CN112218288B

CN112218288B - Communication method and device

Info

Publication number: CN112218288B
Application number: CN201910630855.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李秉肇; 张亮亮; 邝奕如
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-07-12
Filing date: 2019-07-12
Publication date: 2022-04-12
Anticipated expiration: 2039-07-12
Also published as: CN112218288A

Abstract

The application provides a communication method and a device, which relate to the field of communication, wherein the method comprises the following steps: the second access network equipment sends a switching confirmation message to the first access network equipment, wherein the switching confirmation message comprises first indication information, and the first indication information is used for indicating a first capacity range; and the first access network equipment receives the switching confirmation message from the second access network equipment and sends second indication information to the terminal equipment, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating the first capacity range. And the terminal equipment receives second indication information from the first access network equipment and sends second capacity information to the second access network equipment, wherein the second capacity information corresponds to the first capacity range. By the method, the second access network equipment can acquire the required capability information of the terminal equipment in the switching process, so that the time delay and consumption in the capability request and transmission process after switching are reduced, and the operating efficiency of the communication system is improved.

Description

Communication method and device

Technical Field

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

Background

Currently, due to different hardware or software versions, different User Equipments (UEs) can support different Radio Access Technology (RAT) capabilities. To better serve the UEs, the network equipment needs to know the capabilities of each UE in order to configure the UE with the appropriate operating mode. The network may request the UE to report capabilities for different RAT types. Such as requesting the UE to report related capabilities supporting Long Term Evolution (LTE), related capabilities supporting New Radio (NR), or related capabilities supporting multi-RAT dual connectivity (MR-DC).

After the UE establishes Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection with the access network, Information Elements (IEs) carrying the UE capability may be brought to the access network device, however, different network devices require different UE capabilities, and therefore, after the UE is switched, the target access network device needs to report the capability request to the UE again, thereby increasing the delay in acquiring the capability and the signaling consumption of capability transmission.

As the frequency bands supported by the UE increase, the size of the capability information of the UE also gradually increases, and currently, the size of the capability information of some UEs reaches 100M. The storage and transmission of the capability is relatively expensive due to the fact that the capability information of the UE is too large. Therefore, the capability transmission efficiency of the UE after handover becomes a technical key point which needs to be optimized urgently.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a communication method and device, which are particularly suitable for UE switching scenes and can optimize the acquisition and transmission of UE capacity.

In a first aspect, a communication method is provided, and the method includes: the method comprises the steps that a first access network device receives a switching confirmation message from a second access network device, wherein the switching confirmation message comprises first indication information, and the first indication information is used for indicating a first capacity range; and the first access network equipment sends second indication information to terminal equipment, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating the first capacity range.

The method may be performed by a first communication device, which may be a communication apparatus or a communication device, such as a system-on-a-chip, capable of supporting the communication apparatus to implement the functionality required for the method. Illustratively, the communication device is a first access network device.

In this embodiment of the present application, the first access network device may obtain the first indication information and determine the capability range of the terminal device required by the second access network device by receiving the handover confirmation message from the second access network device, and further, the first access network device may send the second indication information to the terminal device, so as to indicate the terminal device to report the capability to the second access network device.

The communication method provided by the embodiment of the application is particularly suitable for a switching scene of the terminal device, and the first access network device can acquire the first capacity range required by the second access network device in the switching process and instruct the terminal device to report the capacity information to the second access network device, so that the time delay and consumption of the second access network device for requesting the capacity of the terminal device again are saved, and the operation efficiency of the communication system is improved.

With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation of the first aspect, before the first access network device receives a handover confirmation message from the second access network device, the first access network device sends a handover request message to the second access network device.

It can be understood that, when the terminal device is switched from the first access network device to the second access network device, the first access network device may send a handover request message to the second access network device, and then the second access network device sends a handover confirmation message to the first access network device and carries the first indication information in the handover confirmation message, and after receiving the first indication information from the second access network device, the first access network device sends the second indication information to the terminal device, so as to indicate the terminal device to report the capability information corresponding to the first capability range.

Further, in one possible design, the handover request message includes first capability information, the first capability information corresponding to a second capability range. Wherein the first capability information comprises at least one of a capability information set, a first capability identifier and a first capability filtering parameter of the terminal device; the capability information set is a set of information of capabilities corresponding to the second capability range, the first capability identifier is an identifier of capabilities corresponding to the second capability range, and the first capability filtering parameter is used for indicating the second capability range.

The second capability range is a capability range of the terminal device required by the first access network device, and it can be understood that, when the terminal device is switched from the first access network device to the second access network device, the first access network device may send the first capability information to the second access network device through the switching request message, and the second access network device may obtain the capability information of the terminal device through the first capability information and determine whether the capability range required by the second access network device is satisfied. When the first capability information meets the requirement of the second access network equipment, the second access network equipment does not need to request the capability information of the terminal equipment again, and then the first access network equipment can send the first capability information in the switching process, so that the time delay and signaling consumption in the process of requesting the capability by the second access network equipment are saved, and the operating efficiency of the communication system is improved.

With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation of the first aspect, the first indication information includes at least one of a second capability filtering parameter and tracking area information, and the second capability filtering parameter is used to indicate the first capability range; the tracking area information includes tracking area information of a first cell, the first cell being a cell corresponding to the second access network device.

After receiving the first indication information from the second access network device, the first access network device may determine the required capability range of the second access network device according to the first indication information. In a first possible implementation, the first indication information includes a second capability filtering parameter. The second capability filtering parameter is used to indicate the first capability range, and specifically, the second capability filtering parameter may include at least one of bandwidth information, frequency band information, and aggregated carrier number information. In a second possible implementation, the first indication information includes tracking area information. The tracking area information comprises tracking area information of the first cell, in particular, the tracking area information may be a tracking area coded TAC. The first cell is a cell corresponding to the second access network device. Specifically, the first cell is a cell to which the terminal device belongs after being switched, or the first cell is a primary cell or a serving cell of the second access network device. The tracking area information is used for indicating the terminal equipment to report the capability to the second access network equipment according to the TA of the switched cell, and the second access network equipment can further acquire the capability information of the terminal equipment after switching through the tracking area information. In other possible implementations, based on the above two possible implementations, in a possible scenario, the first indication information includes the second capability filtering parameter and the tracking area information. And the second access network equipment indicates the reporting capability of the terminal equipment through the second capability filtering parameter and the tracking area information.

With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation of the first aspect, the second indication information includes at least one of the second capability filtering parameter and the tracking area information.

The first capability filtering parameter is used to indicate the second capability range, and specifically, the first capability filtering parameter may include at least one of bandwidth information, frequency band information, and aggregated carrier number information. The tracking area information comprises tracking area information of the first cell, in particular, the tracking area information may be a tracking area coded TAC. The first cell is a cell corresponding to the second access network device. Specifically, the first cell is a cell to which the terminal device belongs after being switched, or the first cell is a primary cell or a serving cell of the second access network device. The tracking area information is used for indicating the terminal equipment to report the capability to the second access network equipment according to the TA of the switched cell, and the second access network equipment can further acquire the capability information of the terminal equipment after switching through the tracking area information.

It is to be understood that both the first indication information and the second indication information are used to indicate the first capability range. Specifically, the second access network device indicates the terminal device to report capability information corresponding to the first capability range by sending first indication information to the first access network device, and the first access network device indicates the first capability range to the terminal device by using second indication information, where the first indication information and the second indication information indicate the same content but possibly different formats, and in one possible implementation, the second indication information is the first indication information.

With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation of the first aspect, the first capability identifier is allocated by a core network device.

It can be understood that after the terminal device reports the capability information set, the core network device allocates different capability identifiers to different capability information sets, and since the capabilities of the terminal devices required by different network devices are different, the capability information required by different network devices for the same terminal device may correspond to different capability identifiers.

In a second aspect, a second communication method is provided, the method comprising: the second access network equipment sends a switching confirmation message to the first access network equipment, wherein the switching confirmation message comprises first indication information, and the first indication information is used for indicating a first capacity range; and the second access network equipment receives second capability information from the terminal equipment, wherein the second capability information corresponds to the first capability range.

The method may be performed by a second communication device, which may be a communication apparatus or a communication device capable of supporting a communication apparatus to implement the functions required by the method, such as a system-on-a-chip. Illustratively, the communication device is a second access network device.

In this embodiment of the application, the second access network device may send the first capability range to the first access network device by carrying the first indication information in the handover confirmation message, where the first capability range is a range of capability information of the terminal device required by the second access network device, and then the second access network device receives the second capability information from the terminal device, and further the second access network device may obtain the required capability information of the terminal device in the handover process without initiating the capability request, thereby saving a delay and signaling consumption in the capability request process.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation of the second aspect, before the second access network device sends the handover confirmation message to the first access network device, the second access network device receives a handover request message from the first access network device.

It can be understood that, when the terminal device is handed over from the first access network device to the second access network device, the first access network device may send a handover request message to the second access network device, and then the second access network device sends a handover confirmation message to the first access network device and carries the first indication information in the handover confirmation message, and after receiving the first indication information from the second access network device, the first access network device sends the second indication information to the terminal device, so as to indicate that the capability range of the terminal device required by the second access network device is the first capability range.

The second capability range is a capability range of the terminal device required by the first access network device, and it can be understood that, when the terminal device is switched from the first access network device to the second access network device, the first access network device may send the first capability information to the second access network device through the switching request message, and the second access network device may obtain the capability information of the terminal device through the first capability information and determine whether the capability range required by the second access network device is satisfied. When the first capability information meets the requirement of the second access network equipment, the second access network equipment does not need to request the capability information of the terminal equipment again, and further, the first capability information can be sent in the switching process, so that time delay and signaling consumption in the process of requesting the capability by the second access network equipment are saved, and the operation efficiency of the communication system is improved.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation of the second aspect, the first indication information includes at least one of a second capability filtering parameter and tracking area information, and the second capability filtering parameter is used to indicate the first capability range; the tracking area information includes tracking area information of a first cell, the first cell being a cell corresponding to the second access network device.

The second access network equipment indicates the range of the capability information of the terminal equipment required by the second access network equipment by sending the first indication information to the first access network equipment. In a first possible implementation, the first indication information includes a second capability filtering parameter. The second capability filtering parameter is used to indicate the first capability range, and specifically, the second capability filtering parameter may include at least one of bandwidth information, frequency band information, and aggregated carrier number information. In a second possible implementation, the first indication information includes tracking area information. The tracking area information comprises tracking area information of the first cell, in particular, the tracking area information may be a tracking area coded TAC. The first cell is a cell corresponding to the second access network device. Specifically, the first cell is a cell to which the terminal device belongs after being switched, or the first cell is a primary cell or a serving cell of the second access network device. The tracking area information is used for indicating the terminal equipment to report the capability to the second access network equipment according to the TA of the switched cell, and the second access network equipment can further acquire the capability information of the terminal equipment after switching through the tracking area information. In other possible implementations, based on the above two possible implementations, in a possible scenario, the first indication information includes the second capability filtering parameter and the tracking area information. And the second access network equipment indicates the reporting capability of the terminal equipment through the second capability filtering parameter and the tracking area information.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation of the second aspect, the second indication information includes at least one of the second capability filtering parameter and the tracking area information.

The second capability filtering parameter is used to indicate the first capability range, and specifically, the second capability filtering parameter may include at least one of bandwidth information, frequency band information, and aggregated carrier number information. The tracking area information comprises tracking area information of the first cell, in particular, the tracking area information may be a tracking area coded TAC. The first cell is a cell corresponding to the second access network device. Specifically, the first cell is a cell to which the terminal device belongs after being switched, or the first cell is a primary cell or a serving cell of the second access network device. The tracking area information is used for indicating the terminal equipment to report the capability to the second access network equipment according to the TA of the switched cell, and the second access network equipment can further acquire the capability information of the terminal equipment after switching through the tracking area information.

It is to be understood that both the first indication information and the second indication information are used to indicate the first capability range. Specifically, the second access network device indicates that the capability reporting range of the terminal device is the first capability range by sending first indication information to the first access network device, and the first access network device indicates the first capability range to the terminal device by using second indication information, where the contents indicated by the first indication information and the second indication information are the same, but formats may be different, and in a possible implementation, the second indication information is the first indication information.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation of the second aspect, the second capability information is carried in a handover complete message or a capability reporting message.

In a possible implementation, the terminal device carries the second capability information in the handover completion message, so that the second access network device obtains the required capability information of the terminal device. It can be understood that the second access network device acquires the required capability information in the handover process, and does not need to request the capability of the terminal device again after the handover, thereby improving the communication efficiency.

In another possible implementation, the second access network device receives the capability reporting message from the terminal device, and acquires the capability information of the required terminal device. Furthermore, the second access network device can quickly acquire the required capability information of the terminal device, thereby saving the signaling consumption in the process of requesting the capability from the terminal device.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation of the second aspect, the second capability information includes at least one of a second capability identifier of the terminal device and a second capability information set, where the second capability identifier is an identifier of a capability corresponding to the first capability range, and the second capability information set is a set of information of a capability corresponding to the first capability range.

The first capability range is a range of capability information of the terminal device required by the second access network device, and the second access network device obtains the required capability information of the terminal device by receiving the second capability information from the terminal device, so that the second access network device can communicate with the terminal device by using the capability information.

In a first possible implementation, the second capability information is a second capability identification. Specifically, the terminal device stores an identifier of the capability corresponding to the first capability range, where the identifier of the capability corresponding to the first capability range is a second capability identifier, and the terminal device sends the second capability identifier to the second access network device. Because the transmission consumption of the capability identifier is less than that of the capability information set, the signaling consumption in the capability reporting process can be saved.

In a second possible implementation, the second capability information is a second set of capability information. Specifically, when the terminal device does not store the identifier of the capability corresponding to the first capability range, or when the second indication information indicates that the terminal device reports the set of the capability information corresponding to the first capability range, the terminal device sends the second capability information set to the second access network device, so that the second access network device obtains the required capability information.

In a third possible implementation, the second capability information includes a second capability identifier and a second capability information set of the terminal device. Specifically, the second indication information indicates that the terminal device sends the second capability identifier and the second capability information set to the second access network device, and further, the second access network device may store the second capability identifier and the second capability information set and a corresponding relationship therebetween, so that in a subsequent communication process, the second access network device may determine corresponding capability information through the second capability identifier, and the same terminal device or the same type of terminal device does not need to report the second capability information set, thereby improving the operating efficiency of the communication system.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation of the second aspect, the first capability identifier is allocated by a core network device.

In a third aspect, a third method of communication is provided, the method comprising: the terminal equipment receives second indication information from the first access network equipment, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating a first capacity range; and the terminal equipment sends second capacity information to second access network equipment, wherein the second capacity information corresponds to the first capacity range.

The method may be performed by a third communication device, which may be a communication apparatus or a communication device capable of supporting a communication apparatus to implement the functions required by the method, such as a system-on-chip. Illustratively, the communication device is a terminal device.

In this embodiment of the present application, the terminal device receives the second indication information from the first access network device, obtains a range of the capability information required by the second access network device, and further, the terminal device sends the second capability information to the second access network device. Therefore, the second access network equipment can quickly acquire the required capability information of the terminal equipment, and the second access network equipment can communicate with the terminal equipment by using the capability information without requesting the terminal equipment for capability, so that time delay and signaling consumption in the process of requesting the capability are saved, and the communication efficiency of the communication system is improved.

With reference to the third aspect, in a possible implementation of the third aspect, the first capability range is indicated by the second access network device.

The first capability range is the range of the capability information of the terminal device required by the second access network device. It can be understood that, when the terminal device and the first access network device switch to the second access network device, the second access network device may send the range of the required capability information to the first access network device through the switching message, the first access network device sends the first capability range to the terminal device through the second indication information, and then the second access network device instructs the terminal device to report the capability information required by the second access network device through the switching message.

With reference to the third aspect, in a possible implementation of the third aspect, the second indication information includes at least one of a second capability filtering parameter and tracking area information, and the second capability filtering parameter is used to indicate the first capability range; the tracking area information includes tracking area information of a first cell, the first cell being a cell corresponding to the second access network device.

With reference to the third aspect, in a possible implementation of the third aspect, the second capability information includes at least one of a second capability identifier of the terminal device and a second capability information set, where the second capability identifier is an identifier of a capability corresponding to the first capability range, and the second capability information set is a range of information of a capability corresponding to the first capability range. The first capability range is a range of capability information of the terminal device required by the second access network device, and the terminal device enables the second access network device to acquire the required capability information of the terminal device by sending the second capability information to the second access network device, so that the second access network device can communicate with the terminal device by using the capability information.

In a first possible implementation, the second capability information includes a second capability identification. Specifically, the terminal device stores an identifier of the capability corresponding to the first capability range, where the identifier of the capability corresponding to the first capability range is a second capability identifier, and the terminal device sends the second capability identifier to the second access network device. Because the transmission consumption of the capability identifier is less than that of the capability information set, the signaling consumption in the capability reporting process can be saved.

In a second possible implementation, the second capability information includes a second set of capability information. Specifically, when the terminal device does not store the identifier of the capability corresponding to the first capability range, or when the second indication information indicates that the terminal device reports the set of the capability information corresponding to the first capability range, the terminal device sends the second capability information set to the second access network device, so that the second access network device obtains the required capability information.

With reference to the third aspect, in a possible implementation of the third aspect, the second capability information is carried in a handover complete message or a capability reporting message.

In a possible implementation, the terminal device carries the second capability information in the handover completion message, so that the second access network device obtains the required capability information of the terminal device. And the second access network equipment can acquire the required capability information in the switching process, and the second access network equipment does not need to request the capability of the terminal equipment again after switching, so that the communication efficiency is improved.

With reference to the third aspect, in a possible implementation of the third aspect, the second capability identifier is allocated by a core network device.

In a fourth aspect, a communication method is provided, the method comprising: the first access network equipment receives a capability filtering parameter from the second access network equipment, wherein the capability filtering parameter is used for indicating a first capability range; and the first access network equipment sends first capacity information to the second access network equipment, wherein the first capacity information corresponds to the first capacity range.

The method may be performed by a fourth communication device, which may be a communication apparatus or a communication device capable of supporting a communication apparatus to implement the functions required by the method, such as a system-on-chip. Illustratively, the communication device is a first access network device.

In this embodiment of the present application, after receiving the capability filtering parameter from the second access network device, the first access network device may obtain a range of capability information of the terminal device required by the second access network device, and further, the first access network device sends, to the second access network device, the capability information of the terminal device corresponding to the range of the capability information, so that the second access network device does not need to obtain the capability information of the terminal device through a capability request.

The communication method provided by the embodiment of the application is particularly suitable for a switching scene of terminal equipment, the first access network equipment can interact with the second access network equipment in a required range of terminal equipment capability information, further, after the first access network equipment acquires the required range of the second access network equipment, the first access network equipment can request the terminal equipment or the core network equipment for corresponding capability information, when the terminal equipment is switched from the first access network equipment to the second access network equipment, the first access network equipment can send the capability information of the terminal equipment to the second access network equipment through a switching message, so that the second access network equipment can quickly acquire the required capability information, and the communication efficiency between the terminal equipment and the second access network equipment after switching is improved.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation of the fourth aspect, the capability filtering parameter is carried in an Xn connection setup message or an Xn connection setup response message.

It can be understood that the first access network device receives, through the Xn interface, a capability filtering parameter from the second access network device, where the capability filtering parameter is used to indicate a first capability range, and the first capability range is a capability range of the terminal device required by the second access network device, and further, the first access network device may obtain a range of capability information required by the second access network device.

In one possible design, a first access network device sends a first capability filtering parameter to a second access network device, where the first capability filtering parameter is used to indicate a second capability range, and the second capability range is a capability range required by the first access network device. It can be understood that the first access network device and the second access network device interact with the range of the required capability information through the Xn interface, and then the first access network device and the second access network device can obtain the capability information of the terminal device required by the other party.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation of the fourth aspect, the first capability information includes at least one of a first capability identifier of the terminal device and a first capability information set, where the first capability identifier is an identifier of a capability corresponding to the first capability range, and the first capability information set is a set of information of a capability corresponding to the first capability range.

The first capability information is the capability information of the terminal device required by the second access network device, the first access network device enables the first access network device to acquire the required capability information of the terminal device by sending the first capability information to the second access network device, and then the second access network device does not need to request the capability information of the terminal device after the terminal device is switched to the second access network device, so that the signaling consumption in the process of requesting the capability is saved.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation of the fourth aspect, the first capability information is carried in a handover request message.

It can be understood that the first access network device sends the first capability information to the second access network device through the handover request message, where the first capability information is the capability information of the terminal device required by the second access network device. Furthermore, the first access network device can send the capability information of the terminal device to the second access network device in the switching process, and the second access network device does not need to acquire the capability information of the terminal device through the capability request, so that the signaling consumption in the capability request process is saved, and the operating efficiency of the communication system is improved.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation of the fourth aspect, before the first access network device sends the first capability information to the second access network device, the first access network device sends the capability filtering parameter to the terminal device; the first access network device receives the first capability information from the terminal device.

Optionally, the capability filtering parameter is carried in a capability request message, a capability identifier request message, or a radio resource control RRC reconfiguration message.

It can be understood that, after the first access network device receives the capability filtering parameter from the second access network device, the first access network device may obtain the range of the capability information of the terminal device required by the second access network device, and the first access network device may request the terminal device for the corresponding capability information and send the capability information required by the second access network device to the second access network device. Specifically, the first access network device may send the capability filtering parameter through one of a capability request message, a capability identifier request message, or a radio resource control RRC reconfiguration message, so as to instruct the terminal device to report the capability information. According to the method provided by the embodiment of the application, the first access network device can acquire the range of the capacity information required by the second access network device through the Xn interface, the first capacity information required by the second access network device is carried in the switching request message, and then the second access network device does not need to acquire the capacity information of the terminal device through the capacity request, so that the signaling consumption in the capacity request process is saved, and the operation efficiency of the communication system is improved.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in a possible implementation of the fourth aspect, before the first access network device sends the first capability information to the second access network device, the first access network device sends the capability filtering parameter to a core network device; the first access network device receives the first capability information from the core network device.

Optionally, the capability filtering parameter is carried in an NG interface establishment message, a user equipment UE initial message, a UE capability request message, or a capability identifier request message.

It can be understood that, after the first access network device receives the capability filtering parameter from the second access network device, the first access network device may obtain the range of the capability information of the terminal device required by the second access network device, and the first access network device may request the core network device for the corresponding capability information and send the capability information required by the second access network device to the second access network device. Specifically, the first access network device may send the capability filtering parameter through one of an NG interface setup message, a user equipment UE initial message, a UE capability request message, or a capability identifier request message, to indicate the terminal device to report the capability information.

In a possible design, the core network device determines a range of capability information to be sent according to the capability filtering parameter, and sends the capability information of the terminal device corresponding to the capability filtering parameter to the first access network device.

In another possible design, the core network device sends a capability information set corresponding to the terminal device to the first access network device, where the capability information set includes first capability information, the first access network device determines, according to the received capability information set, the first capability information corresponding to the capability filtering parameter, and the first access network device sends the first capability information to the second access network device.

According to the method provided by the embodiment of the application, the first access network device can acquire the range of the capacity information required by the second access network device through the Xn interface, the first capacity information required by the second access network device is carried in the switching request message, and then the second access network device does not need to acquire the capacity information of the terminal device through the capacity request, so that the signaling consumption in the capacity request process is saved, and the operation efficiency of the communication system is improved.

In a fifth aspect, a communication method is provided, the method comprising: the second access network equipment sends a capability filtering parameter to the first access network equipment, wherein the capability filtering parameter is used for indicating a first capability range; the second access network device receives the first capability information from the first access network device.

The method may be performed by a fifth communication device, which may be a communication apparatus or a communication device capable of supporting a communication apparatus to implement the functions required by the method, such as a system-on-chip. Illustratively, the communication device is a second access network device.

In this embodiment of the present application, the second access network device may send the capability filtering parameter to the first access network device, so that the first access network device obtains the range of the capability information of the terminal device required by the second access network device; the second access network device receives the capability information from the first access network device, and after acquiring the first capability information of the required terminal device, the second access network device can communicate with the terminal device by using the first capability information.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in a possible implementation of the fifth aspect, the second capability filtering parameter is carried in an Xn connection setup message or an Xn connection setup response message.

It can be understood that the second access network device sends the capability filtering parameter to the first access network device through the Xn interface, where the capability filtering parameter is used to indicate a first capability range, and the first capability range is a capability range of the terminal device required by the second access network device, and further, the first access network device may obtain a range of capability information required by the second access network device.

In one possible design, the second access network device receives a first capability filtering parameter from the first access network device, where the first capability filtering parameter is used to indicate a second capability range, and the second capability range is a range of capability information required by the first access network device. It can be understood that the first access network device and the second access network device interact with the required capability filtering parameter through the Xn interface, and further, the first access network device and the second access network device can obtain the capability information of the terminal device required by the other party.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in a possible implementation of the fifth aspect, the first capability information includes at least one of a first capability identifier and a first capability information set of the terminal device, where the first capability identifier is an identifier of a capability corresponding to the first capability range, and the first capability information set is a set of information of a capability corresponding to the first capability range.

The first capability information is the capability information of the terminal device required by the second access network device, the second access network device obtains the capability information of the required terminal device by receiving the first capability information from the first access network device, and then when the terminal device is switched to the second access network device, the second access network device can communicate with the terminal device by using the first capability information without requesting the capability information of the terminal device, so that the communication efficiency is improved.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in a possible implementation of the fifth aspect, the first capability information is carried in a handover request message.

It can be understood that the second access network device receives a handover request message from the first access network device, where the handover request message includes first capability information, where the first capability information is capability information of the terminal device required by the second access network device. Furthermore, the second access network device can acquire the required capability information of the terminal device in the switching process without acquiring the capability information of the terminal device through the capability request, so that the signaling consumption in the capability request process is saved, and the operating efficiency of the communication system is improved.

In a sixth aspect, a first communication device is provided, for example a first communication device as described above. The apparatus comprises a memory and at least one processor, the memory and the processor being coupled to each other for implementing the method as described above in relation to the first aspect or the various possible designs of the first aspect. Illustratively, the communication means is a chip provided in the communication device. Illustratively, the communication device is an access network device. Wherein the memory is configured to store instructions or programs that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first communication device to perform the method of the first aspect or any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect.

Wherein the first communication means may further comprise a communication interface, which may be a transceiver in the terminal device, for example implemented by an antenna, a feeder, a codec, etc. in said communication means, or, if the first communication means is a chip provided in the access network device, the communication interface may be an input/output interface of the chip, for example an input/output pin, etc. The processor may be a single semiconductor chip, or may be integrated with other circuits to form a semiconductor chip, for example, a system on a chip (SoC) with other circuits (such as a codec circuit, a hardware acceleration circuit, or various buses and interface circuits), or may be integrated in an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) as a built-in processor in the ASIC, and the ASIC may be packaged separately or may be packaged together with other circuits. The processor may further include necessary hardware accelerators such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), or logic circuits implementing dedicated logic operations, in addition to cores for executing software instructions to perform operations or processes.

In a seventh aspect, a second communication device is provided, for example a second communication device as described above. The apparatus comprises a memory and at least one processor, the memory and the processor being coupled to each other for implementing the method as described above in the second aspect or in various possible designs of the second aspect. Illustratively, the communication means is a chip provided in the communication device. Illustratively, the communication device is an access network device. Wherein the memory is configured to store instructions or programs which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second communication device to perform the method of the second aspect or any one of the possible embodiments of the second aspect.

Wherein the second communication means may further comprise a communication interface, which may be a transceiver in the access network device, for example, implemented by an antenna, a feeder, a codec, etc. in the communication means, or, if the second communication means is a chip disposed in the access network device, the communication interface may be an input/output interface of the chip, for example, an input/output pin, etc. The processor may be a single semiconductor chip, or may be integrated with other circuits to form a semiconductor chip, for example, a system on a chip (SoC) with other circuits (such as a codec circuit, a hardware acceleration circuit, or various buses and interface circuits), or may be integrated in an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) as a built-in processor in the ASIC, and the ASIC may be packaged separately or may be packaged together with other circuits. The processor may further include necessary hardware accelerators such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), or logic circuits implementing dedicated logic operations, in addition to cores for executing software instructions to perform operations or processes.

In an eighth aspect, a third communication device is provided, for example, the device is the third communication device as described above. The apparatus comprises a memory and at least one processor, the memory and the processor being coupled to each other for implementing the method as described in the third aspect or in various possible designs of the third aspect. Illustratively, the communication means is a chip provided in the communication device. Illustratively, the communication device is a terminal device. Wherein the memory is configured to store instructions or programs that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the third communication device to perform the method of the third aspect or any one of the possible embodiments of the third aspect.

Wherein, the third communication device may further include a communication interface, and the communication interface may be a transceiver in the terminal equipment, for example, implemented by an antenna, a feeder line, a codec, and the like in the communication device, or, if the third communication device is a chip disposed in the terminal equipment, the communication interface may be an input/output interface of the chip, for example, an input/output pin, and the like. The processor may be a single semiconductor chip, or may be integrated with other circuits to form a semiconductor chip, for example, a system on a chip (SoC) with other circuits (such as a codec circuit, a hardware acceleration circuit, or various buses and interface circuits), or may be integrated in an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) as a built-in processor in the ASIC, and the ASIC may be packaged separately or may be packaged together with other circuits. The processor may further include necessary hardware accelerators such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), or logic circuits implementing dedicated logic operations, in addition to cores for executing software instructions to perform operations or processes.

In a ninth aspect, a fourth communication device is provided, for example, the device is the fourth communication device as described above. The apparatus comprises a memory and at least one processor, the memory and the processor being coupled to each other for implementing the method as described in the above fourth aspect or in various possible designs of the fourth aspect. Illustratively, the communication means is a chip provided in the communication device. Illustratively, the communication device is an access network device. Wherein the memory is configured to store instructions or programs that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the fourth communication device to perform the method of any one of the above-mentioned fourth aspects or possible embodiments of the fourth aspect.

Wherein, the fourth communication device may further include a communication interface, and the communication interface may be a transceiver in the terminal equipment, for example, implemented by an antenna, a feeder line, a codec, and the like in the communication device, or, if the fourth communication device is a chip disposed in the access network equipment, the communication interface may be an input/output interface of the chip, for example, an input/output pin, and the like. The processor may be a single semiconductor chip, or may be integrated with other circuits to form a semiconductor chip, for example, a system on a chip (SoC) with other circuits (such as a codec circuit, a hardware acceleration circuit, or various buses and interface circuits), or may be integrated in an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) as a built-in processor in the ASIC, and the ASIC may be packaged separately or may be packaged together with other circuits. The processor may further include necessary hardware accelerators such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), or logic circuits implementing dedicated logic operations, in addition to cores for executing software instructions to perform operations or processes.

In a tenth aspect, a fifth communication device is provided, for example, the device is the fifth communication device as described above. The apparatus comprises a memory and at least one processor, the memory and the processor being coupled to each other for implementing the method as described in the above fifth aspect or in various possible designs of the fifth aspect. Illustratively, the communication means is a chip provided in the communication device. Illustratively, the communication device is an access network device. Wherein the memory is configured to store instructions or programs that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the fifth communication device to perform the method of any one of the possible embodiments of the fifth aspect or the fifth aspect.

Wherein, the fifth communication device may further include a communication interface, which may be a transceiver in the terminal equipment, for example, implemented by an antenna, a feeder, a codec, etc. in the communication device, or, if the fifth communication device is a chip disposed in the access network equipment, the communication interface may be an input/output interface of the chip, for example, an input/output pin, etc. The processor may be a single semiconductor chip, or may be integrated with other circuits to form a semiconductor chip, for example, a system on a chip (SoC) with other circuits (such as a codec circuit, a hardware acceleration circuit, or various buses and interface circuits), or may be integrated in an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) as a built-in processor in the ASIC, and the ASIC may be packaged separately or may be packaged together with other circuits. The processor may further include necessary hardware accelerators such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), or logic circuits implementing dedicated logic operations, in addition to cores for executing software instructions to perform operations or processes.

In an eleventh aspect, a sixth communication device is provided, for example, the communication device is the first communication device as described above. The communication device is configured to perform the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect. In particular, the communication device may comprise means, for example comprising a processing means and a transceiver means, for performing the method of the first aspect or any possible implementation manner of the first aspect. Illustratively, the communication device is an access network device. Wherein the content of the first and second substances,

the transceiver module is configured to receive a handover confirmation message from a second access network device, where the handover confirmation message includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate a first capability range; the second indication information is used for indicating the first capability range.

The processing module acquires the first indication information in the handover confirmation message after receiving the handover confirmation message from the second access network device, and determines the capability range of the terminal device required by the second access network device.

With regard to the technical effects of the eleventh aspect or of various possible embodiments of the eleventh aspect, reference may be made to the introduction to the technical effects of the respective embodiments of the first aspect or of the first aspect.

A twelfth aspect provides a seventh communication device, for example, the communication device is the second communication device as described above. The communication device is configured to perform the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation manner of the second aspect. In particular, the communication device may comprise means for performing the method of the second aspect or any possible implementation manner of the second aspect, for example comprising a processing means and a transceiver means. Illustratively, the communication device is an access network device. Wherein the content of the first and second substances,

the transceiver module is configured to send a handover confirmation message to a first access network device, where the handover confirmation message includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate a first capability range; the terminal device is used for receiving second capability information from the terminal device, wherein the second capability information corresponds to the first capability range.

Optionally, the transceiver module is further configured to receive a handover request message from the first access network device, where the handover request message includes the first capability information.

The processing module is configured to acquire the first capability information in the handover request message, and determine whether the first capability information is the capability information of the required terminal device.

It is to be understood that the processing module in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented by a processor or a processor-related circuit component, and the transceiver module may be implemented by a transceiver or a transceiver-related circuit component.

With regard to the technical effects of the twelfth aspect or of various possible embodiments of the twelfth aspect, reference may be made to the introduction to the technical effects of the respective embodiments of the second aspect or of the second aspect.

In a thirteenth aspect, an eighth communication device is provided, for example, the communication device is the third communication device as described above. The communication device is configured to perform the method of the third aspect or any possible implementation manner of the third aspect. In particular, the communication device may comprise means, for example comprising a processing means and a transceiver means, for performing the method of the third aspect or any possible implementation manner of the third aspect. Illustratively, the communication device is a terminal equipment. Wherein the content of the first and second substances,

the transceiver module is configured to receive second indication information from the first access network device, where the second indication information is used to indicate the first capability range; and the second capability information is used for sending second capability information to second access network equipment, and the second capability information corresponds to the first capability range.

And the processing module determines corresponding second capability information according to the second indication information after receiving the second indication information from the first access network device.

With regard to the technical effects of the various possible embodiments of the thirteenth aspect or the thirteenth aspect, reference may be made to the introduction to the technical effects of the respective embodiments of the third aspect or the third aspect.

A fourteenth aspect provides a ninth communication device, for example, the communication device is the fourth communication device as described above. The communication device is configured to perform the method of the fourth aspect or any possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect. In particular, the communication device may comprise means for performing the method of the fourth aspect or any possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, for example comprising a processing means and a transceiver means. Illustratively, the communication device is an access network device. Wherein the content of the first and second substances,

the transceiver module is configured to receive a capability filtering parameter from a second access network device, where the capability filtering parameter is used to indicate a first capability range; and the second access network device is configured to send first capability information to the second access network device, where the first capability information corresponds to the first capability range.

The processing module is configured to determine a first capability range corresponding to the capability filtering parameter after receiving the capability filtering parameter from the second access network device, and determine first capability information corresponding to the first capability range.

With regard to the technical effects of the various possible embodiments of the fourteenth aspect or the fourteenth aspect, reference may be made to the introduction to the technical effects of the respective embodiments of the fourth aspect or the fourth aspect.

A fifteenth aspect provides a tenth communications device, for example a fifth communications device as described above. The communication device is configured to perform the method of the fifth aspect or any possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect. In particular, the communication device may comprise means, for example comprising a transceiver means, for performing the method of the fifth aspect or any possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect. Illustratively, the communication device is an access network device. Wherein the content of the first and second substances,

the transceiver module is configured to send a capability filtering parameter to a first access network device, where the capability filtering parameter is used to indicate a first capability range; for receiving first capability information from the first access network device.

And the processing module is used for determining the capability filtering parameter according to the capability information of the required terminal equipment.

With regard to the technical effects of the various possible embodiments of the fifteenth aspect or the fifteenth aspect, reference may be made to the introduction to the technical effects of the respective embodiments of the fifth aspect or the fifth aspect.

In a sixteenth aspect, there is provided a computer storage medium having stored therein instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the first aspect or any one of the possible designs of the first aspect.

A seventeenth aspect provides a computer storage medium having stored therein instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the second aspect or any one of the possible designs of the second aspect.

In an eighteenth aspect, there is provided a computer storage medium having instructions stored thereon, which when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as set forth in the third aspect or any one of the possible designs of the third aspect.

A nineteenth aspect provides a computer storage medium having stored therein instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the fourth aspect described above or any one of the possible designs of the fourth aspect.

A twentieth aspect provides a computer storage medium having stored therein instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as set forth in the fifth aspect or any one of the possible designs of the fifth aspect.

A twenty-first aspect provides a computer program product comprising instructions stored thereon, which when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the first aspect or any one of the possible designs of the first aspect.

In a twenty-second aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising instructions stored thereon, which when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as set forth in the second aspect or any one of the possible designs of the second aspect.

A twenty-third aspect provides a computer program product comprising instructions stored thereon, which when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as set forth in the third aspect or any one of the possible designs of the third aspect.

A twenty-fourth aspect provides a computer program product comprising instructions stored thereon, which when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the fourth aspect described above or any one of the possible designs of the fourth aspect.

A twenty-fifth aspect provides a computer program product comprising instructions stored thereon, which when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as set forth in the fifth aspect or any one of the possible designs of the fifth aspect.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a system architecture diagram of a communication method in the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a schematic flow chart diagram of a method of obtaining a capability identifier;

fig. 3 is a schematic flow diagram of a terminal device switching between access network devices;

fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of signal interaction for acquiring capability information of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of still another signal interaction for acquiring capability information of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a first access network device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is another schematic block diagram of a first access network device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a second access network device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 9 is another schematic block diagram of a second access network device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 10 is a schematic block diagram of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 11 is another schematic block diagram of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 12 is a schematic block diagram of a third access network device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 13 is another schematic block diagram of a third access network device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 14 is a schematic block diagram of a fourth access network device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 15 is another schematic block diagram of a fourth access network device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 16 is a further schematic block diagram of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present application;

Detailed Description

The network architecture and the service scenario described in the embodiment of the present application are for more clearly illustrating the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, and do not form a limitation on the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application, and as a person of ordinary skill in the art knows that along with the evolution of the network architecture and the appearance of a new service scenario, the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is also applicable to similar technical problems.

In the description of the present application, "at least one" means one or more, "a plurality" means two or more than two, unless otherwise specified. In addition, in order to facilitate clear description of technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, in the embodiments of the present application, terms such as "first" and "second" are used to distinguish the same items or similar items having substantially the same functions and actions. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the terms "first," "second," etc. do not denote any order or quantity, nor do the terms "first," "second," etc. denote any order or importance. "and/or" describes the association relationship of the associated objects, meaning 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. The character "/" generally indicates that the former and latter associated objects are in an "or" relationship.

For clarity and conciseness of the following description of the various embodiments, a brief introduction to related concepts or technologies is first presented:

terminal equipment, including devices that provide voice and/or data connectivity to a user, may include, for example, handheld devices with wireless connection capability or processing devices connected to wireless modems. The terminal device may communicate with a core network via a Radio Access Network (RAN), exchanging voice and/or data with the RAN. The terminal device may include a User Equipment (UE), a wireless terminal device, a mobile terminal device, a subscriber unit (subscriber unit), a subscriber station (subscriber station), a mobile station (mobile), a remote station (remote station), an Access Point (AP), a remote terminal device (remote terminal), an access terminal device (access terminal), a user terminal device (user terminal), a user agent (user agent), a user equipment (user device), or the like. For example, mobile phones (or so-called "cellular" phones), computers with mobile terminal equipment, portable, pocket, hand-held, computer-included or vehicle-mounted devices, smart wearable devices, and the like may be included. For example, Personal Communication Service (PCS) phones, cordless phones, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phones, Wireless Local Loop (WLL) stations, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and the like. Also included are constrained devices, such as devices that consume less power, or devices that have limited storage capabilities, or devices that have limited computing capabilities, etc. Examples of information sensing devices include bar codes, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), sensors, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), laser scanners, and the like. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific technology and the specific device form adopted by the terminal device. For convenience and simplicity of description, the terminal device in the following description takes the UE as an example.

The access network equipment corresponds to different equipment in different systems. For example, in a second generation (2th generation, 2G) communication system, RAN equipment may include base stations and base station controllers; RAN equipment in a third generation (3G) communication system may include a base station and a Radio Network Controller (RNC); including an evolved Node B (NodeB or eNB or e-NodeB) in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system or a long term evolution-advanced (LTE-a) advanced system; or may also include a next generation node B (gNB) in a New Radio (NR) system of the fifth generation mobile communication technology (the5th generation, 5G), or may also include a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU) in a Cloud RAN (Cloud RAN) system. The method may be applied to a new network side device in a future evolution or emerging system, and the embodiment of the present application is not limited. For the sake of brevity, the access network device is described below with reference to a base station as an example.

Core Network (CN) devices correspond to different devices in different systems. For example, in 3G, the Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and/or the Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) may correspond to a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS); the 4G may correspond to a Mobility Management Entity (MME) and/or a serving gateway (S-GW); the 5G may correspond to Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Session Management Function (SMF) or User Plane Function (UPF).

Optionally, the function implemented by the core network device or the access network device in the embodiment of the present application may be implemented by one network element, may also be implemented by multiple network elements together, and may also be implemented by one or more functional modules of one network element, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application. It is understood that the above functions may be either network elements in a hardware device, software functions running on dedicated hardware, or virtualized functions instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform).

Tracking Area (TA): the terminal device does not need to update a free mobile area of service, the UE can inform a TA of an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) UE through tracking area registration, when the TA changes due to the UE moving, the UE must re-register on a new TA to notify the Core network device to change the stored UE location information, and when the UE in an idle state needs to be paged, the Core network device can page all cells in the TA registered by the UE. Each cell belongs to only one TA, and one TA may correspond to a plurality of cells.

Tracking Area List (TA List): one TA list may include 1 to 16 TAs, and a Mobility Management Entity (MME) allocates one TA list to each UE and sends the TA list to the UE for storage, so that the UE does not need to perform TA update when moving in the TA list, thereby reducing frequent interaction with the network; when the UE enters a new TA area that is not in the TA list registered by the UE, TA update needs to be performed, the MME reallocates a group of TAs to the UE, and the newly allocated TAs may also include some TAs in the original TA list; in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, paging and location update are both performed based on TA list.

UE capability structure in New Radio (NR) of fifth generation (5th generation, 5G): the UE capability structure of the 5G NR may include bandwidth information and feature set combination (feature set combination) information that the UE supports in the NR. The UE capability structure of the 5G NR may also include other radio frequency capabilities, physical capabilities, measurement capabilities, etc.

UE capability structure in LTE: the UE capability structure of LTE may include Band Combination (BC) and feature set information supported by the UE in LTE. The UE capability structure of LTE may also include other radio frequency capabilities, physical capabilities, measurement capabilities, and the like.

UE capability structure in evolved universal terrestrial radio access and new air interface Dual Connectivity mode (E-UTRA-NR Dual Connectivity, EN-DC): the UE capability structure of the EN-DC comprises three capabilities of LTE, Multi-RAT Dual Connectivity (MR-DC) and NR. The network needs to acquire the BC in MR-DC capability, the characteristic set information in LTE capability, and the characteristic set information in NR capability to fully acquire the EN-DC capability. Currently, when a base station requests UE for feature set information in LTE capability, NR and LTE bands need to be carried in filtering parameters.

The communication method and the capability reporting method provided by the embodiment of the application are applied to the capability reporting scene in communication systems such as NR, LTE or MR-DC. The MR-DC may include a new air interface and evolved universal mobile telecommunications system dual connection (NR-universal connection, NE-DC), an evolved universal mobile telecommunications system and new air interface dual connection (EN-DC), a Next Generation evolved universal mobile telecommunications system and new air interface dual connection (nen-DC), and so on. Wherein, DC represents dual connectivity, E represents evolved-UMTS terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA), i.e. a fourth generation (4th generation, 4G) radio access network, i.e. a Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio access network; n represents NR, i.e. 5G NR; NG stands for next generation core (next generation core), i.e. 5G core. EN-DC refers to dual connectivity of a 4G radio access network with a 5G NR. That is, in an EN-DC scenario, a UE connects to an LTE base station (e.g., eNB) and an NR base station (e.g., gNB) at the same time, while being served by both base stations, where the LTE base station is a Master Node (MN). NE-DC refers to double connection of 5G NR and 4G radio access network, and NR base station is the main node. NGEN-DC refers to dual connectivity of a 4G radio access network with a 5G NR under a 5G core network, with a 4G base station (LTE base station, e.g., eNB) being the master node.

As shown in fig. 1, a schematic diagram of a communication system architecture is shown, which includes an access network device, a core network device, and a terminal device. After Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection between the terminal device and the access network device is established, the access network device sends a context setup message to the core network device. If the core network device already stores the capability of the terminal device, the core network device will send the capability to the access network device in the context establishing process, and the access network device can use the capability to communicate with the terminal device. If the capability of the terminal equipment is unknown, the access network equipment needs to request the capability report from the terminal equipment, and after the terminal equipment reports the capability to the access network equipment, the access network equipment communicates with the terminal equipment according to the capability and sends the capability to the core network equipment.

Currently, the UE in the market generally supports multiple systems, for example, supports 3G, 4G, and 5G capabilities at the same time, and the base station may adopt a filtering reporting mode in order to reduce the capability reporting size when making a capability request for the UE. Specifically, the network device may request the UE to report the capability according to different systems, for example, request the UE to report the 4G and 5G capabilities, or request only to report the 4G capability. In another possible implementation, the base station carries the capability filtering parameter in the capability request message when requesting the UE to report the capability, for example, the capability filtering parameter includes frequency band information, bandwidth information, and carrier information of the terminal device required by the base station, and the UE selects the capability required by the base station according to the capability filtering parameter to report. There is also a multi-RAT capability for the UE, i.e. the capability of the UE to operate in multiple RATs simultaneously, including EN-DC, NE-DC, etc., e.g. EN-DC is the way LTE and NR operate together as DC and LTE is the primary node, i.e. one UE connects to both LTE and NR base stations while being served by both base stations. The multi-RAT capability is also requested as one RAT type at the time of the capability request.

The following is an example of a Capability query Request message, where Sequence is a set of arrays, maxRAT-capabilities providers are the number of RATs simultaneously requested in the current Capability query message, and one Capability query Request message includes at least one Capability Request (UE-Capability RAT-Request) for a single RAT, and each Capability Request for a single RAT includes a RAT type and a Capability Filter parameter (Capability Request Filter), where the RAT type is used to indicate the type of RAT requested, and the Capability Filter parameter is used to indicate a band list (band list) requested by a network device. Each band list in the example also includes carrier number information and carrier bandwidth information.

Because the capability information of the UE is too large, the storage and transmission consumption of the capability during the wireless transmission process is large, and even exceeds the capability range of the wireless transmission, the wireless standard introduces a capability reporting method based on a capability identity (capability ID). A capability identification may be used to identify a specific set of capabilities. For example, a capability identity may relate to the capabilities of a class of UEs. After the UE reports the capability for the first time, the network device stores the capability ID, the capability set, and the mapping relationship therebetween, so that the UE of the same type can report the capability information only once without reporting the capability information once by each UE of the same type.

Currently, the capability ID is divided into two types, the first type is that a manufacturer assigns an ID in advance and presets the ID inside the UE, and in a possible scenario, the network device also presets a mapping relationship between the ID and the capability set, and in this case, it can be generally considered that the ID assigned by the device manufacturer corresponds to the UE capability complete set. The other is that after the UE accesses the network, the network device allocates the ID, in this scenario, the UE reports the capability set once, after the network device allocates the ID and stores the mapping relationship between the ID and the capability set, the UE only needs to report the corresponding ID, and does not need to report the capability set any more, and the network device needs to ensure that the allocated ID is unique in a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), so that the situation that the same capability ID is allocated to a plurality of different capability sets does not occur.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic flowchart of a capability reporting method based on capability ID, for convenience of description, where a terminal device takes UE as an example, and an access network device takes a base station as an example. In step 201, the UE sends a capability ID to the core network device, where the capability ID is assigned by a terminal device manufacturer or a network device. In one possible design, the UE sends a capability ID to the base station, which forwards the capability ID to the core network device. Optionally, the capability ID may be carried in a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message and sent from the UE to the core network device, and in this scenario, the base station only forwards the NAS message and cannot parse the content of the message.

In a possible case, when the core network device stores a mapping relationship between the capability ID and the capability parameter set, and the capability ID reported by the UE is stored in the mapping relationship, the core network device may determine the capability set corresponding to the capability ID reported by the UE. The core network device sends the capability set to the base station, and the base station communicates with the UE using the corresponding capability.

In another possible scenario, the core network device does not store the corresponding capability set, and then the core network device needs to request the UE for the capability via the base station. In step 202, the core network device triggers the base station to request the UE capability, specifically, the core network device sends a capability query request to the base station, optionally, the capability query request includes a capability ID.

Step 203, the base station requests the UE for Capability reporting, and specifically, the base station may send a Capability query request (Capability inquiry) to the UE.

In step 204, the UE sends Capability Information to the base station, and specifically, the UE may report Capability Information (Capability Information) to the base station.

In step 205, the base station sends the capability information reported by the UE to the core network device.

In step 206, the core network device allocates a capability ID to the capability information reported by the UE, and stores the capability ID, the capability information, and a mapping relationship between the capability ID and the capability information, specifically, the capability ID may be carried in an NAS message and sent to the UE via the base station, the base station only forwards the NAS message but cannot analyze the content of the NAS message, and the core network device may send the capability ID to the base station, or the core network device may also send the capability ID to the base station, and the base station sends the ID to the UE by carrying in an Access Stratum (AS) message.

When different network devices need different capability filtering parameters, the UE needs to report capability information corresponding to the different capability filtering parameters, so that the same UE may be assigned with multiple capability IDs by the network device, and the multiple capability IDs correspond to the different capability filtering parameters, respectively.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic flow diagram of a UE in handover between two base stations. The source base station maintains the capability ID1 of the UE, corresponding to the capability filtering parameter filter1, while the target base station needs to use the capability filtering parameter filter2, corresponding to the capability ID 2. Step 301, when the UE is handed over from the source base station to the target base station, the source base station sends a Handover Request message (Handover Request) to the target base station, and in a possible design, the Handover Request message includes a capability ID 1.

Step 302: the target base station receives the capability ID1 from the source base station and determines that the capability corresponding to the capability ID1 does not match the capability information required by the target base station, and needs to request the capability again from the UE. Specifically, the base station knows the capability information corresponding to the capability ID1 and the corresponding capability filtering parameter filter1, or the base station acquires the capability information corresponding to the capability ID1 and the corresponding filter1 from the core network device.

Step 303, the target base station sends a Handover acknowledgement message (Handover ACK) to the source base station, where the Handover acknowledgement message includes an RRC reconfiguration message (RRC reconfiguration).

And step 304, the source base station sends the RRC reconfiguration message to the UE.

In step 305, the UE sends a Handover complete (Handover complete) message to the target base station.

In step 306, the target base station sends a Capability query request (Capability inquiry) to the UE, where the Capability request message includes the filter 2.

Step 307, the UE reports the UE capability to the target base station, wherein the UE capability corresponds to the filter 2.

In step 302, when the target base station does not store the capability information corresponding to the capability ID1, the capability information corresponding to the capability ID1 needs to be requested from the core network, and when the capability information corresponding to the capability ID1 cannot meet the requirement of the target base station, the process of acquiring the capability additionally increases time delay and signaling consumption. In addition, the process of re-requesting the UE capability in the steps 306-307 increases the time delay of the target base station for acquiring the UE capability, and increases the signaling consumption of the UE reporting capability. Therefore, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication method and a capability ID reporting method, which improve the efficiency of obtaining the UE capability in the handover process by increasing the interaction of the indication information between the source base station and the target base station, thereby reducing the consumption of capability transmission and maintenance and improving the operating efficiency of the communication system.

For the sake of understanding, the communication method provided by the embodiments of the present application is specifically described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Example 1

As shown in FIG. 4, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, including steps 401 to 407. The communication method comprises a capability reporting method.

Step 401, the first access network device sends a handover request message to the second access network device, optionally, the handover request message includes the first capability information.

Step 402, the second access network device receives a handover request message from the first access network device, and further obtains first capability information in the handover request message.

Step 403, the second access network device sends a handover confirmation message to the first access network device, where the handover confirmation message includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate a first capability range.

Step 404, the first access network device receives a handover confirmation message from the second access network device, and further obtains first indication information in the handover confirmation message.

Step 405, the first access network device sends second indication information to the terminal device, where the second indication information is used to indicate the first capability range.

Step 406, the terminal device receives the second indication information from the first access network device, and further, the terminal device determines second capability information according to the second indication information. It should be noted that the second capability information is capability information that needs to be reported or is to be reported, and the second capability information corresponds to the first capability range.

Step 407, the terminal device sends the second capability information to the second access network device.

By the communication method provided by the embodiment of the application, the first access network device and the second access network device can report the capability information required by the second access network device in the switching completion message by exchanging the capability indication information in the switching process, and the second access network device can quickly acquire the required capability information of the terminal device without requesting capability report from the terminal device after the switching is completed, so that the consumption in the capability requesting and reporting processes is reduced, and the operation efficiency of the communication system is improved.

For step 401, the first access network device sends a handover request message to the second access network device, optionally, the handover request message includes the first capability information.

When the terminal device switches from the first access network device to the second access network device, the first access network device needs to send a handover request message to the second access network device, optionally, the handover request message includes first capability information, the first capability information corresponds to a second capability range, and the second capability range is a range of capability information required by the first access network device and may be indicated by the first capability filtering parameter. Specifically, the first capability information may be capability information of the terminal device stored by the first access network device, and includes at least one of a capability information set of the terminal device, a first capability identifier, and a first capability filtering parameter, for example, the first capability information includes the first capability identifier and the first capability filtering parameter. The capability information set is a set of capability information corresponding to the second capability range, and specifically includes a physical layer capability set, a radio frequency capability set, and a supported frequency band capability combination supported by the terminal device. The first capability identification is an identification of a capability corresponding to the second capability range, and the first capability filtering parameter is used for indicating the second capability range. By sending the first capability information to the second access network device, the second access network device can acquire the capability information of the terminal device stored in the first access network device, and further the second access network device can acquire the required capability information of the terminal device more quickly.

In a first possible implementation, the first capability information includes a capability information set of the terminal device, where the capability information set is a set of capability information corresponding to the second capability range, and specifically, the capability information set may be a set of capability information of the terminal device. For example, the core network device may send the capability information of the terminal device to the first access network device in the context establishment process, the first access network device may communicate with the terminal device using the received capability information, and store the capability information for subsequent communication, and when the terminal device is switched from the first access network device to the second access network device, the first access network device may carry a capability information set of the terminal device in a switching request message sent to the second access network device, so that the second access network device can obtain the capability information of the terminal device more quickly, and communication efficiency is improved.

In a second possible implementation, the first capability information includes a first capability identifier, where the first capability identifier is an identifier of a capability corresponding to the second capability range, and the first capability identifier may be used to identify a specific group of capability sets, and specifically, a mapping relationship exists between the first capability identifier and the capability information set. For example, for convenience of description, the access network device takes a base station as an example, the terminal device takes a UE as an example, after the UE reports the capability for the first time, the core network device allocates a capability ID to the capability information set of the UE, and the base station stores the capability ID, the capability set, and a mapping relationship between the capability ID and the capability set. In a possible design, the second access network device requests the core network device for capability information corresponding to the first capability identifier, and specifically, when the second access network device does not store the capability information of the terminal device corresponding to the first capability identifier, the second access network device may obtain the capability information corresponding to the first capability identifier through other network devices (e.g., the core network device).

In a third possible implementation, the first capability information includes a first capability identifier and a first capability filtering parameter, where the first capability filtering parameter is used to indicate the second capability range, and specifically, the first capability filtering parameter may include at least one of frequency band information, bandwidth information, and aggregated carrier number information. For example, the first capability filtering parameter includes band information including band1 indicating that the first capability information includes information of a capability of a terminal device to which the band1 corresponds. By sending the first capability filtering parameter to the second access network device, the second access network device can more quickly determine whether the capability information of the terminal device corresponding to the first capability identifier includes the capability information required by the second access network device. Specifically, the second access network device may determine whether the first capability identifier meets the requirement according to the first capability filtering parameter, and when the first capability identifier does not meet the requirement, the second access network device does not need to request the core network device for the capability information corresponding to the first capability identifier, thereby avoiding the time delay and signaling consumption introduced in the process of requesting the capability information again.

In other possible implementations, based on the three possible implementations set forth above, in a possible scenario, the first capability information includes one, two, or all of the capability information set, the first capability identifier, and the first capability filtering parameter of the terminal device. For example, when the terminal device is switched from the first access network device to the second access network device, the first access network device may carry a first capability filtering parameter and a capability information set in a handover request message sent to the second access network device, where the first capability filtering parameter is used to indicate a capability range corresponding to the capability information set, and then the second access network device may determine the capability range of the first capability information, so as to obtain the capability information of the terminal device more quickly.

It should be noted that, before the terminal device is handed over, the first access network device stores the first capability information of the terminal device, where the first capability information corresponds to the second capability range. Specifically, the first access network device may request the terminal device for the capability according to the first capability filtering parameter before communicating with the terminal device, and further, the first access network device stores at least one of the capability information set, the first capability identifier, and the first capability parameter after receiving the capability information from the terminal device. The first access network device makes the second access network device obtain the capability information of the terminal device by carrying the first capability information in the handover request message.

In a possible design, the first capability identifier is allocated by a core network device and used for identifying a capability information set, and the core network device stores the first capability identifier, the capability information set and a corresponding relationship therebetween, so that in a subsequent communication process, the same terminal device or the same type of terminal device only needs to report the first capability identifier and does not need to report the capability information to the network device, thereby saving signaling consumption of capability transmission.

The handover request message sent by the first access network device to the second access network device may be via other network devices, and in a possible design, the first access network device sends the handover request message to the second access network device via the core network device, and optionally, the handover request message includes the first capability information. It should be noted that the handover request message may be forwarded by the network device, and the handover request message is not changed in the forwarding process, or other network devices may use different messages to send the content in the handover request message, where the format of the message may be changed, but the content is not changed, and the embodiment of the present application does not limit the manner in which other network devices send the handover request message. For example, for convenience of description, the access network device takes a base station as an example, the terminal device takes a UE as an example, and the first base station sends a handover required message to the core network device, where the handover required message carries UE capability information and second base station information. After receiving the handover request message, the core network device sends a handover request message to the second base station, and forwards the capability information in the handover request message.

For step 402, the second access network device receives a handover request message from the first access network device, and further obtains first capability information in the handover request message.

Optionally, the handover request message includes first capability information, and the second access network device obtains the first capability information in the handover request message after receiving the handover request message from the first access network device, where the first capability information includes at least one of a capability information set of the terminal device, a first capability identifier, and a first capability filtering parameter. Wherein, the definition of the capability information set, the first capability identifier and the first capability filtering parameter may refer to the relevant description in step 401. And the second access network equipment determines the second capacity range according to the first capacity information, and further determines whether the first capacity information is the capacity information required by the second access network equipment. Specifically, the first capability information includes at least one of a capability information set, a first capability identifier and a first capability filtering parameter of the terminal device.

The following design implementations can be classified according to the composition of the first capability information:

in a first possible design, the first capability information includes a first capability identifier, and when the second access network device does not store the capability information corresponding to the first capability identifier, the second access network device may request, from another network device (e.g., a core network device), the capability information corresponding to the first capability identifier; when the second access network device knows the capability information corresponding to the first capability identifier, the corresponding capability information may be determined according to the first capability identifier. Further, the second access network device determines whether the capability information corresponding to the first capability identifier includes the capability information of the required terminal device. When the capability information includes capability information required by the second access network device, the second access network device may save and use the first capability information to communicate with the terminal device.

In a second possible design, the first capability information includes a first capability identifier and a first capability filtering parameter, where the first capability filtering parameter corresponds to the first capability identifier, specifically, the first capability identifier is an identifier of a capability corresponding to a second capability range, and the first capability filtering parameter is used to indicate the second capability range. It can be understood that the first capability filtering parameter is associated with the capability corresponding to the first capability identifier, and the second access network device may determine whether the capability corresponding to the first capability identifier is the required capability of the terminal device according to the first capability filtering parameter.

The second access network device determines, according to the first capability filtering parameter, whether the capability information corresponding to the first capability identifier meets a requirement, and specifically, the second access network device determines, according to the first capability filtering parameter, whether the capability information corresponding to the first capability identifier includes capability information required by the second access network device. For example, the first capability filtering parameter includes frequency band information (frequency band a, frequency band B), the second access network device determines, according to the frequency band information, that the capability information corresponding to the first capability identifier includes capability information of the terminal device corresponding to the frequency band a and the frequency band B, and if the second access network device further needs capability information of the terminal device in another frequency band, such as capability information of the frequency band C, the second access network device determines that the first capability information is not satisfied, and the second access network device needs to request the capability information of the terminal device again.

When the requirement is not met, the second access network device does not need to acquire the capability information corresponding to the first capability identifier, so as to save the consumption of unnecessary capability transmission, further, the second access network device may acquire the capability information of the terminal device through the communication manner described in steps 403 to 407, or the second access network device may also request the capability information of the terminal device from the terminal device or the core network device after the switching is completed, which does not limit the manner in which the second access network device requests the capability information of the terminal device after step 402. According to the communication method provided by the embodiment of the application, through the first capability filtering parameter corresponding to the first capability identifier, the second access network device can more quickly judge whether the first capability information meets the requirement, and when the first capability information does not meet the requirement, the capability information corresponding to the first capability identifier is not acquired, so that the consumption of capability transmission is saved.

When the requirement is met, the second access network equipment judges whether the capability information corresponding to the first capability identifier is known or not, under a possible condition, the second access network equipment knows the capability information corresponding to the first capability identifier, and further, the second access network equipment determines the corresponding capability information according to the first capability identifier; in another possible case, the second access network device does not store the capability information corresponding to the first capability identifier, and further, the second access network device may request the capability information from another network device (e.g., a core network device), and communicate with the terminal device using the requested capability information.

In a third possible design, the first capability information includes a capability information set and a first capability filtering parameter, and the second access network device determines whether the first capability information satisfies the required capability information of the terminal device according to the first capability filtering parameter or the capability information set. When the second access network device judges that the capability corresponding to the first capability identifier meets the requirement, the first capability information can be stored and used for communicating with the terminal device.

In other possible implementations, based on the three possible designs, in possible scenarios, the first capability information includes any one, two, or all of the capability information set, the first capability identifier, and the first capability filtering parameter of the terminal device. By receiving the first capability information from the first access network device, the second access network device can quickly acquire the required capability information of the terminal device, and when the terminal device is switched to the second access network device, the second access network device does not need to request the capability information of the terminal device again, so that signaling overhead in a capability request process is saved, and the operating efficiency of the communication system is improved.

Optionally, after the second access network device determines whether the first capability information is the capability information required by the second access network device, different processing is performed according to a determination result.

In one possible implementation, the first capability information includes capability information required by the second access network device. In this case, the second access network device may save and communicate with the terminal device using the first capability information.

In another possible implementation, the first capability information does not include capability information required by the second access network device, for example, the first capability information includes a first capability filtering parameter and a capability information set, and the second access network device determines, by using the first capability filtering parameter, that the corresponding capability information set does not include capability information required by the second access network device. In this case, the second access network device determines the corresponding first capability range according to the required capability information of the terminal device, and requests the capability report. Specifically, the second access network device may execute step 403, and send the first indication information in the handover confirmation message, where the first indication information is used to indicate the terminal device to report the capability information, or the second access network device may also request the capability information of the terminal device from the terminal device or the core network device after the handover is completed.

For step 403, the second access network device sends a handover confirmation message to the first access network device, where the handover confirmation message includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate the first capability range.

Specifically, the second access network device may carry a handover command in the handover confirmation message, where the handover command includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate the terminal device to report the capability information, where the first indication information is used to indicate a first capability range, and the first capability range is a range of the capability information required by the second access network device. In one possible implementation, the handover command is an RRC reconfiguration message. For example, taking the base station as an example, the access network device sends a handover confirmation message to the first base station by the second base station, where the handover confirmation message includes an RRC reconfiguration message, and the RRC reconfiguration message includes first indication information used for indicating the terminal device to report the capability information.

The first indication information includes at least one of a second capability filtering parameter and tracking area information.

In a first possible implementation, the first indication information includes a second capability filtering parameter. The second capability filtering parameter is configured to indicate the first capability range, and specifically, the second capability filtering parameter may include at least one of bandwidth information, frequency band information, and aggregated carrier number information, for example, the frequency band information carried in the second capability filtering parameter includes band1, band2, and band3, and is configured to instruct the terminal device to select all capability information related to band1, band2, and band3 from capabilities supported by the terminal device for reporting.

In a second possible implementation, the first indication information includes tracking area information. The tracking area information comprises tracking area information of the first cell, in particular, the tracking area information may be a tracking area coded TAC. The first cell is a cell corresponding to the second access network device. Specifically, the first cell is a cell to which the terminal device belongs after being switched, or the first cell is a primary cell or a serving cell of the second access network device. The tracking area information is used for indicating the terminal equipment to report the capability to the second access network equipment according to the TA of the switched cell, and the second access network equipment can further acquire the capability information of the terminal equipment after switching through the tracking area information. It should be noted that, before step 401, the terminal device stores a plurality of capability IDs and TA lists and mapping relationships therebetween, where each capability ID is mapped to one TA list. For example, after receiving the capability information set reported by the terminal device, the core network device allocates a capability identifier to the capability information set, and sends the capability identifier to the terminal device, so that the terminal device can store the mapping relationship between the capability ID and the tracking area information, and the terminal device can determine the corresponding capability ID according to the tracking area information.

In other possible implementations, based on the above two possible implementations, in a possible scenario, the first indication information includes the second capability filtering parameter and the tracking area information. And the second access network equipment indicates the reporting capability of the terminal equipment through the second capability filtering parameter and the tracking area information.

In one possible design, the second access network device sends a handover confirm message to the first access network device via a core network device. Specifically, step 4041 is further included before step 404: and the second access network equipment sends the switching request message to the core network equipment, and the core network equipment sends the switching request message to the first access network equipment. For example, for convenience of description, the access network device takes a base station as an example, the terminal device takes a UE as an example, before the UE is handed over from the first base station to the second base station, the first base station sends a handover request message to the second base station, and the second base station sends a handover confirmation message to the first base station via the core network device, where the handover confirmation message includes the first indication information.

For step 404, the first access network device receives a handover confirmation message from the second access network device, and further obtains first indication information in the handover confirmation message.

Specifically, after receiving the handover confirmation message, the first access network device obtains the handover command in the handover confirmation message, and in a possible implementation, the handover command is an RRC reconfiguration message. The handover command includes first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate a first capability range, and the first capability range is a range of capability information required by the second access network device. Wherein, the definition of the first indication information may refer to the related description in step 403. For example, for convenience, the access network device takes a base station as an example, the terminal device takes a UE as an example, the first base station receives a handover confirmation message from the second base station, and acquires an RRC reconfiguration message in the handover confirmation message, where the RRC reconfiguration message includes first indication information used for indicating that the terminal device reports the capability to the second base station.

In a possible design, the handover confirmation message is sent via a core network device, and before step 404, further includes step 4042: and the first access network equipment receives the switching confirmation message from the core network equipment, wherein the switching confirmation message is from the second access network equipment. Specifically, the second access network device sends a handover confirmation message to the first access network device via a core network device. For example, for convenience of description, the access network device takes a base station as an example, the terminal device takes a UE as an example, before the UE is handed over from the first base station to the second base station, the first base station sends a handover request message to the second base station, and the second base station sends a handover confirmation message to the first base station via the core network device, where the handover confirmation message includes the first indication information.

For step 405, the first access network device sends second indication information to the terminal device, where the second indication information is used to indicate the first capability range.

The second indication information includes at least one of the second capability filtering parameter and the tracking area information.

In a first possible implementation, the second indication information includes a second capability filtering parameter, and the second capability filtering parameter is used to indicate the first capability range, and specifically, the second capability filtering parameter may include at least one of bandwidth information, frequency band information, or PLMN information. For example, the second capability filtering parameter includes PLMN information, which is used to instruct the terminal device to determine all frequency bands included in the PLMN according to the PLMN information, and determine, based on the frequency bands, second capability information that needs to be reported, where the second capability information is a capability information set corresponding to a frequency band in the PLMN or a capability ID corresponding to the capability information set.

In a second possible implementation, the second indication information includes tracking area information, and the tracking area information includes tracking area information of the first cell. Specifically, the tracking area information may be a tracking area coded TAC, for example, the tracking area information includes a TAC of a cell a, where the cell a is a primary cell of the second access network device, and is used to instruct the terminal device to confirm the second capability information according to the tracking area information and report the second capability information to the second access network device. Optionally, the second indication information is used to indicate the terminal device to report at least one of the capability ID and the capability information set. When the second indication information is used for indicating the terminal equipment to report the capability identifier, the signaling overhead of the reporting capability of the terminal equipment can be saved because the transmission consumption of the capability identifier is less than that of the capability information set; when the terminal device does not store the capability ID corresponding to the tracking area information, the second indication information may indicate that the terminal device reports the capability information set corresponding to the TA information.

In other possible implementations, based on the above two possible implementations, in a possible scenario, the first indication information includes the second capability filtering parameter and the tracking area information. The terminal device confirms the second capability information according to the second capability filtering parameter and the tracking area information.

It should be noted that both the first indication information and the second indication information are used for indicating the first capability range. Specifically, the second access network device indicates that the capability reporting range of the terminal device is the first capability range by sending first indication information to the first access network device, and the first access network device indicates the first capability range to the terminal device by using second indication information, where the contents indicated by the first indication information and the second indication information are the same, but formats may be different, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. The second indication information is used for indicating the first capability range of the terminal equipment.

In a possible implementation, the second indication information is carried in a handover command, and optionally, the handover command is an RRC reconfiguration message. For example, when the access network device uses a base station as an example, and the UE is handed over from the first base station to the second base station, the first base station receives a handover confirmation message from the second base station, where the handover confirmation message includes an RRC reconfiguration message, and the first base station sends the RRC reconfiguration message to the UE, where the RRC reconfiguration message includes second indication information used to indicate the UE to report the capability information to the second base station. By carrying the second indication information in the handover command, signaling consumption for requesting capabilities from the terminal device alone can be saved.

For step 406, the terminal device receives the second indication information from the first access network device, and further, the terminal device determines second capability information according to the second indication information. It should be noted that the second capability information is capability information that needs to be reported or is to be reported, and the second capability information corresponds to the first capability range.

The terminal device receives second indication information from the first access network device, the second indication information is used for indicating that the range of the reported capability of the terminal device to the second access network device is a first capability range, and the terminal device determines capability information corresponding to the first capability range according to the indication of the second indication information. In a possible implementation, the second indication information is carried in a handover command, and in a possible implementation, the handover command is an RRC reconfiguration message. The second indication information includes at least one of the second capability filtering parameter and the tracking area information. Wherein the related definition of the second capability filter parameter and the tracking area information may refer to the related description in step 405.

The second capability information includes at least one of a second capability identifier of the terminal device and a second capability information set, where the second capability identifier is an identifier of a capability corresponding to the first capability range, and specifically, the second capability identifier may be an identifier of a capability of the terminal device corresponding to the second indication information; the second capability information set is a set of capability information corresponding to the first capability range, and specifically, the second capability information set is a set of capability information corresponding to the second indication information.

In a first possible design, the second capability identifier is assigned for the network device. Specifically, the capability identifier may be allocated by a core network device.

For step 407, the terminal device sends second capability information to the second access network device.

Specifically, the second capability information is carried in a handover completion message or a capability reporting message. In one possible implementation, the second capability information is carried in a handover complete message. And after receiving the switching command, the terminal equipment sends a switching completion message to the second access network equipment, wherein the switching completion message comprises the second capability information. In another possible implementation, the second capability information is carried in a capability reporting message. And after receiving the second capability indication information, the terminal device sends second capability information optional to the second access network device, wherein the handover completion message is an RRC reconfiguration completion message.

Wherein, the definition of the second capability information can refer to the related description in step 406.

By the communication method provided by the embodiment of the application, when the UE is switched between two base stations, the target base station can carry the first indication information in the switching confirmation message for indicating the UE to report the capability information, and the UE can carry the UE capability in the switching completion message. Therefore, the target base station can acquire the required UE capacity in the switching process without re-initiating the capacity query request, so that the signaling overhead in the capacity re-query process is saved, and the operating efficiency of the switched communication system is improved.

Example two

As shown in FIG. 5, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, which includes steps 501 to 504. The communication method comprises a capability reporting method.

Step 501, the second access network device sends a capability filtering parameter to the first access network device, where the capability filtering parameter is used to indicate the first capability range.

Step 502, the first access network device receives the capability filtering parameter from the second access network device, and further, the first access network device determines the first capability range according to the capability filtering parameter.

Step 503, the first access network device sends first capability information to the second access network device, where the first capability information corresponds to the first capability range.

Step 504, the second access network device receives the first capability information from the first access network device.

Through the communication method provided by the embodiment of the application, the first access network equipment and the second access network equipment can exchange the capability filtering parameters, and when the first access network equipment requests the capability, the first access network equipment simultaneously requests and stores the capability information required by the second access network equipment; when the terminal equipment is switched, the first access network equipment carries the capacity information required by the second access network equipment in the switching request message sent to the second access network equipment, so that the second access network equipment does not need to request the capacity from the terminal equipment, the signaling overhead in the capacity request process is saved, and the communication efficiency is improved.

For step 501, the second access network device sends a capability filtering parameter to the first access network device, where the capability filtering parameter is used to indicate the first capability range.

The capability filtering parameter is used to indicate the first capability range, and specifically, the capability filtering parameter includes at least one of bandwidth information, frequency band information, or PLMN information. For example, the band information carried in the capability filtering parameters includes BC1, BC2 and BC3, which are used to indicate that the second access network device needs all capability information related to BC1, BC2 and BC 3. The first capability range is a range of capability information of the terminal device required by the second access network device.

In one possible design, before step 501 or after step 501, step 5011 is further included: the first access network equipment sends a first capability filtering parameter to the second access network equipment; and the second access network equipment receives the first capability filtering parameter from the first access network equipment, and further determines the range of the capability information of the terminal equipment required by the first access network equipment. The first capability filtering parameter is used to indicate a second capability range, where the second capability range is a range of capability information of the terminal device required by the first access network device, and the first capability filtering parameter includes at least one of bandwidth information, frequency band information, or PLMN information. Specifically, the first access network device and the second access network device interact with each other to obtain a range of capability information of the terminal devices required by each other, and the order in which the first access network device sends the first capability filtering parameter and the second access network device sends the capability filtering parameter is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

Further optionally, the capability filtering parameter and the first capability filtering parameter are carried in an Xn connection setup message or an Xn connection setup response message. The first access network device and the second access network device can filter parameters through the Xn interface interaction capacity, and further obtain the capacity information of the terminal device required by the other party. Specifically, a first access network device sends an Xn connection establishment message to a second access network device, where the Xn connection establishment message includes a first capability filtering parameter, the second access network device sends an Xn connection establishment response message to the first access network device, and the Xn connection establishment response message includes a capability filtering parameter; or, the second access network device sends an Xn connection establishment message to the first access network device, where the Xn connection establishment message includes the capability filtering parameter, the first access network device sends an Xn connection establishment response message to the second access network device, and the Xn connection establishment response message includes the first capability filtering parameter. The first capability filtering parameter is used for indicating the capability range of the terminal equipment required by the first access network equipment, and the capability filtering parameter is used for indicating the capability range of the terminal equipment required by the second access network equipment. For example, the access network device takes a base station as an example, the first base station and the second base station interact capability filtering parameters through an Xn interface, where the capability filtering parameter of the first base station is filter1, the capability filtering parameter of the second base station is filter2, the first base station initiates an Xn connection establishment message to the second base station, where the Xn connection establishment message carries filter1, the second base station replies an Xn connection establishment response message to the first base station, where the Xn connection establishment response message carries filter2, and the first base station can learn that the range of capability information required by the second base station is the first capability range through filter 2.

For step 502, the first access network device receives the capability filtering parameter from the second access network device, and further, the first access network device determines the first capability range according to the capability filtering parameter.

The first access network device may obtain, according to the capability filtering parameter of the second access network device, a range of capability information of the terminal device required by the second access network device, and further, the first access network device may obtain capability information of the terminal device corresponding to the first capability range.

Optionally, the first access network device may request, from the terminal device or the core network device, the capability of the terminal device corresponding to the first capability range.

In a first possible implementation, the first access network device requests the terminal device for capability reporting after receiving the capability filtering parameter from the second access network device. After the step 502, a step 5021 is further included, in which the first access network device sends the capability filtering parameter to the terminal device; and step 5022, the first access network equipment receives the first capability information from the terminal equipment. The first capability information includes at least one of a first capability identifier of the terminal device and a first capability information set, the first capability identifier is an identifier of a capability corresponding to the first capability range, and the first capability information set is a set of information of the capability corresponding to the first capability range. Specifically, after receiving a capability filtering parameter from the second access network device, the first access network device may send the capability filtering parameter to the terminal device, where the capability filtering parameter is used to indicate a first capability range required by the second access network device, and the terminal device determines capability information according to the first capability range and reports the capability identifier. The first access network equipment can determine the corresponding capability information by receiving the capability identifier from the terminal equipment, and the transmission consumption of the capability identifier is less than that of the capability information, so that the signaling overhead in the capability reporting process is saved. In one possible design, the terminal device sends the first capability identifier to the first access network device without sending the corresponding set of capability information. Specifically, when the network device explicitly or implicitly indicates that the terminal device only reports the capability identifier, the terminal device only reports the capability identifier and does not report the corresponding capability information set. For example, when the first access network device indicates the terminal device to report only the capability identifier, the terminal only reports the capability identifier and does not report the capability information set corresponding to the capability identifier; for another example, the network device sets the capability identifier that the terminal device reports preferentially, and the terminal device only reports the capability identifier without reporting the capability information set corresponding to the capability identifier under the condition of saving the capability identifier. Optionally, when the terminal device does not store the corresponding capability identifier, the capability information set may be reported.

In a possible implementation manner, the capability filtering parameter is carried in a capability request message, a capability identifier request message, or a radio resource control RRC reconfiguration message. For example, for convenience of presentation, the access network device takes a base station as an example, the terminal device takes a UE as an example, the capability filtering parameter of the second base station is filter2, after the first base station receives the filter2, a capability query message is sent to the UE, the capability query message carries filter2 and is used for indicating the UE to report the capability ID corresponding to the filter2, and the UE confirms the corresponding capability ID according to the filter2 and sends the capability ID to the first base station. For another example, the capability filtering parameter of the second base station is filter2, and after the first base station receives filter2, the first base station sends RRC reconfiguration information to the UE, where the RRC reconfiguration information includes filter2, and is used to indicate the first capability range, and the UE confirms the capability information corresponding to the first capability range and sends the capability information to the first base station.

Optionally, in a first possible implementation, the capability identifier is allocated to the network device. Specifically, the capability identifier may be allocated by a core network device.

By the communication method provided by the embodiment of the application, the first access network device can acquire the range of the capability information required by the second access network device through the Xn interface, and request the corresponding capability information or capability ID from the terminal device to acquire the capability information required by the second access network device.

In a second possible implementation, the first access network device receives the capability filtering parameter from the second access network device and then requests the core network device for the capability information of the terminal device. After the step 502, further comprising a step 5023, the first access network device sends the third capability filtering parameter to a core network device; and step 5024, the first access network equipment receives the second capability information from the core network equipment. The third capability filtering parameter includes at least one of a capability filtering parameter for indicating a first capability range and a second capability filtering parameter for indicating a second capability range, the first capability range is a range of capability information of the terminal device required by the second access network device, and the second capability range is a range of capability information of the terminal device required by the first access network device. Optionally, the second capability information is capability information of the terminal device corresponding to the third capability filtering parameter. Specifically, the first access network device sends a third capability filtering parameter to the core network device, where the third capability filtering parameter is used to indicate a third capability range, and the third capability range includes at least one of a first capability range required by the second access network device and a second capability range required by the first access network device.

Optionally, the third capability filtering parameter is carried in an NG interface establishment message, a user equipment UE initial message, a UE capability request message, or a capability identifier request message.

Optionally, the third capability information is carried in an initial context setup message or a capability request response message.

In a possible implementation, after receiving a third capability filtering parameter from a first access network device, a core network device determines corresponding second capability information according to the third capability filtering parameter, and sends the second capability information to the first access network device, where the second capability information is capability information of a terminal device corresponding to a third capability range, optionally, the second capability information further includes a capability identifier, where the capability identifier is an identifier of a capability of the terminal device corresponding to the third capability range, the first access network device receives and stores the second capability information from the core network device, and the first access network device can determine the corresponding capability information by receiving the capability identifier from the terminal device, and transmission consumption of the capability identifier is less than transmission consumption of the capability information, thereby saving signaling overhead in a capability reporting process. In another possible implementation, after receiving a third capability filtering parameter from the first access network device, the core network device sends second capability information to the first access network device, where the second capability information is a capability information set of the terminal device, the capability information set includes capability information corresponding to the third filtering parameter, and the first access network device determines and stores the capability information corresponding to the third filtering parameter according to the capability information set. It should be noted that, according to the methods provided by the above two possible implementations, the first access network device may obtain the capability information corresponding to the third capability filtering parameter by receiving the second capability information from the core network device, where the process of determining the capability information corresponding to the third capability filtering parameter according to the second capability information may be executed by the core network device or the first access network device, and this is not limited in this embodiment of the application.

For example, for convenience of description, the access network device takes a base station as an example, the terminal device takes UE as an example, the capability filtering parameter of the first base station is filter1, the capability filtering parameter of the second base station is filter2, after the first base station receives filter2, the first base station sends a UE initial message to the core network device, the UE initial message includes a capability filtering parameter filter3, the filter3 is used for indicating a capability range corresponding to the two capability filtering parameters, namely filter1 and filter2, and the core network device confirms corresponding second capability information according to the filter3 and sends the second capability information to the first base station. For another example, the capability filtering parameter of the first base station is filter1, the capability filtering parameter of the second base station is filter2, after the first base station receives filter2, the UE capability request message is sent to the core network device, the UE capability request message includes a capability filtering parameter filter3, the filter3 is equal to filter2 and is used for indicating a first capability range corresponding to the second access network device, the core network device sends a capability request response message to the first base station, the capability request response message includes second capability information, the third capability information is a capability information set of the terminal device, and after the first base station receives the second capability information from the core network device, the capability information corresponding to filter3 is determined.

Optionally, in a second possible implementation, the capability identifier is assigned by a manufacturer of the terminal device.

For step 503, the first access network device sends first capability information to the second access network device, where the first capability information corresponds to the first capability range.

The first capability information includes at least one of a first capability identifier of the terminal device and a first capability information set, the first capability identifier is an identifier of a capability corresponding to the first capability range, and the first capability information set is a set of information of the capability corresponding to the first capability range. Specifically, the first access network device sends at least one of a first capability identifier and a first capability information set to the second access network device, where at least one of the first capability identifier and the first capability information set is information of a capability of the terminal device required by the second access network device.

In one possible implementation, the first capability information is carried in a handover request message. Specifically, a first access network device sends a handover request message to a second access network device, where the handover request message includes first capability information, and the first capability information is capability information of a terminal device required by the second access network device. By carrying the first capability information in the handover request message, the second access network device can acquire the required capability information of the terminal device more quickly, thereby saving signaling overhead.

For example, the access network device takes a base station as an example, when a first base station receives and stores first capability information from a UE, and when the UE is handed over from the first base station to a second base station, the first base station may send a handover request message to the second base station, where the handover request message includes the first capability information, the first capability information includes a capability identifier ID1 of the terminal device, and the capability ID1 is an identifier of capability information of the terminal device required by the second base station.

For another example, the access network device takes a base station as an example, the capability filtering parameter of the second base station is filter2, the first base station receives the second capability information from the core network device, confirms and stores the first capability information corresponding to the filter2 according to the second capability information, and when the UE is handed over from the first base station to the second base station, the first base station sends a handover request message to the second base station, where the handover request message includes the first capability information, and the first capability information includes a first capability information set of the terminal device, where the first capability information set is a set of information of the capability of the terminal device required by the second base station.

For step 504, the second access network device receives first capability information from the first access network device.

With reference to the definition of the first capability information, referring to the relevant description in step 503, in a possible implementation, the second access network device receives the first capability information, acquires the capability information of the required terminal device, and after the terminal device is handed over to the second access network device, the second access network device may use the first capability information to communicate with the terminal device.

Optionally, when the first capability information is the first capability identifier, the second access network device may determine the corresponding capability information by receiving the first capability identifier from the first access network device, and obtain the required capability information, and meanwhile, transmission consumption of the capability identifier is less than transmission consumption of the capability information, thereby saving signaling overhead in a process of sending the capability to the second access network device by the terminal device.

According to the communication method provided by the embodiment of the application, the source base station and the target base station can exchange the capability filtering parameters through the Xn interface before the terminal equipment is switched, the source base station acquires and stores the UE capability ID or the capability information corresponding to the capability filtering parameters of the target base station, and when the UE is switched, the source base station can carry the UE capability information required by the target base station in the switching request message sent to the target base station, so that the target base station does not need to request the UE for capability any more, the target base station can acquire the required UE capability ID or the capability information more quickly, and the communication efficiency of the target base station and the terminal equipment is improved.

The following describes an apparatus for implementing the above method in the embodiment of the present application with reference to the drawings. Therefore, the above contents can be used in the subsequent embodiments, and the repeated contents are not repeated.

Fig. 6 is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus 600 provided in an embodiment of the present application. Illustratively, the communication device 600 is, for example, an access network device 600. The access network device 600 comprises a processing module 601 and a transceiver module 602. The processing module 601 may be configured to perform all operations performed by the first access network device in the embodiment shown in fig. 4 except transceiving operations, for example, the first access network device obtains the first indication information in the handover confirmation message and determines the corresponding first capability range, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein. The transceiver module 601 may be used to perform all transceiving operations performed by the first access network device in the embodiment shown in fig. 4, such as steps 401, 404, and 405, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein.

A transceiver module 602, configured to send a handover request message to a second access network device; for receiving a handover confirmation message from the second access network device; and the second indication information is used for sending the second indication information to the terminal equipment.

After the transceiver module 602 receives the handover confirmation message from the second access network device, the processing module 601 obtains the first indication information in the handover confirmation message and determines the corresponding first capability range.

It should be understood that the processing module 601 in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented by a processor or a processor-related circuit component, and the transceiver module 602 may be implemented by a transceiver or a transceiver-related circuit component.

As shown in fig. 7, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device 700. Illustratively, the communication device 700 is, for example, an access network device 700. The access network apparatus 700 comprises a processor 701, a memory 702 and a transceiver 703, wherein the memory 702 stores instructions or programs therein, and the processor 701 is configured to execute the instructions or programs stored in the memory 702. When the instructions or programs stored in the memory 702 are executed, the processor 701 is configured to perform the operations performed by the processing module 601 in the above embodiments, and the transceiver 703 is configured to perform the operations performed by the transceiver module 602 in the above embodiments.

It should be understood that the access network device 600 or the access network device 700 according to the embodiment of the present application may correspond to the first access network device in the embodiment shown in fig. 4, and operations and/or functions of the modules in the access network device 600 or the access network device 700 are respectively for implementing the corresponding flows in the embodiment shown in fig. 4, and are not described herein again for brevity.

Fig. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device 800 provided in an embodiment of the present application. Illustratively, the communication device 800 is, for example, an access network device 800. The access network device 800 includes a processing module 801 and a transceiver module 802. The processing module 801 may be configured to perform all operations performed by the second access network device in the embodiment shown in fig. 4 except transceiving operations, such as acquiring the first capability information in the handover request message and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein. The transceiving module 802 may be configured to perform all transceiving operations performed by the second access network device in the embodiment illustrated in fig. 4, such as the communication methods described in steps 402 and 403, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein.

A transceiver module 802, configured to receive a handover request message from the first access network device; the first access network device is configured to send a handover confirmation message to the first access network device, where the handover confirmation message includes first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate a first capability range.

A processing module 801, configured to obtain the first capability information in the handover request message after the transceiver module 802 receives the handover request message from the first access network device.

It should be understood that the processing module 801 in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented by a processor or a processor-related circuit component, and the transceiver module 802 may be implemented by a transceiver or a transceiver-related circuit component.

As shown in fig. 9, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device 900. Illustratively, the communication device 900 is, for example, an access network device 900. The access network apparatus 900 comprises a processor 901, a memory 902 and a transceiver 903, wherein the memory 902 stores instructions or programs therein, and the processor 901 is configured to execute the instructions or programs stored in the memory 902. When the instructions or programs stored in the memory 902 are executed, the processor 901 is configured to perform the operations performed by the processing module 801 in the above embodiments, and the transceiver 903 is configured to perform the operations performed by the transceiver module 802 in the above embodiments.

It should be understood that the access network device 800 or the access network device 900 according to the embodiment of the present application may correspond to the second access network device in the embodiment shown in fig. 4, and operations and/or functions of the modules in the access network device 800 or the access network device 900 are respectively for implementing the corresponding flows in the embodiment shown in fig. 4, and are not described herein again for brevity.

Fig. 10 is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus 1000 provided in an embodiment of the present application. Illustratively, the communication device 1000 is, for example, a terminal device 1000. The terminal device 1000 includes a processing module 1001 and a transceiver module 1002. The processing module 1001 may be configured to perform all operations performed by the terminal device in the embodiment shown in fig. 4 except for transceiving operations, for example, determine the second capability information according to the second indication information, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein. The transceiving module 1001 may be configured to perform all transceiving operations performed by the terminal device in the embodiment shown in fig. 4, such as steps 406 and 407, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein.

A transceiver module 1002, configured to receive the second indication information from the first access network device; for sending second capability information to the second access network device.

The processing module 1001, after the transceiver module 1002 receives the second indication information from the first access network device, determines second capability information according to the second indication information.

It should be understood that the processing module 1001 in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented by a processor or a processor-related circuit component, and the transceiver module 1002 may be implemented by a transceiver or a transceiver-related circuit component.

As shown in fig. 11, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device 1100. Illustratively, the communication device 1100 is, for example, a terminal device 1100. The terminal device 1100 comprises a processor 1101, a memory 1102 and a transceiver 1103, wherein the memory 1102 stores instructions or programs therein, and the processor 1101 is configured to execute the instructions or programs stored in the memory 1102. When the instructions or programs stored in the memory 1102 are executed, the processor 1101 is configured to perform the operations performed by the processing module 1001 in the above-described embodiment, and the transceiver 1103 is configured to perform the operations performed by the transceiver module 1002 in the above-described embodiment.

It should be understood that the terminal device 1000 or the terminal device 1100 according to the embodiment of the present application may correspond to the terminal device in the embodiment shown in fig. 4, and operations and/or functions of each module in the terminal device 1000 or the terminal device 1100 are respectively for implementing the corresponding flow in the embodiment shown in fig. 4, and are not described herein again for brevity.

Fig. 12 is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus 1200 provided in an embodiment of the present application. Illustratively, the communication device 1200 is, for example, an access network device 1200. The access network apparatus 1200 includes a processing module 1201 and a transceiver module 1202. Among other things, the processing module 1201 may be configured to perform all operations performed by the first access network device in the embodiment illustrated in fig. 5, except transceiving operations, such as determining the first capability range based on the capability filtering parameter, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein. The transceiving module 1201 may be configured to perform all transceiving operations performed by the first access network device in the embodiment illustrated in fig. 5, such as steps 502 and 503, and/or other processes to support the techniques described herein.

A transceiver module 1202 for receiving capability filtering parameters from a second access network device; and the second access network device is configured to send first capability information to the second access network device, where the first capability information corresponds to the first capability range.

The processing module 1201 determines the first capability range according to the capability filtering parameter after the transceiver module 1202 receives the handover confirm message from the second access network device.

It should be understood that the processing module 1201 in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented by a processor or a processor-related circuit component, and the transceiver module 1202 may be implemented by a transceiver or a transceiver-related circuit component.

As shown in fig. 13, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device 1300. Illustratively, the communication device 1300 is, for example, an access network device 1300. The access network device 1300 comprises a processor 1301, a memory 1302 and a transceiver 1303, wherein the memory 1302 stores instructions or programs, and the processor 1301 is configured to execute the instructions or programs stored in the memory 1302. When the instructions or programs stored in the memory 1302 are executed, the processor 1301 is configured to perform the operations performed by the processing module 1201 in the above-described embodiment, and the transceiver 1303 is configured to perform the operations performed by the transceiver module 1202 in the above-described embodiment.

It should be understood that the access network device 1200 or the access network device 1300 according to the embodiment of the present application may correspond to the first access network device in the embodiment shown in fig. 5, and operations and/or functions of the modules in the access network device 1200 or the access network device 1300 are respectively for implementing the corresponding flow in the embodiment shown in fig. 5, and are not described herein again for brevity.

Fig. 14 is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus 1400 provided in an embodiment of the present application. Illustratively, the communication device 1400 is, for example, an access network device 1400. The access network device 1400 comprises a processing module 1401 and a transceiver module 1402. Processing module 1401 may be used, among other things, to perform all operations performed by the second access network device in the embodiment shown in fig. 5 except transceiving operations and/or other processes to support the techniques described herein. Transceiver module 1401 may be used to perform all of the transceiving operations performed by the second access network device in the embodiment shown in fig. 5, such as steps 501 and 504, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein.

A transceiver module 1402, configured to send a capability filtering parameter to a first access network device, where the capability filtering parameter is used to indicate a first capability range; for receiving first capability information from the first access network device.

Processing module 1401, after the transceiver module 1402 receives the first capability information from the first access network device, in a possible implementation, the second access network device communicates with the terminal device using the first capability information.

It should be understood that the processing module 1401 in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented by a processor or a processor-related circuit component, and the transceiver module 1402 may be implemented by a transceiver or a transceiver-related circuit component.

As shown in fig. 15, an embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device 1500. Illustratively, the communication device 1500 is, for example, an access network device 1500. The access network device 1500 comprises a processor 1501, a memory 1502 and a transceiver 1503, wherein the memory 1502 stores instructions or programs therein, and the processor 1501 is configured to execute the instructions or programs stored in the memory 1502. When the instructions or programs stored in the memory 1502 are executed, the processor 1501 is configured to perform the operations performed by the processing module 1401 in the above-described embodiment, and the transceiver 1503 is configured to perform the operations performed by the transceiver module 1402 in the above-described embodiment.

It should be understood that the access network device 1400 or the access network device 1500 according to the embodiment of the present application may correspond to the second access network device in the embodiment shown in fig. 5, and operations and/or functions of the modules in the access network device 1400 or the access network device 1500 are respectively for implementing the corresponding flow in the embodiment shown in fig. 5, and are not described herein again for brevity.

The embodiment of the present application further provides a communication apparatus, which may be a terminal device or an apparatus in a terminal device, such as an integrated circuit or a chip. The communication apparatus may be used to perform the actions performed by the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in fig. 4 described above.

When the communication apparatus is a terminal device, fig. 16 shows a schematic structural diagram of a simplified terminal device. For easy understanding and illustration, in fig. 16, the terminal device is exemplified by a mobile phone. As shown in fig. 16, the terminal device includes a processor, a memory, a radio frequency circuit, an antenna, and an input-output device. The processor is mainly used for processing communication protocols and communication data, controlling the terminal equipment, executing software programs, processing data of the software programs and the like. The memory is used primarily for storing software programs and data. The radio frequency circuit is mainly used for converting baseband signals and radio frequency signals and processing the radio frequency signals. The antenna is mainly used for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals in the form of electromagnetic waves. Input and output devices, such as touch screens, display screens, keyboards, etc., are used primarily for receiving data input by a user and for outputting data to the user. It should be noted that some kinds of terminal devices may not have input/output devices.

When data needs to be sent, the processor performs baseband processing on the data to be sent and outputs baseband signals to the radio frequency circuit, and the radio frequency circuit performs radio frequency processing on the baseband signals and sends the radio frequency signals to the outside in the form of electromagnetic waves through the antenna. When data is sent to the terminal equipment, the radio frequency circuit receives radio frequency signals through the antenna, converts the radio frequency signals into baseband signals and outputs the baseband signals to the processor, and the processor converts the baseband signals into the data and processes the data. For ease of illustration, only one memory and processor are shown in FIG. 16. In an actual end device product, there may be one or more processors and one or more memories. The memory may also be referred to as a storage medium or a storage device, etc. The memory may be provided independently of the processor, or may be integrated with the processor, which is not limited in this embodiment.

In the embodiment of the present application, the antenna and the radio frequency circuit having the transceiving function may be regarded as a transceiving unit of the terminal device, and the processor having the processing function may be regarded as a processing unit of the terminal device. As shown in fig. 16, the terminal device includes a transceiving unit 1601 and a processing unit 1602. A transceiver unit may also be referred to as a transceiver, a transceiving device, etc. A processing unit may also be referred to as a processor, a processing board, a processing module, a processing device, or the like. Alternatively, a device for implementing the receiving function in the transceiver 1601 may be regarded as a receiving unit, and a device for implementing the transmitting function in the transceiver 1601 may be regarded as a transmitting unit, that is, the transceiver 1601 includes a receiving unit and a transmitting unit. A transceiver unit may also sometimes be referred to as a transceiver, transceiving circuitry, or the like. A receiving unit may also be referred to as a receiver, a receiving circuit, or the like. A transmitting unit may also sometimes be referred to as a transmitter, or a transmitting circuit, etc.

It should be understood that the transceiver unit 1601 is used for performing the transmitting operation and the receiving operation on the terminal device side in the method embodiment shown in fig. 4, and the processing unit 1602 is used for performing other operations than the transmitting and receiving operation performed by the terminal device in the method embodiment shown in fig. 4.

For example, in one implementation, the transceiving unit 1601 is configured to perform transceiving steps on the terminal device side in the embodiment shown in fig. 4, such as steps 406 and 407, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein. A processing unit 1602 for performing other operations besides transceiving operations on the terminal device side in the embodiment shown in fig. 4, and/or other processes for supporting the techniques described herein.

When the communication device is a chip, the chip includes a transceiver unit and a processing unit. The transceiver unit can be an input/output circuit and a communication interface; the processing unit is a processor or a microprocessor or an integrated circuit integrated on the chip.

The embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, on which a computer program is stored, where the computer program, when executed by a processor, can implement the process related to the terminal device in the embodiment shown in fig. 4 provided in the foregoing method embodiment.

Embodiments of the present application further provide a computer-readable storage medium, on which a computer program is stored, where the computer program, when executed by a processor, may implement the process related to the first access network device or the second access network device in the embodiment shown in fig. 4 provided in the foregoing method embodiments.

The present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, on which a computer program is stored, where the computer program, when executed by a processor, may implement the process related to the first access network device or the second access network device in the embodiment shown in fig. 5 provided in the foregoing method embodiments.

The embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product containing instructions, where the instructions, when executed, perform the method on the terminal device side in the method embodiment shown in fig. 4.

Embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program product containing instructions, where the instructions are executed to perform the method of the first access network device or the second access network device in the method embodiment shown in fig. 4.

Embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program product containing instructions, where the instructions are executed to perform the method of the first access network device or the second access network device in the method embodiment shown in fig. 5.

It should be understood that the processor mentioned in the embodiments of the present application may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following: various computing devices that run software, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), a Microcontroller (MCU), or an artificial intelligence processor, may each include one or more cores for executing software instructions to perform operations or processing. The processor may be a single semiconductor chip, or may be integrated with other circuits to form a system on a chip (SoC), for example, or may be integrated as a built-in processor of an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), which may be packaged separately or packaged together with other circuits. The processor may further include necessary hardware accelerators such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), or logic circuits implementing dedicated logic operations, in addition to cores for executing software instructions to perform operations or processes.

It should be noted that when the processor is a general-purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component, the memory (memory module) is integrated in the processor.

It will also be appreciated that the memory referred to in the embodiments of the application may be either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. The non-volatile memory may be a read-only memory (ROM), a Programmable ROM (PROM), an Erasable PROM (EPROM), an electrically Erasable EPROM (EEPROM), or a flash memory. Volatile memory can be Random Access Memory (RAM), which acts as external cache memory. By way of example, but not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM, enhanced SDRAM, SLDRAM, Synchronous Link DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM).

It should be noted that the memory described herein is intended to comprise, without being limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

It should be understood that, in the various embodiments of the present application, the sequence numbers of the above-mentioned processes do not mean the execution sequence, and the execution sequence of each process should be determined by its function and inherent logic, and should not constitute any limitation to the implementation process of the embodiments of the present application.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative elements and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware or combinations of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the implementation. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present application.

It is clear to those skilled in the art that, for convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the above-described systems, apparatuses and units may refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and are not described herein again.

In the several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus and method may be implemented in other ways. For example, the above-described apparatus embodiments are merely illustrative, and for example, the division of the units is only one logical division, and other divisions may be realized in practice, for example, a plurality of units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted, or not executed. In addition, the shown or discussed mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection may be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, and may be in an electrical, mechanical or other form.

The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts displayed as units may or may not be physical units, may be located in one place, or may be distributed on a plurality of network units. Some or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of the embodiment.

In addition, functional units in the embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist alone physically, or two or more units are integrated into one unit.

The functions, if implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as a stand-alone product, may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solution of the present application or portions thereof that substantially contribute to the prior art may be embodied in the form of a software product stored in a storage medium and including instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device) to execute all or part of the steps of the method according to the embodiments of the present application. And the aforementioned storage medium includes: various media capable of storing program codes, such as a U disk, a removable hard disk, a ROM, a RAM, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

The above description is only for the specific implementation of the present application, but the scope of the embodiments of the present application is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art can easily think of the changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the embodiments of the present application, and all the changes or substitutions should be covered by the scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the embodiments of the present application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method of communication, the method comprising:

the method comprises the steps that a first access network device receives a switching confirmation message from a second access network device, wherein the switching confirmation message comprises first indication information, the first indication information is used for indicating a terminal device to report capacity information, and the first indication information is used for indicating a first capacity range; the first capacity range is the range of the capacity information required by the second access network equipment;

and the first access network equipment sends second indication information to terminal equipment, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating the first capacity range.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to the first access network device receiving the handover confirm message from the second access network device:

and the first access network equipment sends a switching request message to the second access network equipment.

3. The method of claim 2,

the handover request message includes first capability information, the first capability information corresponding to a second capability range;

the first capability information comprises at least one of a capability information set, a first capability identifier and a first capability filtering parameter of the terminal equipment; the capability information set is a set of information of capabilities corresponding to the second capability range, the first capability identifier is an identifier of capabilities corresponding to the second capability range, and the first capability filtering parameter is used for indicating the second capability range.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the first indication information includes at least one of a second capability filtering parameter indicating the first capability range and tracking area information; the tracking area information includes tracking area information of a first cell, the first cell being a cell corresponding to the second access network device.

5. The method of claim 4,

6. A method of communication, the method comprising:

the second access network equipment sends a switching confirmation message to the first access network equipment, wherein the switching confirmation message comprises first indication information, the first indication information is used for indicating the terminal equipment to report the capacity information, and the first indication information is used for indicating a first capacity range; the first capacity range is the range of the capacity information required by the second access network equipment;

and the second access network equipment receives second capability information from the terminal equipment, wherein the second capability information corresponds to the first capability range.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising, before the second access network device sends the handover confirm message to the first access network device:

the second access network device receives a handover request message from the first access network device.

8. The method of claim 7,

the first capability information comprises at least one of a first capability information set, a first capability identifier and a first capability filtering parameter of the terminal equipment; the first capability information set is a set of information corresponding to capabilities corresponding to the second capability range, the first capability identifier is an identifier of capabilities corresponding to the second capability range, and the first capability filtering parameter is used for indicating the second capability range.

9. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8,

10. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8,

the second capability information is carried in a handover complete message or a capability reporting message.

11. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, comprising:

the second capability information includes at least one of a second capability identifier of the terminal device and a second capability information set, where the second capability identifier is an identifier of a capability corresponding to the first capability range, and the second capability information set is a set of information of the capability corresponding to the first capability range.

12. A method of communication, the method comprising:

the terminal equipment receives second indication information from the first access network equipment, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating a first capacity range; the second indication information is used for indicating that the range of the capability reported by the terminal equipment to the second access network equipment is the first capability range;

and the terminal equipment sends second capacity information to second access network equipment, wherein the second capacity information corresponds to the first capacity range.

13. The method of claim 12,

the first capability range is indicated by the second access network device.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13,

the second indication information includes at least one of a second capability filtering parameter indicating the first capability range and tracking area information; the tracking area information includes tracking area information of a first cell, the first cell being a cell corresponding to the second access network device.

15. The method according to claim 12 or 13,

16. The method according to claim 12 or 13,

17. A method of communication, the method comprising:

the first access network equipment receives a capability filtering parameter from the second access network equipment, wherein the capability filtering parameter is used for indicating a first capability range; the first capacity range is the range of the capacity information required by the second access network equipment;

and the first access network equipment sends first capacity information to the second access network equipment, wherein the first capacity information corresponds to the first capacity range.

18. The method of claim 17,

the capability filtering parameter is carried in an Xn connection setup message or an Xn connection setup response message.

19. The method of claim 17 or 18,

the first capability information includes at least one of a first capability identifier of the terminal device and a first capability information set, the first capability identifier is an identifier of a capability corresponding to the first capability range, and the first capability information set is a set of information of the capability corresponding to the first capability range.

20. The method of claim 17 or 18,

the first capability information is carried in a handover request message.

21. The method of claim 17 or 18, wherein before the first access network device sends the first capability information to the second access network device, the method further comprises:

the first access network equipment sends the capability filtering parameter to terminal equipment;

the first access network device receives the first capability information from the terminal device.

22. The method of claim 21,

the capability filtering parameter sent by the first access network device to the terminal device is carried in a capability request message, a capability identification request message or a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message.

23. The method of claim 17 or 18, wherein before the first access network device sends the first capability information to the second access network device, the method further comprises:

the first access network equipment sends the capability filtering parameter to core network equipment;

the first access network device receives the first capability information from the core network device.

24. The method of claim 23,

the capability filtering parameter sent by the first access network device to the core network device is carried in an NG interface establishment message, a User Equipment (UE) initial message, a UE capability request message or a capability identification request message.

25. A method of communication, the method comprising:

the second access network equipment sends a capability filtering parameter to the first access network equipment, wherein the capability filtering parameter is used for indicating a first capability range; the first capacity range is the range of the capacity information required by the second access network equipment;

and the second access network equipment receives first capability information from the first access network equipment, wherein the first capability information corresponds to the first capability range.

26. The method of claim 25,

27. The method of claim 25 or 26,

28. The method of claim 25 or 26,

the first capability information is carried in a handover request message.

29. An apparatus comprising at least one processor, and a communication interface, wherein:

the communication interface is connected to the at least one processor, and the communication interface is configured to obtain a program or instructions, and when the program or instructions are executed by the processor, the communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is implemented, or the communication method according to any one of claims 6 to 11 is implemented, or the communication method according to any one of claims 12 to 16 is implemented, or the communication method according to any one of claims 17 to 24 is implemented, or the communication method according to any one of claims 25 to 28 is implemented.

30. A computer-readable storage medium characterized by comprising a program or instructions which, when executed by a computer, implement the communication method of any one of claims 1 to 5, or implement the communication method of any one of claims 6 to 11, or implement the communication method of any one of claims 12 to 16, or implement the communication method of any one of claims 17 to 24, or implement the communication method of any one of claims 25 to 28.