WO2022002119A1

WO2022002119A1 - Communication method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2022002119A1
Application number: PCT/CN2021/103486
Authority: WO
Inventors: 潘奇; 黄正磊; 孙海洋
Original assignee: 华为技术有限公司
Priority date: 2020-06-30
Filing date: 2021-06-30
Publication date: 2022-01-06
Also published as: CN113873454B; CN113873454A

Abstract

The present application provides a communication method and apparatus. In the present application, a session management network element can associate a first billing key value with first flow information, the first flow information and the first billing key value being used for determining the cost of transmitting data of a first service on a first link; and an SMF can associate a second billing key value with second flow information, the second flow information and the second billing key value being used for determining the cost of transmitting the data of the first service on a second link, so as to support a network to perform flow statistics and billing for different links of the same service, thereby achieving higher accuracy and fine-grained flow statistics.

Description

A communication method and device

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of the Chinese patent application with the application number 202010622136.1 and the application title "a communication method and device" filed with the China Patent Office on June 30, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated into this application by reference.

technical field

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

Background technique

In the current mobile communication technology, a terminal (UE) can transmit service data through a protocol data unit (protocol data unit, PDU) session. Generally speaking, a PDU session is associated with a link (or called a data bearer) including the UE, the access network element and the user plane network element. The network can perform traffic statistics on the service data transmitted through the PDU session to implement functions such as traffic statistics and billing.

In order to improve the throughput of UE service data, there is a need to support the same terminal to transmit service data through multiple different links, and to provide quality of service (QoS) guarantee for each link at the same time. The paths connected to the network elements of the access network may be different, for example, different links correspond to different relay devices.

When service data is transmitted through multiple links, the network cannot distinguish the data volume of service data transmitted by each link, and can only perform traffic statistics based on PDU sessions. The traffic statistics method needs to be improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present application provides a communication method and device, which are used to improve the traffic statistics method during multi-link transmission of service data.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, and the method can be implemented by a session management network element or a component (such as a chip, a circuit, etc.) of a session management network element. The session management network element may be a session management function (SMF).

According to this method, the session management network element can send the first information to the policy management network element, where the first information at least includes the information of the first link and the information of the second link, the first link and the second link The channel is used to transmit the data of the first service of the terminal device. The session management network element receives charging key value information from the policy management network element, the charging key value information includes a first charging key value and a second charging key value, and the charging key value information at least according to the Determined by the first information, the first charging key corresponds to the first link, and the second charging key corresponds to the second link. The session management network element may also obtain first flow information and second flow information, where the first flow information is used to indicate the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link, and the second flow information is used to indicate the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link The data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link, the first traffic information and the first charging key are used to determine the cost of transmitting the data of the first service by the first link, the second The traffic information and the second charging key are used to determine the cost of the second link for transmitting the data of the first service.

Using this method, the session management network element can associate the first charging key with the first traffic information, and the first traffic information and the first charging key can be used to determine the cost of transmitting the data of the first service on the first link. Sure. And, the SMF may associate the second charging key with the second traffic information, and the second traffic information and the second charging key may be used to determine the cost of transmitting the data of the first service on the second link. In this way, the network side can perform traffic statistics and billing for different links of the same service, and achieve higher-precision and finer-grained traffic statistics.

In a possible design, the first information includes one or more of the second information, the third information or the first indication information. Wherein, the second information is used to indicate the ratio of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link to the data volume of the first service. The third information is used to indicate the ratio of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the data volume of the first service. The first indication information is used to indicate that data of the first service of the terminal device is transmitted at least through the first link and the second link. In addition, the first information may further include information of the relay device of the first link and/or information of the relay device of the second link. The information of the relay device here may include the identity of the relay terminal (relay UE ID).

In a possible design, the second information and the third information may come from the terminal device or the access network element, wherein the terminal device is connected to the terminal device through the first link and the second link The network element of the access network.

In a possible design, the session management network element may receive third traffic information from the user plane network element, where the third traffic information indicates the data volume of the first service. The session management network element may determine the first flow information according to the second information and the third flow information, and determine the second flow information according to the third information and the third flow information. With this design, the session management network element can determine the first traffic information and the second traffic information by calculation, which improves the statistical efficiency of the traffic information. The user plane network element side only needs to obtain the third traffic information according to the existing traffic statistics method. , the changes on the user plane network element side are small, and the implementation is convenient.

In a possible design, the session management network element may receive the first identifier and the second identifier from the terminal device. Wherein, the first identifier corresponds to the data transmitted through the first link, and the second identifier corresponds to the data transmitted through the second link. Alternatively, the session management network element may send the first identifier and the second identifier to the access network element.

In a possible design, the session management network element may also send the first identifier and the second identifier to the user plane network element. The first identifier is used to determine the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link, and the second identifier is used to determine the data volume of the first service transmitted through the second link. The session management network element may receive the first traffic information and the second traffic information from the user plane network element. With this design, the user plane network element can be configured by the session management network element to count the first traffic information and the second traffic information, so as to improve the statistical accuracy.

In a possible design, the session management network element may receive the first flow information and the second flow information from the access network element, and the terminal device passes through the first link and the second link Connect to the access network element. With this design, the first traffic information and the second traffic information can be counted by the network element of the access network, and the changes to the network side are small and the implementation is convenient.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, and the method can be executed by a policy management network element or a component thereof. The policy management network element may include a policy control function (PCF).

According to the method, the policy management network element can receive the first information from the session management network element, the first information at least includes the information of the first link and the information of the second link, the first link and the second link The link is used to transmit the data of the first service of the terminal device. The policy management network element sends a first charging key value and a second charging key value to the user plane network element, where the charging key value information includes the first charging key value and the second charging key value, the charging key value The key value information is determined at least according to the first information, the first charging key value corresponds to the first link, and the second charging key value corresponds to the second link.

In a possible design, the first information includes one or more of the second information, the third information or the first indication information. Wherein, the second information is used to indicate the ratio of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link to the data volume of the first service. The third information is used to indicate the ratio of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the data volume of the first service. The first indication information is used to indicate that data of the first service of the terminal device is transmitted at least through the first link and the second link. In addition, the first information may further include information of the relay device of the first link and/or information of the relay device of the second link. The information of the relay device here may include the identity of the relay terminal.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, and the method can be executed by a user plane network element or a component thereof. A user plane network element may include a user plane function (UPF).

According to this method, the user plane network element can receive the first identifier and the second identifier from the session management network element. The user plane network element determines the first traffic information according to the first identifier, where the first traffic information indicates the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link, and determines the second traffic information according to the second identifier, the first traffic information is The second traffic information indicates the data volume of the first service transmitted through the second link, and the first link and the second link are used to transmit the data of the first service of the terminal device. The user plane network element sends the first flow information and the second flow information to the session management network element.

In a possible design, the first identifier corresponds to data transmitted through the first link, and the second identifier corresponds to data transmitted through the second link.

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, and the method can be executed by a terminal device or a component thereof. A terminal device may include a UE.

According to the method, the terminal device can send the first identifier and the second identifier to the session management network element, the first identifier can be used for determining the data amount of the first service transmitted through the first link, and the second identifier can be used determining the data volume of the first service transmitted through the second link; wherein the first link and the second link are used to transmit the data of the first service of the terminal device.

In a possible design, the terminal device may send a data packet of the first service through the first link, and the data packet of the first service sent through the first link includes the first identifier. The terminal device may also send the data packet of the first service through the second link, and the data packet of the first service sent through the second link includes the second identifier.

In a possible design, the terminal device may also send the first identifier and the second identifier to the access network element, and the terminal device is connected to the access network through the first link and the second link network element.

In a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, and the method can be executed by a terminal device or a component thereof. A terminal device may include a UE.

According to this method, the terminal device can send transmission ratio information to the session management network element, where the transmission ratio information includes at least second information and third information, where the second information is used to indicate the status of the first service transmitted by the first link. The ratio of the data volume to the data volume of the first service, and the third information is used to indicate the ratio of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the data volume of the first service. The terminal device sends the data of the first service through at least the first link and the second link according to the transmission ratio information.

In a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, and the method can be executed by an access network element or a component thereof. The access network elements may include (radio) access network ((R)AN) network elements, such as base stations.

According to the method, the network element of the access network can receive the data packets of the first service from the terminal device through the first link, and receive the data packets of the first service from the terminal device through the second link. The access network element adds a first identifier to the data packet of the first service received through the first link, where the first identifier is used for the amount of data of the first service transmitted through the first link It is determined that the access network element adds a second identifier to the data packet of the first service received through the second link, where the second identifier is used for the data of the first service transmitted through the second link Quantity determination.

In a possible design, the access network element may receive the first identification and the second identification from the terminal device. Alternatively, the access network element receives the first identifier and the second identifier from the session management network element.

In a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, and the method can be performed by an access network element or a component thereof. The access network elements may include (R)AN network elements, such as base stations.

According to the method, the network element of the access network can receive the data packets of the first service from the terminal device through the first link, and receive the data packets of the first service from the terminal device through the second link. The access network element may also determine second information and third information according to the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link, where the second information is used to indicate the transmission of the first link The ratio of the data volume of the first service to the data volume of the first service, the third information is used to indicate the ratio of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the data volume of the first service . The access network element sends the second information and the third information to the session management network element.

In a possible design, the link information of the first link includes the identifier of the relay device corresponding to the first link, and/or the first identifier, and the first identifier is included in the first link in the data packet of the first service transmitted by the channel. The link information of the second link includes the identifier of the relay device corresponding to the second link, and/or the second identifier, so the second identifier includes the first service transmitted on the second link in the data package.

In an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method, and the method can be executed by an access network element or a component thereof. The access network elements may include (R)AN network elements, such as base stations.

According to the method, the network element of the access network can receive the data packets of the first service from the terminal device through the first link, and receive the data packets of the first service from the terminal device through the second link. The access network element determines the first traffic information and the second traffic information according to the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link. The first traffic information is used to indicate the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link, and the second traffic information is used to indicate the data volume of the first service transmitted through the second link. The access network element sends the first flow information and the second flow information to the session management network element.

In a ninth aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which can be used to perform the steps performed by a session management network element or a component thereof in the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect. The communication device may implement each function in the above-mentioned methods in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module.

When composed of software modules, the communication device may include a communication module and a processing module that are coupled to each other, wherein the communication module may be used to support the communication device to communicate, and the processing module may be used by the communication device to perform processing operations, such as generating information/messages to be sent , or process the received signal to obtain information/messages.

When implementing the method described in the first aspect, the communication module may send first information to the policy management network element, where the first information at least includes information of the first link and information of the second link, the first link and The second link is used to transmit data of the first service of the terminal device. The communication module may also receive charging key information from the policy management network element, where the charging key information includes a first charging key and a second charging key, and the charging key information is at least based on the Determined by the first information, the first charging key corresponds to the first link, and the second charging key corresponds to the second link. The processing module can obtain first flow information and second flow information, where the first flow information is used to indicate the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link, and the second flow information is used to indicate the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link The data volume of the first service transmitted by the link, the first traffic information and the first charging key are used to determine the cost of transmitting the data of the first service by the first link, the second traffic information and The second charging key is used for determining the fee for transmitting the data of the first service by the second link.

In a possible design, the communication module may receive third traffic information from the user plane network element, where the third traffic information indicates the data volume of the first service. The processing module may determine the first flow information according to the second information and the third flow information, and determine the second flow information according to the third information and the third flow information.

In a possible design, the communication module may receive the first identification and the second identification from the terminal device. Wherein, the first identifier corresponds to the data transmitted through the first link, and the second identifier corresponds to the data transmitted through the second link. Alternatively, the session management network element may send the first identifier and the second identifier to the access network element.

In a possible design, the communication module may also send the first identifier and the second identifier to the user plane network element. The first identifier is used to determine the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link, and the second identifier is used to determine the data volume of the first service transmitted through the second link. The communication module can receive the first traffic information and the second traffic information from the user plane network element.

In a possible design, the communication module may receive the first traffic information and the second traffic information from the access network element, and the terminal device is connected to the terminal device through the first link and the second link The network element of the access network.

When the communication apparatus shown in the ninth aspect is implemented by hardware components, the communication apparatus may include a processor. The steps performed by the session management network element or components thereof in the first aspect above, or in any possible design of the first aspect, may be performed by a processor. The communication device may include a communication interface (or referred to as a transceiver, a transceiver unit, or a communication unit), and the communication interface may be used to support the above device to communicate with other devices or devices. Specifically, the communication interface can be used to support the communication device to communicate. When the above apparatus is implemented by hardware components, the apparatus may further include a memory, which may be used to store a program, which may be executed by a processor to perform the steps performed by the above communication apparatus. Specifically, the communication interface may be used to perform the steps performed by the communication module in the ninth aspect, and/or the processor may be used to perform the steps performed by the processing module in the ninth aspect above.

In a tenth aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus, which can be used to perform the steps performed by a policy management network element or a component thereof in the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect. The communication device may implement each function in the above-mentioned methods in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module.

The communication module can receive the first information from the session management network element, the first information at least includes the information of the first link and the information of the second link, the first link and the second link are used to transmit the Data of the first service of the terminal device. The communication module can send the first charging key value and the second charging key value to the user plane network element, the charging key value information includes the first charging key value and the second charging key value, the charging key value The information is determined at least according to the first information, the first charging key corresponds to the first link, and the second charging key corresponds to the second link. Wherein, the first charging key and the second charging key can be determined by the processing module.

When the communication apparatus shown in the tenth aspect is implemented by hardware components, the communication apparatus may include a processor. The steps performed by the policy management network element or components thereof in the second aspect above or in any possible design of the second aspect may be performed by a processor. The communication device may include a communication interface, and the communication interface may be used to support the above device to communicate with other devices or devices. Specifically, the communication interface can be used to support the communication device to communicate. When the above apparatus is implemented by hardware components, the apparatus may further include a memory, which may be used to store a program, which may be executed by a processor to perform the steps performed by the above communication apparatus. Specifically, the communication interface may be used to perform the steps performed by the communication module in the tenth aspect, and/or the processor may be used to perform the steps performed by the processing module in the tenth aspect above.

In an eleventh aspect, the present application provides a communication device, which can be used to perform the steps performed by a user plane network element or a component thereof in the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect. The communication device may implement each function in the above-mentioned methods in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module.

The communication module may receive the first identification and the second identification from the session management network element. The processing module determines first traffic information according to the first identifier, the first traffic information indicates the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link, and determines second traffic information according to the second identifier, the second traffic The information indicates the data volume of the first service transmitted through the second link, and the first link and the second link are used to transmit the data of the first service of the terminal device. The user plane network element sends the first flow information and the second flow information to the session management network element.

When the communication apparatus shown in the eleventh aspect is implemented by hardware components, the communication apparatus may include a processor. The steps performed by the user plane network element or components thereof in the third aspect above or in any possible design of the third aspect may be performed by a processor. The communication device may include a communication interface, and the communication interface may be used to support the above device to communicate with other devices or devices. Specifically, the communication interface can be used to support the communication device to communicate. When the above apparatus is implemented by hardware components, the apparatus may further include a memory, which may be used to store a program, which may be executed by a processor to perform the steps performed by the above communication apparatus. Specifically, the communication interface may be used to perform the steps performed by the communication module in the eleventh aspect, and/or the processor may be used to perform the steps performed by the processing module in the eleventh aspect above.

In a twelfth aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus, which can be used to perform the steps performed by a terminal device or a component thereof in the fourth aspect or any possible design of the fourth aspect. The communication device may implement each function in the above-mentioned methods in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module.

The communication module can send the first identification and the second identification to the session management network element, the first identification can be used to determine the data amount of the first service transmitted through the first link, and the second identification can be used to pass the first identification. Determination of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the two links; wherein, the first link and the second link are used to transmit the data of the first service of the terminal device.

In a possible design, the communication module may send a data packet of the first service through the first link, and the data packet of the first service sent through the first link includes the first identifier. The communication module may also send the data packet of the first service through the second link, and the data packet of the first service sent through the second link includes the second identifier.

In a possible design, the communication module may also send the first identification and the second identification to the access network element, and the terminal device is connected to the access through the first link and the second link network element.

When the communication apparatus shown in the twelfth aspect is implemented by hardware components, the communication apparatus may include a processor. Steps performed by the terminal device or components thereof in the fourth aspect above or in any possible design of the fourth aspect may be performed by a processor. The communication device may include a communication interface, and the communication interface may be used to support the above device to communicate with other devices or devices. Specifically, the communication interface can be used to support the communication device to communicate. When the above apparatus is implemented by hardware components, the apparatus may further include a memory, which may be used to store a program, which may be executed by a processor to perform the steps performed by the above communication apparatus. Specifically, the communication interface may be used to perform the steps performed by the communication module in the twelfth aspect, and/or the processor may be used to perform the steps performed by the processing module in the twelfth aspect above.

In a thirteenth aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus, which can be used to perform the steps performed by a terminal device or a component thereof in the fifth aspect or any possible design of the fifth aspect. The communication device may implement each function in the above-mentioned methods in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module.

The communication module may send transmission ratio information to the session management network element, where the transmission ratio information includes at least second information and third information, and the second information is used to indicate that the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link occupies the The ratio of the data volume of the first service, and the third information is used to indicate the ratio of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the data volume of the first service. The communication module sends the data of the first service through at least the first link and the second link according to the transmission ratio information.

When the communication apparatus shown in the thirteenth aspect is implemented by hardware components, the communication apparatus may include a processor. The steps performed by the terminal device or components thereof in the fifth aspect above or in any possible design of the fifth aspect may be performed by a processor. The communication device may include a communication interface, and the communication interface may be used to support the above device to communicate with other devices or devices. Specifically, the communication interface can be used to support the communication device to communicate. When the above apparatus is implemented by hardware components, the apparatus may further include a memory, which may be used to store a program, which may be executed by a processor to perform the steps performed by the above communication apparatus. Specifically, the communication interface may be used to perform the steps performed by the communication module in the thirteenth aspect, and/or the processor may be used to perform the steps performed by the processing module in the thirteenth aspect above.

In a fourteenth aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus, which can be used to perform the steps performed by an access network element or a component thereof in the sixth aspect or any possible design of the sixth aspect. The communication device may implement each function in the above-mentioned methods in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module.

The communication module may receive data packets of the first service from the terminal device through the first link, and receive data packets of the first service from the terminal device through the second link. The processing module adds a first identifier to the data packet of the first service received through the first link, where the first identifier is used for determining the amount of data of the first service transmitted through the first link, and A second identifier is added to the data packet of the first service received through the second link, where the second identifier is used for determining the data volume of the first service transmitted through the second link.

In a possible design, the communication module may receive the first identification and the second identification from the terminal device. Alternatively, the communication module may receive the first identifier and the second identifier from the session management network element.

When the communication apparatus shown in the fourteenth aspect is implemented by hardware components, the communication apparatus may include a processor. The steps performed by the access network element or components thereof in the sixth aspect above or in any possible design of the sixth aspect may be performed by a processor. The communication device may include a communication interface, and the communication interface may be used to support the above device to communicate with other devices or devices. Specifically, the communication interface can be used to support the communication device to communicate. When the above apparatus is implemented by hardware components, the apparatus may further include a memory, which may be used to store a program, which may be executed by a processor to perform the steps performed by the above communication apparatus. Specifically, the communication interface may be used to perform the steps performed by the communication module in the fourteenth aspect, and/or the processor may be used to perform the steps performed by the processing module in the above fourteenth aspect.

In a fifteenth aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus, which can be used to perform the steps performed by an access network element or a component thereof in the seventh aspect or any possible design of the seventh aspect. The communication device may implement each function in the above-mentioned methods in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module.

The communication module may receive data packets of the first service from the terminal device through the first link, and receive data packets of the first service from the terminal device through the second link. The access network element may also determine second information and third information according to the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link, where the second information is used to indicate the transmission of the first link The ratio of the data volume of the first service to the data volume of the first service, the third information is used to indicate the ratio of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the data volume of the first service . The access network element sends the second information and the third information to the session management network element.

When the communication apparatus shown in the fifteenth aspect is implemented by hardware components, the communication apparatus may include a processor. The steps performed by the access network element or components thereof in the seventh aspect above or in any possible design of the seventh aspect may be performed by a processor. The communication device may include a communication interface, and the communication interface may be used to support the above device to communicate with other devices or devices. Specifically, the communication interface can be used to support the communication device to communicate. When the above apparatus is implemented by hardware components, the apparatus may further include a memory, which may be used to store a program, which may be executed by a processor to perform the steps performed by the above communication apparatus. Specifically, the communication interface may be used to perform the steps performed by the communication module in the fifteenth aspect, and/or the processor may be used to perform the steps performed by the processing module in the fifteenth aspect above.

In a sixteenth aspect, the present application provides a communication apparatus, which can be used to perform the steps performed by an access network element or a component thereof in the eighth aspect or any possible design of the eighth aspect. The communication device may implement each function in the above-mentioned methods in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module.

The communication module may receive data packets of the first service from the terminal device through the first link, and receive data packets of the first service from the terminal device through the second link. The processing module determines the first traffic information and the second traffic information according to the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link. The first traffic information is used to indicate the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link, and the second traffic information is used to indicate the data volume of the first service transmitted through the second link. The communication module sends the first flow information and the second flow information to the session management network element.

When the communication apparatus shown in the sixteenth aspect is implemented by hardware components, the communication apparatus may include a processor. The steps performed by the access network element or components thereof in the above eighth aspect or any possible design of the eighth aspect may be performed by a processor. The communication device may include a communication interface, and the communication interface may be used to support the above device to communicate with other devices or devices. Specifically, the communication interface can be used to support the communication device to communicate. When the above apparatus is implemented by hardware components, the apparatus may further include a memory, which may be used to store a program, which may be executed by a processor to perform the steps performed by the above communication apparatus. Specifically, the communication interface may be used to perform the steps performed by the communication module in the sixteenth aspect, and/or the processor may be used to perform the steps performed by the processing module in the sixteenth aspect above.

In a seventeenth aspect, the present application provides a communication system. The communication system may include the ninth aspect and the communication device shown in the tenth aspect.

In a possible design, the communication system may further include the communication devices shown in the eleventh aspect and the twelfth aspect.

In a possible design, the communication system may further include the communication device shown in the thirteenth aspect.

In a possible design, the communication system may further include the communication devices shown in the eleventh aspect and the fourteenth aspect.

In a possible design, the communication system may further include the communication device shown in the fifteenth aspect.

In a possible design, the communication system may further include the communication device shown in the sixteenth aspect.

In an eighteenth aspect, the present application provides a computer storage medium, where an instruction (or a program) is stored in the computer storage medium, and when it is invoked and executed on a computer, it causes the computer to execute the above-mentioned first aspect or the first aspect any possible design of the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect, the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect, the fourth aspect or any possible design of the fourth aspect design of the fifth aspect or any possible design of the fifth aspect, the sixth aspect or any possible design of the sixth aspect, the seventh aspect or any possible design of the seventh aspect, or the The method described in the eighth aspect or any one possible design of the eighth aspect.

In a nineteenth aspect, the present application provides a computer program product, the computing basic product may include instructions, when the computer program product is run on a computer, the computer may execute the first aspect or any one of the first aspects. design, the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect, the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect, the fourth aspect or any possible design of the fourth aspect, the fifth aspect or any possible design of the fifth aspect, the sixth or any possible design of the sixth aspect, the seventh or any possible design of the seventh aspect, or the eighth or eighth aspect The method described in any of the possible designs of the aspect.

In a twentieth aspect, the present application provides a chip or a chip system including a chip, and the chip may include a processor. The chip may also include a memory (or storage module) and/or a communication interface (or communication module). The chip can be used to implement the first aspect or any possible design of the first aspect, the second aspect or any possible design of the second aspect, the third aspect or any possible design of the third aspect , the fourth aspect or any possible design of the fourth aspect, the fifth aspect or any possible design of the fifth aspect, the sixth aspect or any possible design of the sixth aspect, the seventh aspect or Any one possible design of the seventh aspect, or the method described in the eighth aspect or any one possible design of the eighth aspect. The chip system may be composed of the above-mentioned chips, or may include the above-mentioned chips and other discrete devices, such as a memory (or a storage module) and/or a communication interface (or a communication module).

For the beneficial effects of the above-mentioned second to twentieth aspects and their possible designs, reference may be made to the description of the beneficial effects of the methods described in the first aspect and any possible designs thereof.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

2a is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2b is a schematic structural diagram of a communication system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

3 is a schematic flowchart of a communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

4 is a schematic flowchart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

6 is a schematic flowchart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

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

FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart of another communication method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of another communication apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present application.

detailed description

In order to optimize the traffic statistics method for multi-link service transmission, the present application provides a communication method. The present application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific operation methods in the method embodiments described below can also be applied to the apparatus embodiments or the system embodiments.

The 5G communication system shown in FIG. 1 is taken as an example for description below.

The network architecture shown in Figure 1 may include three parts: a terminal, a data network (DN) and an operator network.

Among them, the operator network may include policy control function (PCF), unified data repository (UDR), application function (AF), access and mobility management function (access and mobility management) function, AMF), session management function (session management function, SMF), (radio) access network ((radio) access network, (R)AN) network elements and user plane function (user plane function, UPF) and other network elements or entity. In the above-mentioned operator network, the part other than the (wireless) access network may be included in the scope of the core network (core network, CN). For convenience of description, the following description is given by taking (R)AN called RAN as an example.

The mobility management network element is the control plane network element provided by the operator's network, which is responsible for the access control and mobility management when the terminal accesses the operator's network. user functions. In 5G, the mobility management network element may be AMF. In future communications such as the 6th generation (6G), the mobility management network element may still be AMF, or have other names, which are not limited in this application. .

The policy control network element is a control plane function provided by the operator, and is used to provide the policy of the PDU session to the session management network element. Policies may include charging-related policies, quality of service (quality of service, QoS)-related policies, data flow identification and steering (or forwarding) policies, authorization-related policies, and the like. In 5G, the policy control network element may be PCF, and in future communications such as 6G, the policy control network element may still be PCF, or have other names, which are not limited in this application.

The session management network element is a control plane network element provided by the operator network, and is responsible for managing the PDU session of the terminal, or the session management network element serves the PDU session of the terminal. The PDU session is a channel for transmitting PDUs. The terminal needs to transfer PDUs to and from the DN through the PDU session. The PDU session is established, maintained and deleted by the SMF. SMF includes session management (such as session establishment, modification and release, including tunnel maintenance between UPF and RAN), UPF selection and control, service and session continuity (SSC) mode selection, roaming and other session related function. SMF can be used to select the UPF that serves the user, such as selecting the UPF that is closer to the base station where the user is located, to reduce the delay in sending and receiving packets for the user. In 5G, the session management network element may be SMF, and in future communications such as 6G, the session management network element may still be SMF, or have other names, which are not limited in this application.

In this application, the session management network element may also insert a branch point (BP) and/or an uplink classifier (UL CL) between the access network element of the terminal and the anchor UPF as required, Each BP/UL CL can be connected to multiple UPFs for traffic offloading. It should be understood that one UPF can be used as the BP/UL CL.

User plane network elements can be used to implement functions such as packet routing and forwarding, mobility anchors, QoS processing, and uplink classifiers to support routing traffic flows to the data network, branch points to support multi-homed PDU sessions, and so on.

The unified data warehouse network element can be used to store user subscription data, such as storing QoS information subscribed by the user.

AF can be used to select, reselect, locate, relocate the AS of the application, and interact with the core network. In practical applications, the AF may also be a separate device independent of the AS, or the AF may also be co-located with the AS, which is not specifically limited in the present invention.

In Figure 1, N1, N2, N3, N4, N6, N9, Namf, Nsmf, Nudr, Npcf, and Naf are interface serial numbers. For the meanings of these interface serial numbers, refer to the meanings defined in the relevant 3GPP standard protocols, which are not limited here.

In addition, the operator network may also include network slice selection function (NSSF), network data analysis function (NWDAF), network exposure function (NEF), network storage function (network repository) function, NRF), authentication server function (authentication server function, AUSF) or service communication proxy (service communication proxy) and other network elements or entities.

As shown in Figure 1, the UE can access the DN through a PDU session managed by the SMF. Taking FIG. 1 as an example, the UE can access the data network DN connected to the UPF through a PDU session to obtain the data of the application server in the data network.

It should be understood that the application does not limit the number of links corresponding to the PDU session. In other words, the application does not specifically limit the path of the UE accessing the data network DN connected to the UPF. For example, the UE can access the DN through the access network element and the Uu interface link between the access network elements. In addition, at present, the UE can also be relayed to the network element of the access network through at least one relay device, so as to access the DN.

2a and 2b are taken as examples to illustrate the manner in which the remote terminal accesses the core network through multiple links.

As shown in Fig. 2a, the remote terminal is connected to the access network device through the link 1 and the link 2 respectively, that is, the link 1 and the link 2 shown in Fig. 2a correspond to the same access network device. Wherein, link 1 corresponds to the first relay terminal (or in other words, link 1 includes the connection between the remote terminal and the first relay terminal and the connection between the first relay terminal and the access network element) , the link 2 corresponds to the second relay terminal (or in other words, the link 2 includes the connection between the remote terminal and the second relay terminal and the connection between the second relay terminal and the access network element), Therefore, the remote terminal can be connected to the access network element through the first relay terminal and the second relay terminal respectively, and connected to the 5G core network (5G core, 5GC) through the access network element.

It should be understood that in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b above, the remote terminal and the first relay terminal and/or the second relay terminal may be configured to support relay transmission. For example, the remote terminal in FIG. The relay of the first relay terminal device is connected to the network element of the access network. Exemplarily, the terminal 101 may be regarded as a first communication device, and the first communication device and the second communication device implement the communication method provided in this application.

The connection between the remote terminal and the first relay terminal and the second relay terminal may be direct communication (PC5) air interface communication, for example, the connection between the remote terminal and the first relay terminal and/or the second relay terminal are connected by a side link (SL).

In addition, the present application does not limit the remote terminal to support communication between a universal user to network interface (universal user to network interface, Uu air interface), that is, the remote terminal can connect to the access network element through the Uu air interface, and pass The Uu air interface receives service data from the network element of the access network. Taking Figure 2a as an example, the remote terminal can access the network element of the access network through the Uu air interface, and receive service data through the Uu link between the remote terminal and the network element of the access network. The Uu air interface link between the terminal and the access network element becomes link 3 . Therefore, for FIG. 2a, the remote terminal may receive service data through link 1, link 2, and the Uu link between the remote terminal and/or the access network element. When acquiring service data, the service data from the remote terminal of the date network (DN) is transmitted to the access network element through the UPF. In order to improve the data transmission efficiency, the access network element can pass link 1, link At least two links in road 2 and link 3 send service data to the remote terminal.

Similarly, for the architecture shown in FIG. 2b, the remote terminal can receive service data through link 4, link 5, link 6 (not shown in the figure) and/or link 7 (not shown in the figure).

Specifically, the remote terminal accesses the first access network device through link 4 and accesses the second access network device through link 5. Therefore, link 4 and link 5 correspond to different access network devices respectively. . The link 4 corresponds to the first relay terminal (in other words, the link 4 includes the connection between the remote terminal and the first relay terminal and the connection between the first relay terminal and the first access network element) connection), link 5 corresponds to the second relay terminal (or in other words, link 5 includes the connection between the remote terminal and the second relay terminal and the connection between the second relay terminal and the second access network element Connection). Link 6 is a Uu air interface link between the remote terminal and the first access network element. Link 7 is a Uu air interface link between the remote terminal and the network element of the second access network.

When acquiring the service data, the service data from the data network is respectively transmitted to the network element of the first access network and the network element of the second access network through the UPF. The data transmitted to the network element of the first access network can be sent to the remote terminal through link 4 and/or link 6, and the data transmitted to the network element of the second access network can be transmitted through link 5 and/or link 6. Or link 7 is sent to the remote terminal to realize multi-link data transmission.

It should be understood that the architecture shown in FIG. 1 may be applicable to 5th generation (5G) systems, new radio (NR) communication systems, public land mobile network (PLMN) systems or future mobile-based systems Communication vehicle networking system, etc. It should be understood that the wireless communication system 100 provided in the embodiments of the present application may be applicable to both a low frequency scenario (sub 6G) and a high frequency scenario (above 6G).

Exemplarily, the remote terminal, the first relay terminal and/or the second relay terminal (hereinafter referred to as terminal equipment) shown in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b may be a terminal (terminal), a mobile station (mobile station, MS), mobile terminal (mobile terminal) and other equipment, or devices such as chips and chip systems. It should be understood that a terminal device can communicate with one or more network devices of one or more communication systems, and receive network services provided by the network devices, where the network devices include but are not limited to the access network devices shown in the figure. For example, the terminal device in this embodiment of the present application may be a mobile phone (or called a "cellular" phone), a computer with a mobile terminal, etc., and the terminal device may also be a portable, pocket-sized, hand-held, built-in computer or In-vehicle mobile devices.

In addition, the first relay terminal and/or the second relay terminal may also be a relay device supporting relay communication, such as a transceiver node (transmission/reception point, TRP), an access point, a vehicle-mounted device, a relay station, and the like.

The access network element shown in FIG. 2a, the first access network element and/or the second access network element shown in FIG. 2b (hereinafter referred to as the access network element) may include a base station (base station) , BS), or include a base station and a radio resource management device for controlling the base station, etc. The base station here can be a TRP, a wireless controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario, or a relay station, access point, in-vehicle device, wearable device, and future 5G networks The base station in the PLMN network or the base station in the future evolved PLMN network, for example, the NR base station, is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

It should be understood that the remote terminal, the first relay terminal and/or the second relay terminal shown in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b may be regarded as the UE shown in FIG. 1 . If the remote terminal is the UE shown in FIG. 1 , the UE and the network element of the access network may be connected through the first relay terminal and/or the second relay terminal. The network element of the access network shown in FIG. 2a and the network element of the first access network and the network element of the second access network shown in FIG. 2b may be regarded as the network elements of the access network shown in FIG. 1 . In addition, the DN shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b corresponds to the DN shown in FIG. 1 . The 5GC shown in Figures 2a and 2b may include network elements such as AMF, SMF, PCF, UDM, and AF shown in Figure 1, and the UPF shown in Figures 2a and 2b corresponds to the UPF shown in Figure 1.

In order to support statistical data volume for each link when a remote UE (hereinafter referred to as UE for short) is connected to an access network element through multiple links, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method. The method can be performed by a terminal device (such as the UE shown in FIG. 1 or the first communication device shown in FIG. 2a or 2b), an access network element (the RAN shown in FIG. 1, or the access network shown in FIG. 2a). network elements), session management network elements (such as SMF), policy control network elements (such as PCF), or some or all of the network elements in the user plane network elements (such as UPF). Wherein, the first communication device may include the remote terminal device shown in Fig. 2a or Fig. 2b. In addition, in FIG. 2a or FIG. 2b, the second communication device and the third communication device can be used as the first relay terminal and the second relay terminal, respectively. The mobility management network element, the session management network element, the policy control network element and the user plane network element respectively correspond to the mobility management network element, session management network element, policy control network element and user plane network element in FIG. 1 . The method provided by the embodiments of the present application will be described below by taking the UE, RAN, SMF, PCF, and UPF as execution subjects.

Exemplarily, the communication method provided in this embodiment of the present application may include the following steps shown in FIG. 3 :

S101: The SMF sends first information to the PCF, where the first information at least includes information of a first link and information of a second link, and the first link and the second link are used to transmit the information of the first service of the UE. data.

For example, the first link is link 1 shown in Fig. 2a, and the second link is link 2 shown in Fig. 2a. The first link and the second link may be connected to the same RAN, or, as shown in FIG. 2b, the first link and the second link may be connected to different RANs.

It should be understood that the fact that the first link and the second link are used to transmit data of the first service of the UE means that the first link and the second link jointly transmit multiple data packets of the first service of the UE. In some cases, the UE may also only use the first link or the second link to transmit data packets of the first service. For example, if the UE finds that the transmission of the first link is interrupted or the transmission quality is poor, the UE can use the first link to transmit data packets of the first service. The second link transmits all data packets of the first service.

Exemplarily, the first information is sent to the SMF by the UE or the RAN.

Accordingly, the PCF receives the first information.

S102: The PCF determines charging key value information at least according to the first information.

The charging key value information includes at least a first charging key value and a second charging key value.

The first charging key corresponds to the first link, and the second charging key corresponds to the second link.

S103: The PCF sends the charging key value information to the SMF.

Accordingly, the SMF can receive the charging key information.

S104: The SMF acquires the first traffic information and the second traffic information.

The first traffic information indicates the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link, and the second traffic information indicates the data volume of the first service transmitted through the second link.

Accordingly, the SMF can associate the first charging key with the first traffic information, and the first traffic information and the first charging key can be used to determine the cost of transmitting the data of the first service on the first link. And, the SMF may associate the second charging key with the second traffic information, and the second traffic information and the second charging key may be used to determine the cost of transmitting the data of the first service on the second link. Subsequently, the SMF will send the traffic statistics corresponding to each charging key to the charging function (CHF) for cost determination. For example, the SMF may send the first charging key and the corresponding charging key to the CHF. the first traffic information, and send the second charging key value and the corresponding second traffic information.

Exemplarily, the first flow information and the second flow information may be determined by the SMF, or sent to the SMF by the UPF or the RAN.

Using the above method, the SMF can obtain the charging key value and traffic information corresponding to the first link, so that the charging key value and traffic statistics information are sent to the CHF, and the CHF transmits the data of the first service of the UE to the first link. The charging key value and traffic information corresponding to the second link can be obtained by the SMF, so that the charging key value and traffic statistics information are sent to the CHF, and the CHF transmits the first service of the UE to the second link. The amount of data is billed.

It should be understood that the above process shown in FIG. 3 is described by taking the UE transmitting through the first link and the second link as an example, and when the UE transmits data through more links, the implementation may also be referred to. For example, if the UE also transmits the data of the first service through the third link, the charging key information obtained by the SMF from the PCF may also include the third charging key (for the method of obtaining the third charging key by the SMF, please refer to The way in which the SMF obtains the first charging key and the second charging key), and the SMF can also obtain the traffic information corresponding to the third link (the method for the SMF to obtain the traffic information corresponding to the third link can refer to the first traffic information and the method for obtaining the second traffic information), and send the third charging key and the traffic information corresponding to the third link to the CHF.

In a possible example, the first information includes the second information, the third information, the first indication information, the information of the relay device corresponding to the first link, or the information of the relay device corresponding to the second link. at least one message.

The second information is used to indicate the proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link to the data volume of the first service, and the third information is used to indicate the proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the data volume of the first service. The proportion of the data volume of a business. The data volume of the first service refers to the entire data volume of the first service sent by the UE, and the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link refers to the data volume of the first service sent by the UE through the first link, The data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link refers to the data volume of the first service sent by the UE through the second link. The second information and the third information may be referred to as the loading factor of the first link and the second link, respectively. For example, the second information indicates that the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link accounts for the first 1/3 of the total data volume of the service, and the third information indicates that the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link accounts for 2/3 of the total data volume of the first service.

Exemplarily, the second information and the third information may be sent to the SMF by the UE or the RAN.

The UE may determine the second information according to the transmission performance supported by the first link and the transmission performance required by the UE to transmit the data of the first service, and the second information may be determined according to the transmission performance supported by the second link and the data of the first service transmitted by the UE. The required transmission performance determines the third information.

Taking the transmission performance as the bandwidth as an example, the second information and the third information may respectively indicate the ratio of the bandwidth of the first link and the bandwidth of the second link to the bandwidth required by the service of the first communication device. Specifically, if the first communication device learns that the bandwidth of the first link (eg, the bandwidth supported by the relay device of the first link) is 10 Mbit/s, and the bandwidth of the second link (eg, the middle The bandwidth supported by the following device) is 5Mbit/s, in addition, the bandwidth required by the service of the first communication device is 15Mbit/s, then the second information and the third information are the indication "2/3" and the indication "1/3" respectively. " field. Exemplarily, the second information may also indicate the correspondence between the first link and the load sharing ratio, for example, the second information is used to indicate the relay device corresponding to the first link and the load sharing ratio corresponding to the first link. load ratio (eg 2/3).

The RAN may determine the second information and the third information according to the ratio of the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link to the data volume of the first service transmitted through the second link. Wherein, the UE is connected to the RAN through the first link and the second link.

Specifically, the RAN may, according to the information of the relay device of the first link, transmit the data packets of the first service through the first link, and count the data volume of the data packets of the first service transmitted through the first link, and /or the data packets of the first service transmitted through the second link according to the information of the relay device of the second link, and the data volume of the data packets of the first service transmitted through the second link is counted. The information of the relay device of the first link may be the bottom layer identifier of the relay device of the first link, such as a radio link layer control protocol (radio link control, RLC) or a media access control protocol (media access control, MAC) The identifier of the layer, or the layer 2 (layer 2) identifier of the relay device of the first link. The identifier of the relay device of the second link may be the bottom layer identifier of the relay device of the second link, such as the identifier of the RLC layer or the MAC layer, or the layer 2 identifier of the relay device of the second link.

If the data of the first service of the UE is all transmitted through the first link or the second link, the RAN may determine that the data volume of the first service is the data volume of the data packets of the first service transmitted through the first link and the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link. The sum of the data volumes of the data packets of the first service transmitted by the second link. The second information may be the ratio of the data volume of the data packets of the first service transmitted through the first link to the data volume of the first service within a preset time period or within a preset data volume range. The third information may be the ratio of the data volume of the data packets of the first service transmitted through the second link to the data volume of the first service within a preset time period or within a preset data volume range.

The above first indication information may be used to indicate that data of the first service of the UE is transmitted at least through the first link and the second link. And/or, the first indication information may be used to indicate the first link and the second link, for example, the first indication information may include an identifier of the first link and an identifier of the second link. The identifier of the first link includes the identifier of the relay device corresponding to the first link, and the identifier of the second link includes the identifier of the relay device corresponding to the second link.

Specifically, after receiving the first indication information from the UE, the RAN or the AMF, the SMF can learn that the data of the first service of the UE is transmitted through at least the first link and the second link, and send the first link to the PCF. Instructions.

The above information of the relay device corresponding to the first link and the information of the relay device corresponding to the second link may be sent by the RAN to the SMF, or sent by the RAN to the AMF, and forwarded by the AMF to the SMF. If the first link is the link 1 shown in FIG. 2a, the relay device corresponding to the first link may include the first relay terminal; if the second link is the link 2 shown in FIG. 2a, the first link A relay device corresponding to a link may include a second relay terminal.

Exemplarily, the RAN may obtain the information of the relay device during the process of the UE accessing the RAN through the relay device. For example, if the UE accesses the RAN through the first relay terminal shown in FIG. 2a, the RAN can store the identifier of the first relay terminal (relay UE ID) as the information of the relay device. For example, the identifier of the relay terminal can be Identification information of the RLC/MAC layer entity on the UE side.

In a possible implementation manner of S104, the SMF may determine the first flow information according to the second information and the third flow information, and determine the second flow information according to the third information and the third flow information. The third traffic information is used to indicate the data volume of the first service of the UE, and the third traffic information may come from the UPF. The third flow information may specifically be the data amount of the first service of the UE transmitted by a certain service flow (eg, QoS flow) in the PDU session according to the statistics of the UPF.

In this example, the second information and the third information may come from the UE or from the RAN. Wherein, the UE is connected to the RAN through the first link and the second link. For the determination methods of the second information and the third information, reference may be made to the foregoing description.

In another possible implementation manner of S104, the SMF may receive the first flow information and the second flow information from the UPF.

In this manner, the SMF may send the first identifier and the second identifier to the UPF, where the first identifier is used to determine the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link, and the second identifier is used to transmit the data through the second link. Determination of the data volume of the first service to be transmitted. Therefore, UPF can count the amount of data carrying the first identifier in the data packets of the first service of the UE according to the first identifier to obtain the first traffic information, and the UPF can count the data packets of the first service of the UE according to the second identifier that carry the first identifier. Second, the identified data volume is obtained, and the second traffic information is obtained.

It should be understood that the SMF may also send a third identifier and a fourth identifier to the UPF, where the third identifier corresponds to the first identifier, and the fourth identifier corresponds to the second identifier. For example, the third identifier is determined according to the first identifier, and the fourth identifier corresponds to the second identifier. The identifier is determined according to the second identifier, then the UPF can count the data volume of the first service of the UE that carries the first identifier according to the third identifier to obtain the first traffic information, and the UPF can count the first identifier of the UE according to the fourth identifier. The data packet of the service carries the data amount of the second identifier to obtain the first traffic information.

In this implementation, the RAN can identify the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link according to the link information of the first link. When the RAN forwards the data packet to the UPF through the N3 interface, the The general packet radio service (general packet radio service, GPRS) tunneling protocol (GPRS tunnelling protocol, GTP) layer carries the first identifier, and the first identifier transmitted through the second link is identified by the RAN according to the link information of the second link. The data packet of the service, and when the data packet is forwarded to the UPF through the N3 interface, the second identifier is carried in the general wireless packet service GTP layer of the data packet. Wherein, the link information of the first link includes at least one of the first identifier, the information of the relay device of the first link, or the second indication information, and the link information of the second link includes the second identifier, the second At least one of the information of the relay device of the link or the third indication information.

In the first specific implementation, when the UE sends the data packet of the first service through the first link, it can be used at the packet data convergence protocol (packet data convergence protocol, PDCP) layer of the data packet or the service data adaptation protocol ( The service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer carries the first identifier, which is used to make the UPF recognize that these data packets are transmitted through the first traffic. Thereafter, the RAN can send the first service through the first link according to the first identifier. During data packets, the first identifier is carried in the PDCP layer or SDAP layer of the data packets, so as to make the UPF identify that these data packets are transmitted through the first link. Similarly, when the UE sends the data packets of the first service through the second link, the second identifier can be carried in the PDCP layer or SDAP layer of the data packets, so that the UPF can identify that these data packets are transmitted through the second link. .

In the second specific implementation, after receiving the data packet from the UE, the RAN can identify the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link according to the second indication information carried in the data packet, and identify the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link according to the second indication information carried in the data packet, and The indication information identifies that the data packet is a data packet of the first service of the UE transmitted through the second link. Wherein, the second indication information may be different from the first identifier, and the UE may carry the second indication information in the PDCP layer or SDAP layer of the data packet when sending the data packet of the first service through the first link. The third indication information may be different from the second identifier, and the third indication information may be carried in the PDCP layer or SDAP layer of the data packet when the UE sends the data packet of the first service through the second link.

In a third specific implementation, the RAN can learn, according to the information of the relay device of the first link (such as the identifier of the relay device), that the data packet of the first service is passed by the UE through the relay device of the first link. It is forwarded to the RAN to learn that the data packet is a data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link. And/or, the RAN can learn that the data packet of the first service is forwarded to the RAN by the UE through the relay device of the second link according to the information of the relay device of the second link, so as to know that the data packet is transmitted through the first link. The data packet of the first service transmitted by the link.

In the above embodiments, the first identifier and the second identifier may be determined by the UE and indicated to the SMF. Alternatively, the first identity and the second identity may be allocated by the SMF, and the allocated first identity and the second identity may be indicated to the UE and/or the RAN. The first identifier corresponds to the data transmitted through the first link, and the second identifier corresponds to the data transmitted through the second link. Subsequently, the UE can carry the first identifier in the data packet sent to the RAN through the first link, and carry the second identifier in the data packet sent to the RAN through the second link. Exemplarily, the SMF may carry the first identification and the second identification in the session establishment accept message, and send the first identification and the second identification to the UE through the session establishment accept message. In addition, if the first identifier and the second identifier are allocated by the SMF, the SMF may also send the first identifier and the second identifier to the RAN.

In another possible implementation manner of S104, the SMF may receive the first traffic information and the second traffic information from the RAN.

The RAN can identify the data packets of the first service sent by the UE through the first link according to the link information of the first link, and count the data volume of the data packets of the first service sent by the UE through the first link to obtain The first traffic information, and the RAN can identify the data packets of the first service sent by the UE through the second link according to the link information of the second link, and count the data packets of the first service sent by the UE through the second link. The amount of data is obtained, and the second traffic information is obtained. Wherein, the link information of the first link includes at least one of the first identifier, the information of the relay device of the first link, or the second indication information, and the link information of the second link includes the second identifier, the second At least one of the information of the relay device of the link or the third indication information.

Several possible traffic statistics methods provided by the embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In a specific example, when the UE sends uplink data through the first link and the second link, if the SMF determines the first link and the second link according to the second information and the third information from the UE The amount of data transmitted respectively, the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application may include the following steps shown in FIG. 4 :

S201: The UE sends the second information and the third information to the SMF.

The second information is used to indicate the proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link to the total data volume of the first service, and the third information is used to indicate the proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the total data volume of the first service. The proportion of the total data volume of the first service. For example, the second information indicates that the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link accounts for 1/3 of the total data volume of the first service, and the third information indicates that the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link accounts for 1/3 of the total data volume of the first service 2/3 of the total data volume.

Exemplarily, the second information and the third information may be determined by the UE according to the transmission performance of the first link and the second link and the transmission performance of the first service required by the UE. Taking the transmission performance as the bandwidth as an example, the second information and the third information can respectively indicate the ratio of the bandwidth of the first link and the bandwidth of the second link to the bandwidth required by the service of the first communication device (hereinafter referred to as offloading). proportion (ofloading factor)). Specifically, if the first communication device learns that the bandwidth of the first link (eg, the bandwidth supported by the relay device of the first link) is 10 Mbit/s, and the bandwidth of the second link (eg, the middle The bandwidth supported by the device) is 5Mbit/s. In addition, the bandwidth required by the service of the first communication device is 15Mbit/s. The second information and the third information are the indication (2/3) and the indication (1/3) respectively. ) field. Exemplarily, the second information may further include a correspondence between the first link and the load sharing ratio. For example, the second information is used to indicate the first relay terminal and the load sharing ratio corresponding to the first relay terminal. (eg (2/3)).

Exemplarily, the UE may send the second information and the third information to the SMF during the establishment or modification of the PDU session. For example, the second information and the third information may be carried in a PDU session establishment request (PDU session establishment request) or a PDU session modification request (PDU session modification request) sent by the UE to the AMF, and the AMF creates a session management context through the PDU session The service (Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext) or the PDU Session Update Session Management Context Service (Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext) is sent to the SMF.

Accordingly, the SMF receives the second information as well as the third information.

S202: The SMF sends the second information and the third information to the PCF.

Exemplarily, the second information and the third information may be carried in a session management policy association establishment request (SM policy association establishment request) or a session management policy association modification request (SM Policy association modification request).

Accordingly, the PCF receives the second information as well as the third information.

S203: The PCF determines the first charging key and the second charging key according to the second information and the third information.

In addition, the PCF can also specify that the terminal accesses the network through two links according to the second information and the third information.

The first charging key corresponds to the second information, or in other words, the first charging key corresponds to the first link. The second charging key corresponds to the third information, or in other words, the second charging key corresponds to the second link.

S204: The PCF sends the first charging key and the second charging key to the SMF.

Exemplarily, the first charging key and the second charging key may be carried in a session management policy association establishment response (SM policy association establishment response) or a session management association policy modification response (SM policy association modification response).

Accordingly, the SMF receives the first charging key and the second charging key.

It should be understood that, if the second information and the third information in S201 are carried in the PDU session establishment request, after S204, a conventional PDU session establishment process can be performed. If the second information and the third information in S201 are carried in the PDU session modification request, after S204, a conventional PDU session modification process can be performed.

S205: The UPF sends a traffic report to the SMF.

Exemplarily, the traffic report may be carried in an N4 Session Report (N4 Session Report).

The UPF can send a traffic report according to the reporting time, after the data volume of the first service reaches a threshold value or an event that needs to report traffic occurs. For example, the UPF may send the traffic report periodically or according to a preset time. For another example, the UPF may send the traffic report after the counted data volume of the first service reaches a preset threshold. For another example, the UPF may send a traffic report after determining that an event requiring traffic reporting occurs, for example, the UPF receives a traffic report request from the SMF.

For example, if the UPF reports the traffic report periodically or according to time, the traffic report is used to indicate the data volume of the first service counted within the period or time period. If the UPF sends the traffic report according to the threshold value, the traffic report may indicate that the data volume of the first service is the threshold value.

Accordingly, the SMF receives traffic reports.

S206: The SMF determines the first traffic information according to the second information and the traffic report, and determines the second traffic information according to the third information and the traffic report.

The first traffic information is used to indicate the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link. For example, if the second information indicates that 1/3 of the total data volume of the first service is transmitted through the first link, the first traffic A flow information is determined according to the flow of the first service indicated by 1/3 and the flow report. Similarly, the second traffic information is used to indicate the data volume of the first service transmitted through the second link. The second traffic information may be determined according to the third information and the traffic of the first service indicated by the traffic report.

Exemplarily, the SMF may associate the first traffic information with the first charging key for charging the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link, and may associate the second traffic information with the second accounting key. The charge key-value association is used to charge the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link.

Using the above method, the first traffic information and the second traffic information can be determined by the SMF, and then the data sent by the UE through the first link and the second link can be charged or charged according to the first traffic information and the second traffic information. Stream limiting and other operations to improve billing accuracy and implement more fine-grained traffic statistics. For example, the SMF may send the first charging key, the first traffic information, the second charging key, and the second traffic information to the CHF.

When the UE sends uplink data through the first link and the second link, if the UPF determines the amount of data transmitted by the first link and the second link respectively, the UE indicates to the network side the data of the first service at least Through the first link and the second link, the communication method provided by this embodiment of the present application may include the following steps shown in FIG. 5 :

S301: The UE sends the first identifier and the second identifier to the SMF, and sends the indication information corresponding to the first identifier and the indication information corresponding to the second identifier to the RAN.

The first identifier and the second identifier may be carried in a PDU session establishment request or a PDU session modification request.

The indication information corresponding to the first identifier and the indication information corresponding to the second identifier may be carried in the RRC signaling sent during the PDU session establishment or modification process, or in the RRC layer of the PDU session establishment request or the PDU session modification request. The indication information corresponding to the first identifier may be used to instruct the RAN to carry the first identifier in the GTP layer of the data packet when forwarding the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link to the UPF. The indication information corresponding to the second identifier may be used to instruct the RAN to carry the second identifier in the GTP layer of the data packet when forwarding the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link to the UPF.

Exemplarily, the UE may also send indication information to the SMF to instruct the network side to detect the first identifier and the second identifier carried in the GTP layer of the data packet transmitted by the corresponding service flow in the PDU session, and to instruct the network side to count the GTP layer separately. The data volume of the data packet carrying the first identifier in the GTP layer and the data volume of the data packet carrying the second identifier in the GTP layer. Alternatively, after receiving the first identifier and the second identifier from the UE by default, the network side can count the data volume of the data packet carrying the first identifier in the GTP layer and the data of the data packet carrying the second identifier in the GTP layer respectively. quantity.

Accordingly, the SMF receives the first identification and the second identification.

S302: The SMF sends the first identifier and the second identifier to the PCF.

Exemplarily, the first identifier and the second identifier may be carried in the session management policy association establishment request.

If the UE sends the indication information to the SMF, the SMF may also send the indication information to the PCF.

Accordingly, the PCF receives the first identification and the second identification.

S303: The PCF determines the first charging key and the second charging key according to the first identifier and the second identifier.

The first charging key corresponds to the first identifier, or in other words, the first charging key corresponds to the first link. The second charging key corresponds to the second identifier, or in other words, the second charging key corresponds to the second link.

S304: The PCF sends the first charging key and the second charging key to the SMF.

Exemplarily, the first charging key and the second charging key may be carried in the session management policy association establishment response.

S305: The SMF sends the first PDR and the second PDR to the UPF.

The first PDR includes the first identifier, which is used to instruct the UPF to detect the data packets carrying the first identifier on the GTP (GTP-U) layer, and count the data volume of the data packets carrying the first identifier on the GTP layer; the second PDR The second identifier is included to instruct the UPF to detect the data packets carrying the second identifier in the GTP layer, and count the data volume of the data packets carrying the second identifier in the GTP layer.

It should be understood that, if the first identifier and the second identifier in S301 are carried in the PDU session establishment request, after S305, a conventional PDU session establishment process can be performed. If the first identifier and the second identifier in S301 are carried in the PDU session modification request, after S305, a conventional PDU session modification process can be performed.

S306: The UE sends the data packet of the first service to the RAN through the first link and the second link respectively.

Optionally, the data packet of the first service sent through the first link carries the first identifier. The data packet of the first service sent through the second link carries the second identifier. Exemplarily, the UE may carry the first identifier or the second identifier in the PDCP layer or the SDAP layer of the data packet.

S307: The RAN forwards the data packet of the first service to the UPF, wherein the data packet of the first service transmitted by the UE through the first link carries the first identifier, and the data packet of the first service transmitted by the UE through the second link Carry a second identification.

Wherein, if the data packet of the first service sent by the UE carries the first identifier, the RAN can determine that the data packet is transmitted through the first link, so that when forwarding the data packet of the first service to the UPF, the data packet The GTP layer carries the first identifier. If the data packet of the first service sent by the UE carries the second identifier, the RAN can determine that the data packet is transmitted through the second link, so that when forwarding the data packet of the first service to the UPF, the GTP of the data packet is The layer carries the second identification.

Alternatively, the RAN may transmit the data packet of the first service through the first link according to the information of the relay device of the first link, and carry the first identifier in the data packet when forwarding the data packet to the UPF, and/or The data packet of the first service transmitted through the second link according to the information of the relay device of the second link, and the second identifier is carried in the data packet. The information of the relay device of the first link and the information of the relay device of the second link may be acquired by the RAN in the process of the UE accessing the RAN through the first link and the second link respectively. After the RAN receives the data packet of the first service, if the relay device is identified as the relay device corresponding to the first link according to the information of the relay device that transmits the data packet of the first service, the first identifier is added to the GTP layer. , or, if the relay device is identified as the relay device corresponding to the second link, a second identifier is added at the GTP layer.

Correspondingly, the UPF receives the data packet of the first service.

S308: The UPF counts the data volume of the data packet carrying the first identifier according to the first PDR to obtain the first flow information, and counts the data volume of the data packet carrying the second identifier according to the second PDR to obtain the second flow information.

S309: The UPF sends the first flow information and the second flow information to the SMF.

Exemplarily, the SMF may associate the first traffic information with the first charging key for charging the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link, and may associate the second traffic information with the second accounting key. The charge key-value association is used to charge the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link. For example, the SMF may send the first charging key, the first traffic information, the second charging key, and the second traffic information to the CHF.

Using the above method, the UPF can respectively identify the data packets sent through the first link and the data packets sent through the second link in the data packets of the first service of the UE according to the first identification and the second identification carried in the data packets. , and collect statistics on the first traffic information and the second traffic information, and report the statistical results to the SMF, and the subsequent SMF can, according to the first traffic information and the second traffic information, report the data sent by the UE through the first link and the second link respectively. The data is billed or flow-limited to improve billing accuracy and achieve finer-grained traffic statistics.

When the UE sends uplink data through the first link and the second link, if the UPF determines the data volume of the first service transmitted on the first link and the second link respectively according to the second information and the third information from the RAN The data volume of the first service transmitted by the channel, the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application may include the following steps shown in FIG. 6 :

S401: The UE sends the information of the relay device of the first link and the information of the relay device of the second link to the AMF.

The information of the relay device of the first link and the information of the relay device of the second link may be carried in the PDU session establishment request or the PDU session modification request.

Optionally, the RRC layer of the PDU session establishment request or the PDU session modification request may carry indication information.

The indication information may be carried in the RRC signaling sent during the PDU session establishment or modification process, or in the RRC layer (extended RRC layer) of the PDU session establishment request or the PDU session modification request. The indication information can be used to instruct the RAN to count the data volume of the data packets transmitted through the first link and the data packets transmitted through the second link after receiving the data packets transmitted through the first link and the second link. The amount of data, the second information and the third information are obtained. The second information is used to indicate the proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link to the total data volume of the first service, and the third information is used to indicate that the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link accounts for the first The proportion of the total data volume of the business. For example, the second information indicates that the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link accounts for 1/3 of the total data volume of the first service, and the third information indicates that the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link accounts for 1/3 of the total data volume of the first service 2/3 of the total data volume.

Accordingly, the AMF receives the information of the relay device of the first link and the information of the relay device of the second link. It should be understood that the information of the relay device described here may be the relay UE ID of the relay device.

S402: The AMF sends the information of the relay device of the first link and the information of the relay device of the second link to the SMF.

Accordingly, the SMF receives the information of the relay device of the first link and the information of the relay device of the second link.

S403: The SMF sends the information of the relay device of the first link and the information of the relay device of the second link to the PCF.

Accordingly, the PCF receives the information of the relay device of the first link and the information of the relay device of the second link.

S404: The PCF determines the first charging key and the second charging key according to the information of the relay device of the first link and the information of the relay device of the second link.

Wherein, the first charging key corresponds to the first link. The second charging key corresponds to the second link.

S405: The PCF sends the first charging key and the second charging key to the SMF.

It should be understood that, if the information of the relay device of the first link and the information of the relay device of the second link in S401 are carried in the PDU session establishment request, after S405, a conventional PDU session establishment process can be performed. If the information of the relay device of the first link and the information of the relay device of the second link in S401 are carried in the PDU session modification request, after S405, a conventional PDU session modification process can be performed.

S406: The UE sends a data packet of the first service to the RAN through the first link and the second link respectively.

Optionally, the PDCP or SDAP layer of the data packet of the first service sent through the first link carries the first identifier. The PDCP or SDAP layer of the data packet of the first service sent through the second link carries the second identifier. Exemplarily, the UE may carry the first identifier or the second identifier in the PDCP layer or the SDAP layer of the data packet.

S407: The RAN receives the data packet of the first service from the UE, and counts the data volume of the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link and the data volume of the data packet of the first service transmitted through the second link .

Wherein, if the PDCP or SDAP layer of the data packet of the first service sent by the UE carries the first identifier, the RAN can determine that the data packet is transmitted through the first link, and thus can count the first identifier transmitted through the first link. The data volume of the service data package. If the PDCP or SDAP layer of the data packet of the first service sent by the UE carries the second identifier, the RAN can determine that the data packet is transmitted through the second link, so that the data of the first service can be transmitted through the second link. The amount of data in the package.

Alternatively, the RAN may collect data packets of the first service transmitted through the first link according to the information of the relay device of the first link, and count the data volume of the data packets of the first service transmitted through the first link, and/ Or the data packets of the first service transmitted through the second link according to the information of the relay device of the second link, and the data volume of the data packets of the first service transmitted through the second link is counted. The information of the relay device of the first link and the information of the relay device of the second link may be obtained by the RAN during the process of the UE accessing the RAN through the first link and the second link respectively, or may be obtained by the UE Sent to RAN through RRC signaling. After the RAN receives the data packet of the first service, if the relay device is identified as the relay device corresponding to the first link according to the information of the relay device that transmits the data packet of the first service, it can pass statistics according to the data packet. The data volume of the data packet of the first service transmitted by the first link, or, if the relay device is identified as the relay device corresponding to the second link, the number of data packets transmitted through the second link can be counted according to the data packet. The data volume of a data packet of a service.

S408: The RAN determines the second information and the third information according to the data volume of the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link and the data volume of the data packet of the first service transmitted through the second link.

Exemplarily, the RAN may, according to the information of the relay device of the first link, transmit the data packets of the first service through the first link, and count the data volume of the data packets of the first service transmitted through the first link, And/or the data packets of the first service transmitted through the second link according to the information of the relay device of the second link, and the data volume of the data packets of the first service transmitted through the second link is counted. If the data of the first service of the UE is all transmitted through the first link or the second link, the RAN may determine that the data volume of the first service is the data volume of the data packets of the first service transmitted through the first link and the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link. The sum of the data volumes of the data packets of the first service transmitted by the second link. The second information may be the ratio of the data volume of the data packets of the first service transmitted through the first link to the data volume of the first service within a preset time period or within a preset data volume range. The third information may be the ratio of the data volume of the data packets of the first service transmitted through the second link to the data volume of the first service within a preset time period or within a preset data volume range.

S409: The RAN sends the second information and the third information to the SMF.

S410: The UPF sends a traffic report to the SMF.

Exemplarily, the traffic report is carried in the N4 session report.

Accordingly, the SMF receives traffic reports.

S411: The SMF determines the first flow information according to the second information and the flow report, and determines the second flow information according to the third information and the flow report.

Using the above method, the first traffic information and the second traffic information can be determined by the SMF, and then the data sent by the UE through the first link and the second link can be charged or charged according to the first traffic information and the second traffic information. Stream limiting and other operations to improve billing accuracy and implement more fine-grained traffic statistics.

When the UE sends uplink data through the first link and the second link, if the UPF determines the amount of data transmitted by the first link and the second link respectively, the RAN indicates to the network side the data volume of the first service of the UE. Data is transmitted through at least the first link and the second link, and the communication method provided by the embodiment of the present application may include the following steps shown in FIG. 7 :

S501: The RAN sends the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link to the SMF.

Wherein, the link information of the first link includes the first identifier or the information of the relay device of the first link. The link information of the second link includes the second identification or information of the relay device of the second link. It should be understood that the information of the relay device described here may be the relay UE ID of the relay device.

The link information of the first link and the link information of the second link can be carried in the access network information (AN information, AN info), and the RAN can send the AN info together with the session establishment request to the SMF, where , the session establishment request comes from the UE. The RAN may acquire the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link during the process of the UE accessing the RAN.

Accordingly, the SMF receives the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link.

S502: The SMF determines the first identifier and the second identifier according to the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link, and sends the first identifier and the second identifier to the RAN.

Exemplarily, the SMF may also send the indication information corresponding to the first identifier and the indication information corresponding to the second identifier to the RAN. The indication information corresponding to the first identifier may be used to instruct the RAN to carry the first identifier in the GTP layer of the data packet when forwarding the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link to the UPF. The indication information corresponding to the second identifier may be used to instruct the RAN to carry the second identifier in the GTP layer of the data packet when forwarding the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link to the UPF.

S503: The SMF sends the first identifier and the second identifier to the PCF.

S504: The PCF determines the first charging key and the second charging key according to the first identifier and the second identifier.

S505: The PCF sends the first charging key and the second charging key to the SMF.

S506: The SMF sends the first PDR and the second PDR to the UPF.

The first PDR includes the first identifier, which is used to instruct the UPF to detect the data packets carrying the first identifier in the GTP layer, and count the data volume of the data packets carrying the first identifier in the GTP layer; the second PDR includes the second identifier , which is used to instruct the UPF to detect the data packets carrying the second identifier in the GTP layer, and count the data volume of the data packets carrying the second identifier in the GTP layer.

It should be understood that, if the first identifier and the second identifier in S501 are carried in the PDU session establishment request, after S506, a conventional PDU session establishment process can be performed. If the first identifier and the second identifier in S501 are carried in the PDU session modification request, after S506, a conventional PDU session modification process can be performed.

S507: The UE sends a data packet of the first service to the RAN through the first link and the second link respectively.

S508: The RAN forwards the data packet of the first service to the UPF, wherein the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link carries the first identifier, and the data packet of the first service transmitted through the second link carries the first identifier Second identification.

The RAN may transmit the data packet of the first service through the first link according to the information of the relay device of the first link, and carry the first identifier in the data packet, and/or according to the relay device of the second link The information of the first service is transmitted through the second link in the data packet, and the second identifier is carried in the data packet. The information of the relay device of the first link and the information of the relay device of the second link may be obtained by the RAN during the process of the UE accessing the RAN through the first link and the second link respectively, or may be obtained by the UE Sent to the RAN through RRC signaling.

Correspondingly, the UPF receives the data packet of the first service.

S509: The UPF counts the data volume of the data packet carrying the first identifier according to the first PDR to obtain the first flow information, and counts the data volume of the data packet carrying the second identifier according to the second PDR to obtain the second flow information.

S510: The UPF sends the first flow information and the second flow information to the SMF.

Using the above method, the UPF can respectively identify the first traffic information of the data packet sent through the first link and the data packet sent through the second link in the data packet of the first service of the UE according to the first identification and the second identification carried in the data packet. The second flow information of the data packets sent by the channel is sent, and the statistical results are reported to the SMF. The subsequent SMF can perform the data sent by the UE through the first link and the second link respectively according to the first flow information and the second flow information. Operations such as billing or current limiting can improve billing accuracy and achieve more fine-grained traffic statistics. Wherein, in the process shown in FIG. 7 , data volume statistics for the first link and the second link can be implemented without any improvement to the existing UE.

When the UE sends uplink data through the first link and the second link, if the RAN determines the amount of data respectively transmitted by the first link and the second link, the communication method provided by this embodiment of the present application may include the method shown in FIG. 8 . the following steps are shown:

S601: The UE sends the first identifier and the second identifier to the SMF, and sends the indication information corresponding to the first identifier and the indication information corresponding to the second identifier to the RAN. Then, S604 is executed.

The indication information corresponding to the first identifier and the indication information corresponding to the second identifier may be carried in the RRC signaling sent in the process of establishing or modifying the PDU session. The indication information corresponding to the first identifier may be used to instruct the RAN to carry the first identifier in the GTP layer of the data packet when forwarding the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link to the UPF. The indication information corresponding to the second identifier may be used to instruct the RAN to carry the second identifier in the GTP layer of the data packet when forwarding the data packet of the first service transmitted through the first link to the UPF.

Exemplarily, the UE may also send indication information to the SMF, and the SMF instructs the RAN side to detect the first identifier and the second identifier carried in the PDCP or SDAP layer of the service flow data packet corresponding to the PDU session.

Alternatively, the steps shown in S602-S603 are performed.

S602: The RAN sends the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link to the SMF.

Wherein, the link information of the first link includes the first identifier or the identifier of the relay device of the first link. The link information of the second link includes the second identification or the identification of the relay device of the second link.

S603: The SMF allocates the first identifier and the second identifier according to the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link, and sends the first identifier and the second identifier to the RAN by the SMF. After that, S604 is performed.

Exemplarily, the SMF may also send the indication information corresponding to the first identifier and the indication information corresponding to the second identifier to the RAN. The indication information corresponding to the first identifier can be used to indicate to the RAN that the data packets sent by the UE over the first link will carry the first identifier at the PDCP layer or the SDAP layer, where the first identifier corresponds to the data packets sent over the first link The data packet of the RAN can be counted by the RAN on the data volume of the data packet carrying the first identifier. The indication information corresponding to the second identifier can be used to indicate to the RAN that the data packets sent by the UE over the first link will carry the first identifier at the PDCP layer or the SDAP layer, and the first identifier corresponds to the data sent over the first link. packet, the data volume of the data packet carrying the second identifier can be counted by the RAN.

S604: The SMF sends the first identifier and the second identifier to the PCF.

S605: The PCF determines the first charging key and the second charging key according to the first identifier and the second identifier.

S606: The PCF sends the first charging key and the second charging key to the SMF.

It should be understood that, if the first identifier and the second identifier in S601 or S602 are carried in the PDU session establishment request, after S606, a conventional PDU session establishment process can be performed. If the first identifier and the second identifier in S601 or S602 are carried in the PDU session modification request, after S606, a conventional PDU session modification process can be performed.

S607: The UE sends the data packet of the first service to the RAN through the first link and the second link respectively.

Correspondingly, the RAN receives the data packet of the first service from the UE.

S608: The RAN receives the data packets of the first service from the UE, and counts the data volume of the data packets of the first service transmitted through the first link, obtains first traffic information, and counts the data packets of the first service transmitted through the second link. The data volume of a data packet of a service is obtained, and the second traffic information is obtained.

Wherein, if the PDCP or SDAP layer of the data packet of the first service sent by the UE carries the first identifier, the RAN can determine that the data packet is transmitted through the first link, and thus can count the first identifier transmitted through the first link. The data volume of the data packet of the service is obtained, and the first traffic information is obtained. If the PDCP or SDAP layer of the data packet of the first service sent by the UE carries the second identifier, the RAN can determine that the data packet is transmitted through the second link, so that the data of the first service can be transmitted through the second link. The data amount of the packet is obtained, and the second flow information is obtained.

Alternatively, the RAN may collect data packets of the first service transmitted through the first link according to the information of the relay device of the first link, and count the data volume of the data packets of the first service transmitted through the first link, and/ Or the data packets of the first service transmitted through the second link according to the information of the relay device of the second link, and the data volume of the data packets of the first service transmitted through the second link is counted. The information of the relay device of the first link and the information of the relay device of the second link may be obtained by the RAN during the process of the UE accessing the RAN through the first link and the second link respectively, or may be obtained by the UE Sent to the RAN through RRC signaling. After the RAN receives the data packet of the first service, if the relay device is identified as the relay device corresponding to the first link according to the information of the relay device that transmits the data packet of the first service, it can pass statistics according to the data packet. The data volume of the data packets of the first service transmitted by the first link, to obtain the first traffic information, or, if the relay device is identified as the relay device corresponding to the second link, the data packet statistics can be passed through the first link. The data volume of the data packets of the first service transmitted by the two links is obtained, and the second traffic information is obtained.

S609: The RAN indicates to the AMF the corresponding relationship between the first traffic information and the first link, and the corresponding relationship between the second traffic information and the second link.

Correspondingly, the AMF acquires the correspondence between the first traffic information and the first link and the correspondence between the second traffic information and the second link.

S610: The AMF indicates to the SMF the corresponding relationship between the first traffic information and the first link, and the corresponding relationship between the second traffic information and the second link.

The AMF may create a session management context service or a PDU session update session management context service through a PDU session, and indicate the corresponding relationship between the first traffic information and the first link and the corresponding relationship between the second traffic information and the second link.

Correspondingly, the SMF obtains the correspondence between the first traffic information and the first link and the correspondence between the second traffic information and the second link.

Using the above method, the RAN can determine the first traffic information and the second traffic information, and indicate the first traffic information and the second traffic information to the SMF, and then the SMF can send the UE through the first traffic information and the second traffic information according to the first traffic information and the second traffic information. The data sent by the link and the second link are billed or current-limited to improve billing accuracy and implement more fine-grained traffic statistics.

Based on the same concept, in order to implement the functions in the methods provided by the above embodiments of the present application, the present application further provides a communication device. The communication apparatus can be used to implement the above functions of a session management network element, a user plane network element, a policy management network element, a terminal device or an access network element. The communication device may include a hardware structure and/or a software module, and implement the above functions in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module. Whether one of the above functions is performed in the form of a hardware structure, a software module, or a hardware structure plus a software module depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution.

As shown in FIG. 9 , a communication apparatus provided in an embodiment of the present application may include a communication module 901 and a processing module 902 , and the communication module 901 and the processing module 902 are coupled to each other. The communication apparatus 900 may be configured to perform the steps shown in Figures 3 to 8 as performed by a session management network element, a user plane network element, a policy management network element, a terminal device or an access network network element. The communication module 901 may be used to support the communication device 900 to communicate, and the communication module 901 may also be referred to as a communication unit, a communication interface, a transceiver module or a transceiver unit. The communication module 901 may have a wireless communication function, such as being able to communicate with other communication devices through wireless communication. The processing module 902 may also be referred to as a processing unit, and may be configured to support the communication apparatus 900 to perform the processing actions of the session management network element, the user plane network element, the policy management network element, the terminal device or the access network network element in the above method embodiments. , including but not limited to: generating information and messages sent by the communication module 901 , and/or demodulating and decoding the signals received by the communication module 901 , and the like.

Specifically, when performing the action performed by the session management network element, the communication module 901 may send first information to the policy management network element, where the first information at least includes information of the first link and information of the second link, the The first link and the second link are used to transmit data of the first service of the terminal device. The communication module 901 may also receive charging key information from the policy management network element, where the charging key information includes a first charging key and a second charging key, the charging key information at least according to As determined by the first information, the first charging key corresponds to the first link, and the second charging key corresponds to the second link. The processing module 902 can obtain first flow information and second flow information, where the first flow information is used to indicate the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link, and the second flow information is used to indicate the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link. The data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link, the first traffic information and the first charging key are used to determine the cost of transmitting the data of the first service on the first link, and the second traffic information And the second charging key is used for determining the cost of transmitting the data of the first service by the second link.

In a possible design, the communication module 901 may receive third traffic information from the user plane network element, where the third traffic information indicates the data volume of the first service. The processing module 902 may determine the first flow information according to the second information and the third flow information, and determine the second flow information according to the third information and the third flow information.

In a possible design, the communication module 901 may receive the first identification and the second identification from the terminal device. Wherein, the first identifier corresponds to the data transmitted through the first link, and the second identifier corresponds to the data transmitted through the second link. Alternatively, the session management network element may send the first identifier and the second identifier to the access network element.

In a possible design, the communication module 901 may also send the first identifier and the second identifier to the user plane network element. The first identifier is used to determine the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link, and the second identifier is used to determine the data volume of the first service transmitted through the second link. The communication module 901 can receive the first traffic information and the second traffic information from the user plane network element.

In a possible design, the communication module 901 can receive the first traffic information and the second traffic information from the access network element, and the terminal device is connected through the first link and the second link to the access network element.

When performing the action performed by the policy management network element, the communication module 901 may receive first information from the session management network element, where the first information at least includes the information of the first link and the information of the second link, the first information A link and the second link are used to transmit data of the first service of the terminal device. The communication module 901 can send the first charging key and the second charging key to the user plane network element, the charging key information includes the first charging key and the second charging key, the charging key The value information is determined at least according to the first information, the first charging key corresponds to the first link, and the second charging key corresponds to the second link. The first charging key and the second charging key can be determined by the processing module 902 .

When performing the action performed by the user plane network element, the communication module 901 may receive the first identification and the second identification from the session management network element. The processing module 902 determines the first traffic information according to the first identifier, the first traffic information indicates the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link, and determines the second traffic information according to the second identifier, the second traffic information is The traffic information indicates the data volume of the first service transmitted through the second link, and the first link and the second link are used to transmit the data of the first service of the terminal device. The user plane network element sends the first flow information and the second flow information to the session management network element.

When performing the action performed by the terminal device, the communication module 901 may send a first identifier and a second identifier to the session management network element, where the first identifier can be used to determine the amount of data of the first service transmitted through the first link determine that the second identifier can be used to determine the data volume of the first service transmitted through the second link; wherein the first link and the second link are used to transmit the first service of the terminal device The data.

In a possible design, the communication module 901 may send a data packet of the first service through the first link, and the data packet of the first service sent through the first link includes the first identifier. The communication module 901 may also send the data packet of the first service through the second link, and the data packet of the first service sent through the second link includes the second identifier.

In a possible design, the communication module 901 may also send the first identifier and the second identifier to the access network element, and the terminal device is connected to the access network through the first link and the second link. Incoming network element.

When performing the action performed by the terminal device, the communication module 901 may send transmission ratio information to the session management network element, where the transmission ratio information includes at least second information and third information, where the second information is used to indicate the first link The ratio of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the link to the data volume of the first service, and the third information is used to indicate the ratio of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the data volume of the first service . The communication module 901 sends the data of the first service through at least the first link and the second link according to the transmission ratio information.

When performing the action performed by the network element of the access network, the communication module 901 may receive the data packet of the first service from the terminal device through the first link, and receive the first service data packet from the terminal device through the second link. A business data package. The processing module 902 adds a first identifier to the data packet of the first service received through the first link, where the first identifier is used to determine the amount of data of the first service transmitted through the first link, and adding a second identifier to the data packet of the first service received through the second link, where the second identifier is used for determining the data volume of the first service transmitted through the second link.

In a possible design, the communication module 901 may receive the first identification and the second identification from the terminal device. Alternatively, the communication module 901 may receive the first identifier and the second identifier from the session management network element.

When performing the action performed by the network element of the access network, the communication module 901 may receive the data packet of the first service from the terminal device through the first link, and receive the first service data packet from the terminal device through the second link. A business data package. The access network element may also determine second information and third information according to the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link, where the second information is used to indicate the transmission of the first link The ratio of the data volume of the first service to the data volume of the first service, the third information is used to indicate the ratio of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the data volume of the first service . The access network element sends the second information and the third information to the session management network element.

When performing the action performed by the network element of the access network, the communication module 901 may receive the data packet of the first service from the terminal device through the first link, and receive the first service data packet from the terminal device through the second link. A business data package. The processing module 902 determines the first traffic information and the second traffic information according to the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link. The first traffic information is used to indicate the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link, and the second traffic information is used to indicate the data volume of the first service transmitted through the second link. The communication module 901 sends the first traffic information and the second traffic information to the session management network element.

In addition, in another possible implementation manner, if the session management network element is implemented by hardware components, its structure may also be as shown in FIG. 10 . For ease of understanding, FIG. 10 only shows the necessary structure for executing the method shown in the present application, and the present application does not limit that the communication device may have more components. The communication device 1000 may include a communication interface 1001 , a memory 1002 and a processor 1003 . The communication interface 1001 can be used for communication by a communication device, such as for sending or receiving signals by wire and/or wireless, so as to send and/or receive information, data, and messages. The memory 1002 is coupled to the processor 1003, and is used for storing programs and data necessary for the communication device 1000 to realize various functions. The processor 1003 is configured to support the communication apparatus 1000 to perform the processing functions performed by the session management network element in the above method, such as determining and generating information and messages sent by the communication interface 1001, and/or performing processing on signals received by the communication interface 1001. Demodulation and decoding, etc. The above memory 1002 and processor 1003 can be integrated into one body or independent of each other.

Exemplarily, the communication interface 1001 may include a wired communication interface, which may be used to support the communication device 1000 to receive and send signaling and/or data in a wired manner. The communication interface 1001 may also be referred to as a transceiver unit or a communication unit. Alternatively, the communication interface 1001 may include a wireless transceiver (eg, including a modem and/or an antenna) that may be used to support the communication device 1000 to wirelessly receive and transmit signaling and/or data. Communication interface 1001 may also be referred to as a wireless transceiver or wireless communication unit.

The processor 1003 can be implemented by a processing chip or a processing circuit.

When performing the action performed by the session management network element, the communication interface 1001 may send first information to the policy management network element, where the first information at least includes information of the first link and information of the second link, the first link The channel and the second link are used to transmit data of the first service of the terminal device. The communication interface 1001 can also receive charging key value information from the policy management network element, the charging key value information includes a first charging key value and a second charging key value, the charging key value information at least according to As determined by the first information, the first charging key corresponds to the first link, and the second charging key corresponds to the second link. The processor 1003 may acquire first flow information and second flow information, where the first flow information is used to indicate the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link, and the second flow information is used to indicate the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link. The data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link, the first traffic information and the first charging key are used to determine the cost of transmitting the data of the first service on the first link, and the second traffic information And the second charging key is used for determining the cost of transmitting the data of the first service by the second link.

In a possible design, the communication interface 1001 may receive third traffic information from the user plane network element, where the third traffic information indicates the data volume of the first service. The processor 1003 may determine the first flow information according to the second information and the third flow information, and determine the second flow information according to the third information and the third flow information.

In a possible design, the communication interface 1001 can receive the first identification and the second identification from the terminal device. Wherein, the first identifier corresponds to the data transmitted through the first link, and the second identifier corresponds to the data transmitted through the second link. Alternatively, the session management network element may send the first identifier and the second identifier to the access network element.

In a possible design, the communication interface 1001 may also send the first identifier and the second identifier to the user plane network element. The first identifier is used to determine the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link, and the second identifier is used to determine the data volume of the first service transmitted through the second link. The communication interface 1001 can receive the first traffic information and the second traffic information from the user plane network element.

In a possible design, the communication interface 1001 can receive the first traffic information and the second traffic information from the access network element, and the terminal device is connected through the first link and the second link to the access network element.

When performing the action performed by the policy management network element, the communication interface 1001 may receive first information from the session management network element, where the first information at least includes information of the first link and information of the second link, the first information A link and the second link are used to transmit data of the first service of the terminal device. The communication interface 1001 can send the first charging key value and the second charging key value to the user plane network element, the charging key value information includes the first charging key value and the second charging key value, the charging key value The value information is determined at least according to the first information, the first charging key corresponds to the first link, and the second charging key corresponds to the second link. Wherein, the processor 1003 can determine the first charging key and the second charging key.

When performing the action performed by the user plane network element, the communication interface 1001 may receive the first identification and the second identification from the session management network element. The processor 1003 determines first flow information according to the first identifier, the first flow information indicates the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link, and determines second flow information according to the second identifier, the second flow information The traffic information indicates the data volume of the first service transmitted through the second link, and the first link and the second link are used to transmit the data of the first service of the terminal device. The user plane network element sends the first flow information and the second flow information to the session management network element.

When performing the action performed by the terminal device, the communication interface 1001 can send a first identifier and a second identifier to the session management network element, where the first identifier can be used for the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link determine that the second identifier can be used to determine the data volume of the first service transmitted through the second link; wherein the first link and the second link are used to transmit the first service of the terminal device The data.

In a possible design, the communication interface 1001 may send a data packet of the first service through the first link, and the data packet of the first service sent through the first link includes the first identifier. The communication interface 1001 may also send the data packet of the first service through the second link, and the data packet of the first service sent through the second link includes the second identifier.

In a possible design, the communication interface 1001 may also send the first identification and the second identification to the access network element, and the terminal device is connected to the interface through the first link and the second link. Incoming network element.

When performing an action performed by the terminal device, the communication interface 1001 may send transmission ratio information to the session management network element, where the transmission ratio information includes at least second information and third information, where the second information is used to indicate the first link The ratio of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the link to the data volume of the first service, and the third information is used to indicate the ratio of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the data volume of the first service . The communication interface 1001 sends the data of the first service through at least the first link and the second link according to the transmission ratio information.

When performing the action performed by the network element of the access network, the communication interface 1001 can receive the data packet of the first service from the terminal device through the first link, and receive the first service packet from the terminal device through the second link. A business data package. The processor 1003 adds a first identifier to the data packet of the first service received through the first link, where the first identifier is used to determine the amount of data of the first service transmitted through the first link, and adding a second identifier to the data packet of the first service received through the second link, where the second identifier is used for determining the data volume of the first service transmitted through the second link.

In a possible design, the communication interface 1001 can receive the first identification and the second identification from the terminal device. Alternatively, the communication interface 1001 may receive the first identifier and the second identifier from the session management network element.

When performing the action performed by the network element of the access network, the communication interface 1001 can receive the data packet of the first service from the terminal device through the first link, and receive the first service packet from the terminal device through the second link. A business data package. The access network element may also determine second information and third information according to the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link, where the second information is used to indicate the transmission of the first link The ratio of the data volume of the first service to the data volume of the first service, the third information is used to indicate the ratio of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the data volume of the first service . The access network element sends the second information and the third information to the session management network element.

When performing the action performed by the network element of the access network, the communication interface 1001 can receive the data packet of the first service from the terminal device through the first link, and receive the first service packet from the terminal device through the second link. A business data package. The processor 1003 determines the first traffic information and the second traffic information according to the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link. The first traffic information is used to indicate the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link, and the second traffic information is used to indicate the data volume of the first service transmitted through the second link. The communication interface 1001 sends the first flow information and the second flow information to the session management network element.

Based on the same concept as the above method embodiments, the embodiments of the present application further provide a computer-readable storage medium, on which a computer program (or instruction) is stored, and when the program is executed by a processor, the computer executes the above method. An operation performed by a session management network element, a policy management network element, a user plane network element, a terminal device and/or an access network network element in any possible implementation manner of the embodiment and the method embodiment.

Based on the same concept as the above method embodiments, the present application also provides a computer program product, which, when invoked and executed by a computer, can enable the computer to implement the above method embodiments and any possible implementation manner of the method embodiments. Operations performed by session management network elements, policy management network elements, user plane network elements, terminal equipment and/or access network network elements in

Based on the same concept as the above method embodiments, the present application further provides a chip or a chip system, the chip is coupled with a transceiver, and is used to implement the above method embodiments and any possible implementation manners of the method embodiments by session management Operations performed by network elements, policy management network elements, user plane network elements, terminal equipment and/or access network elements. The chip system may include the chip, and components including a memory, a communication interface, and the like.

Based on the same concept as the above method embodiments, the present application also provides a communication system, which can be used to implement the above method embodiments and any possible implementation manners of the method embodiments by a session management network element, a policy management network Elements, user plane network elements, terminal equipment and/or access network elements. Exemplarily, the communication system has a structure as shown in any one of FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 a or FIG. 2 b . The communication system can be used to execute the process shown in any of Figures 4-8.

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

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

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory capable of directing a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory result in an article of manufacture comprising instruction means, the instructions The apparatus implements the functions specified in the flow or flow of the flowcharts and/or the block or blocks of the block diagrams.

These computer program instructions can also be loaded on a computer or other programmable data processing device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable device to produce a computer-implemented process such that The instructions provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flow or blocks of the flowcharts and/or the block or blocks of the block diagrams.

Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the present application without departing from the protection scope of the present application. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents, the present application is also intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

A communication method, comprising:

The session management network element sends first information to the policy management network element, where the first information at least includes information of the first link and information of the second link, and the first link and the second link are used for transmitting the data of the first service of the terminal device;

The session management network element receives charging key value information from the policy management network element, the charging key value information includes a first charging key value and a second charging key value, the charging key value The information is determined at least according to the first information, the first charging key corresponds to the first link, and the second charging key corresponds to the second link;

The session management network element obtains first traffic information and second traffic information, where the first traffic information is used to indicate the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link, and the second traffic information used to indicate the data volume of the first service transmitted through the second link, the first traffic information and the first charging key are used for the first link to transmit the first service The determination of the cost of the data, the second traffic information and the second charging key value are used for the determination of the cost of the data of the first service transmitted by the second link.
The method of claim 1, wherein the first information includes at least one of the following information:

second information, where the second information is used to indicate the ratio of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link to the data volume of the first service;

third information, where the third information is used to indicate the proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the data volume of the first service;

First indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate that data of the first service of the terminal device is transmitted at least through the first link and the second link.
The method according to claim 2, wherein the second information and the third information are from the terminal device; or,

The second information and the third information come from an access network element, and the terminal device is connected to the access network element through the first link and the second link.
The method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the acquisition of the first traffic information and the second traffic information by the session management network element comprises:

The session management network element receives third traffic information from the user plane network element, where the third traffic information indicates the data volume of the first service;

The session management network element determines the first traffic information according to the second information and the third traffic information;

The session management network element determines the second flow information according to the third information and the third flow information.
The method according to any one of claims 1-2 or 4, wherein the method further comprises:

The session management network element receives the first identifier and the second identifier from the terminal device; the first identifier corresponds to the data transmitted through the first link, and the second identifier corresponds to the data transmitted through the second link. data transmitted by the link; and/or,

The session management network element sends the first identifier and the second identifier to the access network element.
The method according to any one of claims 1-2, 4 or 5, wherein the method further comprises:

The session management network element sends a first identifier and a second identifier to the user plane network element, where the first identifier is used to determine the amount of data of the first service transmitted through the first link, and the first identifier is used for determining the amount of data of the first service transmitted through the first link. 2. Determination of the data volume of the first service that is used to identify the transmission through the second link;

The session management network element obtains the first traffic information and the second traffic information, including:

The session management network element receives the first traffic information and the second traffic information from the user plane network element.
The method according to any one of claims 1-3, 5 or 6, wherein the acquisition of the first traffic information and the second traffic information by the session management network element includes:

The session management network element receives the first flow information and the second flow information from the access network element, and the terminal device is connected to the the access network element.
A communication method, comprising:

The policy management network element receives first information from the session management network element, where the first information at least includes information of the first link and information of the second link, the first link and the second link data used to transmit the first service of the terminal device;

The policy management network element sends the first charging key value and the second charging key value to the user plane network element, and the charging key value information includes the first charging key value and the second charging key value, The charging key information is determined at least according to the first information, the first charging key corresponds to the first link, and the second charging key corresponds to the second link .
The method of claim 8, wherein the first information includes at least one of the following information:

second information, where the second information is used to indicate the ratio of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link to the data volume of the first service;

third information, where the third information is used to indicate the proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the data volume of the first service;

First indication information, where the first indication information is used to indicate that data of the first service of the terminal device is transmitted at least through the first link and the second link.
A communication method, comprising:

The user plane network element receives the first identifier and the second identifier from the session management network element;

The user plane network element determines the first traffic information according to the first identifier, the first traffic information indicates the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link, and determines the second traffic according to the second identifier. Traffic information, the second traffic information indicates the data volume of the first service transmitted through the second link, and the first link and the second link are used to transmit the first service of the terminal device The data;

The user plane network element sends the first traffic information and the second traffic information to the session management network element.
The method of claim 10, comprising:

The first identifier corresponds to the data transmitted through the first link, and the second identifier corresponds to the data transmitted through the second link.
A communication method, comprising:

The terminal device sends a first identifier and a second identifier to the session management network element, where the first identifier is used for determining the data volume of the first service transmitted through the first link, and the second identifier is used for Determining the amount of data of the first service transmitted through the second link;

Wherein, the first link and the second link are used to transmit the data of the first service of the terminal device.
The method of claim 12, comprising:

The terminal device sends the data packet of the first service through the first link, and the data packet of the first service sent through the first link includes the first identifier;

The terminal device sends the data packet of the first service through the second link, and the data packet of the first service sent through the second link includes the second identifier.
The method of claim 12 or 13, further comprising:

The terminal device sends the first identification and the second identification to the access network element, and the terminal device is connected to the access network element through the first link and the second link .
A communication method, comprising:

The terminal device sends transmission proportion information to the session management network element, where the transmission proportion information includes at least second information and third information, and the second information is used to indicate the proportion of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link. the ratio of the data volume of the first service, and the third information is used to indicate the ratio of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link to the data volume of the first service;

The terminal device sends the data of the first service through at least the first link and the second link according to the transmission ratio information.
A communication method, comprising:

The access network element receives the data packet of the first service from the terminal device through the first link, and receives the data packet of the first service from the terminal device through the second link;

The access network element adds a first identifier to the data packet of the first service received through the first link, where the first identifier is used for the first identifier transmitted through the first link. 1. Determination of the data volume of the business;

The access network element adds a second identifier to the data packet of the first service received through the second link, where the second identifier is used for the first service transmitted through the second link. A determination of the data volume of a business.
The method of claim 16, further comprising:

The access network element receives the first identifier and the second identifier from the terminal device; or,

The access network element receives the first identifier and the second identifier from the session management network element.
A communication method, comprising:

The access network element receives the data packet of the first service from the terminal device through the first link, and receives the data packet of the first service from the terminal device through the second link;

The access network element determines second information and third information according to the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link, where the second information is used to indicate the first link The ratio of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the link to the data volume of the first service, and the third information is used to indicate the percentage of the data volume of the first service transmitted by the second link. The proportion of the data volume of the first service;

The access network element sends the second information and the third information to the session management network element.
The method of claim 18, wherein the link information of the first link comprises:

the identifier of the relay device corresponding to the first link; and/or,

a first identifier, the first identifier is included in the data packet of the first service transmitted by the first link;

The link information of the second link includes:

the identifier of the relay device corresponding to the second link; and/or,

A second identifier, where the second identifier is included in the data packet of the first service transmitted by the second link.
A communication method, comprising:

The access network element receives the data packet of the first service from the terminal device through the first link, and receives the data packet of the first service from the terminal device through the second link;

The access network element determines the first traffic information and the second traffic information according to the link information of the first link and the link information of the second link; the first traffic information is used to indicate the the data volume of the first service transmitted by the first link, and the second traffic information is used to indicate the data volume of the first service transmitted through the second link;

The access network element sends the first flow information and the second flow information to the session management network element.
The method of claim 20, wherein the link information of the first link comprises:

the identifier of the relay device corresponding to the first link; and/or,

a first identifier, the first identifier is included in the data packet of the first service transmitted by the first link;

The link information of the second link includes:

the identifier of the relay device corresponding to the second link; and/or,

A second identifier, where the second identifier is included in the data packet of the first service transmitted by the second link.
A communication device, comprising:

a communication module, used for the communication device to communicate;

A processing module for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
A communication device, comprising:

a communication module, used for the communication device to communicate;

A processing module for executing the method according to claim 8 or 9.
A communication device, comprising:

a communication module, used for the communication device to communicate;

A processing module for executing the method according to claim 10 or 11.
A communication device, comprising:

a communication module, used for the communication device to communicate;

A processing module for performing the method according to any one of claims 12-14.
A communication device, comprising:

a communication module, used for the communication device to communicate;

A processing module for performing the method of claim 15 .
A communication device, comprising:

a communication module, used for the communication device to communicate;

A processing module for performing the method of claim 16 or 17.
A communication device, comprising:

a communication module, used for the communication device to communicate;

A processing module for performing the method of claim 18 or 19.
A communication device, comprising:

a communication module, used for the communication device to communicate;

A processing module for performing the method as claimed in claim 20 or 21.
A communication system, characterized by comprising the communication device as claimed in claims 22 and 23.
The communication system of claim 30, further comprising the communication device of claims 24 and 25.
The communication system of claim 30, further comprising the communication device of claim 26.
The communication system of claim 30, further comprising the communication device of claims 24 and 27.
The communication system of claim 30, further comprising the communication device of claim 28.
The communication system of claim 30, further comprising the communication device of claim 29.
A computer-readable storage medium, wherein instructions are stored in the computer storage medium, wherein when the instructions are invoked and executed on a computer, the computer is made to execute the method according to any one of claims 1-21 .
A computer program product containing instructions, characterized in that it includes a computer program or instruction, which, when the computer program or instruction is run on a computer, causes the computer to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 1-21 .
A circuit, characterized in that, the circuit is coupled with a memory, and the memory stores a computer program or instruction, and when the processor is used to call and execute the computer program or the instruction, implement any one of claims 1-21. A method of communication as described.