Communication method and apparatus

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method and apparatus. According to the communication method provided in the present application, a terminal, a target access network device, or a core network element acquires an area corresponding to an AIoT service and a location of the terminal following an access network device handover, and determines, based on a relationship between the area and the location, whether the terminal will continue executing the AIoT service, thereby reducing the likelihood of AIoT service disruptions.

Description

Communication method and apparatus

[0001] The present application claims priority to the Chinese patent application No. 202411397544.6, filed on September 30, 2024, and entitled "A communication method and apparatus", the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

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

[0003] With the development of communication technology, the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) defines ambient internet of things (AIoT) technology. In AIoT technology and other related technologies, a communication system can include a reader and a tag, the reader can be implemented by a network device (such as a base station) or a user equipment (UE), and the tag can be an internet of things terminal, for example, a passive / semi-passive / active tag implementation. AIoT technology is mainly used to implement the following services: inventory, positioning, sensing, command, etc.; typical application scenarios of AIoT technology include logistics, warehousing, industrial manufacturing, identity recognition, environmental monitoring, etc.

[0004] However, in the process of terminal device performing AIoT service, if the access network device accessed by the terminal device is switched, the above AIoT service loses the control of the source access network device, and the continuity of the AIoT service can be destroyed. SUMMARY

[0005] The present application provides a communication method and apparatus, which can support the terminal to continue to perform the AIoT service after switching the access network device in the process of performing the AIoT service, and is beneficial to avoid the continuity of the AIoT service being destroyed.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, which is applied to a network side, for example, a second access network device or a component (such as a chip, a chip system, etc.) in the second access network device, or can also be a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the function of the second access network device. In the case of the method being applied to the second access network device, a terminal switches to the second access network device in the execution of an AIoT service, and the method comprises: obtaining first information, the first information indicating a first location where the terminal is located; obtaining a first area, the first area indicating an area corresponding to the AIoT service; determining whether the terminal continues to execute the AIoT service according to the first location and the first area; and sending second information, the second information indicating whether the terminal continues to execute the AIoT service.

[0007] In the case of the terminal being switched from a first access network device to a second access network device, the second access network device determines whether the terminal continues to execute the AIoT service according to the relationship between the first location and the first area, which is conducive to maintaining the continuity of the AIoT service.

[0008] In some implementations, after it is determined that the AIoT service continues to be executed, the method further comprises:

[0009] obtaining third information, the third information indicating a second location where the terminal is located; determining whether the AIoT service continues to be executed according to the second location and the first area; and sending fourth information, the fourth information indicating whether the terminal continues to execute the AIoT service.

[0010] In some implementations, after it is determined that the AIoT service does not continue to be executed, the method further comprises:

[0011] obtaining fifth information, the fifth information indicating a third location where the terminal is located; determining whether the AIoT service continues to be executed according to the third location and the first area; and sending sixth information, the sixth information indicating whether the terminal continues to execute the AIoT service.

[0012] The second access network device determines whether the terminal continues to execute the AIoT service based on the above second location and third location, which can determine whether the AIoT service continues to be executed in real time after the terminal accesses the second access network device, and is conducive to maintaining the continuity of the AIoT service in the process of the terminal continuing to move.

[0013] In some implementations, the determination of whether the AIoT service continues to be executed according to the first location and the first area comprises:

[0014] The first location is located in the first area, and it is determined that the AIoT service continues to be executed; or the first location is not located in the first area, and it is determined that the AIoT service does not continue to be executed.

[0015] In some implementations, determining whether to continue performing the AIoT service according to the first location and the first area includes:

[0016] In a case where the first location is in the first area and the second access network device supports the AIoT capability, it is determined to continue performing the AIoT service; or in a case where the first location is in the first area and the second access network device does not support the AIoT capability, it is determined not to continue performing the AIoT service.

[0017] The AIoT capability supported by the access network device includes one or more of the following: an AIoT radio resource scheduling / allocating / controlling / managing capability, an AIoT service related data / signaling transmitting (including sending and / or receiving) capability, and the like.

[0018] In a case where the first location is in the first area, the second access network device further judges whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service based on whether the second access network device itself supports the AIoT capability, which can further maintain the continuity of the AIoT service.

[0019] In some implementations, the second access network device supports the AIoT capability, and after it is determined to continue performing the AIoT service, the method further includes:

[0020] sending first resource information, the first resource information indicating a first resource, the first resource being used for communication between the terminal and the AIoT device; and / or sending radio bearer (RB) configuration information, the RB configuration information being used to indicate a first RB, the first RB being dedicated to transmitting AIoT service related data and / or signaling.

[0021] In some implementations, the first resource is an AIoT radio resource used by the terminal to communicate with the AIoT device in a first cell, the first cell being a cell in which the terminal accesses the second access network device; or the first resource is an AIoT radio resource used by the terminal to communicate with the AIoT device in a second cell, the second cell including a plurality of cells controlled by the second access network device; or the first resource is an AIoT radio resource used by the terminal to communicate with the AIoT device in a handover cell process or a handover access network device process.

[0022] The second access network device configures the first resource used by the terminal to communicate with the AIoT device, and after it is determined that the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service, the terminal can use the AIoT radio resource to communicate with the AIoT device.

[0023] In some implementations, whether to continue performing the AIoT service includes:

[0024] whether to report data corresponding to the AIoT service, and / or whether to transmit data and / or signaling corresponding to the AIoT service with the AIoT device.

[0025] In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, applied to a core network element, a terminal switches to a second access network device in performing an AIoT service, and the method comprises the following steps:

[0026] In some implementations, after determining that the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service, the method further comprises:

[0027] obtaining third information, the third information indicating a second location of the terminal; determining whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service according to the second location and the first area; and sending seventh information, the seventh information indicating whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service.

[0028] In some implementations, after determining that the terminal does not continue to perform the AIoT service, the method further comprises:

[0029] obtaining fifth information, the fifth information indicating a third location of the terminal; determining whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service according to the third location and the first area; and sending eighth information, the eighth information indicating whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service.

[0030] In some implementations, determining whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service according to the first location and the first area comprises:

[0031] the first location is in the first area, and it is determined that the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service; or the first location is not in the first area, and it is determined that the terminal does not continue to perform the AIoT service.

[0032] In some implementations, the method further comprises:

[0033] obtaining first capability information, the first capability information indicating whether the second access network device supports an AIoT capability.

[0034] In some implementations, determining whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service according to the first location and the first area comprises:

[0035] The first location is in the first area, and the second access network supports AIoT capability, and it is determined that the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service; or the first location is in the first area, and the second access network does not support AIoT capability, and it is determined that the terminal does not continue to perform the AIoT service.

[0036] In some implementations, the method further includes:

[0037] The third resource information is transmitted, and the third resource information indicates a third resource, and the third resource is an AIoT wireless resource used by the terminal to communicate with the AIoT device in the process of switching the cell or in the process of switching the access network device.

[0038] In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication method applied to a terminal side, for example, a terminal or a communication module in the terminal, or a circuit or chip responsible for a communication function in the terminal. Taking the case that the method is applied to the terminal, the terminal accesses a first access network device, and the method includes: receiving a first message in the process of performing an AIoT service; in response to receiving the first message, the terminal accesses a second access network device; obtaining ninth information, and determining whether to perform the AIoT service according to the ninth information.

[0039] In some implementations, the ninth information indicates whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service.

[0040] In some implementations, the ninth information includes first information and a first area, the first information indicates a first location of the terminal, and the first area indicates an area corresponding to the AIoT service.

[0041] The determination of whether to perform the AIoT service according to the ninth information includes:

[0042] According to the first location and the first area, it is determined whether to continue to perform the AIoT service.

[0043] In some implementations, after it is determined to continue to perform the AIoT service, the method further includes:

[0044] The third information is obtained, the third information indicates a second location of the terminal, and according to the second location and the first area, it is determined whether to continue to perform the AIoT service.

[0045] In some implementations, after it is determined not to continue to perform the AIoT service, the method further includes:

[0046] The fifth information is obtained, the fifth information indicates a third location of the terminal, and according to the third location and the first area, it is determined whether to continue to perform the AIoT service.

[0047] In some implementations, the determination of whether to continue to perform the AIoT service according to the first location and the first area includes:

[0048] The first position is located in the first region, and it is determined to continue to execute the AIoT service; or the first position is not located in the first region, and it is determined not to continue to execute the AIoT service.

[0049] In some implementations, the method further includes:

[0050] obtaining first capability information, the first capability information indicating whether the second access network device supports an AIoT capability.

[0051] The determining whether to continue to execute the AIoT service according to the first position and the first region includes:

[0052] The first position is located in the first region, and the second access network device supports the AIoT capability, and it is determined to continue to execute the AIoT service; or the first position is located in the first region, and the second access network device does not support the AIoT capability, and it is determined not to continue to execute the AIoT service.

[0053] In some implementations, after it is determined not to continue to execute the AIoT service, the method further includes:

[0054] releasing the tenth information, the tenth information including data and / or signaling corresponding to the AIoT service received by the terminal before accessing the second access network device; or retaining the tenth information until the terminal accesses the third access network device.

[0055] In some implementations, the releasing the tenth information includes:

[0056] In a case where a duration for retaining the tenth information reaches a preset duration, the tenth information is released.

[0057] After it is determined not to continue to execute the AIoT service, the terminal releases the tenth information, so that the resources in the storage space can be saved. Retaining the tenth information is beneficial to improving the utilization rate of the tenth information.

[0058] In some implementations, the second access network device supports the AIoT capability, and after it is determined to continue to execute the AIoT service, the method further includes:

[0059] receiving first resource information, the first resource information indicating a first resource, the first resource being used for communication between the terminal and the AIoT device; and / or receiving RB configuration information, the RB configuration information being used for indicating a first RB, the first RB being dedicated to transmitting data and / or signaling related to the AIoT service.

[0060] In some embodiments, the first resource is AIoT wireless resource used by the terminal to communicate with the AIoT device in the first cell, and the first cell is a cell in which the terminal accesses the second access network device; or the first resource is AIoT wireless resource used by the terminal to communicate with the AIoT device in the second cell, and the second cell includes a plurality of cells controlled by the second access network device; or the first resource is AIoT resource used by the terminal to communicate with the AIoT device in a handover cell process or a handover access network device process.

[0061] In some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0062] receiving second resource information, the second resource information indicating a second resource, the second resource being AIoT wireless resource used by the terminal to communicate with the AIoT device in a handover cell process or a handover access network device process, and the second resource information being from the first access network device.

[0063] In some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0064] receiving third resource information, the third resource information indicating a third resource, the third resource being AIoT wireless resource used by the terminal to communicate with the AIoT device in a handover cell process or a handover access network device process, and the third resource information being from a core network element.

[0065] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication method applied to a terminal side, for example, a terminal or a communication module in the terminal, or a circuit or chip responsible for communication function in the terminal. Taking the case that the method is applied to the terminal, the terminal accesses a first access network device, and the method includes: in performing an AIoT service, receiving a first message, the first message indicating that the terminal accesses or switches to a second access network device; and stopping performing the AIoT service.

[0066] In some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0067] releasing configuration corresponding to the AIoT service, and / or releasing a first context of the terminal, the first context being used for the terminal to transmit the AIoT service with the AIoT device.

[0068] In some embodiments, the configuration corresponding to the AIoT service includes AIoT wireless resource used to transmit information of the AIoT service.

[0069] In some embodiments, the terminal accesses the first access network device, including:

[0070] The terminal accesses a third cell, and the third cell is a cell controlled by the first access network device.

[0071] In some embodiments, the method further includes:

[0072] In response to receiving the first message, the terminal accesses a fourth cell, the fourth cell being a cell controlled by the first access network device.

[0073] In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, applied to a terminal side, for example, a terminal or a communication module in the terminal, or a circuit or chip responsible for a communication function in the terminal. Taking the method applied to the terminal as an example, the terminal accesses a first access network device, and the method comprises the following steps: in an AIoT service execution process, receiving a first message, the first message indicating that the terminal accesses or switches to a second access network device; suspending the AIoT service.

[0074] In some implementations, the method further comprises:

[0075] suspending a configuration corresponding to the AIoT service, and / or suspending a first context of the terminal, the first context being used for the terminal to transmit the AIoT service with the AIoT device.

[0076] In some implementations, the configuration corresponding to the AIoT service comprises AIoT radio resources used for transmitting information corresponding to the AIoT service.

[0077] In some implementations, the terminal accesses the first access network device, comprising:

[0078] The terminal accesses a third cell, the third cell being a cell controlled by the first access network device.

[0079] In some implementations, the method further comprises:

[0080] In response to receiving the first message, the terminal accesses a fourth cell, the fourth cell being a cell controlled by the first access network device; receiving a second message from the fourth cell, the second message indicating any one of the following: resuming the AIoT service, stopping the AIoT service execution, or indicating the configuration corresponding to the AIoT service.

[0081] In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication method, applied to a terminal side, for example, a terminal or a communication module in the terminal, or a circuit or chip responsible for a communication function in the terminal. Taking the method applied to the terminal as an example, the terminal accesses a third cell controlled by a first access network device, and the method comprises the following steps: in an AIoT service execution process, receiving a first message; in response to receiving the first message, accessing a fourth cell; and if the fourth cell is the third cell, continuing the AIoT service execution.

[0082] In some implementations, the method further comprises:

[0083] If the fourth cell is different from the third cell, stopping the AIoT service execution, or suspending the AIoT service.

[0084] In a seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication method applied to a terminal side, for example, a terminal or a communication module in the terminal, or a circuit or chip responsible for communication functions in the terminal. Taking the case of the method applied to the terminal, the terminal accesses a third cell controlled by a first access network device, and the method comprises: in the execution of an AIoT service, receiving a first message, the first message indicating that the terminal accesses or switches to a second access network device; in response to receiving the first message, starting a first timer; during the running of the first timer, continuing to execute the AIoT service, or accessing a fourth cell.

[0085] In some implementations, after accessing the fourth cell, the method further comprises:

[0086] sending, by the fourth cell, a third message, the third message indicating RRC reconfiguration completion; after sending the third message, stopping the timer; and / or after sending the third message, receiving, by the fourth cell, first configuration information, and executing the AIoT service according to the first configuration information.

[0087] In some implementations, the method further comprises:

[0088] in the case where the timing duration of the first timer reaches a second preset duration, stopping the execution of the AIoT service, or suspending the AIoT service.

[0089] In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a communication device comprising modules or units for implementing the methods in the first to seventh aspects and any possible implementation manner of the first to seventh aspects. Each module or unit can realize the corresponding function by executing a computer program.

[0090] Exemplarily, the communication device in the eighth aspect is a terminal device, or a component configured in the terminal device, such as a chip, a chip system, a processor, etc., or the communication device in the eighth aspect is an access network device, or a component configured in the access network device, such as a chip, a chip system, a processor, etc., or the communication device in the eighth aspect is a core network element, or a component configured in the core network element.

[0091] In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a communication device comprising a processor, the processor being configured to execute the communication method in the first to seventh aspects and any possible implementation manner of the first to seventh aspects.

[0092] Optionally, the communication device comprises a memory for storing instructions and data. The memory is coupled to the processor, and the processor can implement the method described in each aspect when executing the instructions stored in the memory.

[0093] Optionally, the communication device comprises a communication interface for the device to communicate with other communication devices, which can be a transceiver, a circuit, a bus, a module, a pin or other types of communication interfaces.

[0094] Optionally, the communication device of the ninth aspect is a chip or a chip system, which can also be a terminal device or an access network device.

[0095] The tenth aspect of the present application provides a computer readable storage medium comprising a computer program which, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to implement the method of the first to seventh aspects and any possible implementation of the first to seventh aspects.

[0096] The eleventh aspect of the present application provides a computer program product comprising a computer program (also referred to as code or instructions) which, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method of the first and seventh aspects and any possible implementation of the first and seventh aspects.

[0097] The eighth to eleventh aspects of the present application correspond to the technical solution of the first aspect of the present application, and the beneficial effects achieved by each aspect and the corresponding possible implementation are similar and will not be repeated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0098] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system to which embodiments of the present application are applied;

[0099] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an access network device to which embodiments of the present application are applied;

[0100] FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of topology 1 in an AIoT network architecture;

[0101] FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram of topology 2 in an AIoT network architecture;

[0102] FIG. 3C is a schematic diagram of topology 3 in an AIoT network architecture;

[0103] FIG. 3D is a schematic diagram of topology 4 in an AIoT network architecture;

[0104] FIG. 3E is a schematic diagram of a communication system suitable for embodiments of the present application;

[0105] FIG. 3F is a schematic diagram of another communication system suitable for embodiments of the present application;

[0106] FIG. 3G is a schematic diagram of still another communication system suitable for embodiments of the present application;

[0107] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0108] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0109] FIG. 6A is a protocol stack diagram of a solution based on RRC transmission (solution 1) under topology 2 architecture;

[0110] FIG. 6B is a protocol stack diagram of a solution based on non-access stratum (NAS) transmission (solution 2) under topology 2 architecture;

[0111] FIG. 6C is a protocol stack diagram of a solution based on user plane (UP) transmission (solution 3) under topology 2 architecture;

[0112] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a communication method according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0113] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a communication method according to yet another embodiment of the present application;

[0114] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0115] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating a communication method according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0116] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating a communication method according to yet another embodiment of the present application;

[0117] FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating a communication method according to yet another embodiment of the present application;

[0118] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0119] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a communication apparatus according to another embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0120] The exemplary embodiments will be described in detail herein below with reference to the drawings. The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to represent all embodiments in accordance with this application. Alternatively, the exemplary embodiments described hereinbelow represent a description of the devices and methods in accordance with some aspects of the present application, as detailed in the appended claims.

[0121] It should be understood that, in the application, "at least one" means one or more, "multiple" means two or more. The "and / or" describes the association relationship of the associated objects, which means that there can be three relationships, for example, A and / or B can represent the following three cases: A exists alone, A and B exist together, B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally represents an "or" relationship between the associated objects before and after it, but does not rule out the case that the associated objects before and after it represent an "and" relationship, and the meaning expressed can be understood in combination with the context. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions means any combination of these items, including any combination of single or multiple items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can represent: a, b, c; a and b; a and c; b and c; or a and b and c. Where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0122] In the present application, the use of prefixes such as "first", "second" and the like is merely intended to distinguish different objects belonging to the same name category for ease of description, and does not constrain the order, size or quantity of the objects. For example, "first parameter" and "second parameter" are only different parameters, and there is no time sequence or size relationship between them.

[0123] The present application will present various aspects, embodiments or features around a system that can include multiple devices, components, modules, etc. It should be understood and appreciated that each system can include additional devices, components, modules, etc., and / or can not include all of the devices, components, modules, etc. discussed in conjunction with the drawings. In addition, combinations of these solutions can also be used.

[0124] In addition, in the embodiments of the present application, the words "exemplarily", "such as" and the like are used to represent examples, illustrations or descriptions. 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 word "example" is intended to present the concept in a specific way. In the embodiments of the present application, "of", "corresponding" and "corresponding" are sometimes used interchangeably, and it should be pointed out that when their differences are not emphasized, their meanings expressed are consistent.

[0125] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an architecture of a communication system to which embodiments of the present application are applied. FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a possible, non-limiting architecture of a system. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system includes a radio access network (RAN) 100 and a core network (CN) 200. The RAN 100 includes at least one RAN node (e.g., 110a and 110b in FIG. 1, collectively referred to as 110) and at least one terminal device (e.g., 120a-120j in FIG. 1, collectively referred to as 120). Other RAN nodes, such as wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices (not shown in FIG. 1), etc., can also be included in the RAN 100. The terminal devices 120 are connected to the RAN nodes 110 in a wireless manner. The RAN nodes 110 are connected to the core network 200 in a wireless or wired manner. The core network devices in the core network 200 and the RAN nodes 110 in the RAN 100 can be different physical devices respectively, or can be the same physical device integrated with the logical functions of the core network and the logical functions of the radio access network.

[0126] The RAN 100 can be a 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP)-related cellular system, such as a 5G mobile communication system or a future-oriented evolved system (e.g., a 6G mobile communication system). The RAN 100 can also be an open radio access network (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), or a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) system. The RAN 100 can also be a communication system that combines two or more of the above systems.

[0127] The RAN nodes 110, which can also be referred to as access network devices, RAN entities, or access nodes, etc., are part of the communication system and help terminal devices to access wirelessly. The RAN nodes 110 in the communication system can be the same type of nodes or different types of nodes. In some scenarios, the roles of the RAN nodes 110 and the terminal devices 120 are relative, e.g., the network element 120i in FIG. 1 can be a helicopter or a drone, which can be configured as a mobile base station. For a terminal device 120j that accesses the RAN 100 through the network element 120i, the network element 120i is a base station; but for the base station 110a, the network element 120i is a terminal device. The RAN nodes 110 and the terminal devices 120 are sometimes collectively referred to as communication apparatuses, e.g., the network elements 110a and 110b in FIG. 1 can be understood as communication apparatuses with base station functions, and the network elements 120a-120j can be understood as communication apparatuses with terminal functions.

[0128] In one possible scenario, the RAN node can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next generation NodeB (gNB), a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a Wi-Fi system, etc. The RAN node can be a macro base station (e.g., 110a in FIG. 1), a micro base station or an indoor station (e.g., 110b in FIG. 1), a relay node or a donor node, or a wireless controller in a CRAN scenario. Optionally, the RAN node can also be a server, a wearable device, a vehicle or a vehicle-mounted device, etc. For example, the access network device in vehicle to everything (V2X) technology can be a road side unit (RSU).

[0129] In another possible scenario, multiple RAN nodes cooperate to assist a terminal to implement wireless access, and different RAN nodes respectively implement part of the functions of a base station. For example, the RAN node can be a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a CU control plane (CU-CP), a CU user plane (CU-UP), or a radio unit (RU), etc. The CU and the DU can be separately arranged, or can be included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). The RU can be included in a radio frequency device or a radio frequency unit, such as a radio frequency remote unit (RRU), an active antenna processing unit (AAU), or a remote radio head (RRH).

[0130] In different systems, the CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU or RU can also have different names, but those skilled in the art can understand their meanings. For example, in 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 this application. Any one of the CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU and RU in this application can be implemented by a software module, a hardware module, or a combination of a software module and a hardware module.

[0131] The terminal device can also be referred to as a terminal, a user equipment (UE), a mobile station, a mobile terminal, etc. The terminal device can be widely applied to various scenarios, such as device-to-device (D2D) communication, vehicle to everything (V2X) communication, machine-type communication (MTC), internet of things (IOT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, automatic driving, remote medical treatment, smart power grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wear, smart transportation, smart city, etc. The terminal can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a wearable device, a vehicle, a drone, a helicopter, an airplane, a ship, a robot, a mechanical arm, a smart home device, etc.

[0132] In the embodiments of this application, the access network device can be, for example, the RAN node 110 shown in FIG. 1, and the terminal device can be, for example, the terminal device 120 shown in FIG. 1. Multiple network devices can simultaneously transmit data or control signaling for a single terminal device. The type of access network device and terminal device is not limited in this application.

[0133] In addition, the terminal device and the access network device can be a hardware device, or a software function running on a special hardware, a software function running on a general hardware, such as a virtualized function instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform), or an entity including a special or general hardware device and a software function. The specific form of the terminal device and the access network device is not limited in this application.

[0134] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an access network device to which embodiments of the present application can be applied. As shown in Figure 2, the access network device comprises one or more CUs, one or more DUs, and one or more RUs, for the sake of clarity, only one CU, one DU, and one RU are shown in Figure 2. The CU is configured to connect to a core network and to one or more DUs. Optionally, the CU can have part of the functionality of the core network. The CU can comprise a CU-CP and a CU-UP.

[0135] The CU and the DU can be configured according to the protocol layer functions of the wireless network they implement: for example, the CU is configured to implement the functions of the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer and above protocol layers (e.g. the radio resource control (RRC) layer and / or the service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer, etc.); the DU is configured to implement the functions of the PDCP layer and below protocol layers (e.g. the radio link control (RLC) layer, the medium access control (MAC) layer, and / or the physical (PHY) layer, etc.). For another example, the CU is configured to implement the functions of the PDCP layer and above protocol layers (e.g. the RRC layer and / or the SDAP layer), and the DU is configured to implement the functions of the PDCP layer and below protocol layers (e.g. the RLC layer, the MAC layer, and / or the PHY layer, etc.).

[0136] When the CU comprises a CU-CP and a CU-UP, the CU-CP is configured to implement the control plane functions of the CU, and the CU-UP is configured to implement the user plane functions of the CU. For example, the CU is configured to implement the functions of the PDCP layer, the RRC layer, and the SDAP layer, the CU-CP is configured to implement the RRC layer functions and the control plane functions of the PDCP layer, and the CU-UP is configured to implement the SDAP layer functions and the user plane functions of the PDCP layer.

[0137] The CU-CP can interact with a network element in the core network that is configured to implement control plane functions. The network element in the core network that is configured to implement control plane functions can be an access and mobility function network element, for example, an access and mobility management function (AMF) network element in a 5G system. The AMF network element is configured to be responsible for mobility management in a mobile network, such as location updating of a terminal device, registration of a terminal device to a network, handover of a terminal device, etc.

[0138] The CU-UP can interact with a network element in the core network for implementing user plane functions. The network element in the core network for implementing user plane functions, for example, a user plane function (UPF) network element in a 5G system, is responsible for forwarding and receiving data in the terminal device.

[0139] The above configuration of the CU and the DU is merely an example, and the functions of the CU and the DU can be configured as needed. For example, the CU or the DU can be configured to have more protocol layer functions, or the CU or the DU can be configured to have partial processing functions of the protocol layers. For example, partial functions of the RLC layer and functions of the protocol layers above the RLC layer are arranged in the CU, and the remaining functions of the RLC layer and functions of the protocol layers below the RLC layer are arranged in the DU. For another example, the functions of the CU or the DU can be divided according to service types or other system requirements. For example, functions that require to meet a shorter delay requirement in processing time are arranged in the DU, and functions that do not require to meet the delay requirement are arranged in the CU.

[0140] The DU and the RU can cooperate to jointly implement the functions of the PHY layer. One DU can be connected to one or more RUs. The functions of the DU and the RU can be configured in various ways according to design. For example, the DU is configured to implement baseband functions, and the RU is configured to implement intermediate radio frequency functions. For another example, the DU is configured to implement high-layer functions in the PHY layer, and the RU is configured to implement low-layer functions in the PHY layer or to implement the low-layer functions and radio frequency functions. The high-layer functions in the PHY layer can include a part of the functions of the PHY layer that are closer to the MAC layer, and the low-layer functions in the PHY layer can include another part of the functions of the PHY layer that are closer to the intermediate radio frequency side.

[0141] A passive radio frequency identification (RFID) system includes an interrogator and a tag device, which can also be understood as an electronic tag. The interrogator reads information in the tag device or writes information to be stored in the tag device to the tag device. The interrogator and the tag device perform non-contact data communication. Due to the advantage of low power consumption of the passive radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, the RFID technology is applied to the communication system shown in FIG. 1, and a highly simplified internet of things (IoT), i.e., an ambient IoT (AIoT), can be constructed.

[0142] According to the communication system shown in FIG. 1, 3GPP defines four AIoT network architectures. FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of an architecture of topology 1 in an AIoT network architecture. As shown in FIG. 3A, the AIoT network under the topology (Topolgy) 1 architecture includes AIoT devices and access network devices.

[0143] Among them, the AIoT device can be understood as a kind of Internet of Things device with extremely low power consumption and extremely low complexity, which can be divided into three types of active, passive and semi-active, and the AIoT device is equivalent to the tag in the RFID system. Under the topology 1 architecture, the AIoT device and the access network device directly communicate with each other, and the communication content between the access network device and the AIoT device can include AIoT data and / or AIoT related signaling.

[0144] FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram of an architecture of topology 2 in an AIoT network architecture. As shown in FIG. 3B, the AIoT network under the topology 2 architecture includes AIoT devices, intermediate nodes and access network devices. Among them, the intermediate node can be specifically a repeater, an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node and a terminal, etc. It should be noted that the terminal can also be described as a terminal reader (UE reader), an AIoT-enabled terminal (AIoT-enabled UE).

[0145] Under the topology 2 architecture, the AIoT device and the intermediate node communicate with each other, and the intermediate node and the access network device communicate with each other, that is, the AIoT device transmits AIoT data and / or AIoT related signaling to the access network device through the intermediate node, and the AIoT device realizes indirect bidirectional communication with the access network device through the intermediate node. For ease of description, the intermediate node in the topology 2 architecture is uniformly described as a terminal in the embodiments of the present application.

[0146] FIG. 3C is a schematic diagram of an architecture of topology 3 in an AIoT network architecture. As shown in FIG. 3C, the AIoT network under the topology 3 architecture includes AIoT devices, auxiliary nodes and access network devices. Among them, the auxiliary node can be specifically a repeater, an IAB node and a UE, etc.

[0147] Under the topology 3 architecture, the AIoT device sends AIoT data and / or AIoT related signaling to the access network device, and receives AIoT data and / or AIoT related signaling from the auxiliary node. Alternatively, the AIoT device receives AIoT data and / or AIoT related signaling from the access network device, and sends AIoT data and / or AIoT related signaling to the auxiliary node.

[0148] FIG. 3D is a schematic diagram of topology 4 in the AIoT network architecture. As shown in FIG. 3D, the AIoT network under the topology 4 architecture includes terminal devices and AIoT devices.

[0149] Under the topology 4 architecture, the AIoT devices and the terminal devices directly communicate with each other, and the communication content between the terminal devices and the access network devices can include AIoT data and / or AIoT related signaling.

[0150] In the above topology architectures, the devices communicating with the AIoT devices can be understood as devices with read-write functions, which are uniformly described as readers / writers in the embodiments of the present application. Among them, the access network devices in the topology 1 architecture correspond to the readers / writers, the intermediate nodes in the topology 2 architecture correspond to the readers / writers, the auxiliary nodes in the topology 3 architecture correspond to the readers / writers, and the terminal devices in the topology 4 architecture correspond to the readers / writers.

[0151] The AIoT technology can be used to implement one or more AIoT services such as inventory, positioning, sensing, and command, and its typical application scenarios include logistics, warehousing, industrial manufacturing, identity recognition, and environmental monitoring.

[0152] Among them, the inventory service is to access the AIoT devices within the coverage range by the reader / writer, and the successfully accessed devices need to send their unique identifiers to the reader / writer, which is a network identifiable identifier such as the electronic product code (EPC) in RFID.

[0153] The positioning service is to use some positioning signals to locate the position of the AIoT device. The sensing service is to report the sensing data such as temperature data to the access network device by the AIoT device.

[0154] The command can be some operation instruction, and the command service can include at least one of the following services:

[0155] The read service can read the EPC, tag identifier (TID), content stored in the reserved area of the tag, or content stored in the user storage area, etc.

[0156] The write service can perform a write operation on the storage area of the tag, for example, the reader / writer sends a downlink instruction and data to the tag, instructing the tag to write the data into its own memory.

[0157] The disable service can be temporarily disabled or permanently disabled.

[0158] Kill service: The kill service can make the tag never work.

[0159] Lock service: The lock service can lock the information of the tag, so as to prevent the reader from performing the read service or the write service on the tag. Alternatively, the lock service can also lock the storage area of the tag, so as to prevent or allow the read service or the write service on the storage area.

[0160] It can be understood that other services or operations can also be performed between the AIoT device and the reader, which will not be illustrated one by one here.

[0161] In the AIoT technology, the core network can configure corresponding AIoT services according to the specific needs of the application scenario. In the four AIoT network architectures shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D, the access network device configures AIoT radio resources for the corresponding reader after receiving the AIoT service configured by the core network, so that the reader communicates with the AIoT device using the AIoT wireless resources. It can be understood that in the topology 4 architecture, the terminal device is connected to the access network device and communicates with the AIoT device bidirectionally according to the AIoT wireless resources configured by the access network device. FIG. 3D shows the transmission direction of AIoT data and / or AIoT related signaling in the topology architecture, and the access network device is omitted.

[0162] In the topology 2 architecture shown in FIG. 3B, the terminal can move, and during the movement of the terminal, if the location of the terminal is not within the coverage of the accessed access network device, the terminal needs to be handed over from the currently accessed access network device to another access network device. In the case of handover of the access network device accessed by the terminal, the currently accessed access network device is the source access network device, and the access network device to be accessed is the target access network device.

[0163] According to the foregoing introduction, in the topology 2 architecture, the source access network device configures AIoT wireless resources for the terminal to realize the reading and writing functions, which is equivalent to that the source access network device controls the AIoT service performed by the terminal. However, in the case of handover of the access network device of the terminal, the AIoT wireless resources configured by the source access network device are invalid, and the AIoT service loses the control of the source access network device. Correspondingly, the AIoT service performed by the terminal is interrupted, and the continuity of the AIoT service can be destroyed.

[0164] To solve the above technical problems, the present application provides a communication method and device, which can support the terminal to continue to perform the AIoT service after switching the access network device in the process of performing the AIoT service, which is beneficial to avoid the continuity of the AIoT service being destroyed.

[0165] The embodiment of the application can enable the terminal, the target access network device or the core network element under the topology 2 architecture to obtain the area corresponding to the AIoT service and the location of the terminal after switching the access network device, and determine whether the terminal continues the AIoT service according to the relationship between the above area and the location, thereby reducing the possibility that the continuity of the AIoT service is destroyed.

[0166] In the following embodiments, the interaction between the terminal, the access network device and the core network element is taken as an example for description. It should be understood that the terminal described above can be replaced by a component (such as a chip, a chip system, a processor, etc.) configured in the terminal, or a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the terminal; the access network device described above can also be replaced by a component (such as a chip, a chip system, a processor, etc.) configured in the access network device, or a logic module or software capable of realizing all or part of the functions of the access network device.

[0167] FIGS. 3E-3G are schematic diagrams of several communication systems suitable for the embodiments of the application.

[0168] As shown in FIG. 3E, the access network device (for example, gNB) can be directly connected to the AIoT core network (AIoT CN). The AIoT CN can be an AIoT function (AIoTF) element. Optionally, the AIoTF can also be replaced by a tag management function (TMF) or an ambient IoT management function (AIoTMF), or can have other names. The specific name is not limited in the application, and the core network element or core network function or core network node or core network device supporting / enabling AIoT can be supported / enabled.

[0169] Since the interface name between the access network device and the core network element supporting / enabling AIoT has not been defined at present, the interface between the access network device and the core network element supporting the AIoT capability is uniformly referred to as “XX” in the embodiments of the application. The interface between the access network device and the AIoTF is a first interface. Correspondingly, the XXAP can be an application protocol on the first interface (or referred to as XX interface), which is used to provide a signaling service between the access network device and the AIoTF. One or more of the AIoT messages, data or signaling exchanged by the two can be included in the XXAP message.

[0170] As shown in FIG. 3F, the access network device and the AIoTF are not directly connected, and therefore the first interface between the access network device and the AIoTF in FIG. 3E does not exist. In FIG. 3F, the information exchange between the access network device and the AIoTF needs to be forwarded through the AMF.

[0171] As shown in FIG. 3G, the AMF connected with the access network device can be an enhanced AMF, which can serve both the UE and the AIoT device. It can be understood that the AMF has the function of AIoT.

[0172] The AIoT-enabled terminal shown in any one of FIGS. 3E-3G can provide a reader function, or in other words, can perform an AIoT service. The AIoT device shown in any one of FIGS. 3E-3G is, for example, an AIoT device. The terminal and the AIoT device can perform an AIoT service. By performing the AIoT service, corresponding data and the like can be generated, and the terminal can send the data to the access network device serving the terminal, or can not send the data. Since the terminal can report the data and the like generated by performing the AIoT service with the AIoT device to the access network device, it can also be considered that the access network device, the terminal, and the AIoT device can perform an AIoT service, or it can be understood that the network elements participating in the execution of the AIoT service can include the access network device, the terminal, and the AIoT device. Among them, the access network device can include one or more of the following: the first access network device, the second access network device, or the core network device.

[0173] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. Exemplarily, the communication method is applied to the topology 2 architecture. As shown in FIG. 4, the communication method can include steps S401-S406.

[0174] S401, the first access network device sends a first message to the terminal in the execution of the AIoT service by the terminal, and the first message instructs the terminal to switch to the second access network device. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the first message from the first access network device.

[0175] It can be understood that the terminal communicates with the AIoT device as an intermediate node in the topology 2 architecture to perform the AIoT service. In the process of performing the AIoT service, the access network device currently accessed by the terminal is the first access network device, and in the case that the terminal moves from the coverage area of the first access network device to the coverage area of the second access network device, the first access network device instructs the terminal to switch to the second access network device through the first message. Among them, the first access network device corresponds to the source access network device, and the second access network device corresponds to the target access network device.

[0176] S402, the terminal accesses the second access network device in response to receiving the first message.

[0177] In this step, after receiving the first message, the terminal disconnects the connection with the first access network device and initiates access to the second access network device indicated in the first message, so as to switch from the first access network device to the second access network device.

[0178] S403, the second access network device acquires first information, the first information indicating a first location where the terminal is located.

[0179] In this step, as a possible implementation, the terminal can acquire the first information through a positioning service.

[0180] Exemplarily, the granularity of the first information can be a cell granularity, a tracking area (TA) granularity, or other base station granularity, a base station service area or coverage area, etc., which is not limited in the present application.

[0181] In a specific form, the first information can be coordinate, beam, topology (area), or identification information, etc., which is not limited in the present application.

[0182] In this step, after acquiring the first information indicating the first location where the terminal is located, the terminal can send the first information to the second access network device.

[0183] In another possible implementation, after the terminal switches the access network device, the location where the terminal is located is within the coverage of the second access network device, and therefore the area location corresponding to the coverage of the second access network device can also be taken as the first location where the terminal is located. The second access network device can indicate the first location where the terminal is located through the first information indicating the coverage of the second access network device.

[0184] S404, the second access network device acquires a first area, the first area indicating an area corresponding to an AIoT service.

[0185] The AIoT service is a service configured by a core network. According to actual requirements of an application scenario, the core network can configure a corresponding AIoT service, thereby serving different areas. Exemplarily, the AIoT service executed by the terminal can be an inventory service, and an inventory area corresponding to the inventory service is equivalent to the first area.

[0186] In this step, the second access network device can acquire the first area from the terminal or the first access network device, the first area indicating an area corresponding to the AIoT service executed by the terminal, which is further described in the following embodiments.

[0187] It should be noted that the second access network device can acquire the first information first and then acquire the first area, or acquire the first area first and then acquire the first information, or acquire the first area and the first information at the same time, and the execution order of the above steps S403 and S404 is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0188] S405, the second access network device determines whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service according to the first position and the first area.

[0189] In the embodiments of the present application, whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service includes whether the terminal reports data corresponding to the AIoT service, and / or whether the terminal transmits data and / or signaling corresponding to the AIoT service with the AIoT device.

[0190] It can be understood that the terminal in the topology 2 architecture is an intermediate node between the access network device and the AIoT device, and when the terminal communicates with the AIoT device as a reader, the terminal transmits one or more of messages, data or signaling corresponding to the AIoT service with the AIoT device. When the terminal communicates with the access network device, the terminal is responsible for reporting data corresponding to the AIoT service to the access network device, and the terminal can send one or more of messages, data or signaling corresponding to the AIoT service to the access network device. Therefore, when determining whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service, it can be specifically understood as determining whether the terminal reports data corresponding to the AIoT service, and / or determining whether the terminal transmits data and / or signaling corresponding to the AIoT service with the AIoT device.

[0191] In this step, the relationship between the first position and the first area provides a possible basis for the second access network device to determine whether to continue to perform the AIoT service.

[0192] In some implementations, the first position is located in the first area, and the second access network device can determine that the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service. Alternatively, the first position is not located in the first area, and the second access network device can determine that the terminal does not continue to perform the AIoT service.

[0193] As can be known from the foregoing, the first area is a range of an area corresponding to the AIoT service, and the first position is a point where the terminal is located. If the first area includes the first position, it means that the first position is located in the first area, and it can be understood that after the terminal moves from the coverage range of the first access network device to the coverage range of the second access network device, the terminal does not leave the area corresponding to the AIoT service, and the second access network device can determine that the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service.

[0194] If the first area does not include the first position, it means that the first position is not located in the first area, and it can be understood that after the terminal moves from the coverage range of the first access network device to the coverage range of the second access network device, the terminal leaves the area corresponding to the AIoT service, and the second access network device can determine that the terminal does not continue to perform the AIoT service.

[0195] In a possible implementation, the first position is located in the first area, and the second access network device can determine that the terminal does not continue to perform the AIoT service. Alternatively, the first position is not located in the first area, and the second access network device can determine that the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service.

[0196] In a possible implementation, the first position is located in the first area, and the second access network device can determine that the terminal does not continue to perform the AIoT service. Alternatively, the first position is not located in the first area, and the second access network device can determine that the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service.

[0197] It can be understood that the terminal is an intermediate node between the second access network device and the AIoT device, and the execution subject of the AIoT service that continues to be performed is the terminal, and therefore, after the determination in step S405, the second information needs to be sent to the terminal to indicate whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service.

[0198] In this embodiment, in the case that the terminal is handed over from the first access network device to the second access network device, the second access network device can determine whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service according to the relationship between the first position and the first area, which is beneficial to maintaining the continuity of the AIoT service.

[0199] It should be noted that after the terminal is handed over to the second access network device, the terminal can continue to move, and the communication method proposed in this embodiment can continuously determine whether the AIoT service continues during the movement of the terminal.

[0200] As a possible implementation, after the second access network device determines that the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service, the second access network device can obtain third information, the third information indicating a second position of the terminal, and the second access network device can determine whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service according to the second position and the first area.

[0201] The determination that the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service means that the terminal can continue to perform the AIoT service in the case that the terminal is in the first position. The second position is another position different from the first position, and can be understood as that the terminal moves from the first position to the second position after accessing the second access network device. The second access network device can determine whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service according to the relationship between the second position and the first area, and the specific determination manner can be referred to the foregoing description, which will not be described herein.

[0202] In another possible implementation, after the terminal determines not to continue to perform the AIoT service, the terminal can obtain third information, the third information indicating a third position of the terminal, and determine whether to continue to perform the AIoT service according to the third position and the first area.

[0203] The determination that the terminal does not continue to perform the AIoT service means that it is determined that the terminal does not continue to perform the AIoT service when it is in the first position. After the terminal accesses the second access network device, it moves from the first position to a third position. When the terminal is currently in the third position, the second access network device can determine again whether the terminal continues the AIoT service according to the relationship between the third position and the first region. The specific determination manner can be referred to the foregoing description, and will not be described here.

[0204] As a possible implementation manner, the second access network device can periodically acquire the second information or the third information during the movement of the terminal. The second information or the third information indicates the current position of the terminal during the movement, so that the second access network device continuously determines whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service.

[0205] After the terminal accesses the second access network device, the second access network device continuously acquires the current position of the terminal, and determines in real time whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service according to the current position of the terminal and the first region, which is beneficial to further maintain the continuity of the AIoT service.

[0206] The above embodiments describe the flow of determining whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service after switching the access network device. It can be understood that there are various possible implementation manners for each step in the above flow. The following further introduces the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application, taking the configuration of the AIoT service by the core network as the starting point.

[0207] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The communication method is exemplarily applied to the topology 2 architecture. The first access network device is the access network device accessed by the terminal before switching the access network device, which is equivalent to the source access network device. The second network device is the access network device accessed by the terminal after switching the access network device, which is equivalent to the target access network device. The terminal can be understood as the intermediate node in the topology 2 architecture. As shown in FIG. 5, the communication method can include the following steps:

[0208] S501, the core network element sends an AIoT service request to the terminal, and the AIoT service request includes the identification information of the AIoT device.

[0209] The core network element supports AIoT capability or enables AIoT, and can be a tag management function (TMF) network element, an AIoT function (AIoTF) network element, an AIoT management function network element, or other core network elements supporting AIoT capability, such as an access and mobility management function (AMF) network element integrated with TMF. The specific name of the embodiment of the present application is not limited. For ease of description, the core network element involved in the following embodiments is a core network element supporting AIoT capability or enabling AIoT.

[0210] In this step, the core network element configures the corresponding AIoT service according to the specific requirements of the application scenario, and sends an AIoT service request to the terminal. The AIoT service request includes the identification information of the AIoT device, which can be used to identify an AIoT device or a group of AIoT devices, such as identifying an AIoT device through a mask or identifying a group of AIoT devices through a group ID.

[0211] In some implementations, the AIoT service request can also include the identification information of the first area and / or the AIoT service. The first area is used to indicate the area corresponding to the AIoT service, and the identification information of the AIoT service can be used to identify the AIoT service.

[0212] As an example, the identification information of the AIoT service can include one or more of a service ID, a session ID, a task ID, or a transaction ID.

[0213] It should be noted that under the topology 2 architecture, there are currently three possible transmission solutions, which can be used to transmit one or more of the messages, data, or signaling related to the AIoT service. The terminal involved in the following three transmission solutions is a terminal enabling AIoT, and the access network device is an AIoT-enabled access network device.

[0214] FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram of a protocol stack of a solution based on RRC transmission under a topology 2 architecture (solution 1). Since the interface name between the access network device and the core network element supporting AIoT capability has not been defined at present, the interface between the access network device and the core network element supporting AIoT capability is uniformly denoted as “XX” in the embodiments of the present application. For example, the interface between the access network device and the AMF element is a next generation (NG) interface, and the access network device and the AMF element communicate through a next generation application protocol (NGAP). Correspondingly, the access network device and the core network element supporting AIoT capability communicate through an “XX” protocol (XX application protocol, XXAP).

[0215] As shown in FIG. 6A, the AIoT device includes AIoT radio protocol layers for communicating with the AIoT enabled terminal. The AIoT enabled terminal includes AIoT radio protocol layers for communicating with the AIoT device, and includes an RRC layer, a PDCP layer, an RLC layer, a MAC layer, and a physical (PHY) layer for communicating with the access network device.

[0216] The access network device includes an RRC layer, a PDCP layer, an RLC layer, a MAC layer, and a PHY layer for communicating with the AIoT enabled terminal, and further includes an XXAP layer, a stream control transmission protocol (SCTP) layer, an internet protocol (IP) layer, a layer 2 (L2), and a layer 1 (L1) for communicating with the AIoT core network device. The AIoT core network device includes an XXAP layer, an SCTP layer, an IP layer, an L2, and an L1 for communicating with the access network device. The AIoT core network device is, for example, an AIoTF, or an AMF capable of performing AIoT services or implementing AIoT functions.

[0217] The access network device can further send the relevant information to the AIoT enabled terminal through an RRC message of the AIoT enabled terminal after receiving the request related to the AIoT service from the AIoT core network device through the XXAP. The access network device can further transmit the relevant information to the AIoT core network device through the XXAP after receiving the data / signaling related to the AIoT service from the AIoT enabled terminal through the RRC.

[0218] FIG. 6B is a protocol stack diagram of a non-access stratum (NAS) transmission based solution (Solution 2) under the topology 2 architecture.

[0219] As shown in FIG. 6B, the AIoT device includes an AIoT wireless protocol layer that communicates with the AIoT-enabled terminal. The AIoT-enabled terminal includes an AIoT wireless protocol layer that communicates with the AIoT device, a NAS layer that communicates with the AIoT core network device, and includes 5G-access network protocol layers (AN protocol layers) that communicate with the access network device. The access network device includes 5G-access network protocol layers that communicate with the AIoT wireless protocol layer, and further includes an NGAP layer, an SCTP layer, an IP layer, an L2, and an L1 that communicate with the AIoT core network device. The AIoT core network device includes a NAS layer that communicates with the AIoT-enabled terminal, and further includes an NGAP layer, an SCTP layer, an IP layer, an L2, and an L1 that communicate with the access network device. The AIoT core network device is, for example, a TMF, or an AMF that can perform AIoT services or implement AIoT functions.

[0220] For Solution 2, it can be understood that one or more of AIoT service related messages, data, or signaling between the AIoT core network device and the AIoT-enabled terminal are carried on a DL NAS packet or a UL NAS packet of the AIoT-enabled terminal (wherein the access network device can transparently transmit the NAS packet), and the access network device can process the NAS packet of the A-IoT-enabled UE through an existing DL NAS transport message and / or an UL NAS transport message on the NGAP interface.

[0221] FIG. 6C is a protocol stack diagram of a user plane (UP) transmission based solution (Solution 3) under the topology 2 architecture.

[0222] As shown in FIG. 6C, the AIoT device includes an AIoT wireless protocol layer in communication with the AIoT enabled terminal. The AIoT enabled terminal includes an AIoT wireless protocol layer in communication with the AIoT device, a protocol data unit (PDU) layer in communication with the core network device, and includes a 5G-access network protocol layer in communication with the access network device. The access network device includes a 5G-access network protocol layer in communication with the AIoT enabled terminal, and further includes a general packet radio service (GPRS) tunneling protocol user plane (GTP-U) layer, a user datagram protocol (UDP) layer, an IP layer, an L2, and an L1 in communication with the core network device. The core network device includes a PDU layer in communication with the AIoT enabled terminal, and further includes a GTP-U layer, a UDP layer, an SCTP layer, an IP layer, an L2, and an L1 in communication with the access network device, etc.

[0223] The core network device can communicate with the AIoT core network device, or can communicate with the AIoT core network device through other network elements (e.g., an AMF). The AIoT core network device is, for example, a TMF, or an AMF capable of performing AIoT services or implementing AIoT functions, etc. For example, the core network device can send one or more of messages, data, or signaling related to AIoT services from the AIoT enabled terminal or the access network device to the AIoT core network device; the core network device can send one or more of messages, data, or signaling related to AIoT services from the AIoT core network device to the AIoT enabled terminal or the access network device.

[0224] The AIoT service related data / signaling between the AIoT core network device and the AIoT enabled terminal can be carried on the PDU session message of the AIoT enabled terminal (the access network device can be transparently transmitted), and the access network device can process the user plane data of the AIoT enabled terminal through a next generation user plane (NG-U), a general GTP-U, etc.

[0225] FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C are merely exemplary protocol stacks corresponding to the above three solutions, or any one or more of the above three solutions can also correspond to other forms of protocol stacks, which are not limited.

[0226] In step S501, the core network element can send the AIoT service request to the terminal in combination with the above three transmission solutions.

[0227] In a possible implementation, the core network element can send the AIoT service request to the terminal based on the above solution 1, as shown in step S501a in FIG. 5, the core network element can send the AIoT service request to the first access network device through an XXAP message or an NGAP message, and the AIoT service request includes the identification information of the AIoT device. Correspondingly, the first access network device receives the AIoT service request from the core network element.

[0228] Optionally, the AIoT service request sent by the above core network element to the first access network device through the XXAP message or the NGAP message can further include the identification information of the first area and / or the AIoT service.

[0229] The first access network device is an access network device accessed by the terminal, and in the case where the first access network device receives the AIoT service request from the core network element, as shown in step S501b in FIG. 5, the first access network device can send the AIoT service request to the terminal through an RRC message, and the AIoT service request includes the identification information of the AIoT device. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the AIoT service request from the first access network device.

[0230] Optionally, the AIoT service request sent by the above first access network device to the terminal through the RRC message can further include the identification information of the first area and / or the AIoT service.

[0231] It can be understood that the content included in the AIoT service request sent by the core network element to the first access network device determines the content included in the AIoT service request sent by the first access network device to the terminal, for example, in the case where the AIoT service request sent by the core network element to the first access network device includes the identification information of the first area and / or the AIoT service, the AIoT service request sent by the first access network device to the terminal can include the identification information of the first area and / or the AIoT service.

[0232] In another possible implementation, the core network element can send the AIoT service request based on the above solution 2 or solution 3. As shown in step S501c in FIG. 5, the core network element can send the AIoT service request to the terminal through a NAS message or a PDU session message, and the AIoT service request includes the identification information of the AIoT device. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the AIoT service request from the core network element.

[0233] Optionally, the AIoT service request sent by the core network element to the terminal through the NAS message or the PDU session message can further include the first area and / or the identification information of the AIoT service.

[0234] It can be understood that, in the process of sending the AIoT service request to the terminal based on the above solution 2 or solution 3, the access network device plays a role of transparent transmission.

[0235] In some implementations, the core network element can further send configuration indication information to the first access network device, and the configuration indication information is used to instruct the first access network device to configure AIoT radio resources for the terminal. In this implementation, the core network element sends the configuration indication information to the first access network device through the NGAP / XXAP on the NG / XX interface. Correspondingly, the first access network device receives the configuration indication information from the core network element through the NGAP / XXAP, and as the source access network device, the first access network device can decode the configuration indication information and configure AIoT radio resources for the terminal according to the configuration indication information.

[0236] It should be noted that, after receiving the AIoT service request, the terminal can determine the corresponding AIoT device according to the identification information of the AIoT device included in the AIoT service request, and start to perform the AIoT service, which specifically includes transmitting data and / or signaling corresponding to the AIoT service between the AIoT device and / or reporting data corresponding to the AIoT service to the accessed first access network device.

[0237] S502, the first access network device sends a handover request (HANDOVER REQUEST) to the second access network device. Correspondingly, the second access network device receives the handover request from the first access network device.

[0238] Suppose that the terminal moves from a cell controlled by the first access network device to a cell controlled by the second access network device during the execution of the AIoT service, the terminal needs to be handed over from the first access network device to the second access network device. During the handover process, the first access network device first sends a handover request to the second access network device.

[0239] In some implementations, the first area can be carried in the handover request. It can be understood that, in the above step S501a, the first access network device can receive the first area and / or the identification information of the AIoT service from the core network element through the XXAP message or the NGAP message, and then the first access network device can send the above first area to the second access network device through the handover request, which is equivalent to that the second access network device obtains the first area from the first access network device.

[0240] Optionally, the handover request can further include the identification information of the AIoT service.

[0241] It can be understood that the interface between the first access network device and the second access network device is an Xn interface, the handover request is equivalent to an XnAP message, and the second access network device can further obtain the above first area and / or identification information of the AIoT service from the first access network device through other XnAP messages.

[0242] S503, the second access network device sends a handover request acknowledgement (HANDOVER REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGE) to the first access network device. Correspondingly, the second access network device receives the handover request acknowledgement from the first access network device.

[0243] In this step, the handover request acknowledgement sent by the second access network device to the first access network device indicates that the read-write device is allowed to be handed over from the first access network device to the second access network device.

[0244] Optionally, the handover request acknowledgement can further include the identification information of the AIoT service.

[0245] S504, the first access network device sends a first message to the terminal, and the first message instructs the terminal to hand over to the second access network device. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the first message from the first access network device.

[0246] This step corresponds to step S401 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, wherein the first message can be an RRC reconfiguration (RRCReconfiguration) message, and the terminal can determine that the target access network device accessed after handover is the second access network device according to the first message.

[0247] S505, the terminal and the second access network device implement random access.

[0248] This step corresponds to step S402 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, in which the terminal initiates random access to the second access network device in response to receiving the first message, and the process of random access can refer to the process of existing random access, which will not be expanded in the embodiment of the present application.

[0249] S506, the terminal sends an RRC reconfiguration complete (RRCReconfigurationComplete) message to the second access network device. Correspondingly, the second access network device receives the RRC reconfiguration complete message from the terminal.

[0250] In this step, the terminal sends the RRC reconfiguration complete message to the second access network device, indicating that the terminal is handed over from the first access network device to the second access network device, and the terminal accesses a target cell controlled by the second access network device.

[0251] S507, the terminal determines whether to continue performing the AIoT service according to the first position and the first area.

[0252] It can be understood that the premise of the terminal judging according to the first position and the first area is to obtain the first information and the first area, and the manner in which the terminal obtains the first area has been implied in the foregoing steps.

[0253] In some implementations, in the case where the first area is included in the AIoT service request in step S501, it is equivalent that the terminal obtains the first area from the AIoT service request. For example, if the transmission of AIoT service related data and / or signaling is implemented based on the above solution 1 in the topology 2 architecture, the terminal can obtain the first area from the first access network device through an RRC message. If the transmission of AIoT service related data and / or signaling is implemented based on the above solution 1 or solution 3 in the topology 2 architecture, the terminal can obtain the first area from the core network element through a NAS message or a PDU session message.

[0254] In some implementations, when the first access network device sends the first message to the terminal in the above step S504, the first area can be included in the first message, which is equivalent to that the terminal obtains the first area from the first message. For example, the first access network device sends an RRC reconfiguration message to the terminal, the RRC reconfiguration message includes the first area, and the terminal obtains the first area through a message indicating switching to the second access network device.

[0255] As a possible implementation, in the case where the second access network device obtains the first area from the first access network device through an XnAP message in step S502, the second access network device can carry the first area in a broadcast system message, and correspondingly, the terminal obtains the first area through the system message broadcast by the second access network device. Alternatively, the second access network device can also directly indicate the first area to the terminal through an RRC message.

[0256] After the terminal accesses the second access network device, the terminal can obtain the first information, and the first information indicates the first position where the terminal is located. The step of the terminal obtaining the first information is omitted in FIG. 5. Referring to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the terminal can obtain the first information through a positioning service, and the manner in which the terminal obtains the first information is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0257] In this step, the terminal can determine whether to continue to perform the AIoT service according to the relationship between the first position and the first area in the case that the first area and the first information are acquired. It should be noted that, compared with step S405 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the subject performing the judgment action in step S707 changes from the second access network device to the terminal, but the internal judgment logic does not change. The terminal determines whether to continue to perform the AIoT service, which can refer to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4. To avoid redundancy, this will not be expanded here.

[0258] According to the foregoing introduction, the terminal can continue to move in the case of switching to the second access network device. After the terminal determines to continue to perform the AIoT service at the first position, the terminal moves from the first position to the second position. Further, the terminal can acquire third information indicating the second position, and determine whether to continue to perform the AIoT service at the second position according to the relationship between the second position and the first area.

[0259] Alternatively, after the terminal determines not to continue to perform the AIoT service at the first position, the terminal moves from the first position to the third position. Further, the terminal can acquire fifth information indicating the third position, and determine whether to continue to perform the AIoT service at the third position according to the relationship between the third position and the first area.

[0260] It should be noted that, if the transmission of the AIoT service related data and / or signaling is implemented based on the above solution 1 in the topology 2 architecture, in the case that the terminal performs access network device switching, the terminal needs to consider whether the second access network device accessed by the terminal supports the AIoT capability when determining whether to continue to perform the AIoT service.

[0261] The access network device in the embodiment of the present application supports the AIoT capability, which can be understood as that the access network device supports one or more of the following capabilities: scheduling AIoT wireless resource capability, allocating AIoT wireless resource capability, controlling AIoT wireless resource capability, managing scheduling AIoT wireless resource capability, and transmitting (including sending and / or receiving) AIoT service related data and / or signaling capability. The specific manifestation of the access network device supporting the AIoT capability in the embodiment of the present application is not limited.

[0262] In a possible implementation, the terminal can acquire first capability information, the first capability information indicating whether the second access network device supports the AIoT capability. Accordingly, in step S507, the terminal determines whether to continue to perform the AIoT service according to the first position and the first area, including: when the first position is located in the first area and the second access network device supports the AIoT capability, the terminal determines to continue to perform the AIoT service. Or, when the first position is located in the first area and the second access network device does not support the AIoT capability, the terminal determines not to continue to perform the AIoT service.

[0263] In this implementation, when the first position is located in the first area, whether the second access network device supports the AIoT capability provides a new basis for the terminal to determine whether to continue to perform the AIoT service, and the terminal can determine whether the second access network device supports the AIoT capability through the first capability information.

[0264] If the first position is located in the first area and the second access network device supports the AIoT capability, the second access network device can allocate AIoT wireless resources required for communication with the AIoT device to the terminal in subsequent processes, and the terminal determines to continue to perform the AIoT service accordingly.

[0265] If the first position is located in the first area and the second access network device supports the AIoT capability, the second access network device cannot allocate AIoT wireless resources required for communication with the AIoT device to the terminal, and the terminal determines not to continue to perform the AIoT service accordingly.

[0266] It can be understood that the terminal can acquire the first capability information in multiple ways. In some implementations, the second access network device can carry the first capability information in the broadcast system message, and accordingly, the terminal acquires the first capability information through the system message broadcast by the second access network device. Or, after the terminal accesses the second access network device, the second access network device can send the first capability information to the terminal through the RRC message.

[0267] As a possible implementation, different access network devices can exchange their capability information in advance, as shown in step S500a in FIG. 5, the second access network device sends an Xn interface configuration request (SETUP REQUEST) to the first access network device, and the Xn interface configuration request can include the first capability information, that is, the second network device can send the first capability information to the first network device through the Xn interface configuration request. Accordingly, the first access network device receives the Xn interface configuration request from the second access network device.

[0268] As shown in step S500b in FIG. 5, the first access network device sends a response of the Xn interface configuration request to the second access network device, and the response can include the second capability information indicating whether the first access network device supports the AIoT capability, that is, the first access network device can send the first capability information to the second access network device through the response of the Xn interface configuration request. Correspondingly, the second access network device receives the response of the Xn interface configuration request from the first access network device.

[0269] It can be understood that the above Xn interface configuration request and / or the response of the Xn interface configuration request are XnAP messages between the first access network device and the second access network device, and the second access network device can also send the first capability information to the first access network device through other XnAP messages, and the first access network device can also send the second capability information to the second access network device through other XnAP messages.

[0270] In this implementation manner, the first access network device obtains the first capability information through the interaction between the access network devices, and the first access network device can carry the above first capability information in the AIoT service request in step S501b, and the terminal obtains the first capability information through the AIoT service request sent by the first access network device. Alternatively, the first access network device carries the first capability information in the broadcast system message, and the terminal obtains the first capability information through the broadcast system message of the first access network device. Alternatively, the first access network device carries the first capability information in the first message in step S504, and the terminal obtains the first capability information through the first message.

[0271] As another possible implementation manner, the access network device can also interact its capability information with the core network element, as shown in step S500c in FIG. 5, the second access network device sends an XX / NG interface configuration request to the core network element, and the XX / NG interface configuration request can include the first capability information, that is, the second access network device can send the first capability information to the core network element through the XX / NG interface configuration request. Correspondingly, the core network element receives the XX / NG interface configuration request from the second access network device.

[0272] As shown in step S500d in FIG. 5, the first access network device sends an XX / NG interface configuration request to the core network element, and the XX / NG interface configuration request can include the second capability information. Correspondingly, the core network element receives the core network element configuration request from the first access network device.

[0273] In this implementation, the core network element obtains the first capability information through the interaction of the capability information between the access network device and the core network element, and can carry the above first capability information in the AIoT service request in step S501c. The terminal obtains the first capability information through the AIoT service request sent by the core network element.

[0274] It should be noted that the core network element can also send a response to the XX / NG interface configuration request to the first access network device, and the response includes the first capability information, that is, the core network element sends the first capability information to the first access network device through the response to the XX / NG interface configuration request. Correspondingly, the first network device receives the response to the XX / NG interface configuration request from the core network element.

[0275] It can be understood that the above XX / NG interface configuration request and / or the response to the XX / NG interface configuration request are XXAP / NGAP messages between the access network device and the core network element, and the above capability information can also be exchanged between the network device and the core network element through other XXAP / NGAP messages.

[0276] The first access network device can obtain the first capability information from the core network element, and carry the above first capability information in the AIoT service request in step S501b. The terminal obtains the first capability information through the AIoT service request sent by the first access network device.

[0277] In an implementation, if the transmission of AIoT service related data and / or signaling is implemented based on the above solution 1 in the topology 2 architecture, the first access network device can not perform step 502 in the case that the second access network device does not support the AIoT capability according to the first capability information, that is, the first access network device does not send a handover request to the second access network device, and the process terminates.

[0278] S508, the second access network device sends a path switching request (PATH SWITCH REQUEST) message to the core network element. Correspondingly, the core network element receives the path switching request message from the second access network device.

[0279] In this step, the second access network device indicates to the core network element that the terminal has switched the serving cell through the path switching request message. The path switching request message can carry the identification information of the target cell accessed by the terminal after switching the access network device and the converted PDU session list. Correspondingly, after receiving the message, the core network element updates the downlink GTP-U data plane and modifies the GTP-U address of the access network device side to the second access network device.

[0280] S509, the core network element sends a path switch request acknowledge (PATH SWITCH REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGE) message to the second access network device. Correspondingly, the second access network device receives the path switch request acknowledge message from the core network element.

[0281] In some implementations, the authorization indication information in the path switch request acknowledge message can be used to indicate that the terminal is authorized to act as a reader / writer of the AIoT service, or to execute the AIoT service, or to act as an AIoT-enabled terminal of the AIoT service, or to communicate with an AIoT device, or to transmit one or more of a message, data, or signaling related to the AIoT service.

[0282] Optionally, the path switch request acknowledge message can further include identification information of the AIoT service.

[0283] It should be noted that there is no strict sequence between the above steps S507 and steps S508 and S509. Step S507 can be performed before step S508 or after step S509.

[0284] As a possible implementation, after the terminal determines not to continue executing the AIoT service in step S507, the terminal can release the tenth information, which includes the data and / or signaling of the AIoT service stored before the terminal accesses the second access network device. Alternatively, the terminal can retain the tenth information until the terminal accesses the third access network device.

[0285] It can be understood that during the execution of the AIoT service, the terminal stores the data and / or signaling of the AIoT service that has not been reported in the storage space, and the tenth information includes the data and / or signaling of the AIoT service stored before the terminal accesses the second access network device. After the terminal determines not to continue executing the AIoT service, the terminal can directly release the above tenth information. The "release" in the embodiment of the present application can be understood as deleting the information in the storage space.

[0286] It should be noted that in the case where the terminal retains the tenth information until accessing the third access network device, the terminal can again determine whether to continue executing the AIoT service according to the location after accessing the third access network device and the first area.

[0287] In some implementations, the terminal can also release the tenth information when the duration of retaining the tenth information reaches a first preset duration. Different from directly releasing the tenth information by the terminal, the terminal can retain the tenth information in the storage space, and delete the tenth information in the storage space after the duration of retaining reaches the preset duration.

[0288] In some implementations, when the terminal determines to continue to perform the AIoT service and the second access network device supports the AIoT capability, step S510 in FIG. 5 can be performed, the second access network device sends first resource information and / or radio bearer (RB) configuration information to the terminal, the first resource information is used to indicate a first resource, the first resource is an AIoT radio resource used by the terminal to communicate with the AIoT device, and the RB configuration information is used to indicate a first RB, the first RB is used to transmit data and / or signaling related to the AIoT service.

[0289] In this step, the second access network device can send an RRC message to the terminal, and the RRC message includes the first resource information and / or the RB configuration information, that is, the second access network device sends the first resource information and / or the RB configuration information to the terminal through the RRC message.

[0290] As a possible implementation, the first resource can be an AIoT radio resource used by the terminal to communicate with the AIoT device in a first cell, and the first cell is a cell currently accessed by the terminal after switching to the second access network device.

[0291] It can be understood that the first resource information indicates the first resource configured by the second access network device for the terminal, and the first resource is suitable for the terminal to implement communication between the device-to-reader (D2R) and / or the reader-to-device (D2R) with the AIoT device on the currently accessed first cell. If the terminal moves from the first cell to another cell controlled by the second access network device, the first resource indicated by the first resource information cannot be suitable for the other cell.

[0292] As an example, the first resource information can be used to indicate an AIoT radio resource configuration including a time domain and a frequency domain. Among them, the resource configuration on the time domain can be used to indicate the time span of the resource, and if the terminal judges that the time span of the AIoT radio resource configured by the second access network device is insufficient to complete the AIoT service, the reader can request the second access network device for AIoT radio resource. Accordingly, the second access network device can reallocate or reschedule new AIoT radio resource for the terminal. Optionally, the first resource information can also be used to indicate the maximum power of the terminal to send a signal to the AIoT device.

[0293] In another possible implementation, the first resource can also be an AIoT radio resource used by the terminal to communicate with the AIoT device in a second cell, the second cell including a plurality of cells covered by the second access network device.

[0294] In this implementation, the second cell is different from the above first cell, and the second cell includes a plurality of cells controlled by the second access network device. If the terminal moves from the currently accessed cell to another cell controlled by the second access network device, the terminal can communicate with the AIoT device in the first resource indicated according to the first resource information.

[0295] In some implementations, the first resource is an AIoT radio resource used by the terminal to communicate with the AIoT device in a process of switching cells or a process of switching access network devices.

[0296] The first in this implementation corresponds to a special resource pool, and in a process in which the terminal moves from the currently accessed cell to another cell controlled by the second access network device, or in a process in which the terminal moves from a coverage area of the second access network device to a coverage area of another access network device, the terminal can use the special AIoT radio resource to communicate with the AIoT device.

[0297] The second access network device can configure the special resource pool for the terminal through RRC signaling, and the second access network device can also configure the above special resource pool for the terminal through a system message. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the manner in which the second access network device configures the special resource pool for the terminal.

[0298] In some implementations, the first access network device can send second resource information to the terminal, the second resource information being used to indicate a second resource, and the second resource being an AIoT radio resource used by the terminal to communicate with the AIoT device in a process of switching cells or a process of switching access network devices. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the second resource information from the first access network device.

[0299] In this implementation, the second resource indicated by the second resource information is also a special resource pool, and the difference is that the special AIoT radio resource is configured for the terminal by the first access network device. It should be noted that the first access network device can send the second resource information to the terminal before the terminal responds to the first message, that is, the first access network device can configure the special AIoT radio resource for the terminal before disconnecting with the terminal.

[0300] In some implementations, the core network element can also configure a special resource pool for the terminal. Illustratively, the core network element can send third resource information to the terminal, the third resource information being used to indicate third resources, the third resources being AIoT wireless resources used by the terminal to communicate with the AIoT device during the handover of the cell or the handover of the access network device.

[0301] It should be noted that the core network element can send the above third resource information to the terminal before or after step S501 or S501. Alternatively, the core network element can also carry the third resource information in the authorization indication information sent to the second access network device, and the second access network device sends the third resource information to the terminal through an RRC message. The core network element can configure the AIoT wireless resources indicated by the third resource information to the subscriber identity module (SIM) of the terminal, or can configure the AIoT wireless resources indicated by the third resource information to the mobile equipment (ME) or universal integrated circuit card (UICC) of the terminal.

[0302] One or more of the messages, data or signaling transmitted between the terminal and the second access network device for the AIoT service can multiplex the existing RBs between the terminal and the second access network device, such as the existing data radio bearer (DRB) and / or signaling radio bearer (SRB) between the terminal and the second access network device.

[0303] Alternatively, in this step, the second access network device can send RB configuration information to the terminal through an RRC message (such as an RRC reconfiguration message), and the first RB indicated by the RB configuration information is an RB dedicated for transmitting the AIoT service, which can be referred to as a dedicated RB. The RB configuration information can be used to establish a new RB for the terminal to serve the AIoT service, which can include the current AIoT service of the terminal and / or other AIoT services of the UE. The first RB indicated by the RB configuration information can include a dedicated SRB and / or a dedicated DRB. The terminal can transmit data and / or signaling related to the AIoT service between the terminal and the AIoT device through the newly established SRB x / DRB x.

[0304] It can be understood that the terminal can also report the data and / or signaling related to the AIoT service to the second access network device through the existing SRB1 / 2 or DRB.

[0305] It should be noted that, assuming that the terminal determines to continue to perform the AIoT service, after step S510, if the transmission of the AIoT service-related data and / or signaling is implemented based on solution 1, the terminal can first send the AIoT service-related data and / or signaling to the second access network device through an RRC message, and then the second access network device sends the AIoT service-related data and / or signaling to the core network element through XXAP / NGAP.

[0306] If the transmission of the AIoT service-related data and / or signaling is implemented based on solution 2 or solution 3, the terminal can send the AIoT service-related data and / or signaling to the core network element through a NAS message or a PDU session message, wherein the second access network device functions as a transparent transmission.

[0307] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the terminal determines whether to continue to perform the AIoT service according to the first position and the first area, and the subject performing the determination action is the terminal. In some implementations, the subject performing the determination action can also be the second access network device or the core network element. The different subjects performing the determination action are described below.

[0308] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a communication method provided by another embodiment of the present application. The communication method is exemplarily applied to a topology 2 architecture. In the topology 2 architecture, the first access network device is the access network device accessed by the terminal before the terminal switches the access network device, which is equivalent to a source access network device, the second network device is the access network device accessed by the terminal after the terminal switches the access network device, which is equivalent to a target access network device, and the terminal can be understood as an intermediate node in the topology 2 architecture. As shown in FIG. 7, the communication method can include the following steps:

[0309] S701, the core network element sends an AIoT service request to the terminal, and the AIoT service request includes identification information of the AIoT device.

[0310] This step is the same as step S501 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5.

[0311] Referring to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, if the transmission of the AIoT service-related data and / or signaling is implemented based on the above-described solution 1 in the topology 2 architecture, as shown in step S701a in FIG. 7, the core network element can send an AIoT service request to the first access network device through an XXAP message or an NGAP message, and the AIoT service request includes the identification information of the AIoT device. Correspondingly, the first access network device receives the AIoT service request from the core network element.

[0312] As shown in step S701b in FIG. 7, the first access network device can send an AIoT service request to the terminal through an RRC message, and the AIoT service request includes the identification information of the AIoT device. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the AIoT service request from the first access network device.

[0313] If the transmission of the AIoT service related data and / or signaling is implemented based on the above solution 2 or solution 3 in the topology 2 architecture, as shown in step S701c in FIG. 7, the core network element can send an AIoT service request to the terminal through a NAS message or a PDU session message, and the AIoT service request includes the identification information of the AIoT device. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the AIoT service request from the core network element. Wherein, the access network device plays a role of transparent transmission.

[0314] It can be understood that the above steps S701a-S701c are the same as steps S501a-S501c in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, and will not be repeated here.

[0315] S702, the first access network device sends a handover request to the second access network device. Correspondingly, the second access network device receives the handover request from the first access network device.

[0316] S703, the second access network device sends a handover request confirmation to the first access network device. Correspondingly, the second access network device receives the handover request confirmation from the first access network device.

[0317] S704, the first access network device sends a first message to the terminal, and the first message instructs the terminal device to switch to the second access network device. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the first message from the first access network device.

[0318] S705, random access is implemented between the terminal and the second access network device.

[0319] S706, the terminal sends an RRC reconfiguration complete message to the second access network device. Correspondingly, the second access network device receives the RRC reconfiguration complete message from the terminal.

[0320] The above steps S702-S706 are the same as steps S502-S506 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, and will not be repeated here.

[0321] S707, the second access network device determines whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service according to the first location and the first area.

[0322] This step corresponds to step S405 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4. It can be understood that, in order for the second access network device to determine whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service, the second access network device needs to obtain the first information and the first area, and the manner in which the second access network device obtains the first area has been implied in the foregoing steps.

[0323] With reference to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, as a possible implementation manner, if the transmission of the AIoT service-related data and / or signaling is implemented based on the foregoing solution 1 in the topology 2 architecture, the first access network device can obtain the first area from the AIoT service request in the case where the first area is included in the AIoT service request in step S701a. Accordingly, the first access network device can include the first area in the handover request sent to the second access network device in step S702, which is equivalent to that the second access network device obtains the first area from the first access network device through an XnAP message.

[0324] In some implementations, the first area is included in the AIoT service request in step S701, which is equivalent to that the terminal obtains the first area from the AIoT service request. Accordingly, the first area can be carried in the RRC reconfiguration complete message in step S706, which is equivalent to that the second access network device obtains the first area from the terminal through an RRC message.

[0325] Optionally, the RRC reconfiguration complete message in step S706 can also carry identification information of the AIoT service.

[0326] After accessing the second access network device, the terminal can obtain the first information, which indicates the first location of the terminal. With reference to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the terminal can obtain the first information through a positioning service. After obtaining the first information, the terminal sends the first information to the second access network device, which is equivalent to that the second access network device obtains the first information from the terminal. The step in which the second access network device obtains the first information is omitted in FIG. 7.

[0327] It should be noted that the RRC reconfiguration complete message in step S706 can also include request information for requesting whether to continue to perform the AIoT service, and the request information is used to trigger step S707. It can be understood that the second access network device can actively perform step S707, or the second access network device can be triggered to perform step S707 through the request information included in the RRC reconfiguration complete message in step S706.

[0328] In this step, the second access network device can determine whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service according to the relationship between the first location and the first area in the case where the first area and the first information are obtained. The specific implementation manner of step S507 can be referred to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

[0329] As an example, the first location is in the first area, the second access network device can determine that the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service. Or, the first location is not in the first area, the second access network device can determine that the terminal does not continue to perform the AIoT service.

[0330] In another example, the first location is in the first area, the second access network device can determine that the terminal does not continue to perform the AIoT service. Or, the first location is not in the first area, the second access network device can determine that the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service.

[0331] Referring to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, if the transmission of the AIoT service related data and / or signaling is implemented based on the above solution 1 in the topology 2 architecture, in the case of access network device switching of the terminal, the second access network device needs to further consider whether the AIoT capability is supported by itself when determining whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service. It can be understood that the second access network device can know whether the AIoT capability is supported by itself, and does not need to interact with other access network devices or core network elements for capability information.

[0332] As a possible implementation, the first location is in the first area, and the second access network device supports the AIoT capability, the second access network device determines that the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service. Or, the first location is in the first area, and the second access network device does not support the AIoT capability, the second access network device determines that the terminal does not continue to perform the AIoT service.

[0333] S708, the second access network device sends second information to the terminal, and the second information indicates whether to continue to perform the AIoT service. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the second information from the second access network device.

[0334] This step corresponds to step S406 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4. After the judgment in step S707, the second information indicating whether to continue to perform the AIoT service needs to be sent to the terminal through the RRC message.

[0335] In some implementations, in the case that the identification information of the AIoT service is carried in the RRC reconfiguration complete message in step S706, the second information can further include the above identification information of the AIoT service.

[0336] According to the foregoing introduction, it can be known that the terminal can continue to move in the case of switching to the second access network device.

[0337] In a possible implementation, after determining that the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service at the first location, the second access network device determines that the terminal moves from the first location to a second location. The second access network device can obtain third information indicating the second location, and determine whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service at the second location according to a relationship between the second location and the first area. Accordingly, the second access network device sends fourth information to the terminal device, where the fourth information indicates whether to continue to perform the AIoT service.

[0338] In another possible implementation, after determining that the terminal does not continue to perform the AIoT service at the first location, the second access network device determines that the terminal moves from the first location to a third location. The second access network device can obtain fifth information indicating the third location, and determine whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service at the third location according to a relationship between the third location and the first area. Accordingly, the second access network device sends sixth information to the terminal, where the sixth information indicates whether to continue to perform the AIoT service.

[0339] S709, the second access network device sends a path switching request message to the core network element. Accordingly, the core network element receives the path switching request message from the second access network device.

[0340] S710, the core network element sends a path switching request acknowledgement message to the second access network device. Accordingly, the second access network device receives the path switching request acknowledgement message from the core network element.

[0341] The steps S709 and S710 above are the same as the steps S508 and S509 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, and will not be described here again.

[0342] Optionally, the path switching request acknowledgement message can carry authorization indication information, where the authorization indication information is used to indicate that the terminal is authorized to be a reader-writer of the AIoT service, or to indicate that the terminal is authorized to perform the AIoT service, or to indicate that the terminal is authorized to be an AIoT enabled terminal of the AIoT service, or to indicate that the terminal is authorized to communicate with the AIoT device, or to indicate that the terminal is authorized to transmit one or more of a message, data, or signaling related to the AIoT service with the AIoT device.

[0343] It can be understood that the above authorization indication information can also be carried in other NGAP / XXAP messages

[0344] It should be noted that there is no strict sequence between the steps S707 and S708 and the steps S709 and S710, and the steps S707 and S708 can be performed before the steps S709 and S710, or can be performed after the steps S709 and S710.

[0345] In some implementations, in a case where the second access network device determines that the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service and the second access network device supports the AIoT capability, step S711 in FIG. 7 can be performed, the second access network device sends first resource information and / or RB configuration information to the terminal, the first resource information is used to indicate a first resource, the first resource is an AIoT wireless resource used by the terminal to communicate with the AIoT device, and the RB configuration information is used to indicate a first RB, the first RB is dedicated to transmitting data and / or signaling related to the AIoT service.

[0346] Step S711 is the same as step S510 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, and will not be described here.

[0347] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a communication method provided by another embodiment of the present application. The communication method is exemplarily applied to a topology 2 architecture. In the topology 2 architecture, a first access network device is an access network device accessed by a terminal before the terminal switches the access network device, which is equivalent to a source access network device, and a second network device is an access network device accessed by the terminal after the terminal switches the access network device, which is equivalent to a target access network device. The terminal can be understood as an intermediate node in the topology 2 architecture. As shown in FIG. 8, the communication method can include the following steps:

[0348] S801, a core network element sends an AIoT service request to the terminal, the AIoT service request including identification information of an AIoT device.

[0349] This step is the same as step S501 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5.

[0350] Referring to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, if the transmission of data and / or signaling related to the AIoT service is implemented based on the above solution 1 in the topology 2 architecture, as shown in step S801a in FIG. 8, the core network element can send the AIoT service request to the first access network device through an XXAP message or an NGAP message, the AIoT service request including the identification information of the AIoT device. Correspondingly, the first access network device receives the AIoT service request from the core network element.

[0351] As shown in step S801b in FIG. 8, the first access network device can send the AIoT service request to the terminal through an RRC message, the AIoT service request including the identification information of the AIoT device. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the AIoT service request from the first access network device.

[0352] If the transmission of the AIoT service related data and / or signaling is implemented based on the solution 2 or the solution 3 in the topology 2 architecture, as shown in step S801c in FIG. 8, the core network element can send an AIoT service request to the terminal through a NAS message or a PDU session message, and the AIoT service request includes the identification information of the AIoT device. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the AIoT service request from the core network element. The access network device plays a role of transparent transmission.

[0353] The steps S801a-S801c are the same as the steps S501a-S501c in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, and will not be described here.

[0354] S802, the first access network device sends a handover request to the second access network device. Correspondingly, the second access network device receives the handover request from the first access network device.

[0355] S803, the second access network device sends a handover request acknowledgement to the first access network device. Correspondingly, the second access network device receives the handover request acknowledgement from the first access network device.

[0356] S804, the first access network device sends a first message to the terminal, and the first message indicates that the terminal device switches to the second access network device. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the first message from the first access network device.

[0357] S805, the terminal and the second access network device implement random access.

[0358] The steps S802-S805 are the same as the steps S502-S505 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, and will not be described here.

[0359] S806, the terminal sends an RRC reconfiguration complete message to the second access network device. Correspondingly, the second access network device receives the RRC reconfiguration complete message from the terminal.

[0360] This step is the same as the step S506 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5.

[0361] In some implementations, the RRC reconfiguration complete message further includes request information, and the request information is used to request whether to continue to perform the AIoT service. Optionally, the RRC reconfiguration complete message can further include identification information of the AIoT service.

[0362] It can be understood that the terminal can also send the above request information to the second access network device through other RRC messages.

[0363] S807, the second access network device sends a path switching request message to the core network element. Correspondingly, the core network element receives the path switching request message from the second access network device.

[0364] In some implementations, the path switching request message in this step can include the request information in step S806. Alternatively, in the case that the identification information of the AIoT service is received in step S806, the identification information of the AIoT service can also be included in the path switching request message.

[0365] S808, the core network element determines whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service according to the first location and the first area.

[0366] Unlike step S507 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, in this step, the core network element judges whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service, and the core network element needs to obtain the first information and the first area. It can be understood that in step S501, the core network element configures the corresponding AIoT service according to the specific needs of the application scenario, and the core network element maintains the related information of the AIoT service, so the core network element can obtain the first area from the inside.

[0367] After the terminal accesses the second access network device, the terminal can obtain the first information, which indicates the first location where the terminal is located. Exemplarily, the terminal can obtain the first information through a positioning service. If the transmission of the data and / or signaling related to the AIoT service in the topology 2 architecture is implemented based on the above solution 1, the terminal can transmit the first information to the second access network device through an RRC message, and the second access network device sends the first information to the core network element through an XXAP message or an NGAP message. If the transmission of the data and / or signaling related to the AIoT service in the topology 2 architecture is implemented based on the above solution 2 or solution 3, the terminal can send the first information to the core network element through a NAS message or a PDU session message. The related steps of the core network element obtaining the first information are omitted in FIG. 8.

[0368] In this step, the core network element can determine whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service according to the relationship between the first location and the first area, in the case that the first area and the first information are obtained. Similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the subject performing the judgment action in step S808 changes from the second access network device to the core network element.

[0369] In some possible implementations, the first location is located in the first area, and the core network element can determine that the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service. Alternatively, the first location is not located in the first area, and the core network element can determine that the terminal does not continue to perform the AIoT service.

[0370] In some possible implementation, the first location is in the first area, and the core network element can determine that the terminal does not continue to perform the AIoT service. Alternatively, the first location is not in the first area, and the core network element can determine that the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service.

[0371] Referring to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, if the transmission of the data and / or signaling related to the AIoT service is implemented based on the above solution 1 in the topology 2 architecture, in the case of access network device switching of the terminal, the core network element needs to further consider whether the second access network device supports the AIoT capability when determining whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service.

[0372] As a possible implementation, the core network element can obtain the first capability information, the first capability information indicating whether the second access network device supports the AIoT capability. Accordingly, in step S808, the core network element determines whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service according to the first location and the first area, including: the first location is in the first area, and the second access network device supports the AIoT capability, the core network element determines that the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service. Alternatively, the first location is in the first area, and the second access network device does not support the AIoT capability, the core network element determines that the terminal does not continue to perform the AIoT service.

[0373] In some implementations, the core network element can obtain the first capability information in the process of interaction of the capability information between the access network device and the core network element, as shown in step 800a in FIG. 8, the second access network device sends an XX / NG interface configuration request to the core network element, and the XX / NG interface configuration request can include the first capability information, that is, the second access network device can send the first capability information to the core network element through the XX / NG interface configuration request. Accordingly, the core network element receives the XX / NG interface configuration request from the second access network device.

[0374] As shown in step S800b in FIG. 8, the first access network device sends an XX / NG interface configuration request to the core network element, and the XX / NG interface configuration request can include the second capability information. Accordingly, the core network element receives the core network element configuration request from the first access network device.

[0375] The above first capability information and / or second capability information can also be included in other NGAP / XXAP messages.

[0376] It can be understood that the above process of interaction of the capability information is earlier than the configuration of the AIoT service by the core network element, and the access network device accessed by the terminal has not been determined, so the first access network device and the second access network device both interact their capability information with the core network element.

[0377] S809, the core network element sends a path switching request acknowledgement message to the second access network device. Correspondingly, the second access network device receives the path switching request acknowledgement message from the core network element.

[0378] In some implementations, the path switching request acknowledgement message can include second information indicating whether to continue to perform the AIoT service. It can be understood that the terminal is an intermediate node between the second access network device and the AIoT device, and the execution subject of continuing to perform the AIoT service is the terminal, so after the judgment in step S808, the seventh information is needed to indicate the judgment result in step S808.

[0379] Optionally, the path switching request acknowledgement message can also carry authorization indication information, which is used to indicate that the terminal is authorized to be a reader-writer of the AIoT service, or to indicate that the terminal is authorized to perform the AIoT service, or to indicate that the terminal is authorized to be an AIoT enabled terminal of the AIoT service, or to indicate that the terminal is authorized to communicate with the AIoT device, or to indicate that the terminal is authorized to transmit one or more of messages, data, or signaling related to the AIoT service with the AIoT device.

[0380] S810, the second access network device sends an RRC message to the terminal. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the RRC message from the second access network device.

[0381] The RRC message of this step includes the second information indicated in step S809, and the second access network device sends the seventh information to the terminal through the RRC message, so as to indicate whether to continue to perform the AIoT service.

[0382] It should be noted that the terminal can also continue to move in the case of switching to the second access network device.

[0383] In a possible implementation, after the core network element determines to continue to perform the AIoT service at the first location of the terminal, the terminal moves from the first location to a second location. The core network element can obtain third information indicating the second location, and determine whether to continue to perform the AIoT service at the second location according to the relationship between the second location and the first region. Correspondingly, the core network element sends the seventh information to the second access network device, the seventh information indicating whether to continue to perform the AIoT service, and the second access network device sends the eighth information to the terminal through the RRC message.

[0384] In another possible implementation, after the core network element determines that the terminal does not continue to perform the AIoT service at the first location, the terminal moves from the first location to a third location. The core network element can obtain fifth information indicating the third location, and determine whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service at the third location according to a relationship between the third location and the first area. Accordingly, the core network element sends eighth information to the second access network device, the eighth information indicating whether to continue to perform the AIoT service, and the second access network device sends the eighth information to the terminal through an RRC message.

[0385] In some implementations, in a case where the second access network device determines that the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service and the second access network device supports the AIoT capability, the second access network device can send first resource information and / or RB configuration information to the terminal through the RRC message of this step, the first resource information being used to indicate a first resource, the first resource being an AIoT radio resource used by the terminal to communicate with the AIoT device, and the RB configuration information being used to indicate a first RB, the first RB being dedicated to transmitting AIoT service related data and / or signaling.

[0386] The above first resource information and RB configuration information can be explained with reference to the foregoing embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0387] It should be noted that in a case where the path change request message of step S807 includes the request information, the above step S808 can be performed, otherwise, the above steps S807 and S809 are the same as steps S508 and S509 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5.

[0388] If the transmission of AIoT service related data and / or signaling in the topology 2 architecture is implemented based on the above solution 2 or solution 3, in some implementations, as shown in step S811 in FIG. 8, the terminal sends request information to the core network element through a NAS message or a PDU session message, the request information being used to request whether to continue to perform the AIoT service.

[0389] It can be understood that after step S811, as shown in step S812 in FIG. 8, the core network element can determine whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service according to the first location and the first area. This step is an optional step, and its specific implementation is the same as that of step S808, which will not be repeated here.

[0390] Accordingly, as shown in step S813 in FIG. 8, the core network element sends second information to the terminal through a NAS message or a PDU session message, the second information indicating whether to continue to perform the AIoT service.

[0391] According to the above embodiments shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the execution subject that continues to execute the AIoT service in the embodiments of the present application is the terminal, and therefore the terminal can obtain the ninth information after accessing the second access network device in response to the first message, and determine whether to continue to execute the AIoT service according to the ninth information.

[0392] In some implementations, the ninth information is used to indicate whether to continue to execute the AIoT service. It can be understood that the terminal can directly indicate whether to continue to execute the AIoT service through the obtained ninth information. Corresponding to the embodiments shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the ninth information can be the same information as the second information, the fourth information, the sixth information, the seventh information or the eighth information.

[0393] In some implementations, the ninth information can include the first information and the first area, that is, corresponding to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the terminal can determine whether to continue to execute the AIoT service by itself in the case of obtaining the first information and the first area.

[0394] In the above embodiments, the concept for solving the technical problem is to obtain the position of the terminal after accessing the second access network device and the area corresponding to the AIoT service, and determine whether the terminal continues to execute the AIoT service according to the relationship between the above position and the area.

[0395] It should be noted that if the terminal performs access network device switching during the execution of the AIoT service, some most basic operations can also be performed without considering complex judgment, for example, directly stopping the execution of the AIoT service, suspending the AIoT service, or considering the resource usage problem in the execution of the AIoT service. The following describes these possible basic operations.

[0396] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The first access network device is a source access network device accessed by the terminal, and the terminal can be understood as an intermediate node in the topology 2 architecture. The communication method shown in FIG. 9 can include the following steps:

[0397] S901, the first access network device sends a first message to the terminal in the execution of the AIoT service by the terminal, and the first message indicates that the terminal accesses a second access network device. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the first message from the first access network device.

[0398] In the execution of the AIoT service, the source access network device currently accessed by the terminal is the first access network device, and the second access network device indicated by the first message is a target access network device to be accessed by the terminal.

[0399] S902, the terminal stops executing the AIoT service.

[0400] In this step, the terminal can directly stop performing the AIoT service in response to receiving the first message, that is, the terminal stops reporting data corresponding to the AIoT service to the access network device and stops transmitting data and / or signaling corresponding to the AIoT service with the AIoT device.

[0401] It should be noted that the stopping of the AIoT service in the embodiments of the present application can be understood as terminating the AIoT service. If the terminal wants to re-perform the AIoT service subsequently, it needs to start from the configuration of the AIoT service by the core network element, and start to establish a new AIoT service from initiating the AIoT service request.

[0402] In some implementations, as shown in step S903 in FIG. 9, the terminal can further release the configuration corresponding to the AIoT service and / or release the first context of the terminal, the first context being used for the terminal to transmit the AIoT service with the AIoT device.

[0403] The configuration corresponding to the AIoT service, for example, includes an AIoT access stratum (AS) configuration, which can be used to configure the terminal, and the terminal can perform the AIoT service with the AIoT device according to the AIoT AS configuration.

[0404] Optionally, the AIoT AS configuration, for example, includes a configuration of AIoT radio resources, which are used for the terminal to communicate with the AIoT device, for example, to transmit one or more of messages, data, or signaling corresponding to the AIoT service with the AIoT device.

[0405] Optionally, in various embodiments of the present application, the AIoT AS configuration can also be replaced by an AIoT radio configuration or an AIoT radio interface configuration, etc.

[0406] The first context is a context of the terminal, and the first context can be used for communication between the terminal and the AIoT device, for example, the first context is related to the AIoT service. For example, the first context can be used for the terminal to transmit one or more of messages, data, or signaling corresponding to the AIoT service with the AIoT device.

[0407] It can be understood that the above terminal and the AIoT device transmit data and / or signaling corresponding to the AIoT service, and the AIoT device is a device related to the AIoT service. In this implementation, the terminal further releases (that is, deletes) the configuration corresponding to the AIoT service and / or the first context, which can save the storage space of the terminal.

[0408] Optionally, the above configuration corresponding to the AIoT service can also include AIoT radio resources for transmitting information corresponding to the AIoT service.

[0409] It should be noted that before receiving the first message, the terminal accesses a third cell, and the third cell is a cell controlled by the first access network. After receiving the first message, the terminal accesses a fourth cell in response to receiving the first message, and the fourth cell is a cell controlled by the first access network.

[0410] The third cell and the fourth cell are different cells controlled by the first access network, the terminal is switched to the second access network device in response to the first message, in order to maintain the continuity of communication, the terminal can establish a new connection with the fourth cell and gradually disconnect the connection with the third cell. During the movement of the terminal, the cell controlled by the first access network can be smoothly switched to the cell controlled by the second access network, so as to access the second access network device in response to the first message.

[0411] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a communication method provided by another embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 10, the communication method can include the following steps:

[0412] S1001, the first access network device sends a first message to the terminal in the execution of the AIoT service by the terminal, and the first message instructs the terminal to access or switch to the second access network device. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the first message from the first access network device.

[0413] S1002, the terminal suspends the AIoT service.

[0414] In this step, the terminal can suspend the AIoT service in response to receiving the first message. It should be noted that, unlike stopping the execution of the AIoT service, the suspension of the AIoT service in the embodiment of the present application can be understood as the suspension of the AIoT service. If the terminal wants to re-execute the AIoT service later, the suspended AIoT service can be resumed.

[0415] In some implementations, as shown in step S1003 in FIG. 10, the terminal can also suspend the configuration corresponding to the AIoT service, and / or suspend the first context of the terminal, and the first context is used for the terminal to transmit the AIoT service to the AIoT device.

[0416] Compared with step S903 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, if the terminal wants to re-execute the AIoT service in the case of suspending the configuration corresponding to the AIoT service and / or the first context of the terminal, the suspended configuration corresponding to the AIoT service and / or the first context of the terminal can be re-enabled.

[0417] Optionally, the above-mentioned configuration corresponding to the AIoT service can also include AIoT radio resources used for transmitting information of the AIoT service.

[0418] As a possible implementation, before receiving the first message, the terminal accesses a third cell, and the third cell is a cell controlled by the first access network. After receiving the first message, the terminal accesses a fourth cell in response to receiving the first message, and the fourth cell is a cell controlled by the first access network.

[0419] The first access network device can further send a second message to the terminal on the fourth cell, and the second message indicates any of the following: resuming the AIoT service, stopping performing the AIoT service, or indicating the configuration corresponding to the AIoT service. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the second message from the fourth cell.

[0420] It can be understood that, after the terminal is switched from the third cell to the fourth cell, the terminal sends an RRC reconfiguration complete message to the first access network device. Subsequently, the first access network device sends a second message (an RRC message) on the fourth cell, and since the terminal suspends the AIoT service in step S1002, the second message can instruct the terminal to resume the AIoT service, so that the terminal resumes performing after suspending performing.

[0421] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of a communication method provided by another embodiment of the present application. Exemplarily, as shown in FIG. 11, the communication method can include the following steps:

[0422] S1101, the first access network device sends a first message to the terminal in performing the AIoT service by the terminal, and the first message instructs the terminal to access or switch to a second access network device. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the first message from the first access network device.

[0423] It should be noted that, before receiving the first message, the terminal accesses a third cell controlled by the first access network device.

[0424] S1102, the terminal accesses a fourth cell in response to receiving the first message.

[0425] In this step, the terminal switches from the third cell to the fourth cell in response to receiving the first message.

[0426] S1103, if the fourth cell is the third cell, the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service.

[0427] It should be noted that, after leaving the third cell, the terminal can return to the third cell in a subsequent movement process. In the above movement process, after leaving the third cell, the terminal accesses a fourth cell in response to receiving the first message, and the fourth cell can be a cell accessed by the terminal when returning to the third cell, that is, the fourth cell is the third cell. In this case, the terminal can continue to use the previous AIoT wireless resource and continue to perform the AIoT service.

[0428] It can be understood that after accessing the fourth cell, the terminal judges whether the fourth cell is the same as the third cell, and in the case of being the same, the terminal performs step S1103, and in the case of being different, the terminal performs the following step S1104.

[0429] S1104, if the fourth cell is different from the third cell, the terminal stops performing the AIoT service, or suspends the AIoT service.

[0430] In this step, the AIoT wireless resource used by the terminal on the third cell can not be applicable to the fourth cell. With reference to the embodiments shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the terminal can stop performing the AIoT service or suspend the AIoT service.

[0431] FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of a communication method provided by another embodiment of the present application. Illustratively, as shown in FIG. 12, the communication method can include the following steps:

[0432] S1201, in the execution of the AIoT service by the terminal, the first access network device sends a first message to the terminal, and the first message instructs the terminal to access or switch to the second access network device. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the first message from the first access network device.

[0433] S1202, the terminal starts a first timer in response to receiving the first message.

[0434] The terminal can maintain the first timer internally. In this step, the terminal starts the first timer in response to receiving the first message, and the first timer starts timing. The first timer in this step can also be understood as a first timer, which is used to measure the time length.

[0435] S1203, during the running of the first timer, the AIoT service is continued to be executed, or the fourth cell is accessed.

[0436] In this step, during the running of the first timer, the terminal can continue to use the AIoT wireless resource, so as to continue to execute the AIoT service. Alternatively, during the running of the timer, the terminal can be switched from the third cell accessed before receiving the first message to the fourth cell.

[0437] In a possible implementation, after the terminal accesses the fourth cell, the terminal can also send a third message to the first access network device on the fourth cell, and the third message indicates that the RRC reconfiguration is completed. Correspondingly, the first access network device receives the third message from the terminal on the fourth cell.

[0438] After the terminal sends the third message on the fourth cell, the terminal can stop the first timer, and / or the first access network device sends the first configuration information on the fourth cell. Correspondingly, the terminal receives the first configuration information on the fourth cell, and performs the AIoT service according to the first configuration information.

[0439] In another possible implementation, the terminal can also stop performing the AIoT service or suspend the AIoT service when the first timer reaches the second preset time length. It should be noted that the first timer reaching the second preset time length can also be understood as the first timer timing out.

[0440] It can be understood that the first access network device and / or the second access network device in the embodiments of the present application can be a gNB or an open RAN node. When the first access network device and / or the second access network device are in a CU-DU separation architecture, the communication interaction between the terminal and the first access network device and / or the second access network device in the above embodiments can be understood as the communication between the terminal and the O-DU in the first access network device and / or the O-DU in the second access network device. In the above embodiments, the communication interaction between the core network element and the first access network device and / or the second access network device can be understood as the communication between the core network element and the O-CU in the first access network device and / or the O-CU in the second access network device.

[0441] It should be noted that in the case of the access network device adopting the CU-DU separation architecture, the F1AP message will exist:

[0442] When the access network device is a CU-DU separated access network device, the CU receives the XXAP / NGAP message sent by the core network, and forwards the XXAP message / NGAP to the DU through the F1AP message, or sends the AIoT information contained in the CU-DU separated AP / NGAP message to the DU through the F1AP message. After receiving the RRC message sent by the UE, the DU forwards the RRC message to the CU through the F1AP message, or sends the AIoT information contained in the RRC message to the CU through the F1AP message.

[0443] In this scheme, the XXAP / NGAP message transmitted on the F1 interface F1AP and the XXAP / NGAP message transmitted on the XX / NG interface can be different, that is, the CU can perform related processing on the message, which can include deletion, filtering, mapping, modification, addition of auxiliary information, etc.

[0444] It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present application, the topology 2 architecture is taken as an example, and the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application can also be applicable when the terminal is taken as a read-write device of the AIoT service in the above topology 3 and topology 4 architectures.

[0445] FIGS. 13 and 14 are structural schematic diagrams of possible communication apparatuses provided by the embodiments of the present application. The communication apparatuses can be used to implement the functions of the terminal, the access network device or the core network element in the above method embodiments, and thus can also achieve the beneficial effects possessed by the above method embodiments. In the embodiments of the present application, the communication apparatus can be the terminal or the access network device in the above method embodiments, or can be a component (such as a chip, a chip system, a processor, etc.) configured in the terminal or the access network device, or can be a logic module or software capable of implementing part or all of the functions of the terminal or the access network device.

[0446] FIG. 13 is a structural schematic diagram of a communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG. 13, the communication apparatus 1300 includes a processing module 1310 and a transceiver module 1320.

[0447] The transceiver module 1320 can implement corresponding communication functions, and the transceiver module 1320 can also be referred to as an input / output interface or a communication unit. The processing module 1310 can be used to perform processing operations. It should be understood that if the apparatus 1300 is a component (such as a chip) configured in the access network device or the terminal, the transceiver module 1320 can be an input / output interface.

[0448] Optionally, the transceiver module 1320 can include a sending module and a receiving module. The sending module is used to perform the sending operations of the above access network device or terminal, and the receiving module is used to perform the receiving operations of the above access network device or terminal.

[0449] It should be understood that if the apparatus 1300 is a component (such as a chip) configured in the access network device or the terminal, the sending module can be an output interface, and the sending operations involved in the embodiments of the present application can be performed by the output interface; the receiving module can be an input interface, and the receiving operations involved in the embodiments of the present application can be performed by the input interface.

[0450] Optionally, the apparatus 1300 can further include a storage module, which can be used to store instructions and / or data. The processing module 1310 can read the instructions and / or data in the storage module, so that the apparatus implements the above method embodiments.

[0451] In one possible design, the apparatus 1300 can be used for implementing functions of a terminal in the above-described method embodiments, or the apparatus 1300 can include a unit for implementing any function or operation of a terminal in the above-described method embodiments, which can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof.

[0452] When the apparatus 1300 is used for implementing functions of a terminal in the above-described method embodiments, the transceiver module 1320 (which can be specifically a receiving module) can be used for performing step S504 in FIG. 5, receiving a first message from an access network device, the first message indicating that the terminal device switches to a second access network device, and can also be used for performing step S708 in FIG. 7, receiving second information from the second access network device, the second information indicating whether to continue to perform an AIoT service; the processing module 1310 can be used for performing step S507 in FIG. 5, the terminal determining whether to continue to perform the AIoT service according to the first location and the first area; and the transceiver module 1320 (which can be specifically a sending module) can be used for performing step S706 in FIG. 7, sending an RRC reconfiguration complete message to the second access network device.

[0453] In another possible design, the apparatus 1300 can be used for implementing functions of an access network device in the above-described method embodiments, or the apparatus 1300 can include a unit for implementing any function or operation of an access network device in the above-described method embodiments, which can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof.

[0454] When the apparatus 1300 is used for implementing functions of a second access network device in the above-described method embodiments, the transceiver module 1320 (which can be specifically a sending module) can be used for performing step S708 in FIG. 7, sending second information to a terminal, the second information indicating whether to continue to perform an AIoT service; the processing module 1310 can be used for performing step S707 in FIG. 7, determining whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service according to a first location and a first area; and the transceiver module 1320 (which can be specifically a receiving module) can be used for performing step S706 in FIG. 7, receiving an RRC reconfiguration complete message from the terminal.

[0455] More detailed descriptions of the processing module 1310 and the transceiver module 1320 can be directly obtained by referring to the related descriptions in the above-described method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0456] It should be noted that the transceiver module can also be referred to as a transceiver unit, a transceiver, a transceiver device, or the like. The processing module can also be referred to as a processor, a processing board, a processing unit, or a processing device, or the like. Alternatively, the transceiver module can be used to perform the transmitting operation and the receiving operation of the terminal or the access network device in the above method, and the device in the communication module used to implement the receiving function can be regarded as a receiving module, and the device in the communication module used to implement the transmitting function can be regarded as a transmitting module, that is, the transceiver module includes the receiving module and the transmitting module.

[0457] In addition, in a possible design, the foregoing transceiver module and / or the processing module can be implemented by a virtual module, for example, the processing module can be implemented by a software function module or a virtual device, and the transceiver module can be implemented by a software function module or a virtual device. In another possible design, the processing module or the transceiver module can also be implemented by an entity device, for example, if the device is implemented by a chip / chip circuit, the transceiver module can be an input / output circuit and / or a communication interface, and performs an input operation (corresponding to the foregoing receiving operation) and an output operation (corresponding to the foregoing transmitting operation); and the processing module is an integrated processor or a microprocessor or an integrated circuit.

[0458] It should be understood that the division of the modules in the embodiments of the present application is illustrative, and is merely a logical function division, and another division manner can be used in actual implementation. In addition, each function module in each embodiment of the present application can be integrated in one processor, or can be physically separated, or two or more modules can be integrated in one module. The integrated module can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of a software function module.

[0459] FIG. 14 is a structural schematic diagram of a communication device provided by another embodiment of the present application. The device 1400 can be a chip system, or can be a device configured with a chip system, for implementing the method embodiments. In the embodiments of the present application, the chip system can be composed of a chip, or can include a chip and other discrete devices.

[0460] As shown in FIG. 14, the device 1400 can be implemented by a processing system including one or more processors 1401. The processor 1401 includes a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor, a field programmable gate array, a graphics processor, a programmable logic device, a state machine, a gated logic, a discrete hardware circuit, and other suitable hardware configured to perform various functions. That is, the processor used in the device 1400 can be used to implement any one or more of the above-described embodiments.

[0461] The processing system in the apparatus 1400 can be implemented with a bus architecture, generally represented by bus 1402. The bus 1402 can include any number of interconnecting buses and bridges depending on the specific application of the processing system and the overall design constraints. The bus 1402 communicatively couples various circuitry including one or more processors 1401, generally represented by the processor, memory 1403, and computer-readable media 1404, generally represented by the computer-readable media. The bus 1402 can also link various other circuitry, such as a timing source, peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuitry, which are well-known in the art, and therefore, will not be further described. A bus interface 1405 provides an interface between the bus 1402 and transceivers and between the bus 1402 and interfaces. The bus interface 1405 can use transceivers, such as transceivers, but is not limited to, to enable communication between the apparatus 1400 and other devices or apparatuses.

[0462] The transceiver provides a communication interface or means for communicating with various other apparatuses over a wireless transmission medium. The transceiver can be coupled to an array of antennas, and the transceiver and array of antennas can together function to communicate with respective network types. At least one interface (e.g., network interface and / or user interface) provides a communication interface or means for communication over an internal bus or via an external transmission medium.

[0463] The processor 1401 is responsible for managing the bus 1402 and general processing, including the execution of software stored on the computer-readable media 1404. The software, when executed by the processor 1401, causes the processing system to perform the various functions described below for any particular apparatus.

[0464] The functions that the processor 1401 and memory 1403 and computer-readable media 1404 can implement can be encoding, decoding, rate matching, de-rate matching, scrambling, descrambling, modulating, demodulating, layer mapping, fast Fourier transform, inverse fast Fourier transform, inverse discrete Fourier transform, precoding, resource element (RE) mapping, channel equalization, de-RE mapping, digital beam forming (BF), adding a cyclic prefix (CP), de-CP, and so forth.

[0465] The steps of the methods disclosed in conjunction with the embodiments of the present application can be directly embodied as hardware code processing executed by a coded processor, or a combination of a hardware module and a software module in the coded processor. The software module can be located in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, registers, and other mature storage media in the art.

[0466] The embodiment of the present application further provides a computer readable storage medium, and the computer readable storage medium stores computer instructions. When the processor executes the computer instructions, each step in the method in the above embodiment is implemented.

[0467] The embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, which comprises computer instructions. When the processor executes the computer instructions, each step in the method in the above embodiment is implemented.

[0468] It should be noted that the modules or components shown in the above embodiments can be one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the above method, for example, one or more application specific integrated circuits, or one or more microprocessors, or one or more field programmable gate arrays, etc. For another example, when a certain module above is implemented in the form of a processing element calling program code, the processing element can be a general purpose processor, for example, a central processing unit or other processor capable of calling program code such as a controller. For another example, these modules can be integrated together to implement in the form of a system on a chip (SOC).

[0469] In the above embodiments, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented by software, hardware, firmware, software modules or any combination thereof. When implemented by software, all or part of the embodiments can be implemented in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions according to the embodiments of the present application are generated. The computer can be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a computer network or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer readable storage medium to another computer readable storage medium, for example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server or data center to another website, computer, server or data center through wired (such as coaxial cable, optical fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL)) or wireless (such as infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) mode. The computer readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server, data center, etc. containing one or more available media. The available media can be magnetic media (such as floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), optical media (such as DVD) or semiconductor media (such as solid state disk (SSD)) and the like.

[0470] Other embodiments of the application will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the application disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit of the application being indicated by the following claims.

[0471] It is to be understood that the application is not limited to the precise construction herein disclosed and shown in the drawings, and that various modifications and changes can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the application. The scope of the application is limited only by the claims that follow.

Claims

A communication method characterized by comprising: The method is applied to a second access network device or a chip in the second access network device, a terminal switches to the second access network device in an execution environment AIoT service, and the method comprises: obtaining first information, the first information indicating a first location where the terminal is located; obtaining a first area, the first area indicating an area corresponding to the AIoT service; determining whether the terminal continues to execute the AIoT service according to the first location and the first area; sending second information, the second information indicating whether the terminal continues to execute the AIoT service. The method of claim 1, wherein After determining that the terminal continues to execute the AIoT service, the method further comprises: obtaining third information, the third information indicating a second location where the terminal is located; determining whether the terminal continues to execute the AIoT service according to the second location and the first area; sending fourth information, the fourth information indicating whether the terminal continues to execute the AIoT service. The method of claim 1, wherein After determining that the terminal does not continue to execute the AIoT service, the method further comprises: obtaining fifth information, the fifth information indicating a third location where the terminal is located; determining whether the terminal continues to execute the AIoT service according to the third location and the first area; sending sixth information, the sixth information indicating whether the terminal continues to execute the AIoT service. The method of claim 1, wherein The determination of whether the terminal continues to execute the AIoT service according to the first location and the first area comprises: if the first location is in the first area, it is determined that the terminal continues to execute the AIoT service; or if the first location is not in the first area, it is determined that the terminal does not continue to execute the AIoT service. The method of claim 1, wherein The determination of whether the terminal continues to execute the AIoT service according to the first location and the first area comprises: if the first location is in the first area and the second access network supports AIoT capability, it is determined that the terminal continues to execute the AIoT service; or if the first location is in the first area and the second access network does not support AIoT capability, it is determined that the terminal does not continue to execute the AIoT service. The method of claim 1, wherein The second access network supports AIoT capability, and after determining that the terminal continues to execute the AIoT service, the method further comprises: sending first resource information, the first resource information indicating a first resource, the first resource being used for communication between the terminal and an AIoT device; and / or sending radio bearer (RB) configuration information, the RB configuration information being used for indicating a first RB, the first RB being used for transmitting AIoT service related data and / or signaling. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The first resource is an AIoT radio resource used by the terminal and the AIoT device for communication in a first cell, and the first cell is a cell currently accessed by the terminal after switching to the second access network device; or The first resource is an AIoT wireless resource used by the terminal to communicate with the AIoT device in a second cell, and the second cell includes a plurality of cells controlled by the second access network device. The first resource is an AIoT wireless resource used by the terminal to communicate with the AIoT device during a cell switching process or an access network device switching process. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that Whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service includes: Whether the terminal reports data corresponding to the AIoT service, and / or whether the terminal transmits data and / or signaling corresponding to the AIoT service with the AIoT device. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method is applied to a core network element, and a terminal switches to a second access network device in performing an AIoT service, and the method includes: Receiving request information, the request information requesting whether to continue to perform the AIoT service; Obtaining first information indicating a first location of the terminal; Obtaining a first area indicating an area corresponding to the AIoT service; According to the first location and the first area, determining whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service; Sending second information indicating whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service. The method of claim 9, wherein After determining that the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service, the method further includes: Obtaining third information indicating a second location of the terminal; According to the second location and the first area, determining whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service; Sending seventh information indicating whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service. The method of claim 9, wherein After determining that the terminal does not continue to perform the AIoT service, the method further includes: Obtaining fifth information indicating a third location of the terminal; According to the third location and the first area, determining whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service; Sending eighth information indicating whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service. The method of claim 9, wherein According to the first location and the first area, determining whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service includes: The first location is in the first area, and it is determined that the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service; or The first location is not in the first area, and it is determined that the terminal does not continue to perform the AIoT service. The method of claim 9, wherein The method further includes: Obtaining first capability information indicating whether the second access network device supports an AIoT capability; According to the first location and the first area, determining whether the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service includes: The first location is in the first area, and the second access network supports an AIoT capability, and it is determined that the terminal continues to perform the AIoT service; or The first location is in the first area, and the second access network does not support an AIoT capability, and it is determined that the terminal does not continue to perform the AIoT service. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that The method further includes: The third resource information is transmitted, and the third resource information indicates a third resource, which is an AIoT wireless resource used by the terminal for communication with the AIoT device in a cell switching process or an access network device switching process. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method is applied to a terminal or a chip in the terminal, and the terminal accesses a first access network device, and the method comprises: In the execution of the AIoT service, a first message is received; In response to receiving the first message, the terminal accesses a second access network device; Ninth information is obtained, and whether to execute the AIoT service is determined according to the ninth information. The method of claim 15, wherein The ninth information indicates whether the terminal continues to execute the AIoT service. The method of claim 15, wherein The ninth information comprises first information and a first area, the first information indicates a first location where the terminal is located, and the first area indicates an area corresponding to the AIoT service. The determination of whether to continue to execute the AIoT service according to the first location and the first area comprises: The determination of whether to continue to execute the AIoT service according to the first location and the first area comprises: The method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that After it is determined to continue to execute the AIoT service, the method further comprises: Third information is obtained, and the second information indicates a second location where the terminal is located; The determination of whether to continue to execute the AIoT service according to the second location and the first area comprises: The method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that After it is determined not to continue to execute the AIoT service, the method further comprises: Fifth information is obtained, and the fifth information indicates a third location where the terminal is located; The determination of whether to continue to execute the AIoT service according to the third location and the first area comprises: The method of claim 17, wherein The determination of whether to continue to execute the AIoT service according to the first location and the first area comprises: The first location is located in the first area, and it is determined to continue to execute the AIoT service; or The first location is not located in the first area, and it is determined not to continue to execute the AIoT service. The method of claim 17, wherein The method further comprises: First capability information is obtained, and the first capability information indicates whether the second access network device supports an AIoT capability; The determination of whether to continue to execute the AIoT service according to the first location and the first area comprises: The first location is located in the first area, and the second access network device supports the AIoT capability, and it is determined to continue to execute the AIoT service; or The first location is located in the first area, and the second access network device does not support the AIoT capability, and it is determined not to continue to execute the AIoT service. The method of claim 17, wherein After it is determined not to continue to execute the AIoT service, the method further comprises: The tenth information is released, and the tenth information comprises data and / or signaling corresponding to the AIoT service stored by the terminal before the terminal accesses the second access network device; or The tenth information is retained until the terminal accesses a third access network device. The method of claim 22, wherein The release of the tenth information comprises: In a case where a duration of retaining the tenth information reaches a first preset duration, the tenth information is released. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that The second access network device supports AIoT capability, and after determining to continue to perform the AIoT service, the method further includes: receiving first resource information, the first resource information indicating a first resource, the first resource being used for the terminal to communicate with an AIoT device; and / or, receiving RB configuration information, the RB configuration information being used to indicate a first RB, the first RB being dedicated to transmitting AIoT service related data and / or signaling. The method of claim 24, wherein The first resource is AIoT wireless resource used by the terminal to communicate with the AIoT device in a first cell, and the first cell is a cell in which the terminal accesses the second access network device; or, The first resource is AIoT wireless resource used by the terminal to communicate with the AIoT device in a second cell, and the second cell includes a plurality of cells controlled by the second access network device; or, The first resource is AIoT wireless resource used by the terminal to communicate with the AIoT device in a handover cell process or a handover access network device process. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 23, characterized in that The method further includes: receiving second resource information, the second resource information indicating a second resource, the second resource being AIoT wireless resource used by the terminal to communicate with an AIoT device in a handover cell process or a handover access network device process, and the second resource information being from the first access network device. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 23, characterized in that The method further includes: receiving third resource information, the third resource information indicating a third resource, the third resource being AIoT wireless resource used by the terminal to communicate with an AIoT device in a handover cell process or a handover access network device process, and the third resource information being from a core network element. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method is applied to a terminal or a chip in the terminal, and the terminal accesses a first access network device, and the method includes: in performing an AIoT service, receiving a first message, the first message indicating that the terminal accesses or switches to a second access network device; stopping performing the AIoT service. The method of claim 28, wherein The method further includes: releasing configuration corresponding to the AIoT service, and / or releasing a first context of the terminal, the first context being used for the terminal to transmit the AIoT service with an AIoT device. The method of claim 29, wherein The configuration corresponding to the AIoT service includes AIoT wireless resource used to transmit information of the AIoT service. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 30, characterized in that The terminal accesses a first access network device, including: the terminal accesses a third cell, the third cell being a cell controlled by the first access network device; wherein the method further includes: in response to receiving the first message, the terminal accesses a fourth cell, the fourth cell being a cell controlled by the first access network device. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method is applied to a terminal or a chip in the terminal, and the terminal accesses a first access network device, and the method includes: in performing an AIoT service, receiving a first message, the first message indicating that the terminal accesses or switches to a second access network device; suspending the AIoT service. The method of claim 32, wherein The method further includes: suspend the configuration corresponding to the AIoT service, and / or suspend a first context of the terminal, the first context being used for the terminal to transmit the AIoT service with an AIoT device. The method of claim 33, wherein The configuration corresponding to the AIoT service includes AIoT radio resources used for transmitting information corresponding to the AIoT service. The method according to any one of claims 32 to 33, characterized in that, The terminal accesses a first access network device, including: The terminal accesses a third cell, the third cell being a cell controlled by the first access network device; The method further includes: In response to receiving the first message, the terminal accesses a fourth cell, the fourth cell being a cell controlled by the first access network device; Receiving a second message from the fourth cell, the second message indicating any of the following: resuming the AIoT service, stopping performing the AIoT service, or indicating the configuration corresponding to the AIoT service. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method is applied to a terminal or a chip in the terminal, and the terminal accesses a third cell controlled by a first access network device, the method including: In performing an AIoT service, a first message is received; In response to receiving the first message, a fourth cell is accessed; If the fourth cell is the third cell, the AIoT service is continued to be performed. The method of claim 36, wherein The method further includes: If the fourth cell is different from the third cell, the AIoT service is stopped to be performed, or the AIoT service is suspended. A communication method characterized by comprising: The method is applied to a terminal or a chip in the terminal, and the terminal accesses a third cell controlled by a first access network device, the method including: In performing an AIoT service, a first message is received, the first message indicating that the terminal accesses or switches to a second access network device; In response to receiving the first message, a first timer is started; During running of the first timer, the AIoT service is continued to be performed, or a fourth cell is accessed. The method of claim 38, wherein After accessing the fourth cell, the method further includes: The fourth cell sends a third message, the third message indicating RRC reconfiguration completion; After sending the third message, the timer is stopped; and / or After sending the third message, first configuration information is received at the fourth cell, and the AIoT service is performed according to the first configuration information. The method of claim 38, wherein The method further includes: In a case where a timing duration of the first timer reaches a second preset duration, the AIoT service is stopped to be performed, or the AIoT service is suspended. A communication device, characterized by The communication apparatus includes modules for implementing the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 40. A communication device characterized by comprising: including: a processor coupled to a memory; the memory stores computer-executable instructions; the processor executes the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory, so that the communication apparatus performs the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 40. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized by, The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program or instructions, and when the computer program or instructions are executed by a processor, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 40 is implemented. A computer program product, characterized in that comprising computer programs or instructions, which when executed, implement the method of any of claims 1 to 40.

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