Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and apparatus, for use in implementing NR L3 relay technology. A relay node sends a protocol data unit (PDU) session establishment request to a first mobility management network element; the first mobility management network element sends a PDU session resource establishment request to a host base station on the basis of the PDU session establishment request; the host base station sends a first message to the relay node. The PDU session establishment request comprises first information, so as to indicate that a PDU session requested to be established is used for transmitting information of a first interface and / or a second interface; the relay node supports a terminal device function and a base station function; the first mobility management network element provides a service for the terminal device function of the relay node; the first interface is an interface between the relay node and a core network, and the second interface is an interface between the relay node and a first base station; the first message instructs to establish a radio bearer between the relay node and the host base station, the radio bearer is related to the PDU session, and the radio bearer is used for transmitting the information of the first interface and / or the second interface.

Description

Communication method and device

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on September 15, 2023, with application number 202311205712.2 and application name “A Communication Method and Device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and device. Background Art

[0004] Long-term evolution (LTE) R10 introduced relay technology. In LTE R10, a relay node (RN) can be understood as consisting of a terminal device and a base station. The terminal device portion of the RN (called the RN-mobile terminal (MT)) has an air interface connection with the donor eNB (DeNB). This air interface is called the Un interface (the Uu interface is used for ordinary terminal devices accessing the eNB). The base station portion of the RN (called the RN-eNB) has an X2 interface and an S1 interface with the DeNB. Control and user plane data on the X2 and S1 interfaces are transmitted via data radio bearers (DRBs) on the Un interface between the RN-MT and the DeNB. An LTE relay is a Layer 3 (L3) relay, with the RN having complete base station functionality.

[0005] With the development of communication technology, it is proposed that LTE's L3 relay technology can be extended to new radio (NR). However, due to the differences between NR and LTE, the relevant technologies of LTE L3 relay cannot be directly applied to NR L3 relay. Therefore, how to implement NR L3 relay technology is an urgent problem to be solved.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present application provides a communication method and device for implementing NR L3 relay technology.

[0008] In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a relay node, a processor, a chip, or a functional module in a relay node. Taking the method applied to a relay node as an example, the method may include: the relay node may send a protocol data unit (PDU) session establishment request to a first mobility management network element. The PDU session establishment request may include first information; the relay node supports terminal device functions and base station functions; the first information may indicate that the PDU session requested to be established is used to transmit information of a first interface and / or a second interface; the first mobility management network element provides services for the terminal device function of the relay node; the first interface is the interface between the relay node and the core network, and the second interface is the interface between the relay node and the first base station; the first base station is the same as or different from the host base station of the relay node. Afterwards, the relay node may receive a first message from the host base station, the first message being used to instruct the establishment of a radio bearer between the relay node and the host base station, the radio bearer being related to the PDU session, and the radio bearer being used to transmit information of the first interface and / or the second interface.

[0009] Through the above method, the wireless bearer establishment between the relay node and the host base station can be realized based on the PDU session, and then the transmission of information of the first interface and / or the second interface can be realized. This method complies with the NR protocol, thereby realizing NR relay technology.

[0010] In one possible design, the radio bearer may include a data radio bearer DRB and / or a signaling radio bearer SRB.

[0011] In one possible design, the first information may include a slice identifier and / or a request type.

[0012] In one possible design, the PDU session establishment request may further include an identifier of a second mobility management network element that provides services for the base station function of the relay node. In this way, if the second mobility management network element is aware of the relay node, the radio bearer associated with the PDU session may be associated with the second mobility management network element when establishing the radio bearer.

[0013] In one possible design, the first message can also be used to indicate that the wireless bearer corresponds to the second mobility management network element.

[0014] In one possible design, the relay node may obtain information from the network manager indicating that the second mobility management network element supports the relay function. Subsequently, a first interface may be established between the second mobility management network element and the relay node. The manner in which the relay node obtains the information from the network manager includes network manager pre-configuration or interaction with the network manager through information, which is not limited in this application.

[0015] In one possible design, the relay node may obtain information from the network manager indicating that the first mobility management network element supports the relay function. In this way, the relay node may send a protocol data unit (PDU) session establishment request to the first mobility management network element. The manner in which the relay node obtains the information from the network manager includes network manager pre-configuration or interaction with the network manager through information, which is not limited in this application.

[0016] In one possible design, the relay node may send a first establishment request message of the first interface to the host base station via the wireless bearer to establish a first interface between the relay node and the host base station.

[0017] In one possible design, the first establishment request message of the first interface may include an identifier of a second mobility management network element, where the second mobility management network element provides services for the base station function of the relay node. In this way, if the second mobility management network element is aware of the relay node, the first interface between the relay node and the second mobility management network element can be established through the donor base station.

[0018] In one possible design, the relay node may receive a first establishment response message of the first interface from the host base station via the wireless bearer to confirm that establishment of the first interface between the relay node and the host base station is complete.

[0019] In one possible design, the first establishment response message of the first interface may include an identifier of a second mobility management network element, which provides services for the base station function of the relay node. In this way, when the second mobility management network element is aware of the relay node, the completion of establishment of the first interface between the relay node and the second mobility management network element can be confirmed through the donor base station.

[0020] In one possible design, the relay node may send a first establishment request message of the second interface to the host base station via the wireless bearer to establish a second interface between the relay node and the host base station.

[0021] In one possible design, the first establishment request message of the second interface may include an identifier of the first base station. In this way, when the first base station can perceive the relay node, the second interface between the relay node and the first base station can be established through the host base station.

[0022] In one possible design, the relay node may receive a first establishment response message of the second interface from the host base station via the wireless bearer to confirm that establishment of the second interface between the relay node and the host base station is complete.

[0023] In one possible design, the first establishment response message of the second interface may include an identifier of the first base station. In this way, when the first base station can perceive the relay node, the establishment of the second interface between the relay node and the first base station can be confirmed through the host base station.

[0024] In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a first mobility management network element, a processor, a chip, or a functional module in the first mobility management network element. Taking the method applied to the first mobility management network element as an example, the method may include: after the first mobility management network element receives a protocol data unit (PDU) session establishment request from a relay node, sending a PDU session resource establishment request to the donor base station based on the PDU session establishment request. The PDU session establishment request includes first information; the relay node supports terminal device functions and base station functions; the first information indicates that the PDU session requested to be established is used to transmit information of a first interface and / or a second interface; the first mobility management network element provides services for the terminal device function of the relay node; the first interface is an interface between the relay node and a core network, and the second interface is an interface between the relay node and a first base station; the first base station is the same as or different from the donor base station of the relay node; the PDU session resource establishment request includes the first information; the PDU session resource establishment request is used to request the donor base station to establish a radio bearer, the radio bearer is related to the PDU session, and the radio bearer is used to transmit information of the first interface and / or the second interface.

[0025] Through the above method, the wireless bearer establishment between the relay node and the host base station can be realized based on the PDU session, and then the transmission of information of the first interface and / or the second interface can be realized. This method complies with the NR protocol, thereby realizing NR relay technology.

[0026] In one possible design, the radio bearer may include a data radio bearer DRB and / or a signaling radio bearer SRB.

[0027] In one possible design, the first information may include a slice identifier and / or a request type.

[0028] In one possible design, the PDU session establishment request may further include an identifier of a second mobility management network element that provides services for the base station function of the relay node. In this way, if the second mobility management network element is aware of the relay node, the radio bearer associated with the PDU session may be associated with the second mobility management network element when establishing the radio bearer.

[0029] In one possible design, the PDU session resource establishment request may also include an identifier of the second mobility management network element. In this way, when the second mobility management network element can perceive the relay node, the radio bearer associated with the PDU session can be made to correspond to the second mobility management network element when establishing the radio bearer.

[0030] In one possible design, the first mobility management network element may determine not to initiate the PDU session establishment process to other core network elements and send the PDU session resource establishment request to the donor base station. This can save signaling overhead.

[0031] In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a host base station, a processor, a chip, or a functional module in the host base station. Taking the method applied to the host base station as an example, the method may include: the host base station may receive a PDU session resource establishment request from a first mobility management network element, the PDU session resource establishment request including first information, the first information indicating that the PDU session requested to be established is used to transmit information of a first interface and / or a second interface; the first interface is the interface between the relay node and the core network, and the second interface is the interface between the relay node and the first base station; the first base station is the same as or different from the host base station of the relay node; the first mobility management network element provides services for the terminal device function of the relay node. Afterwards, the host base station may send a first message to the relay node based on the PDU session resource establishment request, the first message being used to indicate the establishment of a radio bearer between the relay node and the host base station, the radio bearer being related to the PDU session, and the radio bearer being used to transmit information of the first interface and / or the second interface.

[0032] Through the above method, the wireless bearer establishment between the relay node and the host base station can be realized based on the PDU session, and then the transmission of information of the first interface and / or the second interface can be realized. This method complies with the NR protocol, thereby realizing NR relay technology.

[0033] In one possible design, the radio bearer may include a data radio bearer DRB and / or a signaling radio bearer SRB.

[0034] In one possible design, the first information may include a slice identifier and / or a request type.

[0035] In one possible design, the PDU session resource establishment request may further include an identifier of the second mobility management network element, which provides services for the base station function of the relay node. In this way, when the second mobility management network element is aware of the relay node, the radio bearer associated with the PDU session can be associated with the second mobility management network element when establishing the radio bearer.

[0036] In one possible design, the first message can also be used to indicate that the wireless bearer corresponds to the second mobility management network element.

[0037] In one possible design, the donor base station may save the mapping relationship between the radio bearer and the second mobility management network element. In this way, when the donor base station subsequently receives a message sent via the radio bearer, it may determine to forward the message to the second mobility management network element.

[0038] In one possible design, the host base station receives a first establishment request message of a first interface from the relay node through the wireless bearer to establish a first interface between the relay node and the host base station.

[0039] In one possible design, the first establishment request message of the first interface may include an identifier of a second mobility management network element, where the second mobility management network element provides services for the base station function of the relay node. In this way, if the second mobility management network element is aware of the relay node, the first interface between the relay node and the second mobility management network element can be established through the donor base station.

[0040] In one possible design, the host base station may send a second establishment request message of the first interface to the second mobility management network element, where the second establishment request message of the first interface includes the base station identifier of the relay node and / or the first interface identifier of the terminal device function of the relay node, and the second mobility management network element provides services for the base station function of the relay node. In this way, when the second mobility management network element can perceive the relay node, the first interface between the relay node and the second mobility management network element can be established through the host base station.

[0041] In one possible design, the donor base station may receive a second establishment response message of the first interface from the second mobility management network element, where the second establishment response message of the first interface includes the base station identifier of the relay node and / or the first interface identifier of the terminal device function of the relay node. In this way, establishment of the first interface between the relay node and the second mobility management network element can be completed.

[0042] In one possible design, the host base station may send a first establishment response message of the first interface to the relay node via the wireless bearer to confirm that the establishment of the first interface between the relay node and the host base station is completed.

[0043] In one possible design, the first establishment response message of the first interface includes an identifier of a second mobility management network element, and the second mobility management network element provides services for the base station function of the relay node. In this way, when the second mobility management network element is aware of the relay node, the completion of establishment of the first interface between the relay node and the second mobility management network element can be confirmed through the donor base station.

[0044] In one possible design, the host base station may receive a second message from the relay node via the wireless bearer, where the second message may include the first interface message, and the second message may also include a first target Internet Protocol IP address; when the host base station determines that the first target IP address is the IP address of the host base station, the host base station may determine not to forward the second message; and / or, when the host base station determines that the first target IP address is not the IP address of the host base station, and the host base station determines that the first target IP address is the IP address of a second mobility management network element, the second message is forwarded to the second mobility management network element, and the second mobility management network element provides services for the base station function of the relay node. This completes the establishment of the first interface.

[0045] In one possible design, the host base station may receive a first establishment request message of the second interface from the relay node via the wireless bearer to establish a second interface between the relay node and the host base station.

[0046] In one possible design, the first establishment request message of the second interface may include an identifier of the first base station. In this way, when the first base station can perceive the relay node, the second interface between the relay node and the first base station can be established through the host base station.

[0047] In one possible design, the donor base station sends a second establishment request message of the second interface to the first base station, where the second establishment request message of the second interface includes the base station identifier of the relay node and / or the second interface identifier of the terminal device function of the relay node. In this way, if the first base station can perceive the relay node, the second interface between the relay node and the first base station can be established through the donor base station.

[0048] In one possible design, the donor base station receives a second establishment response message for the second interface from the first base station, where the second establishment response message for the second interface includes the base station identifier of the relay node and / or the second interface identifier of the terminal device function of the relay node. In this way, establishment of the second interface between the relay node and the first base station is completed.

[0049] In one possible design, the host base station may send a first establishment response message of the second interface to the relay node via the wireless bearer to confirm that the establishment of the second interface between the relay node and the host base station is completed.

[0050] In one possible design, the first establishment response message of the second interface includes an identifier of the first base station. In this way, when the first base station can perceive the relay node, the host base station can confirm that the second interface between the relay node and the first base station is established.

[0051] In one possible design, the donor base station may receive a third message from the relay node via the radio bearer, the third message including information about the second interface and further including a second target Internet Protocol (IP) address; when the donor base station determines that the second target IP address is the IP address of the donor base station, the donor base station determines not to forward the third message; and / or, when the donor base station determines that the second target IP address is not the IP address of the donor base station and the donor base station determines that the second target IP address is the IP address of the first base station, the donor base station forwards the third message to the first base station. This completes the establishment of the second interface.

[0052] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication method that can be applied to a relay node, a processor, a chip, or a functional module in the relay node. Taking the method applied to the relay node as an example, the method may include: the relay node may send a first establishment request message for the first interface to the donor base station, and receive a first establishment response message for the first interface from the donor base station. This completes the establishment of the first interface.

[0053] In one possible design, the first establishment request message of the first interface includes an identifier of a second mobility management network element, and the second mobility management network element provides services for the base station function of the relay node. In this way, if the second mobility management network element is aware of the relay node, the first interface between the relay node and the second mobility management network element can be established through the donor base station.

[0054] In one possible design, the first establishment response message of the first interface includes an identifier of a second mobility management network element, and the second mobility management network element provides services for the base station function of the relay node. In this way, when the second mobility management network element is aware of the relay node, the completion of establishment of the first interface between the relay node and the second mobility management network element can be confirmed through the donor base station.

[0055] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication method that can be applied to a donor base station, a processor, a chip, or a functional module in the donor base station. Taking the method applied to the donor base station as an example, the method can include: the donor base station receiving a first establishment request message for a first interface from the relay node, and sending a first establishment response message for the first interface to the relay node. This completes the establishment of the first interface.

[0056] In one possible design, the first establishment request message of the first interface includes an identifier of a second mobility management network element, and the second mobility management network element provides services for the base station function of the relay node. In this way, if the second mobility management network element is aware of the relay node, the first interface between the relay node and the second mobility management network element can be established through the donor base station.

[0057] In one possible design, the first establishment response message of the first interface includes an identifier of a second mobility management network element, and the second mobility management network element provides services for the base station function of the relay node. In this way, when the second mobility management network element is aware of the relay node, the completion of establishment of the first interface between the relay node and the second mobility management network element can be confirmed through the donor base station.

[0058] In one possible design, the host base station may send a second establishment request message of the first interface to the second mobility management network element, where the second establishment request message of the first interface includes the base station identifier of the relay node and / or the first interface identifier of the terminal device function of the relay node, and the second mobility management network element provides services for the base station function of the relay node. In this way, when the second mobility management network element can perceive the relay node, the first interface between the relay node and the second mobility management network element can be established through the host base station.

[0059] In one possible design, the donor base station may receive a second establishment response message of the first interface from the second mobility management network element, where the second establishment response message of the first interface includes the base station identifier of the relay node and / or the first interface identifier of the terminal device function of the relay node. In this way, establishment of the first interface between the relay node and the second mobility management network element can be completed.

[0060] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a relay node, a processor, a chip, or a functional module in the relay node. Taking the method applied to the relay node as an example, the method can include: the relay node sending a first establishment request message for the second interface to a donor base station, and receiving a first establishment response message for the second interface from the donor base station. This completes the establishment of the second interface.

[0061] In one possible design, the first establishment request message of the second interface includes an identifier of the first base station. In this way, when the first base station can perceive the relay node, the second interface between the relay node and the first base station can be established through the host base station.

[0062] In one possible design, the first establishment response message of the second interface includes the identifier of the first base station. In this way, when the first base station can perceive the relay node, the host base station can confirm that the second interface between the relay node and the first base station is established.

[0063] In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a donor base station, a processor, a chip, or a functional module in the donor base station. Taking the method applied to the donor base station as an example, the method may include: the donor base station receiving a first establishment request message for a second interface from a relay node, and sending a first establishment response message for the second interface to the relay node. This completes the establishment of the second interface.

[0064] In one possible design, the first establishment request message of the second interface may include an identifier of the first base station. In this way, when the first base station can perceive the relay node, the second interface between the relay node and the first base station can be established through the host base station.

[0065] In one possible design, the donor base station sends a second establishment request message of the second interface to the first base station, where the second establishment request message of the second interface includes the base station identifier of the relay node and / or the second interface identifier of the terminal device function of the relay node. In this way, if the first base station can perceive the relay node, the second interface between the relay node and the first base station can be established through the donor base station.

[0066] In one possible design, the donor base station receives a second establishment response message for the second interface from the first base station, where the second establishment response message for the second interface includes the base station identifier of the relay node and / or the second interface identifier of the terminal device function of the relay node. In this way, establishment of the second interface between the relay node and the first base station is completed.

[0067] In one possible design, the first establishment response message of the second interface includes an identifier of the first base station. In this way, when the first base station can perceive the relay node, the host base station can confirm that the second interface between the relay node and the first base station is established.

[0068] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a host base station, a processor, a chip or a functional module in the host base station, etc. Taking the application of this method to the host base station as an example, the method may include: the host base station receives a second message from the relay node, the second message includes information of a first interface, the first interface is the interface between the relay node and the core network, and the second message may also include a first target Internet Protocol IP address; when the host base station determines that the first target IP address is the IP address of the host base station, the host base station determines not to forward the second message; and / or, when the host base station determines that the first target IP address is not the IP address of the host base station, and the host base station determines that the first target IP address is the IP address of a second mobile management network element, the second message is forwarded to the second mobile management network element, and the second mobile management network element provides services for the base station function of the relay node. In this way, the establishment of the first interface can be completed.

[0069] In the ninth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be applied to a host base station, a processor, a chip or a functional module in the host base station, etc. Taking the application of this method to the host base station as an example, the method may include: the host base station receives a third message from the relay node, and the third message may include information of the second interface, the second interface being the interface between the relay node and the first base station; the first base station is the same as or different from the host base station; the third message may also include a second target Internet Protocol IP address; when the host base station determines that the second target IP address is the IP address of the host base station, the host base station determines not to forward the third message; and / or, when the host base station determines that the second target IP address is not the IP address of the host base station, and the host base station determines that the second target IP address is the IP address of the first base station, the third message is forwarded to the first base station. In this way, the establishment of the second interface can be completed.

[0070] In a tenth aspect, the present application further provides a communication device, which can be applied to a relay node, and the communication device has the function of implementing the method in the first aspect or each possible design example of the first aspect, or the fourth aspect or each possible design example of the fourth aspect, or the sixth aspect or each possible design example of the sixth aspect. The function can be implemented by hardware, or can be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0071] In one possible design, the structure of the communication device may include a transceiver unit and a processing unit, which can perform the functions of the method in the above-mentioned first aspect or each possible design example of the first aspect, or the above-mentioned fourth aspect or each possible design example of the fourth aspect, or the above-mentioned sixth aspect or each possible design example of the sixth aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0072] In one possible design, the structure of the communication device includes a processor, and optionally also includes a memory and / or a transceiver, wherein the transceiver is used to transmit and receive signals, data, messages or information, and to communicate and interact with other devices in the communication system, and the processor is configured to support the communication device in performing the corresponding functions in the first aspect or each possible design example of the first aspect, or the fourth aspect or each possible design example of the fourth aspect, or the sixth aspect or each possible design example of the sixth aspect. The memory is coupled to the processor and stores the necessary program instructions and data for the communication device.

[0073] In an eleventh aspect, the present application further provides a communication device, which can be applied to a first mobility management network element, and has the function of implementing the method in the second aspect or each possible design example of the second aspect. The function can be implemented by hardware, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0074] In one possible design, the structure of the communication device may include a transceiver unit and a processing unit, which can perform the corresponding functions in the above-mentioned second aspect or various possible design examples of the second aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0075] In one possible design, the communication device includes a processor and, optionally, a memory and / or a transceiver. The transceiver is used to transmit and receive signals, data, messages, or information, and to communicate and interact with other devices in the communication system. The processor is configured to support the communication device in performing the corresponding functions of the above-mentioned second aspect or each possible design example of the second aspect. The memory is coupled to the processor and stores program instructions and data necessary for the communication device.

[0076] In the twelfth aspect, the present application also provides a communication device, which can be applied to a host base station, and the communication device has the function of implementing the method in the third aspect or each possible design example of the third aspect, or the fifth aspect or each possible design example of the fifth aspect, or the seventh aspect or each possible design example of the seventh aspect, or the eighth aspect or each possible design example of the eighth aspect, or the ninth aspect or each possible design example of the ninth aspect. The function can be implemented by hardware, or the corresponding software can be implemented by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above functions.

[0077] In one possible design, the structure of the communication device may include a transceiver unit and a processing unit, which can perform the functions of the method in the third aspect or each possible design example of the third aspect, or the fifth aspect or each possible design example of the fifth aspect, or the seventh aspect or each possible design example of the seventh aspect, or the eighth aspect or each possible design example of the eighth aspect, or the ninth aspect or each possible design example of the ninth aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0078] In one possible design, the structure of the communication device includes a processor, and optionally also includes a memory and / or a transceiver, the transceiver is used to send and receive signals, data, messages or information, and is used to communicate and interact with other devices in the communication system, and the processor is configured to support the communication device to perform the corresponding functions in the third aspect or each possible design example of the third aspect, or the fifth aspect or each possible design example of the fifth aspect, or the seventh aspect or each possible design example of the seventh aspect, or the eighth aspect or each possible design example of the eighth aspect, or the ninth aspect or each possible design example of the ninth aspect. The memory is coupled to the processor and stores the necessary program instructions and data for the communication device.

[0079] In a thirteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, which may include a relay node, a first mobility management network element, and a host base station, etc. The relay node is used to implement the method in the above-mentioned first aspect or each possible design example of the first aspect, or the above-mentioned fourth aspect or each possible design example of the fourth aspect. The first mobility management network element is used to implement the method in the above-mentioned second aspect or each possible design example of the second aspect. The host base station is used to implement the method in the above-mentioned third aspect or each possible design example of the third aspect, or the above-mentioned fifth aspect or each possible design example of the fifth aspect, or the above-mentioned seventh aspect or each possible design example of the seventh aspect, or the above-mentioned eighth aspect or each possible design example of the eighth aspect, or the above-mentioned ninth aspect or each possible design example of the ninth aspect.

[0080] In a fourteenth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores program instructions. When the program instructions are executed on a computer, the computer performs the method described in the first aspect and any possible design thereof, or the second aspect and any possible design thereof, or the third aspect and any possible design thereof, or the fourth aspect and any possible design thereof, or the fifth aspect and any possible design thereof, or the sixth aspect and any possible design thereof, or the seventh aspect and any possible design thereof, or the eighth aspect and any possible design thereof, or the ninth aspect and any possible design thereof. Exemplarily, the computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example and not limitation, the computer-readable medium can include non-transitory computer-readable media, random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage medium or other magnetic storage device, 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.

[0081] In aspect 15, an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product comprising instructions, which, when executed on a computer, causes the method described in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, or the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect, or the third aspect and any possible design thereof, or the fourth aspect and any possible design thereof, or the fifth aspect and any possible design thereof, or the sixth aspect and any possible design thereof, or the seventh aspect and any possible design thereof, or the eighth aspect and any possible design thereof, or the ninth aspect and any possible design thereof to be executed.

[0082] In the sixteenth aspect, the present application also provides a chip, including a processor, which is coupled to a memory and is used to read and execute program instructions stored in the memory, so that the chip implements the method described in the above-mentioned first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, or the above-mentioned second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect, or the third aspect and any possible design thereof, or the fourth aspect and any possible design thereof, or the fifth aspect and any possible design thereof, or the sixth aspect and any possible design thereof, or the seventh aspect and any possible design thereof, or the eighth aspect and any possible design thereof, or the ninth aspect and any possible design thereof.

[0083] For each of the above-mentioned aspects from the fifth to the twelfth aspects and the technical effects that may be achieved by each of the aspects, please refer to the above-mentioned description of the technical effects that can be achieved with respect to the first aspect or the various possible solutions in the first aspect, or the above-mentioned second aspect or the various possible solutions in the second aspect, or the third aspect and the various possible solutions in the third aspect, or the fourth aspect and the various possible solutions in the fourth aspect, or the above-mentioned fifth aspect or the various possible solutions in the fifth aspect, or the sixth aspect and the various possible solutions in the sixth aspect, or the seventh aspect and the various possible solutions in the seventh aspect, or the eighth aspect and the various possible solutions in the eighth aspect, or the ninth aspect and the various possible solutions in the ninth aspect, and no further details will be given here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0084] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided by the present application;

[0085] FIG2 is a flow chart of a communication method provided by the present application;

[0086] FIG3 is a flow chart of another communication method provided by the present application;

[0087] FIG4 is a flow chart of another communication method provided by the present application;

[0088] FIG5 is a flow chart of another communication method provided by the present application;

[0089] FIG6 is a flow chart of another communication method provided by the present application;

[0090] FIG7 is a flow chart of another communication method provided by the present application;

[0091] FIG8 is a flow chart of another communication method provided by the present application;

[0092] FIG9 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided by the present application;

[0093] FIG10 is a structural diagram of a communication device provided in this application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0094] The present application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0095] The present application provides a communication method and apparatus for implementing NR L3 relay technology. The method and apparatus described herein are based on the same technical concept. Since the method and apparatus solve similar problems, the implementation of the apparatus and method can refer to each other, and any repetitions will not be repeated.

[0096] In the description of this application, words such as "first" and "second" are only used for the purpose of distinguishing the description and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or order.

[0097] In the description of this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "more" means two or more. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can mean: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a, b, and c, where a, b, and c can be single or plural.

[0098] In the description of this application, "and / or" describes the relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, "A and / or B" can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. A and B can be singular or plural. " / " means "or", for example, a / b means a or b.

[0099] In order to more clearly describe the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the communication method and device provided in the embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0100] FIG1 shows the architecture of a possible communication system applicable to the communication method provided in this application, which may include a network management system, a core network element, a relay node, a donor base station, a first base station, and a terminal device, etc. Among them:

[0101] The network manager may be responsible for the management and maintenance of the relay node. For example, the network manager may be an operation, management and maintenance (OAM) network element or server.

[0102] Relay nodes can be used to provide access and wireless backhaul services for terminal devices. Relay nodes can provide terminal device functions and base station functions. It can also be understood that relay nodes can include relay-MT (module) and relay-base station (gNB) (module).

[0103] The host base station can serve as the host node of the relay node. Optionally, the host base station can be a transmission reception point (TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB) in a fifth generation (5G) mobile communication system, a radio network controller (RNC), a NodeB (NB), a base station controller (BSC), a base transceiver station (BTS), a home base station (e.g., a home evolved NodeB, or home NodeB, HNB), a baseband unit (BBU) or a remote radio unit (RRU), a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) access point (AP), or a baseband pool (BBU pool) and RRU in a cloud radio access network (CRAN). Optionally, the host base station may also include a module or unit that performs some of the functions of the base station. For example, the host base station may include a centralized unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU), that is, the host base station may include a host-CU and a host-DU. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific equipment form adopted by the host base station.

[0104] The first base station can be the same base station as the donor base station, or it can be a different base station from the donor base station. The identifier of the first base station can include a gNB ID and / or an IP address. The description of the first base station can refer to the donor base station and is not further described here.

[0105] Core network elements may include mobility management elements and user plane function (UPF) elements. The mobility management element may be an access and mobility management function (AMF) element, and the identifier of the mobility management element may include an AMF ID and / or IP address. The AMF is responsible for access and mobility management functions, including user registration, reachability, mobility management, access authentication, and authorization. The UPF is responsible for the user plane functions of the core network, including providing user message forwarding, processing, connection to the DN, session anchoring, and quality of service (QoS) policy enforcement.

[0106] Terminal equipment, also known as user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), or mobile terminal (MT), provides voice and / or data connectivity to users. For example, terminal equipment can include handheld devices and vehicle-mounted devices with wireless connectivity. Currently, terminal devices may be: cellular phones, smart phones, wireless data cards, personal digital assistants (PDAs), computers, mobile phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, handheld computers, wireless modems, laptop computers, mobile internet devices (MIDs), wearable devices, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, extended reality (XR) devices, mixed reality (MR) devices, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self-driving, wireless terminals in remote medical surgery, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart cities, or wireless terminals in smart homes, etc. The terminal device may also be a device-to-device (D2D) terminal device, a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication terminal device, an intelligent vehicle, a telematics box (TBOX), a machine-to-machine / machine-type communications (M2M / MTC) terminal device, or an Internet of Things (IoT) terminal device. For example, the terminal device may be a vehicle, ship, or aircraft, or a terminal-type roadside unit, or a communication module or chip built into a vehicle or roadside unit. For example, the terminal device may be an onboard module.The various terminal devices described above, if located on a vehicle, such as placed inside or installed inside a vehicle, can be considered as vehicle-mounted terminal devices, which are also referred to as on-board units (OBUs). Terminal devices can also be smart devices such as amusement equipment, smart appliances, or drones. In this application, a terminal device can also be a functional module, chip, or chip system. Optionally, the functional module, chip, or chip system can be set within the terminal device.

[0107] Exemplarily, a first interface and / or a second interface needs to be established between the relay node and the host base station. For example, in Figure 1, the first interface can be shown as an NG interface, and the second interface can be shown as an Xn interface. Optionally, if it is assumed that the AMF can perceive the relay node, the relay node can also directly establish a logical first interface with the AMF, and the information between the AMF and the relay node can be forwarded through the host base station. Similarly, if it is assumed that the first base station can perceive the relay node, the relay node can also establish a logical second interface with the first base station, and the information between the first base station and the relay node can be forwarded through the host base station.

[0108] The terminal device and the host base station can communicate via the Uu interface. The host base station and the first base station can communicate via the Xn interface. The host base stations and the core network elements can communicate via the NG interface. The core network elements and the network management can communicate via the Internet Protocol (IP).

[0109] It should be understood that the architecture of the communication system shown in FIG1 is not limited to including only the devices shown in the figure, but may also include other devices not shown in the figure, which are not listed here in detail.

[0110] In addition, the distribution form shown in FIG1 is only exemplary and not limiting.

[0111] NR-type L3 relay is a potential research direction for Release 19. NR has some differences from LTE. Direct migration of LTE relay technology may lead to the following problems:

[0112] 1. In LTE relay, DeNB is allowed to trigger the establishment of RN-MT data radio bearer (DRB). However, in NR, the establishment of DRB is triggered by the terminal device's protocol data unit (PDU) session. Only when the terminal device wants to initiate a service will the base station establish a DRB with the corresponding quality of service (QoS). The base station does not currently support the establishment of DRB. When establishing a PDU session in NR, new features such as slice identification must also be carried. Slicing is a mandatory feature of NR. The slice identification needs to be indicated when establishing the PDU session and DRB.

[0113] 2. In LTE relays, the DeNB assumes some mobility management entity (MME) functionality, providing MME services to the RN. This may complicate the DeNB. Whether to continue this approach in NR and integrate some AMF functionality into the DgNB requires further discussion. In other words, the assumption that the MME is unaware of the RN increases host complexity. In NR, it may be possible to make the AMF aware of the RN.

[0114] 3. LTE relays only support fixed deployment, and network access requires two steps, leaving room for improvement in efficiency and flexibility.

[0115] From the above, it can be seen that the overall design of LTE relay and NR is not sufficiently compatible, and LTE relay itself has some shortcomings, so the relevant technologies of LTE L3 relay cannot be directly applied to NR L3 relay. Based on this, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication method to implement NR L3 relay technology.

[0116] In the following embodiments, the operation performed by a certain device may also be performed by a processor, chip, or a functional module in a certain device, and this application does not limit this. For example, the operation performed by a relay node may also be performed by a processor, chip, or a functional module in the relay node.

[0117] Based on the above description, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. Referring to FIG2 , the process of the method may include the following steps:

[0118] Step 201: The relay node sends a PDU session establishment request to the first mobility management network element. Correspondingly, the first mobility management network element receives the PDU session establishment request from the relay node.

[0119] The relay node supports both terminal device and base station functions. It can be understood that the relay node includes two parts: the relay-MT and the relay-gNB.

[0120] The first mobility management network element may provide services for the terminal device function of the relay node.

[0121] Optionally, the relay node sends the PDU session establishment request to the first mobility management network element, which may be the relay-MT sending the PDU session establishment request to the first mobility management network element.

[0122] The PDU session establishment request includes first information, which can be used to indicate that the PDU session requested to be established is used to transmit information of a first interface and / or a second interface. The first interface is an interface between the relay node and the core network, and the second interface is an interface between the relay node and the first base station.

[0123] Among them, the information indicating that the PDU session requested to be established is used to transmit the first interface and / or the second interface can also be understood as the PDU session being related to the first interface and / or the second interface. For example, the first information may include information indicating that the type of the PDU session is related to the first interface and / or information related to the first interface; or the first information may also include information indicating that the type of the PDU session is related to the first interface, and / or information indicating that the type of the PDU session is related to the second interface, which is not limited in this application.

[0124] Optionally, the first information may include a slice identifier (e.g., single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI)) and / or a request type.

[0125] For example, the first interface may be an NG interface, and the second interface may be an Xn interface.

[0126] The first base station is a device that is different from the module that supports base station functions of the relay node. Optionally, the first base station can be the same base station as the host base station, or a different base station from the host base station, which is not limited in this application. Exemplarily, the first base station can also be called a neighbor gNB.

[0127] In an optional implementation, the network manager may configure the relay node with information indicating that the first mobility management network element supports the relay function (e.g., through pre-configuration or online configuration). The first mobility management network element may respond to the PDU session establishment request of the relay node and trigger the donor base station to establish a radio bearer.

[0128] In another optional implementation, the network management may further configure the relay node with information that the second mobility management network element supports the relay function (for example, through pre-configuration or online configuration). The second mobility management network element provides services for the base station function of the relay node. The second mobility management network element may be used to establish a first interface between the relay node and the core network. Optionally, when the second mobility management network element perceives the relay node and needs to establish a first interface between the second mobility management network element and the relay node, the network management may indicate to the relay node the information that the second mobility management network element supports the relay function.

[0129] The first mobility management network element and the second mobility management network element may be the same or different, and this application does not limit this.

[0130] In another optional implementation, the relay node may be preconfigured with information about a first mobility management network element supporting the relay function and information about a second mobility management network element. Alternatively, all mobility management network elements may be predefined to support the relay function.

[0131] In one example, the PDU session establishment request may further include an identifier of a second mobility management network element, so that when a radio bearer is subsequently established, the radio bearer associated with the PDU session is associated with the second mobility management network element. Optionally, when the second mobility management network element can perceive a relay node, the PDU session establishment request includes the identifier of the second mobility management network element.

[0132] Step 202: The first mobility management network element sends a PDU session resource establishment request to the donor base station based on the PDU session establishment request, wherein the PDU session resource establishment request includes the first information. Correspondingly, the donor base station receives the PDU session resource request from the first mobility management network element.

[0133] In some embodiments, the donor base station may include a CU and a DU. In this scenario, the first mobility management network element may send the PDU session resource establishment request to the CU.

[0134] The PDU session resource establishment request can be used to request the establishment of resources for the PDU session service of the relay-MT. It can also be understood that the PDU session resource establishment request is used to request the donor base station to establish a radio bearer, the radio bearer is related to the PDU session, and the radio bearer is used to transmit information of the first interface and / or the second interface.

[0135] For example, the radio bearer may include a DRB and / or a signaling radio bearer (SRB).

[0136] In an optional embodiment, when the first mobility management network element determines not to initiate the PDU session establishment process to other core network elements, it may send the PDU session resource establishment request to the donor base station. Currently, because PDU sessions are user-plane requirements, when the mobility management network element receives a request from a terminal device to establish a PDU session, it will further initiate subsequent processes to the session management function network element and the user-plane function network element. However, in the present application, the first mobility management network element may not initiate subsequent user plane processes to the session management function network element and the user plane function network element that provide services for the terminal device function of the relay node, because this PDU session is only to help establish a data radio bearer between the relay-MT and the host base station. The data of the relay-gNB is transmitted to the host base station via the data radio bearer. The host base station may directly map it to the general packet radio service (GPRS) tunneling protocol (GPRS tunneling protocol-U, GTP-U) tunnel of the terminal device and may no longer be transmitted through the PDU session of the relay-MT. Therefore, in the present application, a formal PDU session can be directly established, eliminating the interaction between the first mobility management network element and other core network function network elements, that is, the first mobility management network element sends a PDU session resource establishment request to the host base station.

[0137] Optionally, if the aforementioned PDU session establishment request further includes the identifier of the second mobility management network element, correspondingly, the PDU session resource establishment request may also include the identifier of the second mobility management network element.

[0138] Step 203: The donor base station sends a first message to the relay node according to the PDU session resource establishment request. The first message can be used to instruct the establishment of a radio bearer between the relay node and the donor base station.

[0139] Optionally, the first message may also be used to indicate that the radio bearer corresponds to a second mobility management network element. Exemplarily, the donor base station may save a mapping relationship between the radio bearer of the relay-MT and the second mobility management network element. In this way, the second mobility management network element is bound to the radio bearer. When the donor base station receives data from the first interface of the relay-gNB from a certain radio bearer, it knows to which mobility management network element to forward it (it should be understood that this forwarding is forwarding when the second mobility management network element can perceive the relay node). In this way, the first interface message between the relay-gNB and the donor base station does not need to carry the identifier of the second mobility management network element, which can reduce the impact on the current protocol.

[0140] Exemplarily, the first message may be a radio resource control (RRC) message, such as an RRC reconfiguration (RRC reconfiguration) message.

[0141] In a scenario where the donor base station includes a CU and a DU, the CU may send the first message to the relay node. Optionally, the CU may send the first message to a relay-MT.

[0142] In a possible manner, the CU may further send a message to the DU for instructing to establish a radio bearer between the relay node and the donor base station.

[0143] When the CU sends to the DU a message for instructing the establishment of a DRB between the relay node and the host base station, the message may include a slice identifier, and the slice identifier is related to the first interface and / or the second interface. Optionally, the message for instructing the establishment of a DRB between the relay node and the host base station may include an indication information indicating that the DRB can be used to transmit information of the first interface and / or the second interface.

[0144] When the CU sends a message to the DU for instructing the establishment of an SRB between the relay node and the host base station, the message may not include a slice identifier. Optionally, the message for instructing the establishment of an SRB between the relay node and the host base station may include an indication information indicating that the SRB can be used to transmit information of the first interface and / or the second interface.

[0145] Furthermore, after the resource configuration between the host base station and the relay node is completed, that is, after the wireless bearer between the host base station and the relay node is established, the DU can send a response message to the CU in response to the message sent by the CU to the DU to instruct the establishment of a wireless bearer between the relay node and the host base station.

[0146] Accordingly, the donor base station may send a PDU session resource establishment response message to the first mobility management network element to indicate that the PDU session resource establishment is complete. For example, the CU sends a response PDU session resource establishment response message to the first mobility management network element.

[0147] Furthermore, the first mobility management network element may send a PDU session establishment response message to the relay node to indicate that the PDU session establishment is complete. For example, the first mobility management network element may send a PDU session establishment response message to the relay-MT.

[0148] Through the above steps, the radio bearer can be successfully established between the relay node and the donor base station.

[0149] In addition to the communication method shown in the embodiment of FIG2 , the present application also provides another communication method to implement the establishment of a radio bearer between a relay node and a donor base station. Referring to FIG3 , the process of the method may include the following steps:

[0150] Step 301: The relay node sends a message to the donor base station requesting to establish a radio bearer, where the radio bearer is a DRB or an SRB.

[0151] In a scenario where the donor base station includes a CU and a DU, the relay-MT may send a message to the CU requesting establishment of a radio bearer, as shown in FIG3 .

[0152] Optionally, the message requesting establishment of a radio bearer may include indication information, which may be used to indicate that the radio bearer is used to transmit information of the first interface and / or the second interface. For the description of the first interface and the second interface, reference may be made to the description of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0153] In some embodiments, the message requesting establishment of a radio bearer may further include an identifier of the second mobility management network element and / or an identifier of the first base station. For the relevant description of the second mobility management network element and the first base station, reference may be made to the relevant description in the embodiment shown in FIG2 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0154] In one embodiment, if the indication information included in the message requesting the establishment of a wireless bearer indicates that the wireless bearer is used to transmit information of the first interface, the message requesting the establishment of the wireless bearer may also include an identifier of the second mobile management network element; if the indication information included in the message requesting the establishment of a wireless bearer indicates that the wireless bearer is used to transmit information of the second interface, the message requesting the establishment of the wireless bearer may also include an identifier of the first base station; if the indication information included in the message requesting the establishment of a wireless bearer indicates that the wireless bearer is used to transmit information of the first interface and the second interface, the message requesting the establishment of a wireless bearer may also include an identifier of the second mobile management network element and an identifier of the first base station.

[0155] It should be understood that two indication information may be used to respectively indicate that the radio bearer is used to transmit the information of the first interface and that the radio bearer is used to transmit the information of the second interface, and the message requesting to establish the radio bearer includes one or both of the two indication information.

[0156] The message requesting establishment of a radio bearer may be an RRC message, etc.

[0157] Among them, step 301 is an optional step.

[0158] Step 302: The donor base station sends a message for configuring a radio bearer to the relay node.

[0159] In a scenario where the donor base station includes a CU and a DU, the CU may send a message for configuring a radio bearer to the relay-MT, as shown in FIG3 .

[0160] The message for configuring the radio bearer may include indication information, and the indication information may be used to indicate that the radio bearer is used to transmit information of the first interface and / or the second interface.

[0161] In some embodiments, the message for configuring the radio bearer may further include an identifier of the second mobility management network element and / or an identifier of the first base station.

[0162] In one embodiment, if the indication information included in the message for configuring the wireless bearer indicates that the wireless bearer is used to transmit information of the first interface, the message for configuring the wireless bearer may also include an identifier of the second mobile management network element; if the indication information included in the message for configuring the wireless bearer indicates that the wireless bearer is used to transmit information of the second interface, the message for configuring the wireless bearer may also include an identifier of the first base station; if the indication information included in the message for configuring the wireless bearer indicates that the wireless bearer is used to transmit information of the first interface and the second interface, the message for configuring the wireless bearer may also include an identifier of the second mobile management network element and an identifier of the first base station.

[0163] It should be understood that two indication information may be used to respectively indicate that the radio bearer is used to transmit the information of the first interface and the radio bearer is used to transmit the information of the second interface, and the message for configuring the radio bearer includes one or both of the two indication information.

[0164] After the radio bearer configuration is completed, information of the first interface and / or the second interface may be transmitted on the radio bearer.

[0165] The message for configuring the radio bearer may be an RRC message or the like.

[0166] In some embodiments, the initial wireless bearer transmission of the first interface and / or the second interface information when the relay-MT enters the network to establish an RRC connection can also be used between the host base station and the relay node. This application does not limit this.

[0167] Based on the above embodiments, the present application also provides another communication method, which can implement the establishment of the first interface. Exemplarily, the communication method may include the following three possible implementations:

[0168] For example, referring to FIG4 , a possible implementation a1 may include the following steps:

[0169] Step 401a1: The relay node sends a first interface message 1 to the donor base station.

[0170] The relay node may send the first interface message 1 to the donor base station through the radio bearer established in the aforementioned embodiment.

[0171] In the process of establishing the first interface, the first interface message 1 may include a first establishment request message of the first interface to request the establishment of the first interface.

[0172] It should be understood that the first interface message 1 may be a message of other functions other than the first establishment request message of the first interface. This application only shows an example of a message in the process of establishing the first interface, but it is not a limitation of this application.

[0173] Exemplarily, the relay-gNB may send a first interface message 1 to the donor base station.

[0174] For example, in a scenario where the donor base station includes a CU and a DU, the relay-gNB can send a first interface message 1 to the CU. Step 401a1 in Figure 4 is shown as an example, and it should be understood that it is not a limitation of this application.

[0175] Optionally, the first interface message 1 may include an identifier of a second mobility management network element. The second mobility management network element may refer to the above-mentioned related description, which will not be repeated here.

[0176] In the case where the second mobility management network element can perceive the relay node and the donor base station has not bound a mapping relationship between the radio bearer and the second mobility management network element, the first interface message 1 may include the identifier of the second mobility management network element. This can instruct the donor base station to subsequently forward related messages of the first interface to the second mobility management network element.

[0177] Step 402b1: The donor base station sends a first interface message 2 to the second mobility management network element.

[0178] In the process of establishing the first interface, the first interface message 2 may include a second establishment request message of the first interface.

[0179] It should be understood that the first interface message 2 may be a message of other functions other than the second establishment request message of the first interface. This application only shows an example of a message in the process of establishing the first interface, but it is not intended to limit this application.

[0180] Step 402b1 is an optional step. For example, if the second mobility management network element can sense the relay node, step 402b1 exists.

[0181] For example, in a scenario where the host base station includes a CU and a DU, the CU may send a first interface message 2 to the second mobility management network element. Step 402b1 in FIG4 is illustrated as an example, and it should be understood that this is not a limitation of the present application.

[0182] Exemplarily, the first interface message 2 may include the base station identifier of the relay node and / or the first interface identifier of the terminal device function of the relay node. The base station identifier of the relay node may also be understood as the base station function identifier of the relay node, which is not limited in this application.

[0183] For example, the base station identifier of the relay node may be an identifier of a relay-gNB, such as a relay-gNB identifier (identity, ID) and / or an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the relay-gNB.

[0184] The first interface identifier of the terminal device function of the relay node can be the UE NGAP ID of the relay-MT, etc.

[0185] When the first interface message 2 includes the first interface identifier of the terminal equipment function of the relay node, the first interface-level message between the relay-gNB can be delivered via the UE-associated first interface message about the relay-MT. In this case, the second mobility management network element is the same as the first mobility management network element providing services for the terminal equipment function of the relay.

[0186] Step 403c1: The second mobility management network element sends a first interface message 3 to the donor base station.

[0187] In the process of establishing the first interface, the first interface message 3 may include a second establishment response message of the first interface.

[0188] The first interface message 3 is used to respond to the first interface message 2. For example, the second setup response message of the first interface is used to respond to the second setup request message of the first interface.

[0189] It should be understood that the first interface message 3 may be a message of other functions other than the second establishment affecting message of the first interface. This application only shows an example of a message in the process of establishing the first interface, but it is not a limitation of this application.

[0190] Step 403c1 is an optional step. For example, if the second mobility management network element can sense the relay node, step 403c1 exists.

[0191] For example, in a scenario where the host base station includes a CU and a DU, the second mobility management network element may send a first interface message 3 to the CU. Step 403c1 in FIG4 is illustrated as an example, and it should be understood that this is not a limitation of the present application.

[0192] Optionally, the first interface message 3 may include the base station identifier of the relay node and / or the first interface identifier of the terminal device function of the relay node.

[0193] Step 404d1: The donor base station sends a first interface message 4 to the relay node.

[0194] The donor base station may send the first interface message 4 to the relay node via the radio bearer established in the aforementioned embodiment.

[0195] In the process of establishing the first interface, the first interface message 4 may include a first establishment response message of the first interface.

[0196] The first interface message 4 is used to respond to the first interface message 1. For example, the first setup response message of the first interface is used to respond to the first setup request message of the first interface.

[0197] It should be understood that the first interface message 4 may be a message of other functions other than the first establishment response message of the first interface. This application only shows an example of a message in the process of establishing the first interface, but it is not intended to limit this application.

[0198] Exemplarily, the donor base station may send a first interface message 4 to the relay-gNB.

[0199] For example, in a scenario where the donor base station includes a CU and a DU, the CU can send a first interface message 4 to the relay-gNB. Step 404d1 in Figure 4 is illustrated as an example, and it should be understood that this is not a limitation of the present application.

[0200] Optionally, the first interface message 4 may include an identifier of the second mobility management network element.

[0201] Step 405e1: The donor base station sends a radio access network configuration update message to a third mobility management network element. The third mobility management network element provides services for the donor base station. The third mobility management network element can be different from or the same as the first and second mobility management network elements, and this application does not limit this.

[0202] The radio access network configuration update (eg, RAN CONFIGURATION UPDATE NGAP message) message may be used to notify the third mobility management network element that a new cell is generated under the donor base station.

[0203] Step 405e1 is optional. For example, if the second mobility management network element cannot perceive the relay node, step 405e1 is present. In other words, if steps 402b1 and 403c1 are present, step 405e1 is absent; if steps 402b1 and 403c1 are absent, step 405e1 is present.

[0204] Optionally, in the first interface establishment process, step 405e1 may exist, and in other processes, step 405e1 may not exist.

[0205] Based on the above steps, the first interface between the relay node and the core network can be established.

[0206] It should be noted that in this application, when the second mobility management network element can perceive the relay node, the messages sent between the relay-gNB and the second mobility management network element through the host base station can be called first interface level messages, and the first interface level messages can include the base station identifier of the relay node and / or the first interface identifier of the terminal device function of the relay node.

[0207] For another example, referring to FIG4 , a possible implementation a2 may include the following steps:

[0208] Step 401a2: The relay node sends a second message to the donor base station, where the second message includes information about the first interface and may further include a first target IP address.

[0209] The second message may include information about the first interface and the first target IP address. Alternatively, the second message may include information about the first interface, and the information about the first interface may include the first target IP address.

[0210] The second message may be used to request establishment of a first interface.

[0211] Exemplarily, the relay-gNB may send a second message to the donor base station. Step 404a2 in FIG. 4 is illustrated as an example, and it should be understood that this is not a limitation of the present application.

[0212] Step 402b2: The donor base station determines whether the first target IP address is the IP address of the donor base station. If yes, the donor base station executes step 403c2; otherwise, the donor base station executes step 404d2.

[0213] Step 403c2: The donor base station determines not to forward the second message.

[0214] Step 404d2: The donor base station determines that the first target IP address is the IP address of the second mobility management network element, and forwards the second message to the second mobility management network element.

[0215] It should be understood that the donor base station may only execute step 402b2 and step 403c2, or only execute step 402b2 and step 404d2, or execute step 402b2-step 404d2, and this application does not limit this.

[0216] In the scenario where the host base station includes a CU and a DU, the present application is not limited to the CU or DU implementing the operations of the host base station in steps 401a2 to 404d2. FIG4 only takes the CU as an example and does not serve as a limitation on the present application.

[0217] Optionally, the second message may be a message other than a message for requesting establishment of the first interface. That is, all first interface-level messages sent between the relay-gNB and the second mobility management network element through the donor base station can be forwarded using the above-mentioned IP address-based forwarding method.

[0218] It should be understood that the process of the above-mentioned implementation method a2 is the process from the relay node to the second mobile management network element, and the message forwarding from the second mobile management network element to the relay node is the reverse process corresponding to the above process. For example, the process of the second mobile management network element sending the establishment response message of the first interface is the reverse process of the above process, and will not be described in detail here.

[0219] Based on the above steps, the first interface between the relay node and the core network can be established.

[0220] For another example, a possible implementation manner a3 may be a combination of the above-mentioned implementation manner a1 and implementation manner a2. For details, please refer to the above description and will not be repeated here.

[0221] For example, in implementation a3, when the relay node exchanges a first interface-level message (e.g., a message requesting establishment of the first interface or a response message for establishing the first interface) with the second mobility management network element via the donor base station, implementation a1 may be employed. Furthermore, after the second mobility management network element and the relay node subsequently exchange IP addresses via first interface-level messages (e.g., the relay-gNB sends an NGAP message to the second mobility management network element, notifying the second mobility management network element of its IP address; and the second mobility management network element sends an NGAP message to the relay-gNB, notifying the relay-gNB of its IP address; optionally, the NGAP message exchanged this time may be a message requesting establishment of the first interface or a response message for establishing the first interface), implementation a2 may be employed between the relay-gNB and the second mobility management element.

[0222] Similarly, the embodiment of the present application also provides another communication method, which can realize the establishment of the second interface. Exemplarily, the communication method can include the following three possible implementations:

[0223] For example, referring to FIG5 , a possible implementation b1 may include the following steps:

[0224] Step 501a1: The relay node sends a second interface message 1 to the donor base station.

[0225] The relay node may send the second interface message 1 to the donor base station through the radio bearer established in the aforementioned embodiment.

[0226] In the process of establishing the second interface, the second interface message 1 may include a first establishment request message of the second interface to request the establishment of the second interface.

[0227] It should be understood that the second interface message 1 may be a message of other functions other than the first establishment request message of the second interface. This application only shows an example of a message in the process of establishing the second interface, but it is not intended to limit this application.

[0228] Exemplarily, the relay-gNB may send a second interface message 1 to the donor base station.

[0229] For example, in a scenario where the donor base station includes a CU and a DU, the relay-gNB can send a second interface message 1 to the CU. Step 501a1 in Figure 5 is illustrated as an example, and it should be understood that this is not a limitation of the present application.

[0230] Optionally, the second interface message 1 may include an identifier of the first base station. For details about the first base station, refer to the above related descriptions, which will not be repeated here.

[0231] Wherein, when the first base station can perceive the relay node, the second interface message 1 may include the identifier of the first base station, so as to instruct the donor base station to subsequently forward the relevant messages of the second interface to the first base station.

[0232] Step 502b1: the donor base station sends a second interface message 2 to the first base station.

[0233] In the process of establishing the second interface, the second interface message 2 may include a second establishment request message of the second interface.

[0234] It should be understood that the second interface message 2 may be a message of other functions other than the second establishment request message of the second interface. This application only shows an example of a message in the process of establishing the second interface, but it is not intended to limit this application.

[0235] Step 502b1 is an optional step. For example, if the first base station can sense the relay node, step 502b1 exists.

[0236] For example, in a scenario where the host base station includes a CU and a DU, the CU may send a second interface 2 message to the first base station. Step 502b1 in FIG5 is illustrated as an example, and it should be understood that this is not a limitation of the present application.

[0237] Exemplarily, the second interface message 2 may include the base station identifier of the relay node and / or the second interface identifier of the terminal device function of the relay node.

[0238] For example, the base station identifier of the relay node may be an identifier of a relay-gNB, such as a relay-gNB ID and / or an IP address of the relay-gNB.

[0239] The second interface identifier of the terminal device function of the relay node may be the UE XnAP ID of the relay-MT, etc.

[0240] When the second interface 2 message includes the second interface identifier of the terminal equipment function of the relay node, the second interface level message of the relay-gNB can be delivered with the help of the UE-associated second interface message about the relay-MT.

[0241] Step 503c1: The first base station sends a second interface message 3 to the donor base station.

[0242] In the process of establishing the second interface, the second interface message 3 may include a second establishment response message of the second interface.

[0243] The second interface message 3 is used to respond to the second interface message 2. For example, the second establishment response message of the second interface is used to respond to the second establishment request message of the second interface.

[0244] Step 503c1 is an optional step. For example, if the first base station can sense the relay node, step 503c1 exists.

[0245] For example, in a scenario where the host base station includes a CU and a DU, the first base station may send a second interface message 3 to the CU. Step 503c1 in FIG5 is illustrated as an example, and it should be understood that this is not a limitation of the present application.

[0246] Optionally, the second interface message 3 may include the base station identifier of the relay node and / or the second interface identifier of the terminal device function of the relay node.

[0247] Step 504d1: The donor base station sends a second interface message 4 to the relay node.

[0248] The donor base station may send the second interface message 4 to the relay node via the radio bearer established in the aforementioned embodiment.

[0249] In the process of establishing the second interface, the second interface message 4 may include a first establishment response message of the second interface.

[0250] The second interface message 4 is used to respond to the second interface message 1. For example, the first setup response message of the second interface is used to respond to the first setup request message of the second interface.

[0251] It should be understood that the second interface message 4 can be a message with other functions other than the first establishment response message of the second interface. This application only shows message examples in the process of establishing the second interface, but it is not a limitation of this application.

[0252] Exemplarily, the donor base station may send a second interface message 4 to the relay-gNB.

[0253] For example, in a scenario where the donor base station includes a CU and a DU, the CU can send a second interface message 4 to the relay-gNB. Step 504d1 in Figure 5 is illustrated as an example, and it should be understood that this is not a limitation of the present application.

[0254] Optionally, the second interface message 4 may include an identifier of the first base station.

[0255] Step 505e1: The donor base station sends a radio access network node configuration update message (eg, NG-RAN NODE CONFIGURATION UPDATE XnAP message) to the first base station.

[0256] The radio access network node configuration update message may be used to notify the first base station that a new cell is generated under the donor base station.

[0257] Step 505e1 is an optional step. For example, if the first base station cannot sense the relay node, step 505e1 is present. That is, if steps 502b1 and 503c1 are present, step 505e1 is absent; if steps 502b1 and 503c1 are absent, step 505e1 is present.

[0258] Optionally, in the second interface establishment process, step 505e1 may exist, and in other processes, step 505e1 may not exist.

[0259] Based on the above steps, the second interface between the relay node and the first base station can be established.

[0260] It should be noted that in this application, when the first base station can perceive the relay node, the messages sent between the relay-gNB and the first base station through the host base station can be called second interface level messages, and the second interface level messages can include the base station identifier of the relay node and / or the second interface identifier of the terminal device function of the relay node.

[0261] For another example, referring to FIG5 , a possible implementation b2 may include the following steps:

[0262] Step 501a2: The relay node sends a third message to the donor base station, where the third message includes information about the second interface and a second target IP address.

[0263] The third message may include the information of the second interface and the second target IP address. Alternatively, the third message may include the information of the second interface, and the information of the second interface may include the second target IP address.

[0264] The third message may be used to request establishment of a second interface.

[0265] Exemplarily, the relay-gNB can send a third message to the donor base station. Step 404a2 in Figure 5 is shown as an example, and it should be understood that it is not a limitation of this application.

[0266] Step 502b2: The donor base station determines whether the second target IP address is the IP address of the donor base station. If yes, the donor base station executes step 503c2; otherwise, the donor base station executes step 504d2.

[0267] Step 503c2: The donor base station determines not to forward the third message.

[0268] Step 504d2: The donor base station determines that the second target IP address is the IP address of the first base station, and forwards the third message to the first base station.

[0269] It should be understood that the donor base station may only execute step 502b2 and step 503c2, or only execute step 502b2 and step 504d2, or execute step 502b2-step 504d2, and this application does not limit this.

[0270] In the scenario where the host base station includes a CU and a DU, the present application is not limited to the CU or DU implementing the operations of the host base station in steps 501a2 to 504d2. FIG5 only takes the CU as an example and does not serve as a limitation on the present application.

[0271] Optionally, the third message may be a message other than a message for requesting establishment of a second interface. That is, messages at the second interface level sent between the relay-gNB and the first base station through the donor base station can be forwarded using the above-mentioned IP address-based forwarding method.

[0272] It should be understood that the process of the above-mentioned implementation method b2 is the process from the relay node to the first base station, and the message forwarding from the first base station to the relay node is the reverse process corresponding to the above process. For example, the process of the first base station sending the establishment response message of the second interface is the reverse process of the above process, and will not be described in detail here.

[0273] Based on the above steps, the second interface between the relay node and the first base station can be established.

[0274] For another example, a possible implementation manner b3 may be a combination of the above-mentioned implementation manner b1 and implementation manner b2. For details, please refer to the above description and will not be repeated here.

[0275] For example, in implementation b3, when the relay node first exchanges a second interface-level message (e.g., a message requesting establishment of a second interface or a second interface establishment response message) with the first base station via the donor base station, implementation b1 may be employed. Furthermore, after the first base station and the relay node subsequently exchange IP addresses via second interface-level messages (e.g., the relay-gNB sends an XnAP message to the first base station to inform the first base station of its IP address; the first base station sends an XnAP message to the relay-gNB to inform the relay-gNB of its IP address; optionally, the XnAP message exchanged this time may be a message requesting establishment of a second interface or a second interface establishment response message), the relay-gNB and the first base station may employ implementation b2.

[0276] In some embodiments, the process of establishing the first interface in the embodiment shown in FIG4 and the process of establishing the second interface in the embodiment shown in FIG5 may be implemented after the radio bearer is established in the embodiment shown in FIG2 or FIG3, that is, the embodiment shown in FIG4 or FIG5 may be combined with FIG2 or FIG3. It should be understood that the embodiment shown in FIG4 or FIG5 may also exist independently without relying on the embodiment shown in FIG3 or FIG3, and this application is not limited to this.

[0277] Exemplarily, the following is a detailed description using an example of a communication method. In this example, after first establishing a radio bearer using the method shown in Figure 2, the first interface is established through the implementation method a1 in the method shown in Figure 4 as an example. In this example, the relay node includes a relay-gNB and a relay-MT as an example, the host base station includes a CU and a DU as an example, the mobile management network element is an AMF as an example, the network management is an OAM as an example, the first interface is an NG interface (such as NGAP), and the second interface is an Xn interface (such as XnAP) as an example, and the second AMF can perceive the relay node as an example. Referring to Figure 6, the example may include the following steps:

[0278] Step 601: OAM sends information to the relay-MT indicating that the AMF supports the relay function.

[0279] For example, the OAM may send information indicating that the AMF supports the relay function to the relay-MT through a PDU session between the relay-MT and the OAM. Alternatively, the OAM may configure the AMF information supporting the relay function on the relay node through local configuration or pre-configuration.

[0280] The AMF may include a first AMF and / or a second AMF. The first AMF provides services for the relay-MT, and the second AMF provides services for the relay-gNB. The first AMF and the second AMF may be the same or different, and this application does not limit this.

[0281] That is, the OAM may indicate to the Relay-MT information that the first AMF supports the relay function and / or information that the second AMF supports the relay function.

[0282] Optionally, when the second AMF can perceive the relay node, the AMF supporting the relay function may include the second AMF.

[0283] Step 601 is an optional step.

[0284] Step 602: The relay-MT sends a PDU session establishment request to the first AMF.

[0285] The PDU session establishment request may include first information, which may indicate information for transmitting NGAP and / or XnAP messages. Alternatively, the first information may indicate that the PDU session is established for transmitting NGAP and / or XnAP messages. Optionally, the indications for the NGAP and XnAP interface types may share a single indication or may be indicated separately, which is not limited in this application.

[0286] Optionally, the PDU session establishment request may also include the identifier of the second AMF so that when the DRB is subsequently established, the DRB associated with the PDU session is associated with the second AMF. Optionally, when the second AMF can perceive the relay node, the PDU session establishment request includes the identifier of the second AMF.

[0287] Step 603: When the first AMF determines not to initiate the establishment process of the PDU session to other core network elements (such as SMF or UPF), it sends a PDU session resource establishment request (such as PDU session resource setup request) to the CU of the donor base station.

[0288] Because currently, when the AMF receives the request message from the UE to establish a PDU session, it will further initiate subsequent processes to the SMF. However, in this application, the first AMF serving the relay-MT may not initiate subsequent user plane processes to the SMF serving the relay-MT, because this PDU session is only to help establish the DRB between the relay-MT and the host base station. The data of the relay-gNB can be transmitted to the host base station with the help of the DRB. The host base station may directly map the data to the UE's GTP-U tunnel without going through the relay-MT's PDU session. Therefore, a "fake" PDU session can be directly established here, eliminating the interaction between the first AMF and the SMF. The first AMF can directly request the CU of the host base station to establish resources.

[0289] The PDU session resource establishment request may request the establishment of resources for the PDU session service of the relay-MT. It may also be understood that the PDU session resource establishment request is used to request the donor base station to establish a radio bearer, the radio bearer being associated with the PDU session and being used to transmit information of the first interface and / or the second interface.

[0290] The PDU session resource establishment request may include first information.

[0291] Optionally, if the PDU session establishment request in step 602 carries the identifier of the second AMF (such as AMF ID and / or IP address), the PDU session resource establishment request may also include the identifier of the second AMF.

[0292] Step 604: The CU of the donor base station sends a message to the DU of the donor base station to instruct the establishment of a radio bearer between the relay node and the donor base station.

[0293] For a specific description, please refer to the relevant description involved in the embodiment shown in FIG2 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0294] Step 605: The CU of the donor base station sends a first message to the relay-MT. The first message may be used to instruct the establishment of a radio bearer, such as a DRB or SRB, between the relay node and the donor base station.

[0295] For a specific description, please refer to the relevant description involved in the embodiment shown in FIG2 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0296] Step 606: The DU of the donor base station sends a response message to the CU of the donor base station in response to the message sent by the CU to the DU to instruct the establishment of a radio bearer between the relay node and the donor base station.

[0297] Step 607: The CU of the donor base station sends a PDU session resource establishment response message to the first AMF to indicate that the PDU session resource establishment is complete.

[0298] Step 608: The first AMF element sends a PDU session establishment response message to the relay-MT to indicate that the PDU session establishment is complete.

[0299] Step 609: The relay-gNB sends a first establishment request message of the NG interface to the CU of the donor base station through the radio bearer.

[0300] For a detailed description, please refer to the aforementioned step 401a1, which will not be repeated here.

[0301] Step 610: The CU of the donor base station sends a second establishment request message of the NG interface to the second AMF.

[0302] For a detailed description, please refer to the aforementioned step 402b1, which will not be repeated here.

[0303] Step 611: The second AMF sends a second establishment response message of the NG interface to the CU of the donor base station.

[0304] For a detailed description, please refer to the aforementioned step 403c1, which will not be repeated here.

[0305] Step 612: The CU of the donor base station sends a first establishment response message of the NG interface to the relay-gNB through the radio bearer.

[0306] For a detailed description, please refer to the aforementioned step 404d1, which will not be repeated here.

[0307] It should be understood that the example shown in Figure 6 is only for illustrative purposes and is not intended to limit the present application. Other methods for establishing a radio bearer are similar to those for establishing the first interface or the second interface, and are not described one by one in this application.

[0308] Based on the above embodiment, before the above radio bearer is established and the first interface and the second interface are established, the relay node must first access the network. For example, the embodiment of the present application also provides another communication method, which includes a network access process for the relay node. Referring to Figure 7, the process of the communication method may include the following steps:

[0309] Step 701: The donor base station sends an interface establishment request message to the mobility management network element. The interface establishment request message is used to establish an interface between the donor base station and the mobility management network element.

[0310] For example, the interface between the donor base station and the mobility management network element is an NG interface, and accordingly, the interface establishment request message is an NG interface establishment request message.

[0311] Optionally, in a scenario where the host base station includes a CU and a DU, the CU may send an interface establishment request message to the mobile management network element. Step 701 in FIG7 is illustrated as an example. It should be understood that this example is not intended to limit the present application.

[0312] Step 702: The mobility management network element sends an interface establishment response message to the donor base station. The interface establishment response message is used to indicate that the interface establishment between the donor base station and the mobility management network element is completed.

[0313] For example, the interface establishment response message is an NG interface establishment response message.

[0314] Optionally, in a scenario where the host base station includes a CU and a DU, the mobile management network element may send an interface establishment response message to the CU. Step 702 in FIG7 is illustrated as an example. It should be understood that this example is not intended to limit the present application.

[0315] The interface establishment response message may also indicate whether the mobility management network element supports the relay function. Exemplarily, the relay function may include the NR medium function and / or the mobile NR relay function.

[0316] Optionally, the mobile management network element may require two capabilities or one capability to support NR functions and mobile NR relay functions, which is not limited in this application.

[0317] Step 703: Optionally, the CU of the donor base station sends a fourth message to the DU of the donor base station. Optionally, the fourth message may be an F1 interface message.

[0318] Step 703 is an optional step. When the donor base station includes a CU and a DU, step 703 exists; otherwise, step 703 does not exist, and the process goes directly to step 704 after step 702.

[0319] Optionally, the fourth message may include NR relay barred information and / or mobile NR relay barred information to indicate whether the cell under the DU supports NR relay and / or mobile NR relay access. For example, when indicating that the cell under the DU supports NR relay and / or mobile NR relay access, the value of the above information may be not barred; otherwise, the value of the above information may be barred.

[0320] For example, when the above information indicates whether the cell under the DU supports NR relay and / or mobile NR relay access, it can be an indication of the granularity of each cell (per cell), or it can be an indication of the granularity of each pre public land mobile network (PLMN) or non-public network (NPN).

[0321] Step 704: The host base station sends a fifth message to the relay node, where the fifth message includes information supporting NR relay (NR relay support). The information supporting NR relay is used to indicate whether the cell or PLMN or NPN supports NR relay and / or mobile NR relay access.

[0322] Exemplarily, the donor base station may send a fifth message to the relay-MT.

[0323] Optionally, in a scenario where the donor base station includes a CU and a DU, the DU sends a fifth message to the relay-MT. Step 704 in FIG. 7 is shown as an example. It should be understood that this example is not intended to limit the present application.

[0324] In a possible manner, the fifth message may be a system information block (SIB) broadcast message, such as a SIB1 message.

[0325] Step 705: The relay node initiates random access and sends a sixth message to the donor base station, where the sixth message is used to indicate that it is an NR relay or a mobile NR relay.

[0326] For example, the sixth message may be message 5 (message5, Msg5) in random access, and the sixth message may carry NR relay or mobile NR relay indication (NR relay indication or mobile NR relay indication).

[0327] Exemplarily, the relay-MT may send a sixth message to the donor base station.

[0328] Optionally, in a scenario where the host base station includes a CU and a DU, the relay-MT sends a sixth message to the CU. Step 705 in FIG7 is shown as an example. It should be understood that this example is not intended to limit the present application.

[0329] Step 706: The donor base station sends a relay node access request to the mobility management network element. The relay node access request includes indication information indicating that the relay node is an NR relay or a mobile NR relay.

[0330] Optionally, in a scenario where the host base station includes a CU and a DU, the CU sends a relay node access request to the mobile management network element. Step 706 in Figure 7 is shown as an example. It should be understood that this example is not intended to limit the present application.

[0331] The relay node access request may be a relay-MT access request. Accordingly, the relay-MT access request includes indication information indicating that the relay-MT is an NR relay or a mobile NR relay.

[0332] Step 707: The mobile management network element authenticates the relay node. If the authentication is successful, a relay node initial context establishment request is sent to the host base station. The relay node initial context establishment request may include indication information of NR relay or mobile NR relay authorization.

[0333] Exemplarily, the mobility management network element authenticates the relay-MT, and accordingly, the relay node initial context establishment request is a relay-MT initial context establishment request.

[0334] Optionally, in a scenario where the host base station includes a CU and a DU, the mobile management network element sends a relay node initial context establishment request to the CU. Step 707 in Figure 7 is shown as an example. It should be understood that this example is not intended to limit the present application.

[0335] Through this communication method, the relay node can access the network and pass the authorization.

[0336] Based on the above embodiment, after the above-mentioned radio bearer is established and the first interface and the second interface are established, the relay node may move, for example, a handover of the relay-MT across the host base station occurs. Based on this, the embodiment of the present application also provides a communication method to support the mobility of the relay node, so that after the NR relay-MT is switched, the NR relay-gNB can establish an NG interface or an Xn interface with the target host base station, or perform NG communication or Xn communication with the mobile management network element and other base stations through the target host base station. For example, referring to Figure 8, the process of the communication method may include the following steps:

[0337] Step 801: The source donor base station and the target donor base station exchange information on whether the cell supports relay node access.

[0338] Step 801 is an optional step.

[0339] There is an Xn interface between the source donor base station (source donor) and the target donor base station (target donor), and the two can exchange information on whether cells within their respective control ranges support relay node access through the Xn interface.

[0340] It should be understood that base stations with Xn interfaces can exchange information on whether cells within their respective control ranges support relay node access through the Xn interface. Here, the interaction between the source host base station and the target host base station is used as an example for explanation.

[0341] In this application, the relay node may include an NR relay and / or a mobile NR relay. The NR relay and the mobile NR relay may be the same relay node or two different relay nodes, which is not limited in this application.

[0342] Step 802: The relay node switches from the source donor base station to the target donor base station.

[0343] Exemplarily, as shown in FIG8 , the relay-MT switches from the source donor base station to the target donor base station.

[0344] In an optional embodiment, the handover process may be as follows: if it is an Xn handover, the source host base station sends a handover request (handover request) to the target host base station, the target host base station sends a handover request acknowledgment (handover request ack) including an RRC handover command to the source host base station, and then the source host base station sends the RRC handover command carried in the handover request acknowledgment to the relay-MT. If it is an NG handover, the source host base station sends a handover requirement (handover required) to the mobility management network element (i.e., the first mobility management network element) AMF serving the relay-MT, the first mobility management network element sends a handover request (handover request) to the target host base station, the target host base station sends a handover request acknowledgment (handover request ack) including an RRC handover command to the first mobility management network element, and then the first mobility management network element carries the received RRC handover command in the handover command (handover command) of the NG interface and sends it to the source host base station, and finally the source host base station sends the RRC handover command to the relay-MT. It should be understood that the above-mentioned messages may also include other information elements, which will not be described one by one here.

[0345] Optionally, in the above-mentioned handover process, the Xn interface handover request (handover request) sent by the source host base station to the target base station, the handover requirement (handover required) of the NG interface sent by the source host base station to the first mobility management network element, and the handover request (handover request) of the NG interface sent by the first mobility management network element to the target host base station may include a relay node indication, which may indicate that the node to be switched is a relay node. The relay node indication may, for example, include an NR relay node indication (NR relay indication) or a mobile NR relay node indication (mobile NR relay indication).

[0346] In one possible manner, the PDU session resources to be setup item information element included in the Xn interface handover request (handover request) sent by the source host base station to the target base station, the PDU session resource item (PDU session resource item) information element included in the NG interface handover requirement (handover required) sent by the source host base station to the first mobility management network element, and the PDU session resource setup item (PDU session resource setup item) information element included in the NG interface handover request (handover request) sent by the first mobility management network element to the target host base station may include at least one of the following: a slice identifier (such as S-NSSAI), a type indication (type Indication), or an identifier of the mobility management network element serving the relay-gNB (i.e., the second mobility management network element).

[0347] The slice identifier is associated with the first interface (NGAP) and / or the second interface (XnAP). The type indication (i.e., the request type described above) is used to indicate that the PDU session is associated with the first interface (NGAP) and / or the second interface (XnAP).

[0348] The above-mentioned target host base station includes the add DRB / SRB (DRB / SRB-ToAddMod) information element included in the RRC switching command sent to the relay-MT through the source host base station, which may include at least one of the following: a type indication (type Indication) or an identifier of the mobile management network element (i.e., the second mobile management network element) serving the relay-gNB.

[0349] In this way, the target donor base station and the relay-MT can achieve alignment of the radio bearers and the corresponding relationships between each and the mobility management network element.

[0350] Optionally, when the second mobile management network element and the first base station are not aware of the relay node (i.e., unaware of the relay-gNB), subsequent steps 803-804d can be performed to re-initiate the establishment of the first interface (such as the NG interface) and the second interface (such as the Xn interface) to the target host base station.

[0351] Optionally, when the second mobility management network element and the first base station are aware of the relay node (i.e., aware of the relay-gNB), subsequent steps 803 and 804 are no longer performed. This is because the first interface and the second interface of the relay-gNB are directly established with the second mobility management network element and the first base station. Simply opening the transmission channel between the relay-gNB and the target donor base station suffices, and the first interface and the second interface do not need to be re-established.

[0352] For example, in the case of the first interface, when the second mobility management network element is not aware of the relay-gNB, the subsequent steps are performed; if it is aware, they are not performed. In the case of the second interface, when the first base station is not aware of the relay-gNB, the subsequent steps are performed; if it is aware, they are not performed.

[0353] Step 803: A first interface and / or a second interface is established between the target donor base station and the relay node.

[0354] Exemplarily, as shown in FIG8 , a first interface and / or a second interface are established between the target donor base station and the relay-gNB. The method for establishing the interface has been described in the previous embodiment and will not be repeated here.

[0355] Step 804a: The target host base station sends a first radio access network configuration update (e.g., RANCONFIGURATION UPDATE message) message to the mobility management network element serving the target host base station to send the updated configuration information of the target host base station after the relay node arrives to the mobility management network element serving the target host base station.

[0356] In this application, the arrival of the relay node can be understood as the relay node accessing the target host base station.

[0357] Optionally, step 804a is applicable to the case where the relay node establishes a first interface with the target host base station.

[0358] Step 804b: The target donor base station sends a first radio access network node configuration update (eg, NG-RAN NODE CONFIGURATION UPDATE message) message to the first base station to send the updated configuration information of the target donor base station after the arrival of the relay node to the first base station.

[0359] Optionally, step 804b is applicable to the case where the relay node establishes a second interface with the target host base station.

[0360] Step 804c: The source host base station sends a second radio access network configuration update message (e.g., RANCONFIGURATION UPDATE message) to the mobility management network element serving the source host base station to send the configuration information updated by the source host base station after the relay node leaves to the mobility management network element serving the source host base station.

[0361] In this application, the relay node leaving can be understood as the relay node being disconnected from the source host base station.

[0362] Optionally, step 804c is applicable to the case where the relay node establishes a first interface with the source host base station.

[0363] Step 804d: The source donor base station sends a second radio access network node configuration update message (eg, NG-RAN NODE CONFIGURATION UPDATE message) to the first base station to send the updated configuration information of the source donor base station after the relay node leaves to the first base station.

[0364] Optionally, step 804d is applicable to the case where the relay node establishes a second interface with the source host base station.

[0365] It should be understood that the order of the above steps 804a to 804d is not limited in this application.

[0366] Optionally, the messages in step 804a to step 804d may be used to notify the update of cell information under the respective control range.

[0367] In an optional implementation, the source donor base station may perform steps 804c and 804d after learning that the relay-MT handover is complete. The target donor base station may perform steps 804a and 804b after establishing the first interface and / or the second interface.

[0368] Based on the above communication method, the mobility support of the relay node can be realized, so that after the NR relay-MT is switched, the NR relay-gNB can establish an NG interface or an Xn interface with the target host base station, or perform NG communication or Xn communication with the mobile management network element and other base stations through the target host base station.

[0369] Based on the above embodiments, the embodiments of the present application further provide a communication device. Referring to FIG9 , the communication device 900 may include a transceiver unit 901 and a processing unit 902. The transceiver unit 901 is used for the communication device 900 to communicate, such as receiving information (messages or data) or sending information (messages or data), and the processing unit 902 is used to control and manage the actions of the communication device 900. The processing unit 902 may also control the steps performed by the transceiver unit 901.

[0370] Exemplarily, the communication device 900 may specifically be the relay node in the above embodiment, the processor of the relay node, or a chip, or a chip system, or a functional module, etc. Alternatively, the communication device 900 may specifically be the first mobility management network element in the above embodiment, the processor in the first mobility management network element, or a chip, or a chip system, or a functional module, etc. Alternatively, the communication device 900 may specifically be the donor base station in the above embodiment, the processor in the donor base station, or a chip, or a chip system, or a functional module, etc.

[0371] In one embodiment, when the communication device 900 is used to implement the functions of the relay node in the above embodiment, the transceiver unit 901 can be used to send a protocol data unit (PDU) session establishment request to the first mobility management network element, and receive a first message from the host base station. The processing unit 902 can be used to control the transceiver operation of the transceiver unit 901. The PDU session establishment request includes first information; the relay node supports terminal device functions and base station functions; the first information indicates that the PDU session requested to be established is used to transmit information of the first interface and / or the second interface; the first mobility management network element provides services for the terminal device function of the relay node; the first interface is the interface between the relay node and the core network, and the second interface is the interface between the relay node and the first base station; the first base station is the same as or different from the host base station of the relay node; the first message is used to indicate the establishment of a radio bearer between the relay node and the host base station, the radio bearer is related to the PDU session, and the radio bearer is used to transmit information of the first interface and / or the second interface.

[0372] The radio bearer includes a data radio bearer DRB and / or a signaling radio bearer SRB.

[0373] Optionally, the PDU session establishment request may further include an identifier of a second mobility management network element, where the second mobility management network element provides services for the base station function of the relay node.

[0374] Exemplarily, the first message may also be used to indicate that the radio bearer corresponds to the second mobility management network element.

[0375] In some embodiments, the transceiver unit 901 may also be configured to receive information from a network manager indicating that the second mobility management network element supports a relay function.

[0376] The transceiver unit 901 may also be configured to receive information from a network management system indicating that the first mobility management network element supports a relay function.

[0377] The transceiver unit 901 can also be used to send a first establishment request message of the first interface to the donor base station through the radio bearer.

[0378] Optionally, the first establishment request message of the first interface may include an identifier of a second mobility management network element, and the second mobility management network element provides services for the base station function of the relay node.

[0379] The transceiver unit 901 can also be used to receive a first establishment response message of the first interface from the donor base station through the radio bearer.

[0380] Exemplarily, the first establishment response message of the first interface includes an identifier of a second mobility management network element, and the second mobility management network element provides services for the base station function of the relay node.

[0381] In some embodiments, the transceiver unit 901 may also be configured to send a first establishment request message of the second interface to the donor base station via the radio bearer.

[0382] The first establishment request message of the second interface may include an identifier of the first base station.

[0383] The transceiver unit 901 can also be used to receive a first establishment response message of the second interface from the donor base station through the radio bearer.

[0384] The first establishment response message of the second interface may include an identifier of the first base station.

[0385] In another embodiment, when the communication device 900 is used to implement the functions of the first mobility management network element in the above embodiment, the transceiver unit 901 may be used to receive a protocol data unit (PDU) session establishment request from a relay node, and send a PDU session resource establishment request to the donor base station based on the PDU session establishment request. The processing unit 902 may be used to control the transceiver operations of the transceiver unit 901. The PDU session establishment request includes first information; the relay node supports terminal device functions and base station functions; the first information indicates that the PDU session requested to be established is used to transmit information about a first interface and / or a second interface; the first mobility management network element provides services for the terminal device function of the relay node; the first interface is an interface between the relay node and a core network, and the second interface is an interface between the relay node and a first base station; the first base station is the same as or different from the donor base station of the relay node; the PDU session resource establishment request is used to request the donor base station to establish a radio bearer, the radio bearer being associated with the PDU session and being used to transmit information about the first interface and / or the second interface, and the PDU session resource establishment request includes the first information.

[0386] The radio bearer includes a data radio bearer DRB and / or a signaling radio bearer SRB.

[0387] The PDU session establishment request may further include an identifier of a second mobility management network element, where the second mobility management network element provides a service for a base station function of the relay node.

[0388] The PDU session resource establishment request may further include an identifier of the second mobility management network element.

[0389] Optionally, the processing unit 902 can also be used to determine not to initiate the establishment process of the PDU session to other core network elements; the transceiver unit 901 can be used to send the PDU session resource establishment request to the host base station when the processing unit 902 determines not to initiate the establishment process of the PDU session to other core network elements.

[0390] In another embodiment, when the communication device 900 is used to implement the function of the host base station in the above embodiment, the transceiver unit 901 can be used to receive a PDU session resource establishment request from a first mobility management network element, and send a first message to the relay node according to the PDU session resource establishment request. The processing unit 902 can be used to control the transceiver operation of the transceiver unit 901. The PDU session resource establishment request includes first information; the first information indicates that the PDU session requested to be established is used to transmit information of the first interface and / or the second interface; the first interface is the interface between the relay node and the core network, and the second interface is the interface between the relay node and the first base station; the first base station is the same as or different from the host base station of the relay node; the first mobility management network element provides services for the terminal device function of the relay node; the first message is used to indicate the establishment of a wireless bearer between the relay node and the host base station, the wireless bearer is related to the PDU session, and the wireless bearer is used to transmit information of the first interface and / or the second interface.

[0391] The radio bearer includes a data radio bearer DRB and / or a signaling radio bearer SRB.

[0392] The PDU session resource establishment request may further include an identifier of the second mobility management network element, where the second mobility management network element provides a service for a base station function of the relay node.

[0393] The first message may also be used to indicate that the radio bearer corresponds to the second mobility management network element.

[0394] In a possible manner, the processing unit 902 may also be configured to save a mapping relationship between the radio bearer and the second mobility management network element.

[0395] In some embodiments, the transceiver unit 901 may further be configured to receive a first establishment request message of a first interface from the relay node through the radio bearer.

[0396] The first establishment request message of the first interface may include an identifier of a second mobility management network element, where the second mobility management network element provides a service for a base station function of the relay node.

[0397] Optionally, the transceiver unit 901 can also be used to send a second establishment request message of the first interface to a second mobile management network element, wherein the second establishment request message of the first interface includes the base station identifier of the relay node and / or the first interface identifier of the terminal device function of the relay node, and the second mobile management network element provides services for the base station function of the relay node.

[0398] The transceiver unit 901 can also be used to receive a second establishment response message of the first interface from the second mobility management network element, and the second establishment response message of the first interface includes the base station identifier of the relay node and / or the first interface identifier of the terminal device function of the relay node.

[0399] The transceiver unit 901 may also be configured to send a first establishment response message of the first interface to the relay node through the radio bearer.

[0400] The first establishment response message of the first interface may include an identifier of a second mobility management network element, where the second mobility management network element provides a service for a base station function of the relay node.

[0401] In some further embodiments, the transceiver unit 901 can also be used to receive a second message from the relay node through the wireless bearer, the second message including information of the first interface, and the second message also including a first target Internet Protocol IP address; the processing unit 902 can also be used to determine not to forward the second message when it is determined that the first target IP address is the IP address of the host base station; and / or when it is determined that the first target IP address is not the IP address of the host base station, and it is determined that the first target IP address is the IP address of the second mobile management network element, control the transceiver unit 901 to forward the second message to the second mobile management network element, and the second mobile management network element provides services for the base station function of the relay node.

[0402] In some further embodiments, the transceiver unit 901 may be further configured to receive a first establishment request message of a second interface from the relay node through the radio bearer.

[0403] The first establishment request message of the second interface may include an identifier of the first base station.

[0404] The transceiver unit 901 can also be used to send a second establishment request message of the second interface to the first base station, and the second establishment request message of the second interface includes the base station identifier of the relay node and / or the second interface identifier of the terminal device function of the relay node.

[0405] The transceiver unit 901 can also be used to receive a second establishment response message of the second interface from the first base station, and the second establishment response message of the second interface includes the base station identifier of the relay node and / or the second interface identifier of the terminal device function of the relay node.

[0406] The transceiver unit 901 may also be configured to send a first establishment response message of the second interface to the relay node through the radio bearer.

[0407] The first establishment response message of the second interface may include an identifier of the first base station.

[0408] In some further embodiments, the transceiver unit 901 can also be used to receive a third message from the relay node, the third message including information of the second interface, and the third message also including a second target Internet Protocol IP address; the processing unit 902 can also be used to determine not to forward the third message when it is determined that the second target IP address is the IP address of the host base station; and / or, when it is determined that the second target IP address is not the IP address of the host base station, and the second target IP address is the IP address of the first base station, control the transceiver unit 901 to forward the third message to the first base station.

[0409] It should be noted that the division of units in the embodiments of the present application is schematic and is merely a logical functional division. In actual implementation, other division methods may be used. The functional units in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into a single processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into a single unit. The aforementioned integrated units may be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional units.

[0410] 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, server, or 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.

[0411] Based on the above embodiments, embodiments of the present application further provide a communication device. Referring to FIG. 10 , the communication device 1000 may include a processor 1002. Optionally, the communication device 1000 may further include a transceiver 1001. Optionally, the communication device 1000 may further include a memory 1003. The memory 1003 may be disposed within the communication device 1000 or external to the communication device 1000. The processor 1002 may control the transceiver 1001 to receive and transmit information, messages, or data.

[0412] Specifically, the processor 1002 may be a central processing unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), or a combination of a CPU and an NP. The processor 1002 may further include a hardware chip. The hardware chip may be an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a combination thereof. The PLD may be a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a generic array logic (GAL), or any combination thereof.

[0413] The transceiver 1001, the processor 1002, and the memory 1003 are interconnected. Optionally, the transceiver 1001, the processor 1002, and the memory 1003 are interconnected via a bus 1004; the bus 1004 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, FIG10 shows only one thick line, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0414] In an optional embodiment, the memory 1003 is used to store programs, etc. Specifically, the programs may include program code, which includes computer operating instructions. The memory 1003 may include RAM, or may also include non-volatile memory (non-volatile memory), such as one or more disk storage devices. The processor 1002 executes the application program stored in the memory 1003 to implement the above functions, thereby realizing the functions of the communication device 1000.

[0415] Exemplarily, the communication device 1000 may be the relay node in the above embodiment; may also be the first mobility management network element in the above embodiment; or may be the host base station in the above embodiment.

[0416] In one embodiment, when the communication device 1000 implements the relay node function in the aforementioned method embodiment, the transceiver 1001 may implement the transceiver operations performed by the relay node in the aforementioned method embodiment; and the processor 1002 may implement other operations performed by the relay node in the aforementioned method embodiment in addition to the transceiver operations. For specific details, please refer to the relevant descriptions in the aforementioned method embodiment and will not be described in detail here.

[0417] In another embodiment, when the communication device 1000 implements the functions of the first mobility management network element in the aforementioned method embodiment, the transceiver 1001 may implement the transceiver operations performed by the first mobility management network element in the aforementioned method embodiment; and the processor 1002 may implement other operations performed by the first mobility management network element in the aforementioned method embodiment, except for the transceiver operations. For specific details, please refer to the relevant descriptions in the aforementioned method embodiment and will not be described in detail here.

[0418] In another embodiment, when the communication device 1000 implements the functions of the donor base station in the aforementioned method embodiment, the transceiver 1001 may implement the transceiver operations performed by the donor base station in the aforementioned method embodiment; and the processor 1002 may implement other operations performed by the donor base station in the aforementioned method embodiment in addition to the transceiver operations. Specific related descriptions can be found in the relevant descriptions of the aforementioned method embodiment and will not be described in detail here.

[0419] Based on the above embodiments, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, which may include the relay node, the first mobility management network element and the host base station involved in the above embodiments.

[0420] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, which is used to store a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer can implement the communication method provided by the above method embodiment.

[0421] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, which is used to store a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a computer, the computer can implement the communication method provided by the above method embodiment.

[0422] An embodiment of the present application also provides a chip, including a processor, which is coupled to a memory and is used to call a program in the memory so that the chip implements the communication method provided by the above method embodiment.

[0423] An embodiment of the present application further provides a chip, which is coupled to a memory and is used to implement the communication method provided in the above method embodiment.

[0424] 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.

[0425] 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.

[0426] 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.

[0427] 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.

[0428] 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 method, characterized in that: Applied to a relay node, the relay node supports a terminal device function and a base station function; the method comprises: Sending a protocol data unit PDU session establishment request to a first mobility management network element, wherein the PDU session establishment request includes first information; the first information indicates that the PDU session requested to be established is used to transmit information of the first interface and / or the second interface; the first mobility management network element provides services for the terminal device function of the relay node; the first interface is an interface between the relay node and the core network, and the second interface is an interface between the relay node and the first base station; the first base station is the same as or different from the host base station of the relay node; A first message is received, where the first message is used to indicate the establishment of a wireless bearer between the relay node and the host base station, where the wireless bearer is related to the PDU session, and where the wireless bearer is used to transmit information of the first interface and / or the second interface.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The radio bearer includes a data radio bearer DRB and / or a signaling radio bearer SRB.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The PDU session establishment request also includes an identifier of a second mobility management network element, and the second mobility management network element provides services for the base station function of the relay node.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The first message is also used to indicate that the radio bearer corresponds to the second mobility management network element.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Sending a first establishment request message of the first interface to the donor base station through the radio bearer; A first establishment response message of the first interface is received from the donor base station through the radio bearer.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The first establishment request message of the first interface and / or the first establishment response message of the first interface include an identifier of a second mobility management network element, and the second mobility management network element provides a service for the base station function of the relay node.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Sending a first establishment request message of the second interface to the donor base station through the radio bearer; A first establishment response message of the second interface is received from the donor base station through the radio bearer.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The first establishment request message of the second interface and / or the first establishment request response message of the second interface include the identifier of the first base station.

9. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a first mobility management network element, the method includes: A protocol data unit (PDU) session establishment request is received from a relay node, wherein the PDU session establishment request includes first information; the relay node supports a terminal device function and a base station function; the first information indicates that the PDU session requested to be established is used to transmit information of a first interface and / or a second interface; the first mobility management network element provides services for the terminal device function of the relay node; the first interface is an interface between the relay node and a core network, and the second interface is an interface between the relay node and a first base station; the first base station is the same as or different from a host base station of the relay node; Based on the PDU session establishment request, a PDU session resource establishment request is sent to the host base station, the PDU session resource establishment request is used to request the host base station to establish a wireless bearer, the wireless bearer is related to the PDU session, the wireless bearer is used to transmit information of the first interface and / or the second interface, and the PDU session resource establishment request includes the first information.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The radio bearer includes a data radio bearer DRB and / or a signaling radio bearer SRB.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that The PDU session establishment request also includes an identifier of a second mobility management network element, and the second mobility management network element provides services for the base station function of the relay node.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The PDU session resource establishment request also includes an identifier of the second mobility management network element.

13. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that: Sending the PDU session resource establishment request to the donor base station includes: When it is determined not to initiate the establishment process of the PDU session to other core network elements, the PDU session resource establishment request is sent to the host base station.

14. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a host base station of a relay node, the method comprises: A PDU session resource establishment request is received from a first mobility management network element, wherein the PDU session resource establishment request includes first information; the first information indicates that the PDU session requested to be established is used to transmit information of a first interface and / or a second interface; the first interface is an interface between the relay node and a core network, and the second interface is an interface between the relay node and a first base station; the first base station is the same as or different from a host base station of the relay node; the first mobility management network element provides a service for a terminal device function of the relay node; According to the PDU session resource establishment request, a first message is sent to the relay node, wherein the first message is used to indicate the establishment of a wireless bearer between the relay node and the host base station, wherein the wireless bearer is related to the PDU session, and the wireless bearer is used to transmit information of the first interface and / or the second interface.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The radio bearer includes a data radio bearer DRB and / or a signaling radio bearer SRB.

16. The method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that The PDU session resource establishment request also includes an identifier of the second mobility management network element, and the second mobility management network element provides services for the base station function of the relay node.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that The first message is also used to indicate that the radio bearer corresponds to the second mobility management network element.

18. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that: The method further comprises at least one of the following: receiving a first establishment request message of a first interface from the relay node through the radio bearer; Sending a second establishment request message of the first interface to a second mobility management network element, where the second mobility management network element provides services for a base station function of the relay node; receiving a second establishment response message of the first interface from the second mobility management network element; A first establishment response message of the first interface is sent to the relay node through the radio bearer.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that The first establishment request message of the first interface, the second establishment request message of the first interface, the second establishment response message of the first interface, or the first establishment response message of the first interface meets at least one of the following conditions: The first establishment request message of the first interface includes an identifier of the second mobility management network element; The second establishment request message of the first interface includes the base station identifier of the relay node and / or the first interface identifier of the terminal device function of the relay node; The second establishment response message of the first interface includes the base station identifier of the relay node and / or the first interface identifier of the terminal device function of the relay node; The first establishment response message of the first interface includes the identifier of the second mobility management network element.

20. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 19, characterized in that: The method further comprises: receiving a second message from the relay node through the radio bearer, the second message including information of the first interface, and the second message also including a first target Internet Protocol IP address; When it is determined that the first target IP address is the IP address of the host base station, determine not to forward the second message; and / or, when it is determined that the first target IP address is not the IP address of the host base station, and it is determined that the first target IP address is the IP address of the second mobile management network element, forward the second message to the second mobile management network element, and the second mobile management network element provides services for the base station function of the relay node.

21. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 20, characterized in that: The method further comprises at least one of the following: receiving a first establishment request message of a second interface from the relay node through the radio bearer; Sending a second establishment request message of the second interface to the first base station; receiving a second establishment response message of the second interface from the first base station; A first establishment response message of the second interface is sent to the relay node through the radio bearer.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that The first establishment request message of the second interface, the second establishment request message of the second interface, the second establishment response message of the second interface, or the first establishment response message of the second interface meets at least one of the following conditions: The first establishment request message of the second interface includes an identifier of the first base station; The second establishment request message of the second interface includes the base station identifier of the relay node and / or the second interface identifier of the terminal device function of the relay node; The second establishment response message of the second interface includes the base station identifier of the relay node and / or the terminal device function of the relay node. The second interface identifier of the function; The first establishment response message of the second interface includes the identifier of the first base station.

23. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 22, characterized in that: The method further comprises: The donor base station receives a third message from the relay node, the third message including information of the second interface, and the third message also including a second target Internet Protocol IP address; When it is determined that the second target IP address is the IP address of the host base station, it is determined not to forward the third message; and / or, when it is determined that the second target IP address is not the IP address of the host base station, and it is determined that the second target IP address is the IP address of the first base station, the third message is forwarded to the first base station.

24. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a module or unit for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, or comprises a module or unit for executing the method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, or comprises a module or unit for executing the method according to any one of claims 14 to 23.

25. A communication device, characterized in that: The invention comprises a processor coupled to a memory, wherein: The processor is used to call the computer instructions in the memory so that the communication device executes the method according to any one of claims 1-8, or executes the method according to any one of claims 9-13, or executes the method according to any one of claims 14-23.

26. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium stores computer-executable instructions, which, when called by the computer, are used to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, or the method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, or the method according to any one of claims 14 to 23.

27. A computer program product, characterized in that The method comprises instructions, which, when executed on a computer, cause the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, or the method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, or the method according to any one of claims 14 to 23 to be executed.

28. A chip, characterized in that: The chip is coupled to the memory and is used to read and execute program instructions stored in the memory to implement the method as described in any one of claims 1-8, or to implement the method as described in any one of claims 9-13, or to implement the method as described in any one of claims 14-23.

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