Communication system and method

Abstract

A communication system and method. The communication system comprises: a first centralized unit (CU), a first device, and at least one distributed unit (DU), wherein the first CU may be used for managing some or all of the at least one DU, and / or the first device, and the first device may be used for managing resource coordination of the at least one DU. In this way, the resource coordination of the DU can be achieved without signaling transmission of resource coordination negotiation between CUs, thereby improving the resource coordination efficiency of the DU, reducing processing delay of the DU, and increasing the utilization rate of DU resources.

Description

Communication system and method

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China on July 14, 2023, with application number 202310875394.4 and application name "Communication System and Method", all contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0003] The embodiments of the present application relate to the field of wireless communications, and in particular, to a communication system and method. Background Art

[0004] In a mobile communication system, the access network may include a centralized unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU). A CU can be connected to a DU, or multiple DUs can share a CU. The CU and DU can be divided according to the protocol stack. One possible approach is to deploy the radio resource control (RRC) layer, the service data adaptation protocol stack (SDAP) layer, and the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer in the CU, and the remaining radio link control (RLC) layer, the media access control (MAC) layer, and the physical layer (PHY) in the DU.

[0005] At present, how to improve the resource coordination efficiency of DU requires further attention.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present application provides a communication system and method to improve the resource coordination efficiency of DU.

[0008] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication system. The communication system includes: a first CU, a first device, and at least one DU. The first CU may be configured to manage some or all of the at least one DU and / or the first device; and the first device may be configured to manage resource coordination of the at least one DU.

[0009] Through this system, the first device can flexibly manage the resource coordination of at least one DU and flexibly schedule the resources of at least one DU. This allows for resource coordination of DUs without signaling between CUs for resource coordination negotiation, thereby improving the efficiency of DU resource coordination, reducing DU processing latency, and increasing DU resource utilization.

[0010] In one possible design, the first device may manage resource coordination for at least one DU in at least one of the following ways: the first device manages load monitoring for at least one DU; the first device manages backup management for at least one DU; the first device manages path management for information transmission for at least one DU; or the first device manages data migration for at least one DU. With this design, the first device can effectively manage resource coordination for at least one DU.

[0011] In one possible design, the first device is further configured to transmit user plane information and / or control plane information exchanged between the first CU and at least one DU. With this design, at least one DU can communicate with the first CU via the first device, facilitating unified management of the at least one DU by the first device and the first CU.

[0012] In one possible design, the at least one DU includes a first DU, and the first CU is further configured to exchange user plane information and / or control plane information with the first DU via an interface between the first CU and the first DU. With this design, the at least one DU can communicate directly with the first CU, facilitating management of the at least one DU by the first CU.

[0013] In one possible design, the at least one DU includes a first DU, and the first device is further configured to exchange user plane information and / or control plane information with the first DU via an interface between the first device and the first DU. With this design, an interface can be provided between the first device and the first DU, thereby facilitating communication between the first device and the first DU.

[0014] In one possible design, at least one DU includes a first DU and a second DU, wherein the first DU is configured to send user plane information and / or control plane information to the second DU via an interface between the first DU and the second DU; alternatively, the first DU is configured to send user plane information and / or control plane information to the second DU via a first device. With this design, an interface can be provided between the first DU and the second DU, thereby facilitating communication between the first DU and the second DU.

[0015] In one possible design, when the first device is configured to exchange user plane information and control plane information with the first DU via an interface between the first device and the first DU, and the first DU is configured to exchange user plane information and / or control plane information with the second DU via an interface between the first DU and the second DU, or via the first device, the first device is further configured to exchange user plane information and / or control plane information with the first CU via an interface between the first CU and the first device. This design illustrates the communication method between the first device and the first DU, and the communication method between the first CU and the first device, such that any two of the first CU, the first device, and the first DU can communicate directly or indirectly.

[0016] In a second aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, which can be applied to a first device. The first device can be a hardware device, for example, a network element; or the first device can be implemented via software, for example, a logical node. The method can include: the first device can determine that a resource of a first DU is overloaded, where the first DU is a DU in at least one DU. The first device can determine a second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication, where the second DU is a DU in the at least one DU other than the first DU.

[0017] Through this method, the first device can determine the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or determine it as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication, thereby achieving DU resource coordination without the need for signaling transmission for resource coordination negotiation between CUs, thereby improving the DU resource coordination efficiency, reducing the DU processing delay, and improving the utilization of DU resources.

[0018] In one possible design, the first device may also send part or all of the first DU's terminal context to the second DU after receiving part or all of the first DU's terminal context sent by the first DU. Through this design, if the second DU is determined to be a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or is determined to be a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication, then after receiving part or all of the first DU's terminal context sent by the first DU, the first device may send part or all of the first DU's terminal context to the second DU. In this way, the second DU can quickly obtain part or all of the first DU's terminal context, thereby improving the resource coordination efficiency of the DUs.

[0019] In one possible design, the first device may also send a first notification message to the second DU, so that when the second DU assists the first DU in communicating, the second DU obtains part or all of the terminal context of the first DU from the first device or the first DU. The first notification message is used to notify the second DU that it is a DU that assists the first DU in communicating, or a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communicating. Through this design, the second DU can obtain part or all of the terminal context of the first DU from the first device or the first DU based on the first notification message from the first device, thereby obtaining part or all of the terminal context of the first DU on demand, while improving the resource coordination efficiency of the DU and reducing the signaling overhead.

[0020] Optionally, when the second DU obtains part or all of the terminal context of the first DU from the first device, the first device may also receive part or all of the terminal context of the first DU sent by the first DU.

[0021] In one possible design, the first device may also send a second notification message to the first DU, so that the first DU sends part or all of the first DU's terminal context to the second DU. The second notification message is used to notify the first DU that the second DU is a DU that assists the first DU in communicating, or is a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communicating. Through this design, the first DU can send part or all of the first DU's terminal context to the second DU based on the second notification message from the first device, so that the second DU can obtain part or all of the first DU's terminal context in a timely manner, thereby improving the resource coordination efficiency of the DUs.

[0022] In some implementations, the first device may send routing information and address information of the second DU to the first DU. The routing information is used to indicate the route for communication between the first DU and the second DU. In this way, when there is no interface between the first DU and the second DU, the first DU can quickly send part or all of the first DU's terminal context to the second DU using the routing information and the address information of the second DU.

[0023] In some other implementations, the first device may send information for establishing a tunnel in a first path, where the first path is a path for transmitting information between the first DU and the second DU, and the first path includes one or more tunnel segments. In this way, when there is no interface between the first DU and the second DU, the first DU can quickly send part or all of the first DU's terminal context to the second DU via one or more tunnel segments on the first path.

[0024] In one possible design, when the first device determines that the second DU is the DU that assists the first DU in communicating, the first device may send a first data packet to the second DU. The first data packet is the data packet that the second DU assists the first DU in processing. The first device may then receive a second data packet sent by the second DU. The second data packet is the data packet obtained by the second DU processing the first data packet based on part or all of the terminal context of the first DU. Through this design, the second DU can assist the first DU in communicating, thereby reducing the transmission delay of the data corresponding to the first DU and improving the utilization of DU resources.

[0025] In one possible design, the first device may determine resource overload of the first DU in the following manner: the first device receives first information sent by the first DU, where the first information is used to determine a resource load status of the first DU; then, the first device may determine resource overload of the first DU based on the first information. With this design, the first device can accurately determine resource overload of the first DU based on the first information used to determine the resource load status of the first DU.

[0026] Optionally, the first information can be used to indicate that the resource load status of the first DU is resource overload, thereby eliminating the need to indicate specific resource load data of the first DU and reducing signaling overhead; or, the first information includes resource load data of the first DU, and the resource load data of the first DU is used to determine the resource load status of the first DU. In this way, the first DU does not need to judge the resource load status of the first DU, thereby saving computing resources of the first DU.

[0027] In some implementations, the first information is sent by the first DU when a first condition is met, where the first condition includes at least one of the following: the first DU receives a first request from the first device, the first request being for obtaining the first information; or the first request includes one or more conditions for the first DU to send the first information, and one or more of the conditions are met; the first DU's resources are overloaded; or the first DU's resources are overloaded during information transmission. Thus, the first DU only sends the first information when the first condition is met, thereby reducing signaling overhead.

[0028] Optionally, the first device may receive the first information sent by the first DU via an interface between the first device and the first DU; or the first device may receive the first information sent by the first DU via a third DU, where the third DU is a DU other than the first DU in the at least one DU. In this way, the first DU can flexibly send the first information to the first device.

[0029] In some implementations, when the first condition includes the first DU receiving a first request from the first device, the first device may further receive a second request from the first CU, where the second request is for requesting the first device to obtain information used to determine resource load status of N DUs, where the N DUs include the first DU, and N is a positive integer. In this way, the first device may send the first request as needed based on the second request, thereby reducing signaling overhead.

[0030] Exemplarily, the second request is also used to indicate at least one of the following: a trigger condition for any DU among the N DUs to send information used to determine the resource load status of the DU; a resource type corresponding to the resource load status of the N DUs; and a form of expression of the information used to determine the resource load status of the N DUs.

[0031] Optionally, the first request is further used to indicate at least one of the following: a resource type corresponding to the resource load status of the first DU; and a representation form of the first information.

[0032] In one possible design, the first device may determine the resource overload of the first DU in the following manner: the first device receives part or all of the terminal context of the first DU sent by the first DU; part or all of the terminal context of the first DU is sent by the first DU when the resources of the first DU are overloaded. Then, the first device may determine the resource overload of the first DU. Through this design, the first DU may implicitly indicate the resource overload of the first DU to the first device without explicitly indicating the resource overload of the first DU through additional signaling, thereby reducing signaling overhead. And through this design, the first device can obtain part or all of the terminal context of the first DU in a timely manner, thereby improving the efficiency of resource coordination.

[0033] In one possible design, the first device may determine, based on the capability information and / or resource load status of at least one DU, the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication. With this design, the first device can determine a suitable collaborative DU or backup DU for the first DU.

[0034] In one possible design, the first device may receive a third notification message sent by the first DU. The third notification message is used to notify the first device that the second DU is a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or is a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication. Then, based on the third notification message, the first device may determine the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication. With this design, the first device can quickly determine the collaborative DU or backup DU of the first DU based on the third notification message.

[0035] On the third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a first DU, a module (such as a circuit or chip) in the first DU, and a logical node, a logical module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the first DU. The following is an illustration of the application of this method to the first DU. The method may include: the first DU receives a second notification message sent by the first device. The second notification message is used to notify the first DU that the second DU is a DU that assists the first DU in communicating, or a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communicating. The first DU is a DU in at least one DU, and the second DU is a DU in at least one DU other than the first DU. Then, the first DU may send part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU.

[0036] In one possible design, the first DU may send part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU through an interface between the first DU and the second DU, or through the first device.

[0037] In one possible design, the first DU may also receive routing information from the first device and address information of the second DU, where the routing information indicates a route for communication between the first DU and the second DU. The first DU may then send part or all of the first DU's terminal context to the second DU based on the routing information and the address information of the second DU.

[0038] In one possible design, the first DU may also receive information from the first device for establishing a tunnel in a first path. The first path is a path for transmitting information between the first DU and the second DU, and the first path includes one or more tunnels. The first DU may then send part or all of the first DU's terminal context to the second DU via the tunnel in the first path.

[0039] In one possible design, the first DU may also send first information to the first device, where the first information is used to determine the resource load status of the first DU.

[0040] Optionally, the first information is used to indicate that the resource load status of the first DU is resource overload, or the first information includes resource load data of the first DU, and the resource load data of the first DU is used to determine the resource load status of the first DU.

[0041] In some implementations, the first information is sent by the first DU when a first condition is met, and the first condition includes at least one of the following: the first DU receives a first request from the first device, and the first request is used to request to obtain the first information, or the first request includes one or more conditions for the first DU to send the first information, and one or more conditions are met; the resources of the first DU are overloaded; the resources of the first DU are overloaded when information transmission is performed.

[0042] Optionally, the first request is further used to indicate at least one of the following: a resource type corresponding to the resource load status of the first DU; and a representation form of the first information.

[0043] In one possible design, the first DU sends the first information to the first device through the interface between the first device and the first DU; or, the first DU sends the first information to the first device through a third DU, where the third DU is a DU in at least one DU other than the first DU.

[0044] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a second DU, a module (such as a circuit or chip) in the second DU, and a logical node, a logical module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the second DU. The following is an illustration of the application of this method to the second DU. The method may include: the second DU receives a first notification message sent by the first device. The first notification message is used to notify the second DU that it is a DU that assists the first DU in communicating, or a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communicating. The first DU is a DU in at least one DU, and the second DU is a DU in at least one DU other than the first DU. Then, the second DU can obtain part or all of the terminal context of the first DU from the first device or the first DU.

[0045] In one possible design, the second DU may send a second data packet to the first device after receiving the first data packet sent by the first device. The first data packet is a data packet processed by the second DU with assistance from the first DU, and the second data packet is a data packet obtained by the second DU processing the first data packet based on part or all of the terminal context.

[0046] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a first DU, a module (such as a circuit or chip) in the first DU, and a logical node, a logical module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the first DU. The following is an illustration of the application of this method to the first DU. The method may include: when the resources of the first DU are overloaded, the first DU determines the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communicating, or determines it as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communicating. The first DU is a DU in at least one DU, and the second DU is a DU in at least one DU other than the first DU. Then, the first DU may send part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU.

[0047] In one possible design, the first DU may send part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU through an interface between the first DU and the second DU, or through the first device.

[0048] In one possible design, the first DU may send third notification information to the first device, where the third notification information is used to notify the first device that the second DU is a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or is a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication.

[0049] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which may be a first device, a module (such as a circuit or chip) in the first device, or a logical node, a logical module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the first device. The communication device has the function of implementing the second aspect mentioned above. For example, the communication device includes a module or unit or means corresponding to the operation involved in the second aspect mentioned above, and the module or unit or means may be implemented by software, or by hardware, or the corresponding software implementation may be executed by hardware.

[0050] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processing unit and an interface unit. The interface unit can be used to send and receive signals to enable communication between the communication device and other devices, and the processing unit can be used to perform certain internal operations of the communication device. The functions performed by the processing unit and the interface unit can correspond to the operations described in the second aspect above.

[0051] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processor, which can be coupled to a memory. The memory can store the necessary computer programs or instructions for implementing the functions of the second aspect. The processor can execute the computer programs or instructions stored in the memory. When the computer programs or instructions are executed, the communication device implements the method of any possible design of the second aspect.

[0052] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processor and a memory, and the memory may store the necessary computer programs or instructions for implementing the functions involved in the second aspect. The processor may execute the computer program or instructions stored in the memory. When the computer program or instructions are executed, the communication device implements the method in any possible design of the second aspect.

[0053] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the processor is used to communicate with other devices through the interface circuit and execute the method in any possible design of the second aspect above.

[0054] In the seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which may be a first DU, a module (such as a circuit or chip) in the first DU, or a logical node, a logical module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the first DU. The communication device has the function of implementing the third aspect or the fifth aspect mentioned above. For example, the communication device includes a module or unit or means corresponding to the operations involved in the third aspect or the fifth aspect mentioned above, and the module or unit or means may be implemented by software, or by hardware, or the corresponding software may be implemented by hardware.

[0055] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processing unit and an interface unit. The interface unit can be used to send and receive signals to enable communication between the communication device and other devices, and the processing unit can be used to perform certain internal operations of the communication device. The functions performed by the processing unit and the interface unit can correspond to the operations described in the third or fifth aspects above.

[0056] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processor, which can be coupled to a memory. The memory can store the necessary computer programs or instructions for implementing the functions of the third or fifth aspects. The processor can execute the computer programs or instructions stored in the memory. When the computer programs or instructions are executed, the communication device implements the method of any possible design of the third or fifth aspects.

[0057] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processor and a memory, and the memory may store the necessary computer programs or instructions for implementing the functions of the third or fifth aspect. The processor may execute the computer program or instructions stored in the memory. When the computer program or instructions are executed, the communication device implements the method of any possible design of the third or fifth aspect.

[0058] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the processor is used to communicate with other devices through the interface circuit and execute the method in any possible design of the third aspect or the fifth aspect above.

[0059] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which may be a second DU, a module (such as a circuit or chip) in the second DU, or a logical node, a logical module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the second DU. The communication device has the function of implementing the fourth aspect. For example, the communication device includes a module or unit or means corresponding to the operation involved in the fourth aspect, and the module or unit or means may be implemented by software, or by hardware, or the corresponding software may be implemented by hardware.

[0060] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processing unit and an interface unit. The interface unit can be used to send and receive signals to enable communication between the communication device and other devices; and the processing unit can be used to perform certain internal operations of the communication device. The functions performed by the processing unit and the interface unit can correspond to the operations described in the fourth aspect above.

[0061] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processor, which can be coupled to a memory. The memory can store the necessary computer programs or instructions for implementing the functions of the fourth aspect. The processor can execute the computer programs or instructions stored in the memory. When the computer programs or instructions are executed, the communication device implements the method of any possible design of the fourth aspect.

[0062] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processor and a memory, and the memory may store the necessary computer programs or instructions for implementing the functions of the fourth aspect. The processor may execute the computer program or instructions stored in the memory. When the computer program or instructions are executed, the communication device implements the method in any possible design of the fourth aspect.

[0063] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the processor is used to communicate with other devices through the interface circuit and execute the method in any possible design of the fourth aspect above.

[0064] In the ninth aspect, the present application provides a communication system, which may include the communication device described in the sixth aspect. Optionally, the communication system also includes at least one of the following: the communication device described in the seventh aspect, the communication device described in the eighth aspect, or the first CU.

[0065] In the tenth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores computer-readable instructions. When a computer reads and executes the computer-readable instructions, the computer executes the method in any possible design of any aspect from the second to the fifth aspects above.

[0066] In an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a computer program product, which, when read and executed by a computer, enables the computer to execute the method in any possible design of any aspect from the second to the fifth aspects above.

[0067] In a twelfth aspect, the present application provides a chip, which is used to read a computer program stored in a memory to execute a method in any possible design of any aspect from the second to the fifth aspects above.

[0068] The technical effects that can be achieved in any of the third to twelfth aspects mentioned above can refer to the description of the technical effects that can be achieved in any possible design in any of the first to second aspects mentioned above, and the repetitions will not be discussed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0069] FIG1A is a schematic diagram of a CU and DU separation architecture provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0070] FIG1B is a schematic diagram of a fronthaul link and a backhaul link provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0071] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0072] 3A to 3D are schematic diagrams of several examples of the communication system shown in FIG. 2 ;

[0073] FIG4 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0074] FIG5 is a flow chart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0075] FIG6 is a flow chart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0076] FIG7 is a flow chart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0077] FIG8 is a structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0078] FIG9 is a structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0079] The present application provides a communication system and method. The system and method are based on the same technical concept, so the implementation of the system and method can refer to each other, and the repeated parts will not be repeated.

[0080] As shown in Figure 1A , a current communications network architecture includes a core network and a radio access network (RAN). The RAN includes one or more access network (AN) devices. The following explains the relevant devices in the system architecture depicted in Figure 1A to facilitate understanding for those skilled in the art.

[0081] 1) AN equipment, forming part of the communication system, helps terminals achieve wireless access. AN equipment is a node in the radio access network and can also be called a RAN node (or device), access point (AP), etc.

[0082] RAN can be a cellular system related to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), for example, the 5th Generation th generation, 5G) mobile communication systems, or future evolution systems (such as the 6th generation (the th The RAN may also be an open access network (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), etc. The RAN may also be a communication system that integrates two or more of the above systems.

[0083] In one possible scenario, the access network device may be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a next generation base station in a 6G mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, etc. The access network device may be a macro base station, a micro base station or an indoor station, a relay node or a donor node, or a wireless controller in a CRAN scenario. Optionally, the access network device may also be a server, a wearable device, a vehicle or an on-board device, etc. For example, the access network device in the vehicle to everything (V2X) technology may be a road side unit (RSU). All or part of the functions of the access network device in this application may also be implemented by software functions running on hardware, or by virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (such as a cloud platform). The access network device in this application may also be a logical node, a logical module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the access network device.

[0084] In another possible scenario, multiple access network devices collaborate to assist terminals in achieving wireless access, with different access network devices each implementing portions of the base station's functionality. For example, the access network device can be a CU or DU. The CU and DU can be derived by splitting the functionality of the gNB. For example, some gNB functions are deployed on the CU, while the remaining gNB functions are deployed on the DU. This reduces costs and facilitates network expansion. As shown in Figure 1A, the CU and DU can be connected via the F1 interface. The CU can represent its gNB in ​​connecting to the core network via the NG interface, and can also represent its gNB in ​​connecting to other gNBs via the Xn interface. The CU can also represent its gNB in ​​connecting to other eNBs via the X2 interface to perform dual connectivity. Optionally, the CU and DU can be separate devices or included in the same network element, such as the baseband unit (BBU).

[0085] Optionally, the access network device may also be a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU), etc. The RU may include hardware units such as units for implementing some physical layer (PHY) functions and antennas, and may be included in a radio frequency device or radio frequency unit, for example, a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH).

[0086] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU or RU may also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in the ORAN system, CU may also be called O-CU (open CU), DU may also be called O-DU, CU-CP may also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP may also be called O-CU-UP, and RU may also be called O-RU. For the convenience of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU and RU as examples for description. Any unit of CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU and RU in this application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module. Optionally, the CU of this application can also be a cloud-based CU.

[0087] 2) Fronthaul link and backhaul link.

[0088] The link between the RU and the DU is the fronthaul link. On the fronthaul link, the RU and the DU can communicate through the fronthaul interface. For example, the conversion between the digital signal and the radio signal on the fronthaul link can meet the fronthaul interface protocol, for example, the common public radio interface (CPRI) protocol or the enhanced common public radio interface (eCPRI) protocol. As shown in Figure 1B, on the fronthaul link, one DU can correspond to one or more RUs. The DU can be connected to the corresponding one or more RUs through a switch. The switch is responsible for the docking function of the receiving segment and the transmitting end on the fronthaul link, and realizes the conversion between digital signals and electrical signals. Optionally, the switch can also be used for the conversion function between the CPRI protocol and the eCPRI protocol.

[0089] The link between the DU and the core network (CN) is a backhaul link. For example, the backhaul link may include the link between the DU and the CU, and the link between the CU and the CN.

[0090] In the following text of this application, "sending information to...(terminal)" can be understood as the destination of the information being the terminal, and can include sending information to the terminal directly or indirectly. "Receiving information from...(terminal)" can be understood as the source of the information being the terminal, and can include receiving information from the terminal directly or indirectly. The information may be processed as necessary between the source and destination of the information, such as format changes, but the destination can understand the valid information from the source. Similar expressions in this application can be understood similarly and will not be repeated here.

[0091] In this application, management, control, scheduling, and coordination have the same meaning and can be used interchangeably. Managing a device may include, but is not limited to, managing at least one of the following: the device's operating mode, operating status, or resource coordination.

[0092] Hereinafter in this application, layer 1 (layer 1, L1) may be a PHY layer, and layer 2 (layer 2, L2) may include at least one of the following: a MAC layer, an RLC layer, a PDCP layer, or an SDAP layer.

[0093] In the following text of this application, terminal context may also be referred to as user equipment context, etc.

[0094] Currently, to improve communication performance, the CU can manage the resource coordination of the DU. For example, as shown in Figure 1B, CU1 manages DU1 and DU2, and CU2 manages DU3. CU2 can negotiate with CU1 to assist DU3 in communication through DU1 and / or DU2 managed by CU1. However, in this method, interactive signaling is required between the CU and DUs, as well as between CUs. The high amount of interactive signaling results in a longer interaction time, thereby reducing the efficiency of DU resource coordination.

[0095] In view of this, the present application provides a communication system. As shown in FIG2 , the communication system may include: a first CU, a first device, and at least one DU (eg, DU1 to DU3 in FIG2 ).

[0096] The first CU can be used to manage part or all of at least one DU, and / or the first device. In some possible ways, the first CU can be used to manage at least one DU and the first device. For example, the first CU can directly manage at least one DU and the first device. For another example, the first CU can manage the first device and manage at least one DU through the first device. In other possible ways, the first CU can be used to manage the first part of DUs and the first device in at least one DU. Optionally, DUs other than the first part of DUs in at least one DU can be managed by a CU other than the first CU (for example, the second CU). For example, the first CU can directly manage the first part of DUs and the first device. In some other possible ways, the first CU can be used to manage part or all of at least one DU.

[0097] It should be understood that when the first CU is used to manage the first device, the first CU may manage one or more first devices, and the first device may also be connected to one or more CUs.

[0098] The first device and at least one DU can be regarded as a network element combination. The first device can be used to manage resource coordination of at least one DU. The first device can be a hardware device, for example, the first device can be a network element; or the first device can also be implemented by software, for example, the first device is a logical node. Exemplarily, the first device can be a radio control function (RAN control function, RCF), or the first device can include an RCF and a switch. The first device can be an independent network element or integrated into other devices (for example, access network devices such as the first CU or at least one DU).

[0099] The communication method between the various components in the communication system is described below.

[0100] 1. At least one DU includes a first DU and a second DU. The following uses communication between the first DU and the second DU as an example to describe a communication method between any two DUs in the at least one DU. The communication method between the first DU and the second DU can be multiple, such as method a1 or method a2.

[0101] Method a1: The first DU is used to send user plane information and / or control plane information to the second DU through the interface between the first DU and the second DU. There are many ways to name the interface between the first DU and the second DU. The following takes the interface as the E5 interface as an example for explanation. In some examples, the E5 interface function can refer to the Xn interface function, the difference being that the E5 interface is used to exchange user plane information and / or control plane information of L1 and / or L2. In other examples, the E5 interface can be implemented through a static or pre-configured Internet Protocol (IP) / General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) user plane tunneling protocol (GPRS tunneling protocol for the user plane, GTP-U) tunnel, so that user plane information can be transmitted.

[0102] Method a2: The first DU is used to send user plane information and / or control plane information to the second DU through the first device. For example, there is an interface between the first DU and the first device, and there is also an interface between the second DU and the first device. There are many ways to name the interface between any DU and the first device. The following takes the interface as an example to illustrate. Optionally, the X interface also includes an interface for transmitting user plane information (this interface can be called an XU interface, for example) and an interface for transmitting control plane information (this interface can be called an XC interface, for example). The first DU can send user plane information and / or control plane information to the first device through the X interface. Then, the first device can forward the user plane information and / or control plane information from the first DU to the second DU through the X interface.

[0103] 2. Communication between at least one DU and the first device. The at least one DU includes a first DU. The following describes the communication between the at least one DU and the first device, using the communication between the first DU and the first device as an example. There are multiple communication modes available between the first DU and the first device, such as mode b1 or mode b2.

[0104] Method b1: The first device may be configured to exchange user plane information and / or control plane information with the first DU via the interface between the first device and the first DU; that is, the first DU may communicate directly with the first device. The details of the interface between the first device and the first DU can be found in Method a2, and any repetitive details are omitted.

[0105] In some examples, the control plane information exchanged between the first DU and the first device can be transmitted through the XC interface to achieve resource coordination and / or data coordination of the first DU. The control plane information can be used for uplink transmission and / or for downlink transmission. Exemplarily, the control plane information may include at least one of the following: configuration information of the first DU (for example, cell information of the first DU or RRC / broadcast information generated by the first DU, etc.), resource status information of the first DU, and other information used for uplink transmission in the F1-C interface, information used for downlink transmission in the F1-C interface, or information used for collaborative control of the first DU. The information used for collaborative control of the first DU, for example, includes at least one of the following: information for resource load monitoring, information for DU backup management, information for bearer mapping management, and information for routing configuration (for example, single-hop / multi-hop scenarios).

[0106] In other examples, the user plane information exchanged between the first DU and the first device can be transmitted through the XU interface. The XU interface can transmit information in the F1-U interface.

[0107] Mode b2: The first device can exchange user plane information and / or control plane information with the first DU through a DU other than the first DU in at least one DU (for example, the third DU). For example, there is an interface (for example, an E5 interface) between the first DU and the third DU, and there is an interface (for example, an X interface) between the first device and the third DU. During uplink transmission, the first DU can send user plane information and / or control plane information to the third DU through the E5 interface. Then, the third DU can forward the user plane information and / or control plane information from the first DU to the first device through the X interface. During downlink transmission, the first device can send user plane information and / or control plane information to the third DU through the X interface. Then, the third DU can forward the user plane information and / or control plane information from the first device to the first DU through the E5 interface.

[0108] In mode b2, the specific content of the control plane information can refer to mode b1 and will not be repeated here.

[0109] 3. Communication between at least one DU and the first CU: There are multiple communication modes between at least one DU and the first CU, for example, mode c1 or mode c2.

[0110] Method c1: At least one DU can communicate with the first CU via the first device. That is, the first device can be used to transmit user plane information and / or control plane information exchanged between the first CU and the at least one DU. Method c1 is described below using the first DU as an example.

[0111] Exemplarily, there is an interface between the first DU and the first device. The specific content of the interface can be referred to method a2, which will not be repeated here. The following description will be made by taking the interface as the X interface as an example. There is an interface between the first device and the first CU. The interface can be an F1 interface or a new interface. The following description will be made by taking the interface as the F1 interface as an example. When performing uplink transmission, the first DU can send user plane information and / or control plane information to the first device through the X interface. Then, the first device can forward the user plane information and / or control plane information from the first DU to the first CU through the F1 interface. When performing downlink transmission, the first CU can send user plane information and / or control plane information to the first device through the F1 interface. Then, the first device can forward the user plane information and / or control plane information from the first CU to the first DU through the X interface.

[0112] Mode c2: The at least one DU includes a first DU. The first CU may be configured to exchange user plane information and / or control plane information with the first DU via an interface between the first CU and the first DU; that is, the first DU may communicate directly with the first CU. The interface between the first CU and the first DU may be an F1 interface.

[0113] It should be understood that all DUs in at least one DU may communicate with the first CU using mode c1, or may communicate with the first CU using mode c2. Alternatively, some DUs in at least one DU may communicate with the first CU using mode c1, and another part of the DUs in at least one DU may communicate with the first CU using mode c2.

[0114] In the present application, there may or may not be an interface between the first device and the first CU. For example, when the first device is used to exchange user plane information and control plane information with the first DU through the interface between the first device and the first DU, and the first DU is used to exchange user plane information and / or control plane information with the second DU through the interface between the first DU and the second DU, or through the first device, there is an interface between the first device and the first CU, and the first device can be used to exchange user plane information and / or control plane information with the first CU through the interface between the first CU and the first device. For another example, there is no interface between the first device and the first CU, the first CU is used to manage part or all of the DUs in at least one DU, and the first device is used to manage resource coordination of at least one DU.

[0115] As described above, the first device can manage the resource coordination of at least one DU. The resource coordination of at least one DU may include at least one of the following: coordination of the fronthaul link resources (or called fronthaul resources) of at least one DU, coordination of the local computing resources of at least one DU, or coordination of the backhaul link resources of at least one DU. When the first device manages the coordination of the fronthaul link resources of at least one DU, if the second DU in at least one DU assists the first DU in communicating, the first device may transmit the data packet that should have been transmitted by the first DU through the RU corresponding to the second DU, or may transmit the data packet that should have been transmitted by the first DU and processed by the second DU through the RU corresponding to the third DU. The third DU is a DU in at least one DU that is different from the first DU and the second DU. The local computing resources of at least one DU may include the processing resources of the protocol stack contained in the at least one DU, for example, one or more processing resources of the PHY layer, the MAC layer, the PDCP layer, and the SDAP layer.

[0116] There are multiple ways for the first device to manage resource coordination of at least one DU, for example, one or more of way d1, way d2, way d3, and way d4. The following uses a load monitoring scenario as an example to illustrate how the first device manages resource coordination of at least one DU.

[0117] Method d1: A first device is configured to manage load monitoring of at least one DU. For example, the at least one DU includes a first DU. The first device may receive first information from the first DU for determining a resource load status of the first DU, and determine the resource load status of the first DU based on the first information. The details of the first device managing load monitoring of at least one DU can be found in the method illustrated in Figure 4 and are not further elaborated here.

[0118] Method d2: The first device is responsible for backup management of at least one DU. For example, the at least one DU includes a first DU and a second DU. The first device may determine the second DU as a candidate DU capable of assisting the first DU in communication, thereby enabling the second DU to obtain part or all of the terminal context of the first DU, thereby backing up the terminal context of the first DU. The specific details of the first device being responsible for backup management of at least one DU can be found in the method shown in Figure 4 and are not further elaborated here.

[0119] Mode d3: The first device is responsible for managing the path for information transmission between at least one DU. For example, the first device may be responsible for managing the path for information transmission between the at least one DU and a device other than the at least one DU (e.g., the first device). For another example, the at least one DU includes a first DU and a second DU, and the first device is responsible for managing the path for information transmission between the first DU and the second DU.

[0120] In method d3, path management can be either routing management or tunnel management. For details, please refer to the method shown in Figure 4, which will not be expanded here.

[0121] Method d4: The first device is responsible for data migration management of at least one DU. For example, at least one DU includes a first DU and a second DU. The resources of the first DU are overloaded, and the second DU is a DU that assists the first DU in communicating. The first device can send the first data packet that originally needs to be processed by the first DU to the second DU for processing by the second DU. Optionally, data migration management also includes bearer mapping management. The first device can determine which wireless bearer of the second DU to use to transmit the first data packet based on the service attributes of the first data packet (for example, the quality of service (QoS) information and / or slice identifier of the service to which the first data packet belongs). The specific content of the first device being responsible for data migration management of at least one DU can be referred to the method shown in Figure 4, which will not be expanded here.

[0122] 3A to 3D , several possible architectures of the communication system shown in FIG. 2 are illustrated below.

[0123] Figure 3A illustrates a first possible architecture for the communication system shown in Figure 2 . As shown in Figure 3A , the communication system includes a first CU, a first device, and at least one DU (e.g., DU1 to DU3). The first device may include an RCF and a converter. Optionally, the communication system also includes a converter and at least one RU. The components of this communication system are described below.

[0124] The first device and at least one DU can be regarded as a network element combination. For the first CU and the fronthaul link, the network element combination can be regarded as a single DU. The first device can communicate with the first CU through the interface between the first device and the first CU. The specific content of the interface between the first device and the first CU can refer to method c1 and will not be repeated here. The interface between the first device and the first CU can be used to transmit information on the F1 interface. When the first device exchanges information related to at least one DU with the first CU, the information related to at least one DU can be transmitted as a set. In other words, the first device can exchange information related to at least one DU with the first CU in the form of a DU set. The first device can connect to the fronthaul interface of at least one DU through a converter to uniformly schedule the fronthaul resources of at least one DU, thereby managing the resource coordination of at least one DU.

[0125] The first device can be connected to at least one DU via an X interface, which may include an XC interface and an XU interface. Each of the at least one DU can exchange user plane information and control plane information with the first device via the X interface. The specific method of interaction can be referred to as method b1 and will not be described in detail here. In this way, the RCF in the first device can manage the resource coordination of the at least one DU. The management method can be referred to as described in Figure 2 and will not be described in detail here. The resource coordination of the at least one DU includes the coordination of the fronthaul link resources and / or backhaul link resources of the at least one DU.

[0126] Optionally, the control plane information exchanged between the first device and the DU may include at least one of the following: control plane information for uplink transmission, or control plane information for downlink transmission. The control plane information for uplink transmission may include at least one of the following: configuration information of the first DU, or resource status information of the first DU, and other information used for uplink transmission in the F1-C interface. The control plane information for downlink transmission may include at least one of the following: information used for downlink transmission in the F1-C interface, or information used for coordinated control of the first DU. The specific content of each control plane information can be referred to method b1 and will not be repeated here.

[0127] An interface may or may not exist between two DUs in at least one DU. For example, as shown in Figure 3A , an E5 interface exists between DU1 and DU2, and an E5 interface exists between DU2 and DU3. If an E5 interface exists between the two DUs, the two DUs can communicate using method a1 described above. For example, DU1 and DU2 can communicate via the E5 interface. If no E5 interface exists between the two DUs, the two DUs can communicate using method a2 described above. For example, DU1 and DU2 can communicate via the RCF in the first device.

[0128] Figure 3B illustrates a second possible architecture for the communication system shown in Figure 2 . As shown in Figure 3B , the communication system includes a first CU, a first device, and at least one DU (e.g., DU1 to DU3). The first device may include an RCF and a converter. Optionally, the communication system also includes a converter and at least one RU. The components of this communication system are described below.

[0129] The first device and at least one DU can be regarded as a network element combination. For the fronthaul link, the network element combination can be regarded as a single DU. The first device can be connected to the fronthaul interface of at least one DU through a converter, and perform unified scheduling of the fronthaul resources of at least one DU, thereby managing the coordination of the fronthaul link resources of at least one DU. Corresponding to the first CU, each DU in the network element combination can be connected to the first CU via the F1 interface. The first CU can manage the resource coordination between different DUs in the at least one DU. For example, the first CU can manage the coordination of backhaul link resources of at least one DU, and / or the coordination of local computing resources of at least one DU.

[0130] The first device can be connected to at least one DU through an X interface, and the X interface may include an XC interface and an XU interface. Each DU in the at least one DU can exchange user plane information and control plane information with the first device through the X interface. The specific method of interaction can refer to method b1, and the repeated parts will not be repeated. Optionally, in the structure shown in Figure 3B, the control plane information sent by each DU in the at least one DU to the first device may include: configuration information of the DU (for example, cell information of the DU or broadcast information of the DU, etc.), and resource status information of the DU, etc., which are used for uplink transmission in the F1-C interface. In this way, the RCF in the first device can manage the coordination of the fronthaul link resources of at least one DU according to the capabilities and resource status load of each DU, that is, manage the coordination of the PHY layer of at least one DU. The management method can refer to the description of Figure 2, which will not be repeated here.

[0131] The communication method between two DUs in at least one DU is the same as the architecture shown in Figure 3A. For specific details, please refer to the description of Figure 3A and will not be repeated here.

[0132] Figure 3C illustrates a third possible architecture for the communication system shown in Figure 2 . As shown in Figure 3C , the communication system includes a first CU, a first device, and at least one DU (e.g., DU1 to DU3). The first device may include an RCF. Optionally, the communication system also includes a converter and at least one RU. The components of this communication system are described below.

[0133] The first device can be connected to at least one DU via an X interface, which may include an XC interface. Each of the at least one DU can exchange control plane information with the first device via the XC interface. The specific method of interaction can be referenced to method b1 and will not be further described here. In this way, the RCF in the first device can manage the resource coordination of the at least one DU. The management method can be referenced to the description of Figure 2 and will not be further described here. The resource coordination of the at least one DU includes coordination of the fronthaul link resources and / or backhaul link resources of the at least one DU.

[0134] There is an interface between every two DUs in at least one DU. The communication method between the two DUs can refer to the method a1 above and will not be repeated here.

[0135] In some examples, each DU in the at least one DU can be connected to the first CU via an F1 interface. In other examples, a first portion of the DUs in the at least one DU can be connected to the first CU via an F1 interface, and the DUs in the at least one DU other than the first portion of the DUs are connected to the second CU via an F1 interface. For example, DU1 and DU2 in the at least one DU are connected to the first CU via an F1 interface, and DU3 in the at least one DU is connected to the second CU via an F1 interface.

[0136] The connection method between the at least one DU and the RU can refer to the description of the fronthaul link above and will not be repeated here.

[0137] Figure 3D illustrates a fourth possible architecture for the communication system shown in Figure 2 . As shown in Figure 3D , the communication system includes a first CU, a first device, and at least one DU (e.g., DU1 to DU3). The first device may include an RCF. Optionally, the communication system also includes a converter and at least one RU. The components of this communication system are described below.

[0138] The first device can be connected to at least one DU via an X interface, which may include an XC interface and an XU interface. Each of the at least one DU can exchange user plane information and control plane information with the first device via the X interface. The specific method of interaction can be referred to as method b1 and will not be described in detail here. In this way, the RCF in the first device can manage the resource coordination of the at least one DU. The management method can be referred to as described in Figure 2 and will not be described in detail here. The resource coordination of the at least one DU includes the coordination of the fronthaul link resources and / or backhaul link resources of the at least one DU.

[0139] The connection method between each DU in the at least one DU and the CU, and the connection method between the at least one DU and the RU can be referred to the description of Figure 3C, and will not be repeated here.

[0140] Optionally, an interface may exist between every two DUs in at least one DU. The communication method between the two DUs may refer to the method a1 above and will not be repeated here.

[0141] In some possible ways, the first device and at least one DU can be regarded as a network element combination. For the first CU, the network element combination can be regarded as a single DU. The first device can communicate with the first CU through the interface between the first device and the first CU. The specific content of the interface between the first device and the first CU can refer to method c1 and will not be repeated here. The interface between the first device and the first CU can be used to transmit information on the F1 interface. When the first device interacts with the first CU with information related to at least one DU, the information related to at least one DU can be transmitted as a set. In other words, the first device can interact with the first CU with information related to at least one DU in the form of a DU set.

[0142] Through the system shown in Figure 2, the first device can flexibly manage the resource coordination of at least one DU and flexibly schedule the resources of at least one DU. This allows DU resource coordination to be achieved without signaling for resource coordination negotiation between CUs, thereby improving DU resource coordination efficiency, reducing DU processing latency, and increasing DU resource utilization.

[0143] Based on the communication system shown in Figure 2, the embodiment of the present application further provides a communication method. Referring to the flowchart shown in Figure 4 below, the process of the method is specifically described using the resource load monitoring scenario as an example.

[0144] S401: A first device determines that resources of a first DU are overloaded, wherein the first DU is a DU in at least one DU.

[0145] There are multiple implementation methods for the first device to determine the resource overload of the first DU, for example, method e1 or method e2.

[0146] Mode e1: The first device determines that the resource of the first DU is overloaded according to the first information, wherein the first information is used to determine the resource load status of the first DU.

[0147] The method e1 includes steps A1 to A2:

[0148] A1: The first DU sends first information to the first device. Correspondingly, the first device receives the first information sent by the first DU.

[0149] In some examples, the first information is used to indicate that the resource load state of the first DU is resource overload. For example, when the value of the first information is a first value (eg, 1), it indicates that the resource load state of the first DU is resource overload.

[0150] In some other examples, the first information includes resource load data of the first DU, and the resource load data of the first DU is used to determine the resource load status of the first DU. For example, the resource load data of the first DU may include at least one of the following: physical resource block (PRB) utilization data of the first DU, transport network layer (TNL) capacity data, or hardware (e.g., RU corresponding to the first DU) resource load data, etc.

[0151] In step A1, the first DU may send the first information to the first device in various ways. For example, the first DU may send the first information to the first device in the above-mentioned way b1 or way b2, which will not be described in detail here.

[0152] Optionally, the first information is sent by the first DU when a first condition is met. The first condition may include at least one of the following conditions 1 to 3:

[0153] Condition 1: The first DU receives a first request from the first device. The first request may be used to request first information, so that the first DU can send the first information after receiving the first request; or the first request may include one or more conditions for the first DU to send the first information, and when the one or more conditions are met, the first DU sends the first information.

[0154] When the first request is used to request obtaining the first information, the first request may be sent by the first device when determining the resource load status of the first DU. For example, the first device may send a request to each of the at least one DUs in a polling manner to obtain information used to determine the resource load status of each DU. When the first DU is polled, the first device may send the first request to the first DU.

[0155] When the first request includes one or more conditions for the first DU to send the first information, the one or more conditions may also be referred to as triggering conditions for the first DU to send the first information. Exemplarily, the one or more conditions may include at least one of the following: a period during which the first DU sends the first information (hereinafter referred to as the first period), condition 2, or condition 3 below. The specific contents of condition 2 and condition 3 will be described below and will not be expanded here. When the one or more conditions include the first period, the first DU may periodically send the first information according to the first period.

[0156] Optionally, the first request may further be used to indicate at least one of the following:

[0157] 1. Resource type corresponding to the resource load status of the first DU (hereinafter referred to as the first resource type): For example, the first resource type may include at least one of the following: PRB utilization, TNL capacity or hardware resource load of the first DU, etc.

[0158] 2. The form of expression of the first information (hereinafter referred to as the first form of expression): In some examples, the first form of expression is, for example, in numerical form. In this case, the first information may include resource load data of the first DU. In other examples, the first form of expression is, for example, used to indicate whether the resource load status of the first DU is resource overload. In this case, the first information is used to indicate whether the resource load status of the first DU is resource overload. For example, when the value of the first information is the first value (for example, 1), it indicates that the resource load status of the first DU is resource overload; when the value of the first information is the second value (for example, 0), it indicates that the resource load status of the first DU is resource overload. In this way, the first DU can determine the content of the first information based on the first request.

[0159] In some possible ways, the first request may be sent by the first device to the first DU proactively. In this case, the information in the first request may be determined by the first device or pre-configured.

[0160] In some other possible embodiments, the first device may send the first request after receiving the second request from the first CU. The second request is used to request the first device to obtain information used to determine the resource load status of N DUs, where N is a positive integer, and the N DUs may include one or more DUs of the at least one DU, for example, including the first DU.

[0161] Optionally, the second request may be used to indicate at least one of the following:

[0162] 1. A trigger condition for any one of the N DUs to send information used to determine the resource load status of the DU: The trigger condition includes, for example, at least one of the following: a period (hereinafter referred to as the second period) for any one of the N DUs to send information used to determine the resource load status of the DU; the first device sends a request to each DU in at least one DU in a polling manner to obtain information used to determine the resource load status of each DU; condition 2 below; or condition 3. For the specific content of condition 2 and condition 3, please refer to the following and will not be expanded here. When the trigger condition includes the second period, the first device may periodically send the first request according to the second period, or may send the second period to the N DUs so that the N DUs periodically send information used to determine the resource load status of the DU.

[0163] 2. Resource type corresponding to the resource load status of N DUs (hereinafter referred to as the second resource type): The specific content of the second resource type can refer to the first resource type, except that the first DU is replaced by N DUs, which will not be repeated here.

[0164] 3. The representation form of information used to determine the resource load status of N DUs (hereinafter referred to as the second representation form): The specific content of the second representation form can refer to the first representation form, except that the first DU is replaced by N DUs, and will not be repeated here.

[0165] Condition 2: The first DU's resources are overloaded. For example, when the first DU's resource load exceeds a resource load threshold, the first DU may send the first information. The resource load threshold may be pre-set or obtained by the first DU from another device (e.g., the first device). Condition 2 allows the first DU to send the first information only when its resources are overloaded, thereby reducing signaling overhead.

[0166] Condition 3: The first DU's resources are overloaded during information transmission. This information transmission can be either uplink or downlink. The details of the first DU's resource overload are described in Condition 2 and are not further detailed here. Thus, the first DU only sends the first information when its resources are overloaded during information transmission, thereby reducing signaling overhead while avoiding compromising information transmission quality.

[0167] It should be understood that condition 2 and condition 3 may be pre-configured for the first DU, or may be obtained by the first DU from another device (first device), and this application does not limit this.

[0168] A2: The first device determines, based on the first information, that resources of the first DU are overloaded.

[0169] When the first information is used to indicate that the resource load state of the first DU is resource overload, the first device can quickly determine that the resource is overloaded in the first DU after receiving the first information.

[0170] When the first information includes resource load data of the first DU, if the resource load data of the first DU exceeds a resource load threshold, the first device may determine that the resource load state of the first DU is resource overload. The resource load threshold may be pre-set or obtained by the first device from another device (e.g., the first CU).

[0171] Through this method e1, the first device can accurately determine the resource overload of the first DU based on the first information used to determine the resource load status of the first DU.

[0172] Mode e2: The first device determines that the resource of the first DU is overloaded according to part or all of the terminal context of the first DU sent by the first DU.

[0173] The method e2 includes steps B1 and B2:

[0174] B1: When resources of the first DU are overloaded, the first DU sends part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the first device. Correspondingly, the first device receives part or all of the terminal context of the first DU sent by the first DU.

[0175] The manner in which the first DU determines that the resources of the first DU are overloaded may refer to condition 2 above, which will not be described in detail here.

[0176] Optionally, when the first DU is transmitting information and its resources are overloaded, the first DU sends part or all of the first DU's terminal context to the first device. That is, when condition 3 above is met, the first DU sends part or all of the first DU's terminal context to the first device. In this way, when the first DU is transmitting information and its resources are overloaded, the first DU sends part or all of the first DU's terminal context, thereby reducing signaling overhead while avoiding affecting the quality of information transmission.

[0177] In step B1, there are various ways in which the first DU can send part or all of the first DU's terminal context to the first device. For example, the first DU can send part or all of the first DU's terminal context to the first device via method b1 or method b2 described above. It should be understood that when information is transmitted via method b2, the DU used to forward the first information and the DU used to forward part or all of the first DU's terminal context between the first DU and the first device can be the same DU or different DUs.

[0178] B2: The first device determines that resources of the first DU are overloaded.

[0179] Since part or all of the terminal context of the first DU is sent by the first DU when the resources of the first DU are overloaded, after receiving part or all of the terminal context of the first DU, the first device can determine that the resources of the first DU are overloaded.

[0180] Through this method e2, the first DU can implicitly indicate its resource overload to the first device, eliminating the need for additional signaling to explicitly indicate the first DU's resource overload, thereby reducing signaling overhead. Furthermore, through this method, the first device can promptly obtain part or all of the first DU's terminal context, thereby improving the efficiency of resource coordination.

[0181] S402: The first device determines the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication (also referred to as a cooperative DU), or determines it as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication (also referred to as a backup DU). The second DU is a DU other than the first DU in the at least one DU. It should be understood that the first device may determine one or more DUs as DUs that assist the first DU in communication (also referred to as cooperative DUs), or as candidate DUs that can assist the first DU in communication (also referred to as backup DUs). The following description uses the second DU among the one or more DUs as an example.

[0182] There are many ways to implement S402, for example, way f1 or way f2.

[0183] Mode f1: The first device determines the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication, based on capability information and / or resource load status of at least one DU.

[0184] Exemplarily, DU#1 is any DU in at least one DU. The capability information of DU#1 may be sent by DU#1 to the first device. The capabilities indicated by the capability information of DU#1 may include at least one of the following: a public land mobile network (PLMN) supported by DU#1, network slice information, NR standard (for example, time division duplex (TDD) / frequency division duplex (FDD) standard) or spectrum. The resource load status of DU#1 may be determined based on the information used to determine the resource load status of DU#1. The specific content of the information used to determine the resource load status of DU#1 can be referred to the first information, except that the first DU is replaced by DU#1, and will not be repeated here.

[0185] The following example illustrates a first device determining a second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication, based on capability information and / or resource load status of at least one DU. The at least one DU includes a first DU, a second DU, and a third DU.

[0186] For example, the first DU supports network slice #1 and network slice #2. If the first device determines, based on the capability information of at least one DU, that the second DU supports network slice #1, network slice #2, and network slice #3, and that the third DU supports network slice #3 and network slice #4, the first device may determine the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication.

[0187] For example, if the first device determines that the available resources of the second DU are greater than the available resources of the third DU based on the resource load status of at least one DU, the first device may determine the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication.

[0188] For another example, the first DU supports network slice #1 and network slice #2. The first device determines, based on the capability information of at least one DU, that the second DU supports network slice #1, network slice #2, and network slice #3, and that the third DU also supports network slice #1 and network slice #2. If the first device determines, based on the resource load status of at least one DU, that the available resources of the second DU are greater than the available resources of the third DU, the first device may determine the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication.

[0189] Through this method f1, the first device can determine a suitable cooperative DU or backup DU for the first DU.

[0190] Mode f2: The first DU determines the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or determines it as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication, and notifies the first device of the determination result.

[0191] The method f2 may include steps C1 to C3:

[0192] C1: The first DU determines the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or determines the second DU as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication.

[0193] Optionally, the first DU may determine the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication, based on the capability information and / or resource load status of the M DUs. The determination method can refer to the description of "the first device determines the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication, based on the capability information and / or resource load status of at least one DU" in method f1, except that the first device is replaced by the first DU and the at least one DU is replaced by M DUs. No further details are given here. Wherein, M is a positive integer. The M DUs may be DUs that can communicate with the first DU.

[0194] Exemplarily, DU#2 is any one of the M DUs. An interface exists between the first DU and DU#2, enabling the reception of DU#2's capability information and information used to determine the resource load status of DU#2. The specific content of DU#2's capability information can be found in the capability information of DU#1, with DU#1 replaced by DU#2. The specific content of the information used to determine the resource load status of DU#2 can be found in the first information, with DU#2 replaced by DU#1. This description is omitted here.

[0195] C2: The first DU sends a third notification message to the first device. Accordingly, the first device receives the third notification message sent by the first DU. The third notification message may be used to notify the first device that the second DU is a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or is a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication.

[0196] In step C2, the first DU may send the third notification information to the first device in various ways. For example, the first DU may send the third notification information to the first device in the above-mentioned way b1 or way b2, which will not be described in detail here.

[0197] C3: The first device determines the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or determines it as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication, based on the third notification information.

[0198] Through the method shown in Figure 4, the first device can determine the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or determine it as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication, thereby achieving DU resource coordination without the need for signaling transmission for resource coordination negotiation between CUs, thereby improving the DU resource coordination efficiency, reducing the DU processing delay, and improving the utilization of DU resources.

[0199] In addition, S401 may be an optional step. For example, the first device may periodically or irregularly determine the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communicating, or determine it as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communicating. In this way, the second DU can quickly assist the first DU in communicating, thereby improving the resource coordination efficiency of the DU. When the first device periodically determines the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communicating, or determines it as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communicating, the determined period may be pre-set or obtained from other devices. When the first device irregularly determines the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communicating, or determines it as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communicating, the determined operation may be based on an event trigger, for example, when the data packet to be transmitted needs to meet the set business requirements, the first device determines the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communicating, or determines it as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communicating.

[0200] To assist the first DU in communication, the second DU may obtain part or all of the first DU's terminal context, thereby assisting the first DU in communication through part or all of the first DU's terminal context. The part of the first DU's terminal context obtained by the second DU may include one of the following: all or part of the first DU's L1 terminal context, all or part of the first DU's L2 terminal context, or both part of the first DU's L1 terminal context and part of the first DU's L2 terminal context. There are various implementations for the second DU to obtain part or all of the first DU's terminal context, such as Method g1, Method g2, Method g3, or Method g4.

[0201] Mode g1: After receiving part or all of the terminal context of the first DU sent by the first DU, the first device sends part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU.

[0202] The method g1 may include steps D1 to D2:

[0203] D1: The first DU sends part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the first device. Correspondingly, the first device receives part or all of the terminal context of the first DU sent by the first DU.

[0204] In some possible approaches, after determining the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication (i.e., S402), the first device may obtain part or all of the first DU's terminal context from the first DU. For example, if the first device determines that the second DU assists the first DU in performing L1 and / or L2-related processing, then after S402, the first device may obtain the L1 and / or L2-related context in the first DU's terminal context from the first DU, thereby reducing signaling overhead. For another example, after S402, the first device may obtain the entirety of the first DU's terminal context from the first DU.

[0205] In other possible embodiments, the order of executing steps D1 and S402 is not limited. For example, the first DU may periodically send part or all of the first DU's terminal context to the first device. For another example, the first device may periodically request the first DU to obtain part or all of the first DU's terminal context, and the first DU sends part or all of the first DU's terminal context to the first device based on the request of the first device. For another example, when conditions 2 and / or 3 above are met, the first DU may send part or all of the first DU's terminal context to the first device.

[0206] In addition, the specific manner in which the first DU sends part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the first device can be referred to step B1, which will not be repeated here.

[0207] D2: The first device sends part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU. Correspondingly, the second DU receives part or all of the terminal context of the first DU sent by the first device.

[0208] There are many ways for the first device to send part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU. For example, the first device can send part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU through the above method b1 or method b2.

[0209] In some examples, if the first device determines that the second DU assists the first DU in performing L1-related processing, the first device may send the L1-related context within the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU, thereby reducing signaling overhead. In other examples, the first device may send the entire terminal context of the first DU to the second DU.

[0210] In addition, step D2 can be performed after S402, that is, after determining the second DU as the DU that assists the first DU in communication, or determining it as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication, the first device sends part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU.

[0211] Through this method g1, if the second DU is determined to be a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or is determined to be a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication, then after receiving part or all of the first DU's terminal context sent by the first DU, the first device can send part or all of the first DU's terminal context to the second DU. In this way, the second DU can quickly obtain part or all of the first DU's terminal context, thereby improving the resource coordination efficiency of the DUs.

[0212] Method g2: The first DU sends part or all of the first DU's terminal context to the second DU based on the second notification information from the first device. The second notification information is used to notify the first DU that the second DU is a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or is a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication.

[0213] The method g2 may include steps E1 to E2:

[0214] E1: The first device sends the second notification information to the first DU. Correspondingly, the first DU receives the second notification information from the first device.

[0215] There are multiple ways for the first device to send the second notification information to the first DU. For example, the first device can send the second notification information to the first DU through the above-mentioned method b1 or method b2.

[0216] Optionally, step E1 is performed after S402.

[0217] E2: The first DU sends part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU. Correspondingly, the second DU receives part or all of the terminal context of the first DU sent by the first DU.

[0218] The first DU may send part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU in various ways, for example, way h1, way h2, or way h3.

[0219] Mode h1: The first DU sends part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU through the interface between the first DU and the second DU, or through the first device.

[0220] The first DU sends part or all of the specific content in the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU through the interface between the first DU and the second DU. Please refer to method a1 and will not be repeated here.

[0221] The first DU sends part or all of the specific content in the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU through the first device. Please refer to method a2 and will not be repeated here.

[0222] Through this method h1, the first DU can quickly send part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU.

[0223] Mode h2: The first DU obtains routing information and address information of the second DU from the first device, and sends part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU based on the routing information and address information of the second DU.

[0224] The method h2 may include steps F1 to F2:

[0225] F1: The first device sends routing information and address information of the second DU to the first DU; correspondingly, the first DU receives the routing information sent by the first device and the address information of the second DU.

[0226] The routing information may be used to indicate the route for communication between the first DU and the second DU. Exemplarily, the routing information may be a routing table between the first DU and the second DU. For example, the routing table shown in Table 1 indicates that the first DU can communicate with the second DU via DU #3. The address information of the second DU may be the IP address of the second DU, or an address that uniquely identifies the second DU within a local area network consisting of at least one DU.

[0227] Table 1

[0228] Optionally, the first device may send the routing information and the address information of the second DU to the first DU when it is determined that there is no interface between the first DU and the second DU. In some examples, the first device may send the routing information and the address information of the second DU to the first DU when it is determined that the resources of the first DU are overloaded, thereby saving signaling. In other examples, the first device may send the routing information and the address information of the second DU to the first DU in advance, so that the first DU can quickly send part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU, thereby quickly coordinating resources between the DUs.

[0229] There are many ways for the first device to send the routing information and the address information of the second DU to the first DU. For example, the first device can send the routing information and the address information of the second DU to the first DU through the above-mentioned method b1 or method b2.

[0230] It should be understood that the routing information and the address information of the second DU may be carried in the same message as the second notification information in step E1, or may be carried in different messages, which is not limited in this application.

[0231] F2: The first DU sends part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU according to the routing information and the address information of the second DU.

[0232] For example, the routing information is shown in Table 1. The first DU may send part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to DU#3. Then, DU#3 may send part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU.

[0233] Through this method h2, when there is no interface between the first DU and the second DU, the first DU can quickly send part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU through the routing information and the address information of the second DU.

[0234] Mode h3: The first device sends information for establishing a tunnel in a first path, thereby establishing a tunnel in the first path. The first path includes one or more tunnels. The first DU sends part or all of the first DU's terminal context to the second DU through the tunnel in the first path.

[0235] Optionally, the first device may send information for establishing a tunnel in the first path when it is determined that there is no interface between the first DU and the second DU, so as to establish the tunnel in the first path. In some examples, the first device may send information for establishing a tunnel in the first path when it is determined that the resources of the first DU are overloaded, thereby saving signaling. In other examples, the first device may send information for establishing a tunnel in the first path in advance, so that the first DU can quickly send part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU, thereby quickly coordinating resources between the DUs.

[0236] There are multiple ways to establish the tunnel in the first path, for example, way h3-1 or way h3-2.

[0237] Mode h3-1: The first path includes a tunnel between the first DU and the second DU, and the tunnel between the first DU and the second DU is established.

[0238] The first device may send the address information and TNL information of the second DU to the first DU. The address information and TNL information of the second DU may be used to establish a tunnel between the first DU and the second DU. The address information of the second DU may include the IP address of the second DU. The TNL information of the second DU may include the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) port number and Tunnel Endpoint Identifier (TEID) of the second DU. The first DU may then establish a tunnel between the first DU and the second DU based on the address information and TNL information of the second DU. The tunnel is a unidirectional tunnel from the first DU to the second DU.

[0239] Optionally, the first device may also send the first DU's address information and TNL information to the second DU. The first DU's address information may include the first DU's IP address. The first DU's TNL information may include the first DU's UDP port number and TEID. The second DU may then establish a unidirectional tunnel from the second DU to the first DU based on the first DU's address information and TNL information, thereby making the tunnel between the first and second DUs a bidirectional tunnel.

[0240] After the tunnel between the first DU and the second DU is established, an interface exists between the first DU and the second DU. In this way, the first DU can send part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU through the tunnel.

[0241] Mode h3-2: The first path includes multiple tunnels, and the multiple tunnels are established.

[0242] In some possible implementations, the first device sends the address information and TNL information of DUs other than the first DU in the first path, as well as information indicating the order of the DUs in the first path, to the first DU. The address information and TNL information of DUs other than the first DU in the first path can be used to establish a tunnel between adjacent DUs in the first path. DU#4 is any DU other than the first DU in the first path. The specific content of the address information and TNL information of DU#4 can be referred to the address information and TNL information of the second DU in implementation h3-1, except that the second DU is replaced by DU#4. This description is not repeated here.

[0243] For example, the first path includes a tunnel from the first DU to DU#5, and a tunnel from DU#5 to the second DU. The first device can send to the first DU: the address information and TNL information of DU#5, the address information and TNL information of the second DU, and information indicating the order of the DUs in the first path. The order is the first DU, DU#5, and the second DU. The first DU can establish Tunnel #1 from the first DU to DU#5 based on the address information and TNL information of DU#5, and send the address information and TNL information of the second DU, as well as information indicating the order of the DUs in the first path to DU#5. DU#5 can then establish Tunnel #2 from DU#5 to the second DU based on the address information and TNL information of the second DU. In this way, multiple unidirectional tunnels from the first DU to the second DU are established in the first path. The first DU can send part or all of the first DU's terminal context to the second DU via these multiple unidirectional tunnels.

[0244] Optionally, the first device may also send address information and TNL information of DUs other than the first DU in the first path, as well as information indicating the order of the DUs in the first path to the second DU, thereby establishing a multi-segment bidirectional tunnel between the first DU and the second DU.

[0245] In other possible implementations, the third DU is any DU in the first path except the second DU, and the fourth DU is the next-hop DU of the third DU in the first path. The first device may send the fourth DU's address information and TNL information to the third DU. The fourth DU's address information and TNL information are used to establish a tunnel between the third and fourth DUs in the first path. The specific content of the fourth DU's address information and TNL information can be referenced with the address information and TNL information of the second DU in implementation h3-1, except that the second DU is replaced by the fourth DU. This description is omitted here. Optionally, a similar approach may be used to establish multiple unidirectional tunnels between the second DU and the first DU, thereby establishing multiple bidirectional tunnels between the first and second DUs.

[0246] For example (Example 1), the first path includes a tunnel from the first DU to DU#5, and a tunnel from DU#5 to the second DU. The first device can send the address information and TNL information of DU#5 to the first DU, and the first DU establishes tunnel #1 from the first DU to DU#5 based on the address information and TNL information of DU#5. The first device can also send the address information and TNL information of the second DU to DU#5, and then DU#5 establishes tunnel #2 from DU#5 to the second DU based on the address information and TNL information of the second DU. In this way, in the first path, multiple unidirectional tunnels from the first DU to the second DU side are established. The first DU can send part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU through the multiple unidirectional tunnels.

[0247] Optionally, when the third DU is a DU other than the first DU in the first path, the third DU may further obtain information indicating an association relationship between the first tunnel and the second tunnel in the first path (hereinafter referred to as information #1), so as to transmit information between the first DU and the second DU through the first tunnel and the second tunnel. The first tunnel is the tunnel between the previous-hop DU of the third DU and the third DU in the first path, and the second tunnel is the tunnel between the third DU and the fourth DU.

[0248] In some examples, the first device can also send information #1 to a third DU. For example, still using Example 1, the first tunnel is Tunnel #1, and the second tunnel is Tunnel #2. The first device sends information indicating the association between Tunnel #1 and Tunnel #2 to DU #5. In this way, after receiving part or all of the first DU's terminal context through Tunnel #1, DU #5 can send part or all of the first DU's terminal context to the second DU through Tunnel #2.

[0249] In other examples, the first DU can send information #1 to the third DU. For example, still using Example 1, the first tunnel is tunnel #1 and the second tunnel is tunnel #2. When the first DU sends part or all of the first DU's terminal context via tunnel #1, it also sends information #1 via tunnel #1. Then, based on information #1, DU #5 can send part or all of the first DU's terminal context via tunnel #2.

[0250] Through this method h3, when there is no interface between the first DU and the second DU, the first DU can quickly send part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU through one or more tunnels on the first path.

[0251] Method g3: The second DU obtains part or all of the terminal context of the first DU based on the first notification information from the first device. The first notification information can be used to notify the second DU that it is a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication.

[0252] The method g3 includes steps G1 to G2:

[0253] G1: The first device sends a first notification message to the second DU. Correspondingly, the second DU receives the first notification message from the first device.

[0254] There are multiple ways for the first device to send the first notification information to the second DU. For example, the first device can send the first notification information to the second DU through the above-mentioned method b1 or method b2.

[0255] Optionally, step G1 is performed after S402.

[0256] G2: The second DU obtains part or all of the terminal context of the first DU from the first device or the first DU.

[0257] In some examples, after receiving the first notification information, the second DU may obtain part or all of the first DU's terminal context from the first device or the first DU. In other examples, after receiving the first notification information, when the second DU assists the first DU in communication, the second DU may obtain part or all of the first DU's terminal context from the first device or the first DU. This avoids signaling transmission related to part or all of the first DU's terminal context when the second DU does not need it, thereby reducing signaling overhead.

[0258] When the second DU obtains part or all of the terminal context of the first DU from the first device, the second DU can obtain part or all of the terminal context of the first DU from the first device through the above method b1 or method b2. Optionally, the first DU can also send part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the first device; accordingly, the first device receives part or all of the terminal context of the first DU sent by the first DU. For details, please refer to step D1 and will not be repeated here. Then, the first device can save part or all of the terminal context of the first DU, and the second DU can obtain part or all of the terminal context of the first DU from the first device.

[0259] The following describes possible examples of the second DU obtaining part or all of the terminal context of the first DU from the first DU. In some examples, there is an interface between the first DU and the second DU, and the second DU can obtain part or all of the terminal context of the first DU from the first DU through the interface. In other examples, there is no interface between the first DU and the second DU, and the second DU can obtain part or all of the terminal context of the first DU from the first DU through the routing information from the first device and the address information of the first DU. In still other examples, there is no interface between the first DU and the second DU, and after establishing a tunnel on the first path, the second DU can obtain part or all of the terminal context of the first DU from the first DU through the tunnel on the first path. Among them, the specific content of the first path can be referred to method h3, and the method of establishing the tunnel on the first path can be referred to method h3, which will not be repeated here.

[0260] Through this method g3, the second DU can obtain part or all of the terminal context of the first DU from the first device or the first DU based on the first notification information from the first device, so that it can obtain part or all of the terminal context of the first DU on demand, while improving the resource coordination efficiency of the DU and reducing signaling overhead.

[0261] Mode g4: After the second DU is determined as the DU that assists the first DU in communication, or is determined as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication, the first DU sends part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU.

[0262] The method g4 includes steps H1 to H2:

[0263] H1: The first DU determines the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or determines the second DU as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication.

[0264] The specific content of H1 can be found in step C1 and will not be repeated here.

[0265] Optionally, when the resources of the first DU are overloaded, the first DU may perform step H1. The manner in which the first DU determines whether the resources of the first DU are overloaded may refer to condition 2 above and will not be described in detail here.

[0266] H2: The first DU sends part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU. Correspondingly, the second DU receives part or all of the terminal context of the first DU sent by the first DU.

[0267] The first DU may send part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU through mode h1, mode h2 or mode h3, which will not be described in detail here.

[0268] Through this method g4, after the first DU determines the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication, it can send part or all of the first DU's terminal context to the second DU. In this way, the second DU can quickly obtain part or all of the first DU's terminal context, thereby improving the resource coordination efficiency of the DUs.

[0269] Optionally, method g4 may be combined with the method shown in Figure 4 or may be a method independent of the method shown in Figure 4. It should be understood that when multiple DUs are determined as collaborative DUs or backup DUs for a first DU, the manner in which the multiple DUs obtain part or all of the terminal context of the first DU may be the same or different.

[0270] In some possible embodiments, the first device determines the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communicating. The method shown in FIG4 further includes steps I1 to I2:

[0271] I1: The first device sends a first data packet to the second DU. Correspondingly, the second DU receives the first data packet from the first device.

[0272] The first data packet is a data packet that the second DU assists the first DU in processing. This data packet can be an uplink transmission data packet or a downlink transmission data packet. The first data packet can be a data packet that needs to be processed by the first DU when no terminal is connected, or it can be a data packet requested or generated by one or more terminals served by the first DU. In other words, the data packets coordinated between DUs can be node-granular or terminal-granular.

[0273] There are multiple ways for the first device to send the first data packet to the second DU. For example, the first device can send the first data packet to the second DU using method b1 or method b2. For example, when the first device sends the first data packet to the second DU using method b2, the first device can send the first data packet to the second DU via the first DU.

[0274] I2: The second DU sends a second data packet to the first device. Correspondingly, the first device receives the second data packet sent by the second DU.

[0275] The second data packet may be a data packet obtained by directly processing the first data packet through the protocol stack of the second DU, or a data packet obtained by processing the first data packet through the protocol stack by the second DU according to part or all of the terminal context.

[0276] There are many ways for the second DU to send the second data packet to the first device. For example, the second DU can send the second data packet to the first device through method b1 or method b2.

[0277] Through this method, the second DU can assist the first DU in communication, thereby reducing the transmission delay of the data corresponding to the first DU and improving the utilization of DU resources.

[0278] An embodiment of the present application provides another communication method, which is a possible example of the method shown in FIG4 , in which the first device obtains information used to determine load monitoring of a DU. This method is applicable to the communication system shown in FIG2 . Referring now to the flowchart shown in FIG5 , the method is described in detail using the example of at least one DU including DU1 and DU2.

[0279] As shown in Figure 5, the RCF in the first device can obtain information for determining load monitoring of a DU through various implementations, thereby managing load monitoring of at least one DU. The various implementations may be, for example, implementation a1, implementation a2, or implementation a3.

[0280] Implementation method a1: DU1 and DU2 report information used to determine resource load status through the interface between DU and RCF according to the instruction of RCF.

[0281] This embodiment a1 includes steps S501a to S506a:

[0282] S501a: The first CU sends a second request to the RCF. The second request is used to request the RCF to obtain information used to determine the resource load status of DU1 and DU2. Therefore, the second request can also be called a resource load status request.

[0283] For the specific content of the second request, please refer to the description of the second request in S401, and the repeated parts will not be repeated.

[0284] Optionally, the second request also includes a DU set, which is a set of DUs whose resource load status the RCF needs to monitor. The DU set may include one or more DUs managed by the RCF. The following description takes the example of the DU set including DU1 and DU2.

[0285] S502a: The RCF sends a request a1 to DU1, where the request a1 is used to request to obtain information a1 used to determine the resource load status of DU1.

[0286] The specific content of request a1 can refer to the description of the first request in S401, and the specific content of information a1 can refer to the description of the first information in S401, except that the first DU is replaced by DU1, which will not be repeated here.

[0287] S503a: DU1 sends information a1 to RCF via the interface between DU1 and RCF.

[0288] S504a: The RCF sends a request a2 to DU2, where the request a2 is used to request to obtain information a2 used to determine the resource load status of DU2.

[0289] The specific content of request a2 can refer to the description of the first request in S401, and the specific content of information a2 can refer to the description of the first information in S401, except that the first DU is replaced by DU2, which will not be repeated here.

[0290] The content of request a2 and request a1 may be the same, for example, request a2 and request a1 may be a request broadcast by RCF. Alternatively, the content of request a2 and request a1 may be different, for example, request a2 and request a1 may be RCF unicast.

[0291] S505a: DU2 sends information a2 to RCF via the interface between DU2 and RCF.

[0292] This application does not limit the execution order between S502a to S503a and S504a to S505a.

[0293] S506a: The RCF feeds back information used to determine the resource load status of each DU in the DU set to the first CU in a DU set manner.

[0294] The specific content of the information used to determine the resource load status of each DU in the DU set can be referred to the first information in S401, which will not be repeated here.

[0295] S501a and S506a are optional steps. It should be understood that S506a is not dependent on S501a; that is, regardless of whether S501a is included in implementation a1, the method can include S506a.

[0296] Implementation method a2: DU1 reports information for determining resource load status through DU2 according to the instruction of RCF.

[0297] This embodiment a2 includes steps S501b to S507b:

[0298] S501b: The first CU sends a second request to the RCF, where the second request is used to request the RCF to obtain information used to determine the resource load status of DU1 and DU2.

[0299] S502b: The RCF sends a request a1 to DU1, where the request a1 is used to request to obtain information a1 used to determine the resource load status of DU1.

[0300] The specific contents of S501b to S502b can be referred to S501a to S502a and will not be repeated here.

[0301] S503b: DU1 sends information a1 to DU2 via the interface between DU1 and DU2.

[0302] S504b: DU2 sends information a1 to RCF via the interface between DU2 and RCF.

[0303] S505b: The RCF sends a request a2 to DU2, where the request a2 is used to request to obtain information a2 used to determine the resource load status of DU2.

[0304] S506b: DU2 sends information a2 to RCF via the interface between DU2 and RCF.

[0305] The specific contents of S505b to S506b can be referred to S504a to S505a, and will not be repeated here.

[0306] This application does not limit the execution order between S502b to S504b and S505b to S506b.

[0307] S507b: The RCF feeds back information used to determine the resource load status of each DU in the DU set to the first CU in a DU set manner.

[0308] The specific content of S507b can be referred to S506a and will not be repeated here.

[0309] S501b and S507b are optional steps. It should be understood that S507b is not dependent on S501b; that is, regardless of whether S501b is included in implementation a2, S507b can be included.

[0310] Implementation method a3: DU1 reports information for determining resource load status according to a preconfigured monitoring configuration, or according to an information transmission status and a preconfigured monitoring configuration.

[0311] This embodiment a3 includes steps S501c to S504c:

[0312] S501c: RCF sends uplink information and / or downlink information to DU1. The uplink information and / or downlink information can be either control plane information or user plane information.

[0313] S502c: DU1 determines that resources of DU1 are overloaded.

[0314] For the specific content of S502c, refer to the description of the first DU determining resource overload in S401, and the repeated parts are not repeated here. Optionally, the basis for DU1 determining resource overload can be a monitoring configuration pre-configured by operation administration maintenance (OAM). This monitoring configuration may include the information in the first request in S401, and is not repeated here.

[0315] S503c: DU1 sends information a1 for determining the resource load status of DU1 to the RCF.

[0316] The specific content of information a1 can refer to the first information in S401, except that the first DU is replaced by DU1, which will not be repeated here.

[0317] DU1 can send information a1 to RCF through method b1 or method b2, which will not be repeated here.

[0318] S504c: The RCF feeds back information used to determine the resource load status of each DU in the DU set to the first CU in a DU set manner.

[0319] The specific content of S504c can be referred to S506a and will not be repeated here.

[0320] S501c and S504c are optional steps.

[0321] It should be understood that implementation mode a3 is described using DU1 as an example, and other DUs (eg, DU2) may also be processed in a similar manner.

[0322] The method shown in Figure 5 illustrates various ways for the RCF to obtain the resource load status of a DU. In this way, the RCF can conveniently and flexibly obtain the resource load status of the DU, and thus manage the resource coordination of the DU based on the resource load status of the DU.

[0323] An embodiment of the present application provides another communication method, which is a possible example of a backup DU obtaining the terminal context of a first DU in the method shown in FIG4 . The terminal context may be an L1 and / or L2 terminal context. This method is applicable to the communication system shown in FIG2 . Referring to the flowchart shown in FIG6 , the method process is described in detail, using DU1 as the first DU and DU2 as the second DU as an example.

[0324] As shown in FIG6 , DU2 may obtain the terminal context of DU1 through various implementations, for example, implementation b1, implementation b2, or implementation b3.

[0325] Implementation b1: DU1 sends the terminal context of the first DU to the RCF, and DU2 obtains the terminal context of the first DU from the RCF.

[0326] Implementation b1 may include S601a to S603a:

[0327] S601a: DU1 sends the terminal context of DU1 to the RCF.

[0328] Optionally, DU1 may send the terminal context of DU1 to the RCF when the resources of DU1 are overloaded.

[0329] In some examples, after receiving the terminal context of DU1, the RCF may save the terminal context of DU1.

[0330] The specific content of S601a can be found in step B1 and will not be repeated here.

[0331] S602a: The RCF determines DU2 as a candidate DU that can assist DU1 in communication based on the capability information and / or resource load status of at least one DU managed by the RCF, ie, determines DU2 as a backup DU of DU1.

[0332] The specific content of S602a can be referred to method f1 and will not be repeated here.

[0333] It should be understood that the RCF may determine one or more backup DUs for DU1. The following description will be made by taking the one or more backup DUs as DU2 as an example.

[0334] S603a: The RCF sends the terminal context of DU1 to DU2, or the RCF sends the first notification information to DU2.

[0335] The first notification information can be used to notify DU2 that it is a candidate DU that can assist DU1 in communication. After receiving the first notification information, DU2 can obtain the terminal context of DU1 from RCF or DU1. For details, please refer to step G2 and will not be repeated here.

[0336] S601a is an optional step. For example, if DU2 obtains the terminal context of DU1 from DU1 after receiving the first notification information, implementation b1 may not include S601a.

[0337] Embodiment b2: RCF notifies DU1 that DU2 is a candidate DU that can assist DU1 in communication, and DU1 sends the terminal context of the first DU to DU2.

[0338] Implementation b2 may include S601b to S604b:

[0339] S601b: DU1 sends information a1 for determining the resource load status of DU1 to the RCF.

[0340] The specific content of S601b can be referred to S503c and will not be repeated here.

[0341] S601b is an optional step.

[0342] S602b: The RCF determines DU2 as a candidate DU that can assist DU1 in communication based on the capability information and / or resource load status of at least one DU managed by the RCF, ie, determines DU2 as a backup DU of DU1.

[0343] The specific content of S602b can be referred to S602a and will not be repeated here.

[0344] S603b: The RCF sends a second notification message to DU1, where the second notification message is used to notify DU1 that DU2 is a candidate DU that can assist DU1 in communication.

[0345] S604b: DU1 sends the terminal context of DU1 to DU2.

[0346] The specific content of S604b can be found in step E2 and will not be repeated here.

[0347] Embodiment b3: DU1 determines DU2 as a candidate DU that can assist DU1 in communication, and sends the terminal context of the first DU to DU2.

[0348] Implementation b3 may include S601c to S604c:

[0349] S601c: DU1 receives information a2 sent by DU2 for determining the resource load status of DU2.

[0350] The specific content of information a2 can refer to the first information in S401, except that the first DU is replaced by DU2, which will not be repeated here.

[0351] It should be understood that DU1 can obtain information used to determine the resource load status of one or more DUs. Here, an example is used in which DU1 obtains information a2 sent by DU2 and used to determine the resource load status of DU2.

[0352] S602c: DU1 determines DU2 as a candidate DU that can assist DU1 in communication, that is, determines DU2 as a backup DU of DU1.

[0353] The specific content of S602c can be referred to step C1 and will not be repeated here.

[0354] S603c: DU1 sends its terminal context to DU2.

[0355] The specific content of S603c can be found in step E2 and will not be repeated here.

[0356] S604c: DU1 sends third notification information to the RCF, where the third notification information is used to notify the RCF that DU2 is a candidate DU that can assist DU1 in communication.

[0357] The specific content of S604c can be referred to step C2 and will not be repeated here.

[0358] This application does not limit the execution order of S603c and S604c.

[0359] S601c and S604c are optional steps.

[0360] The method shown in Figure 6 illustrates various ways for a backup DU to obtain DU1's terminal context. This allows the backup DU to conveniently and flexibly obtain DU1's terminal context, enabling backup of DU1's terminal context. When the backup DU is used to assist DU1 in communication, it can quickly assist DU1 based on its terminal context, thereby improving resource coordination efficiency across DUs.

[0361] An embodiment of the present application provides another communication method, which is a possible example of the method shown in Figure 4 in which a second DU assists a first DU in communication. This method is applicable to the communication system shown in Figure 2. Referring to the flowchart shown in Figure 7 below, the process of this method is specifically described, taking the first DU as DU1 and the second DU as DU2 or DU3 as an example. An interface exists between DU1 and DU2, no interface exists between DU1 and DU3, and an interface exists between DU2 and DU3.

[0362] As shown in FIG7 , the second DU may assist the first DU in communication through various implementations, for example, implementation c1 or implementation c2.

[0363] Implementation c1: The second DU is DU2, and DU2 assists DU1 in communication.

[0364] Implementation c1 may include S701a to S704a:

[0365] S701a: The RCF determines DU2 as the DU that assists DU1 in communication, that is, determines DU2 as the coordinated DU of DU1.

[0366] Optionally, after determining that the resources of DU1 are overloaded, the RCF determines DU2 as a DU that assists DU1 in communication.

[0367] The specific content of S701a can be referred to S401 and S402 and will not be repeated here.

[0368] S702a: DU2 obtains part or all of the terminal context of DU1. The terminal context may be the terminal context of L1 and / or L2.

[0369] For the specific content of S702a, please refer to method g1, method g2, method g3 or method g4, and may also refer to implementation mode b1, implementation mode b2 or implementation mode b3. The repeated parts will not be repeated here.

[0370] When DU2 obtains part or all of DU1's terminal context from DU1, DU2 may obtain part or all of DU1's terminal context through the interface between DU1 and DU2, or may obtain part or all of DU1's terminal context through RCF.

[0371] S703a: RCF sends a first data packet to DU2.

[0372] Optionally, the RCF may further indicate that the next hop node after DU2 processes the first data packet is the RCF.

[0373] S704a: After processing the first data packet, DU2 sends a second data packet to the RCF.

[0374] The specific contents of S703a to S704a can be referred to steps I1 to I2 and will not be repeated here.

[0375] Optionally, when DU2 assists DU1 in communicating, DU1 and DU2 may process different data packets respectively. The following description will be made using the example of the data packet processed by DU1 being the third data packet. In some examples, RCF may first send the first data packet and the third data packet to DU1, and indicate that the next hop node after DU1 processes the third data packet is RCF, and the next hop node after processing the first data packet is DU2. After processing the third data packet, DU1 may send the processed third data packet to RCF, and send the first data packet to DU2. This application does not limit the order in which DU1 processes the third data packet and sends the first data packet. In other examples, RCF sends the third data packet to DU1, and indicates that the next hop node after DU1 processes the third data packet is RCF. DU1 may send the processed third data packet to RCF after processing the third data packet. RCF may send the first data packet to DU2, and indicate that the next hop node after DU2 processes the first data packet is RCF. DU2 may send the second data packet to RCF after processing the first data packet. This application does not limit the order in which RCF sends the third data packet and the first data packet. In this way, coordinated transmission between DUs can be achieved.

[0376] Implementation c2: The second DU is DU3, and DU3 assists DU1 in communication.

[0377] Implementation c2 may include S701b to S704b:

[0378] S701b: RCF determines DU3 as the DU that assists DU1 in communication, that is, determines DU3 as the coordinated DU of DU1.

[0379] Optionally, after determining that the resources of DU1 are overloaded, the RCF determines DU3 as a DU to assist DU1 in communication.

[0380] The specific content of S701b can be referred to S401 and S402 and will not be repeated here.

[0381] S702b: DU3 obtains part or all of the terminal context of DU1. The terminal context may be the terminal context of L1 and / or L2.

[0382] For the specific content of S702b, please refer to method g1, method g2, method g3 or method g4, and may also refer to implementation mode b1, implementation mode b2 or implementation mode b3. The repeated parts will not be repeated here.

[0383] Optionally, when DU3 obtains part or all of DU1's terminal context from DU1, DU3 may obtain part or all of DU1's terminal context through mode h2 or mode h3, or may obtain part or all of DU1's terminal context through RCF.

[0384] S703b: RCF sends a first data packet to DU3.

[0385] Optionally, the RCF may further indicate that the next hop node after DU3 processes the first data packet is the RCF.

[0386] S704b: After processing the first data packet, DU3 sends a second data packet to the RCF.

[0387] The specific contents of S703b to S704b can be referred to steps I1 to I2 and will not be repeated here.

[0388] Optionally, when DU3 assists DU1 in communicating, DU1 and DU3 may process different data packets respectively. For details, please refer to the description of DU1 and DU2 processing different data packets respectively in implementation mode c1, except that DU2 is replaced by DU3, which will not be repeated here.

[0389] Through the method shown in Figure 7, DU resource coordination can be achieved without signaling transmission for resource coordination negotiation between CUs, thereby improving the resource coordination efficiency of DU, reducing the processing delay of DU, and improving the utilization of DU resources.

[0390] Based on the same technical concept as the above-mentioned method embodiment, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication device through Figure 8, which can be used to perform the functions of the relevant steps in the above-mentioned method embodiment. The functions can be implemented by hardware, or by software or hardware executing the corresponding software implementation. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above-mentioned functions. The structure of the communication device is shown in Figure 8, including an interface unit 801 and a processing unit 802. The communication device 800 can be a first device or a module in the first device (such as a circuit or chip), or a logical node, logical module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the first device; or the communication device 800 can be a first DU or a module in the first DU (such as a circuit or chip), or a logical node, logical module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the first DU; or the communication device 800 can be a second DU or a module in the second DU (such as a circuit or chip), or a logical node, logical module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the second DU. In addition, the communication device 800 can implement the communication methods provided in the above-mentioned embodiments and examples of the present application. The functions of each unit in the communication device 800 are introduced below.

[0391] The interface unit 801 is used to input and / or output information. When outputting information, the interface unit 801 can output information to other devices outside the communication device 800, or it can output information to other units in the communication device 800. In some embodiments, the interface unit 801 can be implemented by at least one of a physical interface, a communication module, a communication interface, and an input / output interface. In other embodiments, the interface unit 801 can be implemented by an interface circuit, for example, a mobile communication module. The mobile communication module may include one or more of at least one antenna, at least one filter, a switch, a power amplifier, a low noise amplifier (LNA), etc.

[0392] The processing unit 802 can be used to support the communication device 800 in performing the processing actions in the above method embodiment. The processing unit 802 can be implemented by a processor. For example, the processor can be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0393] In one embodiment, the communication device 800 is applied to the first device in the embodiment of the present application shown in Figure 4. The specific functions of the processing unit 802 in this embodiment are introduced below.

[0394] The processing unit 802 is configured to: determine resource overload of a first DU, where the first DU is a DU among at least one DU; and determine a second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication, where the second DU is a DU among the at least one DU other than the first DU.

[0395] In some possible embodiments, the processing unit 802 is further used to: receive part or all of the terminal context of the first DU sent by the first DU through the interface unit 801; and send part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU through the interface unit 801.

[0396] In other possible embodiments, the processing unit 802 is also used to: send a first notification message to the second DU through the interface unit 801, so that the second DU obtains part or all of the terminal context of the first DU from the communication device 800 or the first DU when the second DU assists the first DU in communicating; wherein the first notification message is used to notify the second DU that it is a DU that assists the first DU in communicating, or a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communicating.

[0397] Optionally, when the second DU obtains part or all of the terminal context of the first DU from the communication device 800, the processing unit 802 is further used to: receive part or all of the terminal context of the first DU sent by the first DU through the interface unit 801.

[0398] In some other possible embodiments, the processing unit 802 is further used to: send a second notification message to the first DU through the interface unit 801, so that the first DU sends part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU; wherein the second notification message is used to notify the first DU that the second DU is a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or is a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication.

[0399] In some implementations, the processing unit 802 is further configured to: send routing information and address information of the second DU to the first DU through the interface unit 801, where the routing information is used to indicate a route for communication between the first DU and the second DU.

[0400] In other implementations, the processing unit 802 is further used to: send information for establishing a tunnel in a first path through the interface unit 801, where the first path is a path for transmitting information between the first DU and the second DU, and the first path includes one or more tunnels.

[0401] In some possible methods, when the second DU is determined as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, the processing unit 802 is also used to: send a first data packet to the second DU through the interface unit 801, where the first data packet is a data packet that the second DU assists the first DU in processing; and receive a second data packet sent by the second DU through the interface unit 801, where the second data packet is a data packet obtained by the second DU processing the first data packet according to part or all of the terminal context of the first DU.

[0402] In some designs, the processing unit 802 is used to: receive first information sent by the first DU through the interface unit 801, the first information being used to determine the resource load status of the first DU; and determine resource overload of the first DU based on the first information.

[0403] Optionally, the processing unit 802 is used to: receive the first information sent by the first DU through the interface unit 801 through the interface between the communication device 800 and the first DU; or, receive the first information sent by the first DU through the third DU through the interface unit 801, where the third DU is a DU other than the first DU in at least one DU.

[0404] In some possible embodiments, when the first condition includes the first DU receiving a first request from the communication device 800, the processing unit 802 is also used to: receive a second request from the first CU through the interface unit 801, the second request being used to request the communication device 800 to obtain information for determining the resource load status of N DUs, where the N DUs include the first DU, and N is a positive integer.

[0405] In some other designs, the processing unit 802 is used to: send part or all of the terminal context of the first DU through the interface unit 801; part or all of the terminal context of the first DU is sent by the first DU when the resources of the first DU are overloaded; and determine that the resources of the first DU are overloaded.

[0406] In some examples, the processing unit 802 is used to: determine the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or determine it as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication based on capability information and / or resource load status of at least one DU.

[0407] In other examples, the processing unit 802 is used to: receive third notification information sent by the first DU through the interface unit 801, and the third notification information is used to notify the communication device 800 that the second DU is a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or is a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication; according to the third notification information, the second DU is determined as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or is determined as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication.

[0408] In another embodiment, the communication device 800 is applied to the first DU in the embodiment of the present application shown in Figure 4. The specific functions of the processing unit 802 in this embodiment are introduced below.

[0409] The processing unit 802 is used to: receive second notification information sent by the first device through the interface unit 801, where the second notification information is used to notify the communication device 800 that the second DU is a DU that assists the communication device 800 in communication, or is a candidate DU that can assist the communication device 800 in communication; the communication device 800 is a DU in at least one DU, and the second DU is a DU other than the communication device 800 in at least one DU; and send part or all of the terminal context of the communication device 800 to the second DU through the interface unit 801.

[0410] Optionally, the processing unit 802 is configured to send part or all of the terminal context of the communication device 800 to the second DU through the interface unit 801, through the interface between the communication device 800 and the second DU, or through the first device.

[0411] In some possible embodiments, the processing unit 802 is also used to: receive routing information from the first device and address information of the second DU through the interface unit 801, where the routing information is used to indicate the route for communication between the communication device 800 and the second DU; and send part or all of the terminal context of the communication device 800 to the second DU through the interface unit 801 based on the routing information and the address information of the second DU.

[0412] In other possible embodiments, the processing unit 802 is also used to: receive information from the first device through the interface unit 801 for establishing a tunnel in a first path, where the first path is a path for transmitting information between the communication device 800 and the second DU, and the first path includes one or more tunnels; and send part or all of the terminal context of the communication device 800 to the second DU through the tunnel in the first path through the interface unit 801.

[0413] In some designs, the processing unit 802 is further used to: send first information to the first device through the interface unit 801, and the first information is used to determine the resource load status of the communication device 800.

[0414] Optionally, the processing unit 802 is configured to: when a first condition is met, send the first information to the first device via the interface unit 801. The first condition includes at least one of the following: the communication device 800 receives a first request from the first device, the first request is for requesting to obtain the first information, or the first request includes one or more conditions for the communication device 800 to send the first information, and the one or more conditions are met; resources of the communication device 800 are overloaded; resources of the communication device 800 are overloaded during information transmission.

[0415] Exemplarily, the processing unit 802 is used to: send the first information to the first device through the interface unit 801 and the interface between the first device and the communication device 800; or send the first information to the first device through the third DU, where the third DU is a DU other than the communication device 800 in at least one DU.

[0416] In yet another embodiment, the communication device 800 is applied to the second DU in the embodiment of the present application shown in Figure 4. The specific functions of the processing unit 802 in this embodiment are introduced below.

[0417] The processing unit 802 is used to: receive first notification information sent by the first device through the interface unit 801, where the first notification information is used to notify the communication device 800 that it is a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication; the first DU is a DU in at least one DU, and the communication device 800 is a DU other than the first DU in at least one DU; obtain part or all of the terminal context of the first DU from the first device or the first DU through the interface unit 801.

[0418] Optionally, when the first notification information is used to notify the communication device 800 that it is a DU that assists the first DU in communicating, the processing unit 802 is used to: receive a first data packet sent by the first device through the interface unit 801, and the first data packet is a data packet that the communication device 800 assists the first DU in processing; and send a second data packet to the first device through the interface unit 801, and the second data packet is a data packet obtained by the communication device 800 processing the first data packet according to part or all of the terminal context.

[0419] In yet another embodiment, the communication device 800 is applied to the communication device 800 in the embodiment of the present application shown in Figure 4. The specific functions of the processing unit 802 in this embodiment are introduced below.

[0420] The processing unit 802 is configured to: when the resources of the communication device 800 are overloaded, determine the second DU as a DU that assists the communication device 800 in communication, or determine it as a candidate DU that can assist the communication device 800 in communication, where the communication device 800 is a DU in at least one DU, and the second DU is a DU other than the communication device 800 in at least one DU; and send part or all of the terminal context of the communication device 800 to the second DU through the interface unit 801.

[0421] Exemplarily, the processing unit 802 is configured to send part or all of the terminal context of the communication device 800 to the second DU through the interface unit 801 , through the interface between the communication device 800 and the second DU, or through the first device.

[0422] Optionally, the processing unit 802 is also used to: send a third notification message to the first device through the interface unit 801, and the third notification message is used to notify the first device that the second DU is a DU that assists the communication device 800 in communication, or is a candidate DU that can assist the communication device 800 in communication.

[0423] A more detailed description of the processing unit 802 and the interface unit 801 can be directly obtained by referring to the relevant descriptions in the method embodiments shown in Figures 4 to 7, and will not be repeated here.

[0424] It should be noted that the division of modules in the above embodiments of the present application is illustrative and is only a logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods. In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of the present application may be integrated into a processing unit, or may exist separately physically, or two or more units may be integrated into a single unit. The above-mentioned integrated units may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional units.

[0425] If the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application is essentially or the part that contributes to the prior art or all or part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, and the computer software product is stored in a storage medium, including a number of instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) or a processor to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

[0426] Based on the same technical concept, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication device as shown in Figure 9, which can be used to perform the relevant steps in the above method embodiment. The communication device can be a first device or a module in the first device (such as a circuit or chip), and can also be a logical node, logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the first device; or the communication device can be a first DU or a module in the first DU (such as a circuit or chip), and can also be a logical node, logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the first DU; or the communication device can be a second DU or a module in the second DU (such as a circuit or chip), and can also be a logical node, logic module or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the second DU. In addition, the communication device can implement the communication method provided in the above embodiments and examples of the present application, and has the function of the communication device shown in Figure 8. Referring to Figure 9, the communication device 900 includes: a processor 902. Optionally, the communication device 900 also includes: an interface circuit 901 and a memory 903. Among them, the interface circuit 901, the processor 902 and the memory 903 are coupled to each other.

[0427] Optionally, the interface circuit 901, the processor 902, and the memory 903 are coupled to each other via a bus 904. The bus 904 may be a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus or an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus. The bus may be classified as an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of illustration, FIG9 shows only one thick line, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0428] The interface circuit 901 is configured to input and / or output information. When outputting information, the interface circuit 901 may output the information to other devices outside of the communication device 900, or to other units within the communication device 900. Exemplarily, the interface circuit 901 may be implemented via at least one of a physical interface, a communication module, a communication interface, an input / output interface, and a mobile communication module. The mobile communication module may include one or more of at least one antenna, at least one filter, a switch, a power amplifier, an LNA, and the like.

[0429] The processor 902 may be used to support the communication device 900 in executing the processing actions in the above-described method embodiment. When the communication device 900 is used to implement the above-described method embodiment, the processor 902 may also be used to implement the functions of the processing unit 802. The processor 902 may be a CPU, other general-purpose processors, DSPs, ASICs, FPGAs, other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0430] In one embodiment, the communication device 900 is applied to the first device in the embodiment of the present application shown in Figure 4. The specific functions of the processor 902 in this embodiment are introduced below.

[0431] The processor 902 is configured to: determine resource overload of a first DU, where the first DU is a DU in at least one DU; and determine a second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication, where the second DU is a DU in the at least one DU other than the first DU.

[0432] In another embodiment, the communication device 900 is applied to the first DU in the embodiment of the present application shown in Figure 4. The specific functions of the processor 902 in this embodiment are introduced below.

[0433] The processor 902 is configured to: receive second notification information sent by the first device through the interface circuit 901, where the second notification information is used to notify the communication device 900 that the second DU is a DU that assists the communication device 900 in communication, or is a candidate DU that can assist the communication device 900 in communication; the communication device 900 is a DU in at least one DU, and the second DU is a DU other than the communication device 900 in at least one DU; and send part or all of the terminal context of the communication device 900 to the second DU through the interface circuit 901.

[0434] In yet another embodiment, the communication device 900 is applied to the second DU in the embodiment of the present application shown in Figure 4. The specific functions of the processor 902 in this embodiment are described below.

[0435] The processor 902 is used to: receive first notification information sent by the first device through the interface circuit 901, where the first notification information is used to notify the communication device 900 that it is a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication; the first DU is a DU in at least one DU, and the communication device 900 is a DU other than the first DU in at least one DU; obtain part or all of the terminal context of the first DU from the first device or the first DU through the interface circuit 901.

[0436] In yet another embodiment, the communication device 900 is applied to the first DU in the embodiment of the present application shown in Figure 4. The specific functions of the processor 902 in this embodiment are described below.

[0437] The processor 902 is configured to: when the resources of the communication device 900 are overloaded, determine the second DU as a DU that assists the communication device 900 in communication, or determine it as a candidate DU that can assist the communication device 900 in communication, where the communication device 900 is a DU in at least one DU, and the second DU is a DU other than the communication device 900 in the at least one DU; and send part or all of the terminal context of the communication device 900 to the second DU through the interface circuit 901.

[0438] The specific functions of the processor 902 can refer to the description of the communication method provided in the above embodiments and examples of the present application, as well as the specific functional description of the communication device 800 in the embodiment of the present application shown in Figure 8, which will not be repeated here.

[0439] The memory 903 is used to store program instructions and / or data, etc. Specifically, the program instructions may include program code, which includes computer operation instructions. The memory 903 may include RAM, and may also include non-volatile memory (non-volatile memory), such as at least one disk storage. The processor 902 executes the program instructions stored in the memory 903, and uses the data stored in the memory 903 to implement the above functions, thereby realizing the communication method provided in the above embodiment of the present application. The memory 903 can be integrated with the processor 902, or it can be a memory outside the communication device.

[0440] It is understood that the memory 903 in FIG. 9 of the present application may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memories. Among them, the non-volatile memory may be ROM, programmable read-only memory (Programmable ROM, PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (Erasable PROM, EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (Electrically EPROM, EEPROM) or flash memory. The volatile memory may be RAM, which is used as an external cache. By way of example and not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchronous link dynamic random access memory (SLDRAM), and direct RAM bus random access memory (DR RAM). It should be noted that the memory of the systems and methods described herein is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0441] Based on the above embodiments, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product including computer-executable instructions. When the computer program product is run, the method provided in the above embodiments is executed.

[0442] Based on the above embodiments, an embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which a computer program is stored. When the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer executes the method provided in the above embodiments.

[0443] The storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example and not limitation, computer-readable media may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a computer.

[0444] Based on the above embodiments, an embodiment of the present application further provides a chip, which is used to read a computer program stored in a memory to implement the method provided in the above embodiments.

[0445] Based on the above embodiments, embodiments of the present application provide a chip system, which includes a processor for supporting a computer device to implement the functions involved in each device in the above embodiments. In one possible design, the chip system also includes a memory for storing the necessary programs and data for the computer device. The chip system can be composed of a chip or can include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0446] In the various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or there is a logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

[0447] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments of the present application can be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, the present application can adopt the form of a complete hardware embodiment, a complete software embodiment, or an embodiment in combination with software and hardware. Moreover, the present application can adopt the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to magnetic disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) that contain computer-usable program code.

[0448] The present application is described with reference to the flowcharts and / or block diagrams of the methods, devices (systems), and computer program products according to the present application. It should be understood that each flow and / or box in the flow chart and / or block diagram, as well as the combination of the flow chart and / or box in the flow chart and / or block diagram, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processor, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device produce a device for implementing the functions specified in one or more flow charts and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

[0449] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to operate in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce a product including an instruction device that implements the functions specified in one or more processes in the flowchart and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

[0450] These computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device so that a series of operating steps are executed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, so that the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device provide steps for implementing the functions specified in one or more processes in the flowchart and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

[0451] In the various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or there is a logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

[0452] In this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "more than one" means two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three possible relationships exist. For example, "A and / or B" can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. In the text description of this application, the character " / " generally indicates that the related objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0453] It is understood that the various numbers used in the embodiments of this application are merely for ease of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application. The order of the sequence numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not necessarily imply a specific order of execution; the order of execution of the processes should be determined by their functions and inherent logic.

[0454] Obviously, those skilled in the art may make various changes and modifications to the present application without departing from the scope of the present application. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents, the present application is intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A communication system, characterized in that: include: a first centralized unit CU, a first device and at least one distributed unit DU; The first CU is configured to manage part or all of the at least one DU and / or the first device; The first device is used to manage resource coordination of the at least one DU.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that The first device, configured to manage resource coordination of the at least one DU, includes at least one of the following: The first device is used to manage load monitoring of the at least one DU; The first device is responsible for backup management of the at least one DU; The first device is responsible for path management of information transmission of the at least one DU; The first device is used to be responsible for data migration management of the at least one DU.

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The first device is also used to transmit user plane information and / or control plane information exchanged between the first CU and the at least one DU.

4. The system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The at least one DU includes a first DU, and the first CU is further used to exchange user plane information and / or control plane information with the first DU through an interface between the first CU and the first DU.

5. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The at least one DU includes a first DU, and the first device is further used to exchange user plane information and / or control plane information with the first DU through an interface between the first device and the first DU.

6. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The at least one DU includes a first DU and a second DU, wherein the first DU is used to send user plane information and / or control plane information to the second DU through an interface between the first DU and the second DU; or, the first DU is used to send the user plane information and / or the control plane information to the second DU through the first device.

7. The system according to claim 6, characterized in that When the first device is used to exchange user plane information and control plane information with the first DU through the interface between the first device and the first DU, and the first DU is used to exchange user plane information and / or control plane information with the second DU through the interface between the first DU and the second DU, or through the first device, the first device is also used to exchange user plane information and / or control plane information with the first CU through the interface between the first CU and the first device.

8. A communication method based on the system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The method comprises: The first device determines that a resource of a first DU is overloaded, the first DU being a DU in the at least one DU; The first device determines a second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or determines it as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication, and the second DU is a DU other than the first DU in the at least one DU.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that Also includes: The first device receives part or all of the terminal context of the first DU sent by the first DU; The first device sends part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU.

10. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that Also includes: The first device sends a first notification message to the second DU so that the second DU obtains part or all of the terminal context of the first DU from the first device or the first DU when the second DU assists the first DU in communication; wherein the first notification message is used to notify the second DU that it is a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that When the second DU obtains part or all of the terminal context of the first DU from the first device, the method further includes: The first device receives part or all of the terminal context of the first DU sent by the first DU.

12. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that Also includes: The first device sends a second notification message to the first DU so that the first DU sends part or all of the terminal context of the first DU to the second DU; wherein the second notification message is used to notify the first DU that the second DU is a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or is a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that Also includes: The first device sends routing information and address information of the second DU to the first DU, wherein the routing information is used to indicate the The first DU and the second DU communicate with each other via a route.

14. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that Also includes: The first device sends information for establishing a tunnel in a first path, where the first path is a path for transmitting information between the first DU and the second DU, and the first path includes one or more tunnels.

15. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that: When the first device determines the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, the method further includes: The first device sends a first data packet to the second DU, where the first data packet is a data packet processed by the second DU with the assistance of the first DU; The first device receives a second data packet sent by the second DU, where the second data packet is a data packet obtained by the second DU processing the first data packet according to part or all of the terminal context of the first DU.

16. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 15, characterized in that The first device determines that a resource overload of the first DU includes: The first device receives first information sent by the first DU, where the first information is used to determine a resource load state of the first DU; The first device determines, based on the first information, that resources of the first DU are overloaded.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that The first information is used to indicate that the resource load state of the first DU is resource overload, or the first information includes resource load data of the first DU, and the resource load data of the first DU is used to determine the resource load state of the first DU.

18. The method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that The first information is sent by the first DU when a first condition is met, and the first condition includes at least one of the following: The first DU receives a first request from the first device, where the first request is used to request to obtain the first information, or the first request includes one or more conditions for the first DU to send the first information, and the one or more conditions are satisfied; Resources of the first DU are overloaded; When information transmission is performed, resources of the first DU are overloaded.

19. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that The first device receives first information sent by the first DU, including: The first device receives the first information sent by the first DU through an interface between the first device and the first DU; or, The first device receives the first information sent by the first DU through a third DU, and the third DU is a DU in the at least one DU except the first DU.

20. The method according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that When the first condition includes that the first DU receives a first request from the first device, the method further includes: The first device receives a second request from the first CU, where the second request is used to request the first device to obtain information used to determine resource load status of N DUs, where the N DUs include the first DU, and N is a positive integer.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein: The second request is further used to indicate at least one of the following: A trigger condition for any DU among the N DUs to send information for determining a resource load state of the DU; Resource types corresponding to the resource load states of the N DUs; The representation form of the information used to determine the resource load status of the N DUs.

22. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 21, characterized in that The first request is further used to indicate at least one of the following: A resource type corresponding to the resource load state of the first DU; The first information is in a form of expression.

23. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 15, characterized in that The first device determines that a resource overload of the first DU includes: The first device receives part or all of the terminal context of the first DU sent by the first DU; part or all of the terminal context of the first DU is sent by the first DU when the resources of the first DU are overloaded; The first device determines that resources of the first DU are overloaded.

24. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 23, characterized in that The first device determines the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or determines the second DU as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication, including: The first device determines the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication, according to the capability information and / or resource load status of the at least one DU.

25. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 23, characterized in that The first device determines the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or determines the second DU as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication, including: The first device receives third notification information sent by the first DU, where the third notification information is used to notify the first device that the second DU is a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or is a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication; The first device determines, according to the third notification information, the second DU as a DU that assists the first DU in communication, or determines it as a candidate DU that can assist the first DU in communication.

26. A communication device, characterized in that: include: An interface unit for inputting and / or outputting information; A processing unit, configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 8 to 25 through the interface unit.

27. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A processor, the processor being coupled to a memory storing instructions, wherein when the instructions are executed by the processor, the communication device executes the method according to any one of claims 8 to 25.

28. A communication system, characterized in that: include: The first device, the communication system further comprises at least one of the following: a first centralized unit CU, or at least one distributed unit DU; The first device is used to implement the method according to any one of claims 8 to 25.

29. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program, and when the computer program is run on a computer, the method according to any one of claims 8 to 25 is executed.

30. A chip, characterized in that: The chip is coupled to a memory, and the chip reads a computer program stored in the memory so that the method according to any one of claims 8 to 25 is executed.

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