CN116437301A

CN116437301A - Communication method and device

Info

Publication number: CN116437301A
Application number: CN202210239509.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 许胜锋; 李濛; 杨艳梅
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-12-31
Filing date: 2022-03-11
Publication date: 2023-07-14

Abstract

The embodiment of the application provides a communication method and device, and relates to the technical field of communication. The access network equipment receives reference information of a first multicast/broadcast service (MBS) session from a session management network element or an access and mobile management network element, wherein the reference information of the first MBS session is used for representing the characteristics of the first MBS session; the access network equipment triggers a first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or a Radio Resource Control (RRC) inactive state according to the reference information of the first MBS session. In the method, the receiving end corresponding to the MBS session is not always in the RRC connection state, the access network equipment can trigger the receiving end corresponding to the MBS session to enter the idle state or the RRC non-activated state according to the reference information of the MBS session, a large number of receiving ends corresponding to the MBS session can be prevented from being in the RRC connection state after long-term maintenance, and further, the processing resources of the access network equipment can be saved.

Description

Communication method and device

The present application claims priority from the chinese patent office, application number 202111672790.4, application name "a communication method and apparatus" filed on day 31, 12, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The embodiment of the application relates to the technical field of communication, in particular to a communication method and device.

Background

For the problem that the impact of multicast/broadcast services such as video (multicast can also be understood as multicast, or alternatively multicast) on mobile communication networks is becoming stronger, mobile communication networks such as the 5th generation (the 5th generation,5G) mobile communication networks effectively solve the above problem by supporting the transmission of multicast/broadcast services (multicast broadcast service, MBS).

Currently, multicast/broadcast services may be transmitted in both protocol data unit (protocol data unit, PDU) sessions or MBS sessions. Different resources are respectively established for different User Equipment (UE) to transmit multicast/broadcast services by adopting a PDU session mode, and network resource waste is serious; the MBS session mode is adopted to establish the same resource for different UE to transmit the multicast/broadcast service, and the problem of network resource waste still exists although the network resource waste can be reduced. Therefore, how to reduce the network resource waste of MBS is a problem to be solved.

Disclosure of Invention

The application provides a communication method and a communication device so as to save network resources.

In a first aspect, the present application provides a communication method, including:

the multicast/broadcast session management network element acquires reference information of a first MBS session, wherein the reference information of the first MBS session is used for representing the characteristics of the first MBS session; transmitting reference information of a first MBS session to a session management network element or an access and mobile management network element; the session management network element or the access and mobile management network element sends the reference information of the first MBS session to the access network equipment, and correspondingly, the access network equipment receives the reference information of the first MBS session from the session management network element; the access network device triggers a first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or a radio resource control (radio resource control, RRC) inactive state according to the reference information of the first MBS session.

It should be noted that the features of the first MBS session may be understood as performance, requirement information, priority information, etc. of the first MBS session, which is not specifically limited herein. The first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session may be understood as a terminal that receives service data through the first MBS session, that is, a terminal that receives service data of the first MBS session, or may be understood as a terminal that accesses the first MBS session, where the first receiving end may be one or more terminals. The service data of the MBS session refers to service data supported by the MBS session or service data transmitted through the MBS session, where the service data is MBS data.

In addition, the access network device triggers the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state according to the reference information of the first MBS session, and may directly trigger the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter the idle state or the RRC inactive state through the reference information of the first MBS session during practical application, or may perform data processing (for example, perform data analysis on the reference information of the first MBS session based on artificial intelligence (artificial intelligence, AI) or the like) on the reference information of the first MBS session, and trigger the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter the idle state or the RRC inactive state, which is not specifically limited herein.

In general, an access network device may have a plurality of MBS sessions, where a receiving end corresponding to an MBS session generally receives service data of the MBS session in an RRC connected state, where the access network device needs to maintain that the receiving end corresponding to the MBS session is in the RRC connected state, which consumes a large amount of processing resources of the access network device, however, due to limited device capability of the access network device and limited processing resources (for example, limited processing capability or limited storage space), the access network device cannot support that the receiving end corresponding to a large amount of MBS session is in the RRC connected state.

In an alternative manner, the reference information of the first MBS session includes one or more of the following: the method comprises the steps of priority of a first MBS session, reliability requirement of the first MBS session, time delay of the first MBS session, allocation maintenance priority (allocation and retention priority, ARP) of the first MBS session, first indication information for indicating that a receiving end in an idle state or RRC inactive state is allowed to receive service data of the first MBS session, and second indication information for indicating that the service quality (quality of service, qoS) requirement of the first MBS session is not allowed to be met.

Wherein the reliability requirement of the first MBS session may be the highest reliability requirement among the 5G QoS indicators (the 5th generation quality of service identifier,5QI) of the QoS flows of the first MBS session; the delay of the first MBS session may be the delay with the lowest delay in the 5QI of the QoS flow of the first MBS session; the ARP of the first MBS session may be the lowest ARP of the QoS flow of the first MBS session.

By referring to the reference information of the first MBS session, the access network device can trigger the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state, and the method avoids the consumption of processing resources of the access network device for maintaining the receiving end in the RRC connection state for a long time, and further can save the processing resources of the access network device.

In an alternative manner, the multicast/broadcast session management network element receives an MBS session establishment request, where the MBS session establishment request includes reference information of the first MBS session; or, receiving first MBS session policy information from a policy management network element, wherein the first MBS session policy information comprises reference information of a first MBS session; or, receiving QoS information of the first MBS session from the application function or the policy management network element, and determining reference information of the first MBS session according to the QoS information of the first MBS session.

By the method, the reference information of the first MBS session can be acquired by multiplexing the existing scheme flow (such as MBS session establishment request, MBS policy management and the like) as much as possible, so that the reference information of the first MBS session can be acquired without increasing the complexity of the flow.

In an optional manner, when the reference information of the first MBS session includes a priority of the first MBS session, if the priority of the first MBS session is lower than a first preset priority, the access network device triggers a first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state; or if the priority of the first MBS session is the lowest among all MBS sessions of the access network equipment, the access network equipment triggers the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

It should be noted that all MBS sessions of the access network device referred to in this application can be understood as: all MBS sessions currently served by the access network device, or all MBS sessions established through the access network device.

In the application, the priority may be a priority of a performance requirement, and/or a priority of a quality requirement, etc., and the lower the priority is, the service requirement of the MBS session may be represented as not high or not important, so that the application triggers, through the access network device, the first receiving end corresponding to the MBS session with the lowest priority or the priority lower than the first preset priority (i.e., the first MBS session) in all MBS sessions of the access network device to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state, and saves the processing resource of the access network device on the premise of ensuring that the service data transmission of the MBS session with high priority is preferentially ensured.

In an optional manner, when the reference information of the first MBS session includes a reliability requirement of the first MBS session, if the reliability requirement of the first MBS session is lower than a first threshold, triggering a first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state; or if the reliability requirement of the first MBS session is the lowest among all MBS sessions of the access network equipment, triggering the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

In the present application, the reliability requirement of the first MBS session is the lowest among all MBS sessions of the access network device (for example, all MBS sessions of the access network device include MBS session 1 and MBS session 2, the service corresponding to MBS session 1 is MBS1, the reliability requirement of MBS session 1 is 0.9, the service corresponding to MBS session 2 is MBS2, and the reliability requirement of MBS session 2 is 0.99, because 0.9<0.99, the reliability requirement of MBS session 1 is lower than the reliability requirement of MBS session 2 or lower than the first threshold, the service requirement for characterizing the first MBS session is not high or very important, so the present application triggers the first receiving end corresponding to the MBS session (i.e. the first MBS session) with the reliability requirement lower than the first threshold to enter the idle state or the RRC inactive state in all MBS sessions of the access network device through the access network device. The method not only ensures the normal transmission of the service with high reliability requirement, but also saves the processing resources of the access network equipment.

In an optional manner, when the reference information of the first MBS session includes a time delay of the first MBS session, if the time delay of the first MBS session is higher than a second threshold, triggering a first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state; or if the time delay of the first MBS session is highest in all MBS sessions of the access network equipment, triggering the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

In the application, the time delay of the first MBS session is highest in all MBS sessions of the access network device (for example, all MBS sessions of the access network device include MBS session 1 and MBS session 2, the service corresponding to MBS session 1 is MBS1, the time delay of MBS session 1 is 5 ms, the service corresponding to MBS session 2 is MBS2, and the time delay of MBS session 2 is 10 ms, because 5<10, the time delay of MBS session 2 is higher than the time delay of MBS session 1) or is higher than the second threshold, the service requirement of the first MBS session is not high or not important, so that the application triggers the first receiving end corresponding to the MBS session with the highest time delay or the time delay higher than the second threshold to enter the idle state or the RRC inactive state in all MBS sessions of the access network device through the access network device, thereby not only ensuring normal transmission of the service with high time delay requirement, but also saving the processing resources of the access network device.

In an optional manner, when the reference information of the first MBS session includes the ARP of the first MBS session, if the ARP of the first MBS session is higher than a third threshold, triggering the first receiving terminal corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state; or if the ARP of the first MBS session is highest in all MBS sessions of the access network equipment, triggering the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

In the application, the ARP of the first MBS session is the lowest in all MBS sessions of the access network device (for example, all MBS sessions of the access network device include MBS session 1 and MBS session 2, the service corresponding to MBS session 1 is MBS1, the ARP of MBS session 1 is 12, the service corresponding to MBS session 2 is MBS2, and the APR of MBS session 2 is 3, because 12>3 (in which, the value range of the ARR is 1-15, the higher the value of the ARP is, the lower the priority is), the APR of MBS session 1 is lower than the APR of MBS session 2) or is higher than the third threshold, which characterizes that the service requirement of the first MBS session is not high or not important, so that the application triggers the first receiving end corresponding to the MBS session with the ARP highest in all sessions of the access network device or with the ARP higher than the third threshold to enter the idle state or the RRC inactive state through the access network device, and does not affect the execution of other services, and can also save the processing resources of the access network device.

In an alternative manner, the first receiving end is one or more of receiving ends corresponding to the first MBS session.

In an optional manner, before the access network device triggers the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter the idle state or the RRC inactive state, the method further includes: the access network device determines that the first receiving end does not have the service data transmission except the service data of the first MBS session, or the access network device determines that the first receiving end does not have other services except the service data of the first MBS session. Thus, the normal transmission of other service data of the first receiving end can be prevented from being influenced.

In an alternative manner, the method further comprises: the access network device receives reference information from a first receiving end of the session management network element. The reference information of the first receiving end of the session management network element may be from a multicast/broadcast session management network element, and may also be from a unified data management network element. The reference information of the first receiving end may include one or more of the following: the first receiving end is in the priority in the first MBS conversation, is used for pointing out and allowing the first receiving end to be in idle state or RRC inactive state to receive the third instruction information of the business data of the first MBS conversation; the access network device triggering a first receiving end corresponding to a first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state, comprising: the access network equipment triggers the first receiving end to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state according to the reference information of the first receiving end.

It should be noted that, because there is a difference (such as a subscription difference of different terminals) between different receiving ends corresponding to the first MBS, in order to ensure MBS service transmission performance of the gold plate terminal user, the present application further triggers the first receiving end to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state based on reference information of the first receiving end, so that it can be ensured that the receiving end with high priority can normally receive service data of the first MBS session.

In an alternative manner, the MBS session establishment request carries the reference information of the first receiving end, or the first MBS session policy information includes the reference information of the first receiving end.

In an optional manner, when the reference information of the first receiving end includes the priority of the first receiving end in the first MBS session, if the priority of the first receiving end in the first MBS session is lower than the second preset priority, the access network device triggers the first receiving end to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state; or if the priority of the first receiving end in the first MBS session is the lowest in all receiving ends corresponding to the first MBS session, the access network equipment triggers the first receiving end to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

In this application, all receiving ends corresponding to the first MBS session may be understood as: all terminals receiving service data through the first MBS session of the access network device, i.e. all terminals receiving service data of the first MBS session of the access network device, may also be understood as all terminals accessing the first MBS session through the access network device, which may refer to all terminals currently receiving service data through the first MBS session of the access network device.

In the application, the lower the priority is, the lower the service requirement of the receiving end is, the less important is, so that the access network device triggers the first receiving end with the lowest priority or the priority lower than the second preset priority in the first MBS session of the access network device to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state, the service execution of other terminals in the receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session is not influenced, and the processing resources of the access network device are saved.

In an alternative manner, before the multicast/broadcast session management network element sends the reference information of the first receiving end to the session management network element, the multicast/broadcast session management network element may receive the identification information of the first receiving end from the session management network element; and the multicast/broadcast session management network element sends the reference information of the first receiving end to the session management network element according to the identification information. By the method, the reference information of the receiving end which actually participates is transmitted as required, so that the reference information of the receiving end of all the first MBS session is prevented from being transmitted to the session management network element, and processing and transmission resources can be saved.

In an optional manner, before triggering a first receiving end corresponding to a first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state according to reference information of the first MBS session, the access network equipment determines that the number of terminals in the RRC connected state and receiving service data of the MBS session is higher than a preset value; alternatively, the access network device determines that the number of terminals in the RRC connected state is higher than a preset value. In this way, the receiving end is triggered to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state only when the access network equipment is in congestion or the processing capacity is insufficient; when the access network equipment is not in congestion or is in light load (the number of accessed terminals is smaller), the access network equipment can support all receiving terminals to receive the service data of the MBS session in the RRC connection state, and the service transmission performance of the MBS session is better satisfied.

In an optional manner, before the access network device triggers the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter the idle state or the RRC inactive state according to the reference information of the first MBS session, the access network device does not receive fourth indication information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the first receiving end does not allow to receive service data of the first MBS session in the idle state or the RRC inactive state, or indicate that the first receiving end provides a relay service for the first MBS session. In this way, the relay terminal is preferentially guaranteed to normally receive the service data of the first MBS session, so that the relay terminal can normally send the service data of the first MBS session to the remote terminal.

In a second aspect, the present application provides a communication method, including: the multicast/broadcast session management network element acquires reference information of a first receiving end of a first MBS session, wherein the reference information of the first receiving end is used for representing the characteristics of the first receiving end; and sending the reference information of the first receiving end to the session management network element. Further, the session management network element sends reference information of the first receiving end to the access network device, where the reference information of the first receiving end is used by the access network device to trigger the first receiving end to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

In an alternative manner, the reference information of the first receiving end includes one or more of the following: the first receiving end is in priority in the first MBS conversation, and is used for indicating the third indication information which allows the first receiving end to be in idle state or RRC inactive state to receive the service data of the first MBS conversation.

In an alternative manner, the multicast/broadcast session management network element receives an MBS session establishment request, where the MBS session establishment request includes reference information of a first receiving end of a first MBS session; or, receiving first MBS session policy information from the policy management network element, wherein the first MBS session policy information comprises reference information of the first receiving end.

In an alternative manner, before the multicast/broadcast session management network element sends the reference information of the first receiving end to the session management network element, the method further includes: the multicast/broadcast session management network element receives the identification information of the first receiving end from the session management network element; and the multicast/broadcast session management network element sends the reference information of the first receiving end to the session management network element according to the identification information.

In an optional manner, when the reference information of the first receiving end includes the priority of the first receiving end in the first MBS session, if the priority of the first receiving end in the first MBS session is lower than the second preset priority, the access network device triggers the first receiving end to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state; or if the priority of the first receiving end in the first MBS session is the lowest among all the receiving ends of the first MBS session, the access network equipment triggers the first receiving end to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

In an alternative manner, before the access network device triggers the first receiving end to enter the idle state or the RRC inactive state, the access network device determines that the first receiving end does not have service data transmission except for the service data of the first MBS session.

In an optional manner, before the access network device triggers the first receiving end to enter an idle state or a Radio Resource Control (RRC) inactive state according to the reference information of the first receiving end, the access network device determines that the number of terminals which are in an RRC connection state and receive service data of an MBS session is higher than a preset value; alternatively, the access network device determines that the number of terminals in the RRC connected state is higher than a preset value.

In a third aspect, the present application provides a communication method, including:

the session management network element determines that the terminal provides relay service for the first MBS session; the session management network element sends indication information to the access network device, where the indication information is used to indicate that the terminal does not allow to receive service data of the first MBS session in an idle state or an RRC inactive state, or indicate that the terminal provides a relay service for the first MBS session. Correspondingly, the access network equipment receives the indication information from the session management network element; the access network device may determine, according to the indication information, that the terminal is not in an idle state or an RRC inactive state to receive service data of the MBS session.

In this way, the reliability of receiving the MBS session by the relay terminal is preferentially ensured, so that the relay terminal can send the correct service data of the MBS session to the remote terminal, and the relay terminal is prevented from sending the wrong service data of the MBS session to the remote terminal.

In an alternative manner, the session management network element may receive service indication information, where the service indication information indicates that the terminal provides a relay service for the first MBS session; or, according to the received report of the terminal, determining that the terminal provides the relay service for the first MBS session.

In this way, the session management network element may multiplex the existing scheme flow, and learn that the terminal provides the relay service for the first MBS session.

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication apparatus, where the communication apparatus may be an access network device (such as an access network device in the first aspect, an access network device in the second aspect, or an access network device in the third aspect) or a chip disposed inside the access network device, may also be a multicast/broadcast session management network element (such as a multicast/broadcast session management network element in the first aspect, a multicast/broadcast session management network element in the second aspect, or a multicast/broadcast session management network element in the third aspect) or a chip disposed inside the multicast/broadcast session management network element, and may also be a session management network element (such as a session management network element in the first aspect, a session management network element in the second aspect, or a session management network element in the third aspect) or a chip disposed inside the session management network element. The communication device has functions of implementing any one of the first aspect to the third aspect, for example, the communication device includes a module or a unit or means (means) corresponding to executing steps related to any one of the first aspect to the third aspect, where the functions or units or means may be implemented by software, or implemented by hardware, or implemented by executing corresponding software by hardware.

In one possible design, the communication device includes a processing unit and a transceiver unit, where the transceiver unit may be configured to transceiver signals to enable communication between the communication device and other devices, for example, the transceiver unit is configured to receive configuration information from a terminal device; the processing unit may be adapted to perform some internal operations of the communication device. The transceiver unit may be referred to as an input-output unit, a communication unit, etc., and may be a transceiver; the processing unit may be a processor. When the communication device is a module (e.g., a chip) in the communication apparatus, the transceiver unit may be an input/output interface, an input/output circuit, an input/output pin, or the like, and may also be referred to as an interface, a communication interface, or an interface circuit; the processing unit may be a processor, a processing circuit, a logic circuit, or the like.

In yet another possible design, the communication device includes a processor, and may further include a transceiver for receiving signals, the processor executing program instructions to complete the method in any of the possible designs or implementations of the first to third aspects. Wherein the communication device may further comprise one or more memories for coupling with the processor, which memories may hold the necessary computer programs or instructions to implement the functions referred to in any of the above first to third aspects. The processor may execute a computer program or instructions stored by the memory, which when executed, cause the communication device to implement the method in any of the possible designs or implementations of the first to third aspects described above.

In yet another possible design, the communication device includes a processor that may be used to couple with the memory. The memory may hold the necessary computer programs or instructions to implement the functions referred to in any of the above first to third aspects. The processor may execute a computer program or instructions stored by the memory, which when executed, cause the communication device to implement the method in any of the possible designs or implementations of the first to third aspects described above.

In yet another possible design, the communication device includes a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the processor is configured to communicate with other devices through the interface circuit and perform the method in any of the possible designs or implementations of the first to third aspects.

It will be appreciated that in the fourth aspect described above, the processor may be implemented by hardware or 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. Further, the above processor may be one or more, and the memory may be one or more. The memory may be integral to the processor or separate from the processor. In a specific implementation process, the memory and the processor may be integrated on the same chip, or may be respectively disposed on different chips.

In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, where the communication system includes the access network device, the multicast/broadcast session management network element, and the session management network element in the first aspect to the third aspect.

In a sixth aspect, the present application provides a chip system comprising a processor and possibly a memory for implementing the method described in any one of the possible designs of the first to third aspects. The chip system may be formed of a chip or may include a chip and other discrete devices.

In a seventh aspect, the present application also provides a computer readable storage medium having computer readable instructions stored therein, which when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method as in any one of the possible designs of the first to third aspects.

In an eighth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product comprising instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of embodiments of the first to third aspects described above.

The technical effects that can be achieved by the second aspect to the eighth aspect are referred to for explanation of the technical effects that can be achieved by the corresponding possible design schemes in the first aspect, and the detailed description is not repeated here.

Drawings

Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a communication system;

fig. 2 shows a flow chart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3 is a schematic flow chart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 4 is a schematic flow chart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 5 shows a flow chart of yet another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

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

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

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

fig. 9 shows a schematic structural diagram of another communication device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

For the purpose of making the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present application more apparent, the present application will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The specific method of operation in the method embodiment may also be applied to the device embodiment or the system embodiment. In the description of the present application, unless otherwise indicated, the meaning of "a plurality" is two or more. Therefore, the implementation of the apparatus and the method can be referred to each other, and the repetition is not repeated.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a mobile communication network architecture including a terminal, an access network device, an access and mobility management function, a session management function, a user plane function, a policy control function, a network slice selection function, a network slice specific authentication and authorization function, a network repository function, a network data analysis function, a unified data management function, a unified data storage function, an authentication service function, a network capability opening function, a terminal wireless capability management function, a binding support function, an application function, and a Data Network (DN) connected to an operator network. The terminal may access the wireless network through the access node at the current location. The terminal may send and receive traffic data to and from the data network via the access network device, the user plane function.

The access and mobile management functions are mainly used for attachment of terminals in a mobile network, mobility management, tracking area update procedures and the like. In a 5G communication system, the access and mobility management function may be an access and mobility management function (access and mobility management function, AMF), which may still be AMF in future communication systems (e.g. 6G communication systems), or may have other names, which is not limited in this application.

Session management function, mainly used for session management in mobile network. Specific functions are for example assigning an internet protocol address to the terminal, selecting a user plane function providing a message forwarding function, etc. In a 5G communication system, the session management function may be a session management function network element (session management function, SMF), and in future communication systems (e.g. 6G communication systems), the session management function may still be an SMF, or may have other names, where the SMF may be used to create a unicast session or a PDU session, mainly for establishment, modification, release of a unicast session or a PDU session, but is not limited to this application. The present application also relates to a multicast/broadcast session management network element, which may be a multicast session management network element (multicast/broadcast-session management function, MB-SMF), mainly used for MBs session management in a mobile network, such as establishment, modification, release of MBs sessions.

The user plane function is mainly used for processing user messages, such as forwarding, charging and the like. In 5G communication systems, the user plane function may be a user plane function (user plane function, UPF), which may still be UPF in future communication systems (e.g., 6G communication systems), or may have other names, as the application is not limited.

Policy control functions including policy control function, charging policy control function, qoS control, etc. In 5G communication systems, the policy control function may be a policy control function (policy control function, PCF), which may still be the PCF in future communication systems, such as 6G communication systems, or may have other names, without limitation.

And the network slice selection function is mainly used for selecting proper network slices for the service of the terminal. In 5G communication systems, the network slice selection function may be a network slice selection function (network slice selection function, NSSF), which may still be NSSF in future communication systems (e.g., 6G communication systems), or may have other names, which are not limited in this application.

The Network Slice Specific Authentication and Authorization Function (NSSAAF) is mainly used for authentication and authorization of a terminal to access a specific network slice.

The network warehouse function is mainly used for providing network functions or registration and discovery of services provided by the network functions. In 5G communication systems, the network warehouse function may be a network warehouse function (network repository function, NRF), which may still be NRF in future communication systems (e.g., 6G communication systems), or may have other names, as the application is not limited.

The network data analysis function may collect data from various network functions, such as policy control functions, session management functions, user plane functions, access management functions, application functions (through network capability opening functions), and analyze and predict. In a 5G communication system, the network data analysis function may be a network data analysis function (network data analytics function, NWDAF), which may still be NWDAF in future communication systems (e.g. 6G communication systems), or may have other names, which is not limited in this application.

The unified data management function is mainly used for managing the subscription information of the terminal. In a 5G communication system, the unified data management function may be a unified data management (unified data management, UDM) function, which may still be a UDM function in future communication systems (e.g., 6G communication systems), or may have other names, which is not limited in this application.

The unified data storage function is mainly used for storing structured data information, wherein the structured data information comprises subscription information, strategy information and network data or service data defined by a standard format. In a 5G communication system, the unified data storage function may be a unified data storage (unified data repository, UDR) function, which may still be a UDR function in future communication systems (e.g., 6G communication systems), or may have other names, which is not limited in this application.

The authentication service function is mainly used for carrying out security authentication on the terminal. In a 5G communication system, the authentication service function may be an authentication service function (authentication server function, AUSF), and in future communication systems (e.g., 6G communication systems), the authentication service function may still be AUSF, or may have other names, which is not limited in this application.

Network capability open functionality, portions of the functionality of the network may be controllably exposed to the application. In a 5G communication system, the network capability opening function may be a network capability opening function (network exposure function, NEF), which may still be a NEF in future communication systems (e.g., 6G communication systems), or may have other names, which is not limited in this application.

And the terminal wireless capability management function is used for storing and managing the wireless capability of the terminal in the network. In a 5G communication system, the terminal wireless capability management function may be a terminal wireless capability management function (user equipment radio capability management function, UCMF), which may still be UCMF in future communication systems (e.g., 6G communication systems), or may have other names, which is not limited in this application.

And the binding support function is used for maintaining the corresponding relation between the protocol (internet protocol, IP) address and the service function of the interconnection between the user networks. In a 5G communication system, the binding support function may be a binding support function (binding support function, BSF), which may still be a BSF in future communication systems (e.g., 6G communication systems), or may have other names, which is not limited in this application.

And the application function can provide service data of various applications for the control surface function of the communication network of the operator or acquire data information and control information of the network from the control surface function of the communication network. In a 5G communication system, the application function may be an application function (application function, AF), and in a future communication system (e.g. a 6G communication system), the application function may still be AF, or may have other names, which is not limited in this application.

The data network is mainly used for providing data transmission service for the terminal. The data network may be a private network, such as a local area network, or a public data network (public data network, PDN), such as the Internet (Internet), or a proprietary network deployed by an operator in combination, such as a configured IP multimedia network subsystem (Internet protocol multimedia core network subsystem, IMS) service.

It should be noted that, in the embodiments of the present application, the functions may also be referred to as network elements, network functions or functional entities, devices, etc., and, for example, the access and mobility management functions may also be referred to as access and mobility management network elements, or access and mobility management network functions, or access and mobility management functional entities, etc. The names of the functions are not limited in the application, and those skilled in the art can replace the names of the functions with other names to execute the same functions, which falls within the protection scope of the application.

After the UE registers with the network, connection management (connection management, CM) is performed for the UE, mainly including managing establishment and release of non-access stratum (NAS) signaling connections between the UE and the AMF. The NAS signaling connection includes two parts: a connection between a UE and AN Access Network (AN), and AN N2 connection between the AN and AN AMF. NAS signaling connection between UE and AMF has two states: CM-IDLE state (i.e., IDLE state), and CM-CONNECTED state (i.e., RRC CONNECTED state). In order to release the air interface resources as needed and avoid complex procedures, in the 5G system, a sub-state of RRC connection is newly introduced for the UE accessed by the third generation mobile communication partner (3rd generation partnership project,3GPP): a radio resource control Inactive (RRC Inactive) state, abbreviated as RRC Inactive state.

Currently, multicast/broadcast services can be transmitted in two modes of PDU session or multicast session, but there is a problem of network resource waste. In order to bear multicast service, the quality of a channel and the reliability of data are ensured, the UE is maintained in an RRC connection state, and the scheduling resources of a base station are wasted when the UE is in the RRC connection state for a long time. In addition, public safety (Public safety) requires that one RAN support broadcasting of 800 terminals, and may not support RRC connected state reception of multicast data simultaneously supporting 800 users due to limited current RAN capabilities. Therefore, how to reduce the network resource waste of the multicast/broadcast service is called a problem to be solved.

In order to reduce the waste of scheduling resources, the present application provides a communication method, as shown in fig. 2, which may be performed by an access network device, or may be performed by a multicast/broadcast session management network element, or may be performed by interaction of the access network device, the session management network element, and the multicast/broadcast session management network element. The access network device may be a transmission receiving point (transmission reception point, TRP), a 5G base station (gndeb, gNB), a chip, etc., the session management network element may be an SMF, a chip of an SMF, etc., and the multicast/broadcast session management network element may be an MB-SMF, a chip of an MB-SMF, etc., which is not specifically limited herein. The following is described with respect to the interaction of an access network device, a session management network element and a multicast/broadcast session management network element. In fig. 2, the access network device is taken as RAN, the session management network element is taken as SMF, and the multicast/broadcast session management network element is taken as MB-SMF, as follows:

In step 201, the MB-SMF acquires reference information of the first MBS session.

Wherein the reference information of the first MBS session may be used to represent characteristics of the first MBS session. The characteristics of the first MBS session may be understood as at least one of the following information: the performance of the first MBS session (e.g., transmission performance, reliability guarantee performance, etc. of the first MBS session), demand information of the first MBS session (e.g., rate demand, latency demand, reliability demand, etc. of the first MBS session), priority information of the first MBS session (e.g., importance of the first MBS session, etc.), etc., are not particularly limited herein.

Specifically, the reference information of the first MBS session may include one or more of the following: priority of the first MBS session, reliability requirement of the first MBS session, time delay of the first MBS session, ARP of the first MBS session, first indication information for indicating that the receiving terminal in idle state or RRC inactive state is allowed to receive service data on the first MBS session, and second indication information for indicating that quality of service QoS of the first MBS session is allowed to not meet QoS requirement.

It should be noted that, the reference information of the first MBS session may further include an identifier of the first MBS session. Other information may be included in the reference information of the first MBS session, for example, service information or service type carried by the first MBS session, for example, video service or voice or short message service carried by the first MBS session, which is not limited herein.

It should be noted that one MBS session may serve a plurality of terminals, that is, the terminals may receive service data of the multicast/broadcast service by accessing the MBS session. In addition, one terminal may also receive service data of different multicast/broadcast services by accessing different MBS sessions. In addition, in practical application, the MB-SMF may also acquire the reference information of other MBs sessions, which is only described herein by taking the reference information of the first MBs session as an example, and the MB-SMF is not limited to acquire the reference information of the first MBs session.

In addition, the MB-SMF may pre-configure the reference information of the first MBs session, may obtain the reference information of the first MBs session from another network element, or may pre-configure part of the information in the reference information of the first MBs session, and obtain part of the information in the reference information of the first MBs session from another network element, which is not specifically limited herein. For better explanation of the solution of the present application, the reference information of the first MBS session may be obtained by the following manner:

mode 1: the MB-SMF may receive an MBS session establishment request including reference information for the first MBS session.

Wherein the MB-SMF may receive an MBs session establishment request (MBS session create) from an application function (e.g., AF); the MB-SMF may also receive MBs session establishment requests from the NEF or multicast broadcast service function (multisst/broadcast service function, MBSF); the MB-SMF may also receive MBs session establishment requests from the AF through the NEF or the MBSF. The specific source of the MBS session establishment request is not specifically limited herein.

Mode 2: the MB-SMF receives first MBS session policy information from a policy management network element (e.g., PCF), wherein the first MBS session policy information includes reference information of the first MBS session.

Mode 3: the MB-SMF receives QoS information of the first MBS session from the application function or the policy management network element, and determines reference information of the first MBS session according to the QoS information of the first MBS session.

Wherein the QoS information of the first MBS session includes reliability requirements, ARP, etc. For example, the QoS information has a correspondence with the priority of the first MBS session, whether the receiving end in the idle state or the RRC inactive state is allowed to receive the service data on the first MBS session, and whether the QoS requirement of the first MBS session is not allowed to be satisfied, so obtaining the QoS information may indirectly determine the reference information of the first MBS session. For example, a low ARP value in the QoS information of the first MBS session corresponds to a high priority of the first MBS session, e.g., a high reliability requirement in the QoS information of the first MBS session corresponds to that the first MBS session may not be idle for reception, etc., which is only described herein by way of example and not limitation.

In step 202, the MB-SMF sends reference information of the first MBS session to the SMF.

Accordingly, the SMF receives reference information of the first MBS session.

Specifically, the MB-SMF may receive an MBs session subscription request message from the SMF, and the MB-SMF replies an MBs session subscription response message to the SMF, where the MBs session subscription response message includes reference information of the first MBs session.

In step 203, the smf sends reference information of the first MBS session to the RAN.

Accordingly, the RAN receives the reference information of the first MBS session.

Specifically, the SMF may place the reference information of the first MBS session in an N2 information (N2 info) container, and transmit the reference information of the first MBS session to the RAN through the AMF.

In the shared tunnel (shared tunnel) establishment procedure, step 202 may be replaced by the MB-SMF sending the reference information of the first MBs session to the AMF, which is not described herein, and accordingly, in step 203, the AMF sends the reference information of the first MBs session to the RAN, as will be understood with reference to the example of fig. 6 below. It should be understood that in the shared tunnel establishment procedure, the MB-SMF transmits the reference information of the first MBs session to the RAN through the AMF, and the shared tunnel is established between the RAN and the UPF for transmitting data of the first MBs session. Specifically, the shared tunnel may be shared by two or more receiving ends, for example, two or more receiving ends may simultaneously use the shared tunnel to receive data of the first MBS session.

In step 204, the ran triggers a first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state according to the reference information of the first MBS session.

It should be noted that, the "triggering" action referred to in this application may be implemented by the RAN sending a triggering message or triggering information to the first receiving end, where the triggering message or triggering information may be existing or added, and specifically, the triggering information may be carried in an existing message, without limitation. For example, the RAN may send a notification message to the first receiving end, where the notification message is used to notify or instruct the first receiving end to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state; for another example, the RAN may send an RRC configuration message or an RRC reconfiguration message to the first receiving end to trigger the first receiving end to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state. Further, the first receiving end may enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state according to the trigger message or the trigger information.

In addition, the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session enters an idle state or an RRC inactive state, which may be understood that the first receiving end transitions from an RRC connection state to the idle state or the RRC inactive state, and may be further understood that the first receiving end receives service data of the first MBS session in the idle state or the RRC inactive state.

In the step 204, the access network device triggers the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter the idle state or the RRC inactive state according to the reference information of the first MBS session, and may directly trigger the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter the idle state or the RRC inactive state through the reference information of the first MBS session in practical application, or may perform data processing on the reference information of the first MBS session (e.g., perform data analysis on the reference information lower than the MBS session based on AI, etc.), and trigger the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter the idle state or the RRC inactive state, which is not particularly limited herein.

In addition, the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session may be understood as a terminal that receives service data through the first MBS session, that is, a terminal that receives service data of the first MBS session, or may be understood as a terminal that accesses the first MBS session, where the first receiving end may be one or more terminals, which is not limited herein. Subsequently, the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session may be simply referred to as the first receiving end of the first MBS.

The service data of the MBS session may refer to service data supported by the MBS session or service data transmitted through the MBS session.

In general, an access network device may have a plurality of MBS sessions, where a receiving end corresponding to an MBS session generally receives service data of the MBS session in an RRC connected state, and the access network device consumes a lot of processing resources of the access network device when the receiving end corresponding to the MBS session is to be maintained in the RRC connected state, but, due to limited device capabilities of the access network device and limited processing resources (for example, limited processing capabilities, or limited storage space), the access network device cannot support that a large number of receiving ends corresponding to the MBS session are in the RRC connected state. By adopting the method provided by the embodiment, the access network device can respectively trigger the corresponding receiving end of each MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state according to the reference information of each MBS session, thereby avoiding the access network device from occupying the processing resources for maintaining the receiving end of the MBS session in the RRC connection state for a long time, and further saving the processing resources of the access network device.

Optionally, in an implementation scenario of the foregoing embodiment, in step 204, the RAN triggers, according to the reference information of the first MBS session, the receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state, which may be the following cases:

case 1: the reference information of the first MBS session includes a priority of the first MBS session.

The priority of the first MBS session in the reference information of the first MBS session may be understood as a priority of a performance requirement of the first MBS session, a priority of a quality requirement, or the like.

In case 1, step 204 may be specifically implemented in two alternative ways:

in mode 1, if the priority of the first MBS session is lower than the first preset priority, the RAN triggers the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

For example, the larger the value of the priority specified by the protocol, the smaller the priority, the first preset priority is 3, the priority of the first MBS session is 4, and since 4 is greater than 3, that is, the priority of the first MBS session is smaller than the first preset priority, the receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session is triggered to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state, and in actual application, the smaller the value of the priority can be specified, the smaller the priority is, which is not particularly limited herein, and the application can be flexibly set according to actual requirements.

In mode 2, if the priority of the first MBS session is the lowest among all MBS sessions of the RAN, the RAN triggers the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

It should be noted that all MBS sessions of the RAN referred to in this application can be understood as: the RAN currently provides all MBS sessions of a service or all MBS sessions established through the RAN. The following references to all MBS sessions of the RAN are to be understood herein.

For example, the number of MBS sessions of the RAN is 3, that is, 3 MBS sessions are established on the RAN, and session identifiers of the MBS are MBS session 1, MBS session 2 and MBS session 3, where the priority of MBS session 1 is 1, the priority of MBS session 2 is 2, and the priority of MBS session 3 is 5, so that it is known that the priority of MBS session 3 is the lowest, and then the receiving end corresponding to MBS session 3 (i.e., MBS session 3 is the first MBS session) enters an idle state or an RRC inactive state; meanwhile, the RAN does not trigger the receiving end corresponding to the MBS session 1 or the MBS session 2 to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

In the application, the lower the priority is, the lower the service requirement of the MBS session can be represented, so the application triggers the first receiving end corresponding to the MBS session (namely the first MBS session) with the lowest priority or the priority lower than the first preset priority in all MBS sessions of the access network equipment to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state through the access network equipment, and saves the processing resources of the access network equipment on the premise of ensuring the service data transmission of the MBS session with the high priority.

Case 2: the reference information of the first MBS session includes a reliability requirement of the first MBS session.

In case 2, step 204 may be specifically implemented in two alternative ways:

In the mode 1, if the reliability requirement of the first MBS session is lower than a first threshold, the RAN triggers a first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state;

for example, the reliability requirement of the first threshold corresponds to a packet error rate (packet error rate, PER) of 10 ^-6 Reliability of first MBS sessionThe packet error rate corresponding to the requirement is 10 ^-3 And triggering the receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state because the reliability requirement of the first MBS session is lower than a first threshold.

In mode 2, if the reliability requirement of the first MBS session is the lowest among all MBS sessions of the RAN, the RAN triggers the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

For example, if the number of MBS sessions of the RAN is 3, that is, 3 MBS sessions are established on the RAN, the session identities of the MBS are MBS session 1, MBS session 2, and MBS session 3, respectively, where the reliability requirement of MBS session 1 corresponds to a packet error rate of 10 ^-3 The reliability requirement of MBS session 2 corresponds to a packet error rate of 10 ^-6 The reliability requirement of MBS session 3 corresponds to a packet error rate of 10 ^-7 Therefore, if the reliability requirement of the MBS session 1 is the lowest, the receiving end corresponding to the MBS session 1 (namely, the MBS session 1 is the first MBS session) enters an idle state or an RRC inactive state; and simultaneously, the receiving end corresponding to the MBS session 2 or the MBS session 3 is maintained in an RRC connection state, namely the receiving end corresponding to the MBS session 2 or the MBS session 3 is not triggered to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

Alternatively, the reliability requirement of the first MBS session may be the highest reliability requirement among the 5QI of the QoS flows of the first MBS session. For example, the first MBS session may include a plurality of QoS flows, the values of 5QI of different QoS flows may be different, and selecting the reliability requirement with the highest reliability requirement among the 5QI of the QoS flows as the reliability requirement of the first MBS session may guarantee reliable reception of QoS flow data with higher reliability requirements as much as possible. Assume that the first MBS session includes 3 QoS flows, qoS flow1, qoS flow2, qoS flow3, respectively. Wherein, the reliability requirement associated with the 5QI value of QoS flow1 being 1,5QI =1 corresponds to a packet error rate of 10 ^-3 The method comprises the steps of carrying out a first treatment on the surface of the The reliability requirement associated with a 5QI value of 3,5QI =3 for QoS flow2 corresponds to a packet error rate of 10 ^-6 The method comprises the steps of carrying out a first treatment on the surface of the The reliability requirement associated with a 5QI value of 5,5QI =5 for QoS flow3 corresponds to a packet error rate of 10 ^-9 . Since the reliability requirement of the 5QI association of QoS flow3 is highest, the reliability requirement of the 5 qi=5 association can be set to 10 ^-9 As a reliability requirement for the first MBS session.

Alternatively, the reliability requirement of the first MBS session is determined based on the reliability requirement of the 5QI association of the QoS flows of the first MBS session. For example, the reliability requirements of the 5QI association of all QoS flows of the first MBS session may be weighted, and the reliability requirements of the first MBS session may be determined, e.g., the packet error rates corresponding to the reliability requirements of the 5QI association of QoS flows 1 to 3 may be summed and averaged to determine the value ((10) ^-3 +10 ^-6 +10 ^-9 ) And/3) as reliability requirements for the first MBS session. For another example, the reliability requirements of the first MBS session are determined by multiplying the packet error rate corresponding to the reliability requirements associated with the 5QI of each QoS flow by different weight values according to the characteristics of the different QoS flows, which is not specifically limited herein.

In the application, the reliability requirement of the first MBS session is the lowest or lower than a first threshold value in all MBS sessions of the access network equipment, and the service requirement for representing the first MBS session is not high or important, so that the application triggers the first receiving end corresponding to the MBS session (namely the first MBS session) with the lowest reliability requirement or lower than the first threshold value in all MBS sessions of the access network equipment through the access network equipment to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state. The method not only ensures the normal transmission of the service with high reliability requirement, but also saves the processing resources of the access network equipment.

Case 3: the reference information of the first MBS session includes a time delay of the first MBS session.

In case 3, step 204 may be specifically implemented in two alternative ways:

in mode 1, if the delay of the first MBS session is higher than the second threshold, the RAN triggers the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

For example, the delay corresponding to the second threshold is 10 milliseconds (ms), the delay of the first MBS session is 15ms, and since the delay of the first MBS session is higher than the second threshold, the access network device triggers the receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

In the mode 2, if the time delay of the first MBS session is highest in all MBS sessions of the RAN, the RAN triggers the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

For example, if the number of MBS sessions of the RAN is 3, and the session identifiers of the MBS are MBS session 1, MBS session 2, and MBS session 3, where the delay of MBS session 1 is 20ms, the delay of MBS session 2 is 15ms, and the delay of MBS session 3 is 5ms, so that it is known that the delay of MBS session 1 is the highest, then the receiving end corresponding to MBS session 1 enters an idle state or an RRC inactive state; and simultaneously, the receiving end corresponding to the MBS session 2 or the MBS session 3 is maintained in an RRC connection state, namely the receiving end corresponding to the MBS session 2 or the MBS session 3 is not triggered to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

Alternatively, the delay of the first MBS session may be the delay with the lowest delay among the 5QI of the QoS flows of the first MBS session. For example, the first MBS session may include a plurality of QoS flows, the values of 5QI of different QoS flows may be different, and selecting the lowest latency of the 5QI of the QoS flows as the latency of the first MBS session may ensure reliable reception of QoS flow data with low latency as much as possible. Assume that the first MBS session includes 2 QoS flows, the QoS flows are identified as QoS flow1 and QoS flow2, respectively. For the delay, the delay associated with the 5QI value of QoS flow1 being 4,5QI =4 is 15ms, the delay associated with the 5QI value of QoS flow2 being 3,5QI =3 is 10ms, and the delay associated with the 5 qi=3 can be used as the delay of the first MBS session because the delay associated with QoS flow2 is the lowest.

Optionally, the delay of the first MBS session is determined according to a delay associated with 5QI of the QoS flow of the first MBS session. For example, the delays associated with 5QI of all QoS flows of the first MBS session may be weighted, and the delay of the first MBS session may be determined, e.g., the delays associated with 5QI of QoS flows 1 to 2 may be added and averaged to determine the value ((15+10)/2) as the delay of the first MBS session. For another example, the time delay of the first MBS session is determined by multiplying the time delay associated with the 5QI of each QoS flow by different weight values according to the characteristics of the different QoS flows, which is not specifically limited herein.

In the application, the time delay of the first MBS session is highest or higher than the second threshold value in all MBS sessions of the access network equipment, and the service requirement of the first MBS session is not high or important, so that the application triggers the first receiving end corresponding to the MBS session with the highest time delay or higher than the second threshold value in all MBS sessions of the access network equipment to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state through the access network equipment, thereby not only ensuring the normal transmission of the service with high time delay requirement, but also saving the processing resources of the access network equipment.

Case 4: the reference information of the first MBS session includes ARPs of the first MBS session.

In case 4, step 204 may be specifically implemented in two alternative ways:

in mode 1, if the ARP of the first MBS session is higher than the third threshold, the access network device triggers the first receiving terminal corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

For example, the ARP value range is 1-15, the priority of 1 is highest, the priority of 15 is lowest, for example, the ARP value corresponding to the third threshold is 5, the ARP value of the first MBS session is 2, and because the ARP of the first MBS session is higher than the third threshold, the receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session is triggered to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

In the mode 2, if the ARP of the first MBS session is highest in all MBS sessions of the RAN, the RAN triggers the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

For example, if the number of MBS sessions of the RAN is 3, and session identifiers of the MBS are MBS session 1, MBS session 2, and MBS session 3, where the ARP value of MBS session 1 is 12, the ARP value of MBS session 2 is 10, and the ARP value of MBS session 3 is 5, so that it is known that the ARP of MBS session 1 is the lowest, then the receiving end corresponding to MBS session 1 enters an idle state or an RRC inactive state; and simultaneously, the receiving end corresponding to the MBS session 2 or the MBS session 3 is maintained in an RRC connection state, namely the receiving end corresponding to the MBS session 2 or the MBS session 3 is not triggered to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

Alternatively, the ARP of the first MBS session may be the ARP of the lowest ARP of the QoS flow of the first MBS session. For example, the first MBS session may include a plurality of QoS flows, the ARP values of different QoS flows may be different, and selecting the ARP of the QoS flows as the ARP of the first MBS session with the lowest ARP may ensure reliable reception of QoS flow data with low ARP as much as possible. Assume that the first MBS session includes 2 QoS flows, the QoS flows are identified as QoS flow1 and QoS flow2, respectively. Among them, for ARP, the ARP value of QoS flow1 is 4, the ARP value of QoS flow2 is 3, and arp=4 can be used as the ARP of the first MBS session since the ARP of QoS flow1 is the lowest.

Alternatively, the ARP of the first MBS session is determined according to the ARP of the QoS flow of the first MBS session. For example, the ARP of all QoS flows of the first MBS session may be weighted, and the ARP of the first MBS session may be determined, e.g., the ARP of QoS flows 1 to 2 may be added and averaged to determine the value ((4+3)/2) as the ARP of the first MBS session. For another example, the ARP of each QoS flow may be determined according to the characteristics of the different QoS flows and multiplied by different weight values to determine the ARP of the first MBS session, which is not specifically limited herein.

In the application, the ARP of the first MBS session is the lowest in APR or higher than a third threshold value in all MBS sessions of the access network equipment, and the service requirement for representing the first MBS session is not high or important, so that the application triggers a first receiving end corresponding to the MBS session with the highest ARP or higher than the third threshold value in all MBS sessions of the access network equipment to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state through the access network equipment, the execution of other services is not influenced, and the processing resources of the access network equipment can be saved.

Case 5: the reference information of the first MBS session includes first indication information for indicating that the receiving end in an idle state or an RRC inactive state is allowed to receive service data on the first MBS session.

In case 5, step 204 may specifically include: when the reference information of the first MBS session includes first indication information for indicating that the receiving terminal in an idle state or an RRC inactive state is allowed to receive service data on the first MBS session, the RAN triggers the first receiving terminal corresponding to the first MBS session to enter the idle state or the RRC inactive state.

The first indication message may include an identifier of the first MBS session, which is used to identify the first MBS session.

Case 6: the reference information of the first MBS session includes second indication information for indicating that the QoS requirement of the first MBS session is allowed to be not satisfied.

In case 6, step 204 may specifically include: when the reference information of the first MBS session includes second indication information for indicating that the QoS of the first MBS session is allowed to not meet the QoS requirement, the RAN triggers a first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

The second indication message may include an identifier of the first MBS session, which is used to identify the first MBS session.

Of course, there are other situations in practical application, for example, the reference information of the first MBS session may be a combination of the above 6 reference information. For example, the reference information of the first MBS session is the priority of the first MBS session and the first indication information, then the RAN may trigger the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session with the priority lower than the first preset priority and meeting the first indication information to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state; the reference information of the first MBS session is a priority of the first MBS session and a reliability requirement of the first MBS session, then the RAN may trigger a first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session with a priority lower than a first preset priority and a reliability requirement lower than a first threshold to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state. The reference information of the first MBS session is a priority of the first MBS session, a reliability requirement of the first MBS session, and first indication information, and then the RAN may trigger the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session having a priority lower than a first preset priority and a reliability requirement lower than a first threshold and meeting the first indication information requirement to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state. The description is given here by way of example only, and various combinations of reference information may be referred to in the actual application, which is not shown here.

In another implementation, the step 204 may be replaced by: the RAN maintains a first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session in an RRC connection state according to the reference information of the first MBS session, namely, the first receiving end receives service data of the first MBS session in the RRC connection state.

In particular, how the RAN maintains the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session in the RRC connected state may refer to the opposite implementation of the specific manner in the case where the access network device refers to the reference information 6 of the first MBS session, for example, when the reference information of the first MBS session includes the priority of the first MBS session, the priority of the first MBS session is higher than the first preset priority, or the priority of the first MBS session is not the lowest among all MBS sessions of the access network device, or the priority of the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session is the highest among all MBS sessions of the access network device, which is only described herein as an example, and other manners may refer to the opposite implementation of the reference information of the first MBS session, which is not described herein. In addition, if the number of MBS sessions in the RAN is 3, that is, 3 MBS sessions are established on the same RAN, and the MBS session identifiers are MBS session 1, MBS session 2, and MBS session 3, respectively. The RAN determines to maintain the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session (MBS session 1) in the RRC connected state, and may trigger the receiving ends corresponding to MBS session 2 and MBS session 3 to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

It should be noted that, after acquiring the reference information of the first MBS session, the RAN determines that the receiving end triggering the first MBS session enters an idle state or an RRC inactive state, and the method may further include: determines the resource usage of the RAN (whether there is a resource remaining, etc.), or the receiving end attribute of the MBS session (whether it is a relay device), etc. The present application is described in terms of the following two cases, but in actual application, other cases may be possible, or a combination of the following two cases and other cases, which are not specifically limited herein.

Case 1, resource case of RAN

In case 1, this can be achieved in particular by the following two alternative ways:

mode 1, RAN determines that the number of terminals in RRC connected state and receiving service data of MBS session is higher than a preset value.

Mode 2, RAN determines that the number of terminals in RRC connected state is higher than a preset value.

Specifically, in the two modes, the RAN may locally preset a preset value or acquire the preset value from the network device, and the RAN may record the number of terminals in the RRC connected state or record the number of terminals in the RRC connected state that receive the MBS session, which is not specifically limited herein.

In this way, the receiving end is triggered to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state only when the access network equipment is in congestion or the processing capacity is insufficient; when the access network equipment is not in congestion or is in light load (the number of accessed terminals is smaller), the access network equipment can support all receiving terminals to receive the service data of the MBS session in the RRC connection state, and the service transmission performance of the MBS session is better satisfied.

Case 2, receiving end Attribute of first MBS session

In case 2, this can be achieved in particular by the following alternative ways: before step 204, the RAN does not receive fourth indication information from the SMF. The fourth indication information may be used to indicate that the first receiving end does not allow to receive the service data of the first MBS session in the idle state or the RRC inactive state, or indicate that the first receiving end provides a relay service for the first MBS session, or the like.

In general, the SMF may determine the fourth indication information by receiving service indication information from the first reception side or a report of the first reception side. The service indication information may indicate that the first receiving end provides a relay service for the first MBS session; the Report of the first receiving end is a Report of a Remote terminal (i.e. a non-relay terminal) served by the relay terminal (Remote UE Report), the Report of the Remote terminal includes an identifier (Remote User ID) of the Remote terminal and information (Remote UE info) of the Remote terminal, and the SMF can determine, according to the Report of the first receiving end, that the first receiving end provides the relay service for the first MBS session.

Further, the SMF may send fourth indication information to the RAN. If the RAN receives the fourth indication information, the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session is not triggered to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state. If the RAN does not receive the fourth indication information, triggering the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state according to the reference information of the first MBS session. For example, if the number of the first receiving ends of the session of the first MBS in the RAN is 3, the identifiers of the first receiving ends are UE1, UE2 and UE3, where UE1 provides a relay service for the first MBS session and UE2 and UE3 do not provide a relay service for the first MBS session, the receiving ends corresponding to UE2 and UE3 are put into an idle state or an RRC inactive state, and the receiving ends corresponding to UE1 are maintained to receive the service data of the first MBS session in an RRC connected state.

If the resource condition of the RAN and the attribute of the receiving end of the MBS session do not meet the above requirements, but the reference information of the first MBS session meets the requirements of the above 6 conditions, the access network device may not trigger the receiving end of the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state, and may maintain the RRC connection state of the receiving end of the first MBS session. Accordingly, if the reference information of the first MBS session does not meet the requirements of the above 6 cases, and whether the resource condition of the RAN and the attribute of the receiving end of the MBS session are met or not, the access network device may not trigger the receiving end of the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state, and may maintain the RRC connection state of the receiving end of the first MBS session. By the method, the reliability and other performances of the MBS session received by the relay terminal are preferentially ensured, so that the relay terminal can send correct service data of the MBS session to the remote terminal, and the relay terminal is prevented from sending wrong service data of the MBS session to the remote terminal.

Optionally, in another implementation scenario of the foregoing embodiment, before triggering the receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter the idle state or the RRC inactive state in step 204, the method may further include: the RAN determines that the first receiving end does not have service data transmission except the service data of the first MBS session, or the access network equipment determines that the first receiving end does not have other services except the service data of the first MBS session.

Specifically, the RAN may set a timer for transmission of service data of the first receiving end other than the service data of the first MBS session, the timer recording a length of time that the first receiving end does not have transmission of service data of the first MBS session other than the service data of the first MBS session, and when the timer expires, the RAN determines that the first receiving end does not have transmission of service data of the first MBS session other than the service data of the first MBS session.

In the application, the access network equipment determines that the first receiving end does not have the service data transmission except the service data of the first MBS session, so that the normal transmission of other service data of the first receiving end can be prevented from being influenced.

Optionally, in another implementation scenario of the foregoing embodiment, triggering, in step 204, the receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter the idle state or the RRC inactive state may include: triggering the first receiving end to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state according to the reference information of the first receiving end.

Specifically, the RAN may further receive reference information from the first receiving end of the SMF, where the reference information of the first receiving end may indicate a characteristic of the first receiving end, further may also indicate a characteristic of the first receiving end in the first MBS, and specifically, the reference information of the first receiving end may be reference information of the first receiving end in the first MBS session. The RAN may trigger the first receiving end to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state according to the reference information of the first receiving end.

The reference information of the first receiving end comprises one or more of the following: the first receiving end is in priority in the first MBS session, and is used for indicating the third indication information which allows the first receiving end to be in idle state or RRC inactive state for receiving the service data on the first MBS session.

It should be noted that, in actual application, the reference information of the first receiving end may further include session identification information, where the session identification information may indicate an MBS session to which the reference information belongs or corresponds. Other information may be included in the reference information of the first MBS session, for example, service information or service type carried by the first MBS session, which is not limited herein. The session identification information may be an MBS session ID, without limitation.

The access network device may trigger the receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state according to the reference information of the first MBS session, which may be the following cases:

case 1: the reference information of the first receiving end includes a priority of the first receiving end in the first MBS session.

Wherein the reference information of the first receiving end may be used to represent the characteristics of the first receiving end. The characteristics of the first receiving end can be understood as at least one of the following information: the performance of the first receiving end (e.g., transmission performance, reliability guarantee performance, etc. of the first receiving end), requirement information of the first receiving end (e.g., rate requirement, delay requirement, reliability requirement, etc. of the first receiving end), priority information of the first receiving end (e.g., importance of the first receiving end, etc.), etc., are not specifically limited herein.

In mode 1, if the priority of the first receiving end is lower than the second preset priority, the RAN triggers the first receiving end to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

For example, the larger the value of the priority specified by the protocol, the smaller the priority, the second preset priority is 3, the priority of the first receiving end in the first MBS session is 4, and since 4 is greater than 3, that is, the priority of the first receiving end is smaller than the second preset priority, the first receiving end is triggered to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state, and in actual application, the smaller the value of the priority can be specified, the smaller the priority is, which is not particularly limited herein, and the application can be flexibly set according to actual requirements.

Mode 2, if the priority of the first receiving end is the lowest among the receiving ends corresponding to the first MBS session of the RAN, the RAN triggers the first receiving end to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state. All the receiving ends corresponding to the first MBS session can be understood as: all terminals receiving service data through the first MBS session of the access network device, i.e. all terminals receiving service data of the first MBS session of the access network device, may also be understood as all terminals accessing the first MBS session through the access network device, which may refer to all terminals currently receiving service data through the first MBS session of the access network device.

For example, if the number of the first receiving ends of the session of the first MBS in the RAN is 3, the identifiers of the first receiving ends are UE1, UE2 and UE3, where the priority of UE1 is 1, the priority of UE2 is 2 and the priority of UE3 is 5, so that the priority of UE3 is the lowest, and if the reference information of the first receiving end is UE3, the receiving end corresponding to UE3 is put into an idle state or an RRC inactive state (because the priority of UE3 is the lowest); if the reference information of the first UE session is not UE3 (UE 1 or UE 2), the receiving end corresponding to the first UE session is not put into an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

Case 2: the reference information of the first receiving end includes third indication information for indicating that the first receiving end is allowed to be in an idle state or an RRC inactive state to receive the service data on the first MBS session, and the first receiving end is triggered to enter the idle state or the RRC inactive state.

The third indication message may further include an identifier of the first receiving end.

Of course, in practical application, the reference information of the first receiving end may be a combination of the above 2 types of information, for example, the reference information of the first receiving end is the priority of the first receiving end in the first MBS session and the third indication information, and then the RAN may trigger the first receiving end with the priority lower than the first preset priority and meeting the third indication information requirement to enter the idle state or the RRC inactive state, which is only described herein as an example, and may also refer to a case of multiple information combinations in practical application, which is not illustrated herein.

In addition, the reference information of the first receiving end may be carried by the MBS session establishment request, or may be carried by the first MBS session policy information, which is not specifically limited herein. In addition, in order to transmit or save resources in a targeted manner, the MB-SMF may also send part of the reference information of the first receiving end to the SMF, for example, before the MB-SMF sends the reference information of the first receiving end to the SMF, the MB-SMF may receive the identification information of the first receiving end from the SMF; and the MB-SMF sends the reference information of the first receiving end to the SMF according to the identification information. For example, if the SMF sends the identifiers UE1 and UE2 of the first receiving end to the MB-SMF (the first receiving end of the first MBs session actually includes UE1, UE2, UE3 and UE 4), the MB-SMF may send the reference information of UE1 and UE2 to the SMF. The processing resource can be saved by the mode, and the reference information of the receiving ends of all the first MBS sessions is prevented from being sent to the session management network element.

In addition, the reference information of the first receiving end can also be obtained from the UDM. In the process that the first receiving end establishes the PDU session, the SMF acquires MBS session subscription data (MBS subscription data) of the first receiving end from the UDM, wherein the MBS session subscription data comprises reference information of the first receiving end, the SMF can store the MBS session subscription data, and when the first receiving end requests to join the first MBS session, the SMF sends the reference information of the first receiving end to the RAN through the AMF. Accordingly, the UDM acquires the reference information of the first receiving end. Specifically, the UDM may acquire the reference information of the first receiving end from the AF through the NEF, or the UDM may acquire the reference information of the first receiving end from the UDR.

It should be noted that the Reference information of the first receiving end may be implemented by adding a new field in MBS subscription data, for example, the field is Reference info (Reference information) in MBS subscription data shown in table 1. MBS subscription data is shown in Table 1 below. Wherein, MBS allowed (allowed MBS service) indicates that the UE authorizes to use the multicast MBS service, MBS Session ID(s) (MBS Session identifier) indicates that the UE allows to join the MBS Session, wherein, the MBS Session identifier may include an identifier of the first MBS Session. Reference info (Reference information) may be specifically understood as Reference information of the UE in each MBS session, where the Reference information of the UE in each MBS session may include the Reference information of the first receiving end, that is, the Reference information of the first receiving end in the first MBS session. The reference information of the first receiving end may include an identification of the first MBS session, for example, an MBS session ID.

TABLE 1

In another implementation, the RAN may further determine that the first receiving end maintains the RRC connected state according to the reference information of the first receiving end of the first MBS session. The above manner may be referred to how the RAN uses the reference information of the first receiving end of the first MBS session, for example, when the reference information of the first receiving end includes the priority of the first receiving end in the first MBS session, the priority of the first receiving end is higher than the second preset priority, or the priority of the receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session of the access network device is not the lowest, or the priority of the receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session of the access network device is the highest, the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session is maintained in the RRC connected state, and in addition, if the number of the first receiving ends of the first MBS session in the RAN is 3, the identifiers of the first receiving ends are UE1, UE2 and UE3 respectively. The RAN determines to maintain the first receiving end (UE 1) in the RRC connected state, and may trigger the receiving ends corresponding to UE2 and UE3 to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

The RAN may also determine whether to trigger the first receiving end to enter an idle state or to enter an RRC inactive state. Taking the first receiving end as the UE as an example, during the process of establishing the N2 connection for the UE, the RAN may receive RRC inactivity assistance information (RRC inactive assistance information) from the AMF, where the RRC inactivity assistance information is used to assist the RAN in determining whether the UE can enter an RRC inactivity state. Optionally, if the RAN receives the RRC inactivity assistance information from the AMF or determines that the RRC inactivity assistance information is included in the UE context, the RAN triggers the UE to enter the RRC inactivity state, otherwise the RAN triggers the UE to enter the idle state.

Optionally, if the RAN does not receive the RRC inactivity assistance information from the AMF or determines that the RRC inactivity assistance information is not included in the UE context, the RAN keeps the first receiving end in the RRC connected state, i.e. the UE receives service data of the first MBS session in the RRC connected state.

Optionally, the RAN receives, from the AMF, indication information about whether the UE is allowed to enter RRC inactive state reception data (e.g., MBS service data) or whether the UE has the capability to enter RRC inactive state reception data (e.g., MBS service data), if the UE is allowed to enter RRC inactive state reception data or the UE has the capability to enter RRC inactive state reception data, the RAN determines to trigger the UE to enter RRC inactive state, otherwise the RAN determines to trigger the UE to enter idle state. The AMF may obtain, from the UDM or the SMF, indication information of whether the UE is allowed to enter the RRC inactive state to receive data, or the AMF may obtain, from the UE, indication information of whether the UE has the capability to enter the RRC inactive state to receive data.

Referring to fig. 3, another communication method is shown, in which the RAN triggers, according to reference information of a first MBS session, a first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state, fig. 3 is described by taking the first receiving end of the first MBS session as UE1, and fig. 3 is an interaction schematic diagram of UE1, RAN, SMF, MB-SMF, PCF and AF, as follows:

In step 301, the AF sends an MBS session establishment request message to the MB-SMF.

The MBS session establishment request information may include reference information of the first MBS session and an identifier of the first MBS session. The identity of the first MBS session is used to identify the MBS session, e.g., a temporary mobile group identity (temporary mobile group identifier, TMGI).

Step 302, the pcf sends the first MBs session policy information to the MB-SMF.

The first MBS session policy information comprises reference information of the first MBS session and identification of the first MBS session.

Herein, the reference information of the first MBS session may refer to the description of the reference information of the first MBS session above, which is not described herein.

It should be noted that, the steps 301 and 302 are optional steps, for example, may be performed, and the order of execution is not differentiated, or may be alternatively performed without limitation.

When both steps 301 and 302 are performed, the MB-SMF may determine the reference information of the first MBs session according to the MBs session establishment request message and the QoS information of the first MBs session in the first MBs session policy information, for example, if the MB-SMF determines the reference information 1 of the first MBs session according to the QoS information of the first MBs session in the MBs session establishment request message, the MB-SMF may determine the reference information 2 of the first MBs session according to the QoS information of the first MBs session in the first MBs session policy information, where the reference information 1 of the first MBs session is inconsistent with the reference information 2 of the first MBs session, and the MB-SMF may use the reference information 2 of the first MBs session as the reference information of the first MBs session.

In step 303, ue1 sends a request message to the SMF for requesting to join the first MBS session.

The request message carries the identifier of the first MBS session and the indication information of joining the first MBS session, and specifically, the request message may be a session modification request message.

Specifically, UE1 may send a request message for requesting to join the first MBS session to the SMF through the AMF.

In step 304, the SMF sends a request message for acquiring context information of the first MBs session to the MB-SMF.

Wherein, specifically, the request message may be a first MBS session context acquisition request message.

In step 305, the mb-SMF sends context information of the first MBS session to the SMF, where the context information of the first MBS session includes reference information of the first MBS session. Accordingly, the SMF may acquire reference information of the first MBS session from context information of the first MBS session.

In step 306, the smf sends the reference information of the first MBS session to the RAN.

Specifically, the reference information in step 306 may be sent through N2 info, or may be sent through other messages, which is not limited herein.

In step 307, the ran triggers the UE1 to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state according to the reference information of the first MBS session.

Specifically, step 307 may refer to the description related to step 204 of fig. 2, and is omitted herein for brevity, to trigger UE1 to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

Alternatively, based on the embodiment shown in fig. 3, the above step 307 may be replaced by: the RAN maintains the UE1 in the RRC connection state according to the reference information of the first MBS session, i.e. the UE1 receives the service data of the first MBS session in the RRC connection state.

Specifically, how the RAN maintains the first receiving end in the RRC connected state may refer to the description related to step 204 of fig. 2, for example, the access network device triggers to maintain the UE1 in the RRC connected state according to the reference information of the first MBS session, which is not described herein.

In step 308, ue1 enters an idle state or RRC inactive state.

Further, the UE1 enters an idle state or an RRC inactive state, and receives service data of the first MBS session in the idle state or the RRC inactive state.

The UE1 may enter the idle state or the RRC inactive state according to the trigger of the RAN in step 307, and the description thereof may be referred to above, which is not repeated.

By adopting the method provided in fig. 3, the RAN can trigger the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state according to the reference information of the first MBS session, so as to avoid the RAN from occupying processing resources for maintaining the receiving end of the first MBS session in an RRC connected state for a long time, and further save the processing resources of the RAN.

Referring to fig. 4, another communication method is shown, in which the RAN triggers a certain receiving end to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state according to reference information of the receiving end of the first MBS session, specifically referring to fig. 4, fig. 4 is an example of the first receiving end as UE1, and fig. 4 is an interaction schematic diagram of UE1, RAN, SMF, MB-SMF, PCF and AF, as follows:

in step 401, the AF sends MBS session establishment request message to MB-SMF.

The MBS session establishment request information may include reference information of the receiving end of the first MBS session and an identifier of the receiving end of the first MBS session. The identity of the receiving end is used to identify the receiving end, e.g. a temporary mobile subscriber identity (temporary mobile subscriber identity, TMSI).

Step 402, the pcf sends the first MBs session policy information to the MB-SMF.

The first MBS session policy information includes reference information of a receiving end of the first MBS session and an identifier of the receiving end of the first MBS session.

Alternatively, the SMF may also obtain reference information of the receiving end of the first MBS session from the UDM, which may be provided by the AF to the UDM.

Here, the reference information of the receiving end may refer to the description of the reference information of the first receiving end, which is not described herein.

It should be noted that, the steps 401 and 402 are optional steps, for example, may be performed, and the order of execution is not differentiated, or may be alternatively performed without limitation.

In step 403, ue1 sends a request message to the SMF for requesting to join the first MBS session.

The request message includes an identifier of the first MBS session and indication information of joining the first MBS session, and specifically, the request message may be a session modification request message.

In step 404, the SMF sends a request message for acquiring context information of the first MBs session to the MB-SMF.

Wherein, the context information of the first MBS session comprises the reference information of the receiving end of the first MBS session.

The request message may specifically be a context request message of the first MBS session. The request message may carry an identifier of the receiving end of the first MBS session, e.g. an identifier of UE1, then the MB-SMF may send the reference information of UE1 to the SMF, and if the request message does not carry an identifier of the receiving end of the first MBS session, then the MB-SMF sends the reference information of all the receiving ends of the first MBS session to the SMF.

In step 405, the mb-SMF sends context information of the first MBS session to the SMF, where the context information of the first MBS session includes reference information of a receiving end of the first MBS session. Accordingly, the SMF may acquire reference information of the receiving end of the first MBS session from the context information of the first MBS session.

In step 406, the smf sends the reference information of the receiving end of the first MBS session to the RAN.

For example, the reference information may be sent through N2 info, but may also be sent through other messages, which are not limited herein.

In step 407, the ran triggers the UE1 to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state according to the reference information of the receiving end of the first MBS session.

Specifically, step 407 may refer to the description related to step 204 of fig. 2, and is not repeated herein, to trigger UE1 to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

Alternatively, based on the embodiment shown in fig. 4, the above step 407 may be replaced by: the RAN determines that the UE1 maintains the RRC connected state according to the reference information of the UE1 of the first MBS session. Reference is specifically made to the above description, and is not repeated here.

In step 408, ue1 enters an idle state or RRC inactive state.

Specifically, the UE1 enters an idle state or an RRC inactive state, and receives service data of the first MBS session in the idle state or the RRC inactive state.

The UE1 may enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state according to the trigger of the RAN in step 407, and the description thereof may be referred to above, which is not repeated.

The method and the device can ensure that the receiving end with high priority can normally receive the service data of the first MBS session based on triggering the receiving end of the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

Fig. 5 illustrates another communication method in the present application, where a first receiving end is taken as a UE, and the UE provides a relay service for a first MBS session, and fig. 5 is a schematic interaction diagram between UE, RAN, SMF, as follows:

in step 501, the ue sends service indication information to the SMF.

The service indication information may be sent when the UE requests to join the first MBS session, for example, the service indication information is carried in a request message for requesting to join the first MBS session, or may be sent through other messages or procedures, for example, the UE sends the service indication information to the SMF through an MBS session modification procedure.

Specifically, the service indication information may be used to instruct the UE to provide a relay service for the first MBS session.

Wherein, the UE providing the relay service for the first MBS session may refer to that the remote UE may receive service data of the first MBS session through the UE.

In step 502, the UE sends a Remote UE Report (e.g., remote UE Report) to the SMF.

The Remote UE report may include an identity of the Remote UE (e.g., remote User ID) and information of the Remote UE (e.g., remote UE info), which may be address information allocated by the UE for the Remote UE for network-side communication.

It should be noted that, the steps 501 and 502 are optional steps, for example, may be performed, and the order of execution is not differentiated, or may be alternatively performed without limitation.

In step 503, the smf determines that the UE provides relay services for the first MBS session.

Step 503 may be implemented as follows:

mode 1: the SMF determines that the UE provides a relay service for the first MBS session according to the service indication information in step 501. For example, the service indication information provides relay service information for the UE, and the SMF determines that the UE provides relay service for the first MBS session according to the service indication information.

Mode 2: the SMF determines from the remote UE report in step 502 that the UE provides relay services for the first MBS session. For example, the remote UE report includes the identity of the remote UE and information of the remote UE, and the SMF determines from the remote UE report that the UE provides a relay service for the first MBS session.

Step 504, smf informs RAN: the UE is not allowed to receive service data of the first MBS session in an idle state or is provided with a relay service for the first MBS session.

The SMF may notify the RAN through N2 information in step 504, for example, the N2 information includes notification information or a notification message to notify the RAN: the UE is not allowed to receive service data of the first MBS session in an idle state or is provided with a relay service for the first MBS session.

Further, for the layer 3 relay scenario, steps 501-503 may be performed to determine that the UE provides a relay service for the service data of the first MBS session, and notify the RAN through step 504; for the layer 2 relay scenario, steps 501-504 may not be performed, but instead the RAN determines that the UE provides relay services for the traffic data of the first MBS session by performing step 505. In fig. 5, the steps performed for the layer 2 relayed scene are indicated by solid lines, the steps performed for the layer 3 relayed scene are indicated by broken lines, and the steps executable for both the layer 2 relayed and layer 3 relayed scenes are indicated by thick solid lines.

In step 505, the ran determines, through the transmission condition of the service data of the first MBS session, that the UE provides a relay service for the first MBS session.

For the layer 2 relay scenario, the transmission situation of the service data of the first MBS session may be understood as that the service data of the first MBS session is sent to the remote UE through the UE. Specifically, the RAN transmits service data of the first MBS session to the remote UE through the UE according to connection information between the remote UE and the UE. The connection information between the remote UE and the UE may be understood as connection information of the remote UE accessing the RAN through the UE, which may be determined by the remote UE transmitting an RRC request message. Specifically, before step 505, the remote UE sends an RRC request message to the RAN through the UE, and the RAN may know that the UE is providing relay services for the remote UE. The RAN knows that the UE provides relay service for the remote UE and transmits traffic data of the first MBS session to the remote UE, so the RAN may know that the UE provides relay service for the first MBS session.

In step 506, the ran determines that the UE remains in RRC connected state.

Specifically, for layer 3 relay, the RAN determines that the UE maintains the RRC connected state according to the service data in the N2 information that does not allow the UE to receive the first MBS session in the idle state or that the UE is providing relay service. For layer 2 relay, the RAN determines that the UE provides relay service for the first MBS session according to step 505, and further determines that the UE maintains an RRC connected state. Furthermore, for layer 2 relay, the UE is still in RRC connected state even after the RAN determines that all remote UEs served by the UE are in idle state.

For example, if the number of the first receiving ends of the session of the first MBS in the RAN is 3, the identifiers of the first receiving ends are UE1, UE2 and UE3, where UE1 (serving as a layer 3 relay or a layer 2 relay) provides a relay service for the first MBS session, and UE2 and UE3 do not provide a relay service for the first MBS session, the RAN triggers the receiving ends corresponding to UE2 and UE3 to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state, and maintains the receiving ends corresponding to UE1 to receive service data of the first MBS session in an RRC connection state.

The embodiment described in fig. 5 may be performed before steps 204, 307 and 407 of the embodiments in fig. 2 to 3, and the embodiment described in fig. 5 may be understood as a further condition that the RAN triggers the first receiving end of the first MBS session to be in an idle state or in an RRC inactive state, so as to trigger the first receiving end of the first MBS session to enter a suitable state, thereby ensuring reliability of communication transmission.

By the method, the reliability and other performances of receiving MBS session by the relay UE can be preferentially ensured, so that the relay terminal can send correct service data of the MBS session to the remote UE, and the relay UE is prevented from sending wrong service data of the MBS session to the remote UE.

Referring to fig. 6, another communication method is shown, which is applied to a procedure of establishing a shared tunnel established between the RAN and the UPF for transmitting data of the first MBS session. The UPF may be a multicast UPF. The RAN triggers a first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state according to the reference information of the first MBS session, specifically referring to fig. 6, fig. 6 is an example of the first receiving end being UE1, and fig. 6 is an interaction schematic diagram of UE1, RAN, SMF, AMF, NRF and MB-SMF, as follows:

in step 601, ue1 sends a request message to the SMF through the AMF for requesting to join the first MBS session.

The request message includes an identifier of the first MBS session and joining the first MBS session indication information, and in particular, the request message may be a session modification request message, for example, a PDU session modification request.

In step 602, the SMF obtains MB-SMF information from the NRF that provides a service for the first MBS session.

Wherein, the NRF may store a plurality of MB-SMF information, which may be an identification of the MB-SMF, for example, a name, an ID, or an address, without limitation.

In step 603, the SMF sends a request message for acquiring context information of the first MBs session to the MB-SMF.

Wherein the context information of the first MBS session includes reference information of the first MBS session. The reference information may refer to the related descriptions in the foregoing embodiments, and will not be repeated.

The request message may specifically be a context request message of the first MBS session.

For example, the request message may carry an identifier of the receiving end of the first MBS session, e.g. the identifier of UE1, and then the MB-SMF may send the reference information of UE1 to the SMF, and if the request message does not carry the identifier of the receiving end of the first MBS session, then the MB-SMF sends the reference information of all the receiving ends of the first MBS session to the SMF.

In step 604, the MB-SMF sends the context information of the first MBS session to the SMF.

The context information of the first MBS session may include reference information of a receiving end of the first MBS session.

Accordingly, the SMF may acquire reference information of the receiving end of the first MBS session from the context information of the first MBS session.

In step 605, the smf determines whether UE1 is authorized to use the first MBS service.

Specifically, the above step 605 may be replaced with the SMF determining whether the UE1 is authorized to receive the first MBS service. If UE1 is authorized to use the first MBS service, step 606 may be performed, and if UE1 is not authorized to use the first MBS service, the SMF sends a response message through the AMF that denies UE1 to join the first MBS session, which is not illustrated in fig. 6.

The SMF may determine whether the UE1 is authorized to use the first MBS service according to subscription data of the MBS session stored by the UDM. The subscription data of the MBS Session may include information such as MBS allowed, MBS Session ID(s), and Reference info as shown in table 1 above. The SMF may determine whether the UE1 is authorized to use the MBS service according to the MBS allowed, and in the case that the UE1 is authorized to use the MBS service, may learn the identifier of the MBS Session to which the UE1 is authorized to join according to the MBS Session ID(s), and typically the identifier of the MBS Session to which the UE1 is authorized to join may include a plurality of identifiers, and if the identifier of the MBS Session includes the identifier of the first MBS Session, the SMF determines that the UE1 is authorized to use the first MBS service.

The steps 602 to 605 are optional steps.

In step 606, if the SMF receives the request of the UE1 to join the first MBS session, the N2 session management information (N2 session management information, N2 SM info) is sent to the AMF.

The N2 SM info message includes an identifier of the first MBS session, where the identifier of the first MBS session may be used for the RAN to determine context information of the first MBS session.

In step 607, the amf sends N2 SM info to the RAN.

If the shared tunnel of the first MBS session is not already established, the method may further include the following steps 608 to 611, for establishing the shared tunnel of the first MBS session.

In the process of establishing the shared tunnel of the first MBS session, the MB-SMF may send the reference information of the first MBS session to the RAN through the AMF.

In step 608, the ran sends an N2 MBS Session request (N2 MBS session request) message to the AMF.

Wherein the N2 MBS Session request message may include: the identifier of the first MBS session and downlink tunnel information (DL tunnel Info) allocated by the RAN for the first MBS session, where the DL tunnel Info may be understood as downlink tunnel information of the shared tunnel of the first MBS session.

In step 609, the amf sends a context update request message of the first MBs session to the MB-SMF.

Wherein, the context update request message of the first MBS session may include: the identity of the first MBS session and the DL tunnel Info.

In step 610, the MB-SMF sends a first MBS session context update response message to the AMF.

The first MBS session context update response message includes reference information of the first MBS session, which may refer to the foregoing related description and will not be described in detail.

Specifically, the first MBS session context update response message includes N2 SM info, which may include reference information of the first MBS session.

The MB-SMF may refer to step 301 or step 302 in fig. 3 to obtain the reference information of the first MBs session.

In step 611, the amf sends the reference information of the first MBS session to the RAN.

Optionally, after the AMF receives the reference information of the first MBS session in step 610, the AMF first determines whether RRC inactivity auxiliary information has been sent to the RAN (RRC inactive assistance information), and if RRC inactivity auxiliary information has been sent, the AMF sends the reference information of the first MBS session to the RAN; if the RRC inactive state auxiliary information is not transmitted, the AMF does not transmit the reference information of the first MBS session to the RAN. The RRC inactive state auxiliary information is used for assisting the RAN in determining whether the UE can enter the RRC inactive state.

Optionally, the AMF may further send indication information to the MB-SMF in step 609, whether the AMF has sent RRC inactive state assistance information, and the MB-SMF determines whether to send reference information of the first MBs session in step 610 according to the indication information. If the indication information indicates that the AMF has sent the RRC inactive state auxiliary information, the MB-SMF sends the reference information of the first MBS session to the AMF; if the indication information indicates that the AMF does not send the RRC inactive state auxiliary information, the MB-SMF does not send the reference information of the first MBS session to the AMF. That is, when the RAN acquires the RRC inactive state assistance information, the UE1 can enter the RRC inactive state. Therefore, when the AMF/MB-SMF knows that the RAN does not acquire the RRC inactive state auxiliary information, the reference information of the first MBS session does not need to be transmitted.

In step 612, the ran triggers the UE1 to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state according to the reference information of the first MBS session.

The trigger may be sent to UE1 by sending a notification message to cause UE1 to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

In step 613, ue1 enters an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

Specifically, step 612 may refer to the description related to step 204 of fig. 2, and is omitted herein for brevity, to trigger UE1 to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

It should be noted that, in the establishment procedure of the shared tunnel, the MB-SMF sends the reference information of the first MBs session to the RAN through the AMF, where the reference information of the first MBs session only needs to be sent once, and the RAN stores only one part of the reference information of the first MBs session, which avoids the situation that when each UE joins the first MBs session, the SMF needs to send the reference information of the first MBs session to the RAN through the AMF, and reduces signaling overhead. In addition, in the example of fig. 6, the RAN does not need to store the reference information of the first MBS session in the context of each UE joining the first MBS session, thereby reducing the storage space occupation of the RAN.

After the shared tunnel of the first MBS session is established, the first receiving end is triggered to enter the idle state or the RRC inactive state based on the reference information of the first MBS session, so that the receiving end with high priority can be ensured to normally receive the service data of the first MBS session, and the shared tunnel is adopted to transmit the service data of the first MBS session, thereby saving transmission resources.

The scheme provided by the embodiment of the application is mainly introduced from the perspective of equipment interaction. It will be appreciated that in order to achieve the above-described functionality, each device may comprise corresponding hardware structures and/or software modules that perform each function. Those of skill in the art will readily appreciate that the elements and algorithm steps of the 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. 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.

The embodiment of the application may divide the functional units of the device according to the above method example, for example, each functional unit may be divided corresponding to each function, or two or more functions may be integrated in one unit. The integrated units may be implemented in hardware or in software functional units.

In case of an integrated unit, fig. 7 shows a possible exemplary block diagram of the communication device involved in the embodiments of the present application. As shown in fig. 7, the communication apparatus 700 may include: a processing unit 701 and a transceiver unit 702. The processing unit 701 is used for controlling and managing the operation of the communication device 700. The transceiver unit 702 is used to support communication between the communication apparatus 700 and other devices. Alternatively, the transceiver unit 702 may include a receiving unit and/or a transmitting unit for performing receiving and transmitting operations, respectively. Optionally, the communication device 700 may further comprise a storage unit for storing program code and/or data of the communication device 700. The transceiver unit may be referred to as an input-output unit, a communication unit, etc., and may be a transceiver; the processing unit may be a processor. When the communication device is a module (e.g., a chip) in the communication apparatus, the transceiver unit may be an input/output interface, an input/output circuit, an input/output pin, or the like, and may also be referred to as an interface, a communication interface, or an interface circuit; the processing unit may be a processor, a processing circuit, a logic circuit, or the like. Specifically, the apparatus may be the above-mentioned access network device, multicast/broadcast session management network element, and the like.

In one embodiment, the transceiver unit 702 may be configured to receive reference information of a first MBS session from a session management network element or an access and mobility management network element, where the reference information of the first MBS session is used to indicate a characteristic of the first MBS session; the processing unit 701 may be configured to trigger, according to the reference information of the first MBS session, the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or a radio resource control RRC inactive state.

In an alternative manner, the reference information of the first MBS session includes one or more of the following: priority of the first MBS session, reliability requirement of the first MBS session, time delay of the first MBS session, ARP of the first MBS session, first indication information for indicating that the receiving terminal in idle state or RRC inactive state is allowed to receive service data of the first MBS session, and second indication information for indicating that QoS requirement of the first MBS session is not allowed to be satisfied; the reliability requirement of the first MBS session is the highest reliability requirement in 5QI of QoS flow of the first MBS session; the delay of the first MBS session is the delay with the lowest delay in 5QI of QoS flow of the first MBS session; the ARP of the first MBS session is the ARP of the QoS flow of the first MBS session that is the ARP of the lowest.

In an alternative manner, when the reference information of the first MBS session includes the priority of the first MBS, the processing unit 701 is specifically configured to perform the following operations:

if the priority of the first MBS session is lower than the first preset priority, triggering a first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state; or if the priority of the first MBS session is the lowest among all MBS sessions of the access network equipment, triggering the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

In an alternative manner, when the reference information of the first MBS session includes a reliability requirement of the first MBS session, the processing unit 701 is specifically configured to perform the following operations:

if the reliability requirement of the first MBS session is lower than a first threshold, triggering a first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state; or if the reliability requirement of the first MBS session is the lowest among all MBS sessions of the access network equipment, triggering the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

In an alternative manner, when the reference information of the first MBS session includes a time delay of the first MBS session, the processing unit 701 is specifically configured to perform the following operations:

If the time delay of the first MBS session is higher than a second threshold, triggering a first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state; or if the time delay of the first MBS session is highest in all MBS sessions of the access network equipment, triggering the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

In an alternative manner, when the reference information of the first MBS session includes the ARP of the first MBS session, the processing unit 701 is specifically configured to perform the following operations:

if the ARP of the first MBS session is higher than a third threshold, triggering a first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state; or if the ARP of the first MBS session is highest in all MBS of the access network equipment, triggering the first receiving terminal corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

In an alternative manner, the processing unit 701 is specifically configured to determine that the first receiving end does not have service data transmission other than the service data of the first MBS session.

In an alternative manner, the transceiver unit 702 is further configured to receive reference information from a first receiving end of the session management network element or the unified data management network element, where the reference information of the first receiving end includes one or more of the following: the first receiving end is in the priority in the first MBS conversation, is used for pointing out and allowing the first receiving end to be in idle state or RRC inactive state to receive the third instruction information of the business data of the first MBS conversation; the processing unit 701 is further configured to trigger the first receiving end to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state according to the reference information of the first receiving end.

In an alternative manner, when the reference information of the first receiving end includes the priority of the first receiving end in the first MBS session, the processing unit 701 is further configured to perform the following operations:

if the priority of the first receiving end in the first MBS session is lower than the second preset priority, triggering the first receiving end to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state; or if the priority of the first receiving end in the first MBS session is the lowest among all the receiving ends corresponding to the first MBS session, triggering the first receiving end to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

In an optional manner, the processing unit 701 is configured to trigger, according to the reference information of the first MBS session, before the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session enters the idle state or the RRC inactive state, the processing unit 701 is further configured to determine that the number of terminals in the RRC connected state and receiving service data of the MBS session is higher than a preset value; alternatively, the access network device determines that the number of terminals in the RRC connected state is higher than a preset value.

In an optional manner, before triggering the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter the idle state or the RRC inactive state according to the reference information of the first MBS session, the processing unit 701 is further configured to determine that fourth indication information is not received, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the first receiving end does not allow to receive service data of the first MBS session in the idle state or the RRC inactive state, or indicate that the first receiving end provides a relay service for the first MBS session.

In one embodiment, the processing unit 701 may be configured to obtain reference information of a first MBS session, where the reference information of the first MBS session is used to indicate a characteristic of the first MBS session; the transceiving unit 702 may be configured to send the reference information of the first MBS session to a session management network element or an access and mobility management network element.

In an alternative manner, the reference information of the first MBS session includes one or more of the following: priority of the first MBS session, reliability requirement of the first MBS session, time delay of the first MBS session, ARP of the first MBS session, first indication information for indicating that the receiving terminal in idle state or RRC inactive state is allowed to receive service data of the first MBS session, and second indication information for indicating that QoS of the first MBS session is not allowed to be satisfied; the reliability requirement of the first MBS session is the highest reliability requirement in 5QI of QoS flow of the first MBS session; the delay of the first MBS session is the delay with the lowest delay in 5QI of QoS flow of the first MBS session; the ARP of the first MBS session is the lowest ARP of the QoS flow of the first MBS session.

In an alternative manner, the transceiver unit 702 is further configured to receive an MBS session establishment request, where the MBS session establishment request includes reference information of the first MBS session; or, receiving first MBS session policy information from a policy management network element, wherein the first MBS session policy information comprises reference information of a first MBS session; or, the QoS information of the first MBS session from the application function or the policy management network element is received, so that the processing unit 701 determines the reference information of the first MBS session according to the QoS information of the first MBS session.

In an optional manner, the MBS session establishment request carries reference information of the first receiving end, or the first MBS session policy information includes the reference information of the first receiving end; the first receiving end is one or more of receiving ends corresponding to the first MBS session.

In an alternative manner, the reference information of the first receiving end includes one or more of the following: the first receiving end is in priority in the first MBS session, and is used for indicating the third indication information which allows the first receiving end to be in idle state or RRC inactive state for receiving the service data on the first MBS session.

In an alternative manner, the transceiver unit 702 is further configured to receive identification information from the first receiving end of the session management network element; the processing unit 701 is further configured to send, according to the identification information, reference information of the first receiving end to the session management network element.

In one embodiment, the transceiver unit 702 may be configured to receive reference information of a first receiving end of a first MBS session from the session management network element, where the reference information of the first receiving end is used to indicate a characteristic of the first receiving end; the processing unit 701 may be configured to trigger the first receiving end to enter an idle state or a radio resource control RRC inactive state according to the reference information of the first receiving end.

In an alternative manner, before the processing unit 701 triggers the first receiving end to enter the idle state or the RRC inactive state, the processing unit 701 is further configured to determine that no service data transmission exists at the first receiving end except for the service data of the first MBS session.

In an optional manner, before the processing unit 701 triggers the first receiving end to enter the idle state or the radio resource control RRC inactive state according to the reference information of the first receiving end, the processing unit 701 is further configured to determine that the number of terminals in the RRC connected state and receiving service data of the MBS session is higher than a preset value; alternatively, it is determined that the number of terminals in the RRC connected state is higher than a preset value.

In one embodiment, the processing unit 701 may be configured to obtain reference information of a first receiving end of the first MBS session, where the reference information of the first receiving end is used to indicate a characteristic of the first receiving end; the transceiver unit 702 is configured to send reference information of a first receiving end of a first MBS session to a session management network element.

In an alternative manner, the transceiver unit 702 is further configured to receive an MBS session establishment request, where the MBS session establishment request includes reference information of a first receiving end of a first MBS session; or, receiving first MBS session policy information from the policy management network element, wherein the first MBS session policy information comprises reference information of a first receiving end of the first MBS session.

As shown in fig. 8, a communication device 800 is also provided. The communication device 800 may be a chip or a system-on-chip. The communication device may be located in an apparatus according to any of the above method embodiments, for example, an access network apparatus, or an SMF, etc., to perform an action corresponding to the apparatus.

Alternatively, the chip system may be constituted by a chip, and may also include a chip and other discrete devices.

The communication device 800 includes a processor 810.

A processor 810 for executing computer programs stored in a memory 820 to perform the actions of the various devices in any of the method embodiments described above.

The communication device 800 may also include a memory 820 for storing a computer program.

Optionally, a memory 820 is coupled to the processor 810. Coupling is an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices, units, or modules, which may be in electrical, mechanical, or other form for the exchange of information between the devices, units, or modules. Optionally, the memory 820 is integrated with the processor 810.

The processor 810 and the memory 820 may be one or more, without limitation.

Optionally, in practical applications, the communications apparatus 800 may or may not include the transceiver 830, and the communications apparatus 800 may interact with other devices through the transceiver 830 as indicated by a dashed box. Transceiver 830 may be a circuit, bus, transceiver, or any other device that may be used to interact with information.

In a possible implementation manner, the communication apparatus 800 may be an access network device, or a session management network element, or a multicast/broadcast session management network element in each implementation of the above methods.

The specific connection medium between the transceiver 830, the processor 810, and the memory 820 is not limited in the embodiments of the present application. In the embodiment of the present application, the memory 820, the processor 810 and the transceiver 830 are connected by a bus, which is shown by a thick line in fig. 8, and the connection manner between other components is only schematically illustrated and not limited. The buses may be classified as address buses, data buses, control buses, etc. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is shown in fig. 8, but not only one bus or one type of bus. In the embodiments of the present application, the processor may be a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component, and may implement or execute the methods, steps, and logic blocks disclosed in the embodiments of the present application. The general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor or the like. The steps of a method disclosed in connection with the embodiments of the present application may be embodied directly in a hardware processor for execution, or in a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor for execution.

In the embodiment of the present application, the memory may be a nonvolatile memory, such as a hard disk (HDD) or a Solid State Drive (SSD), or may be a volatile memory (volatile memory), for example, a random-access memory (RAM). The memory may also be any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer, but is not limited to such. The memory in the embodiments of the present application may also be circuitry or any other device capable of implementing a memory function for storing a computer program, program instructions and/or data.

Based on the above embodiments, referring to fig. 9, another communication apparatus 900 is provided in the embodiments of the present application, including: interface circuitry 910 and logic circuitry 920; interface circuit 910, which may be understood as an input/output interface, may be configured to perform the steps of transceiving by each device in any of the above method embodiments, e.g. step 203, a sending step in which the smf sends reference information of the first MBS session to the RAN; logic 920 may be configured to execute code or instructions to perform the methods performed by the devices in any of the above embodiments, which are not described herein.

Based on the above embodiments, the present application further provides a computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause the methods performed by the respective devices in any of the method embodiments described above to be implemented, for example, such that the method performed by the RAN or MB-SMF or SMF in the embodiment shown in fig. 2 is implemented. The computer readable storage medium may include: various media capable of storing program codes, such as a U disk, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory, a random access memory, a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

Based on the above embodiments, the present application provides a communication system, which includes an access network device (e.g. RAN), a session management network element (e.g. SMF) and a multicast/broadcast session management network element (e.g. MB-SMF) mentioned in any of the above method embodiments, and may be configured to perform a method performed by each device in any of the above method embodiments.

In addition, the communication system may further include a terminal device (for example, UE, or the first receiving end), where the terminal device may perform the related method in any of the method embodiments described above by performing data interaction with the access network device and the session management network element.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that embodiments of the present application may be provided as a method, system, or computer program product. Accordingly, the present application may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present application may take the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, and the like) having computer-usable program code embodied therein.

The present application is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to the application. It will be understood that each flow and/or block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of flows and/or blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising:

the access network equipment receives reference information of a first multicast/broadcast service (MBS) session from a session management network element or an access and mobile management network element, wherein the reference information of the first MBS session is used for representing the characteristics of the first MBS session;

and the access network equipment triggers a first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or a Radio Resource Control (RRC) inactive state according to the reference information of the first MBS session.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference information for the first MBS session comprises one or more of: the priority of the first MBS session, the reliability requirement of the first MBS session, the time delay of the first MBS session, the allocation maintenance priority ARP of the first MBS session, first indication information for indicating that a receiving terminal in an idle state or an RRC inactive state is allowed to receive service data of the first MBS session, and second indication information for indicating that the service quality QoS requirement of the first MBS session is not allowed to be met;

wherein the reliability requirement of the first MBS session is the highest reliability requirement in the 5 th generation 5G QoS indicator 5QI of the QoS flow of the first MBS session; the time delay of the first MBS session is the time delay with the lowest time delay in 5QI of QoS flow of the first MBS session; the ARP of the first MBS session is the lowest ARP in the ARP of the QoS flow of the first MBS session.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein when the reference information of the first MBS session includes a priority of the first MBS, the triggering, by the access network device, the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state according to the reference information of the first MBS session, includes:

If the priority of the first MBS session is lower than a first preset priority, the access network equipment triggers a first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state; or alternatively, the first and second heat exchangers may be,

if the priority of the first MBS session is the lowest among all MBS sessions of the access network equipment, the access network equipment triggers a first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

4. A method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein when the reference information of the first MBS session includes a reliability requirement of the first MBS session, the triggering, by the access network device, the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state according to the reference information of the first MBS session, includes:

if the reliability requirement of the first MBS session is lower than a first threshold, the access network equipment triggers a first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state; or alternatively, the first and second heat exchangers may be,

if the reliability requirement of the first MBS session is the lowest among all MBS sessions of the access network equipment, the access network equipment triggers a first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

5. The method according to any one of claims 2-4, wherein when the reference information of the first MBS session includes a time delay of the first MBS session, the access network device triggers, according to the reference information of the first MBS session, a first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state, including:

if the time delay of the first MBS session is higher than a second threshold, the access network equipment triggers a first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state; or alternatively, the first and second heat exchangers may be,

if the time delay of the first MBS session is highest in all MBS sessions of the access network equipment, the access network equipment triggers a first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

6. The method according to any one of claims 2-5, wherein when the reference information of the first MBS session includes ARP of the first MBS session, triggering, by the access network device according to the reference information of the first MBS session, a first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state, includes:

if the ARP of the first MBS session is higher than a third threshold, the access network equipment triggers a first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state; or alternatively, the first and second heat exchangers may be,

If the ARP of the first MBS session is highest in all MBS of the access network equipment, the access network equipment triggers a first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein the first receiving end is one or more of receiving ends corresponding to the first MBS session.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein before the triggering the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state, the method further includes:

the access network device determines that the first receiving end does not have service data transmission except the service data of the first MBS session.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the method further comprises:

the access network device receives reference information of the first receiving end from the session management network element, wherein the reference information of the first receiving end comprises one or more of the following: the priority of the first receiving end in the first MBS session and third indication information for indicating that the first receiving end is allowed to be in an idle state or an RRC inactive state to receive the service data of the first MBS session;

The triggering the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or a radio resource control RRC inactive state includes:

and triggering the first receiving end to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state by the access network equipment according to the reference information of the first receiving end.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein when the reference information of the first receiving end includes a priority of the first receiving end in the first MBS session, the access network device triggers the first receiving end to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state according to the reference information of the first receiving end, including:

if the priority of the first receiving end in the first MBS session is lower than a second preset priority, the access network equipment triggers the first receiving end to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state; or alternatively, the first and second heat exchangers may be,

and if the priority of the first receiving end in the first MBS session is the lowest among all receiving ends corresponding to the first MBS session, triggering the first receiving end to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state by the access network equipment.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein before the access network device triggers the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state according to the reference information of the first MBS session, the method further comprises:

The access network equipment determines that the number of terminals which are in an RRC connection state and receive service data of MBS session is higher than a preset value; or alternatively, the process may be performed,

the access network device determines that the number of terminals in the RRC connected state is higher than a preset value.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1-11, wherein before the access network device triggers the first receiving end corresponding to the first MBS session to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state according to the reference information of the first MBS session, the method further comprises:

the access network device does not receive fourth indication information, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the first receiving end does not allow to receive the service data of the first MBS session in an idle state or an RRC inactive state, or indicate that the first receiving end provides a relay service for the first MBS session.

13. A method of communication, comprising:

the method comprises the steps that a multicast/broadcast session management network element obtains reference information of a first multicast/broadcast service (MBS) session, wherein the reference information of the first MBS session is used for representing the characteristics of the first MBS session;

the multicast/broadcast session management network element sends the reference information of the first MBS session to a session management network element or an access and mobile management network element.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the reference information for the first MBS session comprises one or more of: the priority of the first MBS session, the reliability requirement of the first MBS session, the time delay of the first MBS session, the allocation maintenance priority ARP of the first MBS session, first indication information for indicating that a receiving terminal in an idle state or an RRC inactive state is allowed to receive service data of the first MBS session, and second indication information for indicating that the service quality QoS of the first MBS session is not allowed to be met;

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the multicast/broadcast session management network element obtains reference information of the first MBS session, comprising:

the multicast/broadcast session management network element receives an MBS session establishment request, wherein the MBS session establishment request comprises reference information of the first MBS session; or alternatively, the first and second heat exchangers may be,

The multicast/broadcast session management network element receives the first MBS session policy information from a policy management network element, wherein the first MBS session policy information comprises reference information of the first MBS session; or alternatively, the first and second heat exchangers may be,

the multicast/broadcast session management network element receives the QoS information of the first MBS session from the application function or the policy management network element, and determines the reference information of the first MBS session according to the QoS information of the first MBS session.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the MBS session establishment request carries reference information of a first receiving end or the first MBS session policy information comprises reference information of the first receiving end;

wherein, the first receiving end is one or more of receiving ends corresponding to the first MBS session.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the reference information of the first receiving end includes one or more of: the first receiving end is in priority in the first MBS session and is used for indicating third indication information allowing the first receiving end to be in idle state or RRC inactive state to receive the service data of the first MBS session.

18. The method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the method further comprises:

the multicast/broadcast session management network element receives the identification information of the first receiving end from the session management network element;

the multicast/broadcast session management network element sending the reference information of the first MBS session to a session management network element, including:

and the multicast/broadcast session management network element sends the reference information of the first receiving end to the session management network element according to the identification information.

19. A method of communication, comprising:

the method comprises the steps that an access network device receives reference information of a first receiving end of a first multicast/broadcast service MBS session from a session management network element, wherein the reference information of the first receiving end is used for representing the characteristics of the first receiving end;

and triggering the first receiving end to enter an idle state or a Radio Resource Control (RRC) inactive state by the access network equipment according to the reference information of the first receiving end.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the reference information of the first receiving end includes one or more of: the priority of the first receiving end in the first MBS session and third indication information for indicating that the first receiving end is allowed to be in an idle state or an RRC inactive state to receive the service data on the first MBS session.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein when the reference information of the first receiving end includes a priority of the first receiving end in the first MBS session, the triggering, by the access network device, the first receiving end to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state according to the reference information of the first receiving end includes:

22. The method according to any one of claims 19-21, wherein before the triggering the first receiving end to enter an idle state or an RRC inactive state, the method further comprises:

23. The method according to any of claims 19-22, wherein the access network device triggers the first receiving end to enter an idle state or a radio resource control, RRC, inactive state according to the reference information of the first receiving end, the method further comprising:

24. A method of communication, comprising:

the multicast/broadcast session management network element obtains reference information of a first receiving end of a first multicast/broadcast service MBS session, wherein the reference information of the first receiving end is used for representing the characteristics of the first receiving end;

the multicast/broadcast session management network element sends the reference information of the first receiving end of the first multicast/broadcast service MBS session to the session management network element.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the reference information of the first receiving end includes one or more of: the priority of the first receiving end in the first MBS session, and third indication information for indicating that the first receiving end is allowed to be in an idle state or a Radio Resource Control (RRC) inactive state to receive service data on the first MBS session.

26. The method according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the multicast/broadcast session management network element obtains reference information of a first receiving end of a first MBS session, comprising:

The multicast/broadcast session management network element receives an MBS session establishment request, wherein the MBS session establishment request comprises reference information of a first receiving end of the first MBS session; or alternatively, the first and second heat exchangers may be,

the multicast/broadcast session management network element receives the first MBS session policy information from the policy management network element, wherein the first MBS session policy information comprises reference information of a first receiving end of the first MBS session.

27. The method according to any one of claims 24-26, further comprising:

the multicast/broadcast session management network element sending the reference information of the first receiving end of the first MBS session to the session management network element, including:

28. A method of communication, comprising:

the method comprises the steps that a session management network element receives reference information of a first receiving end of a first multicast/broadcast service MBS session from a multicast/broadcast session management network element or a unified data management network element, wherein the reference information of the first receiving end is used for representing the characteristics of the first receiving end;

And the session management network element sends the reference information of the first receiving end to access network equipment.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the reference information of the first receiving end includes one or more of: the priority of the first receiving end in the first MBS session, and third indication information for indicating that the first receiving end is allowed to be in an idle state or a Radio Resource Control (RRC) inactive state to receive service data on the first MBS session.

30. A communication device, comprising: a functional module to implement the method of any one of claims 1-12, or any one of claims 13-18, or any one of claims 19-23, or any one of claims 24-27, or any one of claims 28-29.

31. A communication device, comprising: at least one processor and memory;

the memory is used for storing a computer program or instructions;

the at least one processor configured to execute the computer program or instructions to cause the method of any one of claims 1-12 or any one of claims 13-18 or any one of claims 19-23 or any one of claims 24-27 or any one of claims 28-29 to be performed.

32. A chip system, the chip system comprising: a processing circuit; the processing circuit is coupled with a storage medium;

the processing circuitry for executing part or all of the computer program or instructions in the storage medium, which when executed, is for implementing the method of any one of claims 1-12 or 13-18 or 19-23 or 24-27 or 28-29.

33. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the method of any one of claims 1-12 or 13-18 or 19-23 or 24-27 or 28-29 to be performed.

34. A computer program product comprising a computer program or instructions which, when run on a computer, causes the method of any one of the preceding claims 1 to 12 or 13 to 18 or 19 to 23 or 24 to 27 or 28 to 29 to be performed.