RU2801116C2 - Communication device and communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: mobile technologies.

SUBSTANCE: invention is proposed to provide the ability of the base station to allocate a radio resource to a TSN network data packet in a scenario in which the TSN network transmits a data packet via a 5G network. For this, it is provided: the device accessing the network receives the first traffic pattern and allocates a radio resource to the first traffic based on the first traffic pattern. The first traffic pattern includes information about the time of the first traffic with respect to the first clock. The first clock is the clock used by the first network. The network access device belongs to the first network. The time information includes the time point and/or the period at which the first traffic data packet arrives at the first network.

EFFECT: ability of the base station to allocate a radio resource to a TSN network data packet in a scenario in which the TSN network transmits a data packet via a 5G network.

23 cl, 15 dwg

Description

The field of technology to which the invention belongs

[0001] This application relates to the field of mobile communication technologies, and in particular, to a communication method and a communication device.

State of the art

[0002] Time sensitive networking (TSN) operates in real time and is deterministic, can guarantee the reliability of the transmission of overhead data, and can also predict end-to-end transmission delay in the data transmission process. Due to these advantages, TSN is widely used in latency-sensitive technical areas, such as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

[0003] At present, in order to implement end-to-end reliable transmission of the TSN network through the mobile communication network 5th generation (5^th generation, 5G) it is proposed to combine the 5G network and the TSN network, and virtualize the 5G network into a switching node in the TSN network. Thus, when data packets from the TSN network arrive in the 5G network, the base station in the 5G network needs to allocate radio resources for the data packets. Since the clock used by the 5G network is incompatible with the clock used by the TSN network, the base station cannot know exactly the point in time at which the TSN network data packets arrive in the 5G network. Therefore, the base station cannot allocate resources to these data packets.

The essence of the invention

[0004] The present application provides a communication method and a communication apparatus for allocating a radio resource to a TSN data packet in a scenario in which the TSN network transmits the data packet via a 5G network by a base station.

[0005] According to a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. In this method, the network access device obtains the first traffic pattern and allocates a radio resource to the first traffic based on the first traffic pattern.

[0006] According to a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. In this method, the terminal receives the second traffic pattern and generates the first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern and the first relationship. The terminal sends the first traffic pattern to the network access device. In addition, the network access device may allocate a radio resource to the first traffic based on the first traffic pattern.

[0007] According to a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. In this method, the core network device sends the second traffic pattern to the network access device and sends the first relationship to the network access device. After receiving the second traffic pattern and the first relationship, the network access device may determine the first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern and the first relationship. In addition, the network access device may allocate a radio resource to the first traffic based on the first traffic pattern. An embodiment of the present application provides another communication method. In this method, the core network device obtains the second traffic pattern and generates the first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern and the first relationship. The core network device sends the first traffic pattern to the network access device. In addition, the network access device may allocate a radio resource to the first traffic based on the first traffic pattern.

[0008] In this embodiment of the present application, the first traffic pattern includes first traffic time information with respect to the first clock, and the first clock is the clock used by the first network. The second traffic pattern includes time information of the first traffic with respect to the second clock, and the second clock is the clock used by the second network. The time information includes the time point and/or the period at which the first traffic data packet arrives at the first network, and the first relationship is the relationship between the first clock and the second clock.

[0009] In embodiments of the present application, the network access device, the terminal, and the core network device may be devices in the first network.

[0010] According to a fourth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, including a unit or means (means) configured to perform the steps in the first aspect, the second aspect, or the third aspect.

[0011] According to a fifth aspect, the present application provides a communication device including at least one processor and a memory. Said at least one processor is configured to perform the method provided in the first aspect, the second aspect or the third aspect.

[0012] According to a sixth aspect, the present application provides a communication device including at least one processor and an interface circuit. Said at least one processor is configured to perform the method provided in the first aspect, the second aspect or the third aspect.

[0013] According to the seventh aspect, the present application provides a communication program. When executed by the processor, the program is used to execute the method according to the first aspect, the second aspect, or the third aspect.

[0014] According to an eighth aspect, a software product, such as a computer-readable storage medium, is provided, including the program according to the seventh aspect.

[0015] It can be recognized that, in the above aspects, the network access device can learn, based on the time information of the first traffic, the point in time at which each data packet of the first traffic arrives at the first network. In addition, the network access device allocates radio resources to traffic based on the time at which each data packet arrives at the first network, so that the radio resources are allocated more correctly. In addition, the time information related to the first traffic obtained by the network access device is time information with respect to the first clock used by the first network, and the network access device belongs to the first network. Therefore, the network access device also uses the first clock. This can solve the inaccurate resource allocation problem because the clock used by the network access device is different from the clock used for first traffic time information.

[0016] In an exemplary implementation, the network access device may obtain the first traffic pattern in the following ways.

[0017] Method 1: The network access device receives the first traffic pattern from the core network device.

[0018] Method 2: The network access device receives the first traffic pattern from the terminal.

[0019] Method 3: The network access device receives the first traffic pattern from another network access device.

[0020] Method 4: The network access device generates the first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern and the first relationship, where the first relationship is the relationship between the first clock and the second clock.

[0021] Based on method 4 in an exemplary implementation, before generating the first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern and the first relationship, the network access device may obtain the second traffic pattern in the following ways.

[0022] Method 1: The network access device receives the second traffic pattern from the core network device.

[0023] Method 2: The network access device receives the second traffic pattern from the terminal.

[0024] Method 3: The network access device receives the second traffic pattern from the network centralized configuration network element, where the network centralized configuration network element belongs to the second network.

[0025] Based on method 4 in an exemplary implementation, before generating the first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern and the first relationship, the network access device may obtain the first relationship in the following ways.

[0026] Method A: The network access device receives the first relationship from the core network device.

[0027] Method B: The network access device obtains the first relationship locally.

[0028] In an exemplary implementation, that the network access device obtains the first relationship locally includes: The network access device determines the first relationship based on the second clock and the first clock.

[0029] In an exemplary implementation, the network access device may periodically receive the first relationship from the core network device.

[0030] In an exemplary implementation, the network access device may further send the first traffic pattern to the target network access device.

[0031] In an exemplary implementation, the network access device may further receive the pre-allocated radio resource from the target network access device and may further send the pre-allocated radio resource to the terminal after receiving the pre-allocated radio resource.

[0032] In an exemplary implementation, the terminal may receive a second traffic pattern from the host network element, and the host network element belongs to the second network.

[0033] In an exemplary implementation, the terminal may determine the first relationship based on the second clock and the first clock. Alternatively, the terminal may receive the first relationship from the adaptation function entity. The adaptation function object is configured to adapt the first network and the second network.

[0034] In an exemplary implementation, the core network device may periodically send the first relationship to the network access device. Alternatively, the core network device periodically determines the first relationship and sends the first relationship to the network access device when the first relationship meets the first condition.

[0035] Optionally, the first condition may be that the change value of the first relationship exceeds the threshold, or the first condition may be that the time interval in which the first relationship is sent reaches the threshold. The threshold value in this application may be an empirical value and is not limited.

[0036] In an exemplary implementation, the core network device may receive a second traffic pattern from the host network element, and the host network element belongs to the second network.

[0037] In an exemplary implementation, the core network device may determine the first relationship based on the second clock and the first clock.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0039] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture to which an embodiment of the present application is applicable;

[0040] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another network architecture to which an embodiment of the present application is applicable;

[0041] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0042] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] FIG. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] FIG. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0049] FIG. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0050] FIG. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0051] FIG. 14 is a schematic structural diagram of a network access device according to an embodiment of the present application; And

[0052] FIG. 15 is a schematic structural diagram of a core network device according to an embodiment of the present application.

Description of Embodiments

[0053] First, some terms in this application are described to provide a better understanding to a person skilled in the art.

[0054] (1) The terminal is also called user equipment (user equipment, UE), mobile station (mobile station, MS), mobile terminal (mobile terminal, MT) and the like, and is a device that provides voice, and/or the ability to connect to data for the user, such as a portable device or a vehicle-mounted device that has a wireless connection function. Currently, examples of some terminals are: mobile phone (mobile phone), tablet computer, laptop, PDA, mobile Internet device (MID), wearable device, virtual reality device (virtual reality, VR), augmented reality (augmented reality, AR), wireless terminal in industrial control (industrial control), wireless terminal in autonomous control (self driving), wireless terminal in remote medical surgery (remote medical surgery), wireless terminal in "smart network" ("smart grid"), a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in a smart city, a wireless terminal in a smart home, and the like.

[0055] (2) A network access device is a radio access network (RAN) node (or device) that connects a terminal to a wireless network, and may also be referred to as a base station. Currently, examples of some RAN nodes are: advanced NodeB (gNB), transmission reception point (TRP), advanced NodeB (evolved Node B, eNB), radio network controller (RNC), NodeB (Node B , NB), base station controller (BSC), base transceiver station (BTS), home eNodeB (for example, home enhanced NodeB or home node B, HNB), base band unit (base band unit , BBU), access point (wireless fidelity, Wifi) and the like. Further, in the network structure, the network access device may include a centralized unit (CU) node, a distributed unit (DU) node, or a RAN device including a CU node and a DU node. A RAN device including a CU node and a DU node separates eNB protocol layers in a long term evolution (LTE) system. The functions of some protocol layers are centrally controlled by the CU, the functions of some or all of the remaining protocol layers are allocated to the DU, and the CU centrally manages the DU.

[0056] (3) a core network device is a device in a core network (CN) that provides terminal service support. Currently, examples of some core network devices are: access and mobility management function (AMF) object, session management function (SMF) object, user plane function (UPF), etc. .p. which are not listed here individually. The AMF entity may be responsible for access control and mobility control of the terminal. The SMF entity may be responsible for session management, such as establishing user sessions and the like. The UPF object can be a functional entity in the user plane and is primarily responsible for connecting to the external network. It should be noted that the entity in this application may also be referred to as a network element or a functional entity. For example, an AMF entity may also be referred to as an AMF network element or an AMF functional entity. In another example, an SMF entity may also be referred to as an SMF network element or an SMF functional entity.

[0057] (4) Two methods for allocating uplink resources are described below. One way is dynamic scheduling. Each time a network device schedules an uplink dynamic grant (DG), the network device indicates information such as the time-frequency position of the scheduled uplink transmission resource through downlink control information (DCI) . For example, the base station may use DCI to notify the terminal to receive data (downlink) in the YYY frequency band at time XXX and to send data (uplink) in the VVV frequency band at time ZZZ. The resource allocated by the base station based on dynamic scheduling is valid once, that is, the resource allocated by the base station to the terminal by the DG can only be used once. Another way is configured grant (CG), which can also be called static/semi-static scheduling. Two configured grant types are currently defined: configured grant type 1 and configured grant type 2. The resource allocated by the base station based on the configured grant is valid multiple times. For example, it is assumed that the base station notifies via a control channel (radio resource control (RRC) signaling, MAC signaling, or physical layer signaling) a terminal to: receive data in frequency band YYY at time XXX, and then receive data ( downlink) in frequency band YYY at time XXX every period T1; and send data in the VVV band at time ZZZ, and then send data (uplink) in the VVV band at time ZZZ every T2 period.

[0058] Based on the above two uplink resource scheduling methods, the scheduled uplink resources can be divided into two types. The uplink resource scheduled by the dynamic scheduling method is called a DG resource, a DG resource or a DG resource. An uplink resource scheduled by a configured grant is called a CG resource, a CG type resource, or a CG. In this application, uplink resource names are not limited.

[0059] When allocating a radio resource to a terminal using configured grant type 1, the base station configures parameters such as configured grant type 1 time-frequency resource location, CG resource period, number of hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) processes, that use a CG resource and a modulation and coding scheme (MCS). The network device provides parameters to the terminal via RRC signaling. After receiving the RRC signaling, the terminal stores the parameters as a configured uplink grant (configured uplink grant), so that the terminal can transmit uplink data using the configured grant.

[0060] When allocating a radio resource to a terminal using configured grant type 2, the base station configures parameters such as a configured grant type 2 CG resource period and the number of HARQ processes that use the CG resource. The network device provides parameters to the terminal via RRC signaling. Parameters such as configured grant type 2 time-frequency resource location and MCS are provided by the network device to the terminal via DCI and stored by the terminal as an uplink configured grant. That is, configured grant type 2 can be activated or deactivated by physical layer (PHY) signaling or layer 1 (L1) signaling. When the network device activates DCI configured grant type 2, the location of the time frequency resource is provided by the network device to the terminal via DCI and stored by the terminal as an uplink configured grant, so that the terminal can transmit uplink data using the configured grant.

[0061] (5) The clock used by the 5G network is the same clock used by all devices/network elements in the 5G network to support timely data transmission in the 5G network. In this application, the same watch is referred to as a watch used by a 5G network, a 5G network watch, or a 5G watch. Accordingly, in embodiments of the present application, a 5G time point is a point in time with respect to a 5G clock, or can be understood as a point in time described by a 5G clock. Accordingly, the clock used by the TSN is the same clock used by all devices/network elements in the TSN to support timely data transmission in the TSN. In this application, the same clock is referred to as TSN clock, TSN clock, or TSN clock. Typically, each network uses its own clock, and the clocks used by networks are different. For example, the clock used on the 5G network is different from the clock used on the TSN network, and different TSN networks use different clocks. Referring to FIG. 1, fig. 1 includes three types of networks: 5G network, TSN 1 network and TSN 2 network. TSN 1 network and TSN 2 network are different TSN networks. Each network type uses an independent clock. In FIG. 1, both TSN network 1 and TSN network 2 can transmit data via 5G network.

[0062] It should be noted that the terms "network" and "system" are usually used interchangeably, but one skilled in the art can understand the meanings of these terms.

[0063] (6) "Multiple" means two or more, and another quantitative indicator is similar to this. The term "and/or" describes association relationships for describing related objects and indicates that three relationships can exist. For example, A and/or B can indicate the following three cases: Only A exists, both A and B exist, and only B exists. numbers does not mean "one or only one", but means "one or more". For example, "device" means one or more such devices. In addition, "at least one (at least one of) ..." means one or any combination of subsequent related objects. For example, "at least one of A, B, and C" includes A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A, B and C.

[0064] It should be noted that in the descriptions of this application, words such as "first" and "second" are used merely for distinction and description and should not be understood as an indication or meaning of relative importance or an indication or meaning of order.

[0065] The present application provides a communication method and a communication apparatus for allowing a base station to allocate a radio resource to a data packet in a TSN. The following describes in detail the technical solutions of the present application with reference to the drawings attached to this description.

[0066] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a network architecture to which an embodiment of the present application is applicable. On FIG. 2 shows a network architecture in which a 5th generation mobile communication network (5th generation, 5th generation, 5G) and a TSN network are combined. In the network architecture, the 5G network is virtualized into a logical switching node (which may also be referred to as a virtual switching node) in the TSN network. The device/network element in the TSN network, such as the TSN switching node/data terminal and the TSN system in FIG. 2 can perform data transmission through the logical switching node. As shown in FIG. 2, in order to integrate the 5G network well into the TSN network, a network-side adaptation function and a terminal-side adaptation function are added between the TSN network and the 5G network. In FIG. 2, an example is used for description: A control plane (CP) of the network-side adaptation function TSN is added to an application function (AF) network element; the user plane (UP) of the network side adaptation function TSN is added to the network element of the user plane function (UPF); and the TSN adaptation function on the terminal side is added to the user equipment (user equipment, UE). The network-side TSN adaptation function control plane, the network-side TSN adaptation function user plane, the terminal-side TSN adaptation function, and the 5G network together form a logical switching node to be used as a switching node on the TSN. Although in FIG. 2, the UPF network element and the network side TSN adaptation function UP are shown separately, and the UE and the terminal side TSN adaptation function are shown separately, in practice, the network side TSN adaptation function UP can be deployed on the UPF network element, or the TSN adaptation function UP on the network side, it may be an internal functional unit of the UPF network element. Accordingly, the TSN adaptation function on the terminal side may be deployed to the UE, or the TSN adaptation function on the terminal side may be an internal function of the UE. The network-side TSN adaptation function CP, the network-side TSN adaptation function UP, and the terminal-side TSN adaptation function are used to adapt the characteristics and information of the 5G network to the information required by the TSN, and communicate with the network element in the TSN through an interface defined by the TSN. Based on the network architecture shown in FIG. 2, in the process in which the TSN network transmits data via the 5G network, the downlink data transmission path can be: TSN system -> TSN network side adaptation function (UP) -> UPF -> a RAN -> UE - > terminal-side TSN adaptation function -> TSN switching node/data terminal; and the uplink data transmission path can be: TSN switching node/data terminal -> terminal side TSN adaptation function -> UE -> RAN -> UPF -> network side TSN adaptation function (UP) -> TSN system.

[0067] It can be understood that in FIG. 2, in the network architecture in which the 5G network and the TSN network are combined, the TSN switching node/data terminal and the TSN system belong to the TSN network, and all nodes except the TSN switching node/data terminal and the TSN system belong to the 5G network.

[0068] It should be noted that the network architecture in FIG. 2 describes an example of 5G network and TSN network convergence. The 5G network in FIG. 2 may alternatively be replaced by another 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), for example, may be replaced by a 4.5G network, 4G network, 3G network, 2G network, future 6G network, or the like. The method presented in the embodiments of the present application may be applicable to a network architecture in which any 3GPP network and TSN network are combined. The method presented in the embodiments of the present application is not limited to the network architecture shown in FIG. 2.

[0069] The functions of network elements in the network architecture shown in FIG. 2.

[0070] For the UE, see the previous explanation (1).

[0071] For RAN, see the previous explanation (2).

[0072] The UPF network element is a functional network element in the user plane, which is mainly responsible for connecting to an external network. The UPF network element includes the related functions of an LTE serving gateway (serving gateway, SGW) and a public data network gateway (PDN-GW), and is mainly responsible for data packet forwarding, charging information statistics, and likes. .

[0073] The AMF network element is responsible for access control and mobility management of the terminal. In an actual application, the AMF network element includes a mobility management function of a mobility management entity (MME) in an LTE network, and further includes an access control function.

[0074] The SMF network element is responsible for session management, such as establishing terminal (UE) sessions.

[0075] The unified data management (UDM) network element is configured to manage user subscription information and is similar to the home subscriber server (HSS) backend in LTE in implementation.

[0076] The main function of the policy control function (PCF) network element is to perform policy control. Similar to the policy and charging rules function (PCRF) network element in LTE, the PCF network element is mainly responsible for policy authorization, quality of service, and charging rules generation, and delivers the corresponding rule to the UPF network element via the SMF network element to complete the installation of the corresponding policy and the corresponding rule.

[0077] The Network Exposure Function (NEF) network element is configured to: provide structure, authentication, and interface that are related to network capability exposure, and transfer information between a 5G system network function and another network function.

[0078] The AF network element may be a third party application management platform or may be an operator device. An AF network element may provide services to multiple application servers. The AF network element is a functional network element that can provide various business services, can interact with the core network through the NEF network element, and can interact with the policy management framework to perform policy management.

[0079] A logical switching node (namely, a node virtualized from a 5G network) is basically configured to perform data or packet forwarding.

[0080] The TSN switching node is basically configured to perform data or packet forwarding. The TSN switch node may additionally have another function, such as a topology discovery function, i.e., determining the switch ID and the switch port ID, as well as supporting a protocol such as the link layer discovery protocol (LLDP). As another example, the switching node TSN may determine the transmission delay and after detecting the internal transmission delay of the switching node, report the detected transmission delay to the network configuration element.

[0081] It should be noted that FIG. 2 does not describe the TSN system in detail. In an actual application, the TSN system may include a network configuration element configured to implement the TSN configuration. For example, the TSN system may include a centralized network configuration (CNC) network element and a centralized user configuration (CUC) network element.

[0082] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another network architecture to which an embodiment of the present application is applicable. Fig. 3 shows another network architecture in which a 5G network and a TSN network are combined. The network architecture includes three TSN nodes: TSN Switch Node/Data Terminal A, Logical Switch Node B (TSN Switch Node virtualized from a 5G system), and TSN Switch Node/Data Terminal C. The TSN network in the network architecture includes a network element with CNC, CUC network element and TSN switching node/data terminal. The network elements included in the 5G network in the network architecture are basically the same as the network elements included in the 5G network in FIG. 2. The difference is that the example in which the RAN is gNB is used in FIG. 3. It should be noted that FIG. 3 only shows an example in which the TSN network architecture includes three TSNs. In a real application, the architecture of the TSN network may include more than three or less than three TSN nodes.

[0083] The functions of network elements in the network architecture shown in FIG. 3.

[0084] The CNC network element is responsible for managing the TSN user plane topology and switching node information, generating the TSN flow path and processing policies at the data terminal and each switching node based on the flow creation request provided by the CUC network element, and delivering the processing policy to switching node to the corresponding switching node.

[0085] The CUC network element is configured to obtain a data terminal TSN capability, i.e., obtain the number of data terminal ports, the medium access control (MAC) address of each port, the 802.1 capability supported by each port, and the like. On this basis, the CUC network element can collect the data terminal stream creation request, after matching the transmitting side stream creation request and the receiving side stream creation request, request the CNC network element to create a TSN stream, and confirm the processing policy generated by the CNC network element. Comparing a sender side create flow request with a receive side create flow request means the following: The transmitting side and the receiving side send a flow create request to the CUC NE, where the flow create request includes some information such as the destination MAC address of the requested TSN flow. The CUC network element performs a mapping between the flow creation request and the flow destination MAC address of the TSN requested by the other data terminal. If the destination MAC addresses of the TSN flows requested by the two data terminals are the same, the TSN flows requested by the two data terminals are the same. In other words, the match succeeds and the TSN flow can be created. Otherwise, a TSN stream cannot be created with only a sender side stream create request or a receive side stream create request.

[0086] It can be understood that the CNC network element and the CUC network element are control plane network elements in the TSN. The AF network element is used as a connection node between the 5G network and the TSN network, and the AF network element can communicate with the CNC network element in the TSN.

[0087] For the functions of the nodes included in the 5G system in FIG. 3, see corresponding descriptions in FIG. 2. The description is again omitted.

[0088] For example, the network architecture shown in FIG. 2 applies to the Industrial Internet of Things. When an Industrial Internet of Things service data packet arrives in the 5G network from a TSN (downlink transmission) system, the RAN in the 5G network needs to allocate the radio resource used for downlink transmission to the data packet. Alternatively, when an IoT service data packet arrives in the 5G network from a TSN/data terminal (uplink transmission), the RAN in the 5G network needs to allocate the radio resource used for uplink transmission to the data packet.

[0089] For example, the network architecture shown in FIG. 3 applies to the Industrial Internet of Things. When an Industrial IoT service data packet arrives in the 5G network from the TSN/data terminal (A) (downlink transmission), the gNB in the 5G network must allocate the radio resource used for downlink transmission to the data packet. Alternatively, when an IoT service data packet arrives in the 5G network from a TSN switching node/data terminal (C) (uplink transmission), the gNB in the 5G network needs to allocate the radio resource used for uplink transmission to the data packet. .

[0090] An Industrial Internet of Things service data packet is generated in a deterministic manner, that is, one data packet or a group of data packets is generated at a fixed time interval. In other words, the point in time at which the Industrial IoT service data packet is generated and the period during which the Industrial IoT service data packet is generated can be predetermined. Therefore, the RAN/gNB can allocate a CG (configured grant, CG) resource to the Industrial Internet of Things service through a radio resource configured CG grant allocation method. To help RAN/gNB allocate CG resource for Industrial IoT service, the following solution can be considered: TSN sends downlink traffic pattern or uplink traffic pattern to 5G network. For downlink transmission, the downlink traffic pattern may include IoT service packet time information. For example, the time information may include a time point at which a data packet arrives at a UPF network element in a 5G network and a period during which a data packet arrives at a UPF network element in a 5G network. For uplink transmission, the uplink traffic pattern may include IoT service burst time information. For example, the time information may include a point in time at which a data packet arrives at a UE in a 5G network and a period during which a data packet arrives at a UE in a 5G network. Since the TSN uses the TSN clock, the downlink traffic pattern or uplink traffic pattern sent by the TSN to the 5G network is the downlink traffic pattern or uplink traffic pattern with respect to the TSN clock. The clock used on the 5G network is different from the clock used on the TSN network. Therefore, the RAN/gNB in the 5G network cannot use the downlink traffic pattern or the uplink traffic pattern that belongs to the TSN clock and is sent by the TSN network to the 5G network. As a result, the RAN/gNB cannot know exactly the times at which Industrial IoT service data packets arrive on the 5G network. Therefore, RAN/gNB cannot allocate resources to data packets.

[0091] Based on the above existing problem, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. According to this method, a network access device in a 5G network can obtain a traffic pattern with respect to the 5G clock, and can determine, based on the traffic pattern with respect to the 5G clock, the times at which data packets in the TSN network arrive in the 5G network. In addition, the network access device can allocate radio resources to data packets in the TSN based on the arrival time of each data packet so that the allocated radio resources are more accurate.

[0092] FIG. 4 shows a communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. The method can be applied to the network architecture shown in FIG. 2 or fig. 3. When the method is applied to the network architecture shown in FIG. 2, the network access device used in the method may be the RAN of FIG. 2, the core network device used in the method may be the UPF of FIG. 2 and the terminal used in the method may be the UE in FIG. 2. When the method is applied to the network architecture shown in FIG. 3, the network access device used in the method may be the gNB of FIG. 3, the core network device used in the method may be the UPF of FIG. 3 and the terminal used in the method may be the UE in FIG. 3. The method presented in the present application is not limited to being applied to the network architecture shown in FIG. 2 or fig. 3 and may also apply to other network architectures. Referring to FIG. 4, the communication method may include the following processing procedure.

[0093] Step 101: The network access device receives the first traffic pattern.

[0094] In this embodiment of the present application, the first traffic pattern includes information about the time of the first traffic with respect to the first hours. The first clock is the clock used by the first network. The network access device belongs to the first network. The time information includes times and/or periods at/in which data packets of the first traffic arrive at the first network.

[0095] The times at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the first network may include the times at which the first first traffic data packets arrive at the first network. The time information of the first traffic with respect to the first clock may be understood as time information related to the first traffic and described by the first clock, or may be understood as time information of the first traffic that uses the first clock. That the network access device belongs to the first network can be understood as that the network access device is a network access device in the first network.

[0096] It should be noted that the values of the first traffic pattern, first clock, first network, and time information associated in the following descriptions of the present application are the same as the values of the first traffic pattern, first clock, first network, and time information here. . Details are not described again when the first traffic pattern, the first clock, the first network, and time information reappear.

[0097] It can be understood that if the method of FIG. 4 applies to the IIoT technology domain, the first traffic in this notice may be an IIoT service.

[0098] In this embodiment of the present application, the first network may be a 3GPP network such as a 5G network, a 4.5G network, a 4G network, a 3G network, a 2G network, or a future wireless communication network. For example, when the first network is a 5G network, the first clock is the clock used by the 5G network or is described as the clock of the 5G network. In another example, when the first network is a 4.5G network, the first clock is the clock used by the 4.5G network or is described as the clock of the 4.5G network. As another example, when the first network is a future wireless communication network, such as a 6G network, the first clock is the clock used by the 6G network or is described as the clock of the 6G network.

[00099] In this embodiment of the present application, an example is used for description: The first network is a 5G network, the first clock is the clock used by the 5G network, and the network access device is a network access device in the 5G network.

[00100] In this embodiment of the present application, the time information of the first traffic with respect to the first hours may correspond to the following three cases.

[00101] In the first case, the time information of the first traffic with respect to the first hours may include the times at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the first network and the periods at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the first network. The first implementation is applicable to the first traffic of any type.

[00102] In the second case, the time information of the first traffic with respect to the first clock may include the times at which the data packets of the first traffic arrive at the first network. The second case may be applicable to the first traffic including a relatively small number of data packets. For example, it is assumed that the first traffic includes one, two, three, or a limited number of data packets. The first traffic timing information with respect to the first hours may only include the times at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the first network and do not include the periods at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the first network. Alternatively, the second case may also be applicable to the first traffic including a data packet.

[00103] In the third case, the time information of the first traffic with respect to the first hours may include the periods in which the data packets of the first traffic arrive at the first network. The third case may be applicable to the first traffic that generates the first data packet at a fixed point in time. For example, it is assumed that the first data packet of the first traffic is generated at a fixed time A. The time information of the first traffic with respect to the first hours may only include the period during which the data packet arrives at the first network. Since the time at which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the first network is fixed, the network access device can determine based on the time at which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the first network and the period during which the first data packet arrives at the first network, the times at which all data packets included in the first traffic arrive at the first network.

[00104] In this embodiment of the present application, when the first traffic is uplink traffic or downlink traffic, there are different understandings that a data packet arrives at the first network.

[00105] For example, when the first traffic is downlink traffic, accordingly, the first traffic pattern (traffic pattern) can be understood as a downlink traffic pattern. In this case, that the data packet arrives at the first network may include that the data packet arrives at the core network device in the first network, for example, the data packet arrives at the UPF network element in the first network. Alternatively, in this case, that the data packet arrives at the first network may include that the data packet arrives at a network access device in the first network, eg, the data packet arrives at the gNB/RAN of the first network.

[00106] For example, when the first traffic is uplink traffic, accordingly, the first traffic pattern can be understood as an uplink traffic pattern. In this case, that the data packet arrives at the first network may include that the data packet arrives at the terminal at the first network. That the data packet arrives at a terminal in the first network may include that the data packet arrives at the application layer of the terminal in the first network, or that the data packet arrives at the access layer of the terminal in the first network.

[00107] In this embodiment of the present application, the method for obtaining the network access device of the first traffic pattern is not limited. Below are four possible implementations.

[00108] Implementation 1: The network access device receives the first traffic pattern from the core network device. For example, the network access device may receive the first traffic pattern from the UPF network element. The core network device may be a core network device that belongs to the same network as the network access device, for example, both the core network device and the network access device belong to the first network. It should be noted that the first traffic pattern obtained based on implementation 1 may be an uplink traffic pattern or a downlink traffic pattern.

[00109] Based on the above implementation 1, in an exemplary implementation, before sending the first traffic pattern to the network access device, the core network device may obtain the second traffic pattern and generate the first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern and the first relationship.

[00110] In this embodiment of the present application, the second traffic pattern includes information about the time of the first traffic with respect to the second clock. The second clock is the clock used by the second network. The time information in the second traffic pattern includes the times and/or periods at/in which the data packets of the first traffic arrive at the core network device in the first network. In other words, the times at which the data packets of the first traffic arrive at the first network, and which are included in the time information in the first traffic pattern generated by the core network device based on the second traffic pattern and the first relationship, are the times at which the data packets of the first traffic arrive at the core network device in the first network.

[00111] In this embodiment of the present application, the time information of the first traffic with respect to the second clock may be understood as time information related to the first traffic and described by the second clock, or may be understood as time information of the first traffic using the second clock. In this embodiment of the present application, the first relationship is the relationship between the first clock and the second clock. For example, the first relationship may indicate the difference between the first clock and the second clock. The first relationship may be that the first clock is X seconds faster than the second clock, or the first relationship may be that the first clock is Y seconds slower than the second clock. It should be noted that the values of the second traffic pattern, second clock or first relationship described below are the same as the values of the second traffic pattern, second clock or first relationship described herein. Details are not described again when the second traffic pattern, the second clock, or the first relationship reappears.

[00112] Based on the above implementation 1, in another possible implementation, before sending the first traffic pattern to the network access device, the core network device may receive the second traffic pattern and generate the first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern, the first relationship and the delay between the core network device. network and a network access device in the first network. In this implementation, the times at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the first network, and which are included in the time information in the generated first traffic pattern, are the times at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the network access device in the first network.

[00113] In this embodiment of the present application, the delay between the core network device and the network access device in the first network may be manually configured or may be obtained by measurement by the core network device. In this application, it is expressly not limited.

[00114] In this embodiment of the present application, the second network may include a TSN network or other delay-sensitive network. For example, when the second network is a TSN, the second clock is the clock used by the TSN, or is described as the clock of the TSN.

[00115] Based on the above possible implementation, the core network device can receive the second traffic pattern as follows: the core network device receives the second traffic pattern from the network centralized configuration network element, where the network centralized configuration network element belongs to the second network. For example, when the second network is a TSN network, the centralized network configuration network element may be a CNC network element. The network architecture shown in Fig. 3 is used as an example. It is assumed that the 5G network in FIG. 3 is the first network, the TSN network is the second network, the core network device is the UPF network element, and the network central configuration network element is the CNC network element. For example, the UPF NE can receive the second traffic pattern from the CNC NE through the following path: CNC NE -> AF NE -> NEF NE -> PCF NE -> SMF NE -> UPF NE. In other words, the CNC network element in the TSN network can send the second traffic pattern to the UPF network element in the 5G network via the AF network element, the NEF network element, the PCF network element, and the SMF network element, which are in the 5G network.

[00116] Based on the above possible implementations, the first relationship may be determined by the core network device based on the second clock and the first clock.

[00117] Implementation 2: The network access device receives the first traffic pattern from the terminal. The terminal may be a terminal that belongs to the same network as the network access device. It should be noted that the first traffic pattern obtained based on implementation 2 is an uplink traffic pattern.

[00118] Based on the above implementation 2, in an exemplary implementation, before sending the first traffic pattern to the network access device, the terminal may obtain the second traffic pattern and generate the first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern and the first relationship. In this implementation, the times at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the first network, and which are included in the time information in the generated first traffic pattern, are the times at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the Terminal.

[00119] Based on the above exemplary implementation, the terminal can obtain the second traffic pattern as follows: The terminal receives the second traffic pattern from the network centralized configuration network element, where the network centralized configuration network element belongs to the second network. For example, when the second network is a TSN network, the centralized network configuration network element may be a CNC network element. The network architecture shown in Fig. 3 is used as an example. It is assumed that the 5G network in FIG. 3 is the first network, the TSN network is the second network, the terminal is the UE, and the network centralized configuration network element is the CNC network element. For example, the UE may receive the second traffic pattern from the CNC NE along the following path: CNC NE -> UE. In other words, the network element with the CNC in the TSN network can directly send the second traffic pattern to the UE in the 5G network via an application layer message.

[00120] Based on the above exemplary implementation, the first relationship may be determined by the terminal based on the second clock and the first clock, or the first relationship may be determined by a terminal-side adaptation function entity based on the second clock and the first clock. The adaptation function object is configured to adapt the first network and the second network. After the first relationship is determined, the terminal-side adaptation function entity may send the determined first relationship to the terminal. For example, the network architecture shown in FIG. 3 is used as an example. The terminal side adaptation function object may be the TSN adaptation function of FIG. 3.

[00121] Implementation 3: A network access device receives a first traffic pattern from another network access device. In a third implementation, the network access device may be a post-handover network access device and may be understood as a destination network access device. The other network access device may be the network access device before the handover and may be understood as the original network access device. When the time at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the first network and which are included in the time information in the first traffic pattern sent by the source network access device to the destination network access device are the times at which the first traffic data packets arrive to the original network access device. When the destination network access device receives the first traffic pattern, by default the times at which the data packets of the first traffic arrive at the first network, and which are included in the time information in the first traffic pattern, are the times at which the data packets of the first traffic arrive at access device to the destination network. Note that the first traffic pattern obtained based on implementation 3 may be an uplink traffic pattern or a downlink traffic pattern.

[00122] Implementation 4: The network access device generates the first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern and the first relationship. Alternatively, the network access device generates the first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern, the first relationship and the delay between the core network device and the network access device. It should be noted that the first traffic pattern obtained based on implementation 4 may be an uplink traffic pattern or a downlink traffic pattern.

[00123] In the above implementation 4, the second traffic pattern can be obtained by the network access device in the following ways.

[00124] Method 1: The network access device receives the second traffic pattern from the core network device. For example, the network access device receives the second traffic pattern from the UPF network element.

[00125] Method 2: The network access device receives the second traffic pattern from the terminal. For example, the network access device receives the second traffic pattern from the UE.

[00126] Method 3: The network access device receives the second traffic pattern from the network centralized configuration network element, where the network centralized configuration network element belongs to the second network. For example, when the second network is a TSN network, the centralized network configuration network element may be a CNC network element. The network architecture shown in Fig. 3 is used as an example. It is assumed that the 5G network in FIG. 3 is the first network, the TSN network is the second network, the network access device is the gNB, and the network centralized configuration network element is the CNC network element. For example, a gNB may receive a second traffic pattern from a CNC NE along the following path: CNC NE -> AF NE -> NEF NE -> PCF NE -> AMF NE -> gNB. In other words, the CNC network element in the TSN network can send the second traffic pattern to the gNB in the 5G network via the AF network element, the NEF network element, the PCF network element, and the AMF network element that are in the 5G network.

[00127] In the above implementation 4, the first relationship can be obtained by the network access device in the following ways.

[00128] Method A: The network access device receives the first relationship from the core network device.

[00129] Based on Method A, a network access device may periodically receive a first relationship from a core network device.

[00130] Based on method A, the core network device may periodically determine the first relationship and send the first relationship to the network access device when the first relationship satisfies the first condition. For example, the first condition may be that the change value of the first relationship exceeds a threshold value. The threshold value may be set manually and may be an empirical value. In this application, it is expressly not limited.

[00131] Method B: The network access device obtains the first relationship locally.

[00132] Based on method B, the network access device determines the first relationship based on the second clock and the first clock.

[00133] For the different ways in which the second traffic pattern and the second relationship are obtained, the above implementation 4 may correspond to the following several implementations.

[00134] In the first implementation based on the decision of the combination of method 1 and method A, the network access device receives the second traffic pattern and the first relationship from the core network device. The network access device generates the first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern, the first relationship and the delay between the core network device and the network access device.

[00135] In a second implementation based on the method 1 and method A combination solution, the network access device receives the second traffic pattern from the core network device. The network access device periodically receives the first relationship from the core network device. The network access device may generate the first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern, the periodically updated first relationship, and the delay between the core network device and the network access device. Compared with the first implementation, in this implementation, the first relationship may be periodically updated, that is, the relationship between the first clock and the second clock may be periodically updated. Thus, the accuracy of the first relationship can be ensured, and the accuracy of the first traffic pattern determined based on the first relationship and the second traffic pattern can also be ensured.

[00136] In a third implementation based on the method 1 and method A combination solution, the network access device receives the second traffic pattern from the core network device. The network access device receives the initial first relationship from the core network device. Subsequently, when the first relationship change value exceeds the threshold value, the core network device sends the changed first relationship to the network access device. The network access device may then generate a first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern, the updated first relationship, and the delay between the core network device and the network access device. Compared to the first implementation, in this implementation, the first relationship can be updated dynamically. Thus, the accuracy of the first relationship can be ensured, and the accuracy of the first traffic pattern determined based on the first relationship and the second traffic pattern can also be ensured. Compared with the second implementation, in this implementation, the first relationship does not need to be updated frequently, so that the signaling overhead can be reduced.

[00137] In the fourth implementation based on the method 2 and method B combination solution, the network access device receives the second traffic pattern from the terminal, obtains the first relationship from the network access device locally, and further generates the first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern, and first relationship.

[00138] In the fifth implementation, based on the decision of the combination of method 3 and method B, the network access device receives the second traffic pattern from the network centralized configuration network element and obtains the first relationship from the network access device locally. When the second traffic pattern is a downlink traffic pattern, the network access device may generate the first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern, the first relationship and the delay between the network access device and the core network device. When the second traffic pattern is an uplink traffic pattern, the network access device may generate the first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern and the first relationship.

[00139] Based on the above first, second, third or fifth implementation, the delay between the core network device and the network access device may be manually configured, may be measured by the core network device and sent to the network access device, may be measured by the network access device , or may be the average of the delays measured by the network access device multiple times. In this application, it is expressly not limited.

[00140] Of course, in addition to the several possible implementations mentioned above, there may be another combined implementation. For example, "Method 2" can be further combined with "Manner A.". Details are not listed separately in this application.

[00141] Step 102: The network access device allocates a radio resource to the first traffic based on the first traffic pattern.

[00142] In this embodiment of the present application, the network access device can allocate to the first traffic, based on the first traffic pattern, a radio resource that satisfies the service requirements of the first traffic, for example, allocate a CG resource whose period is the same as the period in which the overhead occurs.

[00143] For example, the first traffic pattern is a downlink traffic pattern, and that data packets arrive at the first network means that data packets arrive at the network access device in the first network. In this example, the timing information includes times and/or periods at/at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the network access device in the first network. After receiving the first traffic pattern, the network access device may determine, based on the content included in the traffic pattern, the point in time at which each data packet of the first traffic arrives at the network access device, and then may allocate a radio resource for each data packet included in the first traffic. . In this example, the time information includes the time at which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the network access device in the first network and the period during which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the network access device in the first network. It is assumed that the time at which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the network access device is the first time, and the period at which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the network access device is 10 ms. In this case, the network access device may configure the CG resource for the first traffic based on the first time at which the first data packet arrives at the network access device and the period during which the data packet arrives at the network access device. The network access device may allocate to the first data packet of the first traffic the first CG resource corresponding to the first subframe after the first time. In addition, the network access device may configure the CG resource periods as 10 subframes, and each subframe is 1 ms. For example, the network access device may notify, via a control channel (radio resource control (RRC) signaling, MAC signaling, or physical layer signaling) a terminal to: receive the first data packet of the first traffic in frequency band YYY at time XXX, and then receive a data packet of the first traffic in the frequency band YYY at time XXX every 10 ms.

[00144] For example, the first traffic pattern is a downlink traffic pattern, and that data packets arrive at the first network means that data packets arrive at the UPF network element in the first network. In this example, the timing information includes the times and/or periods at/at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the UPF network element in the first network. After receiving the first traffic pattern, the network access device may determine, based on the content included in the traffic pattern, the point in time at which each data packet of the first traffic arrives at the UPF NE, and may then determine, based on the point in time at which each data packet of the first traffic arrives at the UPF network element, and delays between the UPF network element and the network access device, the point in time at which each first traffic data packet arrives at the network access device. In addition, the network access device may allocate a radio resource to each data packet included in the first traffic. It should be noted that in this example, the delay between the UPF network element and the network access device may be pre-configured, may be obtained by the network access device by performing the measurement at one time, may be obtained by the network access device by performing the measurement many times to obtain average value or may be received by the network access device from another device, for example, received from the UPF network element.

[00145] For example, the first traffic pattern is an uplink traffic pattern, and that the data packets arrive on the first network means that the data packets arrive at the terminal on the first network. In this example, the time information includes the times and/or periods at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the terminal in the first network. After receiving the first traffic pattern, the network access device may determine, based on the content included in the traffic pattern, the point in time at which each data packet of the first traffic arrives at the terminal, and then may allocate a radio resource for each data packet included in the first traffic.

[00146] According to the above method provided in this embodiment of the present application, the network access device can allocate radio resources to the first traffic based on the time information of the first traffic, for example, time points and/or periods at/in which data packets of the first traffic arrive to the first network. Thus, the network access device can know, based on the time information of the first traffic, the point in time at which each data packet of the first traffic arrives at the first network. In addition, the network access device allocates radio resources to traffic based on the time at which each data packet arrives at the first network, so that the radio resources are allocated more correctly. In addition, the time information related to the first traffic obtained by the network access device is time information with respect to the first clock used by the first network, and the network access device belongs to the first network. Therefore, the network access device also uses the first clock. This can solve the problem that resource allocation cannot be performed or resource allocation is inaccurate because the clock used by the network access device is different from the clock used associated with the first traffic time information.

[00147] In an exemplary implementation, if the first traffic pattern or the second traffic pattern already exists in the network access device, during the handover process, the network access device may further send the first traffic pattern or the second traffic pattern to the target network access device. It should be noted that the first traffic pattern in this document may be an uplink traffic pattern or a downlink traffic pattern. For ease of description, hereinafter, the network access device before the handover is referred to as the source network access device, and the network access device after the handover is referred to as the target network access device.

[00148] Based on the above implementation, when determining that the source network access device and the target network access device use the same clock, the source network access device may send the first traffic pattern or the second traffic pattern to the target network access device. networks.

[00149] Based on the above implementation, when determining that the source network access device and the target network access device use different clocks, the source network access device may send a second traffic pattern to the target network access device.

[00150] Optionally, the source network access device may send the first traffic pattern or the second traffic pattern to the target network access device via a handover preparation request message.

[00151] Based on the above exemplary implementation, after sending the first traffic pattern to the target network access device, the source network access device may further receive the pre-allocated radio resource from the target network access device and send the pre-allocated radio resource to the terminal. Thus, the target network access device can obtain the first traffic pattern in the handover process, and can further preallocate, in the handover process, a radio resource to the data packet to be transmitted. After the handover is completed, the target network access device can immediately transmit the data packet using the pre-allocated radio resource. Therefore, the time required for resource reconfiguration can be reduced.

[00152] Based on the above exemplary implementation, after the source network access device sends the second traffic pattern to the target network access device, the target network access device may determine the first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern, the first relationship, and the delay between a target network access device and a core network device. It should be noted that regarding how the target network access device obtains the delay between the target network access device and the core network device, see the above description. Details are not described here again.

[00153] In another possible implementation, if the source network access device allocated a radio resource to the first traffic based on the first traffic pattern, during the handover process, the source network access device may send to the target network access device the first difference and information about the radio resources allocated to the first traffic . In addition, the target network access device may pre-allocate a radio resource to the first traffic based on the first difference and information that is related to the radio resource allocated to the first traffic and sent by the source network access device.

[00154] The first difference may include one or more of the following:

[00155] First, the difference between the radio frame numbers of the serving cells of the source network access device and the radio frame numbers of the serving cells of the target network access device. The difference may include the difference between the radio frame number of the source cell and the radio frame number of the target cell. The source cell is one of the serving cells of the source network access device, and the target cell is one of the serving cells of the target network access device.

[00156] Second, the difference between the radio subframe numbers of the serving cells of the source network access device and the radio subframe numbers of the serving cells of the target network access device. The difference may include the difference between the radio subframe number of the source cell and the radio subframe number of the target cell. The source cell is one of the serving cells of the source network access device, and the target cell is one of the serving cells of the target network access device.

[00157] Third, the time difference between the frame boundaries of the serving cells of the source network access device and the frame boundaries of the serving cells of the target network access device. The difference may include the time difference between the frame boundary of the source cell and the frame boundary of the target cell. The source cell is one of the serving cells of the source network access device, and the target cell is one of the serving cells of the target network access device.

[00158] The fourth element is the time difference between the serving cell boundaries of the source network access device and the serving cell boundaries of the target network access device. The difference may include a time difference between a source cell subframe boundary and a target cell subframe boundary. The source cell is one of the serving cells of the source network access device, and the target cell is one of the serving cells of the target network access device.

[00159] In another possible implementation, if the source network access device has allocated radio resources to the first traffic based on the first traffic pattern, during the handover process, the source network access device may send to the target network access device information about the radio resources allocated to the first traffic and the time 5G time corresponding to a particular radio frame or radio subframe of the serving cell of the source network access device. In addition, the target network access device may pre-allocate a radio resource for the first traffic based on information sent by the source network access device.

[00160] It should be noted that the first difference and the 5G time point corresponding to the radio frame or radio subframe of the serving cell of the source network access device are not limited to being sent in the handover process, but may also be sent periodically or aperiodically by the source network access device. After receiving the information, the target network access device may store the information locally and may further use the information in the handover process.

[00161] Described below with reference to FIG. 5 - fig. 9 using an example, the method provided in the embodiment of the present application.

[00162] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of yet another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. In FIG. 5, an example in which the method is applied to the network architecture shown in FIG. 3 is used. The following example is used to describe the method provided in this embodiment of the present application. The first network is the 5G network in FIG. 3, and the first clock is the 5G network clock. The second network is the TSN network and the second clock is the TSN network clock. The first relationship is the relationship between the 5G network clock and the TSN network clock. The first traffic pattern includes first traffic time information with respect to the 5G network clock, and the second traffic pattern includes first traffic time information with respect to the TSN network clock. The timing information includes the times at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the 5G network and the periods at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the 5G network. The network access device is the gNB, the core network device is the UPF network element, and the terminal is the UE. Referring to FIG. 5, the communication method may include the following processing procedure.

[00163] Step 201: The CNC network element sends the second traffic pattern to the UPF network element, and the UPF network element receives the second traffic pattern from the CNC network element. For example, the second traffic pattern received by the UPF NE from the CNC NE includes: The first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the UPF NE at 17:45:32 on March 2, 2019, and then the packet arrives at the UPF NE every 5 seconds. It should be noted that the time information in the second traffic pattern is time information relative to the clock of the TSN. March 2, 2019 5:45:32 pm on TSN network - not March 2, 2019 5:45:32 pm on 5G network.

[00164] It should be noted that in this embodiment of the present application, if the second traffic pattern received/received from the CNC network element is the downlink traffic pattern, the times at which data packets of the first traffic arrive at the first network, and which included in the time information in the second traffic pattern may be the times at which the data packets of the first traffic arrive at the UPF NE. If the second traffic pattern received/received from the CNC network element is an uplink traffic pattern, the times at which the data packets of the first traffic arrive at the first network and which are included in the time information in the second traffic pattern may be the times at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the UE.

[00165] Step 202: The UPF network element determines the first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern and the first relationship. For example, if the first relationship is that the 5G network clock is 5 seconds faster than the TSN network clock, the second traffic pattern includes: An example is used in which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the UPF NE at 17:45: 32 on March 2, 2019, and then the packet arrives at the UPF NE every 5 seconds. In other words, when the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the UPF NE, the time TSN is 17:45:32 on March 2, 2019, and the time relative to the 5G clock is 17:45:37 on March 2, 2019. Therefore, the NE UPF may determine based on the second traffic pattern and the first relationship that the first traffic pattern includes: The first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the UPF NE at the time of the 5G network, that is, 17:45:37 on March 2, 2019, and then a packet arrives at the UPF NE every 5 seconds.

[00166] In this example, after determining the first traffic pattern, the UPF network element may directly send the first traffic pattern to the gNB. The UPF network element may further determine, based on the time at which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the UPF network element and the delay between the UPF network element and the gNB, the time at which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the gNB. The UPF NE may redefine the time and periods at which the first traffic data packets are sent as the new first traffic pattern, and the UPF NE sends the new first traffic pattern to the gNB. For example, if the delay between UPF and gNB is 3 seconds, the first traffic pattern includes: An example where the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the UPF NE at the time of the 5G network, i.e. 17:45:37 on March 2, 2019 . and then a packet arrives at the UPF NE every 5 seconds in use. In this case, the UPF network element may further determine that the new first traffic pattern includes: The first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the gNB at the 5G network time, i.e. 5:45:40 PM March 2, 2019, and then arrives at gNB every 5 seconds.

[00167] In this example, the delay between the UPF NE and the gNB may be preconfigured for the UPF NE, may be measured by the gNB and then sent to the UPF NE, or may be measured by the UPF NE. In this application, it is expressly not limited.

[00168] Step 203: The UPF NE sends the first traffic pattern to the gNB and the gNB receives the first traffic pattern from the UPF NE.

[00169] Step 204: The GNB allocates a radio resource to the first traffic based on the first traffic pattern.

[00170] For example, it is assumed that the UPF network element sends to the gNB the first traffic pattern determined based on the second traffic pattern and the first relationship. After receiving the first traffic pattern, the gNB can determine, based on the delay between the UPF NE and the gNB and the time at which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the UPF NE, the time at which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the gNB. Based on the time at which the first data packet arrives at the gNB and the period during which the first data packet arrives at the gNB, the GNB may determine the times at which all first traffic data packets arrive at the gNB. In addition, the gNB may allocate a radio resource for the first traffic based on the times at which the data packets arrive.

[00171] As another example, it is assumed that the UPF network element sends a new first traffic pattern to the gNB. The new first traffic pattern includes a point in time at which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the gNB and a period during which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the gNB. In addition, the gNB can determine, based on the time at which the first data packet arrives at the gNB and the period during which the first data packet arrives at the gNB, the times at which all first traffic data packets arrive at the gNB. In addition, the gNB may allocate a radio resource for the first traffic based on the times at which the data packets arrive.

[00172] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of yet another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. In FIG. 6, an example in which the method is applied to the network architecture shown in FIG. 3 is used. The following example is used to describe the method provided in this embodiment of the present application. The first network is the 5G network in FIG. 3, and the first clock is the 5G network clock. The second network is the TSN network and the second clock is the TSN network clock. The first relationship is the relationship between the 5G network clock and the TSN network clock. The first traffic pattern includes first traffic time information with respect to the 5G network clock, and the second traffic pattern includes first traffic time information with respect to the TSN network clock. The timing information includes the times at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the 5G network and the periods at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the 5G network. The network access device is the gNB, the core network device is the UPF network element, and the terminal is the UE. Referring to FIG. 6, the communication method may include the following processing procedure.

[00173] Step 301: The CNC network element sends the second traffic pattern to the UPF network element, and the UPF network element receives the second traffic pattern from the CNC network element.

[00174] For description, an example is used in which the second traffic pattern is a downlink traffic pattern. In other words, the times at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the first network, and which are included in the time information in the second traffic pattern, are the times at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the UPF.

[00175] Step 302: The UPF NE sends the second traffic pattern to the gNB and the gNB receives the second traffic pattern from the UPF NE.

[00176] Step 303: The UPF network element sends the first relationship to the gNB, and the gNB receives the first relationship from the UPF network element.

[00177] There may be multiple implementations for step 303, and the present application provides three possible implementations.

[00178] Implementation 1: The UPF NE sends the first relationship to the gNB only once, and then the gNB always uses the first relationship.

[00179] Implementation 2: The UPF network element periodically determines the first relationship based on the specified period, and may periodically send the first relationship to the gNB.

[00180] Implementation 3: The UPF NE first sends the first relationship to the gNB once, and then the UPF NE periodically calculates the first relationship; and when the change in the first relationship exceeds a predetermined threshold, the UPF network element again sends the first relationship to the gNB.

[00181] It should be noted that the sequence in which step 302 and step 303 are performed is not limited in this application. For example, step 302 and step 303 may be performed simultaneously, step 302 may be performed first, or step 303 may be performed first.

[00182] Step 304: The GNB determines the first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern and the first relationship. It can be understood that the times at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the first network, and which are included in the time information in the first traffic pattern determined by step 304, are the times at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the UPF.

[00183] Step 305: The GNB allocates a radio resource to the first traffic based on the first traffic pattern.

[00184] For example, the gNB may determine, based on the time at which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the UPF network element and which is included in the first traffic pattern, and the delay between the UPF network element and the gNB, the time at which the first data packet first traffic arrives at gNB. In addition, the gNB can determine, based on the time at which the first data packet arrives at the gNB and the period during which the first data packet arrives at the gNB, the times at which all first traffic data packets arrive at the gNB. In addition, the gNB may allocate a radio resource for the first traffic based on the times at which the data packets arrive.

[00185] In this example, the delay between the UPF NE and the gNB may be preconfigured for the gNB, may be measured by the gNB, or may be measured by the UPF NE and then sent to the gNB. In this application, it is expressly not limited.

[00186] In this example, there is another implementation for step 304. The GNB determines the first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern, the first relationship, and the delay between the UPF network element and the gNB. It can be understood that the times at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the first network, and which are included in the time information in the first traffic pattern determined using the implementation, are the times at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the gNB. When an implementation is used, the gNB may determine, based on the time at which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the gNB and the period at which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the gNB, the times at which all first traffic data packets arrive at the gNB, where time point and period are included in the first traffic pattern. In addition, the gNB may allocate a radio resource for the first traffic based on the times at which the data packets arrive.

[00187] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of yet another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. In FIG. 7, an example in which the method is applied to the network architecture shown in FIG. 3 is used. The following example is used to describe the method provided in this embodiment of the present application. The first network is the 5G network in FIG. 3, and the first clock is the 5G network clock. The second network is the TSN network and the second clock is the TSN network clock. The first relationship is the relationship between the 5G network clock and the TSN network clock. The first traffic pattern includes first traffic time information with respect to the 5G network clock, and the second traffic pattern includes first traffic time information with respect to the TSN network clock. The timing information includes the times at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the 5G network and the periods at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the 5G network. The network access device is the gNB, the core network device is the UPF network element, and the terminal is the UE. Referring to FIG. 7, the communication method may include the following processing procedure.

[00188] Step 401: The GNB receives the second traffic pattern.

[00189] For example, a gNB may receive a second traffic pattern from a CNC network element. The second traffic pattern may include a time point at which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the UPF network element and a period at which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the UPF network element.

[00190] In another example, a gNB may receive a second traffic pattern from a UPF network element. The second traffic pattern may include a time point at which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the UPF/gNB network element and a period at which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the UPF/gNB network element.

[00191] In another example, the gNB may receive a second traffic pattern from the UE. The second traffic pattern may include a time point at which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the UE and a period at which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the UE.

[00192] Step 402: The GNB receives the first relationship.

[00193] For example, gNB determines the first relationship based on the first clock and the second clock.

[00194] As another example, the gNB receives the first relationship from the UPF network element.

[00195] In another example, the gNB receives the first relationship from the UE.

[00196] It should be noted that the sequence in which step 401 and step 402 are performed is not limited in this application. For example, step 401 and step 402 may be performed simultaneously, step 401 may be performed first, or step 402 may be performed first.

[00197] Step 403: The GNB determines the first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern and the first relationship.

[00198] Step 404: The GNB allocates a radio resource to the first traffic based on the first traffic pattern.

[00199] For example, for downlink transmission, the gNB may determine, based on the time at which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the UPF network element and which is included in the first traffic pattern, and the delay between the UPF network element and the gNB, the time , in which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the gNB. In addition, the gNB can determine, based on the time at which the first data packet arrives at the gNB and the period during which the first data packet arrives at the gNB, the times at which all first traffic data packets arrive at the gNB. In addition, the gNB may allocate a radio resource for the first traffic based on the times at which the data packets arrive.

[00200] As another example, for uplink transmission, the gNB may determine, based on the time at which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the UE and the period during which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the UE, the times in which all data packets of the first traffic arrive at the UE, where the time and period are included in the first traffic pattern. In addition, the gNB may allocate a radio resource for the first traffic based on the times at which the data packets arrive.

[00201] As another example, for downlink transmission, the gNB may determine, based on the time at which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the gNB and the period during which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the gNB, the times in which all data packets of the first traffic arrive at the gNB, where the time and period are included in the first traffic pattern. In addition, the gNB may allocate a radio resource for the first traffic based on the times at which the data packets arrive.

[00202] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of yet another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. In FIG. 8, an example in which the method is applied to the network architecture shown in FIG. 3 is used. The following example is used to describe the method provided in this embodiment of the present application. The first network is the 5G network in FIG. 3, and the first clock is the 5G network clock. The second network is the TSN network and the second clock is the TSN network clock. The first relationship is the relationship between the 5G network clock and the TSN network clock. The first traffic pattern includes first traffic time information with respect to the 5G network clock, and the second traffic pattern includes first traffic time information with respect to the TSN network clock. The timing information includes the times at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the 5G network and the periods at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the 5G network. The network access device is the gNB, the core network device is the UPF network element, and the terminal is the UE. Referring to FIG. 8, the communication method may include the following processing procedure.

[00203] Step 501: The CNC NE sends the second traffic pattern to the UE, and the UE receives the second traffic pattern from the CNC NE. For description, an example is used in which the second traffic pattern is an uplink traffic pattern. In other words, the times at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the first network, and which are included in the time information in the second traffic pattern, are the times at which the first traffic data packets arrive at the UE.

[00204] For example, the CNC network element may send the second traffic pattern to the UE using the TSN adaptation function on the UE side.

[00205] Step 502: The UE determines the first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern and the first relationship.

[00206] In this example, the UE may determine the first relationship based on the first clock and the second clock, or may obtain the first relationship from the TSN adaptation function on the UE side.

[00207] In this example, when the CNC sends the second traffic pattern to the UE using the UE-side TSN adaptation function, the UE-side TSN adaptation function may also determine the first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern and the first relationship. After determining the first traffic pattern, the TSN adaptation function on the UE side may send the first traffic pattern to the UE.

[00208] Step 503: The UE sends the first traffic pattern to the gNB, and the gNB receives the first traffic pattern from the UE.

[00209] In this example, both the first traffic pattern and the second traffic pattern are uplink traffic patterns.

[00210] Step 504: The GNB allocates a radio resource to the first traffic based on the first traffic pattern.

[00211] The following example is used: The second traffic pattern includes that the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the UE at 17:45:32 on March 2, 2019, and then the packet arrives at the UE every 5 seconds; and the first relationship is that the 5G network clock is 5 seconds faster than the TSN network clock. The UE may determine based on the second traffic pattern and the first relationship that the first traffic pattern includes that the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the UE at 17:45:37 on March 2, 2019, and then the data packet arrives at the UE every 5 second. The UE sends the first traffic pattern to the gNB. Based on the time at which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the UE and the period during which the first data packet of the first traffic arrives at the UE, the GNB may determine the times at which all data packets of the first traffic arrive at the UE, where the time time and period are included in the first traffic pattern. In addition, the gNB may allocate a radio resource for the first traffic based on the times at which the data packets arrive.

[00212] An example is used in which the network access device related to embodiments of the present application is the source network access device to the source. After the source network access device receives the first traffic pattern or the second traffic pattern using the method provided in the embodiments of the present application, in the handover process, the source network access device may send the first traffic pattern or the second traffic pattern to the target access device. to the network via a handover preparation request. An example is used for description below.

[00213] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of yet another communication method according to an embodiment of the present application. In FIG. 9, an example is used for description in which the network access device is a base station. In other words, an example in which the source network access device associated with this application is the source base station and the target network access device is the target base station is used to describe the method provided in this embodiment of the present application. Referring to FIG. 9, the communication method may include the following processing procedure.

[00214] Step 601: The terminal sends a measurement report to the source base station, and the source base station receives the measurement report from the terminal.

[00215] Step 602: The source base station sends a handover preparation request to the target base station, and the target base station receives the handover preparation request from the source base station. The handover preparation request may include a first traffic pattern or a second traffic pattern. After receiving the measurement report sent by the terminal, if determining that the signal quality of the target base station's serving cell is better than the signal quality of the source base station's serving cell, the source base station may decide to send the terminal to the target base station's serving cell and may further send a request preparing a handover to the target base station.

[00216] In an exemplary implementation, upon determining that the source base station and the target base station are using the same clock, the source base station may add a first traffic pattern or a second traffic pattern to a handover preparation request sent to the target base station.

[00217] In another possible implementation, upon determining that the source base station and the target network access device are using different clocks, the source base station may add a second traffic pattern to a handover preparation request sent to the target base station.

[00218] In this example, if the source base station has allocated a radio resource to the first traffic based on the first traffic pattern, in the handover process, the source base station can send information about the radio resource allocated to the first traffic to the target base station via a handover preparation request. In addition, the target base station may preallocate a radio resource for the first traffic based on the second difference and the information sent by the source base station. The radio resource information allocated to the first traffic may include a radio frame number in which the radio resource allocated to the first traffic is located, a radio subframe number in which the radio resource allocated to the first traffic is located, and the like.

[00219] The second difference may include one or more of the following.

[00220] The first element is the difference between the radio frame number of the source cell and the radio frame number of the target cell.

[00221] The second element is the difference between the radio subframe number of the source cell and the radio subframe number of the target cell.

[00222] The third element is the time difference between the frame boundary of the source cell and the frame boundary of the target cell.

[00223] The fourth element is the time difference between the source cell subframe boundary and the target cell subframe boundary.

[00224] In this embodiment, the source cell is one of the serving cells of the source base station, and the target cell is one of the serving cells of the target base station.

[00225] Optionally, the second difference may be pre-stored in the target base station, may be obtained by the target base station from another device, such as obtained from the source base station, or may be obtained by calculation by the target base station. In this application, it is expressly not limited. When the target base station receives the second difference from the source base station, the target base station may receive the second difference in a handover process, or may receive the second difference in another process. In this application, it is expressly not limited.

[00226] For example, the difference between the radio frame number of the source cell and the radio frame number of the target cell, or the difference between the radio subframe number of the source cell and the radio subframe number of the target cell is obtained by calculation by the target base station. The target base station can obtain from the source base station a 5G time point corresponding to a radio frame whose SFN is X and which belongs to the source cell. The target base station may output a radio frame that belongs to the target base station and corresponds to the 5G time point. In addition, the target base station may calculate the difference between the radio frame number of the source cell and the radio frame number of the target cell, or the difference between the radio subframe number of the source cell and the radio subframe number of the target cell.

[00227] In an exemplary implementation, the radio resource reserved by the target base station in the target cell may be the same as the radio resource allocated by the source cell. For example, if the source base station allocates to the first traffic a radio resource whose subframe number is YYYY and which is in a radio frame whose radio frame number is XXX and the radio frame number of the target cell is 2 greater than the radio frame number of the source cell, the target base station may reserve for the first traffic, a radio resource whose subframe number is YYYY and which is in a radio frame whose radio frame number is XXX+2.

[00228] Step 603: The target base station sends a handover preparation response to the source base station, and the source base station receives a handover preparation response from the target base station. The handover preparation response includes a preallocated radio resource.

[00229] Since both the target base station and the source base station use a common "5G network clock", after receiving the first traffic pattern sent by the source base station, the target base station can pre-allocate a radio resource to the terminal based on the 5G network clock supported by the target base station . In addition, the target base station may add a preallocated radio resource to the handover preparation response sent to the source base station. Alternatively, after receiving the second traffic pattern sent by the source base station, the target base station may determine the first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern, the first relationship and the delay between the target base station and the core network device. It should be noted that for information on how the target base station obtains the delay between the target base station and the core network device, refer to the previous description. Details are not described here again.

[00230] Step 604: The source base station sends a handover command to the terminal, and the terminal receives the handover command from the source base station. The handover command carries a preallocated radio resource. The preallocated radio resource may include one or more sets of uplink resources and/or downlink resources. For example, the preallocated radio resource may include the ZZZ symbol radio resource on the VVV subband in the YYYY subframe of the XXX radio frame of the serving cell of the target base station, as well as the subcarrier spacing, CP, MCS, pilot parameter, and the like, which are used for data transmission. .

[00231] After the terminal receives the pre-allocated radio resource, once the terminal establishes a connection with the target base station and determines the radio frame number and the radio subframe number of the serving cell of the target base station, the terminal can use the pre-allocated radio resource to transmit data with the target base station. See steps 605 to 607.

[00232] Step 605: The terminal performs random access to access the target base station.

[00233] Step 606: The terminal receives, using the preallocated radio resource, the downlink data sent by the target base station.

[00234] Step 607: The terminal sends uplink data to the target base station using the preallocated radio resource.

[00235] The foregoing mainly describes the solutions presented in the embodiments of the present application in terms of interaction between a network access device and a terminal or interaction between a network access device and a core network device. It can be understood that, in order to implement the above functions, the network access device, the terminal, and the core network device include hardware structures and/or software modules corresponding to the functions. With regard to the blocks and steps of the algorithm described in the embodiments disclosed in this application, the embodiments of the present application may be implemented in the form of hardware or hardware and computer software. The performance of a function by hardware or hardware controlled by computer software depends on particular applications and design constraints of the technical solutions. A person skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each particular application, but it should not be considered that the implementation is beyond the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application.

[00236] In embodiments of the present application, separation of functional units can be performed on the network access device, the terminal, and the core network device based on the above example methods. For example, each function block may be obtained by dividing based on a corresponding function, or two or more functions may be integrated into one processing block. An integrated block may be implemented in hardware or may be implemented in a software function block.

[00237] Based on the same inventive concept, embodiments of the present application further provide a device configured to implement any of the above methods. For example, a device is provided and includes blocks (or means) configured to implement steps performed by a network access device in any of the above methods. As another example, another device is further provided, including units (or means) configured to implement steps performed by a terminal in any of the above methods. As another example, another device is further provided, including units (or means) configured to implement the steps performed by the core network device in any of the aforementioned methods.

[00238] In a possible implementation, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device 1000. The communication device 1000 may be applied to a network access device. Fig. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 1000 according to an embodiment of the present application. Referring to FIG. 10, communication device 1000 may include an acquisition unit 1001 and a processing unit 1002. In an implementation, the communication device 1000 may further include a receive block 1003 and a send block 1004. Obtainer 1001 may be configured to receive the first traffic pattern. The processing unit 1002 may be configured to allocate a radio resource to the first traffic based on the first traffic pattern.

[00239] In another possible implementation, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device 1100. Communication device 1100 may be applied to a terminal. Fig. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 1100 according to an embodiment of the present application. Referring to FIG. 11, the communication device 1100 may include a receiving block 1101, a processing block 1102, and a sending block 1103. In an implementation, communication device 1100 may further include a receive unit 1104. Obtainer 1101 may be configured to receive a second traffic pattern. Processing unit 1102 may be configured to generate a first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern and the first relationship. The sender 1103 may be configured to send the first traffic pattern to the network access device.

[00240] In yet another possible implementation, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication device 1200. Communication device 1200 may be applied to a core network device. Fig. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 1200 according to an embodiment of the present application. Referring to FIG. 12, communication device 1200 may include a receiving block 1201, a processing block 1202, and a sending block 1203. In an implementation, communication device 1200 may further include a receive unit 1204. Obtainer 1201 may be configured to receive a second traffic pattern. Processing unit 1202 may be configured to generate a first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern and the first relationship. The sender 1203 may be configured to send the first traffic pattern to the network access device or terminal.

[00241] The first traffic pattern includes first traffic time information with respect to the first clock, and the first clock is the clock used by the first network. The second traffic pattern includes time information of the first traffic with respect to the second clock, and the second clock is the clock used by the second network. The time information includes the time point and/or the period at which the first traffic data packet arrives at the first network, and the first relationship is the relationship between the first clock and the second clock.

[00242] In embodiments of the present application, the network access device, the terminal, and the core network device may be devices in the first network.

[00243] In an exemplary implementation, the receiving unit 1003 may be configured for a network access device to receive a first traffic pattern from a core network device, receive a first traffic pattern from a terminal, or receive a first traffic pattern from another network access device.

[00244] In an exemplary implementation, processing unit 1002 may generate a first traffic pattern based on a second traffic pattern and a first relationship.

[00245] In an exemplary implementation, the receiving unit 1003 may be configured to receive a second traffic pattern from a core network device, receive a second traffic pattern from a terminal, or receive a second traffic pattern from a centralized network configuration network element. The network element of the centralized network configuration belongs to the second network.

[00246] In an exemplary implementation, receive block 1003 may be configured to receive a first relationship from a core network device.

[00247] In an exemplary implementation, the acquisition block 1001 is configured to acquire the first relationship locally.

[00248] In an exemplary implementation, the processing unit 1002 determines the first relationship based on the second clock and the first clock.

[00249] In an exemplary implementation, the receiving unit 1003 may periodically receive a first relationship from a core network device.

[00250] In an exemplary implementation, the sender 1004 may further send the first traffic pattern to the target network access device.

[00251] In an exemplary implementation, the receiving unit 1003 may receive a preallocated radio resource from a target network access device. Based on this implementation, sender 1004 may further send a pre-allocated radio resource to the terminal.

[00252] In an exemplary implementation, the receive unit 1104 may receive a second traffic pattern from the host network element, and the host network element belongs to the second network.

[00253] In an exemplary implementation, processing unit 1102 may determine the first relationship based on the second clock and the first clock.

[00254] In an exemplary implementation, receive block 1104 may receive a first relationship from an adaptation function entity. The adaptation function object is configured to adapt the first network and the second network.

[00255] In an exemplary implementation, the sender 1203 may periodically send the first relationship to the network access device.

[00256] In an exemplary implementation, the processing block 1202 periodically determines the first relationship and sends the first relationship to the network access device via the send block 1203 when the first relationship satisfies the first condition.

[00257] Optionally, the first condition may be that the change value of the first relationship exceeds the threshold, or the first condition may be that the time interval in which the first relationship is sent reaches the threshold. The threshold value in this application may be an empirical value and is not limited.

[00258] In an exemplary implementation, the receive unit 1204 may receive a second traffic pattern from the host network element, and the host network element belongs to the second network.

[00259] In an exemplary implementation, processing unit 1202 may determine the first relationship based on the second clock and the first clock.

[00260] It should be understood that the division into blocks in the above devices is simply a logical separation of functions. In a real implementation, all or some of the blocks may be integrated into the physical object, or may be physically separate. In addition, all blocks in the devices may be implemented in software called by the processing element, or may be implemented in hardware; or some of the blocks may be implemented in the form of software called by the processing element and some of the blocks may be implemented in hardware. For example, each block may be an independently located processing element or may be integrated into a device chip for implementation. Alternatively, each block may be stored in memory in the form of a program that must be called by a device processing element to perform the function of the block. In addition, all or some of the blocks may be combined together or may be implemented independently. The processing element herein may also be referred to as a processor and may be an integrated circuit having signal processing capability. In the implementation process, the steps in the above methods or the above blocks may be implemented using the hardware integrated logic circuit of the processor element, or may be implemented in the form of software called by the processing element.

[00261] In one example, a block in any of the above devices may be one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the above methods, for example, one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), one or more microprocessors (digital signal processor, DSP), one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or a combination of at least two of these types of integrated circuits. In another example, when a block in a device is implemented by a program scheduled by a processing element, that processing element may be a general purpose processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) or other processor that can call the program. As another example, blocks can be integrated and implemented in the form of a system-on-a-chip (SOC).

[00262] The above receiving unit is a device interface circuit and is configured to receive a signal from another device. For example, when the device is implemented as a chip, the receiving unit is an interface circuit that is a chip and is configured to receive a signal from another chip or device. The above send block is a device interface circuit and is configured to send a signal to another device. For example, when a device is implemented as a chip, the send block is an interface circuit that belongs to the chip and is configured to send a signal to another chip or device.

[00263] The network access device communicates with the terminal using an interface protocol between the network access device and the terminal, such as receiving a first traffic pattern, a second traffic pattern, or a first relationship. The network access device is connected to the terminal via a wireless communication, and the network access device communicates with the terminal via the wireless interface, for example, receives the first traffic pattern, the second traffic pattern, or the first relationship. The network access device communicates with the core network device using an interface protocol between the network access device and the core network device, such as receiving a first traffic pattern, a second traffic pattern, or a first relationship. The network access device is wirelessly connected to the core network device, and the network access device communicates with the core network device via the wireless interface, such as receiving the first traffic pattern, the second traffic pattern, or the first relationship.

[00264] FIG. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal according to an embodiment of the present application. The terminal may be the terminal in the above embodiments, and is configured to implement terminal operations in the above embodiments. As shown in FIG. 13, the terminal includes an antenna 1301, a radio frequency portion 1302, and a signal processing portion 1303. The antenna 1301 is connected to the RF part 1302. In the downlink direction, the RF part 1302 receives information sent by the network device via the antenna 1301 and sends the information sent by the network device to the signal processing part 1303 for processing. In the uplink direction, the signal processing part 1303 processes the information from the terminal and sends the information to the RF part 1302. The RF part 1302 processes the information from the terminal and then sends the processed information to the network device using the antenna 1301.

[00265] Part 1303 signal processing may include a modem subsystem configured to process data at each level of the communication protocol. The signal processing portion 1303 may further include a central processing subsystem configured to implement terminal operating system and application layer processing. Moreover, the signal processing portion 1303 may further include another subsystem, such as a multimedia subsystem or a peripheral subsystem. The multimedia subsystem is configured to control the camera or screen of the terminal, and the peripheral subsystem is configured to implement a connection with another device. The modem subsystem may be a separate chip. Optionally, the aforementioned device used for the terminal may be located in the modem subsystem.

[00266] The modem subsystem may include one or more processing elements 13031, such as one main control CPU and another integrated circuit. In addition, the modem subsystem may further include a storage element 13032 and an interface circuit 13033. The storage element 13032 is configured to store data and a program. However, the program used to execute the methods executed by the terminal in the above methods may not be stored in the storage element 13032, but stored in memory outside the modem subsystem, downloaded and used by the modem subsystem when it should be used. The interface circuit 13033 is configured to communicate with another subsystem. The above device used for the terminal may be located in the modem subsystem. The modem subsystem may be implemented using a chip. The chip includes at least one processing element and an interface circuit. The processing element is configured to perform the steps of any method performed by the terminal. The interface circuit is configured to communicate with another device. In an implementation, the terminal blocks that implement the steps in the above methods may be implemented by a program scheduling processing element. For example, an apparatus applied to a terminal includes a processing element and a storage element. The processing element calls the program stored in the storage element to execute the methods executed by the terminal in the above method embodiments. The storage element may be a storage element located on the same chip as the processing element, that is, an on-chip storage element.

[00267] In another implementation, the program used to perform the methods executed by the terminal in the above methods may reside in an on-chip storage element other than the processing element, namely an off-chip storage element. In this case, the processing element calls or downloads a program from the off-chip storage element to the on-chip storage element to call and execute the methods performed by the terminal in the above method embodiments.

[00268] In yet another implementation, the blocks that implement the steps in the above methods and that reside in the device applied to the terminal may be configured as one or more processing elements. These processing elements are located in the modem subsystem. Here, the processing element may be an integrated circuit, such as one or more ASICs, one or more DSPs, one or more FPGAs, or a combination of these types of integrated circuits. These integrated circuits can be combined together to form a microchip.

[00269] The terminal blocks that implement the steps in the above methods can be combined together and implemented in the form of a system-on-a-chip (SOC). The SOC chip is configured to implement the above methods. At least one processing element and a storage element may be integrated into the chip, and the processing element calls the program stored in the storage element to implement the above methods executed by the terminal. Alternatively, at least one integrated circuit may be integrated into the chip to implement the aforementioned methods performed by the terminal. Alternatively, with reference to the above implementations, the functions of some blocks may be implemented by the processing element calling the program, and the functions of some blocks may be implemented by an integrated circuit.

[00270] It can be recognized that the above apparatus applied to a terminal may include at least one processing element and an interface circuit. Said at least one processing element is configured to perform any method performed by the terminal provided in the above method embodiments. The processing element may perform some or all of the steps performed by the terminal in the first place, namely, by calling a program stored in the storage element; or may perform some or all of the steps performed by the terminal in a second manner, namely using a hardware integrated logic circuit in a processor element in conjunction with an instruction; or, of course, may perform, by combining the first method and the second method, some or all of the steps performed by the terminal.

[00271] As described above, a processing element herein may be a general purpose processor, such as a CPU, or may be one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the above methods, such as one or more ASICs, one or more DSP microprocessors, one or multiple FPGAs or a combination of at least two integrated circuits.

[00272] A storage element may be a single storage device or may be a generic term for multiple storage elements.

[00273] FIG. 14 is a schematic structural diagram of a network access device according to an embodiment of the present application. The network device is configured to implement the operations of the network access device in the above embodiments. As shown in FIG. 14, the network access device includes an antenna 1401, a radio frequency device 1402, and a baseband device 1403. The antenna 1401 is connected to the RF device 1402. In the uplink direction, the RF device 1402 receives, using the antenna 1401, the information sent by the terminal and sends the information sent by the terminal to the baseband device 1403 for processing. In the downlink direction, the baseband device 1403 processes the information from the terminal and sends the information to the RF device 1402. The RF device 1402 processes the information from the terminal and then sends the processed information to the terminal using the antenna 1401.

[00274] Baseband device 1403 may include one or more processing elements 14031, such as one main control CPU and another integrated circuit. In addition, the baseband device 1403 may further include a storage element 14032 and an interface circuit 14033. The storage element 14032 is configured to store program and data. The interface circuit 14033 is configured to communicate with the RF device 1402, and the interface circuit is, for example, a common public radio interface (CPRI). The above device applied to the network access device may be located in the baseband device 1403. For example, the above device applied to the network access device may be a chip in the baseband device 1403. The chip includes at least one processing element and an interface circuit. The processing element is configured to perform the steps of any method performed by the network access device. The interface circuit is configured to communicate with another device. In an implementation, the network access device blocks that implement the steps in the above methods may be implemented by a program scheduling processing element. For example, a device applied to a network access device includes a processing element and a storage element. The processing element calls the program stored in the storage element to execute the methods performed by the network access device in the above method embodiments. The storage element may be a storage element located on the same chip as the processing element, i.e., an on-chip storage element, or may be a storage element located on a chip different from the processing element, i.e., an off-chip storage element.

[00275] In another implementation, the blocks that implement the steps in the above methods and that reside in the device applied to the network access device may be configured as one or more processing elements. These processing elements are located in the baseband device. Here, the processing element may be an integrated circuit, such as one or more ASICs, one or more DSPs, one or more FPGAs, or a combination of these types of integrated circuits. These integrated circuits can be combined together to form a microchip.

[00276] Network access device blocks that implement the steps in the above methods can be combined together and implemented in the form of a system-on-a-chip (SOC). For example, the baseband device includes an SOC chip configured to implement the above methods. At least one processing element and a storage element may be integrated into the chip, and the processing element calls the program stored in the storage element to implement the above methods performed by the network access device. Alternatively, at least one integrated circuit may be integrated into the chip to implement the above methods performed by the network access device. Alternatively, with reference to the above implementations, the functions of some blocks may be implemented by the processing element calling the program, and the functions of some blocks may be implemented by an integrated circuit.

[00277] It can be recognized that the above apparatus applied to a network access device may include at least one processing element and an interface circuit. Said at least one processing element is configured to perform any method performed by the network access device provided in the above method embodiments. The processing element may perform some or all of the steps performed by the network access device in the first place, namely, by calling a program stored in the storage element; or may perform some or all of the steps performed by the network access device in a second manner, namely using a hardware integrated logic circuit in the processing element in conjunction with an instruction; or, of course, may perform, by combining the first method and the second method, some or all of the steps performed by the network access device.

[00278] As described above, a processing element herein may be a general purpose processor, such as a CPU, or may be one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the above methods, such as one or more ASICs, one or more DSP microprocessors, one or multiple FPGAs or a combination of at least two integrated circuits.

[00279] A storage element may be a single storage device or may be a generic term for multiple storage elements.

[00280] FIG. 15 is a schematic structural diagram of a core network device according to an embodiment of the present application. The core network device may be the core network device in the above embodiments, and configured to implement the operations of the core network device in the above embodiments.

[00281] As shown in FIG. 15, the core network device includes: a processor 1510, a memory 1520, and an interface 1530. The processor 1510, the memory 1520, and the interface 1530 are connected by a signal.

[00282] The time reference determiner is located in the core network device, and the function of each block may be implemented by the processor 1510 by calling a program stored in the memory 1520. That is, the time reference determiner includes a memory and a processor. The memory is configured to store the program, and the program is called by the processor to execute the methods in the above method embodiments. Here, the processor may be an integrated circuit having signal processing capability, such as a CPU. Alternatively, the functions of the above blocks may be implemented by one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the above methods, such as one or more ASICs, one or more microprocessor DSPs, one or more FPGAs, or a combination of at least two of the integrated circuits. Alternatively, the above implementations may be combined.

[00283] One skilled in the art will understand that embodiments of the present application may be provided as a method, system, or computer program product. Therefore, the present application may take the form of hardware-only embodiments, software-only embodiments, or combination of software and hardware embodiments. Moreover, the present application may take the form of a computer program product that is implemented on one or more computer-usable media (including, but not limited to, disk memory, CD-ROM, optical memory, and the like) that include computer program code. .

[00284] The present application has been described with reference to flowcharts and/or flowcharts of the method, device (system) and computer program product in accordance with this application. It should be understood that computer program instructions may be used to implement each process and/or each block in flowcharts and/or block diagrams, as well as the combination of process and/or block in flowcharts and/or block diagrams. schemes. These computer program instructions may be provided to a general purpose computer, a specialized computer, an embedded processor, or the processor of any other programmable data processing device to create a machine, such that the instructions executed by the computer or the processor of any other programmable data processing device create a device to implement a particular function in one or multiple processes in flowcharts and/or in one or more blocks in flowcharts.

[00285] These computer program instructions may be stored in computer-readable memory, which may instruct the computer or any other programmable processing device to operate in a certain way, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory form an object that includes the instruction device. An instruction device implements a particular function in one or more processes in flowcharts and/or in one or more blocks in flowcharts.

[00286] These computer program instructions can be downloaded to a computer or other programmable processing device such that a series of operations and steps are performed on the computer or other programmable device, thereby forming computer processing. Therefore, instructions executable on a computer or other programmable device provide steps for implementing a specific function in one or more processes in flowcharts and/or in one or more blocks in flowcharts.

[00287] Obviously, a person skilled in the art can make various modifications and changes to the present application without going beyond the essence and scope of the present application. The present application is intended to cover these modifications and variations of the present application, provided that they fall within the scope of protection defined by the following claims and their equivalent technologies.

Claims (42)

1. A communication method performed in a core network device, comprising: obtaining a second traffic pattern; generating a first traffic template based on the second traffic template and the first relationship, wherein the first traffic template contains information about the time of the first traffic with respect to the first clock, the second traffic template contains information about the time of the first traffic with respect to the second clock, the first clock is a clock, used by the first network, the second clock is the clock used by the second network, the core network device belongs to the first network, the time information of the first traffic with respect to the first clock contains the time and/or period at which the first traffic data packet arrives at the first network , and the first relationship is the relationship between the first clock and the second clock; And sending the first traffic pattern to the network access device. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern and the first relationship further comprises: generating a first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern, the first relationship and the delay between another core network device in the first network and the network access device. 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first relationship is a time offset between the first clock and the second clock. 4. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-3, wherein the time information of the first traffic with respect to the second clock comprises the time point and/or period at/at which the first traffic data packet arrives at the first network. 5. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-4, wherein the first network is a 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) network and the first clock is a clock used by the 3GPP network; And the second network is a time sensitive network (TSN), and the second clock is the clock used by the TSN. 6. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-5, wherein the first traffic is uplink traffic or downlink traffic; when the first traffic is uplink traffic, the first traffic data packet arriving at the first network includes that the first traffic data packet arrives at a terminal in the first network; when the first traffic is downlink traffic, the first traffic data packet arriving at the first network includes that the first traffic data packet arrives at the network access device. 7. Communication device, comprising: a processing unit configured to receive a second traffic pattern; wherein the processing unit is further configured to generate the first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern and the first relationship, the first traffic pattern contains information about the time of the first traffic with respect to the first hours, the second traffic pattern contains information about the time of the first traffic with respect to the second hours, the first clock is the clock used by the first network, the second clock is the clock used by the second network, the core network device belongs to the first network, the time information of the first traffic with respect to the first clock contains the time point and/or the period at which the data packet of the first traffic arrives at the first network, and the first relationship is the relationship between the first clock and the second clock; And a sender configured to send the first traffic pattern to the network access device. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processing unit is specifically configured to: generating a first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern, the first relationship, and the delay between another core network device in the first network and the network access device. 9. The apparatus of claim 7 or 8, wherein the first relationship is a time offset between the first clock and the second clock. 10. The device according to any one of paragraphs. 7-9, wherein the time information of the first traffic with respect to the second clock comprises the time and/or period on/at which the first traffic data packet arrives at the first network. 11. The device according to any one of paragraphs. 7-10, wherein the first network is a 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) network and the first clock is a clock used by the 3GPP network; And the second network is a time sensitive network (TSN), and the second clock is the clock used by the TSN. 12. The device according to any one of paragraphs. 7-11, wherein the first traffic is uplink traffic or downlink traffic; when the first traffic is uplink traffic, the first traffic data packet arriving at the first network includes that the first traffic data packet arrives at a terminal in the first network; when the first traffic is downlink traffic, the first traffic data packet arriving at the first network includes that the first traffic data packet arrives at the network access device. 13. A communication system comprising a core network device and a network access device, wherein the core network device is configured to: obtaining a second traffic pattern; generating a first traffic template based on the second traffic template and the first relationship, wherein the first traffic template contains information about the time of the first traffic with respect to the first clock, the second traffic template contains information about the time of the first traffic with respect to the second clock, the first clock is a clock, used by the first network, the second clock is the clock used by the second network, the core network device belongs to the first network, the time information of the first traffic with respect to the first clock contains the time and/or period at which the first traffic data packet arrives at the first network , and the first relationship is the relationship between the first clock and the second clock; And sending the first traffic pattern to the network access device; And network access device configured for: getting the first traffic pattern; And allocating a radio resource to the first traffic based on the first traffic pattern. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the core network device is further configured to: generating a first traffic pattern based on the second traffic pattern, the first relationship, and the delay between another core network device in the first network and the network access device. 15. The system of claim 13 or 14, wherein the first relationship is a time offset between the first clock and the second clock. 16. The system according to any one of paragraphs. 13-15, wherein the time information of the first traffic with respect to the second clock comprises the time point and/or period on/at which the first traffic data packet arrives at the first network. 17. The system according to any one of paragraphs. 13-16, in which the first network is the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) network and the first clock is the clock used by the 3GPP network; And the second network is a time sensitive network (TSN), and the second clock is the clock used by the TSN. 18. The system according to any one of paragraphs. 13-17, wherein the first traffic is uplink traffic or downlink traffic; when the first traffic is uplink traffic, the first traffic data packet arriving at the first network includes that the first traffic data packet arrives at a terminal in the first network; when the first traffic is downlink traffic, the first traffic data packet arriving at the first network includes that the first traffic data packet arrives at the network access device. 19. The system according to any one of paragraphs. 13-18, in which the network access device is further configured to: sending the first traffic pattern to the target network access device. 20. The system according to any one of paragraphs. 13-19, wherein the core network device is a session management network element of function (SMF) or a user plane network element of function (UPF). 21. A communication device containing a block configured to perform the method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-6. 22. A communication device comprising a processor and an interface circuit, wherein the processor is configured to communicate with another device via the interface circuit and perform the method of any one of claims. 1-6. 23. A computer-readable storage medium containing a program, when called by the processor, the program is used to perform the method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-6.

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