Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method and apparatus. A first network device receives information of cells of a second network device and a third network device; the third network device is adjacent to the second network device, and the third network device is not adjacent to the first network device; and the first network device sends predicted movement path information of a first terminal to the second network device, the predicted movement path information being determined on the basis of historical movement path information of the first terminal and the information of the cells of the second network device and the third network device. That is, the first network device can not only predict a movement path of the first terminal in an adjacent network device (i.e., the second network device), but also predict the movement path of the first terminal in an adjacent network device (i.e., the third network device) of the adjacent network device, so as to improve prediction performance, assist subsequent target cells in resource optimization, and improve mobility optimization of the terminal.

Description

A communication method and device thereof

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China on March 28, 2024, with application number 202410389531.8 and application name "A communication method and device thereof", the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

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

[0004] Using artificial intelligence (AI) technology for data analysis in communication networks can improve network performance and user experience. Taking mobility optimization as an example, access network equipment uses AI technology to predict the terminal's future movement path based on the terminal's historical movement path information and relevant information about each cell of the access network equipment and adjacent access network equipment. Based on the predicted movement path, it is determined in advance whether the terminal will switch cells, and the handover configuration is issued in advance, notifying the target cell to prepare access resources, thereby reducing the terminal's delay during the handover process and reducing the probability of handover failure.

[0005] How to improve the performance of motion prediction requires further research. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and apparatus thereof for improving mobility prediction performance.

[0007] In the first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a first network device, or by other devices including the functions of the first network device, or by a chip system (which can also be replaced by a chip) or other functional modules, which can realize the functions of the first network device, and the chip system or functional module is, for example, set in the first network device. Take the execution of the method by the first network device as an example for introduction: the first network device receives first information from the second network device, and the first information includes: information about the cell of the second network device and information about the cell of a third network device adjacent to the second network device; the third network device is not adjacent to the first network device; the first network device sends second information to the second network device, and the second information is used to indicate the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal, and the predicted mobile path information is determined based on the historical mobile path information of the first terminal and the first information; the predicted mobile path information includes identifiers of multiple cells in sequence.

[0008] In this embodiment, the network devices exchange information about neighboring cells to enable the prediction of multi-hop mobile paths. Specifically, the first network device obtains information about each cell of the second network device adjacent to the first network device, and the first network device also obtains information about each cell of the third network device adjacent to the second network device. The first network device can predict the mobile path of the first terminal in the second network device and the third network device based on the information about each cell of the second network device and the third network device. In other words, the first network device can not only predict the mobile path of the first terminal in the adjacent network device (the adjacent network device can also be called the next-hop network device, i.e., the second network device), but also predict the mobile path of the first terminal in the adjacent network device of the adjacent network device (the adjacent network device of the adjacent network device can also be called the next-hop network device of the next hop, or the next two-hop network device, i.e., the third network device), which can improve the prediction performance, assist the subsequent target cell in resource optimization, and improve the mobility optimization of the terminal.

[0009] In a possible implementation, the predicted movement path information is determined based on an artificial intelligence (AI) model, historical movement path information of the first terminal, and the first information.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the first network device determines that the second network device is the network device where the next hop cell in the predicted mobile path information is located. In this way, the first network device sends the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal to the second network device. If the network device where the next hop cell in the predicted mobile path information is located (the next hop cell refers to the next hop cell of the cell of the first network device currently accessed by the first terminal) is not the second network device, for example, it is the third network device, because the first network device and the third network device are not adjacent, the first terminal cannot directly switch from the first network device to the third network device. In this case, it can be considered that the predicted mobile path information is inaccurate, and the inaccurate predicted mobile path information may not be sent to the second network device, and the first network device may re-predict. When the first network device determines that the second network device is the network device where the next hop cell in the predicted mobile path information is located, the first network device sends the predicted mobile path information to the second network device.

[0011] In a possible implementation, the first network device may further send third information to the second network device, where the third information is used to request information about a cell of a third network device adjacent to the second network device.

[0012] In this implementation, the first network device triggers the determination of the multi-hop mobile path information of the first terminal.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the first network device may also receive fourth information from the second network device, where the fourth information is used to obtain predicted mobile path information of a first cell of the second network device; the multiple cells included in the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal include the first cell.

[0014] In this implementation, the second network device specifies a first cell. For example, if the first cell has a load greater than a set threshold and its resources are limited, the second network device cannot allow too many terminals to access the first cell. The second network device can obtain predicted movement path information for multiple terminals (including the first terminal) and select a portion of the multiple terminals for access. Optionally, if the predicted movement path information does not include the first cell specified by the second network device, the first network device may not need to send the predicted movement path information to the second network device.

[0015] In a possible implementation, the first network device may further receive fifth information from the second network device, where the fifth information is specifically used to indicate actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the second network device.

[0016] In this implementation, after the first network device receives the actual movement path information of the first terminal, it can optimize the AI ​​model used for movement path prediction based on the actual movement path information to improve the accuracy of the AI ​​service.

[0017] In one possible implementation, the fifth information is also used to indicate the actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the second network device; or, the first network device can also receive sixth information from the third network device, and the sixth information is used to indicate the actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the third network device; or, the first network device can also receive seventh information from the core network network element, and the seventh information is used to indicate the actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the third network device.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the first network device may also send eighth information to the second network device, where the eighth information is used to indicate at least one of the following: an identifier of the network device used to determine the predicted mobile path information, an identifier of the data collection process used to carry the actual mobile path information, feedback of the actual mobile path information of the first terminal by the network device accessed by the first terminal during the movement, and a condition for feedback of the actual mobile path information by the network device accessed by the first terminal during the movement.

[0019] In this implementation, the identifier of the network device used to determine the predicted mobile path information (i.e., the identifier of the first network device) can let network devices other than the first network device (e.g., the second network device, the third network device, and the fourth network device) know to which network device the actual mobile path information of the first terminal should be fed back. The identifier of the data collection (DATE COLLECTION) process used to carry the actual mobile path information can let the network devices know in which data collection (DATE COLLECTION) process the actual mobile path information of the first terminal is transmitted. This ensures that non-adjacent network devices such as the third network device and the fourth network device accurately feed back the actual mobile path information of the first terminal to the first network device, and does not mistakenly feed back the actual mobile path information of the first terminal to other network devices.

[0020] In one possible implementation, the conditions for feeding back the actual mobile path information include one or more of the following: the number of network devices crossed during the movement is greater than a first threshold, the number of cells crossed during the movement is greater than a second threshold, the duration of the movement is greater than a third threshold, moving to a designated cell, moving to a designated network device, the wireless resource control RRC state of the first terminal changes, and the actual mobile path of the first terminal is different from the predicted mobile path.

[0021] In a possible implementation, the predicted mobile path information also includes at least one of the following: the residence time of the first terminal in each cell, the service type information of the first terminal, the service throughput information of the first terminal, and the radio resource control RRC status information of the first terminal.

[0022] In a possible implementation manner, the cell information includes: cell coverage information and / or cell location information.

[0023] In one possible implementation, after receiving first information from a second network device (including information about each cell of the second network device, the third network device, the fourth network device, and network devices adjacent to the fourth network device), and before the first network device sends second information (indicating predicted movement path information of the first terminal) to the second network device, the first network device may further receive indication information from the second network device, the indication information being used to indicate a first number of network devices (i.e., a predicted number of network hops) and / or a second number of cells (i.e., a predicted number of cells) included in the predicted movement path information of the first terminal. In this way, the predicted movement path information of the first terminal indicated by the first network device in the second information includes the first number of network devices and / or the second number of cells.

[0024] On the second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a second network device, or by other devices including the functions of the second network device, or by a chip system (which can also be replaced by a chip) or other functional modules, which can realize the functions of the second network device, and the chip system or functional module is, for example, set in the second network device. Take the execution of the method by the second network device as an example for introduction: the second network device sends first information to the first network device, and the first information includes: information about the cell of the second network device and information about the cell of the third network device adjacent to the second network device; the first information is used by the first network device to determine the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal based on the historical mobile path information of the first terminal and the first information, and the predicted mobile path information includes identifiers of multiple cells in sequence; the third network device is not adjacent to the first network device; the second network device receives second information from the first network device, and the second information is used to indicate the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal; the second network device makes a mobility decision based on the predicted mobile path information.

[0025] In a possible implementation manner, the second network device is a network device where the next-hop cell in the predicted moving path information is located.

[0026] In a possible implementation, the second network device may further receive third information from the first network device, where the third information is used to request information about a cell of a third network device adjacent to the second network device.

[0027] In a possible implementation, the second network device may further send part or all of the predicted moving path information of the first terminal to the third network device, wherein the part or all of the information includes the predicted moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the third network device.

[0028] In one possible implementation, the second network device may also send fourth information to the first network device, where the fourth information is used to obtain predicted mobile path information of a first cell of the second network device; the multiple cells included in the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal include the first cell.

[0029] In a possible implementation, the second network device may further send fifth information to the first network device, where the fifth information is used to indicate actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the second network device.

[0030] In one possible implementation, the second network device may further receive ninth information from the third network device, where the ninth information is used to indicate actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the third network device; in this way, the fifth information is also used to indicate actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the third network device.

[0031] In one possible implementation, the second network device may also receive eighth information from the first network device, where the eighth information is used to indicate at least one of the following: an identifier of the network device used to determine the predicted mobile path information, an identifier of the data collection process used to carry the actual mobile path information, feedback of the actual mobile path information of the first terminal by the network device accessed by the first terminal during the movement, and a condition for feedback of the actual mobile path information by the network device accessed by the first terminal during the movement.

[0032] In one possible implementation, the conditions for feeding back the actual mobile path information include one or more of the following: the number of network devices crossed during the movement is greater than a first threshold, the number of cells crossed during the movement is greater than a second threshold, the duration of the movement is greater than a third threshold, moving to a designated cell, moving to a designated network device, the wireless resource control RRC state of the first terminal changes, and the actual mobile path of the first terminal is different from the predicted mobile path.

[0033] In a possible implementation, the predicted mobile path information also includes at least one of the following: the residence time of the first terminal in each cell, the service type information of the first terminal, the service throughput information of the first terminal, and the radio resource control RRC status information of the first terminal.

[0034] In a possible implementation manner, the cell information includes: cell coverage information and / or cell location information.

[0035] In one possible implementation, after the second network device sends first information (including information about each cell of the second network device, the third network device, the fourth network device, and network devices adjacent to the fourth network device) to the first network device, and before receiving second information (indicating predicted movement path information of the first terminal) from the first network device, the second network device may further send indication information to the first network device, where the indication information is used to indicate a first number of network devices (i.e., a predicted number of network hops) and / or a second number of cells (i.e., a predicted number of cell hops) included in the predicted movement path information of the first terminal. In this way, the predicted movement path information of the first terminal indicated in the second information includes the first number of network devices and / or the second number of cells.

[0036] The effects of the second aspect and various possible implementation methods can refer to the effects of the first aspect and various possible implementation methods, and will not be described in detail.

[0037] On the third aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a first network device, or by other devices including the functions of the first network device, or by a chip system (which can also be replaced by a chip) or other functional modules. The chip system or functional module can realize the functions of the first network device, and the chip system or functional module is, for example, set in the first network device. Taking the execution of the method by the first network device as an example, the first network device receives first information from the second network device, the first information is used to indicate one or more of the following: a first number of network devices included in the predicted mobile path information, a second number of cells included in the predicted mobile path information, and a first duration corresponding to the predicted mobile path information; the first network device sends second information and third information to the second network device, the second information is used to indicate the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal, the predicted mobile path information is determined based on the historical mobile path information of the first terminal and information of each cell of the neighboring network devices of the first network device; the predicted mobile path information includes identifiers of multiple cells in sequence, the number of network devices included in the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal is less than the first number, the number of cells included is less than the second number, and the stay duration corresponding to the predicted mobile path information is less than the first duration; the third information is used to indicate that the first network device does not have the ability / resources to predict the mobile path information of the first number of network devices and / or the second number of cells and / or the path of the first duration.

[0038] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a second network device, or by other devices including the functions of the second network device, or by a chip system (which can also be replaced by a chip) or other functional modules. The chip system or functional module can realize the functions of the second network device, and the chip system or functional module is, for example, set in the second network device. Taking the execution of the method by the second network device as an example, the second network device sends first information to the first network device, and the first information is used to indicate one or more of the following: a first number of network devices included in the predicted mobile path information, a second number of cells included in the predicted mobile path information, and a first duration corresponding to the predicted mobile path information; the second network device receives second information and third information from the first network device, and the second information is used to indicate the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal, and the predicted mobile path information is determined based on the historical mobile path information of the first terminal and information of each cell of the neighboring network devices of the first network device; the predicted mobile path information includes identifiers of multiple cells in sequence, the number of network devices included in the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal is less than the first number, the number of cells included is less than the second number, and the stay duration corresponding to the predicted mobile path information is less than the first duration; the third information is used to indicate that the first network device does not have the ability / resources to predict the mobile path information of the first number of network devices and / or the second number of cells and / or the path of the first duration.

[0039] In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided. The communication device may be the first network device described in the first or third aspect. The communication device has the functions of the first network device. The communication device may be, for example, a functional module in the first network device, such as a baseband device or a chip system. Alternatively, the communication device may be the second network device described in the second or fourth aspect. The communication device has the functions of the second network device. The communication device may be, for example, a functional module in the second network device, such as a baseband device or a chip system.

[0040] In an optional implementation, the communication device includes a baseband device and a radio frequency device. In another optional implementation, the communication device includes a processing unit (sometimes also referred to as a processing module) and a transceiver unit (sometimes also referred to as a transceiver module). The transceiver unit can implement a sending function and a receiving function. When the transceiver unit implements the sending function, it can be called a sending unit (sometimes also referred to as a sending module). When the transceiver unit implements the receiving function, it can be called a receiving unit (sometimes also referred to as a receiving module). The sending unit and the receiving unit can be the same functional module, which is called a transceiver unit, and the functional module can implement a sending function and a receiving function; or, the sending unit and the receiving unit can be different functional modules, and the transceiver unit is a general term for these functional modules.

[0041] In one possible implementation, the communication device also includes a storage unit (sometimes also referred to as a storage module), and the processing unit is used to couple with the storage unit and execute the program or instructions in the storage unit, enabling the communication device to perform the function of the first network device described in the first or third aspect above, or to perform the function of the second network device described in the second or fourth aspect above.

[0042] When the communication device is the first network device described in the first aspect, at least one of the following possible implementations is included:

[0043] In one possible implementation, the transceiver unit is used to: receive first information from a second network device, the first information including: information about a cell of the second network device and information about a cell of a third network device adjacent to the second network device; the third network device is not adjacent to the apparatus; and send second information to the second network device, the second information being used to indicate predicted mobile path information of the first terminal, the predicted mobile path information being determined based on historical mobile path information of the first terminal and the first information; the predicted mobile path information including identifiers of a plurality of cells in sequence.

[0044] In a possible implementation, the processing unit is configured to determine that the second network device is a network device where a next-hop cell in the predicted moving path information is located.

[0045] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is further configured to: send third information to the second network device, where the third information is used to request information about a cell of a third network device adjacent to the second network device.

[0046] In one possible implementation, the transceiver unit is further used to: receive fourth information from the second network device, where the fourth information is used to obtain predicted mobile path information of a first cell of the second network device; the multiple cells included in the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal include the first cell.

[0047] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is further configured to: receive fifth information from the second network device, where the fifth information is specifically configured to indicate actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the second network device.

[0048] In one possible implementation, the transceiver unit is further used to: receive sixth information from the third network device, where the sixth information is used to indicate the actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the third network device; or receive seventh information from the core network network element, where the seventh information is used to indicate the actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the third network device.

[0049] In one possible implementation, the transceiver unit is also used to: send eighth information to the second network device, and the eighth information is used to indicate at least one of the following: an identifier of the network device used to determine the predicted mobile path information, an identifier of the data collection process used to carry the actual mobile path information, feedback of the actual mobile path information of the first terminal by the network device accessed by the first terminal during the movement, and a condition for feedback of the actual mobile path information by the network device accessed by the first terminal during the movement.

[0050] When the communication device is the second network device described in the second aspect, at least one of the following possible implementations is included:

[0051] In one possible implementation, the transceiver unit is used to: send first information to a first network device, the first information including: information about the cell of the device and information about the cell of a third network device adjacent to the device; the first information is used by the first network device to determine the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal based on the historical mobile path information of the first terminal and the first information, the predicted mobile path information including identifiers of multiple cells in sequence; the third network device is not adjacent to the first network device; and receive second information from the first network device, the second information being used to indicate the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal; the processing unit is used to: make mobility decisions based on the predicted mobile path information.

[0052] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is further configured to: receive third information from the first network device, where the third information is used to request information about a cell of a third network device adjacent to the apparatus.

[0053] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is further used to: send part or all of the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal to the third network device, wherein the part or all of the information includes the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal in the cell of the third network device.

[0054] In one possible implementation, the transceiver unit is further used to: send fourth information to the first network device, where the fourth information is used to obtain predicted mobile path information of the first cell of the apparatus; the multiple cells included in the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal include the first cell.

[0055] In a possible implementation, the transceiver unit is further configured to: send fifth information to the first network device, where the fifth information is used to indicate actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the apparatus.

[0056] In one possible implementation, the transceiver unit is further used to: receive ninth information from the third network device, where the ninth information is used to indicate actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the third network device; and the fifth information is also used to indicate actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the third network device.

[0057] In one possible implementation, the transceiver unit is also used to: receive eighth information from the first network device, and the eighth information is used to indicate at least one of the following: an identifier of the network device used to determine the predicted mobile path information, an identifier of the data collection process used to carry the actual mobile path information, feedback of the actual mobile path information of the first terminal by the network device accessed by the first terminal during the movement, and a condition for feedback of the actual mobile path information by the network device accessed by the first terminal during the movement.

[0058] In a sixth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising an interface circuit and a processor, and optionally, a memory. The memory is used to store a computer program, and the processor is coupled to the memory and the interface circuit. When the processor reads the computer program or instruction, the communication device executes the method performed by the first network device in the first or third aspect, or executes the method performed by the second network device in the second or fourth aspect. Exemplarily, the interface circuit is 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 implements the method performed by the first network device in the first or third aspect, or the method performed by the second network device in the second or fourth aspect, through a logic circuit or executing code instructions.

[0059] In a possible implementation, the communication device is a chip or a chip system.

[0060] In the seventh aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising a processor and, optionally, a memory; the processor and the memory are coupled; the memory is used to store computer programs or instructions; the processor is used to execute part or all of the computer programs or instructions in the memory, and when the part or all of the computer programs or instructions are executed, it is used to implement the function of the first network device in the first or third aspect above, or to implement the function of the second network device in the second or fourth aspect above.

[0061] In one possible implementation, the apparatus may further include a transceiver configured to transmit a signal processed by the processor or receive a signal input to the processor. The transceiver may perform the transmitting action or receiving action performed by the first network device in the first or third aspect, or performed by the second network device in the second or fourth aspect.

[0062] In one possible implementation, the processing unit in the sixth and seventh aspects can be implemented by the processor, the storage unit in the fourth and fifth aspects can be implemented by the memory, and the transceiver unit in the sixth and seventh aspects can be implemented by the transceiver.

[0063] In a possible implementation, the communication device is a chip or a chip system.

[0064] In an eighth aspect, a communication system is provided, comprising a first network device and a second network device, wherein the first network device is configured to execute the method described in the first aspect and executed by the first network device, and the second network device is configured to execute the method described in the second aspect and executed by the second network device; alternatively, the first network device is configured to execute the method described in the third aspect and executed by the first network device, and the second network device is configured to execute the method described in the fourth aspect and executed by the second network device. For example, the first network device and the second network device may be implemented by the communication apparatus described in the fifth aspect.

[0065] In a ninth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, wherein the computer-readable storage medium is used to store computer programs or instructions, which, when executed, enables the method in the first aspect, or the second aspect, or the third aspect, or the fourth aspect to be implemented.

[0066] In a tenth aspect, a computer program product comprising instructions is provided, which, when executed on a computer, enables the method in the first aspect, or the second aspect, or the third aspect, or the fourth aspect to be implemented. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0067] FIG1a is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided by the present application;

[0068] FIG1b is a schematic diagram of an architecture in which CU and DU are separated provided by the present application;

[0069] FIG2a is a schematic diagram of an application architecture of artificial intelligence in a communication system provided by this application;

[0070] Figure 2b is a schematic diagram of an ORAN architecture provided by this application;

[0071] FIG3 is a flow chart of a communication method provided by the present application;

[0072] FIG4 is a flow chart of a communication method provided by the present application;

[0073] FIG5 is a flow chart of a communication method provided by the present application;

[0074] FIG6 is a structural diagram of a communication device provided by the present application;

[0075] FIG7 is a structural diagram of a communication device provided in this application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0076] The technical solution of the present application can be applied to a terrestrial network (TN) or a non-terrestrial network (NTN), such as a satellite network. The technical solution of the present application can be applied to various wireless communication systems, and can be applied to, but not limited to, the fourth generation mobile communication technology (the 4th generation, 4G) system (also known as the long term evolution (LTE) system), the fifth generation mobile communication technology (the 5th generation, 5G) system (also known as the new radio (NR) system), or can also be applied to the next generation mobile communication system or other similar communication systems (such as the sixth generation mobile communication technology (the 6th generation, 6G) system), etc., without specific restrictions. In addition, the technical solution of the present application can be applied to device-to-device (D2D) scenarios, such as NR-D2D scenarios, etc., or can be applied to V2X scenarios, such as NR-V2X scenarios, etc. The technical solution of the present application can also be applied to fields such as intelligent driving, assisted driving, or intelligent connected vehicles, or factory manufacturing scenarios.

[0077] Figure 1a is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system used in an embodiment of the present application. The communication system 1000 shown in Figure 1a includes a wireless access network 100 and a core network 200. Optionally, the communication system 1000 also includes the Internet 300. The wireless access network 100 may include at least one network device (such as 110a and 110b in Figure 1a) and may also include at least one terminal device (such as 120a-120j in Figure 1a). The terminal device is wirelessly connected to the network device, and the network device is wirelessly or wiredly connected to the core network 200. The core network device and the network device may be independent and distinct physical devices, or the functions of the core network device and the logical functions of the network device may be integrated into the same physical device, or a single physical device may integrate some of the functions of the core network device and some of the functions of the network device. Terminal devices and network devices may be interconnected via wired or wireless connections. Figure 1a is merely a schematic diagram. The communication system may also include other network devices, such as wireless relay devices and wireless backhaul devices, which are not shown in Figure 1a.

[0078] The radio access network 100 may be a cellular system related to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such as 4G, 5G, or an evolved system after 5G (e.g., a 6G mobile communication system). The radio access network 100 may also be an open radio access network (open RAN, O-RAN or ORAN) or a cloud radio access network (CRAN). The radio access network 100 may also be a communication system that integrates two or more of the above systems.

[0079] A network device is a node in a radio access network (RAN), and can also be referred to as an access network device or a RAN node (or device). A network device is used to help terminal devices achieve wireless access. The multiple network devices in communication system 1000 can be nodes of the same type or different types.

[0080] In one possible scenario, a network device can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmitting and receiving point (TRP), a transmitting point (TP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB), a next-generation base station in a 6G mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, an access point (AP) in a satellite, an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, a mobile switching center, or a network device in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) communication system. This means it can be deployed on a high-altitude platform or satellite. The network device can be a macro base station (such as 110a in Figure 1a), a micro base station or an indoor station (such as 110b in Figure 1a), a relay node or a donor node, or a wireless controller in a CRAN scenario. The network device can also function as a base station in device-to-device (D2D) communication, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2I) communication, drone communication, or machine communication. Optionally, the network device can be a server, a wearable device, a vehicle, or an onboard device. For example, the access network device in V2X technology can be a roadside unit (RSU).

[0081] In another possible scenario, multiple network devices collaborate to assist the terminal device in achieving wireless access, and different network devices respectively implement part of the functions of the base station. For example, the network device may be one or more of a centralized unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU). The CU and DU may be separately configured (i.e., physically separated) or simultaneously included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU), which is not limited in this application. The RU may be included in a radio frequency device or a radio frequency unit, such as a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH). It is understandable that the network device may be a CU node, a DU node, or a device including a CU node and a DU node. In addition, the CU may be divided into a network device in the access network RAN, or the CU may be divided into a network device in the core network CN, which is not limited here. CU and DU can be understood as the division of the base station from the perspective of logical functions. Among them, CU and DU can be physically separated or deployed together, and this embodiment of the application does not specifically limit this. One CU can be connected to one DU, or multiple DUs can share one CU, which can save costs and facilitate network expansion.

[0082] As shown in Figure 1b, a schematic diagram of a separate architecture for the CU and DU is introduced. The CU and DU are connected via the F1 interface. The CU represents the gNB and is connected to the core network via the Ng interface. Furthermore, the CU includes the CU-CP and CU-UP. The CU-CP is connected to the DU via the F1-C (control plane), and the CU-UP is connected to the DU via the F1-U (user plane). The CU-CP and CU-UP are connected via the E1 interface. The CU-CP represents the gNB and is connected to the core network via the Ng interface. The CU and DU can be divided according to the protocol stack. One possible approach is to deploy the radio resource control (RRC), service data adaptation protocol stack (SDAP), and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layers in the CU, and the remaining radio link control (RLC) layer, media access control (MAC) layer, and physical layer in the DU. This application does not limit the above-mentioned protocol stack division method. Other division methods are possible and will not be described in detail. The CU-CP is responsible for control plane functions, primarily including RRC and PDCP-C. PDCP-C is responsible for control plane data encryption, integrity protection, and data transmission. The CU-UP is responsible for user plane functions, primarily including SDAP and PDCP-U. SDAP is responsible for processing core network data and mapping flows to bearers. PDCP-U is responsible for data plane encryption, integrity protection, header compression, sequence number maintenance, and data transmission. Alternatively, PDCP-C could also reside in the CU-UP.

[0083] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU or RU may also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in the ORAN system, CU may also be called O-CU (Open CU), DU may also be called O-DU, CU-CP may also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP may also be called O-CU-UP, and RU may also be called O-RU. For the convenience of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU and RU as examples for description. Any unit of CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU and RU in this application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0084] A terminal device is a device with wireless transceiver capabilities that can send signals to or receive signals from a network device. Terminal devices include but are not limited to terminal devices, terminals, user equipment (UE), mobile stations, mobile terminals, etc. Terminal devices can be widely used in various scenarios, such as device-to-device D2D, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearable, smart transportation, smart city, etc. The terminal device can specifically be a mobile phone, tablet computer, computer with wireless transceiver capabilities, wearable device, vehicle, airplane, ship, robot, robotic arm, smart home device, etc. The embodiments of this application do not limit the specific technology and specific device form adopted by the terminal device.

[0085] Network devices and terminal devices can be fixed or mobile. They can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld or vehicle-mounted; they can also be deployed on water; they can also be deployed on aircraft, balloons, and artificial satellites. The embodiments of this application do not limit the application scenarios of network devices and terminal devices.

[0086] The roles of network devices and terminal devices can be relative. For example, the helicopter or drone 120i in Figure 1a can be configured as a mobile network device. To terminal devices 120j that access the wireless access network 100 via 120i, terminal device 120i is a network device; however, to network device 110a, 120i is a terminal device, meaning that communication between 110a and 120i occurs via a wireless air interface protocol. Of course, communication between 110a and 120i can also occur via an interface protocol between network devices. In this case, relative to 110a, 120i is also a network device. Therefore, both network devices and terminal devices can be collectively referred to as communication devices. 110a and 110b in Figure 1a can be referred to as communication devices with network device functionality, and 120a-120j in Figure 1a can be referred to as communication devices with terminal device functionality.

[0087] Network devices and terminal devices, network devices and network devices, and terminal devices and terminal devices can communicate through authorized spectrum, unauthorized spectrum, or both; can communicate through spectrum below 6 gigahertz (GHz), spectrum above 6 GHz, or spectrum below 6 GHz and spectrum above 6 GHz simultaneously. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the spectrum resources used for wireless communications.

[0088] In the embodiments of the present application, the functions of the network device may also be performed by a module (such as a chip) in the network device, or by a control subsystem that includes the network device functions. The control subsystem that includes the network device functions here may be a control center in the above-mentioned application scenarios such as smart grid, industrial control, smart transportation, and smart city. The functions of the terminal device may also be performed by a module (such as a chip or a modem) in the terminal device, or by a device that includes the terminal device functions.

[0089] Figure 2a shows a schematic diagram of the application architecture of AI technology in a communication system. The data collection (DATE COLLECTION) entity stores data input from network devices, terminals or other management entities as a database for AI model training and data analysis and reasoning. The model training (model training) entity analyzes the training data (training data) provided by DATE COLLECTION to provide the optimal AI model. The model inference (model inference) entity uses the AI ​​model to provide reasonable predictions based on the AI ​​model for network operation based on the data provided by DATE COLLECTION, or guides the network to make policy adjustments. The relevant policy adjustments are uniformly planned by the execution (actor) entity and sent to multiple network entities for operation. At the same time, after the relevant policies are applied, the specific performance of the network will be entered into the database again for storage.

[0090] Figure 2b shows a schematic diagram of the ORAN architecture. The CU-CP, CU-UP, CU, DU, and RU can be referred to in the introduction of Figures 1a and 1b and will not be repeated here. The radio intelligent controller (RIC) has AI capabilities and can perform intelligent and automated operation and maintenance of the RAN. The RIC includes near-real time RIC (near-RT RIC) and non-real time RIC (non-RT RIC).

[0091] In one possible implementation, non-real-time RIC can be used to train the AI ​​model, and near real-time RIC is used to reason about the AI ​​model. In another possible implementation, both the near real-time RIC and non-real-time RIC can be used for training and reasoning of the AI ​​model. Near real-time RIC and non-real-time RIC can obtain information on the network side and / or the terminal side from the RAN node (e.g., CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU and / or RU) and / or the terminal, and the information can be used as training data or reasoning data. Optionally, the near real-time RIC and non-real-time RIC can submit the reasoning results to the RAN node and / or the terminal. Optionally, the reasoning results can be exchanged between the CU and the DU, and / or between the DU and the RU. For example, the near real-time RIC and non-real-time RIC submits the reasoning results to the DU, and the DU sends it to the RU.

[0092] AI applications on the RAN involve multiple scenarios, such as energy saving, load balancing, mobility optimization, CSI-RS feedback enhancement, beam scanning enhancement, and positioning enhancement. Here's a brief introduction to the basic principles of mobility optimization: Access network equipment collects historical mobile path information and information about each cell, then uses AI to predict the terminal's future mobile path. Based on this mobile path, it determines in advance whether the terminal will switch cells, issues handover configurations in advance, and informs the target cell of access resources, minimizing delays during the handover prediction process and lowering the probability of handover failure.

[0093] 3GPP has introduced a new, general procedure on the Xn interface for transmitting artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) data. This new procedure is called the Data Collection Procedure. In this data collection procedure, RAN node 1 initiates the data collection procedure by sending a Data Collection Request message to RAN node 2 to start or stop reporting AI / ML-related information. In response, RAN node 2 sends or stops sending AI / ML-related information to RAN node 1. This procedure is use case-independent and the AI / ML data transmitted by this procedure can be used for all AI use cases, including but not limited to the multiple use cases mentioned above (load balancing, mobility optimization, energy saving, CSI-RS feedback enhancement, beam scanning enhancement, and positioning enhancement). This procedure is data type-independent and can include AI model input data, output data, and feedback data, such as prediction information and measurement information. This procedure is not associated with a specific UE, but can also be used to transmit data for specific UEs, such as performance feedback information for a specific UE.

[0094] Taking mobility optimization as an example, RAN node 2 provides RAN node 1 with information about each cell within RAN node 2. RAN node 1 then uses AI technology to predict the terminal's movement path within each cell based on the terminal's historical movement path information and the information about each cell within RAN node 2. In current technology, RAN node 2 provides RAN node 1 with information about each cell within RAN node 2, but does not provide information about each cell within adjacent RAN node 3. If a terminal is about to be handed off to RAN node 2 but RAN node 2 cannot predict the terminal's movement path, RAN node 2 cannot predict the terminal's movement path within RAN node 3. In this case, how to achieve mobility optimization becomes a critical consideration.

[0095] The present application provides a communication method, in which a first network device obtains information about each cell of a second network device adjacent to the first network device, and the first network device also obtains information about each cell of a third network device adjacent to the second network device. The first network device can predict the movement path of the terminal in the second network device and the third network device based on the information about each cell of the second network device and the third network device. In other words, the first network device can not only predict the movement path of the first terminal in the adjacent network device (the adjacent network device can also be called the next-hop network device, i.e., the second network device), but also predict the movement path of the first terminal in the adjacent network device of the adjacent network device (the adjacent network device of the adjacent network device can also be called the next-hop network device of the next hop, or the next two-hop network device, i.e., the third network device), which can improve the prediction performance. Even if the second network device cannot predict the movement path of the terminal, it will not affect the mobility optimization.

[0096] Below, some terms or concepts in the embodiments of the present application are explained to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0097] 1) Cell: Sectors and carrier frequencies form the smallest service unit providing terminal devices with access to network equipment, also known as a cell. A cell is an area providing wireless communication services to terminal devices and is the basic unit of a wireless network. The number of cells supported by a network device is determined by "number of sectors x number of carrier frequencies per sector." For example, in a 3x2 configuration, the entire circular area is divided into three sectors for coverage, each sector using two carrier frequencies, for a total of six cells. A sector is a wireless coverage area covering a specific geographic area, representing a division of the wireless coverage area. Each sector uses one or more wireless carriers for wireless coverage, and each wireless carrier uses a specific carrier frequency. The term "cell" is a logical concept, while network devices, sectors, and carrier frequencies are physical concepts and exist in reality. Typically, one network device corresponds to one or more cells. A carrier frequency refers to the available frequencies of the network device, for example, N carriers, where N = 1, 3, 6, 12, etc.

[0098] 2) The information of the cell includes but is not limited to: the cell identification (cell ID), the cell coverage information (cell rande), and the cell location information (cell location). For example, the coverage information of the cell includes specific coverage configuration information or coverage status, wherein the coverage status is indicated by an index of 0-63, and different coverage statuses / indexes correspond to different coverage configurations. The coverage of the cell can be implemented by reusing the coverage modification list (coverage modification list) information element in the prior art or part of the information in the information element. For example, the location information of the cell includes longitude and latitude information, or the location of the cell from the cell currently accessed by the terminal (when the terminal undergoes cell switching, the cell currently accessed by the terminal becomes the source cell).

[0099] 3) Coverage modification list:

[0100] The coverage of each cell in a network device can change. When a cell's coverage changes, the network device must notify neighboring network devices. For example, NG-RAN node 1 can use an NG-RAN NODE CONFIGURATION UPDATE message to notify its neighboring NG-RAN node 2 of a coverage modification list. Based on some or all of the contents of the coverage modification list, neighboring NG-RAN 2 can derive the cell coverage information of NG-RAN node 1. This list includes, but is not limited to, the identity of the cell whose coverage has changed (global NG-RAN cell identity), cell coverage state, cell deployment status indicator, cell replacing information, and coverage modification cause. The cell coverage state ranges from 0 to 63. A value of 0 indicates deactivation, while a value of 1 to 63 indicates the coverage state of the cell. The neighboring NG-RAN can adjust its own coverage configuration based on the received coverage state. The cell deployment status indicator indicates the cell coverage state planned for use during the next reconfiguration. The cell replacing information is a list of cell IDs that may replace all or part of the coverage of the cell to be modified.

[0101] 4) First network device to fourth network device:

[0102] The first network device refers to: a network device currently serving the first terminal; optionally, the first network device determines the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal; or, under the ORAN architecture, the RIC determines the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal and sends it to the first network device.

[0103] The second network device refers to: a network device to which the first terminal is about to switch, and the second network device is adjacent to the first network device.

[0104] The third network device refers to a network device adjacent to the second network device. The third network device is not adjacent to the first network device. The number of the third network devices may be one or more.

[0105] The fourth network device refers to a network device adjacent to the third network device. The fourth network device is not adjacent to the first network device and the second network device. The number of the fourth network devices may be one or more.

[0106] 5) Actual / predicted movement path information:

[0107] The moving path refers to cells that the first terminal sequentially accesses during the moving process. For example, the first terminal first accesses cell 1, then cell 2, and then cell 4.

[0108] The actual moving path information includes: the identifiers of the cells that the first terminal actually accesses in sequence during the moving process. Optionally, in addition to the cell identifiers, other information may also be included, which will be described in detail in the embodiments.

[0109] The predicted moving path information includes: the predicted identifiers of the cells that the first terminal is expected to access in sequence during the moving process. Optionally, in addition to the cell identifiers, other information may be included, which will be described in detail in the embodiments.

[0110] The actual movement path information and the predicted movement path information may be exactly the same or partially the same. For example, the predicted movement path is that the first terminal first accesses cell 1, then cell 2, and then cell 4. For example, the actual movement path is that the first terminal first accesses cell 1, then cell 3, and then cell 4. The higher the degree of overlap between the actual movement path information and the predicted movement path information, the more accurate the AI ​​model's prediction ability.

[0111] During the terminal's movement, switching from the current network device to the adjacent network device is called "one hop". For example, switching from the first network device to the second network device is called "one hop", switching from the second network device to the third network device is called "one hop", and switching from the third network device to the fourth network device is called "one hop". The terminal switches from the current network device (i.e., the first network device) to the adjacent network device (i.e., the second network device) and then to the adjacent network device (i.e., the third network device) is called "two hops"; if it switches to the fourth network device on this basis, it is called "three hops". "Multi-hop" in the embodiment of the present application means switching from at least the first network device to the second network device and then to the third network device.

[0112] In order to better describe the embodiments of the present application, the following describes the methods provided by the embodiments of the present application in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the steps indicated by dotted lines in the accompanying drawings corresponding to the various embodiments of the present application are all optional steps.

[0113] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a communication process provided in an embodiment of the present application, including the following steps:

[0114] Step 300: The second network device obtains information about the cell of the third network device.

[0115] The acquisition process may be implemented using the data collection procedure (DATE COLLECTION procedure) described above, or may be implemented using other methods, which are not limited in this application.

[0116] Step 301: The second network device sends first information to the first network device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the first information. The first information includes: information about the cell of the second network device and information about the cell of the third network device.

[0117] For example, the first information includes: an identifier of the second network device and an identifier of the third network device, as well as an identifier (cell ID) of the cell of the second network device and an identifier (cell ID) of the cell of the third network device. In addition to the identifier (cell ID) of the cell, the information of the cell mentioned in the first information may further optionally include: the coverage range (cell rande) of the cell and the location information (cell location) of the cell. The coverage range of the cell can be implemented by reusing the Coverage Modification List information element in the prior art or part of the information in the information element. For details, please refer to the previous introduction and will not be repeated here. The identifier of the network device can be an NG-RAN node ID.

[0118] Step 301 introduces that the second network device sends first information to the first network device to inform the first network device of the information of the cells of the second network device and the third network device. This process can be triggered by the second network device or the first network device.

[0119] Taking the triggering of the first network device as an example, the first network device sends third information to the second network device, and the third information is used to request information about the cell of the third network device adjacent to the second network device, that is, to request information about the neighboring area of ​​the second network device to assist the first network device in predicting the multi-hop mobile path information of the first terminal. Further, optionally, the third information can also be used to request information about the cell of the fourth network device adjacent to the third network device. In other words, the third information is used to inquire whether the second network device provides the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal to the second network device (the predicted mobile path information can be replaced by multi-hop mobile path information, multi-hop trajectory predication, or replaced by two-hop mobile path information, three-hop mobile path information, or four-hop mobile path information). The third information can be carried in a Neighbour NG-RAN node information request message, which includes at least 1 bit to indicate whether to obtain neighboring area information or multi-hop mobile path information. For example, when the value of 1 bit is 0, it means obtaining information about the cell of the second network device instead of obtaining neighboring area information of the second network device, that is, providing predicted mobile path information of the next-hop network device of the first terminal. When 1 bit is 1, it indicates obtaining information about the neighboring cells of the second network device, that is, providing multi-hop mobile path information of the first terminal. Optionally, the third information can indicate which cells' information is to be obtained. For example, the third information includes a cell ID indication, and the cell ID indication is used to inform the second network device of which cells' information needs to be obtained. Optionally, the third information can also indicate which cells' information is to be obtained. For example, the third information includes a coverage information indication and / or a location information indication, and the coverage information indication is used to inform the second network device that it needs to obtain the coverage information of the cell, and the location information indication is used to inform the second network device that it needs to obtain the location information of the cell. The second network device can send corresponding information to the first network device based on the various indications in the third information.

[0120] For example, the first network device may trigger the sending of the third information to the second network device based on a combination of one or more of the following situations. Case 1: The first network device determines that the first terminal is about to switch to the cell of the second network device. Case 2: The first network device determines that the second network device does not have the ability to predict the terminal's moving path, or determines that the second network device cannot predict the terminal's moving path within a preset time period. A possible example of not being able to predict the terminal's moving path within a preset time period is that the second network device does not have computing resources and / or storage resources to predict the terminal's moving path within a preset time period. Optionally, for case 2, the second network device may indicate to the first network device the reason for not being able to predict the terminal's moving path (for example, there is no ability to predict, or there are no resources to predict), and the first network device may decide whether to send the third information to the second network device based on the reason.

[0121] The third information mentioned above can be carried in an Xn setup request, and the first information can be carried in an Xn setup response. Alternatively, the third information can be carried in an NG-RAN node configuration update message, and the first information can be carried in an NG-RAN node configuration acknowledge message. Alternatively, the third information can be carried in a date collection request, and the first information can be carried in a date collection request. Alternatively, a new process dedicated to this application is provided to carry the first and third information.

[0122] For example, the second network device triggering the second network device determines that the second network device does not have the ability to predict the terminal's movement path, or determines that the second network device cannot predict the terminal's movement path within a preset period of time. A possible example of being unable to predict the terminal's movement path within the preset period of time is that the second network device does not have the computing resources and / or storage resources to predict the terminal's movement path within the preset period of time.

[0123] Step 302: The first network device sends second information to the second network device, and correspondingly, the second network device receives the second information; the second information is used to indicate the predicted moving path information of the first terminal.

[0124] The predicted mobile path information is determined based on the historical mobile path information of the first terminal and the content contained in the first information. That is, the first network device determines the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal based on the historical mobile path information of the first terminal, the information about the cell of the second network device, and the information about the cell of the third network device. Exemplarily, the first network device is deployed with an AI model capable of predicting the mobile path of the terminal. The first network device can determine the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal based on the AI ​​model, the historical mobile path information of the first terminal, the information about the cell of the second network device, and the information about the cell of the third network device.

[0125] Further optionally, the first information in step 301 also includes information about the cell of a fourth network device, and the fourth network device is a network device adjacent to the third network device. Based on this, the first network device will also consider the information about the cell of the fourth network device when determining the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal. On the basis that the first information includes information about the cell of the fourth network device, further optionally, the first information in step 301 may also include information about the cell of a network device adjacent to the fourth network device. Based on this, the first network device will further consider the information about the cell of a network device adjacent to the fourth network device when determining the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the number of adjacent network devices between the network device to which the cell information included in the first information belongs and the second network device. The first information includes information about the cells of multiple network devices, and the information about the cells of these multiple network devices can be reflected in the form of a list. The information about the cell of each network device can be in one list, or the information about the cells of all network devices in the first information can be in one list.

[0126] The predicted mobile path information includes the identifiers of multiple cells in order, and these multiple cell identifiers can be presented in the form of a list. It should be noted that the cell identifiers in the predicted mobile path information are based on the network device, that is, the predicted mobile path information includes the identifier of the network device (i.e., the NG-RAN node ID) and the identifiers of the cells in the network device. Although, when determining the predicted mobile path information, the cell information of the second network device and the cell information of the third network device are taken into account, optionally, even the cell information of the fourth network device and the network devices adjacent to the fourth network device are also taken into account. However, the predicted mobile path information may not include the cells of one of the network devices. For example, the cell identifiers of the second network device are 1, 2, and 3, and the cell identifiers of the third network device are 4, 5, and 6. For example, the predicted mobile path is: cell 2-1-3. Although the cell of the third network device is taken into account when determining the predicted mobile path information, the determined predicted mobile path information does not include the cell of the third network device.

[0127] In addition to including the identifiers (cell IDs) of multiple cells in sequence, the predicted mobile path information also includes at least one of the following: the stay time of the first terminal in each cell, the service type information of the first terminal, the service throughput information of the first terminal, and the RRC status information of the first terminal. For example, the stay time is 5 minutes, 20 seconds, etc. The service type can be the service type in a certain cell, or the service type for a certain period of time, and the service type information can include a slice identifier. The service throughput can be the service throughput in a certain cell, or the service throughput for a certain period of time. For example, the RRC status information of the first terminal is RRC connected state, RRC idle state, RRC inactive state, etc. RRC connected state means that the terminal and the network device have established an RRC connection. RRC idle state means that the terminal and the network device have not established an RRC connection. RRC inactive state means that the terminal in this state suspends data processing, but the network device still maintains the context information of the terminal. In simple terms, the air interface state of a terminal in the RRC Inactive state is similar to that in the RRC Idle state, but from the core network side, the terminal in the RRC Inactive state is still in a connection management (CM) connection state.

[0128] The predicted mobile path information may also include precision (precision / accuracy / confidence / probability) information, where the precision refers to the precision of one or more information included in the predicted mobile path information. The precision information is illustrated by way of example: for example, the precision of the stay time refers to the mean-square error (MSE) between the predicted terminal's stay time in the cell and the actual stay time, or refers to the confidence level / probability of the predicted terminal's stay time in the cell. The precision of the service type refers to the accuracy, precision, recall, and comprehensive evaluation index (F1) value of the predicted service performed by the terminal in the cell and the actual service performed by the terminal, or refers to the confidence level / probability of the predicted UE performing the service in the cell. In other examples, the precision information may not be included in the predicted mobile path information, but may be notified to the second network device through other indication information.

[0129] If the network device where the next-hop cell in the predicted mobile path information (the next-hop cell refers to the next-hop cell of the cell of the first network device currently accessed by the first terminal) is located is not the second network device, for example, it is the third network device, for example, the predicted mobile path is: cell 4-2-3-6, because the first network device and the third network device are not adjacent, the first terminal cannot directly switch from the first network device to the third network device. In this case, it can be considered that the predicted mobile path information is inaccurate, and the inaccurate predicted mobile path information may not be sent to the second network device, and the first network device may re-predict. When the first network device determines that the second network device is the network device where the next-hop cell in the predicted mobile path information is located, the first network device sends the predicted mobile path information to the second network device (i.e., executes step 302).

[0130] The second information sent by the first network device to the second network device in step 302 may be carried in a handover request.

[0131] In one possible implementation, after step 301 (the second network device sends information about each cell of other network devices (e.g., a third network device, a fourth network device, a network device adjacent to the fourth network device, etc.) to the first network device), and before step 302 (the first network device sends the predicted movement path information of the first terminal to the second network device), the second network device may further send indication information to the first network device, where the indication information indicates a first number of network devices (i.e., a predicted number of network hops) and / or a second number of cells (i.e., a predicted number of cell hops) included in the predicted movement path information of the first terminal. In this way, the predicted movement path information of the first terminal sent by the first network device to the second network device in step 302 includes the first number of network devices and / or the second number of cells. If the first number and / or the second number are large and the first network device does not have the capability / resources to predict them, the first network device may predict the predicted movement path information of the first terminal based on its own capabilities / resources and send it to the second network device. Optionally, the first network device may further send indication information to the second network device, where the indication information indicates that the first network device does not have the capability / resources to predict the movement path information of the first number of network devices and / or the second number of cells. If the prediction capability / resources of the first network device exceed the first number of network devices and / or the second number of cells, the first network device may only consider the first number of network devices and / or the second number of cells when making the prediction, or may consider the number of network devices and / or the second number of cells exceeding the first number for prediction. However, when sending the predicted mobile path information to the second network device, the predicted mobile path information of the first number of network devices and / or the second number of cells in the predicted mobile path information is intercepted and sent, and the excess part is not sent to the second network device.

[0132] Step 303: The second network device makes a mobility decision based on the predicted moving path information.

[0133] For example, mobility decisions include but are not limited to: reserving access resources, communication resources, storage resources, computing resources for the first terminal, determining the cell beam (beam) and synchronization signal block SSB for accessing the first network device, etc.

[0134] Step 304: The second network device sends part or all of the predicted moving path information of the first terminal to the third network device, wherein the part or all of the information includes the predicted moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the third network device.

[0135] Step 305: The third network device makes a mobility decision based on part or all of the predicted moving path information.

[0136] The order of steps 303 and 304 is not restricted. Furthermore, steps 304 and 305 are optional. If the predicted movement path information of the first terminal does not include the cell of the third network device, the second network device does not need to send the predicted movement path information of the first terminal to the third network device. If the predicted movement path information includes the cell of the third network device, the second network device may send all the predicted movement path information to the third network device, or it may extract the predicted movement path information and only send the predicted movement path information related to the cell of the third network device to the third network device. Movement path information unrelated to the third network device (e.g., the predicted movement path information of the first terminal in the second network device) does not need to be sent to the third network device. For example, if the cell identifiers of the second network device are 1, 2, and 3, and the cell identifiers of the third network device are 4, 5, and 6, and the predicted movement path is: cell 1-2-3-4, the predicted movement path information sent by the second network device to the third network device includes: cell 3-4, and cell 1-2-3 may not be sent.

[0137] In this embodiment, the network devices exchange information about neighboring cells to enable the prediction of multi-hop mobile paths. Specifically, the first network device obtains information about each cell of the second network device adjacent to the first network device, and the first network device also obtains information about each cell of the third network device adjacent to the second network device. The first network device can predict the mobile path of the first terminal in the second network device and the third network device based on the information about each cell of the second network device and the third network device. In other words, the first network device can not only predict the mobile path of the first terminal in the adjacent network device (the adjacent network device can also be called the next-hop network device, i.e., the second network device), but also predict the mobile path of the first terminal in the adjacent network device of the adjacent network device (the adjacent network device of the adjacent network device can also be called the next-hop network device of the next hop, or the next two-hop network device, i.e., the third network device), which can improve the prediction performance, assist the subsequent target cell in resource optimization, and improve the mobility optimization of the terminal.

[0138] Step 302 described above describes the second network device obtaining the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal from the first network device. Exemplarily, the second network device is particularly interested in the predicted mobile paths of certain specific cells. In one possible implementation, the second network device sends fourth information to the first network device, and the first network device accordingly receives the fourth information from the second network device. The fourth information is used to obtain the predicted mobile path information of the first cell of the second network device. The predicted mobile path information of the first terminal in step 302 includes the first cell among the multiple cells. In this implementation, the second network device specifies the first cell. For example, the first cell is a cell with a load greater than a set threshold. The resources of the first cell are limited, and the second network device cannot allow too many terminals to access the first cell. The second network device can obtain the predicted mobile path information of multiple terminals (including the first terminal) and select a portion of the multiple terminals for access. Optionally, if the predicted mobile path information does not include the first cell specified by the second network device, the first network device may not need to send the predicted mobile path information to the second network device. Optionally, the first network device may further send indication information to the second network device, where the indication information is used to indicate a reason for not sending the predicted moving path information, for example, the reason is that the predicted moving path information does not specify the first cell.

[0139] During the movement of the first terminal, the actual movement path information and the predicted movement path information may be the same or different. The network devices that the first terminal has accessed during the movement (for example, the second network device, the third network device, and even the fourth network device and more adjacent network devices) can feedback the actual movement path information of the first terminal to the network device that determines the predicted movement path information (i.e., the first network device). After the first network device receives the actual movement path information of the first terminal, it can optimize the AI ​​model used for movement path prediction based on the actual movement path information. For example, the first network device uses the information of the cells of the second network device, the third network device, and even the fourth network device, the historical movement path information of the first terminal, the predicted movement path information of the first terminal, and the actual movement path information of the first terminal to re-train the AI ​​model used for movement path prediction, thereby optimizing the AI ​​model and improving the accuracy of AI services.

[0140] The second network device can communicate directly with the first network device, allowing it to directly provide the first network device with information about the actual movement path of the first terminal. This is both simple and efficient. For example, the second network device sends fifth information to the first network device, and the first network device receives the fifth information in response. The fifth information indicates the actual movement path of the first terminal within the second network device.

[0141] Regarding the third network device, the fourth network device, and further network devices, these network devices are not adjacent to the first network device (hereinafter referred to as "non-adjacent network devices"). These network devices may or may not be able to communicate directly with the first network device. For these non-adjacent network devices, there are multiple ways to feedback the actual movement path information of the first terminal to the first network device.

[0142] Method 1: Hop-by-hop feedback. Hop-by-hop feedback can be understood as follows: the non-adjacent network device to which the first terminal accesses during the movement will feed back the actual moving path information of the first terminal in its own cell to the network device that sends the predicted moving path information to it. The actual moving path information will be forwarded step by step and will reach the network device that determines the predicted moving path information (i.e., the first network device). For example: the first network device sends the predicted moving path information to the second network device, the second network device sends the predicted moving path information to the third network device, and the third network device sends the predicted moving path information to the fourth network device. The fourth network device sends the actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the fourth network device to the third network device. The third network device sends the actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the third network device and the actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the fourth network device to the second network device. The second network device sends the actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the second network device, the actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the third network device, and the actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the fourth network device to the first network device. Optionally, when the second network device forwards the actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the third network device to the first network device, it can carry the identifier of the third network device; when the second network device forwards the actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the fourth network device to the first network device, it can carry the identifier of the fourth network device, so that the first network device can be informed of which network device the actual moving information is generated in.

[0143] The hop-by-hop feedback method is applicable to scenarios where these non-adjacent network devices cannot communicate directly with the first network device (for example, there is no Xn interface). Of course, it is also applicable to scenarios where these non-adjacent network devices can communicate directly with the first network device (for example, there is an Xn interface).

[0144] Method 2: Individual feedback. Individual feedback can be understood as: the non-adjacent network device accessed by the first terminal during the movement will directly feed back the actual movement path information of the first terminal in its own cell to the network device (i.e., the first network device) that determines the predicted movement path information. For example, the first terminal has accessed a third network device during the movement, and the third network device sends the sixth information to the first network device. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the sixth information from the third network device, and the sixth information is used to indicate the actual movement path information of the first terminal in the cell of the third network device. For example, the first terminal has accessed a fourth network device during the movement, and the fourth network device sends information to the first network device, and the information is used to indicate the actual movement path information of the first terminal in the cell of the fourth network device.

[0145] The respective feedback method is applicable to a scenario where these non-adjacent network devices can communicate directly with the first network device.

[0146] Method 3: Forwarding feedback by the core network. Forwarding feedback by the core network can be understood as follows: a non-adjacent network device accessed by the first terminal during mobility will send information about the first terminal's actual movement path within its own cell to a core network element. The core network element then sends this information to the network device that determines the predicted movement path (i.e., the first network device). For example, if the first terminal accesses a third network device during mobility, the third network device sends information to the core network element indicating the first terminal's actual movement path within the third network device's cell. For example, if the first terminal accesses a fourth network device during mobility, the fourth network device sends information to the core network element indicating the first terminal's actual movement path within the fourth network device's cell. The core network element sends seventh information to the first network device, and the first network device receives the seventh information from the core network element. The seventh information indicates the first terminal's actual movement path within the third network device's cell and the first terminal's actual movement path within the fourth network device's cell. Alternatively, the actual movement path information within the fourth network device's cell can be sent to the first network device using information other than the seventh information. Optionally, when the core network network element sends actual mobile path information to the first network device, it may carry the identifier of the network device that sends the actual mobile path information to the core network network element, for example, the identifier of the third network device and / or the fourth network device, so that the first network device can be informed of which network device the actual mobile information is generated in.

[0147] The method of forwarding feedback by the core network is applicable to scenarios where these non-adjacent network devices cannot communicate directly with the first network device (for example, there is no Xn interface). Of course, it is not excluded that it is applicable to scenarios where these non-adjacent network devices can communicate directly with the first network device (for example, there is an Xn interface).

[0148] If there is no NG interface between the core network element and the first network device, the core network element cannot communicate directly with the first network device. The core network element may send a forwarding failure indication message to the third network device / fourth network device, which may further include the reason for the forwarding failure, which may be that there is no NG interface between the core network element and the first network device. Subsequently, the third network device / fourth network device may send the actual movement path information of the first terminal to the first network device using a hop-by-hop feedback method, or the third network device / fourth network device may no longer send the actual movement path information of the first terminal to the first network device.

[0149] The above introduces three possible feedback methods. In actual applications, the protocol may specify which of the above three methods is used to enable non-adjacent network devices to feedback the actual movement path information of the first terminal to the first network device; or the network device that determines the predicted movement path information (i.e., the first network device) may instruct each network device in the predicted movement path information which of the above three methods is used to enable non-adjacent network devices to feedback the actual movement path information of the first terminal to the first network device.

[0150] In conjunction with FIG. 3 and the three aforementioned methods for feeding back actual predicted movement path information, FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart of a communication method, including the following steps:

[0151] Step 401: A first network device serves a first terminal, and the first network device obtains historical movement path information of the first terminal.

[0152] Step 402: The first network device determines the predicted moving path information of the first terminal based on AI technology. This process can be referred to the introduction of FIG3 and will not be repeated here.

[0153] Step 403: The first network device sends feedback conditions for the first terminal's predicted movement path information and the first terminal's actual movement path information to the second network device. The second network device receives this information. The predicted movement path information includes the first terminal's predicted movement path information in the second network device and the first terminal's predicted movement path information in the third network device.

[0154] Step 404: During movement, the first terminal moves (handover) from the first network device to the second network device, and the second network device obtains actual movement path information of the first terminal in the second network device.

[0155] Step 405: The second network device determines whether the feedback condition of the actual moving path information of the first terminal received in step 403 is met. If so, it triggers feedback of the actual moving path information of the first terminal in the second network device and executes step 406. If not, it executes step 407.

[0156] Step 406: The second network device sends the actual moving path information of the first terminal in the second network device to the first network device.

[0157] Step 407: The second network device sends the first terminal's predicted movement path information and feedback conditions for the first terminal's actual movement path information to the third network device. The third network device receives this information. The predicted movement path information includes the first terminal's predicted movement path information in the third network device.

[0158] Optionally, if it is determined in step 405 that the feedback condition is met, step 407 may not be performed.

[0159] Step 408: During the movement process, the first terminal moves (handover) from the second network device to the third network device, and the third network device obtains the actual movement path information of the first terminal in the third network device.

[0160] Step 409: The third network device determines whether the feedback condition of the actual moving path information of the first terminal received in step 407 is met. If so, the third network device triggers feedback of the actual moving path information of the first terminal in the third network device.

[0161] Steps 410a and 410b introduce a hop-by-hop feedback method. Step 410a: The third network device sends the actual moving path information of the first terminal in the third network device to the second network device; Step 410b: The second network device sends the actual moving path information of the first terminal in the third network device to the first network device.

[0162] Step 411 introduces the respective feedback methods. Step 411: The third network device sends the actual moving path information of the first terminal in the third network device to the first network device.

[0163] Steps 412a and 412b describe the core network feedback method. Step 412a: The third network device sends the actual movement path information of the first terminal in the third network device to the core network element. Step 412b: The core network element sends the actual movement path information of the first terminal in the third network device to the first network device.

[0164] Step 413: The first network device optimizes the AI ​​model based on the actual moving path information of the first terminal.

[0165] It should be understood that in Figure 4, the content related to network devices is only described based on the example of a first terminal sequentially accessing the first network device, the second network device, and the third network device during movement. In other examples, the first terminal can also switch from the third network device to the fourth network device, or even switch to a network device adjacent to the fourth network device. The actions performed on the fourth network device and the network devices adjacent to the fourth network device are similar to those performed on the third network device and will not be described in detail.

[0166] In another possible implementation, the second network device may send the predicted movement path information of the first terminal to the third network device (i.e., execute step 407) after receiving the predicted movement path information of the first terminal (i.e., execute step 403). Before executing step 407, the second network device may not need to determine whether the feedback condition of the actual movement path information is met (i.e., execute step 405).

[0167] The following introduces the feedback conditions for the actual moving path information of the first terminal: the feedback conditions for the actual moving path information include one or more of the following: the number of network devices crossed during the movement is greater than the first threshold, the number of cells crossed during the movement is greater than the second threshold, the duration of the movement is greater than the third threshold, moving to a designated cell, moving to a designated network device, the wireless resource control RRC state of the first terminal changes, and the actual moving path of the first terminal is different from the predicted moving path. During the movement of the first terminal, the network device to which the first terminal is connected and the first terminal will record the following: the number of network devices crossed by the first terminal, the number of cells crossed, the duration of the movement, the cell moved to (that is, the cell accessed), the network device moved to (that is, the network device accessed), the RRC state of the first terminal, and the actual moving path information of the first terminal. Among the recorded information, if the feedback conditions described above are met, the actual moving path information of the first terminal can be fed back.

[0168] In one possible implementation, the protocol may stipulate that when the actual moving path information of the first terminal is different from the predicted moving path information, the actual moving path information of the first terminal is fed back; that is, if the first network device does not send the feedback conditions of the actual moving path information to the network devices to which the first terminal connects during the movement, these network devices may trigger the feedback of the actual moving path information of the first terminal to the first network device when it is determined that the actual moving path information of the first terminal is different from the predicted moving path information.

[0169] In addition, it can be understood that the number of cross-network devices, the number of cross-cells, and the duration of movement are cumulative values ​​for the first terminal, rather than values ​​for a specific network device. For example, the duration of the movement is greater than the third threshold, and the third threshold is set to 10 minutes. If the first terminal switches to the third network device after moving in the second network device for 4 minutes, then the first terminal moves in the third network device for 6 minutes, which meets the feedback condition. When the second network device sends the feedback condition of the movement duration to the third network device, one solution is to change the third threshold to 6 minutes, and another solution is that the third threshold is still 10 minutes, and the second network device can also inform the third network device that the first terminal has moved in the second network device for 4 minutes. The same principle applies to the number of cross-network devices, the number of cross-cells, and other feedback conditions involving cumulative values, and will not be described in detail.

[0170] In order to ensure that non-adjacent network devices such as the third network device and the fourth network device accurately feed back the actual moving path information of the first terminal to the first network device, and do not mistakenly feed back the actual moving path information of the first terminal to other network devices, the first network device can also send an eighth message to the second network device, and the eighth information is used to indicate: the identifier of the network device used to determine the predicted moving path information (i.e., the identifier of the first network device) and / or the identifier of the data collection process used to carry the actual moving path information. Accordingly, the second network device receives the eighth information. These contents also need to be notified to the third network device, the fourth network device, the network device adjacent to the fourth network device, etc., which can be notified by the first network device (provided that there is an Xn interface between the first network device and these network devices), or by the second network device, or the second network device notifies the third network device, and the third network device then notifies the fourth network device.

[0171] The identifier of the network device used to determine the predicted mobile path information (i.e., the identifier of the first network device) is used to let network devices other than the first network device (e.g., the second network device, the third network device, and the fourth network device) know to which network device the actual mobile path information of the first terminal should be fed back. For example, in step 403, the first network device will also send the identifier of the network device used to determine the predicted mobile path information (i.e., the identifier of the first network device) to the second network device; in this way, in step 406, the second network device can know to feed back the actual mobile path information of the first terminal to the first network device based on the identifier of the network device used to determine the predicted mobile path information. In step 407, the second network device will also send the identifier of the network device used to determine the predicted mobile path information (i.e., the identifier of the first network device) to the third network device. In this way, in step 411, the third network device can learn to feed back the actual movement path information of the first terminal to the first network device based on the identifier of the network device used to determine the predicted movement path information; or, in step 412a, the third network device sends the identifier of the network device used to determine the predicted movement path information (i.e., the identifier of the first network device) to the core network element, so that in step 412b, the core network element can learn to feed back the actual movement path information of the first terminal to the first network device based on the identifier of the network device used to determine the predicted movement path information. If there is a fourth network device, the third network device will also inform the fourth network device of the identifier of the first network device, so that the fourth network device can learn to feed back the actual movement path information of the first terminal to the first network device based on the identifier of the first network device.

[0172] In another possible implementation, when any network device sends predicted mobile path information to another network device, it will inform the other network device of its own identifier and the identifier of the network device with which it previously interacted. For example, when a first network device sends predicted mobile path information to a second network device, it may also send the identifier of the first network device, and the second network device may save the association relationship between the identifiers of the first network device and the second network device for the first terminal; when the second network device sends predicted mobile path information to a third network device, it may also send the identifier of the first network device and the identifier of the second network device, and the third network device may save the association relationship between the identifiers of the first network device, the second network device, and the third network device for the first terminal; when the third network device sends predicted mobile path information to a fourth network device, it may also send the identifier of the first network device, the identifier of the second network device, and the identifier of the third network device, and the fourth network device may save the association relationship between the identifier of the first network device, the identifier of the second network device, the third network device, and the fourth network device for the first terminal.

[0173] When feeding back the actual movement path information, the fourth network device may also send the identifier of the fourth network device when sending the actual movement path information of the first terminal to the third network device; based on the previously stored association relationship, the third network device may know that the actual movement path information of the first terminal is to be sent to the second network device, and then the third network device sends the actual movement path information of the first terminal to the second network device. When sending the actual movement path information of the first terminal to the second network device, the third network device may also send the identifier of the third network device; based on the previously stored association relationship, the second network device may know that the actual movement path information of the first terminal is to be sent to the first network device, and then the second network device sends the actual movement path information of the first terminal to the first network device. In addition, the identifier of the fourth network device may also be forwarded to the first network device via the third network device and the second network device, so that the first network device knows that the actual movement path information was generated by the fourth network device.

[0174] The identifier of the data collection (DATE COLLECTION) process used to carry the actual movement path information is used to let the network device know in which data collection (DATE COLLECTION) process the actual movement path information of the first terminal is transmitted. For example, in step 403, the first network device may also send to the second network device: DATE COLLECTION ID1 between the first and second network devices, and DATE COLLECTION ID2 between the second and third network devices. In this way, the first and second network devices can determine the signaling bearer of step 406 based on DATE COLLECTION ID1. In step 407, the second network device may also send DATE COLLECTION ID2 to the third network device. In this way, the second and third network devices can determine the signaling bearer of step 410b based on DATE COLLECTION ID2. For another example, in step 403, the first network device may further send to the second network device: Date Collection ID 1 between the first and second network devices, and Date Collection ID 3 between the first and third network devices. In this way, the first and second network devices may determine the signaling bearer of step 406 based on Date Collection ID 1. In step 407, the second network device may further send Date Collection ID 3 to the third network device. In this way, the first and third network devices may determine the signaling bearer of step 411 based on Date Collection ID 3.

[0175] For any network device, multiple terminals may be connected within a period of time. Among the multiple terminals, some may participate in AI model training, while others may not. These terminals that do not participate in AI model training do not have the predicted movement path information of the terminal and do not need to feedback the actual movement path information of the terminal. Based on this, the first network device can inform other network devices which terminal's actual movement path information needs to be fed back. Exemplarily, the first network device sends eighth information to the second network device, and the eighth information instructs the network device connected by the first terminal during movement to feedback the actual movement path information of the first terminal. Here, it mainly reflects the identifier of the first terminal. The first network device informs the first terminal of the identifier to indicate that the actual movement path information of the first terminal needs to be fed back. In this way, the first network device can obtain the actual movement path information of the first terminal. The instruction information for feeding back the actual movement path information of the first terminal also needs to be notified to the third network device, the fourth network device, the network device adjacent to the fourth network device, etc., so that all network devices know that the actual movement path information of the first terminal needs to be fed back. The notification may be made by the first network device (provided that there is an Xn interface between the first network device and these network devices), or by the second network device, or the second network device may notify the third network device, and the third network device may then notify the fourth network device.

[0176] The example in Figure 4 illustrates a first network device with AI training and inference capabilities. The first network device determines the predicted movement path information of the first terminal, receives the actual movement path information of the first terminal, and optimizes and trains the AI ​​model based on the actual movement path information of the first terminal. Under the ORAN architecture, the AI ​​training and inference functions are deployed in the RIC. This requires the first network device to interact with the RIC. On the one hand, the first network device sends the necessary content for determining the predicted movement path information of the first terminal to the RIC and receives the predicted movement path information of the first terminal from the RIC. On the other hand, the first network device sends the actual movement path information of the first terminal to the RIC so that the RIC can train and optimize the AI ​​model.

[0177] The following, in combination with the examples of Figures 3 and 4, as shown in Figure 5, introduces a flow chart of a communication method under the ORAN architecture. In this example, the first network device is CU1 and the second network device is CU2.

[0178] Step 500a: CU1 requests the RIC for predicted mobile path information for one or more terminals. The one or more terminals can be represented by a UE ID list. The predicted mobile path information includes trajectory prediction (identification of the accessed cell and, optionally, dwell time in each cell), service type prediction, service throughput prediction, predicted time, and reporting configuration (e.g., periodic reporting, one-time reporting, triggered reporting, or reporting time).

[0179] Step 500b: The RIC sends the predicted moving path information of the terminal in a single hop to CU1, that is, the predicted moving path information of the terminal in CU2.

[0180] Step 500a and step 500b are optional steps.

[0181] Optionally, step 501: CU1 sends third information to CU2, where the third information is used to request the predicted moving path information of the multi-hop first terminal. For an introduction to the third information, please refer to the description of the third information in step 301 of FIG. 3 , which will not be repeated here.

[0182] Step 502: CU2 sends first information to CU1, and correspondingly, CU1 receives the first information; the first information includes: information about the cell of CU2 and information about the cell of CU3.

[0183] The relevant contents of step 502 can refer to the relevant contents of step 301 and will not be repeated here.

[0184] Step 503: CU1 sends (the sending here can be transparent or non-transparent) the information from CU2 obtained in step 502 (for example, the information of CU2's cell and the information of CU3's cell) to RIC. In addition, CU1 also sends the identifier of the first terminal and the historical mobile path information of the first terminal to RIC.

[0185] Step 504: The RIC determines the predicted mobile path information of the multi-hop first terminal based on the content obtained in step 503. For details about how the RIC determines the predicted mobile path information of the multi-hop first terminal, refer to the description of how the first network device determines the predicted mobile path information of the multi-hop first terminal in FIG3 , and will not be repeated here.

[0186] Step 505: RIC sends the predicted moving path information of the multi-hop first terminal to CU1. The predicted moving path information of the multi-hop first terminal can be referred to the above description and will not be repeated here.

[0187] Step 506: CU1 sends the predicted moving path information of the first terminal of the multi-hop to CU2. For the relevant content of step 506, reference can be made to the relevant content of step 302, and no further details will be given.

[0188] Step 507: CU1 sends the actual moving path information of the first terminal in each CU to the RIC. The process of CU1 obtaining the actual moving path information of the first terminal can be referred to the introduction of FIG4 and will not be described in detail again.

[0189] Optionally, in step 505, the RIC may further send an RIC identifier to CU1, and in step 506, CU1 may further send an RIC identifier to CU2. The RIC identifier is used to instruct the CU to feed back the actual mobile path information of the first terminal to the RIC. If a CU has no interface with the RIC, feedback may be provided via hop-by-hop feedback or by forwarding feedback via the core network.

[0190] Step 508: The RIC optimizes and trains the AI ​​model for predicting movement path information based on the actual movement path information of the first terminal in each CU.

[0191] It can be understood that the example of Figure 5 focuses on the interaction between the first network device (i.e., CU1) and the RIC. The actions performed by the first network device (i.e., CU1) itself, the interaction with other network devices, and the actions performed by other network devices can all be referred to the previous description and are omitted here.

[0192] All embodiments of the present application are not limited to the prediction of the mobile path of the terminal, but may be predictions of other AI data, such as predictions of the service type of the terminal, predictions of the service throughput of the terminal, predictions of the RRC state of the terminal, predictions of the SON events of the terminal (such as RLF prediction), predictions of the QoS parameters of the terminal, etc.

[0193] All embodiments of the present application are not limited to the mobile path feedback of the terminal, and may be feedback of other AI data, such as feedback on the service type of the terminal, feedback on the service throughput of the terminal, feedback on the RRC state of the terminal, feedback on the SON event of the terminal (such as RLF feedback), feedback on the QoS parameters of the terminal, etc.

[0194] Next, another embodiment is introduced. The "name of information" in the following embodiment (such as first information, second information, etc.) has no correlation with the "name of information" introduced above. The rest can refer to the description of the previous embodiment.

[0195] The second network device sends first information to the first network device, and the first network device receives the first information from the second network device, where the first information is used to indicate one or more of the following: a first number of network devices included in the predicted moving path information, a second number of cells included in the predicted moving path information, and a first duration corresponding to the predicted moving path information;

[0196] The first network device determines the predicted moving path information of the first terminal based on the historical moving path information of the first terminal and information of each cell of a neighboring network device of the first network device;

[0197] The first network device sends second information to the second network device, where the second information is used to indicate the predicted movement path information of the first terminal. The predicted movement path information of the first terminal may occur in one or more of the following situations:

[0198] The number of network devices included in the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal is equal to the first number, or less than the first number; the number of cells included in the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal is equal to the second number, or less than the second number; the stay duration corresponding to the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal is equal to the first duration, or greater than the first duration, or less than the first duration.

[0199] When any of the following situations occurs, it is considered that the predicted mobile path of the first terminal does not meet the requirements of the first information: the number of network devices included in the predicted mobile path information of the first terminal is less than the first number, the number of cells included is less than the second number, and the stay duration corresponding to the predicted mobile path information is less than the first duration. At this time, the first network device can send third information to the second network device, and the third information is used to indicate the reason why the requirements of the first information are not met, for example, the reason why the number of cells is less than the second number, the reason why the number of network devices is less than the first number, and the reason why the stay duration is less than the first duration. For example, the third information is used to indicate that the first network device does not have the ability / resources to predict the mobile path information of the first number of network devices and / or the second number of cells and / or the path of the first duration.

[0200] Optionally, the second network device is particularly interested in the predicted movement paths of certain specific cells. In one possible implementation, the second network device sends fourth information to the first network device, and the first network device accordingly receives the fourth information from the second network device. The fourth information is used to obtain the predicted movement path information of the second cell. The predicted movement path information of the first terminal sent to the second network device then includes the second cell. Optionally, if the predicted movement path information does not include the second cell, the first network device may not need to send the predicted movement path information to the second network device. Optionally, the first network device may also send indication information to the second network device, indicating the reason for not sending the predicted movement path information, for example, because the second cell is not specified in the predicted movement path information. In this implementation, the second network device specifies the second cell. For example, if the second cell has a load greater than a set threshold and its resources are limited, the second network device cannot allow too many terminals to access the second cell. The second network device may obtain the predicted movement path information of multiple terminals (including the first terminal) and filter a portion of the multiple terminals for access.

[0201] It is understood that in order to implement the functions in the above embodiments, the network device includes hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the execution of each function. Those skilled in the art should readily appreciate that, in combination with the units and method steps of the various examples described in the embodiments disclosed in this application, this application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in hardware or in a manner driven by computer software depends on the specific application scenario of the technical solution and the conditions under which the design constraints take effect.

[0202] Figures 6 and 7 are schematic diagrams of possible communication devices provided in embodiments of the present application. These communication devices can be used to implement the functions of the network devices in the above method embodiments, and thus can also achieve the beneficial effects of the above method embodiments.

[0203] As shown in FIG6 , the communication device 600 includes a processing unit 610 and a transceiver unit 620 .

[0204] For example, the communication device 600 is used to implement the functions of the first network device or the second network device in the method embodiments shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5 above. The transceiver unit 620 can execute the receiving action and the sending action performed by the first network device (or CU1) or the second network device (or CU2) or the RIC in the method embodiments above. The processing unit 610 can execute other actions other than the sending action and the receiving action among the actions performed by the first network device (or CU1) or the second network device (or CU2) or the RIC in the method embodiments above.

[0205] For example, when the communication device 600 is used to implement the function of the first network device in the method embodiment shown in Figure 3, the transceiver unit 620 is used to receive the first information and send the second information. The processing unit 610 is used to parse the first information and generate the second information.

[0206] Exemplarily, when the communication device 600 is used to implement the functions of the second network device in the method embodiment shown in FIG3 , the transceiver unit 620 is used to obtain information about the cell of the third network device, send the first information, and receive the second information. The processing unit 610 is used to generate the first information, parse the second information, and make a mobility decision based on the predicted mobile path information.

[0207] A more detailed description of the processing unit 610 and the transceiver unit 620 can be directly obtained by referring to the relevant description of the method embodiments shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, and will not be repeated here. The processing unit 610 can be implemented by a processor, and the transceiver unit 620 can be implemented by a transceiver.

[0208] As shown in Figure 7, communication device 700 includes a processor 710 and an interface circuit 720. Processor 710 and interface circuit 720 are coupled to each other. It is understood that interface circuit 720 can be a transceiver or an input / output interface. Optionally, communication device 700 may also include a memory 730 for storing instructions executed by processor 710, or storing input data required by processor 710 to execute instructions, or storing data generated after processor 710 executes instructions. Sometimes, interface circuit 720 can also be understood as part of processor 710, in which case communication device 700 includes processor 710.

[0209] When the communication device 700 is used to implement the methods shown in FIG. 3 , FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 , the processor 710 is used to implement the functions of the processing unit 610 , and the interface circuit 720 is used to implement the functions of the transceiver unit 620 .

[0210] When the above-mentioned communication device is a chip applied to a terminal device, the terminal device chip implements the functions of the terminal device in the above-mentioned method embodiment. When the terminal device chip receives information from the network device, it can be understood that the information is first received by other modules in the terminal device (such as a radio frequency module or antenna) and then sent to the terminal device chip by these modules. When the terminal device chip sends information to the network device, it can be understood that the information is first sent to other modules in the terminal device (such as a radio frequency module or antenna) and then sent to the network device by these modules.

[0211] When the above-mentioned communication device is a chip applied to a network device, the network device chip implements the functions of the network device in the above-mentioned method embodiment. The network device chip receives information from the terminal device, which can be understood as the information being first received by other modules in the network device (such as a radio frequency module or antenna) and then sent to the network device chip by these modules. The network device chip sends information to the terminal device, which can be understood as the information being sent to other modules in the network device (such as a radio frequency module or antenna) and then sent to the terminal device by these modules. The network device module here can be a baseband chip of the network device, or it can be a DU or other module. The DU here can be a DU under the open radio access network O-RAN architecture.

[0212] In the present application, when entity A sends information to entity B, it can be that A sends it directly to B, or that A sends it to B indirectly through other entities. Similarly, when entity B receives information from entity A, it can be that entity B directly receives the information sent by entity A, or that entity B indirectly receives the information sent by entity A through other entities. Entities A and B here can be network devices or terminal devices, or modules within a network device or modules within a terminal device. The sending and receiving of information can be information interaction between a network device and a terminal device, or information interaction between two network devices, such as information interaction between a CU and a DU; the sending and receiving of information can also be information interaction between different modules within a device, such as information interaction between a terminal device chip and other modules of the terminal device, or information interaction between a network device chip and other modules in the network device.

[0213] It is understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application may be a central processing unit (CPU), or may be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0214] The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, which, when executed by a computer, enables the computer to perform the above-mentioned communication method. In other words, the computer program includes instructions for implementing the above-mentioned communication.

[0215] An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, including: computer program code, which, when executed on a computer, enables the computer to execute the communication method provided above.

[0216] An embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, which includes: a first network device and a second network device that execute the above communication method.

[0217] The method steps in the embodiments of the present application can be implemented by hardware or by a processor executing software instructions. The software instructions can be composed of corresponding software modules, and the software modules can be stored in a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an erasable programmable read-only memory, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, a register, a hard disk, a mobile hard disk, a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) (also known as a read-only optical disc) or any other form of storage medium well known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor so that the processor can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium can also be an integral part of the processor. The processor and the storage medium can be located in an ASIC. In addition, the ASIC can be located in a base station or a terminal. Of course, the processor and the storage medium can also be present in a base station or a terminal as discrete components.

[0218] The above embodiments can be implemented in whole or in part using software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, they can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer programs or instructions. When the computer programs or instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are performed in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device, a first control plane network element, a user equipment, or other programmable device. The computer program or instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transferred from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer program or instructions can be transferred from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired or wireless means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium accessible by a computer or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available medium can be a magnetic medium, such as a floppy disk, hard disk, or magnetic tape; an optical medium, such as a digital video disk; or a semiconductor medium, such as a solid-state drive. The computer-readable storage medium may be a volatile or nonvolatile storage medium, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile types of storage media.

[0219] In the various embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified or there is a logical conflict, the terms and / or descriptions between different embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. The technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments according to their inherent logical relationships.

[0220] In the embodiments of the present application, the number of nouns, unless otherwise specified, means "singular noun or plural noun", that is, "one or more". "At least one" means one or more, and "plural" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A or B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B. "At least one of the following items" or "one or more of them" and other similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single items or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c, or one or more of a, b, or c, means: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a and b and c. Each of a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0221] The ordinal numbers "first" and "second" mentioned in the embodiments of this application are used to distinguish multiple objects and are not used to limit the size, content, order, timing, priority, or importance of multiple objects. Moreover, such names do not indicate differences in the content, sender / receiver, transmission order, size, application scenario, priority, or importance of the two pieces of information. In addition, the numbering of the steps in the various embodiments introduced in this application is only for distinguishing different steps and is not used to define the order of the steps.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: The method is executed by a first network device or a chip used for the first network device, including: receiving first information from a second network device, the first information including: information about a cell of the second network device and information about a cell of a third network device adjacent to the second network device; the third network device is not adjacent to the first network device; Sending second information to the second network device, where the second information is used to indicate predicted mobile path information of the first terminal, the predicted mobile path information being determined based on historical mobile path information of the first terminal and the first information; the predicted mobile path information including identifiers of a plurality of cells in sequence.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The predicted movement path information is specifically determined based on an artificial intelligence AI model, the historical movement path information of the first terminal and the first information.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: Also includes: The second network device is determined to be the network device where the next-hop cell in the predicted moving path information is located.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein Also includes: Send third information to the second network device, where the third information is used to request information about a cell of a third network device adjacent to the second network device.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that Also includes: receiving fourth information from the second network device, where the fourth information is used to obtain predicted moving path information of the first cell of the second network device; The plurality of cells included in the predicted moving path information of the first terminal include the first cell.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: Also includes: Fifth information is received from the second network device, where the fifth information is specifically used to indicate actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the second network device.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein The fifth information is further used to indicate actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the second network device; or, The method further includes: receiving sixth information from the third network device, where the sixth information is used to indicate actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the third network device; or The method further includes: receiving seventh information from a core network element, where the seventh information is used to indicate actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the third network device.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein: Also includes: Sending eighth information to the second network device, where the eighth information is used to indicate at least one of the following: The identifier of the network device used to determine the predicted mobile path information, the identifier of the data collection process used to carry the actual mobile path information, the network device connected by the first terminal during the movement to feedback the actual mobile path information of the first terminal, and the conditions under which the network device connected by the first terminal during the movement to feedback the actual mobile path information.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein The conditions for feeding back the actual moving path information include one or more of the following: The number of network devices crossed during the movement is greater than the first threshold, the number of cells crossed during the movement is greater than the second threshold, the duration of the movement is greater than the third threshold, the terminal moves to a designated cell, moves to a designated network device, the wireless resource control RRC state of the first terminal changes, and the actual moving path of the first terminal is different from the predicted moving path.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein The predicted movement path information also includes at least one of the following: The residence time of the first terminal in each cell, service type information of the first terminal, service throughput information of the first terminal, and radio resource control RRC state information of the first terminal.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein: The cell information includes: cell coverage information and / or cell location information.

12. A communication method, characterized in that: The method is executed by a second network device or a chip used for the second network device, including: sending first information to a first network device, the first information including: information about a cell of the second network device and information about a cell of a third network device adjacent to the second network device; the first information being used by the first network device to determine predicted movement path information of the first terminal based on historical movement path information of the first terminal and the first information, the predicted movement path information including identifiers of a plurality of cells in sequence; the third network device being not adjacent to the first network device; receiving second information from the first network device, where the second information is used to indicate the predicted moving path information of the first terminal; A mobility decision is made based on the predicted movement path information.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein: The second network device is a network device where the next-hop cell in the predicted moving path information is located.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein: Also includes: Third information is received from the first network device, where the third information is used to request information about a cell of a third network device adjacent to the second network device.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein: Also includes: Sending part or all of the predicted moving path information of the first terminal to the third network device, wherein the part or all of the information includes the predicted moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the third network device.

16. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein: Also includes: Sending fourth information to the first network device, where the fourth information is used to obtain predicted moving path information of the first cell of the second network device; The plurality of cells included in the predicted moving path information of the first terminal include the first cell.

17. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein: Also includes: Fifth information is sent to the first network device, where the fifth information is used to indicate actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the second network device.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein Also includes: receiving ninth information from the third network device, where the ninth information is used to indicate actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the third network device; The fifth information is further used to indicate actual moving path information of the first terminal in the cell of the third network device.

19. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein: Also includes: Receive eighth information from the first network device, where the eighth information is used to indicate at least one of the following: The identifier of the network device used to determine the predicted mobile path information, the identifier of the data collection process used to carry the actual mobile path information, the network device connected by the first terminal during the movement to feedback the actual mobile path information of the first terminal, and the conditions under which the network device connected by the first terminal during the movement to feedback the actual mobile path information.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein The conditions for feeding back the actual moving path information include one or more of the following: The number of network devices crossed during the movement is greater than the first threshold, the number of cells crossed during the movement is greater than the second threshold, the duration of the movement is greater than the third threshold, the terminal moves to a designated cell, moves to a designated network device, the wireless resource control RRC state of the first terminal changes, and the actual moving path of the first terminal is different from the predicted moving path.

21. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 20, wherein: The predicted movement path information also includes at least one of the following: The residence time of the first terminal in each cell, service type information of the first terminal, service throughput information of the first terminal, and radio resource control RRC state information of the first terminal.

22. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 21, wherein: The cell information includes: cell coverage information and / or cell location information.

23. A communication device, characterized in that: The method comprises a module for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 22.

24. A communication device, characterized in that: comprising a processor coupled to a memory; The memory is used to store computer programs or instructions; The processor is configured to execute part or all of the computer programs or instructions in the memory, and when the part or all of the computer programs or instructions are executed, is configured to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 22.

25. A communication device, characterized in that: including processor and memory; The memory is used to store computer programs or instructions; The processor is configured to execute part or all of the computer programs or instructions in the memory, and when the part or all of the computer programs or instructions are executed, is configured to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 22.

26. A chip system, characterized in that: comprising a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the processor is coupled to the memory; The memory is used to store computer programs or instructions; The processor is configured to execute part or all of the computer programs or instructions in the memory, and when the part or all of the computer programs or instructions are executed, is configured to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 22.

27. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that The storage medium stores a computer program or instruction. When the computer program or instruction is executed by the communication device, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 22 is implemented.

28. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product comprises: computer instructions, and when the computer instructions are run on a computer, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 22 is implemented.

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