Communication method, device and system

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of communications, and discloses a communication method, device and system, for use in ensuring continuous communication / network service and quality of service of a terminal. The method comprises: a first communication device sends first information comprising slice prediction information of a terminal to a second communication device; the second communication device receives the first information comprising the slice prediction information of the terminal, and sends second information to the first communication device; and the first communication device receives the second information from the second communication device, wherein the slice prediction information of the terminal is used for indicating a predicted service requirement of the terminal under a slicing service, and the second information is used for indicating whether the second communication device satisfies the predicted service requirement of the terminal under the slicing service. The solution of the present application can be widely applied to the technical field of communications and the fields of artificial intelligence, vehicle to everything, smart home networking and the like.

Description

Communication method, device and system

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office on April 1, 2024, with application number 202410404546.7 and application name “A Communication Method and Communication Device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communications, and in particular to a communication method, device, and system. Background Art

[0003] Network slicing, also known as slicing, is an on-demand networking method that enables multiple uses of a single network to meet the varying network capability requirements (latency, bandwidth, number of connections, reliability, etc.) of customers across different industries. However, base stations must manage and grant access to network slices' radio resources to meet the service needs of different slices across different terminals, ensuring a superior user experience.

[0004] However, during the process of resource status information exchange between base stations, the transmitted slice resource status information is real-time, and the base station can only make adaptive adjustments based on the real-time slice resource status information of its neighboring station. There is a problem that the terminal's continuous communication / network service and service quality are difficult to guarantee. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, device, and system to ensure the continuity of communication / network services and service quality of a terminal.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this application adopts the following technical solutions:

[0007] In the first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a first communication device and a functional module or chip within the first communication device. Taking the execution of the first communication device as an example, the method includes: sending first information to a second communication device, the first information including slice prediction information of the terminal; the slice prediction information of the terminal is used to indicate the predicted service demand of the terminal under the slice service.

[0008] Based on the method described in the first aspect, the second communication device can obtain the slice prediction information of the terminal, optimize its own resource allocation in advance according to the slice prediction information of the terminal, predict and / or avoid the occurrence of resource allocation problems, and ensure the continuity of communication / network services and service quality of the terminal.

[0009] In one possible design, the slice prediction information includes at least one of the following: prediction time information, an identifier of a predicted slice, predicted service traffic, and predicted service demand; the prediction time information is used to indicate the future prediction time corresponding to the slice prediction information; the identifier of the predicted slice is used to indicate the corresponding slice service at the future prediction time; the predicted service traffic is used to indicate the throughput of the terminal under the corresponding slice service at the future prediction time; the predicted service demand is used to indicate the service demand that needs to be provided by the second communication device to the terminal.

[0010] Based on this possible design, a variety of information that can be included in the slice prediction information is given, which increases the flexibility of the solution.

[0011] In one possible design, the first information is carried in the switching request, and the second information is carried in the switching request confirmation message; or, the first information is carried in the auxiliary node SN adding request, and the second information is carried in the auxiliary node SN adding request confirmation message.

[0012] Based on this possible design, in different scenarios, the first information and the second information can be carried in different signaling, which improves the flexibility of the solution and increases the utilization of the solution.

[0013] In one possible design, the first information also includes first indication information; the first indication information is used to indicate terminal feedback information; the first indication information includes a first slice identifier and a first terminal feedback request indication.

[0014] Based on this possible design, the second communication device can send terminal feedback information to the first communication device based on the received first indication information, so that the first communication device receives the terminal feedback information and performs subsequent operations based on the received terminal feedback information, such as updating and evaluating the AI ​​model in the first communication device.

[0015] In one possible design, when the second communication device meets the predicted service needs of the terminal under the slicing service, the second information includes a slice prediction confirmation message; when the second communication device cannot meet the predicted service needs of the terminal under the slicing service, the second information includes an indication and / or reason for not being able to meet the predicted service needs of the terminal under the slicing service.

[0016] Based on this possible design, the information that the second information may include under different conditions is given, so that the first communication device can determine whether the second communication device can meet the predicted service needs of the terminal under the slicing service based on the acquired second information, and in the case that the second communication device cannot meet the predicted service needs of the terminal under the slicing service, the first communication device can determine the specific reason based on the content of the second information.

[0017] In one possible design, the first communication device sends a first data collection request to the second communication device; the first data collection request is used to request collection of terminal feedback information indicated by the second indication information; the first communication device receives a first data collection response from the second communication device; the first data collection response is used to respond to the first data collection request.

[0018] Based on this possible design, the first communication device may request the second communication device to obtain the terminal feedback information through a first data collection request, and correspondingly, the second communication device may respond to the first data collection request through a first data collection response.

[0019] In one possible design, the first information also includes a first identifier; the first identifier is used to indicate the data collection process corresponding to the first data collection request.

[0020] Based on this possible design, the first communication device sends the first identifier to the second communication device, so that the second communication device executes the data collection process corresponding to the first identifier to achieve the goal of collecting terminal feedback information.

[0021] In one possible design, the second indication information is used to indicate terminal feedback information; the second indication information includes: a second slice identifier and a second terminal feedback request indication.

[0022] Based on this possible design, the second communication device can collect terminal feedback information according to the instructions of the second indication information, for example, collect terminal feedback information corresponding to the second slice identifier and / or terminal feedback information corresponding to the second terminal feedback request indication of the mobile phone.

[0023] In one possible design, the second indication information also includes at least one of the following: feedback level indication, feedback configuration information, or indication information of feedback third information; wherein the feedback level indication includes per-slice level, or per-terminal level, or per-slice per-terminal level; the feedback configuration information includes at least one of the following: start time, end time, number of cells, number of slice services, or conditions for triggering the second communication device to stop collecting terminal feedback information; the third information is used to indicate the reason why the second communication device stops collecting terminal feedback information.

[0024] Based on this possible design, a variety of information that may be included in the second indication information is provided, so that different scenarios can determine the information included in the second indication information according to actual needs, thereby improving the flexibility of the solution.

[0025] In one possible design, the conditions that trigger the second communication device to stop collecting terminal feedback information include at least one of the following: the default condition is met, the terminal leaves the second communication device, the terminal leaves the cell in the second communication device that provides services to the terminal, the wireless resource control RRC state of the terminal leaves the connected state, the wireless resource control RRC state of the terminal enters the idle state, the wireless resource control RRC state of the terminal enters the inactive state, the actual slicing service of the terminal is inconsistent with the predicted slicing service of the terminal, the actual information of the terminal is inconsistent with the predicted information of the terminal, after the terminal accesses the second communication device, the second communication device no longer supports the slicing service of the terminal; after the terminal accesses the cell in the second communication device that provides services for it, the cell in the second communication device that provides services for it no longer supports the slicing service of the terminal; after the terminal accesses the second communication device, the second communication device cannot meet the service needs of the terminal; after the terminal accesses the cell in the second communication device that provides services for it, the cell in the second communication device that provides services for it cannot meet the service needs of the terminal; the terminal does not support the predicted slicing service of the terminal under the second communication device.

[0026] Based on this possible design, a condition is given for triggering the second communication device to stop collecting terminal feedback information, so that the second communication device can stop collecting terminal feedback information according to at least one of the above triggering conditions, thereby improving the flexibility of the solution.

[0027] In one possible design, a first communication device receives a first data collection update message from a second communication device; the first data collection update message includes terminal feedback information and a first identifier; when the first information includes first indication information, the terminal feedback information includes terminal feedback information indicated by the first indication information; or, when the first information does not include the first indication information, the terminal feedback information includes terminal feedback information indicated by the second indication information.

[0028] Based on this possible design, the first communication device can obtain terminal feedback information. At the same time, based on whether the first information includes the first indication information, the specific content of the terminal feedback information is given, and different terminal feedback information can be obtained flexibly and diversely.

[0029] In one possible design, the first communication device receives third information; the third information is used to indicate the reason why the second communication device stops collecting terminal feedback information. Based on this possible design, the first communication device can obtain the reason why the second communication device stops collecting terminal feedback information.

[0030] In one possible design, the first communication device includes a first centralized unit, and the second communication device includes a second centralized unit; the first communication device sends first information to the second communication device, including: the first distributed unit sends the first information to the second centralized unit; the first communication device receives second information from the second communication device, including: the first distributed unit receives the second information from the second centralized unit.

[0031] Based on this possible design, the first communication device and the second communication device can also exchange the first information and the second information under different network architectures (for example, O-RAN network architecture), thereby improving the flexibility and utilization of the solution.

[0032] In the second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which can be executed by a second communication device and a functional module or chip within the second communication device. Taking the execution of the second communication device as an example, the method includes: receiving first information from the first communication device, the first information including slice prediction information of the terminal; the slice prediction information of the terminal is used to indicate the predicted service requirements of the terminal under the slice service; sending second information to the first communication device, the second information is used to indicate whether the second communication device meets the predicted service requirements of the terminal under the slice service.

[0033] Based on the method of the second aspect, the second communication device can obtain the slice prediction information of the terminal from the first communication device, optimize its own resource allocation in advance according to the slice prediction information of the terminal, predict and / or avoid the occurrence of resource allocation problems, and ensure the continuity of communication / network services and service quality of the terminal.

[0034] In one possible design, the slice prediction information includes at least one of the following: prediction time information, an identifier of a predicted slice, predicted service traffic, and predicted service demand; the prediction time information is used to indicate the future prediction time corresponding to the slice prediction information; the identifier of the predicted slice is used to indicate the corresponding slice service at the future prediction time; the predicted service traffic is used to indicate the throughput of the terminal under the corresponding slice service at the future prediction time; the predicted service demand is used to indicate the service demand that needs to be provided by the second communication device to the terminal.

[0035] Based on this possible design, a variety of information that can be included in the slice prediction information is given, which increases the flexibility of the solution.

[0036] In one possible design, the first information is carried in the switching request, and the second information is carried in the switching request confirmation message; or, the first information is carried in the auxiliary node SN adding request, and the second information is carried in the auxiliary node SN adding request confirmation message.

[0037] Based on this possible design, in different scenarios, the first information and the second information can be carried in different signaling, which improves the flexibility of the solution and increases the utilization of the solution.

[0038] In one possible design, the first information also includes first indication information; the first indication information is used to indicate terminal feedback information; the first indication information includes a first slice identifier and a first terminal feedback request indication.

[0039] Based on this possible design, the second communication device can obtain the first indication information and, based on the received first indication information, send terminal feedback information to the first communication device, so that the first communication device receives the terminal feedback information and performs subsequent operations based on the received terminal feedback information, such as updating and evaluating the AI ​​model in the first communication device.

[0040] In one possible design, when the second communication device meets the predicted service needs of the terminal under the slicing service, the second information includes a slice prediction confirmation message; when the second communication device cannot meet the predicted service needs of the terminal under the slicing service, the second information includes an indication and / or reason for not being able to meet the predicted service needs of the terminal under the slicing service.

[0041] Based on this possible design, the information that the second information may include under different conditions is given, so that the first communication device can determine whether the second communication device can meet the predicted service needs of the terminal under the slicing service based on the acquired second information, and in the case that the second communication device cannot meet the predicted service needs of the terminal under the slicing service, the first communication device can determine the specific reason based on the content of the second information.

[0042] In one possible design, the second communication device receives a first data collection request from the first communication device; the first data collection request is used to request collection of terminal feedback information indicated by the second indication information; the second communication device sends a first data collection response to the first communication device; the first data collection response is used to respond to the first data collection request.

[0043] Based on this possible design, the second communication device can obtain terminal feedback information based on the received first data collection request. Accordingly, the second communication device can send a first data collection request response to the first data collection to respond to the first data collection request.

[0044] In one possible design, the first information also includes a first identifier; the first identifier is used to indicate the data collection process corresponding to the first data collection request.

[0045] Based on this possible design, the second communication device receives the first identifier sent from the first communication device and executes the data collection process corresponding to the first identifier to achieve the goal of collecting terminal feedback information.

[0046] In one possible design, the second indication information is used to indicate terminal feedback information; the second indication information includes: a second slice identifier and a second terminal feedback request indication.

[0047] Based on this possible design, the second communication device can collect terminal feedback information according to the instructions of the second indication information, for example, collect terminal feedback information corresponding to the second slice identifier and / or terminal feedback information corresponding to the second terminal feedback request indication of the mobile phone.

[0048] In one possible design, the second indication information also includes at least one of the following: feedback level indication, feedback configuration information, or indication information of feedback third information; wherein the feedback level indication includes per-slice level, or per-terminal level, or per-slice per-terminal level; the feedback configuration information includes at least one of the following: start time, end time, number of cells, number of slice services, or conditions for triggering the second communication device to stop collecting terminal feedback information; the third information is used to indicate the reason why the second communication device stops collecting terminal feedback information.

[0049] Based on this possible design, a variety of information that may be included in the second indication information is provided, so that different scenarios can determine the information included in the second indication information according to actual needs, thereby improving the flexibility of the solution.

[0050] In one possible design, the conditions that trigger the second communication device to stop collecting terminal feedback information include at least one of the following: the default condition is met, the terminal leaves the second communication device, the terminal leaves the cell in the second communication device that provides services to the terminal, the wireless resource control RRC state of the terminal leaves the connected state, the wireless resource control RRC state of the terminal enters the idle state, the wireless resource control RRC state of the terminal enters the inactive state, the actual slicing service of the terminal is inconsistent with the predicted slicing service of the terminal, or the actual information of the terminal is inconsistent with the slice prediction information of the terminal, after the terminal accesses the second communication device, the second communication device no longer supports the slicing service of the terminal; after the terminal accesses the cell in the second communication device that provides services for it, the cell in the second communication device that provides services for it no longer supports the slicing service of the terminal; after the terminal accesses the second communication device, the second communication device cannot meet the service needs of the terminal; after the terminal accesses the cell in the second communication device that provides services for it, the cell in the second communication device that provides services for it cannot meet the service needs of the terminal; the terminal does not support the predicted slicing service of the terminal under the second communication device.

[0051] Based on this possible design, conditions for triggering the second communication device to stop collecting terminal feedback information are given, so that the second communication device can stop collecting terminal feedback information according to at least one of the above triggering conditions, thereby improving the flexibility of the solution.

[0052] In one possible design, the second communication device stops collecting terminal feedback information; and sends third information to the first communication device; the third information is used to indicate the reason why the second communication device stops collecting terminal feedback information.

[0053] Based on this possible design, the second communication device may send the third information so that the first communication device may obtain the reason why the second communication device stops collecting the terminal feedback information.

[0054] In one possible design, the second communication device sends a first data collection update message to the first communication device; the first data collection update message includes terminal feedback information and a first identifier; when the first information includes first indication information, the above-mentioned terminal feedback information includes the terminal feedback information indicated by the first indication information; or, when the first information does not include the first indication information, the above-mentioned terminal feedback information includes the terminal feedback information indicated by the second indication information.

[0055] Based on this possible design, the first communication device can obtain terminal feedback information. At the same time, based on whether the first information includes the first indication information, the specific content of the terminal feedback information is given, and different terminal feedback information can be obtained flexibly and diversely.

[0056] In one possible design, the first communication device includes a first centralized unit, and the second communication device includes a second centralized unit; the second communication device receives the first information from the first communication device, including: the second centralized unit receives the first information from the first centralized unit; and sends the second information to the first communication device, including: the second centralized unit sends the second information to the first centralized unit.

[0057] Based on this possible design, the first communication device and the second communication device can also exchange the first information and the second information under different network architectures (for example, O-RAN network architecture), thereby improving the flexibility and utilization of the solution.

[0058] In a third aspect, the present application provides a first communication device, which may be a first communication device or a chip or system on chip in the first communication device, or a functional module in the first communication device for implementing the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect. The first communication device may implement the functions performed by the first communication device in the above-mentioned first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, and the functions may be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above-mentioned functions. For example, the first communication device may include a transceiver unit. Among them,

[0059] a transceiver unit, configured to send first information to the second communication device, where the first information includes slice prediction information of the terminal; the slice prediction information of the terminal is used to indicate a predicted service demand of the terminal under the slice service;

[0060] The transceiver unit is also used to receive second information from a second communication device, and the second information is used to indicate whether the second communication device meets the predicted service requirements of the terminal under the slice service.

[0061] Specifically, the execution actions of each unit of the first communication device can refer to the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect and will not be described in detail.

[0062] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a second communication device, which may be a second communication device or a chip or system on chip in the second communication device, or a functional module in the second communication device for implementing the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect. The second communication device may implement the functions performed by the second communication device in the above-mentioned second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect, and the functions may be implemented by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the above-mentioned functions. For example, the second communication device may include a transceiver unit. Among them,

[0063] a transceiver unit, configured to receive first information from a first communication device, where the first information includes slice prediction information of a terminal; the slice prediction information of the terminal is used to indicate a predicted service demand of the terminal under a slice service;

[0064] The transceiver unit is also used to send second information to the first communication device, and the second information is used to indicate whether the second communication device meets the predicted service requirements of the terminal under the slice service.

[0065] Specifically, the execution actions of each unit of the second communication device can refer to the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect and will not be described in detail.

[0066] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication device. In one possible design, the communication device includes a processor and a communication interface. The processor and the communication interface are used to support the communication device to execute the communication method in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, or the processor and the communication interface are used to support the communication device to execute the communication method in the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect. In another possible design, the communication device may also include a memory, which is used to store computer-executable instructions and data necessary for the communication device. When the communication device is running, the processor executes the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory, so that the communication device executes the communication method as described in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, or so that the communication device executes the communication method as described in the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect.

[0067] In the sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication system, which includes the first communication device provided by the third aspect and the second communication device provided by the fourth aspect; or, the communication system includes the first communication device provided by the third aspect and the communication device provided by the fifth aspect; or, the communication system includes the second communication device provided by the fourth aspect and the communication device provided by the fifth aspect.

[0068] In the seventh aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, which stores computer instructions. When the computer instructions are run on a computer, the computer executes the first aspect or any possible communication method in the design of the first aspect; or, the computer executes the second aspect or any possible communication method in the design of the second aspect.

[0069] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising computer instructions, which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to execute the communication method in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect; or, cause the computer to execute the communication method in the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0070] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the framework of AI applications in NR;

[0071] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a process for successfully starting data collection and reporting;

[0072] FIG3 is a flow chart of a data collection and reporting startup failure;

[0073] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0074] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a CU-DU network architecture;

[0075] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0076] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of an O-RAN network architecture;

[0077] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0078] FIG9 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0079] FIG10 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0080] FIG11 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0081] FIG12 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0082] FIG13 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0083] FIG14 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0084] FIG15 is a schematic structural diagram of a first communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0085] FIG16 is a schematic structural diagram of a second communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0086] FIG17 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0087] Before introducing the embodiments of the present application, some technical terms involved in the embodiments of the present application are explained. The following explanations are intended to make the embodiments of the present application easier to understand and should not be regarded as limiting the scope of protection claimed by the embodiments of the present application.

[0088] Artificial intelligence (AI) technology simulates the human brain to perform complex calculations. With advances in data storage and computing power, AI is increasingly being used. A study item (SI) approved in Release 17 of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) proposes applying AI technology to new radio (NR). This technology will leverage AI to intelligently collect and analyze data, improving network performance and user experience.

[0089] The 3GPP Radio Access Network 3 (RAN3) working group has discussed and preliminarily defined a framework for AI applications in NR. Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the framework for AI applications in NR. As shown in Figure 1, the framework can include: data collection entities, model training entities, model inference entities, and execution (actor) entities.

[0090] The data collection entity in Figure 1 serves as a database for AI model training and data analysis and inference. It can be used to store data from the next generation Node B (gNB), the next generation Node B-centralized unit (gNB-CU), the next generation Node B-distributed unit (gNB-DU), user equipment (UE), or other management entities, and send training data to the model training entity and inference data to the model inference entity.

[0091] The model training entity in Figure 1 can analyze and train the training data provided by the data collection entity to obtain the optimal AI model corresponding to the training data.

[0092] The model reasoning entity in Figure 1 can use the AI ​​model provided by the model training entity to make reasonable predictions about network operation based on the AI ​​model or guide the network to make policy adjustments based on the reasoning data provided by the data collection entity.

[0093] The execution entity in Figure 1 can be used to unify the policy adjustments made by the planning model reasoning entity and send them to multiple network entities for execution. At the same time, the execution entity can also collect specific performance data after the network applies the relevant policies, and input / feed back the collected data to the database (for example, the data collection entity) for storage. The AI ​​application process in NR shown in Figure 1 (for example, model deployment update, model performance feedback, etc.) and the relevant description of each part (for example, training data, reasoning data, etc.) can be referred to the relevant description in the existing protocol and will not be repeated here.

[0094] 3GPP's RAN3 working group also specifies a data collection procedure for transmitting AI data / machine learning (ML) data on the XN interface. The data collection procedure has the characteristics of being independent of use cases, independent of data types, and non-UE related. Use case independence means that the AI / ML data transmitted by the data collection procedure can be applied to all AI use cases, such as AI-based load balancing, AI-based mobility optimization, and energy saving based on AI models. Data type independence means that the AI / ML data transmitted by the data collection procedure can include AI model input data, AI model output data, and AI model feedback data, such as AI / ML data is prediction information and / or measurement information. Non-UE related means that the data collection procedure does not need to be associated with a specific UE, but the data collection procedure can be used to transmit AI / ML data for a specific UE, for example, the data collection procedure can transmit performance feedback information for each UE.

[0095] The above data collection process may include a process of successfully starting data collection and reporting or a process of failing to start data reporting. FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a process of successfully starting data collection and reporting. As shown in FIG2 , the process of successfully starting data collection and reporting may include: S201-S203:

[0096] S201: Next generation radio access network (NG-RAN) node 1 (node ​​1) sends a data collection request (DATA COLLECTION REQUEST) to NG-RAN node 2, and NG-RAN node 2 receives the data collection request.

[0097] The data collection request may include an identifier for the requested information, a registration request information element (IE), a reporting period information element, a request prediction time information element, and a reporting feature information element. The information that may be included in the data collection request is described below:

[0098] (1) The identifier of the request information is used to indicate the request information.

[0099] (2) The Registration Request IF can be used to indicate whether data collection and reporting can be started. If the Registration Request IF is set to "Start," Node 2 starts data collection and reporting according to the parameters given in the Data Collection Request. If the Registration Request IF is set to "Stop," Node 2 stops data collection and reporting.

[0100] (3) The reporting period information element may be used to indicate the period for reporting prediction data. Prediction data may also be referred to as prediction information. If the data collection request does not include the period information element, NG-RAN node 2 reports the prediction data once.

[0101] (4) The Request Prediction Time information element may be used to indicate a specific point in time to which the prediction of the requested information applies.

[0102] (5) The reporting feature information element can be used to indicate the object for which measurement or prediction is performed.

[0103] S202: NG-RAN node 2 sends a data collection response (DATA COLLECTION RESPONSE), and NG-RAN node 1 receives the data collection response.

[0104] The data collection response is used to indicate that the data collection and reporting is successfully started.

[0105] Specifically, when NG-RAN node 2 is able to provide all request information indicated by the request information identifier and the registration request information element is set to start, it sends a data collection response to NG-RAN node 1. When NG-RAN node 2 is able to provide part of the request information indicated by the request information identifier and the registration request information element is set to start, it sends a data collection response to NG-RAN node 1. In this case, the data collection response carries the part of the request information indicated by the request information identifier that NG-RAN node 2 cannot provide, as well as the reason for the non-provision.

[0106] S203: NG-RAN node 2 sends a data collection update message, and NG-RAN node 1 receives the data collection update message.

[0107] The data collection update message can be used to transmit the data corresponding to the request information in the data collection request. The data collection update message can include resource status information predicted by NG-RAN node 2 and UE performance feedback information. The resource status information can include, for example, downlink (DL) average UE throughput, uplink (UL) average UE throughput, average packet delay, and average packet loss. The uplink refers to the physical path for signals from user equipment to the base station in a mobile communication system. The downlink refers to the physical path for signals from the base station to the user equipment in a mobile communication system.

[0108] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a process of data collection and reporting startup failure. As shown in FIG3 , the process of data collection and reporting startup failure may include: S301-S302:

[0109] S301: NG-RAN node 1 sends a data collection request, and NG-RAN node 2 receives the data collection request.

[0110] For the description of the data collection request, please refer to the description of the data collection request in S101, which will not be repeated here.

[0111] S302: NG-RAN node 2 fails to send data collection, and NG-RAN node 2 fails to receive data collection.

[0112] Among them, data collection failure is used to indicate that the start of data collection and reporting has failed.

[0113] Specifically, if NG-RAN node 2 is unable to provide all request information indicated by the identifier of the request information, it sends a data collection failure message to NG-RAN node 1, and the data collection failure message carries a cause value of the data collection failure. The cause value of the data collection failure is used to indicate the cause of the data collection failure.

[0114] Optionally, in a network slicing scenario, during the process of resource status information interaction between base stations, the resource status information included in the data collection update may be slice resource status information.

[0115] Among them, network slice, which can be referred to as slice for short, is an on-demand networking method that enables operators to build multiple end-to-end, virtual, isolated, on-demand customized dedicated logical networks on a physical network, realizing multi-purpose use of one network to meet the different requirements of customers in different industries for network capabilities (latency, bandwidth, number of connections, reliability, etc.). A single network slice can be identified by single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI). S-NSSAI can include the type of slice and a slice distinguisher. A collection of one or more S-NSSAIs is called network slice selection assistance information (NSSAI). A single UE is allowed to access up to 8 network slices.

[0116] The slice resource status information may include uplink per-slice physical resource block usage uplink (per-slice PRB usage UL), downlink per-slice physical resource block usage downlink (per-slice PRB usage DL), uplink per-slice available capacity value (UL per-slice available capability value), downlink per-slice available capacity value (DL per-slice available capability value), and per-UE slice maximum bit rate. Among them, the uplink per-slice available capacity value can be used to indicate the amount of available resources of each network slice in the uplink relative to the total resources of each cell. The downlink per-slice available capacity value can be used to indicate the amount of available resources of each network slice in the downlink relative to the total resources of each cell. The per-user equipment slice maximum bit rate is a contract value of the user equipment, and the base station (for example, the next generation Node B (gNB)) cannot modify its value.

[0117] However, during the process of resource status information exchange between base stations, the transmitted slice resource status information is real-time. The base station can only make adaptive adjustments based on the real-time slice resource status information of its neighboring station. It is unable to predict the occurrence of problems and avoid the occurrence of problems, making it difficult to guarantee the continuity of terminal communication / network services and service quality.

[0118] For example, in a cell handover scenario, a user equipment (UE) is currently accessing a service (e.g., enhanced mobile broadband) for slice 1, and the network device currently providing service to the UE is the source base station. Due to a change in the location of the UE, the source base station obtains real-time slice resource status information from at least one neighboring base station (a neighboring base station refers to a base station that can exchange data with the source base station) in order to avoid interrupting the UE's service access or to maintain the quality of the UE's service access. The source base station selects any one of the at least one neighboring base stations whose slice resource status information can support the service for slice 1 as the target base station, causing the UE to hand over from the source base station to the target base station, and the target base station takes over the source base station's provision of the service for slice 1 for the UE. After the UE accesses the target base station, the target base station obtains the service requirements (e.g., minimum guaranteed bit rate (GBR) requirements) for slice 1 accessed by the UE. However, the target base station has insufficient radio resources after the UE accesses, or the UE's subscription information indicates that the UE does not support the service for slice 1 under the target base station. As a result, the target base station cannot meet the service requirements for slice 1 accessed by the UE, i.e., the target base station does not support the handover of the UE, resulting in the failure of the UE's handover, which degrades the UE's service experience.

[0119] For another example, in a cell switching scenario, the user equipment is currently accessing the service of slice 2 (for example, ultra-reliable low-latency communication), and the network device currently providing services to the user equipment is the source base station. Due to the change in the location of the user equipment, in order not to interrupt the service access of the user equipment, or to maintain the service access quality of the user equipment, the source base station obtains the real-time slice resource status information of at least one neighboring base station (a neighboring base station refers to a base station that can exchange data with the source base station), and selects any neighboring base station whose slice resource status information can support the service of slice 2 as the target base station, so that the user equipment switches from the source base station to the target base station, and the target base station takes over the source base station to provide the service of slice 2 to the user equipment. After the user equipment accesses the target base station, the target base station obtains the service requirements of slice 2 accessed by the user equipment (for example, latency requirements), and the wireless resources of the target base station can meet the service requirements of slice 2 accessed by the user equipment, that is, the target base station supports the switching of the user equipment. However, when the user equipment accesses the service of slice 1 (for example, enhanced mobile broadband) one minute after switching to the target base station, the target base station does not support the service of slice 1 and cannot provide the service of slice 1 to the user equipment, resulting in service interruption of the user equipment's access to the service of slice 1, thereby reducing the service experience of the user equipment.

[0120] To ensure the continuity of communication / network services and service quality of a terminal, the present application provides a communication method, which includes: a first communication device sending first information including slice prediction information of the terminal to a second communication device, the second communication device receiving the first information including the slice prediction information of the terminal, sending second information to the first communication device, and the first communication device receiving the second information from the second communication device; wherein the slice prediction information of the terminal is used to indicate the predicted service requirements of the terminal under the slice service, and the second information is used to indicate whether the second communication device meets the predicted service requirements of the terminal under the slice service. In this way, the second communication device can obtain the slice prediction information of the terminal, optimize its own resource allocation in advance based on the slice prediction information of the terminal, predict and / or avoid the occurrence of resource allocation problems, and ensure the continuity of communication / network services and service quality of the terminal. For example, in a cell switching scenario, assuming that the first communication device is a source base station (a base station currently serving the terminal), and the second communication device is a target base station (a base station that will replace the source base station to provide services to the terminal in the future), the source base station sends first information including the slice prediction information of the terminal to the target base station. After receiving the first information including the slice prediction information of the terminal, the target base station can send second information to the source base station based on the slice prediction information of the terminal and its own resources to indicate whether the target base station can meet the predicted service needs of the terminal under the slicing service. If the second information indicates that the target base station can meet the predicted service needs of the terminal under the slicing service, the source base station can switch the terminal to the target base station; otherwise, the source base station instructs the terminal not to switch to the target base station or selects other target base stations for the terminal that can meet the service needs of the terminal, so as to avoid the problem of terminal switching failure.

[0121] The communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0122] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be used in various communication systems, which may be a third generation partnership project (3GPP) communication system, for example, a long term evolution (LTE) system, or a fifth generation (5G) mobile communication system, a new radio (NR) system, a non-terrestrial network (NTN) communication system, a satellite communication system, a wireless fidelity (Wifi) system, a new air interface vehicle network (NR V2X) system, and can also be applied to a system of LTE and 5G hybrid networking, or a device-to-device (D2D) communication system, a machine-to-machine (M2M) communication system, an Internet of Things (IoT), and other next-generation communication systems, non-3GPP communication systems, without limitation.

[0123] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication scenarios including AI and network slicing, for example, can be applied to one or more of the following communication scenarios: enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC), machine type communication (MTC), massive machine type communications (mMTC), D2D, V2X, NTN, IoT and other communication scenarios including AI and network slicing, without limitation.

[0124] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication system provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG4 , the communication system may include a first communication device, a second communication device, a terminal, and an artificial intelligence (AI) module. The artificial intelligence module in FIG4 can be used to obtain prediction information (e.g., slice prediction information and slice resource status information of the terminal) and is deployed at least in the first communication device and the second communication device. For example, the artificial intelligence module can be deployed in the first communication device and the second communication device, but not in the terminal; or the artificial intelligence module can be deployed in the first communication device, the second communication device, and the terminal.

[0125] It can be understood that the terminal, the first communication device, and the second communication device in Figure 4 can communicate directly or through forwarding by other devices. The embodiments of the present application do not make specific limitations on this.

[0126] It is understood that Figure 4 is merely a schematic diagram and does not limit the applicable scenarios of the technical solutions provided in this application. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, in a specific implementation, the communication system shown in Figure 4 may include fewer devices than shown in Figure 4 , or may include other devices. The number of devices in the communication system shown in Figure 4 may also be determined based on specific needs and is not limited. The devices in the system shown in Figure 4 are described below.

[0127] A terminal, also known as terminal equipment, is a device with wireless transceiver capabilities. A terminal can be user equipment (UE), a mobile station (MS), or a mobile terminal (MT), among others, and includes handheld devices, vehicle-mounted devices, wearable devices, or computing devices with wireless communication capabilities. Specifically, a terminal can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver capabilities, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal device in industrial control, a wireless terminal device in self-driving, a wireless terminal device in remote medical care, a wireless terminal device in smart grids, a wireless terminal device in transportation safety, a wireless terminal device in smart cities, or a wireless terminal device in smart homes. In an embodiment of the present application, the device for implementing the function of the terminal can be a terminal device, or it can be a device that can support the terminal to implement the function, such as a chip system (such as a processing system composed of one chip or multiple chips) or a modem.

[0128] The first communication device and the second communication device, which can also be called network equipment, are devices in a radio access network (RAN) that connect a terminal to a wireless network. The RAN can be connected to a core network (for example, an LTE core network or a 5G core network). The first communication device and the second communication device can be a node B (NB), a satellite base station (or flying platform) in an NTN scenario, an evolutionary Node B (eNB or eNodeB) in LTE, or a base station in a 5G network or a future evolved public land mobile network (PLMN), a broadband network service gateway (BNG), an aggregation switch or a non-3GPP access device; or the first communication device and the second communication device in the embodiment of the present application can also be a radio network controller (RNC), a base station controller (BSC), a radio controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN), a radio controller in an open access network (O-RAN or ORAN), a base transceiver station (BTS), a home base station (for example, a home evolved NodeB, or a home Node B, HNB), a base band unit (BBU), or a Wi-Fi access point (AP), an integrated access and backhaul (IAT) The embodiment of the present application does not specifically limit this. Optionally, the base station in the embodiment of the present application may include various forms of base stations, such as: macro base stations, micro base stations (also known as small stations), relay stations, access points, etc., which are not specifically limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0129] Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram of a CU-DU network architecture. As shown in Figure 5, the CU may include a CU-CP and a CU-UP, and the DU may include an RLC, a MAC, and a PHY. The CU and the DU may be understood as a division of the communication device from a logical functional perspective. The CU and the DU may be physically separated or deployed together, and this is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present application. A CU may be connected to a DU, or multiple DUs may share a CU, which may save costs and facilitate network expansion. The CU and the DU may be divided according to the protocol stack. One possible way is to deploy the radio resource control (RRC), the service data adaptation protocol stack (SDAP), and the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer in the CU, and the remaining radio link control (RLC) layer, the media access control (MAC) layer, and the physical layer in the DU. The present invention does not limit the division of CU and DU. For example, CU and DU can be divided according to the above-mentioned protocol stack. There are also other division methods. For details, please refer to TR38.801 v14.0.0.

[0130] In Figure 5 , the CU-CP is responsible for control plane functions, primarily including RRC and PDCP-C. PDCP-C is primarily responsible for encryption and decryption, integrity protection, and data transmission of control plane data. In Figure 5 , the CU-UP is responsible for user plane functions, primarily including SDAP and PDCP-U. SDAP is primarily responsible for processing core network data and mapping flows to the bearer network. PDCP-U is primarily responsible for encryption and decryption, integrity protection, header compression, sequence number maintenance, and data transmission of the data plane. The RLC, MAC, and PHY included in the DU in Figure 5 are prior art. For related descriptions, please refer to the relevant descriptions of the prior art and are not detailed here. As shown in Figure 5 , the CU-CP and CU-UP are connected via the E1 interface. The CU-CP can connect to the DU via the F1-C (control plane) interface, and the CU-UP can connect to the DU via the F1-U (user plane) interface. Optionally, PDCP-C can also be deployed in the CU-UP. For related descriptions of the E1, F1-C, and F1-U interfaces, please refer to the relevant descriptions of existing protocols and are not detailed here.

[0131] In one possible scenario, under the CU-DU network architecture, the first communication device in Figure 4 may include CU1 and DU1, and the second communication device in Figure 4 may include CU2 and DU2. At this time, a structural diagram of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application is shown in Figure 6. An artificial intelligence module is deployed on the terminal in Figure 6, and the terminal exchanges data with the first communication device and the second communication device through the air interface; the first communication module in Figure 6 includes CU1 and DU1, and both CU1 and DU1 are deployed with artificial intelligence modules. CU1 and DU1 communicate through the F1 interface, and DU1 communicates with the terminal through the air interface; the second communication module in Figure 6 includes CU2 and DU2, and both CU2 and DU2 are deployed with artificial intelligence modules. CU2 and DU2 communicate through the F1 interface, and DU2 communicates with the terminal through the air interface; CU1 and CU2 communicate through the Xn interface. Among them, the relevant descriptions of the F1 interface, Xn interface, and air interface can refer to the existing protocol description and will not be repeated here.

[0132] Figure 7 shows a schematic diagram of an O-RAN network architecture. As shown in Figure 7, the RIC in Figure 7 implements intelligent and automated RAN operations and maintenance by introducing artificial intelligence (AI), and may include near-real-time RIC (near-RT RIC) and non-real-time RIC (non-RT RIC). The near-real-time RIC can be used for model training and inference. For example, the near-real-time RIC can be used to train an AI model and use the AI ​​model for inference. The near-real-time RIC can obtain network-side and / or terminal-side information from RAN nodes (e.g., CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and / or RU) and / or terminals, and use the aforementioned information as training data or inference data. Optionally, the near-real-time RIC can submit inference results to the RAN node and / or terminal. The near-real-time RIC, CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and RU may optionally be referred to as access network nodes. Optionally, inference results can be exchanged between the CU and DU, and / or between the DU and RU. For example, the near-real-time RIC submits the inference results to the DU, which then sends them to the RU. Non-real-time RIC can be used for model training and inference. The specific implementation method can be referred to the existing technology and will not be described in detail here. The description of CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, and DU in Figure 7 can be referred to the relevant description in the protocol and will not be described in detail here.

[0133] In another possible scenario, under the O-RAN network architecture, the first communication device in Figure 4 may include a first centralized unit (e.g., CU1), and the second communication device in Figure 4 may include a second centralized unit (e.g., CU2). In this case, a structural diagram of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application is shown in Figure 8. In Figure 8, the first communication device includes a first centralized unit, and the second communication device in Figure 8 includes a second centralized unit. No artificial intelligence module is deployed on the terminal in Figure 8; an artificial intelligence (AI) model is deployed in the RIC in Figure 8, and the artificial intelligence model can be used to infer / predict slice prediction information of the terminal. Optionally, the first communication device in Figure 8 may further include a first distributed unit (e.g., DU1), and the second communication device may further include a second distributed unit (e.g., DU2). For the relevant description of the first centralized unit, the second centralized unit, the first distributed unit, and the second distributed unit, reference can be made to the relevant description of the centralized unit and the distributed unit in the existing O-RAN architecture, and will not be repeated here.

[0134] It should be understood that in different communication systems, the centralized unit (which may be referred to as CU, CU-CP and CU-UP) and the distributed unit (DU) may have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in the ORAN system, the CU may also be referred to as the O-CU, the DU may also be referred to as the O-DU, the CU-CP may also be referred to as the O-CU-CP, and the CU-UP may also be referred to as the O-CU-UP. In the NTN communication system, any unit of the CU (which may also be referred to as the CU-CP and CU-UP) and the DU may be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0135] In this application, there is no limitation on the deployment location of the first communication device, the second communication device, and the terminal. For example, the first communication device, the second communication device, and the terminal can be carried or deployed on an aerial platform, such as a low-altitude aerial platform, a high-altitude aerial platform, or a satellite, or can be deployed on land, such as on the ground indoors or outdoors, on a handheld or vehicle-mounted device; or on the water, such as on a ship. When the first communication device, the second communication device, and the terminal are carried on an aerial platform or a mobile device, the first communication device, the second communication device, and the terminal move synchronously with the aerial platform or the mobile device.

[0136] The embodiments of the present application can be applied to downlink signal transmission, uplink signal transmission, and D2D signal transmission. For downlink signal transmission, the transmitting device is the first communication device and / or the second communication device, and the corresponding receiving device is the terminal. For uplink signal transmission, the transmitting device is the terminal, and the corresponding receiving device is the first communication device and / or the second communication device. For D2D signal transmission, the transmitting device is the terminal, and the corresponding receiving device is also a terminal. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the transmission direction of the signal.

[0137] In the present application, the first communication device and / or the second communication device and the terminal, as well as the terminals and the terminals can communicate through a licensed spectrum (licensed spectrum), can communicate through an unlicensed spectrum (unlicensed spectrum), or can communicate through both a licensed spectrum and an unlicensed spectrum at the same time. The wireless access network device and the terminal device, as well as the terminal device and the terminal device, can communicate through a spectrum below 6 gigahertz (GHz), can communicate through a spectrum above 6G, and can also communicate using a spectrum below 6G and a spectrum above 6G at the same time. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the spectrum resources used between the various devices / equipment.

[0138] Optionally, each device in Figure 4 (such as a terminal, a first communication device, and a second communication device) can also be referred to as a communication device, which can be a general device or a dedicated device. The embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this.

[0139] Optionally, the related functions of each device in FIG4 of the present application can be implemented by a single device, or by multiple devices, or by one or more functional modules within a single device, and the embodiments of the present application do not specifically limit this. It is understood that the above functions can be network elements in hardware devices, software functions running on dedicated hardware, or a combination of hardware and software, or virtualized functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform).

[0140] The following describes the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application in conjunction with the communication system shown in Figure 4. The actions, terms, etc. involved in the following embodiments can refer to each other. The message names or parameter names in the messages exchanged between devices in each embodiment are only examples, and other names can also be used in specific implementations. For example, "corresponding" in the following embodiments can be replaced with "associated", etc., and "sending" in the following embodiments can be replaced with "transmitting", etc. Figure 9 is a flow chart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 9, it can include steps S901-step S902:

[0141] S901: A first communication device sends first information to a second communication device, and the second communication device receives the first information from the first communication device.

[0142] In the embodiment of the present application, the first communication device may be the first communication device in FIG. 4 , the second communication device may be the second communication device in FIG. 4 , and the terminal may be the terminal in FIG. 4 .

[0143] The first information may include slice prediction information of the terminal, where the slice prediction information of the terminal is used to indicate the predicted service demand of the terminal under the slice service. It should be understood that the slice prediction information of the terminal in this application may refer to slice prediction information with the terminal as the granularity, or may be understood as slice prediction information for the terminal, which is related to the terminal.

[0144] In this application, the slice prediction information may include at least one of the following: a prediction time identifier, a prediction slice identifier, a predicted service flow, and a predicted service demand. The prediction time identifier is used to indicate the prediction time corresponding to the slice prediction information; the prediction slice identifier is used to indicate the slice service corresponding to the prediction time; the predicted service flow is used to indicate the throughput of the terminal under the slice service corresponding to the prediction time; and the predicted service demand is used to indicate the service demand that the second communication device needs to provide to the terminal.

[0145] In this application, slice service refers to the service that a slice can support. A slice can support one or more services. The slice service in this application can be replaced by slice without limitation.

[0146] Specifically, the first communication device sends the first information to the second communication device, which may include: the first communication device obtains the first information and the slice resource status prediction information of the adjacent communication device, determines the second communication device based on the first information and the slice resource status prediction information of the adjacent communication device, and sends the first information to the second communication device.

[0147] In the present application, the slice resource status prediction information may include at least one of the following: the predicted number of RRC connected state users, the predicted resource block (RB) resources. The number of RRC connected state users can be used to indicate the maximum number of RRC connected state users allowed to access a slice (network slice) group. RB resources can be divided into three categories according to the resource allocation method: based on quality of service (QoS) scheduling, based on RB resource reservation, and based on carrier isolation. Among them, the resource allocation granularity based on the RB resource reservation method is the network slice group, and the allocation granularity of the other two methods is a single network slice.

[0148] In the embodiments of the present application, an adjacent communication device refers to at least one communication device that can exchange data with a first communication device. The adjacent communication device includes a second communication device. Furthermore, the adjacent communication device, the first communication device, and the second communication device are communication nodes at the same level. For example, if the first communication device and the second communication device are base stations, the adjacent communication device is also a base station.

[0149] The first communication device obtaining the first information may include: when the first information includes slice prediction information of the terminal, the first communication device may obtain the slice prediction information of the terminal based on an AI model. For example, the first communication device collects historical data of the terminal and trains an AI model, and the AI ​​model can be used to predict the slice prediction information of the terminal. Optionally, the AI ​​model used to predict the slice prediction information of the terminal in the embodiment of the present application can also be used to predict slice resource status prediction information, possible slice problems, etc. of the first communication device.

[0150] Among them, the first communication device obtaining the slice resource status prediction information of the adjacent communication device may include: the first communication device initiates a data collection process for collecting the slice resource status prediction information of the adjacent communication device to the adjacent communication device, and when the data collection process is successfully started, the adjacent communication device sends a data collection update message carrying its own slice resource status prediction information to the first communication device.

[0151] The first communication device determining the second communication device based on the first information and the slice resource status prediction information of the adjacent communication device may include: the first communication device selecting any communication device from the adjacent communication devices as the second communication device, and the slice resource status prediction information of the second communication device can meet the slice prediction information of the terminal. For example, the RB resources of the second communication device can meet the slice service indicated by the identifier of the predicted slice of the terminal, the traffic volume of the predicted service, the predicted service demand, etc.

[0152] In the present application, the slice resource status prediction information of the second communication device satisfies the slice prediction information of the terminal, which may mean that: the slice service provided by the second communication device includes the slice service indicated by the identifier of the predicted slice of the terminal, the traffic of the slice service provided by the second communication device is greater than or equal to the traffic of the predicted service, the capacity of the slice service provided by the second communication device is greater than or equal to the predicted service demand, etc. For example, if the throughput of the predicted service of the terminal is 50 bits, and the maximum throughput supported by the RB resources of the second communication device is 100 bits, then the RB resources of the second communication device can meet the predicted service demand of the terminal.

[0153] For example, assuming that the first communication device is a source base station and the second communication device is a target base station, the first information includes the slice prediction information of the terminal, and a trained AI model is arranged in the source base station, which can be used to predict the slice prediction information of the terminal. When the source base station detects that the signal quality of the terminal is poor or the resources of the source base station are limited and cannot meet the business needs of the terminal, the slice prediction information of the terminal is inferred by the trained AI model; the source base station initiates a data collection process for collecting slice resource status prediction information to at least one adjacent base station, and at least one adjacent base station sends a data collection update message to the source base station, and the data collection update message carries the slice resource status prediction information of at least one adjacent base station, and the source base station receives the slice resource status prediction information from at least one adjacent base station; the source base station selects any adjacent base station whose slice resource status prediction information meets the slice prediction information of the terminal from at least one adjacent base station as the target base station, and the source base station sends the first information to the target base station, so that the target base station can determine whether it can receive the access of the terminal based on the slice prediction information of the terminal in the first information.

[0154] In the embodiments of the present application, service requirements may also refer to scheduling requirements, which are conditions and / or functions that must be met when a terminal accesses a service. For example, service requirements may include, but are not limited to, minimum guaranteed bit rate (GBR), latency, physical resource block (PRB) utilization, QoS requirements, and quality of experience (QoE) indicators. A guaranteed bit rate refers to the minimum bit rate guaranteed by the system for carrying traffic. Even when network resources are limited, the bit rate corresponding to the guaranteed bit rate can be maintained. PRB utilization refers to the ratio of physical resource block usage to available resource blocks within a certain period of time. QoS is the comprehensive effect of service performance that determines user satisfaction. Its key performance indicators (KPIs) typically include throughput, packet loss rate, and latency. QoE is the subjective perception of the service performance provided by a mobile network by an end user and can be used to measure user experience. For example, video experience can be measured by indicators such as freezes, screen distortion, and the number of freezes. QoS requirements may include the values ​​or ranges corresponding to QoS KPIs. QoE indicators may include the values ​​or ranges required for user experience.

[0155] Optionally, the first information may also include the terminal's mobile path prediction information to assist the second communication device in optimizing wireless resources so that the second communication device can meet the predicted service needs of the terminal under the sliced ​​service. The terminal's mobile path prediction information may include: the predicted cell ID of the terminal and the time it stays in each cell, or the predicted location information of the terminal within a period of time (for example, longitude and latitude information, spatial coordinates).

[0156] For example, the first communication device predicts that the carrying capacity of some of its own slices is about to be overloaded, or that its own wireless resources cannot meet the predicted service needs of the terminal under the slice service. The first communication device sends a first information including the slice prediction information of the terminal and the mobile path prediction information of the terminal to the second communication device. Assume that the mobile path prediction information of the terminal indicates that the terminal will move to cell 1 in the future and reside in cell 1 for 10 minutes. The slice prediction information of the terminal includes a predicted time identifier of 2-8 minutes, the identifier of the predicted slice is the identifier of slice 1, the predicted service traffic is A (A is a natural number greater than 0) bits, and the predicted service demand is a PRB utilization rate equal to B. At this time, the first information can indicate that the terminal accesses the slice service of slice 1 in the 2nd to 8th minutes of its residence in cell 1, the throughput of the slice service of slice 1 accessed in the 2nd to 8th minutes of its residence in cell 1 is A bits, and the PRB utilization rate required for the terminal to access the slice service of slice 1 in the 2nd to 8th minutes of its residence in cell 1 is B.

[0157] Optionally, the first information may also include first indication information (for example, slice feedback indication). The first indication information may include a first slice identifier and a first terminal feedback request indication. The first slice identifier is used to indicate the slice identifier corresponding to the information that the second communication device needs to feedback, for example, the first slice identifier may be S-NSSAI. The first terminal feedback request indication is used to indicate the terminal feedback information that the second communication device needs to feedback, for example, the first terminal feedback request indication may indicate the second communication device to feedback the slice service, mobile path, terminal performance (for example, throughput / packet loss rate / delay) and other information of the terminal. The mobile path may be the cell ID accessed by the terminal and the time it stays in each cell, or the location information of the terminal within a period of time (for example, longitude and latitude information, spatial coordinates), etc. Throughput may refer to the amount of successfully transmitted data per unit time. Packet loss rate may refer to the ratio of the number of data packets lost during network transmission to the total number of data packets sent.

[0158] In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal feedback information may include information successfully collected / measured by the second communication device, such as the terminal's slice service, the terminal's mobile path, or the terminal's performance information, etc. Therefore, the terminal feedback information can be alternatively described as terminal measurement information.

[0159] Optionally, the first information may also include screening information for candidate target cells by the terminal. The screening information may include at least one of the following: a candidate cell list, a maximum latency threshold, and a minimum guaranteed bit rate (GBR). The candidate cell list may include cell IDs that the terminal can access, with each cell corresponding to a unique cell ID. The maximum latency threshold may be used to indicate the maximum latency that the terminal can receive between the terminal and the accessed cell. For a description of the guaranteed bit rate, please refer to the aforementioned related description.

[0160] Optionally, the first information may further include the ID of the target cell, so that the second communication device determines that the cell to be accessed by the terminal is the cell corresponding to the ID of the target cell, and optimizes the resources of the cell in advance to support providing better quality services to the terminal.

[0161] Optionally, the first information can not only indicate to the second communication device the slice prediction information of the predicted service demand of the terminal under the slice service, so that the second communication device can predetermine whether the service demand of the terminal is met based on the slice prediction information, but also collect terminal feedback information and feed it back to the first communication device when the service demand of the terminal is met and the second communication device provides services to the terminal, so that the first communication device can optimize the AI ​​model used to obtain the slice prediction information of the terminal based on the collected terminal feedback information. In this scenario, the process of collecting terminal feedback information is triggered by a first data collection request, wherein the first information may also include a first identifier, such as a data collection identifier (DATA COLLECTION ID), and the first identifier is used to indicate the data collection process corresponding to the first data collection request. For the relevant description of the first data collection request, see the relevant description in S1001, which will not be repeated here.

[0162] In an embodiment of the present application, when the first communication device does not send the identifier of the target cell (for example, the ID of the target cell) to the second communication device, that is, the first communication device does not determine the target cell for the terminal, the first information may include the terminal's screening information for candidate target cells. When the first communication device sends the identifier of the target cell to the second communication device, the first information may not carry the terminal's screening information for candidate target cells. For example, the first communication device directly sends the first information carrying the identifier of the target cell to the second communication device, or the first information is carried in the handover request (HANDOVER REQUEST) specified in the existing protocol. The handover request specified in the existing protocol carries the identifier of the target cell.

[0163] It should be understood that the first communication device in S901 can also be the first communication device in Figure 6, and the second communication device in S901 can also be the second communication device in Figure 6. At this time, the first communication device in S901 sends the first information to the second communication device, and the second communication device receives the first information from the first communication device, which may include: CU1 obtains the first information, sends the first information to DU1, DU1 receives the first information from CU1, and sends the first information to DU2; DU2 receives the first information from DU1, sends the first information to CU2, and CU2 receives the first information from DU2. Among them, the relevant description of the first information can refer to the relevant description of the first information above, which will not be repeated here.

[0164] S902: The second communication device sends second information to the first communication device, and the first communication device receives the second information from the second communication device.

[0165] Among them, the second information can be used to indicate whether the second communication device meets the predicted service requirements of the terminal under the slice service.

[0166] Specifically, the second communication device sending the second information to the first communication device may include: the second communication device determines whether the predicted service needs of the terminal under the slice service can be met based on its own wireless resources and the slice prediction information of the terminal in the first information; when the wireless resources of the second communication device can meet the predicted service needs of the terminal under the slice service, the second communication device sends the second information (for example, a slice prediction acknowledgement message) to the first communication device; when the wireless resources of the second communication device cannot meet the predicted service needs of the terminal under the slice service, the second communication device sends the second information to the first communication device, and the second information may include an indication and / or reason for not being able to meet the predicted service needs of the terminal under the slice service (for example, the wireless resources of the second communication device are insufficient, the number of RRC connected users of the second communication device has reached the maximum threshold, etc.).

[0167] In one possible scenario, a second communication device receives slice prediction information of at least one terminal from at least one neighboring communication device (the at least one neighboring communication device of the second communication device refers to at least one communication device that can exchange data with the second communication device). If the second communication device can simultaneously access at least one (e.g., N, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1) terminal, the second communication device determines at least one (e.g., N, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1) terminal to access based on access criteria. The access criteria may include at least one of the following: selecting the top N terminals with the largest minimum GBR; selecting the top N terminals with the smallest minimum GBR; selecting the top N terminals with the largest latency; selecting the top N terminals with the smallest latency; selecting the top N terminals with the largest PRB utilization; selecting the top N terminals with the smallest PRB utilization; or selecting the top N terminals with a weighted minimum of {a*minimum GBR+b*latency+c*PRB utilization}. The second communication device determines the terminal to access based on at least one of the above access criteria, thereby both meeting the service needs of the terminal and maximizing resource utilization of the second communication device.

[0168] For example, assume that the second communication device is base station 1, and at least one of its neighboring communication devices includes base stations 2 and 3. The access criterion configured in base station 1 is to select the first two terminals with the largest minimum GBR. Base station 1 receives slice prediction information for terminals 1 and 2 from base station 2, and slice prediction information for terminals 3 and 4 from base station 3. Base station 1's radio resources can simultaneously meet the predicted service requirements of terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4, where the predicted service requirements include the minimum GBR. Base station 1 sorts the received minimum GBRs of each terminal from largest to smallest and selects the first two terminals in the sequence for access. For example, if the minimum GBR of terminal 1 is greater than the minimum GBR of terminal 2, greater than the minimum GBR of terminal 3, and greater than the minimum GBR of terminal 4, base station 1 selects terminals 1 and 2 for access.

[0169] Optionally, when the second communication device can meet the predicted service requirements of the terminal under the sliced ​​service, the second information may include the ID of the target cell and / or the recommended switching time. The recommended switching time can be used to indicate that the second communication device can meet the predicted service requirements of the terminal or provide the terminal with a higher quality of service when the recommended switching time arrives.

[0170] For example, if the first information does not include the ID of the target cell or includes the terminal's screening information for candidate target cells, the second information may also include the ID of the target cell. For another example, if the second communication device's current wireless resources cannot meet the terminal's predicted service needs, but the second communication device optimizes its own wireless resources to meet the terminal's predicted service needs at the recommended switching time, the second information may include the recommended switching time to indicate the time at which the second communication device can meet the terminal's predicted service needs.

[0171] It should be understood that the first communication device in S902 may also be the first communication device in Figure 6, and the second communication device in S902 may also be the second communication device in Figure 6. In this case, the second communication device in S902 sends the second information to the first communication device, and the first communication device receives the second information from the second communication device, which may include: CU2 obtains the second information, sends the second information to DU2, DU2 receives the second information from CU2, and sends the second information to DU1; DU1 receives the first information from DU2, sends the second information to CU1, and CU1 receives the second information from DU1.

[0172] In an embodiment of the present application, the first information and the second information can be carried in different signaling in different communication scenarios. For example, in a cell switching scenario, assuming that the first communication device is a source base station, if the first communication device does not support dual connectivity (DC) working mode, the first information can be carried in a handover request (HANDOVER REQUEST), and the second information can be carried in a handover request confirmation message (HANDOVER REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGE); if the first communication device supports the dual connectivity working mode, the first information can be carried in a secondary node (SN) addition request (ADDITION REQUEST), and the second information can be carried in a secondary node addition request confirmation message (SN ADDITION REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGE). In the dual connectivity working mode, the base stations providing services to the terminal may include two, one of which may be referred to as a master base station or a master node (MN), and the other may be referred to as a secondary base station or a secondary node (SN).

[0173] Based on the method shown in Figure 9, the second communication device can obtain the slice prediction information of the terminal and send second information to the first communication device based on the slice prediction information of the terminal and its own wireless resources, so that the first communication device can determine whether the second communication device can meet the predicted service needs of the terminal based on the indication of the second information. In this way, if the second communication device can meet the predicted service needs of the terminal, the first communication device can instruct the terminal to access the second communication device, avoiding the problem of service interruption caused by the terminal accessing a communication device that does not support its own service needs, and ensuring the continuity of communication / network services and service quality of the terminal.

[0174] Optionally, in order to evaluate and update the AI ​​model of the first communication device in Figure 9, the method shown in Figure 9 may further include the method shown in Figure 10, so as to collect terminal feedback information to evaluate and update the AI ​​model of the first communication device in Figure 9. The method shown in Figure 10 may include S1001-S1006:

[0175] S1001: A first communication device sends a first data collection request to a neighboring communication device of the first communication device, and the neighboring communication device of the first communication device receives the first data collection request from the first communication device.

[0176] For the description of the neighboring communication devices of the first communication device, reference may be made to the description in S901 and will not be repeated here.

[0177] Among them, the first data collection request is used to request the collection of terminal feedback information. The first data collection request may carry second indication information. The second indication information (for example, switching feedback indication 1 (slice feedback indication 1) may include: a second slice identifier and a second terminal feedback request indication. The first data collection request may also carry a first identifier (for example, a data collection identifier (DATA COLLECTION ID)). Among them, the second slice identifier may be used to indicate the slice identifier corresponding to the information that the second communication device needs to feedback, for example, the second slice identifier may be S-NSSAI. The second terminal feedback request indication may be used to indicate the terminal feedback information that the second communication device needs to feedback. The relevant description of the first identifier can refer to the relevant description of the first identifier in S901, which will not be repeated here.

[0178] Optionally, the first data collection request may further include a slice resource state prediction indication. The slice resource state prediction indication may be used to indicate slice resource state prediction information that the adjacent communication device needs to feed back.

[0179] It should be understood that when the neighboring communication devices of the first communication device include two or more communication devices, the first communication device may send first data requests carrying different or same information to different neighboring communication devices, which will not be elaborated herein.

[0180] Optionally, the second indication information may further include at least one of the following: feedback level indication, feedback configuration information, or indication information for feeding back third information. The third information is used to indicate the reason why the second communication apparatus stops collecting terminal feedback information.

[0181] The feedback level indication may include a per-slice level, a per-terminal level, or a per-slice per-terminal level. When the feedback level includes a per-slice level, the second communication device needs to provide feedback on the terminal performance of all terminals in each slice; when the feedback level includes a per-terminal level, the second communication device needs to provide feedback on the average performance of all slices for each terminal; when the feedback level includes a per-slice per-terminal level, the second communication device needs to provide feedback on the terminal performance of each terminal in each slice, or the performance of each terminal in each slice.

[0182] The feedback configuration information may include at least one of the following: a start time, an end time, a number of cells, a number of slice services, or a condition for triggering the second communication device to stop collecting terminal feedback information. The start time can be used to indicate the time when the second communication device starts sending and / or collecting terminal feedback information. The end time can be used to indicate the time when the second communication device stops sending and / or collecting terminal feedback information. The number of cells can be used to indicate a threshold number of cells that the terminal can move in the second communication device. If the number of cells that the terminal moves in the second communication device reaches the threshold number of cells, the second communication device sends terminal feedback information to the first communication device. The number of slice services can be used to indicate a threshold number of slice services that the terminal can access in the second communication device. If the number of slice services accessed by the terminal in the second communication device reaches the threshold number of slice services, the second communication device sends terminal feedback information to the first communication device.

[0183] Among them, the conditions that trigger the second communication device to stop collecting terminal feedback information may include at least one of the following: the default condition is met (for example, the condition agreed upon by the protocol to trigger the second communication device to stop collecting terminal feedback information), the terminal leaves the second communication device, the terminal leaves the cell in the second communication device that provides services to the terminal, the RRC state of the terminal leaves the connected state, the RRC state of the terminal enters the idle state, the RRC state of the terminal enters the inactive state, the actual slicing service of the terminal is inconsistent with the predicted slicing service of the terminal, and the actual information of the terminal is inconsistent with the predicted information of the terminal; after the terminal accesses the second communication device, the second communication device no longer supports the slicing service of the terminal; after the terminal accesses the cell that provides services for it in the second communication device, the cell that provides services for it in the second communication device no longer supports the slicing service of the terminal; after the terminal accesses the second communication device, the second communication device cannot meet the service needs of the terminal; after the terminal accesses the cell that provides services for it in the second communication device, the cell that provides services for it in the second communication device cannot meet the service needs of the terminal; the terminal does not support the predicted slicing service of the terminal under the second communication device.

[0184] S1002: A neighboring communication device of the first communication device sends a first data collection response to the first communication device, and the first communication device receives the first data collection response from the neighboring communication device of the first communication device.

[0185] The first data collection response is used to respond to the first data collection request.

[0186] Optionally, the first data collection response may carry a first failure indication and / or a cause corresponding to the first failure indication. Since the adjacent communication device of the first communication device includes a second communication device, the first failure indication may be used to indicate that the second communication device cannot collect terminal feedback information. For example, the first failure indication indicates that the second communication device cannot collect terminal feedback information under slice 1, and the cause corresponding to the first failure indication may be insufficient measurement resources or insufficient computing resources of the second communication device.

[0187] S1003: The first communication device sends first information to the second communication device, and the second communication device receives the first information from the first communication device.

[0188] S1004: The second communication device sends second information to the first communication device, and the first communication device receives the second information from the second communication device.

[0189] For the above descriptions of S1003-S1004, please refer to the descriptions of S901-S902 in FIG9 , which will not be repeated here.

[0190] S1005: The second communication device sends a first data collection update message to the first communication device, and the first communication device receives the first data collection update message from the first communication device.

[0191] The first data collection update message may include terminal feedback information and a first identifier. For a description of the first identifier, reference may be made to the description of the first identifier in S901, which will not be repeated here.

[0192] In an embodiment of the present application, the terminal feedback information in the first data collection and update message may include different information depending on the content of the first information. For example, in a case where the first information includes the first indication information, the terminal feedback information in the first data collection and update may include the terminal feedback information indicated by the first indication information; in a case where the first information does not include the first indication information, the terminal feedback information in the first data collection and update may include the terminal feedback information indicated by the second indication information. Among them, the relevant description of the first information and the first indication information can refer to the relevant description of the first information and the first indication information in S901, which will not be repeated here. The relevant description of the second indication information can refer to the relevant description of the second indication information in S1001, which will not be repeated here.

[0193] It should be understood that in the embodiment of the present application, when the second communication device receives the first indication information (see the relevant description of the first indication information in S901) and the second indication information (see the relevant description of the second indication information in S1001), it feeds back information in accordance with the instruction of the first indication information. For example, the second communication device receives the first indication information and the second indication information, the first slice identifier included in the first indication information is slice identifier 1, and the first terminal feedback request included in the first indication information indicates that the second communication device needs to feedback the throughput and latency of the terminal; the second slice identifier included in the second indication information is slice identifier 2, and the second terminal feedback request is used to instruct the second communication device to feedback the throughput of the terminal; the second communication device needs to send the throughput of the terminal under slice identifier 2 to the first communication device.

[0194] It should be understood that S1005 is an optional operation. When the second communication device sends terminal feedback information to the first communication device, step S1005 is performed to evaluate and update the AI ​​model used in the first communication device to obtain slice prediction information for the terminal. When the second communication device does not need to send terminal feedback information to the first communication device, step S1005 is not performed.

[0195] S1006: The second communication device sends third information to the first communication device, and the first communication device receives the third information from the second communication device.

[0196] The third information may be used to indicate the reason why the second communication device stops collecting the terminal feedback information.

[0197] Specifically, the second communication device sending the third information to the first communication device may include: the second communication device meeting the condition that triggers the second communication device to stop collecting terminal feedback information, stopping collecting terminal feedback information, and sending the third information to the first communication device. In this way, the first communication device can obtain the reason why the second communication device stopped collecting terminal feedback information, which facilitates the first communication device to subsequently determine whether to change the condition that triggers the second communication device to stop collecting terminal feedback information based on actual circumstances. For the description of the condition that triggers the second communication device to stop collecting terminal feedback information, reference can be made to the description of the condition that triggers the second communication device to stop collecting terminal feedback information in S1001, and is not repeated here.

[0198] It should be understood that step S1006 is an optional operation. For example, if the second instruction information in S1001 includes instruction information for feeding back the third information, step S1006 is performed; if the second instruction information in S1001 does not include instruction information for feeding back the third information, step S1006 is not performed.

[0199] In this application, S1005 and S1006 may be executed simultaneously, or S1005 may be executed first and then S1006, without limitation. For example, if the data collection request does not include periodic cells, S1005 and S1006 may be executed simultaneously; if the data collection request includes periodic cells, S1005 may be executed first and then S1006.

[0200] In conjunction with the communication system shown in Figure 4, the first communication device in Figure 4 is a source base station that does not support the dual connection (DC) working mode, the second communication device in Figure 4 is a target base station, the terminal in Figure 4 is a terminal, and the artificial intelligence module in Figure 4 is an AI module for predicting slice prediction information of the terminal. Among them, the source base station is the base station currently providing services to the terminal in Figure 4, and the target base station is the base station that replaces the source base station to provide services to the terminal. The communication methods shown in Figures 9 and 10 are introduced in conjunction with Figure 11. Among them, the first indication information in Figure 9 is slice feedback indication 2 (slice feedback indication 2), the second information in Figure 9 is a slice prediction acknowledgement message (slice prediction acknowledgement) message, the adjacent communication devices of the first communication device in Figure 10 include adjacent base station 1 and adjacent base station 2, the second indication information is switching feedback indication 1 (slice feedback indication 1), the first data collection request is a data collection request (DATA COLLECTION REQUEST), the first identifier is a data collection identifier (DATA COLLECTION ID), the first data collection response is a data collection response (DATA COLLECTION RESPONSE), and the first data collection update message is a data collection update message (DATA COLLECTION UPDATE).

[0201] FIG11 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG11 , the method may include S1101 to S1110:

[0202] S1101: The source base station sends a data collection request to the neighboring base station 1 and the neighboring base station 2, and the neighboring base station 1 and the neighboring base station 2 receive the data collection request from the source base station.

[0203] The data collection request (DATA COLLECTION REQUEST) may include a data collection ID (DATA COLLECTION ID), a slice feedback indication 1 (slice feedback indication 1), and a slice resource status prediction indication (slice resource predication indication). At this point, the data collection request may be used to request the collection of terminal feedback information and may also be used to request the collection of slice resource status prediction information.

[0204] Among them, the data collection identifier (DATA COLLECTION ID) can be used to indicate the data collection process corresponding to the data collection request, and the slice feedback indication 1 may include a second slice identifier and a second terminal feedback request indication. Optionally, the slice feedback indication 1 may also include at least one of the following: a feedback level indication, feedback configuration information, or indication information of feedback third information. Among them, the relevant description of the second slice identifier and the second terminal feedback request indication can refer to the relevant description of the second slice identifier and the second terminal feedback request indication in S1001, and the relevant description of the feedback level indication, feedback configuration information, indication information of feedback third information, slice resource status prediction information and terminal feedback information can refer to the relevant description of the feedback level indication, feedback configuration information, indication information of feedback third information, slice resource status prediction information and terminal feedback information in S901, which will not be repeated here.

[0205] S1102: Neighboring base station 2 and neighboring base station 1 send data collection responses to the source base station, and the source base station receives the data collection responses from neighboring base station 2 and the target base station.

[0206] The data collection response is used to respond to the data collection request in S1101. The data collection response may include a data collection identifier. For a description of the data collection identifier, please refer to the description in S1101 and will not be repeated here.

[0207] Optionally, the data collection response may carry a failure indication and / or a reason corresponding to the failure indication. The failure indication may be used to indicate that the neighboring base station 2 or the neighboring base station 1 is unable to collect the terminal feedback information.

[0208] S1103: Neighboring base station 2 sends slice resource status prediction information of neighboring base station 2 to the source base station, and neighboring base station 1 sends slice resource status prediction information of neighboring base station 1 to the source base station; the source base station receives the slice resource status prediction information of neighboring base station 2 and the slice resource status prediction information of neighboring base station 1.

[0209] Among them, the slice resource status prediction information of the neighboring base station 2 and the slice resource status prediction information of the neighboring base station 1 can be carried in the second data collection update message. The second data collection update message is a message used to transmit slice resource status prediction information. The slice resource status prediction information of the neighboring base station 2 is the slice resource status prediction information corresponding to the slice resource status prediction indication of the neighboring base station 2, and the slice resource status prediction information of the neighboring base station 1 is the slice resource status prediction information corresponding to the slice resource status prediction indication of the neighboring base station 1. For the relevant description of the slice resource status prediction information, please refer to the relevant description of the slice resource status prediction information in S901, which will not be repeated here.

[0210] S1104: The source base station obtains slice prediction information of the terminal based on the AI ​​model and the historical data of the terminal.

[0211] Specifically, the source base station collects historical data of the terminal and inputs the historical data of the terminal as inference data into the trained AI model. The trained AI model outputs the slice prediction information of the terminal. The trained AI model can be used to predict the slice prediction information of the terminal. Optionally, the trained AI model can also be used to predict the terminal's mobile path prediction information, the source base station's slice resource status prediction information, possible slicing problems, etc. Among them, the relevant description of the terminal's slice prediction information can refer to the relevant description of the terminal's slice prediction information in S901, which is not repeated here.

[0212] S1105: The source base station determines neighboring base station 1 as the target base station based on the slice prediction information of the terminal, the slice resource status prediction information of neighboring base station 1, and the slice resource status prediction information of neighboring base station 2.

[0213] Specifically, the source base station selects the adjacent base station 1 whose corresponding slice resource status prediction information can meet the slice prediction information of the terminal from the adjacent base station 1 and the adjacent base station 2 as the target base station.

[0214] S1106: The source base station sends a handover request to the target base station, and the target base station receives the handover request.

[0215] Among them, the handover request (HANDOVER REQUEST) is used to request the execution of cell handover, and the handover request may include the terminal identifier (for example, terminal ID), the data collection identifier, the slice prediction information of the terminal, the slice feedback indication 2, and the target cell identifier. Among them, the terminal identifier can be used to identify the terminal. For the relevant description of the data collection identifier, refer to the relevant description of the data collection identifier in S1101. Slice feedback indication 2 (slice feedback indication 2) may include a first slice identifier and a first terminal feedback request indication. The target cell identifier is used to indicate the cell in the target base station that provides services to the terminal. For the relevant description of the first slice identifier and the first terminal feedback request indication, refer to the relevant description of the first slice identifier and the first terminal feedback request indication in S901, which will not be repeated here.

[0216] S1107: The target base station sends a handover request confirmation to the source base station, and the source base station receives the handover request confirmation from the target base station.

[0217] Among them, the handover request acknowledgment (HANDOVER REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGE) is used to respond to the handover request. The handover request acknowledgment may include a slice prediction acknowledgment (slice prediction acknowledgement) message. The slice prediction acknowledgment message can be used to indicate whether the target base station can meet the predicted service requirements of the terminal under the slice service. When the wireless resources of the target base station cannot meet the predicted service requirements of the terminal under the slice service, the slice prediction acknowledgment message may include an indication and / or reason for not being able to meet the predicted service requirements of the terminal under the slice service, for example, the number of RRC connected users of the target base station has reached the maximum threshold, etc.

[0218] Specifically, the target base station determines whether the target base station can provide services for the terminal based on its own wireless resources and the slice prediction information of the terminal. If the target base station can provide services for the terminal, it sends a switching request confirmation to the source base station.

[0219] For example, the target base station supports slice 1 and slice 2, and the slice prediction information of the terminal indicates that the terminal will access slice service 1 corresponding to slice 1 in the future. At this time, the target base station can provide services for the terminal; if the resources of slice 1 of the target base station 1 can meet the predicted service needs of the terminal under slice service 1, the target base station sends a slice prediction confirmation message to the source base station; if the resources of slice 1 of the target base station 1 cannot meet the predicted service needs of the terminal under slice service 1, the target base station sends a slice prediction confirmation message to the source base station, and the slice prediction confirmation message includes an indication that the target base station cannot meet the predicted service needs of the terminal under slice service 1 and the reason for not being able to meet the predicted service needs of the terminal under slice service 1 is that the number of RRC connected users of the target base station has reached the maximum threshold.

[0220] Optionally, when the target base station can meet the predicted service needs of the terminal under the slice service, the slice prediction confirmation message may also include a recommended switching time. The recommended switching time can be used to indicate that the target base station can meet the predicted service needs of the terminal when the recommended switching time arrives or can provide the terminal with a higher quality of service. For example, the current wireless resources of the target base station cannot meet the predicted service needs of the terminal, but the target base station optimizes its own wireless resources to meet the predicted service needs of the terminal when the recommended switching time arrives. At this time, the slice confirmation message may include the recommended switching time to indicate the time when the target base station can meet the predicted service needs of the terminal.

[0221] S1108: The source base station, the terminal, and the target base station reconfigure resources to perform handover.

[0222] Specifically, the target base station allocates resources to the terminal and sends the allocated resources to the source base station. The source base station receives the resources allocated to the terminal from the target base station and sends the resources allocated to the terminal by the target base station to the terminal. The terminal receives the resources allocated to it by the target base station and accesses the target cell based on the resources.

[0223] S1109: The target base station sends a data collection update message to the source base station, and the source base station receives the data collection update message.

[0224] The data collection update message carries terminal feedback information and a data collection identifier. The data collection update message can be used to transmit terminal feedback information. The data collection identifier is the data collection identifier in S1101. The terminal feedback information may include the terminal information indicated by the slice feedback indication 2 in S1106. For example, the first slice identifier included in the slice feedback indication 2 is slice identifier 1, and the first terminal feedback request indication is used to indicate that the target base station needs to feedback the terminal throughput. At this time, the terminal feedback information includes the terminal throughput under the slice service corresponding to slice identifier 1.

[0225] S1110: The target base station sends third information to the source base station, and the source base station receives the third information from the target base station.

[0226] The third information may be used to indicate the reason why the target base station stops collecting the terminal feedback information.

[0227] Specifically, the target base station sends the third information to the source base station, and the source base station receives the third information from the target base station, which may include: the target base station meets the condition that triggers the target base station to stop collecting terminal feedback information, stops collecting terminal feedback information, and then sends the third information to the source base station, and the source base station receives the third information sent by the target base station. The third information may carry the reason why the target base station stopped collecting terminal feedback information. For the relevant description of the condition for triggering the target base station to stop collecting terminal feedback information, refer to the relevant description of the condition for triggering the second communication device to stop collecting terminal feedback information in S1001, and will not be repeated here.

[0228] Based on the communication method shown in Figure 11, the target base station can obtain the slice prediction information of the terminal, and send indication information to the source base station according to its own wireless resources and the slice prediction information of the terminal, so that the source base station can determine in advance whether the target base station can support terminal switching according to the indication information, thereby avoiding the problem that the resources of the target base station cannot meet the business needs of the terminal after the terminal accesses the target base station, resulting in the failure of the terminal switching, thereby ensuring the continuity of communication / network services and service quality of the terminal.

[0229] Optionally, before executing S901, the first communication device also receives a slice prediction information indication from an adjacent communication device of the first communication device, obtains slice prediction information of the terminal based on the slice prediction information indication, and carries the slice prediction information of the second communication device in the adjacent communication device sent to the first communication device in the first information, so that the second communication device obtains the slice prediction information required by the second communication device.

[0230] In the present application, the slice prediction information indication is used to indicate the slice prediction information that the first communication device needs to provide, that is, it can be understood that the slice prediction information that the first communication device needs to provide is the slice prediction information corresponding to the slice prediction information indication.

[0231] Optionally, the slice prediction information indication may include at least one of the following: a predicted slice identifier, a predicted time identifier, a predicted service flow identifier, a predicted service demand identifier, and a predicted moving path identifier. The slice prediction information of the terminal that the first communication device needs to provide may include at least one of the following: slice prediction information corresponding to the predicted slice identifier, slice prediction information at the time corresponding to the predicted time identifier, slice prediction information at the throughput corresponding to the predicted service flow identifier, slice prediction information at the service demand corresponding to the predicted service demand identifier, and slice prediction information at the moving path corresponding to the predicted moving path identifier.

[0232] The slice prediction information, as described above, may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: a predicted time identifier, a predicted slice identifier, predicted service traffic, and predicted service demand. As described above, the predicted time identifier in the slice prediction information can be used to predict time. The predicted time identifier in the slice prediction information can be the same as or different from the predicted time identifier carried in the slice prediction information indication. The predicted time indicated by the predicted time identifier in the slice prediction information can be included in the predicted time indicated by the predicted time identifier carried in the slice prediction information indication. For distinction, the predicted time identifier in the slice prediction information can be referred to as a first predicted time identifier. Similarly, the predicted slice identifier in the slice prediction information can identify a slice service. The predicted slice identifier in the slice prediction information can be the same as or different from the predicted slice identifier carried in the slice prediction information indication. For distinction, the predicted slice identifier in the slice prediction information can be referred to as a first predicted slice identifier. The slice service indicated by the predicted slice identifier in the slice prediction information can be included in the slice service indicated by the predicted slice identifier carried in the slice prediction information indication.

[0233] In the present application, the identifier of the predicted slice carried in the slice prediction information indication can be called the identifier of the second predicted slice, and the identifier of the predicted slice is used to indicate the slice (or slice service) corresponding to the slice prediction information that needs to be provided by the first communication device, that is, it can be understood that the identifier of the predicted slice indicates the slice, and the first communication device needs to provide the slice prediction information under the slice indicated by the identifier of the predicted slice.

[0234] In this application, the prediction time identifier carried in the slice prediction information indication may be referred to as a second prediction time identifier. This prediction time identifier may be used to indicate the prediction time corresponding to the slice prediction information that needs to be provided by the first communication device. That is, it can be understood that the prediction time identifier indicates the prediction time, and the first communication device needs to provide the slice prediction information at the prediction time identified by the prediction time identifier. The prediction time may be a prediction moment, a prediction time period, a prediction time range, etc., without limitation.

[0235] In the present application, the traffic identifier of the predicted service carried in the slice prediction information indication can be called the traffic identifier of the second predicted service. The traffic identifier of the predicted service can be used to indicate the throughput of the predicted service corresponding to the slice prediction information that needs to be provided by the first communication device, that is, it can be understood that the traffic identifier of the predicted service indicates the throughput, and the first communication device needs to provide the slice prediction information under the throughput indicated by the traffic identifier of the predicted service.

[0236] In the present application, the predicted business demand identifier carried in the slice prediction information indication can be called a second predicted business demand identifier, and the predicted business demand identifier can be used to indicate the predicted business demand corresponding to the slice prediction information that the first communication device needs to provide, that is, it can be understood that the predicted business demand identifier indicates the predicted business demand, and the first communication device needs to provide the slice prediction information under the predicted business demand indicated by the predicted business demand identifier.

[0237] In the present application, the predicted mobile path identifier can be used to indicate the predicted mobile path corresponding to the slice prediction information that the first communication device needs to provide, that is, it can be understood that the predicted mobile path identifier indicates the predicted mobile path, and the first communication device needs to provide the slice prediction information under the predicted mobile path indicated by the predicted mobile path identifier.

[0238] In conjunction with the communication system shown in Figure 4, the first communication device in Figure 4 is a source base station that does not support the dual connection (DC) working mode, the second communication device in Figure 4 is a target base station, the terminal in Figure 4 is a terminal, and the artificial intelligence module in Figure 4 is an AI module for predicting slice prediction information of the terminal. Among them, the source base station is the base station currently providing services to the terminal in Figure 4, and the target base station is the base station that replaces the source base station to provide services to the terminal. The communication methods shown in Figures 9 and 10 are introduced in conjunction with Figure 12. Among them, the first indication information in Figure 9 is slice feedback indication 2 (slice feedback indication 2), and the second information is a slice prediction acknowledgement message (slice prediction acknowledgement) message; the adjacent communication devices of the first communication device in Figure 10 include adjacent base station 1 and adjacent base station 2, the second indication information is switching feedback indication 1 (slice feedback indication 1), the first data collection request is a data collection request (DATA COLLECTION REQUEST), the first identifier is a data collection identifier (DATA COLLECTION ID), the first data collection response is a data collection response (DATA COLLECTION RESPONSE), and the first data collection update message is a data collection update message (DATA COLLECTION UPDATE).

[0239] FIG12 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG12 , the method may include S1201 to S1212:

[0240] S1201 : Neighboring base station 1 and neighboring base station 2 send data collection request 1 to the source base station, and the source base station receives the data collection request 1 sent by neighboring base station 1 and neighboring base station 2 .

[0241] The data collection request 1 may be used to request the collection of slice prediction information of a slice prediction indication. The data collection request 1 includes the slice prediction information indication and a second identifier.

[0242] The relevant descriptions of the slice prediction information indication and slice prediction information can be referred to above and will not be repeated here.

[0243] The second identifier (eg, DATA COLLECTION ID_0 ) is used to indicate the data collection process corresponding to data collection request 1 .

[0244] It should be understood that the source base station is the initiating or requesting node of the data collection process (the data collection process is the data collection process corresponding to the data collection request 1), and the above-mentioned adjacent base station 1 and adjacent base station 2 are the receiving or request response nodes of the data collection process.

[0245] Optionally, data collection request 1 may further include configuration information corresponding to the slice prediction information indication. The configuration information corresponding to the slice prediction information indication may be used to instruct the source base station to send the slice prediction information provided by the source base station. The configuration information corresponding to the slice prediction information indication may include at least one of the following: a terminal identifier list, a slice identifier list, a cell identifier list, a terminal service identifier list, a traffic threshold for the terminal service, a terminal service demand threshold, etc. The terminal identifier list is used to instruct the source base station to send slice prediction information for the terminal corresponding to the terminal identifier in the terminal identifier list. The slice identifier list is used to instruct the source base station to send slice prediction information for the terminal under the slice corresponding to the slice identifier in the slice identifier list. The cell identifier list is used to instruct the source base station to send slice prediction information for the terminal under the cell corresponding to the cell identifier in the cell identifier list. The terminal service identifier list is used to instruct the source base station to send slice prediction information for the terminal under the service corresponding to the terminal service identifier in the terminal service identifier list. The terminal service traffic threshold is used to instruct the source base station to send slice prediction information for the terminal whose predicted service traffic is less than the terminal service traffic threshold. The terminal service demand threshold is used to instruct the source base station to send slice prediction information for the terminal whose predicted service demand is less than the terminal service demand threshold.

[0246] S1202: The source base station sends a data collection response 1 to the neighboring base station 1 and the neighboring base station 2, and the neighboring base station 1 and the neighboring base station 2 receive the data collection response 1 from the source base station.

[0247] The data collection response 1 is used to respond to the data collection request 1 in S1201. The data collection response 1 may include a second identifier. For a description of the second identifier, reference may be made to the description of the second identifier in S1201, which will not be repeated here.

[0248] Optionally, the data collection response 1 may carry a failure indication 1 (failure indication 1) and / or a reason corresponding to the failure indication 1. The failure indication 1 is used to indicate that the source base station cannot collect slice prediction information of the terminal.

[0249] S1203: The source base station sends a data collection request to the neighboring base station 1 and the neighboring base station 2, and the neighboring base station 1 and the neighboring base station 2 receive the data collection request from the source base station.

[0250] S1204: Neighboring base station 1 and neighboring base station 2 send data collection responses to the source base station, and the source base station receives the data collection responses from neighboring base station 1 and neighboring base station 2.

[0251] S1205: Neighboring base station 1 sends slice resource status prediction information of neighboring base station 1 to the source base station, and neighboring base station 2 sends slice resource status prediction information of neighboring base station 2 to the source base station; the source base station receives slice resource status prediction information from neighboring base station 1 and slice resource status prediction information from neighboring base station 2.

[0252] S1206: The source base station obtains slice prediction information of the terminal based on the AI ​​model and the historical data of the terminal.

[0253] S1207: The source base station determines neighboring base station 1 as the target base station based on the slice prediction information of the terminal, the slice resource status prediction information of neighboring base station 1, and the slice resource status prediction information of neighboring base station 2.

[0254] For the related descriptions of the above steps S1203-S1207, please refer to the related descriptions of steps S1101-S1105 in Figure 11, which will not be repeated here.

[0255] S1208: The source base station sends a handover request to the target base station, and the target base station receives the handover request.

[0256] The handover request may include the slice prediction information of the terminal that the source base station needs to provide, the second identifier, the identifier of the terminal, the data collection identifier, the slice feedback indication 2, and the target cell identifier. For the relevant description of the slice prediction information of the terminal that the source base station needs to provide, refer to the relevant description in S1201, and for the relevant description of the terminal identifier, the data collection identifier, the slice feedback indication 2, and the target cell identifier, refer to the relevant description of the terminal identifier, the data collection identifier, the slice feedback indication 2, and the target cell identifier in S1106, which are not repeated here.

[0257] Optionally, the handover request may carry a data collection list, and the data collection list may include a data collection identifier and a second identifier.

[0258] S1209: The target base station sends a handover request confirmation to the source base station, and the source base station receives the handover request confirmation from the target base station.

[0259] Among them, the handover request confirmation is used to respond to the handover request. The handover request confirmation may include a slice prediction acknowledgement message. The slice prediction acknowledgement message can be used to indicate whether the target base station can meet the service requirements of the predicted terminal under the slice service corresponding to the slice prediction information indication. When the wireless resources of the target base station cannot meet the service requirements of the predicted terminal under the slice service corresponding to the slice prediction information indication, the slice prediction acknowledgement message may include an indication and / or reason for not being able to meet the service requirements of the predicted terminal under the slice service corresponding to the slice prediction information indication, for example, the number of RRC connected users of the target base station has reached the maximum threshold, etc.

[0260] Specifically, the target base station determines whether the target base station can provide services for the terminal based on its own wireless resources and the slice prediction information of the terminal (that is, the slice prediction information of the terminal that the above-mentioned source base station needs to provide). If the target base station can provide services for the terminal, it sends a switching request confirmation to the source base station.

[0261] S1210: The source base station, the terminal, and the target base station reconfigure resources to perform handover.

[0262] S1211: The target base station sends a data collection update message to the source base station, and the source base station receives the data collection update message.

[0263] S1212: The target base station sends third information to the source base station, and the source base station receives the third information from the target base station.

[0264] For the related description of the above steps S1210-S1212, please refer to the related description of steps S1108-S1110 in Figure 11, which will not be repeated here.

[0265] Based on the communication method shown in FIG12 , the target base station can obtain the slice prediction information of the terminal, and send indication information to the source base station based on its own wireless resources and the slice prediction information of the terminal, so that the source base station can determine in advance whether the target base station can support terminal switching based on the indication information, thereby avoiding the problem that the resources of the target base station cannot meet the service needs of the terminal after the terminal accesses the target base station, or the terminal's contract information indicates that the terminal does not support the predicted slice service under the target base station after the terminal accesses the target base station, resulting in the sending of the terminal switching failure problem, thereby ensuring the terminal's continuous communication / network service and service quality. At the same time, since the handover request sent by the source base station to the target base station includes the slice prediction information of the terminal that the source base station needs to provide, it is no longer necessary to include the slice prediction information under all slices of the terminal, thereby reducing the signaling overhead.

[0266] Optionally, when the first communication device supports a dual-connectivity (DC) working mode, the first communication device, as a master node (MN), can jointly provide services for the terminal with a secondary node (SN). Therefore, the first communication device can initiate a secondary node addition process to a second communication device among its adjacent communication devices, so that the first communication device can exchange first information and second information with the second communication device based on the secondary node addition process. For example, the first communication device sends an addition assistance request (SN ADDITION REQUEST) carrying the first information to the second communication device, so that the second communication device can receive the first information; the second communication device can send an addition assistance request acknowledgment (SN ADDITION REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGE) carrying the second information to the first communication device, so that the first communication device can receive the second information.

[0267] In the present application, when the first communication device supports the dual connectivity (DC) working mode, the first communication device may also initiate other processes to the second communication device among its adjacent communication devices, so that the first communication device can exchange first information and second information with the second communication device based on the auxiliary node addition process. For example, the first communication device may initiate an auxiliary node change (SN CHANGE) process, an auxiliary node modification (SN MODIFICATION) process, a conditional auxiliary node change process (CONDITIONAL SN CHANGE) process, a conditional auxiliary node modification (CONDITIONAL SN MODIFICATION) process, etc. to the second communication device to realize the exchange of first information and second information between the first communication device and the second communication device.

[0268] In conjunction with the communication system shown in Figure 4, the first communication device in Figure 4 is a source base station supporting a dual connection (DC) working mode, the second communication device in Figure 4 is a target secondary node (T-SN), the target secondary node may also be referred to as a target base station, the terminal in Figure 4 is a terminal, the artificial intelligence module in Figure 4 is an AI module for predicting slice prediction information of the terminal, and the first communication device and the second communication device are taken as an example of the interaction of the first information and the second information based on the auxiliary node adding process. Among them, the source base station may also be referred to as the source master node (S-MN), which is the base station currently providing services to the terminal in Figure 4, and the target secondary node may also be referred to as the target base station, which is the base station that replaces the source base station to provide services to the terminal. The communication methods shown in Figures 9 and 10 are introduced in conjunction with Figure 13. Among them, the first indication information in Figure 9 is slice feedback indication 2 (slice feedback indication 2), and the second information is a slice prediction acknowledgement message (slice prediction acknowledgement) message; the adjacent communication devices of the first communication device in Figure 10 include adjacent base station 1 and adjacent base station 2, the second indication information is switching feedback indication 1 (slice feedback indication 1), the first data collection request is a data collection request (DATA COLLECTION REQUEST), the first identifier is a data collection identifier (DATA COLLECTION ID), the first data collection response is a data collection response (DATA COLLECTION RESPONSE), and the first data collection update message is a data collection update message (DATA COLLECTION UPDATE).

[0269] FIG13 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG13 , the method may include S1301 to S1310:

[0270] S1301: The source base station sends a data collection request to the neighboring base station 1 and the neighboring base station 2, and the neighboring base station 1 and the neighboring base station 2 receive the data collection request from the source base station.

[0271] S1302: Neighboring base station 1 and neighboring base station 2 send data collection responses to the source base station, and the source base station receives the data collection responses from neighboring base station 1 and neighboring base station 2.

[0272] S1303: Neighboring base station 1 sends its own slice resource status prediction information to the source base station, and neighboring base station 2 sends its own slice resource status prediction information to the source base station; the source base station receives the slice resource status prediction information from neighboring base station 1 and the slice resource status prediction information from neighboring base station 2.

[0273] S1304: The source base station obtains slice prediction information of the terminal based on the AI ​​model and the historical data of the terminal.

[0274] For the related description of the above steps S1301-S1304, please refer to the related description of steps S1101-S1104 in Figure 11, which will not be repeated here.

[0275] S1305: The source base station determines that the neighboring base station 1 is the target auxiliary node based on the slice prediction information of the terminal, the slice resource status prediction information of the neighboring base station 1, and the slice resource status prediction information of the neighboring base station 2.

[0276] Specifically, the source base station selects the adjacent base station 1 whose slice resource status prediction information can meet the slice prediction information of the terminal from the adjacent base station 1 and the adjacent base station 2 as the target auxiliary node.

[0277] S1306: The source base station sends an assistive node adding request to the target assistive node, and the target assistive node receives the assistive node adding request.

[0278] The SN ADDITION REQUEST is used to request the auxiliary node to provide radio resources for the terminal. The auxiliary node addition request may include the terminal identifier, data collection identifier, slice prediction information of the terminal, slice feedback indication 2, and cell ID. The cell ID is used to indicate the cell in the target auxiliary node that provides services for the terminal. For the description of the terminal identifier, data collection identifier, slice prediction information of the terminal, and slice feedback indication 2, refer to the description in S1106 and are not repeated here.

[0279] S1307: The target auxiliary node sends an auxiliary node adding request response to the source base station, and the source base station receives the auxiliary node adding request response from the target auxiliary node.

[0280] Among them, the auxiliary node addition request response (SN ADDITION REQUEST RESPONSE) is used to respond to the auxiliary node addition request. The auxiliary node addition request response carries a slice prediction acknowledgement (slice prediction acknowledgement) message. For the relevant description of the slice prediction acknowledgement message, please refer to the relevant description of the slice acknowledgement message in S1107. It will not be repeated here. When the wireless resources of the target auxiliary node cannot meet the predicted service requirements of the terminal under the slice service, the slice prediction acknowledgement message may include an indication and / or reason for not being able to meet the predicted service requirements of the terminal under the slice service, for example, the number of RRC connected state users of the target auxiliary node has reached the maximum threshold, etc.

[0281] Specifically, the target auxiliary node determines whether the target auxiliary node can provide services for the terminal based on its own wireless resources and the slice prediction information of the terminal. If the target auxiliary node can provide services for the terminal, it sends an auxiliary node addition request response to the source base station.

[0282] Optionally, when the target auxiliary node can meet the predicted terminal's service requirements under the slice service, the slice prediction confirmation message may also include a recommended SN addition / secondary cell group (SCG) activation / SCG deactivation time. The secondary cell group includes one or more cells in the target auxiliary node.

[0283] Among them, the recommended SN adding time can be used to indicate that the target auxiliary node can meet the predicted service needs of the terminal or can provide the terminal with a higher quality of service when the recommended SN adding time arrives. The recommended SCG activation time can be used to indicate that the target auxiliary node activates the SCG when the recommended SCG activation time arrives, so that the target auxiliary node can meet the predicted service needs of the terminal or can provide the terminal with a higher quality of auxiliary service. The recommended SCG deactivation time can be used to indicate that the target auxiliary node releases the SCG when the recommended SCG deactivation time arrives, so that the target auxiliary node can meet the predicted service needs of the terminal or can provide the terminal with a higher quality of auxiliary service before the recommended SCG deactivation time arrives.

[0284] S1308: The source base station, the terminal and the target auxiliary node reconfigure resources to enable the terminal to access the target auxiliary node.

[0285] Specifically, the process of reconfiguring resources among the source base station, the terminal, and the target auxiliary node to complete the terminal access to the target auxiliary node is prior art and will not be described in detail here.

[0286] S1309: The target auxiliary node sends a data collection update message to the source base station, and the source base station receives the data collection update message.

[0287] S1310: The target auxiliary node sends third information to the source base station, and the source base station receives the third information from the target auxiliary node.

[0288] For the relevant description of the above steps S1309-S1310, please refer to the relevant description of steps S1109-1110, which will not be repeated here.

[0289] It should be understood that Figure 13 shows a process in which a source base station initiates an auxiliary node adding process to a target auxiliary node, so that the target auxiliary node can determine whether the target auxiliary node can meet the predicted service needs of the terminal under the slice service based on its own wireless resources and the slice prediction information of the terminal. When the target auxiliary node can meet the predicted service needs of the terminal under the slice service, the terminal accesses the target auxiliary node.

[0290] Similarly, the source base station can initiate other processes to the target auxiliary node to achieve the technical effect achieved by the target auxiliary node in Figure 13. For example, the source base station can initiate an auxiliary node change (SN CHANGE) process, an auxiliary node modification (SN MODIFICATION) process, a conditional auxiliary node change process (CONDITIONAL SN CHANGE) process, a conditional auxiliary node modification (CONDITIONAL SN MODIFICATION) process, etc. to the target auxiliary node. When the source base station initiates any of the above-mentioned other processes to the target auxiliary node to achieve the technical effect achieved by the target auxiliary node in Figure 13, the terminal identifier, data collection identifier, slice prediction information of the terminal, slice feedback indication 2, and cell ID included in the auxiliary node addition request in Figure 13 can be adaptively carried in any of the above-mentioned other processes, and in the request message sent by the source base station to the target auxiliary node. The slice prediction acknowledgement message included in the auxiliary node addition request response in Figure 13 can be adaptively carried in any of the above-mentioned other processes, and in the request response message sent by the target auxiliary node to the source base station.

[0291] Based on the communication method shown in Figure 13, the source base station enables the target auxiliary node to obtain the slice prediction information of the terminal in a working mode supporting dual connections, and sends indication information to the source base station based on its own wireless resources and the slice prediction information of the terminal, so that the source base station can determine in advance whether the target base station auxiliary node can support terminal switching based on the indication information, thereby avoiding the situation where the resources of the target auxiliary node cannot meet the service needs of the terminal after the terminal accesses the target auxiliary node, or the terminal's contract information indicates that the terminal does not support the predicted slice service under the target base station after the terminal accesses the target base station, resulting in the sending of terminal switching failure problems, thereby ensuring the continuity of communication / network services and service quality of the terminal.

[0292] Optionally, under the O-RAN network architecture, the first communication device includes a first centralized unit, the second communication device includes a second centralized unit, and the AI ​​models in the first communication device and the second communication device are deployed in the RIC. At this time, the first communication device and the second communication device interact with the first information and the second information, which can be understood as the first centralized unit and the second centralized unit interacting with the first information and the second information.

[0293] Optionally, under the O-RAN network architecture, the second communication device includes a second centralized unit and a second distributed unit, the first communication device includes a first centralized unit, and the second centralized unit sends second information to the first centralized unit. The second information is used to indicate whether the second communication device can meet the predicted service needs of the terminal under the slice service. It can be understood as whether the second distributed unit included in the second communication device can meet the predicted service needs of the terminal under the slice service.

[0294] Optionally, before executing S901 under the O-RAN network architecture, the first communication device also sends a slice prediction request to the RIC, so that the first communication device can obtain the slice prediction information that the RIC needs to provide based on the slice prediction request. The slice prediction information that the RIC needs to provide includes the slice prediction information of the terminal, and the slice prediction information of the terminal is carried in the first information and sent to the second communication device in the first communication device, so that the second communication device obtains the slice prediction information of the terminal.

[0295] In this application, a slice prediction request is used to indicate the slice prediction information that the RIC needs to provide, that is, it can be understood that the slice prediction information that the RIC needs to provide is the slice prediction information corresponding to the slice prediction request.

[0296] Optionally, the slice prediction request may include a prediction time indication, a prediction terminal identifier, and a predicted slice prediction information indication. The prediction time indication is used to indicate that the RIC needs to provide slice prediction information for the prediction time corresponding to the prediction time indication. The prediction terminal indication is used to indicate that the RIC needs to provide slice prediction information for the terminal corresponding to the predicted terminal identifier. The predicted slice prediction information indication is used to indicate the slice prediction information that the RIC needs to provide.

[0297] In the present application, the predicted slice prediction information indication may include at least one of the following: a slice service prediction indication, a traffic prediction indication, and a service demand prediction indication. When the predicted slice prediction information indication includes a slice service prediction indication, the slice prediction information that the RIC needs to provide may include the predicted slice service. When the predicted slice prediction information indication includes a traffic prediction indication, the slice prediction information that the RIC needs to provide may include the predicted throughput of the slice service. When the predicted slice prediction information indication includes a service demand prediction indication, the slice prediction information that the RIC needs to provide may include the service demand of the predicted slice service.

[0298] Optionally, the slice prediction request may also include input data required for AI model reasoning in the RIC. This input data may include historical data of the terminal, such as the terminal's historical movement path, historical slice services, historical service requirements, etc.

[0299] Optionally, the slice prediction information that the RIC needs to provide may be carried in a slice prediction request acknowledgement.

[0300] Optionally, under the O-RAN network architecture, the first communication device includes a first centralized unit, the second communication device includes a second centralized unit and a second distributed unit, and the second communication device receives slice prediction information of a terminal from the first communication device, which may include: the second centralized unit receives slice prediction information of the terminal from the first centralized unit, and sends the received slice prediction information of the terminal to the second distributed unit, and the second distributed unit receives the slice prediction information of the terminal sent by the second centralized unit.

[0301] Optionally, the second centralized unit may send a terminal context establishment request (UE CONTEXT SETUP REQUEST) signaling carrying the slice prediction information of the terminal to the second distributed unit, so that the second distributed unit may receive the slice prediction information of the terminal.

[0302] Optionally, under the O-RAN network architecture, the first communication device includes a first centralized unit, the second communication device includes a second centralized unit and a second distributed unit, and the second communication device sends the second information to the first communication device, which may include: the second distributed unit sends the second information to the second centralized unit, the second centralized unit receives the second information, and sends the received second information to the first centralized unit.

[0303] Optionally, the second distributed unit may send a terminal context setup response (UE CONTEXT SETUP RESPONSE) signaling carrying the second information to the second centralized unit, so that the second centralized unit may receive the second information.

[0304] In conjunction with the communication system shown in FIG8 , the following example is taken in which the first centralized unit included in the first communication device in FIG8 is CU1, the second communication device in FIG8 includes a second centralized unit CU2, CU2 is a target centralized unit, the second communication device also includes a second distributed unit DU2, the terminal in FIG8 is a terminal, and the RIC in FIG8 includes an AI model. The RIC includes an AI model that can be used to infer slice prediction information of the terminal and can also be used to infer slice resource status prediction information. The communication methods shown in FIG9 and FIG10 are described in conjunction with FIG14 . Among them, the first indication information in Figure 9 is slice feedback indication 2 (slice feedback indication 2), and the second information is the first slice prediction confirmation message; the adjacent communication devices of the first communication device in Figure 10 include CU2 and CU3, the second indication information is switching feedback indication 1 (slice feedback indication 1), the first data collection request is a data collection request (DATA COLLECTION REQUEST), the first identifier is a data collection identifier (DATA COLLECTION ID), the first data collection response is a data collection response (DATA COLLECTION RESPONSE), and the first data collection update message is a data collection update message (DATA COLLECTION UPDATE).

[0305] FIG14 is a flow chart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG14 , the method may include S1401 to S1415:

[0306] S1401 : CU1 sends a data collection request to CU2 and CU3 , and CU2 and CU3 receive the data collection request from CU1 .

[0307] For the description of the data collection request, please refer to the description in S1101 and will not be repeated here.

[0308] S1402: CU2 and CU3 send data collection responses to CU1, and CU1 receives the data collection responses from CU2 and CU3.

[0309] For the relevant description of the data collection request response, please refer to the relevant description in S1102 and will not be repeated here.

[0310] S1403: CU1 sends a slice prediction request to the RIC, and the RIC receives the slice prediction request from CU1.

[0311] Among them, the relevant description of slice prediction request can be referred to above and will not be repeated here.

[0312] S1404: The RIC infers the slice prediction information that the RIC needs to provide based on the input data required by the AI ​​model inference and the AI ​​model.

[0313] Specifically, RIC obtains the input data required for AI model reasoning from CU1, and infers the slice prediction information that RIC needs to provide based on the input data and the AI ​​model. The relevant description of the slice prediction information that RIC needs to provide can refer to the relevant description in S1401 and will not be repeated here.

[0314] S1405: RIC sends slice prediction information that RIC needs to provide to CU1, and CU1 receives the slice prediction information that RIC needs to provide.

[0315] S1406: RIC sends an indication and reason of being unable to provide slice prediction information to CU1, and CU1 receives the indication and reason of being unable to provide slice prediction information from RIC.

[0316] S1406 is an optional operation. When the RIC cannot provide slice prediction information to CU1, step S1406 is performed so that CU1 can obtain the slice prediction information that the RIC cannot provide and the reason for the inability to provide the slice prediction information (for example, the AI ​​resource does not support the prediction of the slice prediction information corresponding to the indication that the slice prediction information cannot be provided). If the RIC can provide all the slice prediction information to CU1, step S1406 is not performed.

[0317] S1407: CU1 requests the slice resource status prediction information of CU2 and the slice resource status prediction information of CU3 from the RIC. The RIC sends the slice resource status prediction information of CU2 and the slice resource status prediction information of CU3 to CU1.

[0318] Among them, the relevant description of the slice resource status prediction information can refer to the relevant description in S1103 and will not be repeated here.

[0319] S1408: CU1 determines that CU2 is the target centralized unit based on the slice prediction information of the terminal, the slice resource status prediction information of CU2, and the slice resource status prediction information of CU3.

[0320] Specifically, CU1 selects CU2 from CU2 and CU3, whose slice resource status prediction information can satisfy the slice prediction information of the terminal, as the target centralized unit.

[0321] S1409: CU1 sends a switching request to CU2, and CU2 receives the switching request from CU1.

[0322] For the description of the handover request, reference may be made to the description of the handover request in S1106 , which will not be repeated here.

[0323] S1410: CU2 sends a terminal context establishment request to DU2, and DU2 receives the terminal context establishment request from CU2.

[0324] The UE CONTEXT SETUP REQUEST carries the slice prediction information of the terminal. For the description of the slice prediction information of the terminal, please refer to the description in S1106, which will not be repeated here.

[0325] S1411: DU2 sends a context establishment response to CU2, and CU2 receives the context establishment response from DU2.

[0326] Among them, the terminal context establishment response (UE CONTEXT SETUP RESPONSE) carries a first slice prediction confirmation message. The first slice confirmation message is used to indicate whether DU2 can meet the predicted service requirements of the terminal under the slice service. When the wireless resources of DU2 cannot meet the predicted service requirements of the terminal under the slice service, the first slice prediction confirmation message may include an indication and / or reason that DU2 cannot meet the predicted service requirements of the terminal under the slice service, for example, the number of RRC connected users of DU2 has reached the maximum threshold, etc.

[0327] S1412: CU2 sends a switching request confirmation to CU1, and CU1 receives the switching request confirmation from CU2.

[0328] Among them, the switching request confirmation carries a first slice prediction confirmation message. The relevant description of the first slice prediction confirmation message can refer to the relevant description of the above-mentioned first slice prediction confirmation message, which will not be repeated here.

[0329] Optionally, when DU2 can meet the predicted service requirements of the terminal under the slice service, the first slice prediction confirmation message may also include a recommended switching time. The recommended switching time can refer to the relevant description in S1107 and will not be repeated here.

[0330] S1413: The terminal, CU1, and CU2 reallocate resources to perform switching.

[0331] Specifically, CU2 allocates resources to the terminal and sends the allocated resources to CU1. CU1 receives the resources allocated to the terminal from CU2 and sends the resources allocated to the terminal by CU2 to the terminal. The terminal receives the resources allocated to it by CU2 and accesses CU2 based on the resources.

[0332] S1414: CU2 sends a data collection update message to CU1, and CU1 receives the data collection update message from CU2.

[0333] The data collection update message carries the terminal feedback information and the data collection identifier. For the description of the terminal feedback information and the data collection identifier, please refer to the description in S1109 and will not be repeated here.

[0334] S1415: CU2 sends the third information to CU1, and CU1 receives the third information from CU2.

[0335] For the description of the third information, please refer to the description in 1006 and will not be repeated here. It should be understood that CU1 corresponds to the first communication device in Figure 10, and CU2 corresponds to the second communication device in Figure 10. Therefore, the third information can be used to indicate the reason why the second communication device stopped collecting terminal feedback information. It can be understood that the third information can be used to indicate the reason why CU2 stopped collecting terminal feedback information.

[0336] Based on the method shown in Figure 14, CU2 under the O-RAN architecture can obtain the slice prediction information of the terminal, and send indication information to CU1 according to the wireless resources of DU2 and the slice prediction information of the terminal, so that CU1 can determine in advance whether CU2 can support terminal switching based on the indication information, thereby avoiding the situation where the resources of DU2 cannot meet the service requirements of the terminal after the terminal accesses CU2, or the terminal's contract information indicates that the terminal does not support the predicted slice service under CU2 after the terminal accesses CU2, resulting in the sending of terminal switching failure problems, thereby ensuring the continuity of communication / network services and service quality of the terminal.

[0337] The above mainly introduces the solution provided by the embodiment of the present application from the perspective of interaction between each device. It is understandable that each device, such as a first communication device (e.g., a source base station), a second communication device (e.g., a target base station), a terminal, etc., in order to implement the above functions, includes a hardware structure and / or software module corresponding to each function. Those skilled in the art should easily appreciate that, in conjunction with the algorithm steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed herein, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in a hardware or computer software driven hardware manner depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to be beyond the scope of this application.

[0338] In the embodiment of the present application, the functional modules of the first communication device, the second communication device, etc. can be grouped according to the above method example. For example, each functional module can be grouped according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The above-mentioned integrated modules can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of software functional modules. It should be noted that the grouping of modules in the embodiment of the present application is schematic and is only a logical functional grouping. In actual implementation, there may be other grouping methods.

[0339] FIG15 shows a structural diagram of a first communication device 1500, which can be used to perform the functions of the first communication device involved in the above embodiment. As an implementation method, the first communication device 1500 shown in FIG15 includes: a transceiver unit 1501;

[0340] The transceiver unit 1501 is configured to send first information to a second communication device, where the first information includes slice prediction information of a terminal; the slice prediction information of the terminal is used to indicate the predicted service requirements of the terminal under the slice service; the transceiver unit 1501 is further configured to receive second information from the second communication device, where the second information is used to indicate whether the second communication device meets the predicted service requirements of the terminal under the slice service. For example, the transceiver unit 1501 can support the first communication device 1500 to execute S1106, or can support the first communication device 1500 to execute S1208, or can support the first communication device 1500 to execute S1306, or can support the first communication device 1500 to execute S1409. For another example, the transceiver unit S1501 can support the first communication device to execute S1107, or can support the first communication device 1500 to execute S1209, or can support the first communication device 1500 to execute S1309, or can support the first communication device 1500 to execute S1412.

[0341] For the description of the first communication device, the second communication device, the first information, and the second information, reference may be made to that in the above method embodiment.

[0342] Specifically, all relevant contents of each step involved in the method embodiments shown in Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14 can be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional modules, which will not be repeated here. The first communication device 1500 is used to perform the function of the source base station in the communication method shown in Figure 11 or 12, so that the same effect as the above-mentioned communication method can be achieved. The first communication device 1500 is used to perform the function of the source base station (source master node) in the communication method shown in Figure 13, so that the same effect as the above-mentioned communication method can be achieved. The first communication device 1500 is used to perform the function of CU1 in the communication method shown in Figure 14, so that the same effect as the above-mentioned communication method can be achieved.

[0343] FIG16 shows a structural diagram of a second communication device 1600, which can be used to perform the functions of the second communication device involved in the above embodiment. As an implementation method, the second communication device 1600 shown in FIG16 includes: a transceiver unit 1601;

[0344] The transceiver unit 1601 is configured to receive first information from a first communication device, the first information including slice prediction information of a terminal; the slice prediction information of the terminal is used to indicate the predicted service requirements of the terminal under the slice service; the transceiver unit 1601 is further configured to send second information to the first communication device, the second information being used to indicate whether the second communication device meets the predicted service requirements of the terminal under the slice service. For example, the transceiver unit 1601 may support the second communication device 1600 to execute S1106, or may support the second communication device 1600 to execute S1208, or may support the second communication device 1600 to execute S1306, or may support the second communication device 1600 to execute S1409-S1410. For another example, the transceiver unit S1601 may support the second communication device to execute S1107, or may support the second communication device 1600 to execute S1209, or may support the second communication device 1600 to execute S1309, or may support the second communication device 1600 to execute S1411-S1412.

[0345] Specifically, all relevant contents of each step involved in the method embodiments shown in Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14 can be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional modules, and will not be repeated here. The second communication device 1600 is used to perform the function of the target base station in the communication method shown in Figure 11 or 12, so that the same effect as the above-mentioned communication method can be achieved. The second communication device 1600 is used to perform the function of the target auxiliary node in the communication method shown in Figure 13, so that the same effect as the above-mentioned communication method can be achieved. The second communication device 1600 is used to perform the function of CU2 and / or DU2 in the communication method shown in Figure 14, so that the same effect as the above-mentioned communication method can be achieved.

[0346] As mentioned above, the transceiver unit may be a communication module, or a transceiver circuit or a communication interface, etc. Any of the communication devices mentioned above may also include a storage unit, which is used to store program code and data of any communication device. The storage unit may be a storage module or a memory. Any of the communication devices mentioned above may also include a processing unit, which is used to implement or execute the various exemplary logical blocks, modules and circuits described in conjunction with the contents disclosed in this application. The processing unit may be a processing module, or a processor or a controller. The processor may also be a combination that implements computing functions, such as a combination of one or more microprocessor groups, a DSP and a microprocessor, etc. When the processing module is a processor, the communication module is a communication interface, and the storage module is a memory, the first communication device 1500 and the second communication device 1600 involved in the embodiment of the present application may be the communication device 1700 shown in Figure 17. For example, the base station, target base station, source master node, target auxiliary node, CU1, and CU2 mentioned above may adopt the composition structure shown in Figure 17 or include the components shown in Figure 17. Figure 17 is a schematic diagram of the composition of a communication device 1700 provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 17, the communication device 1700 may include a processor 1701, a communication line 1702 and a communication interface 1703.

[0347] Furthermore, the communication device 1700 may further include a memory 1704 , wherein the processor 1701 , the memory 1704 and the communication interface 1703 may be connected via a communication line 1702 .

[0348] The processor 1701 may be a central processing unit (CPU), a general-purpose processor, a network processor (NP), a digital signal processor (DSP), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a programmable logic device (PLD), or any combination thereof. The processor 1701 may also be other communication devices with processing capabilities, such as circuits, devices, or software modules.

[0349] The communication line 1702 is used to transmit information between the various components included in the communication device 1700.

[0350] Communication interface 1703 is used to communicate with other devices or other communication networks. The other communication network can be Ethernet, a radio access network (RAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), etc. Communication interface 1703 can be a radio frequency module, a transceiver, or any communication device capable of achieving communication. The embodiment of the present application is described using the communication interface 1703 as an example of a radio frequency module, wherein the radio frequency module may include an antenna, a radio frequency circuit, etc., and the radio frequency circuit may include a radio frequency integrated chip, a power amplifier, etc.

[0351] The memory 1704 is used to store instructions, where the instructions may be computer programs.

[0352] Among them, the memory 1704 can be a read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and / or instructions, or a random access memory (RAM) or other types of dynamic storage devices that can store information and / or instructions, or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage, magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, and optical disc storage includes compact discs, laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.

[0353] It should be noted that memory 1704 can exist independently of processor 1701 or can be integrated with processor 1701. Memory 1704 can be used to store instructions, program code, or some data. Memory 1704 can be located within or outside of communication device 1700, without limitation. Processor 1701 is configured to execute instructions stored in memory 1704 to implement the communication methods provided in the following embodiments of this application.

[0354] In one example, the processor 1701 may include one or more CPUs, such as CPU0 and CPU1 in FIG. 17 .

[0355] As an optional implementation, the communication device 1700 includes multiple processors. For example, in addition to the processor 1701 in FIG. 17 , it may also include a processor 1707 .

[0356] As an optional implementation, the communication device 1700 further includes an output device 1705 and an input device 1706. The input device 1706 is a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, or a joystick, and the output device 1705 is a display screen, a speaker, or other devices.

[0357] It should be noted that communication device 1700 may be a desktop computer, a portable computer, a network server, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a wireless terminal, an embedded device, a chip system, or a device having a structure similar to that shown in FIG17 . Furthermore, the structure shown in FIG17 does not limit the communication device. In addition to the components shown in FIG17 , the communication device may include more or fewer components than shown, or combine certain components, or arrange the components differently.

[0358] In the embodiment of the present application, the chip system can be composed of chips, or can include chips and other discrete devices.

[0359] The embodiments of the present application also provide a computer-readable storage medium. All or part of the processes in the above-mentioned method embodiments can be completed by a computer program to instruct the relevant hardware. The program can be stored in the above-mentioned computer-readable storage medium. When the program is executed, it can include the processes of the above-mentioned method embodiments. The computer-readable storage medium can be a terminal device of any of the above-mentioned embodiments, such as: an internal storage unit including a data transmission end and / or a data receiving end, such as a hard disk or memory of the terminal device. The above-mentioned computer-readable storage medium can also be an external storage device of the above-mentioned terminal device, such as a plug-in hard disk, a smart memory card (SMC), a secure digital (SD) card, a flash card, etc. equipped on the above-mentioned terminal device. Furthermore, the above-mentioned computer-readable storage medium can also include both the internal storage unit of the above-mentioned terminal device and an external storage device. The above-mentioned computer-readable storage medium is used to store the above-mentioned computer program and other programs and data required by the above-mentioned terminal device. The above-mentioned computer-readable storage medium can also be used to temporarily store data that has been output or is to be output.

[0360] It should be understood that the collection, storage, use, processing, transmission, provision, and disclosure of user personal information involved in the technical solution of this application complies with relevant laws and regulations and does not violate public order and good morals. For example, in the technical solution of this application, the processing of user personal information is carried out with the user's authorization, and the same description is not repeated here.

[0361] It should be noted that the terms "first" and "second" in the specification, claims, and drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects, rather than to describe a specific order. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include steps or units that are not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units that are inherent to these processes, methods, products, or devices.

[0362] It should be understood that in the present application, "at least one (item)" refers to one or more, "more than one" refers to two or more, "at least two (items)" refers to two or three and more than three, and "and / or" is used to describe the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, "A and / or B" can mean: only A exists, only B exists, and A and B exist at the same time, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following items" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b or c can mean: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c", where a, b, c can be single or multiple.

[0363] It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, "B corresponding to A" means that B is associated with A. For example, B can be determined based on A. It should also be understood that determining B based on A does not mean determining B based solely on A; B can also be determined based on A and / or other information. In addition, the "connection" in the embodiments of the present application refers to various connection methods, such as direct connection and indirect connection, to achieve communication between devices, and the embodiments of the present application do not impose any limitations on this.

[0364] Unless otherwise specified, the "transmission" (transmit / transmission) appearing in the embodiments of the present application refers to bidirectional transmission, including the actions of sending and / or receiving. Specifically, the "transmission" in the embodiments of the present application includes the sending of data, the receiving of data, or the sending of data and the receiving of data. In other words, the data transmission here includes uplink and / or downlink data transmission. Data may include channels and / or signals, uplink data transmission is uplink channel and / or uplink signal transmission, and downlink data transmission is downlink channel and / or downlink signal transmission. The "network" and "system" appearing in the embodiments of the present application express the same concept, and the communication system is the communication network.

[0365] Through the description of the above implementation methods, technical personnel in the relevant field can clearly understand that for the convenience and simplicity of description, only the grouping of the above-mentioned functional modules is used as an example. In actual applications, the above-mentioned functions can be assigned to different functional modules as needed, that is, the internal structure of the device can be grouped into different functional modules to complete all or part of the functions described above.

[0366] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed communication devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the communication device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the grouping of the modules or units is merely a logical functional grouping. In actual implementation, there may be other grouping methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another device, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interface, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0367] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may be one physical unit or multiple physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed in multiple different places. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the present embodiment.

[0368] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of the present application may be integrated into a single processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into a single unit. The aforementioned integrated units may be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional units.

[0369] If the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application is essentially or the part that contributes to the prior art or all or part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for enabling a device, such as a single-chip microcomputer, a chip, etc., or a processor to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media for storing program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a ROM, a RAM, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0370] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present application should be included in the scope of protection of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a first communication device, the method includes: Sending first information to a second communication device, where the first information includes slice prediction information of a terminal; the slice prediction information of the terminal is used to indicate a predicted service demand of the terminal under a slice service; Receive second information from the second communication device, where the second information is used to indicate whether the second communication device meets the predicted service requirements of the terminal under the slice service.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Also includes: Sending a first data collection request to the second communication device; the first data collection request is used to request collection of terminal feedback information indicated by the second indication information; receiving a first data collection response from the second communication device; The first data collection response is used to respond to the first data collection request.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that The second indication information is used to indicate terminal feedback information; the second indication information includes: a second slice identifier and a second terminal feedback request indication.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that The second indication information further includes at least one of the following: feedback level indication, feedback configuration information, or indication information for feeding back third information; Among them, the feedback level indication includes per-slice level, or per-terminal level, or per-slice per-terminal level; the feedback configuration information includes at least one of the following: start time, end time, number of cells, number of slice services, or conditions for triggering the second communication device to stop collecting terminal feedback information; the third information is used to indicate the reason why the second communication device stops collecting terminal feedback information.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The conditions that trigger the second communication device to stop collecting terminal feedback information include at least one of the following: the default condition is met, the terminal leaves the second communication device, the terminal leaves the cell in the second communication device that provides services for the terminal, the wireless resource control RRC state of the terminal leaves the connected state, the wireless resource control RRC state of the terminal enters the idle state, the wireless resource control RRC state of the terminal enters the inactive state, the actual slicing service of the terminal is inconsistent with the predicted slicing service of the terminal, the actual information of the terminal is inconsistent with the predicted information of the terminal, after the terminal accesses the second communication device, the second communication device no longer supports the slicing service of the terminal; after the terminal accesses the cell in the second communication device that provides services for it, the cell in the second communication device that provides services for it no longer supports the slicing service of the terminal; after the terminal accesses the second communication device, the second communication device cannot meet the service needs of the terminal; after the terminal accesses the cell in the second communication device that provides services for it, the cell in the second communication device that provides services for it cannot meet the service needs of the terminal; the terminal does not support the predicted slicing service of the terminal under the second communication device.

6. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that: The first information also includes a first identifier; the first identifier is used to indicate the data collection process corresponding to the first data collection request.

7. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that: Also includes: receiving a first data collection update message from the second communication device; the first data collection update message including terminal feedback information and the first identifier; In the case where the first information includes first indication information, the terminal feedback information includes the terminal feedback information indicated by the first indication information; or, In a case where the first information does not include the first indication information, the terminal feedback information includes the terminal feedback information indicated by the second indication information.

8. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that: Also includes: Receive third information; the third information is used to indicate the reason why the second communication device stops collecting terminal feedback information.

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The first communication device includes a first centralized unit, and the second communication device includes a second centralized unit; The sending the first information to the second communication device includes: the first distributed unit sending the first information to the second centralized unit; The receiving the second information from the second communication device includes: the first distributed unit receiving the second information from the second centralized unit.

10. A communication method, characterized in that: Applied to a second communication device, the method includes: receiving first information from a first communication device, where the first information includes slice prediction information of a terminal; the slice prediction information of the terminal is used to indicate a predicted service demand of the terminal under a slice service; Send second information to the first communication device, where the second information is used to indicate whether the second communication device meets the predicted service requirements of the terminal under the slice service.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that Also includes: receiving a first data collection request from the first communication device, wherein the first data collection request is used to request collection of terminal feedback information indicated by the second indication information; sending a first data collection response to the first communication device; The first data collection response is used to respond to the first data collection request.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that The second indication information is used to indicate terminal feedback information; the second indication information includes: a second slice identifier and a second terminal feedback request indication.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that The second indication information further includes at least one of the following: feedback level indication, feedback configuration information, or indication information for feeding back third information; Among them, the feedback level indication includes per-slice level, or per-terminal level, or per-slice per-terminal level; the feedback configuration information includes at least one of the following: start time, end time, number of cells, number of slice services, or conditions for triggering the second communication device to stop collecting terminal feedback information; the third information is used to indicate the reason why the second communication device stops collecting terminal feedback information.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein: The conditions that trigger the second communication device to stop collecting terminal feedback information include at least one of the following: the default condition is met, the terminal leaves the second communication device, the terminal leaves the cell in the second communication device that provides services for the terminal, the wireless resource control RRC state of the terminal leaves the connected state, the wireless resource control RRC state of the terminal enters the idle state, the wireless resource control RRC state of the terminal enters the inactive state, the actual slicing service of the terminal is inconsistent with the predicted slicing service of the terminal, or the actual information of the terminal is inconsistent with the slice prediction information of the terminal, after the terminal accesses the second communication device, the second communication device no longer supports the slicing service of the terminal; after the terminal accesses the cell in the second communication device that provides services for it, the cell in the second communication device that provides services for it no longer supports the slicing service of the terminal; after the terminal accesses the second communication device, the second communication device cannot meet the service needs of the terminal; after the terminal accesses the cell in the second communication device that provides services for it, the cell in the second communication device that provides services for it cannot meet the service needs of the terminal; the terminal does not support the predicted slicing service of the terminal under the second communication device.

15. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that The first information also includes a first identifier; the first identifier is used to indicate the data collection process corresponding to the first data collection request.

16. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that Also includes: The second communication device stops collecting terminal feedback information; sending third information to the first communication device; The third information is used to indicate the reason why the second communication apparatus stops collecting terminal feedback information.

17. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 16, characterized in that: Also includes: Sending a first data collection update message to the first communication device; the first data collection update message includes terminal feedback information and the first identifier; In the case where the first information includes first indication information, the terminal feedback information includes the terminal feedback information indicated by the first indication information; or, In a case where the first information does not include the first indication information, the terminal feedback information includes the terminal feedback information indicated by the second indication information.

18. The method according to claim 10, wherein: The first communication device includes a first centralized unit, and the second communication device includes a second centralized unit; The receiving the first information from the first communication device includes: the second centralized unit receiving the first information from the first centralized unit; The sending the second information to the first communication device includes: the second centralized unit sending the second information to the first centralized unit.

19. The method according to claim 1 or 10, characterized in that The slice prediction information includes at least one of the following: Predict time identifier, slice identifier, service traffic, and service demand; The prediction time identifier is used to indicate the prediction time corresponding to the slice prediction information; The identifier of the predicted slice is used to indicate the slice service corresponding to the predicted time; The traffic volume of the predicted service is used to indicate the throughput of the terminal under the slice service corresponding to the predicted time; The predicted service demand is used to indicate a service demand that needs to be provided by the second communication device to the terminal.

20. The method according to claim 1 or 10, characterized in that The first information is carried in a handover request, and the second information is carried in a handover request confirmation message; or, The first information is carried in the auxiliary node SN adding request, and the second information is carried in the auxiliary node SN adding request confirmation message.

21. The method according to claim 1 or 10, characterized in that The first information also includes first indication information; the first indication information is used to indicate terminal feedback information; the first indication information includes a first slice identifier and a first terminal feedback request indication.

22. The method according to claim 1 or 10, characterized in that When the second communication device meets the predicted service demand of the terminal under the slice service, the second information includes a slice prediction confirmation message; When the second communication device cannot meet the predicted service needs of the terminal under the slice service, the second information includes an indication and / or reason for not being able to meet the predicted service needs of the terminal under the slice service.

23. A first communication device, characterized in that: The first communication device includes: a transceiver unit, configured to send first information to a second communication device, where the first information includes slice prediction information of a terminal; the slice prediction information of the terminal is used to indicate a predicted service demand of the terminal under a slice service; The transceiver unit is also used to receive second information from the second communication device, and the second information is used to indicate whether the second communication device meets the predicted service requirements of the terminal under the slice service.

24. A second communication device, characterized in that: The second communication device includes: a transceiver unit, configured to receive first information from a first communication device, where the first information includes slice prediction information of a terminal; the slice prediction information of the terminal is used to indicate a predicted service demand of the terminal under a slice service; The transceiver unit is also used to send second information to the first communication device, and the second information is used to indicate whether the second communication device meets the predicted service requirements of the terminal under the slice service.

25. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device includes a processor and a communication interface, and the processor and the communication interface are used to support the communication device to execute the method according to any one of claims 1-9, or the processor and the communication interface are used to support the communication device to execute the method according to any one of claims 10-22.

26. A communication system, characterized in that: The communication system includes the first communication device according to claim 23 and the second communication device according to claim 24, or the communication system includes the first communication device according to claim 23 and the communication device according to claim 25, or the communication system includes the second communication device according to claim 24 and the communication device according to claim 25.

27. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that The computer-readable storage medium stores computer instructions, which, when executed on a computer, enable the computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, or enable the computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 10 to 22.

28. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product includes computer instructions. When the computer instructions are executed on a computer, the computer is caused to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, or the method according to any one of claims 10 to 22.

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