CN113316199B

CN113316199B - Connection management method and related equipment

Info

Publication number: CN113316199B
Application number: CN202010121230.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 窦凤辉; 金辉; 杨锐
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-02-26
Filing date: 2020-02-26
Publication date: 2023-06-20
Anticipated expiration: 2040-02-26
Also published as: CN113316199A; WO2021169698A1

Abstract

The application discloses a connection management method and related equipment, wherein the method comprises the following steps: the UE may predict that the network link currently used by the UE will degrade over time. The UE prepares the standby network link before the network quality of the current network link is deteriorated and transmits data of the foreground application through the standby network link or simultaneously through the standby network link and the current network link. In this way, the UE can take measures in advance before the network quality of the current network link is degraded, so that the occurrence of clamping when the foreground application runs after the link quality of the network link is degraded is avoided.

Description

Connection management method and related equipment

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a connection management method and related devices.

Background

A session is a connection between a User Equipment (UE) and a Data Network (DN) for transmitting data between the UE and the data network. In the fifth generation mobile communication technology (5th generation,5G), sessions are collectively referred to as protocol data unit (protocol data unit, PDU) sessions. Depending on the different requirements of the application on the session, one UE may establish multiple PDU sessions to transmit data of different applications.

With the development of communication technology, UEs (e.g., mobile phones) are also being updated. The UE may transmit data using both Wi-Fi and cellular data networks. When both Wi-Fi and cellular data networks are available, the UE may prefer to use the Wi-Fi network to transmit data.

In the prior art, the cellular data network is only enabled when the UE detects that the link quality of the currently used Wi-Fi network is poor. When the cellular data network is enabled, the cellular data network also needs to be ready for the session required to transmit the data. In the 5G scenario, the UE also needs to be ready for PDU sessions that meet the requirements of foreground running applications in the UE. In this way, the UE may need to receive or send data of an application program for a long time in switching from transmitting data using a Wi-Fi network to transmitting data using a cellular data network. For example, if the user uses the video application program in the UE to watch the video or the game application program plays the game, the user may find that the video picture or the game interface is stuck, and the smooth video or the game interface that cannot be watched cannot be refreshed according to the user operation. Thus, the user experience is poor.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a connection management method and related equipment, which can reduce the time of blocking when the network quality of a current network link is poor for a foreground application in electronic equipment.

In a first aspect, the present application provides a connection management method, where the method is applied to an electronic device, and the method specifically includes: transmitting data of the first application using a wireless fidelity Wi-Fi network; acquiring first data, wherein the first data comprises link quality information between a current Wi-Fi network and electronic equipment; judging whether the first data meets a switching connection condition or not, wherein the switching connection condition is determined by the electronic equipment according to the historical data; if the first data meets the switching connection condition, judging whether a first PDU session exists in a protocol data unit PDU session currently existing in the electronic equipment, wherein the first PDU session meets the transmission condition of the data of the first application; if the first PDU session does not exist, establishing the first PDU session, and transmitting data of the first application through the first PDU session, or transmitting data of the first application through the Wi-Fi network and the first PDU session; and if the first PDU session exists, transmitting the data of the first application through the first PDU session or transmitting the data of the first application through the Wi-Fi network and the first PDU session.

It can be seen that when the electronic device predicts that the network quality of the Wi-Fi network currently used will deteriorate after a certain time, the electronic device starts to start the 5G network and prepares for the PDU session corresponding to the foreground application. The electronic device then transmits the data of the foreground application over the PDU session or the data of the foreground application over the PDU session and Wi-Fi network. The electronic device may prepare the 5G network in advance before the network quality of the Wi-Fi network deteriorates. Therefore, the situation that the user feels that the foreground application runs stuck when using the foreground application in the electronic equipment can be avoided, and user experience is improved.

With reference to the first aspect, in one possible implementation manner, the first PDU session meets a transmission condition of data of the first application, including: the first application is associated with the first PDU session or the first PDU session is matched with parameters in a routing descriptor corresponding to the first application, the parameters comprising at least one of single network slice selection assistance information S-NSSAI, service and session continuity SSC mode, data network identification DNN, access type.

With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: and collecting historical data, and generating switching connection conditions according to the historical data. The historical data comprise historical connection data between the Wi-Fi network and the electronic equipment, and/or information acquired by a sensor in the electronic equipment when the electronic equipment is connected with the Wi-Fi network.

In particular, the historical connection data may include a MAC address of the Wi-Fi to which the electronic device is connected, SSID (Service Set Identifier), a time at which the Wi-Fi is connected, a time at which the Wi-Fi is disconnected by the electronic device, a link quality between the Wi-Fi network and the electronic device during the connection of the electronic device to the Wi-Fi network. The information collected by the sensor can comprise acceleration information collected by the acceleration sensor, information collected by the gyroscope sensor and information collected by the gravity sensor.

Optionally, if the link quality information is signal strength information of the Wi-Fi network received by the electronic device, the switching connection condition includes that the signal strength of the Wi-Fi network received by the electronic device is lower than a first threshold.

Optionally, if the link quality information is delay information when the electronic device transmits the data of the first application through the Wi-Fi network; the switching connection condition includes that the time delay of the electronic equipment when transmitting the data of the first application through the Wi-Fi network is larger than a second threshold value;

optionally, if the link quality information is that the signal quality information of the Wi-Fi network is received by the electronic device, the switching connection condition includes that the signal quality of the Wi-Fi network received by the electronic device is lower than a third threshold.

Optionally, if the link quality information is a throughput rate of a network link between the electronic device and the Wi-Fi network, the switching connection condition includes the throughput rate of the network link between the electronic device and the Wi-Fi network being lower than a fourth threshold.

Optionally, if the link quality information is a packet loss rate when the electronic device transmits the data of the first application through the Wi-Fi network, the switching connection condition is that the packet loss rate when the electronic device transmits the data of the first application through the Wi-Fi network is greater than a fifth threshold.

Optionally, if the historical data is that the time of the electronic device switching from the Wi-Fi network to the cellular data network is a first time period, the switching connection condition is that the current time of the electronic device is in a second time period, and the second time period is a time period before the first time period.

With reference to the first aspect, in a possible implementation manner, before acquiring the first data, the method of the first aspect further includes: the electronic equipment collects learning data, and the first time for the electronic equipment to acquire first data is determined according to the learning data; the electronic device collecting first data specifically includes: the electronic device obtains first data at a first time. Thus, the electronic device only acquires the first data at a fixed time, and the power consumption of the electronic device can be saved.

With reference to the first aspect, in one possible implementation manner, the electronic device periodically collects the first data. Thus, the electronic device can timely know the network quality of the network connected with the electronic device, so that the electronic device can timely switch the network link before the network quality of the network link in the electronic device is poor.

With reference to the first aspect, in one possible implementation manner, determining whether the first PDU session exists in the protocol data unit PDU session currently existing in the electronic device includes: and the electronic equipment determines whether a first PDU session exists in the protocol data unit PDU session currently existing in the electronic equipment or not if the residual flow data in the 5G data flow package subscribed by the user exceeds a threshold A. Otherwise, the electronic device does not perform the step of switching the Wi-Fi network link to a 5G network link. In this way, additional data traffic costs to the user may be avoided.

With reference to the first aspect, in one possible implementation manner, determining whether the first PDU session exists in the protocol data unit PDU session currently existing in the electronic device includes: and the electronic equipment determines whether a first PDU session exists in the protocol data unit PDU session currently existing in the electronic equipment or not if the residual electric quantity exceeds the threshold B. Otherwise, the electronic device does not perform the step of switching the Wi-Fi network link to a 5G network link. Therefore, the power consumption of the UE can be saved, and the shutdown of the UE caused by the fact that the UE switches the Wi-Fi network link to the 5G network link is avoided.

With reference to the first aspect, in one possible implementation manner, the first application is an application running in the foreground of the electronic device.

In a second aspect, the present application provides a connection management method, where the method is applied to an electronic device, and includes: transmitting data of the first application using the first network link; acquiring first data, wherein the first data comprises link quality information of a first network link; judging whether the first data meets a switching connection condition or not, wherein the switching connection condition is determined by the electronic equipment according to the first historical data; if the first data meets the switching connection condition, a second network link is started; the data of the first application is transmitted over the second network link or the data of the first application is transmitted over the second network link and the first network link.

Wherein when the first network link is a Wi-Fi network, the second network link may be a cellular data network; when the first network link is a 4G cellular data network, the second network link may be a Wi-Fi network or a 5G cellular data network; when the first network link is a cellular data network provided by the SIM card 1, the second network link may be a Wi-Fi network or a cellular data network provided by the SIM card 2.

Implementing the method provided in the second aspect, the electronic device may predict that the network link currently used by the electronic device (i.e., the first network link) is degraded after a period of time. The electronic device prepares the alternate network link (i.e., the second network link) before the network quality of the current network link deteriorates and transmits data of the foreground application over the alternate network link, or over both the alternate network link and the current network link. By predicting the network quality of the current network link, the electronic equipment can take measures in advance before the network quality of the current network link is deteriorated, so that the occurrence of clamping when a background application runs after the link quality of the network link is deteriorated is avoided. Thus, the situation that the network of the electronic equipment is poor can be reduced in the process of using the electronic equipment by a user. The method can reduce the time delay and the time of blocking in the operation process of the foreground application perceived by a user. In this way, the user experience may be improved.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: and acquiring first historical data, and generating switching connection conditions according to the first historical data. The historical data comprises historical connection data between the first network link and the electronic equipment, and/or information acquired by a sensor in the electronic equipment when the electronic equipment is connected with the first network link.

In particular, the historical connection data may include a time at which the electronic device was connected to the first network link, a time at which the electronic device was disconnected from the first network link, a link quality of the first network link during the time at which the electronic device was connected to the first network link. The information collected by the sensor can comprise acceleration information collected by the acceleration sensor, information collected by the gyroscope sensor and information collected by the gravity sensor.

Optionally, if the link quality information is signal strength information of the first network link, the switching connection condition is that the signal strength of the first network link is lower than a first threshold.

Optionally, if the link quality information is delay information when the electronic device transmits the data of the first application through the first network link; the switching connection condition is that the time delay of the electronic equipment when transmitting the data of the first application through the first network link is larger than a second threshold value;

optionally, if the link quality information is signal quality information of the first network link, the handover connection condition is that the signal quality of the first network link is lower than a third threshold.

Optionally, if the link quality information is the throughput rate of the first network link, the connection condition is switched such that the throughput rate of the first network link is lower than the fourth threshold.

Optionally, if the link quality information is a packet loss rate when the electronic device transmits the data of the first application through the first network link, the switching connection condition is that the packet loss rate when the electronic device transmits the data of the first application through the first network link is greater than a fifth threshold.

Optionally, if the historical data is that the time of the electronic device switching from the first network link to the second network link is a first time period, the switching connection condition is that the current time of the electronic device is in a second time period, and the second time period is a time period before the first time period.

Optionally, the data collected by the sensor is acceleration data, and the connection condition is switched to be that the acceleration currently obtained by the electronic device is greater than a sixth threshold.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner, before acquiring the first data, the method of the first aspect further includes: the electronic equipment collects learning data, and the first time for the electronic equipment to acquire first data is determined according to the learning data; the electronic device collecting first data specifically includes: the electronic device obtains first data at a first time. Thus, the electronic device only collects the first data at a fixed time, and power consumption of the electronic device can be saved.

With reference to the second aspect, the electronic device periodically acquires the first data. Thus, the electronic device can timely know the network quality of the network connected with the electronic device, so that the electronic device can timely switch the network link before the network quality of the network link in the electronic device is poor.

With reference to the second aspect, in one possible implementation manner, the first application is an application running in the foreground of the electronic device.

With reference to the second aspect, in one possible implementation manner, the electronic device starting the second network link includes: and acquiring the second data, judging whether the second data meets the first condition, and if so, starting the second network by the electronic equipment. The second data includes link quality information of a current second network link, and the first condition is generated according to the second historical data. In this way, the link quality of the second network link is first determined. The link quality of the second network link satisfies the condition before switching to the second network link. The method avoids the problem that the electronic equipment starts to trigger the process of switching the network link due to poor network link after switching, and saves the power consumption of the electronic equipment. The network link in the electronic equipment is always switched by the user in the electronic equipment process, so that the user experience can be improved.

With reference to the second aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the method further includes: and acquiring second historical data, and generating a first condition according to the second historical data. Wherein the second historical data includes second network link quality information.

Optionally, if the second history data is signal strength information of the second network link, the switching connection condition is that the signal strength of the second network link is greater than a seventh threshold.

Optionally, if the second history data is signal quality information of the second network link, the first condition is that the signal quality of the second network link is greater than an eighth threshold.

With reference to the second aspect, if the second network link is a 5G network, the initiating the second network link includes: judging whether a first PDU session exists in a protocol data unit PDU session currently existing in the electronic equipment, and if not, establishing the first PDU session.

With reference to the second aspect, in one possible implementation manner, the first PDU session meets a transmission condition of data of the first application, including: the first application is associated with the first PDU session, that is, an association relationship between the first application and the first PDU session is established, and the first application is transmitted through the first PDU session, where the data of the first application may be directly transmitted through the first PDU session. Or the first PDU session is matched with the parameters in the routing descriptor corresponding to the first application, namely the first PDU session meets the condition of transmitting the data of the first application program, the first PDU session can be used for transmitting the data of the first application program, but the first application and the first PDU session do not establish an association relation. The parameters include at least one of single network slice selection assistance information S-nsai, service and session continuity SSC pattern, data network identification DNN, access type.

In a third aspect, the present application provides a connection management apparatus, including: a first transmission unit, an acquisition unit, a first judgment unit, a second transmission unit and a third transmission unit, wherein,

a first transmission unit for transmitting data of a first application using a wireless fidelity Wi-Fi network;

the system comprises an acquisition unit, a first data processing unit and a second data processing unit, wherein the acquisition unit is used for acquiring first data, and the first data comprises link quality information between a current Wi-Fi network and a device;

a first judging unit for judging whether the first data satisfies a switching connection condition, the switching connection condition being determined by the device according to the history data;

a second judging unit, configured to judge whether a first PDU session exists in a protocol data unit PDU session currently existing in the device, where the first PDU session meets a transmission condition of data of a first application, if the first data meets a handover connection condition;

a second transmission unit, configured to establish a first PDU session and transmit data of the first application through the first PDU session or transmit data of the first application through the Wi-Fi network and the first PDU session in the absence of the first PDU session;

and a third transmission unit for transmitting data of the first application through the first PDU session or transmitting data of the first application through the Wi-Fi network and the first PDU session in the presence of the first PDU session.

The connection management apparatus provided in the third aspect can predict that the network link currently used by the apparatus (i.e., the first network link) becomes poor in network quality after a period of time. The device prepares the standby network link (i.e., the second network link) before the network quality of the current network link is degraded and transmits data of the foreground application over the standby network link or over both the standby network link and the current network link. By predicting the network quality of the current network link, the device can take measures in advance before the network quality of the current network link is deteriorated, so that the occurrence of clamping when a background application runs after the link quality of the network link is deteriorated is avoided. Thus, the user can reduce the situation that the network of the device is poor in use. The method can reduce the time delay and the time of blocking in the operation process of the foreground application perceived by a user. In this way, the user experience may be improved.

With reference to the third aspect, in one possible implementation manner, the first PDU session meets a transmission condition of data of the first application, including: the first application is associated with the first PDU session or the first PDU session is matched with parameters in a routing descriptor corresponding to the first application, the parameters comprising at least one of single network slice selection assistance information S-NSSAI, service and session continuity SSC mode, data network identification DNN, access type.

With reference to the third aspect, in one possible implementation manner, the apparatus further includes a first activation unit and a second activation unit, where,

a first activating unit, configured to activate a first PDU session in a case where the first PDU session is associated with a first application;

and the second activating unit is used for associating the first PDU session with the first application and activating the first PDU session under the condition that the first PDU session is not associated with the first application.

With reference to the third aspect, in one possible implementation manner, the connection management apparatus further includes a first acquisition unit, where,

the first acquisition unit is used for acquiring historical data and generating switching connection conditions according to the historical data; the historical data includes historical connection data between the Wi-Fi network and the device, and/or information collected by sensors in the device when the device is connected to the Wi-Fi network.

With reference to the third aspect, in one possible implementation manner, the connection management device further includes a second acquisition unit, where the second acquisition unit is configured to acquire learning data, and determine a first time when the acquisition unit acquires the first data according to the learning data;

the acquisition unit is specifically configured to acquire first data at a first time.

With reference to the third aspect, in one possible implementation manner, the link quality information is signal strength information of the Wi-Fi network received by the device; the switching connection condition is that the signal intensity of the Wi-Fi network received by the device is lower than a first threshold value; or alternatively, the first and second heat exchangers may be,

the link quality information is time delay information when the device transmits data of the first application through the Wi-Fi network; the switch connection condition is that the delay of the device when transmitting the data of the first application through the Wi-Fi network is greater than a second threshold.

With reference to the third aspect, in one possible implementation manner, the first application is an application running in the device foreground.

In a fourth aspect, the present application provides an electronic device comprising one or more processors and one or more memories. The one or more memories are coupled to the one or more processors, the one or more memories being configured to store computer program code comprising computer instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to perform the method of connection management in any of the possible implementations of the Ren Di aspect and any of the possible implementations of the second aspect described above.

In a fifth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a computer storage medium comprising computer instructions which, when run on an electronic device, cause a communication apparatus to perform the method provided in any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect and any one of the possible implementations of the second aspect described above.

In a sixth aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a computer program product, which when run on a computer causes the computer to perform the method provided in any one of the possible implementations of the first aspect and any one of the possible implementations of the second aspect described above.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a user interface of a gaming application provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a user interface of a gaming application provided in an embodiment of the present application;

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

fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a hardware architecture of a user equipment according to an embodiment of the present application;

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

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

fig. 7 is an interface schematic diagram for starting a connection management function according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a software system architecture diagram of a user device provided in the prior art;

fig. 9 is a software system architecture diagram of a user device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of a hardware architecture of another user equipment according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

The following description will be given in detail of the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherein, in the description of the embodiments of the present application, "/" means or is meant unless otherwise indicated, for example, a/B may represent a or B; the text "and/or" is merely an association relation describing the associated object, and indicates that three relations may exist, for example, a and/or B may indicate: the three cases where a exists alone, a and B exist together, and B exists alone, and in addition, in the description of the embodiments of the present application, "plural" means two or more than two.

The terms "first," "second," and the like, are used below for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as implying or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defining "a first" or "a second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more such feature, and in the description of embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise indicated, the meaning of "a plurality" is two or more. Furthermore, references to the terms "comprising" and "having" and any variations thereof in the description of the present application are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of steps or elements is not limited to only those listed but may optionally include other steps or elements not listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. It should be noted that, in the embodiments of the present application, words such as "exemplary" or "such as" are used to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any embodiment or design described herein as "exemplary" or "for example" should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "such as" is intended to present related concepts in a concrete fashion.

The UE is currently transmitting data of a first application (e.g., a gaming application) over a Wi-Fi network. As shown in fig. 1, when the link quality between the Wi-Fi network and the UE is good, the UE may receive the data packet of the first application through Wi-Fi within the delay range of the service requirement, so that the user interface may be refreshed according to the received data packet. As shown in fig. 2, when the link quality between the Wi-Fi network and the UE is poor, the UE receives a first packet at a first time and a second packet at a second time. The first time and the second time are spaced by 500 milliseconds, and if the service requirement time delay is less than 500 milliseconds, the data received by the UE at the second time cannot meet the service requirement time delay. In this way, the UE cannot refresh the user interface in time, and the user may feel that the game interface is stuck when playing the game, thereby affecting the user experience.

In the prior art, when the link quality between the UE and the Wi-Fi network is poor, the UE switches the link for transmitting data. That is, the UE switches from transmitting data over the Wi-Fi network to transmitting data over the cellular mobile network, or vice versa. Since the UE takes time to switch the link for transmitting the data, the delay in receiving the data of the first application by the UE increases. If in the case of 5G, the UE needs to be ready for PDUs corresponding to the first application. The UE may require time to prepare the PDU session, which may cause an increase in the delay of transmitting data by the first application. Thus, the user experience is affected.

In 5G, PDU session establishment mechanism is on-demand establishment, and user plane activation mechanism is on-demand mechanism, i.e. PDU session is not established before application is not started. When a PDU session is not transmitting data after it is established, the PDU session may be in an inactive state. In addition, one difference between the PDU session in 5G and the PDU session in 4G is that: in 5G, not all applications transmit data over one PDU session. When an application is started, the terminal determines whether to create a particular PDU session for the application to transmit data for the application based on certain rules, such as user equipment routing policy (UE Route Selection Policy, urs p) rules.

Aiming at the problems in the prior art, the embodiment of the application provides a connection management method. The method comprises the following steps: the UE currently transmits data of a first application (e.g., a communication-type application, a game-type application) using a first network link (e.g., a Wi-Fi network, a cellular data network). The UE acquires first data containing link quality information of a first network link and judges whether the first data meets a switching connection condition. If the first data satisfies the handover connection condition, the UE changes a network link (e.g., wi-Fi network to cellular data network, cellular data network to Wi-Fi network, 4G to 5G, 5G to 4G, cellular data network of card 1 to data network of card 2, etc.) for transmitting the data of the first application, and prepares a transmission link (e.g., PDU session corresponding to the first application in 5G) required for transmitting the data of the first application.

In the fourth generation (fourth generation, 4G) mobile communication technology, a UE typically establishes only two sessions. One session is used for transmitting voice traffic and the other session is used for transmitting data traffic. In the fifth generation mobile communication technology (5th generation,5G), sessions are collectively referred to as protocol data unit (protocol data unit, PDU) sessions. Depending on the different requirements of the application on the session, one UE may establish multiple PDU sessions to transmit data of different applications. When the UE transmits data of the first application through the 5G technology, the UE needs to ensure that a PDU session corresponding to the first application exists.

In this application, there are two types of PDU sessions corresponding to a first application: 1. a PDU session associated with a first application; 2. the PDU session that matches the parameters in the routing descriptor corresponding to the first application is unassociated with the first application. Wherein the parameters in the routing descriptor corresponding to the first application include one or more of network slice selection assistance information (single network slice selection assistance information, S-nsai), traffic and session continuity (service and session continuity, SSC) pattern, data network identity (data network name, DNN), and access type. In this application, the network slice selection auxiliary information may be a single network slice selection auxiliary information.

The first application is associated with a first PDU session. That is, for the modem in the UE, the data of the first application is carried in the first PDU session. For an application processor in the UE, the first network connection binds the first application. The application associated with the PDU session may be an application meeting the importance level, such as a video conference class, a game class, etc., having a higher importance level, which has a certain requirement for the data transmission delay.

Here, each PDU session is a network connection, which binds the IP address of the PDU session. Where on the modem side "connection for data transfer between UE and data network" is generally described as PDU session and on the application processor side "connection for data transfer between UE and data network" is generally described as network connection.

Referring to fig. 3, a network architecture of a communication system supporting a 5G mobile communication technology is described as an example. The network elements in the 5G network architecture include AN Access Network (AN), AN access and mobility management function (authentication management function, AMF) entity, a session management function (session management function, SMF) entity, a policy control function (policy control function, PCF) entity, a user plane function (user plane function, UPF) entity, AN independent data management (unified data management, UDM) entity, AN authentication service function (authentication server function, AUSF) entity, a Data Network (DN), AN application function (application function, AF) entity, a network warehousing function (network repository function, NRF) entity, a network exposure function (network exposure function, NEF) entity, a network slice selection function (network slice selection function, NSSF) entity, and the like.

The access network may also be a radio access network (radio access network, RAN), which is a device deployed in a radio access network to provide wireless communication functionality. Optionally, the RAN apparatus according to the embodiments of the present application includes, for example, but not limited to, macro base stations, micro base stations (also referred to as small stations), relay stations, transmission and reception points (transmission reception point, TRP), next generation network nodes (g Node B, gNB), evolved Node bs (ng evolved Node B, ng-eNB) connected to a next generation core network, and the like, and may further include RAN apparatuses of non-third generation partnership project (3rd generation partnership project,3GPP) systems such as wireless local area network (wireless local area network, WLAN) access apparatuses and the like.

The AMF entity has functions of mobility management, registration management, connection management, lawful interception of the UE, support of transmitting session management (session management, SM) information between the UE and the SMF, access authentication, access authorization, and the like.

The SMF entity has session management, roaming, etc. functions. Where session management functions such as session establishment, modification and release. Roaming functions may include charging data collection, supporting signaling for authentication/authorization with an external (external) Data Network (DN).

The PCF entity includes a subscriber subscription management function, a policy control function, a charging policy control function, quality of service (quality of service, qoS) control, etc.

The UPF entity is a functional network element of the user plane, and is mainly responsible for connecting to an external network and processing user messages, such as forwarding, charging, lawful interception, etc. Alternatively, data may also be received.

The UDM entity has the functions of authentication certificate processing, user identification processing, access authorization, registration and mobility management, subscription management, short message management and the like.

The AUSF entity has an authentication service function.

The DNs are networks that provide services for the UE, for example, some DNs provide internet access functions for the UE, other DNs provide short message functions for the UE, and so on.

The AF entity may interact with the 3GPP core network. The AF entity may specifically be an application server that may be used to interact with the PCF entity to customize policies for the application.

The NRF entity is a logic entity for storing and maintaining information of Network Function (NF) instances, and when a service request of a user is received, the NF instances can determine a next hop route by querying the NRF entity to obtain other NF instances capable of providing network services requested by the user.

The network functions that the NEF entity can provide include providing services, capabilities of the network element to the outside, application functions and edge calculations. Optionally, the NEF entity also provides an application function for providing information to the 3GPP core network, e.g. mobile mode and communication mode. In this case, the NEF entity may also provide network functions that authenticate, authorize and limit the above application functions.

The NSSF entity is mainly responsible for selecting network slice instances for the UE based on the S-nsai. When the NSSF entity obtains the network slice selection assistance information (single network slice selection assistance information, S-nsai) sent by the UE, the NSSF entity selects one network slice instance (network slice instance, NSI) and/or network slice subnet instance (network slice subnet instance, NSI) serving the UE according to the S-nsai.

The UE communicates with the AMF entity through an N1 interface, the RAN communicates with the AMF entity through an N2 interface, the RAN communicates with the UPF entity through an N3 interface, the UPF entity communicates with the SMF entity through an N4 interface, the UPF entity accesses a data network through an N6 interface, and different UPF entities communicate through an N9 interface. The AF entity provides services for other entities (such as UDM entity and PCF entity) through Naf interface. The UDM entity provides services for other entities (such as AF entity, PCF entity) through the Nudm interface. The PCF entity provides services to other entities (e.g., UDM entity, NRF entity) through the Npcf interface. The NRF entity provides services for other entities (e.g., NEF entity, PCF entity) through the Nnrf interface. The NEF entity provides services to other entities (e.g., NRF entity, NSSF entity) through the Nnef interface. NSSF entities provide services to other entities (e.g., NEF entities, NRF entities) through the Nnssf interface. The AUSF entity provides services for other entities (such as AMF entity, NEF entity) through the Nausf interface. The AMF entity provides services for other entities (e.g., AUSF entity, SMF entity) through the Namf interface. The SMF entity provides services for other entities (e.g., AUSF entity, AMF entity) through the Nsmf interface.

The network element in the 5G network architecture further includes a UE, which may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a desktop, a laptop, an ultra-mobile personal computer (UMPC), a handheld computer, a netbook, a personal digital assistant (personal digital assistant, PDA), or the like.

In the present application, the electronic device is the UE in the embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a hardware architecture of a UE according to an embodiment of the present application.

UE100 may include a processor 110, an external memory interface 120, an internal memory 121, a universal serial bus (universal serial bus, USB) interface 130, a charge management module 140, a power management module 141, a battery 142, an antenna 1, an antenna 2, a mobile communication module 150, a wireless communication module 160, an audio module 170, a speaker 170A, a receiver 170B, a microphone 170C, an earpiece interface 170D, a sensor module 180, keys 190, a motor 191, an indicator 192, a camera 193, a display 194, and a subscriber identity module (subscriber identification module, SIM) card interface 195, etc. The sensor module 180 may include a pressure sensor 180A, a gyro sensor 180B, an air pressure sensor 180C, a magnetic sensor 180D, an acceleration sensor 180E, a distance sensor 180F, a proximity sensor 180G, a fingerprint sensor 180H, a temperature sensor 180J, a touch sensor 180K, an ambient light sensor 180L, a bone conduction sensor 180M, and the like.

It is to be understood that the structure illustrated in the embodiments of the present invention does not constitute a specific limitation on the UE 100. In other embodiments of the present application, the UE100 may include more or fewer components than shown, or may combine certain components, or split certain components, or a different arrangement of components. The illustrated components may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware.

The processor 110 may include one or more processing units, such as: the processor 110 may include an application processor (application processor, AP), a modem processor, a graphics processor (graphics processing unit, GPU), an image signal processor (image signal processor, ISP), a controller, a video codec, a digital signal processor (digital signal processor, DSP), a baseband processor, and/or a neural network processor (neural-network processing unit, NPU), etc. Wherein the different processing units may be separate devices or may be integrated in one or more processors.

The controller can generate operation control signals according to the instruction operation codes and the time sequence signals to finish the control of instruction fetching and instruction execution.

A memory may also be provided in the processor 110 for storing instructions and data. In some embodiments, the memory in the processor 110 is a cache memory. The memory may hold instructions or data that the processor 110 has just used or recycled. If the processor 110 needs to reuse the instruction or data, it can be called directly from the memory. Repeated accesses are avoided and the latency of the processor 110 is reduced, thereby improving the efficiency of the system.

In some embodiments, the processor 110 may include one or more interfaces. The interfaces may include an integrated circuit (inter-integrated circuit, I2C) interface, an integrated circuit built-in audio (inter-integrated circuit sound, I2S) interface, a pulse code modulation (pulse code modulation, PCM) interface, a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter, UART) interface, a mobile industry processor interface (mobile industry processor interface, MIPI), a general-purpose input/output (GPIO) interface, a subscriber identity module (subscriber identity module, SIM) interface, and/or a universal serial bus (universal serial bus, USB) interface, among others.

The I2C interface is a bi-directional synchronous serial bus comprising a serial data line (SDA) and a serial clock line (derail clock line, SCL). In some embodiments, the processor 110 may contain multiple sets of I2C buses. The processor 110 may be coupled to the touch sensor 180K, charger, flash, camera 193, etc., respectively, through different I2C bus interfaces. For example: the processor 110 may be coupled to the touch sensor 180K through an I2C interface, such that the processor 110 communicates with the touch sensor 180K through an I2C bus interface to implement the touch function of the UE 100.

The I2S interface may be used for audio communication. In some embodiments, the processor 110 may contain multiple sets of I2S buses. The processor 110 may be coupled to the audio module 170 via an I2S bus to enable communication between the processor 110 and the audio module 170. In some embodiments, the audio module 170 may transmit an audio signal to the wireless communication module 160 through the I2S interface, to implement a function of answering a call through the bluetooth headset.

PCM interfaces may also be used for audio communication to sample, quantize and encode analog signals. In some embodiments, the audio module 170 and the wireless communication module 160 may be coupled through a PCM bus interface. In some embodiments, the audio module 170 may also transmit audio signals to the wireless communication module 160 through the PCM interface to implement a function of answering a call through the bluetooth headset. Both the I2S interface and the PCM interface may be used for audio communication.

The UART interface is a universal serial data bus for asynchronous communications. The bus may be a bi-directional communication bus. It converts the data to be transmitted between serial communication and parallel communication. In some embodiments, a UART interface is typically used to connect the processor 110 with the wireless communication module 160. For example: the processor 110 communicates with a bluetooth module in the wireless communication module 160 through a UART interface to implement a bluetooth function. In some embodiments, the audio module 170 may transmit an audio signal to the wireless communication module 160 through a UART interface, to implement a function of playing music through a bluetooth headset.

The MIPI interface may be used to connect the processor 110 to peripheral devices such as a display 194, a camera 193, and the like. The MIPI interfaces include camera serial interfaces (camera serial interface, CSI), display serial interfaces (display serial interface, DSI), and the like. In some embodiments, the processor 110 and the camera 193 communicate through a CSI interface to implement the photographing function of the UE 100. The processor 110 and the display 194 communicate via a DSI interface to implement the display functionality of the UE 100.

The GPIO interface may be configured by software. The GPIO interface may be configured as a control signal or as a data signal. In some embodiments, a GPIO interface may be used to connect the processor 110 with the camera 193, the display 194, the wireless communication module 160, the audio module 170, the sensor module 180, and the like. The GPIO interface may also be configured as an I2C interface, an I2S interface, a UART interface, an MIPI interface, etc.

The USB interface 130 is an interface conforming to the USB standard specification, and may specifically be a Mini USB interface, a Micro USB interface, a USB Type C interface, or the like. The USB interface 130 may be used to connect a charger to charge the UE100, or may be used to transfer data between the UE100 and a peripheral device. And can also be used for connecting with a headset, and playing audio through the headset. The interface may also be used to connect other UEs, such as AR devices, etc.

It should be understood that the interface connection relationship between the modules illustrated in the embodiment of the present invention is only schematically illustrated, and does not limit the structure of the UE 100. In other embodiments of the present application, the UE100 may also use different interfacing manners in the foregoing embodiments, or a combination of multiple interfacing manners.

The charge management module 140 is configured to receive a charge input from a charger. The charger can be a wireless charger or a wired charger. In some wired charging embodiments, the charge management module 140 may receive a charging input of a wired charger through the USB interface 130. In some wireless charging embodiments, the charging management module 140 may receive wireless charging input through a wireless charging coil of the UE 100. The charging management module 140 may also supply power to the UE through the power management module 141 while charging the battery 142.

The power management module 141 is used for connecting the battery 142, and the charge management module 140 and the processor 110. The power management module 141 receives input from the battery 142 and/or the charge management module 140 to power the processor 110, the internal memory 121, the display 194, the camera 193, the wireless communication module 160, and the like. The power management module 141 may also be configured to monitor battery capacity, battery cycle number, battery health (leakage, impedance) and other parameters. In other embodiments, the power management module 141 may also be provided in the processor 110. In other embodiments, the power management module 141 and the charge management module 140 may be disposed in the same device.

The wireless communication function of the UE100 may be implemented by the antenna 1, the antenna 2, the mobile communication module 150, the wireless communication module 160, a modem processor, a baseband processor, and the like.

The antennas 1 and 2 are used for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic wave signals. Each antenna in UE100 may be used to cover a single or multiple communication bands. Different antennas may also be multiplexed to improve the utilization of the antennas. For example: the antenna 1 may be multiplexed into a diversity antenna of a wireless local area network. In other embodiments, the antenna may be used in conjunction with a tuning switch.

The mobile communication module 150 may provide a solution for wireless communication including 2G/3G/4G/5G, etc., applied on the UE 100. The mobile communication module 150 may include at least one filter, switch, power amplifier, low noise amplifier (low noise amplifier, LNA), etc. The mobile communication module 150 may receive electromagnetic waves from the antenna 1, perform processes such as filtering, amplifying, and the like on the received electromagnetic waves, and transmit the processed electromagnetic waves to the modem processor for demodulation. The mobile communication module 150 can amplify the signal modulated by the modem processor, and convert the signal into electromagnetic waves through the antenna 1 to radiate. In some embodiments, at least some of the functional modules of the mobile communication module 150 may be disposed in the processor 110. In some embodiments, at least some of the functional modules of the mobile communication module 150 may be provided in the same device as at least some of the modules of the processor 110.

The modem processor may include a modulator and a demodulator. The modulator is used for modulating the low-frequency baseband signal to be transmitted into a medium-high frequency signal. The demodulator is used for demodulating the received electromagnetic wave signal into a low-frequency baseband signal. The demodulator then transmits the demodulated low frequency baseband signal to the baseband processor for processing. The low frequency baseband signal is processed by the baseband processor and then transferred to the application processor. The application processor outputs sound signals through an audio device (not limited to the speaker 170A, the receiver 170B, etc.), or displays images or video through the display screen 194. In some embodiments, the modem processor may be a stand-alone device. In other embodiments, the modem processor may be provided in the same device as the mobile communication module 150 or other functional module, independent of the processor 110.

The wireless communication module 160 may provide solutions for wireless communication including wireless local area network (wireless local area networks, WLAN) (e.g., wireless fidelity (wireless fidelity, wi-Fi) network), bluetooth (BT), global navigation satellite system (global navigation satellite system, GNSS), frequency modulation (frequency modulation, FM), near field wireless communication technology (near field communication, NFC), infrared technology (IR), etc., as applied on the UE 100. The wireless communication module 160 may be one or more devices that integrate at least one communication processing module. The wireless communication module 160 receives electromagnetic waves via the antenna 2, modulates the electromagnetic wave signals, filters the electromagnetic wave signals, and transmits the processed signals to the processor 110. The wireless communication module 160 may also receive a signal to be transmitted from the processor 110, frequency modulate it, amplify it, and convert it to electromagnetic waves for radiation via the antenna 2.

In some embodiments, antenna 1 and mobile communication module 150 of UE100 are coupled, and antenna 2 and wireless communication module 160 are coupled, such that UE100 may communicate with a network and other devices through wireless communication techniques. The wireless communication techniques may include the Global System for Mobile communications (global system for mobile communications, GSM), general packet radio service (general packet radio service, GPRS), code division multiple access (code division multiple access, CDMA), wideband code division multiple access (wideband code division multiple access, WCDMA), time division code division multiple access (time-division code division multiple access, TD-SCDMA), long term evolution (long term evolution, LTE), BT, GNSS, WLAN, NFC, FM, and/or IR techniques, among others. The GNSS may include a global satellite positioning system (global positioning system, GPS), a global navigation satellite system (global navigation satellite system, GLONASS), a beidou satellite navigation system (beidou navigation satellite system, BDS), a quasi zenith satellite system (quasi-zenith satellite system, QZSS) and/or a satellite based augmentation system (satellite based augmentation systems, SBAS).

The UE100 implements display functions through a GPU, a display screen 194, an application processor, and the like. The GPU is a microprocessor for image processing, and is connected to the display 194 and the application processor. The GPU is used to perform mathematical and geometric calculations for graphics rendering. Processor 110 may include one or more GPUs that execute program instructions to generate or change display information.

The display screen 194 is used to display images, videos, and the like. The display 194 includes a display panel. The display panel may employ a liquid crystal display (liquid crystal display, LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), an active-matrix organic light emitting diode (AMOLED), a flexible light-emitting diode (flex), a mini, a Micro-OLED, a quantum dot light-emitting diode (quantum dot light emitting diodes, QLED), or the like. In some embodiments, the UE100 may include 1 or N display screens 194, N being a positive integer greater than 1.

The UE100 may implement photographing functions through an ISP, a camera 193, a video codec, a GPU, a display 194, an application processor, and the like.

The ISP is used to process data fed back by the camera 193. For example, when photographing, the shutter is opened, light is transmitted to the camera photosensitive element through the lens, the optical signal is converted into an electric signal, and the camera photosensitive element transmits the electric signal to the ISP for processing and is converted into an image visible to naked eyes. ISP can also optimize the noise, brightness and skin color of the image. The ISP can also optimize parameters such as exposure, color temperature and the like of a shooting scene. In some embodiments, the ISP may be provided in the camera 193.

The camera 193 is used to capture still images or video. The object generates an optical image through the lens and projects the optical image onto the photosensitive element. The photosensitive element may be a charge coupled device (charge coupled device, CCD) or a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) phototransistor. The photosensitive element converts the optical signal into an electrical signal, which is then transferred to the ISP to be converted into a digital image signal. The ISP outputs the digital image signal to the DSP for processing. The DSP converts the digital image signal into an image signal in a standard RGB, YUV, or the like format. In some embodiments, the UE100 may include 1 or N cameras 193, N being a positive integer greater than 1.

The digital signal processor is used for processing digital signals, and can process other digital signals besides digital image signals. For example, when the UE100 selects a frequency bin, the digital signal processor is used to fourier transform the frequency bin energy, etc.

Video codecs are used to compress or decompress digital video. The UE100 may support one or more video codecs. In this way, the UE100 may play or record video in multiple encoding formats, such as: dynamic picture experts group (moving picture experts group, MPEG) 1, MPEG2, MPEG3, MPEG4, etc.

The NPU is a neural-network (NN) computing processor, and can rapidly process input information by referencing a biological neural network structure, for example, referencing a transmission mode between human brain neurons, and can also continuously perform self-learning. Applications such as intelligent awareness of the UE100 may be implemented by the NPU, for example: image recognition, face recognition, speech recognition, text understanding, etc.

The external memory interface 120 may be used to connect an external memory card, such as a Micro SD card, to enable expansion of the memory capabilities of the UE 100. The external memory card communicates with the processor 110 through an external memory interface 120 to implement data storage functions. For example, files such as music, video, etc. are stored in an external memory card.

The internal memory 121 may be used to store computer executable program code including instructions. The internal memory 121 may include a storage program area and a storage data area. The storage program area may store an application program (such as a sound playing function, an image playing function, etc.) required for at least one function of the operating system, etc. The storage data area may store data (e.g., audio data, phonebook, etc.) created during use of the UE100, and the like. In addition, the internal memory 121 may include a high-speed random access memory, and may further include a nonvolatile memory such as at least one magnetic disk storage device, a flash memory device, a universal flash memory (universal flash storage, UFS), and the like. The processor 110 performs various functional applications of the UE100 and data processing by executing instructions stored in the internal memory 121 and/or instructions stored in a memory provided in the processor.

The UE100 may implement audio functions through an audio module 170, a speaker 170A, a receiver 170B, a microphone 170C, an earphone interface 170D, an application processor, and the like. Such as music playing, recording, etc.

The audio module 170 is used to convert digital audio information into an analog audio signal output and also to convert an analog audio input into a digital audio signal. The audio module 170 may also be used to encode and decode audio signals. In some embodiments, the audio module 170 may be disposed in the processor 110, or a portion of the functional modules of the audio module 170 may be disposed in the processor 110.

The speaker 170A, also referred to as a "horn," is used to convert audio electrical signals into sound signals. The UE100 may listen to music, or to handsfree calls, through the speaker 170A.

A receiver 170B, also referred to as a "earpiece", is used to convert the audio electrical signal into a sound signal. When the UE100 picks up a call or voice message, the voice may be picked up by placing the listener 170B close to the human ear.

Microphone 170C, also referred to as a "microphone" or "microphone", is used to convert sound signals into electrical signals. When making a call or transmitting voice information, the user can sound near the microphone 170C through the mouth, inputting a sound signal to the microphone 170C. The UE100 may be provided with at least one microphone 170C. In other embodiments, the UE100 may be provided with two microphones 170C, and may implement a noise reduction function in addition to collecting sound signals. In other embodiments, the UE100 may further be provided with three, four or more microphones 170C to collect sound signals, reduce noise, identify the source of sound, implement directional recording functions, etc.

The earphone interface 170D is used to connect a wired earphone. The headset interface 170D may be a USB interface 130 or a 3.5mm open mobile UE platform (open mobile terminal platform, OMTP) standard interface, a american cellular telecommunications industry association (cellular telecommunications industry association of the USA, CTIA) standard interface.

The pressure sensor 180A is used to sense a pressure signal, and may convert the pressure signal into an electrical signal. In some embodiments, the pressure sensor 180A may be disposed on the display screen 194. The pressure sensor 180A is of various types, such as a resistive pressure sensor, an inductive pressure sensor, a capacitive pressure sensor, and the like. The capacitive pressure sensor may be a capacitive pressure sensor comprising at least two parallel plates with conductive material. The capacitance between the electrodes changes when a force is applied to the pressure sensor 180A. The UE100 determines the strength of the pressure according to the change of the capacitance. When a touch operation is applied to the display 194, the ue100 detects the touch operation intensity according to the pressure sensor 180A. The UE100 may also calculate the location of the touch from the detection signal of the pressure sensor 180A. In some embodiments, touch operations that act on the same touch location, but at different touch operation strengths, may correspond to different operation instructions. For example: and executing an instruction for checking the short message when the touch operation with the touch operation intensity smaller than the first pressure threshold acts on the short message application icon. And executing an instruction for newly creating the short message when the touch operation with the touch operation intensity being greater than or equal to the first pressure threshold acts on the short message application icon.

The gyro sensor 180B may be used to determine a motion gesture of the UE 100. In some embodiments, the angular velocity of the UE100 about three axes (i.e., x, y, and z axes) may be determined by the gyro sensor 180B. The gyro sensor 180B may be used for photographing anti-shake. For example, when the shutter is pressed, the gyro sensor 180B detects the angle of the shake of the UE100, calculates the distance to be compensated by the lens module according to the angle, and makes the lens counteract the shake of the UE100 by the reverse motion, thereby realizing anti-shake. The gyro sensor 180B may also be used for navigating, somatosensory game scenes.

The air pressure sensor 180C is used to measure air pressure. In some embodiments, the UE100 calculates altitude from barometric pressure values measured by the barometric pressure sensor 180C, aiding in positioning and navigation.

The magnetic sensor 180D includes a hall sensor. The UE100 may detect the opening and closing of the flip cover using the magnetic sensor 180D. In some embodiments, when the UE100 is a flip machine, the UE100 may detect the opening and closing of the flip according to the magnetic sensor 180D. And then according to the detected opening and closing state of the leather sheath or the opening and closing state of the flip, the characteristics of automatic unlocking of the flip and the like are set.

The acceleration sensor 180E may detect the magnitude of acceleration of the UE100 in various directions (typically three axes). The magnitude and direction of gravity may be detected when the UE100 is stationary. The method can also be used for identifying the gesture of the UE, and is applied to the applications such as horizontal and vertical screen switching, pedometers and the like.

A distance sensor 180F for measuring a distance. The UE100 may measure the distance by infrared or laser. In some embodiments, the UE100 may range using the distance sensor 180F to achieve fast focusing to capture a scene.

The proximity light sensor 180G may include, for example, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) and a light detector, such as a photodiode. The light emitting diode may be an infrared light emitting diode. The UE100 emits infrared light outward through the light emitting diode. The UE100 detects infrared reflected light from nearby objects using a photodiode. When sufficient reflected light is detected, it may be determined that there is an object in the vicinity of the UE 100. When insufficient reflected light is detected, the UE100 may determine that there is no object in the vicinity of the UE 100. The UE100 may detect that the user holds the UE100 close to the ear to talk using the proximity light sensor 180G, so as to automatically extinguish the screen for power saving purposes. The proximity light sensor 180G may also be used in holster mode, pocket mode to automatically unlock and lock the screen.

The ambient light sensor 180L is used to sense ambient light level. The UE100 may adaptively adjust the display screen 194 brightness based on the perceived ambient light level. The ambient light sensor 180L may also be used to automatically adjust white balance when taking a photograph. The ambient light sensor 180L may also cooperate with the proximity light sensor 180G to detect if the UE100 is in a pocket to prevent false touches.

The fingerprint sensor 180H is used to collect a fingerprint. The UE100 may utilize the collected fingerprint characteristics to unlock the fingerprint, access the application lock, photograph the fingerprint, answer the incoming call, etc.

The temperature sensor 180J is for detecting temperature. In some embodiments, the UE100 performs a temperature processing strategy using the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 180J. For example, when the temperature reported by temperature sensor 180J exceeds a threshold, UE100 performs a reduction in performance of a processor located near temperature sensor 180J in order to reduce power consumption to implement thermal protection. In other embodiments, when the temperature is below another threshold, the UE100 heats the battery 142 to avoid low temperatures causing the UE100 to shut down abnormally. In other embodiments, when the temperature is below a further threshold, the UE100 performs boosting of the output voltage of the battery 142 to avoid abnormal shutdown caused by low temperatures.

The touch sensor 180K, also referred to as a "touch device". The touch sensor 180K may be disposed on the display screen 194, and the touch sensor 180K and the display screen 194 form a touch screen, which is also called a "touch screen". The touch sensor 180K is for detecting a touch operation acting thereon or thereabout. The touch sensor may communicate the detected touch operation to the application processor to determine the touch event type. Visual output related to touch operations may be provided through the display 194. In other embodiments, the touch sensor 180K may also be disposed on the surface of the UE100 at a different location than the display 194.

The bone conduction sensor 180M may acquire a vibration signal. In some embodiments, bone conduction sensor 180M may acquire a vibration signal of a human vocal tract vibrating bone pieces. The bone conduction sensor 180M may also contact the pulse of the human body to receive the blood pressure pulsation signal. In some embodiments, bone conduction sensor 180M may also be provided in a headset, in combination with an osteoinductive headset. The audio module 170 may analyze the voice signal based on the vibration signal of the sound portion vibration bone block obtained by the bone conduction sensor 180M, so as to implement a voice function. The application processor may analyze the heart rate information based on the blood pressure beat signal acquired by the bone conduction sensor 180M, so as to implement a heart rate detection function.

The keys 190 include a power-on key, a volume key, etc. The keys 190 may be mechanical keys. Or may be a touch key. The UE100 may receive key inputs, generating key signal inputs related to user settings and function control of the UE 100.

The motor 191 may generate a vibration cue. The motor 191 may be used for incoming call vibration alerting as well as for touch vibration feedback. For example, touch operations acting on different applications (e.g., photographing, audio playing, etc.) may correspond to different vibration feedback effects. The motor 191 may also correspond to different vibration feedback effects by touching different areas of the display screen 194. Different application scenarios (such as time reminding, receiving information, alarm clock, game, etc.) can also correspond to different vibration feedback effects. The touch vibration feedback effect may also support customization.

The indicator 192 may be an indicator light, may be used to indicate a state of charge, a change in charge, a message indicating a missed call, a notification, etc.

The SIM card interface 195 is used to connect a SIM card. The SIM card may be inserted into the SIM card interface 195 or withdrawn from the SIM card interface 195 to enable contact and separation with the UE 100. The UE100 may support 1 or N SIM card interfaces, N being a positive integer greater than 1. The SIM card interface 195 may support Nano SIM cards, micro SIM cards, and the like. The same SIM card interface 195 may be used to insert multiple cards simultaneously. The types of the plurality of cards may be the same or different. The SIM card interface 195 may also be compatible with different types of SIM cards. The SIM card interface 195 may also be compatible with external memory cards. The UE100 interacts with the network through the SIM card to realize functions such as call and data communication. In some embodiments, the UE100 employs esims, i.e.: an embedded SIM card. The eSIM card may be embedded in the UE100 and cannot be separated from the UE 100.

For easy understanding, the connection management method provided in the embodiments of the present application is specifically described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to fig. 5, a connection management method provided in an embodiment of the present application is applicable to a UE supporting a 5G mobile communication technology. Wherein a PDU session exists in the UE. The presence of a PDU session in a UE specifically refers to: the UE establishes a PDU session through the network device, and the UE has a context of the PDU session stored thereon. The UE is capable of transmitting data to the network device over the existing PDU session. The context of the PDU session includes, but is not limited to, PDU session identification, information of a network slice to which the PDU session corresponds, an internet protocol (Internet protocol, IP) address used by the PDU session, SSC mode of the PDU session, and the like. The number of PDU sessions existing in the UE may be one or more. Among the PDU sessions existing in the UE, there may or may not be a PDU session corresponding to the first application.

Here the PDU session present in the UE may be in an inactive state. Specifically, the PDU session is in an inactive state when the UE is disconnected from the base station and the connection between the base station and the UPF (the N3 interface shown in fig. 3). In general, when a PDU session has no data transmission, the connection between the UE and the base station is disconnected, and the N3 interface is disconnected. If the UE needs the PDU session to transmit data, the PDU session needs to be activated. Activating a PDU session refers to the UE establishing a connection with the base station and the base station establishing a connection with the UPF.

Referring to fig. 5, a UE provided in an embodiment of the present application may include a network quality prediction module 100a, a network quality monitoring module 100b, a connection management module 100c, and a modem 100d. The network quality prediction module 100a, the network quality monitoring module 100b, and the connection management module 100c may be integrated in separate chips, or may be coupled in the same chip, which is not limited herein. The connection management method provided by the embodiment of the application can comprise the following steps:

s101, the network quality prediction module 100a predicts that the link quality of the network link currently used by the UE in a specific time range is poor or the UE leaves the coverage area of the UE according to the historical data.

It will be appreciated that predicting link quality degradation for a currently used network link may be understood as being below a certain threshold after a certain time when the current link quality is predicted above the certain threshold. It can also be understood that, when the trend of the current link quality changes from strong to weak within a period of time, it is predicted that the link quality will be lower than a certain threshold after a certain period of time. The UE leaving its coverage area may be understood that the UE cannot receive the signal of the network link, or the received signal strength of the network link is lower than a certain threshold, and cannot perform effective data transmission. For example, when a user is at home, the user uses Wi-Fi to surf the internet, the network link is a link corresponding to the Wi-Fi network, and when the user leaves home, the signal strength of the Wi-Fi network becomes weak gradually until the user cannot receive the Wi-Fi network. Thus, here a UE leaving its coverage area may also be understood as a UE leaving a fixed location, e.g. leaving home or leaving work units, etc.

The network quality prediction module 100a may learn training to obtain the handover link condition based on the historical data. Then, the network quality prediction module 100a determines whether the first data currently acquired satisfies the handover connection condition, and if so, the network quality prediction module 100a may predict that the link quality of the network link currently used by the UE is degraded within a specific time range. Or the network quality prediction module 100a predicts that the UE leaves the coverage area of the currently used network link within a certain time frame.

Here, the UE may train the model by inputting the history data through a model, which may output handover connection conditions. The model may be a deep neural network, convolutional neural network, or the like, without limitation. How to train the neural network by using the historical data, the output connection switching condition can refer to the training process of the neural network in the prior art, and will not be described herein.

In one possible implementation, the historical data may include: position data of the UE when the network link is changed, motion data, time data when each network link is changed in the UE, link quality information of the current network link in a previous period or a later period when the network link is about to be changed in the UE, and the like. The link quality information may include one or more of signal strength, signal quality (signal to noise ratio), throughput rate, latency, packet loss rate, and the like. Thus, the handover connection condition obtained by training may be that the network link in the UE changes if the time limit or the location limit or the link quality requirement is met. For example, the user goes from home to company at 8 points per day, and then opens the cellular data network in the UE. The UE learns according to the history that the UE switches the Wi-Fi network to the cellular data network at 8 o 'clock per day, and if the time acquired by the UE is 8 o' clock of the working day or 5 minutes before 8 o 'clock (i.e. 7 o' clock 55), the UE starts to switch the Wi-Fi network to the cellular data network.

Wherein, the change of the network link in the UE may include: the UE switches from Wi-Fi network to cellular data network (4G, 5G, etc.), the UE switches from cellular data network to Wi-Fi network, the UE switches from cellular data network provided by SIM card 1 to cellular data network provided by SIM card 2, the UE switches from 4G network to 5G network, the UE changes from transmitting data over Wi-Fi network to transmitting data over Wi-Fi network and cellular data network, the UE changes from transmitting data over cellular data network to transmitting data over cellular data network and Wi-Fi network, etc. Here, switching the UE from the a network to the B network means that the UE changes from currently transmitting data through the a network to transmitting data through the B network.

In one possible implementation, the network quality prediction module 100a may obtain information from the modem processor 100d and the Wi-Fi module in the UE, such as signal strength, signal quality, packet loss rate of data, throughput rate, mobile network serving cell information, mobile network neighbor cell information, unconnected Wi-Fi MAC scanned by connected Wi-Fi network MAC, and so on, in the link quality information of the network link. Here, the network quality prediction module 100a may invoke an interface provided by the modem 100d to obtain link quality information of the network link. Alternatively, the network quality prediction module 100a may subscribe to the required link quality information with the modem processor 100d or an operating system in the UE. After successful subscription, modem processor 100d may report the link quality information of the current network link to the network quality prediction module periodically or triggered by an event (e.g., when modem processor 100d detects that the signal strength is below a certain value).

In one possible implementation, the network quality prediction module 100a may obtain delay information of the application running from a quality of service statistics module in the UE. The service quality statistics module is used for counting information of time delay, whether the application in the UE runs, and the like. Here, the network quality prediction module 100a may invoke an interface in the quality of service statistics module to obtain the required information. Alternatively, the network quality prediction module 100a may subscribe to the required information with the service quality statistics module, and after the subscription is successful, the service quality statistics module may periodically report to the network quality prediction module or report by event triggering (for example, the time delay of the first application running is greater than a certain threshold value) the time delay information of the application running.

In one possible implementation, the first data may be link quality information of the current network link. The network quality prediction module 100a determines whether the link quality of the network link currently used by the UE is deteriorated according to the acquired link quality information. Specifically, the network quality prediction module 100a determines whether the link quality information satisfies the handover connection condition, and if the handover connection condition is satisfied, the network quality prediction module 100a determines that the link quality of the network link currently used by the UE is degraded within a specific time range (e.g., within 10s, within 15 s). For example, if the connection management module switches conditions are that the link quality of the network link is poor if the signal strength is below the first threshold. The network quality prediction module 100a determines that the acquired signal strength of the network link is less than the first threshold, and the network quality prediction module 100a determines that the link quality of the current network link is deteriorated within a specific time range.

In one possible implementation, the first data may also include data collected by sensors in the UE. The data collected by the sensor may include acceleration data collected by an acceleration sensor, data collected by a gyroscope sensor, gravitational acceleration data collected by a gravitational sensor, and so forth. The network quality prediction module 100a may obtain data collected by the sensor to determine whether the UE is out of the coverage area of the current network link (e.g., wi-Fi network). If the data collected by the sensor satisfies the handover connection condition, the network quality prediction module 100a determines that the UE will leave the coverage area of the current network link within a specific time range. For example, if the handover connection condition is that the acceleration in the X-axis direction is greater than ax (the absolute value of ax is greater than 0, for example ax= +1 m/s), the acceleration in the Y-axis direction is greater than ay (the absolute value of ay is greater than 0, for example ay= +1 m/s), and the acceleration in the Z-axis direction is greater than az (the absolute value of az is greater than 0, for example az= +1 m/s), the UE leaves the coverage area of the current network link within a certain time range. When the acceleration in the X-axis direction obtained by the network quality prediction module 100a is greater than ax, the acceleration in the Y-axis direction is greater than ay, and the acceleration in the Z-axis direction is greater than az, the network quality prediction module 100a may determine that the UE is about to leave the coverage area of the current network link within a specific time range (for example, the UE is connected to a Wi-Fi network in home, and generally, the UE leaves the coverage area of the Wi-Fi network after leaving home). Alternatively, other modules in the processor 110 acquire the data acquired by the sensors and determine the motion state of the UE (e.g., going upstairs or downstairs, continuous motion) based on the motion data of the sensors. Then, the network quality prediction module 100a acquires the motion state, and determines whether the UE leaves the network area of the current network link according to the motion state. If the motion state satisfies the handover connection condition, the network quality prediction module 100a determines that the UE will leave the coverage area of the current network link within a specific time range. If the motion state of the UE is continuous walking for a period of time, or going upstairs and downstairs for a period of time, or the number of steps reaches a certain number, it may be determined that the UE leaves the home or company. The UE leaves the coverage area of the Wi-Fi network of the home or company. For example, if the connection switching condition is that the number of motion steps in the southwest direction exceeds 20 steps, or the continuous motion time in the southwest direction exceeds 5 minutes, the UE leaves the coverage area of the current network link within a specific time range. When the motion state of the moving UE acquired by the network quality prediction module 100a is 25 moving steps in the southeast direction, the network quality prediction module 100a may determine that the UE will leave the coverage area of the current network link within a specific time range.

It can be appreciated that the UE can determine that the UE leaves the coverage area of the current Wi-Fi in combination with the change in link quality and the data collected by the sensor. For example, the UE determines that the current motion state is going upstairs and downstairs or going in and out of the elevator according to the collected sensor data, and the signal strength of the Wi-Fi network is weakening, and the UE determines that the UE will leave the coverage area of the current network link or has left the coverage area of the current network link within a specific time range. Further, the UE judges that the UE leaves the coverage area of the current Wi-Fi according to the time information and the change of the link quality and the data acquired by the sensor. For example, between 7 points 30 and 8 points 30 in the morning each day, the UE determines that the current motion state is going upstairs or downstairs or going in or out of the elevator according to the collected sensor data, and the signal strength of the Wi-Fi network is weakening, and the UE determines that the UE will leave the coverage area of the current network link or has left the coverage area of the current network link within a specific time range.

In one possible implementation, before the UE acquires the first data, the UE acquires the learning data, and the UE determines a time at which the UE acquired the first data according to the learning data. The UE collecting the first data includes: the UE collects first data at a first time.

S102, the network quality prediction module 100a sends a notification message to the network quality monitoring module 100 b.

The network quality prediction module 100a predicts that the link quality of the network link currently used by the UE is degraded, or after the UE leaves the coverage area of the network link currently used within a specific time range, the network quality prediction module 100a transmits a notification message to the network quality monitoring module 100 b. The notification message may be a message that the link quality of the network link currently used by the UE is degraded (for example, the link quality is lower than a certain threshold, or the link quality cannot meet the requirement of the current foreground application), or the link quality of the network link currently used by the UE is degraded within a specific time range (for example, 10s from the current time point or within 10s to 20s, i.e. if the current time point is 8×10×0 seconds, then the network link currently used by the UE is degraded in coverage area of the network link at 8×10×10 seconds or 8×10×20 seconds), or the link quality of the network link currently used by the UE is degraded within a specific time range. Alternatively, the notification message may be a message that the network quality prediction module 100a has the network quality monitoring module 100b initiate a standby network link.

In one possible implementation, before the network quality prediction module 100a sends the notification message to the network quality monitoring module 100b, the network quality prediction module 100a may predict the network quality of the standby network link to which the UE may connect. Specifically, the network quality prediction module 100a may obtain historical data when the UE connects to the standby network, and predict the network quality of the standby network link according to the historical data. How the network quality prediction module 100a predicts the network quality of the standby network may refer to the description of the network quality prediction module 100a predicting the network quality of the UE current network link in step S101, which is not repeated herein.

Further, if the network quality prediction module 100a predicts that the network quality of the standby network link is lower than the threshold, step S102 is not performed. I.e. the UE is still transmitting data using the current network link, and the standby network link is not enabled. In this way, it is avoided that the UE detects that the network quality is bad and changes the network link for transmitting data again after the UE switches to the standby network link. And power consumption of the UE can be saved.

S103, the network quality monitoring module 100b determines to enable the standby network link.

After receiving the notification message, the network quality monitoring module 100b determines to enable the standby network link. If the currently used network link is a Wi-Fi network, the standby network link may be a cellular data network (e.g., a 5G network).

In one possible implementation, before performing step S103, if the standby network link is a cellular data network (e.g., a 5G network), the UE determines whether the remaining data traffic in the traffic packages subscribed to by the user exceeds a threshold a, and if so, the UE enables the standby network link. Otherwise, the UE does not enable the standby network link. In this way, excessive data traffic charges are avoided for the user.

In one possible implementation, before performing step S103, if the UE determines that the remaining power is below a threshold B (e.g., 10%), the UE does not enable the standby network link. In this way, the consumption of the power of the UE due to the activation of the standby network link is avoided, thereby affecting the use of the UE by the user.

S104, the network quality monitoring module 100b sends the standby network link start indication information to the connection management module 100 c.

The startup indication information is used to instruct the connection management module 100c to determine whether a corresponding PDU session needs to be established for the foreground application.

S105, the connection management module 100c determines whether a PDU session corresponding to the foreground application needs to be established, if so, step S106 is executed; if not, step S107 is performed.

If the PDU session corresponding to the foreground application exists in the UE, the PDU session established for the foreground application is not needed. In one possible implementation, if there is a PDU session corresponding to the foreground application in the UE, the method includes: the foreground application is associated with a certain PDU session or a certain PDU session is matched with parameters in a routing descriptor corresponding to the foreground application, wherein the parameters in the routing descriptor comprise one or more of S-NSSAI, SSC mode, data network identification, access type. If the PDU session corresponding to the foreground application is not activated, the PDU session needs to be activated. Here, the time at which the UE starts to activate the PDU session is determined according to the time at which the network quality prediction module 100a predicts the current network quality degradation and the time required to activate the PDU session. For example, if the network quality prediction module 100a predicts that the network quality of the current network link will deteriorate after 10 seconds. Only 5 seconds are required to activate the PDU session. The UE may start to activate the PDU session 5 seconds, 6 seconds, 7 seconds, 8 seconds, 9 seconds, and 10 seconds before the network quality of the current network link deteriorates. The UE need only complete the active PDU session before the current network link quality deteriorates.

Here, the foreground application is an application running in the foreground in the UE.

S106, the connection management module 100c and the modem 100d execute the PDU session establishment procedure.

The PDU session establishment procedure may refer to the PDU session establishment procedure in the prior art, and will not be described herein.

Here, the time to start the establishment of the PDU session may be determined according to the time when the network quality prediction module 100a predicts the current network quality degradation and the time required to establish the PDU session. The description of the start of the PDU session in step S105 is referred to herein, and will not be repeated here.

S107, the connection management module 100c transmits the response information to the network quality monitoring module 100 b.

When the connection management module 100c determines that the PDU session corresponding to the foreground application is ready, the connection management module 100c transmits response information to the network quality monitoring module. The response information is used to inform the network quality monitoring module 100b that the corresponding PDU is ready for the foreground application.

S108, the network quality monitoring module 100b determines whether the foreground application supports a Multi-Path transmission mode, if yes, the step S109a is executed; if not, step S109b is performed.

If the UE and the corresponding server of the foreground application both support a multiplex control protocol (Multi-Path Transport Control Protocol, MPTCP), the network quality monitoring module 100b determines that the foreground application supports a Multi-Path transmission mode. If the foreground application supports the Multi-Path transmission mode, step S109a is performed. If the foreground application does not support the Multi-Path transmission mode, step S109b is performed.

S109a, the network quality monitoring module 100b and the connection management module 100c trigger activation of the Multi-Path transmission mode.

The network quality monitoring module 100b and the connection management module 100c trigger the activation of the Multi-Path transmission mode, i.e. the UE transmits data of the foreground application over the current network link and the standby network link.

S109b, the network quality monitoring module 100b and the connection management module 100c trigger the execution of the handover of the transmission link.

The network quality monitoring module 100b and the connection management module 100c trigger the execution of the handover of the transmission link, i.e., the UE transmits the data of the foreground application through the standby network link and stops transmitting the data of the foreground application using the network link used before the handover to the standby network link.

In the connection management method provided by the embodiment of the application, the UE can predict that the network quality of the network link currently used by the UE is poor after a period of time. The UE prepares the standby network link before the network quality of the current network link is deteriorated and transmits data of the foreground application through the standby network link or simultaneously through the standby network link and the current network link. The UE can take measures in advance before the network quality of the current network link is poor by predicting the network quality of the current network link, so that the occurrence of clamping when a background application runs after the link quality of the network link is poor is avoided. And, the PDU session required by the foreground application can be ensured to be in an available state when the UE starts the cellular data network, and the foreground application in the UE can be prevented from being blocked when the network quality of the currently used network link is poor. Thus, the user can reduce the situation that the network of the UE is degraded in the process of using the UE. The method can reduce the time delay and the time of blocking in the operation process of the foreground application perceived by a user. In this way, the user experience may be improved.

In a specific scenario of the embodiment of the present application, the network link currently used by the UE is a Wi-Fi network, and the standby network link is a 5G network. When the UE predicts that the network quality of the Wi-Fi network used currently is poor at a certain time, the UE starts to start a 5G network and prepares a PDU session corresponding to a foreground application. The UE then transmits data of the foreground application through the PDU session or transmits data of the foreground application through the PDU session and the Wi-Fi network. The specific process of the UE in this scenario from transmitting data of a foreground application over a Wi-Fi network to transmitting data of a foreground application over a PDU session, or transmitting data of a foreground application over a PDU session and a Wi-Fi network may refer to fig. 6.

As shown in fig. 6, in the connection management method proposed in the present application, the method specifically may include the following steps:

s201. the ue transmits data of the first application using a wireless fidelity Wi-Fi network.

Here, the first application is an application running in the foreground in the UE, that is, the foreground application described above. The first application may be a communication-type application, a game-type application, a video-type application, etc., and is not limited herein as to which application the first application is specifically and which application.

The UE currently uses a Wi-Fi network to transmit data of the first application. In the transmission process, due to the link quality between the UE and the Wi-Fi network, the delay value of the first data transmitted by the UE through the Wi-Fi is different. Different types of applications have different requirements for the delay value. For example, gaming applications require that the smaller the delay in the data transmission process, the better. If the time delay is too large, the game is blocked, so that the user experience is affected.

And S202, the UE acquires first data, wherein the first data comprises link quality information between the current Wi-Fi network and the UE.

The UE may acquire the first data during a process of transmitting the data of the first application through the Wi-Fi network. The first data includes link quality information between the current Wi-Fi network and the UE, time information acquired by the UE, location information, motion information, and the like. For the detailed description of the first data, reference may be made to the description of the first data in step S101, which is not repeated here.

In one possible implementation, the UE periodically acquires the first data. Thus, the UE can timely acquire the link quality between the UE and the Wi-Fi network.

In one possible implementation, before collecting the data, the method includes: the method comprises the steps that UE collects learning data, and the UE determines the first time for the UE to collect first data according to the learning data; the UE collecting the first data specifically includes: the UE collects first data at a first time. Therefore, the UE only collects the first data in a fixed time period every day, and the periodic data collection is not needed, so that the power consumption of the UE can be saved.

In particular, the learning data may be a point in time or a period of time when the UE's link quality with a first Wi-Fi network (e.g., a Wi-Fi network in home, a Wi-Fi network in office, etc.) is below a certain threshold. The learning data may also be a point in time or a period of time when the UE switches from the first Wi-Fi network to the cellular data network every day. Then based on the point in time or period in the learning data, the UE may determine a first time at which to collect the first data daily. For example, if the user leaves home at 8 points per day, the user leaves the coverage area of the Wi-Fi network in the home and the user switches the Wi-Fi network in the UE to cellular mobile data. The learning data recorded in the UE is that the UE is 8 points in time to switch from the home Wi-Fi network to the cellular data network, and the UE starts to collect the first data 8 points per day or a period of time (e.g., 7 points 50, 55, etc.) before 8 points per day according to the learning data.

The learning data may also be the time the user opens a particular application with stringent requirements on latency every day. For example, a user may begin playing a game using a UE at 8 pm per day, where the gaming application may have stringent requirements on the delay value of the data transmission, e.g., where the gaming application may require a data transmission delay value of less than 200 milliseconds. To prevent the Wi-Fi network from failing to meet the requirements, the user may switch the Wi-Fi to which the UE is connected to a 5G network. The learning data in the UE may be the time the user opened the game application every day. Thus, the first time at which the first data is collected may be seconds or minutes before the user opens the gaming application. If the UE takes 5 seconds to collect the first data, then the UE takes 15 seconds to switch from Wi-Fi network to cellular data network. The UE may complete acquiring the first data before the user opens the game, and switch the Wi-Fi network to the 5G network. The UE may begin to collect the first data 20 seconds before the user opens the game, may collect the first data 40 seconds before the user opens the game, or collect the first data multiple times the first half hour the user opens the game application, etc., which is not limited herein.

In one possible implementation, the UE performs step S202 after the connection management function in the UE is turned on. If the connection management function in the UE is not on, the UE does not execute step S202. After the connection function is opened, the UE may acquire link quality information, time information, or motion information of the current network link, and determine whether the current network link (e.g., wi-Fi network) needs to be switched to a standby network link (e.g., 5G network) according to the link quality information, the time information, or the motion information. This process user is unaware, which ensures that the network quality of the network link of the process UE, where the UE is used, is good. That is, the UE does not switch the Wi-Fi network to which the UE is connected to the cellular data network when the connection management function is not turned on. This may avoid that the UE switches Wi-Fi networks to cellular data networks in case the user is unaware or in case the user does not want to use the cellular data network. An increase in data traffic costs resulting in the user can be avoided.

Further, a control may be present in the UE to open the connection management functionality. As with the user interface 700 shown in fig. 7, a user may initiate a connection management function via control 701. If the data flow set ordered by the user in the current month is not more in the rest data flow, the user can not start the connection management function in the UE. Therefore, the user can select whether to start the connection management function or not, and user experience is improved.

S203, the UE judges whether the first data meets the switching connection condition, and the switching connection condition is determined by the UE according to the historical data. If yes, go to step S204; if not, execution continues with S201.

In one possible implementation, the UE collects historical data and generates connection switching conditions based on the historical data. The historical data comprise historical connection data between the Wi-Fi network and the UE, and/or information acquired by a sensor in the UE when the UE is connected with the Wi-Fi network. Here, the history connection data may be link quality information between the UE and the Wi-Fi network when the UE connects to the Wi-Fi network, and time information, location information, and the like when the Wi-Fi link quality is lower than a certain threshold. Reference is made here to the description of the history data in step S101, and no further description is given here.

In one possible implementation, if the link quality information is that the UE receives signal strength information of the Wi-Fi network, the switching connection condition may be that the signal strength of the Wi-Fi network received by the UE is lower than a first threshold; if the link quality information is delay information when the UE transmits the data of the first application through the Wi-Fi network, the connection switching condition is that the delay when the UE transmits the data of the first application through the Wi-Fi network is larger than a second threshold. For the handover connection condition, reference may be made to the description of the handover connection condition in step 101, and the description thereof will not be repeated here.

In one possible implementation, after the UE determines that the first data meets the handover connection condition, the UE determines that the remaining data traffic in the 5G traffic package subscribed by the user exceeds the threshold a, and the UE performs step S204, otherwise, the UE does not perform step S204. That is, if the remaining data traffic in the 5G traffic package subscribed by the user is insufficient, the UE stops performing the step of switching the Wi-Fi network link to the 5G network link. In this way, additional data traffic costs to the user may be avoided.

In one possible implementation, after the UE determines that the first data satisfies the handover connection condition, the UE determines that the remaining power exceeds the threshold B, and the UE performs step S204, otherwise, the UE does not perform step S204. That is, when the remaining power in the UE is insufficient, the UE stops performing the step of switching the Wi-Fi network link to the 5G network link. Therefore, the power consumption of the UE can be saved, and the shutdown of the UE caused by the fact that the UE switches the Wi-Fi network link to the 5G network link is avoided.

S204, the UE judges whether a first PDU session exists in the protocol data unit PDU session currently existing in the UE, and the first PDU session meets the transmission condition of data of the first application. If yes, go to step S205a; if not, step S205b is performed.

In one possible implementation, the first PDU session satisfies a transmission condition of data of the first application, including: the first application is associated with a first PDU session or the first PDU session matches parameters in a routing descriptor corresponding to the first application, the parameters in the routing descriptor including one or more of S-NSSAI, SSC mode, data network identification, access type.

S205a. the ue transmits data of the first application through the first PDU session or transmits data of the first application through the Wi-Fi network and the first PDU session.

If the UE and the server corresponding to the first application both support MPTCP, the UE transmits the data of the first application through the Wi-Fi network and the first PDU session. If one or both of the UE and the first application server do not support MPTCP, the UE transmits data of the first application through the first PDU session.

In one possible implementation, before step S205a, the method includes: if the first PDU session is associated with the first application, the electronic device activates the first PDU session; if the first PDU session is not associated with the first application, the electronic device associates the first PDU session with the first application and activates the first PDU session.

The ue establishes a first PDU session and transmits data of the first application through the first PDU session or transmits data of the first application through the Wi-Fi network and the first PDU session.

If the first PDU session does not exist, the UE establishes the first PDU session for the first application. The procedure for establishing the first PDU session refers to the procedure for establishing the PDU session in the prior art, and will not be described herein. If the UE and the server corresponding to the first application both support MPTCP, the UE transmits the data of the first application through the Wi-Fi network and the first PDU session. If one or both of the UE and the first application server do not support MPTCP, the UE transmits data of the first application through the first PDU session.

In the connection management method provided by the embodiment of the application, the network link currently used by the UE is a Wi-Fi network, and the standby network link is a 5G network. When the UE predicts that the network quality of the Wi-Fi network used currently is poor at a certain time, the UE starts to start a 5G network and prepares a PDU session corresponding to a foreground application. The UE then transmits data of the foreground application through the PDU session or transmits data of the foreground application through the PDU session and the Wi-Fi network. The UE can start the 5G network in advance before the network quality of the Wi-Fi network is poor, and prepares a PDU session required by the foreground application, so that the problem that the foreground application is blocked when running when the network quality of the Wi-Fi network is poor can be avoided, and the user experience is affected.

Fig. 8 shows a diagram of a UE software system architecture provided in the prior art. In particular, the processor in the UE may include an application processor and a modem. An application processor may include an application layer, a framework layer, and a kernel layer.

The kernel layer is used for providing process management, file network management, system security authority management, communication foundation of the system and hardware equipment and the like. For example, the kernel layer may contain input/output device drivers, network protocol stacks (e.g., transmission control protocol (transmission control protocol, TCP)/user datagram protocol (user datagramprotocol, UDP), internet protocol (internet protocol, IP)), etc.

The framework layer is used to provide various application programming interfaces (application programming interface, APIs) that may be used in building applications, such as connection management modules, communication manager (telephony manager), radio interface layer (radio interface layer, RIL), quality of service statistics modules, network quality control modules, and the like. The connection manager is mainly used for managing operations related to network connection. The communication manager is mainly used for managing information related to the UE, the operator, etc., such as device information, SIM card information, network information, etc. The wireless interface layer is mainly used for reliable transmission of data, transmission of commands and the like. The service quality statistics module is used for counting the running quality (time delay, blocking and the like) of the application using process application. The network quality monitoring module is used for triggering switching between a Wi-Fi network and a cellular data network in the UE, activating a Multi-Path transmission mode and triggering switching between the SIM card 1 and the SIM card 2.

The application layer includes applications installed on the UE, wherein the applications may be simply referred to as applications. The application may be a native application (native application) (e.g., setup, desktop, file management, etc.), or may be a third party application (e.g., weChat, game, etc.).

Typically, an application processor in the UE may support the installation of Applications (APP) with different functions to meet different needs of the user. Such as graphics, presentations, word processing, games, telephones, video players, music players, email, instant messaging, photo management, cameras, browsers, calendars, clocks, payments, application markets, desktops, and health management.

The modem is modem based on a protocol specified by the supported communication technology. The protocol specified by the communication technology in the embodiments of the present application may also be referred to as a communication protocol. The communication protocol stack is the sum of the communication protocols of the layers. Illustratively, as shown in fig. 8, the communication protocol stack of the modem may be divided into a control plane and a user plane that are vertically aligned. The control plane is used for transmitting control signaling, and mainly comprises a non-access stratum (NAS) layer, a radio resource control (radio resource control, RRC) layer, a service data adaptation protocol (servicedata adaptation protocol, SDAP) layer, a packet data convergence protocol (packet data convergenceprotocol, PDCP) layer, a radio link control (radio link control, RLC) layer, a medium access control (mediaaccess control, MAC) layer, and a Physical (PHY) layer. The user plane is used for transmitting data information and mainly comprises an SDAP layer, a PDCP layer, an RLC layer, a MAC layer and a PHY layer. It should be understood that the protocol layers of the control plane and the user plane may be divided in different manners or the same manner under different communication technologies. Wherein, the RRC layer, SDAP layer, PDCP layer, RLC layer, MAC layer and PHY layer all belong to an Access Stratum (AS) layer.

Fig. 9 shows a UE software system architecture diagram provided in an embodiment of the present application. The processor in the UE may include an application processor and a modem. An application processor may include an application layer, a framework layer, and a kernel layer.

Wherein the application layer and the kernel layer refer to the description of the application layer and the kernel layer shown in fig. 8, and are not repeated herein.

Compared with the framework layer shown in fig. 8, the framework layer in the UE software system architecture provided in the embodiment of the present application further includes a network quality prediction module.

The network quality prediction module may obtain link quality information for the cellular data network from the modem, quality link information between the UE and the Wi-Fi network from the Wi-Fi module, and operational quality for the foreground application from the traffic quality statistics module. The network quality prediction module predicts that the network quality of the current network link is deteriorated after a period of time and notifies the network quality monitoring module.

After the network quality monitoring module receives the notification of the network quality prediction module, the network quality monitoring module is connected with the management module to switch between the Wi-Fi network and the cellular data network in the UE, activate a Multi-Path transmission mode, trigger the switching between the SIM card 1 and the SIM card 2 and the like.

The connection management module switches between the Wi-Fi network and the cellular data network, activates a Multi-Path transmission mode and switches between the SIM card 1 and the SIM card 2 according to the instruction of the network quality monitoring module. In the 5G scene, the connection management module and the non-access layer in the modem execute together to establish the PDU session corresponding to the foreground application.

Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of another hardware architecture of a UE according to an embodiment of the present application. For ease of illustration, fig. 10 shows only the main components of the user device 1000. As shown in fig. 10, the user equipment 1000 may include a processor 1003, a memory 1002, and a transceiver 1001.

The processor 1003 is mainly configured to execute program codes in the user equipment 1000, so that the user equipment 1000 performs the connection management method described in the above method embodiment.

The memory 1002 may be, but is not limited to, a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage communication device that can store static information and instructions, a random access memory (random access memory, RAM) or other type of dynamic storage communication device that can store information and instructions, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, EEPROM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disk storage, optical disk storage (including compact disc, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc, blu-ray disc, etc.), magnetic disk storage media or other magnetic storage communication device, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer. The memory 1002 may be separate or integrated with the processor 1003.

The memory 1002 is used for storing a software program for executing the scheme of the application, and the processor 1003 controls the execution of the software program. The specific implementation manner may refer to the above method embodiment, and will not be described herein.

Transceiver 1001 may be a separately configured transmitter that may be used to transmit information to other devices, or a separately configured receiver that may be used to receive information from other devices. The transceiver may also be a component that integrates the functions of transmitting and receiving information, and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific implementation of the transceiver.

Optionally, the user device 1000 may also include a bus 1001. Wherein the processor 1003, the memory 1002 and the transceiver 1001 may be connected to each other by a bus 1004; bus 1004 may be a peripheral component interconnect standard (peripheral component interconnect, PCI) bus, or an extended industry standard architecture (extended industry standard architecture, EISA) bus, among others. The bus 1004 may be divided into an address bus, a data bus, a control bus, and the like. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is shown in fig. 10, but not only one bus or one type of bus.

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

In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices, and methods may be implemented in other manners. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative, e.g., the division of the units is merely a logical function division, and there may be additional divisions when actually implemented, e.g., multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted or not performed. Alternatively, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed with each other may be an indirect coupling or communication connection via some interfaces, devices or units, which may be in electrical, mechanical or other form.

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

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

The functions, if implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as a stand-alone product, may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solution of the present application may be embodied essentially or in a part contributing to the prior art or in a part of the technical solution, or in a software product stored in a storage medium, including several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) or a processor (processor) to perform all or part of the steps of the methods described in the embodiments of the present application. And the aforementioned storage medium includes: a usb disk, a removable hard disk, a ROM, a RAM, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk, etc.

The above embodiments are merely for illustrating the technical solution of the present application, and not for limiting the same; although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that: the technical scheme described in the foregoing embodiments can be modified or some technical features thereof can be replaced by equivalents; such modifications and substitutions do not depart from the spirit of the corresponding technical solutions from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A connection management method applied to an electronic device, comprising:

transmitting data of the first application using a wireless fidelity Wi-Fi network;

acquiring first data at a first time determined according to the learning data, wherein the first data comprises link quality information between the Wi-Fi network and the electronic equipment at present;

determining that the link quality of the Wi-Fi network is lower than a preset threshold value or the electronic equipment leaves the coverage area of the Wi-Fi network in a second time range according to the fact that the first data meets the switching connection condition, wherein the second time range is a time range from the first moment to the second moment;

before the second time, activating the established first protocol data unit PDU session, or if the first PDU session does not exist, establishing the first PDU session; the first PDU session meets the transmission condition of the data of the first application, and the switching connection condition is determined by the electronic equipment according to historical data;

transmitting data of the first application through the first PDU session or transmitting data of the first application through the Wi-Fi network and the first PDU session.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first PDU session satisfies a transmission condition of data of the first application, comprising:

the first application is associated with the first PDU session or the first PDU session is matched with parameters in a routing descriptor corresponding to the first application, wherein the parameters comprise at least one of single network slice selection assistance information S-NSSAI, service and session continuity SSC mode, data network identification DNN, access type.

3. The method according to any of claims 1 or 2, wherein said activating an established first protocol data unit, PDU, session comprises:

if the first PDU session is associated with the first application, the electronic device activates the first PDU session;

and if the first PDU session is not associated with the first application, the electronic equipment associates the first PDU session with the first application and activates the first PDU session.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

collecting the historical data, and generating the switching connection condition according to the historical data;

The history data comprises history connection data between the Wi-Fi network and the electronic equipment, and/or information acquired by a sensor in the electronic equipment when the electronic equipment is connected with the Wi-Fi network.

5. The method of claim 3, the link quality information being signal strength information of the Wi-Fi network received by the electronic device; the switching connection condition is that the signal intensity of the Wi-Fi network received by the electronic equipment is lower than a first threshold value; or alternatively, the first and second heat exchangers may be,

the link quality information is time delay information when the electronic equipment transmits the data of the first application through the Wi-Fi network; the switching connection condition is that the time delay of the electronic equipment when transmitting the data of the first application through the Wi-Fi network is larger than a second threshold value.

6. The method of any of claims 4 or 5, wherein the first application is an application running in the electronic device foreground.

7. A connection management apparatus, comprising: the device comprises a first transmission unit, an acquisition unit, a first judgment unit and a processing unit, wherein,

the first transmission unit is used for transmitting data of a first application by using a wireless fidelity Wi-Fi network;

The acquiring unit is used for acquiring first data at a first time determined according to the learning data, wherein the first data comprises link quality information between the Wi-Fi network and the device at present;

the first judging unit is configured to determine, according to the first data meeting a switching connection condition, that a link quality of the Wi-Fi network is lower than a preset threshold or that the electronic device leaves a coverage area of the Wi-Fi network within a second time range, where the second time range is a time range from a first time to a second time; the switching connection condition is determined by the device according to historical data;

the processing unit is configured to activate an established first PDU session before the second time, or if the first PDU session does not exist, establish a first PDU session; and determining to transmit data of the first application over the first PDU session or transmit data of the first application over the Wi-Fi network and the first PDU session; the first PDU session satisfies a transmission condition of data of the first application.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first PDU session satisfies a transmission condition of data of the first application, comprising: the first application is associated with the first PDU session or the first PDU session is matched with parameters in a routing descriptor corresponding to the first application, wherein the parameters comprise at least one of single network slice selection assistance information S-NSSAI, service and session continuity SSC mode, data network identification DNN, access type.

9. The device according to any one of claims 7 or 8, further comprising a first activation unit and a second activation unit, wherein,

the first activating unit is configured to activate the first PDU session if the first PDU session is associated with the first application;

the second activating unit is configured to associate the first PDU session with the first application and activate the first PDU session if the first PDU session is not associated with the first application.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a first acquisition unit, wherein,

the first acquisition unit is used for acquiring the historical data and generating the switching connection condition according to the historical data; the historical data includes historical connection data between the Wi-Fi network and the device, and/or information collected by a sensor in the device when the device is connected to the Wi-Fi network.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the link quality information is signal strength information of the Wi-Fi network received by the apparatus; the switching connection condition is that the signal strength of the Wi-Fi network received by the device is lower than a first threshold; or alternatively, the first and second heat exchangers may be,

The link quality information is time delay information when the device transmits the data of the first application through the Wi-Fi network; the switching connection condition is that the time delay of the device when transmitting the data of the first application through the Wi-Fi network is larger than a second threshold value.

12. The apparatus according to any one of claims 10 or 11, wherein the first application is an application running in front of the apparatus.

13. An electronic device, comprising: a memory, one or more processors, the memory having stored therein program code, the memory in communication with the one or more processors, the one or more processors executing the code to instruct the electronic device to perform the method of any one of claims 1-6.

14. A computer storage medium comprising computer instructions which, when run on an electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform the method of any of claims 1-6.