Data packet discarding method and communication apparatus

Abstract

The present application discloses a data packet discarding method and a communication apparatus. The method comprises: receiving first indication information from a second access network device, wherein the first indication information indicates a data packet that has been successfully sent by the second access network device to a terminal device in a split bearer, and the data packet is a data packet, in a first data packet set, sent by a first access network device to the second access network device in the split bearer; and on the basis of the first indication information, sending second indication information to the second access network device, wherein the second indication information indicates a data packet, that the second access network device is allowed to discard, in the first data packet set. On the basis of the method, information exchange is performed between a first access network device and a second access network device, and data packet discarding is implemented on an access network device side, thereby improving system capacity.

Description

A data packet discarding method and a communication device

[0001] The present application claims priority to the Chinese patent application No. 202410856088.0, filed on June 27, 2024, and entitled "A data packet discarding method and a communication device", the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication, and in particular to a data packet discarding method and a communication device. BACKGROUND

[0003] Extended reality (XR) technology fuses a physical environment and a virtual environment together, and can provide a virtual experience environment completely immersive for a user, and has broad application prospects. The XR technology refers to virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR) technology and the like. The service based on the XR technology transmission can be referred to as an XR service, and the data of the XR service is usually high-definition real-time video data, which has the characteristics of large data volume and high transmission delay requirement, and has a higher requirement on network transmission capability.

[0004] The data of the XR service can be divided into data bursts and packet data unit sets (PDU sets). One data burst can include one or more PDU sets. One PDU set includes one or more PDUs. For one PDU set, only any K PDUs (K is less than N) of N PDUs generated at a sending end need to be successfully sent, and a receiving end can decode the PDU set. In order to improve system capacity, an access network device can discard the remaining PDUs in the PDU set after successfully sending the K PDUs in the PDU set to a terminal device, so as to improve the system capacity. In a separated bearer scenario, how to implement data packet (such as PDU) discarding to improve the system capacity is a technical problem to be solved at present. SUMMARY

[0005] The present application provides a data packet discarding method and a communication device, which can implement data packet discarding at an access network device side in a separated bearer scenario to improve system capacity.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides a data packet discarding method, which comprises:

[0007] receive first indication information from the second access network device, the first indication information indicating data packets successfully transmitted by the second access network device to the terminal device in the split bearer, the data packets being data packets in a first data packet group transmitted by the first access network device to the second access network device in the split bearer;

[0008] transmit second indication information to the second access network device based on the first indication information, the second indication information indicating data packets in the first data packet group that are allowed to be discarded by the second access network device.

[0009] With the method described in the first aspect, data packet discarding can be implemented at the access network device side by information interaction between the first access network device and the second access network device, so as to improve system capacity.

[0010] In a possible embodiment, the first indication information can indicate data packets successfully transmitted by the second access network device to the terminal device by indicating a sequence number or a sequence number range of the data packets.

[0011] In a possible embodiment, before receiving the first indication information from the second access network device, third indication information can also be transmitted to the second access network device, the third indication information indicating data packets for which the second access network device needs to perform transmission success feedback to the first access network device.

[0012] Based on the possible embodiment, data packet transmission success feedback indication can be performed in detail, and indication overhead can be saved.

[0013] Optionally, the third indication information can indicate data packets for which the second access network device needs to perform transmission success feedback to the first access network device by indicating a sequence number or a sequence number range of the data packets.

[0014] In a possible embodiment, fourth indication information is carried in a general packet radio service tunneling protocol user plane (GTP-U) header of the data packet, the fourth indication information indicating whether the second access network device needs to perform transmission success feedback to the first access network device for the data packet.

[0015] Based on the possible embodiment, data packet transmission success feedback indication can be performed in detail.

[0016] In a possible implementation, the GTPU header of the data packet carries the sequence number of the data packet group in which the data packet is located; and before receiving the first indication information from the second access network device, the fifth indication information can also be sent to the second access network device, where the fifth indication information indicates that the second access network device needs to feed back the data packet group of the data packet sending success to the first access network device.

[0017] Based on the possible implementation, the indication of the data packet sending success feedback is beneficial to saving the indication overhead.

[0018] Optionally, the fifth indication information can indicate the data packet group of the data packet sending success feedback of the second access network device to the first access network device by indicating the sequence number of the data packet group of the data packet sending success feedback of the second access network device to the first access network device.

[0019] In a possible implementation, the second indication information can indicate the data packet in the first data packet group that is allowed to be discarded by the second access network device by indicating any one of the following information: the sequence number of the data packet in the first data packet group that is allowed to be discarded by the second access network device, the sequence number range of the data packet in the first data packet group that is allowed to be discarded by the second access network device, and the maximum sequence number of the data packet in the first data packet group that is allowed to be discarded by the second access network device.

[0020] In a possible implementation, the GTPU header of the data packet carries the sequence number of the data packet group (i.e., the first data packet group) in which the data packet is located. The second indication information can indicate the data packet in the first data packet group that is allowed to be discarded by the second access network device by indicating the sequence number of the first data packet group.

[0021] In a possible implementation, the sixth indication information can also be sent to the terminal device, where the sixth indication information indicates the data packet in the first data packet group that is discarded by the sending end, and the sending end includes the first access network device and / or the second access network device.

[0022] Based on the possible implementation, the terminal device can know the case that the data packet is discarded by the access network device, thereby avoiding affecting the data packet reception of the terminal device.

[0023] Optionally, the sixth indication information can indicate the data packet in the first data packet group that is discarded by the sending end by indicating the sequence number or the sequence number range of the data packet in the first data packet group that is discarded by the sending end.

[0024] In a possible implementation, the sending of the data packet in the first data packet group to the second access network device can also be stopped based on the received first indication information. Based on the possible implementation, it is beneficial to reduce the transmission overhead.

[0025] Secondly, this application provides a data packet dropping method, the method comprising:

[0026] Send a first indication message to the first access network device, the first indication message indicating that the second access network device in the decoupled bearer has successfully sent a data packet to the terminal device, the data packet being a data packet in the first data packet group sent by the first access network device to the second access network device in the decoupled bearer;

[0027] Receive a second indication information from the first access network device, the second indication information indicating that the second access network device is allowed to discard data packets in the first data packet group;

[0028] Data packets in the first data packet group are discarded based on the second instruction information.

[0029] In one possible embodiment, the first indication information can instruct the second access network device to send a successfully transmitted data packet to the terminal device by indicating the sequence number or sequence number range of the data packet that the second access network device successfully transmitted to the terminal device.

[0030] In one possible embodiment, a third indication message may be received from the first access network device before sending the first indication message to the first access network device. This third indication message indicates that the second access network device needs to send a data packet indicating successful transmission feedback to the first access network device.

[0031] Optionally, the third indication information can indicate that the second access network device needs to send a data packet containing the sequence number or sequence number range of the data packet that indicates the success feedback sent by the second access network device to the first access network device.

[0032] In one possible embodiment, the GTPU header of the data packet general packet radio service tunneling protocol user plane carries fourth indication information, which indicates whether the second access network device needs to send a successful transmission feedback to the first access network device for the data packet.

[0033] In one possible embodiment, the GTPU header of the data packet carries the sequence number of the data packet group to which the data packet belongs; before sending the first indication information to the first access network device, a fifth indication information from the first access network device may also be received, which indicates that the second access network device needs to send the data packet group to the first access network device to provide feedback on the successful transmission of the data packet.

[0034] Optionally, the fifth indication information can indicate the data packet group that the second access network device needs to send a successful data packet transmission feedback to the first access network device by indicating the sequence number of the data packet group that the second access network device needs to send a successful data packet transmission feedback to the first access network device.

[0035] In one possible embodiment, the second indication information may indicate the data packets in the first data packet group that the second access network device is allowed to discard by indicating any of the following: the sequence number of the data packets in the first data packet group that the second access network device is allowed to discard, the range of sequence numbers of the data packets in the first data packet group that the second access network device is allowed to discard, and the maximum sequence number of the data packets in the first data packet group that the second access network device is allowed to discard.

[0036] In one possible embodiment, the GTPU header of the data packet carries the sequence number of the data packet group (i.e., the first data packet group) to which the data packet belongs. The second indication information can indicate the data packets in the first data packet group that the second access network device is allowed to discard by indicating the sequence number of the first data packet group.

[0037] The beneficial effects in the second aspect can be found in the beneficial effects in the first aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0038] Thirdly, this application provides a data packet discarding method, the method comprising:

[0039] Send a first indication message to the second access network device, the first indication message indicating the data packet discarding conditions of the data packet in the data packet group to be discarded by the second access network device, the data packet being the data packet sent from the first access network device to the second access network device in the separate bearer.

[0040] Based on the method described in the third aspect, data packet dropping can be implemented on the access network device side by exchanging information between the first access network device and the second access network device, thereby improving system capacity.

[0041] In one possible embodiment, the packet dropping condition is the number of packets in the packet group that need to be successfully sent, or the packet dropping condition is the proportion of the number of packets in the packet group that need to be successfully sent to the total number of packets in the packet group.

[0042] Based on this possible implementation, it is beneficial for the second access network device to accurately determine whether or not to discard data packets in a data packet group.

[0043] In one possible embodiment, a second indication information from a second access network device may also be received, indicating that a first data packet group has met the data packet dropping condition; based on the second indication information, sending data packets in the first data packet group to the second access network device is stopped.

[0044] Based on this possible implementation, it is beneficial to reduce transmission overhead.

[0045] Optionally, the second indication information can indicate the first data packet group that has reached the data packet discarding condition by indicating the sequence number of the first data packet group that has reached the data packet discarding condition.

[0046] In one possible embodiment, a third indication information from a first access network device may also be received, the third indication information indicating that the second access network device discards data packets in the first data packet group; and a fourth indication information may be sent to the terminal device based on the third indication information, the fourth indication information indicating that the sending end discards data packets in the first data packet group, the sending end including the first access network device and / or the second access network device.

[0047] Optionally, the third indication information can indicate the data packets in the first data packet group discarded by the second access network device by indicating the sequence number or sequence number range of the data packets in the first data packet group discarded by the second access network device. The fourth indication information can indicate the data packets in the first data packet group discarded by the sending end by indicating the sequence number or sequence number range of the data packets in the first data packet group discarded by the sending end.

[0048] Fourthly, this application provides a data packet discarding method, the method comprising:

[0049] Receive a first indication information from a first access network device, the first indication information indicating the data packet discarding conditions for a second access network device to discard data packets in a data packet group, the data packets being data packets sent from the first access network device to the second access network device in a separate bearer;

[0050] In response to the first data packet group reaching the data packet discarding condition, the data packets in the first data packet group are discarded.

[0051] In one possible embodiment, the packet dropping condition is the number of packets in the packet group that need to be successfully sent, or the packet dropping condition is the proportion of the number of packets in the packet group that need to be successfully sent to the total number of packets in the packet group.

[0052] In one possible embodiment, a second indication message may also be sent to the first access network device, the second indication message indicating a first data packet group that has met the data packet discarding condition.

[0053] Optionally, the second indication information can indicate the first data packet group that has reached the data packet discarding condition by indicating the sequence number of the first data packet group that has reached the data packet discarding condition.

[0054] In one possible embodiment, a third indication message may also be sent to the first access network device, which indicates that the second access network device should discard data packets in the first data packet group.

[0055] Optionally, the third indication information can indicate the data packets in the first data packet group discarded by the second access network device by indicating the sequence number or sequence number range of the data packets in the first data packet group discarded by the second access network device.

[0056] The beneficial effects of the fourth aspect can be found in the beneficial effects of the third aspect, and will not be elaborated here.

[0057] Fifthly, this application provides a communication device that includes a unit for performing the methods described in the first, second, third, or fourth aspects above.

[0058] Sixthly, this application provides a chip including a processor and a communication interface, the processor being configured to cause the chip to perform the methods described in the first, second, third, or fourth aspects above.

[0059] In a seventh aspect, this application provides a module device, which includes a communication module, a power module, a storage module, and a chip, wherein: the power module is used to provide electrical energy to the module device; the storage module is used to store data and instructions; the communication module is used to perform internal communication within the module device, or to enable communication between the module device and external devices; and the chip is used to execute the methods described in the first, second, third, or fourth aspects above.

[0060] Eighthly, embodiments of the present invention disclose a communication device, the communication device including a memory and a processor, the memory being used to store a computer program, the computer program including program instructions, and the processor being configured to invoke the program instructions to execute the methods described in the first, second, third, or fourth aspects.

[0061] Ninthly, this application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed on a communication device, cause the communication device to perform the methods described in the first, second, third, or fourth aspects.

[0062] In a tenth aspect, this application provides a computer program or computer program product, including code or instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the methods described in the first, second, third, or fourth aspects above.

[0063] In one aspect, this application provides a communication system including a first access network device and a second access network device, wherein the first access network device is used to perform the method described in the first aspect, and the second access network device is used to perform the method described in the second aspect.

[0064] In a twelfth aspect, this application provides a communication system including a first access network device and a second access network device, wherein the first access network device is configured to perform the method described in the third aspect, and the second access network device is configured to perform the method described in the fourth aspect. Attached Figure Description

[0065] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0066] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0067] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0068] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0069] Figure 4 is a flowchart of a data packet discarding method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0070] Figure 5 is a flowchart of a data packet discarding method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0071] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0072] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0073] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a module device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0074] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0075] The terminology used in the following embodiments of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this application. As used in the specification and appended claims of this application, the singular expressions “a,” “an,” “the,” “the,” “the,” and “this” are intended to include the plural expressions as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0076] In the embodiments of this application, "and / or" describes the relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent the following three situations: A exists alone; A and B exist simultaneously; B exists alone. Among them, A and B can be singular or plural.

[0077] In this embodiment, the symbol " / " can indicate that the preceding and following objects are in an "or" relationship. Alternatively, the symbol " / " can also represent a division sign, i.e., performing a division operation. For example, A / B can mean A divided by B.

[0078] In the embodiments of this application, "at least one item" or its similar expression refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of a single item or a plurality of items. "One or more" means one or more, while "multiple" means two or more. For example, "at least one item" of a, b, or c can represent the following seven cases: a, b, c; a and b; a and c; b and c; a, b, and c. Each of a, b, and c can be an element or a set containing one or more elements.

[0079] In the embodiments of this application, "equal to" can be used with "greater than" and is applicable to technical solutions used when "greater than" is used; it can also be used with "less than" and is applicable to technical solutions used when "less than" is used. When "equal to" is used with "greater than", it is not used with "less than"; when "equal to" is used with "less than", it is not used with "greater than".

[0080] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., used in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of this application described herein can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the term "comprising" and any variations thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or server that includes a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products, or devices.

[0081] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of this application, the system architecture involved in this application will be described below.

[0082] This application can be applied to fifth-generation (5G) systems, also known as new radio (NR) systems; or to sixth-generation (6G) systems, or seventh-generation (7G) systems, or other future communication systems; or it can also be used for device-to-device (D2D) systems, machine-to-machine (M2M) systems, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) systems, etc.

[0083] This application can be applied to the system architecture shown in Figure 1. The communication system shown in Figure 1 may include, but is not limited to, a first access network device, a second access network device, and a terminal device. The number and form of the devices in Figure 1 are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments of this application. For example, in actual applications, multiple terminal devices may be included.

[0084] The terminal device is connected to both the first and second access network devices, and maintains dual-connection communication with both devices. Dual-connection communication means that the terminal device can communicate simultaneously with both devices. The first access network device can be referred to as the master node (MN), and the second access network device can be referred to as the secondary node (SN).

[0085] In one possible embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, for a single bearer, the terminal device, the first access network device, and the second access network device all include a radio link control (RLC) layer, a media access control (MAC) layer, and a physical layer (PHY) layer. The terminal device and the first access network device also include a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer.

[0086] In another possible embodiment, as shown in FIG3, for a bearer, the terminal device includes a PDCP layer, an RLC layer, a MAC layer, and a PHY layer. The first access network device includes a PDCP layer. The second access network device includes an RLC layer, a MAC layer, and a PHY layer.

[0087] In this embodiment, the bearer in dual-connectivity communication can be a split bearer. Data on the split bearer is split at the PDCP layer. For example, as shown in Figure 2, in the same transmission direction, each split bearer's PDCP entity is associated with two RLC entities: one is the primary RLC entity in the first access network device, and the other is the split secondary RLC entity in the second access network device. The split bearer has two transmission modes: replication mode and splitting mode, and only one mode can be active at a time. Replication mode means that the same data is copied and transmitted between the primary and secondary RLC entities; splitting mode means that when the current data volume is large, user data is selectively split and transmitted between the primary and secondary RLC entities. For example, the PDCP entity of the split bearer determines whether to perform splitting transmission by comparing the total amount of data to be sent with the splitting threshold (ul-datasplitthreshold). If the total amount of data to be sent does not reach the threshold, data is transmitted only through the primary RLC entity. Otherwise, data can be transmitted simultaneously in both the primary and secondary RLC entities, allowing for data splitting and thus improving transmission efficiency. With separate bearers, the data packets received by the receiver may be out of order.

[0088] Similarly, in the separated bearer shown in Figure 3, the data in the separated bearer is also separated at the PDCP layer. The separated bearer shown in Figure 3 can also be divided into replication mode and offloading mode. Replication mode refers to the same data being copied and transmitted between the first access network device and the second access network device; offloading mode refers to the user data being selectively offloaded and transmitted between the first access network device and the second access network device when the current data volume is large.

[0089] The terminal devices and access network devices involved in the embodiments of this application are described below:

[0090] I. Terminal Equipment

[0091] Terminal equipment can be a device with transceiver capabilities, and can also be called a terminal, user equipment (UE), remote terminal equipment (relay UE), relay equipment (relay UE), access terminal equipment, user unit, user station, mobile station, mobile station, remote station, mobile device, user terminal equipment, smart terminal equipment, wireless communication equipment, user agent, or user device. It should be noted that relay equipment is a terminal device capable of providing relay forwarding services to other terminal equipment (including remote terminal equipment).

[0092] For example, terminal devices can be mobile phones, tablets, computers with wireless transceiver capabilities, virtual reality (VR) terminal devices, augmented reality (AR) terminal devices, mixed reality (MR) terminal devices, wireless terminal devices in industrial control, wireless terminal devices in autonomous driving, wireless terminal devices in remote medical care, wireless terminal devices in smart grids, wireless terminal devices in transportation safety, wireless terminal devices in smart cities, or wireless terminal devices in smart homes, etc.

[0093] For example, terminal devices can also be cellular phones, cordless phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, wireless local loop (WLL) stations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld devices with wireless communication capabilities, computing devices or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem, in-vehicle devices, wearable devices, terminal devices in next-generation communication systems (such as NR communication systems and 6G communication systems), or terminal devices in future evolved public land mobile networks (PLMNs), etc., without specific limitations.

[0094] In some possible implementations, the terminal device can be deployed on land, including indoors or outdoors, handheld, wearable, or vehicle-mounted; it can be deployed on water (such as ships); or it can be deployed in the air (such as airplanes, balloons, and satellites).

[0095] In some possible implementations, the terminal device may include means for wireless communication functionality, such as a chip system, a chip, or a chip module. For example, the chip system may include a chip, and may also include other discrete devices.

[0096] In some possible implementations, the terminal device described in the embodiments of this application may be a chip, chip module, device, unit, etc., and there are no specific limitations on it.

[0097] II. Access Network Equipment

[0098] Access network equipment can be a device with transceiver capabilities, which can be used to communicate with terminal devices.

[0099] In some possible implementations, access network devices can be responsible for radio resource management (RRM), quality of service (QoS) management, data compression and encryption, and data transmission and reception on the air interface side.

[0100] In some possible implementations, access network equipment may include base stations (BS) in a communication system or equipment deployed in a radio access network (RAN) to provide wireless communication functions; that is, access network equipment may include equipment in the RAN.

[0101] For example, devices in the RAN may include evolved node B (eNB or eNodeB) in the LTE communication system, next generation evolved node B (ng-eNB) in the NR communication system, next generation node B (gNB) in the NR communication system, master node (MN) in the dual connectivity architecture, and secondary node (SN) in the dual connectivity architecture, etc., without specific restrictions.

[0102] In some possible implementations, access network devices may include devices in the core network (CN).

[0103] For example, devices in a CN may include access and mobility management function (AMF), user plane function (UPF), session management function (SMF), etc.

[0104] In some possible implementations, access network devices can also be access points (APs) in WLANs, relay stations, communication devices in future PLMN networks, communication devices in NTN networks, etc.

[0105] In some possible implementations, the access network device may include means for providing wireless communication capabilities to terminal devices, such as a chip system, a chip, or a chip module. For example, the chip system may include a chip, or it may include other discrete devices.

[0106] In some possible implementations, access network devices can communicate with Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the Internet, private IP networks, or other data networks.

[0107] In some possible implementations, the access network device may include a single independent node to implement the functions of the aforementioned base station, or it may include two or more independent nodes to implement the functions of the aforementioned base station. For example, the access network device includes a centralized unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU), such as gNB-CU and gNB-DU. Furthermore, in some other embodiments of this application, the access network device may also include an active antenna unit (AAU). The CU implements some of the functions of the access network device, and the DU implements other functions. For example, the CU is responsible for handling non-real-time protocols and services, implementing the functions of the radio resource control (RRC) layer, service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer, and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer. The DU is responsible for handling physical layer protocols and real-time services, implementing the functions of the radio link control (RLC) layer, medium access control (MAC) layer, and physical (PHY) layer. In addition, the AAU can implement some physical layer processing functions, radio frequency processing, and related functions of the active antenna. Since RRC layer information ultimately becomes PHY layer information, or is derived from PHY layer information, in this network deployment, higher-layer signaling (such as RRC signaling) can be considered to be generated by the CU and sent by the DU, or jointly sent by the DU and AAU. It is understood that access network equipment can include at least one of CU, DU, and AAU. Furthermore, the CU can be classified as RAN equipment, or it can be classified as core network equipment; there are no specific limitations on this.

[0108] In some possible implementations, the access network device can be any site in a multi-site coherent joint transmission (CJT) with the terminal device, or another site outside of that multi-site group, or other access network devices communicating with the terminal device via the network; no specific limitations are imposed. Multi-site coherent joint transmission can be joint coherent transmission by multiple sites, or different data belonging to the same Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) being sent from different sites to the terminal device, or multiple sites being virtually merged into one site for transmission. Names with the same meaning as those specified in other standards also apply to this application; that is, this application does not limit the names of these parameters. The sites in multi-site coherent joint transmission can be remote radio heads (RRHs), transmission and reception points (TRPs), access network devices, etc., without specific limitations.

[0109] In some possible implementations, the access network device can be any one of the multiple sites performing noncoherent cooperative transmission with the terminal device, or other sites outside of the multiple sites, or other access network devices communicating with the terminal device. No specific limitations are imposed on this. The multi-site noncoherent cooperative transmission can be a joint noncoherent transmission by multiple sites, or different data belonging to the same PDSCH being sent to the terminal device from different sites, or different data belonging to the same PDSCH being sent to the terminal device from different sites. Names with the same meaning as those specified in other standards also apply to this application; that is, this application does not limit the names of these parameters. The sites in the multi-site noncoherent cooperative transmission can be RRH, TRP, access network devices, etc., without specific limitations.

[0110] In some possible implementations, the access network equipment can have mobility characteristics; for example, the access network equipment can be a mobile device. Optionally, the access network equipment can be a satellite or a balloon station. For example, the satellite can be a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite, a medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellite, a geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) satellite, a highly elliptical orbit (HEO) satellite, etc. Optionally, the access network equipment can also be a base station located on land, water, or other similar locations.

[0111] In some possible implementations, access network equipment can provide services to a cell, and terminal equipment within that cell can communicate with the access network equipment via transmission resources (such as spectrum resources). This cell can be a macro cell, small cell, metro cell, micro cell, pico cell, or femto cell, etc.

[0112] In some possible implementations, the access network device described in the embodiments of this application may be a chip, chip module, device, unit, etc., and there are no specific limitations on it.

[0113] For a data packet group consisting of N data packets, the access network device only needs to successfully send any K data packets (K less than N) to the terminal device for the terminal device to decode the data packet group. To improve system capacity, after successfully sending K data packets from the data packet group, the access network device can discard the remaining data packets in the data packet group, thus increasing system capacity. To enable data packet discarding on the access network device side in scenarios with separate bearers, thereby improving system capacity, this application provides a data packet discarding method and communication device. The data packet discarding method and communication device provided in this application are further described below:

[0114] Please refer to Figure 4, which is a flowchart of a data packet discarding method provided in an embodiment of this application. The data packet discarding method includes steps 401 to 403. The method execution entity shown in Figure 4 can be a first access network device and a second access network device, or the entity can be a chip in the first access network device and a chip in the second access network device. Alternatively, the method execution entity shown in Figure 4 can also be other types of products; those skilled in the art can further expand upon this based on the content disclosed in the specification. The method execution entity shown in Figure 4 uses a first access network device and a second access network device as examples. Wherein:

[0115] 401. The second access network device sends a first indication message to the first access network device, indicating that the second access network device in the decoupled bearer has successfully sent a data packet to the terminal device. This data packet is a data packet from the first data packet group sent by the first access network device to the second access network device in the decoupled bearer. Accordingly, the first access network device may receive the first indication message.

[0116] In this embodiment, during the split bearer operation, the first access network device can send data packets from the first data packet group to the second access network device. After receiving the data packets, the second access network device can then send the data packets to the terminal device. The first data packet group includes multiple data packets. In this embodiment, the transmission mode of the split bearer can be either a replication mode or a split mode. For details on replication and split modes, please refer to the description under System Architecture; these will not be repeated here. The data packets in this embodiment can be Protocol Data Unit (PDU) data packets or other types of data packets; this embodiment does not limit the types of data packets. The first data packet group can be a PDU set or other types of data packet groups.

[0117] In one possible embodiment, the first indication information can instruct the second access network device to send a successfully transmitted data packet to the terminal device by indicating the sequence number or a range of sequence numbers of the data packet successfully transmitted to the terminal device. The sequence number range can cover the sequence numbers of multiple data packets. Optionally, the sequence number of the data packet can be the sequence number (SN) or the count of the data packet, where the count consists of the sequence number and the hyperframe number (HFN).

[0118] Optionally, the second access network device may, after sending multiple data packets, uniformly indicate to the first access network device the data packets that were successfully sent among those multiple data packets.

[0119] For example, after the second access network device sends data packets 1 to 4 to the terminal device, if it is determined that data packet 1 was sent successfully, while data packets 2 to 4 failed to be sent, the second access network device can send a first indication message to the first access network device. This first indication message can indicate the sequence number of data packet 1 to indicate that data packet 1 was sent successfully.

[0120] After the second access network device sends data packets 1 to 4 to the terminal device, if it is determined that data packets 1 and 3 were successfully sent, while data packets 2 and 4 failed to be sent, the first indication information can indicate the sequence number #1 of data packet 1 and the sequence number #3 of data packet 3.

[0121] After the second access network device sends data packets 1 to 4 to the terminal device, if it is determined that data packets 1 to 3 were all successfully sent, but data packet 4 failed to be sent, the first indication information can indicate the sequence number range of data packets 1 to 3, i.e., sequence number #1 to sequence number #3.

[0122] Optionally, the second access network device may send the sequence number of a data packet to the first access network device after the data packet is successfully sent, in order to indicate to the first access network device that the data packet has been successfully sent.

[0123] For example, after confirming that data packet 1 has been successfully sent, the second access network device can send a first indication message 1 to the first access network device. This first indication message 1 indicates sequence number #1, signifying that data packet 1 was successfully sent. Similarly, after data packet 2 has been successfully sent, the second access network device can send a first indication message 2 to the first access network device. This first indication message 2 indicates sequence number #2, signifying that data packet 2 was successfully sent. And after data packet 3 has been successfully sent, the second access network device can send a first indication message 3 to the first access network device. This first indication message 3 indicates sequence number #3, signifying that data packet 3 was successfully sent.

[0124] Optionally, the second access network device may confirm whether the data packet has been successfully sent to the terminal device based on the acknowledged mode (AM) of the RLC or the successful transmission confirmation mechanism of the hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) in the MAC layer.

[0125] In one possible embodiment, the first access network device can also provide a data packet transmission success feedback indication to the second access network device. There are three possible ways for the first access network device to provide feedback indication to the second access network device:

[0126] Method 1: The first access network device sends a third indication message to the second access network device, indicating that the second access network device needs to send a data packet indicating successful transmission to the first access network device. Correspondingly, the second access network device can receive the third indication message. Using Method 1 for data packet transmission success indication allows for precise indication and helps save on indication overhead.

[0127] In other words, the first access network device can pre-instruct the second access network device to send a data packet indicating successful transmission to the first access network device. For example, suppose the third instruction information indicates that the second access network device needs to send data packets 1 to 50, which are data packets 1 to 50, to the first access network device. After receiving the third instruction information, the second access network device can instruct the first access network device to send a successfully transmitted data packet from data packets 1 to 50.

[0128] Optionally, the third indication information can instruct the second access network device to send a data packet containing the sequence number or a range of sequence numbers of the data packet that indicates the second access network device needs to send a successful feedback to the first access network device. For a description of the sequence number and sequence number range, please refer to the preceding text; it will not be repeated here.

[0129] For example, suppose the third indication information indicates that the second access network device needs to send a data packet containing data packets 1 to 50 in data packet group 1 to the first access network device as a successful feedback. The third indication information could indicate the sequence number #1 of data packet 1, the sequence number #2 of data packet 2, ..., the sequence number #50 of data packet 50. Alternatively, the third indication information could indicate a range of sequence numbers, i.e., sequence number #1 to sequence number #50.

[0130] Method 2: The General Packet Radio Service Tunneling Protocol User Plane (GTPU) header of the data packet carries a fourth indication information, which indicates whether the second access network device needs to send a successful transmission feedback to the first access network device for this data packet. Based on Method 2, the data packet transmission success feedback indication can be precisely executed.

[0131] In other words, the GTPU header of each data packet can carry indication information to indicate whether the second access network device needs to send a successful transmission feedback to the first access network device for that data packet. For example, 1 bit can be used in the GTPU header of the data packet to indicate whether the second access network device needs to send a feedback to the first access network device for the successful transmission of the data packet. For example, a value of 1 bit indicates that the second access network device needs to send a feedback to the first access network device for the successful transmission of the data packet. A value of 0 bit indicates that the second access network device does not need to send a feedback to the first access network device for the successful transmission of the data packet.

[0132] Optionally, fourth indication information may also be carried in other headers of the data packet, which is not limited in this embodiment.

[0133] Method 3: The GTPU header of the data packet carries the sequence number of the data packet group to which the data packet belongs; the first access network device sends a fifth indication message to the second access network device, which indicates the data packet group to which the second access network device needs to send a successful data packet transmission feedback to the first access network device. Correspondingly, the second access network device can receive this fifth indication message. Using Method 3 for successful data packet transmission feedback helps save on indication overhead.

[0134] In this method, the GTPU header of the data packet carries the sequence number of the data packet group to which the data packet belongs, so that the second access network device can distinguish which data packet group the data packet belongs to. The first access network device can pre-instruct the second access network device to send a success feedback message for the data packet to the first access network device. In this way, the second access network device can send a success feedback message for the data packets in that data packet group.

[0135] Optionally, the sequence number of the data packet group to which the data packet belongs may also be carried in other headers of the data packet; this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0136] Optionally, the fifth indication information can indicate the data packet group that the second access network device needs to send a successful data packet transmission feedback to the first access network device by indicating the sequence number of the data packet group that the second access network device needs to send a successful data packet transmission feedback to the first access network device.

[0137] Optionally, the GTPU header of the data packet carries an indication of the last data packet in the data packet group to enable the access network device to determine when the first data packet group ends. Optionally, the indication of the last data packet in the data packet group may also be carried in other headers of the data packet; this embodiment of the application does not limit this.

[0138] In another possible embodiment, the first access network device may not provide feedback to the second access network device. The second access network device may, by default, send a successful transmission feedback to the first access network device for any data packet.

[0139] 402. The first access network device sends second indication information to the second access network device based on the first indication information. The second indication information indicates that the second access network device is allowed to discard data packets in the first data packet group. Accordingly, the second access network device may receive the second indication information.

[0140] In this embodiment, the first access network device can determine the data packets in the first data packet group successfully sent by the second access network device to the terminal device based on the first indication information. The first access network device can determine the number of data packets in the first data packet group successfully received by the terminal device, or the proportion of the total data packets, based on the data packets in the first data packet group successfully sent by the first access network device and / or the second access network device to the terminal device. Based on the number of data packets in the first data packet group successfully received by the terminal device, or the proportion of the total data packets, the first access network device determines whether to allow the second access network device to discard the data packets in the first data packet group. If it is determined that the second access network device is allowed to discard the data packets in the first data packet group, then a second indication information is sent to the second access network device to indicate that the second access network device is allowed to discard the data packets in the first data packet group. For example, suppose the first data packet group includes 100 data packets. The terminal device can successfully decode the first data packet group by receiving 60 data packets from it.

[0141] The first access network device sends data packets from the first data packet group to the second access network device. Both the first and second access network devices send data packets from the first data packet group to the terminal device. Assume the first access network device has already sent data packets 1 to 40 to the second access network device. The second access network device sends a first indication message to the first access network device, indicating that data packets 1 to 30 were successfully transmitted. The first access network device itself successfully sends data packets 51 to 90 from the first data packet group to the terminal device. Based on the data packets successfully sent by both the first and second access network devices to the terminal device, the first access network device determines that the terminal device has successfully received 70 data packets from the first data packet group. Since the terminal device can successfully decode the first data packet group based on the received data packets, the first access network device can send a second indication message to the second access network device, instructing the second access network device to discard data packets 31 to 40. After receiving the second indication message, the second access network device discards data packets 31 to 40. The first access network device can also discard data packets 41 to 50, and data packets 91 to 100.

[0142] In one possible embodiment, the second indication information may indicate the data packets in the first data packet group that the second access network device is allowed to discard by indicating any of the following: the sequence number of the data packets in the first data packet group that the second access network device is allowed to discard, the range of sequence numbers of the data packets in the first data packet group that the second access network device is allowed to discard, and the maximum sequence number of the data packets in the first data packet group that the second access network device is allowed to discard.

[0143] For example, suppose the second access network device is allowed to discard data packets 31 to 40. The second indication information could indicate the sequence number #31 of data packet 31, the sequence number #32 of data packet 32, ..., the sequence number #40 of data packet 40. Alternatively, the second indication information could indicate a sequence number range, i.e., sequence numbers #31 to #40. Or, the second indication information could indicate the maximum sequence number of the data packets in the first group of data packets to be discarded, i.e., sequence number #40.

[0144] In one possible embodiment, the GTPU header of the data packet carries the sequence number of the data packet group (i.e., the first data packet group). The second indication information can indicate the data packets in the first data packet group that the second access network device is permitted to discard by indicating the sequence number of the first data packet group. After receiving the second indication information, the second access network device can discard all unsuccessfully transmitted data packets in the first data packet group.

[0145] In one possible embodiment, the first access network device may further send a sixth indication message to the terminal device, the sixth indication message indicating data packets in the first data packet group discarded by the sending end, which includes the first access network device and / or the second access network device. Based on this possible embodiment, the terminal device can know the data packet discarding situation on the access network device side, thereby avoiding any impact on the terminal device's data packet reception.

[0146] For example, as in the example above, the second access network device discards data packets 31 to 40 in the first data packet group. The first access network device discards data packets 41 to 50 and data packets 91 to 100 in the first data packet group. Therefore, the sixth indication information can indicate that the data packets in the first data packet group discarded by the sending end are data packets 31 to 50 and data packets 91 to 100.

[0147] Optionally, the sixth indication information can indicate the data packets in the first data packet group discarded by the sender by indicating the sequence number or sequence number range of the data packets in the first data packet group discarded. For example, the sixth indication information can indicate the sequence number #31 of data packet 31, the sequence number #32 of data packet 32, ..., the sequence number #50 of data packet 50, and the sequence number #91 of data packet 91, the sequence number #92 of data packet 92, ..., the sequence number #100 of data packet 100. Alternatively, the second indication information can indicate the sequence number range, namely, sequence number #31 to sequence number #50 and sequence number #91 to sequence number #100.

[0148] In one possible embodiment, the first access network device may also stop sending data packets from the first data packet group to the second access network device based on the received first indication information. This possible embodiment helps reduce transmission overhead. For example, as in the example above, the first access network device determines that the terminal device has successfully received 70 data packets from the first data packet group. Since the terminal device can successfully decode the first data packet group based on the received data packets, the second access network device no longer needs to send data packets from the first data packet group to the terminal device; therefore, the first access network device does not need to continue sending data packets from the first data packet group to the second access network device.

[0149] 403. The second access network device discards data packets in the first data packet group based on the second indication information.

[0150] As can be seen, based on the method described in Figure 4, data packet dropping can be achieved on the access network device side by exchanging information between the first access network device and the second access network device, thereby improving system capacity.

[0151] Please refer to Figure 5, which is a flowchart of a data packet discarding method provided in an embodiment of this application. The data packet discarding method includes steps 501 to 502. The method execution entity shown in Figure 5 can be a first access network device and a second access network device, or the entity can be a chip in the first access network device and a chip in the second access network device. Alternatively, the method execution entity shown in Figure 5 can also be other types of products; those skilled in the art can further expand upon this based on the content disclosed in the specification. The method execution entity shown in Figure 5 uses a first access network device and a second access network device as examples. Wherein:

[0152] 501. The first access network device sends a first indication message to the second access network device, the first indication message indicating the data packet discarding conditions for the second access network device to discard data packets in the data packet group, the data packets being data packets sent from the first access network device to the second access network device in a separate bearer. Accordingly, the second access network device may receive the first indication message from the first access network device.

[0153] In this embodiment, the data packet group includes multiple data packets. In the split bearer, the first access network device can send data packets to the second access network device, and after receiving the data packets, the second access network device can send the data packets to the terminal device. In this embodiment, the transmission mode of the split bearer can be a replication mode or a split mode. For a description of replication mode and split mode, please refer to the description under system architecture; it will not be repeated here. The data packets in this embodiment can be PDU data packets or other types of data packets; this embodiment does not limit the types. The data packet group can be a PDU group or other types of data packet groups.

[0154] In one possible embodiment, the first indication information may indicate a packet dropping condition for a specific packet group. For example, the first indication information may also indicate a packet group corresponding to a packet dropping condition, so that the second access network device can determine the packet group to which the packet dropping condition applies.

[0155] In another possible embodiment, the packet dropping condition indicated by the first indication information can be applied to all packet groups.

[0156] In one possible embodiment, the data packet dropping condition for the second access network device to drop data packets in a data packet group can be: the number of data packets in the data packet group that need to be successfully transmitted, or the proportion of the number of data packets in the data packet group that need to be successfully transmitted to the total number of data packets in the data packet group. Based on this possible embodiment, it is beneficial for the second access network device to accurately determine whether or not to drop data packets in the data packet group.

[0157] For example, suppose the second access network device discards data packets in data packet group 1 under the condition that the number of data packets in data packet group 1 that need to be successfully transmitted is 30. The first access network device sends data packets 1 to 40 from data packet group 1 to the second access network device. When the second access network device successfully sends data packets 1 to 30 to the terminal device, the second access network device determines that the data packet group meets the data packet discarding condition, and the second access network device discards the remaining untransmitted data packets in the data packet group, that is, discards data packets 31 to 40.

[0158] For example, suppose the second access network device discards data packets in data packet group 1 based on the condition that the proportion of data packets that need to be successfully transmitted in data packet group 1 is 30%. The first access network device sends data packets 1 to 40 from data packet group 1 to the second access network device. Data packet group 1 contains a total of 100 data packets. When the second access network device successfully sends data packets 1 to 30 to the terminal device, the second access network device determines that the data packet group meets the data packet discarding condition, and discards the remaining untransmitted data packets in the data packet group, i.e., discarding data packets 31 to 40.

[0159] 502. The second access network device, in response to the first data packet group reaching the data packet discarding condition, discards the data packets in the first data packet group.

[0160] In one possible embodiment, the second access network device may further send a second indication message to the first access network device, indicating that a first data packet group has met the data packet discarding condition. Correspondingly, the first access network device may also receive the second indication message from the second access network device. Based on the second indication message, the first access network device may stop sending data packets from the first data packet group to the second access network device. This possible embodiment is advantageous for reducing transmission overhead.

[0161] Optionally, the second indication information can indicate the first data packet group that has reached the data packet discarding condition by indicating the sequence number of the first data packet group that has reached the data packet discarding condition.

[0162] In one possible embodiment, the second access network device may further send a third indication message to the first access network device, indicating that the second access network device has discarded data packets in the first data packet group. Correspondingly, the first access network device may receive the third indication message from itself. Based on the third indication message, the first access network device may send a fourth indication message to the terminal device, indicating that the sending end, including the first access network device and / or the second access network device, has discarded data packets in the first data packet group. Based on this possible embodiment, the terminal device can be aware of the data packet discarding situation on the access network device side, thereby avoiding any impact on the terminal device's data packet reception.

[0163] For example, the second access network device discards data packets 31 to 40 in the first data packet group. Therefore, the third indication information indicates that the second access network device discards data packets 31 to 40 in the first data packet group. The first access network device discards data packets 41 to 50 and data packets 91 to 100 in the first data packet group. Therefore, the fourth indication information can indicate that the sending end discards data packets 31 to 50 and data packets 91 to 100 in the first data packet group.

[0164] Optionally, the third indication information can indicate the data packets in the first data packet group discarded by the second access network device by indicating the sequence number or sequence number range of the data packets in the first data packet group. For example, the third indication information can indicate the sequence number #31 of data packet 31, the sequence number #32 of data packet 32, ..., the sequence number #40 of data packet 40. The fourth indication information can indicate the data packets in the first data packet group discarded by the sending end by indicating the sequence number or sequence number range of the data packets in the first data packet group discarded by the sending end. For example, the fourth indication information can indicate the sequence number #31 of data packet 31, the sequence number #32 of data packet 32, ..., the sequence number #50 of data packet 50, and indicate the sequence number #91 of data packet 91, the sequence number #92 of data packet 92, ..., the sequence number #100 of data packet 100. Alternatively, the fourth indication information can indicate the sequence number range, i.e., sequence number #31 to sequence number #50 and sequence number #91 to sequence number #100.

[0165] As can be seen, based on the method described in Figure 5, data packet dropping can be achieved on the access network device side by exchanging information between the first access network device and the second access network device, thereby improving system capacity.

[0166] Please refer to Figure 6, which is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of this application. This communication device can be used to perform some or all of the functions of the first access network device in the above method embodiments. The device can be the first access network device, a device within the first access network device, or a device compatible with the first access network device. The communication device can also be a chip system. The communication device shown in Figure 6 includes a communication unit 601 and a processing unit 602. The communication unit 601 is used for sending and receiving data. The communication unit 601 integrates a receiving unit and a sending unit. The communication unit 601 can also be called a transceiver unit. Alternatively, the communication unit 601 can be split into a receiving unit and a sending unit. The processing unit 602 is used to process the data. Wherein:

[0167] The communication unit 601 is used to receive first indication information from the second access network device, the first indication information indicating that the second access network device in the decoupled bearer has successfully sent a data packet to the terminal device, the data packet being a data packet in the first data packet group sent by the first access network device in the decoupled bearer to the second access network device;

[0168] The communication unit 601 is further configured to send second indication information to the second access network device based on the first indication information, the second indication information indicating that the second access network device is allowed to discard data packets in the first data packet group.

[0169] In one possible embodiment, the communication unit 601 is further configured to send a third indication message to the second access network device before receiving the first indication message from the second access network device. The third indication message indicates that the second access network device needs to send a data packet to the first access network device to indicate successful transmission.

[0170] In one possible embodiment, the General Packet Radio Service Tunneling Protocol User Plane (GTPU) header of the data packet carries a fourth indication information, which indicates whether the second access network device needs to send a successful transmission feedback to the first access network device for the data packet.

[0171] In one possible embodiment, the GTPU header of the data packet carries the sequence number of the data packet group to which the data packet belongs; the communication unit 601 is further configured to send a fifth indication message to the second access network device before receiving the first indication message from the second access network device, the fifth indication message indicating that the second access network device needs to send a data packet group to the first access network device to provide feedback on the successful transmission of the data packet.

[0172] In one possible embodiment, the communication unit 601 is further configured to send a sixth indication message to the terminal device, the sixth indication message indicating that the data packets in the first data packet group discarded by the sending end, the sending end including a first access network device and / or a second access network device.

[0173] In one possible embodiment, the processing unit 602 is configured to stop sending data packets from the first data packet group to the second access network device based on the received first indication information.

[0174] Please refer to Figure 6, which is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of this application. This communication device can be used to perform some or all of the functions of the second access network device in the above method embodiments. The device can be the second access network device, a device within the second access network device, or a device compatible with the second access network device. The communication device can also be a chip system. The communication device shown in Figure 6 includes a communication unit 601 and a processing unit 602. The communication unit 601 is used for sending and receiving data. The communication unit 601 integrates a receiving unit and a sending unit. The communication unit 601 can also be called a transceiver unit. Alternatively, the communication unit 601 can be split into a receiving unit and a sending unit. The processing unit 602 is used to process the data. Wherein:

[0175] The communication unit 601 is used to send a first indication information to the first access network device, the first indication information indicating that the second access network device in the separate bearer has successfully sent a data packet to the terminal device, the data packet being a data packet in the first data packet group sent by the first access network device in the separate bearer to the second access network device;

[0176] The communication unit 601 is further configured to receive second indication information from the first access network device, the second indication information indicating that the second access network device is permitted to discard data packets in the first data packet group;

[0177] Processing unit 602 is used to discard data packets in the first data packet group based on the second indication information.

[0178] In one possible embodiment, the communication unit 601 is further configured to receive third indication information from the first access network device before sending the first indication information to the first access network device, the third indication information indicating that the second access network device needs to send a data packet of successful transmission feedback to the first access network device.

[0179] In one possible embodiment, the GTPU header of the data packet general packet radio service tunneling protocol user plane carries fourth indication information, which indicates whether the second access network device needs to send a successful transmission feedback to the first access network device for the data packet.

[0180] In one possible embodiment, the GTPU header of the data packet carries the sequence number of the data packet group to which the data packet belongs; the communication unit 601 is further configured to receive a fifth indication information from the first access network device before sending the first indication information to the first access network device, the fifth indication information indicating that the second access network device needs to send the data packet group to the first access network device to provide feedback on the successful transmission of the data packet.

[0181] Please refer to Figure 6, which is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of this application. This communication device can be used to perform some or all of the functions of the first access network device in the above method embodiments. The device can be the first access network device, a device within the first access network device, or a device compatible with the first access network device. The communication device can also be a chip system. The communication device shown in Figure 6 includes a communication unit 601 and a processing unit 602. The communication unit 601 is used for sending and receiving data. The communication unit 601 integrates a receiving unit and a sending unit. The communication unit 601 can also be called a transceiver unit. Alternatively, the communication unit 601 can be split into a receiving unit and a sending unit. The processing unit 602 is used to process the data. Wherein:

[0182] The communication unit 601 is used to send a first indication information to the second access network device. The first indication information indicates the data packet discarding conditions for the second access network device to discard data packets in the data packet group. The data packets are data packets sent from the first access network device to the second access network device in the separate bearer.

[0183] In one possible embodiment, the packet dropping condition is the number of packets in the packet group that need to be successfully sent, or the packet dropping condition is the proportion of the number of packets in the packet group that need to be successfully sent to the total number of packets in the packet group.

[0184] In one possible embodiment, the communication unit 601 is further configured to receive second indication information from the second access network device, the second indication information indicating that a first data packet group has reached the data packet discarding condition; the processing unit 602 is configured to stop sending data packets in the first data packet group to the second access network device based on the second indication information.

[0185] In one possible embodiment, the communication unit 601 is further configured to receive third indication information from the first access network device, the third indication information indicating that the second access network device discards data packets in the first data packet group; and to send fourth indication information to the terminal device based on the third indication information, the fourth indication information indicating that the sending end discards data packets in the first data packet group, the sending end including the first access network device and / or the second access network device.

[0186] Please refer to Figure 6, which is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of this application. This communication device can be used to perform some or all of the functions of the second access network device in the above method embodiments. The device can be the second access network device, a device within the second access network device, or a device compatible with the second access network device. The communication device can also be a chip system. The communication device shown in Figure 6 includes a communication unit 601 and a processing unit 602. The communication unit 601 is used for sending and receiving data. The communication unit 601 integrates a receiving unit and a sending unit. The communication unit 601 can also be called a transceiver unit. Alternatively, the communication unit 601 can be split into a receiving unit and a sending unit. The processing unit 602 is used to process the data. Wherein:

[0187] Communication unit 601 is used to receive first indication information from first access network device, the first indication information indicating the data packet discarding condition of second access network device to discard data packets in data packet group, the data packets being data packets sent from first access network device to second access network device in separate bearer;

[0188] The processing unit 602 is configured to discard data packets in the first data packet group in response to the first data packet group reaching the data packet discarding condition.

[0189] In one possible embodiment, the packet dropping condition is the number of packets in the packet group that need to be successfully sent, or the packet dropping condition is the proportion of the number of packets in the packet group that need to be successfully sent to the total number of packets in the packet group.

[0190] In one possible embodiment, the communication unit 601 is further configured to send a second indication message to the first access network device, the second indication message indicating a first data packet group that has met the data packet dropping condition.

[0191] In one possible embodiment, the communication unit 601 is further configured to send a third indication message to the first access network device, the third indication message indicating that the second access network device discards data packets in the first data packet group.

[0192] This application also provides a chip that can execute the relevant steps of the first access network device in the foregoing method embodiments. The chip includes a processor and a communication interface, and the processor is configured to cause the chip to perform the following operations:

[0193] Receive a first indication information from the second access network device, the first indication information indicating that the second access network device in the decoupled bearer has successfully sent a data packet to the terminal device, the data packet being a data packet in the first data packet group sent by the first access network device in the decoupled bearer to the second access network device;

[0194] Based on the first indication information, a second indication information is sent to the second access network device, the second indication information indicating that the second access network device is allowed to discard data packets in the first data packet group.

[0195] In one possible embodiment, before receiving the first indication information from the second access network device, the chip may also send a third indication information to the second access network device, which indicates that the second access network device needs to send a data packet to the first access network device to confirm successful transmission.

[0196] In one possible embodiment, the General Packet Radio Service Tunneling Protocol User Plane (GTPU) header of the data packet carries a fourth indication information, which indicates whether the second access network device needs to send a successful transmission feedback to the first access network device for the data packet.

[0197] In one possible embodiment, the GTPU header of the data packet carries the sequence number of the data packet group to which the data packet belongs; before the chip receives the first indication information from the second access network device, it can also send a fifth indication information to the second access network device, which indicates that the second access network device needs to send a data packet group to the first access network device to provide feedback on the successful transmission of the data packet.

[0198] In one possible embodiment, the chip may also send a sixth indication message to the terminal device, the sixth indication message indicating the data packets in the first data packet group discarded by the sender, the sender including a first access network device and / or a second access network device.

[0199] In one possible embodiment, the chip may also stop sending data packets from the first data packet group to the second access network device based on the received first indication information.

[0200] This application also provides a chip that can execute the relevant steps of the second access network device in the foregoing method embodiments. The chip includes a processor and a communication interface, and the processor is configured to cause the chip to perform the following operations:

[0201] Send a first indication message to the first access network device, the first indication message indicating that the second access network device in the decoupled bearer has successfully sent a data packet to the terminal device, the data packet being a data packet in the first data packet group sent by the first access network device to the second access network device in the decoupled bearer;

[0202] Receive a second indication information from the first access network device, the second indication information indicating that the second access network device is allowed to discard data packets in the first data packet group;

[0203] Data packets in the first data packet group are discarded based on the second instruction information.

[0204] In one possible embodiment, before sending the first indication information to the first access network device, the chip may also receive a third indication information from the first access network device, which indicates that the second access network device needs to send a data packet to the first access network device to confirm successful transmission.

[0205] In one possible embodiment, the GTPU header of the data packet general packet radio service tunneling protocol user plane carries fourth indication information, which indicates whether the second access network device needs to send a successful transmission feedback to the first access network device for the data packet.

[0206] In one possible embodiment, the GTPU header of the data packet carries the sequence number of the data packet group to which the data packet belongs; before the chip sends the first indication information to the first access network device, it can also receive a fifth indication information from the first access network device, which indicates that the second access network device needs to send the data packet group to the first access network device to provide feedback on the successful transmission of the data packet.

[0207] This application also provides a chip that can execute the relevant steps of the first access network device in the foregoing method embodiments. The chip includes a processor and a communication interface, and the processor is configured to cause the chip to perform the following operations:

[0208] Send a first indication message to the second access network device, the first indication message indicating the data packet discarding conditions of the data packet in the data packet group to be discarded by the second access network device, the data packet being the data packet sent from the first access network device to the second access network device in the separate bearer.

[0209] In one possible embodiment, the packet dropping condition is the number of packets in the packet group that need to be successfully sent, or the packet dropping condition is the proportion of the number of packets in the packet group that need to be successfully sent to the total number of packets in the packet group.

[0210] In one possible embodiment, the chip may also receive second indication information from a second access network device, the second indication information indicating that a first data packet group has met the data packet dropping condition; and based on the second indication information, stop sending data packets in the first data packet group to the second access network device.

[0211] In one possible embodiment, the chip may also receive third indication information from a first access network device, the third indication information indicating that a second access network device discards data packets in a first data packet group; and send fourth indication information to a terminal device based on the third indication information, the fourth indication information indicating that a sending end discards data packets in a first data packet group, the sending end including the first access network device and / or the second access network device.

[0212] This application also provides a chip that can execute the relevant steps of the second access network device in the foregoing method embodiments. The chip includes a processor and a communication interface, and the processor is configured to cause the chip to perform the following operations:

[0213] Receive a first indication information from a first access network device, the first indication information indicating the data packet discarding conditions for a second access network device to discard a data packet in a data packet group, the data packet being a data packet sent from the first access network device to the second access network device in a separate bearer;

[0214] In response to the first data packet group reaching the data packet discarding condition, the data packets in the first data packet group are discarded.

[0215] In one possible embodiment, the packet dropping condition is the number of packets in the packet group that need to be successfully sent, or the packet dropping condition is the proportion of the number of packets in the packet group that need to be successfully sent to the total number of packets in the packet group.

[0216] In one possible embodiment, the chip may also send a second indication message to the first access network device, the second indication message indicating a first data packet group that has met the data packet dropping condition.

[0217] In one possible embodiment, the chip may also send a third indication message to the first access network device, which indicates that the second access network device has dropped data packets in the first data packet group.

[0218] Please refer to Figure 7, which is a schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The communication device 700 may include a memory 701 and a processor 702. Optionally, it may also include a communication interface 703. The memory 701, processor 702, and communication interface 703 are connected via one or more communication buses. The communication interface 703 is controlled by the processor 702 for sending and receiving information.

[0219] Memory 701 may include read-only memory and random access memory, and provides instructions and data to processor 702. A portion of memory 701 may also include non-volatile random access memory.

[0220] The communication interface 703 is used to receive or send data.

[0221] Processor 702 can be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), but it can also be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor; optionally, processor 702 can also be any conventional processor. Wherein:

[0222] Memory 701 is used to store program instructions.

[0223] Processor 702 is used to call program instructions stored in memory 701.

[0224] The processor 702 calls the program instructions stored in the memory 701, causing the communication device 700 to execute the method executed by the first access network device or the second access network device in the above method embodiment.

[0225] As shown in Figure 8, Figure 8 is a structural schematic diagram of a module device provided in an embodiment of this application. This module device 800 can perform the relevant steps of the first access network device or the second access network device in the aforementioned method embodiments. The module device 800 includes: a communication module 801, a power supply module 802, a storage module 803, and a chip 804.

[0226] The power module 802 is used to provide power to the module device; the storage module 803 is used to store data and instructions; the communication module 801 is used for internal communication within the module device or for communication between the module device and external devices; and the chip 804 is used to execute the method executed by the first or second device in the above method embodiments.

[0227] It should be noted that the contents not mentioned in the embodiments corresponding to Figures 7 and 8, as well as the specific implementation methods of each step, can be found in the content of the method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0228] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on a processor, enable the implementation of the method flow described in the above method embodiments.

[0229] This application also provides a computer program product, which, when run on a processor, enables the implementation of the method flow described in the above method embodiments.

[0230] Regarding the modules / units included in the various devices and products described in the above embodiments, they can be software modules / units, hardware modules / units, or a combination of both. For example, for various devices and products applied to or integrated into a chip, all of their modules / units can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits, or at least some modules / units can be implemented using software programs that run on the chip's integrated processor, while the remaining (if any) modules / units can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits. For various devices and products applied to or integrated into a chip module, all of their modules / units can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits. Different modules / units can be located in the same part (e.g., chip, circuit module, etc.) or different components of the chip module, or at least some modules / units... It can be implemented using software programs that run on the processor integrated within the chip module. The remaining (if any) modules / units can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits. For various devices and products applied to or integrated into the terminal, the modules / units they contain can all be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits. Different modules / units can be located in the same component (e.g., chip, circuit module, etc.) or different components within the terminal. Alternatively, at least some modules / units can be implemented using software programs that run on the processor integrated within the terminal, while the remaining (if any) modules / units can be implemented using hardware methods such as circuits.

[0231] It should be noted that, for the sake of simplicity, the foregoing method embodiments are all described as a series of actions. However, those skilled in the art should understand that this application is not limited to the described order of actions, as some operations can be performed in other orders or simultaneously according to this application. Furthermore, those skilled in the art should also understand that the embodiments described in the specification are preferred embodiments, and the actions and modules involved are not necessarily essential to this application.

[0232] The descriptions of the various embodiments provided in this application can be referenced mutually. Each embodiment has its own emphasis, and parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment can be referred to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments. For the sake of convenience and brevity, for example, the functions and operations of the various devices and equipment provided in the embodiments of this application can be referred to the relevant descriptions of the method embodiments of this application. The method embodiments and the device embodiments can also be referenced, combined or cited from each other.

[0233] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A method for discarding data packets, characterized in that, The method includes: Receive first indication information from the second access network device, the first indication information indicating that the second access network device in the separate bearer has successfully sent a data packet to the terminal device, the data packet being a data packet in the first data packet group sent by the first access network device in the separate bearer to the second access network device; Based on the first indication information, a second indication information is sent to the second access network device, the second indication information indicating which data packets in the first data packet group are allowed to be discarded by the second access network device.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before receiving the first indication information from the second access network device, the method further includes: A third indication message is sent to the second access network device, the third indication message indicating that the second access network device needs to send a data packet of successful feedback to the first access network device.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The General Packet Radio Service Tunneling Protocol User Plane (GTPU) header of the data packet carries a fourth indication information, which indicates whether the second access network device needs to send a successful transmission feedback to the first access network device for the data packet.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The GTPU header of the data packet carries the sequence number of the data packet group to which the data packet belongs; before receiving the first indication information from the second access network device, the method further includes: A fifth indication message is sent to the second access network device, the fifth indication message indicating that the second access network device needs to send a group of data packets to the first access network device to report the successful transmission of data packets.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The method further includes: A sixth indication message is sent to the terminal device, the sixth indication message indicating that the data packets in the first data packet group are discarded by the sending end, the sending end including the first access network device and / or the second access network device.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The method further includes: Based on the received first indication information, the transmission of data packets in the first data packet group to the second access network device is stopped.

7. A method for discarding data packets, characterized in that, The method includes: Send a first indication message to the first access network device, the first indication message indicating that the second access network device in the separate bearer has successfully sent a data packet to the terminal device, the data packet being a data packet in the first data packet group sent by the first access network device to the second access network device in the separate bearer; Receive a second indication information from the first access network device, the second indication information indicating which data packets in the first data packet group are allowed to be discarded by the second access network device; Data packets in the first data packet group are discarded based on the second indication information.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, Before sending the first indication information to the first access network device, the method further includes: The second access network device receives a third indication message from the first access network device, the third indication message indicating that the second access network device needs to send a data packet to the first access network device to confirm the successful transmission of the data packet.

9. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The GTPU header of the data packet in the user plane carries a fourth indication information, which indicates whether the second access network device needs to send a successful transmission feedback to the first access network device for the data packet.

10. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The GTPU header of the data packet carries the sequence number of the data packet group to which the data packet belongs; before sending the first indication information to the first access network device, the method further includes: The second access network device receives a fifth indication message from the first access network device, the fifth indication message indicating that the second access network device needs to send a group of data packets to the first access network device to report the successful transmission of data packets.

11. A method for discarding data packets, characterized in that, The method includes: Send a first indication message to the second access network device. The first indication message indicates the data packet discarding conditions for the second access network device to discard data packets in the data packet group. The data packets are data packets sent from the first access network device to the second access network device in the separate bearer.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The packet dropping condition is the number of packets that need to be successfully sent in the packet group, or the packet dropping condition is the proportion of the number of packets that need to be successfully sent in the packet group to the total number of packets in the packet group.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive a second indication information from the second access network device, the second indication information indicating a first data packet group that has met the data packet discarding condition; Based on the second instruction information, the transmission of data packets in the first data packet group to the second access network device is stopped.

14. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that, The method further includes: Receive third indication information from the first access network device, the third indication information indicating that the second access network device discards data packets in the first data packet group; Based on the third indication information, a fourth indication information is sent to the terminal device. The fourth indication information indicates that the data packets in the first data packet group are discarded by the sending end. The sending end includes the first access network device and / or the second access network device.

15. A method for discarding data packets, characterized in that, The method includes: Receive a first indication information from a first access network device, the first indication information indicating the data packet discarding conditions for the second access network device to discard data packets in the data packet group, the data packets being data packets sent from the first access network device to the second access network device in a separate bearer; In response to the first data packet group reaching the data packet discarding condition, the data packets in the first data packet group are discarded.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, The packet dropping condition is the number of packets that need to be successfully sent in the packet group, or the packet dropping condition is the proportion of the number of packets that need to be successfully sent in the packet group to the total number of packets in the packet group.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that, The method further includes: Send a second indication message to the first access network device, the second indication message indicating the first data packet group that has met the data packet discarding condition.

18. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that, The method further includes: A third indication message is sent to the first access network device, the third indication message indicating that the second access network device has discarded the data packets in the first data packet group.

19. A communication device, characterized in that, The apparatus includes a unit for performing the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 18.

20. A chip, characterized in that, It includes a processor and a communication interface, the processor being configured to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 18.

21. A module device, characterized in that, The module device includes a communication module, a power module, a storage module, and a chip, wherein: The power module is used to provide electrical energy to the module device; The storage module is used to store data and instructions; The communication module is used for internal communication within the module device, or for communication between the module device and external devices; The chip is used to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 18.

22. A communication device, characterized in that, The device includes a memory and a processor, the memory being used to store a computer program, the computer program including program instructions, and the processor being configured to invoke the program instructions to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 18.

23. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer storage medium stores computer-readable instructions that, when executed on the communication device, cause the communication device to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 18.

24. A computer program or computer program product comprising code or instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 18.

25. A communication system, characterized in that, The communication system includes a first access network device and a second access network device, wherein the first access network device is used to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 6, and the second access network device is used to perform the method of any one of claims 7 to 10.

26. A communication system, characterized in that, The communication system includes a first access network device and a second access network device, wherein the first access network device is used to perform the method of any one of claims 11 to 14, and the second access network device is used to perform the method of any one of claims 15 to 18.

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