CN114630300A

CN114630300A - Method and communication device for transmitting data

Info

Publication number: CN114630300A
Application number: CN202011443650.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 潘奇; 黄正磊; 倪慧; 辛阳
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-12-11
Filing date: 2020-12-11
Publication date: 2022-06-14
Also published as: WO2022121728A1

Abstract

The application provides a method and a communication device for transmitting data, comprising the following steps: the access network equipment receives a first data packet of a first service and a second data packet of the first service from a user plane network element; the access network equipment sends a first data packet to the first terminal and sends a second data packet to the second terminal. And the data in the first data packet and the data in the second data packet are synthesized into complete service flow data at the second terminal. In the scheme, the access network device sends the public data (data in the first data packet) to the first terminal, and then the first terminal sends the received data to the second terminal through the D2D communication technology, so that the access network device can be prevented from sending the public data to the second terminal through the air interface resource, and the purpose of reducing the transmission pressure of the air interface wireless network can be achieved.

Description

Method and communication device for transmitting data

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications, and more particularly, to a method and a communication apparatus for transmitting data.

Background

Currently, Virtual Reality (VR) has become a popular technology that provides viewers with immersive "in-person experience" and "real life" by presenting 360 degrees (or 180 degrees) of video. Users can interactively switch the viewing angle they are looking at any time and dynamically view the part of the scene they desire to see.

Unlike traditional video, which always transmits the entire full picture of the video, VR live video can employ a field of view (FoV) transmission scheme for video transmission. Specifically, the cloud end pushes a high-definition media stream and a 360-degree panoramic background media stream in a FoV area range to the terminal according to the terminal visual angle information, and then the terminal decodes and displays the high-definition media stream and the 360-degree panoramic background media stream. Therefore, the situation that the user is blocked and the situation of 'black edge' caused by the fact that the angle of the user is changed too fast can be avoided, the terminal does not need to decode high-definition video streams of all visual angles any more, and the decoding pressure of the terminal can be effectively reduced.

Under the condition that users are concentrated like VR classrooms, VR meetings and the like, when multiple users watch the same VR video, the background streams of the multiple users are the same, and the network requirement of media transmission is increased by repeated background stream transmission.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a method and a communication device for transmitting data, wherein common data of a plurality of terminals accessing the same service are sent to one (or more) terminals accessing the service, and then the terminals send the received data to one or more other terminals accessing the service through a device-to-device (D2D) communication technology, so that the purpose of reducing the transmission pressure of an air interface wireless network can be achieved.

In a first aspect, a method for transmitting data is provided, including: the access network equipment receives a first data packet of a first service and a second data packet of the first service from a user plane network element; the access network equipment sends a first data packet to the first terminal and sends a second data packet to the second terminal. And the data in the first data packet and the data in the second data packet are synthesized into complete service flow data at the second terminal.

It is to be understood that the first data packet is intended for a first terminal and the second data packet is intended for a second terminal. Here, the routing information in the first data packet points to the first terminal, and the access network device can know, according to the routing information in the first data packet, that the first data packet corresponds to a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session corresponding to the first terminal, that is, the first data packet is addressed to the first terminal, but not to other terminals. The routing information of the second data packet points to the second terminal, and the access network device can know that the second data packet corresponds to the PDU session corresponding to the second terminal according to the routing information in the second data packet, that is, the second data packet is sent to the second terminal, but not to other terminals.

In addition, the data in the first data packet is the common data of the terminal currently accessing the first service through the access network device, wherein the terminal currently accessing the first service through the access network device includes a first terminal and a second terminal. The data in the second data packet is proprietary data of the second terminal.

Optionally, the first service is a media service.

Optionally, the data in the first data packet is background data, and the data in the second data packet is foreground data.

According to the data transmission method provided by the application, the access network device sends the first data packet, which is specific to the first terminal and carries the common data (for example, background data) of the first terminal and the second terminal, to the first terminal, and then the first terminal sends the data in the first data packet to the second terminal through the D2D communication mode, so that the data in the first data packet can be prevented from being sent to the second terminal through an air interface wireless network (or air interface resources or wireless resources or Uu port), and the pressure of media service transmission on the air interface wireless network transmission can be reduced.

With reference to the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: the access network equipment receives a third data packet of the first service from the user plane network element; if the data in the third data packet is background data and the third data packet is for the second terminal, the access network device discards the third data packet.

Based on the scheme, the access network device may discard the background data for the remote terminal, send only the background data for the relay terminal to the relay terminal, and then send the background data to the remote terminal by the relay terminal through the D2D communication mode. Therefore, the pressure of the media service transmission on the air interface wireless network transmission can be reduced, and the repeated transmission of the same data to the remote terminal can be avoided.

With reference to the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: the access network equipment receives a plurality of first indication information from the session management network element. The first indication information is used for indicating that a user plane network element receives a data packet of a first service and session information corresponding to the data packet of the first service received by the user plane network element, the multiple pieces of first indication information are used for an access network device to determine the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the access network device, and the terminals currently accessing the first service through the access network device include a first terminal and a second terminal.

Based on the scheme, the access network device may send the first data packet to the first terminal when the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the access network device reaches a certain number, and the first terminal may send data in the first data packet to a remote terminal of the first terminal through the communication manner of D2D.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, before the access network device sends the first data packet to the first terminal, the method further includes: the access network equipment receives the second indication information from the session management network element. The second indication information is used for indicating that the number of the terminals currently accessing the first service through the access network device is greater than or equal to a preset number, and the terminals currently accessing the first service through the access network device include a first terminal and a second terminal.

Based on the scheme, the access network device may send, according to the indication of the session management network element, the first data packet to the first terminal when the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the access network device reaches a certain number, and the first terminal may send data in the first data packet to the remote terminal of the first terminal through the communication mode of D2D.

With reference to the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, before the access network device sends the first data packet to the first terminal, the method further includes: the access network equipment determines that the first terminal is used as a relay terminal.

With reference to the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: the access network equipment acquires the address information of the first terminal from the session management network element; the access network device sends the address information to the second terminal, and the address information is used for the second terminal to receive the data in the first data packet from the first terminal.

With reference to the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: the access network equipment receives third indication information, wherein the third indication information is used for indicating the first terminal to leave the first service; and the access network equipment sends the data packet of the first service to the second terminal according to the third indication information.

Based on the scheme, under the condition that the first terminal leaves the first service, the access network equipment can continuously send the data packet of the first service to the second terminal through the wireless resource between the access network equipment and the second terminal, so that the situation that the data packet of the first service cannot be normally transmitted because the first terminal leaves the first service is avoided.

With reference to the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: the access network equipment receives fourth indication information, wherein the fourth indication information is used for indicating that the second terminal is disconnected from the first terminal, and the second terminal is accessing the first service; and the access network equipment sends the data packet of the first service to the second terminal according to the fourth indication information.

Based on the scheme, under the condition that the second terminal is disconnected from the first terminal and the second terminal is accessing the first service, the access network equipment can continuously send the data packet of the first service to the second terminal through the wireless resource between the access network equipment and the second terminal.

With reference to the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the method further includes: and the access network equipment sends fifth indication information to the first terminal under the condition of determining that the second terminal enters an idle state or changes the service, wherein the fifth indication information is used for indicating the first terminal to disconnect the side chain connection with the second terminal.

Based on the scheme, the first terminal can disconnect the side chain connection with the second terminal under the condition that the second terminal enters an idle state or changes the service, so that the communication resources can be saved.

In a second aspect, a method for transmitting data is provided, including: a first terminal receives a first data packet of a first service from access network equipment; the first terminal sends data in the first data packet to the second terminal; and the first terminal receives a fourth data packet of the first service from the access network equipment, and the data in the first data packet and the data in the fourth data packet are synthesized into complete service flow data at the first terminal.

It should be understood that the first and fourth data packets are for the first terminal. In addition, the data in the first data packet is the common data of the terminal currently accessing the first service through the access network device, wherein the terminal currently accessing the first service through the access network device includes a first terminal and a second terminal. The data in the fourth data packet is proprietary data of the first terminal.

Optionally, the first service is a media service.

Optionally, the data in the first data packet is background data, and the data in the fourth data packet is foreground data.

According to the data transmission method provided by the application, the access network device sends the first data packet, which is specific to the first terminal and carries common data (for example, background data) of the first terminal and the second terminal, to the first terminal, and then the first terminal sends the data in the first data packet to the second terminal through the D2D communication mode, so that the data in the first data packet can be prevented from being sent to the second terminal through the air interface wireless network, and the pressure of media service transmission on the air interface wireless network transmission can be reduced.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, before the first terminal sends the data in the first data packet to the second terminal, the method further includes: the first terminal receives sixth indication information from the access network equipment, wherein the sixth indication information is used for indicating the first service; the first terminal sends a broadcast message, the broadcast message is used for determining the second terminal, the broadcast message comprises the sixth indication information, and the second terminal also receives the fifth indication information from the access network equipment.

Based on the scheme, the side chain connection can be established only by the terminal accessing the first service through the access network equipment, so that the unnecessary establishment of the side chain connection is avoided.

With reference to the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, before the first terminal sends the data in the first data packet to the second terminal, the method further includes: the first terminal receives sixth indication information from the access network equipment, wherein the sixth indication information is used for indicating the first service; the first terminal receives a broadcast message from the second terminal, wherein the broadcast message comprises sixth indication information; the first terminal determines to establish a side chain connection with the second terminal according to the broadcast message.

In a third aspect, a method for transmitting data is provided, including: the second terminal receives first data of the first service from the first terminal; and the second terminal receives a second data packet of the first service from the access network equipment, and the data in the first data packet and the data in the second data packet are synthesized into complete service flow data at the second terminal.

It is to be understood that the first data is data in a first data packet, the first data packet being intended for a first terminal and the second data packet being intended for a second terminal. In addition, the first data is common data of a terminal currently accessing the first service through the access network device, wherein the terminal currently accessing the first service through the access network device includes a first terminal and a second terminal. The data in the second data packet is proprietary data of the second terminal.

Optionally, the first service is a media service.

With reference to the third aspect, in some implementations of the third aspect, before the second terminal receives the first data of the first service from the first terminal, the method further includes: the second terminal receives sixth indication information from the access network equipment, wherein the sixth indication information is used for indicating the first service; the second terminal sends a broadcast message, the broadcast message includes the sixth indication information, and the first terminal also receives the sixth indication information from the access network device.

In a fourth aspect, a method for transmitting data is provided, including: the method comprises the steps that access network equipment receives a first data packet and a second data packet of a first service from a user plane network element, wherein the first service is a media service; the access network device sends the first data packet to a first terminal, and data in the first data packet is forwarded to a second terminal through a side chain connection between the first terminal and the second terminal, wherein the data in the first data packet is background data, and the first data packet is specific to the first terminal; and the access network equipment discards the second data packet, wherein the data in the second data packet is background data, and the second data packet is specific to the second terminal.

It should be appreciated that both the first terminal and the second terminal currently access the first service through the access network device. The background data is common data of all terminals accessing the first service through the access network equipment.

According to the data transmission method provided by the application, the access network device only sends the background data for the first terminal to the first terminal by discarding the background data for the second terminal, and then the first terminal sends the background data to the remote terminal in a D2D communication manner, so that repeated transmission of the background data through the air interface wireless network can be avoided, and the pressure of media service transmission on the air interface wireless network transmission can be reduced.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in certain implementations of the fourth aspect, the method further includes: the access network equipment receives a third data packet of the first service from the user plane network element; and the access network equipment sends the third data packet to the second terminal, wherein the data in the third data packet is foreground data, and the third data packet is specific to the second terminal.

Based on the scheme, the background data can be transmitted in a D2D communication mode, and the foreground data can be transmitted through air interface wireless resources. Through the combination of different transmission modes, on one hand, the pressure of the transmission of background data on the transmission of the air interface wireless network can be reduced, and on the other hand, the transmission delay of foreground data can be reduced.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in certain implementations of the fourth aspect, the method further includes: the access network device receives a plurality of first indication information from a session management network element, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the user plane network element receives a data packet of the first service and session information corresponding to the data packet of the first service received by the user plane network element, the plurality of first indication information is used for the access network device to determine the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the access network device, and the terminals currently accessing the first service through the access network device include the first terminal and the second terminal.

Based on the scheme, the access network device may send the first data packet to the first terminal when the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the access network device reaches a certain number, and the first terminal may send data in the first data packet to a remote terminal (including the second terminal) of the first terminal through the communication manner of D2D.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, before the access network device sends the first data packet to the first terminal, the method further includes: the access network device receives second indication information from a session management network element, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the access network device is greater than or equal to a preset number, and the terminals currently accessing the first service through the access network device include the first terminal and the second terminal.

Based on this scheme, the access network device may send the first data packet to the first terminal according to the indication of the session management network element, when the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the access network device reaches a certain number, and may send data in the first data packet to the remote terminal of the first terminal through the communication manner of D2D.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, before the access network device sends the first data packet to the first terminal, the method further includes: and the access network equipment determines the first terminal as a relay terminal.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in certain implementations of the fourth aspect, the method further includes: the access network equipment acquires the address information of the first terminal from a session management network element; and the access network equipment sends the address information to the second terminal, wherein the address information is used for the second terminal to receive the data in the first data packet from the first terminal.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in certain implementations of the fourth aspect, the method further includes: the access network equipment receives third indication information, wherein the third indication information is used for indicating the first terminal to leave the first service; and the access network equipment sends the data packet of the first service to the second terminal according to the third indication information.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in certain implementations of the fourth aspect, the method further includes: the access network equipment receives fourth indication information, wherein the fourth indication information is used for indicating that the second terminal is disconnected from the first terminal, and the second terminal is accessing the first service; and the access network equipment sends the data packet of the first service to the second terminal according to the fourth indication information.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in certain implementations of the fourth aspect, the method further includes: and the access network equipment sends fifth indication information to the first terminal under the condition of determining that the second terminal enters an idle state or changes services, wherein the fifth indication information is used for indicating the first terminal to disconnect from the second terminal.

In a fifth aspect, a method for transmitting data is provided, including: a first terminal receives a first data packet and a fourth data packet of a first service from an access network device, wherein the first service is a media service, data in the first data packet is background data, data in the fourth data packet is foreground data, and the first data packet and the fourth data packet are both for the first terminal; and the first terminal sends the data in the first data packet to a second terminal.

According to the data transmission method provided by the application, the access network device sends the first data packet carrying the background data aiming at the first terminal to the first terminal, and then the first terminal sends the data in the first data packet to the second terminal through the D2D communication mode, so that the data in the first data packet can be prevented from being sent to the second terminal through the air interface wireless network, and the pressure of media service transmission on the air interface wireless network transmission can be reduced.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in some implementations of the fifth aspect, before the first terminal sends the data in the first data packet to the second terminal, the method further includes: the first terminal receives sixth indication information from the access network equipment, wherein the sixth indication information is used for indicating the first service; the first terminal sends a broadcast message, the broadcast message is used for determining the second terminal, the broadcast message includes the sixth indication information, and the second terminal also receives the sixth indication information from the access network device.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in some implementations of the fifth aspect, before the first terminal sends the data in the first data packet to the second terminal, the method further includes: the first terminal receives sixth indication information from the access network equipment, wherein the sixth indication information is used for indicating the first service; the first terminal receives a broadcast message from the second terminal, wherein the broadcast message comprises the sixth indication information; and the first terminal determines to establish side chain connection with the second terminal according to the broadcast message.

In a sixth aspect, a method of transmitting data is provided, comprising: a second terminal receives first data of a first service from a first terminal, wherein the first service is a media service, the first data is data in a first data packet, the first data is background data, and the first data packet is specific to the first terminal; and the second terminal receives a second data packet of the first service from the access network equipment, wherein data in the second data packet is foreground data, and the second data packet is specific to the second terminal.

According to the data transmission method provided by the application, the access network device sends the first data packet which is specific to the first terminal and carries the background data to the first terminal, and then the first terminal sends the data in the first data packet to the second terminal through the D2D communication mode, so that the data in the first data packet can be prevented from being sent to the second terminal through the air interface wireless network, and the pressure of media service transmission on the air interface wireless network transmission can be reduced.

With reference to the sixth aspect, in some implementations of the sixth aspect, before the second terminal receives the first data of the first service from the first terminal, the method further includes: the second terminal receives sixth indication information from the access network equipment, wherein the sixth indication information is used for indicating the first service; the second terminal sends a broadcast message, the broadcast message includes the sixth indication information, and the first terminal also receives the sixth indication information from the access network device.

In a seventh aspect, a method for transmitting data is provided, including: the method comprises the steps that access network equipment receives a first data packet and a second data packet of a first service from a user plane network element, wherein the first service is a media service; the access network device sends the first data packet to a first terminal, and data in the first data packet is forwarded to a second terminal through a side chain connection between the first terminal and the second terminal, wherein the data in the first data packet is data of a target field angle FoV, and the first data packet is for the first terminal; and the access network equipment discards the second data packet, wherein data in the second data packet is data of the target FoV, and the second data packet is for the second terminal.

According to the data transmission method provided by the application, under the condition that a plurality of terminals (including a first terminal and a second terminal) access the same FoV of the same service, the access network equipment only sends the FoV data of the first terminal to the first terminal by discarding the FoV data of the second terminal, and then the first terminal sends the FoV data of the first terminal to a remote terminal in a D2D communication mode, so that the FoV data can be prevented from being repeatedly transmitted for many times through an air interface wireless network, and the pressure of media service transmission on the air interface wireless network transmission can be reduced.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in some implementations of the seventh aspect, before the access network device sends the first data packet to the first terminal, the method further includes: the access network device receives a plurality of pieces of first indication information from a session management network element, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the user plane network element receives the data packet of the target FoV and session information corresponding to the data packet of the target FoV received by the user plane network element, the plurality of pieces of first indication information are used by the access network device to determine the number of terminals currently accessing the target FoV through the access network device, and the terminals currently accessing the target FoV through the access network device include the first terminal and the second terminal; wherein the sending, by the access network device, the first data packet to the first terminal includes: and the access network equipment sends the first data packet to the first terminal under the condition that the number of the terminals accessing the target FoV through the access network equipment is larger than or equal to a preset number.

Based on the scheme, when the number of terminals currently accessing the target FoV of the first service through the access network device reaches a certain number, the access network device may send a first data packet to the first terminal, and the first terminal may send data in the first data packet to a remote terminal of the first terminal through the communication manner of D2D.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in some implementations of the seventh aspect, before the access network device sends the first data packet to the first terminal, the method further includes: the access network device receives second indication information from a session management network element, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the number of terminals currently accessing the target FoV through the access network device is greater than or equal to a preset number, and the terminals currently accessing the target FoV through the access network device include the first terminal and the second terminal.

Based on the scheme, when the number of terminals currently accessing the target FoV of the first service through the access network device reaches a certain number, the access network device may send a first data packet to the first terminal, and the access network device may send data in the first data packet to the remote terminal of the first terminal through the communication manner D2D.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in some implementations of the seventh aspect, before the access network device sends the first data packet to the first terminal, the method further includes: and the access network equipment determines the first terminal as a relay terminal.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in certain implementations of the seventh aspect, the method further includes: the access network equipment acquires the address information of the first terminal from a session management network element; and the access network equipment sends the address information to the second terminal, wherein the address information is used for the second terminal to receive the data in the first data packet from the first terminal.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in certain implementations of the seventh aspect, the method further includes: the access network equipment receives third indication information, wherein the third indication information is used for indicating the first terminal to leave the first service; and the access network equipment sends the data packet of the first service to the second terminal according to the third indication information.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in certain implementations of the seventh aspect, the method further includes: the access network equipment receives fourth indication information, wherein the fourth indication information is used for indicating that the second terminal is disconnected from the first terminal, and the second terminal is accessing the first service; and the access network equipment sends the data packet of the first service to the second terminal according to the fourth indication information.

Based on the scheme, under the condition that the second terminal is disconnected from the first terminal and the second terminal is still accessing the first service, the access network equipment can continuously send the data packet of the first service to the second terminal through the wireless resource between the access network equipment and the second terminal.

With reference to the seventh aspect, in certain implementations of the seventh aspect, the method further includes: and the access network equipment sends fifth indication information to the first terminal under the condition of determining that the second terminal enters an idle state or changes services, wherein the fifth indication information is used for indicating the first terminal to disconnect a side chain connection with the second terminal.

In an eighth aspect, a method of transmitting data is provided, including: a first terminal receives a first data packet of a target field angle FoV of a first service from access network equipment, wherein the first service is a media service, and the first data packet is specific to the first terminal; and the first terminal sends the data in the first data packet to a second terminal.

According to the data transmission method provided by the application, under the condition that a plurality of terminals access the same FoV of the same service, the access network equipment only sends the FoV data of the relay terminal to the relay terminal by discarding the FoV data of the remote terminal, and then the relay terminal sends the FoV data of the relay terminal to the remote terminal through a D2D communication mode, so that the situation that the FoV data is repeatedly transmitted through an air interface wireless network can be avoided, and the pressure of media service transmission on the air interface wireless network transmission can be reduced.

With reference to the eighth aspect, in some implementations of the eighth aspect, before the first terminal sends the data in the first data packet to the second terminal, the method further includes: the first terminal receives sixth indication information from the access network equipment, wherein the sixth indication information is used for indicating the target FoV; the first terminal sends a broadcast message, the broadcast message is used for determining the second terminal, the broadcast message includes the sixth indication information, and the second terminal also receives the sixth indication information from the access network device.

Based on the scheme, the side chain connection can be established only by the terminal of the target FoV for accessing the first service through the access network equipment, so that unnecessary establishment of the side chain connection is avoided.

With reference to the eighth aspect, in some implementations of the eighth aspect, before the first terminal sends the data in the first data packet to the second terminal, the method further includes: the first terminal receives sixth indication information from the access network equipment, wherein the sixth indication information is used for indicating the target FoV; the first terminal receives a broadcast message from the second terminal, wherein the broadcast message comprises the sixth indication information; and the first terminal determines to establish side chain connection with the second terminal according to the broadcast message.

In a ninth aspect, a method for transmitting data is provided, which includes: the second terminal receives first data of a first service from a first terminal, wherein the first service is a media service, the first data is data in a first data packet, the first data is data of a target field angle FoV, and the first data packet is specific to the first terminal.

With reference to the ninth aspect, in some implementations of the ninth aspect, before the second terminal receives the first data of the first service from the first terminal, the method further includes: the second terminal receives sixth indication information from the access network equipment, wherein the sixth indication information is used for indicating the target FoV; the second terminal sends a broadcast message, the broadcast message includes the sixth indication information, and the first terminal also receives the sixth indication information from the access network device.

In a tenth aspect, a communication device is provided, which comprises means for performing the method of any one of the possible implementations of the first to ninth aspects or the first to ninth aspects.

In an eleventh aspect, an apparatus is provided that includes a processor. The processor is coupled to the memory and is operable to execute the instructions in the memory to cause the apparatus to perform the method of any of the possible implementations of the first to ninth aspects or the first to ninth aspects. Optionally, the apparatus further comprises a memory. Optionally, the apparatus further comprises an interface circuit, the processor being coupled to the interface circuit.

In a twelfth aspect, a processor is provided, comprising: input circuit, output circuit and processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive a signal through the input circuit and transmit a signal through the output circuit, so that the processor performs the method of any one of the possible implementations of the first to ninth aspects or the first to ninth aspects.

In a specific implementation process, the processor may be a chip, the input circuit may be an input pin, the output circuit may be an output pin, and the processing circuit may be a transistor, a gate circuit, a flip-flop, various logic circuits, and the like. The input signal received by the input circuit may be received and input by, for example and without limitation, a receiver, the signal output by the output circuit may be output to and transmitted by a transmitter, for example and without limitation, and the input circuit and the output circuit may be the same circuit that functions as the input circuit and the output circuit, respectively, at different times. The embodiment of the present application does not limit the specific implementation manner of the processor and various circuits.

In a thirteenth aspect, a processing apparatus is provided that includes a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to read instructions stored in the memory, and may receive a signal via the receiver and transmit a signal via the transmitter to perform the method of any one of the possible implementations of the first to ninth aspects or the first to ninth aspects.

Optionally, the number of the processors is one or more, and the number of the memories is one or more.

Alternatively, the memory may be integral to the processor or provided separately from the processor.

In a specific implementation process, the memory may be a non-transient memory, such as a Read Only Memory (ROM), which may be integrated on the same chip as the processor, or may be separately disposed on different chips.

The processing means in the above thirteenth aspect may be a chip, the processor may be implemented by hardware or may be implemented by software, and when implemented by hardware, the processor may be a logic circuit, an integrated circuit, or the like; when implemented in software, the processor may be a general-purpose processor implemented by reading software code stored in a memory, which may be integrated with the processor, located external to the processor, or stand-alone.

In a fourteenth aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising: a computer program (which may also be referred to as code, or instructions), which when executed, causes a computer to perform the method of any of the possible implementations of the first to ninth aspects or the first to ninth aspects described above.

In a fifteenth aspect, a computer-readable medium is provided, which stores a computer program (which may also be referred to as code or instructions) that, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method of any one of the possible implementations of the first to ninth aspects or the first to ninth aspects.

A sixteenth aspect provides a communication system comprising the access network device of the first, fourth or seventh aspect.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of VR video transmission based on a FoV transmission scheme;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a communication system provided herein;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another communication system provided herein;

FIG. 4 is a schematic flow chart diagram of a method of transmitting data provided herein;

FIG. 5 is a schematic flow chart diagram of another method of transmitting data provided herein;

FIG. 6 is a schematic flow chart of a method of establishing side chain attachment provided herein;

FIG. 7 is a schematic flow chart of another method of establishing side chain attachment provided herein;

FIG. 8 is a schematic flow chart diagram of a method of transmitting data provided herein;

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided herein;

fig. 10 is a schematic block diagram of an access network apparatus provided herein;

fig. 11 is a schematic block diagram of a terminal device provided in the present application;

fig. 12 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided herein.

Detailed Description

The technical solution in the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Currently, VR live video includes two transmission schemes, depending on whether full-view complete content is transmitted:

(1) full-view transmission scheme: transmitting the VR picture with the same quality and all the visual angles of 360 degrees (or 180 degrees) from the cloud to the terminal, and when the head of a user rotates to a specific visual angle, the terminal instantly completes the decoding of all the pictures or the content of the visual angle range and displays the pictures of the visual angle. The scheme needs a large network bandwidth because high-definition media streams of all visual angles need to be transmitted. Moreover, although the whole panoramic video is 360 degrees (or 180 degrees), when a user watches the panoramic video, only the current view angle part can be seen actually, and the invisible part only occupies the network bandwidth and is not really used, so that a relatively large waste is caused to the network resources.

(2) FoV transmission scheme: the cloud end pushes the high-definition media stream in the FoV area range and the 360-degree panoramic background media stream with low image quality to the terminal according to the terminal visual angle information, and then the decoding display is carried out by the terminal. Therefore, the situation that the user is blocked and the situation of 'black edge' caused by the fact that the angle of the user is changed too fast can be avoided, the terminal does not need to decode high-definition video streams of all visual angles any more, and the decoding pressure of the terminal can be effectively reduced.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of VR video transmission based on a FoV transmission scheme. Referring to fig. 1, when multiple users (e.g., terminal 1 and terminal 2 shown in the figure) watch the same VR live video, a 360-degree (or 180-degree) panoramic background stream containing all viewing angles and a foreground stream within the current viewing angle of each user are transmitted.

Since 360-degree (or 180-degree) panoramic background streams containing all viewing angles need to be transmitted to each user, the network requirements of media transmission are increased, and huge pressure is caused on an air interface wireless network with scarce target resources.

In view of this, the present application provides a method for transmitting data, in which common data (e.g., background data) of multiple terminals accessing the same service is sent to one (or multiple) terminals accessing the service, and then the terminal sends the received data to one or multiple other terminals accessing the service through a device-to-device (D2D) communication technology, so as to avoid transmission over air interface wireless resources and achieve the purpose of reducing transmission pressure of an air interface wireless network.

D2D communications are sometimes referred to as proximity-based services (ProSe) communications. In D2D communication, a terminal in close proximity may establish a communication link directly without forwarding the communication through the access network equipment. Among them, a direct connection communication interface between two terminals having a D2D communication function may be referred to as a PC5 interface, and thus D2D communication may also be referred to as PC5 communication. A direct communication link between two terminals having D2D communication function is defined as a Sidelink (SL), which may also be referred to as a sidelink, a sidelink connection, a PC5 link, or a PC5 connection.

In the present application, the background stream, the background data, the background media stream, the low-quality picture, and the low-resolution data have the same meaning, and are hereinafter collectively referred to as background data. Similarly, the foreground stream, foreground data, foreground media stream, high-quality picture, and high-resolution data are the same meaning and are hereinafter collectively referred to as foreground data. Background data, which may refer to common data (or shared data) of a plurality of terminals accessing the same service in the FoV transmission scheme, and foreground data, which may refer to proprietary data of respective terminals accessing the same service in the FoV transmission scheme, are relative concepts. It should be understood that in a scenario where multiple terminals access the same FoV of the same service, i.e., a scenario where multiple terminals request data of the same FoV of the same service, the foreground data of the multiple terminals are the same.

The technical scheme of the embodiment of the application can be applied to various communication systems, for example: a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, a LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system, a LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD), a fifth generation (5G) system, a New Radio (NR) or other communication systems that may appear in the future, and the like.

Fig. 2 shows an architecture diagram of a communication system that can be applied to the present application. As shown in fig. 2, the communication system may include one or more of the following network elements: a terminal 101 (e.g., a terminal 101A and/or a terminal 101B), an access network device 102, a user plane network element 103, a data network 104, an access and mobility management network element 105, a session management network element 106, a policy control network element 107, an application network element 108, a unified data management network element 109, and a network open network element 110.

The terminal 101: can be a User Equipment (UE), terminal equipment, user, access terminal, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, remote terminal, mobile device, user terminal, wireless communication device, user agent, or user device. For example, the mobile phone may be a mobile phone (mobile phone), a tablet (pad), a computer with a wireless transceiving function, a Virtual Reality (VR) terminal device, an Augmented Reality (AR) terminal, a wireless terminal in industrial control (industrial control), a wireless terminal in self driving (self driving), a wireless terminal in remote medical (remote medical), a wireless terminal in smart grid (smart grid), a wireless terminal in transportation safety (transportation safety), a wireless terminal in smart city (smart city), a wireless terminal in smart home (smart home), and the like. Wherein VR terminal equipment can be PC end VR, all-in-one VR or mobile terminal show (also called cell-phone VR) etc.. The terminal 101 may also be a device or a circuit configuration provided in the various apparatuses described above, for example, a chip or a system of chips.

In the communication system shown in fig. 2, the terminal 101A and the terminal 101B can support D2D communication, and communication between the terminal 101A and the terminal 101B can be performed through a PC5 interface. The terminal 101A may be referred to as a Remote terminal (also referred to as Relay UE), the terminal 101B may be referred to as a Relay terminal (also referred to as Remote UE), the Relay terminal may provide a Relay service for the Remote terminal, and the Remote terminal may connect to the access network device through the Relay terminal.

Access network device 102: the wireless resources can be managed, access service is provided for the terminal, and then forwarding of the control signal and the user data between the terminal and the core network is completed. For example, the interface between the access network device 102 and the terminal (e.g., the terminal 101B) may be referred to as a Uu port, and communication between the access network device 102 and the terminal 101B may be performed through the Uu port. Further, the access network device 102 and the terminal 101A may communicate with each other through the Uu port.

The access network device 102 may be a Transmission Reception Point (TRP), an evolved Node B (eNB or eNodeB) in an LTE system, a home Node B (e.g., home evolved Node B, or home Node B, HNB), a baseband unit (BBU), a wireless controller in a Cloud Radio Access Network (CRAN) scenario, a relay station, an access point, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a next generation base station (next generation NodeB, gNB) in a 5G mobile communication system, an access network in a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) network for future evolution, an access point (access point, AP), and so on.

User plane network element 103: mainly responsible for packet routing and forwarding.

The data network 104: it may be an operator Service, an internet access or a third party Service, such as an IP Multimedia Service (IMS), the internet, etc. Data network 104 may include application servers (ases), which are software frameworks that provide an environment for applications to run and provide services for applications such AS security, data, transactional support, load balancing, large distributed system management, and the like. And the terminal acquires the application message through communication with the AS.

Access and mobility management network element 105: the method is mainly responsible for mobility management in the mobile network, such as user location update, user registration network, user switching and the like.

Session management network element 106: the method is mainly responsible for session management in the mobile network, such as session establishment, modification and release. The specific functions include allocating an IP address to a user, selecting a user plane network element providing a message forwarding function, and the like.

The policy control network element 107: and is responsible for providing policies, such as quality of service (QoS) policies, slice selection policies, and the like, to access and mobility management network elements, session management network elements, and the like.

The application network element 108: and the system is responsible for providing services for the 3GPP network, interacting with a policy control network element for policy control and the like.

Unified data management network element 109: for storing user data such as subscription information, authentication/authorization information.

Network open network element 110: and a related framework, authentication and interface are opened for providing network capability, and information is transferred between the 5G system network function and other network functions.

In one example, the communication system shown in fig. 2 may be the 5G system shown in fig. 3. It should be understood that the system shown in fig. 1 may also be a 4G system or other systems (e.g., a 6G system, etc.), which is not limited in this application.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a 5G system architecture. In the system architecture diagram, the same reference numerals as in fig. 2 denote the names of the corresponding network elements in fig. 2 in the current 5G system. Referring to fig. 3, the 5G system architecture may include one or more of the following network elements: a UE101 (e.g., UE101A and/or UE 101B), (radio) access network (R) AN 102, User Plane Function (UPF) 103, Data Network (DN) 104, access and mobility management function (AMF) 105, Session Management Function (SMF) 106, Policy Control Function (PCF) 107, Application Function (AF) 108, Unified Data Management (UDM) 109, and network open function (network open function) 110.

It should be understood that each network element shown in fig. 2 and fig. 3 may be a hardware device, a chip, a software function running on dedicated hardware, or a virtualization function instantiated on a platform (e.g., a cloud platform). In addition, some network elements in fig. 2 or fig. 3 may be deployed at the same location (e.g., on the same hardware device or software function), or may be deployed separately, which is not limited in this application.

It should be understood that the name of each network element shown in fig. 3 is only one name, and the name does not limit the function of the network element itself. In different networks, the network elements may also be given other names, and this embodiment of the present application is not limited to this specific name. For example, in a 6G network, some or all of the above network elements may follow the terminology in 5G, and may also be named otherwise. Similarly, the interface between the network elements shown in fig. 3 is only an example, and in a 5G network and other networks in the future, the interface between the network elements may not be the interface shown in the figure, which is not limited in the present application.

It should also be understood that the embodiments of the present application are not limited to the system architecture shown in fig. 2. For example, a communication system to which the present application may be applied may comprise more or fewer network elements or devices.

The following describes the method for transmitting data provided by the present application in detail.

It is to be understood that the first terminal in the methods described below may correspond to terminal 101A in fig. 2 or UE101A in fig. 3, and the second terminal may correspond to terminal 101B in fig. 2 or UE 101B in fig. 3.

It should also be understood that the AF, AS, PCF, SMF, AMF, RAN in the methods described below may be replaced by an application network element, an application server, a policy control network element, a session management network element, an access and mobility management network element, an access network device, in that order.

Fig. 4 is a schematic flow chart of a method for transmitting data provided herein. The method 400 mainly includes S410, S420, S430, and S440. The steps in the method 400 are explained below.

S410, the UPF sends a first data packet of the first service and a second data packet of the first service to the RAN. Accordingly, the RAN receives the first and second data packets from the UPF. The first service may be a media service, but the application is not limited thereto.

It should be understood that the order in which the first and second packets are sent by the UPF may be determined by the order in which the first and second packets are received by the UPF. For example, if the UPF receives the first packet first and then the second packet, the UPF may send the first packet first and then the second packet to the RAN. As another example, if the UPF receives the first packet and the second packet at or near the same time, the UPF may send the first packet and the second packet to the RAN at or near the same time.

In this application, the first data packet is for a first terminal and the second data packet is for a second terminal. Here, the routing information in the first data packet is directed to the first terminal, and the RAN may know that the first data packet belongs to (or corresponds to) the PDU session corresponding to the first terminal according to the routing information in the first data packet, such as an IP address, a port, and the like, that is, the first data packet is addressed to the first terminal and is not addressed to other terminals. The RAN may know that the second packet belongs to the PDU session corresponding to the second terminal according to the routing information in the second packet, such as the IP address, the port number, etc., that is, the second packet is addressed to the second terminal, but not to other terminals.

In addition, the data in the first data packet is common data of the first terminal and the second terminal, and the data in the second data packet is proprietary data of the second terminal. For example, the data in the first data packet and the data in the second data packet may be combined into a complete traffic flow data at the second terminal. For example, the data in the first data packet and the data in the second data packet may be combined into a complete media stream data at the second terminal, i.e., the second terminal may combine the data in the first data packet and the data in the second data packet into a complete data stream and play the data stream.

Further, the data in the first data packet may be background data and the data in the second data packet may be foreground data.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the method may further include:

s401 a-S403 a, the UPF sends a plurality of first indication information to the SMF; the SMF determines whether the number of the terminals accessing the first service through the RAN currently is larger than or equal to a preset number or not according to the first indication information; if yes, SMF sends second indication information to RAN.

The first indication information may indicate that the UPF receives a data packet of the first service (or the UPF receives a first data packet of the first service, or the UPF has received a data packet of the first service), and session information corresponding to the data packet of the first service received by the UPF. The session information may be an N4 session identity or a PDU session identity, etc. The second indication information may indicate that the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the RAN is greater than or equal to a preset number.

In this embodiment, the UPF may send the first indication information to the SMF after receiving the first packet of the first service in one PDU session. Based on the first indication information, the SMF may determine that the UPF receives the data packet of the first service in which PDU session, which is equivalent to determining which terminal is accessing the first service. In this way, the SMF may determine how many terminals currently accessing the first service under the UPF service according to all the currently received first indication information, so as to further clarify the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the RAN. If the number of the terminals currently accessing the first service through the RAN is greater than or equal to the preset number, the SMF may send second indication information to the AMF, and the AMF forwards the second indication information to the RAN. The RAN may learn, according to the second indication information, that the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the RAN is greater than or equal to a preset number.

For example, if the first packet is a first packet of the first service received by the UPF in the PDU session corresponding to the first terminal, the UPF may send the first indication information to the SMF after receiving the first packet. If the second data packet is the first data packet of the first service received by the UPF in the PDU session corresponding to the second terminal, the UPF may also send the first indication information to the SMF after receiving the second data packet. Assuming that the preset number is N (N is an integer greater than 1), and it is specified that if the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the RAN is greater than N, the SMF sends the second indication information to the RAN, then if the SMF determines, according to the received plurality of first indication information, that the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the RAN is N +1, the second indication information may be sent to the RAN through the AMF. Assuming that the preset number is N and it is specified that if the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the RAN is equal to N, the SMF may send the second indication information to the RAN through the AMF, and then, if the SMF determines that the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the RAN is N according to the received plurality of first indication information, the SMF may send the second indication information to the RAN through the AMF.

Optionally, in another embodiment, the method may further include:

s401 b-S403 b, the UPF sends a plurality of first indication information to the SMF; the SMF sends the plurality of first indication information to the RAN; and the RAN determines whether the number of the terminals accessing the first service through the RAN is greater than or equal to a preset number or not according to the first indication information. Wherein the meaning of the first indication information is the same as that in the foregoing.

In this embodiment, after receiving the first packet of the first service in one PDU session, the UPF may send the first indication information to the SMF, and the SMF forwards the first indication information to the RAN through the AMF. For example, if the first data packet is a first data packet of the first service received by the UPF in the PDU session corresponding to the first terminal, the UPF may send the first indication information to the SMF after receiving the first data packet, and the SMF sends the first indication information to the RAN through the AMF. If the second data packet is the first data packet of the first service received by the UPF in the PDU session corresponding to the second terminal, the UPF may also send the first indication information to the SMF after receiving the second data packet, and the SMF sends the first indication information to the RAN through the AMF. The RAN may determine, according to the received plurality of first indication information, the number of terminal devices accessing the first service through the RAN, and thus may determine whether the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the RAN is greater than or equal to a preset number.

It should be understood that, in a scenario where the first indication information is sent through the control plane, the present application does not limit the sequence of sending the first indication information and sending the first data packet of the first service by the UPF. For example, taking the first packet as the first packet of the first service as an example, the UPF may send the first packet to the RAN first, may send the first indication information to the SMF first, or may send the first indication information and the first packet at the same time.

Optionally, in another embodiment, a data packet of the first service sent by the UPF to the RAN may carry first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the data packet is a data packet of the first service. For example, the first data packet and the second data packet may both carry the first indication information. After receiving a data packet, the RAN may determine whether the data packet is a data packet of the first service, and may know which PDU session, i.e., which terminal the data packet corresponds to, according to a corresponding tunnel identifier (e.g., an IP address, a port number) of the PDU session. Thus, the RAN may determine whether the number of terminal devices accessing the first service and the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the RAN are greater than or equal to a preset number.

S420 and S430 may be performed in case that the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the RAN is greater than or equal to a preset number. Alternatively, S420 and S430 are performed independently of whether the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the RAN is greater than or equal to a preset number.

S420, the RAN sends the first data packet to the first terminal. Accordingly, the first terminal receives a first data packet from the RAN.

The first terminal sends the data in the first data packet (denoted as first data) to the second terminal through its side-chain connection with the second terminal S430. Accordingly, the second terminal receives the first data from the first terminal through its side chain connection with the first terminal. And the first terminal and the second terminal are both terminals which access the first service through the RAN currently.

Specifically, after receiving the first data packet, the RAN may send the first data packet to the first terminal through an air interface connection (e.g., Uu interface) between the RAN and the first terminal. The first terminal may obtain data (payload) in the first data packet, that is, the first data, by parsing the first data packet. And, on the one hand, the first terminal may store the data in the first data packet for local use, and on the other hand, may send the data in the first data packet to the second terminal through the side-chain connection between the first terminal and the second terminal, that is, the first terminal may send the data in the first data packet to the second terminal through the D2D communication manner.

In this embodiment, the first terminal is a relay terminal of the second terminal, and the second terminal is a remote terminal of the first terminal. The remote terminal of the first terminal may include only the second terminal, or may include a plurality of terminals, including the second terminal, and each of the plurality of terminals currently accesses the first service through the RAN. If the remote terminal of the first terminal includes a plurality of terminals, the first terminal may send the data in the first data packet to the plurality of terminals through the side chains connected to the plurality of terminals, respectively. In addition, among the terminals currently accessing the first service through the RAN, a terminal serving as a relay, that is, a relay terminal, may include only the first terminal, or may include a plurality of terminals, where the plurality of terminals include the first terminal. For each relay terminal, operations similar to steps S420 and S430 may be performed. For example, if the RAN receives a data packet for a third terminal as a relay terminal, the RAN may send the data packet to the third terminal, and the third terminal may send data in the data packet to its remote terminal.

Optionally, before S420, the method may further include:

s411 to S413, the RAN determines the first terminal as a relay terminal; the first terminal and the second terminal establish side chain connection; the RAN configures communication resources corresponding to a side chain between the first terminal and the second terminal.

In particular, the RAN may trigger a relay discovery and selection procedure for a terminal currently accessing the first service through the RAN. For example, the RAN may first determine one or more relay terminals from among terminals currently accessing the first service through the RAN, where the one or more relay terminals include the first terminal. For example, the RAN may select a terminal (e.g., the first terminal) as the relay terminal according to network conditions and/or location information with a terminal currently accessing the first service through the RAN. Then, the relay terminal establishes a side-chain connection with the remote terminal, for example, the first terminal establishes a side-chain connection with its corresponding remote terminal (including the second terminal), and the RAN configures a communication resource corresponding to the side-chain between the relay terminal and the remote terminal, where the communication resource is used for the relay terminal and the remote terminal to communicate. In addition, the relay terminal (e.g., the first terminal) may inform the RAN side of information of its corresponding remote terminal (e.g., the second terminal), such as an identifier of the remote terminal. Alternatively, the remote terminal (e.g., the second terminal) may inform the RAN side of information, such as an identifier of the relay terminal, of an identity of the remote terminal and a relay terminal (e.g., the first terminal) corresponding to the remote terminal. Illustratively, the relay terminal may inform the RAN side of information of its corresponding remote terminal through an RRC message or an uplink packet PDCP layer. Similarly, the remote terminal may inform the RAN side of the information that its identity is the remote terminal and its corresponding relay terminal through an RRC message or an uplink packet PDCP layer. The identifier of the relay terminal or the identifier of the remote terminal may be any information that can uniquely identify the terminal, and the specific form of the information is not limited in the present application.

Regarding how to establish the side chain linkage, one implementation can refer to the description of fig. 6 and 7 below, which is not detailed here.

For example, S411 to S413 may be performed when the number of terminals currently accessing the media service through the RAN is greater than or equal to a preset number.

Optionally, before S430, the method may further include:

S421-S422, the RAN acquires the address information of the first terminal from the SMF; the RAN sends the address information to the second terminal. The address information is used for the second terminal to receive data in the first data packet sent by the first terminal.

Specifically, after determining that the first terminal is a relay terminal and the second terminal is a remote terminal of the first terminal, the RAN may request the SMF for address information of the second terminal, such as IP address information. After the SMF returns the address information of the first terminal according to the request of the RAN, the RAN may send the address information to the first terminal, and the subsequent first terminal may send the data in the first data packet to the second terminal according to the address information. Illustratively, the address information sent by the RAN to the first terminal may be carried in an RRC message or in a PDCP layer of a downlink data packet (e.g., the first data packet).

It is understood that S421 may be performed before S420, or may be performed after S420 and before S430.

S440, the RAN sends the second data packet to the second terminal. Accordingly, the second terminal receives a second data packet from the RAN.

Specifically, after receiving the second data packet, the RAN may send the second data packet to the second terminal through an air interface connection (e.g., Uu interface) between the RAN and the second terminal. The second terminal may obtain data (payload) in the second data packet by parsing the second data packet. Further, the second terminal combines the data in the first data packet and the data in the second data packet to obtain complete traffic flow data.

For example, the data in the first data packet is background data, and the data in the second data packet is foreground data. That is, in the case where the data in the first packet is background data, the RAN transmits the first packet to the first terminal, and the first terminal transmits the data in the first packet to the second terminal through its side-chain connection with the second terminal. And under the condition that the data in the second data packet is the foreground data, the RAN sends the second data packet to the second terminal.

According to the data transmission method provided by the application, the RAN sends the first data packet, which is specific to the first terminal and carries common data (for example, background data) of the first terminal and the second terminal, to the first terminal, and then the first terminal sends the data in the first data packet to the second terminal through the D2D communication mode, so that the data in the first data packet can be prevented from being sent to the second terminal through the air interface wireless network, and the pressure of media service transmission on the air interface wireless network transmission can be reduced.

Optionally, the method may further include:

s450, the UPF sends a third data packet of the first service to the RAN. Accordingly, the RAN receives the third packet from the UPF.

S460, if the data in the third data packet is background data and the third data packet is for the second terminal, the RAN discards the third data packet.

Alternatively, S460 may be performed when the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the RAN is greater than or equal to a preset number.

Based on the scheme, the RAN may discard the background data for the remote terminal, send only the background data for the relay terminal to the relay terminal, and then send the background data to the remote terminal by the relay terminal through the D2D communication manner. Therefore, the pressure of the media service transmission on the air interface wireless network transmission can be reduced, and the repeated transmission of the same data to the remote terminal can be avoided.

In this application, how the RAN determines that data in a data packet is background data or foreground data may have two implementation manners:

in a first mode

The UPF may carry identification information in the data packet, where the identification information is used to indicate whether the data in the data packet is background data or foreground data. Accordingly, the RAN may determine whether the data in the data packet is background data or foreground data based on the identification information. For example, the first data packet may carry first identification information, where the first identification information is used to indicate that data in the first data packet is background data or not foreground data. Similarly, the third data packet may also carry first identification information, where the first identification information is used to indicate that data in the third data packet is background data or not foreground data. The second data packet may carry second identification information, where the second identification information is used to indicate that data in the second data packet is foreground data or not background data.

Optionally, the UPF may determine whether the data in the received data packet (e.g., the first data packet or the second data packet, etc.) is background data or foreground data according to the indication information #2 carried by the data packet. Further, identification information may be added to the packet.

Specifically, the AS may carry indication information #2 in the data packet, for example, the AS may carry indication information #2 in a header of the data packet, where the indication information #2 is used to indicate whether the data packet is background data or foreground data. The indication #2 may be in the IP or TCP header information of the packet, such as the option extension field of the IP/TCP header, or the DSCP field in IPv 4. After receiving the data packet, the UPF may determine whether the data in the data packet is background data or foreground data according to the indication information #2, and further add identification information to the data packet. For example, the UPF may add the identification information at a GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP) layer of the packet.

In addition, whether the UPF adds the first identification information or the second identification information to the packet, such as how the RAN recognizes the first identification information or the second identification information, may be informed by the SMF.

Mode two

The RAN may determine whether the data in the data packet is specifically background data or foreground data by parsing the data packet. For example, the RAN may determine that the data in the first data packet is background data by analyzing the first data packet, determine that the data in the second data packet is foreground data by analyzing the second data packet, and determine that the data in the third data packet is background data by analyzing the third data packet.

Based on the above two ways, the RAN can determine whether the data in one data packet is background data or foreground data. Therefore, the RAN may only send the background data for the relay terminal to the relay terminal, and then the relay terminal sends the background data to the remote terminal through the D2D communication method, and discards the background data for the remote terminal, so as to reduce the pressure of the media service transmission on the air interface wireless network transmission.

Optionally, the method may further include:

s470, the UPF sends a fourth packet of the first service to the RAN. Accordingly, the RAN receives the fourth packet from the UPF.

S480, the RAN sends the fourth data packet to the first terminal. Accordingly, the first terminal receives a fourth data packet from the RAN.

Wherein the fourth data packet is specific to the first terminal, and the data in the fourth data packet is proprietary data of the first terminal, such as the data in the first data packet and the data in the fourth data packet can be synthesized into complete traffic flow data at the first terminal.

Further, the data in the fourth data packet is foreground data.

Optionally, as an embodiment of the present application, before S410, the method may further include: AF/AS sends the media flow indication information and flow description information to PCF; PCF determines Policy and Charging Control (PCC) rule according to the media flow indication information and the flow description information, and sends the PCC rule and the media flow indication information to SMF; the SMF generates a corresponding Packet Detection Rule (PDR) according to the media stream indication information and the PCC rule; the SMF sends the PDR to the UPF.

Wherein the flow description information is used for describing data characteristics of the first service. For example, the flow description information may include one or more of the following: the IP address of the server, the transport layer port of the server, and the transport layer protocol type.

The media stream indication information is used for indicating the SMF to count the number of the terminals currently accessing the first service through the RAN, and indicating the RAN side to determine the first terminal when the number of the terminals currently accessing the first service through the RAN is greater than or equal to a preset number.

The PDR is used for UPF to detect the packet, and identifies whether the service currently accessed by the terminal equipment is the first service according to the packet detection rule.

Based on the scheme, the UPF can determine whether the service currently accessed by the terminal device is the first service according to the PDR, so that when the service currently accessed by the terminal device is the first service, the UPF sends the first indication information to the SMF to indicate that the UPF receives the data packet of the first service.

Optionally, the AF/AS may also send identification information to the PCF, and the identification information is sent to the UPF side via the PCF and the SMF, where the UPF may specifically determine, according to the identification information, whether the data in the data packet of the first service is background data or foreground data.

Fig. 5 is a schematic flow chart of another method of transmitting data provided herein. The method 500 generally includes S510, S520, S530, and S540. The steps in the method 500 are explained below.

S510, the UPF sends a first data packet and a second data packet of the first service to the RAN. Accordingly, the RAN receives the first and second data packets from the UPF. Wherein the first service may be a media service.

In this application, the first data packet is for a first terminal and the second data packet is for a second terminal. The specific meaning can be referred to the description of S410 above, and is not described herein again.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the method may further include:

s501 a-S503 a, the UPF sends a plurality of first indication information to the SMF; the SMF determines whether the number of the terminals accessing the first service through the RAN currently is larger than or equal to a preset number or not according to the first indication information; if yes, SMF sends second indication information to RAN. The first indication information may indicate that the UPF receives a data packet of the first service (or the UPF receives a first data packet of the first service, or the UPF has received a data packet of the first service), and session information corresponding to the data packet of the first service received by the UPF. The session information may be a PDU session identifier or a tunnel identifier (e.g., an IP address and/or port number, etc.) corresponding to the PDU session, etc. The second indication information may indicate that the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the RAN is greater than or equal to a preset number.

Steps S501a to S503a are the same as steps 401a to S403a in the method 400, and reference may be made to steps 401a to S403a, which are not described herein again.

Optionally, in another embodiment, the method may further include:

s501 b-S503 b, the UPF sends a plurality of first indication information to the SMF; the SMF sends the plurality of first indication information to the RAN; and the RAN determines whether the number of the terminals accessing the first service through the RAN is greater than or equal to a preset number or not according to the first indication information. Wherein the meaning of the first indication information is the same as that in the foregoing.

Steps S501b to S503b are the same as steps 401b to S403b in the method 400, and reference may be made to steps 401b to S403b, which are not described herein again.

Optionally, in another embodiment, a data packet of the first service sent by the UPF to the RAN may carry first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the data packet is a data packet of the first service. For example, the first data packet and the second data packet may both carry the first indication information. After receiving a data packet, the RAN may determine whether the data packet is a data packet of the first service, and may know which PDU session the data packet corresponds to according to tunnel port address information (e.g., an IP address and a port number) of the corresponding PDU session, so as to determine which terminal the data packet corresponds to. Thus, the RAN may determine whether the number of terminal devices accessing the first service and the number of terminals currently accessing the first service from a certain view through the RAN are greater than or equal to a preset number.

S520 and S530 may be performed in case that the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the RAN is greater than or equal to a preset number. Alternatively, S520 and S530 are performed independently of whether the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the RAN is greater than or equal to a preset number.

S520, the RAN sends the first data packet to the first terminal. Accordingly, the first terminal receives a first data packet from the RAN. And the data in the first data packet is background data.

Specifically, the RAN determines whether data in the first data packet is background data or foreground data, and if the data in the first data packet is the background data, the RAN sends the first data packet to the first terminal. For example, referring to the first manner described in the foregoing, the first data packet and the second data packet may carry identification information, and the RAN may determine whether data in the first data packet is background data or foreground data according to the identification information in the first data packet, and determine whether data in the second data packet is background data or foreground data according to the identification information in the second data packet. For example, the first data packet may carry first identification information, and the RAN may determine, according to the first identification information, that data in the first data packet is background data or is not foreground data. For another example, referring to the second mode described above, the RAN may determine whether the data in the first data packet is background data or foreground data by parsing the first data packet. Similarly, the RAN may determine whether the data in the second data packet is background data or foreground data by parsing the second data packet.

Alternatively, S520 may be performed in case that the number of terminals currently accessing the media service through the RAN is greater than or equal to a preset number.

S530, the first terminal sends the data (denoted as first data) in the first data packet to the second terminal through the side chain connection with the second terminal. Accordingly, the second terminal receives the first data from the first terminal through its side chain connection with the first terminal.

The first terminal and the second terminal are both terminals currently accessing the media service through the RAN. After receiving the first data packet, the RAN may send the first data packet to the first terminal through an air interface connection (e.g., Uu interface) with the first terminal. The first terminal may obtain data (payload) in the first data packet by parsing the first data packet. And, on the one hand, the first terminal may store the data in the first data packet for local use, and on the other hand, may send the data in the first data packet to the second terminal through the side-chain connection between the first terminal and the second terminal, that is, the first terminal may send the data in the first data packet to the second terminal through the D2D communication manner.

In the embodiment of the application, the first terminal is a relay terminal of the second terminal, and the second terminal is a far-end terminal of the first terminal. The remote terminal of the first terminal may include only the second terminal, or may include a plurality of terminals, including the second terminal, and each of the plurality of terminals currently accesses the first service through the RAN. If the remote terminal of the first terminal includes a plurality of terminals, the first terminal may send the data in the first data packet to the plurality of terminals through the side chains connected to the plurality of terminals, respectively. In addition, among the terminals currently accessing the first service through the RAN, a terminal serving as a relay, that is, a relay terminal, may include only the first terminal, or may include a plurality of terminals, where the plurality of terminals include the first terminal. For each relay terminal, an operation similar to step S530 may be performed. For example, if the RAN receives a data packet for a third terminal as a relay terminal, the RAN may send the data packet to the third terminal, and the third terminal may send data in the data packet to its remote terminal.

S540, the RAN discards the second packet. And the data in the second data packet is background data.

Specifically, the RAN determines whether the data in the second data packet is background data or foreground data, and discards the second data packet if the data in the second data packet is background data. For example, the second data packet may carry identification information, and the RAN may determine whether data in the second data packet is background data or foreground data according to the identification information in the second data packet. For another example, referring to the second method described in the foregoing, the RAN may determine whether the data in the second data packet is background data or foreground data by parsing the second data packet.

It should be understood that the present application does not limit the precedence order between S520 and S550, and the precedence order between S530 and S550.

According to the data transmission method provided by the application, the RAN only sends the background data for the relay terminal to the relay terminal by discarding the background data for the remote terminal, and then the relay terminal sends the background data to the remote terminal in a D2D communication manner, so that repeated transmission of the background data through the air interface wireless network can be avoided, and the pressure of media service transmission on the air interface wireless network transmission can be reduced.

Optionally, before S520, the method may further include:

S511-S513, the RAN determines the first terminal as a relay terminal; the first terminal and the second terminal establish side chain connection; the RAN configures communication resources corresponding to a side chain between the first terminal and the second terminal.

Steps S511 to S513 are the same as steps S411 to S413 in the method 400, and reference may be made to steps S411 to S413, which are not described herein again.

For example, S511 may be performed when the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the RAN is greater than or equal to a preset number.

Optionally, before S530, the method may further include:

S521-S523, the RAN acquires the address information of the first terminal from the SMF; the RAN sends the address information to the second terminal. The address information is used for the second terminal to receive data in the first data packet sent by the first terminal.

Steps S521 to S523 are the same as steps S421 to S422 in the method 400, and reference may be made to steps S421 to S422, which is not described herein again.

It is understood that S521 may be performed after S520 and before S530.

Optionally, the method may further include:

s550, the UPF sends a third data packet of the first service to the RAN. Accordingly, the RAN receives the third packet from the UPF.

S560, the RAN sends the third data packet to the second terminal. Accordingly, the second terminal receives a third data packet from the RAN. Wherein the data in the third data packet is foreground data and the third data packet is for the second terminal, then

Specifically, after receiving the third data packet, if it is determined that the third data packet is for the second terminal and the data in the third data packet is foreground data, the RAN may send the second data packet to the second terminal through an air interface connection (e.g., Uu port) with the second terminal. The second terminal may obtain data (payload) in the third data packet by parsing the third data packet. Further, the second terminal combines the data in the first data packet and the data in the third data packet to obtain the complete media stream data.

Based on the scheme, the background data can be transmitted in a D2D communication mode, and the foreground data can be transmitted through air interface wireless resources. Through the combination of different transmission modes, the pressure of media service transmission on air interface wireless network transmission can be reduced on one hand, and the transmission delay can be reduced on the other hand.

Optionally, the method may further include:

s570, the UPF sends a fourth packet of the first service to the RAN. Accordingly, the RAN receives the fourth packet from the UPF.

S580, the RAN sends the fourth packet to the first terminal. Accordingly, the first terminal receives a fourth data packet from the RAN.

Wherein the fourth data packet is for the first terminal, and the data in the fourth data packet is foreground data.

Optionally, as an embodiment of the present application, before S510, the method may further include: AF/AS sends the media flow indication information and flow description information to PCF; PCF determines Policy and Charging Control (PCC) rule according to the media flow indication information and the flow description information, and sends the media flow indication information and the PCC rule to SMF; the SMF generates a corresponding Packet Detection Rule (PDR) according to the media stream indication information and the PCC rule; the SMF sends the PDR to the UPF.

Optionally, the AF/AS may send identification information to the PCF, where the identification information is used by the UPF to identify whether data in the data packet of the first service is specifically background data or foreground data, through the PCF and the SMF, and sent to the UPF side.

The process of establishing a side chain connection between a first terminal and a second terminal is mentioned in both method 400 and method 500. Two procedures for establishing side chain linkages provided herein are described below.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a process for establishing side-chain linkages according to the present application. The following describes each step in this flow.

S610, the first terminal transmits the broadcast information.

The broadcast information includes sixth indication information from the RAN, where the sixth indication information is used to indicate the first service, and the sixth indication information may be used to determine a remote terminal of the first terminal, such as the second terminal.

It should be understood that the sixth indication information may be transmitted by the RAN to all terminals currently accessing the first service through the RAN after or before S411 or S511.

And S620, the second terminal establishes a side chain connection with the first terminal according to the broadcast information.

The sixth indication information is also received before the second terminal, and the second terminal may establish a side-chain connection with the first terminal after receiving the broadcast information.

It should be understood that if there are other remote terminals, such as the third terminal, and the sixth indication information is also received before the third terminal, the third terminal also establishes a side-chain connection with the first terminal in case of receiving the broadcast information.

For a terminal that does not receive the sixth indication information, a side-chain connection with the first terminal is not established even if it receives the broadcast information.

According to the scheme provided by the application, the indication information related to the first service from the RAN is added to the broadcast information, so that the side-chain connection can be ensured to be established only between the terminals receiving the indication information, that is, the side-chain connection can be ensured to be established only between the terminals currently accessing the media service through the RAN, and thus the establishment of unnecessary side-chain connection can be avoided.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of another procedure for establishing side-chain linkages as provided herein. The following describes each step in this flow.

S710, the second terminal transmits the broadcast information.

The broadcast information includes sixth indication information from the RAN, where the sixth indication information is used to indicate the first service, and the sixth indication information may be used to determine a relay terminal of the second terminal, that is, the first terminal.

It should be understood that the sixth indication information may be sent by the RAN to all terminals currently accessing the first service through the RAN after or before S411 or S511.

And S720, the first terminal establishes a side chain connection with the second terminal according to the broadcast information.

The sixth indication information is also received before the first terminal, and the first terminal may establish a side-chain connection with the second terminal after receiving the broadcast information.

In the prior art, when multiple users watch live media streams of the same FoV, the data sent to the multiple users are the same due to the same viewing angle, which causes repeated foreground data transmission, and this will further increase the pressure of media service transmission on the wireless air interface network, and it is difficult to ensure the media watching experience of the user side.

In view of this, the present application provides another method for transmitting data, where when multiple users watch live media streams of the same FoV, the data of the target FoV of the relay terminal is sent to the remote terminal through the D2D communication technology, and the data of the target FoV of the remote terminal is discarded, so as to achieve the purpose of reducing transmission pressure of an air interface wireless network. The method is explained below.

Fig. 8 is a schematic flow chart of another method of transmitting data provided herein. The method 800 generally includes S810, S820, S830, and S840. The steps in the method 800 are explained below.

S810, the UPF sends a first data packet and a second data packet of the first service to the RAN. Accordingly, the RAN receives the first and second data packets from the UPF. Wherein the first service may be a media service.

In this application, the first data packet is for a first terminal and the second data packet is for a second terminal. The specific meaning can be referred to the description of S410 above, and is not described herein again. And the data in the first data packet and the data in the second data packet are both the data of the target FoV of the first service. That is, both the first terminal and the second terminal currently access the target FoV of the first service.

Optionally, in an embodiment, the method may further include:

s801 a-S803 a, the UPF sends a plurality of pieces of first indication information to the SMF; the SMF determines whether the number of terminals accessing a target FoV of the first service through the RAN currently is larger than or equal to a preset number or not according to the plurality of first indication information; if yes, SMF sends second indication information to RAN. The first indication information may indicate that the UPF receives a packet of a target FoV of the first service (or the UPF receives a first packet of the target FoV of the first service, or the UPF has received the packet of the target FoV of the first service), and session information corresponding to the packet of the target FoV of the first service received by the UPF. The second indication information may indicate that the number of terminals currently accessing the target FoV of the first service through the RAN is greater than or equal to a preset number.

Steps S801a to S803a are similar to steps 401a to S403a of the method 400 described above, except that the method 400 describes the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the RAN, and here describes the number of terminals currently accessing the target FoV of the first service through the RAN. Reference may be specifically made to 401a to S403a from S801a to S803a, which are not described herein again.

It should be understood that the first indication information may include multiple information, for example, first information and second information, where the first information is used to indicate that the UPF receives a packet of the first service (or that the UPF receives a first packet of the first service, or that the UPF has received a packet of the first service), and session information corresponding to the packet of the first service received by the UPF, and the second information is used to indicate that the packet of the first service received by the UPF is a packet of the target FoV.

Optionally, in another embodiment, the method may further include:

s801 b-S803 b, the UPF sends a plurality of pieces of first indication information to the SMF; the SMF sends the plurality of first indication information to the RAN; and the RAN determines whether the number of terminals accessing the target FoV of the first service through the RAN currently is larger than or equal to a preset number or not according to the plurality of pieces of first indication information. Here, the meaning of the first indication information is referred to the description of the first indication information in S801 a.

Steps S801 b-S803 b are similar to steps 401 b-S403 b of the method 400 above, except that the method 400 describes the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the RAN, and here describes the number of terminals currently accessing the target FoV of the first service through the RAN. Reference may be specifically made to 401b to S403b from S801b to S803b, which are not described herein again.

It is understood that the predetermined number in the method and the predetermined number in the method 400 may be the same or different, and the application is not limited thereto.

Optionally, in yet another embodiment, a data packet of a target FoV of the first service, which is sent by the UPF to the RAN, may carry first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the data packet is a data packet of a corresponding FoV of the first service. For example, the first data packet and the second data packet may both carry the first indication information. After receiving a data packet, the RAN may determine whether the data packet is a data packet of a target FoV of the first service, and may know, according to tunnel address information (such as an IP address and a port number) of a corresponding PDU session, which PDU session the data packet corresponds to, that is, which terminal the data packet corresponds to. Thus, the RAN may determine whether the number of terminal devices accessing the target FoV of the first service and the number of terminals currently accessing the target FoV of the first service through the RAN are greater than or equal to a preset number.

S820 and S830 may be performed in case the number of terminals currently accessing the target FoV of the first service through the RAN is greater than or equal to a preset number. Alternatively, S820 and S830 are performed independently of whether the number of terminals currently accessing the target FoV of the first service through the RAN is greater than or equal to a preset number.

S820, the RAN sends the first data packet to the first terminal. Accordingly, the first terminal receives a first data packet from the RAN.

Specifically, the RAN determines whether data in the first data packet is data of a target FoV of the first service, and if the data in the first data packet is the target FoV of the first service, the RAN sends the first data packet to the first terminal. For example, in a manner similar to that described in the foregoing, the first data packet may carry identification information, and the RAN may determine whether the data in the first data packet is the data of the target FoV of the first service according to the identification information in the first data packet. For example, the first data packet may carry first identification information, and the RAN may determine, according to the first identification information, that data in the first data packet is data of a target FoV of the first service. As another example, in a manner similar to that described above, the RAN may determine whether the data in the first packet is the data of the target FoV of the first service by parsing the first packet.

Alternatively, S820 may be performed in a case where the number of terminals currently accessing the target FoV of the first service through the RAN is greater than or equal to a preset number.

S830, the first terminal sends the data (denoted as first data) in the first data packet to the second terminal through the side link with the second terminal. Accordingly, the second terminal receives the first data from the first terminal through its side chain connection with the first terminal.

After receiving the first data packet, the RAN may send the first data packet to the first terminal through an air interface connection (e.g., Uu interface) with the first terminal. The first terminal may obtain data (payload) in the first data packet by parsing the first data packet. And, on the one hand, the first terminal may store the data in the first data packet for local use, and on the other hand, may send the data in the first data packet to the second terminal through the side-chain connection between the first terminal and the second terminal, that is, the first terminal may send the data in the first data packet to the second terminal through the D2D communication manner.

In this embodiment, the first terminal is a relay terminal of the second terminal, and the second terminal is a remote terminal of the first terminal. The remote terminal of the first terminal may include only the second terminal, or may include a plurality of terminals, which include the second terminal and each currently access the target FoV of the first service through the RAN. If the remote terminal of the first terminal includes a plurality of terminals, the first terminal may send the data in the first data packet to the plurality of terminals through the side chains connected to the plurality of terminals, respectively. In addition, among terminals currently accessing the target FoV of the first service through the RAN, a terminal serving as a relay, that is, a relay terminal, may include only the first terminal, or may include a plurality of terminals, where the plurality of terminals include the first terminal. For each relay terminal, an operation similar to step S830 may be performed.

S840, the RAN discards the second packet.

Specifically, the RAN determines whether the data in the second data packet is the data of the target FoV of the first service, and discards the second data packet if the data in the second data packet is the data of the target FoV of the first service. For example, in a manner similar to that described in the foregoing, the second data packet may carry identification information, and the RAN may determine whether the data in the second data packet is the data of the target FoV of the first service according to the identification information in the second data packet. As another example, in a manner similar to that described above, the RAN may determine whether the data in the second packet is the data of the target FoV of the first service by parsing the second packet.

In this embodiment, other remote terminals, for example, other remote terminals of the first terminal, and remote terminals of other relay terminals currently accessing the target FoV of the first service through the RAN (these remote terminals currently also access the target FoV of the first service through the RAN), may perform similar operations as S840.

It should be understood that the present application does not limit the precedence order between S820 and S840, and the precedence order between S830 and S840.

According to the data transmission method provided by the application, under the condition that a plurality of terminals access the same FoV of the same service, the RAN discards the FoV data for the remote terminal, only sends the FoV data for the relay terminal to the relay terminal, and then the relay terminal sends the FoV data for the relay terminal to the remote terminal through the D2D communication mode, so that the FoV data can be prevented from being repeatedly transmitted for many times through an air interface wireless network, and the pressure of media service transmission on the air interface wireless network transmission can be reduced.

Optionally, before S820, the method may further include:

s811 to S813, the RAN determines the first terminal as a relay terminal; the first terminal and the second terminal establish side chain connection; the RAN configures communication resources corresponding to a side chain between the first terminal and the second terminal.

Steps S811 to S813 are similar to steps S411 to S413 of the method 400, except that the RAN triggers the relay discovery and selection procedure of the terminal currently accessing the first service through the RAN, which is described above, here, the RAN triggers the relay discovery and selection procedure of the terminal currently accessing the target FoV of the first service through the RAN. S811 to S813 may refer to S411 to S413, and are not described in detail here.

For example, S811 may be performed when the number of terminals currently accessing the target FoV of the first service through the RAN is greater than or equal to a preset number.

Optionally, before S830, the method may further include:

S821-S822, the RAN acquires the address information of the first terminal from the SMF; the RAN sends the address information to the second terminal. The address information is used for the second terminal to receive data in the first data packet sent from the first terminal.

Steps S821 to S822 are the same as steps S421 to S422 in the method 400, and reference may be made to steps S421 to S422, which is not described herein again.

It is understood that S821 may be performed after S820 and before S830.

Optionally, as an embodiment of the present application, before S810, the method may further include: AF/AS sends media stream indication information, stream description information and second information to PCF, the second information is used to mark the target FoV of the first service; PCF determines Policy and Charging Control (PCC) rule according to the media flow indication information and the flow description information, and sends the PCC rule, the media flow indication information and the second information to SMF; the SMF generates a corresponding Packet Detection Rule (PDR) according to the media stream indication information and the PCC rule; the SMF sends the PDR and the second information to the UPF.

Wherein the flow description information is used for describing the first service data characteristics. For example, the flow description information may include one or more of the following: the IP address of the server, the transport layer port of the server, and the transport layer protocol type.

The media stream indication information is used to indicate the SMF to count the number of terminals currently accessing the target FoV of the first service through the RAN, and indicate the RAN side to determine the first terminal when the number of terminals currently accessing the target FoV of the first service through the RAN is greater than or equal to a preset number.

The second information is used for the UPF to detect the FoV information, and whether the first service currently accessed by the terminal equipment is the target FoV of the first service is identified according to the second information.

Based on the scheme, the UPF may determine whether the service currently accessed by the terminal device is the target FoV of the first service according to the PDR and the second information, so that when the service currently accessed by the terminal device is the target FoV of the first service, the UPF sends the first indication information to the SMF to indicate that the UPF receives the data packet of the target FoV of the first service.

With respect to the procedure involved in the method 800 for establishing a side chain connection between a first terminal and a second terminal, reference may be made to the above description of the flows shown in fig. 6 and 7. However, when the flows shown in fig. 6 and fig. 7 are applied in the method 800, the sixth indication information will be used to indicate the target FoV of the first service.

Optionally, as an embodiment of the present application, the method 500, the method 600, or the method 800 may further include one or more of the following steps:

(1) if the first terminal leaves the first service, third indication information can be sent to the RAN, and the third indication information is used for indicating that the first terminal leaves the first service; and the RAN sends the data packet of the first service to the second terminal according to the third indication information.

Specifically, if the first terminal is about to enter an idle state or the first terminal no longer accesses the first service, the first terminal may send the third indication information to the RAN, for example, the first terminal may send the third indication information through an RRC message, or the third indication information is carried on a PDCP layer of an uplink packet. After receiving the third indication information, the RAN may learn that the first terminal is about to leave the first service, so that common data, such as background data, of the first terminal and the second terminal is no longer sent to the second terminal in a D2D manner, and a data packet of the first service is sent to the second terminal through a radio resource between the RAN and the second terminal, that is, through the Uu port.

(2) If the UPF detects that the first terminal leaves the first service, third indication information is sent to the RAN, and the third indication information is used for indicating the RAN to leave the first service; and the RAN sends the data packet of the first service to the second terminal according to the third indication information.

Specifically, if the UPF detects that the first terminal no longer accesses the first service, the UPF may send third indication information to the RAN. For example, the UPF may send the third indication information to the RAN by using a control plane (e.g., N4 session reporting procedure and N2 SM message) or a user plane (e.g., GTP-U layer carrying the third indication information). After receiving the third indication information, the RAN may learn that the first terminal has left the first service, so that the RAN no longer sends the common data of the first terminal and the second terminal, such as the background data, to the second terminal in a D2D manner, and sends the data packet of the first service to the second terminal through the radio resource between the RAN and the second terminal, that is, through the Uu port.

Optionally, in a case that the RAN receives the third indication information, the RAN may further determine one or more terminals as relay terminals from the remaining terminals accessing the first service, instruct the relay terminals to establish a side chain connection with the remote terminal, and allocate communication resources corresponding to the corresponding side chain. In this way, when the original relay terminal leaves the first service, the relay terminal may be reselected, and common data of the first terminal and the second terminal may be transmitted by means of D2D.

(3) In the case that the second terminal disconnects the side-chain connection with the first terminal and the second terminal is also accessing the first service, the second terminal sends fourth indication information to the RAN, wherein the fourth indication information is used for indicating that the second terminal has disconnected the connection with the first terminal and the second terminal is also accessing the first service; and the RAN sends the data packet of the first service to the second terminal through the wireless resource between the RAN and the second terminal subsequently according to the fourth indication information.

Optionally, in a case that the RAN receives the fourth indication information, the RAN may further select the first terminal from the remaining terminals accessing the first service as a relay terminal of the second terminal, instruct the relay terminal to establish a side chain connection with the first terminal, and allocate a communication resource corresponding to the corresponding side chain. In this way, when the second terminal disconnects from the original relay terminal, the common data of the first terminal and the second terminal can be received by the method D2D.

(4) The RAN may be informed if the UPF detects that the second terminal leaves the first service or that the second terminal is in an idle state. The RAN may send the fifth indication information to the first terminal, and after receiving the fifth indication information, the RAN disconnects the side-chain connection with the second terminal.

It should be understood that the various aspects of the embodiments of the present application can be reasonably combined and explained, and the explanation or explanation of the various terms appearing in the embodiments can be mutually referred to or explained in the various embodiments, which is not limited.

It should also be understood that, in the various embodiments of the present application, the size of the serial number of each process described above does not mean the execution sequence, and the execution sequence of each process should be determined by the function and the inherent logic of each process. The various numbers or serial numbers involved in the above processes are merely used for convenience of description and should not be construed as limiting the implementation processes of the embodiments of the present application in any way.

The method provided by the present application is described above in conjunction with fig. 5 to 8, and the apparatus provided by the present application is explained below.

Fig. 9 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device provided herein. As shown in fig. 9, the communication apparatus 2000 may include a transceiving unit 2100 and a processing unit 2200.

The transceiving unit 2100 may include a transmitting unit and/or a receiving unit. The transceiving unit 2100 may be a transceiver (including a transmitter and/or receiver), an input/output interface (including an input and/or output interface), a pin or a circuit, etc. The transceiving unit 2100 may be configured to perform the steps of transmitting and/or receiving in the above-described method embodiments. The processing unit 2200 may be a processor (which may include one or more processors), a processing circuit with a processor function, etc., and may be used to perform other steps besides transmitting and receiving in the above-described method embodiments.

Optionally, the communication device may further include a storage unit, which may be a memory, an internal storage unit (e.g., a register, a cache, etc.), an external storage unit (e.g., a read-only memory, a random access memory, etc.), and the like. The storage unit is configured to store instructions, and the processing unit 2200 executes the instructions stored in the storage unit to enable the communication device to perform the method.

In one design, the communications apparatus 2000 may correspond to an access network device (i.e., RAN) in the method 500 described above, and may perform operations performed by the access network device.

Specifically, the transceiving unit 2100 is configured to: receiving a first data packet and a second data packet of a first service from a user plane network element; sending the first data packet to a first terminal, wherein data in the first data packet is forwarded to a second terminal through a side chain connection between the first terminal and the second terminal; and sending the second data packet to the second terminal, wherein the data in the first data packet and the data in the second data packet are synthesized into complete service flow data at the second terminal.

Optionally, data in the first data packet is background data, data in the second data packet is foreground data, the first data packet is for the first terminal, and the second data packet is for the second terminal.

Optionally, the transceiver 2100 is further configured to receive a third data packet of the first service from the user plane network element; the processing unit 2200 is further configured to discard the third data packet if the data in the third data packet is background data and the third data packet is for the second terminal.

Optionally, the transceiving unit 2100 is further configured to receive a plurality of first indication information from a session management network element, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the UPF receives a data packet of the first service and session information corresponding to the data packet of the first service received by the UPF, where the plurality of first indication information are used by the device 2000 to determine the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the device 2000, and the terminals currently accessing the first service through the device 2000 include the first terminal and the second terminal.

Optionally, the transceiver 2100 is further configured to receive second indication information from a session management network element, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the apparatus 2000 is greater than or equal to a preset number, and the terminals currently accessing the first service through the apparatus 2000 include the first terminal and the second terminal.

Optionally, the processing unit 2200 is further configured to determine that the first terminal is a relay terminal.

Optionally, the transceiving unit 2100 is further configured to obtain address information of the first terminal from a session management network element; and sending the address information to the second terminal, wherein the address information is used for the second terminal to receive the data in the first data packet from the first terminal.

Optionally, the transceiver 2100 is further configured to receive third indication information, where the third indication information is used to indicate that the first terminal leaves the first service; and sending the data packet of the first service to the second terminal according to the third indication information.

Optionally, the transceiver 2100 is further configured to receive fourth indication information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the second terminal has disconnected from the first terminal, and the second terminal is still accessing the first service; and sending the data packet of the first service to the second terminal according to the fourth indication information.

Optionally, the transceiver 2100 is further configured to send, to the first terminal, fifth indication information when the processing unit 2200 determines that the second terminal enters an idle state or changes a service, where the fifth indication information is used to indicate that the first terminal disconnects a side chain connection with the second terminal.

It should be understood that the transceiving unit 2100 and the processing unit 2200 may also perform other operations performed by the access network device in the method 500, which are not described in detail here.

In one design, the communications apparatus 2000 may correspond to the first terminal in the method 500 and may perform the operations performed by the first terminal.

Specifically, the transceiving unit 2100 is configured to: receiving a first data packet of a first service from access network equipment; sending the data in the first data packet to a second terminal; receiving a fourth data packet of the first service from the access network device, the data in the first data packet and the data in the fourth data packet composing a complete service flow data at the apparatus 2000.

Optionally, the data in the first data packet is background data, the data in the fourth data packet is foreground data, and both the first data packet and the fourth data packet are for the apparatus 2000.

Optionally, the transceiver 2100 is further configured to: receiving sixth indication information from the access network device, where the sixth indication information is used for indicating the first service; sending a broadcast message, where the broadcast message is used to determine the second terminal, and the broadcast message includes the sixth indication information, and the second terminal also receives the sixth indication information from the access network device.

Optionally, the transceiver 2100 is further configured to: receiving sixth indication information from the access network device, where the sixth indication information is used for indicating the first service; receiving a broadcast message from the second terminal, wherein the broadcast message comprises the sixth indication information; the processing unit 2200 is further configured to determine, according to the broadcast message, to establish a sidelink connection with the second terminal.

In one design, the communication device 2000 may correspond to the second terminal in the method 500 and may perform the operations performed by the second terminal.

Specifically, the transceiving unit 2100 is configured to: receiving first data of a first service from a first terminal; receiving a second data packet of the first service from an access network device, the data in the first data packet and the second data packet being combined into complete traffic flow data at the apparatus 2000.

Optionally, the first data is background data, the first data is data in a first data packet, the first data packet is for the first terminal, the data in the second data packet is foreground data, and the second data packet is for the apparatus 2000.

Optionally, the transceiver 2100 is further configured to: receiving sixth indication information from the access network device, where the sixth indication information is used for indicating the first service; and sending a broadcast message, wherein the broadcast message includes the sixth indication information, and the first terminal also receives the sixth indication information from the access network device.

In one design, the communications apparatus 2000 may correspond to an access network device (i.e., RAN) in the method 600 described above, and may perform operations performed by the access network device.

Specifically, the transceiving unit 2100 is configured to: receiving a first data packet and a second data packet of a first service from a user plane network element, wherein the first service is a media service; and sending the first data packet to a first terminal, and forwarding data in the first data packet to a second terminal through a side chain connection between the first terminal and the second terminal, wherein the data in the first data packet is background data, and the first data packet is specific to the first terminal. The processing unit 2200 is configured to discard the second data packet, where data in the second data packet is background data and the second data packet is for the second terminal.

Optionally, the transceiving unit 2100 is further configured to: receiving a third data packet of the first service from the user plane network element; and sending the third data packet to the second terminal, wherein the data in the third data packet is foreground data, and the third data packet is specific to the second terminal.

Optionally, the transceiver 2100 is further configured to: receiving a plurality of first indication information from a session management network element, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the user plane network element receives the data packet of the first service and session information corresponding to the data packet of the first service received by the user plane network element, the plurality of first indication information is used by the processing unit 2200 to determine the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the apparatus 2000, and the terminals currently accessing the first service through the apparatus 2000 include the first terminal and the second terminal.

Optionally, the transceiving unit 2100 is further configured to: receiving second indication information from a session management network element, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the device 2000 is greater than or equal to a preset number, and the terminals currently accessing the first service through the device 2000 include the first terminal and the second terminal.

Optionally, the processing unit 2200 is further configured to: and determining the first terminal as a relay terminal.

Optionally, the transceiver 2100 is further configured to: acquiring address information of the first terminal from a session management network element; and sending the address information to the second terminal, wherein the address information is used for the second terminal to receive the data in the first data packet from the first terminal.

Optionally, the transceiver 2100 is further configured to: receiving third indication information, wherein the third indication information is used for indicating the first terminal to leave the first service; and sending the data packet of the first service to the second terminal according to the third indication information.

Optionally, the transceiver 2100 is further configured to: receiving fourth indication information, wherein the fourth indication information is used for indicating that the second terminal has disconnected from the first terminal and the second terminal is accessing the first service; and sending the data packet of the first service to the second terminal according to the fourth indication information.

Optionally, the transceiver 2100 is further configured to: when the processing unit 2200 determines that the second terminal enters an idle state or changes a service, it sends fifth indication information to the first terminal, where the fifth indication information is used to indicate that the first terminal disconnects from the second terminal.

In one design, the communication device 2000 may correspond to the first terminal in the method 600 and may perform the operations performed by the first terminal.

Specifically, the transceiving unit 2100 is configured to: receiving a first data packet and a fourth data packet of a first service from an access network device, where the first service is a media service, data in the first data packet is background data, data in the fourth data packet is foreground data, and both the first data packet and the fourth data packet are for the apparatus 2000; and sending the data in the first data packet to a second terminal.

Optionally, the transceiving unit 2100 is further configured to: receiving sixth indication information from the access network device, where the sixth indication information is used for indicating the first service; receiving a broadcast message from the second terminal, wherein the broadcast message comprises the sixth indication information. The processing unit 2200 is configured to determine, according to the broadcast message, to establish a sidelink connection with the second terminal.

In one design, the communication device 2000 may correspond to the second terminal in the method 600 and may perform the operations performed by the second terminal.

Specifically, the transceiving unit 2100 is configured to: receiving first data of a first service from a first terminal, wherein the first service is a media service, the first data is data in a first data packet, the first data is background data, and the first data packet is specific to the first terminal; receiving a second data packet of the first service from an access network device, where data in the second data packet is foreground data, and the second data packet is for the apparatus 2000.

Optionally, the transceiver 2100 is further configured to: receiving sixth indication information from the access network device, where the sixth indication information is used for indicating the first service; and sending a broadcast message, wherein the broadcast message comprises the sixth indication information, and the first terminal also receives the sixth indication information from the access network equipment.

In one design, the communications apparatus 2000 may correspond to an access network device (i.e., RAN) in the method 800 described above, and may perform operations performed by the access network device.

Specifically, the transceiving unit 2100 is configured to: receiving a first data packet and a second data packet of a first service from a user plane network element, wherein the first service is a media service; and sending the first data packet to a first terminal, and forwarding data in the first data packet to a second terminal through a side chain connection between the first terminal and the second terminal, wherein the data in the first data packet is data of a target field angle FoV, and the first data packet is specific to the first terminal. The processing unit 2200 is configured to discard the second data packet, where data in the second data packet is data of the target FoV, and the second data packet is for the second terminal.

Optionally, the transceiver unit 2100 is further configured to receive a plurality of first indication information from a session management network element, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the user plane network element receives a data packet of the target FoV and session information corresponding to the data packet of the target FoV received by the user plane network element, and the plurality of first indication information is used by the processing unit 2200 to determine the number of terminals currently accessing the target FoV through the apparatus 2000, where the terminals currently accessing the target FoV through the apparatus 2000 include the first terminal and the second terminal. Wherein, the transceiver 2100 is specifically configured to: and sending the first data packet to the first terminal when the number of the terminals currently accessing the target FoV through the apparatus 2000 is greater than or equal to a preset number.

Optionally, the transceiver 2100 is further configured to receive second indication information from a session management network element, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the number of terminals currently accessing the target FoV through the apparatus 2000 is greater than or equal to a preset number, and the terminals currently accessing the target FoV through the apparatus 2000 include the first terminal and the second terminal.

Optionally, the transceiver 2100 is further configured to obtain address information of the first terminal from a session management network element; and sending the address information to the second terminal, wherein the address information is used for the second terminal to receive the data in the first data packet from the first terminal.

Optionally, the transceiving unit 2100 is further configured to receive fourth indication information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the second terminal has disconnected from the first terminal, and the second terminal is still accessing the first service; and sending the data packet of the first service to the second terminal according to the fourth indication information.

In one design, the communications apparatus 2000 may correspond to the first terminal of the method 800 described above and may perform the operations performed by the first terminal.

Specifically, the transceiving unit 2100 is configured to: receiving a first data packet of a target field angle FoV of a first service from an access network device, where the first service is a media service, and the first data packet is for the apparatus 2000; and sending the data in the first data packet to a second terminal.

Optionally, the transceiver 2100 is further configured to: receiving sixth indication information from the access network device, where the sixth indication information is used to indicate the target FoV; sending a broadcast message, where the broadcast message is used to determine the second terminal, and the broadcast message includes the sixth indication information, and the second terminal also receives the sixth indication information from the access network device.

Optionally, the transceiver 2100 is further configured to: receiving sixth indication information from the access network device, where the sixth indication information is used to indicate the target FoV; receiving a broadcast message from the second terminal, wherein the broadcast message comprises the sixth indication information. The processing unit 2200 is further configured to determine to establish a sidelink connection with the second terminal according to the broadcast message.

In one design, the communications apparatus 2000 may correspond to the second terminal of the method 800 described above and may perform the operations performed by the second terminal.

Specifically, the transceiving unit 2100 is configured to receive first data of a first service from a first terminal, where the first service is a media service, the first data is data in a first data packet, and the first data is data of a target field angle FoV, and the first data packet is for the first terminal.

Optionally, the transceiver 2100 is further configured to: receiving sixth indication information from the access network device, where the sixth indication information is used to indicate the target FoV; and sending a broadcast message, wherein the broadcast message comprises the sixth indication information, and the first terminal also receives the sixth indication information from the access network equipment.

Moreover, the communication apparatus 2000 may also correspond to other network elements in the above method embodiments, such AS an application network element (e.g., AF or AS), a user plane network element (e.g., UPF), a session management network element (e.g., SMF), and the like in the

methods

500, 600, or 800, and may perform operations performed by the corresponding network elements.

It should be understood that the above division of the units is only a functional division, and other division methods may be possible in actual implementation.

It should also be understood that the above-described processing unit may be implemented by hardware, by software, or by a combination of hardware and software.

It should also be understood that when the communication apparatus 2000 is an access network device, the transceiving unit 2100 in the communication apparatus may correspond to the RRU 3100 in the access network device 2000 illustrated in fig. 10, and the processing unit 2200 in the communication apparatus may correspond to the BBU 3200 in the access network device 2000 illustrated in fig. 10. When the communication apparatus 2000 is a chip configured in an access network device, the transceiver 2100 in the communication apparatus may be an input/output interface.

It should also be understood that when the communication apparatus 2000 is a terminal device, the transceiver unit 2100 in the communication apparatus 2000 may correspond to the transceiver 4002 in the terminal device 4000 illustrated in fig. 11, and the processing unit 2200 in the communication apparatus 2000 may correspond to the processor 4001 in the terminal device 4000 illustrated in fig. 11.

Fig. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of an access network device provided in an embodiment of the present application, which may be a schematic structural diagram of a base station, for example. The access network device 3000 may perform the functions of the RAN in the above described embodiments of the access network device or method in the system.

As shown, the access network equipment 3000 may include one or more radio frequency units, such as a Remote Radio Unit (RRU) 3100 and one or more baseband units (BBUs) (which may also be referred to as Distributed Units (DUs)) 3200. The RRU 3100 may be referred to as a transceiver unit or a communication unit, and corresponds to the transceiver unit 2100 in fig. 9.

Alternatively, the transceiving unit 3100 may also be referred to as a transceiver, transceiving circuit, or transceiver, etc., which may comprise at least one antenna 3101 and a radio frequency unit 3102. Alternatively, the transceiving unit 3100 may include a receiving unit and a transmitting unit, the receiving unit may correspond to a receiver (or receiver, receiving circuit), and the transmitting unit may correspond to a transmitter (or transmitter, transmitting circuit). The RRU 3100 part is mainly used for transceiving radio frequency signals and converting radio frequency signals to baseband signals. The BBU 3200 section is mainly used for performing baseband processing, controlling a base station, and the like. The RRU 3100 and the BBU 3200 may be physically disposed together or may be physically disposed separately, i.e. distributed base stations.

The BBU 3200, which is a control center of the base station and may also be referred to as a processing unit, may correspond to the processing unit 2200 in fig. 9, and is mainly used for performing baseband processing functions, such as channel coding, multiplexing, modulation, spreading, and the like. For example, the BBU (processing unit) may be configured to control the base station to perform the operation procedure related to the access network device in the above method embodiment.

In an example, the BBU 3200 may be composed of one or more boards, and the multiple boards may collectively support a radio access network of a single access system (e.g., an LTE network), or may respectively support radio access networks of different access systems (e.g., an LTE network, a 5G network, or other networks). The BBU 3200 also includes a memory 3201 and a processor 3202. The memory 3201 is used to store necessary instructions and data. The processor 3202 is configured to control the base station to perform necessary actions, for example, to control the base station to perform the operation procedures related to the access network device in the above method embodiments. The memory 3201 and processor 3202 may serve one or more boards. That is, the memory and processor may be provided separately on each board. Multiple boards may share the same memory and processor. In addition, each single board can be provided with necessary circuits.

It should be understood that the access network device 3000 shown in fig. 10 can implement the various processes related to the access network device in the foregoing method embodiments. The operations or functions of the modules in the access network device 3000 are respectively to implement the corresponding flows in the above method embodiments. Reference may be made specifically to the description of the above method embodiments, and a detailed description is appropriately omitted herein to avoid redundancy.

BBU 3200 as described above may be used to perform the actions described in the previous method embodiments as being implemented internally by the access network device, while RRU 3100 may be used to perform the actions described in the previous method embodiments as being sent and received by the access network device. Please refer to the description of the previous embodiment of the method, which is not repeated herein.

Fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal 4000 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the terminal 4000 includes a processor 4001 and a transceiver 4002. Optionally, the terminal 4000 may further include a memory 4003. The processor 4001, the transceiver 4002 and the memory 4003 can communicate with each other via an internal connection path to transmit control and/or data signals, the memory 4003 is used for storing a computer program, and the processor 4001 is used for calling and running the computer program from the memory 4003 to control the transceiver 4002 to transmit and receive signals.

The processor 4001 and the memory 4003 may be combined into a processing means 4004, and the processor 4001 is configured to execute the program code stored in the memory 4003 to realize the above functions. It should be understood that the processing device 4004 shown in the figures is merely an example. In a specific implementation, the memory 4003 may also be integrated into the processor 4001 or separate from the processor 4001. This is not limited in this application.

The terminal 4000 may further include an antenna 4010, configured to send uplink data or uplink control signaling output by the transceiver 4002 through a wireless signal.

It should be understood that the terminal 4000 shown in fig. 11 can implement the various processes involving a terminal (e.g., a first terminal or a second terminal) in the foregoing method embodiments. The operations or functions of the modules in the terminal 4000 are respectively for implementing the corresponding flows in the above-described method embodiments. Reference may be made specifically to the description of the above method embodiments, and a detailed description is appropriately omitted herein to avoid redundancy.

Optionally, the terminal 4000 may further include a power supply 4005 for supplying power to various devices or circuits in the terminal.

In addition to this, in order to make the functions of the terminal more complete, the terminal 4000 may further include one or more of an input unit 4006, a display unit 4007, an audio circuit 4008, a camera 4009, a sensor 4011, and the like, and the audio circuit may further include a speaker 40081, a microphone 40082, and the like.

It is to be understood that the processing means 4004 or the processor 4001 may be one chip. For example, the processing device 4004 or the processor 4001 may be a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a general purpose processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an off-the-shelf programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, a discrete hardware component, a system on chip (SoC), a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a network processor (network processor, NP), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), a microcontroller (micro controller unit, MCU), a Programmable Logic Device (PLD), or other integrated chip. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like. The steps of the method disclosed in connection with the embodiments of the present application may be directly implemented by a hardware decoding processor, or implemented by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software module may be located in ram, flash memory, rom, prom, or eprom, registers, etc. storage media as is well known in the art. The storage medium is located in a memory, and a processor reads information in the memory and completes the steps of the method in combination with hardware of the processor.

Memories in the present application, such as memory 4003, may be either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or may include both volatile and nonvolatile memory. The non-volatile memory may be a read-only memory (ROM), a Programmable ROM (PROM), an Erasable PROM (EPROM), an electrically Erasable EPROM (EEPROM), or a flash memory. Volatile memory can be Random Access Memory (RAM), which acts as external cache memory. By way of example, but not limitation, many forms of RAM are available, such as Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM, enhanced SDRAM, SLDRAM, Synchronous Link DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct rambus RAM (DR RAM).

Fig. 12 is a schematic block diagram of a communication apparatus 5000 according to an embodiment of the present application. Any network element referred to in this application, such as an access network device, a first terminal, a second terminal, a session management network element, etc., may be implemented by the communication apparatus shown in fig. 12.

It is understood that the communication apparatus 5000 may be a physical device, a component (e.g., an integrated circuit, a chip, etc.) of the physical device, or a functional module in the physical device.

As shown in fig. 12, the communication apparatus 5000 includes: one or more processors 5001. The processor 5001 may store execution instructions for performing the methods of embodiments of the present application. Alternatively, an interface may be called in the processor 5001 to implement the receive and transmit functions. The interface may be a logical interface or a physical interface, which is not limited in this regard. For example, the interface may be a transceiver circuit, or an interface circuit. The transceiver circuitry, or interface circuitry, used to implement the receive and transmit functions may be separate or integrated. The transceiver circuit or the interface circuit may be used for reading and writing code/data, or the transceiver circuit or the interface circuit may be used for transmitting or transferring signals.

Alternatively, the interface may be implemented by a transceiver. Optionally, the communication device 5000 may further include a transceiver 5003. The transceiver 5003 can be referred to as a transceiving unit, a transceiver, a transceiving circuit or a transceiver, etc. for implementing transceiving function.

Optionally, the communication device 5000 may also include a memory 5002. The specific location of the memory 5002 is not particularly limited in this embodiment, and the memory may be integrated into the processor or may be independent of the processor. For the case where the communication device 5000 does not include a memory, the communication device 5000 may have a processing function, and the memory may be disposed in other locations (e.g., a cloud system).

The processor 5001, memory 5002, and transceiver 5003 communicate with each other, passing control and/or data signals, via the interconnection paths.

It is understood that although not shown, the communication device 5000 may also include other devices, such as an input device, an output device, a battery, etc.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the memory 5002 may store execution instructions for performing the methods of embodiments of the present application. The processor 5001 may execute the instructions stored in the memory 5002 to perform the steps of the method described herein in combination with other hardware (e.g., the transceiver 5003), and the specific working processes and advantages can be seen from the description of the method embodiments herein.

The method disclosed in the embodiments of the present application may be applied to the processor 5003, or implemented by the processor 5003. The processor 5003 may be an integrated circuit chip having signal processing capabilities. In implementation, the steps of the method may be performed by integrated logic circuits of hardware in a processor or instructions in the form of software. The processor may be a general purpose processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an off-the-shelf programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, or discrete hardware components. The various methods, steps, and logic blocks disclosed in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented or performed. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like. The steps of the method disclosed in connection with the embodiments of the present application may be directly implemented by a hardware decoding processor, or implemented by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software modules may be located in a Random Access Memory (RAM), a flash memory, a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable ROM, an electrically erasable programmable memory, a register, or other storage media that are well known in the art. The storage medium is located in a memory, and a processor reads instructions in the memory and combines hardware thereof to complete the steps of the method.

According to the method provided by the embodiment of the present application, the present application further provides a computer program product, which includes: computer program code which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method of any of the network elements (e.g. access network equipment, first terminal, second terminal, session management network element, or user plane network element, etc.) of any of the preceding method embodiments.

According to the method provided by the embodiment of the present application, the present application further provides a computer-readable medium, which stores program code, and when the program code runs on a computer, the computer is caused to execute the method of any network element in any one of the foregoing method embodiments.

In accordance with methods provided by embodiments herein, there is also provided a system comprising one or more of: an access network device, a session management network element, or a user plane network element.

The embodiment of the application also provides a processing device, which comprises a processor and an interface; the processor is configured to perform the method of any of the method embodiments described above.

It should be understood that the processing means may be a chip. For example, the processing device may be a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a general purpose processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an off-the-shelf programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, a discrete hardware component, a system on chip (SoC), a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Network Processor (NP), a digital signal processing circuit (DSP), a microcontroller (micro controller unit, MCU), a Programmable Logic Device (PLD) or other integrated chip. The various methods, steps, and logic blocks disclosed in the embodiments of the present application may be implemented or performed. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like. The steps of the method disclosed in connection with the embodiments of the present application may be directly implemented by a hardware decoding processor, or implemented by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software module may be located in ram, flash memory, rom, prom, or eprom, registers, etc. storage media as is well known in the art. The storage medium is located in a memory, and a processor reads information in the memory and completes the steps of the method in combination with hardware of the processor.

In the above embodiments, the implementation may be wholly or partially realized by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When loaded and executed on a computer, cause the processes or functions described in accordance with the embodiments of the application to occur, in whole or in part. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a network of computers, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored on a computer readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer readable storage medium to another, for example, from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wire (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device, such as a server, a data center, etc., that incorporates one or more of the available media. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., a Solid State Disk (SSD)), among others.

As used in this specification, the terms "component," "module," "system," and the like are intended to refer to a computer-related entity, either hardware, firmware, a combination of hardware and software, or software in execution. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on a computing device and the computing device can be a component. One or more components may reside within a process or thread of execution and a component may be localized on one computer and distributed between 2 or more computers. In addition, these components can execute from various computer readable media having various data structures stored thereon. The components may communicate by way of local or remote processes such as in accordance with a signal having one or more data packets (e.g., data from two components interacting with another component in a local system, distributed system, or across a network such as the internet with other systems by way of the signal).

It should be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present application. Thus, the various embodiments are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment throughout the specification. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

It should be understood that, in the embodiment of the present application, the numbers "first" and "second" … are only used for distinguishing different objects, such as for distinguishing different network devices, and do not limit the scope of the embodiment of the present application, and the embodiment of the present application is not limited thereto.

It should also be understood that, in this application, "when …", "if" and "if" all refer to a network element that performs the corresponding process under certain objective circumstances, and are not time-critical, nor do they require certain deterministic actions to be performed by the network element, nor do they imply that other limitations exist.

It is also understood that, in the present application, "at least one" means one or more, "a plurality" means two or more.

It should also be understood that in the embodiments of the present application, "B corresponding to a" means that B is associated with a, from which B can be determined. It should also be understood that determining B from a does not mean determining B from a alone, but may be determined from a and/or other information.

It should also be understood that the term "and/or" herein is merely one type of association that describes an associated object, meaning that three relationships may exist, e.g., a and/or B may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character "/" herein generally indicates that the former and latter associated objects are in an "or" relationship.

Items appearing in this application as similar to "include one or more of the following: the meaning of the expressions A, B, and C "generally means that the item may be any of the following, unless otherwise specified: a; b; c; a and B; a and C; b and C; a, B and C; a and A; a, A and A; a, A and B; a, A and C, A, B and B; a, C and C; b and B, B, B and C, C and C; c, C and C, and other combinations of A, B and C. The above description is made by taking 3 elements of a, B and C as examples of optional items of the item, and when the expression "item" includes at least one of the following: a, B, … …, and X ", i.e., more elements in the expression, then the items to which the item may apply may also be obtained according to the aforementioned rules.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Claims

1. A method of transmitting data, comprising:

the access network equipment receives a first data packet and a second data packet of a first service from a user plane network element;

the access network equipment sends the first data packet to a first terminal, and data in the first data packet is forwarded to a second terminal through a side chain connection between the first terminal and the second terminal;

and the access network equipment sends the second data packet to the second terminal, and the data in the first data packet and the data in the second data packet are synthesized into complete service flow data at the second terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data in the first data packet is background data and the data in the second data packet is foreground data, the first data packet being intended for the first terminal and the second data packet being intended for the second terminal.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the method further comprises:

the access network equipment receives a third data packet of the first service from the user plane network element;

and if the data in the third data packet is background data and the third data packet is specific to the second terminal, the access network equipment discards the third data packet.

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

the access network device receives a plurality of first indication information from a session management network element, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the user plane network element receives a data packet of the first service and session information corresponding to the data packet of the first service received by the user plane network element, the plurality of first indication information is used for the access network device to determine the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the access network device, and the terminals currently accessing the first service through the access network device include the first terminal and the second terminal.

5. The method of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein prior to the access network device sending the first data packet to the first terminal, the method further comprises:

the access network device receives second indication information from a session management network element, where the second indication information is used to indicate that the number of terminals currently accessing the first service through the access network device is greater than or equal to a preset number, and the terminals currently accessing the first service through the access network device include the first terminal and the second terminal.

6. The method of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein prior to the access network device sending the first data packet to the first terminal, the method further comprises:

and the access network equipment determines the first terminal as a relay terminal.

7. The method of any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising:

the access network equipment acquires the address information of the first terminal from a session management network element;

and the access network equipment sends the address information to the second terminal, wherein the address information is used for the second terminal to receive the data in the first data packet from the first terminal.

8. The method of any of claims 1 to 7, further comprising:

the access network equipment receives third indication information, wherein the third indication information is used for indicating the first terminal to leave the first service;

and the access network equipment sends the data packet of the first service to the second terminal according to the third indication information.

9. The method of any of claims 1 to 8, further comprising:

the access network equipment receives fourth indication information, wherein the fourth indication information is used for indicating that the second terminal is disconnected from the first terminal, and the second terminal is accessing the first service;

and the access network equipment sends the data packet of the first service to the second terminal according to the fourth indication information.

10. The method of any of claims 1 to 9, further comprising:

and the access network equipment sends fifth indication information to the first terminal under the condition of determining that the second terminal enters an idle state or changes services, wherein the fifth indication information is used for indicating the first terminal to disconnect a side chain connection with the second terminal.

11. A method of transmitting data, comprising:

a first terminal receives a first data packet of a first service from access network equipment;

the first terminal sends the data in the first data packet to a second terminal;

and the first terminal receives a fourth data packet of the first service from the access network equipment, and the data in the first data packet and the data in the fourth data packet are synthesized into complete service flow data at the first terminal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the data in the first data packet is background data and the data in the fourth data packet is foreground data, the first data packet and the fourth data packet both being intended for the first terminal.

13. The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein prior to the first terminal sending the data in the first data packet to the second terminal, the method further comprises:

the first terminal receives sixth indication information from the access network equipment, wherein the sixth indication information is used for indicating the first service;

the first terminal sends a broadcast message, the broadcast message is used for determining the second terminal, the broadcast message includes the sixth indication information, and the second terminal also receives the sixth indication information from the access network device.

14. The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein before the first terminal sends the data in the first data packet to the second terminal, the method further comprises:

the first terminal receives a broadcast message from the second terminal, wherein the broadcast message comprises the sixth indication information;

and the first terminal determines to establish side chain connection with the second terminal according to the broadcast message.

15. A method of transmitting data, comprising:

the second terminal receives first data of the first service from the first terminal;

and the second terminal receives a second data packet of the first service from the access network equipment, and the data in the first data packet and the data in the second data packet are synthesized into complete service flow data at the second terminal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first data is background data, the first data is data in a first data packet, the first data packet is for the first terminal, the data in the second data packet is foreground data, and the second data packet is for the second terminal.

17. The method of claim 15 or 16, wherein before the second terminal receives the first data of the first service from the first terminal, the method further comprises:

the second terminal receives sixth indication information from the access network equipment, wherein the sixth indication information is used for indicating the first service;

the second terminal sends a broadcast message, the broadcast message includes the sixth indication information, and the first terminal also receives the sixth indication information from the access network device.

18. A communication apparatus, characterized in that it comprises means for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

19. A communication apparatus, characterized in that it comprises means for implementing the method according to any of claims 11 to 14.

20. A communication apparatus, characterized in that it comprises means for implementing the method according to any of claims 15 to 17.

21. A communications apparatus, comprising: a processor coupled with a memory, the memory to store a program or instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 10.

22. A communications apparatus, comprising: a processor coupled with a memory, the memory to store a program or instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform the method of any of claims 11 to 14.

23. A communications apparatus, comprising: a processor coupled with a memory, the memory to store a program or instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform the method of any of claims 15 to 17.

24. A readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program or instructions, which when executed cause a computer to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 17.

25. A computer program product comprising computer program instructions that cause a computer to perform: the method of any one of claims 1 to 17.

26. A communication system comprising a communication device according to claim 18 or 21.