CN113163340B

CN113163340B - Method, network equipment and terminal equipment for transmitting multicast data service

Info

Publication number: CN113163340B
Application number: CN202010075649.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 张艳霞; 谢振华
Original assignee: Vivo Mobile Communication Co Ltd
Current assignee: Vivo Mobile Communication Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-01-22
Filing date: 2020-01-22
Publication date: 2022-06-10
Anticipated expiration: 2040-01-22
Also published as: WO2021147999A1; CN113163340A

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention discloses a method for transmitting multicast data service, network equipment and terminal equipment, wherein the method for transmitting the multicast data service comprises the following steps: acquiring first indication information; based on the first indication information, it is determined whether to switch the multicast data traffic from being transmitted via the first transmission mode to being transmitted via the second transmission mode. Through the technical scheme in the embodiment of the invention, the network side can realize the decision of dynamically switching the transmission of the multicast data service among different transmission modes, thereby realizing the optimized use of network resources.

Description

Method, network equipment and terminal equipment for transmitting multicast data service

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to a method, a network device, and a terminal device for transmitting a multicast data service.

Background

Currently, in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, a Multicast Coordination Entity (MCE) may decide whether a Multicast data service may be sent through a Multicast/Multicast Single Frequency Network (MBSFN). However, in a New Radio (NR) system, a core network does not provide services based on a network element having complete software and hardware, but based on a network function in a software form, so that a network element corresponding to an existing multicast data service cannot adapt to a New architecture through simple change, which affects application of the multicast data service in the NR system, and thus dynamic switching between a unicast transmission mode and a multicast transmission mode in a process of transmitting the multicast data service cannot be realized.

Disclosure of Invention

One of the technical problems to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention is how to implement dynamic switching between a unicast transmission mode and a multicast transmission mode in a process of transmitting a multicast data service.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a method for transmitting a multicast data service, where the method is applied to a network device, and the method includes:

acquiring first indication information; and determining whether to switch the multicast data service from being transmitted by the first transmission mode to being transmitted by the second transmission mode based on the first indication information.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a network device, where the network device includes:

the acquisition module is used for acquiring first indication information; and the determining module is used for determining whether to convert the multicast data service from being sent in the first transmission mode to being sent in the second transmission mode based on the first indication information.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a network device, including: a memory, a processor and a computer program stored on the memory and executable on the processor, the computer program, when executed by the processor, implementing the steps of the method according to the first aspect.

In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium, on which a computer program is stored, and the computer program, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the method according to the first aspect.

In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a method for transmitting a multicast data service, where the method is applied to a terminal device, and the method includes:

in the process of receiving the multicast data service through the data channel corresponding to the first transmission mode, receiving target indication information sent by network equipment, wherein the target indication information is used for indicating that the multicast data service is transmitted through the first transmission mode and is converted into the multicast data service transmitted through the second transmission mode.

In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a terminal device, where the terminal device includes:

the receiving module is configured to receive target indication information sent by a network device in a process of receiving a multicast data service through a data channel corresponding to a first transmission mode, where the target indication information is used to indicate that the multicast data service is transmitted in a second transmission mode instead of the first transmission mode.

In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a terminal device, including: a memory, a processor and a computer program stored on the memory and executable on the processor, the computer program, when executed by the processor, implementing the steps of the method according to the fifth aspect.

In an eighth aspect, the embodiment of the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium, where a computer program is stored on the computer-readable storage medium, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, the computer program implements the steps of the method according to the fifth aspect.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the network side may decide whether to switch the multicast data service currently sent in the first transmission mode to be sent in the second transmission mode based on the obtained information (i.e., the first indication information). Therefore, through the technical scheme in the embodiment of the invention, the network side can realize the decision of dynamically switching the transmission of the multicast data service among different transmission modes, thereby realizing the optimized use of network resources.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the invention and not to limit the invention. In the drawings:

fig. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for transmitting a multicast data service according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a second method for transmitting multicast data traffic according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a third method for transmitting multicast data service according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a fourth method for transmitting multicast data traffic according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a fifth method for transmitting multicast data traffic according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a sixth method for transmitting multicast data traffic according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a network device in an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal device in an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a second network device in the embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a second terminal device in the embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are some, not all, embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

The technical scheme of the invention can be applied to various communication systems, such as: global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) System, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Long Term Evolution/enhanced Long Term Evolution (LTE-a), NR, and the like.

User equipments, which may be Terminal equipments such as Mobile phones (or "cellular" phones) and computers with Terminal equipments, for example, portable, pocket, hand-held, computer-included or vehicle-mounted Mobile devices, may communicate with one or more core networks via a Radio Access Network (RAN), and may exchange languages and/or data with the Radio Access Network.

The network device, which may also be referred to as a Base Station, may be a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) in GSM or CDMA, a Base Station (NodeB) in WCDMA, an evolved Node B (eNB or e-NodeB) in LTE, and a 5G Base Station (gNB).

The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to fig. 1, an embodiment of the present invention provides a method for transmitting a multicast data service, which is executed by a Network device, where the Network device may be a Core Network (CN) device or an Access Network (RAN) device. The method may comprise the following process steps:

step 101: first indication information is acquired.

Step 103: and determining whether to switch the multicast data service from being transmitted in the first transmission mode to being transmitted in the second transmission mode based on the first indication information.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the network side may decide whether to convert the multicast data service currently sent in the first transmission mode into being sent in the second transmission mode based on the obtained information (i.e., the first indication information). Thus, by the technical scheme in the embodiment of the invention, the network side can realize the decision of dynamically switching the transmission of the multicast data service among different transmission modes, thereby realizing the optimized use of network resources.

Optionally, in the method for transmitting a multicast data service according to the embodiment of the present invention, if the first transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode, the second transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode.

Optionally, in the method for transmitting a multicast data service according to the embodiment of the present invention, if the first transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode, the second transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode.

Optionally, for different types of network devices, the technical solutions corresponding to the method for transmitting a multicast data service according to the embodiments of the present invention may be implemented based on different specific embodiments, including but not limited to the following specific embodiments:

detailed description of the preferred embodiment

In the first embodiment, the access network device executes the method for transmitting the multicast data service according to the embodiment of the present invention, that is, the access network device decides to switch the transmission mode of the multicast data service based on the acquired corresponding first indication information.

Optionally, in the method for transmitting a multicast data service according to the first embodiment, step 101 may be implemented as follows:

and receiving first indication information reported by terminal equipment corresponding to the multicast data service.

It can be understood that, for the access network device, the decision of whether to dynamically switch the transmission of the multicast data service between different transmission modes may be implemented based on the relevant information (i.e., the first indication information) reported by each terminal device corresponding to the multicast data service.

Optionally, in the method for transmitting a multicast data service in the first embodiment of the present invention, as for step 103, the following may be performed:

and under the condition that the quantity of the first indication information meets a first preset condition, determining to convert the multicast data service from being sent in the first transmission mode to being sent in the second transmission mode.

It can be understood that when the number of the first indication information reported by each terminal device corresponding to the multicast data service meets a certain condition (i.e., a first preset condition), a decision to switch the transmission of the multicast data service from the first transmission mode to the second transmission mode can be made, so that the transmission efficiency of the multicast data service is prevented from being affected by randomly switching the transmission mode of the multicast data service.

Optionally, in the method for transmitting a multicast data service according to the first embodiment, the first indication information includes, but is not limited to, at least one of the following:

(1) information for instructing the terminal device to generate a first response to the multicast data service, the first response including but not limited to a desire to receive, being received, or having an interest to receive. In other words, when the terminal device generates any of the aforementioned first responses to the multicast data service, it is said that the terminal device generates a positive response to the reception of the multicast data service.

Based on this, if the above-mentioned scheme of switching the multicast data traffic from the transmission in the first transmission mode to the transmission in the second transmission mode is determined in the case that the number of the first indication information satisfies the first preset condition, the following may be performed:

and under the condition that the quantity of the acquired information for indicating the terminal equipment to generate the first response to the multicast data service meets a first preset condition, determining to convert the multicast data service from being sent in the first transmission mode to being sent in the second transmission mode.

Further optionally, when the first transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode and the second transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode, the obtaining that the number of the information for instructing the terminal device to generate the first response to the multicast data service satisfies the first preset condition may be understood as:

the quantity of the acquired information for indicating the terminal equipment to generate the first response to the multicast data service is less than the corresponding first quantity. That is, the number of terminal devices that generate the above-described positive response to the multicast data service is sufficiently small.

Further optionally, when the first transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode and the second transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode, the obtaining that the number of the information for instructing the terminal device to generate the first response to the multicast data service satisfies the first preset condition may be understood as:

the quantity of the acquired information for indicating the terminal equipment to generate the first response to the multicast data service is larger than or equal to the corresponding second quantity. That is, the number of terminal devices that generate the positive response to the multicast data service is sufficiently large.

It will be appreciated that in the process of the access network device deciding whether to switch the multicast data traffic from being transmitted via the first transmission mode to being transmitted via the second transmission mode, reference may be made to the parameter being the total number of terminal devices counted that are actively responding to the multicast data traffic.

Alternatively, when the access network device determines that no UE desires to receive or is receiving or interested in receiving the multicast data service, that is, no UE generates the first response or positive response to the multicast data service, the multicast data channel of the multicast data service (that is, the data channel corresponding to the multicast transmission mode) may be deactivated or released. Alternatively, the access network device may instruct the core network device (e.g., the AMF) to deactivate or release the multicast data channel for the multicast data service when it determines that no UE desires to receive or is receiving or interested in receiving the multicast data service, i.e., no UE generates the first response or positive response to the multicast data service.

(2) Information for instructing the terminal device to generate a second response to the multicast data service, the second response including, but not limited to, an undesired reception, a cessation of reception, or an absence of interest in reception. In other words, when the terminal device generates any one of the aforementioned second responses to the multicast data service, it is said that the terminal device generates a negative response to the reception of the multicast data service.

and under the condition that the quantity of the acquired information for indicating the terminal equipment to generate the second response to the multicast data service meets a first preset condition, determining to convert the multicast data service from being sent in the first transmission mode to being sent in the second transmission mode.

Further optionally, when the first transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode and the second transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode, the obtaining that the number of the information for instructing the terminal device to generate the second response to the multicast data service satisfies the first preset condition may be understood as:

the number of the acquired information for instructing the terminal device to generate the second response to the multicast data service is greater than or equal to the corresponding third number. That is, the number of terminal devices that generate the above-described negative response to the multicast data service is sufficiently large.

Further optionally, when the first transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode and the second transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode, the obtaining that the number of the information for instructing the terminal device to generate the second response to the multicast data service satisfies the first preset condition may be understood as:

and the quantity of the acquired information for indicating the terminal equipment to generate the second response to the multicast data service is less than the corresponding fourth quantity. That is, the number of terminal devices that generate the above-described negative response to the multicast data service is sufficiently small.

It will be appreciated that the parameter of the total number of terminal devices that are counted as producing a negative response to the multicast data traffic may be referred to in the decision by the access network device whether to switch the multicast data traffic from being transmitted via the first transmission mode to being transmitted via the second transmission mode.

(3) And the information is used for indicating the terminal equipment to leave the service area corresponding to the multicast data service. That is, the first indication information may be used to indicate that the terminal device is no longer receiving the multicast data service.

and under the condition that the quantity of the acquired information for indicating the terminal equipment to leave the service area corresponding to the multicast data service meets a first preset condition, determining to convert the multicast data service from being sent in a first transmission mode to being sent in a second transmission mode.

Further optionally, when the first transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode and the second transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode, the obtaining that the number of the information for indicating the terminal device to leave the service area corresponding to the multicast data service satisfies the first preset condition may be understood as:

and the quantity of the acquired information for indicating the terminal equipment to leave the service area corresponding to the multicast data service is greater than or equal to the corresponding fifth quantity. That is, the number of terminal devices leaving the service area corresponding to the multicast data service is sufficiently large.

Further optionally, when the first transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode and the second transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode, the obtaining that the number of the information indicating that the terminal device leaves the service area corresponding to the multicast data service satisfies the first preset condition may be understood as:

and the quantity of the acquired information for indicating the terminal equipment to leave the service area corresponding to the multicast data service is less than the corresponding sixth quantity. That is, the number of terminal devices leaving the service area corresponding to the multicast data service is sufficiently small.

It can be understood that, in the process that the access network device determines whether to convert the multicast data service from being sent in the first transmission mode to being sent in the second transmission mode, the parameter of the total number of the terminal devices reporting the indication information leaving the service area corresponding to the multicast data service may be referred to.

(4) And the information is used for indicating the terminal equipment to enter a service area corresponding to the multicast data service. That is, the first indication information may be used to indicate that the terminal device is to receive the multicast data service.

and under the condition that the quantity of the acquired information for indicating the terminal equipment to enter the service area corresponding to the multicast data service meets a first preset condition, determining to convert the multicast data service from being sent in a first transmission mode to being sent in a second transmission mode.

Further optionally, when the first transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode and the second transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode, the obtaining that the number of the information for instructing the terminal device to enter the service area corresponding to the multicast data service satisfies the first preset condition may be understood as:

and the quantity of the acquired information for indicating the terminal equipment to enter the service area corresponding to the multicast data service is less than the corresponding seventh quantity. That is, the number of terminal devices entering the service area corresponding to the multicast data service is sufficiently small.

Further optionally, when the first transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode and the second transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode, the obtaining that the number of the information for instructing the terminal device to enter the service area corresponding to the multicast data service satisfies the first preset condition may be understood as:

and the quantity of the acquired information for indicating the terminal equipment to enter the service area corresponding to the multicast data service is greater than or equal to the corresponding eighth quantity. That is, the number of terminal devices entering the service area corresponding to the multicast data service is sufficiently large.

It can be understood that, in the process that the access network device determines whether to convert the multicast data service from being sent in the first transmission mode to being sent in the second transmission mode, the parameter of the total number of the terminal devices reporting the indication information entering the service area corresponding to the multicast data service may be referred to.

Alternatively, the values of the first number to the eighth number may be determined based on a protocol definition, a network device configuration, or a preset method.

As can be seen from the above, the access network device may switch the multicast data traffic from being sent in the first transmission mode to being sent in the second transmission mode when the number of the at least one specific first indication information in (1) to (4) satisfies the corresponding first preset condition. For example, there are currently 5 UEs corresponding to the multicast data service, where the multicast data service is currently transmitted through a unicast transmission mode (i.e., a first transmission mode), and if it is counted that there are 3 UEs generating the first response to the multicast data service, which is higher than a corresponding second number (e.g., 2), the multicast data service may be converted to be transmitted through a multicast transmission mode (i.e., a second transmission mode); or, if it is counted that 3 UEs generate the first response to the multicast data service higher than the corresponding second number (for example, 2) and 1 UE generates the second response to the multicast data service lower than the corresponding fourth number (for example, 2), the multicast data service may be converted from being transmitted in the unicast transmission mode to being transmitted in the multicast transmission mode.

In summary, the access network device may determine whether to switch the multicast data service from being sent in the first transmission mode to being sent in the second transmission mode based on the actual demand of each terminal device for the multicast data service, which is reliable and accurate.

Optionally, in the method for transmitting a multicast data service shown in the first embodiment of the present invention, after the access network device decides to switch the multicast data service from being sent in the first transmission mode to being sent in the second transmission mode, the following may also be included:

in one example, second indication information is sent to the core network device, where the second indication information is used to indicate the access network device to determine to switch the multicast data traffic from being sent in the first transmission mode to being sent in the second transmission mode.

It can be understood that, in this example, the access network device may only notify the core network device that it has decided to switch the multicast data traffic from being sent in the first transmission mode to being sent in the second transmission mode, without the core network device creating a data channel corresponding to the second transmission mode, and continuing to reserve the data channel corresponding to the first transmission mode. Illustratively, the access network device notifies the core network device that it has decided to switch the multicast data traffic from the multicast transmission mode to the unicast transmission mode, and the core network device may continue to keep the multicast data traffic being transmitted in the multicast transmission mode on the core network side, and the multicast data traffic being switched to the unicast transmission mode on the access network side for transmission. For example, the access network device may notify the core network device that it has decided to switch the multicast data traffic from being sent by the first transmission mode to being sent by the second transmission mode, and the core network device may also create or activate or recover a data channel corresponding to the second transmission. Illustratively, the access network device notifies the core network device that it has decided to switch the multicast data traffic from the multicast transmission mode to the unicast transmission mode, and the core network device may establish or activate a unicast data channel of the multicast data traffic on the core network side.

Alternatively, this example is applicable to a scenario in which multicast data traffic is converted from being transmitted via a multicast transmission mode to being transmitted via a unicast transmission mode.

In another example, third indication information is sent to the core network device, where the third indication information is used to indicate the core network device to establish a data channel corresponding to the second transmission mode.

It can be understood that, in this example, after deciding to switch the multicast data traffic from being sent by the first transmission mode to being sent by the second transmission mode, the access network device needs to further instruct the core network device to create a data channel corresponding to the second transmission mode, so as to keep consistent with the access network side.

Detailed description of the invention

In the second specific embodiment, the core network device executes the method for transmitting the multicast data service according to the embodiment of the present invention, that is, the core network device decides to switch the transmission mode of the multicast data service based on the acquired corresponding first indication information.

Optionally, in the method for transmitting a multicast data service in the second embodiment, the step 101 may be implemented as follows:

and receiving first indication information reported by access network equipment corresponding to the multicast data service.

It can be understood that, for the core network device, the decision of dynamically switching the transmission of the multicast data service between different transmission modes may be implemented based on the relevant information (i.e., the first indication information) reported by the access network device corresponding to the multicast data service.

Optionally, in the method for transmitting a multicast data service in the second embodiment, for step 103, the following is executed:

and under the condition that the first indication information meets a second preset condition, determining to convert the multicast data service from being sent in the first transmission mode to being sent in the second transmission mode.

It can be understood that when the obtained first indication information reported by each terminal device corresponding to the multicast data service meets a certain condition (i.e., a second preset condition), a decision to switch the transmission of the multicast data service from the first transmission mode to the second transmission mode can be made, so that the transmission efficiency of the multicast data service is prevented from being affected by randomly switching the transmission mode of the multicast data service.

Optionally, in the method for transmitting a multicast data service according to the second specific embodiment, the first indication information includes, but is not limited to, at least one of the following:

(1) for indicating the total number of terminal devices that generated the first response to the multicast data service, including but not limited to the desire to receive, being received, or having an interest in receiving. In other words, when the terminal device generates any of the aforementioned first responses to the multicast data service, it is said that the terminal device generates a positive response to the reception of the multicast data service.

Based on this, if the above-mentioned scheme of switching the multicast data traffic from being transmitted in the first transmission mode to being transmitted in the second transmission mode is determined in the case that the first indication information satisfies the first preset condition, the following may be performed:

and under the condition that the total number of the acquired terminal equipment for indicating the first response to the multicast data service meets a second preset condition, determining to switch the multicast data service from being sent in the first transmission mode to being sent in the second transmission mode.

Further optionally, when the first transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode and the second transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode, the obtaining that the total number of the terminal devices indicating that the first response is generated to the multicast data service satisfies the second preset condition may be understood as:

and the total number of the acquired terminal equipment for indicating the first response to the multicast data service is less than the corresponding ninth number. That is, the number of terminal devices that generate the above-described positive response to the multicast data service is sufficiently small.

Further optionally, when the first transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode and the second transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode, the obtaining that the total number of the terminal devices indicating that the first response is generated to the multicast data service satisfies the second preset condition may be understood as:

the total number of the acquired terminal devices for indicating that the first response is generated to the multicast data service is greater than or equal to the corresponding tenth number. That is, the number of terminal devices that generate the positive response to the multicast data service is sufficiently large.

Optionally, when the core network device determines that no UE desires to receive or is receiving or interested in receiving the multicast data service, that is, no UE generates the first response or positive response to the multicast data service, the multicast data channel of the multicast data service (that is, the data channel corresponding to the multicast transmission mode) may be deactivated or released. Alternatively, when the core network device determines that no UE desires to receive or is receiving or interested in receiving the multicast data service, that is, no UE generates the first response or positive response to the multicast data service, the core network device may instruct the access network device to deactivate or release the multicast data channel of the multicast data service.

(2) And a first quantity class corresponding to the total number of the terminal devices generating the first response to the multicast data service. That is, the first indication information may be used to indicate a number class (i.e., a first number class) corresponding to the total number of terminal devices statistically responding to the multicast data traffic by the access network device.

Based on this, if the above-mentioned scheme of switching the multicast data traffic from being transmitted in the first transmission mode to being transmitted in the second transmission mode is determined in the case that the first indication information satisfies the second preset condition, the following may be performed:

and under the condition that a first quantity grade corresponding to the total number of the terminal equipment used for indicating the generation of the first response to the multicast data service meets a second preset condition, determining to convert the multicast data service from being sent in the first transmission mode to being sent in the second transmission mode.

Further optionally, when the first transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode and the second transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode, the obtaining that the first quantity level corresponding to the total number of the terminal devices that indicate the first response to the multicast data service satisfies the second preset condition may be understood as:

and the first quantity grade corresponding to the total number of the terminal equipment which is used for indicating the multicast data service and has the first response is lower than a lower preset grade. That is, the number of terminal devices that generate the above-described positive response to the multicast data service is sufficiently small.

Further optionally, when the first transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode and the second transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode, the obtaining that the first quantity level corresponding to the total number of the terminal devices having the first response to the multicast data service satisfies the second preset condition may be understood as:

and the first quantity grade corresponding to the total number of the terminal equipment for indicating the first response to the multicast data service is higher than a higher preset grade. That is, the number of terminal devices that generate the positive response to the multicast data service is sufficiently large.

It can be understood that, in the process of the core network device deciding whether to switch the multicast data service from being transmitted in the first transmission mode to being transmitted in the second transmission mode, the parameter of the number level corresponding to the total number of terminal devices which are counted and generate positive responses to the multicast data service may be referred to.

(3) Indicating the total number of terminal devices that generated the second response to the multicast data service, including but not limited to an undesired reception, a stop reception, or no interest in reception. In other words, when the terminal device generates any one of the aforementioned second responses to the multicast data service, it is said that the terminal device generates a negative response to the reception of the multicast data service.

and under the condition that the total number of the acquired terminal equipment for indicating the generation of the second response to the multicast data service meets a second preset condition, determining to convert the multicast data service from the transmission in the first transmission mode to the transmission in the second transmission mode.

Further optionally, when the first transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode and the second transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode, the obtaining that the total number of the terminal devices indicating to generate the second response to the multicast data service satisfies the second preset condition may be understood as:

the total number of the acquired terminal devices for indicating that the second response is generated to the multicast data service is greater than or equal to the corresponding eleventh number. That is, the number of terminal devices that generate the above-described negative response to the multicast data service is sufficiently large.

Further optionally, when the first transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode and the second transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode, the obtaining that the total number of the terminal devices indicating to generate the second response to the multicast data service satisfies the second preset condition may be understood as:

and the total number of the acquired terminal equipment for indicating the generation of the second response to the multicast data service is less than the corresponding twelfth number. That is, the number of terminal devices that generate the above-described negative response to the multicast data service is sufficiently small.

(4) And a second quantity class corresponding to the total number of the terminal devices having the second response to the multicast data service. That is, the first indication information may be used to indicate a number rank (i.e., a second number rank) corresponding to the total number of terminal devices statistically responding to the multicast data traffic by the access network device.

and under the condition that a second quantity grade corresponding to the total number of the terminal equipment used for indicating the generation of the second response to the multicast data service meets a second preset condition, determining to convert the multicast data service from being sent in the first transmission mode to being sent in the second transmission mode.

Further optionally, when the first transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode and the second transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode, the obtaining that the second quantity level corresponding to the total number of the terminal devices used for indicating that the second response is generated to the multicast data service satisfies a second preset condition may be understood as:

and the second quantity grade corresponding to the total number of the terminal equipment for indicating the second response to the multicast data service is higher than a higher preset grade. That is, the number of terminal devices that generate the above-described negative response to the multicast data service is sufficiently large.

Further optionally, when the first transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode and the second transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode, the obtaining that the second quantity level corresponding to the total number of the terminal devices used for indicating that the second response is generated to the multicast data service satisfies the second preset condition may be understood as:

and the second quantity grade corresponding to the total number of the terminal equipment used for indicating the generation of the second response to the multicast data service is lower than a lower preset grade. That is, the number of terminal devices that generate the above-described negative response to the multicast data service is sufficiently small.

It is to be understood that in the process of the core network device deciding whether to switch the multicast data traffic from being transmitted via the first transmission mode to being transmitted via the second transmission mode, reference may be made to the parameter of the number level corresponding to the total number of terminal devices that are counted to generate negative responses to the multicast data traffic.

(5) And the total number of the information used for indicating the terminal equipment to leave the service area corresponding to the multicast data service. That is, the first indication information may be used to indicate the total number of terminal devices that no longer receive the multicast data service.

and under the condition that the total number of the acquired information used for indicating the terminal equipment to leave the service area corresponding to the multicast data service meets a second preset condition, determining to convert the multicast data service from being sent in the first transmission mode to being sent in the second transmission mode.

Further optionally, when the first transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode and the second transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode, the condition that the total number of the obtained information for indicating the terminal device to leave the service area corresponding to the multicast data service satisfies a second preset condition may be understood as that:

the total number of the acquired information for indicating the terminal device to leave the service area corresponding to the multicast data service is greater than or equal to the corresponding thirteenth number. That is, the number of terminal devices leaving the service area corresponding to the multicast data service is sufficiently large.

Further optionally, when the first transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode and the second transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode, the condition that the total number of the obtained information for indicating the terminal device to leave the service area corresponding to the multicast data service satisfies a second preset condition may be understood as that:

and the total number of the acquired information used for indicating the terminal equipment to leave the service area corresponding to the multicast data service is less than the corresponding fourteenth number. That is, the number of terminal devices leaving the service area corresponding to the multicast data service is sufficiently small.

It can be understood that, in the process of the access network device deciding whether to switch the multicast data service from being sent in the first transmission mode to being sent in the second transmission mode, the parameter of the total number of the terminal devices reporting the indication information leaving the service area corresponding to the multicast data service may be referred to.

(6) And the total number of the information used for indicating the terminal equipment to enter the service area corresponding to the multicast data service. That is, the first indication information may be used to indicate that the terminal device is to receive the multicast data service.

and under the condition that the total number of the acquired information used for indicating the terminal equipment to enter the service area corresponding to the multicast data service meets a second preset condition, determining to convert the multicast data service from being sent in the first transmission mode to being sent in the second transmission mode.

Further optionally, when the first transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode and the second transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode, the condition that the total number of the obtained information for indicating the terminal device to enter the service area corresponding to the multicast data service satisfies a second preset condition may be understood as follows:

and the total number of the acquired information for indicating the terminal equipment to enter the service area corresponding to the multicast data service is less than the corresponding fifteenth number. That is, the number of terminal devices entering the service area corresponding to the multicast data service is sufficiently small.

Further optionally, when the first transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode and the second transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode, the condition that the total number of the obtained information for indicating the terminal device to enter the service area corresponding to the multicast data service satisfies a second preset condition may be understood as that:

and the total number of the acquired information for indicating the terminal equipment to enter the service area corresponding to the multicast data service is greater than or equal to the corresponding sixteenth number. That is, the number of terminal devices entering the service area corresponding to the multicast data service is sufficiently large.

Optionally, the ninth to sixteenth numbers and the value of any preset level may be determined based on a protocol definition, a network device configuration, or a preset mode.

As can be seen from the above, the access network device may switch the multicast data traffic from being sent in the first transmission mode to being sent in the second transmission mode when the number of the specific first indication information in at least one of (1) to (6) satisfies the corresponding first preset condition. For example, there are currently 5 UEs corresponding to the multicast data service, where the multicast data service is currently transmitted through a unicast transmission mode (i.e., a first transmission mode), and if it is counted that there are 3 UEs generating the first response to the multicast data service, which is higher than a corresponding tenth number (e.g., 2), the multicast data service may be converted to be transmitted through a multicast transmission mode (i.e., a second transmission mode); alternatively, if it is counted that 3 UEs generate the first response to the multicast data service higher than the corresponding twelfth number (for example, 2) and 1 UE generates the second response to the multicast data service lower than the corresponding fourth number (for example, 2), the multicast data service may be converted from being transmitted in the unicast transmission mode to being transmitted in the multicast transmission mode.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment

In the third embodiment, the core network device executes the method for transmitting the multicast data service according to the embodiment of the present invention, that is, the core network device decides to switch the transmission mode of the multicast data service based on the acquired corresponding first indication information.

Optionally, in the method for transmitting a multicast data service in the third embodiment, the step 101 may be implemented as follows:

and receiving first indication information sent by the target core network equipment, wherein the first indication information is used for indicating the total number of the terminal equipment which receive the multicast data service through the target transmission mode.

It can be understood that, for the core network device, the decision to dynamically switch the transmission of the multicast data service between different transmission modes may be implemented based on the related information (i.e. the first indication information) sent by the target core network device different from the core network device. For example, when the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) device receives information related to the number of terminal devices corresponding to the multicast data service from a User Plane Function (UPF), a decision may be made based on the information, for example, the total number of UEs receiving the multicast data service.

Optionally, the target transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode. That is, the third embodiment is suitable for converting the multicast data traffic from being transmitted through the unicast transmission mode to being transmitted through the multicast transmission mode.

Optionally, in the method for transmitting a multicast data service shown in the second specific embodiment and the third specific embodiment, after the core network device decides to switch the multicast data service from being transmitted in the first transmission mode to being transmitted in the second transmission mode, the following may be further performed:

and establishing a data channel corresponding to the second transmission mode.

Optionally, in the method for transmitting a multicast data service according to the embodiment of the present invention, after a decision that the multicast data service is transmitted in the first transmission mode is implemented on the network side and is converted into the multicast data service is transmitted in the second transmission mode, the terminal device may be further instructed to establish a data channel corresponding to the second transmission mode (specifically, refer to the related processes shown in fig. 3 to fig. 6), so as to transmit data corresponding to the multicast data service to the terminal device through the data channel corresponding to the second transmission mode.

Optionally, the process of establishing the data channel corresponding to the second transmission mode may include one of the following cases: (1) creating a new data channel corresponding to the second transmission mode; (2) and restoring or activating the previously created data channel corresponding to the second transmission mode.

Optionally, in the method for transmitting a multicast data service according to the embodiment of the present invention, in step 3, after determining to switch the first transmission mode to the second transmission mode based on the first indication information, the following may be further included:

and sending target configuration information to the terminal equipment corresponding to the multicast data service, wherein the target configuration information is used for associating the data channel corresponding to the first transmission mode with the data channel corresponding to the second transmission mode by the terminal equipment.

It can be understood that, considering that there may be a transition period in the process of switching the multicast data service from being sent in one transmission mode to being sent in another transmission mode, during the period corresponding to the transition period, by associating the data channels corresponding to different transmission modes, the terminal device may simultaneously receive the data corresponding to the multicast data service from the data channels corresponding to different transmission modes, so as to ensure the continuity of receiving the multicast data service.

Correspondingly, for a terminal device, referring to fig. 2, an embodiment of the present invention provides a method for transmitting a multicast data service, where the method is executed by the terminal device and may include the following steps:

step 201: and receiving target indication information sent by the network equipment in the process of receiving the multicast data service through the data channel corresponding to the first transmission mode, wherein the target indication information is used for indicating that the multicast data service is transmitted in the second transmission mode after being transmitted in the first transmission mode.

The embodiment of the invention can know that the network side has decided to convert the multicast data service currently sent by the first transmission mode into the multicast data service sent by the second transmission mode based on the indication (namely the target indication information) of the network side, thereby being capable of adjusting the receiving strategy of the multicast data service in time to ensure the receiving accuracy and reliability of the data corresponding to the multicast data service, and adjusting the data receiving strategy based on the decision of the network side for dynamically switching the sending of the multicast data service among different transmission modes, thereby being beneficial to realizing the optimized use of network resources.

Optionally, in the method for transmitting a multicast data service according to the embodiment of the present invention, the following contents may also be included: and establishing a data channel corresponding to the second transmission mode.

It can be understood that, after the network side decides to perform the transmission mode conversion for the multicast data service, a data channel corresponding to the second transmission mode may be further established based on a corresponding configuration (specifically, refer to the relevant configurations shown in fig. 3 to fig. 6), so as to continue to receive the data corresponding to the multicast data service through the data channel corresponding to the second transmission mode.

Optionally, in the method for transmitting a multicast data service according to the embodiment of the present invention, the following contents may also be included:

receiving target configuration information sent by network equipment; and associating the data channel corresponding to the first transmission mode with the data channel corresponding to the second transmission mode based on the target configuration information.

The following describes a scheme of a method for transmitting a multicast data service according to an embodiment of the present invention in detail with reference to fig. 3 to 6.

Referring to the process of deciding by the access network to switch the multicast data traffic from being sent via the multicast transmission mode (i.e., the first transmission mode) to being sent via the unicast transmission mode (i.e., the second transmission mode) as shown in fig. 3, the following steps may be included:

0: the network side provides multicast data service for the UE through a multicast transmission mode. For example, the number of UEs interested in the multicast data service 1 in a certain area is large, and the network side may send data corresponding to the multicast data service to the UEs through the multicast data channel.

1: the RAN side, i.e. the gNB, decides to switch the multicast transmission mode to the unicast transmission mode. For example, the RAN side detects that the number of UEs desiring to receive the multicast data service 1 is lower than a threshold, it may decide to switch the multicast transmission mode to the unicast transmission mode.

Wherein, the RAN side deciding to switch the multicast transmission mode to the unicast transmission mode may be based on one or more of the following information: the number of UEs desiring to receive or being received or interested in receiving a certain multicast service (i.e., the number of terminal devices that respond positively to the reception of the multicast data service) known through the counting process; the number of UEs that do not wish to receive or stop receiving or are not interested in receiving a certain multicast service (i.e., the number of terminal devices that negatively responded to the reception of the multicast data service) that are known through the counting process; through the UE leaving indication information, if the UE indicates that the network side does not receive the multicast data service 1 any more; by the UE joining indication information, for example, the UE indicates to the network side that it will receive the multicast service 1.

2: the RAN side instructs the CN node (e.g., AMF) to convert the multicast transmission mode to the unicast transmission mode.

3: the CN node (e.g., Session Management Function (SMF) device) provides configuration information to the RAN side and the UE to establish a data channel corresponding to the unicast transmission mode. Wherein the configuration information comprises one or more of:

(1) a configuration message for a unicast Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session is established. And if the unicast PDU session is not established before aiming at a certain multicast data service 1, requesting the RAN side to establish the unicast PDU session through an N2 message. The UE is provided with a configuration message to establish a unicast PDU session, as by an N1 message.

(2) And recovering the configuration information of the unicast PDU session. If a unicast PDU session was previously established for a certain multicast data service 1, configuration information is provided in order to recover the unicast PDU session. The UE is provided with a configuration message to resume the unicast PDU session, as by the N1 message.

Wherein, the request message for establishing the unicast PDU session or recovering the unicast PDU session contains the combination of one or more of the following information: unicast PDU session identification information, such as a unicast PDU session ID; unicast Quality of Service (Qos) Flow Identifier (QFI) information; multicast service identification information, such as a Temporary Mobile Group Identity (TMGI) multicast data service is associated with a unicast PDU session or a QFI in a unicast PDU session; multicast PDU session identification information, such as multicast data service identified by a multicast PDU session ID and unicast PDU session or QFI in the unicast PDU session are associated; the network Protocol Multicast Address (Internet Protocol Multicast Address) information of the Multicast data service, such as IP identifier, is associated with the unicast PDU session or QFI in the unicast PDU session.

The RAN side provides configuration information for the UE to establish a data channel corresponding to a unicast transmission mode of the RAN side. For example, the base station gNB provides the Radio Resource configuration of the multicast data service to the UE through a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message. Wherein the information corresponding to the radio resource configuration comprises one or more of the following combinations: unicast PDU session identification information, such as a unicast PDU session ID; unicast QoS identification information, such as a QoS stream identifier corresponding to a multicast data service identified by the TMGI; radio bearer identification information, such as a radio bearer identification corresponding to the multicast data service identified by the TMGI.

4: and the UE feeds back an acknowledgement message for establishing a data channel corresponding to the unicast transmission mode to the network side. If the network side configures the UE to establish the data channel corresponding to the unicast transmission mode of the multicast data service 1, the UE replies to the network side that the UE successfully establishes the data channel corresponding to the unicast transmission mode.

5: the UE receives multicast data traffic through a unicast transmission mode.

Additionally, the UE associates the multicast data channel and the unicast data channel of the multicast data service based on the configuration information provided by the core network and the RAN side, and detects the duplicate data. If the UE knows that the multicast data service 1 is sent through the QFI 1 in the unicast PDU session1 according to the information provided by the core network, the UE can associate the unicast data channel and the multicast data channel corresponding to a certain multicast data service. This is mainly because it is considered that there may be a transition period during the process of switching the multicast data service from being transmitted in one transmission mode to being transmitted in another transmission mode, and during the period corresponding to the transition period, the UE may simultaneously receive the data corresponding to the multicast data service from the data channels corresponding to the different transmission modes, so as to ensure the continuity of receiving the multicast data service.

Optionally, when associating the data channels corresponding to different transmission modes, the application layer may process the data channels, and detect repeated data packets received from the data channels corresponding to different transmission modes, or detect the repeated data packets by the application layer.

Referring to the process of deciding by the core network to switch the multicast data traffic from being transmitted via the multicast transmission mode (i.e., the first transmission mode) to being transmitted via the unicast transmission mode (i.e., the second transmission mode) as shown in fig. 4, the following steps may be included:

0: the network side provides multicast data service for the UE through a multicast transmission mode. For example, the number of UEs interested in the multicast data service 1 in a certain specific area is large, and the network side may send data corresponding to the multicast data service to the UEs through the multicast data channel.

1: and the RAN side sends indication information to the core network, so that the RAN side can decide whether to convert the multicast transmission mode into the unicast transmission mode.

2: the CN side decides to convert the multicast transmission mode to the unicast transmission mode. For example, based on the indication information of the RAN side, it is known that the number of detected UEs desiring to receive the multicast data service 1 is lower than a threshold, the CN side may decide to switch the multicast transmission mode to the unicast transmission mode.

Wherein, the CN side deciding to convert the multicast transmission mode into the unicast transmission mode may be based on one or more of the following information: the number of UEs that wish to receive or are receiving or are interested in receiving a certain multicast service (i.e. the number of terminal devices that respond positively to the reception of the multicast data service) reported by the RAN side; the number of UEs which do not wish to receive or stop receiving or are not interested in receiving a certain multicast service (i.e. the number of terminal devices which negatively respond to the reception of the multicast data service) reported by the RAN side; a UE quantity level (i.e., quantity level) reported by the RAN that is expected to receive or is receiving or interested in receiving a certain multicast data service, such as a large number of UEs (e.g., more than 100 UEs), a medium number of UEs (e.g., 50-100 UEs) or a small number of UEs (e.g., less than 50 UEs) describing the UE quantity level; a UE quantity level reported by the RAN that is not expected to receive or stop receiving or is not interested in receiving a certain multicast service, for example, the UE quantity level may be a large number of UEs (e.g., more than 100 UEs), a medium number of UEs (e.g., 50-100 UEs) or a small number of UEs (e.g., less than 50 UEs); through the UE leaving indication information, if the UE indicates that the network side does not receive the multicast data service 1 any more; by the UE joining indication information, for example, the UE indicates to the network side that it will receive the multicast service 1.

(1) a configuration message for a unicast PDU session is established. And if the unicast PDU session is not established before aiming at a certain multicast data service 1, requesting the RAN side to establish the unicast PDU session through an N2 message. The UE is provided with a configuration message to establish a unicast PDU session, as by an N1 message.

Wherein, the request message for establishing the unicast PDU session or recovering the unicast PDU session contains the combination of one or more of the following information: unicast PDU session identification information, such as a unicast PDU session ID; unicast Qos flow identification QFI information; multicast service identification information, such as a Temporary Mobile Group Identity (TMGI) multicast data service is associated with a unicast PDU session or a QFI in a unicast PDU session; multicast PDU session identification information, such as multicast data service identified by a multicast PDU session ID and unicast PDU session or QFI in the unicast PDU session are associated; the network Protocol Multicast Address (Internet Protocol Multicast Address) information of the Multicast data service, such as the Multicast data service identified by the IP Multicast Address, is associated with the unicast PDU session or the QFI in the unicast PDU session.

The CN node provides the UE with configuration information to establish a data channel corresponding to the unicast transmission mode on the RAN side. Wherein, the information corresponding to the radio resource configuration comprises one or more of the following combinations: unicast PDU session identification information, such as a unicast PDU session ID; unicast QoS identification information, such as a QoS stream identifier corresponding to a multicast data service identified by the TMGI; radio bearer identification information, such as a radio bearer identification corresponding to the multicast data service identified by the TMGI.

5: the UE receives multicast data traffic through a unicast transmission mode.

Referring to the process of deciding by the access network to switch the multicast data traffic from being sent via the unicast transmission mode (i.e., the first transmission mode) to being sent via the multicast transmission mode (i.e., the second transmission mode) as shown in fig. 5, the following steps may be included:

0: the network side provides multicast data service for the UE through a unicast transmission mode. For example, the number of UEs interested in the multicast data service 1 in a certain specific area is small, and the network side may send data corresponding to the multicast data service to the UEs through the unicast data channel.

1: the RAN side, i.e. the gNB, decides to switch the unicast transmission mode to the multicast transmission mode. For example, the RAN side detects that the number of UEs desiring to receive the multicast data service 1 is higher than a threshold, it may decide to switch the unicast transmission mode to the multicast transmission mode.

Wherein, the RAN side deciding to convert the unicast transmission mode into the multicast transmission mode may be based on one or more of the following information: the number of UEs desiring to receive or being received or interested in receiving a certain multicast service (i.e., the number of terminal devices that respond positively to the reception of the multicast data service) known through the counting process; the number of UEs which are not expected to receive or stop receiving or are not interested in receiving a certain multicast service (i.e. the number of terminal devices which negatively respond to the reception of the multicast data service) which are known through the counting procedure; through the UE leaving indication information, if the UE indicates that the network side does not receive the multicast data service 1 any more; by the UE joining indication information, for example, the UE indicates to the network side that it will receive the multicast service 1.

2: the RAN side instructs the CN node (e.g., AMF) to convert the unicast transmission mode to the multicast transmission mode.

3: the CN node (e.g., Session Management Function (SMF) device) provides configuration information to the RAN side and the UE to establish a data channel corresponding to the unicast transmission mode. Wherein the configuration information may include: and establishing a configuration message of the multicast PDU session. And if the multicast PDU session is not established before aiming at a certain multicast data service 1, requesting the RAN side to establish the multicast PDU session through an N2 message.

Wherein, the request message for establishing the multicast PDU session includes the combination of one or more of the following information: multicast PDU session identification information, such as multicast PDU session ID; multicast service identification information, such as TMGI; IP Multicast Address information of a Multicast data service, such as IP Multicast Address; unicast PDU session identification information, such as a multicast data service of a unicast PDU session corresponding to a TMGI identification; unicast QoS flow identification information, such as a multicast data service identified by a TMGI corresponding to QoS flow 1 in a unicast PDU session; the radio bearer id, such as the TMGI id corresponding to radio bearer 1.

The RAN side provides configuration information for the UE to establish a data channel corresponding to the multicast transmission mode of the RAN side. For example, the base station gNB provides the radio resource configuration of the multicast data service to the UE through the RRC reconfiguration message. Wherein the information corresponding to the radio resource configuration comprises one or more of the following combinations: multicast PDU session identification information, such as multicast PDU session ID; and the time-frequency resource position corresponding to the multicast data service.

4: and the UE feeds back an acknowledgement message for establishing a data channel corresponding to the unicast transmission mode to the network side. If the network side configures the UE to establish the data channel corresponding to the multicast transmission mode of the multicast data service 1, the UE replies to the network side that the UE successfully establishes the data channel corresponding to the multicast transmission mode.

5: the UE receives the multicast data service through the multicast transmission mode.

Additionally, the UE associates the multicast data channel and the unicast data channel of the multicast data service based on the configuration information provided by the core network and the RAN side, and detects the duplicate data.

Referring to the process of deciding by the core network to switch the multicast data traffic from being transmitted via the unicast transmission mode (i.e. the first transmission mode) to being transmitted via the multicast transmission mode (i.e. the second transmission mode) as shown in fig. 6, the following steps may be included:

1: and the RAN side sends indication information to the core network, so that the RAN side can decide whether to convert the unicast transmission mode into the multicast transmission mode.

2: the CN side decides to convert the unicast transmission mode into the multicast transmission mode. For example, based on the indication information of the RAN side, it is known that the number of detected UEs desiring to receive the multicast data service 1 is higher than a threshold, the CN side may decide to switch the multicast transmission mode to the unicast transmission mode.

Wherein, the CN side deciding to convert the unicast transmission mode into the multicast transmission mode may be based on one or more of the following information: the number of UEs that wish to receive or are receiving or are interested in receiving a certain multicast service (i.e. the number of terminal devices that respond positively to the reception of the multicast data service) reported by the RAN side; the number of UEs which do not wish to receive or stop receiving or are not interested in receiving a certain multicast service (i.e. the number of terminal devices which negatively respond to the reception of the multicast data service) reported by the RAN side; a UE quantity level (i.e., quantity level) reported by the RAN that is expected to receive or is receiving or interested in receiving a certain multicast data service, such as a large number of UEs (e.g., more than 100 UEs), a medium number of UEs (e.g., 50-100 UEs) or a small number of UEs (e.g., less than 50 UEs) describing the UE quantity level; a UE quantity level reported by the RAN that is not expected to receive or stop receiving or is not interested in receiving a certain multicast service, for example, the UE quantity level may be a large number of UEs (e.g., more than 100 UEs), a medium number of UEs (e.g., 50-100 UEs) or a small number of UEs (e.g., less than 50 UEs); through the UE leaving indication information, if the UE indicates that the network side does not receive the multicast data service 1 any more; by the UE joining indication information, for example, the UE indicates to the network side that it will receive the multicast service 1.

3: the CN node (e.g., SMF device) provides configuration information to the RAN side and the UE to establish a data channel corresponding to the multicast transmission mode. Wherein the configuration information may include: and establishing a configuration message of the multicast PDU session. If a multicast PDU session is not established before for a certain multicast data service 1, requesting a RAN side to establish the multicast PDU session through an N2 message; and providing the UE with a configuration message for establishing a multicast PDU session through an N1 message.

Wherein, the request message for establishing the multicast PDU session includes the combination of one or more of the following information: unicast PDU session identification information, such as a unicast PDU session ID; unicast Qos flow identification QFI information; multicast service identification information, such as a multicast data service identified by the TMGI and a unicast PDU session or a QFI in the unicast PDU session are associated; multicast PDU session identification information, such as multicast data service identified by a multicast PDU session ID and unicast PDU session or QFI in the unicast PDU session are associated; the IP multicast address information of the multicast data traffic, such as the multicast data traffic identified by the IP multicast address, is associated with the unicast PDU session or the QFI in the unicast PDU session.

The CN node provides the UE with configuration information to establish a data channel corresponding to the multicast transmission mode on the RAN side. Wherein, the information corresponding to the radio resource configuration comprises one or more of the following combinations: multicast PDU session identification information, such as multicast PDU session ID; and the time-frequency resource position corresponding to the multicast data service.

4: and the UE feeds back a confirmation message for establishing the data channel corresponding to the multicast transmission mode to the network side. If the network side configures the UE to establish the data channel corresponding to the multicast transmission mode of the multicast data service 1, the UE replies to the network side that the UE successfully establishes the data channel corresponding to the multicast transmission mode.

To sum up, in the method for transmitting multicast data traffic according to the embodiment of the present invention, on one hand, the RAN side may decide the unicast-multicast conversion and instruct the core network to establish a unicast or multicast data channel, and the core network provides the RAN side with the associated configuration information of the unicast data channel and the multicast data channel; on the other hand, the CN side can decide the unicast-multicast conversion, indicate to establish a unicast or multicast data channel, and provide the RAN side with the associated configuration information of the unicast data channel and the multicast data channel. Thus, the RAN side or the CN side can decide unicast and multicast switching, and the network resources can be optimally used. In addition, the continuity of the multicast data service can be ensured through the incidence relation between the unicast data channel and the multicast data channel of a certain multicast data service provided by the network side.

Referring to fig. 7, an embodiment of the present invention provides a network device 300, where the network device 300 includes: an acquisition module 301 and a determination module 303.

The obtaining module 301 is configured to obtain first indication information; the determining module 303 is configured to determine whether to switch the multicast data traffic from being transmitted via the first transmission mode to being transmitted via the second transmission mode based on the first indication information.

Optionally, in the network device 300 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the obtaining module 301 may be configured to:

and under the condition that the network equipment is access network equipment, receiving first indication information reported by terminal equipment corresponding to the multicast data service.

Optionally, in the network device 300 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the determining module 303 may be configured to:

and under the condition that the quantity of the first indication information meets a first preset condition, determining to switch the multicast data service from being sent in the first transmission mode to being sent in the second transmission mode.

Optionally, in the network device 300 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the first indication information includes at least one of the following: information for instructing the terminal device to generate a first response to the multicast data service, the first response including a desire to receive, being received, or interest in receiving; information for instructing the terminal device to generate a second response to the multicast data service, the second response including an interest in not desiring to receive, ceasing to receive, or not receiving; information for indicating that the terminal device leaves a service area corresponding to the multicast data service; and the information is used for indicating the terminal equipment to enter a service area corresponding to the multicast data service.

Optionally, the network device 300 according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include:

and the sending module is used for sending second indication information to the core network equipment, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating the access network equipment to determine that the multicast data service is sent in a first transmission mode and is converted into a second transmission mode.

Optionally, in the network device 300 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the sending module may be further configured to:

and sending third indication information to the core network equipment, wherein the third indication information is used for indicating the core network equipment to establish a data channel corresponding to the second transmission mode.

Optionally, in the network device 300 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the receiving module may be configured to:

and under the condition that the network equipment is core network equipment, receiving first indication information reported by access network equipment corresponding to the multicast data service.

Optionally, in the network device 300 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the first indication information includes at least one of the following: for indicating a total number of terminal devices generating a first response to the multicast data service, the first response including a desire to receive, being received, or interest in receiving; a first quantity class corresponding to the total number of terminal devices for indicating a first response to the multicast data service; for indicating a total number of terminal devices that generated a second response to the multicast data service, the second response including an interest in not wishing to receive, ceasing to receive, or not receiving; a second quantity class corresponding to the total number of terminal devices for indicating a second response to the multicast data service; the total number of the information used for indicating the terminal equipment to leave the service area corresponding to the multicast data service; and the total number of the information used for indicating the terminal equipment to enter the service area corresponding to the multicast data service.

and under the condition that the network equipment is core network equipment, receiving first indication information sent by target core network equipment, wherein the first indication information is used for indicating the total number of terminal equipment for receiving the multicast data service in a target transmission mode.

and the creating module is used for creating a data channel corresponding to the second transmission mode.

and the sending module is used for sending target configuration information to the terminal equipment corresponding to the multicast data service after determining that the first transmission mode is converted into the second transmission mode based on the first indication information, wherein the target configuration information is used for enabling the terminal equipment to associate the data channel corresponding to the first transmission mode with the data channel corresponding to the second transmission mode.

Optionally, in the network device 300 according to the embodiment of the present invention, if the first transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode, the second transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode.

Optionally, in the network device 300 according to the embodiment of the present invention, if the first transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode, the second transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode.

It can be understood that, the network device 300 provided in the embodiment of the present invention can implement the foregoing method for transmitting the multicast data service executed by the network device 300, and the related descriptions about the method for transmitting the multicast data service are all applicable to the network device 300, and are not described herein again.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the network side may decide whether to convert the multicast data service currently sent in the first transmission mode into being sent in the second transmission mode based on the obtained information (i.e., the first indication information). Therefore, through the technical scheme in the embodiment of the invention, the network side can realize the decision of dynamically switching the transmission of the multicast data service among different transmission modes, thereby realizing the optimized use of network resources.

Referring to fig. 8, an embodiment of the present invention provides a terminal device 400, where the terminal device 400 includes:

a receiving module 401, configured to receive target indication information sent by a network device in a process of receiving a multicast data service through a data channel corresponding to a first transmission mode, where the target indication information is used to indicate that the multicast data service is converted from being sent through the first transmission mode to being sent through a second transmission mode

Optionally, the network device 400 according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include:

Optionally, the network device 400 according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include: and a processing module.

The receiving module 401 may be further configured to receive target configuration information sent by a network device; the processing module is configured to associate a data channel corresponding to the first transmission mode with a data channel corresponding to the second transmission mode based on the target configuration information.

Optionally, in the network device 400 according to the embodiment of the present invention, if the first transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode, the second transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode.

Optionally, in the network device 400 according to the embodiment of the present invention, if the first transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode, the second transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode.

It can be understood that the terminal device 400 provided in the embodiment of the present invention can implement the foregoing method for transmitting the multicast data service executed by the terminal device 400, and the related descriptions about the method for transmitting the multicast data service are all applicable to the terminal device 400, and are not described herein again.

Referring to fig. 9, fig. 9 is a structural diagram of a network device applied in the embodiment of the present invention, which can implement details of the method for transmitting a multicast data service in the foregoing embodiment and achieve the same effect. As shown in fig. 9, the network device 500 includes: a processor 501, a transceiver 502, a memory 503, a user interface 504, and a bus interface 505, wherein:

in this embodiment of the present invention, the network device 500 further includes: a computer program stored on a memory 503 and executable on a processor 501, the computer program when executed by the processor 501 implementing the steps of:

acquiring first indication information; based on the first indication information, it is determined whether to switch the multicast data traffic from being transmitted via the first transmission mode to being transmitted via the second transmission mode.

In fig. 9, the bus architecture may include any number of interconnected buses and bridges, with one or more processors represented by processor 501 and various circuits of memory represented by memory 503 being linked together. The bus architecture may also link together various other circuits such as peripherals, voltage regulators, power management circuits, and the like, which are well known in the art, and therefore, will not be described any further herein. Bus interface 505 provides an interface. The transceiver 502 may be a number of elements including a transmitter and a receiver that provide a means for communicating with various other apparatus over a transmission medium. For different user devices, the user interface 504 may also be an interface capable of interfacing with a desired device externally, including but not limited to a keypad, display, speaker, microphone, joystick, etc.

The processor 501 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, and the memory 503 may store data used by the processor 501 in performing operations.

Fig. 10 is a block diagram of a terminal device of another embodiment of the present invention. The terminal device 600 shown in fig. 10 includes: at least one processor 601, memory 602, at least one network interface 604, and a user interface 603. The various components in the terminal device 600 are coupled together by a bus system 605. It is understood that the bus system 605 is used to enable communications among the components. The bus system 605 includes a power bus, a control bus, and a status signal bus in addition to a data bus. For clarity of illustration, however, the various buses are labeled as bus system 605 in fig. 10.

The user interface 603 may include, among other things, a display, a keyboard, or a pointing device (e.g., a mouse, trackball, touch pad, or touch screen, among others.

It will be appreciated that the memory 602 in embodiments of the invention 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 PROM (EEPROM), or a flash Memory. Volatile Memory can be Random Access Memory (RAM), which acts as external cache Memory. By way of illustration and not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as Static random access memory (Static RAM, SRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), Synchronous Dynamic random access memory (Synchronous DRAM, SDRAM), Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic random access memory (ddr Data Rate SDRAM, ddr SDRAM), Enhanced Synchronous SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and Direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM). The memory 602 of the subject systems and methods is intended to comprise, without being limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

In some embodiments, memory 602 stores the following elements, executable modules or data structures, or a subset thereof, or an expanded set thereof: an operating system 6021 and application programs 6022.

The operating system 6021 includes various system programs, such as a framework layer, a core library layer, a driver layer, and the like, and is used for implementing various basic services and processing hardware-based tasks. The application program 6022 includes various application programs such as a Media Player (Media Player), a Browser (Browser), and the like, and is used to implement various application services. A program implementing the method of an embodiment of the invention can be included in the application program 6022.

In this embodiment of the present invention, the terminal device 600 further includes: a computer program stored on a memory 602 and executable on a processor 601, the computer program when executed by the processor 601 performing the steps of:

and receiving target indication information sent by the network equipment in the process of receiving the multicast data service through the data channel corresponding to the first transmission mode, wherein the target indication information is used for indicating that the multicast data service is transmitted in the second transmission mode after being transmitted in the first transmission mode.

The method disclosed by the above-mentioned embodiment of the present invention can be applied to the processor 601, or implemented by the processor 601. The processor 601 may be an integrated circuit chip having signal processing capabilities. In implementation, the steps of the above method may be performed by integrated logic circuits of hardware or instructions in the form of software in the processor 601. The Processor 601 may be a general purpose Processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an off-the-shelf Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other Programmable logic device, discrete Gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components. The various methods, steps, and logic blocks disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention may be implemented or performed. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like. The steps of the method disclosed in connection with the embodiments of the present invention may be directly implemented by a hardware decoding processor, or implemented by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software modules may reside in ram, flash memory, rom, prom, or eprom, registers, among other computer-readable storage media known in the art. The computer readable storage medium is located in the memory 602, and the processor 601 reads the information in the memory 602 and performs the steps of the above method in combination with the hardware thereof. In particular, the computer readable storage medium has stored thereon a computer program, which when executed by the processor 601, implements the steps of the method of transmitting multicast data traffic as in the above embodiments.

It is to be understood that the embodiments described herein may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, or any combination thereof. For a hardware implementation, the Processing units may be implemented within one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), Digital Signal Processing Devices (DSPDs), Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), general purpose processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, other electronic units designed to perform the functions described herein, or a combination thereof.

For a software implementation, the techniques described in this disclosure may be implemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) that perform the functions described in this disclosure. The software codes may be stored in a memory and executed by a processor. The memory may be implemented within the processor or external to the processor.

The terminal device 600 can implement each process implemented by the terminal device in the foregoing embodiments, and details are not repeated here to avoid repetition.

Preferably, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a network device, including a processor, a memory, and a computer program stored in the memory and capable of running on the processor, where the computer program, when executed by the processor, implements each process of the method for transmitting a multicast data service in the foregoing embodiment, and can achieve the same technical effect, and details are not repeated here to avoid repetition.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer-readable storage medium, where a computer program is stored on the computer-readable storage medium, and when executed by a processor, the computer program implements each process of the method for transmitting a multicast data service applied to a network device in the foregoing embodiments, and can achieve the same technical effect, and is not described herein again to avoid repetition. The computer-readable storage medium may be a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

Preferably, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a terminal device, which includes a processor, a memory, and a computer program stored in the memory and capable of running on the processor, where the computer program, when executed by the processor, implements each process of the method for transmitting a multicast data service in the foregoing embodiment, and can achieve the same technical effect, and details are not repeated here to avoid repetition.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer-readable storage medium, where a computer program is stored on the computer-readable storage medium, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, the computer program implements each process of the method for transmitting a multicast data service applied to a terminal device in the foregoing embodiments, and can achieve the same technical effect, and is not described herein again to avoid repetition. The computer-readable storage medium may be a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

It should be noted that, in this document, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element identified by the phrase "comprising an … …" does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

Through the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art will clearly understand that the method of the above embodiments can be implemented by software plus a necessary general hardware platform, and certainly can also be implemented by hardware, but in many cases, the former is a better implementation manner. Based on such understanding, the technical solutions of the present invention may be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium (such as ROM/RAM, magnetic disk, optical disk) and includes instructions for enabling a terminal (such as a mobile phone, a computer, a server, an air conditioner, or a network device) to execute the method according to the embodiments of the present invention.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, which are illustrative and not restrictive, and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting multicast data service, applied to a network device, is characterized in that the method comprises:

acquiring first indication information;

determining whether to switch the multicast data traffic from being transmitted through the first transmission mode to being transmitted through the second transmission mode based on the first indication information;

after determining to switch the first transmission mode to the second transmission mode based on the first indication information, the method further comprises:

2. The method of claim 1, wherein in a case that the network device is an access network device, the obtaining the first indication information comprises:

and receiving the first indication information reported by the terminal equipment corresponding to the multicast data service.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining whether to switch the multicast data traffic from being sent via the first transmission mode to being sent via the second transmission mode based on the first indication information comprises:

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first indication information comprises at least one of:

information for instructing a terminal device to generate a first response to the multicast data service, the first response including a desire to receive, being received, or interest in receiving;

information for instructing a terminal device to generate a second response to the multicast data service, the second response including an interest in not desiring to receive, ceasing to receive, or not receiving;

information for indicating the terminal device to leave a service area corresponding to the multicast data service;

and the information is used for indicating the terminal equipment to enter the service area corresponding to the multicast data service.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

and sending second indication information to core network equipment, wherein the second indication information is used for indicating the access network equipment to determine that the multicast data service is sent in the first transmission mode and is converted into the second transmission mode.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

and sending third indication information to core network equipment, wherein the third indication information is used for indicating the core network equipment to establish a data channel corresponding to the second transmission mode.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein in a case that the network device is a core network device, the obtaining the first indication information includes:

and receiving the first indication information reported by the access network equipment corresponding to the multicast data service.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the determining whether to switch the multicast data traffic from being sent via the first transmission mode to being sent via the second transmission mode based on the first indication information comprises:

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first indication information comprises at least one of:

a total number of terminal devices for indicating that a first response was generated for the multicast data service, the first response including a desire to receive, being received, or interest in receiving;

a first quantity class corresponding to the total number of terminal devices for indicating the first response to the multicast data service;

a total number of terminal devices for indicating a second response to the multicast data service, the second response including an interest in not wishing to receive, ceasing to receive, or not receiving;

a second quantity class corresponding to the total number of terminal devices for indicating the second response to the multicast data service;

the total number of the information used for indicating the terminal equipment to leave the service area corresponding to the multicast data service;

and the total number of the information used for indicating the terminal equipment to enter the service area corresponding to the multicast data service.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein in a case that the network device is a core network device, the obtaining the first indication information includes:

and receiving the first indication information sent by the target core network equipment, wherein the first indication information is used for indicating the total number of the terminal equipment which receives the multicast data service through the target transmission mode.

11. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, further comprising:

and establishing a data channel corresponding to the second transmission mode.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the second transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode if the first transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the second transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode if the first transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode.

14. A method for transmitting multicast data service, which is applied to a terminal device, is characterized in that the method comprises the following steps:

receiving target indication information sent by network equipment in the process of receiving multicast data services through a data channel corresponding to a first transmission mode, wherein the target indication information is used for indicating that the multicast data services are transmitted in a second transmission mode after being transmitted in the first transmission mode;

the method further comprises the following steps:

receiving target configuration information sent by the network equipment;

and associating the data channel corresponding to the first transmission mode with the data channel corresponding to the second transmission mode based on the target configuration information.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

and establishing a data channel corresponding to the second transmission mode.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the second transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode if the first transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the second transmission mode is a multicast transmission mode if the first transmission mode is a unicast transmission mode.

18. A network device, characterized in that the network device comprises:

the acquisition module is used for acquiring first indication information;

a determining module, configured to determine whether to switch from sending the multicast data traffic in the first transmission mode to sending the multicast data traffic in the second transmission mode based on the first indication information;

the network device further includes:

19. A terminal device, characterized in that the terminal device comprises:

a receiving module, configured to receive target indication information sent by a network device in a process of receiving a multicast data service through a data channel corresponding to a first transmission mode, where the target indication information is used to indicate that the multicast data service is converted from being sent through the first transmission mode to being sent through a second transmission mode;

the receiving module is further configured to receive target configuration information sent by the network device;

the terminal device further includes:

and the processing module is used for associating the data channel corresponding to the first transmission mode with the data channel corresponding to the second transmission mode based on the target configuration information.

20. A network device, comprising: memory, processor and computer program stored on the memory and executable on the processor, which computer program, when executed by the processor, carries out the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

21. A terminal device, comprising: memory, processor and computer program stored on the memory and executable on the processor, which computer program, when executed by the processor, carries out the steps of the method according to any one of claims 14 to 17.

22. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that a computer program is stored thereon, which computer program, when being executed by a processor, realizes the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 17.