Communication method, communication apparatus, and system

Abstract

A communication method, a communication apparatus, and a system, relating to the technical field of communications. The method comprises: an access network device sends first information to a terminal device, the first information being used for configuring a first parameter; the terminal device performs network access in a first network slice access stratum group on the basis of the first parameter, records information related to the first network slice access stratum group, and sends the information to the access network device; and on the basis of the information, the access network device can adjust a parameter configuration of the granularity of the first network slice access stratum group. In this way, a parameter configuration of the granularity of a network slice access stratum group can be adjusted.

Description

Communication method, communication device, and system

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on October 30, 2023, with application number 202311428335.9 and application name “Communication Method, Communication Device and System”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and more specifically, to a communication method, a communication device, and a system. Background Art

[0003] Network slice (NS) is the fifth generation (5 th A key technology for 5G communication, in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) rd It has received extensive attention and research in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and other international standardization organizations, and can meet the customized needs of operators for various industries, vertical markets and various virtual operation services.

[0004] The access stratum (AS) of a network typically configures access parameters for each group of network slices (or network slice access-stratum group (NSAG)). Terminal devices use these parameters for access, such as cell reselection or random access channel (RACH). However, adjusting the parameters of the granularity of network slice access-stratum grouping is a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present application provides a communication method, a communication device, and a system that can support parameter configuration for adjusting the network slice access layer packet granularity.

[0007] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided, including: receiving first information for configuring a first parameter, the first parameter corresponding to a first network slice access layer group; and sending second information for indicating information related to the first network slice access layer group when a terminal device accesses the network according to the first parameter.

[0008] The execution entity of the solution described in the first aspect can be a terminal device, a module of the terminal device (such as a chip system, etc.), or a logical node, logic module, or software that can implement all or part of the terminal device functions, without limitation. For ease of description, the following description uses a terminal device as an example.

[0009] In the above scheme, the terminal device can initiate network access in the first network slice access layer group according to the first parameter configured by the first information, and can record information related to the first network slice access layer group, such as the identification information of the network slice access layer group selected by the terminal device or the priority information of the network slice access layer group related to the network slice access layer group selected by the terminal device.

[0010] Furthermore, the terminal device reports information related to the first network slice access layer grouping to the access network device, and the access network device can adjust the parameter configuration of the network slice access layer grouping granularity based on this information.

[0011] In certain implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: receiving request information for requesting the terminal device to send second information.

[0012] In this way, the terminal device can send the second information to the access network device according to the request of the access network device.

[0013] In some implementations of the first aspect, sending the second information includes: sending the second information to a centralized unit of the access network device.

[0014] In this way, the access network equipment can adopt a separated architecture to receive and process information, which is conducive to the deployment of access network equipment, such as cloud deployment.

[0015] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided, which is applied to an access network device, including: sending first information, which is used to configure a first parameter, the first parameter corresponds to a first network slice access layer group; receiving second information, which is used to indicate information related to the first network slice access layer group when the terminal device accesses the first network according to the first parameter.

[0016] The implementation entity of the solution described in the second aspect may be an access network device, a module of the access network device (such as a chip system), or a logical node, logical module, or software that implements all or part of the functions of the access network device, without limitation. For ease of description, the following description uses an access network device as an example.

[0017] In the above scheme, the access network device can adjust the parameter configuration of the network slice access layer grouping granularity based on the information related to the first network slice access layer grouping indicated in the second information sent by the terminal device. For example, the access network device can adjust the cell reselection parameters of the first network slice access layer grouping or adjust the random access configuration parameters of the first network slice access layer grouping based on the information related to the first network slice access layer grouping.

[0018] In certain implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: sending request information for requesting the terminal device to send second information.

[0019] In this way, the terminal device can send the second information to the access network device according to the request of the access network device.

[0020] In certain implementations of the second aspect, the method further includes: sending third information, the third information being determined based on the second information, the third information being used to configure second parameters, the second parameters being used for second network access, the second parameters corresponding to the first network slice access layer grouping, and the second parameters being different from the first parameters.

[0021] In this way, the access network device can send the new parameter configuration obtained after adjusting the parameter configuration of the access layer packet granularity of the first network slice to other terminal devices, so that other terminal devices can perform network access, etc. according to the adjusted parameter configuration.

[0022] In some implementations of the second aspect, the access network device includes a distributed unit and a centralized unit, and the receiving of the second information includes: the centralized unit receiving the second information; and the centralized unit sending the second information to the distributed unit.

[0023] In this way, the access network equipment can adopt a separated architecture to receive and process information, which is conducive to the deployment of access network equipment, such as cloud deployment.

[0024] In certain implementations of the second aspect, the network access is random access, and the second information sent by the centralized unit to the distributed unit also includes at least one of the following: the average number of times the preamble code corresponding to the signal on which the random access is based is transmitted, the maximum number of times the preamble code corresponding to the signal on which the random access is based is transmitted, the predicted value of the average number of times the preamble code corresponding to the signal on which the random access is based is transmitted, or the predicted value of the maximum number of times the preamble code corresponding to the signal on which the random access is based is transmitted.

[0025] In this way, the access network device can make more precise adjustments to the random access parameter configuration of the first network slice access layer grouping granularity based on one or more of these information.

[0026] In combination with the solution described in any one of the first aspect and the second aspect, the above-mentioned network access is at least one of cell reselection or random access.

[0027] When the above-mentioned network access is cell reselection, the embodiment of the present application can support adjustment of the parameter configuration related to cell reselection at the network slice access layer grouping granularity; when the above-mentioned network access is random access, the embodiment of the present application can support adjustment of the parameter configuration related to random access at the network slice access layer grouping granularity.

[0028] In combination with the solution described in any one of the first and second aspects, the above-mentioned network access is random access, and the second information includes identification information of the first network slice access layer group.

[0029] In this way, the access network device can determine that the network slice access layer group selected by the terminal device is the first network slice access layer group.

[0030] In combination with the scheme described in any one of the first aspect and the second aspect, the second information also includes at least one of the following: a cell identifier, an index of the signal on which the random access is based, or the number of preamble codes corresponding to the signal on which the random access is based, and the signal on which the random access is based is associated with the first network slice access layer group.

[0031] In this way, the access network device can obtain relevant information when the terminal device performs random access in the first network slice access layer group.

[0032] In combination with the scheme described in any one of the first and second aspects, the network access is cell reselection, and the second information includes at least one of the following: identification information of the first network slice access layer group, or identification information of the second network slice access layer group, the first network slice access layer group is the network slice access layer group selected by the terminal device, and the second network slice access layer group satisfies at least one of the following: the priority of the second network slice access layer group is higher than the priority of the first network slice access layer group, or the priority of the second network slice access layer group is equal to the priority of the first network slice access layer group.

[0033] In this way, the access network device can adjust the parameter configuration related to cell reselection of the network slice access layer group granularity based on the above information, for example, adjust the reselection priority information of some network slice access layer groups, thereby influencing the terminal device to avoid selecting a high-load carrier for access when performing cell reselection.

[0034] In combination with the solution described in any one of the first aspect and the second aspect, the second network slice access layer group also meets the following requirements: the second network slice access layer group is the network slice access layer group with the highest priority among the one or more network slice access layer groups maintained by the terminal device.

[0035] In this way, the access network device can obtain the identification information of the network slice access layer group with the highest priority among one or more network slice access layer groups maintained by the terminal device.

[0036] In combination with the solution described in any one of the first aspect and the second aspect, the second information is carried in radio resource control signaling.

[0037] For example, the second information may be carried in a UE Information Response message. In this way, information related to the first network slice access layer grouping may be reported to the access network device using existing information.

[0038] In the solution described in either of the first and second aspects, the second information is sent after the terminal device enters the connected state. In this way, the terminal device can avoid frequently entering the connected state to report the second information, thereby reducing terminal energy consumption.

[0039] According to a third aspect, a communication system is provided, including: a distributed unit and a centralized unit: the centralized unit is used to send first information, which is used to configure a first parameter, and the first parameter corresponds to a first network slice access layer group; the centralized unit is also used to receive second information, which is used to indicate information related to the first network slice access layer group when the terminal device accesses the network according to the first parameter, and is also used to send the second information to the distributed unit; the distributed unit is used to receive the second information.

[0040] The above-mentioned communication system can be understood as a communication device or a communication apparatus. For example, the communication system can be understood as an access network device. The distributed unit and the centralized unit can be components of the access network device, and information can be exchanged between the distributed unit and the centralized unit.

[0041] It should be noted that the centralized unit can be responsible for functions such as receiving and sending information. The centralized unit communicates with the terminal device. For example, the centralized unit sends first information to the terminal device and receives second information from the terminal device. The distributed unit can be responsible for functions such as processing information. For example, the distributed unit is used to adjust the parameter configuration of the network slice access layer grouping granularity based on the second information.

[0042] In one possible implementation, the distributed unit can be understood as a distributed device or a distributed apparatus that can be used to implement the same or similar functions as the distributed unit. The centralized unit can be understood as a centralized device or a centralized apparatus that can be used to implement the same or similar functions as the centralized unit.

[0043] In certain implementations of the third aspect, the network access is at least one of cell reselection or random access.

[0044] In certain implementations of the third aspect, the network access is random access, and the second information includes identification information of the first network slice access layer group.

[0045] In certain implementations of the third aspect, the network access is cell reselection, and the second information includes at least one of the following: identification information of the first network slice access layer group, or identification information of the second network slice access layer group, the first network slice access layer group is the network slice access layer group selected by the terminal device, and the second network slice access layer group satisfies at least one of the following: the priority of the second network slice access layer group is higher than the priority of the first network slice access layer group, or the priority of the second network slice access layer group is equal to the priority of the first network slice access layer group.

[0046] In certain implementations of the third aspect, the distributed unit is used to determine third information based on the second information, which is used to configure a second parameter, the second parameter is used to perform the network access, the second parameter corresponds to the first network slice access layer grouping, the second parameter is different from the first parameter, and is also used to send the third information to the centralized unit; the centralized unit is used to receive the third information, and is also used to send the third information.

[0047] In certain implementations of the third aspect, the second information also includes at least one of the following: a cell identifier, an index of a signal on which random access is based, or the number of preamble codes corresponding to the signal on which random access is based, where the signal on which random access is based is associated with a first network slice access layer group.

[0048] In certain implementations of the third aspect, the network access is the cell reselection, and the second information includes at least one of the following: identification information of the first network slice access layer group, or identification information of the second network slice access layer group, the first network slice access layer group is the network slice access layer group selected by the terminal device, and the second network slice access layer group satisfies at least one of the following: the priority of the second network slice access layer group is higher than the priority of the first network slice access layer group, or the priority of the second network slice access layer group is the same as the priority of the first network slice access layer group.

[0049] In certain implementations of the third aspect, the second network slice access layer group also satisfies: the second network slice access layer group is the network slice access layer group with the highest priority among the one or more network slice access layer groups maintained by the terminal device.

[0050] In certain implementations of the third aspect, the centralized unit is further configured to send request information, which is configured to request the terminal device to send the second information.

[0051] In certain implementations of the third aspect, the network access is random access, and the second information sent by the centralized unit to the distributed unit also includes at least one of the following: the average number of times the preamble code corresponding to the signal on which the random access is based is transmitted, the maximum number of times the preamble code corresponding to the signal on which the random access is based is transmitted, the predicted value of the average number of times the preamble code corresponding to the signal on which the random access is based is transmitted, or the predicted value of the maximum number of times the preamble code corresponding to the signal on which the random access is based is transmitted.

[0052] In certain implementations of the third aspect, the second information is carried in radio resource control signaling.

[0053] In certain implementations of the third aspect, the second information is sent when the terminal device is in a connected state.

[0054] In a fourth aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device may be a terminal device, or a device or module for executing the functions of the terminal device.

[0055] In one possible implementation, the communication device may include a module or unit corresponding to each of the methods / operations / steps / actions described in the first aspect. The module or unit may be a hardware circuit, software, or a combination of hardware circuit and software.

[0056] In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device may be an access network device, or a device or module for performing the functions of the access network device.

[0057] In one possible implementation, the communication device may include a module or unit corresponding to each of the methods / operations / steps / actions described in the second aspect. The module or unit may be a hardware circuit, software, or a combination of hardware circuit and software.

[0058] In a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided, which includes: a transceiver unit for sending first information, which is used to configure a first parameter, the first parameter corresponds to a first network slice access layer group; the transceiver unit is also used to receive second information, which is used to indicate information related to the first network slice access layer group when the terminal device accesses the network according to the first parameter, and is also used to send the second information to the distributed unit; the transceiver unit is also used to send the second information.

[0059] The aforementioned communication device may be a component of an access network device. For example, the aforementioned communication device may be a centralized unit in the access network device, and the communication device may interact with a terminal device and a distributed unit in the access network device. For example, the communication device may be configured to receive second information from the terminal device and transmit the second information to the distributed unit.

[0060] In certain implementations of the sixth aspect, the network access is at least one of cell reselection or random access.

[0061] In certain implementations of the sixth aspect, the network access is random access, and the second information includes identification information of the first network slice access layer group.

[0062] In certain implementations of the sixth aspect, the network access is cell reselection, and the second information includes at least one of the following: identification information of the first network slice access layer group, or identification information of the second network slice access layer group, the first network slice access layer group is the network slice access layer group selected by the terminal device, and the second network slice access layer group satisfies at least one of the following: the priority of the second network slice access layer group is higher than the priority of the first network slice access layer group, or the priority of the second network slice access layer group is equal to the priority of the first network slice access layer group.

[0063] In certain implementations of the sixth aspect, the second information also includes at least one of the following: a cell identifier, an index of a signal on which random access is based, or the number of preamble codes corresponding to the signal on which random access is based, where the signal on which random access is based is associated with a first network slice access layer group.

[0064] In certain implementations of the sixth aspect, the network access is the cell reselection, and the second information includes at least one of the following: identification information of the first network slice access layer group, or identification information of the second network slice access layer group, the first network slice access layer group is the network slice access layer group selected by the terminal device, and the second network slice access layer group satisfies at least one of the following: the priority of the second network slice access layer group is higher than the priority of the first network slice access layer group, or the priority of the second network slice access layer group is the same as the priority of the first network slice access layer group.

[0065] In certain implementations of the sixth aspect, the second network slice access layer group also satisfies: the second network slice access layer group is the network slice access layer group with the highest priority among the one or more network slice access layer groups maintained by the terminal device.

[0066] In certain implementations of the sixth aspect, the transceiver unit is further used to send request information, which is used to request the terminal device to send second information.

[0067] In certain implementations of the sixth aspect, the network access is random access, and the second information sent by the transceiver unit also includes at least one of the following: the average number of times the preamble code corresponding to the signal on which the random access is based is transmitted, the maximum number of times the preamble code corresponding to the signal on which the random access is based is transmitted, the predicted value of the average number of times the preamble code corresponding to the signal on which the random access is based is transmitted, or the predicted value of the maximum number of times the preamble code corresponding to the signal on which the random access is based is transmitted.

[0068] In certain implementations of the sixth aspect, the second information is carried in radio resource control signaling.

[0069] In certain implementations of the sixth aspect, the second information is sent when the terminal device is in a connected state.

[0070] In the seventh aspect, a communication device is provided, which includes: a transceiver unit for sending first information, which is used to configure a first parameter, and the first parameter corresponds to a first network slice access layer group; the transceiver unit is also used to receive second information, which is used to indicate information related to the first network slice access layer group when the terminal device accesses the network according to the first parameter, and is also used to send the second information to the distributed unit.

[0071] The above-mentioned communication device may be a component of the access network device, for example, a distributed unit in the access network device, and the communication device interacts with a centralized unit in the access network device, for example, sending first information to the centralized unit and receiving second information from the centralized unit.

[0072] In certain implementations of the seventh aspect, the network access is at least one of cell reselection or random access.

[0073] In certain implementations of the seventh aspect, the network access is random access, and the second information includes identification information of the first network slice access layer group.

[0074] In certain implementations of the seventh aspect, the network access is cell reselection, and the second information includes at least one of the following: identification information of the first network slice access layer group, or identification information of the second network slice access layer group, the first network slice access layer group is the network slice access layer group selected by the terminal device, and the second network slice access layer group satisfies at least one of the following: the priority of the second network slice access layer group is higher than the priority of the first network slice access layer group, or the priority of the second network slice access layer group is equal to the priority of the first network slice access layer group.

[0075] In certain implementations of the seventh aspect, the second information also includes at least one of the following: a cell identifier, an index of a signal on which random access is based, or the number of preamble codes corresponding to the signal on which random access is based, where the signal on which random access is based is associated with a first network slice access layer group.

[0076] In certain implementations of the seventh aspect, the network access is the cell reselection, and the second information includes at least one of the following: identification information of the first network slice access layer group, or identification information of the second network slice access layer group, the first network slice access layer group is the network slice access layer group selected by the terminal device, and the second network slice access layer group satisfies at least one of the following: the priority of the second network slice access layer group is higher than the priority of the first network slice access layer group, or the priority of the second network slice access layer group is the same as the priority of the first network slice access layer group.

[0077] In certain implementations of the seventh aspect, the second network slice access layer group also satisfies: the second network slice access layer group is the network slice access layer group with the highest priority among the one or more network slice access layer groups maintained by the terminal device.

[0078] In certain implementations of the seventh aspect, the transceiver unit is further used to send request information, which is used to request the terminal device to send second information.

[0079] In certain implementations of the seventh aspect, the network access is random access, and the second information sent by the transceiver unit also includes at least one of the following: the average number of times the preamble code corresponding to the signal on which the random access is based is transmitted, the maximum number of times the preamble code corresponding to the signal on which the random access is based is transmitted, the predicted value of the average number of times the preamble code corresponding to the signal on which the random access is based is transmitted, or the predicted value of the maximum number of times the preamble code corresponding to the signal on which the random access is based is transmitted.

[0080] In certain implementations of the seventh aspect, the second information is carried in radio resource control signaling.

[0081] In certain implementations of the seventh aspect, the second information is sent when the terminal device is in a connected state.

[0082] In certain implementations of the seventh aspect, the communication device also includes a processing unit, which is used to determine third information based on the second information, and is used to configure a second parameter, the second parameter is used for network access, the second parameter corresponds to the first network slice access layer group, and the second parameter is different from the first parameter; the transceiver unit is also used to send the third information.

[0083] In an eighth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor, wherein the processor is configured to, by executing a computer program or instruction, or by a logic circuit, enable the communication device to execute the method described in the first aspect and any possible manner of the first aspect; or enable the communication device to execute the method described in the second aspect and any possible manner of the second aspect.

[0084] In a possible implementation, the communication device further includes a memory for storing the computer program or instruction.

[0085] In a possible implementation, the communication device further includes a communication interface, which is used to input and / or output signals.

[0086] In the ninth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a logic circuit and an input / output interface, the input / output interface being used to input and / or output signals, the logic circuit being used to execute the method described in the first aspect and any possible manner of the first aspect; or the logic circuit being used to execute the method described in the second aspect and any possible manner of the second aspect.

[0087] In the tenth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, on which a computer program or instruction is stored. When the computer program or the instruction is run on a computer, the method described in the first aspect and any possible manner of the first aspect is executed; or, the method described in the second aspect and any possible manner of the second aspect is executed.

[0088] In the eleventh aspect, a computer program product is provided, comprising instructions, which, when executed on a computer, cause the method described in the first aspect and any possible manner of the first aspect to be executed; or, cause the method described in the second aspect and any possible manner of the second aspect to be executed.

[0089] In the twelfth aspect, a communication system is also provided, including a terminal device and an access network device, wherein the terminal device is used to execute the method described in the first aspect and any possible manner of the first aspect, and the access network device is used to execute the method described in the second aspect and any possible manner of the second aspect.

[0090] The description of the advantageous effects of any of the third to twelfth aspects etc. may refer to the description of the advantageous effects of the first and second aspects. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0091] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system 100 applicable to an embodiment of the present application.

[0092] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture 200 applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

[0093] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture 300 applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

[0094] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a protocol stack 400 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0095] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of an interaction flow of a communication method 500 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0096] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of an interaction flow of a communication method 600 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0097] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of an interaction flow of a communication method 700 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0098] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of an interaction flow of a communication method 800 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0099] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of an interaction flow of a communication method 900 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0100] FIG10 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1000 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0101] FIG11 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1100 according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0102] The technical solution in this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0103] In order to facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, the following points are first explained.

[0104] 1. Unless otherwise specified, “at least two” means two or more.

[0105] 2. Unless otherwise specified or there is no logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments of this application are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments based on their internal logical relationships.

[0106] 3. The various numerical numbers involved in this application are only used for the convenience of description and are not used to limit the scope of protection of this application. The size of the serial numbers involved in this application does not mean the order of execution. The order of execution of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic. For example, the terms "first", "second", "third", "fourth" and other various terminology labels (if any) in the specification and claims and drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. Among them, the data used in this way can be interchangeable where appropriate, so that the embodiments described here can be implemented in an order other than what is illustrated or described here.

[0107] At the same time, any embodiment or design described in this application as "exemplary" or "for example" should not be interpreted as being more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or designs. Specifically, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a concrete manner to facilitate understanding.

[0108] 4. The terms "comprise" and "have" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, product or apparatus that includes a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such process, method, product or apparatus.

[0109] 5. In this application, "used to indicate" can be understood as "enabling," and "enabling" can include direct enabling and indirect enabling. When describing that certain information is used to enable A, it can include that the information directly enables A or indirectly enables A, and does not necessarily mean that the information contains A.

[0110] The information enabled by the information is called information to be enabled. In the specific implementation process, there are many ways to enable the enabled information, such as but not limited to, directly enabling the information to be enabled, such as the information to be enabled itself or the index of the information to be enabled. The information to be enabled can also be indirectly enabled by enabling other information, wherein there is an association between the other information and the information to be enabled. It is also possible to enable only a part of the information to be enabled, while the other parts of the information to be enabled are known or agreed in advance. For example, it is also possible to enable specific information with the help of the arrangement order of each piece of information agreed in advance (such as specified in the protocol), thereby reducing the enabling overhead to a certain extent. At the same time, it is also possible to identify the common parts of each piece of information and enable them uniformly to reduce the enabling overhead caused by enabling the same information separately.

[0111] 6. In this application, "pre-configuration" may include pre-definition, such as protocol definition. "Pre-definition" may be implemented by pre-storing corresponding codes, tables, or other methods that can be used to indicate relevant information in a device (e.g., including each network element). This application does not limit the specific implementation method.

[0112] 7. "Storage" or "saving" as used in this application may refer to storage in one or more memories. The one or more memories may be provided separately or integrated into an encoder or decoder, a processor, or a communication device. The one or more memories may also be provided in part separately and in part integrated into a decoder, processor, or communication device. The type of memory may be any form of storage medium and is not limited thereto.

[0113] 8. The “protocol” referred to in this application may refer to a standard protocol in the field of communications, such as the fourth generation (4G) th generation, 4G) network, fifth generation (5 th generation, 5G) network protocol, NR protocol, 5.5G network protocol, sixth generation (6 th generation, 6G) network protocols and related protocols used in future communication systems, which are not limited in this application.

[0114] 9. The arrows or boxes indicated by dotted lines in the schematic diagrams in the accompanying drawings of this application specification represent optional steps or optional modules.

[0115] 10. Unless otherwise specified, “ / ” indicates that the objects associated with each other are in an “or” relationship. For example, A / B can mean A or B. “And / or” in this application is only a description of the association relationship between the associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. A and B can be singular or plural.

[0116] First, a communication system to which the embodiments of the present application are applicable is described.

[0117] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system 100 applicable to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 1 , the communication system 100 includes: an access network device and a terminal device.

[0118] Optionally, the communication system 100 may further include a core network (CN) device (not shown in FIG1 ), such as an access and mobility management function (AMF) network element.

[0119] The communication system 100 may also include a greater number of terminal devices, which is not limited thereto.

[0120] In an embodiment of the present application, a terminal device is a device with wireless transceiver capabilities, which may refer to user equipment (UE), access terminal, subscriber unit, user station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, wireless communication device, user agent or user device.

[0121] In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may also be a satellite phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a wireless data card, a wireless modem, a machine type communication device, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a customer-premises equipment (CPE), a smart point of sale (POS) machine, a handheld device with wireless communication function, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, a vehicle-mounted device, a communication device carried on a high-altitude aircraft, a wearable device, a drone, a robot, a terminal in device-to-device (D2D) communication, a terminal in vehicle-to-everything (V2X), a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in self-driving, a remote medical device, or a similar device. There is no restriction on wireless terminals in medical, smart grid, transportation safety, smart city, smart home, or terminal devices in communication networks evolved after 5G.

[0122] In addition, the terminal device in the embodiment of the present application can also be a device with communication functions in the 6G communication system, without limiting the form or type of the terminal device in 6G and other future communication systems.

[0123] In the embodiments of the present application, the communication device used to implement the functions of the terminal device can be the terminal device, or it can be a device that can support the terminal device to implement the functions, such as a chip system. The device can be installed in the terminal device or used in conjunction with the terminal device. In the present application, the chip system can be composed of a chip or include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0124] In the embodiment of the present application, the access network device is a device with wireless transceiver functions, which is used to communicate with the terminal device. The access network device can be a node in the radio access network (RAN), which can also be called a base station, or a RAN node. It can be an evolved Node B (eNB or eNodeB) of LTE; or a base station of a 5G network such as gNodeB (gNB) or a base station in a public land mobile network (PLMN) evolved after 5G, a broadband network gateway (BNG), an aggregation switch or the 3GPP (the 3GPP) rd generation partnership project, 3GPP) access equipment, etc.

[0125] The above-mentioned RAN can be configured as a RAN defined by the 3GPP protocol, an open radio access network (O-RAN), or a cloud radio access network (C-RAN). Access network equipment can also include various forms of base stations, such as: macro base stations, micro base stations (also known as small stations), relay stations, transmission points (transmitting and receiving points, TRPs), transmission points (transmitting points, TPs), mobile switching centers, and devices that perform base station functions in device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), and machine-to-machine (M2M) communications, network equipment in non-terrestrial networks (NTNs), etc., without specific limitation.

[0126] In an embodiment of the present application, the access network device may further include a network element or module that implements part of the functions of the base station, for example, one or more of the following: a centralized unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), or a radio unit (RU). Optionally, the CU can be further separated into a CU-control plane (CP) and a CU-user plane (UP). The functions of the CU and DU can be implemented by different network elements, or simultaneously by the baseband unit (BBU) of the base station. The function of the RU can be implemented by the radio frequency equipment of the base station. For example, the radio frequency equipment of the base station may be a remote radio unit (RRU), a pico remote radio unit (pRRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), or other units, modules, or devices with radio frequency processing functions. The communication interface protocol between the BBU and the radio frequency equipment can be a common public radio interface (CPRI) interface protocol, an enhanced common public radio interface (eCPRI) interface protocol, or a fronthaul interface protocol between the DU and RU in the O-RAN system, etc., without limitation.

[0127] In addition, the access network device in the embodiment of the present application can also be a device with communication functions in the 6G communication system, without limiting the form or type of the access network device in the 6G and other future communication systems.

[0128] In the embodiments of the present application, the communication device used to implement the functions of the access network device can be the access network device, or it can be a device that can support the access network device to implement the functions, such as a chip system. The device can be installed in the access network device or used in conjunction with the access network device. The chip system in the embodiments of the present application can be composed of a chip, or it can include a chip and other discrete components.

[0129] In different communication systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU or RU may also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in the ORAN system, CU may also be called O-CU (Open CU), DU may also be called O-DU, CU-CP may also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP may also be called O-CU-UP, and RU may also be called O-RU. For the convenience of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU and RU as examples for description. Any unit of CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU and RU in this application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0130] It should be understood that the number of each device in the above-mentioned communication system is only for illustration and is not limited thereto. In actual applications, the communication system may further include more terminal devices, more RAN devices, and other devices.

[0131] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture 200 applicable to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 2, the network architecture 200 includes a CN device, a RAN device, and a terminal device.

[0132] RAN equipment includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device. The baseband device can be implemented by a single node or multiple nodes. The radio frequency device can be implemented independently from the baseband device or integrated into the baseband device, or some functions can be integrated independently and some functions can be integrated into the baseband device. For example, in an LTE communication system, RAN equipment includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device. The radio frequency device can be remotely located relative to the baseband device, such as an RRU, which is a remote radio unit located relative to the BBU.

[0133] The communication between RAN equipment and terminal equipment follows a certain protocol layer structure. For example, the control plane protocol layer structure may include the functions of the radio resource control (RRC) layer, packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, radio link control (RLC) layer, media access control (MAC) layer, and physical layer. The user plane protocol layer structure may include the functions of the PDCP layer, RLC layer, MAC layer, and physical layer. In one possible implementation, the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer may also be included above the PDCP layer.

[0134] RAN equipment can implement the functions of protocol layers such as RRC, PDCP, RLC, and MAC by a single node, or multiple nodes can implement the functions of these protocol layers. For example, in an evolved architecture, RAN equipment can include a CU and DU, and multiple DUs can be centrally controlled by a single CU. As shown in Figure 2, the CU and DU can be divided according to the protocol layers of the wireless network. For example, the functions of the PDCP layer and above are located in the CU, while the functions of the protocol layers below PDCP, such as the RLC layer and MAC layer, are located in the DU.

[0135] This protocol layer division is merely an example. Division can also be performed at other protocol layers, such as the RLC layer, where functions at and above the RLC layer are located in the CU, while functions at layers below the RLC layer are located in the DU. Alternatively, division can be performed within a specific protocol layer, such as where some functions at the RLC layer and functions at layers above the RLC layer are located in the CU, while the remaining functions at the RLC layer and functions at layers below the RLC layer are located in the DU. Furthermore, division can be performed in other ways, such as by latency, where functions that require processing time to meet latency requirements are located in the DU, while functions that do not require latency requirements are located in the CU.

[0136] In addition, the radio frequency device can be independently integrated and not placed in the DU, or it can be integrated in the DU, or part of it can be remotely located and part of it can be integrated in the DU. There is no limitation here.

[0137] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture 300 applicable to an embodiment of the present application. Compared to the network architecture shown in Figure 2, Figure 3 can also separate the CP and UP of the CU and implement them as different entities, namely: CU-CP entity and CU-UP entity.

[0138] In the above network architecture, the signaling generated by the CU can be sent to the terminal device through the DU, or the signaling generated by the terminal device can be sent to the CU through the DU. The DU can directly encapsulate the signaling through the protocol layer and transparently transmit it to the terminal device or CU without parsing it. In the following embodiments, if the transmission of such signaling between the DU and the terminal device is involved, then the sending or receiving of the signaling by the DU includes this scenario. For example, the signaling of the RRC or PDCP layer will eventually be processed as the signaling of the PHY layer and sent to the terminal device, or converted from the received signaling of the PHY layer. Under this architecture, the signaling of the RRC or PDCP layer can also be considered to be sent by the DU, or sent by the DU and the RF loader.

[0139] The network architecture shown in Figures 1, 2 or 3 above can be applicable to communication systems of various radio access technologies (RAT), for example, it can be an LTE communication system, it can be a 5G communication system, it can be a transition system between the LTE communication system and the 5G communication system, and the transition system can also be called a 4.5G communication system, and of course it can also be a future communication system.

[0140] The network architecture and service scenarios described in this application are intended to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided by this application. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that, with the evolution of communication network architectures and the emergence of new service scenarios, the technical solutions provided in this application are equally applicable to similar technical problems. For example, this application may be applicable to V2X scenarios.

[0141] It should be understood that the network architectures shown in Figures 1-3 are merely illustrative and do not have any limiting effect. The embodiments of this application may also be applicable to other network architectures, for example, without distinguishing between base stations and core networks, i.e., base stations and core networks may belong to the same network device, and communications between the network device and terminal devices; or communications between terminal devices, etc.

[0142] The NR protocol architecture involved in the embodiments of the present application can be divided into a user plane protocol stack and a control plane protocol stack. The above two protocol stacks will be described below in conjunction with Figure 4.

[0143] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a protocol stack 400 according to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 4 describes the interaction between a terminal device and a base station as an example. Figure 4 (a) shows a user plane protocol stack, and Figure 4 (b) shows a control plane protocol stack.

[0144] User plane protocol stack: The protocol suite used for user data transmission. As shown in FIG4(a), the user plane protocol stack may include five layers: the PHY layer, the MAC layer, the RLC layer, the PDCP layer, and the SDAP layer.

[0145] Control plane protocol stack architecture: This refers to the protocol suite used for system control signaling transmission. As shown in Figure 4(b), the control plane protocol stack may include the non-access stratum (NAS), RRC, PDCP, RLC, MAC, and PHY layers.

[0146] For example, the PHY layer may be responsible for processing one or more of encoding and decoding, modulation and demodulation, multi-antenna mapping, and other physical layer functions. For example, the MAC layer may be responsible for one or more of hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ), uplink scheduling, downlink scheduling, etc. For example, the RLC layer may be responsible for one or more of segmentation, reassembly, and retransmission processing. For example, the PDCP layer may be responsible for one or more of header compression / decompression, security (encryption function, integrity protection function), retransmission, and in-order delivery. For example, the RRC layer may be responsible for one or more of functions such as broadcasting, paging, RRC connection management, radio bearer control, mobility management, terminal device measurement reporting and control. For example, the NAS layer may be responsible for one or more of functions such as identity authentication, mobility management, and security control.

[0147] Compared with the LTE protocol stack, the NR protocol stack has an additional SDAP layer in the user plane protocol stack. However, the NR protocol stack is similar to the LTE protocol stack in the control plane protocol stack.

[0148] Optionally, each layer in the protocol stack can also be replaced by an entity. For example, the PDCP layer can be replaced by a PDCP entity, and the SDAP layer can be replaced by an SDAP entity. This is a unified description and will not be repeated later.

[0149] To facilitate understanding and explanation, the relevant terms involved in the embodiments of the present application are briefly described below.

[0150] Network slicing: refers to a logical network with different network capabilities and characteristics customized based on different service requirements or tenants on physical or virtual network infrastructure.

[0151] A network slice can be a complete end-to-end network that includes terminal devices, access networks, transport networks, core networks, and application servers, capable of providing telecommunications services and possessing certain network capabilities. A network slice can also be any combination of these terminal devices, access networks, transport networks, core networks, and application servers, for example, a network slice could only include the access network and core network. A network slice may have one or more of the following characteristics: the access network may or may not support network slicing, and the access network may be shared by multiple network slices. Different network slices may have different characteristics and the network functional modules that comprise them.

[0152] The network slice identifier may include but is not limited to at least one of the following: network slice type information, service type information, tenant information, user group information, slice group information, network slice instance information, dedicated core network (DCN) identifier, single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI), S-NSSAI group information, temporary identifier (Temporary ID), R-NSSAI (RAN-NSSAI) and network slice differentiator (SD).

[0153] The above terms are defined as follows:

[0154] Network slice type information, for example, the network slice type information may indicate network slice types such as enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC), and massive machine type communication (mMTC). Optionally, the network slice type information may also indicate an end-to-end network slice type, including a RAN-to-CN network slice type, or a RAN-side network slice type or a CN-side network slice type.

[0155] Network slice selection assistance information (NSSAI): refers to a standard-defined value or a privately defined value within the PLMN. An NSSAI is composed of multiple S-NSSAIs, and each S-NSSAI can correspond to a specific slice.

[0156] Single network slice selection auxiliary information (single-nssai, S-NSSAI): may contain two values, namely slice / service type (slice / service type, SST) and network slice differentiator (slice differentiator, SD), or it may only contain slice / service type.

[0157] Slice / Service Type: Indicates the characteristics and services that the network is expected to provide.

[0158] Network slice distinguishing identifier: Indicates that the selected network slice instance is supplementary information for the slice / service type. When the slice / service type points to multiple network slice instances, the network slice distinguishing identifier can further distinguish these network slice instances.

[0159] S-NSSAI may contain at least slice type / service type (SST) information and, optionally, slice differentiator (SD). The SST information is used to indicate the behavior of the network slice, such as the characteristics of the network slice and the service type. The SD information is complementary to the SST. If the SST points to multiple network slice implementations, the SD can correspond to a unique network slice instance.

[0160] A network slice access-stratum group (NSAG) is a group of network slices. The network's access stratum (AS) typically configures cell reselection parameters and random access channel (RACH) parameters for each NSAG. Terminal devices can use these parameters to perform cell reselection and random access.

[0161] Each NSAG is identified by an NSAG ID. In addition, each NSAG includes one or more network slices.

[0162] The following describes the communication method, communication device, and system according to the embodiments of the present application in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0163] For ease of understanding and explanation, the following description uses the interaction between terminal device #1 and an access network device as an example to describe the communication method of an embodiment of the present application. However, this does not limit the execution subject of the communication method of an embodiment of the present application. For example, terminal device #1 can be replaced by a component configured in terminal device #1 (such as a circuit, chip, or chip system), and the access network device can be replaced by a component configured in the access network device (such as a circuit, chip, or chip system).

[0164] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of an interaction flow of a communication method 500 according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG5 , the method 500 includes:

[0165] S501. The access network device sends information #1 (such as first information) to terminal device #1.

[0166] Accordingly, terminal device #1 receives information #1. Information #1 is used to configure parameter #1 (e.g., a first parameter), and parameter #1 corresponds to network slice access layer group #1. For example, parameter #1 can be used by the terminal device to initiate network access #1 (e.g., a first network access) at NSAG #1; for example, the terminal device can initiate network access #1 at NSAG #1 according to parameter #1, and so on.

[0167] In one possible implementation, network access #1 may be at least one of cell reselection or random access. Exemplarily, network access #1 is cell reselection, or network access #1 is random access; or network access #1 is both cell reselection and random access.

[0168] For example, network access #1 is cell reselection, and parameter #1 is a parameter used by terminal device #1 to perform cell reselection in NSAG #1. For example, terminal device #1 can perform cell reselection in NSAG #1 according to parameter #1;

[0169] For example, network access #1 is random access, and parameter #1 is a parameter used by terminal device #1 to perform random access in NSAG #1. For example, terminal device #1 can perform random access in NSAG #1 according to parameter #1.

[0170] For example, network access #1 is cell reselection and random access, and parameter #1 is a parameter used by terminal device #1 to perform cell reselection and random access in NSAG #1. For example, terminal device #1 can perform cell reselection and random access in NSAG #1 according to parameter #1.

[0171] Exemplarily, network access #1 is cell reselection, and parameter #1 is a cell reselection parameter, which may include:

[0172] ● Carrier frequency information. This information may be the index corresponding to the carrier frequency. For example, index 0 represents the frequency of the carrier currently selected by terminal device #1, and indexes 1 to N represent the frequencies of adjacent carriers indicated in the broadcast message;

[0173] Information about one or more NSAGs supported by the carrier. Information about each NSAG includes:

[0174] NSAG Identifier (NSAG ID);

[0175] NSAG reselection priority. The value can be an integer. A larger value indicates a higher reselection priority.

[0176] The NSAG reselection priority is determined by the access network device based on factors such as carrier load and NSAG importance. Furthermore, the NSAG reselection priority can be used by the terminal device to select a carrier during cell reselection. For details, see the description of carrier selection rules below.

[0177] Exemplarily, network access #1 is random access, and parameter #1 is a random access configuration parameter, which may include at least one of the following (not limited to this):

[0178] NSAG logo;

[0179] ● The number of preambles corresponding to the signal based on which random access is performed. The signal based on which random access is performed may be a synchronization signal block (SSB) or a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), etc., and is not limited to this.

[0180] Power ramping step (this is an optional parameter), which is used to indicate the power ramping value during random access;

[0181] ● Scaling factor for back-off indicator (this is an optional parameter), which is used to indicate the scaling factor used for back-off operation in the random access procedure.

[0182] After receiving the information #1, the terminal device #1 may initiate network access #1 at NSAG #1 according to the parameter #1 configured in the information #1. The terminal device #1 may record the relevant information when the NSAG #1 initiates the network access #1.

[0183] For example, if network access #1 is random access, terminal device #1 may record information about random access, radio link failure, mobility, and other processes in a certain cell (the cell is associated with or corresponds to NSAG #1, or the cell supports NSAG #1) (for example, the number of random access attempts, the time to reconnect after link failure, etc.), and report this information to the access network device. The access network device adjusts the parameters of the NSAG #1 granularity (for example, RACH parameters, cell handover parameters, etc.) based on this information.

[0184] For example, network access #1 is a cell reselection, and terminal device #1 can record the selected NSAG, the priority of one or more NSAGs maintained, the NSAG with the same priority as the selected NSAG among the one or more NSAGs maintained, the NSAG with the highest priority among the one or more NSAGs maintained, and so on.

[0185] S502. Terminal device #1 sends information #2 (such as second information) to the access network device.

[0186] Correspondingly, the access network device receives information #2, where information #2 is used to indicate information related to NSAG #1 when terminal device #1 performs network access #1 according to parameter #1.

[0187] Exemplarily, network access #1 is random access, and the above-mentioned information related to NSAG #1 may include identification information of the NSAG selected by terminal device #1, etc. When the above-mentioned network access is random access, the embodiment of the present application may support adjustment of parameter configuration related to random access of the network slice access layer grouping granularity.

[0188] Exemplarily, network access #1 is cell reselection, and the above-mentioned information related to NSAG #1 may include identification information of the NSAG selected by terminal device #1, etc. When the above-mentioned network access is cell reselection, the embodiment of the present application may support adjustment of parameter configuration related to cell reselection of the network slice access layer grouping granularity.

[0189] In the above solution, the above information #2 can be carried in radio resource control (RRC) signaling, such as a UE Information Response message, etc. In this way, information related to NSAG #1 can be reported to the access network device using existing information.

[0190] To sum up, after terminal device #1 accesses the network #1 according to parameter #1, it can report information related to NSAG #1 to the access network device, and the access network device can adjust the parameters previously configured by access network device #1 for NSAG #1 based on this information.

[0191] In the above scheme, terminal device #1 can initiate network access #1 in NSAG #1 according to parameter #1 configured in information #1, and can record information related to NSAG #1, such as the identification information of the NSAG selected by terminal device #1 or the priority information of the NSAG related to the NSAG selected by terminal device #1.

[0192] Furthermore, the terminal device #1 reports information related to NSAG #1 to the access network device, and the access network device can adjust the parameter configuration of the NSAG granularity based on this information. For example, the access network device can adjust the cell reselection parameters of NSAG #1 or the random access configuration parameters of NSAG #1 based on the information related to NSAG #1.

[0193] The method shown in FIG5 is further described below in conjunction with FIG6 to FIG9.

[0194] It should be noted that the contents shown in FIG6 and FIG8 are described by taking network access #1 as cell reselection as an example, and the contents shown in FIG7 and FIG9 are described by taking network access #1 as random access as an example.

[0195] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of an interaction flow of a communication method 600 according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG6 , the method 600 includes:

[0196] Optionally, S601, the access network device sends information #3 to the CN device.

[0197] Accordingly, the CN device receives information #3. Information #3 includes information about one or more NSAGs supported by the access network device. For ease of description, the following description uses the example of an access network device supporting NSAG #1, NSAG #2, and NSAG #3, but is not limited to scenarios where the access network device supports more NSAGs.

[0198] For example, information #3 includes information of NSAG #1, information of NSAG #2, and information of NSAG #3:

[0199] 1) NSAG#1 information includes:

[0200] NSAG#1 logo;

[0201] ●The network slice identifier (NSSAI) of one or more network slices corresponding to NSAG#1.

[0202] 2) NSAG#2 information includes:

[0203] NSAG#2 logo;

[0204] ●The identifier of one or more network slices corresponding to NSAG#2.

[0205] 3) NSAG#3 information includes:

[0206] NSAG#3 logo;

[0207] ●The identifier of one or more network slices corresponding to NSAG#3.

[0208] Optionally, S602, the CN device sends information #4 to terminal device #1.

[0209] Accordingly, terminal device #1 receives information #4. Information #4 includes information indicating the priorities determined by the CN device for NSAG #1, NSAG #2, and NSAG #3 based on factors such as network policies. For example, the CN device may assign a higher priority to NSAGs serving important services or users, and a lower priority to NSAGs serving less important services or users.

[0210] Furthermore, information #4 includes information of NSAG #1, information of NSAG #2, and information of NSAG #3:

[0211] 1) NSAG#1 information includes:

[0212] NSAG#1 logo;

[0213] ●The identifier of one or more network slices corresponding to NSAG#1.

[0214] ●NSAG#1 priority. It can be an integer. A smaller value indicates a higher priority.

[0215] 2) NSAG#2 information includes:

[0216] NSAG#2 logo;

[0217] ●The identifier of one or more network slices corresponding to NSAG#2.

[0218] ●NSAG#3 priority. Its value can be an integer, and the smaller the value, the higher the priority.

[0219] 3) NSAG#3 information includes:

[0220] NSAG#3 logo;

[0221] ●The identifier of one or more network slices corresponding to NSAG#3.

[0222] ●NSAG#3 priority. Its value can be an integer, and the smaller the value, the higher the priority.

[0223] In this way, terminal device #1 can obtain the priority information of the three NSAGs supported by the access network device.

[0224] S603. The access network device sends information #1 to terminal device #1.

[0225] Correspondingly, the terminal device receives information #1.

[0226] For ease of description, the following uses information #1 as an example for configuring three parameters. For example, information #1 is used to configure parameter #1, parameter #2, and parameter #3. Parameter #1 corresponds to NSAG #1 and is used to initiate network access #1 (e.g., cell reselection #1) at NSAG #1. Parameter #2 corresponds to NSAG #2 and is used to initiate network access #2 (e.g., cell reselection #2) at NSAG #2. Parameter #3 corresponds to NSAG #3 and is used to initiate network access #3 (e.g., cell reselection #3) at NSAG #3.

[0227] Parameter #1 may include:

[0228] Frequency information of carrier #1;

[0229] ●Carrier #1 supports NSAG #1, and the reselection priority of NSAG #1 is 2.

[0230] Parameter #2 may include:

[0231] Frequency information for carrier #2;

[0232] ●Carrier #2 supports NSAG #2, and the reselection priority of NSAG #2 is 1.5.

[0233] Parameter #3 may include:

[0234] Frequency information for carrier #3;

[0235] ●Carrier #3 supports NSAG #3, and the reselection priority of NSAG #3 is 1.

[0236] In this way, terminal device #1 can obtain the frequency information of each carrier, the NSAG supported by each carrier, and the reselection priority of the NSAG, and terminal device #1 can perform cell reselection based on this information. When performing cell reselection, terminal device #1 can first select a carrier and then select the cell with the strongest signal on that carrier for access.

[0237] For example, carrier selection rule #1 can be: select the carrier corresponding to the NSAG with the highest "NSAG priority"; if there are multiple NSAGs with the highest priority, select the carrier corresponding to the NSAG with the highest reselection priority among these NSAGs. Therefore, if the priority of NSAG#1 is higher than the priority of NSAG#2 and the priority of NSAG#3, terminal device #1 selects the carrier corresponding to NSAG#1; if the priority of NSAG#1 is the same as the priority of NSAG#2 and higher than the priority of NSAG#3, the reselection priority of NSAG#1 is higher than the priority of NSAG#2, and so on, terminal device #1 selects the carrier corresponding to NSAG#1.

[0238] As another example, carrier selection rule #2 may be: select the carrier corresponding to the NSAG whose "NSAG priority" is higher than a threshold; if there are multiple NSAGs whose priorities are all higher than the threshold, select the carrier corresponding to the NSAG with the highest reselection priority among these NSAGs. Therefore, if the priorities of NSAG #1 and NSAG #2 are both higher than the threshold, and the reselection priority of NSAG #1 is higher than the priority of NSAG #2, then terminal device #1 selects the carrier corresponding to NSAG #1.

[0239] For ease of description, the following uses carrier selection rule #2 as an example. For example, if the priorities of NSAG #1 and NSAG #2 are both higher than the threshold, the reselection priority of NSAG #1 is higher than the reselection priority of NSAG #2. Terminal device #1 selects carrier #1 corresponding to NSAG #1 for cell access according to carrier selection rule #2.

[0240] In addition, terminal device #1 may record information related to NSAG #1 when performing cell reselection #1 according to parameter #1. For example, the information related to NSAG #1 includes at least one of the following:

[0241] The NSAG selected by terminal device #1 (e.g., NSAG #1);

[0242] ● Among one or more NSAGs maintained by terminal device #1, an NSAG with a higher priority than the NSAG selected by terminal device #1;

[0243] ● Among one or more NSAGs maintained by terminal device #1, an NSAG having the same priority as the NSAG selected by terminal device #1;

[0244] ● The NSAG with the highest priority among one or more NSAGs maintained by terminal device #1.

[0245] In this way, the access network device can adjust the parameter configuration related to cell reselection of the network slice access layer group granularity based on the above information, for example, adjust the reselection priority information of some network slice access layer groups, thereby influencing the terminal device to avoid selecting a high-load carrier for access when performing cell reselection.

[0246] S604. Terminal device #1 sends information #2 to the access network device.

[0247] In one possible implementation, information #2 may include at least one of the following:

[0248] Identification information of NSAG#1, or identification information of NSAG*.

[0249] NSAG* may be an NSAG having a priority higher than that of NSAG#1, or may be an NSAG having a priority the same as or equal to that of NSAG#1.

[0250] In one possible implementation, the above-mentioned NSAG* may also be the NSAG with the highest priority. In this way, the access network device can obtain the identification information of the network slice access layer group with the highest priority among one or more network slice access layer groups maintained by the terminal device.

[0251] In one possible implementation, the identification information of NSAG may be the identification of NSAG, or information related to the identification of NSAG. For example, when the identification of NSAG is associated with an index, the index associated with the identification of NSAG is an example in the aforementioned identification information of NSAG, but other possibilities are not limited.

[0252] In one example, when terminal device #1 reports the identification information of NSAG #1 to the access network device and does not report the identification information of other NSAGs to the access network device, the access network device can adjust the reselection priority of other NSAGs, for example, adjust the reselection priority of NSAG #2 and the reselection priority of NSAG #3 to 2.5 and 3.5 respectively.

[0253] In another example, when terminal device #1 reports the identification information of NSAG #1 to the access network device and does not report the identification information of other NSAGs to the access network device, the access network device can adjust the reselection priority of NSAG #1, for example, adjust the reselection priority of NSAG #1 to 0.5.

[0254] In another example, when terminal device #1 reports the identification information of NSAG* to the access network device, and does not report the identification information of NSAG#1 and the identification information of NSAG* to the access network device, the access network device can adjust the reselection priority of NSAG* to 5, and can adjust the reselection priority of NSAG#1 to 1.2.

[0255] It should be noted that when the terminal device #1 reports the identification information of multiple NSAGs to the access network device, the identification information of the multiple NSAGs can be arranged from low to high or from high to low according to the priority of the NSAG. In this way, the access network device can distinguish the priority relationship between the multiple NSAGs reported by the terminal device #1, and then readjust the reselection priority of the multiple NSAGs. The specific adjustment method is not limited.

[0256] It should also be noted that the access network device can send a request message to terminal device #1 requesting that terminal device #1 send information #2. Accordingly, terminal device #1 can send information #2 to the access network device based on the access network device's request. In this way, terminal device #1 can send information #2 to the access network device based on the access network device's request.

[0257] In one possible implementation, information #2 is sent after terminal device #1 enters the connected state. In this way, terminal device #1 can avoid frequently entering the connected state to report information #2, thereby reducing terminal energy consumption.

[0258] Optionally, S605 , the access network device sends information #5 (such as third information).

[0259] The access network device can send information #5 to other terminal devices (such as terminal device #2), or it can send information #5 to terminal device #1, and there is no limitation on this.

[0260] The access network device determines information #5 based on information #2, which can be used to configure parameter #4 (e.g., the second parameter). Parameter #4 can be used by terminal device #2 to perform network access #4. For details about the contents of information #5, see Table 1. The contents shown in Table 1 are intended for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be definitive.

[0261] Table 1

[0262] As shown in Table 1, information #5 includes information about carrier #1, carrier #2, and carrier #3. The information about carrier #1 includes: the reselection priority between the frequency of carrier #1 and NSAG #1 is 0.5; the information about carrier #2 includes: the reselection priority between the frequency of carrier #2 and NSAG #2 is 2.5; and the information about carrier #3 includes: the reselection priority between the frequency of carrier #3 and NSAG #3 is 3.

[0263] In this way, terminal device #2 can select carrier #2 instead of carrier #1 according to carrier selection rule #2.

[0264] Specifically, before the access network device receives information #2, the information of the three carriers configured by the access network device for the terminal device #1 is as follows:

[0265] ● Carrier #1 supports NSAG #1, and the reselection priority of NSAG #1 is 2;

[0266] ● Carrier #2 supports NSAG #2, and the reselection priority of NSAG #2 is 1.5;

[0267] ●Carrier #3 supports NSAG #3, and the reselection priority of NSAG #3 is 1.

[0268] For example, the information #2 sent by terminal device #1 shows:

[0269] ● The NSAG currently selected by terminal device #1 is NSAG #1;

[0270] ●The priority of NSAG* is the same as that of NSAG#1.

[0271] If the access network device detects that carrier #1 is overloaded, it can adjust the reselection priority of NSAG* to high while maintaining the reselection priority of NSAG#1. This adjustment can guide terminal device #2 to reselect and access other carriers (such as the carrier corresponding to NSAG*), thereby reducing the load on carrier #1.

[0272] In another example, the message #2 sent by terminal device #1 shows:

[0273] ● The NSAG currently selected by terminal device #1 is NSAG #1;

[0274] ●NSAG* has a higher priority than NSAG#1.

[0275] If the access network device detects that carrier #1 is overloaded, it can adjust the reselection priority of NSAG* to high while maintaining the reselection priority of NSAG#1. This adjustment can guide terminal device #2 to reselect and access other carriers (such as the carrier corresponding to NSAG*), thereby reducing the load on carrier #1.

[0276] In another example, the message #2 sent by terminal device #1 shows:

[0277] ● The NSAG currently selected by terminal device #1 is NSAG #1;

[0278] NSAG* has the highest priority;

[0279] If the access network device detects that carrier #1 is overloaded, it can adjust the reselection priority of NSAG* to high while maintaining the reselection priority of NSAG#1. This adjustment can guide terminal device #2 to reselect and access other carriers (such as the carrier corresponding to NSAG*), thereby reducing the load on carrier #1.

[0280] In summary, terminal device #1 can report information related to NSAG #1 when performing network access #1 based on parameter #1 to the access network device. The access network device can then adjust the parameters of NSAG #1 based on the information related to NSAG #1, thereby meeting the network access needs of other terminal devices. For example, if terminal device #1 reports information #2, the access network device can determine the priority relationship between NSAGs based on information #2, thereby adjusting the reselection priority of the NSAGs to enable other terminal devices to select other carriers for cell reselection, thereby reducing the load on carrier #1.

[0281] Through the above solution, the embodiment of the present application can support the access network device to adjust the parameter configuration of the NSAG granularity.

[0282] It should be noted that some steps in the solution described in Figure 6 may be optional, for example, S601 is optional, and S602 is optional. Therefore, the above description is only understood as an example and not as a final limitation.

[0283] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of an interaction flow of a communication method 700 according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG7 , the method 700 includes:

[0284] S701. The access network device sends information #1 to terminal device #1.

[0285] Correspondingly, terminal device #1 receives information #1.

[0286] Information #1 includes one or more random access channel (RACH) configuration information. For ease of description, the following description uses an access network device supporting RACH configuration information #1, RACH configuration information #2, and RACH configuration information #3 as an example. However, the access network device is not limited to supporting a larger number of RACH configuration information.

[0287] For example, information #1 includes RACH configuration information #1, RACH configuration information #2, and RACH configuration information #3:

[0288] 1) RACH configuration information #1 includes:

[0289] NSAG#1 logo;

[0290] ● The number of preamble codes corresponding to the signal based on random access, for example, 10.

[0291] ●Power increase step size.

[0292] ● Fallback scaling factor.

[0293] 2) RACH configuration information #2 includes:

[0294] NSAG#2 logo;

[0295] ● The number of preamble codes corresponding to the signal based on random access, for example, 15.

[0296] ●Power increase step size.

[0297] ● Fallback scaling factor.

[0298] 3) RACH configuration information #3 includes:

[0299] NSAG#3 logo;

[0300] ● The number of preamble codes corresponding to the signal based on random access, for example, 20.

[0301] ●Power increase step size.

[0302] ● Fallback scaling factor.

[0303] It should be noted that the number of preamble codes corresponding to the signal on which the above-mentioned random access is based can be: the number of times or the quantity of preamble codes sent by terminal device #1 on the signal on which the random access is based. For example, during the random access process, terminal device #1 attempts to send the above-mentioned preamble code 5 times before successfully accessing. Then the number of the above-mentioned preamble codes included in information #2 is 5.

[0304] Terminal device #1 may determine the parameters used for random access based on the selected NSAG (using NSAG #1 as an example) and the received RACH configuration information #1, and initiate random access (which may be network access #1). For example, terminal device #1 may calculate a set of selectable preambles based on the number of preambles corresponding to the signal on which each random access is based, and select a preamble for random access. Terminal device #1 may determine the power and backoff time used for each access attempt based on the power boost step size and backoff scaling factor.

[0305] Optionally, S702, the access network device sends information #6 to the terminal device #1, where information #6 is used to request the terminal device #1 to send information #2.

[0306] Correspondingly, terminal device #1 receives information #6.

[0307] In one possible implementation, information #6 may be request information, query information, or indication information, etc. Terminal device #1 may determine the need to send or report information #2 to the access network device based on information #6.

[0308] S703. Terminal device #1 sends information #2 to the access network device.

[0309] Accordingly, the access network device receives information #2, which includes at least one of the following:

[0310] ●Cell identification;

[0311] NSAG#1 logo;

[0312] The index of the signal on which random access is based;

[0313] ●The number of preamble codes corresponding to the signal based on random access.

[0314] In this way, the access network device can obtain relevant information when terminal device #1 performs random access in NSAG #1.

[0315] There is an association between the signal based on which the random access is performed, the cell identifier, and NSAG # 1. For example, the signal based on which the random access is performed is configured for NSAG # 1, or terminal device # 1 initiates random access in NSAG # 1 using the signal based on which the random access is performed.

[0316] In addition, the cell indicated by the cell identifier may support one or more NSAGs, and the one or more NSAGs include NSAG#1.

[0317] In one possible implementation, information #2 is sent after terminal device #1 enters the connected state. In this way, terminal device #1 can avoid frequently entering the connected state to report information #2, thereby reducing terminal energy consumption.

[0318] Optionally, S704, the access network device sends information #7 (such as the third information).

[0319] For example, the access network device may send information #7 to other terminal devices (such as terminal device #2), or may send information #7 to terminal device #1, without limitation.

[0320] In this way, the access network device can send a new parameter configuration obtained by adjusting the parameter configuration of the NSAG#1 granularity to other terminal devices, so that other terminal devices can perform network access, etc. according to the adjusted parameter configuration.

[0321] Among them, information #7 is determined by the access network device based on information #2, information #7 can be used to configure parameter #4 (such as the second parameter), and parameter #4 can be used by terminal device #2 to perform network access #4.

[0322] Specifically, the access network device can adjust the RACH configuration corresponding to NSAG#1 based on information #2. For example, if the value of "the number of preambles corresponding to the signal based on which the random access is performed" associated with NSAG#1 is large, it indicates that the number of preambles currently configured for NSAG#1 is insufficient, and the access network device needs to increase the number of preambles corresponding to NSAG#1.

[0323] For example, the above information #7 may include:

[0324] 1) RACH configuration information #1 includes:

[0325] NSAG#1 logo;

[0326] ● The number of preamble codes corresponding to the signal based on random access, for example, 25.

[0327] ●Power increase step size.

[0328] ● Fallback scaling factor.

[0329] 2) RACH configuration information #2 includes:

[0330] NSAG#2 logo;

[0331] ● The number of preamble codes corresponding to the signal based on random access, for example, 15.

[0332] ●Power increase step size.

[0333] ● Fallback scaling factor.

[0334] 3) RACH configuration information #3 includes:

[0335] NSAG#3 logo;

[0336] ● The number of preamble codes corresponding to the signal based on random access, for example, 20.

[0337] ●Power increase step size.

[0338] ● Fallback scaling factor.

[0339] In this way, terminal device #2 can initiate random access according to the above-mentioned RACH configuration information #1 (if NSAG #1 is selected).

[0340] In summary, terminal device #1 can report to the access network device information related to NSAG #1 when performing network access #1 based on parameter #1. The access network device can then adjust the parameters of NSAG #1 based on the information related to NSAG #1, thereby meeting the network access needs of other terminal devices. For example, if terminal device #1 reports information #2, the access network device can determine based on information #2 that the number of preambles configured for NSAG #1 is insufficient. Therefore, the access network device can adjust the number of preambles configured for NSAG #1, allowing other terminal devices to complete random access with less overhead when selecting NSAG #1.

[0341] Through the above solution, the embodiment of the present application can support the access network device to adjust the parameter configuration of the NSAG granularity.

[0342] It should be noted that some steps in the solution described in Figure 7 may be optional, for example, S702 is optional, and S704 is optional. Therefore, the above description is only understood as an example and not as a final limitation.

[0343] The contents described in Figures 6 and 7 are described based on the example that the access network device does not adopt the CU-DU separation architecture. The following describes the access network device using the CU-DU separation architecture to execute the above method in conjunction with Figures 8 and 9.

[0344] It should be noted that by adopting a CU-DU separation architecture, embodiments of the present application can support cloud-based deployment of access network equipment. Specifically, the DU is responsible for protocol layers with high real-time requirements, while the CU is responsible for protocol layers with low real-time requirements. The DU should be deployed as close to the antenna as possible; the CU can be located further away from the antenna, and multiple CUs can be deployed centrally in the cloud to achieve resource sharing.

[0345] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of an interaction flow of a communication method 800 according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG8 , the method 800 includes:

[0346] S801. CU sends information #1 to terminal device #1.

[0347] Correspondingly, terminal device #1 receives information #1.

[0348] For detailed description, please refer to S603 and will not be repeated here.

[0349] S802. Terminal device #1 sends information #2 to CU.

[0350] Correspondingly, CU receives information #2.

[0351] For detailed description, please refer to S604 and will not be repeated here.

[0352] S803. CU sends information #2 to DU.

[0353] Correspondingly, DU receives information #2.

[0354] The information #2 sent by the CU to the DU may also include identification information of the terminal device #1, so that the DU can determine that the information #2 comes from the terminal device #1.

[0355] In addition, the embodiment of the present application does not elaborate on the information interaction process between the CU and the DU.

[0356] Optionally, at S804, DU determines information #5.

[0357] For the description of DU determination information #5, please refer to the description of S605 and will not be repeated here.

[0358] Through the above technical solution, the embodiment of the present application can support the access network equipment to adopt a separated architecture to receive and process information, so as to complete the adjustment of the parameter configuration of the NSAG granularity, and is also conducive to the deployment of the access network equipment, such as cloud deployment.

[0359] It should be noted that the method shown in FIG8 can be applied to a communication system including a CU and a DU, and the CU and the DU interact to complete the above technical solution.

[0360] The above-mentioned communication system can be understood as a communication device or a communication apparatus. For example, the above-mentioned communication system can be understood as an access network device, which is not limited to this.

[0361] It should also be noted that the CU can be responsible for functions such as receiving and sending information. The CU communicates with the terminal device. For example, the CU sends information #1 to the terminal device and receives information #2 from the terminal device. The DU can be responsible for functions such as information processing. For example, the DU is used to adjust the parameter configuration of the network slice access layer packet granularity based on information #2.

[0362] In one possible implementation, the CU mentioned above can be understood as a distributed device or a distributed apparatus that can implement the same or similar functions as the CU. The DU can be understood as a centralized device or a centralized apparatus that can implement the same or similar functions as the DU.

[0363] Similarly, the description of CU and DU in FIG8 is also applicable to the description in FIG9 and will not be repeated here.

[0364] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of an interaction flow of a communication method 900 according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG9 , the method 900 includes:

[0365] S901. CU sends information #1 to terminal device #1.

[0366] Correspondingly, terminal device #1 receives information #1.

[0367] For the description of S901, please refer to S701 and will not be repeated here.

[0368] S902. CU sends information #6 to terminal device #1.

[0369] Correspondingly, terminal device #1 receives information #6.

[0370] For the description of S902, please refer to S702 and will not be repeated here.

[0371] S903. Terminal device #1 sends information #2 to CU.

[0372] Correspondingly, CU receives information #2.

[0373] S904. CU sends information #2 to DU.

[0374] Among them, the information #2 sent by CU to DU can also include the identification information of terminal device #1 (for example, the identification of terminal device #1, or information related to the identification of terminal device #1 (which can be used to distinguish terminal device #1 from other terminal devices), which is not limited to this). In this way, DU can determine that the information #2 sent by CU comes from terminal device #1.

[0375] Furthermore, if the CU receives information #2 sent by multiple terminal devices, the CU can perform statistical processing on the information #2 from multiple terminal devices, for example, taking the average value or the maximum value of the above information, predicting the average value or the maximum value of the above information in the future based on the characteristics of the above information, and sending the statistical results to the DU.

[0376] Furthermore, if the CU performs statistical processing on multiple pieces of information #2, at least one of the following items corresponding to each NSAG may be included:

[0377] The average number of transmissions of the preamble code corresponding to the signal based on random access,

[0378] The maximum number of transmissions of the preamble corresponding to the signal on which random access is based,

[0379] A predicted value of an average number of transmission times of a preamble code corresponding to a signal based on random access, or

[0380] The predicted value of the maximum number of preamble transmissions corresponding to the signal based on random access.

[0381] In this way, the DU can adjust the random access configuration of the NSAG according to this information. Furthermore, the DU can make more detailed adjustments to the random access parameter configuration of the NSAG#1 granularity according to one or more of these information.

[0382] In one possible implementation, the CU may send the content included in the information #2 to the DU via one or more messages, which is not limited.

[0383] Optionally, at S905 , the DU determines information #7.

[0384] For detailed description, please refer to S704 and will not be repeated here.

[0385] Through the above technical solution, the embodiment of the present application can support the access network equipment to adopt a separated architecture to receive and process information, so as to complete the adjustment of the parameter configuration of the NSAG granularity, and is also conducive to the deployment of the access network equipment, such as cloud deployment.

[0386] It should be noted that the schemes shown in Figures 5 to 9 are described using NSAG as an example. The methods described in the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to other features, such as reduced capability (RedCap), small data, message 3 repetition, etc.

[0387] Taking RedCap as an example, the access stratum (AS) of the network configures dedicated network access parameters for terminal devices using RedCap technology. The terminal devices access the network based on the above network access parameters and report RedCap-related network access information to the access network devices, thereby supporting the access network devices to adjust the network access parameters dedicated to RedCap.

[0388] In addition, the method described in the embodiments of the present application can also be applied to a combination of multiple features, for example, a combination of NSAG and RedCap.

[0389] The following describes the device embodiments corresponding to the method embodiments of the present application. The following only briefly describes the device, and the specific implementation steps and details of the solution can be referred to the method embodiments above.

[0390] To implement the functions of the methods provided herein, both terminal devices and network devices may include hardware structures and / or software modules, with the aforementioned functions implemented in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or a combination of hardware structures and software modules. Whether any of the aforementioned functions is implemented in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or a combination of hardware structures and software modules depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution.

[0391] Figure 10 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1000 according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 1000 includes a processor 1010 and a communication interface 1020, which may be interconnected via a bus 1030. The communication device 1000 may be a terminal device or an access network device.

[0392] Optionally, the communication device 1000 may further include a memory 1040. The memory 1040 includes, but is not limited to, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), or portable read-only memory (CD-ROM), and is used for related instructions and data.

[0393] The processor 1010 may be one or more central processing units (CPUs). In the case where the processor 1010 is a CPU, the CPU may be a single-core CPU or a multi-core CPU.

[0394] The processor 1010 may be a signal processor, chip, or other integrated circuit capable of implementing the method of the present application, or a portion of the processing circuitry within the aforementioned processor, chip, or integrated circuit. Furthermore, the communication interface 1020 may also be an input / output interface, which is used for inputting or outputting signals or data, or may be an input / output circuit.

[0395] When the communication apparatus 1000 is a terminal device, illustratively, the processor 1010 is configured to perform the following operations: receive information #1; send information #2 to an access network device, etc.

[0396] When the communication apparatus 1000 is an access network device, illustratively, the processor 1010 is configured to perform the following operations: sending information #1; receiving information #2, etc.

[0397] The above contents are merely exemplary descriptions. When the communication apparatus 1000 is a terminal device or an access network device, it will be responsible for executing the methods or steps related to the terminal device or the access network device in the above method embodiments.

[0398] It is understood that when the communication device 1000 is a terminal device or an access network device, the communication interface 1020 may also be referred to as a transceiver. The above description is merely exemplary. For details, please refer to the contents of the above method embodiments. The implementation of each operation in Figure 10 may also correspond to the corresponding description of the method embodiments shown in Figures 5 to 9.

[0399] It should be noted that the communication device 1000 shown in Figure 10 can also be a module or part of the access network device. For example, the communication device 1000 can be a CU or DU in the access network device, which is not limited to this.

[0400] Figure 11 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 1100 according to an embodiment of the present application. Communication device 1100 may be a terminal device or access network device, or a chip or module within the terminal device or access network device, configured to implement the methods described in the above embodiments. Communication device 1100 includes a transceiver unit 1110. The following provides an exemplary description of transceiver unit 1110.

[0401] The transceiver unit 1110 may include a transmitting unit and a receiving unit. The transmitting unit is configured to execute a transmitting operation of the communication device, and the receiving unit is configured to execute a receiving operation of the communication device. For ease of description, this embodiment of the application combines the transmitting unit and the receiving unit into a single transceiver unit. This is described here as a unified description and will not be repeated later.

[0402] When the communication apparatus 1100 is a terminal device, illustratively, the transceiver unit 1110 is configured to receive information #1 and to send information #2 to an access network device.

[0403] Optionally, the communication device 1100 may further include a processing unit 1120, which is used to execute the content of steps involving processing, coordination, etc. of the terminal device.

[0404] When the communication device 1100 is an access network device, illustratively, the transceiver unit 1110 is used to send information #1 to the terminal device; and is also used to receive information #2, etc.

[0405] Optionally, the communication device 1100 may further include a processing unit 1120, which is used to execute the content of the access network device involving processing, coordination and other steps.

[0406] The above contents are merely exemplary descriptions. When the communication device 1100 is a terminal device or an access network device, it will be responsible for executing the methods or steps related to the terminal device or the access network device in the above method embodiments.

[0407] Optionally, the communication device 1100 further includes a storage unit 1130, which is used to store a program or code for executing the aforementioned method.

[0408] It should be noted that the communication device 1100 shown in Figure 11 can also be a module or part of the access network device. For example, the communication device 1100 can be a CU or DU in the access network device, which is not limited to this.

[0409] The device embodiments shown in Figures 10 and 11 are used to implement the contents described in Figures 5 to 9. The specific execution steps and methods of the devices shown in Figures 10 and 11 can refer to the contents described in the above method embodiments.

[0410] The present application also provides a chip, including a processor, for calling and executing instructions stored in a memory from the memory, so that a communication device equipped with the chip executes the methods in the above examples.

[0411] The present application also provides another chip, comprising: an input interface, an output interface, and a processor, wherein the input interface, the output interface, and the processor are connected via an internal connection path, and the processor is configured to execute code in a memory. When the code is executed, the processor is configured to execute the methods in the above examples. Optionally, the chip also includes a memory, which is configured to store computer programs or code.

[0412] The present application also provides a processor for coupling with a memory, and for executing the methods and functions involving a network device or a terminal device in any of the above embodiments.

[0413] In another embodiment of the present application, a computer program product including instructions is provided. When the computer program product is run on a computer, the method of the above embodiment is implemented.

[0414] The present application also provides a computer program. When the computer program is executed in a computer, the method of the aforementioned embodiment is implemented.

[0415] In another embodiment of the present application, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which stores a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a computer, the method described in the above embodiment is implemented.

[0416] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software 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 beyond the scope of this application.

[0417] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0418] In the several embodiments provided in this application, the disclosed systems, devices, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely schematic. For example, the division of units is merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0419] Units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of these units may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0420] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0421] If the function is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or the part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the various embodiments of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a ROM, a RAM, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0422] The above is only a specific implementation of the embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the embodiment of the present application is not limited to this. Any person skilled in the art can easily think of changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the embodiment of the present application, and they should be included in the scope of protection of the embodiment of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the embodiment of the present application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: include: Receiving first information, where the first information is used to configure a first parameter, where the first parameter corresponds to a first network slice access layer grouping; Send second information, where the second information is used to indicate information related to the first network slice access layer grouping when the terminal device accesses the network according to the first parameter.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The network access is at least one of cell reselection and random access.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The network access is the random access, and the second information includes identification information of the first network slice access layer group.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The second information also includes at least one of the following: A cell identifier, an index of a signal on which random access is based, or the number of preamble codes corresponding to the signal on which random access is based, wherein the signal on which random access is based is associated with the first network slice access layer grouping.

5. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that: The network access is the cell reselection, and the second information includes at least one of the following: The identification information of the first network slice access layer packet, or the identification information of the second network slice access layer packet, The first network slice access layer group is a network slice access layer group selected by the terminal device, The second network slice access layer grouping satisfies at least one of the following: The priority of the second network slice access layer packet is higher than the priority of the first network slice access layer packet, or, The priority of the second network slice access layer packet is equal to the priority of the first network slice access layer packet.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that The second network slice access layer grouping also satisfies: The second network slice access layer group is the network slice access layer group with the highest priority among the one or more network slice access layer groups maintained by the terminal device.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Receive request information, where the request information is used to request the terminal device to send the second information.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that The second information is carried in radio resource control signaling.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The second information is sent after the terminal device enters a connected state.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that The sending of the second information comprises: The second information is sent to a centralized unit of the access network device.

11. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to access network equipment, including: Sending first information, where the first information is used to configure a first parameter, where the first parameter corresponds to a first network slice access layer group; Receive second information, where the second information is used to indicate information related to the first network slice access layer grouping when the terminal device accesses the network according to the first parameter.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The network access is at least one of cell reselection and random access.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The network access is the random access, and the second information includes identification information of the first network slice access layer group.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The second information also includes at least one of the following: A cell identifier, an index of a signal on which random access is based, or the number of preamble codes corresponding to the signal on which the random access is based, and the signal on which the random access is based is associated with the first network slice access layer group.

15. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The network access is the cell reselection, and the second information includes at least one of the following: The identification information of the first network slice access layer packet, or the identification information of the second network slice access layer packet, The first network slice access layer group is a network slice access layer group selected by the terminal device, The second network slice access layer grouping satisfies at least one of the following: The priority of the second network slice access layer packet is higher than the priority of the first network slice access layer packet, or, The priority of the second network slice access layer packet is equal to the priority of the first network slice access layer packet.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The second network slice access layer grouping also satisfies: The second network slice access layer group is the network slice access layer group with the highest priority among the one or more network slice access layer groups maintained by the terminal device.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that The method further comprises: Send a request message, where the request message is used to request the terminal device to send the second information.

18. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 17, characterized in that The method further comprises: Send third information, where the third information is determined based on the second information, the third information is used to configure a second parameter, the second parameter is used for the network access, the second parameter corresponds to the first network slice access layer grouping, and the second parameter is different from the first parameter.

19. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 18, characterized in that The access network device includes a distributed unit and a centralized unit, and the receiving the second information includes: The central unit receives the second information; The centralized unit sends the second information to the distributed unit.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that The network access is the random access, and the second information sent by the centralized unit to the distributed unit further includes at least one of the following: The average value of the number of transmission times of the preamble code corresponding to the signal on which the random access is based, the maximum value of the number of transmission times of the preamble code corresponding to the signal on which the random access is based, the predicted value of the average value of the number of transmission times of the preamble code corresponding to the signal on which the random access is based, or the predicted value of the maximum value of the number of transmission times of the preamble code corresponding to the signal on which the random access is based.

21. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 20, characterized in that The second information is carried in radio resource control signaling.

22. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 21, characterized in that The second information is sent after the terminal device enters a connected state.

23. A communication system, characterized in that: include: Centralized units and distributed units; The centralized unit is used to send first information, where the first information is used to configure a first parameter, where the first parameter corresponds to a first network slice access layer grouping; The centralized unit is further configured to receive second information, where the second information is used to indicate information related to the first network slice access layer grouping when the terminal device performs network access according to the first parameter, and is further configured to send the second information to the distributed unit; The distributed unit is used to receive the second information.

24. The communication system according to claim 23, characterized in that The network access is at least one of cell reselection and random access.

25. The communication system according to claim 24, characterized in that The network access is the random access, and the second information includes identification information of the first network slice access layer group.

26. The communication system according to claim 24, characterized in that The network access is the cell reselection, and the second information includes at least one of the following: The identification information of the first network slice access layer packet, or the identification information of the second network slice access layer packet, The first network slice access layer group is a network slice access layer group selected by the terminal device, The second network slice access layer grouping satisfies at least one of the following: The priority of the second network slice access layer packet is higher than the priority of the first network slice access layer packet, or, The priority of the second network slice access layer packet is equal to the priority of the first network slice access layer packet.

27. The communication system according to any one of claims 23 to 26, characterized in that: The distributed unit is used to determine third information according to the second information, wherein the third information is used to configure the second parameter, The second parameter is used to perform the network access, the second parameter corresponds to the first network slice access layer grouping, the second parameter is different from the first parameter, and is also used to send the third information to the centralized unit; The centralized unit is used to receive the third information and also to send the third information.

28. A communication device, characterized in that: comprising a processor configured to, by executing a computer program or instructions, or, by means of a logic circuit, The communication device is caused to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10; or, The communication device is enabled to execute the method according to any one of claims 11 to 22.

29. A communication device, characterized in that: It includes a logic circuit and an input / output interface, wherein the input / output interface is used to input and / or output signals. The logic circuit is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10; or, The logic circuit is configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 11 to 22.

30. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer readable storage medium stores a computer program or instruction. When the computer program or instruction is executed on a computer, so that the method of any one of claims 1 to 10 is performed; or, The method according to any one of claims 11 to 22 is performed.

31. A computer program product, characterized in that Contains instructions that, when executed on a computer, so that the method of any one of claims 1 to 10 is performed; or, The method according to any one of claims 11 to 22 is performed.

32. A communication device, characterized in that: It includes a transceiver unit for: Receiving first information, where the first information is used to configure a first parameter, where the first parameter corresponds to a first network slice access layer grouping; Send second information, where the second information is used to indicate information related to the first network slice access layer grouping when the terminal device accesses the network according to the first parameter.

33. The device according to claim 32, characterized in that The network access is at least one of cell reselection and random access.

34. The device according to claim 33, characterized in that The network access is the random access, and the second information includes identification information of the first network slice access layer group.

35. The device according to claim 34, characterized in that The second information also includes at least one of the following: A cell identifier, an index of a signal on which random access is based, or the number of preamble codes corresponding to the signal on which random access is based, wherein the signal on which random access is based is associated with the first network slice access layer grouping.

36. The device according to claim 33, characterized in that The network access is the cell reselection, and the second information includes at least one of the following: The identification information of the first network slice access layer packet, or the identification information of the second network slice access layer packet, The first network slice access layer group is a network slice access layer group selected by the terminal device, The second network slice access layer grouping satisfies at least one of the following: The priority of the second network slice access layer packet is higher than the priority of the first network slice access layer packet, or, The priority of the second network slice access layer packet is equal to the priority of the first network slice access layer packet.

37. The device according to claim 36, characterized in that The second network slice access layer grouping also satisfies: The second network slice access layer group is the network slice access layer group with the highest priority among the one or more network slice access layer groups maintained by the terminal device.

38. The device according to claim 36 or 37, characterized in that The transceiver unit is further used to receive request information, where the request information is used to request the terminal device to send the second information.

39. The device according to any one of claims 32 to 38, characterized in that The second information is carried in radio resource control signaling.

40. The device according to any one of claims 32 to 39, characterized in that The second information is sent after the terminal device enters a connected state.

41. The device according to any one of claims 32 to 40, characterized in that The sending of the second information comprises: The second information is sent to a centralized unit of the access network device.

42. A communication device, characterized in that: It includes a transceiver unit for: Sending first information, where the first information is used to configure a first parameter, where the first parameter corresponds to a first network slice access layer group; Receive second information, where the second information is used to indicate information related to the first network slice access layer grouping when the terminal device accesses the network according to the first parameter.

43. The device according to claim 42, characterized in that The network access is at least one of cell reselection and random access.

44. The device according to claim 43, characterized in that The network access is the random access, and the second information includes identification information of the first network slice access layer group.

45. The device according to claim 44, characterized in that The second information also includes at least one of the following: A cell identifier, an index of a signal on which random access is based, or the number of preamble codes corresponding to the signal on which the random access is based, and the signal on which the random access is based is associated with the first network slice access layer group.

46. ​​The device according to claim 43, characterized in that The network access is the cell reselection, and the second information includes at least one of the following: The identification information of the first network slice access layer packet, or the identification information of the second network slice access layer packet, The first network slice access layer group is a network slice access layer group selected by the terminal device, The second network slice access layer grouping satisfies at least one of the following: The priority of the second network slice access layer packet is higher than the priority of the first network slice access layer packet, or, The priority of the second network slice access layer packet is equal to the priority of the first network slice access layer packet.

47. The device according to claim 46, characterized in that The second network slice access layer grouping also satisfies: The second network slice access layer group is the network slice access layer group with the highest priority among the one or more network slice access layer groups maintained by the terminal device.

48. The device according to claim 46 or 47, characterized in that The transceiver unit is further used to send request information, where the request information is used to request the terminal device to send the second information.

49. The device according to any one of claims 42 to 48, characterized in that The communication device further comprises a processing unit, The processing unit is configured to determine third information according to the second information, where the third information is used to configure a second parameter, where the second parameter is used to perform the network access, where the second parameter corresponds to the first network slice access layer grouping, and where the second parameter is different from the first parameter; The transceiver unit is further used to send the third information.

50. The device according to any one of claims 42 to 49, characterized in that The receiving of the second information comprises: The transceiver unit is used to receive the second information from the central unit.

51. The device according to claim 50, characterized in that The network access is the random access, and the second information further includes at least one of the following: The average value of the number of transmission times of the preamble code corresponding to the signal on which the random access is based, the maximum value of the number of transmission times of the preamble code corresponding to the signal on which the random access is based, the predicted value of the average value of the number of transmission times of the preamble code corresponding to the signal on which the random access is based, or the predicted value of the maximum value of the number of transmission times of the preamble code corresponding to the signal on which the random access is based.

52. The device according to any one of claims 42 to 51, characterized in that The second information is carried in radio resource control signaling.

53. The device according to any one of claims 42 to 52, characterized in that The second information is sent after the terminal device enters a connected state.

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