Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method and apparatus. In the method, an ECS determines a first EES for a terminal by means of a satellite (i.e., a first device) corresponding to an access network device connected to the terminal, so that when wanting to obtain an edge computing service, the terminal can be connected to the first EES corresponding to the satellite, so as to avoid introducing unnecessary interaction between satellites, thereby ensuring that the terminal can be connected to the first EES to obtain the edge computing service, avoiding unnecessary service interruption, reducing a service delay, and improving data transmission quality.

Description

A communication method and apparatus

[0001] The present application claims priority to the Chinese Patent Application No. 202411107715.7, filed on August 12, 2024, and entitled "A communication method and apparatus", the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and apparatus. BACKGROUND

[0003] For some services with low latency and large bandwidth requirements, deploying application services at the edge of the network can provide better service experience to users. Such application services deployed at the edge of the network can be referred to as edge application services (EAS). The EAS is registered on an edge enabler server (EES). A terminal device discovers the EAS from the EES platform and establishes a connection with the EAS, thereby obtaining the application service provided by the EAS.

[0004] Currently, the process of discovering the EES / EAS can be applied to a satellite deployment scenario. However, in the scenario of deploying the EES / EAS on a satellite, there can be a case where data needs to be transmitted through an inter-satellite link. If there is no inter-satellite link between satellites or the quality of the inter-satellite link is poor, it will cause service interruption or increase service latency. SUMMARY

[0005] The present application provides a communication method and apparatus, which can ensure that a UE can obtain edge computing services, i.e., avoid service interruption and reduce service latency, thereby improving data transmission quality.

[0006] In a first aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be performed by an edge configuration server (ECS), or by a module (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system) applied to the ECS, or by a logical node, a logical module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the ECS. For convenience of description, the method performed by the ECS is taken as an example in the following description. The method includes: receiving a first request message from a terminal, the first request message being used to request to determine an edge enabler server (EES) for the terminal, the first request message including information of a first device corresponding to the terminal, wherein the first device is a satellite corresponding to an access network device connected by the terminal. Then, according to the first request message, a first response message is sent to the terminal, the first response message including information of a first EES, the first EES corresponding to the first device.

[0007] According to the method of the first aspect, the ECS determines the first EES for the terminal through the satellite corresponding to the access network device to which the terminal is connected (i.e., the first device), so that when the terminal wants to obtain edge computing services, the first EES corresponding to the satellite can be connected, unnecessary interaction between satellites is avoided, the terminal can be connected to the first EES to obtain edge computing services, unnecessary service interruption is avoided, service latency is reduced, and data transmission quality is improved.

[0008] Optionally, the first response message includes first information, and the first information is used to indicate time and / or space availability of the first EES. The first information can be determined by the ECS according to ephemeris information of the satellite corresponding to the first EES. By determining the time and / or space availability of the first EES through the ECS, the overhead of the terminal can be reduced. When the terminal wants to obtain edge computing services, based on the time and / or space availability of the first EES, it can be determined whether the satellite corresponding to the first EES is connectable, so as to determine whether the first EES is connectable, and the terminal can be connected to the first EES at available time and / or space.

[0009] Optionally, the first device is a device currently corresponding to the terminal. That is, the first device can be a satellite corresponding to the access network device currently connected by the terminal. In this way, the first EES accessed by the terminal subsequently corresponds to the device currently corresponding to the terminal, unnecessary inter-satellite link connection can be avoided, and latency can be reduced.

[0010] Optionally, the first device can also be a satellite corresponding to the access network device to be connected by the terminal in the future, so that the terminal can determine the available EES to be accessed at a certain time in the future in advance, and service latency can be reduced.

[0011] Optionally, the first EES corresponding to the first device includes that the first EES is deployed at the first device.

[0012] In a possible implementation, after receiving the first request message from the terminal, the communication method can further include: determining the first EES according to the information of the first device and the information of the devices corresponding to at least one EES, the at least one EES including the first EES, and the devices corresponding to the at least one EES including the first device.

[0013] It can be understood that the ECS maintains information of at least one EES, or in other words, information of at least one EES is registered on the ECS. The information of at least one EES can include information of a device corresponding to at least one EES, such as that each of at least one EES corresponds to a SAT ID, and there is a corresponding relationship between the EES and the SAT ID. The ECS determines a first EES corresponding to the information of the first device from the information of the device corresponding to at least one EES, so that the first EES determined by the ECS is an EES available to the terminal and connectable without an inter-satellite link, avoiding unnecessary service interruption due to the lack of an inter-satellite link and reducing latency.

[0014] Optionally, the communication method can further include receiving a second request message from the at least one EES, and the second request message includes second information, and the second information indicates identification information of the at least one EES, address information of the at least one EES, and information of a device corresponding to the at least one EES.

[0015] Optionally, the second request message can be an EES registration request message, and the EES registration request message is used to request registration of the information of the at least one EES on the ECS. The ECS determines the first EES of the first device through the second information, which can improve the accuracy of determining the first EES.

[0016] Optionally, the second request message further includes ephemeris information of a device corresponding to the at least one EES, and the ephemeris information is used to indicate time and / or spatial availability information of the device corresponding to the at least one EES. The time and / or spatial availability information of the device corresponding to the at least one EES can be used to determine time and / or spatial availability information of the first EES, so that the terminal can determine whether the first EES is connectable in time and / or space, thereby avoiding unnecessary service interruption and reducing latency.

[0017] In a second aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a terminal, or by a module (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) applied to the terminal, or by a logic node, a logic module, or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the terminal. For the convenience of description, the method is introduced below by taking the terminal as an example. The method includes: sending a first request message to an edge configuration server ECS, the first request message being used to request determination of an edge enabled server EES for the terminal, and the first request message including information of a first device corresponding to the terminal; the first device being a satellite corresponding to an access network device connected by the terminal. Then, a first response message from the ECS is received, and the first response message includes information of a first EES corresponding to the first device.

[0018] Optionally, the first response message can include first information, and the first information is used to indicate time and / or spatial availability information of the first EES.

[0019] Optionally, the first device can be a device currently corresponding to the terminal.

[0020] Optionally, the first EES corresponding to the first device can comprise that the first EES is deployed at the first device.

[0021] It can be understood that the technical effects of the method of the second aspect described above can also be referred to the above-mentioned first aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0022] In a third aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a terminal, a module (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) applied to the terminal, and a logic node, a logic module, or software that can realize all or part of the terminal functions. For the convenience of description, the following will be introduced by taking the method executed by the terminal as an example. The method comprises: sending a first request message to an edge configuration server (ECS), the first request message being used to request to determine an edge enabler server (EES) for the terminal; receiving a first response message from the ECS, the first response message comprising information of at least one EES and information of a device corresponding to the at least one EES; and determining a first EES corresponding to a first device according to the first response message and the information of the first device, the devices of the at least one EES comprising the first device, and the first device being a satellite corresponding to an access network device connected by the terminal.

[0023] Based on the method of the third aspect, the terminal determines the first EES corresponding to the first device from the devices corresponding to the at least one EES based on the information of the at least one EES and the information of the devices corresponding to the at least one EES sent by the ECS. Since the first device is a satellite corresponding to an access network device connected by the terminal, when the terminal wants to obtain an edge computing service, the terminal can connect to the first EES corresponding to the satellite connected by the terminal, thereby avoiding unnecessary interaction between satellites, ensuring that the terminal can connect to the first EES to obtain the edge computing service, reducing the service delay, and improving the data transmission quality.

[0024] Optionally, the first device can be a satellite corresponding to an access network device currently connected by the terminal.

[0025] Optionally, the first EES is deployed at the first device.

[0026] Optionally, the first response message further indicates ephemeris information of the devices corresponding to the at least one EES; and the communication method can further comprise: determining available information of the first EES in time and / or space according to the information of the first device and the ephemeris information. By determining the available information of the first EES in time and / or space by the terminal, the overhead of the ECS can be reduced.

[0027] It can be understood that the technical effects of the method of the third aspect described above can also be referred to the above-mentioned first aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0028] In a fourth aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be performed by an ECS, or by a module (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a chip system) applied to the ECS, or by a logic node, a logic module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the ECS. For convenience of description, the method is described below by taking the ECS as an example. The method comprises: receiving a first request message from a terminal, the first request message being used to request to determine an edge enabler server (EES) for the terminal; and sending, to the terminal, a first response message according to the first request message, the first response message comprising information of at least one EES and information of a device corresponding to the at least one EES.

[0029] Optionally, the communication method can further comprise: receiving a second request message from the at least one EES, the second request message comprising second information, the second information being used to indicate identification information of the at least one EES, address information of the at least one EES, and information of a device corresponding to the at least one EES.

[0030] Optionally, the second request message can further comprise ephemeris information of the device corresponding to the at least one EES, the ephemeris information being used to indicate available information of the device corresponding to the at least one EES in time and / or space.

[0031] It can be understood that the technical effects of the method of the fourth aspect described above can also be referred to the above-mentioned first aspect or the second aspect, which will not be repeated here.

[0032] In a fifth aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be performed by an EES, or by a module (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a chip system) applied to the EES, or by a logic node, a logic module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the EES. For convenience of description, the method is described below by taking the EES as an example. The method comprises: receiving a first request message from a terminal, the first request message being used to request to determine an edge enabler server (EAS) for the terminal, the first request message comprising information of a first device corresponding to the terminal, wherein the first device is a satellite corresponding to an access network device connected by the terminal; and sending, to the terminal, a first response message according to the first request message, the first response message comprising information of a first EAS, the first EAS corresponding to the first device.

[0033] According to the method of the fifth aspect, the EES determines the first EAS for the terminal through the satellite corresponding to the access network device to which the terminal is connected (i.e., the first device), so that when the terminal wants to obtain edge computing services, the terminal can connect to the first EAS corresponding to the satellite, avoiding unnecessary interaction between satellites, thereby ensuring that the terminal can connect to the first EAS to obtain edge computing services, avoiding unnecessary service interruption, reducing service latency, and thus improving data transmission quality.

[0034] Optionally, the first response message includes first information, and the first information is used to indicate time and / or space availability information of the first EAS. The first information can be determined by the EES according to ephemeris information of the satellite corresponding to the first EAS. By determining the time and / or space availability information of the first EAS by the EES, the overhead of the terminal can be reduced. When the terminal wants to obtain edge computing services, based on the time and / or space availability information of the first EAS, the terminal can determine whether the satellite corresponding to the first EAS is connectable, thereby determining whether the first EAS is connectable, facilitating the terminal to connect to the first EAS at available time and / or space.

[0035] Optionally, the first device is a device currently corresponding to the terminal. That is, the first device can be a satellite corresponding to an access network device currently connected by the terminal. In this way, the first EAS accessed by the terminal subsequently corresponds to the device currently corresponding to the terminal, which can avoid unnecessary inter-satellite link connection and reduce latency.

[0036] Optionally, the first device can also be a satellite corresponding to an access network device to be connected by the terminal in the future, so that the terminal can determine the available EAS to be accessed at a certain time in the future in advance, reducing service latency.

[0037] Optionally, the first EAS corresponding to the first device includes that the first EAS is deployed at the first device.

[0038] In a possible implementation, after receiving the first request message from the terminal, the communication method can further include: determining the first EAS according to information of the first device and information of devices corresponding to at least one EAS, the at least one EAS including the first EAS, and the devices corresponding to the at least one EAS including the first device.

[0039] It can be understood that the EES maintains information of at least one EAS, or in other words, information of at least one EAS is registered on the EES. The information of at least one EAS can include information of a device corresponding to at least one EAS, such as that each of at least one EAS corresponds to a SAT ID, and there is a corresponding relationship between the EAS and the SAT ID. The EES determines a first EAS corresponding to the information of the first device from the information of the device corresponding to at least one EAS, so that the first EAS determined by the EES is an EAS available to the terminal and connectable without an inter-satellite link, avoiding unnecessary service interruption due to lack of an inter-satellite link and reducing latency.

[0040] Optionally, the communication method can further include receiving a second request message from the at least one EAS, and the second request message includes second information, and the second information indicates identification information of the at least one EAS, address information of the at least one EAS, and information of a device corresponding to the at least one EAS.

[0041] Optionally, the second request message can be an EAS registration request message, and the EAS registration request message is used to request registration of the information of the at least one EAS on the EES. The EES determines the first EAS of the first device through the second information, which can improve the accuracy of determining the first EAS.

[0042] Optionally, the second request message further includes ephemeris information of a device corresponding to the at least one EAS, and the ephemeris information is used to indicate time and / or spatial available information of the device corresponding to the at least one EAS. The time and / or spatial available information of the device corresponding to the at least one EAS can be used to determine time and / or spatial available information of the first EAS, so that the terminal can determine whether the first EAS is connectable in time and / or space, thereby avoiding unnecessary service interruption and reducing latency.

[0043] In a sixth aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a terminal, or by a module (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) applied to the terminal, or by a logic node, a logic module, or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the terminal. For the convenience of description, the method is introduced below by taking the terminal as an example. The method includes: sending a first request message to an edge configuration server EES, the first request message being used to request determination of an edge enabled server EAS for the terminal, and the first request message including information of a first device corresponding to the terminal; the first device being a satellite corresponding to an access network device connected by the terminal. Then, a first response message from the EES is received, and the first response message includes information of a first EAS, and the first EAS corresponds to the first device.

[0044] Optionally, the first response message can include first information, and the first information is used to indicate time and / or spatial available information of the first EAS.

[0045] Optionally, the first device can be a device currently corresponding to the terminal.

[0046] Optionally, the first EAS corresponding to the first device can include that the first EAS is deployed on the first device.

[0047] It can be understood that the technical effects of the method of the sixth aspect described above can also be referred to the related description of the fifth aspect described above, which will not be repeated here.

[0048] In a seventh aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be executed by a terminal, a module (such as a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) applied to the terminal, and a logic node, a logic module, or software that can realize all or part of the terminal functions. For the convenience of description, the following will be introduced by taking the method executed by the terminal as an example. The method includes: sending a first request message to an edge configuration server (EES), the first request message being used to request to determine an edge-enabled server (EAS) for the terminal; receiving a first response message from the EES, the first response message including information of at least one EAS and information of a device corresponding to the at least one EAS; and determining a first EAS corresponding to a first device according to the first response message and the information of the first device, the devices of the at least one EAS including the first device, and the first device being a satellite corresponding to an access network device connected by the terminal.

[0049] Based on the method of the seventh aspect, the terminal determines the first EAS corresponding to the first device from the devices corresponding to the at least one EAS based on the information of the at least one EAS and the information of the devices corresponding to the at least one EAS sent by the EES. Since the first device is a satellite corresponding to an access network device connected by the terminal, when the terminal wants to obtain an edge computing service, the terminal can be connected to the first EAS corresponding to the satellite connected by the terminal, thereby avoiding unnecessary interaction between satellites, ensuring that the terminal can be connected to the first EAS to obtain the edge computing service, reducing the service delay, and improving the data transmission quality.

[0050] Optionally, the first device can be a satellite corresponding to an access network device currently connected by the terminal.

[0051] Optionally, the first EAS is deployed on the first device.

[0052] Optionally, the first response message further indicates ephemeris information of the devices corresponding to the at least one EAS; and the communication method can further include: determining available information of the first EAS in time and / or space according to the information of the first device and the ephemeris information. By determining the available information of the first EAS in time and / or space by the terminal, the overhead of the EES can be reduced.

[0053] It can be understood that the technical effects of the method of the seventh aspect described above can also be referred to the related description of the fifth aspect described above, and will not be repeated here.

[0054] In an eighth aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be performed by an EES, or by a module (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a chip system) applied to the EES, or by a logic node, a logic module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the EES. For the convenience of description, the method is described below by taking the EES as an example. The method includes: receiving a first request message from a terminal, the first request message being used to request to determine an edge enabler server (EAS) for the terminal; and sending, according to the first request message, a first response message to the terminal, the first response message including information of at least one EAS and information of a device corresponding to the at least one EAS.

[0055] Optionally, the communication method can further include: receiving a second request message from the at least one EAS, the second request message including second information, the second information being used to indicate identification information of the at least one EAS, address information of the at least one EAS, and information of a device corresponding to the at least one EAS.

[0056] Optionally, the second request message can further include ephemeris information of the device corresponding to the at least one EAS, the ephemeris information being used to indicate available information of the device corresponding to the at least one EAS in time and / or space.

[0057] It can be understood that the technical effects of the method of the eighth aspect described above can also be referred to the related description of the fifth aspect or the sixth aspect described above, and will not be repeated here.

[0058] In a ninth aspect, a communication method is provided. The method can be performed by a terminal, or by a module (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a chip system) applied to the terminal, or by a logic node, a logic module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the terminal. For the convenience of description, the method is described below by taking the terminal as an example. The method includes: sending a first message to a first network element, the first message including first information, the first information being used to indicate related information of at least one satellite; receiving second information from the first network element, the second information being used to indicate information of a first satellite, the first satellite corresponding to an access network device serving the terminal, and the at least one satellite including the first satellite; and determining a first edge enabler server (EES) according to the second information, the first EES corresponding to the first satellite.

[0059] Based on the ninth aspect, in the case that the RAN is deployed on the ground, the terminal can obtain the information of the first satellite corresponding to the access network device connected to the terminal from the first network element by sending the related information of the at least one satellite to the core network element (i.e., the first network element), so as to determine the first EES corresponding to the first satellite. When the terminal wants to obtain the edge computing service, the terminal can connect to the first EES corresponding to the first satellite, thereby avoiding unnecessary interaction between satellites, ensuring that the terminal can connect to the first EES to obtain the edge computing service, reducing the service delay, and improving the data transmission quality.

[0060] Optionally, the first EES corresponding to the first satellite includes that the first EES is deployed on the first satellite.

[0061] Optionally, the related information of the at least one satellite includes at least one of the following: a data network name (DNN), a slice, or a data network access identifier (DNAI) of each satellite in the at least one satellite. It can be understood that the DNN, the slice, or the DNAI can be related to satellite services, for example, can be a DNN, a slice, or a DNAI corresponding to an EES on a satellite, that is, different from a DNN, a slice, or a DNAI corresponding to an EES on the ground. Since the related information of the at least one satellite is related to satellite services, the first network element determines the first satellite corresponding to the access network device serving the terminal from the at least one satellite, so that the terminal obtains the information of the first satellite through the related information of the at least one satellite to access the first EES corresponding to the first satellite to obtain the edge computing service.

[0062] Optionally, the communication method can further include: obtaining information of at least one EES, the information of the at least one EES including the related information of the at least one satellite. For example, the terminal obtains the information of the at least one EES from the ECS. The at least one EES registers the information of the at least one EES on the ECS, so that when the terminal requests the ECS to discover the EES, the ECS sends the information of the at least one EES to the terminal.

[0063] Optionally, the information of the at least one EES includes information of a satellite corresponding to the at least one EES; and determining the first EES according to the second information includes: determining the first EES according to the second information and the information of the satellite corresponding to the at least one EES, the at least one EES including the first EES.

[0064] The information of the at least one EES can include identification information and / or address information of each EES in the at least one EES, and the identification information and / or address information corresponds to the information of the satellite corresponding to the at least one EES. Through the identification information and / or address information of the EES, the accuracy of the terminal in determining the first EES can be ensured.

[0065] Optionally, the communication method can further include: determining, according to the information of the at least one EES, to establish a session connected to the satellite, and the first message is used to request to establish the session. Since the ECS determines that the EES currently available to the terminal corresponds to the satellite, such as being deployed on the satellite, or the ECS determines that no EES on the ground is currently available to the terminal, that is, the EES connectable by the terminal is not deployed on the ground, the ECS sends the terminal the information of the at least one EES. Thus, the terminal obtains the information of the at least one EES, that is, implicitly indicates that the EES currently available to the terminal corresponds to the satellite, and the terminal needs to establish a session, such as a PDU session, connected to the satellite, so as to obtain the information of the first satellite through a session establishment process.

[0066] Optionally, before sending the first information to the core network element, the communication method can further include: receiving third information from an edge configuration server ECS, the third information indicating that the EES connectable by the terminal corresponds to the satellite, or the EES connectable by the terminal is not deployed on the ground.

[0067] Optionally, the communication method can further include: determining, according to the third information, to establish a session connected to the satellite, and the first message is used to request to establish the session.

[0068] That is, the terminal can learn that the EES connectable by the terminal corresponds to the satellite, or the EES connectable by the terminal is not deployed on the ground, through the explicit indication. The terminal determines, according to the third information, to establish a session, such as a PDU session, connected to the satellite, so as to obtain the information of the first satellite through a session establishment process.

[0069] In a tenth aspect, a communication method is provided, which includes: a first network element receiving a first message from a terminal, the first message including first information indicating related information of at least one satellite; and the first network element sending second information to the terminal according to the first information, the second information indicating information of a first satellite corresponding to an access network device serving the terminal, and the at least one satellite including the first satellite.

[0070] Optionally, the communication method can further include: the first network element sending the information of the first satellite to a second network element; the first network element receiving fourth information from the second network element, the fourth information indicating that the first satellite corresponds to a first user function network element; and the second information including the fourth information.

[0071] It can be understood that if the user function network element is deployed on the first satellite, that is, the first user function network element, the first network element receives information indicating that the first satellite corresponds to the first user function network element. The information can be included in the second information and sent to the terminal, so that the terminal subsequently accesses the first user function network element when obtaining edge computing services, and the connected first user function network element and the first EES correspond to the first satellite, thereby avoiding unnecessary inter-satellite link connection and reducing latency.

[0072] It can be understood that the technical effects of the method of the tenth aspect described above can also be referred to the related description of the ninth aspect described above, which will not be repeated here.

[0073] In a eleventh aspect, a communication method is provided, which includes: a second network element receiving information of a first satellite from a first network element, the first satellite corresponding to an access network device serving a terminal; and the second network element sending fourth information to the first network element according to the information of the first satellite, the fourth information indicating that the first satellite corresponds to a first user function network element.

[0074] Optionally, before the second network element sends the fourth information to the first network element according to the information of the first satellite, the communication method can further include: the second network element determining the first user function network element according to the information of the first satellite and satellite information corresponding to at least one user function network element, the at least one user function network element including the first user function network element.

[0075] The second network element determines whether there is information of the first satellite in the satellite information corresponding to the at least one user function network element, or whether there is a user function network element deployed on the first satellite. If there is, the user function network element deployed on the first satellite is selected as the first user function network element, that is, the user function network element deployed on the satellite corresponding to the RAN connected by the terminal is selected. So that the terminal subsequently accesses the first user function network element when obtaining edge computing services, and the connected first user function network element and the first EES correspond to the first satellite, thereby avoiding unnecessary inter-satellite link connection and reducing latency.

[0076] It can be understood that the technical effects of the method of the eleventh aspect described above can also be referred to the related description of the ninth aspect described above, which will not be repeated here.

[0077] In a twelfth aspect, a communication method is provided, which can be performed by a terminal, by a module (e.g., a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) applied to the terminal, by a logic node, a logic module, or software that can implement all or part of the functions of the terminal. For the convenience of description, the method is described below by taking the terminal as an example. The method comprises: sending a first message to a first network element, the first message comprising first information, the first information indicating related information of at least one satellite; receiving second information from the first network element, the second information indicating information of a first satellite, the first satellite corresponding to an access network device serving the terminal, the at least one satellite comprising the first satellite; and determining a first edge enabler server (EAS) according to the second information, the first EAS corresponding to the first satellite.

[0078] According to the twelfth aspect, in the case where the RAN is deployed on the ground, the terminal can obtain the information of the first satellite corresponding to the access network device serving the terminal from the first network element by sending the related information of the at least one satellite to the first network element, and determine the first EAS corresponding to the first satellite. Thus, when the terminal wants to obtain edge computing services, the terminal can connect to the first EAS corresponding to the first satellite, avoiding unnecessary interaction between satellites, so as to ensure that the terminal can connect to the first EAS to obtain edge computing services, reduce service latency, and improve data transmission quality.

[0079] Optionally, the first EAS corresponding to the first satellite comprises that the first EAS is deployed on the first satellite.

[0080] Optionally, the related information of the at least one satellite comprises at least one of the following: a data network name (DNN), a slice, or a data network access identifier (DNAI) of each satellite in the at least one satellite. It can be understood that the DNN, the slice, or the DNAI can be related to satellite services, for example, can be a DNN, a slice, or a DNAI corresponding to an EAS on a satellite, that is, different from a DNN, a slice, or a DNAI corresponding to an EAS on the ground. Since the related information of the at least one satellite indicates satellite services, the first network element determines the first satellite corresponding to the access network device serving the terminal from the at least one satellite, so that the terminal obtains the information of the first satellite through the related information of the at least one satellite to access the first EAS corresponding to the first satellite to obtain edge computing services.

[0081] Optionally, the communication method can further include: obtaining information of the at least one EAS, the information of the at least one EAS including relevant information of the at least one satellite. For example, the terminal obtains the information of the at least one EAS from the EES. The at least one EAS registers the information of the at least one EAS on the EES, so that when the terminal requests the EES to discover the EAS, the EES sends the information of the at least one EAS to the terminal.

[0082] Optionally, the information of the at least one EAS includes information of a satellite corresponding to the at least one EAS; and determining the first EAS according to the second information includes: determining the first EAS according to the second information and the information of the satellite corresponding to the at least one EAS, the at least one EAS including the first EAS.

[0083] Optionally, the information of the at least one EAS includes information of a satellite corresponding to the at least one EAS; and determining the first EAS according to the second information includes: determining the first EAS according to the second information and the information of the satellite corresponding to the at least one EAS, the at least one EAS including the first EAS.

[0084] Optionally, the communication method can further include: determining to establish a session connected to a satellite according to the information of the at least one EAS, the first information being used to request to establish the session. Since the EES determines that the satellite corresponding to the EAS currently available to the terminal is deployed on the satellite, or the EES determines that no EAS on the ground is currently available to the terminal, i.e., the EAS connectable by the terminal is not deployed on the ground, the EES sends the information of the at least one EAS to the terminal. Thus, the terminal obtains the information of the at least one EAS, which implicitly indicates the satellite corresponding to the EAS currently available to the terminal, and needs to establish a session connected to the satellite, such as a PDU session, so as to obtain the information of the first satellite through a session establishment process.

[0085] Optionally, before sending the first information to the core network element, the communication method can further include: receiving third information from the edge configuration server EES, the third information indicating that the EAS connectable by the terminal corresponds to the satellite, or the EAS connectable by the terminal is not deployed on the ground.

[0086] Optionally, the communication method can further include: determining to establish a session connected to a satellite according to the third information, the first information being used to request to establish the session.

[0087] That is, the terminal can learn that the EAS connectable by the terminal corresponds to the satellite, or the EAS connectable by the terminal is not deployed on the ground through the explicit indication. The terminal determines to establish a session connected to the satellite, such as a PDU session, according to the third information, so as to obtain the information of the first satellite through a session establishment process.

[0088] In a thirteenth aspect, a communication method is provided. The method includes: receiving, by a first network element, a first message from a terminal, the first message including first information indicating related information of at least one satellite; and transmitting, by the first network element, second information to the terminal according to the first information, the second information indicating information of a first satellite corresponding to an access network device serving the terminal, the at least one satellite including the first satellite.

[0089] Optionally, the method can further include: transmitting, by the first network element, the information of the first satellite to a second network element; receiving, by the first network element, fourth information from the second network element, the fourth information indicating that the first satellite corresponds to a first user function network element; and including, by the first network element, the fourth information in the second information.

[0090] It can be understood that if a user function network element is deployed on the first satellite, i.e., the first user function network element, the first network element receives information indicating that the first satellite corresponds to the first user function network element, and can include the information in the second information and transmit the second information to the terminal, so that the terminal subsequently accesses the first user function network element when obtaining edge computing services, and the connected first user function network element and first EAS correspond to the first satellite, thereby avoiding unnecessary inter-satellite link connection and reducing latency.

[0091] It can be understood that the technical effects of the method of the thirteenth aspect described above can also be referred to the related description of the twelfth aspect described above, which will not be repeated here.

[0092] In a fourteenth aspect, a communication method is provided. The method includes: receiving, by a second network element, information of a first satellite from a first network element, the first satellite corresponding to an access network device serving a terminal; and transmitting, by the second network element, fourth information to the first network element according to the information of the first satellite, the fourth information indicating that the first satellite corresponds to a first user function network element.

[0093] Optionally, before the second network element transmits the fourth information to the first network element according to the information of the first satellite, the method can further include: determining, by the second network element, the first user function network element according to the information of the first satellite and satellite information corresponding to at least one user function network element, the at least one user function network element including the first user function network element.

[0094] The second network element determines whether there is information of the first satellite in the satellite information corresponding to the at least one user function network element, or whether there is a user function network element deployed on the first satellite, and if so, selects the user function network element deployed on the first satellite as the first user function network element, i.e., selects the user function network element deployed on the satellite corresponding to the RAN to which the terminal is connected. So that the terminal subsequently accesses the first user function network element when obtaining edge computing services, and the connected first user function network element and first EAS correspond to the first satellite, thereby avoiding unnecessary inter-satellite link connection and reducing latency.

[0095] It can be understood that the technical effects of the method of the fourteenth aspect can also be referred to the above-mentioned twelfth aspect, and details are not described herein.

[0096] In a fifteenth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided. The communication apparatus includes a processor configured to implement a method in any of the first aspect to the fourteenth aspect.

[0097] In a possible implementation, the communication apparatus of the fifteenth aspect can further include a transceiver. The transceiver can be a transceiver circuit or an interface circuit. The transceiver can be configured to enable the communication apparatus to communicate with other communication apparatuses.

[0098] In a possible implementation, the communication apparatus of the fifteenth aspect can further include a memory. The memory can be integrated with the processor or can be separately arranged. The memory can be configured to store a computer program and / or data related to the method in any of the first aspect to the fourteenth aspect.

[0099] In addition, the technical effects of the communication apparatus of the fifteenth aspect can refer to the technical effects of any of the first aspect to the fourteenth aspect, and details are not described herein.

[0100] In a sixteenth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided. The communication apparatus includes a processor coupled to a memory, and the processor is configured to execute a computer program or instructions stored in the memory, so that the communication apparatus implements a method in any of the first aspect to the fourteenth aspect.

[0101] In a possible implementation, the communication apparatus can further include a transceiver. The transceiver can be a transceiver circuit or an interface circuit. The transceiver can be configured to enable the communication apparatus to communicate with other communication apparatuses.

[0102] In a possible implementation, the communication apparatus can further include the memory configured to store the computer program or instructions. Alternatively, the memory and the processor are integrated together.

[0103] In addition, the technical effects of the communication apparatus of the sixteenth aspect can refer to the technical effects of any of the first aspect to the fourteenth aspect, and details are not described herein.

[0104] In a seventeenth aspect, a communication system is provided. The communication system includes an ECS, at least one EES, and a terminal. The ECS is configured to implement a method in any of the first aspect and the fourth aspect; the EES is configured to implement a method in any of the fifth aspect and the eighth aspect; and the terminal is configured to implement a method in any of the second aspect, the third aspect, the sixth aspect, the seventh aspect, the ninth aspect, the twelfth aspect.

[0105] The communication system can further include a core network element, such as a first network element configured to implement the method of any one of the tenth aspect and the thirteenth aspect, and a second network element configured to implement the method of any one of the eleventh aspect and the fourteenth aspect.

[0106] In an eighteenth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, including a computer program or instructions, and when the computer program or instructions are executed, the method of any one of the first aspect to the fourteenth aspect is implemented.

[0107] In a nineteenth aspect, a computer program product is provided, including a computer program or instructions, and when the computer program or instructions are executed, the method of any one of the first aspect to the fourteenth aspect is implemented.

[0108] In a twentieth aspect, a chip or chip system is provided, including at least one processor connected with a memory, the memory is configured to store a computer program, and the at least one processor is configured to execute the computer program stored in the memory, so that the method of any one of the first aspect to the fourteenth aspect is implemented. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0109] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a MEC network architecture;

[0110] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of deploying EES and EAS in a satellite scenario;

[0111] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an end-to-end flow in a satellite scenario;

[0112] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a satellite scenario 1 provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0113] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a satellite scenario 2 provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0114] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a satellite scenario 3 provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0115] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a satellite scenario 4 provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0116] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0117] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0118] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a flow of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0119] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a flow of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0120] FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating a third method of communication, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0121] FIG. 13 is a flow diagram illustrating a fourth method of communication, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0122] FIG. 14 is a flow diagram illustrating a fifth method of communication, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0123] FIG. 15 is a flow diagram illustrating a sixth method of communication, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0124] FIG. 16 is a flow diagram illustrating a seventh method of communication, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0125] FIG. 17 is a flow diagram illustrating an eighth method of communication, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0126] FIG. 18 is a flow diagram illustrating a ninth method of communication, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0127] FIG. 19 is a flow diagram illustrating a tenth method of communication, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0128] FIG. 20 is a structural diagram illustrating a first communication apparatus, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0129] FIG. 21 is a structural diagram illustrating a second communication apparatus, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0130] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to various communication systems, such as a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) system, a vehicle to everything (V2X) communication system, a device-to-device (D2D) communication system, a vehicle networking communication system, a 4th generation (4G) mobile communication system such as a long term evolution (LTE) system, a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication system, a 5th generation (5G) mobile communication system such as a new radio (NR) system, and a future communication system.

[0131] For the convenience of understanding, the technical terms involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure are introduced as follows.

[0132] 1. Mobile edge computing or muti-access edge computing (MEC):

[0133] The 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) is studying application-enabled MEC, and defines a network architecture as shown in FIG. 1. The following introduces each functional entity and interface shown in FIG. 1.

[0134] Edge data network (EDN): In one understanding of EDN, EDN is a network logical concept, in which EDN corresponds to a data network, which is a special local data network (DN) and contains edge-enabled functions, and can be identified by a data network access identifier (DNAI) and a data network name (DNN). In another understanding of EDN, EDN is a geographical location concept, in which EDN is a counterpart concept of a central cloud and can be understood as a local data center, which can be identified by a DNAI and can contain multiple local DNs.

[0135] EAS: EAS refers to an application deployed in an edge data network, specifically a server application (for example, social media software, augmented reality (AR), VR, etc.) deployed and running in an instance of an EDN. An application can deploy EAS in one or more EDNs, and each EDN can deploy one or more EASs. EASs deployed and running in different EDNs can be considered as different EASs of an application, which can share a domain name and can use one internet protocol (IP) address or different IP addresses. EAS can also be referred to as edge application server, application instance, edge application instance, MEC application (server), EAS function, etc.

[0136] Application client (AC): Application client is the counterpart entity of edge application on the terminal device side, which is used by an application user to obtain application services from an application server. Application client is a client program of an application on the terminal device side, which can connect to an application server on the cloud to obtain application services, or connect to an EAS deployed and running in one or more EDNs to obtain application services.

[0137] EES: EES can provide some enabling capabilities for EAS deployed in EDN, which can better support the deployment of applications in MEC. It can support the registration of EAS, the authentication and authorization of terminal devices, and provide IP address information of EAS for terminal devices. EES can also support obtaining the identity and IP address information of EAS, and further sending the identity and IP address information of EAS to the edge configuration server (ECS).

[0138] EES is deployed in EDN. Generally, EAS is registered on an EES, or the information of an EAS is configured on an EES through a management system, at this time, the EES is called the EES associated with the EAS, and the EES controls (or manages) the EAS registered / configured on the EES.

[0139] In the embodiments of the present application, the EAS registered on the EES and the like can also be referred to as the EAS configured on the EES, which refers to the EAS associated with the EES.

[0140] Edge enabler client (EEC): EEC is the peer entity of EES on the terminal device side. EEC is used to register the information of EEC and the information of application client to EES, perform security authentication and authorization, obtain the IP address of EAS from EES, provide edge computing enabling capabilities to application client, such as EAS discovery service returning the IP address of EAS to application client.

[0141] ECS: responsible for the configuration of EDN, such as providing EES information to terminal devices. ECS can also directly provide application instance information to terminal devices, and interact with application DNS to obtain EAS information, obtain and save EAS and IP address information from other functional entities.

[0142] Among them, the user of the application can sign a service agreement with the provider of the application, so that the network can provide services for the user. The user can log in to the application client on the terminal device and communicate through the connection between the application client and the EAS. EEC is a middleware layer, which is generally located in the operating system or between the application client and the operating system. The application client can obtain edge enabling services from EEC in the form of application programming interface (API).

[0143] 2. Discovery process of EES and EAS:

[0144] Currently, based on the architecture shown in FIG. 1, a discovery process of an EES platform and a discovery process of an EAS are defined, which uses a two-level discovery mechanism: first, discover the EES platform, and then discover the EAS from the EES platform, including the following steps:

[0145] 1. The EEC discovers the EES platform from the ECS. The first step specifically includes the following (1)-(4):

[0146] (1) The EEC requests (or subscribes) the platform EES corresponding to the terminal device location from the ECS, and carries some related information in the request message, such as the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) requested by the terminal device, the information of the application requested by the terminal device, and the like.

[0147] (2) The ECS selects a suitable EES for each application requested by the terminal device. Specifically, the ECS can obtain the DNAI according to the location of the terminal device, so as to select a suitable EES for each application in combination with the DNAI, the FQDN, and the EES profile. Alternatively, the ECS can also select according to the terminal device location and other optional filter parameters when selecting the EES for the application.

[0148] (3) Obtain the current / potential DNAI.

[0149] (4) The EEC obtains the information of one or more EESs from the ECS.

[0150] 2. The EEC discovers the EAS application instance from the EES. The second step specifically includes the following (1)-(3):

[0151] (1) The EEC requests the EES obtained to discover the EAS.

[0152] (2) The EES matches the information of the registered application. Specifically, the EES matches one or more EASs that meet the user request according to the information of the locally registered / online EASs and the discovery filter parameters provided by the user.

[0153] (3) The EES returns the information of the EAS, such as the address information, to the EEC, and then the EEC can provide the information of the EAS to the application client, which is used for the client to connect to the EAS.

[0154] 3. Discovery process of the EES and the EAS in the satellite scenario:

[0155] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of deploying EES and EAS in a satellite scenario. As shown in FIG. 2, in this scenario, EAS#1 and EAS#2 can be deployed on a satellite, where EAS#1 and EAS#2 can be deployed on the same satellite or on different satellites. ECS and EES#1, EES#2, and EES#3 can be deployed on the ground. When the coverage of the satellite where the EES is deployed can cover the terminal device, the terminal device can establish a connection with the EES. Similarly, when the coverage of the satellite where the EAS is deployed can cover the terminal device, the terminal device can establish a connection with the EAS.

[0156] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an end-to-end flow in a satellite scenario. As shown in FIG. 3, assuming that EAS#1 and EAS#2 are deployed on the same satellite, and the terminal device is a UE, a possible end-to-end flow can include the following steps:

[0157] S300a, EES#1 obtains the SAT ID of the satellite corresponding to EES#1 from an operation administration and maintenance (OAM) network element.

[0158] The SAT ID of the satellite corresponding to EES#1 can be obtained according to the running track of the satellite. EES#1 can also obtain the ephemeris information of the satellite corresponding to SAT from the OAM network element, the time available within a certain range / the time available at a certain location.

[0159] S300b, EAS#1 and EAS#2 are configured with the associated SAT ID.

[0160] EAS#1 and EAS#2 deploy the identification information of the satellite, and the specific form is not limited. Here, the satellite identification can also be the address information of the satellite, etc.

[0161] S301, EAS#1 and EAS#2 respectively register the SAT ID information with EES#1.

[0162] For example, EAS#1 and EAS#2 respectively send a registration request message to EES#1, where the registration request message carries the SAT ID of the satellite associated with EAS#1 and EAS#2, and / or the ephemeris information of the satellite where EAS#1 and EAS#2 are deployed. EES sends a corresponding registration response message to EAS#1 and EAS#2.

[0163] S302, EES#1 determines a group of EAS list according to the SAT ID associated with EAS#1 and EAS#2.

[0164] EES determines a set of EASs (e.g., EAS#1, EAS#2) according to a set of EAS-associated SAT IDs and a list of SAT IDs (e.g., SAT ID#1, SAT ID#2…) provided by an OAM network element, and according to a satellite orbit.

[0165] S303, EES#1 sends a registration request message to ECS.

[0166] The request message carries EES#1-related information, such as an ID of EES#1, an address (endpoint) of EES#1, and the like.

[0167] S304, ECS sends a response message to EES#1.

[0168] The response message is used to indicate whether the registration of EES#1 is successful or failed.

[0169] S305, when a UE needs to obtain edge computing services, the UE sends an EES discovery request message to ECS.

[0170] The UE sends an EES discovery request message or a service provisioning request message to ECS, and the request message carries at least one of the following: location information (current location or predicted location) of the UE, information of an application requested by the UE, such as an EAS ID.

[0171] S306, ECS sends an EES discovery response message to the UE.

[0172] Alternatively, ECS can also send a service provisioning response message to the UE.

[0173] ECS determines EES#1 for the UE according to the location information of the UE and a service area of the EES, and can send EES#1-related information, including an ID of EES#1, an address (endpoint) of EES#1, and the like, to the UE; or ECS determines multiple EESs and sends information of the multiple EESs to the UE.

[0174] S307, the UE sends an EAS discovery request message to EES#1 determined by ECS.

[0175] The EAS discovery request message carries UE location information and EAS ID information.

[0176] S308, the EES#1 determines a set of EASs according to the current location information of the UE and the EAS list corresponding to the EES#1.

[0177] Optionally, the EES#1 can determine the EAS corresponding to the current location of the UE. That is, the EES#1 determines the EAS that the UE can currently connect to.

[0178] S309, the EES#1 sends an EAS discovery response message to the UE.

[0179] The EAS discovery response message can carry the ID of the EAS, the EAS list, and the ephemeris information. Optionally, the EAS discovery response message can also indicate the initial EAS information / the EAS information (address information) corresponding to the current location of the UE.

[0180] In some other implementations, the EES#1 can not determine the EAS corresponding to the current location of the UE, that is, the EES#1 sends the EAS list and the ephemeris information corresponding to each EAS to the UE, and the UE can determine the EAS that needs to be connected at this time according to its current location information.

[0181] The discovery process of the EES and the EAS in the above satellite scenario only determines the connected EES / EAS according to the geographical location and time of the UE. When multiple satellites can provide the same coverage for the UE, it can cause the selected EES to have a poor path. The following describes four scenarios of deploying EES / EAS on satellites.

[0182] Scenario 1:

[0183] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a satellite scenario 1 provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 4, in the scenario 1, the ECS is deployed on the ground, the RAN#1, the EES#1, and the EAS#1 can be deployed on the satellite corresponding to the SAT ID#1, the RAN#2, the EES#2, and the EAS#2 can be deployed on the satellite corresponding to the SAT ID#2. In addition, in the scenario 1, the protocol data unit (PDU) session anchor (PSA) UPF is deployed on the ground, but the local UPF is deployed on the satellite, that is, the UPF#1 is deployed on the satellite corresponding to the SAT ID#1, and the UPF#2 is deployed on the satellite corresponding to the SAT ID#2.

[0184] When the satellites corresponding to the SAT ID#1 and the SAT ID#2 can provide the same coverage for the UE, for the UE, selecting the SAT ID#1 or the SAT ID#2 can provide the same coverage, and similarly, the EES#1 and the EES#2 can also provide the same coverage for the UE.

[0185] Currently, for geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellites, only the RANs are selected according to the location of the RANs and the ephemeris information corresponding to the EESs; for hybrid GEO (N-GEO), the appropriate EESs are selected according to the location information and time of the UE. Since the selection of the EESs for the GEO and the N-GEO is based on different conditions, the UE can be connected to RAN #1 and UPF #1 on the satellite corresponding to SAT ID #1, and EES #2 and EAS #2 on the satellite corresponding to SAT ID #2. At this time, the user plane path of the UE-EES #2 needs to be transmitted through the satellite corresponding to SAT ID #1 and the satellite corresponding to SAT ID #2. At this time, there can be a case where there is no inter-satellite link between the two satellites, or the inter-satellite link quality between the two satellites is not optimal, resulting in an increase in the user plane path delay and a decrease in the data transmission quality.

[0186] Scenario 2:

[0187] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a satellite scenario 2 provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 5, in the scenario 2, the EES #1 and the ECS are deployed on the ground, the EAS #1 and the RAN #1 can be deployed on the satellite corresponding to SAT ID #1, and the EAS #2 and the RAN #2 can be deployed on the satellite corresponding to SAT ID #2.

[0188] If the EAS is selected only based on the geographic location information and time of the UE, the UPF #1 and the RAN #1 on the satellite corresponding to SAT ID #1 and the EAS #2 on the satellite corresponding to SAT ID #2 can be selected, resulting in an increase in the user plane path delay and a decrease in the data transmission quality.

[0189] Scenario 3:

[0190] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a satellite scenario 3 provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 6, in the scenario 3, the RAN #1 and the ECS are deployed on the ground, the EES #1 and the EAS #1 can be deployed on the satellite corresponding to SAT ID #1, and the EES #2 and the EAS #2 can be deployed on the satellite corresponding to SAT ID #2.

[0191] If the EES is selected only based on the geographic location information and time of the UE, the UE can select the EES #2 when connecting to the satellite corresponding to SAT ID #1, resulting in an increase in the user plane path delay and a decrease in the data transmission quality.

[0192] Scenario 4:

[0193] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a satellite scenario 4 provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 7, in the scenario 4, the EES#1, the ECS, and the RAN#1 are deployed on the ground, the EAS#1 can be deployed on the satellite corresponding to the SAT ID#1, and the EAS#2 can be deployed on the satellite corresponding to the SAT ID#2.

[0194] If the EAS is selected based on only the geographical location information and the time of the UE, the UPF#1 on the satellite corresponding to the SAT ID#1 and the EAS#2 on the satellite corresponding to the SAT ID#2 can be selected, resulting in an increase in the user plane path delay and a decrease in the data transmission quality.

[0195] In summary, in the scenario where at least one of the RAN, the EES, and the EAS is deployed on a satellite, if the EES / EAS connection is selected according to only the geographical location and the time of the UE, in the case where multiple satellites can provide the same coverage for the UE, the path of the EES / EAS and the RAN / UPF selected by the UE can need to be transmitted through an inter-satellite link, resulting in that data transmission cannot be achieved when there is no inter-satellite link between the satellites, or even if there is an inter-satellite link, the user plane path delay is increased, thereby reducing the data transmission quality.

[0196] To solve the above technical problems, embodiments of the present application provide the following technical solutions. The communication method, device, and system provided by the embodiments of the present application can avoid unnecessary interaction between satellites, thereby ensuring that the terminal can obtain edge computing services and reducing the service delay, thereby improving the data transmission quality.

[0197] The technical solutions in the present application will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0198] In the embodiments of the present application, "indication" can include direct indication and indirect indication, and can also include explicit indication and implicit indication. The information indicated by a certain information is referred to as to-be-indicated information, and there are many ways to indicate the to-be-indicated information in the specific implementation process, for example, but not limited to, the to-be-indicated information itself or an index of the to-be-indicated information can be directly indicated. The to-be-indicated information can also be indirectly indicated by indicating other information, where the other information and the to-be-indicated information have an association relationship. Only a part of the to-be-indicated information can be indicated, and the other part of the to-be-indicated information is known or agreed in advance. For example, the arrangement order of each information agreed in advance (for example, a protocol) can also be used to indicate a specific information, thereby reducing the indication overhead to a certain extent. At the same time, the common part of each information can be identified and uniformly indicated, so as to reduce the indication overhead caused by separately indicating the same information.

[0199] In addition, the specific indication manner can also be various existing indication manners, for example but not limited to the indication manners described above and various combinations thereof. As described above, for example, when multiple information of the same type needs to be indicated, the indication manners of different information can be different. In the specific implementation process, the required indication manner can be selected according to the specific needs, and the selected indication manner is not limited by the embodiments of the application. In this way, the indication manners involved in the embodiments of the application should be understood as covering various methods that can enable the to-be-indicated party to know the to-be-indicated information.

[0200] It should be understood that the to-be-indicated information can be sent as a whole or can be divided into multiple sub-information and sent separately, and the sending period and / or sending occasion of the sub-information can be the same or different. The specific sending method is not limited by the embodiments of the application. The sending period and / or sending occasion of the sub-information can be predefined, for example, predefined according to a protocol, or configured by the sending node device by sending configuration information to the receiving node device.

[0201] In the present application, "sending information" can be understood as a device sending information to another device, or can also be understood as a logical module in a device sending information to another logical module. For example, "network device sending information" can be understood as the network device sending information to another device (such as a terminal or another network device), or can be understood as a logical module 1 in the network device sending information to a logical module 2 in the network device.

[0202] In the present application, "receiving information" can be understood as a device receiving information from another device, or can also be understood as a logical module in a device receiving information from another logical module. For example, "network device receiving information" can be understood as the network device receiving information from another device (such as a terminal or another network device), or can be understood as a logical module 1 in the network device receiving information from a logical module 2 in the network device.

[0203] In the present application, "sending information to (for example, a terminal)" or related illustrations in the drawings can be understood as that the destination of the information is the terminal. It can include directly or indirectly sending information to the terminal. "Receiving information from (for example, a terminal)" or "receiving information sent by (for example, a terminal)" or "receiving information from (for example, a terminal)", or related illustrations in the drawings can be understood as that the source of the information is the terminal. It can include directly or indirectly receiving information from the terminal. The information can be processed as necessary between the source and the destination of the information, for example, format change, etc., but the destination can understand the valid information from the source. Similar expressions in the present application can be understood similarly, and will not be described here.

[0204] The predefinition or pre-configuration can be realized by pre-storing corresponding codes, tables or other means for indicating relevant information in the device, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific implementation manner. The storage can be in one or more memories. The one or more memories can be separately arranged or integrated in the encoder or decoder, processor or communication device. The one or more memories can be partially separately arranged and partially integrated in the decoder, processor or communication device. The memory can be any form of storage medium, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the same.

[0205] The protocol referred to in the embodiments of the present application can refer to a protocol family in the communication field, a standard protocol similar to the protocol family frame structure, or a relevant protocol applied to a future communication system, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the same.

[0206] In the embodiments of the present application, the descriptions such as "when", "in the case of", "if" and "whether" all refer to that the device will make corresponding processing under certain objective condition, and are not limited in time, and do not require the device to have a judgment action when implemented, nor mean that there are other limitations.

[0207] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified, " / " represents that the objects before and after the " / " are in an "or" relationship, for example, A / B can represent A or B; "and / or" in the embodiments of the present application is only a description of the association relationship of the associated objects, which means that there can be three relationships, for example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. In addition, in the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" means two or more than two. "At least one of the following" or the like means any combination of the items, including any combination of single item or multiple items. For example, at least one of a, b or c can represent: a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, or a-b-c, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple. In addition, in order to clearly describe the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, in the embodiments of the present application, "first", "second", and the like are used to distinguish the same items or similar items with basically the same function and role. Those skilled in the art can understand that "first", "second", and the like do not limit the quantity and execution order, and "first", "second", and the like do not necessarily mean different. At the same time, in the embodiments of the present application, "exemplary" or "for example" means to serve as an example, illustration or description. Any embodiment or implementation described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of the present application should not be interpreted as more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or implementations. Rather, the use of "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concept in a specific manner, for understanding.

[0208] The network architecture and service scenarios described in the embodiments of the present application are used to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application. Those skilled in the art can know that, with the evolution of network architecture and the appearance of new service scenarios, the technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0209] In order to understand the embodiments of the present application, first, the communication system shown in FIG. 8 is taken as an example to describe the communication system applicable to the embodiments of the present application in detail. For example, FIG. 8 is a structure schematic diagram one of the communication system provided by the embodiments of the present application.

[0210] As shown in FIG. 8, the communication system mainly includes ECS or EES, and terminal. Optionally, the communication system can also include EAS.

[0211] It should be noted that the terminal and the EEC in the embodiments of the present application are the same concept. For example, the EEC is deployed on the terminal, and the EEC has the function of edge server discovery. The ECS is deployed on the network side, and the EES and / or the EAS are deployed on the edge network side, wherein the ECS is used to discover the EES for the terminal, and the EES is used to discover the appropriate EAS for the terminal.

[0212] For example, the communication system can be applied to 5G or future communication systems. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a communication system provided by the embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 9, in the communication system, the terminal is located on the ground and can be connected to the satellite through a wireless link. The satellite is connected to the ground station on the ground through a wireless link, and the ground station is connected to the core network on the ground. Optionally, the satellites can transmit signaling or data through a wireless link (also referred to as an inter-satellite link). The ECS is deployed on the ground (not shown in the figure), and the EES is deployed on the satellite or the ground (not shown in the figure). Details will be described below in combination with scenarios.

[0213] Optionally, the communication system can also include a data network (DN). The data network can be connected to the core network. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the data network can be connected to the user plane function (UPF) network element in the core network.

[0214] In FIG. 9, the satellite can work in a transparent mode, in which case the access network device is deployed on the ground. Alternatively, the satellite can work in a regenerative mode, in which case the access network device is deployed on the satellite, or in other words, the satellite is the access network device, which is used to implement the functions of the access network device in the embodiments of the present application. The terminal communicates with the access network device through an air interface.

[0215] In the communication system shown in FIG. 9, the air interface between the terminal and the access network device can be an air interface in various communication systems. For example, it can be an air interface in a 3GPP communication system, such as a 4G, 5G communication system, or an air interface in a future-oriented evolution system. Alternatively, it can also be an air interface in an open radio access network (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or an air interface in a communication system that combines two or more of the above systems.

[0216] In the communication system shown in FIG. 9, the following describes the functions of each network element:

[0217] The terminal can also be referred to as a terminal device, user equipment (UE), mobile station, mobile terminal, etc. The terminal can be widely applied to various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D), V2X communication, machine-type communication (MTC), internet of things (IoT), smart point of sale (POS), customer-premises equipment (CPE), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, remote medical treatment, smart power grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wear (such as smart watch, smart bracelet, pedometer, smart glasses, etc.), smart transportation, smart city, etc. The terminal can be a mobile phone, tablet computer, computer with wireless transceiver function, wearable device, vehicle device (such as whole vehicle device, vehicle-mounted module, vehicle-mounted chip, on board unit (OBU) or telematics box (T-BOX)), unmanned aerial vehicle, helicopter, airplane, ship, robot, mechanical arm, smart home device, satellite terminal, etc. Embodiments of the present application do not limit the device form of the terminal.

[0218] The access network device, which can also be referred to as a RAN node or an access node, is used to help the terminal device to realize wireless access. In a possible scenario, the access network device can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a next generation base station in a future mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system, etc. The access network device can be a macro base station, a micro base station, a relay node or a primary node, or a wireless controller in a CRAN scenario. All or part of the functions of the access network device in the present application can also be implemented by software functions running on hardware, or by virtualized functions instantiated on a platform (such as a cloud platform). The access network device in the present application can also be a logical node, a logical module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the access network device.

[0219] It can be understood that the RAN node described above can be a newly defined name, and the RAN node can also have different expressions, such as access node, network device, wireless access node, etc., without limitation. In the present application, the network device is used for expression without special description.

[0220] In another possible scenario, a terminal device accesses a wireless network through cooperation of multiple access network devices, and different access network devices implement part of functions of a base station. For example, an access network device can be a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU-control plane (CP), a CU-user plane (UP), or a radio unit (RU), etc. The CU and the DU can be separately configured, or can be included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in a radio frequency device or a radio frequency unit, such as a remote radio unit (RRU), an active antenna unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH).

[0221] In different systems, the CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU can also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in an ORAN system, the CU can also be referred to as an O-CU (open CU), the DU can also be referred to as an O-DU, the CU-CP can also be referred to as an O-CU-CP, the CU-UP can also be referred to as an O-CU-UP, and the RU can also be referred to as an O-RU. For the convenience of description, the CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and RU are taken as examples for description in this application. Any of the CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU in this application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0222] The core network can be logically divided into a user plane and a control plane. The control plane is responsible for the management of the mobile network, and the user plane is responsible for the transmission of service data. Different network elements in the core network can be responsible for different functions. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, in the 5G core network, an access and mobility management function (AMF) network element is mainly responsible for user access management, security authentication, and mobility management functions. A session management function (SMF) network element is mainly responsible for interaction with a separate data plane, creation, update, and deletion of a protocol data unit (PDU) session, and management of a session context with a UPF. The UPF network element is mainly responsible for managing the transmission of user plane data, traffic statistics, and other functions.

[0223] The ground station is responsible for forwarding signaling and data between the satellite and the core network.

[0224] In the embodiments of the present application, the network element can also be referred to as an entity or a functional entity.

[0225] In a possible application scenario to which the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application is applicable, the communication system shown in FIG. 9 can be combined with the network architecture shown in FIG. 1. For example, in scenario 1 shown in FIG. 4, the ECS is deployed on the ground, the EAS#1 is registered (or configured) on the EES#1, and the RAN#1, the EES#1, and the EAS#1 can be deployed on the satellite corresponding to the SAT ID#1. In this communication system, the ECS determines the EES#1 for the terminal through the satellite (SAT ID#1) corresponding to the RAN#1 connected by the UE, so that when the UE wants to obtain edge computing services, the UE can connect to the EES#1 corresponding to the SAT ID#1, thereby avoiding unnecessary interaction between satellites, ensuring that the UE can connect to the EES#1 to obtain edge computing services, reducing service latency, and thus improving data transmission quality.

[0226] In scenario 2 as shown in FIG. 5, EES#1 and ECS are deployed on the ground, and EAS#1 and RAN#1 can be deployed on the satellite corresponding to SAT ID#1. In the communication system, the UE determines EES#1 corresponding to SAT ID#1 from the SAT ID corresponding to at least one EES through which the UE sends information to the ECS, and the information of the device corresponding to the at least one EES. Since EES#1 is the satellite corresponding to RAN#1 to which the UE is connected, when the UE wants to obtain edge computing service, the UE can be connected to EES#1 corresponding to the satellite to which the UE is connected, unnecessary interaction between satellites is avoided, so that the UE can be connected to EES#1 to obtain edge computing service, and the service delay is reduced, thereby improving the data transmission quality.

[0227] In scenario 3 as shown in FIG. 6, RAN and ECS can be deployed on the ground, and EES#1 and EAS#1 can be deployed on the satellite corresponding to SAT ID#1.

[0228] In scenario 4 as shown in FIG. 7, EES#1, ECS, and RAN#1 are deployed on the ground, and EAS#1 can be deployed on the satellite corresponding to SAT ID#1.

[0229] The communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with FIG. 1.

[0230] It should be noted that the names of messages and the names of parameters in the messages in the following embodiments of the present application are only examples, and other names can also be used in specific implementations, and the embodiments of the present application do not make specific limitations.

[0231] The interaction process between the network elements / devices in the communication system will be specifically introduced below in conjunction with FIGS. 10-19. The communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application can be applied to the above-mentioned communication system and specifically applied to various scenarios / processes mentioned in the above-mentioned communication system, which will be specifically introduced below. It should be understood that the terms "first", "second", etc. in the embodiments are expressed as granules, and the contents indicated by the first request message in the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 10 are different from the contents indicated by the first request message in the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 11.

[0232] The embodiment applicable to scenario 1 as shown in FIG. 4 will be introduced below.

[0233] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The communication method is applicable to the above-mentioned communication system, and mainly involves the interaction between the terminal and the ECS.

[0234] As shown in FIG. 10, the flow of the communication method is as follows:

[0235] S1001, the terminal sends a first request message to the ECS, and correspondingly, the ECS receives the first request message from the terminal.

[0236] The first request message is used to request to determine the EES for the terminal. The first request message can trigger the ECS to discover the EES. For example, the first request message can be a discovery request message, which is used to request the ECS to discover the EES. For another example, the first request message can be a service provisioning request message, which is used to request the ECS to provide an edge computing service for the terminal, so that the ECS determines to discover the EES for the terminal according to the first request message.

[0237] Of course, the first request message in the embodiment of the application can also be other messages that can be used to request to discover the EES, which is not limited. Correspondingly, the first request message in the embodiment of the application can also be replaced by other possible expressions, such as an EES discovery request message, a service provisioning request message, an edge service request message, and the like, which is not limited. Hereinafter, the terminal sending an EES discovery request message to the ECS is taken as an example for introduction.

[0238] The first request message can include information of a first device corresponding to the terminal. The first device can be a satellite corresponding to an access network device connected by the terminal. The satellite corresponding to the access network device can be understood as that the access network device is deployed on the satellite. The information of the first device can be identification information of the satellite corresponding to the access network device connected by the terminal, such as identification (UE serving SAT ID) information of a satellite serving the terminal, that is, a SAT ID corresponding to a RAN connected by the terminal. The satellite corresponding to the access network device connected by the terminal means that the satellite can cover the position of the terminal, or in other words, the position of the terminal is within the coverage of the satellite, and the terminal can communicate with the satellite, that is, the terminal can connect to the access network device deployed by the satellite.

[0239] Optionally, the first device can be a device currently corresponding to the terminal. That is, the first device can be a satellite corresponding to an access network device currently connected by the terminal. For example, a RAN#1 connected by the UE corresponds to a SAT ID#1, the UE obtains an EES#1 discovered by the ECS from the ECS, and connects the EES#1, and the EES#1 corresponds to the SAT ID#1.

[0240] The first device can also be a satellite corresponding to an access network device predicted to be connected by the terminal in the future, for example, a RAN#2 connected by the UE corresponds to a SAT ID#2 after a time period #1. Therefore, the UE can obtain that an EES#2 discovered by the ECS corresponds to the SAT ID#2, and the UE connects the EES#2 after the time period #1.

[0241] The first request message can further include at least one of the following information: location information of the terminal, identification information of the terminal, information of an application requested by the terminal (such as EAS ID, AC ID, application ID, AC profile), and the like. The location information of the terminal can include information indicating a current location of the terminal and / or information indicating a predicted location of the terminal. The identification information of the terminal can include a UE ID and / or an EEC ID.

[0242] Optionally, when the location information of the terminal includes information indicating a current location of the terminal, the location information of the terminal can further include time information corresponding to the current location of the terminal. The time information corresponding to the current location of the terminal can include at least one of the following: a time at which the terminal is located at the current location, or a time at which the terminal is predicted to be located at the current location, and the like. When the location information of the terminal includes information indicating a predicted location of the terminal, the location information of the terminal can further include time information corresponding to the predicted location of the terminal. The time information corresponding to the predicted location of the terminal can include at least one of the following: a time at which the terminal is predicted to arrive at the predicted location, or a time at which the terminal is predicted to be located at the predicted location, and the like.

[0243] Optionally, if the first request message does not include the location information of the terminal, the ECS can also obtain the location information of the terminal by other manners, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific manners in which the ECS obtains the location information of the terminal.

[0244] S1002, the ECS sends a first response message to the terminal according to the first request message, and correspondingly, the terminal receives the first response message.

[0245] The first response message is used to respond to the first request message. For example, the first response message can be an EES discovery response message or a service provisioning response message / service provisioning request-response message, which is used to indicate that the discovery of the EES is successful or failed.

[0246] Of course, the first response message in the embodiments of the present application can also be other messages that can be used to indicate that the discovery of the EES is successful or failed, which are not limited. Correspondingly, the first response message in the embodiments of the present application can also be replaced by other possible expressions, such as an EES discovery response message, a service provisioning response message, an edge service response message, and the like, which are not limited.

[0247] The first response message can include information of a first EES corresponding to the first device. The first EES corresponding to the first device can include that the first EES is deployed in the first device.

[0248] That is, the ECS selects, according to the information of the first device, a terminal available / connectable EES for the terminal, that is, a first EES deployed on the first device, so that the first EES corresponds to the same satellite as the access network device connected by the terminal, or is deployed on the same satellite. If a UPF is deployed on the satellite, the first EES, the access network device connected by the terminal, and the UPF are deployed on the same satellite, avoiding interaction between different satellites.

[0249] Optionally, the first response message can include first information, and the first information is used to indicate time and / or space availability information of the first EES.

[0250] The first information is used to indicate time availability information of the first EES, or the first information is used to indicate space availability information of the first EES, or the first information is used to indicate time and space availability information of the first EES. The first information can be determined by the ECS according to ephemeris information of the satellite corresponding to the first EES. It can be understood that when the coverage range of the satellite corresponding to the first EES can cover the terminal, it means that the first EES can be connected with the terminal. That is, the ephemeris information of the satellite corresponding to the first EES can be used to determine whether the first EES can establish a connection with the terminal.

[0251] The time availability information of the first EES can be time availability information of the satellite corresponding to the first EES, which can represent a time period during which the satellite corresponding to the first EES can be connected with a communication device on the ground, or can be understood as a time period during which the satellite corresponding to the first EES can cover a certain geographical location / geographical range. In the embodiments of the present application, the time availability information of the first EES can be understood as a time period during which the satellite corresponding to the first EES can be connected with the terminal, or a time period during which the satellite corresponding to the first EES can cover the position of the terminal, for example, the first information indicates that the UE can be connected to the satellite corresponding to the first EES within time period #1.

[0252] The space availability information of the first EES can be space availability information of the satellite corresponding to the first EES, which can represent position information of the satellite corresponding to the first EES at a certain time, or can be coverage range information of the satellite. For example, the coverage range of the satellite is position #1~position #8, and the UE can be connected to the satellite corresponding to the first EES at position #1~position #8.

[0253] The time and space availability information of the satellite corresponding to the first EES can represent the running track or position of the satellite corresponding to the first EES changing with time. For example, the first information is ephemeris information of the satellite corresponding to the first EES.

[0254] For example, the first information can represent that EES #1 (i.e., the first EES described above) is available (i.e., connectable) at 9:00-10:00 for position #1, and is available at 10:00-11:00 for position #2.

[0255] In this way, when the terminal wants to obtain the edge computing service, the terminal can determine whether the satellite corresponding to the first EES is connectable based on the available information of the first EES in time and / or space, so as to determine whether the first EES is connectable, thereby facilitating the terminal to connect the first EES in available time and / or space.

[0256] It can be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, the available information can also be replaced by other possible representations, such as connectable information, which is not limited.

[0257] Optionally, after the ECS receives the first request message from the terminal, the communication method can further include: the ECS determining the first EES according to the information of the first device and the information of the device corresponding to at least one EES, wherein the at least one EES can include the first EES, and the device corresponding to the at least one EES can include the first device.

[0258] It can be understood that the ECS maintains the information of at least one EES, or the information of at least one EES is registered on the ECS. The information of at least one EES can include the information of the device corresponding to at least one EES, such as that each EES of the at least one EES corresponds to a SAT ID, and the EES and the SAT ID have a corresponding relationship. For example, EES #1 corresponds to SAT ID #1, EES #2 corresponds to SAT ID #2, EES #3 corresponds to SAT ID #3, and the like.

[0259] The information of at least one EES can also include at least one of the following for each EES of the at least one EES: identification information (such as EES ID), address information (EES address info) such as EES address (endpoint), connection information of the EES (such as ephemeris information of the satellite corresponding to each EES), and the like.

[0260] The ECS determines the first EES corresponding to the information of the first device from the information of the device corresponding to at least one EES, such as that the ECS determines EES #1 corresponding to SAT ID #1 from the SAT ID corresponding to each EES of the at least one EES according to the SAT ID #1 corresponding to the RAN currently connected by the UE, and sends the information of the EES #1 to the UE.

[0261] The information of the at least one EES maintained by the ECS is information of the at least one EES pre-registered on the ECS. The following describes a process of registration of the at least one EES on the ECS.

[0262] Optionally, the communication method can further include that the ECS receives a second request message from the at least one EES, and the second request message can include second information indicating identification information of the at least one EES, address information of the at least one EES, and information of a device corresponding to the at least one EES.

[0263] The second request message can be an EES registration request message, used to request registration of information of the at least one EES on the ECS. The EES registration request message can include EES-related information (i.e., the second information). The EES-related information can include information of a satellite corresponding to the EES, such as a SAT ID. For example, the at least one EES respectively sends an EES registration request message to the ECS, and the EES registration request message carries a SAT ID of a satellite corresponding to each of the at least one EES. For example, a SAT ID #1 corresponding to an EES #1, a SAT ID #2 corresponding to an EES #2, a SAT ID #3 corresponding to an EES #3, and the like.

[0264] The EES-related information can further include at least one of the following: identification information of the EES, such as an EES ID, address information of the EES (EES endpoint), or connection information of the EES (such as ephemeris information of a satellite corresponding to each EES), and the like.

[0265] For example, the at least one EES respectively sends an EES registration request message to the ECS, and the EES registration request message further carries identification information (such as an EES ID) and address information (EES address info) of each of the at least one EES, such as an EES address (endpoint) and connection information. The connection information of the EES can refer to the description of the ephemeris information of a device corresponding to the at least one EES below.

[0266] The second request message in the embodiments of the present application can also be replaced by other possible expressions, such as a registration request message, an EES registration request message, and the like, without limitation.

[0267] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific implementation of the at least one EES obtaining information of a satellite corresponding to the EES. For example, the EES can obtain identification information and / or ephemeris information of a satellite corresponding to the EES from an OAM network element. For another example, the EES can be pre-configured with identification information and / or ephemeris information of a satellite corresponding to the EES.

[0268] In addition, the ECS sends an EES registration response message to the at least one EES, and the EES registration response message carries information indicating whether the registration is successful or not.

[0269] Optionally, the second request message can further include ephemeris information of the device corresponding to the at least one EES, and the ephemeris information is used to indicate available information of the device corresponding to the at least one EES in time and / or space.

[0270] The ephemeris information of the device corresponding to the at least one EES can be replaced by ephemeris information of the at least one EES, and the available information of the device corresponding to the at least one EES in time and / or space can be replaced by available information of the at least one EES in time and / or space.

[0271] The available information of the device corresponding to the at least one EES in time and / or space can refer to the available information of the first EES in time and / or space, which will not be described herein. The at least one EES registers the ephemeris information on the ECS, so that the ECS determines the first information according to the ephemeris information of the satellite corresponding to the first EES in the at least one EES, that is, the available information of the device corresponding to the first EES in time and / or space.

[0272] In summary, the ECS determines the first EES for the terminal through the first device corresponding to the terminal, so that when the terminal wants to obtain edge computing services, the terminal can be connected to the first EES corresponding to the satellite connected to the terminal, thereby avoiding unnecessary interaction between satellites, ensuring that the terminal can be connected to the first EES to obtain edge computing services, reducing service latency, and improving data transmission quality.

[0273] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The communication method is applicable to the above-mentioned communication system, and mainly involves the interaction between the terminal and the ECS.

[0274] As shown in FIG. 11, the flow of the communication method is as follows:

[0275] S1101, the terminal sends a first request message to the ECS, and correspondingly, the ECS receives the first request message from the terminal.

[0276] The first request message is used to request to determine the EES for the terminal. The first request message can trigger the ECS to discover the EES. For example, the first request message can be a discovery request message, which is used to request the ECS to discover the EES. For another example, the first request message can be a service provisioning request message, which is used to request the ECS to provide the edge computing service for the terminal. Thus, the ECS determines to discover the EES for the terminal according to the first request message.

[0277] The first request message in the embodiment of the application can refer to the description of the first request message in S1001, and the difference is that the first request message in S1001 can include the information of the first device corresponding to the terminal, and the first request message in the embodiment of the application can not include the information of the first device corresponding to the terminal.

[0278] S1102, the ECS sends the first response message to the terminal, and correspondingly, the terminal receives the first response message from the ECS.

[0279] The first response message can include the information of at least one EES and the information of the device corresponding to the at least one EES.

[0280] The first response message is used to respond to the first request message. For example, the first response message can be a discovery response message or a service provisioning response / service provisioning request-response message, which is used to indicate that the discovery of the EES is successful or failed.

[0281] The first response message in the embodiment of the application can refer to the description of the first response message in S1001, and the difference is that the first response message in S1001 can include the information of the first EES, and the first response message in the embodiment of the application can include the information of at least one EES and the information of the device corresponding to the at least one EES. That is, the ECS does not select / determine the EES in the embodiment of the application, and the terminal determines the final first EES from the at least one EES.

[0282] The at least one EES can be at least one EES determined by the ECS according to information in the first request message, such as location information of the terminal, information of an application requested by the terminal (such as an EAS ID, an AC ID, and an application ID), and the like. Information of the at least one EES can refer to the description of the information of the at least one EES in S1002, and will not be described herein again. Information of a device corresponding to the at least one EES can refer to the description of the information of the device corresponding to the at least one EES in S1002, and will not be described herein again.

[0283] In S1103, the terminal determines the first EES corresponding to the first device according to the first response message and the information of the first device.

[0284] The device corresponding to the at least one EES can include the first device, and the first device can be a satellite corresponding to an access network device connected by the terminal.

[0285] The device corresponding to the at least one EES can be a satellite corresponding to each EES in the at least one EES, indicating that each EES in the at least one EES has a corresponding relationship with the device. The terminal determines the first EES corresponding to the first device from the corresponding relationship, that is, the first EES determined by the terminal corresponds to the same satellite as the access network device connected by the terminal. Alternatively, the first EES is deployed on the same satellite as the first device, that is, the first EES determined by the terminal is deployed on the same satellite as the access network device connected by the terminal.

[0286] Alternatively, the first device can be a satellite corresponding to an access network device currently connected by the terminal, that is, the first device can be a device currently corresponding to the terminal. The first device can also be a satellite corresponding to an access network device predicted to be connected by the terminal in the future. The first device in the embodiments of the present application can refer to the description of the first device in S1002, and will not be described herein again.

[0287] Alternatively, the first response message is further used to indicate ephemeris information of the device corresponding to the at least one EES; and the communication method can further include: determining, by the terminal, time and / or space availability information of the first EES according to the information of the first device and the ephemeris information.

[0288] The ephemeris information of the device corresponding to the at least one EES can refer to the description in S1002, and will not be described herein again. The time and / or space availability information of the first EES can refer to the description in S1002, and will not be described herein again.

[0289] The ephemeris information of the device corresponding to the at least one EES can include ephemeris information corresponding to the first device, and the terminal determines the time and / or space availability information of the first EES according to the ephemeris information corresponding to the first device.

[0290] Optionally, the terminal determines the available information of the at least one EES in time and / or space according to the information of the first device and the ephemeris information.

[0291] In summary, the terminal determines the first EES corresponding to the first device from the devices corresponding to the at least one EES according to the information of the at least one EES sent by the ECS and the information of the devices corresponding to the at least one EES. Since the first device is the satellite corresponding to the access network device connected by the terminal, when the terminal wants to obtain the edge computing service, the first EES corresponding to the satellite connected by the terminal can be connected, thereby avoiding unnecessary interaction between satellites, ensuring that the terminal can connect to the first EES to obtain the edge computing service, reducing the service delay, and improving the data transmission quality.

[0292] The above describes the overall flow of the communication method of the two schemes provided by the embodiments of the application in combination with FIGS. 10 and 11. The specific flow of the communication method provided by the embodiments of the application in a specific scenario (scenario 1 described above) is introduced below in combination with FIG. 12.

[0293] FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the application. The communication method is applicable to the above communication system, and specifically relates to the interaction between a UE (i.e., the terminal described above), an ECS, and an EES#1 (i.e., the first EES described above). The ECS determines the EES#1 for the terminal through the satellite (SAT ID#1) corresponding to the RAN#1 connected by the UE, or the ECS sends the information of the at least one EES to the UE, so that the UE determines the EES#1 according to the satellite (SAT ID#1) corresponding to the RAN#1 connected by the UE. When the UE wants to obtain the edge computing service, the EES#1 corresponding to the SAT ID#1 can be connected, thereby avoiding unnecessary interaction between satellites, ensuring that the UE can connect to the EES#1 to obtain the edge computing service, reducing the service delay, and improving the data transmission quality.

[0294] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 12, the flow of the communication method is as follows:

[0295] S1201, the EES#1 sends an EES registration request message to the ECS.

[0296] It can be understood that the at least one EES is registered on the ECS, and the following is described by taking the registration of the EES#1 on the ECS as an example.

[0297] The EES registration request message is used to request registration of the related information of the EES #1. The EES registration request message carries the EES ID, the EES address (endpoint), and the satellite identifier corresponding to the satellite on which the EES #1 is deployed, such as the SAT ID #1 corresponding to the EES #1. Optionally, the EES registration request message can also carry the ephemeris information corresponding to the SAT ID #1.

[0298] The EES registration request message can also refer to the second request message in S1002, and details are not repeated.

[0299] S1202, the ECS sends an EES registration response message to the EES #1.

[0300] The EES registration response message carries information about whether the registration of the related information of the EES #1 is successful or failed.

[0301] Two ways for the UE to discover the EES from the ECS are introduced below. The first way can be applied to the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 10, and the second way can be applied to the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 11.

[0302] The first way:

[0303] S1203, the UE sends an EES discovery request message #1 to the ECS.

[0304] The EES discovery request message #1 carries the EEC ID, the information of the application requested by the UE (such as the EAS ID, the AC ID, the AC profile, and the application ID), the UE ID, the location information of the terminal, and the SAT ID #1 corresponding to the RAN currently connected to the UE (UE serving SAT ID).

[0305] The EES discovery request message #1 can also refer to the introduction of the first request message in S1001, and details are not repeated.

[0306] S1204, the ECS determines the EES #1 according to the SAT ID #1.

[0307] The ECS determines the EES #1 corresponding to the SAT ID #1 according to the SAT ID #1 carried in the EES discovery request message #1 and the SAT ID corresponding to at least one EES managed by the ECS, that is, the EES #1 determined by the ECS is deployed on the same satellite as the RAN #1. If the UPF 1 is deployed on the satellite, the EES #1 is deployed on the same satellite as the UPF #1 and the RAN #1.

[0308] Wherein, the EES#1 can refer to the description of the first EES in S1002, and no further description is made.

[0309] S1205, the ECS sends an EES discovery response message#1 to the UE.

[0310] The EES discovery response message#1 indicates information of success or failure of EES discovery. The EES discovery response message carries information of the EES#1.

[0311] Optionally, the EES discovery response message#1 also indicates information of availability of the EES#1 in time and / or space, such as satellite ephemeris information corresponding to the EES#1, such as in time period#1, location#1, the UE can connect to the EES#1, or a satellite corresponding to the EES#1.

[0312] The EES discovery response message#1 can also refer to the introduction of the first response message in S1002, and no further description is made.

[0313] Method 2:

[0314] S1206, the UE sends an EES discovery request message#2 to the ECS.

[0315] The EES discovery request message#2 carries information of EEC ID, information of application requested by the UE (such as EAS ID, AC ID, AC profile, application ID), UE ID, and location information of the terminal.

[0316] The EES discovery request message#2 can refer to the introduction of the first request message in S1101, and no further description is made.

[0317] S1207, the ECS sends information of at least one EES to the UE.

[0318] The information of at least one EES can include EES ID, EES address information (endpoint), and SAT ID corresponding to the EES of each EES in the at least one EES. Optionally, the information of at least one EES can also include corresponding ephemeris information of each EES in the at least one EES, i.e. the ECS does not select / determine the EES, or only filters part of the EES.

[0319] The information of at least one EES can refer to the introduction of the information of at least one EES in S1102, and no further description is made.

[0320] S1208, the UE determines the EES#1 according to the SAT ID#1 and the information of at least one EES.

[0321] The UE determines the EES#1 corresponding to the SAT ID#1 from the SAT ID corresponding to at least one EES in the information of the at least one EES. The SAT ID#1 can be an identifier of a satellite corresponding to the RAN#1 currently connected by the UE, that is, the EES#1 and the RAN#1 are deployed on the same satellite. If a UPF1 is deployed on the satellite, the EES#1, the UPF#1 and the RAN#1 are deployed on the same satellite.

[0322] Optionally, the UE can determine the available information of the EES#1 in time and / or space according to the SAT ID#1 and the ephemeris information corresponding to the SAT ID#1, that is, the UE can determine the time and location conditions for connecting the EES#1.

[0323] The specific implementation of S1201-S1205 can also refer to the related description of S1001-S1002 described above, which will not be repeated here. The specific implementation of S1201-S1202 and S1206-S1208 can also refer to the related description of S1101-S1103 described above, which will not be repeated here. In summary, the ECS determines the EES#1 for the terminal through the satellite (SAT ID#1) corresponding to the RAN#1 connected by the UE, or the ECS sends the information of at least one EES to the UE, so that the UE determines the EES#1 according to the satellite (SAT ID#1) corresponding to the RAN#1 connected by the UE. When the UE wants to obtain edge computing services, the EES#1 corresponding to the SAT ID#1 can be connected, unnecessary interaction between satellites is avoided, so that the UE can be connected to the EES#1 to obtain edge computing services, and the business latency is reduced, thereby improving the data transmission quality.

[0324] The following describes an embodiment applicable to scenario 2 shown in FIG. 5.

[0325] FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The communication method is applicable to the communication system described above, and mainly involves the interaction between the terminal and the ECS.

[0326] As shown in FIG. 13, the flow of the communication method is as follows:

[0327] S1301, the terminal sends a first request message to the EES, and correspondingly, the EES receives the first request message from the terminal.

[0328] The first request message is used to request the EAS for the terminal. The first request message can trigger the EES to discover the EAS. For example, the first request message can be an EAS discovery request message used to request the EES to discover the EAS. For another example, the first request message can be a service provisioning request message used to request the EES to provide an edge computing service for the terminal, so that the EES determines to discover the EAS for the terminal according to the first request message.

[0329] Of course, the first request message in the embodiment of the application can also be other messages that can be used to request to discover the EAS, which is not limited. Correspondingly, the first request message in the embodiment of the application can also be replaced by other possible expressions, such as an EAS discovery request message, a service provisioning request message, an edge service request message, and the like, which is not limited. Hereinafter, the EAS discovery request message sent by the terminal to the EES is taken as an example for description.

[0330] The first request message can include information of a first device corresponding to the terminal. The first device can be a satellite corresponding to an access network device connected by the terminal. The satellite corresponding to the access network device can be understood as that the access network device is deployed on the satellite. The information of the first device can be identification information of the satellite corresponding to the access network device connected by the terminal, such as identification (UE serving SAT ID) information of a satellite serving the terminal, that is, a SAT ID corresponding to a RAN connected by the terminal.

[0331] Optionally, the first device can be a device currently corresponding to the terminal. That is, the first device can be a satellite corresponding to an access network device currently connected by the terminal. For example, a UE currently connects a RAN#1 corresponding to a SAT ID#1, the UE obtains an EAS#1 discovered by the EES from the EES, and connects the EAS#1, the EAS#1 corresponds to the SAT ID#1.

[0332] The first device can also be a satellite corresponding to an access network device predicted to be connected by the terminal in the future, for example, a UE predicts that a RAN#2 corresponding to a SAT ID#2 will be connected by the UE after a time period#1. Therefore, the UE can know that an EAS#2 discovered by the EES corresponds to the SAT ID#2, and the UE connects the EAS#2 after the time period#1.

[0333] The first request message can further include at least one of the following information: location information of the terminal, identification information of the terminal, information of an application requested by the terminal (such as EAS ID, AC ID, application ID, AC profile), and the like. The location information of the terminal can include information indicating a current location of the terminal and / or information indicating a predicted location of the terminal. The identification information of the terminal can include a UE ID and / or an EEC ID.

[0334] Optionally, when the location information of the terminal includes information indicating a current location of the terminal, the location information of the terminal can further include time information corresponding to the current location of the terminal. The time information corresponding to the current location of the terminal can include at least one of the following: a time at which the terminal is located at the current location, or a time at which the terminal is predicted to be located at the current location, and the like. When the location information of the terminal includes information indicating a predicted location of the terminal, the location information of the terminal can further include time information corresponding to the predicted location of the terminal. The time information corresponding to the predicted location of the terminal can include at least one of the following: a time at which the terminal is predicted to arrive at the predicted location, or a time at which the terminal is predicted to be located at the predicted location, and the like.

[0335] Optionally, if the first request message does not include the location information of the terminal, the EES can also obtain the location information of the terminal by other manners, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific manners in which the EES obtains the location information of the terminal.

[0336] S1302, the EES sends a first response message to the terminal according to the first request message, and correspondingly, the terminal receives the first response message.

[0337] The first response message is used to respond to the first request message. For example, the first response message can be an EAS discovery response message or a service provisioning response message / service provisioning request-response message, which is used to indicate that the discovery of the EAS is successful or failed.

[0338] Of course, the first response message in the embodiments of the present application can also be other messages that can be used to indicate that the discovery of the EAS is successful or failed, which are not limited. Correspondingly, the first response message in the embodiments of the present application can also be replaced by other possible expressions, such as an EAS discovery response message, a service provisioning response message, an edge service response message, and the like, which are not limited.

[0339] The first response message can include information of a first EAS corresponding to the first device. The first EAS corresponding to the first device can include that the first EAS is deployed in the first device.

[0340] That is, the EES selects, according to the information of the first device, an EAS available / connectable by the terminal for the terminal, that is, a first EAS deployed on the first device, so that the first EAS and the access network device connected by the terminal correspond to the same satellite, or in other words, are deployed on the same satellite. If a UPF is deployed on the satellite, the first EAS, the access network device connected by the terminal and the UPF are deployed on the same satellite, avoiding interaction between different satellites.

[0341] Optionally, the first response message can include first information, and the first information is used to indicate time and / or space available information of the first EAS.

[0342] The first information is used to indicate time available information of the first EAS, or the first information is used to indicate space available information of the first EAS, or the first information is used to indicate time and space available information of the first EAS. The first information can be determined by the EES according to ephemeris information of the satellite corresponding to the first EAS. It can be understood that when the coverage range of the satellite corresponding to the first EAS can cover the terminal, it means that the first EAS can be connected with the terminal. That is, the ephemeris information of the satellite corresponding to the first EAS can be used to determine whether the first EAS can establish a connection with the terminal.

[0343] The time available information of the first EAS can be time available information of the satellite corresponding to the first EAS, which can represent a time period during which the satellite corresponding to the first EAS can be connected with a communication device on the ground, or can be understood as a time period during which the satellite corresponding to the first EAS can cover a certain geographical position / geographical range. In the embodiments of the present application, the time available information of the first EAS can be understood as a time period during which the satellite corresponding to the first EAS can be connected with the terminal, or a time period during which the satellite corresponding to the first EAS can cover the position of the terminal, for example, the first information indicates that the UE can be connected to the satellite corresponding to the first EAS within time period #1.

[0344] The space available information of the first EAS can be space available information of the satellite corresponding to the first EAS, which can represent position information of the satellite corresponding to the first EAS at a certain time, or can be coverage range information of the satellite. For example, the coverage range of the satellite is position #1~position #8, and the UE can be connected to the satellite corresponding to the first EAS at position #1~position #8.

[0345] The time and space available information of the satellite corresponding to the first EAS can represent the running track or position of the satellite corresponding to the first EAS changing with time. For example, the first information is ephemeris information of the satellite corresponding to the first EAS.

[0346] For example, the first information can represent that for position #1, EAS #1 (i.e., the first EAS described above) is available (i.e., connectable) from 9:00 to 10:00, and for position #2, EAS #1 is available from 10:00 to 11:00.

[0347] It can be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, the available information can also be replaced by other possible representations, such as connectable information, which is not limited.

[0348] Optionally, after the EES receives the first request message from the terminal, the communication method can further include: determining, by the EES, the first EAS according to the information of the first device and the information of the device corresponding to the at least one EAS, wherein the at least one EAS can include the first EAS, and the device corresponding to the at least one EAS can include the first device.

[0349] It can be understood that the EES maintains the information of the at least one EAS, or the information of the at least one EAS is registered on the EES. The information of the at least one EAS can include the information of the device corresponding to the at least one EAS, such as that each of the at least one EAS corresponds to a SAT ID, and the EAS and the SAT ID have a corresponding relationship. For example, SAT ID #1 corresponding to EAS #1, SAT ID #2 corresponding to EAS #2, SAT ID #3 corresponding to EAS #3, and the like.

[0350] The information of the at least one EAS can also include at least one of the following for each of the at least one EAS: identification information (such as an EAS ID), address information (EAS address info) such as an EAS address (endpoint), connection information of the EAS (such as ephemeris information of a satellite corresponding to each EAS), and the like.

[0351] The EES determines the first EAS corresponding to the information of the first device from the information of the device corresponding to the at least one EAS, such as that the EES determines EAS #1 corresponding to SAT ID #1 from the SAT ID corresponding to each of the at least one EAS according to the SAT ID #1 corresponding to the RAN currently connected by the UE, and sends the information of EAS #1 to the UE.

[0352] The information of the at least one EAS maintained by the EES is information of the at least one EAS pre-registered on the EES, and the process of registering the at least one EAS on the EES is described below.

[0353] Optionally, the communication method can further include: receiving, by the EES, a second request message from the at least one EAS, the second request message including second information indicating identification information of the at least one EAS, address information of the at least one EAS, or information of a device corresponding to the at least one EAS.

[0354] The second request message can be an EAS registration request message, used to request registration of information of the at least one EAS on the EES. The EAS registration request message can include relevant information (i.e., the second information) of the EAS. The relevant information of the EAS can include information of a satellite corresponding to the EAS, such as a SAT ID. For example, the at least one EAS respectively sends an EAS registration request message to the EES, and the EAS registration request message carries a SAT ID of a satellite corresponding to each of the at least one EAS. For example, a SAT ID#1 of a satellite corresponding to an EAS#1, a SAT ID#2 of a satellite corresponding to an EAS#2, a SAT ID#3 of a satellite corresponding to an EAS#3, and the like.

[0355] The relevant information of the EAS can further include at least one of the following: identification information of the EAS, such as an EAS ID, address information of the EAS (EAS endpoint), or connection information of the EAS (such as ephemeris information of a satellite corresponding to each of the EAS), and the like.

[0356] For example, the at least one EAS respectively sends an EAS registration request message to the EES, and the EAS registration request message further carries identification information (such as an EAS ID), address information (EAS address info), such as an EAS address (endpoint), and connection information of each of the at least one EAS. The connection information of the EAS can refer to the description of the ephemeris information of a device corresponding to the at least one EAS below.

[0357] The second request message in the embodiments of the present application can also be replaced by other possible expressions, such as a registration request message, an EAS registration request message, and the like, without limitation.

[0358] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific implementation of the at least one EAS obtaining information of a satellite corresponding to the EAS. For example, the EAS can obtain identification information and / or ephemeris information of a satellite corresponding to the EAS from an OAM network element. For another example, the EAS can be preconfigured with identification information and / or ephemeris information of a satellite corresponding to the EAS.

[0359] In addition, the EES sends a second response message, such as an EAS registration response message, to the at least one EAS, and the EAS registration response message carries information of a registration success or failure.

[0360] Optionally, the second request message can further comprise ephemeris information of the device corresponding to the at least one EAS, the ephemeris information being used to indicate available information in time and / or space of the device corresponding to the at least one EAS.

[0361] The ephemeris information of the device corresponding to the at least one EAS can be replaced by ephemeris information of the at least one EAS, and the available information in time and / or space of the device corresponding to the at least one EAS can be replaced by available information in time and / or space of the at least one EAS.

[0362] The available information in time and / or space of the device corresponding to the at least one EAS can refer to the available information in time and / or space of the first EAS described above, and will not be repeated. The at least one EAS registers the ephemeris information on the EES, so that the EES determines the first information according to the ephemeris information of the satellite corresponding to the first EAS in the at least one EAS, that is, the available information in time and / or space of the device corresponding to the first EAS.

[0363] In summary, the EES determines the first EAS for the terminal through the first device corresponding to the terminal, so that when the terminal wants to obtain edge computing service, the terminal can connect to the first EAS corresponding to the satellite connected to the terminal, avoiding unnecessary interaction between satellites, so as to ensure that the terminal can connect to the first EAS to obtain edge computing service, and reduce the service delay, thereby improving the data transmission quality.

[0364] FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the application. The communication method is applicable to the communication system described above, and mainly involves the interaction between the terminal and the EES.

[0365] As shown in FIG. 14, the flow of the communication method is as follows:

[0366] S1401, the terminal sends a first request message to the EES, and correspondingly, the EES receives the first request message from the terminal.

[0367] The first request message is used to request to determine the EAS for the terminal. The first request message can trigger the EES to discover the EAS. For example, the first request message can be a discovery request message, which is used to request the EES to discover the EAS. For another example, the first request message can be a service provisioning request message, which is used to request the EES to provide edge computing service for the terminal, so that the EES determines to discover the EAS for the terminal according to the first request message.

[0368] The first request message in the embodiments of the present application can refer to the description of the first request message in S1301, and the difference is that the first request message in S1301 can include the information of the first device corresponding to the terminal, while the first request message in the embodiments of the present application can not include the information of the first device corresponding to the terminal.

[0369] S1402, the EES sends a first response message to the terminal, and correspondingly, the terminal receives the first response message from the EES.

[0370] The first response message can include information of at least one EAS and information of a device corresponding to the at least one EAS.

[0371] The first response message is used to respond to the first request message. For example, the first response message can be an EAS discovery response message or a service provisioning response / service provisioning request-response message, which is used to indicate that the discovery of the EAS is successful or failed.

[0372] The first response message in the embodiments of the present application can refer to the description of the first response message in S1301, and the difference is that the first response message in S1301 can include the information of the first EAS, while the first response message in the embodiments of the present application can include the information of at least one EAS and the information of a device corresponding to the at least one EAS. That is, the EES does not select / determine the EAS in the embodiments of the present application, and the terminal determines the final first EAS from the at least one EAS.

[0373] The at least one EAS can be at least one EAS available / connectable to the terminal determined by the EES according to the information in the first request message, such as the location information of the terminal, the information of the application requested by the terminal (such as EAS ID, AC ID, application ID), and the like. The information of the at least one EAS can refer to the introduction of the information of the at least one EAS in S1302, and will not be repeated. The information of the device corresponding to the at least one EAS can refer to the introduction of the information of the device corresponding to the at least one EAS in S1302, and will not be repeated.

[0374] S1403, the terminal determines the first EAS corresponding to the first device according to the first response message and the information of the first device.

[0375] The device corresponding to the at least one EAS can include the first device, and the first device can be a satellite corresponding to an access network device connected by the terminal.

[0376] The device corresponding to the at least one EAS can be a satellite corresponding to each EAS in the at least one EAS, indicating that each EAS in the at least one EAS has a corresponding relationship with the device. The terminal determines a first EAS corresponding to a first device from the corresponding relationship, that is, the terminal determines that the first EAS corresponds to the same satellite as the access network device connected by the terminal. Optionally, the first EAS is deployed on the first device, that is, the first EAS determined by the terminal is deployed on the same satellite as the access network device connected by the terminal.

[0377] Optionally, the first device can be a satellite corresponding to the access network device currently connected by the terminal, that is, the first device can be a device currently corresponding to the terminal. The first device can also be a satellite corresponding to the access network device predicted to be connected by the terminal in the future. The first device in the embodiment of the application can also refer to the description of the first device in S1302, and details are not repeated.

[0378] Optionally, the first response message is also used to indicate ephemeris information of the device corresponding to the at least one EAS; and the communication method can further include: determining, by the terminal, available information of the first EAS in time and / or space according to the information of the first device and the ephemeris information.

[0379] The ephemeris information of the device corresponding to the at least one EAS can refer to the description in S1302, and details are not repeated. The available information of the first EAS in time and / or space can refer to the description in S1302, and details are not repeated.

[0380] The ephemeris information of the device corresponding to the at least one EAS can include ephemeris information corresponding to the first device, and the terminal determines available information of the first EAS in time and / or space according to the ephemeris information corresponding to the first device.

[0381] Optionally, the terminal determines available information of the at least one EAS in time and / or space according to the information of the first device and the ephemeris information.

[0382] In summary, the terminal determines a first EAS corresponding to a first device from the at least one EAS corresponding to the device by sending information of the at least one EAS by the EES and the information of the device corresponding to the at least one EAS. Since the first device is a satellite corresponding to the access network device connected by the terminal, when the terminal wants to obtain edge computing services, the terminal can connect the first EAS corresponding to the satellite connected by the terminal, avoiding unnecessary interaction between satellites, thereby ensuring that the terminal can connect to the first EAS to obtain edge computing services, reducing service latency, and improving data transmission quality.

[0383] The overall flow of the communication method of the two schemes provided by the embodiments of the present application is described above in combination with FIG. 13 and FIG. 14. The specific flow of the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application in a specific scenario (scenario 2 described above) is introduced below in combination with FIG. 15.

[0384] FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The communication method is applicable to the above communication system, and specifically relates to the interaction between a UE (i.e., the above terminal), an EES, and an EAS#1 (i.e., the above first EAS). The EES determines the EAS#1 for the terminal through a satellite (SAT ID#1) corresponding to a RAN#1 to which the UE is connected, or the EES sends information of at least one EAS to the UE, so that the UE determines the EAS#1 according to a satellite (SAT ID#1) corresponding to a RAN#1 to which the UE is connected. In this way, when the UE wants to obtain edge computing services, the UE can be connected to the EAS#1 corresponding to the SAT ID#1, unnecessary interaction between satellites is avoided, the UE can be connected to the EAS#1 to obtain edge computing services, and the service latency is reduced, thereby improving the data transmission quality.

[0385] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15, the flow of the communication method is as follows:

[0386] S1501, the EAS#1 sends an EAS registration request message to the EES.

[0387] It can be understood that at least one EAS is registered on the EES, and the following is introduced by taking the registration of the EAS#1 on the EES as an example.

[0388] The EAS registration request message is used to request the registration of the related information of the EAS#1, and the EAS registration request message carries the EAS ID, the EAS address (endpoint), and the satellite identifier corresponding to the satellite on which the EAS#1 is deployed, such as the SAT ID#1 corresponding to the EAS#1. Optionally, the EAS registration request message can also carry the ephemeris information corresponding to the SAT ID#1.

[0389] The registration request message can also refer to the second request message in S1302, and details are not described herein.

[0390] S1502, the EES sends an EAS registration response message to the EAS#1.

[0391] The EAS registration response message carries information about whether the registration of the related information of the EAS#1 is successful or failed.

[0392] The following introduces two ways in which the UE discovers the EAS from the EES, wherein the first way can be applied to the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 13, and the second way can be applied to the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 14.

[0393] Manner 1:

[0394] S1503, the UE sends an EAS discovery request message #1 to the EES.

[0395] The EAS discovery request message #1 carries the EEC ID, information of the application requested by the UE (such as the EAS ID, the AC ID, the AC profile, the application ID), the UE ID, the location information of the terminal, and in addition, the EAS discovery request message #1 also carries the SAT ID #1 (UE serving SAT ID) corresponding to the RAN to which the UE is currently connected.

[0396] The EAS discovery request message #1 can also refer to the introduction of the first request message in S1301, and will not be repeated here.

[0397] S1504, the EES determines the EAS #1 according to the SAT ID #1.

[0398] The EES determines the EAS #1 corresponding to the SAT ID #1 according to the SAT ID #1 carried in the EAS discovery request message #1 and the SAT ID corresponding to at least one EAS managed by the EES, that is, the EAS #1 determined by the EES is deployed on the same satellite as the RAN #1. If the satellite is deployed with the UPF1, the EAS #1 is deployed on the same satellite as the UPF #1 and the RAN #1.

[0399] Among them, the EAS #1 can refer to the description of the first EAS in S1302, and will not be repeated here.

[0400] S1505, the EES sends an EAS discovery response message #1 to the UE.

[0401] The EAS discovery response message #1 indicates the information of the success or failure of the EAS discovery. The EAS discovery response message carries the information of the EAS #1.

[0402] Optionally, the EAS discovery response message #1 also indicates the available information of the EAS #1 in time and / or space, such as the satellite ephemeris information corresponding to the EAS #1, such as in the time period #1, the UE can be connected to the EAS #1 or the satellite corresponding to the EAS #1 at the location #1.

[0403] The EAS discovery response message #1 can also refer to the introduction of the first response message in S1302, and will not be repeated here.

[0404] Manner 2:

[0405] S1506, the UE sends an EAS discovery request message #2 to the EES.

[0406] The EAS discovery request message #2 carries the EEC ID, information of the application requested by the UE (such as the EAS ID, the AC ID, the AC profile, the application ID), the UE ID, and location information of the terminal.

[0407] The EAS discovery request message #2 can refer to the description of the first request message in S1401, and will not be described here.

[0408] S1507, the EES sends information of at least one EAS to the UE.

[0409] The information of at least one EAS can include the EAS ID, the EAS address information (endpoint), and the SAT ID corresponding to the EAS of each EAS in the at least one EAS. Optionally, the information of at least one EAS can also include the corresponding ephemeris information of each EAS in the at least one EAS, that is, the EES does not select / does not determine the EAS, or only filters part of the EAS.

[0410] The information of at least one EAS can refer to the description of the information of at least one EAS in S1402, and will not be described here.

[0411] S1508, the UE determines the EAS #1 according to the SAT ID #1 and the information of at least one EAS.

[0412] The UE determines the EAS #1 corresponding to the SAT ID #1 from the SAT ID corresponding to at least one EAS in the information of at least one EAS. Wherein, the SAT ID #1 can be the identifier of the satellite corresponding to the RAN #1 currently connected by the UE, that is, the EAS #1 and the RAN #1 are deployed on the same satellite. If the satellite is deployed with the UPF1, the EAS #1 and the UPF #1, the RAN #1 are deployed on the same satellite.

[0413] Optionally, the UE can determine the available information of the EAS #1 in time and / or space according to the SAT ID #1 and the ephemeris information corresponding to the SAT ID #1, that is, the UE can connect the EAS #1 under the time and location conditions.

[0414] Wherein, the specific implementation of S1501-S1505 can also refer to the related description of S1301-S1302 described above, and will not be described here. The specific implementation of S1501-S1502 and S1506-S1508 can also refer to the related description of S1401-S1403 described above, and will not be described here.

[0415] In summary, the EES determines the EAS#1 for the terminal through the satellite (SAT ID#1) corresponding to the RAN#1 connected by the UE, or the EES sends the information of at least one EAS to the UE, so that the UE determines the EAS#1 according to the satellite (SAT ID#1) corresponding to the RAN#1 connected by the UE. In this way, when the UE wants to obtain edge computing services, the UE can be connected to the EAS#1 corresponding to the SAT ID#1, unnecessary interaction between satellites is avoided, the UE can be connected to the EAS#1 to obtain edge computing services, the service delay is reduced, and the data transmission quality is improved.

[0416] The following describes an embodiment applicable to scenario 3 shown in FIG. 6.

[0417] FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The communication method is applicable to the above communication system, and mainly involves the interaction between the terminal and the ECS.

[0418] As shown in FIG. 16, the flow of the communication method is as follows.

[0419] S1601, the terminal sends a first message to a first network element, and correspondingly, the first network element receives the first message from the terminal.

[0420] The first network element herein can be a core network element, such as an AMF network element, or can be a network element that can realize access and mobility management functions in the future, without limitation.

[0421] The first message can be a PDU session establishment request message, or can be another message for establishing a session or communicating with a core network element, without limitation.

[0422] The first message can include first information, and the first information indicates the related information of at least one satellite. The related information of at least one satellite is used to indicate each satellite in the at least one satellite, such as the identification information of each satellite in the at least one satellite. The related information of at least one satellite is related to satellite services.

[0423] Optionally, the related information of at least one satellite can include at least one of the following for each satellite in the at least one satellite: a data network name (DNN), slice information, or a data network access identifier (DNAI).

[0424] It can be understood that the DNN, slice information, or DNAI can be related to satellite services, for example, can be the DNN, slice information, or DNAI corresponding to the EES on the satellite, that is, different from the DNN, slice information, or DNAI corresponding to the EES on the ground.

[0425] The information of the at least one satellite can further include an identity corresponding to each of the at least one satellite, such as a SAT ID, and a correspondence between the identity and the DNN, the slice information, or the DNAI of the satellite, such as that the identity of the satellite corresponding to the DNN#1 is SAT ID#1, the identity of the satellite corresponding to the slice information#2 is SAT ID#2, and the identity of the satellite corresponding to the DNAI#3 is SAT ID#3.

[0426] Optionally, before S1601, the EEC obtains information of at least one EES, for example, the EEC obtains the information of the at least one EES through an EES discovery process. The information of the at least one EES can include identity information (such as an EES ID) and / or address information (an endpoint) of each of the at least one EES. The information of the at least one EES can further include at least one of a DNN, slice information, and a DNAI corresponding to each of the at least one EES. Optionally, the information of the at least one EES can further include an identity of a satellite corresponding to each of the at least one EES. The information of the at least one EES can include the information of the at least one satellite.

[0427] In addition, the embodiment of the present application does not limit the manner in which the terminal obtains the related information of the at least one satellite. For example, the terminal obtains the related information of the at least one satellite from the ECS in the EES discovery process. For details, refer to the introduction of the information of the at least one EES in S1603 below, which is not repeated here. For another example, the ECS sends an application function request (AF request) to a unified data management (UDM) network element through a network exposure function (NEF), the AF request includes UE route selection policy guidance (URSP) information, and the URSP indication information includes at least one of the DNN, slice information, and DNAI corresponding to the EES on the at least one satellite. The UDM sends the URSP indication information to a unified data repository (UDR), and further sends it to a policy control function (PCF), and the PCF sends at least one of the DNN, slice information, and DNAI corresponding to the EES on the at least one satellite to the UE through the AMF network element through the UE configuration update procedure for transparent UE policy delivery.

[0428] S1602, the first network element sends second information to the terminal according to the first information, and correspondingly, the terminal receives the second information from the first network element.

[0429] The second information indicates the information of the first satellite. The second information can be carried in an N1 session message (N1 SM container), which carries a PDU session establishment response (PDU Session Establishment Accept) message.

[0430] The first satellite corresponds to an access network device serving the terminal, and the at least one satellite can include the first satellite. The access network device belongs to the ground and has a link connection with the first satellite.

[0431] The information of the first satellite can be an identifier of the first satellite, such as SAT ID#1, and optionally further include a correspondence between the first satellite and an access network device of the terminal (such as RAN#1-SAT ID#1), and / or information of the first satellite and a UPF deployed by the first satellite (such as local UPF-SAT ID#1).

[0432] Since the information of the at least one satellite indicates a correspondence with satellite service, the first network element determines the first satellite corresponding to the access network device serving the terminal from the at least one satellite, or the first satellite corresponding to the access network device connected by the terminal. For example, the AMF network element (i.e., the first network element) determines that the terminal is connected to RAN#1, determines the satellite identifier SAT ID#1 corresponding to RAN#1 from the information of the at least one satellite, and then indicates the SAT ID#1 selected by the AMF network element to the terminal, or indicates the SAT ID#1 corresponding to RAN#1.

[0433] In S1603, the terminal determines the first EES according to the second information.

[0434] The first EES corresponds to the first satellite, that is, the access network device connected by the terminal, the first EES, and the first satellite correspond to each other, and if a user plane network element such as a UPF is deployed on the first satellite, the access network device connected by the terminal, the first EES, and the UPF correspond to the first satellite, which can avoid unnecessary inter-satellite links.

[0435] Optionally, the first EES corresponding to the first satellite can include that the first EES is deployed on the first satellite.

[0436] The process of determining the first EES by the terminal is described below.

[0437] In one possible implementation, the terminal obtains information of at least one EES, and the information of the at least one EES can include information of at least one satellite.

[0438] The terminal obtains the information of the at least one EES from the ECS. The at least one EES registers the information of the at least one EES on the ECS, so that when the terminal requests to discover the EES from the ECS, the ECS sends the information of the at least one EES to the terminal.

[0439] Optionally, the information of the at least one EES can further include identifier information (such as EES ID) and / or address information (endpoint) of each EES in the at least one EES.

[0440] Optionally, the information of the at least one EES can comprise information of a satellite corresponding to the at least one EES; S1603 can comprise: determining the first EES according to the second information and the information of the satellite corresponding to the at least one EES, and the at least one EES can comprise the first EES.

[0441] The information of the satellite corresponding to the at least one EES can comprise an identifier of a satellite corresponding to each EES in the at least one EES, such as a SAT ID. That is, each EES in the at least one EES has a corresponding relationship with the identifier of the satellite, and the terminal determines the first EES corresponding to the first satellite from the at least one EES according to the corresponding relationship, such as: the UE determines the EES#1 (i.e., the first EES) corresponding to the SAT ID#1 according to the SAT ID corresponding to the at least one EES and the SAT ID#1 (i.e., the first satellite) corresponding to the RAN connected by the UE.

[0442] Optionally, the terminal obtaining the information of the at least one EES can comprise: the terminal sending a first request message to the ECS and receiving a first response message from the ECS. The first response message can comprise the information of the at least one EES.

[0443] The first request message is used to request the ECS to determine the EES for the terminal. The first request message can trigger the ECS to discover the EES, for example, the first request message can be a discovery request message, which is used to request the ECS to discover the EES. For another example, the first request message can be a service provisioning request message, which is used to request the ECS to provide edge computing service for the terminal, so that the ECS determines to discover the EES for the terminal according to the first request message.

[0444] The first request message can further comprise at least one of the following information: location information of the terminal, identifier information of the terminal, information of an application requested by the terminal (such as EAS ID, AC ID, application ID, AC profile), and the like. The location information of the terminal can comprise information indicating the current location of the terminal, and / or information indicating the predicted location of the terminal. The identifier information of the terminal can comprise a UE ID and / or an EEC ID.

[0445] The first request message in the embodiments of the present application can refer to the description of the first request message in S1101, and will not be described here.

[0446] The first response message is used to respond to the first request message. For example, the first response message can be an EES discovery response message, or a service provisioning response (service provisioning request-response) message, used to indicate that the discovery of the EES is successful or failed.

[0447] The first response message in the embodiments of the present application can refer to the description of the first response message in S1101, and will not be repeated here.

[0448] Optionally, in the case that the ECS determines that the currently available EES for the terminal is deployed on a satellite, or the ECS determines that there is no EES on the ground available for the terminal, the first response message includes information of at least one EES.

[0449] The process in which at least one EES registers the information of at least one EES on the ECS will be introduced below, taking the registration process of the first EES as an example.

[0450] In a possible implementation, the first EES sends a second request message to the ECS, and receives a second response message from the ECS. The second request message can refer to the introduction of the second request message in S1002, and the difference is that the second request message in the embodiments of the present application can further include related information of the satellite corresponding to the first EES, such as at least one of the DNN, slice information, and DNAI of the satellite corresponding to the first EES. The second response message can refer to the introduction of the second response message in S1002, and will not be repeated here.

[0451] For example, taking EES#1 as an example. The EES#1 registration request message carries the EES#1 ID, the EES#1 address information (endpoint), and the satellite identifier corresponding to the satellite on which the EES#1 is deployed, such as the SAT ID#1 corresponding to the EES#1. The EES#1 registration request message further carries at least one of the DNN#1, slice information#1, and DNAI#1 corresponding to the EES#1. Optionally, the EES#1 registration request message can further carry the ephemeris information corresponding to the SAT ID#1. The ECS sends an EES#1 registration response message to the EES#1, and the registration response message carries information indicating whether the registration is successful or failed.

[0452] The condition triggering S1601 will be introduced below.

[0453] In a possible implementation, before the terminal sends the first message to the first network element, the communication method can further include: determining, by the terminal according to the information of at least one EES, to establish a session connected to a satellite, and the first message is used to request to establish the session.

[0454] The ECS determines the EES currently available to the terminal corresponds to a satellite, such as deployed on the satellite, or the ECS determines that there is no EES on the ground currently available to the terminal, that is, the EES connectable by the terminal is not deployed on the ground, and the ECS sends information of at least one EES to the terminal. For example, the ECS includes the information of at least one EES in the above-mentioned first response message in the process of the terminal discovering the EES.

[0455] That is, the terminal obtains the information of at least one EES, which implicitly indicates that the EES currently available to the terminal corresponds to a satellite, and the terminal needs to establish a session, such as a PDU session, connected to the satellite, and then the terminal sends a first message to the first network element, the first message being used to request to establish a session.

[0456] In another possible implementation, before the terminal sends the first message to the first network element, the communication method can further include: the terminal receives third information from the ECS, the third information indicating that the EES connectable by the terminal corresponds to a satellite, or the EES connectable by the terminal is not deployed on the ground. The terminal determines to establish a session connected to the satellite according to the third information, and the first message is used to request to establish a session.

[0457] That is, the terminal can learn that the EES connectable by the terminal corresponds to a satellite, or the EES connectable by the terminal is not deployed on the ground, through explicit indication. The terminal determines to establish a session, such as a PDU session, connected to the satellite according to the third information, and then the terminal sends a first message to the first network element.

[0458] The above introduces the interaction between the terminal and the first network element, and the interaction between the terminal and the ECS. The interaction between the first network element and the second network element is introduced below.

[0459] S01, the first network element sends information of a first satellite to the second network element, and correspondingly, the second network element receives the information of the first satellite from the first network element.

[0460] The first satellite corresponds to an access network device serving the terminal. The second network element can be an SMF network element, or can be other network elements that can implement a session management function in the future, without limitation.

[0461] The information of the first satellite in S01 is carried in a session establishment request message, such as a request message (Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Request) for establishing a PDU session, or other messages for communicating with a core network element, without limitation. The session establishment request message is taken as an example for introduction below.

[0462] The session establishment request message includes information of the first satellite, and can further include at least one of a subscription permanent identifier (SUPI) of the terminal, a cell ID, and a tracing area identity (TAI).

[0463] S02, the second network element sends fourth information to the first network element according to the information of the first satellite, and correspondingly, the first network element receives the fourth information from the second network element.

[0464] The fourth information indicates that the first satellite corresponds to the first user function network element. The fourth information can be carried in a session response message, such as an N1N2 message (Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer). The first user function network element can be a user function network element (such as a UPF network element) on the first satellite, such as a local UPF-SAT ID carried in the N1N2 message indicating the satellite identifier corresponding to the UPF. The first user function network element can also be other network elements that can implement user plane functions in the future, without limitation.

[0465] Optionally, before the second network element sends the fourth information to the first network element according to the information of the first satellite, the communication method can further include:

[0466] The second network element determines the first user function network element according to the information of the first satellite and satellite information corresponding to at least one user function network element, and the at least one user function network element includes the first user function network element.

[0467] The second network element determines whether the information of the first satellite is in the satellite information corresponding to the at least one user function network element, or in other words, determines whether a user function network element is deployed on the first satellite, if so, selects the user function network element deployed on the first satellite as the first user function network element, that is, selects the user function network element deployed on the satellite corresponding to the RAN to which the terminal is connected. For example, the fourth information indicates that the first satellite corresponds to the first user function network element (local UPF#1 corresponds to SAT ID#1).

[0468] The second information involved in the above S1602 can include the fourth information.

[0469] In conclusion, in the case that the RAN is deployed on the ground, the terminal can obtain the information of the first satellite corresponding to the access network device connected by the terminal from the first network element by sending the related information of at least one satellite to the first network element, so as to determine the first EES corresponding to the first satellite. When the terminal wants to obtain the edge computing service, the terminal can connect to the first EES corresponding to the first satellite, thereby avoiding unnecessary interaction between satellites, ensuring that the terminal can connect to the first EES to obtain the edge computing service, reducing the service time delay, and improving the data transmission quality.

[0470] The overall flow of the communication method provided by the embodiment of the application is described above in combination with FIG. 16. The specific flow of the communication method provided by the embodiment of the application in a specific scenario (scenario 3 described above) is introduced below in combination with FIG. 17.

[0471] FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the application. The communication method is applicable to the communication system described above, and specifically relates to the interaction between a UE (i.e., the terminal described above), an ECS, and an EES#1 (i.e., the first EES described above), an AMF (i.e., the first network element described above), and an SMF (i.e., the second network element described above). In the case that the RAN is deployed on the ground, the UE can obtain the SAT ID#1 corresponding to the RAN connected by the terminal from the AMF by sending the related information of at least one satellite to the AMF, so as to determine the EES#1 corresponding to the SAT ID#1. When the UE wants to obtain the edge computing service, the UE can connect to the EES#1 corresponding to the SAT ID#1, thereby avoiding unnecessary interaction between satellites, ensuring that the UE can connect to the EES#1 to obtain the edge computing service, reducing the service time delay, and improving the data transmission quality.

[0472] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 17, the flow of the communication method is as follows:

[0473] S1701, the EES#1 sends an EES registration request message to the ECS.

[0474] It can be understood that at least one EES is registered on the ECS, and the following is described by taking the registration of the EES#1 on the ECS as an example. The registration flow of each EES in the at least one EES can refer to the EES#1.

[0475] The EES registration request message is used to request registration of the related information of EES #1. The EES registration request message carries the EES ID, the EES address (endpoint), and the satellite identifier corresponding to the satellite on which the EES #1 is deployed, such as the SAT ID #1 corresponding to the EES #1. Optionally, the EES registration request message can also carry the ephemeris information corresponding to the SAT ID #1. In addition, the EES registration request message also carries at least one of the DNN, slice information, and DNAI corresponding to the EES #1. The DNN, slice information, and DNAI are the DNN, slice information, and DNAI for the satellite, which are different from the DNN, slice information, and DNAI corresponding to the EES on the ground.

[0476] The EES registration request message can also refer to the second request message in S1603, and details are not repeated.

[0477] S1702, the ECS sends an EES registration response message to the EES #1.

[0478] The EES registration response message carries information about whether the registration of the related information of the EES #1 is successful or failed.

[0479] S1703, the ECS sends at least one of the DNN, slice information, and DNAI corresponding to the EES #1 to the UE through the 5GC and the AMF.

[0480] The ECS sends an AF request to the UDM through the NEF, and the AF request includes URSP indication information containing at least one of the DNN, slice information, and DNAI corresponding to the EES #1. The UDM sends the above information to the UDR and further to the PCF, and the PCF sends at least one of the DNN, slice information, and DNAI corresponding to the EES #1 to the UE through the AMF through the UE configuration update procedure for transparent UE policy delivery.

[0481] S1704, the UE sends an EES discovery request message #1 to the ECS.

[0482] The EES discovery request message #1 (EES discovery request) carries the EEC ID, the information of the application requested by the UE (such as the EAS ID, the AC ID, the AC profile, and the application ID), the UE ID, and the location information of the terminal.

[0483] The EES discovery request message #1 can also refer to the introduction of the first request message in S1603, and will not be repeated here.

[0484] S1705, the ECS sends an EES discovery response message #1 to the UE.

[0485] When the ECS determines that the EES currently available to the UE is deployed on a satellite, or the ECS determines that there is no EES on the ground currently available to the UE, the EES discovery response message #1 carries information of at least one EES, such as EES ID, EES address (endpoint), and SAT ID corresponding to the EES.

[0486] The EES discovery response message #1 can also refer to the introduction of the first response message in S1603, and will not be repeated here.

[0487] S1706, the UE determines that the available EES is deployed on a satellite and needs to establish a PDU session to the satellite.

[0488] The UE determines that the available EES is deployed on a satellite according to the information of at least one EES in the EES discovery response message #1. Alternatively, the EES discovery response message #1 contains indication information (i.e. the third information in S1603), which indicates that the EES currently available to the UE is deployed on a satellite, or the ECS determines that there is no EES on the ground currently available to the UE, and then the UE needs to establish a PDU session to the satellite.

[0489] S1707, the UE sends a PDU session establishment request message to the AMF.

[0490] The PDU session establishment request message can include at least one of DNN, slice information, and DNAI corresponding to the EES on the satellite. Alternatively, at least one of DNN, slice information, and DNAI corresponding to the satellite.

[0491] The PDU session establishment request message can refer to the introduction of the first message in S1601, and will not be repeated here.

[0492] S1708, the AMF sends a PDU session establishment request message to the SMF.

[0493] The PDU session establishment request message (Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Request) can include SAT ID #1 corresponding to RAN #1.

[0494] At least one of the DNN, slice information, and DNAI corresponding to the at least one satellite corresponds to the SAT ID, that is, each of the at least one satellite corresponds to an identifier (that is, SAT ID). The AMF determines that the SAT ID#1 corresponding to the DNN#1 is the SAT ID#1 corresponding to the RAN#1, where the RAN#1 is a RAN currently connected by the UE, the RAN#1 is deployed on the ground, and the RAN#1 has a link connection with the satellite corresponding to the SAT ID#1.

[0495] In S1709, the SMF determines the SAT ID#1 corresponding to the UPF#1 according to the SAT ID#1 corresponding to the RAN#1.

[0496] The SMF selects the UPF deployed on the satellite connected by the RAN#1, that is, the UPF#1, also known as a local UPF. The satellite corresponding to the UPF#1 is the same as the satellite connected by the RAN, that is, the satellite corresponding to the SAT ID#1.

[0497] In S1710, the SMF sends a PDU session response message to the AMF.

[0498] The PDU session response message may be, for example, an N1N2 message (Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer), which carries the SAT ID#1 corresponding to the UPF#1.

[0499] In S1711, the AMF sends a session establishment success message to the UE.

[0500] The session establishment success message is an N1 session message (N1 SM container), which carries a PDU session establishment response (PDU Session Establishment Accept) message, and the SAT ID#1 corresponding to the UPF#1 is carried in the PDU session establishment response message.

[0501] In S1712, the UE determines the EES#1 according to the SAT ID corresponding to the EES and the SAT ID corresponding to the UPF.

[0502] The UE selects the EES#1 corresponding to the SAT ID#1 according to the SAT ID corresponding to the at least one EES and the SAT ID#1 corresponding to the UPF#1, that is, the UPF#1 and the EES#1 correspond to the same SAT ID.

[0503] The specific implementation of S1701-S1712 can also refer to the related description of S1601-S1603 described above, and will not be described here.

[0504] In summary, in the case that the RAN is deployed on the ground, the UE can obtain the SAT ID#1 corresponding to the RAN connected by the terminal from the AMF by sending the related information of at least one satellite to the AMF, so as to determine the EES#1 corresponding to the SAT ID#1. When the UE wants to obtain the edge computing service, the EES#1 corresponding to the SAT ID#1 can be connected, unnecessary interaction between satellites is avoided, so that the UE can be connected to the EES#1 to obtain the edge computing service, the service delay is reduced, and the data transmission quality is improved.

[0505] The following describes an embodiment applicable to scenario 4 shown in FIG. 7.

[0506] FIG. 18 is a flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the application. The communication method is applicable to the communication system described above, and mainly involves the interaction between the terminal and the EES.

[0507] As shown in FIG. 18, the flow of the communication method is as follows:

[0508] In S1801, the terminal sends a first message to a first network element, and correspondingly, the first network element receives the first message from the terminal.

[0509] The first network element can be a core network element, such as an AMF network element, or can be a network element that can realize access and mobility management function in the future, without limitation. The first message can be a PDU session establishment request message, or can be other messages for establishing a session or communicating with a core network element, without limitation.

[0510] The first message can include first information, and the first information indicates the related information of at least one satellite. The related information of at least one satellite is used to indicate each satellite in the at least one satellite, such as the identification information of each satellite in the at least one satellite. The related information of at least one satellite is related to satellite service.

[0511] Optionally, the related information of at least one satellite can include at least one of the following for each satellite in the at least one satellite: DNN, slice information, or DNAI. It can be understood that the DNN, slice information, or DNAI can be related to satellite service, for example, can be the DNN, slice information, or DNAI corresponding to the EAS on the satellite, that is, different from the DNN, slice information, or DNAI corresponding to the EAS on the ground.

[0512] The information about the at least one satellite can further include an identifier corresponding to each of the at least one satellite, such as a SAT ID, and a correspondence between the identifier and the DNN, slice information, or DNAI of the satellite, such as that the identifier of the satellite corresponding to DNN#1 is SAT ID#1, the identifier of the satellite corresponding to slice information#2 is SAT ID#2, and the identifier of the satellite corresponding to DNAI#3 is SAT ID#3.

[0513] In addition, the embodiments of the present application do not limit the manner in which the terminal obtains the information about the at least one satellite. For example, the terminal can obtain the information about the at least one satellite from the EES in the EAS discovery process. For details, refer to the information about the at least one EAS in S1803 below, which is not described herein again. For another example, the EES sends an application function (AF) request to a UDM network element through a NEF, the AF request includes URSP indication information, the URSP indication information includes at least one of the DNN, slice information, or DNAI of the EAS on the at least one satellite. The UDM sends the URSP indication information to a UDR and further to a PCF. The PCF sends at least one of the DNN, slice information, or DNAI of the EAS on the at least one satellite to the UE through an AMF network element through a UE configuration update procedure for transparent UE policy delivery.

[0514] S1802, the first network element sends second information to the terminal according to the first information, and correspondingly, the terminal receives the second information from the first network element.

[0515] The second information indicates the information of the first satellite. The second information can be carried in an N1 session message (N1 SM container) that carries a PDU session establishment response (PDU Session Establishment Accept) message.

[0516] The first satellite corresponds to an access network device serving the terminal, and the at least one satellite can include the first satellite. The access network device belongs to the ground and has a link connection with the first satellite.

[0517] The information of the first satellite can be an identifier of the first satellite, such as SAT ID#1, and can further include a correspondence between the first satellite and the access network device of the terminal (such as RAN#1-SAT ID#1) and / or information of the first satellite and a UPF deployed by the first satellite (such as local UPF-SAT ID#1).

[0518] Since the information related to the at least one satellite indicates a relationship with satellite service, the first network element determines a first satellite corresponding to the access network device serving the terminal from the at least one satellite, or a first satellite corresponding to the access network device to which the terminal is connected. For example, the AMF network element (i.e., the first network element) determines that the terminal is connected to RAN#1, determines a satellite identifier SAT ID#1 corresponding to RAN#1 from the information related to the at least one satellite, and then indicates the SAT ID#1 selected by the AMF network element to the terminal, or indicates the SAT ID#1 corresponding to RAN#1.

[0519] S1803, the terminal determines the first EAS according to the second information.

[0520] The first EAS corresponds to the first satellite, that is, the access network device to which the terminal is connected, the first EAS, and the first satellite correspond to each other, and if a user plane network element such as a UPF is deployed on the first satellite, the access network device to which the terminal is connected, the first EAS, and the UPF correspond to the first satellite, which can avoid unnecessary inter-satellite links.

[0521] Optionally, the first EAS corresponding to the first satellite can include that the first EAS is deployed on the first satellite.

[0522] The process of determining the first EAS by the terminal is described below.

[0523] In one possible implementation, the terminal obtains information of at least one EAS, and the information of the at least one EAS can include information related to at least one satellite.

[0524] The terminal obtains the information of the at least one EAS from the EES. The at least one EAS registers the information of the at least one EAS on the EES, so that when the terminal requests to discover the EAS from the EES, the EES sends the information of the at least one EAS to the terminal.

[0525] Optionally, the information of the at least one EAS can further include identification information (such as an EAS ID) and / or address information (an endpoint) of each EAS in the at least one EAS.

[0526] Optionally, the information of the at least one EAS can include information of a satellite corresponding to the at least one EAS; and S1803 can include that the terminal determines the first EAS according to the second information and the information of the satellite corresponding to the at least one EAS, and the at least one EAS includes the first EAS.

[0527] The information of the satellite corresponding to each of the at least one EAS can include an identifier of the satellite corresponding to each of the at least one EAS, such as a SAT ID. That is, each of the at least one EAS has a corresponding relationship with an identifier of a satellite, and the terminal determines a first EAS corresponding to a first satellite from the at least one EAS according to the corresponding relationship, such as that the UE determines an EAS#1 (i.e., a first EAS) corresponding to a SAT ID#1 (i.e., a first satellite) according to a SAT ID corresponding to the at least one EAS and a SAT ID#1 corresponding to the RAN to which the UE is connected.

[0528] Optionally, the terminal obtaining the information of the at least one EAS can include that the terminal sends a first request message to the EES and receives a first response message from the EES. The first response message can include the information of the at least one EAS.

[0529] The first request message is used to request the terminal to determine the EAS. The first request message can trigger the EES to discover the EAS. For example, the first request message can be a discovery request message used to request the EES to discover the EAS. For another example, the first request message can be a service provisioning request message, which requests the EES to provide an edge computing service for the terminal, so that the EES determines to discover the EAS for the terminal according to the first request message.

[0530] The first request message can further include at least one of the following information: location information of the terminal, identifier information of the terminal, information of an application requested by the terminal (such as an EAS ID, an AC ID, an application ID, and an AC profile), and the like. The location information of the terminal can include information indicating a current location of the terminal and / or information indicating a predicted location of the terminal. The identifier information of the terminal can include a UE ID and / or an EEC ID.

[0531] The first request message in the embodiments of the present application can refer to the description of the first request message in S1101, and will not be described herein.

[0532] The first response message is used to respond to the first request message. For example, the first response message can be a discovery response message or a service provisioning response / service provisioning request-response message, which is used to indicate that the discovery of the EAS is successful or failed.

[0533] The first response message in the embodiments of the present application can refer to the description of the first response message in S1101, and will not be repeated here.

[0534] Optionally, the first response message includes information of at least one EAS in the case that the EES determines that the currently available EAS of the terminal is deployed on a satellite, or the EES determines that no EAS on the ground is currently available for the terminal.

[0535] The process in which at least one EAS registers information of the at least one EAS on the EES will be introduced below, and the registration process of the first EAS will be taken as an example for introduction.

[0536] In a possible implementation, the first EAS sends a second request message to the EES and receives a second response message from the EES. The second request message can refer to the introduction of the second request message in S1002, and the difference is that the second request message in the embodiments of the present application can further include related information of the satellite corresponding to the first EAS, such as at least one of the DNN, slice information, and DNAI of the satellite corresponding to the first EAS. The second response message can refer to the introduction of the second response message in S1002, and will not be repeated here.

[0537] For example, EAS#1 is taken as an example for introduction. The EAS#1 registration request message carries the EAS#1 ID, the EAS#1 address information (endpoint), and the satellite identifier corresponding to the satellite on which the EAS#1 is deployed, such as the SAT ID#1 corresponding to the EAS#1. The EAS#1 registration request message further carries at least one of the DNN#1, slice information#1, and DNAI#1 corresponding to the EAS#1. Optionally, the EAS#1 registration request message can further carry the ephemeris information corresponding to the SAT ID#1. The EES sends the EAS#1 registration response message to the EAS#1, and the registration response message carries the information of registration success or failure.

[0538] The condition triggering S1801 will be introduced below.

[0539] In a possible implementation, before the terminal sends the first message to the first network element, the communication method can further include: determining, by the terminal according to the information of the at least one EAS, to establish a session connected to a satellite, and the first message is used to request to establish the session.

[0540] The EES sends the information of at least one EAS to the terminal in the case that the EES determines that the currently available EAS of the terminal corresponds to a satellite, such as being deployed on a satellite, or the EES determines that no EAS on the ground is currently available for the terminal, that is, the EAS connectable by the terminal is not deployed on the ground. For example, the EES includes the information of at least one EAS in the above first response message in the process in which the terminal discovers the EAS.

[0541] That is, the information of at least one EAS acquired by the terminal implicitly indicates that the EAS currently available to the terminal corresponds to a satellite, and the terminal needs to establish a session, such as a PDU session, connected to the satellite. Then, the terminal sends a first message to the first network element, and the first message is used to request establishment of the session.

[0542] In another possible implementation, before the terminal sends the first message to the first network element, the communication method can further include: the terminal receiving third information from the EES, the third information indicating that the EAS connectable by the terminal corresponds to a satellite, or the EAS connectable by the terminal is not deployed on the ground. The terminal determines, according to the third information, to establish a session connected to the satellite, and the first message is used to request establishment of the session.

[0543] That is, the terminal can learn, through explicit indication, that the EAS connectable by the terminal corresponds to a satellite, or the EAS connectable by the terminal is not deployed on the ground. The terminal determines, according to the third information, to establish a session, such as a PDU session, connected to the satellite, and then the terminal sends the first message to the first network element.

[0544] The above introduces the interaction between the terminal and the first network element, and the interaction between the terminal and the EES. The following introduces the interaction between the first network element and the second network element.

[0545] S1, the first network element sends information of the first satellite to the second network element, and correspondingly, the second network element receives the information of the first satellite from the first network element.

[0546] The first satellite corresponds to the access network device serving the terminal. The second network element can be a UPF network element, or can be other network elements that can implement session management functions in the future, without limitation.

[0547] The information of the first satellite in S1 is carried in a session establishment request message, such as a request message (Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Request) for establishing a PDU session, or other messages for communication with a core network element, without limitation. The following is described by taking the session establishment request message as an example.

[0548] The session establishment request message includes the information of the first satellite, and can also include at least one of a subscription permanent identifier (SUPI) of the terminal, a cell ID, and a tracing area identity (TAI).

[0549] S2, the second network element sends fourth information to the first network element according to the information of the first satellite, and correspondingly, the first network element receives the fourth information from the second network element.

[0550] The fourth information indicates that the first satellite corresponds to the first user function network element. The fourth information can be carried in a session response message, such as a N1N2 message (Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer). The first user function network element can be a user function network element (such as a UPF network element) on the first satellite, such as a N1N2 message carrying a satellite identifier corresponding to a UPF (local UPF-SAT ID).

[0551] Optionally, before the second network element sends the fourth information to the first network element according to the information of the first satellite, the communication method can further include:

[0552] The second network element determines the first user function network element according to the information of the first satellite and satellite information corresponding to at least one user function network element, the at least one user function network element including the first user function network element.

[0553] The second network element determines whether the information of the first satellite is in the satellite information corresponding to the at least one user function network element, or in other words, determines whether a user function network element is deployed on the first satellite, if so, selects the user function network element deployed on the first satellite as the first user function network element, that is, selects the user function network element deployed on the satellite corresponding to the RAN to which the terminal is connected. For example, the fourth information indicates that the first satellite corresponds to the first user function network element (local UPF#1 corresponds to SAT ID#1).

[0554] The second information involved in the above S1802 can include the fourth information.

[0555] In summary, in the case where the RAN is deployed on the ground, the terminal can obtain the information of the first satellite corresponding to the access network device to which the terminal is connected from the first network element by sending the related information of at least one satellite to the core network element (i.e. the first network element), so as to determine the first EAS corresponding to the first satellite. When the terminal wants to obtain edge computing services, it can connect to the first EAS corresponding to the first satellite, avoiding unnecessary interaction between satellites, so as to ensure that the terminal can connect to the first EAS to obtain edge computing services, and reduce the service delay, thereby improving the data transmission quality.

[0556] The above describes the overall process of the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application in combination with FIG. 18. The specific process of the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application in a specific scenario (scenario 4 described above) is introduced in combination with FIG. 19.

[0557] FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. The communication method is applicable to the above communication system, and particularly relates to the interaction among a UE (i.e., the above terminal), an EES, an EAS#1 (i.e., the above first EAS), an AMF (i.e., the above first network element), and an SMF (i.e., the above second network element). In the case where the RAN is deployed on the ground, the UE can obtain the SAT ID#1 corresponding to the RAN connected by the terminal from the AMF by sending the related information of at least one satellite to the AMF, so as to determine the EAS#1 corresponding to the SAT ID#1. In this way, when the UE wants to obtain edge computing services, the UE can connect to the EAS#1 corresponding to the SAT ID#1, thereby avoiding unnecessary interaction among satellites, ensuring that the UE can connect to the EAS#1 to obtain edge computing services, reducing service latency, and improving data transmission quality.

[0558] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 19, the flow of the communication method is as follows.

[0559] S1901. The EAS#1 sends an EAS registration request message to the EES.

[0560] It can be understood that at least one EAS is registered to the EES, and the following is described by taking the registration of the EAS#1 to the EES as an example. The registration process of each EAS in the at least one EAS can refer to the EAS#1.

[0561] The EAS registration request message is used to request the registration of the related information of the EAS#1, and carries the EAS ID, the EAS address (endpoint), and the satellite identifier corresponding to the satellite on which the EAS#1 is deployed, such as the SAT ID#1 corresponding to the EAS#1. Optionally, the EAS registration request message can also carry the ephemeris information corresponding to the SAT ID#1. In addition, the EAS registration request message also carries at least one of the DNN, the slice information (slice), and the DNAI corresponding to the EAS#1, which are different from the DNN, the slice information (slice), and the DNAI corresponding to the EAS on the ground.

[0562] The EAS registration request message can also refer to the second request message in S1803, and will not be described herein.

[0563] S1902. The EES sends an EAS registration response message to the EAS#1.

[0564] The EAS registration response message carries the information about whether the registration of the related information of the EAS#1 is successful or failed.

[0565] S1903, EES sends at least one of the following to UE via 5GC and AMF: DNN, slice information, and DNAI corresponding to EAS#1.

[0566] The EES sends an AF request to the UDM via the NEF. The AF request includes URSP indication information, which contains at least one of the following: the DNN, slice information, and DNAI corresponding to EAS#1. The UDM sends the above information to the UDR, which in turn sends it to the PCF. The PCF, through the UE Configuration Update procedure for transparent UE Policy delivery, sends at least one of the following to the UE via the AMF: the DNN, slice information, and DNAI corresponding to EAS#1.

[0567] S1904, the UE sends an EAS discovery request message #1 to the EES.

[0568] The EAS discovery request message #1 carries information such as the EEC ID, the application information requested by the UE (e.g., EAS ID, AC ID, AC profile, application ID), the UE ID, and the terminal's location information.

[0569] EAS discovery request message #1 can also refer to the introduction of the first request message in S1803, which will not be repeated here.

[0570] S1905, EES sends EAS discovery response message #1 to UE.

[0571] When the EES determines that the EAS currently available to the UE is deployed on a satellite, or when the EES determines that there is no EAS available to the UE on the ground, the EAS discovery response message #1 carries information about at least one EAS, such as the EAS ID, EAS address (endpoint), and the SAT ID corresponding to the EAS.

[0572] EAS discovery response message #1 can also refer to the introduction of the first response message in S1803, which will not be repeated here.

[0573] S1906, the UE determines that the available EAS is deployed on a satellite and needs to establish a PDU session to the satellite.

[0574] The UE determines that the available EAS is deployed on the satellite according to the information of at least one EAS in the EAS discovery response message #1. Alternatively, the EAS discovery response message #1 contains indication information (i.e., the third information in S1803), which indicates that the available EAS of the UE is deployed on the satellite, or the EES determines that there is no EAS on the ground available for the UE, and the UE needs to establish a PDU session to the satellite.

[0575] S1907, the UE sends a PDU session establishment request message to the AMF.

[0576] The PDU session establishment request message can include at least one of the DNN, slice information, and DNAI corresponding to the EAS on the satellite. Alternatively, at least one of the DNN, slice information, and DNAI corresponding to the satellite.

[0577] The PDU session establishment request message can refer to the introduction of the first message in S1801, and details are not repeated.

[0578] S1908, the AMF sends a PDU session establishment request message to the SMF.

[0579] The PDU session establishment request message (Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Request) can include a SAT ID #1 corresponding to RAN #1.

[0580] At least one of the DNN, slice information, and DNAI corresponding to the satellite corresponds to the SAT ID, that is, each satellite of the at least one satellite corresponds to an identifier (i.e., SAT ID). The AMF determines that the SAT ID #1 corresponding to the DNN #1 is the SAT ID #1 corresponding to the RAN #1, wherein the RAN #1 is the RAN currently connected by the UE, the RAN #1 is deployed on the ground, and the RAN #1 has a link connection with the satellite corresponding to the SAT ID #1.

[0581] S1909, the SMF determines that the UPF #1 corresponding to the SAT ID #1 is determined according to the SAT ID #1 corresponding to the RAN #1.

[0582] The SMF selects the UPF deployed on the satellite connected by the RAN #1, that is, the UPF #1, also known as the local UPF (local UPF). The satellite corresponding to the UPF #1 is the same as the satellite connected by the RAN, which is the satellite corresponding to the SAT ID #1.

[0583] S1910, the SMF sends a session response message to the AMF.

[0584] The session response message can be, for example, an N1N2 message (Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer), in which SAT ID#1 corresponding to UPF#1 is carried.

[0585] S1911, the AMF sends a session establishment success message to the UE.

[0586] The session establishment success message is an N1 session message (N1 SM container), in which a PDU session establishment response (PDU Session Establishment Accept) message is carried, and in which SAT ID#1 corresponding to UPF#1 is carried.

[0587] S1912, the UE determines EAS#1 according to the SAT ID corresponding to the EAS and the SAT ID corresponding to the UPF.

[0588] The UE selects EAS#1 corresponding to SAT ID#1 according to the SAT ID corresponding to at least one EAS and SAT ID#1 corresponding to UPF#1, that is, UPF#1 and EAS#1 correspond to the same SAT ID.

[0589] The specific implementation of S1901-S1912 can also refer to the related description of S1801-S1803 described above, and will not be repeated here.

[0590] In summary, in the case of ground deployment of RAN, the UE can obtain SAT ID#1 corresponding to the RAN connected by the terminal from the AMF by sending relevant information of at least one satellite to the AMF, so as to determine EAS#1 corresponding to SAT ID#1. When the UE wants to obtain edge computing services, it can connect to EAS#1 corresponding to SAT ID#1, avoiding unnecessary interaction between satellites, so as to ensure that the UE can connect to EAS#1 to obtain edge computing services, and reduce the service delay, thereby improving the data transmission quality.

[0591] It should be understood that the various implementations of the various embodiments in the present application can be used in combination, such as the process of EAS registration to EES in the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 13, which can be applied to the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 10. The combination of the various implementations of the above embodiments is not limited.

[0592] The above describes in detail the method provided by the embodiments of the present application in combination with FIGS. 10-19. The communication device for executing the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application is described in detail below in combination with FIGS. 20-21.

[0593] Fig. 20 is a structural schematic diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Fig. 20, the communication apparatus 2000 can include a transceiver module 2001 and a processing module 2002. For the convenience of description, Fig. 20 only shows the main components of the communication apparatus.

[0594] The transceiver module 2001 is configured to perform the transceiving functions of the method shown in Fig. 10, and the processing module 2002 is configured to perform the functions of the method shown in Fig. 10 other than the transceiving functions.

[0595] Optionally, the transceiver module 2001 can include a sending module (not shown in Fig. 20) and a receiving module (not shown in Fig. 20). The sending module is configured to implement the sending function of the communication apparatus 2000, and the receiving module is configured to implement the receiving function of the communication apparatus 2000.

[0596] Optionally, the communication apparatus 2000 can further include a storage module (not shown in Fig. 20), which stores a program or instructions. When the processing module 2002 executes the program or instructions, the communication apparatus 2000 can perform the functions of the terminal or network device in the method shown in Fig. 10.

[0597] It can be understood that the communication apparatus 2000 can be a terminal or a network device, or a chip (system) or other components or assemblies that can be arranged in a terminal or a network device, or an apparatus including a terminal or a network device, and the present application does not limit the same.

[0598] In addition, the technical effects of the communication apparatus 2000 can refer to the technical effects of the communication method shown in Fig. 10, which will not be described here.

[0599] Fig. 21 is a structural schematic diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Fig. 21, the communication apparatus can be a terminal, or a chip (system) or other components or assemblies that can be arranged in a terminal. The communication apparatus 2100 can include a processor 2101. Optionally, the communication apparatus 2100 can further include a memory 2102 and / or a transceiver 2103. The processor 2101 is coupled with the memory 2102 and / or the transceiver 2103, which can be connected through a communication bus, can be connected through an intra-chip interface, or can be connected through other communication lines. Optionally, the memory 2102 can be integrated with the processor 2101.

[0600] The components of the communication apparatus 2100 will be described in detail below in combination with Fig. 21:

[0601] The processor 2101 is the control center of the communication device 2100, which can be one processor or a combination of multiple processing elements. For example, the processor 2101 is one or more central processing units (CPUs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or one or more integrated circuits configured to perform the functions of the embodiments of the present application, such as one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), or one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).

[0602] Optionally, the processor 2101 can execute various functions of the communication device 2100 by running or executing software programs stored in the memory 2102 and calling data stored in the memory 2102, such as the communication method shown in FIG. 10.

[0603] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the processor 2101 can include one or more CPUs, such as CPU0 and CPU1 shown in FIG. 21.

[0604] In a specific implementation, as an embodiment, the communication device 2100 can also include multiple processors, such as the processor 2101 and the processor 2104 shown in FIG. 21. Each of these processors can be a single-CPU or a multi-CPU. The processor here can refer to one or more devices, circuits, and / or processing cores for processing data (such as computer program instructions).

[0605] The memory 2102 is used to store software programs for executing the schemes of the present application, and is controlled by the processor 2101 to execute, and the specific implementation can refer to the above-mentioned method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0606] Alternatively, the memory 2102 can be a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device that can store static information and instructions; a random access memory (RAM), or other type of dynamic storage device that can store information and instructions; a programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), or other optical disk storage, including a compact disc, a laser disc, an optical disc, a digital versatile disc, a Blu-ray disc, or the like; a magnetic disk storage medium; or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited to this. The memory 2102 can be integrated with the processor 2101 or can exist independently and be coupled to the processor 2101 through the interface circuit (not shown in FIG. 21) of the communication device 2100, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited in this regard.

[0607] The transceiver 2103 is configured to communicate with other communication devices. For example, the communication device 2100 is a terminal, and the transceiver 2103 can be configured to communicate with a network device or another terminal. For another example, the communication device 2100 is a network device, and the transceiver 2103 can be configured to communicate with a terminal or another network device.

[0608] Optionally, the transceiver 2103 can include a receiver and a transmitter (not shown separately in FIG. 21). The receiver is configured to implement the receiving function, and the transmitter is configured to implement the transmitting function.

[0609] Optionally, the transceiver 2103 can be integrated with the processor 2101 or can exist independently and be coupled to the processor 2101 through the interface circuit (not shown in FIG. 21) of the communication device 2100, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited in this regard.

[0610] It can be understood that the structure of the communication device 2100 shown in FIG. 21 does not constitute a limitation on the communication device, and the actual communication device can include more or fewer components than those shown, or combine certain components, or different component arrangements.

[0611] In addition, the technical effects of the communication device 2100 can refer to the technical effects of the methods described in the above method embodiments, which will not be described here.

[0612] It should be understood that the processor in the embodiments of the present application can be a central processing unit (CPU), and can also be other general-purpose processors, DSPs, ASICs, FPGAs or other programmable logic devices, discrete gates or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or the processor can also be any conventional processor.

[0613] It should also be understood that the memory in the embodiments of the present application can be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or can include both volatile and non-volatile memories. Among them, the non-volatile memory can be a ROM, a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an EEPROM or a flash memory. The volatile memory can be a random access memory (RAM) used as an external cache. By way of example and not limitation, many forms of RAM can be used, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM) and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM).

[0614] The above-described embodiments can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware (e.g., circuitry), firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, the above-described embodiments can be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions or computer programs. When the computer instructions or computer programs are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in the embodiments of the present application are wholly or partially generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable devices. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transferred from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium, for example, the computer instructions can be transferred from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center through wired (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium accessible by a computer or a data storage device such as a server, data center, etc. containing one or more available medium collections. The available medium can be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., DVD), or a semiconductor medium. The semiconductor medium can be a solid-state disk.

[0615] It should be understood that the term "and / or" herein merely describes an association relationship of associated objects, which means that there can be three relationships, for example, A and / or B can represent the following three cases: A exists alone, A and B exist together, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. In addition, the character " / " herein generally represents an "or" relationship between the front and rear associated objects, but it can also represent an "and / or" relationship, which can be understood in the context before and after.

[0616] In this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "multiple" means two or more. "At least one of the following" or the like means any combination of the items, including any combination of single or multiple items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can represent a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, or a-b-c, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0617] It should be understood that in various embodiments of the present application, the size of the sequence number of the above-described processes does not mean the order of execution, and the execution order of the processes should be determined by their functions and inherent logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0618] Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in combination with the embodiments disclosed herein can be realized by electronic hardware or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether the functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the present application.

[0619] Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of the description, the specific working processes of the above-described system, device and unit can refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0620] In several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, device and method can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are only schematic. For example, the division of the units is only a logical function division, and there can be another division manner in actual implementation. For example, a plurality of units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection between the units shown or discussed can be indirect coupling or communication connection through some interface, device or unit, and can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0621] The units described as separate components can or can not be physically separate, and the components shown as units can or can not be physical units, i.e. they can be located in one place or distributed on a plurality of network units. Some or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the embodiment.

[0622] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application can be integrated into a processing unit, or each unit can exist physically, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0623] If the functions are realized in the form of software function units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solutions of the present application or the part of the technical solutions that essentially contribute to the prior art can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes a plurality of instructions for causing a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in each embodiment of the present application. The foregoing storage medium includes the above-mentioned various possible memories.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method comprises: receiving a first request message from a terminal, the first request message being used for requesting to determine an edge enabler server (EES) for the terminal, the first request message comprising information of a first device corresponding to the terminal, the first device being a satellite corresponding to an access network device connected by the terminal; sending a first response message to the terminal according to the first request message, the first response message comprising information of a first EES, the first EES corresponding to the first device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The first response message comprises first information, the first information being used for indicating available information of the first EES in time and / or space.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first device is a device currently corresponding to the terminal.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The first EES corresponding to the first device comprises that the first EES is deployed on the first device.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, After receiving the first request message from the terminal, the method further comprises: determining the first EES according to the information of the first device and information of devices corresponding to at least one EES, the at least one EES comprising the first EES, the devices corresponding to the at least one EES comprising the first device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving a second request message from the at least one EES, the second request message comprising second information, the second information indicating identification information of the at least one EES, address information of the at least one EES, and information of devices corresponding to the at least one EES.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, The second request message further comprises ephemeris information of the devices corresponding to the at least one EES, the ephemeris information being used for indicating available information of the devices corresponding to the at least one EES in time and / or space.

8. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method comprises: sending a first request message to an edge configuration server (ECS), the first request message being used for requesting to determine an edge enabler server (EES) for a terminal, the first request message comprising information of a first device corresponding to the terminal, the first device being a satellite corresponding to an access network device connected by the terminal; receiving a first response message from the ECS, the first response message comprising information of a first EES, the first EES corresponding to the first device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, The first response message comprises first information, the first information being used for indicating available information of the first EES in time and / or space.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that, The first device is a device currently corresponding to the terminal.

11. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that, The first EES corresponding to the first device comprises that the first EES is deployed on the first device.

12. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method comprises: sending a first request message to an edge configuration server (ECS), the first request message being used for requesting to determine an edge enabler server (EES) for a terminal; receiving a first response message from the ECS, the first response message comprising information of at least one EES and information of devices corresponding to the at least one EES; According to the first response message and the information of the first device, a first EES corresponding to the first device is determined, and devices corresponding to the at least one EES include the first device, and the first device is a satellite corresponding to an access network device to which the terminal is currently connected.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein, The first device is a satellite corresponding to an access network device to which the terminal is currently connected.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that, The first EES is deployed at the first device.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that, The first response message further indicates ephemeris information of devices corresponding to the at least one EES; and the method further includes: According to the information of the first device and the ephemeris information, time and / or space available information of the first EES is determined.

16. A method of communication, comprising: The method includes: receiving a first request message from a terminal, the first request message being used to request to determine an edge application server (EAS) for the terminal, the first request message including information of a first device corresponding to the terminal, and the first device being a satellite corresponding to an access network device to which the terminal is connected; According to the first request message, a first response message is sent to the terminal, the first response message including information of a first EAS, and the first EAS corresponding to the first device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein, The first response message includes first information, and the first information is used to indicate time and / or space available information of the first EAS.

18. The method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that The first device is a device to which the terminal currently corresponds.

19. The method of any one of claims 16-18, wherein, The first EAS corresponding to the first device includes that the first EAS is deployed at the first device.

20. The method of any one of claims 16-19, wherein, After receiving the first request message from the terminal, the method further includes: According to the information of the first device and information of devices corresponding to at least one EAS, the first EAS is determined, the at least one EAS including the first EAS, and the devices corresponding to the at least one EAS including the first device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein, The method further includes: receiving a second request message from the at least one EAS, the second request message including second information, the second information indicating identification information of the at least one EAS, address information of the at least one EAS, and information of devices corresponding to the at least one EAS.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein, The second request message further includes ephemeris information of the devices corresponding to the at least one EAS, and the ephemeris information is used to indicate time and / or space available information of the devices corresponding to the at least one EAS.

23. A method of communication, comprising: The method includes: sending a first request message to an edge enabler server (EES), the first request message being used to request to determine an edge application server (EAS) for a terminal, the first request message including information of a first device corresponding to the terminal, and the first device being a satellite corresponding to an access network device to which the terminal is connected; receiving a first response message from the EES, the first response message including information of a first EAS, and the first EAS corresponding to the first device.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein, The first response message includes first information, and the first information is used to indicate time and / or space available information of the first EAS.

25. The method of claim 23 or 24, wherein, The first device is a device to which the terminal currently corresponds.

26. The method of any one of claims 23-25, wherein, The first EAS corresponding to the first device includes that the first EAS is deployed on the first device.

27. A method of communication, comprising: The method includes: sending a first request message to an edge enabler server (EES), the first request message being used to request to determine an edge application server (EAS) for a terminal; receiving a first response message from the EES, the first response message including information of at least one EAS and information of a device corresponding to the at least one EAS; determining a first EAS corresponding to a first device according to the information of the first device and the information of the device corresponding to the at least one EAS, the at least one EAS including the first device, and the first device being a satellite corresponding to an access network device to which the terminal is connected.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein, The first device is a satellite corresponding to an access network device to which the terminal is currently connected.

29. The method of claim 27 or 28, wherein, The first EAS is deployed on the first device.

30. The method of any one of claims 27-29, wherein, The first response message further indicates ephemeris information of the device corresponding to the at least one EAS; and the method further includes: determining time and / or space availability information of the first EAS according to the information of the first device and the ephemeris information.

31. A communications device, characterized by The apparatus includes modules for performing the method of any of claims 1-15, or modules for performing the method of any of claims 16-30.

32. A communications device, characterized by The communication apparatus includes at least one processor and a memory; the memory is used to store computer instructions, when the at least one processor executes the instructions, to cause the method of any of claims 1-15 to be performed, or to cause the method of any of claims 16-30 to be performed.

33. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer readable storage medium includes computer programs or instructions, when the computer programs or instructions are run on a computer, to cause the computer to perform the method of any of claims 1-15, or to cause the computer to perform the method of any of claims 16-30.

34. A computer program product, characterised in that, The computer program product includes computer programs or instructions, when the computer programs or instructions are run on a computer, to cause the method of any of claims 1-15 to be performed, or to cause the method of any of claims 16-30 to be performed.

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