Communication method and related apparatus

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method and a related apparatus, for use in improving the user experience of AIoT service. In the method, when a second entity receives a first AIoT service request, on the basis of the first AIoT service request, the second entity may send a second AIoT service request to a first entity that has enabled AIoT service, and further, the first entity that has enabled AIoT service may provide an AIoT service on the basis of the second AIoT service request. According to the method, the second entity can identify whether a different entity has enabled AIoT service, and sends an AIoT service request to the first entity that has enabled AIoT service, preventing a second entity from sending an AIoT service request to an entity that has disabled (or not enabled) AIoT service, and then avoiding the failure of service data transmission of the AIoT service due to the entity that has disabled (or not enabled) AIoT service being unable to provide an AIoT service, thereby improving user experience.

Description

A communication method and related device

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office on February 29, 2024, with application number 202410235155.7 and invention name “A communication method and related device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and related devices. Background Art

[0003] In communication systems, the Internet of Things (IoT) can reduce the complexity and power consumption of communication equipment. Specifically, ambient IoT (AIOT) technology can use passive or near-passive technologies to achieve data transmission, further reducing energy requirements compared to traditional IoT technologies.

[0004] However, in the process of providing AIOT services on communication networks, how to improve the user experience of AIOT services has become an urgent problem to be solved.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present application provides a communication method and related devices for improving the user experience of AIOT services.

[0007] The first aspect of the present application provides a communication method, which is performed by a second entity, or the method is performed by some components in the second entity (such as a processor, a chip or a chip system, etc.), or the method can also be implemented by a logic module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the second entity. In the first aspect and its possible implementation, the method is described as being performed by the second entity. In this method, the second entity receives a first AIOT service request, which is used to request an AIOT service; when the first entity has turned on the AIOT service, the second entity sends a second AIOT service request to the first entity based on the first AIOT service request, wherein the first entity is used to provide the AIOT service.

[0008] Based on the above solution, after the second entity receives the first AIOT service request, the second entity can send a second AIOT service request to the first entity that has enabled the AIOT service based on the first AIOT service request. Furthermore, the first entity that has enabled the AIOT service can provide the AIOT service based on the second AIOT service request. The above method enables the second entity to identify whether different entities have enabled the AIOT service and send the AIOT service request to the first entity that has enabled the AIOT service, thereby avoiding the second entity sending the AIOT service request to the entity that has disabled (or not enabled) the AIOT service, thereby avoiding the failure of the business data transmission of the AIOT service due to the inability of the entity that has disabled (or not enabled) the AIOT service to provide the AIOT service, thereby improving the user experience.

[0009] In this application, the term "starting an AIOT service" can be replaced by other descriptions, such as "opening an AIOT service," "enabling an AIOT service," "activating an AIOT service," or "starting an AIOT service." Similarly, the term "stopping an AIOT service" can be replaced by other descriptions, such as "disabling an AIOT service," "forbidding an AIOT service," "deactivating an AIOT service," or "stopping an AIOT service."

[0010] It should be understood that the second entity may be a core network entity that determines the entity (eg, the first entity) providing the AIOT service based on the AIOT service request.

[0011] In an implementation example, when the first entity is an access network element, the second entity can be an access and mobility management function (AMF), an environmental Internet of Things management function (AIOT management function, AIOT-MF), a tag management network element (TMF), a network repository function (NRF) network element, or other network elements defined by future standards.

[0012] In another implementation example, when the first entity is a core network element, the second entity may be an NRF network element, a network exposure function (NEF) network element, or other network elements defined in future standards.

[0013] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, before the second entity sends the second AIOT service request to the first entity based on the first AIOT service request, the method further includes: the second entity determining that the first entity has started the AIOT service.

[0014] Based on the above solution, the second entity may determine in advance that the first entity has enabled the AIOT service, so that the second entity can send an AIOT service request to the entity that has enabled the AIOT service.

[0015] In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the method further includes: when the first entity does not enable or has disabled the AIOT service, the second entity determines not to send the second AIOT service request to the first entity.

[0016] Based on the above solution, the second entity may not send an AIOT service request to the entity that has not turned on or has turned off the AIOT service, thereby avoiding the situation where the business data transmission of the AIOT service fails due to the entity that has not turned on or has turned off the AIOT service being unable to provide the AIOT service, thereby improving the user experience.

[0017] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the second entity determines that the first entity has enabled the AIOT service, including: the second entity receives first information from the first entity, where the first information is used to indicate that the first entity has enabled the AIOT service.

[0018] Based on the above solution, the second entity can determine that the first entity has started the AIOT service through the first information sent by the first entity. Therefore, the second entity can determine the entity that has started the AIOT service by sending its own AIOT service status information through other entities.

[0019] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the second entity determines that the first entity has enabled the AIOT service, including: the second entity receives second information from a third entity, where the second information is used to indicate one or more entities that have enabled the AIOT service, and the one or more entities include the first entity.

[0020] Based on the above solution, the second entity can determine that the first entity has started the AIOT service through the second information sent by the third entity. Thus, the second entity can determine the entity that has started the AIOT service through the AIOT service status information collected by other entities, which can reduce the implementation complexity of the second entity.

[0021] Optionally, in addition to indicating one or more entities that have enabled the AIOT service, the second information may also indicate one or more entities that have disabled the AIOT service (or do not support the AIOT service). In this way, the second entity can be prevented from sending an AIOT service request to a disabled AIOT service (or an entity that does not support the AIOT service), thereby reducing signaling overhead and avoiding the situation where the AIOT service cannot be provided due to sending an AIOT service request to a disabled AIOT service (or an entity that does not support the AIOT service).

[0022] In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the method further includes: the second entity receiving instruction information from the third entity for instructing to start the AIOT service.

[0023] Based on the above solution, if the second entity supports AIOT service capabilities (for example, the second entity is AMF, TMF, etc.), the second entity can enable AIOT services based on the instructions of the third entity. In this way, the second entity can trigger the activation of AIOT services based on the instructions of other entities, thereby achieving management of the entity's AIOT service status.

[0024] Optionally, the second entity may send an indication message indicating that the second entity has enabled the AIOT service. In this way, other entities can send AIOT service requests to the second entity that has enabled the AIOT service based on the indication message, thereby avoiding the situation where the AIOT service cannot be provided due to sending an AIOT service request to a disabled AIOT service (or an entity that does not support the AIOT service).

[0025] The second aspect of the present application provides a communication method, which is performed by a first entity, or the method is performed by some components in the first entity (such as a processor, a chip or a chip system, etc.), or the method can also be implemented by a logic module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the first entity. In the second aspect and its possible implementation, the method is described as being performed by the first entity. In this method, the first entity receives a third information, and the third information is used to trigger the first entity to turn on or off the AIOT service; the first entity sets the AIOT service status to turned on or off based on the third information.

[0026] Based on the above solution, after receiving the third information, the first entity can set the AIOT service status to enabled or disabled based on the third information. In this way, the first entity can trigger the enabling or disabling of the AIOT service based on the instructions of other entities, thereby achieving management of the entity's AIOT service status.

[0027] It should be understood that the first entity may be an entity that sets its own AIOT service state based on information (e.g., third information) from other entities. For example, the first entity may be an access network element (e.g., a base station, a centralized unit (CU), or a distributed unit (DU), etc.), or the first entity may be a core network element (e.g., an AMF, a TMF, etc.).

[0028] In a possible implementation of the second aspect, the third information is used to trigger the first entity to start the AIOT service. The method also includes: the first entity receives a second AIOT service request, where the second AIOT service request is used to request the AIOT service; and the first entity provides the AIOT service according to the second AIOT service request.

[0029] Based on the above scheme, when the third information is used to trigger the first entity to start the AIOT service, the first entity can set the AIOT service status to turned on based on the third information, receive the second AIOT service request, and provide AIOT service based on the second AIOT service request to support business data transmission of the AIOT service.

[0030] In a possible implementation of the second aspect, the method further includes: the first entity sending first information to the second entity or the third entity based on the AIOT service status, where the first information is used to indicate that the first entity has turned on or off the AIOT service.

[0031] Based on the above solution, the first entity can send first information indicating whether the first entity has enabled or disabled the AIOT service. Other entities can subsequently send AIOT service requests to the entity that has enabled the AIOT service based on the first information, thereby avoiding the situation where the AIOT service cannot be provided due to sending an AIOT service request to a disabled AIOT service (or an entity that does not support the AIOT service).

[0032] In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the method further includes: the first entity sending fourth information to the third entity, where the fourth information is used to indicate that the first entity supports AIOT services.

[0033] Based on the above solution, the first entity can also send fourth information (i.e., capability information) so that the recipient of the fourth information can clearly determine based on the fourth information that the first entity has the ability to support AIOT services, so as to facilitate the management of the AIOT service status of different entities.

[0034] In a possible implementation of the second aspect, the first entity is a CU, and the first entity sets the AIOT service status to enabled or disabled based on the third information, including: the first entity sends fifth information to the DU (i.e., the DU corresponding to the first entity) based on the third information, where the fifth information is used to indicate whether to enable or disable the AIOT service; or

[0035] The first entity is DU. After the first entity sets the AIOT service status to be turned on or off based on the third information, the method also includes: the first entity sends sixth information to the CU (i.e., the CU corresponding to the first entity), and the sixth information is used to indicate the AIOT service status.

[0036] Optionally, the third information includes an identifier of the first entity and / or an identifier of a cell corresponding to the first entity.

[0037] Based on the above solution, the third information can be used to trigger the first entity or the cell corresponding to the first entity to turn on or off the AIOT service. Accordingly, the first entity can be a CU or DU, and through the interaction of the fifth information or the sixth information, the management of AIOT service status at multiple granularities such as CU / DU / cell can be completed.

[0038] The third aspect of the present application provides a communication method, which is performed by a third entity, or the method is performed by some components in the third entity (such as a processor, chip or chip system, etc.), or the method can also be implemented by a logic module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the third entity. In the third aspect and its possible implementation, the method is described as being performed by a third entity. In this method, the third entity generates third information, which is used to trigger the first entity to turn on or off the AIOT service; the third entity sends the third information to the first entity.

[0039] Based on the above solution, the third information sent by the third entity is used to trigger the first entity to turn on or off the AIOT service. In other words, after receiving the third information, the first entity can set the AIOT service status to enabled or disabled based on the third information. In this way, the first entity can trigger the AIOT service to be enabled or disabled based on the instructions of other entities, thereby achieving management (including configuration and control) of the entity's AIOT service status.

[0040] It should be understood that the third entity may be an entity that manages (including configuration, control, etc.) the AIOT service status of other entities (such as access network elements and / or core network elements). The third entity may be an independently set entity, or a module integrated in the access network element, or a module integrated in the core network element. Exemplarily, the third entity may be an element management system (EMS), a network management system (NMS), a cross-domain management system (Cross domain management system), an operation, administration and maintenance (OAM) system, a management service producer (MnS producer), a management function entity or a third-party system, etc.

[0041] In a possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the third information includes an identifier of the first entity and / or an identifier of a cell corresponding to the first entity.

[0042] Based on the above solution, when the first entity is an access network element (such as a base station, CU, DU, etc.), the first entity can provide network services for one or more cells. Accordingly, the third information may include the identifier of the first entity and / or the identifier of the cell corresponding to the first entity to achieve multi-granularity management of AIOT service status.

[0043] In a possible implementation of the third aspect, the third entity generates third information, including: the third entity generates the third information based on at least one of the following: policy information, location information of N entities, current AIOT service status information of M entities, or AIOT service capability information of K entities; wherein, at least one of the N entities, the M entities and the K entities includes the first entity, and N, M, and K are all positive integers.

[0044] Based on the above solution, the third entity may generate the third information through at least one of the above items to improve the flexibility of implementing the solution.

[0045] In a possible implementation of the third aspect, the method further includes: the third entity sending second information to the second entity, where the second information is used to indicate one or more entities that have enabled the AIOT service, and the one or more entities include the first entity.

[0046] Based on the above solution, the third entity can indicate one or more entities that have enabled AIOT services through the second information. Thus, the recipient of the second information can determine the entities that have enabled AIOT services through the AIOT service status information collected by the third entity, reducing the implementation complexity of the recipient.

[0047] Optionally, in addition to indicating one or more entities that have enabled AIOT services, the second information may also indicate one or more entities that have disabled AIOT services (or do not support AIOT services). In this way, the recipient of the second information can be prevented from sending AIOT service requests to disabled AIOT services (or those that do not support AIOT services), thereby reducing signaling overhead and avoiding situations where AIOT services cannot be provided due to sending AIOT service requests to disabled AIOT services (or those that do not support AIOT services).

[0048] In a possible implementation of the third aspect, the method further includes: the third entity receiving first information from the first entity, the first information being used to indicate that the first entity has turned on or off the AIOT service; and the third entity sending second information to the second entity based on the first information, the second information being used to indicate one or more entities that have turned on the AIOT service.

[0049] Based on the above solution, the third entity can interact with the one or more entities to determine the AIOT service status of each of the one or more entities, so as to manage the AIOT service status of each entity (e.g., AIOT service status collection, AIOT service status reporting, etc.). In addition, the third entity can send second information to the second entity based on the AIOT service status of the one or more entities, so that the second entity can determine the entity that has enabled the AIOT service based on the second information.

[0050] In a possible implementation of the third aspect, the method further includes: the third entity receiving fourth information from the first entity, where the first information indicates whether the first entity has enabled or disabled the AIOT service. The third entity may determine, based on the fourth information, to send the third information to the first entity, or may generate the third information based on the fourth information.

[0051] Based on the above solution, the third entity can receive the fourth information (i.e., capability information), so that the third entity can clearly determine whether the first entity has the ability to support AIOT services based on the fourth information, so as to facilitate the management of the AIOT service status of different entities.

[0052] A fourth aspect of the present application provides a communication device, which is a second entity, or a component of the second entity (such as a processor, chip, or chip system), or a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the second entity. In the fourth aspect and its possible implementations, the communication device is described as an example of the second entity.

[0053] The device includes a processing unit and a transceiver unit; the transceiver unit is used to receive a first AIOT service request, where the first AIOT service request is used to request an AIOT service; the processing unit is used to determine a second AIOT service request based on the first AIOT service request; when the first entity has already started the AIOT service, the transceiver unit is also used to send the second AIOT service request to the first entity, where the first entity is used to provide the AIOT service.

[0054] Among them, each module in the device of the fourth aspect can also execute the implementation process of the first aspect and its possible implementation method, and achieve corresponding technical effects. Please refer to the first aspect and related descriptions for details.

[0055] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which is a first entity, or a component of the first entity (such as a processor, chip, or chip system), or a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the first entity. In the fifth aspect and its possible implementations, the communication device is described as the first entity.

[0056] The device includes a processing unit and a transceiver unit; the transceiver unit is used to receive third information, and the third information is used to trigger the first entity to turn on or off the AIOT service; the processing unit is used to set the AIOT service status to turned on or off based on the third information.

[0057] Among them, each module in the device of the fifth aspect can also execute the implementation process of the second aspect and its possible implementation method, and achieve corresponding technical effects. Please refer to the second aspect and related descriptions for details.

[0058] In a sixth aspect of the present application, a communication device is provided. The device is a third entity, or the device is a partial component (such as a processor, chip, or chip system) in the third entity. Alternatively, the device can also be a logic module or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the third entity. In the sixth aspect and its possible implementations, the communication device is described as an example of a third entity.

[0059] The device includes a processing unit and a transceiver unit; the processing unit is used to generate third information, and the third information is used to trigger the first entity to turn on or off the AIOT service; the transceiver unit is used to send the third information.

[0060] Among them, each module in the device of the sixth aspect can also execute the implementation process of the third aspect and its possible implementation method, and achieve corresponding technical effects. Please refer to the third aspect and related descriptions for details.

[0061] A seventh aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, comprising at least one processor, which is used to execute programs or instructions in a memory so that the device can implement any aspect of the first to third aspects above, and the method described in any possible implementation method thereof.

[0062] In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device, comprising at least one logic circuit and an input / output interface; the logic circuit is used to execute the method described in any one of the first to third aspects above, and any possible implementation thereof.

[0063] A ninth aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing one or more computer-executable instructions. When the computer-executable instructions are executed by a processor, the processor executes the method described in any possible implementation of any one of the first to third aspects above.

[0064] A tenth aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a computer program product (or computer program). When the computer program product is executed by the processor, the processor executes the method described in any possible implementation of any one of the first to third aspects above.

[0065] In an eleventh aspect of an embodiment of the present application, a chip system is provided, which includes at least one processor for supporting a communication device to implement the functions involved in any possible implementation method of any aspect of the first to third aspects mentioned above.

[0066] In one possible design, the chip system may further include a memory for storing program instructions and data necessary for the first communication device. The chip system may be composed of a chip or may include a chip and other discrete components. Optionally, the chip system may further include an interface circuit for providing program instructions and / or data to the at least one processor.

[0067] A twelfth aspect of an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, which includes at least two entities among a first entity, a second entity, and a third entity.

[0068] Optionally, the communication system may further include a terminal device. Furthermore, the terminal device may support AIOT.

[0069] Among them, the technical effects brought about by any design method in the fourth to twelfth aspects can refer to the technical effects brought about by the different design methods in the above-mentioned first to third aspects, and will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0070] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system involved in this application;

[0071] FIG2 is another schematic diagram of the communication system provided by the present application;

[0072] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of the AIOT communication process provided by this application;

[0073] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided by the present application;

[0074] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a communication method provided by the present application;

[0075] FIG6 is another schematic diagram of the communication method provided by the present application;

[0076] FIG7 is another schematic diagram of the communication method provided by the present application;

[0077] FIG8 is another schematic diagram of the communication method provided by the present application;

[0078] FIG9 is another schematic diagram of the communication method provided by the present application;

[0079] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of a communication device provided by the present application;

[0080] FIG11 is another schematic diagram of a communication device provided by the present application;

[0081] FIG12 is another schematic diagram of the communication device provided in this application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0082] First, some of the terms used in the embodiments of the present application are explained to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0083] (1) Terminal device: It can be a wireless terminal device that can receive network device scheduling and instruction information. The wireless terminal device can be a device that provides voice and / or data connectivity to the user, or a handheld device with wireless connection function, or other processing device connected to a wireless modem.

[0084] Terminal devices can communicate with one or more core networks or the Internet via a radio access network (RAN). Terminal devices can be mobile terminal devices, such as mobile phones (also known as "cellular" phones, mobile phones), computers, and data cards. For example, they can be portable, pocket-sized, handheld, computer-built-in, or vehicle-mounted mobile devices that exchange voice and / or data with the radio access network. Examples include personal communication service (PCS) phones, cordless phones, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), tablet computers, and computers with wireless transceiver capabilities. A wireless terminal device may also be referred to as a system, a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a mobile station (MS), a remote station, an access point (AP), a remote terminal, an access terminal, a user terminal, a user agent, a subscriber station (SS), a customer premises equipment (CPE), a terminal, a user equipment (UE), a mobile terminal (MT), an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), etc. A terminal device may also be a wearable device or a next-generation communication system, for example, a terminal device in a 5G communication system or a terminal device in a future-evolved public land mobile network (PLMN).

[0085] In the IOT (or AIOT) system, terminal devices include passive IoT terminal devices, semi-passive terminal devices, partially active IoT terminal devices, etc.

[0086] (2) Network equipment (or network element): It can be a device in a wireless network, for example, a network device can be a RAN node (or device) that connects a terminal device to a wireless network, which can also be called a base station. Currently, some examples of RAN equipment are: base station, evolved NodeB (eNodeB), gNB (gNodeB) in a 5G communication system, transmission reception point (TRP), evolved Node B (eNB), radio network controller (RNC), Node B (NB), home base station (e.g., home evolved Node B, or home Node B, HNB), base band unit (BBU), or wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) access point AP, etc. In addition, in a network structure, the network equipment can include a centralized unit (CU) node, a distributed unit (DU) node, or a RAN device including a CU node and a DU node.

[0087] Optionally, the RAN node can be a macro base station, micro base station, indoor base station, relay node, donor node, or a wireless controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario. A RAN node can also be a server, wearable device, vehicle, or vehicle-mounted device. For example, the access network device in V2X technology can be a road side unit (RSU).

[0088] In another possible scenario, multiple RAN nodes collaborate to assist the terminal in achieving wireless access, and different RAN nodes respectively implement part of the functions of the base station. For example, the RAN node can be a centralized unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU). The CU and DU 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).

[0089] 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 access network (open RAN, O-RAN or 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.

[0090] The communication between the access network device and the terminal device follows a certain protocol layer structure. The protocol layer may include a control plane protocol layer and a user plane protocol layer. The control plane protocol layer may include at least one of the following: a radio resource control (RRC) layer, a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, a radio link control (RLC) layer, a media access control (MAC) layer, or a physical (PHY) layer. The user plane protocol layer may include at least one of the following: a service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer, a PDCP layer, an RLC layer, a MAC layer, or a physical layer.

[0091] For the correspondence between network elements in the ORAN system and their achievable protocol layer functions, please refer to Table 1 below.

[0092] Table 1

[0093] The network device may be any other device that provides wireless communication functionality to the terminal device. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology and device form used by the network device. For ease of description, the embodiments of this application do not limit this.

[0094] The network equipment may also include core network equipment, such as a mobility management entity (MME), a home subscriber server (HSS), a serving gateway (S-GW), a policy and charging rules function (PCRF), and a public data network gateway (PDN gateway, P-GW) in a fourth generation (4G) network; and network elements such as an AMF, a user plane function (UPF), or a session management function (SMF) in a 5G network. In addition, the core network equipment may also include other core network equipment in a 5G network and a next generation network of a 5G network.

[0095] In the embodiments of the present application, the apparatus for implementing the function of the network device may be the network device, or may be a device capable of supporting the network device in implementing the function, such as a chip system, which may be installed in the network device. In the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application are described by taking the network device as an example.

[0096] (3) Configuration and pre-configuration: In this application, configuration and pre-configuration are used simultaneously. Configuration refers to the network device sending some parameter configuration information or parameter values ​​to the terminal device through messages or signaling, so that the terminal device can determine the communication parameters or resources during transmission based on these values ​​or information. Pre-configuration is similar to configuration, and can be parameter information or parameter values ​​negotiated in advance between the network device and the terminal device, or parameter information or parameter values ​​used by the network device or terminal device as specified by the standard protocol, or parameter information or parameter values ​​pre-stored in the network device or terminal device. This application does not limit this.

[0097] Furthermore, these values ​​and parameters can be changed or updated.

[0098] (4) The terms "system" and "network" in the embodiments of the present application can be used interchangeably. "At least one" means one or more, and "more" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, "at least one of A, B and C" includes A, B, C, AB, AC, BC or ABC. In addition, unless otherwise specified, the ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" mentioned in the embodiments of the present application are used to distinguish multiple objects, and are not used to limit the order, timing, priority or importance of multiple objects.

[0099] (5) “Sending” and “receiving” in the embodiments of the present application indicate the direction of signal transmission. For example, “sending information to XX” can be understood as the destination of the information being XX, which can include direct sending through the air interface, as well as indirect sending through the air interface by other units or modules. “Receiving information from YY” can be understood as the source of the information being YY, which can include direct receiving from YY through the air interface, as well as indirect receiving from YY through the air interface from other units or modules. “Sending” can also be understood as the “output” of the chip interface, and “receiving” can also be understood as the “input” of the chip interface.

[0100] In other words, sending and receiving can be performed between devices, for example, between a network device and a terminal device, or can be performed within a device, for example, sending or receiving between components, modules, chips, software modules or hardware modules within the device through a bus, wiring or interface.

[0101] It is understandable that information may be processed between the source and destination of information transmission, such as coding, modulation, etc., but the destination can understand the valid information from the source. Similar expressions in this application can be understood similarly and will not be repeated.

[0102] (6) In the embodiments of the present application, "indication" may include direct indication and indirect indication, and may also include explicit indication and implicit indication. The information indicated by a certain information (such as the indication information described below) is called information to be indicated. In the specific implementation process, there are many ways to indicate the information to be indicated, such as but not limited to, directly indicating the information to be indicated, such as the information to be indicated itself or the index of the information to be indicated. The information to be indicated may also be indirectly indicated by indicating other information, wherein the other information is associated with the information to be indicated; or only a part of the information to be indicated may be indicated, while the other part of the information to be indicated is known or agreed in advance. For example, the indication of specific information may be achieved by means of the arrangement order of each information agreed in advance (such as predefined by the protocol), thereby reducing the indication overhead to a certain extent. The present application does not limit the specific method of indication. It is understandable that for the sender of the indication information, the indication information can be used to indicate the information to be indicated, and for the receiver of the indication information, the indication information can be used to determine the information to be indicated.

[0103] In this application, unless otherwise specified, the same or similar parts between the various embodiments can refer to each other. In the various embodiments in this application, and the various implementation methods / implementation methods / implementation methods in each embodiment, if there is no special explanation and logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments and the various implementation methods / implementation methods / implementation methods in each embodiment are consistent and can be referenced to each other. The technical features in different embodiments and the various implementation methods / implementation methods / implementation methods in each embodiment can be combined to form new embodiments, implementation methods, implementation methods, or implementation methods according to their inherent logical relationships. The implementation methods of this application described below do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this application.

[0104] To facilitate understanding of the method provided in the embodiments of the present application, the system architecture of the method provided in the embodiments of the present application is described below. It is understandable that the system architecture described in the embodiments of the present application is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the solution of the embodiments of the present application and does not constitute a limitation on the solution provided in the embodiments of the present application.

[0105] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system 1000 used in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 1, the communication system includes a RAN 100 and a core network 200. Optionally, the communication system 1000 may also include the Internet 300. The RAN 100 includes at least one RAN node (such as 110a and 110b in Figure 1, collectively referred to as 110), and may also include at least one terminal (such as 120a-120j in Figure 1, collectively referred to as 120). The RAN 100 may also include other RAN nodes, such as wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices (not shown in Figure 1). The terminal 120 is connected to the RAN node 110 via a wireless connection, and the RAN node 110 is connected to the core network 200 via a wireless or wired connection. The core network equipment in the core network 200 and the RAN node 110 in the RAN 100 may be independent and different physical devices, or they may be the same physical device that integrates the logical functions of the core network equipment and the logical functions of the RAN node. Terminals and RAN nodes may be connected to each other via wired or wireless means.

[0106] In communication systems (such as the one shown in Figure 1), IoT technology can reduce equipment overhead, effectively reducing the complexity and power consumption of communication equipment. AIOT technology can use passive or near-passive technologies to achieve data transmission, further reducing energy requirements compared to traditional IoT technology.

[0107] As an example, as shown in FIG2 , it is an implementation example of a communication system for communicating based on AIOT technology, and the communication system includes the following network elements / devices.

[0108] The AIOT application function (AIOT-AF) is used to issue AIOT service instructions, such as taking inventory of AIOT tags and reading and writing AIOT tag records.

[0109] The core network element includes NEF. NEF can select one or more AMFs and send AIOT service instructions to the one or more AMFs based on the AIOT service instructions provided by AIOT-AF.

[0110] The core network elements also include an AMF. The AMF can select one or more access network elements and send AIOT service instructions to the one or more access network elements based on the AIOT service instructions sent by the NEF. Optionally, the AMF can be replaced by other entities / network elements, such as the TMF, AIOT-MF, or other entities / network elements defined by standards or protocols for managing AIOT tags.

[0111] Access network elements can communicate with terminal devices based on the AIOT service instructions sent by AMF.

[0112] Optionally, in Figure 2, the terminal devices may include AIOT-supported terminal devices. For example, AIOT-supported terminal devices may include passive / semi-passive devices, which are unable to actively initiate information reporting requests and instead achieve communication through passive triggering. For another example, AIOT-supported terminal devices may include active devices, which can actively initiate information reporting.

[0113] In the system shown in Figure 2, when the AIOT AF issues a service instruction, how to select the entity / network element (for example, how the NEF selects the core network element (such as AMF, TMF, AIOT-MF, etc., AMF is taken as an example below), and how the core network element selects the access network element) so that the device that the AF hopes to receive the service instruction can receive the service instruction forwarded by the access network element becomes a problem to be solved for the process to run smoothly.

[0114] As a possible implementation, Fig. 3 is an implementation example of the communication process of the system shown in Fig. 2. In this implementation example, the basis for performing network element selection may include location information, and the communication process includes the following steps.

[0115] Step 1. The AIOT-AF initiates an AIOT service request to the NEF, carrying location information (optionally, it can also carry an AIOT-AF identifier, inventory instructions, etc. The inventory instructions can be used to instruct the terminal device that supports AIOT to report the tag identifier, read / modify the tag, etc.).

[0116] Step 2. NEF selects AMF based on location information.

[0117] Step 3. NEF forwards the AIOT service request to AMF based on the selection result in step 2.

[0118] Step 4.AMF selects an access network element based on the location information.

[0119] Optionally, the AMF may generate mask information based on the AIOT service request received in step 3, where the mask information includes a network identifier, such as a PLMN identifier, and a group identifier (group ID) for marking one or more devices. The mask information may be used by the access network element to broadcast the AIOT service request, and the terminal device may respond based on the AIOT service request.

[0120] Step 5. Based on the selection result of step 4, AMF sends the AIOT service instruction and MASK information to the access network element through the N2 message interface

[0121] Step 6. The access network element broadcasts the MASK information based on the AIOT service instruction.

[0122] Step 7. A random access process is performed between the terminal device that meets the requirements of the MASK information and the access network element.

[0123] Step 8. The terminal device sends a registration request to the AMF through the access network element. The registration request may carry the device identifier. Optionally, the device identifier may include a label serial number or an electronic product code (EPC).

[0124] Step 9.AMF feeds back the device ID of the terminal device to NEF.

[0125] Step 10: The NEF feeds back the device ID of the terminal device to the AF.

[0126] For example, taking the application of inventory counting as an example, the process shown in Figure 3 is explained in a popular way. Assume that AIOT-AF is an inventory management system application for a logistics company's warehouse. Each product in the warehouse is equipped with an AIOT tag and can be regarded as an AIOT device (i.e., a terminal device that supports AIOT). For example, when the AIOT-AF obtains an AIOT service request instruction to inventory the inventory of a certain storage point, the AIOT-AF can issue the inventory instruction through the process of steps 1 to 6 in Figure 3, and the inventory quality can carry the location information of the storage point. After the products still in the warehouse receive the inventory instruction in step 6, they can report their own device identification. Finally, AIOT-AF can statistically identify the products in the warehouse, thereby realizing inventory counting through the wireless network.

[0127] In the process shown in Figure 3, entity / network element selection (for example, how NEF selects AMF, how AMF selects access network element) is only implemented based on location information. However, as AIOT is a new service feature, not every AMF or every access network element can support AIOT services (for example, the hardware of a certain AMF or an access network element does not support the provision of AIOT services, the software configuration does not support the provision of AIOT services, the AIOT service is temporarily turned off for energy saving purposes, etc.). Accordingly, if the result of the entity / network element selection includes entities / network elements (such as AMF or access network elements) that do not support AIOT services, since these entities / network elements cannot provide AIOT services, the AIOT service instructions sent to these network elements will be invalid signaling, resulting in a waste of signaling resources. Therefore, in the process of providing AIOT services in the communication network, how to reduce the signaling overhead of this process is a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently.

[0128] In order to solve the above problems, the present application provides a communication method and related equipment, which will be introduced below in conjunction with more drawings.

[0129] Please refer to Figure 4, which is a schematic diagram of a communication system applied to the communication method provided in this application. The communication system may include terminal equipment, access network network elements, core network network elements, EMS, AIOT service requesters, etc.

[0130] In the following embodiments, the first entity may be an entity that sets its own AIOT service state based on information sent by the third entity (e.g., third information). For example, the first entity may be an access network element (e.g., a base station, CU, or DU) in FIG4 , or the first entity may be a core network element (e.g., AMF, TMF, etc.) in FIG4 .

[0131] In the following embodiments, the second entity may be a core network element of an entity (eg, the first entity) that determines to provide the AIOT service based on the AIOT service request.

[0132] In an implementation example, when the first entity is an access network element, the second entity can be an AMF network element, a TMF network element, an NRF network element, or other entities / network elements defined by future standards.

[0133] In another implementation example, when the first entity is a core network element, the second entity may be an NRF network element, an NEF network element, or other entities / network elements defined by future standards.

[0134] In the following embodiments, the third entity may be an entity that manages (including configuration, control, etc.) the AIOT service status of other network elements (e.g., access network elements and / or core network elements). The third entity may be an independently configured entity, or a module integrated into an access network element, or a module integrated into a core network element. For example, the third entity may be the OAM / NMS / EMS in Figure 4, or an MnS producer, a management function entity, or a third-party system.

[0135] Optionally, the EMS in FIG4 may include a module for managing access network elements, which may be represented as an Element Management System-Access Network (EMS-RAN) entity in FIG4 , that is, the third entity may include an EMS-RAN entity.

[0136] Optionally, the EMS in FIG4 may include a module for managing core network elements, which may be represented as an element management system-core network (EMS-CN) entity in FIG4 , ie, the third entity may include an EMS-CN entity.

[0137] Optionally, the OAM / NMS / EMS in FIG4 may be replaced with other implementations, such as a cross-domain management system or a third-party system.

[0138] In the following embodiments, the AIOT service requester may be an entity / network element / device / module that initiates an AIOT service request, for example, the AIOT service requester may be an AIOT-AF, a management service consumer (MnS consumer), etc. Exemplarily, the AIOT service requester may be a software / hardware module integrated into an EMS or NMS.

[0139] Please refer to FIG5 , which is a schematic diagram of the communication method provided in this application. The method includes the following steps.

[0140] It should be noted that in any of the implementations of Figures 5 to 9, different entities (e.g., a first entity, a second entity, a third entity, etc.) are used as examples to illustrate the method, but this application does not limit the execution of the interaction step. For example, in any of the implementations of Figures 5 to 9, the interaction step can be performed by an entity, or by a chip, chip system, processor, logic module, or software that supports the entity to implement the interaction step.

[0141] S501. The AIOT service requester sends a first AIOT service request, and accordingly, the second entity receives the first AIOT service request.

[0142] The first AIOT service request is used to request an AIOT service.

[0143] S502. The second entity generates a second AIOT service request based on the first AIOT service request.

[0144] S503. When the first entity has enabled the AIOT service, the second entity sends a second AIOT service request to the first entity. That is, when the first entity has enabled the AIOT service, the first entity receives the second AIOT service request in step S503.

[0145] The first entity is used to provide the AIOT service. Specifically, the first entity can be an AMF, an AIOT-MF, or a TMF, or an access network element, such as a base station.

[0146] In one example, the first AIOT service request may carry region information corresponding to the AIOT service. The region information may correspond to one or more entities providing the AIOT service, such as entities whose service regions overlap with the region corresponding to the region information. The first entity may be one or more of the one or more entities.

[0147] In this application, the term "starting an AIOT service" can be replaced by other descriptions, such as "opening an AIOT service," "enabling an AIOT service," "activating an AIOT service," or "starting an AIOT service." Similarly, the term "stopping an AIOT service" can be replaced by other descriptions, such as "disabling an AIOT service," "forbidding an AIOT service," "deactivating an AIOT service," or "stopping an AIOT service."

[0148] It should be noted that, as can be seen from the process shown in Figure 4, the second entity has multiple implementation methods. Accordingly, in step S501, the second entity may receive the first AIOT service request from the AIOT service requester in multiple ways. For example, when the second entity is NEF, the NEF can receive the first AIOT service request through the communication interface between the NEF and the AIOT service requester (e.g., AIOT-AF). For another example, when the second entity is AMF, AIOT-MF, or TMF, the AMF, AIOT-MF, or TMF can receive the first AIOT service request from the AIOT service requester through the NEF.

[0149] Similarly, the first entity can be implemented in multiple ways. Accordingly, in step S503, the first entity may receive the second AIOT service request from the second entity in multiple ways. For example, when the first entity is an AMF, AIOT-MF, or TMF, the AMF, AIOT-MF, or TMF may receive the second AIOT service request through the communication interface between the AMF, AIOT-MF, or TMF and the NEF. For another example, when the second entity is an access network element, the access network element may receive the second AIOT service request through the communication interface between the AMF, AIOT-MF, or TMF and the NEF.

[0150] Optionally, the AIOT service request (e.g., the first AIOT service request or the second AIOT service request) may include an AIOT instruction, such as instructing to report an AIOT tag, read / modify an AIOT tag, etc. In other words, the AIOT service requested by the AIOT service request may include AIOT tag reporting, AIOT tag reading / modification, etc.

[0151] As an example, when the first entity is a core network element, for example, when the second entity is NEF and the first entity is AMF or AIOT-MF or TMF, the second entity can transparently transmit the first AIOT service request, that is, the first AIOT service request and the second AIOT service request can contain the same information content.

[0152] As another example, when the first entity is an access network network element, for example, when the second entity is an AMF or AIOT-MF or TMF and the first entity is an access network network element, compared to the first AIOT service request received by the second entity in step S501, the second AIOT service request sent by the second entity in step S503 may include the same information content as the first AIOT service request, and may optionally include other information (such as the MASK information described in Figure 3 above).

[0153] It should be noted that in the implementation process shown in Figure 5, there is no limit on the number of first entities, that is, the second entity can send AIOT service requests to one or more first entities in step S503. Taking the number of first entities as an example, the second entity can send the same second AIOT service request to each of the multiple first entities in step S503, or the second entity can send different second AIOT service requests to each of the multiple first entities in step S503 (for example, each second AIOT service request includes the identifier of the first entity).

[0154] Based on the scheme shown in Figure 5, after the second entity receives the first AIOT service request in step S501, the second entity can send a second AIOT service request to the first entity that has enabled the AIOT service in step S503 based on the first AIOT service request. Furthermore, the first entity that has enabled the AIOT service can provide the AIOT service based on the second AIOT service request. The above method enables the second entity to identify whether different entities have enabled the AIOT service and send the AIOT service request to the first entity that has enabled the AIOT service, thereby avoiding the second entity sending the AIOT service request to the entity that has disabled (or not enabled) the AIOT service, thereby avoiding the failure of the business data transmission of the AIOT service due to the inability of the entity that has disabled (or not enabled) the AIOT service to provide the AIOT service, thereby improving the user experience.

[0155] Optionally, the method shown in FIG5 further includes:

[0156] S504: When the first entity does not enable or has disabled the AIOT service, the second entity determines not to send the second AIOT service request to the first entity.

[0157] In other words, the second entity may not send an AIOT service request to an entity that has not turned on or has turned off the AIOT service, which can avoid the failure of business data transmission of the AIOT service due to the inability of the entity that has not turned on or has turned off the AIOT service to provide the AIOT service, thereby improving the user experience and further reducing signaling overhead.

[0158] It should be noted that S504 can replace S503 without limitation.

[0159] Optionally, before step S503, the method further includes:

[0160] The second entity determines that the first entity has enabled the AIOT service.

[0161] Specifically, the second entity may determine that the first entity has enabled the AIOT service in the following manner.

[0162] Method 1: The second entity receives first information from the first entity, where the first information indicates that the first entity has enabled the AIOT service. See Implementation Example A below for details.

[0163] Method 2: The second entity receives second information from a third entity, where the second information indicates one or more entities that have enabled the AIOT service, including the first entity. See Implementation Example B below for details.

[0164] Implementation Example A, as shown in FIG6 , before step S503 , the method further includes:

[0165] S601. A first entity sends first information, and correspondingly, the second entity receives the first information from the first entity.

[0166] The first information is used to indicate that the first entity has enabled the AIOT service. In other words, the second entity can determine that the first entity has enabled the AIOT service based on the first information sent by the first entity. Thus, the second entity can determine the entity that has enabled the AIOT service by using the AIOT service status information sent by other entities.

[0167] It should be noted that in Figure 6, the execution order of step S601 and step S501 is not limited. For example, the second entity may execute step S601 first and then step S501. For another example, the second entity may execute step S501 first and then step S601.

[0168] Exemplarily, if the first entity is an access network element and the recipient of the first information is a core network element (for example, the second entity), the first information can be carried in a next generation configuration (NG SETUP) message, an access network / next generation node B configuration update (RAN / gNB configuration update) message, or other messages.

[0169] Implementation Example B, as shown in FIG6 , before step S503 , the method further includes:

[0170] S602: The third entity sends the second information, and correspondingly, the second entity receives the second information.

[0171] The second information is used to indicate one or more entities that have enabled the AIOT service, including the first entity. In other words, the second entity can determine that the first entity has enabled the AIOT service based on the second information sent by the third entity. Thus, the second entity can determine the entity that has enabled the AIOT service based on AIOT service status information collected by other entities, thereby reducing the implementation complexity of the second entity.

[0172] Optionally, in addition to indicating one or more entities that have enabled the AIOT service, the second information may also indicate one or more entities that have disabled the AIOT service (or do not support the AIOT service). In this way, the second entity can be prevented from sending an AIOT service request to a disabled AIOT service (or an entity that does not support the AIOT service), thereby reducing signaling overhead and avoiding the situation where the AIOT service cannot be provided due to sending an AIOT service request to a disabled AIOT service (or an entity that does not support the AIOT service).

[0173] Optionally, the third entity may receive indication information from one or more entities, where the indication information is used to generate / determine the second information. The one or more entities may include the first entity. Exemplarily, the indication information from the first entity may be used to indicate whether the first entity has enabled or disabled the AIOT service. This process may refer to the implementation process of step S601 above.

[0174] It should be noted that in Figure 6, the execution order of step S602 and step S501 is not limited. For example, the second entity may execute step S602 first and then step S501. For another example, the second entity may execute step S501 first and then step S602.

[0175] As previously mentioned, a third entity can manage (including configuring, controlling, etc.) the AIOT service status of other entities (e.g., access network elements and / or core network elements). The following describes the implementation process of the third entity with some examples.

[0176] Case A: The third entity manages the AIOT service status of the first entity.

[0177] As an implementation example of situation A, as shown in FIG7 , which is another schematic diagram of the communication method provided by the present application, the method includes the following steps.

[0178] S701. The third entity sends third information, and correspondingly, the first entity receives the third information.

[0179] The third information is used to trigger the first entity to turn on or off the AIOT service.

[0180] Optionally, the third entity may trigger step S701 in a variety of ways. For example, the third entity may determine and send the third information based on a request from the AIOT service requester. In another example, the third entity may determine and send the third information based on policy information (see the implementation process of Information A below for details).

[0181] S702. The first entity sets the AIOT service status to enabled or disabled based on the third information.

[0182] Based on the solution shown in Figure 7, after receiving the third information, the first entity can set the AIOT service status to enabled or disabled based on the third information. In this way, the first entity can trigger the enabling or disabling of the AIOT service based on instructions from other entities, thereby managing the entity's AIOT service status.

[0183] In one possible implementation, after the first entity sets the AIOT service status to enabled or disabled based on the third information in step S702, the method further includes: the first entity sending first information, the first information being used to indicate that the first entity has enabled or disabled the AIOT service. Specifically, the first entity may send first information indicating that the first entity has enabled or disabled the AIOT service. Subsequently, other entities may send AIOT service requests to the entity that has enabled the AIOT service based on the first information, so as to avoid the situation where the AIOT service cannot be provided due to sending an AIOT service request to a disabled AIOT service (or an entity that does not support the AIOT service).

[0184] It should be noted that the first entity may send the first information to the second entity, and the process in which the first information is used to indicate that the first entity has started the AIOT service may be implemented through the process of the aforementioned step S601.

[0185] Optionally, the first information sent by the first entity to the second entity is used to indicate that the first entity has turned off the AIOT service. In this case, before step S503, the second entity may send an instruction message to the first entity to turn on the AIOT service (or, the second entity may send an instruction message to the first entity through a third entity to turn on the AIOT service), so that the second entity can execute step S503 when it determines that the first entity has turned on the AIOT service, that is, the second entity sends a second AIOT service request to the first entity.

[0186] Alternatively, the first information sent by the first entity to the second entity is used to indicate that the first entity has turned off (or not turned on) the AIOT service. In this case, the second entity performs step S504, that is, the second entity determines not to send a second AIOT service request to the first entity.

[0187] In one possible implementation, before step S701, the method further includes: the first entity sends fourth information, and the fourth information is used to indicate that the first entity supports AIOT services. Specifically, the first entity may also send fourth information (i.e., capability information) so that the recipient of the fourth information can clarify that the first entity has the ability to support AIOT services based on the fourth information, so as to facilitate the management of the AIOT service status of different entities. For example, after the third entity receives the fourth information from the first entity, the third entity may determine to send the third information to the first entity in step S701 based on the fourth information, or the third entity may generate the third information based on the fourth information before step S701. Through the above process, the third entity can clarify that the first entity has the ability to support AIOT services based on the fourth information, so as to facilitate the management of the AIOT service status of different entities.

[0188] In one possible implementation, the third information sent by the third entity in step S701 includes the identifier of the first entity and / or the identifier of the cell corresponding to the first entity. Specifically, when the first entity is an access network element, the first entity can provide network services for one or more cells. Accordingly, the third information can include the identifier of the first entity and / or the identifier of the cell corresponding to the first entity to achieve management of AIOT service status at multiple granularities.

[0189] In addition, the first entity may perform step S702 in a variety of ways, which will be described below with reference to some implementation examples.

[0190] In method A, when the first entity is a CU, since the low-layer signals of the first cell (such as PHY layer signals, MAC layer signals, RLC layer signals, etc.) can be determined / generated by the DU, the CU in the first entity can interact with the DU and instruct the DU to turn on or off the AIOT service based on the third information.

[0191] As shown in FIG8 , as an implementation example of method A, the process of the first entity setting the AIOT service status to enabled or disabled based on the third information in step S702 includes:

[0192] S801. The CU sends fifth information to the DU corresponding to the first cell based on the third information. The fifth information is used to instruct to turn on or off the AIOT service.

[0193] S802.DU sets the AIOT service status to enabled or disabled based on the fifth information.

[0194] It should be noted that the CU can generate / send the fifth information based on the third information, and the third information can indicate the AIOT service at multiple granularities, that is, the fifth information can indicate the AIOT service status at multiple granularities. For example, the fifth information may include a CU identifier, and accordingly, the fifth information may indicate whether the DU and / or cell corresponding to the CU turns on or off the AIOT service. For another example, the fifth information may include a DU identifier, and accordingly, the fifth information may indicate whether the DU and / or the cell corresponding to the DU turns on or off the AIOT service. For another example, the fifth information may include a cell identifier, and accordingly, the fifth information may indicate whether the cell corresponding to the cell identifier turns on or off the AIOT service.

[0195] Exemplarily, in step S801, the fifth information sent by the CU is used for configuration update, and the fifth information may include the cell identifier of the first cell, and AIOT service status indication information (the indication information is used to indicate whether to turn on or off the AIOT service of the first cell). Accordingly, after step S802, the DU may send configuration update response information to the CU, and the response information may be used to indicate whether the AIOT service status of the first cell is turned on or off.

[0196] In mode B, when the first entity is a DU, since the high-layer signals (such as RRC layer signals and PDCP layer signals) of the first cell may be determined / generated by the CU, the DU in the first entity may indicate to the CU whether the current AIOT service status is enabled or disabled through interaction with the CU after setting the AIOT service status of the first cell to enabled or disabled based on the third information in step S702.

[0197] As shown in FIG9 , as an implementation example of method B, after the first entity sets the AIOT service status to enabled or disabled based on the third information in step S702, the following steps may also be included:

[0198] S901. DU sends sixth information to CU, where the sixth information is used to indicate the AIOT service status.

[0199] It should be noted that the sixth information that the DU may send in step S901 may indicate the AIOT service status at various granularities. For example, the third information may include a DU identifier, and accordingly, the sixth information may indicate whether the DU and / or the cell corresponding to the DU is enabled or disabled for the AIOT service. For another example, the third information may include a cell identifier, and accordingly, the sixth information may indicate whether the cell corresponding to the cell identifier is enabled or disabled for the AIOT service.

[0200] Exemplarily, in step S901, the sixth information sent by the DU is used to request a configuration update (for example, the sixth information is an F1 configuration request (F1 setup request) message). The sixth information may include the cell identifier of the first cell, and AIOT service status indication information (the indication information is used to indicate whether the AIOT service of the first cell is turned on or off). Accordingly, after step S902, the CU may send configuration response information to the DU (for example, the response information is an F1 configuration response (F1 setup response) message). The response information may be used to indicate whether the AIOT service status of the first cell is turned on or off.

[0201] Case B: The third entity manages the AIOT service status of the second entity.

[0202] In a possible implementation of the solution shown in Figure 5 or Figure 6, when the second entity is AMF / TMF, before step S501, the method may further include: the second entity receives instruction information from a third entity, where the instruction information is used to instruct the activation of the AIOT service. Specifically, when the second entity supports AIOT service capabilities (for example, the second entity is AMF, TMF, etc.), the second entity can activate the AIOT service according to the instruction of the received instruction information. In this way, the second entity can trigger the activation of the AIOT service based on the instruction of other entities to achieve management of the AIOT service status of the entity.

[0203] Optionally, after receiving the instruction information for instructing to enable the AIOT service, the second entity may send an instruction information indicating that the second entity has enabled the AIOT service. In this way, other entities (e.g., a third entity) can send an AIOT service request to the second entity that has enabled the AIOT service based on the instruction information, thereby avoiding the situation where the AIOT service cannot be provided due to sending an AIOT service request to a disabled AIOT service (or an entity that does not support the AIOT service).

[0204] In a possible implementation, before step S701, the third entity generates third information based on at least one of the following information A to information D:

[0205] Information A. Policy information.

[0206] Information: Location information of BN entities.

[0207] Information CM entity's current AIOT service status information.

[0208] Information DK: AIOT service capability information of each entity.

[0209] It should be understood that in the above information B to information D, N, M, and K are all positive integers. Optionally, in the above scenario A, at least one of the N entities, the M entities, and the K entities includes the first entity; and in the above scenario B, at least one of the N entities, the M entities, and the K entities includes the second entity.

[0210] The specific implementation of the above information A to information D will be described below in an exemplary manner.

[0211] For information A, the policy information can be a control policy pre-configured by a third entity (e.g., a control policy pre-configured or pre-defined by an operator), or a control policy indicated by an operation and maintenance instruction input by a network operation and maintenance personnel to the third entity. In this way, the third entity can determine to enable AIOT services for some entities based on the policy information, and can also determine to disable AIOT services for some entities based on the policy information, and send third information based on the determination result to achieve control of the AIOT services of each entity, and ensure that the control process can meet the policy indicated by the policy information.

[0212] For example, the policy information may include whitelist information, which is used to indicate one or more entities that are allowed to be configured to enable the AIOT service.

[0213] For another example, the policy information may include blacklist information indicating one or more entities that are prohibited from being configured to enable AIOT services. Exemplarily, the one or more entities that are prohibited from being configured to enable AIOT services may be determined based on a key protection policy, an energy-saving policy, or the like.

[0214] For information B, since the service scope of different entities can be determined by the location of each entity, accordingly, the third entity can determine to turn on the AIOT service of the entity at a specific location based on the location information of N entities, and the third entity can also determine to turn off the AIOT service of entities at other locations based on the location information of N entities. Subsequently, the entity at the specific location can provide AIOT services to improve the transmission success rate of business data of the AIOT service, and can also reduce the overhead of entities at other locations.

[0215] Optionally, the specific location can be determined by the third entity based on the operation and maintenance instructions input by the network operation and maintenance personnel to the third entity, or it can be determined by the third entity based on the request of the AIOT service requester, or determined by other means, which is not limited here.

[0216] For information C, when the third entity determines to turn on (or turn off) the AIOT service of a certain entity, the third entity can determine the current AIOT service status of the certain entity based on information C, and when it is determined to change the AIOT service status of the certain entity, the third entity sends information to trigger the certain entity to turn on or turn off the AIOT service; and when it is determined that the AIOT service status of the certain entity does not need to be changed, the third entity does not need to send information to trigger the certain entity to turn on or turn off the AIOT service, which can reduce overhead.

[0217] For example, when the third entity determines to enable the AIOT service of the first entity, the third entity may determine the current AIOT service status of the first entity based on information C. If the current AIOT service status of the first entity is disabled, the first entity may trigger the first entity to enable the AIOT service through the third information in step S701; if the current AIOT service status of the first entity is enabled, the first entity does not need to send the third information in step S701 to reduce overhead.

[0218] For information C, when the third entity determines to turn on (or off) the AIOT service of a certain entity, the third entity can determine the AIOT service capability information of the certain entity based on information D, and when it is determined that the certain entity has the AIOT service capability, the third entity sends information to trigger the certain entity to turn on or off the AIOT service; and when it is determined that the certain entity does not have the AIOT service capability, the third entity does not need to send information to trigger the certain entity to turn on or off the AIOT service, which can reduce overhead.

[0219] Referring to Figure 10 , an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device 1000. This communication device 1000 can implement the functions of the first entity, the second entity, or the third entity in the above-described method embodiment, thereby also achieving the beneficial effects of the above-described method embodiment. Specifically, the communication device 1000 can be the first entity, the second entity, or the third entity, or can be an integrated circuit or component within the first entity, the second entity, or the third entity, such as a chip or a chip system.

[0220] In one possible implementation, when the device 1000 is used to execute the method executed by the second entity in any of the aforementioned embodiments, the device 1000 includes a processing unit 1001 and a transceiver unit 1002; the transceiver unit 1002 is used to receive a first AIOT service request, which is used to request an AIOT service; the processing unit 1001 is used to determine a second AIOT service request based on the first AIOT service request; when the first entity has turned on the AIOT service, the transceiver unit 1002 is also used to send the second AIOT service request to the first entity, which is used to provide the AIOT service.

[0221] In one possible implementation, when the device 1000 is used to execute the method executed by the first entity in any of the aforementioned embodiments, the device 1000 includes a processing unit 1001 and a transceiver unit 1002; the transceiver unit 1002 is used to receive third information, and the third information is used to trigger the first entity to turn on or off the AIOT service; the processing unit 1001 is used to set the AIOT service status to turned on or off based on the third information.

[0222] In one possible implementation, when the device 1000 is used to execute the method executed by the third entity in any of the aforementioned embodiments, the device 1000 includes a processing unit 1001 and a transceiver unit 1002; the processing unit 1001 is used to generate third information, and the third information is used to trigger the first entity to turn on or off the AIOT service; the transceiver unit 1002 is used to send the third information.

[0223] It should be noted that, for details of the information execution process and other contents of the units of the above-mentioned communication device 1000, please refer to the description in the method embodiment shown above in this application, and will not be repeated here.

[0224] Please refer to Figure 11, which is another schematic structural diagram of a communication device 1100 provided in this application. The communication device 1100 includes a logic circuit 1101 and an input / output interface 1102. The communication device 1100 may be a chip or an integrated circuit.

[0225] The transceiver unit 1002 shown in FIG10 may be a communication interface, which may be the input / output interface 1102 in FIG11 , which may include an input interface and an output interface. Alternatively, the communication interface may be a transceiver circuit, which may include an input interface circuit and an output interface circuit.

[0226] Optionally, the input / output interface 1102 is configured to receive a first AIOT service request, the first AIOT service request being used to request an AIOT service; the logic circuit 1101 is configured to determine a second AIOT service request based on the first AIOT service request; and when the first entity has enabled the AIOT service, the input / output interface 1102 is further configured to send the second AIOT service request to the first entity, which is configured to provide the AIOT service. The logic circuit 1101 and the input / output interface 1102 may also perform the other steps performed by the second entity in any of the aforementioned embodiments and achieve the corresponding beneficial effects, which will not be further described here.

[0227] Optionally, the input / output interface 1102 is configured to receive third information, which is used to trigger the first entity to enable or disable the AIOT service; and the logic circuit 1101 is configured to set the AIOT service status to enabled or disabled based on the third information. The logic circuit 1101 and the input / output interface 1102 may also perform other steps performed by the first entity in any of the aforementioned embodiments and achieve corresponding beneficial effects, which will not be further described here.

[0228] Optionally, the logic circuit 1101 is configured to generate third information, which is used to trigger the first entity to enable or disable the AIOT service; and the input / output interface 1102 is configured to send the third information. The logic circuit 1101 and the input / output interface 1102 may also perform other steps performed by the third entity in any of the aforementioned embodiments and achieve corresponding beneficial effects, which will not be further described here.

[0229] In a possible implementation, the processing unit 1001 shown in FIG10 may be the logic circuit 1101 in FIG11 .

[0230] Optionally, the logic circuit 1101 may be a processing device, and the functions of the processing device may be partially or entirely implemented by software. The functions of the processing device may be partially or entirely implemented by software.

[0231] Optionally, the processing device may include a memory and a processor, wherein the memory is used to store a computer program, and the processor reads and executes the computer program stored in the memory to perform corresponding processing and / or steps in any one of the method embodiments.

[0232] Alternatively, the processing device may include only a processor. A memory for storing the computer program is located outside the processing device, and the processor is connected to the memory via circuits / wires to read and execute the computer program stored in the memory. The memory and processor may be integrated or physically separate.

[0233] Optionally, the processing device may be one or more chips, or one or more integrated circuits. For example, the processing device may be one or more field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), system-on-chips (SoCs), central processor units (CPUs), network processors (NPs), digital signal processors (DSPs), microcontroller units (MCUs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), or other integrated chips, or any combination of the above chips or processors.

[0234] Please refer to Figure 12, which is a schematic diagram of the structure of the communication device involved in the above embodiments provided in the embodiments of the present application. The communication device 1200 can specifically be the first entity, the second entity, or the third entity in each of the above method embodiments, or can be a chip or system-on-chip located in the first entity, the second entity, or the third entity. The structure of the communication device can refer to the structure shown in Figure 12.

[0235] The communication device 1200 includes at least one processor 1211. Furthermore, the communication device may also include at least one memory 1212.

[0236] The memory is mainly used to store software programs and data. The memory 1212 can be independent and connected to the processor 1211.

[0237] Optionally, the memory 1212 may be integrated with the processor 1211, for example, integrated into a single chip. The memory 1212 is used to store program codes for executing the solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

[0238] The processor 1211 is configured to read the program code in the memory 1212 to implement the related functions of the first entity, the second entity, or the third entity in the above-mentioned method embodiments.

[0239] Figure 12 shows only one memory and one processor. In the actual first entity, second entity, or third entity, there may be multiple processors and multiple memories. The memory may also be referred to as a storage medium or storage device. The memory may be a storage element on the same chip as the processor, i.e., an on-chip storage element, or an independent storage element, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0240] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing one or more computer-executable instructions. When the computer-executable instructions are executed by a processor, the processor executes the method described in the possible implementation methods of the first entity, the second entity, or the third entity in the aforementioned embodiment.

[0241] An embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program product (or computer program). When the computer program product is executed by the processor, the processor executes the method of the possible implementation of the above-mentioned first entity, second entity or third entity.

[0242] An embodiment of the present application also provides a chip system, which includes at least one processor for supporting a communication device to implement the functions involved in the possible implementation methods of the above-mentioned communication device. Optionally, the chip system also includes an interface circuit, which provides program instructions and / or data to the at least one processor. In one possible design, the chip system may also include a memory, which is used to store the necessary program instructions and data for the communication device. The chip system can be composed of chips, or it can include chips and other discrete devices, wherein the communication device can specifically be the first entity, the second entity or the third entity in the aforementioned method embodiment.

[0243] An embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, wherein the network system architecture includes at least two entities among the first entity, the second entity, or the third entity in any of the above embodiments.

[0244] Optionally, the communication system may further include a terminal device. Furthermore, the terminal device may support AIOT services.

[0245] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely schematic. For example, the division of the units is merely a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0246] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of these units may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0247] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of the present application can be integrated into a processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The above-mentioned integrated unit can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of a software functional unit. If the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the solution of the present application is essentially or the contributing part or all or part of the solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for causing a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in the various embodiments of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media that can store program code, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The second entity receives a first AIOT service request, where the first AIOT service request is used to request an AIOT service; When the first entity has started the AIOT service, the second entity sends a second AIOT service request to the first entity based on the first AIOT service request, wherein the first entity is configured to provide the AIOT service.

2. The method according to claim 1, before the second entity sends a second AIOT service request to the first entity based on the first AIOT service request, the method further comprises: The second entity determines that the first entity has started the AIOT service.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The second entity determining that the first entity has enabled the AIOT service includes: The second entity receives first information from the first entity, where the first information is used to indicate that the first entity has started the AIOT service.

4. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The second entity determining that the first entity has started the AIOT service includes: The second entity receives second information from a third entity, where the second information is used to indicate one or more entities that have enabled AIOT services, where the one or more entities include the first entity.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The method further comprises: When the first entity does not enable or has disabled the AIOT service, the second entity determines not to send the second AIOT service request to the first entity.

6. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The first entity receives third information from the third entity, where the third information is used to trigger the first entity to start or stop an ambient Internet of Things (AIOT) service; The first entity sets the AIOT service status to enabled or disabled based on the third information.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first entity receives a second AIOT service request, where the second AIOT service request is used to request an AIOT service; The first entity provides the AIOT service according to the second AIOT service request.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first entity sends first information to the second entity or the third entity based on the AIOT service status, where the first information is used to indicate whether the first entity has turned on or off the AIOT service.

9. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that The method further comprises: The first entity sends fourth information to the third entity, where the fourth information is used to indicate that the first entity supports AIOT services.

10. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that The first entity is a centralized unit CU; and the first entity sets the AIOT service state to enabled or disabled based on the third information, including: The first entity sends fifth information to the distributed unit DU based on the third information, where the fifth information is used to instruct to start or stop the AIOT service.

11. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that The first entity is a DU, and the method further includes: The first entity sends sixth information to the CU, where the sixth information is used to indicate the AIOT service status.

12. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that The third information includes an identifier of the first entity and / or an identifier of a cell corresponding to the first entity.

13. A communication method, characterized in that: include: The third entity generates third information, where the third information is used to trigger the first entity to start or stop the ambient Internet of Things (AIOT) service; The third entity sends the third information to the first entity.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The third information includes an identifier of the first entity and / or an identifier of a cell corresponding to the first entity.

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that The third entity generates third information, including: The third entity generates the third information based on at least one of the following: Strategy information, location information of N entities, current AIOT service status information of M entities, or AIOT service capability information of K entities; wherein, at least one of the N entities, the M entities, and the K entities includes the first entity, and N, M, and K are all positive integers.

16. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that The third information is used to trigger the first entity to start the AIOT service, and the method further includes: The third entity sends second information to the second entity, where the second information is used to indicate one or more entities that have enabled the AIOT service, where the one or more entities include the first entity.

17. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that The method further comprises: The third entity receives first information from the first entity, where the first information is used to indicate whether the first entity has enabled or disabled the AIOT service; The third entity sends second information to the second entity based on the first information, where the second information is used to indicate one or more entities that have enabled the AIOT service.

18. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 17, characterized in that The method further comprises: The third entity receives fourth information from the first entity, where the fourth information is used to indicate that the first entity supports AIOT services.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that The third entity sending the third information to the first entity includes: The third entity sends the third information to the first entity according to the fourth information.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein The third entity generates third information, including: The third entity generates the third information according to the fourth information.

21. A communication device, characterized in that: Comprising modules for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 20.

22. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises at least one processor configured to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 20.

23. A readable storage medium, characterized in that The storage medium stores a computer program or instruction. When the computer program or instruction is executed by the communication device, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 20 is implemented.

24. A communication system, characterized in that: The system includes at least a first entity and a second entity, or the system includes at least a first entity and a third entity; The first entity is used to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the second entity is used to perform the method according to any one of claims 6 to 12, and the third entity is used to perform the method according to any one of claims 13 to 20.

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