CN113873454B

CN113873454B - Communication method and device

Info

Publication number: CN113873454B
Application number: CN202010622136.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 潘奇; 黄正磊; 孙海洋
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-06-30
Filing date: 2020-06-30
Publication date: 2023-06-20
Anticipated expiration: 2040-06-30
Also published as: CN113873454A; WO2022002119A1

Abstract

The application provides a communication method and device. In this application, the session management network element may associate the first charging key value with the first traffic information, where the first traffic information and the first charging key value may be used for determining a cost for transmitting data of the first service on the first link. And the SMF may associate the second charging key with the second traffic information, the second traffic information and the second charging key being usable for determination of a cost of the second link transmitting the data of the first service. Therefore, the network side is supported to carry out flow statistics and charging for different links of the same service, and higher-precision and finer-granularity flow statistics are realized.

Description

Communication method and device

Technical Field

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

Background

In the current mobile communication technology, a terminal (UE) may transmit service data through a protocol data unit (protocol data unit, PDU) session. Generally, a PDU session is associated to a link (or data bearer) comprising a UE, an access network element, and a user plane element. The network can carry out flow statistics on the service data transmitted through the PDU session, and is used for realizing the functions of flow statistics, charging and the like.

In order to improve the throughput of UE traffic data, there is a need to support the same terminal to transmit traffic data over multiple different links and to provide quality of service (quality of service, qoS) guarantees for each link at the same time, wherein the paths of the different links to the access network element may be different, e.g. the different links correspond to different relay devices.

When service data is transmitted through a plurality of links, the network cannot distinguish the data volume of the service data transmitted by each link, but can only carry out flow statistics according to PDU session, and the flow statistics mode needs to be improved.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a communication method and a communication device, which are used for improving a flow statistics mode when a plurality of links transmit service data.

In a first aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method that may be implemented by a session management network element or a component (e.g., a chip, a circuit, etc.) of the session management network element. The session management network element may be a session management function (session management function, SMF).

According to the method, the session management network element may send first information to the policy management network element, the first information comprising at least information of a first link and information of a second link, the first link and the second link being used for transmitting data of a first service of the terminal device. The session management network element receives charging key value information from the policy management network element, wherein the charging key value information comprises a first charging key value and a second charging key value, the charging key value information is determined at least according to the first information, the first charging key value corresponds to the first link, and the second charging key value corresponds to the second link. The session management network element may further obtain first traffic information indicating the data amount of the first service transmitted through the first link and second traffic information indicating the data amount of the first service transmitted through the second link, the first traffic information and the first charging key value being used for determination of a cost of the first link transmitting the data of the first service, the second traffic information and the second charging key value being used for determination of a cost of the second link transmitting the data of the first service.

By adopting the method, the session management network element can correlate the first charging key value with the first flow information, and the first flow information and the first charging key value can be used for determining the cost of the first link for transmitting the data of the first service. And the SMF may associate the second charging key with the second traffic information, the second traffic information and the second charging key being usable for determination of a cost of the second link transmitting the data of the first service. Therefore, the network side is supported to carry out flow statistics and charging for different links of the same service, and higher-precision and finer-granularity flow statistics are realized.

In one possible design, the first information includes one or more of the second information, the third information, or the first indication information. The second information is used for indicating the proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link to the data volume of the first service. The third information is used for indicating the proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the data volume of the first service. The first indication information is used for indicating at least data of the first service of the terminal equipment to be transmitted through the first link and the second link. In addition, the first information may further include information of the relay device of the first link and/or information of the relay device of the second link. Here, the information of the relay device may include an identification (relay UE ID) of the relay terminal.

In one possible design, the second information and the third information may come from the terminal device or an access network element to which the terminal device is connected via the first link and the second link.

In one possible design, the session management network element may receive third traffic information from the user plane network element, the third traffic information indicating the data volume of the first service. The session management network element may determine the first traffic information according to the second information and the third traffic information, and determine the second traffic information according to the third information and the third traffic information. By adopting the design, the session management network element can determine the first flow information and the second flow information in a calculation mode, the statistical efficiency of the flow information is improved, the user plane network element side only needs to obtain the third flow information according to the existing statistical flow mode, and the user plane network element side has small change and convenient implementation.

In one possible design, the session management network element may receive the first identity and the second identity from the terminal device. Wherein the first identifier corresponds to data transmitted over the first link and the second identifier corresponds to data transmitted over the second link. Alternatively, the session management network element may send the first identity and the second identity to an access network element.

In one possible design, the session management network element may also send the first identity and the second identity to a user plane network element. The first identifier is used for determining the data amount of the first service transmitted through the first link, and the second identifier is used for determining the data amount of the first service transmitted through the second link. The session management network element may receive the first traffic information and the second traffic information from the user plane network element. By adopting the design, the session management network element can be used for configuring the user plane network element to count the first flow information and the second flow information so as to improve the counting precision.

In one possible design, the session management network element may receive the first traffic information and the second traffic information from an access network element, the terminal device being connected to the access network element by the first link and the second link. By adopting the design, the first flow information and the second flow information can be counted by the network element of the access network, and the network side is changed less, so that the implementation is convenient.

In a second aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method that may be performed by a policy management network element or a component thereof. The policy management network element may comprise a policy control function (policy control function, PCF).

According to the method, the policy management network element may receive first information from the session management network element, the first information including at least information of a first link and information of a second link, the first link and the second link being used for transmitting data of a first service of the terminal device. The policy management network element sends a first charging key value and a second charging key value to the user plane network element, wherein the charging key value information comprises a first charging key value and a second charging key value, the charging key value information is determined at least according to the first information, the first charging key value corresponds to the first link, and the second charging key value corresponds to the second link.

In one possible design, the first information includes one or more of the second information, the third information, or the first indication information. The second information is used for indicating the proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link to the data volume of the first service. The third information is used for indicating the proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the data volume of the first service. The first indication information is used for indicating at least data of the first service of the terminal equipment to be transmitted through the first link and the second link. In addition, the first information may further include information of the relay device of the first link and/or information of the relay device of the second link. The information of the relay device may here include an identification of the relay terminal.

In a third aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, which may be performed by a user plane network element or a component thereof. The user plane network element may comprise a user plane (user plane funtion, UPF).

According to the method, the user plane network element may receive a first identity and a second identity from the session management network element. The user plane network element determines first traffic information according to the first identifier, the first traffic information indicating data volume of a first service transmitted through a first link, and determines second traffic information according to the second identifier, the second traffic information indicating data volume of the first service transmitted through a second link, the first link and the second link being used for transmitting data of the first service of a terminal device. The user plane network element sends the first traffic information and the second traffic information to the session management network element.

In one possible design, the first identifier corresponds to data transmitted over the first link and the second identifier corresponds to data transmitted over the second link.

In a fourth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, which may be performed by a terminal device or a component thereof. The terminal device may comprise a UE.

According to the method, the terminal device may send a first identity to the session management network element, the first identity being usable for determination of the amount of data of the first service transmitted over the first link, and a second identity being usable for determination of the amount of data of the first service transmitted over the second link; wherein the first link and the second link are used for transmitting data of the first service of the terminal device.

In one possible design, the terminal device may send a packet of the first service through the first link, where the packet of the first service sent through the first link includes the first identifier. The terminal device may further send a data packet of the first service through the second link, where the data packet of the first service sent through the second link includes the second identifier.

In one possible design, the terminal device may also send the first identity and the second identity to an access network element, the terminal device being connected to the access network element by the first link and the second link.

In a fifth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, which may be performed by a terminal device or a component thereof. The terminal device may comprise a UE.

According to the method, the terminal device may send transmission duty ratio information to the session management network element, where the transmission duty ratio information includes at least second information and third information, where the second information is used to indicate a proportion of a data volume of a first service transmitted by a first link to a data volume of the first service, and the third information is used to indicate a proportion of a data volume of the first service transmitted by a second link to a data volume of the first service. The terminal device transmits data of the first service at least through the first link and the second link according to the transmission duty ratio information.

In a sixth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, which may be performed by an access network element or a component thereof. The access network elements may include (radio) access network (R) AN elements, such as base stations.

According to the method, the access network element may receive data packets of a first service from the terminal device over a first link and receive data packets of the first service from the terminal device over a second link. The access network element adds a first identifier to the data packet of the first service received through the first link, the first identifier being used for determining the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link, and the access network element adds a second identifier to the data packet of the first service received through the second link, the second identifier being used for determining the data volume of the first service transmitted through the second link.

In one possible design, the access network element may receive the first identity and the second identity from the terminal device. Or the access network element receives the first identifier and the second identifier from the session management network element.

In a seventh aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, which may be performed by an access network element or a component thereof. The access network elements may comprise (R) AN network elements, such as base stations.

According to the method, the access network element may receive data packets of a first service from the terminal device over a first link and receive data packets of the first service from the terminal device over a second link. The access network element may further determine second information and third information according to the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link, where the second information is used to indicate a proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link to the data volume of the first service, and the third information is used to indicate a proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the data volume of the first service. The access network element sends the second information and the third information to the session management network element.

In one possible design, the link information of the first link includes an identifier of a relay device corresponding to the first link, and/or a first identifier, where the first identifier is included in a data packet of the first service transmitted by the first link. The link information of the second link includes an identifier of the relay device corresponding to the second link and/or a second identifier, where the second identifier is included in the data packet of the first service transmitted by the second link.

In an eighth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a communication method, which may be performed by an access network element or a component thereof. The access network elements may comprise (R) AN network elements, such as base stations.

According to the method, the access network element may receive data packets of a first service from the terminal device over a first link and receive data packets of the first service from the terminal device over a second link. The access network element determines first traffic information and second traffic information according to the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link. The first traffic information is used to indicate the amount of data of the first traffic transmitted over the first link, and the second traffic information is used to indicate the amount of data of the first traffic transmitted over the second link. The access network element sends the first traffic information and the second traffic information to a session management network element.

In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a communications device operable to perform the steps performed by the session management network element or a component thereof in any one of the possible designs of the first aspect or the first aspect described above. The communication device may implement the functions of the methods described above in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or both.

When formed of software modules, the communication device may include a communication module and a processing module coupled to each other, where the communication module may be used to support communication by the communication device, and the processing module may be used to perform processing operations by the communication device, such as generating information/messages to be sent, or processing received signals to obtain the information/messages.

When implementing the method of the first aspect, the communication module may send first information to the policy management network element, where the first information includes at least information of a first link and information of a second link, where the first link and the second link are used to transmit data of a first service of the terminal device. The communication module may further receive charging key information from the policy management network element, where the charging key information includes a first charging key and a second charging key, where the charging key information is determined at least according to the first information, the first charging key corresponds to the first link, and the second charging key corresponds to the second link. The processing module may obtain first traffic information indicating an amount of data of the first service transmitted through the first link and second traffic information indicating an amount of data of the first service transmitted through the second link, the first traffic information and the first billing key being used for determination of a cost of the first link transmitting the data of the first service, the second traffic information and the second billing key being used for determination of a cost of the second link transmitting the data of the first service.

In one possible design, the communication module may receive third traffic information from the user plane network element, the third traffic information indicating an amount of data for the first service. The processing module may determine the first flow information according to the second information and the third flow information, and determine the second flow information according to the third information and the third flow information.

In one possible design, the communication module may receive the first identification and the second identification from the terminal device. Wherein the first identifier corresponds to data transmitted over the first link and the second identifier corresponds to data transmitted over the second link. Alternatively, the session management network element may send the first identity and the second identity to an access network element.

In one possible design, the communication module may also send the first identity and the second identity to a user plane network element. The first identifier is used for determining the data amount of the first service transmitted through the first link, and the second identifier is used for determining the data amount of the first service transmitted through the second link. The communication module may receive the first traffic information and the second traffic information from the user plane network element.

In one possible design, the communication module may receive the first traffic information and the second traffic information from an access network element to which the terminal device is connected via the first link and the second link.

When the communication device of the ninth aspect is implemented by a hardware component, the communication device may include a processor. The steps performed by the session management network element or a component thereof in the above first aspect or in any of the possible designs of the first aspect may be performed by a processor. The communication means may comprise a communication interface (or transceiver, transceiver unit, communication unit) which may be used to support the above means in communication with other devices or means. In particular, the communication interface may be used to support communication by a communication device. When the above means is implemented by a hardware component, the means may further comprise a memory, which may be used for storing a program executable by the processor for performing the steps performed by the above communication means. In particular, the communication interface may be used to perform the steps performed by the communication module in the ninth aspect and/or the processor may be used to perform the steps performed by the processing module in the above ninth aspect.

In a tenth aspect, the present application provides a communications device operable to perform the steps performed by the policy management network element or a component thereof in any of the above second aspects or any of the possible designs of the second aspect. The communication device may implement the functions of the methods described above in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or both.

The communication module may receive first information from the session management network element, the first information including at least information of a first link and information of a second link, the first link and the second link being used for transmitting data of a first service of the terminal device. The communication module may send a first charging key value and a second charging key value to the user plane network element, where the charging key value information includes a first charging key value and a second charging key value, the charging key value information is determined at least according to the first information, the first charging key value corresponds to the first link, and the second charging key value corresponds to the second link. Wherein the first billing key and the second billing key may be determined by the processing module.

When the communication device of the tenth aspect is implemented by a hardware component, the communication device may include a processor. The steps performed by the policy management network element or a component thereof in the second aspect above or in any of the possible designs of the second aspect may be performed by a processor. The communication means may comprise a communication interface operable to support communication of the above means with other devices or means. In particular, the communication interface may be used to support communication by a communication device. When the above means is implemented by a hardware component, the means may further comprise a memory, which may be used for storing a program executable by the processor for performing the steps performed by the above communication means. In particular, the communication interface may be used to perform the steps performed by the communication module in the tenth aspect and/or the processor may be used to perform the steps performed by the processing module in the tenth aspect above.

In an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a communications apparatus operable to perform the steps performed by the user plane network element or a component thereof in any of the possible designs of the third aspect or the third aspect described above. The communication device may implement the functions of the methods described above in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or both.

The communication module may receive the first identification and the second identification from the session management network element. The processing module determines first traffic information according to the first identifier, the first traffic information indicating data volume of a first service transmitted through a first link, and determines second traffic information according to the second identifier, the second traffic information indicating data volume of the first service transmitted through a second link, the first link and the second link being used for transmitting data of the first service of a terminal device. The user plane network element sends the first traffic information and the second traffic information to the session management network element.

When the communication device of the eleventh aspect is implemented by a hardware component, the communication device may comprise a processor. The steps performed by the user plane network element or a component thereof in the above or any of the possible designs of the third aspect may be performed by a processor. The communication means may comprise a communication interface operable to support communication of the above means with other devices or means. In particular, the communication interface may be used to support communication by a communication device. When the above means is implemented by a hardware component, the means may further comprise a memory, which may be used for storing a program executable by the processor for performing the steps performed by the above communication means. In particular, the communication interface may be used to perform the steps performed by the communication module in the eleventh aspect and/or the processor may be used to perform the steps performed by the processing module in the above eleventh aspect.

In a twelfth aspect, the present application provides a communication device operable to perform the steps performed by the terminal apparatus or components thereof in any of the possible designs of the fourth or fourth aspect described above. The communication device may implement the functions of the methods described above in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or both.

The communication module may send a first identification to the session management network element, the first identification being usable for determination of the amount of data of the first service transmitted over the first link, and a second identification being usable for determination of the amount of data of the first service transmitted over the second link; wherein the first link and the second link are used for transmitting data of the first service of the terminal device.

In one possible design, the communication module may send a packet of a first service over the first link, where the packet of the first service sent over the first link includes the first identifier. The communication module may further send a data packet of the first service through the second link, where the data packet of the first service sent through the second link includes the second identifier.

In one possible design, the communication module may further send the first identifier and the second identifier to an access network element, where the terminal device is connected to the access network element through the first link and the second link.

When the communication device of the twelfth aspect is implemented by a hardware component, the communication device may include a processor. The steps performed by the terminal device or a component thereof in the fourth aspect above or in any of the possible designs of the fourth aspect may be performed by a processor. The communication means may comprise a communication interface operable to support communication of the above means with other devices or means. In particular, the communication interface may be used to support communication by a communication device. When the above means is implemented by a hardware component, the means may further comprise a memory, which may be used for storing a program executable by the processor for performing the steps performed by the above communication means. In particular, the communication interface may be used to perform the steps performed by the communication module in the twelfth aspect and/or the processor may be used to perform the steps performed by the processing module in the above twelfth aspect.

In a thirteenth aspect, the present application provides a communication device operable to perform the steps performed by the terminal apparatus or a component thereof in any one of the possible designs of the fifth aspect or the fifth aspect described above. The communication device may implement the functions of the methods described above in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or both.

The communication module may send transmission duty ratio information to the session management network element, where the transmission duty ratio information includes at least second information for indicating a proportion of a data amount of the first service transmitted by the first link to a data amount of the first service, and third information for indicating a proportion of a data amount of the first service transmitted by the second link to a data amount of the first service. The communication module transmits data of the first service at least through the first link and the second link according to the transmission duty ratio information.

When the communication device of the thirteenth aspect is implemented by a hardware component, the communication device may comprise a processor. The steps performed by the terminal device or a component thereof in the fifth aspect above or in any of the possible designs of the fifth aspect may be performed by a processor. The communication means may comprise a communication interface operable to support communication of the above means with other devices or means. In particular, the communication interface may be used to support communication by a communication device. When the above means is implemented by a hardware component, the means may further comprise a memory, which may be used for storing a program executable by the processor for performing the steps performed by the above communication means. In particular, the communication interface may be used to perform the steps performed by the communication module in the thirteenth aspect and/or the processor may be used to perform the steps performed by the processing module in the thirteenth aspect above.

In a fourteenth aspect, the present application provides a communications device operable to perform the steps performed by an access network element or a component thereof in any one of the above-described sixth or sixth possible designs. The communication device may implement the functions of the methods described above in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or both.

The communication module may receive a data packet of a first service from a terminal device over a first link and receive a data packet of the first service from the terminal device over a second link. The processing module adds a first identification in the data packet of the first service received over the first link, the first identification being used for determination of the amount of data of the first service transmitted over the first link, and adds a second identification in the data packet of the first service received over the second link, the second identification being used for determination of the amount of data of the first service transmitted over the second link.

In one possible design, the communication module may receive the first identification and the second identification from the terminal device. Alternatively, the communication module may receive the first identification and the second identification from a session management network element.

When the communication device of the fourteenth aspect is implemented by a hardware component, the communication device may include a processor. The steps performed by the access network element or a component thereof in the sixth aspect above or in any of the possible designs of the sixth aspect may be performed by a processor. The communication means may comprise a communication interface operable to support communication of the above means with other devices or means. In particular, the communication interface may be used to support communication by a communication device. When the above means is implemented by a hardware component, the means may further comprise a memory, which may be used for storing a program executable by the processor for performing the steps performed by the above communication means. In particular, the communication interface may be used to perform the steps performed by the communication module in the fourteenth aspect and/or the processor may be used to perform the steps performed by the processing module in the above fourteenth aspect.

In a fifteenth aspect, the present application provides a communications apparatus operable to perform the steps performed by an access network element or component thereof in any one of the possible designs of the seventh or seventh aspects described above. The communication device may implement the functions of the methods described above in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or both.

The communication module may receive a data packet of a first service from a terminal device over a first link and receive a data packet of the first service from the terminal device over a second link. The access network element may further determine second information and third information according to the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link, where the second information is used to indicate a proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link to the data volume of the first service, and the third information is used to indicate a proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the data volume of the first service. The access network element sends the second information and the third information to the session management network element.

When the communication device of the fifteenth aspect is implemented by a hardware component, the communication device may include a processor. The steps performed by the access network element or a component thereof in the seventh aspect above or in any of the possible designs of the seventh aspect may be performed by a processor. The communication means may comprise a communication interface operable to support communication of the above means with other devices or means. In particular, the communication interface may be used to support communication by a communication device. When the above means is implemented by a hardware component, the means may further comprise a memory, which may be used for storing a program executable by the processor for performing the steps performed by the above communication means. In particular, the communication interface may be used to perform the steps performed by the communication module in the fifteenth aspect and/or the processor may be used to perform the steps performed by the processing module in the fifteenth aspect above.

In a sixteenth aspect, the present application provides a communications device operable to perform the steps performed by the access network element or a component thereof in any one of the possible designs of the eighth or eighth aspects described above. The communication device may implement the functions of the methods described above in the form of hardware structures, software modules, or both.

The communication module may receive a data packet of a first service from a terminal device over a first link and receive a data packet of the first service from the terminal device over a second link. The processing module determines first traffic information and second traffic information according to the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link. The first traffic information is used to indicate the amount of data of the first traffic transmitted over the first link, and the second traffic information is used to indicate the amount of data of the first traffic transmitted over the second link. The communication module sends the first traffic information and the second traffic information to a session management network element.

When the communication device of the sixteenth aspect is implemented by a hardware component, the communication device may comprise a processor. The steps performed by the access network element or a component thereof in the eighth aspect above or in any of the possible designs of the eighth aspect may be performed by a processor. The communication means may comprise a communication interface operable to support communication of the above means with other devices or means. In particular, the communication interface may be used to support communication by a communication device. When the above means is implemented by a hardware component, the means may further comprise a memory, which may be used for storing a program executable by the processor for performing the steps performed by the above communication means. In particular, the communication interface may be used to perform the steps performed by the communication module in the sixteenth aspect and/or the processor may be used to perform the steps performed by the processing module in the above sixteenth aspect.

In a seventeenth aspect, the present application provides a communication system. The communication system may comprise the communication apparatus of the ninth aspect as well as the tenth aspect.

In one possible design, the communication system may further include the communication device of the eleventh aspect and the twelfth aspect.

In one possible design, the communication system may further comprise a communication device as shown in the thirteenth aspect.

In one possible design, the communication system may further include the communication device shown in the eleventh aspect and the fourteenth aspect.

In one possible design, the communication system may further comprise a communication device as shown in the fifteenth aspect.

In one possible design, the communication system may further comprise a communication device as shown in the sixteenth aspect.

In an eighteenth aspect, the present application provides a computer storage medium having instructions (or programs) stored therein, which when invoked for execution on a computer, cause the computer to perform the above-described first aspect or any one of the possible designs, second aspect or any one of the possible designs, fourth aspect or any one of the possible designs, fifth aspect or any one of the possible designs, seventh aspect or any one of the possible designs of the seventh aspect, or the method described in the eighth aspect or any one of the possible designs of the eighth aspect.

In a nineteenth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product which may contain instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the above-described first aspect or any one of the possible designs of the first aspect, the second aspect or any one of the possible designs of the second aspect, the fourth aspect or any one of the possible designs of the fourth aspect, the fifth aspect or any one of the possible designs of the fifth aspect, the sixth aspect or any one of the possible designs of the seventh aspect, or any one of the possible designs of the eighth aspect.

In a twentieth aspect, the present application provides a chip or a chip system comprising a chip, which may include a processor. The chip may also include a memory (or memory module) and/or a communication interface (or communication module). The chip may be adapted to perform any one of the above-described first aspect or any one of the possible designs of the first aspect, any one of the possible designs of the second aspect or any one of the possible designs of the third aspect, any one of the possible designs of the fourth aspect or any one of the possible designs of the fifth aspect, any one of the possible designs of the sixth aspect or any one of the possible designs of the seventh aspect or any one of the possible designs of the eighth aspect or any one of the eighth aspect. The chip system may be formed by the above-described chip, or may include the above-described chip and other discrete devices, such as a memory (or a memory module) and/or a communication interface (or a communication module).

The advantages of the second to twentieth aspects and possible designs thereof described above may be referred to the description of the advantages of the method described in the first aspect and any of the possible designs thereof.

Drawings

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

fig. 2a is a schematic architecture diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2b is a schematic architecture diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is a flow chart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 is a flow chart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a flow chart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

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

fig. 8 is a flow chart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

In order to optimize a traffic statistics manner of multi-link service transmission, the application provides a communication method. The present application will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be appreciated that the specific methods of operation described in the method embodiments described below may also be applied in device embodiments or system embodiments.

The following describes an example of a 5G communication system as shown in fig. 1.

Three parts can be included in the network architecture shown in fig. 1: a terminal, a Data Network (DN) and an operator network.

The operator network may include, among other network elements or entities, policy control functions (policy control function, PCF), unified data repository (unified data repository, UDR), application functions (application function, AF), access and mobility management functions (access and mobility management function, AMF), session management functions (session management function, SMF), radio access network (R AN) network elements, and user plane functions (user plane function, UPF). Of the above-mentioned operator networks, parts other than the (radio) access network may be included in the category of Core Networks (CN). For convenience of explanation, the (R) AN will be hereinafter referred to as RAN as AN example.

The mobility management network element is a control plane network element provided by the operator network, is responsible for access control and mobility management when the terminal accesses the operator network, and has functions such as mobility state management, user temporary identity identification allocation, user authentication and authorization. In 5G, the mobility management element may be an AMF, and in future communications such as the sixth generation (the 6th generation,6G), the mobility management element may still be an AMF, or have other names, which are not limited in this application.

The policy control network element is a control plane function provided by the operator for providing the session management network element with policies for PDU sessions. Policies may include charging related policies, quality of service (quality of service, qoS) related policies, data flow identification and steering (or forwarding) policies, and authorization related policies, among others. In 5G, the policy control element may be a PCF, and in future communications such as 6G, the policy control element may still be a PCF, or have other names, which are not limited in this application.

The session management network element is a control plane network element provided by the operator network and is responsible for managing the PDU session of the terminal, or called PDU session of the terminal. A PDU session is a channel for transmitting PDUs, and the terminals need to transmit PDUs to each other through the PDU session and DN. PDU sessions are responsible for setup, maintenance, deletion, etc. by the SMF. SMF includes session-related functions such as session establishment, modification and release, including tunnel maintenance between UPF and RAN, selection and control of UPF, traffic and session continuity (service and session continuity, SSC) mode selection, roaming, etc. The SMF may be used to select a UPF for serving the user, such as selecting a UPF closer to the base station where the user is located, to reduce the user's packet delay. In 5G, the session management network element may be an SMF, and in future communications such as 6G, the session management network element may still be an SMF, or have other names, which are not limited in this application.

In the application, the session management network element may further insert a Branch Point (BP) and/or an uplink classifier (uplink classifier, UL CL) between the access network element of the terminal and the anchor UPF as required, and each BP/UL CL may be connected to a plurality of UPFs to implement service splitting. It should be appreciated that one UPF may be used as the BP/UL CL.

The user plane network element can be used for realizing the functions of routing and forwarding of data packets, mobility anchor points, qoS processing, uplink classifier and the like, so as to support routing traffic flow to a data network, branching points to support multi-homing PDU sessions and the like.

The unified data warehouse network element may be configured to store user subscription data, such as QoS information subscribed to by the user.

The AF may be used to select, reselect, locate, relocate the applied AS and interact with the core network. In practical applications, the AF may be a separate device independent of the AS, or the AF may be integrated with the AS, which is not particularly limited in the present invention.

In fig. 1, N2, N3, N4, N6, N9, namf, nsmf, nudr, npcf, naf, and the like are interface serial numbers. The meaning of these interface sequence numbers may be referred to as defined in the 3GPP related standard protocols, and is not limited herein.

The operator network may further comprise network elements or entities such as network slice selection (network slice selection function, NSSF), network data analysis function (network data analytics function, NWDAF), network opening function (network exposure function, NEF), network storage function (network repository function, NRF), authentication service unit (authentication server function, AUSF) or traffic communication proxy (service communication proxy).

As shown in fig. 1, the UE may access the DN through a PDU session managed by the SMF. Taking fig. 1 as an example, the UE may access the data network DN of the UPF connection through one PDU session to obtain data of an application server in the data network.

It should be understood that the number of links corresponding to the PDU session is not limited in this application, in other words, the path of the UE accessing the data network DN of the UPF connection is not specifically limited in this application. For example, the UE may access the DN through an access network element and a Uu interface link between access network elements. In addition, the UE may also relay to the access network element through at least one relay device, so as to access the DN.

The manner in which the remote terminal accesses the core network via multiple links will be described below using fig. 2a and 2b, respectively.

As shown in fig. 2a, the remote terminal is connected to the access network device through the link 1 and the link 2, respectively, that is, the link 1 and the link 2 shown in fig. 2a correspond to the same access network device. Wherein link 1 corresponds to a first relay terminal (or link 1 comprises a connection between a remote terminal and the first relay terminal and a connection between the first relay terminal and an access network element), and link 2 corresponds to a second relay terminal (or link 2 comprises a connection between the remote terminal and the second relay terminal and a connection between the second relay terminal and the access network element), so that the remote terminal can be connected to the access network element through the first relay terminal and the second relay terminal, respectively, and to a 5G core network (5G core,5 gc) through the access network element.

It should be appreciated that in fig. 2a and 2b above, the remote terminal and the first relay terminal and/or the second relay terminal may be configured to support relay (relay) transmissions, e.g. the remote terminal in fig. 2a is connected to the access network element by relay of the first relay terminal device. By way of example, the terminal 101 may be considered as a first communication device, and the communication method provided herein may be implemented by the first communication device as well as by a second communication device.

The connection between the remote terminal and the first relay terminal and the second relay terminal may be direct communication (PC 5) air interface communication, for example, the remote terminal is connected to the first relay terminal and/or the second relay terminal by a Sidelink (SL) manner.

In addition, the present application does not limit that the remote terminal supports communication between the general user and the air interface (universal user to network interface, uu air interface) of the network, that is, the remote terminal may connect to the access network element through the Uu air interface and receive service data from the access network element through the Uu air interface. Taking fig. 2a as an example, a remote terminal may access an access network element through a Uu air interface, and receive service data through a Uu link between the remote terminal and the access network element, and the Uu air interface link between the remote terminal and the access network element in fig. 2a may be referred to as a link 3 hereinafter. Thus, for fig. 2a, the remote terminal may receive traffic data over link 1, link 2 and Uu links between the remote terminal and/or the access network elements. When acquiring service data, the service data from a remote terminal of a Data Network (DN) is transmitted to an access network element through a UPF, and in order to improve data transmission efficiency, the access network element may send the service data to the remote terminal through at least two links of links 1, 2 and 3.

Similarly, for the architecture shown in fig. 2b, the remote terminal may receive traffic data via link 4, link 5, link 6 (not shown) and/or link 7 (not shown).

Specifically, the remote terminal accesses the first access network device through the link 4 and accesses the second access network device through the link 5, so that the link 4 and the link 5 respectively correspond to different access network devices. Where link 4 corresponds to a first relay terminal (or link 4 comprises a connection between a remote terminal and the first relay terminal and a connection between the first relay terminal and a first access network element) and link 5 corresponds to a second relay terminal (or link 5 comprises a connection between the remote terminal and the second relay terminal and a connection between the second relay terminal and a second access network element). The link 6 is a Uu air interface link between the remote terminal and the first access network element. The link 7 is a Uu air interface link between the remote terminal and the second access network element.

When acquiring service data, the service data from the data network is transmitted to the first access network element and the second access network element respectively through UPF. The data transmitted to the first access network element can be sent to the remote terminal through the link 4 and/or the link 6, and the data transmitted to the second access network element can be sent to the remote terminal through the link 5 and/or the link 7, so as to realize multi-link data transmission.

It should be appreciated that the architecture shown in fig. 1 may be applicable to fifth generation (5th generation,5G) systems, new Radio (NR) communication systems, public land mobile network (public land mobile network, PLMN) systems, future mobile communication based internet of vehicles systems, or the like. It should be appreciated that the wireless communication system 100 provided in the embodiments of the present application is applicable to both low frequency scenarios (sub 6G) and high frequency scenarios (above 6G).

For example, the remote terminal, the first relay terminal, and/or the second relay terminal (hereinafter may be referred to as a terminal device) shown in fig. 2a and 2b may be a device such as a terminal (terminal), a Mobile Station (MS), a mobile terminal (mobile terminal), or a chip, a chip system, or the like. It should be appreciated that the terminal device is capable of communicating with one or more network devices of one or more communication systems and receiving network services provided by the network devices, including, but not limited to, the illustrated access network device. For example, the terminal device in the embodiments of the present application may be a mobile phone (or referred to as a "cellular" phone), a computer with a mobile terminal, or the like, and the terminal device may also be a portable, pocket, hand-held, computer-built-in, or vehicle-mounted mobile device.

In addition, the first relay terminal and/or the second relay terminal may also be a relay device supporting relay communication, such as a transmission/reception point (TRP), an access point, an in-vehicle device, or a relay station, or the like.

The access network element shown in fig. 2a, the first access network element and/or the second access network element shown in fig. 2b (hereinafter may be referred to as access network elements) may comprise a Base Station (BS), or a base station, a radio resource management device for controlling the base station, etc. The base station may be a TRP, may also be a radio controller in a cloud radio access network (cloud radio access network, CRAN) scenario, or may be a relay station, an access point, a vehicle device, a wearable device, a base station in a future 5G network, or a base station in a future evolved PLMN network, etc., for example, an NR base station, which embodiments of the present application are not limited.

It should be understood that the remote terminal, the first relay terminal and/or the second relay terminal shown in fig. 2a and 2b may be regarded as the UE shown in fig. 1. If the remote terminal is the UE shown in fig. 1, the UE and the access network element may be connected through the first relay terminal and/or the second relay terminal. The access network element shown in fig. 2a and the first access network element and the second access network element shown in fig. 2b may be regarded as the access network elements shown in fig. 1. The DNs shown in fig. 2a and 2b correspond to the DNs shown in fig. 1. The 5GC shown in fig. 2a and 2b may include network elements such as AMF, SMF, PCF, UDM and AF shown in fig. 1, and the UPF shown in fig. 2a and 2b corresponds to the UPF shown in fig. 1.

In order to support statistics of data amount for each link in the case that a remote UE (hereinafter referred to as UE) is connected to an access network element through a plurality of links, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. The method may be implemented by some or all of a terminal device (e.g., the UE shown in fig. 1 or the first communication device shown in fig. 2a or fig. 2 b), an access network element (e.g., the RAN shown in fig. 1 or the access network element shown in fig. 2 a), a session management network element (e.g., an SMF), a policy control network element (e.g., a PCF), or a user plane network element (e.g., a UPF). Wherein the first communication device may comprise a remote terminal device as shown in fig. 2a or fig. 2 b. In addition, in fig. 2a or 2b, the second communication device and the third communication device may function as a first relay terminal and a second relay terminal, respectively. The mobility management element, the session management element, the policy control element, and the user plane element correspond to the mobility management element, the session management element, the policy control element, and the user plane element in fig. 1, respectively. The method provided in the embodiment of the present application will be described below with UE, RAN, SMF, PCF and UPF as execution subjects.

By way of example, the communication method provided in the embodiments of the present application may include the following steps shown in fig. 3:

S101: the SMF sends first information to the PCF, the first information including at least information of a first link and information of a second link, the first link and the second link being used for transmitting data of a first service of the UE.

For example, the first link is link 1 shown in fig. 2a, and the second link is link 2 shown in fig. 2 a. Wherein the first link and the second link may be connected to the same RAN or, as shown in fig. 2b, the first link and the second link may access different RANs.

It should be understood that the first link and the second link are used to transmit data of the first service of the UE, and refer to that the first link and the second link jointly transmit a plurality of data packets of the first service of the UE. In some cases, the UE may also transmit the data packet of the first service only using the first link or the second link, for example, if the UE finds that the transmission of the first link is interrupted or the transmission quality is poor, the UE may transmit all the data packets of the first service through the second link.

Illustratively, the first information is sent by the UE or RAN to the SMF.

Accordingly, the PCF receives the first information.

S102: the PCF determines charging key value information at least according to the first information.

The billing key information includes at least a first billing key and a second billing key.

Wherein the first charging key value corresponds to the first link and the second charging key value corresponds to the second link.

S103: the PCF sends the billing key information to the SMF.

Accordingly, the SMF may receive billing key value information.

S104: the SMF acquires first traffic information and second traffic information.

Wherein the first traffic information indicates an amount of data of the first traffic transmitted through the first link and the second traffic information indicates an amount of data of the first traffic transmitted through the second link.

Accordingly, the SMF may associate the first billing key with the first traffic information, the first traffic information and the first billing key may be used for determination of a cost of the first link transmitting data of the first service. And the SMF may associate the second charging key with the second traffic information, the second traffic information and the second charging key being usable for determination of a cost of the second link transmitting the data of the first service. The SMF may then send traffic statistics corresponding to each charging key to the charging network element (charging function, CHF) for cost determination, e.g., the SMF may send a first charging key and corresponding first traffic information to the CHF and a second charging key and corresponding second traffic information.

The first traffic information and the second traffic information may be determined by the SMF, or sent to the SMF by the UPF or the RAN, for example.

By adopting the method, the SMF can acquire the charging key value and the flow information corresponding to the first link, so that the charging key value and the flow statistical information are sent to the CHF, the CHF charges the data volume of the first service of the UE transmitted by the first link, and the SMF can acquire the charging key value and the flow information corresponding to the second link, so that the charging key value and the flow statistical information are sent to the CHF, and the CHF charges the data volume of the first service of the UE transmitted by the second link.

It should be appreciated that the flow shown in fig. 3 above is described by taking the UE transmitting data over the first link and the second link as an example, and reference may be made to implementation when the UE transmits data over more links. For example, if the UE further transmits the data of the first service through the third link, the charging key information obtained by the SMF from the PCF may further include a third charging key (the SMF may refer to the SMF to obtain the third charging key and the second charging key), and the SMF may further obtain the traffic information corresponding to the third link (the SMF may refer to the first traffic information and the second traffic information obtaining method in the method of obtaining the traffic information corresponding to the third link), and send the third charging key and the traffic information corresponding to the third link to the CHF.

In one possible example, the first information includes at least one of the second information, the third information, the first indication information, information of a relay device corresponding to the first link, or information of a relay device corresponding to the second link.

The second information is used for indicating the proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link to the data volume of the first service, and the third information is used for indicating the proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the data volume of the first service. The data volume of the first service refers to the total data volume of the first service sent by the UE, the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link refers to the data volume of the first service sent by the UE through the first link, and the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link refers to the data volume of the first service sent by the UE through the second link. The second information and the third information may be referred to as a split duty ratio (offset factor) of the first link and the second link, respectively, for example, the second information indicates that the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link accounts for 1/3 of the total data volume of the first service, and the third information indicates that the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link accounts for 2/3 of the total data volume of the first service.

The second information and the third information may be transmitted to the SMF by the UE or the RAN, for example.

The UE may determine the second information according to the transmission performance supported by the first link and the transmission performance required by the UE to transmit the data of the first service, and determine the third information according to the transmission performance supported by the second link and the transmission performance required by the UE to transmit the data of the first service.

Taking the transmission performance as the bandwidth as an example, the second information and the third information may respectively indicate the ratio of the bandwidth of the first link to the bandwidth of the second link to the bandwidth required by the service of the first communication device. Specifically, if the first communication device knows that the bandwidth of the first link (for example, the bandwidth supported by the relay device of the first link) is 10Mbit/s, the bandwidth of the second link (for example, the bandwidth supported by the relay device of the second link) is 5Mbit/s, and in addition, the bandwidth required by the service of the first communication device is 15Mbit/s, the second information and the third information are fields indicating "2/3" and "1/3", respectively. For example, the second information may further indicate a correspondence between the first link and the fractional load duty ratio, for example, the second information is used to indicate the relay device corresponding to the first link and the fractional load duty ratio (e.g. 2/3) corresponding to the first link.

The RAN may determine the second information and the third information according to a ratio of an amount of data of the first traffic transmitted through the first link to an amount of data of the first traffic transmitted through the second link. Wherein the UE is connected to the RAN via a first link and a second link.

Specifically, the RAN may calculate the data amount of the first service packet transmitted through the first link according to the information of the relay device of the first link, and/or calculate the data amount of the first service packet transmitted through the second link according to the information of the relay device of the second link. The information of the relay device of the first link may be a bottom layer identification of the relay device of the first link, such as an identification of a radio link layer control protocol (radio link control, RLC) or medium access control protocol (media access control, MAC) layer, or a layer 2 (layer 2) identification of the relay device of the first link. The identity of the relay device of the second link may be a bottom layer identity of the relay device of the second link, such as an RLC layer or MAC layer identity, or a layer 2 identity of the relay device of the second link.

If the data of the first service of the UE is transmitted through either the first link or the second link, the RAN may determine that the data amount of the first service is a sum of the data amount of the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link and the data amount of the data packet of the first service transmitted through the second link. The second information may be a ratio of a data amount of the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link to a data amount of the first service within a preset time period or a preset data amount range. The third information may be a ratio of a data amount of the data packet of the first service to a data amount of the first service transmitted through the second link within a preset time period or a preset data amount range.

The above first indication information may be used to indicate data of a first service of the UE to be transmitted at least through the first link and the second link. And/or the first indication information may be used to indicate the first link and the second link, for example, the first indication information may include an identification of the first link and an identification of the second link. The identification of the first link comprises the identification of the relay device corresponding to the first link, and the identification of the second link comprises the identification of the relay device corresponding to the second link.

Specifically, after receiving the first indication information from the UE, the RAN or the AMF, the SMF may learn that data of the first service of the UE is transmitted at least through the first link and the second link, and send the first indication information to the PCF.

The information of the relay device corresponding to the first link and the information of the relay device corresponding to the second link may be sent to the SMF by the RAN, or sent to the AMF by the RAN, and forwarded to the SMF by the AMF. If the first link is the link 1 shown in fig. 2a, the relay device corresponding to the first link may include a first relay terminal, and if the second link is the link 2 shown in fig. 2a, the relay device corresponding to the first link may include a second relay terminal.

For example, the RAN may obtain information of the relay device during a process that the UE accesses the RAN through the relay device. For example, when the UE accesses the RAN through the first relay terminal shown in fig. 2a, the RAN may store an identification (relay UE ID) of the first relay terminal as information of the relay device, for example, the identification of the relay terminal may be identification information of the UE side RLC/MAC layer entity.

In one possible implementation of S104, the SMF may determine the first flow information based on the second information and the third flow information, and determine the second flow information based on the third information and the third flow information. Wherein the third flow information is used to indicate the data volume of the first service of the UE, and the third flow information may be from the UPF. The third traffic information may specifically be the data amount of the first service of the UE transmitted by a certain service flow (such as a QoS flow) in the PDU session counted by the UPF.

In this example, the second information and the third information may be from the UE, or from the RAN. Wherein the UE is connected to the RAN via a first link and a second link. The method of determining the second information and the third information may be found in the foregoing description.

In another possible implementation of S104, the SMF may receive the first traffic information from the UPF as well as the second traffic information.

In this manner, the SMF may send a first identification to the UPF for determining the amount of data of the first traffic transmitted over the first link and a second identification for determining the amount of data of the first traffic transmitted over the second link. Therefore, the UPF can count the data volume of the first identifier carried in the data packet of the first service of the UE according to the first identifier to obtain the first flow information, and the UPF can count the data volume of the second identifier carried in the data packet of the first service of the UE according to the second identifier to obtain the second flow information.

It should be understood that the SMF may also send a third identifier and a fourth identifier to the UPF, where the third identifier corresponds to the first identifier, and the fourth identifier corresponds to the second identifier, for example, the third identifier is determined according to the first identifier, and the fourth identifier is determined according to the second identifier, then the UPF may count, according to the third identifier, the data amount of the first identifier carried in the data packet of the first service of the UE, to obtain the first flow information, and the UPF may count, according to the fourth identifier, the data amount of the second identifier carried in the data packet of the first service of the UE, to obtain the first flow information.

In this implementation, the RAN may identify, based on the link information of the first link, a packet of the first service transmitted through the first link, the RAN may carry the first identifier at a general packet radio service (general packet radio service, GPRS) tunneling protocol (GPRS tunnelling protocol, GTP) layer of the packet when forwarding the packet to the UPF through the N3 interface, and identify, by the RAN, the packet of the first service transmitted through the second link based on the link information of the second link, and carry the second identifier at the GTP layer of the general packet radio service of the packet when forwarding the packet to the UPF through the N3 interface. Wherein the link information of the first link includes at least one of a first identification, information of a relay device of the first link, or second indication information, and the link information of the second link includes at least one of a second identification, information of a relay device of the second link, or third indication information.

In a first specific implementation, when the UE sends the packets of the first service through the first link, a first identifier may be carried at a packet data convergence protocol (packet data convergence protocol, PDCP) layer or a service data adaptation protocol (service data adaptation protocol, SDAP) layer of the packets for enabling the UPF to identify that the packets are transmitted through the first traffic, and thereafter, the RAN may carry, according to the first identifier, the first identifier at the PDCP layer or the SDAP layer of the packets when the packets of the first service are sent through the first link, for enabling the UPF to identify that the packets are transmitted through the first link. Similarly, when the UE sends the packets of the first service through the second link, the second identifier may be carried in the PDCP layer or the SDAP layer of the packets, so as to enable the UPF to identify that the packets are transmitted through the second link.

In a second specific implementation, after receiving the data packet from the UE, the RAN may identify, according to second indication information carried in the data packet, the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link, and identify, according to third indication information, the data packet as the data packet of the first service of the UE transmitted through the second link. The second indication information may be different from the first identifier, and may be carried by the UE at a PDCP layer or an SDAP layer of the data packet when the UE transmits the data packet of the first service through the first link. The third indication information may be different from the second identifier, and may be carried by the UE at a PDCP layer or an SDAP layer of the data packet when the data packet of the first service is transmitted through the second link.

In a third specific implementation, the RAN may learn, according to information (such as an identifier of the relay device) of the relay device of the first link, that the data packet of the first service is forwarded to the RAN by the UE through the relay device of the first link, so as to learn that the data packet is a data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link. And/or, the RAN may learn, according to the information of the relay device of the second link, that the data packet of the first service is forwarded to the RAN by the UE through the relay device of the second link, so as to learn that the data packet is a data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link.

In the above embodiments, the first identity and the second identity may be determined by the UE and indicated to the SMF. Alternatively, the first and second identities may be assigned by the SMF and the assigned first and second identities indicated to the UE and/or RAN. Wherein the first identifier corresponds to data transmitted over the first link and the second identifier corresponds to data transmitted over the second link. The first identity may then be carried by the UE in a data packet sent to the RAN over the first link and the second identity may be carried in a data packet sent to the RAN over the second link. For example, the SMF may carry the first identifier and the second identifier in a session establishment acceptance message, and send the first identifier and the second identifier to the UE through the session establishment acceptance message. In addition, if the first and second identities are assigned by the SMF, the SMF may also send the first and second identities to the RAN.

In another possible implementation of S104, the SMF may receive the first traffic information from the RAN as well as the second traffic information.

The RAN may identify, according to link information of the first link, a data packet of the first service sent by the UE through the first link, and count data amounts of the data packet of the first service sent by the UE through the first link, to obtain first traffic information, and the RAN may identify, according to link information of the second link, the data packet of the first service sent by the UE through the second link, and count data amounts of the data packet of the first service sent by the UE through the second link, to obtain second traffic information. Wherein the link information of the first link includes at least one of a first identification, information of a relay device of the first link, or second indication information, and the link information of the second link includes at least one of a second identification, information of a relay device of the second link, or third indication information.

Several possible flow statistics methods provided by embodiments of the present application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In a specific example, when the UE transmits uplink data through the first link and the second link, if the SMF determines, according to the second information and the third information from the UE, the data amounts respectively transmitted by the first link and the second link, the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application may include the following steps shown in fig. 4:

s201: the UE transmits the second information and the third information to the SMF.

The second information is used for indicating the proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link to the total data volume of the first service, and the third information is used for indicating the proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the total data volume of the first service. For example, the second information indicates that the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link occupies 1/3 of the total data volume of the first service, and the third information indicates that the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link occupies 2/3 of the total data volume of the first service.

The second information and the third information may be determined by the UE according to transmission performance of the first link and the second link and transmission performance of the first service required by the UE, for example. Taking the transmission performance as an example of the bandwidth, the second information and the third information may indicate a ratio of the bandwidth of the first link to the bandwidth of the second link (hereinafter referred to as a split load factor) required by the service of the first communication device, respectively. Specifically, if the first communication device knows that the bandwidth of the first link (for example, the bandwidth supported by the relay device of the first link) is 10Mbit/s, the bandwidth of the second link (for example, the bandwidth supported by the relay device of the second link) is 5Mbit/s, and in addition, the bandwidth required by the service of the first communication device is 15Mbit/s, the second information and the third information are fields indicating (2/3) and (1/3), respectively. The second information may also include a correspondence between the first link and the fractional load duty ratio, for example, the second information is used to indicate the first relay terminal and the fractional load duty ratio (e.g., (2/3)) corresponding to the first relay terminal.

For example, the UE may transmit the second information and the third information to the SMF during establishment or modification of the PDU session. For example, the second information and the third information may be carried in a PDU session establishment request (PDU session establishment request) or a PDU session modification request (PDU session modification request) transmitted from the UE to the AMF, and transmitted to the SMF by the AMF through a PDU session creation session management context service (nsmf_pduse_create_mcontext) or a PDU session update session management context service (nsmf_pduse_update smcontext).

Accordingly, the SMF receives the second information and the third information.

S202: the SMF sends the second information and the third information to the PCF.

The second information and the third information may be carried in a session management policy association establishment request (SM policy association establishment request) or a session management policy association modification request (SM Policy association modification request), for example.

Accordingly, the PCF receives the second information and the third information.

S203: the PCF determines a first charging key value and a second charging key value according to the second information and the third information.

In addition, the PCF may determine that the terminal accesses the network through two links according to the second information and the third information.

Wherein the first charging key corresponds to the second information, or the first charging key corresponds to the first link. The second charging key corresponds to the third information, or the second charging key corresponds to the second link.

S204: the PCF sends the first charging key value and the second charging key value to the SMF.

Illustratively, the first charging key value and the second charging key value may be carried in a session management policy association setup response (SM policy association establishment response) or a session management association policy modification response (SM policy association modification response).

Accordingly, the SMF receives the first charging key and the second charging key.

It should be appreciated that if the second information and the third information in S201 are carried in the PDU session establishment request, a conventional PDU session establishment procedure may be performed after S204. If the second information and the third information are carried in the PDU session modification request in S201, a conventional PDU session modification procedure may be performed after S204.

S205: the UPF sends a traffic report to the SMF.

Illustratively, the traffic Report may be carried in an N4 Session Report (N4 Session Report).

The UPF may send a traffic report according to the reporting time, after the counted data volume of the first service reaches a threshold value, or after an event requiring traffic reporting occurs. For example, the UPF may send the traffic report periodically or at a preset time. For another example, the UPF may send the traffic report after the counted data volume of the first service reaches a preset threshold. For another example, the UPF may send a traffic report after determining that an event requiring traffic to be reported occurred, e.g., the UPF received a traffic report request from the SMF.

For example, if the UPF reports traffic reports periodically or according to time, the traffic reports are used to indicate the data volume of the first traffic counted during the period or time period. If the UPF sends a traffic report according to a threshold value, the traffic report may indicate that the data volume of the first service is the threshold value.

Accordingly, the SMF receives the traffic report.

S206: the SMF determines first traffic information based on the second information and the traffic report, and determines second traffic information based on the third information and the traffic report.

The first traffic information is used for indicating the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link, for example, the second information indicates that 1/3 of the total data volume of the first service is transmitted through the first link, and then the first traffic information is determined according to the 1/3 and the traffic of the first service indicated by the traffic report. Similarly, the second traffic information is used to indicate the amount of data of the first traffic transmitted over the second link. The second traffic information may be determined according to the third information and the traffic of the first traffic indicated by the traffic report.

For example, the SMF may associate first traffic information with a first charging key for charging the data volume of the first traffic transmitted by the first link, and may associate second traffic information with a second charging key for charging the data volume of the first traffic transmitted by the second link.

By adopting the method, the SMF can determine the first flow information and the second flow information, and then the operations such as charging or current limiting can be carried out on the data respectively sent by the UE through the first link and the second link according to the first flow information and the second flow information, so that the charging precision is improved and finer granularity flow statistics is realized. For example, the SMF may send a first billing key, first flow information, second billing key, and second flow information to CHF.

When the UE sends uplink data through the first link and the second link, if the UPF determines the data amounts respectively transmitted by the first link and the second link, where the UE indicates to the network side that the data of the first service is transmitted at least through the first link and the second link, the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application may include the following steps shown in fig. 5:

s301: the UE sends the first identifier and the second identifier to the SMF, and sends indication information corresponding to the first identifier and indication information corresponding to the second identifier to the RAN.

The first identifier and the second identifier may be carried in a PDU session establishment request or a PDU session modification request.

The indication information corresponding to the first identifier and the indication information corresponding to the second identifier may be carried in RRC signaling sent during PDU session establishment or modification, or in an RRC layer of a PDU session establishment request or a PDU session modification request. The indication information corresponding to the first identifier may be used to indicate that the RAN carries the first identifier in a GTP layer of the data packet when forwarding the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link to the UPF. The indication information corresponding to the second identifier may be used to indicate that the RAN carries the second identifier in a GTP layer of the data packet when forwarding the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link to the UPF.

For example, the UE may further send indication information to the SMF to instruct the network side to detect the first identifier and the second identifier carried in the GTP layer of the data packet corresponding to the service flow transmission in the PDU session, and instruct the network side to respectively count the data amount of the data packet carrying the first identifier in the GTP layer and the data amount of the data packet carrying the second identifier in the GTP layer. Or, after receiving the first identifier and the second identifier from the UE by default, the network side counts the data volume of the data packet carrying the first identifier in the GTP layer and the data volume of the data packet carrying the second identifier in the GTP layer respectively.

Accordingly, the SMF receives the first and second identifications.

S302: the SMF sends the first identification and the second identification to the PCF.

For example, the first identifier and the second identifier may be carried in a session management policy association establishment request.

If the UE sends indication information to the SMF, the SMF may also send the indication information to the PCF.

Accordingly, the PCF receives the first and second identifications.

S303: and the PCF determines a first charging key value and a second charging key value according to the first identifier and the second identifier.

Wherein the first charging key corresponds to the first identifier, or the first charging key corresponds to the first link. The second charging key corresponds to the second identifier, or alternatively, the second charging key corresponds to the second link.

S304: the PCF sends the first charging key value and the second charging key value to the SMF.

For example, the first charging key value and the second charging key value may be carried in a session management policy association establishment response.

S305: the SMF sends the first PDR and the second PDR to the UPF.

The first PDR comprises the first identifier and is used for indicating a UPF to detect a data packet carried by a GTP (GTP-U) layer with the first identifier and counting the data volume of the data packet carried by the GTP layer with the first identifier; the second PDR comprises the second identifier and is used for indicating the UPF to detect the data packet with the second identifier carried by the GTP layer and counting the data volume of the data packet with the second identifier carried by the GTP layer.

It should be appreciated that if the first and second identifications are carried in the PDU session establishment request in S301, then a conventional PDU session establishment procedure may be performed after S305. If the first and second identifications are carried in the PDU session modification request in S301, then a conventional PDU session modification procedure may be performed after S305.

S306: the UE sends data packets of the first service to the RAN through the first link and the second link respectively.

Optionally, the data packet of the first service sent through the first link carries a first identifier. The data packet of the first service sent through the second link carries the second identifier. For example, the UE may carry the first identity or the second identity in a PDCP layer or an SDAP layer of the data packet.

S307: the RAN forwards the data packet of the first service to the UPF, wherein the data packet of the first service transmitted by the UE through the first link carries a first identifier, and the data packet of the first service transmitted by the UE through the second link carries a second identifier.

If the data packet of the first service sent by the UE carries the first identifier, the RAN may determine that the data packet is transmitted through the first link, so that the first identifier may be carried on a GTP layer of the data packet when forwarding the data packet of the first service to the UPF. If the data packet of the first service sent by the UE carries the second identifier, the RAN may determine that the data packet is transmitted through the second link, so that the second identifier may be carried on a GTP layer of the data packet when forwarding the data packet of the first service to the UPF.

Alternatively, the RAN may transmit a packet of the first service through the first link according to the information of the relay device of the first link, and carry the first identifier in the packet when forwarding the packet to the UPF, and/or transmit a packet of the first service through the second link according to the information of the relay device of the second link, and carry the second identifier in the packet. The information of the relay device of the first link and the information of the relay device of the second link may be acquired by the RAN during the process that the UE accesses the RAN through the first link and the second link, respectively. After the RAN receives the data packet of the first service, if the relay device is identified as the relay device corresponding to the first link according to the information of the relay device transmitting the data packet of the first service, the first identifier is added in the GTP layer, or if the relay device is identified as the relay device corresponding to the second link, the second identifier is added in the GTP layer.

Accordingly, the UPF receives the data packet of the first service.

S308: the UPF calculates the data volume of the data packet carrying the first identifier according to the first PDR to obtain first flow information, and calculates the data volume of the data packet carrying the second identifier according to the second PDR to obtain second flow information.

S309: the UPF sends the first traffic information and the second traffic information to the SMF.

For example, the SMF may associate first traffic information with a first charging key for charging the data volume of the first traffic transmitted by the first link, and may associate second traffic information with a second charging key for charging the data volume of the first traffic transmitted by the second link. For example, the SMF may send a first billing key, first flow information, second billing key, and second flow information to CHF.

By adopting the method, the UPF can respectively identify the data packet of the first service of the UE according to the first identifier and the second identifier carried in the data packet, the data packet transmitted by the first link and the data packet transmitted by the second link, count the first flow information and the second flow information, report the statistical result to the SMF, and the follow-up SMF can perform operations such as charging or current limiting on the data transmitted by the UE by the first link and the second link respectively according to the first flow information and the second flow information, so that the charging precision is improved and finer granularity flow statistics is realized.

When the UE transmits uplink data through the first link and the second link, if the UPF determines, according to the second information and the third information from the RAN, the data amount of the first service transmitted by the first link and the data amount of the first service transmitted by the second link respectively, the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application may include the following steps shown in fig. 6:

s401: the UE transmits information of the relay device of the first link and information of the relay device of the second link to the AMF.

The information of the relay device of the first link and the information of the relay device of the second link may be carried in a PDU session establishment request or a PDU session modification request.

Optionally, the RRC layer of the PDU session establishment request or PDU session modification request may carry indication information.

The indication information may be carried in RRC signaling sent during PDU session establishment or modification, or in an RRC layer (extended RRC layer) of a PDU session establishment request or a PDU session modification request. The indication information may be used to instruct the RAN to obtain the second information and the third information by counting the data amount of the data packet transmitted through the first link and the data amount of the data packet transmitted through the second link after receiving the data packet transmitted through the first link and the second link. The second information is used for indicating the proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link to the total data volume of the first service, and the third information is used for indicating the proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the total data volume of the first service. For example, the second information indicates that the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link occupies 1/3 of the total data volume of the first service, and the third information indicates that the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link occupies 2/3 of the total data volume of the first service.

Accordingly, the AMF receives information of the relay device of the first link and information of the relay device of the second link. It should be understood that the information of the relay device described herein may be a relay UE ID of the relay device.

S402: the AMF transmits information of the relay device of the first link and information of the relay device of the second link to the SMF.

Accordingly, the SMF receives information of the relay device of the first link and information of the relay device of the second link.

S403: the SMF sends information of the relay device of the first link and information of the relay device of the second link to the PCF.

Accordingly, the PCF receives information of the relay device of the first link and information of the relay device of the second link.

S404: the PCF determines a first charging key value and a second charging key value according to the information of the relay equipment of the first link and the information of the relay equipment of the second link.

Wherein the first billing key corresponds to the first link. The second charging key value corresponds to a second link.

S405: the PCF sends the first charging key value and the second charging key value to the SMF.

It should be understood that if the information of the relay device of the first link and the information of the relay device of the second link in S401 are carried in the PDU session establishment request, a conventional PDU session establishment procedure may be performed after S405. If the information of the relay device of the first link and the information of the relay device of the second link are carried in the PDU session modification request in S401, a conventional PDU session modification procedure may be performed after S405.

S406: the UE sends data packets of the first service to the RAN through the first link and the second link respectively.

Optionally, the PDCP or SDAP layer of the data packet of the first service sent through the first link carries a first identifier. The PDCP or SDAP layer of the data packet of the first service sent through the second link carries the second identifier. For example, the UE may carry the first identity or the second identity in a PDCP layer or an SDAP layer of the data packet.

S407: the RAN receives data packets of the first service from the UE and counts the data amount of the data packets of the first service transmitted through the first link and the data amount of the data packets of the first service transmitted through the second link.

If the PDCP or SDAP layer of the data packet of the first service sent by the UE carries the first identifier, the RAN may determine that the data packet is transmitted through the first link, so that the data amount of the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link may be counted. If the PDCP or SDAP layer of the packet of the first service sent by the UE carries the second identifier, the RAN may determine that the packet is transmitted through the second link, so that the data amount of the packet of the first service may be transmitted through the second link.

Alternatively, the RAN may transmit the data packet of the first service through the first link according to the information of the relay device of the first link and count the data amount of the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link, and/or transmit the data packet of the first service through the second link according to the information of the relay device of the second link and count the data amount of the data packet of the first service transmitted through the second link. The information of the relay device of the first link and the information of the relay device of the second link may be obtained by the RAN during the process that the UE accesses the RAN through the first link and the second link, respectively, or may be sent to the RAN by the UE through RRC signaling. After the RAN receives the data packet of the first service, if the relay device is identified as a relay device corresponding to the first link according to the information of the relay device transmitting the data packet of the first service, the data amount of the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link may be counted according to the data packet, or if the relay device is identified as a relay device corresponding to the second link, the data amount of the data packet of the first service transmitted through the second link may be counted according to the data packet.

S408: the RAN determines the second information and the third information based on the data amount of the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link and the data amount of the data packet of the first service transmitted through the second link.

For example, the RAN may count the data amount of the first traffic packet transmitted through the first link according to the information of the relay device of the first link, and/or count the data amount of the first traffic packet transmitted through the second link according to the information of the relay device of the second link. If the data of the first service of the UE is transmitted through either the first link or the second link, the RAN may determine that the data amount of the first service is a sum of the data amount of the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link and the data amount of the data packet of the first service transmitted through the second link. The second information may be a ratio of a data amount of the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link to a data amount of the first service within a preset time period or a preset data amount range. The third information may be a ratio of a data amount of the data packet of the first service to a data amount of the first service transmitted through the second link within a preset time period or a preset data amount range.

S409: the RAN transmits the second information and the third information to the SMF.

Accordingly, the SMF receives the second information and the third information.

S410: the UPF sends a traffic report to the SMF.

Illustratively, the traffic report is carried in an N4 session report.

Accordingly, the SMF receives the traffic report.

S411: the SMF determines first traffic information from the second information and the traffic report and determines second traffic information from the third information and the traffic report.

By adopting the method, the SMF can determine the first flow information and the second flow information, and then the operations such as charging or current limiting can be carried out on the data respectively sent by the UE through the first link and the second link according to the first flow information and the second flow information, so that the charging precision is improved and finer granularity flow statistics is realized.

When the UE sends uplink data through the first link and the second link, if the UPF determines the data amounts respectively transmitted by the first link and the second link, where the RAN indicates, to the network side, that the data of the first service of the UE is transmitted at least through the first link and the second link, the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application may include the following steps shown in fig. 7:

s501: the RAN transmits the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link to the SMF.

Wherein the link information of the first link includes information of the first identification or the relay device of the first link. The link information of the second link includes information of the second identification or the relay device of the second link. It should be understood that the information of the relay device described herein may be a relay UE ID of the relay device.

The link information of the first link and the link information of the second link may be carried in AN access network information (AN info), and the RAN may send the AN info together with a session establishment request to the SMF, where the session establishment request is from the UE. The RAN may acquire link information of the first link and link information of the second link during a process that the UE accesses the RAN.

Accordingly, the SMF receives the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link.

S502: the SMF determines a first identifier and a second identifier according to the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link, and sends the first identifier and the second identifier to the RAN.

For example, the SMF may further send indication information corresponding to the first identifier and indication information corresponding to the second identifier to the RAN. The indication information corresponding to the first identifier may be used to indicate that the RAN carries the first identifier in a GTP layer of the data packet when forwarding the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link to the UPF. The indication information corresponding to the second identifier may be used to indicate that the RAN carries the second identifier in a GTP layer of the data packet when forwarding the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link to the UPF.

S503: the SMF sends the first identification and the second identification to the PCF.

Accordingly, the PCF receives the first and second identifications.

S504: and the PCF determines a first charging key value and a second charging key value according to the first identifier and the second identifier.

S505: the PCF sends the first charging key value and the second charging key value to the SMF.

S506: the SMF sends the first PDR and the second PDR to the UPF.

The first PDR comprises the first identifier and is used for indicating the UPF to detect the data packet with the first identifier carried by the GTP layer and counting the data volume of the data packet with the first identifier carried by the GTP layer; the second PDR comprises the second identifier and is used for indicating the UPF to detect the data packet with the second identifier carried by the GTP layer and counting the data volume of the data packet with the second identifier carried by the GTP layer.

It should be appreciated that if the first and second identifications are carried in the PDU session establishment request in S501, then a conventional PDU session establishment procedure may be performed after S506. If the first and second identifications are carried in the PDU session modification request in S501, a conventional PDU session modification procedure may be performed after S506.

S507: the UE sends data packets of the first service to the RAN through the first link and the second link respectively.

S508: the RAN forwards the data packet of the first service to the UPF, wherein the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link carries a first identifier, and the data packet of the first service transmitted through the second link carries a second identifier.

The RAN may transmit a packet of the first service through the first link according to the information of the relay device of the first link and carry the first identifier in the packet, and/or transmit a packet of the first service through the second link according to the information of the relay device of the second link and carry the second identifier in the packet. The information of the relay device of the first link and the information of the relay device of the second link may be obtained by the RAN during the process that the UE accesses the RAN through the first link and the second link, respectively, or may be sent to the RAN by the UE through RRC signaling.

Accordingly, the UPF receives the data packet of the first service.

S509: the UPF calculates the data volume of the data packet carrying the first identifier according to the first PDR to obtain first flow information, and calculates the data volume of the data packet carrying the second identifier according to the second PDR to obtain second flow information.

S510: the UPF sends the first traffic information and the second traffic information to the SMF.

By adopting the method, the UPF can respectively identify the first flow information of the data packet transmitted through the first link and the second flow information of the data packet transmitted through the second link in the data packet of the first service of the UE according to the first identifier and the second identifier carried in the data packet, report the statistical result to the SMF, and the follow-up SMF can perform operations such as charging or current limiting on the data transmitted by the UE through the first link and the second link respectively according to the first flow information and the second flow information, so that the charging precision is improved and finer granularity flow statistics is realized. In the flow shown in fig. 7, statistics of data amounts for the first link and the second link can be implemented without modifying the existing UE.

When the UE transmits uplink data through the first link and the second link, if the RAN determines the data amounts respectively transmitted by the first link and the second link, the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application may include the following steps shown in fig. 8:

s601: the UE sends the first identifier and the second identifier to the SMF, and sends indication information corresponding to the first identifier and indication information corresponding to the second identifier to the RAN. And then S604 is performed.

The indication information corresponding to the first identifier and the indication information corresponding to the second identifier may be carried in RRC signaling sent during PDU session establishment or modification. The indication information corresponding to the first identifier may be used to indicate that the RAN carries the first identifier in a GTP layer of the data packet when forwarding the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link to the UPF. The indication information corresponding to the second identifier may be used to indicate that the RAN carries the second identifier in a GTP layer of the data packet when forwarding the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link to the UPF.

For example, the UE may further send indication information to the SMF, where the SMF indicates the RAN side to detect the first identifier and the second identifier carried in the PDCP or SDAP layer of the PDU session corresponding to the service flow packet.

Accordingly, the SMF receives the first and second identifications.

Alternatively, the steps shown in S602-S603 are performed.

S602: the RAN transmits the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link to the SMF.

Wherein the link information of the first link includes a first identification or an identification of a relay device of the first link. The link information of the second link includes a second identification or an identification of a relay device of the second link.

Accordingly, the SMF receives link information of the first link and link information of the second link.

S603: the SMF distributes the first identifier and the second identifier according to the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link, and the SMF sends the first identifier and the second identifier to the RAN. S604 is thereafter performed.

For example, the SMF may further send indication information corresponding to the first identifier and indication information corresponding to the second identifier to the RAN. The indication information corresponding to the first identifier may be used to indicate to the RAN that the UE may carry the first identifier at the PDCP layer or the SDAP layer in the data packet sent through the first link, where the first identifier corresponds to the data packet sent through the first link, and the RAN may count the data amount of the data packet carrying the first identifier. The indication information corresponding to the second identifier may be used to indicate to the RAN that the UE may have the first identifier in the PDCP layer or the SDAP layer in the data packet sent through the first link, where the first identifier corresponds to the data packet sent through the first link, and the RAN may count the data amount of the data packet carrying the second identifier.

S604: the SMF sends the first identification and the second identification to the PCF.

Accordingly, the PCF receives the first and second identifications.

S605: and the PCF determines a first charging key value and a second charging key value according to the first identifier and the second identifier.

S606: the PCF sends the first charging key value and the second charging key value to the SMF.

It should be understood that if the first and second identifications in S601 or S602 are carried in the PDU session establishment request, a conventional PDU session establishment procedure may be performed after S606. If the first and second identifications are carried in the PDU session modification request in S601 or S602, a conventional PDU session modification procedure may be performed after S606.

S607: the UE sends data packets of the first service to the RAN through the first link and the second link respectively.

Accordingly, the RAN receives a data packet of a first service from the UE.

S608: the RAN receives data packets of the first service from the UE, counts the data amount of the data packets of the first service transmitted through the first link to obtain first traffic information, and counts the data amount of the data packets of the first service transmitted through the second link to obtain second traffic information.

If the PDCP or SDAP layer of the data packet of the first service sent by the UE carries the first identifier, the RAN may determine that the data packet is transmitted through the first link, so that the data amount of the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link may be counted, and first flow information may be obtained. If the PDCP or SDAP layer of the data packet of the first service sent by the UE carries the second identifier, the RAN may determine that the data packet is transmitted through the second link, so that the data volume of the data packet of the first service may be transmitted through the second link, to obtain second traffic information.

Alternatively, the RAN may transmit the data packet of the first service through the first link according to the information of the relay device of the first link and count the data amount of the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link, and/or transmit the data packet of the first service through the second link according to the information of the relay device of the second link and count the data amount of the data packet of the first service transmitted through the second link. The information of the relay device of the first link and the information of the relay device of the second link may be obtained by the RAN during the process that the UE accesses the RAN through the first link and the second link, respectively, or may be sent to the RAN by the UE through RRC signaling. After the RAN receives the data packet of the first service, if the relay device is identified as a relay device corresponding to the first link according to the information of the relay device transmitting the data packet of the first service, the first traffic information may be obtained by counting the data amount of the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link according to the data packet, or if the relay device is identified as a relay device corresponding to the second link, the second traffic information may be obtained by counting the data amount of the data packet of the first service transmitted through the second link according to the data packet.

S609: the RAN indicates to the AMF the correspondence of the first traffic information and the first link, and indicates the correspondence of the second traffic information and the second link.

Accordingly, the AMF obtains the corresponding relation between the first flow information and the first link and the corresponding relation between the second flow information and the second link.

S610: the AMF indicates to the SMF the correspondence of the first traffic information and the first link, and indicates the correspondence of the second traffic information and the second link.

The AMF may indicate a corresponding relationship between the first traffic information and the first link and a corresponding relationship between the second traffic information and the second link through the PDU session creation session management context service or the PDU session update session management context service.

Accordingly, the SMF obtains the correspondence between the first traffic information and the first link and the correspondence between the second traffic information and the second link.

By adopting the method, the RAN can determine the first flow information and the second flow information, and indicate the first flow information and the second flow information to the SMF, and the SMF can subsequently perform operations such as charging or current limiting on data respectively sent by the UE through the first link and the second link according to the first flow information and the second flow information, thereby improving charging precision and realizing finer granularity flow statistics.

Based on the same conception, in order to realize the functions in the method provided by the embodiment of the application, the application also provides a communication device. The communication device can be used for realizing the functions of the session management network element, the user plane network element, the strategy management network element, the terminal equipment or the access network element. The communication device may comprise hardware structures and/or software modules, each of which may be implemented in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a combination of hardware and software modules. Some of the functions described above are performed in a hardware configuration, a software module, or a combination of hardware and software modules, depending on the specific application of the solution and design constraints.

As shown in fig. 9, a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application may include a communication module 901 and a processing module 902, where the communication module 901 and the processing module 902 are coupled to each other. The communication apparatus 900 may be used to perform the steps shown in fig. 3-8 above performed by a session management network element, a user plane network element, a policy management network element, a terminal device or an access network element. The communication module 901 may be used to support the communication device 900 for communication, and the communication module 901 may also be referred to as a communication unit, a communication interface, a transceiver module, or a transceiver unit. The communication module 901 may have a wireless communication function, and can communicate with other communication apparatuses by a wireless communication system, for example. The processing module 902 may also be referred to as a processing unit, and may be configured to support the communications apparatus 900 to perform processing actions of a session management network element, a user plane network element, a policy management network element, a terminal device, or an access network element in the foregoing method embodiment, including but not limited to: generates information, messages, and/or demodulates and decodes signals received by the communication module 901, etc., transmitted by the communication module 901.

Specifically, when performing the action performed by the session management network element, the communication module 901 may send first information to the policy management network element, where the first information includes at least information of a first link and information of a second link, where the first link and the second link are used to transmit data of the first service of the terminal device. The communication module 901 may further receive charging key information from the policy management network element, where the charging key information includes a first charging key and a second charging key, the charging key information is determined at least according to the first information, the first charging key corresponds to the first link, and the second charging key corresponds to the second link. The processing module 902 may obtain first traffic information for indicating an amount of data of the first service transmitted through the first link and second traffic information for indicating an amount of data of the first service transmitted through the second link, the first traffic information and the first charging key value being used for determination of a cost of the first link transmitting the data of the first service, the second traffic information and the second charging key value being used for determination of a cost of the second link transmitting the data of the first service.

In one possible design, the communication module 901 may receive third traffic information from a user plane network element, the third traffic information indicating an amount of data of the first service. The processing module 902 can determine the first flow information based on the second information and the third flow information, and determine the second flow information based on the third information and the third flow information.

In one possible design, the communication module 901 may receive the first identification from the terminal device as well as the second identification. Wherein the first identifier corresponds to data transmitted over the first link and the second identifier corresponds to data transmitted over the second link. Alternatively, the session management network element may send the first identity and the second identity to an access network element.

In one possible design, the communication module 901 may also send the first identity and the second identity to a user plane network element. The first identifier is used for determining the data amount of the first service transmitted through the first link, and the second identifier is used for determining the data amount of the first service transmitted through the second link. The communication module 901 may receive the first traffic information and the second traffic information from the ue.

In one possible design, the communication module 901 may receive the first traffic information and the second traffic information from an access network element, and the terminal device is connected to the access network element through the first link and the second link.

In performing the action performed by the policy management network element, the communication module 901 may receive first information from the session management network element, where the first information includes at least information of a first link and information of a second link, where the first link and the second link are used to transmit data of a first service of the terminal device. The communication module 901 may send a first charging key value and a second charging key value to the user plane network element, where the charging key value information includes a first charging key value and a second charging key value, the charging key value information is determined at least according to the first information, the first charging key value corresponds to the first link, and the second charging key value corresponds to the second link. Wherein the first billing key and the second billing key may be determined by the processing module 902.

The communication module 901 may receive a first identity from the session management network element and a second identity when performing an action performed by the user plane network element. The processing module 902 determines, according to the first identifier, first traffic information indicating an amount of data of a first service transmitted through a first link, and determines, according to the second identifier, second traffic information indicating an amount of data of the first service transmitted through a second link, the first link and the second link being used for transmitting data of the first service of a terminal device. The user plane network element sends the first traffic information and the second traffic information to the session management network element.

In performing the action performed by the terminal device, the communication module 901 may send a first identification to the session management network element, the first identification being usable for determination of the amount of data of the first service transmitted over the first link, and a second identification being usable for determination of the amount of data of the first service transmitted over the second link; wherein the first link and the second link are used for transmitting data of the first service of the terminal device.

In one possible design, the communication module 901 may send a packet of a first service through the first link, where the packet of the first service sent through the first link includes the first identifier. The communication module 901 may further send a data packet of the first service through the second link, where the data packet of the first service sent through the second link includes the second identifier.

In one possible design, the communication module 901 may also send the first identifier and the second identifier to an access network element, where the terminal device is connected to the access network element through the first link and the second link.

When performing the action performed by the terminal device, the communication module 901 may send transmission duty ratio information to the session management network element, where the transmission duty ratio information includes at least second information for indicating a proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link to the data volume of the first service and third information for indicating a proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the data volume of the first service. The communication module 901 transmits data of the first service at least through the first link and the second link according to the transmission duty ratio information.

In performing the actions performed by the access network element, the communication module 901 may receive data packets of a first service from the terminal device over a first link and receive data packets of the first service from the terminal device over a second link. The processing module 902 adds a first identifier to the data packet of the first service received over the first link, the first identifier being used for determining the amount of data of the first service transmitted over the first link, and adds a second identifier to the data packet of the first service received over the second link, the second identifier being used for determining the amount of data of the first service transmitted over the second link.

In one possible design, the communication module 901 may receive the first identification and the second identification from the terminal device. Alternatively, the communication module 901 may receive the first identification and the second identification from the session management network element.

In performing the actions performed by the access network element, the communication module 901 may receive data packets of a first service from the terminal device over a first link and receive data packets of the first service from the terminal device over a second link. The access network element may further determine second information and third information according to the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link, where the second information is used to indicate a proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link to the data volume of the first service, and the third information is used to indicate a proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the data volume of the first service. The access network element sends the second information and the third information to the session management network element.

In performing the actions performed by the access network element, the communication module 901 may receive data packets of a first service from the terminal device over a first link and receive data packets of the first service from the terminal device over a second link. The processing module 902 determines first traffic information and second traffic information according to the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link. The first traffic information is used to indicate the amount of data of the first traffic transmitted over the first link, and the second traffic information is used to indicate the amount of data of the first traffic transmitted over the second link. The communication module 901 sends the first traffic information and the second traffic information to a session management network element.

In another possible implementation manner, if the session management network element is implemented by a hardware component, the structure thereof may also be as shown in fig. 10. For ease of understanding, only the structures necessary to perform the methods described herein are shown in fig. 10, and the present application is not limited to communications devices that may be provided with additional components. The communication device 1000 may include a communication interface 1001, a memory 1002, and a processor 1003. The communications interface 1001 may be for communication by a communications device, such as for transmitting and/or receiving signals, including information, data, messages, etc., via wires and/or wirelessly. The memory 1002 is coupled to the processor 1003 and is used for storing programs and data necessary for the communication device 1000 to realize the respective functions. The processor 1003 is configured to support the communication device 1000 to perform the processing functions performed by the session management network element in the above method, such as determining to generate information, messages sent by the communication interface 1001, and/or demodulating, decoding, etc. signals received by the communication interface 1001. The above memory 1002 and the processor 1003 may be integrated or independent.

Illustratively, the communications interface 1001 may include a wired communications interface that may be used to support the communications device 1000 in receiving and transmitting signaling and/or data over a wired manner. The communication interface 1001 may also be referred to as a transceiver unit or a communication unit. Alternatively, the communications interface 1001 may include a wireless transceiver (e.g., including a modem and/or antenna) that may be used to support the communications device 1000 in receiving and transmitting signaling and/or data wirelessly. The communication interface 1001 may also be referred to as a wireless transceiver or a wireless communication unit.

The processor 1003 may be implemented by a processing chip or processing circuit.

In performing the actions performed by the session management network element, the communication interface 1001 may send first information to the policy management network element, the first information including at least information of a first link and information of a second link, the first link and the second link being used for transmitting data of a first service of the terminal device. The communication interface 1001 may further receive charging key information from the policy management network element, where the charging key information includes a first charging key and a second charging key, where the charging key information is determined at least according to the first information, the first charging key corresponds to the first link, and the second charging key corresponds to the second link. The processor 1003 may acquire first traffic information indicating the data amount of the first service transmitted through the first link and second traffic information indicating the data amount of the first service transmitted through the second link, the first traffic information and the first billing key value being used for determination of the cost of the first link transmitting the data of the first service, the second traffic information and the second billing key value being used for determination of the cost of the second link transmitting the data of the first service.

In one possible design, the communication interface 1001 may receive third traffic information from a user plane network element, the third traffic information indicating an amount of data for the first service. The processor 1003 can determine the first flow information based on the second information and the third flow information, and determine the second flow information based on the third information and the third flow information.

In one possible design, the communication interface 1001 may receive a first identification from the terminal device and a second identification. Wherein the first identifier corresponds to data transmitted over the first link and the second identifier corresponds to data transmitted over the second link. Alternatively, the session management network element may send the first identity and the second identity to an access network element.

In one possible design, the communication interface 1001 may also send the first identity and the second identity to a user plane network element. The first identifier is used for determining the data amount of the first service transmitted through the first link, and the second identifier is used for determining the data amount of the first service transmitted through the second link. The communication interface 1001 may receive the first traffic information and the second traffic information from the user plane network element.

In one possible design, the communication interface 1001 may receive the first traffic information and the second traffic information from an access network element to which the terminal device is connected via the first link and the second link.

In performing the action performed by the policy management network element, the communication interface 1001 may receive first information from the session management network element, where the first information includes at least information of a first link and information of a second link, where the first link and the second link are used to transmit data of a first service of the terminal device. The communication interface 1001 may send a first charging key value and a second charging key value to the user plane network element, where the charging key value information includes a first charging key value and a second charging key value, the charging key value information is determined at least according to the first information, the first charging key value corresponds to the first link, and the second charging key value corresponds to the second link. Wherein the first billing key and the second billing key may be determined by the processor 1003.

The communication interface 1001 may receive a first identity and a second identity from a session management network element when performing an action performed by a user plane network element. The processor 1003 determines first traffic information indicating a data amount of the first traffic transmitted through the first link according to the first identification, and determines second traffic information indicating a data amount of the first traffic transmitted through the second link according to the second identification, the first link and the second link being used for transmitting data of the first traffic of the terminal device. The user plane network element sends the first traffic information and the second traffic information to the session management network element.

In performing the action performed by the terminal device, the communication interface 1001 may send a first identification usable for determination of the amount of data of the first service transmitted over the first link and a second identification usable for determination of the amount of data of the first service transmitted over the second link to the session management network element; wherein the first link and the second link are used for transmitting data of the first service of the terminal device.

In one possible design, the communication interface 1001 may send a packet of a first service over the first link, where the packet of the first service sent over the first link includes the first identifier. The communication interface 1001 may further send a packet of the first service through the second link, where the packet of the first service sent through the second link includes the second identifier.

In one possible design, the communication interface 1001 may also send the first identifier and the second identifier to an access network element, where the terminal device is connected to the access network element through the first link and the second link.

In performing the action performed by the terminal device, the communication interface 1001 may send transmission duty ratio information to the session management network element, where the transmission duty ratio information includes at least second information for indicating a proportion of the data amount of the first service transmitted by the first link to the data amount of the first service and third information for indicating a proportion of the data amount of the first service transmitted by the second link to the data amount of the first service. The communication interface 1001 transmits data of the first service at least through the first link and the second link according to the transmission duty ratio information.

In performing the actions performed by the access network element, the communications interface 1001 may receive data packets of a first service from a terminal device over a first link and receive data packets of the first service from the terminal device over a second link. The processor 1003 adds a first identification in the data packet of the first service received through the first link, the first identification being used for determination of the data amount of the first service transmitted through the first link, and adds a second identification in the data packet of the first service received through the second link, the second identification being used for determination of the data amount of the first service transmitted through the second link.

In one possible design, the communication interface 1001 may receive the first identification and the second identification from the terminal device. Alternatively, the communication interface 1001 may receive the first identification and the second identification from a session management network element.

In performing the actions performed by the access network element, the communications interface 1001 may receive data packets of a first service from a terminal device over a first link and receive data packets of the first service from the terminal device over a second link. The access network element may further determine second information and third information according to the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link, where the second information is used to indicate a proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link to the data volume of the first service, and the third information is used to indicate a proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the data volume of the first service. The access network element sends the second information and the third information to the session management network element.

In performing the actions performed by the access network element, the communications interface 1001 may receive data packets of a first service from a terminal device over a first link and receive data packets of the first service from the terminal device over a second link. The processor 1003 determines first traffic information and second traffic information from the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link. The first traffic information is used to indicate the amount of data of the first traffic transmitted over the first link, and the second traffic information is used to indicate the amount of data of the first traffic transmitted over the second link. The communication interface 1001 sends the first traffic information and the second traffic information to a session management network element.

Based on the same concept as the above method embodiments, there is further provided in this embodiment a computer readable storage medium, on which a computer program (or called an instruction) is stored, where the program when executed by a processor causes the computer to perform operations performed by a session management network element, a policy management network element, a user plane network element, a terminal device, and/or an access network element in any one of possible implementation manners of the above method embodiments, method embodiments.

Based on the same conception as the above method embodiments, the present application further provides a computer program product, which when invoked by a computer to perform the operations performed by the session management network element, the policy management network element, the user plane network element, the terminal device and/or the access network element in any one of the possible implementation manners of the above method embodiments.

Based on the same concept as the above method embodiments, the present application further provides a chip or a chip system, the chip being coupled to the transceiver for implementing the operations performed by the session management network element, the policy management network element, the user plane network element, the terminal device and/or the access network element in any one of the possible implementations of the above method embodiments. The chip system may include the chip, as well as components including memory, communication interfaces, and the like.

Based on the same concept as the above method embodiments, the present application further provides a communication system, where the communication system may be configured to implement operations performed by a session management network element, a policy management network element, a user plane network element, a terminal device, and/or an access network element in any one of the possible implementation manners of the above method embodiments. The communication system has, for example, the structure shown in any of fig. 1, fig. 2a or fig. 2 b. The communication system may be used to perform the flow as shown in any of fig. 4-8.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that embodiments of the present application may be provided as a method, system, or computer program product. Accordingly, the present application may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present application may take the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, and the like) having computer-usable program code embodied therein.

The present application is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to the application. It will be understood that each flow and/or block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of flows and/or blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may 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 the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

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 the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present application without departing from the scope of the application. Thus, if such modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims and the equivalents thereof, the present application is intended to cover such modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising:

the session management network element sends first information to the policy management network element, wherein the first information at least comprises information of a first link and information of a second link, and the first link and the second link are used for transmitting data of a first service of the terminal equipment;

the session management network element receives charging key value information from the policy management network element, wherein the charging key value information comprises a first charging key value and a second charging key value, the charging key value information is determined at least according to the first information, the first charging key value corresponds to the first link, and the second charging key value corresponds to the second link;

the session management network element obtains first traffic information for indicating the data amount of the first service transmitted through the first link and second traffic information for indicating the data amount of the first service transmitted through the second link, the first traffic information and the first charging key value being used for determination of the cost of the first link transmitting the data of the first service, the second traffic information and the second charging key value being used for determination of the cost of the second link transmitting the data of the first service;

Wherein the first information includes:

the second information is used for indicating the proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link to the data volume of the first service, the second information is from the terminal equipment or an access network element, and the terminal equipment is connected to the access network element through the first link and the second link; and/or

Third information, wherein the third information is used for indicating the proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the data volume of the first service, the third information comes from the terminal equipment or an access network element, and the terminal equipment is connected to the access network element through the first link and the second link;

the session management network element obtaining the first traffic information and the second traffic information includes:

the session management network element receives third flow information from a user plane network element, wherein the third flow information indicates the data volume of the first service;

the session management network element determines the first flow information according to the second information and the third flow information;

the session management network element determines the second flow information according to the third information and the third flow information;

Or alternatively, the process may be performed,

the session management network element receives the first traffic information and the second traffic information from an access network element, and the terminal device is connected to the access network element through the first link and the second link.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first information further comprises first indication information indicating transmission of data of the first service of the terminal device over at least the first link and the second link.

3. A method of communication, comprising:

the method comprises the steps that a policy management network element receives first information from a session management network element, wherein the first information at least comprises information of a first link and information of a second link, and the first link and the second link are used for transmitting data of a first service of terminal equipment;

the policy management network element sends charging key value information to the session management network element, wherein the charging key value information comprises a first charging key value and a second charging key value, the charging key value information is determined at least according to the first information, the first charging key value corresponds to the first link, and the second charging key value corresponds to the second link;

Wherein the first information includes:

And third information, where the third information is used to indicate a proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the data volume of the first service, where the third information is from the terminal device or an access network element, and the terminal device is connected to the access network element through the first link and the second link.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first information further comprises first indication information indicating transmission of data of the first service of the terminal device over at least the first link and the second link.

5. A method of communication, comprising:

the method comprises the steps that terminal equipment sends a first identifier and a second identifier to a session management network element, wherein the first identifier is used for determining the data volume of a first service transmitted through a first link, and the second identifier is used for determining the data volume of the first service transmitted through a second link;

The first link and the second link are used for transmitting data of the first service of the terminal equipment;

the method further comprises the steps of:

the terminal equipment sends the first identifier and the second identifier to an access network element, and is connected to the access network element through the first link and the second link;

the terminal equipment sends a data packet of the first service through the first link, wherein the data packet of the first service sent through the first link comprises the first identifier;

and the terminal equipment sends the data packet of the first service through the second link, and the data packet of the first service sent through the second link comprises the second identifier.

6. A method of communication, comprising:

the method comprises the steps that terminal equipment sends transmission duty ratio information to a session management network element, wherein the transmission duty ratio information at least comprises second information and third information, the second information is used for indicating the proportion of data volume of a first service transmitted by a first link to the data volume of the first service, and the third information is used for indicating the proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by a second link to the data volume of the first service;

And the terminal device transmits the data of the first service at least through the first link and the second link according to the transmission duty ratio information.

7. A method of communication, comprising:

the access network element receives a data packet of a first service from terminal equipment through a first link and receives the data packet of the first service from the terminal equipment through a second link;

the access network element determines second information and third information according to the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link, wherein the second information is used for indicating the proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link to the data volume of the first service, and the third information is used for indicating the proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the data volume of the first service;

and the access network element sends the second information and the third information to a session management network element.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the link information for the first link comprises:

the identification of the relay device corresponding to the first link; and/or the number of the groups of groups,

A first identifier, where the first identifier is included in a data packet of the first service transmitted by the first link;

the link information of the second link includes:

the identification of the relay device corresponding to the second link; and/or the number of the groups of groups,

and a second identifier, wherein the second identifier is included in a data packet of the first service transmitted by the second link.

9. A method of communication, comprising:

the access network element determines first flow information and second flow information according to the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link; the first traffic information is used for indicating the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link, and the second traffic information is used for indicating the data volume of the first service transmitted through the second link;

the access network element sends the first traffic information and the second traffic information to a session management network element.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the link information for the first link comprises:

the link information of the second link includes:

11. A communication device, comprising:

the communication module is used for communicating with the communication device;

a processing module for performing the method of claim 1 or 2.

12. A communication device, comprising:

a processing module for performing the method of claim 3 or 4.

13. A communication device, comprising:

a processing module for performing the method of claim 5.

14. A communication device, comprising:

a processing module for performing the method of claim 6.

15. A communication device, comprising:

a processing module for performing the method of claim 7 or 8.

16. A communication device, comprising:

processing module for performing the method according to claim 9 or 10.

17. A communication system comprising the communication device of claims 11 and 12.

18. The communication system of claim 17, further comprising the communication device of claim 13.

19. The communication system of claim 17, further comprising the communication device of claim 14.

20. The communication system of claim 17, further comprising the communication device of claim 15.

21. The communication system of claim 17, further comprising the communication device of claim 16.

22. A computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein, which when invoked for execution on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1-10.