Communication method and communication apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and a communication apparatus. The method comprises: an access network device receives a first protocol data unit (PDU) set, the first PDU set comprising at least two data packet sets, each of the data packet sets comprising at least one first data packet and at least one second data packet, and the at least one second data packet being a redundant data packet of the at least one first data packet; and, when a transmission parameter of each of the data packet sets in the first PDU set is less than a corresponding first threshold, the access network device sends the first PDU set, thereby ensuring that the PDU set can always achieve, in different FEC redundancy addition modes, integrity of the transmission of a redundancy-based PDU set.

Description

Communication method and communication device

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on November 3, 2023, with application number 202311471704.2 and invention name “Communication Method and Communication Device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

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

[0003] To meet the latency requirements of services such as Extended Reality (XR), the current standard proposes a Quality of Service (QoS) processing mechanism for Protocol Data Unit Sets (PDU Sets). This mechanism schedules, processes, and transmits the data packets in the PDU set as a whole to ensure the user's service experience. Accordingly, the standard also mentions a method for processing PDU sets with a certain degree of redundancy for a certain service flow. For example, before sending the corresponding PDU set, the current PDU set will be forward error corrected (FEC). This adds additional redundant data packets to avoid damage to the service experience caused by packet loss during transmission, thereby ensuring the transmission of the PDU set under limited packet loss conditions.

[0004] However, the method of adding FEC redundancy within a PDU set may not be performed at the granularity of the PDU set. For example, the redundancy addition operation (such as XOR operation) within a PDU set is performed on a group of data packets. Therefore, there is no effective solution to ensure integrity transmission within the scope of this group of data packets.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present application provides a communication method and a communication device, which can ensure that the PDU set can achieve integrity transmission of the redundant PDU set under different FEC redundancy addition methods.

[0007] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be performed by an access network device. The access network device here can refer to the access network device itself or a processor, module, chip, or chip system in the access network device that implements the method, and this application does not limit this. The method includes:

[0008] An access network device receives a first protocol data unit (PDU) set, where the first PDU set includes at least two data packet sets, each data packet set includes at least one first data packet and at least one second data packet, and the at least one second data packet is a redundant data packet of the at least one first data packet in the same data set; when a transmission parameter (such as a packet loss rate or a number of packet losses) of each of the data packet sets in the first PDU set is less than a first threshold corresponding to the data packet set, the access network device sends the first PDU set.

[0009] It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, a data packet set can be understood as a group of data packets after a redundancy addition operation is performed during the forward error correction (FEC) coding process, including redundant data packets generated based on the original data packets. Specifically, the redundant data packets can be data packets that have undergone the redundancy addition operation, or they can be retransmitted data packets of the original data packets. Exemplarily, the data packet set can include the original data packets to be subjected to the exclusive OR operation and the redundant data packets generated based on the exclusive OR operation.

[0010] It should be understood that the at least one second data packet being a redundant data packet of the at least one first data packet can be understood as the at least one second data packet being a redundant data packet in the data packet set. Furthermore, the at least one first data packet can be an original data packet or a data packet processed by the application server (e.g., inverted), which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0011] It should be understood that the transmission parameter can be understood as the number or proportion of data packets lost in each data packet set (i.e., the number of packet losses or the packet loss rate) in the process of the access network device receiving the first PDU set, or the number or proportion of data packets that fail to be sent in each data packet set in the process of the access network device sending the first PDU set. Alternatively, the transmission parameter can be understood as the number or proportion of data packets lost in each data packet set in the process of the access network device receiving the first PDU set and the number or proportion of data packets that fail to be sent in each data packet set in the process of the access network device sending the first PDU set (i.e., the number of packet losses or the packet loss rate), that is, the proportion or number of data packets includes the proportion or number corresponding to the sum of the data packets lost in each data packet set in the process of the access network device receiving the first PDU set and the data packets that fail to be sent in each data packet set in the process of the access network device sending the first PDU set, that is, the number or proportion of missing data packets in each data packet set in the process of the access network device transmitting the first PDU set.

[0012] It should be understood that the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific indication method of the first threshold.

[0013] Exemplarily, the first threshold may be indicated in the form of a quantity, and is used to indicate an upper limit value of data packets that are allowed to be discarded in each data packet set during the transmission process.

[0014] Exemplarily, the first threshold can be indicated in the form of redundancy, used to indicate the upper limit of the proportion of data packets allowed to be discarded in each data packet set during transmission, or used to indicate the lower limit of the proportion of data packets that must be guaranteed in each data packet set during transmission.

[0015] Based on the above scheme, the access network device can send the first PDU set when the transmission parameters of each data packet set in the first PDU set are less than the corresponding first threshold, thereby ensuring that the PDU set can achieve integrity transmission of the redundant PDU set under different FEC redundancy addition methods.

[0016] In conjunction with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the transmission parameters of each data packet set in the first PDU set include a packet loss rate or a number of packet losses of the data packet set. It should be understood that the packet loss rate or the number of packet losses of the data packet set can be the number or proportion of data packets lost in the data packet set during the process of the access network device receiving the first PDU set (i.e., the number of packet losses or the packet loss rate), or the number or proportion of data packets that fail to be sent in the data packet set during the process of the access network device sending the first PDU set. Alternatively, the number or proportion of data packets lost in the data packet set during the process of the access network device receiving the first PDU set and the number or proportion of data packets that fail to be sent in the data packet set during the process of the access network device sending the first PDU set (i.e., the number of packet losses or the packet loss rate), i.e., the ratio or number of the sum of the data packets lost in each data packet set during the process of the access network device receiving the first PDU set and the data packets that fail to be sent in each data packet set during the process of the access network device sending the first PDU set, i.e., the number or proportion of missing data packets in each data packet set during the process of the access network device transmitting the first PDU set.

[0017] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the access network device sends the first PDU set, including: the access network device ensures that the transmission parameters of each data packet set in the first PDU set are less than or equal to the corresponding first threshold.

[0018] It should be understood that the access network device can ensure that the transmission parameters of each data packet set in the first PDU set are less than or equal to the corresponding first threshold value when the transmission parameters in each data packet set in the first PDU set are less than or equal to the corresponding first threshold value and greater than the corresponding second threshold value. That is, when the transmission parameters of any data packet set in the first PDU set are less than or equal to the corresponding first threshold value and greater than the corresponding second threshold value, the access network device schedules sufficient network resources for the data packets to be transmitted in the first PDU set, thereby ensuring the complete transmission of the first PDU set. The second threshold value can be 0, that is, when the access network device can ensure that the transmission parameters in each data packet set in the first PDU set are less than or equal to the corresponding first threshold value, it is necessary to ensure the complete transmission of the PDU set, and the transmission parameters in each data packet set in the first PDU set are less than or equal to the corresponding first threshold value.

[0019] In this implementation, the access network device allocates sufficient resources for the data packets to be transmitted of the first PDU set, ensuring that the data packet set to which the data packets to be transmitted of the first PDU set belong can be less than or equal to the corresponding first threshold in the subsequent transmission process, thereby ensuring the complete transmission of the first PDU set.

[0020] Exemplarily, the RAN allocates a first time-frequency resource to the data packets to be transmitted in the first PDU set. This first time-frequency resource is used to ensure that the data packet set to which the data packets to be transmitted in the first PDU set belong can be less than or equal to a corresponding first threshold during subsequent transmission, thereby ensuring complete transmission of the first PDU set. It is easy to understand that the number of data packets that can be carried by the first time-frequency resource is greater than or equal to the number of data packets to be transmitted in the first PDU set. In other words, the RAN ensures that the corresponding transmission parameters of each data packet set in the first PDU set can be less than or equal to the corresponding first threshold during subsequent transmission, thereby ensuring complete transmission of the first PDU set.

[0021] It should be understood that the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific indication method of the second threshold. The specific method can refer to the indication method of the first threshold, which will not be repeated here.

[0022] It should be understood that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific value of the second threshold. Exemplarily, the second threshold is 0, that is, when the access network device finds that packet loss occurs during the transmission of any data packet set in the first PDU set, the first time-frequency resource is allocated to the first PDU set, thereby ensuring the complete transmission of the first PDU set. The number of data packets that can be carried by the first time-frequency resource is greater than or equal to the number of data packets to be transmitted in the first PDU set.

[0023] Based on the above scheme, the access network device can allocate sufficient resources to the first PDU set to ensure that the transmission parameters of each data packet set in the first PDU set are less than or equal to the corresponding first threshold, thereby ensuring that the PDU set can achieve integrity transmission based on redundant PDU sets under different FEC redundancy addition methods.

[0024] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the method also includes: when the packet loss number transmission parameter of at least one of the at least one data packet sets in the first PDU set is greater than the corresponding first threshold, the access network device discards the first PDU set.

[0025] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the access network device discarding the first PDU set includes: the access network device discarding data packets to be transmitted in the first PDU set.

[0026] It should be understood that the data packets to be transmitted in the first PDU set may be one or more, and this application does not limit this.

[0027] It is easy to understand that when the access network device determines that the transmission parameter of any data packet set in the first PDU set is greater than the corresponding first threshold value during the process of receiving the first PDU set, the access network device may discard the data packet in the first PDU set that has been received. When the access network device determines that the transmission parameter of any data packet set in the first PDU set is greater than the corresponding first threshold value during the process of sending the first PDU set, the access network device discards the data packet to be transmitted in the first PDU set.

[0028] Based on the above scheme, the access network device can discard the data packets to be transmitted in the first PDU set when a data packet set with at least one transmission parameter greater than the first threshold appears in the first PDU set, thereby saving transmission resources when the integrity transmission of the PDU set cannot be achieved.

[0029] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the first threshold corresponding to each data packet set in the first PDU set is the same, or the first threshold corresponding to each data packet set in the first PDU set may be different.

[0030] As an example but not limitation, the first PDU set includes three data packet sets, wherein the first thresholds corresponding to data packet set #1 and data packet set #2 are both 10%, and the first threshold corresponding to data packet set #3 is 15%.

[0031] Based on the above solution, the first thresholds corresponding to at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set may be different, thereby improving the flexibility of integrity transmission in the first PDU set.

[0032] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, before the access network device receives the first PDU set, the method also includes: the access network device receives first indication information, and the first indication information is used to instruct the access network device to transmit the first PDU set based on the transmission parameters of each data packet set in the first PDU set and the corresponding first threshold.

[0033] It should be understood that the RAN sending the first PDU set based on the transmission parameters of each data packet set in the first PDU set and the corresponding first threshold can be understood as sending the first PDU set when the transmission parameters of each data packet set in the first PDU set are less than or equal to the corresponding first threshold; or discarding the first PDU set when the transmission parameters of any data packet set in the first PDU set are greater than the corresponding first threshold. Alternatively, when transmitting each data packet set in the first PDU set, it is ensured that the transmission parameters of each data packet set in the first PDU set are less than or equal to the corresponding first threshold.

[0034] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the first threshold corresponding to each data packet set in the first PDU set is included in the first indication information.

[0035] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, before the access network device sends the first PDU set, the method further includes: the access network device determining at least two data packet sets within the first PDU set.

[0036] Specifically, before the access network device sends the first PDU set, or before the access network device discards the first PDU set, the access network device determines at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set.

[0037] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the access network device determines at least two data packet sets within the first PDU set, including: the access network device determines at least two data packet sets within the first PDU set based on a first quantity and a sequence number of each data packet in the first PDU set, where the first quantity is the number of data packets in the data packet set within the first PDU set.

[0038] As an example but not limitation, the sequence number of each data packet in the first PDU set may be a PDU sequence number (SN).

[0039] It should be understood that the first number is the number of data packets in each data packet set except the last data packet set in the first PDU set, that is, the number in each data packet set except the last data packet set in the first PDU set is fixed.

[0040] As an example and not a limitation, PDU set 1 includes 18 data packets and the first number is 5, that is, each data packet set includes 5 data packets, then the data packets with sequence numbers 1-5 are data packet set #1, the data packets with sequence numbers 6-10 are data packet set #2, the data packets with sequence numbers 11-15 are data packet set #3, and the data packets with sequence numbers 16-18 are data packet set #4.

[0041] Based on the above scheme, the access network device can determine the at least two data packet sets according to the number of data packets in the at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set, and then combine the transmission parameters of each data packet set and the corresponding first threshold to achieve the integrity transmission of the first PDU set.

[0042] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the access network device determines at least two data packet sets within the first PDU set, including: the access network device determines at least two data packet sets within the first PDU set based on a second quantity and the sequence number of each data packet in the first PDU set, where the second quantity is the number of data packet sets in the first PDU set.

[0043] Based on the above scheme, the access network device can determine the at least two data packet sets according to the number of at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set, and then combine the transmission parameters of each data packet set and the corresponding first threshold to achieve the integrity transmission of the first PDU set.

[0044] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, before the access network device determines at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set based on the first quantity and the sequence number of at least one data packet in the first PDU set, the method also includes: the access network device receives second indication information, and the second indication information is used to indicate the first quantity, wherein the second indication information comes from the session management network element, or the second indication information comes from the user plane function network element.

[0045] It should be understood that the second indication information can also be used to indicate the aforementioned second quantity or first quantity.

[0046] Based on the above solution, the access network device can determine at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set based on the first quantity or the second quantity and the sequence number of each data packet in the first PDU set in response to the second indication information.

[0047] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the access network device determines at least two data packet sets within the first PDU set, including: the access network device determines at least two data packet sets within the first PDU set based on first information carried by at least one data packet in each data packet set in the first PDU set, and the sequence number of each data packet in the first PDU set, wherein the first information includes a first identifier, and the first identifier is used to indicate the data packet set to which the corresponding data packet belongs.

[0048] It should be understood that the present application does not limit the number of data packets carrying the first information in each data packet set within the first PDU set.

[0049] Exemplarily, the first or last data packet in each data packet set in the first PDU set carries the first information.

[0050] Exemplarily, each data packet in each data packet set in the first PDU set carries the first information.

[0051] It should be understood that the present application does not limit the network element that adds the first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set in the first PDU set. As an example and not a limitation, the first information is added by a user plane network element or the first information is added by an application server.

[0052] It should be understood that when the first and / or last data packet in each data packet set in the first PDU set carries the first information, the access network device also needs to determine at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set in combination with the sequence number of each data packet in the first PDU set.

[0053] Based on the above scheme, the access network device can determine at least two data packet sets within the first PDU set based on the first information carried by at least one data packet in each data packet set in the first PDU set, and then combine the transmission parameters of each data packet set and the corresponding first threshold to achieve integrity transmission of the first PDU set.

[0054] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the first information further includes a first threshold corresponding to a data packet set to which the corresponding data packet belongs.

[0055] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the first information is carried in the user plane General Packet Radio Service Tunneling Protocol (GPRS Tunneling Protocol for User Plane, GTP-U) layer, or the Real-time Transport Protocol (Real-time Transport Protocol, RTP) layer of at least one data packet of the first PDU set.

[0056] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the access network device determines at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set based on the first information carried by at least one data packet in each data packet set in the first PDU set, including: the access network device receives third indication information, and the third indication information is used to indicate the redundant addition method of at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set; the access network device determines at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set, and / or the first threshold corresponding to each data packet set, based on the third indication information and the first information carried by at least one data packet in each data packet set in the first PDU set.

[0057] Based on the above solution, the access network device can determine at least two data packet sets within the first PDU set in response to the indication of the third indication information and based on the first information carried by at least one data packet in each data packet set within the first PDU set. It should be understood that the third indication information instructs the access network device to determine / acquire the first information carried by at least one data packet in each data packet set within the first PDU set, or the access network device determines the first information carried by at least one data packet in each data packet set within the first PDU set based on the third indication information, thereby further determining the at least two data packet sets within the first PDU set.

[0058] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the access network device determines at least two data packet sets within the first PDU set, including: the access network device determines at least two data packet sets within the first PDU set based on second information carried by each data packet in the first PDU set, and the second information is used to determine the at least one first data packet and the at least one second data packet in each of the data packet sets.

[0059] It should be understood that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific location of the second information. As an example, the second information is included in the RTP layer of each data packet, specifically in the RTP packet header or RTP extension header. In another example, the second information is included in the GTP-U layer of each data packet.

[0060] Based on the above scheme, the access network device can determine at least two data packet sets within the first PDU set based on the second information carried by each data packet in the first PDU set, and then combine the transmission parameters of each data packet set and the corresponding first threshold to achieve integrity transmission of the first PDU set.

[0061] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the second information is also used to determine the first threshold corresponding to each data packet set in the first PDU set, and the method also includes: the access network device determines the first threshold corresponding to each data packet set in the first PDU set based on the second information carried by each data packet in the first PDU set.

[0062] In combination with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the access network device determines at least two data packet sets within the first PDU set based on the second information carried by each data packet in the first PDU set, including: the access network device receives third indication information, and the third indication information is used to indicate the redundant addition method of at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set; the access network device determines at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set, and / or the first threshold corresponding to each data packet set, based on the third indication information and the second information carried by each data packet in each data packet set in the first PDU set.

[0063] Based on the above solution, the access network device can determine at least two data packet sets within the first PDU set based on the second information carried by each data packet in the first PDU set in response to the instruction of the third indication information. It should be understood that the third indication information instructs the access network device to determine / obtain the second information carried by each data packet in the first PDU set, or the access network device determines the second information carried by each data packet in the first PDU set based on the third indication information, thereby further determining the at least two data packet sets within the first PDU set.

[0064] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be performed by a user-plane network element. The user-plane network element here can refer to the user-plane network element itself or to a processor, module, chip, or chip system that implements the method in the user-plane network element. This application does not limit this. The method includes:

[0065] The user plane network element receives a first PDU set; the user plane network element adds first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set within the first PDU set, wherein the first PDU set includes at least two data packet sets, each of the data packet sets includes at least one first data packet and at least one second data packet, the at least one second data packet is a redundant data packet of the at least one first data packet, and the first information is used to indicate the data packet set to which the at least one data packet belongs; the user plane device sends the first PDU set.

[0066] Based on the above solution, after receiving the first PDU set, the user-plane network element can add first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set in the first PDU set, thereby assisting the access network device receiving the first PDU set in determining at least two data packet sets within the first PDU set, thereby assisting the access network device in ensuring that the PDU set can achieve integrity transmission based on redundant PDU sets under different FEC redundancy addition methods. That is, the first information is used to determine at least two data packet sets within each data packet set in the first PDU set.

[0067] In conjunction with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, before the user-plane network element receives the first PDU set, the method further includes: the user-plane network element receiving third indication information and / or fourth indication information, the third indication information being used to indicate a redundancy addition method for the at least one first data packet set, and the fourth indication information being used to instruct the user-plane network element to add the first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set; and the user-plane network element adding the first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set within the first PDU set based on the third indication information and / or the fourth indication information. That is, the user-plane network element may add the first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set based on the third indication information; or the user-plane network element may determine at least two data packet sets within the first PDU set based on the third indication information and add the first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set, or the user-plane network element may add the first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set within the first PDU set based on the fourth indication information; or the user-plane network element may determine at least two data packet sets within the first PDU set based on the fourth indication information and add the first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set within the first PDU set. Additionally, the user plane network element determines the first information according to the third indication information and / or the fourth indication information. For a detailed description of the first information, reference may be made to the relevant content of the first aspect, which will not be elaborated here.

[0068] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, before the user-plane network element adds the first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set in the first PDU set, the method also includes: the user-plane device determines at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set based on the second information carried by the data packets in the first PDU set, and the second information is used to determine the at least one first data packet and the at least one second data packet in each of the data packet sets.

[0069] It should be understood that for the specific description of the second information, reference can be made to the relevant content of the first aspect and will not be repeated here.

[0070] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the second information is carried in the real-time communication protocol RTP layer or other layer of at least one data packet in each data set in the first PDU set, which is not limited here.

[0071] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the method also includes: the user-side network element determines a first threshold corresponding to each data packet set in the first PDU set based on the second information indicated in the data packet set in the first PDU set as carried by a data packet, and the first threshold is the upper limit of the data packets allowed to be discarded by the corresponding data packet set or the proportion of the data packets allowed to be discarded.

[0072] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the user plane network element sends the first PDU set, including: when the packet loss rate of each of the data packet sets is less than or equal to the corresponding first threshold, the user plane network element sends the first PDU set; when the packet loss rate of at least one data packet set is greater than the corresponding first threshold, the access network device discards the first PDU set.

[0073] It should be understood that for the specific description of the transmission parameters, please refer to the relevant content of the first aspect and will not be repeated here.

[0074] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the first information in at least one data packet in each data packet set within the first PDU set includes a first identifier, and / or a first threshold corresponding to the data packet set to which the data packet belongs, wherein the first identifier is used to indicate the data packet set to which the corresponding data packet belongs.

[0075] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the user-plane network element adds the first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set within the first PDU set, including: the user-plane network element adds the first information to each data packet in the first PDU set.

[0076] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the first information is carried in the RTP layer of at least one data packet in each data packet set in the first PDU set, or in the user-plane General Packet Radio Tunneling Protocol GTP-U layer.

[0077] On the third aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by an application function. The application function here can refer to the application function itself, or it can refer to the processor, module, chip, or chip system that implements the method in the application function. This application does not limit this.

[0078] The method includes:

[0079] The application function sends first indication information, where the first indication information is used to instruct the access network device to transmit the PDU set based on the transmission parameters of each data packet set in the PDU set and the corresponding first threshold.

[0080] In combination with the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, the first indication information includes the first threshold.

[0081] In combination with the third aspect, in certain implementations of the third aspect, the method further includes: the application function sends a second indication message, the second indication message includes a first quantity, and the first quantity is the number of data packets in each data packet set in the PDU set.

[0082] In combination with the third aspect, in certain implementations of the third aspect, the method further includes: the application function sends third indication information, and the third indication information is used to indicate a redundant addition method for at least two data packet sets in the PDU set.

[0083] In a fourth aspect, a communication method is provided. This method can be executed by a policy control function. The policy control function here can refer to the policy control function itself or to a processor, module, chip, or chip system that implements the method within the policy control function, and this application does not limit this. The method includes:

[0084] The policy control function receives fifth indication information, where the fifth indication information includes a redundancy adding method for at least two data packet sets in each PDU set of the first service;

[0085] The policy control function generates sixth indication information according to the fifth indication information, where the sixth indication information is used to instruct to transmit the PDU set of the first service based on the transmission parameter of each data packet set in each PDU set of the first service and the corresponding first threshold;

[0086] The policy control function sends the fifth indication information.

[0087] In combination with the fourth aspect, in certain implementations of the fourth aspect, the fifth indication information further includes a first threshold corresponding to each data packet set in each PDU set of the first service.

[0088] In combination with the fourth aspect, in certain implementations of the fourth aspect, the fifth indication information further includes a first quantity, where the first quantity is the number of data packets in at least two data packet sets in each PDU set of the first service.

[0089] In combination with the fourth aspect, in certain implementations of the fourth aspect, the fifth indication information also includes a third quantity, which is the upper limit value of the number of packets allowed to be discarded in each of at least two data packet sets in each PDU set of the first service.

[0090] In combination with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the policy control function sends the fifth indication information, including: the policy control function sends the fifth indication information to the session management network element.

[0091] In a fifth aspect, a communication method is provided, which includes: a user-plane network element receives a first PDU set from an application server; the user-plane network element adds first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set within the first PDU set, wherein the first PDU set includes at least two data packet sets, each of the data packet sets includes at least one first data packet and at least one second data packet, the at least one second data packet is a redundant data packet of the at least one first data packet, and the first information is used to indicate the data packet set to which the at least one data packet belongs; the user-plane network element sends the first PDU set to the access network device; the access network device receives the first PDU set.

[0092] In combination with the fifth aspect, in certain implementations of the fifth aspect, the method also includes: when the transmission parameters of each data packet set in the first PDU set are less than the corresponding first threshold, the access network device sends the first PDU set; or, when the transmission parameters of at least one data packet set in the first PDU set are greater than the corresponding first threshold, the access network device discards the first PDU set.

[0093] In combination with the fifth aspect, in certain implementations of the fifth aspect, the method also includes: the session management network element sends a first indication message to the access network device, where the first indication message is used to instruct the access network device to transmit the first PDU set based on the transmission parameters of each data packet set in the first PDU set and the corresponding first threshold; the access network device receives the first indication message.

[0094] In combination with the fifth aspect, in certain implementations of the fifth aspect, before the user plane network element receives the first PDU set from the application server, the method also includes: the session management network element sends third indication information, and / or fourth indication information to the user plane network element, the third indication information being used to indicate a redundant addition method for the at least one first data packet set, and the fourth indication information being used to instruct the user plane network element to add the first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set; the user plane network element receives the third indication information, and / or the fourth indication information.

[0095] In combination with the fifth aspect, in certain implementations of the fifth aspect, the method also includes: the user-side network element adds first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set in the first PDU set based on the third indication information and / or the fourth indication information, and the first information is used to indicate the data packet set to which the at least one data packet belongs; the access network device determines at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set based on the first information carried by at least one data packet in each data packet set in the first PDU set.

[0096] In a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided, which includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit. The transceiver unit is used to receive a first PDU set, where the first PDU set includes at least two data packet sets, each of which includes at least one first data packet and at least one second data packet, and the at least one second data packet is a redundant data packet of the at least one first data packet; the processing unit is used to, when the transmission parameters of each of the data packet sets in the first PDU set are less than the corresponding first threshold, the access network device sends the first PDU set.

[0097] It should be understood that the sixth aspect is an implementation method on the device side corresponding to the first aspect. The supplement, explanation and beneficial effects of the first aspect are also applicable to the sixth aspect and will not be repeated here.

[0098] In the seventh aspect, a communication device is provided, which includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit, the transceiver unit being used to receive a first PDU set; the processing unit being used to add first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set within the first PDU set, wherein the first PDU set includes at least two data packet sets, each of the data packet sets including at least one first data packet and at least one second data packet, the at least one second data packet being a redundant data packet of the at least one first data packet, and the first information being used to indicate the data packet set to which the at least one data packet belongs; the transceiver unit is also used to send the first PDU set.

[0099] It should be understood that the seventh aspect is an implementation method on the device side corresponding to the second aspect. The supplement, explanation and beneficial effects of the second aspect are also applicable to the fifth aspect and will not be repeated here.

[0100] In the eighth aspect, a communication device is provided, which includes a transceiver unit, which is used to send first indication information, and the first indication information is used to instruct the access network device to transmit the PDU set based on the transmission parameters of each data packet set in the PDU set and the corresponding first threshold.

[0101] It should be understood that the eighth aspect is an implementation method on the device side corresponding to the third aspect. The supplement, explanation and beneficial effects of the third aspect are also applicable to the sixth aspect and will not be repeated here.

[0102] In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a communications device, comprising a processor configured to implement the method described in any one of the first to fifth aspects, or any one of the implementations of the first to fifth aspects. The processor is coupled to a memory configured to store instructions and data. When the processor executes the instructions stored in the memory, the method described in any one of the first to fifth aspects, or any one of the implementations of the first to fifth aspects, can be implemented.

[0103] Optionally, the communication device may further include a memory. Optionally, the memory may be coupled to the processor. Optionally, the communication device may further include a communication interface, which is used for the device to communicate with other devices. Exemplarily, the communication interface may be a transceiver, hardware circuit, bus, module, pin, or other type of communication interface.

[0104] In one example, the communication device may be an access network device, or may be a device, module, chip, etc. provided in the access network device, or may be a device that can be used in conjunction with the access network device.

[0105] In another example, the communication device may be a user plane network element, or a device, module, chip, etc. provided in the user plane network element, or a device that can be used in conjunction with the user plane network element.

[0106] In another example, the communication device may be an application function, or may be a device, module, chip, etc. provided in the application function, or may be a device that can be used in conjunction with the application function.

[0107] In the tenth aspect, the present application provides a communication system, including: an access network device for executing the method described in the first aspect or any implementation of the first aspect; a user-plane network element for executing the method described in the second aspect or any implementation of the second aspect; an application function for executing the method described in the third aspect or any implementation of the third aspect; and a policy control function for executing the method described in the fourth aspect or any implementation of the fourth aspect.

[0108] In the eleventh aspect, the present application provides a communication system, including the access network equipment as described in the sixth aspect or any implementation of the sixth aspect, the user plane network element as described in the seventh aspect or any implementation of the seventh aspect, and the application function as described in the eighth aspect or any implementation of the eighth aspect.

[0109] In the twelfth aspect, the present application also provides a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method described in any one of the implementations of the first to fifth aspects above, or the first to fifth aspects.

[0110] In the thirteenth aspect, the present application also provides a computer program product, comprising instructions, which, when executed on a computer, enable the computer to execute the method described in any one of the above-mentioned aspects 1 to 5, or the implementation of aspects 1 to 5.

[0111] In the fourteenth aspect, the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program or instructions. When the computer program or instructions are run on a computer, the computer executes the method described in any one of the implementations of the first to fifth aspects above, or the first to fifth aspects.

[0112] In the fifteenth aspect, the present application also provides a chip, which is used to read the computer program stored in the memory and execute the method described in any implementation of the above-mentioned first to fifth aspects, or the first to fifth aspects; or, the chip includes a method for executing the above-mentioned first to fifth aspects, or the method described in any implementation of the first to fifth aspects.

[0113] In a sixteenth aspect, the present application further provides a chip system, which includes a processor for supporting a device to implement the method described in any of the above-mentioned aspects 1 to 5, or any of the implementations of aspects 1 to 5. In one possible design, the chip system also includes a memory for storing programs and data necessary for the device. The chip system can be composed of a chip, or it can include a chip and other discrete devices. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0114] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture;

[0115] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of an XOR process;

[0116] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a communication method 300 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0117] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of an RTP layer header of a data packet;

[0118] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a specific implementation process 500 of the communication method 300 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0119] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of a specific implementation process 600 of the communication method 300 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0120] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of a specific implementation process 700 of the communication method 300 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0121] FIG8 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 1000 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0122] FIG9 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 2000 provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0123] FIG10 is a schematic structural diagram of a chip system 3000 provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0124] The technical solution in this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0125] To facilitate understanding, a communication system to which the embodiments of the present application may be applied is first described.

[0126] The embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems. For example: long term evolution (LTE) system, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, LTE time division duplex (TDD) system, public land mobile network (PLMN), fifth generation (5G) system, sixth generation (6G) system or future communication system. The 5G system in the present application includes a non-standalone (NSA) 5G mobile communication system or a standalone (SA) 5G mobile communication system. The embodiments of the present application can also be applied to non-terrestrial network (NTN) communication systems such as satellite communication systems. The embodiments of the present application can also be applied to device-to-device (D2D) communication systems, sidelink (SL) communication systems, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication systems, machine type communication (MTC) systems, Internet of Things (IoT) communication systems, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication systems, uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) communication systems, or other communication systems.

[0127] As an example, FIG1 shows a schematic diagram of a network architecture.

[0128] As shown in Figure 1, the network architecture takes the 5G system (5GS) as an example. The network architecture can include three parts: user equipment (UE), data network (DN), and operator network. The operator network may include one or more of the following network elements: (radio) access network (R)AN) equipment, user plane function (UPF) network element, authentication server function (AUSF) network element, access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, session management function (SMF) network element, service communication proxy (SCP) network element, network data analytics function (NWDAF) network element, network exposure function (NEF) network element, network repository function (NRF) network element, policy control function (PCF) network element, unified data management (UDM) network element, and application function (AF) network element. In the above-mentioned operator network, the part other than the RAN part can be called the core network part.

[0129] In this application, user equipment, (wireless) access network equipment, UPF network element, AUSF network element, AMF network element, SMF network element, SCP network element, NWDAF network element, NEF network element, NRF network element, PCF network element, UDM network element, and AF network element are respectively referred to as UE, (R)AN, UPF, AUSF, UDR, AMF, SMF, SCP, NWDAF, NEF, NRF, PCF, UDM, and AF.

[0130] The following briefly describes the network elements involved in FIG1 .

[0131] 1.UE

[0132] The UE in this application may also be referred to as a terminal, user, access terminal, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, terminal device, wireless communication device, user agent or user device, etc. For the sake of convenience of description, it is collectively referred to as a terminal below.

[0133] A terminal is a device that can access a network. Terminals and (R)ANs can communicate with each other using an air interface technology (such as NR or LTE). Terminals can also communicate with each other using an air interface technology (such as NR or LTE). A terminal can be a mobile phone, tablet, computer with wireless transceiver capabilities, virtual reality (VR) terminal, augmented reality (AR) terminal, satellite communication terminal, integrated access and backhaul (IAB) system terminal, WiFi communication system terminal, industrial control terminal, self-driving terminal, remote medical terminal, smart grid terminal, transportation safety terminal, smart city terminal, smart home terminal, etc.

[0134] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the UE.

[0135] 2. (R)AN

[0136] The (R)AN in this application may be a device used to communicate with a terminal, or may be a device that connects a terminal to a wireless network.

[0137] The (R)AN can be a node in a radio access network. The (R)AN can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a home base station (e.g., home evolved NodeB, or home NodeB, HNB), a Wi-Fi access point (AP), a mobile switching center, a next-generation NodeB (gNB) in a 5G mobile communication system, access network equipment in an open radio access network (O-RAN or open RAN), a next-generation base station in a sixth-generation (6G) mobile communication system, or a base station in a future mobile communication system. A network device can also be a module or unit that performs some of the functions of a base station, such as a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a remote radio unit (RRU), or a baseband unit (BBU). The (R)AN can also function as a base station in D2D, V2X, M2M, and IoT communication systems. It can also be a network device within an NTN, meaning it can be deployed on a high-altitude platform or satellite. It can be a macro base station, a micro base station, an indoor station, a relay node, or a donor node.

[0138] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology, device form and name adopted by the (R)AN. For the convenience of description, the (R)AN will be collectively referred to as the access network device below.

[0139] 3. UPF

[0140] The main functions of UPF are packet routing and forwarding, mobility anchor, uplink classifier to support routing service flows to data networks, branch point to support multi-homed PDU sessions, etc.

[0141] 4. DN

[0142] DN is mainly used for operator networks that provide data services to terminals, such as the Internet, third-party service networks, or IP Multimedia Service (IMS) networks.

[0143] 5. AUSF

[0144] The main function of AUSF is to provide authentication services and support access authentication for both the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and non-3GPP protocols.

[0145] 6. AMF

[0146] The main functions of AMF include managing user registration, reachability detection, SMF node selection, and mobile state transition management.

[0147] 7. SMF

[0148] The main functions of SMF are to control the establishment, modification and deletion of sessions, the selection of user plane nodes, etc.

[0149] 8. SCP

[0150] SCP is mainly responsible for the indirect communication between network elements and corresponding network element services.

[0151] 9. NWDAF

[0152] The main function of NWDAF is to provide network data collection and analysis capabilities based on technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence.

[0153] 10. NEF

[0154] NEF is mainly used to securely open the services and capabilities provided by 3GPP network functions and support secure interaction between 3GPP networks and third-party applications.

[0155] 11. NRF

[0156] NRF is mainly used to store description information of network function entities and the services they provide.

[0157] 12. PCF

[0158] PCF is mainly responsible for policy control decisions, policy rules for providing control plane functions, and flow-based charging control functions.

[0159] 13. UDM

[0160] UDM is mainly responsible for the contract data management of the terminal, including the storage and management of the terminal identification, terminal access authorization, etc.

[0161] 14. AF

[0162] The AF primarily supports interaction with the 3GPP core network to provide services, such as influencing data routing decisions, policy control functions, or providing third-party services to the network. The AF can be deployed in the operator's network itself or a third-party AF.

[0163] In the network architecture shown in Figure 1, each network element can communicate with each other through an interface. The interface between each network element can be a point-to-point interface or a service-oriented interface, which is not limited in this application.

[0164] It should be understood that the network architecture shown above is only an exemplary illustration, and the network architecture applicable to the embodiments of the present application is not limited to this. Any network architecture that can realize the functions of the above-mentioned network elements is applicable to the embodiments of the present application.

[0165] It should also be understood that the functions or network elements such as AMF, SMF, UPF, PCF, UDM, AUSF, SCP, NWDAF, NEF, NRF, AF shown in Figure 1 can be understood as network elements for implementing different functions, for example, they can be combined into network slices as needed. These network elements can be independent devices, or they can be integrated into the same device to implement different functions, or they can be network elements in hardware devices, or they can be software functions running on dedicated hardware, or they can be virtualized functions instantiated on a platform (for example, a cloud platform). This application does not limit the specific form of the above network elements.

[0166] It should also be understood that the above naming is defined only to facilitate the distinction between different functions and should not constitute any limitation to this application. This application does not exclude the possibility of adopting other naming in 6G networks and other future networks. For example, in a 6G network, some or all of the above network elements may continue to use the terminology used in 5G, or may adopt other names.

[0167] To facilitate understanding of the solutions of the embodiments of the present application, relevant concepts are explained.

[0168] 1. Quality of Service flow (QoS flow)

[0169] In 5GS, when a UE needs to communicate with a service, it establishes a protocol data unit (PDU) session. The service flow carried in the PDU session is the corresponding QoS flow. Specifically, the UE obtains an Internet Protocol (IP) address through the PDU session to interact with the external service server and achieve service communication. Based on service flow description information, such as the SDF template, 5GS maps the corresponding service to different QoS flows and performs the corresponding QoS processing.

[0170] 2. GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) Tunneling Protocol-User Plane (GTP-U)

[0171] During the PDU session establishment process, the connection between RAN and UPF will use the GTP-U tunnel, that is, the data from / to the UE side will be added to the tunnel for transmission. The GTP-U tunnel is PDU session granularity, that is, each PDU session will establish a GTP-U tunnel between RAN and UPF.

[0172] 3. QoS processing based on the granularity of PDU set

[0173] Existing Quality of Service (QoS) mechanisms guarantee services at the packet level, using, for example, QoS parameters such as the packet error rate (PER) and packet delay budget (PDB). Data packets for a service are mapped to the same QoS flow for transmission. Data packets within the same QoS flow are individually processed and transmitted based on the same QoS parameters. In other words, all packets within the same QoS flow receive the same, uniform treatment during transmission.

[0174] Among them, PDB is used to identify the maximum delay of transmitting data packets in the wireless communication network, that is, the wireless communication network needs to transmit the data packet to the terminal within the PDB time. The PDB can include the core network data packet delay budget (core network PDB, CN-PDB) (that is, the transmission delay budget between UPF and access network equipment) and the access network data packet delay budget (access network PDB, AN-PDB) (that is, the transmission delay budget between access network equipment and terminal). It should be noted that the PDB mentioned in the embodiments of the present application can be a complete PDB, or an AN-PDB or CN-PDB, which is not limited here. If the transmission time of a data packet exceeds its corresponding PDB, the data packet may be discarded, and the specific operation depends on the implementation.

[0175] In the research of extended reality and media services (XRM), real-time media services, such as the currently emerging virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), or cloud gaming, have extremely stringent requirements for end-to-end latency. Furthermore, the granularity of data processing during encoding and transmission is no longer just packets. For example, when the upper service layer (e.g., the media layer) on the sending end encodes service data, it often encodes it at a granularity such as media frames or slices, meaning that media frames or slices can be encoded independently. Simultaneously, the receiving end decodes and displays the received service data at the same granularity, such as media frames or slices. These data units, such as media frames or slices, often contain multiple data packets.

[0176] In order to represent the above-mentioned data units such as media frames or fragments, the standard calls them PDU sets (PDU sets), thereby supporting the data transmission of granularity such as media frames or fragments in the upper business layer. PDU set is the basic data unit that the upper business layer (i.e., the application layer) can process independently. PDU set can also be called PDU set, PDU set, etc. For the convenience of description, it is collectively referred to as PDU set below. For a PDU set, when one or some data packets in the PDU set are lost or damaged, the entire PDU set may be difficult to decode and display correctly.

[0177] Therefore, the current standard proposes a QoS processing mechanism at the PDU set granularity, which provides the loss rate and latency requirements at the PDU set granularity. 5GS identifies the relationship between different data packets and PDU sets, and schedules, processes, and transmits all data packets in the PDU set as a whole to ensure the user's service experience. Accordingly, the standard also mentions a PDU set processing method with a certain degree of redundancy for a certain service flow, which ensures the transmission of the PDU set under limited packet loss conditions. In order to determine which PDU packets in the QoS flow belong to the same PDU set, 5GC will add PDU set information to the GTP-U layer of the downlink data packet to help the RAN side identify the PDU set. Specifically, the PDU set information can include the PDU set sequence number, the indication of the last PDU packet in the PDU set, the size of the PDU set, the importance of the PDU set, and the sequence number of each PDU packet in the PDU set.

[0178] It should be understood that when a packet transmission fails, it can be considered that the delay required for transmission between the RAN and the UE exceeds the packet delay budget for the packet, in which case the packet is also considered failed. Specifically, the RLC layer fails to send the packet to the MAC layer for transmission. If the packet is still in the RLC buffer after the PDB time, it is considered that the packet has exceeded the PDB and has not been scheduled for transmission, and the packet is lost. Alternatively, a feedback mechanism exists between the RAN and the UE, whereby the RAN can determine whether the packet is successfully transmitted based on the UE's feedback. Specifically, when a packet is sent to the MAC layer for transmission, the MAC layer determines whether the data is ultimately sent successfully based on HARQ feedback. The MAC layer needs to maintain the mapping between the packet and the MAC transmission data block (the MAC layer may split and reassemble the upper-layer packet during transmission to ensure it is suitable for channel transmission) and provide feedback to the upper-layer RLC or PDCP to ensure that the upper-layer RAN is aware of the per-packet packet loss situation when scheduling transmission. The specific implementation ultimately depends on the base station product.

[0179] 4. Forward Error Correction (FEC) Redundancy Addition Scheme

[0180] To improve transmission reliability, the sender at the service layer / application layer performs FEC on the current PDU set before sending the corresponding PDU set. This adds additional redundant data packets to prevent service experience degradation caused by packet loss during transmission. The specific method of adding FEC redundancy depends on the application layer FEC algorithm, for example:

[0181] Redundant packets: This method improves transmission reliability by transmitting a portion of the data packets. Although this method offers high reliability, it is also extremely inefficient and significantly increases transmission pressure.

[0182] Unequal importance protection: Different protection levels are assigned based on the importance of the data. Redundant data packets can be generated based on XOR operations. If a data packet is lost, it can be restored by combining the redundant data packets with other data packets. However, if multiple data packets are lost during the redundant addition operation, recovery will be impossible.

[0183] Flexible FEC: Dynamically protects source data based on row / column XOR processing, generating redundant data packets for corresponding rows and columns. Similarly, after the redundancy addition operation, if multiple packets are lost during the redundancy addition operation, recovery may become impossible.

[0184] Fountain Code (Raptor / RaptorQ): Rely on the Raptor algorithm to generate redundant data packets. Its characteristic is that even if a certain percentage of packets are discarded, they can still be recovered.

[0185] Reed-Solomon FEC: Relies on the Reed-Solomon algorithm to generate repair packets, and can also achieve recovery even if a certain percentage of packets are discarded.

[0186] Generally speaking, the basic unit for performing FEC operations is a source block or symbol, which can specifically be multiple data packets. FEC redundancy addition processing is performed within one basic unit. As shown in Figure 2, A and B can be a basic unit, where A and B are subjected to redundancy addition processing (such as an XOR operation) to obtain redundant data C. Then, when A or B is discarded, the discarded data packet can be recovered through C; however, if both A and B data packets are lost, A and B cannot be recovered by relying on C.

[0187] Currently, one approach to QoS at the granularity of a PDU set with a certain redundancy within a service flow is to provide transmission guarantees of the same redundancy within the current service flow, and have a third-party AF send the redundancy ratio of the corresponding service flow to the network side through interaction with the core network. Subsequently, for the integrity transmission of this PDU set using FEC, the core network and the network side are required to ensure that a certain number of PDU data packets in the PDU set can be correctly transmitted based on the redundancy ratio when transmitting the PDU set, that is, a certain number of PDU data packets can be allowed to fail in transmission.

[0188] In another approach, during data transmission, the core network can determine the redundancy ratio of each PDU set based on the redundant information carried in the downlink data, and notify the RAN side of the corresponding redundancy ratio at the GTP-U layer of the downlink data packet, ensuring that the RAN side can provide transmission guarantee based on the redundancy ratio of the PDU set, that is, ensuring that a certain number of PDU data packets in the PDU set can be transmitted correctly.

[0189] However, depending on different FEC implementation algorithms, the way to add FEC redundancy within a PDU set may not be performed at the granularity of the PDU set. For example, if the redundancy addition operation within the PDU set is performed on one or more data packets, a certain proportion of random packet loss can only be performed within the range of a group of data packets.

[0190] As an example and not a limitation, the PDU set includes 40 data packets, and 10 data packets are used as a group to perform an XOR operation to generate 2 redundant data packets. During the transmission process, it is only necessary to ensure that a certain proportion of the 12 data packets in each group (i.e., 10 original data packets and 2 redundant data packets) are successfully transmitted.

[0191] Therefore, how to identify the association between the redundant packets in the PDU set and their corresponding original data packets so as to determine a smaller redundant processing unit and perform corresponding processing is an urgent problem to be solved.

[0192] In view of this, the present application provides a communication method and a communication device, which, for the FEC implementation algorithm in the XR service, determines a group processing mechanism within the PDU Set that can perform arbitrary data packet discarding, thereby achieving integrity transmission of the PDU Set.

[0193] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, the following points are explained before introducing the embodiments of the present application.

[0194] In this application, "used to indicate" or "indicate" can include direct indication and indirect indication, or "used to indicate" or "indicate" can indicate explicitly and / or implicitly. For example, when describing that a certain information is used to indicate information I, it can include that the information directly indicates I or indirectly indicates I, but it does not mean that the information necessarily carries I. For another example, implicit indication can be based on the location and / or resources used for transmission; explicit indication can be based on one or more parameters, and / or one or more indexes, and / or one or more bit patterns represented by it.

[0195] The definitions of many characteristics listed in this application are only used to explain the functions of the characteristics by way of example. For details, please refer to the prior art.

[0196] In the embodiments shown below, the first, second, third, fourth, and various numbers are only used for the convenience of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. For example, they are used to distinguish different fields, different information, etc.

[0197] "Pre-definition" can be achieved by pre-storing corresponding codes, tables, or other methods that can be used to indicate relevant information in the device. This application does not limit the specific implementation method. Here, "storage" can mean storing in one or more memories. The type of memory can be any form of storage medium, which is not limited by this application.

[0198] The “protocol” involved in the embodiments of the present application may refer to a standard protocol in the field of communications, for example, it may include a long term evolution (LTE) protocol, a new radio (NR) protocol, and related protocols used in future communication systems, which are not limited in this application.

[0199] This application will present various aspects, embodiments, or features around systems including multiple devices, components, modules, etc. It should be understood and appreciated that each system may include additional devices, components, modules, etc., and / or may not include all of the devices, components, modules, etc. discussed in conjunction with the figures. Furthermore, combinations of these aspects may also be used.

[0200] In the embodiments of this application, words such as "exemplary," "for example," "illustratively," and "as another example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described as an "exemplary" in this application should not be construed as being preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of the word "exemplary" is intended to present concepts in a concrete manner.

[0201] The terms "include", "comprising", "having" and variations thereof mean "including but not limited to", unless specifically emphasized otherwise.

[0202] "At least one" means one or more, and "more" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following items" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single items or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b and c can mean: a, or b, or c, or a and b, or a and c, or b and c, or a, b and c. Where a, b and c can be single or multiple, respectively.

[0203] In the embodiments of the present application, the descriptions of network element A sending a message, information or data to network element B, and network element B receiving a message, information or data from network element A are intended to illustrate to which network element the message, information or data is to be sent, but do not limit whether they are sent directly or indirectly via other network elements.

[0204] In the embodiments of the present application, descriptions such as "when...", "in the case of...", "if" and "if" all mean that the device will perform corresponding processing under certain objective circumstances. It does not limit the time, nor does it require the device to perform judgment actions when implemented, nor does it mean that there are other limitations.

[0205] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a communication method 300 provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in the figure, the method 300 includes the following steps:

[0206] S310: The application server sends a first PDU set to the UPF, and the UPF receives the first PDU set. The first PDU set includes at least two data packet sets, each of which includes at least one first data packet and at least one second data packet, and the at least one second data packet is a redundant data packet of the at least one first data packet.

[0207] It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, a data packet set can be understood as a group of data packets after a redundancy addition operation is performed during the FEC process. The data packet set includes redundant data packets. Specifically, the redundant data packets can be data packets that have undergone the redundancy addition operation or retransmitted data packets of the original data packets. Exemplarily, the data packet set can include the original data packets that have undergone an XOR operation and redundant data packets generated based on the XOR operation.

[0208] It should be understood that the at least one second data packet is a redundant data packet of the at least one first data packet, and it can also be understood that the at least one second data packet is a redundant data packet in the data packet set. The redundant data packet can be a data packet that has undergone a redundancy addition operation, or it can be a retransmitted data packet of the original data packet. Furthermore, the at least one first data packet can be the original data packet, or it can be a data packet processed by the application server (e.g., negated), which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0209] S320, UPF sends the first PDU set to RAN, and correspondingly, RAN receives the first PDU set.

[0210] Specifically, before the UPF sends the first PDU set to the RAN, the UPF determines that the downlink data packets belong to the same PDU set and adds PDU set information to the GTP-U layer of the downlink data packets. The PDU set information includes at least one of the following: a PDU set sequence number, an indication of the last PDU packet in the PDU set, a PDU set importance, an order of PDUs in the PDU set, and / or a PDU set size.

[0211] Optionally, before step S320, the method 300 further includes the following steps:

[0212] S315, UPF adds first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set within the first PDU set, where the first information is used to indicate the data packet set to which the corresponding data packet belongs.

[0213] The first information added to the data packet includes at least one of a first identifier and a first threshold, wherein the first identifier is an identifier of the data packet set to which the data packet belongs. That is, the first identifier is used to identify the data packet set described by the data packet or is used by the access network device to determine at least two data packet sets within the first PDU set based on the first identifier. The first threshold is a redundancy threshold that the data packet set to which the data packet belongs needs to meet during transmission, that is, the packet loss rate or number of packet losses of the data packet set described by the data packet during transmission needs to be lower than or equal to the redundancy threshold.

[0214] It should be understood that the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific indication method of the first threshold.

[0215] Exemplarily, the first threshold may be indicated in the form of a quantity, and is used to indicate an upper limit value of data packets that are allowed to be discarded in each data packet set during the transmission process.

[0216] It should be understood that the discarded data packets may be data packets lost when receiving the first PDU set, or data packets that fail to be sent when sending the first PDU set, or data packets that include both data packets lost when receiving and data packets that fail to be sent.

[0217] Exemplarily, the first threshold can be indicated in the form of redundancy, used to indicate the upper limit of the proportion of data packets allowed to be discarded for each data packet set during the transmission process, or the lower limit of the proportion of data packets that must be guaranteed to be transmitted for each data packet set during the transmission process, or the lower limit of the proportion of data packets that must be guaranteed to be successfully transmitted for each data packet set during the transmission process, which is not limited here.

[0218] It should be understood that the first threshold corresponding to each data packet set in the first PDU set may be the same or different, and this is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. The first threshold may be sent to the UPF by any one of the AF, SMF, and PCF, or may be locally configured by the UPF, or may be determined by the UPF based on relevant information in the data packets in the first PDU set. The specific method will be described in detail later and will not be repeated here.

[0219] As an example but not limitation, the first PDU set includes three data packet sets, wherein the first thresholds corresponding to data packet set #1 and data packet set #2 are both 10%, and the first threshold corresponding to data packet set #3 is 15%.

[0220] Exemplarily, the first identifier may be Set#1, Set#2, Set#3, ..., or may be a data packet set start indication and / or a data packet set end indication, which is not limited here.

[0221] It is easy to understand that before adding the first information, the UPF needs to determine the first threshold corresponding to at least two data packet sets and / or each data packet set in the first PDU set.

[0222] First, the specific method for the UPF to determine at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set is described.

[0223] In one possible implementation, how the UPF determines the at least two data packet sets within the PDU set depends on the UPF implementation.

[0224] In one possible implementation, the UPF determines the at least two data packet sets based on the first quantity or the second quantity and the data packet sequence number (e.g., PDU SN) in the received downlink data packet. The first quantity is the number of data packets in the data packet set. Generally speaking, in the same PDU set, except for the last data packet set, the number of data packets in other data packet sets in the PDU set is the same. The second quantity is the number of data packet sets included in the first PDU set.

[0225] As an example and not a limitation, PDU set 1 includes 20 data packets and the first number is 5, that is, each data packet set includes 5 data packets, then the data packets with sequence numbers 1-5 are data packet set #1, the data packets with sequence numbers 6-10 are data packet set #2, the data packets with sequence numbers 11-15 are data packet set #3, and the data packets with sequence numbers 16-20 are data packet set #4.

[0226] As an example and not a limitation, PDU set 1 includes 18 data packets and the first number is 5, that is, each data packet set includes 5 data packets, then the data packets with sequence numbers 1-5 are data packet set #1, the data packets with sequence numbers 6-10 are data packet set #2, the data packets with sequence numbers 11-15 are data packet set #3, and the data packets with sequence numbers 16-18 are data packet set #4.

[0227] As an example and not a limitation, PDU set 2 includes 20 data packets and the second number is 4, that is, PDU set 2 includes 4 data packet sets, then the data packets with sequence numbers 1-5 are data packet set #1, the data packets with sequence numbers 6-10 are data packet set #2, the data packets with sequence numbers 11-15 are data packet set #3, and the data packets with sequence numbers 16-20 are data packet set #4.

[0228] It should be understood that the above-mentioned UPF process of determining at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set is performed after the UPF determines the PDU sequence number within the PDU set. Exemplarily, the UPF determines the PDU packet set sequence number within the PDU set based on the sequence number of the RTP packet header; or the UPF determines the PDU packet sequence number within the PDU set based on the sequence number of the PDU packet within the PDU set in the RTP packet extension header.

[0229] It should be understood that the first number or the second number may be locally configured by the UPF, or the first number or the second number may be sent to the UPF by the SMF, PCF, or AF, or preconfigured by the SMF or PCF. As an example and not a limitation, in step S310, the UPF receives second indication information from the SMF, where the second indication information is used to indicate the first number or the second number, i.e., the second indication information is used by the UPF to determine at least two data packet sets in the PDU set.

[0230] In another possible implementation, the UPF determines at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set based on second information in at least one data packet in the first PDU set.

[0231] The second information is used to determine at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set, that is, the UPF determines at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set based on the second information in at least one data packet in the first PDU set.

[0232] Alternatively, the UPF may determine at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set based on the second information in each data packet in the first PDU set, that is, the second information may be carried in the data packets in the PDU set.

[0233] Additionally, the second information is further used to indicate at least one first data packet and at least one second data packet in each data packet set, that is, the UPF can determine at least one first data packet and at least one second data packet in each data packet set based on the second information. Specifically, the UPF can determine at least two data packet sets in the PDU set and at least one first data packet and at least one second data packet in each data packet set based on the second information.

[0234] It should be understood that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific location of the second information. As an example, the second information is included in the RTP layer of each data packet, specifically in the RTP packet header or RTP extension header. In another example, the second information is included in the GTP-U layer of each data packet. The following description uses the second information in the RTP layer as an example.

[0235] It should be understood that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the triggering method for the UPF to detect the second information carried by each data packet.

[0236] As an example and not a limitation, the UPF can detect the second information carried by each downlink data packet on its own after receiving the downlink data packet.

[0237] As an example and not a limitation, the UPF may receive third indication information from the session management network element SMF side, where the third indication information is used to instruct the UPF to determine at least two data packet sets within the PDU set based on the second information carried by each data packet after the downlink data packet. The third indication information can also be used to indicate the FEC redundancy addition scheme adopted by the current service flow, that is, the 5G system (5G system, 5GS), such as the UPF, can determine at least two data packet sets within the PDU set according to the FEC redundancy addition scheme. Additionally, the UPF can determine at least one first data packet and at least one second data packet of each data packet set according to the FEC redundancy addition scheme.

[0238] For example, if the third indication information is used to indicate that the FEC redundancy addition scheme currently adopted by the business flow is flexible FEC, or the FEC redundancy addition scheme adopted by the business flow complies with RFC 8672, then the UPF will detect the second information based on the RTP data packet format corresponding to the flexible FEC or RFC 8672, that is, determine at least two data packet sets in the PDU set based on the second information carried in the RTP data packet, where RFC8672 is the standard protocol for flexible FEC.

[0239] Additionally, the UPF accordingly determines the first information corresponding to the data packet.

[0240] Exemplarily, when the third indication information indicates that the FEC redundancy addition scheme adopted by the service flow corresponding to the first PDU set is flexible FEC, the UPF can determine the first information corresponding to the data packet based on the FEC header under the flexible FEC scheme in the RTP layer of the data packet.

[0241] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of an RTP layer header of a data packet.

[0242] As shown in (a) of Figure 4, in the FEC header, R=0, F=0 indicates that a mask is used for identification, i.e., the data packet protected by the current redundant data packet is dynamically represented by the information in the data packet header; R=0, F=1 indicates that a row / column XOR operation is used for processing; R=1, F=0 indicates that a retransmission is identified, i.e., the current data packet is a retransmission of the target data packet; and R=1, F=1 is currently reserved for future use.

[0243] When R = 0 and F = 1, as shown in (b) of Figure 4 , the number of rows L and columns D will be included. SN base_i refers to the sequence number of the first packet in the packet set. If L = 1 and D = 5, then an XOR operation is performed on every five packets to generate one redundant packet. Thus, every six packets constitute a packet set, and the number of packets that can be discarded within a packet set is one (or X = 16.67%), meaning the first threshold is 1 or 16.67%. In this implementation, the UPF can simultaneously determine the first threshold corresponding to at least two packet sets and / or each packet set in the first PDU set based on the second information, which in this example is R / F / L / D and SN base i.

[0244] It should be understood that the above-mentioned third indication information can be sent to UPF by any one of SMF, PCF, and AF, and this embodiment of the present application is not limited to this.

[0245] Based on the above method, the UPF can determine at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set. The specific method in which the UPF determines the first threshold corresponding to each data packet set is described below.

[0246] In a possible implementation, before receiving the downlink data packet, the UPF receives configuration information from the SMF or AF, and the configuration information also includes the first threshold.

[0247] In another possible implementation, the UPF may determine the first threshold corresponding to each data packet in the first PDU set based on the second information.

[0248] In another possible implementation, the local configuration of the UPF includes a first threshold value for the service corresponding to the first PDU set. In this implementation, the first threshold value corresponding to each data packet set in the first PDU set is the same.

[0249] Furthermore, after determining the first information corresponding to the data packet, the UPF adds the first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set in each PDU set.

[0250] It should be understood that the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific number of first information added by the UPF in each data packet set.

[0251] Exemplarily, the UPF adds the first information to each data packet in each data packet set, and the first information is used to identify the data packet set to which the data packet belongs.

[0252] Exemplarily, the UPF adds the first information to the first data packet or the last data packet in each data packet set. In this case, the first information can identify the first packet and / or the last packet in the data packet set to which the current data packet belongs.

[0253] It should be understood that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific manner in which the UPF adds the first information to the data packet. In one example, the UPF adds the first information at the GTP-U layer of the data packet, i.e., at the GTP-U layer of the downlink data packet. In another example, the UPF adds the first information at the RTP layer of the data packet, i.e., in the RTP layer header or RTP layer extension header of the downlink data packet.

[0254] It should be understood that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the triggering conditions for the UPF to add the first information in the data packet.

[0255] Exemplarily, the UPF adds the first information to the data packet based on the third indication information or the fourth indication information, wherein the fourth indication information is used to instruct the UPF to add the first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set.

[0256] It should be understood that the fourth indication information will be received before the UPF receives the downlink data packet. The fourth indication information comes from the SMF or PCF or AF, and this embodiment of the present application does not limit this.

[0257] Exemplarily, the UPF adds the first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set based on local configuration.

[0258] In one possible implementation, the first information is identical to the second information. Specifically, the UPF can extract the second information and add it to the GTP-U layer of the data packet. That is, in this implementation, the second information is used as the first information, rather than the first identifier and the first threshold. Correspondingly, the RAN side determines at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set based on the second information.

[0259] S330: The RAN determines whether to send the first PDU set according to the transmission parameters of the data packet set in the first PDU set and the corresponding first threshold.

[0260] It should be understood that before performing the above step S330 , the RAN needs to first determine at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set and a first threshold corresponding to each data packet set.

[0261] It should be understood that the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific manner in which the RAN determines the at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set.

[0262] In a possible implementation, the RAN may determine at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set based on the first quantity or the second quantity. For the specific method, please refer to the relevant description of step S320 and will not be described in detail here.

[0263] Exemplarily, the RAN determines at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set based on the PDU sequence number in the PDU set of the downlink data packet GTP-U layer and the first quantity or the second quantity, that is, the sequence number of each data packet in the first PDU set is the PDU sequence number in the PDU set.

[0264] The first threshold corresponding to each data packet set in the first PDU set may be pre-configured on the RAN side, or may be from the SMF side or the UPF side.

[0265] In another possible implementation, the RAN may determine at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set based on the second information carried by each data packet in the first PDU set. For the specific method, please refer to the relevant description of step S320 and will not be repeated here.

[0266] In another possible implementation, the RAN may determine a first threshold in at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set based on the second information carried by each data packet in the first PDU set. The first threshold may be the same or different for at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set.

[0267] In another possible implementation, the RAN may determine at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set based on first information carried by at least one data packet in each data packet set in the first PDU set. Optionally, the first information carried by at least one data packet in each data packet set in the first PDU set is added by the UPF.

[0268] In one possible implementation, the first information may be carried in at least one data packet in the first PDU set. For example, the first PDU set includes data packet sets #1, #2, #3, and #4, where at least one data packet in #1 carries the first information and at least one data packet in #3 carries the first information. The RAN can thus determine the data packet sets #1, #2, #3, and #4 included in the first PDU set.

[0269] Specifically, the RAN can determine at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set according to the first identifier included in the first information.

[0270] It should be understood that the RAN sending the first PDU set based on the transmission parameters of each data packet set in the first PDU set and the corresponding first threshold can be understood as sending the first PDU set when the transmission parameters of each data packet set in the first PDU set are less than or equal to the corresponding first threshold; or discarding the first PDU set when the transmission parameters of any data packet set in the first PDU set are greater than the corresponding first threshold. Alternatively, when transmitting each data packet set in the first PDU set, it is ensured that the transmission parameters of each data packet set in the first PDU set are less than or equal to the corresponding first threshold.

[0271] It should be understood that the transmission parameter can be understood as the number or proportion of data packets lost in each data packet set (i.e., the number of packet losses or the packet loss rate) when the RAN receives the first PDU set, or the number or proportion of data packets that fail to be sent in each data packet set when the RAN sends the first PDU set.

[0272] Alternatively, the transmission parameter can be understood as the number or proportion of data packets lost in each data packet set when the RAN receives the first PDU set, and the number or proportion of data packets that fail to be sent in each data packet set when the RAN sends the first PDU set (i.e., the number of lost packets or the packet loss rate), that is, the proportion of the data packets includes the data packets lost in each data packet set when the RAN receives the first PDU set, and the data packets that fail to be sent in each data packet set when the RAN sends the first PDU set.

[0273] It is easy to understand that when the RAN determines that the transmission parameter of any data packet set in the first PDU set is greater than the corresponding first threshold during the process of receiving the first PDU set, the RAN may discard the data packets in the first PDU set. When the RAN determines that the transmission parameter of any data packet set in the first PDU set is greater than the corresponding first threshold during the process of sending the first PDU set, the RAN discards the data packets to be transmitted in the first PDU set.

[0274] As an example but not a limitation, the first threshold is 10%. When the RAN receives the PDU set 1 from the UPF, it finds that the packet loss rate of the data packet set #2 reaches 10%. At this time, the RAN discards the data packets of the received PDU set 1.

[0275] As an example and not a limitation, the first threshold is 10%. When the RAN sends PDU set 2 to the UE, it finds that the packet loss rate of data packet set #3 therein reaches 10%. At this time, the RAN stops sending the PDU set 2 and discards the unsent data packets in the PDU set 2.

[0276] Optionally, the RAN allocates sufficient resources for the data packets to be transmitted in the first PDU set, ensuring that the data packet set to which the data packets to be transmitted in the first PDU set belong can all be less than or equal to the corresponding first threshold during subsequent transmission, thereby ensuring complete transmission of the first PDU set. That is, when the transmission parameter of any data packet set in the first PDU set is less than or equal to the corresponding first threshold and greater than the corresponding second threshold, the RAN schedules sufficient network resources for the data packets to be transmitted in the first PDU set, thereby ensuring complete transmission of the first PDU set.

[0277] Exemplarily, the RAN allocates a first network resource to the data packets to be transmitted in the first PDU set. The first network resource is used to ensure that the data packet set to which the data packets to be transmitted in the first PDU set belong can be less than or equal to a corresponding first threshold during subsequent transmission, thereby ensuring complete transmission of the first PDU set. It is easy to understand that the number of data packets that can be carried by the first network resource is greater than or equal to the number of data packets to be transmitted in the first PDU set.

[0278] It should be understood that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific value of the second threshold. Exemplarily, the second threshold is 0, that is, when the RAN detects that packet loss occurs during the transmission of any data packet set in the first PDU set, the first time-frequency resource is allocated to the first PDU set, thereby ensuring the complete transmission of the first PDU set.

[0279] It should be understood that the second threshold corresponding to each data packet set in the first PDU set may be the same or different, and this embodiment of the present application does not limit this.

[0280] It should be understood that the method for determining the second threshold corresponding to each data packet set can refer to the method for determining the first threshold corresponding to each data packet set, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this.

[0281] It should be understood that the embodiment of the present application does not limit the triggering conditions for the RAN to execute the above step S330.

[0282] Exemplarily, the RAN determines whether to send the first PDU set based on the indication of the first indication information and the transmission parameters of each data packet set in the first PDU set. The first indication information is used to instruct the RAN, upon receiving a PDU set for a specific service flow, to determine whether to send the PDU set based on the transmission parameters of each data packet set in each PDU set and a corresponding first threshold.

[0283] It should be understood that in this implementation, the RAN receives the first indication information before step S310, and the first indication information comes from the UPF or SMF or PCF or AF, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

[0284] Exemplarily, the RAN performs the above step S330 based on local configuration.

[0285] Based on the above solution, during the transmission of the PDU set, redundancy-based integrity transmission is performed on at least two data packet sets within the PDU set, thereby ensuring correct transmission of the data packet set when a certain number of data packet transmissions fail.

[0286] The specific application scenarios of the above method 300 are described below with reference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 .

[0287] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a specific implementation process 500 of the communication method 300 provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in the figure, the process 500 includes the following steps:

[0288] S510, PCF sends configuration information #1 to SMF, and correspondingly, SMF receives the configuration information #1.

[0289] Specifically, the configuration information #1 is used to indicate the PDU set processing rule, and the configuration information #1 includes indication information #1 and / or indication information #2. The indication information #1 is used to indicate the execution of redundant-based PDU set integrity transmission, that is, to indicate the transmission of the first PDU set pair based on the transmission parameters of at least two data packet sets in the PDU set and the corresponding first threshold. The indication information #2 is used to indicate the size (i.e., the first number) of the association group, and the association group (i.e., the data packet set) is a set of data packets in the PDU set that execute the FEC redundancy implementation algorithm (e.g., XOR operation), or in other words, the association group is a set of original data packets in the PDU set that execute the FEC redundancy implementation algorithm and the generated redundant data packets.

[0290] It should be understood that the above-mentioned association group size is a fixed size after the redundancy addition operation is performed during the FEC process. Exemplarily, the association group may include the original data packet subjected to the XOR operation and the redundant data packet generated based on the XOR operation.

[0291] It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present application, the above-mentioned association groups are merely exemplary names and may also be referred to as blocks, packets, symbols, etc., and the present application does not limit this.

[0292] Optionally, the PDU processing rule further includes a first threshold, which is a redundancy threshold for integrity transmission of each associated group in the PDU set. Specifically, during transmission, a transmission parameter (e.g., packet loss rate or number of lost packets) of each associated group is no greater than the first threshold, that is, a transmission parameter of each data packet set in the PDU set is no greater than the first threshold.

[0293] It should be understood that before the PCF sends the configuration information #1 to the SMF, the PCF needs to determine the PDU aggregate processing rule. However, the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific manner in which the PCF determines the PDU aggregate processing rule.

[0294] In one possible implementation, the PCF determines the PDU set processing rules based on a local configuration, where the local configuration includes the size of the associated group or data packet set and / or an FEC redundancy addition scheme. The FEC redundancy addition scheme is used to indicate the FEC redundancy addition scheme adopted by the same service flow, so that the 5GS, such as the UPF, can perform redundant PDU set transmission based on the FEC redundancy addition scheme. Specifically, the PCF may determine at least two data packet sets within the PDU set based on the FEC redundancy addition scheme. Additionally, the PCF may determine at least one first data packet and at least one second data packet for each data packet set within the PDU set based on the FEC redundancy addition scheme.

[0295] In another possible implementation, before step S510, method 500 further includes the following steps:

[0296] S501, the AF sends configuration information #2 to the PCF, and correspondingly, the PCF receives configuration information #2.

[0297] Specifically, the AF sends the configuration information #2 to the PCF according to the capability exposure interface, for example, by carrying the configuration information #2 in an AF Request message. The configuration information #2 is used to instruct the PCF to perform redundant PDU aggregation processing for the service flow. The configuration information #2 includes the aforementioned FEC redundancy addition scheme and / or the size of the association group (i.e., the size of the data packet set).

[0298] It should be understood that the above configuration information #2 also includes service flow description information, such as IP triplet, IP quintuple and other information, so as to identify the service flow.

[0299] It should be understood that the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific manner in which the AF sends the configuration information #2 to the PCF.

[0300] For example, when the AF is in the trusted domain, the AF can interact directly with the PCF. Specifically, the AF can interact by calling the service interface of the PCF (such as the Npcf_PolicyAuthorization service interface).

[0301] Another example, AF is in a non-trusted domain, and AF needs to interact with PCF through NEF (not shown in the figure). Specifically, AF calls NEF's service interface (such as Nnef_AFSessionWithQoS service interface) to interact with NEF, and then NEF calls PCF's service interface to interact with PCF accordingly.

[0302] It should be understood that this application does not limit the triggering method of the above step S510.

[0303] In a possible implementation, the above step S510 may be actively sent by the PCF to the SMF. In this case, the configuration information #1 may be included in a session management policy modification (SM Policy Association_Update) message.

[0304] In another possible implementation, step S510 is triggered based on a request message sent by the SMF to the PCF. In this case, the configuration information #1 may be included in a session management policy modification message or a session management policy association (SM Policy Association_Create) message. In this implementation, the method 500 further includes the following steps:

[0305] S505, the UE sends a session establishment request message or a session modification request message to the SMF. The session in this application can be a PDU session or other forms of sessions. The subsequent embodiments will be described using the PDU session as an example.

[0306] Optionally, the UE sends a PDU session establishment or modification request (PDU Session Establishment / Modification Request) message to the AMF, and the AMF forwards the PDU session establishment or modification request message to the SMF.

[0307] S506, SMF sends a session management policy association establishment / modification request message to PCF.

[0308] Specifically, in response to the above-mentioned PDU session establishment or modification request message, the AMF requests the PCF for the processing rules of the PDU set corresponding to the PDU session.

[0309] Based on the above step S510, the SMF can obtain the FEC redundancy addition scheme and / or the size of the association group (i.e., the data packet set). Further, the SMF performs the following steps:

[0310] S520, SMF sends configuration information #3 to UPF, and correspondingly, UPF receives configuration information #3.

[0311] Specifically, the SMF sends configuration information #3 to the UPF through the N4 session establishment or modification process. The configuration information #3 includes PDU set mark indication information. The PDU set mark indication information is used to indicate that the downlink data packets are the same PDU set and add PDU set information in the GTP-U layer of the downlink data packet.

[0312] The PDU set information includes at least one of the following: a PDU set sequence number, an indication of the last PDU data packet in the PDU set, an importance of the PDU set, an order of PDUs in the PDU set, and / or a size of the PDU set.

[0313] In some possible implementations, the configuration information #3 also includes indication information #3, which is used to indicate that when the number of lost data packets in any associated group (or data packet set) in the received PDU set exceeds the above-mentioned first threshold, the entire PDU set is discarded.

[0314] It should be understood that the configuration information #3 includes the above-mentioned indication information #2, so that the UPF can determine the size of the association group based on the indication information #2.

[0315] Optionally, the configuration information #3 includes indication information #7, which is used to instruct the UPF to determine at least two associated groups (data packet sets) within the PDU set and add the identifier of the associated group and the identifier of the above-mentioned first threshold in at least one data packet of the PDU set.

[0316] It should be understood that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific method in which the UPF determines the first threshold.

[0317] Exemplarily, the UPF is locally configured with the first threshold, so that the UPF can determine the first threshold based on the local configuration.

[0318] Exemplarily, the configuration information #3 includes the first threshold, and the UPF can determine the first threshold based on the configuration information #3.

[0319] S530, SMF sends configuration information #4 to RAN, and correspondingly, RAN receives the configuration information #4.

[0320] Specifically, the SMF sends configuration information #4 to the RAN side through the AMF based on the configuration information #2. The configuration information #4 includes indication information #4, which is used to instruct the RAN to determine the associated group within the PDU set and perform the PDU set integrity transmission corresponding to the first threshold within the associated group, or to instruct the RAN to transmit the PDU set based on the transmission parameters of at least two associated groups within the PDU set and the corresponding first threshold.

[0321] It should be understood that the integrity transmission of the PDU set corresponding to the above-mentioned first threshold can be understood as the RAN ensuring, through resource scheduling, that during the actual transmission process, the number of data packets that fail to be transmitted in each associated group of the PDU set is less than the first threshold. If the RAN determines that any associated group (data packet set) of the received PDU set exceeds the first threshold, the RAN discards the PDU set or the data packets to be transmitted within the PDU set; or, when the transmission parameters of each associated group in the first PDU set are less than or equal to the corresponding first threshold, the RAN transmits the first PDU set; or, when transmitting each associated group in the first PDU set, ensures that the transmission parameters of each data packet set in the first PDU set are less than or equal to the corresponding first threshold.

[0322] It should be understood that the first threshold may be indicated in the form of a quantity, indicating an upper limit of the number of packets that may be discarded for each packet set during transmission. The discarded packets may be packets lost when receiving the first PDU set, packets that failed to be sent when sending the first PDU set, or packets that include both packets lost when receiving and packets that failed to be sent when sending.

[0323] Optionally, the configuration information #4 further includes the above-mentioned indication information #2, so that the RAN can determine each associated group in the PDU set based on the indication information #2.

[0324] S540, subsequent PDU session establishment / modification process. The specific process can be referred to the existing standards and will not be described here.

[0325] When the downlink data of the PDU session arrives at the UPF, the method 500 further includes the following steps:

[0326] S550, UPF identifies and marks the PDU set in the downlink data based on the configuration information #3.

[0327] Specifically, the UPF identifies the PDU data packets in the downlink data as the same PDU set based on the PDU set mark indication information in the configuration information #3 and adds the PDU set information to the GTP-U layer of the downlink data packet.

[0328] It should be understood that when the configuration information #3 includes the above-mentioned indication information #4, the UPF also determines at least one association group in the same PDU set based on the indication information #4. Specifically, the UPF determines at least one association group in the PDU set based on the PDU SN number and the size of the above-mentioned association group.

[0329] As an example and not a limitation, PDU set 1 includes 20 data packets, and the association group size indicated in the indication information #4 is 5 data packets. Then the data packets with sequence numbers 1-5 are association group #1, the data packets with sequence numbers 6-10 are association group #2, the data packets with sequence numbers 11-15 are association group #3, and the data packets with sequence numbers 16-20 are association group #4.

[0330] Optionally, the UPF determines whether to discard the PDU set based on a first threshold.

[0331] As an example but not a limitation, the first threshold is 20%. When the UPF receives data packets of PDU set 2 and finds that the packet loss rate of associated group #1 reaches 20%, the UPF discards the data packets to be transmitted of the PDU set 2.

[0332] As an example but not a limitation, the first threshold is 10%. In the process of UPF sending association group #2 among the 5 association groups of PDU set 3, UPF finds that the packet loss rate of association group #2 reaches 10%, then UPF discards the data packets to be transmitted of PDU set 3.

[0333] Optionally, when the configuration information #3 includes the above-mentioned indication information #7, after determining at least one association group in the PDU set, the UPF adds a corresponding association group identifier and / or a first threshold in the GTP-U layer of the data packet.

[0334] S560: The UPF sends downlink data to the RAN, wherein the downlink data is the downlink data after the UPF adds a PDU aggregation tag.

[0335] S570: The RAN determines at least one association group according to the configuration information #4.

[0336] Specifically, the RAN determines at least one association group in the same PDU set according to the size of the association group indicated by the configuration information #4. The specific process can be referred to step S550 and will not be repeated here.

[0337] Optionally, the RAN determines the at least one association group according to an association group identifier of a GTP-U layer of the data packet.

[0338] Further, the RAN determines a relationship between the transmission status of each association group and a first threshold.

[0339] In a possible implementation, when the RAN determines that the number of packet losses of each associated group in the same PDU set is less than the first threshold, the RAN sends the data packet of the PDU set to the UE side through the Uu interface.

[0340] It should be understood that, when the RAN sends the data packets of the PDU set to the UE, if the number of packet losses of a certain associated group is greater than the first threshold, the RAN will discard all the data packets to be transmitted in the PDU set.

[0341] As an example and not a limitation, the RAN sends data packets in PDU Set 3 to the UE. PDU Set 3 includes 30 data packets, with each association group including 10 data packets. When the RAN sends data packets from Association Group #1, it discovers that 3 of the 8 sent data packets have been discarded. Since the first threshold is 20%, that is, the packet loss rate of Association Group #3 exceeds the first threshold, the RAN stops sending data and discards the remaining data packets in PDU Set 3, including the 2 unsent data packets in Association Group FEC #1 and all data packets in Association Groups #2 and #3.

[0342] In another possible implementation, when the RAN determines that the number of packet losses of at least one associated group in the same PDU set is greater than the first threshold, the RAN discards the to-be-transmitted data of the PDU set.

[0343] It should be understood that when the configuration information #4 does not include the above-mentioned first threshold, the first threshold may be pre-configured.

[0344] It should be understood that when the configuration information #4 does not include the first threshold, the RAN side may also pre-configure a packet loss threshold for each association group. Exemplarily, the RAN side pre-configures the packet loss threshold to be 1 packet, i.e., the RAN side defaults to discarding a maximum of 1 packet during transmission for each association group.

[0345] Based on the above solution, PCF configures a fixed association group size to assist the RAN side in performing redundant PDU set integrity transmission for each association group. If the number of lost / failed data packets in a certain association group reaches the redundancy level, the entire PDU Set will be discarded.

[0346] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of a specific implementation process 600 of the communication method 300 provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in the figure, the method 600 includes the following steps:

[0347] S610, PCF sends configuration information #5 to SMF, and correspondingly, SMF receives the configuration information #5.

[0348] Specifically, configuration information #5 is used to indicate a PDU set processing rule. Configuration information #5 includes indication information #5 and / or indication information #6. Indication information #5 is used to indicate the execution of integrity transmission of a redundant PDU set, that is, to indicate the transmission of the first PDU set pair based on the transmission parameters of at least two data packet sets in the PDU set and the corresponding first threshold. Indication information #6 is used to indicate the FEC redundancy addition scheme corresponding to the PDU set.

[0349] It should be understood that the FEC redundancy adding scheme corresponding to the PDU set can be understood as the FEC redundancy adding method performed on the data packets in the PDU set.

[0350] It should be understood that the embodiment of the present application does not limit the FEC scheme corresponding to the PDU set. The following description assumes that the FEC scheme corresponding to the PDU set is flexible FEC.

[0351] It should be understood that before the PCF sends the configuration information #5 to the SMF, the PCF needs to determine the PDU aggregate processing rule. However, the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific manner in which the PCF determines the PDU aggregate processing rule.

[0352] In one possible implementation, the PCF determines the above-mentioned PDU processing rules based on a local configuration, where the local configuration includes an FEC redundancy addition scheme, which is used to indicate the FEC redundancy addition scheme (e.g., flexible FEC) adopted by the same service flow, so that the 5GS can perform redundant PDU set transmission based on the FEC redundancy addition scheme. Specifically, it can include determining at least two associated groups (i.e., data packet sets) within the PDU set according to the FEC redundancy addition scheme, and additionally, it can also determine at least one first data packet and at least one second data packet for each associated group within the PDU set according to the FEC redundancy addition scheme, wherein the first data packet is the original data packet or the original data packet processed by the application server, and the second data packet is a redundant data packet.

[0353] In another possible implementation, before step S610, method 600 further includes the following steps:

[0354] S601, the AF sends configuration information #6 to the PCF, and correspondingly, the PCF receives configuration information #6.

[0355] Specifically, the AF sends the configuration information #6 to the PCF according to the capability exposure interface, wherein the configuration information #6 is used to instruct the PCF to process the service flow based on the redundant PDU set, wherein the configuration information #6 includes the above-mentioned FEC redundancy adding solution.

[0356] It should be understood that the above configuration information #6 also includes service flow description information, such as IP triplet, IP quintuple and other information, so as to identify the service flow.

[0357] It should be understood that the specific manner in which the AF sends the configuration information #6 to the PCF in the embodiment of the present application can refer to the above step S501 and will not be described in detail here.

[0358] Optionally, the configuration information #5 further includes a first threshold. The first threshold may be indicated in the form of a quantity, indicating an upper limit of the number of packets that each association group is allowed to discard during transmission, or the first threshold may be indicated in the form of redundancy, indicating a percentage of packets that each association group is allowed to discard during transmission. This embodiment of the present application is not limited to this.

[0359] It should be understood that the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific method in which the PCF determines the first threshold.

[0360] In a possible implementation, the first threshold is included in the configuration information #6, that is, the first threshold is provided by the AF to the PCF.

[0361] In another possible implementation, the first threshold is locally configured by the PCF.

[0362] It should be understood that the present application does not limit the triggering method of the above step S610. For detailed description, please refer to step S505 and step S506, which will not be repeated here.

[0363] S620, SMF sends configuration information #7 to UPF, and correspondingly, UPF receives the configuration information #7.

[0364] Specifically, the SMF sends the configuration information #7 to the UPF through the N4 session establishment or modification process. The configuration information #7 includes PDU set mark indication information. The PDU set mark indication information is used to indicate that the downlink data packets are the same PDU set and add PDU set information in the GTP-U layer of the downlink data packets.

[0365] The PDU set information includes at least one of the following: a PDU set sequence number, an indication of the last PDU data packet in the PDU set, an importance of the PDU set, an order of PDUs in the PDU set, and / or a size of the PDU set.

[0366] In an embodiment of the present application, the configuration information #7 further includes at least one of the indication information #6 and the indication information #7. The indication information #7 is used to indicate that the identifier of the association group and the identifier of the first threshold are added to at least one data packet in the PDU set.

[0367] It should be understood that when the configuration information #7 includes the above-mentioned indication information #6 and at least one item of indication information #7, the UPF will determine the associated group within the PDU set based on the indication information #6 and the RTP layer header information of the downlink data packet, and accordingly add identification information to at least one data packet in the PDU set, and the identification information is used to identify the associated group within the PDU set.

[0368] Optionally, the configuration information #7 includes the above-mentioned first threshold.

[0369] It should be understood that when the configuration information #7 does not include the above-mentioned first threshold, the UPF can determine the above-mentioned first threshold based on the RTP layer of the downlink data packet according to the indication of the indication information #6.

[0370] Among them, the indication information #6 can be protocol description information, which is used to describe the transmission protocol used by the business flow and the corresponding FEC redundancy addition scheme, and the auxiliary UPF determines the association group and / or the first threshold based on the protocol description information.

[0371] Optionally, the configuration information #7 also includes indication information #8, and the indication information #8 is used to indicate that when the number of lost data packets in a certain associated group in the PDU set exceeds the above-mentioned first threshold, the entire PDU set is discarded.

[0372] S630, SMF sends configuration information #8 to RAN, and correspondingly, RAN receives the configuration information #8.

[0373] Specifically, the SMF sends the configuration information #8 to the RAN through the AMF based on the configuration information #5. The configuration information #8 includes indication information #8, which is used to instruct the RAN to transmit the PDU set based on the transmission parameters of the associated group within the PDU set and the first threshold. Specifically, the indication information #8 is used to instruct the RAN to determine the associated group within the PDU set and the first threshold, and perform corresponding integrity transmission on the PDU set within the associated group based on the first threshold, or to instruct the RAN to transmit the PDU set based on the transmission parameters of at least two associated groups within the PDU set and the corresponding first threshold.

[0374] It should be understood that the specific description of the integrity transmission of the PDU set corresponding to the first threshold can be referred to the relevant content in step S530, which will not be repeated here.

[0375] Optionally, the configuration information #8 also includes the first threshold, so that the RAN can obtain the first threshold based on the configuration information #8 before receiving the downlink data.

[0376] It should be understood that for the specific description of the integrity transmission of the above response, reference can be made to the relevant content in step S530, which will not be repeated here.

[0377] S640: Complete the subsequent PDU session establishment / modification process. The specific process can be referred to the existing standards and will not be described here.

[0378] When the downlink data of the PDU session arrives at the UPF, the method 600 further includes the following steps:

[0379] S650, UPF adds corresponding PDU set information to the downlink data packet according to the configuration information #7.

[0380] Specifically, the UPF identifies the PDU data packets in the downlink data as the same PDU set based on the PDU set mark indication information in the configuration information #7 and adds the PDU set information to the GTP-U layer of the downlink data packet.

[0381] It should be understood that the UPF also determines at least one association group in the same PDU set based on configuration information #7. Specifically, the UPF determines at least one association group in the PDU set based on information in the RTP layer header of the downlink data packet and, accordingly, adds identification information identifying the association group to the GTP-U layer in the downlink data packet.

[0382] It should be understood that when the first threshold is not included in the above configuration information #8, the RAN can determine the first threshold based on the RTP layer information of the data packet; and accordingly, add the first threshold to the GTP-U layer in the downlink data packet.

[0383] S660: The UPF adds first information to the downlink data packet, where the first information includes an association group identifier and / or the first threshold value. Data packets with the same association group identifier belong to the same association group.

[0384] Optionally, the UPF may determine whether to discard the PDU set based on the first threshold. Specific methods may refer to the aforementioned step S550 and are not described in detail here.

[0385] S670: UPF sends downlink data to RAN.

[0386] It should be understood that the downlink data is the downlink data after the UPF adds the PDU set mark and the associated group identifier.

[0387] S680: The RAN determines at least one associated group in the PDU set according to the configuration information #8 and the first information.

[0388] Specifically, the RAN determines at least one associated group in the PDU set and / or the first threshold according to the indication information #8 and the first information.

[0389] It should be understood that the first threshold can be included in the first information, or the first threshold can be included in the configuration information #8, or the first threshold can be locally configured by the RAN, and this embodiment of the present application does not limit this.

[0390] Furthermore, the RAN performs PDU set integrity transmission based on the first threshold for each association group according to the first threshold carried in the downlink data packet.

[0391] In a possible implementation, when the RAN determines that the number of packet losses of each associated group in the same PDU set is less than the first threshold, the RAN sends the data packet of the PDU set to the UE side through the Uu interface.

[0392] It should be understood that when the RAN sends the data packets of the PDU set to the UE, if the packet loss number or packet loss rate of a certain associated group is greater than the first threshold, the RAN will discard all the data packets to be transmitted in the PDU set.

[0393] As an example and not a limitation, the RAN sends data packets in PDU Set 3 to the UE. PDU Set 3 includes 30 data packets, with each association group including 10 data packets. When the RAN sends data packets from Association Group #1, it finds that 3 of the 8 sent data packets have a packet loss rate greater than the first threshold of 20%, while the first threshold is 20%. Therefore, the RAN stops sending data packets and discards the remaining data packets in PDU Set 3, including the 2 unsent data packets in Association Group FEC #1 and all data packets in Association Groups #2 and #3.

[0394] In another possible implementation, when the RAN determines that the number of packet losses or the packet loss rate of at least one associated group in the same PDU set is greater than the first threshold, the RAN discards the to-be-transmitted data of the PDU set.

[0395] In another possible implementation, when the number of packet losses or the packet loss rate of each associated group in the RAN-guaranteed PDU set is less than or equal to the first threshold.

[0396] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of a specific implementation process 700 of the communication method 300 provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in the figure, the process 700 includes the following steps:

[0397] S710, PCF sends configuration information #5 to SMF, and correspondingly, SMF receives configuration information #5.

[0398] Specifically, configuration information #5 is used to indicate a PDU set processing rule. Configuration information #5 includes indication information #5 and / or indication information #6. Indication information #5 is used to indicate the execution of integrity transmission of a redundant PDU set, that is, to indicate the transmission of the first PDU set pair based on the transmission parameters of at least two data packet sets in the PDU set and the corresponding first threshold. Indication information #6 is used to indicate the FEC redundancy addition scheme corresponding to the PDU set.

[0399] It should be understood that the specific method for configuring information #5 can be referred to the relevant content of step S610 and will not be repeated here.

[0400] It should be understood that before the PCF sends the configuration information #5 to the SMF, the PCF needs to determine the PDU aggregate processing rule. However, the embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific manner in which the PCF determines the PDU aggregate processing rule.

[0401] In another possible implementation, before step S710, method 700 further includes the following steps:

[0402] S701, the AF sends configuration information #6 to the PCF, and correspondingly, the PCF receives configuration information #6.

[0403] It should be understood that for the specific description of configuration information #6, please refer to the relevant content of step S601, which will not be repeated here.

[0404] S720, SMF sends configuration information #7 to UPF, and correspondingly, UPF receives the configuration information #7.

[0405] Specifically, the SMF sends the configuration information #7 to the UPF side through the N4 session establishment or modification process. The configuration information #7 includes PDU set mark indication information. The PDU set mark indication information is used to indicate that the downlink data packets are the same PDU set and add PDU set information in the GTP-U layer of the downlink data packet.

[0406] S730, SMF sends configuration information #8 to RAN, and correspondingly, RAN receives the configuration information #8.

[0407] Specifically, the SMF sends the configuration information #8 to the RAN through the AMF based on the configuration information #5. The configuration information #8 includes the indication information #6 and / or indication information #8. The indication information #8 is used to instruct the RAN to transmit the PDU aggregate based on the transmission parameters of the associated group within the PDU aggregate and the first threshold. Specifically, it is used to instruct the RAN to determine the associated group within the PDU aggregate and the first threshold, and to perform corresponding integrity transmission on the PDU aggregate within the associated group based on the first threshold.

[0408] Optionally, the configuration information #8 includes the first threshold. Optionally, the indication information #6 may also be pre-configured on the RAN side.

[0409] S740: Complete the subsequent PDU session establishment / modification process. The specific process can be referred to the existing standards and will not be described here.

[0410] When the downlink data of the PDU session arrives at the UPF, the method 700 further includes the following steps:

[0411] S750, UPF identifies and marks the PDU set in the downlink data based on the configuration information #7.

[0412] Specifically, the UPF identifies the PDU packets in the downlink data as the same PDU set based on the PDU set indication information in configuration information #7 and adds PDU set information to the GTP-U layer of the downlink data packet. The PDU set information includes at least one of the following: a PDU set sequence number, an indication of the last PDU packet in the PDU set, a PDU set importance, an order of PDUs in the PDU set, and / or a PDU set size.

[0413] S760: UPF sends downlink data to RAN.

[0414] It should be understood that the downlink data is the downlink data after the UPF adds the PDU set mark.

[0415] S770: The RAN determines at least one associated group in the PDU set according to the configuration information #8 and the RTP layer information.

[0416] Specifically, the RAN determines at least one associated group in the PDU set according to indication information #6 and based on the RTP layer information of the downlink data packet.

[0417] It should be understood that when the configuration information #8 does not include the first threshold, the RAN can determine the first threshold based on the RTP layer information of the data packet.

[0418] It should be understood that the manner in which the RAN determines at least one associated group and the first threshold in the PDU set according to the RTP layer can be referred to the relevant description of FIG5 , which is not described in detail here.

[0419] Furthermore, the RAN performs PDU set integrity transmission based on the first threshold for each association group according to the first threshold carried in the downlink data packet.

[0420] Based on the above solution, the RAN can determine the associated groups within a PDU set and the redundancy within the associated groups based on the RTP layer in the downlink data packets, thereby performing complete transmission of the PDU set based on redundancy for each associated group. Furthermore, if the number of data packets within a PDU set that have failed to be received or sent reaches the redundancy level, the data packets to be transmitted in that PDU set are discarded.

[0421] It should be understood that the size of the serial numbers of the above processes does not mean the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0422] It should also be understood that in the various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or there is a logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced to each other, and the technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their internal logical relationships.

[0423] It should also be understood that in some of the above embodiments, devices in existing network architectures are mainly used as examples for illustrative purposes, and it should be understood that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific form of the devices. For example, devices that can achieve the same functions in the future are applicable to the embodiments of the present application.

[0424] It can be understood that in the above-mentioned various method embodiments, the methods and operations implemented by devices (such as access network devices and core network devices) can also be implemented by components that can be used in the devices (such as chips or circuits).

[0425] It can also be understood that some optional features in the various embodiments of the present application may not depend on other features in certain scenarios, and may also be combined with other features in certain scenarios, without limitation.

[0426] The communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application is described in detail above, in conjunction with Figures 3 to 7 . The communication method is primarily described from the perspective of interaction between access network devices and core network devices. It is understood that, in order to implement the aforementioned functions, the terminal devices, access network devices, and core network devices include hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the respective functions.

[0427] Those skilled in the art should be aware that, in combination with the units and algorithm steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed herein, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is performed in the form of hardware or computer software driving hardware 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 still falls within the scope of this application.

[0428] The communication device provided in the embodiment of the present application is described in detail below with reference to Figures 8 to 10. It should be understood that the description of the device embodiment corresponds to the description of the method embodiment. Therefore, for matters not described in detail, reference can be made to the method embodiment above. For the sake of brevity, some contents are not repeated here.

[0429] The embodiment of the present application can divide the functional modules of the access network equipment and the core network equipment according to the above-mentioned method example. For example, each functional module can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The above-mentioned integrated modules can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional modules. It should be noted that the division of modules in the embodiment of the present application is schematic and is only a logical functional division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation. The following is an example of dividing each functional module according to each function.

[0430] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 1000 provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 8, the device 1000 may include a transceiver unit 1010 and a processing unit 1020. The transceiver unit 1010 can communicate with the outside world, and the processing unit 1020 is used to process data. The transceiver unit 1010 may also be referred to as a communication interface or a transceiver unit.

[0431] In one possible design, the device 1000 can implement steps or processes corresponding to those executed by the core network equipment (such as SMF, UPF, PCF, etc.) in the above method embodiments, wherein the processing unit 1020 is used to execute processing-related operations of the core network equipment in the above method embodiments, and the transceiver unit 1010 is used to execute transceiver-related operations of the core network equipment in the above method embodiments.

[0432] As an example but not a limitation, the apparatus 1000 may be used to execute the actions performed by the user plane network element in the above method embodiment.

[0433] Specifically, the transceiver unit 1010 is used to receive a first PDU set, where the first PDU set includes at least two data packet sets, each of the data packet sets includes at least one first data packet and at least one second data packet, and the at least one second data packet is a redundant data packet of the at least one first data packet; the processing unit 1020 is used to, when the transmission parameters of each of the data packet sets in the first PDU set are less than the corresponding first threshold, the access network device sends the first PDU set.

[0434] In another possible design, the device 1000 can implement steps or processes corresponding to those performed by the access network device in the above method embodiment, wherein the transceiver unit 1010 is used to perform transceiver-related operations of the access network device in the above method embodiment, and the processing unit 1020 is used to perform processing-related operations of the access network device in the above method embodiment.

[0435] As an example and not a limitation, the transceiver unit 1010 is used to receive a first PDU set; the processing unit 1020 is used to add first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set within the first PDU set, wherein the first PDU set includes at least two data packet sets, each of the data packet sets includes at least one first data packet and at least one second data packet, the at least one second data packet is a redundant data packet of the at least one first data packet, and the first information is used to indicate the data packet set to which the at least one data packet belongs; the transceiver unit 1010 is also used to send the first PDU set.

[0436] It should be understood that the device 1000 here is embodied in the form of a functional unit. The term "unit" here may refer to an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (such as a shared processor, a dedicated processor or a group processor, etc.) and a memory for executing one or more software or firmware programs, a merging logic circuit and / or other suitable components that support the described functions. In an optional example, those skilled in the art will understand that the device 1000 can be specifically the transmitting end in the above-mentioned embodiment, and can be used to execute the various processes and / or steps corresponding to the transmitting end in the above-mentioned method embodiment, or the device 1000 can be specifically the receiving end in the above-mentioned embodiment, and can be used to execute the various processes and / or steps corresponding to the receiving end in the above-mentioned method embodiment. To avoid repetition, it will not be described here.

[0437] The apparatus 1000 of each of the above-mentioned solutions has the function of implementing the corresponding steps performed by the transmitting end in the above-mentioned method, or the apparatus 1000 of each of the above-mentioned solutions has the function of implementing the corresponding steps performed by the receiving end in the above-mentioned method. The functions can be implemented by hardware, or can be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above-mentioned functions; for example, the transceiver unit can be replaced by a transceiver (for example, the transmitting unit in the transceiver unit can be replaced by a transmitter, and the receiving unit in the transceiver unit can be replaced by a receiver), and other units, such as the processing unit, can be replaced by a processor to respectively perform the transceiver operations and related processing operations in each method embodiment.

[0438] In addition, the above-mentioned transceiver unit can also be a transceiver circuit (for example, it can include a receiving circuit and a transmitting circuit), and the processing unit can be a processing circuit. In an embodiment of the present application, the device 1000 can be a receiving device or a transmitting device in the aforementioned embodiment, or it can be a chip or chip system in a receiving device or a transmitting device, such as a system on chip (SoC). Among them, the transceiver unit can be an input and output circuit or a communication interface. The processing unit is a processor or microprocessor or integrated circuit integrated on the chip. This is not limited here.

[0439] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device 2000 provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 9, the device 2000 includes a processor 2010 and a transceiver 2020. The processor 2010 and the transceiver 2020 communicate with each other via an internal connection path. The processor 2010 is used to execute instructions to control the transceiver 2020 to send and / or receive signals.

[0440] Optionally, the apparatus 2000 may further include a memory 2030, which communicates with the processor 2010 and the transceiver 2020 via an internal connection path. The memory 2030 is used to store instructions, and the processor 2010 may execute the instructions stored in the memory 2030.

[0441] In one possible implementation, the device 2000 is used to implement the various processes and steps corresponding to the core network equipment (such as SMF, UPF, PCF, etc.) in the above method embodiment.

[0442] In another possible implementation, the apparatus 2000 is used to implement various processes and steps corresponding to the access network device in the above method embodiment.

[0443] It should be understood that the device 2000 can be specifically the transmitting end or receiving end in the above-mentioned embodiments, or can also be a chip or chip system. Correspondingly, the transceiver 2020 can be the transceiver circuit of the chip, which is not limited here. Specifically, the device 2000 can be used to perform the various steps and / or processes corresponding to the transmitting end or receiving end in the above-mentioned method embodiments.

[0444] Optionally, the memory 2030 may include a read-only memory and a random access memory, and provide instructions and data to the processor. A portion of the memory may also include non-volatile random access memory. For example, the memory may also store device type information. The processor 2010 may be configured to execute instructions stored in the memory. When the processor 2010 executes the instructions stored in the memory, the processor 2010 is configured to perform the various steps and / or processes of the above-described method embodiments corresponding to the transmitting end or the receiving end.

[0445] During implementation, each step of the above method can be completed by an integrated logic circuit of the hardware in the processor or by instructions in the form of software. The steps of the method disclosed in conjunction with the embodiments of the present application can be directly embodied as being executed by a hardware processor, or can be executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor. The software module can be located in a storage medium mature in the art such as a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory or an electrically erasable programmable memory, a register, etc. The storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory and completes the steps of the above method in conjunction with its hardware. To avoid repetition, it will not be described in detail here.

[0446] It should be noted that the processor in the embodiments of the present application can be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. During implementation, each step of the above-described method embodiment can be completed by hardware integrated logic circuits in the processor or by software instructions. The above-described processor can be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field-programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component. The processor in the embodiments of the present application can implement or execute the various methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of the present application. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The steps of the method disclosed in the embodiments of the present application can be directly implemented and executed by a hardware decoding processor, or by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software module can be located in a storage medium well-known in the art, such as random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, registers, etc. The storage medium is located in the memory, and the processor reads the information in the memory and, in conjunction with its hardware, completes the steps of the above-described method.

[0447] It will be understood that the memory in the embodiments of the present application may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memories. Among them, the non-volatile memory may be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be a random access memory (RAM), which is used as an external cache. By way of example but not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as static random access memory, dynamic random access memory, synchronous dynamic random access memory, double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory, enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory, synchronous linked dynamic random access memory, and direct memory bus random access memory. It should be noted that the memory of the systems and methods described herein is intended to include, but is not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

[0448] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chip system 3000 provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG10 , the chip system 3000 (or also referred to as a processing system) includes a logic circuit 3010 and an input / output interface 3020 .

[0449] The logic circuit 3010 may be a processing circuit in the chip system 3000. The logic circuit 3010 may be coupled to a storage unit and call instructions in the storage unit so that the chip system 3000 can implement the methods and functions of the various embodiments of the present application. The input / output interface 3020 may be an input / output circuit in the chip system 3000, outputting information processed by the chip system 3000 or inputting data or signaling information to be processed into the chip system 3000 for processing.

[0450] As a solution, the chip system 3000 is used to implement the operations performed by the core network equipment (such as SMF, UPF, PCF, etc.) in the above method embodiments.

[0451] As a solution, the chip system 3000 is used to implement the operations performed by the access network device in the above various method embodiments.

[0452] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium on which computer instructions are stored for implementing the methods executed by core network equipment (such as SMF, UPF, PCF, etc.) and access network equipment in the above-mentioned method embodiments.

[0453] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program product, comprising computer program code or instructions. When the computer program code or instructions are executed on a computer, the computer implements the methods executed by the core network device (such as SMF, UPF, PCF, etc.) and the access network device in the above-mentioned method embodiments.

[0454] An embodiment of the present application also provides a communication system, including the aforementioned core network equipment (such as SMF, UPF, PCF, etc.) and access network equipment.

[0455] The explanation of the relevant contents and beneficial effects of any of the above-mentioned devices can be referred to the corresponding method embodiments provided above, which will not be repeated here.

[0456] 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.

[0457] 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.

[0458] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that 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 the 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.

[0459] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the 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.

[0460] 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.

[0461] If the functions are implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution 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, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0462] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included in the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The access network device receives a first protocol data unit PDU set, where the first PDU set includes at least two data packet sets, each of the data packet sets includes at least one first data packet and at least one second data packet, and the at least one second data packet is a redundant data packet of the at least one first data packet; When the transmission parameter of each of the data packet sets in the first PDU set is less than the corresponding first threshold, the access network device sends the first PDU set.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The transmission parameter of each of the data packet sets in the first PDU set includes the packet loss rate or the number of packet losses of the data packet set.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The access network device sends the first PDU set, including: The access network device ensures that a transmission parameter of each data packet set in the first PDU set is less than or equal to a corresponding first threshold.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The method further comprises: When a transmission parameter of at least one data packet set in the first PDU set is greater than a corresponding first threshold, the access network device discards the first PDU set.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The access network device discarding the first PDU set includes: The access network device discards the data packets to be transmitted in the first PDU set.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The first threshold corresponding to each data packet set in the first PDU set is the same, or the first threshold corresponding to each data packet set in the first PDU set is different.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that Before the access network device receives the first PDU set, the method further includes: The access network device receives first indication information, where the first indication information is used to instruct the access network device to transmit the first PDU set based on the transmission parameters of each data packet set in the first PDU set and the corresponding first threshold.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The first threshold corresponding to each of the data packet sets in the first PDU set is included in the first indication information.

9. According to the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, before the access network device sends the first PDU set, the method further comprises: The access network device determines at least two data packet sets within the first PDU set.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The access network device determines at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set, including: The access network device determines at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set based on a first quantity and a sequence number of each data packet in the first PDU set, where the first quantity is the number of data packets in the data packet set in the first PDU set.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that Before the access network device determines at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set according to the first quantity and the sequence number of at least one data packet in the first PDU set, the method further includes: The access network device receives second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate the first quantity, wherein the second indication information comes from a session management network element, or the second indication information comes from a user plane function network element.

12. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The access network device determines at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set, including: The access network device determines at least two data packet sets within the first PDU set based on first information carried by at least one data packet in each data packet set within the first PDU set, wherein the first information includes a first identifier, and the first identifier is used to indicate the data packet set to which the corresponding data packet belongs.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that The first information also includes a first threshold corresponding to the data packet set to which the corresponding data packet belongs.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that The first information is carried in the user plane General Packet Radio Service Tunneling Protocol GTP-U layer or the Real-time Communication Protocol RTP layer of at least one data packet of the first PDU set.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that The access network device determines, according to first information carried by at least one data packet in each data packet set in the first PDU set, at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set, including: The access network device receives third indication information, where the third indication information is used to indicate a redundant adding method for at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set; The access network device determines at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set, and / or a first threshold corresponding to each data packet set based on the third indication information and the first information carried by at least one data packet in each data packet set in the first PDU set.

16. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The user plane network element receives a first PDU set; The user plane network element adds first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set in the first PDU set, wherein the first PDU set includes at least two data packet sets, each of the data packet sets includes at least one first data packet and at least one second data packet, the at least one second data packet is a redundant data packet of the at least one first data packet, and the first information is used to indicate the data packet set to which the at least one data packet belongs; The user plane device sends the first PDU set.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that Before the user plane network element receives the first PDU set, the method further includes: The user plane network element receives third indication information and / or fourth indication information, wherein the third indication information is used to indicate a redundant adding mode of the at least one first data packet set, and the fourth indication information is used to instruct the user plane network element to add the first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set; The user plane network element adds first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set in the first PDU set according to the third indication information and / or the fourth indication information.

18. The method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that Before the user plane network element adds the first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set in the first PDU set, the method further includes: The user plane device determines at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set based on second information carried by the data packets in the first PDU set, and the second information is used to determine the at least one first data packet and the at least one second data packet in each of the data packet sets.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that The second information is carried in the real-time communication protocol RTP layer of each data packet in the first PDU set.

20. The method according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that The method further comprises: The user plane network element determines a first threshold corresponding to each data packet set in the first PDU set based on the second information carried by the data packets in the first PDU set, where the first threshold is an upper limit of data packets that the corresponding data packet set is allowed to discard.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that The user plane network element sends the first PDU set, including: When the transmission parameter of each of the data packet sets is less than or equal to the corresponding first threshold, the user plane network element sends the first data connection session set; When a transmission parameter of one of the at least one data packet set is greater than a corresponding first threshold, the access network device discards the first PDU set.

22. The method according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that The first information in at least one data packet in each data packet set within the first PDU set includes a first identifier and / or a first threshold corresponding to the data packet set to which the data packet belongs, wherein the first identifier is used to indicate the data packet set to which the corresponding data packet belongs.

23. A solution according to any one of claims 16 to 22, characterized in that The user plane network element adds first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set in the first PDU set, including: The user plane network element adds the first information to each data packet in the first PDU set.

24. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 23, characterized in that The first information is carried in the RTP layer of at least one data packet in each data packet set in the first PDU set, or in the user plane General Packet Radio Service Tunneling Protocol GTP-U layer.

25. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The user plane network element receives a first PDU set from the application server; The user plane network element adds first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set in the first PDU set, wherein In the embodiment, the first PDU set includes at least two data packet sets, each of the data packet sets includes at least one first data packet and at least one second data packet, the at least one second data packet is a redundant data packet of the at least one first data packet, and the first information is used to indicate the data packet set to which the at least one data packet belongs; The user plane network element sends the first PDU set to the access network device; The access network device receives the first PDU set.

26. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that The method further comprises: When the transmission parameter of each of the data packet sets in the first PDU set is less than the corresponding first threshold, the access network device sends the first PDU set; or When a transmission parameter of at least one data packet set in the first PDU set is greater than a corresponding first threshold, the access network device discards the first PDU set.

27. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that The method further comprises: The session management network element sends first indication information to the access network device, where the first indication information is used to instruct the access network device to transmit the first PDU set based on the transmission parameter of each data packet set in the first PDU set and the corresponding first threshold; The access network device receives the first indication information.

28. The method according to any one of claims 25 to 27, characterized in that Before the user plane network element receives the first PDU set from the application server, the method further includes: The session management network element sends third indication information and / or fourth indication information to the user plane network element, wherein the third indication information is used to indicate a redundant adding mode of the at least one first data packet set, and the fourth indication information is used to instruct the user plane network element to add the first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set; The user plane network element receives the third indication information and / or the fourth indication information.

29. The method according to claim 28, characterized in that The method further comprises: The user plane network element adds first information to at least one data packet in each data packet set in the first PDU set according to the third indication information and / or the fourth indication information, where the first information is used to indicate the data packet set to which the at least one data packet belongs; The access network device determines at least two data packet sets in the first PDU set based on first information carried by at least one data packet in each data packet set in the first PDU set.

30. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The application function sends first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate the access network device based on the transmission parameters of each data packet set in the PDU set and the corresponding first threshold; The application function transmits the PDU set.

31. The method according to claim 30, characterized in that The first indication information includes the first threshold.

32. The method according to claim 30 or 31, characterized in that The method further comprises: The application function sends second indication information, where the second indication information includes a first quantity, where the first quantity is the number of data packets in each data packet set in the PDU set.

33. The method according to any one of claims 30 to 32, characterized in that The method further comprises: The application function sends third indication information, where the third indication information is used to indicate a redundant adding method for at least two data packet sets in the PDU set.

34. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The policy control function receives fifth indication information, wherein the fifth indication information includes a redundant adding method of at least two data packet sets in each PDU set of the first service; The policy control function generates sixth indication information according to the fifth indication information, where the sixth indication information is used to indicate that the PDU set of the first service is transmitted based on the transmission parameter of each data packet set in each PDU set of the first service and the corresponding first threshold; The policy control function sends the fifth indication information.

35. The method according to claim 34, characterized in that The fifth indication information also includes a first threshold corresponding to each data packet set in each PDU set of the first service.

36. The method according to claim 34 or 35, characterized in that The fifth indication information also includes a first quantity, where the first quantity is the number of data packets in at least two data packet sets in each PDU set of the first service.

37. The method according to any one of claims 34 to 36, characterized in that The fifth indication information also includes a third number, where the third number is an upper limit of the number of packets that are allowed to be discarded for each packet in at least two data packet sets in each PDU set of the first service.

38. The method according to any one of claims 34 to 37, characterized in that The policy control function sending the fifth indication information includes: the policy control function sending the fifth indication information to a session management network element.

39. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device comprises a unit or module for executing the method as claimed in any one of claims 1-15, 16-24, 25-29, 30-33, 34-38.

40. A communication device, characterized in that: include: A processor, the processor being coupled to a memory, the processor being used to call computer program instructions stored in the memory to execute the method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, or the method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 24, or the method as claimed in any one of claims 25 to 29, or the method as claimed in any one of claims 30 to 33, or the method as claimed in any one of claims 34 to 38.

41. A chip, characterized in that: It includes a processor and a communication interface, wherein the communication interface is used to receive data and / or information and transmit the received data and / or information to the processor, and the processor processes the data and / or information to execute the method as described in any one of claims 1-15, or the method as described in any one of claims 16-24, or the method as described in any one of claims 25-29, or the method as described in any one of claims 30-33, or the method as described in any one of claims 34-38.

42. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium stores instructions, which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to execute the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 15, or cause the computer to execute the method as described in any one of claims 16 to 24, or the method as described in any one of claims 25 to 29, or the method as described in any one of claims 30 to 33, or the method as described in any one of claims 34 to 38.

43. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer-readable storage medium stores instructions, which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to execute the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 15, or cause the computer to execute the method as described in any one of claims 16 to 24, or the method as described in any one of claims 25 to 29, or the method as described in any one of claims 30 to 33, or the method as described in any one of claims 34 to 38.

44. A communication system, characterized in that: include: Access network equipment, used to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 15; A user plane network element, used to execute the method as described in any one of claims 16-24.

45. A communication system, characterized in that: It includes an access network device and a user plane network element, characterized in that the first network device is used to execute the method as described in any one of claims 1-15, and the user plane network element is used to execute the method as described in any one of claims 16-24.

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