CN110138685B

CN110138685B - Communication method and device

Info

Publication number: CN110138685B
Application number: CN201810127551.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 朱强华; 周铮; 熊春山; 吴义壮
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-02-08
Filing date: 2018-02-08
Publication date: 2021-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 2038-02-08
Also published as: CN110138685A; WO2019154160A1

Abstract

The application provides a communication method and a communication device, which are used for solving the problem that reordering indication cannot meet the requirements of different services due to the fact that the granularity of the reordering indication is limited to QoS flow granularity. The method comprises the following steps: a first network device receives downlink data; the first network device determines an SDF filter matched with the downlink data; the first network device adds labels to the downlink data according to reordering indication information corresponding to the SDF filter, wherein the reordering indication information is used for indicating whether the SDF needs to be reordered; if the reordering indication information indicates that the SDF needs to be reordered, the label is a first label; if the reordering indication information indicates that the SDF does not need to be reordered, the label is a second label; the first network device sends the downlink data after adding the label to the access network device, the first label is used for indicating the access network device to reorder the downlink data, and the second label is used for indicating the access network device not to reorder the downlink data.

Description

Communication method and device

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a communication method and apparatus.

Background

In a fifth generation (5G) wireless communication system, the minimum granularity for a network to process data is quality of service (QoS) flow, which is a data flow with the same processing and forwarding requirements. When reordering of a QoS flow in a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer is involved, if the QoS flow reaches a Radio Access Network (RAN), the RAN may disable a reordering function (reordering function) of the PDCP layer only when it is explicitly indicated in a QoS Profile (configuration) of the QoS flow that reordering (reordering) transmission is not required. Since this method indicates whether to disable the reordering function of the PDCP layer in the QoS Profile, the indicated granularity is limited to the QoS flow granularity, and thus, the requirements of different services cannot be met.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a communication method and a communication device, which are used for solving the problem that reordering indication cannot meet the requirements of different services due to the fact that the granularity of the reordering indication is limited to QoS flow granularity.

In order to achieve the above purpose, the embodiments of the present application provide the following technical solutions:

in a first aspect, a communication method is provided, including: a first network device receives downlink data; the first network device determines an SDF filter matched with the downlink data; the first network device adds labels to the downlink data according to reordering indication information corresponding to the SDF filter, wherein the reordering indication information is used for indicating whether the SDF needs to be reordered; if the reordering indication information indicates that the SDF needs to be reordered, the label is a first label; if the reordering indication information indicates that the SDF does not need to be reordered, the label is a second label; the first network device sends the downlink data after adding the label to the access network device, the first label is used for indicating the access network device to reorder the downlink data, and the second label is used for indicating the access network device not to reorder the downlink data. In the method provided by the first aspect, the access network device may determine whether to reorder the downlink data according to the tag carried by the downlink data, and the tag carried by the downlink data is determined according to the reordering indication information corresponding to the SDF filter matched with the downlink data, so that reordering indication of the SDF granularity is achieved, so that the network may determine whether to reorder the downlink data belonging to the SDF according to the requirement of the SDF, and meet the requirements of different services.

In one possible design, the method further includes: and the first network device determines reordering indication information corresponding to the SDF filter according to the SDF filter. And part or all of the information contained in the SDF filter matched with the downlink data is the same as part or all of the information in the message header of the downlink data.

In one possible design, the method further includes: the first network device receives the SDF filter and reordering indication information from the second network device. After receiving the SDF filter and the reordering indication information, the first network device defaults that there is a correspondence.

In a possible design, the access network device is a source access network device, and if the reordering indication information is used to indicate that the SDF needs to be reordered, the method further includes: the first network device sends end mark information to the access network device, and the end mark information is used for assisting the target access network device in reordering; the source access network device is a source base station of a terminal receiving downlink data in the process of switching base stations, and the target access network device is a target base station of the terminal receiving the downlink data in the process of switching base stations. The possible design can further ensure the continuity of the conversation.

In a second aspect, a communication method is provided, including: the access network device receives downlink data, the downlink data carries a label, the label is determined according to reordering indication information corresponding to an SDF filter matched with the downlink data, and the reordering indication information is used for indicating whether the SDF needs to be reordered or not; if the reordering indication information indicates that the SDF needs to be reordered, the label is a first label; if the reordering indication information indicates that the SDF does not need to be reordered, the label is a second label; and the access network device determines whether to reorder the downlink data according to the label. In the method provided in the second aspect, the access network device may determine whether to reorder the downlink data according to the tag carried by the downlink data, and since the tag carried by the downlink data is determined according to the reordering indication information corresponding to the SDF filter matched with the downlink data, the reordering indication of the SDF granularity is realized, so that the network may determine whether to reorder the downlink data belonging to the SDF according to the requirement of the SDF, thereby meeting the requirements of different services.

In one possible design, the access network device determining whether to reorder the downlink data according to the tag, including: if the label is the first label, the access network device determines to reorder the downlink data according to the label; or, if the label is the second label, the access network device determines not to reorder the downlink data according to the label.

In one possible design, the access network device receiving the downlink data includes the SDAP layer of the access network device receiving the downlink data.

In one possible design, the access network device determining whether to reorder the downlink data according to the tag, including: and the SDAP layer of the access network device determines whether to reorder the downlink data according to the label.

In one possible design, if the SDAP layer of the access network apparatus determines to reorder the downlink data according to the tag, the method further includes: the SDAP layer of the access network device sends first indication information to the PDCP layer of the access network device, and the first indication information is used for indicating the PDCP layer to reorder downlink data.

In one possible design, the method further includes: the access network device is a source access network device, an SDAP layer of the access network device receives the end mark information, the access network device sends the end mark information to a target access network device on a forwarding path, and the end mark information is used for assisting the target access network device in reordering; or, the access network device is a target access network device, the SDAP layer of the access network device receives the end mark information from the source access network device, and sends second indication information to the PDCP layer of the access network device according to the end mark information, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating the completion of data sending on the forwarding path to the PDCP layer of the access network device; the source access network device is a source base station of a terminal receiving downlink data in the process of switching base stations, the target access network device is a target base station of the terminal receiving the downlink data in the process of switching base stations, and the forwarding path is a path between the source base station and the target base station. The possible design can further ensure the continuity of the conversation.

In a third aspect, a communication method is provided, and the method includes: the second network device obtains the corresponding relation between the SDF filter and the reordering indication information, and sends the SDF filter and the reordering indication information to the first network device, so that the first network device obtains the corresponding relation between the SDF filter and the reordering indication information.

In a fourth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, including: a communication unit and a processing unit; a communication unit, configured to receive downlink data; the processing unit is used for determining an SDF filter matched with the downlink data and adding a label to the downlink data according to reordering indication information corresponding to the SDF filter, wherein the reordering indication information is used for indicating whether the SDF needs to be reordered; if the reordering indication information indicates that the SDF needs to be reordered, the label is a first label; if the reordering indication information indicates that the SDF does not need to be reordered, the label is a second label; the communication unit is further configured to send the downlink data to which the tag is added to the access network device, where the first tag is used to instruct the access network device to reorder the downlink data, and the second tag is used to instruct the access network device not to reorder the downlink data.

In one possible design, the processing unit is further configured to determine reordering indication information corresponding to the SDF filter according to the SDF filter.

In one possible design, the communication unit is further configured to receive the SDF filter and the reordering indication information from the second network device.

In one possible design, the access network device is a source access network device, and if the reordering indication information is used to indicate that the SDF needs to be reordered; the communication unit is further used for sending end mark information to the access network device, wherein the end mark information is used for assisting the target access network device in reordering; the source access network device is a source base station of a terminal receiving downlink data in the process of switching base stations, and the target access network device is a target base station of the terminal receiving the downlink data in the process of switching base stations.

In a fifth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, including: a communication unit and a processing unit; the communication unit is used for receiving downlink data, the downlink data carries a label, the label is determined according to reordering indication information corresponding to an SDF filter matched with the downlink data, and the reordering indication information is used for indicating whether the SDF needs to be reordered or not; if the reordering indication information indicates that the SDF needs to be reordered, the label is a first label; if the reordering indication information indicates that the SDF does not need to be reordered, the label is a second label; and the processing unit is used for determining whether to reorder the downlink data according to the label.

In one possible design, if the tag is the first tag, the processing unit is specifically configured to determine to reorder the downlink data according to the tag; or, if the tag is the second tag, the processing unit is specifically configured to determine not to reorder the downlink data according to the tag.

In one possible design, the communication unit includes a service data aggregation protocol, SDAP, layer; the SDAP layer in the communication unit is specifically configured to receive downlink data.

In one possible design, the SDAP layer in the communication unit is further configured to determine whether to reorder the downlink data according to the tag.

In one possible design, the communication unit further includes a data packet convergence protocol PDCP layer; the SDAP layer in the communication unit is further configured to send first indication information to the PDCP layer in the communication unit, where the first indication information is used to indicate the PDCP layer to reorder downlink data.

In one possible design, the device is a source access network device, and an SDAP layer in the communication unit is configured to receive end marker information and send the end marker information to a target access network device, where the end marker information is used to assist in reordering the target access network device; or, the device is a target access network device, and the SDAP layer in the communication unit is configured to receive end marker information from the source access network device, and send second indication information to the PDCP layer of the access network device according to the end marker information, where the second indication information is used to indicate to the PDCP layer of the access network device that data on the forwarding path is completely sent; the source access network device is a source base station of a terminal receiving downlink data in the process of switching base stations, the target access network device is a target base station of the terminal receiving the downlink data in the process of switching base stations, and the forwarding path is a path between the source base station and the target base station.

A sixth aspect provides a communication apparatus, including a communication unit and a processing unit, the processing unit being configured to acquire a correspondence between an SDF filter and reordering indication information; and the communication unit is used for sending the SDF filter and the reordering indication information to the first network device, and the SDF filter and the reordering indication information are used for the first network device to acquire the corresponding relation between the SDF filter and the reordering indication information.

In a seventh aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, including: a memory and a processor; the memory is used for storing computer execution instructions, and the processor executes the computer execution instructions stored by the memory. The apparatus may be the first network apparatus, the access network apparatus or the second network apparatus, and when the apparatus is the first network apparatus, the processor executes the computer-executable instructions to enable the apparatus to implement any one of the methods provided in the first aspect; when the apparatus is an access network apparatus, the processor executes the computer-executable instructions to cause the apparatus to implement any one of the methods provided by the second aspect; when the apparatus is a second network apparatus, the processor executes the computer-executable instructions to cause the apparatus to implement any one of the methods provided in the third aspect. The device may be in the form of a chip product.

In an eighth aspect, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform any one of the methods provided in the first, second or third aspects.

In a ninth aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform any one of the methods provided in the first, second or third aspects.

The beneficial effects of any one implementation manner in any one of the fourth aspect to the ninth aspect may refer to the beneficial effects of the corresponding implementation manners in the first aspect to the third aspect, and are not described herein again.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic architecture diagram of an EPS network according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a connection between network devices according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of an NG mobile communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is a schematic architecture diagram of a 5G network according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 is a schematic hardware structure diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a data processing process according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a flowchart of another communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application;

fig. 9 is a schematic composition diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Where in the description of the present application, "/" indicates an OR meaning, for example, A/B may indicate A or B; "and/or" herein is merely an association describing an associated object, and means that there may be three relationships, e.g., a and/or B, which may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, in the description of the present application, "a plurality" means two or more than two.

The method provided by the embodiment of the application can be applied to a wireless communication system, for example: an Evolved Packet System (EPS) (i.e., a so-called 4G network), a 5G wireless communication system, a New Radio (NR) system, or a Next Generation (NG) mobile communication system.

For example, the network architecture of EPS can be seen in fig. 1, which mainly includes: a terminal, an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) (specifically, an evolved base station (eNodeB)), a Mobility Management Element (MME), a Service Gateway (SGW), a packet data gateway (PGW), a serving general packet radio service support node (SGSN), a Home Subscriber Server (HSS), and a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF).

Referring to fig. 2, EUTRAN is composed of a plurality of enodebs, and is used to implement functions of a wireless physical layer, resource scheduling and radio resource management, radio access control, and mobility management. The enodebs may be connected via an X2 interface and may be used to transmit data during an X2-based handover. The eNodeB is connected to the SGW through a user plane interface S1-U, and transmits user data using a general packet radio service tunneling protocol user plane (GTP-U for short); the MME is connected with the control plane interface S1, and the functions of radio access bearer control and the like are realized by adopting an S1 application layer (S1-application, S1-AP for short) protocol.

The MME is mainly responsible for all control plane functions of Session (Session) management, including non-access stratum (NAS) signaling and security, management of tracking area list (tracking area list), selection of PGW and SGW, and the like.

The SGW is mainly responsible for data transmission, forwarding, route switching, etc. of the terminal, and serves as a local mobility anchor point when the terminal is switched between enodebs (for each terminal, only one SGW serves it at each time).

The PGW serves as an anchor point for Packet Data Network (PDN) connection, and is responsible for allocating an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the terminal, filtering a data packet of the terminal, controlling a rate, generating charging information, and the like.

The SGSN is an access node of a 2G access network GSM/EDGE radio access network (GERAN for short), a 3G access network universal terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN for short) and an EPS core network (evolved packet core (EPC for short)), and is responsible for establishing a bearer from the GERAN, UTRAN to the EPC and forwarding data. Among them, GSM is a global system for mobile communication (GSM) system, and EDGE is enhanced data rate for GSM evolution (enhanced data for GSM evolution) technology.

The HSS is used to store subscription data of mobile subscribers.

The PCRF is responsible for charging management and policy control, including Policy and Charging Control (PCC) rules and QoS rules.

For an exemplary architecture of the NG mobile communication system, see fig. 3. The NG system includes AN NG terminal, a NG (radio) access network (R) AN for short, a NG core network (core) and a data network (DN for short). The NG terminal, NG (r) AN, and NG core network are the main components in the architecture, and logically these network elements may include two parts, namely, a user plane (UP for short) and a control plane (CP for short), where the control plane is responsible for the management of the mobile network and the user plane is responsible for the transmission of service data.

Wherein the NG2 reference point is located between the NG (r) AN control plane and the NG core network control plane, the NG3 reference point is located between the NG (r) AN user plane and the NG core network user plane, and the NG6 reference point is located between the NG core network user plane and the DN.

The NG terminal is an entrance for interaction between a mobile user and a network, can provide basic computing capacity and storage capacity, displays a business window for the user, and accepts operation input of the user. The NG terminal establishes signal connection and data connection with the NG (R) AN by adopting a next generation air interface technology, thereby transmitting control signals and service data to the mobile network.

The NG (R) AN is similar to a base station in a traditional network, is deployed at a position close to AN NG terminal, provides a network access function for authorized users in a specific area, and can transmit user data by using transmission tunnels with different qualities according to the level of the users, the service requirements and the like. The NG (R) AN can manage the resources of the AN, reasonably utilize the resources, provide access service for the NG terminal according to needs and forward control signals and user data between the NG terminal and the core network.

And the NG core network is responsible for maintaining the subscription data of the mobile network, managing the network elements of the mobile network, and providing functions of session management, mobility management, policy management, security authentication and the like for the NG terminal. Providing network access authentication for the NG terminal when the NG terminal is attached; when the NG terminal has a service request, network resources are distributed to the NG terminal; when the NG terminal moves, network resources are updated for the NG terminal; when the NG terminal is idle, a fast recovery mechanism is provided for the NG terminal; releasing network resources for the NG terminal when the NG terminal is detached; when the NG terminal has service data, providing a data routing function for the NG terminal, such as forwarding uplink data to DN; or receive downstream data from the DN and forward to the NG (r) AN for transmission to the NG terminal.

The DN is a data network providing a service for a user, and generally, the client is located at the NG terminal, and the server is located at the data network. The data network may be a private network, such as a local area network, or an external network that is not controlled by an operator, such as the internet (internet), or a private network that is co-deployed by an operator, such as for configuring an internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) service.

As for the 5G network architecture determined based on fig. 3, referring to fig. 4, the 5G network may include the following multiple Network Functions (NF) entities: AN authentication server function (AUSF) network element, AN access and mobility management function (AMF) network element, a DN, a Unified Data Management (UDM) network element, a Policy Control Function (PCF) network element, (R) AN apparatus, a User Plane Function (UPF) network element, a terminal, AN Application Function (AF) network element, and a Session Management Function (SMF) network element.

It is understood that fig. 4 is only an exemplary architecture diagram, and besides the functional entities shown in fig. 4, the 5G network architecture may further include other functional entities, for example, a network open function (NEF) entity may be further included between the AF entity and the PCF entity.

The core network UP comprises UPF, and the core network CP comprises AUSF, AMF, SMF, UDM, PCF and AF.

Wherein, the UPF is used for executing user data packet forwarding according to the routing rule of the SMF. The AUSF is used to perform security authentication of the terminal. The AMF is used for access management and mobility management of the terminal. The SMF is used for session management of the terminal. UDMs are used to manage the subscription context of users. The PCF is used for policy management for the user. The AF is used for application management for the user.

As shown in fig. 5, a schematic diagram of a hardware structure of a network device 50 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is provided, where the network device 50 may be a terminal or a base station, and the network device 50 includes at least one processor 501, a communication bus 502, a memory 503, and at least one communication interface 504.

The processor 501 may be a general processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more ics for controlling the execution of programs according to the present disclosure.

The communication bus 502 may include a path that conveys information between the aforementioned components.

The communication interface 504, which may be any transceiver or other communication device, is used for communicating with other devices or communication networks, such as ethernet, RAN, Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN), and so on.

The memory 503 may be a read-only memory (ROM) or other types of static storage devices that can store static information and instructions, a Random Access Memory (RAM) or other types of dynamic storage devices that can store information and instructions, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compact disc, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc, blu-ray disc, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited to such. The memory may be self-contained and coupled to the processor via a bus. The memory may also be integral to the processor.

The memory 503 is used for storing application program codes for executing the scheme of the application, and the processor 501 controls the execution. The processor 501 is configured to execute the application program code stored in the memory 503, so as to implement the method provided by the embodiment of the present application.

In particular implementations, processor 501 may include one or more CPUs such as CPU0 and CPU1 in fig. 5 as an example.

In particular implementations, network device 50 may include multiple processors, such as processor 501 and processor 508 in fig. 5, for example, as an embodiment. Each of these processors may be a single-core (single-CPU) processor or a multi-core (multi-CPU) processor. A processor herein may refer to one or more devices, circuits, and/or processing cores for processing data (e.g., computer program instructions).

In one embodiment, the network apparatus 50 may further include an output device 505 and an input device 506.

PDCP is a radio transport protocol stack that can guarantee ordered data transmission between a terminal and an access network device by reordering data. Specifically, referring to fig. 6, in the process of performing access network device handover by the terminal, the terminal may switch the serving access network device from the source access network device to the target access network device. The source access network device is an access network device serving the terminal before the terminal is switched, and the target access network device is an access network device serving the terminal after the terminal is switched. During the handover, the terminal establishes a forwarding bearer based on the old path (S1 bearer, radio bearer (RB for short) and the like) in a 1:1 proportional relationship.

During the handover process, data is processed by the following process: (1) the source access network device preferentially transmits PDCP data which are not transmitted in the source access network device to the target access network device on a forwarding path, wherein the PDCP data are data subjected to PDCP layer packet packaging; (2) the source access network device transmits new downlink data sent by UP on the old path to the target access network device on the forwarding path, wherein the new downlink data is data which does not pass through PDCP layer sub-packet; (3) when UP switches the downlink path, an end mark (end marker) is sent on the old path, the end mark is used for indicating that the data on the old path is sent completely, and the source access network device stops sending the data on the forwarding path according to the end mark; (4) the target access network device preferentially processes the data received on the forwarding path; (5) if the target access network device receives the downlink data sent on the new path before receiving the end mark, the target access network device buffers the downlink data; (6) the target access network device receives the end mark, and continues to process the buffered data by adopting the maximum Sequence Number (SN) number of the PDCP processed before the end mark is received. Data forwarding during the handover process is processed in this order, so that the end marker can assist the target access network device in reordering data.

The method provided by the embodiment of the application carries the reordering indication (delivery order) information to the access network device through UP, and the access network device decides whether to execute the reordering function for the downlink data during terminal switching according to the UP data information.

An embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, as shown in fig. 7, the method may include:

701. the first network device receives downlink data.

Illustratively, the first network device may be a UPF. The first network device may receive downstream data from the DN.

702. The first network device determines a Service Data Flow (SDF) filter that matches the downlink data.

And part or all of the information contained in the SDF filter matched with the downlink data is the same as part or all of the information in the message header of the downlink data. The information in the header of the downlink data and the information included in the SDF filter include information such as a source IP address, a destination IP address, a source port, and a destination port.

703. And the first network device adds labels to the downlink data according to the reordering indication information corresponding to the SDF filter.

Wherein, the reordering indication information is used for indicating whether the SDF needs to be reordered; if the reordering indication information indicates that the SDF needs to be reordered, the label is a first label; if the reordering indication information indicates that the SDF does not need to be reordered, the tag is a second tag.

The SDF may be an SDF identified by the SDF filter, or an SDF identified by another method. The tag may be added in the header of the downstream data.

Optionally, the method may further include: and the first network device determines reordering indication information corresponding to the SDF filter according to the SDF filter. This alternative method may be performed before step 703.

Optionally, the first network device may determine reordering indication information corresponding to the SDF filter according to a correspondence between the SDF filter and the reordering indication information. The SDF filter and the reordering indication information may be in one-to-one correspondence, or a plurality of SDF filters may correspond to one piece of reordering indication information.

For example, if there are 4 SDF filters, which are SDF filter 1, SDF filter 2, SDF filter 3, and SDF filter 4, the reordering indication information thereof can be shown in table 1. If the reordering indication information corresponding to the SDF1 and the SDF3 are the same, and the reordering indication information corresponding to the SDF2 and the SDF4 are the same, the reordering indication information corresponding to the 4 SDF filters can be referred to table 2.

TABLE 1

SDF filter	Reordering indication information
		SDF Filter
1	Reordering indication information 1
		SDF Filter 2	Reordering indication information 2
SDF Filter 3	Reordering indication information 3
		SDF Filter 4	Reordering indication information 4

TABLE 2

Optionally, before step 703, the method may further include: 11) the second network device obtains the corresponding relation between the SDF filter and the reordering indication information and sends the SDF filter and the reordering indication information to the first network device; 12) the first network device receives the SDF filter and reordering indication information from the second network device. It should be noted that, after receiving the SDF filter and the reordering indication information, the first network device defaults that there is a corresponding relationship.

For example, the correspondence between the SDF filter and the reordering indication information can be found in table 1 or table 2.

Illustratively, the second network device may be an SMF.

Step 11) in a specific implementation, the second network device may receive the reordering indication information and the SDF filter from the PCF, in which case, the second network device determines that there is a correspondence between the received SDF filter and the reordering indication information. The PCF may determine the SDF filter and reordering indication information according to some rules or policies, and may also obtain the SDF filter and reordering indication information from the NEF.

Illustratively, the reordering indication information and the SDF filter sent by the PCF to the second network device may be included in a PCC rule (rule). Rules or other information related to the session may also be included in the PCC rules.

It should be noted that, after the second network device receives the reordering indication information from the PCF, the second network device may bind the SDF with the same reordering indication information to a Qos flow, where the granularity of the reordering indication is equivalent to the Qos flow granularity. If the reordering indication information is the same for all SDFs in a session, the granularity of control is equal to the session granularity.

704. And the first network device sends the downlink data added with the label to the access network device. Correspondingly, the access network device receives downlink data, and the downlink data carries a label.

The first label is used for indicating the access network device to reorder the downlink data, and the second label is used for indicating the access network device not to reorder the downlink data.

Optionally, the receiving, by the access network device, the downlink data includes receiving, by a Service Data Aggregation Protocol (SDAP) layer of the access network device, the downlink data.

705. And the access network device determines whether to reorder the downlink data according to the label.

Optionally, step 705 may include, when implemented specifically: and the SDAP layer of the access network device determines whether to reorder the downlink data according to the label.

Specifically, the access network device may determine whether to reorder the downlink data according to a tag in a header of the downlink data. Optionally, step 705 may include, when implemented specifically: if the label is the first label, the access network device determines to reorder the downlink data according to the label, specifically, the access network device may determine to reorder the downlink data according to the label by the SDAP layer; or, if the tag is the second tag, the access network device determines not to reorder the downlink data according to the tag, specifically, the access network device may determine not to reorder the downlink data according to the tag by the SDAP layer of the access network device.

Optionally, if the SDAP layer of the access network device determines to reorder the downlink data according to the tag, the method may further include: the SDAP layer of the access network device sends first indication information to the PDCP layer of the access network device, and the first indication information is used for indicating the PDCP layer to reorder downlink data.

If the access network device is a source access network device and the reordering indication information is used to indicate that the SDF needs to be reordered, the method may further include: 21) the first network device sends end mark information to the access network device, and the end mark information is used for assisting the target access network device in reordering; 22) and the SDAP layer of the access network device receives the end mark information, the access network device sends the end mark information to the target access network device on the forwarding path, and the end mark information is used for assisting the target access network device to reorder. Steps 21) and 22) may be performed after step 704.

If the access network device is a target access network device, the method may further include: 31) the source access network device sends end mark information to the target access network device on the forwarding path, and the end mark information is used for assisting the reordering of the access network device; 32) and the SDAP layer of the access network device receives the end marking information from the source access network device and sends second indication information to the PDCP layer of the access network device according to the end marking information, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating the completion of the data transmission on the forwarding path to the PDCP layer of the access network device.

In both cases, the downlink data may be the last data sent by the first network device to the access network device.

The source access network device is a source base station of a terminal receiving downlink data in the process of switching base stations, the target access network device is a target base station of the terminal receiving the downlink data in the process of switching base stations, and the forwarding path is a path between the source base station and the target base station.

In a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), a reordering indication parameter is defined, which can only be notified to RAN through a signaling plane at present, the granularity of the reordering indication can only reach QoS flow, and the granularity of the reordering indication cannot be flexibly adjusted. The method provided by the embodiment of the application can transmit the reordering indication information through the user plane, and can flexibly adjust the granularity of the reordering indication by binding the SDF with the same reordering indication information with the QoS flow.

In the 5G network, since the QoS flow is bound to the session by the SMF when the PDU session is established or modified, the SMF needs to make clear whether the QoS flow needs to reorder transmission when the PDU session is established or modified. However, the QoS Profile defined in the current 5G standard does not include the reordering indication parameter. The method provided by the embodiment of the application does not need the core network to transmit the reordering indication information through the signaling, and can reduce the signaling overhead.

In the embodiment of the present application, the granularity of the reordering indication is the SDF granularity, and if the SMF is to modify a session continuity attribute of an SDF in a protocol data unit (PDU for short) session, the SMF may directly send an update indication to the UPF, and it is not necessary to notify the RAN side, so that the signaling overhead from the core network to the RAN may be reduced.

According to the method provided by the embodiment of the application, the access network device can determine whether to reorder the downlink data according to the label carried by the downlink data, and the label carried by the downlink data is determined according to the reordering indication information corresponding to the SDF filter matched with the downlink data, so that the reordering indication of the SDF granularity is realized, the network can determine whether to reorder the downlink data belonging to the SDF according to the requirement of the SDF, and the requirements of different services are met.

The method provided by the above embodiment is exemplarily described below through specific steps, wherein a local policy for reordering may be configured in the AN/SMF/PCF, and subscription data of the terminal may be configured in the UDM, and the following description is given by taking the above method as AN example in the PDU session establishment or modification process, referring to fig. 8, and the method may include:

801. and the SMF acquires the subscription data of the terminal from the UDM.

Wherein the subscription data of the terminal may comprise a granularity of the reordering indication. For example, the granularity of the reordering indication may be terminal granularity, in which case, data of all services of the terminal are reordered. The granularity of the reordering indication may also be a Qos flow type, for example, when the Qos flow type is a Guaranteed Bit Rate (GBR) flow, data of the type of traffic of the terminal is reordered uniformly. The granularity of the reordering indication may also be 5G QoS identifier (5G QoS identifier, abbreviated as 5QI), in which case, the data of the traffic of the type corresponding to the 5QI QoS flow are all reordered.

802. The SMF sends the subscription data of the terminal to the PCF. Accordingly, the PCF receives the subscription data of the terminal from the SMF.

803. The PCF collects service related information from an AF/Unified Database (UDR)/NEF/network data analysis functional entity (NWDAF).

The service-related information may include at least one of SDF attributes such as SDF filter, service fields (entertainment, finance, real-time communication, news, monitoring, etc.), service type (video, web browsing, telephone, game, etc.), service reliability protocol (quick user data protocol internet connections, QUIC for short)/multiple transmission control protocol (MPTCP for short)/distributed mobility management (DMM for short), whether a service may drop a packet, and the like, and may further include statistical information of service granularity, such as which services may drop a packet in which fields, and which services may seriously affect user experience if a packet is dropped, and the like.

804. The PCF determines whether the SDF needs to be reordered in the process of switching the base station by the terminal according to the subscription data, the service related information and the local strategy of the terminal.

In particular, the PCF may determine whether the SDF needs to be reordered according to one or more of subscription data of the terminal, service-related information, and local policy.

For example, if the PCF determines whether the SDF needs to be reordered according to the local policy, the PCF may determine that the Qos flow type is data reordering in the SDF of the GBR flow service when the granularity indicated by the reordering is GBR flow. If the PCF determines whether the SDF needs to be reordered according to the service type in the service-related information, the PCF may determine the reordering of data in the SDF for video services and telephony services because the video and telephony have a higher requirement for session continuity.

Specifically, there may be a plurality of SDFs, and the PCF may determine, for each SDF, whether the SDF needs to be reordered in the process of performing base station handover by the terminal according to the subscription data of the terminal, the service-related information, and the local policy.

805. The PCF sends the SMF reordering indication information and SDF filter. Accordingly, the SMF receives the reordering indication information and the SDF filter from the PCF. After the SMF receives the reordering indication information and the SDF filter, the default SDF filter and the reordering indication information have a corresponding relation.

Illustratively, the reordering indication information sent by the PCF to the SMF may be included in the PCC rule.

It should be noted that the SDF filter and the reordering indication information may be provided or generated by any one of the SMF, PCF, or AF. In this embodiment, the method provided in the above embodiment is exemplarily described by taking the example that the SDF filter and the reordering indication information are generated by PCF.

806. The SMF transmits the SM message to the AMF via an N11 message. Wherein, the SM message is encapsulated in the N11 message.

807. The AMF transmits the SM message to the RAN through an N2 message.

Where the N2 message encapsulates the SM message, which is used to establish the session context and synchronize the session context in the network to the terminal.

808. And the RAN sends RRC signaling to the terminal according to the SM message. Accordingly, the terminal receives RRC signaling from the RAN.

Wherein, the RRC signaling includes an SM message.

809. The terminal configures the session context according to the SM message in the RRC signaling, and establishes session transmission resources according to the RRC signaling.

810. The terminal sends an SM response message to the RAN. Accordingly, the RAN receives an SM response message from the terminal.

811. The RAN sends an SM response message to the AMF via an N2 message. Accordingly, the AMF acquires the SM response message according to the N2 message.

Wherein the SM response message is encapsulated in the N2 message.

812. The AMF transmits the SM response message to the SMF through the N11 message. Correspondingly, the SMF acquires the SM response message from the N11 message, and determines that the session context configuration in the terminal is completed according to the SM response message.

Wherein the SM response message is encapsulated in the N11 message.

813. The SMF transmits an N4 message to the UPF including the SDF filter and reordering indication information. Accordingly, the UPF obtains filter and reordering indication information for the SDF. After the UPF receives the N4 message, the UPF defaults to the SDF filter and reordering indication information included in the N4 message to have correspondence.

In a specific implementation, the data in all SDFs may not be reordered by default, and reordering indication information may be included when a certain SDF is determined to be reordered, in which case the reordering indication information is used to indicate reordering of the data in the SDF.

The N4 message may further include an SDF priority (precedence), a QoS Flow Identifier (QFI), a Radioactive QoS Identifier (RQI), a transport level packet marking (RQI), QoS information, and the like.

814. And the UPF adds a label to the received downlink data according to the SDF filter and the reordering indication information.

The label can be marked on a tunnel message header of an N3 interface; or the data can be printed on the inner layer message header of the data.

If the reordering indication information indicates that the SDF needs to be reordered, the label is a first label; if the reordering indication information indicates that the SDF does not need to be reordered, the tag is a second tag.

815. And the UPF sends the downlink data added with the label to the RAN. Accordingly, the RAN receives downlink data, which carries the tag.

816. And the SDAP layer of the RAN determines whether to reorder the downlink data according to the label carried by the downlink data.

If the label is the first label, the RAN determines to reorder the downlink data according to the label; or, if the label is the second label, the RAN determines not to reorder the downlink data according to the label.

If it is determined that the downlink data is to be reordered, step 817 is performed.

817. The SDAP layer of the RAN sends first indication information to the PDAP layer, and the PDCP layer of the RAN is indicated to execute a reordering function.

The method shown in fig. 8 may also be completed in other signaling flows, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

The scheme provided by the embodiment of the application is mainly introduced from the perspective of a method. It is understood that the network device includes hardware structures and/or software modules for performing the respective functions in order to realize the functions. Those of skill in the art would readily appreciate that the various illustrative elements and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as hardware or combinations of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is performed as hardware or computer software drives hardware depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the solution. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present application.

In the embodiment of the present application, the network device may be divided into the functional modules according to the method example, for example, each functional module may be divided corresponding to each function, or two or more functions may be integrated into one processing module. The integrated module can be realized in a hardware mode, and can also be realized in a software functional module mode. It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, the division of the module is schematic, and is only one logic function division, and there may be another division manner in actual implementation.

For example, in the case of using integrated functional modules, fig. 9 shows a schematic structural diagram of a network device involved in the foregoing embodiment, where the network device may be the first network device or the access network device, and referring to fig. 9, fig. 9 may include: a processing unit 901 and a communication unit 902, and may further include a storage unit 903.

When the network device is a first network device, the processing unit 901 is configured to perform control management on an action of the first network device, for example, the processing unit 901 is configured to support the first network device to perform the actions performed by the first network device in steps 701 and 704 in fig. 7, step 813 and 815 in fig. 8, and/or other processes described in this embodiment. The communication unit 902 is configured to support the first network device to communicate with other network devices, for example, the access network device in fig. 7. The storage unit 903 is used to store program codes and data of the first network device.

When the network device is an access network device, the processing unit 901 is configured to perform control management on actions of the access network device, for example, the processing unit 901 is configured to support the access network device to perform steps 704 and 705 in fig. 7, steps 815 and 817 in fig. 8, and/or actions performed by the access network device in other processes described in this embodiment. The communication unit 902 is configured to support the access network device to communicate with other network devices, for example, the first network device in fig. 7. The storage unit 903 is used to store program codes and data of the access network devices.

The processing unit 901 may be a processor or a controller, and the communication unit 902 may be a communication interface, a transceiver circuit, and the like, where the communication interface is generally referred to and may include one or more interfaces. The storage unit 903 may be a memory. When the processing unit 901 is a processor, the communication unit 902 is a communication interface, and the storage unit 903 is a memory, the network device according to the embodiment of the present application may be the network device shown in fig. 5.

When the network device shown in fig. 5 is a first network device, the processor 501 is configured to control and manage the actions of the first network device, for example, the processor 501 is configured to support the first network device to perform the actions performed by the first network device in steps 701 and 704 in fig. 7, step 813 and 815 in fig. 8, and/or other processes described in this embodiment. The communication interface 504 is used to support the first network device in communicating with other network devices, for example, the access network device in fig. 7. The memory 503 is used to store program codes and data of the first network device.

When the network device shown in fig. 5 is an access network device, the processor 501 is configured to control and manage actions of the access network device, for example, the processor 501 is configured to support the access network device to perform steps 704 and 705 in fig. 7, steps 815 and 817 in fig. 8, and/or actions performed by the access network device in other processes described in this embodiment. The communication interface 504 is used to support the access network device in communicating with other network devices, for example, the first network device in fig. 7. The memory 503 is used for storing program codes and data of the access network device.

Embodiments of the present application also provide a computer-readable storage medium, which includes instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the above-mentioned method.

Embodiments of the present application also provide a computer program product containing instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the above method.

In the above embodiments, the implementation may be wholly or partially realized by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using a software program, may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. The procedures or functions described in accordance with the embodiments of the present application are all or partially generated upon loading and execution of computer program instructions on a computer. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a network of computers, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored on a computer readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer readable storage medium to another computer readable storage medium, for example, the computer instructions may be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wire (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)), or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or can comprise one or more data storage devices, such as a server, a data center, etc., that can be integrated with the medium. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., Solid State Disk (SSD)), among others.

While the present application has been described in connection with various embodiments, other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed application, from a review of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the word "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Although the present application has been described in conjunction with specific features and embodiments thereof, it will be evident that various modifications and combinations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the application. Accordingly, the specification and figures are merely exemplary of the present application as defined in the appended claims and are intended to cover any and all modifications, variations, combinations, or equivalents within the scope of the present application. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made in the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the application. Thus, if such modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents, the present application is intended to include such modifications and variations as well.

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising:

a first network device receives downlink data;

the first network device determines a service data flow SDF filter matched with the downlink data;

the first network device adds a label to the downlink data according to reordering indication information corresponding to the SDF filter, wherein the reordering indication information is used for indicating whether the SDF needs to be reordered; if the reordering indication information indicates that the SDF needs to be reordered, the label is a first label; if the reordering indication information indicates that the SDF does not need to be reordered, the label is a second label;

the first network device sends the downlink data added with the label to an access network device, the first label is used for indicating the access network device to reorder the downlink data, and the second label is used for indicating the access network device not to reorder the downlink data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

and the first network device determines reordering indication information corresponding to the SDF filter according to the SDF filter.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the access network device is a source access network device, and if the reordering indication information is used to indicate that the SDF needs to be reordered, the method further comprises:

the first network device sends end marker information to the access network device, wherein the end marker information is used for assisting the reordering of the target access network device;

the source access network device is a source base station of the terminal receiving the downlink data in the process of switching base stations, and the target access network device is a target base station of the terminal receiving the downlink data in the process of switching base stations.

4. A method of communication, comprising:

an access network device receives downlink data, wherein the downlink data carries a label, the label is determined according to reordering indication information corresponding to an SDF filter matched with the downlink data, and the reordering indication information is used for indicating whether the SDF needs to be reordered or not; if the reordering indication information indicates that the SDF needs to be reordered, the label is a first label; if the reordering indication information indicates that the SDF does not need to be reordered, the label is a second label;

and the access network device determines whether to reorder the downlink data according to the label.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the access network device determining whether to reorder the downlink data according to the tag comprises:

if the label is the first label, the access network device determines to reorder the downlink data according to the label; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

and if the label is the second label, the access network device determines not to reorder the downlink data according to the label.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the receiving downlink data by the access network device comprises:

and the SDAP layer of the access network device receives the downlink data.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the access network device determining whether to reorder the downlink data according to the tag comprises:

and the SDAP layer of the access network device determines whether to reorder the downlink data according to the label.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein if the SDAP layer of the access network device determines to reorder the downlink data according to the tag, the method further comprises:

and the SDAP layer of the access network device sends first indication information to a data packet convergence protocol (PDCP) layer of the access network device, wherein the first indication information is used for indicating the PDCP layer to reorder the downlink data.

9. The method according to any one of claims 4-8, further comprising:

the access network device is a source access network device, an SDAP layer of the access network device receives end marking information, the access network device sends the end marking information to a target access network device on a forwarding path, and the end marking information is used for assisting the reordering of the target access network device; alternatively, the first and second electrodes may be,

the access network device is the target access network device, the SDAP layer of the access network device receives end marking information from the source access network device and sends second indication information to the PDCP layer of the access network device according to the end marking information, and the second indication information is used for indicating that the data on the forwarding path is sent to the PDCP layer of the access network device;

the source access network device is a source base station of the terminal receiving the downlink data in the process of switching base stations, the target access network device is a target base station of the terminal receiving the downlink data in the process of switching base stations, and the forwarding path is a path between the source base station and the target base station.

10. A communication apparatus comprising a processor, a memory, the processor executing program code stored in the memory to implement the method of any of claims 1 to 3.

11. A communication apparatus comprising a processor, a memory, the processor executing program code stored in the memory to implement the method of any of claims 4 to 9.