Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

A communication method and apparatus, applied to the technical field of communications. The method comprises: when a first condition is met, a terminal device sends first information to an access network device, wherein the first information comprises a first transmission delay between a first tethered device and the terminal device and / or a first variation, and the first condition comprises at least one of the following: second information from the access network device is received, the transmission delay between the first tethered device and the terminal device changes, or a timer expires; the second information is used for instructing to send information of the transmission delay between the first tethered device and the terminal device, and the timer is a timer associated with the transmission delay between the first tethered device and the terminal device. In the present application, an access network device adjusts in a timely manner a delay budget between the access network device and a terminal device, so that an end-to-end transmission delay in a scenario where the terminal device is connected to a tethered device meets a service transmission delay requirement, thereby improving user experience.

Description

A communication method and apparatus

[0001] Cross-reference to Related Applications

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese Patent Application No. 202411297282.6, filed on September 14, 2024, and entitled “A communication method and apparatus”, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

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

[0004] To guarantee the end-to-end transmission delay, the core network can decompose the core network side delay budget and the access network side delay budget according to the end-to-end delay requirement of the service. The core network side delay budget can be understood as the upper limit of the transmission delay between the core network and the access network device. The access network side delay budget can be understood as the upper limit of the transmission delay between the access network device and the terminal device. Specifically, the core network can determine the core network side delay budget, and send the core network side delay budget and the end-to-end delay budget to the access network device. The access network device determines the access network side delay budget according to the received core network side delay budget and end-to-end delay budget. The sum of the access network side delay budget and the core network side delay budget is less than or equal to the end-to-end delay budget, and the end-to-end delay budget meets the end-to-end delay requirement of the service.

[0005] With the development of communication technology, some electronic devices can establish a connection with a terminal device through a non-3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) technology, and communicate with a 3GPP network through the connection. These electronic devices can be referred to as tethering devices, such as extended reality (XR) devices, etc. In the scenario where the terminal device connects the tethering device, the data generated by the tethering device can be first transmitted to the terminal device, and then transmitted to the core network through the access network device; or the core network can first transmit the data to the terminal device through the access network device, and then transmit the data to the tethering device by the terminal device.

[0006] In the scenario, the tethering device is the start or end point of data transmission. The tethering device establishes a connection with the terminal device through a non-3GPP technology, and the access network device does not perceive the tethering device and considers the terminal device as the start or end point of data transmission. The access network device still guarantees the transmission delay between the access network device and the terminal device according to the delay budget determined by the above scheme, which causes the end-to-end transmission delay to exceed the transmission delay requirement of the service and affects the user experience. Therefore, in the scenario where the terminal device connects the tethering device, how to make the end-to-end transmission delay meet the transmission delay requirement of the service is a problem to be solved. SUMMARY

[0007] Embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and device for making the end-to-end transmission delay in the scenario where the terminal device connects the tethering device meet the transmission delay requirement of the service, which is beneficial to improve the user experience.

[0008] In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a terminal device, for example, can be executed by the terminal device itself, or can also be executed by a device in the terminal device. Illustratively, the device in the terminal device can refer to a component (for example, a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) in the terminal device, or can also refer to a logical module or software capable of realizing all or part of the function of the terminal device.

[0009] The method can include: in the case of meeting a first condition, the terminal device sends first information to an access network device, the first information including a first transmission delay between a first tethering device and the terminal device and / or including a first change amount, wherein the first change amount is a change amount of the first transmission delay compared with a second transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device; wherein the first condition includes at least one of the following: receiving second information from the access network device, the transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device changes, or a timer expires; wherein the second information is used to indicate information of the transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device, and the timer is a timer associated with the transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device.

[0010] In the present application, the terminal device sends first information to the access network device, the first information is transmitted through an air interface resource, the transmission delay is small, so that the access network device can timely adjust the delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first information, reserve appropriate delay budget for the transmission between the first tethering device and the terminal device, and adapt to the fluctuation of the transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device, so that the end-to-end transmission delay can meet the transmission delay requirement of the service, which is beneficial to improve the user experience.

[0011] In a possible implementation, the first transmission delay can be associated with at least one of the following: the first tethering device, a first quality of service flow corresponding to the first tethering device, or a first session corresponding to the first tethering device. For example, the first transmission delay is associated with the first quality of service flow corresponding to the first tethering device, which can be understood as that the first transmission delay is the transmission delay of the first quality of service flow between the first tethering device and the terminal device. For another example, the first transmission delay is associated with the first session corresponding to the first tethering device, which can be understood as that the first transmission delay is the transmission delay of the first session between the first tethering device and the terminal device.

[0012] Through the above implementation, the terminal device can use multiple granularities to send the transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device to the access network device, which can be applied to multiple communication scenarios.

[0013] In a possible implementation, the above method can further include that the terminal device can send third information to the access network device, where the third information is used to indicate information supporting sending the transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device.

[0014] Through the above implementation, the access network device can determine that the terminal device supports sending the transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device.

[0015] In a possible implementation, the above method can further include that the terminal device can receive fourth information from the access network device, where the fourth information is used to determine whether to support sending the transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device.

[0016] Through the above implementation, the terminal device can actively send the third information, or can also send the third information in response to the fourth information of the access network device, which is flexible.

[0017] In a possible implementation, the terminal device does not need to send the transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device within a time length corresponding to the timer. Accordingly, the terminal device needs to send the transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device when the timer expires.

[0018] In a possible implementation, the above method can further include that the terminal device can determine not to send the transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device to the first core network device.

[0019] By the above implementation manner, the terminal device does not need to send the information of the transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device to the core network, and can avoid the conflict caused by sending the information of the transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device to the access network device and the core network.

[0020] In another possible implementation manner, the above method can further include that before sending the first information to the access network device, the terminal device can send the second transmission delay to the first core network device.

[0021] By the above implementation manner, the terminal device can also send the second transmission delay to the core network first, and then dynamically send the information of the transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device to the access network device, which can be compatible with the scheme of sending the information of the transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device to the core network.

[0022] In another possible implementation manner, the above method can further include that the first information includes the first change amount, before sending the first information to the access network device, the terminal device can send a first time length to the first core network device, and send a second time length to the access network device, and the sum of the second time length and the first time length is the second transmission delay.

[0023] By the above implementation manner, the terminal device can also decompose the second transmission delay into the first time length and the second time length, and send them to the first core network device and the access network device respectively, which can reserve the delay budget for the transmission between the first tethering device and the terminal device by the core network and the access network together, and can reduce the air interface transmission pressure.

[0024] In a possible implementation manner, the first time length can be less than or equal to the minimum transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device. For example, the first time length can be the minimum transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device.

[0025] When the transmission delay between the terminal device and the first core network device is large, the terminal device can report the minimum transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device to the core network, without frequent reporting.

[0026] In a possible implementation, the first tethering device establishes a first connection with the terminal device by using a first technology, and the first tethering device communicates with a network through the first connection. The first technology can be a non-3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) technology. For example, the first technology can be any one of a wireless fidelity (WiFi) technology, a starlink technology, or a Bluetooth technology, without limitation. The network can be a 3GPP network. For example, the network can be an access network, a core network, or a data network, without limitation.

[0027] In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to an access network device, and can be performed by the access network device itself or by a device in the access network device. For example, the device in the access network device can refer to a component (for example, a processor, a chip, or a chip system) in the access network device, or can refer to a logical module or software that can realize all or part of the functions of the access network device.

[0028] The method can include: receiving, by the access network device, first information from a terminal device, the first information including a first transmission delay between a first tethering device and the terminal device and / or including a first variation, wherein the first variation is a variation of the first transmission delay compared with a second transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device; and determining, by the access network device, a time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first information.

[0029] In the present application, the first information is transmitted through an air interface resource, and the transmission delay is small. The access network device can timely adjust the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first information, reserve a suitable time delay budget for the transmission between the first tethering device and the terminal device, and adapt to the fluctuation of the transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device, so that the end-to-end transmission delay can meet the transmission delay requirement of the service, and the user experience can be improved.

[0030] In a possible implementation, the above method can further include: receiving, by the access network device, fifth information from a first core network device, the fifth information including a third time length. The determining, by the access network device, of the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first information can include: determining, by the access network device, the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first information and the third time length.

[0031] In a possible implementation, the third time length can be a time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device, so that the access network reserves the time delay budget for the transmission between the first captive device and the terminal device.

[0032] Alternatively, the third time length can also be determined by part or all of the time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and the second transmission time delay. The third time length is determined by the time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and the second transmission time delay, so that the scheme of the terminal device sending the first captive device and the terminal device to the core network can be compatible. The third time length is determined by part of the time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and the second transmission time delay, so that the core network and the access network can reserve the time delay budget for the transmission between the first captive device and the terminal device together, which can reduce the air interface transmission pressure.

[0033] Alternatively, the third time length is determined by the time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and the fourth time length, and the sum of the fourth time length and the fifth time length is the first transmission time delay, so that the core network and the access network can reserve the time delay budget for the transmission between the first captive device and the terminal device together, which can reduce the air interface transmission pressure.

[0034] In a possible implementation, the third time length is determined by the time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and the second transmission time delay, and the fifth information can further include indication information, and the first information includes the first change amount, wherein the indication information is used to indicate that the third time length is determined by the time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and the second transmission time delay.

[0035] The fifth information includes indication information, and the access network device can determine that the third time length is determined by the time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and the second transmission time delay through the indication information.

[0036] In a possible implementation, the access network device determines the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first information and the third time length, which can include that the access network device determines the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first change amount and the third time length.

[0037] In a possible implementation, the fifth information can further include the second transmission time delay.

[0038] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: the third time length is determined by a time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and a fourth time length, and the fourth time length can be sent by the access network device to the first core network device.

[0039] Through the above implementation, after the access network device receives the first transmission time delay, the first transmission time delay can be decomposed into the fourth time length and the fifth time length according to the capability of the access network device and the like, and the fourth time length is sent to the first core network to request the core network to reserve the first time length of the time delay budget for the transmission between the first reserved device and the terminal device, which is beneficial to reduce the air interface transmission pressure.

[0040] In a possible implementation, the access network device determines the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first information and the third time length, which can include: the access network device determines the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the fifth time length and the third time length.

[0041] In a possible implementation, the method further includes: the access network device can send sixth information to the first core network device, and the sixth information is used to indicate that the access network device uses the information of the transmission time delay between the first reserved device and the terminal device to determine the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device.

[0042] Through the above implementation, the conflict caused by the terminal device sending the transmission time delay between the first reserved device and the terminal device to the access network device and the core network can be avoided.

[0043] In a possible implementation, the sixth information is further used to indicate a first range, and the first range is a range supported by the access network device for adjusting the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device, or the first range is a range supported by the access network device for the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device. For example, the first core network device can determine the time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device according to the first range.

[0044] Through the above implementation, when determining the time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device, the first core network device can consider the first range, so that the access network can reserve a suitable time delay budget for the transmission between the first reserved device and the terminal device.

[0045] In a possible implementation, the method further can include: receiving, by the access network device, seventh information from the first core network device, the seventh information being used to indicate a range of allowed information based on a transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device to determine a delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device.

[0046] By the above implementation, a conflict caused by the terminal device sending the transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device to the access network device and the core network can be avoided.

[0047] In a possible implementation, the seventh information is further used to indicate a second range, the second range being a range of allowed adjustment of the access network device on the delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device, or the second range being a range of allowed delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device. Exemplarily, the access network device can determine the delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the second range and the first information.

[0048] By the above implementation, the access network device can consider the second range when determining the delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device, so as to avoid the adjustment range of the access network device on the delay budget exceeding the adjustment range allowed by the core network.

[0049] In a possible implementation, the first transmission delay can be associated with at least one of the following: the first tethering device, a first quality of service flow corresponding to the first tethering device, or a first session corresponding to the first tethering device.

[0050] In a possible implementation, the method further can include: sending, by the access network device, second information to the terminal device, the second information being used to indicate information of the terminal device sending the transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device.

[0051] In a possible implementation, the method further can include: receiving, by the access network device, third information from the terminal device, the third information being used to indicate information of the terminal device supporting sending the transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device.

[0052] In a possible implementation, the method further can include: sending, by the access network device, fourth information to the terminal device, the fourth information being used to determine information of whether the terminal device supports sending the transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device.

[0053] In a possible implementation, the first tethering device establishes a first connection with the terminal device through a first technology, and the first tethering device communicates with a network through the first connection. The first technology can be a non-3GPP technology. For example, the first technology can be any one of a wireless fidelity technology, a star flash technology, or a Bluetooth technology, without limitation. The network can be a 3GPP network. For example, the network can be an access network, a core network, or a data network, without limitation.

[0054] The technical effects achieved by some possible implementations of the second aspect can be referred to the related description of the first aspect, and will not be repeated here.

[0055] In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a first core network device, for example, can be executed by the first core network device itself, or can be executed by a device in the first core network device. Exemplarily, the device in the first core network device can refer to a component (for example, a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) in the first core network device, or can refer to a logical module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the first core network device.

[0056] The method can include: the first core network device receiving a second transmission delay between the terminal device and a first tethering device; and sending fifth information to an access network device, the fifth information including a third time length, wherein the third time length is determined by a delay budget between a second core network device and the access network device and part of the second transmission delay, and the fifth information further includes the second transmission delay; or the third time length is determined by the delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and the second transmission delay, and the fifth information further includes the second transmission delay and / or indication information, the indication information being used to indicate that the third time length is determined by the delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and the second transmission delay.

[0057] In a possible implementation, the first tethering device establishes a first connection with the terminal device through a first technology, and the first tethering device communicates with a network through the first connection. The first technology can be a non-3GPP technology. For example, the first technology can be any one of a wireless fidelity technology, a star flash technology, or a Bluetooth technology, without limitation. The network can be a 3GPP network. For example, the network can be an access network, a core network, or a data network, without limitation.

[0058] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a first core network device, for example, can be executed by the first core network device itself, or can also be executed by a device in the first core network device. Exemplarily, the device in the first core network device can refer to a component (for example, a processor, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) in the first core network device, or can also refer to a logical module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the first core network device.

[0059] The method can include: the first core network device receiving a fourth time length from an access network device, wherein the sum of the fourth time length and a fifth time length is a first transmission time delay between the first core network device and a terminal device; and sending fifth information to the access network device, wherein the fifth information includes a third time length, and the third time length is determined by a time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and the fourth time length.

[0060] In a possible implementation, the above method can further include: the first core network device determining the time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device according to the fourth time length.

[0061] In a possible implementation, the first core network device establishes a first connection with the terminal device through a first technology, and the first core network device communicates with a network through the first connection. The first technology can be a non-3GPP technology. For example, the first technology can be any one of the following: a wireless fidelity technology, a starlink technology, or a Bluetooth technology, etc., without limitation. The network can be a 3GPP network. For example, the network can be an access network, a core network, or a data network, etc., without limitation.

[0062] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which can be used to execute the method in the first aspect and any possible implementation manner thereof. The communication device can be a terminal device, or can also be a device in the terminal device. The communication device can include corresponding modules, units, or means for implementing the method in the first aspect and any possible implementation manner thereof, which can be implemented by hardware, software, or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the above functions.

[0063] In a possible implementation, the communication device can include a baseband device and a radio frequency device.

[0064] In another possible implementation, the communication apparatus can include a processing module (also referred to as a processing unit) and a transceiving module (also referred to as a transceiving unit). The transceiving module can implement the sending function and the receiving function. When the transceiving module implements the sending function, it can be referred to as a sending module (also referred to as a sending unit). When the transceiving module implements the receiving function, it can be referred to as a receiving module (also referred to as a receiving unit). The sending module and the receiving module can be the same functional module, which is referred to as the transceiving module, and the functional module can implement the sending function and the receiving function. Alternatively, the sending module and the receiving module can be different functional modules, and the transceiving module refers to the functional modules.

[0065] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus, which can be used to execute the method in the second aspect and any possible implementation of the second aspect. The communication apparatus can be an access network device or a device in the access network device. The communication apparatus can include a module, unit, or means corresponding to the method in the second aspect and any possible implementation of the second aspect. The module, unit, or means can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of the two. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the above functions.

[0066] In a possible implementation, the communication apparatus can include a baseband apparatus and a radio frequency apparatus.

[0067] In another possible implementation, the communication apparatus can include a processing module (also referred to as a processing unit) and a transceiving module (also referred to as a transceiving unit). The transceiving module can implement the sending function and the receiving function. When the transceiving module implements the sending function, it can be referred to as a sending module (also referred to as a sending unit). When the transceiving module implements the receiving function, it can be referred to as a receiving module (also referred to as a receiving unit). The sending module and the receiving module can be the same functional module, which is referred to as the transceiving module, and the functional module can implement the sending function and the receiving function. Alternatively, the sending module and the receiving module can be different functional modules, and the transceiving module refers to the functional modules.

[0068] In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus, which can be used to execute the method in the third aspect or the fourth aspect or any possible implementation manner of the third aspect or the fourth aspect. The communication apparatus can be, for example, a first core network device, or can also be a device in the first core network device. The communication apparatus can include a module, a unit or a means corresponding to the method in the third aspect or the fourth aspect or any possible implementation manner of the third aspect or the fourth aspect, which can be implemented by hardware, software or by hardware executing corresponding software. The hardware or software includes one or more modules or units corresponding to the above functions.

[0069] In a possible implementation manner, the communication apparatus can include a baseband apparatus and a radio frequency apparatus.

[0070] In another possible implementation manner, the communication apparatus can include a processing module (also referred to as a processing unit) and a transceiving module (also referred to as a transceiving unit). The transceiving module can implement a sending function and a receiving function. When the transceiving module implements the sending function, it can be referred to as a sending module (also referred to as a sending unit). When the transceiving module implements the receiving function, it can be referred to as a receiving module (also referred to as a receiving unit). The sending module and the receiving module can be the same functional module, which is referred to as a transceiving module and can implement the sending function and the receiving function. Alternatively, the sending module and the receiving module can be different functional modules, and the transceiving module is a general term for these functional modules.

[0071] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a communication system, which can include at least one of the communication apparatus provided in the fifth aspect, the communication apparatus provided in the sixth aspect or the communication apparatus provided in the seventh aspect.

[0072] In a ninth aspect, the present application further provides a communication apparatus. The communication apparatus can include one or more processors. Optionally, the communication apparatus can further include a memory. The memory is configured to store one or more computer programs or instructions. The one or more processors are configured to execute the one or more computer programs or instructions stored in the memory, so that the communication apparatus executes the method in any one of the first aspect or the fourth aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect or the fourth aspect.

[0073] In a tenth aspect, the present application also provides a communication apparatus, including: a processor and an interface circuit; the interface circuit is configured to receive a signal from another communication apparatus outside the communication apparatus and transmit the signal to the processor or send a signal from the processor to another communication apparatus outside the communication apparatus. The processor is configured to implement the method in any of the first aspect or the third aspect and any possible implementation of the first aspect or the third aspect. Exemplarily, the communication apparatus can be the terminal device in the first aspect, or an apparatus included in the terminal device; or the communication apparatus can be the access network device in the second aspect, or an apparatus included in the access network device; or the communication apparatus can be the first core network device in the third aspect or the fourth aspect, or an apparatus included in the first core network device.

[0074] In some possible designs, when the apparatus is a chip system, the chip system can be composed of a chip or can include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0075] In a eleventh aspect, the present application also provides a chip system, including at least one chip and a memory, the at least one chip is configured to read and execute a program stored in the memory, so as to implement the method in any of the first aspect or the fourth aspect and any possible implementation of the first aspect or the fourth aspect.

[0076] In a twelfth aspect, the present application also provides a computer readable storage medium, the computer readable storage medium is configured to store a computer program or instructions, when the computer program or instructions are executed, the method in any of the first aspect or the fourth aspect and any possible implementation of the first aspect or the fourth aspect is implemented.

[0077] In a thirteenth aspect, the present application also provides a computer program product, the computer program product includes a computer program or instructions, when the computer program or instructions are executed on a computer, the method in any of the first aspect or the fourth aspect and any possible implementation of the first aspect or the fourth aspect is implemented.

[0078] The technical effects achieved by the third aspect to the thirteenth aspect and any possible implementation of the third aspect to the thirteenth aspect can refer to the technical effects achieved by any of the first aspect or the second aspect and any possible implementation of the first aspect or the second aspect, which will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0079] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture of a communication system;

[0080] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an access network device;

[0081] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of multiple latency budgets;

[0082] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a first communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0083] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a second communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0084] FIG. 6 is a diagram of a time delay budget according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0085] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a third communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0086] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a fourth communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0087] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of a fifth communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0088] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a sixth communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0089] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of a seventh communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0090] FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of an eighth communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0091] FIG. 13 is a diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0092] FIG. 14 is a diagram of another communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0093] FIG. 15 is a diagram of yet another communication device according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0094] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the embodiments of the present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0095] The network architecture and service scenarios described in the present application are for more clearly illustrating 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.

[0096] I. In the embodiments of the present application, "a plurality of" can mean two or more, and therefore, in the embodiments of the present application, "a plurality of" can also be understood as "at least two". "At least one" can be understood as one or more, for example, one, two or at least three. For example, "including at least one" means including one, two or at least three, for example, including at least one of A, B and C, and the included can be A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A, B and C. "And / or" describes the association relationship of the associated objects, and specifically can exist in three relationships, for example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist together, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / ", if not specially stated, generally represents that the associated objects before and after are in an "or" relationship.

[0097] II. The terms "system" and "network" in the embodiments of the present application can be used interchangeably, and "according to" and "based on" can be used interchangeably.

[0098] The ordinal numbers "first", "second" and the like mentioned in the embodiments of the present application are generally used to distinguish different objects, and are not used to limit the order, time sequence, priority or importance of a plurality of objects. For example, the first information and the second information involved in the embodiments of the present application are used to distinguish different information, and do not limit the order, time sequence, priority or importance of the information.

[0099] III. The terms "include" and "have" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, for example, a process, method, system, product or device containing a series of steps or units does not have to be limited to those steps or units clearly listed, but can include other steps or units not clearly listed or inherent to the process, method, product or device.

[0100] IV. In the present application, "predefined" can include predefinition, for example, protocol definition. Wherein, "predefinition" can be realized by pre-storing corresponding codes, tables or other ways that can be used to indicate related information in devices (for example, including various network elements), and the present application does not limit the specific implementation manner thereof.

[0101] V. The "storage" or "saving" involved in the present application can mean saving 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 part of the separately arranged and part of the integrated in the decoder, processor or communication device. The type of memory can be any form of storage medium, which is not limited.

[0102] Six, the arrow or block shown in the dashed line in the schematic diagram of the drawing part of the specification represents an optional step or an optional module.

[0103] Seven, in this application, "indication" can include direct indication, indirect indication, display indication, implicit indication. When describing that certain indication information is used to indicate A, it can be understood that the indication information carries A, directly indicates A, or indirectly indicates A.

[0104] In this application, the information indicated by the indication information is called the to-be-indicated information. In the specific implementation process, there are many ways to indicate the to-be-indicated information, for example, but not limited to, the to-be-indicated information can be directly indicated, such as the to-be-indicated information itself or the index of the to-be-indicated information. 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. The to-be-indicated information can also be indicated only by a part of the to-be-indicated information, and the other part of the to-be-indicated information is known or agreed in advance. For example, the indication of a specific information can also be achieved by means of the arrangement order of each information agreed in advance (for example, the protocol stipulates), thereby reducing the indication overhead to a certain extent. In addition, the to-be-indicated information can be sent as a whole, or can be sent separately in multiple sub-information, and the sending period and / or sending time of these sub-information can be the same or different.

[0105] Eight, in this application, "sending" and "receiving" represent the direction of signal transmission. For example, "sending information to XX" can be understood as that the destination of the information is XX, which can include direct sending through the air interface, and also includes indirect sending through the air interface by other units or modules. "Receiving information from YY" can be understood as that the source of the information is YY, which can include directly receiving from YY through the air interface, and also can include indirectly receiving from YY through the air interface from other units or modules. "Sending" can also be understood as the "output" of the chip interface, and "receiving" can also be understood as the "input" of the chip interface. In other words, sending and receiving can be carried out between devices, for example, between the access network device and the access and mobility management function network element, or can be carried out within the device, for example, between components, modules, chips, software modules or hardware modules within the device through a bus, wire or interface.

[0106] Nine, in the embodiments of the present application, the words such as "exemplarily", "such as", "for example" are used to represent examples, illustrations or explanations. Any embodiment or design scheme described as "example" in the present application should not be interpreted as more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or design schemes. Rather, the use of the word "example" is intended to present the concept in a specific manner. In the embodiments of the present application, "of", "corresponding" and "corresponding" can be used interchangeably at times, and it should be pointed out that when the distinction is not emphasized, the meanings expressed are consistent.

[0107] Ten, the embodiments of the present application will be presented around a system including a plurality of devices, components, modules, etc. It should be understood that the system can include other devices, components, modules, etc. not mentioned, or can only include part of the devices, components, or modules mentioned in the embodiments. Alternatively, "component" and "part" in the present application can be replaced with each other.

[0108] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, for example, an integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) system, a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) system, a wireless local area network (WLAN) system, a short-range wireless communication system (such as a sidelink system, a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system, a Bluetooth system, and the like), a wired network, 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), an LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, an LTE time division duplex (TDD) system, a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication system, a 5th generation (5G) mobile communication system (such as a new radio (NR) system), a future communication system, or other similar communication systems, and the like, without limitation. The embodiments of the present application are described by taking a communication system shown in FIG. 1 as an example, and when the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application are applied to other communication systems, the devices, components, modules, and the like in the embodiments can be replaced by corresponding devices, components, modules in other communication systems, without limitation.

[0109] FIG. 1 shows an architecture schematic diagram of a communication system to which the embodiments of the present application are applicable. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system can include a core network (CN) and an access network (AN). The access network can include at least one access network device. The access network can also include at least one terminal device. One access network device and one terminal device are taken as examples in FIG. 1.

[0110] Optionally, the terminal device can connect at least one tethering device. The tethering device can establish a first connection with the terminal device through a first technology, and communicate with a network through the first connection. The first technology can be a non-3GPP technology. Accordingly, the first connection can be a non-3GPP connection. For example, the first technology can be any one of a wireless fidelity (WiFi) technology, a Bluetooth technology, a starlink technology, and the like, without limitation. The network can be a 3GPP network, such as an access network, a core network, a data network, and the like, without limitation.

[0111] Optionally, the tethering device can be an extended reality (XR) device, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the implementation form of the tethering device. In FIG. 1, the tethering device is taken as an example of an XR device.

[0112] In an implementation manner, the tethering device does not support a 5G module. If it is necessary to communicate through a 5G network, the tethering device needs to be connected to a 5G terminal device through a non-3GPP technology such as a WiFi, a starlink, or a Bluetooth, and then use the transmission resources of the 5G network through the 5G terminal device.

[0113] Optionally, the communication system can further include a data network (DN) and / or an application function (AF) network element. In FIG. 1, the communication system is taken as an example of including a data network. The data network, which is a network outside the mobile communication system, can provide services for users. For example, the DN can be a packet data network (PDN), such as an internet, an internet protocol multi-media service (IMS) network, a data network dedicated to some application, an Ethernet, an internet protocol (IP) local network, and the like. The DN can deploy multiple services to provide data and / or voice services for the terminal device. The DN can have multiple application servers (ASs), and each AS can provide at least one service. The application function mainly delivers the requirements of the application side to the network side, such as quality of service (QoS) requirements or user state event subscriptions. The AF can be a third-party functional entity, or an application service deployed by an operator, such as an IMS voice call service.

[0114] Exemplarily, in the scenario that the terminal device is connected with the tethering device, for downlink transmission, the data generated by the application server is forwarded by the data network, transmitted to the core network via the N6 interface, transmitted to the access network device by the core network via the N3 interface, transmitted to the terminal device by the access network device via the Uu air interface, and transmitted to the tethering device by the terminal device via the non-3GPP connection. For uplink transmission, the data generated by the tethering device is transmitted to the terminal device via the non-3GPP connection, transmitted to the access network device by the terminal device via the Uu air interface, transmitted to the core network by the access network device via the N3 interface, transmitted to the data network via the N6 interface, and forwarded to the application server by the data network.

[0115] The core network can be divided into a control plane network element and a user plane network element. The control plane network element is, for example, an access management function network element, a unified data management network element, a session management function network element, or a policy control function network element, etc. The user plane network element is, for example, a user plane function network element. Some network elements in the core network are introduced as follows.

[0116] The access management function network element is responsible for access control and mobility management of terminal devices accessing the operator network, such as mobile state management, allocation of user temporary identity, authentication and authorization, etc. In the 5G communication system, the access management function network element can be an access and mobility management function (AMF) network element. In future communication systems, the access management function network element can also have other names, which are not limited.

[0117] The unified data management network element is responsible for generating authentication credentials, user identity processing (such as storing and managing user permanent identity, etc.), subscription data management, etc. In the 5G communication system, the unified data management network element can be a unified data management (UDM) network element. In future communication systems, the unified data management network element can also have other names, which are not limited.

[0118] The session management function network element is mainly responsible for session management in the mobile network, such as session establishment, modification, or release, etc. The session management function network element can also allocate an internet protocol (IP) address for a user, select a user plane function network element providing message forwarding function, etc. In the 5G communication system, the session management function network element can be a session management function (SMF) network element. In future communication systems, the session management function network element can also have other names, which are not limited.

[0119] A policy control function network element, which mainly provides policy rules and is responsible for obtaining user subscription information related to policy decision. In a 4G communication system, the policy control function network element can be a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) network element. In a 5G communication system, the policy control function network element can be a policy control function (PCF) network element. In future communication systems, the policy control function network element can also have other names, which are not limited. The PCF connected to the AMF and the SMF respectively corresponds to the AM PCF (PCF for access and mobility control) and the SM PCF (PCF for session management), and in actual deployment scenarios, it can not be the same PCF entity.

[0120] A user plane function network element, which is responsible for receiving and forwarding user data. For example, user data can be received from a DN and transmitted to a terminal device through an access network device; the user plane function network element can also receive user data from a terminal device through an access network device and forward it to a DN. In a 5G communication system, the user plane function network element can be a user plane function (UPF) network element. In future communication systems, the user plane function network element can also have other names, which are not limited.

[0121] As introduced above, some network elements related to the core network are introduced. It can be understood that the core network can also involve other network elements, for example, the core network can also include one or more of the following: a unified data repository (UDR) network element, a network slice selection function (NSSF) network element, or a network exposure function (NEF) network element, etc. The "network element" mentioned in the embodiments of the present application can be replaced by "device". For example, the core network network element and the core network device express the same meaning. Alternatively, the device name mentioned in the embodiments of the present application can omit "network element". For example, the AMF network element and the AMF express the same meaning.

[0122] The terminal device can be a wireless terminal device capable of receiving network device scheduling and indication information. The terminal device can also be referred to as a terminal device, a user equipment (UE), a terminal, a mobile station (MS), a mobile terminal (MT), etc. The terminal device can be a device including a wireless communication function (providing voice / data connectivity to a user). For example, a handheld device with a wireless connection function, or a vehicle-mounted device, a vehicle-mounted module, etc. Currently, some examples of terminal devices are: a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a palm computer, a mobile internet device (MID), a wearable device, a virtual reality (VR) device, an augmented reality (AR) device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in vehicle networking, a wireless terminal in self driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical surgery, a wireless terminal in a smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, or a wireless terminal in a smart home, a device-to-device (D2D) terminal device, a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication terminal device, a smart vehicle, a telematics box (T-box), a machine-to-machine / machine-type communications (M2M / MTC) terminal device, an internet of things (IoT) terminal device, etc. For example, the terminal device can be a vehicle-mounted device, a whole vehicle device, a vehicle-mounted module, a vehicle, an on board unit (OBU), a roadside unit (RSU), a T-box, a chip or a system on chip (SOC), etc. The above-mentioned chip or SOC can be installed in a vehicle, an OBU, an RSU or a T-box. The wireless terminal in industrial control can be a camera, a robot, etc. The wireless terminal in a smart home can be a television, an air conditioner, a sweeper, a sound box, a set-top box, etc.The terminal device can also be a V2X device, for example, a smart car or an intelligent car, a digital car, an unmanned car or a driverless car or a pilotless car or an automobile, a self-driving car or an autonomous car, a pure EV or a Battery EV, a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), a range extended EV (REEV), a plug-in HEV (PHEV), a new energy vehicle, a road site unit (RSU).

[0123] The access network device is a network side device with wireless transceiving function, for example, a device providing wireless communication function for the terminal device in the radio access network (RAN), referred to as RAN device or RAN node. For example, the RAN can be an access network in the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP), for example, a 4th generation (4G) network, a 5th generation (5G) network (for example, a new radio (NR) network), or a future-oriented network. For another example, the RAN can also be an open RAN (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or a communication network of two or more of the above networks.

[0124] Optionally, the RAN device can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB) in a 5G mobile communication system, a base station in a future mobile communication system, an access node in a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) system, a wireless relay node, or a wireless backhaul node, etc. Optionally, the base station can be a ground base station, or can also be a non-ground base station, for example, a satellite, or a temporarily deployed unmanned aerial base station, etc.

[0125] Optionally, the RAN device can also be a module or unit that completes the base station part function, for example, can be a central unit (CU), can also be a distributed unit (DU), can also be a radio unit (RU), etc. One CU can be associated with one or more DUs. The CU and the DU can be separately arranged, or can also 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 processing unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH).

[0126] As shown in FIG. 2, in some implementations, a RAN device can include a CU and a DU. A RAN device including a CU node and a DU node splits the protocol layers of a gNB in an NR system, with some protocol layers' functions being centralized in the CU and the rest or all protocol layers' functions being distributed in the DU, which is controlled by the CU. In a typical protocol stack split, the CU includes the radio resource control (RRC) and the control plane corresponding packet data convergence protocol (PDCP), and the DU includes the radio link control (RLC) layer, the media access control (MAC) layer, and the physical (PHY) layer. Further, the CU can be further split into a CU-control plane (CP) and a CU-user plane (UP). The CU-CP is responsible for control plane functions, mainly including the RRC and the control plane corresponding PDCP (i.e., PDCP-control plane (PDCP-C)). The PDCP-C is mainly responsible for encryption and decryption of control plane data, integrity protection, data transmission, etc. The CU-UP is responsible for user plane functions, mainly including the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) and the user plane corresponding PDCP (i.e., PDCP-user plane (PDCP-U)). The SDAP is mainly responsible for processing data of a core network and mapping a flow to a bearer. The PDCP-U is mainly responsible for encryption and decryption of data plane, integrity protection, header compression, sequence number maintenance, data transmission, etc. The CU-CP and the CU-UP are connected through an El interface. The CU-CP represents the gNB to connect with the core network through an NG interface, and to connect with the DU through a control plane of an Fl interface (i.e., Fl-C). The CU-UP connects with the DU through a user plane of the Fl interface (i.e., Fl-U). Of course, there is also a possible implementation that the PDCP-C is in the CU-UP.

[0127] It can be understood that the CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU or RU can also have different names in different systems, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in the ORAN system, the CU can also be referred to as an open CU (O-CU), the DU can also be referred to as an open DU (O-DU), the CU-CP can also be referred to as an open CU-CP (O-CU-CP), the CU-UP can also be referred to as an open CU-UP (O-CU-UP), and the RU can also be referred to as an open RU (O-RU). For the convenience of description, the CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU and RU are taken as examples for description in the present application. Any one of the CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU and RU in the present application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0128] When applied to O-RAN, the access network device can also have an artificial intelligence (AI) function, for example, the O-RAN includes an intelligent controller. The intelligent controller can be a non-real-time RAN intelligent controller (non-real time RAN intelligent controller, non-RT RIC / NRT RIC), or a near-real-time RAN intelligent controller (near-real time RAN intelligent controller, near-RT RIC / nRT RIC). The non-real-time RIC can be used to implement non-real-time intelligent management of RAN functions, can implement a workflow including model training and model updating, and guide applications / functions in the nRT RIC based on a policy. The near-real-time RIC can be used to implement near-real-time intelligent management of the RAN. Through data collection and related operations on the E2 interface, near-real-time control and optimization of modules and resources of the O-RAN are implemented.

[0129] It can be understood that FIG. 1 only shows one possible communication system architecture to which the embodiments of the present application can be applied, and in other possible scenarios, other devices can also be included in the communication system architecture.

[0130] In the present application, extended reality (XR) refers to various types of environments generated by combining reality and virtuality by computing technology and wearable devices, as well as human-computer interaction, specifically including the following several typical forms:

[0131] - Augmented Reality (AR);

[0132] - Mixed Reality (MR);

[0133] - Virtual Reality (VR).

[0134] XR is one of the 5G multimedia applications that is currently considered as a focus in the industry. Generally, XR traffic periodically generates data frames at a certain frame rate. The frame rate can also be referred to as the frame generation rate. The unit of the frame rate is frame per second (fps). Taking an AR service with a frame rate of 60 fps as an example, 60 video frames are generated per second, and a video frame occurs approximately every 16.66 milliseconds (ms). A video frame can be transmitted by multiple data packets, which can be divided into one or more protocol data unit (PDU) sets.

[0135] XR data / traffic usually has a higher transmission delay requirement. Taking the uplink AR service as an example, the typical packet delay budget (PDB) is 30 ms, that is, the upper limit of the transmission delay between the access layer of the terminal device where the data packet arrives and the N6 interface of the user plane function (UPF) where the data packet arrives is 30 ms. If the data packet is not successfully transmitted within the PDB requirement time, it is considered that the data packet has timed out and lost its effect. In this case, the remaining time can refer to the remaining PDB of the data.

[0136] Alternatively, the PDU set delay budget (PSDB) can also be considered in XR traffic, which has a similar meaning to PDB and defines the upper limit of the transmission delay of a PDU set (i.e., a group of data packets). For uplink XR traffic, PSDB refers to the upper limit of the time from the access layer of the terminal device where the first data packet in the PDU set arrives to the N6 interface of the UPF where the last data packet arrives, and for downlink, it is the opposite.

[0137] In the absence of special instructions, the following will be described by taking PDB as an example. It should be understood that the implementation mode applicable to PDB is also applicable to PSDB, and the implementation mode of PSDB can refer to the implementation mode of PDB.

[0138] To guarantee the transmission delay, the network should try to complete the scheduling and transmission within the delay budget, avoid data timeout and thus affect the user experience. Specifically, the core network can decompose the core network side delay budget and the access network side delay budget according to the end-to-end delay requirement of the service. Among them, the core network side delay budget can be understood as the upper limit of the transmission delay between the core network and the access network device. The access network side delay budget can be understood as the upper limit of the transmission delay between the access network device and the terminal device.

[0139] The core network side delay budget and the access network side delay budget can be called CN-PDB and AN-PDB respectively (if PSDB is considered, they can be called CN-PSDB and AN-PSDB respectively). Specifically, the core network can determine the CN-PDB, and send the end-to-end delay budget of the service or the delay budget between the core network and the terminal device (denoted as total-PDB) and the CN-PDB to the access network device, so that the access network device can determine the AN-PDB based on the total-PDB and the CN-PDB. The sum of CN-PDB and AN-PDB does not exceed total-PDB. total-PDB meets the end-to-end delay requirement of the service.

[0140] For example, in order to guarantee the end-to-end transmission delay, the end-to-end delay budget does not exceed 20ms. Assuming that the total-PDB is 20ms, the total-PDB can be decomposed into a CN-PDB of 10ms and an AN-PDB of 10ms, as shown in (1) of FIG. 3. Accordingly, the core network needs to guarantee that the transmission delay between the core network and the access network device does not exceed 10ms. The access network device needs to guarantee that the transmission delay between the access network device and the terminal device does not exceed 10ms.

[0141] The aforementioned tethering device can establish a connection with the terminal device through a non-3GPP technology, and communicate with the network through the connection. In the scenario where the terminal device connects to the tethering device, after the downlink data arrives at the terminal device or between the uplink data arrives at the terminal device, there is also transmission between the tethering device and the terminal device, which needs to consume additional delay, i.e. the tethering device is the starting point or the end point of data transmission. However, the tethering device usually uses non-3GPP connection methods such as WiFi, star flash or Bluetooth. For the access network device, the access network device does not perceive the tethering device and considers the terminal device as the starting point or the end point of data transmission, and still guarantees the air interface transmission between the terminal device and the access network device according to the AN-PDB (or AN-PSDB) determined by the above scheme, resulting in that the end-to-end transmission delay exceeds the end-to-end delay requirement of the service, thereby affecting the user experience.

[0142] For example, assuming that the total-PDB is still 20 ms in the scenario that the terminal device is connected to the tethering device, the transmission delay between the tethering device and the terminal device is denoted as X ms, X is an integer greater than 0, as shown in (2) in FIG. 3. The access network device and the core network device are not aware of the tethering device, and can still decompose the total-PDB into a CN-PDB of 10 ms and an AN-PDB of 10 ms, so that the transmission delay between the terminal device and the core network can consume the 20 ms delay budget, and the end-to-end transmission delay further includes the transmission delay between the tethering device and the terminal device, at this time, there is no additional delay budget, resulting in that the end-to-end transmission delay exceeds the end-to-end delay requirement of the service, affecting the user experience.

[0143] In the scenario that the terminal device is not connected to the tethering device, the end-to-end can be understood as the terminal device to the core network or the core network to the terminal device, and correspondingly, the end-to-end delay budget can be understood as the delay budget between the terminal device and the core network. In the scenario, the end-to-end transmission delay can be understood as the transmission delay between the terminal device and the core network.

[0144] In the scenario that the terminal device is connected to the tethering device, the end-to-end can be understood as the tethering device to the core network or the core network to the tethering device, and correspondingly, the end-to-end delay budget can be understood as the delay budget between the tethering device and the core network. In the scenario, the end-to-end transmission delay can be understood as the transmission delay between the tethering device and the core network.

[0145] In an implementation, the terminal device can send the transmission delay (denoted as X ms) between the tethering device and the terminal device to the core network through a non-access stratum (NAS) message; the core network determines the CN-PDB, and sends the CN-PDB' and the total-PDB to the access network device, the CN-PDB' being the sum of the CN-PDB and X; the access network device determines the AN-PDB based on the received CN-PDB' and total-PDB. The sum of the AN-PDB and the CN-PDB' does not exceed the total-PDB. In this implementation, the access network device is not aware of the tethering device, and considers that the CN-PDB' is the delay budget between the core network and the access network device, and the AN-PDB determined based on the CN-PDB' and the total-PDB is equivalent to reserving X ms of delay budget for the transmission between the tethering device and the terminal device.

[0146] For example, assuming that in the scenario of the terminal device connecting the tethering device, the total-PDB is still 20 ms, and the transmission delay between the tethering device and the terminal device is 3 ms. The terminal device sends the transmission delay of 3 ms to the core network through the NAS message. The core network determines that the CN-PDB is 10 ms, and sends the CN-PDB' and the total-PDB to the access network device, where the CN-PDB' is the sum of the transmission delay between the tethering device and the terminal device and the CN-PDB, that is, 13 ms. The access network device does not perceive the tethering device, considers that the CN-PDB is 13 ms, and determines that the AN-PDB is 7 ms based on the total-PDB. In fact, the core network guarantees the transmission delay between the core network and the access network device according to 10 ms, the access network device guarantees the transmission delay between the access network device and the terminal device according to 7 ms, and 3 ms of delay budget is reserved for the transmission between the tethering device and the terminal device, as shown in (3) of FIG. 3.

[0147] However, the NAS message transmission delay is large, and generally the terminal device uploads an average transmission delay to the core network, or the terminal device uploads the average transmission delay to the core network only once, which cannot adapt to the frequent fluctuations of the transmission delay between the tethering device and the terminal device. For example, the transmission delay between the tethering device and the terminal device fluctuates due to the distance between the tethering device and the terminal device, the interference of other devices, or the change of the communication environment of the terminal device, and the like. When the transmission delay between the tethering device and the terminal device is greater than the transmission delay reported to the core network, the delay budget reserved by the access network is not enough, and the problem of the end-to-end transmission delay exceeding the transmission delay requirement of the service still exists.

[0148] Based on this, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication method and device for making the end-to-end transmission delay in the scenario of the terminal device connecting the tethering device meet the transmission delay requirement of the service, which is beneficial to improve the user experience. The method and device described in the present application are based on the same technical concept. Since the principles of the method and device for solving problems are similar, the implementation of the device and the method can be mutually referred to, and the repeated parts will not be described again.

[0149] The various communication methods provided by the embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These methods can be applied to the communication system shown in FIG. 1, but are not limited thereto. The embodiments of the present application take the interaction between a terminal device, an access network device and a first core network device as an example for illustration. Exemplarily, without special illustration, the "terminal device" in the present application can be the terminal device itself, or can be a component (for example, a processor, a circuit, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) in the terminal device, or can be a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the terminal device. Similarly, without special illustration, the "access network device" in the present application can be the access network device itself, or can be a component (for example, a processor, a circuit, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) in the access network device, or can be a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the access network device. Without special illustration, the "first core network device" in the present application can be the first core network device itself, or can be a component (for example, a processor, a circuit, a chip, or a chip system, etc.) in the first core network device, or can be a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the first core network device.

[0150] In the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device can be connected to at least one tethered device, and the tethered device is described in the foregoing content, which will not be repeated. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the number of tethered devices connected to the terminal device. Without special illustration, the following takes the tethered device #1 in the at least one tethered device connected to the terminal device as an example for illustration.

[0151] It can be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device, the access network device or the first core network device can perform part or all of the steps in the embodiments of the present application, and these steps or operations are only examples, and the embodiments of the present application can also perform other operations or various modifications of the operations. In addition, each step can be performed in a different order presented in the embodiments of the present application, and it is possible that not all the operations in the embodiments of the present application are performed.

[0152] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a first communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. In the present embodiment, the terminal device dynamically sends information of a transmission delay between the tethered device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device; and the access network device determines (or adjusts, or updates) a delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the information of the transmission delay between the tethered device #1 and the terminal device. As shown in FIG. 4, the method can include the following content.

[0153] S401: The access network device sends information #1 to the terminal device. The terminal device receives the information #1 from the access network device.

[0154] The information #1 can be used to determine whether the terminal device supports sending information of a transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. For example, the information #1 can be used to request capability information of the terminal device, and the capability information can be used to indicate whether the terminal device supports sending information of a transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. For example, the capability information can be used to indicate whether the terminal device supports sending information of a transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device. The example is shown in FIG. 4.

[0155] The information of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device can include a transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device and / or a change amount of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device.

[0156] Optionally, the change amount of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device can be understood as a change amount of a current transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device compared with a previous transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. The previous transmission delay can be a transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device at an initial reporting time, or can be a transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device at a last reporting time, which is not limited.

[0157] Optionally, the access network device can send the information #1 to the terminal device to request the terminal device to report the capability information, or the terminal device can actively report the capability information to the access network device. Accordingly, the S401 is an optional step, which is represented by a dashed line in FIG. 4.

[0158] In an embodiment, the capability information can be associated with any one of the following: the tethering device #1, a quality of service flow (QoS flow) #1, or a session #1. The quality of service flow #1 is a quality of service flow between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. The session #1 is a session between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. Optionally, the session #1 can be a PDU session, which is not limited. In other words, the capability information can be at a tethering device level, or at a quality of service flow level, or at a session level.

[0159] The capability information associated with the tethering device #1 can be understood as the capability information being used to indicate whether the terminal device supports sending information of a transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device. For example, the terminal device is connected to multiple tethering devices, and the access network device can request the terminal device to report information of whether the terminal device supports sending a transmission delay between the terminal device and at least one tethering device of the multiple tethering devices, and the at least one tethering device includes the tethering device #1.

[0160] The capability information is associated with the service quality flow #1, and can be understood as follows: the capability information is used to indicate whether the terminal device supports sending, to the access network device, information about the transmission delay of the service quality flow #1 between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. For example, there are multiple service quality flows between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device, and the access network device can request the terminal device to report whether the terminal device supports sending the transmission delay of at least one service quality flow between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device #1, and the at least one service quality flow includes the service quality flow #1.

[0161] The capability information is associated with the session #1, and can be understood as follows: the capability information is used to indicate whether the terminal device supports sending, to the access network device, information about the transmission delay of the session #1 between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. For example, there are multiple sessions between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device, and the access network device can request the terminal device to report whether the terminal device supports sending the transmission delay of at least one session between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device, and the at least one session includes the session #1.

[0162] In another implementation, the capability information can also be associated with multiple items of the tethering device #1, the service quality flow #1, or the session #1. For example, the capability information can be associated with the tethering device #1 and the service quality flow #1. For example, the capability information can be associated with the tethering device #1 and the session #1. For example, the capability information can be associated with the service quality flow #1 and the session #1. For example, the capability information can be associated with the tethering device #1, the service quality flow #1, and the session #1. The implementation process can refer to the foregoing description, and will not be described herein.

[0163] In an implementation, the capability information can also be associated with the terminal device, that is, the capability information can also be UE-level. The capability information is associated with the terminal device, and can be understood as follows: the capability information is used to indicate whether the terminal device supports sending, to the access network device, information about the transmission delay between all tethering devices connected by the terminal device and the terminal device.

[0164] S402: The terminal device sends information #2 to the access network device. The access network device receives the information #2 from the terminal device.

[0165] The information #2 can be used to indicate whether the terminal device supports sending the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. For example, the information #2 can be used to indicate whether the terminal device supports sending the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device. For example, the terminal device can send capability information to the access network device, and the capability information can be used to indicate whether the terminal device supports sending the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. Alternatively, the capability information can be associated with at least one of the tethering device #1, the quality of service flow #1, or the session #1. The implementation of the capability information can refer to the description of S401, and will not be repeated here.

[0166] In this embodiment, the terminal device supports sending the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device is taken as an example for description. In FIG. 4, the information #2 is used to indicate that the terminal device supports sending the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device.

[0167] Alternatively, the access network device can obtain the capability information of the terminal device by interacting with the terminal device, or the access network device can obtain the capability information of the terminal device by other manners, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. Accordingly, S402 is an optional step, which is represented by a dashed line in FIG. 4.

[0168] In this embodiment, the terminal device sends the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device, and the access network device adjusts the delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the information. The core network (for example, the first core network device in the core network) does not need to obtain the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device, so as to avoid the conflict caused by the terminal device sending the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device and the first core network device. For example, the core network does not need to use (or use) the implementation manner shown in (3) in FIG. 3. In one implementation manner, the core network does not need to obtain the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device; or the core network does not use the implementation manner shown in (3) in FIG. 3. In another implementation manner, the core network does not need to obtain the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device by at least one of S403 to S405. Accordingly, S403 to S405 are optional steps, which are represented by dashed lines in FIG. 4.

[0169] Alternatively, the core network does not need to obtain the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device can be replaced by that the core network does not need to add the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device on the basis of the delay budget between the core network and the access network device.

[0170] Optionally, the time delay budget in the present application can include the PDB and / or the PSDB, but the present application is not limited thereto.

[0171] S403: The access network device sends information #3 to the first core network device. The first core network device receives the information #3 from the access network device.

[0172] The information #3 can be used to instruct the access network device to determine the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device by using the information of the transmission time delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. Alternatively, the information #3 can be used to request the first core network device not to increase the transmission time delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device on the basis of the time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device. Alternatively, the information #3 can be used to request the first core network device not to increase the transmission time delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device in the time delay budget sent to the access network device. Alternatively, the information #3 can be used to request the first core network device not to determine the time delay budget sent to the access network device according to the transmission time delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. For example, the information #3 can be used to request the first core network device not to adopt the implementation manner shown in (3) in FIG. 3.

[0173] The first core network device can be an AMF, an SMF, a UPF, or a PCF, and the implementation form of the first core network device is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. The second core network device can be a UPF, an AMF, or an SMF, and the implementation form of the second core network device is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. Optionally, the second core network device and the first core network device can be the same or different, which is not limited.

[0174] In an implementation manner, the information #3 can also be used to indicate (or determine) the first range. The first range can be a range supported by the access network device for adjusting the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device. Alternatively, the first range can also be a range supported by the access network device for the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device. For example, the access network device can determine the first range according to its own resource situation, and the implementation manner of the access network device for determining the first range is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. Through the implementation manner, the first core network device can consider the first range when determining the time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device, so as to reasonably decompose the end-to-end time delay budget based on the capability of the access network device, and make the access network reserve appropriate time delay budget for the transmission between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device.

[0175] In an example, the information #3 can comprise a maximum value of the access network device supporting a reduction of the latency budget between the access network device and the terminal device, and / or a maximum value of the access network device supporting an increase of the latency budget between the access network device and the terminal device. For example, the access network device supports a maximum reduction of 5 ms of the latency budget between the access network device and the terminal device, and the access network device supports a maximum increase of 5 ms of the latency budget between the access network device and the terminal device, then the first range can be [-5 ms, +5 ms]. Further, assuming that the total-PDB is 15 ms, the total-PDB can be decomposed into a CN-PDB of 10 ms and an AN-PDB of 5 ms, considering that the first range is [-5 ms, +5 ms], i.e. the access network device supports a maximum reduction of 5 ms and a maximum increase of 5 ms of the AN-PDB, then the first core network can adjust the CN-PDB from 10 ms to 8 ms according to the first range, so that the AN-PDB can be 7 ms, supporting a maximum reduction of 5 ms.

[0176] In another example, the information #3 can comprise a minimum latency budget between the access network device and the terminal device supported by the access network device, and / or a maximum latency budget between the access network device and the terminal device supported by the access network device. For example, the minimum latency budget between the access network device and the terminal device supported by the access network device is 5 ms, and the maximum latency budget between the access network device and the terminal device supported by the access network device is 15 ms, then the first range can be [5 ms, 15 ms]. Further, assuming that the total-PDB is 15 ms, the total-PDB can be decomposed into a CN-PDB of 11 ms and an AN-PDB of 4 ms, considering that the first range is [5 ms, 15 ms], i.e. the AN-PDB supported by the access network device is at least 5 ms and at most 15 ms, then the first core network can adjust the CN-PDB from 12 ms to 9 ms according to the first range, so that the AN-PDB can be 6 ms, satisfying the first range.

[0177] Optionally, the first range can be indicated by the information #3, or can also be indicated by other information sent by the access network device to the first core network device. It should be understood that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the implementation form of the first range.

[0178] S404: The first core network device sends information #4 to the access network device. The access network device receives the information #4 from the first core network device.

[0179] The information #4 can be used to indicate whether the access network device is allowed to determine the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device based on the information of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. For example, the information #4 can be used to indicate whether the access network device is allowed to determine the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device based on the information of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. The embodiments of the present application take the case that the access network device is allowed to determine the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device based on the information of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device as an example for illustration.

[0180] Alternatively, the information #4 can be used to indicate whether the first core network device increases the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device on the basis of the time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device. Alternatively, the information #4 can be used to indicate whether the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device is increased in the time delay budget sent by the first core network device to the access network device. Alternatively, the information #4 can be used to indicate whether the first core network device determines the time delay budget sent to the access network device according to the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. For example, the information #4 can be used to indicate that the first core network device does not use the implementation manner shown in (3) in FIG. 3.

[0181] In an implementation manner, the information #4 can also be used to indicate (or determine) a second range. The second range can be a range in which the access network device is allowed to adjust the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device. Alternatively, the second range can also be a range of the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device that is allowed. For example, the first core network device can determine the second range according to the service requirement and / or the transmission delay between the second core network device and the access network device, and the like. The implementation manner of the first core network device to determine the second range is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. Through the implementation manner, the access network device can adjust the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device in the second range, which is beneficial to meet the end-to-end time delay requirement of the service.

[0182] In an example, the information #4 can include a maximum value of the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device that is allowed to be reduced by the access network device, and / or include a maximum value of the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device that is allowed to be increased by the access network device. For example, the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device is allowed to be reduced by at most 3 ms by the access network device, and the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device is allowed to be increased by at most 3 ms by the access network device, and then the second range can be [-3 ms, +3 ms].

[0183] In another example, the information #4 can include a minimum allowed latency budget between the access network device and the terminal device, and / or a maximum allowed latency budget between the access network device and the terminal device. For example, the minimum allowed latency budget between the access network device and the terminal device is 7 ms, and the maximum allowed latency budget between the access network device and the terminal device is 15 ms, and then the second range can be [7 ms, 15 ms].

[0184] Optionally, the second range can be indicated by the information #4, or can also be indicated by other information sent by the first core network device to the access network device. It should be understood that embodiments of the present application do not limit the implementation form of the second range.

[0185] Optionally, the first range and the second range can be the same, or can also be different, which is not limited. In another implementation, the first range can also be predefined, and / or the second range can also be predefined, which is not limited.

[0186] S405: The terminal device determines not to send the information of the transmission latency between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the first core network device.

[0187] The terminal device determines not to send the information of the transmission latency between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the first core network device, so that the first core network device will not increase the transmission latency between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device on the basis of the latency budget between the second core network device and the access network device, and the conflict caused by the terminal device sending the information of the transmission latency between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the first core network device and the access network device can be avoided.

[0188] In an implementation, the access network device can send information #5 to the terminal device; the terminal device receives the information #5 from the access network device. The information #5 can be used to indicate the information of sending the transmission latency between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. For example, the information #5 can be used to indicate the terminal device to send the information of the transmission latency between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device. Further, the terminal device can determine not to send the information of the transmission latency between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the first core network device according to the information #5.

[0189] Optionally, the information #5 can be carried in an RRC message; or the information #5 can also be carried in a layer 1 (L1) message or a layer 2 (L2) message. For example, the information #5 can be included in a PDCP control protocol data unit (PDCP control PDU), or included in media access control-control element (MAC-CE) signaling, or included in downlink control information (DCI), and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the transmission mode of the information #5.

[0190] In an example, the information #5 can be associated with any one of the following: the tethering device #1, a quality of service flow #1, or a session #1. The quality of service flow #1 and the session #1 can refer to the description of S401, and will not be described again. In other words, the information #5 can be at the tethering device level, or at the quality of service flow level, or at the session level.

[0191] The information #5 associated with the tethering device #1 can be understood as: the information #5 is used to instruct the terminal device to send information of a transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device. The information #5 associated with the quality of service flow #1 can be understood as: the information #5 is used to instruct the terminal device to send information of a transmission delay of the quality of service flow #1 between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device. The information #5 associated with the session #1 can be understood as: the information #5 is used to instruct the terminal device to send information of a transmission delay of the session #1 between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device.

[0192] In another example, the information #5 can also be associated with multiple ones of the tethering device #1, the quality of service flow #1, or the session #1. For example, the information #5 can be associated with the tethering device #1 and the quality of service flow #1. For example, the information #5 can be associated with the tethering device #1 and the session #1. For example, the information #5 can be associated with the quality of service flow #1 and the session #1. For another example, the information #5 can be associated with the tethering device #1, the quality of service flow #1, and the session #1. The implementation process can refer to the foregoing description, and will not be described again.

[0193] It should be understood that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the implementation mode of the terminal device determining not to send the information of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the first core network device. For example, the information #1 can implicitly instruct the terminal device to send the information of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device, and the terminal device can determine that the implementation mode of the terminal device not sending the information of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the first core network device is not limited.

[0194] S406: The terminal device sends information #6 to the access network device. The access network device receives the information #6 from the terminal device.

[0195] In an example, the information #6 can be carried in an RRC message. For example, the information #6 can be UE assistance information (UAI) or the like, without limitation. In another example, the information #6 can also be carried in a layer 1 (L1) message or a layer 2 (L2) message. Embodiments of the present application do not limit the transmission mode of the information #6.

[0196] The information #6 can include a first transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device, or include a first variation, or include the first transmission delay and the first variation between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. The first transmission delay can be a numerical value in milliseconds, or a time unit such as a time slot, and embodiments of the present application do not limit the implementation form of the delay.

[0197] For example, the terminal device can determine (or measure) the first transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device, and send the information #6 to the access network device. It can be understood that embodiments of the present application do not limit the implementation mode of the terminal device to determine the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. For example, the terminal device can measure the data transmission between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to obtain the first transmission delay. For another example, the terminal device can also obtain the first transmission delay from the tethering device #1.

[0198] The first variation is a variation of the first transmission delay compared with a second transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. The determination time (or measurement time) of the second transmission delay is earlier than the determination time (or measurement time) of the first transmission delay. For example, before S406, the terminal device can determine the second transmission delay. Optionally, the second transmission delay can be the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device determined by the terminal device when it is initially reported; or the second transmission delay can also be the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device determined by the terminal device when it is last reported, without limitation.

[0199] In an implementation, the first transmission delay can be associated with any of the following: the tethered device #1, a quality of service flow #1, or a session #1. The quality of service flow #1 and the session #1 can be referred to the description of S401, and will not be repeated. In other words, the first transmission delay can be at the tethered device level, or at the quality of service flow level, or at the session level. Optionally, the first transmission delay is associated with the quality of service flow #1, and the information #6 can further comprise a quality of service flow identifier (QFI) for identifying the quality of service flow #1. Optionally, the first transmission delay is associated with the session #1, and the information #6 can further comprise a session identifier (ID) for identifying the session #1.

[0200] In an implementation, the first transmission delay can be associated with any of the following: the tethered device #1, a quality of service flow #1, or a session #1. The quality of service flow #1 and the session #1 can be referred to the description of S401, and will not be repeated. In other words, the first transmission delay can be at the tethered device level, or at the quality of service flow level, or at the session level. Optionally, the first transmission delay is associated with the quality of service flow #1, and the information #6 can further comprise a quality of service flow identifier (QFI) for identifying the quality of service flow #1. Optionally, the first transmission delay is associated with the session #1, and the information #6 can further comprise a session identifier (ID) for identifying the session #1.

[0201] In another implementation, the first transmission delay can also be associated with multiple of the following: the tethered device #1, the quality of service flow #1, or the session #1. For example, the first transmission delay can be associated with the tethered device #1 and the quality of service flow #1. For example, the first transmission delay can be associated with the tethered device #1 and the session #1. For example, the first transmission delay can be associated with the quality of service flow #1 and the session #1. For example, the first transmission delay can be associated with the tethered device #1, the quality of service flow #1, and the session #1. The implementation can be referred to the foregoing description, and will not be repeated.

[0202] In an implementation, the second transmission delay can be associated with any of the following: the tethered device #1, a quality of service flow #1, or a session #1. The quality of service flow #1 and the session #1 can be referred to the description of S401, and will not be repeated. In other words, the second transmission delay can be at the tethered device level, or at the quality of service flow level, or at the session level. In another implementation, the second transmission delay can also be associated with multiple of the following: the tethered device #1, the quality of service flow #1, or the session #1. The implementation can be referred to the foregoing description of the first transmission delay, and will not be repeated.

[0203] It can be understood that the level (or granularity) of the first transmission delay is consistent with the second transmission delay. For example, the second transmission delay is associated with tethering device #1, and the first transmission delay is also associated with tethering device #1. For another example, the second transmission delay is associated with quality of service flow #1, and the first transmission delay is also associated with quality of service flow #1. For another example, the second transmission delay is associated with session #1, and the first transmission delay is also associated with session #1. For another example, the second transmission delay is associated with quality of service flow #1 and session #1, and the first transmission delay is also associated with quality of service flow #1 and session #1. The remaining combinations are similar and will not be listed one by one.

[0204] In a possible implementation, the terminal device can periodically or aperiodically send the information of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device. For example, assuming that the terminal device periodically sends the information of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device, the second transmission delay can be the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device determined in the first period, or the second transmission delay can also be the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device determined in the last period.

[0205] In a possible implementation, the terminal device can send the information of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device when the first condition is met. For example, the terminal device can send information #6 to the access network device when the first condition is met. FIG. 4 illustrates the sending of information #6 when the first condition is met.

[0206] In an embodiment, the first condition can include receiving information #5 from the access network device. Information #5 is described in detail in S405, and will not be repeated here. For example, the access network device sends information #5 to the terminal device; the terminal device receives information #5 from the access network device, and sends information #6 to the access network device according to information #5. In this embodiment, the terminal device can report the information of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device in response to the dynamic scheduling of the access network device.

[0207] In another implementation, the first condition can include that the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device changes. The change (or fluctuation) of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device can be understood as that the current transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device changes (or fluctuates) compared with the previous transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device, for example, increases or decreases. For example, the first transmission delay changes compared with the second transmission delay, and the terminal device sends the information #6 to the access network device. In this implementation, when the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device fluctuates, the terminal device can send the information #6 to the access network device, so that the access network device can timely and dynamically adjust the delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device, and ensure that the adjusted delay budget can adapt to the communication environment between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device.

[0208] For example, the terminal device sends the second transmission delay to the access network device, and monitors the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device; when it is monitored that the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device increases or decreases compared with the second transmission delay, the terminal device sends the information #6 to the access network device. For example, the second transmission delay is associated with the quality of service flow #1, and the terminal device can monitor the transmission delay of the quality of service flow #1; when it is monitored that the transmission delay of the quality of service flow #1 increases or decreases compared with the second transmission delay, the terminal device sends the information #6 to the access network device. For another example, the second transmission delay is associated with the session #1, and the terminal device can monitor the transmission delay of the session #1; when it is monitored that the transmission delay of the session #1 increases or decreases compared with the second transmission delay, the terminal device sends the information #6 to the access network device.

[0209] In an example, the change of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device can include that the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device changes, and the change amount exceeds a third range. For example, the first transmission delay changes compared with the second transmission delay, and the change amount exceeds the third range, and the terminal device sends the information #6 to the access network device. Optionally, the third range can be predefined, or can be configured by the access network device, or can be determined by the terminal device, which is not limited. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the value of the third range. Through this example, when the change amount exceeds the third range, the terminal device sends the information #6 to the access network device, without the need to frequently report due to the frequent fluctuation of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device, which can save network resources.

[0210] For example, the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device changes, and the change amount is -2 ms, which means that the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device decreases by 2 ms. Assuming that the third range is [-1 ms, 2 ms], the change amount exceeds the third range, and the terminal device sends the information of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device. Alternatively, assuming that the third range is [-3 ms, 2 ms], the change amount does not exceed the third range, and the terminal device does not send the information of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device.

[0211] For another example, the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device changes, and the change amount is +2 ms, which means that the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device increases by 2 ms. Assuming that the third range is [-2 ms, 1 ms], the change amount exceeds the third range, and the terminal device sends the information of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device. Alternatively, assuming that the third range is [-2 ms, 3 ms], the change amount does not exceed the third range, and the terminal device does not send the information of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device.

[0212] In another example, the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device changes can include that the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device changes, and the magnitude of the change amount exceeds a magnitude threshold. For example, the first transmission delay changes compared with the second transmission delay, and the magnitude of the change amount exceeds the magnitude threshold, and the terminal device sends the information #6 to the access network device. Alternatively, the magnitude threshold can be predefined, or can be configured by the access network device, or can be determined by the terminal device, and is not limited. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the value of the magnitude threshold. Through the example, when the magnitude of the change amount exceeds the magnitude threshold, the terminal device sends the information #6 to the access network device, without the need to frequently report due to the frequent fluctuation of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device, and network resources can be saved.

[0213] For example, the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device changes, and the magnitude of the change amount is 2, which means that the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device increases or decreases by 2 ms. Assuming that the magnitude threshold is 1, the magnitude of the change amount exceeds the magnitude threshold, and the terminal device sends the information of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device. Alternatively, assuming that the magnitude threshold is 3, the magnitude of the change amount does not exceed the magnitude threshold, and the terminal device does not send the information of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device.

[0214] In another implementation, the first condition can comprise a timer expiration. Wherein, the timer can be a timer associated with the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. For example, the terminal device does not need to send the information of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device within the time duration corresponding to the timer; or, the terminal device does not need to send the information of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device during the running of the timer. For example, when the timer expires, the terminal device sends the information #6 to the access network device. Illustratively, the terminal device sends the second transmission delay to the access network device and starts (or runs) the timer; when the timer expires, the terminal device sends the information #6 to the access network device. In this example, the terminal device can limit the frequency of reporting the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device through the timer.

[0215] Optionally, the time duration corresponding to the timer can be predefined, or can be configured by the access network device, or can be determined by the terminal device, without limitation.

[0216] Optionally, the timer can be associated with at least one of the following: the tethering device #1, the quality of service flow #1, or the session #1. Wherein, the quality of service flow #1 and the session #1 can refer to the description of S401, and will not be repeated. In other words, the timer can be tethering device level, or quality of service flow level, or session level. For example, the timer is associated with the tethering device #1, indicating that the timer is used to limit the reporting frequency of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. For another example, the timer is associated with the quality of service flow #1, indicating that the timer is used to limit the reporting frequency of the transmission delay of the quality of service flow #1 between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. For another example, the timer is associated with the session #1, indicating that the timer is used to limit the reporting frequency of the transmission delay of the session #1 between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. For another example, the timer is associated with the quality of service flow #1 and the session #1, indicating that the timer is used to limit the reporting frequency of the transmission delay of the quality of service flow #1 and the session #1. The remaining combination cases are similar and will not be listed one by one.

[0217] In another implementation, the first condition can include multiple of receiving the information #5 from the access network device, the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device changing, or the timer expiring. For example, the first condition can include receiving the information #5 from the access network device and the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device changing. For another example, the first condition can include receiving the information #5 from the access network device and the timer expiring. For yet another example, the first condition can include the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device changing and the timer expiring. For still another example, the first condition can include receiving the information #5 from the access network device, the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device changing, and the timer expiring. The implementation can refer to the foregoing description and will not be repeated here.

[0218] For example, the first condition includes receiving the information #5 from the access network device and the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device changing. Then, the terminal device can receive the information #5 from the access network device, and send the information #6 to the access network device when the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device changes.

[0219] For another example, the first condition includes receiving the information #5 from the access network device and the timer expiring. Then, the terminal device can receive the information #5 from the access network device, and send the information #6 to the access network device when the timer expires.

[0220] For yet another example, the first condition includes the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device changing and the timer expiring. Then, the terminal device can send the information #6 to the access network device when the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device changes and the timer expires.

[0221] For still another example, the first condition includes receiving the information #5 from the access network device, the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device changing, and the timer expiring. Then, the terminal device can receive the information #5 from the access network device, and send the information #6 to the access network device when the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device changes and the timer expires.

[0222] S407: The first core network device determines the time length #1.

[0223] The time length #1 is a delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device. For example, the first core network device can determine the time length #1 according to an end-to-end delay requirement of a service and / or a resource condition of the first core network device, and the like. The implementation of the first core network device determining the time length #1 is not limited in the present application.

[0224] Optionally, the first core network device can determine the time duration #1 according to the first range, so as to enable the access network to reserve a proper time delay budget for the transmission between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device, details of which please refer to the description of S403, and will not be repeated here.

[0225] S408: The first core network device sends information #7 to the access network device. The access network device receives the information #7 from the first core network device.

[0226] Optionally, the information #7 can further include an end-to-end time delay budget.

[0227] S409: The access network device determines (or adjusts) a time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the information #6 and the information #7.

[0228] Optionally, the sum of the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device and the first transmission time delay is less than or equal to the difference between the end-to-end time delay budget and the time duration #1. In one example, assuming that the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device is denoted as AN_PDB, the end-to-end time delay budget is denoted as total_PDB, the first transmission time delay is denoted as X ms, and the time duration #1 is denoted as CN_PDB, then AN_PDB can be less than or equal to (total_PDB-CN_PDB-X). For example, AN_PDB = total_PDB-CN_PDB-X.

[0229] In one embodiment, the information #6 includes the first transmission time delay, and the access network device can determine (or adjust, or update) the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first transmission time delay and the time duration #1. For example, the access network device can determine the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first transmission time delay, the time duration #1, and the end-to-end time delay budget. For example, the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device is obtained by subtracting the first transmission time delay and the time duration #1 from the end-to-end time delay budget.

[0230] For example, the time duration #1 is 15 ms, the end-to-end time delay budget is 30 ms, the first transmission time delay is 3 ms, and the remaining time after subtracting the time duration #1 and the first transmission time delay from the end-to-end time delay budget is 12 ms, then the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device can be 12 ms, or less than 12 ms.

[0231] In an implementation, the information 6 comprises a first variation, and the access network device can determine (or adjust, or update) the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first transmission time delay and the first variation. For example, the access network device can determine the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first variation, the time length 1, and the end-to-end time delay budget. For example, the access network device can determine the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the second transmission time delay, the first variation, the time length 1, and the end-to-end time delay budget.

[0232] For example, the second transmission time delay is 5 ms, the time length 1 is 15 ms, and the end-to-end time delay budget is 30 ms. Assuming that the first variation is +2 ms, which means that the first transmission time delay is increased by 2 ms based on the second transmission time delay, i.e., the first transmission time delay is 7 ms, so that the end-to-end time delay budget minus the time length 1 and the first transmission time delay is 8 ms, and then the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device can be 8 ms or less.

[0233] For another example, the second transmission time delay is 5 ms, the time length 1 is 15 ms, and the end-to-end time delay budget is 30 ms. Assuming that the first variation is -2 ms, which means that the first transmission time delay is reduced by 2 ms based on the second transmission time delay, i.e., the first transmission time delay is 3 ms, so that the end-to-end time delay budget minus the time length 1 and the first transmission time delay is 12 ms, and then the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device can be 12 ms or less.

[0234] Optionally, the access network device can determine the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the second range, so as to avoid that the adjustment range of the time delay budget by the access network device exceeds the adjustment range allowed by the core network.

[0235] It can be understood that the execution order of each step in FIG. 4 is only an example, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. For example, the sending time of the information 3 can be earlier than the sending time of the information 4; or the sending time of the information 3 can also be later than the sending time of the information 4. For another example, S405 can be executed after S404, or can also be executed before S404. For another example, S407 and S408 can be executed after S406, or can also be executed before S406.

[0236] Through the first communication method, the terminal device can dynamically send the information of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device, so that the access network device can timely adjust the delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device, reserve appropriate delay budget for the transmission between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device, adapt to the transmission delay fluctuation between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device, so that the end-to-end transmission delay in the scenario of connecting the tethering device by the terminal device meets the transmission delay requirement of the service, and the user experience is improved.

[0237] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a second communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. In the present embodiment, the terminal device dynamically sends the information of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device; and the access network device sends part or all of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the core network to request the core network to reserve delay budget for the transmission between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. As shown in FIG. 5, the method can include the following contents.

[0238] S501: The access network device sends information #1 to the terminal device. The terminal device receives the information #1 from the access network device.

[0239] The information #1 can be used to determine whether the terminal device supports sending the information of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. For example, the information #1 can be used to request the capability information of the terminal device, which can be used to indicate whether the terminal device supports sending the information of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. For example, the capability information can be used to indicate whether the terminal device supports sending the information of the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device. In FIG. 5, the information #1 is used to request the capability information of the terminal device as an example.

[0240] The implementation process of S501 can refer to the description of S401, and will not be repeated here.

[0241] S502: The terminal device sends information #2 to the access network device. The access network device receives the information #2 from the terminal device.

[0242] The information #2 can be used to indicate whether the terminal device supports sending the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. For example, the information #2 can be used to indicate whether the terminal device supports sending the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device. For example, the terminal device can send the capability information to the access network device, and the capability information can be used to indicate whether the terminal device supports sending the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. Optionally, the capability information can be associated with at least one of the tethering device #1, the quality of service flow #1, or the session #1. The implementation of the capability information can refer to the description of S501, and will not be described here.

[0243] In this embodiment, the terminal device supports sending the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device is taken as an example for description. In FIG. 5, the information #2 is used to indicate that the terminal device supports sending the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device.

[0244] The implementation process of S502 can refer to the description of S402, and will not be described here.

[0245] S503: The access network device sends information #5 to the terminal device. The terminal device receives the information #5 from the access network device.

[0246] The information #5 can be used to indicate the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. For example, the information #5 can be used to indicate that the terminal device sends the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device. The description of the information #5 can refer to the related description of S405, and will not be described here.

[0247] S503 is an optional step, which is represented by a dashed line in FIG. 3.

[0248] S504: The terminal device determines not to send the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the first core network device.

[0249] For example, the terminal device can determine not to send the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the first core network device according to the information #5, which is not limited. The terminal device determines not to send the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the first core network device, so that the first core network device will not increase the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device on the basis of the delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device, and the conflict caused by the terminal device sending the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the first core network device and the access network device can be avoided.

[0250] The implementation process of S504 can refer to the description of S405, and will not be described here.

[0251] Optionally, the access network device can send information #3 to the first core network device, and the first core network device receives the information #3 from the access network device, which is not shown in FIG. 5. The implementation process can refer to the content of S403, and will not be described here.

[0252] Optionally, the first core network device can send information #4 to the access network device. The access network device receives the information #4 from the first core network device. The implementation process can refer to the content of S404, and will not be described here.

[0253] S505: The terminal device sends information #6 to the access network device. The access network device receives the information #6 from the terminal device.

[0254] In an example, the information #6 can be carried in an RRC message. For example, the information #6 can be UE assistance information (UAI), without limitation. In another example, the information #6 can also be carried in a layer 1 (L1) message or a layer 2 (L2) message. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the transmission mode of the information #6.

[0255] The information #6 can include the first transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device, or include the first variation, or include the first transmission delay and the first variation between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. In FIG. 5, an example in which the information #6 includes the first transmission delay is shown.

[0256] The implementation process of S505 can refer to the description of S406, and will not be described here.

[0257] S506: The access network device sends a time length #2 to the first core network device. The first core network device receives the time length #2 from the access network device.

[0258] The time length #2 is less than or equal to the first transmission delay. The time length #2 is the first transmission delay, which means that the first core network device reserves a delay budget for the transmission between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. Alternatively, the time length #2 is less than the first transmission delay, which means that the core network and the access network together reserve a delay budget for the transmission between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. For ease of understanding, without special description, the time length #2 is less than the first transmission delay is described as an example. For example, the first transmission delay can be composed of the time length #2 and the time length #3, that is, the sum of the time length #2 and the time length #3 is the first transmission delay.

[0259] In an embodiment, the access network device can divide the first transmission delay into time length #2 and time length #3, and send the time length #2 to the first core network device. In this way, the core network needs to bear the time delay budget of the time length #2 for the transmission between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device, and correspondingly, the access network needs to bear the time delay budget of the time length #3 for the transmission between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device, which can reduce the air interface transmission pressure compared with the access network bearing the time delay budget of the first transmission delay.

[0260] For example, the access network device can determine that it is unable to adjust the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device based on the first transmission delay according to its own capability, etc., and send the time length #2 to the first core network device. For example, the access network device can divide the first transmission delay into the time length #2 and the time length #3 according to the first range and / or the second range.

[0261] For example, the first transmission delay is 3ms, and the first range is the range in which the access network device supports adjusting the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device. Assuming that the first range is [-2ms, +2ms], that is, the access network device supports reducing the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device by at most 2ms, the first transmission delay exceeds the adjustment range supported by the access network device, and the access network device can divide the first transmission delay into the time length #2 of 2ms and the time length #3 of 1ms, and the time length #3 does not exceed the adjustment range supported by the access network device.

[0262] For another example, the first transmission delay is 5ms, and the second range is the range in which the access network device is allowed to adjust the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device. Assuming that the second range is [-3ms, +4ms], that is, the access network device is allowed to reduce the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device by at most 3ms, the first transmission delay exceeds the adjustment range allowed for the access network device, and the access network device can divide the first transmission delay into the time length #2 of 3ms and the time length #3 of 2ms, and the time length #3 does not exceed the adjustment range allowed for the access network device.

[0263] It should be understood that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the reasons and methods for dividing the first transmission delay.

[0264] Optionally, the time length #2 can be less than or equal to a minimum transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. For example, the time length #2 is the minimum transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. For example, the minimum transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device is 3 ms, and the time length #2 can be 3 ms. For example, the terminal device can send the minimum transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device; accordingly, the access network device receives the minimum transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device, and divides the first transmission delay according to the minimum transmission delay. The determination manner of the minimum transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. The access network device sends the minimum transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the first core network device, which can reduce the frequency of subsequent requests of the access network device to the core network to reserve a delay budget for transmission between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device.

[0265] It should be understood that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the reasons and manners of dividing the first transmission delay.

[0266] S507: The first core network device determines the time length #1.

[0267] The time length #1 is a delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device. For example, the first core network device can determine the time length #1 according to at least one of the time length #2, an end-to-end delay requirement of the service, or a resource condition of the first core network device. For example, the time length #1 can be a difference between the previous (or initial) delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and the time length #2.

[0268] For example, assuming that the time length #2 is 5 ms, the delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device is 20 ms before the time length #2 is received, and the first core network device determines the time length #1 according to the time length #2 after receiving the time length #2, which can be less than or equal to 15 ms. Subsequently, the first core network device (or the second core network device) can guarantee the transmission between the second core network device and the access network device based on the time length #1.

[0269] S508: The first core network device sends information #7 to the access network device. The access network device receives the information #7 from the first core network device.

[0270] The information #7 includes the time length #4. The time length #4 is a sum of the time length #1 and the time length #2. Optionally, the information #7 can also include an end-to-end delay budget.

[0271] S509: The access network device determines (or adjusts) the delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the time length #3 and the time length #4.

[0272] The sum of the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device and the time length #3 is less than or equal to the difference between the end-to-end time delay budget and the time length #4.

[0273] For example, the total-PDB is 30 ms, and the core network can decompose the total-PDB into a CN-PDB of 15 ms and an AN-PDB of 15 ms. In the scenario in which the terminal device is connected to the tethering device #1, it is assumed that the first transmission time delay is 5 ms, and the terminal device sends the first transmission time delay to the access network device; after receiving the first transmission time delay, the access network device sends a time length #2 to the core network device, for example, the time length #2 is 3 ms; the core network adjusts the CN-PDB from 15 ms to 12 ms according to the time length #2, and sends a time length #4 to the access network device, and the time length #4 is 15 ms; the access network device determines the AN-PDB to be 13 ms according to the time length #4, the time length #3 (i.e., 2 ms), and the total-PDB, as shown in FIG. 6. The access network device does not perceive the tethering device and considers that the CN-PDB is 15 ms, and determines the AN-PDB to be 13 ms. Actually, the core network guarantees the transmission time delay between the core network and the access network device according to 12 ms, and reserves 3 ms of time delay budget for the transmission between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. The access network device guarantees the transmission time delay between the access network device and the terminal device according to 13 ms, and reserves 2 ms of time delay budget for the transmission between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device.

[0274] It can be understood that the execution order of the steps in FIG. 5 is only an example, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. For example, S504 can be executed after S503, or can also be executed before S503.

[0275] Through the second communication method, the terminal device can dynamically send the information about the transmission time delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device, and the access network device sends part of the transmission time delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the core network, so that the core network and the access network can jointly reserve appropriate time delay budget for the transmission between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device, can adapt to the transmission time delay fluctuation between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device, so that the end-to-end transmission time delay in the scenario in which the terminal device is connected to the tethering device meets the transmission time delay requirement of the service, and is beneficial to improving the user experience.

[0276] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a third communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. In the embodiments, the terminal device first sends a second transmission delay to the first core network device, and the first core network device sends the time length #5 and the second transmission delay to the access network device. Then, the terminal device dynamically sends information about the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device, and the access network device determines (or adjusts or updates) the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the information about the transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. As shown in FIG. 7, the method can include the following contents.

[0277] The implementation manners of S702, S705 to S708, and S709 are respectively the same as those of S407, S401 to S404, and S406, except that:

[0278] S701: The terminal device sends a second transmission delay to the first core network device. The first core network device receives the second transmission delay from the terminal device.

[0279] The second transmission delay can refer to the related description in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, and will not be repeated here. Optionally, the second transmission delay can be carried in a NAS message, which is not limited.

[0280] S702: The first core network device determines a time length #1.

[0281] The time length #1 is the time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device. Optionally, the first core network device can determine the time length #1 according to the second transmission delay. In FIG. 7, the first core network device determines the time length #1 according to the second transmission delay is taken as an example.

[0282] In an example, the first core network device can determine not to reserve the time delay budget for the transmission between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. For example, the original CN-PDB is 10 ms, the second transmission delay is 5 ms, and the time length #1 can be kept as 10 ms, that is, the core network does not reserve the time delay budget for the transmission between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device.

[0283] In another example, the first core network device can determine that the second transmission delay is reserved in part or all of the time length of the second time delay budget for the transmission between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. For example, the original CN-PDB is 10 ms, the second transmission delay is 5 ms, and the updated CN-PDB (i.e., time length #1) can be 5 ms, that is, the core network reserves 5 ms of the time delay budget for the transmission between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. For another example, the original CN-PDB is 10 ms, the second transmission delay is 5 ms, and the second transmission delay is divided into time length #6 and time length #7, which are 3 ms and 2 ms respectively, and the updated CN-PDB (i.e., time length #1) can be 7 ms, that is, the core network reserves 3 ms of the time delay budget for the transmission between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device, and the remaining 2 ms of the time delay budget needs to be borne by the access network.

[0284] It can be understood that the embodiments of the present application do not limit the implementation manner of the first core network device determining whether to reserve the time delay budget for the transmission between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device and the size of the reserved time delay budget.

[0285] S703: The first core network device sends information #7 to the access network device. The access network device receives the information #7 from the first core network device.

[0286] In the embodiment, the information #7 includes the time length #5 and the second transmission delay. Optionally, the information #7 can also include the end-to-end time delay budget. The time length #5 is determined by the time length #1 and the second transmission delay. For example, the time length #5 is the sum of the time length #1 and the second transmission delay. In FIG. 7, the time length #5 is taken as an example of the sum of the time length #1 and the second transmission delay.

[0287] S704: The access network device determines the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the information #7.

[0288] S704 is an optional step, which is represented by a dashed line in FIG. 7. For example, the access network device can determine the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the time length #5 and the second transmission delay. For another example, the access network device can determine the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the time length #5, the second transmission delay and the end-to-end time delay budget. For another example, the access network device can determine the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the time length #5, the second transmission delay, the end-to-end time delay budget and the original time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device.

[0289] For example, total-PDB is 20 ms, original AN-PDB is 10 ms, and original CN-PDB is 10 ms. Assuming that the second transmission delay is 5 ms, and the duration #1 is 10 ms, then the duration #5 can be 15 ms, and the AN-PDB is reduced from 10 ms to 5 ms, i.e., the access network reserves the delay budget for the transmission between the tethering device # and the terminal device.

[0290] For another example, total-PDB is 20 ms, original AN-PDB is 10 ms, and original CN-PDB is 10 ms. Assuming that the second transmission delay is 5 ms, and the CN-PDB is reduced from 10 ms to 5 ms (i.e., the duration #1 is 5 ms), then the duration #5 can be 10 ms, and the AN-PDB remains unchanged, still being 10 ms, i.e., the core network reserves the delay budget for the transmission between the tethering device # and the terminal device.

[0291] For another example, total-PDB is 20 ms, original AN-PDB is 10 ms, and original CN-PDB is 10 ms. Assuming that the second transmission delay is 5 ms, and the CN-PDB is reduced from 10 ms to 7 ms (i.e., the duration #1 is 7 ms), then the duration #5 can be 12 ms, and the AN-PDB is reduced from 10 ms to 8 ms, i.e., the core network assumes 3 ms of delay budget for the transmission between the tethering device # and the terminal device, and the access network assumes 2 ms of delay budget for the transmission between the tethering device # and the terminal device.

[0292] S710: The access network device determines the delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the information #6 and the information #7.

[0293] In an implementation, the access network device can determine the delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the information #6 and the information #7. For example, the access network device can determine the delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the information #6, the duration #5, and the second transmission delay. For another example, the access network device can determine the delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the information #6, the duration #5, the second transmission delay, and the end-to-end delay budget. For another example, the access network device can determine the delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the information #6, the duration #5, the second transmission delay, the end-to-end delay budget, and the original delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device. The implementation process can refer to the foregoing content, and will not be described herein again.

[0294] In another implementation, the access network device can also determine the delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the information #6 and the delay budget determined in S704.

[0295] For example, the time delay budget determined in S704 is 10 ms, the first information includes a first change amount, and the first change amount is +2 ms. In this case, the access network device can reduce the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device from 10 ms to 8 ms.

[0296] For another example, the time delay budget determined in S704 is 10 ms, the first information includes a first change amount, and the first change amount is -2 ms. In this case, the access network device can increase the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device from 10 ms to 12 ms to improve the utilization of air interface resources.

[0297] For another example, the time delay budget determined in S704 is 10 ms, the first information includes a first transmission time delay, the first transmission time delay is 4 ms, and the second transmission time delay is 3 ms. In this case, the access network device can reduce the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device from 10 ms to 9 ms.

[0298] It can be understood that the execution sequence of each step in FIG. 7 is only an example, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. For example, the sending time of information #3 can be earlier than the sending time of information #4, or the sending time of information #3 can be later than the sending time of information #4.

[0299] Through the third communication method, the terminal device first sends the second transmission time delay to the first core network device, the first core network device determines whether to reserve the time delay budget for the transmission between the tethered device #1 and the terminal device, and sends the second transmission time delay to the access network device. In this way, the core network and / or the access network can reserve the time delay budget for the transmission between the tethered device #1 and the terminal device, which can be applicable to various communication scenarios and is beneficial to improving the compatibility. Then, the terminal device can dynamically send the information of the transmission time delay between the tethered device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device. In this way, the access network device can timely adjust the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device, which can adapt to the fluctuation of the transmission time delay between the tethered device #1 and the terminal device, so that the end-to-end transmission time delay in the scenario where the terminal device is connected to the tethered device meets the transmission time delay requirement of the service, and the user experience is improved.

[0300] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a fourth communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. In this embodiment, the terminal device first sends the second transmission time delay to the first core network device, and the first core network device sends the time length #5 and the indication information to the access network device. The indication information is used to indicate that the time length #5 is determined by the time length #1 and the second transmission time delay. Then, the terminal device dynamically sends the change amount of the transmission time delay between the tethered device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device, and the access network device adjusts (or determines or updates) the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the change amount. As shown in FIG. 8, the method can include the following contents.

[0301] The implementation manners of S801, S804 to S808 are the same as those of S701, S704 to S708 respectively, except that:

[0302] S802: The first core network device determines a time length #1.

[0303] The time length #1 is a time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device. In this embodiment, the core network does not reserve a time delay budget for the transmission between the stranded device #1 and the terminal device. For example, the time delay budget between the original second core network device and the access network device is 10 ms, and the time length #1 is also 10 ms.

[0304] The implementation process of S802 is described in S407, which is not repeated here.

[0305] S803: The first core network device sends information #7 to the access network device. The access network device receives the information #7 from the first core network device.

[0306] In this embodiment, the information #7 includes the time length #5 and the indication information. Optionally, the information #7 can also include the second transmission time delay. Optionally, the information #7 can also include the end-to-end time delay budget. The time length #5 is determined by the time length #1 and the second transmission time delay. For example, the time length #5 is the sum of the time length #1 and the second transmission time delay.

[0307] The indication information can be used to indicate that the time length #5 is determined by the time length #1 and the second transmission time delay, or the indication information can be used to indicate that the time length #5 is the sum of the time length #1 and the second transmission time delay. Through the indication information, the access network device can determine that the time length #5 from the second core network device is determined by the time length #1 and the transmission time delay between the stranded device #1 and the terminal device, so that the access network device can subsequently adjust the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the change amount of the transmission time delay between the stranded device #1 and the terminal device. Generally, the indication information can occupy a small number of bits, and compared with the first core network device sending the second transmission time delay to the access network device, the consumption of transmission resources can be reduced.

[0308] In an implementation manner, the value of the indication information can include a first value and a second value. The first value is used to indicate that the time length #5 is the time length #1. The second value is used to indicate that the time length #5 is the sum of the time length #1 and the second transmission time delay. For example, the indication information occupies 1 bit, the first value can be 0, and the second value can be 1; or the first value can be 1, and the second value can be 0. The number of bits occupied by the indication information is not limited in the embodiment of the application.

[0309] S809: The terminal device sends information #6 to the access network device. The access network device receives the information #6 from the terminal device.

[0310] In this embodiment, the information #6 includes the first variation, and the implementation process can refer to the description of S406, and will not be described here.

[0311] S810: The access network device determines the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first variation and the information #7.

[0312] The information #7 includes the time length #5 and the indication information. For example, the access network device determines to use the first variation to determine the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the indication information.

[0313] In an implementation manner, the access network device can determine the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first variation and the time length #5. For example, the access network device can determine the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the end-to-end time delay budget, the first variation and the time length #5. The implementation process can refer to the description of S409, and will not be described here.

[0314] In another embodiment, the access network device can also determine the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first variation and the time delay budget determined in S804. For example, the time delay budget determined in S804 is 10 ms, and the first variation is +3 ms, so the access network device can reduce the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device from 10 ms to 7 ms. For another example, the time delay budget determined in S804 is 10 ms, and the first variation is -2 ms, so the access network device can increase the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device from 10 ms to 12 ms to improve the utilization of air interface resources.

[0315] It can be understood that the execution order of each step in FIG. 8 is only an example, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. For example, the sending time of the information #3 can be earlier than the sending time of the information #4; or the sending time of the information #3 can also be later than the sending time of the information #4.

[0316] By the fourth communication method, the terminal device first sends the second transmission delay to the first core network device, the first core network device adds the second transmission delay on the basis of the time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and sends it to the access network device, and sends the indication information to the access network device, so that the access network can reserve the time delay budget for the terminal device and the tethering device #1, which is beneficial to improve the compatibility. Then, the terminal device can dynamically send the change amount of the transmission delay between the terminal device and the tethering device #1 to the access network device, so that the access network device can timely adjust the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device, adapt to the transmission delay fluctuation between the terminal device and the tethering device #1, so that the end-to-end transmission delay in the scenario of connecting the tethering device by the terminal device meets the transmission delay requirement of the service, which is beneficial to improve the user experience.

[0317] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a fifth communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. In the present embodiment, the terminal device decomposes the second transmission delay into time length #6 and time length #7, and sends them to the first core network device and the access network device respectively, and the core network and the access network together reserve the time delay budget for the transmission between the terminal device and the tethering device #1. Then, the terminal device dynamically sends the change amount of the transmission delay between the terminal device and the tethering device #1 to the access network device; the access network device adjusts (or determines, or updates) the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the change amount. As shown in FIG. 9, the method can include the following contents.

[0318] The implementation manners of S901 to S904 and S910 to S911 are respectively the same as those of S805 to S808 and S809 to S810, except that:

[0319] S905: The terminal device sends the time length #6 to the first core network device. The first core network device receives the time length #6 from the terminal device.

[0320] The sum of the time length #6 and the time length #7 is the second transmission delay. Illustratively, the terminal device can divide the second transmission delay into the time length #6 and the time length #7, send the time length #6 to the first core network device, and send the time length #7 to the access network device. For example, the terminal device can determine to reserve the time delay budget for the transmission between the terminal device and the tethering device #1 by the core network and the access network together, and divide the second transmission delay into the time length #6 and the time length #7. The present embodiment does not limit the reasons and ways of dividing the second transmission delay.

[0321] Optionally, the time length #6 can be carried in the NAS message, which is not limited.

[0322] In an embodiment, the time length #6 is less than or equal to the minimum transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. For example, the time length #6 is the minimum transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. For example, the minimum transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device is 5 ms, and the time length #6 can be 5 ms. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the determination manner of the minimum transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device. In the embodiment, the terminal device sends the minimum transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the core network, so that the core network reserves the minimum transmission delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device for transmission, does not need to frequently report to the core network, and can reduce the pressure of air interface transmission.

[0323] The second transmission delay can refer to the related description in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, which will not be repeated here.

[0324] S906: The terminal device sends the time length #7 to the access network device. The access network device receives the time length #7 from the terminal device.

[0325] S907: The first core network device determines the time length #1 according to the time length #6.

[0326] The time length #1 is the delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device. For example, the first core network device can determine the time length #1 according to the time length #6. For example, the first core network device can determine the time length #1 according to the end-to-end delay budget and the time length #6. For example, the first core network device can determine the time length #1 according to the original delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and the time length #6.

[0327] For example, the original CN-PDB is 10 ms, the second transmission delay is 5 ms, the time length #6 is 3 ms, and the updated CN-PDB (i.e., the time length #1) can be 7 ms, that is, the core network reserves 3 ms of delay budget for the transmission between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device.

[0328] S908: The first core network device sends the information #7 to the access network device. The access network device receives the information #7 from the first core network device.

[0329] In the embodiment, the information #7 includes the time length #5. Optionally, the information #7 can also include the end-to-end delay budget. The time length #5 is determined by the time length #1 and the time length #6. For example, the time length #5 is the sum of the time length #1 and the time length #6. In FIG. 9, the time length #5 is taken as an example of the sum of the time length #1 and the time length #6.

[0330] S909: The access network device determines the delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the time length #5 and the time length #7.

[0331] For example, the access network device can determine the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the end-to-end time delay budget, the time length #5 and the time length #7. For example, the total-PDB is 30 ms, the original AN-PDB is 16 ms, and the original CN-PDB is 14 ms. Assuming that the second transmission time delay is 7 ms, the time length #6 and the time length #7 are 3 ms and 4 ms respectively, the CN-PDB is reduced from 14 ms to 11 ms (i.e., the time length #1 is 11 ms), and then the time length #5 can be 14 ms, the AN-PDB is reduced from 16 ms to 12 ms, i.e., the core network bears 3 ms of time delay budget for the transmission between the tethering device # and the terminal device, and the access network bears 4 ms of time delay budget for the transmission between the tethering device # and the terminal device.

[0332] It can be understood that the execution sequence of each step in FIG. 9 is only an example, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. For example, the sending time of the information #3 can be earlier than the sending time of the information #4; or the sending time of the information #3 can also be later than the sending time of the information #4. For another example, S905 can be executed before S906, or can be executed after S906, or can be executed synchronously with S906. For another example, S907 can be executed after S906, or can be executed before S906.

[0333] Through the fifth communication method, the terminal device decomposes the second transmission time delay into the time length #6 and the time length #7, and sends them to the first core network device and the access network device respectively, so that the core network and the access network together reserve time delay budget for the transmission between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device, so that the end-to-end transmission time delay in the scenario that the terminal device connects the tethering device meets the transmission time delay requirement of the service, which is beneficial to improve the user experience. Then, the terminal device can dynamically send the change amount of the transmission time delay between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device to the access network device, so that the access network device can timely adjust the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device, which can adapt to the transmission time delay fluctuation between the tethering device #1 and the terminal device, so that the end-to-end transmission time delay in the scenario that the terminal device connects the tethering device meets the transmission time delay requirement of the service, which is beneficial to improve the user experience.

[0334] It can be understood that the above-mentioned various communication methods provided by the embodiments of the present application can be used alone or in combination, which is not limited.

[0335] Based on the same technical concept, the embodiments of the present application also provide a sixth communication method, and the implementation process can refer to the description of the above-mentioned various communication methods.

[0336] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of the sixth communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 10, the method can include the following contents.

[0337] S1001: The first core network device sends fifth information to the access network device. The access network device receives the fifth information from the first core network device.

[0338] The fifth information includes the third time length. The fifth information is described in the foregoing method embodiments, and details are not described herein again.

[0339] The third time length can be a time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device. The implementation manner is described in the foregoing time length #1, or time length #4, or time length #5. Alternatively, the third time length can be determined by part or all of the time length of the time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and the second transmission time length. The implementation manner is described in the foregoing time length #5. Alternatively, the third time length can be determined by the time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and the fourth time length. The implementation manner is described in the foregoing time length #4. The fourth time length is described in the foregoing time length #2.

[0340] The implementation manner of S1001 is described in S408, S508, S703, S803, or S908, and details are not described herein again.

[0341] In an implementation manner, the terminal device can send third information to the access network device. The access network device receives the third information from the terminal device. The third information is described in the foregoing information #2, and details are not described herein again.

[0342] In an implementation manner, the access network device can send fourth information to the terminal device. The terminal device receives the fourth information from the access network device. The fourth information is described in the foregoing information #1, and details are not described herein again.

[0343] In an implementation manner, the access network device can send sixth information to the first core network device. The first core network device receives the sixth information from the access network device. The sixth information is described in the foregoing information #3, and details are not described herein again. Optionally, the sixth information can also be used to indicate the first range. The first range is described in the foregoing, and details are not described herein again.

[0344] In an implementation manner, the first core network device can send seventh information to the access network device. The access network device receives the seventh information from the first core network device. The seventh information is described in the foregoing information #4, and details are not described herein again. Optionally, the seventh information can also be used to indicate the second range. The second range is described in the foregoing, and details are not described herein again.

[0345] In an implementation, the terminal device can determine not to send information of a transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device to the first core network device; or the terminal device can also send part or all of the second transmission delay to the first core network device. For example, the terminal device can send a first time length to the first core network device, and send a second time length to the access network device, the sum of the first time length and the second time length is the second transmission delay, the first time length and the second time length refer to the descriptions of the time length #6 and the time length #7 respectively, and details are not repeated.

[0346] S1002: The terminal device sends first information to the access network device. The access network device receives the first information from the terminal device.

[0347] The first information can include a first transmission delay between the first tethering device (i.e., the tethering device #1) and the terminal device and / or a first change amount. The first change amount can be a change amount of the first transmission delay compared with a second transmission delay. The first information refers to the description of the information #6 in the foregoing method embodiments, and details are not repeated.

[0348] In an implementation, the first transmission delay can be associated with at least one of the following: the first tethering device, a first quality of service flow, or a first session. The first quality of service flow refers to the description of the quality of service flow #1, and the first session refers to the description of the session #1, and details are not repeated.

[0349] In an implementation, the terminal device can send the first information to the access network device in a case where a first condition is met. FIG. 10 illustrates an example in which the first information is sent in a case where the first condition is met. The first condition can include at least one of the following: receiving second information from the access network device, a transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device changes, or a timer expires. The second information refers to the description of the information #5.

[0350] Implementations of S1002 refer to the descriptions of S406, S505, S709, S809, or S910, and details are not repeated.

[0351] S1003: The access network device determines a delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first information or according to the first information and fifth information.

[0352] Implementations of S1003 refer to the descriptions of S409, S509, S710, S810, or S911, and details are not repeated.

[0353] It can be understood that the execution sequence of each step in FIG. 10 is only an example, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. For example, the sending time of the fifth information can be earlier than the sending time of the first information; or the sending time of the fifth information can be later than the sending time of the first information.

[0354] For the open RAN architecture of CU-DU separation (as shown in FIG. 2), the embodiments of the present application further provide a seventh communication method, as shown in FIG. 11. In this method, the CU can send relevant information (denoted as eighth information) for determining the delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device to the DU, so that the access network reserves a suitable delay budget for the transmission between the tethered device #1 and the terminal device, and guarantees that the end-to-end transmission delay meets the transmission delay requirement of the service, which is described in detail below.

[0355] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the seventh communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 11, the method can include the following contents.

[0356] S1101: The first core network device sends the fifth information. The CU receives the fifth information.

[0357] The fifth information includes a third time length, and the fifth information and the third time length are described in the foregoing content, which is not repeated here. Optionally, the fifth information can further include an end-to-end delay budget.

[0358] S1102: The terminal device sends the first information. The CU receives the first information.

[0359] For example, the first information is carried by an L1 message or an L2 message, the terminal device sends the first information, and the first information is transmitted to the DU first, and then the DU forwards the first information to the CU. For another example, the first information is carried by an RRC message, the terminal device sends the first information, and the first information can be transmitted to the CU. In FIG. 11, an example in which the first information is carried by an L1 message or an L2 message is shown.

[0360] The first information includes a first transmission delay and / or a first variation.

[0361] In an implementation manner, the first information includes the first transmission delay, the CU can divide the first transmission delay into a fourth time length and a fifth time length, and send the fourth time length to the first core network device, which is not shown in FIG. 11. The implementation process is described in the foregoing content, which is not repeated here.

[0362] S1103: The CU determines a delay budget (denoted as AN-PDB) between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first information. That is, the CU determines the AN-PDB according to the first information.

[0363] For example, the CU can determine the AN-PDB according to the first information and the third time length. The implementation process of S1103 can refer to the related description in the foregoing, and details are not described herein again.

[0364] S1104: The CU sends eighth information to the DU. The DU receives the eighth information.

[0365] In an implementation, the eighth information can include the first information. For example, the eighth information includes the first information, the third time length and the end-to-end transmission delay.

[0366] In another implementation, the eighth information can include a sixth time length. In one example, the sixth time length is determined according to the third time length and the first information. For example, the sixth time length is the third time length plus the first transmission delay, i.e., the sixth time length is the sum of the third time length and the first transmission delay. In another example, the sixth time length is determined according to the end-to-end transmission delay and the first information. For example, the sixth time length is the end-to-end transmission delay minus the first transmission delay, i.e., the sixth time length is the difference between the end-to-end transmission delay and the first transmission delay.

[0367] S1105: The DU determines the AN-PDB according to the eighth information.

[0368] In an implementation, the DU can determine the AN-PDB according to the first information. For example, the total-PDB is 30 ms, the CN-PDB is 15 ms, and the first transmission delay is 5 ms, then the DU can determine the AN-PDB to be 10 ms according to the total-PDB, the CN-PDB and the first transmission delay.

[0369] In yet another implementation, the DU can determine the AN-PDB according to the sixth time length. For example, assuming that the total-PDB is 30 ms, the CN-PDB is 15 ms, and the first transmission delay is 5 ms. If the sixth time length is determined according to the CN-PDB and the first transmission delay, then the sixth time length can be 20 ms, denoted as CN-PDB' is 20 ms, then the DU can determine the AN-PDB to be 10 ms according to the total-PDB and the CN-PDB'. Or, if the sixth time length is determined according to the total-PDB and the first transmission delay, then the sixth time length can be 25 ms, denoted as total-PDB' is 25 ms, then the DU can determine the AN-PDB to be 10 ms according to the total-PDB' and the CN-PDB.

[0370] It can be understood that the execution order of each step in FIG. 11 is only an example, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. For example, S1101 can be executed before S1102, or can also be executed after S1102.

[0371] For the open RAN architecture of CU-DU separation (as shown in FIG. 2), the eighth communication method is provided in the embodiments of the present application, as shown in FIG. 12. In this method, the DU can send relevant information for determining the delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device to the CU, so that the access network reserves a suitable delay budget for the transmission between the tethered device #1 and the terminal device, and guarantees that the end-to-end transmission delay meets the transmission delay requirement of the service. Details are described below.

[0372] FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the seventh communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG. 12, the method can include the following contents.

[0373] S1201: The first core network device sends fifth information. The DU receives the fifth information.

[0374] The fifth information includes a third time length, and the fifth information and the third time length are described in the foregoing content and will not be described again. Optionally, the fifth information can also include an end-to-end delay budget.

[0375] Exemplarily, the first core network device sends the fifth information to the access network device, and the fifth information is transmitted to the CU first and then transmitted to the DU by the CU, so that the DU receives the fifth information.

[0376] S1202: The terminal device sends first information. The DU receives the first information.

[0377] For example, the first information is carried by an L1 message or an L2 message, and the terminal device sends the first information, which can be transmitted to the DU. For another example, the first information is carried by an RRC message, and the terminal device sends the first information, which can be transmitted to the CU and then transmitted to the DU by the CU. In FIG. 12, the first information is carried by an RRC message as an example.

[0378] The first information includes a first transmission delay and / or a first variation.

[0379] In an implementation, the first information includes the first transmission delay, and the DU can divide the first transmission delay into a fourth time length and a fifth time length, send the fourth time length to the CU, and transmit the fourth time length to the first core network device by the CU, which is not shown in FIG. 12. The implementation process is described in the foregoing content and will not be described again.

[0380] S1203: Determine a delay budget (denoted as AN-PDB) between the access network device and the terminal device. That is, the DU determines the AN-PDB according to the first information.

[0381] For example, the DU can determine the AN-PDB according to the first information and the third time length. The implementation process of S1103 can be referred to the foregoing description and will not be described again.

[0382] S1204: The DU sends eighth information to the CU. The CU receives the eighth information from the DU.

[0383] The implementation process of S1204 can refer to the description of S1104, and details are not described herein.

[0384] S1205: The CU determines the AN-PDB according to the eighth information.

[0385] The implementation process of S1205 can refer to the description of S1105, and details are not described herein.

[0386] It can be understood that the execution sequence of each step in FIG. 12 is only an example, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. For example, S1201 can be executed before S1202, or can also be executed after S1202.

[0387] In the embodiments provided by the present application, the method provided by the embodiments of the present application is introduced from the perspective of interaction of multiple communication devices (for example, terminal devices, access network devices and first core network devices). The steps performed by the communication device (for example, terminal device, access network device or first core network device) can be implemented by different functional entities constituting the communication device. The communication device (for example, terminal device, access network device or first core network device) can include hardware structure and / or software module, and the above-mentioned functions can be implemented in the form of hardware structure, software module or hardware structure plus software module. Whether a certain function is implemented in the form of hardware structure, software module or hardware structure plus software module depends on the specific application of the technical solution and the design constraint conditions.

[0388] The communication device used to implement the above method in the embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Therefore, the content in the foregoing can be used in the subsequent embodiments, and details are not described herein.

[0389] FIG. 13 exemplarily shows a structural schematic diagram of a communication device 1300 provided by the embodiments of the present application. The communication device 1300 can implement the functions or steps implemented by the terminal device, the access network device or the first core network device in the above-mentioned various method embodiments.

[0390] Exemplarily, when the communication device 1300 is used to implement the functions or steps implemented by the terminal device in the above-mentioned various method embodiments, the communication device 1300 can be a terminal device or a component (for example, CU, DU or RU, etc.) in the terminal device, etc.

[0391] Exemplarily, the communication apparatus 1300 can be the access network device or a component (e.g., a CU, a DU, or an RU, etc.) in the access network device, etc., when the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to implement the functions or steps implemented by the access network device in the above various method embodiments.

[0392] Exemplarily, the communication apparatus 1300 can be the first core network device or a component in the first core network device, etc., when the communication apparatus 1300 is configured to implement the functions or steps implemented by the first core network device in the above various method embodiments.

[0393] In an implementation, the communication apparatus 1300 can include the processing module 1301 and the transceiver module 1302, or include the processing module 1301 and not include the transceiver module 1302, or include the transceiver module 1302 and not include the processing module 1301. Wherein:

[0394] The processing module 1301 can be configured to support the communication apparatus 1300 to perform the processing actions in the above method embodiments. The processing module 1301 can be implemented by one or more processors. For example, the processor can be a central processing unit (CPU), and can also be other general-purpose processors, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a microcontroller unit (MCU), or other programmable logic device, transistor logic device, hardware component, or any combination thereof. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor, or any conventional processor.

[0395] In the present application, the processing module 1301 can also be referred to as a processing unit, etc., without limitation.

[0396] The transceiver module 1302 is configured to input and / or output information. The input information can be replaced by received information, and the output information can be replaced by transmitted information. When outputting the information, the transceiver module 1302 can output the information to other devices outside the communication apparatus 1300, or output the information to other units in the communication apparatus 1300. In some manners, the transceiver module 1302 can be implemented by at least one of a physical interface, a communication module, a communication interface, and an input / output interface. In other manners, the transceiver module 1302 can be implemented by an interface circuit, for example, a mobile communication module. The mobile communication module can include one or more of at least one antenna, at least one filter, a switch, a power amplifier, a low noise amplifier (LNA), and the like.

[0397] Optionally, the transceiver module 1302 can include a transmitting module and a receiving module. The transmitting module is configured to perform the transmitting operations in the above method embodiments. The receiving module is configured to perform the receiving operations in the above method embodiments. It should be noted that the communication apparatus 1300 can include the transmitting module, but not the receiving module. Alternatively, the communication apparatus 1300 can include the receiving module, but not the transmitting module. Whether the communication apparatus 1300 includes the transmitting module and the receiving module can depend on whether the communication apparatus 1300 performs the transmitting operation and the receiving operation in the above schemes.

[0398] In this application, the transceiver module 1302 can also be referred to as a communication interface, a communication module, a transceiver unit, an interface module, an interface unit, a communication unit, etc., without limitation.

[0399] It should be noted that the communication apparatus 1300 can include the processing module 1301, but not the transceiver module 1302. Alternatively, the communication apparatus 1300 can include the transceiver module 1302, but not the processing module 1301. Whether the communication apparatus 1300 includes the processing module 1301 and the transceiver module 1302 can depend on whether the communication apparatus 1300 performs the processing operation and the transceiver operation in the above schemes.

[0400] Optionally, the communication apparatus 1300 can further include a storage module, which is not shown in FIG. 13. The storage module can be configured to store instructions and / or data. The processing module 1301 can read the instructions and / or data in the storage module, so that the communication apparatus 1300 implements the foregoing method embodiments.

[0401] Optionally, the communication apparatus 1300 can be a chip system, the transceiver module 1302 can be an input / output interface of a chip (for example, a baseband chip), and the processing module 1301 can be a processor of the chip system.

[0402] In a possible design, the processing module 1301 can be implemented by one or more processors when the communication apparatus 1300 is a communication device or a communication module in a communication device. For example, the processor(s) can include a Modem chip (also referred to as a baseband chip), or a system-on-a-chip (SoC) chip or a system in package (SIP) chip that includes a Modem core. The transceiver module 1302 can be implemented by transceiver circuitry. Optionally, the communication device can be a terminal device, an access network device, or a first core network device, etc.

[0403] In a possible design, the processing module 1301 can be implemented by circuitry including one or more processors or processor cores in a chip when the communication apparatus 1300 is circuitry or a chip responsible for communication functions in a communication device, such as a Modem chip or a SoC chip or a SIP chip that includes a Modem core. The transceiver module 1302 can be implemented by interface circuitry or data transceiver circuitry on the chip. Optionally, the communication device can be a terminal device, an access network device, or a first core network device, etc.

[0404] In the first implementation, the communication apparatus 1300 can implement functions of a terminal device, and perform the following: the transceiver module 1302 is configured to send, to an access network device, first information including a first transmission delay between a first tethering device and the terminal device and / or including a first variation amount, where the first variation amount is a variation amount of the first transmission delay compared with a second transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device, when a first condition is met; the first condition includes at least one of the following: receiving second information from the access network device, a transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device changes, or a timer expires; the second information is used to indicate information about sending a transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device, and the timer is a timer associated with a transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device.

[0405] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 1302 is further configured to send, to the access network device, third information used to indicate information about supporting sending a transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device.

[0406] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 1302 is further configured to receive, from the access network device, fourth information used to determine whether information about supporting sending a transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device is supported.

[0407] In a possible implementation, the processing module 1301 is configured to determine not to send information about a transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device to the first core network device.

[0408] In another possible implementation, the transceiver module 1302 is further configured to send the second transmission delay to the first core network device before sending the first information to the access network device.

[0409] In another possible implementation, the first information includes the first change amount, and before sending the first information to the access network device, the transceiver module 1302 is further configured to send a first time length to the first core network device, and send a second time length to the access network device, where a sum of the second time length and the first time length is the second transmission delay.

[0410] In the second implementation, the communication apparatus 1300 can implement the function of the access network device, and perform the following: the transceiver module 1302 is configured to receive first information from a terminal device, where the first information includes a first transmission delay between a first tethering device and the terminal device and / or includes a first change amount, where the first change amount is a change amount of the first transmission delay compared with a second transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device; and the processing module 1301 is configured to determine a delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first information.

[0411] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 1302 is further configured to receive fifth information from the first core network device, where the fifth information includes a third time length. When determining the delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first information, the processing module 1301 is configured to determine the delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first information and the third time length.

[0412] In a possible implementation, when determining the delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first information and the third time length, the processing module 1301 is configured to determine the delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first change amount and the third time length.

[0413] In a possible implementation, the third time length is determined by a delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and a fourth time length, and the transceiver module 1302 is further configured to send the fourth time length to the first core network device.

[0414] In a possible implementation, when determining the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first information and the third time length, the processing module 1301 is configured to determine the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the fifth time length and the third time length.

[0415] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 1302 is further configured to send sixth information to the first core network device, where the sixth information is used to instruct the access network device to determine the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device by using the information of the transmission time delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device.

[0416] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 1302 is further configured to receive seventh information from the first core network device, where the seventh information is used to instruct to allow the determination of the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device based on the information of the transmission time delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device.

[0417] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 1302 is further configured to send second information to the terminal device, where the second information is used to instruct the terminal device to send the information of the transmission time delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device.

[0418] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 1302 is further configured to receive third information from the terminal device, where the third information is used to instruct that the terminal device supports sending the information of the transmission time delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device.

[0419] In a possible implementation, the transceiver module 1302 is further configured to send fourth information to the terminal device, where the fourth information is used to determine whether the terminal device supports sending the information of the transmission time delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device.

[0420] In a third implementation manner, the communication apparatus 1300 can implement the function of the first core network device, and perform the following: the transceiver 1302 is configured to receive, from a terminal device, a second transmission delay between the terminal device and a first tethering device; and send fifth information to an access network device, the fifth information including a third time length, wherein the third time length is determined by a time delay budget between a second core network device and the access network device and part of the second transmission delay, and the fifth information further includes the second transmission delay; or the third time length is determined by the time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and the second transmission delay, and the fifth information further includes the second transmission delay and / or indication information, the indication information being used to indicate that the third time length is determined by the time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and the second transmission delay.

[0421] In a fourth implementation manner, the communication apparatus 1300 can implement the function of the first core network device, and perform the following: the transceiver 1302 is configured to receive, from an access network device, a fourth time length, a sum of the fourth time length and a fifth time length being a first transmission delay between a first tethering device and a terminal device; and send fifth information to the access network device, the fifth information including a third time length, the third time length being determined by a time delay budget between a second core network device and the access network device and the fourth time length.

[0422] In a possible implementation manner, the processing module 1301 is configured to determine the time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device according to the fourth time length.

[0423] The detailed description of the processing module 1301 and the transceiver 1302 can be directly obtained with reference to the foregoing related description, and will not be described herein.

[0424] FIG. 14 shows a structural schematic diagram of another communication apparatus 1400 provided by the embodiments of the present application. The communication apparatus 1400 can include a processor 1420, which is configured to implement or support the communication apparatus 1400 to implement the function of the terminal device, the access network device, or the first core network device in the foregoing method embodiments. For details, refer to the foregoing detailed description in the method embodiments, which will not be described herein. For example, the processor 1420 is configured to read and execute program instructions through the communication interface 1410, so that the communication apparatus 1400 implements the corresponding method. The processor 1420 can include one or more processors, which are not limited.

[0425] It should be noted that the above-mentioned function modules can be implemented by hardware, or by combination of hardware and software, which is not limited. When the communication apparatus 1400 only includes the processor 1420, the communication apparatus 1400 can be a chip, or can also be a chip system.

[0426] For example, the communication apparatus 1400 can be a chip system. The chip system can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices, which is not limited.

[0427] For another example, when the communication apparatus 1400 is a chip, the communication interface 1410 can be an input / output interface of the chip, wherein the input corresponds to the receiving operation, and the output corresponds to the sending operation.

[0428] Optionally, the communication apparatus 1400 can further include a memory 1430 for storing program instructions and / or data. The memory 1430 is coupled with the processor 1420. The coupling can be understood as indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses, units or modules, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms, for information interaction between apparatuses, units or modules. The processor 1420 can operate cooperatively with the memory 1430. The processor 1420 and the memory 1430 can be integrated together, or can be separately arranged.

[0429] Further, the processor 1420 is configured to execute the program instructions stored in the memory 1430, so that the communication apparatus 1400 implements corresponding methods.

[0430] One or more memories in the memory 1430 can be included in the processor, and the memory 1430 can also exist independently, for example, an off-chip memory, connected with the processor 1420 through a communication bus (represented by a thick line 1440 in FIG. 14). The memory 1430 and the processor 1420 can also be integrated together.

[0431] Optionally, the communication apparatus 1400 further includes a communication interface 1410 (represented by a dashed line in FIG. 14), configured to communicate with other devices through a transmission medium, so that the devices in the communication apparatus 1400 can communicate with other devices.

[0432] For example, when the communication apparatus 1400 is a terminal device, the other device can be an access network device, or a first core network device, etc. The processor 1420 can utilize the communication interface 1410 to transceive data. For example, the processor 1420 can be configured to control the communication interface 1410 to receive and / or send signals.

[0433] The communication interface 1410 can be a transceiver. In hardware implementation, the transceiver can be used to implement the functions of the transceiver module 1302, and the transceiver is integrated in the communication device 1400 to form the communication interface 1410.

[0434] Optionally, the transceiver can include a transmitter and / or a receiver to implement the sending and receiving operations in the method embodiments; and other operations except the sending and receiving can be implemented by the processor 1420.

[0435] It should be noted that the communication interface 1410 can have a sending function and a receiving function, and can implement signal receiving and sending; or can have a sending function and not have a receiving function, and is used to implement signal sending; or can have a receiving function and not have a sending function, and is used to implement signal receiving.

[0436] It should be noted that the specific connection medium between the communication interface 1410, the processor 1420 and the memory 1430 in the embodiments of the present application is not limited. In FIG. 14, the memory 1430, the processor 1420 and the communication interface 1410 are connected through the communication bus 1440, and the connection mode between other components is only schematically illustrated, and is not limited. The communication bus 1440 can be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus and the like. For convenience of representation, only one thick line is used in FIG. 14, but it does not mean that there is only one communication bus or one type of communication bus.

[0437] In the embodiments of the present application, the processor 1420 can be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The method disclosed in the embodiments of the present application can be executed by hardware in the processor or by a combination of hardware and software in the processor.

[0438] In the embodiments of the present application, the memory 1430 can be a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD), and can also be a volatile memory such as a random-access memory (RAM). The memory can also be any other medium for carrying or storing program codes in the form of instructions or data structures and capable of being accessed by a computer; or is a circuit or other any device capable of realizing a storage function, for storing program instructions and / or data.

[0439] In a first possible implementation, the communication apparatus 1400 can be a terminal device or a device in a terminal device, configured to implement the related method corresponding to the terminal device in each of the above embodiments, and the specific functions can be referred to the description in each of the above embodiments.

[0440] For example, the related method corresponding to the terminal device in each of the above embodiments includes: in a case where a first condition is met, sending first information to an access network device, the first information including a first transmission delay between a first tethering device and the terminal device and / or including a first variation, wherein the first variation is a variation of the first transmission delay compared with a second transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device; wherein the first condition includes at least one of the following: receiving second information from the access network device, a transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device changes, or a timer expires; wherein the second information is used to indicate information of a transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device, and the timer is a timer associated with the transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device.

[0441] In a second possible implementation, the communication apparatus 1400 can be an access network device or a device in an access network device, configured to implement the related method corresponding to the access network device in each of the above embodiments, and the specific functions can be referred to the description in each of the above embodiments.

[0442] For example, the related method corresponding to the access network device in each of the above embodiments includes: receiving first information from a terminal device, the first information including a first transmission delay between a first tethering device and the terminal device and / or including a first variation, wherein the first variation is a variation of the first transmission delay compared with a second transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device; determining a delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first information.

[0443] In a third possible implementation, the communication apparatus 1400 can be a first core network device or a device in a first core network device, configured to implement the related method corresponding to the first core network device in each of the above embodiments, and the specific functions can be referred to the description in each of the above embodiments.

[0444] Exemplarily, the method corresponding to the first core network device in each of the above embodiments comprises: receiving a second transmission time delay between the terminal device and the first tethering device from the terminal device; and sending fifth information to the access network device, the fifth information comprising a third time length, wherein the third time length is determined by a time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and part of the second transmission time delay, and the fifth information further comprises the second transmission time delay; or the third time length is determined by a time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and the second transmission time delay, and the fifth information further comprises the second transmission time delay and / or indication information, wherein the indication information is used to indicate that the third time length is determined by the time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and the second transmission time delay.

[0445] Exemplarily, the method corresponding to the first core network device in each of the above embodiments comprises: receiving a fourth time length from the access network device, wherein the sum of the fourth time length and a fifth time length is a first transmission time delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device; and sending fifth information to the access network device, the fifth information comprising a third time length, wherein the third time length is determined by a time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and the fourth time length.

[0446] For specific implementation process, please refer to the related content in the above embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0447] FIG. 15 exemplarily shows another communication apparatus 1500 provided by the embodiments of the present application, which comprises an input / output interface 1510 and a logic circuit 1520; the input / output interface 1510 is configured to receive code instructions and transmit the code instructions to the logic circuit 1520; the logic circuit 1520 is configured to run the code instructions to execute the method performed by the terminal device, the access network device, or the first core network device in any of the above embodiments.

[0448] In the first implementation, the communication apparatus 1500 can be applied to a terminal device, and perform the method performed by the terminal device as described above, for example, the method performed by the terminal device in the foregoing method embodiments. For example, the communication apparatus 1500 can send, to an access network device, first information including a first transmission delay between a first tethering device and the terminal device and / or including a first change amount, where the first change amount is a change amount of the first transmission delay compared with a second transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device, in a case where a first condition is met, where the first condition includes at least one of the following: receiving second information from the access network device, a transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device changes, or a timer expires, where the second information is used to indicate information of a transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device, and the timer is a timer associated with a transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device.

[0449] In the second implementation, the communication apparatus 1500 can be applied to an access network device, and perform the method performed by the access network device as described above, for example, the method performed by the access network device in the foregoing method embodiments. For example, the communication apparatus 1500 can receive, from a terminal device, first information including a first transmission delay between a first tethering device and the terminal device and / or including a first change amount, where the first change amount is a change amount of the first transmission delay compared with a second transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device, and determine a delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first information.

[0450] In the third implementation, the communication apparatus 1500 can be applied to the first core network device to perform the method performed by the first core network device described above, for example, the method performed by the first core network device in the foregoing method embodiments. For example, the communication apparatus 1500 can receive the second transmission delay between the terminal device and the first tethering device from the terminal device, and send fifth information to the access network device, where the fifth information includes a third time length, the third time length is determined by a time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and part of the second transmission delay, and the fifth information further includes the second transmission delay; or the third time length is determined by the time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and the second transmission delay, and the fifth information further includes the second transmission delay and / or indication information, the indication information is used to indicate that the third time length is determined by the time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and the second transmission delay. For another example, the communication apparatus 1500 can receive a fourth time length from the access network device, the sum of the fourth time length and a fifth time length is a first transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device, and send fifth information to the access network device, where the fifth information includes a third time length, and the third time length is determined by a time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and the fourth time length.

[0451] For details of the implementation process, refer to the foregoing method embodiments, which will not be described here.

[0452] The embodiments of the present application also provide a communication system, which can include one or more of the following: a terminal device, an access network device, or a first core network device. Wherein, the terminal device, the access network device, or the first core network device can refer to the description in the foregoing method embodiments, which will not be described here.

[0453] The embodiments of the present application also provide a computer readable storage medium storing computer programs or instructions, which, when executed, cause the method or steps performed by the terminal device, the access network device, or the first core network device in the foregoing embodiments to be implemented.

[0454] The embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program product including computer programs, which, when executed on a computer, cause the method or steps performed by the terminal device, the access network device, or the first core network device in the foregoing embodiments to be implemented.

[0455] The embodiments of the present application provide a chip system, which includes a processor for implementing the functions (for example, performing corresponding methods or steps) of the terminal device, the access network device, or the first core network device in the foregoing methods. The chip system can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0456] Optionally, the chip system further comprises a memory for storing program instructions, so that the processor reads and executes the program instructions to implement the corresponding method.

[0457] It should be understood that the size of the sequence number of the above processes in various embodiments of the present application does not mean the order of execution, and the execution order of the processes should be determined according to its function and inherent logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

[0458] Those skilled in the art can appreciate that the units and algorithm steps of the examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be realized in electronic hardware or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether the functions are realized in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. The skilled person 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.

[0459] Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of the description, the specific working process of the above-described system, device and unit can refer to the corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0460] In several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, device and method can be realized by other ways. For example, the above-described device embodiments are only schematic, for example, the division of the units is only a logical function division, and actual implementation can have another division manner, 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.

[0461] 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.

[0462] 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.

[0463] If the functions are implemented 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 part of the technical solutions of the present application that essentially contributes or the part of the technical solutions 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 the various embodiments of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes a U disk, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk, and various media that can store program codes.

[0464] The above is only a specific implementation of the present application, but the protection scope of the embodiments of the present application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily think of changes or replacements within the technical scope disclosed by the embodiments of the present application, which should be covered within the protection scope of the embodiments of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the embodiments of the present application should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method comprises: sending first information to an access network device in a case where a first condition is met, the first information comprising a first transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device and / or comprising a first variation, wherein the first variation is a variation of the first transmission delay compared to a second transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device; wherein the first condition comprises at least one of the following: receiving second information from the access network device, a transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device changing, or a timer expiring; wherein the second information is used to indicate information of a transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device, and the timer is a timer associated with a transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The first transmission delay is associated with at least one of the following: the first tethering device, a first quality of service flow corresponding to the first tethering device, or a first session corresponding to the first tethering device.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The method further comprises: sending third information to the access network device, the third information being used to indicate information of supporting a transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving fourth information from the access network device, the fourth information being used to determine whether information of a transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device is supported.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The information of the transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device does not need to be sent within a duration corresponding to the timer.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The method further comprises: determining that the information of the transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device is not sent to a first core network device.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, Before sending the first information to the access network device, the method further comprises: sending the second transmission delay to a first core network device.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The first information comprises the first variation, and before sending the first information to the access network device, the method further comprises: sending a first duration to a first core network device; sending a second duration to the access network device, a sum of the second duration and the first duration being the second transmission delay.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, The first duration is a minimum transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The first tethering device establishes a first connection with the terminal device through a first technology, the first tethering device communicates with a network through the first connection, and the first technology is any one of the following: a wireless fidelity (WiFi) technology, a star flash technology, or a Bluetooth technology.

11. A communication method, comprising: The method comprises: receiving first information from a terminal device, the first information comprising a first transmission delay between a first tethering device and the terminal device and / or comprising a first variation, wherein the first variation is a variation of the first transmission delay compared to a second transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device; determining a delay budget between an access network device and the terminal device according to the first information.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, The method further comprises: receiving fifth information from a first core network device, the fifth information comprising a third duration; The determining the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first information comprises: The determining the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first information and the third time length.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the third time length is a time delay budget between a second core network device and the access network device. The third time length is determined by a time delay budget between a second core network device and the access network device and a fourth time length, and a sum of the fourth time length and a fifth time length is the first transmission time delay. The third time length is determined by the time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and the second transmission time delay, and the fifth information further comprises indication information, and the first information comprises the first change amount, wherein the indication information is used to indicate that the third time length is determined by the time delay budget between the second core network device and the access network device and the second transmission time delay. The determining the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first information and the third time length comprises:

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that, The determining the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first change amount and the third time length.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, The fifth information further comprises the second transmission time delay. The third time length is determined by a time delay budget between a second core network device and the access network device and a fourth time length, and the method further comprises:

16. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that, The fourth time length is sent to a first core network device.

17. The method of claim 12 or 13, wherein, The determining the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the first information and the third time length comprises: The determining the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device according to the fifth time length and the third time length.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein, The method further comprises: The sixth information is sent to a first core network device, and the sixth information is used to instruct the access network device to determine the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device by using the information of the transmission time delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device.

19. The method of any one of claims 11-13, wherein, The sixth information is further used to instruct a first range, and the first range is a range supported by the access network device for adjusting the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device. The method further comprises:

20. The method of claim 19, wherein, The seventh information is received from a first core network device, and the seventh information is used to instruct to allow the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device to be determined based on the information of the transmission time delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device.

21. The method of any one of claims 11-13, 19, 20, wherein, The seventh information is further used to instruct a second range, and the second range is a range allowed for the access network device to adjust the time delay budget between the access network device and the terminal device. The first transmission time delay is associated with at least one of the following: the first tethering device, a first quality of service flow corresponding to the first tethering device, or a first session corresponding to the first tethering device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein, The method further comprises:

23. The method of any one of claims 11 to 22, wherein, ​ 24. The method of any one of claims 11 to 23, wherein, ​ sending second information to the terminal device, the second information being used for instructing the terminal device to send information of a transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device.

25. The method of any one of claims 11 to 24, wherein, The method further includes: receiving third information from the terminal device, the third information being used for instructing the terminal device to support sending information of a transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein, The method further includes: sending fourth information to the terminal device, the fourth information being used for determining whether the terminal device supports sending information of a transmission delay between the first tethering device and the terminal device.

27. The method of any one of claims 11 to 26, wherein, The first tethering device establishes a first connection with the terminal device through a first technology, the first tethering device communicates with a network through the first connection, and the first technology is any one of a wireless fidelity (WiFi) technology, a star flash technology, or a Bluetooth technology.

28. A communications device, characterized by comprising a module for performing the method of any one of claims 1 to 27.

29. A communications device, characterized by comprising at least one processor configured to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 27.

30. A communication system, characterized by comprising at least one of a terminal device or an access network device, wherein the terminal device is configured to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 10, and the access network device is configured to perform the method of any one of claims 11 to 27.

31. A computer readable storage medium, characterized in that, a computer program product comprising a computer program which, when executed on a computer, causes the method of any one of claims 1 to 27 to be performed.

32. A computer program product, characterised in that, a computer program product comprising a computer program which, when executed on a computer, causes the method of any one of claims 1 to 27 to be performed.

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