CN111885650A

CN111885650A - Communication method and network management equipment

Info

Publication number: CN111885650A
Application number: CN202010624998.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 张雪贝; 王友祥; 杨文聪; 张帅; 唐雄燕
Original assignee: China United Network Communications Group Co Ltd
Current assignee: China United Network Communications Group Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-07-01
Filing date: 2020-07-01
Publication date: 2020-11-03

Abstract

The invention discloses a communication method and network management equipment, relates to the technical field of communication, and is used for normally transmitting data streams by using a 5G network in a TSN. The method comprises the following steps: receiving a data sending request; acquiring the routing information of a target route in the TSN; the target route is used for transmitting data flow between the source node and the target node through the 5G network; inquiring the port identification of a first port and the port identification of a second port of the 5G network from the routing information of the target route; sending a target delay request to a Session Management Function (SMF) device of the 5G network; the target delay request is used for requesting the SMF equipment to feed back the target delay to the network management equipment; the target time delay is the transmission time delay of the data stream in the 5G network from the first port to the second port; receiving a target latency from the SMF device; and if the target time delay is determined to be smaller than the first time delay, transmitting the target data stream by using the target route. The embodiment of the invention is applied to the TSN comprising the 5G network.

Description

Communication method and network management equipment

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a communication method and a network management device.

Background

At present, with the rapid development of the fifth Generation mobile communication system (5th Generation, 5G), 5G networks have been applied in various industry fields, including using the 5G networks to replace bridges to access a Time-Sensitive network (TSN) commonly used in the industrial internet, and each end station in the TSN can realize the transmission of data streams through the 5G networks.

However, in the TSN in which the network bridge is centrally managed by the network management apparatus, the network management apparatus is responsible for acquiring the transmission service capability and topology information of the network bridge and distributing the end-to-end path to each end station and the network bridge. When a 5G network is used to transmit a data stream instead of a bridge, since the network management device cannot acquire the transmission Service capability of the 5G network, when each end station in the TSN transmits the data stream through the 5G network, it cannot be considered whether the transmission delay of the 5G network can meet the Quality of Service (QoS) requirement of the data stream, which easily causes the data stream transmission failure in the TSN.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the invention provides a communication method and network management equipment, which are used for normally transmitting data streams by using a 5G network in a TSN.

In order to achieve the above purpose, the embodiment of the invention adopts the following technical scheme:

in a first aspect, a communication method is provided, and the method includes: receiving a data sending request; the data sending request is used for requesting to send a target data stream from a source node to a target node in a time delay sensitive network (TSN); acquiring the routing information of a target route in the TSN; the target route is used for transmitting data flow between the source node and the target node through a fifth generation mobile communication system 5G network; the routing information comprises node identification of each transmission node in the route and port identification of each port in each transmission node; inquiring the port identification of a first port and the port identification of a second port of the 5G network from the routing information of the target route; the first port is a port of the 5G network for receiving the target data stream in the target route. The second port is a port of the 5G network for sending out the target data stream in the target route; sending a target delay request to a Session Management Function (SMF) device of the 5G network; the target delay request comprises a port identifier of a first port and a port identifier of a second port, and the target delay request is used for requesting the SMF equipment to feed back a target delay to the network management equipment; the target time delay is the transmission time delay of the data stream in the 5G network from the first port to the second port; receiving a target latency from the SMF device; if the target time delay is determined to be smaller than the first time delay, transmitting the target data stream by using the target route; wherein the first delay is a maximum transmission delay acceptable for transmitting the target data stream in the 5G network.

In a second aspect, a network management device is provided, which includes a receiving unit, an obtaining unit, an inquiring unit, a sending unit, and a processing unit; a receiving unit, configured to receive a data transmission request; the data sending request is used for requesting to send a target data stream from a source node to a target node in a time delay sensitive network (TSN); the acquiring unit is used for acquiring the routing information of the target route in the TSN after the receiving unit receives the data sending request; the target route is used for transmitting data flow between the source node and the target node through a fifth generation mobile communication system 5G network; the routing information comprises node identification of each transmission node in the route and port identification of each port in each transmission node; the query unit is used for querying the port identifier of the first port and the port identifier of the second port of the 5G network from the routing information of the target route acquired by the acquisition unit; the first port is a port of the 5G network for receiving the target data stream in the target route; the second port is a port of the 5G network for sending out the target data stream in the target route; a sending unit, configured to send a target latency request to a session management function SMF device of the 5G network after the querying unit queries the port identifier of the first port and the port identifier of the second port; the target delay request comprises a port identifier of a first port and a port identifier of a second port, and the target delay request is used for requesting the SMF equipment to feed back a target delay to the network management equipment; the target time delay is the transmission time delay of the data stream in the 5G network from the first port to the second port; the receiving unit is also used for receiving the target time delay from the SMF equipment; the processing unit is used for sending the target data stream by using the target route if the target time delay is determined to be smaller than the first time delay; wherein the first delay is a maximum transmission delay acceptable for transmitting the target data stream in the 5G network.

In a third aspect, there is provided a computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the communication method as in the first aspect.

In a fourth aspect, a network management device is provided, including: a processor, a memory, and a communication interface; the communication interface is used for the communication between the network management equipment and other equipment or networks; the memory is used for storing one or more programs, the one or more programs include computer-executable instructions, and when the network management device runs, the processor executes the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory, so that the network management device executes the communication method of the first aspect.

When any end station in the TSN needs to send a data stream from a source node to a target node using the 5G network as a bridge, the network management device of the TSN can query, from a plurality of transmission ports of the 5G network, an identifier of a port required to be used for forwarding the data stream, and further can request the SMF device of the 5G network to feed back the transmission delay of the 5G network to the network management device according to the identifier of the port. After receiving the transmission delay of the 5G network, the network management device can further determine whether the transmission service capability of the 5G network can meet the QoS requirement for transmitting the data stream in the TSN when the 5G network replaces the network bridge to transmit the data stream, so that normal transmission of the data stream can be ensured.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a first schematic structural diagram of a TSN according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a TSN structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a first flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a third schematic flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 8 is a sixth schematic flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9 is a seventh flowchart illustrating a communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 10 is a first schematic structural diagram of a network management device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a network management device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a network management device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 13 is a fourth schematic structural diagram of a network management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention.

In the description of the present invention, "/" means "or" unless otherwise specified, for example, a/B may mean a or B. "and/or" herein is merely an association describing an associated object, and means that there may be three relationships, e.g., a and/or B, which may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. Further, "at least one" or "a plurality" means two or more. The terms "first", "second", and the like do not necessarily limit the number and execution order, and the terms "first", "second", and the like do not necessarily limit the difference.

The inventive concept of the present invention is described below: fig. 1 shows a network topology of a delay-sensitive network TSN commonly used in the industrial internet at present, which includes a network management device, a plurality of end stations (e.g., in fig. 1, the plurality of end stations includes an end station 1 and an end station 2, which are only exemplary in the figure, and there may be more or less end stations in a specific implementation), and a plurality of bridges (e.g., in fig. 1, the plurality of bridges includes a bridge 1, a bridge 2, and a bridge 3, which are only exemplary in the figure, and there may be three bridges in the specific implementation). Wherein the network management device is configured to centrally manage a plurality of bridges in the TSN. After the network management device receives a data sending request sent by any one end station, the network management device is responsible for acquiring the transmission service capability and the topology information of each bridge, determining a path for transmitting data according to the data sending request, the transmission service capability and the topology information of each bridge, and distributing the path to the end station and the bridges in the path.

Based on the above technology, the present invention finds that, when a 5G network is used in a TSN to replace a network bridge to transmit data streams, a network management device cannot acquire the transmission service capability of the 5G network because the TSN and the 5G network are heterogeneous networks. Therefore, when allocating a path to each end station in the TSN, the network management device cannot consider whether the transmission delay of the 5G network can meet the QoS requirement of the data stream. In one case, if the transmission delay of the 5G network can meet the QoS requirement of the data stream, the data stream cannot be normally transmitted by using the 5G network in the TSN.

In view of the above technical problems, the present invention considers that a plurality of ports for transmitting data streams exist inside a 5G network, and if a method can be determined, after a path including the 5G network in a TSN is determined, a transmission delay between ports participating in transmitting data streams in the path is determined, so as to obtain a transmission delay of the 5G network in the path, thereby solving the technical problems.

Based on the above inventive concept, embodiments of the present invention provide a communication method, which can obtain a transmission delay of a 5G network before any end station in a TSN transmits a data stream using the 5G network, that is, can determine whether a transmission path where the 5G network is located can meet a QoS requirement for transmitting the data stream in the TSN, and can ensure normal transmission of the data stream.

The communication method provided by the embodiment of the invention is applied to the TSN. Fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of the TSN. As shown in fig. 2, the TSN10 includes a network management device 11, a 5G network 12, a plurality of end stations (e.g., in fig. 2, the plurality of end stations includes an end station 13 and an end station 14, which are only exemplary, and there may be more end stations in the implementation), a bridge 15 (e.g., in fig. 2, only one bridge is exemplary, and there may be more bridges in the implementation), and an AF (Application Function) device 16.

The network management device 11 is connected to the end station 13, the end station 14 and the bridge 15, the AF device 16 is connected to the 5G network 12, and the end station 13 is connected to the end station 14 through the 5G network 12 and the bridge 15. All the devices or apparatuses may be connected by a wired manner or a wireless manner, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present invention.

The network management device 11 may be configured to obtain the transmission delay between nodes in the TSN network and the transmission delay inside each node. The network management device 11 may also be configured to allocate a transmission route to each end station in the TSN and distribute the transmission route to each end station.

The 5G Network 12 includes an SMF (Session Management Function) device 121, an UPF (User Plane Function) device 122, a NEF (Network Exposure Function) device 123, and a UE (User Equipment) 124.

The SMF device 121 is connected to the NEF device and the UPF device, respectively, the UPF device 122 is connected to the UE124, and the NEF device 123 is connected to the AF device 16 in the TSN 10.

The SMF device 121 is responsible for session management related work, and the specific functions include Internet Protocol (IP) address allocation, user plane selection and control, service routing configuration and uplink traffic guidance, session and service continuity mode determination, QOS policy configuration for the user port function device, and the like in the session establishment process.

The UPF device 122 is used to provide user-plane traffic handling functions including traffic routing, packet forwarding, anchoring functions, QOS mapping and enforcement, identification and routing of the uplink to the data network, downlink packet buffering and notification triggering of downlink data arrival, interfacing with external data networks, and the like. For example, as shown in fig. 2, the UPF device 122 may interact with the bridge 15 or other end stations as an external interface of the 5G network 12, and the UPF device 122 may also interact with the end stations 13 via the UE124 as an internal interface of the 5G network 12.

The NEF device 123 is responsible for managing data of the external open network, and all external applications that want to access the internal data of the 5G network need to pass through the NEF device.

UE124 may interact with end station 13 as an external interface to UPF device 122 in 5G network 12.

The end station 13 and the end station 14 may be specifically speaking (Talker) devices in the TSN, and are configured to transmit data streams to other end stations. The end station 13 and the end station 14 may specifically be Listener (Listener) devices in the TSN, and are configured to receive data streams sent by other end stations.

Bridge 15, which is used to send its own transmission delay, its own node identifier and port identifier to the network management in the TSN. Bridge 15, is also used to forward data streams in the TSN.

The AF device 16 is a service device at an application layer, and is configured to enable the network management device 11 to perform data interaction with the SMF device 121 in the 5G network 12 through the NEF device 123 in the 5G network 12.

The AF device 16 may be a device external to the 5G network 12, or may be a device internal to the 5G network 12. When the AF device 16 is a device within the 5G network 12, the communication method between the AF device 16 and the 5G network 12 is: the AF device is connected to a PCF (Policy Control Function) device in the 5G network, and performs data interaction with the SMF device through the PCF device. The AF device performs data interaction with the PCF device through an N5 interface of the 5G network, and the PCF device performs data interaction with the SMF device through an N7 interface of the 5G network.

In the following embodiments provided by the present invention, the present invention is described by taking the AF device 16 as an example of a device external to the 5G network 12.

The following describes a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the TSN10 shown in fig. 2.

As shown in fig. 3, the communication method provided by the present embodiment includes S201 to S209:

s201, the network management apparatus 11 receives the data transmission request.

Wherein the data transmission request is for requesting transmission of a target data stream from the source node to the target node in the TSN. The data transmission request comprises the node identification of the source node and the node identification of the target node.

As a possible implementation, the network management apparatus 11 receives a data transmission request transmitted by the end station 13 or the end station 14.

Illustratively, if the data transmission request is sent by the end station 13 and is used to request to transmit the data stream to the end station 14, the node identification of the source node is the node identification of the end station 13, and the node identification of the target node is the node identification of the end station 14.

S202, the network management apparatus 11 determines the target route.

Wherein the target route is used for transmitting the data flow between the source node and the target node through the 5G network.

As a possible implementation manner, the network management device 11 determines a target route including the 5G network according to the node identifier of the source node and the node identifier of the target node.

S203, the network management device 11 obtains the route information of the target route in the TSN.

The routing information includes node identifiers of transmission nodes in the route and port identifiers of ports in the transmission nodes.

It should be noted that the routing parameters of the target route include a node identifier of the 5G network as a bridge and a port identifier of a port in the 5G network for forwarding the target data stream. The routing parameters of the target route also include link parameters between nodes participating in forwarding the target data flow. The link parameters include transmission mode (wired or wireless, optical fiber type), and link delay.

It can be understood that, if the target route further includes bridges for forwarding the target data stream by other users, the route parameter of the target route further includes port identifiers of ports for forwarding the target data stream in the above other bridges.

S204, the network management device 11 queries the port identifier of the first port and the port identifier of the second port of the 5G network from the routing information of the target route.

The first port is a port of the 5G network for receiving the target data stream in the target route. The second port is a port of the 5G network sending out the target data stream in the target route.

As a possible implementation manner, the network management device 11 queries, according to the node identifier of the 5G network as a bridge, the port identifier of the first port and the port identifier of the second port from the routing information of the target route.

For example, if the 5G network receives the target data stream through the UE, the port identifier of the first port is the port identifier of the UE receiving the target data stream. If the 5G network receives the target data stream through the UPF device, the port identifier of the first port is the port identifier of the port receiving the target data stream in the UPF device.

S205, the network management device 11 sends the target latency request to the session management function SMF device 121 of the 5G network.

The target latency request comprises a port identification of the first port and a port identification of the second port. The target latency request is for requesting the SMF device 121 to feed back the target latency to the network management device 11. The target delay is the transmission delay of the data stream from the first port to the second port in the 5G network.

S206, the SMF device 121 obtains the target delay.

As a possible implementation manner, the SMF device 121 may obtain the transmission delay between the first port and the second port from the UPF device 122.

S207, the network management apparatus 11 receives the target latency from the SMF apparatus 121.

As a possible implementation manner, after obtaining the target latency, the SMF device 121 sends the target latency to the network management device 11.

S208, the network management apparatus 11 determines whether the target delay is smaller than the first delay.

Wherein the first delay is a maximum transmission delay acceptable for transmitting the target data stream in the 5G network.

S209, if it is determined that the target delay is smaller than the first delay, the network management device 11 sends the target data stream by using the target route.

As a possible implementation manner, if the target delay is smaller than the first delay, the network management device 11 distributes the target route to the source node, the target node, and an intermediate node in the TSN, which is used to forward the target data stream, so that the source node sends the target data stream to the target node through the node in the target route.

In this embodiment of the present invention, in order to determine a target route, as shown in fig. 4 with reference to fig. 3, S202 provided in this embodiment of the present invention specifically includes S2021-S2022:

s2021, the network management device 11 obtains the route information of each first route in the plurality of first routes in the TSN.

Wherein each of the plurality of first routes is used to transmit a data flow between the source node and the destination node.

As a possible implementation manner, the network management device 11 acquires the route information of each first route after determining the plurality of first routes in the TSN.

S2022: the network management device 11 determines a target route for constructing a route using the 5G network from the plurality of first routes, based on the route information of each of the plurality of first routes in the TSN.

As a possible implementation manner, the network management device 11 queries whether the routing information of each first route includes a node identifier of the 5G network as a bridge. If the first route exists, the network management device 11 determines that the first route containing the node identifier of the 5G network is the target route.

In this embodiment of the present invention, in order to determine a plurality of first routes, the data transmission request provided in the embodiment of the present invention further includes a port identifier of the start port and a port identifier of the end port. Wherein, the starting port is a port of the source node for sending out the target data stream. The destination port is the port at which the target node receives the target data stream.

With reference to fig. 4, as shown in fig. 5, the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present invention further includes S1-S2:

s1, the network management apparatus 11 obtains the port identifier of the start port and the port identifier of the end port.

As a possible implementation manner, after receiving the data transmission request, the network management device 11 obtains the port identifier of the start port and the port identifier of the end port from the data transmission request.

S2, the network management device 11 queries a plurality of first routes from the topology management list according to the port identifier of the start port and the port identifier of the end port.

The topology management list includes node identifiers of the 5G network, port identifiers of a plurality of ports of the 5G network, port identifiers of a third port capable of performing data stream transmission with each port of the plurality of ports, and node identifiers of transmission nodes where the third port is located.

It should be noted that the topology management list includes multiple lists, and each list corresponds to one route. Each of the topology management lists includes a node identifier of each node in the one route and a port identifier of the node. The topology management list may be maintained in the network management device 11.

In the embodiment of the present invention, since the TSN and the 5G network are heterogeneous networks, in order to enable signaling interaction between the TSN and the 5G network, as shown in fig. 6 in combination with fig. 3, S205 provided in the embodiment of the present invention specifically includes S2051 to S2053:

s2051, the network management device 11 sends the target latency request to the AF device 16.

It should be noted that the network management device 11 and the AF device 16 perform signaling interaction through a preset API (application programming interface) interface.

S2052, the AF device 16 sends the target latency request to the NEF device 123.

As a possible implementation, the AF device 16 format-translates the target latency request and sends the translated target latency request to the NEF device 123.

Note that the AF device 16 communicates with the NEF123 using an N33 interface. The N33 interface serves as a transmission interface between the AF device 16 and the NEF123, and is used for data transmission of the application plane in the 5G network 12.

S2053, the NEF device 123 sends the format-translated target latency request to the SMF device 121.

It should be noted that the format translation is used to enable the device receiving the data to parse the received data. In this step, a specific implementation manner of data transmission between NEF device 123 and SMF device 121 may refer to an internal signaling flow of a 5G network in the prior art, which is not described herein again.

In one design, in order to enable the SMF to obtain the target delay, with reference to fig. 3, as shown in fig. 6, S206 provided in the embodiment of the present invention specifically includes S2061 to S2062:

s2061, the SMF device 121 sends the first latency request to the UPF device 122.

The first delay request comprises a port identification of the first port and a port identification of the second port. The first latency request is used to request that the UPF device 122 feed back the target latency to the SMF device 121.

As a possible implementation, the SMF device 121 sends the first latency request to the UPF device 122 through an N4 interface of the 5G network.

S2062, the UPF device 122 sends the target latency to the SMF device 122.

As a possible implementation manner, the UPF device 122 determines the target latency according to the port identifier of the first port and the port identifier of the second port, and sends the target latency to the SMF device 122 through an N4 interface of the 5G network.

It should be noted that the transmission delay between the ports is stored in the UPF device 122 by the UPF when the UPF device 122 establishes the session connection between the ports.

In another design, in order to obtain the target delay, S206 provided in the embodiment of the present invention for the SMF device 121 may further include S2063:

s2063, the SMF device 121 determines the target time delay according to the port identifier of the first port and the port identifier of the second port.

It should be noted that, when the UPF device 122 establishes a session connection between ports, the transmission delay between multiple ports may be reported to the SMF device 121, and the SMF device 121 stores the transmission delay.

In this embodiment of the present invention, in order to enable SMF device 121 to send a target latency to network management device 11, as shown in fig. 6 in combination with fig. 3, S207 provided in this embodiment of the present invention specifically includes S2071 to S2073:

s2071, the SMF device 121 sends the target latency to the NEF device 123.

It should be noted that, for a specific implementation manner of this step, reference may be made to the above-mentioned S2053, which is not described herein again.

S2072, the NEF device 123 transmits the target delay to the AF device 16.

It should be noted that, for a specific implementation manner of this step, reference may be made to the above-mentioned S2052, which is not described herein again.

S2073, the AF device 16 sends the format-translated target delay to the network management device 11.

As a possible implementation manner, the AF device 16 format-translates the target latency, and sends the format-translated target latency to the network management device 11.

It should be noted that, in this step, reference may be made to the above S2051 for a process of performing data interaction between the AF device 16 and the network management device 11, which is not described herein again.

It can be understood that, for convenience of subsequent description, in the embodiment of the present application, for a specific implementation of data interaction or signaling interaction between the SMF device 121 and the network management device 11 that occurs subsequently, reference may be made to the above S2051 to S2053 and S2071 to S2073, which are not described again in the following.

In this embodiment of the present invention, before the network management device 11 determines whether the target is smaller than the first time delay, in order to determine the first time delay, the data transmission request provided in this embodiment of the present invention specifically further includes a second time delay. Wherein the second delay is a maximum transmission delay acceptable for transmitting the target data stream in the TSN.

With reference to fig. 3, as shown in fig. 7, the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present invention further includes S3-S4:

s3, the network management device 11 determines the third delay according to the routing parameter of the target route.

And the third time delay is the sum of the link time delay between two adjacent nodes in the target route and the transmission time delay of each node except the 5G network.

As a possible implementation manner, the network management device 11 may obtain, from the topology management list, the transmission delay of each bridge in the target route and the link delay between two adjacent nodes.

It should be noted that the link delay between two adjacent nodes includes a wireless transmission delay or an optical fiber link delay between two adjacent nodes. The network bridge may transmit its own transmission delay to the network management apparatus 11 when registering in the network management apparatus 11.

S4, the network management apparatus 11 calculates a difference between the second delay and the third delay, and takes the calculation result as the first delay.

In one case, if the difference between the second delay and the third delay is less than or equal to 0, the network management device 11 determines whether the overall transmission delay of the second route is less than the second delay, until determining a route for transmitting the target data stream.

Wherein the second route is any one of the plurality of first routes except the target route. The overall transmission delay of the second route is the transmission delay required for transmitting the target data stream through the second route in the TSN.

It should be noted that, if the second route includes the 5G network, the network management device 11 determines whether the overall transmission delay of the second route is smaller than the second delay, and refer to the above S202 to S208. If the second route does not include the 5G network, the network management device 11 determines whether the overall transmission delay of the second route is smaller than the second delay, which may refer to the prior art.

In this embodiment of the present invention, in order to construct a topology management list, as shown in fig. 8 in combination with fig. 5, before S2, the communication method provided in this embodiment of the present invention further includes S5-S8:

s5, the UPF device 122 obtains a node identifier of the 5G network, port identifiers of a plurality of ports in the 5G network, a port identifier of a third port capable of performing data stream transmission with each port of the plurality of ports, and a node identifier of a transmission node where the third port is located.

The node identifier of the 5G network is configured for the 5G network when the UPF device 122 establishes a session in the 5G network. The port identification of the plurality of ports in the 5G network is generated by the UPF device 122 when the 5G network establishes the session.

It should be noted that the port identifier of the third port and the transmission identifier of the transmission node where the third port is located may be obtained from the bridge, the end station, or other external devices by the UPF device 122 when the 5G network is in link connection with the bridge, the end station, or other external devices.

S6, the UPF device 122 sends the node identifier of the 5G network, the port identifiers of the multiple ports, the port identifier of the third port, and the node identifier of the transmission node where the third port is located to the SMF device 121.

It should be noted that, for a specific implementation of sending data in this step, reference may be made to step S2062, which is not described herein again.

S7, the SMF device 121 sends the node identifier of the 5G network, the port identifiers of the multiple ports, the port identifier of the third port, and the node identifier of the transmission node where the third port is located to the network management device 11.

It should be noted that, for a specific implementation of sending data in this step, reference may be made to step S207, which is not described herein again.

S8, the network management device 11 stores the node identifier of the 5G network, the port identifiers of the multiple ports in the 5G network, the port identifier of the third port, and the node identifier of the transmission node where the third port is located, so as to construct a topology management list.

As a possible implementation, the network management apparatus 11 registers the 5G network in a management list in the network management apparatus 11, and adds a plurality of lists in the topology management list.

It should be noted that each of the added lists corresponds to a route including the 5G network.

In a design, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a communication method, configured to determine whether a transmission path where the 5G network is located can meet a QoS requirement for transmitting a data stream in a TSN, so as to ensure normal transmission of the data stream. As shown in fig. 9, the communication method provided in the embodiment of the present invention further includes S301 to S311:

s301, the network management apparatus 11 receives the data transmission request.

It should be noted that, the specific implementation manner of this step may refer to the step S201, and details are not described here.

S302, the network management apparatus 11 determines the target route.

It should be noted that, the specific implementation manner of this step may refer to the step S202, and details are not described here.

S303, the network management device 11 obtains the routing information of the target route in the TSN.

It should be noted that, the specific implementation manner of this step may refer to step S203, which is not described herein again.

S304, the network management device 11 queries the port identifier of the first port and the port identifier of the second port of the 5G network from the routing information of the target route.

It should be noted that, the specific implementation manner of this step may refer to step S204, which is not described herein again.

S305, the network management apparatus 11 determines a first time delay.

It should be noted that, the specific implementation manner of this step may refer to the above steps S3-S4, and is not described herein again.

S306, the network management apparatus 11 transmits a QoS negotiation request to the SMF apparatus 121.

The QoS negotiation request is used to request the SMF device 121 to determine whether the target route where the 5G network is located meets the maximum transmission delay acceptable for transmitting the target data stream in the TSN. The QoS negotiation request includes the first delay, the port identification of the first port, and the port identification of the second port.

S307, the SMF device 121 obtains the target time delay.

As a possible implementation manner, after acquiring the port identifier of the first port and the port identifier of the second port, the SMF device 121 determines the target time delay according to the port identifier of the first port and the port identifier of the second port.

It should be noted that, for a specific implementation manner of the delay for acquiring the target number by the SMF device 121, reference may be made to the above S206, which is not described herein again.

S308, the SMF device 121 determines whether the target delay is smaller than the first delay.

As a possible implementation manner, the SMF device 121 obtains the first delay from the QoS negotiation request, and determines whether the target delay is smaller than the first delay.

S309, if the target delay is smaller than the first delay, the SMF device 121 generates an allow message.

Wherein the grant message is used to indicate that the overall transmission delay of the target route satisfies the maximum transmission delay acceptable for transmitting the target data stream in the TSN. The overall transmission delay of the target route is the transmission delay required for transmitting the target data stream through the target route in the TSN.

It is understood that the target delay is smaller than the first delay, which may indicate that the overall transmission delay of the target route meets the maximum transmission delay acceptable for transmitting the target data stream in the TSN.

S310, the SMF device 121 transmits a permission message to the network management device 11.

It should be noted that, in this step, reference may be made to the above S207 for a specific implementation that the SMF device 121 sends the permission message to the network management device 11, and details are not described here again.

S311, if the permission message is received, the network management apparatus 11 transmits the target data stream by using the target route.

It should be noted that, for the specific implementation of this step, reference may be made to the above step S209, which is not described herein again.

In one case, if the target latency is greater than or equal to the first latency, the SMF device 121 generates and transmits a rejection message to the network management device 11. The reject message is used to indicate that the overall transmission delay of the target route does not meet the maximum transmission delay acceptable for transmitting the target data stream in the TSN.

Accordingly, after the network management device 11 receives the rejection message, the network management device 11 determines whether the overall transmission delay of the second route is smaller than the second delay.

It should be noted that, for the specific implementation of this step, reference may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments, and details are not described here.

When any end station in the TSN needs to use the 5G network as a bridge to send a data stream from a source node to a target node, the network management device of the TSN can query, from a plurality of transmission ports of the 5G network, an identifier of a port required to be used for forwarding the data stream, and further can request the SMF device of the 5G network to feed back the transmission delay of the 5G network to the network management device according to the identifier of the port. After receiving the transmission delay of the 5G network, the network management device can further determine whether the transmission service capability of the 5G network can meet the QoS requirement for transmitting the data stream in the TSN when the 5G network replaces the network bridge to transmit the data stream, so that normal transmission of the data stream can be ensured.

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

The embodiment of the present invention may perform the division of the functional modules on the network management device 11 according to the above method example, for example, each functional module may be divided corresponding to each function, or two or more functions may be integrated into one processing module. The integrated module can be realized in a hardware mode, and can also be realized in a software functional module mode. Optionally, the division of the modules in the embodiment of the present invention is schematic, and is only a logic function division, and there may be another division manner in actual implementation.

Fig. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a network management device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 10, the network management apparatus 11 is used for normally transmitting a data stream using a 5G network in a TSN, for example, for performing the communication method shown in fig. 3. The network management apparatus 11 includes a receiving unit 111, an obtaining unit 112, an inquiring unit 113, a transmitting unit 114, and a processing unit 115.

A receiving unit 111, configured to receive a data transmission request. The data sending request is used for requesting to send a target data stream from a source node to a target node in a delay sensitive network (TSN). For example, in conjunction with fig. 3, the receiving unit 111 may be configured to perform S201.

An obtaining unit 112, configured to obtain the route information of the target route in the TSN after the receiving unit 111 receives the data transmission request. Wherein the target route is used for transmitting data flow between the source node and the target node through the fifth generation mobile communication system 5G network. The routing information includes node identifiers of transmission nodes in the route and port identifiers of ports in the transmission nodes. For example, in conjunction with fig. 3, the obtaining unit 112 may be configured to perform S203.

The querying unit 113 is configured to query the port identifier of the first port and the port identifier of the second port of the 5G network from the routing information of the target route acquired by the acquiring unit 112. The first port is a port of the 5G network for receiving the target data stream in the target route. The second port is a port of the 5G network sending out the target data stream in the target route. For example, in connection with fig. 3, the query unit 113 may be configured to perform S204.

A sending unit 114, configured to send the target latency request to a session management function SMF device of the 5G network after the querying unit 113 queries the port identifier of the first port and the port identifier of the second port. The target latency request includes a port identifier of the first port and a port identifier of the second port, and the target latency request is used to request the SMF device to feed back the target latency to the network management device 11. The target delay is the transmission delay of the data stream from the first port to the second port in the 5G network. For example, in conjunction with fig. 3, the sending unit 114 may be configured to perform S205.

The receiving unit 111 is further configured to receive the target latency from the SMF device. For example, in conjunction with fig. 3, the receiving unit 111 may be configured to perform S207.

The processing unit 115 is configured to send the target data stream by using the target route if it is determined that the target delay is smaller than the first delay. Wherein the first delay is a maximum transmission delay acceptable for transmitting the target data stream in the 5G network. For example, in conjunction with fig. 3, the processing unit 115 may be configured to execute S209.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 11, the network management apparatus 11 according to the embodiment of the present invention further includes a determining unit 116 and a determining unit 117.

A determining unit 116, configured to determine the target route before the obtaining unit 112 obtains the route information of the target route. For example, in conjunction with fig. 3, the determination unit 116 may be configured to perform S202.

A judging unit 117, configured to judge whether the target delay is smaller than the first delay after the receiving unit 111 receives the target delay. For example, in conjunction with fig. 3, the determining unit 117 may be configured to execute S208.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 11, the determining unit 116 provided in the embodiment of the present invention is specifically configured to obtain route information of each first route in the multiple first routes in the TSN. For example, in conjunction with fig. 4, the determination unit 116 may be configured to perform S2021.

The determining unit 116 is further specifically configured to determine, according to the routing information of each of the plurality of first routes in the TSN, a target route for constructing a route using the 5G network from the plurality of first routes. For example, in conjunction with fig. 4, the determination unit 116 may be configured to perform S2022.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 10, the obtaining unit 112 provided in the embodiment of the present invention is further configured to obtain a port identifier of the start port and a port identifier of the end port. For example, in conjunction with fig. 5, the obtaining unit 112 may be configured to execute S1.

The query unit 113 is further configured to query the plurality of first routes from the topology management list according to the port identifier of the start port and the port identifier of the end port. For example, in connection with FIG. 5, the query unit 113 may be used to perform S2.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 10, the sending unit 114 provided in the embodiment of the present invention is specifically configured to send the target latency request to the AF device 16. For example, in conjunction with fig. 6, the sending unit 114 may be configured to perform S2051.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 10, the receiving unit 111 provided in the embodiment of the present invention is specifically configured to receive the target time delay sent by the AF device 16.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 11, the network management apparatus 11 provided in the embodiment of the present invention further includes a computing unit 118.

The determining unit 116 is further configured to determine a third delay according to the routing parameter of the target route. For example, in conjunction with fig. 7, the determination unit 116 may be configured to perform S3.

And the calculating unit 118 is configured to calculate a difference between the second time delay and the third time delay, and use the calculation result as the first time delay. For example, in connection with fig. 7, the calculation unit 118 may be configured to execute S4.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 10, the receiving unit 111 provided in the embodiment of the present invention is further configured to receive a node identifier of the 5G network, port identifiers of a plurality of ports in the 5G network, a port identifier of a third port, and a node identifier of a transmission node where the third port is located, where the node identifier is sent by the SMF device 121.

The processing unit 115 is further configured to store the node identifier of the 5G network, the port identifiers of the multiple ports in the 5G network, the port identifier of the third port, and the node identifier of the transmission node where the third port is located, so as to construct a topology management list. For example, in conjunction with fig. 8, processing unit 115 may be configured to perform S8.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 11, the determining unit 116 provided in the embodiment of the present invention is further configured to determine the first time delay. For example, in conjunction with fig. 9, the determination unit 116 may be configured to perform S305.

And a sending unit 114, further configured to send a QoS negotiation request to the SMF device 121. For example, in conjunction with fig. 9, the transmitting unit 114 may perform S306.

The processing unit 115 is further configured to send the target data stream by using the target route if the permission message is received. For example, in conjunction with fig. 9, processing unit 115 may be configured to perform S311.

In the case of implementing the functions of the integrated modules in the form of hardware, the embodiment of the present invention provides another possible structural schematic diagram of the network management device in the above embodiment. As shown in fig. 12, a network management apparatus 40 for normally transmitting a data stream using a 5G network in a TSN, for example, for performing the communication method shown in fig. 3. The network management device 40 includes a processor 401, a memory 402, a communication interface 403, and a bus 404. The processor 401, memory 402 and communication interface 403 may be connected by a bus 404.

The processor 401 is a control center of the communication apparatus, and may be a single processor or a collective term for a plurality of processing elements. For example, the processor 401 may be a general-purpose Central Processing Unit (CPU) 115, or may be another general-purpose processor. Wherein a general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor or the like.

For one embodiment, processor 401 may include one or more CPUs, such as CPU 0 and CPU 1 shown in FIG. 12.

The memory 402 may be, but is not limited to, a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device that may store static information and instructions, a Random Access Memory (RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device that may store information and instructions, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a magnetic disk storage medium or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer.

As a possible implementation, the memory 402 may be present separately from the processor 401, and the memory 402 may be connected to the processor 401 via a bus 404 for storing instructions or program code. The processor 401, when calling and executing the instructions or program codes stored in the memory 402, can implement the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present invention.

In another possible implementation, the memory 402 may also be integrated with the processor 401.

A communication interface 403 for connecting with other devices through a communication network. The communication network may be an ethernet network, a radio access network, a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), etc. The communication interface 403 may include a receiving unit 111 for receiving data, and a transmitting unit 114 for transmitting data.

The bus 404 may be an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, an Extended ISA (EISA) bus, or the like. The bus may be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, etc. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is shown in FIG. 12, but this is not intended to represent only one bus or type of bus.

It is to be noted that the configuration shown in fig. 12 does not constitute a limitation of the network management apparatus 40. In addition to the components shown in fig. 12, the network management device 40 may include more or fewer components than shown, or some components may be combined, or a different arrangement of components.

As an example, in conjunction with fig. 10, the functions implemented by the receiving unit 111, the obtaining unit 112, the querying unit 113, the sending unit 114, and the processing unit 115 in the network management device are the same as those of the processor 401 in fig. 12.

Fig. 13 shows another hardware configuration of the network management apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 13, network management device 50 may include a processor 501 and a communication interface 502. The processor 501 is coupled to a communication interface 502.

The functions of the processor 501 may refer to the description of the processor 401 above. The processor 501 also has a memory function, and the function of the memory 402 can be referred to above.

The communication interface 502 is used to provide data to the processor 501. The communication interface 502 may be an internal interface of the communication device, or may be an external interface (corresponding to the communication interface 403) of the communication device.

It is to be noted that the configuration shown in fig. 13 does not constitute a limitation of the network management apparatus 50, and the network management apparatus 50 may include more or less components than those shown in fig. 13, or combine some components, or arrange different components, in addition to the components shown in fig. 13.

Through the above description of the embodiments, it is clear for a person skilled in the art that, for convenience and simplicity of description, only the division of the above functional units is illustrated. In practical applications, the above function allocation can be performed by different functional units according to needs, that is, the internal structure of the device is divided into different functional units to perform all or part of the above described functions. For the specific working processes of the system, the apparatus and the unit described above, reference may be made to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and details are not described here again.

The embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer-readable storage medium, where instructions are stored in the computer-readable storage medium, and when the instructions are executed by a computer, the computer executes each step in the method flow shown in the above method embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the communication method of the above-described method embodiments.

The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any combination thereof. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, and a hard disk. Random Access Memory (RAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), registers, a hard disk, an optical fiber, a portable Compact disk Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any other form of computer-readable storage medium, in any suitable combination, or as appropriate in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. Of course, the storage medium may also be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). In embodiments of the invention, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Since the network management device, the computer-readable storage medium, and the computer program product in the embodiments of the present invention may be applied to the method described above, for technical effects that can be obtained by the method, reference may also be made to the method embodiments described above, and details of the embodiments of the present invention are not repeated herein.

The above description is only an embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and any changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the present invention are intended to be covered by the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A communication method applied to a network management device is characterized by comprising the following steps:

receiving a data sending request; the data sending request is used for requesting to send a target data stream from a source node to a target node in a time delay sensitive network (TSN);

acquiring the routing information of a target route in the TSN; wherein the target route is used for transmitting data flow between the source node and the target node through a fifth generation mobile communication system 5G network; the routing information comprises node identification of each transmission node in the route and port identification of each port in each transmission node;

inquiring the port identification of a first port and the port identification of a second port of the 5G network from the routing information of the target route; wherein the first port is a port of the 5G network for receiving a target data stream in the target route; the second port is a port of the 5G network for sending out a target data stream in the target route;

sending a target delay request to a Session Management Function (SMF) device of the 5G network; the target delay request comprises a port identifier of the first port and a port identifier of the second port, and the target delay request is used for requesting the SMF device to feed back a target delay to the network management device; the target time delay is the transmission time delay of data flow in the 5G network from the first port to the second port;

receiving the target latency from the SMF device;

if the target time delay is determined to be smaller than the first time delay, the target data stream is sent by using the target route; wherein the first delay is a maximum transmission delay acceptable for transmitting the target data stream in the 5G network.

2. The communications method of claim 1, wherein prior to said obtaining routing information for a target route in the TSN, the method further comprises:

acquiring the routing information of each first route in a plurality of first routes in the TSN; wherein each of the plurality of first routes is used to transmit a data flow between the source node and the destination node;

and determining the target route for constructing the route by using the 5G network from the plurality of first routes according to the route information of each first route in the plurality of first routes in the TSN.

3. The communication method according to claim 2, wherein before obtaining the routing information of each of the plurality of first routes in the TSN, the method further comprises:

acquiring a port identifier of a starting port and a port identifier of a destination port; wherein the starting port is a port from which the source node sends the target data stream; the destination port is a port at which the target node receives the target data stream;

inquiring the plurality of first routes from a topology management list according to the port identification of the starting port and the port identification of the destination port; the topology management list includes node identifiers of the 5G network, port identifiers of a plurality of ports of the 5G network, port identifiers of a third port capable of performing data stream transmission with each port of the plurality of ports, and node identifiers of transmission nodes where the third port is located.

4. The network management equipment is characterized by comprising a receiving unit, an obtaining unit, an inquiring unit, a sending unit and a processing unit;

the receiving unit is used for receiving a data sending request; the data sending request is used for requesting to send a target data stream from a source node to a target node in a time delay sensitive network (TSN);

the acquiring unit is configured to acquire the route information of the target route in the TSN after the receiving unit receives the data transmission request; wherein the target route is used for transmitting data flow between the source node and the target node through a fifth generation mobile communication system 5G network; the routing information comprises node identification of each transmission node in the route and port identification of each port in each transmission node;

the query unit is configured to query, from the routing information of the target route acquired by the acquisition unit, a port identifier of a first port and a port identifier of a second port of the 5G network; wherein the first port is a port of the 5G network for receiving a target data stream in the target route; the second port is a port of the 5G network for sending out a target data stream in the target route;

the sending unit is configured to send a target latency request to a session management function SMF device of the 5G network after the querying unit queries the port identifier of the first port and the port identifier of the second port; the target delay request comprises a port identifier of the first port and a port identifier of the second port, and the target delay request is used for requesting the SMF device to feed back a target delay to the network management device; the target time delay is the transmission time delay of data flow in the 5G network from the first port to the second port;

the receiving unit is further configured to receive the target latency from the SMF device;

the processing unit is configured to send the target data stream by using the target route if it is determined that the target time delay is smaller than a first time delay; wherein the first delay is a maximum transmission delay acceptable for transmitting the target data stream in the 5G network.

5. The network management device according to claim 4, wherein the network management device further comprises a determination unit;

the acquiring unit is further configured to acquire route information of each first route in the plurality of first routes in the TSN; wherein each of the plurality of first routes is used to transmit a data flow between the source node and the destination node;

the determining unit is configured to determine, after the obtaining unit obtains the route information of each of the plurality of first routes, the target route for constructing a route using a 5G network from the plurality of first routes according to the route information of each of the plurality of first routes in the TSN.

6. The network management device according to claim 5, wherein the obtaining unit is further configured to obtain a port identifier of a start port and a port identifier of an end port; wherein the starting port is a port from which the source node sends the target data stream; the destination port is a port at which the target node receives the target data stream;

the query unit is further configured to query the plurality of first routes from a topology management list according to the port identifier of the start port and the port identifier of the end port after the obtaining unit obtains the port identifier of the start port and the port identifier of the end port; the topology management list includes node identifiers of the 5G network, port identifiers of a plurality of ports of the 5G network, port identifiers of a third port capable of performing data stream transmission with each port of the plurality of ports, and node identifiers of transmission nodes where the third port is located.

7. A computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the communication method of any of claims 1-3.

8. A network management device, comprising: a processor, a memory, and a communication interface; the communication interface is used for the network management equipment to communicate with other equipment or networks; the memory is used for storing one or more programs, the one or more programs include computer-executable instructions, and when the network management device runs, the processor executes the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory to enable the network management device to execute the communication method of any one of claims 1 to 3.