CN114257588B

CN114257588B - Communication system

Info

Publication number: CN114257588B
Application number: CN202111397543.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 龙湛; 徐舒; 潘桂新; 莫俊彬; 林少泽; 魏鸿斌; 葛树一; 赵子彬; 陈浩源; 陈东; 姚瑞卿
Original assignee: China United Network Communications Group Co Ltd
Current assignee: China United Network Communications Group Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-11-23
Filing date: 2021-11-23
Publication date: 2023-07-18
Anticipated expiration: 2041-11-23
Also published as: CN114257588A

Abstract

The application provides a communication system, which comprises an MEC server, a first gateway device, a second gateway device, a third gateway device and a fourth gateway device, wherein the MEC server is deployed in a target metropolitan area network, the MEC server is connected with the first gateway device through a special communication line, and the first gateway device is respectively connected with the second gateway device, the third gateway device and the fourth gateway device through special communication lines; the first gateway device is used for forwarding the data stream generated by the MEC server, the second gateway device is used for connecting a UPF network element in the fifth generation mobile communication technology network with the target metropolitan area network, the third gateway device is used for connecting a PGW network element in the fourth generation mobile communication network with the target metropolitan area network, the fourth gateway device is used for connecting an exit gateway of the fixed network with the target metropolitan area network and connecting an exit gateway of the wireless fidelity network with the target metropolitan area network, and the communication system can realize access to the MEC server for terminal devices adopting different access modes.

Description

Communication system

Technical Field

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

Background

The cloud game is to deploy the cloud game in a cloud server, render a game scene by the cloud server, compress the rendered game picture and sound into video and audio streams, and transmit the video and audio streams to terminal equipment of a user through a network. Correspondingly, a user inputs a control instruction on the terminal equipment, and the control instruction is transmitted to the cloud server through the network, so that the user can operate the cloud game.

At present, the cloud server is mostly deployed in a public network (for example, 169 network), and at this time, the cloud server transmits the compressed video and audio stream to a terminal device of a user through the network includes: firstly, video and audio streams are transmitted from a public network to a metropolitan area network where terminal equipment is located, then the video and audio streams are transmitted from the metropolitan area network to a core network through a gateway for connecting the metropolitan area network with the core network in a mobile communication network, and finally the video and audio streams are transmitted to the terminal equipment through a convergence network and an access network in the mobile communication network. The metropolitan area network where the terminal equipment is located and the mobile communication network are collectively called a local network where the terminal equipment is located.

It can be appreciated that the transmission delay of the video and audio stream from the cloud server to the terminal device is a key factor affecting the user's game experience. Thus, in the prior art, in order to be able to reduce the transmission delay of the above video-audio stream, cloud games are deployed in a mobile edge computing (mobile edge computing, MEC) server located in a metropolitan area network. In this case, the MEC server may transmit the compressed video and audio stream directly to the terminal device through the local network, without going through a process of transmitting the video and audio stream from the public network to the metropolitan area network where the terminal device is located, thereby reducing a transmission delay of the video and audio stream.

And when the cloud game is deployed in a MEC server located in a metropolitan area network, the method generally includes: a gateway for forwarding the data stream in the MEC server is newly added, and then the gateway is connected with a gateway for connecting a metropolitan area network with a user plane function (user plane function, UPF) network element in a core network, so as to realize the connection between the MEC server and the UPF network element, and further realize the communication between the MEC server and the terminal equipment.

However, since the UPF network element is a network element only existing in the fifth generation mobile communication technology (5th generation mobile communication technology,5G) network, only a terminal device that uses the 5G network to communicate with the MEC server cannot communicate with a terminal device that uses the fourth generation mobile communication technology network, the wireless fidelity network, or the fixed network.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a communication system, which can enable terminal equipment adopting different access modes to realize communication with an MEC server.

In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication system, including a mobile edge computing MEC server, a first gateway device, a second gateway device, a third gateway device, and a fourth gateway device, where the MEC server is deployed in a target metropolitan area network, the MEC server is connected to the first gateway device through a dedicated communication line, and the first gateway device is connected to the second gateway device, the third gateway device, and the fourth gateway device through dedicated communication lines, respectively; the first gateway device is used for forwarding the data stream generated by the MEC server, the second gateway device is used for connecting a user plane function UPF network element in the fifth generation mobile communication technology network with the target metropolitan area network, the third gateway device is used for connecting a packet data network gateway PGW network element in the fourth generation mobile communication technology network with the target metropolitan area network, and the fourth gateway device is used for connecting an exit gateway of the fixed network with the target metropolitan area network and connecting an exit gateway of the wireless fidelity Wifi network with the target metropolitan area network.

In the communication system provided in this embodiment, since the first gateway for forwarding the data stream generated by the MEC server is connected to the second gateway device, the third gateway device and the fourth gateway device through the communication dedicated line, where the second gateway device is connected to the fifth generation mobile communication network and the target metropolitan area network, the third gateway device is connected to the fourth generation mobile communication network and the target metropolitan area network, and the fourth gateway device is connected to the fixed network or the egress gateway of the Wifi network, connection between the MEC server and the fifth generation mobile communication network, the fourth generation mobile communication network and the fixed network or the Wifi network can be achieved, and further, communication with the MEC server can be achieved regardless of whether the terminal device uses the access mode of the fifth generation mobile communication technology network or the fourth generation mobile communication technology network or the access mode of the fixed network or the Wifi network.

With reference to the first aspect, in one possible implementation manner, the MEC server deploys a first cloud game platform and at least one first game application, where the first cloud game platform includes a first rendering module and a first service management module, where the first service management module is configured to manage the at least one first game application, and the first rendering module is configured to encode a video-audio stream for any one of the at least one first game application.

It can be appreciated that after the first cloud game platform is deployed in the MEC server, when the first cloud game platform encodes the video-audio stream for a certain first game application by using the first rendering module, the video-audio stream can be directly transmitted from the target metropolitan area network to the terminal device, without a process of transmitting the video-audio stream from the public network to the target metropolitan area network, that is, a distance from the terminal device to the first cloud game platform is reduced, so that a transmission delay of the video-audio stream is reduced. In addition, it can be appreciated that the deployment of a portion of the cloud gaming application in the MEC server can reduce the load on the public network, thereby improving the stability of the network.

With reference to the first aspect, in one possible implementation manner, a transmission delay requirement of each of the at least one first game application is smaller than a first delay threshold.

In the implementation manner, some first game applications with transmission delay requirements smaller than the first delay threshold are deployed in the MEC server, so that the transmission delay of the first game applications can be met, and user experience is further improved.

With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the system further includes a fifth gateway device, where the fifth gateway device is configured to connect the target metropolitan area network with the public network.

Illustratively, the public network is 169 network.

With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the system further includes a central cloud server, where the central cloud server is deployed in a public network, and a second cloud game platform and at least one second game application are deployed in the central cloud server, where the second cloud game platform includes a second rendering module and a second service management module, where the second service management module is used to manage the at least one second game application, and the second rendering module is used to encode any one of the at least one second game application into a video-audio stream.

In the implementation manner, the communication between the terminal equipment and the central cloud server can be realized.

With reference to the first aspect, in one possible implementation manner, a transmission delay requirement of each of the at least one second game application is greater than or equal to a first delay threshold.

In this implementation, a second gaming application having a transmission latency requirement greater than or equal to the first latency threshold may be deployed in the central cloud server.

With reference to the first aspect, in one possible implementation manner, the second cloud game platform is further configured to manage at least one first game application.

For example, the second cloud gaming platform may update the at least one first gaming application or archive data of the at least one first gaming application.

With reference to the first aspect, in one possible implementation manner, the system further includes a domain name resolution DNS server, where the DNS server is deployed in the public network, and the DNS server is configured to perform domain name resolution on a uniform resource location URL of the target cloud game sent by the terminal device and return an internet protocol IP address of the target cloud game to the terminal device.

With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the system further includes a terminal device, where the terminal device accesses the target metropolitan area network through any one of the following networks: the fifth generation mobile communication technology network, the fourth generation mobile communication technology network, the fixed network or the Wifi network.

In this implementation, the terminal device may use different access modes to complete communication with the MEC server.

In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, applied to a communication system, where the communication system includes a mobile edge computing MEC server, a first gateway device, a target gateway device, a domain name resolution DNS server, where the MEC server is deployed in a target metropolitan area network, where the MEC server is connected to the first gateway device through a dedicated communication line, and the first gateway device is connected to the target gateway device, where the target gateway device is used to connect a target network used by a terminal device with the target metropolitan area network; the method comprises the following steps: the terminal equipment sends a DNS analysis request to a DNS server by using a target network, wherein the DNS analysis request comprises a domain name in a URL corresponding to the target cloud game application; the DNS server judges whether an instance of the target cloud game application exists in the MEC server or not based on the domain name in the URL; when the DNS server determines that the instance of the target cloud game application exists in the MEC server, an Internet Protocol (IP) address corresponding to the instance of the target cloud game application is sent to the terminal equipment; the terminal equipment sends a service data request to an IP address corresponding to the instance of the target cloud game application; and the MEC server responds to the service data request, runs the instance of the target cloud game application and sends the video and audio stream of the target cloud game application to the terminal equipment.

The communication method provided by the embodiment can realize the communication between the terminal equipment and the MEC server deployed in the target metropolitan area network.

With reference to the second aspect, in one possible implementation manner, the target network includes any one of the following networks: a fifth generation mobile communication technology network, a fourth generation mobile communication technology network, a fixed network or a wireless fidelity Wifi network.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: the terminal device logs in the target network.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a cloud gaming service system provided in one embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a cloud gaming service architecture according to another embodiment of the present application;

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

fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system according to another embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 is a method for a terminal device to communicate with an MEC server when using 5G network access according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a method for a terminal device to communicate with an MEC server when using 4G network access according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

As an example, fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a cloud gaming service system according to one embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 1, the system includes a terminal device 101, a network 102, and a cloud server 103. Cloud server 103 has cloud gaming applications deployed therein. The cloud server 103 renders the scenes of the cloud game application, compresses the rendered game images and sound into video and audio streams, and transmits the video and audio streams to the terminal equipment 101 of the user through the network 102, and correspondingly, the user can input a control instruction on the terminal equipment 101 and then send the control instruction to the cloud server 103 through the network 102 so as to realize the operation of the cloud game application.

More specifically, fig. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a cloud gaming service architecture according to one embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 2, the architecture is commonly built by a content layer 201, a platform layer 202, a network layer 203, and a terminal device layer 204.

The content layer 201 is mainly responsible for the content source of the game application, and is mainly provided by the game provider, and generally any end game, host game and hand game can be transplanted to the cloud platform of the same running environment.

The platform layer 202 mainly comprises a service management module and a cloud rendering module. The service management module is responsible for managing the content source, the terminal equipment and the resources and providing scheduling and distribution of the resources for cloud game application services. The cloud rendering module is one of the cores of the cloud game and is responsible for responding to the operation instruction of the terminal equipment to realize the functions of logic calculation, real-time rendering, streaming coding, plug flow and the like. Typically, one service management module may manage multiple cloud rendering modules.

The network layer 203 mainly relates to public network, metropolitan area network, mobile communication network, and can also use a mobile bearing mode. The network layer 203 is responsible for connecting the platform layer 202 and the terminal device layer 204, and has the functions of transmitting the rendered picture to the terminal device of the user in real time and stably, and transmitting the control instruction input by the user on the terminal device to the platform layer.

The terminal device layer 204 is mainly composed of a display device and a game operation device. Illustratively, the display device mainly includes a desktop or notebook computer, a set-top box, a television, a mobile phone, and the like, and the operation device includes a keyboard, a mouse, a game pad, and the like. The terminal device layer 204 is an entry for accessing the cloud game application by a user, and mainly receives and decodes the video and audio stream from the platform layer 202, displays the received video and audio stream, and can receive an operation instruction input by the user, and transmits the operation instruction to the platform layer 202 through the network layer 203.

Currently, the cloud server 103 is mostly deployed in the public network (for example, 169 network), that is, a server including the platform layer 202 in the cloud service architecture is deployed in the public network. At this time, the cloud server 103 transmitting the compressed video and audio stream to the terminal device 101 of the user through the network 102 includes: the cloud server 103 firstly transmits the video and audio stream from the public network to the metropolitan area network where the terminal equipment is located, then transmits the video and audio stream from the metropolitan area network to the core network through a gateway for connecting the metropolitan area network and the core network in the mobile communication network, and finally transmits the video and audio stream to the terminal equipment through the convergence network and the access network in the mobile communication network. The metropolitan area network where the terminal equipment is located and the mobile communication technology network are collectively called a local network where the terminal equipment is located.

That is, when the cloud server 103 is mostly deployed in the public network, the network 102 includes the public network, the metropolitan area network, and the mobile communication network. Specifically, the mobile communication network comprises a core network, a convergence network and an access network.

It will be appreciated that the transmission delay of the video and audio stream from the cloud server 103 to the terminal device 101 is a key factor affecting the user's game experience. Thus, in the prior art, in order to be able to reduce the transmission delay of the above video-audio stream, cloud games are deployed in a mobile edge computing (mobile edge computing, MEC) server located in a metropolitan area network. In this case, the MEC server may transmit the compressed video and audio stream directly to the terminal device through the local network, without going through a process of transmitting the video and audio stream from the public network to the metropolitan area network where the terminal device is located, thereby reducing a transmission delay of the video and audio stream.

In particular implementations where cloud gaming is deployed on a MEC server located in a metropolitan area network, the method generally includes: a gateway for forwarding the data stream in the MEC server is newly added, and then the gateway is connected with a gateway for connecting a metropolitan area network with a user plane function (user plane function, UPF) network element in a core network, so as to realize the connection between the MEC server and the UPF network element, and further realize the communication between the MEC server and the terminal equipment.

However, since the UPF network element is a network element only in the fifth generation mobile communication technology (5 th generation mobile communication technology, hereinafter abbreviated as 5G) network, only a terminal device that uses the 5G network access method to communicate with the MEC server can communicate, whereas a terminal device that uses the fourth generation mobile communication technology network (4 th generation mobile communication technology, hereinafter abbreviated as 4G), wireless fidelity (wireless fidelity, wifi) network, or fixed network access method to communicate with the MEC server cannot be realized.

In view of this, the embodiments of the present application provide a communication system, which can implement communication with an MEC server regardless of whether a terminal device uses a 5G network access mode, a 4G network access mode, or an access mode of a fixed network and a Wifi network.

Fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 3, the communication system in the embodiment of the present application includes: the MEC server 301 is deployed in the target metropolitan area network, the MEC server 301 is connected to the first gateway device 302 through a dedicated communication line, and the first gateway device 302 is connected to the second gateway device 303, the third gateway device 304 and the fourth gateway device 305 through dedicated communication lines, respectively.

The first gateway device 302 is configured to forward a data flow generated by the MEC server 301, the second gateway device 303 is configured to connect a UPF network element in the fifth generation mobile communication technology network with a target metropolitan area network, the third gateway device 304 is configured to connect a packet data network gateway (packet data network gateway, PGW) network element in the fourth generation mobile communication technology network with the target metropolitan area network, and the fourth gateway device 305 is configured to connect an egress gateway of the fixed network with the target metropolitan area network and connect an egress gateway of the Wifi network with the target metropolitan area network.

In this embodiment, as shown in fig. 3, the network includes: the public network (for example, 169 network), the metropolitan area network between the public network and the UPF or PGW or the egress gateway (i.e., the target metropolitan area network in the present embodiment), and the mobile communication network from the UPF or PGW to the terminal device or the fixed network or wireless network from the egress gateway to the terminal device.

In this embodiment, the second gateway device 303 is configured to connect a UPF network element in the fifth generation mobile communication technology network with the target metropolitan area network, which can be understood as connecting the 5G network with the target metropolitan area network through the second gateway device 303, so that interworking between the 5G network and the target metropolitan area network can be achieved. Specifically, as shown in fig. 3, the 5G network may specifically include an access network between the terminal device 120 and the base station, a bearer network between the base station and the UPF network element, and a core network to which the UPF belongs.

The third gateway device 304 is configured to connect a PGW network element in the 4G network with the target metropolitan area network, which may be understood as connecting the 4G network with the target metropolitan area network through the third gateway device 304, so that interworking between the 4G network and the target metropolitan area network may be achieved. Specifically, as shown in fig. 3, the 4G network may specifically include an access network between the terminal device 120 and the base station, a bearer network between the base station and the PGW network element, and a core network to which the PGW network element belongs.

The fourth gateway device 305 is used for connecting an egress gateway of a fixed network with a target metropolitan area network and connecting an egress gateway of a wireless fidelity (wireless fidelity, wifi) network with the target metropolitan area network, which can be understood as connecting the fixed network with the target metropolitan area network through the fourth gateway device 305 or connecting the Wifi network with the target metropolitan area network through the fourth gateway device 305, so that interworking between the fixed network or the Wifi network and the target metropolitan area network can be realized. As shown in fig. 3, the terminal device 120 is connected to an Access Point (AP) through a fixed network, and then to an egress gateway through a switch, and the terminal device 120 is connected to the Access Point (AP) through a Wifi network, and then to the egress gateway through the switch.

It is noted that, the detailed description of the MEC server may refer to the description in the related art, and will not be repeated here. In this embodiment, the MEC server is deployed in the target metropolitan area network.

It will be appreciated that in order for the end device 120 to have access to the MEC server, it is not practical to simply place the MEC server in the target metropolitan area network, and communication between the MEC server and the end device is required.

It may also be appreciated that, since the terminal device 120 may access the network by using an access manner of the 5G network or the 4G network, or the terminal device 120 may access the network by using an access manner of the fixed network or the Wifi network, it is only required to implement communication between the MEC server and the 5G network or the 4G network, or the fixed network or the Wifi network. In this way, the terminal device may communicate with the MEC server through a 5G network or a 4G network, or a fixed network and a Wifi network.

In view of this, in the communication system provided in the present embodiment, the MEC server 301 and the first gateway device 302 are connected through a dedicated communication line, and the first gateway device 302 is connected to the second gateway device 303, the third gateway device 304, and the fourth gateway device 305 through dedicated communication lines, respectively.

For example, the dedicated communication line may be an optical fiber, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

It can be understood that, when the MEC server 301 is connected to the first gateway device 302 through a dedicated communication line, the first gateway device 302 may forward the data flow in the MEC server 301, and at this time, when the first gateway device 302 is connected to the second gateway device 303, the second gateway device 303 is connected to the UPF network element and the target metropolitan area network, that is, the 5G network and the target metropolitan area network are connected to each other, so that the first gateway device 302 is connected to the second gateway device 303 through a dedicated communication line, and connection between the MEC server 301 and the 5G network and the target metropolitan area network may be achieved. In this way, the end device 120 may access the MEC server 301 via the 5G network.

Similarly, the first gateway device 302 and the third gateway device 304 are connected through a dedicated communication line, so that the MEC server 301 can be connected to the 4G network and the target metropolitan area network. In this way, the end device 120 may access the MEC server 301 through the 4G network.

Similarly, the first gateway device 302 and the fourth gateway device 304 are connected through a dedicated communication line, so that the MEC server 301 can be connected to a fixed network or a Wifi network and a target metropolitan area network. In this way, the terminal device 120 may access the MEC server 301 through a fixed network or a Wifi network.

In the communication system provided in this embodiment, since the first gateway for forwarding the data stream generated by the MEC server is connected to the second gateway device, the third gateway device and the fourth gateway device through the dedicated communication line, where the second gateway device 303 is connected to the fifth generation mobile communication network and the target metropolitan area network, the third gateway device is connected to the fourth generation mobile communication network and the target metropolitan area network, and the fourth gateway device is connected to the fixed network or the egress gateway of the Wifi network, connection between the MEC server and the fifth generation mobile communication network, the fourth generation mobile communication network and the fixed network or the Wifi network can be achieved, and further, communication with the MEC server can be achieved regardless of whether the terminal device uses the access mode of the fifth generation mobile communication technology network or the fourth generation mobile communication technology network or the access mode of the fixed network or the Wifi network.

As an alternative embodiment, a first cloud game platform and at least one first game application are deployed in the MEC server, the first cloud game platform including a first rendering module and a first service management module, the first service management module for managing the at least one first game application, the first rendering module for encoding a video audio stream for any one of the at least one first game application.

The first game application may be an action game, or a racing game, for example, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

The concepts related to the cloud game platform, the service management module, and the cloud rendering module may refer to the description of the cloud game service architecture shown in fig. 2 of the related art or the present application, and will not be repeated herein.

In this embodiment, the first service management module is configured to manage at least one first game application, for example, may be responsible for scheduling and resource allocation of the at least one first game application. The first rendering module may encode a video audio stream for any one of the at least one first gaming application.

In this embodiment, the first cloud gaming platform is deployed in the MEC server, i.e., the first cloud gaming platform is deployed in the target metropolitan area network. It can be appreciated that after the first cloud game platform is deployed in the MEC server, when the first cloud game platform encodes the video-audio stream for a certain first game application by using the first rendering module, the video-audio stream can be directly transmitted from the target metropolitan area network to the terminal device, without a process of transmitting the video-audio stream from the public network to the target metropolitan area network, that is, a distance from the terminal device to the first cloud game platform is reduced, so that a transmission delay of the video-audio stream is reduced. In addition, it can be appreciated that the deployment of a portion of the cloud gaming application in the MEC server can reduce the load on the public network, thereby improving the stability of the network.

Optionally, when at least one first gaming application is deployed in the MEC server, a transmission delay requirement of each of the at least one first gaming application is less than a first delay threshold.

It will be appreciated that some gaming applications may require a transmission delay for the transmission of the video audio stream from the server to the terminal device to receive the video audio stream. In addition, since the first cloud platform is deployed in the MEC server, the transmission delay can be reduced, and in this embodiment, a game smaller than the first delay threshold can be deployed in the MEC server. The first latency threshold may be, for example, 10 milliseconds or 5 milliseconds, which is not limited by embodiments of the present application.

As an alternative embodiment, as shown in fig. 3, the communication system in this embodiment may further include a fifth gateway device 306, where the fifth gateway device 306 is configured to connect the target metropolitan area network with the public network.

Illustratively, the public network is 169 network. It is noted that, for the concept of the public network, reference may be made to the description in the related art, and the description is omitted here.

As an optional embodiment, the communication system in this embodiment further includes a central cloud server, where the central cloud server is disposed in the public network, and a second cloud game platform and at least one second game application are disposed in the central cloud server, where the second cloud game platform includes a second rendering module and a second service management module, where the second service management module is configured to manage the at least one second game application, and the second rendering module is configured to encode any one of the at least one second game application into a video audio stream.

The descriptions about the second rendering module and the second service management module may be similar to those of the first rendering module and the first service management module, and will not be repeated here.

It may be appreciated that, since the fifth gateway device 306 connects the target metropolitan area network and the public network, and the central cloud server deployed with the second cloud game platform is deployed in the public network, the data in the central cloud server may be transmitted to the target metropolitan area network through the public network, further, since the target metropolitan area network is connected to the 5G network, the 4G network, the fixed network or the Wifi network, the data in the central cloud server may be further transmitted to the 5G network, the 4G network, the fixed network or the Wifi network, and further, the data in the central cloud server may be transmitted to the terminal device.

Therefore, through the communication system in the present embodiment, the terminal device can also communicate with the center cloud server.

Still further, when at least one second gaming application is deployed in the central cloud server, a transmission delay requirement of each of the at least one second gaming application is greater than or equal to the first delay threshold.

It will be appreciated that the transmission delay applied to the terminal device by the second cloud game deployed in the central cloud server is greater than the transmission delay applied to the terminal device by the first cloud game deployed in the MEC server. Thus, if the transmission delay requirement of a certain second game application is not very high, the second game application can be deployed into the central cloud server. That is, in this embodiment, the second game application whose transmission delay requirement is greater than or equal to the first delay threshold is deployed in the central cloud server. For example, the second gaming application requiring a latency of greater than or equal to 10 milliseconds is deployed in a central cloud server.

On the basis of the above embodiment, the second cloud gaming platform in the communication system in this embodiment is further configured to manage at least one first game application.

Fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication system according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 4, the UPF device is connected to the target metropolitan area network through the gateway device 2, and the target metropolitan area network is connected to the public network through the gateway device 3, the gateway device 2 is further connected to the gateway device 1, and the gateway device 1 is further connected to the MEC server, so that communication between the central cloud server deployed in the public network and the MEC server can be achieved. Based on this, the second cloud game platform deployed in the central cloud server may also be used to manage at least one first game application deployed in the MEC server in the case where the central cloud server and the MEC server are in communication. For example, the at least one first game application may be updated or data of the at least one first game application may be archived, which is not limited by embodiments of the present application.

As an alternative embodiment, the communication system in this embodiment may further include a domain name resolution (domain name resolution, DNS) server, where the DNS server is deployed in the public network, and the DNS server is configured to perform domain name resolution on a uniform resource location (uniform resource locator, URL) of the target cloud game application sent by the terminal device and return an internet protocol (Internet Protocol, IP) address of the target cloud game application to the terminal device.

Next, a method of the terminal device communicating with the MEC server in the communication system provided in the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 5 and 6.

Fig. 5 is a method for a terminal device to communicate with an MEC server when using 5G network access according to an embodiment of the present application.

For convenience of description in this embodiment, a terminal device using a 5G network access manner (i.e., a target network used by the terminal device is a fifth generation mobile communication technology network) is referred to as a 5G terminal.

It is first explained that, in the specific implementation of the communication system in this embodiment, the network architecture from the terminal device to the UPF and from the UPF to the public network is first kept unchanged, and then a communication dedicated line is newly added between the gateway where the UPF is located and the first gateway device (for forwarding the data stream generated by the MEC server), and a path is routed. In this case, the MEC server may access the service flow data sent at the UPF, or may interact with a central cloud server in the public network, for example, implement resource update of cloud games in the MEC server through the central cloud server.

In this embodiment, the gateway device for connecting the UPF in the fifth generation mobile communication technology network and the target metropolitan area network is also referred to as a target gateway device, or a gateway where the UPF is located, which does not form a limitation of the present application.

As shown in fig. 5, when the 5G terminal performs S501, i.e., logs in to the 5G network, the 5G terminal may obtain the IP address corresponding to the 5G terminal allocated by the UPF. Then, the 5G terminal performs S502, that is, initiates a DNS resolution request message to the DNS server, specifically, initiates a DNS resolution request to a DNS server deployed in the public network according to the domain name in the URL of the requested target cloud game application. When the DNS server receives the DNS resolution request, S503 is executed, that is, it is executed to determine whether there is an MEC server with a cloud game application deployed in the target metropolitan area network where the 5G terminal is located, and determine whether the target cloud game application has an instance in the MEC server, and then S504 is executed, that is, the IP address of the target cloud game is fed back to the IP address corresponding to the 5G terminal. When the 5G terminal receives the IP address of the target cloud game application sent by the DNS server, S505 is executed, namely, a service data request of the target cloud game application is initiated to the IP address of the target cloud game application, and after the service data request flows through the 5G base station, the bearing network, the UPF and the gateway where the UPF is located, the service data request reaches a first cloud game platform in the MEC server through a special communication line between the gateway where the UPF is located and the first gateway equipment; and after receiving the service data request, executing S506 and S507, namely running the target cloud game application, and sending the video and audio stream of the target cloud game application to the 5G terminal.

Fig. 6 is a method for a terminal device to communicate with an MEC server when using 4G network access according to another embodiment of the present application.

For convenience of description in this embodiment, a terminal device using a 4G network access manner (i.e., a target network used by the terminal device is a fourth generation mobile communication technology network) is referred to as a 4G terminal.

It is first explained that, in the specific implementation of the communication system in this embodiment, firstly, the network architecture from the terminal device to the PGW and from the PGW to the public network is kept unchanged, and then, a new communication dedicated line is connected between the gateway where the PGW is located and the first gateway device (and the data stream generated by the forwarding MEC server), and a path is routed. In this case, the MEC server may access the service flow data sent at the PGW, or may interact with a central cloud server in the public network, for example, implement resource update of cloud games in the MEC server through the central cloud server.

In this embodiment, the gateway device for connecting the PGW in the fourth generation mobile communication technology network and the target metropolitan area network is also referred to as a target gateway device, or a gateway where the PGW is located, which does not form a limitation of the present application.

As shown in fig. 6, the 4G terminal first performs S601, i.e. logs in to the 4G network, and at this time, the 4G terminal may obtain the IP address corresponding to the 4G terminal allocated by the PGW. Then, the 4G terminal executes S602, namely, initiates a DNS resolution request message to the DNS server, specifically, initiates a DNS resolution request to a DNS server deployed in the public network according to the domain name in the URL of the target cloud game application of the request, and when the DNS server receives the DNS resolution request, executes S603, namely, executes to determine whether there is an MEC server deployed with the cloud game application in the target metropolitan area network where the 4G terminal is located, and determines whether the target cloud game application has an instance in the MEC server, and then executes S604, namely, feeds back the IP address of the target cloud game to the IP address corresponding to the 4G terminal. When the 4G terminal receives the IP address of the target cloud game application sent by the DNS server, S605 is executed, namely, a service data request of the target cloud game application is initiated to the IP address of the target cloud game application, and after the service data request flows through the 4G base station, the carrier network, the PGW and the gateway where the PGW is located, the service data request reaches a first cloud game platform in the MEC server through a special communication line between the gateway where the PGW is located and the first gateway equipment; and after receiving the service data request, the first cloud game platform in the MEC server executes S606 and S607, namely runs the target cloud game and sends the video and audio stream of the target cloud game to the 4G terminal.

Similarly, the communication method between the terminal device and the MEC server adopting the fixed network or Wifi access mode may be similar to the communication method between the terminal device and the MEC server adopting the 5G network access mode in fig. 5, or may be similar to the communication method between the terminal device and the MEC server adopting the 4G network access mode in fig. 4. It can be understood that when the terminal device adopts a fixed network or Wifi access manner, the difference between the embodiment shown in fig. 4 or fig. 5 is that the newly added dedicated communication line is a dedicated communication line for connecting the fixed network or Wifi egress gateway with the MEC server.

It is to be noted that, in the above embodiments of the present application, only one first gateway device, one second gateway device, one third gateway device, and one fourth gateway device and one fifth gateway device are given as examples, but the present application is not limited thereto. For example, the number of the first gateway devices may be plural, or the number of each of the first gateway device, the second gateway device, the third gateway device, and the fourth gateway device and the fifth gateway device may be plural.

It should be understood that the term "and/or" is merely an association relationship describing the associated object, and means that three relationships may exist, for example, a and/or B may mean: there are three cases, a alone, a and B together, and B alone, wherein a, B may be singular or plural. In addition, the character "/" herein generally indicates that the associated object is an "or" relationship, but may also indicate an "and/or" relationship, and may be understood by referring to the context.

In the present application, "at least one" means one or more, and "a plurality" means two or more. "at least one of" or the like means any combination of these items, including any combination of single item(s) or plural items(s). For example, at least one (one) of a, b, or c may represent: a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, or a-b-c, wherein a, b, c may be single or plural.

It should be understood that, in various embodiments of the present application, the sequence numbers of the foregoing processes do not mean the order of execution, and the order of execution of the processes should be determined by the functions and internal logic thereof, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

The foregoing is merely specific embodiments of the present application, but the scope of the present application is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art can easily think about changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the present application, and the changes and substitutions are intended to be covered by the scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. The communication system is characterized by comprising a Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) server, a first gateway device, a second gateway device, a third gateway device and a fourth gateway device, wherein the MEC server is deployed in a target metropolitan area network, the MEC server is connected with the first gateway device through a special communication line, and the first gateway device is respectively connected with the second gateway device, the third gateway device and the fourth gateway device through special communication lines;

the first gateway device is used for forwarding the data stream generated by the MEC server, the second gateway device is used for connecting a user plane function UPF network element in a fifth generation mobile communication technology network with the target metropolitan area network, the third gateway device is used for connecting a packet data network gateway PGW network element in a fourth generation mobile communication technology network with the target metropolitan area network, and the fourth gateway device is used for connecting an exit gateway of a fixed network with the target metropolitan area network and connecting an exit gateway of a wireless fidelity Wifi network with the target metropolitan area network;

the MEC server is provided with a first cloud game platform and at least one first game application, wherein the first cloud game platform comprises a first rendering module and a first service management module, the first service management module is used for managing the at least one first game application, and the first rendering module is used for encoding video and audio streams for any one of the at least one first game application;

wherein a transmission delay requirement of each of the at least one first gaming application is less than a first delay threshold.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fifth gateway device for connecting the target metropolitan area network with a public network.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a central cloud server disposed in the public network, the central cloud server having disposed therein a second cloud gaming platform and at least one second gaming application, the second cloud gaming platform comprising a second rendering module and a second traffic management module, the second traffic management module for managing the at least one second gaming application, the second rendering module for encoding any one of the at least one second gaming application as a video audio stream.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein a transmission delay requirement of each of the at least one second gaming application is greater than or equal to the first delay threshold.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the second cloud gaming platform is further for managing the at least one first gaming application.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a domain name resolution DNS server deployed in the public network, the DNS server configured to perform domain name resolution on a uniform resource location URL of a target cloud game sent by a terminal device and return an internet protocol IP address of the target cloud game to the terminal device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the terminal device accesses the target metropolitan area network through any one of the following networks: the fifth generation mobile communication technology network, the fourth generation mobile communication technology network, the fixed network or the Wifi network.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the public network is a 169 network.

9. The communication method is characterized by being applied to a communication system, wherein the communication system comprises a mobile edge computing MEC server, a first gateway device, a target gateway device, a domain name resolution DNS server and a MEC server, wherein the MEC server is deployed in a target metropolitan area network, the MEC server is connected with the first gateway device through a communication private line, the first gateway device is connected with the target gateway device, and the target gateway device is used for connecting a target network used by a terminal device with the target metropolitan area network;

the method comprises the following steps:

the terminal equipment uses the target network to send a DNS analysis request to the DNS server, wherein the DNS analysis request comprises a domain name in a URL corresponding to the target cloud game application;

the DNS server judges whether the instance of the target cloud game application exists in the MEC server or not based on the domain name in the URL;

when the DNS server determines that the instance of the target cloud game application exists in the MEC server, an Internet Protocol (IP) address corresponding to the instance of the target cloud game application is sent to the terminal equipment;

the terminal equipment sends a service data request to an IP address corresponding to the instance of the target cloud game application;

and the MEC server responds to the service data request, runs the instance of the target cloud game application and sends the video and audio stream of the target cloud game application to the terminal equipment.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the target network comprises any one of the following: a fifth generation mobile communication technology network, a fourth generation mobile communication technology network, a fixed network or a wireless fidelity Wifi network.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

the terminal device logs in the target network.