Communication method, apparatus and system

Abstract

The present application relates to a communication method, apparatus and system. The method comprises: a first core network element obtaining first BDP requirement information, wherein the first BDP requirement information indicates the requirement for a product of a bandwidth and a transmission delay that correspond to a first service; and the first core network element sending first BDP information to an access network device, wherein the first BDP information is determined on the basis of the first BDP requirement information, and the first BDP information is used by the access network device to schedule resources for a terminal device on the basis of the first BDP information. In the embodiments of the present application, parameters such as bandwidth and delay can be jointly taken into consideration, thereby comprehensively ensuring the network performance.

Description

Communication method, device and system

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China on December 5, 2023, with application number 202311669585.1 and application name "A Communication Method, Device and System", the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

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

[0004] The current 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) provides a quality of service (QoS) guarantee mechanism for the 5th generation (5G) system. Specifically, the application function (AP) provides service features to the core network. For example, the AF provides service feature parameters to the policy and charging control function (PCF) through interaction with the PCF. The PCF generates a policy charging control (PCC) rule based on the service feature parameters and provides the PCC rule to the session management function (SMF). The PCC rule may include QoS parameters for the service. The SMF can obtain the QoS parameters in the protocol data unit (PDU) session establishment or update process, or obtain the QoS parameters in the PCC rule from the PCF. Based on the QoS parameters, the SMF generates a QoS rule and sends it to the user equipment (UE), generates a QoS profile and sends it to the radio access network (RAN), and generates an N4 rule and sends it to the user plane function (UPF), thereby ensuring the QoS of the service.

[0005] Service QoS parameters include bandwidth-related parameters and latency-related parameters. QoS guarantees can guarantee bandwidth and latency separately. However, this QoS guarantee mechanism can still cause jitter in service transmission. For example, the number of service packets and network packets may surge in one period, then plummet in the next. This degrades the user experience and fails to maximize network transmission capacity.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] The embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, device, and system for ensuring the efficiency and performance of network transmission.

[0008] In a first aspect, a first communication method is provided, which can be executed by a core network network element, or by other devices including core network network element functions, or by a chip system (or, chip) or other functional module, the chip system or functional module can realize the functions of the core network network element, and the chip system or functional module is, for example, arranged in the core network network element. The core network network element is, for example, the first core network network element. In the following description, the method is performed by the first core network network element as an example. Optionally, the first core network network element is, for example, an SMF, or other core network network element capable of realizing similar functions. The method includes: obtaining first bandwidth-delay product (BDP) requirement information, the first BDP requirement information indicating the requirement for the product of bandwidth and transmission delay corresponding to the first service; sending first BDP information to an access network device, the first BDP information being determined based on the first BDP requirement information, and the first BDP information being used by the access network device to schedule resources for the terminal device based on the first BDP information.

[0009] The access network device in the embodiment of the present application can schedule resources for the terminal device based on the first BDP information. It can be understood that the access network device can provide QoS guarantees for the service based on the first BDP information. BDP represents the bandwidth-delay product. The efficiency and performance of network transmission can be evaluated through BDP, and ensuring BDP can also optimize the efficiency and quality of network transmission. For example, it can make the data packet transmission of the service more balanced and minimize the jitter of the service transmission. That is, the embodiment of the present application can combine parameters such as bandwidth and delay to comprehensively guarantee the performance of the network.

[0010] In combination with the first aspect, in an optional embodiment, sending the first BDP information to the access network device includes: sending a QoS profile of the QoS flow corresponding to the first service to the access network device, the QoS profile including the first BDP information, and the type of the QoS flow being a GBR type or a non-GBR type. The QoS flow will correspond to the QoS profile, and the embodiment of the present application can send the first BDP information to the access network device through the QoS profile, so that the first BDP information does not need to be sent through other signaling, which is beneficial to saving signaling overhead. Moreover, the access network device can obtain a variety of information at the same time through the QoS profile, such as the first BDP information, and can also include QoS parameters, etc., which is beneficial to simplify the process of the access network device obtaining information.

[0011] In conjunction with the first aspect, in an optional embodiment, sending first BDP information to an access network device includes: sending a first optional QoS profile and a second optional QoS profile for a QoS flow corresponding to the first service to the access network device, the first optional QoS profile including a first BDP parameter, and the second optional QoS profile including a second BDP parameter, wherein the first BDP information includes the first BDP parameter and the second BDP parameter, the first BDP parameter including a first latency range and a first bandwidth range, the second BDP parameter including a second latency range and a second bandwidth range, the first latency range and the second latency range both being latency ranges allowed by the value of the first BDP, the first bandwidth range and the second bandwidth range both being bandwidth ranges allowed by the value of the first BDP, and the QoS flow type being a GBR type or a non-GBR type. For example, in addition to corresponding to a QoS profile, a QoS flow may also correspond to one or more optional QoS profiles. If a QoS flow also corresponds to an optional QoS profile, the first BDP information may be added to the optional QoS profile and sent to the access network device, or the first BDP information may be added to both the QoS profile and the optional QoS profile and sent to the access network device, which makes the carrying method of the first BDP information more flexible.

[0012] On the second aspect, a second communication method is provided, which can be executed by a core network network element, or by other devices including the functions of a core network network element, or by a chip system (or, chip) or other functional module, which can realize the functions of a core network network element, and the chip system or functional module is, for example, arranged in a core network network element. The core network network element is, for example, a first core network network element. In the following description, the method is performed by the first core network network element as an example. Optionally, the first core network network element is, for example, an SMF, or other core network network element capable of realizing similar functions. The method includes: obtaining first BDP requirement information, the first BDP requirement information indicating the requirement for the product of bandwidth and transmission delay corresponding to the first service; sending first BDP information to a user plane functional network element, the first BDP information being determined based on the first BDP requirement information, and the first BDP information being used to instruct the user plane functional network element to send BDP information to an access network device.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present application, the first core network network element can send the first BDP information to the user plane functional network element, and then the user plane functional network element sends the corresponding BDP information to the access network device. It can be seen that the BDP information can be sent by the first core network network element to the access network device, or it can also be sent by the user plane functional network element to the access network device, which is a more flexible method. The access network device can schedule resources for the terminal device based on the first BDP information. It can be understood that the access network device can provide QoS guarantees for the service based on the first BDP information. BDP represents the bandwidth-delay product. The efficiency and performance of network transmission can be evaluated through BDP, and ensuring BDP can also optimize the efficiency and quality of network transmission. For example, it can make the data packet transmission of the service more balanced and minimize the jitter of service transmission. That is, the embodiment of the present application can combine parameters such as bandwidth and delay to consider, so as to comprehensively guarantee the performance of the network.

[0014] In conjunction with the second aspect, in an optional implementation, sending the first BDP information to the user plane functional network element includes: sending a user plane data processing rule to the user plane functional network element, wherein the user plane data processing rule includes the first BDP information. The first core network network element can include the first BDP information in the user plane data processing rule and send it to the user plane functional network element, without having to send the first BDP information through other signaling, thereby saving signaling overhead.

[0015] In conjunction with the second aspect, in an optional embodiment, the user plane data processing rule includes a forwarding action rule, and the first BDP information is included in the forwarding action rule; or the user plane data processing rule includes a packet detection rule, and the first BDP information is included in the packet detection rule. The first BDP information may be included in an existing information element in the user plane data processing rule, or may be included in a newly added information element in the user plane data processing rule, without limitation.

[0016] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in an optional implementation, obtaining the first BDP requirement information includes one or more of the following: obtaining the contract information of the terminal device from the user contract database function network element, the contract information indicating the first BDP requirement information; or, obtaining the policy rules from the policy control function network element, the policy rules indicating the first BDP requirement information; or, obtaining the first BDP requirement information from local policy information. The first core network network element can obtain the corresponding BDP requirement information through different channels to determine the first BDP requirement information. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the manner in which the first core network network element obtains the first BDP requirement information.

[0017] In combination with the first or second aspect, in an optional embodiment, obtaining the first BDP requirement information includes: obtaining 5QI information corresponding to the first service, the 5QI information indicating the first BDP requirement information. The first BDP requirement information may correspond to the 5QI of the QoS flow of the first service, so that the first BDP requirement information can be determined based on the 5QI, making it easier to indicate the first BDP requirement information.

[0018] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in an optional embodiment, the first BDP requirement information includes second BDP requirement information and third BDP requirement information. For example, one 5QI may correspond to one BDP requirement information, or may correspond to multiple BDP requirement information, so that the BDP guarantee for the QoS flow is more reliable.

[0019] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in an optional embodiment, the first BDP requirement information further indicates the priority of the second BDP requirement information and the third BDP requirement information. For example, a 5QI corresponds to multiple BDP requirement information, and one of the BDP requirement information may be used during use. Then, a selection can be made based on the priority of each BDP requirement information, for example, selecting a BDP requirement information with a higher priority, so that the network is more targeted for BDP protection.

[0020] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in an optional embodiment, the first BDP requirement information includes a BDP parameter, or includes an index corresponding to the BDP parameter. The first BDP requirement information may include the BDP parameter, so that the first core network element can directly obtain the BDP parameter; or the first BDP requirement information may also include an index, and the first core network element can determine the BDP parameter based on the index. If the first core network element obtains the index by receiving information, signaling overhead can also be reduced.

[0021] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in an optional embodiment, the first BDP information includes a BDP parameter, or includes an index corresponding to the BDP parameter. The first BDP information may include the BDP parameter, so that the access network device or the user plane functional network element can directly obtain the BDP parameter; or the first BDP information may also include an index, and the access network device or the user plane functional network element can determine the BDP parameter based on the index, thereby reducing signaling overhead.

[0022] In combination with the first aspect or the second aspect, in an optional embodiment, the BDP parameter includes one or more of the following: a BDP range, a BDP delay range, or a BDP bandwidth range, wherein the delay range is a delay range allowed by the BDP range, and the bandwidth range is a bandwidth range allowed by the BDP range. The BDP parameter may also include other parameters, which are not limited.

[0023] Regarding the technical effects brought about by the second aspect or the corresponding implementation method, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of the first aspect or the corresponding implementation method.

[0024] On the third aspect, a third communication method is provided, which can be executed by a core network network element, or by other devices including the functions of a core network network element, or by a chip system (or, chip) or other functional module, which can realize the functions of a core network network element, and the chip system or functional module is, for example, arranged in a core network network element. The core network network element is, for example, a second core network network element. In the following description, the method is taken as an example in which the second core network network element is executed. Optionally, the second core network network element is, for example, a PCF, or other core network network element capable of realizing similar functions. The method includes: obtaining information about a first service; determining first BDP requirement information based on the information about the first service, the first BDP requirement information being used to indicate the demand for the product of bandwidth and transmission delay corresponding to the first service.

[0025] The second core network element can determine the BDP requirement information based on the information of the first service, so that the network can provide BDP guarantee for the first service based on the BDP requirement information.

[0026] In conjunction with the third aspect, in an optional embodiment, the information about the first service includes one or more of the following: an identifier of the first service, type information of the first service, media format information corresponding to the first service, bandwidth requirement information of the first service, latency requirement information of the first service, or latency jitter requirement information of the first service. In addition, the information about the first service may also include other information related to the first service, which is not limited.

[0027] In combination with the third aspect, in an optional implementation, the first BDP requirement information includes a BDP parameter, or includes an index corresponding to a BDP parameter.

[0028] In combination with the third aspect, in an optional embodiment, the BDP parameters include one or more of the following: the range of BDP, the delay range of BDP, or the bandwidth range of BDP, wherein the delay range is the delay range allowed by the range of BDP, and the bandwidth range is the bandwidth range allowed by the range of BDP.

[0029] In conjunction with the third aspect, in an optional implementation, the first BDP requirement information is indicated by 5QI information corresponding to the first service. Alternatively, the method further includes: determining a 5QI corresponding to the first BDP requirement information.

[0030] In combination with the third aspect, in an optional implementation, the first BDP requirement information includes second BDP requirement information and third BDP requirement information.

[0031] In combination with the third aspect, in an optional implementation, the first BDP requirement information further indicates the priority of the second BDP requirement information and the third BDP requirement information.

[0032] In combination with the third aspect, in an optional embodiment, the method further includes: sending a BDP identifier to the application function network element, the BDP identifier corresponding to the first BDP requirement information, and the BDP identifier is used by the application function network element to carry the BDP identifier in the data packet of the first service. For example, to send BDP information to the access network device, an optional method includes sending the BDP information to the access network device through the application function network element, for example, the application function network element can send the BDP information to the access network device through the data packet of the first service. Then the second core network network element can send the BDP identifier to the application function network element, and the application function network element can carry the BDP identifier in the data packet of the first service and send it to the access network device. The access network device can determine the BDP information based on the BDP identifier.

[0033] In conjunction with the third aspect, in an optional embodiment, the method further includes: sending the first BDP requirement information to a session management network element. The second core network element may send the first BDP requirement information to the session management network element (e.g., the first core network element), so that the session management network element can determine corresponding BDP information based on the first BDP requirement information and provide it to the access network device.

[0034] In combination with the third aspect, in an optional implementation, sending the first BDP requirement information to the session management network element includes: sending the policy rules of the QoS flow corresponding to the first service to the session management network element, the policy rules including the first BDP requirement information, and the type of the QoS flow is GBR type or non-GBR type.

[0035] In combination with the third aspect, in an optional implementation, sending the first BDP requirement information to the session management network element includes: sending a policy rule of the QoS flow corresponding to the first service to the session management network element, the policy rule including a first optional QoS parameter set and a second optional QoS parameter set, the first optional QoS parameter set including a first BDP parameter, and the second optional QoS parameter set including a second BDP parameter, wherein the first BDP requirement information includes the first BDP parameter and the second BDP parameter, the first BDP parameter includes a first delay range and a first bandwidth range, the second BDP parameter includes a second delay range and a second bandwidth range, the first delay range and the second delay range are both delay ranges allowed by the value of the first BDP, and the first bandwidth range and the second bandwidth range are both bandwidth ranges allowed by the value of the first BDP.

[0036] Regarding the technical effects brought about by the third aspect or the corresponding implementation scheme, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of any aspect or the corresponding implementation scheme of the first aspect and / or the second aspect.

[0037] In a fourth aspect, a fourth communication method is provided, which can be executed by an access network device, or by other devices including the functions of an access network device, or by a chip system (or, chip) or other functional module, which can realize the functions of the access network device, and the chip system or functional module is, for example, arranged in the access network device. The access network device is, for example, a base station, or other access network device capable of realizing similar functions. In the following description, the method is taken as an example of being executed by an access network device. The method includes: receiving BDP information corresponding to a first stream; and scheduling resources for a first service transmitted by a terminal device in the first stream according to the BDP information.

[0038] For example, the access network device can receive the BDP information corresponding to the QoS flow corresponding to the first service, where the first flow is, for example, one of the QoS flows corresponding to the first service. For the QoS flow corresponding to the first service, the access network device can schedule resources for the first service transmitted by the UE in the QoS flow according to the BDP information corresponding to the QoS flow. It can be understood that the access network device can provide QoS guarantee for the first service based on the BDP information. BDP represents the bandwidth-delay product. The efficiency and performance of network transmission can be evaluated through BDP, and ensuring BDP can also optimize the efficiency and quality of network transmission. For example, it can make the data packet transmission of the service more balanced and minimize the jitter of service transmission. That is, the embodiment of the present application can take into account parameters such as bandwidth and delay, so as to comprehensively guarantee the performance of the network.

[0039] In combination with the fourth aspect, in an optional implementation, the BDP information includes a BDP parameter, or an index corresponding to the BDP parameter, or a BDP identifier.

[0040] In combination with the fourth aspect, in an optional embodiment, the BDP parameters include one or more of the following: the range of BDP, the delay range of BDP, or the bandwidth range of BDP, wherein the delay range is the delay range allowed by the range of BDP, and the bandwidth range is the bandwidth range allowed by the range of BDP.

[0041] In combination with the fourth aspect, in an optional embodiment, receiving the BDP information corresponding to the first flow includes: receiving the QoS configuration of the QoS flow corresponding to the first service, the QoS configuration includes the BDP information, and the type of the QoS flow is GBR type or non-GBR type.

[0042] In combination with the fourth aspect, in an optional embodiment, receiving BDP information corresponding to the first flow includes: receiving a first optional QoS configuration and a second optional QoS configuration of the QoS flow corresponding to the first service, the first optional QoS configuration including a first BDP parameter, and the second optional QoS configuration including a second BDP parameter, wherein the BDP information includes the first BDP parameter and the second BDP parameter, the first BDP parameter includes a first delay range and a first bandwidth range, the second BDP parameter includes a second delay range and a second bandwidth range, the first delay range and the second delay range are both delay ranges allowed by the value of the first BDP, the first bandwidth range and the second bandwidth range are both bandwidth ranges allowed by the value of the first BDP, and the type of the QoS flow is a GBR type or a non-GBR type.

[0043] In combination with the fourth aspect, in an optional embodiment, the BDP information further indicates the priority of the first BDP parameter and the second BDP parameter, and scheduling resources for the first service transmitted by the terminal device in the first stream according to the BDP information, including: scheduling resources for the first service transmitted by the terminal device in the first stream according to the BDP parameter with higher priority between the first BDP parameter and the second BDP parameter. If a BDP information corresponds to multiple BDP parameters, the BDP information can also indicate the priority of these BDP parameters, so that the access network device can select the corresponding BDP parameters according to the priority, which is more conducive to the network providing BDP guarantees according to BDP parameters with higher importance or more effectiveness.

[0044] Regarding the technical effects brought about by the fourth aspect or the corresponding implementation methods, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of any aspect or the corresponding implementation methods from the first to the third aspects.

[0045] In a fifth aspect, a fifth communication method is provided, which can be executed by a core network network element, or by other devices including core network network element functions, or by a chip system (or, chip) or other functional modules, and the chip system or functional module can realize the functions of the core network network element, and the chip system or functional module is, for example, arranged in the core network network element. The core network network element is, for example, a third core network network element. In the following description, the method is taken as an example in which the third core network network element is executed. Optionally, the third core network network element is, for example, a UPF, or other core network network element that can realize similar functions. The method includes: receiving first BDP information, the first BDP information being used to instruct the user plane function network element to send BDP information to the access network device; and sending second BDP information to the access network device, the second BDP information being determined based on the first BDP information.

[0046] In combination with the fifth aspect, in an optional implementation, sending the second BDP information to the access network device includes: sending a data packet of the first service to the access network device, wherein the header of the data packet includes the second BDP information.

[0047] In combination with the fifth aspect, in an optional implementation, the first BDP information includes a BDP parameter, or includes an index corresponding to the BDP parameter.

[0048] In combination with the fifth aspect, in an optional embodiment, the BDP parameters include one or more of the following: the range of BDP, the delay range of BDP, or the bandwidth range of BDP, wherein the delay range is the delay range allowed by the range of BDP, and the bandwidth range is the bandwidth range allowed by the range of BDP.

[0049] In combination with the fifth aspect, in an optional embodiment, receiving the first BDP information includes: receiving a user plane data processing rule from a session management network element, the user plane data processing rule including the first BDP information; or, accepting a BDP identifier from an application server, the BDP identifier indicating the first BDP information.

[0050] In combination with the fifth aspect, in an optional embodiment, the user plane data processing rule includes a forwarding action rule, and the first BDP information is included in the forwarding action rule; or, the user plane data processing rule includes a packet detection rule, and the first BDP information is included in the packet detection rule.

[0051] Regarding the technical effects brought about by the fifth aspect or the corresponding implementation scheme, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of any aspect or the corresponding implementation scheme from the first aspect to the fourth aspect.

[0052] In a sixth aspect, a sixth communication method is provided, which can be executed by a core network network element, or by other devices including core network network element functions, or by a chip system (or, chip) or other functional modules, and the chip system or functional module can realize the functions of the core network network element, and the chip system or functional module is, for example, arranged in the core network network element. The core network network element is, for example, the fourth core network element. In the following description, the method is taken as an example of being executed by the fourth core network element. Optionally, the fourth core network element is, for example, an AF, or other core network element capable of realizing similar functions. The method includes: sending information of a first service to a capability exposure function network element, the information of the first service being used to determine BDP requirement information; receiving a BDP identifier from the capability exposure function network element, the BDP identifier corresponding to the BDP requirement information; and sending a data packet corresponding to the first service, the data packet including the BDP identifier.

[0053] In combination with the sixth aspect, in an optional implementation, sending information of the first service includes: sending a first request, where the first request is used to request creation of a QoS flow corresponding to the first service, and the first request also includes information of the first service.

[0054] In combination with the sixth aspect, in an optional embodiment, the information of the first service includes one or more of the following: an identifier of the first service, type information of the first service, media format information corresponding to the first service, bandwidth requirement information of the first service, delay requirement information of the first service, or delay jitter requirement information of the first service.

[0055] Regarding the technical effects brought about by the sixth aspect or the corresponding implementation scheme, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of any aspect or the corresponding implementation scheme from the first aspect to the fifth aspect.

[0056] In a seventh aspect, a communications device is provided. The communications device may be the first core network element described in any one of the first to sixth aspects. The communications device possesses the functions of the first core network element. The communications device may be, for example, the first core network element, or a larger device including the first core network element, or a functional module within the first core network element, such as a baseband device or a system-on-chip. In one optional implementation, the communications device includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device. In another optional implementation, the communications device includes a processing unit (sometimes also referred to as a processing module) and a transceiver unit (sometimes also referred to as a transceiver module). The transceiver unit is capable of performing both transmitting and receiving functions. When the transceiver unit performs the transmitting function, it may be referred to as a transmitting unit (sometimes also referred to as a transmitting module); when the transceiver unit performs the receiving function, it may be referred to as a receiving unit (sometimes also referred to as a receiving module). The transmitting unit and the receiving unit may be the same functional module, referred to as the transceiver unit, which is capable of both transmitting and receiving functions. Alternatively, the transmitting unit and the receiving unit may be different functional modules, with the transceiver unit being a collective term for these functional modules.

[0057] In an optional embodiment, the processing unit is used to obtain first BDP demand information, where the first BDP demand information indicates the demand for the product of the bandwidth and transmission delay corresponding to the first service; the transceiver unit (or, the sending unit) is used to send the first BDP information to the access network device, where the first BDP information is determined based on the first BDP demand information, and the first BDP information is used by the access network device to schedule resources for the terminal device based on the first BDP information.

[0058] In an optional embodiment, the processing unit is used to obtain first BDP requirement information, where the first BDP requirement information indicates the requirement for the product of the bandwidth and transmission delay corresponding to the first service; the transceiver unit (or, the sending unit) is used to send the first BDP information to the user plane functional network element, where the first BDP information is determined based on the first BDP requirement information, and the first BDP information is used to instruct the user plane functional network element to send BDP information to the access network device.

[0059] In an optional embodiment, the communication device also includes a storage unit (sometimes also referred to as a storage module), and the processing unit is used to couple with the storage unit and execute the program or instructions in the storage unit, enabling the communication device to perform the functions of the first core network network element described in any one of the first to sixth aspects above.

[0060] In an eighth aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device may be the second core network element described in any one of the first to sixth aspects. The communication device has the functions of the second core network element. The communication device is, for example, a second core network element, or a larger device including a second core network element, or a functional module in a second core network element, such as a baseband device or a chip system. In an optional implementation, the communication device includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device. In another optional implementation, the communication device includes a processing unit (sometimes also referred to as a processing module) and a transceiver unit (sometimes also referred to as a transceiver module). For the implementation of the transceiver unit, reference may be made to the introduction of the seventh aspect.

[0061] In an optional embodiment, the processing unit is used to obtain information about the first service; the processing unit is also used to determine first BDP requirement information based on the information about the first service, and the first BDP requirement information is used to indicate the requirement for the product of the bandwidth and transmission delay corresponding to the first service.

[0062] In an optional embodiment, the communication device also includes a storage unit (sometimes also referred to as a storage module), and the processing unit is used to couple with the storage unit and execute the program or instructions in the storage unit, enabling the communication device to perform the functions of the second core network network element described in any one of the first to sixth aspects above.

[0063] In the ninth aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device may be the access network device described in any one of the first to sixth aspects. The communication device has the functions of the above-mentioned access network device. The communication device is, for example, an access network device, or a larger device including an access network device, or a functional module in the access network device, such as a baseband device or a chip system. In an optional implementation, the communication device includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device. In another optional implementation, the communication device includes a processing unit (sometimes also referred to as a processing module) and a transceiver unit (sometimes also referred to as a transceiver module). For the implementation of the transceiver unit, please refer to the introduction of the seventh aspect.

[0064] In an optional embodiment, the transceiver unit (or the receiving unit) is used to receive BDP information corresponding to the first stream; the processing unit is used to schedule resources for the first service transmitted by the terminal device in the first stream according to the BDP information.

[0065] In an optional embodiment, the communication device also includes a storage unit (sometimes also referred to as a storage module), and the processing unit is used to couple with the storage unit and execute the program or instructions in the storage unit, enabling the communication device to perform the functions of the access network device described in any one of the first to sixth aspects above.

[0066] In the tenth aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device may be the third core network element described in any one of the first to sixth aspects. The communication device has the functions of the third core network element. The communication device is, for example, a third core network element, or a larger device including a third core network element, or a functional module in a third core network element, such as a baseband device or a chip system. In an optional implementation, the communication device includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device. In another optional implementation, the communication device includes a processing unit (sometimes also referred to as a processing module) and a transceiver unit (sometimes also referred to as a transceiver module). For the implementation of the transceiver unit, reference may be made to the introduction of the seventh aspect.

[0067] In an optional embodiment, the transceiver unit (or, the receiving unit) is used to receive first BDP information, and the first BDP information is used to instruct the user plane functional network element to send BDP information to the access network device; the transceiver unit (or, the sending unit) is used to send second BDP information to the access network device, and the second BDP information is determined based on the first BDP information.

[0068] In an optional embodiment, the communication device also includes a storage unit (sometimes also referred to as a storage module), and the processing unit is used to couple with the storage unit and execute the program or instructions in the storage unit, enabling the communication device to perform the functions of the third core network network element described in any one of the first to sixth aspects above.

[0069] In the eleventh aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device may be the fourth core network element described in any one of the first to sixth aspects. The communication device has the functions of the fourth core network element. The communication device is, for example, a fourth core network element, or a larger device including a fourth core network element, or a functional module in a fourth core network element, such as a baseband device or a chip system. In an optional implementation, the communication device includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device. In another optional implementation, the communication device includes a processing unit (sometimes also referred to as a processing module) and a transceiver unit (sometimes also referred to as a transceiver module). For the implementation of the transceiver unit, reference may be made to the introduction of the seventh aspect.

[0070] In an optional embodiment, the transceiver unit (or, the sending unit) is used to send information of the first service to the capability exposure function network element, and the information of the first service is used to determine the BDP requirement information; the transceiver unit (or, the receiving unit) is used to receive a BDP identifier from the capability exposure function network element, and the BDP identifier corresponds to the BDP requirement information; and send a data packet corresponding to the first service, and the data packet includes the BDP identifier.

[0071] In an optional embodiment, the communication device also includes a storage unit (sometimes also referred to as a storage module), and the processing unit is used to couple with the storage unit and execute the program or instructions in the storage unit, enabling the communication device to perform the functions of the fourth core network network element described in any one of the first to sixth aspects above.

[0072] In a twelfth aspect, a communications device is provided. The communications device may be a first core network element, or a chip or chip system used in the first core network element. The communications device includes a communications interface and a processor, and optionally, a memory. The memory is configured to store a computer program. The processor is coupled to the memory and the communications interface. When the processor reads the computer program or instructions, the communications device executes the method performed by the first core network element in each of the above aspects.

[0073] In a thirteenth aspect, a communications device is provided. The communications device may be a second core network element, or a chip or chip system used in the second core network element. The communications device includes a communications interface and a processor, and optionally, a memory. The memory is configured to store a computer program. The processor is coupled to the memory and the communications interface. When the processor reads the computer program or instructions, the communications device executes the method performed by the second core network element in each of the above aspects.

[0074] In a fourteenth aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device may be an access network device, or a chip or chip system used in an access network device. The communication device includes a communication interface and a processor, and optionally, a memory. The memory is used to store a computer program. The processor is coupled to the memory and the communication interface. When the processor reads the computer program or instructions, the communication device executes the method performed by the access network device in the above aspects.

[0075] In a fifteenth aspect, a communications device is provided. The communications device may be a third core network element, or a chip or chip system used in a third core network element. The communications device includes a communications interface and a processor, and optionally, a memory. The memory is configured to store a computer program. The processor is coupled to the memory and the communications interface. When the processor reads the computer program or instructions, the communications device executes the methods performed by the third core network element in the above aspects.

[0076] In a sixteenth aspect, a communications device is provided. The communications device may be a fourth core network element, or a chip or chip system used in a fourth core network element. The communications device includes a communications interface and a processor, and optionally, a memory. The memory is configured to store a computer program. The processor is coupled to the memory and the communications interface. When the processor reads the computer program or instructions, the communications device executes the methods performed by the fourth core network element in the aforementioned aspects.

[0077] In a seventeenth aspect, a communications system is provided, comprising a first core network element and an access network device. The first core network element is configured to execute the method described in any one of the first to sixth aspects, and the access network device is configured to execute the method described in any one of the first to sixth aspects. For example, the first core network element may be implemented using the communications apparatus described in the seventh or twelfth aspect, and the access network device may be implemented using the communications apparatus described in the ninth or fourteenth aspect.

[0078] Optionally, the communication system may further include a second core network element. The second core network element is configured to execute the method described in any one of the first to sixth aspects. For example, the second core network element may be implemented by the communication device described in the eighth or thirteenth aspect.

[0079] Optionally, the communication system may further include a third core network element. The third core network element is configured to execute the method described in any one of the first to sixth aspects. For example, the third core network element may be implemented by the communication device described in the tenth or fifteenth aspect.

[0080] Optionally, the communication system may further include a fourth core network element. The fourth core network element is configured to execute the method described in any one of the first to sixth aspects. For example, the fourth core network element may be implemented by the communication device described in the eleventh or sixteenth aspect.

[0081] In an eighteenth aspect, another communication system is provided, comprising a first core network element and a third core network element. The first core network element is configured to execute the method described in any one of the first through sixth aspects, and the third core network element is configured to execute the method described in any one of the first through sixth aspects. For example, the first core network element may be implemented using the communication device described in the seventh or twelfth aspect, and the third core network element may be implemented using the communication device described in the tenth or fifteenth aspect.

[0082] Optionally, the communication system may further include an access network device. The access network device is configured to execute the method described in any one of the first to sixth aspects. For example, the access network device may be implemented by the communication apparatus described in the ninth or fourteenth aspect.

[0083] Optionally, the communication system may further include a second core network element. The second core network element is configured to execute the method described in any one of the first to sixth aspects. For example, the second core network element may be implemented by the communication device described in the eighth or thirteenth aspect.

[0084] Optionally, the communication system may further include a fourth core network element. The fourth core network element is configured to execute the method described in any one of the first to sixth aspects. For example, the fourth core network element may be implemented by the communication device described in the eleventh or sixteenth aspect.

[0085] In the nineteenth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which is used to store computer programs or instructions. When the computer-readable storage medium is executed, the method executed by the first core network element or the second core network element or the third core network element or the access network device or the fourth core network element in the above aspects is implemented.

[0086] In the twentieth aspect, a computer program product comprising instructions is provided, which, when executed on a computer, enables the methods described in the above aspects to be implemented.

[0087] In the twenty-first aspect, a chip system is provided, comprising a processor and an interface, wherein the processor is used to call and execute instructions from the interface so that the chip system implements the methods in the above aspects. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0088] FIG1A is a schematic diagram of a 5G network based on a service-oriented architecture;

[0089] FIG1B is a schematic diagram of a 5G network based on a point-to-point interface;

[0090] Figure 1C is a schematic diagram of BDP;

[0091] Figures 2, 4, 6 to 8 are flow charts of several communication methods provided in embodiments of the present application;

[0092] FIG3A , FIG3B , FIG3C and FIG5 are schematic diagrams of several QoS profiles including BDP information in embodiments of the present application;

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

[0094] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of another device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0095] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the embodiments of the present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0096] In the embodiments of the present application, the number of nouns, unless otherwise specified, means "singular noun or plural noun", that is, "one or more". "At least one" means one or more, and "plural" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A or B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B. "At least one of the following items" or "one or more of them" and other similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single items or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c, or one or more of a, b, or c, means: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a and b and c. Each of a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0097] The ordinal numbers "first" and "second" mentioned in the embodiments of this application are used to distinguish multiple objects and are not used to limit the size, content, order, timing, priority, or importance of multiple objects. In addition, the numbering of the steps in the various embodiments described in the embodiments of this application is only to distinguish different steps and is not used to define the order of the steps. For example, S202 can occur before S201, or after S201, or at the same time as S201.

[0098] Below, some terms or concepts in the embodiments of the present application are explained to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0099] (1) In the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device is a device with wireless transceiver capabilities, which can be a fixed device, a mobile device, a handheld device (such as a mobile phone), a wearable device, a vehicle-mounted device, or a wireless device built into the above devices (such as a communication module, a modem, or a chip system, etc.). The terminal device is used to connect people, objects, machines, etc., and can be widely used in various scenarios, such as but not limited to the following scenarios: perception scenarios, cellular communications, device-to-device communication (D2D), vehicle to everything (V2X), machine-to-machine / machine-type communications (M2M / MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), industrial control, self-driving, remote medical, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearable, smart transportation, smart city, drones, robots, indoor commercial scenarios (such as mobile phone screen projection, file sharing, mobile phone to VR glasses video transmission) and other scenarios. When the terminal device is applied to V2X, it can also be called a V2X device, for example, a smart car (or intelligent car), a digital car, an unmanned car (or driverless car or pilotless car or automobile), a self-driving car (or autonomous car), a pure electric vehicle (or battery EV), a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), a range-extended EV (REEV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), a new energy vehicle (new energy vehicle), or a roadside unit (RSU). The terminal device can also be a device used in D2D communication, such as an electricity meter or water meter.

[0100] In addition, in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device can also be a terminal device in an IoT system. IoT is an important part of the future development of information technology. Its main technical feature is to connect objects to the network through communication technology, thereby realizing an intelligent network of human-machine interconnection and object-to-object interconnection.

[0101] The various terminal devices described above, if located on a vehicle (e.g., placed in or installed in a vehicle), can be considered as vehicle-mounted terminal devices, which are also referred to as on-board units (OBUs). The terminal device of the present application can also be an on-board module, on-board module, on-board component, on-board chip, or on-board unit built into a vehicle as one or more components or units, and the vehicle can implement the method of the present application through the built-in on-board module, on-board module, on-board component, on-board chip, or on-board unit.

[0102] The terminal device may sometimes be referred to as UE, terminal, access station, UE station, remote station, wireless communication device, or user equipment, etc.

[0103] In the embodiments of the present application, the communication device for implementing the terminal device function may be a terminal device, or may be a device capable of supporting the terminal device to implement the function, such as a chip system, which may be installed in the terminal device. In the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are described by taking the terminal device as an example in which the device for implementing the terminal device function is a terminal device. In addition, for ease of description, the terminal device in the embodiments of the present application is described by taking a UE as an example.

[0104] (2) The network devices in the embodiments of the present application include, for example, access network devices and / or core network devices. The access network device is a device with wireless transceiver functions, which is used to communicate with the terminal device. The access network device includes but is not limited to base stations (base transceiver station (BTS), Node B, eNodeB / eNB, or gNodeB / gNB), transmission reception points (TRP), base stations subsequently evolved from the third generation partnership project (3GPP), access nodes in wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) systems, wireless relay nodes, wireless backhaul nodes, etc. The base station can be: a macro base station, a micro base station, a pico base station, a small station, a relay station, etc. Multiple base stations can support networks with the same access technology, or they can support networks with different access technologies. The base station can include one or more co-station or non-co-station transmission and reception points. The access network device may also be a wireless controller, a centralized unit (CU), and / or a distributed unit (DU) in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario. The access network device may also be a server, etc. For example, the network device in the vehicle to everything (V2X) technology may be a road side unit (RSU). The following describes the access network device using a base station as an example. The base station can communicate with the terminal device, or it can communicate with the terminal device through a relay station. The terminal device can communicate with multiple base stations in different access technologies. The core network device is used to implement functions such as mobility management, data processing, session management, policy and billing. The device names, functions, etc. that implement core network functions in systems with different access technologies may be different, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this.Taking the 5th generation (5G) mobile communication system as an example, the core network equipment includes: AMF, session management function (SMF), location management function (LMF), unified data management (UDM), policy control function (PCF), short message service function (SMSF) or user plane function (UPF), etc.

[0105] In the CU-DU architecture, the access network equipment may include one or more logical network elements such as a centralized unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU). The CU and DU may be configured separately or included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). The RU may be included in a radio frequency device or radio frequency unit, such as a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH).

[0106] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU or RU may also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in an open radio access network (ORAN) system, CU may also be referred to as open (open, O)-CU, DU may also be referred to as O-DU, CU-CP may also be referred to as O-CU-CP, CU-UP may also be referred to as O-CU-UP, and RU may also be referred to as O-RU. For the convenience of description, the embodiments of the present application are described by taking CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU and RU as examples. Any of the CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU and RU in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0107] In the embodiments of the present application, the communication device for implementing the network device function may be a network device, or may be a device capable of supporting the network device to implement the function, such as a chip system, which may be installed in the network device. In the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are described by taking the network device as an example of the device for implementing the network device function being a network device.

[0108] The current 3GPP provides QoS assurance mechanisms for 5G systems. Service QoS parameters include bandwidth-related and latency-related parameters. QoS assurance can guarantee bandwidth and latency separately. However, these parameters don't fully reflect network transmission efficiency and performance. Even if these parameters are guaranteed, network performance may not be guaranteed.

[0109] In view of this, the access network equipment in the embodiments of the present application can schedule resources for the UE based on the BDP information. This can be understood as the access network equipment providing QoS guarantees for the service based on the BDP information. BDP stands for Bandwidth-Delay Product. The BDP can be used to evaluate the efficiency and performance of network transmission, and ensuring the BDP can also optimize the efficiency and quality of network transmission. In other words, the embodiments of the present application can combine parameters such as bandwidth and delay to comprehensively guarantee network performance.

[0110] Furthermore, some current transport layer congestion control algorithms are designed based on the product of bandwidth and delay, such as the bottleneck bandwidth and round-trip propagation time (BBR) algorithm and the Westwood algorithm. However, the transport layer cannot measure both bandwidth and delay simultaneously because these two values ​​are somewhat contradictory extremes. For example, to measure maximum bandwidth, the amount of data sent must be maximized, but in this case, the round-trip delay (RTT) may be very large. Measuring minimum RTT means that the amount of data sent must be small, making it impossible to measure maximum bandwidth. The BBR algorithm alternately samples and measures these two metrics, using the maximum bandwidth and minimum delay values ​​over a period of time as estimates. However, this alternating measurement approach can affect service experience (because when measuring minimum RTT, almost no data packets are sent, affecting service continuity). Furthermore, alternating measurements cannot reflect network transmission conditions in real time and are subject to a certain lag. Adjusting application-layer packet transmission based on these measurement results also fails to fully utilize real-time network transmission capabilities. In summary, this alternating measurement may affect the user's ultimate service experience.

[0111] It can be seen that the current network cannot provide a stable BDP guarantee, so the transport layer needs to continuously detect. The embodiment of the present application can provide a stable BDP guarantee, so that the transport layer does not need to alternately measure the bandwidth and delay, but can transmit the service according to the corresponding BDP information. The impact of the alternating measurement process on the service is reduced, which is conducive to improving the user experience. For example, since there is no need to perform alternating measurements, the RTT will not increase due to measuring the maximum bandwidth, making the service transmission more stable and the delay smaller; nor will the amount of transmitted data be reduced due to measuring the minimum RTT, and the transmission capacity of the network can be maximized (or adapted).

[0112] Please refer to Figure 1A, which is a schematic diagram of a 5G network architecture based on a service-oriented architecture, which is also a network architecture used in the embodiments of this application. The 5G network architecture shown in Figure 1A can include three parts: the UE part, the data network (DN), and the operator network part.

[0113] Among them, the operator network may include one or more of the following network elements: authentication server function (AUSF) network element, network exposure function (NEF) network element, policy control function (PCF) network element, unified data management (UDM) network element, unified data repository (UDR), network storage function (NRF) network element, application function (AF) network element, access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, SMF network element, (radio) access network (R)AN) or user plane function (UPF) network element, etc.

[0114] The operator network includes a radio access network and a core network. The UE accesses the core network through the (R)AN. The core network includes user plane network elements and control plane network elements. The user plane network elements of the core network include the UPF; the control plane network elements of the core network include at least one of the following network elements: AUSF, AMF, SMF, NSSF, NEF, NRF, UDM, PCF, or AF.

[0115] User plane network elements (e.g., UPF) are primarily responsible for packet forwarding, quality of service (QoS) control, and billing information statistics. Control plane network elements are primarily responsible for business process interaction, issuing packet forwarding policies and QoS control policies to the user plane, etc. In the embodiments of the present application, it is considered that devices such as sensors can access the core network through devices such as UE and (R)AN. Therefore, controllers connected to sensors and other devices in industrial Ethernet can perform industrial data communication on the user plane through UPF.

[0116] The core network control plane can adopt a service-based architecture. That is, the interaction between control plane network elements uses service calls, replacing the point-to-point communication method in the traditional architecture. In a service-based architecture, one control plane network element will open services to other control plane network elements for them to call. In point-to-point communication, the communication interface between control plane network elements will have a specific set of messages that can only be used by the control plane network elements at both ends of the interface during communication.

[0117] The functions of network elements in the core network are described as follows:

[0118] UPF supports all or part of the following functions: interconnecting protocol data unit (PDU) sessions with data networks, packet routing and forwarding (for example, supporting uplink classifier for forwarding traffic to the data network, supporting branching points to support multi-homed PDU sessions), or packet inspection.

[0119] The AMF manages UE access and mobility. It is responsible for maintaining UE status, managing UE reachability, forwarding non-mobility management (MM) and non-access-stratum (NAS) messages, and forwarding session management (SM) N2 messages.

[0120] The SMF, or UE Session Management, allocates and releases resources for UE sessions. These resources include session quality of service (QoS), session paths, and forwarding rules. The SMF is responsible for selecting or reselecting UPFs, allocating Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, and establishing, modifying, and releasing bearers.

[0121] NEF opens network functions to third parties in the form of northbound application programming interfaces (APIs).

[0122] NRF provides storage and selection functions for network function entity information for other network elements.

[0123] PCF, User Policy Management, is used to generate and manage user, session, and QoS flow processing policies.

[0124] UDM is used to store user data, such as contract information and authentication / authorization information.

[0125] AF (Application Management) provides application layer services to the UE. When providing services to the UE, AF has requirements for QoS (policy) and charging policies, and needs to notify the network. In addition, AF also needs to feedback application-related information from the core network.

[0126] A DN refers to a network that provides data transmission services to users, such as the Internet Protocol Multimedia Service (IMS) and the Internet. A DN may include multiple application servers (AS).

[0127] The relevant interfaces between network element functions involved in the embodiments of this application include:

[0128] N1: Interface between UE and core network control plane.

[0129] N2: Communication interface between (R)AN and core network control plane.

[0130] N3: Communication interface between (R)AN and UPF, used to transmit user plane data.

[0131] N4: Communication interface between SMF and UPF, used by SMF to configure policies for UPF, etc.

[0132] N6: Communication port between UPF and DN.

[0133] Please refer to Figure 1B again, which is a schematic diagram of a 5G network architecture based on a point-to-point interface. This network architecture is another network architecture used in the embodiments of the present application. For the network elements in Figure 1B, please refer to the introduction to the relevant network elements in Figure 1A. The main difference between Figure 1B and Figure 1A is that the interfaces between the network elements in Figure 1B are point-to-point interfaces, rather than service-based interfaces.

[0134] The technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to the fourth generation mobile communication technology (the 4th generation, 4G) system, such as the LTE system, or can be applied to the fifth generation mobile communication technology (the 5th generation, 5G) system, such as the NR system, or can also be applied to the next generation mobile communication system or other similar communication systems, such as the sixth generation mobile communication technology (the 6th generation, 6G) system, etc., without specific limitation. In addition, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application can be applied to D2D scenarios, such as NR-D2D scenarios, etc., or to V2X scenarios, such as NR-V2X scenarios, etc. For example, the embodiments of the present application can be used in fields such as factory manufacturing, whole-house intelligence, intelligent driving, assisted driving, intelligent connected vehicles, or indoor commercial scenarios.

[0135] The following describes the methods provided by the embodiments of the present application in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Various embodiments of the present application involve BDP, which is briefly described below. For example, refer to Figure 1C. In network transmission, the bandwidth-delay product is closely related to network speed. Typically, bandwidth refers to the maximum speed of network transmission, usually measured in bits per second (bps); latency refers to the time required for a data packet to travel from the sender to the receiver, usually measured in milliseconds (ms). BDP is equal to the amount of data being transmitted at any given time minus the amount of data sent but not yet acknowledged. High BDP is a significant issue when designing TCP tuning, such as the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). This is because the protocol can only achieve optimal throughput when the sender sends enough data before being asked to stop transmission and wait for the receiver to send back a confirmation message that the data was successfully received. If the amount of data sent is insufficient compared to the bandwidth-delay product, the link between the sender and receiver is not kept busy, indicating that the protocol is operating below its peak transmission speed, resulting in insufficient throughput and low transmission efficiency.

[0136] Optionally, embodiments of the present application do not limit the user plane transmission protocol of the network, and may employ, for example, general packet radio service (GPRS) tunneling protocol-user plane (GTP-U), quick user datagram protocol (UDP) connections (QUIC), or remote direct memory access (RNMA). There is no limitation on the transport layer protocol either, and may employ, for example, QUIC, transmission control protocol (TCP), or RDMA.

[0137] The various embodiments of this document may be applied to the network architecture shown in FIG1A or FIG1B. For example, the access network device described in the various embodiments of this document may be the (R)AN in FIG1A or FIG1B; the first core network element described in the various embodiments of this document may be the SMF in FIG1A and FIG1B, or may be other network elements in the core network, and the following text will take SMF as an example for introduction, that is, "SMF" in the following text may be replaced by "first core network element"; the second core network element described in the various embodiments of this document may be the PCF in FIG1A or FIG1B, or may be other network elements in the core network, and the following text will take PCF as an example for introduction, that is, "PCF" in the following text may be replaced by The third core network element described in each embodiment of this document may be the UPF in FIG1A or FIG1B , or may be other network elements in the core network. The following text will take the UPF as an example for introduction, that is, the "UPF" in the following text may be replaced by the "third core network element"; the AF described in each embodiment of this document may be the AF in FIG1A or FIG1B ; the database described in each embodiment of this document may be the UDM in FIG1A or FIG1B , or may be other network elements. The following text will take the UDM as an example for introduction, that is, the "UDM" in the following text may be replaced by the "database". In the drawings corresponding to the various embodiments of this application, all steps represented by dotted lines are optional steps.

[0138] An embodiment of the present application provides a first communication method. Please refer to Figure 2, which is a flowchart of the method.

[0139] S201. The UE sends Request 1. Accordingly, the SMF receives Request 1. The UE may send Request 1 directly to the SMF without being relayed by other network elements. Alternatively, the UE may send Request 1 to the AMF, which then sends Request 1 to the SMF.

[0140] The request 1 may request to establish a PDU session, for example, the request 1 is a session establishment request message; or, the request 1 may request to modify a PDU session, for example, the request 1 is a session modification request message.

[0141] Alternatively, the embodiment of the present application may also occur in the session establishment or modification process triggered by the network side, or may not occur in the session establishment process or the session modification process. For example, the SMF can actively execute S202 described later, so S201 is an optional step.

[0142] S202. SMF obtains first BDP demand information.

[0143] The first BDP requirement information may indicate the requirement for the product of the bandwidth and transmission delay corresponding to the first service, or the first BDP requirement information may indicate the requirement for the BDP of the first service, or the first BDP requirement information indicates the requirement for the real-time transmission data volume (onflight data volume) of the first service. The first BDP requirement information corresponds to the first service. Since the number of QoS flows used to transmit the first service can be one or more, the first BDP requirement information may include one or more BDP requirement information. The one or more BDP requirement information included in the first BDP requirement information may meet one or more of the following: the one or more BDP requirement information corresponds one-to-one with the one or more QoS flows used to transmit the first service, that is, one BDP requirement corresponds to one QoS flow; or, among the one or more BDP requirement information, a certain BDP requirement information may correspond to multiple QoS flows; or, among the one or more BDP requirement information, multiple BDP requirement information may correspond to one QoS flow. For example, some services are time-variable. In some time periods, the service requires a higher transmission rate, and in other time periods, the service requires a lower transmission rate. In this case, each QoS flow in part or all of the QoS flow used to transmit the service can correspond to different BDP requirement information in different time periods to ensure the transmission of the service.

[0144] Any BDP requirement information included in the first BDP requirement information may include a BDP parameter, or include an index of a BDP parameter. The index of a BDP parameter uniquely points to (can also be understood as bound or associated with) a BDP parameter. If the BDP requirement information includes the index of the BDP parameter, the SMF can determine the BDP parameter based on the index. For example, if the SMF stores the association relationship information between the BDP parameter and the index, or the association relationship information between the BDP parameter and the index can be predefined by the protocol, the SMF can determine the BDP parameter based on the association relationship information and the index.

[0145] Optionally, the BDP parameter may include (or indicate) one or more of the following: a BDP range, a BDP latency range, or a BDP bandwidth range. The BDP range may include a specific BDP value, or may also be a BDP value range, wherein the value range includes at least one BDP value, wherein the at least one BDP value may be continuous or discrete. The BDP value may be expressed in units of, for example, kB or MB. The BDP latency range is the latency range allowed by the BDP range, and the latency range may include at least one latency. For example, the latency range is expressed as [t1, t2], and the units are, for example, milliseconds (ms) or seconds (s). The BDP bandwidth range is the bandwidth range allowed by the BDP range, and the bandwidth range may include at least one bandwidth. The units of bandwidth are, for example, bits per second (Mbps) or megabytes per second (MBps). Optionally, the product of any latency within the latency range and any bandwidth within the bandwidth range, plus the BDP range, may satisfy the first calculation rule.

[0146] For example, if the BDP range included in the BDP parameter is a specific BDP value, the first calculation rule may include that the difference between the product of any delay within the delay range and any bandwidth within the bandwidth range and the BDP value (or the absolute value of the difference) may be less than or equal to the first threshold.

[0147] For another example, if the BDP range included in the BDP parameter is a value range, the first calculation rule may include that the difference between the product of any delay within the delay range and any bandwidth within the bandwidth range and any BDP value within the BDP range (or the absolute value of the difference) may be less than or equal to the first threshold.

[0148] Optionally, the first threshold may be predefined by a protocol, or preconfigured in a corresponding network element (e.g., an SMF), or set by the SMF or other network element. The first threshold may be, for example, 0. For example, the product of any delay within the delay range and any bandwidth within the bandwidth range may be equal to the value of the BDP. Alternatively, the first threshold may be other values, which are not limited thereto.

[0149] The BDP range can constrain latency and bandwidth, reducing the probability of extreme scenarios such as excessive latency and insufficient bandwidth, or excessive latency and excessive bandwidth.

[0150] Optionally, the first BDP requirement information may be indicated by one or more of the following: indicated by the UE's subscription information, indicated by a policy rule, or indicated by the local policy information of the SMF. It can also be understood that the UE's subscription information includes the first BDP requirement information, and / or the policy rule includes the first BDP requirement information, and / or the local policy information includes the first BDP requirement information. It can also be understood that the first BDP requirement information may include (or indicate) one or more of the following: the BDP requirement information of the first service indicated by the UE's subscription information, the BDP requirement information of the first service indicated by the policy rule of the first service, or the BDP requirement information of the first service indicated by the local policy information of the SMF. Alternatively, the SMF may determine the first BDP requirement information based on one or more of the following: the BDP requirement information of the first service indicated by the UE's subscription information, the BDP requirement information of the first service indicated by the policy rule, or the BDP requirement information of the first service indicated by the local policy information. The first service is, for example, a service transmitted by a PDU session requested to be established or modified by request 1. Optionally, the policy rule is, for example, a PCC rule, and each of the following embodiments will be taken as an example.

[0151] For example, the SMF can obtain the UE's subscription information from the UDM. The subscription information can indicate the BDP requirement information for the first service, such as BDP requirement information A. BDP requirement information A corresponds to the first service, and therefore BDP requirement information A may include one or more BDP requirement information. The one or more BDP requirement information included in BDP requirement information A may satisfy one or more of the following conditions: the one or more BDP requirement information corresponds one-to-one with one or more QoS flows used to transmit the first service; or, among the one or more BDP requirement information, a certain BDP requirement information may correspond to multiple QoS flows; or, among the one or more BDP requirement information, multiple BDP requirement information may correspond to one QoS flow. BDP requirement information A and the first BDP requirement information may be the same information, for example, the SMF may use BDP requirement information A as the first BDP requirement information; or, BDP requirement information A and the first BDP requirement information may be different, for example, the SMF may obtain the first BDP requirement information based on BDP requirement information A, or the SMF may obtain the first BDP requirement information without referring to BDP requirement information A (for example, referring to the BDP requirement information indicated by the PCC rule).

[0152] The number of BDP requirement information included in BDP requirement information A may be the same as or different from the number of BDP requirement information included in the first BDP requirement information; alternatively, the QoS flow corresponding to BDP requirement information A may be completely identical to or partially identical to the QoS flow corresponding to the first BDP requirement information. Any BDP requirement information included in BDP requirement information A may include (or indicate) one or more of the following: the BDP range, indication information A, the BDP latency range, or the BDP bandwidth range. Indication information A may indicate that the UE has subscribed to BDP guarantee, but indication information A may not include (or indicate) specific BDP parameters. For an introduction to other parameters included in the BDP requirement information, please refer to the previous text. For example, if the subscription information may include indication information A but not other information, the SMF may determine that the UE has subscribed to BDP guarantee for the QoS flow corresponding to the BDP requirement information, thereby guaranteeing BDP for the transmission of the QoS flow of the UE. In this case, the factors used by the SMF to determine the first BDP requirement information do not include BDP requirement information A. For example, if the contract information does not include (or does not indicate) BDP requirement information, the SMF can obtain the first BDP requirement information based on the policy rules; or, if the contract information does not include (or does not indicate) BDP requirement information, the SMF can also obtain the first BDP requirement information based on preconfigured information or information predefined by the protocol, or the SMF can also generate the first BDP requirement information by itself.

[0153] For another example, the SMF may obtain a PCC rule from the PCF, and the PCC rule may indicate the BDP requirement information of the first service, for example, referred to as BDP requirement information B. The PCC rule corresponds to the PDU session described in S201, and the first service may be the service transmitted by the PDU session. For example, the PDU session may transmit one or more services, and the first service may be one of them. The BDP requirement information B corresponds to the first service, so the BDP requirement information B may include one or more BDP requirement information. The one or more BDP requirement information included in the BDP requirement information B may satisfy one or more of the following: the one or more BDP requirement information corresponds one-to-one to one or more QoS flows used to transmit the first service; or, among the one or more BDP requirement information, a certain BDP requirement information may correspond to multiple QoS flows; or, among the one or more BDP requirement information, multiple BDP requirement information may correspond to one QoS flow. Among them, the BDP demand information B and the first BDP demand information can be the same information, for example, the SMF can use the BDP demand information B as the first BDP demand information; or, the BDP demand information B and the first BDP demand information can also be different, for example, the SMF can obtain the first BDP demand information based on the BDP demand information B, or the SMF may not refer to the BDP demand information B when obtaining the first BDP demand information (for example, refer to the BDP demand information indicated by the contract information).

[0154] The number of BDP requirement information included in the BDP requirement information B may be the same as or different from the number of BDP requirement information included in the first BDP requirement information; or, the QoS flow corresponding to the BDP requirement information B may be completely the same as or partially the same as the QoS flow corresponding to the first BDP requirement information. Any BDP requirement information included in the BDP requirement information B may include (or indicate) one or more of the following: the range of the BDP, the delay range of the BDP, or the bandwidth range of the BDP. For an introduction to the parameters included in the BDP requirement information, please refer to the previous text. Optionally, the PCC rule includes policy control information, and the BDP requirement information B may be included in the policy control information. For example, the policy control information includes QoS parameters, and the BDP requirement information B may be included in the QoS parameters; or, the BDP requirement information B may be included in the policy control information but not included in the QoS parameters, and may be two parallel items with the QoS parameters.

[0155] For another example, the SMF may obtain local policy information, which may indicate BDP requirement information for the first service, such as BDP requirement information C. BDP requirement information C corresponds to the first service, and therefore may include one or more BDP requirement information. The one or more BDP requirement information included in BDP requirement information C may satisfy one or more of the following conditions: the one or more BDP requirement information corresponds one-to-one with one or more QoS flows used to transmit the first service; or, a certain BDP requirement information in the one or more BDP requirement information may correspond to multiple QoS flows; or, multiple BDP requirement information in the one or more BDP requirement information may correspond to one QoS flow. BDP requirement information C and the first BDP requirement information may be the same information, for example, the SMF may use BDP requirement information C as the first BDP requirement information; or, BDP requirement information C and the first BDP requirement information may be different, for example, the SMF may obtain the first BDP requirement information based on BDP requirement information C, or the SMF may obtain the first BDP requirement information without referring to BDP requirement information C (for example, by referring to the BDP requirement information indicated by the PCC rules and / or subscription information).

[0156] The number of BDP requirement information included in BDP requirement information C may be the same as or different from the number of BDP requirement information included in the first BDP requirement information; alternatively, the QoS flow corresponding to BDP requirement information C may be completely or partially identical to the QoS flow corresponding to the first BDP requirement information. Any BDP requirement information included in BDP requirement information C may include (or indicate) one or more of the following: a BDP range, indication information B, a BDP latency range, or a BDP bandwidth range. Indication information B may indicate that the UE corresponds to a BDP guarantee, but indication information B may not include (or indicate) specific BDP parameters. For an introduction to other parameters included in the BDP requirement information, please refer to the previous text. For example, if a BDP requirement information included in BDP requirement information C includes indication information B but no other information, the SMF may determine that the UE requires a BDP guarantee for the QoS flow corresponding to the BDP requirement information, and thus may guarantee a BDP for the transmission of the QoS flow for the UE. In this case, the factors used by the SMF to determine the first BDP requirement information do not include BDP requirement information C. For example, if the local policy information does not include (or does not indicate) BDP requirement information, the SMF can obtain the first BDP requirement information based on the policy rules and / or contract information; or, if the local policy information does not include (or does not indicate) BDP requirement information, the SMF can also generate the first BDP requirement information on its own.

[0157] Alternatively, the SMF may also obtain other BDP requirement information in addition to BDP requirement information A, BDP requirement information B and BDP requirement information C, and the other BDP requirement information may also be used as a reference factor for the SMF to determine the first BDP requirement information.

[0158] Take, for example, the SMF determining the first BDP requirement information based on BDP requirement information A and / or BDP requirement information B. For example, if the SMF only obtains BDP requirement information A but not BDP requirement information B, the SMF may determine the first BDP requirement information based on BDP requirement information A. For example, the SMF may directly use BDP requirement information A as the first BDP requirement information. Alternatively, if the SMF only obtains BDP requirement information B but not BDP requirement information A, the SMF may determine the first BDP requirement information based on BDP requirement information B. For example, the SMF may directly use BDP requirement information B as the first BDP requirement information. Alternatively, if the SMF obtains both BDP requirement information A and B, since BDP requirement information A is indicated by the UE's subscription information and is relatively static, while the PCC rules come from the PCF and are highly time-sensitive, the SMF may determine the first BDP requirement information based on BDP requirement information B. For example, the SMF may directly use BDP requirement information B as the first BDP requirement information without considering BDP requirement information A, thereby making the first BDP requirement information more consistent with current service requirements. Alternatively, if the SMF obtains the BDP requirement information A and the BDP requirement information B, then the SMF may also combine the BDP requirement information A and the BDP requirement information B to determine the first BDP requirement information.

[0159] The SMF determines the first BDP requirement information based on BDP requirement information A and BDP requirement information B. Optionally, one approach is to use the minimum value or minimum range of each parameter in BDP requirement information A and BDP requirement information B as the value or range of the parameter in the first BDP requirement information. For example, BDP requirement information A and BDP requirement information B both include a BDP bandwidth range, where the bandwidth range included in BDP requirement information A is [W1, W2], and the bandwidth range included in BDP requirement information B is [W3, W4]. Where W2-W1 is greater than W4-W3, the SMF can determine that the BDP bandwidth range included in the first BDP requirement information is [W3, W4]. For another example, if BDP requirement information A and BDP requirement information B both include a BDP range, where the range included in BDP requirement information A is a value, and the range included in BDP requirement information B is a value range [b, c], the SMF can determine that the BDP range included in the first BDP requirement information is a. Among them, a may be included in [b, c] or may not be included in [b, c]. SMF does not care about it, but only takes the smaller range of the two ranges.

[0160] Alternatively, another determination method is to use the intersection of the parameters in the BDP requirement information A and the BDP requirement information B as the value or range of the parameter in the first BDP requirement information. For example, both BDP requirement information A and BDP requirement information B include the range of BDP, wherein the range included in BDP requirement information A is a value range [a, b], and the range included in BDP requirement information B is a value range [c, d], wherein [c, d] is included in [a, b], then the SMF can determine that the range of BDP included in the first BDP requirement information is the value range [c, d]. For another example, both BDP requirement information A and BDP requirement information B include the range of BDP, wherein the range included in BDP requirement information A is a value, and the range included in BDP requirement information B is a value range [b, c], wherein a is included in [b, c], then the SMF can determine that the range of BDP included in the first BDP requirement information is a.

[0161] Alternatively, another determination method is to include all parameters included in the BDP requirement information A and the third BDP information in the first BDP requirement information. For example, BDP requirement information A only includes the BDP range and does not include other parameters; BDP requirement information B includes the BDP range, the BDP bandwidth range, and the BDP latency range. In this case, the SMF can determine that the first BDP requirement information includes the BDP range, the BDP bandwidth range, and the BDP latency range. Among them, because both BDP requirement information A and BDP requirement information B include the BDP range, the SMF can determine the BDP range included in the first BDP requirement information according to the method described above.

[0162] In addition to the above method, the SMF may determine the first BDP requirement information based on the BDP requirement information A and the BDP requirement information B in other ways, which are not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0163] S203. SMF sends the first BDP information. In an embodiment of the present application, SMF can send the first BDP information to the access network device, and the access network device can receive the first BDP information. Optionally, SMF can send the first BDP information to AMF, and then AMF sends the first BDP information to the access network device; or, SMF can send the first BDP information directly to the access network device without passing through AMF. Optionally, SMF can carry the first BDP information in the protocol message of the reference point between RAN and SMF (such as session management function-RAN message or session management function-RAN session management message, etc.) or in an information element (IE) during the session establishment process or session modification process. The information element is, for example, N2 session management information or N2 session management container, etc.

[0164] The first BDP information can be determined based on the first BDP requirement information. For example, the first BDP information is the first BDP requirement information, or the first BDP information and the first BDP requirement information can be different. The first BDP information corresponds to the first service, and therefore the first BDP information may include one or more BDP information. The one or more BDP information included in the first BDP information may satisfy one or more of the following conditions: the one or more BDP information corresponds one-to-one with one or more QoS flows used to transmit the first service; or, a certain BDP information in the one or more BDP information may correspond to multiple QoS flows; or, multiple BDP information in the one or more BDP information may correspond to one QoS flow. The number of BDP information included in the first BDP information may be the same as or different from the number of BDP requirement information included in the first BDP requirement information; or, the QoS flow corresponding to the first BDP information may be completely identical to or partially identical to the QoS flow corresponding to the first BDP requirement information. Any BDP information included in the first BDP information may include (or indicate) a BDP parameter or include (or indicate) a BDP index. The BDP parameters may include one or more of the following: a BDP range, a BDP latency range, or a BDP bandwidth range. For an introduction to the BDP parameters, please refer to the previous text. If the first BDP information includes an index, the access network device may determine the BDP parameters included in the first BDP information based on pre-configured information, information pre-defined by the protocol, or information negotiated with the SMF. For example, the pre-configured information, information pre-defined by the protocol, or information negotiated with the SMF includes information on the association relationship between the BDP parameters and the index.

[0165] SMF sends the first BDP information. For example, one way is that SMF adds the first BDP information to the QoS profile of the QoS flow corresponding to the first service, thereby sending the first BDP information by sending the QoS profile. The QoS flow is, for example, a guaranteed bit rate (GBR) type QoS flow or a non-GBR type QoS flow. For example, SMF can send the QoS profile to AMF, and then AMF sends the QoS profile to the access network device. Alternatively, SMF can also send the QoS profile to the access network device without forwarding it through other network elements. Among them, QoS profile and QoS flow can correspond one to one. Since the first service can correspond to one or more QoS flows, the first service can also correspond to one or more QoS profiles. SMF can also add the first BDP information to the QoS profile corresponding to the first service in a variety of different ways, as shown in the following examples.

[0166] The one or more QoS flows corresponding to the first service may include GBR-type QoS flows and / or non-GBR-type QoS flows, wherein a QoS flow may be a GBR-type QoS flow or a non-GBR-type QoS flow. As an optional way for the first BDP information to exist in the QoS profile corresponding to the first service, the QoS profile corresponding to each QoS flow of all GBR-type QoS flows and all non-GBR-type QoS flows in the one or more QoS flows may include the first BDP information; or, the QoS profile corresponding to each QoS flow in the one or more QoS flows may include the first BDP information. In this case, when the SMF adds the first BDP information to the QoS profile corresponding to the QoS flow, it does not need to distinguish whether the QoS flow is GBR-type or non-GBR-type. The first BDP information corresponds to the first service, and the first service can be transmitted through one or more QoS flows. For example, the first BDP information may include BDP information corresponding to each of the one or more QoS flows. Therefore, the first BDP information included in a QoS profile may be the BDP information of the QoS flow corresponding to the QoS profile in the first BDP information. Optionally, the first BDP information included in a QoS profile may be included in the common parameters of the QoS profile, that is, the first BDP information may not be bound to a specific QoS flow type, or may not belong to a child item or sub-parameter of the QoS flow. Alternatively, the first BDP information included in the QoS profile corresponding to a GBR type QoS flow may be included in the GBR information of the QoS profile; the first BDP information included in the QoS profile corresponding to a non-GBR type QoS flow may be included in the non-GBR information of the QoS profile.

[0167] For example, referring to Figure 3A, a schematic diagram of a QoS profile corresponding to a GBR-type QoS flow is shown. The QoS profile may include information such as the 5G QoS identifier (5G QoS identifier, 5QI) of the corresponding QoS flow, allocation and retention priority (ARP), GBR information, and first BDP information (for example, the BDP information of the QoS flow corresponding to the QoS profile in the first BDP information is included. Figure 3A takes the BDP information A as an example, and takes the BDP information as an example. The BDP information is included in the public parameters). The ARP information may include information such as priority level, preemption capability, and preemption vulnerability. The preemption capability may indicate whether to preempt other QoS flows with lower priority, and the preemption vulnerability may indicate whether to allow other QoS flows with higher priority to preempt the QoS flow. The GBR information may include guaranteed flow bit rate (GFBR), maximum flow bit rate (MFBR), notification control, maximum packet loss rate (MPLR) and other information. Among them, notification control can indicate whether to request the access network device to send a notification of inability to execute GFBR when the access network device cannot execute GFBR. MPLR can be for voice data packets.

[0168] Please refer to Figure 3B again, which is a schematic diagram of a QoS profile corresponding to a non-GBR type QoS flow. The QoS profile may include information such as 5QI, ARP, non-GBR information of the corresponding QoS flow, and also includes first BDP information (for example, the BDP information of the QoS flow corresponding to the QoS profile in the first BDP information is included. Figure 3B takes the BDP information as BDP information B as an example, and takes the BDP information as included in the public parameters as an example). Optionally, the non-GBR information may include reflective QoS (RQA), session-aggregate maximum bit rate (AMBR), UE-AMBR and other information. For the content included in the ARP information, please refer to the introduction to Figure 3A.

[0169] As another optional existence mode of the first BDP information in the QoS profile corresponding to the first service, the QoS profile corresponding to each QoS flow of all GBR-type QoS flows in the one or more QoS flows may include the first BDP information; while the QoS profile corresponding to each QoS flow of all non-GBR-type QoS flows in the one or more QoS flows may not include the first BDP information. It can be understood that the BDP of the GBR-type QoS flow can be guaranteed, while the BDP guarantee process does not need to be performed for the non-GBR-type QoS flow. The first BDP information included in a QoS profile may be the BDP information of the QoS flow corresponding to the QoS profile in the first BDP information. Optionally, the first BDP information included in the QoS profile corresponding to a GBR-type QoS flow may be included in the GBR information of the QoS profile, or may be included in the public parameters of the QoS profile. Among them, if the QoS profile corresponding to the GBR type QoS flow can include the first BDP information, and the non-GBR type QoS profile does not include the first BDP information, then when adding the first BDP information, the SMF needs to distinguish whether the QoS flow corresponding to the first service is a GBR type or a non-GBR type, thereby adding the first BDP information to the QoS profile of the GBR type QoS flow, and not adding the first BDP information to the QoS profile of the non-GBR type QoS flow.

[0170] For example, referring to Figure 3C, which is a schematic diagram of a QoS profile, the QoS flow corresponding to the QoS profile is a GBR type QoS flow, so the QoS profile may include the first BDP information (if the QoS flow corresponding to the QoS profile is a non-GBR type QoS flow, the QoS profile does not include the first BDP information). The QoS profile may include information such as 5QI, ARP, and GBR of the corresponding QoS flow. For the content included in the ARP information and the GBR information, please refer to the introduction to Figure 3A. In Figure 3C, the first BDP information may be included in the GBR information, that is, Figure 3C takes the example of the first BDP information being included in the GBR information. For example, the GBR information includes the BDP information of the QoS flow corresponding to the QoS profile in the first BDP information, and Figure 3C takes the BDP information C as an example.

[0171] Optionally, if QoS flow binding is implemented by the SMF, the SMF may also consider whether the QoS flow corresponding to the first service matches the first BDP requirement information. If the first BDP requirement information matches the QoS flow corresponding to the first service, S203 and the steps described below may be executed. If the first BDP requirement information does not match the QoS flow corresponding to the first service, S203 and the steps described below may not be executed, that is, BDP guarantee may not be provided for the first service.

[0172] S204: The access network device schedules resources for the UE according to the first BDP information.

[0173] Through the above steps, the access network device obtains the first BDP information, so that the access network device can provide BDP guarantees for all or part of the QoS flows corresponding to the first service. For example, the access network device can schedule resources for the UE to perform the first service based on the first BDP information. For example, the bandwidth of the frequency domain resources scheduled by the access network device for the UE to perform the first service can be within the bandwidth range of the BDP indicated by the first BDP information; for another example, the resources scheduled by the access network device for the UE to perform the first service can satisfy that the delay of the UE transmitting the first service through the resource is within the delay range of the BDP indicated by the first BDP information. Exemplarily, the first BDP information includes one or more BDP information. For example, for one of the BDP information 1, which corresponds to QoS flow1, the bandwidth of the resources scheduled by the access network device for QoS flow1 to transmit the first service can be within the bandwidth range of the BDP indicated by BDP information 1, and the delay of the UE transmitting the first service through the resource can be within the delay range of the BDP indicated by BDP information 1.

[0174] In summary, the access network device in the embodiment of the present application can schedule resources for the UE based on the first BDP information. It can be understood that the access network device can provide QoS guarantee for the service based on the first BDP information. BDP represents the bandwidth-delay product. The efficiency and performance of network transmission can be evaluated through BDP, and guaranteeing BDP can also optimize the efficiency and quality of network transmission. That is, the embodiment of the present application can combine parameters such as bandwidth and delay to comprehensively guarantee the performance of the network. For example, the embodiment of the present application can provide relatively stable business volume transmission by guaranteeing BDP. On the one hand, it can make the transport layer no longer need to perform alternating measurements of delay and bandwidth, thereby reducing the impact of alternating measurements on business transmission jitter and user experience degradation; in addition, by ensuring a stable BDP, network transmission traffic can also be balanced, and the utilization rate of network transmission resources can be further improved.

[0175] An embodiment of the present application provides a second communication method. Please refer to Figure 4, which is a flowchart of the method.

[0176] S401: UE sends request 1. Correspondingly, SMF receives request 1.

[0177] For more details about S401, please refer to S201 of the embodiment shown in Figure 2. Similar to the embodiment shown in Figure 2, S401 is also an optional step.

[0178] S402. SMF obtains first BDP demand information.

[0179] Optionally, the SMF obtains the first BDP requirement information, for example, including, the SMF obtains the association relationship information between the first BDP requirement information and the 5QI corresponding to the first business; or, the SMF obtains the first BDP requirement information, for example, including, the SMF obtains the 5QI corresponding to the first business, the 5QI indicates the first BDP requirement information, so that the SMF can determine the first BDP requirement information indicated by the 5QI, and Figure 4 is taken as an example. That is, the BDP requirement information and the 5QI in the embodiment of the present application can have a corresponding relationship (or an associated relationship). Among them, the 5QI and the QoS flow can correspond one to one, or one 5QI can also correspond to multiple QoS flows; the first BDP requirement information corresponds to the first business, and the first BDP requirement information may include one or more BDP requirement information. The one or more BDP requirement information included in the first BDP requirement information may satisfy one or more of the following: the one or more BDP requirement information corresponds one-to-one to one or more QoS flows used to transmit the first service, then the association relationship information may indicate multiple groups of association relationships, wherein one group of association relationships is the association relationship between one 5QI and one BDP requirement information; or, among the one or more BDP requirement information, a certain BDP requirement information may correspond to multiple QoS flows, then the association relationship information may indicate multiple groups of association relationships, wherein one group of association relationships is the association relationship between one 5QI and one BDP requirement information, and the BDP requirement information in different groups of association relationships may be the same or different, or, one group of association relationships is the association relationship between multiple 5QIs and one BDP requirement information; or, among the one or more BDP requirement information, multiple BDP requirement information may correspond to one QoS flow, then the association relationship information may indicate multiple groups of association relationships, wherein one group of association relationships is the association relationship between one 5QI and one BDP requirement information, and the 5QIs in different groups of association relationships may be the same or different, or, one group of association relationships is the association relationship between one 5QI and multiple BDP requirement information.

[0180] For the content of any BDP requirement information included in the first BDP requirement information, reference may be made to the relevant introduction of S202 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 .

[0181] For example, referring to Table 1, which is an example of the association relationship information, the association relationship information may include one or more items in Table 1, wherein a row in Table 1 is considered as one item. In Table 1, the BDP requirement information includes BDP parameters, and the BDP parameters include a BDP range, a BDP latency range, and a BDP bandwidth range.

[0182] Table 1

[0183] In Table 1, N / A indicates "none" or "not involved." In Table 1, 5QI = 2 corresponds to a BDP requirement information, such as BDP requirement information 1. The BDP range included in BDP requirement information 1 includes a BDP value of X3, a BDP latency range of [t5, t6], and a BDP bandwidth range of [BW5 mbps to BW6 mbps]. 5QI=1 corresponds to two BDP demand information, one of which (for example, BDP demand information 2) includes a BDP value within a BDP range, the BDP value is X1, the BDP delay range is [t1, t2], and the BDP bandwidth range is [BW1 mbps to BW2 mbps]. The other BDP demand information (for example, BDP demand information 3) includes a BDP value within a BDP range, the BDP value is X2, the BDP delay range is [t3, t4], and the BDP bandwidth range is [BW3 mbps to BW4 mbps]. Optionally, if a 5QI corresponds to multiple BDP demand information, the multiple BDP demand information can respectively correspond to corresponding priorities. For example, in Table 1, BDP demand information 2 and BDP demand information 3 correspond to 5QI=1, and these two BDP demand information can respectively have corresponding priorities. If the access network device obtains the two BDP demand information corresponding to 5QI=2, then when scheduling resources for the QoS flow with 5QI=2 based on the two BDP demand information, the access network device may prioritize scheduling resources based on the BDP demand information with a higher priority among the two BDP demand information. Optionally, if the BDP demand information with a higher priority is invalid or unavailable, the access network device may schedule resources based on the BDP demand information with a lower priority among the two BDP demand information.

[0184] Optionally, the first BDP requirement information may be indicated by the UE's subscription information, and / or the first BDP requirement information may be indicated by a policy rule. It may also be understood that the first BDP information includes the UE's subscription information, the UE's subscription information indicates the first BDP requirement information, and / or the first BDP information includes a policy rule, the policy rule indicating the first BDP requirement information. It may also be understood that the first BDP requirement information may include (or indicate) the BDP requirement information of the first service indicated by the UE's subscription information, and / or include the BDP requirement information of the first service indicated by the PCC rule. Alternatively, the SMF may determine the first BDP requirement information based on the BDP requirement information of the first service indicated by the UE's subscription information, and / or based on the BDP requirement information of the first service indicated by the PCC rule. The first service is, for example, a service for the PDU session transmission requested to be established or modified by request 1. Alternatively, the SMF may also obtain other BDP requirement information in addition to BDP requirement information A, BDP requirement information B, and BDP requirement information C. This other BDP requirement information may also serve as a reference factor for the SMF to determine the first BDP requirement information, without limitation. For more introduction to this part, please refer to S202 of the embodiment shown in Figure 2. Optionally, different from the embodiment shown in Figure 2, in the embodiment of the present application, the BDP demand information A indicated by the contract information may include the association relationship information between the BDP demand information A and the 5QI, or the contract information indicates the 5QI of the first service, and the SMF may determine the BDP demand information A based on the 5QI; and / or, in the embodiment of the present application, the BDP demand information B indicated by the PCC rule may include the association relationship information between the BDP demand information B and the 5QI, or the PCC rule indicates the 5QI of the first service, and the SMF may determine the BDP demand information B based on the 5QI; and / or, in the embodiment of the present application, the BDP demand information B indicated by the local policy information may include the association relationship information between the BDP demand information C and the 5QI, or the local policy information indicates the 5QI of the first service, and the SMF may determine the BDP demand information C based on the 5QI.

[0185] S403: The SMF sends the first BDP information. In the embodiment of the present application, the SMF may send the first BDP information to the access network device, and the access network device may receive the first BDP information.

[0186] The first BDP information may be determined based on the first BDP requirement information, for example, the first BDP information is the first BDP requirement information, or the first BDP information and the first BDP requirement information may also be different. For more information about the first BDP information, please refer to the embodiment shown in Figure 2. Unlike the embodiment shown in Figure 2, in the embodiment of the present application, the SMF sends the first BDP information, which may be the association relationship information between the first BDP information and the 5QI, or may be just the 5QI corresponding to the first service, and the access network device may determine the first BDP information based on the 5QI.

[0187] SMF sends the first BDP information to the access network device. For example, one way is that SMF adds the first BDP information to the QoS profile of the QoS flow corresponding to the first service, thereby sending the first BDP information by sending the QoS profile. The QoS flow is, for example, a GBR type QoS flow or a non-GBR type QoS flow. For example, SMF can send the QoS profile to AMF, and then AMF sends the QoS profile to the access network device. Alternatively, SMF can also send the QoS profile to the access network device without forwarding it through other network elements. Among them, QoS profile and QoS flow can correspond one to one. Since the first service can correspond to one or more QoS flows, the first service can also correspond to one or more QoS profiles. SMF adds the first BDP information to the QoS profile corresponding to the first service. For example, one way is that the QoS profile corresponding to each QoS flow in all or part of the QoS flows corresponding to the first service can include the association relationship information between 5QI and the first BDP information, or include 5QI. Among them, the first BDP information may include one or more BDP information, and a 5QI may correspond to part or all of the BDP information therein, then the association relationship information between the 5QI included in a QoS profile and the first BDP information may be the association relationship information between the 5QI and the BDP information corresponding to the 5QI in the first BDP information. For example, the first BDP information includes BDP information 1 (identified by BDP index#1) and BDP information 2 (identified by BDP index#2), a certain 5QI corresponds to BDP information 1 therein, and the 5QI is included in a QoS profile, then the QoS profile may include the association relationship information between the 5QI and BDP information 1 (for example, <5QI,BDP index#1>), but does not include the association relationship information between the 5QI and BDP information 2.

[0188] Among them, the first service may correspond to one or more 5QIs, and each of the 5QIs may have corresponding BDP information, or some of the 5QIs may have corresponding BDP information, while the remaining 5QIs may not have corresponding BDP information. For example, if the 5QI in a QoS profile has an association relationship with the first BDP information, the QoS profile may include the association relationship information between the 5QI and the corresponding BDP information; and if the 5QI in a QoS profile has no association relationship with the first BDP information, the QoS profile may include the 5QI but does not include the association relationship information between the 5QI and the corresponding BDP information. Alternatively, regardless of whether there is an association relationship between the 5QI and the BDP information, the QoS profile may include the 5QI but not the corresponding BDP information, and the access network device may determine the corresponding BDP information based on the association relationship between the 5QI and the BDP information.

[0189] For example, refer to Figure 5, which is a schematic diagram of a QoS profile. The QoS profile corresponds to 5QI=2, for example. According to Table 1, 5QI=2 corresponds to BDP information 1, then the QoS profile may include the association relationship information between 5QI=2 and BDP information 1, or include 5QI=2 but not BDP information 1. Figure 5 takes the QoS profile including the association relationship information between 5QI=2 and BDP information 1 as an example. Among them, the 5QI corresponding to the first BDP information, the corresponding QoS flow may include a GBR type QoS flow and / or a non-GBR type QoS flow. Figure 5 takes the QoS profile as a GBR type QoS profile as an example. For more parameters included in the QoS profile, please refer to the introduction to Figure 3A or Figure 3C in the embodiment shown in Figure 2.

[0190] S404: The access network device schedules resources for the UE according to the first BDP information.

[0191] For more details about S404 , please refer to S204 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 .

[0192] In summary, the access network device in the embodiment of the present application can schedule resources for the UE based on the first BDP information. It can be understood that the access network device can provide QoS guarantee for the service based on the first BDP information. BDP represents the bandwidth-delay product. The efficiency and performance of network transmission can be evaluated through BDP, and guaranteeing BDP can also optimize the efficiency and quality of network transmission. That is, the embodiment of the present application can combine parameters such as bandwidth and delay to comprehensively guarantee the performance of the network. Moreover, the embodiment of the present application establishes an association between 5QI and BDP information, so that the access network device can determine the corresponding BDP information based on 5QI, making the way for the access network device to obtain BDP information more direct.

[0193] An embodiment of the present application provides a third communication method. Please refer to Figure 6, which is a flowchart of the method.

[0194] S601: UE sends request 1. Correspondingly, SMF receives request 1.

[0195] For more details about S601, please refer to S201 of the embodiment shown in Figure 2. Similar to the embodiment shown in Figure 2, S601 is also an optional step.

[0196] S602. SMF obtains first BDP demand information.

[0197] For more details about S602 , please refer to S201 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 , or refer to S401 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 .

[0198] S603, SMF sends the first BDP information. In an embodiment of the present application, SMF can send the first BDP information to UPF, and UPF can receive the first BDP information. After receiving the first BDP information, UPF can send the second BDP information to the access network device. The second BDP information can be information obtained based on the first BDP information. For example, the second BDP information and the first BDP information can be the same information, that is, the second BDP information is the first BDP information; or, the second BDP information can also be different from the first BDP information. For more information about the first BDP information, please refer to S203 of the embodiment shown in Figure 2, or refer to S403 of the embodiment shown in Figure 4.

[0199] For example, the SMF may generate a user plane data processing rule based on the first BDP information, and the user plane data processing rule may include (or indicate) the first BDP information. Optionally, the user plane data processing rule is, for example, an N4 rule. For example, the first BDP information may be included in a forwarding action rule (FAR) in the N4 rule, or in a packet detection rule (PDR) in the N4 rule.

[0200] Optionally, in S603, the SMF may further send first indication information to the UPF. For example, S603 may be replaced by the SMF sending first information to the UPF, where the first information includes first BDP information and first indication information. The first indication information may instruct the UPF to send BDP information to the access network device, or instruct the access network device to send BDP information to the access network device based on the first BDP information. Upon receiving the first indication information and the first BDP information, the UPF may send second BDP information to the access network device based on the first indication information.

[0201] Alternatively, the SMF does not need to send the first indication information, but can send the first BDP information. For example, if the SMF sends the first BDP information to the UPF through the FAR in the N4 rule, then the UPF receives the FAR and can determine that the BDP information should be sent to the access network device based on the first BDP information. In this case, it can be considered that the first BDP information has an implicit indication function, indicating that the UPF sends the BDP information to the access network device, or indicating that the access network device sends the BDP information to the access network device based on the first BDP information. Alternatively, it can be considered that the first BDP information does not have an indication function, but the UPF can determine (for example, based on the FAR) that the BDP information should be indicated in the user plane data packet between the UPF and the access network device.

[0202] S604: The UPF sends a data packet corresponding to the first service to the access network device. Correspondingly, the access network device receives the data packet corresponding to the first service.

[0203] When the UPF receives a data packet corresponding to the first service, it can add the second BDP information to the data packet based on the received first BDP information (or based on the received first indication information and the first BDP information), and then send the data packet with the second BDP information added to the access network device. Therefore, the data packet of the first service processed by the UPF may include (or indicate) the second BDP information. According to the introduction of the above embodiment, it can be seen that the second BDP information may include one or more BDP information, and each BDP information corresponds to a corresponding QoS flow. Then, for example, if the data packet is transmitted through QoS flow1, the second BDP information included (or indicated) in the data packet may be the BDP information corresponding to QoS flow1 in the second BDP information. For example, the second BDP information may be included in the header of the data packet; or included in the payload of the data packet, for example, included in the first x bytes or the last x bytes of the payload, where x is a positive integer, or included in a specific byte of the payload.

[0204] The first service corresponds to one or more QoS flows, wherein each QoS flow can transmit multiple data packets corresponding to the first service. Optionally, the UPF can add second BDP information to each data packet transmitted by each QoS flow corresponding to the first service. Alternatively, the UPF can add second BDP information to some of the data packets transmitted by each QoS flow corresponding to the first service, and the partial data packets, for example, include the first K data packets transmitted by the QoS flow, where K is a positive integer; or, for example, the partial data packets are data packets separated by P data packets in the data packets transmitted by the QoS flow, for example, the partial data packets may include the i-th data packet, the i+P-th data packet, the i+2P-th data packet, and so on, transmitted by the QoS flow.

[0205] If the second BDP information in the data packet is an index, the access network device may determine the BDP parameters included in the second BDP information based on pre-configured information, information pre-defined by the protocol, or information negotiated with the SMF. For example, the pre-configured information, information pre-defined by the protocol, or information negotiated with the SMF includes information on the association relationship between the BDP parameters and the index.

[0206] S605: The access network device schedules resources for the UE according to the second BDP information.

[0207] For more details about S605 , please refer to S204 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 .

[0208] The access network device in the embodiment of the present application can schedule resources for the UE based on the second BDP information. It can be understood that the access network device can provide QoS guarantees for the service based on the second BDP information. BDP represents the bandwidth-delay product. The efficiency and performance of network transmission can be evaluated through BDP, and ensuring BDP can also optimize the efficiency and quality of network transmission. That is, the embodiment of the present application can combine parameters such as bandwidth and delay to comprehensively guarantee the performance of the network. Moreover, the embodiment of the present application can indicate the second BDP information to the access network device through the user plane data packet, without having to indicate it through the control plane signaling, which can save the control plane signaling overhead.

[0209] In the embodiments shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 4 , the example of adding the first BDP information to the QoS profile is used. In addition to corresponding to one QoS profile (in order to distinguish it from an optional QoS profile, the QoS profile is referred to as a regular QoS profile), a QoS flow may also correspond to one or more optional QoS profiles (alternative QoS profiles). Therefore, the embodiments of the present application propose that the first BDP information may also be added to the optional QoS profile, or the first BDP information may be added to the regular QoS profile and the optional QoS profile. For example, if a QoS flow corresponds to only one QoS profile, the QoS profile is a regular QoS profile; or, if a QoS flow corresponds to two or more QoS profiles, one of the QoS profiles is considered a regular QoS profile, and the remaining QoS profiles are considered optional QoS profiles. For example, the embodiments of the present application may add the first BDP information to the QoS profile corresponding to the QoS flow corresponding to the first service. For one of the QoS flows, the first BDP information may be added to all or part of the QoS profiles corresponding to the QoS flow. The all or part of the QoS profile may include the optional QoS profile and not the regular QoS profile, or may include both the optional QoS profile and the regular QoS profile.

[0210] Optionally, in this manner, if the BDP information included in the QoS profile includes a BDP parameter, the BDP parameter may not include the BDP range, but may include the BDP delay range and / or the BDP bandwidth range, etc.

[0211] Please refer to FIG. 7 . An embodiment of the present application provides a fourth communication method. In this method, the first BDP information may be included in an optional QoS profile, or included in a regular QoS profile and an optional QoS profile.

[0212] S701: UE sends request 1. Correspondingly, SMF receives request 1.

[0213] For more details about S701, please refer to S201 of the embodiment shown in Figure 2. Similar to the embodiment shown in Figure 2, S701 is also an optional step.

[0214] S702. SMF obtains first BDP demand information.

[0215] Optionally, the first BDP requirement information may include (or indicate) the BDP requirement information of the first service indicated by the UE's subscription information, and / or include the BDP requirement information of the first service indicated by the PCC rule. Alternatively, the SMF may determine the first BDP requirement information based on the BDP requirement information of the first service indicated by the UE's subscription information, and / or based on the BDP requirement information of the first service indicated by the PCC rule. The first service is, for example, a service for PDU session transmission requested to be established or modified by request 1.

[0216] For example, the SMF can obtain a PCC rule from the PCF. The PCC rule can indicate BDP requirement information for the first service, such as BDP requirement information B. For the relationship between BDP requirement information B and the first BDP requirement information, refer to S202 of the embodiment shown in FIG2 . Optionally, the PCC rule can include (or indicate) an optional QoS parameter set corresponding to the first service. The PCC rule corresponds to the PDU session described in S201, and the first service can be a service transmitted by the PDU session. For example, the PDU session can transmit one or more services, and the first service can be one of them. The first service can correspond to one or more QoS flows. Each QoS flow in some or all of the one or more QoS flows can correspond to at least one QoS parameter set. The at least one QoS parameter set can include an optional QoS parameter set (corresponding to an optional QoS profile), or a regular QoS parameter set (corresponding to a regular QoS profile) and an optional QoS parameter set. For example, each QoS flow can be a GBR-type QoS flow or a non-GBR-type QoS flow; or, the one or more QoS flows can include a GBR-type QoS flow and / or a non-GBR-type QoS flow. The PCC rule may include (or indicate) some or all QoS parameter sets corresponding to each QoS flow in some or all of the one or more QoS flows, and the BDP requirement information B may be included in these QoS parameter sets. For the relationship between the BDP requirement information B and the QoS flow, reference may be made to S202 of the embodiment shown in FIG2 . For example, the BDP requirement information B included in one of the QoS parameter sets may specifically be the BDP requirement information for the QoS flow corresponding to the QoS parameter set included in the BDP requirement information B.

[0217] The BDP requirement information B may include one or more BDP requirement information. The one or more BDP requirement information included in the BDP requirement information B may satisfy one or more of the following: the one or more BDP requirement information corresponds one-to-one with one or more QoS flows used to transmit the first service; or, among the one or more BDP requirement information, a certain BDP requirement information may correspond to multiple QoS flows; or, among the one or more BDP requirement information, multiple BDP requirement information may correspond to one QoS flow. Any BDP requirement information included in the BDP requirement information B may include a BDP parameter, or include an index of a BDP parameter. For an introduction to BDP parameters and other contents, please refer to S202 of the embodiment shown in Figure 2.

[0218] Optionally, at least one QoS parameter set corresponding to a QoS flow can be considered to belong to Q1 groups, where Q1 is a positive integer, and each of the Q1 groups can include one or more QoS parameter sets. Therefore, the Q1 groups can also be referred to as Q1 QoS parameter set groups. Optionally, each optional QoS parameter set included in a group (for example, each group) of the Q1 groups can have a corresponding priority. Q1 is, for example, the number of BDP requirement information corresponding to the QoS flow, for example, Q1 groups correspond one-to-one to Q1 BDP requirement information corresponding to the QoS flow. If a QoS flow corresponds to a BDP requirement information, then at least one QoS parameter set corresponding to the QoS flow corresponds to the BDP requirement information. The BDP parameters included in different QoS parameter sets in any of the Q1 groups may be the same or different, but the BDP parameters included in different QoS parameter sets in the group may all be parameters allowed by the BDP requirement information corresponding to the group. For example, the BDP requirement information a and the BDP requirement information b included in the BDP requirement information B both correspond to QoS flow1, wherein the range of the BDP included in the BDP requirement information a is range 1, and the range of the BDP included in the BDP requirement information b is range 2. At least one QoS parameter set corresponding to QoS flow1 is respectively included in group A and group B, and group A and group B are two groups in Q1 groups. Each QoS parameter set in group A may include a delay range of the BDP and a bandwidth range of the BDP, wherein the delay ranges included in different QoS parameter sets may be the same or different, and the bandwidth ranges included in different QoS parameter sets may be the same or different, but any delay within the delay range included in each QoS parameter set may be the delay allowed by range 1 of the BDP, and any bandwidth within the bandwidth range included in each QoS parameter set may be the bandwidth allowed by range 1 of the BDP. In addition, each QoS parameter set in group B can include a delay range of the BDP and a bandwidth range of the BDP, where the delay ranges included in different QoS parameter sets can be the same or different, and the bandwidth ranges included in different QoS parameter sets can be the same or different, but any delay within the delay range included in each QoS parameter set can be the delay allowed by range 2 of the BDP, and any bandwidth within the bandwidth range included in each QoS parameter set can be the bandwidth allowed by range 2 of the BDP.

[0219] For example, BDP range 1 is a BDP value of 6, and group A includes four QoS parameter sets. QoS parameter set 1 among the four QoS parameter sets includes, for example, a delay range of a delay value of 1, and a bandwidth range of a bandwidth value of 6; QoS parameter set 2 among the four QoS parameter sets includes, for example, a delay range of a delay value of 6, and a bandwidth range of a bandwidth value of 1; QoS parameter set 3 among the four QoS parameter sets includes, for example, a delay range of a delay value of 2, and a bandwidth range of a bandwidth value of 3; QoS parameter set 4 among the four QoS parameter sets includes, for example, a delay range of a delay value of 3, and a bandwidth range of a bandwidth value of 2. It can be seen that the product of 1 and 6, as well as the product of 2 and 3, is both 6. That is, the BDP parameters included in these four QoS parameter sets are all parameters allowed by a BDP value of 6. Alternatively, the product of the delay and bandwidth included in each of these four QoS parameter sets, when added to 6, satisfies the first calculation rule. For an introduction to the first calculation rule, etc., please refer to the embodiment shown in FIG2 .

[0220] It can be seen that in the embodiment of the present application, if the BDP requirement information included in the QoS parameter set is a BDP parameter, then the BDP parameter may not include the BDP range, but may include the BDP delay range and / or the BDP bandwidth range, etc., and different QoS parameter sets corresponding to the same BDP requirement information may include different BDP delay ranges and / or different BDP bandwidth ranges. Equivalently, the same BDP requirement information can be reflected through different BDP delay ranges and / or different BDP bandwidth ranges.

[0221] In addition, for example, if the BDP requirement information B includes a total of Q2 BDP requirement information, then the Q2 BDP requirement information can correspond to Q2 QoS parameter set groups, and the Q2 QoS parameter set groups can correspond one-to-one with the QoS flow of the first service. Then the first service corresponds to a total of Q2 QoS flows, and different QoS flows correspond to different BDP requirement information; or, multiple QoS parameter set groups in the Q2 QoS parameter set groups can correspond to a QoS flow of the first service; or, one QoS parameter set group in the Q2 QoS parameter set groups can correspond to multiple QoS flows of the first service.

[0222] For more details about S702 , such as the content and acquisition method of the first BDP requirement information, please refer to S202 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 .

[0223] S703: The SMF sends the first BDP information. In the embodiment of the present application, the SMF may send the first BDP information to the access network device, and the access network device may receive the first BDP information.

[0224] The first BDP information may be determined based on the first BDP requirement information. For example, the first BDP information is the first BDP requirement information, or the first BDP information and the first BDP requirement information may be different. The first BDP information corresponds to the first service, and therefore may include one or more BDP information. For more information on this, see S202 of the embodiment shown in FIG2 .

[0225] The SMF sends the first BDP information to the access network device. For example, one approach is for the SMF to add the first BDP information to the QoS profile of the QoS flow corresponding to the first service, thereby sending the first BDP information by sending the QoS profile corresponding to the first service. The QoS profile to which the SMF adds the first BDP information may include an optional QoS profile, or may include both an optional QoS profile and a regular QoS profile. For example, at least one QoS profile corresponding to any QoS flow of the first service may be considered to be included in Q1 groups, where Q1 is a positive integer, such as the number of BDP information corresponding to the QoS flow. For example, there is a one-to-one correspondence between Q1 groups and the Q1 BDP information corresponding to the QoS flow. The at least one QoS profile corresponding to the QoS flow may include all or part of the optional QoS profile corresponding to the QoS flow, or may include both the regular QoS profile corresponding to the QoS flow and all or part of the optional QoS profile corresponding to the QoS flow. Optionally, each optional QoS profile included in one of the Q1 groups may have a corresponding priority. For example, the access network device may select an optional QoS profile within a group in descending order of priority.

[0226] If a QoS flow corresponds to a BDP information, then at least one QoS profile corresponding to the QoS flow corresponds to the BDP information. The BDP parameters included in different QoS profiles in any of the Q1 groups may be the same or different, but the BDP parameters included in different QoS profiles in the group may all be parameters allowed by the BDP information corresponding to the group; or the BDP parameters included in different QoS profiles in the group may be determined based on the BDP information corresponding to the group. For example, the first BDP information includes the second BDP information and the third BDP information, and the second BDP information and the third BDP information both correspond to QoS flow1, wherein the second BDP information includes the BDP range 1, and the third BDP information includes the BDP range 2. At least one QoS profile corresponding to QoS flow1 is included in group A and group B, for example, group A includes M QoS profiles, and group B includes N QoS profiles, where M and N are both positive integers. Each QoS profile in group A may include a delay range of the BDP and a bandwidth range of the BDP, wherein the delay ranges included in different QoS profiles may be the same or different, and the bandwidth ranges included in different QoS profiles may be the same or different, but any delay within the delay range included in each QoS profile may be the delay allowed by range 1 of the BDP, and any bandwidth within the bandwidth range included in each QoS profile may be the bandwidth allowed by range 1 of the BDP. In addition, each QoS profile in group B may include a delay range and a bandwidth range, wherein the delay ranges included in different QoS profiles may be the same or different, and the bandwidth ranges included in different QoS profiles may be the same or different, but any delay within the delay range included in each QoS profile may be the delay allowed by range 2 of the BDP, and any bandwidth within the bandwidth range included in each QoS profile may be the bandwidth allowed by range 2 of the BDP.

[0227] In the above example, if Group A and Group B correspond to different QoS flows, and these two QoS flows correspond to the second BDP information and the third BDP information, respectively, then the implementation method of the QoS profiles in Group A and Group B is also the same as described above. It can be understood that the QoS profile corresponding to the first service (for example, including some or all optional QoS profiles of the QoS flow corresponding to the first service; or including a regular QoS profile of the QoS flow corresponding to the first service and including some or all optional QoS profiles of the QoS flow corresponding to the first service) can be divided into multiple QoS profile groups, and the multiple QoS profile groups correspond one-to-one with the BDP information included in the first BDP information. Any of the QoS profile groups can correspond to a QoS flow, and the QoS profile group can include all or some optional QoS profiles corresponding to the QoS flow, or include the regular QoS profile corresponding to the QoS flow and include all or some optional QoS profiles corresponding to the QoS flow. The latency range included in each QoS profile in any QoS profile group can be the latency range allowed by the BDP information corresponding to the group, and the bandwidth range included in each QoS profile can be the bandwidth range allowed by the BDP information corresponding to the group.

[0228] Alternatively, S703 may be replaced by SMF sending first BDP information to UPF, and UPF sending second BDP information to the access network device; or replaced by SMF sending first information to UPF, the first information including first BDP information and first indication information, and UPF sending second BDP information to the access network device.

[0229] Optionally, the SMF may generate a user plane data processing rule based on the first BDP information. The user plane data processing rule may include (or indicate) the first BDP information. Optionally, the user plane data processing rule is, for example, an N4 rule. For example, the first BDP information may be included in the FAR in the N4 rule, or included in the PDR in the N4 rule.

[0230] For example, the N4 rule may include a FAR, and the FAR may include the complete first BDP information.

[0231] Alternatively, the number of FARs included in the N4 rule is Q3, where Q3 is a positive integer. Q3 is the number of QoS profile groups to which the QoS profiles corresponding to all or part of the QoS flows of the first service belong. That is, the QoS profiles corresponding to all or part of the QoS flows of the first service belong to Q3 groups, and the Q3 FARs included in the N4 rule correspond one-to-one with the Q3 groups. For example, each of the Q3 FARs may include one of the Q3 groups. Each of the Q3 groups corresponds to a QoS flow and one of the BDP information in the first BDP information. Therefore, each of the Q3 FARs included in the N4 rule may include one of the BDP information in the first BDP information. Any of the Q3 groups may include all or part of the optional QoS profiles for the QoS flow corresponding to the group, or may include the regular QoS profile for the QoS flow corresponding to the group and all or part of the optional QoS profiles for the QoS flow corresponding to the group. Optionally, each optional QoS profile in a group included in a FAR may have a corresponding priority.

[0232] When the UPF receives a data packet corresponding to the first service, it can add the second BDP information to the data packet based on the received first BDP information (or based on the received first indication information and the first BDP information), and then send the data packet with the second BDP information added to the access network device. Therefore, the data packet of the first service processed by the UPF may include (or indicate) the second BDP information. For example, if a data packet of the first service received by the UPF is transmitted through QoS flow1, the UPF can add the BDP information corresponding to QoS flow1 to the data packet. For example, the BDP information corresponding to QoS flow1 is specifically included in a group of QoS profiles in Q3 groups, then the UPF can add all the BDP information included in this group of QoS profiles to the data packet; alternatively, the UPF can also add the BDP information included in the QoS profile with a higher priority in this group of QoS profiles to the data packet in descending order of priority; alternatively, if the group of QoS profiles includes a regular QoS profile, then the UPF can give priority to adding the BDP information included in the regular QoS profile to the data packet.

[0233] For more details about the replacement scheme of S703, such as more processing methods of UPF, the content included in the second BDP information, and the first indication information, please refer to the relevant introduction of the embodiment shown in Figure 6.

[0234] It can be seen that in the embodiment of the present application, if the BDP information included in a QoS profile is a BDP parameter, then the BDP parameter may not include the BDP range, but may include the BDP delay range (for example, the delay range is a delay value) and / or the BDP bandwidth range (for example, the bandwidth range is a bandwidth value), etc., and different QoS profiles corresponding to the same BDP information may include different BDP delay ranges and / or different BDP bandwidth ranges. Equivalently, the same BDP information can be reflected through different BDP delay ranges and / or different BDP bandwidth ranges. Therefore, for the access network device, there is no need to determine which delay and / or bandwidth should be selected by itself. The access network device only needs to select the QoS profile, and it can be executed according to the delay range (for example, delay value) and / or bandwidth range (for example, bandwidth value) included in the QoS profile, thereby simplifying the processing process of the access network device.

[0235] S704: The access network device schedules resources for the UE according to the first BDP information.

[0236] Through the above steps, the access network device obtains the first BDP information, so that the access network device can provide BDP protection for all or part of the QoS flow corresponding to the first service. Exemplarily, if a QoS flow corresponds to multiple BDP information, then these multiple BDP information can have corresponding priorities (for example, the priority corresponding to the BDP information can be indicated by the BDP information or the information carrying the BDP information, or the priority corresponding to the BDP information is preconfigured or predefined), and the access network device can select the BDP information corresponding to the QoS flow in order from high to low priority. As another example, if a BDP information corresponds to multiple QoS profiles, and these multiple QoS profiles include a regular QoS profile, the access network device may prioritize the regular QoS profile to provide BDP protection; alternatively, if these multiple QoS profiles do not include a regular QoS profile, but include multiple optional QoS profiles, these multiple optional QoS profiles may also have corresponding priorities, and the access network device may select the optional QoS profiles in descending order of priority; alternatively, if these multiple QoS profiles include a regular QoS profile and multiple optional QoS profiles, these multiple optional QoS profiles may also have corresponding priorities. For example, if the BDP information provided by the regular QoS profile is invalid or has poor effect, the access network device may select the optional QoS profiles in descending order of priority. In this way, the access network device can provide BDP protection according to the better or more important BDP information as much as possible.

[0237] For more details about S704 , please refer to S204 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 .

[0238] The access network device in the embodiment of the present application can execute the first service scheduling resource for the UE based on the first BDP information. It can be understood that the access network device can provide guarantee for the QoS of the service based on the first BDP information. BDP represents the bandwidth-delay product. The efficiency and performance of network transmission can be evaluated through BDP, and guaranteeing BDP can also optimize the efficiency and quality of network transmission. That is, the embodiment of the present application can combine parameters such as bandwidth and delay to comprehensively guarantee the performance of the network. Moreover, the embodiment of the present application can include BDP information in the optional QoS profile, and different optional QoS profiles corresponding to a BDP information can include different parameter values ​​corresponding to the BDP information. The access network device can select the corresponding optional QoS profile as needed to execute the first service scheduling resource for the UE. It is relatively simple for the access network device to implement, and it is not necessary to determine the parameter value based on the BDP information by itself.

[0239] As described in each of the aforementioned embodiments, the PCF can provide PCC rules, which may include BDP requirement information B. The following describes a fifth communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application, which illustrates how the PCF determines BDP requirement information B. Please refer to Figure 8 for a flowchart of this method. In addition to the embodiment shown in Figure 8, the PCF can also determine BDP requirement information B through other methods. Therefore, the embodiment shown in Figure 8 is an optional embodiment, and all steps therein are optional steps, which are represented by solid lines in the figure.

[0240] S801: The AF sends information about a first service to the NEF. Correspondingly, the NEF receives the information about the first service.

[0241] The information of the first service may include, for example, one or more of the following: an identifier of the first service, type information of the first service (for example, media type information of the first service), media format information corresponding to the first service, delay requirement information of the first service (for example, end-to-end delay, where the end-to-end delay is, for example, the delay from the UE to the computing node used to process the first service), bandwidth requirement information of the first service, or jitter requirement information of the first service.

[0242] Optionally, the AF may send a first request to the NEF, where the first request may include information about the first service. The first request may request the creation of a QoS flow corresponding to the first service. For example, the first request may be a QoS creation request message, or may be other messages.

[0243] S802: The NEF sends information about the first service to the PCF. Correspondingly, the PCF receives the information about the first service.

[0244] Optionally, the NEF may perform an authorization check on the first request from the AF, for example, to determine whether the AF has permission to send the first request to the PCF. If the AF is authorized, the NEF may execute S802. The NEF is an optional network element. If the NEF is not configured, S801 and S802 may be combined into one step, which includes the AF sending the first request to the PCF, and the PCF receiving the first request.

[0245] S803. The PCF determines BDP requirement information B according to the information of the first service.

[0246] For example, the PCF may determine BDP requirement information B based on information about the first service. For details about BDP requirement information B, refer to the description of any of the aforementioned method embodiments. Optionally, the PCF may determine a PCC rule based on BDP requirement information B. The PCC rule may indicate BDP requirement information B. For example, the PCC rule may include a BDP parameter corresponding to BDP requirement information B, or include an index of a BDP parameter corresponding to BDP requirement information B.

[0247] Alternatively, the PCF may determine the PCC rule independently of information from the AF. For example, the PCF may determine that the first service requires BDP protection based on the requirements of the first service, thereby determining BDP requirement information B for the first service. In this case, S801 and S802 do not need to be executed.

[0248] S804: The PCF sends a BDP identifier corresponding to the BDP requirement information B to the NEF. Accordingly, the NEF receives the BDP identifier, which may indicate the BDP requirement information B.

[0249] S805: The NEF sends the BDP identifier to the AF. Accordingly, the AF receives the BDP identifier. If the NEF is not configured, S804 and S805 can be combined into one step, which includes the PCF sending the BDP identifier to the AF, and the AF receiving the BDP identifier. The BDP identifier can also be called by other names, such as an identifier, a first identifier, or an index, without limitation.

[0250] S806: The AF sends a first data packet corresponding to the first service. Correspondingly, the UPF receives the first data packet.

[0251] For example, the first data packet may include the BDP identifier, for example, the BDP identifier is included in a header of the first data packet.

[0252] S807: The UPF sends a second data packet to the access network device. Correspondingly, the access network device receives the second data packet.

[0253] The second data packet may be determined based on the first data packet. For example, the UPF may copy the BDP identifier in the first data packet from the AF into the second data packet (the data included in the second data packet may be the same as the data included in the first data packet) according to the N4 rule from the SMF, and then send the second data packet to the access network device. Optionally, the N4 rule may instruct the UPF to add the index of the BDP parameter in the data packet from the AF to the data packet sent to the access network device.

[0254] S808. The access network device schedules resources for the UE according to the BDP requirement information B.

[0255] For example, the access network device can determine the BDP parameter corresponding to the BDP identifier based on pre-configured information or information pre-defined by the protocol or information negotiated with the SMF, and the BDP parameter is the BDP parameter included in the BDP requirement information B. For example, the pre-configured information or information pre-defined by the protocol or information negotiated with the SMF includes information on the association relationship between the BDP parameter and the BDP identifier. In addition, under this scheme, the BDP requirement information B is, for example, the first BDP information as described in the previous embodiment, that is, the BDP information used by the access network device to schedule resources for the UE. Based on this, the access network device can provide BDP guarantees for all or part of the QoS flows corresponding to the first service.

[0256] For more details about S808 , please refer to S204 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 .

[0257] In the above steps of the embodiment of the present application, the BDP information is indicated by the AF as an example. Alternatively, the BDP information needs to be passed to the access network device, and it may not be indicated by the AF. In this case, S804 to S807 above may not be executed, but instead be executed in the manner described in the aforementioned method embodiment. For example, the PCF may send the PCC rule to the SMF, and the SMF may send the first BDP information to the access network device, or the SMF may send the first BDP information to the UPF, etc. In addition, in the aforementioned method embodiment, the scheme of the SMF sending the first BDP information to the access network device may also be replaced by the scheme of the SMF sending the first BDP information to the UPF, or replaced by the scheme of the PCF sending the BDP requirement information B to the AF; in the aforementioned method embodiment, the scheme of the SMF sending the first BDP information to the UPF may also be replaced by the scheme of the SMF sending the first BDP information to the access network device, or replaced by the scheme of the PCF sending the BDP requirement information B to the AF. In other words, there are multiple ways to enable the access network device to obtain the first BDP information, such as being indicated by the AF through a data packet, or being indicated by the UPF through a data packet, or being sent by the SMF to the access network device. Any of these methods can be adopted in any embodiment of the present application.

[0258] In an embodiment of the present application, the PCF may determine the BDP requirement information B based on the information of the first service, so that the BDP requirement information B can reflect the requirements of the first service, and thus the access network device can provide a more reasonable BDP guarantee for the first service accordingly.

[0259] Figure 9 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device 900 may be the SMF or the circuit system of the SMF described in the embodiment shown in any of Figures 2, 4, 6 to 8, for implementing the method corresponding to the SMF in the above-mentioned method embodiment. Alternatively, the communication device 900 may be the PCF or the circuit system of the PCF described in the embodiment shown in any of Figures 2, 4, 6 to 8, for implementing the method corresponding to the PCF in the above-mentioned method embodiment. Alternatively, the communication device 900 may be the UPF or the circuit system of the UPF described in the embodiment shown in any of Figures 2, 4, 6 to 8, for implementing the method corresponding to the UPF in the above-mentioned method embodiment. Alternatively, the communication device 900 may be the access network device or the circuit system of the access network device described in the embodiment shown in any of Figures 2, 4, 6 to 8, for implementing the method corresponding to the access network device in the above-mentioned method embodiment. Alternatively, the communication device 900 may be the AF or the circuit system of the AF described in the embodiment shown in any of Figures 2, 4, 6 to 8, for implementing the method corresponding to the AF in the above-mentioned method embodiment. For example, one circuit system is a chip system.

[0260] The communication device 900 includes at least one processor 901. Processor 901 can be used for internal processing of the device to implement certain control processing functions. Optionally, processor 901 includes instructions. Optionally, processor 901 can store data. Optionally, different processors can be independent devices, located in different physical locations, or on different integrated circuits. Optionally, different processors can be integrated into one or more processors, for example, on one or more integrated circuits.

[0261] Optionally, the communication device 900 includes one or more memories 903 for storing instructions. Optionally, data may also be stored in the memories 903. The processor and memory may be provided separately or integrated together.

[0262] Optionally, the communication device 900 includes a communication line 902 and at least one communication interface 904. Since the memory 903, the communication line 902 and the communication interface 904 are all optional, they are indicated by dotted lines in FIG9 .

[0263] Optionally, the communication device 900 may further include a transceiver and / or an antenna. The transceiver may be used to send information to or receive information from other devices. The transceiver may be referred to as a transceiver, a transceiver circuit, an input / output interface, etc., and is used to implement the transceiver function of the communication device 900 through the antenna. Optionally, the transceiver includes a transmitter and a receiver. For example, the transmitter may be used to generate a radio frequency signal from a baseband signal, and the receiver may be used to convert the radio frequency signal into a baseband signal.

[0264] The processor 901 may include a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of the program of the present application.

[0265] Communication link 902 may include a pathway for transmitting information between the aforementioned components.

[0266] The communication interface 904 uses any transceiver or other device for communicating with other devices or communication networks, such as Ethernet, radio access network (RAN), wireless local area network (WLAN), wired access network, etc.

[0267] The memory 903 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device that can store static information and instructions, a random access memory (RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device that can store information and instructions, or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, an optical disc storage (including a compact disc, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc, Blu-ray disc, etc.), a magnetic disk storage medium or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited thereto. The memory 903 may exist independently and be connected to the processor 901 via the communication line 902. Alternatively, the memory 903 may be integrated with the processor 901.

[0268] The memory 903 is used to store computer-executable instructions for executing the solution of the present application, and the execution is controlled by the processor 901. The processor 901 is used to execute the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 903, thereby implementing the steps performed by the SMF or UPF or PCF or access network device or AF described in the embodiments shown in any one of Figures 2, 4, and 6 to 8.

[0269] Optionally, the computer-executable instructions in the embodiments of the present application may also be referred to as application code, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0270] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the processor 901 may include one or more CPUs, such as CPU0 and CPU1 in FIG. 9 .

[0271] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the communication device 900 may include multiple processors, such as the processor 901 and the processor 905 in FIG9 . Each of these processors may be a single-core (single-CPU) processor or a multi-core (multi-CPU) processor. The processor herein may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and / or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions).

[0272] When the device shown in FIG9 is a chip, such as a SMF chip, a UPF chip, a PCF chip, an access network device chip, or an AF chip, the chip includes a processor 901 (which may also include a processor 905), a communication circuit 902, and a communication interface 904. Optionally, the chip may include a memory 903. Specifically, the communication interface 904 may be an input interface, a pin, or a circuit. The memory 903 may be a register, a cache, or the like. The processor 901 and the processor 905 may be a general-purpose CPU, a microprocessor, an ASIC, or one or more integrated circuits for controlling the execution of the program of the communication method of any of the above embodiments.

[0273] In the embodiment of the present application, the functional modules of the device can be divided according to the above-mentioned method examples. 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 module 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. For example, in the case of dividing each functional module according to each function, Figure 10 shows a schematic diagram of a device. The device 1000 can be the SMF or UPF or PCF or AF or access network equipment involved in the above-mentioned various method embodiments, or a chip in the SMF or a chip in the UPF or a chip in the PCF or a chip in the access network equipment or a chip in the AF. The device 1000 includes a processing unit 1002 and a transceiver unit 1001.

[0274] It should be understood that the device 1000 can be used to implement the steps performed by SMF or UPF or PCF or AF or access network equipment in the communication method of the embodiment of the present application. The relevant features can refer to the embodiments shown in any of Figures 2, 4, 6 to 8 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0275] Optionally, the functions / implementation processes of the transceiver unit 1001 and the processing unit 1002 in FIG10 may be implemented by the processor 901 in FIG9 calling computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 903. Alternatively, the functions / implementation processes of the processing unit 1002 in FIG10 may be implemented by the processor 901 in FIG9 calling computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 903, and the functions / implementation processes of the transceiver unit 1001 in FIG10 may be implemented by the communication interface 904 in FIG9.

[0276] Optionally, when the device 1000 is a chip or circuit, the functions / implementation processes of the transceiver unit 1001 may also be implemented via pins or circuits. Optionally, the transceiver unit 1001 may include a transmitting unit and / or a receiving unit, where the transmitting unit is configured to implement the transmitting function and the receiving unit is configured to implement the receiving function; alternatively, the transceiver unit 1001 may be an integral module capable of implementing the transmitting function and / or the receiving function. Optionally, the transceiver unit 1001 may be implemented via a transceiver.

[0277] The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores a computer program or instruction. When the computer program or instruction is executed, it implements the method performed by the SMF or UPF or PCF or AF or access network device in the above-mentioned method embodiment. In this way, the functions described in the above embodiments can be implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as independent products. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present application can essentially or in other words, the part that contributes to or the part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to perform all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The storage medium includes various media that can store program code, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a ROM, a RAM, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0278] The present application also provides a computer program product, which includes: computer program code, which, when running on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method performed by the SMF, UPF, PCF, AF or access network device in any of the aforementioned method embodiments.

[0279] An embodiment of the present application also provides a processing device, including a processor and an interface; the processor is used to execute the method performed by the SMF or UPF or PCF or AF or access network device involved in any of the above method embodiments.

[0280] In the above embodiments, it can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. When software is used for implementation, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the process or function described in the embodiment of the present application is generated in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server or data center to another website, computer, server or data center via a wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) method. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that includes one or more available media integrations. The available medium can be a magnetic medium (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk, a tape), an optical medium (e.g., a DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., a solid-state drive (SSD)).

[0281] The various illustrative logic units and circuits described in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented or operated by a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an ASIC, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor, and optionally, the general-purpose processor can also be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller or state machine. The processor can also be implemented by a combination of computing devices, such as a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a digital signal processor core, or any other similar configuration.

[0282] The steps of the methods or algorithms described in the embodiments of the present application can be directly embedded in hardware, software units executed by a processor, or a combination of the two. The software unit can be stored in RAM, flash memory, ROM, erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), EEPROM, registers, hard disks, removable disks, CD-ROMs, or other storage media in any form known in the art. Exemplarily, the storage medium can be connected to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. Alternatively, the storage medium can also be integrated into the processor. The processor and storage medium can be provided in an ASIC, which can be provided in a terminal device. Alternatively, the processor and storage medium can also be provided in different components in the terminal device.

[0283] These computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing device so that a series of operating steps are executed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process, so that the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device provide steps for implementing the functions specified in one or more processes in the flowchart and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

[0284] The contents of the various embodiments of this application can refer to each other. If there is no special explanation and logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced to each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their internal logical relationships.

[0285] It is understood that in the embodiments of the present application, any one or more network elements in the SMF, UPF, PCF, AF, or access network equipment may perform some or all of the steps in the embodiments of the present application. These steps or operations are merely examples. In the embodiments of the present application, other operations or variations of various operations may also be performed. In addition, the various steps may be performed in a different order than those presented in the embodiments of the present application, and it is possible that not all operations in the embodiments of the present application need to be performed.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Obtaining first BDP demand information, where the first BDP demand information indicates a demand for a product of a bandwidth and a transmission delay corresponding to the first service; Sending first BDP information to an access network device, where the first BDP information is determined based on the first BDP requirement information, and the first BDP information is used by the access network device to schedule resources for the terminal device based on the first BDP information.

2. A communication method, characterized in that: The method comprises: Obtaining first BDP demand information, where the first BDP demand information indicates a demand for a product of a bandwidth and a transmission delay corresponding to the first service; Sending first BDP information to a user plane functional network element, where the first BDP information is determined according to the first BDP requirement information, and the first BDP information is used to instruct the user plane functional network element to send BDP information to an access network device.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: Obtain the first BDP requirement information, including one or more of the following: Obtaining contract information of a terminal device from a user contract database function network element, where the contract information indicates the first BDP requirement information; or, Obtaining a policy rule from a policy control function network element, where the policy rule indicates the first BDP requirement information; or, The first BDP requirement information is obtained from local policy information.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that Obtain first BDP requirements information, including: Obtain 5QI information corresponding to the first service, where the 5QI information indicates the first BDP requirement information.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1, 3 to 4, characterized in that: Sending first BDP information to the access network device includes: A QoS configuration file of the QoS flow corresponding to the first service is sent to the access network device, where the QoS configuration file includes the first BDP information, and the type of the QoS flow is a GBR type or a non-GBR type.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1, 3 to 4, characterized in that: Sending first BDP information to the access network device includes: A first optional QoS profile and a second optional QoS profile of the QoS flow corresponding to the first service are sent to the access network device, wherein the first optional QoS profile includes a first BDP parameter, and the second optional QoS profile includes a second BDP parameter, wherein the first BDP information includes the first BDP parameter and the second BDP parameter, the first BDP parameter includes a first delay range and a first bandwidth range, the second BDP parameter includes a second delay range and a second bandwidth range, the first delay range and the second delay range are both delay ranges allowed by the value of the first BDP, the first bandwidth range and the second bandwidth range are both bandwidth ranges allowed by the value of the first BDP, and the type of the QoS flow is a GBR type or a non-GBR type.

7. The method according to any one of claims 2, 3 to 4, characterized in that: Sending first BDP information to the user plane functional network element includes: Sending a user plane data processing rule to the user plane function network element, where the user plane data processing rule includes the first BDP information.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The user plane data processing rule includes a forwarding action rule, and the first BDP information is included in the forwarding action rule; or, The user plane data processing rule includes a packet detection rule, and the first BDP information is included in the packet detection rule.

9. A communication method, characterized in that: include: Obtaining information about the first business; First BDP requirement information is determined according to information about the first service, where the first BDP requirement information is used to indicate a requirement for a product of a bandwidth and a transmission delay corresponding to the first service.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The information of the first service includes one or more of the following: an identifier of the first service; type information of the first service; media format information corresponding to the first service; bandwidth requirement information of the first service; Delay requirement information of the first service; or, The delay jitter requirement information of the first service.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that: The first BDP requirement information is indicated by the 5QI information corresponding to the first service.

12. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that: The method further comprises: A BDP identifier is sent to an application function network element, where the BDP identifier corresponds to the first BDP requirement information, and the BDP identifier is used by the application function network element to carry the BDP identifier in a data packet of the first service.

13. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Send the first BDP requirement information to the session management network element.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that Sending the first BDP requirement information to the session management network element includes: Sending a policy rule of the QoS flow corresponding to the first service to the session management network element, the policy rule includes the first BDP requirement information, and the type of the QoS flow is a GBR type or a non-GBR type.

15. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that Sending the first BDP requirement information to the session management network element includes: Sending policy rules of the QoS flow corresponding to the first service to the session management network element, the policy rules including a first optional QoS parameter set and a second optional QoS parameter set, the first optional QoS parameter set including a first BDP parameter, the second optional QoS parameter set including a second BDP parameter, wherein the first BDP requirement information includes the first BDP parameter and the second BDP parameter, the first BDP parameter includes a first delay range and a first bandwidth range, the second BDP parameter includes a second delay range and a second bandwidth range, the first delay range and the second delay range are both delay ranges allowed by the value of the first BDP, and the first bandwidth range and the second bandwidth range are both bandwidth ranges allowed by the value of the first BDP.

16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that: The first BDP requirement information includes a BDP parameter, or includes an index corresponding to the BDP parameter.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that The BDP parameters include one or more of the following: a range of the BDP, a delay range of the BDP, or a bandwidth range of the BDP, wherein the delay range is the delay range allowed by the range of the BDP, and the bandwidth range is the bandwidth range allowed by the range of the BDP.

18. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that: The first BDP requirement information includes second BDP requirement information and third BDP requirement information.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that The first BDP requirement information further indicates priorities of the second BDP requirement information and the third BDP requirement information.

20. A communication method, characterized in that: include: Receiving BDP information corresponding to the first stream; Scheduling resources for the first service transmitted by the terminal device in the first stream according to the BDP information.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that The BDP information includes a BDP parameter, or an index corresponding to the BDP parameter, or a BDP identifier.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that The BDP parameters include one or more of the following: a range of the BDP, a delay range of the BDP, or a bandwidth range of the BDP, wherein the delay range is the delay range allowed by the range of the BDP, and the bandwidth range is the bandwidth range allowed by the range of the BDP.

23. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that: Receiving BDP information corresponding to the first stream, including: Receive a QoS configuration of a QoS flow corresponding to the first service, where the QoS configuration includes the BDP information, and a type of the QoS flow is a GBR type or a non-GBR type.

24. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that: Receiving BDP information corresponding to the first stream, including: Receive a first optional QoS configuration and a second optional QoS configuration of the QoS flow corresponding to the first service, the first optional QoS configuration including a first BDP parameter, the second optional QoS configuration including a second BDP parameter, wherein the BDP information includes the first BDP parameter and the second BDP parameter, the first BDP parameter includes a first delay range and a first bandwidth range, the second BDP parameter includes a second delay range and a second bandwidth range, the first delay range and the second delay range are both delay ranges allowed by the value of the first BDP, the first bandwidth range and the second bandwidth range are both bandwidth ranges allowed by the value of the first BDP, and the type of the QoS flow is a GBR type or a non-GBR type.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that The BDP information further indicates the priority of the first BDP parameter and the second BDP parameter, and scheduling resources for the first service transmitted by the terminal device in the first stream according to the BDP information, including: According to the BDP parameter with a higher priority among the first BDP parameter and the second BDP parameter, the terminal device is Transmit the first service scheduling resource.

26. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device includes a processing unit and a transceiver unit, and the processing unit is coupled to the transceiver unit to execute the method as described in any one of claims 1, 3 to 8, 16 to 19, or the method as described in any one of claims 2 to 8, 16 to 19, or the method as described in any one of claims 9 to 19, or the method as described in any one of claims 20 to 25.

27. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device includes a processor and a memory, the memory is used to store a computer program, and the processor is used to execute the computer program stored in the memory, so that the communication device performs the method as described in any one of claims 1, 3 to 8, 16 to 19, or the communication device performs the method as described in any one of claims 2 to 8, 16 to 19, or the communication device performs the method as described in any one of claims 9 to 19, or the communication device performs the method as described in any one of claims 20 to 25.

28. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium is used to store a computer program. When the computer program is run on a computer, the computer executes the method as described in any one of claims 1, 3 to 8, 16 to 19, or the computer executes the method as described in any one of claims 2 to 8, 16 to 19, or the computer executes the method as described in any one of claims 9 to 19, or the computer executes the method as described in any one of claims 20 to 25.

29. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product includes a computer program, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the method as claimed in any one of claims 1, 3 to 8, 16 to 19, or enables the computer to execute the method as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8, 16 to 19, or enables the computer to execute the method as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 19, or enables the computer to execute the method as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 25.

30. A chip system, characterized in that: The chip system comprises: A processor and an interface, wherein the processor is used to call and run instructions from the interface, and when the processor executes the instructions, the method as described in any one of claims 1, 3 to 8, 16 to 19 is implemented, or the method as described in any one of claims 2 to 8, 16 to 19 is implemented, or the method as described in any one of claims 9 to 19 is implemented, or the method as described in any one of claims 20 to 25 is implemented.

31. A communication system, characterized in that: The communication system includes a first core network element and an access network device, wherein: The first core network element is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 1, 3 to 8, and 16 to 19; The access network device is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 20 to 25.

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