interworking with TSN. Otherwise, the PCF network element determines that the 5G network does not support interworking with TSN.

[0302] If the network identifier includes a data network name, the local settings may be as shown in Table 1.

[0303] Table 1: Local Settings [Table 1]

[0304] According to Table 1, if the data network name in the third information is Data Network Name 1, the PCF network element determines that the 5G network supports interworking with TSN. If the data network name in the third information is Data Network Name 2 or Data Network Name 3, the PCF network element determines that the 5G network does not support interworking with TSN.

[0305] If the network identifier includes network slice information, the local configuration may be as shown in Table 2.

[0306] Table 2: Local Settings [Table 2]

[0307] According to Table 2, if the network slice information in the third information is network slice information A, the PCF network element determines that the 5G network supports interworking with TSN. If the network slice information in the third information is network slice information B or network slice information C, the PCF network element determines that the 5G network does not support interworking with TSN.

[0308] If the session identifier includes the data network name and network slice information, the local configuration may be as shown in Table 3.

[0309] Table 3: Local Settings [Table 3]

[0310] According to Table 3, if the data network name in the third information is data network name 1 and the network slice information is network slice information A, the PCF network element determines that the 5G network supports interworking with TSN. If the data network name in the third information is data network name 1 and the network slice information is network slice information B, the PCF network element determines that the 5G network does not support interworking with TSN. If the data network name in the third information is data network name 3 and the network slice information is network slice information A, the PCF network element determines that the 5G network does not support interworking with TSN.

[0311] S1403: If it is determined that the 5G system supports interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G system and TSN, the PCF network element generates an MDBV value corresponding to the session based on the maximum TSC burst size, and the MDBV value is equal to the maximum TSC burst size.

[0312] S1404: The PCF network element sends the MDBV value to the SMF network element, and the SMF network element receives the MDBV value accordingly.

[0313] S1405: The SMF network element determines merge stream requirement information based on the MDBV value.

[0314] S1406: The SMF network element sends the merge stream requirement information to the CNC network element. In response, the CNC network element receives the merge stream requirement information.

[0315] S1407: The CNC network element generates status information based on the merge stream requirement information.

[0316] S1408: The CNC network element sends the status information to the SMF network element. In response, the SMF network element receives the status information.

[0317] S1408: The SMF network element configures the access network device and the UPF network element based on the status information.

[0318] In this embodiment, for S1403 to S1405, please refer to the relevant content in the embodiment shown in Figure 11. The details will not be described again here.

[0319] In this embodiment, for the specific implementation of S1406 to S1406, please refer to the prior art, and the details will not be described here.

[0320] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the PCF network element determines, based on the third information sent by the SMF network element and the local configuration, whether the 5G network supports interworking with TSN or whether an interworking requirement exists between the 5G network and TSN.

[0321] In this embodiment, if the PCF network element determines that the 5G system supports interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G system and TSN, the PCF network element sets the MDBV value to a value equal to the maximum TSC burst size and then sends the MDBV value to the SMF network element, so that the SMF network element can calculate merge stream requirement information based on the MDBV value. In this way, the SMF network element does not need to further obtain such a parameter, i.e., the maximum TSC burst size, from the PCF network element, but directly performs the calculation based on the MDBV value obtained from the PCF network element. This can reduce transmission overhead, and accurate merge stream requirement information can be obtained.

[0322] 15 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to another embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 15, the communication method includes S1501 to S1509.

[0323] S1501: The A network element sends fourth information to the PCF network element, where the fourth information includes a data network name and / or network slice information corresponding to the AF request.

[0324] The fourth information corresponds to the association information of the AF request in the embodiment shown in FIG.

[0325] S1502: Based on the fourth information, the PCF network element determines whether the 5G system supports interworking with TSN or whether there is an interworking requirement between the 5G system and TSN.

[0326] When determining based on the fourth information whether the 5G system supports interworking with TSN or whether an interworking requirement exists between the 5G system and TSN, the PCF network element may determine based on the fourth information and the local configuration whether the 5G system supports interworking with TSN or whether an interworking requirement exists between the 5G system and TSN.

[0327] In this embodiment, the method by which the PCF network element determines whether the 5G system supports interworking with TSN or whether an interworking requirement exists between the 5G system and TSN based on the fourth information and the local configuration is the same as the method by which the PCF network element determines whether the 5G system supports interworking with TSN or whether an interworking requirement exists between the 5G system and TSN based on the third information and the local configuration in the embodiment shown in Figure 14. Details will not be described again here.

[0328] S1503: When it is determined that the 5G system supports interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G system and TSN, the PCF network element generates an MDBV value corresponding to the session based on the maximum TSC burst size, and the MDBV value is equal to the maximum TSC burst size.

[0329] S1504: The PCF network element sends the MDBV value to the SMF network element, and the SMF network element receives the MDBV value accordingly.

[0330] S1505: The SMF network element determines merge stream requirement information based on the MDBV value.

[0331] S1506: The SMF network element sends the merge stream requirement information to the CNC network element. In response, the CNC network element receives the merge stream requirement information.

[0332] S1507: The CNC network element generates status information based on the merge stream requirement information.

[0333] S1508: The CNC network element sends the status information to the SMF network element. In response, the SMF network element receives the status information.

[0334] S1509: The SMF network element configures the access network device and the UPF network element based on the status information.

[0335] In this embodiment, for S1503 to S1505, please refer to the relevant contents in the embodiment shown in Figure 11. The details will not be described again here.

[0336] In this embodiment, for the specific implementation of S1506 to S1506, please refer to the prior art, and the details will not be described here.

[0337] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, the PCF network element determines, based on the fourth information sent by the AF network element and the local configuration, whether the 5G network supports interworking with TSN or whether an interworking requirement exists between the 5G network and TSN.

[0338] In this embodiment, if the PCF network element determines that the 5G system supports interworking with TSN or that an interworking requirement exists between the 5G system and TSN, the PCF network element sets the MDBV value to a value equal to the maximum TSC burst size and then sends the MDBV value to the SMF network element, so that the SMF network element can calculate merge stream requirement information based on the MDBV value. In this way, the SMF network element does not need to further obtain such a parameter, i.e., the maximum TSC burst size, from the PCF network element, but directly performs the calculation based on the MDBV value obtained from the PCF network element. This can reduce transmission overhead, and accurate merge stream requirement information can be obtained.

[0339] 16 is a diagram of the structure of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 16, the communication device 1600 may include a generating module 1601 and a transmitting module 1602. Optionally, the communication device 1600 may further include a receiving module 1603.

[0340] In a first example, the communication device 1600 may be configured to implement the communication method in the embodiment shown in Figure 11. The generating module 1601 may be configured to perform S1101, and the sending module 1602 may be configured to perform S1102.

[0341] In a second example, the communication device 1600 may be configured to implement the communication method in the embodiment shown in Figure 12. The generating module 1601 may be configured to perform S1202, the sending module 1602 may be configured to perform S1203, and the receiving module 1603 may be configured to perform S1201.

[0342] In a third example, the communication device 1600 may be configured to implement the communication method in the embodiment shown in Figure 13. The generating module 1601 may be configured to perform S1302, the sending module 1602 may be configured to perform S1303, and the receiving module 1603 may be configured to perform S1301.

[0343] Optionally, the communications apparatus 1600 may further include a determining module 1604 .

[0344] In a fourth example, the communication device 1600 may be configured to implement the communication method in the embodiment shown in Figure 14. The generating module 1601 may be configured to perform S1403, the sending module 1602 may be configured to perform S1404, the receiving module 1603 may be configured to perform S1401, and the determining module 1604 may be configured to perform S1402.

[0345] In a fifth example, the communication device 1600 may be configured to implement the communication method in the embodiment shown in Figure 15. The generating module 1601 may be configured to perform S1503, the sending module 1602 may be configured to perform S1504, the receiving module 1603 may be configured to perform S1501, and the determining module 1604 may be configured to perform S1502.

[0346] 17 is a diagram of a structure of a communication device according to another embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 17, a communication device 1700 may include: a receiving module 1701, a determining module 1702, and a sending module 1703.

[0347] In a first example, the communication device 1700 may be configured to implement the communication method in the embodiment shown in Figure 11. The receiving module 1701 may be configured to perform S1102, the determining module 1702 may be configured to perform S1103, and the sending module 1703 may be configured to perform S1104.

[0348] In a second example, the communication device 1700 may be configured to implement the communication method in the embodiment shown in Figure 12. The receiving module 1701 may be configured to perform S1203, the determining module 1702 may be configured to perform S1204, and the sending module 1703 may be configured to perform S1205.

[0349] In a third example, the communication device 1700 may be configured to implement the communication method in the embodiment shown in Figure 13. The receiving module 1701 may be configured to perform S1303, the determining module 1702 may be configured to perform S1304, and the sending module 1703 may be configured to perform S1305.

[0350] In a fourth example, the communication device 1700 may be configured to perform the communication method in the embodiment shown in Figure 14. The receiving module 1701 may be configured to perform S1404, the determining module 1702 may be configured to perform S1405, and the sending module 1703 may be configured to perform S1406.

[0351] In a fifth example, the communication device 1700 may be configured to implement the communication method in the embodiment shown in Figure 15. The receiving module 1701 may be configured to perform S1504, the determining module 1702 may be configured to perform S1505, and the sending module 1703 may be configured to perform S1506.

[0352] 18 is a diagram of a structure of a communication device according to yet another embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 18, a communication device 1800 may include a transmitting module 1801.

[0353] In a first example, the communication device 1800 may be configured to implement the communication method in the embodiment shown in Figure 13. The sending module 1801 may be configured to perform S1301.

[0354] In a second example, the communication device 1800 may be configured to implement the communication method in the embodiment shown in Figure 15. The sending module 1801 may be configured to perform S1501.

[0355] 19 is a diagram of a structure of a communication device according to yet another embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 19, the communication device 1900 includes a processor 1901 and an interface circuit 1902. The processor 1901 and the interface circuit 1902 are coupled to each other. It can be understood that the interface circuit 1902 may be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, the communication device 1900 may further include a memory 1903 configured to store instructions to be executed by the processor 1901, to store input data required by the processor 1901 to execute the instructions, or to store data generated after the processor 1901 executes the instructions.

[0356] In a first example, the processor 1901 is configured to implement the functions of the generating module 1601 and the determining module 1604 , and the interface circuit 1902 is configured to implement the functions of the transmitting module 1602 and the receiving module 1603 .

[0357] In a second example, the processor 1901 is configured to implement the functionality of the determining module 1702 , and the interface circuit 1902 is configured to implement the functionality of the receiving module 1701 and the transmitting module 1703 .

[0358] In a third example, the interface circuit 1902 is configured to implement the functionality of the transmitting module 1801 .

[0359] The communication apparatus 1900 may be a communication device or may be a chip used in a communication device.

[0360] The method steps in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented in a hardware manner or by a processor executing software instructions. The software instructions may include corresponding software modules. The software modules may be stored in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, erasable programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, registers, hard disk, removable hard disk, CD-ROM, or other forms of storage medium well known in the art. For example, the storage medium may be coupled to the processor, thereby allowing the processor to read information from and write information to the storage medium. Indeed, the storage medium may be a component of the processor. The processor and the storage medium may be located in an ASIC. Furthermore, the ASIC may be located in a network device or a terminal device. Indeed, the processor and the storage medium may alternatively be discrete components within the network device or the terminal device.

[0361] All or part of the above embodiments may be implemented by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When software is used to implement the embodiments, all or part of the embodiments may be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer programs or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the procedures or functions of the embodiments of the present application are performed. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a user device, or other programmable device. The computer program or instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from a computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer program or instructions may be transmitted from a website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via a wired or wireless method. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer, or a data storage device incorporating one or more available media, such as a server or data center. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium, such as a floppy disk, hard disk, or magnetic tape, an optical medium, such as a digital video disk, or a semiconductor medium, such as a solid state drive.

[0362] In the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise stated or there is no logical contradiction, the terms and / or descriptions in different embodiments are consistent and may be intercalated, and the technical features in different embodiments may be combined based on their internal logical relationships to form a new embodiment.

[0363] Various numbers in the embodiments of the present application are only used for the purpose of distinction to facilitate description, and are not used to limit the application scope of the embodiments of the present application. The sequence numbers of the above processes do not imply an execution order, and the execution order of the processes should be determined based on the functions and internal logic of the processes.

[0364] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202211437855.1, filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China on November 16, 2022, entitled "COMMUNICATION METHOD, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEM," and Chinese Patent Application No. 202310091053.8, filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China on January 28, 2023, entitled "COMMUNICATION METHOD, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEM," both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Claims

1. 1. A communication method, the method being applied to a policy control function network element, comprising: generating a maximum data burst volume value for a quality of service flow corresponding to the time-sensitive service flow in the cellular communication system based on a maximum value of a time-sensitive communication burst size of the time-sensitive service flow in the time-sensitive network, when determining that the cellular communication system supports interworking with a time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network, wherein the maximum data burst volume value is equal to the maximum value of the time-sensitive communication burst size; transmitting the maximum data burst volume value to a session management function network element, the maximum data burst volume value being for determining merge stream requirement information associated with the quality of service flow; A method having the following.

2. The method comprises: receiving the first information from the first network element; the first information is for determining that the cellular communication system supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network. The method of claim 1.

3. the first network element is the session management function network element; The first information indicates at least one of: that the session management function network element supports interaction with the time-sensitive network; that an interaction requirement exists between the session management function network element and the time-sensitive network; that the session management function network element has a function of a centralized user-configured network element; that a data network name corresponding to the session to which the quality of service flow belongs is applicable to a time-sensitive communication service; and that network slice information corresponding to the session to which the quality of service flow belongs is applicable to a time-sensitive communication service. The method of claim 2.

4. The method comprises: and transmitting second information to the session management function network element. The second information instructs the session management function network element to send the first information to the policy control function network element if the session management function network element supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or if an interworking requirement exists between the session management function network element and the time-sensitive network. The method of claim 3.

5. the first network element is an application function network element; The first information indicates at least one of: that the application function network element supports interaction with the time-sensitive network; that an interaction requirement exists between the application function network element and the time-sensitive network; that a delay requirement in an application function request is equal to or less than a preset threshold; that the application function request includes support container information; and that the application function request includes burst arrival time information. The method of claim 2.

6. Determining that the cellular communication system supports interworking with a time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network includes: receiving third information from the session management function network element, the third information including a data network name and / or network slice information corresponding to a session to which the quality of service flow belongs; determining, based on the third information, that the cellular communication system supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network; Including, The method of claim 1.

7. Determining that the cellular communication system supports interworking with a time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network includes: receiving fourth information from the application function network element, the fourth information including a data network name and / or network slice information corresponding to the application function request; determining, based on the fourth information, that the cellular communication system supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network; Including, The method of claim 1.

8. the merge stream requirement information includes a maximum frame length and / or a latest transmission offset; 8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. 1. A communication method, the method being applied to a Session Management Function network element, comprising: receiving, from a policy control function network element, a maximum data burst volume value corresponding to a quality of service flow, the quality of service flow corresponding to a time-sensitive service flow in a time-sensitive network, the maximum data burst volume value being equal to a maximum value of a time-sensitive communication burst size of the time-sensitive service flow; determining merge stream requirement information associated with the quality of service flow based on the maximum data burst volume value; transmitting the merge stream requirement information to a centralized network configuration network element in the time-sensitive network; A method having the following.

10. Prior to receiving a maximum data burst volume value corresponding to a quality of service flow from the policy control function network element, the method further comprises: transmitting first information to the policy control function network element; the first information indicates that a cellular communication system supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network; 10. The method of claim 9.

11. The first information includes an indication that the session management function network element supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the session management function network element and the time-sensitive network. The method of claim 10.

12. The method comprises: generating the first information based on a condition; The conditions include at least one of: the session management function network element has a function of a centralized user-configured network element; a data network name corresponding to the session to which the quality of service flow belongs is applicable to a time-sensitive communication service; and network slice information corresponding to the session to which the quality of service flow belongs is applicable to a time-sensitive communication service. The method of claim 11.

13. The first information indicates at least one of: that the session management function network element has a function of a centralized user-configured network element; that a data network name corresponding to the session to which the quality of service flow belongs is applicable to a time-sensitive communication service; and that network slice information corresponding to the session to which the quality of service flow belongs is applicable to a time-sensitive communication service. The method of claim 10.

14. The method comprises: receiving second information from the policy control function network element; The step of transmitting first information to the policy control function network element includes: sending the first information to the policy control function network element based on the second information if the session management function network element supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or if an interworking requirement exists between the session management function network element and the time-sensitive network; 14. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 13.

15. the merge stream requirement information includes a maximum frame length and / or a latest transmission offset; 15. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 14.

16. determining merge stream requirement information associated with the quality of service flow based on the maximum data burst volume value when the merge stream requirement information includes the maximum frame length, determining a first difference between the maximum data burst volume value and a number of framing bits not for transmission; determining the maximum frame length based on the first difference; Including, 16. The method of claim 15.

17. When the merge stream requirement information includes the latest transmission offset, determining merge stream requirement information based on the maximum data burst volume value includes: determining the maximum frame length in the merge stream requirement information based on the maximum data burst volume value; determining a first sum of a transmission time corresponding to the maximum frame length and jitter in the merge stream requirement information; determining a second sum of the interval and the earliest transmission offset in the merge stream requirement information; determining a second difference between the first sum and the second sum; determining the latest transmission offset based on the second difference; and Including, 16. The method of claim 15.

18. 1. A communication method comprising: generating, by a policy control function network element, a maximum data burst volume value for a quality of service flow corresponding to the time-sensitive service flow in the cellular communication system based on a maximum value of a time-sensitive communication burst size of the time-sensitive service flow in the time-sensitive network, when determining that the cellular communication system supports interworking with a time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network, wherein the maximum data burst volume value is equal to the maximum value of the time-sensitive communication burst size; sending, by the policy control function network element, the maximum data burst volume value to a session management function network element; determining, by the session management function network element, merge stream requirement information associated with the quality of service flow based on the maximum data burst volume value; sending, by the session management function network element, the merge stream requirement information to a centralized network configuration network element in the time-sensitive network; A method having the following.

19. The method comprises: Sending third information by the session management function network element to the policy control function network element, the third information including a data network name and / or network slice information corresponding to a session to which the quality of service flow belongs; determining, by the policy control function network element based on the third information, that the cellular communication system supports interworking with the time-sensitive network or that an interworking requirement exists between the cellular communication system and the time-sensitive network; Further comprising:

20. The method of claim 18.

20. The merge stream requirement information includes a maximum frame length, and determining, by the session management function network element, merge stream requirement information associated with the quality of service flow based on the maximum data burst volume value, includes: determining a first difference between the maximum data burst volume value and a number of framing bits not for transmission; determining the maximum frame length based on the first difference; Including, 20. The method of claim 18 or 19.

21. A communication device comprising a functional module adapted to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

22. A communication device comprising a functional module adapted to implement the method according to any one of claims 9 to 17.

23. a memory and a processor; the memory is configured to store program instructions; The processor is configured to execute the program instructions in the memory to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 17. Communication equipment.

24. A policy control function network element and a session management function network element are included, The Policy Control Function network element and the Session Management Function network element are configured to implement the method of any one of claims 18 to 20. Communication system.

25. configured to store program code for execution by a computer; The program code comprises instructions for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 17. A computer-readable storage medium.

26. A computer program product comprising instructions for carrying out the communication method of any one of claims 1 to 17.

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