Communication method and device

Abstract

This application discloses a communication method and apparatus for determining an appropriate quality of service profile in the field of wireless communications. The method includes: acquiring a plurality of candidate quality of service profiles; determining a target quality of service profile based on the current network state and terminal loads corresponding to one or more of the plurality of candidate quality of service profiles, when a function for actively modifying quality of service profiles is enabled; and sending first information indicating the target quality of service profile.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] This application relates to the field of wireless communication, and more particularly, to communication methods and apparatuses.

Background Art

[0002] In a communication system, a radio access network (RAN) node may obtain a quality of service (QoS) profile and perform mapping from a QoS flow to a data radio bearer (DRB) based on the QoS profile. Then, the terminal and the RAN node may perform data transmission based on the QoS flow to ensure the quality of data transmission. However, with the development of communication technologies, communication scenarios are becoming increasingly complex. The above method is not applicable to the current increasingly complex communication scenarios.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides a communication method and apparatus for determining an appropriate quality of service profile.

[0004] To achieve the above objective, the following technical solutions are used in this application.

[0005] According to a first embodiment, a communication method is provided. This method may be implemented by a RAN node, by a module used in a RAN node, for example, a chip, a chip system, or a circuit, or by a logical node, a logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of a RAN node. This is not limited to the foregoing. For ease of explanation, an example in which a RAN node implements this method will be used below. This method includes: obtaining a plurality of candidate quality of service profiles; determining a target quality of service profile based on the current network state and the terminal load corresponding to one or more of the plurality of candidate quality of service profiles, when a function for actively modifying quality of service profiles is enabled; and sending first information, the first information indicating the target quality of service profile.

[0006] Based on the method provided in the first aspect, when the ability to actively modify quality-of-service profiles is enabled, the RAN may determine a target quality-of-service profile based on the current network state and the terminal load corresponding to one or more of the candidate quality-of-service profiles. On the one hand, a RAN node may obtain a target quality-of-service profile by actively modifying the quality-of-service profile. Thus, a RAN node may determine an appropriate quality-of-service profile for a wider range of communication scenarios based on requirements. On the other hand, in the process of determining the target quality-of-service profile, the RAN node considers not only the current network state but also the terminal load to avoid the impact of excessively high terminal loads on terminal operation or terminal standby time, thereby improving the user experience. In addition, since the load states of chips differ between different terminal types and terminal vendors, and the current terminal load is further related to many factors such as the environment and external temperature, it is difficult to accurately obtain and standardize the current terminal load. In the method of the first embodiment, the current terminal load does not need to be acquired, but candidate quality of service profiles are associated with the terminal load, and the terminal load is controlled by modifying the quality of service profiles, thereby avoiding excessively high loads on the terminal. For example, when the terminal load corresponding to a quality of service profile is high, the number / frequency of selecting a quality of service profile may be controlled, and / or the duration of use of a quality of service profile may be controlled, thereby controlling the terminal load. Thus, in the method of the first embodiment, the terminal load can be easily controlled.

[0007] In possible implementations, determining a target quality of service profile based on the current network state and the terminal load corresponding to one or more of several candidate quality of service profiles includes, preferentially, determining that the target quality of service profile is a first candidate quality of service profile, wherein the first candidate quality of service profile is among several candidate quality of service profiles that satisfy the current network state and corresponds to the highest terminal load, or determining that the target quality of service profile is a second candidate quality of service profile, wherein the second candidate quality of service profile is among several candidate quality of service profiles that satisfy the current network state and does not include the candidate quality of service profile with the lowest terminal load.

[0008] A higher terminal load indicates a heavier processing task for the terminal. Therefore, the amount of data that needs to be sent by the terminal after the processing task is completed may be small, and the terminal has lower quality of service requirements. Thus, if the terminal load corresponding to a candidate quality of service profile is high, the quality of service requirements corresponding to that candidate quality of service profile are low. In other words, the first candidate quality of service profile may also be described as the candidate quality of service profile that satisfies the current network state among multiple candidate quality of service profiles and corresponds to the lowest quality of service requirements. Correspondingly, a lower terminal load indicates a lighter processing task for the terminal. Therefore, the amount of data that needs to be sent by the terminal after the processing task is completed may be larger, and the terminal has higher quality of service requirements. Thus, if the terminal load corresponding to a candidate quality of service profile is low, the quality of service requirements corresponding to that candidate quality of service profile are high. In other words, the second candidate quality of service profile may also be described as the candidate quality of service profile that satisfies the current network state among multiple candidate quality of service profiles and does not include the candidate quality of service profile with the highest quality of service requirements. Therefore, based on the possible implementations described above, the RAN node may preferentially determine that the target quality of service profile is the first candidate quality of service profile, or it may determine that the target quality of service profile is the second candidate quality of service profile. This reduces the quality of service requirements for data transmission between terminals and RAN nodes, thereby allowing more terminals to access the RAN node, and thereby increasing the number of transmitting users.

[0009] In a possible implementation, the candidate quality of service profile corresponding to the lowest terminal load is the candidate quality of service profile that satisfies at least one of the following conditions among multiple candidate quality of service profiles: having the highest corresponding priority, having the highest corresponding uplink guaranteed flow bitrate, having the highest corresponding downlink guaranteed flow bitrate, having the lowest corresponding terminal computation load, having the highest corresponding total uplink and downlink packet delay budget, having the highest corresponding uplink packet delay budget, or having the highest corresponding downlink packet delay budget.

[0010] Based on the possible implementations described above, it is possible to determine the candidate quality of service profile with the lowest terminal load among multiple candidate quality of service profiles.

[0011] In a possible implementation, the maximum number of selections of the first candidate quality of service profile in the first time period is less than or equal to the first value, the maximum selection percentage of the first candidate quality of service profile in the first time period is less than or equal to the second value, the maximum selection duration of the first candidate quality of service profile in the first time period is less than or equal to the third value, the maximum selection duration of the first candidate quality of service profile in the first time period is less than or equal to the fourth value, and / or the minimum selection interval of the first candidate quality of service profile in the first time period is greater than or equal to the fifth value.

[0012] Based on the possible implementations described above, the RAN node can effectively control the load on the terminals and prevent them from overheating.

[0013] In a possible implementation, enabling the ability to actively modify the quality of service profile includes receiving a first indication that the quality of service profile should be actively modified, and enabling the ability based on the first indication, and / or receiving a second indication that the terminal is overheating, and enabling the ability based on the second indication.

[0014] Based on the possible implementations described above, after receiving the first and / or second indication information, the RAN node may have more ways of determining the target quality of service profile, thereby making the determined target quality of service profile applicable to different communication scenarios. For example, the RAN node may not select the quality of service profile that has the best quality of service possible under the current radio channel conditions, but rather select a quality of service profile other than the best quality of service profile from among several candidate quality of service profiles without affecting the service experience of the quality of service flow, thereby improving system performance, for example, by reducing network air interface resource consumption and increasing the number of transmitting users.

[0015] In possible implementations, the first indication information is carried in a session resource setup request message or a session resource setup modification message.

[0016] Based on the possible implementations described above, a RAN node may receive the first indication information by using a session resource setup request message or a session resource setup modification message. In this way, the first indication information may be carried within an existing message, thereby slightly modifying the standard.

[0017] In a possible implementation, when a second indication is received, determining the target quality of service profile based on the current network state and the terminal load corresponding to one or more of the candidate quality of service profiles includes determining that the target quality of service profile is a third candidate quality of service profile, where the terminal load corresponding to the third candidate quality of service profile is lower than the current terminal load.

[0018] Based on the possible implementations described above, the RAN node may determine, based on the second indication information, that the terminal is overheating, and determine a third candidate quality of service profile as the target quality of service profile, which corresponds to a terminal load lower than the current terminal load, thereby reducing the terminal load and preventing continued terminal overheating.

[0019] In a possible implementation, the first information is used to determine a first parameter, which includes at least one of the following: task splitting point, task amount for task processing, bitrate, data rate, frame rate, or resolution.

[0020] Based on the possible implementations described above, the device receiving the first information may determine at least one parameter in the following ways: task division point, task amount for task processing, bitrate, data rate, frame rate, or resolution.

[0021] In possible implementations, the first parameter relates to the first difference information, which indicates the difference between the target quality of service profile and the historical quality of service profile determined prior to the target quality of service profile.

[0022] Based on the possible implementations described above, the first parameter may be determined based on the difference between the target quality of service profile and the historical quality of service profile. For example, when the target quality of service profile does not change compared to the historical quality of service profile, the first parameter remains unchanged to avoid the degradation of the user experience caused by frequent changes in the first parameter. When the target quality of service profile does change compared to the historical quality of service profile, the first parameter is re-determined to provide better service to the user.

[0023] In possible implementations, sending the first information includes sending the first information to a terminal, wherein the first information is carried in downlink control information, a medium access control element, or a radio resource control message, or sending a first data packet to a user plane functional network element, wherein the header of the first data packet contains the first information.

[0024] Based on the possible implementations described above, the first information may be sent to the terminal by using downlink control information, media access control elements, or radio resource control messages, or the first information may be sent to a user plane functional network element by including the first information in the header of a data packet, thereby enabling rapid transmission of the first information.

[0025] According to a second aspect, a communication method is provided. This method may be implemented by a core network element, by a module used in the core network element, for example, a chip, a chip system, or a circuit, or by a logical node, a logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the core network element. This is not limited to the foregoing. For ease of explanation, an example in which a core network element implements this method is used below. This method includes receiving information about a first session from a terminal, obtaining a plurality of candidate quality of service profiles based on the information about the first session, and sending the plurality of candidate quality of service profiles and first indication information to a radio access network node, wherein the first indication information indicates to the radio access network node to actively modify the quality of service profile.

[0026] Based on the method provided in the second aspect, a core network element may send a plurality of candidate quality of service profiles and first indication information to a radio access network node, thereby allowing the radio access network node to actively determine the appropriate quality of service profile among the plurality of quality of service profiles based on the first indication information.

[0027] In possible implementations, the first indication information is carried in a session resource setup request message or a session resource setup modification message.

[0028] Based on the above possible implementation, the core network element may send the first indication information to the radio access network node by using a session resource setup request message or a session resource setup modification message. In this way, the first indication information may be carried in an existing message, thereby slightly modifying the standard.

[0029] According to a third aspect, a communication method is provided. This method may be implemented by a RAN node, or may be implemented by a module used in a RAN node, such as a chip, a chip system, or a circuit, or may be implemented by a logical node, a logical module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the RAN node. This is not limited in this specification. For ease of explanation, in the following, an example where a RAN node implements this method is used for explanation. This method includes obtaining a plurality of candidate service quality profiles, where any candidate service quality profile in the plurality of candidate service quality profiles includes at least one of condition information for restricting the selection of the candidate service quality profile, terminal calculation load information, total uplink and downlink packet delay budgets, uplink packet delay budgets, or downlink packet delay budgets, and determining a target service quality profile in the plurality of candidate service quality profiles based on the current network state and the information included in the candidate service quality profile, and sending first information, where the first information indicates the target service quality profile.

[0030] Based on the method provided in the third aspect, the RAN node can determine a target service quality profile among a plurality of candidate service quality profiles based on the current network state, condition information for restricting the selection of candidate service quality profiles, the terminal's computing load information, the total uplink and downlink packet delay budget, the uplink packet delay budget, or at least one of the downlink packet delay budgets. Therefore, the RAN node can determine an appropriate service quality profile for different communication scenarios.

[0031] In a possible implementation, the condition information includes at least one of the maximum selection percentage in the first time period, the maximum selection time in the first time period, the maximum selection count in the first time period, the maximum selection duration in the first time period, or the minimum selection interval in the first time period.

[0032] Based on the above possible implementation, the number of times, frequency, or duration of selecting a candidate service quality profile can be restricted by one or more of the maximum selection percentage in the first time period, the maximum selection time in the first time period, the maximum selection count in the first time period, the maximum selection duration in the first time period, or the minimum selection interval in the first time period.

[0033] In possible implementations, determining the target quality of service (KAS) profile among multiple candidate KAS profiles based on the current network state and the information contained in the candidate KAS profiles means that, when a candidate KAS profile contains conditional information, the current network state satisfies the quality of service requirements of the target KAS profile and the target KAS profile satisfies the conditional information contained in the target KAS profile; when a candidate KAS profile contains terminal computing load information, the current network state satisfies the quality of service requirements of the target KAS profile and the terminal computing load information contained in the target KAS profile satisfies the terminal's current computing load requirements; when a candidate KAS profile contains total uplink and downlink packet delay budgets, the current network state satisfies the quality of service requirements of the target KAS profile and the current network The total uplink and downlink packet delay budget provided by the network state is less than or equal to the total uplink and downlink packet delay budget included in the target quality of service profile, or, if the candidate quality of service profile includes an uplink packet delay budget, the current network state satisfies the quality of service requirements of the target quality of service profile and the uplink packet delay budget provided by the current network state is less than or equal to the uplink packet delay budget included in the target quality of service profile, or, if the candidate quality of service profile includes a downlink packet delay budget, the current network state satisfies the quality of service requirements of the target quality of service profile and the downlink packet delay budget provided by the current network state is less than or equal to the downlink packet delay budget included in the target quality of service profile.

[0034] Based on the possible implementations described above, when a candidate quality of service profile includes conditional information, the current network state satisfies the quality of service requirements of the target quality of service profile, and the target quality of service profile satisfies the conditional information contained in the target quality of service profile, controlling the number / frequency of times the target quality of service profile is selected. When a candidate quality of service profile includes terminal computing load information, the current network state satisfies the quality of service requirements of the target quality of service profile, and the terminal computing load information contained in the target quality of service profile satisfies the terminal's current computing load requirements, controlling the terminal computing load by modifying the quality of service profile. When a candidate quality of service profile includes total uplink and downlink packet delay budgets, the current network state satisfies the quality of service requirements of the target quality of service profile, and the total uplink and downlink packet delay budgets provided by the current network state are less than or equal to the total uplink and downlink packet delay budgets contained in the target quality of service profile, and the target quality of service profile is determined in a timely manner based on the total uplink and downlink transmission delays. When a candidate quality of service profile includes an uplink packet delay budget, the current network state satisfies the quality of service requirements of the target quality of service profile, the uplink packet delay budget provided by the current network state is less than or equal to the uplink packet delay budget included in the target quality of service profile, and the target quality of service profile is determined in a timely manner based on the uplink transmission delay. When a candidate quality of service profile includes a downlink packet delay budget, the current network state satisfies the quality of service requirements of the target quality of service profile, the downlink packet delay budget provided by the current network state is less than or equal to the downlink packet delay budget included in the target quality of service profile, and the target quality of service profile is determined in a timely manner based on the downlink transmission delay.

[0035] In a possible implementation, the method further includes receiving a first indication that the quality of service profile is being actively modified, and / or receiving a second indication that the terminal is overheating.

[0036] Based on the possible implementations described above, a RAN node may receive the first indication and decide to actively modify the quality of service profile, and / or the RAN node may receive the second indication and decide that the terminal is overheating.

[0037] In possible implementations, the first indication information is carried in a session resource setup request message or a session resource setup modification message.

[0038] Based on the possible implementations described above, a RAN node may receive the first indication information by using a session resource setup request message or a session resource setup modification message. In this way, the first indication information may be carried within an existing message, thereby slightly modifying the standard.

[0039] In a possible implementation, the first information includes an identifier for the target quality of service profile, as well as at least one of the following included in the target quality of service profile: conditional information for restricting the selection of the target quality of service profile, terminal computation load information, total uplink and downlink packet delay budget, uplink packet delay budget, or downlink packet delay budget.

[0040] Based on the possible implementations described above, a RAN node may indicate a target quality of service profile based on the identifier of the target quality of service profile, as well as conditional information for restricting the selection of the target quality of service profile, terminal computation load information, total uplink and downlink packet delay budget, uplink packet delay budget, or downlink packet delay budget, which are included in the target quality of service profile.

[0041] In a possible implementation, the first information is used to determine a first parameter, which includes at least one of the following: task splitting point, task amount for task processing, bitrate, data rate, frame rate, or resolution.

[0042] Based on the possible implementations described above, a device receiving the first information may determine, based on the first information, at least one of the following: a task division point, a task amount for task processing, a bitrate, a data rate, a frame rate, or a resolution.

[0043] In possible implementations, the first parameter relates to the first difference information, which indicates the difference between the target quality of service profile and the historical quality of service profile determined prior to the target quality of service profile.

[0044] Based on the possible implementations described above, the first parameter may be determined based on the difference between the target quality of service profile and the historical quality of service profile. For example, when the target quality of service profile does not change compared to the historical quality of service profile, the first parameter remains unchanged to avoid the degradation of the user experience caused by frequent changes in the first parameter. When the target quality of service profile does change compared to the historical quality of service profile, the first parameter is re-determined to provide better service to the user.

[0045] In possible implementations, sending the first information includes sending the first information to a terminal, wherein the first information is carried in downlink control information, a medium access control element, or a radio resource control message, or sending a first data packet to a user plane functional network element, wherein the header of the first data packet contains the first information.

[0046] Based on the possible implementations described above, the first information may be sent to the terminal by using downlink control information, media access control elements, or radio resource control messages, or the first information may be sent to a user plane functional network element by including the first information in the header of a data packet, thereby enabling rapid transmission of the first information.

[0047] A fourth aspect provides a communication method. This method may be implemented by a core network element, by a module used in the core network element, for example, a chip, a chip system, or a circuit, or by a logical node, a logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the core network element. This is not limited to the foregoing. For ease of explanation, an example in which a core network element implements this method will be used below. This method includes receiving information about a first session from a terminal, obtaining a plurality of candidate quality of service profiles based on the information about the first session, wherein any candidate quality of service profile in the plurality of candidate quality of service profiles includes at least one of conditional information for restricting the selection of a candidate quality of service profile, information on the terminal's computational load, a total uplink and downlink packet delay budget, an uplink packet delay budget, or a downlink packet delay budget, and sending the plurality of candidate quality of service profiles to a radio access network node.

[0048] Based on the method provided in the fourth aspect, a core network element may send a plurality of candidate quality of service profiles to a radio access network node. Any candidate quality of service profile in the plurality of candidate quality of service profiles includes at least one of conditional information for restricting the selection of candidate quality of service profiles, terminal computation load information, total uplink and downlink packet delay budget, uplink packet delay budget, or downlink packet delay budget, so that the radio access network node can determine an appropriate quality of service profile for different communication scenarios.

[0049] In a possible implementation, the condition information includes at least one of the following: the maximum selection percentage in the first time period, the maximum selection time in the first time period, the maximum number of selections in the first time period, the maximum selection duration in the first time period, or the minimum selection interval in the first time period.

[0050] Based on the possible implementations described above, the number, frequency, or duration of selecting candidate quality of service profiles may be limited by one or more of the following: the maximum selection percentage in a first time period, the maximum selection time in a first time period, the maximum number of selections in a first time period, the maximum selection duration in a first time period, or the minimum selection interval in a first time period.

[0051] In possible implementations, the method further includes sending first indication information to a radio access network node, which indicates to the radio access network node that it is actively modifying its quality of service profile.

[0052] Based on the possible implementations described above, a wireless access network node can actively determine the appropriate quality of service profile among multiple quality of service profiles based on the first indication information.

[0053] In possible implementations, the first indication information is carried in a session resource setup request message or a session resource setup modification message.

[0054] Based on the possible implementations described above, the core network element may send first indication information to the radio access network node by using a session resource setup request message or a session resource setup modification message. In this way, the first indication information may be carried within an existing message, thereby slightly modifying the standard.

[0055] According to a fifth aspect, a communication method is provided. This method may be implemented by a terminal / compute node, by a module used in the terminal / compute node, for example, a chip, a chip system, or a circuit, or by a logical node, a logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the terminal / compute node. This is not limited to the foregoing. For ease of explanation, an example in which a terminal / compute node implements this method will be used below. This method includes receiving first information from a radio access network node, wherein the first information indicates a target quality of service profile, and sending metadata, wherein the metadata includes the first information.

[0056] Based on the method according to the fifth aspect, after obtaining the first information, the terminal / compute node may send the first information by using metadata, thereby conveniently sending the first information.

[0057] In a possible implementation, the first information includes an identifier for the target quality of service profile, as well as at least one of the following included in the target quality of service profile: uplink guaranteed flow bitrate, downlink guaranteed flow bitrate, packet error rate, conditional information for restricting the selection of the target quality of service profile, terminal computation load information, total uplink and downlink packet delay budget, uplink packet delay budget, or downlink packet delay budget.

[0058] Based on the possible implementations described above, a target quality of service profile may be identified by using a target quality of service profile identifier, as well as one or more of the following included in the target quality of service profile: uplink guaranteed flow bitrate, downlink guaranteed flow bitrate, packet error rate, conditional information for restricting the selection of the target quality of service profile, terminal computation load information, total uplink and downlink packet delay budget, uplink packet delay budget, or downlink packet delay budget.

[0059] In a possible implementation, the condition information includes at least one of the following: the maximum selection percentage in the first time period, the maximum selection time in the first time period, the maximum number of selections in the first time period, the maximum selection duration in the first time period, or the minimum selection interval in the first time period.

[0060] Based on the possible implementations described above, the number, frequency, or duration of selecting candidate quality of service profiles may be limited by one or more of the following: the maximum selection percentage in a first time period, the maximum selection time in a first time period, the maximum number of selections in a first time period, the maximum selection duration in a first time period, or the minimum selection interval in a first time period.

[0061] In a possible implementation, the first information is used to determine a first parameter, which includes at least one of the following: task splitting point, task amount for task processing, bitrate, data rate, frame rate, or resolution.

[0062] Based on the possible implementations described above, a device receiving the first information may determine, based on the first information, one or more of the following: task division points, task amount for task processing, bitrate, data rate, frame rate, or resolution.

[0063] In possible implementations, the first parameter relates to the first difference information, which indicates the difference between the target quality of service profile and the historical quality of service profile determined prior to the target quality of service profile.

[0064] Based on the possible implementations described above, the first parameter may be determined based on the difference between the target quality of service profile and the historical quality of service profile. For example, when the target quality of service profile does not change compared to the historical quality of service profile, the first parameter remains unchanged to avoid the degradation of the user experience caused by frequent changes in the first parameter. When the target quality of service profile does change compared to the historical quality of service profile, the first parameter is re-determined to provide better service to the user.

[0065] According to the sixth aspect, a communication method is provided. This method may be implemented by a user plane function (UPF) network element, by a module used in a UPF network element, such as a chip, chip system, or circuit, or by a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of a UPF network element. This is not limited to the foregoing. For ease of explanation, an example in which a UPF network element implements this method is used below. This method includes receiving a first data packet from a radio access network node, the header of which the first data packet contains first information, the first information indicating a target quality of service profile, and sending a second data packet, the second data packet containing first information, the second data packet being a Real-Time Transport Protocol data packet, a Real-Time Transport Control Protocol data packet, or a Quick User Datagram Protocol Internet Connection data packet.

[0066] The first information may be received based on a method according to the sixth aspect, and the first information may be sent based on a Real-Time Transport Protocol, Real-Time Transport Control Protocol, or Quick User Datagram Protocol Internet connection to implement convenient transmission of the first information.

[0067] In a possible implementation, the first information includes an identifier for the target quality of service profile, as well as at least one of the following included in the target quality of service profile: uplink guaranteed flow bitrate, downlink guaranteed flow bitrate, packet error rate, conditional information for restricting the selection of the target quality of service profile, terminal computation load information, total uplink and downlink packet delay budget, uplink packet delay budget, or downlink packet delay budget.

[0068] Based on the possible implementations described above, a target quality of service profile may be identified by using a target quality of service profile identifier, as well as one or more of the following included in the target quality of service profile: uplink guaranteed flow bitrate, downlink guaranteed flow bitrate, packet error rate, conditional information for restricting the selection of the target quality of service profile, terminal computation load information, total uplink and downlink packet delay budget, uplink packet delay budget, or downlink packet delay budget.

[0069] In a possible implementation, the condition information includes at least one of the following: the maximum selection percentage in the first time period, the maximum selection time in the first time period, the maximum number of selections in the first time period, the maximum selection duration in the first time period, or the minimum selection interval in the first time period.

[0070] Based on the possible implementations described above, the number, frequency, or duration of selecting candidate quality of service profiles may be limited by one or more of the following: the maximum selection percentage in a first time period, the maximum selection time in a first time period, the maximum number of selections in a first time period, the maximum selection duration in a first time period, or the minimum selection interval in a first time period.

[0071] In a possible implementation, the first information is used to determine a first parameter, which includes at least one of the following: task splitting point, task amount for task processing, bitrate, data rate, frame rate, or resolution.

[0072] Based on the possible implementations described above, a device receiving the first information may determine, based on the first information, at least one of the following: a task division point, a task amount for task processing, a bitrate, a data rate, a frame rate, or a resolution.

[0073] In possible implementations, the first parameter relates to the first difference information, which indicates the difference between the target quality of service profile and the historical quality of service profile determined prior to the target quality of service profile.

[0074] Based on the possible implementations described above, the first parameter may be determined based on the difference between the target quality of service profile and the historical quality of service profile. For example, when the target quality of service profile does not change compared to the historical quality of service profile, the first parameter remains unchanged to avoid the degradation of the user experience caused by frequent changes in the first parameter. When the target quality of service profile does change compared to the historical quality of service profile, the first parameter is re-determined to provide better service to the user.

[0075] According to the seventh aspect, a communication device is provided that is configured to implement the above method. The communication device may be a RAN node or a device including a RAN node according to the first aspect, a module such as a chip, chip system, or circuit in a RAN node according to the first aspect, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing some or all of the functions of a RAN node. Alternatively, the communication device may be a core network element or a device including a core network element according to the second aspect, a module such as a chip, chip system, or circuit in a core network element according to the second aspect, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing some or all of the functions of a core network element. Alternatively, the communication device may be a RAN node or a device including a RAN node according to the third aspect, a module such as a chip, chip system, or circuit in a RAN node according to the third aspect, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing some or all of the functions of a RAN node. Alternatively, the communication device may be a core network element or a device including a core network element according to the fourth aspect, or a module such as a chip, chip system, or circuit in a core network element according to the fourth aspect, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing some or all of the functions of the core network element. Alternatively, the communication device may be a terminal / compute node or a device including a terminal / compute node according to the fifth aspect, or a module such as a chip, chip system, or circuit in a terminal / compute node according to the fifth aspect, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing some or all of the functions of a terminal / compute node.Alternatively, the communication device may be a UPF network element or a device including a UPF network element according to the sixth aspect, or a module such as a chip, chip system, or circuit in a UPF network element according to the sixth aspect, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing some or all of the functions of the UPF network element. The communication device includes corresponding modules, units, or means for implementing the above method. The modules, units, or means may be implemented by hardware, software, or hardware running the corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the above functions.

[0076] With respect to the seventh aspect, in possible implementations, the communication device may include an interface module. The interface module may also be called an interface unit and is configured to implement the transmit and / or receive functions of any one of the above aspects or in possible implementations of the above aspects. The interface module may include an interface circuit, a transceiver machine, a transceiver, or a communication interface.

[0077] With respect to the seventh aspect, in a possible implementation, the interface module includes a transmit module and a receive module, each configured to implement the transmit and receive functions in any one of the above aspects and in a possible implementation of the above aspects.

[0078] With respect to the seventh aspect, in possible implementations, the communication device may further include a processing module. The processing module may be configured to implement the processing functions in any one of the above aspects or in possible implementations of the above aspects. The processing module may be, for example, a processor.

[0079] According to the eighth aspect, a communication device is provided, including a processor. The processor is coupled to memory and, after reading instructions in memory, is configured to perform the method according to any one of the above aspects in accordance with the instructions. The communication device may be a RAN node or a device including a RAN node according to the first aspect, a module such as a chip, chip system, or circuit in a RAN node according to the first aspect, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing some or all of the functions of a RAN node. Alternatively, the communication device may be a core network element or a device including a core network element according to the second aspect, a module such as a chip, chip system, or circuit in a core network element according to the second aspect, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing some or all of the functions of a core network element. Alternatively, the communication device may be a RAN node or a device including a RAN node according to the third aspect, a module such as a chip, chip system, or circuit in a RAN node according to the third aspect, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing some or all of the functions of a RAN node. Alternatively, the communication device may be a core network element or a device including a core network element according to the fourth aspect, or a module such as a chip, chip system, or circuit in a core network element according to the fourth aspect, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing some or all of the functions of the core network element. Alternatively, the communication device may be a terminal / compute node or a device including a terminal / compute node according to the fifth aspect, or a module such as a chip, chip system, or circuit in a terminal / compute node according to the fifth aspect, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing some or all of the functions of a terminal / compute node.Alternatively, the communication device may be a UPF network element or a device including a UPF network element according to the sixth embodiment, or a module such as a chip, chip system, or circuit in a UPF network element according to the sixth embodiment, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing some or all of the functions of the UPF network element.

[0080] In the eighth aspect, in possible implementations, the communication device further includes a memory, which is configured to store the necessary program instructions and the necessary data.

[0081] With respect to the eighth aspect, in possible implementations, the communication device is a chip or a chip system. Optionally, when the communication device is a chip system, the communication device may include a chip, or it may include a chip and other separate components.

[0082] According to the ninth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor and an interface circuit. The interface circuit is configured to receive computer programs or instructions and to transmit computer programs or instructions to the processor. The processor is configured to execute computer programs or instructions, enabling the communication device to perform the method according to any one of the above aspects. The communication device may be a RAN node or a device including a RAN node according to the first aspect, a module such as a chip, chip system, or circuit in a RAN node according to the first aspect, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing some or all of the functions of a RAN node. Alternatively, the communication device may be a core network element or a device including a core network element according to the second aspect, a module such as a chip, chip system, or circuit in a core network element according to the second aspect, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing some or all of the functions of a core network element. Alternatively, the communication device may be a RAN node or a device including a RAN node according to the third embodiment, or a module such as a chip, chip system, or circuit in a RAN node according to the third embodiment, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing some or all of the functions of a RAN node. Alternatively, the communication device may be a core network element or a device including a core network element according to the fourth embodiment, or a module such as a chip, chip system, or circuit in a core network element according to the fourth embodiment, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing some or all of the functions of a core network element.Alternatively, the communication device may be a terminal / compute node or a device including a terminal / compute node according to the fifth aspect, a module such as a chip, chip system, or circuit in a terminal / compute node according to the fifth aspect, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing some or all of the functions of a terminal / compute node. Alternatively, the communication device may be a UPF network element or a device including a UPF network element according to the sixth aspect, a module such as a chip, chip system, or circuit in a UPF network element according to the sixth aspect, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing some or all of the functions of a UPF network element.

[0083] With respect to the ninth aspect, in possible implementations, the communication device is a chip or a chip system. Optionally, when the communication device is a chip system, the communication device may include a chip, or it may include a chip and other separate components.

[0084] According to the tenth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided. The computer-readable storage medium stores instructions. When the instructions are executed on a computer, the computer becomes capable of performing any of the methods described in the above aspects.

[0085] According to the eleventh aspect, a computer program product including instructions is provided. When the computer program product is run on a computer, the computer becomes capable of performing any of the methods described in the above aspects.

[0086] According to the twelfth aspect, a communication system is provided. The communication system includes a RAN node configured to implement the method according to the first aspect and a core network element configured to implement the method according to the second aspect.

[0087] With respect to the twelfth aspect, in possible implementations, the communication system further includes terminal / computing nodes configured to implement the method according to the fifth aspect.

[0088] With respect to the twelfth aspect, in possible implementations, the communication system further includes a UPF network element configured to implement the method according to the sixth aspect.

[0089] According to the 13th aspect, a communication system is provided. The communication system includes a RAN node configured to implement the method according to the third aspect and a core network element configured to implement the method according to the fourth aspect.

[0090] With respect to the 13th aspect, in possible implementations, the communication system further includes terminal / computing nodes configured to implement the method according to the fifth aspect.

[0091] With respect to the 13th aspect, in possible implementations, the communication system further includes UPF network elements for carrying out the method according to the 6th aspect.

[0092] For technical effects achieved in any one of the possible implementations of the seventh through thirteenth aspects, please refer to the technical effects achieved in any one of the first through sixth aspects or in different possible implementations thereof. Further details are not described herein.

[0093] According to a fourteenth aspect, a communication method is provided. This method may be implemented by a RAN node, by a module used in a RAN node, such as a chip, chip system, or circuit, or by a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of a RAN node. This is not limited to the foregoing. For ease of explanation, an example in which a RAN node implements this method is used below. This method includes obtaining a plurality of candidate quality of service profiles and transmit mode indication information, determining a target quality of service profile in the plurality of candidate quality of service profiles, and sending first information based on the transmit mode indication information. The transmit mode indication information indicates that the first information will be sent to a terminal by using air interface signaling and / or to a user plane functional network element in a user plane manner, and the first information indicates a target quality of service profile.

[0094] After determining the target quality of service profile based on the method provided in the 14th aspect, the RAN node may rapidly send the first information to terminals and / or user plane functional network elements based on the transmit mode indication information.

[0095] In possible implementations, when transmit mode indication information indicates that first information is to be transmitted to a terminal by using air interface signaling, transmitting first information based on transmit mode indication information includes transmitting first information to a terminal by using air interface signaling.

[0096] Based on the possible implementations described above, a RAN node can rapidly send initial information to a terminal by using air interface signaling.

[0097] In possible implementations, air interface signaling may include radio resource control messages, packet data convergence protocol control protocol data unit messages, medium access control elements, or downlink control information.

[0098] Based on the possible implementations described above, a RAN node may send first information to a terminal by using radio resource control messages, packet data convergence protocol control protocol data unit messages, medium access control control elements, or downlink control information, thereby improving the flexibility and versatility of the transmission of first information by the RAN node.

[0099] In possible implementations, when transmit mode indication information indicates that first information is to be transmitted to a user plane functional network element in a user plane manner, transmitting the first information based on the transmit mode indication information includes transmitting a first data packet to the user plane functional network element, and the header of the first data packet contains the first information.

[0100] Based on the possible implementations described above, a RAN node may rapidly send first information to a user plane functional network element by using a first data packet, thereby allowing the user plane functional network element to present first information to a compute node.

[0101] In possible implementations, the first data packet corresponds to a first session, and the first session is a session that corresponds to multiple candidate quality of service profiles, or the first data packet corresponds to a first quality of service flow, and the first quality of service flow is a quality of service flow that corresponds to multiple candidate quality of service profiles.

[0102] Based on the possible implementations described above, a RAN node may send the first information to a user plane functional network element by using data packets corresponding to the first session, or by using data packets corresponding to the first quality of service flow, thereby improving the flexibility and versatility of the transmission of the first information by the RAN node.

[0103] In a possible implementation, the first information includes an index of the target quality of service profile, information relating to the target quality of service profile, and at least one of the following included in the target quality of service profile: guaranteed flow bitrate, uplink guaranteed flow bitrate, downlink guaranteed flow bitrate, packet error rate, conditional information for restricting the selection of the target quality of service profile, terminal computation load information, total uplink and downlink packet delay budget, uplink packet delay budget, or downlink packet delay budget.

[0104] Based on the possible implementations described above, the target quality of service profile may be represented by using one or more types of information, thereby improving the flexibility and versatility of how RAN nodes can represent the target quality of service profile.

[0105] According to the 15th aspect, a communication method is provided. This method may be implemented by a core network element, by a module used in the core network element, for example, a chip, a chip system, or a circuit, or by a logical node, a logical module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the core network element. This is not limited to the foregoing. For ease of explanation, an example in which a core network element implements this method is used below for illustrative purposes. This method includes obtaining a plurality of candidate quality of service profiles and sending the plurality of candidate quality of service profiles and transmit mode indication information to a radio access network node. The transmit mode indication information indicates that first information is to be transmitted to a terminal by using air interface signaling and / or that first information is to be transmitted to a user plane functional network element in a user plane manner. The first information indicates the target quality of service profile in the plurality of candidate quality of service profiles.

[0106] Based on the method provided in the 15th aspect, the core network element may indicate a way to transmit first information to a radio access network node, thereby enabling the radio access network node to quickly send the first information to terminals and / or user plane functional network elements.

[0107] In possible implementations, air interface signaling may include radio resource control messages, packet data convergence protocol control protocol data unit messages, medium access control elements, or downlink control information.

[0108] Based on the possible implementations described above, core network elements may indicate to RAN nodes that they should send first information to terminals by using radio resource control messages, packet data convergence protocol control protocol data unit messages, medium access control control elements, or downlink control information, thereby improving the flexibility and versatility of the transmission of first information by RAN nodes.

[0109] In a possible implementation, transmitting first information to a user plane functional network element in a user plane manner includes transmitting first information to a user plane functional network element by using data packets corresponding to a first session, where the first session is a session corresponding to multiple candidate quality of service profiles, or transmitting first information to a user plane functional network element in a user plane manner includes transmitting first information to a user plane functional network element by using data packets corresponding to a first quality of service flow, where the first quality of service flow is a quality of service flow corresponding to multiple candidate quality of service profiles.

[0110] Based on the possible implementations described above, the core network element may indicate to the RAN node that it will send the first information to the user plane functional network element by using data packets corresponding to the first session, or by using data packets corresponding to the first quality of service flow, thereby improving the flexibility and versatility of the transmission of the first information by the RAN node.

[0111] According to the 16th aspect, a communication device is provided configured to implement the above method. The communication device may be a RAN node or a device including a RAN node according to the 14th aspect, a module such as a chip, chip system, or circuit in a RAN node according to the 14th aspect, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing some or all of the functions of a RAN node. Alternatively, the communication device may be a core network element or a device including a core network element according to the 15th aspect, a module such as a chip, chip system, or circuit in a core network element according to the 15th aspect, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing some or all of the functions of a core network element. The communication device includes corresponding modules, units, or means for implementing the above method. The modules, units, or means may be implemented by hardware, software, or hardware running the corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the above functions.

[0112] With respect to the 16th aspect, in possible implementations, the communication device may include a processing module and an interface module. The processing module may be configured to implement the processing functions in the 14th aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or in the 15th aspect and any possible implementation thereof. The processing module may be, for example, a processor. The interface module may also be called an interface unit and may be configured to implement the transmit and / or receive functions in the 14th aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or in the 15th aspect and any possible implementation thereof. The interface module may include an interface circuit, a transceiver machine, a transceiver, or a communication interface.

[0113] With respect to the 16th aspect, in a possible implementation, the interface module includes a transmit module and a receive module, each configured to implement the transmit and receive functions in the 14th aspect and any possible implementation thereof, or each configured to implement the transmit and receive functions in the 15th aspect and any possible implementation thereof.

[0114] According to the 17th aspect, a communication device is provided, including a processor. The processor is coupled to memory and, after reading instructions in memory, is configured to perform the method according to the 14th or 15th aspect in accordance with the instructions. The communication device may be a RAN node or a device including a RAN node according to the 14th aspect, a module such as a chip, chip system, or circuit in a RAN node according to the 14th aspect, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing some or all of the functions of a RAN node. Alternatively, the communication device may be a core network element or a device including a core network element according to the 15th aspect, a module such as a chip, chip system, or circuit in a core network element according to the 15th aspect, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing some or all of the functions of a core network element.

[0115] In a 17th aspect, in a possible implementation, the communication device further includes a memory, which is configured to store the necessary program instructions and the necessary data.

[0116] With respect to the 17th aspect, in possible implementations, the communication device is a chip or a chip system. Optionally, when the communication device is a chip system, the communication device may include a chip, or it may include a chip and other separate components.

[0117] According to the 18th aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor and an interface circuit. The interface circuit is configured to receive computer programs or instructions and to transmit computer programs or instructions to the processor. The processor is configured to execute computer programs or instructions, enabling the communication device to implement the method according to the 14th or 15th aspect. The communication device may be a RAN node or a device including a RAN node according to the 14th aspect, a module such as a chip, chip system, or circuit in a RAN node according to the 14th aspect, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing some or all of the functions of a RAN node. Alternatively, the communication device may be a core network element or a device including a core network element according to the 15th aspect, a module such as a chip, chip system, or circuit in a core network element according to the 15th aspect, or a logical node, logical module, or software capable of implementing some or all of the functions of a core network element.

[0118] With respect to the 18th aspect, in possible implementations, the communication device is a chip or a chip system. Optionally, when the communication device is a chip system, the communication device may include a chip, or it may include a chip and other separate components.

[0119] According to the 19th aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided. The computer-readable storage medium stores instructions. When the instructions are executed on a computer, the computer becomes capable of performing the method according to the 14th aspect or the method according to the 15th aspect.

[0120] According to the 20th aspect, a computer program product including instructions is provided. When the computer program product is run on a computer, the computer becomes capable of performing the method according to the 14th aspect or the method according to the 15th aspect.

[0121] According to the 21st aspect, a communication system is provided. The communication system includes a RAN node configured to implement the method according to the 14th aspect and a core network element configured to implement the method according to the 15th aspect.

[0122] For technical effects achieved in any one of the possible implementations of the 16th through 21st aspects, please refer to the technical effects achieved in either one of the 14th and 15th aspects or in different possible implementations thereof. Further details are not described herein.

[0123] The solutions in the above embodiments may be understood to be able to be combined if the solutions are not contradictory. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0124] [Figure 1A] This diagram illustrates the transmission of downlink data between layers. [Figure 1B] This diagram shows the central unit (CU) and distributed unit (DU). [Figure 1C] This is the first diagram of the RAN node. [Figure 1D] This is the second diagram of the RAN node. [Figure 1E] This is a diagram of the core network architecture. [Figure 1F] This is a diagram of the transport layer protocol. [Figure 1G] This is a diagram illustrating end-cloud collaboration for uplink services. [Figure 1H] This is a diagram of end-cloud collaboration for AI computing tasks. [Figure 1I] This is a diagram of a deep neural network (DNN) model. [Figure 2]This is a diagram of the architecture of the communication system according to this application. [Figure 3] This is a diagram showing the hardware structure of the communication device according to this application. [Figure 4] This is a first schematic flowchart of the communication method according to this application. [Figure 5] This is a second schematic flowchart of the communication method according to this application. [Figure 6] This is a third schematic flowchart of the communication method according to this application. [Figure 7] This is the first diagram of the structure of the communication device according to this application. [Figure 8] This is a second diagram showing the structure of the communication device according to this application. [Figure 9] This is a fourth schematic flowchart of the communication method according to this application. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0125] Prior to the description of the technical solutions of this application, the relevant technical terms used in this application are listed. While this description is intended to make the application easier to understand, it should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of protection claimed in this application.

[0126] 1. Terminal

[0127] In this application, a terminal is a device having wireless transceiver and computing capabilities. A terminal may be deployed on land, on water (e.g., on a ship), or in the air (e.g., on an airplane, balloon, or satellite), and may include indoor devices, outdoor devices, handheld devices, or in-vehicle devices. A terminal may also be referred to as a terminal device. A terminal device may be user equipment (UE). UE includes handheld devices, in-vehicle devices, wearable devices, or computing devices with wireless communication capabilities. For example, a UE may be a mobile phone, tablet computer, or computer with wireless transceiver capabilities. Alternatively, a 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 self-driving applications, a wireless terminal in telemedicine, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in a smart city, or a wireless terminal in a smart home.

[0128] Without limitation, and as an example, the terminal in this application may be a wearable device. A wearable device is also sometimes referred to as a wearable intelligent device, and is a general term for wearable devices that intelligently design and develop wearable technology for everyday wear, such as by using glasses, gloves, watches, clothing, and shoes. A wearable device is a portable device that can be worn directly on the body or integrated into the user's clothing or accessories. For example, a wearable device is not only a hardware device but also a device that implements powerful functions via software support, data exchange, and cloud interaction. In a broad sense, a wearable intelligent device includes fully equipped, large devices that can implement full or partial functionality without relying on a smartphone, for example, a smartwatch or smart glasses, and devices that focus on only one type of application function and need to be used in conjunction with other devices such as a smartphone, for example, various smart bands or smart jewelry for monitoring physical signs.

[0129] In this application, the terminal may, alternatively, be a terminal in an Internet of Things (IoT) system. IoT is an important part of future information technology development. The main technical feature of IoT is the implementation of intelligent networks of human-computer interconnection and thing-to-thing interconnection by connecting objects to a network using communication technologies. The terminal in this application may be a machine-type communication (MTC) terminal. The terminal in this application may be an in-vehicle module, in-vehicle component, onboard component, in-vehicle chip, or an in-vehicle unit incorporated into a vehicle as one or more components or units. The vehicle uses an in-vehicle module, in-vehicle component, onboard component, in-vehicle chip, or an in-vehicle unit incorporated into the vehicle to implement the method of this application.

[0130] 2. RAN node

[0131] In this application, a RAN node may be any device equipped with wireless transceiver functionality that may provide wireless access services to a terminal. A RAN node may include, but is not limited to, an advanced NodeB (NodeB or eNB, i.e., eNodeB, advanced NodeB) in long-term evolution (LTE), an advanced NodeB (next-generation eNB, ng-eNB) in next-generation LTE, a gNodeB (gNodeB or gNB), or a transmission receiving point / transmission reception point (TRP) in new radio (NR), a future-developed base station in the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP), an access node, wireless relay node, and wireless backhaul node in a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) system. A base station may be a macro base station, micro base station, pico base station, small cell, relay station, or balloon station. Multiple base stations may support a network using the same technology as described above, or they may support a network using different technologies as described above. A base station may include one or more joint or non-joint site TRPs. A RAN node may, alternatively, be at least one of the following in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario: a radio controller, CU, DU, central unit control plane (CU-CP) node, central unit user plane (CU-UP) node, baseband processing unit (Baseband Unit, BBU), or remote radio unit (RRU). An example where a RAN node is a base station is used below for illustrative purposes. Multiple RAN nodes may be the same type of base station or different types of base stations.Base stations may communicate with terminals, or they may communicate with terminals via relay stations. Terminals may communicate with multiple base stations using different technologies. For example, a terminal may communicate with a base station that supports an LTE network, or it may communicate with a base station that supports a 5G network, or it may support dual connectivity with base stations in both the LTE and 5G networks.

[0132] 3. Protocol Layer

[0133] In this application, terminals and RAN nodes may communicate with each other via protocol layers. The protocol layers may include a control plane (control panel, CP) protocol layer and a user plane (user panel, UP) protocol layer. The control plane protocol layer may include a radio resource control (RRC) layer, a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, a radio link control (RLC) layer, a medium access control (MAC) layer, a physical (PHY) layer, and other protocol layers. The user plane protocol layer may include a PDCP layer, an RLC layer, a MAC layer, a physical layer, and other protocol layers. Optionally, a service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer may be further included in the PDCP layer described above.

[0134] The user plane protocol layer is used below as an example for explanation. User plane data between a RAN node and a terminal may be transmitted through the user plane protocol layer, such as the SDAP layer, PDCP layer, RLC layer, MAC layer, and physical layer. The SDAP layer, PDCP layer, RLC layer, MAC layer, and physical layer are also sometimes collectively referred to as the access layer. Based on the transmission direction of user plane data, each layer is further separated into a transmit section and a receive section. Downlink data transmission is used below as an example for explanation.

[0135] Figure 1A illustrates the transmission of downlink data between layers. The arrows in Figure 1A indicate the direction of downlink data transmission. Specifically, after acquiring downlink data from the upper layer, the SDAP layer of the RAN node sequentially transmits the downlink data to the PDCP layer, RLC layer, and MAC layer. The MAC layer then generates a transport block, which is then wirelessly transmitted via the physical layer to the terminal's physical layer. Subsequently, the terminal's physical layer delivers the downlink data to the upper layer. Accordingly, it can be understood that data may be encapsulated at each layer. For example, data received by a layer from the upper layer of a layer is considered a service data unit (SDU) of that layer, encapsulated by the layer into a protocol data unit (PDU), and then the protocol data unit is transmitted to the next layer.

[0136] Optionally, in addition to the access layer, the device's protocol layer may further include an application layer (app layer) and a non-access stratum (NAS). The application layer may be configured to provide services to applications installed on the device. For example, downlink data received by the device may be sequentially transmitted from the physical layer to the application layer and then provided to the application by the application layer. As another example, the application layer may acquire data generated by the application and sequentially deliver the data to the physical layer, which is then sent to another communication device via the physical layer. The non-access layer may be used to transfer user data. For example, the non-access layer may transfer uplink data received from the application layer to the SDAP layer, or downlink data received from the SDAP layer to the application layer.

[0137] 4. CU and DU

[0138] In this application, a RAN node may include a CU and a DU. Specifically, the functions of a RAN node may be divided, with some functions of the RAN node deployed on the CU and the remaining functions of the RAN node deployed on the DU. Signaling generated by the CU may be sent to a terminal via the DU, or signaling generated by a terminal may be sent to the CU via the DU.

[0139] The number of CUs or DUs included in a RAN node is not limited in this application. For example, a RAN node may include one CU and multiple DUs. Multiple DUs may be centrally controlled by one CU. The interface between a CU and a DU may be referred to as an F1 interface. Interfaces between CUs and DUs may be further classified into control plane interfaces (F1-C) and user plane interfaces (F1-U).

[0140] In this application, the CU and DU may also be separated based on the protocol layer of the wireless network. For example, the PDCP layer and protocol layers above the PDCP layer are deployed on the CU, and protocol layers below the PDCP layer are deployed on the DU. See Figure 1B for details.

[0141] As mentioned above, CU and D It may be understood that this is merely an example of separating U. In certain applications, alternative separation forms may exist, and this is not limited to them.

[0142] In feasible implementations, the CU may be further divided into CU-CP nodes and CU-UP nodes, which may be coupled to the DU to jointly perform the functions of the RAN node.

[0143] 5. RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC)

[0144] In an open radio access network (ORAN) architecture, a RAN node includes an RIC (e.g., a near-real-time RIC (nrt-RIC)), a CU, and a DU. Specifically, the functions of the RAN node are divided, and the functions of the RAN node are deployed separately on the RIC, CU, and DU. For example, in an ORAN architecture, a RAN node may be shown in Figure 1C or Figure 1D. In Figure 1C or Figure 1D, the CU may include the RRC layer and PDCP layer, the DU may include the RLC layer, MAC layer, and physical layer, and the nrt-RIC may implement the functions of the application layer. Optionally, the nrt-RIC may further implement AI-related functions.

[0145] 6. Core Network (CN)

[0146] In this application, the core network may be configured to manage terminals and provide a gateway for communication with external networks. The core network may include one or more core network elements.

[0147] For example, Figure 1E illustrates the architecture of the core network, using the network service architecture of a 5th generation (5G) mobile communication system as an example. In Figure 1E, the core network includes UPF network elements, data network (DN), access management function (AMF) network elements, session management function (SMF) network elements, authentication server function (AUSF) network elements, policy control function (PCF) network elements, application function (AF) network elements, network slice selection function (NSSF) network elements, unified data management (UDM) network elements, network exposure function (NEF) network elements, and network repository function (NRF) network elements. RAN nodes may communicate with AMF and UPF network elements, and terminals may communicate with AMF network elements. Terminals and RAN nodes may communicate with each other using air interface technology.

[0148] In Figure 1E, N1 is the reference point between the terminal and the AMF network element, N2 is the reference point between the RAN node and the AMF network element, N3 is the reference point between the RAN node and the UPF network element, N4 is the reference point between the SMF network element and the UPF network element, N6 is the reference point between the UPF network element and the DN, Namf is a service-based interface provided by the AMF network element, Nsmf is a service-based interface provided by the SMF network element, Nausf is a service-based interface provided by the AUSF network element, Nnssf is a service-based interface provided by the NSSF network element, Nnef is a service-based interface provided by the NEF network element, Nnrf is a service-based interface provided by the NRF network element, Npcf is a service-based interface provided by the PCF network element, Nudm is a service-based interface provided by the UDM network element, and Naf is a service-based interface provided by the AF network element.

[0149] 7. Bitrate

[0150] Bitrate is the amount of bits (bits) of a digital signal transmitted per second over a digital channel. Digital signals may include encoded (or compressed) audio data and / or encoded (or compressed) video data. It can be understood that higher bitrates indicate better audio / video quality but larger encoded (or compressed) files. Common encoding schemes include variable bitrate (VBR), average bitrate (ABR), and constant bitrate (CBR).

[0151] 8. Data rate

[0152] Data rate, also sometimes referred to as data stream, is the data traffic used or occupied by a video file per unit of time and is the most important part of picture quality control in video encoding. At the same resolution, a higher data rate for a video file results in a lower compression ratio and better picture quality.

[0153] It can be understood that data rate can be expressed as video bitrate. Typically, video files contain video and audio information. Since audio and video have different sampling modes and bitrates, the audio bitrate and video bitrate of the same video file will be different. The data rate of a video file is usually the sum of the data rates of the audio information and the video information of the video file. A video file with the Real Media Variable Bitrate (RMVB) format is used as an example. A video file contains both image and sound. In RMVB, VB stands for VBR, indicating that a dynamic encoding mode is used for RMVB. Higher sampling rates are used for complex dynamic images (such as singing and dancing, flying cars, war, and action), and lower sampling rates are used for still images. In this way, resources are used correctly, and both image quality and file size are taken into consideration. The sampling rate is the sampling frequency at which an analog signal is converted to a digital signal, specifically the number of points sampled per unit time. The sampling rate and bitrate can satisfy the following formula: bitrate = sampling rate × bit depth × number of channels.

[0154] 9. Real-time transport protocol (RTP), RTP control protocol (RTCP), and user datagram protocol (UDP) internet connection (QUIC)

[0155] As shown in Figure 1F, RTP, RTCP, and QUIC are all transport layer protocols. RTP was published by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Multimedia Transmission Working Group in 1996 in Request for Comments (RFC) 1889. RTP provides an end-to-end transmission service for multimedia data such as voice and images that need to be transmitted in real time over the Internet Protocol (IP). However, RTP itself cannot guarantee quality of service (QoS) and therefore needs to be used in conjunction with RTCP. RTCP can monitor quality of service and transmit information about session participants. Servers may use information about RTCP data packets to change the transmission rate and payload data type. QUIC is a UDP-based transport layer protocol that may be applied to scenarios such as web pages or applications where data transmission needs to occur. It was deployed and published in 2012 and submitted to the IETF in 2013. In May 2021, the IETF published the standard RFC 9000.

[0156] 10. Extended Reality (XR)

[0157] XR can encompass a variety of environments that combine reality and virtuality, and are generated by using computing technologies, wearable devices, and human-computer interaction. XR offers advantages such as multiple views and strong interactivity, providing users with novel experiences and possessing significant application value and commercial potential. XR primarily includes virtual reality interaction technologies such as VR, AR, and mixed reality (MR), and can be widely used in many fields including entertainment, gaming, healthcare, advertising, industry, online education, and engineering. VR, AR, and MR technologies are described separately below.

[0158] VR technology integrates multiple technologies, such as computer graphics and multimedia, to simulate the functions of human sensory organs, such as sight, hearing, and touch. In this way, people can immerse themselves in a computer-generated virtual world, feel as if they are there, and communicate in real time using language or gestures, etc. This enhances the sense of immersion. By using VR technology, people can feel the reality of the real world and, furthermore, overcome the limitations of conditions such as time and space to have the amazing experience of entering a virtual world. In VR technology, the user usually needs to wear an XR device (e.g., a head-mounted device), which simulates sight, hearing, and / or touch for the user. VR technology may also be used to track the user's movements so that the simulated visual, auditory, and / or haptic content is updated in a timely manner. For example, in VR technology, user state information (e.g., user location and posture information) may be processed and scene content corresponding to the user's state information may be displayed on the XR device.

[0159] In AR technology, virtual information is superimposed onto the real world using computer technology and displayed through devices such as mobile phones, tablet computers, or glasses, which are perceived by people. In this way, reality and virtuality are assimilated, enriching the real world. In short, more information is given to real objects, improving the sense of depth and enhancing visual effects and interactive experiences. For example, in AR technology, perceived visual information (which usually includes depth information) can be processed to assimilate virtual information with the real world, making it possible for the virtual information to be perceived by the user. In this way, the real world is "enhanced."

[0160] In MR (Mixed Reality) technology, the real and virtual worlds are blended to create a new visual environment. This environment includes both physical entities and virtual information, and the content visible in the visual environment is "real-time" content.

[0161] 11. Multinode Collaboration

[0162] In recent years, devices have the need to process increasingly large amounts of data, leading to ever-increasing requirements for network transmission bandwidth. For example, video rendering services represented by cloud gaming and VR, and artificial intelligence (AI) computing services represented by terminal visual perception, AR, and MR, have increasingly high requirements for picture quality (e.g., frame rate, resolution, and lighting effects). Therefore, these services have increasingly high requirements for network transmission bandwidth and terminal computing power.

[0163] A video rendering service is used as an example. When video rendering is performed on the device, the device's computing power is insufficient to implement high-quality rendering of purely localized video. When video rendering is performed in the cloud, low latency requirements cannot be met, and the picture may be subjected to black border effects, distortion, or other phenomena due to limited network transmission capabilities.

[0164] AI computing services For example Used ru. When AI computing services run on a terminal, the terminal's computing power and electricity are insufficient to support local AI estimation. When AI computing services run in the cloud, high uplink bandwidth is required for AI estimation in the cloud, even when low latency requirements are met, resulting in limited uplink coverage and user numbers.

[0165] Therefore, to achieve a balance between the computing power of a terminal and data transmission delay, a solution is proposed for handling tasks through multi-node collaboration. In this application, a task may be an operation that processes data through multiple steps, for example, through a video rendering operation (referred to below as a video rendering task) or an AI computing operation (referred to below as an AI computing task). The video rendering operation may be implemented by using an algorithm (e.g., a video rendering algorithm or an AI algorithm), or the AI ​​computing operation may be implemented by using a model (e.g., an AI model). Any node of the multiple nodes may be any device with computing and communication capabilities, for example, a terminal, a RAN node, a functional network element of a RAN node, a core network element, a server, a cloud server, a cloud, or a mobile edge computing (MEC) platform. This is not limited to these. Specifically, a terminal may collaborate with one or more of the aforementioned devices to handle tasks in a joint manner. In this application, the terminal-cloud collaboration scenario is used primarily as an example for description. The case of another scenario is similar to the case of the terminal-cloud collaboration scenario. Therefore, please refer to the description of the terminal-cloud collaboration scenario in this application. Further details will not be provided again.

[0166] In terminal-cloud collaboration scenarios, task handling steps may be divided to acquire multiple subtasks, which are then deployed across the terminal and the cloud in a distributed manner. In this way, the terminal may execute some subtasks, and the cloud may execute other subtasks.

[0167] For example, Figure 1G is a diagram of end-cloud collaboration for an uplink service. In Figure 1G, a task is divided into subtasks 101 and 102. The terminal may acquire initial data (e.g., image information), input the initial data into subtask 101 to acquire intermediate data, and send the intermediate data to the cloud. After receiving the intermediate data, the cloud may input the intermediate data into subtask 102 to acquire the target data. Similarly, in a downlink service, a task may also be divided into multiple subtasks. The cloud may acquire initial data, input the initial data into several subtasks to acquire intermediate data, and send the intermediate data to the terminal. After receiving the intermediate data, the terminal may input the intermediate data into other subtasks to acquire the target data.

[0168] In another example, Figure 1H illustrates end-cloud collaboration for an AI computing task. In Figure 1H, the AI ​​computing task is divided into subtasks 104 and 105. The terminal may acquire image 103, input image 103 into subtask 104 to obtain intermediate data, and send the intermediate data to the cloud. After receiving the intermediate data, the cloud inputs the intermediate data into subtask 105 to obtain a recognition result "tree" of image 103.

[0169] During task division, it can be understood that tasks may be divided in multiple ways.

[0170] For example, a video rendering task can be used as an example. The video rendering task may be divided by separating the foreground from the background. For example, the foreground of a picture is usually unpredictable with small amounts of rendering and may be rendered locally by the terminal, while the background of a picture is predictable with large amounts of rendering and may be rendered by the cloud. Alternatively, the video rendering task may be divided based on a fixed point for the user. For example, the picture at the center of a fixed point may be rendered locally by the terminal, while the picture around the fixed point may be rendered by the cloud. Alternatively, the video rendering task may be divided based on objects. For example, different nodes may be selected for rendering based on the rendering computing load and data volume of different objects. It can be understood that the amount of video data that will be sent by the cloud may be reduced through task division in order to reduce the downlink transmission rate (for example, the downlink transmission rate may be reduced by more than 10 times). Thus, the number of downlink transmission users can be increased by selecting appropriate task division points.

[0171] For example, an AI computing task is used as an example. An AI computing model may be divided into multiple submodels, and these submodels may be deployed on different nodes. For example, an AI computing model may be a neural network (NN) model or a deep neural network (DNN) model. An NN / DNN model may include multiple layers, such as an input layer, a convolutional layer, a pooling layer, and a fully connected layer. The layers may be divided. For example, the input layer and convolutional layer may be deployed on the terminal, while the pooling layer and fully connected layer are deployed on the cloud. In this way, the terminal may sense user behavior data (e.g., user location, pose information, or voice information) or surrounding environment data (e.g., video or images of the surrounding environment) via sensing modules such as radar, cameras, handles, or microphones, sequentially input the data into the input layer and convolutional layer to obtain intermediate data, and send the intermediate data to the cloud. Next, after receiving the intermediate data, the cloud sequentially inputs the intermediate data into the pooling layer and then the fully connected layer to obtain the target data. Optionally, after obtaining the target data, the cloud may send the target data to the terminal.

[0172] Further investigation has revealed that during task splitting, the amount of intermediate data can fluctuate along with the task splitting location (referred to as the task splitting point below).

[0173] For example, the CNN model shown in Figure 1I is used. The CNN model includes an input layer, convolutional layer 1, pooling layer 1, convolutional layer 2, pooling layer 2, convolutional layer 3, pooling layer 3, convolutional layer 4, pooling layer 4, convolutional layer 5, activation function (e.g., rectified linear unit, ReLU), pooling layer 5, fully connected layer 1, fully connected layer 2, and an output layer. Initial data can be sequentially input to the aforementioned layers to obtain target data. Figure 1I further shows five candidate split points: candidate split point 0 to candidate split point 4. The five candidate split points are located in different positions in the CNN model. It can be understood that layers placed before the candidate split points may be deployed on the terminal, and layers placed after the candidate split points may be deployed on the cloud. Candidate split point 0 is placed before the input layer. Therefore, the terminal sends initial data to the cloud without performing any tasks, and the cloud performs all tasks. Candidate split point 1 is placed after pooling layer 1. Therefore, the terminal executes tasks placed before pooling layer 1, and the cloud executes tasks placed after pooling layer 1. Candidate split point 2 is placed after pooling layer 2. Therefore, the terminal executes tasks placed before pooling layer 2, and the cloud executes tasks placed after pooling layer 2. Candidate split point 3 is placed after pooling layer 5. Therefore, the terminal executes tasks placed before pooling layer 5, and the cloud executes tasks placed after pooling layer 5. Candidate split point 4 is placed after the output layer. Therefore, the terminal executes all tasks, the cloud executes no tasks, and the terminal does not send intermediate data to the cloud. The approximate output data size (i.e., the amount of intermediate data) and the required uplink (UL) data rate corresponding to each candidate split point may be shown in Table 1.Table 1 shows that the data size of the intermediate data corresponding to candidate split point 3 is the smallest, and the data size of the intermediate data corresponding to candidate split point 1 is the largest.

[0174] [Table 1]

[0175] In addition to the approximate output data size and required UL data rate, it should be understood that the terminal computation load and / or approximate output UL data rate may also differ for different task split points. For example, in Table 2, candidate split point 1 corresponds to an approximate output UL data rate of 120 Mbit / s and a low terminal computation load, while candidate split point 2 corresponds to an approximate output UL data rate of 24 Mbit / s and a high terminal computation load.

[0176] [Table 2]

[0177] It can be understood that the approximate output UL data rate is the transmission rate of intermediate data acquired by the terminal through computation. Therefore, a larger approximate output UL data rate indicates more data that needs to be transmitted by the terminal, i.e., a larger amount of intermediate data. Consequently, the terminal's computational effort is less, i.e., the terminal's computational load is lower. Conversely, a smaller approximate output UL data rate indicates less data that needs to be transmitted by the terminal, i.e., a smaller amount of intermediate data. Consequently, the terminal's computational effort is greater, i.e., the terminal's computational load is higher.

[0178] In this application, terminal computational load may be described as terminal load, terminal computational amount, terminal computational power consumption, or terminal computational energy consumption. Furthermore, in this application, high or low levels are used, for example, to measure terminal computational load. In actual application, terminal computational load may be measured in other ways. For example, terminal computational load may be measured by using high, medium, or low levels, or by using a specific value or symbol, etc. This is not limited to these. A unified description is provided herein, and details are not described below.

[0179] It can be understood that Figure 1I simply shows an example of a CNN model. In certain applications, CNN models are used in Figure 1 I It may contain more or fewer layers than the layers in a given model. For example, a CNN model may further include softmax and / or argmax functions after fully connected layers. This is not limited to these.

[0180] In conclusion, different task partitioning points can accommodate different approximate output data sizes, required UL data rates, terminal computational loads, and / or approximate output UL data rates. Therefore, further requirements for modifying task partitioning points are proposed to improve the flexibility of task handling by each node.

[0181] 12. QoS Profile

[0182] A QoS profile is a file configured by the core network that can guarantee the quality of data transmission between terminals and RAN nodes. Therefore, before data is transmitted between terminals and RAN nodes, the RAN node may obtain the QoS profile from the core network and perform a mapping from the QoS flow to the DRB based on the QoS profile. The data may then be transmitted between terminals and RAN nodes based on the QoS flow. In the process described above, the RAN node obtains the QoS profile in a single manner. However, with the advancement of communication technology, communication scenarios are becoming increasingly complex. Therefore, the QoS profile obtained by the RAN node using the process described above may not be suitable for today's increasingly complex communication scenarios.

[0183] To obtain an appropriate QoS profile, this application provides the following four methods.

[0184] Method 1: The terminal indicates to a first network element of the core network that the first session may correspond to multiple candidate QoS profiles. Based on the terminal's indication, the first network element retrieves multiple candidate QoS profiles corresponding to the first session and sends the multiple candidate QoS profiles to the RAN node. After receiving the multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node actively modifies the QoS profiles based on the current network state to obtain a target QoS profile. For example, the RAN node determines the target QoS profile based on the current network state and the terminal load corresponding to one or more of the multiple candidate QoS profiles. After determining the target QoS profile, the RAN node may present the target QoS profile to the terminal and / or the cloud. Optionally, the first network element may be an SMF network element or a new core network element.

[0185] In this application, active modification of a QoS profile by a RAN node is relative to passive modification of a QoS profile by a RAN node. Passive modification of a QoS profile by a RAN node can be understood as the RAN node modifying the QoS profile based on radio channel conditions. For example, when the current network conditions cannot meet the QoS requirements of the current QoS profile, the RAN node modifies the QoS profile so that the modified QoS profile is a QoS profile with the best possible QoS that can be provided under the current radio channel conditions, thereby minimizing any impact on the service experience. Active modification of a QoS profile by a RAN node can be understood as the RAN node modifying the QoS profile based on actual requirements, such as terminal requirements, cloud requirements, and / or RAN node requirements. For example, a RAN node may modify the current QoS profile when the current network conditions meet the quality of service requirements of the current QoS profile so that the modified QoS profile meets the actual requirements. Therefore, when a RAN node actively modifies a QoS profile, the modified QoS profile may not be a QoS profile with the best possible QoS that can be provided under the current radio channel conditions. However, a method in which RAN nodes actively modify QoS profiles could be adapted to a wider range of communication scenarios.

[0186] In Method 1, it can be understood that the RAN node may actively modify the QoS profile to obtain a target QoS profile and present the target QoS profile to the terminal and / or the cloud. Because the RAN node has the ability to actively modify the QoS profile, it can determine an appropriate QoS profile for more communication scenarios based on requirements. For example, the RAN node may determine a target QoS profile based on the current network state and the terminal load corresponding to one or more of several candidate QoS profiles. In this way, in the process of determining the target QoS profile, the RAN node considers not only the current network state but also the terminal load to avoid the terminal overheating or affecting the terminal's standby time due to an excessively high terminal load, thereby improving the user experience. Furthermore, it is difficult to accurately obtain and standardize the current terminal load because the load states of chips differ between different terminal types and terminal vendors, and the current terminal load is further related to many factors such as the environment and external temperature. In Method 1 described above, although the current terminal load does not need to be obtained, the candidate QoS profiles are associated with the terminal load, and the terminal load is controlled by modifying the QoS profile, thereby avoiding an excessively high terminal load. For example, when the terminal load corresponding to a QoS profile is high, the number / frequency of selecting a QoS profile may be controlled, and / or the duration of use of a QoS profile may be controlled, thereby controlling the terminal load. Thus, in Method 1, the terminal load can be easily controlled. Specific processing of Method 1 is specifically described in the following embodiments shown in Figure 4. Further details are not described herein.

[0187] In Method 1, the device that determines the target QoS profile is a RAN node. In certain applications, the device that determines the target QoS profile may, alternatively, be a device other than a RAN node, such as any one or more network elements of the core network.

[0188] Method 2 below describes a process for determining the target QoS profile using a second network element of the core network. Optionally, the second network element may be any of the core network elements, such as an AMF network element, an SMF network element, or a PCF network element. This is not limited to these.

[0189] Method 2: The terminal indicates to a first network element of the core network that the first session may correspond to multiple candidate QoS profiles. Based on the terminal's indication, the first network element retrieves multiple candidate QoS profiles corresponding to the first session and sends the multiple candidate QoS profiles to a second network element. The RAN node sends the current network state to the second network element. After receiving the multiple candidate QoS profiles and the current network state, the second network element actively modifies the QoS profiles based on the current network state to obtain a target QoS profile. For example, the second network element determines the target QoS profile based on the current network state and the terminal load corresponding to one or more of the multiple candidate QoS profiles. After determining the target QoS profile, the second network element may present the target QoS profile to the terminal and / or the cloud.

[0190] In this application, the active modification of the QoS profile by a second network element can be understood as the second network element modifying the QoS profile based on actual requirements, such as terminal requirements, cloud requirements, and / or RAN node requirements. For example, the second network element may modify the current QoS profile when the current network state satisfies the quality of service requirements of the current QoS profile, thereby ensuring that the modified QoS profile satisfies the actual requirements.

[0191] It can be understood that in Method 2, the second network element may actively modify the QoS profile to obtain a target QoS profile and present the target QoS profile to the terminal and / or the cloud. Because the second network element has the ability to actively modify the QoS profile, it can determine an appropriate QoS profile for more communication scenarios based on requirements. For example, the second network element may determine a target QoS profile based on the current network state and the terminal load corresponding to one or more of several candidate QoS profiles. In this way, in the process of determining the target QoS profile, the second network element considers not only the current network state but also the terminal load to avoid the terminal overheating or affecting the terminal's standby time due to an excessively high terminal load, thereby improving the user experience. Furthermore, in Method 2 described above, candidate QoS profiles may be associated with terminal load, and the terminal load is controlled by modifying the QoS profile, thereby avoiding an excessively high terminal load. Therefore, in Method 2 described above, the terminal load can be easily controlled without obtaining the current terminal load.

[0192] It can be understood that, after determining the target QoS profile, a second network element may further present the target QoS profile to the RAN node, thereby causing the RAN node to transmit data based on the target QoS profile.

[0193] It can be seen that the concept of Method 2 is fundamentally similar to the concept of Method 1. Therefore, for specific procedures of Method 2, please refer to the corresponding descriptions in the embodiments shown in Figure 4 below. Details are not provided.

[0194] It can be understood that, in certain applications, in addition to methods 1 and 2 described above, a method may be used that includes new information within the candidate QoS profile. The appropriate QoS profile is determined based on the new information. For example, the appropriate QoS profile may be determined by using method 3 or method 4 below.

[0195] Method 3: The terminal indicates to a first network element of the core network that the first session may correspond to multiple candidate QoS profiles. Based on the terminal's indication, the first network element retrieves multiple candidate QoS profiles corresponding to the first session and sends the multiple candidate QoS profiles to the RAN node. Each of the multiple candidate QoS profiles includes conditional information to restrict the selection of the candidate QoS profile, terminal computation load information, total uplink and downlink packet delay budget (PDB), uplink PDB, or downlink PDB, or at least one of these. After receiving the multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node determines the target QoS profile among the multiple candidate QoS profiles based on the current network state and the information contained in the candidate QoS profiles, and indicates the parameters related to the target QoS profile to the terminal and / or the cloud. Optionally, the first network element may be an SMF network element or a new core network element.

[0196] It can be understood that, in Method 3, the RAN node determines the target QoS profile among several candidate QoS profiles based on the current network state, conditional information to restrict the selection of candidate QoS profiles, terminal computing load information, and at least one of the total uplink and downlink PDBs, uplink PDB, or downlink PDB, and presents the target QoS profile to the terminal and / or the cloud. It can be understood that, when a candidate QoS profile includes conditional information, the current network state satisfies the QoS requirements of the target QoS profile, and the target QoS profile satisfies the conditional information contained in the target QoS profile, controlling the number of times the target QoS profile is selected. When a candidate QoS profile includes terminal computing load information, the current network state satisfies the QoS requirements of the target QoS profile, and the terminal computing load information contained in the target QoS profile satisfies the terminal's current computing load requirements, controlling the terminal computing load by modifying the QoS profile. When a candidate QoS profile includes a total of uplink and downlink PDBs, the current network state satisfies the QoS requirements of the target QoS profile, the total uplink and downlink PDBs provided by the current network state are less than or equal to the total uplink and downlink PDBs included in the target QoS profile, and the target QoS profile is determined in a timely manner based on the total uplink and downlink transmit delay. When a candidate QoS profile includes uplink PDBs, the current network state satisfies the QoS requirements of the target QoS profile, the uplink PDBs provided by the current network state are less than or equal to the uplink PDBs included in the target QoS profile, and the target QoS profile is determined in a timely manner based on the uplink transmit delay.When a candidate QoS profile includes a downlink PDB, the current network state satisfies the QoS requirements of the target QoS profile, and the downlink PDB provided by the current network state is less than or equal to the downlink PDB included in the target QoS profile, and the target QoS profile is determined in a timely manner based on the downlink transmission delay. Thus, the RAN node can determine the appropriate QoS profile for different communication scenarios. Specific processing of Method 3 is specifically described in the following embodiments shown in Figure 5. Further details are not described herein.

[0197] In Method 3, the device that determines the target QoS profile is a RAN node. In certain applications, the device that determines the target QoS profile may, alternatively, be a device other than a RAN node, such as any one or more network elements of the core network.

[0198] Method 4 below describes the process of determining the target QoS profile using a second network element of the core network.

[0199] Method 4: The terminal indicates to the first network element of the core network that the first session may correspond to multiple candidate QoS profiles. Based on the terminal's indication, the first network element retrieves multiple candidate QoS profiles corresponding to the first session and sends the multiple candidate QoS profiles to the second network element. The RAN node sends the current network state to the second network element. Any one of the multiple candidate QoS profiles includes conditional information to restrict the selection of candidate QoS profiles, terminal computation load information, and at least one of the following: total PDB, uplink PDB, or downlink PDB. After receiving the multiple candidate QoS profiles and the current network state, the second network element determines the target QoS profile among the multiple candidate QoS profiles based on the current network state and the information contained in the candidate QoS profiles, and indicates the target QoS profile to the terminal and / or the cloud.

[0200] It can be understood that, in Method 4, the second network element may determine a target QoS profile among several candidate QoS profiles based on the current network state, conditional information to restrict the selection of candidate QoS profiles, terminal computation load information, and at least one of the total uplink and downlink PDBs, uplink PDB, or downlink PDB, thereby determining an appropriate QoS profile for different communication scenarios.

[0201] It can be understood that, after determining the target QoS profile, a second network element may further present the target QoS profile to the RAN node, thereby causing the RAN node to transmit data based on the target QoS profile.

[0202] It can be seen that the concept of Method 4 is fundamentally similar to the concept of Method 3. Therefore, for specific procedures of Method 4, please refer to the corresponding descriptions in the embodiments shown in Figure 5. Details are not provided.

[0203] In this application, the second network element and the first network element may be the same network element or different network elements, but this is not limited to them. In Method 2 or Method 4, if the second network element and the first network element are the same network element, the first network element may not need to send multiple candidate QoS profiles to the second network element.

[0204] In this application, a QoS profile may be described as a QoS profile or a QoS parameter set. For example, a candidate QoS profile may be described as a candidate QoS profile or a candidate QoS parameter set, and similar processing may also be performed on other QoS profiles (e.g., the target QoS profile described below). Further details are not provided again.

[0205] In this application, candidate QoS profiles may be described as alternative QoS profiles. Multiple candidate QoS profiles may be described as a candidate QoS profile set, a collection of candidate QoS profiles, or a group of candidate QoS profiles, but are not limited to these.

[0206] The implementation of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0207] The methods provided in this application may be applied to a variety of communication systems. For example, the communication systems may be universal mobile telecommunication systems (UMTS), LTE systems, 5G communication systems, Wi-Fi systems, 3GPP-related communication systems, future advanced communication systems (e.g., 6th generation (6G) communication systems), or systems integrating multiple systems. This is not limited to these. 5G is sometimes referred to as NR. The methods provided in this application are described below, by example, using the communication system 20 shown in Figure 2. Figure 2 is for illustrative purposes only and does not constitute a limitation on the application scenarios of the technical solutions provided in this application.

[0208] Figure 2 is a diagram of the architecture of the communication system 20 according to this application. In Figure 2, the communication system 20 may include a RAN 201 and a core network 202. The RAN 201 includes at least one RAN node (e.g., one RAN node 2011 shown in Figure 2) and at least one terminal (e.g., two terminals shown in Figure 2: terminal 2012 and terminal 2013). In Figure 2, the terminal may be connected to the RAN node 2011 wirelessly. The RAN node 2011 is connected to the core network 202 wirelessly or wired. The network elements of the core network 202 and the RAN node 2011 of the RAN 201 may be different physical devices, or they may be the same physical device integrating the logical functions of the core network and the logical functions of the wireless access network.

[0209] RAN201 may be a 3GPP-related cellular system, such as a 3G, 4G, or 5G mobile communication system, or a future-oriented evolutionary system (such as a 6G mobile communication system). Alternatively, RAN201 may be an ORAN, CRAN, or Wi-Fi system. Alternatively, RAN201 may be a communication system integrating two or more of the aforementioned systems. RAN node 2011 is sometimes referred to as an access network device, RAN entity, or access node, and constitutes part of a communication system to help terminals implement wireless access. For understanding, please refer to the aforementioned descriptions of terminals, RAN nodes, protocol layers, CUs, DUs, or RICs in the specific descriptions of terminals and RAN nodes in Figure 2. Further details are not provided again.

[0210] The architecture of core network 202 may be shown in Figure 1E. RAN node 2011 in Figure 2 corresponds to the RAN node in Figure 1E, and terminals in Figure 2, such as terminal 2012 or terminal 2013, correspond to the terminals in Figure 1E. For further details on the core network, please refer to the preceding description of the core network. Details will not be repeated.

[0211] Optionally, the communication system 20 further includes a computing node 203. The computing node 203 may be any node having computing and communication capabilities, such as a server, service node, application server, cloud server, cloud, MEC platform, or AF. The computing node 203 may be located in the data network after the user plane functions of the core network 202 and may exchange user plane application layer data with the core network 202 via an interface (e.g., an N6 interface) and provide computing services.

[0212] The communication system 20 shown in Figure 2 is merely an example and is not intended to limit the technical solutions of this application. Those skilled in the art should understand that, in a particular implementation, the communication system 20 may include other devices, and the number of RAN nodes, terminals, core network elements, or computing nodes may be determined as alternatives according to specific requirements. This is not limited to these.

[0213] Optionally, in this application, each network element in Figure 2 (e.g., terminal, RAN node, core network element, or computing node) may also be referred to as a communication device and may be a general-purpose device or a dedicated device. This is not particularly limited in this application.

[0214] Optionally, in this application, the functions related to each network element in Figure 2 (e.g., terminal, RAN node, core network element, or computing node) may be implemented by a single device, by multiple devices in conjunction, or by one or more functional modules of a single device. This is not particularly limited in this application. It can be understood that the aforementioned functions may be network elements of hardware devices, or software functions running on dedicated hardware, a combination of hardware and software, or instantiated virtualized functions on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform).

[0215] In this application, in a particular implementation, each network element in Figure 2 (e.g., terminal, RAN node, core network network element, or computing node) may use the configuration shown in Figure 3 or include the components shown in Figure 3. Figure 3 is a diagram of the hardware structure of a communication device to which this application is applicable. The communication device 30 includes at least one processor 301 and at least one communication interface 304 to implement the method provided in this application. The communication device 30 may further include communication lines 302 and memory 303.

[0216] The processor 301 may be a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits configured to control the program execution of the solution of this application.

[0217] The communication line 302 may include a path for transmitting information between the aforementioned components, such as a bus.

[0218] The communication interface 304 is configured to communicate with another device or communication network. The communication interface 304 may be any device such as a transceiver, for example, an Ethernet interface, a radio access network (RAN) interface, a wireless local area network (WLAN) interface, a transceiver, a pin, a bus, an interface circuit, or a transceiver circuit.

[0219] The memory 303 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or another type of static storage device capable of storing static information and instructions, or a random access memory (RAM) or another type of dynamic storage device capable of storing information and instructions, or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), another compact disc storage medium, an optical disc storage medium (including compact discs, laser discs, optical discs, digital multipurpose discs, or Blu-ray discs, etc.), a magnetic disc storage medium or another magnetic storage device, or any other medium accessible by a computer that can be configured to carry or store expected program code in the form of instructions or data structures. The memory may exist independently or be coupled to the processor 301 via a communication line 302. Alternatively, the memory 303 may be integrated with the processor 301. Typically, the memory provided in this application may be non-volatile.

[0220] Memory 303 is configured to store computer-executable instructions for performing the solution provided in this application, and processor 301 controls the execution of these computer-executable instructions. Processor 301 is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions stored in memory 303 in order to implement the method provided in this application. Alternatively, optionally, in this application, processor 301 may perform processing-related functions of the method provided below, and communication interface 304 may be responsible for communication with another device or communication network. This is not particularly limited in this application.

[0221] Optionally, computer executable instructions in this application may also be referred to as application program code. This is not particularly limited in this application.

[0222] The coupling in this application may be an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units, or modules in an electrical, mechanical, or other form, and is used for information exchange between devices, units, or modules.

[0223] In one embodiment, the processor 301 may include one or more CPUs, for example, CPU0 and CPU1 in Figure 3.

[0224] In some embodiments, the communication device 30 may include a plurality of processors, for example, processor 301 and processor 307, as shown in Figure 3. Each of the processors may be a single-core (single-CPU) processor or a multi-core (multi-CPU) processor. A processor as used herein may be one or more devices, circuits, and / or processing cores configured to process data (e.g., computer program instructions).

[0225] In embodiments, the communication device 30 may further include an output device 305 and / or an input device 306. The output device 305 is coupled to the processor 301 and may display information in multiple ways. For example, the output device 305 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light-emitting diode (LED) display device, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display device, or a projector. The input device 306 is coupled to the processor 301 and may receive user input in multiple ways. For example, the input device 306 may be a mouse, a keyboard, a touchscreen device, or a sensor device.

[0226] It should be understood that the configuration shown in Figure 3 does not constitute a limitation on the communication device. In addition to the components shown in Figure 3, the communication device may include more or fewer components than those shown in the figure, or some components may be combined, or components may be arranged differently.

[0227] The following describes the methods provided in this application with reference to the attached drawings. The network elements in the following embodiments may have the components shown in Figure 3, details of which are not described again.

[0228] The names of messages between network elements, or the names of parameters in messages, in the following embodiments of this application are merely examples, and it should be understood that other names may be used as alternatives between specific implementations. This is not particularly limited in this application.

[0229] In this application, it may be understood that " / " can indicate an "or" relationship between related objects. For example, A / B may indicate A or B. "And / or" may indicate that there are three relationships between related objects. For example, A and / or B may indicate the following three cases: only A exists, both A and B exist, only B exists, where A and B can be singular or plural. Furthermore, expressions similar to "at least one of A, B, and C" or "at least one of A, B, or C" are commonly used to express any one of the following: only A exists, only B exists, only C exists, both A and B exist, both A and C exist, both B and C exist, and all of A, B, and C exist. The foregoing uses three elements A, B, and C as examples to describe optional items of the project. When an expression has more elements, the meaning of the expression may be obtained according to the rules described above.

[0230] To facilitate the description of the technical solutions of this application, terms such as “first” and “second” may be used in this application to distinguish between technical features having the same or similar functions. Terms such as “first” and “second” are not intended to limit quantities or execution order, nor are they intended to limit clear differences. In this application, terms such as “example” or “for example” indicate an example, illustration, or explanation. No embodiment or design scheme described using “example” or “for example” should be construed as being preferable or advantageous to another embodiment or design scheme. Terms such as “example” or “for example” are used to represent the concepts involved in a particular manner for ease of understanding.

[0231] It should be understood that “Embodiments” as referred to throughout this specification means that certain features, structures, or characteristics relating to an embodiment are included in at least one embodiment of this application. Therefore, embodiments throughout the specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, these particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in one or more embodiments by using any suitable method. It should be understood that the sequential numbering of processes does not mean the order of execution in the embodiments of this application. The order of execution of processes should be determined based on the function and internal logic of the processes and should not be construed as a limitation on the implementation processes of this application.

[0232] It should be understood that, in this application, both "when" and "in case" mean that the corresponding process is performed in an objective case, but are not intended to limit the time. Furthermore, these terms do not necessarily mean that a definitive action is performed during the implementation, nor do they imply any other limitation.

[0233] In this application, "multiple" may be understood as two or more unless otherwise specified. For example, multiple candidate QoS profiles could be two or more candidate QoS profiles.

[0234] In this application, unless otherwise specified, “greater than or equal to” may be written as “greater than” or “equal to,” and “less than or equal to” may be written as “less than” or “equal to.” For example, “A is greater than or equal to B” may be written as “A is greater than B” or “A is equal to B,” and “A is less than or equal to B” may be written as “A is less than B” or “A is equal to B.”

[0235] It can be understood that, in some scenarios, some optional features in this application may be implemented independently of other features, for example, without depending on the solution on which the optional features currently stand, to solve the corresponding technical problems and achieve the corresponding effects. Alternatively, in some scenarios, optional features may be combined with other features based on requirements. Accordingly, the apparatus provided in this application may also implement these features or functions in a similar manner. Further details are not described herein.

[0236] It can be understood that in this application, the same steps, or steps or technical features having the same function, may be referenced to one another in different embodiments.

[0237] In this application, it can be understood that terminals and / or RAN nodes and / or network elements of a core network and / or computing nodes may perform some or all of the steps in this application. These steps are merely examples. In this application, other steps or variations of various steps may be performed. Furthermore, the steps may be performed in an order different from that shown in this application, and not all of the steps in this application may necessarily be performed.

[0238] It should be understood that the following methods provided in this application are described by using examples in which terminals, RAN nodes, network elements of a core network, and computing nodes act as execution entities for interaction examples. However, the execution entities for interaction examples are not limited in this application. For example, the terminal in the method provided in the following embodiments of this application may be, alternatively, a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the terminal when implementing the method, or a logical node, logical module, or software that can implement all or some of the functions of the server; the RAN node in the method provided below this application may be, alternatively, a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the RAN node when implementing the method, or a logical node, logical module, or software that can implement all or some of the functions of the electronic device; the network element of the core network in the method provided below this application may be, alternatively, a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the network element of the core network when implementing the method, or a logical node, logical module, or software that can implement all or some of the functions of the network element of the core network; the computing node in the method provided below this application may be, alternatively, a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the computing node when implementing the method, or a logical node, logical module, or software that can implement all or some of the functions of the computing node.

[0239] Figure 4 illustrates the communication method according to this application. This method may include the following steps.

[0240] S401: The terminal sends information about the first session to the first network element. In response, the first network element receives information about the first session from the terminal.

[0241] In this application, the terminal may be any terminal in RAN201 shown in Figure 2, for example, terminal 2012 or terminal 2013. The first network element may be any network element in core network 202 shown in Figure 2, or the first network element may be a new core network element.

[0242] In this application, information regarding the first session indicates that the terminal's first session corresponds to multiple candidate QoS profiles. In this way, the first network element can determine that the first session corresponds to multiple candidate QoS profiles and obtain the multiple candidate QoS profiles corresponding to the first session for the RAN node. In this application, the RAN node may be RAN node 2011 in RAN201 shown in Figure 2.

[0243] In this application, the fact that a first session corresponds to multiple candidate QoS profiles can be understood as the first session including at least one QoS flow that supports multiple candidate QoS profiles. For example, the first session includes one QoS flow that supports multiple candidate QoS profiles, or the first session includes multiple QoS flows, at least one of which supports multiple candidate QoS profiles.

[0244] In a possible design, information about the first session includes at least one of the following: the identifier of the first session, the terminal identifier (e.g., UE ID), the terminal address (terminal IP address or MAC address), the data network name (DNN), or single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI). Optionally, the first session is a PDU session. Therefore, the identifier of the first session may be the PDU session identifier (PDU session ID).

[0245] Optionally, one type of information or a combination of multiple types of information in the information about the first session may uniquely identify the PDU session. Thus, the first network element may determine whether the PDU session contains a QoS flow that supports multiple candidate QoS profiles. For example, a new meaning may be assigned to one type of information or a combination of multiple types of information, and as a result, one type of information or a combination of multiple types of information may indicate whether the PDU session contains a QoS flow that supports multiple candidate QoS profiles.

[0246] Optionally, information about the first session is carried in the session establishment request message.

[0247] It can be understood that a terminal may send information about a first session directly to a first network element, or send information about a first session to the first network element via at least one intermediate network element. For example, the first session is a PDU session, and the first network element is an SMF network element. The terminal may send a session establishment request message to the SMF network element via an AMF network element. The session establishment request message contains information about the first session. After receiving the session establishment request message, the SMF network element may identify the first session based on the information about the first session and determine that the first session includes a QoS flow that supports multiple candidate QoS profiles.

[0248] S402: The first network element obtains multiple candidate QoS profiles based on information about the first session.

[0249] In a possible design, one of several candidate QoS profiles includes at least one of the following: candidate QoS profile identifier, guaranteed flow bit rate (GFBR), uplink PDB, downlink PDB, total uplink and downlink PDB, terminal computation load, packet error rate (PER), guaranteed bit rate (GBR), packet error loss rate (PELR), maximum data burst volume (MDBV), or priority information (priority level).

[0250] In this application, the candidate QoS profile identifier is for identifying a candidate QoS profile to distinguish it from other candidate QoS profiles. For example, the candidate QoS profile identifier may be an index, such as the index of a candidate QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles. GFBR may be an uplink GFBR or a downlink GFBR. For example, in an uplink service, GFBR is an uplink GFBR, and in a downlink service, GFBR is a downlink GFBR. Priority information indicates the priority of the candidate QoS profile. MDBV indicates the maximum amount of data that can be serviced within the corresponding PDB and PELR.

[0251] In this application, the total uplink and downlink PDB is equal to the sum of the uplink PDB and the downlink PDB. The total uplink and downlink PDB may indicate the round trip time (RTT) over which data packets that can be guaranteed by the network are transmitted over the network, and is one of the network's quality of service (QoS) parameters. The total uplink and downlink PDB is important for latency-sensitive human-machine interaction applications such as cloud gaming, 3D vision, and XR applications. The network needs to provide low RTT latency to ensure a smooth, high-definition experience for the user. It may be understood that the total uplink and downlink PDB can be the same as or different from the uplink PDB and downlink PDB. For example, if the total uplink and downlink PDB is 15ms, then the uplink PDB is 10ms and the downlink PDB is 5ms, or both the uplink and downlink PDBs are 7.5ms. The network can flexibly configure the size of the uplink PDB reserved for uplink data packets of a real-time interactive service, and the size of the downlink PDB reserved for the corresponding downlink data packets, based on the uplink and downlink network transmission states. For example, if the uplink channel is in a poor state and the downlink channel is in a good state, the uplink PDB for the service's uplink data packets may be configured to be 10ms, and the downlink PDB for one or more downlink data packets corresponding to the service's uplink data packets may be configured to be 5ms.When both the uplink and downlink channels are stable, the uplink PDB for the service's uplink data packets and the downlink PDB for one or more downlink data packets corresponding to the service may be configured to be 7.5 ms.

[0252] It should be understood that the above is merely an example of the information or parameters that may be included in a candidate QoS profile. Between specific applications, a candidate QoS profile may contain more or fewer pieces of information or parameters than those described above, and this is not limited to such cases.

[0253] If a candidate QoS profile includes an identifier for the candidate QoS profile, it can be understood that different candidate QoS profiles can be distinguished by using the identifier. If a candidate QoS profile includes a GFBR, when subsequently determining the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node may determine, based on the GFBR, whether a candidate QoS profile matches the current network state, for example, whether the target QoS profile in a candidate QoS profile can satisfy the GFBR of the current network. If a candidate QoS profile includes total uplink and downlink PDBs, when subsequently determining the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node may determine, based on the total uplink and downlink PDBs, whether a candidate QoS profile matches the current network state, for example, whether the target QoS profile in a candidate QoS profile can satisfy the total uplink and downlink PDBs of the current network. If a candidate QoS profile includes uplink PDBs, when subsequently determining the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node may determine, based on the uplink PDBs, whether a candidate QoS profile matches the current network state, for example, whether the target QoS profile in a candidate QoS profile can satisfy the uplink PDBs of the current network. If a candidate QoS profile includes a downlink PDB, when subsequently determining the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node may determine, based on the downlink PDB, whether the candidate QoS profile matches the current network state, for example, determining the target QoS profile among the candidate QoS profiles that can satisfy the current network's downlink PDB.If a candidate QoS profile includes a PER, when subsequently determining the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node may determine, based on the PER, whether the candidate QoS profile matches the current network state, for example, by determining the target QoS profile in a candidate QoS profile that can satisfy the current network's PER. If a candidate QoS profile includes a GBR, when subsequently determining the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node may determine, based on the GBR, whether the candidate QoS profile matches the current network state, for example, by determining the target QoS profile in a candidate QoS profile that can satisfy the current network's GBR. If a candidate QoS profile includes a PELR, when subsequently determining the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node may determine, based on the PELR, whether the candidate QoS profile matches the current network state, for example, by determining the target QoS profile in a candidate QoS profile that can satisfy the current network's PELR. If a candidate QoS profile includes an MDBV, when subsequently determining the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node may determine, based on the MDBV, whether the candidate QoS profile matches the current network state, for example, determining the target QoS profile among candidate QoS profiles that can satisfy the current network's MDBV. If a candidate QoS profile includes priority information, when subsequently determining the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node may consider the priority indicated by the priority information.

[0254] In possible implementations, the first network element obtains multiple candidate QoS profiles locally or from network elements in the core network other than the first network element.

[0255] For example, the first network element is an SMF network element. If multiple candidate QoS profiles are stored in the SMF network element, the SMF network element retrieves the multiple candidate QoS profiles locally. If multiple candidate QoS profiles are not stored in the SMF network element, the SMF network element sends request information to a PCF network element or AF network element to request candidate QoS profiles. After receiving the request information, the PCF network element or AF network element sends the multiple candidate QoS profiles to the SMF network element.

[0256] S403: The first network element sends multiple candidate QoS profiles to the RAN node. In response, the RAN node retrieves the multiple candidate QoS profiles.

[0257] In this application, the sending of multiple candidate QoS profiles by a first network element to a RAN node can be described as the sending of multiple candidate QoS profiles by a first network element to a module in the RAN node. For example, the first network element sends multiple candidate QoS profiles to a CU or RIC in the RAN node.

[0258] In this application, the acquisition of multiple candidate QoS profiles by a RAN node may be understood as the RAN node receiving multiple candidate QoS profiles from another device. For example, the RAN node receives multiple candidate QoS profiles from a first network element. Alternatively, the acquisition of multiple candidate QoS profiles by a RAN node may be understood as one module in the RAN node acquiring multiple candidate QoS profiles from another module in the RAN node. For example, the DU of the RAN node acquires multiple candidate QoS profiles from the CU of the RAN node, or the CU or DU of the RAN node acquires multiple candidate QoS profiles from the RIC of the RAN node.

[0259] If the first session includes multiple QoS flows that support multiple candidate QoS profiles, it can be understood that the first network element will send the multiple candidate QoS profiles supported by the multiple QoS flows to the RAN node.

[0260] It can be understood that the first network element may either directly send multiple candidate QoS profiles to the RAN node or send multiple candidate QoS profiles to the RAN node via at least one intermediate network element.

[0261] For example, the first network element is an SMF network element, which can send multiple candidate QoS profiles to the RAN node via an AMF network element.

[0262] Optionally, multiple candidate QoS profiles are carried in a session resource setup request message (e.g., a PDU session resource setup request message) or a session resource setup modification message (e.g., a PDU session resource setup modification message).

[0263] Optionally, the first network element sends first indication information to the RAN node. Correspondingly, the RAN node receives first indication information from the first network element. The first indication information indicates to the RAN node that it should actively modify the QoS profile. In this way, after receiving the first indication information, the RAN node may have more ways of determining the target QoS profile, and as a result, the determined target QoS profile may be applicable to different communication scenarios. For example, the RAN node may not select the QoS profile with the best QoS that can be provided under the current radio channel conditions, but may select a QoS profile other than the best QoS profile from among several candidate QoS profiles without affecting the service experience of the QoS flow, thereby improving system performance, for example, by reducing the consumption of network air interface resources and increasing the number of transmitting users. The ways in which the RAN node selects a QoS profile are described below in S404.

[0264] Optionally, the first indication information is carried in a session resource setup request message or a session resource setup modification message.

[0265] For example, the session resource setup request message is used as an example to illustrate the case where the session resource setup request message includes multiple candidate QoS profiles and first indication information. For example, the session resource setup request message may include GBR QoS flow information. The information elements (IEs) / group names included in the GBR QoS flow information may be shown in Table 3. The GBR QoS flow information shown in Table 3 includes three IEs / group names, which are Notification Control, Autonomous QoS Selection, and Alternative QoS Parameters Set List, respectively. The IE types for Notification Control and Autonomous QoS Selection are enumerated. It should be understood that all three of the above IEs / group names are optional. In the case of notification requested, the GBR QoS flow information includes notification control. When the value of Autonomous QoS Selection is true, the GBR QoS flow information includes Autonomous QoS Selection. It can be understood that autonomous QoS selection is the first indication information, the alternative QoS parameter set list may contain multiple candidate QoS profiles, and notification control may indicate to the RAN node to respond to the first network element using the selected QoS profile, i.e., the following target QoS profile.

[0266] [Table 3]

[0267] It should be understood that Table 3 is only one example of GBR QoS flow information. In certain applications, GBR QoS flow information may include more or fewer columns or rows than those in Table 3, but this is not limited to them.

[0268] In possible implementations, after receiving multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node performs a mapping from QoS flows to the DRB. For example, the RAN node performs the mapping from QoS flows to the DRB based on one of the multiple candidate QoS profiles. The RAN node may also exchange air interface signaling related to the DRB configuration with the terminal.

[0269] Optionally, after completing the mapping, the RAN node sends indication information to the first network element showing the resource setup result. If multiple candidate QoS profiles are carried in the session resource setup request message, it can be understood that the indication information showing the resource setup result may be carried in the session resource setup response message.

[0270] It can be understood that a RAN node may either directly send indication information indicating the resource setup result to the first network element, or send indication information indicating the resource setup result to the first network element via at least one intermediate network element. For example, if the first network element is an SMF network element, the RAN node may send indication information indicating the resource setup result to the SMF network element via an AMF network element.

[0271] S404: The RAN node actively determines the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles based on the current network state.

[0272] In possible implementations, when the ability to actively modify QoS profiles is enabled, the RAN node actively determines the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles based on the current network state. Optionally, the RAN node periodically and actively determines the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles based on the current network state. For example, in an uplink 60 FPS (inter-frame spacing of 16.67 ms) video streaming service, the RAN node actively determines the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles at 16.67 ms intervals based on the current network state.

[0273] In a possible design, enabling a RAN node to actively modify the QoS profile may involve the following: The RAN node receives a first indication and, based on the first indication, enables the function to actively modify the QoS profile, and / or, the RAN node receives a second indication and, based on the second indication, enables the function to actively modify the QoS profile. The second indication indicates that the terminal is overheating. In this way, the RAN node may decide to enable the function to actively modify the QoS profile based on the first indication and / or the second indication. For example, the first or second indication may contain one bit. If the value of the one bit is "1", the RAN node enables the function to actively modify the QoS profile. If the value of the one bit is "0", the RAN node does not enable the function to actively modify the QoS profile. The reverse is also applicable.

[0274] In certain applications, it may be understood that a RAN node may not perform the action of enabling the ability to actively modify QoS profiles. In other words, after receiving the first and / or second indication information, the RAN node directly and actively determines the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles based on the current network state.

[0275] Optionally, the second indication information is carried in overheating assistance information. For example, a terminal sends overheating assistance information to a RAN node, which includes the second indication information. In this way, after receiving the second indication information, the RAN node can determine that the terminal is overheating and then modify the QoS profile, which in turn can reduce the terminal load or terminal computing load.

[0276] Optionally, the RAN node sets the overheating assistance configuration in the RRC reconfiguration message to "setup". In this way, when a terminal detects internal overheating, it can report overheating assistance information to the RAN node based on the configuration. The overheating assistance information may be carried in the overheating assistance field in the assistance information (UEAssistanceInformation) reported by the terminal.

[0277] It can be understood that accurately obtaining and standardizing the current terminal load is difficult because different terminal types and terminal vendors have different chip load states, and the current terminal load is further related to many factors such as the environment and external temperature. Therefore, when the current terminal load cannot be obtained, in order to control the terminal load and avoid the impact on terminal overheating or terminal standby time caused by excessively high terminal load, this application designs one of several candidate QoS profiles to correspond to the terminal load (which may be described as terminal computation load, and terminal load is used as an example for the following explanation). In this way, the RAN node can control the terminal load by modifying the QoS profile to avoid excessively high terminal load, thereby improving the user experience.

[0278] In possible implementations, the RAN node determines the target QoS profile based on the current network state and the terminal load corresponding to one or more of several candidate QoS profiles.

[0279] In a possible design, the RAN node may preferentially determine that the target QoS profile is the first candidate QoS profile, or it may determine that the target QoS profile is the second candidate QoS profile. The first candidate QoS profile is among the candidate QoS profiles that satisfy the current network state and corresponds to the highest load on the terminal. The second candidate QoS profile is among the candidate QoS profiles that satisfy the current network state and does not include the candidate QoS profile with the lowest load on the terminal.

[0280] A higher load on the terminal can be understood to indicate that the processing tasks of the terminal are heavier. Therefore, after the processing tasks are completed, the amount of data that needs to be transmitted by the terminal may be small, and the terminal has low QoS requirements. Therefore, when the terminal load corresponding to the candidate QoS profile is high, the QoS requirements corresponding to the candidate QoS profile are low. In other words, the first candidate QoS profile is also among the candidate QoS profiles that meet the current network state in the plurality of candidate QoS profiles, and can be described as the candidate QoS profile corresponding to the lowest QoS requirements. Correspondingly, a lower load on the terminal indicates that the processing tasks of the terminal are lighter. Therefore, after the processing tasks are completed, the amount of data that needs to be transmitted by the terminal may be larger, and the terminal has higher QoS requirements. Therefore, when the terminal load corresponding to the candidate QoS profile is low, the QoS requirements corresponding to the candidate QoS profile are high. In other words, the second candidate QoS profile is also among the candidate QoS profiles that meet the current network state in the plurality of candidate QoS profiles, and can be described as the candidate QoS profile that does not include the candidate QoS profile with the highest QoS requirements.

[0281] In a possible design, the candidate QoS profile corresponding to the lowest terminal load (or the candidate QoS profile corresponding to the highest QoS requirements) is, among the plurality of candidate QoS profiles, the candidate QoS profile that satisfies at least one of the following: the corresponding priority is the highest, the corresponding uplink GFBR is the largest, the corresponding downlink GFBR is the largest, the corresponding terminal computing load is the smallest, the corresponding total uplink and downlink PDB is the largest, the corresponding uplink PDB is the largest, or the corresponding downlink PDB is the largest.

[0282] As a conclusion, the RAN node preferentially determines that the target QoS profile is the first candidate QoS profile, or the RAN node determines that the target QoS profile is the second candidate QoS profile. This can reduce the QoS requirements for data transmission between the terminal and the RAN node, as a result, more terminals can access the RAN node, thereby increasing the number of transmitting users.

[0283] In this application, it can be understood that the RAN node preferentially determining the target QoS profile as the first candidate QoS profile does not mean that the target QoS profile is clearly the first candidate QoS profile. As described above, the first candidate QoS profile can increase the load of the terminal. Therefore, to avoid overheating of the terminal, the RAN node does not overly select the first candidate QoS profile, or the RAN node can control the number / frequency of selecting the first candidate QoS profile, control the duration of using the first candidate QoS profile, or do similar things.

[0284] For example, the multiple candidate QoS profiles include candidate QoS profile 1, candidate QoS profile 2, and candidate QoS profile 3, and the terminal load corresponding to candidate QoS profile 1 < the terminal load corresponding to candidate QoS profile 2 < the terminal load corresponding to candidate QoS profile 3, that is, candidate QoS profile 3 is the first candidate QoS profile. The RAN node can first determine that the target QoS profile is candidate QoS profile 3, after a certain time period, determine that the target QoS profile is candidate QoS profile 2, and after another time period, determine that the target QoS profile is candidate QoS profile 3. It can be understood that the RAN node can alternatively determine that the target QoS profile is candidate QoS profile 1.

[0285] In a possible design, the maximum number of selections of the first candidate QoS profile in the first time period is less than or equal to the first value, the maximum selection percentage of the first candidate QoS profile in the first time period is less than or equal to the second value, the maximum selection duration of the first candidate QoS profile in the first time period is less than or equal to the third value, the maximum selection duration of the first candidate QoS profile in the first time period is less than or equal to the fourth value, and / or the minimum selection interval of the first candidate QoS profile in the first time period is greater than or equal to the fifth value. In this way, the RAN node can effectively control the load on the terminals and avoid overheating of the terminals.

[0286] The maximum number of selections of the first candidate QoS profile in the first time period is the maximum number of times the first candidate QoS profile can be selected in the first time period. The maximum selection percentage of the first candidate QoS profile in the first time period is the ratio of the maximum number of times the first candidate QoS profile can be selected in the first time period to the total number of times the RAN node selects a target QoS profile from multiple candidate QoS profiles in the first time period. The maximum selection duration of the first candidate QoS profile in the first time period is the maximum duration for which the first candidate QoS profile is continuously used in the first time period. The maximum selection time of the first candidate QoS profile in the first time period is the maximum duration for which the first candidate QoS profile is used in the first time period. The minimum selection interval of the first candidate QoS profile in the first time period is the minimum interval between two consecutive time periods for which the RAN node selects the first candidate QoS profile in the first time period. One of the first through fifth values ​​may be pre-configured, defined in the protocol, or indicated by a network element in the core network (e.g., the first network element).

[0287] For example, the first time period is the time period between moment 1 and moment 2, and the multiple candidate QoS profiles include candidate QoS profile 1, candidate QoS profile 2, and candidate QoS profile 3, where the terminal load corresponding to candidate QoS profile 1 < terminal load corresponding to candidate QoS profile 2 < terminal load corresponding to candidate QoS profile 3, i.e., candidate QoS profile 3 is the first candidate QoS profile. If the number of times candidate QoS profile 3 is selected in the time period from moment 1 to moment 3 (moment 3 is the moment between moment 1 and moment 2) is already equal to the first value, then in the time period from moment 3 to moment 2, the RAN node may not select candidate QoS profile 3, and the RAN node may determine that the target QoS profile is either candidate QoS profile 2 or candidate QoS profile 1. Alternatively, if the ratio of the number of times candidate QoS profile 3 is selected during the time period from moment 1 to moment 3 to the total number of times the RAN node selects a target QoS profile from multiple candidate QoS profiles during the time period from moment 1 to moment 3 is already greater than or equal to the second value, then during the time period from moment 3 to moment 2, the RAN node may not select candidate QoS profile 3 and may determine that the target QoS profile is either candidate QoS profile 2 or candidate QoS profile 1. Alternatively, if the duration for which candidate QoS profile 3 is continuously used during the time period from moment 1 to moment 3 is already greater than or equal to the third value, then during the time period from moment 3 to moment 2, the RAN node may not select candidate QoS profile 3 and may determine that the target QoS profile is either candidate QoS profile 2 or candidate QoS profile 1. Alternatively, if the duration for which candidate QoS profile 3 is used during the time period from moment 1 to moment 3 is already greater than or equal to the fourth value, then during the time period from moment 3 to moment 2, the RAN node may not select candidate QoS profile 3 and may determine that the target QoS profile is either candidate QoS profile 2 or candidate QoS profile 1.Alternatively, if the RAN node determines at moment 3 that the target QoS profile is candidate QoS profile 3, and the RAN node needs to further determine the target QoS profile at moment 4 following moment 3, but the interval between moment 4 and moment 3 is less than the fifth value, then at moment 4, the RAN node may not select candidate QoS profile 3, and the RAN node may determine that the target QoS profile is candidate QoS profile 2 or candidate QoS profile 1. Alternatively, if the RAN node determines at moment 3 that the target QoS profile is candidate QoS profile 3, and the RAN node needs to further determine the target QoS profile at moment 4 following moment 3, but the interval between moment 4 and moment 3 is greater than or equal to the fifth value, and the duration for which candidate QoS profile 3 is continuously used during the time period from moment 1 to moment 3 is already greater than or equal to the third value, then at moment 4, the RAN node may not select candidate QoS profile 3, and the RAN node may determine that the target QoS profile is candidate QoS profile 2 or candidate QoS profile 1. Alternatively, if the RAN node determines at moment 3 that the target QoS profile is candidate QoS profile 3, and the RAN node needs to further determine the target QoS profile at moment 4 following moment 3, and the interval between moment 4 and moment 3 is greater than or equal to the fifth value, and the duration for which candidate QoS profile 3 is continuously used during the time period from moment 1 to moment 4 is less than the third value, then the RAN node may select candidate QoS profile at moment 4. Alternatively, if the number of times candidate QoS profile 3 is selected during the time period from moment 1 to moment 3 is less than the first value, but the duration for which candidate QoS profile 3 is continuously used is already greater than or equal to the third value, then the RAN node may not select candidate QoS profile 3 during the time period from moment 3 to moment 2, and the RAN node may determine that the target QoS profile is candidate QoS profile 2 or candidate QoS profile 1.

[0288] Based on the above explanation, we can understand that when a RAN node receives a second indication, it determines that the terminal is overheating. To reduce the terminal load and avoid continuous overheating, the RAN node may determine that the target QoS profile is a third candidate QoS profile. The terminal load corresponding to the third candidate QoS profile is lower than the current terminal load.

[0289] For example, a RAN node first determines that the target QoS profile is candidate QoS profile 1. Then, the RAN node receives second indication information and, based on this information, determines that the terminal is overheating. In this case, the terminal load corresponding to candidate QoS profile 1 can be considered to be the current terminal load. Subsequently, the RAN node may modify the target QoS profile to candidate QoS profile 2. In the above example, it can be understood that the terminal load corresponding to candidate QoS profile 2 is lower than the terminal load corresponding to candidate QoS profile 1. It can be understood that the priority for candidate QoS profile 2 is higher than that for candidate QoS profile 1, the uplink GFBR for candidate QoS profile 2 is greater than that for candidate QoS profile 1, the downlink GFBR for candidate QoS profile 2 is greater than that for candidate QoS profile 1, the terminal computation load for candidate QoS profile 2 is lower than that for candidate QoS profile 1, the total uplink and downlink PDBs for candidate QoS profile 2 are greater than those for candidate QoS profile 1, the uplink PDB for candidate QoS profile 2 is greater than that for candidate QoS profile 1, and / or the downlink PDB for candidate QoS profile 2 is greater than that for candidate QoS profile 1.

[0290] In this application, the first time period may be pre-configured, defined in a protocol, or indicated by a network element in the core network (e.g., a first network element). For example, the first time period may be indicated by a first network element. The first network element may send information about the first time period to a RAN node to indicate the first time period. Correspondingly, the RAN node receives information about the first time period from the first network element. Optionally, the information about the first time period is carried in a session resource setup request message or a session resource setup modification message. The information about the first time period includes the length of the first time period (e.g., 1 second). Optionally, the information about the first time period further includes the start time of the first time period, or the information about the first time period further includes the start and end times of the first time period.

[0291] In S403, if the target QoS profile differs from the candidate QoS profile for mapping the QoS flow to the DRB, it can be understood that the RAN node may update the air interface transmission parameters or scheduling parameters, such as resource configuration, scheduling priority, preemption capability, or preemption vulnerability, between the terminal and the RAN node and associated with the DRB, based on the target QoS profile.

[0292] After determining the target QoS profile, it can be understood that the RAN node may transmit data based on the target QoS profile.

[0293] If the first session includes multiple QoS flows supporting multiple candidate QoS profiles, it can be understood that the RAN node will actively determine the target QoS profile for each QoS flow among the multiple candidate QoS profiles supported by the QoS flow, based on the current network state. The target QoS profiles for different QoS flows may be the same or different.

[0294] S405: The RAN node sends the first piece of information to the terminal and / or compute node. Correspondingly, the terminal and / or compute node receives the first piece of information from the RAN node.

[0295] In this application, the computing node may be the computing node 203 in the communication system 20 shown in Figure 2.

[0296] In this application, the first information represents a target QoS profile. In this way, after receiving the first information, the terminal and / or compute node can determine the target QoS profile based on the first information. Optionally, the first information may further determine a first parameter. For example, there may be a correspondence between the first parameter and the target QoS profile, and the terminal and / or compute node can determine the first parameter based on the first information and the correspondence. In this way, after receiving the first information, the terminal and / or compute node can determine the first parameter based on the first information to provide better service to the user. The above correspondence may be stored in the terminal and / or compute node, or the terminal and / or compute node may obtain the correspondence from another device. For example, an AF network element may determine the correspondence, and the terminal and / or compute node may obtain the correspondence from the AF network element.

[0297] Optionally, there may be a correspondence between the first parameter and one or more pieces of information included in the target QoS profile. For example, there may be a correspondence between the first parameter and the identifier in the target QoS profile, a correspondence between the first parameter and the GFBR in the target QoS profile, a correspondence between the first parameter and the total uplink and downlink PDBs in the target QoS profile, a correspondence between the first parameter and an uplink PDB or downlink PDB in the target QoS profile, a correspondence between the first parameter and the PER in the target QoS profile, a correspondence between the first parameter and the PELR in the target QoS profile, a correspondence between the first parameter and the GBR in the target QoS profile, and / or a correspondence between the first parameter and the MDBV in the target QoS profile.

[0298] In this application, the first information may include parameters related to the target QoS profile. For example, in S405, the first information may include at least one of the following: an identifier for the target QoS profile, a GFBR included in the target QoS profile, total uplink and downlink PDBs included in the target QoS profile, an uplink PDB included in the target QoS profile, a downlink PDB included in the target QoS profile, a PELR included in the target QoS profile, a PER included in the target QoS profile, a GBR included in the target QoS profile, an MDBV included in the target QoS profile, or priority information included in the target QoS profile.

[0299] In this application, the first parameter includes at least one of the following: task division point, task amount for task processing, bitrate, data rate (or source coding bitrate), frame rate, or resolution. The task amount for task processing can be understood as enabling or disabling one or more functions, for example, enabling or disabling reflective rendering and / or dynamic diffuse global illumination (DDGI) rendering. Methods such as reflective rendering or DDGI rendering may be applied to high-definition mobile games or cloud games to improve the sense of realism of people, environments, and skill effects in images. Specifically, reflective rendering can reflect the shadows of character roles onto smooth object surfaces, and DDGI can generate diffuse global illumination in real time in dynamic scenes and illuminations. Therefore, these rendering techniques have a large computational cost and result in longer image rendering times and higher requirements for network transmission latency. For explanations of task division point, bitrate, data rate, frame rate, and resolution, please refer to the above explanations of technical terms in this application. Further details are not provided again.

[0300] For example, if multiple candidate QoS profiles include candidate QoS profile 1, candidate QoS profile 2, and candidate QoS profile 3, and the target QoS profile is candidate QoS profile 3, the first information may include at least one of the following: the identifier of candidate QoS profile 3, the GFBR included in candidate QoS profile 3, the total uplink and downlink PDBs included in candidate QoS profile 3, the downlink PDB included in candidate QoS profile 3, the uplink PDB included in candidate QoS profile 3, the PELR included in candidate QoS profile 3, the PER included in candidate QoS profile 3, the GBR included in candidate QoS profile 3, the MDBV included in candidate QoS profile 3, or the priority information included in candidate QoS profile 3. Based on the first information, a terminal and / or compute node may determine that the target QoS profile is candidate QoS profile 3. Based on the first information, a terminal and / or compute node may further determine at least one of the following: the task split point corresponding to candidate QoS profile 3, the task amount for task processing corresponding to candidate QoS profile 3, the bitrate corresponding to candidate QoS profile 3, the data rate corresponding to candidate QoS profile 3, the frame rate corresponding to candidate QoS profile 3, or the resolution corresponding to candidate QoS profile 3. Subsequently, the terminal and / or compute nodes may process the data based on the first parameter to improve the service experience.

[0301] For example, if the first parameter includes a task partition point, the terminal and / or compute node may determine the task partition point corresponding to candidate QoS profile 3 as the current task partition point and execute the task based on the current task partition point to obtain intermediate data. Alternatively, if the first parameter includes a task amount for task processing, the terminal and / or compute node may determine the task amount for task processing corresponding to candidate QoS profile 3 as the current task amount for task processing and execute the task based on the current task amount for task processing. For example, if the task amount for task processing corresponding to candidate QoS profile 3 indicates enabling reflective rendering, the terminal and / or compute node will enable reflective rendering, or if the task amount for task processing corresponding to candidate QoS profile 3 indicates disabling DDGI rendering, the terminal and / or compute node will disable DDGI rendering. Alternatively, if the first parameter includes a bitrate, the terminal and / or compute node may determine the bitrate corresponding to candidate QoS profile 3 as the current bitrate and process the data based on the current bitrate. Alternatively, if the first parameter includes a data rate, the terminal and / or compute node may determine the data rate corresponding to candidate QoS profile 3 as the current data rate and process the data based on the current data rate. Alternatively, if the first parameter includes a frame rate, the terminal and / or compute node may determine the frame rate corresponding to candidate QoS profile 3 as the current frame rate and process the data based on the current frame rate. Alternatively, if the first parameter includes a resolution, the terminal and / or compute node may determine the resolution corresponding to candidate QoS profile 3 as the current resolution and process the data based on the current resolution.

[0302] Optionally, the first parameter is related to the first difference information. The first difference information indicates the difference between the target QoS profile and the historical QoS profile determined prior to the target QoS profile. For example, the historical QoS profile is the QoS profile last determined prior to the target QoS profile.

[0303] After obtaining the first information, it can be understood that the terminal and / or the computing node may determine the target QoS profile based on the first information, determine the first difference information based on the target QoS profile and the historical QoS profile, and determine the first parameter based on the first difference information.

[0304] In a possible design, the first difference information indicates whether the target QoS profile is the same as the historical QoS profile. Specifically, the first difference information indicates whether the identifier of the target QoS profile is the same as the identifier of the historical QoS profile, whether the GFBR included in the target QoS profile is the same as the GFBR included in the historical QoS profile, whether the uplink PDB included in the target QoS profile is the same as the uplink PDB included in the historical QoS profile, whether the downlink PDB included in the target QoS profile is the same as the downlink PDB included in the historical QoS profile, whether the total uplink and downlink PDB included in the target QoS profile is the same as the total uplink and downlink PDB included in the historical QoS profile, whether the terminal computation load included in the target QoS profile is the same as the terminal computation load included in the historical QoS profile, whether the PER included in the target QoS profile is the same as the PER included in the historical QoS profile, whether the GBR included in the target QoS profile is the same as the GBR included in the historical QoS profile, whether the PELR included in the target QoS profile is the same as the PELR included in the historical QoS profile, whether the MDBV included in the target QoS profile is the same as the MDBV included in the historical QoS profile, and / or whether the priority information included in the target QoS profile is the same as the priority information included in the historical QoS profile.

[0305] For example, when the first difference information indicates that the target QoS profile is the same as the historical QoS profile, the first parameter remains unchanged; specifically, the first parameter corresponding to the target QoS profile is the same as the first parameter corresponding to the historical QoS profile. Or, when the first difference information indicates that the target QoS profile is different from the historical QoS profile, the terminal and / or compute node determine the first parameter corresponding to the target QoS profile based on the target QoS profile and the correspondence between the first parameter and the target QoS profile. In this way, when the first difference information indicates that the target QoS profile is the same as the historical QoS profile, the first parameter may not be modified to avoid deterioration of the user experience caused by frequent changes in the first parameter. Or, when the first difference information indicates that the target QoS profile is different from the historical QoS profile, the first parameter may be modified in a timely manner to provide better service to the user.

[0306] In another possible design, the first difference information indicates the difference between the target QoS profile and the historical QoS profile. Specifically, the first difference information may indicate the difference between the GFBR included in the target QoS profile and the GFBR included in the historical QoS profile, the difference between the uplink PDB included in the target QoS profile and the uplink PDB included in the historical QoS profile, the difference between the downlink PDB included in the target QoS profile and the downlink PDB included in the historical QoS profile, the difference between the total uplink and downlink PDB included in the target QoS profile and the total uplink and downlink PDB included in the historical QoS profile, the difference between the terminal computation load included in the target QoS profile and the terminal computation load included in the historical QoS profile, the difference between the PER included in the target QoS profile and the PER included in the historical QoS profile, the difference between the GBR included in the target QoS profile and the GBR included in the historical QoS profile, the difference between the PELR included in the target QoS profile and the PELR included in the historical QoS profile, and / or the difference between the MDBV included in the target QoS profile and the MDBV included in the historical QoS profile.

[0307] In one example, the first difference information indicates the difference between the total uplink and downlink PDBs included in the target QoS profile and the total uplink and downlink PDBs included in the historical QoS profile, and the first parameter is the amount of tasks for task processing. If the first parameter corresponding to the historical QoS profile is to disable reflective rendering / DDGI rendering, and the difference is a negative number (specifically, the total uplink and downlink PDBs decrease and the network state improves), then the first parameter corresponding to the target QoS profile is to enable reflective rendering / DDGI rendering. Specifically, terminals and / or compute nodes enable reflective rendering / DDGI rendering to improve the user's visual quality. If the first parameter corresponding to the historical QoS profile is to disable reflective rendering / DDGI rendering, and the difference is 0 (specifically, the total uplink and downlink PDBs remain unchanged and the network state remains unchanged), then the first parameter remains unchanged. Specifically, terminals and / or compute nodes maintain the state of disabling reflective rendering / DDGI rendering. The first parameter corresponding to the historical QoS profile is to enable reflective rendering / DDGI rendering, and if the difference is a positive number (specifically, the total uplink and downlink PDBs increase and the network condition deteriorates), the first parameter corresponding to the target QoS profile is to disable reflective rendering / DDGI rendering. Specifically, terminals and / or compute nodes disable reflective rendering / DDGI rendering to avoid wasted air interface resources and visual quality lag for users caused by frame transmission failures.

[0308] In another example, the first difference information indicates the difference between the total uplink and downlink PDBs included in the target QoS profile and the total uplink and downlink PDBs included in the historical QoS profile, and the first parameter is the amount of tasks for task processing. If the first parameter corresponding to the historical QoS profile is to disable reflective rendering / DDGI rendering, and the difference is a negative number and the difference is below the first threshold (specifically, the total uplink and downlink PDBs decrease significantly and the network condition improves significantly), then the first parameter corresponding to the target QoS profile is to enable reflective rendering / DDGI rendering. Specifically, terminals and / or compute nodes enable reflective rendering / DDGI rendering to improve the user's visual quality. If the first parameter corresponding to the historical QoS profile is to enable reflective rendering / DDGI rendering, and the difference is a positive number and the difference is above the second threshold (specifically, the total uplink and downlink PDBs increase significantly and the network condition deteriorates significantly), then the first parameter corresponding to the target QoS profile is to disable reflective rendering / DDGI rendering. Specifically, terminals and / or compute nodes disable reflective rendering / DDGI rendering to avoid wasted air interface resources and visual quality lag for the user caused by frame transmission failures. The first threshold is a negative number, and the second threshold is a positive number. Optionally, the absolute value of the first threshold is the same as the absolute value of the second threshold. For example, the first threshold is -50ms and the second threshold is 50ms.

[0309] It should be understood that the total uplink and downlink PDB in the above example may also be described as one or more QoS indicators in uplink PDB, downlink PDB, PER, GFBR, PELR, or MDBV.

[0310] If the first session includes multiple QoS flows supporting multiple candidate QoS profiles, it can be understood that the first information may further indicate the target QoS profile for each QoS flow. Thus, the first information may further include relevant identifiers for the QoS flows corresponding to the target QoS profile, such as the DRB identifier (DRB identifier), logical channel identifier (LCID), or identifier of the first session to which the QoS flow is mapped via the air interface.

[0311] If the target QoS profile determined in S404 is the same as the last determined target QoS profile, it can be understood that the RAN node may not send the first information to the terminal or compute node in order to reduce signaling overhead. If the target QoS profile determined in S404 is different from the last determined target QoS profile, the RAN node may send the first information to the terminal and / or compute node, and as a result, the terminal and / or compute node may determine the target QoS profile based on the first information, or determine the target QoS profile and the first parameters based on the first information.

[0312] The following will explain separately the case where a RAN node sends the first information to a terminal and the case where a RAN node sends the first information to a compute node. First, the case where a RAN node sends the first information to a terminal will be explained.

[0313] In a possible implementation, for an uplink service, the RAN node sends the first piece of information to the terminal. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the first piece of information from the RAN node.

[0314] In a possible design, a RAN node sends first information to an SMF network element via an AMF network element. This first information may be carried in the Current QoS Parameters Set Index IE within a session resource notification message (e.g., a PDU session resource notification), a session resource setup response message (e.g., a PDU session resource setup response), or a session resource modification response message (e.g., a PDU session resource modification response). The SMF network element may then send the first information to a terminal. For example, the SMF network element may send the first information to a terminal by using NAS signaling.

[0315] In another possible design, the first information is carried in downlink control information (DCI), medium access control element (MAC CE), PDCP Control PDU messages, or RRC messages. In other words, a RAN node can rapidly send the first information to a terminal via the air interface, allowing the terminal to determine the target QoS profile, or the target QoS profile and the first parameters, in a timely manner.

[0316] As described above, the functionality of a RAN node can be divided. For example, a RAN node can be divided into a CU and a DU, or into an nrt-RIC, a CU, and a DU. Furthermore, a CU can be further divided into a CU-CP and a CU-UP. RRC messages or PDCP control PDU messages may be sent by the CU, while MAC CE or DCI may be sent by the DU. Different RAN node division scenarios are described separately below.

[0317] In a possible implementation, a RAN node includes a CU and a DU. When the target QoS profile is determined by the CU, the CU sends first information to the DU via the F1 interface. In this way, the DU can send first information to the terminal, which may be carried in a MAC CE message or DCI sent by the DU. The CU and DU shown in Figure 1B are used as an example. The RRC or PDCP layer of the CU sends first information to the RLC layer of the DU via the F1 interface. After receiving the first information, the RLC layer of the DU distributes the first information to the MAC layer. After obtaining the first information, the MAC layer of the DU sends a MAC CE or DCI to the terminal. The MAC CE or DCI contains the first information. When the target QoS profile is determined by the DU, the DU sends first information to the CU. In this way, the CU can send first information to the terminal, which may be carried in an RRC message or PDCP-controlled PDU message sent by the CU. The CU and DU shown in Figure 1B are used as an example. The DU's RLC layer sends first information to the CU's PDCP layer via the F1 interface. After receiving the first information, the CU's PDCP layer sends a PDCP control PDU to the terminal, and the PDCP control PDU contains the first information. Alternatively, after receiving the first information, the CU's PDCP layer distributes the first information to the RRC layer. After obtaining the first information, the CU's RRC layer sends an RRC message to the terminal, and the RRC message contains the first information. It can be understood that the RRC message may further contain the PDCP data PDU message in the PDCP layer. If the target QoS profile is determined by the DU, in S403, the CU receives multiple candidate QoS profiles from the first network element and sends multiple candidate QoS profiles to the DU, and as a result, the DU determines the target QoS profile among the multiple candidate QoS profiles.

[0318] In possible implementations, a RAN node includes a CU and a DU, and the CU is further divided into a CU-CP and a CU-UP. If the target QoS profile is determined by the CU-CP, the CU-CP sends first information to the CU-UP. In this way, the CU-UP can send first information to the terminal. For example, the CU-UP includes first information to be sent to the terminal in a PDCP PDU, and the PDCP PDU may be a PDCP control PDU. If the target QoS profile is determined by the DU, the DU first sends first information to the CU, and then the CU-CP sends the received first information to the CU-UP. In this way, the CU-UP can send first information to the terminal. For example, the CU-UP includes first information to be sent to the terminal in a PDCP PDU, and the PDCP PDU may be a PDCP control PDU.

[0319] In a possible implementation, a RAN node includes an nrt-RIC, a CU, and a DU. When the target QoS profile is determined by the nrt-RIC, the nrt-RIC sends first information to the DU, which in turn sends first information to the terminal. For example, the DU includes first information to be sent to the terminal in the MAC CE or DCI. Alternatively, the nrt-RIC sends first information to the CU, which in turn sends first information to the terminal. For example, the CU may include first information to be sent to the terminal directly in an RRC message, or it may include first information to be sent to the terminal in a PDCP PDU, which may be a PDCP control PDU.

[0320] In a possible implementation, a RAN node includes an nrt-RIC, a CU, and a DU, with the CU further divided into a CU-CP and a CU-UP. When the target QoS profile is determined by the nrt-RIC, the nrt-RIC sends first information to the CU-UP. In this way, the CU-UP can send first information to the terminal. For example, the CU-UP includes first information to be sent to the terminal in a PDCP PDU, which may be a PDCP control PDU. Alternatively, the nrt-RIC sends first information to the CU-CP. In this way, the CU-CP can send first information to the terminal. For example, the CU-CP includes first information to be sent to the terminal in an RRC message. Alternatively, the nrt-RIC first sends first information to the CU-CP, and then the CU-CP sends first information to the CU-UP. In this way, the CU-UP can send first information to the terminal. For example, the CU-UP includes first information to be sent to the terminal in a PDCP PDU.

[0321] Optionally, after receiving the first information, the terminal distributes the first information to its application layer. Based on the first information, the application layer determines the target QoS profile, or the target QoS profile and the first parameters. The application layer then processes the data based on the first parameters and may send the processed data to the compute node.

[0322] Optionally, in uplink services, the RAN node may not send the first information to the compute node. Optionally, after receiving the first information, the terminal may provide the compute node with a target QoS profile or the first parameter. For example, the terminal sends metadata to the compute node. Correspondingly, the compute node receives metadata from the terminal. The metadata contains the first information. Metadata is descriptive and contextual information about the data and is used to organize, arrange, and understand the data. In addition to the first information, the metadata may further indicate at least one of the following: the metadata title, metadata description, metadata tags, metadata category, who created the metadata, metadata creation time, who last modified the metadata, when the metadata was modified, or who can access / update the metadata. In another example, the terminal sends the first information to the compute node. Correspondingly, the compute node receives the first information from the terminal. The first information is encapsulated using RTP, RTCP, QUIC, or another protocol above the IP layer.

[0323] It can be understood that metadata may not contain the first information, but may contain the second information. Alternatively, the terminal encapsulates the second information by using RTP, RTCP, QUIC, or another protocol above the IP layer, and sends the encapsulated second information to the compute node. The second information may indicate the first parameter. In this way, after receiving the second information, the compute node may determine the first parameter based on the second information. For example, if the terminal determines a task partition point based on the first information, the second information may indicate the determined task partition point. For example, the second information may include an identifier for the determined task partition point. Alternatively, if the terminal decides to disable reflected rendering based on the first information, the second information may indicate that reflected rendering is disabled. For example, the second information may include one bit, the value of which is "0", indicating that reflected rendering is disabled. Alternatively, if the terminal determines a bitrate based on the first information, the second information may indicate the determined bitrate. Alternatively, if the terminal determines the data rate based on the first piece of information, the second piece of information indicates the determined data rate. Alternatively, if the terminal determines the frame rate based on the first piece of information, the second piece of information indicates the determined frame rate. Alternatively, if the terminal determines the resolution based on the first piece of information, the second piece of information indicates the determined resolution.

[0324] Optionally, in uplink services, the RAN node may, as an alternative, send the first information to the compute node. After receiving the first information, the compute node presents the target QoS profile to the terminal. For a description of this process, see the corresponding description below for downlink services, where the RAN node sends the first information to the compute node, and the compute node presents the target QoS profile to the terminal after receiving the first information. Further details are not provided here.

[0325] The following describes the case where a RAN node sends the first piece of information to a compute node.

[0326] In possible implementations, for downlink services, the RAN node sends the first piece of information to the compute node. Correspondingly, the compute node receives the first piece of information from the RAN node.

[0327] In a possible design, a RAN node sends first information to an SMF network element via an AMF network element. After receiving the first information, the SMF network element sends the first information to a compute node via an AF network element. For example, a RAN node sends first information to an SMF network element via an AMF network element. The first information may be carried in the current QoS parameter set index IE in a session resource notification message, a session resource setup response message, or a session resource modification response message. Subsequently, the SMF network element may send the first information to a PCF network element. After receiving the first information, the PCF network element may send the first information to a compute node via an AF network element.

[0328] In another possible design, a RAN node sends the first information to a compute node via a UPF network element. Specifically, the RAN node sends the first data packet to the UPF network element. Correspondingly, the UPF network element receives the first data packet from the RAN node. The header of the first data packet contains the first information. For example, the user plane portion of the tunneling protocol (e.g., the user plane part of the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) tunneling protocol, GTP-U) header of the first data packet contains the first information to implement rapid transmission of the first information. After receiving the first data packet, the UPF network element detects the GTP-U header of the first data packet, retrieves the first information, and then sends the first information to the compute node. For example, UPF sends the first information to the compute node via an application programming interface (API) through an NEF or local-NEF. In another example, a UPF network element sends a second data packet to a compute node. Correspondingly, the compute node receives a second data packet from the UPF. The second data packet contains the information of the first. The second data packet is an RTP data packet, an RTCP data packet, a QUIC data packet, or another data packet from a protocol above the IP layer.

[0329] Optionally, the first data packet contains uplink data for a QoS flow supporting multiple candidate QoS profiles, or the first data packet contains dummy uplink data generated by the RAN node to transmit the first information. Optionally, the second data packet contains uplink data for a QoS flow supporting multiple candidate QoS profiles, or the second data packet contains dummy uplink data generated by the UPF node to transmit the first information. The uplink data contained in the second data packet is encapsulated using RTP, RTCP, QUIC, or another protocol above the IP layer.

[0330] As explained above, the functionality of a RAN node can be divided. For example, a RAN node can be divided into a CU and a DU, or into nrt-RIC, a CU, and a DU. Furthermore, a CU can be further divided into CU-CP and CU-UP. Different RAN node division scenarios are described separately below.

[0331] In a possible implementation, a RAN node includes a CU and a DU. When the target QoS profile is determined by the DU, the DU sends first information to the CU. In this way, the CU can send first information to the compute node. When the target QoS profile is determined by the DU, in S403, the CU receives multiple candidate QoS profiles from the first network element and sends multiple candidate QoS profiles to the DU, and as a result, the DU determines the target QoS profile among the multiple candidate QoS profiles.

[0332] In a possible implementation, a RAN node includes a CU and a DU, with the CU further divided into a CU-CP and a CU-UP. When the target QoS profile is determined by the DU, the DU sends the first information to the CU-UP either through the CU-CP or through the F1-u interface (for example, the first information is carried in the GTP-U header of the uplink data via the F1-u interface). In this way, the CU-UP can send the first information to the compute node.

[0333] In a possible implementation, a RAN node includes an nrt-RIC, a CU, and a DU. When the target QoS profile is determined by the nrt-RIC, the nrt-RIC sends first information to the CU, which in turn sends first information to the compute node.

[0334] In a possible implementation, a RAN node includes an nrt-RIC, a CU, and a DU, with the CU further divided into a CU-CP and a CU-UP. When the target QoS profile is determined by the nrt-RIC, the nrt-RIC sends first information to the CU-UP. In this way, the CU-UP can include the first information in a GTP-U header and send the GTP-U header to the compute node.

[0335] After receiving the first information, it can be understood that the compute node may determine the target QoS profile, or the target QoS profile and the first parameters, based on the first information. The compute node may then process the data based on the first parameters and send the processed data to the terminal.

[0336] Optionally, in downlink services, the RAN node does not send the first information to the terminal. Optionally, after receiving the first information, the compute node may present the target QoS profile to the terminal. For example, the compute node sends metadata to the terminal. Correspondingly, the terminal receives metadata from the compute node. The metadata includes the first information.

[0337] It can be understood that metadata may not contain the first information, but may contain the second information. The second information may indicate the first parameter. In this way, the terminal may determine the first parameter based on the second information. For example, if a compute node determines a task partition point based on the first information, the second information may indicate the determined task partition point. For example, the second information may include an identifier for the determined task partition point. Alternatively, if a compute node decides to disable reflection rendering based on the first information, the second information may indicate that reflection rendering is disabled. For example, the second information may include one bit, the value of which is "0", indicating that reflection rendering is disabled. Alternatively, if a compute node determines the bitrate based on the first information, the second information may indicate the determined bitrate. Alternatively, if a compute node determines the datarate based on the first information, the second information may indicate the determined datarate. Alternatively, if a compute node determines the framerate based on the first information, the second information may indicate the determined framerate. Alternatively, if the computing node determines the resolution based on the first piece of information, the second piece of information indicates the determined resolution.

[0338] Optionally, in downlink services, the RAN node may, as an alternative, send the first piece of information to the terminal. After receiving the first piece of information, the terminal presents the target QoS profile to the compute node. For a description of this process, see the corresponding description above for uplink services where the RAN node sends the first piece of information to the terminal, and the terminal presents the target QoS profile to the compute node after receiving the first piece of information. Further details are not provided here.

[0339] Actions of terminals, first network elements, RAN nodes, UPF network elements, or computing nodes in S401 to S405 may be performed by the processor 301 in the communication device 30 shown in Figure 3 by calling application program code stored in memory 303. This is not limited to the present application.

[0340] Based on the method shown in Figure 4, a RAN node can actively modify the QoS profile to obtain a target QoS profile and present the target QoS profile to terminals and / or compute nodes. Because a RAN node has the ability to actively modify the QoS profile, it can determine an appropriate QoS profile for more communication scenarios based on requirements. For example, a RAN node can determine a target QoS profile based on the current network state and the terminal load corresponding to one or more of several candidate QoS profiles. In this way, in the process of determining the target QoS profile, the RAN node considers not only the current network state but also the terminal load to avoid the impact on terminal overheating or terminal standby time caused by excessively high terminal loads, thereby improving the user experience. Because a RAN node considers terminal load when determining the target QoS profile, the method shown in Figure 4 may be applicable to communication scenarios that have requirements regarding terminal load. Furthermore, it is difficult to accurately obtain and standardize the current terminal load because the load states of chips differ for different terminal types and terminal vendors, and the current terminal load is further related to many factors such as environment and external temperature. In the method shown in Figure 4, it is not necessary to acquire the current terminal load, but candidate QoS profiles are associated with the terminal load, and the terminal load is controlled by modifying the QoS profile, thereby avoiding excessively high loads on the terminal. For example, when the terminal load corresponding to a QoS profile is high, the number / frequency of selecting the QoS profile can be controlled, and / or the duration of use of the QoS profile can be controlled, thereby controlling the terminal load. Thus, in the method shown in Figure 4, the terminal load can be easily controlled.

[0341] In the method shown in Figure 4, it can be understood that the RAN node actively modifies the QoS profile to obtain an appropriate QoS profile. In certain applications, in addition to the method shown in Figure 4, a method may be used that incorporates new information into the candidate QoS profile. The RAN node determines the appropriate QoS profile based on the new information. For example, the appropriate QoS profile may be determined by using the method shown in Figure 5.

[0342] Figure 5 illustrates the communication method according to this application. This method may include the following steps.

[0343] S501: The terminal sends information about the first session to the first network element. In response, the first network element receives information about the first session from the terminal.

[0344] It can be understood that the specific processing of S501 is the same as that of S401. Therefore, please refer to the corresponding explanation in S401. Further details will not be explained again.

[0345] S502: The first network element obtains multiple candidate QoS profiles based on information about the first session.

[0346] In a possible design, one of several candidate QoS profiles includes at least one of the following: conditional information to restrict the selection of the candidate QoS profile, terminal computation load information (or terminal load information), total uplink and downlink PDBs, uplink PDB, or downlink PDB.

[0347] In this application, terminal computation load information may indicate the computation load consumed when the terminal processes data based on a first parameter corresponding to a candidate QoS profile. There is a correspondence between the first parameter and one or more pieces of information included in the candidate QoS profile. For further explanation of the first parameter, see the description of the method shown in Figure 4.

[0348] In this application, the conditional information for restricting the selection of a candidate QoS profile includes at least one of the following: the maximum selection percentage in a first time period, the maximum selection time in a first time period, the maximum number of selections in a first time period, the maximum selection duration in a first time period, or the minimum selection interval in a first time period. The following describes the information included in the above conditional information using an example in which the candidate QoS profile is candidate QoS profile 1. The maximum selection percentage in a first time period is the ratio of the maximum number of times candidate QoS profile 1 can be selected in a first time period to the total number of times the RAN node selects a target QoS profile from multiple candidate QoS profiles in a first time period. The maximum selection time in a first time period is the maximum duration for which candidate QoS profile 1 is used in a first time period. The maximum number of selections in a first time period is the maximum number of times candidate QoS profile 1 can be selected in a first time period. The maximum selection duration in a first time period is the maximum duration for which candidate QoS profile 1 is used continuously in a first time period. The minimum selection interval in the first time period is the minimum interval between two consecutive time periods in which the RAN node selects candidate QoS profile 1 during the first time period.

[0349] Optionally, the maximum selection duration or minimum selection interval in the first time period is information related to the number of slots or frames. For example, the maximum selection duration in the first time period includes 4 slots or 1 frame. The minimum selection interval in the first time period includes 2 slots or 1 frame.

[0350] If a candidate QoS profile includes conditional information to restrict the selection of a candidate QoS profile, when determining the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node may understand that it can consider the conditional information to avoid excessive terminal load or a reduction in the number of terminals accessed by the RAN node resulting from excessive selection of a candidate QoS profile. Alternatively, if a candidate QoS profile includes terminal computing load information, when determining the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node may consider the terminal computing load to avoid excessive terminal overheating or impact on terminal standby time resulting from excessive terminal computing load, thereby improving the user experience. Alternatively, if a candidate QoS profile includes total uplink and downlink PDBs, when determining the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node may consider the total uplink and downlink PDBs to ensure data uplink and downlink transmission delays. Alternatively, if a candidate QoS profile includes uplink PDBs, when determining the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node may consider the uplink PDBs to ensure data uplink transmission delays. Alternatively, if a candidate QoS profile includes a downlink PDB, the RAN node may take the downlink PDB into consideration when determining the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles to ensure downlink transmission delay of data.

[0351] Optionally, a candidate QoS profile further includes at least one of the following: candidate QoS profile identifier, GFBR, PER, GBR, PELR, MDBV, or priority information. It should be understood that the above is only an example of the information or parameters included in a candidate QoS profile. Between certain applications, a candidate QoS profile may include more or fewer pieces of information or parameters than those described above, and this is not limited to such cases.

[0352] If a candidate QoS profile includes an identifier for the candidate QoS profile, it can be understood that different candidate QoS profiles may be distinguished by using the identifier. If a candidate QoS profile includes a GFBR, when subsequently determining the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node may determine, based on the GFBR, whether a candidate QoS profile matches the current network state, for example, whether a target QoS profile in a candidate QoS profile can satisfy the GFBR of the current network. If a candidate QoS profile includes a PER, when subsequently determining the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node may determine, based on the PER, whether a candidate QoS profile matches the current network state, for example, whether a target QoS profile in a candidate QoS profile can satisfy the PER of the current network. If a candidate QoS profile includes a PELR, when subsequently determining the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node may determine, based on the PELR, whether a candidate QoS profile matches the current network state, for example, whether a target QoS profile in a candidate QoS profile can satisfy the PELR of the current network. If a candidate QoS profile includes a GBR, when subsequently determining the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node may determine, based on the GBR, whether the candidate QoS profile matches the current network state, for example, determining the target QoS profile among candidate QoS profiles that can satisfy the current network's GBR.If a candidate QoS profile includes an MDBV, when subsequently determining the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node may determine, based on the MDBV, whether the candidate QoS profile matches the current network state, for example, determining the target QoS profile among candidate QoS profiles that can satisfy the current network's MDBV. If a candidate QoS profile includes priority information, when subsequently determining the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node may consider the priority indicated by the priority information.

[0353] For example, a candidate QoS profile may be described in the manner shown in Table 4. In Table 4, the value range for the quantity of a candidate QoS profile is from 1 to the maximum value of the quantity of candidate QoS profiles (maxnoofQoSparaSets). A candidate QoS profile includes a candidate QoS profile identifier (e.g., alternative QoS parameter set index), downlink GFBR, uplink GFBR, PELR, PER, GBR, MDBV, Maximum Selected Percentage in the first time period, Maximum Selected Time in the first time period, Maximum Selected Number in the first time period, Maximum Selected Duration in the first time period, and Minimum Selected Interval in the first time period, terminal computation load information (computation load at the UE), first time period (QoS selection period), total uplink and downlink PDBs (total PDB), uplink PDB, or downlink PDB. The maximum selection percentage value ranges from 0 to 100. The maximum selection time value ranges from 1 ms to the maximum value of the maximum selection time (maxSelectedTime). The maximum number of selections value ranges from 1 to the maximum value of the maximum number of selections (maxSelectedNumber). The maximum selection duration value ranges from 5 ms to the maximum value of the maximum selection duration (maxSelectedDuration). The minimum selection interval value ranges from 1 ms to the maximum value of the minimum selection interval (minSelectedInterval). The computational load value in UE is low, medium, or high. The QoS selection period value ranges from 1 second to the maximum value of the QoS selection period (maxSelectedPeriod).

[0354] [Table 4]

[0355] It should be understood that Table 4 is only an example of the information that can be included in a candidate QoS profile. In a particular application, a candidate QoS profile may contain more or fewer columns or more or fewer rows than those in Table 4, but this is not limited to this case.

[0356] In possible implementations, the first network element obtains multiple candidate QoS profiles locally or from network elements in the core network other than the first network element.

[0357] For example, the first network element is an SMF network element. If multiple candidate QoS profiles are stored in the SMF network element, the SMF network element retrieves the multiple candidate QoS profiles locally. If multiple candidate QoS profiles are not stored in the SMF network element, the SMF network element sends request information to a PCF network element or AF network element to request candidate QoS profiles. After receiving the request information, the PCF network element or AF network element sends the multiple candidate QoS profiles to the SMF network element.

[0358] S503: The first network element sends multiple candidate QoS profiles to the RAN node. In response, the RAN node retrieves the multiple candidate QoS profiles.

[0359] In this application, the sending of multiple candidate QoS profiles by a first network element to a RAN node can be described as the sending of multiple candidate QoS profiles by a first network element to a module in the RAN node. For example, the first network element sends multiple candidate QoS profiles to a CU or RIC in the RAN node.

[0360] In this application, the acquisition of multiple candidate QoS profiles by a RAN node may be understood as the RAN node receiving multiple candidate QoS profiles from another device. For example, the RAN node receives multiple candidate QoS profiles from a first network element. Alternatively, the acquisition of multiple candidate QoS profiles by a RAN node may be understood as one module in the RAN node acquiring multiple candidate QoS profiles from another module in the RAN node. For example, the DU of the RAN node acquires multiple candidate QoS profiles from the CU of the RAN node, or the CU or DU of the RAN node acquires multiple candidate QoS profiles from the RIC of the RAN node.

[0361] If the first session includes multiple QoS flows that support multiple candidate QoS profiles, it can be understood that the first network element will send the multiple candidate QoS profiles supported by the multiple QoS flows to the RAN node.

[0362] It can be understood that the first network element may either directly send multiple candidate QoS profiles to the RAN node or send multiple candidate QoS profiles to the RAN node via at least one intermediate network element.

[0363] For example, the first network element is an SMF network element, which can send multiple candidate QoS profiles to the RAN node via an AMF network element.

[0364] Optionally, multiple candidate QoS profiles are carried in the session resource setup request message or session resource setup modification message.

[0365] In possible implementations, after receiving multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node performs a mapping from QoS flows to the DRB. For example, the RAN node performs the mapping from QoS flows to the DRB based on one of the multiple candidate QoS profiles. The RAN node may also exchange air interface signaling related to the DRB configuration with the terminal.

[0366] Optionally, after completing the mapping, the RAN node sends indication information to the first network element showing the resource setup result. If multiple candidate QoS profiles are carried in the session resource setup request message, it can be understood that the indication information showing the resource setup result may be carried in the session resource setup response message.

[0367] It can be understood that a RAN node may either directly send indication information indicating the resource setup result to the first network element, or send indication information indicating the resource setup result to the first network element via at least one intermediate network element. For example, if the first network element is an SMF network element, the RAN node may send indication information indicating the resource setup result to the SMF network element via an AMF network element.

[0368] S504: The RAN node determines the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles based on the current network state and the information contained in the candidate QoS profiles.

[0369] In this application, the current network state may include at least one of the following: the current network's GFBR, the current network's uplink PDB, the current network's downlink PDB, the current network's total uplink and downlink PDB, the current network's PER, the current network's PELR, the current network's GBR, the current network's MDBV, the current network's channel state information (CSI), the current network's buffer state report information, or the current network's congestion state information.

[0370] When a candidate QoS profile includes conditional information, it can be understood that the current network state satisfies the QoS requirements of the target QoS profile, and that the target QoS profile satisfies the conditional information contained within it. In this way, when determining the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node can consider the conditional information to avoid excessively high terminal loads or a decrease in the number of terminals accessed by the RAN node, which may result from over-selection of candidate QoS profiles. If a candidate QoS profile causes a high terminal load, it can be understood that this indicates a heavy processing task for the terminal. Therefore, after completing the task, the terminal may need to send a small amount of data. Thus, the QoS requirements corresponding to the QoS profile are low. The RAN node may determine that the candidate QoS profile is the target QoS profile, and as a result, the number of accessed terminals may increase. If a candidate QoS profile causes a low terminal load, it indicates a light processing task for the terminal. Therefore, after completing the task, the terminal may need to send a large amount of data. Thus, the QoS requirements corresponding to the QoS profile are high. The RAN node may determine that the candidate QoS profile is the target QoS profile, and as a result, the number of accessed terminals may decrease.

[0371] For example, the current network state includes the current network's GFBR, and the candidate QoS profile includes the GFBR and condition information. If the condition information includes the maximum number of selections N in the first time period, the current network's GFBR is greater than or equal to the GFBR included in the target QoS profile, and the number of times the target QoS profile is selected in the first time period is less than or equal to N. If the condition information includes the maximum selection percentage B in the first time period, the current network's GFBR is greater than or equal to the GFBR included in the target QoS profile, and the ratio of the number of times the target QoS profile is selected in the first time period to the total number of times the target QoS profile is selected from multiple candidate QoS profiles in the first time period is less than or equal to B. If the condition information includes the maximum selection time T1 in the first time period, the current network's GFBR is greater than or equal to the GFBR included in the target QoS profile, and the cumulative duration for which the target candidate QoS profile is used in the first time period is less than or equal to T1. If the condition information includes the maximum selection duration T2 in the first time period, the current network's GFBR is greater than or equal to the GFBR included in the target QoS profile, and the duration for which the target candidate QoS profile is continuously used in the first time period is T2 or less. If the condition information includes the minimum selection interval T3 in the first time period, the current network's GFBR is greater than or equal to the GFBR included in the target QoS profile, and the interval between the current moment and the moment the target QoS profile was last selected is T3 or greater. The current moment and the moment the target QoS profile was last selected are included in the first time period.

[0372] When a candidate QoS profile includes terminal computing load information, it can be understood that the current network state satisfies the QoS requirements of the target QoS profile, and that the terminal computing load information included in the target QoS profile satisfies the terminal's current computing load requirements. Alternatively, when a candidate QoS profile includes terminal computing load information, the network state in a first time period satisfies the QoS requirements of each target QoS profile selected in the first time period, and the associated value, such as the average, cumulative, or weighted average of the terminal computing loads included in all target QoS profiles selected in the first time period, is less than or equal to a first threshold. The first threshold is the computing load threshold that causes the terminal to become hot or overheat. In this way, when determining the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node can consider the terminal computing load to avoid overheating of the terminal or impacting the terminal's standby time due to excessively high terminal computing loads, thereby improving the user experience.

[0373] For example, if the current network state includes the current network's PER, and any candidate QoS profile includes the terminal's PER and computational load information, then the current network's PER is less than or equal to the PER included in the target QoS profile, and the terminal computational load included in the target QoS profile is less than or equal to the current terminal computational load.

[0374] For example, a RAN node is used for illustrative purposes to determine target QoS profile 1, target QoS profile 2, and target QoS profile 3 at instants 1, 2, and 3, respectively, within a first time period. If the current network state includes the current network's PER, and any candidate QoS profile includes terminal PER and computational load information, then the network's PER at instant 1 is less than or equal to the PER included in target QoS profile 1, the network's PER at instant 2 is less than or equal to the PER included in target QoS profile 2, and the network's PER at instant 3 is less than or equal to the PER included in target QoS profile 3. Furthermore, the average value of the terminal computational load included in target QoS profile 1, the terminal computational load included in target QoS profile 2, and the computational load included in target QoS profile 3 is less than or equal to a first threshold. In this way, when a terminal processes data using the first parameters corresponding to target QoS profile 1, the first parameters corresponding to target QoS profile 2, and the first parameters corresponding to target QoS profile 3, the terminal is not operating at high temperatures or overheating.

[0375] When a candidate QoS profile includes a total of uplink and downlink PDBs, it can be understood that the current network state satisfies the QoS requirements of the target QoS profile, and that the total uplink and downlink PDBs provided by the current network state are less than or equal to the total uplink and downlink PDBs included in the target QoS profile. In this way, when determining the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node can ensure data uplink and downlink transmission delays by considering the total uplink and downlink PDBs.

[0376] For example, if the current network state includes the total uplink and downlink PDBs for the current network, and any candidate QoS profile includes the total uplink and downlink PDBs, then the total uplink and downlink PDBs for the current network (i.e., the total uplink and downlink PDBs provided by the current network state) must be less than or equal to the total uplink and downlink PDBs included in the target QoS profile.

[0377] When a candidate QoS profile includes an uplink PDB, it can be understood that the current network state satisfies the QoS requirements of the target QoS profile, and that the uplink PDB provided by the current network state is less than or equal to the uplink PDBs included in the target QoS profile. In this way, when determining the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node can ensure data uplink transmission delay by considering the uplink PDBs.

[0378] For example, if the current network state includes the current network's uplink PDB, and any candidate QoS profile includes an uplink PDB, then the current network's uplink PDB (i.e., the uplink PDB provided by the current network state) is less than or equal to the uplink PDB included in the target QoS profile.

[0379] When a candidate QoS profile includes a downlink PDB, it can be understood that the current network state satisfies the QoS requirements of the target QoS profile, and that the downlink PDBs provided by the current network state are less than or equal to the downlink PDBs included in the target QoS profile. In this way, when determining the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node can ensure downlink transmission delay of data by considering the downlink PDBs.

[0380] For example, if the current network state includes the current network's downlink PDB, and any candidate QoS profile includes a downlink PDB, then the current network's downlink PDB (i.e., the downlink PDB provided by the current network state) is less than or equal to the downlink PDB included in the target QoS profile.

[0381] If the target QoS profile differs from the candidate QoS profile for mapping the QoS flow to the DRB in S503, it can be understood that the RAN node may update the air interface transmission parameters or scheduling parameters, such as resource configuration, scheduling priority, preemption capability, or preemption vulnerability, between the terminal and the RAN node and associated with the DRB, based on the target QoS profile.

[0382] After determining the target QoS profile, it can be understood that the RAN node may transmit data based on the target QoS profile.

[0383] If the first session includes multiple QoS flows that support multiple candidate QoS profiles, it can be understood that the RAN node determines the target QoS profile for each QoS flow among the multiple candidate QoS profiles supported by the QoS flow, based on the current network state. The target QoS profiles for different QoS flows may be the same or different.

[0384] S505: The RAN node sends the first piece of information to the terminal and / or compute node. In response, the terminal and / or compute node receives the first piece of information from the RAN node.

[0385] In this application, the computing node may be the computing node 203 in the communication system 20 shown in Figure 2.

[0386] In this application, the first information represents a target QoS profile. In this way, after receiving the first information, a RAN node can determine the target QoS profile based on the first information. Optionally, the first information may further determine a first parameter. For example, there may be a correspondence between the first parameter and the target QoS profile, and a terminal and / or compute node can determine the first parameter based on the first information and the correspondence. In this way, after receiving the first information, a RAN node can determine the first parameter based on the first information to provide better service to the user. The above correspondence may be stored in the terminal and / or compute node, or the terminal and / or compute node may obtain the correspondence from another device. For example, an AF network element may determine the correspondence, and the terminal and / or compute node may obtain the correspondence from the AF network element.

[0387] Optionally, there may be a correspondence between the first parameter and one or more pieces of information included in the target QoS profile. For example, there may be a correspondence between the first parameter and the identifier of the target QoS profile, a correspondence between the first parameter and the GFBR included in the target QoS profile, a correspondence between the first parameter and the PELR included in the target QoS profile, a correspondence between the first parameter and the PER included in the target QoS profile, a correspondence between the first parameter and the GBR included in the target QoS profile, a correspondence between the first parameter and the MDBV included in the target QoS profile, a correspondence between the first parameter and conditional information included in the target QoS profile that restricts the selection of candidate QoS profiles, a correspondence between the first parameter and terminal computation load information included in the target QoS profile, a correspondence between the first parameter and the total uplink and downlink PDB included in the target QoS profile, and a correspondence between the first parameter and the uplink included in the target QoS profile. PDBThere is a correspondence between and and / or between the first parameter and the downlink PDB included in the target QoS profile.

[0388] In this application, the first information may include parameters related to the target QoS profile. For example, in S505, the first information may include at least one of the following: an identifier for the target QoS profile, a GFBR included in the target QoS profile, a PELR included in the target QoS profile, a PER included in the target QoS profile, a GBR included in the target QoS profile, an MDBV included in the target QoS profile, priority information included in the target QoS profile, condition information included in the target QoS profile, terminal computation load information included in the target QoS profile, total uplink and downlink PDBs included in the target QoS profile, an uplink PDB included in the target QoS profile, or a downlink PDB included in the target QoS profile.

[0389] In this application, the first parameter includes at least one of the following: task division point, task amount for task processing, bitrate, data rate (or source coding bitrate), frame rate, or resolution.

[0390] If the network can provide a high latency guarantee, for example, if the sum of the provided uplink and downlink packet latency budget PDBs is 100ms or less (i.e., indicating an RTT latency guarantee of 100ms or less), it may be understood that the task load for task processing enables reflective rendering / DDGI rendering to improve visual quality for the user without compromising smoothness. If the network can provide a low latency guarantee, for example, if the sum of the provided uplink and downlink latency budget PDBs is greater than 100ms (i.e., indicating an RTT latency guarantee of greater than 100ms), the task load for task processing disables reflective rendering / DDGI rendering to avoid visual jitter and latency issues. It may also be understood that the total uplink and downlink latency budget PDBs may be described as one or more QoS indicators, or combined with them, such as uplink PDB, downlink PDB, PER, GFBR, PELR, MDBV, or priority.

[0391] Optionally, the first parameter relates to the first difference information. The first difference information indicates the difference between the target QoS profile and the historical QoS profile determined before the target QoS profile. For example, the historical QoS profile is the QoS profile that was last determined before the target QoS profile.

[0392] It can be understood that, after obtaining the first information, the terminal and / or compute node may determine a target QoS profile based on the first information, determine first difference information based on the target QoS profile and the historical QoS profile, and determine first parameters based on the first difference information.

[0393] In a possible design, the first difference information indicates whether the target QoS profile is the same as the historical QoS profile.

[0394] In another possible design, the first difference information indicates the difference between the target QoS profile and the historical QoS profile.

[0395] It can be understood that the detailed processing of S505 is similar to that of S405. Therefore, for further explanation of S505, please refer to the corresponding explanation in S405. Further details will not be explained again.

[0396] Actions of terminals, first network elements, RAN nodes, UPF network elements, or computing nodes in S501 to S505 may be performed by the processor 301 in the communication device 30 shown in Figure 3 by calling application program code stored in memory 303. This is not limited to the present application.

[0397] Based on the method shown in Figure 5, a RAN node may determine a target QoS profile among several candidate QoS profiles and present the target QoS profile to terminals and / or compute nodes, based on the current network state, conditional information to restrict the selection of candidate QoS profiles, terminal computing load information, and at least one of the total uplink and downlink PDBs, uplink PDB, or downlink PDB. When a candidate QoS profile includes conditional information, it can be understood that the current network state satisfies the QoS requirements of the target QoS profile, and the target QoS profile satisfies the conditional information contained in the target QoS profile in order to control the number of times the target QoS profile is selected. When a candidate QoS profile includes terminal computing load information, the current network state satisfies the QoS requirements of the target QoS profile, and the terminal computing load information contained in the target QoS profile satisfies the terminal's current computing load requirements in order to control the terminal computing load by modifying the QoS profile. When a candidate QoS profile includes a total of uplink and downlink PDBs, the current network state satisfies the QoS requirements of the target QoS profile, and the total of uplink and downlink PDBs provided by the current network state is less than or equal to the total of uplink and downlink PDBs included in the target QoS profile in order to determine the target QoS profile based on the total uplink and downlink transmit delay in a timely manner. When a candidate QoS profile includes uplink PDBs, the current network state satisfies the QoS requirements of the target QoS profile, and the uplink PDBs provided by the current network state is less than or equal to the uplink PDBs included in the target QoS profile in order to determine the target QoS profile based on the uplink transmit delay in a timely manner.When a candidate QoS profile includes a downlink PDB, the current network state satisfies the QoS requirements of the target QoS profile, and the downlink PDB provided by the current network state is less than or equal to the downlink PDB included in the target QoS profile in order to determine the target QoS profile based on downlink transmission delay in a timely manner. Thus, the RAN node can determine the appropriate QoS profile for different communication scenarios.

[0398] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the method shown in Figure 5, the first network element may indicate to the RAN node that it is actively modifying the QoS profile. Specifically, as shown in Figure 6, the method shown in Figure 5 further includes S503a.

[0399] S503a: The first network element sends the first indication information to the RAN node. In response, the RAN node receives the first indication information from the first network element.

[0400] For a detailed explanation of the processing in S503a, it may be helpful to refer to the explanation in S403 regarding the sending of the first indication information to the RAN node by the first network element. Further details will not be provided again.

[0401] It can be understood that after receiving the first indication information, the RAN node may actively modify the QoS profile. For details on how the RAN node actively modifies the QoS profile, please refer to the explanation in S404. Further details will not be provided again.

[0402] Optionally, the first network element further sends information about the first time period to the RAN node. Correspondingly, the RAN node receives information about the first time period from the first network element. For details of this process, please refer to the corresponding explanation in S404. Further details will not be explained again.

[0403] Optionally, in a possible implementation of the method shown in Figure 5, the terminal may indicate to the RAN node that the terminal is overheating, and as a result, the RAN node should actively modify the QoS profile based on the terminal's indication. Specifically, as shown in Figure 6, the method shown in Figure 5 further includes S503b.

[0404] S503b: The terminal sends a second indication to the RAN node. In response, the RAN node receives the second indication from the terminal.

[0405] For detailed information on the processing of S503b, it may be helpful to refer to the explanation in S404 regarding the sending of second indication information by the terminal to the RAN node. Further details will not be provided again.

[0406] When the method shown in Figure 6 includes both S503a and S503b, it can be understood that the execution sequence of S503a and S503b is not limited in this application. For example, S503a may be performed before S503b, or S503b may be performed before S503a.

[0407] In the embodiments described above, it may be understood that support for candidate QoS profiles is described at the granularity of QoS flows. Between certain applications, support for candidate QoS profiles may, alternatively, be described by using a different granularity, such as session granularity, slice granularity, or task granularity. This is not limited to these.

[0408] The above primarily describes the solutions provided in this application from the perspective of the interaction between network elements. Correspondingly, this application further provides communication devices. A communication device may be a RAN node in the above method embodiment, a device including the above RAN node, or a component that can be used in a RAN node. Alternatively, a communication device may be a terminal in the above method embodiment, a device including the above terminal, or a component that can be used in a terminal. Alternatively, a communication device may be a first network element in the above method embodiment, a device including the first network element, or a component that can be used in a first network element. Alternatively, a communication device may be a UPF network element in the above method embodiment, a device including the UPF network element, or a component that can be used in a UPF network element. Alternatively, a communication device may be a compute node in the above method embodiment, a device including the compute node, or a component that can be used in a compute node. To implement the above functions, it may be understood that RAN nodes, terminals, first network elements, UPF network elements, compute nodes, etc., include corresponding hardware structures and / or software modules for performing their functions. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that, in combination with the example unit and algorithmic operations described in the embodiments disclosed herein, this application can be implemented in hardware or in combination of hardware and computer software. Whether the functions are implemented by hardware or by hardware driven by computer software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art may use different methods to implement the functions described for each specific application, but such implementations should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0409] In this application, RAN nodes, terminals, first network elements, UPF network elements, compute nodes, etc., may be separated into functional modules based on the above-described example. For example, each functional module may be obtained through separation based on each corresponding function, or two or more functions may be integrated into a single processing module. The integrated module may be implemented in hardware form or in the form of a software functional module. It should be understood that the separation into modules in this application is merely an example and represents only logical function separation. In actual implementations, other separation methods may be used.

[0410] For example, when functional modules are acquired through separation in an integrated system, Figure 7 shows the structure of a communication device 70. The communication device 70 includes a processing module 701 and an interface module 702. The processing module 701 may also be called a processing unit and is configured to perform operations other than receiving and transmitting. For example, the processing module may be a processing circuit or a processor. The interface module 702 may also be called an interface unit and is configured to perform receiving and transmitting. For example, the interface module 702 may be an interface circuit, a transceiver machine, a transceiver, or a communication interface.

[0411] In some embodiments, the communication device 70 may further include a storage module (not shown in Figure 7) configured to store program instructions and data.

[0412] For example, the communication device 70 is configured to implement the functions of a RAN node. For example, the communication device 70 is a RAN node in the embodiment shown in Figure 4.

[0413] The processing module 701 is configured to acquire multiple candidate quality of service profiles. For example, the processing module 701 is configured to perform S403.

[0414] When the function to actively modify the quality of service profile is enabled, the processing module 701 is further configured to determine a target quality of service profile based on the current network state and the terminal load corresponding to one or more of the candidate quality of service profiles. For example, the processing module 701 is configured to perform S404.

[0415] Interface module 702 is configured to send first information, which indicates the target quality of service profile. For example, interface module 702 is configured to perform S405.

[0416] In a possible implementation, the processing module 701 is specifically configured to preferentially determine that the target quality of service profile is a first candidate quality of service profile, the first candidate quality of service profile being among several candidate quality of service profiles that satisfy the current network state and corresponds to the highest terminal load. Alternatively, the processing module 701 is specifically configured to determine that the target quality of service profile is a second candidate quality of service profile, the second candidate quality of service profile being among several candidate quality of service profiles that satisfy the current network state and does not include the candidate quality of service profile with the lowest terminal load.

[0417] In a possible implementation, the candidate quality of service profile corresponding to the lowest terminal load is the candidate quality of service profile that satisfies at least one of the following conditions among multiple candidate quality of service profiles: having the highest corresponding priority, having the highest corresponding uplink guaranteed flow bitrate, having the highest corresponding downlink guaranteed flow bitrate, having the lowest corresponding terminal computation load, having the highest corresponding total uplink and downlink packet delay budget, having the highest corresponding uplink packet delay budget, or having the highest corresponding downlink packet delay budget.

[0418] In a possible implementation, the maximum number of selections of the first candidate quality of service profile in the first time period is less than or equal to the first value, the maximum selection percentage of the first candidate quality of service profile in the first time period is less than or equal to the second value, the maximum selection duration of the first candidate quality of service profile in the first time period is less than or equal to the third value, the maximum selection duration of the first candidate quality of service profile in the first time period is less than or equal to the fourth value, and / or the minimum selection interval of the first candidate quality of service profile in the first time period is greater than or equal to the fifth value.

[0419] In a possible implementation, enabling the ability to actively modify the quality of service profile includes receiving a first indication that the quality of service profile should be actively modified, and enabling the ability based on the first indication, and / or receiving a second indication that the terminal is overheating, and enabling the ability based on the second indication.

[0420] In possible implementations, the first indication information is carried in a session resource setup request message or a session resource setup modification message.

[0421] In a possible implementation, when a second indication is received, the processing module 701 is specifically configured to determine that the target quality of service profile is a third candidate quality of service profile, and the terminal load corresponding to the third candidate quality of service profile is lower than the current terminal load.

[0422] In a possible implementation, the first information is for further determining the first parameter, which includes at least one of the following: task splitting point, task amount for task processing, bitrate, data rate, frame rate, or resolution.

[0423] In possible implementations, the interface module 702 is specifically configured to send first information to a terminal, the first information being carried in downlink control information, a medium access control element, or a radio resource control message, or the interface module 702 is specifically configured to send first data packets to user plane functional network elements, the header of the first data packets containing first information.

[0424] When the communication device is configured to implement the functions of a RAN node, other functions that can be implemented by the communication device 70 should be referred to the relevant descriptions in the embodiment shown in Figure 4. Further details will not be provided again.

[0425] Alternatively, for example, the communication device 70 may be configured to implement the functions of the first network element. For example, the communication device 70 is the first network element in the embodiment shown in Figure 4.

[0426] The interface module 702 is configured to receive information about the first session from the terminal. For example, the interface module 702 may be configured to perform S401.

[0427] The processing module 701 is configured to obtain multiple candidate quality of service profiles based on information about the first session. For example, the processing module 701 may be configured to perform S402.

[0428] The interface module 702 is further configured to send multiple candidate quality of service profiles and first indication information to a radio access network node, the first indication information indicating to the radio access network node to actively modify the quality of service profile. For example, the interface module 702 may be configured to perform S403.

[0429] In possible implementations, the first indication information is carried in a session resource setup request message or a session resource setup modification message.

[0430] When the communication device is configured to implement the functions of the first network element, other functions that can be implemented by the communication device 70 should be referred to the relevant descriptions in the embodiment shown in Figure 4. Further details will not be provided again.

[0431] Alternatively, for example, the communication device 70 may be configured to implement the functionality of a RAN node. For example, the communication device 70 may be a RAN node in the embodiment shown in Figure 5 or the embodiment shown in Figure 6.

[0432] The processing module 701 is configured to acquire multiple candidate quality of service profiles. Any candidate quality of service profile among the multiple candidate quality of service profiles includes at least one of the following: condition information for restricting the selection of candidate quality of service profiles, terminal computation load information, total uplink and downlink packet delay budget, uplink packet delay budget, or downlink packet delay budget. For example, the processing module 701 may be configured to perform S503.

[0433] The processing module 701 is further configured to determine a target quality of service profile among several candidate quality of service profiles based on the current network state and the information contained in the candidate quality of service profiles. For example, the processing module 701 may be configured to perform S504.

[0434] Interface module 702 is configured to send first information, which indicates the target quality of service profile. For example, interface module 702 may be configured to perform S505.

[0435] In a possible implementation, the condition information includes at least one of the following: the maximum selection percentage in the first time period, the maximum selection time in the first time period, the maximum number of selections in the first time period, the maximum selection duration in the first time period, or the minimum selection interval in the first time period.

[0436] In possible implementations, the processing module 701 is configured such that, when a candidate quality of service profile includes conditional information, the current network state satisfies the quality of service requirements of the target quality of service profile, and the target quality of service profile satisfies the conditional information contained in the target quality of service profile; or, when a candidate quality of service profile includes terminal computation load information, the processing module 701 is configured such that the current network state satisfies the quality of service requirements of the target quality of service profile, and the terminal computation load information contained in the target quality of service profile satisfies the current computation load requirements of the terminal; or, when a candidate quality of service profile includes total uplink and downlink packet delay budgets, the processing module 701 satisfies the quality of service requirements of the target quality of service profile, and the total uplink and downlink packet delay budgets provided by the current network state The processing module 701 is specifically configured such that the uplink packet delay budget is less than or equal to the total uplink and downlink packet delay budget included in the target quality of service profile, or, when the candidate quality of service profile includes an uplink packet delay budget, the current network state satisfies the quality of service requirements of the target quality of service profile and the uplink packet delay budget provided by the current network state is less than or equal to the uplink packet delay budget included in the target quality of service profile, or, when the candidate quality of service profile includes a downlink packet delay budget, the current network state satisfies the quality of service requirements of the target quality of service profile and the downlink packet delay budget provided by the current network state is less than or equal to the downlink packet delay budget included in the target quality of service profile.

[0437] In a possible implementation, interface module 702 is further configured to receive a first indication, the first indication, which indicates that the quality of service profile is being actively modified, and / or interface module 702 is further configured to receive a second indication, the second indication, which indicates that the terminal is overheating.

[0438] In possible implementations, the first indication information is carried in a session resource setup request message or a session resource setup modification message.

[0439] In a possible implementation, the first information includes an identifier for the target quality of service profile, as well as at least one of the following included in the target quality of service profile: conditional information for restricting the selection of the target quality of service profile, terminal computation load information, total uplink and downlink packet delay budget, uplink packet delay budget, or downlink packet delay budget.

[0440] In a possible implementation, the first information is used to determine a first parameter, which includes at least one of the following: task splitting point, task amount for task processing, bitrate, data rate, frame rate, or resolution.

[0441] In possible implementations, the interface module 702 is specifically configured to send first information to a terminal, the first information being carried in downlink control information, a medium access control element, or a radio resource control message, or the interface module 702 is specifically configured to send first data packets to user plane functional network elements, the header of the first data packets containing first information.

[0442] When the communication device is configured to implement the functions of a RAN node, other functions that can be implemented by the communication device 70 should be referred to the relevant descriptions in the embodiments shown in Figure 5 or Figure 6. Further details will not be provided again.

[0443] Alternatively, for example, the communication device 70 may be configured to implement the functions of the first network element. For example, the communication device 70 is the first network element in the embodiment shown in Figure 5 or the embodiment shown in Figure 6.

[0444] The interface module 702 is configured to receive information about the first session from the terminal. For example, the interface module 702 may be configured to perform S501.

[0445] The processing module 701 is configured to acquire multiple candidate quality of service profiles based on information about a first session, and any candidate quality of service profile among the multiple candidate quality of service profiles includes at least one of the following: condition information for restricting the selection of candidate quality of service profiles, terminal computation load information, total uplink and downlink packet delay budget, uplink packet delay budget, or downlink packet delay budget. For example, the processing module 701 may be configured to perform S502.

[0446] The interface module 702 is further configured to send multiple candidate quality of service profiles to the radio access network node. For example, the interface module 702 may be configured to perform S503.

[0447] In a possible implementation, the condition information includes at least one of the following: the maximum selection percentage in the first time period, the maximum selection time in the first time period, the maximum number of selections in the first time period, the maximum selection duration in the first time period, or the minimum selection interval in the first time period.

[0448] In a possible implementation, the interface module 702 is further configured to send first indication information to a radio access network node, which indicates to the radio access network node that it should actively modify its quality of service profile.

[0449] In possible implementations, the first indication information is carried in a session resource setup request message or a session resource setup modification message.

[0450] When the communication device is configured to implement the functions of the first network element, other functions that can be implemented by the communication device 70 should be referred to the relevant descriptions in the embodiments shown in Figure 5 or Figure 6. Further details will not be provided again.

[0451] Those skilled in the art will understand that in a simple embodiment, the communication device 70 may be in the form shown in Figure 3. For example, the processor 301 in Figure 3 may call computer executable instructions stored in memory 303, enabling the communication device 70 to carry out the method in the above-described embodiment.

[0452] For example, the functions / implementation processes of the processing module 701 and interface module 702 in Figure 7 can be implemented by the processor 301 in Figure 3 by calling computer-executable instructions stored in memory 303. Alternatively, the functions / implementation processes of the processing module 701 in Figure 7 can be implemented by the processor 301 in Figure 3 by calling computer-executable instructions stored in memory 303, and the functions / implementation processes of the interface module 702 in Figure 7 can be implemented by using the communication interface 304 in Figure 3.

[0453] For example, when functional modules are acquired through separation in an integrated system, Figure 8 shows the structure of a communication device 80. The communication device 80 includes an interface module 801. The interface module 801, sometimes called an interface unit, is configured to perform receiving and transmitting operations. For example, the interface module may be an interface circuit, a transceiver machine, a transceiver, or a communication interface.

[0454] In some embodiments, the communication device 80 may further include a storage module (not shown in Figure 8) configured to store program instructions and data.

[0455] For example, the communication device 80 is configured to implement the functions of a terminal / compute node. The communication device 80 is, for example, a terminal / compute node in the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the embodiment shown in Figure 5, or the embodiment shown in Figure 6.

[0456] The interface module 801 is configured to receive first information from a radio access network node, which indicates the target quality of service profile.

[0457] Interface module 801 is further configured to send metadata, which includes the first information.

[0458] In a possible implementation, the first information includes an identifier for the target quality of service profile, as well as at least one of the following included in the target quality of service profile: uplink guaranteed flow bitrate, downlink guaranteed flow bitrate, packet error rate, conditional information for restricting the selection of the target quality of service profile, terminal computation load information, total uplink and downlink packet delay budget, uplink packet delay budget, or downlink packet delay budget.

[0459] In a possible implementation, the condition information includes at least one of the following: the maximum selection percentage in the first time period, the maximum selection time in the first time period, the maximum number of selections in the first time period, the maximum selection duration in the first time period, or the minimum selection interval in the first time period.

[0460] In a possible implementation, the first information is used to determine a first parameter, which includes at least one of the following: task splitting point, task amount for task processing, bitrate, data rate, frame rate, or resolution.

[0461] When the communication device is configured to implement the functions of a terminal / compute node, other functions that can be implemented by the communication device 80 should be referred to the relevant descriptions in the embodiments shown in Figure 4, Figure 5, or Figure 6. Further details will not be provided again.

[0462] Alternatively, for example, the communication device 80 may be configured to implement the functionality of a user plane functional network element. The communication device 80 is, for example, a user plane functional network element in the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the embodiment shown in Figure 5, or the embodiment shown in Figure 6.

[0463] Interface module 801 is configured to receive a first data packet from a radio access network node, the header of which contains first information, the first information indicating the target quality of service profile.

[0464] Interface module 801 is configured to send a second data packet, the second data packet containing the first information, and the second data packet is a Real-Time Transport Protocol data packet, a Real-Time Transport Control Protocol data packet, or a Quick User Datagram Protocol Internet Connection data packet.

[0465] In a possible implementation, the first information includes an identifier for the target quality of service profile, as well as at least one of the following included in the target quality of service profile: uplink guaranteed flow bitrate, downlink guaranteed flow bitrate, packet error rate, conditional information for restricting the selection of the target quality of service profile, terminal computation load information, total uplink and downlink packet delay budget, uplink packet delay budget, or downlink packet delay budget.

[0466] In a possible implementation, the condition information includes at least one of the following: the maximum selection percentage in the first time period, the maximum selection time in the first time period, the maximum number of selections in the first time period, the maximum selection duration in the first time period, or the minimum selection interval in the first time period.

[0467] In a possible implementation, the first information is used to determine a first parameter, which includes at least one of the following: task splitting point, task amount for task processing, bitrate, data rate, frame rate, or resolution.

[0468] When the communication device is configured to implement the functions of user plane functional network elements, other functions that can be implemented by the communication device 80 should be referred to the relevant descriptions in the embodiments shown in Figure 4, Figure 5, or Figure 6. Further details will not be described again.

[0469] Those skilled in the art will understand that in a simple embodiment, the communication device 80 may be in the form shown in Figure 3. For example, the processor 301 in Figure 3 may call computer executable instructions stored in memory 303, enabling the communication device 80 to carry out the method in the above-described embodiment.

[0470] For example, the functionality / implementation process of the interface module 801 in Figure 8 can be implemented by the processor 301 in Figure 3 by calling computer executable instructions stored in memory 303. Alternatively, the functionality / implementation process of the interface module 801 in Figure 8 can be implemented by using the communication interface 304 in Figure 3.

[0471] It can be understood that one or more of the above modules or units may be implemented using software, hardware, or a combination thereof. When any one of the above modules or units is implemented by software, the software exists in the form of computer program instructions and is stored in memory. A processor may be configured to execute program instructions and implement the above method procedures. A processor may be deployed on a system-on-a-chip (SoC) or ASIC, or it may be a standalone semiconductor chip. In addition to a core configured to perform operations or processing by executing software instructions, a processor may further include necessary hardware accelerators, such as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic device (PLD), or logic circuits that implement dedicated logic operations.

[0472] When the above modules or units are implemented using hardware, the hardware may be one or a combination of a CPU, microprocessor, digital signal processing (DSP) chip, microcontroller unit (MCU), artificial intelligence processor, ASIC, SoC, FPGA, PLD, dedicated digital circuitry, hardware accelerator, or non-integrated discrete device, and the hardware may be capable of running the necessary software or may not rely on software to perform the above methods and procedures.

[0473] In addition to the methods described above, this application further provides a communication method. In this communication method, the core network may provide a method for transmitting first information to RAN nodes, for example, by using air interface signaling to transmit first information to terminals, so that the RAN nodes can quickly send first information to terminals based on indications from the core network and / or transmit first information to UPF network elements in a user-plane manner, so that the RAN nodes can quickly send first information to UPF network elements based on indications from the core network. In this way, UPF network elements can send first information to compute nodes. The method is described in detail below. It should be understood that the descriptions of the same steps or features in the methods shown in Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 6, and Figure 9 may be referenced to one another.

[0474] Figure 9 illustrates another communication method according to this application. This method may include the following steps:

[0475] S901: The first network element acquires multiple candidate QoS profiles.

[0476] In this application, the first network element may be any network element in the core network 202 shown in Figure 2, or the first network element may be a new core network element.

[0477] In a possible design, one of several candidate QoS profiles includes at least one of the following: an index of the candidate QoS profile (e.g., an alternative QoS parameter set index), information relating to the candidate QoS profile (e.g., an alternative QoS reference), GFBR, uplink GFBR, downlink GFBR, PDB, uplink PDB, downlink PDB, total uplink and downlink PDB, terminal computation load, PER, GBR, PELR, MDBV, priority information, conditional information for restricting the selection of a candidate QoS profile, or terminal computation load information (or terminal load information).

[0478] In this application, the candidate QoS profile index may be for identifying a candidate QoS profile to distinguish between different candidate QoS profiles. The information related to a candidate QoS profile is either QoS reference information associated with and associated with the candidate QoS profile, or QoS reference information that matches and matches the candidate QoS profile. For example, the information related to a candidate QoS profile is for identifying a candidate QoS profile between the core network and AF network elements. For a detailed explanation of GFBR, uplink GFBR, downlink GFBR, PDB, uplink PDB, downlink PDB, total uplink and downlink PDB, terminal computation load, PER, GBR, PELR, MDBV, priority information, condition information for restricting the selection of candidate QoS profiles, terminal computation load information, and terminal load information, see the corresponding explanation in the methods shown in Figures 4 to 6. Further details are not provided.

[0479] In a possible design, multiple candidate QoS profiles correspond to the first session. For details, please refer to the corresponding explanations in the methods shown in Figures 4 through 6.

[0480] In possible implementations, the first network element obtains multiple candidate QoS profiles locally or from network elements in the core network other than the first network element.

[0481] In a possible implementation, a terminal triggers a first network element to obtain multiple candidate QoS profiles. The terminal could be any terminal in RAN201 shown in Figure 2, for example, terminal 2012 or terminal 2013. For example, the terminal sends information about a first session to the first network element. After receiving the information about the first session, the first network element obtains multiple candidate QoS profiles based on the information about the first session. For further details, see the corresponding descriptions in S401, S402, S501, and S502.

[0482] S902: The first network element sends multiple candidate QoS profiles and transmit mode indication information to the RAN node. In response, the RAN node receives the multiple candidate QoS profiles and transmit mode indication information.

[0483] In this application, a RAN node may be RAN node 2011 in RAN201 shown in Figure 2. Transmit mode indication information indicates that first information is to be transmitted to a terminal by using air interface signaling and / or that first information is to be transmitted to a user plane functional network element in a user plane manner. Optionally, transmit mode indication information belongs to Notification Control indication information.

[0484] In a possible design, the first information indicates the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles. For example, the first information includes the index of the target QoS profile, information relating to the target QoS profile, and at least one of the following included in the target QoS profile: GFBR, uplink GFBR, downlink GFBR, uplink PDB, downlink PDB, total uplink and downlink PDB, terminal computation load, PER, GBR, PELR, MDBV, priority information, condition information to restrict the selection of candidate QoS profiles, or terminal computation load information (or terminal load information).

[0485] In this application, air interface signaling includes RRC messages, PDCP control PDU messages, MAC CE, or DCI. Transmitting first information to a UPF network element in a user-plane manner includes transmitting first information to a UPF network element by using a data packet corresponding to a first session (e.g., the first data packet below). The data packet corresponding to a first session can be understood as a data packet that can be transmitted by using a first session. Alternatively, transmitting first information to a UPF network element in a user-plane manner includes transmitting first information to a UPF network element by using a data packet corresponding to a first QoS flow (e.g., the first data packet below). The first QoS flow is a QoS flow that corresponds to multiple candidate QoS profiles, or the first QoS flow supports multiple candidate QoS profiles.

[0486] In this application, the sending of multiple candidate QoS profiles and transmit mode indication information by a first network element to a RAN node can be described as the sending of multiple candidate QoS profiles and transmit mode indication information to a module in the RAN node. For example, the first network element sends multiple candidate QoS profiles and transmit mode indication information to a CU or RIC in the RAN node.

[0487] In this application, the acquisition of multiple candidate QoS profiles and transmit mode indication information by a RAN node can be understood as the RAN node receiving multiple candidate QoS profiles and transmit mode indication information from another device. For example, a RAN node receives multiple candidate QoS profiles and transmit mode indication information from a first network element. Alternatively, the acquisition of multiple candidate QoS profiles and transmit mode indication information by a RAN node can be understood as one module in the RAN node acquiring multiple candidate QoS profiles and transmit mode indication information from another module in the RAN node. For example, a DU in the RAN node acquires multiple candidate QoS profiles and transmit mode indication information from a CU in the RAN node, or a CU or DU in the RAN node acquires multiple candidate QoS profiles and transmit mode indication information from an RIC in the RAN node.

[0488] If the first session includes multiple QoS flows that support multiple candidate QoS profiles, it can be understood that the first network element will send the multiple candidate QoS profiles supported by the multiple QoS flows to the RAN node.

[0489] It can be understood that the first network element may directly send multiple candidate QoS profiles and transmit mode indication information to the RAN node, or may send multiple candidate QoS profiles and transmit mode indication information to the RAN node via at least one intermediate network element.

[0490] For example, the first network element is an SMF network element, which can send multiple candidate QoS profiles and transmit mode indication information to a RAN node via an AMF network element.

[0491] It can be understood that multiple candidate QoS profiles and transmit mode indication information may be contained in one message or in different messages. This is not limited to this. For example, both multiple candidate QoS profiles and transmit mode indication information may be carried in a session resource setup request message (e.g., a PDU session resource setup request message) or a session resource setup modification message (e.g., a PDU session resource setup modification message). In another example, multiple candidate QoS profiles may be carried in a session resource setup request message and transmit mode indication information in a session resource setup modification message, or transmit mode indication information may be carried in a session resource setup request message and multiple candidate QoS profiles may be carried in a session resource setup modification message.

[0492] Optionally, the first network element sends the first indication information to the RAN node. In response, the RAN node receives the first indication information from the first network element. For details, please refer to the corresponding explanation in the method shown in Figure 4.

[0493] In possible implementations, after receiving multiple candidate QoS profiles, the RAN node performs a mapping from QoS flows to the DRB. For example, the RAN node performs the mapping from QoS flows to the DRB based on one of the multiple candidate QoS profiles. The RAN node may also exchange air interface signaling related to the DRB configuration with the terminal.

[0494] Optionally, after completing the mapping, the RAN node sends indication information to the first network element showing the resource setup result. If multiple candidate QoS profiles are carried in the session resource setup request message, it can be understood that the indication information showing the resource setup result may be carried in the session resource setup response message.

[0495] It can be understood that a RAN node may either directly send indication information indicating the resource setup result to the first network element, or send indication information indicating the resource setup result to the first network element via at least one intermediate network element. For example, if the first network element is an SMF network element, the RAN node may send indication information indicating the resource setup result to the SMF network element via an AMF network element.

[0496] S903: The RAN node determines the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles.

[0497] In possible implementations, the RAN node determines the target QoS profile among several candidate QoS profiles based on the current network state.

[0498] For example, if the current network state of a RAN node cannot satisfy the quality of service required by the current QoS profile, such as failing to meet one or more indicators of GFBR, PDB, PER, GBR, or guaranteed transmit data size indicated by the current QoS profile, the RAN node will determine the QoS profile among several candidate QoS profiles that matches the current network state as the target QoS profile.

[0499] For example, a RAN node actively determines the target QoS profile among multiple candidate QoS profiles based on the current network state. Specifically, please refer to the method shown in Figure 4.

[0500] For example, a RAN node determines the target QoS profile among several candidate QoS profiles based on the current network state and the information contained in any candidate QoS profile. See Figure 5 or Figure 6 for specific details.

[0501] S904: The RAN node sends first information to terminals and / or compute nodes based on the transmit mode indication information. Correspondingly, the terminals and / or compute nodes receive first information from the RAN node.

[0502] In possible implementations, if the transmit mode indication information indicates that the RAN node will send the first information to the terminal using air interface signaling, the RAN node will send the first information to the terminal using air interface signaling. For example, the RAN node will send the first information to the terminal using DCI, MAC CE, PDCP control PDU messages, or RRC messages, and as a result the terminal will send the first information to its access layer, which will then notify the terminal's application layer. Optionally, after the terminal's application layer has received the first information, the application layer client may then present the first information to the compute node.

[0503] Optionally, the transmit mode indication information may include a field corresponding to an air interface signaling to indicate the type of air interface signaling used by the RAN node to send a first piece of information to the terminal. For example, if the transmit mode indication information includes a field corresponding to DCI, the RAN node sends DCI to the terminal, and DCI contains the first piece of information; if the transmit mode indication information includes a field corresponding to MAC CE, the RAN node sends MAC CE to the terminal, and MAC CE contains the first piece of information; if the transmit mode indication information includes a field corresponding to a PDCP-controlled PDU message, the RAN node sends a PDCP-controlled PDU message to the terminal, and PDCP-controlled PDU message contains the first piece of information; or if the transmit mode indication information includes a field corresponding to an RRC message, the RAN node sends RRC message to the terminal, and RRC message contains the first piece of information.

[0504] In a possible implementation, if the transmit mode indication information indicates that the first information is to be transmitted to the UPF network element in a user-plane manner, the RAN node may include the first information in the header of one or more data packets to indicate the first information to the UPF network element.

[0505] For example, a RAN node sends a first data packet to a UPF network element, and the header of the first data packet contains the first information. Specifically, the RAN node includes the first information in the GTP-U header of the first data packet via the N3 interface in order to send the first information quickly. After receiving the first data packet, the UPF network element detects the GTP-U header of the first data packet, retrieves the first information, and then sends the first information to the compute node. For example, UPF sends the first information to the compute node via an API method, through an NEF or local NEF. In another example, a UPF network element sends a second data packet to a compute node. Correspondingly, the compute node receives the second data packet from UPF. The second data packet contains the first information. The second data packet is an RTP data packet, an RTCP data packet, a QUIC data packet, or another data packet of a protocol above the IP layer.

[0506] Optionally, the first data packet may correspond to the first session, or the first data packet may correspond to the first QoS flow.

[0507] Optionally, the transmit mode indication information may include a field corresponding to a first session to indicate to a RAN node that it is transmitting first information to a UPF network element by using a data packet corresponding to the first session. Alternatively, the transmit mode indication information may include a field corresponding to a first QoS flow to indicate to a RAN node that it is transmitting first information to a UPF network element by using a data packet corresponding to the first QoS flow.

[0508] In a possible implementation, if the transmit mode indication information indicates that the first information is to be sent to the terminal using air interface signaling and the first information is to be sent to the UPF network element using the user plane method, the RAN node will send the first information to the terminal using air interface signaling and the RAN node will send the first data packet to the UPF network element.

[0509] For further explanation of how the RAN node sends the first information to terminals and / or compute nodes, it may be understood to refer to the corresponding explanation in S405 or S505. Further details are not provided again.

[0510] In the method shown in Figure 9, it can be understood that the device determining the target QoS profile is a RAN node. Between certain applications, the device determining the target QoS profile may, alternatively, be a device other than a RAN node, e.g., any one or more network elements in the core network. This is not limited to this. After determining the target QoS profile, the device may provide the RAN node with the target QoS profile and transmit mode indication information, and as a result, the RAN node transmits the first information.

[0511] In the embodiments described above, it may be understood that support for candidate QoS profiles is described at the granularity of QoS flows. In certain applications, support for candidate QoS profiles may be described by using a different granularity, such as session granularity, slice granularity, or task granularity, but this is not limited to these.

[0512] The above primarily describes the solution provided in this application from the perspective of the interaction between network elements. Correspondingly, this application further provides a communication device. The communication device may be a RAN node in the above method embodiment, a device including the above RAN node, or a component that can be used in a RAN node. Alternatively, the communication device may be a first network element in the above method embodiment, a device including the above first network element, or a component that can be used in a first network element. To implement the above functions, it can be understood that a RAN node, a first network element, etc., includes a corresponding hardware structure and / or software module for performing its functions. Combined with the example unit and algorithmic operation described in the embodiments disclosed herein, it should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that this application can be implemented in hardware or in combination of hardware and computer software. Whether the functions are implemented by hardware or by hardware driven by computer software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art may use different methods to implement the functions described for each specific application, but the implementation should not be considered to be beyond the scope of this application.

[0513] In this application, RAN nodes, first network elements, etc., may be separated into functional modules based on the above-described example. For example, each functional module may be obtained through separation based on each corresponding function, or two or more functions may be integrated into a single processing module. The integrated module may be implemented in hardware form or in the form of a software functional module. It should be understood that the separation into modules in this application is merely an example and represents only logical function separation. In actual implementations, other separation methods may be used.

[0514] For example, when each functional module is acquired through separation in an integration scheme, the structure of a RAN node may be shown in Figure 7. In other words, the communication device 70 may be configured to implement the functions of the RAN node. For example, the communication device 70 is a RAN node in the embodiment shown in Figure 9.

[0515] The processing module 701 is configured to acquire multiple candidate quality of service profiles and transmit mode indication information. The transmit mode indication information indicates that first information will be transmitted to a terminal by using air interface signaling and / or to a user plane functional network element in a user plane manner. For example, the processing module 701 is configured to perform S902.

[0516] The processing module 701 is further configured to determine the target quality of service profile among several candidate quality of service profiles. For example, the processing module 701 is configured to perform S903.

[0517] The interface module 702 is configured to send first information based on the transmit mode indication information. The first information indicates the target quality of service profile. For example, the interface module 702 is configured to perform S904.

[0518] In possible implementations, when transmit mode indication information indicates that first information is to be transmitted to the terminal by using air interface signaling, the interface module 702 is specifically configured to transmit the first information to the terminal by using air interface signaling.

[0519] In possible implementations, air interface signaling may include radio resource control messages, packet data convergence protocol control protocol data unit messages, medium access control elements, or downlink control information.

[0520] In a possible implementation, when the transmit mode indication information indicates that first information is to be transmitted to a user plane functional network element in a user plane manner, the interface module 702 is specifically configured to send a first data packet to the user plane functional network element, the header of the first data packet containing the first information.

[0521] In possible implementations, the first data packet corresponds to a first session, and the first session is a session that corresponds to multiple candidate quality of service profiles, or the first data packet corresponds to a first quality of service flow, and the first quality of service flow is a quality of service flow that corresponds to multiple candidate quality of service profiles.

[0522] In a possible implementation, the first information includes an index of the target quality of service profile, information relating to the target quality of service profile, and at least one of the following included in the target quality of service profile: guaranteed flow bitrate, uplink guaranteed flow bitrate, downlink guaranteed flow bitrate, packet error rate, conditional information for restricting the selection of the target quality of service profile, terminal computation load information, total uplink and downlink packet delay budget, uplink packet delay budget, or downlink packet delay budget.

[0523] When the communication device is configured to implement the functions of a RAN node, other functions that can be implemented by the communication device 70 should be referred to the relevant descriptions in the embodiment shown in Figure 9. Further details will not be provided again.

[0524] Alternatively, for example, the communication device 70 may be configured to implement the functions of the first network element. For example, the communication device 70 is the first network element in the embodiment shown in Figure 9.

[0525] The processing module 701 is configured to acquire multiple candidate quality of service profiles. For example, the processing module 701 may be configured to perform S901.

[0526] The interface module 702 is configured to send multiple candidate quality of service profiles and transmit mode indication information to a radio access network node. The transmit mode indication information indicates that first information will be sent to a terminal by using air interface signaling and / or to a user plane functional network element in a user plane manner. The first information indicates the target quality of service profile among the multiple candidate quality of service profiles. For example, the interface module 702 may be configured to perform S902.

[0527] In possible implementations, air interface signaling may include radio resource control messages, packet data convergence protocol control protocol data unit messages, medium access control elements, or downlink control information.

[0528] In a possible implementation, transmitting first information to a user plane functional network element in a user plane manner includes transmitting first information to a user plane functional network element by using data packets corresponding to a first session, where the first session is a session corresponding to multiple candidate quality of service profiles, or transmitting first information to a user plane functional network element in a user plane manner includes transmitting first information to a user plane functional network element by using data packets corresponding to a first quality of service flow, where the first quality of service flow is a quality of service flow corresponding to multiple candidate quality of service profiles.

[0529] When the communication device is configured to implement the functions of the first network element, other functions that can be implemented by the communication device 70 should be referred to the relevant descriptions in the embodiment shown in Figure 9. Further details will not be provided again.

[0530] Optionally, the application further provides a chip system comprising at least one processor and an interface. The at least one processor is coupled to memory through the interface. The method in any one of the above embodiments of the method is carried out when the at least one processor executes a computer program or instruction in memory. In possible implementations, the chip system further includes memory. Optionally, the chip system may include a chip, or a chip and other discrete components. This is not particularly limited in the application.

[0531] Optionally, this application further provides computer-readable storage media. All or part of the procedures in the above-described method embodiments may be implemented by relevant hardware instructed by a computer program. The program may be stored in the above-described computer-readable storage media. When the program is executed, it may include the procedures in the above-described method embodiments. The computer-readable storage media may be an internal storage unit of the communication device in any one of the above embodiments, e.g., a hard disk drive or memory of the communication device. Alternatively, the computer-readable storage media may be an external storage device of the communication device, e.g., a plug-in hard disk drive configured on the communication device, a SmartMedia card (SMC), a Secure Digital (SD) card, or a flash card. Furtherm...

Claims

1. A communication method, wherein the method is Steps to obtain multiple candidate service quality profiles, When the function to actively modify the quality of service profile is enabled, the steps include determining a target quality of service profile based on the current network state and the terminal load corresponding to one or more of the multiple candidate quality of service profiles, A step of sending first information, wherein the first information indicates the target service quality profile, A communication method that includes this.

2. The step of determining the target quality of service profile based on the current network state and the terminal load corresponding to one or more of the multiple candidate quality of service profiles is: A step of preferentially determining that the target quality of service profile is a first candidate quality of service profile, wherein the first candidate quality of service profile is among the candidate quality of service profiles that satisfy the current network state and is the candidate quality of service profile that corresponds to the highest terminal load, or A step of determining that the target quality of service profile is a second candidate quality of service profile, wherein the second candidate quality of service profile is a candidate quality of service profile that is among the plurality of candidate quality of service profiles that satisfy the current network state and does not include the candidate quality of service profile with the lowest terminal load. The method according to claim 1, including the method described in claim 1.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the candidate quality of service profile corresponding to the lowest terminal load is a candidate quality of service profile that satisfies at least one of the following conditions among the plurality of candidate quality of service profiles: having the highest corresponding priority, having the highest corresponding uplink guaranteed flow bitrate, having the highest corresponding downlink guaranteed flow bitrate, having the lowest corresponding terminal computation load, having the highest corresponding total uplink and downlink packet delay budget, having the highest corresponding uplink packet delay budget, or having the highest corresponding downlink packet delay budget.

4. The maximum number of selections of the first candidate service quality profile during the first time period is less than or equal to the first value. The maximum selection percentage of the first candidate service quality profile during the first time period is less than or equal to the second value. The maximum selection duration of the first candidate service quality profile during the first time period is less than or equal to the third value. The maximum selection time for the first candidate quality of service profile in the first time period is less than or equal to the fourth value, and / or The minimum selection interval for the first candidate service quality profile in the first time period is greater than or equal to the fifth value. The method according to claim 2 or 3.

5. The step of enabling the function to actively modify the quality of service profile is: A step of receiving first indication information, wherein the first indication information indicates that the quality of service profile should be actively modified; and a step of enabling the function based on the first indication information, and / or A step of receiving a second indication information, wherein the second indication information indicates that the terminal is overheating; and a step of enabling the function based on the second indication information. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, including the method described in any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. When the second indication information is received, the step of determining the target quality of service profile based on the current network state and the terminal load corresponding to one or more of the multiple candidate quality of service profiles is: A step of determining that the target service quality profile is a third candidate service quality profile, wherein the terminal load corresponding to the third candidate service quality profile is lower than the current terminal load. The method according to claim 5, including the method described in claim 5.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first information is for determining a first parameter, the first parameter includes at least one of a task split point, a task amount for task processing, a bitrate, a data rate, a frame rate, or a resolution.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the first parameter relates to first difference information, the first difference information indicates the difference between the target service quality profile and a historical service quality profile determined prior to the target service quality profile.

9. A communication method, wherein the method is The steps include receiving information about the first session from the terminal, The steps include obtaining a plurality of candidate service quality profiles based on the information relating to the first session, A step of sending the plurality of candidate quality of service profiles and first indication information to a wireless access network node, wherein the first indication information indicates to the wireless access network node that the quality of service profile should be actively modified. A communication method that includes this.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first indication information is carried in a session resource setup request message or a session resource setup modification message.

11. A communication method, wherein the method is A step of obtaining multiple candidate quality of service profiles, wherein any candidate quality of service profile in the multiple candidate quality of service profiles includes at least one of the following: condition information for restricting the selection of the candidate quality of service profile, terminal computation load information, total uplink and downlink packet delay budget, uplink packet delay budget, or downlink packet delay budget. A step of determining a target quality of service profile in the plurality of candidate quality of service profiles based on the current network state and the information contained in the candidate quality of service profiles, A step of sending first information, wherein the first information indicates the target service quality profile, A communication method that includes this.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the condition information includes at least one of the following: the maximum selection percentage in a first time period, the maximum selection time in the first time period, the maximum number of selections in the first time period, the maximum selection duration in the first time period, or the minimum selection interval in the first time period.

13. The step of determining the target quality of service profile in the plurality of candidate quality of service profiles based on the current network state and the information contained in the candidate quality of service profiles is: When the candidate service quality profile includes the condition information, the current network state satisfies the service quality requirements of the target service quality profile, and the target service quality profile satisfies the condition information included in the target service quality profile. When the candidate quality of service profile includes the computational load information of the terminal, the current network state satisfies the quality of service requirements of the target quality of service profile, and the computational load information of the terminal included in the target quality of service profile satisfies the current computational load requirements of the terminal. When the candidate quality of service profile includes the total uplink and downlink packet delay budget, the current network state satisfies the quality of service requirements of the target quality of service profile, and the total uplink and downlink packet delay budget provided by the current network state is less than or equal to the total uplink and downlink packet delay budget included in the target quality of service profile. When the candidate quality of service profile includes the uplink packet delay budget, the current network state satisfies the quality of service requirements of the target quality of service profile, and the uplink packet delay budget provided by the current network state is less than or equal to the uplink packet delay budget included in the target quality of service profile, or When the candidate quality of service profile includes the downlink packet delay budget, the current network state satisfies the quality of service requirements of the target quality of service profile, and the downlink packet delay budget provided by the current network state is less than or equal to the downlink packet delay budget included in the target quality of service profile. The method according to claim 11 or 12, including the method described in claim 11 or 12.

14. The aforementioned method, A step of receiving first indication information, wherein the first indication information indicates that the quality of service profile should be actively modified, and / or A step of receiving a second indication information, wherein the second indication information indicates that the terminal is overheating. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, further comprising:

15. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the first information includes an identifier for the target quality of service profile, and at least one of the conditional information for restricting the selection of the target quality of service profile, the computational load information of the terminal, the total uplink and downlink packet delay budget, the uplink packet delay budget, or the downlink packet delay budget.

16. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the first information is for determining a first parameter, the first parameter includes at least one of a task division point, a task amount for task processing, a bitrate, a data rate, a frame rate, or a resolution.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first parameter relates to first difference information, the first difference information indicates the difference between the target service quality profile and a historical service quality profile determined prior to the target service quality profile.

18. A communication method, wherein the method is The steps include receiving information about the first session from the terminal, A step of obtaining a plurality of candidate quality of service profiles based on the information relating to the first session, wherein any candidate quality of service profile in the plurality of candidate quality of service profiles includes at least one of condition information for restricting the selection of the candidate quality of service profile, computational load information of the terminal, total uplink and downlink packet delay budget, uplink packet delay budget, or downlink packet delay budget, The steps include sending the plurality of candidate quality of service profiles to a wireless access network node, A communication method that includes this.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the condition information includes at least one of the following: the maximum selection percentage in a first time period, the maximum selection time in the first time period, the maximum number of selections in the first time period, the maximum selection duration in the first time period, or the minimum selection interval in the first time period.

20. The aforementioned method, A step of sending first indication information to the wireless access network node, wherein the first indication information indicates to the wireless access network node that the quality of service profile should be actively modified. The method according to claim 18 or 19, further comprising:

21. A communication method, wherein the method is A step of receiving first information from a wireless access network node, wherein the first information represents a target quality of service profile, A step of sending metadata, wherein the metadata includes the first information, A communication method that includes this.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the first information includes an identifier for the target quality of service profile, and at least one of the following included in the target quality of service profile: uplink guaranteed flow bitrate, downlink guaranteed flow bitrate, packet error rate, condition information for restricting the selection of the target quality of service profile, terminal computation load information, total uplink and downlink packet delay budget, uplink packet delay budget, or downlink packet delay budget.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the condition information includes at least one of the following: the maximum selection percentage in a first time period, the maximum selection time in the first time period, the maximum number of selections in the first time period, the maximum selection duration in the first time period, or the minimum selection interval in the first time period.

24. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the first information is for determining a first parameter, the first parameter includes at least one of a task division point, a task amount for task processing, a bitrate, a data rate, a frame rate, or a resolution.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the first parameter relates to first difference information, the first difference information indicates the difference between the target service quality profile and a historical service quality profile determined prior to the target service quality profile.

26. A communication method, wherein the method is A step of receiving a first data packet from a wireless access network node, wherein the header of the first data packet includes first information, and the first information indicates a target quality of service profile. A step of sending a second data packet, wherein the second data packet includes the first information, and the second data packet is a Real-Time Transport Protocol data packet, a Real-Time Transport Control Protocol data packet, or a Quick User Datagram Protocol Internet Connection data packet. A communication method that includes this.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the first information includes an identifier for the target quality of service profile, and at least one of the following included in the target quality of service profile: uplink guaranteed flow bitrate, downlink guaranteed flow bitrate, packet error rate, condition information for restricting the selection of the target quality of service profile, terminal computation load information, total uplink and downlink packet delay budget, uplink packet delay budget, or downlink packet delay budget.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the condition information includes at least one of the following: the maximum selection percentage in a first time period, the maximum selection time in the first time period, the maximum number of selections in the first time period, the maximum selection duration in the first time period, or the minimum selection interval in the first time period.

29. The method according to claim 27 or 28, wherein the first information is for determining a first parameter, the first parameter includes at least one of a task split point, a task amount for task processing, a bitrate, a data rate, a frame rate, or a resolution.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the first parameter relates to first difference information, the first difference information indicates the difference between the target service quality profile and a historical service quality profile determined prior to the target service quality profile.

31. A communication method, wherein the method is A step of obtaining multiple candidate quality of service profiles and transmit mode indication information, wherein the transmit mode indication information indicates that first information is transmitted to a terminal by using air interface signaling and / or that the first information is transmitted to a user plane functional network element in a user plane manner. The steps include determining a target service quality profile in the aforementioned multiple candidate service quality profiles, A step of sending the first information based on the transmission mode indication information, wherein the first information indicates the target quality of service profile, A communication method that includes this.

32. When the transmission mode indication information indicates that the first information will be transmitted to the terminal by using the air interface signaling, the step of sending the first information based on the transmission mode indication information is: The step of sending the first information to the terminal by using the air interface signaling. The method according to claim 31, including the method described in claim 31.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the air interface signaling includes a radio resource control message, a packet data convergence protocol control protocol data unit message, a medium access control control element, or downlink control information.

34. When the transmission mode indication information indicates that the first information is to be transmitted to the user plane functional network element in the user plane manner, the step of sending the first information based on the transmission mode indication information is: A step of sending a first data packet to the user plane functional network element, wherein the header of the first data packet includes the first information. The method according to any one of claims 31 to 33, including the method described in any one of claims 31 to 33.

35. The first data packet corresponds to a first session, and the first session is a session corresponding to the plurality of candidate quality of service profiles, or The first data packet corresponds to a first quality of service flow, and the first quality of service flow is a quality of service flow corresponding to the plurality of candidate quality of service profiles. The method according to claim 34.

36. The method according to any one of claims 31 to 35, wherein the first information includes an index of the target quality of service profile, information relating to the target quality of service profile, and at least one of the following included in the target quality of service profile: guaranteed flow bitrate, uplink guaranteed flow bitrate, downlink guaranteed flow bitrate, packet error rate, condition information for restricting the selection of the target quality of service profile, computational load information of the terminal, total uplink and downlink packet delay budget, uplink packet delay budget, or downlink packet delay budget.

37. A communication method, wherein the method is Steps to obtain multiple candidate service quality profiles, A step of sending the plurality of candidate quality of service profiles and transmit mode indication information to a wireless access network node, wherein the transmit mode indication information indicates that first information is to be transmitted to a terminal by using air interface signaling and / or that the first information is to be transmitted to a user plane functional network element in a user plane manner, and the first information indicates a target quality of service profile in the plurality of candidate quality of service profiles, A communication method that includes this.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein the air interface signaling includes a radio resource control message, a packet data convergence protocol control protocol data unit message, a medium access control control element, or downlink control information.

39. The step of transmitting the first information to the user plane functional network element in the user plane scheme includes the step of transmitting the first information to the user plane functional network element by using data packets corresponding to the first session, wherein the first session is a session corresponding to the plurality of candidate quality of service profiles, or The step of transmitting the first information to the user plane functional network element in the user plane scheme includes the step of transmitting the first information to the user plane functional network element by using data packets corresponding to a first quality of service flow, wherein the first quality of service flow is a quality of service flow corresponding to the plurality of candidate quality of service profiles. The method according to claim 37 or 38.

40. A communication device comprising a unit or module configured to perform the method described in any one of claims 1 to 8, a unit or module configured to perform the method described in claim 9 or 10, a unit or module configured to perform the method described in any one of claims 11 to 17, a unit or module configured to perform the method described in any one of claims 18 to 20, a unit or module configured to perform the method described in any one of claims 21 to 25, a unit or module configured to perform the method described in any one of claims 26 to 30, a unit or module configured to perform the method described in any one of claims 31 to 36, or a unit or module configured to perform the method described in any one of claims 37 to 39.

41. A communication device comprising a processor, wherein the processor is coupled to a memory, the memory is configured to store a program or instruction, and when the program or instruction is executed by the processor, the device is capable of carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the method according to claim 9 or 10, the method according to any one of claims 11 to 17, the method according to any one of claims 18 to 20, the method according to any one of claims 21 to 25, the method according to any one of claims 26 to 30, the method according to any one of claims 31 to 36, or the method according to any one of claims 37 to 39.

42. A computer-readable storage medium that stores a computer program or instruction, and when the computer program or instruction is executed, the computer is able to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the method according to claim 9 or 10, the method according to any one of claims 11 to 17, the method according to any one of claims 18 to 20, the method according to any one of claims 21 to 25, the method according to any one of claims 26 to 30, the method according to any one of claims 31 to 36, or the method according to any one of claims 37 to 39.

43. A computer program product comprising computer program code, wherein when the computer program code is run on a computer, the computer is capable of implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the method according to claim 9 or 10, the method according to any one of claims 11 to 17, the method according to any one of claims 18 to 20, the method according to any one of claims 21 to 25, the method according to any one of claims 26 to 30, the method according to any one of claims 31 to 36, or the method according to any one of claims 37 to 39.

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