Quality of service parameter notification method and apparatus

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of wireless communications, and provides a quality of service (QoS) parameter notification method and an apparatus, used for determining the type of QoS parameters used by an access network device. In the method, a first communication apparatus receives first information from a second communication apparatus, a QoS set corresponding to the first information comprising QoS parameters based on a QoS flow and QoS parameters based on a protocol data unit set. The first communication apparatus determines that QoS parameters used by the second communication apparatus are QoS parameters based on a QoS flow or QoS parameters based on a protocol data unit set. On the basis of the solution, the first communication apparatus can determine whether the QoS parameters used by the second communication apparatus are the QoS parameters based on the QoS flow or the QoS parameters based on the protocol data unit set, so that during the transmission of a data stream, the data stream can be processed with reference to the QoS parameters used by the second communication apparatus.

Description

A method and device for notifying quality of service parameters

[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 January 12, 2024, with application number 202410053786.7 and application name “A method and device for notifying quality of service parameters”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application; this application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China on March 8, 2024, with application number 202410266437.3 and application name “A method and device for notifying quality of service parameters”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to the field of wireless communication technology, and in particular to a method and device for notifying quality of service parameters. Background Art

[0004] The development of fifth-generation mobile communication systems (5G) has driven exponential growth in media services. Video services have become the mainstream media format, and emerging multimedia services such as 4K and 8K ultra-high-definition video and extended reality (XR) have emerged. These emerging multimedia services pose significant challenges to network transmission bandwidth, requiring improved network transmission efficiency to meet the demands of rapidly evolving services.

[0005] During data stream transmission, the concept of a protocol data unit (PDU) set is proposed. Based on this concept, PDU set-based identification and targeted processing are implemented. A PDU set can include one or more PDUs, each of which can carry a service payload.

[0006] Related technologies have proposed alternative QoS profiles. When a base station cannot meet the QoS parameters contained in a QoS profile, it selects an alternative QoS profile that does and sends an identifier of the currently selected alternative QoS profile to the core network.

[0007] However, because base stations also support PDU-aggregate-based QoS processing, alternative QoS profiles can contain both QoS flow-based and PDU-aggregate-based QoS parameters. Therefore, based on the identifier of the alternative QoS profile sent by the base station, the core network cannot determine whether the QoS parameters used by the base station are PDU-aggregate-based or QoS flow-based QoS parameters. This can result in third-party applications being unable to determine the current network status and make timely adjustments. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The present application provides a method and apparatus for notifying quality of service parameters, which are used by a core network device to determine the quality of service parameters and / or the type of quality of service parameters used by an access network device for a service flow (e.g., a Quality of Service flow, QoS flow), thereby notifying a third-party application, enabling the third-party application to determine the current state of the network and make timely adjustments based on the network state. In one possible scenario, the core network device may also notify a terminal device of the quality of service parameters and / or the type of quality of service parameters used by the access network device for the service flow.

[0009] In a first aspect, a method for notifying quality of service parameters is provided. The method can be performed by a first communication device. The first communication device can be performed by a core network device or a chip / chip system. In the method, the first communication device receives first information from a second communication device, and the quality of service set (QoS profile or Alternative QoS profile) corresponding to the first information includes quality of service parameters (QoS parameters) based on quality of service (QoS) flow and / or quality of service parameters based on protocol data unit set (PDU Set based QoS parameters). The first communication device determines the quality of service parameters used or satisfied by the second communication device for the service flow or the type of quality of service parameters used. The following uses the used ones as an example. The quality of service parameters used are quality of service parameters based on QoS flow and / or quality of service parameters based on protocol data unit set. The quality of service parameter type used is quality of service parameter type based on QoS flow and / or quality of service parameter type based on protocol data unit set.

[0010] Based on the above scheme, the first communication device can determine that the service quality parameters used by the second communication device are the service quality parameters based on the QoS flow and / or the service quality parameters based on the protocol data unit set included in the service quality set corresponding to the first information, so that during the transmission of the data flow, the data flow can be processed with reference to the service quality parameters used by the second communication device.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the first information sent by the second communication device may correspond to at least one quality of service set. Based on the above solution, the first communication device may determine that the second communication device satisfies at least one quality of service set and / or that the at least one quality of service set satisfies includes quality of service parameters. Any of the satisfied quality of service sets may include quality of service parameters based on a quality of service flow and / or quality of service parameters based on a protocol data unit set.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the second communication device sends at least one first information, each first information corresponding to a quality of service set. Based on the above solution, the first communication device may determine at least one quality of service set satisfied by the second communication device and / or at least one quality of service set satisfied includes a quality of service parameter. Any of the satisfied quality of service sets may include quality of service parameters based on a quality of service flow and / or quality of service parameters based on a protocol data unit set.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the first information sent by the second communication device may further indicate the direction of the quality of service parameter or the type of quality of service parameter used or satisfied by the second communication device for the service flow. For example, the first information indicates the direction of the quality of service parameter or the type of quality of service parameter used or satisfied by the second communication device for the uplink direction of the service flow, or the direction of the quality of service parameter or the type of quality of service parameter used or satisfied by the second communication device for the downlink direction of the service flow.

[0014] In one possible implementation, a first communication device sends the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device to a third communication device. Based on the above solution, the first communication device can inform the third communication device of the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device, thereby allowing the third communication device to know the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device during the transmission of the data stream. The quality of service parameters used by the second communication device include quality of service (QoS) flow-based quality of service parameters (QoS parameters) and / or protocol data unit set-based quality of service parameters (PDU Set-based QoS parameters).

[0015] In one possible implementation, a first communication device receives first indication information from a second communication device, where the first indication information indicates that the second communication device supports quality of service processing based on a protocol data unit set. The first communication device determines, based on the first indication information, that a quality of service parameter used by the second communication device includes a quality of service parameter based on a protocol data unit set.

[0016] Based on the above scheme, if the first indication information indicates that the second communication device supports PDU Set based QoS handling, then the first communication device can determine that the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device include PDU-based quality of service parameters, and the PDU-based quality of service parameters are the PDU-based quality of service parameters in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information.

[0017] In one possible implementation, a first communication device does not receive first indication information from a second communication device, the first indication information indicating that the second communication device supports quality of service processing based on a protocol data unit set. The first communication device determines that the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device are quality of service parameters based on a QoS flow. Alternatively, the first communication device receives second indication information from the second communication device, the second indication information indicating that the second communication device does not support quality of service processing based on a protocol data unit set. The first communication device determines, based on the second indication information, that the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device are quality of service parameters based on a QoS flow.

[0018] Based on the above scheme, if the first communication device does not receive the first indication information or receives the second indication information, the first communication device can determine that the second communication device does not support quality of service processing based on the protocol data unit set, then the first communication device can determine that the quality of service parameter used by the second communication device is the quality of service parameter based on the QoS flow in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information.

[0019] In one possible implementation, the first information is used to indicate that the quality of service parameter used is a quality of service parameter based on a QoS flow, or the first information is used to indicate that the quality of service parameter used is a quality of service parameter based on a protocol data unit set, or the first information is used to indicate that the quality of service parameter used is a quality of service parameter based on a QoS flow and a quality of service parameter based on a protocol data unit set.

[0020] Based on the above scheme, the first information, while indicating the quality of service set used by the second communication device, can also indicate that the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device are quality of service parameters based on QoS flow and / or quality of service parameters based on protocol data unit set. Therefore, the first communication device can determine, based on the first information sent by the second communication device, that the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device are quality of service parameters based on QoS flow and / or quality of service parameters based on protocol data unit set.

[0021] In one possible implementation, the first communication device includes a session management function network element. Based on the above solution, the session management function network element can receive the first information from the second communication device and determine that the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device are QoS flow-based quality of service parameters and / or protocol data unit set-based quality of service parameters.

[0022] In one possible approach, if a session management function network element receives first information or first indication information from an access network device, the SMF may determine the QoS parameters included in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information used by the access network device. For example, if the QoS parameters included in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information are QoS flow-based QoS parameters and PDU set-based QoS parameters, in one possible approach, the access network device may replace the QoS flow-based QoS parameters in the corresponding quality of service set (if corresponding alternative QoS flow-based QoS parameters exist) with the corresponding PDU set-based QoS parameters. For example, if the corresponding quality of service set includes a packet delay budget (PDB) and a PDU Set delay budget (PSDB), the access network device may replace the packet delay budget with the PDU Set delay budget. If the corresponding quality of service set includes a PDU Set packet error rate (PSER) but not a packet error rate (PER), or if the corresponding quality of service set includes a PER but not a PDU Set packet error rate, the access network device may use the included parameters as the quality of service parameters. In this case, the session management function network element can determine that the QoS parameters included in the quality of service set used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on the QoS flow and QoS parameters based on the PDU set. For example, the access network device uses the PDU Set delay budget (PSDB) and packet error rate (PER packet error rate). The (PDU Set) delay budget and (PDU Set) packet error rate are just examples, and the specific implementation can be any QoS parameters based on the QoS flow and QoS parameters based on the PDU set. For another example, the QoS parameters included in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information are QoS parameters based on the PDU set. In this case, the session management function network element can determine that the QoS parameters included in the quality of service set satisfied by the access network device are QoS parameters based on the PDU set. For another example, the QoS parameters included in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information are QoS parameters based on the QoS flow. In this case, the session management function network element can determine that the QoS parameters included in the quality of service set satisfied by the access network device are QoS parameters based on the QoS flow.

[0023] In one possible approach, if the session management function network element receives first information or first indication information from an access network device, the SMF may determine the QoS parameters included in at least one quality of service set corresponding to the first information satisfied by the access network device. For example, the quality of service sets corresponding to the first information are QoS profile 1 and QoS profile 2, QoS profile 1 includes QoS parameters based on a QoS flow, and QoS profile 2 includes QoS parameters based on a PDU set. In this case, the session management function network element may determine that the QoS parameters included in the quality of service set satisfied by the access network device are QoS parameters based on a QoS flow and QoS parameters based on a PDU set.

[0024] In one possible implementation, a first communication device includes a session management function network element and a policy control function network element. The session management function network element receives first information or first indication information from a second communication device. The session management function network element sends one or more of a used quality of service parameter, a type of used quality of service parameter, or the first information to the policy control function network element. The type of used quality of service parameter includes a quality of service parameter type based on a QoS flow and / or a quality of service parameter type based on a protocol data unit set.

[0025] Based on the above scheme, the session management function network element can indicate to the policy control function network element that the service quality parameters used by the second communication device are service quality parameters based on the QoS flow and / or service quality parameters based on the protocol data unit set, so that the policy control function network element knows the service quality parameters used by the second communication device to process the QoS flow during the transmission of the data flow.

[0026] In one example, if the first information corresponds to a quality of service set, the session management function network element sends the first information and the type of quality of service parameters used by the second communication device to the policy control function network element, or the session management function network element sends the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device to the policy control function network element.

[0027] In another example, if the first information indicates that the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device are quality of service parameters based on QoS flows and / or quality of service parameters based on protocol data unit sets, the session management function network element sends the first information to the policy control function network element.

[0028] In another example, if the first indication information indicates that the second communication device supports quality of service processing based on a protocol data unit set, the session management function network element may indicate to the policy control function network element that the second communication device supports quality of service processing based on a protocol data unit set or send the first indication information to the policy control function network element. The policy control function network element may determine that the QoS parameters included in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information used by the access network device are quality of service parameters based on a QoS flow and / or quality of service parameters based on a protocol data unit set. The specific determination method is the same as that of the session management function network element.

[0029] In a possible implementation, the first communication device further includes an application function network element, and the policy control function network element sends one or more of the quality of service parameter, the type of the quality of service parameter, or the first information to the application function network element.

[0030] Based on the above scheme, the policy control function network element sends one or more of the service quality parameters, the type of service quality parameters or the first information to the application function network element, so that the application function network element can understand the service quality parameters used by the second communication device to schedule the data flow during the transmission of the data flow.

[0031] In one example, if the first information corresponds to a quality of service set, the policy control function network element sends the first information and the type of quality of service parameters used by the second communication device to the application function network element, or the policy control function network element sends the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device to the application function network element.

[0032] In another example, if the first information indicates that the quality of service parameter used by the second communication device is a quality of service parameter based on a QoS flow and / or a quality of service parameter based on a protocol data unit set, the policy control function network element sends the first information to the application function network element.

[0033] In a possible implementation manner, the policy control function network element directly sends the first information to the application function network element or sends the first information to the application function network element through the network openness function network element.

[0034] In a possible implementation manner, the first information received by the application function network element may be the first information sent by the session management network element, or may be the first information mapped by the first information through the network open function network element.

[0035] In one possible implementation, the first communication device includes an application function network element and a policy control function network element. The application function network element sends second information to the policy control function network element, where the second information includes one or more quality of service requirements based on a protocol data unit set and / or a quality of service requirement based on a QoS flow. The policy control function network element determines one or more quality of service sets based on the one or more quality of service requirements based on a protocol data unit set and / or a quality of service requirement based on a QoS flow.

[0036] Based on the above scheme, the application function network element can send one or more service quality requirements based on a protocol data unit set and / or service quality requirements based on a QoS flow to the policy control function network element, so that the policy control function network element can determine one or more service quality sets, enabling the second communication device to select a service quality set from them to process the data flow.

[0037] In a possible implementation, the first communication device further includes a network capability exposure function network element, and the application function network element sends the second information to the policy control function network element through the network development capability network element.

[0038] In one possible implementation, the first communication device further includes a session management function network element, and the policy control function network element sends one or more quality of service sets and first information corresponding to the one or more quality of service sets to the session management function network element. The session management function sends the one or more quality of service sets and the first information corresponding to the one or more quality of service sets to the second communication device.

[0039] Based on the above solution, the policy control function network element sends the determined one or more quality of service sets and the corresponding first information to the session management function network element, enabling the second communication device to select the quality of service set to process the data flow.

[0040] In one possible implementation, the quality of service parameters based on the protocol data unit set include one or more of the following: protocol data unit set delay budget (PDU set delay budget, PSDB), protocol data unit set error rate (PDU set error rate, PSER), and protocol data unit set integrated handling information (PDU set integrated handling information, PSIHI).

[0041] In a second aspect, a method for notifying quality of service parameters is provided. The method can be performed by a second communication device. The second communication device can be an access network device or a chip / chip system. In this method, the second communication device receives one or more quality of service sets from a first communication device. Each quality of service set corresponds to one first information, and each quality of service set includes one or more quality of service parameters, including quality of service parameters based on a quality of service (QoS) flow and / or quality of service parameters based on a protocol data unit set. The second communication device sends the first information to the first communication device.

[0042] In one possible implementation, the one or more quality of service sets sent by the first communication device are one or more quality of service sets for service flows processed by the second communication device. Optionally, the one or more quality of service sets are one or more quality of service sets for uplink service flows or one or more quality of service sets for downlink service flows processed by the second communication device.

[0043] In a possible implementation manner, the first information corresponds to one or more quality of service sets.

[0044] In a possible implementation manner, the second communication device sends one or more first information to the first communication device.

[0045] In a possible implementation manner, the second communication apparatus sends first indication information to the first communication apparatus, where the first indication information indicates that the second communication apparatus supports quality of service processing based on a protocol data unit set.

[0046] In a possible implementation manner, the second communication apparatus sends second indication information to the first communication apparatus, where the second indication information indicates that the second communication apparatus does not support quality of service processing based on a protocol data unit set.

[0047] In one possible implementation, the first information indicates that the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device are the quality of service parameters based on the quality of service QoS flow in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information. Alternatively, the first information indicates that the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device are the quality of service parameters based on the protocol data unit set in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information, or the first information indicates that the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device are the quality of service parameters based on the protocol data unit set and the quality of service parameters based on the quality of service QoS flow in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information. In one possible implementation, the quality of service parameters based on the protocol data unit set include one or more of the following: protocol data unit set delay budget PDSB, protocol data unit set error code PSER, and protocol data unit set integrated processing information PSIHI.

[0048] According to a third aspect, a method for notifying quality of service parameters is provided. The method can be executed by a policy control function network element, or by a chip / chip system. In the method, the policy control function network element receives third indication information from a session management function network element, and the third indication information indicates whether the second communication device supports quality of service processing based on a protocol data unit set. The policy control function network element sends one or more quality of service sets to the second communication device. One quality of service set corresponds to one first information, one quality of service set includes one or more quality of service parameters, and the one or more quality of service parameters include quality of service parameters based on a quality of service QoS flow and / or quality of service parameters based on a protocol data unit set.

[0049] Based on the above solution, the policy control function network element can determine one or more quality of service sets based on the third indication information of the session management function network element, enabling the second communication device to select the quality of service set and quality of service parameters to process the data flow.

[0050] In one possible implementation, the third indication information indicates that the second communication apparatus does not support quality of service processing based on a protocol data unit set, and one or more quality of service sets include quality of service parameters based on a QoS flow. Alternatively, the third indication information indicates that the second communication apparatus supports quality of service processing based on a protocol data unit set, and one or more quality of service sets include quality of service parameters based on a protocol data unit set, or one or more quality of service sets include quality of service parameters based on a protocol data unit set and quality of service parameters based on a QoS flow.

[0051] In one possible implementation, the policy control function network element receives, from the session management function network element, one or more of a quality of service parameter used by the second communication device, a type of the quality of service parameter used by the second communication device, or the first information. The type of the quality of service parameter used includes a quality of service parameter type based on a QoS flow and / or a quality of service parameter type based on a protocol data unit set.

[0052] Based on the above scheme, the policy control function network element can receive one or more of the service quality parameters used by the second communication device, the type of service quality parameters used by the second communication device, or the first information from the session management function network element, thereby knowing the service quality parameters used by the second communication device.

[0053] According to a fourth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processing unit and a transceiver unit.

[0054] A transceiver unit is configured to receive first information from a second communication device, where the first information corresponds to a quality of service profile (QoS profile or Alternative QoS profile) including quality of service (QoS) parameters based on a QoS flow and / or quality of service parameters based on a protocol data unit set (PDU Set based QoS parameters). A processing unit is configured to determine a QoS parameter used or satisfied by the second communication device, or a type of QoS parameter used. Hereinafter, the QoS parameter used is QoS parameters based on a QoS flow and / or quality of service parameters based on a protocol data unit set, and the type of QoS parameter used is a QoS parameter type based on a QoS flow and / or a quality of service parameter type based on a protocol data unit set.

[0055] In one possible implementation, the transceiver unit is further configured to send the used quality of service parameters to the third communication device. The quality of service parameters used by the second communication device include quality of service (QoS) flow-based quality of service parameters (QoS parameters) and / or protocol data unit set-based quality of service parameters (PDU Set-based QoS parameters).

[0056] In one possible implementation, the transceiver unit is further configured to receive first indication information from a second communication device, the first indication information indicating that the second communication device supports quality of service processing based on a protocol data unit set. The processing unit is specifically configured to determine, based on the first indication information, that the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device include quality of service parameters based on a protocol data unit set.

[0057] In one possible implementation, first indication information from the second communication device is not received, the first indication information indicating that the second communication device supports quality of service processing based on a protocol data unit set. The processing unit is specifically configured to determine that the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device are quality of service parameters based on a QoS flow. Alternatively, the transceiver unit is further configured to receive second indication information from the second communication device, the second indication information indicating that the second communication device does not support quality of service processing based on a protocol data unit set. The processing unit is specifically configured to determine, based on the second indication information, that the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device are quality of service parameters based on a QoS flow.

[0058] In one possible implementation, the first information is used to indicate that the quality of service parameter used is a quality of service parameter based on a QoS flow, or the first information is used to indicate that the quality of service parameter used is a quality of service parameter based on a protocol data unit set, or the first information is used to indicate that the quality of service parameter used is a quality of service parameter based on a QoS flow and a quality of service parameter based on a protocol data unit set.

[0059] In a possible implementation manner, the first communication device includes a session management function network element.

[0060] In one possible implementation, a first communication device includes a session management function network element and a policy control function network element. The session management function network element receives first information from a second communication device. The session management function network element sends one or more of a used quality of service parameter, a type of used quality of service parameter, or the first information to the policy control function network element. The type of used quality of service parameter includes a quality of service parameter type based on a QoS flow and / or a quality of service parameter type based on a protocol data unit set.

[0061] In one example, if the first information corresponds to a quality of service set, the session management function network element sends the first information and the type of quality of service parameters used by the second communication device to the policy control function network element, or the session management function network element sends the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device to the policy control function network element.

[0062] In another example, if the first information indicates that the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device are quality of service parameters based on QoS flows and / or quality of service parameters based on protocol data unit sets, the session management function network element sends the first information to the policy control function network element.

[0063] In a possible implementation, the first communication device further includes an application function network element, and the policy control function network element sends one or more of the quality of service parameter, the type of the quality of service parameter, or the first information to the application function network element.

[0064] In one example, if the first information corresponds to a quality of service set, the policy control function network element sends the first information and the type of quality of service parameters used by the second communication device to the application function network element, or the policy control function network element sends the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device and the type of quality of service parameters used by the second communication device to the application function network element.

[0065] In another example, if the first information indicates that the quality of service parameter used by the second communication device is a quality of service parameter based on a QoS flow or a quality of service parameter based on a protocol data unit set, the policy control function network element sends the first information to the application function network element.

[0066] In a possible implementation manner, the policy control function network element directly sends the first information to the application function network element or sends the first information to the application function network element through the network openness function network element.

[0067] In a possible implementation manner, the first information received by the application function network element may be the first information sent by the session management network element, or may be the first information mapped by the first information through the network open function network element.

[0068] In one possible implementation, the first communication device includes an application function network element and a policy control function network element. The application function network element sends second information to the policy control function network element, where the second information includes one or more quality of service requirements based on a protocol data unit set and / or a quality of service requirement based on a QoS flow. The policy control function network element determines one or more quality of service sets based on the one or more quality of service requirements based on a protocol data unit set and the quality of service requirement based on a QoS flow.

[0069] In a possible implementation, the first communication device further includes a network capability exposure function network element, and the application function network element sends the second information to the policy control function network element through the network development capability network element.

[0070] In one possible implementation, the first communication device further includes a session management function network element, and the policy control function network element sends one or more quality of service sets and first information corresponding to the one or more quality of service sets to the session management function network element. The session management function sends the one or more quality of service sets and the first information corresponding to the one or more quality of service sets to the second communication device.

[0071] In a possible implementation, the quality of service parameter based on the protocol data unit set includes one or more of the following: a delay budget of the protocol data unit set, a bit error rate of the protocol data unit set, and integrated processing information of the protocol data unit set.

[0072] In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processing unit and a transceiver unit.

[0073] A transceiver unit is configured to receive one or more quality of service sets from a first communication device. Each quality of service set corresponds to one piece of first information, and each quality of service set includes one or more quality of service parameters, including quality of service parameters based on a quality of service (QoS) flow and quality of service parameters based on a protocol data unit set. A processing unit is configured to determine the first information. The transceiver unit is further configured to send the first information to the first communication device.

[0074] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is further configured to send first indication information to the first communication device, where the first indication information indicates that the communication device supports quality of service processing based on a protocol data unit set.

[0075] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is further configured to send second indication information to the first communication device, where the second indication information indicates that the communication device does not support quality of service processing based on a protocol data unit set.

[0076] In one possible implementation, the first information indicates that the quality of service parameter used by the communication device is a quality of service parameter based on a quality of service QoS flow among one or more quality of service parameters included in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information. Alternatively, the first information indicates that the quality of service parameter used by the communication device is a quality of service parameter based on a protocol data unit set among one or more quality of service parameters included in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information.

[0077] In a possible implementation, the quality of service parameter based on the protocol data unit set includes one or more of the following: a delay budget of the protocol data unit set, a bit error rate of the protocol data unit set, and integrated processing information of the protocol data unit set.

[0078] In a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processing unit and a transceiver unit.

[0079] The transceiver unit is configured to receive third indication information from a session management function network element, the third indication information indicating whether the second communication device supports quality of service processing based on a protocol data unit set. The processing unit is configured to determine one or more quality of service sets. The transceiver unit is further configured to send the one or more quality of service sets to the second communication device. Each quality of service set corresponds to one piece of first information, and each quality of service set includes one or more quality of service parameters, and the one or more quality of service parameters include quality of service parameters based on a quality of service QoS flow and / or quality of service parameters based on a protocol data unit set.

[0080] In one possible implementation, the third indication information indicates that the second communication apparatus does not support quality of service processing based on a protocol data unit set, and one or more quality of service sets include quality of service parameters based on a QoS flow. Alternatively, the third indication information indicates that the second communication apparatus supports quality of service processing based on a protocol data unit set, and one or more quality of service sets include quality of service parameters based on a protocol data unit set, or one or more quality of service sets include quality of service parameters based on a protocol data unit set and quality of service parameters based on a QoS flow.

[0081] In one possible implementation, the transceiver unit is further configured to receive, from the session management function network element, one or more of a quality of service parameter used by the second communication device, a type of the quality of service parameter used by the second communication device, or the first information. The type of the quality of service parameter used includes a quality of service parameter type based on a QoS flow or a quality of service parameter type based on a protocol data unit set.

[0082] In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication system, which may include a first communication device that performs the method described in the first aspect and a second communication device that performs the method described in the second aspect. Alternatively, the communication system may include a policy control function network element and a session management function network element that perform the method described in the third aspect.

[0083] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which computer-readable instructions are stored. When a computer reads and executes the computer-readable instructions, the computer executes a method in any possible implementation of any of the first to third aspects above.

[0084] In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product. When a computer reads and executes the computer program product, the computer executes the method in any possible implementation of any one of the first to third aspects above.

[0085] In a tenth aspect, the present application provides a chip, which is used to read a computer program stored in a memory to execute a method in any possible implementation of any one of the first to third aspects above.

[0086] The technical effects that can be achieved in any of the fourth to tenth aspects mentioned above can refer to the description of the technical effects that can be achieved in any possible implementation method of any of the first to third aspects mentioned above, and repetitions will not be discussed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0087] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0088] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a PDU set processing process provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0089] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of an alternative QoS file notification method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0090] FIG4 is an exemplary flow chart of a method for notifying a quality of service parameter according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0091] FIG5 is an exemplary flow chart of another method for notifying quality of service parameters provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0092] FIG6 is an exemplary flow chart of another method for notifying quality of service parameters provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0093] FIG7 is an exemplary flow chart of another method for notifying quality of service parameters provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0094] FIG8 is an exemplary flow chart of another method for notifying quality of service parameters provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0095] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0096] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0097] FIG11 is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0098] FIG12 is a schematic diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0099] The following describes the architecture of the communication system to which the method provided in this application is applied.

[0100] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to New Radio (NR) systems, Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) systems, LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD) systems, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) communication systems, and next-generation wireless communication systems such as 6G, without limitation.

[0101] Figure 1 shows an architecture diagram of a communication system applicable to embodiments of the present application, illustrating a fifth-generation (5G) network architecture based on a service-oriented architecture. As shown in Figure 1 , the communication system may include three components: a terminal component, a carrier network component, and a data network (DN). The functions of some of these network elements are described below.

[0102] A terminal, also known as a terminal device or user equipment (UE), is a device with wireless transceiver capabilities. It can be deployed on land, indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; on water (such as ships); or in the air (such as airplanes, balloons, and satellites). A terminal can be a mobile phone, tablet computer, computer with wireless transceiver capabilities, virtual reality (VR) terminal, augmented reality (AR) terminal, wireless terminal in industrial control, wireless terminal in self-driving, wireless terminal in remote medical, wireless terminal in smart grid, wireless terminal in transportation safety, wireless terminal in smart city, wireless terminal in smart home, etc.

[0103] The above-mentioned terminal can establish a connection with the operator network through the interface provided by the operator network (such as N1, etc.), and use the data and / or voice services provided by the operator network. The terminal can also access the DN through the operator network, use the operator services deployed on the DN, and / or services provided by a third party. Among them, the above-mentioned third party may be a service provider other than the operator network and the terminal, and can provide data and / or voice services to the terminal. Among them, the specific form of the above-mentioned third party can be determined according to the actual application scenario and is not limited here.

[0104] The carrier network can be a network deployed by the carrier and can include access network equipment and core network equipment. In one possible implementation method, the carrier network also includes an AF network element. Alternatively, the AF network element may not belong to the carrier network but to a third party.

[0105] Access network equipment is a device in a wireless network. It can be a device in a radio access network (RAN) that provides wireless communication capabilities to terminal devices and is called a RAN device. For example, an access network device can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB) in a fifth-generation (5G) mobile communication system, a next-generation base station in a sixth-generation (6G) mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system. It can also be a module or unit that performs some of the functions of a base station, such as a centralized unit (CU) or a distributed unit (DU). The CU here completes the functions of the radio resource control protocol and the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) of the base station, and can also complete the function of the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP); the DU completes the functions of the radio link control layer and the medium access control (MAC) layer of the base station, and can also complete the functions of part of the physical layer or all of the physical layer. For the specific description of each of the above protocol layers, please refer to the relevant technical specifications of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The access network device can be a macro base station, a micro base station or an indoor station, a relay node or a donor node, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the access network device.

[0106] In another possible scenario, multiple RAN nodes collaborate to assist the terminal in achieving wireless access, and different RAN nodes implement part of the functions of the base station respectively. For example, the RAN node can be a CU, DU, CU-control plane (CP), CU-user plane (UP), or radio unit (RU). The CU and DU can be set separately, or they can be included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can 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).

[0107] 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 called O-CU (open CU), DU may also be called O-DU, CU-CP may also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP may also be called O-CU-UP, and RU may also be called O-RU. For the convenience of description, this application takes CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU and RU as examples for description. Any unit of CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU and RU in this application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0108] The core network device may include at least one of the following network elements: a mobility management network element, a session management network element, a user plane network element (e.g., a user plane function (UPF) network element), a data management network element (e.g., a unified data management (UDM) network element), a unified database (UDR) network element, a network exposure network element (e.g., a network exposure function (NEF) network element), a policy control network element (e.g., a policy control function (PCF) network element), or an authentication function network element (e.g., an authentication server function (AUSF) network element), etc. Some of the network elements are described below.

[0109] In this application, the access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, or the access and mobility management function device, is a control plane network element provided by the operator network, which is responsible for the access control and mobility management of the terminal accessing the operator network, and can be used to implement other functions of the mobility management entity (MME) except session management, such as legal monitoring, or access authorization (or authentication), user equipment registration, mobility management, tracking area update process, reachability detection, selection of session management network element, mobile state transition management and other functions. In 5G, the mobility management network element can be the access and mobility management function network element. In future communications such as 6G, the mobility management network element can still be AMF, or have other names, which are not limited in this application. The following is explained by taking AMF as an example.

[0110] In this application, the session management function (SMF) network element or the session management function device is a control plane network element provided by the operator network, which is responsible for managing the protocol data unit (PDU) session of the terminal. A PDU session is a channel for transmitting PDUs. The terminal needs to transmit PDUs to and from the DN through the PDU session. The SMF network element is responsible for establishing, maintaining and deleting the PDU session. The functions of the session management network element include: session management (such as session establishment, modification and release, including tunnel maintenance between the user plane network element and the access network device), selection and control of the user plane network element, service and session continuity (SSC) mode selection, roaming, etc. In 5G, the session management network element can be a session management function network element. In future communications such as 6G, the session management network element can still be an SMF, or a network element with other names but with all or part of the functions of the session management network element. This application does not limit this. The following is an example of SMF for explanation.

[0111] In this application, the user plane function network element, or user plane function device, is a user plane network element provided by the operator and is responsible for packet routing and forwarding, policy implementation, traffic reporting, and quality of service (QoS) processing. In 5G, the user plane function network element may be a user plane function network element. In future communications such as 6G, the user plane function network element may still be a UPF, or a network element with other names but with all or part of the functions of a session management network element, which is not limited in this application. The following description uses the UPF as an example.

[0112] In this application, the network open function network element can securely open services and capabilities provided by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) network functions, such as third parties, edge computing or AF.

[0113] In the embodiments of the present application, the communication device for realizing the functions of the access network device, terminal or core network device can be the access network device, terminal or core network device itself, or can be a device capable of supporting the access network device, terminal or core network device to realize the functions, such as a chip system, which can be installed in the access network device, terminal or core 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 device for realizing the functions of the access network device as the access network device, the device for realizing the functions of the terminal as the terminal, and the device for realizing the functions of the core network device as the core network device as an example.

[0114] A DN is a network located outside of a carrier network. A carrier network can connect to multiple DNs, and a variety of services can be deployed on the DN, providing data and / or voice services to terminals. For example, a DN is the private network of a smart factory. Sensors installed in the workshop can be terminals, and the DN houses a control server for the sensors, which can provide services to the sensors. Sensors can communicate with the control server, receive instructions from the control server, and transmit collected sensor data to the control server based on the instructions. Another example is a DN that is a company's internal office network. An employee's mobile phone or computer can be a terminal, allowing them to access information and data resources on the company's internal office network.

[0115] In FIG1 , N1, N2, N3, and N4 are interface serial numbers. The meanings of these interface serial numbers can be found in the 3GPP standard protocol and are not limited here.

[0116] The development of 5G has driven exponential growth in media services. Video services have become the mainstream media format, and emerging multimedia services such as 4K and 8K ultra-high-definition video and extended reality (XR) have emerged. These emerging multimedia services pose significant challenges to network transmission bandwidth, requiring improved network transmission efficiency to meet the demands of rapidly evolving services.

[0117] During the current QoS flow processing, AF can provide PCF with flow feature information related to the QoS flow, such as protocol description, QoS requirements or QoS parameters of the QoS flow. PCF generates the policy and charging control rule (PCC rule) of the QoS flow based on the information provided by AF, and sends the generated PCC rule to SMF. SMF generates the QoS file (profile) of the QoS flow based on the PCC rule and sends it to the access network device. The QoS file of the QoS flow may include one or more QoS parameters of the QoS flow. The access network device performs QoS processing on the QoS flow based on the QoS file of the received QoS flow.

[0118] During the data stream transmission process, identification based on a protocol data unit (PDU) set and targeted processing of the PDU set are completed. A PDU set may include one or more PDUs, each of which is a protocol data unit.

[0119] Referring to Figure 2, AF can provide PCF with flow feature information related to the PDU set, such as protocol description and QoS requirements or QoS parameters. The QoS requirements / QoS parameters here are based on the PDU set. PCF generates a policy and charging control rule (PCC rule) based on the information provided by AF, and sends the generated PCC rule to SMF. SMF generates a QoS file for the PDU set based on the PCC rule and sends it to the access network device. The access network device performs QoS processing of the PDU set (PDU set based handling) based on the received QoS file of the PDU set. SMF can also generate detection rules for the PDU set based on the PCC rule and send the detection rules for the PDU set to UPF. After receiving the data packet, UPF can identify the data packets belonging to the same PDU set, carry the PDU set information (PDU Set information) in the general packet radio service tunneling protocol (GTP-U), and pass the relevant information of the PDU set to the access network device.

[0120] In an embodiment of the present application, the QoS file of the PDU set may include one or more QoS requirements / QoS parameters of the PDU set, such as one or more of the following: PDU set delay budget (PSDB), PDU set error rate (PSER), or PDU set integrated handling information (PSIHI).

[0121] Referring to Figure 3, the SMF can generate a QoS file and a replaceable QoS file based on the PCC rule provided by the PCF. The QoS file can contain multiple QoS parameters based on QoS flows, and the replaceable QoS file can also contain multiple QoS parameters based on QoS flows. The SMF can send the QoS file and the replaceable QoS file to the access network device. When the access network device is unable to meet the QoS parameters contained in the QoS file during data transmission, it will select a replaceable QoS file that can meet the requirements according to the priority, and send a notification to the SMF. The content of the notification is the identifier (reference) corresponding to the currently selected replaceable QoS file. After receiving the notification from the access network device, the SMF will send a notification to the PCF and the terminal device. The notification sent to the PCF is the identifier of the replaceable QoS file, and the notification sent to the terminal device is the QoS parameters based on the QoS flow used by the access network device.

[0122] However, as can be seen from the preceding, the SMF generates QoS parameters for the PDU set when processing the PDU set. The replaceable QoS file contains QoS parameters based on the QoS flow and QoS parameters based on the PDU set. Based on the identifier of the replaceable QoS file sent by the access network device, such as a reference, the SMF cannot determine whether the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on the QoS flow or QoS parameters based on the PDU set.

[0123] In view of this, an embodiment of the present application provides a method for notifying quality of service parameters to determine whether the QoS parameters used by an access network device are QoS flow-based quality of service parameters and / or PDU-based quality of service parameters. This is described below in conjunction with FIG4 .

[0124] Referring to FIG4 , which is an exemplary flowchart of a method for notifying a quality of service parameter according to an embodiment of the present application, the method may include the following operations. The embodiment shown in FIG4 may be performed by a first communication device and a second communication device. In the embodiment shown in FIG4 , the first communication device is a core network device and the second communication device is an access network device.

[0125] S401: The access network device sends first information to the core network device.

[0126] Correspondingly, the core network device receives the first information from the access network device.

[0127] Among them, the first information may correspond to a quality of service set. It can be understood that the quality of service set here can be understood as an alternative QoS profile. The quality of service set corresponding to the first information includes QoS parameters based on QoS flow and / or QoS parameters based on PDU set. For example, the quality of service set corresponding to the first information includes QoS parameters based on QoS flow. For another example, the quality of service set corresponding to the first information includes QoS parameters based on PDU set. For another example, the quality of service set corresponding to the first information includes QoS parameters based on QoS flow and QoS parameters based on PDU set. The first information involved in the embodiment of the present application can be understood as an index or identifier of the quality of service set, such as the aforementioned reference.

[0128] Optionally, as shown in Figure 3, when the access network device does not meet the QoS parameters contained in the QoS file (QoS profile), an alternative QoS file (alternative QoS profile) that can currently be met is selected, and the first information corresponding to the selected alternative QoS file (alternative QoS profile) is sent to the core network device.

[0129] S402: The core network device determines that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on the QoS flow and / or QoS parameters based on the PDU set.

[0130] For example, the core network device may determine that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on a QoS flow. For another example, the core network device may determine that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on a PDU set. For another example, the core network device may determine that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are both QoS parameters based on a QoS flow and QoS parameters based on a PDU set.

[0131] In one possible scenario, when the quality of service set corresponding to the first information includes QoS parameters based on QoS flow, the core network device can determine that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on QoS flow. In another possible scenario, when the quality of service set corresponding to the first information includes QoS parameters based on PDU set, the core network device can determine that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on PDU set. In yet another possible scenario, when the quality of service set corresponding to the first information includes QoS parameters based on QoS flow and QoS parameters based on PDU set, the core network device can determine that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on QoS flow or that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on PDU set based on the capability information of the access network device and the first information, or the core network device can determine that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on QoS flow or that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on PDU set based on the first information, or that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on QoS flow and QoS parameters based on PDU set.

[0132] It can be understood that since the service quality set corresponding to the first information is sent by the core network device to the access network device, the core network device can identify that the service quality set corresponding to the first information includes QoS parameters based on the QoS flow, or includes QoS parameters based on the PDU set, or includes QoS parameters based on the QoS flow and QoS parameters based on the PDU set, which will be explained and illustrated in subsequent situations.

[0133] Based on the above solution, the core network device can determine whether the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on the QoS flow, QoS parameters based on the PDU set, or QoS parameters based on the QoS flow and QoS parameters based on the PDU set, so that the QoS parameters used by the access network device can be known during the transmission of the data flow.

[0134] The following describes a case where the quality of service set corresponding to the first information in S402 includes QoS parameters based on QoS flow and QoS parameters based on PDU set. The core network device determines that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on QoS flow, or determines that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on PDU set, or determines that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on QoS flow and QoS parameters based on PDU set, which may include Case 1 to Case 3.

[0135] Case 1: The core network device determines, based on the capability information of the access network device and the first information, whether the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on the QoS flow, QoS parameters based on the PDU set, or QoS parameters based on the QoS flow and QoS parameters based on the PDU set.

[0136] In one possible implementation, the access network device may send information to the core network device indicating whether the access network device supports QoS processing based on PDU sets (PDU set based QoS handling). In one possible scenario, if the access network device supports QoS processing based on PDU sets, the access network device may send first indication information to the core network device, indicating that the access network device supports QoS processing based on PDU sets. If the access network device does not support QoS processing based on PDU sets, the access network device does not send the first indication information to the core network device. The core network device may then determine whether the access network device supports QoS processing based on PDU sets based on whether the first indication information is received from the access network device. For example, if the core network device does not receive the first indication information from the access network device, it may be determined that the access network device does not support QoS processing based on PDU sets. For another example, if the core network device receives the first indication information from the access network device, it may be determined that the access network device supports QoS processing based on PDU sets.

[0137] In another possible scenario, if the access network device supports QoS processing based on PDU sets, the access network device may send first indication information to the core network device, indicating that the access network device supports QoS processing based on PDU sets. If the access network device does not support QoS processing based on PDU sets, the access network device may send second indication information to the core network device, indicating that the access network device does not support QoS processing based on PDU sets. That is, if the core network device receives the first indication information from the access network device, it can be determined that the access network device supports QoS processing based on PDU sets. If the core network device receives the second indication information from the access network device, it can be determined that the access network device does not support QoS processing based on PDU sets.

[0138] In another possible scenario, the access network device may indicate whether the access network device supports QoS processing based on PDU sets through the fourth indication information. For example, when the value of the fourth indication information is the first value, it may indicate that the access network device supports QoS processing based on PDU sets. For another example, when the value of the fourth indication information is the second value, it may indicate that the access network device does not support QoS processing based on PDU sets. It can be understood that the first value is different from the second value. For example, the fourth indication information may be 1-bit indication information. When the value of the fourth indication information is 1, it may indicate that the access network device supports QoS processing based on PDU sets. When the value of the fourth indication information is 0, it may indicate that the access network device does not support QoS processing based on PDU sets. Conversely, when the value of the fourth indication information is 0, it may indicate that the access network device supports QoS processing based on PDU sets. When the value of the fourth indication information is 1, it may indicate that the access network device does not support QoS processing based on PDU sets.

[0139] Based on the above scheme, the core network device can determine whether the access network device supports QoS processing based on the PDU set. Therefore, the core network device can determine based on the first information whether the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on the QoS flow, QoS parameters based on the PDU set, or QoS parameters based on the QoS flow and QoS parameters based on the PDU set. For example, if the access network device supports QoS processing based on the PDU set, then the core network device can determine that the QoS parameters used by the access network device include the QoS parameters based on the PDU set in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information. For another example, if the access network device does not support QoS processing based on the PDU set, then the core network device can determine that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are the QoS parameters based on the QoS flow in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information.

[0140] In the embodiment of the present application, the core network equipment may include SMF, PCF, AF and NEF, etc. The technical solution of the above-mentioned situation 1 is described below in conjunction with FIG5 .

[0141] Referring to FIG. 5 , which is an exemplary flowchart of a method for notifying a quality of service parameter provided in an embodiment of the present application, the method may include the following operations.

[0142] S501: The AF sends second information to the PCF.

[0143] Correspondingly, the PCF receives the second information from the AF.

[0144] In one possible scenario, the AF may send the second information to the NEF, which in turn sends the second information to the PCF. For example, the AF may send a QoS creation request (Nnef_AF session with QoS create request) to the NEF. The NEF may send a policy authorization creation request (Npcf_policy authorization create request) to the PCF. Optionally, the NEF may authenticate the AF to determine whether it is authorized.

[0145] In one possible implementation, the second information may optionally include a quality of service requirement based on a QoS flow and / or flow characteristic information of the QoS flow. The second information includes a quality of service requirement based on a PDU set. The second information may be used to generate one or more quality of service sets.

[0146] Optionally, the embodiment shown in FIG5 may further include the following operation S502.

[0147] S502: The PCF sends a response message to the AF.

[0148] Correspondingly, the AF receives the response information from the PCF.

[0149] The response information may indicate that the PCF has generated one or more quality of service sets or may indicate that the PCF has received the second information, which is not specifically limited in this application. In one possible scenario, the PCF may send response information to the NEF, and the NEF may send response information to the AF. For example, the PCF may send a policy authorization response (Npcf_policy authorization create response) to the NEF, and the NEF may send a QoS creation response (Nnef_AF session with QoS create response) to the AF.

[0150] S503: The PCF sends one or more quality of service sets to the access network device.

[0151] Accordingly, the access network device receives one or more quality of service sets from the PCF.

[0152] In one possible scenario, the PCF may generate a PCC rule based on the second information. The PCC rule may include one or more quality of service sets, each of which may include one or more QoS parameters based on a PDU set and / or one or more QoS parameters based on a QoS flow. The PCF may send the PCC rule to the SMF. The SMF may determine one or more quality of service sets based on the PCC rule. Among the one or more quality of service sets, one quality of service set may include one or more QoS parameters. The one or more QoS parameters may include QoS parameters based on a PDU set and / or QoS parameters based on a QoS flow. For example, one or more quality of service sets may include a first quality of service set, the first quality of service set may include one or more QoS parameters based on a QoS flow, or the first quality of service set may include one or more QoS parameters based on a PDU set, or the first quality of service set may include one or more QoS parameters based on a QoS flow and one or more QoS parameters based on a PDU set. The SMF may send one or more quality of service sets and the first information corresponding to each quality of service set, such as a reference, to the access network device.

[0153] S504: The access network device sends information to the SMF indicating whether the access network device supports QoS processing based on PDU sets.

[0154] Accordingly, the SMF receives information from the access network device as to whether the access network device supports QoS processing based on a PDU set.

[0155] S504 can be implemented with reference to the aforementioned first indication information, second indication information or fourth indication information, and this application does not make any specific limitation.

[0156] It is understandable that the execution timing of S504 is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. For example, S504 can be executed before S501, S502 or S503, or after S501, S502 or S503, or in the middle of S501, S502 or S503. This application does not make specific limitations.

[0157] Exemplarily, when the quality of service set received by the access network device includes QoS parameters based on PDU sets, if the access network device supports QoS processing based on PDU sets, the access network device can send information to the SMF that the access network device supports QoS processing based on PDU sets. In this way, the SMF can trigger the UPF to identify the PDU set and add PDU set information based on the information sent by the access network device. If the access network device does not support QoS processing based on PDU sets, the access network device will not send any information or the access network device will send a second indication information or a fourth indication information with a second value. In this way, the SMF will not enable the UPF to start identifying the PDU set and adding PDU set information.

[0158] S505: The access network device sends first information to the SMF.

[0159] Correspondingly, the SMF receives the first information from the access network device.

[0160] In S505, the SMF may determine the quality of service set used by the access network device based on the first information received from the access network device. For example, the access network device may select a quality of service set from one or more quality of service sets and send the first information corresponding to the quality of service set selected by the access network device to the SMF.

[0161] Optionally, when the access network device does not meet the QoS parameters contained in the QoS file (QoS profile), an alternative QoS file (alternative QoS profile) that can currently be met is selected, and first information corresponding to the selected alternative QoS file (alternative QoS profile) is sent to the core network device.

[0162] In one possible scenario, if the quality of service set selected by the access network device includes QoS parameters based on QoS flow and QoS parameters based on PDU set, the access network device may choose to use QoS parameters based on QoS flow, or choose to use QoS parameters based on PDU set, or choose to use QoS parameters based on QoS flow and QoS parameters based on PDU set (for example, some parameters use QoS parameters based on QoS flow, such as packet delay budget (PDB), and some parameters use QoS parameters based on PDU set, such as PDU Set error rate). For example, if the access network device supports QoS processing based on PDU set, then the access network device may choose to use QoS parameters based on PDU set, or choose to use QoS parameters based on QoS flow and QoS parameters based on PDU set. For another example, if the access network device does not support QoS processing based on PDU set, then the access network device may choose to use QoS parameters based on QoS flow.

[0163] In one possible implementation, the SMF can determine the quality of service set used by the access network device based on S505, and can determine based on S504 that the QoS parameters in the quality of service set used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on the QoS flow, or determine that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on the PDU set, or determine that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on the QoS flow and QoS parameters based on the PDU set.

[0164] For example, in S504, the access network device sends a message to the SMF that the access network device supports QoS processing based on the PDU set. Then, based on S504 and S505, the SMF can determine that the quality of service parameters used by the access network device are the QoS parameters based on the PDU set in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information. Specifically, the quality of service parameters used by the access network device may be QoS parameters based on the PDU set, or may be QoS parameters based on the PDU set and QoS parameters based on the QoS flow. For another example, in S504, the access network device sends a message to the SMF that the access network device does not support QoS processing based on the PDU set. Then, based on S504 and S505, the SMF can determine that the quality of service parameters used by the access network device are the QoS parameters based on the QoS flow in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information.

[0165] Optionally, the embodiment shown in FIG5 may further include the following operation S506.

[0166] S506: The SMF sends the QoS parameters used by the access network device to the terminal device.

[0167] Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the QoS parameters used by the access network device from the SMF.

[0168] For example, if the access network device sends a message to the SMF in S505 that the access network device supports QoS processing based on a PDU set, then the SMF can determine that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on a PDU set, or determine that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on a QoS flow and QoS parameters based on a PDU set, and send the QoS parameters based on a PDU set used by the access network device, or the QoS parameters based on a QoS flow and QoS parameters based on a PDU set used, to the terminal device. For another example, if the access network device sends a message to the SMF in S505 that the access network device does not support QoS processing based on a PDU set, then the SMF can determine that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on a QoS flow, based on the QoS parameters contained in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information in S504, and send the QoS parameters based on a QoS flow used by the access network device to the terminal device.

[0169] In one possible approach, if the SMF receives indication information from the access network device that it supports PDU set-based QoS processing, the SMF may determine the QoS parameters used by the access network device based on the QoS parameters included in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information in S504. For example, if the QoS parameters included in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information are QoS parameters based on a QoS flow and QoS parameters based on a PDU set, the access network device will replace the QoS parameters based on the QoS flow in the corresponding quality of service set (if corresponding QoS parameters based on a QoS flow exist) with the corresponding QoS parameters based on a PDU set, and schedule the service flow. For another example, if the QoS parameters included in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information are QoS parameters based on a QoS flow and QoS parameters based on a PDU set, the access network device may use the QoS parameters based on a PDU set to process the PDU set. For example, if the corresponding quality of service set includes a packet delay budget (PDB) and a PDU set delay budget (PSDB), the access network device may replace the packet delay budget with the PDU set delay budget, or the access network device may use the PDU set delay budget to process the PDU set. If the corresponding quality of service set includes the PDU Set packet error rate (PSER) but not the packet error rate (PER packet error rate), or if the corresponding quality of service set includes the packet error rate but not the PDU Set packet error rate, then the access network device will use the included parameters as the quality of service parameters. In this case, the SMF can determine that the QoS parameters included in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information in S504 used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on the QoS flow and QoS parameters based on the PDU set. For example, the access network device uses the PDU Set delay budget (PSDB) and packet error rate (PER packet error rate). Afterwards, the SMF sends the specific QoS parameters used by the access network device to the terminal device.

[0170] Based on S506 , the terminal device may determine the QoS parameters used by the access network device.

[0171] Optionally, the embodiment shown in FIG5 may further include the following operation S507.

[0172] S507: The SMF sends the first information and the type information of the QoS parameter to the PCF.

[0173] Accordingly, the PCF receives the first information and type information of the QoS parameter from the SMF.

[0174] For example, the SMF may send first information to the PCF to indicate the quality of service set used by the access network device, and indicate through the type information of the QoS parameters whether the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on the PDU set or QoS parameters based on the QoS flow or QoS parameters based on the QoS flow and QoS parameters based on the PDU set.

[0175] In one possible scenario, after the SMF determines the type of QoS parameters used by the access network device, S507 may be executed.

[0176] Based on S507 , the PCF may determine whether the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on QoS flows or QoS parameters based on PDU sets, or QoS parameters based on QoS flows and QoS parameters based on PDU sets.

[0177] Optionally, the embodiment shown in FIG5 may further include the following operation S508.

[0178] S508: The PCF sends the first information or the QoS parameters used by the access network device to the AF.

[0179] Correspondingly, the AF receives the first information or the QoS parameters used by the access network device from the PCF.

[0180] For example, the PCF may indicate the quality of service set used by the access network device based on the first information. For another example, the PCF may indicate the QoS parameters used by the access network device to the AF. It is understandable that at this time, the AF cannot determine whether the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on the PDU set or QoS parameters based on the QoS flow. Optionally, the PCF may send type information of the QoS parameters to the AF. In this way, the AF may determine, based on the type information of the QoS parameters, whether the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on the PDU set, or determine whether the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on the QoS flow, or determine whether the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on the QoS flow and QoS parameters based on the PDU set.

[0181] Based on S508 , the AF may determine the QoS parameters used by the access network device, thereby knowing the QoS parameters used by the access network device during data stream transmission.

[0182] In the embodiment shown in FIG5 , one or more quality of service sets sent by the PCF to the access network device may include QoS parameters based on a QoS flow and / or QoS parameters based on a PDU set. In one possible implementation, the PCF may update one or more quality of service sets based on information sent by the access network device indicating whether or not it supports QoS processing based on a PDU set. The updated one or more quality of service sets may include QoS parameters based on a PDU set and / or QoS parameters based on a QoS flow. This is described below in conjunction with FIG6 .

[0183] 6 , which is an exemplary flowchart of a method for notifying a quality of service parameter provided in an embodiment of the present application, may include the following operations.

[0184] S601 to S603 may be implemented with reference to S501 to S503.

[0185] S604: The access network device sends information to the SMF indicating whether the access network device supports QoS processing based on PDU sets.

[0186] Accordingly, the SMF receives information from the access network device as to whether the access network device supports QoS processing based on a PDU set.

[0187] S604 may be implemented with reference to S504.

[0188] S605: The SMF sends information to the PCF indicating whether the access network device supports QoS processing based on PDU sets.

[0189] Accordingly, the PCF receives information from the SMF on whether the access network equipment supports QoS processing based on PDU sets.

[0190] For example, if the access network device sends information to the SMF in S604 indicating that the access network device supports QoS processing based on PDU aggregation, then the SMF may send information to the PCF in S605 indicating that the access network device supports QoS processing based on PDU aggregation. For another example, if the access network device sends information to the SMF in S604 indicating that the access network device does not indicate QoS processing based on PDU aggregation, then the SMF sends information to the PCF in S605 indicating that the access network device does not support QoS processing based on PDU aggregation.

[0191] It can be understood that the information on whether the access network device supports QoS processing based on the PDU set can be implemented by referring to the aforementioned first indication information, second indication information or fourth indication information, and will not be repeated here.

[0192] S606: The PCF sends one or more updated quality of service sets to the access network device.

[0193] Accordingly, the access network device receives one or more updated quality of service sets from the PCF.

[0194] For example, the PCF may generate a PCC rule based on the second information received from the AF. The PCC rule may include one or more quality of service sets, each quality of service set may include one or more QoS parameters based on a PDU set, and / or one or more QoS parameters based on a QoS flow. For example, in S605, if the access network device supports QoS processing based on a PDU set, then the PCC rule may include one or more QoS parameters based on a PDU set. For another example, in S605, if the access network device does not support QoS processing based on a PDU set, then the PCC rule may include one or more QoS parameters based on a QoS flow.

[0195] The SMF can determine one or more quality of service sets based on the PCC rule. Among the one or more quality of service sets, a quality of service set may include one or more QoS parameters. Among them, the one or more QoS parameters may include QoS parameters based on PDU sets or QoS parameters based on QoS flows or QoS parameters based on PDU sets and QoS parameters based on QoS flows. For example, in S605, if the access network device supports QoS processing based on PDU sets, then the one or more QoS parameters may include one or more QoS parameters based on PDU sets. For another example, in S605, if the access network device does not support QoS processing based on PDU sets, then the one or more QoS parameters may include one or more QoS parameters based on QoS flows. The SMF can send one or more quality of service sets to the access network device, as well as the first information corresponding to each quality of service set, such as a reference.

[0196] Based on the above scheme, PCF can update one or more quality of service sets based on the indication of SMF, and SMF does not need to determine whether the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on the PDU set or QoS parameters based on the QoS flow or QoS parameters based on the PDU set and QoS parameters based on the QoS flow. The access network device can select a quality of service set from the updated one or more quality of service sets and send the first information corresponding to the selected quality of service set to SMF. In this way, SMF can determine the quality of service set used by the access network device based on the first information, so as to inform the terminal device that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are the QoS parameters included in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information. SMF can also send the first information to PCF to inform PCF of the quality of service set used by the access network device.

[0197] In one possible implementation, if the access network device switches, such as switching from the first access network device to the second access network device, the SMF may send a notification to the terminal device, such as a QoS file notification, or may not send it, and this application does not make specific limitations. The notification can be used to indicate to the terminal device the QoS parameters used by the second access network device. However, at this time, the SMF will not know whether the second access network device supports QoS processing of PDU sets. The SMF may determine that QoS processing of PDU sets is required based on the PDU set in the previous data flow, so the SMF can send a PDU set capability confirmation based on QoS processing of PDU sets to the second access network device, such as the SMF can send third information to the second access network device, and the third information is used to confirm whether the second access network device supports QoS processing based on PDU sets. The second access network device can send fourth information to the SMF, and the fourth information is used to indicate whether the second access network device supports QoS processing based on PDU sets. Among them, the fourth information can be implemented with reference to the aforementioned first indication information, second indication information or fourth indication information, and will not be repeated here.

[0198] Similarly, the SMF executes S605 , thereby causing the PCF to execute S606 to update one or more quality of service sets.

[0199] Case 2: Based on the first information, the core network device determines that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on the QoS flow, or determines that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on the PDU set, or determines that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on the PDU set and QoS parameters based on the QoS flow.

[0200] In one possible implementation, the first information in the related art may indicate an alternative quality of service profile (alternative QoS profile). In an embodiment of the present application, the first information may be enhanced so that the first information can indicate the quality of service profile and also indicate the type of QoS parameters included in the quality of service profile. For example, the first information in case 2 may indicate quality of service profile 1, which may include QoS parameters based on a QoS flow and QoS parameters based on a PDU set. The first information in case 2 may also indicate QoS parameters based on a QoS flow or QoS parameters based on a PDU set or QoS parameters based on a PDU set and QoS parameters based on a QoS flow.

[0201] Exemplarily, assuming that 1 bit is added to the second information, the 1 bit can indicate the type of QoS parameters. For example, if the value of the added 1 bit is 0, it can indicate the QoS parameters based on the QoS flow, and if the value of the added 1 bit is 1, it can indicate the QoS parameters based on the PDU set or the QoS parameters based on the PDU set and the QoS parameters based on the QoS flow. Conversely, if the value of the added 1 bit is 1, it can indicate the QoS parameters based on the QoS flow, and if the value of the added 1 bit is 0, it can indicate the QoS parameters based on the PDU set or the QoS parameters based on the PDU set and the QoS parameters based on the QoS flow. Specifically, assuming that the value of the second information is 11, the first 1 can indicate quality of service set 1, and the second 1 can indicate the QoS parameters based on the QoS flow in quality of service set 1.

[0202] Based on situation 2, the core network device can determine that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on the QoS flow, or determine that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on the PDU set, or determine that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on the PDU set and QoS parameters based on the QoS flow. During the data stream transmission process, the core network device can perform corresponding processing based on the QoS parameters used by the access network device.

[0203] In the embodiment of the present application, the core network equipment may include SMF, PCF, AF and NEF, etc. The technical solution of the above-mentioned situation 2 is described below in conjunction with FIG.

[0204] 7 , which is an exemplary flowchart of a method for notifying a quality of service parameter provided in an embodiment of the present application, may include the following operations.

[0205] S701 to S702 may be implemented with reference to S501 to S502.

[0206] S703: The PCF sends one or more quality of service sets to the access network device.

[0207] Accordingly, the access network device receives one or more quality of service sets from the PCF.

[0208] In one possible scenario, the PCF may generate a PCC rule based on the second information. The PCC rule may include one or more quality of service sets, and each quality of service set may include one or more QoS parameters based on a PDU set, and / or one or more QoS parameters based on a QoS flow. The PCF may send the PCC rule to the SMF. The SMF may determine one or more quality of service sets based on the PCC rule. Among the one or more quality of service sets, a quality of service set may include one or more QoS parameters. The one or more QoS parameters may include QoS parameters based on a PDU set and / or QoS parameters based on a QoS flow. For example, one or more quality of service sets may include a first quality of service set, and the first quality of service set may include one or more QoS parameters based on a QoS flow, or the first quality of service set may include one or more QoS parameters based on a PDU set, or the first quality of service set may include one or more QoS parameters based on a QoS flow and one or more QoS parameters based on a PDU set.

[0209] The SMF may send one or more quality of service sets, and first information corresponding to each quality of service set, such as a reference, to the access network device. In one possible scenario, if the quality of service set includes QoS parameters based on a QoS flow and QoS parameters based on a PDU set, then the quality of service set may correspond to three first information items, one of which may correspond to the QoS parameters based on a QoS flow in the quality of service set, one of which may correspond to the QoS parameters based on a PDU set in the quality of service set, and another of which may correspond to the QoS parameters based on a PDU set and the QoS parameters based on a QoS flow in the quality of service set.

[0210] S704: The access network device sends first information to the SMF.

[0211] Correspondingly, the SMF receives the first information from the access network device.

[0212] Optionally, when the access network device does not meet the QoS parameters contained in the QoS file (QoS profile), an alternative QoS file (alternative QoS profile) that can currently be met is selected, and first information corresponding to the selected alternative QoS file (alternative QoS profile) is sent to the core network device.

[0213] In S704, the SMF may determine the type of QoS parameters in the quality of service set used by the access network device based on the first information received from the access network device.

[0214] For example, the access network device may select a quality of service set from one or more quality of service sets. In one possible scenario, if the quality of service set selected by the access network device includes QoS parameters based on QoS flows and QoS parameters based on PDU sets, the access network device may choose to use QoS parameters based on QoS flows or choose to use QoS parameters based on PDU sets. For example, if the access network device supports QoS processing based on PDU sets, the access network device may choose to use QoS parameters based on PDU sets. For another example, if the access network device does not support QoS processing based on PDU sets, the access network device may choose to use QoS parameters based on QoS flows. The access network device may send corresponding first information to the SMF based on the type of the selected QoS parameters.

[0215] Optionally, the embodiment shown in FIG7 may further include the following operation S705 .

[0216] S705: The SMF sends the QoS parameters used by the access network device to the terminal device.

[0217] Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the QoS parameters used by the access network device from the SMF.

[0218] For example, the SMF may determine the type of QoS parameters in the quality of service set used by the access network device based on the first information in S704. For example, if the first information in S704 indicates QoS parameters based on QoS flows in the corresponding quality of service set, then the SMF may send the QoS parameters based on QoS flows used by the access network device to the terminal device in S705. If the first information in S704 indicates QoS parameters based on PDU sets in the corresponding quality of service set, then the SMF may send the QoS parameters based on PDU sets or the QoS parameters based on PDU sets and the QoS parameters based on QoS flows used by the access network device to the terminal device in S705.

[0219] Optionally, the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 may further include the following operation S706 .

[0220] S706: The SMF sends the first information to the PCF.

[0221] Correspondingly, the PCF receives the first information from the SMF.

[0222] For example, the SMF may send first information to the PCF to indicate the type of QoS parameters in the quality of service set used by the access network device. For example, the SMF may send first information to the PCF to indicate that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are the QoS parameters based on the QoS flow in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information. For another example, the SMF may send first information to the PCF to indicate that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are the QoS parameters based on the PDU set in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information, or to indicate that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are the QoS parameters based on the PDU set and the QoS parameters based on the QoS flow in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information.

[0223] Optionally, the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 may further include the following operation S707 .

[0224] S707: The PCF sends the first information to the AF.

[0225] Correspondingly, the AF receives the first information from the PCF.

[0226] For example, the PCF may send first information to the AF to indicate the type of QoS parameters in the quality of service set used by the access network device. For example, the PCF may send first information to the AF to indicate that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on QoS flows in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information. For another example, the PCF may send first information to the AF to indicate that the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on PDU sets or QoS parameters based on PDU sets and QoS parameters based on QoS flows in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information.

[0227] Case 3: The core network device determines, based on the first information sent by the access network device and the type information of the QoS parameter, that the QoS parameter used by the access network device is a QoS flow-based QoS parameter or a PDU set-based QoS parameter.

[0228] In case 3, the access network device may send first information to the core network device to indicate the quality of service set or quality of service parameters used by the access network device. The access network device may send type information of the QoS parameters used by the access network device to the core network device to indicate whether the QoS parameters used by the access network device are QoS parameters based on QoS flows, QoS parameters based on PDU sets, or QoS parameters based on PDU sets and QoS parameters based on QoS flows. In this embodiment of the present application, the core network device may include an SMF, a PCF, an AF, and an NEF, etc. The following, in conjunction with Figure 8, introduces the technical solution for case 3.

[0229] Referring to FIG. 8 , which is an exemplary flowchart of a method for notifying a quality of service parameter provided in an embodiment of the present application, the method may include the following operations.

[0230] S801 to S803 may be implemented with reference to S501 to S503.

[0231] S804 may be implemented with reference to S505.

[0232] S805: The access network device sends type information of the QoS parameters used by the access network device to the SMF.

[0233] Correspondingly, the SMF receives type information of the QoS parameters used by the access network device from the access network device.

[0234] For example, if the access network device uses the QoS parameters based on the PDU set in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information, then the access network device can send to the SMF the type information of the QoS parameters used by the access network device as QoS parameters based on the PDU set, or the type information of the QoS parameters used by the access network device is QoS parameters based on the PDU set and QoS parameters based on the QoS flow. For another example, if the access network device uses the QoS parameters based on the QoS flow in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information, then the access network device can send to the SMF the type information of the QoS parameters used by the access network device as QoS parameters based on the QoS flow.

[0235] Optionally, if the access network device supports QoS processing based on PDU sets, the access network device may use the QoS parameters based on PDU sets in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information. If the access network device does not support QoS processing based on PDU sets, the access network device may use the QoS parameters based on QoS flows in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information.

[0236] It is understandable that the type information of the QoS parameter can be sent in the same message as the first information, or can be sent in different messages, and this application does not make specific limitations.

[0237] Optionally, the embodiment shown in FIG8 may further include the following operation S806.

[0238] S806: The SMF sends the QoS parameters used by the access network device to the terminal device.

[0239] Correspondingly, the terminal device receives the QoS parameters used by the access network device from the SMF.

[0240] For example, if the type information of the QoS parameters sent by the access network device to the SMF in S805 is QoS parameters based on a PDU set, then in S806 the SMF sends to the terminal device the QoS parameters based on a PDU set or the QoS parameters based on a PDU set and the QoS parameters based on a QoS flow in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information. For another example, if the type information of the QoS parameters sent by the access network device to the SMF in S805 is QoS parameters based on a QoS flow, then in S806 the SMF sends to the terminal device the QoS parameters based on a QoS flow in the quality of service set corresponding to the first information.

[0241] S807 and S808 may be implemented with reference to S507 and S508.

[0242] Based on the technical solution shown in Figure 8 above, the access network device can indicate the type of QoS parameters used by the access network device to the core network device, providing another technical solution that can enable the core network device to determine the type of QoS parameters used by the access network device based on the indication of the access network device.

[0243] Based on the concepts of the above embodiments, referring to FIG9 , an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device 900, which includes a processing unit 901 and a transceiver unit 902. The device 900 can be a communication device, or can be a device applied to a communication device and capable of supporting the communication device to execute a method for notifying a quality of service parameter.

[0244] The transceiver unit may also be referred to as a transceiver module, transceiver, transceiver, transceiver device, etc. The processing unit may also be referred to as a processor, processing board, processing unit, processing device, etc. Optionally, the device used to implement the receiving function in the transceiver unit may be considered a receiving unit. It should be understood that the transceiver unit is used to perform the sending and receiving operations of the communication device in the above method embodiments, and the device used to implement the sending function in the transceiver unit is considered a sending unit, that is, the transceiver unit includes a receiving unit and a sending unit.

[0245] In addition, it should be noted that if the device is implemented using a chip / chip circuit, the transceiver unit can be an input and output circuit and / or a communication interface, performing input operations (corresponding to the aforementioned receiving operations) and output operations (corresponding to the aforementioned sending operations); the processing unit is an integrated processor or microprocessor or integrated circuit.

[0246] The following describes in detail an implementation in which the apparatus 900 is applied to a first communication apparatus and a second communication apparatus.

[0247] Exemplarily, when the apparatus 900 is applied to the first communication apparatus, operations performed by each unit thereof are described in detail.

[0248] In an optional embodiment, the communication device 900 can be applied to a first communication device to execute the method executed by the first communication device, specifically, for example, the method executed by the terminal device in the embodiments shown in Figures 4 to 8. It is understandable that the communication device 000 can also be applied to various network elements in the first communication device, such as SMF, PCF, NEF, and AF.

[0249] For example, the transceiver unit 902 is configured to receive first information from a second communication device, where the first information corresponds to a quality of service (QoS) profile including quality of service (QoS) parameters based on a QoS flow and quality of service parameters based on a protocol data unit set. The processing unit 901 is configured to determine the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device, where the used quality of service parameters are quality of service parameters based on a QoS flow or quality of service parameters based on a protocol data unit set.

[0250] Exemplarily, when the apparatus 900 is applied to the second communication apparatus, operations performed by each unit thereof are described in detail.

[0251] In an optional embodiment, the communication device 900 can be applied to a second communication device to execute the method executed by the second communication device, such as the method executed by the second communication device in the embodiments shown in Figures 4 to 8. It is understood that the communication device 900 can also be applied to various network elements in the second communication device, such as SMF, PCF, NEF, and AF.

[0252] For example, the transceiver unit 902 is configured to receive one or more quality of service sets from a first communication device. Each quality of service set corresponds to one piece of first information, and each quality of service set includes one or more quality of service parameters, including quality of service parameters based on a QoS flow and quality of service parameters based on a protocol data unit set. The processing unit 901 is configured to determine the first information. The transceiver unit 902 is further configured to send the first information to the first communication device.

[0253] Based on the concepts of the embodiments, as shown in FIG10 , an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device 1000. The communication device 1000 includes a processor 1010. Optionally, the communication device 1000 may further include a memory 1020 for storing instructions executed by the processor 1010, or storing input data required by the processor 1010 to execute instructions, or storing data generated after the processor 1010 executes instructions. The processor 1010 can implement the method described in the above method embodiment using the instructions stored in the memory 1020.

[0254] Based on the concept of the embodiment, as shown in Figure 11, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication device 1100, which can be a chip or a chip system. Optionally, in the embodiment of the present application, the chip system can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0255] Communication device 1100 may include at least one processor 1110 coupled to a memory. Optionally, the memory may be located within or outside the device. For example, communication device 1100 may also include at least one memory 1120. Memory 1120 stores the necessary computer programs, configuration information, computer programs or instructions, and / or data for implementing any of the aforementioned embodiments. Processor 1110 may execute the computer programs stored in memory 1120 to perform the methods of any of the aforementioned embodiments. Optionally, the memory may be integrated with the processor.

[0256] The coupling in the embodiments of the present application is an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units, or modules, which can be electrical, mechanical, or other forms, and is used for information exchange between devices, units, or modules. The processor 1110 may operate in conjunction with the memory 1120. The specific connection medium between the transceiver 1130, the processor 1110, and the memory 1120 is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0257] The communication device 1100 may also include a transceiver 1130, and the communication device 1100 can exchange information with other devices through the transceiver 1130. The transceiver 1130 can be a circuit, a bus, a transceiver or any other device that can be used for information exchange, or is called a signal transceiver unit. As shown in Figure 11, the transceiver 1130 includes a transmitter 1131, a receiver 1132 and an antenna 1133. In addition, when the communication device 1100 is a chip-type device or circuit, the transceiver in the communication device 1100 can also be an input and output circuit and / or a communication interface, which can input data (or receive data) and output data (or send data). The processor is an integrated processor or microprocessor or integrated circuit, and the processor can determine the output data based on the input data.

[0258] In one possible implementation, the communication device 1100 can be applied to a communication device. Specifically, the communication device 1100 can be a communication device, or a device capable of supporting a communication device to implement the functions of the first communication device or the second communication device in any of the above-mentioned embodiments. The memory 1120 stores the necessary computer programs, computer programs, instructions, and / or data to implement the functions of the first communication device or the second communication device in any of the above-mentioned embodiments. The processor 1110 can execute the computer program stored in the memory 1120 to perform the method performed by the first communication device or the second communication device in any of the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0259] In the embodiments of the present application, the processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component, and may implement or execute the methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of the present application. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The steps of the methods disclosed in the embodiments of the present application may be directly implemented as being executed by a hardware processor, or may be executed by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor.

[0260] In an embodiment of the present application, the memory may be a non-volatile memory, such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD), etc., or a volatile memory (volatile memory), such as a random-access memory (RAM). The memory may also be 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 in an embodiment of the present application may also be a circuit or any other device that can implement a storage function, for storing computer programs, computer programs or instructions and / or data.

[0261] Based on the above embodiments, referring to FIG12 , an embodiment of the present application also provides another communication device 1200, including: an input / output interface 1210 and a logic circuit 1220; the input / output interface 1210 is used to receive code instructions and transmit them to the logic circuit 1220; the logic circuit 1220 is used to run code instructions to execute the method executed by the first communication device or the second communication device in any of the above embodiments.

[0262] The following describes in detail the operations performed by the apparatus 1200 when applied to the first communication apparatus or the second communication apparatus.

[0263] In an optional implementation, the communication device 1200 may be applied to a first communication device to execute the method executed by the first communication device, for example, the method executed by the first communication device in the embodiments shown in Figures 4 to 8. It is understandable that the communication device 1200 may also be applied to various network elements in the first communication device, such as AMF, SMF, and UPF.

[0264] For example, input / output interface 1210 is configured to input first information from a second communication device, where the first information corresponds to a quality of service (QoS) profile including QoS parameters based on a QoS flow and QoS parameters based on a protocol data unit set. Logic circuit 1220 is configured to determine the QoS parameters used by the second communication device, where the QoS parameters used are either QoS parameters based on a QoS flow or QoS parameters based on a protocol data unit set.

[0265] Since the communication device 1200 provided in this embodiment can be applied to the first communication device and execute the method executed by the first communication device, the technical effects that can be obtained can refer to the above method embodiments and will not be described in detail here.

[0266] In an optional implementation, the communication device 1200 can be applied to a second communication device to execute the method executed by the second communication device, for example, the method executed by the second communication device in the embodiments shown in Figures 4 to 8. It can be understood that the communication device 1200 can also be applied to various network elements in the second communication device, such as AMF, SMF, and UPF.

[0267] For example, input / output interface 1210 is configured to input one or more quality of service sets from a first communication device. Each quality of service set corresponds to a piece of first information and includes one or more quality of service parameters, including quality of service parameters based on a QoS flow and quality of service parameters based on a protocol data unit set. Logic circuit 1220 is configured to determine the first information. Input / output interface 1210 is also configured to output the first information.

[0268] Since the communication device 1200 provided in this embodiment can be applied to a second communication device to execute the method executed by the aforementioned second communication device, the technical effects that can be obtained can be referred to the aforementioned method embodiment and will not be described in detail here.

[0269] Based on the above embodiments, embodiments of the present application further provide a communications system, comprising at least one first core network and at least one second core network. Optionally, the communications system further comprises at least one terminal device. The technical effects achieved can be referenced with reference to the above method embodiments and are not further elaborated here.

[0270] Based on the above embodiments, embodiments of the present application further provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program or instructions. When the instructions are executed, the method performed by the communication device in any of the above embodiments is implemented. The computer-readable storage medium may include any medium capable of storing program code, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard drive, a read-only memory, a random access memory, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0271] To implement the functions of the communication devices of Figures 9 to 12 above, embodiments of the present application further provide a chip including a processor for supporting the communication device in implementing the functions of the first or second communication device in the above method embodiments. In one possible design, the chip is connected to or includes a memory, which is used to store computer programs, instructions, and data necessary for the terminal device or network device.

[0272] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments of the present application can be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, the present application can adopt the form of a complete hardware embodiment, a complete software embodiment, or an embodiment in combination with software and hardware. Moreover, the present application can adopt the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to magnetic disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) that contain computer-usable program code.

[0273] The present application is described with reference to the flow chart and / or block diagram of the method, device (system) and computer program product according to the embodiment of the present application. It should be understood that each flow process and / or box in the flow chart and / or block diagram and the combination of the flow process and / or box in the flow chart and / or block diagram can be realized by a computer program or instruction. These computer programs or instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processing machine or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device produce a device for realizing the function specified in one flow chart flow or multiple flows and / or one box or multiple boxes of the block diagram.

[0274] These computer programs or instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to operate in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce a manufactured product including an instruction device that implements the functions specified in one or more processes in the flowchart and / or one or more boxes in the block diagram.

[0275] These computer programs or 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, whereby 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.

[0276] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the embodiments of the present application without departing from the scope of the embodiments of the present application. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the embodiments of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents, the present application also intends to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A method for notifying service quality parameters, characterized in that Applied to a first communication device, including: Receiving first information from a second communication device, where the quality of service set (QoS profile) corresponding to the first information includes quality of service parameters based on a QoS flow and quality of service parameters based on a set of protocol data units; Determining the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device, where the used quality of service parameters are the quality of service parameters based on the QoS flow or the quality of service parameters based on the set of protocol data units.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that It further includes: Receiving first indication information from the second communication device, where the first indication information indicates that the second communication device supports quality of service processing based on a set of protocol data units; The determining the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device includes: Determining, according to the first indication information, that the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device are the quality of service parameters based on the set of protocol data units.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that It further includes: Not receiving the first indication information from the second communication device, where the first indication information indicates that the second communication device supports quality of service processing based on a set of protocol data units; The determining the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device includes: Determining that the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device are the quality of service parameters based on the QoS flow; Or, receiving second indication information from the second communication device, where the second indication information indicates that the second communication device does not support quality of service processing based on a set of protocol data units; The determining the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device includes: Determining, according to the second indication information, that the quality of service parameters used by the second communication device are the quality of service parameters based on the QoS flow.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein The first information is used to indicate that the used quality of service parameters are the quality of service parameters based on the QoS flow or the first information is used to indicate that the used quality of service parameters are the quality of service parameters based on the set of protocol data units.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The first communication device includes a session management function network element.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The first communication device includes a session management function network element and a policy control function network element. The receiving the first information from the second communication device includes: The session management function network element receives the first information from the second communication device; The method further includes: The session management function network element sends one or more of the used quality of service parameters, the type of the used quality of service parameters, or the first information to the policy control function network element; where the type of the used quality of service parameters includes the type of quality of service parameters based on the QoS flow or the type of quality of service parameters based on the set of protocol data units.

7. According to the method described in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The first communication device includes an application function network element and a policy control function network element. The method further includes: The application function network element sends second information to the policy control function network element. The second information includes quality of service (QoS) requirements based on a set of protocol data units or QoS requirements based on a set of protocol data units and QoS requirements based on QoS flows. The second information is used to generate one or more QoS sets. One QoS set includes one or more QoS parameters. The one or more QoS parameters include the QoS parameters based on the set of protocol data units and the QoS parameters based on QoS flows. The policy control function network element determines the one or more QoS sets based on the QoS requirements based on the set of protocol data units and the QoS requirements based on QoS flows.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein The first communication device further includes a session management function network element. The method further includes: The policy control function network element sends the one or more QoS sets and first information corresponding to the one or more QoS sets to the session management function network element. The session management function sends the one or more QoS sets and the first information (which may be an index, including index and granularity / type information) corresponding to the one or more QoS sets to the second communication device.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The QoS parameters based on the set of protocol data units include one or more of the following: Set delay budget of protocol data units, bit error rate of the set of protocol data units, integrated processing information of the set of protocol data units.

10. A method for notifying a quality of service parameter, characterized in that Applied to the second communication device, it includes: Receiving one or more QoS sets from the first communication device. Among them, one QoS set corresponds to one piece of first information. The one QoS set includes one or more QoS parameters. The one or more QoS parameters include QoS parameters based on QoS flows and QoS parameters based on the set of protocol data units. Sending the first information to the first communication device.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that, It further includes: Sending first indication information to the first communication device. The first indication information indicates that the second communication device supports QoS processing based on the set of protocol data units.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein It further includes: Sending second indication information to the first communication device. The second indication information indicates that the second communication device does not support QoS processing based on the set of protocol data units.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein The first information indicates that the QoS parameters used by the second communication device are the QoS parameters based on QoS flows among the one or more QoS parameters included in the QoS set corresponding to the first information; or, the first information indicates that the QoS parameters used by the second communication device are the QoS parameters based on the set of protocol data units among the one or more QoS parameters included in the QoS set corresponding to the first information.

14. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that The QoS parameters based on the set of protocol data units include one or more of the following: Set delay budget of protocol data units, bit error rate of the set of protocol data units, integrated processing information of the set of protocol data units.

15. A method for notifying quality of service parameters, characterized in that, Applied to the policy control function network element, it includes: Receive third indication information from a session management function network element, where the third indication information indicates whether a second communication device supports quality of service (QoS) handling based on a protocol data unit (PDU) set; Send one or more QoS sets to the second communication device; where one QoS set corresponds to one first piece of information, the one QoS set includes one or more QoS parameters, and the one or more QoS parameters include QoS parameters based on a QoS flow and / or QoS parameters based on a PDU set.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein The third indication information indicates that the second communication device does not support QoS handling based on the PDU set, and the one or more QoS sets include QoS parameters based on a QoS flow; Or The third indication information indicates that the second communication device supports QoS handling based on the PDU set, the one or more QoS sets include QoS parameters based on the PDU set, or the one or more QoS sets include QoS parameters based on the PDU set and QoS parameters based on a QoS flow.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that It further includes: Receive one or more of the QoS parameters used by the second communication device, the type of the QoS parameters used by the second communication device, or the first piece of information from the session management function network element; where the type of the used QoS parameters includes a QoS parameter type based on a QoS flow or a QoS parameter type based on a PDU set.

18. A communication device, characterized in that, Include a unit for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, or include a unit for executing the method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, or include a unit for executing the method according to any one of claims 15 to 17.

19. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores computer-executable instructions, which, when called by an electronic device, cause the electronic device to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, or cause the electronic device to execute the method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, or cause the electronic device to execute the method according to any one of claims 15 to 17.

20. A communication system, characterized in that, Include a device for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and a device for executing the method according to any one of claims 10 to 14.

21. A chip system, characterized in that, The chip system includes: A communication interface; A processor, configured to call and run the instructions through the communication interface, so that a device installed with the chip system executes the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, or so that a device installed with the chip system executes the method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, or so that a device installed with the chip system executes the method according to any one of claims 15 to 17.

22. A computer program product, characterized in that, Comprising computer-executable instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, or cause the electronic device to perform the method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, or cause the electronic device to perform the method according to any one of claims 15 to 17.

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