Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method and a communication apparatus. The communication method applied to a host node of a first relay node comprises: receiving a first data packet from a source node; determining that the first data packet is a target data packet; and sending the first data packet to a target node. The first relay node comprises a first mobile terminal and a first access network node, a first protocol data unit (PDU) session has been established between the first mobile terminal and a core network device, and the first PDU session provides a backhaul function for data transmission of the first access network node. The target data packet is a data packet transmitted between the first access network node and a second access network node; and the second access network node is an adjacent access network node of the first access network node, and is different from the host node. If the source node is the first access network node, the target node is the second access network node; and if the source node is the second access network node, the target node is the first access network node.

Description

Communication method and device

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application number 202410391267.1, filed on March 29, 2024, entitled “Communication Method and Apparatus,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of wireless communication technology, and specifically to a communication method, a communication device, a communication equipment, a chip module, a communication system, and a readable storage medium. Background Art

[0003] For example, in scenarios such as vehicle mounted relays (VMRs), a relay device is required that can provide complete access network node functions for user equipment (UE) and can access the host node via wireless backhaul, thereby forming a relay network architecture. There are situations where the access network node in the relay device needs to exchange data with adjacent access network nodes. To address this situation, in the relay network architecture, after the data from the access network node in the relay device is sent to the host node, the host node forwards it to the core network device, and the core network device forwards it to the adjacent access network node. This has the problems of extended data transmission time and low communication efficiency. Therefore, in the relay network architecture, how to efficiently forward the data exchanged between the access network node in the relay device and the adjacent access network node has become a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present application provides a communication method, a communication apparatus, a communication device, a chip module, a communication system, a readable storage medium, and a computer program product.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present application relates to a communication method applied to a host node of a first relay node, comprising: receiving a first data packet from a source node; determining that the first data packet is a target data packet; and sending the first data packet to a target node.

[0006] The first relay node includes a first mobile terminal and a first access network node. A first protocol data unit (PDU) session has been established between the first mobile terminal and the core network device. The first PDU session provides a backhaul function for data transmission of the first access network node.

[0007] The target data packet is a data packet transmitted between the first access network node and the second access network node; the second access network node is an adjacent access network node of the first access network node, and the second access network node is different from the host node.

[0008] When the source node is the first access network node, the target node is the second access network node; when the source node is the second access network node, the target node is the first access network node.

[0009] For example, when the source node is the first access network node and the target node is the second access network node, the first data packet from the first access network node is sent to the host node, and the host node determines that the first data packet is the target data packet and forwards the first data packet to the target node, i.e., the second access network node; when the source node is the second access network node and the target node is the first access network node, the second access network node can send the first data packet from the second access network node to the host node, and the host node determines that the first data packet is the target data packet and forwards the first data packet to the target node, i.e., the first access network node.

[0010] The first access network node and the second access network node can be understood as different access network devices. The target data packet is a data packet transmitted between the first access network node and the second access network node. The target data packet can also be understood as Xn data or Xn traffic, i.e., data packets or traffic transmitted through the Xn interface between the first access network node and the second access network node.

[0011] The second access network node may be different from the host node, or may be the same as the host node. In the case where the second access network node is the same as the host node, the host node may not forward the first data packet after determining that the first data packet is the target data packet.

[0012] According to the communication method of the present application, under the Wireless Access and Backhaul (WAB) network architecture, the first relay node serves as a WAB node (WAB-node), which not only includes the first access network node, but also includes the first mobile terminal. A first protocol data unit (PDU) session has been established between the first mobile terminal and the core network device. The first PDU session provides a backhaul function for data transmission of the first access network node. That is, the communication method of the present application is triggered by the first mobile terminal to establish a backhaul link in the form of a first PDU session, which is adapted to data backhaul under the WAB network architecture.

[0013] In addition, on the one hand, after the user equipment UE accesses the network through the first access network node of the first relay node, the UE data can be transmitted to the host node of the first access network node (hereinafter referred to as the host node of the first access network node) through the first access network node. On the other hand, the first access network node can also generate data for interacting with the second access network node, such as interface-level establishment or update data, etc. The "interface" here can be understood as the communication interface between the first access network node and the second access network node, such as the Xn interface. Therefore, at the host node, the host node can receive a first data packet from the first access network device (according to the above description, the first data packet here can include the UE data when the UE accesses the first access network device and the user data generated by the first access network node). The host node recognizes the first data packet as the target data packet transmitted between the first access network node and the second access network node, and identifies the first data packet as the target data packet transmitted between the first access network node and the second access network node. The host node can directly send the first data packet to the second access network node, which makes it possible, according to the communication method of the present application, for the host node to at least not send the first data packet to the core network device and the core network device to not send the first data packet to the second access network node and can also complete the forwarding of the first data packet to the second access network node. Since there is no need to forward the first data packet to the core network device and there is no need for the core network device to forward the first data packet to the second access network node, according to the communication method of the present application, the delay in transmitting the first data packet between the first access network node and the second access network node is shorter and the communication efficiency is higher.

[0014] Exemplarily, the communication method may further include: receiving first indication information.

[0015] The first indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: information of a target PDU session, information of a target quality of service QoS flow, and target packet header information.

[0016] The target PDU session is a PDU session used to carry the target data packet.

[0017] When the first PDU session established by the first mobile terminal of the first relay node is the target PDU session, the target PDU session can, for example, carry the target data packet for transmission. Furthermore, the target PDU session can also, for example, carry the interface for transmitting the target data packet, that is, the Xn interface, which is the interface for transmitting data between the first access network node and the second access network node.

[0018] In the case where the host node receives an indication of the target PDU session type, it can be understood that all DRBs associated with the target PDU session are DRBs used to transmit the target data packet of the first access network node, that is, all DRBs associated with the target PDU session are target DRBs. At this time, the host node can indicate the target DRB to the first relay node, or it may not indicate the target DRB to the first relay node. In the case where the host node does not receive an indication of the target PDU session type, the host node needs to indicate the target DRB to the first relay node.

[0019] Exemplarily, when the source node is a first access network node and the target node is a second access network node, determining the first data packet as a target data packet includes: determining the first data packet transmitted through a DRB associated with a target PDU session as the target data packet.

[0020] The target QoS flow is a QoS flow used to carry target data packets.

[0021] Exemplarily, the information used to indicate the target QoS flow may include at least one of the following: a quality of service class identifier (QoS Class Identifier, QCI), a 5G QoS identifier (5G QoS Identifier, 5QI), and a QoS flow identifier (QFI). For example, the target QoS flow can be indicated by indicating the type of DRB, or by indicating a specific QCI / 5QI / QFI.

[0022] Exemplarily, the donor node and the first relay node (e.g., the first mobile terminal of the first relay node) may also obtain, through preconfiguration, an indication of a target DRB / target SRB for transmitting the target data packet. For example, an indication of a control plane type target DRB / target SRB for transmitting a control plane type or user plane type target data packet may also be obtained through preconfiguration.

[0023] Exemplarily, information such as QCI, 5QI and QFI for sending the target data packet's QoS flow can be carried in the PDU session resource setup request message and indicated to the host node when the first mobile terminal requests to establish the first PDU session, or can be indicated to the host node in the PDU session resource modify request message after the first PDU session is established.

[0024] Exemplarily, when the source node is a first access network node and the target node is a second access network node, determining the first data packet as a target data packet includes: determining the first data packet transmitted through the target QoS flow as the target data packet.

[0025] The target packet header information is the packet header information of the Internet Protocol IP packet of the target data packet.

[0026] Exemplarily, the target packet header information is used to indicate that the payload of the data packet is a target data packet.

[0027] Exemplarily, the indication information used to indicate the target packet header information may be a specified service type (applicable to Internet Protocol version 4 and Internet Protocol version 6, Internet Protocol version 4, referred to as IPv4, and Internet Protocol version 6, referred to as IPv6), for example, a Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP), or a flow label. When the indication information used to indicate the target packet header information is a flow label, it is only applicable to IPv6.

[0028] Determining the first data packet as the target data packet based on the header information of the IP packet of the first data packet can be understood as determining the first data packet whose header information of the IP packet is identical to the target header information as the target data packet.

[0029] Exemplarily, determining the first data packet as the target data packet includes: parsing the first data packet that meets the parsing condition to obtain header information of the IP packet of the first data packet, and determining the first data packet as the target data packet based on the header information of the IP packet of the first data packet.

[0030] The parsing condition includes: the first data packet is a data packet sent by the first relay node.

[0031] Exemplarily, for example, based on the header information of the IP packet of the first data packet, a first data packet whose destination IP address is not the IP address of the core network device can be determined as the target data packet, and / or, for example, based on the header information of the IP packet of the first data packet, a first data packet whose destination IP address is the IP address of the second access network node can be determined as the target data packet.

[0032] Exemplarily, when the source node is the first access network node and the target node is the second access network node, determining the first data packet as the target data packet includes: determining the first data packet whose IP packet header information is identical to the target header information as the target data packet.

[0033] Exemplarily, the communication method may further include: sending second indication information.

[0034] The second indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: target data radio bearer DRB information, target signaling radio bearer SRB information, target quality of service QoS flow information, and target packet header information.

[0035] The target DRB is the DRB used to transmit the target data packet, the target SRB is the SRB used to transmit the target data packet; the target QoS flow is the quality of service QoS flow used to carry the target data packet, and the target packet header information is the packet header information of the Internet Protocol IP packet of the target data packet.

[0036] Exemplarily, since the establishment of the DRB depends on the establishment of the first PDU session, the donor node may indicate in the RRC message that the target DRB is used to transmit the target data packet. For example, when configuring the associated DRB for the first PDU session through a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message, the donor node may indicate the target DRB for transmitting the target data packet to the first relay node (e.g., the first mobile terminal WAB-MT of the first relay node), thereby enabling the target data packet to be transmitted through the target DRB.

[0037] Exemplarily, the host node can directly establish a target SRB dedicated to transmitting the target data packet. Since the establishment of the SRB does not depend on the establishment of the first PDU session, that is, there is no direct correspondence between the SRB and the first PDU session, the host node indicates the target SRB for transmitting the target data packet to the first relay node (such as the first mobile terminal of the first relay node) through an RRC message.

[0038] Exemplarily, the donor node may indicate the target DRB / target SRB for transmitting the target data packet through an RRC reconfiguration message. For example, the RRC reconfiguration message indicating the target DRB / target SRB for transmitting the target data packet may indicate identification information of the target DRB / identification information of the target SRB.

[0039] Exemplarily, the donor node may further indicate that the target DRB / target SRB is used to transmit a target data packet of a control plane or a target data packet of a user plane. That is, the target DRB / target SRB indicates not only the target data packet to be transmitted, but also the target data packet of a specific data packet type to be transmitted.

[0040] Exemplarily, when the source node is the first access network node and the target node is the second access network node, determining the first data packet as the target data packet includes: determining the first data packet transmitted through the target DRB or target SRB as the target data packet.

[0041] Exemplarily, the donor node and the first relay node (e.g., the first mobile terminal of the first relay node) may also obtain, through preconfiguration, an indication of a target DRB / target SRB for transmitting the target data packet. For example, an indication of a control plane type target DRB / target SRB for transmitting a control plane type or user plane type target data packet may also be obtained through preconfiguration.

[0042] Exemplarily, determining the first data packet as the target data packet includes: determining the first data packet including the first message container as the target data packet.

[0043] The first message container includes a target data packet whose data packet type is a control plane.

[0044] Exemplarily, the communication interface message further includes: identification information of the second access network node.

[0045] Exemplarily, when the source node is the first access network node and the target node is the second access network node, the first message container is transmitted via a communication interface message (eg, an RRC message) between the first mobile terminal and the donor node.

[0046] For example, when the first mobile terminal sends a first data packet of the control plane to the donor node via SRB, the first data packet of the control plane may be transmitted via a first message container. In this case, the donor node may receive the first message container via an RRC message, a communication interface message, between the donor node and the first access network node, and transparently transmit the first message container to the second access network node.

[0047] The RRC message may include a first message container XnAP container, where the first message container XnAP container includes a first data packet of the control plane. For example, the first message container XnAP container may be a container including an Xn setup request message. The RRC message may further include information of the second access network node.

[0048] Exemplarily, when the source node is the first access network node and the target node is the second access network node, the first message container is transmitted via a communication interface message (eg, an XnAP message) between the first access network node and the host node.

[0049] For example, the first control plane data packet can also be sent via a newly added XnAP message, such as an XnAP Message Transfer message. Still taking the first control plane data packet as an XnAP message as an example, the XnAP Message Transfer message can include a first message container, XnAP container, which can include an XnAP message. Furthermore, the XnAP Message Transfer message can also include information about the first access network node. This allows the host node to determine, after receiving the XnAP Message Transfer message, that the sender of the first message container is the first access network node based on the information about the first access network node. For example, this can also enable the host node to forward an XnAP message from a non-host node to a second access network node.

[0050] Exemplarily, the XnAP Message Transfer message may further include information of the second access network node.

[0051] Exemplarily, the source node is a first access network node and the target node is a second access network node. When it is determined that the first data packet is the target data packet, sending the first data packet to the target node includes: sending the first data packet to the second access network node through IP routing; or, sending the first data packet to the second access network node through a communication interface message between the host node and the second access network node.

[0052] Exemplarily, sending a first data packet to a second access network node via a communication interface message between the host node and the second access network node includes: when the first data packet includes a first message container, transparently transmitting the first message container to the second access network node via a communication interface message between the host node and the second access network node.

[0053] Exemplarily, the first data packet is not transmitted in a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) User Plane Tunneling Protocol (GTP-U) tunnel associated with the target PDU session.

[0054] Exemplarily, there is the following situation in which the second access network node does not receive the first data packet (which can also be understood as the second access network node determining not to establish an Xn interface): the second access network node is a second relay node, and the second relay node and the first relay node are nodes of the same type. The type of the first relay node can be a wireless access backhaul node, that is, the first relay node has a base station function (first access network node) and a mobile terminal function (first mobile terminal). The second relay node of the same type as the first relay node can be understood as the second relay node including a base station function and a mobile terminal function. hereinafter, the second relay node of the same type as the first relay node will be referred to as including the second access network node and the second mobile terminal.

[0055] Exemplarily, in the case where it is determined that the first data packet is a target data packet, the communication method further includes: not sending the first data packet to the target node.

[0056] When the source node is the first access network node, the target node is the second access network node; when the source node is the second access network node, the target node is the first access network node; wherein, the second access network node belongs to the second relay node, and the second relay node and the first relay node are nodes of the same type.

[0057] Exemplarily, the communication method further includes: sending third indication information, where the third indication information is used to indicate that establishment of the communication interface between the first access network node and the second access network node has failed.

[0058] Exemplarily, the third indication information is further used to indicate that the reason value for failure to establish the communication interface is: the second access network node and the first access network node are of the same node type, and the target data packet is used to transmit a request to establish the communication interface.

[0059] In summary, according to the communication method of the present application, the host node can identify the first data packet sent to the second access network node by the first relay node (for example, the first access network node of the first relay node) via the backhaul link as the target data packet (also understood as Xn data), and then it can be sent to the second access network node through IP routing or through the communication interface message between the host node and the second access network node. The first PDU session established by the first mobile terminal of the first relay node can be forwarded from the core network device serving the first mobile terminal to the second access network node, thereby reducing the delay in the exchange of the first data packet (that is, Xn data) between the first relay node (for example, the first access network node of the first relay node) and the second access network node, and improving the transmission efficiency of the first data packet, that is, improving the interaction efficiency of the Xn data and the communication efficiency between the first access network node and the second access network node.

[0060] In addition, when the second relay node and the first relay node are of the same node type, and the wireless access node is used, for example, in a vehicle-mounted mobile relay, the positions of the first relay node and the second relay node move as the position of a vehicle or other means of transportation moves. Establishing an Xn interface between the two may lead to increased complexity in Xn interface maintenance work. For example, in this case, the host node may not receive the first data packet to improve communication efficiency.

[0061] In the second aspect, the present application relates to a communication method, which is applied to a source node, the source node is a first access network node or a second access network node, the first relay node includes the first access network node and a first mobile terminal, and a protocol data unit first PDU session has been established between the first mobile terminal and the core network device. The first PDU session provides a backhaul function for the data transmission of the first access network node. The communication method includes: receiving a second indication information; sending a target data packet to the host node of the first relay node according to the second indication information, or sending a target data packet according to the first message container.

[0062] The second indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: target data radio bearer (DRB) information, target signaling radio bearer (SRB) information, target quality of service (QoS) flow information, and target packet header information; the target DRB is the DRB used to transmit the target data packet, the target SRB is the SRB used to transmit the target data packet; the target QoS flow is the quality of service (QoS) flow used to carry the target data packet, and the target packet header information is the packet header information of the Internet Protocol (IP) packet of the target data packet. The target data packet is a data packet transmitted between a first access network node and a second access network node, the second access network node is an adjacent access network node of the first access network node, and the second access network node is different from the host node, and the first message container includes the target data packet whose data packet type is control plane.

[0063] Exemplarily, when the source node is the first access network node, sending the target data packet according to the first message container includes: transmitting the first message container through the communication interface message between the first mobile terminal and the host node, and / or transmitting the first message container through the communication interface message between the first access network node and the host node.

[0064] Exemplarily, the communication interface message further includes: identification information of the second access network node.

[0065] Exemplarily, the communication method further includes: receiving third indication information.

[0066] The third indication information is used to indicate that establishment of the communication interface fails, and the target data packet is used to transmit a request to establish the communication interface between the first access network node and the second access network node.

[0067] Exemplarily, the third indication information is also used to indicate that the reason value for failure to establish the communication interface is: the second access network node and the first access network node have the same node type, and the first PDU session is used to carry the request to establish the communication interface between the first access network node and the second access network node.

[0068] In a third aspect, the present application relates to a communication method, applied to a target node, the communication method comprising: receiving a target data packet from a host node of a first relay node.

[0069] The first relay node includes a first mobile terminal and a first access network node. A first protocol data unit (PDU) session has been established between the first mobile terminal and the core network device. The first PDU session provides a backhaul function for the data of the first access network node. The second access network node is an adjacent access network node of the first access network node, and the second access network node is different from the host node. The target data packet is a data packet transmitted between the first access network node and the second access network node.

[0070] The communication method according to the present application may further include: sending fifth indication information.

[0071] The target node can, for example, send the fifth indication information to the host node, and the host node can also forward the fifth indication information to the first relay node (for example, the first access network node of the first relay node). It should be noted that the content of the fifth indication information and the third indication information can be the same, and the different names of "fifth indication information" and "third indication information" are only to distinguish the different senders of the indication information. For example, the fifth indication information is sent by the target node, and the third indication information is sent by the host node. Therefore, in addition to receiving the third indication information, the source node can also receive the fifth indication information.

[0072] The fifth indication information is used to indicate that the communication interface establishment failed. The target data packet is used to transmit the establishment request of the communication interface between the first access network node and the second access network node. The establishment request of the communication interface includes the fourth indication information. The fourth indication information is used to indicate that the first access network node belongs to the first relay node.

[0073] According to the communication method of the present application, the fifth indication information is also used to indicate that the reason value for failure to establish the communication interface is: the node type of the second access network node is the same as that of the first access network node.

[0074] In a fourth aspect, the present application relates to a communication device, which is applied to a host node of a first relay node. The communication device includes a transceiver module and a processing module.

[0075] The transceiver module is configured to receive a first data packet from a source node and further configured to send the first data packet to a destination node, where the source node is the first access network node and the destination node is the second access network node, or where the source node is the second access network node and the destination node is the first access network node.

[0076] The processing module is used to determine that the first data packet is a target data packet.

[0077] The source node is the first access network node or the second access network node, the target data packet is the data packet transmitted between the first access network node and the second access network node, the second access network node is an adjacent access network node of the first access network node, and the second access network node is different from the host node.

[0078] In a fifth aspect, the present application relates to a communication device, applied to a source node, where the source node is a first access network node or a second access network node, and a first relay node includes the first access network node and a first mobile terminal. A first protocol data unit (PDU) session has been established between the first mobile terminal and a core network device, and the first PDU session provides a backhaul function for data transmission of the first access network node. The communication device includes: a transceiver module.

[0079] The transceiver module is configured to receive the second indication information and send the target data packet to the host node of the first relay node according to the second indication information, or send the target data packet according to the first message container.

[0080] The second indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: information of the target data radio bearer DRB, information of the target signaling radio bearer SRB, information of the target quality of service QoS flow, and target packet header information; the target DRB is the DRB used to transmit the target data packet, and the target SRB is the SRB used to transmit the target data packet; the target QoS flow is the quality of service QoS flow used to carry the target data packet, the target packet header information is the packet header information of the Internet Protocol IP packet of the target data packet, the target data packet is a data packet transmitted between the first access network node and the second access network node, the second access network node is an adjacent access network node of the first access network node, and the second access network node is different from the host node, and the first message container includes the target data packet whose data packet type is the control plane.

[0081] In a sixth aspect, the present application relates to a communication device, applied to a target node, comprising: a transceiver module.

[0082] The transceiver module is used to receive a target data packet from the host node of the first relay node.

[0083] The first relay node includes a first mobile terminal and a first access network node. A first protocol data unit (PDU) session has been established between the first mobile terminal and the core network device. The first PDU session provides a backhaul function for the data of the first access network node. The second access network node is an adjacent access network node of the first access network node, and the second access network node is different from the host node. The target data packet is a data packet transmitted between the first access network node and the second access network node.

[0084] In the seventh aspect, the present application relates to a communication device, comprising a processor and an interface circuit, the interface circuit being used to receive signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmit them to the processor or to send signals from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device, the processor being used to implement at least one of the communication methods of the first aspect, the second aspect, and the third aspect through logic circuits or execution code instructions.

[0085] Exemplarily, the communication device is a chip.

[0086] In an eighth aspect, the present application relates to a chip module, comprising a transceiver component and a chip, wherein the chip is used to execute at least one of the communication methods of the first aspect, the second aspect, and the third aspect.

[0087] In a ninth aspect, the present application relates to a communication system, comprising: a source node, a host node of a first relay node, and a target node.

[0088] The source node is a first access network node or a second access network node. When the source node is the first access network node, the target node is the second access network node; when the source node is the second access network node, the target node is the first access network node. The first relay node includes the first access network node and a first mobile terminal. A first PDU session of a protocol data protocol has been established between the first mobile terminal and a core network device. The first PDU session provides a backhaul function for data transmission of the first access network node. The second access network node is an adjacent access network node of the first access network node, and the second access network node is different from the host node.

[0089] In a tenth aspect, the present application relates to a computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions, comprising: computer instructions, wherein when the computer instructions are executed, the computer executes at least one of the communication methods of the first aspect, the second aspect, and the third aspect.

[0090] Exemplarily, the computer-readable storage medium is a non-transitory storage medium.

[0091] In an eleventh aspect, the present application relates to a computer program product, comprising a computer program stored on a readable storage medium, which enables a computer to implement at least one of the communication methods of the first aspect, the second aspect, and the third aspect when executed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0092] The following is an introduction to the drawings used in the embodiments of this application.

[0093] FIG1A schematically shows a schematic diagram of a vehicle-mounted mobile relay scenario;

[0094] 1B and 1C schematically illustrate schematic diagrams of an integrated access backhaul IAB architecture;

[0095] FIG1D schematically shows a schematic diagram of a wireless access backhaul WAB architecture;

[0096] FIG1E schematically illustrates a layer 3 relay architecture similar to a wireless access backhaul (WAB) architecture according to an embodiment;

[0097] FIG2 schematically shows a schematic diagram of a wireless access backhaul WAB network architecture of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0098] FIG3A is an embodiment in which a donor node determines that a first data packet is a target data packet and forwards the first data packet according to a target DRB / target SRB;

[0099] 3B is an embodiment in which the donor node determines that the first data packet is a target data packet and forwards the first data packet according to the target QoS flow;

[0100] FIG3C is an embodiment in which the host node determines that the first data packet is the target data packet based on the target packet header information and forwards the first data packet;

[0101] FIG3D is an embodiment in which the host node determines that the first data packet is the target data packet based on the destination IP address of the IP packet and forwards the first data packet;

[0102] 3E shows an embodiment in which the donor node determines that the first data packet is a target data packet of the control plane according to the first message container in the SRB and forwards the first data packet;

[0103] FIG4A schematically shows a protocol stack diagram corresponding to forwarding control plane data packets based on IP routing;

[0104] FIG4B schematically shows a protocol stack diagram corresponding to forwarding user plane data packets based on IP routing;

[0105] 5A schematically shows a schematic diagram of a protocol stack in which a first data packet is forwarded to a second access network node via an XnAP message of a host node when the first data packet is a target data packet of a control plane;

[0106] FIG5B schematically shows a hierarchical structure diagram of an RRC message;

[0107] FIG5C schematically shows a hierarchical structure diagram of an XnAP Message Transfer message;

[0108] FIG6 schematically shows another O-RAN architecture-based wireless access backhaul WAB network architecture according to a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0109] FIG7A schematically shows a schematic diagram of a communication device 700A applied to a donor node of a first relay node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0110] FIG7B schematically shows a schematic diagram of a communication device 700B applied to a source node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0111] FIG7C schematically shows a schematic diagram of a communication device 700C applied to a target node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0112] FIG8 schematically shows a block diagram of a communication device that can implement the communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0113] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of this application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the embodiments described are part of the embodiments of this application, not all of them. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0114] The term "and / or" in this article is merely a description of the association relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone.

[0115] In the description and claims of the embodiments of this application, the terms "first" and "second" are used to distinguish different objects, rather than to describe a specific order of objects. For example, the terms "first target object" and "second target object" are used to distinguish different objects, rather than to describe a specific order of objects.

[0116] In the embodiments of this application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of this application should not be interpreted as being preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a concrete manner.

[0117] It should be understood that in this application, "at least one (item)" means one or more, and "plurality" means two or more. "And / or" is used to describe the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, "A and / or B" can mean: only A exists, only B exists, and A and B exist at the same time, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following items" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single items or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b or c can mean: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c", where a, b, c can be single or multiple.

[0118] The following describes in detail the background of the communication method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0119] Vehicle Mounted Relay (VMR)

[0120] Figure 1A schematically illustrates a vehicle-mounted mobile relay scenario. In this scenario, relay nodes are deployed in moving vehicles, such as vehicles and aircraft, to provide wireless coverage for user equipment (UE) within the vehicle, overcoming poor wireless signal conditions within the vehicle. The relay nodes connect to a macro base station (also referred to as a donor node) via wireless backhaul.

[0121] The relay node can be an integrated access backhaul node or a wireless access backhaul node.

[0122] Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB)

[0123] FIG1B and FIG1C schematically illustrate schematic diagrams of an integrated access backhaul (IAB) architecture.

[0124] Integrated access backhaul is based on a centralized unit-distributed unit (CU-DU) separation architecture. The IAB node (IAB-node) includes a mobile terminal (MT) and a distributed unit (DU). When the IAB node faces its parent node, it acts as a terminal device, that is, the role of a mobile terminal MT; when the IAB node faces its child node (the child node may be another IAB node or a UE), it is regarded as a network device, that is, it acts as a distributed unit DU.

[0125] The host node of the IAB node (IAB-donor, also referred to as donor) is an access network element with complete base station (gNB) functions, including a centralized unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU). The host node of the IAB node IAB-donor is connected to the core network device serving the UE (for example, connected to the 5G core network device).

[0126] Taking uplink transmission as an example, after a UE accesses an IAB-DU, the mobile terminal IAB-MT belonging to the same IAB node backhauls the UE's data to the distributed unit IAB-DU of the previous-hop IAB node. The mobile terminal IAB-MT of the previous-hop IAB node then backhauls the data to the distributed unit IAB-DU of the previous-hop IAB node, and so on. Each hop's wireless backhaul is completed via the New Radio (NR, also known as 5G) air interface (Uu) until it reaches the distributed unit donor-DU of the IAB node's host node. It is then sent via a wired connection to the centralized unit donor-CU of the IAB node's host node and then to the core network. The same applies to downlink transmission.

[0127] The IAB architecture is a layer 2 relay because the IAB node only has the distributed unit DU function of the base station and does not have the centralized unit CU function. It only has the protocol stack below the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer.

[0128] Wireless Access and Backhaul (WAB)

[0129] FIG1D schematically shows a schematic diagram of a wireless access backhaul (WAB) architecture.

[0130] As shown in Figure 1D, since the WAB node includes a base station gNB (also called WAB-gNB) and a mobile terminal MT (also called WAB-MT), the mobile terminal MT acts as a UE to its upstream node, and because the PDU session is established by the UE request, the mobile terminal MT can also request to establish a PDU session with the core network device serving the mobile terminal MT, that is, the PDU session for backhaul shown in Figure 1D. The PDU session for backhaul can backhaul UE data. Thus, the UE accesses the base station WAB-gNB of the WAB node through the air interface Uu port, and then the mobile terminal WAB-MT of the WAB node wraps the control plane or user plane data of the UE in the backhaul PDU session of the mobile terminal WAB-MT of the WAB node, passes through the Uu port of the mobile terminal WAB-MT of the WAB node, passes through the host node (WAB-donor, also called donor) of the WAB node and the user plane function (User Plane The N3 tunnel (the N3 tunnel is the General Packet Radio Service GPRS User Plane Tunnel Protocol GTP-U tunnel) between the two devices is sent to the user plane function UPF of the core network serving the mobile terminal MT (i.e., the backhaul UPF shown in Figure 1D). Then, the user plane function UPF of the core network device serving the mobile terminal WAB-MT removes the header information of the relevant data packets of the mobile terminal WAB-MT, revealing the UE-related header information, and sends it to the core network device according to IP routing. Specifically, for example, it is sent to the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) network element of the core network device serving the UE, the Session Management Function (SMF) network element of the core network device serving the UE, or the user plane function UPF network element of the core network device serving the UE, etc.).

[0131] It should be noted that “WAB node” is only an exemplary name for a relay node that includes base station functions and mobile terminal functions, and may also be other names such as “mobile WAB node”.

[0132] Logically, a non-access stratum connection (NAS) is established between the UE and the AMF of the core network device serving the UE for transmitting control plane data; a PDU session (i.e., the PDU session for access shown in Figure 1D) is established between the UE and the UPF of the core network device serving the UE.

[0133] Compared with the two, in the integrated access backhaul (IAB) architecture, although the mobile terminal MT also backhauls UE data, the UE data does not need to be packaged in the PDU session of the mobile terminal MT. Instead, it is directly carried on the layer 2 logical channel of the mobile terminal MT and reaches the host node WAB-donor through hop-by-hop logical channel mapping. The host node donor can then identify the UE data. In the wireless access backhaul WAB architecture, UE data is directly enclosed in the PDU session of the mobile terminal WAB-MT. During the backhaul process of the mobile terminal WAB-MT, UE data is regarded as the user-plane data of the mobile terminal WAB-MT itself. After these data reach the host node WAB-donor through the wireless bearer of the mobile terminal WAB-MT, such as DRB (Data Radio Bearer) or SRB (Signaling Radio Bearer), the host node WAB-donor will identify the UE data as the data of the mobile terminal WAB-MT. Only after the UE data is sent to the user-plane function UPF of the core network device serving the mobile terminal WAB-MT will the packet header information related to the mobile terminal WAB-MT be stripped to reveal the UE-related packet header information, and then forwarded to the core network device serving the UE.

[0134] The above example illustrates how the UE communicates with the core network equipment serving the UE under the wireless access backhaul WAB network architecture. The interface-level data transmission between the WAB node base station WAB-gNB and the core network equipment serving the UE (such as the access and mobility management function AMF) is similar. It also needs to be transmitted through the PDU session of the mobile terminal WAB-MT to the user plane function UPF of the core network equipment serving the mobile terminal WAB-MT, and then routed to the access and mobility management function AMF of the core network equipment serving the UE.

[0135] Compared with the integrated access backhaul (IAB) architecture, the wireless access backhaul (WAB) architecture has the following advantages:

[0136] 1) The WAB node has complete base station gNB functions, and some user plane functions (UPF) can be integrated into the WAB node, giving the WAB node more service functions (such as edge computing, perception, etc.).

[0137] 2) The WAB node adopts a layer 3 architecture, and the access link and the backhaul link can be decoupled, which is more conducive to flexible deployment.

[0138] Figure 1E schematically illustrates a layer 3 relay architecture similar to the wireless access backhaul WAB architecture in an embodiment. As shown in Figure 1E, the relay node (RN) can be understood as consisting of a UE and a base station (eNB). There is an air interface connection between the UE of the relay node RN (called RN-MT) and the donor node (donor eNB, also called DeNB). This part of the air interface is called the Un interface (the ordinary UE accessing the base station eNB is called the Uu interface). The base station eNB of the relay node RN (called RN-eNB) and the donor node DeNB have a logical X2 interface and S1 interface (the S1 interface is the interface between the wireless network and the core network in the LTE system, and the X2 interface is the interconnection interface between the base station eNB, supporting direct transmission of data and signaling). The control plane and user plane data on the X2 and S1 interfaces are all transmitted via the data radio bearer DRB on the Un interface between the mobile terminal RN-MT of the relay node and the donor node DeNB. The host node DeNB is a proxy host node for the relay node RN. It can be understood that after the relay node's base station RN-eNB accesses the host node DeNB, it is invisible to other adjacent base stations eNB or the core network. The host node DeNB can be regarded as a core network device (for the S1 interface) or a base station eNB (for the X2 interface) for the relay node RN. The core network device or other neighboring stations will only discover that some new cells have been added to the host node DeNB through the S1 interface / X2 interface update process with the host node DeNB, but will not be aware of the existence of the relay node's base station RN-eNB. As for the UE under the base station RN-eNB accessing the relay node, when the UE-related message reaches the host node DeNB, the host node DeNB will update the information on both the sending and receiving ends of the message. Taking the X2 interface as an example, the relay node's base station RN-eNB only has a logical X2 interface with the host node DeNB, and the host node DeNB can have an X2 interface with other adjacent base stations eNB. When the host node DeNB receives a UE-related X2AP message from the relay node base station RN-eNB that it wants to send to the base station eNB1, the host node DeNB will retain the main content of the X2AP message, but will only modify the X2AP UE ID, transport layer address, and GTP-U TEID of the sender of the message to its own. The X2AP UE ID, transport layer address, and GTP TEID of the receiver are still set to the information of the base station eNB1, so as to forward the X2AP message generated by the relay node base station RN-eNB to the base station eNB1 through the X2AP message between the host node DeNB and the base station eNB1.Similarly, the X2-U data sent by the relay node RN to other base stations eNB will be transmitted to the host node DeNB through the GTP-U tunnel carried on the Un interface, and then sent by the host node DeNB to other base stations eNB through the GTP-U tunnel between it and other base stations eNB. This is equivalent to the host node DeNB maintaining the correspondence between the GTP-U tunnels at both ends between the relay node RN and the host node DeNB and between the host node DeNB and other base stations eNB. From the perspective of other base stations eNB, they will only receive X2-U data from the host node DeNB and will not perceive the relay node RN.

[0139] In the LTE Relay network architecture, the backhaul link is a data radio bearer (DRB), which can be directly triggered and established by the host node donor. Therefore, the host node donor can process the data packets transmitted on the backhaul link. For example, relay nodes (such as LTE Relay) are presented to the outside world through the host node donor as a proxy. That is, they are invisible to the outside world. Neighboring stations and the core network only see the host node donor.

[0140] In summary, how to efficiently forward data exchanged between access network nodes and adjacent access network nodes in relay devices based on the WAB network architecture has become a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently.

[0141] A WAB network architecture to which the communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is applied will be described below, which can also be understood as a specific example of a communication system.

[0142] FIG2 schematically shows a schematic diagram of a WAB network architecture of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0143] As shown in Figure 2, the system architecture of the communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include: a first access network node, a donor node, and a second access network node. The system architecture may also include a UE accessing the first access network node and a core network device serving the UE.

[0144] The first relay node includes a first access network node and a first mobile terminal.

[0145] According to the transmission direction of the first data packet, the source node can be the first access network node or the second access network node. As shown in Figure 2, for example, when the source node is the first access network node and the target node is the second access network node, the first data packet from the first access network node is sent to the host node, and the host node determines that the first data packet is the target data packet and forwards the first data packet to the target node, i.e., the second access network node; when the source node is the second access network node and the target node is the first access network node, the second access network node can send the first data packet from the second access network node to the host node, and the host node determines that the first data packet is the target data packet and forwards the first data packet to the target node, i.e., the first access network node. Unless otherwise specified, the following description is based on the example of the source node being the first access network node and the target node being the second access network node.

[0146] As shown in Figure 2, in the WAB network architecture, the first relay node can be understood as a WAB node (WAB-node). Unless otherwise specified, the first relay node and the WAB node can be considered the same. A first protocol data unit (PDU) session has been established between the first mobile terminal and the core network device. The first PDU session provides a backhaul function for data transmission of the first access network node.

[0147] The following description uses a host node executing the communication method of the embodiment of the present disclosure. The communication method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can be executed by the host node, and the communication method includes: receiving a first data packet from a source node; determining that the first data packet is a target data packet; and sending the first data packet to the target node.

[0148] The destination node may receive the first data packet.

[0149] The first access network node and the second access network node can be understood as different access network devices. The target data packet is the data packet transmitted between the first access network node and the second access network node. The target data packet can also be understood as Xn data or Xn traffic, that is, the data packet and traffic transmitted through the Xn interface between the first access network node and the second access network node. Unless otherwise specified below, the target data packet, Xn data, and Xn traffic can also be considered to be the same. The second access network node is an adjacent access network node of the first access network node. The second access network node being an adjacent access network node of the first access network node can be understood as the second access network node being a neighboring station of the first access network node.

[0150] It should be noted that the second access network node may be different from the host node, or may be the same as the host node. In the case where the second access network node is the same as the host node, the host node may not forward the first data packet after determining that the first data packet is the target data packet.

[0151] The first access network node may only establish a communication connection with the host node. The "communication connection" in the embodiment of the present disclosure may also be understood as a "communication interface", that is, "communication connection" and "communication interface" are equivalent. Furthermore, in the case where a communication connection is established between the first access network node and the host node, the host node may update the cell configuration information to the second access network node through an update message of the communication interface (the update message of the communication interface may be, for example, an NG-RAN node configuration update). Optionally, the host node may also indicate to the second access network node in the updated cell configuration information that the cell type of the newly added cell is a cell managed by the first relay node (for example, the first access network node of the first relay node), for the second access network node to manage access to UEs.

[0152] It should also be noted that the host node can receive all data packets sent from the first access network node, and the host node can determine whether each of all data packets from the first access network node is the target data packet. The embodiments of the present disclosure will not discuss the situation where the destination IP address of the data packet from the first access network node is not the second access network node.

[0153] According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present disclosure, under the WAB network architecture, the first relay node serves as a WAB node, which includes not only the first access network node but also the first mobile terminal. A first protocol data unit PDU session has been established between the first mobile terminal and the core network device. The first PDU session provides a backhaul function for the data transmission of the first access network node. That is, the communication method of the embodiment of the present disclosure triggers the establishment of a backhaul link in the form of a first PDU session by the first mobile terminal, which is adapted to data backhaul under the WAB network architecture.

[0154] In addition, on the one hand, after the UE accesses the network through the first access network node of the first relay node, the UE data can be transmitted to the host node of the first access network node (hereinafter referred to as the host node of the first access network node) through the first access network node. On the other hand, the first access network node can also generate data for interacting with the second access network node, such as interface-level establishment or update data, etc. The "interface" here can be understood as the communication interface between the first access network node and the second access network node, such as the Xn interface. Therefore, at the host node, the host node can receive a first data packet from the first access network device (according to the above description, the first data packet here can include the UE data when the UE accesses the first access network device and the data generated by the first access network node for interacting with the second access network node). The host node receives the first data packet as the target data packet for transmission between the first access network node and the second access network node, and identifies the first data packet as the target data packet transmitted between the first access network node and the second access network node. The host node can directly send the first data packet to the second access network node, which makes it possible for the host node to at least not send the first data packet to the core network device and the core network device to not send the first data packet to the second access network node and also complete the forwarding of the first data packet to the second access network node according to the communication method of the embodiment of the present disclosure. Since there is no need to forward the first data packet to the core network device and there is no need for the core network device to forward the first data packet to the second access network node, according to the communication method of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the delay in transmitting the first data packet between the first access network node and the second access network node is shorter and the communication efficiency is higher.

[0155] Similarly, when the source node is the second access network node and the target node is the first access network node, the host node receives the first data packet from the second access network node and can also determine that the first data packet is the target data packet transmitted between the first access network node and the second access network node, and then forward the first data packet to the first access network node. This allows the first data packet sent by the second access network node according to the communication method of the embodiment of the present disclosure to be sent directly to the host node instead of being forwarded by the core network device, and the host node to identify the first data packet as the target data packet and then forward the first data packet to the first access network node. Therefore, according to the communication method of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the delay in transmitting the first data packet between the first access network node and the second access network node is shorter and the communication efficiency is higher.

[0156] 3A to 3E schematically illustrate five different communication methods according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0157] FIG3A shows an embodiment in which a host node determines that a first data packet is a target data packet according to a target DRB / target SRB and forwards the first data packet.

[0158] The communication method shown in FIG. 3A may include operations S311 to S314 .

[0159] In operation S311 , a first mobile terminal of a first relay node establishes a first PDU session, which provides a backhaul function for data transmission of a first access network node.

[0160] Operation S311 can be understood as being performed before the communication method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, so operation S311 is not shown in the example of FIG. 3A .

[0161] As shown in FIG3A , the first PDU session established through operation S311 enables an N3 tunnel to be established between the core network and the donor node. The N3 tunnel is a General Packet Radio Service GPRS User Plane Tunneling Protocol GTP-U tunnel.

[0162] For example, when the first PDU session established by the first mobile terminal of the first relay node in operation S311 is a target PDU session (the target PDU session can be understood as a PDU session for carrying the target data packet), the target PDU session (first PDU session) can, for example, carry the target data packet for transmission. On this basis, the target PDU session (first PDU session) can also, for example, carry the interface for transmitting the target data packet, that is, the Xn interface, which is the interface for transmitting data between the first access network node and the second access network node.

[0163] It should be noted that, when the host node receives an indication of the target PDU session type, it can be understood that all DRBs associated with the target PDU session are DRBs used to transmit the target data packet of the first access network node, that is, all DRBs associated with the target PDU session are target DRBs. At this time, the host node can indicate the target DRB to the first relay node, or it may not indicate the target DRB to the first relay node. In the case where the host node does not receive an indication of the target PDU session type, the host node is required to indicate the target DRB to the first relay node.

[0164] Exemplarily, the host node may receive indication information inst1 sent by the core network device in the PDU session resource setup request message, where the indication information instr1 indicates that the type of the target PDU session is about the target data packet. At this point, an N3 tunnel for transmitting target data packets related to the target PDU session is established between the host node and the core network device (for example, the core network device is the UPF of the core network device serving the first mobile terminal WAB-MT). Taking the first relay node as a WAB node as an example, the indication information inst1 may specifically be sent by the AMF of the core network device serving the WAB-MT.

[0165] In operation S312 : the donor node indicates to the first relay node (eg, the first mobile terminal of the first relay node) information of the DRB / SRB related to the N3 tunnel for sending the target data packet.

[0166] Exemplarily, since DRB establishment depends on a PDU session, the donor node may indicate in an RRC message that the target DRB is used to transmit the target data packet. For example, when configuring an associated DRB for a PDU session (e.g., a first PDU session) through a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message, the donor node may indicate the target DRB for transmitting the target data packet to the first relay node (e.g., a first mobile terminal WAB-MT of the first relay node), thereby enabling the target data packet to be transmitted through the target DRB.

[0167] Exemplarily, the host node can directly establish a target SRB dedicated to transmitting the target data packet. Since the establishment of the SRB does not depend on the establishment of the PDU session, that is, there is no direct correspondence between the SRB and the PDU session (such as the first PDU session), the host node indicates the target SRB for transmitting the target data packet to the first relay node (such as the first mobile terminal of the first relay node) through an RRC message.

[0168] Exemplarily, the donor node may indicate the target DRB / target SRB for transmitting the target data packet through an RRC reconfiguration message. For example, the RRC reconfiguration message indicating the target DRB / target SRB for transmitting the target data packet may indicate identification information of the target DRB / identification information of the target SRB.

[0169] Exemplarily, the donor node may further indicate that the target DRB / target SRB is used to transmit a target data packet of a control plane or a target data packet of a user plane. That is, the target DRB / target SRB indicates not only the target data packet to be transmitted, but also the target data packet of a specific data packet type to be transmitted.

[0170] Exemplarily, the donor node and the first relay node (e.g., the first mobile terminal of the first relay node) may also obtain, through preconfiguration, an indication of a target DRB / target SRB for transmitting the target data packet. For example, an indication of a control plane type target DRB / target SRB for transmitting a control plane type or user plane type target data packet may also be obtained through preconfiguration.

[0171] In operation S313: the first relay node (for example, the first mobile terminal of the first relay node) transmits a first data packet through a designated DRB / SRB.

[0172] The "designated DRB / SRB" of operation S313 may include at least one of the following: a target DRB, a target SRB, and all DRBs related to the target PDU session.

[0173] In operation S314 : the host node may determine the first data packet sent through the target DRB / target SRB / DRB associated with the target PDU session as the target data packet, and forward the first data packet according to the destination IP address of the first data packet.

[0174] Exemplarily, when the host node receives the first data packet from the target DRB / DRB associated with the target PDU session, that is, when the host node does not receive the first data packet from the target SRB, the host node may not forward the first data packet to the N3 tunnel corresponding to the target DRB / target PDU session to the core network device (such as the UPF of the core network device serving the first mobile terminal).

[0175] FIG3B shows an embodiment in which the donor node determines that the first data packet is a target data packet according to the target QoS flow and forwards the first data packet.

[0176] The communication method shown in FIG. 3B may include operations S321 to S324 .

[0177] In operation S321 , a first mobile terminal of a first relay node establishes a first PDU session, which provides a backhaul function for data transmission of a first access network node.

[0178] Operation S321 can be understood as being performed before the communication method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, so in the example of FIG. 3B , operation S321 is not shown.

[0179] As shown in Figure 3B, the first PDU session established through operation S321 enables an N3 tunnel to be established between the core network and the host node, and also enables data transmission between the first relay node (such as the first mobile terminal of the first relay node) and the host node through the DRB related to the N3 tunnel.

[0180] Similar to the embodiment of FIG3A , when the first PDU session established by the first mobile terminal of the first relay node in operation S321 is a target PDU session (a target PDU session can be understood as a PDU session for carrying a target data packet), the target PDU session (first PDU session) can, for example, carry the target data packet. On this basis, the target PDU session (first PDU session) can also, for example, carry an interface for transmitting the target data packet, that is, an Xn interface, which is an interface for transmitting data between the first access network node and the second access network node.

[0181] In operation S322 , the donor node indicates information of a QoS flow for transmitting a target data packet to the first relay node (eg, the first mobile terminal of the first relay node). The target QoS flow is a QoS flow for carrying the target data packet.

[0182] Exemplarily, the information used to indicate the target QoS flow may include at least one of the following: a quality of service class identifier (QoS Class Identifier, QCI), a 5G QoS identifier (5G QoS Identifier, 5QI), and a QoS flow identifier (QFI). For example, the target QoS flow can be indicated by indicating the type of DRB, or by indicating a specific QCI / 5QI / QFI.

[0183] Exemplarily, information such as QCI, 5QI and QFI for sending the target data packet's QoS flow can be carried in the PDU session resource setup request message and indicated to the host node when the first mobile terminal requests to establish the first PDU session in operation S321, or can be indicated to the host node through the PDU session resource modify request message after the first PDU session is established.

[0184] As shown in FIG3B , for example, the core network device may indicate to the donor node information about the QoS flow for sending the target data packet. After receiving the information, the donor node may indicate to the first mobile terminal information about the target QoS flow for sending the target data packet.

[0185] Different from the example in Figure 3B, the first mobile terminal can also obtain information such as QCI, 5QI and QFI indicating the QoS flow used to send the target data packet from the NAS message sent by the core network device serving the first mobile terminal. The NAS message can be, for example, a PDU session establishment accept message.

[0186] Similar to the example in FIG3A , the donor node and the first relay node (e.g., the first mobile terminal of the first relay node) can obtain information about a target QoS flow for transmitting a target data packet through pre-configuration. For example, information about a control plane type target QoS flow for transmitting a control plane type or user plane type target data packet can also be obtained through pre-configuration.

[0187] In operation S323 : the first relay node (for example, the first mobile terminal of the first relay node) transmits a first data packet through the target QoS flow.

[0188] In operation S324 : the donor node may determine the first data packet sent through the target QoS flow as a target data packet, and forward the first data packet according to the destination IP address of the first data packet.

[0189] Exemplarily, the host node may not forward the first data packet to the corresponding N3 tunnel to send it to the core network device (such as the UPF of the core network device serving the first mobile terminal).

[0190] FIG3C shows an embodiment in which the host node determines that the first data packet is the target data packet based on the target packet header information and forwards the first data packet.

[0191] The communication method shown in FIG. 3C may include operations S331 to S334 .

[0192] In operation S331 , a first mobile terminal of a first relay node establishes a first PDU session, which provides a backhaul function for data transmission of a first access network node.

[0193] Operation S331 can be understood as being performed before the communication method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, so in the example of FIG. 3C , operation S331 is not shown.

[0194] As shown in Figure 3C, the first PDU session established through operation S331 enables an N3 tunnel to be established between the core network and the host node, and also enables data transmission between the first relay node (such as the first mobile terminal of the first relay node) and the host node through the DRB related to the N3 tunnel.

[0195] Similar to the embodiments of Figures 3A and 3B, when the first PDU session established by the first mobile terminal of the first relay node in operation S331 is a target PDU session (the target PDU session can be understood as a PDU session for carrying the target data packet), the target PDU session (first PDU session) can, for example, carry the target data packet. On this basis, the target PDU session (first PDU session) can also, for example, carry the interface for transmitting the target data packet, that is, the Xn interface, which is the interface for transmitting data between the first access network node and the second access network node.

[0196] In operation S332 : the header information of the IP packet of the first data packet is target header information indicating that the data packet type is a target data packet.

[0197] For example, the first relay node may add the target header information to the IP header of the generated first data packet.

[0198] Exemplarily, the target packet header information is used to indicate that the payload in the IP packet is a target data packet.

[0199] It should be noted that the communication method of the embodiments of the present disclosure is described using IP packets as an example. In addition to IP packet headers, packet headers based on other network layer protocols may also be used. Similarly, the communication method of the embodiments of the present disclosure is also described using IP addresses as an example. In addition to IP addresses, addresses used to identify network nodes or devices in other protocols may also be used.

[0200] Exemplarily, for example, the target packet header information can be preconfigured to the first relay node (also known as the WAB node, such as the first access network node of the first relay node) and the host node. Optionally, the target packet header information can also be preconfigured to the core network device serving the first mobile terminal. Alternatively, after any one of the first relay node / host node / core network device serving the first mobile terminal determines the target packet header information, indication information indicating the target packet header information is sent to the other two. For example, the first relay node determines the indication information indicating the target packet header information, and can send the indication information indicating the target packet header information to the host node and the core network device serving the first mobile terminal through RRC messages and NAS messages respectively, or the first relay node determines the indication information indicating the target packet header information, and can send the indication information indicating the target packet header information to the host node through an RRC message, and then the host node sends the indication information indicating the target packet header information to the core network device serving the first mobile terminal through an NGAP (Next Generation Access Protocol) message. For another example, the host node determines the indication information indicating the target packet header information, and can send the indication information indicating the target packet header information to the first mobile terminal and the core network device serving the first mobile terminal through RRC messages and NGAP messages respectively, or the host node determines the indication information indicating the target packet header information, and sends the indication information indicating the target packet header information to the core network serving the first mobile terminal through NAGP messages, and then the core network device serving the first mobile terminal sends the indication information indicating the target packet header information to the first mobile terminal through NAS messages, or the host node first sends the indication information indicating the target packet header information to the first mobile terminal through RRC messages, and then the first mobile terminal sends the indication information indicating the target packet header information to the core network device serving the first mobile terminal through NAS messages. For another example, the core network device serving the first mobile terminal determines the indication information indicating the target packet header information, and can send the indication information indicating the target packet header information to the host node and the first mobile terminal through NGAP message and NAS message respectively, or the core network device serving the first mobile terminal first sends the indication information indicating the target packet header information to the host node through NGAP message, and then the host node sends the indication information indicating the target packet header information to the core network serving the first mobile terminal through RRC message.

[0201] Exemplarily, the indication information used to indicate the target packet header information may be a specified service type (applicable to Internet Protocol version 4 and Internet Protocol version 6, Internet Protocol version 4, referred to as IPv4, and Internet Protocol version 6, referred to as IPv6), for example, a Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP), or a flow label. When the indication information used to indicate the target packet header information is a flow label, it is only applicable to IPv6.

[0202] In operation S333: the first relay node (for example, the first mobile terminal of the first relay node) transmits a first data packet through the DRB.

[0203] In operation S334 : the host node may determine that the first data packet is the target data packet according to the target packet header information of the IP packet of the first data packet, and forward the first data packet according to the destination IP address of the first data packet.

[0204] Determining the first data packet as the target data packet based on the header information of the IP packet of the first data packet can be understood as determining the first data packet whose header information of the IP packet is identical to the target header information as the target data packet.

[0205] Exemplarily, for example, the first data packet that meets the parsing condition may be parsed to obtain the header information of the IP packet of the first data packet.

[0206] The parsing condition includes: the first data packet is a data packet sent by the first relay node.

[0207] Exemplarily, for example, based on the header information of the IP packet of the first data packet, a first data packet whose destination IP address is not the IP address of the core network device can be determined as the target data packet, and / or, for example, based on the header information of the IP packet of the first data packet, a first data packet whose destination IP address is the IP address of the second access network node can be determined as the target data packet.

[0208] Exemplarily, the host node may not forward the first data packet to the corresponding N3 tunnel to be sent to the core network device (e.g., the UPF of the core network device). If the host node is not indicated with the IP address of the second access network node or the identity / type of the first relay node (e.g., the first access network node of the first relay node) is not indicated to the host node, the host node may send an IP address request message to the second access network node, or may not process the first data packet of the first relay node (e.g., the first access network node of the first relay node) and directly forward it to the N3 tunnel. The identity / type of the first relay node may be represented by a WAB node.

[0209] FIG3D shows an embodiment in which the host node determines that the first data packet is a target data packet based on the destination IP address of the IP packet and forwards the first data packet.

[0210] The communication method shown in FIG. 3D may include operations S341 to S344 .

[0211] In operation S341 , a first mobile terminal of a first relay node establishes a first PDU session, which provides a backhaul function for data transmission of a first access network node.

[0212] Operation S341 can be understood as being performed before the communication method of the embodiment of the present disclosure, so in the example of FIG3D , operation S341 is not shown.

[0213] As shown in Figure 3D, the first PDU session established through operation S341 enables an N3 tunnel to be established between the core network and the host node, and also enables data transmission between the first relay node (such as the first mobile terminal of the first relay node) and the host node through the DRB related to the N3 tunnel.

[0214] Similar to the embodiments of Figures 3A, 3B, and 3C, in operation S341, when the first PDU session established by the first mobile terminal of the first relay node is a target PDU session (the target PDU session can be understood as a PDU session for carrying the target data packet), the target PDU session (first PDU session) can, for example, carry the target data packet. On this basis, the target PDU session (first PDU session) can also, for example, carry the interface for transmitting the target data packet, that is, the Xn interface, which is the interface for transmitting data between the first access network node and the second access network node.

[0215] In operation S342: the first data packet generated by the first relay node (for example, the first access network node of the first relay node) is sent to the host node via the DRB related to the first PDU session / N3 tunnel of the first relay node (for example, the first mobile terminal of the first relay node) and the host node.

[0216] In operation S343 , the host node determines that the first data packet is a target data packet according to the destination IP address of the IP packet of the first data packet.

[0217] Exemplarily, the host node can, for example, determine the first data packet whose destination IP address is not the IP address of the core network device as the target data packet based on the header information of the IP packet of the first data packet, and / or, for example, the host node can determine the first data packet whose destination IP address is the IP address of the second access network node as the target data packet based on the header information of the IP packet of the first data packet.

[0218] For example, the IP packet header information of the first data packet can be obtained by parsing the first data packet that meets the parsing condition. The parsing condition can include, for example, that the first data packet is sent by the first relay node. This can be understood as parsing the first data packet from the first relay node (e.g., the first mobile terminal of the first relay node) to obtain the IP packet header information of the first data packet.

[0219] Exemplarily, the host node may not forward the first data packet to the corresponding N3 tunnel to send it to the core network device (such as the UPF of the core network device).

[0220] FIG3E shows an embodiment in which the donor node determines that the first data packet is a target data packet of the control plane according to the first message container in the SRB and forwards the first data packet.

[0221] The communication method shown in FIG. 3E may include operations S351 to S353 .

[0222] In operation S351: the donor node configures an SRB for the first relay node (eg, the first mobile terminal). The SRB may be a common SRB such as SRB0 to SRB4, or a target SRB for transmitting a target data packet.

[0223] Exemplarily, for example, the donor node may configure the above-mentioned SRB to the first relay node (such as the first mobile terminal) through an RRC message.

[0224] In operation S352: the first relay node (eg, the first mobile terminal of the first relay node) sends a first message container to the donor node via the SRB. The first message container may include a target data packet of a control plane type.

[0225] Exemplarily, in operation S352, the first relay node (eg, the first mobile terminal of the first relay node) may further send identification information of the second access network node to the donor node via SRB.

[0226] Exemplarily, the first relay node (such as the first mobile terminal of the first relay node) can also send to the host node through SRB: the node identifier of the second access network node, the NR Cell Global Identifier (NCGI) / physical cell identifier (PCI) of the management cell of the second access network node, the tracking area identity (TAI) to which the second access network node belongs, and the IP address.

[0227] Exemplarily, the first message container may include a target data packet with a data packet type of the control plane. It can also be understood that the first message container is a transmission form of the target data packet of the control plane. The first message container can be understood as a container in which the target data packet of the control plane between the first access network node and the second access network node is encapsulated, such as an XnAP container used to transparently transmit XnAP messages.

[0228] In operation S353: the donor node sends the first message container according to the information of the second access network node.

[0229] It should be noted that, upon receiving the first message container sent through the SRB, the donor node may consider that the first message container includes the first data packet, and the first data packet is the target data packet.

[0230] Exemplarily, when the source node is a first access network node and the target node is a second access network node, the first message container is transmitted via a communication interface message between the first mobile terminal and the host node (the communication interface message can specifically be an RRC message), and / or, when a communication connection such as an Xn interface has been established between the first access network node and the host node, the first message container can also be transmitted via a communication interface message between the first access network node and the host node (the communication interface message can specifically be an XnAP message).

[0231] Exemplarily, the communication interface message may further include: information of the second access network node, and the information of the second access network node may be identification information of the second access network node.

[0232] In combination with the embodiments of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3A to FIG. 3E , the host node as the execution subject may further perform operations of receiving the first indication information and / or sending the second indication information.

[0233] The first indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: information of the target PDU session (corresponding to the embodiment of Figure 3A, the first indication information used to indicate the information of the target PDU session may be from the core network device), information of the target quality of service QoS flow (corresponding to the embodiment of Figure 3B, the first indication information used to indicate the information of the target quality of service QoS flow may be from the core network device), and target packet header information (corresponding to the embodiment of Figure 3C, the first indication information used to indicate the target packet header information may be from the core network device).

[0234] The second indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: information of the target data radio bearer DRB (corresponding to the embodiment of Figure 3A, the second indication information for indicating the information of the target PDU session and / or target DRB can be sent to the first access network node), information of the target signaling radio bearer SRB (corresponding to the embodiment of Figure 3A, the second indication information for indicating the information of the target SRB can be sent to the first access network node), information of the target quality of service QoS flow (corresponding to the embodiment of Figure 3B, the second indication information for indicating the information of the target quality of service QoS flow can be sent to the first access network node), and target packet header information (corresponding to the embodiment of Figure 3C, the second indication information for indicating the target packet header information can be sent to the first access network node).

[0235] Exemplarily, for the source node, for example, the second indication information can be received, and the target data packet can be sent to the host node of the first relay node according to the second indication information. The specific sending method can be described in detail in Figures 3A to 3D, which will not be repeated here. Or, exemplarily, in combination with the embodiment of Figure 3E above, for the source node, for example, the target data packet can be sent using a first message container. For example, the first message container can also be transmitted through a communication interface message between the first mobile terminal and the host node, and / or the first message container can be transmitted through a communication interface message between the first access network node and the host node.

[0236] Exemplarily, the communication interface message may further include identification information of the second access network node.

[0237] For example, the examples shown in Figures 3A to 3E detail the process by which a host node determines that a first data packet is a target data packet after receiving the first data packet. The following uses the example of a first relay node (e.g., a first access network node that is a first relay node) requesting to establish an Xn interface with a second access network node (establishing an Xn interface can also be understood as the process of transmitting a target data packet between the first access network node and the second access network node) to illustrate a specific example of the host node forwarding the first data packet to the second access network node based on the destination IP address after determining that the first data packet is the target data packet.

[0238] FIG4A schematically shows a protocol stack diagram corresponding to forwarding a control plane data packet based on IP routing, and FIG4B is a protocol stack diagram corresponding to forwarding a user plane data packet based on IP routing.

[0239] Taking Figure 4A as an example, a first PDU session has been established between a first mobile terminal and a core network device, which enables a first relay node (e.g., a first mobile terminal of the first relay node) to transmit an Xn setup request message (Xn setup request is an Xn interface establishment request) to be sent by the first relay node (e.g., a first access network node of the first relay node) to a neighboring station to the host node via wireless backhaul such as a DRB or SRB associated with the first PDU session. The host node can determine that the first data packet is the target data packet based on the embodiments of Figures 3A to 3E above, and then determine the destination IP address based on the IP address of the first data packet and / or the second access network node identifier indicated by the first data packet (the second access network node is a second access network node). The host node can route the first data packet based on the destination IP address of the first data packet and send the first data packet to the second access network node. After the second access network node receives the first data packet, it can be understood that the second access network node has received an Xn setup request message sent by a first relay node (e.g., the first access network node of the first relay node). Upon determining that the Xn interface can be established, the second access network node then returns an Xn setup response message (the Xn setup response is the Xn interface establishment response). The return method is the same as the above-described reception method and will not be further described here. By establishing the Xn interface, the target data packet can be transmitted between the first access network node and the second access network node. Therefore, when the Xn interface is established, the recipient of the target data packet can receive the target data packet.

[0240] In the communication method of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the source node is the first access network node and the target node is the second access network node. When it is determined that the first data packet is the target data packet, in addition to forwarding the first data packet according to the destination IP address of the first data packet in the above embodiment, the host node can also send the first data packet to the target node through the communication interface message between the host node and the second access network, which can specifically include operations S51 to S53.

[0241] FIG5A schematically shows a schematic diagram of a protocol stack in which the first data packet is forwarded to the second access network node through an XnAP message of a host node when the first data packet is a target data packet of a control plane.

[0242] For example, if the first data packet is a target data packet of a control plane data type, the target data packet of the control plane will be referred to as an XnAP message below. The following description will also use the XnAP message as an Xn setup request message as an example. A first relay node (e.g., a first mobile terminal of the first relay node) can send a first data packet of the control plane (it is understood that after determining that the first data packet is the target data packet, the first data packet is also the target data packet) to the host node via a wireless backhaul method such as DRB / SRB. The Xn setup request message requests the first relay node (e.g., the first access network node of the first relay node) to establish a communication interface (Xn interface) between the host node. In this case, the host node can act as a proxy node for transmitting the first data packet of the control plane between the first relay node (e.g., the first access network node of the first relay node) and the second access network node, such as transmitting the first data packet.

[0243] For example, when the first mobile terminal sends a first data packet of the control plane to the donor node via SRB, the first data packet of the control plane may be transmitted via a first message container. In this case, the donor node may receive the first message container via an RRC message, a communication interface message, between the donor node and the first access network node, and transparently transmit the first message container to the second access network node.

[0244] For the source node, for example, the target data packet can be sent using a first message container. Furthermore, for example, the first message container can be transmitted via a communication interface message between the first access network node and the host node. The communication interface message between the first access network node and the host node can be, for example, an RRC message, meaning that the first message container can be transmitted via an RRC message.

[0245] Figure 5B schematically illustrates a hierarchical structure of the RRC message. As shown in Figure 5B , the RRC message may include a first message container, XnAP container, which includes a first data packet of the control plane. For example, the first message container, XnAP container, may be a container including an Xn setup request message. The RRC message may also include information about the second access network node.

[0246] In operation S51, the first relay node (for example, the first mobile terminal of the first relay node) transmits the Xn setup request message to be sent by the first relay node (for example, the first access network node of the first relay node) to the second access network node to the host node through a wireless backhaul method such as DRB / SRB.

[0247] The Xn setup request message may further include a cell managed by the first relay node (eg, the first access network node of the first relay node) and a corresponding tracking area identity (TAI).

[0248] Exemplarily, the Xn setup request message sent to the second access network node can be sent to the host node through the communication interface (Xn interface) established between the first access network node and the host node, or can also be carried in the first message container in the RRC message sent by the first access network node and sent to the host node.

[0249] In operation S52, the host node can determine that the first data packet sent from the first relay node (for example, the first access network node of the first relay node) is a first data packet with a control plane data packet type according to the above-mentioned embodiments, for example, Figures 3A to 3E, and can also determine the identifier of the second access network node based on the destination IP address of the first data packet with a control plane data packet type and / or the information of the second access network node indicated by the first access network node.

[0250] After the donor node determines the identifier of the second access network node, at least one of the following implementations may be adopted:

[0251] Implementation method 1: The donor node, acting as a proxy node, sends, for example, an NG-RAN Node Configuration Update message to the second access network node. The message includes the cell managed by the first relay node (e.g., the first access network node of the first relay node) and the corresponding Tracking Area Identity (TAI). For details, please refer to the process steps involved in Figure 1E.

[0252] Implementation method 2: the donor node continues to forward the first data packet (Xn setup request message) to the second access network node.

[0253] Exemplarily, the first data packet (Xn setup request message) of the control plane may also include information for indicating the first access network node. After receiving the first data packet (Xn setup request message), the second access network node may know that the first access network node is the opposite end of the second access network node, that is, the second access network node may know that the opposite end is not the host node.

[0254] For example, the first data packet of the control plane can also be sent via a newly added XnAP message, such as an XnAP Message Transfer message. Still taking the first data packet of the control plane as an XnAP message as an example, FIG5C schematically illustrates the hierarchical structure of the XnAP Message Transfer message. As shown in FIG5C , for example, the XnAP Message Transfer message can include a first message container XnAP container, which can include an XnAP message. Furthermore, the XnAP Message Transfer message can also include information about the first access network node. This allows the host node to determine, after receiving the XnAP Message Transfer message, that the sender of the first message container is the first access network node based on the information about the first access network node. For example, this can also allow the host node to forward an XnAP message from a non-host node to a second access network node.

[0255] For example, the target data packet can be sent to the source node using a first message container. Furthermore, the first message container can be transmitted via a communication interface message between the first mobile terminal and the host node. The communication interface message between the first access network node and the host node can be, for example, an XnAP message, meaning that the first message container can be transmitted via an XnAP message.

[0256] Implementation method three: After parsing the first data packet, the host node sends the first data packet to the second access network node based on the target IP address of the first data packet.

[0257] Exemplarily, the XnAP Message Transfer message may further include information of the second access network node.

[0258] For example, when a communication interface (Xn interface) has been established between the first relay node (e.g., the first access network node of the first relay node) and the host node, the Xn setup request message sent by the first relay node (e.g., the first access network node of the first relay node) to the second access network node in operation S51 may also be sent to the host node via an XnAP Message Transfer message (the XnAP Message Transfer message may include a first message container, or the first message container and information about the second access network node). The subsequent behavior of the host node may refer to the above three embodiments.

[0259] In operation S53, after receiving the data sent by the donor node, the neighboring access network node of the first access network node (i.e., the second access network node) performs the following operations:

[0260] With respect to the first embodiment described above, the host node and the second access network node send, for example, an NG-RAN Node Configuration Update message, and the second access network node can reply to the host node with an NG-RAN Node Configuration Update Acknowledge message. When the host node receives the UE-related XnAP message (for example, by discovering that the destination IP address of the XnAP message is not its own, or by identifying the UE-related XnAP message through the XnAP UE ID for the UE specified by the host node for the first access network node), the host node can, for example, modify the XnAP UE ID, transport layer address, and GTP-U TEID of the sender of the XnAP message to its own information. Similarly, the forwarding method of the UE-related XnAP message replied by the second access network node to the first access network node is the same, except that the objects at the sending and receiving ends are swapped, which will not be repeated here.

[0261] With respect to the second embodiment described above, the host node continues to forward the first data packet (Xn setup request message) to the second access network node. After the second access network node receives the first data packet sent by the host node, it can be understood that it has received the Xn setup request message sent by the first access network node. After the second access network node determines that the Xn interface can be established, it sends an Xn setup response message to the host node. Optionally, the Xn setup response message can carry the identification information of the first access network node as an indication of the actual receiving end. The host node then continues to forward the Xn setup response message to the first access network node. Optionally, the Xn setup response message can also carry the identification information of the second access network node to inform the first access network node that the actual sending end is the second access network node. Optionally, similar to the method of forwarding the XnAP container in the above-mentioned embodiment 2, the Xn setup response message that the second access network node replies to the first access network node may be first sent to the host node through an XnAP Message Transfer message (the XnAP Message Transfer message may include a first message container, the first message container may include an Xn setup response, and on this basis, the XnAP Message Transfer message may further include information of the first access network node), and then the host node sends it to the first access network node through an XnAP Message Transfer or an RRC message (the XnAP Message Transfer or RRC message may include a first message container, the first message container may include an Xn setup request message, and on this basis, the XnAP Message Transfer or RRC message may further include information of the second access network node), or the host node parses the XnAP message in the XnAP container and interacts with the first access network node through the method of the above-mentioned embodiment 1.

[0262] It should be noted that, in addition to the above embodiments, there are also the following situations where the second access network node determines not to establish an Xn interface: the second access network node belongs to a second relay node, and the second relay node and the first relay node are nodes of the same type. The type of the first relay node can be a wireless access backhaul node, that is, the first relay node has a base station function (first access network node) and a mobile terminal function (first mobile terminal). The second relay node of the same type as the first relay node can be understood as the second relay node including a base station function and a mobile terminal function. hereinafter, the second relay node of the same type as the first relay node will be referred to as including a second access network node and a second mobile terminal. For example, there may be the following implementation methods:

[0263] Embodiment 1: The host node does not forward the first data packet to the second access network node. For example, when the host node forwards the first data packet between the first access network node and the second access network node, for example, when the host node receives the first data packet from the first access network node and determines that the first data packet is the target data packet, and the second access network node is a node of the same type as the first access network node, the host node does not forward the first data packet to the second access network node. This can be understood as a failure to establish a communication connection between the first access network node and the second access network node. Optionally, the host node can send indication information (such as third indication information) to the first relay node (such as the first access network node of the first relay node) indicating that the communication interface (communication interface is an Xn interface) between the first access network node and the second access network node has failed to be established. The first relay node (such as the first access network node of the first relay node) can receive the third indication information. The indication information (such as the third indication information) can also be used to indicate that the reason for the failure to establish the communication interface is that the second access network node and the first access network node are of the same node type. For example, the indication information (such as the third indication information) indicating the reason for the failure to establish the communication interface may be an Xn setup failure message, indicating that the reason for the failure is that the second access network node belongs to the second relay node.

[0264] Implementation method two: When the first data packet transmitted between the first access network node and the second access network node arrives at the core network device serving the first mobile terminal (such as the UPF of the core network device serving the first mobile terminal) via the first PDU session established by the first mobile terminal, and then is routed to the second access network node via the destination IP address of the first data packet, if the core network serving the first mobile terminal determines that the UE sending the first data packet is the first mobile terminal (that is, the core network serving the first mobile terminal determines that the node type sending the first data packet is a WAB node), and the first PDU session transmitting the first data packet is dedicated to transmitting the target data packet, the core network serving the first mobile terminal can determine whether the recipient is also a WAB node type based on the destination IP address of the first data packet. If the recipient is also a WAB node, the first data packet will not be forwarded, and the communication interface (Xn interface) will fail to be established. Optionally, an indication information is sent to indicate that the communication interface (the communication interface is the Xn interface) between the first access network node and the second access network node has failed to be established. The indication information can also be used to indicate that the reason for the failure to establish the communication interface is: the second access network node is the same node type as the first access network node; or, when the host node determines that the adjacent access network node of the first access network node (i.e., the second access network node) is also a WAB node, the host node will inform the core network device serving the first mobile terminal of the information of the second access network node, and the core network device serving the first mobile terminal will intercept the first data packet with the destination IP address being the IP address of the second access network node based on the information of the second access network node, terminate the forwarding of the first data packet, and fail to establish the communication interface (Xn interface). Optionally, indication information is sent to indicate that the communication interface (communication interface is an Xn interface) between the first access network node and the second access network node has failed to establish. The indication information can also be used to indicate that the reason for the failure to establish the communication interface is: the second access network node is the same node type as the first access network node.

[0265] Implementation Method 3: The host node forwards the first data packet, and the second access network node refuses to establish a communication interface (Xn interface). For example, if the host node receives a first data packet from a first access network node and determines that the first data packet is the target data packet, and the second access network node is a node of the same type as the first access network node, the host node may forward the first data packet to the second access network node, and the second access network node may refuse to establish a communication interface between the first access network node and the second access network node.

[0266] Exemplarily, the second access network node may further send, to the host node, indication information indicating that the communication interface (the communication interface is an Xn interface) between the first access network node and the second access network node has failed to be established (the indication information sent by the second access network node to the host node indicating that the communication interface between the first access network node and the second access network node has failed to be established is, for example, fifth indication information. The host node may further forward the fifth indication information to the first access network node of the first relay node). The host node may receive the fifth indication information. The host node may further send the fifth indication information to the first relay node (for example, the first access network node of the first relay node), and the first relay node (for example, the first access network node of the first relay node) may receive the fifth indication information. The indication information (fifth indication information) may also be used to indicate that the reason for the failure to establish the communication interface is that the second access network node and the first access network node have the same node type. For example, the indication information indicating the reason for the failure to establish the communication interface may be an Xn setup failure message, indicating that the reason for the failure is that the second access network node belongs to the second relay node.

[0267] For example, a target data packet (when the first data packet is the target data packet, the target data packet is also the first data packet) can transmit a request to establish a communication interface between the first access network node and the second access network node. The request to establish the communication interface can include fourth indication information, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the first access network node belongs to the first relay node, that is, the fourth indication information indicates that the second relay node and the first relay node have the same node type. It should be noted that in the third embodiment, the second access network node refuses to establish the communication interface. The reason why the second access network node refuses to establish the communication interface is that, from the perspective of the second access network node, the fourth indication information included in the request to establish the communication interface carried by the first data packet indicates that the first access network node belongs to the first relay node, that is, the first access network node that sends the first data packet belongs to the first relay node. Since the second access network node belongs to the second relay node, the node type of the first relay node is the same as the node type of the second relay node, so at this time the second access network node can refuse to establish the Xn interface.

[0268] Implementation method 4: The UPF of the core network device serving the first mobile terminal forwards the first data packet, and the second access network node refuses to establish the communication interface (Xn interface). Implementation method 3 is different from Implementation method 3, in which the first data packet is forwarded by the donor node. In Implementation method 4, the first data packet is forwarded by the UPF of the core network device serving the first mobile terminal. The method of forwarding the first data packet by the UPF of the core network device serving the first mobile terminal is similar to Implementation method 3 and is not further described here.

[0269] In summary, according to the communication method of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the host node can identify the first data packet sent to the second access network node via the backhaul link by the first relay node (for example, the first access network node of the first relay node) as the target data packet (also understood as Xn data), and then it can be sent to the second access network node through IP routing or through the communication interface message between the host node and the second access network node. The first PDU session established by the first mobile terminal of the first relay node can be forwarded from the core network device serving the first mobile terminal to the second access network node, thereby reducing the delay in the exchange of the first data packet (that is, Xn data) between the first relay node (for example, the first access network node of the first relay node) and the second access network node, and improving the transmission efficiency of the first data packet, that is, improving the interaction efficiency of the Xn data and the communication efficiency between the first access network node and the second access network node.

[0270] In addition, when the second relay node and the first relay node are of the same node type, and the wireless access node is used, for example, in a vehicle-mounted mobile relay, the positions of the first relay node and the second relay node move as the position of a vehicle or other means of transportation moves. There may be a problem in which establishing an Xn interface between the two may increase the complexity of Xn interface maintenance work. For example, in this case, the host node may not receive the first data packet to improve communication efficiency.

[0271] The following will describe another wireless access backhaul WAB network architecture based on an open wireless access network (Open RAN, O-RAN) that is different from the example in Figure 2 and applies the communication method of an embodiment of the present disclosure. It can also be understood as a specific example of another communication system.

[0272] FIG6 schematically shows a schematic diagram of another WAB network architecture of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0273] As shown in Figure 6, the system architecture of the communication method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include: an access network controller RIC, a first relay node WAB, a donor node donor, and a second access network node other gNB.

[0274] Figure 6 also schematically illustrates a specific example in which the first relay node WAB includes a first access network node and a first mobile terminal WAB-MT. Figure 6 also schematically illustrates a specific example in which the donor node donor includes a centralized unit donor-CU and a distributed unit donor-DU, the first access network node includes a centralized unit WAB-CU and a distributed unit WAB-DU, and the second access network node other gNB includes a centralized unit other gNB-CU and a distributed unit other gNB-DU.

[0275] The access network controller is communicatively connected to the first relay node, the second access network node, and the donor node via communication interfaces. In the example of Figure 6 , the access network controller is communicatively connected to the donor node's distributed unit (donor-DU), the first access network node's centralized unit (WAB-CU), the first access network node's distributed unit (WAB-DU), the second access network node's centralized unit (other gNB-CU), and the second access network node's distributed unit (other gNB-DU) via the E2 interface.

[0276] Similar to the embodiment of FIG3C , according to the network architecture shown in FIG6 of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the target packet header information of the IP packet header of the first data packet can also be determined by the first relay node / host node / core network device serving the first mobile terminal. For example, the target packet header information can also be determined by the access network controller RIC, and the target packet header information can be sent to the centralized unit donor-CU of the host node and / or the distributed unit donor-DU of the host node via the E2 interface. The access network controller RIC can also send the target packet header information to the centralized unit WAB-CU of the first access network node and / or the distributed unit WAB-DU of the first access network node via the E2 interface. After that, for example, the first access network node can also send the target packet header information to the core network device serving the first mobile terminal.

[0277] According to the network architecture shown in FIG6 of an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is also possible to transmit a first data packet between a first access network node and a second access network node. For example, the first access network node can forward a first data packet sent to the second access network node via an E2 interface via the access network controller (RIC) to the second access network node. For another example, the second access network node can forward a first data packet sent to the first access network node via an E2 interface via the access network controller (RIC) to the first access network node.

[0278] Exemplarily, for example, the first relay node can encapsulate the first data packet of the control plane in a first message container, so that the first message container includes the first data packet of the control plane. The first relay node can send the first message container to the access network controller RIC through the E2 interface, and the access network controller RIC sends it to the recipient through the E2 interface.

[0279] Exemplarily, the access network controller RIC can also indicate the information of the first access network node in the communication interface message, so that when the access network controller RIC sends the first message container to the recipient through the communication interface, the recipient will also know that the sender of the first message container is the first access network node.

[0280] According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present disclosure, a system architecture in which an access network controller communicates with each node through a communication interface can ensure the accurate and efficient transmission of the first data packet between the first access network node and the second access network node. Since the access network controller is used to control the access network nodes, at least compared to the technical solution in which the host node sends the target data packet to the core network device and the core network device forwards it, the embodiment of the present disclosure has a shorter delay in transmitting the first data packet and higher communication efficiency.

[0281] The above are all detailed descriptions of the communication method of the embodiments of the present disclosure when the host node is the execution subject. Since the communication method applied to the host node in the embodiments of the present disclosure is related to the source node and the target node, the above embodiments also describe the interaction between the host node and the source node and the target node, that is, the communication method executed by the source node and the target node in the embodiments of the present disclosure, which will not be repeated here.

[0282] The embodiment of the present disclosure also provides a communication device.

[0283] Figure 7A schematically shows a schematic diagram of a communication device 700A of a host node applied to a first relay node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The first relay node includes a first mobile terminal and a first access network node. A protocol data unit first PDU session has been established between the first mobile terminal and the core network device. The first PDU session provides a backhaul function for data transmission of the first access network node.

[0284] As shown in FIG7A , a communication device 700A applied to a donor node of a first relay node includes a transceiver module 710A and a processing module 720A.

[0285] The transceiver module 710A is configured to receive a first data packet from a source node and to send the first data packet to a destination node. If the source node is a first access network node, the destination node is a second access network node; if the source node is a second access network node, the destination node is the first access network node.

[0286] The processing module 720A is used to determine that the first data packet is a target data packet.

[0287] The source node is the first access network node or the second access network node, the target data packet is the data packet transmitted between the first access network node and the second access network node, the second access network node is an adjacent access network node of the first access network node, and the second access network node is different from the host node.

[0288] Figure 7B schematically shows a schematic diagram of a communication device 700B applied to a source node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, where the source node is a first access network node or a second access network node, the first relay node includes the first access network node and a first mobile terminal, and a protocol data unit first PDU session has been established between the first mobile terminal and the core network device, and the first PDU session provides a backhaul function for data transmission of the first access network node.

[0289] As shown in FIG7B , a communication device 700B applied to a source node includes a transceiver module 710B.

[0290] The transceiver module 710B is configured to receive the second indication information, and send the target data packet to the host node of the first relay node according to the second indication information, or send the target data packet according to the first message container.

[0291] The second indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: information of the target data radio bearer DRB, information of the target signaling radio bearer SRB, information of the target quality of service QoS flow, and target packet header information; the target DRB is the DRB used to transmit the target data packet, and the target SRB is the SRB used to transmit the target data packet; the target QoS flow is the quality of service QoS flow used to carry the target data packet, the target packet header information is the packet header information of the Internet Protocol IP packet of the target data packet, the target data packet is a data packet transmitted between the first access network node and the second access network node, the second access network node is an adjacent access network node of the first access network node, and the second access network node is different from the host node, and the first message container includes the target data packet whose data packet type is the control plane.

[0292] FIG7C schematically shows a schematic diagram of a communication device 700C applied to a target node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0293] As shown in FIG7C , a communication device 700C applied to a target node includes a transceiver module 710C.

[0294] The transceiver module 710C is configured to receive a target data packet from the host node of the first relay node.

[0295] The first relay node includes a first mobile terminal and a first access network node. A first protocol data unit (PDU) session has been established between the first mobile terminal and the core network device. The first PDU session provides a backhaul function for the data of the first access network node. The second access network node is an adjacent access network node of the first access network node, and the second access network node is different from the host node. The target data packet is a data packet transmitted between the first access network node and the second access network node.

[0296] It should be understood that the embodiment of the apparatus part of the present disclosure shown in FIG7A corresponds to the same or similar embodiment of the method part of the present disclosure executed by the host node of the first relay node, the embodiment of the apparatus part of the present disclosure shown in FIG7B corresponds to the same or similar embodiment of the method part of the present disclosure executed by the source node, and the embodiment of the apparatus part of the present disclosure shown in FIG7C corresponds to the same or similar embodiment of the method part of the present disclosure executed by the target node, and the technical problems solved and the technical effects achieved are also the same or similar, and the present disclosure will not repeat them here.

[0297] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the present disclosure also provides a communication device, a chip module, a communication system, a computer-readable storage medium and a computer program product.

[0298] A communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the interface circuit is used to receive signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmit them to the processor or send signals from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device, and the processor is used to execute the communication method of any of the above embodiments through logic circuits or execution code instructions.

[0299] In some embodiments, the instructions are stored in a memory that is communicatively connected or coupled to the processor.

[0300] In some embodiments, the communication device is a chip.

[0301] A chip module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a transceiver component and a chip, wherein the chip is used to execute the communication method according to any one of the above embodiments.

[0302] A communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure (the communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may also refer to the system architecture and description of FIG2 , for example) includes: a source node, a host node of a first relay node, and a target node.

[0303] The source node is a first access network node or a second access network node. When the source node is the first access network node, the target node is the second access network node; when the source node is the second access network node, the target node is the first access network node. The first relay node includes the first access network node and a first mobile terminal. A first PDU session of a protocol data protocol has been established between the first mobile terminal and a core network device. The first PDU session provides a backhaul function for data transmission of the first access network node. The second access network node is an adjacent access network node of the first access network node, and the second access network node is different from the host node.

[0304] FIG8 shows a schematic block diagram of a communication device 800 that can be used to implement the communication method of an embodiment of the present disclosure. The communication device includes various forms of digital computers, such as laptop computers, desktop computers, workstations, personal digital assistants, servers, blade servers, mainframe computers, and other suitable computers. The communication device may also include various forms of mobile devices, such as personal digital assistants, cellular phones, smart phones, wearable devices, and other similar computing devices. The components shown herein, their connections and relationships, and their functions are merely examples and are not intended to limit the implementation of the present disclosure described and / or required herein.

[0305] As shown in Figure 8, the communication device 800 includes a computing unit 801, which can perform various appropriate actions and processes according to a computer program stored in a read-only memory (ROM) 802 or a computer program loaded from a storage unit 808 into a random access memory (RAM) 803. Various programs and data required for the operation of the communication device 800 can also be stored in the RAM 803. The computing unit 801, the ROM 802, and the RAM 803 are connected to each other via a bus 804. An input / output (I / O) interface 805 is also connected to the bus 804.

[0306] Multiple components in the communication device 800 are connected to the I / O interface 805, including an input unit 806, such as a keyboard, mouse, etc.; an output unit 807, such as various types of displays, speakers, etc.; a storage unit 808, such as a magnetic disk, optical disk, etc.; and a communication unit 809, such as a network card, modem, wireless communication transceiver, etc. The communication unit 809 allows the device 800 to exchange information / data with other devices via a computer network such as the Internet and / or various telecommunication networks.

[0307] The computing unit 801 can be a variety of general and / or special processing components with processing and computing capabilities. Some examples of the computing unit 801 include, but are not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), various dedicated artificial intelligence (AI) computing chips, various computing units that run machine learning model algorithms, a digital signal processor (DSP), and any appropriate processor, controller, microcontroller, etc. The computing unit 801 performs the various methods and processes described above, such as the communication method. For example, in some embodiments, the aforementioned method can be implemented as a computer software program that is tangibly contained in a machine-readable medium, such as a storage unit 808. In some embodiments, part or all of the computer program can be loaded and / or installed on the communication device 800 via the ROM 802 and / or the communication unit 809. When the computer program is loaded into the RAM 803 and executed by the computing unit 801, one or more steps of the communication method described above can be performed. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the computing unit 801 may be configured to execute the communication method in any other appropriate manner (eg, by means of firmware).

[0308] Various implementations of the systems and techniques described above can be implemented in digital electronic circuit systems, integrated circuit systems, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), application-specific standard products (ASSPs), systems on a chip (SOCs), complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), computer hardware, firmware, software, and / or combinations thereof. These various implementations can include being implemented in one or more computer programs that are executable and / or interpreted on a programmable system that includes at least one programmable processor, which can be a special-purpose or general-purpose programmable processor that can receive data and instructions from a storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device, and transmit data and instructions to the storage system, the at least one input device, and the at least one output device.

[0309] The program code for implementing the method of the present disclosure can be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. These program codes can be provided to a processor or controller of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing device so that when the program code is executed by the processor or controller, the functions / operations specified in the flow chart and / or block diagram are implemented. The program code can be executed entirely on the machine, partially on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partially on the machine and partially on a remote machine, or entirely on a remote machine or server.

[0310] In the context of the present disclosure, a machine-readable medium may be a tangible medium that may contain or store a program for use by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, device, or apparatus. A machine-readable medium may be a machine-readable signal medium or a machine-readable storage medium. A machine-readable medium may include, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, device, or apparatus, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of machine-readable storage media may include an electrical connection based on one or more lines, a portable computer disk, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an optical fiber, a portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, a flash memory, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0311] To provide interaction with a user, the systems and techniques described herein can be implemented on a computer having: a display device (e.g., a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor) for displaying information to the user; and a keyboard and pointing device (e.g., a mouse or trackball) through which the user can provide input to the computer. Other types of devices can also be used to provide interaction with the user; for example, the feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback (e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback); and input from the user can be received in any form (including acoustic input, voice input, or tactile input).

[0312] The systems and techniques described herein can be implemented in a computing system that includes back-end components (e.g., as a data server), or a computing system that includes middleware components (e.g., an application server), or a computing system that includes front-end components (e.g., a user computer having a graphical user interface or a web browser through which a user can interact with implementations of the systems and techniques described herein), or a computing system that includes any combination of such back-end components, middleware components, or front-end components. The components of the system can be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication (e.g., a communication network). Examples of communication networks include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), and the Internet.

[0313] Computer systems may include clients and servers. A client and server are generally remote from each other and typically interact through a communication network. The client and server relationship arises through computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other.

[0314] It should be understood that the various forms of the processes shown above can be used to reorder, add, or delete steps. For example, the steps described in this disclosure can be performed in parallel, sequentially, or in a different order, as long as the desired results of the technical solutions disclosed in this disclosure can be achieved. This is not a limitation herein.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: A host node applied to a first relay node, the first relay node including a first mobile terminal and a first access network node, a first protocol data unit (PDU) session having been established between the first mobile terminal and a core network device, the first PDU session providing a backhaul function for data transmission of the first access network node, the communication method comprising: receiving a first data packet from a source node, where the source node is the first access network node or the second access network node; Determining that the first data packet is a target data packet, where the target data packet is a data packet transmitted between the first access network node and a second access network node; the second access network node is an adjacent access network node of the first access network node, and the second access network node is different from the host node; Send the first data packet to the target node. When the source node is the first access network node, the target node is the second access network node; when the source node is the second access network node, the target node is the first access network node.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Also includes: Receive first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: information of a target PDU session, information of a target quality of service (QoS) flow, and target packet header information; The target PDU session is a PDU session used to carry the target data packet; The target QoS flow is a quality of service QoS flow used to carry the target data packet; the target packet header information is the packet header information of the Internet Protocol IP packet of the target data packet.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that Also includes: Sending second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: information of a target data radio bearer (DRB), information of a target signaling radio bearer (SRB), information of a target quality of service (QoS) flow, and target packet header information; The target DRB is a DRB used to transmit the target data packet, and the target SRB is an SRB used to transmit the target data packet; The target QoS flow is a quality of service QoS flow used to carry the target data packet, and the target packet header information is the packet header information of the Internet Protocol IP packet of the target data packet.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that When the source node is the first access network node and the target node is the second access network node, determining that the first data packet is a target data packet includes: The first data packet transmitted through the DRB associated with the target PDU session, the target DRB or the target SRB is determined as the target data packet.

5. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that When the source node is the first access network node and the target node is the second access network node, determining that the first data packet is a target data packet includes: The first data packet transmitted through the target QoS flow is determined as the target data packet.

6. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that The target packet header information is used to indicate that the payload of the data packet is the target data packet.

7. The method according to claim 2, 3 or 6, characterized in that: When the source node is the first access network node and the target node is the second access network node, determining that the first data packet is a target data packet includes: The first data packet whose header information of the IP packet is identical to the target header information is determined as the target data packet.

8. The method according to claim 1 or 7, characterized in that Determining that the first data packet is a target data packet includes: Parsing the first data packet that meets the parsing condition to obtain header information of the IP packet of the first data packet, wherein the parsing condition includes: the first data packet is a data packet sent by the first relay node; According to the header information of the IP packet of the first data packet, it is determined that the first data packet is the target data packet.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that Determining, based on the header information of the IP packet of the first data packet, that the first data packet is the target data packet includes: Determining, based on the header information of the IP packet of the first data packet, the first data packet whose destination IP address is not the IP address of the core network device as the target data packet; and / or According to the header information of the IP packet of the first data packet, the first data packet whose destination IP address is the IP address of the second access network node is determined as the target data packet.

10. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The determining that the first data packet is a target data packet includes: The first data packet including a first message container is determined as the target data packet, where the first message container includes the target data packet whose data packet type is a control plane.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that When the source node is the first access network node and the target node is the second access network node, the first message container is transmitted through a communication interface message between the first mobile terminal and the host node, and / or the first message container is transmitted through a communication interface message between the first access network node and the host node.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The communication interface message also includes: identification information of the second access network node.

13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that The source node is the first access network node and the destination node is the second access network node. When it is determined that the first data packet is a target data packet, sending the first data packet to the destination node includes: Sending the first data packet to the second access network node through IP routing; or, The first data packet is sent to the second access network node through a communication interface message between the host node and the second access network node.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The sending the first data packet to the second access network node through a communication interface message between the host node and the second access network node includes: In a case where the first data packet includes the first message container, the first message container is transparently transmitted to the second access network node through a communication interface message between the host node and the second access network node.

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that The first data packet will not be transmitted in a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) User Plane Tunneling Protocol (GTP-U) tunnel associated with the target PDU session.

16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that When it is determined that the first data packet is a target data packet, the method further includes: Not sending the first data packet to the target node; When the source node is the first access network node, the target node is the second access network node; when the source node is the second access network node, the target node is the first access network node; wherein, the second access network node belongs to a second relay node, and the second relay node and the first relay node are nodes of the same type.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that Also includes: Send third indication information, where the third indication information is used to indicate that establishment of a communication interface between the first access network node and the second access network node has failed.

18. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that The third indication information is further used to indicate that the reason value for failure to establish the communication interface is: the second access network node and the first access network node are of the same node type, and the target data packet is used to transmit the request to establish the communication interface.

19. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a source node, the source node being a first access network node or a second access network node, the first relay node including the first access network node and a first mobile terminal, a first protocol data unit (PDU) session having been established between the first mobile terminal and a core network device, the first PDU session providing a backhaul function for data transmission of the first access network node, the method comprising: Receive second indication information, where the second indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: information of a target data radio bearer (DRB), information of a target signaling radio bearer (SRB), information of a target quality of service (QoS) flow, and target packet header information; the target DRB is a DRB used to transmit the target data packet, the target SRB is an SRB used to transmit the target data packet; the target QoS flow is a quality of service (QoS) flow used to carry the target data packet, and the target packet header information is packet header information of an Internet Protocol (IP) packet of the target data packet; A target data packet is sent to the host node of the first relay node according to the second indication information, or the target data packet is sent according to the first message container, wherein the target data packet is a data packet transmitted between the first access network node and the second access network node, the second access network node is an adjacent access network node of the first access network node, and the second access network node is different from the host node, and the first message container includes the target data packet whose data packet type is the control plane.

20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that When the source node is the first access network node, sending the target data packet according to the first message container includes: The first message container is transmitted via a communication interface message between the first mobile terminal and the host node, and / or the first message container is transmitted via a communication interface message between the first access network node and the host node.

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that The communication interface message also includes: identification information of the second access network node.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein Also includes: Receive third indication information, where the third indication information is used to indicate that establishment of the communication interface fails, and the target data packet is used to transmit a request to establish the communication interface between the first access network node and the second access network node.

23. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that The third indication information is also used to indicate that the reason value for the failure to establish the communication interface is: the second access network node and the first access network node are of the same node type, and the first PDU session is used to carry the request to establish the communication interface between the first access network node and the second access network node.

24. A communication device, applied to a host node of a first relay node, the first relay node comprising a first mobile terminal and a first access network node, a first protocol data unit (PDU) session having been established between the first mobile terminal and a core network device, the first PDU session providing a backhaul function for data transmission of the first access network node, the communication device comprising: Transceiver module and processing module, The transceiver module is used to receive a first data packet from a source node, the processing module is used to determine that the first data packet is a target data packet, the source node is the first access network node or the second access network node, the target data packet is a data packet transmitted between the first access network node and the second access network node, the second access network node is an adjacent access network node of the first access network node, and the second access network node is different from the host node, the transceiver module is also used to send the first data packet to the target node, when the source node is the first access network node, the target node is the second access network node, when the source node is the second access network node, the target node is the first access network node.

25. A communication device, applied to a source node, the source node being a first access network node or a second access network node, a first relay node comprising the first access network node and a first mobile terminal, a first protocol data unit (PDU) session having been established between the first mobile terminal and a core network device, the first PDU session providing a backhaul function for data transmission of the first access network node, the communication device comprising: A transceiver module, configured to receive second indication information, and send a target data packet to a host node of a first relay node according to the second indication information, or send the target data packet according to a first message container; the second indication information is used to indicate at least one of the following: information of a target data radio bearer (DRB), information of a target signaling radio bearer (SRB), information of a target quality of service (QoS) flow, and target packet header information; the target DRB is a DRB used to transmit the target data packet, and the target SRB is an SRB used to transmit the target data packet; The target QoS flow is a quality of service QoS flow used to carry the target data packet, the target packet header information is the packet header information of the Internet Protocol IP packet of the target data packet, the target data packet is a data packet transmitted between the first access network node and the second access network node, the second access network node is an adjacent access network node of the first access network node, and the second access network node is different from the host node, and the first message container includes the target data packet whose data packet type is control plane.

26. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the interface circuit is used to receive signals from other communication devices outside the communication device and transmit them to the processor or send signals from the processor to other communication devices outside the communication device, and the processor is used to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 18 or the method according to any one of claims 19 to 23 through a logic circuit or executing code instructions.

27. A chip module, characterized in that: The invention comprises a transceiver component and a chip, wherein the chip is used to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 18, or the method according to any one of claims 19 to 23.

28. A communication system comprising: a source node, a host node of a first relay node, and a target node, wherein the source node is a first access network node or a second access network node; if the source node is the first access network node, the target node is the second access network node; if the source node is the second access network node, the target node is the first access network node; The first relay node includes the first access network node and the first mobile terminal. A protocol data protocol first PDU session has been established between the first mobile terminal and the core network device. The first PDU session provides a backhaul function for data transmission of the first access network node. The second access network node is an adjacent access network node of the first access network node, and the second access network node is different from the host node.

29. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions, characterized in that: include: Computer instructions, wherein when the computer instructions are executed, the computer is caused to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 18, or the method according to any one of claims 19 to 23.

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