Communication method and apparatus, and communication device, communication system and storage medium

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a communication method and apparatus, and a communication device, a communication system and a storage medium. The communication method is executed by means of a first network element, and comprises: sending first information to a second network element, wherein the first information is used for indicating that a first rule and a second rule for a first SDF are associated, the first rule and the second rule are bound to different QoS flows, and the QoS flow bound to the first rule is used for implementing data acceleration processing of the first SDF. By means of the present disclosure, the data acceleration processing of an SDF can be implemented.

Description

Communication methods and apparatus, communication equipment, communication systems and storage media Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and apparatus, communication equipment, communication system and storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] In communication systems, data acceleration processing can be used to accelerate the transmission of service data flow (SDF).

[0003] Summary of the Invention

[0004] This disclosure provides a communication method and apparatus, a communication device, a communication system, and a storage medium.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a communication method is provided. The communication method is performed by a first network element. The communication method includes: sending first information to a second network element, wherein the first information is used to indicate that a first rule and a second rule are associated for a first SDF, the first rule and the second rule are bound to different quality of service (QoS) flows, and the QoS flow bound to the first rule is used to implement data acceleration processing for the first SDF.

[0006] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a communication method is provided. This communication method is performed by a second network element. The communication method includes: receiving first information sent by a first network element, wherein the first information is used to indicate that a first rule and a second rule are associated for a first SDF, the first rule and the second rule are bound to different QoS flows, and the QoS flow bound to the first rule is used to implement data acceleration processing for the first SDF.

[0007] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a communication method is provided. This communication method is performed by a third network element. The communication method includes: receiving a data packet from a first SDF, wherein the data packet carries first indication information, the first indication information being used to indicate data acceleration processing of the first SDF; and determining, based on the first information, switching from a QoS stream bound to a second rule of the first SDF to a QoS stream bound to the first rule, wherein the first information is used to indicate that the first rule and the second rule are associated, the first rule and the second rule are bound to different QoS streams, and the QoS stream bound to the first rule is used to implement data acceleration processing of the first SDF.

[0008] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a communication method is provided. The communication method includes: a first network element sending first information to a second network element; the second network element sending first information to a third network element; wherein the first information is used to indicate an association between a first rule and a second rule for a first SDF, the first rule and the second rule being bound to different QoS flows, and the QoS flow bound to the first rule being used to implement data acceleration processing for the first SDF.

[0009] According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, a communication apparatus is provided. The communication apparatus is disposed in a first network element. The communication apparatus includes a transceiver module. The transceiver module is configured to send first information to a second network element, wherein the first information is used to indicate an association between a first rule and a second rule for a first SDF, the first rule and the second rule being bound to different QoS flows, and the QoS flow bound to the first rule being used to implement data acceleration processing for the first SDF.

[0010] According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, a communication apparatus is provided. The communication apparatus is disposed in a second network element. The communication apparatus includes a transceiver module. The transceiver module is configured to receive first information sent by a first network element, wherein the first information is used to indicate an association between a first rule and a second rule for a first SDF, the first rule and the second rule being bound to different QoS flows, and the QoS flow bound to the first rule being used to implement data acceleration processing for the first SDF.

[0011] According to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, a communication apparatus is provided. The communication apparatus is disposed in a third network element. The communication apparatus includes a transceiver module and a processing module. The transceiver module is configured to receive data packets of a first SDF, wherein the data packets carry first indication information, the first indication information being used to indicate data acceleration processing of the first SDF. The processing module is configured to determine, based on the first information, to switch from a QoS stream bound to a second rule of the first SDF to a QoS stream bound to a first rule, wherein the first information is used to indicate that the first rule and the second rule are associated, the first rule and the second rule are bound to different QoS streams, and the QoS stream bound to the first rule is used to implement data acceleration processing of the first SDF.

[0012] According to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided. The communication device includes one or more processors and a memory storing instructions. When executed by the communication device, the instructions cause the communication device to implement the communication method as described in any one of the first, second, and third aspects.

[0013] According to a ninth aspect of the present disclosure, a communication system is provided. The communication system includes: a first network element for implementing the communication method as described in the first aspect; a second network element for implementing the communication method as described in the second aspect; and a third network element for implementing the communication method as described in the third aspect.

[0014] According to a tenth aspect of the present disclosure, a storage medium is provided. The storage medium stores instructions. When executed on a communication device, the instructions cause the communication device to perform the communication method as described in any one of the first to fourth aspects.

[0015] According to an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure, a program product is provided. When executed by a communication device, the program product causes the communication device to perform the communication method as described in any one of the first to fourth aspects.

[0016] According to a twelfth aspect of the present disclosure, a computer program is provided. When the computer program is run on a computer, it causes the computer to perform the communication method as described in any one of the first to fourth aspects.

[0017] According to a thirteenth aspect of this disclosure, a chip or chip system is provided. The chip or chip system includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to perform the communication method as described in any one of the first to fourth aspects.

[0018] Through the embodiments disclosed herein, it is possible to achieve accelerated data processing for SDF.

[0019] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments of this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings required for the description of the embodiments are introduced below. The following drawings are only some embodiments of this disclosure and do not impose specific limitations on the protection scope of this disclosure.

[0021] Figure 1A is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] Figure 1B is a schematic diagram of the architecture of one implementation of a communication system provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] Figure 1C is a schematic diagram of the architecture of another implementation of the communication system provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 2 is an interactive schematic diagram of the communication method provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] Figure 3A is an interactive schematic diagram of the communication method provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] Figure 3B is an interactive schematic diagram of the communication method provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] Figure 3C is an interactive schematic diagram of the communication method provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] Figure 4 is an interactive schematic diagram of an exemplary implementation of the communication method provided according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0029] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] Figure 6A is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] Figure 6B is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chip provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0032] This disclosure provides a communication method and apparatus, a communication device, a communication system, and a storage medium.

[0033] In a first aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication method. The communication method is applied to a first network element. The communication method includes: sending first information to a second network element, wherein the first information is used to indicate an association between a first rule and a second rule for a first SDF, the first rule and the second rule being bound to different QoS flows, and the QoS flow bound to the first rule being used to implement data acceleration processing for the first SDF.

[0034] According to this embodiment, the first network element can send first information to the second network element, and the first information is used to indicate that a first rule and a second rule are associated for the first SDF. The second network element can determine that there is an association between the first rule and the second rule of the first SDF. In this way, during the data acceleration processing of the first SDF, switching can be realized between the QoS flow bound to the first rule and the QoS flow bound to the second rule according to the association between the first rule and the second rule, thereby meeting the processing requirements of dynamically changing traffic for the first SDF.

[0035] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first information may include at least one of the following: identification information of the first rule and identification information of the second rule; identification information of the association relationship between the first rule and the second rule; and indication information of the group to which the first rule and the second rule belong.

[0036] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the identification information of the first rule may be included in the second rule, and the identification information of the second rule may be included in the first rule.

[0037] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the identification information of the association relationship between the first rule and the second rule may be included in the first rule and the second rule.

[0038] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the indication information of the group to which the first rule and the second rule are located may be included in the first rule and the second rule.

[0039] In conjunction with some embodiments of the first aspect, in some embodiments, the first information may be included in the first indication information, which is used to indicate data acceleration processing for the first SDF; wherein, the first indication information is included in the first rule and the second rule, or the first indication information is included in the second rule.

[0040] In a second aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication method. This communication method is applied to a second network element. The communication method includes: receiving first information sent by a first network element, wherein the first information is used to indicate an association between a first rule and a second rule for a first SDF, the first rule and the second rule are bound to different QoS flows, and the QoS flow bound to the first rule is used to implement data acceleration processing for the first SDF.

[0041] According to this embodiment, the first network element can send first information to the second network element, and the first information is used to indicate that a first rule and a second rule are associated for the first SDF. The second network element can determine that there is an association between the first rule and the second rule of the first SDF. In this way, during the data acceleration processing of the first SDF, switching can be realized between the QoS flow bound to the first rule and the QoS flow bound to the second rule according to the association between the first rule and the second rule, thereby meeting the processing requirements of dynamically changing traffic for the first SDF.

[0042] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the first information may include at least one of the following: identification information of the first rule and identification information of the second rule; identification information of the association relationship between the first rule and the second rule; and indication information of the group to which the first rule and the second rule belong.

[0043] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the identification information of the first rule may be included in the second rule, and the identification information of the second rule may be included in the first rule.

[0044] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the identification information of the association relationship between the first rule and the second rule may be included in the first rule and the second rule.

[0045] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the indication information of the group to which the first rule and the second rule are located is included in the first rule and the second rule.

[0046] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the first information may be included in the first indication information, which is used to indicate data acceleration processing for the first SDF; wherein, the first indication information is included in the first rule and the second rule, or the first indication information is included in the second rule.

[0047] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the above method may further include: associating the QoS flow bound to the first rule and the QoS bound to the second rule according to the first information.

[0048] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, associating the QoS flow bound to the first rule and the QoS flow bound to the second rule according to the first information includes: associating the first rule and the second rule according to the first information; determining the QoS flow bound to the first rule and the QoS flow bound to the second rule; and associating the QoS flow bound to the first rule and the QoS flow bound to the second rule.

[0049] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the above method may further include: sending first information to a third network element.

[0050] In conjunction with some embodiments of the second aspect, in some embodiments, the above method may further include: sending second indication information to a third network element, wherein the second indication information is used to trigger a reflection QoS mechanism for a first SDF mapped to a QoS flow bound to a first rule.

[0051] In a third aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication method. This communication method is applied to a third network element. The communication method includes: receiving a data packet from a first SDF, wherein the data packet carries first indication information, the first indication information being used to indicate data acceleration processing of the first SDF; and determining, based on the first information, switching from a QoS flow bound to a second rule of the first SDF to a QoS flow bound to the first rule, wherein the first information is used to indicate that the first rule and the second rule are associated, the first rule and the second rule are bound to different QoS flows, and the QoS flow bound to the first rule is used to implement data acceleration processing of the first SDF.

[0052] According to this embodiment, the third network element can accelerate data processing on the first SDF based on the first information. The first information indicates that a first rule and a second rule of the first SDF are associated. Thus, during the data acceleration processing of the first SDF, switching can be achieved between the QoS flow bound to the first rule and the QoS flow bound to the second rule based on the association between the first rule and the second rule, thereby meeting the processing requirements of dynamically changing traffic of the first SDF.

[0053] In conjunction with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the above method may further include: receiving second indication information sent by a second network element, wherein the second indication information is used to trigger a reflection QoS mechanism for a first SDF mapped to a QoS flow bound to a first rule; and marking RQI in the data packets of the first SDF in the QoS flow bound to the first rule according to the second indication information.

[0054] In conjunction with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the above method may further include: determining, based on first information, to switch from a QoS stream bound to a first rule to a QoS stream bound to a second rule, wherein data acceleration processing ends.

[0055] In conjunction with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the first information may include at least one of the following: identification information of the first rule and identification information of the second rule; identification information of the association relationship between the first rule and the second rule; and indication information of the group to which the first rule and the second rule belong.

[0056] In conjunction with some embodiments of the third aspect, in some embodiments, the above method may further include: receiving first information sent by the second network element.

[0057] In a fourth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication method. The communication method includes: a first network element sending first information to a second network element; the second network element sending first information to a third network element; wherein the first information is used to indicate an association between a first rule and a second rule for a first SDF, the first rule and the second rule being bound to different QoS flows, and the QoS flow bound to the first rule being used to implement data acceleration processing for the first SDF.

[0058] In a fifth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication device. The communication device is disposed in a first network element. The communication device includes a transceiver module. The transceiver module is configured to send first information to a second network element, wherein the first information is used to indicate an association between a first rule and a second rule for a first SDF, the first rule and the second rule being bound to different QoS flows, and the QoS flow bound to the first rule being used to implement data acceleration processing for the first SDF.

[0059] In conjunction with some embodiments of the fifth aspect, in some embodiments, the first information may include at least one of the following: identification information of the first rule and identification information of the second rule; identification information of the association relationship between the first rule and the second rule; and indication information of the group to which the first rule and the second rule belong.

[0060] In conjunction with some embodiments of the fifth aspect, in some embodiments, the identification information of the first rule may be included in the second rule, and the identification information of the second rule may be included in the first rule.

[0061] In conjunction with some embodiments of the fifth aspect, in some embodiments, the identification information of the association relationship between the first rule and the second rule may be included in the first rule and the second rule.

[0062] In conjunction with some embodiments of the fifth aspect, in some embodiments, the indication information of the group to which the first rule and the second rule are located may be included in the first rule and the second rule.

[0063] In conjunction with some embodiments of the fifth aspect, in some embodiments, the first information may be included in the first indication information, which is used to indicate data acceleration processing for the first SDF; wherein, the first indication information is included in the first rule and the second rule, or the first indication information is included in the second rule.

[0064] In a sixth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication device. The communication device is disposed in a second network element. The communication device includes a transceiver module. The transceiver module is configured to receive first information sent by a first network element, wherein the first information is used to indicate an association between a first rule and a second rule for a first SDF, the first rule and the second rule being bound to different QoS flows, and the QoS flow bound to the first rule being used to implement data acceleration processing for the first SDF.

[0065] In conjunction with some embodiments of the sixth aspect, in some embodiments, the first information may include at least one of the following: identification information of the first rule and identification information of the second rule; identification information of the association relationship between the first rule and the second rule; and indication information of the group to which the first rule and the second rule belong.

[0066] In conjunction with some embodiments of the sixth aspect, in some embodiments, the identification information of the first rule may be included in the second rule, and the identification information of the second rule may be included in the first rule.

[0067] In conjunction with some embodiments of the sixth aspect, in some embodiments, the identification information of the association relationship between the first rule and the second rule may be included in the first rule and the second rule.

[0068] In conjunction with some embodiments of the sixth aspect, in some embodiments, the indication information of the group to which the first rule and the second rule are located is included in the first rule and the second rule.

[0069] In conjunction with some embodiments of the sixth aspect, in some embodiments, the first information may be included in the first indication information, which is used to indicate data acceleration processing for the first SDF; wherein, the first indication information is included in the first rule and the second rule, or the first indication information is included in the second rule.

[0070] In conjunction with some embodiments of the sixth aspect, in some embodiments, the above-described apparatus may further include a processing module configured to associate the QoS flow bound to the first rule and the QoS bound to the second rule according to the first information.

[0071] In conjunction with some embodiments of the sixth aspect, in some embodiments, the processing module is configured to: associate a first rule and a second rule based on first information; determine the QoS flow bound to the first rule and the QoS flow bound to the second rule; and associate the QoS flow bound to the first rule and the QoS flow bound to the second rule.

[0072] In conjunction with some embodiments of the sixth aspect, in some embodiments, the transceiver module may also be configured to send first information to a third network element.

[0073] In conjunction with some embodiments of the sixth aspect, in some embodiments, the transceiver module may also be configured to: send second indication information to a third network element, wherein the second indication information is used to trigger a reflection QoS mechanism for a first SDF mapped to a QoS flow bound to a first rule.

[0074] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication apparatus. The communication apparatus is disposed in a third network element. The communication apparatus includes a transceiver module. The transceiver module is configured to receive data packets of a first SDF, wherein the data packets carry first indication information, the first indication information being used to indicate data acceleration processing of the first SDF. A processing module is configured to determine, based on the first information, to switch from a QoS flow bound to a second rule of the first SDF to a QoS flow bound to the first rule, wherein the first information is used to indicate that the first rule and the second rule are associated, the first rule and the second rule are bound to different QoS flows, and the QoS flow bound to the first rule is used to implement data acceleration processing of the first SDF.

[0075] In conjunction with some embodiments of the seventh aspect, in some embodiments, the transceiver module may also be configured to: receive second indication information sent by the second network element, wherein the second indication information is used to trigger a reflection QoS mechanism for the first SDF mapped to the QoS flow bound to the first rule; the processing module may also be configured to mark RQI in the data packets of the first SDF in the QoS flow bound to the first rule according to the second indication information.

[0076] In conjunction with some embodiments of the seventh aspect, in some embodiments, the processing module may also be configured to: determine, based on the first information, switch from the QoS stream bound to the first rule to the QoS stream bound to the second rule, wherein the data acceleration processing ends.

[0077] In conjunction with some embodiments of the seventh aspect, in some embodiments, the first information may include at least one of the following: identification information of the first rule and identification information of the second rule; identification information of the association relationship between the first rule and the second rule; and indication information of the group to which the first rule and the second rule belong.

[0078] In conjunction with some embodiments of the seventh aspect, in some embodiments, the transceiver module may also be configured to: receive first information sent by the second network element.

[0079] In an eighth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication device. The communication device includes one or more processors and a memory storing instructions. When executed by the communication device, the instructions cause the communication device to implement the communication method as described in any one of the first, second, and third aspects.

[0080] In a ninth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a communication system. The communication system includes: a first network element for implementing the communication method as described in any of the first aspect and its possible embodiments; a second network element for implementing the communication method as described in any of the second aspect and its possible embodiments; and a third network element for implementing the communication method as described in any of the third aspect and its possible embodiments.

[0081] In a tenth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a storage medium storing instructions. When executed on a communication device, the instructions cause the communication device to perform the communication method as described in any of the first to fourth aspects and their possible implementations.

[0082] In an eleventh aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a program product. When executed by a communication device, the program product causes the communication device to perform the communication method as described in any of the first to fourth aspects and their possible implementations.

[0083] In a twelfth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a computer program. When this computer program is run on a computer, it causes the computer to perform the communication methods described in any of the first to fourth aspects and their possible implementations.

[0084] In a thirteenth aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a chip or chip system. The chip or chip system includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to perform a communication method as described in any one of the first to fourth aspects and their possible embodiments.

[0085] It is understood that the aforementioned communication devices, communication equipment, communication systems, storage media, program products, computer programs, chips, and chip systems are all used to execute the communication methods provided in the embodiments of this disclosure. Therefore, the beneficial effects they can achieve can be referred to the beneficial effects in the corresponding methods, and will not be repeated here.

[0086] This disclosure provides a communication method and apparatus, a communication device, a communication system, and a storage medium. In some embodiments, terms such as communication method and information processing method can be used interchangeably; terms such as communication apparatus, communication device, and information processing apparatus can be used interchangeably; and terms such as information processing system and communication system can be used interchangeably.

[0087] This disclosure is not exhaustive, but merely illustrative of some embodiments, and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this disclosure. Unless contradictory, each step in a particular embodiment can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the steps can be arbitrarily combined. For example, a solution after removing some steps in a particular embodiment can also be implemented as an independent embodiment, and the order of the steps in a particular embodiment can be arbitrarily interchanged. Furthermore, the optional implementations in a particular embodiment can be arbitrarily combined. Moreover, the embodiments can be arbitrarily combined. For example, some or all steps of different embodiments can be arbitrarily combined. As another example, a particular embodiment can be arbitrarily combined with optional implementations of other embodiments.

[0088] In each of the disclosed embodiments, unless otherwise specified or in case of logical conflict, the terminology and / or descriptions of the embodiments are consistent and can be referenced by each other. Technical features in different embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments based on their inherent logical relationships.

[0089] The terminology used in the embodiments of this disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure.

[0090] In this embodiment of the disclosure, unless otherwise stated, elements expressed in the singular form, such as "a," "an," "the," "the," "the," "the," "the," "the," "this," etc., can mean "one and only one," or "one or more," "at least one," etc. For example, when using articles such as "a," "an," "the," etc. in translation, the noun following the article can be understood as either a singular expression or a plural expression.

[0091] In the embodiments disclosed herein, "multiple" refers to two or more.

[0092] In some embodiments, the terms “at least one of”, “one or more”, “a plurality of”, “multiple”, etc., may be used interchangeably.

[0093] In some embodiments, the notation "at least one of A and B", "A and / or B", "A in one case, B in another", "in response to one case A, in response to another case B", etc., may include the following technical solutions depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (execute A regardless of B); in some embodiments, B (execute B regardless of A); in some embodiments, execution is selected from A and B (A and B are selectively executed); in some embodiments, both A and B are executed. The same applies when there are more branches such as A, B, C, etc.

[0094] In some embodiments, the notation "A or B" may include the following technical solutions, depending on the situation: in some embodiments, A (execution of A regardless of B); in some embodiments, B (execution of B regardless of A); in some embodiments, execution is selected from A and B (A and B are selectively executed). The same applies when there are more branches such as A, B, C, etc.

[0095] The prefixes "first," "second," etc., used in the embodiments of this disclosure are merely for distinguishing different descriptive objects and do not impose restrictions on the position, order, priority, quantity, or content of the descriptive objects. The description of the descriptive objects is found in the claims or the context of the embodiments, and the use of prefixes should not constitute unnecessary restrictions. For example, if the descriptive object is a "field," the ordinal numbers preceding "field" in "first field" and "second field" do not restrict the position or order of the "fields." "First" and "second" do not restrict whether the "fields" they modify are in the same message, nor do they restrict the order of "first field" and "second field." Similarly, if the descriptive object is a "level," the ordinal numbers preceding "level" in "first level" and "second level" do not restrict the priority between "levels." Furthermore, the number of descriptive objects is not limited by ordinal numbers and can be one or more. For example, in "first device," the number of "devices" can be one or more. Furthermore, the objects modified by different prefixes can be the same or different. For example, if the object being described is "device", then "first device" and "second device" can be the same device or different devices, and their types can be the same or different. Similarly, if the object being described is "information", then "first information" and "second information" can be the same information or different information, and their content can be the same or different.

[0096] In some embodiments, “including A,” “containing A,” “for indicating A,” and “carrying A” can be interpreted as directly carrying A or indirectly indicating A.

[0097] In some embodiments, the terms “in response to…”, “in response to determining…”, “in the case of…”, “when…”, “if…”, “if…”, etc., can be used interchangeably.

[0098] In some embodiments, devices, etc., can be interpreted as physical or virtual, and their names are not limited to the names recorded in the embodiments. Terms such as “device”, “equipment”, “circuit”, “network element”, “node”, “function”, “unit”, “section”, “system”, “network”, “chip”, “chip system”, “entity”, and “subject” can be used interchangeably.

[0099] In some embodiments, "network" can be interpreted as devices included in a network (e.g., access network devices, core network devices, etc.).

[0100] In some embodiments, the terms "access network device (AN device)," "radio access network device (RAN device)," "base station (BS)," "radio base station," "fixed station," "node," "access point," "transmission point (TP)," "reception point (RP)," "transmission / reception point (TRP)," "panel," "antenna panel," "antenna array," "cell," "macro cell," "small cell," "femto cell," "pico cell," "sector," "cell group," "serving cell," "carrier," "component carrier," and "bandwidth part (BWP)" can be used interchangeably.

[0101] In some embodiments, the terms "terminal", "terminal device", "user equipment (UE)", "user terminal", "mobile station (MS)", "mobile terminal (MT)", "subscriber station", "mobile unit", "subscriber unit", "wireless unit", "remote unit", "mobile device", "wireless device", "wireless communication device", "remote device", "mobile subscriber station", "access terminal", "mobile terminal", "wireless terminal", "remote terminal", "handset", "user agent", "mobile client", and "client" can be used interchangeably.

[0102] In some embodiments, access network devices, core network devices, or network devices can be replaced by terminals. For example, embodiments of this disclosure can also be applied to structures where communication between access network devices, core network devices, or network devices and terminals is replaced by communication between multiple terminals (e.g., device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), etc.). In this case, the structure can also be configured such that the terminal has all or part of the functions of the access network device. Furthermore, terms such as "uplink" and "downlink" can be replaced with terms corresponding to communication between terminals (e.g., "sidelink"). For example, uplink channel, downlink channel, etc., can be replaced with sidelink channel, and uplink link, downlink, etc., can be replaced with sidelink link.

[0103] In some embodiments, the terminal may be replaced by an access network device, a core network device, or a network device. In this case, the access network device, core network device, or network device may also be configured to have all or some of the functions of the terminal.

[0104] In some embodiments, the acquisition of data, information, etc., may comply with the laws and regulations of the country where the location is situated.

[0105] In some embodiments, data, information, etc., may be obtained with the user's consent.

[0106] Furthermore, each element, each row, or each column in the table of this disclosure can be implemented as an independent embodiment, and any combination of any element, any row, or any column can also be implemented as an independent embodiment.

[0107] Figure 1A is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 1A, the communication system 100 includes a terminal 101, an access network device 102, and a core network 103.

[0108] In some embodiments, terminal 101 includes, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: mobile phone, wearable device, Internet of Things device, car with communication function, smart car, tablet computer, computer with wireless transceiver function, virtual reality (VR) terminal device, augmented reality (AR) terminal device, wireless terminal device in industrial control, wireless terminal device in self-driving, wireless terminal device in remote medical surgery, wireless terminal device in smart grid, wireless terminal device in transportation safety, wireless terminal device in smart city, and wireless terminal device in smart home.

[0109] In some embodiments, the access network device 102 may be a node or device that connects a terminal to a wireless network. The access network device may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following in a 5G communication system: evolved Node B (eNB), next-generation eNB (ng-eNB), next-generation Node B (gNB), node B (NB), home node B (HNB), home evolved node B (HeNB), radio backhaul device, radio network controller (RNC), base station controller (BSC), base transceiver station (BTS), base band unit (BBU), mobile switching center, base station in a 6G communication system, open RAN, cloud RAN, base station in other communication systems, and access node in a Wi-Fi system.

[0110] In some embodiments, the technical solutions of this disclosure can be applied to Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) architectures. In this case, the interfaces between or within access network devices involved in the embodiments of this disclosure can be transformed into internal interfaces of Open RAN. The processes and information interactions between these internal interfaces can be implemented by software or programs.

[0111] In some embodiments, the access network device 102 may be composed of a central unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU). The CU may also be called a control unit. The CU-DU structure can separate the protocol layer of the access network device. Some of the protocol layer functions are centrally controlled by the CU, while the remaining part or all of the protocol layer functions are distributed in the DU and centrally controlled by the CU. However, this is not the only possibility.

[0112] In some embodiments, the core network 103 may be a single device, including a first network element 1031, a second network element 1032, a third network element 1033, a fourth network element 1034, a fifth network element 1035, etc., or it may be multiple devices or a group of devices, each including all or part of the first network element 1031, the second network element 1032, the third network element 1033, the fourth network element 1034, the fifth network element 1035, etc. Network elements may be virtual or physical. The core network may include, for example, at least one of an Evolved Packet Core (EPC), a 5G Core Network (5GCN), and a Next Generation Core (NGC).

[0113] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 may be, for example, a control plane network function.

[0114] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 may be, for example, a policy control function (PCF).

[0115] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 can be used to support a unified policy framework and provide policy rules, the name of which is not limited thereto.

[0116] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 may be, for example, a control plane network function.

[0117] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 may be, for example, a session management function (SMF).

[0118] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 can be used for functions such as session management, execution of PCF-issued control policies, selection of UPF, and allocation of UE's Internet Protocol (IP) address, and the name is not limited thereto.

[0119] In some embodiments, the third network element 1033 may be a user plane network function.

[0120] In some embodiments, the third network element 1033 may be, for example, a user plane function (UPF).

[0121] In some embodiments, the third network element 1033 can be used to implement functions such as user plane (UP) data forwarding, session / flow-level billing statistics, bandwidth limiting, and UP QoS processing, and the name is not limited thereto.

[0122] In some embodiments, the fourth network element 1034 may be, for example, an application function (AF).

[0123] In some embodiments, the fourth network element 1034 may be implemented by an application server and used to provide application services, and its name is not limited thereto.

[0124] In some embodiments, the fifth network element 1035 may be, for example, an application server (AS).

[0125] In some embodiments, the fifth network element 1035 may be used to provide support for user-subscribed services, and the name is not limited thereto.

[0126] In some embodiments, the fourth network element 1034 may be located outside the core network 103 or inside the core network 103, and this disclosure does not specifically limit this.

[0127] In some embodiments, the fifth network element 1035 may be located outside the core network 103 or inside the core network 103, and this disclosure does not specifically limit this.

[0128] In some embodiments, the fourth network element 1034 and the fifth network element 1035 can be deployed centrally or independently, and this disclosure does not specifically limit this.

[0129] In some embodiments, the communication system 100 described above may be a 5G communication system, a 6G communication system, etc. It should be noted that the communication system 100 may also be other communication systems, and this disclosure does not specifically limit them.

[0130] In Figures 1B and 1C, the architecture of communication system 100 is illustrated using a 5G communication system as an example. Here, terminal 101 can be a UE, and access network device 102 can be a RAN.

[0131] Figure 1B is a schematic diagram of the architecture of one implementation of the communication system provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 1B, the architecture of the 5G communication system is presented in the form of reference points. N1 is the reference point between the UE and AMF. N2 is the reference point between the RAN and AMF. N3 is the reference point between the RAN and UPF. N4 is the reference point between the SMF and UPF. N5 is the reference point between the PCF and AF. N6 is the reference point between the UPF and the data network (DN). N7 is the reference point between the SMF and PCF. N11 is the reference point between the AMF and SMF. N15 is the reference point between the SMF and PCF. Uu is the interface between the UE and the RAN. It should be noted that the NEF is not shown in Figure 1B. However, each network element in the communication system can interact with the NEF.

[0132] Figure 1C is a schematic diagram of the architecture of another implementation of the communication system provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 1C, the architecture of the 5G communication system is presented in a service-based interface manner. Namf is the service-based interface provided by AMF. Nsmf is the service-based interface provided by SMF. Nnef is the service-based interface provided by NEF. Npcf is the service-based interface provided by PCF. Naf is the service-based interface provided by AF.

[0133] It is understood that the communication system described in this disclosure is for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the technical solutions of this disclosure, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions proposed in this disclosure. As those skilled in the art will know, with the evolution of system architecture and the emergence of new business scenarios, the technical solutions proposed in this disclosure are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0134] The following embodiments of this disclosure can be applied to the communication system 100 shown in FIG1A, or some of the main components in the communication system 100, but are not limited thereto. The main components shown in FIG1A are illustrative. The communication system 100 may include all or some of the main components in FIG1A, or may include other main components other than those in FIG1A. The number and form of each main component are arbitrary. Each main component may be physical or virtual. The connection relationship between the main components is illustrative. The main components may not be connected or may be connected. The connection may be in any way, such as direct connection or indirect connection, wired connection or wireless connection.

[0135] The embodiments disclosed herein can be applied to Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), LTE-Beyond (LTE-B), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4th generation mobile communication system (4G), 5th generation mobile communication system (5G), 5G new radio (NR), Future Radio Access (FRA), New-Radio Access Technology (RAT), New Radio (NR), New radio access (NX), Future generation radio access (FX), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), CDMA2000, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), and IEEE 802.20, Ultra-Wideband (UWB), Bluetooth (a registered trademark), Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) networks, Device-to-Device (D2D) systems, Machine-to-Machine (M2M) systems, Internet of Things (IoT) systems, Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) systems, systems utilizing other communication methods, and next-generation systems built upon them, etc. Furthermore, multiple systems can be combined (e.g., a combination of LTE or LTE-A with 5G).

[0136] In some cases, mobile media services, online AR / VR and other XR services, online games, and video-based remote control of machines or drones are expected to contribute increasingly higher traffic to communication networks. XR services involve multimodal data streams. Multimodal data describes data input from the same device or different devices (including sensors) for the same service / application, which may be output to one or more destination device terminals. The data streams in multimodal data often have a certain degree of correlation, or even a strong correlation, such as the synchronization of audio and video streams, or the synchronization of haptic and visual senses. The data streams of these media services themselves, the relationships between the data streams, and the network transmission requirements of these service data streams all share some common characteristics. Effective identification and utilization of these characteristics will be more conducive to network and service transmission and control, and will also contribute to service assurance and user experience.

[0137] In further scenarios, XRM services and eXtended Reality and interactive media services require communication systems to comprehensively consider the QoS characteristics of service data streams. These QoS characteristics include, for example, at least one of the following: whether parameters such as delay-sensitive guaranteed bit rate (GBR) data streams, guaranteed flow bit rate (GFBR), packet delay budget (PDB), and default maximum data burst volume (MDBV) can be simultaneously met and consistently maintained. This involves ensuring consistent QoS authorization and execution across multiple XRM data streams from a single terminal and across multiple terminals.

[0138] In some embodiments, the XRM service data flow (SDF) can be processed based on PDU sets, thereby enhancing QoS awareness and assurance of the SDF and improving the user's quality of experience (QoE).

[0139] In some embodiments, such as 4G, 5G, 6G, and V2X systems, the AF (Active Front-End) can provide PDU set QoS parameters and a protocol description. In some embodiments, the PDU set QoS parameters may include at least one of the following: PDU set delay budget (PSDB), PDU set error rate (PSER), and PDU set integrated handling information (PSIHI). Then, the SMF (Service Provider Framework) and UPF (User Provider Framework) can combine the protocol description and header extensions provided by the AF to extend the packet headers of the PDUs in the SDF's PDU set to carry PDU set information. The carried PDU information can be used by the access network for PDU set-based QoS control.

[0140] In some embodiments, the PDU set information may include at least one of the following: PDU set sequence number, the starting or ending PDU of the PDU set, the PDU sequence number within the PDU set, the number of PDUs within the PDU set, the importance of the PDU set, and the size of the PDU set. Here, the importance of the PDU set is used to characterize the importance of a PDU set relative to other PDU sets in the same QoS flow.

[0141] Understandably, the UPF performs SDF-to-QoS flow mapping based on the PDR and maps (or encapsulates) interrelated PDUs into a PDU set. Furthermore, the UPF can apply the same QoS policy to all PDU sets within the QoS flow. For example, the UPF can apply the same PDU set QoS parameters to all PDU sets within the QoS flow. In one example, the UPF can map the application flow to the QoS flow based on packet detection information in the PDR. Some PDUs in the QoS flow can be associated with media components (e.g., intra-coded frames and prediction frames), and the UPF classifies these PDUs as belonging to a PDU set and controls them accordingly. In some embodiments, the RAN can implement PDU set-based processing based on the PDU set-specific QoS features and protocol descriptions provided by 5GC and AF, as well as the enhanced headers identified and marked by the UPF.

[0142] In some embodiments, the traffic characteristics of the service data stream on the user plane may change dynamically. For example, the service data stream may experience data bursts. To address the dynamic changes in the traffic characteristics of the service data stream, data boosting handling can be considered. When applying data boosting handling, the packet filter set can be enhanced to detect expedited transfer indications in packets on the user plane.

[0143] In some embodiments, two policy and charging control (PCC) rules can be authorized for an SDF. These two PCC rules have different identification information and different QoS authorizations. These two PCC rules can be bound to different QoS flows and correspond to different QoS flow identifiers (QFIs). In some embodiments, the QoS flow bound to one PCC rule can have a higher priority and / or better QoS characteristics and can be used to implement data acceleration processing of the SDF; the QoS flow bound to the other PCC rule can have a lower priority and / or normal QoS characteristics and can be used to implement normal processing of the SDF (or non-data acceleration processing). In some embodiments, when performing data acceleration processing, SDF packets can switch from a QoS flow with higher priority and / or better QoS characteristics to a QoS flow with lower priority and / or normal QoS characteristics; this can be referred to as QoS enhancement. In some embodiments, when data acceleration processing ends, SDF packets can switch from a QoS flow with lower priority and / or normal QoS characteristics to a QoS flow with higher priority and / or better QoS characteristics; this can be referred to as QoS fallback. It is understandable that the aforementioned QoS upgrades and QoS fallbacks can be collectively referred to as QoS switching related to data acceleration processing.

[0144] Therefore, how to implement QoS switching related to data acceleration processing is a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved.

[0145] Figure 2 is an interactive schematic diagram of the communication method provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The communication method involved in this embodiment can be applied to a communication system 100. As shown in Figure 2, the communication method of this embodiment includes steps S201 to S209.

[0146] In step S201, the fourth network element 1034 sends the first instruction information to the first network element 1031.

[0147] In some embodiments, the fourth network element 1034 may send first indication information. In some embodiments, the first indication information may be sent by the fourth network element 1034, but is not limited thereto, and may also be sent by other entities.

[0148] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 may receive the first indication information. In some embodiments, the first indication information may be received by the first network element 1031, but is not limited thereto, and may also be received by other entities.

[0149] In some embodiments, the first indication information can be used to instruct the execution of data acceleration processing. In some embodiments, the first indication information can be used to implement data acceleration processing on a first SDF. In some embodiments, the first indication information can be used to determine a QoS policy associated with the data acceleration processing of the first SDF.

[0150] In some embodiments, the name of the first indication information is not limited, and it may be, for example, an accelerated transfer indication, an accelerated processing indication, a QoS improvement indication, etc.

[0151] In some embodiments, the first SDF may include the SDF of a first service. In some embodiments, the first service may include immersive communication services, extended reality multimedia (XRM) services, etc.

[0152] In some embodiments, the fourth network element 1034 may directly or indirectly send the first instruction information to the first network element 1031.

[0153] In some embodiments, the fourth network element 1034 may be an AF (Automatic Field Array), and the first network element 1031 may be a PCF (Programmable Array Function). In one example, the AF may directly send the first indication information to the PCF. In another example, the AF may send the first indication information to the NEF (Neural Array Function), and the NEF may send the first indication information to the PCF.

[0154] In some embodiments, the fourth network element 1034 may also send QoS requirements to the first network element 1031.

[0155] In some embodiments, the first indication information and / or QoS requirements can be used by the first network element 1031 to authorize and identify data acceleration processing.

[0156] In some embodiments, the fourth network element 1034 may also send at least one of the following to the first network element 1031: the identifier of the first service, the address and / or identifier of the terminal 101, the identifier of the first network element 1031, the application identifier of the first service, the flow description, the data network name (DNN), the single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI), and the QoS parameters.

[0157] In some embodiments, the identifier of the first service can be used to identify a data stream or a group of data streams of the first service. In some embodiments, the identifier of the first service can be a multimodal service identifier, which can then be used to identify all data streams in the service group. In some embodiments, the data stream or group of data streams of the first service can be a service data stream or a group of service data streams.

[0158] In step S202, the first network element 1031 performs a strategy decision.

[0159] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 may perform policy decisions to determine rules related to data acceleration processing for the first SDF.

[0160] In some embodiments, the execution of the policy decision of the first network element 1031 may take into account the first indication information. In some embodiments, the policy decision of the first network element 1031 may be implemented based on at least the first indication information. In some embodiments, upon receiving the first indication information, the first network element 1031 may determine rules related to data acceleration processing for the first SDF, taking into account the first indication information.

[0161] In some embodiments, the rules related to data acceleration processing may include a first rule and a second rule. In some embodiments, both the first rule and the second rule may be rules authorized by the first network element 1031 for the first SDF.

[0162] In some embodiments, each of the first rule and the second rule determined by the first network element 1031 may be a PCC rule. It is understood that the first rule and the second rule may also be other rules, and this disclosure does not specifically limit them.

[0163] In some embodiments, the first rule may correspond to accelerated processing of the first SDF. In some embodiments, during the process of performing data acceleration processing on the first SDF, the QoS characteristics corresponding to the first rule may be applied to the first SDF.

[0164] In some embodiments, the second rule may correspond to the normal processing of the first SDF. In some embodiments, when no data acceleration processing is performed on the first SDF, the QoS characteristics corresponding to the second rule may be applied to the first SDF.

[0165] In some embodiments, the first rule and the second rule can be bound to different QoS flows. These different QoS flows can have different QoS characteristics. The QoS flow bound to the first rule can be used for data acceleration QoS processing of the first SDF. The QoS flow bound to the second rule can be used for normal QoS processing of the first SDF.

[0166] In some embodiments, the QoS bound by the first rule may have a higher priority and / or higher QoS characteristics compared to the QoS flow bound by the second rule.

[0167] In some embodiments, the first rule and the second rule related to data acceleration processing can be associated. In other words, the first rule and the second rule can constitute a rule pair related to data acceleration processing. In this rule pair, the first rule and the second rule can be considered as two peer rules for the first SDF. For example, the first rule can be a peer rule of the second rule. For example, the second rule can be a peer rule of the first rule.

[0168] In step S203, the first network element 1031 sends the first information to the second network element 1032.

[0169] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 can send first information. In some embodiments, the first information can be sent by the first network element 1031, but is not limited to this, and can also be sent by other entities.

[0170] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 can receive the first information. In some embodiments, the first information can be received by the second network element 1032, but is not limited thereto, and can also be received by other entities.

[0171] In some embodiments, the first information may be used to indicate the association between a first rule and a second rule for a first SDF. In some embodiments, the first information may be used to indicate peer rules associated with the first SDF. In some embodiments, the first information may be used to identify peer rules associated with the first SDF.

[0172] In some embodiments, the name of the first information is not limited, and it may be, for example, rule pair indication information, peer rule indication information, etc.

[0173] In some embodiments, the first information may include at least one of the following: identification information of the first rule and identification information of the second rule, identification information of the association relationship between the first rule and the second rule, and indication information of the group to which the first rule and the second rule belong.

[0174] In some embodiments, the identification information of the first rule and the identification information of the second rule can be used to indicate that the first rule and the second rule are associated. In some embodiments, the identification information of the first rule can be included in the second rule. The identification information of the first rule included in the second rule can be used to indicate that the first rule is a peer rule of the second rule. In some embodiments, the identification information of the second rule can be included in the first rule. The identification information of the second rule included in the first rule can be used to indicate that the second rule is a peer rule of the first rule.

[0175] In some embodiments, the first rule may include a preset field, which may include identification information of the second rule. In some embodiments, the second rule may include a preset field, which may include identification information of the first rule.

[0176] In some embodiments, the identification information of the first rule may include the rule identifier of the first rule.

[0177] In some embodiments, the identification information of the second rule may include the rule identifier of the first rule.

[0178] In some embodiments, identification information regarding the association between the first rule and the second rule can be used to indicate that the first rule and the second rule are associated. In some embodiments, the first rule and the second rule of the first SDF may be associated, and identification information can be set for this association. This identification information can be used to identify the first rule and the second rule that are associated with each other. Through the identification information of the association, the existence of the association between the first rule and the second rule can be determined.

[0179] In some embodiments, the identification information of the relationship between the first rule and the second rule may include at least one of the following: a correlation identifier and an association identifier.

[0180] In some embodiments, the identification information of the association relationship between the first rule and the second rule may be included in the first rule and / or the second rule. In some embodiments, the identification information of the association relationship may be included in both the first rule and the second rule. In this case, the identification information of the association relationship in the first rule and the second rule may be the same. In some embodiments, the identification information of the association relationship may be included in the second rule.

[0181] In some embodiments, the first rule may include a preset field, which may include identification information of the association relationship. In some embodiments, the second rule may include a preset field, which may include identification information of the association relationship.

[0182] In some embodiments, the indication information of the group to which the first rule and the second rule belong can be used to indicate that the first rule and the second rule are associated.

[0183] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 can determine and authorize one or more rules. These rules can target the SDF of one or more services. In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 can group these rules. For example, peer rules related to the first SDF, namely the first rule and the second rule, can be located in the same group. In one example, a preset field can have 1 bit. Then, among all the rules determined by the first network element 1031, if the bit value of the field corresponding to the first rule and the second rule related to the first SDF can be 1, and the bit value of the field corresponding to other rules is not 1, then it is associated with the first rule and the second rule in the group with a bit value of 1.

[0184] In some embodiments, the indication information for the group containing the first rule and the second rule can be independent information.

[0185] In some embodiments, the indication information of the group containing the first rule and the second rule may be included in the first indication information. For example, the first indication information may include a preset field that carries the indication information of the group containing the first rule and the second rule. In one example, the field for carrying the group indication information may be located in the prefix of the first indication information. In another example, the field for carrying the group indication information may be located at a predetermined position in the first indication information.

[0186] It should be noted that the first information may be included in the first rule, or in the second rule, or in both the first and second rules, or it may be independent of the first and second rules. This disclosure does not specifically limit this aspect.

[0187] In some embodiments, the first information may be determined by the first network element 1031. In some embodiments, the identification information of the first rule and the identification information of the second rule may be determined by the first network element 1031 during the process of determining the first rule and the second rule. In some embodiments, the identification information of the association relationship between the first rule and the second rule may be determined by the first network element 1031 during or after the process of determining the first rule and the second rule. In some embodiments, the indication information of the group to which the first rule and the second rule belong may be determined by the first network element 1031 during or after the process of determining the first rule and the second rule.

[0188] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 may send a first rule and / or a second rule to the second network element 1032. The first rule and / or the second rule may carry first information.

[0189] In some embodiments, the first network element 1031 may also send first indication information to the second network element 1032. In some embodiments, the first indication information may be included in a first rule and / or a second rule.

[0190] In step S204, the second network element 1032 performs QoS flow association.

[0191] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 may perform QoS flow association at least based on the first information. In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 may perform QoS flow association while taking the first information into account.

[0192] In some embodiments, the implementation of QoS flow association can also be based on the first indication information and / or the local configuration of the second network element 1032. In one example, the local configuration of the second network element 1032 may include at least one of the following: protocol agreement, operator policy.

[0193] In some embodiments, the QoS flow association performed by the second network element 1032 may include at least one of the following: binding of rules to QoS flows, association between rules, and association between QoS flows.

[0194] In some embodiments, the binding of a rule to a QoS flow may include: a first rule being bound to a first QoS flow and a second rule being bound to a second QoS flow. In some embodiments, the binding of a rule to a QoS flow may be based on first indication information and / or the first rule and the second rule.

[0195] In some embodiments, the association between rules may include: executing the association between the first rule and the second rule. In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 may implement this based on the first information and / or the first indication information. In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 may determine, based on the first information and / or the first indication information, that the first rule and the second rule are two peer rules related to the first SDF. In this case, the second network element 1032 may associate the first rule with the second rule.

[0196] In some embodiments, the association between QoS flows may include the association between a first QoS flow and a second QoS flow. In other words, a QoS flow bound to a first rule can be associated with a QoS flow bound to a second rule. In some embodiments, after completing the binding of the first rule to the first QoS flow, the binding of the second rule to the second QoS flow, and the association of the first rule to the second rule, the second network element 1032 can associate the first QoS flow with the second QoS flow. The association between the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow can be determined based on the binding relationship between the first rule and the first QoS flow, the binding relationship between the second rule and the second QoS flow, and the association relationship between the first rule and the second rule.

[0197] In some embodiments, the first QoS flow may be indicated by a first QoS flow identifier (QFI), and the second QoS flow may be indicated by a second QFI. In some embodiments, the QoS flow association performed by the second network element 1032 may further include an association between the first QFI and the second QFI. In one example, the second network element 1032 may associate the first QFI with the second QFI.

[0198] In some embodiments, the QoS flow association performed by the second network element 1032 may further include an association between the first PDR and the second PDR. In one example, the second network element 1032 may associate the first PDR with the second PDR. In some embodiments, the first PDR may be determined based on a first PCC rule and associated with a first QoS flow. In some embodiments, the second PDR may be determined based on a second PCC rule and associated with a second QoS flow. The first PDR and the second PDR may be used by the third network element 1033 to perform QoS processing on the first SDF.

[0199] In some embodiments, QoS flow association can be implemented by at least one of the following methods: adding first information to the PDR, adding first information to the QFI, and adding first information to the PCC rule. In some embodiments, the first information may be carried in the first PDR and / or the second PDR corresponding to the first SDF. In some embodiments, the first information may be carried in the first QFI and / or the second QFI corresponding to the first SDF. In some embodiments, the first information may be carried in the first PCC rule and / or the second PCC rule corresponding to the first SDF.

[0200] In step S205, the second network element 1032 sends the first information to the third network element 1033.

[0201] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 can send the first information. In some embodiments, the first information can be sent by the second network element 1032, but is not limited thereto, and can also be sent by other entities.

[0202] In some embodiments, the third network element 1033 may receive the first information. In some embodiments, the first information may be received by the third network element 1033, but is not limited thereto, and may also be received by other entities.

[0203] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 may also send first instruction information to the third network element 1033.

[0204] In some embodiments, the first information and / or the first indication information may be carried in the N4 rule.

[0205] In some embodiments, the N4 rule may include a PDR. In some embodiments, the first information sent by the second network element 1032 to the third network element 1033 may include both the first rule and the second rule as PDRs. For example, if the first rule may include a first PDR and the second rule may include a second PDR, then the first information may be included in the first PDR and / or the second PDR.

[0206] In some embodiments, the first information and the first indication information can be sent to the third network element 1033 independently of the N4 rule.

[0207] In some embodiments, the second network element 1032 may also send a second instruction message to the third network element 1033.

[0208] In some embodiments, the second indication information can be used to instruct the addition of a reflective QoS indication (RQI) to data packets in the first SDF that undergo data acceleration processing. In some embodiments, the second indication information can be used to implement data acceleration processing for uplink data packets in the first SDF.

[0209] In some embodiments, when it is determined that uplink data packets of the first SDF will undergo data acceleration processing, the second network element 1032 may send second indication information to the third network element 1033. In some embodiments, the second indication information may be used to instruct the addition of RQI to downlink data packets mapped to the first QoS flow in the first SDF.

[0210] In step S206, the fifth network element 1035 sends a data packet to the third network element 1033.

[0211] In some embodiments, the fifth network element 1035 can send data packets. In some embodiments, the data packets can be sent by the fifth network element 1035, but are not limited to this; they can also be sent by other entities.

[0212] In some embodiments, the third network element 1033 can receive data packets. In some embodiments, the data packets can be received by the third network element 1033, but are not limited to this; they can also be sent by other entities.

[0213] In some embodiments, the data packets sent by the fifth network element 1035 to the third network element 1033 may include downlink data packets.

[0214] In some embodiments, the data packet may include data packets in the first SDF of the first service.

[0215] In some embodiments, data packets can be transmitted on the user plane via the N6 interface.

[0216] In some embodiments, the header of the data packet may carry first indication information.

[0217] In step S207, the third network element 1033 performs QoS mapping.

[0218] In some embodiments, the third network element 1033 can detect and map the downlink data packets received from the first SDF.

[0219] In some embodiments, the third network element 1033 can detect and identify the first indication information in the header of the downlink data packet of the first SDF.

[0220] In some embodiments, step S207 may include: the third network element 1033 performing data acceleration processing related to the first SDF. In some embodiments, the data acceleration processing of the first SDF may include: performing QoS enhancement on the first SDF, and performing QoS fallback on the first SDF.

[0221] In some embodiments, the direction of data acceleration processing of the first SDF may include uplink and / or downlink.

[0222] In some embodiments, if a first indication information is detected in the header of a downlink data packet of the first SDF, the third network element 1033 may determine to perform data acceleration processing on the first SDF. In some embodiments, if a first indication information is detected in the header of a downlink data packet of the first SDF, the third network element 1033 may determine to perform data acceleration processing on the downlink data packet of the first SDF.

[0223] In some embodiments, to accelerate data processing, the third network element 1033 can switch the first SDF from the second QoS stream to the first QoS stream. In some embodiments, the third network element 1033 can switch the data packets of the first SDF from the second QoS stream to the first QoS stream. In one example, the third network element 1033 can switch the QFI corresponding to the data packets of the first SDF from the second QFI to the first QFI.

[0224] In some embodiments, the third network element 1033 can determine the association between the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow based on the first information. Therefore, if it is determined that downlink data acceleration processing should be performed on the first SDF, the third network element 1033 can determine that the first SDF switches from the second QoS flow to the first QoS flow.

[0225] In some embodiments, the third network element 1033 can determine the association between the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow based on the first information. Then, if it is determined that uplink data acceleration processing should be performed on the first SDF, the third network element 1033 can mark the RQI in the downlink data packets of the first SDF. In some embodiments, if it is determined that uplink data acceleration processing should be performed on the first SDF based on the second indication information, the third network element 1033 can mark the RQI in the downlink data packets of the first SDF. In one example, upon receiving the second indication information, the third network element 1033 can mark the RQI in the downlink data packets of the first SDF.

[0226] In some embodiments, the third network element 1033 may determine that data acceleration processing will no longer be performed on the first SDF. In one example, the data acceleration processing of the first SDF may end. In some embodiments, the header of the downlink data packet of the first SDF may no longer carry the first indication information, then the third network element 1033 may determine that data acceleration processing will no longer be performed on the first SDF. In some embodiments, the timer for data acceleration processing times out, then the third network element 1033 may determine that data acceleration processing will no longer be performed on the first SDF.

[0227] In some embodiments, after the data acceleration processing is completed, the third network element 1033 can switch the first SDF from the first QoS stream to the second QoS stream. In some embodiments, the third network element 1033 can switch the data packets of the first SDF from the first QoS stream to the second QoS stream. In one example, the third network element 1033 can switch the QFI corresponding to the data packets of the first SDF from the first QFI to the second QFI.

[0228] In some embodiments, the third network element 1033 can determine the association between the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow based on the first information. Then, upon determining that the downlink data acceleration processing for the first SDF has ended, the third network element 1033 can determine that the first SDF switches from the first QoS flow to the second QoS flow.

[0229] In some embodiments, the first information may include identification information of a first rule and identification information of a second rule. In some embodiments, the second rule bound to the second QoS flow may include identification information of the first rule bound to the first QoS flow. When performing data acceleration processing of the first SDF, the third network element 1033 may determine to switch the first SDF to the first QoS flow based on the identification information of the first rule. In some embodiments, the first rule bound to the first QoS flow may include identification information of the second rule bound to the second QoS flow. When the data acceleration processing of the first SDF ends, the third network element 1033 may determine to switch the first SDF to the second QoS flow based on the identification information of the second rule.

[0230] In some embodiments, the first information may include identification information of the association relationship between the first rule and the second rule. The third network element 1033 can determine the association between the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow based on the identification information of the association relationship. In some embodiments, when performing data acceleration processing on the first SDF, the third network element 1033 can determine to switch the first SDF to the first QoS flow based on the identification information of the association relationship. In some embodiments, when the data acceleration processing on the first SDF ends, the third network element 1033 can determine to switch the first SDF to the second QoS flow based on the identification information of the association relationship.

[0231] In some embodiments, the first information may include indication information of the packets containing the first rule and the second rule. The third network element 1033 can determine the association between the first QoS flow and the second QoS flow based on the packet indication information. In some embodiments, when performing data acceleration processing for the first SDF, the third network element 1033 can determine to switch the first SDF to the first QoS flow based on the packet indication information. In some embodiments, when the data acceleration processing for the first SDF ends, the third network element 1033 can determine to switch the first SDF to the second QoS flow based on the identification information of the association relationship.

[0232] In step S208, the third network element 1033 sends a data packet to the terminal 101.

[0233] In some embodiments, the third network element 1033 can send data packets. In some embodiments, the data packets can be sent by the third network element 1033, but are not limited to this; they can also be sent by other entities.

[0234] In some embodiments, terminal 101 may receive data packets. In some embodiments, data packets may be received by terminal 101, but are not limited thereto, and may also be sent by other entities.

[0235] In some embodiments, when the first SDF employs downlink data acceleration processing, the third network element 1033 can map data packets to the first QoS stream and send them.

[0236] In some embodiments, when the first SDF employs uplink data acceleration processing, the third network element 1033 can mark RQI in the data packet and send it through the first QoS stream.

[0237] In some embodiments, after the data acceleration processing of the first SDF is completed, the third network element 1033 can map the data packet to the second QoS stream and send it.

[0238] In some embodiments, the third network element 1033 may send data packets to the terminal 101 via the access network device 102.

[0239] In step S209, terminal 101 sends a data packet to the fifth network element 1035.

[0240] In some embodiments, terminal 101 may send data packets. In some embodiments, data packets may be sent by terminal 101, but are not limited to this, and may also be sent by other entities.

[0241] In some embodiments, the fifth network element 1035 can receive data packets. In some embodiments, the data packets can be received by the fifth network element 1035, but are not limited thereto; they can also be received by other entities.

[0242] In some embodiments, terminal 101 can send data packets to fifth network element 1035 via third network element 1033.

[0243] In some embodiments, the data packets sent by terminal 101 may include uplink data packets of the first SDF.

[0244] In some embodiments, the header of the downlink data packet received by terminal 101 from third network element 1033 may carry RQI. In this case, terminal 101 may use the QoS characteristics corresponding to the QoS characteristics of the downlink data packet to send the uplink data packet.

[0245] In some embodiments, the downlink data packets of the first SDF received by terminal 101 can be in the first QoS stream, and the header of the downlink data packets carries RQI. In this case, terminal 101 can map the uplink data packets of the first SDF to the first QoS stream. It is understood that the first QoS stream to which the uplink data packets are mapped and the first QoS stream to which the downlink data packets are mapped can be the same QoS stream, or they can be two QoS streams with the same or related QoS characteristics.

[0246] In some embodiments, multiple data acceleration processes can be performed on the first SDF. In some embodiments, during the implementation process of the first service, the first SDF can undergo multiple QoS upgrades (i.e., switching to the first QoS stream) and multiple QoS fallbacks (i.e., switching back to the second QoS stream). In some embodiments, after one data acceleration process on the first SDF is completed, the first SDF can be subjected to data acceleration processing again.

[0247] In some embodiments, after the data acceleration processing of the first SDF is completed through steps S201 to S209 described above, the third network element 1033 can switch the first SDF from the first QoS stream to the second QoS stream. Afterward, the third network element 1033 can detect whether subsequently received downlink data packets of the first SDF carry the first indication information to determine whether to perform data acceleration processing on the first SDF again. In some embodiments, after the data acceleration processing of the first SDF is completed and the first SDF is switched to the second QoS stream, the third network element 1033 can detect the first indication information in subsequent downlink data packets of the first SDF. At this time, the third network element 1033 can perform data acceleration processing on the first SDF again. The first SDF can switch from the second QoS stream to the first QoS stream. The process of the third network element 1033 performing data acceleration processing on the first SDF again can be found in the description of steps S201 to S209 described above, and will not be repeated here.

[0248] The communication method of this embodiment can be realized through the above steps S201 to S209.

[0249] In some embodiments, the names of information, etc., are not limited to the names described in the embodiments. Terms such as "information", "message", "signal", "signaling", "report", "configuration", "indication", "instruction", "command", "channel", "parameter", "domain", "field", "symbol", "symbol", "codebook", "codeword", "codepoint", "bit", "data", "program", and "chip" can be used interchangeably.

[0250] In some embodiments, the terms "uplink", "uplink", and "physical uplink" can be used interchangeably, as can the terms "downlink", "downlink", and "physical downlink", as well as the terms "sidelink", "sidelink", "sidelink communication", "sidelink communication", "direct connection", "direct link", "direct communication", and "direct link communication".

[0251] In some embodiments, the terms “radio”, “wireless”, “radio access network (RAN)”, “access network (AN)”, and “RAN-based” can be used interchangeably.

[0252] In some embodiments, terms such as “moment,” “point in time,” “time,” and “time location” can be used interchangeably, as can terms such as “duration,” “segment,” “time window,” “window,” and “time.”

[0253] In some embodiments, “get,” “obtain,” “get,” “receive,” “transmit,” “bidirectional transmission,” and “send and / or receive” can be used interchangeably and can be interpreted as receiving from other entities, obtaining from protocols, obtaining from higher layers, obtaining through self-processing, or autonomous implementation, among other meanings.

[0254] In some embodiments, terms such as “send,” “transmit,” “report,” “distribute,” “transfer,” “bidirectional transmission,” “send and / or receive” can be used interchangeably.

[0255] In some embodiments, terms such as "certain", "preset", "default", "set", "indicated", "a certain", "any", and "first" can be used interchangeably. "Certain A", "preset A", "default A", "set A", "indicated A", "a certain A", "any A", and "first A" can be interpreted as A pre-defined in a protocol or the like, or as A obtained through setting, configuration, or instruction, or as specific A, a certain A, any A, or first A, but are not limited thereto.

[0256] In some embodiments, the determination or judgment can be made by a value represented by 1 bit (0 or 1), or by a true or false value (boolean), or by a comparison of numerical values ​​(e.g., a comparison with a predetermined value), but is not limited thereto.

[0257] In some embodiments, the terms “traffic”, “flow”, “stream”, and “data stream” can be used interchangeably.

[0258] In some embodiments, the terms "header", "packet header", and "data packet header" can be used interchangeably.

[0259] The communication method involved in the embodiments of this disclosure may include at least one of steps S201 to S209. For example, step S203 may be implemented as a standalone embodiment. For example, step S205 may be implemented as a standalone embodiment. For example, step S207 may be implemented as a standalone embodiment. For example, a combination of steps S203 and S205 may be implemented as a standalone embodiment. For example, a combination of steps S203 and S204 may be implemented as a standalone embodiment. For example, a combination of steps S206 and S207 may be implemented as a standalone embodiment. For example, a combination of steps S203, S204, and S205 may be implemented as a standalone embodiment. For example, a combination of steps S205, S206, and S207 may be implemented as a standalone embodiment. For example, a combination of steps S206, S207, and S208 may be implemented as a standalone embodiment. For example, a combination of steps S207, S208, and S209 may be implemented as a standalone embodiment. It should be noted that the possible independent embodiments consisting of one or more steps in steps S201 to S209 are not limited thereto.

[0260] In some embodiments, steps S201, S202, S204, S205, S206, S207, S208, and S209 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0261] In some embodiments, other optional implementations may be described before or after the embodiment corresponding to FIG2.

[0262] Figure 3A is an interactive schematic diagram of a communication method provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. This disclosure relates to a communication method. As shown in Figure 3A, the method includes steps S3101 to S3104.

[0263] In step S3101, the first network element 1031 sends the first information to the second network element 1032.

[0264] The optional implementation of step S3101 can be found in the optional implementation of step S203 in Figure 2, as well as other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2, which will not be repeated here.

[0265] In step S3102, the second network element 1032 sends the first information to the third network element 1033.

[0266] The optional implementation of step S3102 can be found in the optional implementation of step S205 in Figure 2, as well as other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2, which will not be repeated here.

[0267] In step S3103, the fifth network element 1035 sends a data packet to the third network element 1033.

[0268] The optional implementation of step S3103 can be found in the optional implementation of step S206 in Figure 2, as well as other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2, which will not be repeated here.

[0269] In step S3104, the third network element 1033 performs the data acceleration processing of the first SDF.

[0270] The optional implementation of step S3104 can be found in the optional implementation of step S207 in Figure 2, as well as other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2, which will not be repeated here.

[0271] The communication method involved in the embodiments of this disclosure may include at least one of steps S3101 to S3104. For example, step S3101 may be implemented as a standalone embodiment. For example, step S3102 may be implemented as a standalone embodiment. For example, step S3104 may be implemented as a standalone embodiment. For example, a combination of steps S3101 and S3102 may be implemented as a standalone embodiment. For example, a combination of steps S3103 and S3104 may be implemented as a standalone embodiment. For example, a combination of steps S3102, S3103, and S3104 may be implemented as a standalone embodiment. It should be noted that the possible standalone embodiments consisting of one or more steps S3101 to S3104 are not limited thereto.

[0272] In some embodiments, steps S3102, S3103, and S3104 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments. In some embodiments, steps S3101, S3103, and S3104 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments. In some embodiments, steps S3101, S3102, and S3103 are optional, and one or more of these steps may be omitted or substituted in different embodiments.

[0273] Figure 3B is an interactive schematic diagram of the communication method provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 3B, the above method includes step S3201.

[0274] In step S3201, the first network element 1031 sends the first information to the second network element 1032.

[0275] The optional implementation of step S3201 can be found in the optional implementation of step S203 in Figure 2, as well as other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2, which will not be repeated here.

[0276] Figure 3C is an interactive schematic diagram of the communication method provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 3C, the above method includes steps S3301 and S3302.

[0277] In step S3301, the fifth network element 1035 sends the first SDF data packet to the third network element 1033.

[0278] The optional implementation of step S3301 can be found in the optional implementation of step S206 in Figure 2, as well as other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2, which will not be repeated here.

[0279] In step S3302, the third network element 1033 performs the data acceleration processing of the first SDF.

[0280] The optional implementation of step S3302 can be found in the optional implementation of step S207 in Figure 2, as well as other related parts in the embodiments involved in Figure 2, which will not be repeated here.

[0281] In the following, specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described by way of example.

[0282] In some embodiments, this disclosure employs peer rule indications (i.e., first information) to support accelerated data processing.

[0283] Figure 4 is an interactive schematic diagram of an exemplary implementation of the communication method provided according to embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the communication method may involve an AS requesting a 5GS QoS upgrade by using a reflection QoS feature. As shown in Figure 4, the communication method includes steps S401 to S406.

[0284] In step S401, the PDU session establishment process and the AF session request process under the QoS requirements of SDF are executed.

[0285] In some embodiments, 5GS supports authorizing two PCC rules for a single SDF (i.e., the first SDF), including a second PCC rule (i.e., the first rule) with a higher QoS authorization. The second PCC rule is bound to a non-GBR 5QI with reflection QoS applied.

[0286] In some embodiments, the AF (i.e., the fourth network element) (directly or through the NEF) provides the PCF (i.e., the first network element) with an acceleration transfer indication (i.e., the first indication information) and QoS requirements to assist in the authorization and identification of data acceleration.

[0287] In some embodiments, the PCF may include a peer rule indication and an acceleration transfer indication in one or two authorized PCC rules (i.e., the first rule and / or the second rule) for the SMF to request the identification and switching of traffic that has enabled data acceleration.

[0288] In some embodiments, the accelerated transfer indication may be provided by the PCF. In some embodiments, the accelerated transfer indication may be included in an authorized PCC rule that employs a basic QoS profile. In some embodiments, the accelerated transfer indication may be included in two authorized PCC rules.

[0289] In some embodiments, the peer rule indication is provided to the UPF via the PCF and SMF, for example, carried in the N4 rule. In some embodiments, the peer rule indication may include at least one of the following:

[0290] (1) Peer rule identifier (e.g., the identifier of PCC rule 2 is used as the identifier of peer rule 1, and the identifier of PCC rule 1 is used as the identifier of peer rule 2). The peer rule identifier instructs the UPF (i.e., the third network element) to transfer downlink packets based on the QoS configuration of the peer rule.

[0291] (2) Relevance identifier / association identifier, indicating the peer rule authorized by the PCF for the SDF. The same correlation identifier / association identifier is included in both PCC rules to help the UPF transfer downlink packets in one of the two PCC rules, switch from one PCC rule to another PCC rule with a higher QoS configuration, or revoke and return to the basic QoS configuration.

[0292] (3) A packet or prefix of an accelerated transfer indication (e.g., one or more bits in the accelerated transfer indication) may be marked to indicate a peer PCC rule, thereby helping the UPF to transfer downlink packets in one of two PCC rules and switch from one PCC rule to another PCC rule with a higher QoS configuration, or cancel and return to the basic QoS configuration.

[0293] In some embodiments, based on peer rule indications and / or acceleration transfer indications in the PCC rules, and / or local configuration, the SMF performs binding of two PCC rules to two QoS flows, association between peer-to-peer PCC rules, association between peer QoS flows, and instructs the UPF to identify and enable data acceleration. In some embodiments, for traffic that triggers and identifies data acceleration, the second non-GBR 5QI is configured with a higher priority value and higher QoS compared to a normal 5QI with a first PCC rule that does not have data acceleration authorization.

[0294] In some embodiments, the UPF may execute rules, including peer rule instructions and / or accelerated transfer instructions, based on the instructions of the SMF. These rules are rules of the downlink SDF used for accelerated processing.

[0295] In step S402 (including steps S402a and S402b), after PCC and QoS authorization and the binding of PCC rules with QoS flows, the UE (i.e., the terminal) sends uplink data to the AS (i.e., the fifth network element) or receives downlink data from the AS. The UE can use an authenticated QoS flow or a default QoS flow.

[0296] In step S403 (including steps S403a and S403b), based on application requirements in the AS, the AS instructs the UE to send data files with higher resolution (e.g., videos, pictures). Because the AS detects that the amount of data from the UE will increase, and the timely receipt of this information is crucial for the application, the AS can include this request in the metadata to accelerate the data transfer to 5GS.

[0297] In some embodiments, the AS may provide an accelerated transfer instruction to the UPF. This accelerated transfer instruction is carried in the N6 PDU header of the downlink SDF.

[0298] In step S404, based on the SMF's indication and considering the peer-to-peer rule indication, the UPF identifies the accelerated transfer indication carried in the N6 PDU header of the downlink SDF, switches the SDF from the first QFI to a second QFI with a higher priority value and a higher granted QoS, and applies reflection QoS. For example, the UPF switches the SDF from the first QFI to the second QFI with a higher priority value and a higher granted QoS to apply RQI marking to the downlink PDU of the SDF.

[0299] In some embodiments, taking into account peer rule indications, the UPF switches the SDF from a higher QFI to a basic QFI after the data acceleration process has ended.

[0300] In some embodiments, the UPF can perform subsequent uplink and / or downlink transfers by selecting a QoS flow with a higher quality 5QI (e.g., 5QI-6) established in step S401.

[0301] In steps S405 and S406 (including steps S406a and S406b), upon receiving a downlink data packet with RQI, the UE transfers the associated uplink SDF from the default QoS stream to a QFIQoS stream with RQI.

[0302] In some embodiments, if the timer for reflected QoS times out and / or the RQI is not marked in the downlink packet, the UE can transfer the associated SDF from the QoS stream with a higher QFI back to the default QoS stream.

[0303] In some embodiments, where an RQI received from the downlink SDF is mapped to the downlink QoS stream, the UE replaces the 5QI with one of the candidate 5QIs (certified by the PCF or indicated by the SMF / UPF) for the uplink SDF, or transfers the relevant uplink data from the default QoS stream to the target QoS stream with the RQI.

[0304] In the embodiments disclosed herein, some or all of the steps and their optional implementations may be arbitrarily combined with some or all of the steps in other embodiments, or may be arbitrarily combined with the optional implementations in other embodiments.

[0305] This disclosure also provides communication apparatuses for implementing any of the above methods. For example, this disclosure also provides a communication apparatus including units or modules for implementing the steps performed by the network element in any of the above methods. For example, this disclosure also provides a communication apparatus including units or modules for implementing the steps performed by the terminal in any of the above methods.

[0306] It should be understood that the division of units or modules in the above device is only a logical functional division. In actual implementation, they can be fully or partially integrated into a single physical entity, or they can be physically separated. Furthermore, the units or modules in the device can be implemented by a processor calling software: for example, the device includes a processor connected to a memory containing instructions. The processor calls the instructions stored in the memory to implement any of the above methods or to implement the functions of the units or modules in the above device. The processor can be, for example, a general-purpose processor, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) or a microprocessor, and the memory can be internal or external to the device. Alternatively, the units or modules in the device can be implemented in the form of hardware circuits. The functionality of some or all of the units or modules can be achieved through the design of these hardware circuits, which can be understood as one or more processors. For example, in one implementation, the hardware circuit is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The functionality of some or all of the units or modules is achieved through the design of the logical relationships between the components within the circuit. In another implementation, the hardware circuit can be implemented using a programmable logic device (PLD). Taking a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) as an example, it can include a large number of logic gates. The connection relationships between the logic gates are configured through configuration files, thereby achieving the functionality of some or all of the units or modules. All units or modules of the above device can be implemented entirely through processor-called software, entirely through hardware circuits, or partially through processor-called software with the remaining parts implemented through hardware circuits.

[0307] In this embodiment, the processor is a circuit with signal processing capabilities. In one implementation, the processor can be a circuit with instruction read and execute capabilities, such as a central processing unit, microprocessor, graphics processing unit (GPU) (which can be understood as a type of microprocessor), or digital signal processor (DSP). In another implementation, the processor can implement certain functions through the logical relationships of hardware circuits. The logical relationships of the aforementioned hardware circuits are fixed or reconfigurable. For example, the processor is a hardware circuit implemented by an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a programmable logic device, such as an FPGA. In a reconfigurable hardware circuit, the process of the processor loading a configuration document and configuring the hardware circuit can be understood as the process of the processor loading instructions to implement the functions of some or all of the above units or modules. Furthermore, it can also be a hardware circuit designed for artificial intelligence, which can be understood as an ASIC, such as a neural network processing unit (NPU), tensor processing unit (TPU), deep learning processing unit (DPU), etc.

[0308] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 5, the communication device 500 may include at least one of the following: a transceiver module 501 and a processing module 502.

[0309] In some embodiments, the communication device 500 may be a first network element 1031. In some embodiments, the transceiver module 501 may be configured to send first information to a second network element, wherein the first information is used to indicate that a first rule and a second rule are associated for a first SDF, the first rule and the second rule are bound to different QoS flows, and the QoS flow bound to the first rule is used to implement data acceleration processing for the first SDF. Optionally, the transceiver module 501 may be configured to perform at least one of the communication steps (e.g., steps S201, S203) performed by the first network element 1031 in any of the above methods, which will not be elaborated here. Optionally, the processing module 502 may be configured to perform at least one of other steps (e.g., step S202) besides the communication steps (e.g., step S202) performed by the first network element 1031 in any of the above methods, which will not be elaborated here.

[0310] In some embodiments, the communication device 500 may be a second network element 1032. In some embodiments, the transceiver module 501 may be configured to: receive first information sent by a first network element, wherein the first information is used to indicate the association of a first rule and a second rule for a first SDF, the first rule and the second rule are bound to different QoS flows, and the QoS flow bound to the first rule is used to implement data acceleration processing of the first SDF. Optionally, the transceiver module 501 may be configured to perform at least one of the communication steps (e.g., steps S203, S205) performed by the second network element 1032 in any of the above methods, which will not be elaborated here. Optionally, the processing module 502 may be configured to perform at least one of other steps (e.g., step S204) besides the communication steps (e.g., the transmission and / or reception) performed by the second network element 1032 in any of the above methods, which will not be elaborated here.

[0311] In some embodiments, the communication device 500 may be a third network element 1033. In some embodiments, the transceiver module 501 may be configured to receive data packets of a first SDF, wherein the data packets carry first indication information, the first indication information being used to indicate data acceleration processing of the first SDF; the processing module may be configured to determine, based on the first information, to switch from a QoS stream bound to a second rule of the first SDF to a QoS stream bound to a first rule, wherein the first information is used to indicate that the first rule and the second rule are associated, the first rule and the second rule are bound to different QoS streams, and the QoS stream bound to the first rule is used to implement data acceleration processing of the first SDF. Optionally, the transceiver module 501 may be configured to perform at least one of the communication steps (e.g., steps S205, S206, S208, S209) performed by the third network element 1033 in any of the above methods, which will not be elaborated here. Optionally, the processing module 502 may be configured to perform at least one of the steps other than the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving performed by the third network element 1033 in any of the above methods (e.g., step S207), which will not be described in detail here.

[0312] In some embodiments, the transceiver module may include a transmitting module and / or a receiving module. The transmitting and receiving modules may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the transceiver module may be interchangeable with a transceiver.

[0313] In some embodiments, the processing module may be a single module or may include multiple sub-modules. Optionally, the multiple sub-modules may each perform all or part of the steps required by the processing module. Optionally, the processing module may be interchangeable with a processor.

[0314] Figure 6A is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The communication device 6100 can be a network device (e.g., access network device, core network device, etc.), a terminal (e.g., user equipment, etc.), a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the network device in implementing any of the above methods, or a chip, chip system, or processor that supports the terminal in implementing any of the above methods. The communication device 6100 can be used to implement the methods described in the above method embodiments; for details, please refer to the descriptions in the above method embodiments.

[0315] As shown in Figure 6A, the communication device 6100 includes one or more processors 6101. The processor 6101 can be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, such as a baseband processor or a central processing unit (CPU). The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, while the CPU can be used to control communication devices (e.g., base stations, baseband chips, terminal devices, terminal device chips, DUs or CUs, etc.), execute programs, and process program data. Optionally, the communication device 6100 can be used to execute any of the above methods. Optionally, one or more processors 6101 can be used to invoke instructions to cause the communication device 6100 to execute any of the above methods.

[0316] In some embodiments, the communication device 6100 further includes one or more transceivers 6102. When the communication device 6100 includes one or more transceivers 6102, the transceivers 6102 perform at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above method (e.g., steps S201, S203, S205, S206, S208, S209, but not limited thereto), and the processor 6101 performs at least one of other steps (e.g., steps S202, S204, S207, but not limited thereto). In optional embodiments, the transceiver may include a receiver and / or a transmitter, which may be separate or integrated. Optionally, the terms transceiver, transceiver unit, transceiver, transceiver circuit, interface circuit, interface, etc., can be used interchangeably; the terms transmitter, transmitting unit, transmitter, transmitting circuit, etc., can be used interchangeably; and the terms receiver, receiving unit, receiver, receiving circuit, etc., can be used interchangeably.

[0317] In some embodiments, the communication device 6100 further includes one or more memories 6103 for storing data. Optionally, all or part of the memories 6103 may be located outside the communication device 6100. In optional embodiments, the communication device 6100 may include one or more interface circuits 6104. Optionally, the interface circuits 6104 are connected to the memories 6103 and can be used to receive data from the memories 6103 or other devices, and to send data to the memories 6103 or other devices. For example, the interface circuits 6104 can read data stored in the memories 6103 and send that data to the processor 6101.

[0318] The communication device 6100 described in the above embodiments may be a network device or a terminal, but the scope of the communication device 6100 described in this disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure of the communication device 6100 may not be limited by FIG. 6A. The communication device may be a standalone device or a part of a larger device. For example, the communication device may be: (1) a standalone integrated circuit IC, or chip, or chip system or subsystem; (2) a collection of one or more ICs, optionally, the IC collection may also include storage components for storing data and programs; (3) an ASIC, such as a modem; (4) a module that can be embedded in other devices; (5) a receiver, terminal device, smart terminal device, cellular phone, wireless device, handheld device, mobile unit, vehicle device, network device, cloud device, artificial intelligence device, etc.; (6) others, etc.

[0319] Figure 6B is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chip provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For cases where the communication device 6100 can be a chip or a chip system, please refer to the schematic diagram of the chip 6200 shown in Figure 6B, but it is not limited thereto.

[0320] Chip 6200 includes one or more processors 6201. Chip 6200 is used to perform any of the methods described above.

[0321] In some embodiments, chip 6200 further includes one or more interface circuits 6202. Optionally, terms such as interface circuit, interface, and transceiver pin can be used interchangeably. In some embodiments, chip 6200 further includes one or more memories 6203 for storing data. Optionally, all or part of the memories 6203 may be located outside chip 6200. Optionally, interface circuit 6202 is connected to memory 6203, and interface circuit 6202 can be used to receive data from memory 6203 or other devices, and interface circuit 6202 can be used to send data to memory 6203 or other devices. For example, interface circuit 6202 can read data stored in memory 6203 and send the data to processor 6201.

[0322] In some embodiments, the interface circuit 6202 performs at least one of the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above-described method (e.g., steps S201, S203, S205, S206, S208, S209, but not limited thereto). The interface circuit 6202 performing the communication steps such as sending and / or receiving in the above-described method refers, for example, to the interface circuit 6202 performing data interaction between the processor 6201, the chip 6200, the memory 6203, or the transceiver device. In some embodiments, the processor 6201 performs at least one of other steps (e.g., steps S202, S204, S207, but not limited thereto).

[0323] The modules and / or devices described in the various embodiments, such as virtual devices, physical devices, and chips, can be combined or separated arbitrarily as needed. Optionally, some or all steps can also be performed collaboratively by multiple modules and / or devices, which is not limited here.

[0324] This disclosure also proposes a storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on a communication device 6100, cause the communication device 6100 to perform any of the methods described above. Optionally, the storage medium is an electronic storage medium. Optionally, the storage medium is a computer-readable storage medium, but not limited thereto; it may also be a storage medium readable by other devices. Optionally, the storage medium may be a non-transitory storage medium, but not limited thereto; it may also be a temporary storage medium.

[0325] This disclosure also provides a program product that, when executed by a communication device 6100, causes the communication device 6100 to perform any of the above methods. Optionally, the program product is a computer program product.

[0326] This disclosure also proposes a computer program that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform any of the above methods.

[0327] Other embodiments of the invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. This disclosure is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention that follow the general principles of the invention and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of the invention are indicated by the following claims.

[0328] It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise structure described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of the invention is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A communication method performed by a first network element, wherein, The method includes: Send first information to the second network element, wherein the first information is used to indicate that a first rule and a second rule are associated for the first service data flow SDF, the first rule and the second rule are bound to different quality of service (QoS) flows, and the QoS flow bound to the first rule is used to implement data acceleration processing of the first SDF.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The first information includes at least one of the following: The identification information of the first rule and the identification information of the second rule; Identification information regarding the association between the first rule and the second rule; Indication information for the groups to which the first rule and the second rule belong.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein, The identification information of the first rule is contained in the second rule, and the identification information of the second rule is contained in the first rule.

4. The method of claim 2 or 3, wherein, The identification information of the association between the first rule and the second rule is included in the first rule and the second rule.

5. The method of any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein, The indication information of the group to which the first rule and the second rule are located is included in the first rule and the second rule.

6. The method of any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein, The first information is included in the first indication information, which is used to indicate that the data acceleration processing is performed on the first SDF; Wherein, the first indication information is contained in the first rule and the second rule, or the first indication information is contained in the second rule.

7. A communication method performed by a second network element, wherein, The method includes: The system receives first information sent by a first network element, wherein the first information is used to indicate the association of a first rule and a second rule for a first service data flow SDF, the first rule and the second rule are bound to different quality of service (QoS) flows, and the QoS flow bound to the first rule is used to implement data acceleration processing of the first SDF.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein, The first information includes at least one of the following: The identification information of the first rule and the identification information of the second rule; Identification information regarding the association between the first rule and the second rule; Indication information for the groups to which the first rule and the second rule belong.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, The identification information of the first rule is contained in the second rule, and the identification information of the second rule is contained in the first rule.

10. The method of claim 8 or 9, wherein, The identification information of the association between the first rule and the second rule is included in the first rule and the second rule.

11. The method of any one of claims 8-10, wherein, The indication information of the group containing the first rule and the second rule is included in the first rule and the second rule.

12. The method of any one of claims 8-11, wherein, The first information is included in the first indication information, which is used to indicate that the data acceleration processing is performed on the first SDF; Wherein, the first indication information is contained in the first rule and the second rule, or the first indication information is contained in the second rule.

13. The method of any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein, The method further includes: Based on the first information, the QoS flow bound to the first rule and the QoS flow bound to the second rule are associated.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein, The step of associating the QoS flow bound to the first rule and the QoS flow bound to the second rule based on the first information includes: Based on the first information, associate the first rule and the second rule; Determine the QoS flow bound to the first rule and the QoS flow bound to the second rule; Associate the QoS flow bound to the first rule with the QoS flow bound to the second rule.

15. The method of any one of claims 7 to 14, wherein, The method further includes: The first information is sent to the third network element.

16. The method of any one of claims 7 to 15, wherein, The method further includes: Send a second indication message to the third network element, wherein the second indication message is used to trigger a reflection QoS mechanism for the first SDF mapped to the QoS flow bound to the first rule.

17. A communication method performed by a third network element, wherein, The method includes: Receive a data packet of a first service data stream SDF, wherein the data packet carries first indication information, the first indication information being used to indicate data acceleration processing for the first SDF; Based on the first information, it is determined to switch from the QoS flow bound to the second rule of the first SDF to the QoS flow bound to the first rule, wherein the first information is used to indicate that the first rule and the second rule are associated, the first rule and the second rule are bound to different QoS flows, and the QoS flow bound to the first rule is used to implement the data acceleration processing of the first SDF.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein, The method further includes: Receive second indication information sent by the second network element, wherein the second indication information is used to trigger a reflection QoS mechanism on the first SDF mapped to the QoS flow bound to the first rule; According to the second indication information, the reflected QoS indication (RQI) is marked in the packets of the first SDF in the QoS flow bound to the first rule.

19. The method of claim 17 or 18, wherein, The method further includes: Based on the first information, it is determined to switch from the QoS stream bound by the first rule to the QoS stream bound by the second rule, wherein the data acceleration processing ends.

20. The method of any one of claims 17-19, wherein, The first information includes at least one of the following: The identification information of the first rule and the identification information of the second rule; Identification information regarding the association between the first rule and the second rule; Indication information for the groups to which the first rule and the second rule belong.

21. The method of any one of claims 17-20, wherein, The method further includes: Receive the first information sent by the second network element.

22. A communication method, wherein, The method includes: The first network element sends the first information to the second network element; The second network element sends the first information to the third network element; The first information is used to indicate the association between a first rule and a second rule for the first service data flow SDF. The first rule and the second rule are bound to different quality of service (QoS) flows. The QoS flow bound to the first rule is used to implement data acceleration processing for the first SDF.

23. A communications device arranged at a first network element, wherein The communication device includes: The transceiver module is configured to send first information to a second network element, wherein the first information is used to indicate the association of a first rule and a second rule for the first service data flow SDF, the first rule and the second rule are bound to different quality of service (QoS) flows, and the QoS flow bound to the first rule is used to implement data acceleration processing of the first SDF.

24. A communications device configured to be located at a second network element, wherein, The communication device includes: The transceiver module is configured to receive first information sent by a first network element, wherein the first information is used to indicate the association of a first rule and a second rule for a first service data flow SDF, the first rule and the second rule are bound to different quality of service (QoS) flows, and the QoS flow bound to the first rule is used to implement data acceleration processing of the first SDF.

25. A communications device arranged at a third network element, wherein The communication device includes: The transceiver module is configured to receive data packets of a first service data stream SDF, wherein the data packets carry first indication information, which is used to indicate data acceleration processing for the first SDF; The processing module is configured to determine, based on first information, to switch from a QoS flow bound to a second rule of the first SDF to a QoS flow bound to a first rule, wherein the first information is used to indicate that the first rule and the second rule are associated, the first rule and the second rule are bound to different QoS flows, and the QoS flow bound to the first rule is used to implement the data acceleration processing of the first SDF.

26. A communication device, comprising: One or more processors; A memory that stores instructions; When the instruction is executed by the communication device, it causes the communication device to implement the communication method as described in any one of claims 1 to 21.

27. A communication system, comprising: The first network element is used to implement the communication method as described in any one of claims 1 to 6; The second network element is used to implement the communication method as described in any one of claims 7 to 16; The third network element is used to implement the communication method as described in any one of claims 17 to 21.

28. A storage medium storing instructions, wherein, When the instruction is executed on the communication device, the communication device causes the communication device to perform at least one of the following: The communication method as described in any one of claims 1 to 6; The communication method as described in any one of claims 7 to 16; The communication method as described in any one of claims 17 to 21; The communication method as described in claim 22.

29. A computer program product comprising instructions, wherein, when the instructions are executed on a communication device, the communication device performs at least one of the following: The communication method as described in any one of claims 1 to 6; The communication method as described in any one of claims 7 to 16; The communication method as described in any one of claims 17 to 21; The communication method as described in claim 22.

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