CN115087074B

CN115087074B - Access network, communication method, network element, device and storage medium

Info

Publication number: CN115087074B
Application number: CN202210801357.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 黄蓉; 唐雄燕; 杨剑键; 王友祥; 范斌
Original assignee: China United Network Communications Group Co Ltd
Current assignee: China United Network Communications Group Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-07-08
Filing date: 2022-07-08
Publication date: 2023-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 2042-07-08
Also published as: CN115087074A

Abstract

The application provides an access network, a communication method, a network element, a device and a storage medium, and relates to the field of communication. The access network comprises: a base station function storage function network element gNB-NRF network element, and one or more base station function network elements; the base station function network element is used for realizing the base station function; the gNB-NRF network element is connected with the base station functional network element through a communication interface; the gNB-NRF network element stores identity information and function information of a base station function network element; the function information is used for indicating the function of the base station function network element; a gNB-NRF network element configured to: acquiring function call request information; the function call request information is used for requesting to call a target function of the base station; determining a target base station function network element corresponding to the function call request information according to the function request information and the identity information and the function information of the base station function network element stored in the gNB-NRF network element; and realizing the target base station function through the target base station function network element. The access network is used for solving the problem of high cost when the function of the base station is changed.

Description

Access network, communication method, network element, device and storage medium

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to an access network, a communication method, a network element, an apparatus, and a storage medium.

Background

The fifth generation mobile communication technology (5th generation mobile communication technology,5G) employs software defined networking (software defined network, SDN) and network function virtualization (network function virtualization, NFV) technologies. Based on SDN/NFV technology, the core network introduces a server architecture design concept of the Internet, and provides a server architecture based on cloud native technology.

To accommodate the development of 5G networks, the radio access network (radio access network, RAN) proposes a distributed architecture base station based on a centralized unit (CN)/Distributed Unit (DU). The distributed architecture base station may utilize application specific integrated circuits (application specific integrated circuit, ASIC) in combination with digital signal processors (digital signal processor, DSP) to implement data storage, computation, and control functions.

For example, the base station 1 may comprise one or more integrated circuit boards with ASICs and DSPs. The base station 1 may utilize the integrated circuit board to implement data storage, calculation, and control functions of the base station 1. When the data storage, calculation, and control functions of the base station are changed (e.g., updated, added, deleted, etc.), the hardware devices in the base station 1 need to be manually replaced or set in the field.

However, such deployment is costly when changing the data storage, computation, and control functions of the base station.

Disclosure of Invention

Based on the technical problems, the application provides an access network, a communication method, a network element, a device and a storage medium, wherein the access network can logically split a traditional base station according to a service architecture, is split into a plurality of base station function network elements arranged in a cloud resource pool, can directly manage the base station function network elements through the base station function storage function network elements, reduces the cost when the base station function is changed, and can improve the deployment flexibility and expandability of the base station.

In a first aspect, the present application provides an access network, the access network comprising a base station function storage function network element, gNB-NRF, and one or more base station function network elements; the gNB-NRF network element stores identity information and function information of a base station function network element; the function information is used for indicating the function of the base station function network element; a gNB-NRF network element configured to: acquiring function call request information; the function call request information is used for requesting to call the function of the target base station; determining a target base station function network element corresponding to the function call request information according to the function request information and the identity information and the function information of the base station function network element stored in the gNB-NRF network element; and realizing the target base station function through the target base station function network element. One or more base station functional network elements are used for mutually matching to realize the base station functions of data storage, calculation, control and the like.

Wherein, the gNB-NRF network element and one or more base station function network elements can be arranged in the cloud resource pool.

It should be understood that, in the access network provided in the embodiment of the present application, a conventional base station may be logically split according to a service architecture, and split into multiple base station function network elements, and managed through a gNB-NRF network element, and when the base station function needs to be changed, the access network may be directly implemented through the gNB-NRF network element, and compared with manual field replacement or setting, the cost is lower.

In a possible implementation manner, when the gNB-NRF network element is configured to obtain the function call request information, the following steps are specifically executed: receiving function call request information sent by a function call request network element; the function call request network element is any one of one or more base station function network elements. When the gNB-NRF network element is configured to realize the target function through the target base station function network element, the following steps are specifically executed: and sending the identity information of the target base station function network element to the function call request network element so that the function call request network element realizes the target base station function through the target base station function network element.

Optionally, the base station functional network element includes a management control class functional network element, a data storage class functional network element, a data transmission class functional network element, and an air interface base protocol functional network element.

It should be understood that the conventional base station is designed vertically according to the protocol from the physical layer to the higher layer, multiple functions are required to be bound and deployed uniformly when the network is deployed, and when the network is upgraded, a certain function cannot be upgraded individually. The access network provided by the embodiment of the application can split the base station functional network element into the management control type functional network element, the data storage type functional network element, the data transmission type functional network element and the air interface basic protocol functional network element, so that the separation of the data storage, transmission and calculation functions of the base station is realized. When the network is upgraded, the network elements of a certain class can be upgraded independently, normal use of other functional network elements cannot be affected, and flexibility and expandability of base station deployment are improved.

Optionally, the management control function network element comprises a radio connection management function RCMF network element and a radio session management function RSMF network element; an RCMF network element for managing a connection associated with the user equipment UE; and the RSMF network element is used for transmitting the bearing information related to the UE user plane and managing the bearing information between the base station and the core network.

Optionally, the data storage class functional network element includes a cell data management CDM network element and a connection information data management CIDM network element; a CDM network element for storing usage of cell-level resource blocks RBs, the number of users connected with cells in a base station, and the total amount of bearer type usage; and the CIDM network element is used for storing information related to the UE air interface connection.

Optionally, the data transmission function network element comprises a Cell Information Transmission Function (CITF) network element, a Radio Connection Information Transmission Function (RCITF) network element and a base station user plane function (gNB-UPF) network element; a CITF network element for encapsulating signaling related to an upper Radio Resource Control (RRC) message of a cell level and RRC control information of a bearer Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer; the RCITF network element is used for packaging signaling related to an upper layer RRC message of a connection level and RRC control information of a bearing PDCP layer; and the gNB-UPF network element is used for packaging the user service flow data of the bearing level.

Optionally, the air interface basic protocol function network element includes a physical layer protocol function phy f network element, a medium access control layer protocol function MACF network element, and a radio link control layer protocol function RLCF network element; the PHYF network element is used for packaging physical layer data; the MACF network element is used for packaging MAC layer data; and the RLCF network element is used for packaging the RLC layer data.

Optionally, the interfaces of the gNB-NRF network element and the base station functional network element are open application programming interfaces OpenAPIs which are designed by adopting the architecture principle of representational state transfer REST and take JS object numbered musical notation JSON as the data format of the interfaces. The interface of gNB-NRF network element and base station function network element has the same protocol architecture, specifically comprising: application layer: hypertext transfer protocol HTTP; transmission layer: transmission control protocol TCP; network layer: an internet protocol IP; data link layer: media access control MAC, radio link control RLC, packet data convergence protocol PDCP and service data adaptation protocol SDAP.

In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, where the method is applied to a base station function storage function network element gNB-NRF network element of a base station; the gNB-NRF network element is connected with one or more base station functional network elements through a communication interface; the base station function network element is used for realizing the base station function; the gNB-NRF network element stores identity information and function information of a base station function network element; the function information is used for indicating the function of the base station function network element; the method comprises the following steps: acquiring function call request information; the function call request information is used for requesting to call the function of the target base station; determining a target base station function network element corresponding to the function call request information according to the function request information and the identity information and the function information of the base station function network element stored in the gNB-NRF network element; and realizing the target base station function through the target base station function network element.

In a third aspect, the present application provides a base station function storage function network element gNB-NRF network element; the gNB-NRF network element comprises: the device comprises a storage module, an acquisition module and a processing module. The storage module is used for storing the identity information and the function information of the base station function network element; the function information is used to indicate the function of the base station functional network element. The acquisition module is used for acquiring the function call request information; the function call request information is used for requesting to call the target base station function. The processing module is used for determining a target base station functional network element corresponding to the function call request information according to the function request information and the identity information and the function information of the base station functional network element stored in the storage module; and realizing the target base station function through the target base station function network element.

In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication device comprising: a processor and a memory; the memory stores instructions executable by the processor; the processor is configured to execute the instructions to cause the communication device to implement the method of the second aspect described above.

In a fifth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product for, when run on a communication device, causing the communication device to perform the steps of the related method of the second aspect described above to carry out the method of the second aspect described above.

In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a readable storage medium having stored therein instructions that, when executed in a communication device, cause the communication device to implement the method of the second aspect described above.

The advantageous effects of the second aspect to the sixth aspect described above may be referred to in the first aspect, and will not be described in detail.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings that are required in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly described below, it being obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and that other drawings may be obtained according to these drawings without inventive effort for a person skilled in the art.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a scenario of a split architecture base station;

fig. 2 is a schematic architecture diagram of an access network according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3 is an update schematic diagram of identity information and function information of a base station function network element in a gNB-NRF network element provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is another architecture diagram of an access network according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of another architecture of an access network according to an embodiment of the present application;

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

fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a composition of a gNB-NRF network element provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

The following description of the embodiments of the present application will be made clearly and fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which it is evident that the embodiments described are only some, but not all, of the embodiments of the present application. All other embodiments, which can be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without undue burden from the present disclosure, are within the scope of the present disclosure.

It should be noted that, in the embodiments of the present application, words such as "exemplary" or "such as" are used to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any embodiment or design described herein as "exemplary" or "for example" should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "such as" is intended to present related concepts in a concrete fashion.

In order to clearly describe the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, in the embodiments of the present application, the terms "first", "second", and the like are used to distinguish the same item or similar items having substantially the same function and effect, and those skilled in the art will understand that the terms "first", "second", and the like are not limited in number and execution order.

First, technical terms related to the present application will be described:

1. and (3) a service architecture: with the application of SDN and NFV technologies in the communication field, the traditional core network element realizes the decoupling of software and hardware. Based on SDN/NFV technology, a service architecture design concept is introduced into a 5G core network, a service architecture (service based architecture, SBA) based on a cloud native technology is provided, and a virtualized core network and a Network Function (NF) network element carrying traditional network element functions are used in a large amount in the 5G core network.

2. NFV: and the software processing of the network functions is carried by using universal hardware and virtualization technology, so that the network operation cost is reduced. Network function virtualization can enable network equipment functions to be independent of special hardware through software and hardware structures and function abstractions, resources can be fully and flexibly shared, rapid development and deployment of new services are realized, and automatic deployment, elastic expansion, fault isolation, self-healing and the like are performed based on actual service requirements. NFV is characterized by: software/hardware separation, network function virtualization/software and generalization.

3. SDN: by separating the control surface and the data surface of the network equipment, the network virtualization implementation mode realizes flexible control of network traffic and provides a good platform for innovation of a core network and application. The SDN is characterized by comprising the following steps: control/forwarding separation, network centralized control, and network virtualization.

To accommodate the development of 5G networks, the radio access network proposes a separate architecture base station based on CU/DU separation.

Optionally, the split architecture base station with CU/DU split may further include a split architecture base station with CU-C and CU-U split, or in other words, CU may further include a Control Plane (CP) and a User Plane (UP).

Illustratively, fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a scenario of a split architecture base station. As shown in fig. 1, the scenario may include a User Equipment (UE), a split architecture base station, a control plane (next generation core, NGC-CP) of a 5G core network, a user plane function (user plane function, UPF) network element, and a Data Network (DN).

The UPF network element is configured to process events related to the user plane, such as transmitting or routing data packets, detecting data packets, reporting traffic, processing quality of service (quality of service, qoS), storing downlink data packets, and the like.

The DN may be a corresponding data network for operator services, internet access, third party services, etc.

The NGC-CP may include the following network elements:

network open function (network exposure function, NEF) network element: is responsible for opening network data to the outside.

NRF network element: the load registers and manages the NF network elements, stores the function information of each NF network element in the core network, and provides the information for the NF network elements to discover the NF network elements.

Policy control function (policy control function, PCF) network element: is responsible for formulating the control strategy and providing network selection and mobility management strategy for users.

Unified data management (unified data management, UDM) network element: and the information data of the subscription of the user is stored, wherein the information data comprises a user identifier, user subscription data, authentication data and the like.

-application function (application function, AF) network element: allowing the operator trusted applications to interact directly with the respective NF network elements of the core network.

Authentication server function (authentication server function, AUSF) network element: and the UDM network element is matched to be responsible for user authentication data processing, so as to generate the UE access authority.

Access and mobility management function (access and mobility management function, AMF) network element: and the mobility and access management of the UE are responsible, and particularly the management of the position information, the security and the service continuity of the mobile UE is included, so that the connection state of the UE and the network is optimized.

Optionally, the UE may also be connected to the AMF network element through an N1 interface, so as to implement communication interaction between the UE and the AMF network element.

Session management function (session management function, SMF) network element: is responsible for the session management function of the UE, creating, maintaining and deleting sessions for the UE, accessing the user plane function (userplane function, UPF) network elements.

The split architecture base station may include DUs and CUs, which may include control plane CU-C and user plane CU-U.

Specifically, the functions of the DU include: communication interaction with the CU is achieved through the connection of the F1 interface with the CU (for example, the connection of the F1-C interface with the CU-C and the connection of the F1-U interface with the CU-U shown in FIG. 1); and the communication interaction with the UE is realized by connecting with the UE through an air interface and processing information of a radio link control (radio link control, RLC) layer, a medium access control (media access control, MAC) layer and a port Physical (PHY) layer between the base station and the UE.

Specifically, the functions of the CU may include: the communication interaction with the AMF network element is realized through the connection of the N2 interface with the AMF network element of the core network; the communication interaction with the DU is realized by connecting the F1 interface with the DU; communication interaction with the UE is achieved by processing information of a radio resource control (radio resource control, RRC) layer, a service data adaptation protocol (service data adaptation protocol, SDAP) layer, and a packet data convergence protocol (packet data convergence protocol, PDCP) layer between the base station and the UE over the air.

The distributed architecture base station may utilize application specific integrated circuits (application specific integrated circuit, ASIC) in combination with digital signal processors (digital signal processor, DSP) to implement data storage, computation, and control functions.

On the basis, the application provides an access network, which can logically split a traditional base station according to a service architecture into a plurality of base station function network elements, can directly manage the base station function network elements through the base station function storage function network elements, reduces the cost when the base station function is changed, and can improve the deployment flexibility and expandability of the base station.

Fig. 2 is an architecture schematic diagram of an access network according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 2, the access network provided in the embodiments of the present application may include a base station function storage function (g node B NRF, g nb-NRF) network element, and one or more base station function network elements (in fig. 2, a total of 4 base station function network elements are shown as an example of a base station function 1 network element, a base station function 2 network element, a base station function 3 network element, and a base station function 4 network element). The gNB-NRF network element and the base station functional network element may be connected via a communication interface.

Wherein, the gNB-NRF network element stores the identity information and the function information of the base station function network element. The function information of the base station function network element is used for indicating the function of the base station function network element. The gNB-NRF network element configured to implement the base station functions such as data storage, calculation, and control through the base station function network element may refer to the following base station usage method in fig. 6, and will not be described herein.

Optionally, the gNB-NRF network element may further store information related to the base station functional network element. Such as communication address and version information of the base station functional network element, etc.

Illustratively, identity information and function information of a base station function network element stored in the gNB-NRF network element, etc. may be as shown in the following table 1.

TABLE 1

As shown in table 1, the table may include NF (i.e., the above-mentioned base station function network element) identity information items, NF function information items, and related information items. The NF identity information items may include network element 1, network element 2, and network element 3. The NF function information items may include function 1, function 2, function 3, and function 4. The related information items may include a communication address 1, version 1; communication address 1, version 1; communication address 2, version 2; and communication address 3, version 3. Network element 1, function 1, communication address 1, and version 1 have a correspondence. Network element 1, function 2, communication address 1, and version 1 have a correspondence. Network element 2, function 3, communication address 2, and version 2 have a correspondence. The network element 3, the function 4, the communication address 3, and the version 3 have a correspondence.

Optionally, the gNB-NRF network element may be further configured to acquire, update, and delete identity information and function information of the base station functional network element.

For example, the gNB-NRF network element may receive the registration information sent to the gNB-NRF network element when each base station functional network element is powered on for the first time, where the registration information may include identity information and function information of the base station functional network element that is powered on for the first time, and the gNB-NRF network element may acquire and store the identity information and function information of the base station functional network element that is powered on for the first time in the registration information.

For another example, the gNB-NRF network element may receive modification information sent by the base station functional network element, where the modification information includes identity information of the base station functional network element and modified functional information; and updating the stored function information of the base station function network element by the gNB-NRF network element according to the identity information of the base station function network element in the changed information and the changed function information.

For another example, the gNB-NRF network element may further receive deregistration information sent by the base station functional network element, where the deregistration information includes identity information and functional information of the base station functional network element; the gNB-NRF network element can delete the identity information and the function information of the base station function network element according to the deregistration information.

Fig. 3 is an exemplary diagram illustrating updating of identity information and function information of a base station function network element in a gNB-NRF network element according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 3, taking a base station functional network element including a network element 1 and a network element 2 as an example, assuming that the network element 1 has a function 1 and a function 2, and the network element 2 has a function 3, the network element 1 may send registration information to the gNB-NRF network element, and the gNB-NRF network element may determine, according to the registration information sent by the network element 1, that the function information of the network element 1 is the function 1 and the function 2, and that the communication address of the network element 1 is the communication address 1, and that the version is the version 1 and stores the registration information. The network element 2 may send deregistration information to the gNB-NRF network element, and the gNB-NRF network element may delete the identity information, the function information, and the related information of the network element 2 stored in the gNB-NRF network element according to the deregistration information sent by the network element 2 (illustrated by a horizontal line passing through a table in fig. 3).

One or more base station functional network elements are used for mutually matching to realize the base station functions of data storage, calculation, control and the like. The functions of the base station, such as data storage, calculation, and control, may be described with reference to the related art, and will not be described herein.

Alternatively, the gNB-NRF network element and the plurality of base station functional network elements, may communicate according to a protocol architecture shown in table 2 below.

TABLE 2

Interface protocol information
	RESETFUL+OPEN API+JSON
HTTP/2
	TCP
IP
	Data link layer
Physical layer

As shown in table 2, the interfaces of the gNB-NRF network element and the base station functional network element are all Open application programming interfaces (Open application programming interface, open API) which are designed by adopting architecture principles of expression layer transformation (representational statetransfer, REST) and take JS object profile (Javascript object notation, JSON) as data formats of the interfaces.

The interface of the gNB-NRF network element and the interface of the base station functional network element can have the same protocol architecture, and the protocol architecture specifically comprises:

application layer: hypertext transfer protocol (hypertext transfer protocol, HTTP).

Transmission layer: transmission control protocol (transmission control protocol, TCP).

Network layer: internet protocol (internet protocol, IP).

Data link layer: comprises the following sublayers: media intervention control (media access control, MAC), radio link control (radio link control, RLC), packet data convergence protocol (packet data convergence protocol, PDCP), and service data adaptation protocol (service data adaptation protocol, SDAP), etc.

Physical layer: the physical connection is provided for the data link layer using a transmission medium.

Optionally, the base station functional network element may include a management control class functional network element, a data storage class functional network element, a data transmission class functional network element, and an air interface base protocol functional network element.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of another architecture of an access network according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 4, on the basis of the access network shown in fig. 2, the base station function 1 network element, the base station function 2 network element, the base station function 3 network element, and the base station function 4 network element in fig. 2 may be specifically implemented as a management control type function network element, a data storage type function network element, a data transmission type function network element, and an air interface base protocol function network element. The UE can be connected with an air interface basic protocol function network element through a Uu interface, a management control type function network element can be connected with an AMF network element of the NGC-CP through an N2 interface, and a data transmission type function network element can be connected with a UPF network element through an N3 interface.

It should be understood that the conventional base station is designed vertically according to the protocol from the physical layer to the higher layer, multiple functions are required to be bound and deployed uniformly when the network is deployed, and when the network is upgraded, a certain function cannot be upgraded individually. The base station with the service architecture provided by the embodiment of the application can split the base station functional network element into the management control type functional network element, the data storage type functional network element, the data transmission type functional network element and the air interface basic protocol functional network element, so that the separation of the data storage, transmission and calculation functions of the base station is realized. When the network is upgraded, the network elements of a certain class can be upgraded independently, normal use of other functional network elements cannot be affected, and flexibility and expandability of base station deployment are improved.

Optionally, the management control class network element may include: a radio connection management function (radio connection management function, RCMF) network element, a radio session management function (radio session management function, RSMF) network element, and so on.

Wherein, the RCMF network element is used for realizing the management of the connection related to the UE. Such as an air-radio RRC connection, a connection between a base station and a core network, a connection between multiple base stations, etc. And the RSMF network element is used for realizing the management of all bearer information related to UE user plane transmission and the bearer information between the base station and the core network.

Optionally, the data storage class functional network element may include: cell data management (cell data management, CDM) network elements, connection information data management (connection information data management, CIDM) network elements, and the like.

The CDM network element is configured to store cell-level information such as usage (number) of cell-level Resource Blocks (RBs), number of users connected to cells in the base station, and total usage of bearer types. And the CIDM network element is used for storing information related to the UE air interface connection. For example, RRC state, next generation application protocol interface (next generation application protocol, NG) connection for RRC connection, data bearer for RRC connection, and the like.

Optionally, the data transmission class functional network element may include: cell information transfer function (cell information transmit function, CITF) network element, radio connection information transfer function (radio connection information transmit function, RCITF) network element, base station user plane function (g node B UPF, gNB-UPF) network element, etc.

Wherein, the CITF network element is configured to encapsulate signaling (e.g., system message block (system information block, SIB) message) related to upper RRC message at cell level, and implement a function that the PDCP layer carries RRC control information. The RCITF network element is configured to encapsulate signaling (e.g., RRC setup message) related to an upper RRC message of a connection level, and implement a function that the PDCP layer carries RRC control information. The gNB-UPF network element is used for packaging the user service flow data of the bearing level and realizing the function of SDAP layer and PDCP layer data packaging.

Optionally, the air interface base protocol functional network element may include: physical layer protocol function (physical layer protocol function, PHYF) network elements, MAC layer protocol function (MAC protocol function, MACF) network elements, RLC layer protocol function (RLC protocol function, RLCF) network elements, and the like. The PHYF network element is used for packaging physical layer data. And the MACF network element is used for packaging the MAC layer data. And the RLCF network element is used for packaging the RLC layer data.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of another architecture of a base station with a service architecture according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 5, on the basis of the service architecture base station shown in fig. 4, the management control function network element may specifically include an RCMF network element and an RSMF network element, where the RCMF network element may be connected to the AMF network element through an N2-C interface to implement communication interaction between the RCMF network element and the AMF network element, and the RSMF network element may be connected to the AMF network element through an N2-S interface to implement communication interaction between the RSMF network element and the AMF network element. The data transmission function network element can specifically comprise a CITF network element, an RCITF network element and a gNB-UPF network element, and the gNB-UPF network element can be connected with the UPF network element through an N3 interface so as to realize communication interaction between the gNB-UPF network element and the UPF network element. The air interface basic protocol function network element can comprise a PHYF network element, a MACF network element and a PLCF network element, and the UE can be connected with the PHYF network element through a Uu interface so as to realize communication interaction between the UE and the PHYF network element. The data storage class functional network elements may include CDM network elements and CIDM network elements.

Any one of the above gNB-NRF network element, RCMF network element, RSMF network element, CITF network element, RCITF network element, gNB-UPF network element, PHYF network element, MACF network element, PLCF network element, CDM network element, and CIDM network element can communicate and interact with other network elements through the service interface corresponding to the any one network element. For example, the service interface corresponding to the gNB-NRF network element is Ngnb-NRF, the service interface corresponding to the RCMF network element is Nrcmf, and the service interface corresponding to the CITF network element is Ncitf.

In a possible implementation manner, the above-mentioned cloud resource pool for arranging the gNB-NRF network element and the base station functional network element may be implemented by installing virtual machine software on a hardware device or a general server of the base station.

Exemplary, common Virtual machine software includes VMware, virtualBox, virtual PC, and the like. The embodiments of the present application are not limited in this regard.

In an exemplary embodiment, the embodiment of the present application further provides a method for using a base station, where the method may be applied to the above-mentioned gNB-NRF network element. Fig. 6 is a flow chart of a method for using a base station according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 6, the method may include S101 to S103.

S101, acquiring function call request information by the gNB-NRF network element.

The function call request information is used for requesting to call the function of the target base station. The target base station function may be any one or more of the above-described base station functions of data storage, calculation, and control. The embodiments of the present application are not limited in this regard.

In one possible implementation manner, the gNB-NRF network element may receive function call request information sent by a function call request network element, where the function call request network element is any one of the one or more base station function network elements.

S102, the gNB-NRF network element determines a target base station function network element corresponding to the function call request information according to the function request information and the identity information and the function information of the base station function network element stored in the gNB-NRF network element.

In one possible implementation manner, the gNB-NRF network element may use the target function as an index, traverse identity information and function information of the base station function network element stored in the gNB-NRF network element, and determine that the base station function network element corresponding to the target function is the target base station function network element corresponding to the function call request information.

S103, the gNB-NRF network element realizes the target base station function through the target base station function network element.

In a possible implementation manner, as described above, the gNB-NRF network element may implement obtaining the function call request information by receiving the function call request information sent by the function call request network element, where S103 may specifically include: the gNB-NRF network element sends the identity information of the target base station function network element to the function call request network element, so that the function call request network element realizes the target base station function through the target base station function network element.

Optionally, the gNB-NRF network element may send, to the function call request network element, the identity information of the target base station function network element, and simultaneously send, to the function call request network element, related information (such as a communication address and version information) of the target base station function network element.

The foregoing description of the solution provided in the embodiments of the present application has been mainly presented in terms of a method. To achieve the above functions, it includes corresponding hardware structures and/or software modules that perform the respective functions. Those of skill in the art will readily appreciate that the elements and algorithm steps of the various examples described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as hardware or combinations of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is implemented as hardware or computer software driven hardware depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the solution. The technical aim may be to use different methods to implement the described functions for each particular application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the present application.

In an exemplary embodiment, the embodiment of the application also provides a gNB-NRF network element. Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a composition of a gNB-NRF network element according to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 7, the gNB-NRF network element may include a storage module 701, an acquisition module 702, and a processing module 703.

The storage module 701 is configured to store identity information and function information of a base station functional network element; the function information is used to indicate the function of the base station functional network element. An obtaining module 702, configured to obtain function call request information; the function call request information is used for requesting to call the target base station function. A processing module 703, configured to determine a target base station function network element corresponding to the function call request information according to the function request information and the identity information and the function information of the base station function network element stored in the storage module 701; and realizing the target base station function through the target base station function network element.

It should be noted that the division of the modules in fig. 7 is schematic, and is merely a logic function division, and other division manners may be implemented in practice. For example, two or more functions may also be integrated in one processing module. The integrated modules may be implemented in hardware or in software functional modules.

In an exemplary embodiment, the embodiment of the present application further provides a communication device, where the communication device may be a network device carrying the above-mentioned gNB-NRF network element, and fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of the communication device provided in the embodiment of the present application. As shown in fig. 8, the communication apparatus may include: a processor 801 and a memory 802; memory 802 stores instructions executable by processor 801; the processor 801 is configured to execute instructions to cause the communication device to implement the method as described in the method embodiments described previously.

In an exemplary embodiment, the present application also provides a computer program product which, when run on a communication device, causes the communication device to perform the steps of the related method embodiments described above to implement the methods of the method embodiments described above.

In an exemplary embodiment, the present application further provides a readable storage medium having instructions stored therein; the instructions, when executed in a communication device, cause the communication device to implement the method as described in the previous embodiments. The readable storage medium may be a non-transitory readable storage medium, which may be, for example, ROM, random Access Memory (RAM), CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical data storage device, etc.

In the above embodiments, it may be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using a software program, it 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-executable instructions. When the computer-executable instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the processes or functions in accordance with embodiments of the present application are fully or partially produced. The computer may be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable apparatus. The computer-executable instructions may be stored in or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another, for example, from one website, computer, server, or data center by wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line (digital subscriber line, DSL)) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.).

Although the present application has been described herein in connection with various embodiments, other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed application, from a review of the figures, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "Comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Although the present application has been described in connection with specific features and embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that various modifications and combinations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the application. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are merely exemplary illustrations of the present application as defined in the appended claims and are considered to cover any and all modifications, variations, combinations, or equivalents that fall within the scope of the present application. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present application without departing from the spirit or scope of the application. Thus, if such modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims and the equivalents thereof, the present application is intended to cover such modifications and variations.

The foregoing is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto, and any changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the present disclosure should be covered in the protection 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. An access network, characterized in that the access network comprises a base station function storage function, gNB-NRF, network element and one or more base station function network elements; the base station function network element is used for realizing the base station function, and comprises a management control function network element, a data storage function network element, a data transmission function network element and an air interface basic protocol function network element; the gNB-NRF network element is connected with the base station functional network element through a communication interface; the gNB-NRF network element stores identity information and function information of the base station function network element; the function information is used for indicating the function of the base station function network element;

the gNB-NRF network element is configured to:

acquiring function call request information; the function call request information is used for requesting to call the function of the target base station;

determining a target base station function network element corresponding to the function call request information according to the function request information and the identity information and the function information of the base station function network element stored in the gNB-NRF network element;

The target base station function is realized through the target base station function network element;

when the gNB-NRF network element is configured to pass through the target base station function network element to realize the target function, the following steps are specifically executed:

and sending the identity information of the target base station function network element to the function call request network element so that the function call request network element realizes the target base station function through the target base station function network element.

2. The access network according to claim 1, wherein the gNB-NRF network element is configured to, when acquiring the function call request information, specifically perform the following steps:

receiving function call request information sent by a function call request network element; the function call request network element is any one of one or more base station function network elements.

3. The access network according to claim 1, wherein the management control class function network elements comprise a radio connection management function, RCMF, network element and a radio session management function, RSMF, network element;

the RCMF network element is used for managing connection related to User Equipment (UE);

the RSMF network element is used for transmitting bearing information related to the UE user plane and managing bearing information between the access network and the core network.

4. The access network of claim 1, wherein the data storage class functional network elements comprise a cell data management, CDM, network element and a connection information data management, CIDM, network element;

the CDM network element is used for storing the use condition of the cell-level resource block RB, the number of users connected with the cell and the total use amount of the bearing type;

the CIDM network element is used for storing information related to the air interface connection of the UE.

5. The access network of claim 1, wherein the data transmission class functional network elements include a cell information transmission function, CITF, network element, a radio connection information transmission function, RCITF, network element, and a base station user plane function, gNB-UPF, network element;

the CITF network element is used for packaging signaling related to an upper Radio Resource Control (RRC) message of a cell level and realizing the function of bearing RRC control information by a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer;

the RCITF network element is used for packaging signaling related to an upper layer RRC message of a connection level and realizing the function of the PDCP layer for bearing RRC control information;

the gNB-UPF network element is used for packaging the user service flow data of the bearing level and realizing the functions of service data adaptation protocol SDAP layer and the PDCP layer data packaging.

6. The access network of claim 1, wherein the air interface base protocol function network elements comprise a physical layer protocol function, phy f, medium access control layer protocol function, MACF, network element, and a radio link control layer protocol function, RLCF, network element;

the PHYF network element is used for packaging physical layer data;

the MACF network element is used for packaging MAC layer data;

the RLCF network element is configured to encapsulate RLC layer data.

7. The access network of claim 1, wherein the interfaces of the gNB-NRF network element and the base station functional network element are Open application programming interface Open APIs designed by adopting architecture principles representing layer transition REST and taking JS object profile JSON as a data format of the interface;

the interface of the gNB-NRF network element and the interface of the base station functional network element have the same protocol architecture, and specifically comprises the following steps:

application layer: hypertext transfer protocol HTTP;

transmission layer: transmission control protocol TCP;

network layer: an internet protocol IP;

data link layer: media access control MAC, radio link control RLC, packet data convergence protocol PDCP and service data adaptation protocol SDAP.

8. A communication method, characterized in that the method is applied to a base station function storage function gNB-NRF network element of an access network; the gNB-NRF network element is connected with one or more base station functional network elements through a communication interface; the base station function network element is used for realizing the base station function, and comprises a management control function network element, a data storage function network element, a data transmission function network element and an air interface basic protocol function network element; the gNB-NRF network element stores identity information and function information of a base station function network element; the function information is used for indicating the function of the base station function network element;

The method comprises the following steps:

the implementing the target base station function by the target base station function network element includes:

9. A base station function storage function network element, gNB-NRF, characterized in that the gNB-NRF network element comprises: the device comprises a storage module, an acquisition module and a processing module;

the storage module is used for storing the identity information and the function information of the base station function network element; the function information is used for indicating the function of the base station function network element;

the acquisition module is used for acquiring the function call request information; the function call request information is used for requesting to call the function of the target base station;

The processing module is used for determining a target base station functional network element corresponding to the function call request information according to the function request information and the identity information and the function information of the base station functional network element stored in the storage module; the target base station function is realized through the target base station function network element;

the processing module is specifically configured to send the identity information of the target base station function network element to the function call request network element, so that the function call request network element implements the target base station function through the target base station function network element.

10. A communication device, the communication device comprising: a processor and a memory;

the memory stores instructions executable by the processor;

the processor is configured to, when executing the instructions, cause the communication device to implement the method of claim 8.

11. A readable storage medium having instructions stored therein which, when executed in a communication device, cause the communication device to implement the method of claim 8.