CN113498027A

CN113498027A - Communication method and related equipment

Info

Publication number: CN113498027A
Application number: CN202010267441.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 许斌; 李秉肇; 于海凤; 王燕; 曹振臻; 陈磊
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-04-07
Filing date: 2020-04-07
Publication date: 2021-10-12
Also published as: WO2021203881A1

Abstract

The embodiment of the application provides a communication method and related equipment, wherein the method comprises the following steps: the terminal equipment determines that the terminal equipment is interested in receiving the first multicast service or receiving the first multicast service; the receiving state is indicated by sending first indication information to the first network equipment, wherein the first indication information comprises identification information of the first multicast service, and correspondingly, the first network equipment determines the receiving state of the terminal equipment according to the first indication information from the terminal equipment.

Description

Communication method and related equipment

Technical Field

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

Background

Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) comes from a data server, and first, the data server transmits MBMS service data to a core network device, then the core network device transmits the MBMS service data to a base station through a protocol data unit session (PDU session) or a quality of service (QoS) flow, and finally the base station transmits the MBMS service data to at least one terminal device receiving the MBMS service. Among them, between the base station and the terminal device, the MBMS service may be sent to a plurality of terminal devices in a connected state in a unicast manner through a dedicated radio bearer established with the terminal device, or may be sent to a plurality of terminal devices in a connected state, an idle state, or an inactive (inactive) state in a multicast manner through establishing a common transmission channel for the MBMS service. In the process of actually sending the MBMS service, since many terminal devices receiving the MBMS service are in an idle state or an inactive state, the network side cannot know the conditions of the terminal devices, and thus cannot make an accurate and appropriate decision for the MBMS service.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application discloses a communication method and related equipment, which can count the number of terminal equipment receiving or interested in receiving multicast services in real time and maintain the transmission of the multicast services.

A first aspect of an embodiment of the present application discloses a communication method, where the method is applied to a communication device, where the communication device is, for example, a terminal device, and the method includes:

determining a receiving state of the first multicast service;

sending first indication information to a first network device, where the first indication information is used to indicate a receiving state of the terminal device for a first multicast service, and the first indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service.

In the method, when the terminal device starts or stops receiving the multicast service, the first network device needs to be reported, that is, the first indication information is sent to the first network device; when the terminal device moves, the terminal device also needs to report the first network device, that is, the first indication information is sent to the first network device, in such a way, the first network device can determine the receiving state of the terminal device in time, and count the number of terminal devices interested in receiving the multicast service or receiving the multicast service in a certain cell in real time according to the receiving state, so as to avoid wrong statistics caused by cell reselection, thereby maintaining the transmission of the multicast service more accurately.

In an optional aspect, the receiving state includes: at least one of starting to receive the first multicast service, receiving the first multicast service, stopping receiving the first multicast service, soon to receive the first multicast service, desiring to receive the first multicast service, interested in receiving the first multicast service, and not interested in receiving the first multicast service.

In the method, when the terminal device is in any one of the receiving states, the first network device needs to be reported, which is beneficial for the first network device to determine the receiving state of the terminal device in time.

In yet another optional scheme, the first indication information further includes identification information of the terminal device.

In yet another optional scheme, scheduling information from the first network device is received, where the scheduling information is used to indicate a time-frequency resource of the first indication information, and the scheduling information is carried in system information, radio resource control RRC signaling, random access message, or downlink control information DCI.

In the method, the first network device configures the time-frequency resource position for sending the first indication information for the terminal device, which is beneficial to reasonably utilizing the time-frequency resource and avoiding waste.

In yet another optional scenario, after the sending the first indication information to the first network device, the method further includes: starting a timer; determining that the timer has expired; and sending the first indication information to the first network equipment.

In the method, the timer mechanism is to prevent the network device from not knowing the receiving state of the terminal device and being unable to accurately count the number of the terminal devices when the report of the terminal device is in error, so with the timer mechanism, when the timer of the network device is overtime, if the report of the terminal device is not received, the terminal device can be considered to be no longer interested in the multicast service. In addition, by adopting the mechanism, when the terminal equipment is not interested in the multicast service any more, the network equipment can know the multicast service without reporting the multicast service again and only by waiting for the overtime of the timer without reporting the multicast service.

In yet another alternative, the method further comprises: and after cell reselection or service cell replacement is performed, sending the second indication information to the first network device, where the second indication information includes first identification information and identification information of the first multicast service, and the first identification information includes identification information of a source network device and/or identification information of the terminal device.

In the method, when the terminal device moves, the terminal device sends second indication information to the first network device, and accordingly, the first network device addresses the source network device according to the indication information and informs the source network device of the departure of the terminal device interested in receiving the multicast service, so that the source network device updates the number of the terminal devices interested in receiving the first multicast service or the number of the first multicast service in a certain area.

A second aspect of the embodiments of the present application discloses a communication method, where the method is applied to a communication device, where the communication device is, for example, a terminal device, and the method includes:

and after cell reselection or service cell replacement is performed, sending the first indication information to the first network device, where the first indication information includes first identification information and identification information of the first multicast service, and the first identification information includes identification information of a source network device and/or identification information of the terminal device.

In the method, when the terminal device moves, the terminal device needs to report the first network device, that is, the first indication information is sent to the first network device, and in this way, the first network device can determine the receiving state of the terminal device in time, count the number of terminal devices interested in receiving the multicast service or receiving the multicast service in a certain cell in real time, and avoid wrong statistics due to cell reselection, thereby maintaining the transmission of the multicast service more accurately.

A third aspect of the embodiments of the present application discloses a communication method, where the method is applied to a communication device, where the communication device is, for example, a first network device, and includes:

receiving first indication information from a terminal device, wherein the first indication information is used for indicating a receiving state of the terminal device to a first multicast service, and the first indication information comprises identification information of the first multicast service;

and determining the receiving state of the terminal equipment according to the first indication information.

In yet another alternative, the method further comprises: and sending scheduling information to the terminal equipment, wherein the scheduling information is used for indicating the time-frequency resource of the first indication information, and the scheduling information is carried in system information, Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, random access information or Downlink Control Information (DCI).

In yet another optional scheme, a second network device is determined according to second indication information from the terminal device, where the second indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service and first identification information, and the first identification information includes identification information of the second network device and/or identification information of the terminal device.

In yet another alternative, the method further comprises: and sending third indication information to the second network device, where the third indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device leaves, and the third indication information includes the identification information of the first multicast service and/or the identification information of the terminal device.

In yet another alternative, the method further comprises: receiving a handover request message from the second network device, where the handover request message includes fourth indication information, and the fourth indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service.

In the method, the first network device may know the identification information of the multicast service interested by the terminal device by receiving the identification information of the first multicast service in the handover request message from the second network device, so as to update the number of terminal devices interested in receiving the first multicast service or the number of the first multicast service in a certain area.

In yet another alternative, the method further comprises: and sending fifth indication information to core network equipment, wherein the fifth indication information comprises identification information of the first multicast service, identification information of the terminal equipment and second identification information, and the second identification information comprises at least one of a Tracking Area Identification (TAI), a Cell Global Identification (CGI) and a public land mobile network identity (PLMN ID).

In the above method, the first network device sends fifth indication information to the core network device, where the fifth indication information addresses the second network device for the core network device, and informs the second network device of being interested in receiving the multicast service or the departure of the terminal device that is receiving the multicast service, so that the second network device updates the number of terminal devices that are interested in receiving the first multicast service or the number of the first multicast service in a certain area.

In yet another alternative, the method further comprises: receiving a first message from a terminal device, wherein the first message comprises the fifth indication information.

A fourth aspect of the present embodiment discloses a communication method, where the method is applied to a communication device, where the communication device is, for example, a first core network device or an application server, and includes:

receiving first indication information from a terminal device, where the first indication information is used to indicate a receiving state of a first multicast service by the terminal device, and the first indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service.

In the method, when the terminal device starts or stops receiving the multicast service, the terminal device needs to report the first core network device or the application server through the first network device, that is, first indication information is sent to the first core network device or the application server; when the terminal device moves, the terminal device also needs to report the first core network device or the application server through the first network device, that is, the first indication information is sent to the first core network device or the application server reported through the first network device.

In the method, when the terminal device is in any of the receiving states, the first core network device or the application server needs to be reported through the first network device, which is beneficial for the first core network device or the application server to count the number of the terminal devices in real time.

In yet another optional aspect, the first indication information further includes: the identification information of the terminal equipment and second identification information, wherein the second identification information comprises at least one of a tracking area identification TAI, a cell global identification CGI and a public land mobile network identity PLMN ID.

In yet another alternative, the method further comprises: receiving second indication information from the first network device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device arrives, and the second indication information includes at least one of identification information of the first multicast service, identification information of the terminal device, identification information of a source network device, and identification information of the first network device.

In the method, the first core network device or the application server receives the second indication information of the first network device, and knows that the terminal device arrives according to the indication information, so as to update the number of the terminal devices interested in receiving the multicast service.

In yet another alternative, the method further comprises: sending request information to second core network equipment, wherein the request information is used for requesting the context information of the terminal equipment; and receiving context information from the second core network equipment, wherein the context information comprises identification information of the first multicast service.

In the method, the first core network device sends request information to the second core network device to request context information of the terminal device, and the first core network device can know the identification information of the multicast service interested by the terminal device according to the identification information of the first multicast service in the context information, thereby updating the number of the terminal devices interested in receiving the multicast service.

In yet another alternative, the method further comprises: and determining the number of the terminal equipment for receiving the first multicast service according to the receiving state of the terminal equipment.

In yet another optional scheme, the method further comprises determining a transmission strategy of the first multicast service according to the number of the terminal devices.

In the method, the core network device or the application server determines different transmission strategies of the first multicast service according to the number of different terminal devices, so that transmission can be performed more flexibly.

In yet another optional scheme, the method further comprises sending a first message to the first network device, wherein the first message comprises the number of the terminal devices.

A fifth aspect of an embodiment of the present application discloses a communication method, where the method is applied to a communication device, where the communication device is, for example, a terminal device, and the method includes:

determining a receiving state of the first multicast service;

and sending first indication information to first core network equipment, wherein the first indication information is used for indicating the receiving state of the terminal equipment to the first multicast service, and the first indication information comprises identification information of the first multicast service.

In the method, when the terminal device starts or stops receiving the multicast service, the terminal device needs to report the first core network device or the application server through the first network device, that is, first indication information is sent to the first core network device or the application server; when the terminal device moves, the terminal device also needs to report the first core network device or the application server through the first network device, that is, first indication information is sent to the first core network device or the application server reported through the first network device.

In yet another alternative, the method further comprises: after cell reselection or changing of a serving cell is performed, the third indication information is sent to the first core network device or an application server, where the third indication information includes first identification information and identification information of the first multicast service, and the first identification information includes identification information of a source network device and/or identification information of the terminal device.

In the method, when the terminal device moves, the terminal device sends third indication information to the first core network device or the application server via the first network device, and accordingly, the first core network device or the application server addresses the source network device according to the third indication information and informs the source network device of leaving the terminal device interested in receiving the multicast service, so that the source network device receives the number of the terminal devices interested in receiving the first multicast service or the number of the first multicast service in a certain area.

A sixth aspect of an embodiment of the present application discloses a communication method, where the method is applied to a communication apparatus, where the communication apparatus is, for example, a first network device, and includes:

determining a second network device;

sending request information to second network equipment, wherein the request information is used for acquiring the context information of the terminal equipment;

receiving the context information from the second network device, the context information including identification information of the first multicast service.

In the method, the first network device determines the second network device according to the indication information from the terminal device, and updates the number of the terminal devices interested in receiving the first multicast service according to the context information of the terminal devices of the second network device, so that the existing RNAU process can be reused as much as possible to complete the statistics of the number of the terminal devices interested in receiving the first multicast service, and meanwhile, the RNAU process enables security protection, so that the malicious reporting of idle terminal devices can be prevented, and the first network device cannot identify the idle terminal devices.

In an optional aspect, the method further comprises:

the radio access network RAN is configured to inform that the area comprises one cell.

In the method, the RAN notification area is configured to include only one cell, and when the terminal device leaves the RAN notification area, the RNAU process is initiated to trigger the first network device to send the request information to the second network device and receive the process of the context information of the second network device, so as to update the number of terminal devices interested in receiving the first multicast service.

In yet another alternative, the method further comprises: receiving first indication information from a terminal device, where the first indication information is used to indicate a receiving state of a first multicast service by the terminal device, and the first indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service.

In the method, when the terminal device starts or stops receiving the multicast service, the first network device needs to be reported, that is, the first indication information is sent to the first network device; when the terminal device moves, the terminal device also needs to report the first network device, that is, the first indication information is sent to the first network device, and in such a way, the first network device can determine the receiving state of the terminal device in time, count the number of terminal devices interested in receiving the multicast service or receiving the multicast service in a certain cell in real time, and avoid wrong counting due to cell reselection, thereby maintaining the transmission of the multicast service more accurately.

In yet another alternative, the receiving state includes: at least one of starting to receive the first multicast service, receiving the first multicast service, stopping receiving the first multicast service, soon to receive the first multicast service, desiring to receive the first multicast service, interested in receiving the first multicast service, and not interested in receiving the first multicast service.

In the method, when the terminal device is in any one of the receiving states, the first network device needs to be reported, which is beneficial for the first network device to count the number of the terminal devices in real time.

A seventh aspect of the embodiments of the present application discloses a communication method, where the method is applied to a communication device, where the communication device is, for example, a second network device, and includes:

receiving request information of first network equipment, wherein the request information is used for acquiring context information of the terminal equipment;

and sending the context information to the first network equipment, wherein the context information comprises the identification information of the first multicast service.

In the method, the second network device can know the departure of a certain terminal device in the cell of the second network device by receiving the request information of the first network device, so as to update the number of terminal devices which are interested in receiving the multicast service or are receiving the multicast service in the cell of the second network device, and the first network device determines the identification information of the multicast service which is interested from the second network device to the terminal device under the first network device according to the identification information of the first multicast service in the context information by receiving the context information of the second network device, so as to update the number of terminal devices in the cell of the first network device.

An eighth aspect of the embodiments of the present application discloses a communication apparatus, where the apparatus may be, for example, a terminal device or a chip in the terminal device, and the apparatus includes:

a processing unit, configured to determine a receiving status of a first multicast service;

a communication unit, configured to send first indication information to a first network device, where the first indication information is used to indicate a receiving state of a first multicast service by the terminal device, and the first indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service.

In yet another optional scheme, the communication unit is further configured to receive scheduling information from the first network device, where the scheduling information is used to indicate a time-frequency resource of the first indication information, and the scheduling information is carried in system information, radio resource control RRC signaling, random access message, or downlink control information DCI.

In yet another alternative, the processing unit is further configured to start a timer; determining that the timer has expired; the communication unit is further configured to send the first indication information to the first network device.

In yet another optional scheme, the communication unit is further configured to send the second indication information to the first network device, where the second indication information includes first identification information and identification information of the first multicast service, and the first identification information includes identification information of a source network device and/or identification information of the terminal device.

With regard to the technical effects brought about by the eighth aspect or the various alternative embodiments, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of the first aspect or the respective embodiments.

A ninth aspect of the present application discloses a communication apparatus, where the apparatus may be, for example, a terminal device or a chip in the terminal device, and the apparatus includes:

a processing unit, configured to send the first indication information to the first network device through a communication unit, where the first indication information includes first identification information and identification information of the first multicast service, and the first identification information includes identification information of a source network device and/or identification information of the terminal device.

With regard to the technical effects brought about by the ninth aspect or various alternative embodiments, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of the second aspect or the respective embodiments.

A tenth aspect of the present embodiment discloses a communication apparatus, which may be, for example, a first network device or a chip in the first network device, and includes:

a communication unit, configured to receive first indication information from a terminal device, where the first indication information is used to indicate a receiving state of a first multicast service by the terminal device, and the first indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service;

and the processing unit is used for determining the receiving state of the terminal equipment according to the first indication information.

In yet another optional scheme, the communication unit is further configured to send scheduling information to the terminal device, where the scheduling information is used to indicate a time-frequency resource of the first indication information, and the scheduling information is carried in system information, radio resource control RRC signaling, random access message, or downlink control information DCI.

In yet another optional scheme, the processing unit is further configured to determine a second network device according to second indication information from the terminal device, where the second indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service and first identification information, and the first identification information includes identification information of the second network device and/or identification information of the terminal device.

In yet another optional scheme, the communication unit is further configured to send third indication information to the second network device, where the third indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device leaves, and the third indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service and/or identification information of the terminal device.

In yet another optional scheme, the communication unit is further configured to receive a handover request message from the second network device, where the handover request message includes fourth indication information, and the fourth indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service.

In yet another optional aspect, the communication unit is further configured to send fifth indication information to a core network device, where the fifth indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service, identification information of the terminal device, and second identification information, and the second identification information includes at least one of a tracking area identity TAI, a cell global identity CGI, and a public land mobile network identity PLMN ID.

In yet another optional scheme, the communication unit is further configured to receive a first message from a terminal device, where the first message includes the fifth indication information.

With regard to the technical effects brought about by the tenth aspect or the various alternative embodiments, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of the third aspect or the respective embodiments.

An eleventh aspect of the present embodiment discloses a communication apparatus, where the apparatus may be, for example, a first core network device or an application server, or a chip in the first core network device or a chip in the application server, and the apparatus includes:

a communication unit, configured to receive first indication information from a terminal device, where the first indication information is used to indicate a receiving state of a first multicast service by the terminal device, and the first indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service.

And the processing unit is further used for determining the receiving state of the terminal equipment according to the first indication information.

In yet another optional aspect, the communication unit is further configured to receive second indication information from the first network device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device arrives, and the second indication information includes at least one of identification information of the first multicast service, identification information of the terminal device, identification information of a source network device, and identification information of the first network device.

In yet another optional scheme, the communication unit is further configured to send request information to a second core network device, where the request information is used to request context information of the terminal device; and receiving context information from the second core network equipment, wherein the context information comprises identification information of the first multicast service.

In yet another optional scheme, the processing unit is further configured to determine, according to a receiving status of the terminal device, the number of terminal devices that receive the first multicast service.

In yet another optional scheme, the processing unit is further configured to determine a transmission policy of the first multicast service according to the number of the terminal devices.

In yet another optional scheme, the communication unit is further configured to send a first message to a first network device, where the first message includes the number of terminal devices.

With regard to the technical effects brought about by the eleventh aspect or various alternative embodiments, reference may be made to the introduction to the technical effects of the fourth aspect or the respective embodiments.

A twelfth aspect of the embodiment of the present application discloses a communication apparatus, where the apparatus may be, for example, a terminal device or a chip in the terminal device, and the apparatus includes:

a communication unit, configured to send first indication information to a first core network device, where the first indication information is used to indicate a receiving state of a first multicast service by the terminal device, and the first indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service.

In yet another optional scheme, the communication unit is further configured to send the third indication information to the first core network device or an application server, where the third indication information includes first identification information and identification information of the first multicast service, and the first identification information includes identification information of a source network device and/or identification information of the terminal device.

With regard to the technical effects brought about by the twelfth aspect or various alternative embodiments, reference may be made to the introduction to the technical effects of the fifth aspect or the respective embodiments.

A thirteenth aspect of an embodiment of the present application discloses a communication apparatus, which may be, for example, a first network device or a chip in the first network device, and includes:

a processing unit for determining a second network device;

a communication unit, configured to send request information to a second network device, where the request information is used to obtain context information of the terminal device;

the communication unit is further configured to receive the context information from the second network device, where the context information includes identification information of the first multicast service.

In an optional aspect, the processing unit is further configured to configure the radio access network RAN notification area to include a cell.

In yet another optional scheme, the communication unit is further configured to receive first indication information from a terminal device, where the first indication information is used to indicate a receiving status of a first multicast service by the terminal device, and the first indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service.

With regard to the technical effects brought about by the thirteenth aspect or the various alternative embodiments, reference may be made to the introduction to the technical effects of the sixth aspect or the respective embodiments.

A fourteenth aspect of an embodiment of the present application discloses a communication apparatus, where the apparatus may be, for example, a second network device or a chip in the second network device, and the apparatus includes:

the processing unit is used for receiving request information of the first network equipment through the communication unit, wherein the request information is used for acquiring the context information of the terminal equipment;

the processing unit is configured to send the context information to the first network device through the communication unit, where the context information includes identification information of the first multicast service.

With regard to the technical effects brought about by the fourteenth aspect or various alternative embodiments, reference may be made to the introduction to the technical effects of the seventh aspect or the respective embodiments.

A fifteenth aspect of an embodiment of the present application discloses a communication device, which includes at least one processor and a transceiver, wherein the at least one processor is configured to communicate with other devices through the transceiver, the memory is configured to store a computer program, and the processor invokes the computer program to perform the following operations:

determining a receiving state of the first multicast service;

In yet another optional scheme, the processor is further configured to receive, by the transceiver, scheduling information from the first network device, where the scheduling information is used to indicate a time-frequency resource of the first indication information, and the scheduling information is carried in system information, radio resource control RRC signaling, a random access message, or downlink control information DCI.

In yet another alternative, the processor is further configured to start a timer; determining that the timer has expired; transmitting, by the transceiver, the first indication information to the first network device.

In yet another optional scenario, the processor is further configured to send, through the transceiver, the second indication information to the first network device after performing cell reselection or changing a serving cell, where the second indication information includes first identification information and identification information of the first multicast service, and the first identification information includes identification information of a source network device and/or identification information of the terminal device.

With regard to the technical effects brought about by the fifteenth aspect or the various alternative embodiments, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of the first aspect or the respective embodiments.

A sixteenth aspect of embodiments of the present application discloses a communication apparatus, including at least one processor and a transceiver, wherein the at least one processor is configured to communicate with other apparatuses through the transceiver, and the memory is configured to store a computer program, and the processor calls the computer program to perform the following operations:

the processor is further configured to send, through the transceiver, the first indication information to the first network device after performing cell reselection or changing a serving cell, where the first indication information includes first identification information and identification information of the first multicast service, and the first identification information includes identification information of a source network device and/or identification information of the terminal device.

With regard to the technical effects brought about by the sixteenth aspect or various alternative embodiments, reference may be made to the introduction to the technical effects of the second aspect or the respective embodiments.

A seventeenth aspect of embodiments of the present application discloses a communication device, including at least one processor and a transceiver, wherein the at least one processor is configured to communicate with other devices through the transceiver, and the memory is configured to store a computer program, and the processor calls the computer program to perform the following operations:

receiving first indication information from a terminal device through the transceiver, wherein the first indication information is used for indicating a receiving state of the terminal device to a first multicast service, and the first indication information comprises identification information of the first multicast service;

In yet another optional scheme, the processor is further configured to send scheduling information to the terminal device through the transceiver, where the scheduling information is used to indicate a time-frequency resource of the first indication information, and the scheduling information is carried in system information, radio resource control RRC signaling, random access message, or downlink control information DCI.

In yet another optional scheme, the processor is further configured to determine a second network device according to second indication information from the terminal device, where the second indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service and first identification information, and the first identification information includes identification information of the second network device and/or identification information of the terminal device.

In yet another optional scenario, the processor is further configured to send, by the transceiver, third indication information to the second network device, where the third indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device leaves, and the third indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service and/or identification information of the terminal device.

In yet another optional aspect, the processor is further configured to receive, through the transceiver, a handover request message from the second network device, where the handover request message includes fourth indication information, and the fourth indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service.

In yet another optional aspect, the processor is further configured to send, by the transceiver, fifth indication information to a core network device, where the fifth indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service, identification information of the terminal device, and second identification information, and the second identification information includes at least one of a Tracking Area Identity (TAI), a Cell Global Identity (CGI), and a public land mobile network identity (PLMN ID).

In yet another optional aspect, the processor is further configured to receive, through the transceiver, a first message from a terminal device, where the first message includes the fifth indication information.

With regard to the technical effects brought about by the seventeenth aspect or the various alternative embodiments, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of the third aspect or the respective embodiments.

An eighteenth aspect of embodiments of the present application discloses a communication device, which includes at least one processor and a transceiver, wherein the at least one processor is configured to communicate with other devices through the transceiver, the memory is configured to store a computer program, and the processor calls the computer program to perform the following operations:

receiving first indication information from a terminal device through the transceiver, wherein the first indication information is used for indicating a receiving state of the terminal device to a first multicast service, and the first indication information comprises identification information of the first multicast service.

In yet another optional aspect, the processor is further configured to receive, by the transceiver, second indication information from the first network device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device arrives, and the second indication information includes at least one of identification information of the first multicast service, identification information of the terminal device, identification information of a source network device, and identification information of the first network device.

In yet another optional scheme, the processor is further configured to send request information to a second core network device through the transceiver, where the request information is used to request context information of the terminal device; and receiving context information from the second core network equipment, wherein the context information comprises identification information of the first multicast service.

In yet another optional scheme, the processor is further configured to determine, according to a reception status of the terminal device, the number of terminal devices that receive the first multicast service.

In yet another optional aspect, the processor is further configured to determine a transmission policy of the first multicast service according to the number of the terminal devices.

In yet another optional aspect, the processor is further configured to send a first message to a first network device through the transceiver, where the first message includes the number of terminal devices.

With regard to the technical effects brought about by the eighteenth aspect or various alternative embodiments, reference may be made to the introduction to the technical effects of the fourth aspect or the respective embodiments.

A nineteenth aspect of embodiments of the present application discloses a communication apparatus, comprising at least one processor and a transceiver, wherein the at least one processor is configured to communicate with other apparatuses via the transceiver, the memory is configured to store a computer program, and the processor calls the computer program to perform the following operations:

determining a receiving state of the first multicast service;

and sending first indication information to first core network equipment through the transceiver, wherein the first indication information is used for indicating the receiving state of the terminal equipment to the first multicast service, and the first indication information comprises identification information of the first multicast service.

In yet another optional scenario, the processor is further configured to send, through the transceiver, the third indication information to the first core network device or the application server after performing cell reselection or changing a serving cell, where the third indication information includes first identification information and identification information of the first multicast service, and the first identification information includes identification information of a source network device and/or identification information of the terminal device.

With regard to the technical effects brought about by the nineteenth aspect or various alternative embodiments, reference may be made to the introduction to the technical effects of the fifth aspect or the respective embodiments.

A twentieth aspect of embodiments of the present application discloses a communication device, comprising at least one processor and a transceiver, wherein the at least one processor is configured to communicate with other devices through the transceiver, and the memory is configured to store a computer program, and the processor calls the computer program to perform the following operations:

determining a second network device;

sending request information to second network equipment through the transceiver, wherein the request information is used for acquiring context information of the terminal equipment;

receiving, by the transceiver, the context information from the second network device, the context information including identification information of the first multicast service.

In an optional aspect, the processor is further configured to configure the RAN notification area to include a cell.

In yet another optional scheme, the processor is further configured to receive, by the transceiver, first indication information from a terminal device, where the first indication information is used to indicate a receiving status of a first multicast service by the terminal device, and the first indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service.

With regard to the technical effects brought about by the twentieth aspect or the various alternative embodiments, reference may be made to the introduction to the technical effects of the sixth aspect or the respective embodiments.

A twenty-first aspect of embodiments of the present application discloses a communication apparatus, which includes at least one processor and a transceiver, wherein the at least one processor is configured to communicate with other apparatuses through the transceiver, the memory is configured to store a computer program, and the processor calls the computer program to perform the following operations:

receiving request information of first network equipment through the transceiver, wherein the request information is used for acquiring context information of the terminal equipment;

sending, by the transceiver, the context information to the first network device, the context information including identification information of the first multicast service

With regard to the technical effects brought about by the twenty-first aspect or the various alternative embodiments, reference may be made to the introduction of the technical effects of the seventh aspect or the respective embodiments.

A twenty-second aspect of the embodiments of the present application discloses a chip, where the chip includes at least one processor and an interface circuit, and optionally, the chip further includes a memory, where the memory, the interface circuit, and the at least one processor are interconnected by a line, and a computer program is stored in the at least one memory; the computer program, when executed by the processor, implements the method described in any aspect or alternative aspects of any aspect.

A twenty-third aspect of embodiments of the present application discloses a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program which, when executed by a processor, implements the method described in any one of the aspects or in an alternative aspect of any one of the aspects.

A twenty-fourth aspect of embodiments of the present application discloses a communication system, which includes the apparatus of the eighth aspect or the apparatus of the ninth aspect, the apparatus of the tenth aspect, the apparatus of the eleventh aspect, the apparatus of the twelfth aspect, the apparatus of the thirteenth aspect, and the apparatus of the fourteenth aspect.

A twenty-fifth aspect of embodiments of the present application discloses a computer program product for implementing the method described in any aspect or in the alternative of any aspect when the computer program product runs on a processor.

Drawings

The drawings used in the embodiments of the present application are described below.

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2 is a schematic transmission diagram of an MBMS service according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3 is a 4G counting mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present application;

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

fig. 5 is a schematic flowchart of another communication method provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a schematic flowchart of another communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

The embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Referring to fig. 1, fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, where the communication system 100 may include an application server 110, a core network device 111, a network device 112, a network device 113, a terminal device 101, a terminal device 102, a terminal device 103, a terminal device 104, a terminal device 105, and a terminal device 106. It should be understood that more or fewer application servers, core network devices, or terminal devices may be included in the communication system 100 to which the methods of the embodiments of the present application may be applied. The network device and the terminal device may be hardware, or may be functionally divided software, or a combination of the two. The network device and the terminal device can communicate with each other through other devices or network elements. In this communication system, the network device 112 may perform data transmission with multiple terminal devices, that is, the network device 112 sends downlink data to the terminal devices 101 to 106, and of course, the terminal devices 101 to 106 may also send uplink data to the network device 112. Furthermore, the terminal device 104, the terminal device 105, and the terminal device 106 may also constitute a communication system in which the network device 112 may transmit downlink data to the terminal device 101, the terminal device 102, and the terminal device 105, and then the terminal device 105 transmits the downlink data to the terminal device 104 or the terminal device 106. The application server 110 or the core network device 111 performs data transmission with the terminal device 101 to the terminal device 106 through the network device 112. The method in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to the communication system 100 shown in fig. 1.

1) Terminal equipment, including equipment providing voice and/or data connectivity to a user, in particular, including equipment providing voice to a user, or including equipment providing data connectivity to a user, or including equipment providing voice and data connectivity to a user. For example, may include a handheld device having wireless connection capability, or a processing device connected to a wireless modem. The terminal device may communicate with a core network via a Radio Access Network (RAN), exchange voice or data with the RAN, or interact with the RAN. The terminal device may include a User Equipment (UE), a wireless terminal device, a mobile terminal device, a device-to-device communication (D2D) terminal device, a vehicle-to-all (V2X) terminal device, a machine-to-machine/machine-type communication (M2M/MTC) terminal device, an internet of things (IoT) terminal device, a light terminal device (light UE), a reduced capability user equipment (reduced capability UE, a redcp AP UE), a subscriber unit (subscriber unit), a subscriber station (mobile station), a remote station (remote), an access point (access point, AP), a remote terminal (terminal), a user agent (user agent), a user terminal (user-to-device), a vehicle-to-all (V2X) terminal device, a machine-to-machine-type communication (M2M/MTC) terminal device, an internet of things (IoT) terminal device, a light terminal device (light UE), a reduced capability UE, a redcp (access point, AP), a remote terminal (terminal unit), a subscriber station (base station), a remote station (base station), a user agent (base station, a base, Or user equipment (user device), etc. For example, mobile telephones (or so-called "cellular" telephones), computers with mobile terminal equipment, portable, pocket, hand-held, computer-included mobile devices, and the like may be included. For example, Personal Communication Service (PCS) phones, cordless phones, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phones, Wireless Local Loop (WLL) stations, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and the like. Also included are constrained devices, such as devices that consume less power, or devices that have limited storage capabilities, or devices that have limited computing capabilities, etc. Examples of information sensing devices include bar codes, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), sensors, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), laser scanners, and the like.

By way of example and not limitation, in the embodiments of the present application, the terminal device may also be a wearable device. Wearable equipment can also be called wearable smart device or intelligent wearable equipment etc. is the general term of using wearable technique to carry out intelligent design, develop the equipment that can dress to daily wearing, like glasses, gloves, wrist-watch, dress and shoes etc.. A wearable device is a portable device that is worn directly on the body or integrated into the clothing or accessories of the user. The wearable device is not only a hardware device, but also realizes powerful functions through software support, data interaction and cloud interaction. The generalized wearable smart device includes full functionality, large size, and can implement full or partial functionality without relying on a smart phone, such as: smart watches or smart glasses and the like, and only focus on a certain type of application functions, and need to be used in cooperation with other devices such as smart phones, such as various smart bracelets, smart helmets, smart jewelry and the like for monitoring physical signs.

The various terminal devices described above, if located on a vehicle (e.g., placed in or installed in the vehicle), may be considered to be vehicle-mounted terminal devices, which are also referred to as on-board units (OBUs), for example.

In this embodiment, the terminal device may further include a relay (relay). Or, it is understood that any device capable of data communication with a base station may be considered a terminal device.

In the embodiment of the present application, the apparatus for implementing the function of the terminal device may be the terminal device, or may be an apparatus capable of supporting the terminal device to implement the function, for example, a chip system, and the apparatus may be installed in the terminal device. In the embodiment of the present application, the chip system may be composed of a chip, and may also include a chip and other discrete devices. In the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application, a device for implementing a function of a terminal is taken as an example of a terminal device, and the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is described.

2) Network devices, including, for example, Access Network (AN) devices, such as base stations (e.g., access points), may refer to devices in AN access network that communicate with wireless terminal devices over one or more cells over the air, or, for example, a network device in vehicle-to-all (V2X) technology is a Road Side Unit (RSU). The base station may be configured to interconvert received air frames and IP packets as a router between the terminal device and the rest of the access network, which may include an IP network. The RSU may be a fixed infrastructure entity supporting the V2X application and may exchange messages with other entities supporting the V2X application. The network device may also coordinate attribute management for the air interface. For example, the network device may include an evolved Node B (NodeB or eNB or e-NodeB) in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system or an advanced long term evolution (LTE-a), or may also include a next generation Node B (gNB) in a 5th generation (5G) NR system (also referred to as NR system) or may also include a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU) in a Cloud access network (Cloud RAN) system, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

In the embodiment of the present application, the apparatus for implementing the function of the network device may be a network device, or may be an apparatus capable of supporting the network device to implement the function, for example, a system on chip, and the apparatus may be installed in the network device. In the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application, a device for implementing a function of a network device is taken as an example of a network device, and the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application is described.

3) A core network device, for example, including an access and mobility management Function (AMF), a Session Management Function (SMF), a User Plane Function (UPF), or the like, or for example, a core network device may include a mobility management device (MME), a Serving Gateway (SGW), a packet data node gateway (PGW), a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) storing subscriber subscription information, a Policy control unit (Policy and Charging Function, PCRF), or the like, or for example, a gateway switching center (MSC)/location register (visitor location register, VLR), a mobile switching center (gms), a GPRS service node (GPRS support node), SGSN), a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN), a Home Location Register (HLR), and the like, where the core network device may also be a core network device in a future communication system, and the embodiment of the present invention is not limited.

In this embodiment of the present application, the apparatus for implementing the function of the core network device may be the core network device, or may be an apparatus capable of supporting the core network device to implement the function, for example, a chip system, and the apparatus may be installed in the core network device. In the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present application, taking a device for implementing a function of a core network device as an example, the core network device is described.

4) The application server may be, for example, an application server that allows a plurality of users to use an application program at the same time, and the application server may be a single server, or may be a server cluster composed of a plurality of servers, or may be another hardware device having a computing capability.

5) Radio Resource Control (RRC) states, a terminal device has 3 RRC states: RRC connected state (connected state), RRC idle state (idle state), and inactive state (inactive state).

Herein, "connected state" and "RRC connected state" are the same concept, and the two designations may be interchanged): the terminal device establishes RRC connection with the network, and the network establishes connection with the core network aiming at the terminal device, so that data transmission can be carried out.

Herein, "idle state" and "RRC idle state" are the same concept, and the two designations may be interchanged): the terminal device does not establish RRC connection with the network, the base station does not store the context of the terminal device, and the network does not establish connection with the core network for the terminal device. If the terminal device needs to enter the RRC connected state from the RRC idle state, an RRC connection establishment procedure needs to be initiated.

Herein, "deactivated dynamic," "deactivated," "inactive," "RRC inactive," and "RRC deactivated" are the same concept, and these designations may be interchanged): the terminal device enters into the RRC connected state before, and then the base station releases the RRC connection, but the base station saves the context of the terminal device, and meanwhile, the connection established by the network and the core network for the terminal device is not released. If the terminal device needs to re-enter the RRC connected state from the RRC inactive state, an RRC connection recovery procedure (alternatively referred to as an RRC connection re-establishment procedure) needs to be initiated.

6) Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) is a service for multiple terminal devices, such as a live broadcast service, a public safety service, a batch software update service, and the like, and the transmission of the MBMS service needs to consider the reception of multiple terminal devices, and a multicast transmission technology, that is, a technology for simultaneously transmitting the MBMS service to multiple terminal devices through a public transmission path, may be adopted; a unicast transmission technique, that is, a technique of transmitting the MBMS service to each terminal device through separate transmission channels respectively established with a plurality of terminal devices, may also be employed. Multicast transmission techniques in 4G include single cell point to multi-point (SC-PTM) and Multicast-broadcast single-frequency-network (MBSFN) techniques.

Having described some of the concepts related to the embodiments of the present application, the following describes features of the embodiments of the present application.

The MBMS service comes from a data server, as shown in fig. 2, a transmission diagram of the MBMS service. First, a data server sends MBMS service data to a core network device, then the core network device sends the MBMS service data to a base station through a protocol data unit session (PDU session) or quality of service (QoS) flow, and finally the base station sends the MBMS service data to at least one terminal device receiving the MBMS service. Among them, between the base station and the terminal device, the MBMS service may be sent to a plurality of UEs in a connected state in a unicast manner through a dedicated radio bearer established with the UE, or may be sent to a plurality of terminal devices in a connected state, or in an idle state, or in an inactive state in a multicast manner through establishing a common transmission channel (multicast radio bearer) for the MBMS service. In the process of actually sending the MBMS service, the base station or the core network needs to determine which transmission method to transmit the MBMS service to a specific terminal device and how to maintain the transmission of the MBMS service according to the number of terminal devices currently receiving the MBMS service or interested in the MBMS service.

In the multicast transmission technologies of the third generation mobile communication technology (the 3th generation, 3G) and the fourth generation mobile communication technology (the 4th generation, 4G), a counting mechanism is designed for counting the number of terminal devices currently receiving a specific MBMS service or interested in the specific MBMS service in a certain area. As shown in fig. 3, fig. 3 shows the counting mechanism of 4G. In 3G and 4G, a base station may send a counting request to a terminal device through a Multicast Control Channel (MCCH) specially designed for multicast transmission, where the counting request carries identification information of an MBMS service, and after the terminal device receives the counting request, if the MBMS service is being received or the MBMS service is interested in being received, the terminal device sends a counting response to the base station according to a preset rule, and the base station counts the number of terminal devices that are receiving the MBMS service or interested in the MBMS service according to the counting response sent by the terminal device, thereby maintaining the transmission of the MBMS service.

Counting request information in the counting mechanisms of 3G and 4G both need to depend on an MCCH channel specially designed for MBMS service, and in the mechanism of MBMS service transmission of the 5th generation, 5G, the MCCH channel is abandoned for flexibility of transmission, so the existing counting mechanism cannot be used in 5G, and therefore how a base station or a core network counts the number of terminal devices that are receiving MBMS service or interested in receiving MBMS service, thereby maintaining the transmission of MBMS service is a technical problem that needs to be solved by those in the art.

Referring to fig. 4, fig. 4 is a communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application, which includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

step S401: the terminal device determines a reception state of the first service.

Specifically, step S401 is an optional step. The first service may be a multicast service, a unicast service, or other services, and the scheme is not limited.

Specifically, the receiving state is used to indicate a receiving state or a subscription state or an interest state of the terminal device for the first service, and includes: at least one of start receiving the first service, stop receiving the first service, soon to receive the first service, desire to receive the first service, interest in reception of the first service, and not interest in reception of the first service. The receiving state may also be referred to as interested or not interested, and accordingly, the terminal device determining that the terminal device is interested in the first service means that the terminal device starts to receive the first service, is receiving the first service, is about to receive the first service, and wants to receive the first service, and the terminal device determining that the terminal device is not interested in the first service means that the terminal device stops receiving the first service or does not interest in receiving the first service. It should be noted that, the terminal device needs to send the receiving status to the network device in the next step, so that the network device may determine whether the terminal device needs to receive the first service, and further, the network device may count the number of terminal devices interested in the first service, that is, the receiving status is used to indicate that the terminal device expects to receive the first service or does not expect to receive the first service.

Step S402: the terminal equipment sends first indication information to the first network equipment.

Specifically, the first indication information is used to indicate a receiving state of the terminal device for the first multicast service, and the first indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service, which may be, for example, a Temporary Mobile Group Identity (TMGI) or other identification information for identifying the first multicast service. The first indication information further includes identification information of the terminal device, such as an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) or a Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (TMSI) or an SAE temporary mobile subscriber Identity (SAE-temporary mobile subscriber Identity, S-TMSI) or a globally unique temporary UE Identity (GUTI) or a cell-Radio network temporary Identity (C-RNTI), and the like. In various embodiments of the present application, for brevity of description, receiving the first multicast service will begin, will soon receive, will expect to receive, or will be interested in receiving the first multicast service, simply be subscribing to the first multicast service, and stopping receiving the first multicast service or not interested in receiving the first multicast service will simply be unsubscribing to the first multicast service.

Specifically, when the terminal device is in an idle state or an inactive state, the first indication information may be carried in a message in a random access procedure, where the random access message is Msg1, Msg3, Msg5, or MsgA, and the random access procedure may be a four-step random access procedure or a two-step random access procedure. When the terminal device is in the connected state, the first indication information is carried in a media access Control element (MAC CE), a Control protocol data unit (Control PDU) or an RRC message.

Optionally, before step S402, this embodiment further includes step S4021: the terminal equipment determines to send first indication information to the first network equipment. Specifically, the determining, by the terminal device, to send the first indication information to the first network device includes the following two implementation manners:

in a first possible implementation manner, the terminal device determines that the first indication information needs to be reported according to the receiving state of the first service, specifically, when the terminal device determines that the receiving state changes, the terminal device determines that a reporting procedure needs to be initiated, and further, the terminal device sends the first indication information to the first network device. Furthermore, the terminal device can report the receiving state of the first service in time, and the network device can accurately count the number of the terminal devices subscribing the first multicast service in the specific area.

In a second possible implementation manner, the terminal device determines to report the first indication information according to a change of the serving cell, and specifically, after the terminal device in an idle state or an inactive state changes the serving cell or the serving area (such as a multicast service area, which may include at least one cell) or performs cell reselection, the terminal device may trigger a reporting procedure to send the first indication information to the first network device.

For example, after the terminal device initiates a reception state reporting procedure, the terminal device determines to subscribe to the first multicast service, and then the terminal device sends first indication information to the first network device, where the first indication information includes at least one of identification information of the first multicast service, an interest indication, and identification information of the terminal device, and the interest indication is used to indicate that the terminal device subscribes to the first multicast service. If the identification information of the terminal device is reported but the identification information of the terminal device is not reported, the first network device may determine the receiving state of the terminal device according to the identification information of the terminal device, for example, if the first network device knows that the terminal device subscribes to the first multicast service before, when the first network device receives the report again, it may be determined that the terminal device reports because of the change of the receiving state, and then it may be determined that the terminal device does not subscribe to the first multicast service currently. Assuming that the interest indication is reported but the identification information of the terminal device is not reported, the first network device determines that the number of the terminal devices subscribing to the first multicast service changes according to the interest indication, and then updates the number of the terminal devices subscribing to the first multicast service and interested in the cell or the service area of the first network device.

Correspondingly, after the terminal device initiates a receiving state reporting process, the terminal device determines not to subscribe to the first multicast service, and then the terminal device sends first indication information to the first network device, where the first indication information includes at least one of identification information of the first multicast service, an uninteresting indication, and identification information of the terminal device, and the uninteresting indication is used to indicate not to subscribe to the first multicast service. If the identification information of the terminal device is reported but the uninteresting indication is not reported, the first network device may determine the receiving state of the terminal device according to the identification information of the terminal device, for example, assuming that the terminal device is known to subscribe to the first multicast service before, after the first network device receives the report again, it may be determined that the terminal device reports due to the change of the receiving state, and then it may be determined that the terminal device does not subscribe to the first multicast service at present. Assuming that the non-interest indication is reported but the identification information of the terminal device is not reported, the first network device determines that the number of the terminal devices subscribing the first multicast service is changed according to the non-interest indication, and further updates the number of the terminal devices subscribing the first multicast service in the cell or the service area of the first network device.

By the communication method provided by the embodiment of the application, the network equipment can determine the receiving state of the terminal equipment in time, and error statistics caused by cell reselection is avoided, so that transmission of the first multicast service is maintained more accurately.

Optionally, before step S402, step S4022 is further included: the network device indicates whether the terminal device reports the subscription state, and correspondingly, the terminal device determines whether to report the subscription state according to the indication information from the network device. That is to say, the reporting function of the receiving state provided by the present application can be controlled by the network device, thereby improving the regulation and control flexibility of the network device.

In an optional scheme, the terminal device determines that the first indication information needs to be reported according to indication information from the network device, specifically, the network device may send the indication information to the terminal device, where the indication information is used to indicate whether the terminal device needs to report a receiving state of the terminal device, and correspondingly, the terminal device receives the indication information and determines whether the first indication information needs to be reported according to the indication information. When the terminal device determines that the first indication information needs to be reported, it will further determine whether the receiving state of the terminal device to the first service changes and/or further determine whether the serving cell of the terminal device changes, and if so, report the first indication information according to the two implementation manners. When the terminal device determines that the first indication information does not need to be reported, it is not necessary to further judge whether the receiving state of the terminal device to the first service changes or not and whether the serving cell of the terminal device changes or not, so that the first indication information is not reported.

For example, the indication information from the network device includes a report start indication (or referred to as an on indication) and/or a report stop indication (or referred to as an off indication), where the report start indication is used to indicate that the terminal device needs to report the reception state of the first multicast service, and the report stop indication is used to indicate that the terminal device does not need to report the reception state of the first multicast service, where the report start indication and the report stop indication may be two cells. For another example, the indication information may be indicated by one cell, where the value of the cell is a first value, and may indicate that the terminal device needs to report the receiving state of the first multicast service, and the value of the cell is a second value, and may indicate that the terminal device does not need to report the receiving state of the first multicast service. By the communication method provided by the implementation mode, the network device can flexibly control the terminal device to report the receiving state of the multicast service, for example, when the network device has determined that the number of the terminal devices subscribing the first multicast service is large enough, or when the network device determines that the receiving state of the terminal device does not need to be counted any more, the network device can send the indication information to the terminal device to indicate that the terminal device does not need to report the receiving state any more, thereby avoiding the waste of resources of the communication system due to excessive signaling transmission.

In a possible design, the indication information may indicate without distinguishing the service type or the service identifier, that is, the network device may indicate the reporting of all services by the terminal device through one indication information, so as to control the reporting of the receiving state more efficiently and save the resource overhead. In another possible design, the indication information may distinguish a service type or a service identifier for indication, and specifically, the indication information may include a service type identifier or a service identifier for indicating whether the terminal device reports a reception state for a corresponding service. For example, the network device sends indication information to the terminal device, where the indication information includes a service identifier, where the service identifier corresponds to the second multicast service and is used to indicate that the terminal device stops reporting a receiving state for the second multicast service, and after receiving the indication information, the terminal device stops reporting the receiving state for the second multicast service according to the indication information. For another example, the network device sends indication information to the terminal device, where the indication information includes service type information, and after receiving the indication information, the terminal device determines that a service corresponding to the type information needs or does not need to be reported according to the service type information. And in addition, the indication information comprises terminal equipment type information, and after receiving the indication information, the terminal equipment determines that the terminal equipment of the corresponding type needs or does not need to be reported according to the terminal equipment type information. That is, the network device may determine the indication information by including at least one of: the service type identifier, the service identifier, the terminal device type identifier and the terminal identifier indicate which terminal devices need to report the first indication information, and/or the terminal devices need to report the receiving state of which types of services or which designated services, so that the reporting of the receiving state is controlled more flexibly, and communication resources are saved.

In an optional scheme, the terminal device receives scheduling information from the first network device, where the scheduling information is used to indicate a time-frequency resource of the first indication information, and the scheduling information is carried in system information, a radio resource control RRC signaling, a Random Access message, downlink control information DCI, or a Random Access Response (RAR).

Specifically, the first network device instructs, through the scheduling information, the terminal device to report a resource of the first instruction information, for example, a dynamic resource (dynamic grant), an unlicensed resource (grant free), a semi-static resource (semi-persistent scheduling), or a configured resource (configured grant). The scheduling information may include a time domain position indication, a frequency domain position indication, and a period, modulation information, and the like, the time domain position is used to indicate a time domain position of the first indication information, the frequency domain position indication is used to indicate a frequency domain resource position of the first indication information, the period is a period in which the frequency domain resource can be used, and the modulation information includes a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS).

By the communication method provided by the embodiment of the application, the first network equipment allocates the time-frequency resource reporting the first indication information to the terminal equipment, and the time-frequency resource can be reasonably utilized.

In an optional scheme, after the terminal device sends the first indication information to the first network device, the method further includes: and the terminal equipment determines that the timer is overtime and sends the first indication information to the first network equipment.

Specifically, the duration of the timer is fixed, and the duration of the timer may be predefined by a standard, or configured by the first network device or preset by the terminal device. If the terminal device initiates a reporting process, after sending first indication information to the first network device, the terminal device starts a first timer, wherein the duration of the first timer is predefined by a standard, or the duration of the first timer is preset by the terminal device, in a possible example, when the first timer is overtime, if the terminal device still subscribes to the first multicast service, the first indication information is sent to the first network device again, and the first timer is restarted; in yet another possible example, when the first timer expires, if the terminal device is not interested in receiving the first multicast service, the terminal device sends the first indication information to the first network device again, indicates that the terminal device does not subscribe to the first multicast service, and restarts the timer; in yet another possible example, when the first timer expires, if the terminal device does not subscribe to the first multicast service, the terminal device does not send the first indication information and stops the timer.

Correspondingly, after the terminal device sends the first indication information to the first network device for the first time, the first network device may also start a second timer, where a duration of the second timer is predefined by a standard, or a duration of the second timer is configured by the network device. When the second timer is overtime and the first network device does not receive the first indication information of the terminal device again, the first network device may consider that the terminal device does not subscribe to the first multicast service. When the terminal device does not subscribe to the first multicast service, the first indication information does not need to be sent to the first network device again, the second timer of the first network device only needs to be waited for to be overtime, and the first indication information can also be sent to the first network device without waiting for the second timer to be overtime. Here, at least one of the duration of the first timer and the duration of the second timer and the duration of the start, restart, and processing after timeout may be kept consistent. In one implementation, the two timers may be defined as the same timer, with the first timer being maintained in the terminal device and the second timer being maintained in the network device.

By the communication method provided by the embodiment of the application, the timing mechanism can effectively prevent the network equipment from not knowing the receiving state of the terminal equipment and being incapable of accurately counting the number of the terminal equipment when the report of the terminal equipment is wrong, so that the mechanism can be used for considering that the terminal equipment is no longer interested in the multicast service if the report of the terminal equipment is not received after the timer of the network equipment is overtime. In addition, by adopting the mechanism, when the terminal equipment is not interested in the multicast service any more, the network equipment can know the multicast service without reporting the multicast service again only by waiting for the overtime of the timer, thereby saving resources.

In an optional scheme, when the receiving state of the terminal device for the first multicast service changes, the terminal device sends the first indication information to the first network device.

Specifically, the change in the receiving status may be a change from subscribing to the first multicast service to unsubscribing from the first multicast service, and so on.

For example, when the terminal device determines that the receiving status of the first multicast service is that the first multicast service is subscribed to or not subscribed to, the terminal device sends first indication information to the first network device, and accordingly, the first network device determines that the number of the terminal devices subscribed to the first multicast service in the cell of the first network device is reduced by one according to the first indication information.

Correspondingly, when the terminal device determines to change from unsubscribing from the first multicast service to subscribing from the first multicast service, the terminal device sends first indication information to the first network device, and correspondingly, the first network device determines that the number of the terminal devices subscribing to the first multicast service in the cell of the first network device is increased by one according to the first indication information.

In an alternative scheme, when the RRC state of the terminal device changes, the terminal device sends the first indication information to the first network device.

Specifically, before the RRC state of the terminal device is changed, the terminal device sends the first indication information to the first network device, and/or after the RRC state of the terminal device is changed, the terminal device sends the first indication information to the first network device.

For example, if the RRC state of the terminal device is switched from the connected state to the idle state, the terminal device reports the first indication information when being in the connected state before the switching and/or reports the first indication information when being in the idle state after the switching.

For example, when the RRC state of the terminal device is switched from the inactive state to the connected state, the terminal device reports the first indication information when the terminal device is in the inactive state before the switching, and/or reports the first indication information when the terminal device is in the connected state after the switching.

In an optional scheme, after the terminal device performs an RRC reestablishment or an RRC reconfiguration or an RRC recovery procedure, the terminal device sends the first indication information to the first network device.

Specifically, when the terminal device in the connected state triggers an RRC connection reestablishment procedure if handover failure, radio link failure, integrity protection failure, and RRC reconfiguration failure occur, the terminal device may send the first indication information to the first network device during or after the reestablishment procedure. When the first network device is a connected terminal device, the RRC reconfiguration command is sent, and after the reconfiguration is completed, the terminal device may send first indication information to the first network device. When the terminal device is switched from the inactive state to the connected state, the RRC recovery procedure is triggered, and the terminal device may send the first indication information to the first network device during the RRC recovery procedure or after the RRC recovery procedure is completed.

In an optional scheme, after the terminal device performs an RRC reestablishment or an RRC recovery process, if a service cell after reestablishment or after recovery is different from a service cell before reestablishment, the network device corresponding to the service cell after reestablishment or after recovery sends request information to the network device corresponding to the service cell before reestablishment or before recovery to obtain a context of the terminal device, so that the network device corresponding to the service cell before reestablishment or before recovery can know that the terminal device leaves, thereby updating the number of terminal devices subscribing to the first multicast service in the corresponding cell or in the corresponding service area; and before the reestablishment or before the recovery, the network device corresponding to the serving cell may bear the identifier information of the first multicast service subscribed by the terminal device when sending the context of the terminal device, so that the network device corresponding to the serving cell after the reestablishment or after the recovery may also know the first multicast service subscribed by the terminal device, thereby updating the number of the terminal devices subscribed to the first multicast service.

In an optional scheme, after performing cell reselection or changing a serving cell or changing a serving area (such as a multicast service area, which may include at least one cell), the terminal device sends the second indication information to the first network device, and accordingly, the first network device determines the second network device according to the second indication information from the terminal device.

Specifically, the second indication information includes first identification information and identification information of the first multicast service, and the first identification information includes identification information of the source network device and/or identification information of the terminal device.

Specifically, after receiving the second indication information from the terminal device, the first network device addresses to the second network device according to the identification information of the source network device or the identification information of the terminal device (for example, the identification information of the terminal device in the inactive state).

For example, if the terminal device is in an idle state, after performing cell reselection or changing a serving cell, the network device is unaware of the movement of the terminal device, and only when the terminal device moves out of a Tracking Area (TA), the terminal device may initiate a Tracking Area Update (TAU) process to tell the core network device that the terminal device changes the TA.

If the terminal device is in an inactive state, after performing cell reselection or changing a serving cell, the network device is unaware of the movement of the terminal device, and only when the terminal device moves out of a RAN-Based notification area (RNA), the terminal device may initiate a RAN-Based notification area update (RNAU) process to tell the network device that the terminal device has changed the RNA, but since the range of the RNA is generally large and includes many cells, the terminal device may not necessarily initiate an RNAU process when performing cell reselection or changing the serving cell, resulting in that the network device may not update the number of terminal devices subscribing to the first multicast service in time.

Therefore, if the terminal device is in an idle state or an inactive state, the process of sending the second indication information to the first network device is triggered when the terminal device changes the serving cell or the serving area. For example, the reselection of the serving cell of the terminal device from another cell to a certain cell of the first network device triggers a process of sending the second indication information to the first network device, where the other cell may be a cell of the first network device or a cell of the other network device.

In an optional scheme, after the first network device determines the second network device, the first network device sends third indication information to the second network device.

Specifically, the third indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device leaves a cell of a second network device, where the third indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service, and optionally, the third indication information may also include identification information of the terminal device and/or leave indication information, and if the third indication information includes only identification information of the first multicast service, the second network device can only determine, according to the third indication information, that there is one less terminal device subscribed to the first multicast service, and cannot determine which terminal device is specific; if the third indication information includes the identification information of the first multicast service and the identification information of the terminal device, the second network device can determine, according to the third indication information, which terminal device subscribed to the first multicast service leaves in the cell or the service area of the second network device.

Specifically, after the first network device determines the second network device, the first network device sends the third indication information to the second network device through an Xn interface (or another interface, for example, an X2 interface) between the first network device and the second network device, and after the second network device receives the third indication information, the second network device may know that the terminal device subscribed to the first multicast service leaves the cell of the second network device, so as to update the number of terminal devices subscribed to the first multicast service.

By the method provided by the embodiment of the application, the first network device sends the third indication information to the second network device, and the second network device can determine the departure of the terminal device in the cell of the second network device according to the third indication information, so that the number of the terminal devices can be updated timely, and the condition that the transmission strategy is inaccurate due to untimely updating of the number of the terminal devices is avoided.

In an optional scheme, a first network device receives a first message from a terminal device, where the first message is used to indicate configuration information of a second network device, and specifically, the first message includes fifth indication information, the first network device sends the fifth indication information to a core network device, where the fifth indication information is used to indicate the configuration information of the second network device, and the fifth indication information includes all information required by the core network device to determine the second network device.

Specifically, if the terminal device is in an idle state or an inactive state, the first message may be carried in a random access message, where the random access message is Msg1, Msg3, Msg5, or MsgA. If the terminal device is in the connected state, the first message is carried in a media access Control element (MAC CE), a Control protocol data unit (Control PDU) or an RRC message. The fifth indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service, first identification information and second identification information, the first identification information includes identification information of a source network device and/or identification information of the terminal device, the second identification information includes at least one of a Tracking Area Identity (TAI), a Cell Global Identity (CGI) and a public land mobile network identity (PLMN ID), and is not limited to the identification information listed herein and a name of an identifier is not limited, which is merely an example.

In a possible example, after the first network device determines the second network device, the core network device is required to forward because the first network device finds that there is no directly available interface between the first network device and the second network device or other reasons, because the second indication information sent by the previous terminal device may not be enough to enable the core network device to address the second network device, the first network device may send a first request message to the terminal device to request more information so that the core network can address the second network device, the terminal device sends a first message to the first network device after receiving the first request message, the first message includes fifth indication information, the fifth indication information includes all information required by the core network device to determine the second network device, the first network device sends the fifth indication information to the core network device, and after receiving the notification message, the second network device updates the number of the terminal devices subscribing the first multicast service in the cell of the second network device according to the notification message.

In an optional scheme, the first network device receives a second message from the terminal device, where the second message includes sixth indication information, and the first network device sends the sixth indication information and/or the second indication information to the core network device.

Specifically, the second message is used to indicate configuration information of the second network device, the sixth indication information includes a part of information required when the core network device determines the second network device, and the second indication information includes another part of information required when the core network device determines the second network device.

Specifically, if the terminal device is in an idle state or an inactive state, the second message may be carried in a random access message, where the random access message is Msg1, Msg3, Msg5, or MsgA. If the terminal device is in the connected state, the second message is carried in a media access Control element (MAC CE), a Control protocol data unit (Control PDU) or an RRC message. The second indication information includes first identification information and identification information of the first multicast service, the first identification information includes identification information of a source network device and/or identification information of the terminal device, the sixth indication information includes at least one of a tracking area identity TAI, a cell global identity CGI and a public land mobile network identity PLMN ID, accordingly, the second indication information includes part of information required by the core network device to determine the second network device, and the sixth indication information includes another part of information required by the core network device to determine the second network device, which is not limited to the identification information listed here, and does not limit the name of the identification, by way of example only.

In a possible example, after the first network device determines the second network device, the core network device is required to forward due to the fact that the first network device finds that there is no Xn interface directly available between the first network device and the second network device or for other reasons, since the second indication information sent by the previous terminal device may not be enough to enable the core network device to address the second network device, the first network device may send a second request message to the terminal device to request more information to enable the core network to address the second network device, accordingly, the terminal device sends a second message to the first network device after receiving the second request message, the second message includes sixth indication information, the sixth indication information includes another part of information needed when the core network device determines the second network device in addition to the second indication information, the first network device sends a third message to the core network device, the third message includes sixth indication information and/or second indication information, after receiving the third message, the core network device addresses to the second network device according to the third message, and sends a notification message to the second network device, for notifying the second network device that a certain terminal device subscribing the first multicast service leaves a cell of the second network device, after receiving the notification message, the second network device updates the number of terminal devices subscribing the first multicast service in the cell or in a service area of the second network device according to the notification message. In this case, since the terminal device has reported some information for addressing the second network device in the second indication information, the terminal device only reports additional information required by the core network device for addressing the second network device without repeatedly reporting in the sixth indication information. The content of the indication information in all embodiments of the present invention is not limited to the identification information listed therein and the name of the identification, which is only an example.

In an alternative arrangement, the first network device receives a handover request message from the second network device.

Specifically, the handover request message includes fourth indication information, and the fourth indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service.

Specifically, if the terminal device is in a connected state, after the terminal device receiving the first multicast service moves, if a handover condition is satisfied, that is, the terminal device sends a measurement report to a second network device (source base station), and the second network device knows that the service quality of the current cell of the terminal device is poor according to the measurement report, the second network device determines, according to the measurement report, a first network device (target base station) where the cell with better signal quality is located, and sends a handover request message to the first network device, and after the first network device replies a second network device confirmation message, the second network device sends a handover command to the terminal device, and the terminal device switches to the cell of the first network device to communicate with the first network device, thereby completing a handover process. Switching from one cell to another cell, wherein the second network device can know that the terminal device subscribing the first multicast service leaves in the switching process, so that the number of the terminal devices subscribing the first multicast service in the service cell of the second network device is reduced by one; furthermore, the second network device may bear fourth indication information in the handover request message, and indicate that the terminal device to be handed over subscribes to the first multicast service, and the first network device may know, according to the fourth indication information, that one more terminal device is subscribed to the first multicast service in the serving cell of the first network device, so that after the UE in the connected state moves, both the first network device and the second network device may update the number of terminal devices subscribed to the first multicast service through the handover process.

By the communication method provided by the embodiment of the application, the first network device can determine that one terminal device of the cell of the second network device is switched to the cell of the first network device by receiving the switching request message of the second network device, so that the first network device can update the number of the terminal devices subscribing the first multicast service in time, and the transmission of the multicast service can be maintained more accurately.

Step S403: the first network equipment receives first indication information from the terminal equipment.

Optionally, the embodiment of the present application further includes the following steps:

step S404: and the first network equipment determines the receiving state of the terminal equipment according to the first indication information.

Specifically, the first indication information and the meaning of the receiving status refer to step S402, which is not described herein again.

For example, when the first indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service and identification information of the terminal device, the first network device may determine, according to the identification information of the terminal device, which specific terminal device sends the first indication information, and assuming that there is no identification information of the terminal device in the information maintained for the first multicast service before, the first network device determines, through the first indication information, which specific terminal device subscribes to the first multicast service, thereby determining that the number of terminal devices subscribing to the first multicast service is increased by one; assuming that the information maintained for the first multicast service includes the identification information of the terminal device, the first network device determines, through the first indication information, which specific terminal device does not subscribe to the first multicast service, so as to determine that the number of terminal devices subscribing to the first multicast service is reduced by one.

For example, the first indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service and a start indication, where the start indication is used to indicate that the terminal device subscribes to the first multicast service, and the first network device determines, through the start indication, that there is one more terminal device that subscribes to the first multicast service. Or the first indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service and a stop indication, where the stop indication is used to indicate that the terminal device does not subscribe to the first multicast service, and the first network device determines that there is one less terminal device subscribing to the first multicast service through the stop indication.

Step S405, the first network device determines the number of the terminal devices subscribing the first multicast service according to the receiving state of the terminal devices.

Specifically, if the receiving state of the terminal device is to subscribe to the first multicast service, the first network device determines that the number of the terminal devices subscribing to the first multicast service is increased by 1, and if the receiving state of the terminal device is not to subscribe to the first multicast service, the first network device determines that the number of the terminal devices subscribing to the first multicast service is decreased by 1.

Step S406, the first network device determines the transmission strategy of the first multicast service according to the number of the terminal devices subscribed to the first multicast service.

Specifically, the number of terminal devices subscribing to the first multicast service is used to refer to the number of terminal devices that start receiving, are about to receive, desire (expect) to receive, or are interested in receiving the first multicast service, the transmission policy is related to the number of terminal devices, the transmission policy is used to maintain the transmission of the multicast service, the transmission policy includes establishing, modifying, or releasing an MBMS service transmission channel (e.g., MBMS PDU SESSION or QoS flow or GTP-U tunnel, and transmitting the first multicast service in a dedicated bearer manner or transmitting the first multicast service in a multicast manner, etc.

For example, when the number of terminal devices subscribing to the first multicast service is greater than a first threshold, if the terminal devices subscribe to the first multicast service in a unicast manner, dedicated bearers need to be established for each terminal device to perform transmission respectively, which consumes a large amount of resources, and in order to avoid wasting a large amount of resources, the first network device may transmit the terminal devices in a multicast transmission manner when the number of terminal devices subscribing to the first multicast service is greater than the first threshold; when the number of the terminal devices subscribing the first multicast service is smaller than the second threshold, the first network device may establish respective dedicated bearers for each terminal device to respectively transmit; when the cell of the first network device does not have a terminal device subscribed with the first multicast service, the first network device sends indication information to the core network device, the indication information is used for indicating the core network device to release a multicast service transmission channel between the core network device and the first network device, and the sending of the first multicast service is stopped; when the number of the terminal devices subscribing the first multicast service in the cell of the first network device is up, the first network device sends indication information to the core network device to indicate the core network device to establish a multicast service transmission channel with the first network device and start sending the first multicast service; in addition, the established multicast service transmission channel can be modified.

In the method shown in fig. 4, when a terminal device subscribes to a first multicast service in a cell, a network device needs to be reported; when the terminal equipment moves, the terminal equipment also needs to report to the network equipment, and in such a way, the network equipment can know the number of the terminal equipment subscribing the first multicast service in each cell in real time and maintain the transmission of the multicast service according to the number.

Referring to fig. 5, fig. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating another communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application, where the method includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

step S501, the terminal equipment determines the receiving state of the first service.

Specifically, step S501 is an optional step. The first service may be a multicast service, a unicast service, or other services, and the scheme is not limited.

Step S502: and the terminal equipment sends the first indication information to the first core network equipment or the application server.

Specifically, the first indication information is forwarded by the terminal device to the first core network device or the application server via the first network device. The first indication information is used to indicate a receiving status of the first multicast service by the terminal device, and the first indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service, for example, may be a Temporary Mobile Group Identity (TMGI) or other identification information for identifying the first multicast service. The first indication information further includes: the terminal device includes identification information of the terminal device, such as an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) or a Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (TMSI) or an SAE-temporary mobile subscriber Identity (SAE-temporary mobile subscriber Identity, S-TMSI) or a global unique temporary UE Identity (GUTI) or a cell-Radio network temporary Identity (C-RNTI), and second identification information including at least one of a Tracking Area Identity (TAI), a Cell Global Identity (CGI), and a public land mobile network Identity (CGI), a PLMN ID.

Specifically, when the terminal device is in an idle state or an inactive state, the first indication information may be carried in a message in a random access procedure, where the random access message is Msg1, Msg3, Msg5, or MsgA, and the random access may be four-step random access or two-step random access. When the terminal device is in the connected state, the first indication information is carried in a media access Control element (MAC CE), a Control protocol data unit (Control PDU) or an RRC message.

Optionally, before step S502, this embodiment further includes step S5021, where the terminal device determines to send the first indication information to the first core network device or the application server via the network device. Specifically, refer to step S4021 above, which is not described herein again.

Optionally, before step S502, step S5022 is further included: the network device indicates whether the terminal device reports the subscription state, and correspondingly, the terminal device determines whether to report the subscription state according to the indication information from the network device. For the definition of step S5022, reference may be made to the description of step S4022, which is not described herein again.

In an optional scheme, when the receiving state of the terminal device for the first multicast service changes, the terminal device sends the first indication information to the first core network device or the application server via the network device.

For example, if the terminal device determines that the receiving status of the first multicast service is that the first multicast service is subscribed to or changed to not be subscribed to, the terminal device sends first indication information to the first core network device or the application server via the network device, and accordingly, the first core network device or the application server determines that the number of the terminal devices subscribed to the first multicast service in the cell of the first core network device or the cell of the application server is reduced by one according to the first indication information.

For example, if the terminal device determines that the receiving status of the first multicast service changes from unsubscribing from the first multicast service to subscribing from the first multicast service, the terminal device sends first indication information to the first core network device or the application server via the network device, and accordingly, the first core network device or the application server determines that the number of the terminal devices subscribing to the first multicast service in the cell of the first core network device or the cell of the application server is increased by one according to the first indication information.

In an optional scheme, when the RRC state of the terminal device changes, the terminal device sends the first indication information to the first core network device or the application server via the network device.

Specifically, before the RRC state of the terminal device is changed, the terminal device sends the first indication information to the first core network device or the application server via the network device, and/or after the RRC state of the terminal device is changed, the terminal device sends the first indication information to the first core network device or the application server via the network device.

In an optional scheme, after the RRC connection of the terminal device is reestablished or reconfigured or recovered, the terminal device sends the first indication information to the first core network device or the application server via the network device.

Specifically, when the terminal device is in a connected state, if handover failure, radio link failure, integrity protection failure, and RRC reconfiguration failure occur, an RRC connection reestablishment procedure is triggered, and then the terminal device may send the first indication information to the first core network device or the application server through the network device during or after the reestablishment procedure is completed. When the network device is a connected terminal device, the RRC reconfiguration command is sent, and then the terminal device may send the first indication information to the first core network device or the application server through the network device after the reconfiguration is completed. When the terminal device is switched from the inactive state to the connected state, the RRC recovery procedure is triggered, and the terminal device may send the first indication information to the first core network device or the application server via the network device during the RRC recovery procedure or after the RRC recovery procedure is completed.

In an optional scheme, the first core network device or the application server receives the second indication information from the first network device.

Specifically, the second indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device reaches a cell of the first core network device, and the second indication information includes at least one of identification information of the first multicast service, identification information of the terminal device, identification information of the source network device, and identification information of the first network device. Optionally, the second indication information may further include arrival indication information.

Specifically, if the terminal device is in a connected state, after the terminal device receiving the first multicast service moves, if a handover condition is satisfied, the terminal device is handed over from one cell to another cell, if a path handover procedure is executed during the handover, if the terminal device is handed over from a cell of the second network device to a cell of the first network device, the second network device sends a handover request message to the first network device, the first network device replies a confirmation message of the second network device, after the second network device receives the confirmation message, the second network device sends a notification message to the first core network device, the first core network device notifies the first core network device that the second network device is to be handed over, the first core network device addresses the first network device according to indication information including identification information of the first network device sent by the second network device, and establishes a connection with the first network device, the core network device releases the connection with the second network device. The first core network equipment can determine that a terminal device under the second network equipment is switched to the first network equipment, and the first core network equipment can know where the terminal device is switched from through a path switching process, so that the number of the terminal devices in each cell is updated; if the path switching process is not executed, the switched first network device sends second indication information to the first core network device, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device reaches the cell of the first network device, or the second network device sends indication information to the first core network device before switching, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device leaves the cell of the second network device, and accordingly, the first core network device may update the number of terminal devices subscribing to the first multicast service according to the indication information.

In an alternative, after performing cell reselection or changing a serving cell or changing a serving area (such as a multicast service area, which may include at least one cell), the terminal device sends the third indication information to the first core network device or the application server.

Specifically, the third indication information includes first identification information and identification information of the first multicast service, where the first identification information includes identification information of the source network device and/or identification information of the terminal device.

Specifically, after performing cell reselection or changing a serving cell or changing a serving area (such as a multicast service area, which may include at least one cell), the terminal device sends the third indication information to the first core network device via a network device, after the first core network device receives the third indication information from the terminal device, the first core network device addresses to the second network device according to the identification information of the source network device or the identification information of the terminal device (for example, the identification information of the terminal device in an inactive state), and then the first core network device sends a notification message to the second network device, where the notification message is used to notify the second network device that the terminal device subscribed to the first multicast service leaves the cell of the second network device, and accordingly, the second network device updates the number of terminal devices subscribed to the first multicast service.

In an optional scheme, a first core network device or an application server sends request information to a second core network device, where the request information is used to request context information of the terminal device; the first core network device or the application server receives the context information from the second core network device, wherein the context information comprises the identification information of the first multicast service.

Specifically, each core network device maintains a registration area, and if a certain terminal device moves from the registration area of the second core network device to the registration area of the first core network device, a registration flow or a registration update flow is initiated to the first core network device, and the first core network device determines that the terminal device moves from the second core network device through the registration flow or the registration update flow initiated by the terminal device, the first core network device sends request information to the second core network device to request context information of the terminal device, the second core network device determines that the certain terminal device leaves according to the request information and updates the number of terminal devices subscribing the first multicast service in the cell of the second core network device, and when the second core network device sends the context information to the first core network device, the context information includes identification information of the first multicast service which the terminal device is interested in receiving or receiving, and accordingly, the first core network device updates the number of the terminal devices subscribing the first multicast service in the cell of the first core network device according to the context information.

Step S503: the first core network device or the application server receives the first indication information from the terminal device.

step S504: and the first core network equipment or the application server determines the receiving state of the terminal equipment according to the first indication information.

For a specific implementation, reference may be made to step S404 in the foregoing embodiment, and this step is not described again.

And step S505, the first core network device or the application server determines the number of the terminal devices subscribing the first multicast service according to the receiving state of the terminal devices.

Optionally, the first core network device or the application server forwards the receiving status of the terminal device to the first network device, the first network device determines the number of the terminal devices subscribing to the first multicast service through statistics, and the first network device determines the transmission policy of the first multicast service.

For a specific implementation, reference may be made to step S405 in the foregoing embodiment, and this step is not described again.

Step S506, the first core network device or the application server determines the transmission strategy of the first multicast service according to the number of the terminal devices subscribing the first multicast service.

Optionally, the core network device or the application server sends the number of the terminal devices subscribing to the first multicast service to the first network device, and the first network device determines the transmission policy of the first multicast service.

For example, when the cell of the core network device does not have a terminal device subscribing the first multicast service, the core network device releases a multicast service transmission channel with the first network device, and stops sending the first multicast service; when the number of the terminal devices subscribing the first multicast service in the cell of the core network device is from zero, the core network device establishes a multicast service transmission channel with the first network device and starts to send the first multicast service; in addition, the established multicast service transmission channel can be modified.

In the method shown in fig. 5, when a terminal device subscribes to a first multicast service in a cell, it needs to report to a core network device or an application server; when the terminal equipment moves, the terminal equipment also needs to report the core network equipment or the application server, and through the mode, the core network equipment/the application server can know the number of the terminal equipment subscribing the first multicast service in each cell in real time and maintain the transmission of the multicast service according to the number.

Referring to fig. 6, fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of another communication method provided in the embodiment of the present application, where the method includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

step S601: the first network device determines a second network device.

Specifically, the first network device determines the second network device according to the identification information from the terminal device in the inactive state.

For example, the first network device determines the second network device based on the I-RNTI.

Step S602: the first network device sends the request information to the second network device.

Specifically, the request information is used to obtain context information of the terminal device.

Specifically, after the first network device sends the request information to the second network device, and accordingly, after the second network device obtains the request information, it is determined that the terminal device subscribing to the first multicast service leaves the cell of the second network device according to the request information, so that it can be known that one less terminal device subscribing to the first multicast service is provided in the cell of the second network device.

Step S603: the second network device receives the request information from the first network device.

Step S604: the second network device sends the context information of the terminal device to the first network device.

Specifically, the context information includes identification information of the first multicast service.

Step S605: the first network device receives context information from the second network device terminal device.

Specifically, the context information includes identification information of the first multicast service. After the first network device receives the context information, the terminal device is determined to subscribe to the first multicast service according to the identification information of the first multicast service in the context information, so that the first network device can know that one of the cells of the first network device is added to subscribe to the first multicast service according to the context information.

In an alternative, the first network device configures the radio access network RAN notification area to include only one cell.

Specifically, each RNA includes a cell list, where the RNA is specified to include only one cell, when an RNA timer of the terminal device times out or the terminal device moves out of an RNA range, an RNAU process is initiated, if the RNAU process is initiated, the first network device requests the second network device for a context of the terminal device, and the second network device may determine that the terminal device subscribed to the first multicast service in the cell of the second network device leaves, so that it can be known that one less terminal device subscribed to the first multicast service in the cell of the second network device is provided.

In an optional scheme, the first network device receives first indication information from the terminal device, where the first indication information is used to indicate a receiving state of the terminal device for the first multicast service, and the first indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service.

The detailed implementation is as the step 402 in the above embodiment, which is not described herein again.

In the method shown in fig. 6, for a terminal device in an inactive state, if the terminal device in an idle state is to receive a multicast service, optionally, the terminal device may enter the inactive state first, so that the method may be used to report information. The embodiment can reuse the existing RNAU flow as much as possible, completes the statistics of the number of the terminal devices interested in receiving the first multicast service, improves the communication efficiency of the communication system, simultaneously enables the safety protection due to the RNAU flow, is safer than the report of the idle terminal devices, and can limit the idle terminal devices to carry out information report in the method, thereby preventing the network device statistics errors caused by the malicious report of the idle terminal devices.

The method of the embodiments of the present application is set forth above in detail and the apparatus of the embodiments of the present application is provided below.

Referring to fig. 7, fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, where the communication apparatus may be the terminal device or a device in the terminal device. The communication device may comprise a processing unit 701 and a communication unit 702, wherein the detailed description of the respective units is as follows.

A processing unit 701, configured to determine a receiving status of the first multicast service;

a communication unit 702, configured to send first indication information to a first network device, where the first indication information is used to indicate a receiving state of a first multicast service by the terminal device, and the first indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service.

In yet another optional scheme, the communication unit 702 is further configured to receive scheduling information from the first network device, where the scheduling information is used to indicate a time-frequency resource of the first indication information, and the scheduling information is carried in system information, radio resource control RRC signaling, random access message, or downlink control information DCI.

In yet another alternative, the processing unit 701 is further configured to start a timer; the processing unit 701 is further configured to determine that the timer is overtime; the communication unit 702 is further configured to send the first indication information to the first network device.

In yet another optional scheme, the communication unit 702 is further configured to send, to the first network device, the second indication information after performing cell reselection or changing a serving cell, where the second indication information includes first identification information and identification information of the first multicast service, and the first identification information includes identification information of a source network device and/or identification information of the terminal device.

It should be noted that the implementation and beneficial effects of each unit can also correspond to the corresponding description of the method embodiment shown in fig. 4.

Referring to fig. 8, fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, where the communication apparatus may be the first network device or a device in the first network device. The communication device may include a communication unit 801 and a processing unit 802, wherein the respective units are described in detail below.

A communication unit 801, configured to receive first indication information from a terminal device, where the first indication information is used to indicate a receiving state of a first multicast service by the terminal device, and the first indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service;

a processing unit 802, configured to determine a receiving state of the terminal device according to the first indication information.

In yet another optional scheme, the communication unit 801 is further configured to send scheduling information to the terminal device, where the scheduling information is used to indicate a time-frequency resource of the first indication information, and the scheduling information is carried in system information, radio resource control RRC signaling, random access message, or downlink control information DCI.

In yet another optional scenario, the processing unit 802 is further configured to determine a second network device according to second indication information from the terminal device, where the second indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service and first identification information, and the first identification information includes identification information of the second network device and/or identification information of the terminal device.

In yet another optional scenario, the communication unit 801 is further configured to send third indication information to the second network device, where the third indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device leaves, and the third indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service and/or identification information of the terminal device.

In yet another optional scenario, the communication unit 801 is further configured to receive a handover request message from the second network device, where the handover request message includes fourth indication information, and the fourth indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service.

In yet another optional solution, the communication unit 801 is further configured to send fifth indication information to a core network device, where the fifth indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service, identification information of the terminal device, and second identification information, and the second identification information includes at least one of a tracking area identity TAI, a cell global identity CGI, and a public land mobile network identity PLMN ID.

Referring to fig. 9, fig. 9 is a communication device 900 according to an embodiment of the present application, where the communication device 900 includes a processor 901 and a transceiver 903, and optionally, the communication device 900 further includes a memory 902, and the processor 901, the memory 902, and the transceiver 903 are connected to each other through a bus 904.

The memory 902 includes, but is not limited to, a Random Access Memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), or a portable read-only memory (CD-ROM), and the memory 902 is used for related computer programs and data. The transceiver 903 is used for receiving and transmitting data.

The processor 901 may be one or more Central Processing Units (CPUs), and in the case that the processor 901 is one CPU, the CPU may be a single-core CPU or a multi-core CPU.

The processor 901 in the apparatus 900 reads the computer program stored in the memory 902 for performing the following operations:

determining a receiving state of the first multicast service;

In yet another alternative, the processor 901 is configured to receive scheduling information from the first network device through the transceiver 903, where the scheduling information is used to indicate a time-frequency resource of the first indication information, and the scheduling information is carried in system information, radio resource control RRC signaling, a random access message, or downlink control information DCI.

In yet another alternative, the processor 901 is further configured to start a timer; determining that the timer has expired; a processor 901, configured to send the first indication information to the first network device through a transceiver 903.

In yet another optional scenario, the processor 901 is configured to send, by the transceiver 903, the second indication information to the first network device after performing cell reselection or changing a serving cell, where the second indication information includes first identification information and identification information of the first multicast service, and the first identification information includes identification information of a source network device and/or identification information of the terminal device.

It should be noted that the implementation and beneficial effects of the operations may also correspond to the corresponding descriptions of the method embodiment shown in fig. 4.

Referring to fig. 10, fig. 10 is a communication device 1000 according to an embodiment of the present application, where the communication device 1000 includes a processor 1001 and a transceiver 1003, and optionally, the communication device 1000 further includes a memory 1002, and the processor 1001, the memory 1002, and the transceiver 1003 are connected to each other through a bus 1004.

The memory 1002 includes, but is not limited to, a Random Access Memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), or a portable read-only memory (CD-ROM), and the memory 1002 is used for related computer programs and data. The transceiver 1003 is used to receive and transmit data.

The processor 1001 may be one or more Central Processing Units (CPUs), and in the case where the processor 1001 is one CPU, the CPU may be a single-core CPU or a multi-core CPU.

The processor 1001 in the device 1000 reads the computer program stored in the memory 1002 for performing the following operations:

In yet another optional scheme, the processor 1001 is further configured to send scheduling information to the terminal device through the transceiver 1003, where the scheduling information is used to indicate a time-frequency resource of the first indication information, and the scheduling information is carried in system information, radio resource control RRC signaling, a random access message, or downlink control information DCI.

In yet another optional scenario, the processor 1001 is further configured to determine a second network device according to second indication information from the terminal device, where the second indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service and first identification information, and the first identification information includes identification information of the second network device and/or identification information of the terminal device.

In yet another optional scenario, the processor 1001 is further configured to send, by the transceiver 1003, third indication information to the second network device, where the third indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device leaves, and the third indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service and/or identification information of the terminal device.

In yet another optional aspect, the processor 1001 is further configured to send, by the transceiver 1003, fifth indication information to a core network device, where the fifth indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service, identification information of the terminal device, and second identification information, and the second identification information includes at least one of a tracking area identity, TAI, a cell global identity, CGI, and a public land mobile network identity, PLMN ID.

The embodiment of the present application further provides a chip system, where the chip system includes at least one processor, a memory and an interface circuit, where the memory, the transceiver and the at least one processor are interconnected by a line, and the at least one memory stores a computer program; when executed by the processor, the computer program implements the operation of the terminal device in the embodiment shown in fig. 4, or implements the operation of the first network device in the embodiment shown in fig. 4, or implements the operation of the terminal device in the embodiment shown in fig. 5, or implements the operation of the first core network device or the server in the embodiment shown in fig. 5, implements the operation of the first network device in the embodiment shown in fig. 6, or implements the operation of the second network device in the embodiment shown in fig. 6.

An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, where a computer program is stored, and when the computer program runs on a processor, the computer program implements operations of the terminal device in the embodiment shown in fig. 4, or implements operations of the first network device in the embodiment shown in fig. 4, implements operations of the terminal device in the embodiment shown in fig. 5, or implements operations of the first core network device or the server in the embodiment shown in fig. 5, implements operations of the first network device in the embodiment shown in fig. 6, or implements operations of the second network device in the embodiment shown in fig. 6.

An embodiment of the present application further provides a communication system, where the communication system includes a terminal device, a first core network device or server, a first network device and a second network device, and when the communication system runs on the terminal device or the network device or the core network device or the application server, the operation of the terminal device in the embodiment shown in fig. 4 is implemented, or the operation of the first network device in the embodiment shown in fig. 4 is implemented, the operation of the terminal device in the embodiment shown in fig. 5 is implemented, or the operation of the first core network device or server in the embodiment shown in fig. 5 is implemented, the operation of the first network device in the embodiment shown in fig. 6 is implemented, or the operation of the second network device in the embodiment shown in fig. 6 is implemented.

An embodiment of the present application further provides a computer program product, and when the computer program product runs on a processor, the operation of the terminal device in the embodiment shown in fig. 4 is implemented, or the operation of the first network device in the embodiment shown in fig. 4 is implemented, the operation of the terminal device in the embodiment shown in fig. 5 is implemented, or the operation of the first core network device or the server in the embodiment shown in fig. 5 is implemented, the operation of the first network device in the embodiment shown in fig. 6 is implemented, or the operation of the second network device in the embodiment shown in fig. 6 is implemented.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that all or part of the processes in the methods of the above embodiments can be implemented by hardware associated with a computer program that can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and when executed, can include the processes of the above method embodiments. And the aforementioned storage medium includes: various media that can store computer program code, such as ROM or RAM, magnetic or optical disks, etc.

Claims

1. A communication method, wherein the method is applied to a terminal device, and comprises:

determining a receiving state of the first multicast service;

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving state comprises: at least one of starting to receive the first multicast service, receiving the first multicast service, stopping receiving the first multicast service, soon to receive the first multicast service, desiring to receive the first multicast service, interested in receiving the first multicast service, and not interested in receiving the first multicast service.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first indication information further comprises identification information of the terminal device.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, further comprising:

and receiving scheduling information from the first network equipment, wherein the scheduling information is used for indicating the time-frequency resource of the first indication information, and the scheduling information is carried in system information, Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, random access information or Downlink Control Information (DCI).

5. The method according to any of claims 1-4, wherein after sending the first indication information to the first network device, the method further comprises:

starting a timer;

determining that the timer has expired;

and sending the first indication information to the first network equipment.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1-5, further comprising:

and after cell reselection or service cell replacement is performed, sending the second indication information to the first network device, where the second indication information includes first identification information and identification information of the first multicast service, and the first identification information includes identification information of a source network device and/or identification information of the terminal device.

7. A method of communication, the method being applicable to a first network device, comprising:

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the receiving state comprises: at least one of starting to receive the first multicast service, receiving the first multicast service, stopping receiving the first multicast service, soon to receive the first multicast service, desiring to receive the first multicast service, interested in receiving the first multicast service, and not interested in receiving the first multicast service.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the first indication information further comprises identification information of the terminal device.

10. The method according to any one of claims 7-9, further comprising:

and sending scheduling information to the terminal equipment, wherein the scheduling information is used for indicating the time-frequency resource of the first indication information, and the scheduling information is carried in system information, Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, random access information or Downlink Control Information (DCI).

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

and determining second network equipment according to second indication information from the terminal equipment, wherein the second indication information comprises identification information of the first multicast service and first identification information, and the first identification information comprises identification information of the second network equipment and/or identification information of the terminal equipment.

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

and sending third indication information to the second network device, where the third indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device leaves, and the third indication information includes the identification information of the first multicast service and/or the identification information of the terminal device.

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

receiving a handover request message from the second network device, where the handover request message includes fourth indication information, and the fourth indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service.

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

and sending fifth indication information to core network equipment, wherein the fifth indication information comprises identification information of the first multicast service, identification information of the terminal equipment and second identification information, and the second identification information comprises at least one of a Tracking Area Identification (TAI), a Cell Global Identification (CGI) and a public land mobile network identity (PLMN ID).

15. A communications apparatus, comprising:

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the receiving state comprises: at least one of starting to receive the first multicast service, receiving the first multicast service, stopping receiving the first multicast service, soon to receive the first multicast service, desiring to receive the first multicast service, interested in receiving the first multicast service, and not interested in receiving the first multicast service.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the first indication information further comprises identification information of the terminal device.

18. The apparatus of any one of claims 15-17,

the communication unit is further configured to receive scheduling information from the first network device, where the scheduling information is used to indicate a time-frequency resource of the first indication information, and the scheduling information is carried in system information, a radio resource control RRC signaling, a random access message, or downlink control information DCI.

19. The apparatus according to any one of claims 15 to 18,

the processing unit is also used for starting a timer;

the processing unit is further configured to determine that the timer is overtime;

the communication unit is further configured to send the first indication information to the first network device.

20. The apparatus of any one of claims 15-19,

the communication unit is further configured to send the second indication information to the first network device after performing cell reselection or changing a serving cell, where the second indication information includes first identification information and identification information of the first multicast service, and the first identification information includes identification information of a source network device and/or identification information of the terminal device.

21. A communications apparatus, comprising:

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the receiving state comprises: at least one of starting to receive the first multicast service, receiving the first multicast service, stopping receiving the first multicast service, soon to receive the first multicast service, desiring to receive the first multicast service, interested in receiving the first multicast service, and not interested in receiving the first multicast service.

23. The apparatus according to claim 21 or 22, wherein the first indication information further comprises identification information of the terminal device.

24. The apparatus of any one of claims 21-23,

the communication unit is further configured to send scheduling information to the terminal device, where the scheduling information is used to indicate a time-frequency resource of the first indication information, and the scheduling information is carried in system information, a radio resource control RRC signaling, a random access message, or downlink control information DCI.

25. The apparatus of any one of claims 21-24,

the processing unit is further configured to determine a second network device according to second indication information from the terminal device, where the second indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service and first identification information, and the first identification information includes identification information of the second network device and/or identification information of the terminal device.

26. The apparatus of any one of claims 21-25,

the communication unit is further configured to send third indication information to the second network device, where the third indication information is used to indicate that the terminal device leaves, and the third indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service and/or identification information of the terminal device.

27. The apparatus of any one of claims 21-24,

the communication unit is further configured to receive a handover request message from the second network device, where the handover request message includes fourth indication information, and the fourth indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service.

28. The apparatus of any one of claims 21-24,

the communication unit is further configured to send fifth indication information to a core network device, where the fifth indication information includes identification information of the first multicast service, identification information of the terminal device, and second identification information, and the second identification information includes at least one of a tracking area identity TAI, a cell global identity CGI, and a public land mobile network identity PLMN ID.

29. A communications device comprising at least one processor and a transceiver, wherein the at least one processor is configured to communicate with other devices via the transceiver, and wherein the memory is configured to store a computer program that is invoked by the processor for performing the method of any one of claims 1 to 14.

30. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that the computer storage medium stores a computer program which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1-14.