WO2019196788A1

WO2019196788A1 - Communication method and communication apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2019196788A1
Application number: PCT/CN2019/081733
Authority: WO
Inventors: 于游洋
Original assignee: 华为技术有限公司
Priority date: 2018-04-10
Filing date: 2019-04-08
Publication date: 2019-10-17

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method and a communication apparatus. The communication method comprises: a terminal device sends a request message to a first core network element by means of a first access technology, the request message being used for requesting to add or update service flow; the terminal device receives, by means of the first access technology and/or a second access technology, a response message sent by the first core network element, and the terminal device transmits the service flow by means of the second access technology, or by means of the first access technology and the second access technology. The communication method according to the embodiments of the present application can implement an update process of a multi-access PDU session.

Description

Communication method and communication device

The present application claims the priority of the Chinese application filed on April 10, 2018, with the application number 201810317721.3, the invention name is "communication method and communication device", and the application number is 201810487920.9 submitted on May 21, 2018. The title of the invention is the priority of the Chinese application of the "Communication Method and Communication Device", the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Technical field

The present application relates to the field of communication technologies, and more particularly to a communication method and communication device.

Background technique

In order to meet the challenges of wireless broadband technology and maintain the leading edge of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) network, the 3GPP standards group developed the next generation Next Generation System network architecture at the end of 2016. It is the fifth generation mobile communication technology (5th-Generation, 5G) network architecture.

The 5G network architecture not only supports the wireless technology access network (Core network, CN) defined by the 3GPP standard group, for example, the Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology, the Radio Access Network (RAN) technology, etc. Access to the core network. Moreover, the 5G network architecture also supports the adoption of the Non-3GPP (Non-3GPP) access technology (Non-3GPP Interworking Function, N3IWF) or the next generation access gateway (Non-3GPP). Next Generation packet data gateway (NGPDG) accesses the core network.

Based on the multi-access technology supported by the above 5G network architecture, a Multiple Access Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session (which may also be referred to as a Packet Data Unit (PDU) session) is introduced. However, the prior art also relates to an update procedure for a multi-access PDU session.

Summary of the invention

The present application provides a communication method and a communication device, which can implement an update process of a multi-access PDU session.

A first aspect provides a communication method, including: a terminal device sends a request message to a first core network element by using a first access technology, where the request message is used to request to add or update a service flow; Receiving, by the first access technology and/or the second access technology, a response message of the request message sent by the core network element; the terminal device adopting the second access technology according to the response message Or the first access technology and the second access technology transmit the service flow.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device sends a request message by using a first access technology in the multiple access PDU session, requesting to add or update a service flow, that is, requesting the first core network element to be in the multiple access The access technology of the PDU session allocates transmission resources for the service flow. The terminal device obtains a second access technology allowed in the multiple access PDU session, or a response message that the first access technology and the second access technology transmit the service flow. The communication method terminal device is configured to update, according to the multiple access PDU session, a QoS file of a second access technology that does not send a request message among multiple access technologies in the multiple access PDU session, so that the second connection The incoming technology is capable of transmitting the traffic flow.

In some embodiments, the traffic flow may be a new traffic flow, i.e., a traffic flow not included in the original multiple access PDU session.

In some embodiments, the traffic flow may be an updated traffic flow, ie, the traffic flow is included in the original multiple access PDU session, but the transmission of the traffic flow changes. For example, the QoS parameter requirements for access technologies change.

In some embodiments, the multiple access PDU session includes a first access technology (for example, 3GPP technology) and a second access technology (for example, Non-3GPP technology). In this embodiment, the terminal device may pass The above request message is transmitted by 3GPP technology or Non-3GPP technology.

The first core network element may be a session management function (SMF) network element.

With reference to the first aspect, in an implementation manner of the first aspect, the request message includes first identifier information and indication information of the second access technology, where the first identifier information is used to determine the service flow. The response message includes the first identifier information and the indication information of the second access technology; or the response message includes the first identifier information, indication information of the first access technology, and The indication information of the second access technology is described.

With reference to the first aspect, in an implementation manner of the first aspect, the request message includes first identifier information, indication information of the first access technology, and indication information of the second access technology, The first identifier information is used to determine the service flow; the response message includes the first identifier information and the indication information of the second access technology; or the response message includes the first identifier information, The indication information of the second access technology and the indication information of the second access technology.

With reference to the first aspect, in an implementation manner of the first aspect, the request message includes first identifier information and indication information of the first access technology, where the first identifier information is used to determine the service flow. The response message includes the first identifier information and the indication information of the second access technology; or the response message includes the first identifier information, the indication information of the second access technology, and the The indication information of the second access technology is described.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, the request message sent by the terminal device includes the first identifier information and the indication information of the first access technology and/or the second access technology, requesting to use the first access technology and/or The second access technology transmits the traffic flow.

The first identifier information is used to determine the service flow. When the response message includes the first identification information and the indication information of the second access technology, the terminal device transmits the service flow by using the second access technology. When the response message includes the first identifier information and the indication information of the first access technology and the indication information of the second access technology, the terminal device transmits the service by using the first access technology and the second access technology. flow. The terminal device can accurately determine which access technology transmission is based on the correspondence between the traffic flow and the access technology.

The request message includes a first identifier for determining a service flow, because the service flow has not yet obtained a transmission resource, at a stage of requesting allocation of a transmission resource. The terminal device carries corresponding identification information, indicating which service flows of the first core network element are the newly added or updated service flows.

The above request message includes a PDU session Modification Request message.

The above response message may be a PDU session modification command message.

With reference to the first aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the first aspect, the first identifier information includes: at least the description information of the service flow, the quality of service flow identifier QFI, or the PDU session identifier. One.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, the information included in the request message sent by the terminal device for determining the service flow may be different indication information.

The flow description information may further include description information of multiple service flows, the multiple service flows are referred to as service flow templates, and the multiple service flow description information may be referred to as service flow description templates. The service flow can be determined according to the service flow description template.

With reference to the first aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the first aspect, the indication information of the first access technology is a first access type, and the indication information of the second access technology is a second access type; or the indication information of the first access technology is a quality of service QoS rule corresponding to the first access type, and the indication information of the second access technology is a QoS rule corresponding to the second access type Or the indication information of the first access technology and the indication information of the second access technology are quality of service QoS rules corresponding to the first access type and the second access type.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, the indication information indicating the first access technology and/or the second access technology may directly be a QoS rule indicating an access type or indicating a different access technology. The access technology passed through is indicated in a number of ways.

In combination with the first aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the first aspect, the request message further includes: first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the first core network element can be Modify the access technology through which the service flow passes.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may carry the first indication information in the request message, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the first core network element can modify the request of the terminal device. The first core network element can select a more appropriate access technology transmission for the service flow. For example, the terminal device requests the service flow to be transmitted by using the first access technology, and the first core network element may allocate resources for the service flow on the second access technology according to the first indication information.

In some embodiments, after the terminal device sends the first indication information to the first core network element, the first indication information may be used to indicate that the terminal device requests the service flow to pass the second access In the case of technology transmission, the first core network element is allowed to instruct the service flow to be transmitted through the first access technology.

In combination with the first aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the first aspect, the response message includes a traffic distribution rule, and the terminal device determines, according to the traffic distribution rule, that the service flow passes the first connection The amount of data transmitted by the ingress technology and the second access technology; the terminal device transmitting the service flow by using the first access technology and the second access technology according to the response message, including: The terminal device transmits the service flow by using the first access technology and the second access technology according to the data volume.

With reference to the first aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the first aspect, the offloading rule includes an amount of data and/or the service flow that is transmitted by the service flow by using the first access technology. The amount of data transmitted by the second access technology; or the offloading rule includes a bandwidth value transmitted by the service flow through the first access technology and/or the service flow passes the second access technology a bandwidth value of the transmission; the traffic distribution rule includes a ratio of a ratio of the amount of data transmitted by the first access technology and the amount of data transmitted by the second technology or a bandwidth value.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, the first core network element indicates, in addition to which access technology of the multiple access PDU session the terminal device transmits the service flow, and indicates the amount of data that the access technology can support, The terminal device is enabled to correctly transmit the foregoing service flow on multiple access technologies.

In some embodiments, the first core network element indicates the amount of data supported by the first access technology and the second access technology, respectively. For example, the first access technology can support the data volume transmission of the bandwidth A, and the second access technology can support the data volume transmission of the bandwidth B.

In some embodiments, the first core network element indicates a data amount ratio of the first access technology and the second access technology respectively supporting transmission. For example, the first access technology can support the bandwidth and the second access technology can support the bandwidth ratio A/B. If the total transmission volume of the service flow is M, the first access technology transmits M*A/(A+ B), M*B/(A+B) is transmitted on the second access technology.

The second aspect provides a communication method, including: the terminal device sends a request message to the first core network element by using the first access technology, where the request message is used to request to delete the second connection in the multiple access PDU session. The receiving device receives the response message of the request message from the first core network element by using the first access technology, where the response message is used to indicate the first in the multiple access PDU session. The second access technology is deleted successfully.

With reference to the second aspect, in an implementation manner of the second aspect, the request message further includes at least one of a deletion indication and an indication information of a second access technology, where the deletion indication indicates deleting the multiple access The second access technology in the PDU session, the indication information of the second access technology is used to indicate the second access technology.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may directly send a deletion indication, indicating that the second access technology is deleted. The request message may include indication information indicating the second access technology.

With reference to the second aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in an implementation manner of the second aspect, the response message includes a first identifier and indication information of the first access technology, where the first identifier is used to indicate that the service flow passes the The first access technology transmission, where the service flow is a service flow transmitted by the second access technology when the second access technology is not deleted.

The third aspect provides a communication method, including: the access network device sends network state information to the first core network element, where the network state information is used to indicate a data transmission state of the access network device; The access network device receives the indication information sent by the first core network element, where the indication information includes a quality of service QoS file corresponding to the network status information that is sent to the access network device.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, the access network device may also instruct the first core network element to update the quality of service QoS file of the corresponding access technology. The first core network element can configure the QoS file of the first access technology and the second access technology according to the network status information after the access network device reports the network status according to the state.

In conjunction with the third aspect, in an implementation manner of the third aspect, the network state information includes at least one of a load, a bandwidth, a delay, a packet loss rate, or a signal strength of the first access network device.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, the network status information reported by the access network device may be the amount of data that the first access technology can currently support, or the first access technology cannot currently support the transmission of a certain service flow. . The first core network element may configure the QoS file of the first access technology according to the information.

A fourth aspect provides a communication method, including: a first core network element receives a request request message from a terminal device by using a first access technology, where the request message is used to request to add or update a service flow; a core network element sends a response message of the request message to the terminal device by using the first access technology and/or the second access technology; the response message is used to indicate that the terminal device passes the The second access technology, or the first access technology and the second access technology transmit the service flow.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in an implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the request message includes first identifier information and indication information of the second access technology, where the first identifier information is used to determine the service flow. The response message includes the first identifier information and the indication information of the second access technology; or the response message includes the first identifier information, indication information of the first access technology, and The indication information of the second access technology is described.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in an implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the request message includes first identifier information, indication information of the first access technology, and indication information of the second access technology, The first identifier information is used to determine the service flow; the response message includes the first identifier information and the indication information of the second access technology; or the response message includes the first identifier information, The indication information of the second access technology and the indication information of the second access technology.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in an implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the request message includes first identifier information and indication information of the first access technology, where the first identifier information is used to determine the service flow. The response message includes the first identifier information and the indication information of the second access technology; or the response message includes the first identifier information, the indication information of the second access technology, and the The indication information of the second access technology is described.

The first identifier information is used to determine the service flow. When the response message includes the first identifier information and the indication information of the second access technology, the first core network element instructs the terminal device to transmit the service flow by using the second access technology, where the response message includes the first identifier. And the first core network element instructs the terminal device to transmit the service flow by using the first access technology and the second access technology, and the indication information of the first access technology and the indication information of the second access technology .

With reference to the fourth aspect, in an implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the first identifier information includes: at least one of description information of the service flow, a quality of service flow identifier QFI, or a PDU session identifier.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in an implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the indication information of the first access technology is a first access type, and the indication information of the second access technology is a second access type; Or the indication information of the first access technology is a QoS rule corresponding to the first access type, and the indication information of the second access technology is a QoS rule corresponding to the second access type, or the first The indication information of the access technology and the indication information of the second access technology are quality of service QoS rules corresponding to the first access type and the second access type.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, the indication information indicating the first access technology and/or the second access technology may directly indicate a QoS rule corresponding to an access type or a different access technology.

With reference to the fourth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the request message further includes: first indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate that the first core network element can be Modify the access technology through which the service flow passes.

With the fourth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the response message includes a traffic distribution rule, where the traffic distribution rule is used to determine that the service flow passes the first access technology and The amount of data transmitted by the second access technology.

With reference to the fourth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the offloading rule includes an amount of data and/or the service flow that is transmitted by the service flow by using the first access technology. The amount of data transmitted by the second access technology; or the offloading rule includes a bandwidth value transmitted by the service flow through the first access technology and/or the service flow passes the second access technology a bandwidth value of the transmission; the traffic distribution rule includes a ratio of a ratio of the amount of data transmitted by the first access technology and the amount of data transmitted by the second technology or a bandwidth value.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in an implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the method further includes: the first core network element acquires policy information of the service flow; the first core network element sends the The response message includes: transmitting the response message according to the policy information.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, the first core network element may obtain the policy information from a policy control function (PCF) network element, and determine an access technology for transmitting the service flow according to the policy information.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in an implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the policy information includes: an amount of data that is transmitted by the service flow by using the first access technology, and/or that the service flow passes the second The amount of data transmitted by the access technology; or the bandwidth value transmitted by the service flow through the first access technology and/or the bandwidth value transmitted by the service flow through the second access technology; the service flow A ratio of ratios or bandwidth values of the amount of data transmitted by the first access technique and by the second technique.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, the policy information may be in various forms, and only needs to be able to determine how to transmit the service flow from the access technology.

In some embodiments, the SMF network element may determine the amount of transmission data corresponding to each access technology according to its own network status.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in an implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the first core network element sends the second indication information to the second access network device corresponding to the second access technology, where the second indication information is A QoS file is included, and the QoS file includes a QoS parameter corresponding to the service flow.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, when the first core network element determines that the service flow is transmitted by the second access technology, the second access technology needs to send the second indication information to the second access network device, indicating the second The access network device updates the QoS file of the second access technology, where the QoS file includes the QoS parameter corresponding to the service flow, and refers to updating the current QoS parameter of the second access technology, so that the updated QoS parameter corresponds to the service flow, and can Transmit the traffic flow. In this case, the response message is sent by the first core network element to the terminal device through the first access technology. The first core network element can feed back the response message through the first access technology and update the QoS parameter of the second access technology, and the second access technology is an access technology different from the first access technology.

With the fourth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the first core network element sends the third indication information to the first access network device corresponding to the first access technology, The third indication information includes a QoS file, and the QoS file includes a QoS parameter corresponding to the service flow; the first core network element sends a second indication to the second access network device corresponding to the second access technology. Information, the second indication information includes a QoS file, and the QoS file includes a QoS parameter corresponding to the service flow.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, when the first core network element determines that the service flow is transmitted by using the first access technology and the second access technology, the first access technology needs to send the third to the first access network device. And indicating the information, sending the second indication information to the second access network device by using the second access technology. Instructing the access network device to update the QoS parameter of the corresponding access technology, so that the first access technology and the second access technology can transmit the service flow. In this case, the response message is sent by the first core network element to the terminal device through the first access technology and/or the second access technology. The first core network element can update the QoS parameters of the first access technology and the second access technology, and feed back the response message by using the first access technology and/or the second access technology.

With reference to the fourth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the sending, by the first core network element, the second indication information to the second access network device corresponding to the second access technology includes: The first core network element sends a second message to the second core network element, where the second message includes indication information of the second access technology and the second indication information, and the second access technology The indication information is used to indicate that the second indication information is sent to the second access network device by using the second access technology.

With reference to the fourth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the sending, by the first core network element, the second indication information to the second access network device corresponding to the second access technology includes: The first core network element sends a third message to the second core network element, where the third message includes the third indication information, the indication information of the first access technology, the second indication information, and the second The indication information of the access technology, the second indication information in the third message, and the indication information of the second access technology, used to indicate to the second access by using the second access technology The network device sends the second indication information.

With reference to the fourth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the sending, by the first core network element, the third indication information to the first access network device corresponding to the first access technology includes: The first core network element sends a first message to the second core network element, where the first message includes indication information of the first access technology and the third indication information, the first access technology The indication information is used to indicate that the third indication information is sent to the first access network device by using the first access technology.

With reference to the fourth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the sending, by the first core network element, the third indication information to the first access network device corresponding to the second access technology includes: The first core network element sends a third message to the second core network element, where the third message includes the third indication information, the indication information of the first access technology, the second indication information, and The indication information of the second access technology, the third indication information in the third message, and the indication information of the first access technology, used to indicate that the first access technology is used to the first The access network device sends the third indication information.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, the first core network element sends the response message to the terminal device by using the first access technology, and the first core network element sends two messages to the second core first. The network element of the second core network sends the two messages to the first access network device and the second access network device respectively, or the first core network element sends a message to the second core network. The network element is divided into two messages according to different access technologies by the second core network element, and two messages are sent to the first access network device and the second access network device respectively.

The first core network element may be an SMF network element, and the second core network element may be an AMF network element. In some embodiments, the first core network element sends the response message to the terminal device by using the first access technology, where the first core network element sends the first message to the second core network element. The first message includes the indication information of the first access technology and the response message, and the second core network element performs the first access technology according to the indication information of the first access technology to the The terminal device sends the response message.

In other embodiments, the sending, by the first core network element, the response message to the terminal device by using the first access technology includes: the first core network element to the second core network element Sending a third message, where the third message includes the response message, indication information of the first access technology, and the second indication information, indication information of the second access technology, where the response message is Corresponding to the indication information of the first access technology, where the second indication information corresponds to the indication information of the second access technology; the second core network element passes the first access technology according to the corresponding relationship Sending the response message to the terminal device.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, the first core network element sends the second indication information to the second access network device by using the second access technology, and the first core network element sends two messages first. For the second core network element, the second core network element sends two messages to the first access network device and the second access network device, and the first core network element sends a message to the first core network element. The second core network element is divided into two messages by the second core network element by using different access technologies, and two messages are sent to the first access network device and the second access network respectively. device.

In some embodiments, the first core network element sends a third message to the second core network element, where the third message includes the response message, indication information of the first access technology, and the The second indication information, the indication information of the second access technology, where the response message corresponds to the indication information of the first access technology, where the second indication information is related to the second access technology And the second core network element sends the second indication information to the second access network device by using the second access technology according to the corresponding relationship.

A fifth aspect provides a communication method, including: a first core network element receives a request message from a terminal device by using a first access technology, where the request message is used to request to delete a second connection in a multiple access PDU session. The first core network element sends a response message to the terminal device by using the first access technology, where the response message is used to indicate that the second access technology in the multiple access PDU session is deleted. success.

In some embodiments, the request message carries a first identifier, and the first identifier is used to determine to delete the second access technology.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, the first core network element receives the request message through the first access technology in the multiple access PDU session, and deletes the second access technology according to the request message. The first core network element can delete the access technology of the multiple access technologies in the multiple access PDU session that does not send the request message on the basis of the multiple access PDU session.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in an implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the request message further includes at least one of a deletion indication and an indication information of a second access technology, where the deletion indication indicates deleting the multiple access The second access technology in the PDU session, the indication information of the second access technology is used to indicate the second access technology.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may directly send a deletion indication, indicating that the second access technology is deleted.

With the fifth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in an implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the response message includes a first identifier and indication information of the first access technology, where the first identifier is used to indicate that the service flow passes the The first access technology transmission, where the service flow is a service flow transmitted by the second access technology when the second access technology is not deleted.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, an access technology in which a request is deleted is carried in a multiple access PDU session. After the access technology is deleted, the service flow can be transmitted through an undeleted access technology. It can ensure that even if one access technology is deleted in a multi-access PDU session, it does not affect the normal transmission of service flows.

With the fifth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the sending, by the first core network element, the response message to the terminal device by using the first access technology includes: The first core network element sends a first message to the second core network element, where the first message includes indication information of the first access technology and the response message, and the second core network element is based on The indication information of the first access technology sends the response message to the terminal device by using a first access technology; or the first core network element sends a third message to the second core network element. The third message includes the response message, the indication information of the first access technology, and the access network resource release message and the indication information of the second access technology, where the response message is related to the first Corresponding to the indication information of the access technology, where the second indication information corresponds to the indication information of the second access technology; the second core network element passes the first access technology according to the correspondence To the terminal Preparation of transmitting the response message.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, the first core network element sends the response message to the terminal device by using the first access technology, and the first core network element sends two messages to the first The second core network element, the second core network element sends two messages to the first access network device and the second access network device respectively, or the first core network element sends a message to the second The core network element is divided into two messages according to different access technologies by the second core network element, and two messages are sent to the first access network device and the second access network device respectively.

In some embodiments, the first core network element sends a third message to the second core network element, where the third message includes the response message, indication information of the first access technology, and the The access network resource release message and the indication information of the second access technology, where the response message corresponds to the indication information of the first access technology, the second indication information and the second access technology And the second core network element sends the response message to the terminal device by using the first access technology according to the corresponding relationship.

In another embodiment, the first core network element sends the response message to the terminal device by using the first access technology, where the first core network element is sent to the second core network element. Sending a third message, where the third message includes the response message, the indication information of the first access technology, and the access network resource release message, and the indication information of the second access technology, where the response message is Corresponding to the indication information of the second access technology, where the access network resource release message corresponds to the indication information of the second access technology; the second core network element passes the first The second access technology sends the response message to the terminal device.

A sixth aspect provides a communication method, including: receiving, by a first core network element, network status information from a first access network device by using a first access technology; the first core network element according to the network status Configuring a QoS file corresponding to the first access technology; the first core network element sends a fourth indication information to the first access network device by using a first access technology, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate The first access network device updates a corresponding QoS file of the first access technology.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, the access network device may also instruct the first core network element to update the QoS parameter corresponding to the corresponding access technology. The first core network element can configure the QoS parameters corresponding to the first access technology and the second access technology according to the network status information after the access network device reports the network status information according to the status.

With reference to the sixth aspect, in an implementation manner of the sixth aspect, the network state information includes at least one of a load, a bandwidth, a delay, a packet loss rate, or a signal strength of the first access network device.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, the network status information reported by the access network device by using the first access technology may be the amount of data that the first access technology can currently support, or may not be supported by the first access technology. The transmission of a business flow. The first core network element can configure the QoS parameters corresponding to the first access technology according to the information.

With reference to the sixth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the sixth aspect, the method further includes: configuring, by the first core network element, the second access technology according to the network state information The QoS file, the second access technology is an access technology other than the first access technology in the access technology of the multiple access PDU session.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, the network status information reported by the access network device by using the first access technology may be used to indicate other access technologies in the access technology for configuring the multi-access PDU session of the first core network element. Corresponding QoS parameters. The first core network element updates the QoS parameter corresponding to the second access technology according to the network status information.

With reference to the sixth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the sixth aspect, the method further includes: the first core network element passes the second access technology to the second access network The device sends a fifth indication information, where the fifth indication information is used to instruct the second access network device to update the QoS file corresponding to the second access technology.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, the first network state information reported by the access network device by using the first access technology may be used to indicate that the first core network element configures the access technology of the multiple access PDU session. Into the technical QoS parameters. The first core network element may update the QoS parameter corresponding to the second access technology according to the first network state information.

With reference to the sixth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the sixth aspect, the sending, by the first core network element, the fourth indication information to the first access network device by using the first access technology includes: The first core network element sends a first message to the second core network element, where the first message includes indication information of the first access technology and the fourth indication information, and the second core network The network element sends the fourth indication information to the first access network device by using a first access technology; or the first core network element sends a third message to the second core network element. The third message includes the fourth indication information, the indication information of the first access technology, and the indication information of the fifth indication information and the second access technology, where the fourth indication information is related to the first Corresponding to the indication information of the access technology, where the fifth indication information corresponds to the indication information of the second access technology; the second core network element according to the correspondence relationship passes the first access technology to the first An access network device sends the first Instructions.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, the first core network element sends the fourth indication information to the first access network device by using the first access technology, and the first core network element sends two messages to the first The second core network element sends the two messages to the first access network device and the second access network device, and the first core network element sends a message to the second network element. The core network element is divided into two messages according to different access technologies by the second core network element, and two messages are sent to the first access network device and the second access network device respectively.

In some embodiments, the first core network element sends the fourth indication information to the first access network device by using the first access technology: the first core network element sends the second core network element to the second core network element. a first message, where the first message includes indication information of the first access technology and the fourth indication information, where the second core network element sends the first access network technology to the first access network device The fourth indication information.

In another embodiment, the first core network element sends the fourth indication information to the first access network device by using the first access technology, where the first core network element is sent to the second core network. The network element sends a third message, where the third message includes the fourth indication information, the indication information of the first access technology, and the indication information of the fifth indication information and the second access technology, where the The fourth indication information corresponds to the indication information of the first access technology, where the fifth indication information corresponds to the indication information of the second access technology; the second core network element passes the corresponding relationship according to the correspondence An access technology sends the fourth indication information to the first access network device.

With the sixth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the sixth aspect, the first core network element sends the fifth indication information to the second access network device by using the second access technology The first core network element sends a fifth message to the second core network element, where the second message includes indication information of the second access technology and the fifth indication information, where the second The core network element sends the fifth indication information to the second access network device by using a second access technology; or the first core network element sends a third message to the second core network element. The third message includes the fourth indication information, the indication information of the first access technology, and the indication information of the fifth indication information and the second access technology, where the fourth indication information is Corresponding to the indication information of the first access technology, where the fifth indication information corresponds to the indication information of the second access technology; the second core network element communicates with the second access technology according to the corresponding relationship Second access network device transmitting station The fifth finger indicates information.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, the first core network element sends the fifth indication information to the second access network device by using the second access technology, and the first core network element sends two messages first. For the second core network element, the second core network element sends two messages to the first access network device and the second access network device, and the first core network element sends a message to the first core network element. The second core network element is divided into two messages by the second core network element by using different access technologies, and two messages are sent to the first access network device and the second access network respectively. device.

The seventh aspect provides a communication method, including: receiving, by the access network device, a first data packet sent by the terminal device, where a packet header of the first data packet carries a fifth identifier, where the fifth identifier is used to indicate The first data packet supports multiple access technology offloading; the access network device sends a second data packet to the first core network network element, and the packet header of the second data packet includes a sixth identifier; The identifier is used to indicate that the second data packet supports multiple access technology offloading, and the second data packet includes data content of the second data packet.

The fifth identifier or the sixth identifier is used to indicate that the data packet supports multiple access technologies, and the fifth identifier or the sixth identifier is used to indicate that the data packet supports the TFCP protocol. Or the data includes a TFCP header, or a sequence number of the packet.

The acquiring, by the first core network element, the data packet according to the sixth identifier includes: the first core network element parsing the TFCP header according to the sixth identifier or sorting the data packet.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, when the service flow supports packet granularity distribution, the terminal device determines to perform the service flow multiple access offload. The terminal device encapsulates the data packet of the service flow into the first data packet, and sends the data packet to the access network device, indicating that the service flow is a service flow that supports packet granularity. The access network device encapsulates the sixth identifier information and the first data packet in the second data packet header and sends the information to the first core network element, where the first core network element is parsed according to the sixth identifier in the second data packet header. TFCP headers or sort packets.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, in the case that the data packet supports the offloading, since the terminal device indicates the first core network element, the first core network element can parse the corresponding data packet based on the indication.

The eighth aspect provides a communication method, including: the terminal device sends a request message to the first core network element by using the first access technology, where the request message is used to request to add or update a third service flow or for Requesting to establish a PDU session; the terminal device receives a response message sent by the first core network element by using the first access technology and/or the second access technology, where the terminal device sends the message according to the response message The three traffic flows or the PDU session are transmitted through multiple access technologies.

In conjunction with the eighth aspect, in another implementation manner of the eighth aspect, the request message or the response message further includes a third identifier and a multiple access technology transmission indication, where the multiple access technology transmission indication is used to indicate The terminal device requests to determine, for the third identity, the third service flow or the PDU session to perform multi-access technology transmission or perform TFCP protocol encapsulation.

In conjunction with the eighth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the eighth aspect, the third identifier includes: at least one of a service flow description information, a quality of service flow identifier QFI, or a packet data unit PDU session identifier. .

With reference to the eighth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the eighth aspect, the multiple access transmission indication is a TFCP protocol indication, or a TFCP protocol encapsulation indication, or a packet granularity distribution indication, and the terminal device is based on the QFI. The data is determined to contain the TFCP header, or the PDU session determination data according to the data packet belongs to the TFCP header, or the data received after determining the End marker data packet based on the end identifier End marker data packet includes the TFCP header.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, the form indicating that the data packet is a multiple access transmission may also be multiple. The data received after determining the End marker data packet based on the end identifier End marker data packet includes a TFCP header indicating that the service stream does not carry the TFCP header at the beginning, and when the data packet needs to be offloaded, the End marker data packet indication is sent. The latter data contains TFCP. The above End marker data packet can also identify the following data packets to support the offloading, and does not limit the subsequent data to include the TFCP.

The first access technology and the second access technology may be two different access technologies in a multiple access PDU session.

In conjunction with the eighth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the eighth aspect, the terminal device sorts the data packet based on a sequence number included in a TFCP packet header.

A ninth aspect provides a communication method, including: a first core network element receives a request message from a terminal device by using a first access technology, where the request message is used to request to add or update a third service flow or for Requesting to establish a PDU session; the first core network element sends a response message to the terminal device by using the first access technology and/or the second access technology, where the response message is used to indicate the third service flow or The PDU session allows for multiple access technology transmissions.

In conjunction with the ninth aspect, in another implementation manner of the ninth aspect, the request message or the response message further includes a third identifier and a multiple access technology transmission indication, where the multiple access technology transmission indication is used to indicate the terminal The device requests to determine, for the third identity, that the third service flow or PDU session is for multiple access technology transmission or for TFCP protocol encapsulation.

In conjunction with the ninth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the ninth aspect, the third identifier includes at least one of a service flow description information, a QoS flow identifier QFI, or a PDU session identifier.

In conjunction with the ninth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the ninth aspect, the multiple access transmission indication is a TFCP protocol indication, a TFCP protocol encapsulation indication, or a packet granularity offload indication.

In conjunction with the ninth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the ninth aspect, the first core network element sends a fourth identifier and a multiple access technology transmission indication to the user plane network element.

With reference to the ninth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the ninth aspect, the fourth identifier is at least one of service flow description information, a quality of service flow identifier QFI, or a PDU session identifier or an N4 session identifier. .

In conjunction with the ninth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the ninth aspect, the QFI is used by the terminal device to determine that the data includes a TFCP header, or the tunnel identifier is used by the terminal device. Determining that the data of the PDU session includes a TFCP header, or the end identifier End marker data packet is used by the terminal device to determine that the data received after the End marker data packet includes a TFCP header.

In conjunction with the ninth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the ninth aspect, the sequence number included in the TFCP header is used to sort the data packet.

A tenth aspect provides a communication method, including: a parameter that a data sending network element sends a plurality of link transmission data to a data receiving network element; and the data sending network element receives a plurality of chains sent by the data receiving network element Confirmation information of the road transmission data.

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, data can be transmitted through a plurality of links.

With reference to the tenth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the tenth aspect, the data sending network element sends, by the data sending network element, parameters of the multiple link transmission data, including: the data sending network Transmitting, by the user, the parameter of the multiple link transmission data to the data receiving network element; or the data sending network element sending, by the user, the parameter of the multiple link transmission data to the data receiving network element .

According to the communication method of the embodiment of the present application, the parameter for transmitting the multiple link transmission data may be directly sent through the user plane, or may be sent through the control plane.

With reference to the tenth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the tenth aspect, the parameter of the multiple link transmission data includes: identifier information of the data, and indicating that the data passes through multiple links Instructions for transmission.

In conjunction with the tenth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the tenth aspect, the parameter of the multiple link transmission data further includes: a first window length, where the first window length is used to indicate The length of the transmission window of the data transmission network element.

With reference to the tenth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the tenth aspect, the identifier information of the data: description information of the service flow, the quality of service flow identifier QFI, or the packet data unit PDU session identifier or the N4 session At least one of the identities.

With reference to the tenth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the tenth aspect, the indication information includes: a data flow control protocol TFCP indication, a TFCP encapsulation indication, a packet granularity distribution indication, a fusion tunnel indication, and a fusion tunnel At least one of the identifier or the network element protocol IP address, wherein the fused tunnel indication is used to indicate that a fused tunnel is established for the service flow, and the network element IP address is a data sending network element or/and a data receiving network element IP address .

With the tenth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the tenth aspect, the data sending network element is a terminal device, the data receiving network element is a user plane network element, or the data is sent. The network element is the user plane network element, the data receiving network element is the terminal device, or the data sending network element is a session management function network element, and the data receiving network element is the terminal device and the User plane network element.

With the tenth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the tenth aspect, the confirmation information of the multiple link transmission data includes parameters of the multiple link transmission data; or, the multiple The confirmation information of the link transmission data includes a confirmation message.

With the tenth aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the tenth aspect, the multiple links include a 3GPP link and a non-3GPP link; or, the multiple links specifically include different connections. A link of a different access network device of the technology; or, the multiple links specifically include links of the same access technology and different access network devices.

In an eleventh aspect, a communication method is provided, including: a data sending network element determining a link state of a first link and/or a link state of a second link; the data sending network element according to the first a link state of the link and/or a link state of the second link, the first data packet is transmitted through the first link, and the second data packet is transmitted through the second link, where the A data packet and the second data packet belong to the same service flow, the first data packet includes a first TFCP header, the first TFCP header includes a sequence number of the first data packet, and the second data packet A second TFCP header is included, and the second TFCP header includes a sequence number of the second data packet.

With the eleventh aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the eleventh aspect, the communication method further includes: the data sending network element determining a first round trip time RTT of the first link And the second RTT of the second link meets the first preset condition; or the data sending network element determines that the first link delay and the second link delay meet the second preset condition.

In conjunction with the eleventh aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the eleventh aspect, the first preset condition includes: a difference between the first RTT and the second RTT is less than or equal to The first preset threshold includes: the second preset condition includes: a difference between the first link delay and the second link delay is less than or equal to a second preset threshold.

In another implementation manner of the eleventh aspect, the first data packet and the second data packet are the same data packet.

In conjunction with the eleventh aspect and the foregoing implementation manner, in another implementation manner of the eleventh aspect, the communication method further includes: if the first link and the second link are offloaded in the offloading policy The ratio is 100%, and the data sending network element determines that the first data packet and the second data packet are the same data packet.

According to a twelfth aspect, a communication method includes: receiving, by a data receiving network element, a first data packet sent by a data sending network element from a first link, where the first data packet includes a first TFCP header, where a TFCP header includes a sequence number of the first data packet; the data receiving network element receives a second data packet sent by the data transmission network element from a second link, and the second data packet includes a second TFCP header The second TFCP header includes a sequence number of the second data packet, where the first data packet and the second data packet belong to the same service flow; and the data reception network element is configured according to the first data The sequence number of the packet and the sequence number of the second data packet buffer the first data packet and/or the second data packet.

In a further implementation of the twelfth aspect, the data receiving network element is configured according to the sequence number of the first data packet and the serial number of the second data packet. Cache the first data packet and/or the second data packet, including: the data receiving network element, according to the sequence number of the first data packet and the sequence number of the second data packet, the first The data packet and the second data packet are stored in the buffer area by serial number.

In a further implementation of the twelfth aspect, the communication method further includes: the data receiving network element determining a state of the data packet in the buffer area.

In a further implementation of the twelfth aspect, the state of the data packet includes a lost state, and the communication method further includes: if the data receiving network element exceeds a predetermined The data packet is not received by the duration, and the data receiving network element determines that the state of the data packet is a lost state.

In a further implementation of the twelfth aspect, the communication method further includes: the data receiving network element according to the first link and/or the second chain The link delay of the path determines the predetermined duration; or the data receiving network element determines the predetermined duration according to the round trip time RTT of the first link and/or the second link.

In a further implementation of the twelfth aspect, in the implementation of the twelfth aspect, the exceeding the predetermined duration is the duration of the survival, and the duration of the survival is the difference between the current time and the estimated reception time of the data packet. a value, the data packet estimated reception time is obtained based on a previous data packet reception time of the data packet or/and a reception time of the subsequent data packet, or the startup of the preset duration timer is based on a previous data packet reception time of the data packet. Or / and the receipt time of the next packet. Specifically, the preset duration timer is started when a packet before the packet is received. Or, the preset duration timer is started when a packet is received after the data packet is received. Alternatively, the preset duration timer is started at any time before receiving the data packet and the previous data packet.

In a further implementation of the twelfth aspect, the data receiving network element is configured according to the sequence number of the first data packet and the serial number of the second data packet. Cache the first data packet and/or the second data packet, including: if the first data packet and/or the second data packet are included in the buffer area, the data receiving network element discards Decoding the first data packet and/or the second data packet; or, if the sequence number of the first data packet and/or the second data packet is smaller than a minimum data packet sequence number in the buffer area, The data receiving network element discards the first data packet and/or the second data packet.

In a thirteenth aspect, a communication device is provided that can be used to perform the operations of the communication device in the first aspect and any possible implementation of the first aspect. In particular, the communication device comprises a first communication device for performing the steps or functions described in the first aspect above, which may be the first aspect. The steps or functions may be implemented by software, or by hardware, or by a combination of hardware and software.

In a fourteenth aspect, a communication device is provided for use in performing the operations of the communication device in any of the possible implementations of the second aspect and the second aspect. In particular, the apparatus may comprise means for performing the steps or functions described in the second aspect above. The steps or functions may be implemented by software, or by hardware, or by a combination of hardware and software.

In a fifteenth aspect, a communication device is provided that can be used to perform the operations of the communication device in any of the third and third possible implementations. Specifically, the communication device includes a first communication device for performing the steps or functions described in the above third aspect, which may be the third aspect. The steps or functions may be implemented by software, or by hardware, or by a combination of hardware and software.

In a sixteenth aspect, a communication device is provided that can be used to perform the operations of a communication device in any of the possible implementations of the fourth aspect and the fourth aspect. In particular, the apparatus may comprise means for performing the steps or functions described in the fourth aspect above. The steps or functions may be implemented by software, or by hardware, or by a combination of hardware and software.

In a seventeenth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided for use in performing the operations of the signaling device in any of the possible implementations of the fifth aspect and the fifth aspect. In particular, the apparatus may comprise means for performing the steps or functions described in the fifth aspect above. The steps or functions may be implemented by software, or by hardware, or by a combination of hardware and software.

In an eighteenth aspect, a communication device is provided that can be used to perform the operations of a communication device in any of the possible implementations of the sixth and sixth aspects. In particular, the apparatus may comprise means for performing the steps or functions described in the sixth aspect above. The steps or functions may be implemented by software, or by hardware, or by a combination of hardware and software.

In a nineteenth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided for use in performing the operations of a communication device in any of the possible implementations of the seventh aspect and the seventh aspect. In particular, the apparatus may comprise means for performing the steps or functions described in the seventh aspect above. The steps or functions may be implemented by software, or by hardware, or by a combination of hardware and software.

In a twentieth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided for use in performing the operations of the communication device in any of the possible implementations of the eighth aspect and the eighth aspect. In particular, the apparatus may comprise means for performing the steps or functions described in the eighth aspect above. The steps or functions may be implemented by software, or by hardware, or by a combination of hardware and software.

In a twenty-first aspect, a communication device is provided that can be used to perform the operations of a communication device in any of the possible implementations of the ninth and ninth aspects. In particular, the apparatus may comprise means for performing the steps or functions described in the ninth aspect above. The steps or functions may be implemented by software, or by hardware, or by a combination of hardware and software.

In a twenty-second aspect, a communication device is provided for use in performing the operations of the communication device in any of the possible implementations of the tenth and tenth aspects. In particular, the apparatus may comprise means for performing the steps or functions described in the above-described tenth aspect. The steps or functions may be implemented by software, or by hardware, or by a combination of hardware and software.

In a twenty-third aspect, there is provided a communication device that can be used to perform the operations of a communication device in any of the eleventh and eleventh possible implementations. In particular, the apparatus may comprise means for performing the steps or functions described in the eleventh aspect above. The steps or functions may be implemented by software, or by hardware, or by a combination of hardware and software.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect, there is provided a communication apparatus for use in performing the operations of the communication device in any of the possible implementations of the twelfth aspect and the twelfth aspect. In particular, the apparatus may comprise means for performing the steps or functions described in the twelfth aspect above. The steps or functions may be implemented by software, or by hardware, or by a combination of hardware and software.

In a twenty-fifth aspect, a communication device is provided, comprising: a processor, a memory for storing a computer program, the processor for calling and running the computer program from the memory, such that the communication device performs the first to A communication method in any of the possible implementations of the twelfth aspect.

The processor is one or more, and the memory is one or more.

The memory can be integrated with the processor or the memory can be separate from the processor.

The communication device also includes a transmitter (transmitter) and a receiver (receiver).

In one possible design, a communication device is provided that includes a transceiver, a processor, and a memory. The processor is configured to control a transceiver transceiver signal for storing a computer program for calling and running the computer program from the memory such that the communication device performs the first to twelfth aspects or the first to tenth The method of any of the possible implementations of the two aspects.

In a twenty-sixth aspect, a system is provided, the system comprising the above communication device.

In a twenty-seventh aspect, a computer program product is provided, the computer program product comprising: a computer program (also referred to as a code, or an instruction) that, when executed, causes the computer to perform the first aspect described above The method of any of the possible implementations of the twelfth aspect.

A twenty-eighth aspect, a computer readable medium storing a computer program (which may also be referred to as a code, or an instruction), when executed on a computer, causing the computer to perform the first aspect described above The method of any of the possible implementations of the twelfth aspect.

In a twenty-ninth aspect, a chip system is provided, comprising a memory and a processor for storing a computer program for calling and running the computer program from the memory such that the communication device with the chip system is installed The method of any of the possible implementations of the first to twelfth aspects above is performed.

The communication method and the communication device of the embodiment of the present invention can implement an update process of a multi-access PDU session.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture applied to an embodiment of the present application;

2 is a schematic diagram of a multiple access PDU session;

3 is a schematic flow chart of a communication method;

4 is a schematic flow chart of another communication method;

Figure 5 is a schematic flow chart of another communication method;

6 is a schematic flow chart of another communication method;

7 is a schematic flow chart of another communication method;

FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to a first embodiment of the present application; FIG.

9 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method of a second embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 10 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to a third embodiment of the present application; FIG.

11 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method of a fourth embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 12 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to a fifth embodiment of the present application; FIG.

FIG. 13 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to a sixth embodiment of the present application; FIG.

Figure 14 is a schematic block diagram of a communication device;

Figure 15 is a schematic block diagram of another communication device;

Figure 16 is a schematic block diagram of another communication device;

Figure 17 is a schematic block diagram of another communication device;

Figure 18 is a schematic block diagram of another communication device.

detailed description

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

The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application can be applied to various communication systems, such as a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, an LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system, and an LTE time division duplex (Time Division Duplex). , TDD), the future 5th Generation (5G) system, and the subsequent evolution of the communication system.

The terminal device in the embodiment of the present application may refer to a user equipment, an access terminal, a user network element, a user station, a mobile station, a mobile station, a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a terminal, a wireless communication device, and a user agent. Or user device. The terminal device may also be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a Wireless Local Loop (WLL) station, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), with wireless communication. Functional handheld devices, computing devices or other processing devices connected to wireless modems, in-vehicle devices, wearable devices, terminal devices in future 5G networks, or in the future evolution of the Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) The terminal device and the like are not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

By way of example and not limitation, in the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may also be a wearable device. A wearable device, which can also be called a wearable smart device, is a general term for applying wearable technology to intelligently design and wear wearable devices such as glasses, gloves, watches, clothing, and shoes. A wearable device is a portable device that is worn directly on the body or integrated into the user's clothing or accessories. Wearable devices are more than just a hardware device, but they also implement powerful functions through software support, data interaction, and cloud interaction. Generalized wearable smart devices include full-featured, large-size, non-reliable smartphones for full or partial functions, such as smart watches or smart glasses, and focus on only one type of application, and need to work with other devices such as smartphones. Use, such as various smart bracelets for smart signs monitoring, smart jewelry, etc.

In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device or the access device includes a hardware layer, an operating system layer running on the hardware layer, and an application layer running on the operating system layer. The hardware layer includes hardware such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Memory Management Unit (MMU), and a memory (also referred to as a main memory). The operating system may be any one or more computer operating systems that implement business processing through a process, such as a Linux operating system, a Unix operating system, an Android operating system, an iOS operating system, or a Windows operating system. The application layer includes applications such as browsers, contacts, word processing software, and instant messaging software. Moreover, the specific structure of the execution body of the method provided by the embodiment of the present application is not particularly limited as long as the program of the code of the method provided by the embodiment of the present application can be run by using the program according to the present application. The method can be communicated. For example, the execution body of the method provided by the embodiment of the present application may be a terminal device or a core network device, or a function module that can call a program and execute a program in the terminal device or the core network device.

Furthermore, various aspects or features of embodiments of the present application can be implemented as a method, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programming and/or engineering techniques. The term "article of manufacture" as used in this application encompasses a computer program accessible from any computer-readable device, carrier, or media. For example, the computer readable medium may include, but is not limited to, a magnetic storage device (eg, a hard disk, a floppy disk, or a magnetic tape, etc.), such as a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc (Digital Versatile Disc, DVD). Etc.), smart cards and flash memory devices (eg, Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), cards, sticks or key drivers, etc.). Additionally, various storage media described herein can represent one or more devices and/or other machine-readable media for storing information. The term "machine-readable medium" may include, without limitation, a wireless channel and various other mediums capable of storing, containing, and/or carrying instructions and/or data.

The network system architecture and the multi-access PDU session in the architecture are described in detail in the following with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG.

FIG. 1 is a system architecture diagram of an embodiment of the present application. The architecture diagram includes three parts: a terminal device 116, an access network device 220, and a core network device 102. The three sections are detailed below.

The terminal device 116 may include a variety of possible forms as described above, and details are not described herein again.

The access network device 220 (including the access network device 220a and the access network device 220b as shown in FIG. 1) may be a Radio Access Network (RAN) device of the 3GPP access technology and/or Non-3GPP. Access network devices and/or access gateway devices of the Non-3GPP access technology are collectively referred to as access network devices. The radio access network of the above 3GPP access technology includes, but is not limited to, a Next Generation RAN (NG-RAN), an LTE network, and the like. The corresponding access network device may be a Next Generation-Radio Access Node (NG-RAN) or an evolved Node B (eNB or eNodeB). The access network of the Non-3GPP access technology includes, but is not limited to, a trusted WLAN access network, a non-trusted WLAN access network, a fixed access network, and a wired access network. In the WLAN access network, the corresponding access network device may be an access point (AP), an N3IWF network element, or an NGDDG.

The terminal device 116 can access the core network (5G Core Network, CN) using 3GPP wireless technology. The terminal device 116 can also access the core network through the N3IWF network element or the NGPDG using the Non-3rd Generation Partnership Project Non-3GPP access technology.

The system architecture shown in Figure 1 can also support access to core network devices for non-trusted Non-3GPP access technologies. The non-trusted Non-3GPP access technology accessing the core network device may be accessed through a Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN).

The trusted Non-3GPP access core network device is similar to the non-trusted Non-3GPP access core network device. The access network device of the non-trusted Non-3GPP access technology may be replaced with the access network device of the trusted Non-3GPP access technology, and the N3IWF is replaced with a trusted access gateway. Or when the trusted Non-3GPP access gateway does not exist, the access network device is a trusted non-3PGP access network device.

Whether it is 3GPP access, or trusted Non-3GPP access or non-trusted Non-3GPP access, the first core network element (for example, SMF network element) may be a point-to-point interface protocol or a 3GPP access core network. A consistent architecture with a serviced interface.

It should be understood that, in this application, there is no limitation on which access technology the terminal device accesses the core network device, and any one of the existing or future access technologies may access the core network device.

In this embodiment, the 3GPP access network device is an NG-RAN, and the non-3GPP access network device is an N3IWF network element.

The core network device 102 is divided into a user plane function (UPF) network element and a control plane network element (CP) network element according to functions.

The user plane function network element is mainly responsible for packet data packet forwarding, quality of service (QoS) control, and accounting information statistics.

The control plane network element function network element is mainly responsible for terminal device registration authentication, mobility management, and sending a packet forwarding policy and a QoS control policy to the user plane function network element.

The control plane network element function network element can be further subdivided into: access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) network element and session management function (SMF) network element.

The AMF network element is responsible for the registration process when the terminal device accesses the core network device and the location management during the terminal device movement process.

The SMF network element is responsible for establishing a corresponding session connection for the core network device when the terminal device initiates the service, and provides a specific service for the terminal device. The service includes an interface between the SMF network element and the UPF network element, and sends a packet forwarding policy and a quality of service (QoS) policy to the UPF network element.

The core network device also includes an Authentication Server Function (AUSF) network element, a unified User Data Management (UDM) network element, a Policy Control Function (PCF) network element, and an application function. Application Function, AF), Data Network (DN). Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF). Network Exposure Function (NEF). NF Repository Function (NRF). The AUSF network element is responsible for authenticating terminal devices and determining the legitimacy of the terminal devices.

The UDM network element is mainly used to store terminal device subscription data.

The PCF network element is mainly used to deliver service-related policies to AMF or SMF.

The AF is used to send application related requirements to the PCF, so that the PCF generates a corresponding policy.

NSSF is used for network slice selection.

NEF is used to open 5G network capabilities to third-party networks.

The NRF is used to select the network function network element mentioned above.

A Data Network (DN) is used to provide services to user equipment. For example, providing mobile operator services, Interent services, network services or third party services.

The embodiment of the present application mainly relates to the terminal device, the access network device (including the first access network device NG-RAN and the second access network device N3IWF) in FIG. 1 and the SMF network element and the AMF network in the core network device. Yuan, PCF network element and UPF network element.

It should be understood that the following describes the technical solutions of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings, and does not involve the introduction of other network element functions except the SMF network element, the AMF network element, the PCF network element, and the UPF network element in the core network device. The functions of other network elements in the device are not limited in this application.

It should be understood that the core network device described in FIG. 1 may further include other functional network elements, which is not limited in this application.

Based on the multiple access technologies supported by the foregoing 5G network architecture, multiple access PDU sessions can be established in the prior art, where multiple access refers to a PDU session accessing a core network through multiple access network devices, and different accesses. Network devices can correspond to different access technologies and can also correspond to the same access technology.

For example, multiple access includes accessing the core network device through the first access network device NG-RAN and the second access network device N3IWF. Correspondingly, the first access technology corresponding to the NG-RAN access core network device is the 3GPP access technology or the NG-RAN access technology, and the second access technology corresponding to the N3IWF access core network device is Non-3GPP. Access technology or non-trusted WLAN access technology.

When the service flow is changed in the multiple access PDU session or the service flow in the session is changed, the terminal device sends an update request to the core network device by using the first access network device corresponding to the first access technology, and completes the first The QoS file creation or update process of the access network device. Alternatively, the terminal device sends an update request to the first core network element by using the second access network device corresponding to the second access technology, and completes a QoS file creation or update process of the second access network device.

The following embodiment takes an example in which a terminal device sends an update request through a first access network device. For example, the terminal device needs to add the service flow 1 in the multiple access PDU session, and the terminal device sends an update request to the first core network element through the NG-RAN, requesting to transmit the service flow 1 through the NG-RAN using the 3GPP access technology. The first core network element updates the QoS file of the NG-RAN according to the request message. It is assumed that the above QoS file can support 5 megabytes of service stream transmission before the update, and service stream 1 requires 5 megabytes of resource transmission, and the updated QoS file supports 10 megabytes of service stream transmission.

It should be understood that the above adoption of the 3GPP access technology is only an example form. The first access technology is any one of the multiple access PDU session access technologies.

A multi-access PDU session will be briefly described below with reference to FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a multiple access PDU session.

The access technology 310 (including the access technology 310a and the access technology 310b as shown in FIG. 2), wherein the access technology refers to the terminal device 116 and the user plane function network element 330 transmitting the service flow data packet in the PDU session. When accessing the access technology on the network side.

The access technology 310 may be an access technology that accesses through the foregoing 3GPP access or Non-3GPP. The access technology 310 may also be an access technology such as LTE access, NG-RAN access, trusted Non-3GPP access, non-trusted Non-3GPP access, WLAN access, and fixed network access. The application does not limit the specific mode of the access technology. The access technology 310a and the access technology 310b are respectively different access technologies, or the same access technology but different access network devices.

The user plane tunnel 320 (including the user plane tunnel 320a and the user plane tunnel 320b shown in FIG. 2) refers to a user plane tunnel between the access network device and the UPF. Different user plane tunnels 320a and 320b are established between different access network devices and the same UPF. The access network device and the UPF allocate their own tunnel identifiers, and send their own tunnel identifiers to the peer device for storage. For example, the access network device 1 allocates the tunnel identifier 1 of the user plane tunnel 320a, and sends the tunnel identifier 1 to the UPF storage. The UPF allocates the user plane tunnel 320a tunnel identifier 2, and sends the tunnel identifier 2 to the access network device for storage. The tunnel identifier 1 and the tunnel identifier 2 are tunnel identifiers of the user plane tunnel 320a between the access network device 1 and the UPF. The tunnel identifier of the user plane tunnel 230b is similar to the tunnel identifier of the user plane tunnel 320a. The access network device 2 allocates the user plane tunnel 320b tunnel identifier 3, and the UPF assigns the user plane tunnel 320b tunnel identifier 4. The tunnel identifier 2 of the user plane tunnel 320a and the tunnel identifier 4 of the user plane tunnel 320b may be the same or different, and the application is not limited.

A PDU session refers to a session between a terminal and a UPF. The user plane tunnels 320a and 320b described above belong to the same PDU session. The foregoing access technologies 310 are different access technologies of the same PDU session, or different access network devices of the same technical technology of the same PDU session.

In the prior art, the 5G network architecture supports multiple access, and a multi-access PDU session can be established.

A multi-access PDU session can implement traffic splitting of different granularities. That is, different access network devices that use different access technologies, or different access network devices that use the same access technology, can transmit different service flows. The following describes different access network devices with different access technologies as an example. For different access network devices of the same access technology, the following description replaces the access technology with the access network device.

The minimum split granularity of the service flow is the packet granularity. That is, different data packets of the same service flow can be transmitted through different access technologies.

In order to implement packet granularity splitting, the multiple access PDU session shown in FIG. 2 needs to transmit all service flow data packets of the foregoing PDU session, or all service flow data packets belonging to one QoS flow, or belong to the same A Traffic Flow Control Protocol (TFCP) header is added to all packets of a service flow. The TFCP protocol is a user plane protocol layer between the UE and the UPF, and is used to carry a packet sequence number or to perform link state detection between the UE and the UPF. This patent does not limit the protocol type of the above protocol layer. For example, it may also be a Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) protocol or other protocol types. The following description uses the TFCP protocol as an example.

When the multiple access PDU session shown in FIG. 2 needs to add a new service flow, or the service flow in the multiple access PDU session needs to be updated, the multiple access PDU session needs to be updated. The update service flow includes a change in the QoS parameter of the service flow, or a change in the access technology of the service flow.

In some embodiments, the terminal device transmits an update request for the multiple access PDU session through the first access technology illustrated in FIG. 2. For example, increase traffic flow 1. The first core network element transmits the service flow 1 to the first access technology that sends the update request, and requests the first access network device corresponding to the first access technology to update the current QoS parameter.

In other embodiments, the terminal device transmits an update request for the multiple access PDU session through the second access technology shown in FIG. 2. For example, increase traffic flow 1. The first core network element transmits the service flow 1 to the second access technology that sends the update request, and requests the second access network device corresponding to the second access technology to update the current QoS parameter.

It can be seen from the above that the existing multi-access PDU session is updated in the 5G network architecture. The QoS of the access network device (for example, the first access network device) that sends the update request can only be updated, and the QoS of the other network access device (for example, the second access network device) in the multiple access PDU session cannot be updated. .

For example, when a new service flow 1 needs to be transmitted, the terminal device sends a request message for requesting the transmission of the service flow 1 from the first access technology, corresponding to updating the QoS parameter of the first access technology, so that the first access technology can transmit Traffic 1 is, but the QoS parameters of the second access technology cannot be updated, so that the second access technology transmits traffic 1. In addition, if there are new service flows 1 and 2, respectively, the traffic needs to be transmitted in the first access technology and the second access technology. The prior art needs to send an update request message in the first access technology and the second access technology, respectively, so that the service flow 1 corresponds to the update access technology one, and the service flow 2 corresponds to the update access technology 2.

In addition, the prior art does not support packet granularity offloading. As a result, when one side access technology cannot meet the service flow QoS requirements, the other side access technology cannot provide a transmission service for this service flow.

In order to solve the above problem, some embodiments of the present application propose a communication method capable of updating multiple access technologies in a multiple access PDU session on the basis of a multiple access PDU session.

Other embodiments of the present application can support multiple granularity of TFCP encapsulation to achieve packet granularity offloading. The above various granular TFCP encapsulations include TFCP encapsulation of PDU session granularity, TFCP encapsulation of QoS flow granularity, or TFCP encapsulation of service flow granularity or service flow template granularity. The TFCP encapsulation of the service flow granularity or the service flow template granularity only needs to add the TFCP header encapsulation in the service flow or all the service flows corresponding to the service flow template, and does not need each service flow in the same QOS flow. Both add TFCP header packages.

It should also be understood that the Chinese interpretation of the above PDU and the full name of the English, the names of the network elements in the core network device, and the like are all easily defined and should not be construed as limiting the present application. This application does not exclude existing or future agreements. Use other names instead of the above names.

The communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application is described in detail below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. S110. The terminal device sends a request message to the first core network element.

When the request message requests to update the multi-access PDU session between the terminal device and the UPF network element, reference is made to the description of the following case 1.

When the request message requests to delete one of the access technologies of the multi-access PDU session between the terminal device and the UPF network element, refer to the description of the following case 2.

Case 1: The terminal device sends a request message to the first core network element by using the first access technology, where the request message is used to request to add or update a service flow.

Optionally, the request message includes a first identifier, where the first identifier is used to determine the service flow. The foregoing service flow may be one service flow or multiple service flows.

The first identifier includes at least one of description information of the service flow, a quality of service flow identifier QFI, or a PDU session identifier.

In some embodiments, the terminal device includes a third identifier and a multiple access technology transmission indication correspondence relationship to the first core network element in the request message. The third identifier may be the same as the first identifier, and is used to determine a service flow. Or the third identifier is the same as the second identifier, which is a PDU session ID, used to determine the PDU session. Or the third identifier is a QoS flow identifier (QFI) for determining the QoS flow. The multiple access technology transmission indication is used to indicate that the terminal device requests the third service flow determined by the third identifier to perform multi-access technology transmission, or is used to indicate that the terminal device requests the third service flow determined by the third identifier to perform TFCP protocol encapsulation. . The multiple access transmission indication is a TFCP protocol indication, a TFCP protocol encapsulation indication, or a packet granularity offload indication.

In some implementations, the service flow may be understood as a service flow that changes in a multiple access PDU session between the terminal device and the UPF network element, or a newly added service flow. The changed service flow may be a change in the QoS parameter of the service flow or a change in the access technology of the service flow.

In some implementations, the request message includes first identification information and indication information of the first access technology, and the terminal device requests the first core network element to allocate transmission resources for the service flow on the first access technology, so that The traffic is transmitted on the first access technology.

In other implementations, the request message includes first identification information and indication information of the second access technology, and the terminal device requests the first core network element to allocate transmission resources for the service flow on the second access technology. Thus, the traffic is transmitted on the second access technology.

In other implementations, the request message includes first identifier information and indication information of the first access technology and the second access technology, and the terminal device requests the first core network element in the first access technology and the first The second access technology allocates transmission resources for the service flow, so that the service flows are transmitted on the first access technology and the second access technology, respectively.

The first identifier information is a service flow description or a service flow template, and all service flows in the service flow or the service flow template support packet granularity.

It can also be understood that the request message is used to request to update the QoS file of the access technology in the multiple access PDU session between the terminal device and the UPF network element, so that the terminal device is in the first access technology and / or the second access technology can transmit traffic.

The multi-access PDU session refers to that the PDU session can access the core network device through multiple access technologies, and one access technology can correspond to one access network device.

In the present application, the multiple access PDU session between the terminal device and the UPF network element is taken as an example, and the first access technology of the two access technologies is different from the second access technology. Give an example.

It should be understood that the access technology that does not limit the multiple access PDU session in the embodiment of the present application is only two access technologies, and the multiple access PDU session may include two or more access technologies, and each access technology different.

It should be understood that the foregoing first access technology is different from the second access technology in a specific implementation manner, and an access technology may be corresponding to two access network devices. At this time, the "access technology" in the following description is replaced with the "access network device", that is, different access technologies are replaced with different access network devices.

In some embodiments, the first access technology is a 3GPP access technology and the second access technology is a Non-3GPP access technology.

In other embodiments, the first access technology is a Non-3GPP access technology, and the second access technology is a 3GPP access technology.

In other embodiments, the first access technology is an NG-RAN access technology, and the second access technology is a WLAN access technology.

It should be understood that the foregoing first access technology and the second access technology may be a 3GPP access technology, a Non-3GPP access technology, an LTE access technology, an NG-RAN access technology, a trusted Non-3GPP access technology, Any one of access technologies such as non-trusted Non-3GPP access technology, WLAN access technology, and fixed network access technology.

In a possible implementation manner, the request message in step 301 is used to request to add or update a service flow to a multiple access PDU session between the terminal device and the UPF network element.

In a possible implementation, the QoS file of the first access technology and/or the second access technology may be updated. The new service flow can be transmitted on the first access technology and/or the second access technology.

In some embodiments, the request message carries a second identifier, and the second identifier is the multiple access PDU session identifier (PDU session ID). The PDU session identifier is used to indicate a multiple access PDU session. Because there may be multiple multiple access PDU sessions between the terminal device and the UPF network element, there is a corresponding session identifier for each multi-access PD session.

It should be understood that the embodiment of the present application does not limit how to generate the foregoing multi-access PDU session identifier. The embodiment of the present application is to update the multi-access PDU session based on the established multi-access PDU session.

In a possible implementation, the request message in step 301 includes a first identifier, where the first identifier is used to determine the service flow. The first identifier may be a packet filter (Packet Filters) may be used to describe a service flow, and may also be referred to as a service flow description, or the first identifier may be a service data flow (SDF) template, and the service data. A flow template is a collection of service flow descriptions, that is, a Packet Filter set, and thus may also be referred to as a service flow description.

The first identifier is used to describe the service flow, that is, to describe a service flow added or modified in a multiple access PDU session. The first core network element may determine the service flow according to the first identifier.

In some embodiments, the traffic flow description includes a source network protocol (IP) address and a destination IP address of the traffic flow.

Optionally, the service flow description includes a source port number and a destination port number of the service flow.

Optionally, the service flow description information includes a protocol type of the service flow.

Optionally, the service flow description information includes an application type of the service flow.

Optionally, the service flow description information includes at least one of a source IP address and a destination IP address, a source MAC address and a destination MAC address, a source port number and a destination port number, a protocol type, or an application type of the foregoing service flow.

It should be understood that the foregoing various service flow description information is only an example form, and the service flow description information may further include other service flows that can be used to describe new or updated traffic in the multiple access PDU session.

In some embodiments, the request message further includes indication information of the access technology and a first identifier, where the service flow is indicated to be transmitted by the first access technology and/or the second access technology.

For example, the first identifier corresponds to an access technology corresponding to the service flow. The service flow is a service flow determined by the first identifier, and the access technology is an access technology corresponding to the service flow. The first core network element determines the access technology corresponding to the service flow according to the access technology corresponding to the service flow requested by the terminal device and/or the traffic off policy of the core network.

In some embodiments, the access technology corresponding to the foregoing service flow is a 3GPP access technology.

In other embodiments, the access technology corresponding to the foregoing service flow is a Non-3GPP access technology.

In other embodiments, the access technologies corresponding to the foregoing service flows are 3GPP access technologies and Non-3GPP access technologies.

It should be understood that the first access technology is a 3GPP access technology, and the second access technology is a Non-3GPP access technology. The first access technology and the second access technology are other When the access technology of the type is used, the access technology corresponding to the foregoing service flow may also be other types of access. For example, LTE access, 5GRAN access, trusted Non-3GPP access, non-trusted Non-3GPP access, WLAN access, fixed network access, and the like.

In some embodiments, the request message may further include a quality of service QoS rule, wherein the QoS rule includes a QoS parameter required by the traffic flow. The first identifier has a corresponding relationship with the QoS rule. When the QoS rule corresponds to the second access technology, the service flow indicated by the first identifier is transmitted by using the second access technology; or when the QoS rule is corresponding to the first access technology and the second access technology, An identified service flow is transmitted through the first access technology and the second access technology.

The above QoS parameters include at least one of bandwidth, guaranteed bandwidth, maximum bandwidth, and QoS classification (5QI).

The sending, by the terminal device, the request message to the first core network element includes: sending, by the terminal device, the request message to the access network device, where the access network device sends the request message to the first core network element.

The sending, by the terminal device, the request message to the first core network element by using the first access technology includes:

Manner 1: The first access technology is a 3GPP access technology, and the terminal device sends a request message on the 3GPP access technology to request to update the multi-access PDU session. That is, the terminal device sends a request message to the access network device through the 3GPP access technology. At this time, the first access network device is an NG-RAN.

The terminal device sends a request message to the first core network element by using the first access technology, and the terminal device first sends a request message to the NG-RAN, and the NG-RAN sends the request message to the first core network element.

Manner 2: The first access technology is a Non-3GPP access technology, and the terminal device sends a request message on the Non-3GPP access technology to request to update the multi-access PDU session. That is, the terminal device sends a request message to the access network device through the Non-3GPP access technology. At this time, the access network device is an N3IWF.

The terminal device sends a request message to the first core network element by using the first access technology, and the terminal device first sends a request message to the N3IWF, and the N3IWF sends the request message to the first core network element.

The manner in which the terminal device sends the request message is that the mode 1 and the mode 2 are only examples. When the first access technology is an access technology other than the foregoing 3GPP access technology, the second access technology is other access technologies than the above-mentioned Non-3GPP access technology. The sending, by the terminal device, the request message to the first core network element by using the first access technology may be other than the foregoing manners 1 and 2.

The corresponding information including the first identifier and the access technology in the request message includes the following situations:

The first type: the first identifier and the access technology carried in the request message. The first identifier indicates a new or updated service flow, and the access technology is an access technology corresponding to the service flow.

For example, the service flow 1 corresponding to the first identifier carried in the request message sent by the terminal device corresponds to the 3GPP access technology. In addition, the service flow 2 corresponding to the first identifier carried in the request message sent by the terminal device corresponds to the Non-3GPP access technology. When the first identifier is Packet Filter(s), Packet Filter 1 is used to describe service flow 1, and Packet Filter 2 is used to describe service flow 2.

The first core network element determines an access technology corresponding to the added or updated service flow according to the first identifier carried in the request message and the access technology.

The terminal device may send the foregoing correspondence to the first core network element in the traffic distribution rule parameter. The traffic distribution rule may be an ATSSS rule (Access Traffic Splitting, Switching, Steering rule).

The second type: the request message carries a correspondence between the service flow description information and the traffic distribution rule. The offloading rule is a traffic distribution rule that can be sent to the first core network element by the terminal device, or can be a traffic distribution rule sent by the first core network element to the terminal device.

The first core network element has established a correspondence between the offloading rule and the access technology.

For example, the request message sent by the terminal device carries the description information of the service flow 1 and the traffic distribution rule 1. The request message sent by the terminal device carries the description information of the service flow 2 and the traffic distribution rule 2.

The corresponding relationship between the traffic distribution rule established by the network element side of the first core network and the access technology is: the traffic distribution rule 1 corresponds to the access technology 3GPP. The traffic distribution rule 2 corresponds to the access technology Non-3GPP.

The first core network element may determine the access technology corresponding to the added or updated service flow according to the service flow description information carried in the request message.

The third type: the relationship between the service flow and the quality of service rule (QoS rule), the service data flow template (SDF), or the quality of service flow (QoS flow), where the service The flow is a service flow determined by the first identifier carried in the request message.

The corresponding relationship between the QoS rule or the QoS flow and the access technology has been established on the first core network element side.

For example, the service flow 1 determined by the first identifier sent by the terminal device belongs to the QoS rule 1 or the SDF template 1 or the QoS flow 1; the service flow 2 determined by the first identifier sent by the terminal device belongs to the QoS rule 2 or the SDF template 2 or the QoS flow 2 .

The corresponding relationship between the QoS rule or the SDF template or the QoS flow and the access technology established by the network element side of the first core network is: QoS rule1 or SDF template 1 or QoS flow1 corresponds to the access technology 3GPP. QoS rule 2 or SDF template 2 or QoS flow 2 corresponds to the access technology Non-3GPP.

The first core network element determines the new or updated service flow according to the first identifier in the request message, and the first core network element knows the QoS rule, or the access technology corresponding to the SDF template or the QoS flow. Then, the first core network element can determine the access technology corresponding to the modified or added service flow.

The fourth type: the correspondence between the first identifier carried in the request message and the first access technology and/or the second access technology.

In this embodiment, the service flows in the multiple access PDU session can implement service splitting of different granularities. The traffic granularity of the service flow includes: quality of service flow (QoS flow) granularity, flow granularity, or packet granularity. These types of traffic distribution methods are described in detail below.

1) QoS flow granularity: Indicates that different QoS flows can be assigned to different access technologies.

For example, the QoS parameters of service flow 1 and service flow 2 are similar, and traffic flow 1 and service flow 2 can be aggregated into QoS flow1. The QoS flow1 can be identified by the QoS flow ID1 (QFI1). The QoS parameters of the service flow 3 and the service flow 4 are similar, and the service flow 3 and the service flow 4 can be aggregated into the QoS flow 2. The QoS flow2 can be identified by the QoS flow ID 2 (QFI2).

The service flow corresponding to the QFI1 is transmitted on the first access technology, and the service flow corresponding to the QFI2 is transmitted on the second access technology. Alternatively, the service flow corresponding to QFI1 is transmitted on the second access technology; the service flow corresponding to QFI2 is transmitted on the first access technology.

The similarity of the QoS parameters of the foregoing service flow includes: the values of at least M of the N parameters of the QoS parameters of the service flow are the same or similar, where N is a positive integer, and M is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to N.

2) Flow granularity splitting: Indicates that different traffic flows can be assigned to different access technologies. Among them, the service flow may belong to the same QoS flow mentioned above.

For example, the traffic flow 1 and the traffic flow 2 corresponding to the QFI1 described above. The service flow 1 is transmitted on the first access technology, and the service flow 2 is transmitted on the second access technology. Alternatively, traffic 1 is transmitted over the second access technology; traffic 2 is transmitted over the first access technology. That is, different access technologies are allocated according to different service flows, and the traffic is not split by the QoS parameters of the traffic flow.

In some embodiments, the flow granularity splitting further comprises: SDF module offloading.

The SDF module is configured to divide the service flow 1 and the service flow 2 as an SDF module 1 according to the flow description information, corresponding to the first access technology; the service flow 3 and the service flow 4 as an SDF module 2, corresponding to the foregoing Second access technology. Service Flow 1, Service Flow 2, Service Flow 3, and Service Flow 4 belong to the same QoS flow.

3) Packet granularity offload: Different data packets in the traffic flow can be assigned to different access technologies.

For example, traffic 1 includes packet 1 and packet 2. The data packet 1 is transmitted on the first access technology, and the data packet 2 is transmitted on the second access technology. Alternatively, the data packet 1 is transmitted on the second access technology described above; the data packet 2 is transmitted on the first access technology.

The foregoing correspondence is only an example. Other correspondences of the access technologies corresponding to the service flows determined by the service flow description information are also within the protection scope of the present application.

The service flow 1, the service flow 2, and the first access technology and the second access technology are only examples, and the scope of protection of the present application cannot be limited.

In some embodiments, the terminal device sends the first indication information to the first core network element. The first indication is used to indicate that the first core network element can modify the access technology through which the service flow passes.

The foregoing first indication information may be included in the request message sent by the terminal device to the first core network element;

The service flow description information in the terminal device request message is determined according to the request message, and the service flow 1 corresponds to the first access technology.

When the terminal device sends the first indication information to the first core network element. That is, when the terminal device instructs the first core network element to modify the correspondence between the service flow 1 and the first access technology sent by the terminal device, for example, the first core network element may modify the service flow 1 and the first access technology. Therefore, the service flow 1 corresponds to the second access technology.

For example, the terminal device sends a request message to the first core network element, requesting the first core network element to use the first access technology to transmit the added or updated service flow 1. However, the first core network element determines that the first access technology does not meet the transmission requirement of the service flow 1, and the first core network element can use the second access technology to transmit the service flow 1, the first core network The meta changed the request of the terminal device. Or the first core network element uses the first access technology and the second access technology to simultaneously transmit the service flow.

For example, the terminal device requests access through the WLAN, but the first core network element determines that the current WLAN network quality cannot provide the terminal device access request. If the terminal device sends the first indication information to the first core network element, the first core network element may allocate the terminal device to access through the NG-RAN.

Case 2: the terminal device sends a request message to the first core network element by using the first access technology, where the request message is used to request to delete the second access technology in the multiple access PDU session;

Optionally, the request message carries a first identifier, where the first identifier is used to identify the second access technology.

When the terminal device needs to update the multiple access PDU session between the terminal device and the UPF network element to a single access PDU session, the terminal device may initiate deletion to the first core network element from another side access technology. Request for side access technology.

In some implementations, the terminal device sends a request message to the first core network element by using the first access technology, requesting to delete the second access technology.

The request message includes a second access technology and a first identifier for deleting the second access technology.

In other implementations, the terminal device sends a request message to the first core network element through the first access technology, requesting to delete the second access technology. The request message includes a second access technology and a first identifier for updating the multiple access PDU session to the single access PDU session, where the first identifier is a deletion indication, and is used to indicate that the second access technology is deleted.

In other implementations, the terminal device sends a request message to the first core network element through the first access technology, requesting to delete the second access technology. The foregoing request message includes indication information of the first access technology and a first identifier for updating the multiple access PDU session to the single access PDU session, where the first identifier is a reservation indication, indicating that the first access technology is reserved.

In other implementations, the terminal device sends a request message to the first core network element through the first access technology, requesting to delete the second access technology. The request message is a delete message or a release connection message, and the request message carries an access technology. When the first identifier included in the request message is the second access technology, the connection on the second access technology side of the multiple access PDU session is deleted. When the first identifier is the first access technology, it indicates that the connection on the first access technology side of the multiple access PDU session is deleted.

It should be understood that, in the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may send a request message to the first core network element by using the first access technology, requesting to delete the first access technology. For example, the request message does not need to include the indication information of the access technology, and the first core network element deletes the access technology of the current transmission request message.

It should be understood that, in the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device may also send a request message to the first core network element by using the second access technology, requesting to delete the first access technology. The present application is not limited to which side of the access technology initiates the update of the multiple access PDU session to a single access PDU session.

S120. The terminal device receives a response message from the first core network element.

The response message is used to indicate that the service flow is transmitted from the second access technology, or the first access technology and the second access technology, and is described with reference to the following case 1.

The response message is used to indicate that the second access technology in the multiple access PDU session is successfully deleted, refer to the description in the following case 2.

Case 1: the terminal device receives, by using the first access technology and/or the second access technology, a response message of the request message sent by the core network element;

And the terminal device transmits the service flow by using the second access technology, or the first access technology and the second access technology, according to the response message.

In some embodiments, the response message received by the terminal device includes a third identifier and a multi-access technology transmission indication correspondence. The foregoing correspondence is used to indicate that the first core network element allows or authorizes the third service flow determined according to the third identifier to perform multi-access technology transmission, or indicates that the first core network element allows or authorizes the third identifier to be determined. The service flow is TFCP encapsulated. The third identifier is a Packet Filter (s) or a Service Data Flow (SDF) template or a QFI or PDU Session ID. The multiple access technology transmission indication is a TFCP protocol indication, a TFCP protocol encapsulation indication or a packet granularity offload indication.

Specifically, the determining the third service flow for performing the multiple access technology transmission may also be the communication method shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. Includes S111 and S112.

S111. The data sending network element sends the parameters of the multiple link transmission data to the data receiving network element.

Case 1: The data transmission network element may be the terminal device shown in FIG. 2. The data receiving network element may be a User plane function (UPF) network element as shown in FIG. 2.

The parameter that the terminal device sends the plurality of link transmission data to the UPF may be that the parameter of the multiple link transmission data is included in the request message described in FIG.

Specifically, the parameters of the multiple link transmission data include identification information of the data and indication information indicating that the data is transmitted through multiple links. The transmission data may be the third service flow described in FIG.

The identification information of the data may be at least one of description information of the data, a quality of service flow identifier QFI, or a packet data unit PDU session identifier. The description information of the data is equivalent to the foregoing service flow description information, and the foregoing description information for the data, the quality of service flow identifier QFI, or the packet data unit PDU session identifier have been described in detail, and are not described herein again;

The indication information includes: at least one of a data flow control protocol TFCP indication, a TFCP encapsulation indication, a packet granular offload indication, a converged tunnel indication, a converged tunnel identifier, or a network element protocol IP address, where the converged tunnel indication is used to indicate A converged tunnel is established for the service flow, and the IP address of the network element is a data transmission network element or/and a data receiving network element IP address. The above descriptions have been introduced for the TFCP indication, the TFCP encapsulation indication, and the packet granularity distribution indication. Here, the fusion tunnel indication, the converged tunnel identifier, and the network element protocol IP address are mainly introduced.

It should be understood that the foregoing TFCP protocol may be a Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) protocol, a Multi Path Transmission Control Protocol (MPTCP), an Internet Protocol (IP), or a fast UDP network connection (Quick). UDP Internet Connection (QUIC) protocol, Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) protocol, or other protocol types, where UDP is User Datagram Protocol (UDP). The present application is not limited to the type of the TFCP protocol, and may be any of the above protocols.

The fused tunnel indication establishes a fused tunnel for the transmission data, where the fused tunnel corresponds to the PDU session identifier, that is, a fused tunnel is established for the PDU session, or a QFI corresponding to the fused tunnel is established, that is, a fused tunnel is established for the QoSflow, or a fusion tunnel is established. The service flow identifier corresponding to the tunnel, that is, the convergence tunnel is established for this service flow. The corresponding converged tunnel identity can also indicate the converged tunnel.

The network element protocol IP address is the IP address of the data sending network element or/and the data receiving network element. The IP address corresponds to the PDU session identifier, that is, the IP encapsulation is performed for the PDU session, or the IP address corresponds to the corresponding QFI, that is, the IP encapsulation is performed for the QoS flow, or the corresponding service flow identifier is corresponding to the IP address, that is, The service flow performs the above IP encapsulation.

Specifically, the parameter of the multiple link transmission data further includes a first window length, where the first window length is used to indicate a transmission window length of the terminal device. The length of the first window may be set to the length of the transmission window of the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) protocol layer of the terminal device.

The first window length is used when the UPF receives the parameters of the plurality of link transmission data, and sets the receiving window length value of the UPF. The receiving window length value of the UPF may be greater than or equal to the first window length.

It should be understood that when the terminal device sends the parameters of the multiple link transmission data to the UPF, the terminal device may directly send the parameters of the multiple link transmission data to the UPF, or the terminal device transmits the data to the multiple links. The parameters are sent to the SMF, and the SMF sends the parameters of the multiple link transmission data to the UPF.

For example, the terminal device sends the parameters of the multiple link transmission data to the SMF, and the SMF sends the N4 interface message to the UPF, where the N4 message carries the parameters of the multiple link transmission data.

It should be understood that, when the parameter of the multiple link transmission data is carried in the foregoing N4 message, the identifier information of the data in the parameters of the multiple link transmission data may be the description information of the data, the quality of service flow identifier QFI or the packet data. At least one of a unit PDU session identifier or an N4 session identifier.

Specifically, the confirmation information of the plurality of link transmission data includes parameters of the plurality of link transmission data; or the confirmation information of the plurality of link transmission data includes an acknowledgement message.

For example, the UPF sends the acknowledgment information of the plurality of link transmission data to the terminal device, where the acknowledgment information may include the identification information of the data confirmed by the UPF and the indication information indicating that the data is transmitted through multiple links. Alternatively, the confirmation information includes an acknowledgement message for confirming a parameter that the terminal device transmits the plurality of link transmission data. Optionally, the confirmation information may further include a transmission window length of the UPF.

Specifically, the foregoing multiple links may be transmission links corresponding to different access technologies described in the foregoing, and may be 3GPP links and non-3GPP links;

For example, the two transmission links are included, the first one is a transmission link corresponding to the access technology, and the second one is a transmission link corresponding to the access technology Non-3GPP, that is, corresponding to different access technologies. The transmission link transmits data.

Specifically, the foregoing multiple links may also be links of different access network devices of different access technologies;

For example, it includes two transmission links, the first one transmits data through 5GRAN, the second one transmits data through N3IWF; or, includes two transmission links, the first one is through W-5GAN (Wireline 5GAN wired access) The network transmits data, and the second one transmits data through 5GRAN.

Specifically, the foregoing multiple links may also be links of the same access technology and different access network devices;

For example, two transmission links are included, the first one transmits data through the 5GRAN device 1 for the above 3GPP access technology, the second one transmits data through the 5GRAN device 2 for the above 3GPP access technology, or includes two transmission links. The first one transmits data through N3IWF1 for the above Non-3GPP access technology, the second one transmits data through N3IWF2 for the above Non-3GPP access technology; or the same access technology transmits data through N different access network devices, Where N can be a positive integer greater than two.

Case 2: The data transmission network element may be a User plane function (UPF) network element as shown in FIG. 2. The data receiving network element may be the terminal device shown in FIG. 2.

It should be understood that, in case 2, the request message sent by the terminal device to the UPF may not need to carry the parameters of the multiple link transmission data, and the UPF initiates the multiple access transmission indication. When the UPF initiates the multiple access transmission indication, the parameters of the data transmitted by multiple links are similar to the case 1, and are not described here. The difference is that when the parameters of the data transmitted by the multiple links are sent by the UPF to the terminal device, the first window length is used to indicate the length of the sending window of the UPF. The first window length may be set to a transmission window length of the UPF Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) protocol layer.

The first window length is used to set the receiving window length value of the terminal device when the terminal device receives the parameter of the plurality of link transmission data. The receiving window length value of the terminal device may be greater than or equal to the first window length.

Case 3: The data transmission network element may be a Session Management Function (SMF) network element as shown in FIG. 1. The data receiving network element may be the terminal device and the User plane function (UPF) network element shown in FIG. 2.

It should be understood that the parameters of the plurality of link transmission data described above may be sent by the SMF to the terminal device and the UPF. For example, the SMF carries the parameters of the multiple link transmission data in the command message and sends the parameters to the terminal device, and carries the parameters of the multiple link transmission data in the N4 message and sends the parameters to the UPF.

S112. The data receiving network element sends the acknowledgement information of the received link transmission data to the data sending network element.

In the case shown in S111, the UPF transmits an acknowledgment message to the terminal device, wherein the acknowledgment information includes the parameters of the plurality of link transmission data described above. Alternatively, the confirmation information includes an acknowledgement message for confirming the parameter of receiving the plurality of link transmission data.

Optionally, the confirmation information further includes a second window length for indicating a transmission window length of the UPF.

In case 2 shown in S111, the terminal device transmits an acknowledgement message to the UPF, wherein the acknowledgement information includes the parameters of the plurality of link transmission data described above. Alternatively, the confirmation information includes an acknowledgement message for confirming the parameter of receiving the plurality of link transmission data.

Optionally, the confirmation information further includes a second window length for indicating a sending window length of the terminal device.

In the case shown in S111, the terminal device sends an acknowledgement message to the SMF, wherein the acknowledgement information includes the first acknowledgement information sent by the terminal device to the SMF, wherein the first acknowledgement information includes the plurality of link transmission data described above. parameter. Or the first acknowledgement information includes a first acknowledgement message for confirming that the parameter of the multiple link transmission data is received.

Optionally, the first confirmation information further includes a second window length for indicating a sending window length of the terminal device,

In other embodiments, the terminal device sends a request message to the first core network element through the first access technology. The terminal device receives the response message from the first core network element by using a first access technology.

In other embodiments, the terminal device sends a request message to the first core network element through the first access technology. The terminal device receives the response message from the first core network element by using a second access technology.

In other embodiments, the terminal device sends a request message to the first core network element through the first access technology. The terminal device receives the response message from the first core network element by using the first access technology and the second access technology.

The response message is used to indicate that the service flow is transmitted by using the second access technology, or the first access technology and the second access technology, and specifically includes the following situations:

In some embodiments, the response message includes the first identifier and the indication information of the second access technology, which is understood to correspond to the first identifier and the second access technology, and is used to indicate that the service flow is from the second access Technically transmitted. For example, the first identifier is the service flow description information, and the corresponding service flow is the service flow 1. Then, when the terminal device has the service flow 1 that needs to be transmitted, it is transmitted from the second access technology.

In other embodiments, the response message includes the first identifier and the first access technology and the second access technology, and the first identifier and the first access technology and the second interface Corresponding to the technology, the service flow is indicated to be transmitted from the first access technology and the second access technology. For example, the first identifier is the service flow description information, and the corresponding service flow is the service flow 1. Then, when the terminal device has the service flow 1 and needs to be transmitted, the service flow 1 is respectively from the first access technology and the second access technology. Transfer on.

In other embodiments, the response message includes a correspondence between the first identifier and a quality of service QoS rule, the QoS rule is a QoS rule corresponding to the second access technology, or the QoS rule is the An QoS rule corresponding to the second access technology by an access technology.

The response message may be request message instruction information. For example, the response message is a PDU session modification command, and is used to indicate that the added or updated service flow of the terminal device is transmitted by using the second access technology or the first access technology and the second access technology. .

The response message includes the foregoing service flow description information and the second access technology authorized by the first core network element, or the service flow description information and the first access technology and the second access technology authorized by the first core network element.

In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal device sends a request message to the first core network element through the first access technology, and needs to be sent by the first access network device. For example, the terminal device first sends the request message to the first access network device corresponding to the first access technology, and then the first access network device sends the request message to the first core network element.

Alternatively, the terminal device sends a request message to the first core network element through the second access technology, and needs to be sent by the second access network device. For example, the terminal device first sends the request message to the second access network device corresponding to the second access technology, and then the second access network device sends the request message to the first core network element.

It should be understood that, by using the first access technology and/or the second access technology, the terminal device receives a response message from the first core network element, and needs to pass through the first access network device and/or the second access. The sending of the network device.

For example, the first core network element first sends a response message to the first access network device corresponding to the first access technology, and then the first access network device sends the request message to the terminal device.

Alternatively, the first core network element first sends a response message to the second access network device corresponding to the second access technology, and then the second access network device sends the request message to the terminal device.

Or the first core network element first sends the response message to the first access network device and the second access network device corresponding to the first access technology and the second access technology, and then the first access network device and the first access network device The second access network device sends the foregoing request message to the terminal device.

In some embodiments, the response message further includes a traffic distribution rule, where the traffic distribution rule is used to indicate that the first access technology and the second access technology respectively support the amount of data transmitted, or respectively support the transmitted bandwidth value or support. The ratio of the amount of data transferred or the ratio of the bandwidths that support the transmission, respectively.

For example, the offloading rule is used to indicate respective available bandwidth values of the first access technology and the second access technology, or the offloading rule is used to indicate the first access technology and the second access technology. The sum of the available bandwidth values and the ratio information of the available bandwidth values of the first access technology and the second access technology.

When the terminal device transmits the service flow on the first access technology and the second access technology, the size of the bandwidth that can be supported by the first access technology and the second access technology may be considered, respectively, in the first access technology and The second access technology transmits data packets of different bandwidth values.

For example, the foregoing service flow supports packet granularity offloading, that is, the traffic flow can be transmitted from the first access technology and the second access technology. The available bandwidth value of the first access technology is A, and the available bandwidth value of the second access technology is B.

or,

For example, the foregoing service flow supports packet granularity offloading, that is, the traffic flow can be transmitted from the first access technology and the second access technology. The sum of the available bandwidth values of the first access technology and the second access technology is A, and the ratio of the available bandwidth values of the first access technology and the second access technology is a:b. According to the above, A and a:b are available:

The available bandwidth value of the first access technology is A*a/(a+b);

The available bandwidth value of the second access technology is A*b/(a+b);

Case 2: the terminal device receives a response message from the first core network element by using the first access technology, where the response message is used to indicate that the second access technology in the multiple access PDU session is deleted. success.

In the embodiment of the present application, when the terminal device requests to delete the second access technology to update the multiple access PDU session to the single access PDU session, the first core network element needs to delete the result after deleting the second access technology. Inform the terminal device.

In some embodiments, the response message is further configured to indicate that the service flow is transmitted from the first access technology, where the service flow is not deleted in the second access technology, in the second The traffic flow transmitted on the access technology.

For example, the second access technology currently transmits service flow 1 and service flow 2. When the second access technology is deleted. The above service flow 1 and service flow 2 need to be transmitted on the first access technology that has not been deleted. That is, the description of the service flow 1 and the service flow 2 and the first access technology are used to indicate that the terminal device transmits the service flow 1 and the service flow 2 through the first access technology.

After receiving the response message sent by the first core network element, the terminal device needs to send a response message. For example, the terminal device sends a response message to the first core network element, and the response message is a reply message of the response message. The response message is used by the terminal device to confirm, by the first core network element, the correspondence between the service flow and the access technology included in the response message sent by the first core network element. When the terminal device does not carry the foregoing correspondence in the request message, the terminal device sends an acknowledgement indication of the response message to the first core network element, where the terminal device accepts the service included in the response message sent by the first core network element. Correspondence between flow and access technology. The confirmation indication of the foregoing correspondence is that the terminal device returns the received and accepted correspondence to the first core network element.

The first core network element indicates that the terminal device deletes the second access technology and successfully deletes the following two methods.

Manner 1: The first core network element sends a first message to the second core network element, where the first message includes the indication information and the response message of the first access technology. Optionally, the first message includes third indication information, where the third indication information is N2 session management information (N2 SM management information), where the QoS file is included. The QoS file is a QoS parameter corresponding to the service flow transmitted from the second access technology to the first access technology; the first access network device sends a response message to the terminal device. Optionally, when receiving the N2 interface session management information, the first access network device stores the N2 interface session management information.

The first core network element sends a second message to the second core network element, where the second message includes the second access technology indication information and the N2 resource release request. The foregoing N2 resource release request includes a second identifier, that is, a PDU session ID. The N2 resource release request is used to instruct the second access network device to release the PDU session resource. The second access network device releases the PDU session resource based on the N2 resource release request.

Manner 2: The first core network element sends a third message to the second core network element, where the third message includes the first access technology indication information and the response message, and the optional first correspondence relationship of the N2 interface session management information. And a second correspondence between the indication information of the second access technology and the N2 resource release request.

The second core network element sends a response message and optional N2 interface session management information to the first access network device corresponding to the indication information of the first access technology based on the first correspondence. The above N2 interface session management information includes a QoS file. The QoS file is a QoS parameter related to the traffic flow transmitted from the second access technology to the first access technology. The first access network device sends a response message to the terminal device. Optionally, when receiving the N2 interface session management information, the first access network device stores the N2 interface session management information.

The second core network element sends and sends an N2 resource release request to the second access network device corresponding to the indication information of the second access technology, based on the second correspondence. The foregoing N2 resource release request includes a second identifier, that is, a PDU session ID. The N2 resource release request is used to instruct the second access network device to release the PDU session connection resource. The second access network device releases the PDU session resource based on the N2 resource release request.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The method includes:

S210. The access network device sends network state information to the first core network element. The access network device sends network state information to the first core network element, where the network state information is used to indicate a data transmission state of the access network device.

In some implementations, the access network device sends the network status information to the first core network element, and the first access network device corresponding to the first access technology sends the first network status information to the first core network element. The first network state information is used to indicate that the first access technology supports at least one of a data volume or a bandwidth or a delay or a packet loss rate or a signal strength.

In another implementation, the access network device sends the network status information to the first core network element, and the second access network device corresponding to the second access technology sends the second network status information to the first core network element. The second network state information is used to indicate that the second access technology supports at least one of a data volume or a bandwidth or a delay or a packet loss rate or a signal strength.

In some implementations, the network status information is a bandwidth value parameter that the access network device can provide for a multiple access PDU session. For example, the first access technology corresponding to the first access network device may provide data transmission with a bandwidth value of A.

In other implementations, the network status information is a delay parameter that the access network device can provide for the multiple access PDU session. For example, if the first access technology delay corresponding to the first access network device is 1 ms, the first access technology may provide data transmission with a delay requirement greater than 1 ms.

In other implementations, the network status information is a bandwidth value and a delay parameter that the access network device can provide for the multiple access PDU session. For example, the first access technology corresponding to the first access network device may provide a bandwidth value of A and a delay of 1 ms.

In other implementations, the network status information is a transmission resource that the access network device can release the traffic flow. For example, the current access quality of the first access technology does not support the normal transmission of the service flow 1, that is, the first access technology releases the transmission resource of the service flow 1.

In other implementations, the network status information is a packet loss rate or signal strength corresponding to the access network device.

In some implementations, the network status information can be at least one of load, bandwidth, delay, packet loss rate, or signal strength of the access network device.

The following is an example in which the first access network device in the access network device sends the network status information to request to update the QoS file of the access technology in the multiple access PDU session.

In some implementations, the network status information includes service flow identification information, where the service flow identification information is used to indicate a service flow deleted on the first access technology. It should be understood that when only one service flow is transmitted on the first access technology, the service flow identification information is not required to indicate the corresponding service flow.

In other implementations, the foregoing first network state information includes multiple access PDU session identification information, where the multiple access PDU session identification information is used to indicate which multi-access PDU session is deleted on the first access technology. . It should be understood that when only one multiple access PDU session is included between the terminal device and the UPF network element, the multiple access PDU session identification information is not required to indicate the corresponding multiple access PDU session.

When the first access technology cannot satisfy the transmission of the service flow. For example, the performance degradation of the first access technology cannot meet the quality requirements of the first service. The first access network device sends the first network state information to the first core network element by using the first access technology, and indicates that the resource used for transmitting the service flow on the first access technology is released by the first access network device.

In some implementations, the first network state information is further used to indicate that the first core network element configures a QoS file of the second access technology, where the second access technology is between the terminal device and the UPF network element. Access technology other than the first access technology in the access technology of the multiple access PDU session. For example, when a multi-access PDU session is established, the QoS of the first access technology is 10 megabytes, and the QoS of the second access technology is 10 megabytes. When the first network state information indicates that the first access technology can only support QoS=5 megabits, the first core network element configures the QoS of the second access technology to be 15 megabytes.

S220. The access network device receives the indication information from the first core network element.

The access network device receives the indication information sent by the first core network element, where the indication information is used to request the access network device to allocate a QoS parameter corresponding to the network status information.

The first access network device receives the fourth indication information from the first core network element by using the first access technology, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the first access network device updates the first access technology QoS file.

In some implementations, the updating the QoS file of the first access technology includes:

The first access network device sets the bandwidth of the first access technology to a, and a is less than or equal to the above A.

In other implementations, the updating the QoS file of the first access technology includes:

The delay of the first access network device setting the first access technology is x ms, and x ms is less than or equal to the above 1 ms.

The first access network device sets the bandwidth value of the first access technology to a and the delay requirement to be x ms, and a is less than or equal to the above A and x ms is less than or equal to the above 1 ms.

In some implementations, the first access network device receives the fourth indication information from the first core network element by using the first access technology, where the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the service flow is transmitted from the second access technology. The service flow is a service flow corresponding to the service flow description information, where the service flow description information is information that is sent by the terminal device to the first core network element by using the first access technology, where the first connection is The ingress technology and the second access technology are access technologies for multiple access PDU sessions between the terminal device and the UPF network element.

The receiving, by the second access network device, the fifth indication information from the first core network element includes:

The second access network device receives the fifth indication information that is sent by the network element of the first core network, where the fifth indication information is used to request the second access network device to allocate the information corresponding to the first network state information. A second QoS file, the QoS file including associated QoS parameters.

The first core network element may update the QoS file of the second access technology according to the first network state information reported by the first access network device, where the QoS file includes related QoS parameters.

In some embodiments, when the first network status information sent by the first access network device is used to indicate that the first access network device deletes a transmission resource of a service flow in the first access technology, the second The access network device receives the fifth indication information from the first core network element by using the second access technology, where the fifth indication information is used to indicate that the second access network device updates the second access technology The QoS file enables the second access technology to transmit the traffic flow.

For example, when the transmission quality of the service flow 1 on the first access technology cannot be satisfied, the first access network device deletes the transmission resource of the transport service flow 1 on the first access technology, and sends the network status information to notify the first A core network element. The first core network element needs to set the QoS file of the second access technology, so that the second access technology can transmit the service flow 1 to ensure normal transmission of the service flow 1. The current QoS file of the second access technology includes a QoS parameter of QoS1, and QoS1 needs to be updated to QoS2 to satisfy the normal transmission of service flow 1. Then, the fifth indication information sent by the first core network element includes QoS2, and the second access device receives the fifth indication information, and can update QoS1 to QoS2.

In some embodiments, the second access network device can send the second network state information to the first core network element. The second network state information includes at least one of a load, a bandwidth, a delay, a packet loss rate, or a signal strength of the second access network device.

It can be seen from FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 that the first core network element needs to process the request message of the terminal device and the indication message of the access network device, and returns a corresponding response message. The present application is described in detail below with reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. The communication method in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The method includes:

S310. The first core network element receives a request message from the terminal device.

The first core network element receives the request message from the terminal device by using the first access technology, where the request message is used to request to add or update a service flow, where the request message includes a first identifier, and the first identifier is used to determine The business flow.

The first access technology and the second access technology are two different access technologies in a multiple access PDU session between the terminal device and the UPF network element, and the request message is The request message described in FIG. 3 is consistent, and can carry a variety of information, and details are not described herein again.

The method further includes determining, by the first core network element, an access technology corresponding to the service flow.

The first core network element determines, according to the request message and the first core network element policy, that the service flow is transmitted by using the second access technology, or the first access technology and the second access technology. The core network policy is the traffic split policy information configured on the PCF or SMF. When the PCF configures the offload policy, the PCF sends the offload policy to the SMF. Optionally, the PCC (Policy and Charging Control) rule sent by the PCF to the SMF includes the foregoing traffic off policy. The foregoing traffic distribution policy includes a packet flow (Packet Filter(s)) or a service flow template (SDF template) corresponding to an access technology, and an optional routing factor. The foregoing access technology is a first access technology, or a second access technology, or a first access technology and a second access technology, or multiple access indications. The foregoing first access technology and the second access technology or multiple access indications are used to indicate that the service flow can be transmitted in any one or two of the first access technology and the second access technology. When the first access technology and the second access technology are included in the offloading strategy, a routing factor is also included for each access technology. When the routing factor is set to "NULL/empty", it means that the amount of data transmitted by each access technology is not limited. When the routing factor is a specific value (such as a:b), it indicates the specific transmission data magnitude, or bandwidth value, or data volume ratio or bandwidth ratio of each access technology. If the traffic distribution policy includes flow description 1 or flow template 1, the routing factor corresponding to the first access technology is a, and the routing factor corresponding to the second access technology is b, then the first access technology transmits the total data volume or the total bandwidth. a / (a + b), the second access technology transmits the total amount of data or b / (a + b) of the total bandwidth. The same offloading policy information described above can also be configured on the SMF. Alternatively, the first access technology and the second access technology are indicated by the PCF in the offloading policy information, and the routing factor of each access technology is determined by the SMF based on the network link status.

In some embodiments, the terminal device requests to transmit a traffic flow on the first access technology. Then, if the terminal device allows the first core network element to modify the request, the first core network element allocates a resource transmission service flow on the second access technology.

In other embodiments, the terminal device requests to transmit a traffic flow on the second access technology. The first core network element allocates a resource transmission service flow on the second access technology.

In other embodiments, the terminal device requests to transmit the traffic flow on the first access technology and the second access technology. The first core network element allocates a resource transmission service flow on the first access technology and the second access technology.

Optionally, the first core network element receives the correspondence between the third identifier included in the request message and the multiple access technology transmission indication. When the first core network element supports the TFCP protocol, the first core network element allows the third service flow determined by the third identifier to perform multi-access technology transmission or allows the third service flow determined by the third identifier to perform TFCP encapsulation.

S320. The first core network element sends a response message to the terminal device.

The first core network element sends a response message to the terminal device by using the first access technology and/or the second access technology, where the response message includes the first identifier information and the second access technology Instructions; or,

The response message includes the first identifier information, the indication information of the first access technology, and the indication information of the second access technology, to indicate that the service flow passes the second access technology, Or the first access technology and the second access technology are transmitted.

Optionally, the response message includes a third identifier and a multi-connection technology transmission indication. The foregoing third identifier and multiple access technology transmission indication indicates that the first core network element allows/authorizes the third service flow determined by the third identifier to perform multi-access technology transmission or allows/authorizes the third service determined by the third identifier. The stream is TFCP encapsulated. The third identifier is a Packet Filter (s) or a Service Data Flow Template (SDF Template) or a QFI or PDU Session ID. The multiple access technology transmission indication is a TFCP protocol indication, a TFCP protocol encapsulation indication or a packet granularity offload indication.

In some embodiments, the sending, by the first core network element, the response message to the terminal device includes: the indication information of the first/second access technology described below may also be defined as the first/second access technology indication or the first One/two access technology identification.

method one:

The first core network element (such as the SMF network element shown in FIG. 2) sends a first message to the second core network element (such as the AMF network element shown in FIG. 2), where the first message includes the first access technology. Instructions and response messages;

The second core network element sends the response message to the first access network device according to the indication information of the first access technology, and the first access network device sends the response message to the terminal device.

Method 2:

The first core network element sends a first message to the second core network element, where the first message includes indication information of the second access technology and a response message;

The second core network element sends the response message to the second access network device according to the indication information of the second access technology, and the second access network device sends the response message to the terminal device.

Method three:

The first core network element sends a first message to the second core network element, where the first message includes a second access technology and a first access technology correspondence relationship and a response message;

Sending, by the second core network element, the response message to the first access network device and the second access network device, where the first access network device and the second access network device send the response message to Terminal Equipment.

Method 4:

The first core network element sends a third message to the second core network element, where the third message includes a correspondence between the first access technology and the response message, and a correspondence between the second access technology and the second indication information.

The second core network element sends the response message to the first access network device based on the first access technology and the response message, and the first access network device sends the response message to the terminal device. .

Or, when the third message includes the second access technology and the response message correspondence or the second access technology and the second access technology and the response message, the second core network element may correspond to the corresponding relationship. The access network device sends a response message.

In some embodiments, the transmitting, by the second access technology, the service flow comprises:

method one:

The first core network element sends a second message to the second core network element, where the second message includes indication information of the second access technology and second indication information. The second indication information may be N2 Session Management Information (N2 SM management information).

Transmitting, by the first core network element, the second indication information to the second access network device corresponding to the second access technology, where the second indication information includes a QoS file, the QoS The file includes QoS parameters related to the service flow;

Method 2:

The first core network element sends a third message to the second core network element, where the third message includes the indication information of the first access technology and the response message, and the technical indication information and the second indication of the second access Information correspondence.

The second core network element sends a second indication information to the second access network device according to the mapping between the indication information of the second access technology and the second indication information, and instructs the second access network device to update the second access technology. The QoS parameters enable the traffic flow to be transmitted by the second access network device.

In some embodiments, the transmitting, by the first access technology and the second access technology, the service flow includes:

method one:

The first core network element sends a first message to the second core network element, where the first message includes indication information of the first access technology, third indication information, and a response message. The third indication information includes a QoS file, and the QoS file includes a QoS parameter related to the service flow.

The third indication information may be N2 Session Management Information (N2 SM management information) for indicating that the QoS parameter of the first access technology is updated.

The first core network element sends a second message to the second core network element, where the second message includes indication information of the second access technology and second indication information. The second indication information may be used by the session management information (SM information) to indicate that the QoS parameter of the second access technology is updated.

The second core network element sends a third indication information and a response message to the first access network device, instructing the first access network device to update the QoS parameter of the first access technology, so that the service flow can pass the The first access network device transmits. In addition, the response message is continuously sent by the first access network device to the terminal device.

The second core network element sends second indication information to the second access network device, where the second indication information includes a QoS file, and the QoS file includes a QoS parameter related to the service flow. Instructing the second access network device to update the QoS parameters of the second access technology, so that the service flow can be transmitted by the second access network device.

Method 2:

The first core network element sends a third message to the second core network element, where the third message includes the first correspondence between the indication information of the first access technology and the third indication information and the response message, and the second access The second correspondence between the technology and the second indication information.

The second core network element sends a third indication information and a response message to the first access network device corresponding to the indication information of the first access technology, and indicates that the first access network device updates the first connection. The QoS parameters of the incoming technology enable the traffic flow to be transmitted by the first access network device. In addition, the first access network device sends a response message to the terminal device.

And the second core network element sends the second indication information to the second access network device corresponding to the indication information of the second access technology, and the second access network device is configured to update the second access technology. The QoS parameters enable the traffic flow to be transmitted by the second access network device.

The first core network element may also be used to send an N4 session message to the third core network element (such as the UPF network element shown in FIG. 1), and the N4 session message includes the S4 network element (such as the SMF network element shown in FIG. 1). The fourth identifier and the multiple access transmission indication; the fourth identifier is a Packet Filter (s) or a Service Data Flow Template (SDF Template) or a QFI or PDU session ID or an N4 session identifier. The N4 session has a one-to-one correspondence with the PDU Session. The multiple access technology transmission indication is a TFCP protocol indication, a TFCP protocol encapsulation indication or a packet granularity offload indication. The UPF stores a correspondence between the fourth identifier and the multiple access transmission indication, and the UPF performs TFCP header parsing on the user plane data based on the foregoing relationship.

Specifically, the user plane network element UPF includes the TFCP header based on the QFI determination data received by the user plane, or determines that the data of the PDU session includes the TFCP header based on the user plane tunnel identifier, or determines the end marker according to the end identifier End marker data packet. The data received after the packet contains the TFCP header. The user plane network element UPF sorts the data packets based on the sequence numbers contained in the TFCP header.

FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application. The method includes:

S311. The first core network element receives network state information from the access network device.

The first core network element receives the network status information from the access network device, where the network status information is used to indicate the data transmission status of the access network device;

In some implementations, the first core network element receives the first network state information from the first access network device.

In some implementations, the first core network element receives second network state information from the second access network device.

In some implementations, the first network state information is used to indicate that the first access technology currently supports the amount of data or transmission bandwidth that is transmitted. For example, indicating that the first access technology can support at least one of a bandwidth value of transmission or a delay or packet loss rate or signal strength.

In other implementations, the first network state information is used to indicate that the first access technology releases a transmission resource of a service flow, where the service flow is any service flow transmitted on the first access technology. For example, indicating that the first access technology does not support the transmission of the traffic flow 1 due to quality reasons, the transmission resource of the traffic flow 1 is released.

The method also includes the first core network element determining a QoS file corresponding to the network status information.

The first core network element determines a QoS file of the access network device according to the network status information.

In some embodiments, the first core network element configures a QoS file of the first access technology, for example, a bandwidth value or a delay value of the first access technology, according to the network status information.

In other embodiments, the first core network element configures a QoS file of the second access technology, for example, a bandwidth value or a delay value of the second access technology, according to the network status information.

In another embodiment, the first core network element configures the QoS file of the second access technology according to the network state information, so that the second access technology can transmit the service corresponding to the resource released by the first access technology. flow.

S322. The first core network element sends the indication information to the access network device.

The first core network element sends the indication information to the access network device, where the indication information includes a quality of service QoS file corresponding to the network status information that is sent to the access network device.

For example, the first core network element sends the fourth indication information to the first access network device by using the first access technology, where the fourth indication information is used to instruct the first access network device to update the A QoS file for access technology.

In some embodiments, the fourth indication information includes a bandwidth value or a delay value of the first access technology.

In other embodiments, the fourth indication information includes a QoS file of the first access technology after the transmission resource corresponding to the release service flow of the first access technology.

For example, the first core network element sends the fifth indication information to the second access network device by using the second access technology, where the fifth indication information is used to indicate that the second access network device is updated. The QoS file of the second access technology.

In some embodiments, the fifth indication information includes a bandwidth value or a delay value of the second access technology.

In other embodiments, after the fifth indication information includes the transmission resource corresponding to the release service flow of the first access technology, the QoS parameter of the second access technology, and the QoS of the second access technology are configured. After the parameter, the second access technology can support the transmission of the service flow.

It should be understood that the first core network element sends the fourth indication information and sends the fifth indication information. Similar to the sending of the response message to the terminal device shown in FIG. 6, the first core network (SMF) network element may send two messages to the second core network (AMF) network element, and the second core network element sends the corresponding connection. Network access equipment,

Or the first core network element sends a message to the second core network element, and the second core network element is based on the correspondence between the indication information and the access technology in the message sent by the first core network element, The indication information in the message is sent to the corresponding access network device.

3-7 illustrate the roles played by various parts of the communication system in different embodiments from the perspectives of the terminal device, the access network device, and the first core network element.

In this embodiment, the first access network device is an NG-RAN, the second access network device is an N3 IWF, the first access technology is a 3GPP access technology, and the second access technology is a Non-3GPP access technology. The service flow is an example of a new or updated service flow 1 in a multiple access PDU session.

FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to a first embodiment of the present application.

In the method of this embodiment, the terminal device initiates a modify PDU session request message through the 3GPP access technology, so that the terminal device can transmit the service flow 1 through the Non-3GPP access technology.

The method of this embodiment includes:

S410. The terminal device sends a request message to the NG-RAN, where the request message is a PDU session Modification Request message.

In a possible implementation manner, the PDU session Modification Request message may be carried in a Non-Access-Stratume transport (NAS Transpor) message.

The PDU Session Modification Request message may be the request message described in FIG. Specifically, the request message includes at least one of a first identifier, a second identifier, a requested QoS parameter, a requested access technology, or a QoS rule identifier. For example, the first identifier is the flow description information of the service flow 1, the second identifier is the PDU session ID, and the access technology is the Non-3GPP access technology. In a possible implementation manner, the request message further includes first indication information that allows the SMF to modify the correspondence between the service flow 1 and the access technology. In addition, the service flow description or the QFI or PDU session identifier is associated with the multiple access technology transmission indication.

S420, the NG-RAN sends a request message to the AMF network element.

In a possible implementation manner, the NAS transport sends the request message to the AMF, and the NAStransport message.

S430. The AMF network element receives the NAS transport message and sends a request message to the SMF network element.

S440. The SMF network element allows the service flow 1 to be transmitted through the Non-3GPP access technology side according to the PDU session modification request message and the SMF policy, and the SMF updates the QoS profile of the Non-3GPP access technology. The above SMF policy includes a locally configured traffic distribution rule or a traffic distribution rule sent by the PCF. The SMF sends the QoS file of the Non-3GPP access technology, enabling the Non-3GPP access technology to transmit the new or updated service flow 1. The SMF policy information is obtained from the PCF, and the acquisition mode is similar to the existing information transmission, and is not shown in the figure.

After receiving the request message and determining the QoS profile of the Non-3GPP access technology, the SMF needs to notify the N3IWF to update the QoS profile of the corresponding Non-3GPP access technology, and send a PDU session modification response message to the terminal device. The PDU session modification response message includes a first identifier and an authorized access technology, and the authorized access technology is a Non-3GPP access technology. In addition, the foregoing message includes a service flow description or a correspondence between a QFI or PDU session identifier and a multiple access technology transmission indication, and is used to indicate that the network side allows/authorizes the corresponding service flow or the QFI or PDU session to perform multiple access technology transmission, or performs TFCP package.

The process includes:

method one:

S450. The SMF network element sends a first message to the AMF network element. The first message includes the access technology type set to 3GPP access, PDU session modification command (PDU session Modification command) message. The PDU session modification response message includes a correspondence between the flow description information of the service flow 1 and the Non-3GPP access technology or a correspondence relationship with the QoS rule 1. The above QoS rule 1 is a QoS rule on the Non-3GPP side. In addition, optionally, the service flow description or the QFI or PDU session identifier and the multiple access technology transmission indication correspondence are included. The multi-access technology transmission indication is used to indicate that the data packet of the corresponding service flow or QFI or PDU session supports multiple access technology transmission, or supports TFCP protocol encapsulation, or supports packet granularity distribution.

S460, the SMF network element sends a second message to the AMF network element, where the second message includes the access technology type set to Non-3GPP, N2 Session Management Information (N2 SM information), and the N2 SM information is included QoS profile configured by Non-3GPP.

S470. The AMF network element sends a first N2 session request message to the NG-RAN according to the 3GPP access, where the PDU session modification response message is included.

S480. The AMF network element sends a second N2 session request message to the N3IWF, where the N2 SM information in the foregoing S460 is included. It is used to instruct the N3IWF to update the current QoS profile of the Non-3GPP side, so that the service flow 1 can be transmitted through the Non-3GPP.

Method 2:

S450. The SMF network element sends a third message to the AMF network element. The third message includes that the access technology type is set to correspond to the 3GPP access and the PDU session modification response message, and the access technology type is set to correspond to the Non-3GPP access and the N2 SM information.

S470, after the AMF network element receives the third message. The AMF network element is configured to correspond to the PDU session modification response message according to the access technology type, and sends an N2 session request message to the NG-RAN, where the PDU session modification response message is included.

S480, after the AMF network element receives the third message. The AMF network element is configured to correspond to the N2 SM information according to the type of the access technology, and sends an N2 session request message, which includes the N2 SM information, to the N3IWF. It is used to instruct the N3IWF to update the current QoS profile of the Non-3GPP side, so that the service flow 1 can be transmitted through the Non-3GPP.

S490. The NG-RAN sends a PDU session modification response message to the terminal device. The PDU session modification response message includes a correspondence between the flow description information of the service flow 1 and the Non-3GPP or a corresponding relationship with the QoS rule, and the correspondence is used to indicate that the service flow 1 added by the terminal device is transmitted from the Non-3GPP. In addition, the PDU session modification response message includes a service flow description or a correspondence between a QFI or PDU session identifier and a multiple access technology transmission indication. The multi-access technology transmission indication is used to indicate that the data packet of the corresponding service flow or QFI or PDU session supports multiple access technology transmission, or supports TFCP protocol encapsulation, or supports packet granularity distribution.

S491. The NG-RAN sends an N2 session reply message to the AMF network element. The NG-RAN is instructed to successfully receive the N2 Session Request message.

S492. The terminal device sends a PDU session modification response response message to the SMF network element. Indicates that the terminal device successfully completed the update request.

S493. The SMF network element sends an N4 session new or update request message to the UPF network element to determine that the PDU session has been modified. Optionally, the foregoing N4 session new or update request message includes a service flow description or a service flow template or at least one of a QFI or PDU session ID or an N4 session identifier and a multi-access technology transmission indication correspondence. The multiple access technology transmission indication is used to indicate that the data packet of the corresponding service flow or service flow template or QFI or PDU session supports multiple access technology transmission, or supports TFCP protocol encapsulation, or supports packet granularity distribution.

It should be understood that FIG. 8 is only a specific embodiment. The foregoing service flow 1 and the request message sent from the 3GPP are only examples, and the scope of protection of the present application cannot be limited. For example, it may also be an access technology that needs to update the session when the traffic flow 1 in the original multiple access PDU session changes. A request message may also be sent from Non-3GPP requesting to update the 3GPP QoS profile.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for initiating an update of a request message from a 3GPP to update a Non-3GPP. The following describes a flow of an access technology in an access multi-access PDU session initiated by an access network device.

FIG. 9 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method of a second embodiment of the present application.

In the method of this embodiment, the NG-RAN initiates a Non-3GPP modification request message in the multi-access PDU session by the 3GPP, so that the Non-3GPP can transmit the schematic diagram of the service flow 1 deleted on the 3GPP.

S510, the NG-RAN sends a request message to the AMF network element, where the request message is an N2 request message, for example, the 3GPP quality is degraded, and the normal transmission of the service flow 1 cannot be supported, and the N2 request message includes the 3GP P side of the NG-RAN release. Transmit the resources of service flow 1.

S520. The AMF network element notifies the SMF network element of a state change of the NG-RAN access network device.

S530. The SMF network element sends the N2 SM information to the N3IWF, where the updated Non-3GPP QoS file is carried. Enables Non-3GPP to transmit the traffic stream 1. And, the QoS file of the non-3GPP side is configured based on the QoS parameter of the NG-RAN released 3GPP transport service stream 1.

Updating the QoS profile of the Non-3GPP side and the 3GPP side by the SMF network element includes notifying the N3 IWF to modify the QoS profile of the corresponding Non-3GPP, and notifying the NG-RAN to modify the QoS profile of the corresponding 3GPP. The process includes:

method one:

S540. The SMF network element sends a first message to the AMF network element. The first message includes an access technology type set to 3GPP access, and optionally, a PDU session modification response message and a first update message, where the first update message is N2 Session Management information (N2 SM) Information), the first SM information includes a QoS profile configured for 3GPP.

S550. The SMF sends a second message to the AMF, where the second message includes an access technology type set to Non-3GPP access, and an optional PDU session modification response message and a second update message, where the second update message is the second N2. The N2 SM management information includes a QoS profile configured for the Non-3GPP in the second N2 SM information.

It should be understood that the PDU Session Modification Response message exists only in S540 or S550. For example, when the PDU session modification response message is included in S540, the S550 does not include the PDU session modification response message.

S560. The AMF network element sends the first N2 SM information to the NG-RAN. It is used to instruct the NG-RAN to update the current QoS parameters of the 3GPP.

S570. The AMF network element sends the second N2 SM information to the N3IWF. It is used to instruct the N3IWF to update the current QoS parameters of Non-3GPP, so that the traffic flow 1 can be transmitted through the Non-3GPP.

It should be understood that the received PDU session modification response message NG-RAN or N3IWF continues to transmit the PDU session modification response message to the terminal device.

Method 2:

S540. The SMF network element sends a third message to the AMF network element. The third message includes that the access technology type is set to correspond to the first N2 SM information, and the access technology type is set to be Non-3GPP access corresponding to the second N2 SM information. In addition, the PDU Session Modification Response message corresponds to 3GPP access or to non-3GPP access.

S560, after the AMF network element receives the third message. The AMF network element is configured to correspond to the first N2 SM information according to the access technology type, and sends an N2 session request message to the NG-RAN, including the first N2 SM information. If the PDU session modification response message corresponds to the 3GPP access, the N2 session request message further includes a PDU session modification response message.

S570, after the AMF network element receives the third message. The AMF network element is configured to correspond to the second N2 SM information according to the access technology type, and send an N2 session request message to the N3IWF, including the second N2 SM information. It is used to instruct the N3IWF to update the current QoS parameters of Non-3GPP, so that the traffic flow 1 can be transmitted through the Non-3GPP. If the PDU session modification response message corresponds to the non-3GPP access, the N2 session request message further includes a PDU session modification response message.

S580. The N3IWF sends an N2 session reply message to the AMF network element, and is used to reply to the N2 session request message, indicating that the QoS parameter of the Non-3GPP has been updated.

S590. The NG-RAN network element sends an N2 session reply message to the AMF network element, and is used to reply to the N2 session request message, indicating that the QoS parameter of the 3GPP has been updated.

S591: The SMF network element sends an N4 session new or modified message to the UPF network element to determine that the multiple access PDU session has been modified.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for initiating a request message for updating a Non-3GPP from a 3GPP, and a flow of a request message for a terminal device to initiate an update of 3GPP and Non-3GPP from a 3GPP is briefly described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 10 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method of a third embodiment of the present application.

In the method of the embodiment, the terminal device initiates a PDU session modification request message by using the 3GPP technology, so that, in the case that the service flow 1 supports the packet offload, the terminal device can simultaneously transmit the service flow 1 through the 3GPP technology and the Non-3GPP technology. schematic diagram.

S610. The terminal device sends a request message to the NG-RAN through the 3GPP, where the request message is a PDU session modification request message. The PDU session Modification Request can be carried in the NAS transport message.

The multi-access PDU session modification request message is the request message described in FIG. Specifically, the request message includes a PDU session ID, a flow description information of the service flow 1, a requested QoS parameter, a correspondence between the service flow 1 and the requested 3GPP access technology and the Non-3GPP access technology, or corresponding to the requested QoS rule1. relationship. The above QoS rule 1 is a QoS rule applicable to the 3GPP access technology and the Non-GPP access technology side.

S620. The NG-RAN sends the NAS transport message to the AMF network element, where the PDU session modification request message is included.

S630. The AMF network element receives the NAS tansport message, and sends the PDU session modification request message to the SMF network element. Network element

S640. The SMF network element determines, according to the PDU session modification request message and the first core network element policy, that the service flow 1 can be transmitted on the 3GPP and the Non-3GPP side, and the SMF updates the QoS profile of the 3GPP and the Non-3GPP. In addition, the SMF determines the routing factor according to the offloading policy delivered by the PCF or according to at least one of the local policy or the network status of the two sides, that is, determining the 3GPP access technology and its routing factor a, the Non-3GPP access technology and its routing factor. b. For example, according to the requirements of the traffic flow 1 for the QoS file, the QoS files of the 3GPP side and the Non-3GPP side are set, so that the 3GPP and the Non-3GPP access technology can simultaneously transmit the newly added service flow 1. Specifically, the guaranteed bandwidth required by the service flow 1 is A, and the routing factor of the 3GPP side and the Non-3GPP access technology side is a:b, and the guaranteed bandwidth in the QoS file of the 3GPP access technology side is A*a/( a+b), the guaranteed bandwidth in the Non-3GPP access technology side QoS file is A*b/(a+b).

After receiving the PDU session modification request message and determining the QoS profile of the 3GPP access technology and the Non-3GPP access technology, the SMF network element needs to notify the NG-RAN and the N3 IWF to modify the QoS profile of the corresponding 3GPP side and the Non-3GPP side, and Give the terminal device a PDU session modification response message. The PDU session modification response message includes a correspondence between the first identifier and the first access technology and the second access indication. In addition, optionally, at least one of a routing factor of the first access technology and a routing factor of the second access technology. The above routing factor can be set to null or a specific value a:b. The process includes:

method one:

S650. The SMF network element sends a first message to the AMF network element. The first message includes an access technology type set to 3GPP access, a PDU session modification command, and first update information, where the first update information may be the first N2 session management information (N2). SM information).

S660. The SMF network element sends a first message to the AMF network element. The first message includes an access technology type set to Non-3GPP access and second update information, and the second update information may be N2Session Management information (N2 SM information).

It should be understood that the foregoing PDU session Modification command may be carried in the first message and/or the second message, which is taken as an example in the first message.

S670. The AMF network element sends an N2 session request message to the NG-RAN, where the first update information and the PDU session modification response message are included. The QoS profile for instructing the NG-RAN to update the corresponding 3GPP side has transmitted a PDU session modification response to the terminal device.

S680. The AMF network element sends an N2 session request message to the N3IWF, where the second update information is included. Used to indicate that the N3IWF updates the corresponding QoS profile of the Non-3GPP side.

Method 2:

S650. The SMF network element sends a third message to the AMF network element. The third message includes that the access technology type is set to correspond to the first update information and the PDU session modification response message, and the access technology type is set to correspond to the second update information.

S670, after the AMF network element receives the third message. The AMF network element is configured to correspond to the first update information and the PDU session modification response message according to the access technology type, and send an N2 session request message to the NG-RAN, where the first update information and the PDU session modification response message are included. It is used to instruct the NG-RAN to update the current QoS file of the 3GPP, so that the service flow 1 can be transmitted through 3GPP. And, instructing the NG-RAN to send a PDU session modification response message to the terminal device.

S680, after the AMF network element receives the third message. The AMF network element is configured to correspond to the second update information according to the access technology type, and sends an N2 session request message to the N3IWF. It is used to instruct the N3IWF to update the current QoS file of Non-3GPP, so that the service flow 1 can be transmitted through the Non-3GPP.

S690: The NG-RAN sends a PDU session modification response message to the terminal device. The PDU session modification response message includes a correspondence between a flow description of the traffic flow 1 and a 3GPP access technology and a Non-3GPP access technology, or a flow description of the traffic flow 1 and a QoS rule1, where the QoS rule 1 is applicable to the 3GPP side and the Non. - QoS rule on the 3GPP side. The correspondence is used to indicate that the service flow 1 added by the terminal device is transmitted from 3GPP and Non-3GPP. In addition, a flow description or a QFI or PDU session ID and a multiple access transmission indication correspondence are also included. The multi-access transmission indication is used to indicate that the network side allows the corresponding service flow or the data packet of the QoS flow or PDU session to perform multi-access technology transmission, or performs TFCP encapsulation.

S691. The NG-RAN sends an N2 session reply message to the AMF network element. The NG-RAN is instructed to successfully receive the N2 Session Request message.

S692. The terminal device sends a PDU session modification response response message to the SMF network element. Indicates that the terminal device successfully completed the update request.

S693: The SMF network element sends an N4 session creation or modification request message to the UPF network element to determine that the PDU session has been modified. The message carries a flow description or a flow template or a QFI or PDU session ID or a N4 session identifier and a multi-access technology transmission indication correspondence. The multiple access technology transmission indication is a Traffic Flow Control Policy (TFCP) indication, or a packet granularity distribution indication. The function of the foregoing parameter is to indicate that the service flow corresponding to the user plane function network element UPF or the data packet of the QoS flow or PDU session supports transmission in multiple access technologies, or the network element supports TFCP header encapsulation.

S694. The terminal device transmits uplink data to the NG-RAN. The terminal device sends a service flow data packet to the NG-RAN on the user plane.

It should be understood that the foregoing NG-RAN is an exemplary form, and the access network device may be an NG-RAN on the 3GPP side or an N3IWF on the Non-3GPP side, or a trusted access gateway or a fixed network access gateway device (Access Gateway). Function, AGF), etc.

Traffic 1 supports packet granularity, ie traffic 1 can be transmitted from multiple access technologies. Traffic 1 supports TFCP encapsulation, that is, all packets of service flow 1 carry the TFCP header.

There are three types of execution granularity of the packet granularity or TFCP encapsulation, which are service flow granularity, QoS flow granularity, or PDU session granularity. The service flow granularity indicates that all data packets of the relevant service flow are subjected to packet granularity or TFCP protocol header encapsulation. The QoS flow granularity indicates that all data flows of the relevant QoS flow are subjected to packet granularity splitting or TFCP protocol header encapsulation. The PDU session granularity indicates that all data flows in the relevant PDU session are subjected to packet granularity splitting or TFCP protocol header encapsulation. The three implementation granularities are described below:

Execution granularity 1: packet granularity of service flow granularity or TFCP protocol header encapsulation

In some embodiments, the terminal device decides to perform the traffic flow 1 multiple access offload, and the terminal device encapsulates the data packet of the traffic flow 1 in the TFCP header. In addition, for the data packet that has been encapsulated by the TFCP header, the terminal device sends the TFCP indication information to the NG-RAN. The TFCP indication information indicates that the data packet of the service flow 1 is encapsulated by the TFCP header, or the TFCP indication information indicates that the upper layer protocol of the data packet is the TFCP protocol.

In other embodiments, the terminal device determines to perform the traffic flow 1 multiple access offload, and the terminal device sends the sequence number of the data packet of the service flow 1 to the NG-RAN. The serial number can indicate the order of the data packets in traffic flow 1.

For example, if the service flow 1 includes the data packet 1 and the data packet 2, and the order of the data packet 1 is the first data packet, the sequence number 1 of the data packet 1 is sent to the NG-RAN, and the order of the data packet 2 is the second. For each data packet, the sequence number 2 of the data packet 2 is sent to the NG-RAN. Thus, even if the data packet 1 and the data packet 2 are transmitted through different access technologies, the data packet 2 is successfully transmitted first, and the data packet 1 is successfully transmitted. The receiving data terminal can determine the order of the data packet according to the serial number of the data packet, and correctly receive the data packet. Business flow 1.

It should be understood that before the terminal device sends the data packet, the terminal device sends a request message to the first core network element, requesting that the data packet be transmitted by using multiple access technologies. The request message includes a third identifier and a multiple access transmission indication correspondence, where the third identifier is used to determine a service flow that performs packet granularity offloading or performs TFCP protocol header encapsulation, where the multiple access transmission indication is used for The service flow is indicated to support multiple access technology transmissions.

The multiple access transmission indication may be a TFCP protocol indication, a TFCP protocol encapsulation indication, or a packet granularity offload indication.

S695, the NG-RAN sends the foregoing data packet.

In some embodiments, the NG-RAN sends the above data packet and the TFCP indication to the UPF. Specifically, after the NG-RAN obtains the TFCP indication, the NG-RAN adds a TFCP indication to the packet header sent to the UPF. The UPF learns that the upper layer protocol of the protocol layer is the TFCP protocol based on the TFCP indication, or the UPF learns that the inner layer data packet is encapsulated by the TFCP based on the TFCP indication. Subsequent UPFs will parse the packets according to the TFCP protocol.

In other embodiments, the NG-RAN sends the above data packet and the packet sequence number to the UPF. Specifically, after the access network device obtains the data packet sequence number, the NG-RAN adds the data packet sequence number to the UPF in the message header sent to the UPF. The UPF reorders the data packets based on the above sequence number, and correctly parses the traffic flow 1.

It should be understood that the S694 and S695 data are used as an example. In the embodiment of the present application, when the service flow supports the packet granularity, the multi-access offload indication is added to the uplink message, and the service flow is performed to indicate the packet granularity. The downlink data is similar to the uplink, and will not be described here.

Execution granularity 2: QoS flow granularity packet granularity or TFCP protocol header encapsulation

S694. The terminal device transmits uplink data to the NG-RAN. The terminal device sends a service flow data packet to the NG-RAN on the user plane. The terminal device sends the QoS flow identifier to which the data packet belongs, that is, QFI, to the NG-RAN.

S695, the NG-RAN sends the foregoing data packet.

The NG-RAN sends the above data packet to the UPF and simultaneously sends the QFI to the UPF. Specifically, when the NG-RAN obtains the QFI, the NG-RAN adds a QFI to the packet header sent to the UPF. Based on the QFI, the UPF learns that the upper layer protocol of the protocol layer is the TFCP protocol, or the UPF learns that the inner layer data packet is encapsulated by the TFCP protocol header based on the QFI. The subsequent UPF will parse the data packet according to the TFCP protocol. Specifically, the UPF obtains the data packet sequence number in the TFCP protocol header, and performs data packet ordering based on the above sequence number.

The downlink data is similar to the uplink, and will not be described here.

It should be understood that before the terminal device sends the data packet, the terminal device sends a request message to the first core network element, requesting that the data packet be transmitted by using multiple access technologies. The request message includes a third identifier and a multiple access transmission indication correspondence. The third identifier is the QoS flow identifier QFI. The multiple access transmission indication may be a TFCP protocol indication, a TFCP protocol encapsulation indication, or a packet granular offload indication. The third identifier is used to determine a QoS flow for packet granularity splitting or TFCP protocol header encapsulation, and the multiple access transmission indication is used to indicate that all service flows of the QoS flow support multiple access technology transmissions.

Performing granularity three: packet granularity of PDU session granularity or TFCP protocol header encapsulation

S694. The terminal device transmits uplink data to the NG-RAN. The terminal device sends a service flow data packet to the NG-RAN on the user plane. The terminal device sends the data packet to the NG-RAN on the access side connection corresponding to the PDU session to which it belongs.

S695, the NG-RAN sends the foregoing data packet.

The NG-RAN sends the above data packet to the UPF. Specifically, the NG-RAN sends the foregoing data packet to the UPF on the user plane tunnel corresponding to the PDU session to which the data packet belongs. The UPF identifies the PDU session to which the data packet belongs based on the tunnel identifier, and determines that the upper layer protocol is the TFCP protocol based on the PDU session, or the UPF learns that the inner layer data packet is encapsulated by the TFCP based on the PDU session. The subsequent UPF will parse the data packet according to the TFCP protocol. Specifically, the UPF obtains the data packet sequence number in the TFCP protocol header, and performs data packet ordering based on the above sequence number.

The downlink data is similar to the uplink, and will not be described here.

It should be understood that before the terminal device sends the data packet, the terminal device sends a request message to the first core network element, requesting that the data packet be transmitted by using multiple access technologies. The request message includes a third identifier and a multiple access transmission indication correspondence. The third identifier is a PDU session ID. The multiple access transmission indication may be a TFCP protocol indication, a TFCP protocol encapsulation indication, or a packet granular offload indication. The third identifier is used to determine a PDU session for packet granularity splitting or TFCP protocol header encapsulation, and the multiple access transmission indication is used to indicate that all service flows of the PDU session support multiple access technology transmissions.

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment in which the RAN initiates a request message for updating Non-3GPP from 3GPP. The flow of the RAN to initiate the update of 3GPP and Non-3GPP from the 3GPP is briefly described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 11 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method of a fourth embodiment of the present application.

In the method of this embodiment, the NG-RAN initiates a network status report from the 3GPP technology side, and is used to update the schematic diagrams of 3GPP and Non-3GPP.

S710. The NG-RAN sends network status information to the AMF network element. It is used to indicate the current network connection status of the 3GPP side corresponding to the NG-RAN. For example, it may be at least one of a bandwidth value or a delay value that the NG-RAN supports transmission, or a packet loss rate or a signal strength.

S720. The AMF network element sends the foregoing network state information to the SMF network element.

After receiving the first network status information, the SMF network element. The session management function network element needs to modify the QoS files of 3GPP and Non-3GPP according to the first network state information, and notify the NG-RAN and the N3 IWF. The process includes:

method one:

S730, the SMF sends a first message to the AMF network element, where the first message includes an access technology type set to 3GPP access, a first update message, and the first update message is the first N2 session management information (N2). SM information), the first N2 SM information includes a QoS profile configured for the 3GPP based on the first network state information.

S740, the SMF sends a second message to the AMF network element, where the second message includes an access technology type set to Non-3GPP access, a second update message, and the second update message is a second N2 session management information (Session Management information, N2 SM information), the second N2 SM information includes a QoS profile configured for Non-3GPP. The second N2 SM information includes a QoS profile configured for the non-3GPP based on the first network state information.

It should be understood that the PDU session modification command may also be carried in the first message or the second message. The foregoing message carries a correspondence between the service flow and the first access technology and the second access technology. And the routing factor corresponding to each access technology. The above routing factor is based on the first network state information setting.

S750. The AMF network element sends the first N2 SM information to the NG-RAN. It is used to instruct the NG-RAN to update the current QoS file of the 3GPP.

S760. The AMF network element sends the second N2 SM information to the N3IWF. Used to instruct the N3IWF to update the current QoS file of Non-3GPP.

It should be understood that the PDU session Modification command is sent by the NG-RAN or N3IWF to the UE.

Method 2:

S730. The SMF network element sends a third message to the AMF network element. The third message includes that the access technology type is set to correspond to the first N2 SM information, and the access technology type is set to correspond to the second N2 SM information. It should be understood that the PDU session Modification command may also correspond to 3GPP access or non-3GPP access. The foregoing message carries a correspondence between the service flow and the first access technology and the second access technology. And the routing factor corresponding to each access technology. The above routing factor is based on the first network state information setting.

S750, after the AMF network element receives the third message. The AMF network element is configured to correspond to the first N2 SM information according to the access technology type, and sends an N2 session request message to the NG-RAN, where the first N2 SM information is included.

S760, after the AMF network element receives the third message. The AMF network element is configured to correspond to the second N2 SM information according to the access technology type, and sends an N2 session request message to the N3IWF, where the second N2 SM information is included.

S770. The N3IWF sends an N2 session reply message to the AMF network element, and is used as a reply of the N2 session request message, indicating that the QoS file of the Non-3GPP has been updated.

S780. The NG-RAN network element sends an N2 session reply message to the AMF network element for replying to the N2 session request message, indicating that the 3GPP QoS file has been updated.

S790: The SMF network element sends a session modification message to the UPF network element to determine that the multi-access PDU session has been modified.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a request for a terminal device to initiate a request to update a second access technology from a first access technology. The following is a brief description of a request for a terminal device to initiate a second access technology deletion from a first access technology. The flow of the message.

FIG. 12 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method according to a fifth embodiment of the present application.

In the method of the embodiment, the terminal device initiates a PDU session modification request message or a PDU session release request message by using the 3GPP access technology, and is used to delete the connection on the Non-3GPP side in the multiple access PDU session, so that the multiple access PDU session Updated as a schematic diagram of a single access PDU session.

S810. The terminal device sends a request message to the NG-RAN through the 3GPP side, where the request message is a PDU session modification request message or a PDU session release request message, where the message is used to delete the Non-3GPP side connection. The PDU session modification request message is a specific embodiment of the request message described in FIG. Specifically, the request message includes a first identifier, and an optional deletion indication. The first identifier indicates the deleted Non-3GPP access, and the deletion indication indicates that the session connection on the access technology side indicated by the first identifier is deleted.

S820. The NG-RAN sends the foregoing PDU session modification request message or PDU session release request message to the AMF network element.

S830. The AMF network element sends the foregoing PDU session modification request message or PDU session release request message to the SMF network element. Network element

S840. The SMF network element deletes the session connection on the Non-3GPP side according to the foregoing PDU session modification request message or the PDU session release request message.

The SMF network element receives the request message and deletes the session connection on the Non-3GPP side, including notifying the N3IWF to delete the corresponding session resource and sending a response message to the terminal device. The process includes:

method one:

S850. The SMF network element sends a first message to the AMF network element. The first message includes an access technology type set to 3GPP access, a PDU session modification response message, or a PDU session release response message.

S860. The SMF network element sends a second message to the AMF network element, where the second message includes the access technology type set to Non-3GPP access and the N2 resource release request. The above N2 resource release request includes a PDU session ID. The N3IWF determines the deleted PDU session resource based on the PDU session ID.

S870. The AMF network element sends a first N2 session request message to the NG-RAN, where the PDU session modification response message or the PDU session release response message is carried.

Optionally, before the Non-3GPP is deleted, the service flow is transmitted on the Non-3GPP, and after the Non-3GPP needs to be deleted, the service flow is transmitted on the 3GPP. Then, the PDU session modification response message or the PDU session release response message includes a correspondence between the flow description information of the service flow and the 3GPP, and indicates that the service flow is transmitted on the 3GPP.

S880. The AMF network element sends a second N2 session request message to the N3IWF, where the N2 resource release request is carried. It is used to instruct the N3IWF to delete the session resources of the Non-3GPP side. The above N2 resource release request includes a PDU session ID. The N3IWF determines the deleted PDU session resource based on the PDU session ID.

Method 2:

S850. The SMF network element sends a third message to the AMF network element. The third message includes that the access technology type is set to correspond to the PDU session modification response message or the PDU session release response message, and the access technology type is set to correspond to the Non-3GPP access and the N2 resource release request.

S870, after the AMF network element receives the third message. The AMF network element is configured to correspond to the PDU session modification response message or the PDU session release response message according to the access technology type, and send a PDU session modification response message or a PDU session release response message to the NG-RAN.

S880, after the AMF network element receives the third message. The AMF network element is configured to correspond to the N2 resource release request according to the access technology type, and send an N2 resource release request to the N3IWF. Used to instruct the N3IWF to delete the session connection on the Non-3GPP side. The above N2 resource release request includes a PDU session ID. The N3IWF determines the deleted PDU session resource based on the PDU session ID.

S890: The NG-RAN sends a PDU session modification response message or a PDU session release response message to the terminal device, to indicate that the terminal device Non-3GPP has been deleted.

Or, the traffic flow transmitted on the Non-3GPP is also instructed to be transmitted from the 3GPP.

S891, the NG-RAN sends an N2 session reply message to the AMF. It is used to identify that the NG-RAN receives the N2 session request message sent by the AMF.

S892. The terminal device sends a response message of the PDU session modification response message or the PDU session release response message to the SMF network element.

S893: The SMF network element sends session modification information to the UPF network element to determine that the multi-access PDU session has been modified.

On the basis of the foregoing method embodiments, the embodiment of the present application provides a service flow offloading method in conjunction with FIG. The service flow here refers to the service flow in the foregoing PDU session, or the service flow in the above flow, or the newly added service flow.

That is, the service flow offloading in this embodiment may be a packet granularity splitting of a service flow granularity, or a packet granularity splitting of a QoS flow granularity, or a packet granularity splitting of a PDU session granularity.

FIG. 13 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method of a sixth embodiment of the present application. The data sending network element 1210, the data receiving network element 1220, and the steps S1210 to S1230 are included.

The data sending network element 1210 can be a terminal device, and the data receiving network element 1220 can be a UPF. Alternatively, the data sending network element 1210 may be a UPF, and the data receiving network element 1220 may be a terminal device.

S1210: The data sending network element determines a link status.

The data transmitting network element determines a link state of the first link and/or a link state of the second link. It should be understood that the data transmission network element is streamed before the data packet is sent. First, it is determined whether the multiple links of the data packet to be transmitted satisfy the state of the offload transmission.

For example, the data sending network element determines that a first round trip time (RTT) of the first link and a second RTT of the second link satisfy a first preset condition. The first preset condition may be that a difference between the first RTT and the second RTT is less than or equal to a first preset threshold. The first preset threshold is a value greater than or equal to zero.

For another example, the data sending network element determines that the first link delay of the first link and the second link delay of the second link meet the second preset condition. The second preset condition may be that the difference between the first link delay and the second link delay is less than or equal to a second preset threshold. The second preset threshold is a value greater than or equal to zero.

Specifically, the data sending network element determines that the difference between the first RTT and the second RTT is less than or equal to the first preset threshold, and the initial time that the data sending network element sends the data packet passes through the first link and the second chain. The road transmits the same amount of data, and then increases the amount of transmitted data of the first link and the second link, respectively. Until the RTT of the first link and the second link changes, or the difference is greater than or close to the first predetermined threshold, or until the RTT value of the first link or the second link is close to the maximum RTT acceptable for the traffic flow.

The first preset threshold may be set to 0. When the difference between the first RTT and the second RTT is equal to 0, the first link and the second link can be used to offload the service flow.

Specifically, the data sending network element determines that the difference between the first link delay and the second link delay is less than or equal to the second preset threshold, and the initial time that the data sending network element sends the data packet passes the first The link and the second link transmit the same amount of data, and then increase the amount of transmitted data of the first link and the second link, respectively. Until the link delay difference of the first link and the second link is greater than or close to the first preset threshold, or until the link delay value of the first link or the second link is close to the acceptable traffic flow Maximum link delay.

The second preset threshold may be set to 0, and when the first link delay and the second link delay difference are equal to 0, the first link and the second link can be used for the offload transmission. The business flow.

S1220: The data sending network element sends a data packet.

Transmitting, by the data transmission network element, the first data packet by using the first link according to the link state of the first link and/or the link state of the second link, and transmitting the second data packet by using the second link a data packet, wherein the first data packet and the second data packet belong to the same service flow, the first data packet includes a first TFCP header, and the first TFCP header includes the first data packet a sequence number, the second data packet includes a second TFCP header, and the second TFCP header includes a sequence number of the second data packet.

It should be understood that, in order for the data receiving network element 1220 to correctly receive the service flow, when different data packets of the same service flow are transmitted through different links, the data packet needs to carry identification information indicating the order of the data packet in the service flow.

Specifically, the first data packet and the second data packet may be the same data packet. In this case, it can be understood that the data sending network element sends the service flow on the two links at the same time. The method for sending the service flow can be applied to the service flow, which is a service flow with high reliability requirements.

Alternatively, the traffic flow is a transition from the state of being transmitted from the first side link to the state of being transmitted from the second side link as described in FIG. 3 above, and the traffic flow is moved from the first side link to the first In the process of the two-side link, the data sending network element needs to send the data packet of the service flow on both sides of the link at the same time. Optionally, when the service flow is completed on the first side link, the data sending network element sends an End Marked data packet as the last data packet transmitted on the first side link. Alternatively, optionally, when the service flow starts and/or completes the simultaneous transmission of the first side link and the second side link, the data sending network element is sent on the first link side or/and the second link side. End Marked packet as an indication of the start or/and end of simultaneous transmission. In this embodiment, the data transmission network element determines whether the first side link completes the transmission, and may be the foregoing sending the End Marked data packet, or may be the duration of the first side link transmission data reaching the first pre-preparation. Set the duration.

Or, if the split ratio of the first link and the second link in the offloading policy described in FIG. 3 is 100%, the terminal device determines the first data packet and the second data. Package is the same packet

S1230: The data receiving network element caches the data packet.

Receiving, by the data receiving network element, the first data packet sent by the data sending network element from the first link, where the first data packet includes a first TFCP header, and the first TFCP header includes a sequence number of the first data packet; Receiving, by the data receiving network element, a second data packet sent by the data sending network element, where the second data packet includes a second TFCP header, where the second TFCP header includes the second data packet a serial number, wherein the first data packet and the second data packet belong to the same service flow; the data receiving network element is based on a sequence number of the first data packet and a sequence number of the second data packet Caching the first data packet and/or the second data packet.

It should be understood that when the data sending network element sends the data packet through multiple links, the data receiving network element should correctly follow the order of the data packet in the service flow according to the identification information indicating the sequence of the data packet in the received data packet. The received data packet is buffered to correctly receive the service flow composed of the data packet.

The data receiving network element buffers the first data packet and/or the second data packet according to the sequence number of the first data packet and the sequence number of the second data packet, including: the data receiving network element according to The sequence number of the first data packet and the sequence number of the second data packet store the first data packet and the second data packet in a buffer area by a sequence number.

For example, the data sending network element sends the first and third data packets of the sequence number from the first link, and the second and fourth data packets of the serial number are sent from the second link, and the data receiving network element is based on the first link. And the serial number of the data packet sent by the second link, when buffering, according to the serial number of the data packet, the data packets of the serial number 1, 2, 3, and 4 are sequentially cached.

Optionally, in some embodiments, the data receiving network element caches the first data packet and/or the second data packet according to a sequence number of the first data packet and a sequence number of the second data packet. ,include:

If the first data packet and/or the second data packet are included in the buffer area, the data receiving network element discards the first data packet and/or the second data packet.

For example, if the data packet with the sequence number 1 is cached in the buffer, if the data receiving network element receives the first data packet and/or the second data packet with the sequence number 1, the first data packet and/or the first data packet is discarded. Two packets.

Specifically, the data receiving network element sets the length of the buffer area to L, and stores the sequence number X of the data packet of the cached minimum sequence number of the buffer area, and X is a positive integer.

If the sequence number of the first data packet and/or the second data packet is smaller than a minimum data packet sequence number in the buffer area, the data receiving network element discards the first data packet and/or the The second data packet.

For example, the sequence number X of the data packet with the smallest sequence number of the buffer in the buffer area, if the data receiving network element receives the first data packet and/or the second data packet with the sequence number M, and M is smaller than X, then The first data packet and/or the second data packet are discarded.

It should be understood that the first data packet and the second data packet data packet may be a plurality of data packets, which are referred to as first and second only to distinguish transmissions from the first link or the second link.

Specifically, the data receiving network element determines the status of the data packet in the buffer area. The status of the packet includes the lost state and the cache state.

Specifically, if the data receiving network element does not receive the data packet for a predetermined duration, the data receiving network element determines that the state of the data packet is a lost state. The data receiving network element determines the predetermined duration according to the link delay of the first link and/or the second link; or the data receiving network element is configured according to the first link and/or the The round trip time RTT of the two links determines the predetermined duration. For example, the predetermined duration may be set to be half the duration of the first RRT; or, the predetermined duration may be set to be half the duration of the second RRT; or, the predetermined duration may be set to a half duration of the first RRT and the second RRT The maximum of half the length.

Let the predetermined duration be L1, the first RRT be RRT1, and the second RRT be RRT2, then L1=max(RTT1/2, RTT2/2).

For example, the predetermined duration may be set to the link delay D1 of the first link; or, the predetermined duration may be set to the delay D2 of the second link; or, the predetermined duration may be set to be the maximum of the two link delays. value.

The predetermined duration is L1, L1=max(D1, D2), wherein D1 and D2 may be calculated according to the first RRT and the second RRT, or may be obtained according to an empirical value, or may be a system specification.

Specifically, the predetermined duration is longer than the predetermined duration, and the lifetime is the difference between the current time and the estimated reception time of the data packet, and the data packet estimation reception time is based on a previous packet reception time or/and of the data packet. The reception time of the latter packet is obtained.

For example, the data receiving network element records the receiving time of the previous data packet of the data packet as T1, and/or the data receiving network element records the receiving time of the next data packet of the data packet as T2.

The data receiving network element calculates, according to the T1 and/or T2, that the receiving time of the data packet is T3; for example, T3=T1+l, where l is a preset time consumed by each data packet transmission, or, T2 = T2-l, or T3 = T1 + (T2-T1)/2, or T3 = T2-(T2-T1)/2 when T1 and T2 are known.

The data receiving network element calculates a lifetime L2 of the data packet according to the T3 and the current time T4; L2=T4-T3.

When the survival time length L2 is greater than or equal to the predetermined time length L1, it is determined that the data packet is in a lost state.

For example, the data receiving network element starts the subscription duration timer according to the reception time of the previous data packet of the data packet or/and the reception time of the next data packet of the data packet, and when the subscription duration timer expires, the data packet In a lost state. Specifically, when the receiving time of the previous data packet of the data packet is T1, the subscription duration timer of the data packet is started at T1. Alternatively, the receiving time of the next data packet of the data packet is T2, and the subscription duration timer of the data packet is started at T2. Or start the packet duration timer at any time between T1 and T2.

For example, when the data packet with the sequence number N is buffered by the data receiving network element in the buffer area, the data packet with the sequence number N and the first N-1 of the data packet with the sequence number N need to be sequentially output. In the case of a data packet, if there is a missing third data packet among the N data packets, the third data packet is considered to be in a lost state, and N is a positive integer.

It can be understood that, in this case, the lifetime L2 of the third data packet is less than or equal to the predetermined duration L1, and the data receiving network element is no longer waiting to receive the third data packet.

Specifically, the data receiving network element outputting the data packet in the buffer area includes:

The data receiving network element receives the data packet with the sequence number Y, buffers the data packet with the serial number Y, and the data packet whose serial number is smaller than Y is in the buffer area, and the data receiving network element will use the serial number in the buffer area as Y. The data packet and all packet output buffers whose sequence number is smaller than Y, where Y is greater than or equal to X above. Or, when some data packets whose sequence number is smaller than Y are in the above lost state, all the data packets whose serial number is smaller than Y are not in the lost state, and the data receiving network element is in the buffer area. The packet whose sequence number is Y and the packet output buffer that is not in the lost state among all the packets whose sequence number is smaller than Y.

Further, the data receiving network element updates the above X to the above Y+1.

The data receiving network element receives the data packet with the sequence number Y, and the data packet whose serial number is smaller than Y is in the buffer area, and the data receiving network element outputs all the data packet output buffers whose sequence number is smaller than Y in the buffer area, where Y Greater than or equal to the above X. Alternatively, when some of the data packets whose sequence number is smaller than Y are in the above-mentioned lost state, all the data packets whose sequence numbers are smaller than Y are not in the lost state, and the data receiving network element will be in the buffer area. A packet output buffer that is not in a lost state in all packets whose sequence number is less than Y.

Further, the data receiving network element updates the above X to the above Y.

The communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application is introduced from the execution actions of a single device and the interaction behavior between the devices, respectively, in conjunction with FIG. 3 and FIG. The communication device provided by the embodiment of the present application is described below with reference to FIG. 14 to FIG.

FIG. 14 shows a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 100. The device 100 can be used to implement the method described in the foregoing method embodiments, and can be referred to the description in the foregoing method embodiments. The communication device 100 may be a chip, or a terminal device or the like.

The communication device 100 includes one or more processing units 110. The processing unit 110 can be a general purpose processor or a dedicated processor or the like. For example, it can be a baseband processor, or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processor can be used to control communication devices (eg, base stations, terminals, or chips, etc.), execute software programs, and process data of the software programs.

The communication device may include a transmitting unit 120 for implementing output (transmission) of a signal. For example, the communication device can be a chip, and the transmitting unit 120 can be an output circuit of the chip, or a communication interface. The chip can be used for a terminal device. For another example, the communication device may be a terminal device, and the sending unit 120 may be a transceiver, a radio frequency chip, or the like.

The communication device may include a receiving unit 130 for implementing input (reception) of a signal. For example, the communication device can be a chip, and the transmitting unit 120 can be an input circuit of the chip, or a communication interface. The chip can be used for a terminal device. For another example, the communication device may be a terminal device, and the receiving unit 130 may be a transceiver, a radio frequency chip, or the like.

The communication device 100 includes one or more of the processing units 110, and the one or more processing units 110 can implement a communication method of the terminal devices in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 to 13. include:

a sending unit, configured to send, by using the first access technology, a request message to the first core network element, where the request message is used to request to add or update a service flow;

a receiving unit, configured to receive, by using the first access technology and/or the second access technology, a response message of the request message sent by the first core network element;

The sending unit is further configured to use the second access technology according to the response message, or the first access technology and the second access technology to transmit the service flow.

In a possible design, the request message includes first identification information and indication information of the second access technology, where the first identification information is used to determine the service flow;

The response message includes the first identifier information and the indication information of the second access technology; or

The response message includes the first identifier information, and the indication information of the first access technology and the indication information of the second access technology.

In another possible design, the request message includes first identifier information, indication information of the first access technology, and indication information of the second access technology, where the first identifier information is used to determine The service flow;

In another possible design, the request message includes first identifier information and indication information of the first access technology, where the first identifier information is used to determine the service flow;

In another possible design, the request message further includes:

The first indication information is used to indicate that the first core network element can modify an access technology corresponding to the service flow.

In a possible design, the first identification information includes:

At least one of the description information of the service flow, the quality of service flow identifier QFI, or the packet data unit PDU session identifier.

In a possible design, the indication information of the first access technology is a first access type, and the indication information of the second access technology is a second access type; or

The indication information of the first access technology is a QoS rule corresponding to the first access type, and the indication information of the second access technology is a QoS rule corresponding to the second access type, or

The indication information of the first access technology and the indication information of the second access technology are quality of service QoS rules corresponding to the first access type and the second access type.

In a possible design, the response message includes a traffic distribution rule, and the processing unit is configured to determine, according to the traffic distribution rule, data that is transmitted by the service flow by using the first access technology and the second access technology. The transmitting unit transmits the service flow by using the first access technology and the second access technology according to the response message, including:

The sending unit transmits the service flow by using the first access technology and the second access technology according to the data amount.

In a possible design, the offloading rule includes a bandwidth value transmitted by the service flow by the first access technology and/or a bandwidth value transmitted by the service flow by the second access technology;

The offloading rule includes a ratio of a ratio of data amounts or bandwidth values of the traffic flow transmitted by the first access technology and the second technology.

The communication device 100 shown in FIG. 14 implements the communication method of the terminal device in each embodiment shown in FIG. 3 to FIG.

a sending unit, configured to send, by using the first access technology, a request message to the first core network element, where the request message is used to request to delete the second access technology in the multiple access PDU session;

a receiving unit, configured to receive, by using the first access technology, a response message of the request message from the first core network element, where the response message is used to indicate a second connection in the multiple access PDU session The technical deletion was successful.

In a possible design, the request message further includes at least one of a deletion indication and an indication information of the second access technology, where the deletion indication indicates deleting the second connection in the multiple access PDU session. In the technology, the indication information of the second access technology is used to indicate the second access technology.

In a possible design, the response message includes a first identifier and indication information of the first access technology, where the first identifier is used to indicate that the service flow is transmitted by using the first access technology, where the service flow is A service flow transmitted by the second access technology when the second access technology is not deleted.

a sending unit, configured to send, by using the first access technology, a request message to the first core network element, where the request message is used to request to add or update a third service flow or to request to establish a PDU session;

a receiving unit, configured to receive, by using the first access technology and/or the second access technology, a response message sent by the first core network element;

The sending unit is further configured to transmit the third service flow or the PDU session by using multiple access technologies based on the response message.

In a possible design, the third identifier includes at least one of a service flow description information, a quality of service flow identifier QFI, or a packet data unit PDU session identifier.

In another possible design, the multiple access transmission indication is a TFCP protocol indication, or a TFCP protocol encapsulation indication, or a packet granular offload indication.

In another possible design, the processing unit is configured to determine that the data includes a TFCP header based on the QFI, or to determine that the data includes a TFCP header based on the PDU session to which the data packet belongs, or determine the End based on the end identifier End marker data packet. The data received after the marker packet contains the TFCP header.

In another possible design, the processing unit is configured to sort the data packets based on a sequence number contained in a TFCP header.

In one possible design, the communication device 100 may also include a storage unit 140 for storing corresponding instructions. The processing unit executes the instructions in the storage unit to implement the operations of the terminal device in the above method embodiment.

FIG. 15 shows a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 200. The device 200 can be used to implement the method described in the foregoing method embodiments, and can be referred to the description in the foregoing method embodiments. The communication device 200 can be a chip, or an access network device or the like.

The communication device 200 includes one or more processing units 210. The processing unit 210 can be a general purpose processor or a dedicated processor or the like. For example, it can be a baseband processor, or a central processing unit. The baseband processor can be used to process communication protocols and communication data, and the central processor can be used to control communication devices (eg, base stations, terminals, or chips, etc.), execute software programs, and process data of the software programs.

The communication device may include a transmitting unit 220 for implementing output (transmission) of a signal. For example, the communication device can be a chip, and the transmitting unit 220 can be an output circuit of the chip, or a communication interface. The chip can be used for access network devices. For another example, the communication device may be an access network device, and the sending unit 220 may be a transceiver, a radio frequency chip, or the like.

The communication device may include a receiving unit 230 for implementing input (reception) of a signal. For example, the communication device can be a chip, and the transmitting unit 120 can be an input circuit of the chip, or a communication interface. The chip can be used for access network devices. For another example, the communication device may be an access network device, and the receiving unit 230 may be a transceiver, a radio frequency chip, or the like.

The communication device 200 includes one or more of the processing units 210, and the one or more processing units 210 can implement a communication method of an access network device in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 to 13. include:

a sending unit, configured to send network state information to the first core network element, where the network state information is used to indicate a data transmission state of the access network device;

The receiving unit is configured to receive indication information sent by the first core network element, where the indication information includes a quality of service QoS file that is sent to the access network device and that corresponds to the network status information.

And a processing unit, configured to update the QoS according to the indication information.

In a possible design, the network state information includes at least one of a load, a bandwidth, a delay, a packet loss rate, or a signal strength of the first access network device.

In a possible design, the indication information includes the first identifier and the indication information of the access technology, and is used to indicate that the service flow is transmitted by the access technology indicated by the indication information of the access technology, where the first identifier is used for Determine the business flow.

The communication device 200 shown in FIG. 15 can implement the communication method of the access network device in the embodiments shown in FIG. 3 to FIG.

a receiving unit, configured to receive a first data packet sent by the terminal device, where a packet header of the first data packet carries a fifth identifier, where the fifth identifier is used to indicate that the first data packet supports multiple access technologies Diversion

a sending unit, configured to send a second data packet to the first core network element, where a packet header of the second data packet includes a sixth identifier, and the sixth identifier is used to indicate that the second data packet supports multiple access The technology is offloaded, and the second data packet includes data content of the second data packet.

In a possible design, the fifth identifier or the sixth identifier is used to indicate that the data packet supports multiple access technology offloading, including: the fifth identifier or the sixth identifier is used to indicate The data packet supports the TFCP protocol, or the data includes a TFCP header, or a sequence number of the data packet.

In another possible design, the acquiring, by the first core network element, the data packet according to the sixth identifier includes: the first core network element parsing the TFCP packet header according to the sixth identifier or Sort the packets.

In one possible design, the communication device 200 may also include a storage unit 240 for storing corresponding instructions. The processing unit executes the instructions in the storage unit to implement the operation of the access network device in the above method embodiment.

FIG. 16 shows a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 300. The device 300 can be used to implement the method described in the foregoing method embodiments, and can be referred to the description in the foregoing method embodiments. The communication device 300 can be a chip, or a core network device or the like.

The communication device 300 includes one or more processing units 310. The processing unit 310 can be a general purpose processor or a dedicated processor or the like. The central processing unit can be used to control a communication device (eg, a base station, a terminal, or a chip, etc.), execute a software program, and process data of the software program.

The communication device may include a transmitting unit 320 for implementing output (transmission) of a signal. For example, the communication device can be a chip, and the transmitting unit 320 can be an output circuit of the chip, or a communication interface. The chip can be used in a core network device. For another example, the communication device may be a core network device, and the sending unit 320 may be a transceiver, a radio frequency chip, or the like.

The communication device may include a receiving unit 330 for implementing input (reception) of a signal. For example, the communication device can be a chip, and the transmitting unit 320 can be an input circuit of the chip, or a communication interface. The chip can be used in a core network device. For another example, the communication device may be a core network device, and the receiving unit 330 may be a transceiver, a radio frequency chip, or the like.

The communication device 300 includes one or more processing units 310, and the one or more processing units 310 can implement the communication method of the first core network element in the core network in the embodiments shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. . include:

a receiving unit, configured to receive, by using a first access technology, a request message from a terminal device, where the request message is used to request to add or update a service flow;

a sending unit, configured to send, by using the first access technology and/or the second access technology, a response message of the request message to the terminal device;

The response message is used to indicate that the terminal device transmits the service flow by using the second access technology, or the first access technology and the second access technology.

In another possible design, the request message further includes:

In a possible design, the first identification information includes:

The indication information of the first access technology is a QoS rule corresponding to the first access type, and the indication information of the second access technology is a QoS rule corresponding to the second access type; or

In a possible design, the response message includes a traffic distribution rule, and the terminal device determines, according to the traffic distribution rule, the amount of data that is transmitted by the service flow by using the first access technology and the second access technology. ;

The terminal device transmits the service flow by using the first access technology and the second access technology according to the response message, including:

The terminal device transmits the service flow by using the first access technology and the second access technology according to the data volume.

In a possible design, the offloading rule includes an amount of data transmitted by the service flow by the first access technology and/or an amount of data transmitted by the service flow by the second access technology; or

The offloading rule includes a bandwidth value transmitted by the service flow by the first access technology and/or a bandwidth value transmitted by the service flow by using the second access technology;

The processing unit 330 is further configured to acquire policy information of the service flow.

The sending unit is configured to send, by using the first access technology and/or the second access technology, a response message of the request message to the terminal device:

And sending, by the sending unit, the response message of the request message to the terminal device by using the first access technology and/or the second access technology according to the policy information.

In one possible design, the policy information includes:

The amount of data transmitted by the first access technology and/or the amount of data transmitted by the service flow by the second access technology; or

a bandwidth value transmitted by the first access technology and/or a bandwidth value transmitted by the service flow by the second access technology;

The ratio of the ratio of the amount of data transmitted by the first access technology and the second technology or the bandwidth value.

In a possible design, the transmitting the service flow by using the second access technology includes:

The sending unit is configured to send second indication information to a second access network device corresponding to the second access technology, where the second indication information includes a QoS file, and the QoS file includes a QoS parameter related to the service flow. .

In another possible design, the transmitting the service flow by using the first access technology and the second access technology includes:

The sending unit is configured to send third indication information to the first access network device corresponding to the first access technology, where the third indication information includes a QoS file, and the QoS file includes a QoS parameter related to the service flow. ;

In a possible design, the sending, by the sending unit, the second indication information to the second access network device corresponding to the second access technology includes:

The sending unit is configured to send a second message to the second core network element, where the second message includes indication information of the second access technology and the second indication information, and the indication of the second access technology The information is used to send the second indication information to the second access network device corresponding to the second access technology.

The sending unit is configured to send a third message to the second core network element, where the third message includes third indication information, indication information of the first access technology, the second indication information, and the second access Technical instructions;

The second indication information in the third message and the indication information of the second access technology are used to send the second indication to the second access network device corresponding to the second access technology. information

In a possible design, the sending, by the sending unit, the third indication information to the first access network device corresponding to the first access technology includes:

The sending unit is configured to send a first message to the second core network element, where the first message includes indication information of the first access technology and the third indication information, and the indication of the first access technology The information is used to send the third indication information to the first access network device corresponding to the first access technology.

The sending unit is configured to send a third message to the second core network element, where the third message includes the third indication information, indication information of the first access technology, the second indication information, and the second Indication information of the access technology;

The third indication information in the third message and the indication information of the first access technology are used to send the first access network device corresponding to the first access technology to send the first Three instructions.

In one possible design, at least one of the first message, the second message, and the third message includes the response message.

The response message is included.

The communication device 300 shown in FIG. 16 can implement the communication method of the first core network element in the core network in the embodiments shown in FIG. 3 to FIG.

a receiving unit, configured to receive, by using a first access technology, a request message from a terminal device, where the request message is used to request to delete a second access technology in a multiple access PDU session;

And a sending unit, configured to send, by using the first access technology, a response message to the terminal device, where the response message is used to indicate that the second access technology in the multiple access PDU session is successfully deleted.

a receiving unit, configured to receive network state information from the first access network device by using the first access technology;

a processing unit, configured to configure, according to the network state information, a QoS file corresponding to the first access technology;

a sending unit, configured to send fourth indication information to the first access network device by using a first access technology, where the fourth indication information is used to instruct the first access network device to update the first access The corresponding QoS file for the technology.

In a possible design, the network status information includes at least one of a load, a bandwidth, a delay, a packet loss rate, or a signal strength of the first access network device.

a receiving unit, configured to receive, by using a first access technology, a request message from a terminal device, where the request message is used to request to add or update a third service flow or to request to establish a PDU session;

a sending unit, configured to send, by using the first access technology and/or the second access technology, a response message, where the response message is used to indicate that the third service flow or the PDU session allows multiple connections Into technology transmission.

In a possible design, the request message or the response message further includes a third identifier and a multiple access technology transmission indication, where the multiple access technology transmission indication is used to indicate that the terminal device requests to determine the third identifier for the third identifier. The service flow or PDU session is transmitted by multiple access technologies or encapsulated by TFCP protocol.

In a possible design, the third identifier includes at least one of service flow description information, a quality of service flow identifier QFI, or a PDU session identifier.

In one possible design, the multiple access transmission indication is a TFCP protocol indication, a TFCP protocol encapsulation indication, or a packet granular offload indication.

In a possible design, the sending unit is configured to send a fourth identifier and a multiple access technology transmission indication to the user plane network element.

In a possible design, the fourth identifier is at least one of service flow description information, a quality of service flow identifier QFI, or a PDU session identifier or an N4 session identifier.

In a possible design, the QFI is used by the terminal device to determine that the data includes a TFCP header, or the tunnel identifier is used by the terminal device to determine that the data of the PDU session includes a TFCP header, or an end identifier. The end marker data packet is used by the terminal device to determine that the data received after the End marker data packet includes a TFCP header.

In one possible design, the sequence number contained in the TFCP header is used to order the packets.

In one possible design, the communication device 300 may also include a storage unit 340 for storing corresponding instructions. The processing unit executes the instructions in the storage unit to implement the operation of the first core network element in the foregoing method embodiment.

FIG. 17 shows a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 400. The device 400 can be used to implement the method described in the foregoing method embodiments, and can be referred to the description in the above method embodiment. The communication device 400 can be a chip, or a data transmission network element or the like.

The communication device 400 includes one or more processing units 410. The processing unit 410 can be a general purpose processor or a dedicated processor or the like. The central processing unit can be used for communication devices (e.g., terminal devices, or UPFs, or SMFs) to control, execute software programs, and process data for software programs.

The communication device may include a transmitting unit 420 for implementing output (transmission) of a signal. For example, the communication device can be a chip, and the transmitting unit 420 can be an output circuit of the chip, or a communication interface. The chip can be used in a core network device. For another example, the communication device may be a terminal device, or a UPF, or an SMF, and the sending unit 420 may be a transceiver, a radio frequency chip, or the like.

The communication device may include a receiving unit 440 for implementing input (reception) of a signal. For example, the communication device can be a chip, and the transmitting unit 420 can be an input circuit of the chip, or a communication interface. The chip can be used in a core network device. For another example, the communication device may be a terminal device, or an UPF, or an SMF, and the receiving unit 440 may be a transceiver, a radio frequency chip, or the like.

The communication device 400 includes one or more of the processing units 410, and the one or more processing units 410 can implement a communication method of data transmission network elements in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 and 13. include:

And a sending unit, configured to send, to the data receiving network element, a parameter of the plurality of link transmission data.

The receiving unit is configured to receive the acknowledgement information of the plurality of link transmission data sent by the data receiving network element.

The sending unit is configured to send, by the data receiving network element, a parameter of the multiple link transmission data, specifically:

Transmitting, by the sending unit, a parameter that sends the multiple link transmission data to the data receiving network element; or

The sending unit sends the parameters of the multiple link transmission data to the data receiving network element by the user.

In a possible design, the parameters of the multiple link transmission data include: identification information of the data and indication information indicating that the data is transmitted through multiple links.

In a possible design, the parameters of the multiple link transmission data further include: a first window length, where the first window length is used to indicate a transmission window length of the data transmission network element, where the data is sent. The network element is the terminal device, the data receiving network element is a user plane network element, or the data sending network element is the user plane network element, and the data receiving network element is the terminal device, or The data sending network element is a session management function network element, and the data receiving network element is the terminal device and the user plane network element.

In one possible design, the identification information of the data: at least one of description information of the data, a quality of service flow identifier QFI, or a packet data unit PDU session identifier or an N4 session identifier.

In a possible design, the indication information includes: at least one of a data flow control protocol TFCP indication, a TFCP encapsulation indication, a packet granular offload indication, a converged tunnel indication, a converged tunnel identifier, or a network element protocol IP address, where The fused tunnel indication is used to indicate that a fused tunnel is established for the service flow, and the network element IP address is a data sending network element or/and a data receiving network element IP address.

In a possible design, the acknowledgement information of the plurality of link transmission data includes parameters of the plurality of link transmission data; or the acknowledgement information of the plurality of link transmission data includes an acknowledgement message.

In a possible design, the data sending network element is a terminal device, the data receiving network element is a user plane network element, or the data sending network element is the user plane network element, and the data receiving The network element is the terminal device, or the data sending network element is a session management function network element, and the data receiving network element is the terminal device and the user plane network element.

In a possible design, the multiple links include a 3GPP link and a non-3GPP link; or, the multiple links specifically include links of different access network devices of different access technologies; or The multiple links specifically include links of the same access technology and different access network devices.

The communication device 300 shown in FIG. 17 can implement the communication method of the data transmission network element in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 13. Specific implementations include:

The processing unit is further configured to determine a link state of the first link and/or a link state of the second link.

The sending unit is further configured to transmit, by using the first link, the first data packet according to the link state of the first link and/or the link state of the second link, by using the second Transmitting a second data packet, wherein the first data packet and the second data packet belong to a same traffic flow, the first data packet includes a first TFCP header, and the first TFCP header includes the first data packet a sequence number of a data packet, the second data packet includes a second TFCP header, and the second TFCP header includes a sequence number of the second data packet.

The processing unit is further configured to determine that the first round trip time RTT of the first link and the second RTT of the second link meet a first preset condition; or the data sending network element determines the first A link delay and the second link delay satisfy a second preset condition.

In a possible design, the first preset condition includes: a difference between the first RTT and the second RTT is less than or equal to a first preset threshold; or, the second preset condition includes The difference between the first link delay and the second link delay is less than or equal to a second preset threshold.

In one possible design, the first data packet and the second data packet are the same data packet.

In a possible design, if the split ratio of the first link and the second link in the splitting policy is 100%, the processing unit determines the first data packet and the second data The package is the same packet.

FIG. 18 shows a schematic structural diagram of a communication device 500. The device 500 can be used to implement the method described in the foregoing method embodiments, and can be referred to the description in the above method embodiment. The communication device 500 can be a chip, or a data receiving network element or the like.

The communication device 500 includes one or more processing units 510. The processing unit 510 can be a general purpose processor or a dedicated processor or the like. The central processing unit can be used for communication devices (e.g., terminal devices, or UPFs, or SMFs) to control, execute software programs, and process data for software programs.

The communication device may include a transmitting unit 520 for implementing output (transmission) of a signal. For example, the communication device can be a chip, and the transmitting unit 520 can be an output circuit of the chip, or a communication interface. The chip can be used in a core network device. For another example, the communication device may be a terminal device, or a UPF, or an SMF, and the sending unit 520 may be a transceiver, a radio frequency chip, or the like.

The communication device may include a receiving unit 550 for implementing input (reception) of a signal. For example, the communication device can be a chip, and the transmitting unit 520 can be an input circuit of the chip, or a communication interface. The chip can be used in a core network device. For another example, the communication device may be a terminal device, or an UPF, or an SMF, and the receiving unit 550 may be a transceiver, a radio frequency chip, or the like.

The communication device 500 includes one or more of the processing units 510, which can implement the communication method of the data receiving network elements in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 and 13.

a receiving unit, configured to receive, by the first link, a first data packet sent by the data sending network element, where the first data packet includes a first TFCP header, and the first TFCP header includes a sequence number of the first data packet The receiving unit is further configured to receive, by the second link, a second data packet sent by the data sending network element, where the second data packet includes a second TFCP header, and the second TFCP header includes the second data packet a serial number of the data packet, wherein the first data packet and the second data packet belong to the same service flow;

a processing unit, configured to cache the first data packet and/or the second data packet according to a sequence number of the first data packet and a sequence number of the second data packet.

In a possible design, the processing unit is configured to cache the first data packet and/or the second data according to a sequence number of the first data packet and a sequence number of the second data packet. Package, including:

The processing unit is configured to store the first data packet and the second data packet in a buffer area according to a sequence number of the first data packet and a sequence number of the second data packet by a sequence number.

The processing unit is further configured to determine a status of the data packet in the buffer area. In a possible design, the state of the data packet includes a lost state, and if the receiving unit does not receive the data packet for more than a predetermined length of time, the processing unit determines that the state of the data packet is a lost state.

The processing unit is further configured to determine the predetermined duration according to a link delay of the first link and/or the second link; or, the data receiving network element is configured according to the first link and / or the round trip time RTT of the second link, determining the predetermined duration.

In a possible design, the predetermined duration is a duration of survival, and the lifetime is a difference between a current time and an estimated reception time of the data packet, and the data packet is estimated to be received based on a previous data of the data packet. The packet reception time or / and the reception time of the latter packet are obtained.

The processing unit, configured to cache the first data packet and/or the second data packet according to the sequence number of the first data packet and the sequence number of the second data packet, including:

If the first data packet and/or the second data packet are included in the buffer area, the receiving unit discards the first data packet and/or the second data packet; or

If the sequence number of the first data packet and/or the second data packet is smaller than a minimum data packet sequence number in the buffer area, the receiving unit discards the first data packet and/or the second data pack.

It should be understood that, in the embodiment of the present application, the processing unit may be a central processing unit (CPU), and the processor may also be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), and dedicated integration. Application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic device, discrete hardware component, etc. The general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or the processor or any conventional processor or the like.

It should also be understood that the memory unit in the embodiments of the present application may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory may be a read-only memory (ROM), a programmable read only memory (ROMM), an erasable programmable read only memory (erasable PROM, EPROM), or an electrical Erase programmable EPROM (EEPROM) or flash memory. The volatile memory can be a random access memory (RAM) that acts as an external cache. By way of example and not limitation, many forms of random access memory (RAM) are available, such as static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic randomness. Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous DRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced synchronous dynamic random access memory (ESDRAM), synchronous connection dynamic random access memory Take memory (synchlink DRAM, SLDRAM) and direct memory bus random access memory (DR RAM).

The above embodiments may be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware, firmware or any other combination. When implemented in software, the above-described embodiments may be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product comprises one or more computer instructions or computer programs. When the computer instructions or computer programs are loaded or executed on a computer, the processes or functions described in accordance with embodiments of the present application are generated in whole or in part. The computer can be a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer readable storage medium or transferred from one computer readable storage medium to another computer readable storage medium, for example, the computer instructions can be from a website site, computer, server or data center Transfer to another website site, computer, server, or data center by wire (eg, infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.). The computer readable storage medium can be any available media that can be accessed by a computer or a data storage device such as a server, data center, or the like that contains one or more sets of available media. The usable medium can be a magnetic medium (eg, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape), an optical medium (eg, a DVD), or a semiconductor medium. The semiconductor medium can be a solid state hard drive.

It should be understood that the term "and/or" herein is merely an association relationship describing an associated object, indicating that there may be three relationships, for example, A and/or B, which may indicate that A exists separately, and A and B exist simultaneously. There are three cases of B alone. In addition, the character "/" in this article generally indicates that the contextual object is an "or" relationship.

It should be understood that, in the various embodiments of the present application, the size of the sequence numbers of the foregoing processes does not mean the order of execution sequence, and the order of execution of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not be applied to the embodiment of the present application. The implementation process constitutes any limitation.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the network elements and algorithm steps of the various examples described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the solution. A person skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each particular application, but such implementation should not be considered to be beyond the scope of the present application. A person skilled in the art can clearly understand that for the convenience and brevity of the description, the specific working process of the system, the device and the network element described above can refer to the corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiment, and details are not described herein again. In the several embodiments provided by the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices, and methods may be implemented in other manners. For example, the device embodiments described above are only schematic. For example, the division of the network element is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be another division manner, for example, multiple network elements or components may be used. Combinations can be integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be an indirect coupling or communication connection through some interface, device or network element, and may be electrical, mechanical or otherwise.

The network elements described as the separate components may or may not be physically separated. The components displayed as network elements may or may not be physical network elements, that is, may be located in one place, or may be distributed to multiple networks. On the network element. Some or all of the network elements may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of the embodiment. In addition, the function network elements in the various embodiments of the present application may be integrated into one processing network element, or each network element may exist physically separately, or two or two network elements may be integrated into one network element. The functions may be stored in a computer readable storage medium if implemented in the form of a software function network element and sold or used as a standalone product. Based on such understanding, the technical solution of the present application, which is essential or contributes to the prior art, or a part of the technical solution, may be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium, including The instructions are used to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a first core network element, etc.) to perform all or part of the steps of the methods described in various embodiments of the present application. The foregoing storage medium includes various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a removable hard disk, a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

The foregoing is only a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art can easily think of changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the present application. It should be covered by the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

A communication method, comprising:

The terminal device sends a request message to the first core network element by using the first access technology, where the request message is used to request to add or update a service flow;

Receiving, by the first access technology and/or the second access technology, the response message of the request message sent by the first core network element;

The terminal device uses the second access technology according to the response message, or the first access technology and the second access technology to transmit the service flow.
The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the request message includes first identification information and indication information of the second access technology, where the first identification information is used to determine the service flow;

The response message includes the first identifier information and the indication information of the second access technology; or

The response message includes the first identifier information, and the indication information of the first access technology and the indication information of the second access technology.
The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the request message includes first identification information, indication information of the first access technology, and indication information of the second access technology, the first The identification information is used to determine the service flow;

The response message includes the first identifier information and the indication information of the second access technology; or

The response message includes the first identifier information, and the indication information of the first access technology and the indication information of the second access technology.
The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the request message includes first identification information and indication information of the first access technology, and the first identification information is used to determine the service flow;

The response message includes the first identifier information and the indication information of the second access technology; or

The response message includes the first identifier information, and the indication information of the first access technology and the indication information of the second access technology.
The communication method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the first identification information comprises:

At least one of the description information of the service flow, the quality of service flow identifier QFI, or the packet data unit PDU session identifier.
The communication method according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the indication information of the first access technology is a first access type, and the indication information of the second access technology is a second Access type; or

The indication information of the first access technology is a QoS rule corresponding to the first access type, and the indication information of the second access technology is a QoS rule corresponding to the second access type, or

The indication information of the first access technology and the indication information of the second access technology are quality of service QoS rules corresponding to the first access type and the second access type.
The communication method according to any one of claims 2-6, wherein the request message further comprises:

The first indication information is used to indicate that the first core network element can modify an access technology corresponding to the service flow.
The communication method according to any one of claims 2-7, wherein the response message includes a traffic distribution rule, the method further comprising:

Determining, by the terminal device, the amount of data transmitted by the service flow by using the first access technology and the second access technology according to the offloading rule;

The terminal device transmits the service flow by using the first access technology and the second access technology according to the response message, including:

The terminal device transmits the service flow by using the first access technology and the second access technology according to the data volume.
The communication method according to claim 8, wherein

The offloading rule includes an amount of data transmitted by the service flow by the first access technology and/or a quantity of data transmitted by the service flow by the second access technology; or

The offloading rule includes a bandwidth value transmitted by the service flow by the first access technology and/or a bandwidth value transmitted by the service flow by using the second access technology;

The offloading rule includes a ratio of a ratio of data amounts or bandwidth values of the traffic flow transmitted by the first access technology and the second technology.
A communication method, comprising:

The first core network element receives a request message from the terminal device by using a first access technology, where the request message is used to request to add or update a service flow;

The first core network element sends a response message of the request message to the terminal device by using the first access technology and/or the second access technology;

The response message is used to indicate that the terminal device transmits the service flow by using the second access technology, or the first access technology and the second access technology.
The communication method according to claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

The first core network element acquires policy information of the service flow;

The sending, by the first core network element, the response message of the request message to the terminal device by using the first access technology and/or the second access technology, including:

The first core network element generates a traffic distribution rule according to the policy information, and sends a response message of the request message to the terminal device by using the first access technology and/or the second access technology.
The communication method according to claim 11, wherein the policy information comprises:

The amount of data transmitted by the first access technology and/or the amount of data transmitted by the service flow by the second access technology; or

a bandwidth value transmitted by the first access technology and/or a bandwidth value transmitted by the service flow by the second access technology;

The ratio of the ratio of the amount of data transmitted by the first access technology and the second technology or the bandwidth value.
The communication method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the method further comprises:

The first core network element sends the second indication information to the second access network device corresponding to the second access technology, where the second indication information includes a QoS file, and the QoS file includes the QoS corresponding to the service flow. parameter.
The communication method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the method further comprises:

The first core network element sends the third indication information to the first access network device corresponding to the first access technology, where the third indication information includes a QoS file, and the QoS file includes the QoS corresponding to the service flow. parameter;

The first core network element sends the second indication information to the second access network device corresponding to the second access technology, where the second indication information includes a QoS file, and the QoS file includes the QoS corresponding to the service flow. parameter.
The communication method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the sending, by the first core network element, the second indication information to the second access network device corresponding to the second access technology comprises:

The first core network element sends a second message to the second core network element, where the second message includes indication information of the second access technology and the second indication information, where the second access technology The indication information is used to send the second indication information to the second access network device corresponding to the second access technology.
The communication method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the sending, by the first core network element, the second indication information to the second access network device corresponding to the second access technology comprises:

The first core network element sends a third message to the second core network element, where the third message includes third indication information, indication information of the first access technology, the second indication information, and the second connection. Indication of the technology;

The second indication information in the third message and the indication information of the second access technology are used to send the second indication to the second access network device corresponding to the second access technology. information.
The communication method according to claim 14, wherein the sending, by the first core network element, the third indication information to the first access network device corresponding to the first access technology comprises:

The first core network element sends a first message to the second core network element, where the first message includes indication information of the first access technology and the third indication information, where the first access technology The indication information is used to send the third indication information to the first access network device corresponding to the first access technology.
The communication method according to claim 14, wherein the sending, by the first core network element, the third indication information to the first access network device corresponding to the first access technology comprises:

The first core network element sends a third message to the second core network element, where the third message includes the third indication information, the indication information of the first access technology, the second indication information, and the Two indication information of the access technology;

The third indication information in the third message and the indication information of the first access technology are used to send the first access network device corresponding to the first access technology to send the first Three instructions.
The communication method according to any one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that at least one of the first message, the second message, and the third message comprises the response message.
A communication device, comprising:

a sending unit, configured to send, by using the first access technology, a request message to the first core network element, where the request message is used to request to add or update a service flow;

a receiving unit, configured to receive, by using the first access technology and/or the second access technology, a response message of the request message sent by the first core network element;

The sending unit is further configured to use the second access technology according to the response message, or the first access technology and the second access technology to transmit the service flow.
The communication device according to claim 20, wherein the request message includes first identification information and indication information of the second access technology, where the first identification information is used to determine the service flow;

The response message includes the first identifier information and the indication information of the second access technology; or

The response message includes the first identifier information, and the indication information of the first access technology and the indication information of the second access technology.
The communication device according to claim 20, wherein the request message includes first identification information, indication information of the first access technology, and indication information of the second access technology, the first The identification information is used to determine the service flow;

The response message includes the first identifier information and the indication information of the second access technology; or

The response message includes the first identifier information, and the indication information of the first access technology and the indication information of the second access technology.
The communication device according to claim 20, wherein the request message includes first identification information and indication information of the first access technology, and the first identification information is used to determine the service flow;

The response message includes the first identifier information and the indication information of the second access technology; or

The response message includes the first identifier information, and the indication information of the first access technology and the indication information of the second access technology.
The communication device according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the first identification information comprises:

At least one of the description information of the service flow, the quality of service flow identifier QFI, or the packet data unit PDU session identifier.
The communication device according to any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein the indication information of the first access technology is a first access type, and the indication information of the second access technology is a second Access type; or

The indication information of the first access technology is a QoS rule corresponding to the first access type, and the indication information of the second access technology is a QoS rule corresponding to the second access type, or

The indication information of the first access technology and the indication information of the second access technology are quality of service QoS rules corresponding to the first access type and the second access type.
The communication device according to any one of claims 21 to 25, wherein the request message further comprises:

The first indication information is used to indicate that the first core network element can modify an access technology corresponding to the service flow.
The communication device according to any one of claims 21 to 26, wherein the response message includes a traffic distribution rule, and the communication device further includes a processing unit, configured to determine, by the traffic distribution rule, that the service flow passes The amount of data transmitted by the first access technology and the second access technology; the sending unit transmits the service flow by using the first access technology and the second access technology according to the data volume .
The communication device according to claim 27, wherein

The offloading rule includes an amount of data transmitted by the service flow by the first access technology and/or a quantity of data transmitted by the service flow by the second access technology; or

The offloading rule includes a bandwidth value transmitted by the service flow by the first access technology and/or a bandwidth value transmitted by the service flow by using the second access technology;

The offloading rule includes a ratio of a ratio of data amounts or bandwidth values of the traffic flow transmitted by the first access technology and the second technology.
A communication device, comprising:

a receiving unit, configured to receive, by using a first access technology, a request message from a terminal device, where the request message is used to request to add or update a service flow;

a sending unit, configured to send, by using the first access technology and/or the second access technology, a response message of the request message to the terminal device;

The response message is used to indicate that the terminal device transmits the service flow by using the second access technology, or the first access technology and the second access technology.
The communication device of claim 29, wherein the device further comprises:

a processing unit, configured to acquire policy information of the service flow;

The sending unit is configured to send, by using the first access technology and/or the second access technology, a response message of the request message to the terminal device according to the policy information.
The communication device according to claim 30, wherein the policy information comprises:

The amount of data transmitted by the first access technology and/or the amount of data transmitted by the service flow by the second access technology; or

a bandwidth value transmitted by the first access technology and/or a bandwidth value transmitted by the service flow by the second access technology;

The ratio of the ratio of the amount of data transmitted by the first access technology and the second technology or the bandwidth value.
The communication device according to any one of claims 29 to 31, wherein the transmitting unit is further configured to send second indication information to the second access network device corresponding to the second access technology, where the The second indication information includes a QoS file, and the QoS file includes a QoS parameter corresponding to the service flow.
The communication device according to any one of claims 29 to 31, wherein the transmitting unit is further configured to send third indication information to the first access network device corresponding to the first access technology, where the The third indication information includes a QoS file, where the QoS file includes a QoS parameter corresponding to the service flow;

The sending unit is further configured to send second indication information to the second access network device corresponding to the second access technology, where the second indication information includes a QoS file, where the QoS file includes a QoS parameter corresponding to the service flow. .
The communication device according to claim 32 or 33, wherein the sending, by the sending unit, the second indication information to the second access network device corresponding to the second access technology comprises:

The sending unit is configured to send a second message to the second core network element, where the second message includes indication information of the second access technology and the second indication information, and the indication of the second access technology The information is used to send the second indication information to the second access network device corresponding to the second access technology.
The communication device according to claim 32 or 33, wherein the sending, by the sending unit, the second indication information to the second access network device corresponding to the second access technology comprises:

The sending unit is configured to send a third message to the second core network element, where the third message includes third indication information, indication information of the first access technology, the second indication information, and the second access Technical instructions;

The second indication information in the third message and the indication information of the second access technology are used to send the second indication to the second access network device corresponding to the second access technology. information.
The communication device according to claim 33, wherein the sending, by the sending unit, the third indication information to the first access network device corresponding to the first access technology comprises:

The sending unit is configured to send a first message to the second core network element, where the first message includes indication information of the first access technology and the third indication information, and the indication of the first access technology The information is used to send the third indication information to the first access network device corresponding to the first access technology.
The communication device according to claim 33, wherein the sending, by the sending unit, the third indication information to the first access network device corresponding to the first access technology comprises:

The sending unit is configured to send a third message to the second core network element, where the third message includes the third indication information, indication information of the first access technology, the second indication information, and the second Indication information of the access technology;

The third indication information in the third message and the indication information of the first access technology are used to send the first access network device corresponding to the first access technology to send the first Three instructions.
The communication device according to any one of claims 34-37, wherein at least one of the first message, the second message, and the third message comprises the response message.