Communication method, communication apparatus and communication system

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method, a communication apparatus and a communication system. The method comprises: a second network element determining reception delay information of a protocol data unit (PDU) set, the reception delay information being used to indicate a reception delay of the PDU set in a user plane function network element (UPF); the second network element sending the reception delay information to a first network element; the first network element acquiring a PDU set delay budget (PSDB) of the PDU set; on the basis of the reception delay information and the PSDB, the first network element determining a packet delay budget (PDB) of a data packet in the PDU set; the first network element sending the PDB to a first device; on the basis of the PDB, the first device performing scheduling processing on the data packet from the UPF. The method can improve the transmission delay control effect of a communication system, thereby improving the communication quality of the communication system.

Description

Communication method, communication device and communication system

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China on November 3, 2023, with application number 202311465207.1 and application name "A Communication Method, Communication Device and Communication System", 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, a communication device, and a communication system. Background Art

[0004] Currently, in communication systems such as those accessed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and non-3GPP communication systems, terminal devices can connect to the core network through the access network, thereby accessing the network and interacting with services. In 3GPP access systems, access network functions can be implemented by access network equipment. In non-3GPP access systems, access network functions can be implemented by access points and / or network function (NF) network elements.

[0005] In the above-mentioned communication system, the data stream of the service transmission includes at least one data packet set (for example, a protocol data unit (PDU) set, which will be described below using a PDU set as an example), and the PDU set includes one or more PDUs (or data packets) carrying application layer payloads (for example, video frames or video fragments, etc.). During the data stream transmission and processing process, the transmission of the PDU set in the data stream needs to comply with the requirements of the PDU set delay budget (PSDB) to ensure the service quality of the service. Therefore, the network element or device that implements the access network function in the communication system needs to perform PDU set granularity scheduling of the data packets in the PDU set based on the PSDB. However, some current network elements or devices that implement the access network function may not support the PDU set granularity scheduling of the data packets in the PDU set based on the PSDB, or the transmission delay control effect is poor when the PDU set granularity scheduling of the data packets in the PDU set based on the PSDB is performed, resulting in a decrease in the system communication quality.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present application provides a communication method, a communication device, and a communication system for improving the control effect of transmission delay in the communication system, thereby improving the communication quality of the communication system.

[0008] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a first network element or by a component (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a chip system) in the first network element. The method includes: obtaining reception delay information of a protocol data unit (PDU) set, and obtaining a PDU set delay budget for the PDU set; wherein the reception delay information is used to indicate the reception delay of the PDU set at a UPF; determining a packet delay budget for a data packet in the PDU set based on the reception delay information and the PDU set delay budget; wherein the packet delay budget is used to indicate an upper limit on the transmission delay of the data packet between the UPF and a terminal device; and sending the packet delay budget to the first device.

[0009] In this method, the PDU aggregate delay budget is a QoS parameter at the PDU aggregate granularity, while the packet delay budget is a QoS parameter at the PDU aggregate granularity, i.e., the data packet granularity. The first network element can convert the PDU aggregate granularity QoS parameters into PDU granularity QoS parameters by determining the packet delay budget of the data packets in the PDU aggregate based on the PDU aggregate delay budget of the PDU aggregate. The first network element can transmit the PDU granularity QoS parameters to the first device by sending the packet delay budget to the first device, thereby enabling the first device to perform PDU granularity scheduling of the data packets based on the PDU granularity QoS parameters to meet the PDU aggregate granularity QoS parameter requirements, i.e., the PDU aggregate delay budget requirements. Therefore, even if the first device does not support PDU aggregate granularity scheduling of the data packets in the PDU aggregate based on the PDU aggregate delay budget, it can still meet the PDU aggregate delay budget requirements of the PDU aggregate during the scheduling of the data packets in the PDU aggregate. This can also improve the accuracy of the delay budget, thereby improving the accuracy of delay control during the scheduling process, thereby improving the transmission delay control effect and improving the system communication quality.

[0010] In one possible design, the reception delay information includes at least one of the following: a first time difference; a delay corresponding to a numerical interval containing the first time difference among multiple set numerical intervals, wherein different numerical intervals correspond to different delays; a maximum time difference among the multiple first time differences; a minimum time difference among the multiple first time differences; and / or an average time difference among the multiple first time differences; wherein the first time difference is the time difference between the first and last data packets in a PDU set received by the UPF arriving at the UPF. This method provides multiple ways to determine reception delay information and is highly practical.

[0011] In one possible design, the PDU set is received by the UPF within a first time period.

[0012] Based on this method, reception delay information can be determined based on the set of PDUs received by the UPF over a period of time. For different time periods, the reception delay information of the set of PDUs received by the UPF in each time period can be determined based on the set of PDUs received by the UPF in each time period. This allows the reception delay information to be updated over time, ensuring the accuracy of the reception delay information.

[0013] In one possible design, the reception delay information is also used as the reception delay information of each PDU set in the data stream to which the PDU set belongs.

[0014] In this method, the reception delay information of the PDU set can be used as the reception delay information corresponding to the data stream where the PDU set is located. It can simply and efficiently determine the reception delay information corresponding to the data stream, and facilitate subsequent processing of the data stream based on the reception delay information.

[0015] In one possible design, obtaining reception delay information for a PDU set includes: sending a first message to a second network element, the first message being used to subscribe to the reception delay information; and receiving a first message from the second network element, the first message being used to indicate the reception delay information. In this method, the first network element can obtain the reception delay information from the second network element by subscription, which is highly efficient.

[0016] In one possible design, the first message includes at least one of the following: an analysis ID for identifying the data to be obtained; wherein the data to be obtained includes the reception delay information; information for indicating the terminal device associated with the reception delay information; information for indicating the data stream to which the PDU set belongs; information for indicating the data granularity of the reception delay information; information for indicating the arrangement order of the feedback information of the second network element; information for determining the number of PDU sets for the reception delay information; and / or information for indicating a first time period; wherein one or more PDU sets arriving at the UPF within the first time period are used to determine the reception delay information.

[0017] In this method, various different information in the first message indicates the information to be obtained from different perspectives. Through this information, more comprehensive reception delay information can be subscribed to, which is convenient for subsequent processing.

[0018] In one possible design, the first network element is PCF or SMF, and the second network element is NWDAF or the UPF; or, the first network element is NWDAF, and the second network element is the UPF.

[0019] In one possible design, the first device is any one of the following: N3IWF, TNGF, TWIF, W-AGF.

[0020] Among them, N3IWF, TNGF, TWIF, W-AGF, etc. are network elements used to implement access network functions in non-3GPP access communication systems. These network elements support scheduling and processing of data packets in PDU sets at the granularity of PDU sets, but the devices connected between these network elements and terminal devices, such as access points AP, do not support scheduling and processing of data packets in PDU sets at the granularity of PDU sets. The granularity of scheduling processing of these network elements and access points AP is different, which will result in the delay control strategy for PDU sets implemented by these network elements cannot be applied to access points AP, thus affecting the effect of transmission delay control for PDU sets, resulting in a decline in overall communication quality. Therefore, in the above method, by using these network elements as the first device, these network elements can obtain the packet delay budget obtained by converting the PDU set delay budget, and can perform PDU granularity scheduling processing on the data packets in the PDU set based on the packet delay budget. On the one hand, it can ensure that the scheduling processing meets the requirements of the PDU set delay budget, and on the other hand, it can ensure that these network elements have the same processing granularity as the access point AP, so that the access point AP can schedule and process the data packets according to the same strategy, which can improve the effect of transmission delay control for the PDU set and thus improve the communication quality.

[0021] In one possible design, sending the packet delay budget to the first device includes: sending the packet delay budget to the first device through a third network element; wherein the third network element includes one or more of PCF, SMF or AMF.

[0022] In one possible design, the first network element is the UPF.

[0023] In one possible design, the packet delay budget of the data packets in the PDU set is determined based on the receiving delay information and the PDU set delay budget, including: taking the difference between the PDU set delay budget and the receiving delay information as the packet delay budget.

[0024] This method can accurately determine the packet delay budget of the data packets in the PDU set when the PDU set delay budget is met, thereby ensuring that the scheduling processing based on the packet delay budget can meet the requirements of the PDU set delay budget, thereby ensuring better delay control effect.

[0025] In a second aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, which can be performed by a second network element or by a component (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a chip system) in the second network element. The method includes: determining reception delay information of a PDU set; wherein the reception delay information is used to indicate the reception delay of the PDU set at a UPF; and sending the reception delay information to a first network element; wherein the reception delay information is used to determine a packet delay budget for a data packet in the PDU set, wherein the packet delay budget is used to indicate an upper limit on the transmission delay of the data packet between the UPF and a terminal device.

[0026] In this method, the PDU aggregate delay budget belongs to the service quality QoS parameter of the PDU aggregate granularity, and the packet delay budget belongs to the QoS parameter of the PDU granularity, that is, the data packet granularity. The second network element sends the reception delay information to the first network element, so that the first network element can convert the QoS parameter of the PDU aggregate granularity, that is, the PDU aggregate delay budget, into the QoS parameter of the PDU granularity, that is, the packet delay budget, based on the reception delay information. Among them, the PDU granularity scheduling processing of the data packet based on the QoS parameter of the PDU granularity, that is, the packet delay budget, can meet the requirements of PSDB. At the same time, it can improve the accuracy of the delay budget, thereby improving the accuracy of the delay control in the scheduling process, thereby improving the transmission delay control effect and improving the system communication quality.

[0027] In one possible design, the receiving delay information includes at least one of the following: a first time difference; a delay corresponding to a numerical interval containing the first time difference in a set of multiple numerical intervals, wherein different numerical intervals correspond to different delays; the maximum time difference among multiple first time differences; the minimum time difference among multiple first time differences; and / or the average time difference of multiple first time differences; wherein the first time difference is the time difference between the first data packet and the last data packet in a PDU set received by the UPF arriving at the UPF.

[0028] In one possible design, the PDU set is received by the UPF within a first time period.

[0029] In one possible design, the reception delay information is also used as the reception delay information of each PDU set in the data stream to which the PDU set belongs.

[0030] In one possible design, before determining the reception delay information of the PDU set, or before sending the reception delay information to the first network element, the method also includes: receiving a first message from the first network element, the first message being used to subscribe to the reception delay information; sending the reception delay information to the first network element includes: sending first information to the first network element, wherein the first information is used to indicate the reception delay information.

[0031] In one possible design, the first message includes at least one of the following: an analysis ID for identifying the data to be obtained; wherein the data to be obtained includes the reception delay information; information for indicating the terminal device associated with the reception delay information; information for indicating the data stream to which the PDU set belongs; information for indicating the data granularity of the reception delay information; information for indicating the arrangement order of the feedback information of the second network element; information for determining the number of PDU sets for the reception delay information; and / or information for indicating a first time period; wherein one or more PDU sets arriving at the UPF within the first time period are used to determine the reception delay information.

[0032] In one possible design, the first network element is PCF or SMF, and the second network element is NWDAF or the UPF; or, the first network element is NWDAF, and the second network element is the UPF.

[0033] In one possible design, determining the receiving delay information of the PDU set includes: determining the receiving time information, the receiving time information including the time when the first data packet and the last data packet of each PDU set in at least one PDU set received by the UPF arrive at the UPF; determining the receiving delay information based on the receiving time information.

[0034] In this method, based on the reception time information of the first and last data packets in the PDU set, the reception delay information of the PDU set can be accurately determined.

[0035] In one possible design, the method further includes: sending the PDU set; wherein, the data packet in the PDU set carries receiving time information, and the receiving time information is used to indicate the time when the UPF receives the data packet.

[0036] In this method, by carrying the receiving time information in the transmitted data packet, the network element or device receiving the data packet can easily and quickly obtain the receiving time information and process the data packet based on the receiving time information.

[0037] In one possible design, the first network element is one or more of NWDAF, PCF, SMF, AMF or N3IWF, and the second network element is the UPF.

[0038] In a third aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, which can be executed by a first device or by a component (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a chip system) in the first device. The method includes: receiving a packet delay budget from a first network element, where the packet delay budget indicates an upper limit on the transmission delay of a data packet between a UPF and a terminal device; receiving the data packet from the UPF; wherein the data packet carries reception time information, where the reception time information indicates the time when the UPF receives the data packet; and scheduling the data packet based on the packet delay budget and the reception time information.

[0039] When data packets are scheduled based solely on the packet delay budget, the corresponding transmission delay control effect is poor. However, in the above method, the first device, based on the reference packet delay budget and combined with the reception time information, can schedule data packets based on more reference information, thereby improving processing efficiency and the corresponding transmission delay control effect, thereby improving communication quality.

[0040] In one possible design, the scheduling processing of the data packet based on the packet delay budget and the receiving time information includes: determining a remaining delay budget based on the packet delay budget and the receiving time information; wherein the remaining delay budget is used to indicate the transmission delay of the data packet between the first device and the terminal device; and scheduling processing of the data packet based on the remaining delay budget.

[0041] In this method, based on the packet delay budget and the receiving time information, the first device can accurately determine the delay budget for transmitting the data packet to the terminal device, that is, the above-mentioned remaining delay budget. Therefore, the data packet is scheduled and processed according to the delay budget, which can ensure that the transmission delay of the data packet meets the requirements, thereby ensuring the communication quality.

[0042] In one possible design, the first device is any one of the following: N3IWF, TNGF, TWIF, W-AGF.

[0043] In a fourth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, which can be executed by a UPF network element or by a component (e.g., a processor, chip, or chip system) within the UPF network element. The method includes: receiving a data packet; and, after adding reception time information and / or reception delay information to the data packet, sending the data packet to a first device; wherein the reception time information indicates the time when the UPF receives the data packet, the reception delay information indicates the reception delay of the PDU set to which the data packet belongs at the UPF, and the reception delay information is used to determine the remaining delay budget for the data packet.

[0044] In this method, UPF enables the first device receiving the data packet to easily and quickly obtain the receiving time information and / or receiving delay information by carrying the receiving time information and / or receiving delay information in the sent data packet, and then more accurately determine the remaining delay budget based on the receiving time information and / or receiving delay information, thereby ensuring the transmission delay control effect when the first device performs data packet scheduling processing according to the remaining delay budget, thereby improving the communication quality.

[0045] In one possible design, adding the receiving time information and / or the receiving delay information in the data packet includes: adding the receiving time information and / or the receiving delay information in the GTP protocol field of the data packet.

[0046] In one possible design, the receiving delay information includes at least one of the following: a first time difference; a delay corresponding to a numerical interval containing the first time difference in a set of multiple numerical intervals, wherein different numerical intervals correspond to different delays; the maximum time difference among multiple first time differences; the minimum time difference among multiple first time differences; and / or the average time difference of multiple first time differences; wherein the first time difference is the time difference between the first data packet and the last data packet in a PDU set received by the UPF arriving at the UPF.

[0047] In one possible design, the PDU set is received by the UPF within a first time period.

[0048] In one possible design, the reception delay information is also used as the reception delay information of each PDU set in the data stream to which the PDU set belongs.

[0049] In one possible design, when receiving time information is added to the data packet, the data packet is each data packet in the PDU set, or the data packet is the first or last data packet in the PDU set; or, when receiving delay information is added to the data packet, the data packet is the last data packet in the PDU set.

[0050] In one possible design, the first device is any one of the following: N3IWF, TNGF, TWIF, W-AGF.

[0051] In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a first device or by a component in the first device (such as a processor, chip, or chip system). The method includes: obtaining a PDU aggregate delay budget for a PDU aggregate; wherein the PDU aggregate includes a data packet; receiving the data packet from a UPF; wherein the data packet includes reception time information and / or reception delay information, the reception time information is used to indicate the time when the UPF receives the data packet, and the reception delay information is used to indicate the reception delay of the PDU aggregate at the UPF; determining a remaining delay budget for the data packet based on the PDU aggregate delay budget, the reception time information and / or the reception delay information; and scheduling the data packet based on the remaining delay budget.

[0052] In this method, the PDU set delay budget belongs to the service quality QoS parameter of the PDU set granularity, and the remaining delay budget belongs to the QoS parameter of the PDU granularity, that is, the data packet granularity. The first device determines the remaining delay budget of the data packets in the PDU set based on the PDU set delay budget of the PDU set, can convert the QoS parameters of the PDU set granularity into QoS parameters of the PDU granularity, and perform PDU granular scheduling processing on the data packets based on the QoS parameters of the PDU granularity to meet the QoS parameter requirements of the PDU set granularity, that is, the PDU set delay budget requirements. Therefore, even if the first device does not support PDU set granular scheduling processing of the data packets in the PDU set based on the PDU set delay budget, it can still meet the PDU set delay budget requirements of the PDU set during the scheduling processing of the data packets in the PDU set. At the same time, this method can improve the accuracy of the delay budget, thereby improving the accuracy of delay control during the scheduling process, thereby improving the transmission delay control effect and improving the system communication quality.

[0053] In one possible design, the receiving time information and / or the receiving delay information is in the GTP protocol field of the data packet.

[0054] In one possible design, the receiving delay information includes at least one of the following: a first time difference; a delay corresponding to a numerical interval containing the first time difference in a set of multiple numerical intervals, wherein different numerical intervals correspond to different delays; the maximum time difference among multiple first time differences; the minimum time difference among multiple first time differences; and / or the average time difference of multiple first time differences; wherein the first time difference is the time difference between the first data packet and the last data packet in a PDU set received by the UPF arriving at the UPF.

[0055] In one possible design, the PDU set is received by the UPF within a first time period.

[0056] In one possible design, the reception delay information is also used as the reception delay information of each PDU set in the data stream to which the PDU set belongs.

[0057] In one possible design, when receiving time information is added to the data packet, the data packet is each data packet in the PDU set, or the data packet is the first or last data packet in the PDU set; or, when receiving delay information is added to the data packet, the data packet is the last data packet in the PDU set.

[0058] In one possible design, the remaining delay budget of the data packet is determined based on the PDU aggregate delay budget, the receiving time information and / or the receiving delay information, including: determining the time difference between the time when the first device receives the data packet and the receiving time information; using the difference between the PDU aggregate delay budget and the time difference as the remaining delay budget; or, using the difference between the PDU aggregate delay budget and the receiving delay information as the packet delay budget of the data packet, determining the time difference between the time when the first device receives the data packet and the receiving time information, and using the difference between the packet delay budget and the time difference as the remaining delay budget; wherein, the packet delay budget is used to indicate the upper limit of the transmission delay of the data packet between the UPF and the terminal device.

[0059] In this method, the first device can determine the remaining delay budget in different ways based on different information obtained, which has high flexibility and practicality.

[0060] In one possible design, the scheduling of the data packet based on the remaining delay budget includes: determining a target QoS flow based on the remaining delay budget, and transmitting the data packet through the target QoS flow.

[0061] Based on this method, the first device can select a QoS flow for a data packet based on the remaining delay budget of the data packet. Data packets with different remaining delay budgets can be carried on different QoS flows for transmission, providing high flexibility and practicality while also improving data packet transmission efficiency.

[0062] In one possible design, the IP protocol field of the data packet includes the DSCP of the IPsec in which the QoS flow used to transmit the data packet is located, and the DSCP corresponds to the PDU set importance information of the PDU set, and the QoS flow is created based on the PDU set importance information; wherein, the PDU set importance information is used to indicate the importance of the PDU set.

[0063] In this method, the importance information of the PDU set can be used to create an IPsec tunnel that carries a QoS flow, further extending the IPsec tunnel creation method.

[0064] In one possible design, the first device is any one of the following: N3IWF, TNGF, TWIF, W-AGF.

[0065] In a sixth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, which can be performed by a first device or by a component (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a chip system) in the first device. The method includes: receiving a PDU set from a UPF; wherein the GTP protocol field of the data packet in the PDU set carries PDU set information, and the PDU set information is used to identify the PDU set; after encapsulating the PDU set information in the IP protocol field of the data packet, sending the obtained PDU set to an access point AP, wherein the PDU set information is used to schedule the data packets in the PDU set.

[0066] In this method, the first device encapsulates PDU aggregation information within the IP protocol layer of a data packet. This allows the AP to successfully identify the PDU aggregation information upon receiving the data packet and, based on the PDU aggregation information, identify data packets belonging to the same PDU aggregation. Therefore, this method enables the AP to schedule received data packets at the PDU aggregation granularity, thereby improving the accuracy of transmission delay control for PDU aggregations and, consequently, enhancing communication quality.

[0067] In one possible design, the IP protocol field of the data packet also includes the DSCP of the IPsec in which the QoS flow used to transmit the data packet is located, the DSCP corresponds to the PDU set delay budget, and the QoS flow is created based on the PDU set delay budget.

[0068] In this method, the PDU aggregate delay budget can be used to create an IPsec tunnel that carries a QoS flow, further extending the IPsec tunnel creation method.

[0069] In one possible design, sending the obtained PDU set to the AP includes: sending the obtained PDU set to the AP through the QoS flow.

[0070] In one possible design, the first device is any one of the following: N3IWF, TNGF, TWIF, W-AGF.

[0071] In the seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, comprising: a module for executing the above-mentioned first aspect or any one of the methods in the first aspect, or a module for executing the above-mentioned second aspect or any one of the methods in the second aspect, or a module for executing the above-mentioned third aspect or any one of the methods in the third aspect, or a module for executing the above-mentioned fourth aspect or any one of the methods in the fourth aspect, or a module for executing the above-mentioned fifth aspect or any one of the methods in the fifth aspect, or a module for executing the above-mentioned sixth aspect or any one of the methods in the sixth aspect.

[0072] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, comprising: at least one processor; the at least one processor is used to execute instructions stored in a memory, so that the communication device executes the above-mentioned first aspect or any one of the methods in the first aspect, or executes the above-mentioned second aspect or any one of the methods in the second aspect, or executes the above-mentioned third aspect or any one of the methods in the third aspect, or executes the above-mentioned fourth aspect or any one of the methods in the fourth aspect, or executes the above-mentioned fifth aspect or any one of the methods in the fifth aspect, or executes the above-mentioned sixth aspect or any one of the methods in the sixth aspect.

[0073] In one possible design, the communication device also includes the memory, which is used to store the instructions.

[0074] In a ninth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, comprising: at least one processor; and a memory and a communication interface communicatively connected to the at least one processor;

[0075] The communication interface is configured to receive signals from other communication devices other than the communication device and transmit the signals to the processor or to transmit the signals from the processor to other communication devices other than the communication device;

[0076] The memory stores instructions that can be executed by the at least one processor, and the at least one processor executes the instructions stored in the memory, so that the communication device executes the above-mentioned first aspect or any method in the first aspect, or executes the above-mentioned second aspect or any method in the second aspect, or executes the above-mentioned third aspect or any method in the third aspect, or executes the above-mentioned fourth aspect or any method in the fourth aspect, or executes the above-mentioned fifth aspect or any method in the fifth aspect, or executes the above-mentioned sixth aspect or any method in the sixth aspect.

[0077] In one possible design, the communication device further includes a transceiver, and the at least one processor is used to control the transceiver to receive and transmit signals. The transceiver may include a receiver and a transmitter, the receiver is used to receive signals, and the transmitter is used to transmit signals.

[0078] In one possible design, the above-mentioned communication device may be a device or apparatus with a chip, or a device or apparatus with an integrated circuit, or a chip, chip system, module or control unit in the terminal device or communication device shown above, and this application does not limit it specifically. It should be noted that in this application, when referring to a communication device, it can refer to the communication device itself, or it can refer to a chip, functional module or integrated circuit in the communication device that completes the method provided in this application, and this application does not limit it specifically.

[0079] In the tenth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program or instruction. When the computer program or instruction is run on a communication device, the communication device executes the above-mentioned first aspect or any one of the methods in the first aspect, or executes the above-mentioned second aspect or any one of the methods in the second aspect, or executes the above-mentioned third aspect or any one of the methods in the third aspect, or executes the above-mentioned fourth aspect or any one of the methods in the fourth aspect, or executes the above-mentioned fifth aspect or any one of the methods in the fifth aspect, or executes the above-mentioned sixth aspect or any one of the methods in the sixth aspect.

[0080] In an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a computer program product, comprising a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are executed by a communication device, the computer program or instructions implement the first aspect or any one of the methods in the first aspect, or implement the second aspect or any one of the methods in the second aspect, or implement the third aspect or any one of the methods in the third aspect, or implement the fourth aspect or any one of the methods in the fourth aspect, or implement the fifth aspect or any one of the methods in the fifth aspect, or implement the sixth aspect or any one of the methods in the sixth aspect.

[0081] In the twelfth aspect, the present application provides a chip system, which includes a processor, and the processor is used to read and execute a software program stored in a memory to implement the above-mentioned first aspect or any method in the first aspect, or to implement the above-mentioned second aspect or any method in the second aspect, or to implement the above-mentioned third aspect or any method in the third aspect, or to implement the above-mentioned fourth aspect or any method in the fourth aspect, or to implement the above-mentioned fifth aspect or any method in the fifth aspect, or to implement the above-mentioned sixth aspect or any method in the sixth aspect.

[0082] In one possible design, the chip system also includes the memory, and the processor is coupled to the memory via an interface.

[0083] In the thirteenth aspect, the present application provides a communication system, which includes the first network element described in the first aspect, the second network element described in the second aspect, and the first device described in the third aspect, or the communication system includes the UPF network element described in the fourth aspect and the first device described in the fifth aspect.

[0084] The technical effects that can be achieved by some of the contents of the second to fifth aspects can refer to the description of the beneficial effects of the corresponding contents of the first aspect, and the similarities will not be repeated here. The technical effects that can be achieved by any of the seventh to thirteenth aspects can refer to the description of the beneficial effects of the first to sixth aspects, and will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0085] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a 3GPP access communication system;

[0086] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a non-3GPP access communication system;

[0087] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture of a non-3GPP access communication system;

[0088] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture of a non-3GPP access communication system;

[0089] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0090] FIG6 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0091] FIG7 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0092] FIG8 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0093] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0094] FIG10 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0095] FIG11 is a schematic diagram of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0096] FIG12 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0097] FIG13 is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0098] FIG14 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0099] The embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0100] Among them, the method and the device are based on the same technical concept. Since the principles of solving problems by the method and the device are similar, the implementation of the device and the method can refer to each other, and the repeated parts will not be repeated.

[0101] It should be noted that, in the present application, "and / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can represent three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and subsequent associated objects are in an "or" relationship. The multiple involved in this application refers to two or more. At least one refers to one or more. In addition, it should be understood that 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, nor can they be understood as indicating or implying order.

[0102] The development of fifth-generation (5G) communications has driven exponential growth in media services. Video services have become the mainstream media format, and emerging multimedia services such as 4K / 8K ultra-high-definition video and extended reality (XR) have emerged.

[0103] XR uses auxiliary devices to enable the coexistence and interaction of physical objects in the real world and digital objects in the virtual world, ultimately achieving a perfect fusion of reality and virtuality. Currently, XR primarily encompasses virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR). The 5G+XR model is spawning a host of new application scenarios (such as gaming, social networking, education, and healthcare), and will become a mainstream trend in the future development of new media.

[0104] In the early stages of XR, the bandwidth requirement for a single-channel XR service is 80 megabits per second (Mbps). With the simultaneous launch of 4K interactive IPTV and Internet services, the recommended user bandwidth for XR is 230 Mbps or higher. These new media services pose significant challenges to network transmission bandwidth, and network transmission efficiency needs to be improved to meet the needs of rapidly evolving services. Currently, 5G systems can allocate transmission bandwidth to services through Quality of Service (QoS) mechanisms, thereby ensuring end-to-end service quality.

[0105] For data stream transmission, the relevant standards propose the concept of a protocol data unit (PDU) set. A data stream can include one or more PDU sets, each of which contains one or more PDUs carrying application layer payloads (e.g., video frames or video slices). Based on this, data processing in XR services can be performed at the granularity of a PDU set.

[0106] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a 5G communication system with 3GPP access provided by an embodiment of the present application. The architecture of the communication system may include a radio access network, a terminal device, and a core network. Exemplarily, in the architecture of the communication system, the radio access network may include a radio access network device (RAN). The core network may include: a network exposure function (NEF) network element, a policy control function (PCF) network element, a unified data management function network element (UDM), an application function (AF) network element, an access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, a session management function network element (SMF) network element, a user plane function (UPF) network element, a network data analytics function (NWDAF) network element, a data network (DN), an authentication server function (AUSF) network element, etc. Among them, each network element or device can be connected through an interface. The interface name shown in Figure 1 is only an example and is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application. It should be understood that the name of the network element shown in Figure 1 is only used as an example and is not intended to limit the network elements included in the communication system architecture. The functions of each network element or device in the communication system are described in detail below:

[0107] A terminal device, also known as user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), or mobile terminal (MT), is a device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to users. For example, a terminal device may include a handheld device or vehicle-mounted device with wireless connectivity. Currently, terminal devices may include: mobile phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, PDAs, mobile internet devices (MIDs), wearable devices, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) 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. In FIG1 , the terminal device is shown as a UE, which is only an example and does not limit the terminal device.

[0108] (R)AN equipment: equipment that provides access for terminal equipment, including radio access network (AN) equipment and access network (AN) equipment. RAN equipment is mainly 3GPP network wireless network equipment, and AN can be non-3GPP defined access network equipment. RAN equipment: mainly responsible for wireless resource management, quality of service (QoS) management, data compression and encryption and other functions on the air interface side. The access network equipment may include various forms of base stations, such as macro base stations, micro base stations (also called small stations), relay stations, access points, etc. In systems using different wireless access technologies, the names of devices with base station functions may be different. For example, in 5G systems, they are called RAN or gNB (5G NodeB).

[0109] The following describes in detail the functions of each network element in the core network:

[0110] The access and mobility management function network element can be used to manage the access control and mobility of terminal devices. In actual applications, it includes the mobility management function in the mobility management entity (MME) in the network framework in long term evolution (LTE), and adds the access management function, which can be responsible for the registration of terminal devices, mobility management, tracking area update process, reachability detection, selection of session management function network elements, mobile state transition management, etc. For example, in 5G, the access and mobility management function network element can be an AMF network element, such as shown in Figure 1; in future communications, such as 6G, the access and mobility management function network element can still be an AMF network element, or have other names, which are not limited in this application. When the access and mobility management function network element is an AMF network element, the AMF can provide Namf services.

[0111] The session management function network element can be used to manage the session of the terminal device (including the establishment, modification and release of the session), the selection and reselection of the user plane function network element, the allocation of the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the terminal device, and the quality of service (QoS) control. For example, in 5G, the session management function network element can be an SMF network element, such as shown in Figure 1; in future communications, such as 6G, the session management function network element can still be an SMF network element, or have other names, which are not limited in this application. When the session management function network element is an SMF network element, the SMF can provide Nsmf services.

[0112] User plane function network element: responsible for forwarding and receiving user data in the terminal device. User data can be received from the data network and transmitted to the terminal device through the access network device; the UPF network element can also receive user data from the terminal device through the access network device and forward it to the data network. The transmission resources and scheduling functions that provide services to the terminal device in the UPF network element are managed and controlled by the SMF network element. For example, in 5G, the user plane function network element can be a UPF network element, such as shown in Figure 1; in future communications, such as 6G, the user plane function network element can still be a UPF network element, or have other names, which are not limited in this application.

[0113] Policy Control Function Network Element: This element primarily supports providing a unified policy framework to control network behavior, provides policy rules to the control layer network functions, and is responsible for obtaining user subscription information related to policy decisions. For example, in 5G, the policy control function network element may be a PCF network element, as shown in Figure 1. In future communications, such as 6G, the policy control function network element may still be a PCF network element, or have other names, which are not limited in this application. When the policy control function network element is a PCF network element, the PCF network element can provide Npcf services.

[0114] Network Exposure Function Element: This element primarily supports secure interaction between 3GPP networks and third-party applications. For example, in 5G, a network exposure function element may be an NEF element (including a local NEF), as shown in Figure 1. In future communications, such as 6G, the network exposure function element may still be an NEF element, or have other names, which are not limited in this application. When the network exposure function element is an NEF, the NEF can provide Nnef services to other network function elements. The core network can provide capability exposure information to the AF through the NEF.

[0115] Application Function Network Element: This element primarily supports interaction with the 3GPP core network to provide services, such as influencing data routing decisions, policy control functions, or providing third-party services to the network side. For example, in 5G, the application function network element may be an AF network element, as shown in Figure 1; in future communications, such as 6G, the application function network element may still be an AF network element, or have other names, which are not limited in this application. When the application function network element is an AF network element, the AF network element can provide NAF services. The AF can provide services to the core network through the NEF.

[0116] Unified Data Management Function Network Element: This element is used to generate authentication credentials, process user identities (such as storing and managing permanent user identities), control access authorization, and manage contract data. For example, in 5G, the unified data management function network element may be a UDM network element, as shown in Figure 1. In future communications, such as 6G, the unified data management function network element may still be a UDM network element, or have other names, which are not limited in this application. When the unified data management function network element is a UDM network element, the UDM network element may provide Nudm services.

[0117] Network data analysis function network element: used to provide network data collection and analysis functions based on technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence.

[0118] A data network (DN) refers to a service network that provides data transmission services to users, such as operator services, the Internet, or third-party services.

[0119] Authentication server function: used to provide authentication services.

[0120] The UE can access the DN through a protocol data unit (PDU) session established between the UE and the DN.

[0121] Among them, each network element in the core network can also be called a functional entity or device, which can be a network element implemented on dedicated hardware, a software instance running on dedicated hardware, or an instance of a virtualized function on an appropriate platform. For example, the above-mentioned virtualization platform can be a cloud platform.

[0122] It should be noted that the architecture of the communication system shown in Figure 1 is not limited to including only the network elements shown in the figure, but may also include other devices not shown in the figure, which will not be listed one by one in this application.

[0123] It should be noted that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the distribution form of each network element. The distribution form shown in Figure 1 is only exemplary and is not limited in this application.

[0124] For ease of explanation, this application will subsequently use the network element shown in Figure 1 as an example, and will simply refer to the XX network element as XX. For example, the SMF network element will be referred to as SMF. It should be understood that all network element names in this application are merely examples and may be referred to by other names in future communications. Alternatively, the network elements involved in this application may be replaced by other entities or devices with the same functions in future communications. This application does not limit this. This is a unified explanation here and will not be repeated in detail later.

[0125] In the 3GPP access communication system shown in Figure 1 above, the RAN / UPF supports QoS-granular packet identification. The scheduling of each QoS flow is independent of each other. Based on this communication system, the identification and processing of PDU sets may include the following processes:

[0126] (1) The AF provides the PCF with the protocol description (used to indicate the transport protocol to be followed) and / or QoS parameters related to the PDU set. The protocol description can be used to indicate the transport protocol to be followed, and the QoS parameters are used to indicate the QoS requirements that need to be met.

[0127] (2) Based on the information provided by the AF, the PCF generates the policy control and charging (PCC) rules corresponding to the PDU set and passes them to the SMF.

[0128] (3) The SMF determines the QoS profile and packet detection rules of the PDU set that meet the QoS parameters required by the AF based on the PCC rules from the PCF, and sends the QoS profile to the RAN and the packet detection rules to the UPF.

[0129] (4) When the UPF receives a data stream, it can identify the data packets in the data stream that belong to the same PDU set according to the packet detection rules, carry the PDU set information (PSI) in the general packet radio service tunneling protocol (GTP)-U header of the data packet, and pass the data stream to the RAN.

[0130] (5) RAN can identify data packets belonging to the same PDU set based on the PDU set information in the data packets in the received data stream, and can perform PDU set granularity scheduling on the received data packets based on QoS parameters.

[0131] The above method is applicable to 3GPP access network equipment (such as RAN, NG-RAN, etc.) that supports data packet scheduling at the PDU aggregate granularity. However, 3GPP access communication systems may also include access network equipment that does not support data packet scheduling at the PDU aggregate granularity. Such access network equipment cannot perform scheduling at the PDU aggregate granularity according to the above method, and therefore cannot guarantee that PDU aggregate processing is carried out in accordance with the corresponding delay budget requirements of the PDU aggregate, resulting in reduced communication quality.

[0132] In addition, the processing of the PDU set described in the above method is concentrated in the 3GPP access network, where the access point is the RAN, which is a 3GPP access point. After the above solution is extended to non-3GPP access networks, the RAN is replaced by non-3GPP access points and network function (NF) network elements. Among them, the non-3GPP access point can be, for example, Bluetooth, wireless fidelity (WiFi), etc., and the NF can be, for example, a non-3GPP interworking function (N3IWF).

[0133] 2 , the architecture of a non-3GPP access communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application may include: an XR server, NEF / AF, UPF, NWDAF, PCF, SMF, AMF, NF, AP, and terminal equipment. Optionally, the communication system may also include other core network elements shown in FIG1 above, such as UDM, etc. Among them, the functions of core network elements such as NEF / AF, UPF, NWDAF, PCF, SMF, AMF, etc. can refer to the corresponding descriptions in the aforementioned embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0134] In the above-mentioned non-3GPP communication system, NF can be N3IWF, trusted non-3GPP gateway function (TNGF), trusted wireless local area network (WLAN) interworking function (TWIF), wireless access gateway function (W-AGF), base station, etc.

[0135] In the following embodiments, when an operation is performed by a network element or device, it can be understood that the operation is performed by the network element or device, or by a processor, chip, or functional module in the network element or device. For example, an operation performed by an access network device can be understood as being performed by the access network device, or by a processor, chip, or functional module in the access network device.

[0136] It should be noted that in the following embodiments, some descriptions use the example of an AF directly interacting with network elements in the core network. It should be understood that when the AF is a third-party AF, the AF can interact with network elements in the core network through the NEF. Similarly, network elements in the core network can also interact with the AF through the NEF.

[0137] Based on the above-mentioned non-3GPP access communication system, taking the NF as N3IWF as an example, the network architecture of the non-3GPP access communication system may include the network architecture shown in Figure 3 or Figure 4, wherein Figure 3 shows the control plane network architecture and Figure 4 shows the user plane network architecture. According to Figure 3 or Figure 4, in non-3GPP access, the non-3GPP access point and N3IWF can implement the forwarding function of the RAN in 3GPP. Among them, there can be a wireless connection between the UE and the non-3GPP access point, and there can be a wired connection between the non-3GPP access point and the N3IWF. If the N3IWF becomes the other type of network element or device belonging to the NF mentioned above, the access point becomes the access point of the corresponding type, and the other processing logic is consistent with the above method.

[0138] Taking NF as N3IWF as an example, when processing a PDU set in a non-3GPP access communication system, the processing method of core network elements such as AF, PCF, UPF, SMF, AMF is the same or similar to the processing method in the above-mentioned 3GPP access communication system, and will not be described in detail below. During the transmission of the service data flow, the XR server can send the service data flow to the UPF, wherein the data flow includes a PDU set, and the PDU set includes at least one data packet. The UPF can receive the data flow and send the PDU set in the data flow to the N3IWF through the QoS flow. The N3IWF can create an Internet Protocol Security (IP Sec) channel for transmitting the PDU set based on the QoS parameters of the QoS flow sent by the SMF, wherein each IP Sec channel corresponds to at least one QoS flow, and each IP Sec channel is created based on the QoS parameters of at least one QoS flow, and the data carried by the QoS flow (such as the data packet in the PDU set) is transmitted from the corresponding IP Sec channel. Each IPSec channel corresponds to a Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP) value. The DSCP value is determined based on the QoS parameters of the QoS flow corresponding to the IPSec channel when the IPSec channel is created. The N3IWF can identify data packets belonging to the same PDU set based on the PSI in the data packets in the received QoS flow, and after carrying the PSI in the GTP-U header of the data packet, perform PDU set granularity scheduling on the data packets based on the QoS parameter requirements. Specifically, the scheduling process can be a PDU set delay budget (PSDB) scheduling process that meets the QoS parameter requirements. The N3IWF can add the QFI of the QoS flow that meets the PSDB requirements of the PDU set to the data packets belonging to the same PDU set, and then distribute the data packets belonging to the same PDU set to the QoS flow that meets the PSDB requirements of the PDU set (i.e., the IPSec channel corresponding to the QoS flow) for transmission, thereby sending the data packets of the PDU set to the access point (AP). The access point AP can perform scheduling processing on the received data packets, and the scheduling processing refers to scheduling appropriate resources to send the data packets to the terminal device.

[0139] According to the network architecture shown in Figures 3 and 4 above, it can be determined that the AP only supports the IP protocol. Therefore, after the AP receives the data packet from the N3IWF, it cannot identify the PSI carried in the GTP-U header of the data packet. In other words, the N3IWF can receive the PSI from the UPF, but cannot successfully pass the PSI to the AP. Therefore, the AP cannot identify the data packets belonging to the same PDU set, resulting in the AP being unable to perform scheduling processing for the data packets belonging to the same PDU set in accordance with the PSDB requirements of the PDU set. It can only perform scheduling processing for a single data packet in accordance with the packet delay budget (PDB) requirements of the data packet. In other words, the AP cannot perform QoS flow processing at the PDU set granularity, but can only perform QoS flow processing at the data packet granularity. Among them, PDB is the upper limit of the transmission delay of the data packet between the UPF and the UE, and the PDB can be determined based on the QoS parameters.

[0140] In the above method, N3IWF performs QoS flow processing at the PDU set granularity, which is different from the granularity of QoS flow processing performed by AP, which will affect the effect of transmission delay control for PDU sets and lead to a decrease in communication quality.

[0141] To address the above issues, the present application provides a communication method, communication device, and communication system to address the issue of degraded communication quality caused by the different granularities of QoS flow processing performed by network elements or devices related to the access network and core network. The solution provided in this application can improve the effectiveness of transmission delay control for PDU sets, thereby improving the communication quality of the communication system.

[0142] Optionally, the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to the 3GPP access communication system shown in Figure 1, or can be applied to the non-3GPP access communication system shown in Figure 2. The following mainly takes the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application as an example to be applied to the non-3GPP access communication system to provide a detailed description. Replacing the first device and AP described below with the access network device in the 3GPP access communication system can obtain the communication method applied to the 3GPP access communication system, which will not be described in detail in the embodiment of the present application.

[0143] Based on the communication system shown in FIG2 , in some embodiments of the present application, the data stream received by the UPF from the XR server may include at least one PDU set. The UPF may perform at least one of the following processes 1 to 4 for each PDU set in the at least one PDU set:

[0144] Processing 1: Record the receiving time information in the data packet of the PDU set. Furthermore, the receiving time information can be used to indicate the time when the UPF receives the data packet, specifically the time when the UPF receives the data packet on the N6 interface.

[0145] Optionally, the receiving time information may be recorded in the header of the data packet.

[0146] Optionally, the data packet may be each data packet in the PDU set, or the first data packet in the PDU set, or the last data packet in the PDU set. That is, the UPF may record the reception time information in each data packet in the PDU set, or the first data packet in the PDU set, or the last data packet in the PDU set.

[0147] Processing 2: Record the time difference information in the data packet of the PDU set. The time difference information is used to indicate the time difference between the UPF receiving the first data packet (also called the first data packet or the first packet) and the last data packet (also called the tail packet) in the PDU set.

[0148] The time difference indicated by the time difference information can be used as the reception delay of the PDU set at the UPF. The UPF can determine the time difference (Δt) between the first and last data packets in the PDU set received by the UPF based on the time when the first data packet in the PDU set is received and the time when the last data packet in the PDU set is received.

[0149] Optionally, the time difference information can be recorded in the header of the data packet. Optionally, the above data packet can be the last data packet in the PDU set. In other words, the time difference information can be recorded in the last data packet in the PDU set. Optionally, the time difference information can also be recorded in an empty packet sent by the UPF to the NF. One possible approach is to construct an empty packet after the UPF determines the time difference information of the PDU set, and carry the time difference information in the empty packet header.

[0150] Processing 3: Record the receiving delay information in the data packet of the PDU set. The receiving delay information may be the time difference information described in the above processing 2, or the receiving delay information may be the numerical interval to which the time difference determined in the above processing 2 belongs, or the receiving delay information may be the identifier of the numerical interval to which the time difference determined in the above processing 2 belongs, or the receiving delay information may be the delay corresponding to the numerical interval to which the time difference determined in the above processing 2 belongs, wherein different numerical intervals correspond to different delays.

[0151] The data packet may be the last data packet in the PDU set. Optionally, the reception delay information may be recorded in the data packet header. Optionally, the reception delay information may also be recorded in an empty packet sent by the UPF to the NF. One possible approach is to construct an empty packet after the UPF determines the reception delay information for the PDU set, and to include the reception delay information in the empty packet header.

[0152] In some embodiments of the present application, the delay corresponding to the numerical interval may be a set value. Alternatively, the delay corresponding to the numerical interval may be determined based on the numerical value within the numerical interval. For example, the delay corresponding to the numerical interval may be the upper limit value of the numerical interval. For another example, the delay corresponding to the numerical interval may be the average value of the numerical values ​​contained in the numerical interval, etc. By setting different delays for different numerical intervals, a correspondence between different data value intervals and different delays can be established, and then the receiving delay information of the PDU set can be determined based on the corresponding relationship. Among them, it can be considered that the delays corresponding to different numerical intervals divide the time difference or the receiving delay of the PDU set into different levels, each numerical interval corresponds to a level, and the time difference contained in each numerical interval belongs to the level corresponding to the numerical interval.

[0153] For example, a possible correspondence between the value range and the delay is shown in Table 1 below:

[0154] In Table 1, the numerical interval [0, 3] includes values ​​greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 3, the numerical interval (3, 6] includes values ​​greater than 3 and less than or equal to 6, and the numerical interval (6, 9] includes values ​​greater than 6 and less than or equal to 9.

[0155] Optionally, the unit of the data in the numerical interval and the delay corresponding to the numerical interval can be ms time unit, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0156] For example, when the UPF determines that the time difference between the first data packet and the last data packet in the received PDU set is 2ms, it can determine that the receiving delay information of the PDU set is 3ms according to the correspondence shown in Table 1, or determine that the receiving delay information of the PDU set is the data interval [0, 3].

[0157] Processing 4: Add an empty packet after the PDU set, and record the receiving delay information in the empty packet. The receiving delay information can be the time difference information described in the above processing 2.

[0158] In some embodiments of the present application, when the number of at least one PDU set is greater than 1, that is, when the data stream received by the UPF from the XR server includes multiple PDU sets, the UPF may perform the following process 5 or process 6 for the multiple PDU sets:

[0159] Process 5: Record the receiving delay information in the data packet in the last PDU set of multiple PDU sets.

[0160] Optionally, the reception delay information may be recorded in the header of the data packet. Optionally, the data packet may be the last data packet in the corresponding PDU set, that is, the reception delay information may be recorded in the last data packet in the last PDU set of the multiple PDU sets.

[0161] In this processing method, the reception delay information may include at least one of the following:

[0162] 1) The maximum time difference among multiple time differences.

[0163] 2) The minimum time difference among multiple time differences.

[0164] 3) The average time difference of multiple time differences.

[0165] Among them, the above-mentioned multiple time differences include the time difference of each PDU set in multiple PDU sets, and the time difference of each PDU set is the time difference between the first data packet and the last data packet in the PDU set received by the UPF.

[0166] Processing 6: Add an empty packet after the multiple PDU sets, and record the receiving delay information in the empty packet. The receiving delay information can be the receiving delay information described in the above processing 5.

[0167] In some embodiments of the present application, the above-mentioned at least one PDU set or multiple PDU sets may be received by the UPF within the first time period.

[0168] In some embodiments of the present application, the above-mentioned reception delay information can be used as the reception delay information of a corresponding PDU set, or can be used as the reception delay information of each PDU set in the corresponding multiple PDU sets, or can be used as the reception delay information of each PDU set in the data stream.

[0169] In some embodiments of the present application, after the UPF processes at least one PDU set in the received data stream according to at least one of the above-mentioned processing methods 1 to 6, the PDU set may be transmitted to the NF through the QoS flow. Exemplarily, the NF may be an N3IWF, a trusted non-3GPP gateway function (TNGF), a trusted wireless local area network (WLAN) interworking function (TWIF), a wireless access gateway function (W-AGF), etc. For PDU sets that are not processed according to the above-mentioned processing methods 1 to 6, the UPF also transmits the PDU set to the NF through the QoS flow. Optionally, when the above-mentioned method is applied to a communication system with 3GPP access, the above-mentioned NF may be replaced by an access network device such as a base station.

[0170] In some embodiments of the present application, UPF can use the information obtained based on at least one of the above-mentioned processing methods 1 to 6 (such as the above-mentioned various receiving times, time differences, receiving delay information, etc.) as receiving delay information and open it to the outside world. Other network elements in the core network can subscribe to or query this information from UPF.

[0171] Based on the above description, a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application is shown in FIG5 , including:

[0172] S501: The second network element determines reception delay information of a PDU set.

[0173] The reception delay information is used to indicate the reception delay of the PDU set in the UPF.

[0174] In some embodiments of the present application, the second network element may be an NWDAF or a UPF.

[0175] When the second network element is an NWDAF, the second network element can obtain the first receiving delay information from the UPF. Alternatively, the second network element can obtain the first receiving moment information from the UPF, and determine the second receiving delay information based on the first receiving moment information. The first receiving moment information may include the moment when the first data packet and the last data packet of each PDU set in at least one PDU set in the data stream received by the UPF arrive at the UPF. In this way, the second network element can determine the second receiving delay information based on the information obtained from the UPF, with reference to the processing methods described in the above processes 1 to 6. The first receiving delay information is the receiving delay information determined by the UPF, and the second receiving delay information is the receiving delay information determined by other network elements other than the UPF based on the information from the UPF (such as the first receiving moment information), wherein the specific determination method can refer to the method described in the above processes 1 to 6. The first receiving delay information and the second receiving delay information may be the same or different.

[0176] The reception delay information described in the embodiments of the present application may be first reception delay information or second reception delay information. When the reception delay information is determined by or obtained from the UPF, the reception delay information is specifically the first reception delay information. When the reception delay information is determined by a network element other than the UPF, the reception delay information is specifically the second reception delay information.

[0177] When the second network element is a UPF, the second network element itself may determine the first receiving delay information according to the processing manner described in the above processing 1 to 6.

[0178] S502: The second network element sends reception delay information to the first network element.

[0179] When the second network element is an NWDAF or UPF, the first network element may be a PCF and / or an SMF. When the second network element is an UPF, the first network element may be one or more of an NWDAF, a PCF, an SMF, or an AMF.

[0180] In some embodiments of the present application, a first network element may obtain first reception delay information or second reception delay information from a second network element by subscription. Specifically, the first network element may subscribe to the reception delay information by sending a first message to the second network element, and receive the first reception delay information or second reception delay information fed back by the second network element. The first message may include at least one of the following:

[0181] 1) An analysis identifier, used to identify the analysis data to be acquired, wherein the analysis data to be acquired includes the reception delay information, which may be the first reception delay information or the second reception delay information.

[0182] Exemplarily, the analysis identifier (Analytics ID) may be "PDU Set arrival offset".

[0183] 2) Information used to indicate the terminal device associated with the receiving delay information.

[0184] The terminal device may be a terminal device that receives a data stream.

[0185] Exemplarily, the information may be an identifier of the terminal device, such as a user permanent identifier (SUPI) of the terminal device.

[0186] 3) Information used to indicate the data flow to which the PDU set belongs.

[0187] Exemplarily, the information may be a data flow identifier of the data flow to which the PDU set belongs. The information may be used to restrict the scope of the UE service data flow targeted by the data analysis, that is, to restrict which data flow is targeted for statistics, analysis, and determination of the reception delay information. In one possible manner, the information may be SDF (service data flow) information, such as a service data flow filter, a service data flow template, IP five-tuple information, IP three-tuple information, etc. Among them, the IP five-tuple information includes: source address, source port number, destination address, destination port number, and protocol type. The IP three-tuple information includes: source address, source port number, and protocol type.

[0188] 4) Information used to indicate the data granularity of the reception delay information.

[0189] Exemplarily, this information may limit the preferred granularity level of offset information for receiving the offset information. Exemplarily, the data granularity may include: moment granularity, time difference granularity, delay granularity (i.e., time difference level granularity), etc. Specifically, the data at moment granularity may include the various receiving moments described in the aforementioned embodiments. The data at time difference granularity may include the various time differences described in the aforementioned embodiments. The data at delay granularity may include the delay corresponding to the numerical range described in the aforementioned embodiments.

[0190] 5) Information used to indicate the arrangement order of the feedback information of the second network element.

[0191] This information is used to limit the preferred order of results of information fed back by the second network element to the first network element.

[0192] Illustratively, the feedback information may include time difference, maximum time difference, minimum time difference, average time difference, etc. Optionally, the feedback information may also include other related information such as data flow identifier, and the above arrangement order may be the arrangement order for these feedback information.

[0193] 6) The number of PDU sets used to determine the reception delay information.

[0194] The second network element may, based on the information, feed back the obtained reception delay information determined based on the number of PDU sets to the first network element.

[0195] 7) Information used to indicate a first time period; wherein, one or more PDU sets arriving at the UPF within the first time period are used to determine the receiving delay information.

[0196] Among them, the second network element can, based on this information, feed back the received delay information determined based on the PDU set received by the UPF in the first time period to the first network element.

[0197] After receiving the first message, the second network element may send the reception delay information to the first network element. Specifically, the second network element may send the reception delay information to the first network element by sending first information indicating the reception delay information to the first network element.

[0198] S503: The first network element obtains the PSDB of the PDU set.

[0199] Among them, PSDB is used to indicate the upper limit of the transmission delay of the PDU set between the UPF and the terminal device.

[0200] In some embodiments of the present application, the first network element may determine the PSDB based on the QoS parameters provided by the network elements in the core network. The process of the first network element obtaining the QoS parameters provided by the network elements in the core network may refer to the relevant content of FIG. 1 in the aforementioned embodiment and will not be repeated here. The above-mentioned QoS parameters may include: PSDB, PDU set error rate (PSER) and / or PDU set integrated handling information (PSIHI).

[0201] S504: The first network element determines the PDB of the data packet in the PDU set according to the reception delay information and the PSDB.

[0202] Among them, PDB is used to indicate the upper limit of the transmission delay of the data packet between the UPF and the terminal device.

[0203] As an optional implementation, the first network element may use the difference between the PSDB and the reception delay information as a PDB. The PDB may be used as the PDB of each data packet in the PDU set, or may be used as a PDB parameter requirement on the QoS flow to which the data packet belongs.

[0204] For example, when the PSDB of the PDU set is 10 milliseconds (ms), the upper limit of the transmission delay of the PDU set from the UPF to the terminal device is 10ms. If the receiving delay information is the time difference between the first data packet and the last data packet in the PDU set arriving at the UPF, and the time difference is 4ms, the first network element can determine that the PDB of the data packet in the PDU set is 6ms.

[0205] S505: The first network element sends the PDB to the first device.

[0206] Among them, the first device can be NF, and NF can be, for example, N3IWF, TNGF, TWIF, W-AGF, access network equipment (RAN, NG-RAN), etc.

[0207] In some embodiments of the present application, the first network element may send the PDB to the first device via a third network element; wherein the third network element includes one or more of a PCF, an SMF, or an AMF. For example, when the first network element is an MWDAF, the first network element may send the PDB to the first device via the PCF.

[0208] S506: The first device schedules and processes the data packet from the UPF according to the PDB.

[0209] In some embodiments of the present application, the data packet received by the first device from the UPF may carry reception time information, and the reception time information is used to indicate the time when the UPF receives the data packet. The first device can determine the remaining delay budget based on the PDB and the reception time information, and schedule the data packet based on the remaining delay budget. The remaining delay budget is used to indicate the upper limit of the transmission delay of the data packet between the first device and the terminal device. Optionally, if the data packet from the UPF does not carry the reception time information, the first device can transmit the data packet according to the requirements of the PDB.

[0210] Specifically, the first device may first determine the time difference between the first receiving time and the second receiving time, and then use the difference between the PDB and the time difference as the remaining delay budget. The first receiving time is the time when the first device receives the data packet, and the second receiving time is the receiving time indicated by the receiving time information.

[0211] When the first device schedules the data packet based on the remaining delay budget, it can transmit the data packet to the access point AP through the IPSec channel corresponding to the remaining delay budget among the multiple IPSec channels. The access point AP can schedule the data packet, that is, transmit the data packet to the terminal device through the corresponding IPSec channel.

[0212] Each IPSec channel can carry at least one QoS flow, and each IPSec channel corresponds to a DSCP value. When the first device transmits a data packet through the IPSec channel, it can include the DSCP value corresponding to the IPSec channel in the IP protocol field of the data packet. The access point (AP) can then select the corresponding IPSec channel based on the DSCP value carried in the data packet to transmit the data packet to the terminal device.

[0213] In the above method, the first network element and the second network element can collaboratively determine the PDB corresponding to the data packet in the PDU set, and transmit the PDB to the first device such as N3IWF, so that the first device can perform packet granularity scheduling processing on the data packet, thereby ensuring the same processing granularity as the AP, which can improve the effect of transmission delay control of the PDU set, thereby improving the communication quality.

[0214] In the above method, when the reception delay information is the various time differences described in the aforementioned embodiments, all data packets in the PDU set correspond to the same reception delay information, and the PDB determined based on the reception delay information is applicable to at least all data packets in the PDU set, that is, the PDB determined based on the reception delay information can be used to schedule and process all data packets in the PDU set.

[0215] For example, taking a PDU set including 3 data packets, 1 to 3, and the PSDB corresponding to the PDU set as 10ms, it is assumed that the time when these 3 data packets arrive at the UPF is 1ms, 3ms and 5ms respectively. When the reception delay information is the time difference between the first data packet and the last data packet in the PDU set arriving at the UPF, the UPF can determine that the reception delay information of the PDU set is 4ms. After the reception delay information is transmitted to the first network element according to the method shown in Figure 5, the first network element can determine that the PDB corresponding to data packets 1 to 3 is 6ms. After the first network element sends the PDB to the first device, when the first device receives the data packets in the PDU set and data packets 1 to 3, it can schedule and process data packets 1 to 3 respectively according to the 6ms PDB requirement. When the PDB is used as the PDB of each data packet on the QoS flow where the PDU set is located, the first device can schedule and process each data packet on the QoS flow respectively according to the 6ms PDB requirement.

[0216] In some embodiments of the present application, the UPF may not determine the reception delay information according to the method described in the aforementioned embodiments, but may determine the reception delay information corresponding to each data packet in the PDU set based on the method of "different data packets in the PDU set may correspond to different reception delay information". The reception delay information corresponding to each data packet indicates: the reception delay of the PDU set corresponding to the data packet and to which the data packet belongs in the UPF. The second network element may obtain the reception delay information corresponding to each data packet in the PDU set from the UPF, and send the reception delay information corresponding to each data packet to the first network element. The first network element may determine the PDB corresponding to each data packet in the PDU set based on the PSDB of the PDU set and the reception delay information corresponding to each data packet in the PDU set, and send the PDB corresponding to each data packet to the first device. So that the first device can schedule and process each data packet according to the PDB corresponding to each data packet.

[0217] In this method, the reception delay information corresponding to each data packet can be determined by taking the time difference between the time the data packet arrives at the UPF and the time the first data packet in the PDU set to which the data packet belongs arrives at the UPF as the reception delay information corresponding to the data packet. The time the data packet arrives at the UPF is the time the UPF receives the data packet. The UPF can determine the reception delay information corresponding to each data packet based on this method.

[0218] In this manner, the PDB corresponding to each data packet may be determined by taking the difference between the PSDB of the PDU set to which the data packet belongs and the reception delay information corresponding to the data packet as the PDB corresponding to the data packet.

[0219] For example, consider a PDU set consisting of three packets, 1 to 3, with a PSDB of 10ms. Assume that these three packets arrive at the UPF at 1ms, 3ms, and 5ms, respectively. The UPF can then determine that the reception delay information for packet 1 is 0ms, the reception delay information for packet 2 is 2ms, and the reception delay information for packet 3 is 4ms. After the reception delay information corresponding to each packet is transmitted to the first network element according to the method shown in Figure 5, the first network element can determine that the PDB for packet 1 is 10ms, the PDB for packet 2 is 8ms, and the PDB for packet 3 is 6ms. After the first network element sends the PDB for each packet to the first device, upon receiving packet 1, the first device can schedule packet 1 according to the 10ms PDB requirement. Upon receiving packet 2, the first device can schedule packet 1 according to the 8ms PDB requirement. Upon receiving packet 3, the first device can schedule packet 1 according to the 6ms PDB requirement.

[0220] In some embodiments of the present application, the PSDB of the PDU set in the method shown in Figure 5 can be replaced by the QoS parameters of the PDU set (such as PSER, PSIHI, etc.), the reception delay information can be replaced by reference information for converting the QoS parameters of the PDU set into the QoS parameters corresponding to the data packets in the PDU set, and the PDB can be replaced by reference information for the QoS parameters corresponding to the data packets in the PDU set. That is, the second network element can obtain reference information for converting the QoS parameters of the PDU set (such as PSER, PSIHI, etc.) into the QoS parameters corresponding to the data packets in the PDU set, and pass the reference information to the first network element. The first network element can convert the QoS parameters of the PDU set into the QoS parameters corresponding to the data packets in the PDU set based on the reference information, and pass the QoS parameters corresponding to the data packets to the first device. The first device can schedule and process the data packets based on the QoS parameters corresponding to the data packets.

[0221] In one example, taking the QoS parameter as PSER, when the second network element is NWDAF and the first network element is PCF / SMF, PCF / SMF can obtain reference information from NWDAF for converting the PSER of the PDU set into the PSER corresponding to the data packets in the PDU set, and based on the reference information, convert the PSER of the PDU set into the PSER corresponding to the data packets in the PDU set, and send the PSER corresponding to the data packets in the PDU set to the first device, so that the first device schedules the data packets according to the PSER corresponding to the data packets in the PDU set.

[0222] The specific implementation of the above method can be implemented with reference to the method shown in FIG5 , which will not be described in detail here.

[0223] Based on the above description, the following takes the above-mentioned first network element as PCF, the second network element as NWDAF, the first device as N3IWF, and the terminal device as UE as an example, and combines the non-3GPP access communication system shown in Figure 2 to describe the execution process of the communication method shown in Figure 5 in detail. For example, with reference to Figure 6, the process may include:

[0224] S601: The AF sends a QoS creation / update request to the NEF.

[0225] In some embodiments of the present application, before step S601, the UE may optionally complete network registration and send a data connection session (e.g., a PDU session, which will be described below as an example) creation request to the AMF. The data connection session creation request is used to request the creation of a data connection session. Taking the data connection session as a PDU session as an example, the data connection session creation request may be a PDU session creation request, which is used to request the creation of a PDU session.

[0226] Optionally, the QoS create / update request can carry QoS parameter requirements for a PDU set. The QoS parameter requirements can include the PSDB for the PDU set in the PDU session. That is, the QoS requirements include a delay budget at the PDU set granularity, and all PDU sets in the service data flow transmitted through the PDU session must meet this delay budget.

[0227] S602: NEF authenticates the QoS creation / update request.

[0228] S603: The NEF sends the authenticated QoS create / update request to the PCF.

[0229] S604: The PCF sends a first subscription request to the NWDAF, where the first subscription request is used to subscribe to reception delay information of a PDU set in a data stream.

[0230] In one possible implementation of some embodiments of the present application, the PCF may initiate an analysis information request to the NWDAF based on the UE's access type (i.e., non-3GPP access). Specifically, the PCF may send a subscription request to the NWDAF to request the reception delay information of the PDU set in the data stream transmitted under the above-mentioned PDU session. The first subscription request may be the first message described in the aforementioned embodiment, which will not be described in detail here.

[0231] Illustratively, the first subscription request sent by the PCF to the NWDAF may include any one or more of the analysis identifier, data flow identifier, data granularity level, or information arrangement order described in the aforementioned embodiments.

[0232] S605: The NWDAF sends a second subscription request to the UPF, where the second subscription request is used to subscribe to the reception delay information of the PDU set in the data stream.

[0233] In some embodiments of the present application, after receiving a subscription request from PCF, NWDAF can subscribe to information monitoring at the PDU set granularity for the data flow from UPF by sending a subscription request to UPF, wherein the monitored information may include the reception delay of the PDU set, the time when the data packet in the PDU set arrives at UPF, etc. The monitored information can be used as reception delay information or can be used to determine the reception delay information.

[0234] S606: The UPF determines the reception delay information according to the PDU set in the received data stream.

[0235] In some embodiments of the present application, after the UPF receives a subscription request from the NWDAF, it can process the PDU set in the received data stream according to the processing methods 1 to 6 described in the above embodiments, and can feed back the information determined during the processing to the NWDAF as reception delay information.

[0236] S607: The UPF sends a first subscription response to the NWDAF, where the first subscription response is used to indicate first reception delay information of a PDU set in the data stream.

[0237] S608: The NWDAF sends a second subscription response to the PCF, where the second subscription response is used to indicate second reception delay information of the PDU set in the data stream.

[0238] Exemplarily, the reception delay information fed back by the NWDAF to the PCF may include the time difference, maximum time difference, minimum time difference, average time difference, etc. described in the aforementioned embodiments.

[0239] Optionally, the first subscription response and the second subscription response may further include identification information of the data stream.

[0240] S609: The PCF determines the PDB of the data packet in the PDU set according to the reception delay information.

[0241] The PCF can determine the PSDB based on the QoS parameters in the QoS create / update request from the NEF, and then determine the PDB of the data packet in the PDU set based on the PSDB and the reception delay information from the NWDAF. The PCF can also generate a PCC rule based on information such as the QoS parameters and the PDB, where the PCC rule can be used to indicate the PDB.

[0242] For example, the PCF can generate a minimum PDB based on the maximum time difference in the received delay information; a maximum PDB based on the minimum time difference in the received delay information; an average PDB based on the average time difference in the received delay information; or a PDB corresponding to packets in a specific PDU set based on the time difference corresponding to the PDU set.

[0243] S610: The PCF sends a PCC rule to the SMF, where the PCC rule can be used to indicate a PDB.

[0244] S611: SMF sends data packet detection rules to UPF.

[0245] The SMF can generate a packet detection rule (PDR) for the downlink data packet based on the PCC rule from the PCF, and send the packet detection rule to the UPF so that the UPF can identify and process the data packets in the PDU set based on the PDR. Optionally, the SMF can send the packet detection rule to the UPF via an N4 message. The SMF can also send a forwarding action rule to the UPF, etc.

[0246] S612: The SMF sends a QoS profile to the N3IWF, where the QoS profile includes the PDB.

[0247] The QoS profiles may include a PDB corresponding to the QoS flow carrying the PDU set. Optionally, the PDB may serve as the PDB for the data packets in the QoS flow. The QoS profiles may also include a QoS flow ID (QFI).

[0248] Optionally, SMF can send a QoS profile to N3IWF via N2 PDU session request.

[0249] Optionally, SMF can send the QoS profile to N3IWF via AMF.

[0250] S613: The N3IWF creates a QoS flow and an IPSec channel for carrying the QoS flow through the AP and the UE according to the QoS profile.

[0251] S614: When the N3IWF receives a data packet in the QoS flow from the UPF, it schedules the data packet to the corresponding IP Sec channel for transmission according to the PDB.

[0252] The specific implementation process of the above-mentioned N3IWF creating an IP Sec channel and performing data packet scheduling processing according to the PDB can be implemented with reference to the method described in the above-mentioned step S506, which will not be described in detail here.

[0253] In the above method, PCF can subscribe to the reception delay information of the PDU set, and can more accurately determine the PDB of the data packet in the PDU set based on the reception delay information of the subscribed PDU set, and transmit the PDB to N3IWF through SMF, so that N3IWF can schedule and process the data packet at the data packet granularity based on the PDB, thereby ensuring the same processing granularity as the subsequent AP, which can improve the communication quality.

[0254] Based on the above description, the following takes the above-mentioned first network element as SMF, the second network element as NWDAF, the first device as N3IWF, and the terminal device as UE as an example, and combines the non-3GPP access communication system shown in Figure 2 to describe in detail the execution process of the communication method shown in Figure 5. For example, with reference to Figure 7, the process may include:

[0255] S701: AF sends a QoS creation / update request to NEF.

[0256] S702: NEF authenticates the QoS creation / update request.

[0257] S703: The NEF sends the authenticated QoS create / update request to the PCF.

[0258] The execution of the above steps S701 to S703 may refer to the above steps S601 to S603 and will not be repeated here.

[0259] S704: The PCF sends the PCC rules to the SMF.

[0260] The PCF may generate PCC rules based on the QoS parameter requirements in the QoS create / update request.

[0261] S705: SMF sends the data packet detection rules to UPF.

[0262] This step can be performed with reference to the aforementioned step S611 and will not be described in detail here.

[0263] S706: The SMF sends a first subscription request to the NWDAF, where the first subscription request is used to subscribe to the reception delay information of the PDU set in the data stream.

[0264] In one possible implementation of some embodiments of the present application, the SMF may initiate a request for analysis information to the NWDAF based on the PCC rule and / or the access type of the UE (i.e., non-3GPP access). Specifically, the SMF may send a subscription request to the NWDAF to request the reception delay information of the PDU set in the data stream. Optionally, the first subscription request may be the first message described in the aforementioned embodiment, which will not be described in detail here.

[0265] Optionally, the first subscription request sent by SMF to NWDAF may also include any one or more of the following information: UPF identifier, QFI of the QoS flow to which the PDU set belongs, or information indicating the data flow to which the PDU set belongs.

[0266] Exemplarily, the first subscription request sent by the SMF to the NWDAF may include any one or more of the analysis identifier, data flow identifier or QFI, or data granularity level described in the aforementioned embodiments.

[0267] S707: The NWDAF sends a second subscription request to the UPF, where the second subscription request is used to subscribe to the reception delay information of the PDU set in the data stream.

[0268] S708: The UPF determines the reception delay information according to the PDU set in the received data stream.

[0269] S709: The UPF sends a first subscription response to the NWDAF, where the first subscription response is used to indicate first receiving delay information of a PDU set in the data stream.

[0270] S710: The NWDAF sends a second subscription response to the SMF, where the second subscription response is used to indicate second reception delay information of the PDU set in the data stream.

[0271] Optionally, the first subscription response and the second subscription response may further include the QFI of the QoS flow in the PDU set.

[0272] The execution of the above steps S707 to S710 can be implemented with reference to the above steps S605 to S608, which will not be repeated here.

[0273] S711: The SMF determines the PDB of the data packet in the PDU set according to the reception delay information.

[0274] Among them, the SMF can determine the PSDB according to the PCC rule from the PCF, and then determine the PDB of the data packet in the PDU set according to the PSDB and the reception delay information from the NWDAF.

[0275] For example, the SMF can generate a minimum PDB based on the maximum time difference in the received delay information; a maximum PDB based on the minimum time difference in the received delay information; an average PDB based on the average time difference in the received delay information. Furthermore, the SMF can generate the PDB corresponding to the data packets in a specific PDU set based on the time difference corresponding to the PDU set.

[0276] Optionally, the SMF may also generate multiple candidate QoS profiles and corresponding QFIs.

[0277] S712: SMF sends a QoS profile to N3IWF, where the QoS profile includes the PDB.

[0278] The QoS profiles may include a PDB corresponding to the QoS flow carrying the PDU set. Optionally, the PDB may serve as the PDB for the data packets in the QoS flow. The QoS profiles may also include a QoS flow ID (QFI).

[0279] Optionally, the SMF may send a QoS profile to the N3IWF via an N2 PDU session request. Optionally, the session request may also include multiple candidate QoS profiles and corresponding QFIs, as well as a PDU session identifier.

[0280] S713: N3IWF creates a QoS flow and an IPSec channel for carrying the QoS flow through the AP and the UE according to the QoS profile.

[0281] S714: When N3IWF receives a data packet in a QoS flow from UPF, it determines the remaining delay budget based on the PDB and the receiving time information carried by the data packet, and schedules the data packet for transmission on the IP Sec channel where the QoS flow that meets the remaining delay budget requirements is located.

[0282] The specific implementation process of the above-mentioned N3IWF creating an IP Sec channel and performing data packet scheduling processing according to the PDB can be implemented with reference to the method described in the above-mentioned step S506, which will not be described in detail here.

[0283] In the above method, SMF can subscribe to the reception delay information of the PDU set, and can more accurately determine the PDB of the data packet in the PDU set based on the reception delay information of the subscribed PDU set, and transmit the PDB to N3IWF, so that N3IWF can schedule the data packet based on the PDB, thereby ensuring the same processing granularity as the subsequent AP, which can improve the communication quality.

[0284] Based on the above description, the following takes the above-mentioned first network element as NWDAF, the second network element as UPF, the first device as N3IWF and / or the terminal device UE as an example, and combines the non-3GPP access communication system shown in Figure 2 to describe the execution process of the communication method shown in Figure 5 in detail. For example, with reference to Figure 8, the process may include:

[0285] S801: AF sends a QoS creation / update request to NEF.

[0286] S802: NEF authenticates the QoS creation / update request.

[0287] S803: NEF sends the authenticated QoS create / update request to PCF.

[0288] The execution of the above steps S801 to S803 may refer to the above steps S601 to S603 and will not be repeated here.

[0289] S804: The PCF sends a first subscription request to the NWDAF, where the first subscription request is used to subscribe to the PDB of the data packet in the PDU set in the data stream.

[0290] In a possible implementation method in some embodiments of the present application, the PCF can initiate a request for analysis information to the NWDAF based on the UE's access type (i.e., non-3GPP access), specifically by sending a subscription request to the NWDAF to request to obtain the PDB of the data packet in the PDU set in the data stream.

[0291] Exemplarily, the first subscription request sent by the PCF to the NWDAF may include any one or more of the analysis identifier, data flow identifier, data granularity level, or information arrangement order described in the aforementioned embodiments. The data to be acquired as indicated by the analysis identifier may include the PDB of a data packet in a PDU set, and the analysis identifier may be "PDB of a data packet in a PDU set."

[0292] S805: The NWDAF sends a second subscription request to the UPF, where the second subscription request is used to subscribe to the reception delay information of the PDU set in the data stream.

[0293] S806: The UPF determines the reception delay information according to the PDU set in the received data stream.

[0294] S807: The UPF sends a first subscription response to the NWDAF, where the first subscription response is used to indicate first reception delay information of a PDU set in the data stream.

[0295] The execution of the above steps S805 to S807 may refer to the above steps S605 to S607, which will not be repeated here.

[0296] S808: The MWDAF determines the PDB of the data packet in the PDU set according to the reception delay information.

[0297] Among them, NWDAF can obtain PSDB from the network management (operation-administration-maintenance, OAM) or other network elements of the core network (such as PCF / SMF), and then determine the PDB of the data packet in the PDU set based on the PSDB and the reception delay information from the UPF.

[0298] S809: The NWDAF sends a second subscription response to the PCF, where the second subscription response is used to send information indicating the PDB.

[0299] S810: The PCF sends the PCC rule to the SMF, where the PCC rule can be used to indicate information about the PDB.

[0300] S811: SMF sends data packet detection rules to UPF.

[0301] S812: SMF sends a QoS profile to N3IWF, where the QoS profile includes the PDB.

[0302] S813: N3IWF creates a QoS flow and an IPSec channel for carrying the QoS flow through the AP and the UE according to the QoS profile.

[0303] S814: When the N3IWF receives a data packet in the QoS flow from the UPF, it schedules the data packet to the corresponding IP Sec channel for transmission according to the PDB.

[0304] The execution of the above steps S810 to S814 may refer to the above steps S610 to S614, which will not be repeated here.

[0305] In the above method, NWDAF can subscribe to the reception delay information of the PDU set, and can more accurately determine the PDB of the data packet in the PDU set based on the reception delay information of the subscribed PDU set, and transmit the PDB to N3IWF through PCF and SMF, so that N3IWF can schedule the data packet based on the PDB, thereby ensuring the same processing granularity as the subsequent AP, which can improve the communication quality.

[0306] Based on the above description, the embodiments of the present application also provide another communication method, which differs from the communication method described in the above embodiments in that: the UPF can directly transmit the determined receiving time information and / or receiving delay information to the first device, without the need to obtain the receiving time information and / or receiving delay information from the UPF through other intermediate network elements such as the first network element and / or the second network element described in the above embodiments and transmit it to the first device. In addition, the receiving time information and / or receiving delay information can be carried in the data packet and transmitted to the first device without the need to obtain it through subscription. Based on this method, the first device can schedule the received data packet directly according to the receiving time information and / or receiving delay information in the data packet when receiving the data packet.

[0307] Among them, the first device can be NF, and NF can be, for example, any one or more of N3IWF, TNGF, TWIF, W-AGF, RAN, NG-RAN, etc.

[0308] As shown in FIG9 , the communication method may include:

[0309] S901: UPF receives a data packet.

[0310] Among them, the UPF can receive data packets in the PDU set in the data stream from the XR server.

[0311] S902: The UPF adds receiving time information and / or receiving delay information to the data packet.

[0312] Among them, the receiving time information is used to indicate the time when the UPF receives the data packet, and the receiving delay information is used to indicate the receiving delay of the PDU set to which the data packet belongs in the UPF.

[0313] In some embodiments of the present application, the UPF may add reception time information and / or reception delay information in the GTP protocol field of the data packet.

[0314] Among them, the UPF can refer to the processing methods corresponding to processing 1 to processing 6 described in the above embodiments to add receiving time information and / or receiving delay information to the data packets in the PDU set in the data stream.

[0315] S903: The UPF sends a data packet to the first device.

[0316] S904: The first device obtains the PSDB of the PDU set.

[0317] The PDU set includes data packets.

[0318] In some embodiments of the present application, the first device may obtain the PDSB from at least one network element among the SMF, PCF, and AF. Specific reference may be made to the method for transferring the PSDB to the N3IWF described in the aforementioned embodiment, which will not be described in detail here.

[0319] S905: The first device transmits the data packet according to the PSDB.

[0320] In one possible manner, the first device transmits the data packet according to the PSDB and the reception time information and / or reception delay information carried in the data packet from the UPF.

[0321] Exemplarily, the first device may determine a remaining delay budget of the data packet, where the remaining delay budget is used to indicate an upper limit of the transmission delay of the data packet between the first device and the terminal device.

[0322] In some embodiments of the present application, when a data packet carries reception time information, the first device can determine the time difference between the time when it receives the data packet and the reception time information, and use the difference between PSDB and the time difference as the remaining delay budget. When a data packet carries reception delay information, the first device can use the difference between PSDB and the reception delay information as the remaining delay budget. When a data packet includes reception time information and reception delay information, the first device can use the difference between PSDB and the reception delay information as the PDB of the data packet, and determine the time difference between the time when the first device receives the data packet and the reception time information, and then use the difference between PDB and the time difference as the remaining delay budget.

[0323] Exemplarily, after determining the remaining delay budget of the data packet, the first device may schedule the data packet according to the remaining delay budget.

[0324] The specific implementation of this step can be implemented by referring to the relevant method described in the aforementioned step S506, and will not be repeated here.

[0325] In some embodiments of the present application, in the above method, after receiving the PDU aggregate data packet, the UPF may construct an empty packet and add the reception time information and / or reception delay information to the empty packet. The first device may determine the reception time information and / or reception delay information based on the empty packet. Other processing performed by the UPF and the first device can refer to the description of the above method and will not be described in detail here.

[0326] In the above method, the UPF can carry the reception time information of the data packet and / or the reception delay information of the PDU set of the data packet in the data packet and indicate it to the first device such as N3IWF, so that the first device can determine the remaining delay budget of the data packet based on this information, and then perform data packet granularity scheduling processing for the data packet based on the remaining delay budget, thereby ensuring the same processing granularity as the AP, thereby improving the communication quality.

[0327] Based on the above description, the following takes the above-mentioned first device as N3IWF and the terminal device as UE as an example, and combines the non-3GPP access communication system shown in Figure 2 to describe the execution process of the communication method shown in Figure 9 in detail. For example, referring to Figure 10, the process may include:

[0328] S1001: AF sends a QoS creation / update request to NEF.

[0329] S1002: NEF authenticates the QoS creation / update request.

[0330] S1003: NEF sends the authenticated QoS create / update request to PCF.

[0331] The execution of the above steps S1001 to S1003 may refer to the above steps S601 to S603, which will not be repeated here.

[0332] S1004: The PCF sends the PCC rules to the SMF.

[0333] S1005: SMF sends the QoS configuration file to N3IWF.

[0334] S1006: SMF sends data packet detection rules to UPF.

[0335] The execution of the above steps S1004 to S1006 can be implemented with reference to the relevant processing method in the communication system for 3GPP access described in the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0336] S1007: The UPF adds receiving time information and / or receiving delay information to the data packet in the PDU set received in the data stream.

[0337] The execution of this step can be implemented by referring to the method described in the aforementioned step S902, and will not be repeated here.

[0338] S1008: UPF sends the data packet to N3IWF through the QoS flow.

[0339] S1009: When the N3IWF receives a data packet in the QoS flow from the UPF, it determines the remaining delay budget of the data packet in the QoS flow based on the receiving time information and / or receiving delay information added to the data packet.

[0340] The execution of this step can be achieved by referring to the method described in the above steps S903 to S904, which will not be repeated here.

[0341] S1010: The N3IWF creates an IPSec channel for carrying QoS flows through the AP and the UE according to the QoS profile.

[0342] S1011: N3IWF schedules the data packet to the corresponding QoS flow on the corresponding IPSec channel for transmission based on the remaining delay budget.

[0343] The execution of the above steps S1010 to S1011 can refer to the above steps S713 to S714, which will not be repeated here.

[0344] Based on the above description, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication method, which differs from the communication method described in the above embodiment in that the UPF can encapsulate the PSI used to identify data packets belonging to the same PDU set in the IP protocol layer field of the data packet and send the data packet to the first device. This allows the first device to identify the PSI in the data packet, identify data packets belonging to the same PDU set based on the PSI, and perform PDU set granularity scheduling on the data packets belonging to the same PDU set.

[0345] The first device may be a NF, and the NF may be, for example, N3IWF, TNGF, TWIF, W-AGF, etc.

[0346] As shown in FIG11 , the communication method may include:

[0347] S1101: The first device receives a PDU set from the UPF; wherein the GTP protocol field of the data packet in the PDU set carries a PSI, and the PSI is used to identify the PDU set.

[0348] Among them, the above-mentioned GTP protocol field can be a GTP-U header.

[0349] S1102: The first device encapsulates the PSI in the IP protocol field of the data packet, and sends the obtained PDU set to the access point AP, wherein the PSI is used to schedule the data packets in the PDU set.

[0350] Specifically, the PSI may be used by the access point AP to schedule and process data packets in the PDU set.

[0351] In some embodiments of the present application, the IP protocol field of the data packet also includes the DSCP of the IPsec QoS flow used to transmit the data packet. The DSCP corresponds to the PSDB of the PDU set, and the QoS flow is created by the first device based on the PSDB. The first device can send the data packet in the PDU set to the AP via the QoS flow.

[0352] After receiving a data packet, the AP can identify the PDU set to which the data packet belongs based on the PSI carried in the data packet, and can determine the corresponding IPSec channel based on the DSCP carried in the data packet, and then transmit the data packet in the identified PDU set to the terminal device through the determined IPSec channel.

[0353] In the above method, the first device encapsulates the PSI in the IP protocol field of the data packet, allowing the AP to identify the data packets as belonging to the same PDU set and perform scheduling processing on the data packets at the PDU set granularity. Therefore, this method ensures that the first device and the AP perform processing at the same granularity, thereby improving communication quality.

[0354] In some embodiments of the present application, the processing of encapsulating PSI in the IP protocol field of the data packet can also be completed by the UPF, that is, the UPF can carry PSI information in the IP protocol field of the data packet in the PDU set sent to the first device. When the first device receives the data packet in the PDU set, it can send the data packet to the AP according to the above-mentioned scheduling processing method.

[0355] Based on the above description, the following takes the above-mentioned first device as N3IWF and the terminal device as UE as an example, and combines the non-3GPP access communication system shown in Figure 2 to describe in detail the execution process of the communication method shown in Figure 11. For example, referring to Figure 12, the process may include:

[0356] S1201: The AF sends a QoS creation / update request to the NEF.

[0357] S1202: NEF authenticates the QoS creation / update request.

[0358] S1203: The NEF sends the authenticated QoS create / update request to the PCF.

[0359] The execution of the above steps S1201 to S1203 may refer to the above steps S601 to S603, which will not be repeated here.

[0360] S1204: The PCF sends the PCC rules to the SMF.

[0361] S1205: SMF sends the QoS profile to N3IWF.

[0362] S1206: SMF sends the data packet detection rules to UPF.

[0363] The execution of the above steps S1204 to S1206 may be implemented with reference to the relevant processing method in the communication system for 3GPP access described in the above embodiments, and will not be described in detail here.

[0364] S1207: The UPF sends the data packet in the PDU set to the N3IWF through the QoS flow, where the GTP-U header of the data packet carries the PSI of the PDU set.

[0365] S1208: The N3IWF creates an IPSec channel for carrying QoS flows through the AP and the UE according to the QoS profile.

[0366] Specifically, N3IWF can create IP Sec based on the PSDB of the PDU set, and associate the DSCP value of IP Sec with the PSDB of the PDU set, thereby establishing a mapping between PSDB and DSCP.

[0367] S1209: After receiving the data packet of the PDU set in the QoS flow from the UPF, the N3IWF encapsulates the PSI in the GTP-U header of the data packet into the IP protocol field of the data packet.

[0368] S1210: Based on the PSDB of the PDU set, the N3IWF schedules the data packets in the PDU set to the corresponding QoS flow on the corresponding IP Sec channel for transmission.

[0369] In some embodiments of the present application, the above steps S1207 to S1210 can also be replaced by the following steps: UPF sends data packets in the PDU set to N3IWF through the QoS flow, wherein the IP protocol field of the data packet carries the PSI of the PDU set; N3IWF creates an IP Sec channel for carrying the QoS flow through AP and UE according to the QoS profile; after N3IWF receives the data packets of the PDU set in the QoS flow from UPF, it schedules the data packets in the PDU set to the corresponding QoS flow on the corresponding IP Sec channel for transmission based on the PSDB of the PDU set.

[0370] In some embodiments of the present application, based on the methods provided in the above embodiments, the first device, such as the N3IWF, may further establish a mapping relationship between the IPSec DSCP and the PDU set importance information based on the PDU set importance information (used to indicate the importance of the PDU set) in the PSI of the PDU set. Based on this method, the IP protocol field of the data packet in the PDU set sent by the first device to the access point AP may include the IPSec DSCP of the QoS flow used to transmit the data packet. The DSCP may correspond to the PDU set importance information of the PDU set, and the QoS flow is created based on the PDU set importance information.

[0371] It should be understood that the implementation processes provided in the above embodiments are merely illustrative of the applicable method processes of the embodiments of the present application. The execution order of the steps in each embodiment can be adjusted accordingly according to actual needs, and other steps can be added or some steps can be reduced. The execution of some steps can also refer to the definitions in the relevant standards. The same or similar schemes between different embodiments can be referenced and referenced to each other.

[0372] The above is an introduction to the solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application. It is understandable that in order to implement the above functions, the network element or device may include hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the execution of each function. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that, in combination with the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in the embodiments disclosed herein, the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in hardware or in a computer software-driven hardware manner depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to be beyond the scope of this application.

[0373] In the embodiments of the present application, network elements or devices may be divided into functional units according to the above method examples. For example, functional units may be divided according to different functions, or two or more functions may be integrated into one unit. The above integrated units may be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional units.

[0374] Based on the above embodiments and the same technical concept, embodiments of the present application further provide a communication device for implementing the functions of the network element or device provided in the embodiments of the present application. As shown in Figure 13, communication device 1300 may include: a processing unit 1301 and a transceiver unit 1302. The communication device 1300 may be a network element or device in any of the above embodiments, or the communication device 1300 may be a device applied to a network element or device in any of the above embodiments.

[0375] As an implementation, the communication device 1300 may further include a storage unit 1303 for storing program codes and data of the communication device 1300. The storage unit 1303 may be a memory.

[0376] The processing unit 1301 can be used to control and manage the actions of the communication device 1300. The processing unit 1301 can be a processor or controller, for example, a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processing (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. It can implement or execute the various exemplary logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in conjunction with the disclosure of this application. The processor can also be a combination that implements computing functions, such as a combination of one or more microprocessors, a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, and the like.

[0377] The transceiver unit 1302 may be an interface circuit of the communication device 1300, used to receive signals from other devices. For example, when the communication device 1300 is implemented as a chip, the transceiver unit 1302 may be an interface circuit of the chip used to send signals to and receive signals from other chips or devices.

[0378] The communication device 1300 can be used to implement the functions of the network element or device provided in the embodiments of the present application.

[0379] In one example, when the communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the first network element provided in the embodiment of the present application, the processing unit 1301 can be used to obtain the reception delay information of the protocol data unit PDU set, and obtain the PDU set delay budget of the PDU set; wherein the reception delay information is used to indicate the reception delay of the PDU set in the user plane functional network element; based on the reception delay information and the PDU set delay budget, the packet delay budget of the data packet in the PDU set is determined; wherein the packet delay budget is used to indicate the upper limit of the transmission delay of the data packet between the user plane functional network element and the terminal device. The transceiver unit 1302 can be used to send the packet delay budget to the first device.

[0380] In one example, when the communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the second network element provided in an embodiment of the present application, the processing unit 1301 can be used to determine the reception delay information of the PDU set; wherein the reception delay information is used to indicate the reception delay of the PDU set in the user plane functional network element. The transceiver unit 1302 can be used to send the reception delay information to the first network element; wherein the reception delay information is used to determine the packet delay budget of the data packet in the PDU set, and the packet delay budget is used to indicate the upper limit of the transmission delay of the data packet between the user plane functional network element and the terminal device.

[0381] In one example, when the communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the first device provided in an embodiment of the present application, the transceiver unit 1302 can be used to receive a packet delay budget from the first network element, where the packet delay budget is used to indicate the upper limit of the transmission delay of the data packet between the user plane function network element and the terminal device; receive the data packet from the user plane function network element; wherein the data packet carries reception time information, where the reception time information is used to indicate the time when the user plane function network element receives the data packet. The processing unit 1301 can be used to schedule the data packet based on the packet delay budget and the reception time information.

[0382] In one example, when the communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the UPF network element provided in the embodiment of the present application, the transceiver unit 1302 can be used to receive a data packet. The processing unit 1301 can be used to control the transceiver unit 1302 to send the data packet to the first device after adding the receiving time information and / or receiving delay information to the data packet; wherein the receiving time information is used to indicate the time when the user plane function network element receives the data packet, the receiving delay information is used to indicate the receiving delay of the PDU set to which the data packet belongs at the user plane function network element, and the receiving delay information is used to determine the remaining delay budget of the data packet.

[0383] In one example, when the communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the second network element provided in the embodiment of the present application, the processing unit 1301 can be used to obtain the PDU set delay budget of the PDU set; wherein the PDU set includes a data packet. The transceiver unit 1302 can be used to receive the data packet from the user plane functional network element; wherein the data packet includes reception time information and / or reception delay information, the reception time information is used to indicate the time when the user plane functional network element receives the data packet, and the reception delay information is used to indicate the reception delay of the PDU set in the user plane functional network element. The processing unit 1301 can also be used to determine the remaining delay budget of the data packet based on the PDU set delay budget, the reception time information and / or the reception delay information; and schedule the data packet based on the remaining delay budget.

[0384] In one example, when the communication device 1300 is used to implement the function of the second network element provided in an embodiment of the present application, the transceiver unit 1302 can be used to receive a PDU set from a user plane function network element; wherein the GTP protocol field of the data packet in the PDU set carries PDU set information, and the PDU set information is used to identify the PDU set. The processing unit 1301 can be used to encapsulate the PDU set information in the IP protocol field of the data packet, and control the transceiver unit to send the obtained PDU set to the access point AP, wherein the PDU set information is used to schedule and process the data packets in the PDU set.

[0385] In an example, the transceiver unit 1302 may include a sending unit and a receiving unit, wherein the sending unit may be used to perform the sending operation in the above method embodiment, and the receiving unit may be used to perform the receiving operation in the above method embodiment.

[0386] The above examples illustrate the method for the communication device 1300 to perform some operations of a network element or device. It is understood that the processing unit 1301 can also be used to perform other processing-related steps or operations other than sending and receiving performed by the network element or device in the above method embodiments, and the transceiver unit 1302 can also be used to perform other sending and / or receiving-related steps or operations performed by the network element or device in the above method embodiments. For details, please refer to the relevant descriptions in the above method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0387] It should be understood that the division of functional 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. For example, the transceiver unit 1302 described above may be split into a transmitting unit and a receiving unit. In addition, the functional modules in the various embodiments of the present application may be integrated into a single processor, or may exist physically separately, or two or more modules may be integrated into a single module. The above-mentioned integrated modules may be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional modules.

[0388] Based on the above embodiments and the same technical concept, the present application further provides a communication device, as shown in FIG14 . This communication device can be a hardware circuit implementation of the communication device shown in FIG13 . This communication device can be adapted to perform the functions of the network element or device in the above method embodiments. For ease of illustration, FIG14 only illustrates the main components of the communication device.

[0389] As shown in Figure 14, communication device 1400 may include at least one processor 1402. Optionally, communication device 1400 may also include a communication interface 1401 and a memory 1403. A processor may also be referred to as a processing unit, processing board, processing module, processing device, etc. Processor 1402 may be configured to execute instructions or programs stored in memory 1403. When the instructions or programs stored in memory 1403 are executed, processor 1402 may be configured to perform the operations performed by processing unit 1301 in the above-described embodiment, and communication interface 1401 may be configured to perform the operations performed by transceiver unit 1302 in the above-described embodiment.

[0390] Memory 1403 can be used to store program instructions and / or data. Memory 1403 and processor 1402 can be coupled or separated. Coupling in the embodiments of the present application is an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units, or modules, which can be electrical, mechanical, or other forms, and is used for information exchange between devices, units, or modules. Processor 1402 may operate in conjunction with memory 1403. Processor 1402 may execute program instructions stored in memory 1403. At least one of the at least one memory may be included in the processor.

[0391] During implementation, each step of the above method can be completed by an integrated logic circuit of the hardware in the processor or by instructions in the form of software. The steps of the method disclosed in conjunction with the embodiments of the present application can be embodied as being executed by a hardware processor, or can be executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor. The software module can be located in a storage medium mature in the art, such as a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory or an electrically erasable programmable memory, a register, etc. The storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory and completes the steps of the above method in conjunction with its hardware. To avoid repetition, it will not be described in detail here.

[0392] Optionally, the processor in the embodiment of the present application can be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. During implementation, each step of the above method embodiment can be completed by an integrated logic circuit of hardware in the processor or instructions in the form of software. The above processor can be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processing circuit (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, discrete hardware component.

[0393] It is understood that the memory in the embodiments of the present application can be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or can include both volatile and non-volatile memories. Among them, the non-volatile memory can be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or a flash memory. It should be noted that the memory of the systems and methods described herein is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0394] Communication interface 1401 is used to communicate with other devices via a transmission medium, thereby enabling the device in communication device 1400 to communicate with other devices. In embodiments of the present application, the communication interface may be a transceiver, circuit, bus, module, or other type of communication interface. In embodiments of the present application, when the communication interface is a transceiver, the transceiver may include an independent receiver or an independent transmitter; it may also be a transceiver with integrated transceiver functions, or an interface circuit. A transceiver may also be referred to as a transceiver unit, transceiver, or transceiver device. A receiver may also be referred to as a receiver, a receiving module, or a receiving circuit. A transmitter may also be referred to as a transmitter, a transmitter, a transmitting module, or a transmitting circuit. A processor may control the transceiver to receive or transmit signals. When the transceiver includes a receiver and a transmitter, the processor may control the receiver to perform the receiving operation described in the above method embodiments, and the processor may control the transmitter to perform the transmitting operation described in the above method embodiments.

[0395] Optionally, the communication device 1400 may further include a communication line 1404. The communication interface 1401, the processor 1402, and the memory 1403 may be interconnected via the communication line 1404; the communication line 1404 may be a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus or an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus. The communication line 1404 may be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, and the like. For ease of illustration, FIG14 shows only one thick line, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0396] The communication device 1400 can be a device or apparatus with a chip, or a device or apparatus with an integrated circuit, or a chip or chip system in the terminal device or communication device shown above. This application does not make any specific limitations, as long as the communication device 1400 can be used to perform the operations performed by the terminal device in the above method embodiment.

[0397] Based on the above embodiments and the same technical concept, an embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which a computer program or instruction is stored. When the computer program or instruction is run on a communication device, the communication device executes the method provided in the above embodiment for application to a network element or device.

[0398] Based on the above embodiments and the same technical concept, an embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are executed by a communication device, the method provided in the above embodiments and applied to a network element or device is implemented.

[0399] Based on the above embodiments and the same technical concept, an embodiment of the present application also provides a chip system, which includes a processor, and the processor is used to read and execute the software program stored in the memory to implement the method provided in the above embodiments for application to network elements or devices.

[0400] Optionally, the processor may be a processing module, a microprocessor, or an integrated circuit integrated in the chip system.

[0401] Optionally, the chip system may further include the memory, and the memory may be coupled to the processor via an interface.

[0402] Optionally, the chip system may further include a transceiver, which may be an input / output circuit or a communication interface. Optionally, the transceiver may include a receiver and a transmitter.

[0403] 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, optical storage, etc.) that contain computer-usable program code.

[0404] 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.

[0405] 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.

[0406] 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, applied to a first network element, characterized in that: The method comprises: Obtaining reception delay information of a protocol data unit PDU set, and obtaining a PDU set delay budget of the PDU set; wherein the reception delay information is used to indicate the reception delay of the PDU set in a user plane functional network element; Determine a packet delay budget for a data packet in the PDU set according to the reception delay information and the PDU set delay budget; wherein the packet delay budget is used to indicate a transmission delay of the data packet between the user plane function network element and the terminal device; The packet delay budget is sent to the first device.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The receiving delay information includes at least one of the following: First time difference; The multiple set value intervals include a time delay corresponding to a value interval of the first time difference, wherein different value intervals correspond to different time delays; a maximum time difference among a plurality of first time differences; the minimum time difference among a plurality of first time differences; and / or An average time difference of multiple first time differences; The first time difference is the time difference between the first data packet and the last data packet in a PDU set received by the user plane function network element arriving at the user plane function network element.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The PDU set is received by the user plane function network element within a first time period.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The reception delay information is also used as the reception delay information of each PDU set in the data stream to which the PDU set belongs.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The obtaining of the receiving delay information of the PDU set includes: Sending a first message to a second network element, where the first message is used to subscribe to the receiving delay information; Receive first information from the second network element, where the first information is used to indicate the receiving delay information.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The first message includes at least one of the following: An analysis identifier, used to identify data to be acquired; wherein the data to be acquired includes the receiving delay information; Information used to indicate the terminal device associated with the receiving delay information; Information used to indicate the data stream to which the PDU set belongs; Information used to indicate the data granularity of the receiving delay information; Information used to indicate the arrangement order of the feedback information of the second network element; The number of PDU sets used to determine the reception delay information; and / or Information used to indicate a first time period; wherein, one or more PDU sets arriving at the user plane functional network element within the first time period are used to determine the receiving delay information.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The determining, according to the reception delay information and the PDU set delay budget, a packet delay budget of a data packet in the PDU set includes: The difference between the PDU set delay budget and the receiving delay information is used as the packet delay budget.

8. A communication method, applied to a second network element, characterized in that: The method comprises: Determine reception delay information of the PDU set; wherein the reception delay information is used to indicate the reception delay of the PDU set in the user plane functional network element; The receiving delay information is sent to the first network element; wherein the receiving delay information is used to determine the packet delay budget of the data packet in the PDU set, and the packet delay budget is used to indicate the transmission delay of the data packet between the user plane functional network element and the terminal device.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The receiving delay information includes at least one of the following: First time difference; The multiple set value intervals include a time delay corresponding to a value interval of the first time difference, wherein different value intervals correspond to different time delays; a maximum time difference among a plurality of first time differences; the minimum time difference among a plurality of first time differences; and / or An average time difference of multiple first time differences; The first time difference is the time difference between the first data packet and the last data packet in a PDU set received by the user plane function network element arriving at the user plane function network element.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The PDU set is received by the user plane function network element within a first time period.

11. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that: The reception delay information is also used as the reception delay information of each PDU set in the data stream to which the PDU set belongs.

12. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that: Before determining the reception delay information of the PDU set, or before sending the reception delay information to the first network element, the method further includes: receiving a first message from the first network element, where the first message is used to subscribe to the receiving delay information; The sending the receiving delay information to the first network element includes: Sending first information to the first network element, wherein the first information is used to indicate the receiving delay information.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The first message includes at least one of the following: An analysis identifier, used to identify data to be acquired; wherein the data to be acquired includes the receiving delay information; Information used to indicate the terminal device associated with the receiving delay information; Information used to indicate the data stream to which the PDU set belongs; Information used to indicate the data granularity of the receiving delay information; Information used to indicate the arrangement order of the feedback information of the second network element; The number of PDU sets used to determine the reception delay information; and / or Information used to indicate a first time period; wherein, one or more PDU sets arriving at the user plane functional network element within the first time period are used to determine the receiving delay information.

14. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that: The determining of the receiving delay information of the PDU set includes: Determine receiving time information, the receiving time information including the time when the first data packet and the last data packet of each PDU set in at least one PDU set received by the user plane function network element arrive at the user plane function network element; The receiving delay information is determined according to the receiving time information.

15. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10 and 14, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Send the PDU set; wherein the data packet in the PDU set carries receiving time information, and the receiving time information is used to indicate the time when the user plane functional network element receives the data packet.

16. A communication method, applied to a first device, characterized in that: The method comprises: Receiving a packet delay budget from a first network element, where the packet delay budget is used to indicate a transmission delay of a data packet between a user plane functional network element and a terminal device; Receiving the data packet from the user plane function network element; wherein the data packet carries receiving time information, and the receiving time information is used to indicate the time when the user plane function network element receives the data packet; The data packet is scheduled according to the packet delay budget and the receiving time information.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that The scheduling process for the data packet according to the packet delay budget and the receiving time information includes: Determine a remaining delay budget according to the packet delay budget and the receiving time information; wherein the remaining delay budget is used to indicate a transmission delay of the data packet between the first device and the terminal device; The data packet is scheduled according to the remaining delay budget.

18. A communication method, applied to a user plane functional network element, characterized in that: The method comprises: Receive data packets in a PDU set; After adding the receiving time information and / or the receiving delay information to the data packet, sending the data packet to the first device; Among them, the receiving time information is used to indicate the time when the UPF receives the data packet, and the receiving delay information is used to indicate the receiving delay of the PDU set to which the data packet belongs in the UPF; the receiving time information and / or the receiving delay information are used to determine the remaining delay budget of the data packet, and the remaining delay budget of the data packet is used to schedule the data packet.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that Adding the receiving time information and / or the receiving delay information in the data packet includes: The receiving time information and / or the receiving delay information is added in the General Packet Radio Service Tunneling Protocol (GTP) protocol field of the data packet.

20. The method according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that The receiving delay information includes at least one of the following: First time difference; The multiple set value intervals include a time delay corresponding to a value interval of the first time difference, wherein different value intervals correspond to different time delays; a maximum time difference among a plurality of first time differences; the minimum time difference among a plurality of first time differences; and / or An average time difference of multiple first time differences; The first time difference is the time difference between the first data packet and the last data packet in a PDU set received by the user plane function network element arriving at the user plane function network element.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein: The PDU set is received by the user plane function network element within a first time period.

22. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 21, characterized in that: The reception delay information is also used as the reception delay information of each PDU set in the data stream to which the PDU set belongs.

23. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 22, characterized in that: When the receiving time information is added to the data packet, the data packet is each data packet in the PDU set, or the data packet is the first or last data packet in the PDU set; or When the receiving delay information is added to the data packet, the data packet is the last data packet in the PDU set.

24. A communication method, applied to a first device, characterized in that: The method comprises: Obtaining a PDU set delay budget of a PDU set; wherein the PDU set includes a data packet; Receiving the data packet from the user plane function network element; wherein the data packet includes receiving time information and / or receiving delay information, the receiving time information is used to indicate the time when the user plane function network element receives the data packet, and the receiving delay information is used to indicate the receiving delay of the PDU set in the user plane function network element; Determine a remaining delay budget of the data packet according to the PDU aggregate delay budget, the receiving time information and / or the receiving delay information; The data packet is scheduled according to the remaining delay budget.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein: The receiving time information and / or the receiving delay information is in the GTP protocol field of the data packet.

26. The method according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that The receiving delay information includes at least one of the following: First time difference; The multiple set value intervals include a time delay corresponding to a value interval of the first time difference, wherein different value intervals correspond to different time delays; a maximum time difference among a plurality of first time differences; the minimum time difference among a plurality of first time differences; and / or An average time difference of multiple first time differences; The first time difference is the time difference between the first data packet and the last data packet in a PDU set received by the user plane function network element arriving at the user plane function network element.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein: The PDU set is received by the user plane function network element within a first time period.

28. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 27, characterized in that: The reception delay information is also used as the reception delay information of each PDU set in the data stream to which the PDU set belongs.

29. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 28, characterized in that: When the receiving time information is added to the data packet, the data packet is each data packet in the PDU set, or the data packet is the first or last data packet in the PDU set; or When the receiving delay information is added to the data packet, the data packet is the last data packet in the PDU set.

30. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 29, characterized in that: The determining, according to the PDU aggregate delay budget, the receiving time information and / or the receiving delay information, the remaining delay budget of the data packet includes: Determine a time difference between the time when the first device receives the data packet and the receiving time information; use the difference between the PDU set delay budget and the time difference as the remaining delay budget; or Using the difference between the PDU aggregate delay budget and the receiving delay information as the remaining delay budget; or The difference between the PDU set delay budget and the receiving delay information is used as the packet delay budget of the data packet, the time difference between the moment when the first device receives the data packet and the receiving moment information is determined, and the difference between the packet delay budget and the time difference is used as the remaining delay budget; wherein the packet delay budget is used to indicate the upper limit of the transmission delay of the data packet between the user plane functional network element and the terminal device.

31. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 30, characterized in that: The scheduling process for the data packet according to the remaining delay budget includes: A target quality of service QoS flow is determined according to the remaining delay budget, and the data packet is transmitted through the target QoS flow.

32. The method according to any one of claims 24 to 31, characterized in that: The IP protocol field of the data packet includes a differentiated services code point DSCP of an Internet Protocol security IPsec channel in which a QoS flow for transmitting the data packet is located, the DSCP corresponds to the PDU set importance information of the PDU set, and the QoS flow is created based on the PDU set importance information; wherein the PDU set importance information is used to indicate the importance of the PDU set.

33. A communication device, characterized in that: Includes at least one processor; the at least one processor is used to execute instructions stored in a memory, so that the communication device executes the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, or executes the method as described in any one of claims 8 to 15, or executes the method as described in any one of claims 16 to 17, or executes the method as described in any one of claims 18 to 23, or executes the method as described in any one of claims 24 to 32.

34. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A module or unit for performing the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, or a module or unit for performing the method as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 15, or a module or unit for performing the method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 17, or a module or unit for performing the method as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 23, or a module or unit for performing the method as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 32.

35. A communication system, characterized in that: Comprising a communication device for executing the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, a communication device for executing the method as described in any one of claims 8 to 15, and a communication device for executing the method as described in any one of claims 16 to 17; or, comprising a communication device for executing the method as described in any one of claims 18 to 23 and a communication device for executing the method as described in any one of claims 24 to 32.

36. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The storage medium stores a computer program or instruction. When the computer program or instruction is executed on the communication device, the communication device executes the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, or executes the method as described in any one of claims 8 to 15, or executes the method as described in any one of claims 16 to 17, or executes the method as described in any one of claims 18 to 23, or executes the method as described in any one of claims 24 to 32.

37. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product includes a computer program or instructions, which, when executed by a communication device, implements the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, or implements the method as described in any one of claims 8 to 15, or implements the method as described in any one of claims 16 to 17, or implements the method as described in any one of claims 18 to 23, or implements the method as described in any one of claims 24 to 32.

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