Communication method and related apparatus
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/CN2026/082397
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2025-03-27
- Filing Date
- 2026-03-10
- Publication Date
- 2026-10-01
Smart Images
Figure CN2026082397_01102026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
A communication method and related apparatus
[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202510382144.6, filed on March 27, 2025, entitled "A Communication Method and Related Device", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field
[0002] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a communication method and related apparatus. Background Technology
[0003] With the rapid development of communication technology, the diversification of network services and the increasing complexity of business needs have placed higher demands on data transmission quality. Quality of Service (QoS) control, as a key technology for ensuring efficient allocation of network resources and optimization of service performance, has become a core research direction in communication systems and internet architecture.
[0004] In QoS control schemes, core indicators such as network bandwidth, latency, jitter, packet error rate, bit rate, and resource allocation can be dynamically adjusted to meet the differentiated service quality requirements of different application scenarios (such as real-time audio and video transmission, industrial IoT, or cloud computing services), thereby improving service performance (such as alleviating network congestion and reducing latency) and reducing resource waste.
[0005] Therefore, improving the performance of QoS control is one of the technical problems that urgently needs to be solved. Summary of the Invention
[0006] This application provides a communication method and related apparatus for improving the efficiency of QoS control.
[0007] Firstly, this application provides a communication method that can be applied to a session management function network element, or, in other words, to a communication device, communication module / processing module, circuit, or chip (such as a modem chip) with session management functionality. Taking the application of this method to a session management function network element as an example, the session management function network element receives first burst traffic information of a first service from a network data analysis function network element. The session management function network element determines second burst traffic information based on the first burst traffic information. Then, the session management function network element sends a first rule to a user plane function network element, the first rule including the second burst traffic information.
[0008] In this application, user plane function network elements can obtain burst traffic information through network data analysis function network elements within the core network, and then announce the burst traffic information to the radio access network. This scheme eliminates the need for service providers to embed burst traffic information into user plane data packets, improving the flexibility and efficiency of QoS control.
[0009] On the other hand, since the burst traffic information obtained by the user plane function network element is predicted in advance, the user plane function network element can indicate the upcoming burst traffic to the radio access network earlier, thus improving the efficiency of QoS control.
[0010] Based on the first aspect, in one optional implementation, before the session management function network element receives the first burst traffic information of the first service from the network data analysis function network element, the session management function network element sends a first request to the network data analysis function network element. The first request is used to request the network data analysis function network element to predict the burst traffic information (e.g., the first burst traffic information of this application). Alternatively, the first request is used to subscribe to the burst traffic information from the network data analysis function network element, or the first request is used to request the network data analysis function network element to provide the burst traffic information. Alternatively, it can also be understood that the first request is used to request the first burst traffic information.
[0011] Optionally, the first request may include one or more of the following:
[0012] The identifier of the first service may be, for example, the Internet Protocol Address (IP) 5-tuple of the first service, the IP triplet of the first service, the application identifier of the first service, the domain name (fully qualified domain name (FQDN) / uniform resource locator (URL)) of the first service, etc., or it may be other information that can identify the first service or distinguish the first service from other services, and its form is not limited.
[0013] The terminal device's identifier, such as a subscription permanent identifier (SUPI), an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), or a subscription concealed identifier (SUCI).
[0014] The address of the terminal device, such as the user equipment (UE) IP address, or the terminal device's session identifier (protocol data unit (PDU) session ID);
[0015] The identifier of the first request can be, for example, an event ID or an analytics ID. The event could be a request for network data analysis function elements to predict burst traffic information, and the analytics ID can be used to request network data analysis function elements to predict burst traffic information.
[0016] Based on the first aspect, in one optional implementation, the session management function network element receives first indication information from the policy control function network element, the first indication information being used to determine a first request.
[0017] Regarding the phrase "the first instruction information is used to determine the first request," it can be replaced with other descriptions. For example, the first instruction information is used to trigger the session management function network element to send a first request to the network data analysis function network element; or, the first instruction information is used to instruct the session management function network element to send a first request to the network data analysis function network element; or, the first instruction information is used to instruct the first service to use an artificial intelligence (AI) model to predict burst traffic information; or, the first instruction information is used to instruct the first service to use burst prediction based on AI model reasoning; or, the first instruction information is used to instruct the first service to use the network data analysis function network element to predict future burst traffic information; or, the first instruction information is used to instruct the first service to use burst prediction based on the network data analysis function network element.
[0018] Based on the first aspect, in an optional implementation, the session management function network element can immediately send a first rule to the user plane function network element after receiving the first burst traffic information. In this case, the first rule further includes a first timestamp and / or a first sequence number. The first timestamp is used to indicate the effective time of the first rule or the second burst traffic information included in the first rule, that is, the first rule or the second burst traffic information included in the first rule is only effective for data packets arriving at the first timestamp. The first sequence number is used to indicate the packet sequence number for which the first rule or the second burst traffic information included in the first rule is effective, that is, the first rule or the second burst traffic information included in the first rule is only effective for data packets with the packet sequence number of the first sequence number.
[0019] Based on the first aspect, in one optional implementation, the first rule further includes second indication information, which is used by the user plane function network element to indicate the second burst traffic information. Alternatively, the second indication information is used by the user plane function network element to indicate the second burst traffic information to the radio access network.
[0020] Based on the first aspect, in one optional implementation, part or all of the second burst traffic information is carried in the forwarding action rule (FAR) or QoS enforcement rule (QER) in the N4 rule.
[0021] Based on the first aspect, in one optional implementation, the first timestamp or first sequence number included in the first rule is carried in the PDR or QER in the N4 rule.
[0022] Based on the first aspect, in one optional implementation, the first burst traffic information includes one or more of the following:
[0023] The data burst size value, or alternatively, the data burst size;
[0024] The timestamp corresponding to the burst, or, can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the timestamp corresponding to the start of the burst, or the arrival time of the burst, or the timestamp corresponding to the arrival time of the burst, or the start time of the burst, or the timestamp and the arrival time of the burst calculated from the timestamp;
[0025] The sequence number corresponding to the burst, or, can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the packet sequence number corresponding to the starting packet of the burst, or, the packet sequence number corresponding to the arrival of the burst, or, the packet sequence number corresponding to the arrival packet of the burst, or, the packet sequence number and the burst arrival time calculated from the arrival time of the packet corresponding to the packet sequence number;
[0026] The timestamp of the burst's end packet, or, can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the burst's end time;
[0027] The sequence number of the burst's ending packet, or, can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the sequence number of the burst's ending packet.
[0028] It should be understood that the content included in the first burst traffic information in this application is merely an exemplary description. Optionally, the first burst traffic information may also include or be replaced with other content, which is not limited here.
[0029] Based on the first aspect, in one optional implementation, the second burst traffic information includes one or more of the following:
[0030] The ninth instruction is used to indicate the activation of data burst marking indication;
[0031] The data burst size, or alternatively, the data burst size value;
[0032] The time to next burst value, or it can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the time to next burst, or the remaining time until the next burst arrives. For example, a time to next burst arrival value of 5 seconds means that the burst traffic will arrive in 5 seconds.
[0033] Is it the end of a data burst? Or, it can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the end of a data burst.
[0034] In this application, the term "burst" mentioned above can also be understood as "burst traffic," or as a data burst, or as traffic that suddenly increases (exceeds the average traffic) over a period of time.
[0035] It should be understood that the content included in the second burst traffic information in this application is merely an exemplary description. Optionally, the second burst traffic information may also include or be replaced with other content, which is not limited here.
[0036] Secondly, this application provides a communication method that can be applied to user plane function network elements, or to communication devices, communication modules / processing modules, circuits, chips, etc., that have user plane functions. Taking the application of this method to a user plane function network element as an example, the user plane function network element receives a first rule from a session management function network element, the first rule including second burst traffic information corresponding to a first service. Next, the user plane function network element indicates the second burst traffic information to the radio access network based on the first rule.
[0037] In this application, user plane function network elements can obtain burst traffic information through network data analysis function network elements within the core network, and then announce the burst traffic information to the radio access network. This scheme eliminates the need for service providers to embed burst traffic information into user plane data packets, improving the flexibility and efficiency of QoS control.
[0038] On the other hand, since the burst traffic information obtained by the user plane function network element is predicted in advance, the user plane function network element can indicate the upcoming burst traffic to the radio access network earlier, thus improving the efficiency of QoS control.
[0039] Based on the second aspect, in an optional implementation, the session management function network element can immediately send a first rule to the user plane function network element after receiving the first burst traffic information. In this case, the first rule further includes a first timestamp and / or a first sequence number. The first timestamp is used to indicate the effective time of the first rule or the second burst traffic information included in the first rule, that is, the first rule or the second burst traffic information included in the first rule is only effective for data packets arriving at the first timestamp. The first sequence number is used to indicate the packet sequence number for which the first rule or the second burst traffic information included in the first rule is effective, that is, the first rule or the second burst traffic information included in the first rule is only effective for data packets with the packet sequence number of the first sequence number.
[0040] Based on the second aspect, in an optional implementation, the first rule further includes second indication information, which is used by the user plane function network element to indicate the second burst traffic information. Alternatively, the second indication information is used by the user plane function network element to indicate the second burst traffic information to the radio access network.
[0041] Based on the second aspect, in one optional implementation, part or all of the second burst traffic information is carried in the forwarding action rule (FAR) or QoS enforcement rule (QER) in the N4 rule.
[0042] Based on the second aspect, in one optional implementation, the first burst traffic information includes one or more of the following:
[0043] The data burst size value, or alternatively, the data burst size;
[0044] The timestamp corresponding to the burst, or, can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the timestamp corresponding to the start of the burst, or the arrival time of the burst, or the timestamp corresponding to the arrival time of the burst, or the start time of the burst, or the timestamp and the arrival time of the burst calculated from the timestamp;
[0045] The sequence number corresponding to the burst, or, can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the packet sequence number corresponding to the starting packet of the burst, or, the packet sequence number corresponding to the arrival of the burst, or, the packet sequence number corresponding to the arrival packet of the burst, or, the packet sequence number and the burst arrival time calculated from the arrival time of the packet corresponding to the packet sequence number;
[0046] The timestamp of the burst's end packet, or, can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the burst's end time;
[0047] The sequence number of the burst's ending packet, or, can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the sequence number of the burst's ending packet.
[0048] Based on the second aspect, in one optional implementation, the second burst traffic information includes one or more of the following:
[0049] The ninth instruction is used to indicate the activation of data burst marking indication;
[0050] The data burst size, or alternatively, the data burst size value;
[0051] The time to next burst value, or it can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the time to next burst, or the remaining time until the next burst arrives. For example, if the time to next burst is 5 seconds, it means that the burst traffic will arrive in 5 seconds.
[0052] Is it the end of a data burst? Or, it can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the end of a data burst.
[0053] In this application, the term "burst" mentioned above can also be understood as "burst traffic," or as a data burst, or as traffic that suddenly increases (exceeds the average traffic) over a period of time.
[0054] Based on the second aspect, in one alternative implementation,
[0055] If a user plane function network element receives a downlink data packet and the timestamp or sequence number corresponding to the data packet (e.g., the timestamp or sequence number is included in the packet header) is the first timestamp or sequence number included in the first rule, then the user plane function network element adds second burst traffic information to the GTP-U header of the data packet and sends the data packet to the access network device.
[0056] Thirdly, this application provides a communication method that can be applied to a session management function network element, or to a communication device, communication module / processing module, circuit, or chip (such as a modem chip) with session management functionality. Taking the application of this method to a session management function network element as an example, the session management function network element sends a second request to a network data analysis function network element. This second request is used to request first burst traffic information of a first service from the user plane function network element. For example, assuming the second request is a subscription message, the notification address of the subscription message is the address of the user plane function network element. Next, the session management function network element sends a second rule to the user plane function network element. This second rule is used by the user plane function network element to obtain the first burst traffic information, or in other words, the second rule is used by the user plane function network element to obtain the first burst traffic information subscribed to by the second request.
[0057] In this application, user plane function network elements can obtain burst traffic information through network data analysis function network elements within the core network, and then announce the burst traffic information to the radio access network. This scheme eliminates the need for service providers to embed burst traffic information into user plane data packets, improving the flexibility and efficiency of QoS control.
[0058] On the other hand, since the burst traffic information obtained by the user plane function network element is predicted in advance, the user plane function network element can indicate the upcoming burst traffic to the radio access network earlier, thus improving the efficiency of QoS control.
[0059] Based on the third aspect, in an optional implementation, the second rule includes an identifier of the second request. For example, the identifier of the second request may be an identifier (e.g., a notification correlation ID, subscription correlation ID) sent by the network data analysis function network element to the session management function network element after the session management function network element sends the second request to the network data analysis function network element. This allows the session management function network element to manage the subscription of the second request based on the identifier of the second request (e.g., unsubscribe). In this application, the session management function network element carries the identifier of the second request in the second rule, thereby indicating to the user plane function network element that the second rule is associated with the first burst traffic information subscribed to by the second request, or indicating to the user plane function network element that the first burst traffic information subscribed to by the second request is used for the second rule (e.g., the subscription result is used for the action indicated in the second rule).
[0060] Based on the third aspect, in an optional implementation, the second rule includes an eighth indication message, which instructs the user plane function network element to obtain the first burst traffic information from the network data analysis function network element. For example, the eighth indication message instructs the first service to use an artificial intelligence (AI) model to predict future burst traffic information; or, the eighth indication message instructs the first service to use burst prediction based on AI model reasoning; or, the eighth indication message instructs the first service to use the network data analysis function network element to predict future burst traffic information; or, the eighth indication message instructs the first service to use burst prediction based on the network data analysis function network element.
[0061] Based on the third aspect, in one optional implementation, the first burst traffic information includes one or more of the following:
[0062] The data burst size value, or alternatively, the data burst size;
[0063] The timestamp corresponding to the burst, or, can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the timestamp corresponding to the start of the burst, or the arrival time of the burst, or the timestamp corresponding to the arrival time of the burst, or the start time of the burst, or the timestamp and the arrival time of the burst calculated from the timestamp;
[0064] The sequence number corresponding to the burst, or, can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the packet sequence number corresponding to the starting packet of the burst, or, the packet sequence number corresponding to the arrival of the burst, or, the packet sequence number corresponding to the arrival packet of the burst, or, the packet sequence number and the burst arrival time calculated from the arrival time of the packet corresponding to the packet sequence number;
[0065] The timestamp of the burst's end packet, or, can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the burst's end time;
[0066] The sequence number of the burst's ending packet, or, can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the sequence number of the burst's ending packet.
[0067] Based on the third aspect, in one optional implementation, the second burst traffic information includes one or more of the following:
[0068] The ninth instruction is used to indicate the activation of data burst marking indication;
[0069] The data burst size, or alternatively, the data burst size value;
[0070] The time to next burst value, or it can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the time to next burst, or the remaining time until the next burst arrives. For example, if the time to next burst is 5 seconds, it means that the burst traffic will arrive in 5 seconds.
[0071] Is it the end of a data burst? Or, it can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the end of a data burst.
[0072] In this application, the term "burst" mentioned above can also be understood as "burst traffic," or as a data burst, or as traffic that suddenly increases (exceeds the average traffic) over a period of time.
[0073] Fourthly, this application provides a communication method that can be applied to user plane function network elements, or to communication devices, communication modules / processing modules, circuits, chips, etc., that have user plane functions. Taking the application of this method to a user plane function network element as an example, the user plane function network element receives first burst traffic information of a first service from a network data analysis function network element. The user plane function network element indicates second burst traffic information to the radio access network.
[0074] In this application, user plane function network elements can obtain burst traffic information through network data analysis function network elements within the core network, and then announce the burst traffic information to the radio access network. This scheme eliminates the need for service providers to embed burst traffic information into user plane data packets, improving the flexibility and efficiency of QoS control.
[0075] On the other hand, since the burst traffic information obtained by the user plane function network element is predicted in advance, the user plane function network element can indicate the upcoming burst traffic to the radio access network earlier, thus improving the efficiency of QoS control.
[0076] Optionally, the user plane function network element indicates the second burst traffic information to the radio access network. This can be understood as the user plane function network element encapsulating the second burst traffic information into the header (e.g., GTP-U header) of the data packet of the first service, thereby notifying the radio access network of the second burst traffic information so that the radio access network can schedule resources for the upcoming burst traffic.
[0077] Based on the fourth aspect, in an optional implementation, the user plane function network element receives a second rule from the session management function network element. The second rule is used by the user plane function network element to obtain first burst traffic information, or in other words, the second rule is used by the user plane function network element to obtain the first burst traffic information subscribed to by the second request.
[0078] Based on the fourth aspect, in one optional implementation, the second rule includes third indication information, which is used by the user plane function network element to indicate the second burst traffic information based on the first burst traffic information; or, the third indication information indicates the first burst traffic information to assist in radio resource management.
[0079] Based on the fourth aspect, in an optional implementation, the user plane function network element sends first information to the network data analysis function network element. The first information is used by the network data analysis function network element to determine first burst traffic information. The first information includes data packet information and / or traffic information of the first service included in the protocol layer.
[0080] For example, the protocol layer includes packet information and / or traffic information for the first service, including one or more of the following:
[0081] The number of packages in the first business segment;
[0082] The package size for the first business;
[0083] Bit rate of the first service;
[0084] The number of packets lost in the first business segment;
[0085] Packet loss rate of the first business;
[0086] Packet transmission latency of the first service;
[0087] Traffic changes for the first business segment;
[0088] Congestion situation for the first business segment;
[0089] The sending window size for the first service;
[0090] The size of the receiving window for the first service;
[0091] The time interval of the first business packet.
[0092] Based on the fourth aspect, in an optional implementation, the second rule includes an identifier of the second request. For example, the identifier of the second request may be an identifier (e.g., a notification correlation ID, subscription correlation ID) sent by the network data analysis function network element to the session management function network element after the session management function network element sends the second request to the network data analysis function network element. This allows the session management function network element to manage the subscription of the second request based on the identifier of the second request (e.g., unsubscribe). In this application, the session management function network element carries the identifier of the second request in the second rule to indicate to the user plane function network element that the second rule is associated with the first burst traffic information subscribed to by the second request, or to indicate to the user plane function network element that the first burst traffic information subscribed to by the second request is used in the second rule (e.g., the subscription result is used for the action indicated in the second rule).
[0093] Based on the fourth aspect, in one optional implementation, the second rule includes an eighth indication information, which instructs the user plane function network element to obtain the first burst traffic information from the network data analysis function network element. For example, the eighth indication information instructs the first service to use an artificial intelligence (AI) model to predict future burst traffic information; or, the eighth indication information instructs the first service to use burst prediction based on AI model reasoning; or, the eighth indication information instructs the first service to use the network data analysis function network element to predict future burst traffic information; or, the eighth indication information instructs the first service to use burst prediction based on the network data analysis function network element.
[0094] Based on the fourth aspect, in an optional implementation, after the user plane function network element receives the second rule including the eighth indication information, the user plane function network element sends a seventh request to the network data analysis function network element. The seventh request is used to request the network data analysis function network element to predict future burst traffic information (e.g., the first burst traffic information of this application). Alternatively, the seventh request is used to subscribe to burst traffic information from the network data analysis function network element, or to request the network data analysis function network element to provide burst traffic information. Alternatively, it can also be understood that the seventh request is used to request the first burst traffic information.
[0095] Based on the fourth aspect, in one optional implementation, the first burst traffic information includes one or more of the following:
[0096] The data burst size value, or alternatively, the data burst size;
[0097] The timestamp corresponding to the burst, or, can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the timestamp corresponding to the start of the burst, or the arrival time of the burst, or the timestamp corresponding to the arrival time of the burst, or the start time of the burst, or the timestamp and the arrival time of the burst calculated from the timestamp;
[0098] The sequence number corresponding to the burst, or, can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the packet sequence number corresponding to the starting packet of the burst, or, the packet sequence number corresponding to the arrival of the burst, or, the packet sequence number corresponding to the arrival packet of the burst, or, the packet sequence number and the burst arrival time calculated from the arrival time of the packet corresponding to the packet sequence number;
[0099] The timestamp of the burst's end packet, or, can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the burst's end time;
[0100] The sequence number of the burst's ending packet, or, can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the sequence number of the burst's ending packet.
[0101] Based on the fourth aspect, in one optional implementation, the second burst traffic information includes one or more of the following:
[0102] The ninth instruction is used to indicate the activation of data burst marking indication;
[0103] The data burst size, or alternatively, the data burst size value;
[0104] The time to next burst value, or it can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the time to next burst, or the remaining time until the next burst arrives. For example, if the time to next burst is 5 seconds, it means that the burst traffic will arrive in 5 seconds.
[0105] Is it the end of a data burst? Or, it can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the end of a data burst.
[0106] In this application, the term "burst" mentioned above can also be understood as "burst traffic," or as a data burst, or as traffic that suddenly increases (exceeds the average traffic) over a period of time.
[0107] Fifthly, this application provides a communication method that can be applied to user plane function network elements, or to communication devices, communication modules / processing modules, circuits, chips, etc., that have user plane functions. Taking the application of this method to a user plane function network element as an example, the user plane function network element receives a first AI model from a network data analysis function network element. The first AI model is used to predict burst traffic information. Next, the user plane function network element determines first burst traffic information based on the first AI model. Then, the user plane function network element determines second burst traffic information based on the first burst traffic information, and then the user plane function network element indicates the second burst traffic information to the radio access network.
[0108] In this application, user plane function network elements can obtain burst traffic information through the first AI model issued by the network data analysis function network elements within the core network, and then announce the burst traffic information to the radio access network. This scheme eliminates the need for service providers to embed burst traffic information into user plane data packets, improving the flexibility and efficiency of QoS control.
[0109] On the other hand, since the burst traffic information obtained by the user plane function network element is predicted in advance, the user plane function network element can indicate the upcoming burst traffic to the radio access network earlier, thus improving the efficiency of QoS control.
[0110] Based on the fifth aspect, in an optional implementation, the user plane function network element determines the first burst traffic information based on a first AI model and first information. The first information includes data packet information and / or traffic information of the first service included in the protocol layer.
[0111] For example, the protocol layer includes packet information and / or traffic information for the first service, including one or more of the following:
[0112] The number of packages in the first business segment;
[0113] The package size for the first business;
[0114] Bit rate of the first service;
[0115] The number of packets lost in the first business segment;
[0116] Packet loss rate of the first business;
[0117] Packet transmission latency of the first service;
[0118] Traffic changes for the first business segment;
[0119] Congestion situation for the first business segment;
[0120] The sending window size for the first service;
[0121] The size of the receiving window for the first service;
[0122] The time interval of the first business packet.
[0123] Based on the fifth aspect, in one optional implementation, the first burst traffic information includes one or more of the following:
[0124] The data burst size value, or alternatively, the data burst size;
[0125] The timestamp corresponding to the burst, or, can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the timestamp corresponding to the start of the burst, or the arrival time of the burst, or the timestamp corresponding to the arrival time of the burst, or the start time of the burst, or the timestamp and the arrival time of the burst calculated from the timestamp;
[0126] The sequence number corresponding to the burst, or, can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the packet sequence number corresponding to the starting packet of the burst, or, the packet sequence number corresponding to the arrival of the burst, or, the packet sequence number corresponding to the arrival packet of the burst, or, the packet sequence number and the burst arrival time calculated from the arrival time of the packet corresponding to the packet sequence number;
[0127] The timestamp of the burst's end packet, or, can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the burst's end time;
[0128] The sequence number of the burst's ending packet, or, can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the sequence number of the burst's ending packet.
[0129] Based on the fifth aspect, in one optional implementation, the second burst traffic information includes one or more of the following:
[0130] The ninth instruction is used to indicate the activation of data burst marking indication;
[0131] The data burst size, or alternatively, the data burst size value;
[0132] The time to next burst value, or it can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the time to next burst, or the remaining time until the next burst arrives. For example, if the time to next burst is 5 seconds, it means that the burst traffic will arrive in 5 seconds.
[0133] Is it the end of a data burst? Or, it can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the end of a data burst.
[0134] In this application, the term "burst" mentioned above can also be understood as "burst traffic," or as a data burst, or as traffic that suddenly increases (exceeds the average traffic) over a period of time.
[0135] Sixthly, this application provides a communication method that can be applied to a policy control function network element, or to a communication device, communication module / processing module, circuit, or chip (such as a modem chip, also known as a baseband chip) having a policy control function network element. Taking the application of this method to a policy control function network element as an example, the policy control function network element receives traffic change characteristic information of a first service from a network data analysis function network element. The traffic change characteristic information of the first service is used to indicate the first quality of service (QoS) parameter corresponding to the first service. Then, the policy control function network element sends the first QoS parameter to the session management function network element.
[0136] In this application, the network data analysis function network element can indicate the traffic change characteristics of the first service to the policy control function network element. Then, based on the traffic change characteristics of the first service, the policy control function network element sends new QoS parameters (such as the first QoS parameter in this application) to the session management function network element, thereby the session management function network element determines new QoS rules based on the new QoS parameters, improving the flexibility and efficiency of QoS control.
[0137] Based on the sixth aspect, in one optional implementation, the traffic change characteristic information of the first service includes one or more of the following:
[0138] Characteristics of flow rate variation;
[0139] The characteristics of data packet latency variation;
[0140] The characteristics of data packet latency jitter;
[0141] The changing characteristics of data packet congestion information;
[0142] Characteristics of data rate variation;
[0143] The latency variation characteristics of the Protocol Data Unit (PDU) set;
[0144] Characteristics of changes in error packet cases in PDU sets.
[0145] Based on the sixth aspect, in an optional implementation, the policy control function network element sends a third request to the network data analysis function network element. The third request is used to request the traffic change characteristic information of the first service, or it can also be understood as the third request being used to subscribe to the traffic change characteristic information of the first service from the network data analysis function network element.
[0146] Based on the sixth aspect, in an optional implementation, the policy control function network element sends a third request to the network data analysis function network element, including:
[0147] If the first condition is met, the policy control function network element sends a third request to the network data analysis function network element;
[0148] The first condition includes one or more of the following:
[0149] The policy control function network element receives fourth indication information from the application function AF network element, and the fourth indication information is used to determine the third request;
[0150] The policy control function network element receives the third request from the terminal device.
[0151] Seventhly, this application provides a communication method that can be applied to a session management function network element, or in other words, to a communication device, communication module / processing module, circuit, chip (such as a modem chip), etc., that has a session management function. Taking the application of this method to a session management function network element as an example...
[0152] The session management function network element receives traffic change characteristic information of the first processing strategy or the first service from the network data analysis function network element, and the traffic change characteristic information of the first service is used to determine the first processing strategy.
[0153] The session management function network element sends a third rule to the user plane function network element, and the third rule is used by the user plane function network element to execute the first processing strategy on the traffic of the first service.
[0154] In this application, the user plane function network element can receive a third rule from the session management function network element, and perform subsequent processing on the traffic of the first service through the third rule, thereby improving the flexibility and efficiency of QoS control.
[0155] Optionally, the first processing strategy includes, but is not limited to, randomly dropping or randomly increasing the delay of data packets for the first service; or, the first processing strategy includes the proportion of data packets for the first service that are randomly dropped, the proportion of data packets for the first service that are randomly increased, and / or the duration of the increased delay. For example, if the traffic of the first service increases, the user plane function network element can randomly drop or randomly increase the delay of data packets for the first service.
[0156] Based on the seventh aspect, in an optional implementation, the third rule includes traffic change characteristic information of the first service. Then, after receiving the third rule, the user plane function network element determines a first processing strategy based on the traffic change characteristic information of the first service.
[0157] Based on the seventh aspect, in an optional implementation, the third rule includes the first processing strategy. Then, after receiving the third rule, the user plane function network element executes the first processing strategy on the traffic of the first service.
[0158] Based on the seventh aspect, in an optional implementation, the session management function network element can immediately send a third rule to the user plane function network element after receiving the first burst traffic information. In this case, the first rule further includes a second timestamp and / or a second sequence number. The first timestamp is used to indicate the effective time of the third rule, that is, the third rule is effective for data packets arriving after the second timestamp. The second sequence number is used to indicate the packet sequence number for which the third rule is effective, that is, the third rule is only effective for data packets with a packet sequence number greater than or equal to the third sequence number.
[0159] Based on the seventh aspect, in an optional implementation, the method further includes:
[0160] When the session management function network element receives traffic change characteristic information of the first service from the network data analysis function network element, the session management function network element determines the third rule based on the traffic change characteristic information of the first service.
[0161] Based on the seventh aspect, in an optional implementation, the method further includes:
[0162] The session management function network element sends a fifth request to the network data analysis function network element. The fifth request is used to request the traffic change characteristic information of the third rule or the first service.
[0163] Based on the seventh aspect, in an optional implementation, the method further includes:
[0164] The session management function network element receives a sixth indication information from the policy control function network element, the sixth indication information being used to determine the fifth request.
[0165] Based on the seventh aspect, in one optional implementation, the traffic change characteristic information of the first service includes one or more of the following:
[0166] The characteristics of traffic volume changes, or, in other words, the characteristics of traffic volume changes over a period of time;
[0167] The characteristics of data packet latency variation, or, can be understood as the characteristics of data packet latency variation over a period of time;
[0168] The characteristics of the jitter in the delay of data packets, or the characteristics of the jitter in the delay of data packets over a period of time;
[0169] The changing characteristics of congestion information of data packets, or, can be understood as the changing characteristics of congestion information of data packets over a period of time;
[0170] The characteristics of data rate variation, or, more specifically, the characteristics of data rate variation over a period of time;
[0171] The time delay variation characteristics of the PDU set, or, can be understood as the time delay variation characteristics of the PDU set over a period of time;
[0172] The changing characteristics of the error packet situation in the PDU set, or, can be understood as the changing characteristics of the error packet situation in the PDU set over a period of time.
[0173] Based on the seventh aspect, in an optional implementation, the network data analysis function network element determines the traffic change characteristics of the first processing strategy or the first service based on the first information, wherein the first information includes data packet information and / or traffic information of the first service included in the protocol layer.
[0174] For example, the protocol layer includes packet information and / or traffic information for the first service, including one or more of the following:
[0175] The number of packages in the first business segment;
[0176] The package size for the first business;
[0177] Bit rate of the first service;
[0178] The number of packets lost in the first business segment;
[0179] Packet loss rate of the first business;
[0180] Packet transmission latency of the first service;
[0181] Traffic changes for the first business segment;
[0182] Congestion situation for the first business segment;
[0183] The sending window size for the first service;
[0184] The size of the receiving window for the first service;
[0185] The time interval of the first business packet.
[0186] Eighthly, this application provides a communication method that can be applied to user plane function network elements, or to communication devices, communication modules / processing modules, circuits, chips (such as modem chips) with user plane functions. Taking the application of this method to user plane function network elements as an example...
[0187] The user plane function network element receives a third rule from the session management function network element, the third rule being used by the user plane function network element to execute the first processing strategy on the traffic of the first service.
[0188] In this application, the user plane function network element can receive a third rule from the session management function network element, and perform subsequent processing on the traffic of the first service through the third rule, thereby improving the flexibility and efficiency of QoS control.
[0189] Optionally, the first processing strategy includes, but is not limited to, randomly dropping or randomly increasing the delay of data packets for the first service; or, the first processing strategy includes the proportion of data packets for the first service that are randomly dropped, the proportion of data packets for the first service that are randomly increased, and / or the duration of the increased delay. For example, if the traffic of the first service increases, the user plane function network element can randomly drop or randomly increase the delay of data packets for the first service.
[0190] Based on the eighth aspect, in an optional implementation, the third rule includes traffic change characteristic information of the first service. Then, after receiving the third rule, the user plane function network element determines a first processing strategy based on the traffic change characteristic information of the first service.
[0191] Based on the eighth aspect, in an optional implementation, the third rule includes the first processing strategy. Then, after receiving the third rule, the user plane function network element executes the first processing strategy on the traffic of the first service.
[0192] Based on the eighth aspect, in an optional implementation, the traffic variation characteristic information of the first service includes one or more of the following:
[0193] The characteristics of traffic volume changes, or, in other words, the characteristics of traffic volume changes over a period of time;
[0194] The characteristics of data packet latency variation, or, can be understood as the characteristics of data packet latency variation over a period of time;
[0195] The characteristics of the jitter in the delay of data packets, or the characteristics of the jitter in the delay of data packets over a period of time;
[0196] The changing characteristics of congestion information of data packets, or, can be understood as the changing characteristics of congestion information of data packets over a period of time;
[0197] The characteristics of data rate variation, or, more specifically, the characteristics of data rate variation over a period of time;
[0198] The time delay variation characteristics of the PDU set, or, can be understood as the time delay variation characteristics of the PDU set over a period of time;
[0199] The changing characteristics of the error packet situation in the PDU set, or, can be understood as the changing characteristics of the error packet situation in the PDU set over a period of time.
[0200] Based on the eighth aspect, in an optional implementation, the user plane function network element sends first information to the network data analysis function network element so that the network data analysis function network element can determine the traffic change characteristics of the first processing strategy or the first service based on the first information. The first information includes data packet information and / or traffic information of the first service included in the protocol layer.
[0201] For example, the protocol layer includes packet information and / or traffic information for the first service, including one or more of the following:
[0202] The number of packages in the first business segment;
[0203] The package size for the first business;
[0204] Bit rate of the first service;
[0205] The number of packets lost in the first business segment;
[0206] Packet loss rate of the first business;
[0207] Packet transmission latency of the first service;
[0208] Traffic changes for the first business segment;
[0209] Congestion situation for the first business segment;
[0210] The sending window size for the first service;
[0211] The size of the receiving window for the first service;
[0212] The time interval of the first business packet.
[0213] Ninthly, this application provides a communication method that can be applied to a session management function network element, or, in other words, to a communication device, communication module / processing module, circuit, or chip (such as a modem chip) with session management function. Taking the application of this method to a session management function network element as an example...
[0214] The session management function sends a sixth request to the network data analysis function network element. The sixth request is used to request the user plane function network element traffic change characteristic information of the first processing strategy or the first service.
[0215] The session management function network element sends a fourth rule to the user plane function network element. The fourth rule is used to instruct the user plane function network element to execute the first processing strategy on the traffic of the first service based on the first processing strategy or the traffic change characteristics information of the first service.
[0216] In this application, the user plane function network element can receive the first processing policy or the traffic change characteristic information of the first service from the network data analysis function network element, thereby executing the first processing policy on the traffic of the first service, improving the flexibility and efficiency of QoS control.
[0217] Optionally, the first processing strategy includes, but is not limited to, randomly dropping or randomly increasing the delay of data packets for the first service; or, the first processing strategy includes the proportion of data packets for the first service that are randomly dropped, the proportion of data packets for the first service that are randomly increased, and / or the duration of the increased delay. For example, if the traffic of the first service increases, the user plane function network element can randomly drop or randomly increase the delay of data packets for the first service.
[0218] Based on the ninth aspect, in an optional implementation, the fourth rule includes seventh indication information, which is used to instruct the user plane function network element to execute the first processing strategy on the traffic of the first service based on the first processing strategy or the traffic change characteristic information of the first service.
[0219] Tenthly, this application provides a communication method that can be applied to user plane function network elements, or to communication devices, communication modules / processing modules, circuits, chips, etc., that have user plane functions. Taking the application of this method to a user plane function network element as an example, the user plane function network element receives traffic change characteristic information of a first processing strategy or a first service from a network data analysis function network element; the user plane function network element executes a first processing strategy on the traffic of the first service based on the first processing strategy or the traffic change characteristic information of the first service.
[0220] In this application, the user plane function network element can receive the first processing policy or the traffic change characteristic information of the first service from the network data analysis function network element, thereby executing the first processing policy on the traffic of the first service, improving the flexibility and efficiency of QoS control.
[0221] Optionally, the first processing strategy includes, but is not limited to, randomly dropping or randomly increasing the delay of data packets for the first service; or, the first processing strategy includes the proportion of data packets for the first service that are randomly dropped, the proportion of data packets for the first service that are randomly increased, and / or the duration of the increased delay. For example, if the traffic of the first service increases, the user plane function network element can randomly drop or randomly increase the delay of data packets for the first service.
[0222] Based on the tenth aspect, in an optional implementation, the user plane function network element receives a fourth rule from the session management function network element, the fourth rule including seventh indication information, the seventh indication information being used to instruct the user plane function network element to execute a first processing strategy on the traffic of the first service based on a first processing strategy or traffic change characteristic information of a first service.
[0223] Based on the tenth aspect, in an optional implementation, the traffic change characteristic information of the first service includes one or more of the following:
[0224] The characteristics of traffic volume changes, or, in other words, the characteristics of traffic volume changes over a period of time;
[0225] The characteristics of data packet latency variation, or, can be understood as the characteristics of data packet latency variation over a period of time;
[0226] The characteristics of the jitter in the delay of data packets, or the characteristics of the jitter in the delay of data packets over a period of time;
[0227] The changing characteristics of congestion information of data packets, or, can be understood as the changing characteristics of congestion information of data packets over a period of time;
[0228] The characteristics of data rate variation, or, more specifically, the characteristics of data rate variation over a period of time;
[0229] The time delay variation characteristics of the PDU set, or, can be understood as the time delay variation characteristics of the PDU set over a period of time;
[0230] The changing characteristics of the error packet situation in the PDU set, or, can be understood as the changing characteristics of the error packet situation in the PDU set over a period of time.
[0231] Based on the tenth aspect, in an optional implementation, the user plane function network element sends first information to the network data analysis function network element, so that the network data analysis function network element determines the traffic change characteristics information of the first processing strategy or the first service based on the first information, wherein the first information includes data packet information and / or traffic information of the first service included in the protocol layer.
[0232] For example, the protocol layer includes packet information and / or traffic information for the first service, including one or more of the following:
[0233] The number of packages in the first business segment;
[0234] The package size for the first business;
[0235] Bit rate of the first service;
[0236] The number of packets lost in the first business segment;
[0237] Packet loss rate of the first business;
[0238] Packet transmission latency of the first service;
[0239] Traffic changes for the first business segment;
[0240] Congestion situation for the first business segment;
[0241] The sending window size for the first service;
[0242] The size of the receiving window for the first service;
[0243] The time interval of the first business packet.
[0244] Eleventhly, this application provides a communication method that can be applied to a network data analysis function network element, or, in other words, to a communication device, communication module / processing module, circuit, chip, etc., that has a network data analysis function network element. Taking the application of this method to a network data analysis function network element as an example, the network data analysis function network element obtains data packet information and / or traffic information of the first service included in the protocol layer;
[0245] The network data analysis function network element determines first burst traffic information and / or fifth indication information based on the data packet information and / or traffic information of the first service included in the protocol layer. The fifth indication information is used to indicate the first QoS parameter, or it can be understood that the fifth indication information is used by the session management function network element to determine the indication of the first QoS parameter, or it can be understood that the fifth indication information is used to determine the indication of the first QoS parameter.
[0246] Based on the eleventh aspect, in an optional implementation, the network data analysis function network element receives data packet information and / or traffic information of the first service included in the protocol layer from the application function network element or the user plane function network element. In other words, the data packet information and / or traffic information of the first service included in the protocol layer is sent by the application function network element or the user plane function network element. For example, the data packet information and / or traffic information of the first service included in the protocol layer includes one or more of the following:
[0247] Data packet latency, such as end-to-end latency, latency from terminal equipment to user plane functional network element, and latency from radio access network to user plane functional network element;
[0248] Data rate;
[0249] Data packet delay jitter;
[0250] Data packet congestion status;
[0251] The latency of a PDU set is the average latency of all data packets in a PDU set.
[0252] PDU set error rate or packet loss rate (the probability of a data packet being corrupted or lost in the PDU set).
[0253] Based on the eleventh aspect, in an optional implementation, the fifth indication information includes traffic change characteristic information of the first service, the change pattern of one or more of the first information, and / or the first QoS parameter.
[0254] For example, the traffic variation characteristics of the first service can be a traffic pattern, which represents how traffic volume changes over time. The traffic variation characteristics of the first service include one or more of the following:
[0255] Characteristics of flow rate variation;
[0256] The characteristics of data packet latency variation;
[0257] The characteristics of data packet latency jitter;
[0258] The changing characteristics of data packet congestion information;
[0259] Characteristics of data rate variation;
[0260] The latency variation characteristics of the Protocol Data Unit (PDU) set;
[0261] Characteristics of changes in error packet cases in PDU sets.
[0262] For example, the pattern of change of one or more items in the first information may be the pattern of change of data packet information and / or traffic information of the first service included in the protocol layer.
[0263] For example, the first QoS parameter includes, but is not limited to, one or more of the following:
[0264] The 5G QoS Identifier (5QI) output by the second AI model;
[0265] Allocation and retention priority (ARP);
[0266] Guaranteed flow bit rate (GFBR);
[0267] Maximum flow bit rate (MFBR);
[0268] Maximum Data Burst Volume (MDBV);
[0269] Average window.
[0270] Based on the eleventh aspect, in an optional implementation, the network data analysis function network element receives data packet information and / or traffic information of the first service included in the protocol layer from the user plane function network element or the session management function network element. This information is obtained by the user plane function network element or the session management function network element through a network measurement / detection mechanism. For example, taking the acquisition of data packet information and / or traffic information of the first service by a user plane function network element, specifically, the user plane function network element can use QoS monitoring technology. For example, the user plane function network element measures the data packet rate / traffic of the first service, or the user plane function network element measures data packet latency (for example, measuring the latency between the terminal device and the user plane function network element, including the mutual transmission of data packets or generated empty packets between the radio access network and the user plane function network element, and adding timestamps to the GTP-U header to calculate the latency between the radio access network and the user plane function network element. The radio access network can measure the latency between the terminal device and the radio access network through air interface means, and the sum of the two segments is the latency between the terminal device and the user plane function network element. The user plane function network element can also measure the latency between the user plane function network element and the server, and the sum of the three segments is the end-to-end latency), or the UPF measures congestion (for example, the user plane function network element calculates the proportion of data packets marked with congestion, or the user plane function network element detects information about data packets carrying congestion marks).
[0271] Based on the eleventh aspect, in an optional implementation, the network data analysis function network element receives a subscription message from the session management function network element and / or the policy control function network element, the subscription message being used to request first burst traffic information and / or fifth indication information.
[0272] Based on the eleventh aspect, in an optional implementation, the network data analysis function network element sends the first burst traffic information to the session management function network element or the user plane function network element, and the first burst traffic information is used to assist in radio resource management.
[0273] Based on the eleventh aspect, in an optional implementation, the network data analysis function network element sends the fifth indication information to the policy control function network element, the fifth indication information being used for QoS control of the first service.
[0274] A twelfth aspect of this application provides a communication device including at least one processor coupled to a memory; the memory is used to store a program or instructions; the at least one processor is used to execute the program or instructions to cause the device to implement the method described in any possible implementation of any of the first to seventh aspects. Optionally, the communication device may include the memory.
[0275] The thirteenth aspect of this application provides a communication device including at least one logic circuit and an input / output interface; the logic circuit is used to perform the method described in any of the possible implementations of the first to seventh aspects described above.
[0276] The fourteenth aspect of this application provides a computer-readable storage medium for storing one or more computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, perform the method as described in any possible implementation of any of the first to seventh aspects above.
[0277] The fifteenth aspect of this application provides a computer program product (or computer program) that, when executed by a processor, performs the method described in any possible implementation of any of the first to seventh aspects.
[0278] The sixteenth aspect of this application provides a chip or chip system including at least one processor for supporting a communication device in implementing the methods described in any possible implementation of any of the first to seventh aspects. For example, the chip may be a baseband chip, a modem chip, a SoC chip (such as an SoC chip containing a modem core), a SIP chip, or a communication module, etc.
[0279] In one possible design, the chip or chip system may further include a memory for storing program instructions and data necessary for the communication device. The chip system may be composed of chips or may include chips and other discrete devices. Optionally, the chip system may also include interface circuitry that provides program instructions and / or data to the at least one processor.
[0280] The technical effects of any of the design methods in aspects eleven to sixteen can be found in the technical effects of the different design methods in aspects one to seven above, and will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description
[0281] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a possible implementation of the AI model;
[0282] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a possible implementation of QoS control;
[0283] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a possible implementation of the N4 rule;
[0284] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a possible implementation of downlink QoS control;
[0285] Figures 5, 6 and 7 are schematic diagrams of possible, non-limiting systems used in the communication methods and related devices of this application;
[0286] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of a possible implementation of the communication method in this application;
[0287] Figures 9a to 9d are schematic diagrams of one possible implementation of the N4 rule in this application;
[0288] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of another possible implementation of the communication method in this application;
[0289] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of a possible implementation of the N4 rule in this application;
[0290] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of another possible implementation of the communication method in this application;
[0291] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of another possible implementation of the communication method in this application;
[0292] Figures 14 and 15 are schematic diagrams of the communication device provided in this application. Detailed Implementation
[0293] The present application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The terminology used in the embodiments section is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of the application. Those skilled in the art will recognize that, with technological advancements and the emergence of new scenarios, the technical solutions provided in this application are equally applicable to similar technical problems.
[0294] First, some of the nouns or terms used in this application will be explained, and these nouns or terms are also part of the content of the invention.
[0295] (1) The terms “system” and “network” in this application are used interchangeably. “Multiple” refers to two or more. “And / or” describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, or B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character “ / ” generally indicates that the related objects before and after are in an “or” relationship. “At least one of the following” or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, “at least one of A, B and C” includes A, B, C, AB, AC, BC or ABC. Unless otherwise specified, the ordinal numbers such as “first” and “second” mentioned in this application are used to distinguish multiple objects and are not used to limit the order, sequence, priority or importance of multiple objects. Furthermore, the terms “comprising” and “having”, and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that includes a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units that are explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units that are not explicitly listed or that are inherent to such process, method, product, or apparatus.
[0296] (2) In this application, “sending information” can be understood as one device sending information to another device, or it can also be understood as one logical module within a device sending information to another logical module. For example, “terminal device sending information” can be understood as a terminal device sending information to another device (such as a network device), or it can be understood as logical module 1 in the terminal device sending information to logical module 2 in the network device.
[0297] In this application, "receiving information" can be understood as one device receiving information from another device, or it can also be understood as a logical module within a device receiving information from another logical module. For example, "terminal device receiving information" can be understood as a terminal device receiving information from another device (such as a network device), or it can be understood as logical module 1 in the terminal device receiving information from logical module 2 in the network device.
[0298] In this application, "sending information to... (e.g., a network device)" or the relevant illustrations in the accompanying drawings can be understood as the destination of the information being a network device. This can include sending information directly or indirectly to a network device. "Receiving information from... (e.g., a network device)" or "receiving information from... (e.g., a network device)" or "receiving information sent (e.g., by a network device)" or the relevant illustrations in the accompanying drawings can be understood as the source of the information being a network device. This can include receiving information directly or indirectly from a network device. Information may undergo necessary processing between the source and destination, such as format changes, encoding, modulation, etc., but the destination can understand the valid information from the source. Similar expressions in this application can be understood in a similar way, and will not be elaborated further here.
[0299] (3) Configuration and Pre-configuration: Configuration and pre-configuration may be used in this application. Configuration refers to the network device or server sending configuration information or parameter values to the terminal device via messages or signaling, so that the terminal device can determine communication parameters or resources for transmission based on these values or information. Pre-configuration is similar to configuration; it can be parameter information or parameter values pre-negotiated between the network device / server and the terminal device, parameter information or parameter values specified by standard protocols for use by the base station / network device or terminal device, or parameter information or parameter values pre-stored in the base station / server or terminal device. This application does not limit this.
[0300] It should be understood that these values and parameters can change or be updated.
[0301] (4) In this application, “instruction” may include direct instruction and indirect instruction, and may also include explicit instruction and implicit instruction. When a certain instruction information is used to instruct A, it can be understood that the instruction information carries A, directly instructs A, or indirectly instructs A.
[0302] In this application, the information indicated by the instruction information is called the information to be instructed. In specific implementations, there are many ways to indicate the information to be instructed, such as, but not limited to, directly indicating the information to be instructed, such as the information to be instructed itself or its index. It can also indirectly indicate the information to be instructed by indicating other information, where there is a relationship between the other information and the information to be instructed; or it can indicate only a part of the information to be instructed, while the other parts are known or pre-agreed upon, for example, by using a pre-agreed (e.g., protocol-predefined) arrangement of various information to indicate specific information, thereby reducing instruction overhead to some extent. This application does not limit the specific method of instruction. It is understood that for the sender of the instruction information, the instruction information can be used to indicate the information to be instructed, and for the receiver of the instruction information, the instruction information can be used to determine the information to be instructed.
[0303] (5) Artificial intelligence (AI) enables machines to possess human-like intelligence, such as allowing machines to use computer hardware and software to simulate certain intelligent human behaviors. To achieve AI, machine learning methods can be employed. In machine learning, machines learn (or train) a model using training data. This model represents the mapping between input and output. The learned model can be used for reasoning (or prediction), that is, it can be used to predict the output corresponding to a given input. This output can also be called the reasoning result (or prediction result).
[0304] This document explains some basic concepts in the field of AI, which does not limit the scope of protection of the embodiments of this application.
[0305] (a) Machine learning (ML):
[0306] Machine learning is a crucial technological approach to achieving AI. AI endows machines with human-like intelligence, using computer hardware and software to simulate certain intelligent human behaviors, including machine learning and other methods. Machine learning refers to learning models or rules from raw data, such as neural networks, decision trees, and support vector machines. Machine learning can be categorized into supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning.
[0307] Supervised learning, based on collected sample values and labels, uses machine learning algorithms to learn the mapping relationship between sample values and labels, and expresses this learned mapping relationship using a machine learning model. The process of training the machine learning model is the process of learning this mapping relationship. For example, in signal detection, the noisy received signal is the sample, and the corresponding real constellation point is the label. Machine learning aims to learn the mapping relationship between samples and labels through training, that is, to enable the machine learning model to learn a signal detector. During training, the model parameters are optimized by calculating the error between the model's predicted values and the real labels. Once the mapping relationship is learned, it can be used to predict the sample label of each new sample. The mapping relationship learned in supervised learning can include linear mappings and nonlinear mappings. Based on the type of label, the learning task can be divided into classification tasks and regression tasks.
[0308] Unsupervised learning relies solely on collected sample values, using algorithms to discover inherent patterns within the samples. One type of unsupervised learning algorithm uses the samples themselves as supervisory signals; that is, the model learns the mapping relationship from sample to sample, which is called self-supervised learning. During training, model parameters are optimized by calculating the error between the model's predictions and the samples themselves. Self-supervised learning can be used for signal compression and decompression recovery applications; common algorithms include autoencoders and generative adversarial networks.
[0309] Reinforcement learning, unlike supervised learning, is a type of algorithm that learns problem-solving strategies through interaction with the environment. Unlike supervised and unsupervised learning, reinforcement learning problems do not have explicit "correct" action labels. The algorithm needs to interact with the environment to obtain reward signals from the environment, and then adjust its decision actions to obtain a larger reward signal value. For example, in downlink power control, the reinforcement learning model adjusts the downlink transmission power of each terminal device based on the total system throughput feedback from the wireless network, aiming to achieve a higher system throughput. The goal of reinforcement learning is also to learn the mapping relationship between the environment state and the optimal decision action. However, because the label of the "correct action" cannot be obtained in advance, the network cannot be optimized by calculating the error between the action and the "correct action." Reinforcement learning training is achieved through iterative interaction with the environment.
[0310] Deep neural networks (DNNs) are a specific implementation of machine learning. According to the general approximation theorem, neural networks can theoretically approximate any continuous function, thus enabling them to learn arbitrary mappings. Traditional communication systems rely on extensive expert knowledge to design communication modules, while DNN-based deep learning communication systems can automatically discover hidden pattern structures from large datasets, establish mapping relationships between data, and achieve performance superior to traditional modeling methods.
[0311] Based on their construction method, DNNs can be divided into feedforward neural networks (FNNs), convolutional neural networks (CNNs), and recurrent neural networks (RNNs). FNNs can be neural networks where neurons in adjacent layers are completely connected pairwise, which makes FNNs typically require a large amount of storage space and have high computational complexity.
[0312] CNNs are neural networks specifically designed to process data with a grid-like structure. For example, time-series data (discrete sampling along the time axis) and image data (two-dimensional discrete sampling) can both be considered grid-like data. CNNs do not use all the input information at once for computation; instead, they use a fixed-size window to extract a portion of the information for convolution operations, which significantly reduces the computational cost of model parameters. Furthermore, depending on the type of information extracted by the window (such as people and objects in an image representing different types of information), each window can use different convolution kernels, allowing CNNs to better extract features from the input data.
[0313] Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) are a type of distributed neural network (DNN) that utilizes feedback time-series information. Their input includes the current input value and their own output value from the previous time step. RNNs are well-suited for acquiring temporally correlated sequence features, and are particularly applicable to applications such as speech recognition and channel coding / decoding.
[0314] AI models refer to function models that map inputs of a certain dimension to outputs of a certain dimension, and their parameters can be obtained through machine learning training. For example, f(X) = aX 2 +b is a quadratic function model, which can be viewed as an AI model. a and b correspond to the parameters of this model and can be obtained through machine learning training. In machine learning, the data used for model training, validation, and / or testing can form a dataset or training dataset. The quantity and / or quality of data in the dataset or training dataset will affect the effectiveness of machine learning. Model training involves selecting an appropriate loss function (which measures the difference between the model's predictions and the true values) and using optimization algorithms to train the model parameters to minimize the loss function value. Model testing involves evaluating the model's performance using test data after training. Model application involves using the trained model to solve real-world problems.
[0315] A neural network, or artificial neural network, is a mathematical model that mimics the behavioral characteristics of animal neural networks to perform distributed parallel information processing. It is a special form of AI model.
[0316] (b) Model training:
[0317] Model training involves selecting an appropriate function (such as a loss function) and using optimization algorithms to train the model parameters so that the difference between the model's predicted values and the ground truth (or target values, labels) tends to be minimized.
[0318] For example, model training methods include, but are not limited to, supervised learning, self-supervised learning, and knowledge distillation.
[0319] (c) Model files and model parameters:
[0320] Model files and / or model parameters can be used to determine the model. Optionally, the model in this application may refer to the model itself, or it may refer to the model files and / or model parameters used to determine the model.
[0321] The model file can be used to indicate the model structure, which may include, but is not limited to, FNN, CNN, or RNN. The model file can have a fixed format, such as a standard predefined format, or a format pre-negotiated by both ends of the interface. Model parameters can refer to parameters in the neural network model, such as, but not limited to, the number of layers in the neural network, the type and weights of neurons in each layer, etc. This application does not limit the method of distributing model parameters.
[0322] Take DNN as an example. The idea behind DNN comes from the neuronal structure of the brain. Each neuron can perform a weighted summation operation on its inputs and then use the result of the weighted summation to generate the output through a non-linear function. As an example, the input to a neuron is x =
[0323] [x0,x1,…,x N-1 The weights corresponding to the inputs are w = [w0, w1, ..., w] N-1 The bias of the weighted summation is b. The nonlinear function f() can take many forms; for example, the nonlinear function f() can be the maximum value function max{0, x}. Then the effect of a neuron's execution is... Where N is a positive integer, and n is a positive integer greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to (N-1). The weights of the weighted summation operation of neurons in a neural network and the nonlinear function are called the parameters of the neural network. The parameters of all neurons in a neural network constitute the parameters of the neural network.
[0324] A DNN typically has multiple neural network layers, including an input layer, one or more hidden layers, and an output layer. Generally, the first layer is the input layer, the last layer is the output layer, and the layers in between are hidden layers. Each layer contains multiple neurons. Layers are fully connected; that is, any neuron in the i-th layer is connected to any neuron in the (i+1)-th layer. The input layer processes the received values (i.e., the DNN's input) through neurons and then passes them to the hidden layers. Similarly, the hidden layers pass the computation results to the final output layer, producing the DNN's output. This application does not limit the structure and parameters used in the AI model.
[0325] One of the model structure or model parameters can be predefined, while the other can be sent by the sender (e.g., the network side). Alternatively, both the model structure and model parameters can be sent by the sender (e.g., the network side). This application does not impose any restrictions on this.
[0326] Sending a model can refer to sending a model file and / or model parameters, while receiving a model can refer to receiving a model file and / or model parameters. Currently, AI technology is being introduced into wireless communication systems.
[0327] A model can also be called an AI model, a rule, or other names. An AI model can be considered a specific method for implementing AI functions. An AI model represents the mapping relationship or function between the model's input and output. AI functions can include one or more of the following: data collection, model training (or model learning), model information dissemination, model inference (or model reasoning, inference, or prediction, etc.), model monitoring or model validation, or inference result publication, etc. AI functions can also be called AI (related) operations or AI-related functions.
[0328] The introduction of AI capabilities into wireless networks enables significant enhancements to certain functions and network characteristics through AI-enabled methods, thereby improving the performance of the network in providing services to users. These enhancements extend beyond network optimization, resource management, and user experience improvement, encompassing multiple key areas such as network security, energy management, and fault recovery.
[0329] (6) Network data analytics function (NWDAF) is a network element used for model training and inference. Multiple NWDAFs can also transfer models to each other for further training or inference.
[0330] Consumer network elements in the core network can subscribe to the inference results of the AI model from the NWDAF, such as subscribing to congestion status, average traffic volume, and average end-to-end latency. After the NWDAF network element generates the inference results based on the AI model, it can send the inference results to the consumer network element, or it can send the inference results to the target network element indicated by the consumer network element.
[0331] Optionally, the NWDAF network element can also send the trained AI model to the location management function (LMF) network element. The LMF network element can then use the AI model to infer the location information of the terminal device. The LMF network element acquires the AI model by providing the NWDAF network element with parameters related to the AI model (such as model identifiers or function identifiers), thereby subscribing to the AI model. The NWDAF network element then distributes the AI model to the LMF network element based on the parameters related to the AI model.
[0332] For example, please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of a possible implementation of the AI model. As shown in Figure 1, the input to the AI model can be the data size of the data packets and / or the time interval between data packets, and the output of the AI model can be the data size of the next data packet and / or the arrival time of the next data packet.
[0333] (7) QoS Control: The finest granularity of QoS control is flow. That is, only one QoS control scheme can be applied to data packets within the same flow, while different QoS control schemes can be applied to data packets within different flows. QoS control includes controlling data packets such as packet delay budget, packet error rate, and bit rate. QoS control mainly affects the base station's scheduling strategy and priority for data packets.
[0334] Please refer to Figure 2, which illustrates one possible implementation of QoS control. As shown in Figure 2, the General Packet Radio Service Tunneling Protocol-User Plane (GTP-U) tunnel is the tunnel layer between the user plane function (UPF) and the radio access network (RAN), used for the UPF and RAN to exchange information. For example, because RAN nodes cannot perform deep packet inspection, they cannot see the Internet Protocol Address (IP) 5-tuple information of data packets, and therefore cannot identify which service each data packet belongs to or what kind of QoS control (i.e., air interface resource scheduling) is required. The UPF, on the other hand, can see the IP 5-tuple and / or the Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP) header information of the application layer, thereby obtaining information such as which service the data packet belongs to, what type of data packet within that service (e.g., video or audio), and the importance of the data packet. Next, after obtaining the above information, the UPF network element encapsulates the above information into the GTP-U header of the data packet, so that the RAN node can obtain the above information of the data packet from the GTP-U header and thus perform QoS control.
[0335] (8) N4 rule: The interface between the session management function (SMF) and the UPF is called the N4 interface. The SMF configures the UPF to forward user plane data packets by sending N4 rules to the UPF.
[0336] N4 rules include packet detection rules (PDR), forwarding action rules (FAR), QoS enforcement rules (QER), and usage reporting rules (URR).
[0337] Please refer to Figure 3, which is a schematic diagram of a possible implementation of the N4 rule. As shown in Figure 3, PDR is used for UPF filtering (or screening) of received data packets. For example, PDR can constrain packet header information such as the IP 5-tuple or 3-tuple, thereby achieving packet filtering.
[0338] FAR and QER are associated with PDR. It can be assumed that PDR first filters out a portion of data packets, and then uses the corresponding FAR and QER to perform forwarding and control actions on that type of data packets.
[0339] FAR is used to indicate the action to be taken when forwarding a packet. For example, it may indicate whether the packet should be forwarded or dropped, or which GTP-U tunnel the packet should be forwarded to.
[0340] QER is used to indicate actions related to QoS flow and QoS control. For example, a QER may include a QoS flow identifier (QFI), which is written into the GTP-U header of the data packet to indicate to the RAN node that the packet belongs to the corresponding QoS flow and to execute the corresponding QoS control. Another example is that a QER may include QoS parameters corresponding to the QoS flow or the data packet (e.g., 5G QoS Identifier (5QI), allocation and retention priority (ARP), average window). Yet another example is that a QER may include burst-related indication information (data burst size marking indication) as shown in Figure 3, indicating that burst-related information in the RTP header should be detected for the QoS flow or the data packet and placed in the GTP-U header to instruct the RAN node.
[0341] (9) Real-time media services: Due to service events such as the arrival of key video frames, the service traffic may suddenly increase. Static QoS mechanisms reserve traffic rate and other indicators in a static manner, which is not suitable for this type of service.
[0342] Please refer to Figure 4, which illustrates a possible implementation of downlink QoS control. As shown in Figure 4, by cooperating with a server providing RTP services, the server adds burst-related auxiliary information to the RTP header of the downlink data packet, including but not limited to: indicating the burst size, the time to next burst, and whether the current data packet is the end of a burst. Correspondingly, on the core network side, the UPF detects the RTP header of the corresponding service data packet, obtains the above auxiliary information, and writes the relevant burst information into the GTP-U header of the data packet, allowing the RAN node to obtain this information and perform the corresponding QoS control.
[0343] (10) Protocol Data Unit (PDU) Set: This is the basic unit for exchanging data between different protocol layers in network communication, used to describe structured data blocks processed by a specific protocol layer. A PDU set refers to a group of related PDUs, typically used to describe the collaborative transmission or processing logic of multiple data units within the same protocol layer or across layers. Its core lies in ensuring efficient and reliable data transmission within the protocol stack through layered encapsulation and decapsulation mechanisms.
[0344] For real-time media services, such as video frames, a keyframe can be very large, requiring multiple data packets to carry it. The loss, error, or delay of any single data packet will result in the overall loss or delay of the entire video frame. For example, a keyframe can be a PDU set. Multiple data packets belonging to the same PDU set need to be subject to the same QoS control, or all packets should be discarded if any one packet fails. Introduced parameters include: which packet represents the end of the PDU set, the delay budget of the PDU set, and the error rate of the PDU set.
[0345] (11) RTP protocol: used to carry service data packets, but the RTP protocol does not include acknowledgment (ACK) feedback information. The RTP protocol is generally used in conjunction with the real-time control protocol (RTCP), with the RTCP protocol assisting in the negotiation between the sender and / or receiver.
[0346] The following lists the main information and functions of the RTCP packet.
[0347] RTCP includes sender reports (SR) and / or receiver reports (RR). SRs are sent from the sender to the receiver, and RRs are sent from the receiver to the sender. The sender sends an SR packet periodically, and the receiver replies with an RR packet upon receiving the SR packet.
[0348] Optional, SRs include:
[0349] Network Time Protocol (NTP) timestamp: The time when the sender transmits the SR packet. The receiver can calculate the end-to-end transmission delay of the packet based on this NTP timestamp and the receiver's local time.
[0350] Packet count: The total number of RTP packets sent by the sender from the start of service transmission to the sending of this SR packet.
[0351] Optional, RR includes:
[0352] Packet loss count: The total number of packets lost from the sender during the time between receiving the previous SR packet and receiving the current SR packet, or between sending the previous RR packet and sending the current RR packet.
[0353] Interval jitter: The average time interval between adjacent RTP packets;
[0354] The last received SR timestamp (LSR): the NTP timestamp of the last received SR;
[0355] Delay since last SR (DLSR): The time since this RR packet was sent until the last SR packet was received;
[0356] Packet sequence number: The maximum sequence number in the received data packet.
[0357] As can be seen, based on the information in SR and RR above, and combined with the size of the corresponding RTP data packets, information such as the traffic, packet loss rate, and end-to-end latency of the RTP service can be calculated.
[0358] Next, we will introduce the possible, non-limiting scenarios involved in this application.
[0359] With the rapid development of communication technology, the diversification of network services and the increasing complexity of business needs have placed higher demands on data transmission quality. QoS control, as a key technology to ensure efficient allocation of network resources and optimization of service performance, has become a core research direction in communication systems and Internet architecture.
[0360] In QoS control schemes, core indicators such as network bandwidth, latency, jitter, packet error rate, bit rate, and resource allocation can be dynamically adjusted to meet the differentiated service quality requirements of different application scenarios (such as real-time audio and video transmission, industrial IoT, or cloud computing services), thereby improving service performance (such as alleviating network congestion and reducing latency) and reducing resource waste.
[0361] Therefore, improving the efficiency of QoS control is one of the urgent technical problems to be solved.
[0362] To address the aforementioned problems, this application provides a communication method and related apparatus for improving the efficiency of QoS control. The communication method and related apparatus provided in this application can be applied to various communication systems, such as 5th generation (5G) mobile communication systems, new radio (NR) systems, long term evolution (LTE) systems, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) systems, LTE time division duplex (TDD) systems, future communication systems, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication systems, device-to-device (D2D) communication systems, Internet of Things (IoT) communication systems, industrial internet communication systems, or satellite communication systems. The wireless communication systems involved in this application also include, but are not limited to, narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) systems.
[0363] For example, please refer to Figure 5, which is a possible, non-limiting system diagram of the communication method and related apparatus used in this application. As shown in Figure 5, the communication system 10 includes a radio access network (RAN) 100 and a core network (CN) 200. Optionally, the communication system 10 may also include an Internet 300. The RAN 100 includes at least one RAN node (110a and 110b in Figure 5, collectively referred to as 110) and at least one terminal device (120a-120j in Figure 5, collectively referred to as 120). The RAN 100 may also include other RAN nodes, such as wireless relay devices and / or wireless backhaul devices (not shown in Figure 5). The terminal device 120 is wirelessly connected to the RAN node 110. The RAN node 110 is connected to the core network 200 wirelessly or via a wired connection. The core network equipment in core network 200 and RAN node 110 in RAN 100 can be different physical devices, or they can be the same physical device integrating core network logical functions and radio access network logical functions. Terminal devices and RAN nodes can be interconnected via wired or wireless means.
[0364] RAN 100 can be a cellular system related to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such as a fourth-generation (4G) mobile communication system, a fifth-generation (5G) mobile communication system, or a future communication system. RAN 100 can also be an open RAN (O-RAN or ORAN), a cloud radio access network (CRAN), an evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) system, or a wireless fidelity (WiFi) system. RAN 100 can also be a communication system that integrates two or more of the above systems.
[0365] RAN node 110, sometimes also referred to as network equipment, access network equipment, RAN device, RAN entity, or access node, constitutes part of the communication system and is used to help terminal equipment achieve wireless access. Multiple RAN nodes 110 in communication system 10 can be of the same type or different types. In some scenarios, the roles of RAN node 110 and terminal equipment 120 are relative. For example, network element 120i in Figure 5 can be a helicopter or drone, which can be configured as a mobile base station. For terminal equipment 120j accessing RAN 100 through network element 120i, network element 120i is a base station; but for base station 110a, network element 120i is a terminal equipment. RAN node 110 and terminal equipment 120 are sometimes both referred to as communication devices. For example, network elements 110a and 110b in Figure 5 can be understood as communication devices with base station functions (e.g., satellite base stations), and network elements 120a-120j can be understood as communication devices with terminal equipment functions.
[0366] In one possible scenario, RAN node 110 can be a base station, an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), an access point (AP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a next-generation NodeB (gNB), a base station in a future mobile communication system, or an access node in a WiFi system. Optionally, RAN node 110 can also be a macro base station (as shown in Figure 5, 110a), a micro base station or indoor station (as shown in Figure 5, 110b), a relay node or donor node, or a radio controller in a CRAN scenario. Optionally, RAN node 110 can also be a server, a wearable device, a vehicle, or in-vehicle equipment. For example, the access network equipment in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology can be a roadside unit (RSU). All or part of the functions of RAN node 110 in this application can also be implemented through software functions running on hardware, or through virtualization functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). The RAN node 110 may also be equipped with communication modules, circuits, or chips that perform corresponding communication functions. The RAN node 110 may also be configured with program instructions for performing corresponding communication functions, as well as corresponding program instructions. The RAN node 110 in this application may also be a logic node, logic module, or software capable of implementing all or part of the functions of the RAN node 110.
[0367] In another possible scenario, multiple RAN nodes collaborate to assist terminal devices in achieving wireless access, with different RAN nodes each implementing a portion of the base station's functions. For example, RAN nodes can be central units (CUs), distributed units (DUs), CU-control plane (CPs), CU-user plane (UPs), or radio units (RUs), etc. CUs and DUs can be set up separately or included in the same network element, such as a baseband unit (BBU). RUs can be included in radio frequency equipment or radio frequency units, such as remote radio units (RRUs), active antenna units (AAUs), or remote radio heads (RRHs).
[0368] In different systems, CU (or CU-CP and CU-UP), DU, or RU may have different names, but those skilled in the art will understand their meaning. For example, in an ORAN system, CU can also be called O-CU (open CU), DU can also be called O-DU, CU-CP can also be called O-CU-CP, CU-UP can also be called O-CU-UP, and RU can also be called O-RU. For ease of description, this application uses CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and RU as examples. Any of the units among CU (or CU-CP, CU-UP), DU, and RU in this application can be implemented through software modules, hardware modules, or a combination of software and hardware modules.
[0369] Terminal equipment can be any device or module that connects to the communication system shown above and has corresponding communication functions. Terminal equipment can also be referred to as a terminal, user equipment (UE), mobile station (MS), mobile terminal (MT), fixed wireless access (FWA), or customer premises equipment (CPE), etc. Terminal equipment includes wireless communication functions (providing voice / data connectivity to users). Examples include handheld devices with wireless connectivity, in-vehicle devices, and machine-type communication (MTC) terminals. Currently, terminal devices can include: mobile phones, tablets, laptops, PDAs, mobile internet devices (MIDs), wearable devices, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, wireless terminals in industrial control, wireless terminals in self-driving (e.g., drones, vehicles), wireless terminals in remote medical surgery, wireless terminals in smart grids, wireless terminals in transportation safety, wireless terminals in smart cities, and wireless terminals in smart homes. For example, wireless terminals in self-driving can be drones, helicopters, or airplanes. For example, wireless terminals in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) can be in-vehicle equipment, vehicle-mounted equipment, in-vehicle modules, vehicles, or ships. Wireless terminals in industrial control can be cameras, robots, or robotic arms. Wireless terminals in smart homes can be televisions, air conditioners, robot vacuums, speakers, or set-top boxes. Terminal devices typically contain communication modules, circuits, or chips that perform corresponding communication functions, and they also contain program instructions for performing those functions.
[0370] Optionally, the communication method and related apparatus of this application can also be applied to open RAN (O-RAN or ORAN). Please refer to Figure 6, which is another possible, non-limiting system schematic diagram of the communication method and related apparatus applied in this application. As shown in Figure 6, the communication system includes a RAN intelligent controller (RIC). The RIC includes a near-real-time RIC (near-RT RIC) and a non-real-time RIC (non-RT RIC). The near-real-time RIC is used for model training and inference. For example, it is used to train an AI model and then use that AI model for inference. The near-real-time RIC can obtain network-side and / or terminal-side information from RAN nodes (e.g., CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and / or RU) and / or terminals. This information can be used as training data or inference data. Optionally, the near-real-time RIC can deliver the inference results to the RAN nodes and / or terminals. Optionally, inference results can be exchanged between CU and DU, and / or between DU and RU. For example, the near real-time RIC delivers the inference results to the DU, which then forwards them to the RU. This enables near real-time intelligent management of the RAN. Through data collection and related operations on the E2 interface, near real-time control and optimization of O-RAN modules and resources are achieved.
[0371] The non-real-time RIC is used for model training and inference. For example, it is used to train an AI model and then use that model for inference. The non-real-time RIC can obtain network-side and / or terminal-side information from RAN nodes (e.g., CU, CU-CP, CU-UP, DU, and / or RU) and / or terminals. This information can be used as training data or inference data, and the inference results can be delivered to RAN nodes and / or terminals. Optionally, inference results can be exchanged between CU and DU, and / or between DU and RU; for example, the non-real-time RIC delivers the inference results to the DU, which then forwards them to the RU.
[0372] The near real-time RIC and non-real-time RIC can also be set up as separate network elements. Optionally, the near real-time RIC and non-real-time RIC can also be part of other devices. For example, the near real-time RIC can be set in the RAN node (e.g., in CU, DU), while the non-real-time RIC can be set in the OAM, cloud server, core network device, or other network device.
[0373] O-RAN Central Unit (O-CU): Used to implement the Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, and other control functions in the 3GPP standard.
[0374] O-RAN Central Unit Control Plane (O-CU-CP): Similar to the CU-CP in the NR system, it is used to implement the functions of the RRC layer and the control plane functions of the PDCP layer. It is part of the O-CU.
[0375] O-RAN Central Unit User Plane (O-CU-UP): Similar to the CU-UP in the NR system, it is used to implement the functions of the SDAP layer and the user plane functions of the PDCP layer. It is part of the O-CU.
[0376] O-RAN Distributed Unit (O-DU): Based on low-layer function partitioning, it is used to implement the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, Media Access Control (MAC) layer, and Higher Physical Layer (Higher PHY) layer in the 3GPP standard. The Higher Physical Layer functions include one or more of the following: Forward Error Correction (FEC) encoding / decoding, scrambling / descrambling, or modulation / demodulation.
[0377] The O-RAN Radio Unit (O-RU) is based on low-layer function partitioning and is used to implement the lower physical layer (Lower PHY) functions and radio frequency (RF) functions in the 3GPP standard. The lower physical layer functions include one or more of the following: Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) / Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (iFFT) transformation, digital beamforming, or extraction and filtering of the Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH). It is similar to the Transmission Reception Point (TRP) or Remote Radio Head (RRH) in 3GPP, but includes lower physical layer functions such as FFT / iFFT or PRACH extraction.
[0378] Please refer to Figure 7, which is a possible, non-limiting system schematic diagram of the communication method and related apparatus used in this application.
[0379] As shown in Figure 7, the system includes one or more of the following:
[0380] The Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF) network element is responsible for collecting and analyzing data, and can use artificial intelligence and machine learning methods to assist in data analysis.
[0381] The network slice selection function (NSSF) network element is responsible for the selection and management of network slices.
[0382] Application function (AF) network elements are used to provide services with direction core network indication requirements and subscribe to user plane events.
[0383] Network exposure function (NEF) network elements are used to securely expose network capabilities to third-party applications or services;
[0384] The network repository function (NRF) network element is used to store and manage service registration information for all network functions.
[0385] The unified data management (UDM) network element is used to manage users' subscription data and identity authentication information;
[0386] The Policy Control Function (PCF) network element supports unified policy management of network behavior and provides policy rules to control plane function network elements. The PCF network element obtains subscription-related information from the unified data repository (UDR) to make policy decisions.
[0387] Unified data management (UDM) network elements are used for user subscription management, access authorization, and authentication information generation.
[0388] Enhanced application service data flow (EA SDF) network elements are sets of rules used to describe the characteristics of enhanced application traffic. They are usually generated by AF network elements and passed to PCF network elements to guide UPF network elements in classifying and processing specific traffic.
[0389] Network slice-specific authentication and authorization function (NSSAAF) network elements are used to perform authentication and authorization operations for user devices in network slicing scenarios to ensure the security of specific slices;
[0390] The authentication server function (AUSF) network element is used to perform identity authentication for terminal devices.
[0391] A service communication proxy (SCP) network element is used to forward messages between different network elements;
[0392] The network slice admission control function (NSACF) network element ensures that user equipment can access the appropriate slice according to its needs and network status.
[0393] Data network (DN) is the external data network to which terminal equipment is connected, such as the public Internet, carrier private networks, or third-party service networks.
[0394] UPF network elements are primarily responsible for processing data packets, such as forwarding and billing statistics. The UPF directly connected to the DN via N6 in a session is called the PDU Session Anchor (PSA), and the UPF used for local traffic splitting is called the local PDU Session Anchor (L-PSA). The UPF serving as a traffic splitting point is called a Branching Point (BP) or Uplink Classifier (ULCL).
[0395] SMF network elements are primarily responsible for session management in mobile networks, such as session establishment, modification, and release. Specific functions include assigning IP addresses to terminal devices and selecting UPF network elements that provide packet forwarding capabilities.
[0396] The communication method and related apparatus of this application will be further described below.
[0397] It should be understood that this application uses multiple network elements (such as session management function network elements, user plane function network elements, policy control function network elements, or network data analysis function network elements) as the execution entities in this interactive illustration to illustrate the method, but this application does not limit the execution entities in this interactive illustration. For example, the steps performed by the session management function network element, user plane function network element, policy control function network element, and / or network data analysis function network element in this application can be performed by a single communication device, or by a cluster of communication devices or multiple communication devices, or by a chip, baseband chip, modem chip, system-on-chip (SoC) chip containing a modem core, system-in-package (SIP) chip, communication module, chip system, processor, logic module, or software in the communication device. In this application, when referring to a network element (such as a session management function network element, a user plane function network element, a policy control function network element, or a network data analysis function network element), it may refer to the network element itself, or to the chip, communication module, integrated circuit, processor, logic module, or software used to implement the steps performed by the network element in this application. This application does not make any specific limitation.
[0398] The communication method of this application provides multiple implementations of QoS control, which are described below.
[0399] Implementation Method 1: The session management function network element sends burst traffic information to the user plane function network element, so that the user plane function network element can announce the burst traffic information to the radio access network, so that the radio access network can schedule resources for the upcoming burst traffic, thereby realizing QoS control based on burst traffic information.
[0400] Please refer to Figure 8, which is a schematic diagram of a possible implementation of the communication method. As shown in Figure 8, the communication method of this application includes, but is not limited to, steps 401 to 406.
[0401] 401. Network data analysis function: network elements acquire the first AI model.
[0402] Alternatively, it can be understood as training a first AI model using network data analysis function network elements. In this application, the first AI model, once trained, can be used to predict burst traffic information (such as the first burst traffic information in this application).
[0403] Step 401 is an optional step. It should be understood that step 401 is a prerequisite step for the network data analysis function to predict burst traffic information. In practical applications, if the network data analysis function predicts burst traffic information, it can be implicitly stated that the network data analysis function has executed step 401.
[0404] Optionally, during the training of the first AI model by the network data analysis function network element, the application function network element and / or the user plane function network element send training data to the network data analysis function network element. This training data serves as the input and output parameters during the training of the first AI model.
[0405] For example, consider sending training data from an application function network element to a network data analysis function network element. Specifically, the application function network element can store historical information related to the first service (e.g., information from a few days or tens of days ago). For instance, the application function network element can store the historical information related to the first service in logs or a dedicated storage server. The historical information related to the first service includes, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: information in sender report (SR) packets sent by the server (i.e., the service provider of the first service); information in receiver report (RR) packets sent by the server; information in SR packets received by the server; information in RR packets received by the server; the data size of the data packets sent by the server; the timestamp of the data packets sent by the server; the packet sequence number of the data packets sent by the server; information in acknowledgment (ACK) packets (e.g., window size, acknowledgment packet sequence number, congestion flag, etc.); information in the sent data packets (e.g., data length, data type, session information, etc.); and information in the received data packets (e.g., data length, data type, session information, etc.).
[0406] After the first AI model training is completed, the application function network element can continue to store and send the above information to the network data analysis function network element. The difference is that the information sent after the first AI model training is completed has a higher timeliness requirement. For example, this information may be generated a few seconds or tens of milliseconds ago.
[0407] For example, consider sending training data from a user plane function network element to a network data analysis function network element. Specifically, the application function network element can store historical information related to the first service (e.g., information from tens of seconds or milliseconds ago). For instance, the application function network element can store the historical information related to the first service in a log or in the local storage space of the user plane function network element. The historical information related to the first service includes, but is not limited to, one or more of the following: information in SR packets, information in RR packets, information in ACK packets, information in data packets, the sequence number of data packets, the timestamp of data packets (which can be the timestamp carried in the packet header or the time when the data packet arrives at the user plane function network element calculated by the user plane function network element based on local time), and the data size of the data packets detected by the user plane function network element.
[0408] After the first AI model training is completed, the user plane function network element can continue to store and send the above information to the network data analysis function network element. The difference is that the information sent after the first AI model training is completed has a higher timeliness requirement. For example, this information may be generated a few seconds or tens of milliseconds ago.
[0409] 402. The terminal device sends a session establishment request to the session management function network element.
[0410] Step 402 is optional. Accordingly, the session management function network element receives a session establishment request from the terminal device. This session establishment request is used to request access to the first service.
[0411] 403. The session management function network element sends the first request to the network data analysis function network element.
[0412] The first request is used to request network data analysis function elements to predict burst traffic information (such as the first burst traffic information in this application). Alternatively, it can be understood that the first request is used to request the first burst traffic information.
[0413] Optionally, the first request may include one or more of the following:
[0414] The identifier of the first service may be, for example, the Internet Protocol Address (IP) 5-tuple of the first service, the IP triplet of the first service, the application identifier of the first service, the domain name (fully qualified domain name (FQDN) / uniform resource locator (URL)) of the first service, etc., or it may be other information that can identify the first service or distinguish the first service from other services, and its form is not limited.
[0415] The terminal device's identifier, such as a subscription permanent identifier (SUPI), an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), or a subscription concealed identifier (SUCI).
[0416] The address of the terminal device, such as the user equipment (UE) IP address, or the terminal device's session identifier (protocol data unit (PDU) session ID);
[0417] The identifier of the first request can be, for example, an event ID or an analytics ID. The event could be a request for network data analysis function elements to predict burst traffic information, and the analytics ID can be used to request network data analysis function elements to predict burst traffic information.
[0418] Optionally, the communication method of this application further includes step 403A, which is performed after step 402 and before step 403.
[0419] 403A. The policy control function network element sends the first instruction information to the session management function network element.
[0420] Accordingly, the session management function network element receives first indication information from the policy control function network element, and the first indication information is used to determine the first request.
[0421] Optionally, the phrase "the first instruction information is used to determine the first request" can be replaced with other descriptions. For example, the first instruction information is used to trigger the session management function network element to send a first request to the network data analysis function network element; or, the first instruction information is used to instruct the session management function network element to send a first request to the network data analysis function network element; or, the first instruction information is used to instruct the first service to use AI model-based burst traffic information prediction; or, the first instruction information is used to instruct the first service to use AI model-based burst prediction; or, the first instruction information is used to instruct the first service to use the network data analysis function network element to predict future burst traffic information; or, the first instruction information is used to instruct the first service to use burst prediction based on the network data analysis function network element.
[0422] After the session for the first service is established, the policy control function network element first determines whether the first service needs to use AI model-based prediction of burst traffic information. If so, the policy control function network element sends a first instruction message to the session management function network element.
[0423] Optionally, if any one or more of the following conditions are met, the policy control function network element determines that the first service requires the use of AI model-based prediction of burst traffic information:
[0424] Condition 1: The application function network element instructs the policy control function network element that the first service and / or terminal device needs to use AI model-based prediction of burst traffic information. For example, the application function network element may send the aforementioned first instruction information, session information of the first service (e.g., the IP address of the terminal device), and / or the identifier of the terminal device to the policy control function network element.
[0425] Application function network elements can send the above instructions directly or indirectly to policy control function network elements. For example, application function network elements can send them directly to policy control function network elements, or they can send them through NEF, or they can send them through NEF or UDR.
[0426] Condition 2: The policy control function network element determines, based on locally configured policies and / or the subscription information of terminal devices, that the first service requires the use of AI-based model-based prediction of burst traffic information. For example, the locally configured policy of the policy control function network element may be a session corresponding to a specific data network name (DNN) and / or single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI), requiring the use of AI-based model-based prediction of burst traffic information for a specific service (e.g., live video streaming); and the subscription information of the terminal device indicates that the terminal device is authorized to use AI-based model-based prediction of burst traffic information (e.g., the terminal device is a high-priority broadcaster or a high-priority viewer). Then, the policy control function network element sends the first instruction information to the session management function network element. For example, during the session establishment process, the policy control function network element receives information about the session (including the data network name, single network slice selection assistance information, and the terminal's permanent user identifier) from the session management network element. Based on its local logic and the information provided by the session management network element, the policy control function network element determines that the first service requires the use of AI-based model-based prediction of future burst traffic information.
[0427] Condition 3: The terminal device sends a session establishment request to the session management function network element, requesting the use of AI model-based prediction of burst traffic information. Then, the session management function network element forwards this session establishment request to the policy control function network element (optionally, before forwarding, the session management function network element may also confirm whether the terminal device's subscription information is authorized). Upon receiving the session establishment request, the policy control function network element sends a first indication message to the session management function network element (optionally, the policy control function network element may also first confirm whether the terminal device's subscription information is authorized).
[0428] Optionally, the first indication information is carried in a policy and charging control (PCC) rule or a PDU session policy.
[0429] 404. The network data analysis function network element sends the first burst traffic information of the first service to the session management function network element.
[0430] The network data analysis function element first obtains the first burst traffic information of the first service. Optionally, the network data analysis function element obtains the first burst traffic information of the first service through the aforementioned first AI model and first information, or in other words, infers the first burst traffic information of the first service, or predicts the first burst traffic information of the first service. It can be understood that the first information is the input information (or input parameters) of the first AI model, including the data packet information and / or traffic information of the first service included in the protocol layer, while the first burst traffic information of the first service is the output information (or output parameters) of the first AI model.
[0431] Next, the network data analysis function network element sends the first burst traffic information to the session management function network element.
[0432] Optionally, the application function network element or the user plane function network element may send the aforementioned first information to the network data analysis function network element.
[0433] For example, the protocol layer includes packet information and / or traffic information for the first service, including one or more of the following:
[0434] The number of packages in the first business segment;
[0435] The package size for the first business;
[0436] Bit rate of the first service;
[0437] The number of packets lost in the first business segment;
[0438] Packet loss rate of the first business;
[0439] Packet transmission latency of the first service;
[0440] Traffic changes for the first business segment;
[0441] Congestion situation for the first business segment;
[0442] The sending window size for the first service;
[0443] The size of the receiving window for the first service;
[0444] The time interval of the first business packet.
[0445] The data packet information and / or traffic information of the first service included in the above protocol layer can be obtained from the protocol layer of the data packet. There are no restrictions on which device obtains it, how it is obtained, or how it is provided to the network data analysis function network element.
[0446] For example, the packet information and / or traffic information of the first service included in the protocol layer can be detected by the UPF using one or more header information (e.g., a field or one or more bits in the header) of the packets of the first service (optionally, the first service of a terminal or a terminal's session) in a certain protocol layer, and the header information can be provided to the network data analysis function network element as input parameters. The protocol layer can be any layer of the TCP / IP seven-layer / four-layer protocol layer, or it can be a protocol layer defined in other standards, such as the GTP-U protocol. For example, information in the headers of RTCP, TCP, QUIC, and GTP-U protocols.
[0447] For example, the packet information and / or traffic information of the first service included in the protocol layer can be provided by the Application Filter (AF). For instance, during service operation, the application server provides protocol layer-related information to the network data analysis function element through the interaction process between the AF and the core network (specific interaction processes can be found in 3GPP TS23.501, 23.502, etc.). The application server or AF can obtain the packet information and / or traffic information of the first service included in the protocol layer either based on internal logic (without needing to detect packet headers, based on business logic or business layer logic, as the server itself can perceive this logic and directly obtain the corresponding information), or based on the packet headers (obtained during packet encapsulation or by detecting packets).
[0448] For example, the packet information and / or traffic information of the first service included in the protocol layer can be provided by the SMF. For instance, the SMF uses the QoS monitoring mechanism defined in the existing 3GPP standard TS23.501 to obtain the data transmission rate (bit rate) or latency (UE-UPF latency or end-to-end latency). TS23.501 and 23.548 define methods for measuring N6 latency, i.e., the latency from UPF to the server. Combining the UE-UPF segment latency and the UPF-to-server segment latency yields the end-to-end latency. This data transmission rate (bit rate) or latency is the packet information and / or traffic information of the first service included in the aforementioned protocol layer (e.g., the QoS monitoring mechanism measures latency via the GTP-U protocol, and N6 latency is measured via protocols such as ICMP).
[0449] Optionally, the first burst traffic information includes one or more of the following:
[0450] The data burst size value, or alternatively, the data burst size;
[0451] The timestamp corresponding to the burst, or, can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the timestamp corresponding to the start of the burst, or the arrival time of the burst, or the timestamp corresponding to the arrival time of the burst, or the start time of the burst, or the timestamp and the arrival time of the burst calculated from the timestamp;
[0452] The sequence number corresponding to the burst, or, can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the packet sequence number corresponding to the starting packet of the burst, or, the packet sequence number corresponding to the arrival of the burst, or, the packet sequence number corresponding to the arrival packet of the burst, or, the packet sequence number and the burst arrival time calculated from the arrival time of the packet corresponding to the packet sequence number;
[0453] The timestamp of the burst's end packet, or, can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the burst's end time;
[0454] The sequence number of the burst's ending packet, or, can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the sequence number of the burst's ending packet.
[0455] In this application, the term "burst" mentioned above can also be understood as "burst traffic," or as a data burst, or as traffic that suddenly increases (exceeds the average traffic) over a period of time.
[0456] Optionally, the first burst traffic information can also be traffic change characteristic information, or a traffic pattern. In this case, the session management network element or user plane network element needs to determine the second burst traffic information locally based on the traffic change characteristic information or the traffic pattern.
[0457] For example, when the input parameter is the SR packet header information in the RTCP protocol header, the network data analysis function network element can determine which data packets arrived within a certain period by the difference between the packet counts and the timestamps of the two SR packets in the input parameter, and then determine the traffic changes within that period based on the packet size of these data packets (e.g., at which moments the traffic increased rapidly, i.e., a burst occurred).
[0458] For example, when the input parameters are packet transmission delay and / or packet transmission rate (e.g., obtained by the SMF through a QoS monitoring mechanism and sent to the NWDFA), the NWDFA can determine the changes in service traffic over a future period based on the changes in packet transmission delay and / or packet transmission rate in the input parameters over a period of time (e.g., the correspondence between rate and time, or the change in rate over time). Optionally, the NWDFA can further determine the first burst traffic information based on the changes in service traffic over a future period of time, or the NWDFA can directly determine the first burst traffic information based on the changes in packet transmission delay and / or packet transmission rate in the input parameters over a period of time.
[0459] For example, assuming the SR interval is 5 seconds, the current time is x seconds, the input parameters are the SR packets received at x-0.5s (i.e., 0.5s ago) and x-5.5s (i.e., 5.5s ago), as well as the sequence number and size of all data packets during this period. Based on the above input parameters, the first AI model infers the traffic changes before the next SR packet arrives (i.e., 4.5s later). The rapid increase in traffic is the burst, and the corresponding size, start and end times can be used to obtain the size of the burst, the arrival time of the burst, and the end of the burst (the timestamp and / or sequence number of the burst's end packet).
[0460] Optionally, the first burst traffic information can also be traffic change characteristic information, or a traffic pattern. In this case, the session management network element or user plane network element needs to determine the second burst traffic information locally based on the traffic change characteristic information or the traffic pattern.
[0461] 405. The session management function network element sends the first rule to the user plane function network element.
[0462] The first rule includes second burst traffic information, which is determined based on the first burst traffic information. Optionally, the second burst traffic information is the same as the first burst traffic information.
[0463] Optionally, the second burst traffic information includes one or more of the following:
[0464] The ninth instruction is used to indicate the activation of data burst marking indication;
[0465] The data burst size, or alternatively, the data burst size value;
[0466] The time to next burst value, or it can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the time to next burst, or the remaining time until the next burst arrives. For example, if the time to next burst is 5 seconds, it means that the burst traffic will arrive in 5 seconds.
[0467] Is it the end of a data burst? Or, it can be replaced with other descriptions, such as the end of a data burst.
[0468] In this application, the term "burst" mentioned above can also be understood as "burst traffic," or as a data burst, or as traffic that suddenly increases (exceeds the average traffic) over a period of time.
[0469] Optionally, the session management function network element can immediately send the first rule to the user plane function network element after receiving the first burst traffic information.
[0470] Optionally, the first rule may further include a first timestamp and / or a first sequence number. The first timestamp is used to indicate the effective time of the first rule or the second burst traffic information included in the first rule, that is, the first rule or the second burst traffic information included in the first rule is only effective for data packets arriving at the first timestamp. The first sequence number is used to indicate the packet sequence number for which the first rule or the second burst traffic information included in the first rule is effective, that is, the first rule or the second burst traffic information included in the first rule is only effective for data packets with the packet sequence number of the first sequence number.
[0471] Please refer to Figure 9a, which is a schematic diagram of a possible implementation of the first rule. As shown in Figure 9a, the first rule is the N4 rule between the session management function network element and the user plane function network element. The N4 rule includes PDR, FAR, and QER as shown in Figure 9a. In this N4 rule, when the user plane function network element receives a data packet, it first filters out the data packets of the first service through the IP 5-tuple in the PDR. Then, based on the first timestamp and / or the first sequence number, it further filters the data packets of the first service, thereby obtaining the data packets of the first service with the first timestamp and / or the data packets of the first service with the first sequence number (for example, a protocol layer in the packet header includes a timestamp and / or packet sequence number field, and the data packets are determined to match based on this field. For example, the timestamp and sequence number in the RTP header). For example, assuming the data packet satisfies the IP 5-tuple of the PDR, the data packet received by the user plane function network element at the first timestamp is the data packet obtained by matching the PDR, and this data packet needs to perform subsequent FAR and QER actions; or, assuming the data packet satisfies the IP 5-tuple of the PDR, the data packet with the first sequence number received by the user plane function network element is the filtered data packet, and this data packet needs to perform subsequent FAR and QER actions. In the illustration of Figure 9a, QER includes the second burst traffic information.
[0472] Optionally, the first rule also includes second indication information, which is used by the user plane function network element to indicate the second burst traffic information. Alternatively, the second indication information is used by the user plane function network element to indicate the second burst traffic information to the radio access network. For example, after the user plane function network element obtains a data packet through PDR filtering, it can encapsulate the second burst traffic information into the header (e.g., GTP-U header) of the data packet according to the instructions of the second indication information. Please refer to Figure 9b, which is a schematic diagram of another possible implementation of the first rule. Compared with the N4 rule shown in Figure 9a, the N4 rule shown in Figure 9b adds the second indication information. For example, the second indication information can be carried in the FAR.
[0473] Please refer to Figure 9c, which is a schematic diagram of another possible implementation of the first rule. Compared with the N4 rule shown in Figure 9a, in the N4 rule shown in Figure 9c, the first timestamp and / or the first sequence number are carried in the QER.
[0474] Please refer to Figure 9d, which is a schematic diagram of another possible implementation of the first rule. Compared with the N4 rule shown in Figure 9a, in the N4 rule shown in Figure 9d, the second burst traffic information is carried in the FAR. Optionally, in the N4 rule shown in Figure 9d, the first timestamp and / or the first sequence number is carried in the FAR.
[0475] Optionally, applicable to any of the example scenarios in Figures 9a-9d above, the first timestamp may have an error threshold, meaning that a data packet may arrive exactly at that first timestamp. Alternatively, no data packet may arrive exactly at that first timestamp, in which case packets arriving before and / or within a certain period (e.g., 5ms) after the first timestamp can also be filtered. Alternatively, if no data packet arrives before and / or within a certain period after the first timestamp, the user plane function element can generate an empty packet and send it to the radio access network, carrying second burst traffic information in the GTP-U header of the empty packet. This threshold can be configured locally by the user plane function element or obtained through N4 rules.
[0476] As can be seen from Figures 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d, some or all of the second burst traffic information is carried in the forwarding action rule (FAR) or QoS enforcement rule (QER) in the N4 rule.
[0477] Optionally, the session management function network element may, after receiving the first burst traffic information, not immediately send the first rule to the user plane function network element, but wait until the arrival time of the next burst is approaching (e.g., 50 milliseconds before the arrival time of the next burst) before sending the first rule to the user plane function network element. In this case, the first rule includes the second burst traffic information, but does not include the first timestamp and / or the first sequence number, and the first rule will take effect immediately after the receiving network element sends it to the user plane function network element. The aforementioned waiting until the arrival time of the next burst is approaching can be based on a threshold, that is, sending the first rule a certain period of time (threshold) before the arrival time of the next burst, and this threshold can be configured locally by the session management function network element.
[0478] 406. User plane function network elements indicate second burst traffic information to the radio access network.
[0479] After receiving the first rule, the user plane function network element indicates the second burst traffic information to the radio access network based on the first rule. Optionally, the user plane function network element can encapsulate the second burst traffic information into the header (e.g., GTP-U header) of the data packet of the first service, thereby notifying the radio access network of the second burst traffic information so that the radio access network can schedule resources for the upcoming burst traffic.
[0480] In this application, user plane function network elements can obtain burst traffic information through network data analysis function network elements within the core network, and then announce the burst traffic information to the radio access network. This scheme eliminates the need for service providers to embed burst traffic information into user plane data packets, improving the flexibility and efficiency of QoS control.
[0481] On the other hand, since the burst traffic information obtained by the user plane function network element is predicted in advance, the user plane function network element can indicate the upcoming burst traffic to the radio access network earlier, thus improving the efficiency of QoS control.
[0482] Method 2: The network data analysis function network element sends burst traffic information to the user plane function network element, so that the user plane function network element can announce the burst traffic information to the radio access network, so that the radio access network can schedule resources for the upcoming burst traffic, thereby realizing QoS control based on burst traffic information.
[0483] Please refer to Figure 10, which is a schematic diagram of a possible implementation of the communication method. As shown in Figure 10, the communication method of this application includes, but is not limited to, steps 501 to 506.
[0484] 501. Network data analysis function: network elements acquire the first AI model.
[0485] 502. The terminal device sends a session establishment request to the session management function network element.
[0486] Correspondingly, the session management function network element receives a session establishment request from the terminal device, which is used to request access to the first service.
[0487] It should be understood that steps 501 and 502 are similar to steps 401 and 402 mentioned above. Please refer to the descriptions of steps 401 and 402 mentioned above for details. They will not be repeated here.
[0488] 503. The session management function network element sends a second request to the network data analysis function network element.
[0489] The second request is used to request the first burst traffic information of the first service from the user plane function network element. For example, assuming the second request is a subscription message, the notification address of the subscription message is the address of the user plane function network element.
[0490] 504. The network data analysis function network element sends the first burst traffic information of the first service to the user plane function network element.
[0491] The network data analysis function element first obtains the first burst traffic information of the first service. Optionally, the network data analysis function element obtains the first burst traffic information of the first service through the aforementioned first AI model and first information. It can be understood that the first information is the input (or input parameter) of the first AI model, and the first information includes the data packet information and / or traffic information of the first service included in the protocol layer, while the first burst traffic information of the first service is the output (or input parameter) of the first AI model.
[0492] Next, the network data analysis function network element sends the first burst traffic information to the user plane function network element.
[0493] It should be understood that the “first burst traffic information” and “first information” in step 504 are similar to the “first burst traffic information” and “first information” in the aforementioned step 404. For details, please refer to the description in the aforementioned step 404, which will not be repeated here.
[0494] 505. The session management function network element sends the second rule to the user plane function network element.
[0495] Correspondingly, the user plane function network element receives the second rule from the session management function network element. The second rule is used by the user plane function network element to obtain the first burst traffic information, or in other words, the second rule is used by the user plane function network element to obtain the first burst traffic information subscribed to by the second request.
[0496] Optionally, the second rule includes third indication information, which is used by user plane function network elements to indicate second burst traffic information based on first burst traffic information; or, the third indication information indicates that the first burst traffic information is used to assist in radio resource management.
[0497] Optionally, the second rule includes an identifier for the second request. For example, the identifier for the second request could be an identifier sent by the network data analysis function element to the session management function element after the session management function element sends the second request to the network data analysis function element (e.g., a notification correlation ID or a subscription correlation ID). Thus, the session management function element manages the subscription of the second request based on this identifier (e.g., unsubscribes). In this application, the session management function element carries the identifier of the second request in the second rule to indicate to the user plane function element that the second rule is associated with the first burst traffic information subscribed to by the second request, or to instruct the user plane function element to execute the second rule based on the first burst traffic information subscribed to by the second request.
[0498] Please refer to Figure 11, which is a schematic diagram of a possible implementation of the second rule. As shown in Figure 11, the first rule is the N4 rule between the session management function network element and the user plane function network element. The N4 rule includes the identifier of the second request. For example, the identifier of the second request can be carried in FAR or QER in the N4 rule. Optionally, the N4 rule also includes third indication information, which can be carried in PDR, FAR, or QER in the N4 rule.
[0499] For example, the user plane function network element obtains the first burst traffic information based on the identifier of the second request in the N4 rule, which includes the second burst traffic information and its corresponding first timestamp or first sequence number; for example, if the burst arrival time is 100ms, then the first burst traffic information includes a timestamp of 95ms and a burst arrival time of 5ms. Alternatively, the user plane function network element determines the second burst traffic information based on the first burst traffic information, and optionally, also determines the timestamp; for example, if the first timestamp is the burst arrival time (e.g., the 100ms), then the user plane function network element determines to add the second burst traffic information to the GTP-U header of the arriving data packet a certain period of time before the arrival time (e.g., 5ms in advance, i.e., the 95ms timestamp), which includes the burst arrival time of 5ms, and optionally also includes the burst size and the end of the burst. When a user plane function element receives a data packet, it first filters the data packets for the first service using the IP 5-tuple in the PDR. Then, based on the first timestamp and / or the first sequence number, it further filters the data packets for the first service, thus obtaining data packets for the first service with the first timestamp and / or the first sequence number (for example, a protocol layer in the packet header includes a timestamp and / or packet sequence number field, and this field is used to determine whether the data packets match. For example, the timestamp and sequence number in the RTP header). For example, if the data packet satisfies the IP 5-tuple of the PDR, the data packet received by the user plane function element at the first timestamp is a data packet that matches the PDR; or, if the data packet satisfies the IP 5-tuple of the PDR, the data packet received by the user plane function element with the first sequence number is a data packet that matches the PDR. Next, based on the third indication information, the user plane function element adds second burst traffic information to the GTP-U header of the data packets that match the PDR and sends it to the RAN.
[0500] 506. User plane function network elements indicate second burst traffic information to the radio access network.
[0501] After receiving the second rule, the user plane function network element determines the second burst traffic information based on the first burst traffic information.
[0502] It should be understood that the "second burst traffic information" in step 506 is similar to the "second burst traffic information" in step 405 above. For details, please refer to the description in step 405 above, which will not be repeated here.
[0503] Next, the user plane function network element indicates the second burst traffic information to the radio access network based on the second rule. Optionally, the user plane function network element can encapsulate the second burst traffic information into the header (e.g., GTP-U header) of the data packet of the first service, thereby notifying the radio access network of the second burst traffic information so that the radio access network can schedule resources for the upcoming burst traffic.
[0504] In this application, user plane function network elements can obtain burst traffic information through network data analysis function network elements within the core network, and then announce the burst traffic information to the radio access network. This scheme eliminates the need for service providers to embed burst traffic information into user plane data packets, improving the flexibility and efficiency of QoS control.
[0505] On the other hand, since the burst traffic information obtained by the user plane function network element is predicted in advance, the user plane function network element can indicate the upcoming burst traffic to the radio access network earlier, thus improving the efficiency of QoS control.
[0506] Implementation Method 3: The network data analysis function network element sends the AI model to the user plane function network element. The user plane function network element can then obtain burst traffic information based on the AI model. The user plane function network element can then notify the radio access network of the burst traffic information so that the radio access network can schedule resources for the upcoming burst traffic, thereby realizing QoS control based on burst traffic information.
[0507] Please refer to Figure 12, which is a schematic diagram of a possible implementation of the communication method. As shown in Figure 12, the communication method of this application includes, but is not limited to, steps 601 to 606.
[0508] 601. Network data analysis function: network elements acquire the first AI model.
[0509] 602. The terminal device sends a session establishment request to the session management function network element.
[0510] Correspondingly, the session management function network element receives a session establishment request from the terminal device, which is used to request access to the first service.
[0511] It should be understood that steps 601 and 602 are similar to steps 401 and 402 mentioned above. Please refer to the descriptions of steps 401 and 402 mentioned above for details. They will not be repeated here.
[0512] 603. The session management function network element sends a fourth request to the network data analysis function network element.
[0513] The fourth request is used to request the first AI model for the user plane function network element. For example, assuming the fourth request is to subscribe to a message, the notification address of the subscription message is the address of the user plane function network element.
[0514] 604. The network data analysis function network element sends the first AI model to the user plane function network element.
[0515] After receiving the first AI model, the user plane function network element can predict burst traffic information (i.e., the first burst traffic information) based on the first AI model.
[0516] 605. User plane function network elements determine the first burst traffic information based on the first AI model and the first information.
[0517] Optionally, the user plane function network element can receive the first information through the session management function network element. For example, the application function network element can send the first information to the policy control function network element, then the policy control function network element sends the first information to the session management function network element, and then the session management function network element sends the first information to the user plane function network element.
[0518] It should be understood that the “first burst traffic information” and “first information” in step 605 are similar to the “first burst traffic information” and “first information” in step 404 above. For details, please refer to the description in step 404 above, which will not be repeated here.
[0519] 606. User plane function network elements indicate second burst traffic information to the radio access network.
[0520] After the user plane function network element determines the first burst traffic information, it determines the second burst traffic information based on the first burst traffic information. Then, the user plane function network element indicates the second burst traffic information to the radio access network.
[0521] Optionally, the user plane function network element can encapsulate the second burst traffic information into the header (e.g., GTP-U header) of the data packet of the first service, thereby notifying the radio access network of the second burst traffic information so that the radio access network can schedule resources for the upcoming burst traffic.
[0522] It should be understood that the "second burst traffic information" in step 606 is similar to the "second burst traffic information" in step 405 above. For details, please refer to the description in step 405 above, which will not be repeated here.
[0523] In this application, user plane function network elements can obtain burst traffic information through the first AI model issued by the network data analysis function network elements within the core network, and then announce the burst traffic information to the radio access network. This scheme eliminates the need for service providers to embed burst traffic information into user plane data packets, improving the flexibility and efficiency of QoS control.
[0524] On the other hand, since the burst traffic information obtained by the user plane function network element is predicted in advance, the user plane function network element can indicate the upcoming burst traffic to the radio access network earlier, thus improving the efficiency of QoS control.
[0525] Implementation Method 4: The network data analysis function element indicates the traffic change characteristics of the first service to the policy control function element. Then, based on the traffic change characteristics of the first service, the policy control function element sends new QoS parameters to the session management function element, which then determines new QoS rules based on the new QoS parameters.
[0526] Please refer to Figure 13, which is a schematic diagram of a possible implementation of the communication method. As shown in Figure 13, the communication method of this application includes, but is not limited to, steps 701 to 706.
[0527] 701. Network data analysis function: network elements acquire the second AI model.
[0528] Alternatively, it can be understood as training a second AI model using network data analysis function network elements. In this application, the trained second AI model can be used to determine the characteristics of traffic changes in a service.
[0529] Step 701 is optional. It should be understood that step 401 is a prerequisite step for the network data analysis function to predict burst traffic information. In practical applications, if the network data analysis function predicts burst traffic information, it implicitly means that the network data analysis function has executed step 701.
[0530] 702. The terminal device sends a session establishment request to the session management function network element.
[0531] Correspondingly, the session management function network element receives a session establishment request from the terminal device, which is used to request access to the first service. Step 702 is an optional step.
[0532] 703. The policy control function network element sends a third request to the network data analysis function network element.
[0533] The third request is used to request traffic change characteristic information for the first service. Alternatively, the third request is used to subscribe to traffic change characteristic information for the first service from the network data analysis function element.
[0534] Optionally, after the session for the first service is established, the policy control function network element first determines whether the first service needs to subscribe to the traffic change characteristic information of the first service. If so, the policy control function network element sends a third request to the network data analysis function network element (i.e., triggers step 703).
[0535] Optionally, if any one or more of the following conditions are met, the policy control function network element sends a third request to the network data analysis function network element:
[0536] Condition 1: The application function network element sends the fourth indication information to the policy control function network element. Correspondingly, the policy control function network element receives the fourth indication information from the application function AF network element. The fourth indication information is used to indicate the traffic change characteristics information of the first service and / or the terminal device that needs to subscribe to the first service. Therefore, it can also be considered that the fourth indication information is used to determine the third request.
[0537] Application function network elements can send the aforementioned fourth instruction information directly or indirectly to policy control function network elements. For example, application function network elements can send the fourth instruction information directly to policy control function network elements, or they can send the fourth instruction information to policy control function network elements through NEF, or they can send the fourth instruction information to policy control function network elements through NEF or UDR.
[0538] Condition 2: The policy control function network element determines the traffic change characteristics of the first service that the first service needs to subscribe to through locally configured policies and / or the subscription information of the terminal device. For example, the locally configured policy of the policy control function network element may be a session corresponding to a data network name (DNN) and / or single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI), and a certain service (e.g., live video streaming service) needs to subscribe to the traffic change characteristics of the first service; and the subscription information of the terminal device indicates that the terminal device is authorized to subscribe to the traffic change characteristics of the first service. Then, the policy control function network element sends a third request to the session management function network element.
[0539] For example, during the session establishment process, the policy control function network element receives information about the session (including data network name, single network slice selection auxiliary information, terminal user permanent identifier, etc.) from the session management network element. Based on local logic and the information provided by the session management network element, the policy control function network element determines that the first service needs to use AI model-based prediction of future burst traffic information.
[0540] Condition 3: In the session establishment request sent by the terminal device to the session management function network element, a request is made to subscribe to the traffic change characteristic information of the first service. Therefore, it can be considered that the session establishment request then sent by the terminal device to the session management function network element is a third request for subscribing to the traffic change characteristic information of the first service.
[0541] 704. The network data analysis function network element sends the fifth instruction information to the policy control function network element.
[0542] The network data analysis function element first obtains the fifth indication information. Optionally, the network data analysis function element obtains the fifth indication information through the aforementioned second AI model and second information. It can be understood that the second information is the input (or input parameter) of the second AI model, and the second information includes data packet information and / or traffic information of the first service included in the protocol layer, while the fifth indication information is the output (or input parameter) of the second AI model.
[0543] Next, the network data analysis function network element sends the fifth instruction information to the policy control function network element.
[0544] Optionally, the application function network element or the user plane function network element may send the aforementioned first information to the network data analysis function network element. Taking the sending of the aforementioned first information from a user plane function network element to a network data analysis function network element as an example, the session management function network element or the user plane function network element can use QoS monitoring technology. For example, the user plane function network element can measure the data packet rate / traffic of the first service, or measure the data packet delay (e.g., measure the delay between the terminal device and the user plane function network element, including the mutual transmission of data packets or generated empty packets between the radio access network and the user plane function network element, and add a timestamp to the GTP-U header to calculate the delay between the radio access network and the user plane function network element. The radio access network can measure the delay between the terminal device and the radio access network through air interface means, and the sum of the two segments is the delay between the terminal device and the user plane function network element. The user plane function network element can also measure the delay between the user plane function network element and the server, and the sum of the three segments is the end-to-end delay), or measure congestion status using UPF (e.g., the user plane function network element calculates the proportion of data packets marked with congestion, or the user plane function network element detects information about data packets carrying congestion marks).
[0545] For example, the protocol layer includes packet information and / or traffic information for the first service, including one or more of the following:
[0546] Data packet latency, such as end-to-end latency, latency from terminal equipment to user plane functional network element, and latency from radio access network to user plane functional network element;
[0547] Data rate;
[0548] Data packet delay jitter;
[0549] Data packet congestion status;
[0550] The latency of a PDU set is the average latency of all data packets in a PDU set.
[0551] PDU set error rate or packet loss rate (the probability of a data packet being corrupted or lost in the PDU set).
[0552] Optionally, the fifth indication information includes the traffic change characteristics of the first service, the change pattern of one or more of the first information, and / or the first QoS parameter.
[0553] For example, the traffic variation characteristics of the first service can be a traffic pattern, which represents how traffic volume changes over time. The traffic variation characteristics of the first service include one or more of the following:
[0554] Characteristics of flow rate variation;
[0555] The characteristics of data packet latency variation;
[0556] The characteristics of data packet latency jitter;
[0557] The changing characteristics of data packet congestion information;
[0558] Characteristics of data rate variation;
[0559] The latency variation characteristics of the Protocol Data Unit (PDU) set;
[0560] Characteristics of changes in error packet cases in PDU sets.
[0561] For example, the pattern of change of one or more items in the first information may be the pattern of change of data packet information and / or traffic information of the first service included in the protocol layer.
[0562] For example, the first QoS parameter includes, but is not limited to, one or more of the following:
[0563] The 5G QoS Identifier (5QI) output by the second AI model;
[0564] Allocation and retention priority (ARP);
[0565] Guaranteed flow bit rate (GFBR);
[0566] Maximum flow bit rate (MFBR);
[0567] Maximum Data Burst Volume (MDBV);
[0568] Average window.
[0569] 705. The policy control function network element sends the first QoS parameter to the session management function network element.
[0570] Optionally, if the fifth indication information includes the traffic change characteristics of the first service, and / or the change patterns of one or more of the first information, the policy control function network element determines the first QoS parameter based on the traffic change characteristics of the first service, and / or the change patterns of one or more of the first information, and then sends the first QoS parameter to the session management function network element.
[0571] Optionally, if the fifth indication information includes the first QoS parameter, the policy control function network element can directly send the first QoS parameter to the session management function network element.
[0572] Optionally, “first QoS parameter” can be replaced with other descriptions, such as “guidance QoS parameter”, “assist QoS parameter”, “alternative QoS parameter”, or “information used to determine QoS parameter”.
[0573] Optionally, if the fifth indication information includes alternative QoS parameters, first QoS guidance parameters, QoS auxiliary parameters, or information for determining QoS parameters, the policy control function network element may send the first QoS parameter to the session management function network element, wherein the aforementioned alternative QoS parameters, first QoS guidance parameters, QoS auxiliary parameters, or information for determining QoS parameters include the first QoS parameter.
[0574] Optionally, the policy control function network element can further filter or modify the first QoS parameter indicated by the fifth indication information, and then send it to the session management function network element.
[0575] Optionally, the policy control function network element sends the first QoS parameter to the session management function network element through PCC rules. Similar to the embodiment corresponding to Figure 8, the session management function network element updates the first rule in a similar way. The policy control function network element waits until a specific time is reached before updating the PCC rule used to indicate the first QoS parameter. Alternatively, it can send the PCC rule used to indicate the first QoS parameter immediately, but the PCC rule will carry the effective timestamp of the PCC rule.
[0576] 706. The session management function network element updates QoS rules based on the first QoS parameter.
[0577] Optionally, QoS rules may include QoS rules for the terminal device, QoS profiles for the radio access network, and / or QERs for user plane function elements. For example, updating the MDBV parameters within these rules.
[0578] In this application, the network data analysis function network element can indicate the traffic change characteristics of the first service to the policy control function network element. Then, based on the traffic change characteristics of the first service, the policy control function network element sends new QoS parameters (such as the first QoS parameter in this application) to the session management function network element, thereby the session management function network element determines new QoS rules based on the new QoS parameters, improving the flexibility and efficiency of QoS control.
[0579] Referring to Figure 14, this application embodiment provides a communication device 800. This communication device 800 can implement the functions of the session management function network element, user plane function network element, or policy control function network element in the above method embodiments, and therefore can also achieve the beneficial effects of the above method embodiments. As shown in Figure 14, the communication device 800 includes a processing unit 801 and a transceiver unit 802.
[0580] It should be noted that the transceiver unit 802 may include a transmitting unit and a receiving unit, which are used to perform transmitting and receiving respectively.
[0581] In one possible implementation, when the device 800 is used to execute the method performed by the session management function network element in the aforementioned embodiments, the transceiver unit 802 is used to receive first burst traffic information of a first service from the network data analysis function network element. The transceiver unit 802 is also used to send a first rule to the user plane function network element, the first rule including second burst traffic information, the second burst traffic information being determined based on the first burst traffic information. Optionally, the processing unit 801 is used to determine the second burst information based on the first image transmission information.
[0582] In one possible implementation, when the device 800 is used to execute the method performed by the user plane function network element in the foregoing embodiments, the transceiver unit 802 is used to receive a first rule from the session management function network element, the first rule including second burst traffic information corresponding to the first service; and the processing unit 801 is used to indicate the second burst traffic information to the radio access network.
[0583] In one possible implementation, when the device 800 is used to execute the method performed by the policy control function network element in the foregoing embodiments, the transceiver unit 802 is used to receive traffic change characteristic information of the first service from the network data analysis function network element, the traffic change characteristic information of the first service is used to indicate the first quality of service (QoS) parameter corresponding to the first service; the transceiver unit 802 is also used to send the first QoS parameter to the session management function network element.
[0584] It should be noted that the information execution process of the unit of the above-mentioned communication device 800 can be specifically described in the method embodiment shown above in this application, and will not be repeated here.
[0585] Please refer to Figure 15, which is a schematic diagram of the structure of the communication device involved in the above embodiments provided in the embodiments of this application.
[0586] It is understood that the communication device 900 includes, for example, modules, units, elements, circuits, or interfaces, which are appropriately configured together to execute the technical solutions provided in this application. The communication device 900 may be the terminal device described above, or a component (e.g., a chip) within these devices, used to implement the methods described in the following method embodiments. The communication device 900 includes one or more processors 901. The processor 901 may be a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor, for example, a baseband processor or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processing unit can be used to control the communication device (e.g., a RAN node, terminal, or chip), execute software programs, and process data from the software programs.
[0587] Optionally, in one design, processor 901 may include program 903 (sometimes also referred to as code or instructions), which may be executed on processor 901 to cause communication device 900 to perform the methods described in the embodiments below. In yet another possible design, communication device 900 includes circuitry (not shown in FIG15).
[0588] Optionally, the communication device 900 may include one or more memories 902 storing a program 904 (sometimes referred to as code or instructions), which can be run on the processor 901 to cause the communication device 900 to perform the methods described in the above method embodiments.
[0589] Optionally, the processor 901 and / or memory 902 may include AI modules 907 and 908, which are used to implement AI-related functions. The AI modules can be implemented through software, hardware, or a combination of both. For example, the AI module may include a radio intelligence control (RIC) module. For example, the AI module may be a near real-time RIC or a non-real-time RIC.
[0590] Optionally, the processor 901 and / or memory 902 may also store data. The processor and memory may be configured separately or integrated together.
[0591] Optionally, the communication device 900 may further include a transceiver 905 and / or an antenna 906. The processor 901, sometimes referred to as a processing unit, controls the communication device (e.g., a RAN node or terminal). The transceiver 905, sometimes referred to as a transceiver unit, transceiver, transceiver circuit, or transceiver, is used to implement the transmission and reception functions of the communication device via the antenna 906.
[0592] In this context, the processing unit 801 shown in Figure 14 can be a processor 901. The transceiver unit 802 shown in Figure 14 can be a communication interface, which can be the transceiver 905 in Figure 15. The transceiver 905 can include an input interface and an output interface. Alternatively, the transceiver 905 can also be a transceiver circuit, which can include an input interface circuit and an output interface circuit.
[0593] This application also provides a chip device including a processor for calling computer programs or computer instructions stored in the memory, so that the processor executes the methods provided in the embodiments shown in Figures 8, 10, 12 and 13 above.
[0594] In one possible implementation, the input of the chip device corresponds to the receiving operation in any one of the embodiments shown in Figures 8, 10, 12 and 13, and the output of the chip device corresponds to the transmitting operation in any one of the embodiments shown in Figures 8, 10, 12 and 13.
[0595] Optionally, the processor is coupled to the memory via an interface.
[0596] Optionally, the chip device may also include a memory that stores computer programs or computer instructions.
[0597] In the embodiments of this application, the processor can be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), microprocessor units (MPUs), microcontroller units (MCUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), artificial intelligence processors (AI processors), neural processing units (NPUs), or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. A general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. Some or all of the steps in the embodiments of this application can be implemented by a GPU or NPU, or by a GPU or NPU in conjunction with other processors. The memory mentioned above can be read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices capable of storing static information and instructions, random access memory (RAM), etc.
[0598] Those skilled in the art will understand that embodiments of this application can be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, this application can take the form of a completely hardware embodiment, a completely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, this application can take the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage, optical storage, etc.) containing computer-usable program code.
[0599] This application is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to this application. It should be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions specified in one or more blocks of the flowchart illustrations and / or one or more blocks of the block diagrams.
[0600] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable storage medium produce an article of manufacture including instruction means that implement the functions specified in one or more flowcharts and / or one or more block diagrams.
[0601] These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process, such that the instructions, which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus, provide steps for implementing the functions specified in one or more flowcharts and / or one or more block diagrams.
[0602] In the embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection between devices or units, and may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms. Whether a function is implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.
[0603] It should be understood that the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the modules can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs. Furthermore, in the accompanying drawings of the device embodiments provided in this application, the connection relationships between modules indicate that they have communication connections, which can be specifically implemented as one or more communication buses or signal lines.
[0604] Furthermore, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The integrated unit can be implemented in hardware or as a software functional unit.
[0605] If the integrated unit is implemented as a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to it, or all or part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.
[0606] In the various embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified or in case of logical conflict, the terminology and / or descriptions between different 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.
[0607] The above-described embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit it. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.
Claims
1. A communication method, characterized in that, include: The session management function network element receives the first burst traffic information of the first service from the network data analysis function network element; The session management function network element sends a first rule to the user plane function network element. The first rule includes second burst traffic information, which is determined based on the first burst traffic information.
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: The session management function network element sends a first request to the network data analysis function network element, the first request being used to request the first burst traffic information.
3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The method further includes: The session management function network element receives first indication information from the policy control function network element, and the first indication information is used to determine the first request.
4. A communication method, characterized in that, include: The user plane function network element receives a first rule from the session management function network element, the first rule including the second burst traffic information corresponding to the first service; The user plane function network element indicates the second burst traffic information to the radio access network.
5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The first rule further includes a first timestamp and / or a first sequence number, wherein the first timestamp is used to indicate the effective time of the first rule, and the first sequence number is used to indicate the packet sequence number in which the first rule takes effect.
6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The first rule also includes second indication information, which is used by the user plane function network element to indicate the second burst traffic information.
7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, Some or all of the second burst traffic information is carried in the Quality of Service (QoS) enforcement rules or forwarding action rules in the N4 rules.
8. A communication method, characterized in that, include: The session management function sends a second request to the network data analysis function network element. The second request is used to request the first burst traffic information of the first service for the user plane function network element. The session management function network element sends a second rule to the user plane function network element, and the second rule is used by the user plane function network element to obtain the first burst traffic information.
9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The second rule includes third indication information, which is used by the user plane function network element to indicate second burst traffic information based on the first burst traffic information.
10. A communication method, characterized in that, include: The user plane function network element receives first burst traffic information corresponding to the first service from the network data analysis function network element, and the first burst traffic information is used to determine the second burst traffic information. The user plane function network element indicates the second burst traffic information to the radio access network.
11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that, The method further includes: The user plane function network element receives a second rule from the session management function network element. The second rule includes third indication information, which is used by the user plane function network element to indicate second burst traffic information based on the first burst traffic information.
12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, The method further includes: The user plane function network element sends first information to the network data analysis function network element. The first information is used by the network data analysis function network element to determine the first burst traffic information. The first information includes data packet information and / or traffic information of the first service included in the protocol layer.
13. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that, The second rule includes the identifier of the second request.
14. The method according to any one of claims 1-3 and 8-13, characterized in that, The first burst traffic information includes the timestamp and / or sequence number corresponding to the burst.
15. A communication method, characterized in that, include: The policy control function network element receives traffic change characteristic information of the first service from the network data analysis function network element. The traffic change characteristic information of the first service is used to indicate the first quality of service (QoS) parameter corresponding to the first service. The policy control function network element sends the first QoS parameter to the session management function network element.
16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that, The traffic change characteristics of the first service include one or more of the following: Information on the characteristics of changes in flow rate; Information on the variation characteristics of data packet latency; Information on the characteristics of data packet latency jitter; Changes in data packet congestion information; Information on changes in data rate; Information on the latency variation characteristics of the Protocol Data Unit (PDU) set; Information on changes in error packet characteristics in the PDU set.
17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that, The method further includes: The policy control function network element sends a third request to the network data analysis function network element, the third request being used to request traffic change characteristic information of the first service.
18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that, The policy control function network element sends a third request to the network data analysis function network element, including: If the first condition is met, the policy control function network element sends a third request to the network data analysis function network element; The first condition includes one or more of the following: The policy control function network element receives fourth indication information from the application function AF network element, and the fourth indication information is used to determine the third request; The policy control function network element receives the third request from the terminal device.
19. A communication method, characterized in that, include: Network data analysis function network elements acquire data packet information and / or traffic information of the first service included in the protocol layer; The network data analysis function element determines first burst traffic information and / or fifth indication information based on the data packet information and / or traffic information of the first service included in the protocol layer. The fifth indication information is used to indicate the first QoS parameter.
20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that, The method further includes: The network data analysis function network element receives data packet information and / or traffic information of the first service included in the protocol layer from the application function network element or the user plane function network element.
21. The method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that, The method further includes: The network data analysis function network element receives subscription messages from the session management function network element and / or the policy control function network element. The subscription messages are used to request the first burst traffic information and / or the fifth indication information.
22. The method according to any one of claims 19-21, characterized in that, The method further includes: The network data analysis function network element sends the first burst traffic information to the session management function network element or the user plane function network element. The first burst traffic information is used to assist in radio resource management.
23. The method according to any one of claims 19-21, characterized in that, The method further includes: The network data analysis function network element sends the fifth indication information to the policy control function network element. The fifth indication information is used to perform QoS control on the first service.
24. A communication device, characterized in that, Includes a module for performing the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 23.
25. A communication device, characterized in that, It includes at least one processor, said at least one processor being used to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 23.
26. The communication device according to claim 25, characterized in that, The communication device is a chip or chip system.
27. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program or instructions that, when executed by a communication device, implement the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 23.
28. A computer program product, characterized in that, It includes a computer program or instructions that, when executed by a computer, implement the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 23.